Ferbedo, a German based toy manufacture has released a whole range of miniature replica trucks that are just right for toddlers between the ages of 3 and 6. Priced at 149 GBP or about 288 USD, Ferbedo’s pedal trucks are significantly cheaper to buy and run that the actual models – that was intended to be a smart-arse type comment… The pedal trucks come in various makes including a Mercedes-Benz Actros and a Volvo FH. –More images after the jump
Via: Le Blog Auto
Like the Honda Racer car that we showed you earlier today (click here), VW’s special edition Beetle was created in order to celebrate Hot Wheels’ 40th anniversary. However, this time we’re talking about a life-size vehicle and not a die-cast, scale model. Available initially for the Mexican market where it is built, the VW Beetle Hot Wheels model will be produced in an ultra limited run of just 240 units.
Offered in a choice of two colors, red or blue, the special edition Beetle is distinguished on the outside by Hot Wheels-styled alloy rims, special decals, a rear spoiler and red mirrors. Inside, the Beetle features two-tone leather seats with red stitching, matching floor mats, aluminum sport pedals, and front headrests with an engraved Hot Wheels logo along with a special numbered plate. –Full image gallery after the jump
They say necessity is the mother of invention, but we doubt that’s the case with these fun-loving Frenchmen who decided to attach a little board on wheels on the rear tire of their Citroen Saxo. -Video after the jump
This brings up an interesting conundrum: what to do when the sat nav or Bluetooth devices in your car age more quickly than the car itself? Few people this side of Dhiaa Al-Essa can afford to replace their car every six months, so the answer - to automakers at least - is to do the same as software companies: roll out upgrades.
It could be something as simple as the dealership checking your oil and tire pressure remotely to recalibrating the transmission or updating the car's sat nav system. San Francisco based Cisco Systems has even constructed an experimental dashboard out of LCD panels that acts as a giant touch screen: driver's can drag and drop instruments, personalize the look and feel of said instruments and add new functions such as g-force meters.
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That’s not all, though. Jiaxuan’s next big project is equipping and controlling a full-sized car via remote control. What’s the timeframe for this endeavour? Just twenty days.
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At the upcoming Network and Distributed System Security Symposium in San Diego, researchers from ETH Zurich’s system security group will present evidence on how they successfully hacked ten cars from eight manufacturers, using the sort of equipment you can buy at your local electronics’ store.
The small team of computer science researchers РAssistant Professor Srdjan Capkun, Aur̩lien Fancillon and Boris Danev Рwere able to gain access and drive away in all ten vehicles simply by exploiting the way keyless entry systems work.
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Fortunately, there are a few potential solutions. Carbon fibre is one. It’s said to be ten times stronger than steel and five times lighter. Unfortunately, it’s also four times as expensive, making it impractical for use in non-luxury vehicles. Now, engineers are looking to green energy and new manufacturing methods to make carbon fibre cheaper. Still, the results are yet to be seen.
The starting point of the build is a Fiat 500 Convertible Abarth. As the car's name suggests, at the unnamed client's request, there is abundant use of gold. On the outside, the golden pearlescent white painting includes 24K gold particles while the precious material also adorns the body trim and wheels. The electric fabric roof top is finished in black.
Drifting usually involves insanely powerful tuner cars, lots of smoke and some highly skilled drivers. But it turns out that you don’t even have to have a driver’s license to drift like a true professional. Don't believe us? Then just take a look at the radio controlled car in the video after the break, which was provided by Carscoop’s very own Phil Alex, attending the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon.
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So imagine if you could charge your electric car this way. It should be simple, right? You’d just need to upscale it to suit charging a bigger battery. Well, at the 2011 CES technology trade show in Las Vegas, Fulton Innovation showed such a gadget by wirelessly charging the be-all and end-all of electric vehicles: the Tesla Roadster.
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Following the reveal of its Opel counterpart in mainland Europe, Vauxhall has released pricing and specifications on the UK market Antara facelift, which boasts a barely noticeable makeover and a refreshed engine lineup. Prices for the updated SUV now start from £19,995 for the 2.2 CDTi (163PS) Exclusiv front-wheel drive model, which according to Vauxhall, represents a saving of £2,835 over the outgoing base version.
On the outside, styling changes for the 2011 Antara include the updated front grille with the new Griffin logo, enhanced by fog lights finished with chrome bezels on SE models, new 19-inch alloy wheels and modified rear lights.
“Cars have become more like brains on wheels”, said Sheryl Connelly, Ford’s global trends manager. “Consumers today want to stay connected and they want the drive to be an experience, especially since the amount of time Americans spend in the car has nearly doubled in the last 10 years”.
Check out Ford's list with the Top 10 ways the automotive industry changed since 2000 right after the break.
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