Tag: car

Video: Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition made its first public takeoff.

The boundless imagination of post-war American car design has long been on display at the AirVenture museum in the form of the 1949 Aerocar. But as of Monday, flying cars became a bit more relevant when the long-delayed, street-legal Terrafugia Transition took off and flew in public for the first time, reports the Journal Sentinel.

It was the first day of the EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, an international event where the newest in aviation technology is often unveiled. The Transition took off, flew smoothly and circled around the airfield for the public audience, and the low-speed landing looked especially drama-free, with all four of the flying car’s wheels touching the ground at the same time. After landing, the pilot parked for a minute to show off a crucial feature: motorized self-folding wings. The pilot/driver can fold the wings up after a flight and be ready for street driving without ever having to get out of the vehicle. The vintage Aerocar, on the other hand, had removable wings that had to be towed when it was driven on the street.

While everything seemed to go as planned for the Transition, at the 31-second mark in the first video we noticed that the wings didn’t fold up at the same speed, which has us questioning the effectiveness of the prototype’s wing-folding mechanism. It’s a good thing that this is the second of three generations of prototypes, so Terrafugia has plenty of time to iron out the details.

Look for the Transition to go on sale in 2015 or 2016 with a projected price tag of $279,000. The company is taking $10,000 refundable deposits now, the Journal Sentinel reports, and over 100 people have already reserved their own flying car. Check the takeoff, flight and landing in the videos below.

Continue reading Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight

Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Audi first to bring LTE to the car later this year

Filed under: Performance, Technology, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury, Infotainment

It appears Audi will be the first to market with in-car LTE service later this year. We knew that BMW was working on LTE integration last year with its ConnectedDrive, and we’ve been told that, by the end of 2015, most General Motors products will have it, but LTE can be ordered on the S3 Sportback (pictured) as soon as July. Other models in the A3 line-up will add the option in November.

Inserting an LTE-enabled SIM card into the Audi’s MMI navigation will make the S3 a WLAN hotspot that can quickly shuffle high-definition content from the cloud to the cockpit. It will also bolster Audi Connect services like Google Earth, Facebook and Twitter, e-mail, and streaming internet radio.

We’ve been told that we’ll be offered the LTE option when the 2015 A3 sedan gets here in the spring of 2014. Since the service requires you to provide a SIM card, we expect that costs and data caps will be a matter between you and the service provider; speaking of which, Audi hasn’t announced yet who that provider will be on this side of the Atlantic. The press release below has more details.

Continue reading Audi first to bring LTE to the car later this year

Audi first to bring LTE to the car later this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Gun-rigged car used in assassination attempt in South Africa

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

Burned VW Cross Polo with shotgun barrels

As car people, there’s a certain degree of delight that comes with watching an old James Bond movie and seeing Desmond Llewelyn describe the accoutrements of an MI6-modded Aston Martin or Lotus, all while saying, “Oh grow up, 007.” But in reality, a car with concealed firearms, a hallmark of Bond’s rides, is actually a terrifying prospect, as one Czech citizen found out.

The incident occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa, when Radovan Krejcir emerged from his Mercedes-Benz and started hearing popping sounds as he was walking into his pawn shop. A Volkswagen Cross Polo, parked directly across from where Krejcir regularly parks, opened fire with a dozen shotguns concealed behind the license plate, according to The Mirror. Ten rounds hit the driver’s side window, but the Czech national was clear of his vehicle by that point. After, the VW caught fire. Whether this was intentional in order to destroy evidence, or merely a result of placing 12 hot gun barrels in the back bumper of a car, remains to be seen.

This was not a random act of violence, though. The Associated Press reports that Krejcir is linked to the Johannesburg underground, and that he fled his home country after escaping a police raid in 2005. He popped up in South Africa in 2007 and has been the subject of extradition efforts by the Czech government ever since, who want him to serve an 11-year sentence for tax evasion.

Since arriving in SA, Krejcir has been charged with both robbery and insurance fraud, although charges were eventually dropped. It’s also been insinuated that he was involved in the murder of a strip club owner in 2010. Further proof that this isn’t you average sleezy pawn shop owner? He drives a matte black Mercedes-Benz CL-Class AMG that’s been bulletproofed. Head below for the full news report from South Africa’s Eyewitness News.

Continue reading Gun-rigged car used in assassination attempt in South Africa

Gun-rigged car used in assassination attempt in South Africa originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: More car buyers favoring longer term loans, up to 10 years [w/poll]

Filed under: Car Buying, Earnings/Financials

Couple shopping for new cars

The length of car loans in the US keeps on growing as more and more consumers look for ways to save money every month to pay off obligations and necessities. Extremely low interest rates and more durable automobiles have become key factors in driving these new longer-term car loans, which can last anywhere from six to 10 years.

Auto loans used to last four or five years on average, but, in today’s cash-strapped era, automakers are more interested in selling cars than profiting from financing, which has resulted in the low interest rates and longer loan terms consumers are seeing today. While some might be concerned that this is the same sort of subprime lending that led to the housing crash in 2008, James Lentz, chief executive of Toyota North America, tells The Detroit News that there’s little risk added with these longer loans because defaults typically happen within six months. He also told the newspaper that the longer term options can be the difference between a customer buying a Corolla or a more expensive Camry.

And consider Bradley Gallant’s case. The Detroit News reported that he financed a new Honda Accord with a six-year loan at 1.89 percent to divert money to other investments. Compared to a four-year loan on the same car, he saves $130 on his monthly bill and only ends up paying $370 more in interest by the end of the loan. We commend Mr. Gallant on negotiating such loan terms, but it also drives home the point that interest rates must remain low for such loans to be good deals.

In December, we reported that the fastest-growing category in automotive borrowing was the seven-year loan and noted that automakers were reluctant to offer them because it kept customers off the market for too long. Well, apparently, the times they are a-changin’ – and they’re getting longer.

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More car buyers favoring longer term loans, up to 10 years [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read This: How Google unwittingly busted a Chinese car theft ring

Filed under: China, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Google China sign

Technology giant Google is a regular in headlines across the world, mostly for innovative hardware and online products, but this is the first time we’ve caught wind of the company stopping crime. A fascinating writeup on The Verge tells the story of Google doing just that – in China no less.

Sophisticated and non-stop anti-fraud measures used by Google’s AdWords to protect consumers from online scammers are at the heart of the story here. It seems that over the course of revising its security software back in 2010, Google started to see advertisements for normal-looking used car ads in China that had been flagged for removal.

As it turns out, the company’s algorithm for detecting fraud had stumbled upon a fairly long-standing practice of car theft within China. Thieves would take a photo of a random car on the street, use the photo to place an ad online, then steal the car before selling it to an unwitting buyer. The Verge article dives in to the hows and whys behind this unlikely method of halting (or at least attempting to halt) auto-theft in the far flung country – click through and enjoy the read.

How Google unwittingly busted a Chinese car theft ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Citroën, Racing

2014 Citroën C-Elysee WTCC front three-quarter

Citroën has released the first images of its latest racecar, the C-Elysee, which will be contested by Sebastien Loeb in the World Touring Car Championship next year. Based on the C-Elysee sedan, a model first shown at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the WTCC variant has been designed for the new regulations set to be imposed by the FIA.

The C-Elysee is offered with a range of low-powered gas and diesel engines, but the WTCC model gets a 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 380 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed sequential gearbox from Sadev sends power to the front wheels through a twin-disk, carbon-fiber clutch. Hopefully all this potential won’t result in any shenanigans this season.

The roster for next season is far from finalized, although Honda will be contesting the championship with its Civic WTCC.The C-Elysee WTCC will make its race debut with Sebastien Loeb at the wheel when the 2014 FIA World Touring Car Championship starts, likely around the end of March 2014. Citroën will also be showing its new racer at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Continue reading Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb

Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch how to charge your car battery using a… chainsaw?

Filed under: Etc., Videos

How to recharge your car's battery using a chainsaw - video screencap

This video is neither as dangerous nor as insane as the title indicates, if only because you’re only using the chainsaw’s motor and not the actual chain itself. Do not take a chainsaw to your engine without first removing the chain. It would be bad.

With the chain, frame and sprocket removed from the chainsaw and an old fan belt, piece of rope, or even your shoelaces attached to the saw, you can remove the fan belt from your car’s alternator pulley. Slot the fan belt attached to the chainsaw onto the alternator pulley, and turn the saw on. The spinning alternator can now generate a current, recharging your battery, much like it would if your car’s engine were actually running.

Take a look at the video below for the full rundown on how to recharge your car’s battery like MacGyver.

Continue reading Watch how to charge your car battery using a… chainsaw?

Watch how to charge your car battery using a… chainsaw? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch how hackers can take control of your car

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Videos

Forbes video shows how it is possible to hack into someone else's car and take control - video screencap

When meeting a duo of computer hackers for the very first time, we imagine hearing the words “We want to convince you that we can hurt you – without hurting you,” is bound to release the hounds of anxiety upon your mental makeup. At least, it would ours. And it’s those words, uttered by Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek to Forbes staff reporter Andy Greenberg, that introduce us to the reality that modern-day cars can indeed be hacked.

The next frightening step down the rabbit hole, which is outlined in the video below, involves entering into a Toyota Prius that looks like a science project gone wrong – missing dash, wires hanging down and a laptop computer hiding in the back seat. It’s kind of like being a human marionette puppet with the strings held high above by Dr. Frankenstein’s tech-geeky grandson. In other words, “Are you guys both buckled up?” is no longer a friendly safety-minded reminder, it’s a scared-for-my-life requirement.

See how these two hackers earned a bunch of money from the US government trying to hack into a couple of cars in the video below. And keep your tinfoil hats close by.

Continue reading Watch how hackers can take control of your car

Watch how hackers can take control of your car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style, Luxury

Bugatti has announced that it will offer the Legend, a special-edition run of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse that pays homage to six heroes of the carmaker’s long, storied past. Officially the world’s fastest car with its top down (try keeping your toupee on at 254 miles per hour), Bugatti will enhance the special Vitesses visually with design cues from the cars that its heroes drove.

The first Legend honors Jean-Pierre Wimille, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice for Bugatti and was one of the company’s longest-serving test drivers. He won in 1937, co-driving a 57G Tank with Robert Benoist, and in 1939, co-driving a 57C Tank with Pierre Veyron. Fittingly, the Veyron Legend dedicated to Wimille is blue, just like the 57G that he drove at Le Mans in 1937. In Bugatti’s own words, it “now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paintwork.” The 57G-based design language continues into the interior, with numerous details, such as materials and colors, that represent what Wimille would have experienced driving the Bugatti.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. It also should be noted that the Wimille edition Legend will be limited to a production run of three. As for the other five Legend editions? All we know is that they’ll be launched over the next 12 months. Look for the Wimille Legend on display next month in Monterey, Calif., at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

In the meantime, scroll down to check out the history-heavy Bugatti press release. No photos of the Veyron Legend were provided, so feel free to visit the gallery we included of the Grand Sport Vitesse’s record-setting open-top run.

Continue reading Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week

Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Is TrueCar’s new female car shopper ad sexist? [w/poll]

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Controversial Truecar commercial with female car shopper - screencap

TrueCar is getting bashed in both traditional and social media venues over a 30-second ad that’s gone viral due to what some perceive as sexist overtones. The ad features a number of women talking about using TrueCar for their latest vehicular purchase, and how the website takes the “anxiety” out of buying a car. It ends with the line, “I don’t need to bring a dude with me.”

The backlash, particularly on TrueCar’s Facebook page has been pretty severe, with angry women firing away at the service over the spot. In response to the bad press it’s been getting on sites like BuzzFeed and AdWeek, TrueCar’s PR agency, PGCCampbell, and the company’s founder and CEO, Scott Painter, issued the following statement:

“Regardless of race or gender, being a more informed car buyer benefits consumers. TrueCar supplies a hassle-free experience for both men and women by providing car-buying information the public can’t get elsewhere.

This particular ad is pro-consumer and pro-women. It was developed by our creative director, who is a woman, and it addresses a real consumer issue in the marketplace.”

Judge for yourself by screening the video below. Then vote in our poll and leave your thoughts in Comments. Has TrueCar been watching a bit too much Mad Men, or are people overreacting?

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Continue reading Is TrueCar’s new female car shopper ad sexist? [w/poll]

Is TrueCar’s new female car shopper ad sexist? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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