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Osama bin Laden rejected plans for truck designed to mow down humans

Filed under: Etc.

Trucks from Death Race

If you’ve been living in a house with no TV or internet connection, you may not have heard that Osama bin Laden was found and killed. Actually, even if you have been living in such a house, you still probably know about bin Laden. Teams of analysts are combing through a mountain of data recovered from bin Laden’s compound, and one nugget of information they’ve found is a bit surprising; bin Laden was against a proposed plan for U.S.-based Al Qaeda operatives to weld blades to the grilles of pickup trucks and run down pedestrians.

This plan was laid out by Inspire, an English-language magazine by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The magazine stated that drivers of the customized trucks could look for crowded areas, then motor onto the sidewalk and cause major carnage. It’s a sick plan, and apparently bin Laden felt the same way. He called it “indiscriminate slaughter,” and felt it wasn’t in line with what Al Qaeda does.

Yes, seriously. And no, we’re not making this up. Read more about this aborted plan and the way bin Laden managed the terror organization from his secluded home at this link.

Osama bin Laden rejected plans for truck designed to mow down humans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Giugiaro Go! Concept is a sharply designed, futuristic MPV

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, Design/Style

Volkswagen Giugiaro Go Concept

Volkswagen Giugiaro Go Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Now that Italdesign Giugiaro is part of the larger Volkswagen Group, the famed design house has worked up a pair of VW-badged concepts for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. In addition to the smaller Tex hatchback, Giugiaro has created the Go! MPV, giving us a glimpse at what a people-mover for The People could look like in the future.

Like the Tex, the Go! rides on Volkswagen’s new modular transverse architecture which could accommodate a wide range of powertrain options. Here, the Go! is powered by the automaker’s Blue-e-motion EV technology, and according to Volkswagen, the concept can travel about 150 miles on electric power alone.

The Go! is full of interesting design quirks, such as rear doors that push backwards before sliding back parallel to the vehicle, a large glass greenhouse and a high seating position. See for yourself in our gallery of high-resolution live shots below.

Gallery: Volkswagen Giugiaro Go Concept: Geneva 2011

Volkswagen Giugiaro Go Concept: Geneva 2011

Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Giugiaro Go! Concept is a sharply designed, futuristic MPV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Fiat, Specialty, Luxury, Lancia

Turns out Italiaspeed had it right: the remade Lancia Stratos spotted on a Fiat test track in Milan is a coachbuilt one-off for a European client, and has nothing to do with Fenomenon. As the story goes, a certain unnamed industrialist asked Pininfarina – not Bertone, the Stratos’ original designer – to pen a body with a traditional front end true to the icon.

Of several tips we’ve received on the car, one stated that the body would fit over a greatly-shortened Ferrari F430 chassis and retain the F430’s V8, “so just like the original car it will try and kill you.” Although this isn’t the best news for anyone hoping for a Stratos revival, we can’t wait to see this bespoke Stratos on display at some future show. Hat tip to Lindz.

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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