Video: Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car

It was only a month ago when Terrafugia took its Transition flying car (or driving plane, as CEO Carl Dietrich says) to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for some exposure and its first public flight demonstration. We know the flight was a success, but Translogic was also there to get an inside look at the street-legal flying machine and capture it on video.

Dietrich says that the toughest part of building the Transition was to engineer a single solution to satisfy both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. But the resultant vehicle raises the level of safety of personal aircraft through the use of automotive safety features, is better for the environment than traditional airplanes and will make use of the network of 5,000-plus public-use airports, “our nation’s largest underutilized transportation resource,” Dietrich states.

Be sure to watch the video below to find out what the future holds for flying cars – including Terrafugia’s next flying car/driving plane project, the gas-electric hybrid TF-X.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car

It was only a month ago when Terrafugia took its Transition flying car (or driving plane, as CEO Carl Dietrich says) to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for some exposure and its first public flight demonstration. We know the flight was a success, but Translogic was also there to get an inside look at the street-legal flying machine and capture it on video.

Dietrich says that the toughest part of building the Transition was to engineer a single solution to satisfy both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. But the resultant vehicle raises the level of safety of personal aircraft through the use of automotive safety features, is better for the environment than traditional airplanes and will make use of the network of 5,000-plus public-use airports, “our nation’s largest underutilized transportation resource,” Dietrich states.

Be sure to watch the video below to find out what the future holds for flying cars – including Terrafugia’s next flying car/driving plane project, the gas-electric hybrid TF-X.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tour the LAPD’s new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, Police/Emergency

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Chevrolet Caprice PPV – Click above to watch video after the jump

By now, you’ve probably committed every detail of the new generation of police cruisers to memory. With so many potential successors to the Ford Crown Victoria throne, it pays to know exactly which models to look out for on the road, especially if you dabble in extra-legal speeds. The guys from Translogic recently got the chance to get up close and personal with the new Chevrolet Caprice PPV courtesy of a tour by the Los Angeles Police Department. Along with getting the full scoop on what the vehicle has to offer in terms of officer and criminal comfort, we’re also introduced to some of the killer tech on board the new cruiser.

Officers are now treated to an easy-to-navigate touch screen that handles everything from HVAC controls to advanced crime-fighting tech. License-plate recognition software combines two front-mounted cameras with a criminal database to alert officers of potentially threatening drivers and an additional super-sensitive infrared camera can even detect a perpetrator’s footsteps at night. Go go gadget awesome.

Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Tour the LAPD’s new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic

Tour the LAPD’s new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic proves funky Tango isn’t just on the straight and narrow

Filed under: Videos, Electric, MISC

tango ev

Translogic hits the streets in a Tango EV – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Tango electric vehicle looks like a cross between a G-Wiz and Goldmember’s Corbin Sparrow. However, it has a hidden talent buried underneath its tandem seating configuration: It’s quick – very quick. What does that mean exactly? Bradley Hasemeyer and the AOL Translogic crew decided to trek to Spokane, Washington and talk to the man behind the machine, to find out.

The brainchild of Rick Woodbury, the Tango EV is an electric two-passenger car capable of sub-four-second 0-60 mile per hour bursts. At just 39-inches wide, the Tango is narrower than a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. It’s no cream-puff piece of plastic, either. Woodbury says you ought to be quite safe behind the wheel of the Tango thanks to its FIA-certified roll-cage and reinforced doors.

It’s a tire-smoking electric two-door that looks as odd as it does fun. Whir past the jump to watch Translogic take the Tango EV for a spin.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic proves funky Tango isn’t just on the straight and narrow

Video: Translogic proves funky Tango isn’t just on the straight and narrow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic swims with the fishes in dolphin-shaped Seabreacher

Filed under: Etc., Videos, MISC

innespace seabreacher

Translogic goes for a 260-horsepower swim – Click above to watch video after the jump

Translogic went to swim the fishes. No, not in a mafioso graveyard but within the canopy of a submersible known as the Seabreacher, the brainchild of Rob Innes and Dan Piazza, co-founders of Innespace Productions. It’s a new breed of watercraft capable of running both on and under the water, and occasionally soaring over it.

Okay, so the “over” and “under” portions of the piloting experience may be brief, but there’s no doubt they’re thrilling. The Seabreacher is powered by a 260-horsepower 1500-cc Rotax four-stroke engine that benefits from a supercharger and intercooler. All that power is used to propel the Seabreacher to speeds of up to 50 miles per hour over the water, or 25 mph when under the surface.

Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer straps into the passenger seat, which sits directly behind the driver, for an introduction to the Seabreacher’s controls. Soon, Hasemeyer gets a shot at the front seat, and the entire experience can be viewed in the clip floating in the shallow end after the jump.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic swims with the fishes in dolphin-shaped Seabreacher

Video: Translogic swims with the fishes in dolphin-shaped Seabreacher originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Electric

Translogic drives the Z-Kart

Translogic tours the neighborhood on the all-electric Z-Kart – Click above to watch video

What’s the best way to get your motoring kicks for less while consuming zero fuel and emitting only adrenaline? Riding a Zero motorcycle sounds like a lot of fun, until you get to that part about it only having two wheels. A golf cart is only amusing when it’s gas-powered and you’ve stuck a tee in the governor. The answer lies somewhere in between, and George Fortin from San Clemente, California, has put together his own version of the solution.

Our friends at Translogic paid Fortin a visit because he’s the proud owner and creator of the Z-Kart. It’s an all-electric go-kart that rides on a quartet of motorcycle tires and is powered by a DC motor and four lead-acid batteries. The frame is built from recycled polyethylene, and Fortin built it himself from scratch. Total charge time for the Z-Kart is just three hours from a 110v outlet.

According to Fortin, the Z-Kart is capable of exceeding 50 miles per hour. However, he changed the gearing to bring it back down to a more-reasonable 40 mph. The differential in the Z-Kart was taken from a small off-road buggy, and the engine feeds juice to the wheels via a chain drive and jack shaft.

Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer chats with George about his creation before taking the Z-Kart out for a spin. Check out the electric action in the video after the jump.

Gallery: George Fortin’s all-electric Z-Kart Build Process

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Japan, Videos

Translogic at Dream Factory Blow

Translogic at Dream Factory Blow – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Translogic crew is still bumming around Japan. For the show’s third episode in the island nation, host Bradley Hasemeyer heads to Sagamihara to tour Dream Factory Blow.

No, it’s not a cocaine supercenter. The customs shop specializes in laying unique fiber-reinforced polymer bodywork over the sheet metal of the lowly kei-car – the 660cc-engined machines that make up the lowest rung of the automotive food chain. Dream Factory Blow specializes in tweaking the aesthetics of the pint-sized cars to create miniature interpretations of classic American iron like a 1972 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck or a 1985 Chevrolet van.

But Dream Factory Blow isn’t just bolting on body panels. For that sweet little Chevy pickup, the fabricators started with a Suzuki Lapin, hacked off half of the rear body work and crafted an entire pickup bed. It’s too awesome for words. Of course, dismantling a substantial portion of a vehicle’s body structure does have an impact on frame stiffness, and to that end, Dream Factory Blow has to have its vehicles tested by the Japanese government for safety. Hit the jump to check out the video after the jump.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow

Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic in Japan, Part 2

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Videos

Click above to view the video after the jump

The last time we checked in with the Translogic crew, they took an in-depth look at Japan’s modding culture, with an emphasis on the odd, exotic and ill-advised. This week, Bradley gets schooled in the art of drifting with professional sideways slider Shino Murai. It’s a good novice primer on the sport in Japan and some of the in-car advice is both helpful and hilarious. Who knew the handbrake is like a woman? Hit the jump to find out what Murai means…

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic in Japan, Part 2

Video: Translogic in Japan, Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic goes to Japan, checks out its modding culture

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Japan, Videos, Motorcycle, Design/Style

Bradley with Kaido racers

Translogic goes to Japan! – Click above to watch video after the jump

Our in-company pals at Translogic decided it was time to add a new stamp to their passports. They gathered up their video equipment and hopped on a plane. Destination: Japan!

Bradley Hasemeyer and the Translogic team descended upon the Asian island nation to film a multi-part adventure, exploring different facets of the unique culture. First up on the agenda is the subject of modification. Hasemeyer kicks his trip off by checking out a group of folks who love tricking out their scooters. The mods add up quickly and the 250cc “Big Scooters” are fitted with everything from neon lighting to full air suspension setups.

Moving on from the new-school world of scooter modding, Translogic examines the more classic Kaido Racer scene. This very unique styling endeavor gets its inspiration from the old-school FIA Group 5 racing league that included such legendary cars as the Porsche 917, Ferrari 512 and the Ford GT40 Mk 1. Now, the Japanese have obviously taken serious liberties in their own four-wheeled homages, but the result is a style that is nothing if not distinct.

After scaling up from scooters to cars, Hasemeyer gets even bigger and shifts his focus to the van modding world. Starting with such a large canvas, the Japanese van culture goes absolutely crazy and transform their vans into creations that defy explanation. You’ll have to hop the jump and watch the video to see the owners explain their obsessions.

[Source: AOL Autos Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic goes to Japan, checks out its modding culture

Video: Translogic goes to Japan, checks out its modding culture originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Videos, Chevrolet, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Translogic Episode 5.4 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Our brothers from another mother over at Translogic just released their latest episode yesterday, episode 5.4 for whoever’s counting. Host Bradley Hasemeyer spent a day with General Motors at the automaker’s Milford Proving Ground driving the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and came away with some heretofore unknown tidbits of information about the series hybrid.

For one, in addition to Eco, Normal and Sport modes, the Volt will have what’s called Mountain Mode that allows it to climb any grade in the country. A GM engineer says they checked to be sure its Mountain Mode was adequate for any grade in the States and we have proof of at least one major mountain the Volt can climb. When Mountain Mode is selected, ideally about ten miles out from any big hills you want to climb, the Volt will kick on its on-board generator and create extra energy for the batteries. This allows the Volt’s drive system to draw more power than normal from the battery packs while climbing a grade. If the battery packs are drained and the generator’s already on, Mountain Mode will then increase the engine’s RPM to make up the difference.

Bradley also performed an impromptu 0-60 miles per hour test in the Volt, completing the run to highway speeds in 8.53 seconds while the car was in Sport mode. Not earth shatteringly quick, but plenty spry to feel normal in everyday driving conditions. Over the course of the day, Bradley drove the Volt a total of 59.7 miles, 16.1 of which occurred with the gas-powered range-extending on. During that time, 0.59 gallons of gas were consumed, which means the Volt achieved about 100 mpg for the day and 27.3 mpg while the engine was operating.

The rest of the video is full of Volt information of which we’re already aware, including how it interacts with mobile devices, charging options and the like, though we can’t say we’ve seen anybody throw around the Volt yet like Bradley did. Follow the jump to view episode 5.4 for yourself and visit the Translogic blog here.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time

Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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