Deploying a spike strip to safely disable only the vehicle they’re pursuing is a tricky game for law enforcement. So the Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company has developed a Safe, Quick, Undercarriage Immobilization Device—also known as a SQUID—that fits inside a self-deploying suitcase called the NightHawk. More »
Nothing is too good for your first born child. From a $3,000 Aston Martin-branded stroller, to this hand cut and sewn leather car seat from Maxi-Cosi that will set you back $875. A princely sum that would otherwise sound ridiculous were it not for the adorable tiny integrated cup holder. More »
It would appear that Apple has been overtaken by Exxon Mobil once again, with their respective market capitalizations turning face again for the second time this year. It was all the way back in August of 2011 that Apple first overtook Exxon to become the world’s most valuable company, with Apple and Exxon’s values fighting neck-and-neck right around $350 billion USD. Those numbers have since skyrocketed (so to speak).
Back in February of 2012, Apple reached above $500 billion in market value, they being only the sixth US-based corporation to have done so in history. Later that August, Apple became the most valuable public company in history with a market capitalization value at $622.6 – surpassing Microsoft’s previous record of $618.9 billion in November of 1999.
This January (on the 5th to be exact), Apple reached down to a market cap of lower than $400 billion for the first time since it first reached over Exxon in 2011. The highest Apple has gone (thus far) was $705.07 billion USD, that peak being hit back on September 21st. That same day – you may remember – was the launch date for the iPhone 5. January also marked the first time that Exxon Mobil overtook Apple since 2011, having been re-taken by Apple one day later.
With Exxon taking Apple on the 22nd of February and retaining the lead straight through today, Apple has for the first time since it overtook the Oil beast back in 2011, become the second most valuable company on the planet for over a week. According to analysts speaking with Mercury News and MarketWatch, Apple is being projected to rebound to a price of $619.14 in the future – compared to the slightly larger than $420 the company is at today, such a rebound would likely catapult them above Exxon Mobil once more. We shall see!
Apple overtaken by Exxon as world’s most valuable company (again) is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It looks like the Lamborghini Veneno just couldn’t wait to be shown off at the Geneva Motor Show event later today. The car has been revealed right before the show is set to take place, and it shows off the beauty of Italian craftsmanship. The Lamborghini Veneno was inspired by and created to mark Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary, and it’s going to take on the likes of the McLaren P1 and the successor to the Ferrari Enzo.
The Lamborghini Veneno has a price tag of about $4,600,000 or around 3.5 million euros, which is unfortunately way over our budgets (or anyone’s budget who isn’t in the top 1%). But that’s alright, because Lamborghini only made three of these cars and all three have already been sold. Each car will feature one of the colors from the Italian flag (green, white or red) to show off their uniqueness. The Veneno being shown off at the Geneva Motor Show, however, will display all three colors on its door.
The Lamborghini Veneno’s design was based off of the Lamborghini Aventador. It sports a 740 horsepower 6.5 liter V12 with a seven-speed single-clutch ISR transmission and all-wheel-drive. The Lamborghini Veneno is reported to have a top speed of 220 miles per hour and will be able to go from 0-62 time in under 3 seconds. The Veneno will also feature a beautiful, all carbon fiber body.
The Veneno is truly a beauty and a beast and will spark envy amongst all of those attending the Geneva Motor Show. The owners of the Lamborghini Veneno, with two of them being located in the United States, will revel in the fact that they will possess a car that’s one of a kind. With the Veneno, the Ferrari Enzo, and the McLaren P1 being shown off tonight, the Geneva Motor Show looks like it will be incredible.
[via Road and Track]
$4.6m Lamborghini Veneno debuts before Geneva event is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Continental already sells tires packed with monitors that keep tabs on air pressure, automatically letting you know when it gets too low. But the company is planning to expand that technology with improved tire sensors that will actually be able to calculate and report the current load weight of your vehicle so you don’t exceed its suggested capacity. More »
Self-driving cars are the future and various groups are currently working on perfecting their self-driving cars and preparing them for the masses. Oxford University tested out their own self-driving car system recently to much success. It’s able to perform well on regular commutes and in traffic jams, and the team is currently working on a system that will allow their car to easily map surrounding areas. Google’s self-driving car system is doing well too, being able to perform daily tasks with ease, and most of time being able to drive better than humans. A few reports from Google’s team, however, state that there are a few flaws that need to be worked on.
While Google’s self-driving car may be able to handle normal driving tasks, it can hit a few roadblocks under certain circumstances. These problems are fixable, but will require much creative thinking amongst the Google team (something they are obviously pretty good at). The 3 issues plaguing the self-driving car system include: Driving in snow, driving in areas with unsuspected changes in the road, and driving in areas where a human is directing traffic.
While driving in the snow, the car’s sensors have a hard time analyzing the lane markers on the road, which it needs to be able to do in order to stay correctly in its lane. When the cars come across an unexpected change in the roads that is not recorded in its mapping system, it becomes lost and is unable to find its way around, or find an alternate route to its destination. And last, while driving through areas where traffic needs to be directed by a human, such as construction zones, the car is unable to analyze the traffic director’s gestures and thus becomes confused.
The engineers are currently working on fixes for these problems, and it may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Development of self-driving cars is advancing further and further and I can’t wait for them be available to the masses. Currently, the prices of self-driving car systems are speculated to cost an arm an a leg, but the teams are working on reducing those costs down to a much more affordable price tag.
[via Business Insider]
A few issues plaguing Google’s self-driving car is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its G63 AMG 6×6, a beastly luxury SUV with an insane 536-horsepower and six 37-inch wheels. The vehicle is modeled after the 6-wheel drive G320 CDI, an Australian army vehicle that has been in use for the past couple years. Unlike a military vehicle, however, the G63 AMG 6×6 features all the trimmings you’d expect in a six-figure SUV, with a cabin that can hold four and a curb weight of 8,322 pounds.
The G63 AMG 6×6 will only be produced in a limited quantity, something that isn’t surprising considering that the vehicle will only be out-priced by Mercedes-Benz’ SLS Electric Drive, which costs $457,000. No price tag has been given for the SUV, however, although it was noted that the car will go on sale in October of this year.
You can see the machine in action in the video above. The SUV features five differential locks, a tire-control system, and low-range gearing, according to AutoWeek. The 536-horsepower is provided by a twin Turbocharged 5.5-liter V8, while torque comes in at 560lb-foot. All this is rounded out by a 7G-tronic 7-speed auto transmission.
Accompanying this power is an 18.1-inch ground clearance, providing more than ample space for mowing down zombies. The entire vehicle measures in at 231.3-inches long x 83.1-inches wide x 87-inches high, making it a tad larger on all sides than its four-wheel sibling. As far as the luxury part goes, the interior features leather and polished bamboo.
[via AutoWeek]
Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 is a luxury 6-wheel drive beast is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Sometime in the past few years mankind took a small step backwards in our development by allowing super-expensive luxury baby strollers to get popular. So popular, in fact, that now even Aston Martin is getting into the game by teaming up with Silver Cross on this over-the-top way to transport a baby. More »
Elon Musk, Tesla‘s CEO, stated at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy’s summit today that the company will repay the loans it received from the Department of Energy ahead of time, giving a time frame of half the time it was given for doing so. This puts the payoff completion date sometime around 2015, with the company being on the hook for $465 million.
The loan proved to be very beneficial to Tesla, which is reaping the rewards of its efforts. The loan was provided as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program, and gave Tesla a means to revamp a California auto plant to makes it popular – and lately, controversial – Model S vehicle. The announcement was given alongside energy secretary Steven Chu.
The program under which Tesla received the loan has been a source of controversy, with many pointing out that one of the companies that received money under the program – Solyndra – was unable to repay it. In light of this, for Tesla to not only repay all of the money, but to do so well ahead of schedule will be a massive boon for the program.
Though the claims by Tesla are a positive thing, the company has not yet churned a profit. Other manufacturers who have received funds under the program are also expected to pay back the loans they received, with Chu specifically citing Ford and Nissan. Thus far, the Department of Energy has shelled out over $8 billion in loans, and only time will tell whether it pays off in the end.
[via MIT Technology Review]
Tesla to repay Department of Energy loan ahead of schedule, says CEO is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
We’ve already seen what the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee looks like, as well as its SRT brethren, but we have yet to hear anything on the regular 2014 Cherokee, until now. A selection of photos have leaked that show the 2014 Cherokee in its birthplace. We even get a glimpse of the interior, but there sadly don’t seem to be any photos of the rear of the new vehicle just yet.
Jalopnik ended up getting a sizable amount of photos of the new SUV, and we have to say the all-new design is rather odd. The company still stuck with their unique grille design that they’ve had since the beginning, but the headlights are a lot smaller this time around. However, Jeep added larger headlights further down the front, as well as floodlights toward the bottom.
All in all, the new 2014 Cherokee looks like the combination between a Nissan Juke, an Isuzu Axiom, and an Alfa Romeo. There’s plenty of body cladding all around the bottom, and you can’t leave out the big tires with a slight lift in suspension. It’s certainly a bold new design that Jeep has gone with, and it’ll be interesting to see the reception it gets when it eventually comes out.
It’s said the 2014 Cherokee will come in V6 and V4 engine options, but the V6 may have a 3.2-liter motor rather than the 3.6-liter to save on fuel mileage. Plus, it the V6 may be the only option in the US, while other countries will have the option of a four-cylinder 2-liter diesel offering. It’s expected that this 2014 Cherokee will make its official debut at the New York Auto Show next month.
[via Jalopnik]
2014 Jeep Cherokee leaks, squints back at us is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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