Dec 18
What happens if you take 500,000 pieces of Lego and 256 pistons, then hand them over to Steve Sammartino and Raul Oaida? This fully functioning, life-size, air-powered Lego car is what.
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Dec 17
Snowmobiles are fun and fast, but when you just want to get down a big snow-covered hill, there’s nothing like a sled. If you’re the kind of speed freak that enjoys going 40mph downhill, then this sled might be for you.
The Snolo Stealth-X Sled might break your bank account, but that’s because it’s made almost completely of carbon fiber. The entire shell is made out of one piece and is contour-molded in the seating area to fit your bum perfectly. It even has a padded back rest to keep you comfortable while you zip along this winter. There’s a single, steerable ski at the front, and two at the back.
The Snolo will give you the maneuverability of a snowboard, and blistering fast downhill speeds – but get ready to cry, because this baby costs a whopping $2,550(USD)!
[via Uncrate]
Dec 17
I recently purchased a Supermoto, and I have to say that I’m having lots of fun. All that fun would probably be multiplied by ten if it was an all-electric bike. Check out the Zero FX Stealthfighter motorcycle, which can basically go anywhere, all without sipping a drop of fossil fuel.
The Zero FX Stealthfighter promises no fuss, and not much maintenance. The best part is that it’s all electric, so you won’t have to fill it up. It does well on the dirt track, the streets, or off road. It has 44 hp, 70 lb-ft. of torque, and weighs 280 lbs. The range for this bike varies between 35 miles and 70 miles, depending on which model you choose.
There are two versions of the bike available, one costs $9,495(USD) and has a 2.8 kWh battery. The other costs $11,990 and has a 5.7 kWh battery. Just like most electric vehicles, this is a clutch-less, direct-drive system, so no more shifting around to maximize power.
[via Gizmag]
Dec 17
Penguins typically look pretty dumb as they waddle around on snow. But now a bunch of researchers has realised that, actually, they move an awful lot like cars in traffic.
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Dec 16
While I’m not all that crazy about the idea of fully-autonomous vehicles, I do think that some of the technology which is emerging from related research and development efforts could definitely help with vehicle safety. Take for example, this new obstacle avoidance system that Ford is working on.
Ford of Europe has been working on an advanced obstacle avoidance system which uses an array of radar and ultrasonic sensors, as well as a camera to help determine if there are obstacles in the road. In the event that a slow or stopped vehicle or other object is in the vehicle’s lane, it not only can alert the driver with audible and visual cues, but it can actually brake and steer the car to avoid a collision. It only takes corrective action if it detects that the driver isn’t doing so already. The system is capable of scanning as far as 656 feet ahead, and has already been tested at speeds in excess of 38mph.
It’s definitely an intriguing technology, and if it could reduce the frequency of rear-end collisions, I would definitely consider having such a system in my car. I guess the biggest question is whether or not it’s smart enough to avoid steering you into another active lane, or worse yet into oncoming traffic. I’d have to assume that the engineers behind the project are working on those concerns as well.
Dec 05
Win Races Greenly with Voxman Wattman, The Most Powerful Electric Motorcycle
Posted in: Today's ChiliHave you ever wanted to ride a motorcycle that’s basically made up of a big electric battery, a hefty motor and two wheels popped on the bottom? Well, the Voxman Wattman won’t win any beauty competitions, but you’ll laugh all the way to the finish line, as you blow your competition away, all with zero emissions.
The Voxman Wattman is claimed to be the world’s most powerful all-electric motorcycle, and it’s completely wrapped in an aluminum chassis that houses its drivetrain. It has 200hp, which will propel it to 100 mph in under six seconds. Plus, you can recharge this beast in less than 30 minutes.
The motorcycle will be hand-built in France, and I’m guessing that the price, which hasn’t been disclosed yet, will be pretty hefty.
I can only imagine fighting off stormtroopers and Matrix-style assassins on this EV.
[via Autoblog]
Dec 03
There is nothing cool about war in the real world, but I am a fan of movies and stories about what went on during WWII. I’ve seen more than a few movies that show submarines used in WWII. Honestly, I thought the Germans and their U-boats were the only subs. It turns out that the Japanese had a number of submarines too.
Close to the end of WWII, the Allies captured five submarines and brought them back to Pearl Harbor for inspection. One of the captured subs was a massive beast called the I-400. It was a Sen-Toku class sub rivaled is size only by modern nuclear submarines. The I-400 was 400 feet long and carried enough fuel to transverse the world 1.5 times before refueling.
After the war was over, Russia wanted access to the subs. With the cold war heating up, the US didn’t want to give Russia access to the tech inside the Japanese submarines and they scuttled the I-400 in 1946 – promptly forgetting where it was sunk. A group of researchers from the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) has been searching for the sunken subs for years and finally found the I-400 in off the coast of Hawaii. The discovery was made in shallower water than expected last August, but was just announced this week. Check out the video footage below to see their first sighting of the sub:
“The I-400 has been on our ‘to-find’ list for some time,” said veteran undersea explorer Terry Kerby, who led the expedition that found the submarine. “It was the first of its kind of only three built, so it is a unique and very historic submarine.”
[via Fox News]
Nov 27
I’ve always wondered exactly how modern concept cars are actually designed. In years past, artists went to work with clay and molded the shape of a car by hand. I assumed that most of this process was now done with computers. Apparently, a mix of the two is more accurate for modern concept cars like the Cadillac Elmiraj.
GM has announced that 3D scanning was a big part of the design process for the car. GM used a 3D scanning process that projected light patterns and used an advanced camera to capture 3D shapes and turn those shapes into mathematical data. That mathematical data was then used to create a 3D rendering.
Once those math-based models were achieved, the hand modeling in clay and computer milling took over. Changes made to the mathematical model for the concept were applied to the clay model using computer controlled milling. This process allows GM to move from a scale model to a full size model in about a week.
“With the Elmiraj, we were able to use 3-D scanning as the bridge between traditional hand-sculpting teams who work in clay and digital modeling design teams who work in math,” said Frank Saucedo, director of General Motors’ North Hollywood Advanced Design Studio. “Our ability to scan the clay model with speed and precision and go from the digital tools to the hands of a craftsman and vice versa was extremely valuable.”
Nov 24
If you’ve ever had a flat tire on your motorcycle, scooter, or ATV, you know how helpless you can feel. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no help coming, especially if you’re stuck somewhere without cell service. This can mean a trek back to civilization, or waiting for some help. This will never happen with this ATV.
The Polaris Sportsman WV850 HO ATV will stand up to any punishment you feel fit to deal upon it. It’s built to military specifications, and features the industry’s first non-pneumatic tires, which will never get flats, tear, rip or puncture. They can actually stand up to a .50-calibre round and still work for another 350 miles.
It comes equipped with a steel exoskeleton, racks, a large towing capacity, and powered by a 77 hp engine.
All this military technology doesn’t come cheap, as you’ll have to fork over at least $14,999(USD) to get yours. Think about how much money you’ll save on flats. Ok, it’s probably not that much, but this thing is still pretty damned impressive.
Nov 23
I’ve always been a fan of factory-modified cars (meaning that all mods are under warranty) – especially when they blow away more expensive, luxury sports cars. I love cars like the Subaru WRX STi and the Nissan GT-R. Naturally, the GT-R is quite a bit pricier, but this new version promises to surpass the performance of million-dollar rides. Are you up for it?
The Nissan GT-R Nismo comes with a tweaked 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 591hp and 481 pound-feet of torque. It will offer a racing suspension, a more rigid body, and improved aerodynamics, allowing it to perform extremely well in most conditions. Its Recaro racing seats come decked out in carbon fiber, and you’ll find Alcantara leather all over the place.
For now, prices haven’t been announced, but rumors say that you’ll pay roughly 50% more than what you’d spend on the standard GT-R. There will be only 200 GT-R Nismos made for the 2015 model year.
[via Top Gear]
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