Leno Flirts With 100 Year-Old Twins: Late Last Night
Read More: Hollywood
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Leno Flirts With 100 Year-Old Twins: Late Last Night
Leno Flirts With 100 Year-Old Twins: Late Last Night
Read More: Hollywood
Geneva's Best Concept Cars
Geneva's Best Concept Cars
 |
| Geneva's Best Concept Cars |
 |
| Nissan Esflow |
Now that Nissan's Leaf electric car is in showrooms, its designers wanted a new challenge, one at the opposite end of the performance spectrum; i.e., they wanted to show what they could do with an electric sports car. The result: the Esflow. Its "liquid mercury" lines have quite the wow factor. The long hood, wraparound windshield and stubby coupe tail are both retro and contemporary at the same time. Another sports car triumph for the company's designers? We think so.
|
| BMW Vision ConnectedDrive |
The visual impact of this BMW concept is incredible; pictures don't do it justice. Not since the BMW Z1 has such an exciting 2-seater graced a BMW auto show stand. But the Vision is not just about the sci-fi style and design. It's a total technology-fest, too, packed with all sorts of advanced telemetrics, some of which you've never even thought of. This is the brand's interpretation of the fully networked car, one that fully interacts with both occupants and environment. Smart and sexy, too.
 |
| MINI Rocketman |
Remember when MINIs were small — well, smaller than they are now? The Rocketman is a throwback to that era. It's shorter than a standard MINI, but just as wide. It's also packed with clever features. The doors are double-hinged, so they open really wide. And the cabin is 3+1: two seats in the front are spacious, and the third seat is behind the passenger, as in the Toyota iQ. A tiny fourth "jump seat" lies behind the driver for emergencies.
 |
| Toyota FT-86 II/Subaru Boxer Sports Car |
Toyota's FT-86 was featured as a top concept in Geneva a year ago. But this second-generation prototype is not only a closer representation of the production model — both as a Toyota and as a Subaru — but it's just as sweet to look at. If you didn't know, this machine is the result of a collaboration between the two Japanese automakers, with Subaru supplying the power. It's the sports car for those looking for a change from the Nissan 370Z, and what a sports car it is.
 |
| Subaru Boxer Sports Car |
Diesel and hybrid aren't usually two words you'd associate with excitement, but we'll make an exception in the case of the Volvo V60. It promises to be a fast car, with nearly 300 horses under the hood, and it emits only a paltry 49g/km of carbon dioxide. It will supposedly motor up to 32 miles on electric power alone, and when the diesel engine and electric motors work together, it will race from zero to 62 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Not too shabby.
 |
| Ford B-Max |
Aimed squarely at the compact-car buyer who needs more space within the same footprint as a Fiesta, the B-Max offers sliding rear doors in a side with no pillars. It makes entry as easy as pie. The clean lines are attractive, but the whole package is arguably unadventurous for a motor show concept. Vauxhall's Meriva looks far more radical, and that's already in production.
 |
| Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept |
This is definitely one of the top three concepts at the show. The 4C is intended to prove that sports cars can duck out of the horsepower arms race with a bit of intelligent lightweight engineering — sounds like a Lotus, no? More compact than it looks in the pictures, a situation enhanced by its flat burgundy color scheme, the 4C is awesomely desirable, offering a middle ground between a Lotus Elise and a Porsche Boxster. We'd happily junk the fancy interior if Alfa could get this into production at a sensible price.
 |
| VW Combi Bulli |
Peace, love and pass the — well, you know. The VW Bulli pulls at the heart strings of baby boomers and patchouli-oil-loving hippies with fond memories of the old VW Microbus. It has been 10 years since the people's carmaker introduced its last Combi concept, and this one looks far more likely to make it to production than that one did. It's more compact than the original, but packaging is still remarkably good, with passengers sitting three abreast on bench seats that will prove perfect at drive-in movies.
 |
| Rolls-Royce 102EX |
An electric Rolls-Royce? Bizarre, indeed. The British superluxury-car manufacturer has thrown the V12 engine and transmission out of the Phantom saloon and replaced it with the biggest battery pack in Christendom. The 102 EX's 96-cell lithium-ion battery pack powers two electric motors that can deliver almost 400 horsepower and that can propel this big beastie to 60 mph in less than eight seconds. No one seems quite sure yet how far it will go on a single charge. But then, is a Rolls-Royce really practical?
 |
| Saab PhoeniX |
This imposing, bulky coupe is unlike any Saab you've ever seen. Yet the more you stare at it, the more definitive Saab details catch the eye. We love the nod towards Saab's fighter-plane heritage, even if the winglets alongside the rear window ultimately look daft. It's outlandish, as concepts often are, and the rear end has way too many LEDs. But the "aeromotional" design is striking. Hints of the 2012 9-3 are here somewhere, but where?
Source: Editorial
10 things to watch in the Daytona 500
Here are 10 things to watch once the green flag waves on NASCAR’s season opener.
1. Who is going to work with whom?
Tandem drafting makes for strange bedfellows. When hooking up with another driver, trust and car compatibility take precedence over teammates and manufacturers.
While Richard Childress Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer worked symbiotically from the first corner to the checkered flag of the second Gatorade Duel, Penske Dodge driver Kurt Busch was pushed to victory in the Bud Shootout by the Chevy of Earnhardt Ganassi’s Jamie McMurray, and Busch won the first Duel with Regan Smith pushing from behind in his Furniture Row Chevy.
Ford driver Matt Kenseth worked exceptionally well with Chevy’s Kevin Harvick, and four-time Cup champion/three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon adopted NASCAR’s latest wonder boy Trevor Bayne as a dancing partner.
No matter what happens throughout the race, in the end the winner should be determined by the driver with the best pusher.
2. How fast will they go?
NASCAR made multiple changes over the last week to the size of the restrictor plate, grille opening and pressure relief valve. But speeds still escalated to over 200 mph in Happy Hour on Saturday when the tandem of Burton and Bowyer posted a fast lap of 200.316 mph.
The high speed of 206.068 mph in Speedweeks came in the Bud Shootout — during a 50-degree night. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s again on Sunday, but it’s unlikely we’ll see speeds reach the 200 mark again.
3. Are engine malfunctions inevitable?
NASCAR’s final rule change (we believe) on Saturday afternoon to open the grille from 50 to 60 square inches was done to increase airflow and keep the engines cool.
Roush Yates Engines owner/builder Doug Yates says the longevity of the engines will be “in the drivers’ hands."
“They’ve got to watch their gauges closer than ever,” Yates said. “It’s up to the driver to get some air to the nose.”
Yates said the Ford engines were pulling 9,100 to 9,200 rpm in the Bud Shootout, which was not “a sustainable pace” for engines over 500 miles and “a huge concern” for the company. Does he anticipate engine issues on Sunday?
“We’ve seen some and we probably will,” Yates said, “especially if the drivers let the temperatures get out of control or if the cooling systems exceed their capacity and then have to come back down and operate the rest of the day, which is really tricky and something we have to be on top of.”
4. Will the yellow-line rule come into play?
In the Bud Shootout, Denny Hamlin learned quickly that NASCAR is serious about enforcing the yellow-line rule. Hamlin was black-flagged for going below the yellow line in an attempt to improve his position on the track when he broke the draft from Ryan Newman and attempted to pass on the inside. He was scored 12th.
Hamlin subsequently lobbied NASCAR to lift the rule on the final lap — to no avail. Before the Gatorade Duels, NASCAR restated the rule, adding that one driver pushing another below the yellow line could be penalized as well.
5. How will pit strategy be affected?
Pit road has always been an area where teams can pick up a distinct advantage.
However, with the new fueling systems the trick has been to get as much gas into the tank — and not spill any excess on pit road. Fuel is at a premium, particularly with the new pavement allowing drivers to skip pit stops for tires altogether. One crew chief joked he could go the entire race without pitting for tires — the Goodyears are just that good. Most of the pit stops on Sunday will be ‘gas-n-go’ with teams likely picking up fresh rubber around lap 100, unless the driver experiences a cut tire.
6. Which manufacturer has an advantage?
The Ford engines provided by Roush Yates and the Richard Childress Racing engines built by Earnhardt Childress Racing excel in both power and cooling.
Fords proved to be excellent pushers throughout the previous events in Speedweeks. How they’ll perform in the lead position remains to be seen, although the tandem of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle has been stout.
While the Hendrick Motorsports teams worked diligently on their cooling systems on Friday, the RCR cars — particularly Burton and Bowyer — appear to be unstoppable.
7. Will Hendrick’s crew swap pay dividends?
When Rick Hendrick announced on the Tuesday after last season’s finale at Homestead that he was swapping three of his crews (the Nos. 5, 24 and 88) immediately, the move seemed dramatic but necessary.
After three months — and a taste of competition at Daytona — Hendrick acknowledged on Friday that he’s happy with the decision.
“I like it,” Hendrick said. “I like all of it. I think it’s good.” Hendrick cited “the chemistry of listening to them on the radio — Junior being here in the garage area when it opens and being with the team when they go through inspection.
“That’s sign enough for me that everybody is motivated to do the best they can. I’m convinced that we’re going to have a good year. I think it was the right move.”
While the No. 48 Lowe’s combination of driver Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec stayed intact, Knaus opted to upgrade his pit crew and add a second squad to be shared with the No. 88 team. Sunday will be their official points-race debut.
8. Who’s the favorite?
Certainly, the sentimental favorite for Sunday’s Daytona 500 will be polesitter Dale Earnhardt Jr. For those conspiracy theorists who expected the No. 88 to be leading the race on Lap 3, as fans stand in honor of the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s passing, that storyline dissolved after Junior destroyed his car during the first practice on Wednesday.
Still, only three other active drivers — Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon — have led more laps at Daytona than Junior’s 386 circuits. Stewart tops that list with 640 laps led in Cup competition at Daytona. With the momentum of winning four consecutive Nationwide races — and calling his time in Saturday’s Nationwide DRIVE4COPD 300 just another practice session — it might be difficult not to side with Smoke.
Yet after watching Kurt Busch’s victories in both the Bud Shootout and his Gatorade Duel, it would be difficult to count him out.
9. What ceremonies are planned to honor Dale Earnhardt?
For sports fans, it would have been difficult to get through the month of February without seeing a story on the late Dale Earnhardt. From Dale Jr. winning the pole position for both the Bud Shootout and Daytona 500 to Friday’s Truck race winner Michael Waltrip reminiscing about his friend, the Intimidator has been the theme of the 53rd Daytona 500.
Daytona International Speedway is expected to paint a giant No. 3 on the front stretch for Sunday and fans will stand on the third lap to commemorate the seven-time champ’s passing. Should Junior or one of the Richard Childress Racing teams win, expect the grandstands to go wild.
10. Where do you want to be on final lap?
Throughout Speedweeks the “pusher” or control car in the tandem draft has yet to figure out the slingshot move that would enable it to take the lead coming out of Turn 4 on the final lap of the Shootout or either Duel.
“As a race car driver, all of us know where we need to be and where we want to be, but you have to figure out how to get yourself there,” said Bowyer, who pushed Burton to a win on Thursday. And getting yourself into that situation so you can have a shot at winning, he said, is “a lot harder than it looks.
“If it was the 500 I would have made a little more attempt at winning than I did there. But you don’t know.”
Stewart admits he used Saturday’s Nationwide race as a test session. In his first two Cup outings, Stewart finished 11th in the Shootout and 12th in the first Duel. Where does Smoke want to line up for the final lap?
“That's the part that is hard,” Stewart said. “You would think after all the time we've been here this week, you'd have a game plan on where to be. I don't know that you're going to have that luxury of saying, ‘This is where I want to be.’
“I just think you're going to have to make that decision as it's unfolding. We didn't know when we took the white flag; we were fifth and sixth when we took the white flag. Who would have ever guessed we would have had a shot to get ’em by the time we got to Turn 3? I don't know that anybody's going to be able to dictate where they want to be. I think the scenarios are going to play out. You're either going to be in the right spot or the wrong spot.”
Why does this Mercedes cost $500,000?
 |
| 2011 Maybach 62 S |
 |
| 2011 Maybach 62 S |
The Maybach received a facelift last year, and small changes were made to the exterior, including a larger chrome-radiator grille in front, more aerodynamic mirrors, new wheels — with 12-spoke 20-inch alloy hubcaps painted in a sterling silver color for the Maybach 52S and 62S — and daytime LED driving headlights (daytime driving lights are mandatory on cars sold in the European Union; but experts disagree on whether they cut down on the rate of traffic fatalities). Of all the Maybach models available in Hong Kong, the 62S has the most powerful engine. Oh, and the “S” stands for “special.”
The 62S was a popular Christmas gift among Hong Kongers, according to the dealership, and all 60 of its available models sold out in eight months. Now, there is an eight-month waiting list for the car.
At the Maybach dealership in Hong Kong — a decked-out space with a terrace overlooking Repulse Bay and an open bar — senior manager Karin Hoo explains why the car costs seven figures.
More colors: Buyers can choose from 18 different exterior colors, including the newest Maybach “New Bahamas Blue” (a dark sky blue). That’s four more than the standard number offered in Mercedes Benz models. Of course, as with all luxury cars, the Maybach can be painted any color under the rainbow for an extra fee.
 |
| 2011 Maybach 62 S |
Back-seat recliner: Most Maybach owners rarely sit in the front seat of their car; they have chauffeurs. Fashioned after first-class airplane seating, the Maybach back seat reclines to a nearly flat position and comes with a leg rest and tray table on the side “That’s why they call the Maybach a ‘jet on wheels,’” Ms. Hoo says. The back seat has 84.5 centimeters of legroom.
Perfume atomizer: Forget about those paper air fresheners that hang on the rearview mirror. Each Maybach 62S is fitted with a perfume atomizer — built into the air-conditioning vent. That’s guaranteed not to stain the fine leather interior or your (no doubt) bespoke or haute couture clothing, of course. Swiss flavor and scent manufacturer Givaudan custom-blended two scents just for the Maybach: a citrus-y green tea and more-masculine agarwood.
An extra meter: Most Mercedes S-series models are roughly five meters long; the Maybach 62S — as its name denotes — is 6.2 meters. “We name the car in the same way boats are named after their length,” Ms. Hoo says.
A glass roof: With the press of a button, the glass roof changes from opaque to clear to let in more light (it’s made from a liquid-crystal membrane of conductive polymer plastic, and an electric current in the crystals changes the view). Another button triggers a cover to close over the glass roof completely.
Lighting: Turn on the side LED lights, along the edge of the window, for softer interior lighting. “The idea is to have just the right ambience the owner prefers,” Ms. Hoo says.
Engine: With a 12-cylinder, 630-horsepower engine, the Maybach 62S can hit 100 kilometers an hour in just five seconds (that’s a second faster than most luxury sports cars). It can hit a maximum speed of 250 kilometers an hour. The Maybach name, in fact, comes from engineer Wilhelm Maybach, who designed the engines of the first Mercedes.
Entertainment system: Two 9.5-inch flat-screen monitors are installed in the back of the front seats. The monitors can play DVDs or connect to the Internet through the car’s built-in WLAN wireless connection. Sound is surround: 21 speakers, designed by Bose, are strategically placed throughout the car for what Ms. Hoo calls “concert-hall quality.” And everything is controlled via a center console with a remote control in the back and front seats.
Customizable add-ons: “Each Maybach is meant to be bespoke, and personalized to the customer’s own preferences,” Ms. Hoo says. Ask and you shall receive, the dealership says, from adding your family crest to the seats to installing a minibar in the back. But there isn’t a list of “extras” from which to choose — it’s up to the customer to ask. Previous add-ons have included the family crests etched onto the glass, fax machines and cigar humidors.
Read More: Yahoo
Lawmakers says she learned a lot at Hooters
