Art Center Car Classic celebrates on automotive design

 

 

Anyone from the Art Center will tell you that the Car Classic is not a concours event, but rather a display of automotive art. As a result, the selection of cars is fairly eclectic and the vehicles are strewn about the campus lawn in a rather unorganized fashion. While the layout may not be as photogenic, it makes it easy to wander through the sea of cars and simply enjoy each and every one.

Each Car Classic does have a theme, though, and for 2011 the event celebrated Southern California's influence on automotive design. In addition to the Art Center producing some of the world's most famous automotive designers, more than twenty advanced automotive design studios call the area home, several of which brought recent concept cars to display. There were also special displays for California hot rods and California beach culture as well as cars designed by Peter Brock. The Petersen Automotive Museum and Mullin Museum also brought out cars from their impressive collections. You can see a sample of the cars in attendance in the high-res gallery above. 

Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 lines up against Suzuki GSX1300R

 

We're not touching the car vs. bike argument this time around. Instead, we're just going to sit back, relax, and be glad people had their video cameras pointed in the general direction of the Suzuki GSX1300R (known better as the Hayabusa) and the Nissan GT-R Switzer R850 as they lined up against each other in a mile-long drag race.

According to the video, the Hayabusa in question belts out 198 horsepower. That's a heck of a lot of power strapped between two wheels, but it pales in comparison to the 850 claimed ponies routed to all four tires of the modified GT-R.

So... what does that mean in terms of a drag race? We suggest you watch the clip after the break to find out for yourself.

A quarter of the total Car Accident in the U.S. because Berponsel

Attention and also a warning to motorists who have a habit of using mobile phones while driving. According to the Road Safety Association of Governors (Governors Highway Safety Association / GHSA) in the United States, from advanced research ever reported by 350 posts since 2000, 25 percent of the total vehicle accidents because drivers are bertelpon.

Then, almost half the time of activity a day of driving distracted by many things (including calling), resulting in minor injuries to loss of life. Very fatal, was driving when making a short message (SMS).

"Although more posts related to driver distraction, there are still many things we do not know. It should be more research done to find solutions to reduce or eliminate them," said GHSA Executive Director Barbara Harsha, as reported by autoevolution (12 / 7).

The results also showed that there was no certainty of hands-free use can reduce the risk of road accidents. Including the prohibition of pro-sms while driving succeeded in reducing the level of road accidents. To that end, GHSA recommends a total ban on new rules for motorists using mobile phones while driving.

The action came into force in several U.S. states, including 30 states in the district of Colombia has established this rule. Furthermore, 41 states including Washington DC started banning new sms on the road.

Man creates world's only turbine-powered Batmobile

Turbine-powered Batmobile

Having a real-life Batmobile in your driveway sounds like a fun idea. Upon closer inspection, however, it's not going to be that exciting. Most often, Batmobile replicas are powered by something like a junkyard-salvaged General Motors 350, featuring an interior reminiscent of a hastily cobbled together 24 Hours of LeMons racer. A man by the name of Casey Putsch decided he wanted a Batmobile to call his own, but he wasn't ready to settle for second-rate.

This particular Putsch is the same man behind Putsch Racing, an outfit that restores, designs and appraises all manner of items automotive. When we said that Casey Putsch wasn't going to settle for a low-rent Batmobile, we meant it. Instead, Putsch has assembled what he says is the only turbine-powered Batmobile in the world.

Under the long hood of Putsch's Batmobile sits a Boeing turboshaft engine plucked from a naval drone helicopter. The power output is rated at 385 horses, which is good for a vehicle that weighs around 2,800 pounds.

Besides the engine upgrade, this Batmobile has an interior that would make Bruce Wayne nod approvingly. That's all you can hope for really, since it's impossible to make Mr. Wayne jealous. Putsch strapped an Apple iPad into the center stack of his super(hero)car, which then acts as his avionics system and also supplies GPS information.

We have footage of Casey Putsch driving his creation available for you after the jump, which is worth it for the sound alone. We also have a handful of photos in the gallery below. Be sure to check out Todd Cooperider's website for more information on this mad machine.

2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler

2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler

It weighs just 1,090 pounds, chuffs out 115 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, and can launch to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. Oh, and you definitely feel every bit of it.

The 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler is a decidedly modernized homage to the trike that inspired it. Beginning back in 1909, this British tripod evolved through a succession of V-twin engines, culminating in 1953, when the last of the original Morgan three-wheeled "cyclecars" rolled off the line in Malvern Link. By that time, a four-cylinder Ford engine good for up to 32 hp was also available, but it's the V-twin's legacy through 1946 that has always carried the most significance for aficionados of the three-tire flyer.

Words like "fun" don't even begin to describe what it is that would lead a North American enthusiast to spend north of $50,000 to secure a Morgan 3 Wheeler. (Note that whereas the original cars went through some variants in the official writing of the name, the new car is to be written exclusively as "Morgan 3 Wheeler" – so say the adamant company spokespeople). People who simply must have this heated runabout are incurably sick with a British disease. They love getting rained on at 70 mph, the persistent smell of dairy cattle cannot deter them from a vigorous country drive and $50,000 borders on a small price to pay for the pure handmade exhilaration of a proper trike. Yep, they're nuts.

That apparently means we're nuts, too, because after taking this journey into deepest Worcestershire and tearing around the UK's storybook Malvern Hills, darting through the pelting rain and cruising in the glistening sun between cloudy spells, we desperately want one of these beautifully useless 3 Wheelers.

Gallery: 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler: First Drive

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DiRT 3 goes vintage rally with new Monte Carlo track pack

DiRT 3 Monte Carlo Track Pack

If you're a fan of racing video games, you might have purchased a copy of DiRT 3. The game features a variety of machines and tracks, yet some might still want more. Codemasters aims to please with its latest downloadable content add-on: the Monte Carlo Track Pack.

The Monte Carlo pack will cost Xbox users 800 Microsoft points. PS3 users need to shell out $9.99. Either way, that buys you eight new rally stages filled with hairy, snow-covered mountain passes in the Alps, including the legendary Col de Turini.

Click past the jump to watch some video highlights of the new tracks.

Chinese police caught rebadging Mercedes as Honda to avoid taxpayer ire

Perhaps there was once a time when the Chinese citizenry couldn't tell the difference between a Mercedes-Benz and a Honda. In today's car-crazy China, however, this is clearly no longer the case. That didn't stop police in Fangchenggang (part of Guangxi Province) from performing a low-tech badge swap on a Mercedes-Benz ML350 in a bid to make it look like a run-of-the-mill Honda, right down to CR-V emblem on the rear liftgate.

Car News China reports that the police did it to fool taxpayers into thinking that the department didn't spend big bucks on a Benz. An ML350 reportedly costs around 900,000 yuan ($139,000 USD), which is a lot more than Honda CR-V, which runs around 200,000 yuan ($30,000 or so). As you may have guessed, the ridiculous (and failed) cover-up attempt by the cops angered residents whole lot more than if they'd simply rolled out, baller style, in the Mercedes from the beginning.

Netherlands' worst driver proves it in graphic

We've seen some pretty bad ideas for reality TV shows come to fruition, but they all pale in comparison to De Allerslechtste chauffeur van Nederland? (Who Is The Worst Driver In The Netherlands?) – a concept that takes bad drivers and puts them behind the wheel in a series of contests.

Show organizers apparently got their answer when a contestant identified as Pim mistook the accelerator for the brake, veered off course, took his hands from the wheel, covered his eyes, struck a car and ran down both a camera man and the show's host. By some small miracle, no one was seriously injured in the episode, though host Ruben Nicolai spent some time in the hospital as a result of Pim's excursion.

Strangely enough, the show shoved two passengers into the car with Pim for his stunt. Neither of the two ladies were harmed in his off-course adventure despite the fact that he hit a staff car hard enough to shatter the windshield in his Volvo and blow the airbags. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Unique New York Taxi

New Car Info - Also touted as the world's busiest city, New York is also famous with the nickname City Taxi. Thousands of yellow taxi (yellow cab) become synonymous with "The Big Apple" for being one of the mainstay of transportation in this city.
Well, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (Taxi and Limousine Commission / TLC) New York is looking for a substitute candidate shaped sedan taxi orthodox. Competition is done by open tender, and has been rolling since the middle of this year.
Of the thousands of participants register candidates, selected the three finalists competing for the contract with TLC, at least for 10 years. Of the three finalists, there is a Turkish manufacturer Karsan OTOMOTIV competing with other finalists, namely the Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Company.
"Yellow Taxi is one of the icons of New York and has become an important part of the means of mass transportation. We plan to create a new fleet in the city is safer, environmentally friendly, and comfortable than they are today, "said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Karsan OTOMOTIV multigunanya V1 product displays showed the most prominent of the other candidates. The shape of the van and has advantages for the disabled passenger access. However, TLC Chief David Yassky said that while interesting, but Karsan OTOMOTIV still minimal experience in terms of production and selling cars in the U.S..
Ford Transit Connect models rely produced in Turkey. Compact van is widely known because it is commonly used in Europe. In addition, the Transit Connect also named North American Truck of the Year 2010 at the Detroit Auto Show, earlier this year.

World's Most Dangerous Car

New Car Info - A nonprofit agency in charge of driver safety in the United States, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), recently issued a list of the most dangerous vehicles so far this year.
   

Most Dangerous Cars From a number of collision tests (crash-test) done IIHS stated, lower-class sedan vehicles most at risk during a fatal accident. Chevrolet Aveo, Chrysler PT Cruiser was blamed for a car that has the worst crash-test ratings in their class. Especially the impact of the current side impact and rear crash.

Chevrolet Aveo IIHS enter and Chrysler PT Cruiser in the Cadillac STS and the Mercury Grand Marquis as the most dangerous vehicle in 2010.
In the crash-test using the 2010 model cars, the team found at least 28 points in the trauma caused by collision ahead, and traumatized by 37 points on each side impact tests.
The worst rating is a car that caused the most trauma. Each point of trauma obtained judgments based on specific parameters depending on the region.
"The cars on our list has exceeded all Federal safety standards (U.S.)," said Russ Rader, IIHS spokesman as reported by Forbes. "Automaker has really taken over safety."
Not only that, the IIHS also included two-door Jeep Wrangler and four doors on their special list. In the crash-test conducted, the Wrangler has made a traumatized passengers from side impact. "When compared to its competitors, the Wrangler made ill during an impact with the side door," said David Zuby, senior vice president of vehicle research IIHS.
Zuby said, in an accident, the vehicle with a heavier mass will be better than small vehicles. 5500 Chevrolet Tahoe with a weight of pounds (2,750 kg) will beat the Nissan Micra that only weighs 1,000 pounds.

Car Iranian President

The Iranian president will be auctioning one of his most precious item - a white Peugeot 504 car output in 73. The results of the auction will be donated to poor families in Tehran
Family car, which is a source of pride to the Iranian president during these years, will be put on the market or auctioned, and proceeds will be donated to poor families who need housing assistance.
Welfare Minister Sadik Mahsoul Iran on Sunday said the vehicles 'ancient' Ahmadinejad's is expected to be up for international auction, adding that details of the bid opening will be disclosed.
Azam Farahi, Ahmadinejad's wife, will be one person who will offer the car because the car is legally registered under his name.
Peugeot 504 saloon car Ahmadinejad is known by many Iranians. During the election campaign in 2005, he used antique cars to attract support from voters in the community under the Iranian people.
In addition to his car, Ahmadinejad is often proud of the simple cushion in southern Tehran, and of course including the color has faded jacket that she often used everywhere, which he claims to be purchased at the local bazaar.
Money from his antique car auction will be submitted to the Mehr Foundation - a foundation of government that provide housing solutions for poor families. Iran, like Israel, has suffered in recent years due to housing shortage and rising real estate prices - especially in big cities like Tehran.

But to question the principle of religious belief, of course there is a special note to himself that adopts 12 Shiite Imams who firmly mengkafirkan its main allies and dared to make sure they all go to hell. Naudzubillah. (FQ / Ynet)