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The UK's Channel 5's Fifth Gear program did a crash test of a Ford Focus traveling at 120 mph into a concrete wall. It was billed as the "fastest car crash test ever on Earth." Mannequins were used for the crash test instead of expensive crash test dummies. A large wench was used to propel the car towards the concrete wall. There wasn't much left of the compressed vehicle after impact except for the rear end. You can watch the full five minute episode here. Take a look:
We already mentioned the 2012 Ferarri FF, Bespoke. Another vehicle in this year's Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Book is the Neiman Marcus-Edition Hacker-Craft Speedboat. The 27-foot, solid mahogany speedboat is handmade in the U.S. The boat is powered by a Mercury Marine 8.2 High Output 425-horsepower engine-CE. The customized interior includes cream-colored seating with purple piping, a monogrammed humidor, refrigerator, GPS, and premium stereo sound system. The boat costs $250,000. Take a look:
You can find more of the luxury gifts in this year's Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Book here on shoppingblog.com.
The 2012 Ferarri FF, Bespoke is the car featured in the luxury gifts section of the Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Booke. The Ferrari FF jumps from 0 to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds and reaches top speeds of over 200. It features 651-horsepower and a V12 engine, a proprietary, lightweight 4WD system, as well as a 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission for seamless automatic shifting. The interior features soft-touch, semi-aniline leather with a matching custom luggage set. The vehicle costs $395,000.00. Take a look:
You can find a list of more of the luxury gifts in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book here.
Commuters driving on Interstate 95 in Northern Virgina recorded video footage of a tornado as it passed over the highway. The cars on the highway were showered with debris as the tornado passed. The Washington Postreports that there were a total of seven tornadoes in the region. Note: There is lots of swearing. Take a look:
Phoenix was hit by yet another dust storm today. The storm led to a pileups on I-10 involving dozens of cars. At least one person was killed in the accidents. The blinding dust made it impossible for people to see the cars in front of them. Take a look:
Michelin has announced its support of the Project 56 DeltaWing prototype car in the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Designed by former Lola Cars chief designer Ben Bowlby, the DeltaWing car is currently being constructed by Dan Gurney at the All American Racers facilities in Santa Ana, Calif.
Michelin says it has developed a tire solution that pushes the performance envelope and matches the DeltaWing strategy to reduce by half the weight, power, aerodynamic drag, and fuel and tire usage of a Le Mans prototype race car - while delivering the same speed and performance. The Michelin tire sizes for the DeltaWing project are: 10/58-15 (front) and 31/62-15 (rear).
ick Shorrock, director of competition, Michelin, says, "The DeltaWing presents exciting new territory for Michelin to explore. Reducing energy consumption and materials - while maintaining, or even enhancing performance - is especially relevant in meeting the needs of consumers worldwide. Project 56 takes fresh ideas and puts them into a dramatic new package and we look forward to these challenges and opportunities."
CNET's Car Tech editor Brian Cooley viewed the sleek red Ford EVOS concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. Cooley says the face of the Ford EVOS could appear on a future Ford car.
Cloud services connected to the car could enable you to turn things on and off inside your house on your way home. This kind of technology screams security issues, but they are something that will be available in cars of the near future. Take a look:
Here is another video of the Ford EVOS that gives you a look at the foor doors that lift up separately. Take a look:
Parker Brothers Choppers created a real life version of the Light Cycle from Tron: Legacy. Riders lay at a near-horizontal position just like in the film. The vehicle is powered by a Suzuki 996cc, 4-stroke engine. The bike can theoretically attain speeds of up to 120 mph. The bike is being sold for $55,000 by Hammacher Schlemmer. You can find the product page here. Take a look:
Hurricane Irene is currently barreling toward the North Carolina coast. It is expected to continue to the North or North Northeast and will impact the populated mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Over 2.5 million people have been ordered to evacuated low-lying areas from NC to New England. Over 550,00 of the evacuations are in New York City and Long Island.
MSNBC reports that all these sudden evacuations are causing traffic jams - some of them are as long as 20 miles. MSNBC also reports that there are service stations in New Jersey and other states running out of gasoline. WFMZ in also reporting major traffic jams from people trying to exit the New Jersey shore.
Coda Holdings has announced that it has entered into an agreement to develop electric vehicles with China's Great Wall Motor Company. Great Wall has three vehicle lines: Haval SUV, Voleex Sedan, Wingle Pickup and MPV wagon.
The Coda EV propulsion system has a 36kWh battery pack that sits between the front and rear axle. This is with a 134 horsepower motor, regenerative braking system, and air-cooled active thermal management system. Coda says its Coda sedan can get 120 to 150 driving miles per charge.
The Alfa Romeo 4C is reportedly going to be the first Alfa Romeo car for the sports car's return to the U.S. in 2012. The 4C debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011. The car has a compact shape. Autoblog says the vehicle is less than 8 feet long.
CNET notes that some Maserati dealerships carry 8C models already.
Ford has released details about the 2012 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150. The new truck will feature snakeskin leather interior accents and a bodyside graphic. Other new design features include 22-inch machined-aluminum wheels with painted accents. There is also a new premium exterior color choice – White Platinum Tri-Coat. Autoweek has a photo of the white version of the truck here.
The truck is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine. It has a maximum trailer towing capability of 7,500 pounds. Other features incldue power moonroof, rear view camera, second-row heated seats, ambient lighting, remote start system, 110-volt power inverter and power-adjustable performance pedals.
A traffic jam in northern China is ridiculously long. It stretches for 62 miles and may take days to clear. Reuters says a traffic jam last summer stranded drivers for nine days. That is absurd. Take a look:
Here is a ridiculous and potentially dangerous record. A record was set for the most cars performing donuts simultaneously. The cars had to perform donuts for a full ten seconds. 66 cars were at the start of the record attempt and 57 drivers completed the required donuts at Queensland Raceway (Australia) at the Queensland Raceway in Willowbank, Australia. The previous record was 29. Take a look:
