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  1. If you live in China (or plan to go there in the near future) and you have extra amount of money to spend, you may want to consider buying yourself a luxury coupe from German automaker BMW. Introduced for the first time back at this year's Detroit Motor Show, BMW is planning to start selling the M6 Gran Coupe in a wide range of countries, including China where the model has already made its debut. Let me remind you, to me, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe is nothing less than a very luxurious four-door coupe that will not hesitate to take you to the century sprint in only 4.2 seconds. Under its hood, the coupe packs a 4.4-litre twin-turbo engine which has the capability of delivering the power of no less than 560 horses in addition to 680Nm of torque in total. In order to sell the model in the origin country of pandas, the German automaker has teamed up with Brilliance, a local company, and they both have planned big things for the said coupe. Well, last but not least, as far as the price tag is concerned, BMW is demanding 2,390,000 yuan (around S$493,000) in exchange for a M6 Gran Coupe. Well, are you interested?
  2. It's only natural for today's children, even toddlers, to play with their parents' smartphones, at least so it seems. Even my 2-year old niece is used to playing her mother's iPad. Well, most of the time, nothing of a big deal would actually happen as she would only play games or watch some videos on the tablet. However, it seems that this toddler seen in the video is just one step ahead of other kids of her age in terms of being tech savvy. While playing with his Dad's smartphone, Sorella Stoute (a 13-month old toddler living in Portland, Oregon, America) happened to successfully place a bid - which she finally won - on eBay for a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite! When eBay sent the car to Paul Stoute, the toddler's father, he was all shocked as he had never even placed any bid on the '62 Austin. He also wrote to eBay mentioning that it was his daughter who accidentally placed that bid, which later caused the auction site to consider the previous highest bidder. However, when eBay mentioned that Paul's daughter had such an eye for a nice car, he changed his mind and borrowed some money from his family to pay for the car. Now, what Paul has in mind is to place the car as a gift for her daughter's 16th birthday. He has also set up a website from which people can donate some money to help him fix the car before her daughter finally reaches 16. One great thing about the car I'll have to say is that despite it being made back in 1962, it has almost no rust on it, at least that's what Paul noted on his website. For your information, though, the car would need its roof, brakes, transmission, and engine replaced if Paul really wants to give his daughter a working car on her 16th birthday. The car costs $225 in total and Stoute mentioned that it was lucky for him that his daughter didn't happen to buy the Porsche he was also looking at on the auction site before his daughter tampered with his smartphone. Had the 13-month old bought the Porsche instead, Stoute would have had to pay a total of $38,000! It seems that this is really going to be a good lesson to remind us never to leave our smartphones unattended. As for Stoute, he has now secured his smartphone with a new PIN and also a face recognition application. Seriously, how many toddlers can share their pride of having actually carried out online shopping successfully?! Photo credit: CBS News
  3. Nickelodeon and Toyota have collaborated together for the first SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired vehicle. The SpongeBob 2014 Toyota Highlander will feature a custom SpongeBob-themed exterior and an interior design that captures the character's high-octane energy and his eye-blinding yellow colour. While I used to be a fan of the show in my younger days, I would not go to the extent of wrapping my vehicle with his square jawed face. Especially the headrests. They look freaky and I have no idea what kind of a kid would enjoy a ride in a yellow car with a face on the headrest. The one-of-a-kind (thankfully) concept is based on the new highlander and was unveiled on July 13th, during Nickelodeon's SpongeBob Day at the Padres vs. Giants game in California. The car will embark on a tour for a "Happy Driving!" promotional tour throughout the U.S.A, bringing SpongeBob's special brand of fun to seven locations across the country. As part of the "Happy Driving!" campaign, the SpongeBob Toyota Highlander will visit seven locations, from July 19th to December 9th. These events will feature character meet-and-greets and photo opportunities and a prize wheel where kids and families can win exclusive prizes. Fans can go to the Nickelodeon, SpongeBob and Patrick Facebook pages to see photos of the SpongeBob Highlander's road trip and the intricate design details of the vehicle. The redesigned 2014 Highlander made its global debut on late March at the New York Auto Show this year. Toyota claims the 2014 Highlander has plenty of cargo room, enhanced safety features and a sophisticated interior
  4. It seems that neither is there a perfect automaker or a perfect car. As the saying goes, "Nobody is perfect". You see, even such a huge and highly reputable automaker as Toyota can sometime overlook things while manufacturing its cars. The Japanese automaker has made an announcement in which it states its plan to recall 185,000 cars in total globally. Yes, that means that some of the Toyota cars on our shores will be affected by the recall as well. The recall is said to involve the Toyota Yaris (also known as the Vitz in some regions) from the 2010 to 2012 model years. In addition to those, the Ractis and Verso-S from the 2010 to 2011 model years will also be recalled. It is said that this global recall is due to a power steering failure. Toyota mentions that in case water happens to reach the inside of the power steering module, a short circuit could take place and the power steering will fail, forcing the driver to give more efforts while trying to turn the steering wheel. The Japanese automaker also mentions that when the failure emerges, the cars in question will switch on the Electronic Power Steering warning indicator as well as give out a buzzing sound. The recall affects 130,000 Toyota cars in Japan itself, 22,450 cars in Europe, 74 cars in the U.S., and the remaining 32476 cars in other parts of the world. So, if you own a Toyota, prepare yourself for the recall as the Japanese automaker will mail you (besides other Toyota owners, of course) and your dealer will be more than happy (well, they should, anyway) to replace your power steering module. While most automakers will normally recall their cars due to some safety issues, it's nice to see that Toyota recalls its cars due to some issues that are more likely comfort-oriented, as a power steering system is not absolutely needed to drive a car. You see, in the old days, cars didn't have this particular feature at all. But of course, most of us will feel like something's missing if we drive a car without a power steering feature these days.
  5. It seems that ignorant - or, more appropriately, dumb - people are just everywhere in this world, even at the recent Pikes Peak motorsport event. Some people just figured that it was best for them to cross the road while racer Sebastien Loeb was approaching when they were actually supposed to be standing calmly on the sides of the road. Well, taking a look at the image, what comes to your mind? An image represents a thousand words, they say. However, to me, there's only one possible word to come to my mind, which is, dumb, and it echoes, like, a thousand times. You see, Loeb was cruising in a Peugeot bearing an engine with a total power output of 875bhp and the people in question just thought it was okay to cross the Pikes Peak International Highway when such a super powered car was coming. Moreover, they were crossing the road at a turn and Loeb couldn't have possibly seen them at such an angle. Oh geez, how dumber can they be? Nonetheless, I believe those people must have been blessed as they got away unharmed. Fortunately, Loeb was unharmed, too, as he didn't seem to have to avoid those people and he could continue with his quest for victory.
  6. After all the spy photos, the guessing game has come to an end as Mazda unveils the 2014 Mazda3. Sporting the brand's 'KODO' design language, the new "3" has a similar fascia as its bigger brother, the Mazda6. The bulging wheel arches, dual exhaust pipes and black insert at the rear bumper add an aggressive touch. The Mazda3 hatchback measures 4,465mm by 1,795mm by 1,450mm (L x W x H) with a wheelbase that spans 2,700mm. This makes the car longer than class rivals such as the Toyota Auris, Ford Focus and VW Golf. A sedan version would be launched at a later date. In the U.S., the new Mazda 3 is available with a 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G that produces 155bhp and 203Nm of torque or a 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G developing 184bhp and 250Nm of torque. Both models can be chosen with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. In other parts of the world, the new Mazda3 will be offered with an initial choice of three petrol engines and a diesel power plant. These include a 99bhp 1.5-litres petrol, two 2.0-litre petrol with 118bhp or 163bhp and the 148bhp 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D. The 1.5-litre and higher-powered 2.0-litre units are only available with a six-speed manual transmission. The Mazda3 has an array of safety systems which include High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Obstruction Warning, Smart City Brake Support and Radar Cruise Control. Stopping power is provided by ventilated front and solid rear discs. The new model is supported by a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear setup.
  7. Mazda has collaborated with Microsoft to launch a new model on the Xbox consoles. The launch will take place in New York on 26th June and will be broadcasted via Xbox Live. Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. Mazda is keeping mum on the new model but it would most likely be the all new 2014 Mazda3. This is an important model for the Hiroshima automaker as it is their bread-and-butter car. "It's a digitally connected world, so what better way to reach our customers than through a connected platform like Xbox. We were looking for a way to launch a global product and tie together our five separate reveals (in Melbourne, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, London, and New York City). Xbox not only gave us the platform, but allowed us to leverage our digital assets to drive a global audience to view the event," commented Russel Wager, Mazda (US) Vice President of Marketing. Separately, a photo (above) of the new Mazda3 without camouflage has appeared on a Russian Facebook account. It seemed authentic and matches the styling details of the camouflaged prototypes that were captured before. But it wouldn't be long before we see the actual product.
  8. An unusual mishap took place quite recently in Aransas Pass, Texas, USA. On Wednesday, 19th June 2013, an unexpecting police officer got bitten by a monkey as he was trying to give a ticket to the driver of a speeding car, in which a monkey was riding in. The traffic policeman, Keith Moore, 21, got his hand attacked by the monkey - which probably became outraged seeing its driver being given the ticket - right when he was trying to ask the driver to sign on the speeding ticket. The officer, shocked by the attack, went back and reported it to his fellow police officer - who also happened to be his sergeant - who was waiting in the police car behind the car being pulled over. As it turned out, Moore wasn't the only one shocked as his sergeant's reaction was also the same as his. Moore told Kris TV that his sergeant thought he got stung by a bee at first. It was when Moore was walking back to his sergeant that he could tell him more clearly that it was a monkey that attacked him and that monkey just came out of nowhere. Well, you see, how is a police officer supposed to expect that there would be a monkey, or even any other animal, sitting at the back of a car? Despite the attack, Keith Moore carried on his work and gave the old man - who was driving the car the monkey was in - the ticket all the same. Later on, it was discovered that the monkey was actually kind of a celebrity and one which was normally quite friendly, too. It was a circus monkey, a professional in posing for pictures in carnivals and festivals. Well, in that case, the monkey probably just doesn't like to see its driver getting pulled over and given a ticket as it was in a rush to its performance. As for Moore, who was a rookie police officer, it seems that he had gotten a story to share with everyone back in the police base.
  9. For BMW fans, the highly anticipated BMW 4 Series Coupe has been revealed. The 4 Series is the successor to the current 3 Series Coupe. In the U.S.A, the 4 Series is available with two variants, namely the 428i and the 435i. Both models have an all wheel drive setup. The 420d will be available only in Europe at the moment. The 428i is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four that churns out 245bhp. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, it takes 5.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100km/h before hitting an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h. The higher-spec 435i comes with the 306bhp N55 3.0-litre engine and reaches 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds with the eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 420d will be fitted with the 184bhp four-cylinder diesel and is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. The century sprint takes around 7.3 to 7.5 seconds. BMW offers three different styling packages which includes a sport package with gloss black accents, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels; a luxury package with chrome accents, leather seats and high-gloss wood trim; an M Sport package with an aerodynamic body kit, 18-inch M-style wheels, sports suspension, high-performance brakes and M-spec interior. Before we get to see the handsome coupe live in Singapore, here are a couple of photos for your viewing pleasure.
  10. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has announced that the completely redesigned 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander crossover will be the 'Official Safety Vehicle' for this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) to be held on June 30th. With advanced safety features including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), the seven seater 2014 Outlander will represent Mitsubishi in serving as the Official Safety Vehicle for this annual event. In addition to its safety technology, the Outlander is available with the company's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system that provides superior stability, traction and control - perfect for negotiating not only the numeral twists and turns of the Pikes Peak course but also the instantaneously changing harsh weather and road conditions along this high elevation route. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will also join the Outlander as a supplemental safety vehicle. These vehicles were built specifically for the race with support coming from a number of firms including BBS USA, Cobb Tuning, Kenwood USA Corporation, and Muellerized Suspension Tuning. In Mitsubishi Motors' debut in last year's running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, its innovative i-MiEV Evolution all-electric prototype racing car scored an impressive second place finish in the Electric Vehicle Division in 2013. For the 91st hill climb, Mitsubishi Motors returns with an all new, more powerful electric powered prototype racing car dubbed the MiEV Evolution II in a two-car assault, in the very capable hands of two-time Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and six-time Pikes Peak overall motorcycle champion and 2002 SCORE International off-road series champion Greg Tracy. Held in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the challenging Pikes Peak International Hill Climb features a unique road course that is 20km in length with 156 corners, commencing at an elevation of 9,390 feet and finishing at 14,110 feet. First run in 1916, this annual event is the second oldest motor race in America after the Indianapolis 500. Mitsubishi Motors will also serve as the Presenting Sponsor at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
  11. It seems that the Chinese really have a taste for pink cars. Previously, there were already quite a few cars spotted in the pinky wrap. Yet, it seems that the Chinese haven't had enough of pink cars already. Recently, another car coloured in pink was spotted again in the country where pandas come from. This time, it's the Cadillac CTS trying the colour. Well, you see, I myself would rather the car stay in its original colour than pink. The reason is quite straightforward. Somehow, the Cadillac CTS is quite a masculine car. So, can you imagine what kind of man would love to get behind the wheel of such a pink coloured Cadillac? Or, is it possible that the Chinese believe that pink is a lucky colour somehow? Well, fortunately, the car isn't entirely wrapped in pink. It still has some masculinity left intact, thanks to the black wrap extending from its engine hood to the roof and the trunk, in addition to the side mirrors. However, I really wonder whether the owner of the Cadillac CTS in question is a man or a woman. And, if the owner is a man, I wonder what kind of a man he is.
  12. Well, if you're quite a fan of car movies, especially the ones intensely packed with actions, doing some stunts in or probably around a car may sound familiar. However, we all know that you shouldn't try those kinds of stunts at home. Yet, the young teenage boy in the accompanying video doesn't seem quite knowledgeable about it. Well, either that, or he simply doesn't really agree at all that those stunts are not to be tried independently - without any safety precautions, too. You see, the young boy managed to persuade a young girl to drive a Nissan Sentra right into him at a speed that I would say is no less than 60km/h. Honestly, I don't know how he could have persuaded that young girl, keeping in mind that most girls are not bound to do something so dangerous. At first glance, I thought that this boy would definitely end up in a hospital, maybe even getting himself to the ER (Emergency Room). However, it turned out that I was totally wrong. The boy actually managed to spin in the air and come back again on his feet. Well, I think I should give the boy a thumbs up at least. However, I don't understand why the girl driving the Nissan Sentra mentioned that she couldn't drive and that she couldn't see a thing. For things to make sense, I think it should have been the boy who should have said such things. Well, it's confusing but it's also hilarious on one hand, isn't it? Still, though, keep well in mind that this is not something you are supposed to try at home!
  13. Bad news has just struck workers at the South Korean General Motors (GM) plant. According to American automaker Chevrolet, it isn't likely to perform production of the next generation Aveo in the aforementioned Asian country. The announcement came last Thursday, mentioning that the next generation compact car from Chevrolet, the Aveo, would be produced in China and US exclusively instead. Unfortunately, this has provoked a reaction from the worker union. If GM sticks to its plan, a threat of the union striking seems inevitable. Honestly speaking, this announcement from the US-based automaker came at such an improper time. GM Korea and the union are actually holding wage talks and have not had a smooth start. This is even more reason for the union to launch their strike, with the strike being the union's biggest legitimate weapon they can use to defend themselves. According to GM, though, it seems that it is no longer profitable for the company to keep building the Aveo in the country despite the fact that South Korea has been producing 40 percent of all Chevrolet cars that are sold worldwide. The reason for GM to switch production to other countries is mostly due to the rising wages in South Korea. And, the Aveo isn't the only model affected. GM has also announced that it will no longer produce the Chevrolet Cruze in the country, either. Taking everything into account, it seems that GM will stick to its plan indeed. On the other hand, it seems that the workers in the union are also determined to launch their strike. With that being said, this may turn out to be quite a huge problem, not only for Chevrolet and the workers but probably for us as well who are thinking about buying a Chevy.
  14. After much anticipation, the 11th generation of the US Corolla has been unveiled. The Corolla is previewed by the Furia concept presented at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. Judging from history, the next Corolla Altis that we will be getting will be styled very closely to the US version. Measuring 4,650mm by 1,776mm by 1,455mm (L x W x H), the new Corolla is 99mm longer, 16mm wider and 10mm lower than its predecessor. The larger dimensions also translate to more interior space as rear seat room improved by 75mm. Speaking of the car's interior, the dashboard layout is similar to the Auris hatchback, which in turn reminds me of the Toyota Taxis in the 80s due to the 'upright' design. For the US market, two 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines are available - one producing 132bhp (Dual VVT-i) while the other churns out 140bhp (Valvematic). Various gearboxes are available depending on trim level. They include a six-speed manual, CVTi-S (continuously variable transmission intelligent-shift) and a dinosaur-age four-speed automatic. For Singapore, my hunch is that the current Altis' 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i, four-speed automatic combination will be carried over unchanged to the new Altis. Just look at what happened to the newly-introduced Vios. Within hours after the US-market Corolla is launched, Toyota released photos of the European version of the new model. It sports a different head lights, grille and tail lights. Overall, the US version looks sportier while its European counterpart projects a more luxurious outlook. 2014 European Corolla
  15. You know, asking for directions is inevitable if you are driving around a place you aren't that familiar with. Unfortunately, doing it over and over again may somehow become quite an annoyance and it'll feel tiring, too. This is probably why street signs were built in the first place. However, street signs are not always easy to read, especially if you are driving at night. In order to see what is written on a street sign at night, it is often the case that drivers have to slow down their car or even pull over and take a close look at the sign. Nevertheless, thanks to the evolution of digital technologies these days, drivers may no longer have to deal with such cases as mentioned earlier. This is especially true if the countries in the world finally start using 'Points'. It's a digital street sign developed by Breakfast Products. It took the company no less than three years to be able to build such an impressive device. Yet, the result is, well, quite impressive indeed if the sign works just as it's advertised. 'Points' has a pole that is about as tall as a human being where it displays a five-segment interface menu. This menu is continuously updated by utilising an internet connection. This digital street sign fetches data from a number of onboard sensors in addition to social networks such as Foursquare, Twitter, and even RSS feeds, among others. Then, based on the data, 'Points' will display information on its three directional arms. Seeing the directional arms in motion, I believe some of you may wonder if the electrical wires inside them will be tangled. Well, as Breakfast Products takes advantage of rotary electrical interfaces and micro transmissions (consisting of 11 gears as well as multiple motors), tangled wires are really nothing to worry about in the case of 'Points'. As a matter of fact, the arms can swing smoothly up to 360 degrees regardless of how bad the temperature or weather may be at any given time. Additionally, this digital street sign also uses a processor which can remain cool most of the time, preventing the power from being drained quickly. Oh yeah, did I mention that 'Points' is mostly made of aluminium? Aluminium is chosen for the sake of durability and strength in a diverse set of environments. Earlier, I mentioned that drivers would possibly no longer have to slow down or pull over to read street signs, didn't I? Well, this is very possible because 'Points' utilises over 16,000 ultra-efficient and super bright LEDs. So, even during the night, you'll be able to clearly see what's displayed on this particular digital street sign. Although 'Points' is made in America, hopefully it makes its way here to Singapore as well.
  16. Edmunds.com, an American online resource for automotive information, pitted the fresh-from-the oven 2013 Lexus IS250 against the Cadillac ATS 2.0 and the compact luxury segment leader, the BMW 328i. The IS250 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre V6 which is good for 204bhp. The 328i and ATS are both propelled by their respective 2.0-litre direct-injected, turbocharged four cylinder which produces 240bhp and 272bhp respectively. This is the third generation of the Lexus IS. However, will it be third time lucky against the BMW 3 Series?
  17. Infiniti founder, Bill Bruce, has passed on at the age of 70 on 28th May 2013. He succumbed to the Lou Gehrig's Disease after a long battle with the illness. Lou Gehrig's disease damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscles becoming smaller and weaker. Gradually the body becomes paralysed. Bruce is widely known for creating Infiniti's concept of "Total Ownership Experience" which revolutionised the industry at that time. He joined Nissan in 1982 before becoming Infiniti's general manager in 1989. He retired from the company in 1999. "Bill Bruce has laid the foundation for the Infiniti brand worldwide. He's got wide acclaim and respect for his vision to provide customers with an outstanding experience throughout the entire ownership of the car. This caused a major shift in the car industry overall, and so he left a lasting mark. We are saddened by this loss and our thoughts are with his family," said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. Bruce leaves behind his wife, Nancy, and children, Amanda and Rob. The first generation Q45 and M30
  18. Everyone knows that global warming is quite a severe problem these days. It suffocates the beloved planet we're living on. And, while there may not be a real significant thing we can do to help overcome global warming, maybe we can at least give some small contributions for a start. How about driving an electric vehicle? It makes pretty good sense to me. Now, when it comes to electric vehicles, there's a whole lot of options you can choose from. However, I would recommend that you consider the Tesla Model S in particular. This is one of only two models the American automaker Tesla Motors has in store and yet, it rocks in all the ways it knows best. To begin with, you'll find yourself stunned by its acceleration. In addition to that, there's nothing like its built-in 17" infotainment system that will please you like you never expected before. The good news is that Tesla Motors is reportedly preparing its Model S for the Chinese market. The car is likely to make its debut in the bamboo origin country in September this year when the Chengdu Auto Show opens its doors to the public. It's also said that the company will make sure it possesses and manages all its Chinese dealers, first of which is likely to be based in Beijing. The entrance of this American electric car to the Chinese market, I think, may as well mark the start of the company's penetration into other Asian markets. Oh, that said, I can't wait to see when the Model S will land on our shores here in Singapore. It seems that Tesla Motors is just getting stronger and stronger. Recently, this particular car manufacturer successfully managed to pay back the US government loan it once borrowed from the country's Department of Energy in full. Oh, by the way, did I mention just how spacious the Tesla Model S is? Believe it or not, it may as well accommodate a whole bunch of children, well, as long as they're all kindergarteners. According to Tesla Motors, its Model S is capable of carrying around six to seven kindergarteners. However, a recent test may prove that irrelevant. Thing is, the Tesla Model S electric car will not complain at all even if you push up to 16 kindergarteners into it, as shown in the video below. Well, minivans, you guys better get set to face a new competitor! Oh yeah, the car looks pretty sleek and attractive, too. And, to top it off, it features an all-glass panoramic roof. This is no ordinary sunroof, it opens wider than the panoramic roof of most, if not all, other sedans. To open its roof, simply swipe your finger on the 17-inch touch screen of the Tesla Model S and let the car work its charm. Taking advantage of glass material for its entire panoramic roof, a Tesla Model S can block up to 81 percent of heat and 98 percent of light. Also, just for your information, besides the Model S, Tesla also offers Model X, which somehow looks a little like a crossover to me.
  19. Like the ninth generation Honda Civic, the Chevrolet Malibu mid-sized sedan has received a facelift barely a year after its launch during the second half of 2012. This would generally indicate that the new model is not well received by the public. "The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu builds on the strengths established by the all new 2013 Malibu to make it a stronger choice for customers," said Mark Reuss, President, General Motors North America. "The midsize sedan segment is the most contested in the industry and we
  20. Usually when car enthusiasts see a car that interest them, either on the road or parked somewhere, they would take a moment to try and guess what make and model the car is. This might be a little weird for normal people but that is just what a car enthusiast loves to do. For those car enthusiasts who also love board games, there is a similar car guessing game which they can enjoy with family and friends. The board game is known as Carnology and the main point of the game is to test your knowledge of cars. There are over 500 picture cards of cars that date from the 1900s till today and to advance through, you will have to guess what make and model it is. The board game covers nine different types of car categories and it comprises of six different types of metal car tokens (ranging from a Volkswagen Bus to a Lamborghini Countach), a colourful playing board, 525 picture cards and a die. The board game was created by John Cupit. He is a creative designer who has worked with various products including automobiles. He was inspired to create the game by childhood road trips he had with his father and guessing cars during those times. The board game can prove quite a challenge for some as there is a category where players have to guess a car only by a picture of headlights, front grille and other parts. But if you could identify a 1970s sports car and differentiate a split window VW Bus with a full windscreen model, then you could do really well in this game. Check out more of this game at their website here.
  21. Well, surely there are plenty of amazing things you can do in life. However, the kind of stunts you are about to watch in the video below is likely not included as one of those amazing things. While there are some pretty mind-boggling stunts you can do with a motorcycle, this guy is really pushing the limit, yet in a bad way. Every single motorcyclist is supposed to know that putting on a helmet is one really basic rule to obey when it comes to riding a motorcycle. However, I think some people are just ignorant, if not stupid enough, to take this rule for granted. Then, when things happen as opposed to their expectations, only then will they start to regret, which is hopeless, useless and, obviously, too late. However, the guy, whose video you are about to watch, doesn't seem to care about these rules. He tries to show off some motorcycling stunts without any helmet protecting his head despite the basic rule I just talked about earlier. Well, maybe he doesn't really care about his head anyway. He's kind of stupid, after all. Not wearing a helmet and yet, the guy is still daring enough to perform wheelies on a pretty busy, I repeat - pretty busy, road as you can see from the traffic density in the video. As you can tell, he may fail his stunt and fall onto the road at any given time and, when that happens, he will crash his head hard on to the asphalt! And, to make things even worse, chances are really high that one or more cars may run over him right after he falls. However, it's a good thing and quite a relief, too, that he didn't fail his stunt this time, at least that's how it seems to me. Still, this is not something you are encouraged to try, not even at the tiniest bit! Try to keep that in mind, will ya?
  22. Taxi operators across cities in Europe are going through a quiet revolution as they start to shift from conventional diesel powered cabs to zero-emission - and near silent Nissan Leaf taxis. Two years after the EV went on sale in Europe, Nissan Leaf taxis are now operating in European cities like Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. The world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) is fast becoming a favourite among taxi drivers too, thanks to lower running costs and fueled by a desire to reduce airborne pollution in city centres. These road warriors are fast-becoming EV advocates showing colleagues the benefits of making the switch from diesel to electric. One of the strongest advocates is Amsterdam-based Taxi-E company. With a fleet of 13 Nissan LEAF's, the firms' drivers have covered over 700,000km - further than the distance between earth and the moon. The cars are quick-charged two or three times daily using 100 percent green energy, meaning they're always ready for passengers. The city of Zurich in Switzerland, will soon obtain ten Nissan Leaf supported by a network of city-wide fast chargers as part of the city's plans to make 15 percent of its taxi fleet electric by 2015. Capable of restoring the battery life by up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, many customers arrive with partially full batteries, thus making the average stay - just 15 minutes. In Portugal, the first European country to sell the Leaf, Lisbon based owner-driver Jose Ferreira replaced his diesel powered taxi with a Leaf and has since driven more than 15,000km so far. Interestingly he reveals 70 percent of his customers liked the experience - and they would actively choose to ride in an electric taxi. Fuel and running costs are the biggest factors for taxi owner-drivers. Owner-driver Roberto San Jose from Valladolid, Spain, would have to spend more than
  23. If you're a car fan, chances are you're somehow familiar with the 'Transformers' franchise. Now, within around a year to come, you may be waiting in line at the cinema to get your ticket for 'Transformers 4'. Yes, you heard it right. The latest sequel to the robot-transforming car movies is expected to arrive by June 2014. While most people are talking about Mark Wahlberg (remember him in 'Ted' or 'Broken City'?) replacing Shia LaBeouf as the main protagonist, what's more interesting to me is the addition of some new cars. It seems that director Michael Bay does have some quite serious taste for cars indeed. For Transformers 4, he'll be bringing a special edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse with a W16 quad-turbo engine. It's capable of spitting out 1,200bhp of power and 1,500Nm of torque in total. Well, that's not the only excitement, though. In addition to the Vitesse, the director will be bringing the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray as well. However, I suggest that you avoid trying to compare the Vitesse and Stingray side by side, especially in terms of price. It's out of the question that the Stingray's pricing is nowhere near the Vitesse. While you can get your hands on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray with US$50,000 (approximately S$63,000), you need at least US$2.4 million (approximately S$3 million) to drive home the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. However, this 'Transformer' (the Stingray, supposedly an Autobot) does win when it comes to playing an American hero. The Vitesse that will be starring in the latest Transformers sequel to come is a special edition painted in brown-blue two-tone colour combination. As for the Stingray, it will come in bright green. Besides the two cars mentioned above, it
  24. Ford is celebrating 21 years as an official UEFA Champions League partner and this year marked the company's largest ever presence at the four-day UEFA Champions Festival. Ford made its presence felt with the new Kuga, Fiesta ST and special guest driver - Ken Block. The new Ford Kuga was featured heavily in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League Finals appearing on match-day hoardings in stadiums around Europe and leading Ford's 'Drive to Wembley' competition. Drive to Wembley was the largest ever ticket giveaway for a UEFA Champions League Final that saw 360 winners from 27 countries around Europe attending the match between FC Bayern Munich and BV Borussia Dortmund. Fans at festival experienced the new Ford Kuga with test drives that highlight Ford
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