Toyota started the trend to interactive passenger windows with its Window on the World
Now the General’s Future Lab has a crack (no pun intended) at it too.
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Koenigsegg Agera R 0-322-0 km/h and 0-200-0 mph GPS-verified
I have to say that despite the amazing numbers this looks pretty anodyne, particular when you compare it with what Ken Block does.
And the driver is very brave indeed driving at these speeds without, it would appear, any PPE at all: no helmet, gloves or overalls! And I don’t think he’s even wearing a seat belt.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
The Cone of Silence
Agent 86 would instantly recognise this as the 2011 version of the Cone of Silence: BBC News - Barack Obama's top secret tent
Plus ca change.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Iron Man-style power suits
Sunday, 26 September 2010
My top 10 most important cars in history. What are yours? - Anything goes
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Techart Porsche Cayenne Turbo closes in on 200 mph at Nardo — Autoblog
This article tells how Techart have made a Porsche Cayenne Turbo reach almost 200mph. On the face of it this sounds really clever but it is nothing of the sort. It is merely basic Physics at work.
The maximum speed of a car occurs when the power available equals the power required to overcome the rolling resistance (the friction of the tyres and moving bits in the engine) plus the drag of the car travelling through the air. The drag in turn has two parts: skin friction and form drag due to the size of the front of the car and the overall shape. In aeroplanes there is a third type called "lift induced drag" which hardly matters here because the prospect of a 200 mph Cayenne lifting off is too terrifying to contemplate. So to make a car go fast you need it to have lots of power, a small frontal area and a slippery shape.
For a Cayenne there is not much you can do about its frontal area or shape so the only way to make it go faster is by giving it more power - hence the 680 bhp of this one. So theoretically one might imagine that doubling the power would double the speed so a Techart Cayene with 1,360 bhp might do 400 mph. But it doesn't work like that because drag also increases with speed and not directly. It is a squared relationship so at 400 mph the Cayenne would need four times the power required at 200 mph or a whopping 2,720 bhp!!! I suppose you could build a 2,720 bhp Cayenne but it would be like an AA Fuel Dragster. It would need to run on nitromethanol and would only last 10 seconds before either running out of fuel or exploding!
So you can see how silly this sort of thing is because it depends on only producing more power. And for what? Such a car offers nothing remotely useable over the highly capable standard Cayenne. I suppose Jezza and the Hamster might be able to persuade little boys that it's wonderful but not me.
Techart Porsche Cayenne Turbo closes in on 200 mph at Nardo — Autoblog
The maximum speed of a car occurs when the power available equals the power required to overcome the rolling resistance (the friction of the tyres and moving bits in the engine) plus the drag of the car travelling through the air. The drag in turn has two parts: skin friction and form drag due to the size of the front of the car and the overall shape. In aeroplanes there is a third type called "lift induced drag" which hardly matters here because the prospect of a 200 mph Cayenne lifting off is too terrifying to contemplate. So to make a car go fast you need it to have lots of power, a small frontal area and a slippery shape.
For a Cayenne there is not much you can do about its frontal area or shape so the only way to make it go faster is by giving it more power - hence the 680 bhp of this one. So theoretically one might imagine that doubling the power would double the speed so a Techart Cayene with 1,360 bhp might do 400 mph. But it doesn't work like that because drag also increases with speed and not directly. It is a squared relationship so at 400 mph the Cayenne would need four times the power required at 200 mph or a whopping 2,720 bhp!!! I suppose you could build a 2,720 bhp Cayenne but it would be like an AA Fuel Dragster. It would need to run on nitromethanol and would only last 10 seconds before either running out of fuel or exploding!
So you can see how silly this sort of thing is because it depends on only producing more power. And for what? Such a car offers nothing remotely useable over the highly capable standard Cayenne. I suppose Jezza and the Hamster might be able to persuade little boys that it's wonderful but not me.
Techart Porsche Cayenne Turbo closes in on 200 mph at Nardo — Autoblog
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?
The fabulous Ferrari 250 GTO of the early Sixties was a true iconic sportsracing car along with others like the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR, D-Type Jaguar and Ford GT-40. Every schoolboy knew all about the 250 GTO. Its designation, originally standing for Gran Turismo Omoligato, meaning it was approved for GT class racing by the FIA, was hijacked by lots of other cars in a show of the sincerest form of flattery e.g. the Pontiac GTO and the incredibly unlovely Mitsubishi Gallant GTO etc, none of which were remotely as great. Ferrari used the designation only once more for the 288 GTO, an over-hyped ancestor of the great F40. Ferrari GTOs don't come round too often!
So it is little wonder that the rumour of a a new GTO sets the automotive world's collective pulses racing. Following on from the FXX Evoluzione, itself a road going derivative of the Enzo, the 599 GTO would be based on the gorgeous 599 GTB. If it were to happen it would bring back some much needed style to fast Ferraris. The Enzo and its ilk might be the last word in technology but they look like they belong in a Transformer movie.
So let us hope...
Rumormill from Autoblog
Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?: "
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari, Rumormill
Ferrari 599XX - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.
Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a '599 GTO Limited Edition', named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.
Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.
[Source: Autogespot]
So it is little wonder that the rumour of a a new GTO sets the automotive world's collective pulses racing. Following on from the FXX Evoluzione, itself a road going derivative of the Enzo, the 599 GTO would be based on the gorgeous 599 GTB. If it were to happen it would bring back some much needed style to fast Ferraris. The Enzo and its ilk might be the last word in technology but they look like they belong in a Transformer movie.
So let us hope...
Rumormill from Autoblog
Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?: "
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari, Rumormill
Ferrari 599XX - Click above for high-res image galleryFerrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.
Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a '599 GTO Limited Edition', named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.
Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.
[Source: Autogespot]
Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsWednesday, 11 November 2009
VIDEO: Jay Leno drives the 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Challenger
Jay Leno seems to like the Hotchkiss E-Max Challenger as well.
Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Dodge, Celebrities
Well, well, well -- look who's jumping on our Hotchkis bandwagon. It's none other than Jay Leno behind the wheel of the 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Challenger! What a wonderful beast of an automobile.
To refresh your memory a bit, the suspension gurus at Hotchkis wanted to build a classic muscle car that not only looked and sounded the part, but that handled like a modern performance car. In fact, they wanted to take things a step further, so they went and built an auto-crosser. To quote ourselves, 'Tooling around the 'hood a bit I'm slightly amazed at how much the bright yellow Dodge feels like a go kart. A gigantic go kart, but a go kart nonetheless.'
And guess what? Jay feels the same way. Well, not quite the same, as he compares the handling to a Lamborghini. We're not prepared to go quite so far, but there is no question that as far as 1970 Mopars go, this is the best handling one out there, period. One thing Jay does that we didn't get to do is place the E-Max on a lift and get a guided tour of all the fancy-pants suspension components from none other than John Hotchkis himself. They examine the poly-bushings, the shiny tie-rods and the elegant A-arms that make up the E-Max's sophisticated front end, as well as the less-than-modern (but still nifty) solid-axle leaf-sprung rear. Then they venture out into the streets of Burbank for a little hoonage, including a smoky burnout. Watch the video, after the jump.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]
VIDEO: Jay Leno drives the 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFriday, 23 October 2009
Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours
From Autoblog. Thank goodness that in this world of political correctness, where dissent is not tolerated and spin rules, someone has created a real car for real men. This reminds me of the Holden small-block-Chevy-engined Monaro 327 GTS of my youth in Oz where each year it fought it out with Ford to see who preached the Sermon on the Mount (aka Bathurst). They were even yellow too.
Side note for the Top Gear crew: Bathurst is pronounced "a" as in Ack Ack not "ar" as in arse. Extraordinary that neither Jezza nor the Hamster seem to know this - perhaps they've never been to the World's Greatest Saloon Car Race.
Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours: "
Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Dodge
Before we begin, we have to state up front that we've rarely - if ever - had more fun with a car than we had with the Hotchkis E-Max Challenger. And the loud yellow Dodge was in our possession for maybe five hours. Why are we cutting to the chase like this? Why not structure this review like any other and start with the basics, describe the vehicle and then state a conclusion? First of all, just look at the bloody thing: 'dripping with sex' is the only proper description. But the truth is that this is more the recounting of an adventure than a plain old car review. Keep reading. You're going to have some fun. Though not nearly as much fun as we did.
But yes, we should start with the basics. Legendary suspension tuner Hotchkis took a 1970 Dodge Charger with a 340 six-pack and built themselves an autocrosser. The list of modifications is not only the stuff of which jealousy is made, but exhaustive. Though, Hotchkis claims the E-Max isn't so wild, 'Even in Auto-Cross trim, E-Max is a relatively stock vehicle compared to many of the auto-cross competitors.' Good to know. That said, it's still a long list.
Here's some of it: Custom Moroso oil pan, Be Cool aluminum radiator, Red Line synthetic oil, Optima Battery, MSD ignition, Classic 5-Speed Tremec TKO, Flowmaster exhaust, Stoptech brakes, Forgeline wheels and Yokohama tires, Sparco Milano 2 seat (as in just the driver seat), Hurst Shifter. Not bad, right? Then you got all the Hotchkis stuff that lies beneath, including tubular A-arms, front and rear sport sway bars, subframe connectors, sport springs, adjustable steering rods with a fancy Flaming River power steering unit and adjustable strut rods. Says Hotchkis of their handiwork, 'The bolt-on system creates a proper negative camber curve, sufficient positive camber for high speed stability and full bump and droop travel without bumpsteer. Prototype Hotchkis-Afco adjustable stocks provide high performance damping.' Got it? Good - let's get to the story.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours
Side note for the Top Gear crew: Bathurst is pronounced "a" as in Ack Ack not "ar" as in arse. Extraordinary that neither Jezza nor the Hamster seem to know this - perhaps they've never been to the World's Greatest Saloon Car Race.
Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours: "
Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Dodge
1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger - Click above for high-res image gallery
Before we begin, we have to state up front that we've rarely - if ever - had more fun with a car than we had with the Hotchkis E-Max Challenger. And the loud yellow Dodge was in our possession for maybe five hours. Why are we cutting to the chase like this? Why not structure this review like any other and start with the basics, describe the vehicle and then state a conclusion? First of all, just look at the bloody thing: 'dripping with sex' is the only proper description. But the truth is that this is more the recounting of an adventure than a plain old car review. Keep reading. You're going to have some fun. Though not nearly as much fun as we did.
This is the type of experience that as a journalist you undeniably have to go through.
But yes, we should start with the basics. Legendary suspension tuner Hotchkis took a 1970 Dodge Charger with a 340 six-pack and built themselves an autocrosser. The list of modifications is not only the stuff of which jealousy is made, but exhaustive. Though, Hotchkis claims the E-Max isn't so wild, 'Even in Auto-Cross trim, E-Max is a relatively stock vehicle compared to many of the auto-cross competitors.' Good to know. That said, it's still a long list.
Here's some of it: Custom Moroso oil pan, Be Cool aluminum radiator, Red Line synthetic oil, Optima Battery, MSD ignition, Classic 5-Speed Tremec TKO, Flowmaster exhaust, Stoptech brakes, Forgeline wheels and Yokohama tires, Sparco Milano 2 seat (as in just the driver seat), Hurst Shifter. Not bad, right? Then you got all the Hotchkis stuff that lies beneath, including tubular A-arms, front and rear sport sway bars, subframe connectors, sport springs, adjustable steering rods with a fancy Flaming River power steering unit and adjustable strut rods. Says Hotchkis of their handiwork, 'The bolt-on system creates a proper negative camber curve, sufficient positive camber for high speed stability and full bump and droop travel without bumpsteer. Prototype Hotchkis-Afco adjustable stocks provide high performance damping.' Got it? Good - let's get to the story.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours
Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments"Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Christmas shoppers hit by iPhone ban on Vodafone - Times Online
Christmas shoppers hit by iPhone ban on Vodafone - Times Online
Shared via AddThis
We all want an iPhone but looks like Vodafone customers will have to wait at least until after Christmas. But will they be in the sales?
Shared via AddThis
We all want an iPhone but looks like Vodafone customers will have to wait at least until after Christmas. But will they be in the sales?
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
The robot that can leap over obstacles more than 7.5m high
The robot that can leap over obstacles more than 7.5m high: "New video footage has been released of a robot that can leap over obstacles more than 7.5m (25ft) high."
Have a look at this! Amazing and what potential!
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