Autoblog

Scooter-geek's dream ride: Yamaha Vino scooter, fully farkled

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-05-08T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Aftermarket, Audio, Gadgets, Green, Tech, Toys, Motorcycles

Though it's usually the adventure touring crowd that excels at turning their motorcycles into rolling technology test-beds, we've recently run across a Yamaha Vino scooter that has been fully farkled. Featuring an on-board computer based around a VIA mini ITX form factor motherboard that's cleverly been hidden under the stock Vino's seat, this rolling geek-mobile packs in WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, GPS, FM radio, a TV tuner and a front-mounted camera in its diminutive frame. With the full-spec computer, pretty much anything should be possible right from the road using this scooter. While this is certainly a cool project, we have a few questions regarding its durability. How long will the acrylic plate that makes the structure for the computer hold up? Perhaps most importantly, how long will the scooter's battery be able to power all this technology? In the name of science, of course, we graciously offer our services for a road trip on the machine to find the answer to these all-important questions. Thanks for the tip, jared!

[Source: Thought Lab]

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GT Academy competition to put GT5 Prologue player in real race

John Neff — 2008-05-06T11:29:00+00:00

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Nissan, Toys

This is either the stupidest idea ever or the most brilliant co-promotion for two brands in the history of mankind. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the distributor of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue across the pond, and Nissan are joining forces to host a competition that could place a really good gamer behind the seat of a real Nissan 350Z at a very real 24-hour endurance race in Dubai. The competition is called GT Academy, and the first round will be an online GT5 Prologue tournament hosted on the PLAYSTATION Network (for Europeans only, we presume). Based on the picture provided, it appears that entrants will be racing a Nissan GT-R in a special livery when the competition begins later this month. The rest of the competition will span some eight months, at the end of which the winner will receive a four-month training program to earn actual racing licenses. With his or her newfound knowledge of real physics and how actual damage occurs, the winner will then be given a stint behind the wheel of a Nissan 350Z in the 24-hour endurance race in Dubai.

Based on the press release after the jump, we're a little unclear exactly how GT Academy will whittle down all of these entrants over eight months or how much driving the winner will actually be doing in Dubai. Having raced GT5 Prologue online using the PLAYSTATION Network, we can't imagine qualifying is going to be a pretty sight. There are always plenty of jerks willing to brake late in a corner and buddy bump you into the wall regardless of the game's imposed penalties, especially if they know that seat time in a real 350Z is beyond their own reach.

[Source: Nissan, SCEE]

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Spoiler Alert: Super GT Rd. 3 Results

Justin Gardiner — 2008-05-05T09:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Motorsports, Sports/GTs, Japan, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Toys

Click above for a huge, high-res gallery of Rd. 3 of the '08 SuperGT season.

After previous incarnations of the Nissan GT-R ran away with successive JGTC titles, Japan's GT Association decided to inflict "success ballast" on race winners in an attempt to level the playing field (i.e give Toyota and Honda a chance).

As the current GT-R race car is built to 2009 Super GT specifications, the GT-A handed it a weight penalty of 50kgs added right from the start of the season. After winning Round 1 in Suzuka car number 23 had to carry an additional 50kgs at Round 2 in Sugo, which it promptly won anyway. Then thanks to also setting numerous fastest laps and other speeding offenses it was deemed that Benoit Treluyer and Satoshi Motoyama's ride would have to port an massive 200ks (440lbs) of ballast at this weekend's race at Fuji Speedway.

That presents a couple of problems. Firstly, where the heck do you safely stow 200kgs of lead? And would the car meet GT-A regulations even if Nissan found a way to do it? The ruling body's compromise was to give the car a 115kg penalty and fit a stifling restrictor to the GT-R's air intake. That knocked 30kph off the GT-R's maximum velocity at the end of Fuji's 1.5km straight, and in the words of Benoit, "Gives us no chance at all."

Follow through the jump to find out if he was right, and to find out how Lightning McQueen faired in GT300 after qualifying on pole yesterday.

Gallery: 2008 Super GT - Round 3

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Hard times means some Icelanders can't keep on truckin'

Jonathon Ramsey — 2008-05-04T16:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Etc., Euro, Toys, Lifestyle

In Iceland, the leviathan you see in the picture above is called a "jeep." Here in the U.S., it would be called a massively tricked out F-350 Super Duty, or probably just "monster truck." The 6,000 members of Iceland's 4x4 club use them to explore the barely reachable sections of the island nation, trusting 4-foot-high studded tires and a bevy of custom modifications to get them back to civilization.

The problem is that Icelanders are having their own currency issues, with a free-fall even worse than the dollar's being just the start. When gas is almost $8 per gallon, that puts a fill-up somewhere around the $500 mark. And that puts a hurting on everything -- especially when you have to spend even more money getting your truck hauled out of the ice it just fell through. Not that any of this really stops them, because, well, there isn't much else to do in Iceland. So follow the link and check out the trucks in the slideshow. It's big-wheel badness.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

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Hyundai i10 Ice Cream van hits sweet spot

Noah Joseph — 2008-04-28T15:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivans/MPVs, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Commercial Trucks, Hatchbacks, Hyundai, Toys

Click to view more of the Hyundai i10 ice cream van

We can come up with all manner of criteria for evaluating a car at any level: design, performance, spec sheet, ride, features, technology, value... but the one factor that trumps all others, what it all really comes down to, is how it appeals to our inner child. At the heart of it, that's why we love Lamborghinis and HUMMERs and Mustangs... and this particular Hyundai i10. It's just a treat.

The ice-cream van conversion wasn't made for Good Humor, although it certainly put us in that state of mind. It was created as a promotional tool for the British launch of the i10 by auto innovator Andy Saunders, the same guy who gave us the neo-Picasso Citroen 2CV and the ground-hugging Fiat 126, among others. While the Poole, England-based customizer has come up with many creative designs before, we doubt any of them would get children running after it down the street like the Pied Piper. Have a look at the images in the gallery below and pick out something delicious on us.

Gallery: Hyundai i10 ice cream van

[Source: theCarfanatic.com and AutoTrader.co.uk]

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Race Driver: Grid to feature eBay Motors marketplace in-game

John Neff — 2008-04-23T15:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Auction Action, Marketing/Advertising, Toys

Advertising has been creeping into video games for a while now, but in most racing games is relegated to billboards that we hardly notice while whizzing by and concentrating on our line for the next turn. Codemasters, however, is working with in-game ad firm Engage to take video game advertising to a new level by including a fully functioning eBay Motors marketplace in the developer's next racing title, Race Driver: Grid. Players in the game will actually buy and sell in-game vehicles using the eBay Motors service just like they would in real life. eBay Motors will also get a title race in the game called "The eBay Motors Mustang Muscle Series" in which they can drive the eBay Motors Mustang GTR concept car in San Francisco, Long Beach, Washington D.C. and Detroit. This type of next-gen in-game advertising should work well within the confines of Grid, since eBay Motors is widely visited and used by the type of person who might pick up the game.

[Source: Joystiq]

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Hot Wheels Honda Racer arrives in May. The kid in you is excited

John Neff — 2008-04-22T13:52:00+00:00

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA, Honda, Toys

Click above for high-res gallery of the Hot Wheels Honda Racer

Last November at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Hot Wheels unveiled a troop of concepts to celebrate its 40th anniversary. These new Hot Wheels cars were not designed by everyone's favorite 1:64 scale model toy maker, but rather were all new designs penned by designers from Lotus, Chevy, Ford, Mitsubishi, Dodge and Honda. The Lotus Concept, Mitsubishi Double Shotz, Dodge XP-07, Gangster Grin from Ford, Chevroletor (GM), and Honda Racer, along with Hot Wheels' own HW-40, are going on tour around the United States in August, so keep an eye out.

The first of these concepts to actually become a toy will be the Honda Racer, the design of which is inspired by the 'H' in Honda's corporate logo. There's room for a driver and navigator in the side-by-side shape of the concept that features a paint scheme inspired by Honda's participation in F1 back in the day. A fictitious Honda V10 VTEC that displaces a theoretical 2.0L per cylinder (that's a 20-liter engine for those keeping score at home) powers the red-and-white racer. The Honda Racer's design, Guillermo Gonzalez, says rather than bean counters and engineers imposing restraints on his creativity, the only parameters when designing his Hot Wheels car were that it had to fit in the trademark orange track and be able to do a loop. With a 20L V10 and the assistance of good old gravity, we're sure a loop is well within its means. You'll be able to buy the Honda Racer next month when it begins arriving on store shelves in May. Until then, check out the high-res shots Honda released of the Honda Racer in our gallery below.

Gallery: Hot Wheels Honda Racer

[Source: Honda]

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Midnight Club: Los Angeles first video game to feature Challenger and Camaro

John Neff — 2008-04-22T11:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Coupes, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toys

Click above for high-res gallery of Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Rockstar Games is a little busy right now ahead of its big release of Grand Theft Auto IV, but the video game developer had enough time to announce that the next installment of its Midnight Club racing series will land on the Xbox 360 and PS3 come September 9th. Joystiq reports that Midnight Club: Los Angeles will feature "no load times, no tracks, and no rules," which means much hooning can be had in the City of Angels with a large selection of infinitely customizable cars. Among those available to gamers will be the first use of the new Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro in a racing game. Having already been officially revealed to the public, the Challenger in Midnight Club: Los Angeles looks spot on, while the Camaro appears to sport a few quirky details like its headlights that Chevy probably didn't want to reveal in a video game or just weren't ready when it came to digitize the car. Driving your dream cars in a video game certainly doesn't replace the real thing, but it's fun to do things with a digital version that you wouldn't dream of inflicting on an actual car.

Gallery: Midnight Club: Los Angeles

[Source: Joystiq, Kotaku]

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Takuma Sato Gets New Seat

Justin Gardiner — 2008-04-16T18:29:00+00:00

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Tech, Toys

At first glance this could be Super Aguri's latest F1 contender. It's not like they need any bodywork for all their sponsors' stickers...

But no, it is a limited edition Takuma Sato Play Seat that can be parked in front of your TV for just 60,900 cents/Yen (around $600 USD). There goes that precious living room square footage freed up by last year's purchase of an ultra thin widescreen plasma display. Play Seats are comaptible with PS2s, 3s, Wiis and X-Boxes, and we're just aching to give one, or preferably two, a test drive. Fortunatley, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue came out yesterday and a few of us have it in hand, though we're not sure how we're going to convince AOL that a Play Seat is a required business expense for reviewing the game.

Source: Auto Gallery via Le Blog Auto

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Video: R/C car plays Mario Brothers theme song on bottles

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-04-16T07:28:00+00:00

Filed under: Time Warp, Videos, Toys

Click above to watch video after the jump

After watching this video of a radio-controlled car driving past a line of wine bottles, playing the theme for Super Mario Brothers in the process, we have a question: was the wine consumed prior to the successful completion of the task at hand? If so, that would make this video even more impressive, though it's pretty much epic as it stands. Released in 1985, the video game predates the Cosworth Escort model used for the stunt, but both take us back to the days of our youth when both Mario Brothers and European hot hatches were the stuff of dreams. And we love it.

[Source: Break.com via Joystiq]

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Chinese create ultimate clone: the F1 "Ferrari" cell phone

Michael Harley — 2008-04-15T15:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Ferrari, Toys

It goes without saying that this isn't an officially-sanctioned Ferrari F430 cell phone. This is called the "F1 Phone," coming at you in bright-red injection-molded plastic direct from non-Ferrari manufacturing China. Like the Italian exotic, the F1 Phone offers a lot of performance with its dual-band support, a 2.2-inch touch-sensitive LCD display, music player, video player, memory expansion slot, USB connectivity, flashlight, and a slew of other electronic goodies (including three pre-installed games, though not a single one involving driving). Unlike the Italian exotic, this one sports a price tag of just $190, allowing you to save the other $185,000 for your text messaging bill. In case you were wondering, that bulls-eye smack in the middle of the windshield is the built-in 1.3 megapixel camera - you won't find one of those on any showroom Scuderia!

Gallery: F1 Ferrari Phone

[Source: Techpin via Engadget Mobile]

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Up on Blocks: Lego replica '67 Mustang

Noah Joseph — 2008-04-11T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Ford, Toys

Click above to view more of the Lego Mustang in our gallery

A fair share of us Autobloggers were ambitious Lego builders as kids, but we never cooked anything up like this. From Crowkillers, the same hands that brought us the new Camaro made from the plastic Danish bricks, comes this replica 1967 FordMustang fastback, complete with model V8 engine, shaker hood, working suspension with live rear axle, 4-speed transmission, rear spoiler and automatic opening doors. No kidding. With creations like this - and the dozen or so more he's got up on his site - we wonder if this guy didn't have too much time on his hands, but hey, we're bloggers. Who are we to judge? We'll let you judge for yourself with the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lego '67 Mustang

[Source: Brickshelf via CarScoop]

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NFS ProStreet to feature first appearance of Bugatti Veyron in videogame

Noah Joseph — 2008-04-07T10:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Tech, Videos, Supercars, Bugatti, Toys

Exotic automakers have been lining up like their customers to get their supercars onto the latest driving simulators. If you own an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, the excitement has been palatable. If you prefer to get your horsepower kicks in front of your computer, however, you've probably been feeling a little left out as the lists of new cars for games like Forza 2 and the upcoming GT5 Prologue have been flowing like octane. But we've got good news for racing enthusiasts on any platform, as Electronic Arts has announced a new update for its Need for Speed: ProStreet game.

ProStreet is the eleventh installment of the popular Need for Speed series, with versions available for Xbox, Playstation and PC. The latest bit of DLC (downloadable content) is anticipated to include two new tracks and no fewer than 16 new cars. Among them: the Bugatti Veyron. The street-racing theme of the game seems an odd choice for Bugatti to grant its first license, but opens the question as to whether we'll see the Veyron appear in other games soon. Meanwhile the Veyron won't be the only new exciting piece of virtual machinery streaming to a system near you, as the expansion pack is also anticipated to include such mouthwatering wheels as the Aston Martin DBR9, Audi R8, Koenigsegg CCX and McLaren F1, just to name a few.

Check out the video after the jump to see the Veyron on the ProStreet customizing screen, cycling through even more options than Bugatti's own online configurator.

[Source: techAU via The German Car Blog]

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GT5 Prologue to get downloadable damage this fall

John Neff — 2008-04-04T11:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Toys

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be dropping April 17th in the U.S., both as a downloadable game from the Playstation Store and on actual Blu-ray disc. We reported last week that damage modeling, long missing from the Gran Turismo series despite being featured in many of its competitors, was for the first time being considered, and today we have word from Gran Turismo head Kazunori Yamauchi that it could come as a downloadable feature for the game as early as this fall. Gran Turismo games have always set the standard for racing sims, but the lack of physical damage to the cars when buddy bumping on a back straight or flying grille first into a barrier have held them back. In fact, smart players can use the lack of damage to their advantage by heading into turns without breaking and bouncing off the wall. Hardly the perfect line, but it gets the job done on those particularly difficult courses. Thanks for the tip, Brad!

[Source: PS3 Fanboy]

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Blanc Slate: Porsche Design White Collection

Noah Joseph — 2008-04-03T17:33:00+00:00

Filed under: Gadgets, Trends, Marketing/Advertising, Porsche, Toys, Lifestyle

Click above to view the Porsche Design White Collection in hi-res

White is not "the new black". Nor is anything else, for that matter. Black is the new black, and always will be. That's why it's black. What white is, however, is the white-hottest color for new cars these days. Porsche knows that as well as anyone else, and its merchandising division, Porsche Design, is celebrating the trend with a line of products in hot white instead of the usual black.

The new Porsche Design White Collection is highlighted by a white version of the company's award-winning mobile phone, rounded out by items ranging from pens to jackets and laptop cases to sunglasses. Arriving just in time for a summer spent cruising around in a white 911 Turbo convertible, the collection goes on sale next month, its products available in any color you want... as long as it's white. Check out the press release after the jump for more info and the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Porsche Design White Collection

[Source: Porsche Design]

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Kid Kustoms offers tins and fins for the jogging stroller

Michael Harley — 2008-04-02T14:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Etc., Toys, Lifestyle

Kid Kustoms, offering "Vintage Tins and Fins for your Tots," has brought a serious touch of class to the boring jogging stroller. It's time to ditch the ho-hum toddler hauler in exchange for one of these custom, and collapsible, composite lightweight strollers. Whether you choose the Classic, Signature or Kustom series, each design is available with unique fins, fenders and pin striping (Flame or Primer versions are optional) in an array of vibrant colors that harken back to a different kind of cruising. And these baby strollers aren't just quick chop jobs. The quality and craftsmanship, from their seamless welds to polished chrome, appears to be first-rate. Of course, a product of this caliber will command a premium price. To surround your little bundle of joy in something the other moms (and dads!) can't help but envy will set you back between $2,000 and $3,500. Oh, the cost of being cool...

Gallery: Kid Kustoms Strollers

[Source: Kid Kustoms]

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April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-04-01T06:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Kia, Toys, Lifestyle

Click the image above for a host of high-res images of the Kia Kee.

When we initially laid our eyes on the Kia KEE concept last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we were a bit underwhelmed, referring to the sporty coupe as "a Korean-sized speed bump at an otherwise awe-inspiring show." We would not say such things if Kia were to reintroduce the concept as the KEE_wii, which is rumored to be as powerful as two Gamecubes duct-taped together. Be sure to read the press release, pasted after the break, which not only informs us that Kia demands driving entitlement for children as young as eight, but it also introduces us to a few future driving technologies, such as Dynamic On-Road Kinetics (DORK), Full Orthopedic Operating Logic (FOOL) and, of course, Independent Driver Input Operating Technique (IDIOT).

According to Franz Josef-Hicks, head of the Advanced Propulsion Research Institute and Laboratory (APRIL) in New Zealand, the radical new technology allows the ability to drive the vehicle from either side of the car as well as the back seat using a hand-held controller sourced from the Nintendo Wii, hence the car's name. Citing the fact that many people don't pay attention when they are driving anyway, Hicks suggests that the lack of visibility from the back seat should not be a problem. With logic like that, how could we disagree? Kia expects that the first production application of this new technology should be ready on April 1, 2009. We can hardly wait.

Gallery: April Fools: KIA KEE_wii

Gallery: Kia Kee Coupe Concept

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel

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Gran Turismo 5 Update: one-year out, damage modeling being considered

Drew Phillips — 2008-03-28T11:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Toys

Click above for more stills from Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

If you're lucky enough to own a PS3, you're most likely deciding whether or not to fork out $40 for GT 5 Prologue. While that might seem like a lot of money for a "demo" game, the latest news on the full version is that it's still a full year away from launch. That's quite a while to wait, so we're guessing most people will break down and buy the Prologue when it's released on April 17.

Part of that wait will hopefully be because GT 5 may include realistic damage to vehicles for the first time. While manufacturers still aren't keen on the idea, Gran Turismo creator Kazanori Yamauchi says that they are coming around to it. Damage modeling appears in other driving games like Forza Motorsport 2, so we don't see why manufacturers would mind seeing it Gran Turismo, as well.

Since we are still a few weeks away from the launch of GT 5 Prologue, you can whet your appetite with the trailer, refresh your knowledge of the track and car list, or drool over the gallery below.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

[Source: Joystiq.com, VideoGaming247.com]

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Anybody want to win a Mario themed VW Beetle?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-03-28T07:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Convertibles, Contests, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen, Toys

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Mario Kart would continue its succession up the ranks of Nintendo gaming systems with the Wii version appearing on April 27. As we said before, we're more interested in realistic driving simulators, but when we found out that a real car would be given away during the promotional run-up to the game's release, we were slightly intrigued. That's until we found out what the vehicle actually is: a custom Mario themed Volkswagen Beetle. At least it's a convertible; albeit one with a horribly tacky paint job.

Winning any car is pretty darn cool, and after paying the requisite taxes on your winnings and paying for a new paint job (face it: it's a necessity), you could still sell the car for a profit. Or, if there really is somebody out there who actually wants to drive a brand-new VeeDub draped in Mario's clothing... well, you can just have fun with that.

[Source: Game via German Car Blog]

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A Ferrari motorcycle? Only in our 1:12 scale dreams

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-03-25T19:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Concept Cars, Euro, Ferrari, Toys, Motorcycles

Click on the image above for more high-res shots of the Ferrari Motorcycle model

There are plenty of awe-inspiring Italian motorcycles for us to dream about, but still, a Ferrari motorcycle would surely be a welcome addition to the sportbike ranks. Just what might a superbike designed by Ferrari look like? We can imagine a carbon fiber frame for starters, and surely there would need to be plenty of red bodywork. As a matter of fact, we think that a Ferrari motorcycle would look quite a bit like the scale model you see above. Scale Auto Magazine member andybmw7272 started of his project with a Yamaha kit from Tamiya, but everything has been modified to suit the project. We're sure you'll agree that it was extremely well done, and it gives us something to think about should Maranello ever decide to venture into the two-wheeled market.

Gallery: 1:12 Scale Ferrari Motorcycle

[Source: Scale Auto Magazine via Hell for Leather Magazine]

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