Autoblog

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Automotive-branded computers are nothing new, but this takes it to new levels. The computer hardware is housed in a chromed 18-inch wheel from the Porsche Cayenne sport-utility, wrapped in Bridgestone rubber with twin exhaust-silencers housing the liquid cooling iron. The custom set-up was commissioned by Nvidia to showcase its SLI video performance platform, and really sticks it to all those fancy branded laptops from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg, Maybach and (soon) BMW.

UPDATE: Correction made, SLI is not a computer manufacturer, but rather when two graphics cards are paired to share a workload. Hence, it cannot build computers. Thanks to the commenters for pointing this out, and now we're going to shoot some pictures with our SLR-branded cameras.

[Source: Gizmo Watch via German Car Scene]

In a perfect world, everyone who wanted a car like the Porsche 911 Turbo S would get one. In the real world, sadly, not everyone can afford the six-figure price of admission. Fortunately there's virtual reality in between, where enthusiasts can toy with cars like the Turbo S in video games. To bridge that ever-narrowing gap for game-playing Porschephiles, Stuttgart has licensed this super-realistic force-feedback gaming wheel package.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel from Fanatec is a proper replica of the wheel found in the actual car, complete with hand-stitched leather, authentic metal badge on the hub...the works. But while a real Porsche has one engine, this wheel has three belt-driven force feedback motors to perfect the feeling. The wheel is accompanied by a three-pedal set, gas, brake and clutch likewise calibrated for an ultra-realistic feel. Fanatec even provides two interchangeable gearsticks – six-speed manual H-gate and Tiptronic sequential. Two versions are available, for Playstation 3 or PC, the former with lap braces and the former with table clamps. It even comes with a special 1GB USB drive in the shape of a Porsche key.

In addition to the manufacturer's online shop, the wheel package is available through Porsche dealerships and will set you back $350, who can hook you up with the only thing more realistic for about 200 times that.

[Source: Fanatec via Motorpasion]

Spectators, commentators and fans all feared the worst when BMW Sauber's star driver Robert Kubica hit the wall at the end of the hairpin at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on St. Helen's Island in Montreal during this year's Canadian Grand Prix. But as we all know, the Polish driver suffered only a concussion and a sprained ankle, despite the high speeds, high G's and hard impact of the crash. Now he's back in the cockpit, sticking it to everyone this side of Ferrari and McLaren, defending champions Renault included. (Thank God for carbon fiber, eh Robbie?)

The techies over at RTL, the German network that broadcasts the Formula One events, put together this three-dimensional re-creation of the crash, complete with some Matrix-style viewing-angle sweeps. The action is slowed down so you can better see what happened, which makes it all too easy to forget the enormous speeds at which the crash occurred.

Unfortunately, whoever posted it up on YouTube decided to mix in a typically poor soundtrack, but since the original was without sound anyway, offended parties can feel free to turn down the volume completely.

• Kubica survives crash at 75 G
• New view of Kubica crash as F1 goes after YouTube clips
• VIDEO: Kubica crashes Canadian GP

Thanks to everyone who wrote in with the info!
Video after the jump.

[Source: RTL via YouTube]

Cell phone usage has proven to be very distracting for drivers, and several states have banned the use of the hand-held devices for drivers. Now lawmakers in a dozen states are taking a broader approach to what electronic devices should be banned. Although there is little in the way of concrete evidence that links front seat DVD players, fax machines, iPods, and computers to accidents, it's pretty obvious that they're a distraction to the driver. To curb the usage of these devices, states like Texas and New York are considering fines ranging from $50 and $600 for offenses.

California has had some level of success enforcing these laws, as they've pulled over 3,200 drivers since 2003 for watching DVD movies. We agree that text messaging and watching a movie is way too much of a distraction for anybody that is simultaneously operating a two-ton vehicle, but it's tough to foresee how well such a law could be enforced. Users of their favorite digital devices may feel like they're being singled out, since major distractions like kids (I have three) and makeup application are still legal.

What is the craziest thing you've ever seen someone doing while driving?

[Source: USA Today]

Bandwagons are for jumping on, and this one's carrying laptop computers branded by automakers. Ferrari's was among the first, then Lamborghini jumped on board, and more recently we've seen Koenigsegg and Maybach follow suit. Not to be left out, reports are surfacing that BMW has teamed up with Acer to offer its own range of branded notebook computers.

The partnership seems to be an odd choice, since Acer produces laptops for Ferrari and sponsors their racing team. Reports suggest, however, that the BMW computers will be slotted in below their Ferrari counterparts and sell at lower price points. Based on Acer's Aspire series, the BMW versions will feature extra design features, for which Acer insists the customer will pay no premium.

Buyers will have the choice of Intel Santa Rosa or AMD processors and an optional HD-DVD drive, and the laptops will come complete with all the bells and whistles including 17-inch widescreens, WiFi, surround sound, and HDMI. Instead of offering one or two different models, the information points to a whole range of BMW-Acers that could include as many as 40 different model configurations.

[Source: Engadget]

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Newest Ferarri laptop from Acer

Acer has announced its newest Ferrari-themed notebooks, the 5000 and ultra-portable 1000 series. Powered by the latest AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile chip running at 2.0GHz, and encased in carbon-fiber, the 64-Bit Ferrari 5000 promises a performance edge over the other supercar-logo'd laptops.

Acer tells us that the Ferrari 5000 series utilizes the very latest in video communication, cutting-edge multimedia technology and wireless (and wired) connectivity, "to make it an all-round winner, and the perfect companion to mobile champions." It ships with a 15.4-inch widescreen display, 2 gig of 667 Mhz RAM, a 160GB S-ATA hard drive, and an ATI Radeon Xpress 1600 with up to 512 MB of HyperMemory (256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 VRAM, up to 256 MB of shared memory).

Also featured are an HD-DVD Optical Drive, 5-in-1 Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth® 2.0+EDR, a built-in 1.3MP Acer OrbiCam™, Acer Bluetooth® VoIP phone, as well as wireless Bluetooth™ Optical Mouse and Microsoft Windows® XP Professional preinstalled. The 1000 Series, we're told, also packs a lot of hardware into a frame that carries a 12.1-inch display.

Although other laptops on the market might deliver better overall performance at lower prices, they obviously can't match the passion of anything with a Ferrari logo on it. Certainly there is a market for auto-branded laptops, as the Acer Ferraris have to face off with the Asus Lamborghini, Itronix HUMMER and the newly released Koenigsegg CCX laptop.

[Source: Aving and Acer, IntoGear]

No, it's not a new high-powered supercar, but the Asus Lamborghini-VX1 will still turn some, albeit geeky, heads. Scheduled to debut in Monterey, California at the 2006 Concorso Italiano "Celebration of Italian Style," on August 18th, the laptop produced by Asus Computer International is borrowing the Lambo name to gain a little mileage out of its newest high-end notebook. The laptop will be unveiled at a press conference at Lamborghini's tent and will be featured at both the Asus and Lambo stands throughout the event.

Borrowing some processing power from Intel as well as the NVIDIA GeForceGo 7400VX Special Edition graphics engine makes the notebook one of the most powerful out there, befitting of something wearing the infamous bull logo. Until we take a "road test", however, we can't say for sure, but we'd look forward to the small, lightweight design and ample power, if we planned to buy one.

[Source: World Car Fans]