Autoblog

Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3

Noah Joseph — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:31:00 EST

Codemasters' DiRT 3 - Click above to watch the video after the jump

For pure, unadulterated rally action from the comfort of your living room, there's nothing quite like DiRT. The video game franchise from Codemasters is about as realistic as they come, and now they've got their third installment coming in the form of DiRT 3.

Not only is the game promised to be more accurate in its execution and feel, but it incorporates a whole new slew of features. There are more cars and more stages, of course, but that's hardly the end of it: DiRT 3 also incorporates two new kinds of rally action - Gymkhana and hillclimb. The former, of course, was popularized by Ken Block who's now crossed over to professional rally competition, while the latter brings events like Pikes Peak into the fold to really get that dirt kicking. But don't take our word for it, follow the jump to watch the video preview from G4, including an interview with the studio's lead game developer and gameplay footage from what is shaping up as the new benchmark in rally action.

[Source: G4]

Continue reading Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3

Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three Mercedes-Benz Hitler cars on sale for $9 million [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty

Hitler's Mercedes-Benz G4 W-131 Radio Car - click above image for hi-res gallery

Got $9,000,000 burning a hole in your pocket? If so, have we got an offer for you. Not one, not two, but three Mercedes-Benz G4 W-131 six-wheelers are up for grabs. Interesting, the cars have been appraised at $3.3 million each, so $9 million is basically a million dollars off! There is one catch, however. You're going to have to forever be explaining to people why you spend nine million bucks on three of Hitler's old cars.

Yes, that Hitler. Who, despite his innumerable faults, did in fact have great taste in cars. Not only did Der Fuhrer typically ride around in the oh-so-beautiful Mercedes-Benz 540K, but he instructed Ferdinand Porsche to go on and steal the Tatra T97 from the Czechs, turning the design into the Volkswagen Beetle. When Dr. Porsche voiced his concern about a Tatra lawsuit, Hitler reassured the good doctor that he'd "settle the matter," which Hitler did by invading Czechoslovakia. Curiously, good taste in cars seems to be a trait shared with other scumbag genocidal dictators -- Idi Amin owned seven Citroen SMs!

The three Mercedes up for sale are three of eight Hitler-owned G4s, that were stashed around Deutschland at his various castles. Only fifty-seven G4 W-131s were ever made, total. Here we have a convertible parade car for Hitler and Eva Braun (blue), a luggage car that could quickly be converted into an ambulance (gray) and a radio car so Hitler could order the invasion of Yugoslavia whenever the mood struck his fancy (black). The cars have six-wheels and are quite truckish because Hitler spent a lot of time rolling through the bombed out streets of cities he'd just blitzkrieged.

The three G4 W-131s actually do have some nifty Nazi tech, like 5.0 or 5.4-liter straight eight motors shared (though not supercharged) with the aforementioned 540K, four driven rear wheels with locking diffs and self sealing tires. And both the luggage car and radio car are (probably) the only examples ever built. Furthermore, the luggage car was used in Hogan's Heroes. However, how you'd ever get past the stigma of the original owner is beyond us. Video after the jump.

Gallery: Adolf Hitler Mercedes-Benz G4 W-131

[Source: World War Cars via KREM]

Continue reading Three Mercedes-Benz Hitler cars on sale for $9 million [w/VIDEO]

Three Mercedes-Benz Hitler cars on sale for $9 million [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Happy Fourth of July... now let's blow up some cars!

Chris Shunk — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Videos, Dodge

Click above to watch video after the jump

If you're a big fan of fully automatic machine guns, then there is a good chance that you've heard of the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot & Trade Show. The O.F.A.S.T.S. trade show features some serious hardware for purchase, including WWII anti-tank guns and Russian units used buy the bad guys in Afghanistan.

G4 contributor Alison Haislip of Attack of the Show attended the gathering to test out some guns, and she brought a tan Dodge Intrepid along for a little target practice. Hit the jump to watch Haislip rip the hapless sedan to shreds with a Browning 1917 machine gun capable of shooting 750 8-mm rounds per minute. We normally don't get too excited about tank-stopping machine guns, but as we're jonesin' to kick off the Fourth of July festivities, well... we'll start off with an altogether different sort of pyrotechnics. Thanks for the tip, Kelly!

[Source: G4]

Continue reading VIDEO: Happy Fourth of July... now let's blow up some cars!

VIDEO: Happy Fourth of July... now let's blow up some cars! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2007: Infill G4 in-dash PC

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Audio, Gadgets, SEMA Show, Trends, Technology

While cruising through the enormous American Racing display area at SEMA, we spotted a pretty cool Mustang that made us stop for a closer look. While the car itself will be detailed elsewhere, one of its trick features really stood out. There was a keyboard on the passenger seat. Thinking it might have to do with a programmable engine management system or something, we were told that it was actually controlling a fully functional Windows XP in-dash computer. The computer system is made by a company called Infill and this was its newest G4 offering. The system features a 40 GB hard drive, 1.5 Ghz Pentium 4 CPU, 512 MB RAM, 800 X 480 6.5" Sharp touch screen display, wireless internet, a 3-second boot up time, built-in GPS, 3 USB ports, rear-view camera display compatibility and a DVD-ROM (What, no Blu-Ray?).

It also features steering wheel controls to operate the integrated 5.1 channel A/V system. And if you want to control any of the computer's functions while under way, it also has text-to-speech capability and advanced KT-HUVOIS speech recognition. Not that we'd recommend using it while in motion, but this system can turn your vehicle into one heck of a mobile office or den. The entire thing is also entirely self-contained in the dash-mount unit -- no remote HD or peripherals - which is impressive. The company promises a 40-minute install in most applications at any decent install shop. We'll try to get you more details when they become available, but for now you can get more by clicking on the Read link below or the image above.

[Source: Infill]

SEMA 2007: Infill G4 in-dash PC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor Mill: Next gen Pontiac G6 will be RWD

Scott Davis — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:51:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, GM, Pontiac

Rumors abound within the hallowed halls of General Motors as it prepares to go through a major transformation that will include products designed to make the world take notice. For a brand that was once deemed "damaged" by car guy Bob Lutz, Pontiac is destined to make a huge splash at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

An interesting rumor is that the next G6 replacement will be a rear-wheel drive vehicle on a yet-to-be determined platform. Could this be a viable contender to the 3-series?

Yet another possibility is a rear-drive compact car replacing the current badge-engineered G5 under the G4 name. Speculation has this vehicle riding on the Kappa platform that underpins the Solstice and being available in both coupe and sedan models. GM has been mulling a second Kappa car for a while, and it sounds like it still is.

Last but not least, there has been talk of a Grand Prix replacement called the G8 that will be built on the Zeta platform. From what we hear this car will definitely appear at the Chicago Auto Show in February, if not sooner at the Detroit show in January Aren't rumors great?

[Source: GM Inside News]

Rumor Mill: Next gen Pontiac G6 will be RWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refining the in-car iMac

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Sedan, I.C.E., Mercedes-Benz

We've seen our fair share of vehicles whose ~~obsessive~~ diligent owners have chosen to integrate their favorite OS into their whips. While most of us are content to bring our iPods along for the journey, what happens when you put a professional on the job?

Mattes Interieurtechnik specializes in only the most luxurious interior accoutrements. Previous in-car upgrades run the gamut from a mild Cooper S trim job to a full on redo of a Porsche Carrera GT. The ride that caught our attention though was this 2006 Mercedes CLS. Before the interior was draped in its cream-colored leather, a 17" iMac was installed behind the front seats. At just over an inch thick, the fully integrated screen rests cleanly on the transmission tunnel, while back seat passengers utilize a wireless keyboard and mouse to operate this mobile mac-o-phile's dream rig. Any concerns about theft are nullified as the entire unit can be removed in under a minute.

Refining the in-car iMac originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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