Autoblog

Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Zach Bowman — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Videos, Humor

Jet-powered golf cart - Click above to watch video after the jump

There are plenty of fine reasons to play golf. Everyone needs an excuse to get outside and stretch their legs, and smacking the life out of a little white ball is a socially acceptable way to relieve stress with a club. But for many of us, the only reason to get on the green is to get behind the wheel of a golf cart. Our short game may be the living definition of embarrassing, but we'd like to imagine we could execute a fine handbrake turn behind the wheel of an electric rental.

If that's not entertaining enough to wet your whistle, you can always add the thrill of a turbine engine to the mix. We're not exactly sure where the gentleman in the video after the jump got the idea to strap a small jet engine to the back of his custom golf cart, but we like where his head's at. Odds are the other players may have a small problem with the racket that his contraption makes, but that's their problem, right?. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Rinspeed BamBoo is a grown-up golf cart for the jet set

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Design/Style, Electric

Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rinspeed brings a touch of the Mediterranean life to the Geneva Motor Show floor with the BamBoo. The four-passenger electric golf-cart for grown-ups is able to run up to 75 miles per hour and has a range of 65 miles thanks to a 54-kW motor. That should be plenty to get you from the dock where your yacht is berthed, to the clubs of Monaco and back again.

If partying all night has you feeling a little groggy the next day, just hop in the BamBoo and head to the beach. Once there, you can use the inflatable roof as a beach blanket(!). Don't forget to bring the included tablet PC with you, to keep in touch with friends. Once back on the road, the BamBoo will still allow you to stay in touch by providing the ability to display messages in the front grille.

It might be just us, but we can't help but think that the color scheme makes the BamBoo look more than a little like a cocktail-sized version of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile - mustard and all. Check out our high-res gallery below and let us know what you think.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

Geneva 2011: Rinspeed BamBoo is a grown-up golf cart for the jet set originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR (golf cart)

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Ford, Electric

eBay Find of the Day: Shelby GT500KR golf cart - Click above for image gallery

Don't worry folks... this one is fully licensed, so expect no unwanted lawsuits. What you see before you is said to be one example of three Shelby Mustang GT500KR golf carts produced, and this one happens to be Numero Uno. This particular electric transportation device is modeled after the 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR, which is itself an homage to the 1968 original, and it can be yours if the price is right.

Of the three produced, this is the only one with a more powerful engine capable of pushing the golf cart to 60 miles per hour. According to the sell,er it was created for Amy Bolan, former president of Shelby Automobiles. The stitching on the driver's seat reads "Mustang Amy" and the seller advises keeping it that way to preserve the "collector's value." However, they will stitch something else in that spot if desired.

The auction listing states that this GT500KR golf cart cost more than $50,000 to build. Currently there are 18 bids, with the top dollar offering sitting $9,900 and an unmet reserve. There's not much time left on this auction, so interested ~~golfers~~ buyers are advised to bid soon.

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: Shelby GT500KR golf cart

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR (golf cart) originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's priciest and most luxurious golf cart features carbon-fiber roof, just like your BMW M3

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Toys/Games, Humor, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury

The Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit Golf Car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Meet the Lamborghini of the Links - the Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit. Aside from that exotic roof, this golf car (don't you dare call it a cart) boasts a serious pedigree bedecked with names like Porsche, Ducati and Aston Martin. Sort of. See, this little caddy-mobile gets glued together in the same factory that's responsible for the Cayman, and uses a frame from the same supplier as Aston Martin, Volvo and the like. The gearbox? It comes straight from a Ducati supplier.

Buyers can choose their own exterior color, and get treated to niceties like two-tone seats stitched by hand and a Alcantara headliner. Sadly, there are no power numbers on hand, but the company did supply us with one very important figure - $17,499. That's how much the base version will set you back. Start tacking on the optional built-in refrigerator or partake of the personalization program, and this little sucker will hit you up for closer to $52,000. Expect to see the Garia Editioin Soleil de Minuit unveiled at this year's Top Marques Monaco. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit

[Source: Garia]

Continue reading World's priciest and most luxurious golf cart features carbon-fiber roof, just like your BMW M3

World's priciest and most luxurious golf cart features carbon-fiber roof, just like your BMW M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet Garia, the World's Most Exclusive Golf Cart

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Specialty

Garia, the "World's Most Exclusive Golf Cart" - Click above for high-res image gallery

Normally, we might associate the so-called "World's Most Exclusive Golf Cart" with Tiger Woods, but he's surely got more important things on his mind at the moment. Plus, it's Cadillac that's supposed to be The Standard of the World, not Buick, the GM-owned automaker that Woods shills for. So then, just who is the Garia meant for?

Honestly, we have no idea. Perhaps well-to-do golfers looking to one-up their frenemies at the local country club? In any case, the Garia is supposedly "built to the highest standards of the automotive industry." Included in its kit, says the manufacturer, is a double-wishbone front suspension, a drivetrain built by the company that produces Ducati gearboxes and aluminum stampings sourced from the same company that supplies Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo.

Inside the comfy confines of the golf cart is a built-in refrigerator to keep your beverages nice and chilled along with a couple of strategically-located cupholders. Valmet Automotive, which assembles the Porsche Boxster and Cayman along with the upcoming Fisker Karma, manufacturers the Garia. Starting in 2010, the manufacturer promises that the Garia will be street-legal in the States as a Low Speed Vehicle after being formally introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Price? $17,499 or 13,999 Euros, plus tax and delivery.

Gallery: Garia Golf Cart

[Source: Garia]

Continue reading Meet Garia, the World's Most Exclusive Golf Cart

Meet Garia, the World's Most Exclusive Golf Cart originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche GT3 Cup cars get shrunken doppelgangers

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Etc., Porsche

Click above for small gallery of Porsche Cup cars and carts

Here's a bit of whimsy that's sure to brighten your day. Anyone who's had the chance to catch a Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race might have seen these fun little support vehicles in the pits already. Modeled on the 911 GT3 Cup racecars that compete in the series, some of the teams have created Mini-Me versions of their racecars for hauling parts and crew members around the paddock. We doubt they share the GT3 Cups' 3.6-liter boxer engines, but they still look like an awful lot of fun. Check out the gallery for two examples of these Porsche GT3 Cup car and cart pairs.

Gallery: Porsche GT3 Cup cars and carts

[Source: Jon Sibal]

Porsche GT3 Cup cars get shrunken doppelgangers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man riding modified golf cart eludes police

Chris Shunk — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

Police in Utah observed a 26-year-old man doing donuts and wheelies in a golf cart at the city park, so they closed in on the suspect to issue a ticket. The cart driver decided that he wanted to test law enforcement in his modified super cart, so a five-minute chase through neighborhood lawns led the police and the cart-driving perp into an alfalfa field. Once there, the golf cart and its driver channeled the General Lee by jumping an irrigation ditch, leaving the police in the dust.

Unbelievably, the driver got away, at least for a day. Then next morning police arrested the driver at his grandmother's home, and he admitted to his crimes. It seems he was drunk (we know, big shock) and he didn't want to get into trouble. Good move, chief. Instead of a class B misdemeanor, the cart driver was slapped with a class three felony for evading police.

[Source: Standard Examiner via MSNBC]

Man riding modified golf cart eludes police originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Videos, Motorcycle

Click above to view video after the jump

It must take a certain kind of person to yank the small and economical 3-horsepower engine from a golf cart and replace it with one from a 2007 Yamaha R1 literbike. For the record, the team behind the transformation did a few dyno passes and managed to record 125-horsepower at the rear wheels. As you might expect, hilarious antics ensued, such as smoking tires and multi-geared wheelies on the dyno, which were then duplicated outside. After viewing the video, we want one, along with a really, really good helmet and full-body armor. Watch the video after the break.

[Source: Youtube via Motorcycle News]

Continue reading Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine

Adventures in excess: Golf cart powered by Yamaha R1 engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carting Under the Influence: Bill Murray busted in Stockholm

Alex Nunez — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

It's a Cinderella story gone all wrong! In Stockholm earlier this week on a quest to become the Scandinavian Masters champion, Oscar-nominated actor Bill Murray got his name in the papers following a run-in with police that involved the actor, alcohol, and a borrowed golf cart.

Murray was in Sweden to play in the aforementioned Scandinavian masters golf tournament, and the hotel where he was staying had a golf cart available on site. Monday night, Murray reportedly took the cart and drove it to a nightspot a mile from the hotel. On his way back later in the evening, the local constabulary noticed the cart being driven erratically and pulled it over to find Murray at the controls. The officer who made the stop asked Murray to blow into a breathalyzer, which he refused. That said, based on reports of the incident, the actor was completely reasonable in how he went about handling the predicament.

[Source: E!]

Continue reading Carting Under the Influence: Bill Murray busted in Stockholm

Carting Under the Influence: Bill Murray busted in Stockholm originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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