Autoblog

New Bright creating exclusive 1:8 scale radio-controlled C7 Corvette

Zach Bowman — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Toys/Games, Electric

If you want a new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette but can't quite save up enough pennies for the monthly payment, we have good news for you. Toymaker New Bright has pulled the covers off of its 1:8 scale remote-controlled version of the American sports car. Complete with a very detailed interior and LED headlights, this large-scale R/C is as close as most of us will ever come to having one of the menacing Chevrolet models to call our very own. New Bright still hasn't released pricing or availability, but word has it the coupe should hit the market soon.

Right now, it appears as if the C7 will hit shelves in Torch Red, though we don't know if other colors are planned as well. The good news is that New Bright isn't exactly turning its back on the old C6 - representatives say the company will continue to make its popular C6R racecar for those who prefer round taillights.

New Bright creating exclusive 1:8 scale radio-controlled C7 Corvette originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R/C Lego A-Team van is triple-geek cool

Zach Bowman — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Videos, Toys/Games

By now, you've probably gathered we have a soft spot for clever Lego creations. And, if you've been paying attention, you likely know we love remote-controlled gadgets more than some of our own relatives, so combining the two is a surefire way to grab our attention. Throw in a little homage to tacky television, and we're all yours. Such is the case with this wicked R/C Lego A-Team van. Capable of tackling tricky slaloms and bringing plans together, the little van is one Mr. T away from pitying a fool.

Unlike the R/C Lego Tumbler we saw not too long ago, this A-Team van seems more than capable of holding together long enough to have some fun. You can check out a video of the van whipping around the builder's living room below. Be sure to watch the video below all the way through the end to put an eyeball on the steering and propulsion systems. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have reruns to watch.

R/C Lego A-Team van is triple-geek cool originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car

Zach Bowman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

We've finally come to accept the fact that we'll never be Vaughn Gittin Jr. There can be only one one pure-bred drift hooligan of his caliber on this planet and truth be told, our sideways skills are paltry at best. That doesn't mean we can't pretend, though. Gittin Jr. has teamed up with a smattering of companies to give away five very limited-edition RC cars made up in the image of his sinister Ford Mustang GT drift machine. Only 5,000 of the HPI RC Ford Mustang cars will be produced in total, and Gittin Jr. is giving five of them away to Facebook fans.

To get the word out, Gittin Jr., K&N, Monster Energy and Falken Tire crafted a video demonstrating just what happens when the drifter can't get his hands on the scale Mustang. An epic chase ensues, with the RC car taking a little "How it's Made" tour of the K&N factory. The clip also features a few outtakes worth watching, as well. We won't spoil it for you, but we will say more than one RC car gave its life in the making of the film. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself. If you want to enter the sweepstakes, head over to the K&N Facebook page for more information.

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car

Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R/C F16 jet with swiveling pilot's view blows our tiny little minds

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

Toys are infinitely cooler these days than they were when we were kids. While we had to subside on crappy Lego houses and weak Nerf guns, youngsters now get to craft accurate models of the Millennium Falcon and play with a foam arsenal that would make the CIA blush with envy.

The same goes for remote-controlled vehicles. We've already seen exactly how much fun can be had with a point-of-view camera, an RC Jeep and a little time. Now another crafty RC aficionado has applied the same camera tech to a remote-controlled F16 fighter jet.

There aren't words to describe how awesome this is.

By using a live feed from the camera, the pilot effectively gets the same view out of the cockpit that an actual pilot would enjoy. The creator even wired up an altimeter so the pilot can tell exactly how far off the ground the plane is at any given moment. Hit the jump to check it out. Bonus points for the Kenny Loggins soundtrack.

Continue reading R/C F16 jet with swiveling pilot's view blows our tiny little minds

R/C F16 jet with swiveling pilot's view blows our tiny little minds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Size doesn't matter when using your car to flirt

Zach Bowman — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Humor

Like it or not, summer is slowly sinking to a close. School is back in session and days are getting shorter by the moment, so you better get all of your beach-going shenanigans in while you still can. In the case of one very intrepid remote-control vehicle enthusiast, that means cruising the sand in an RC Jeep, complete with a first-person camera and intercom system for stirring up all sorts of trouble. That includes attempting what could very well be the word's first remote-controlled flirtation.

Is it a little creepy to invite a young lady back to your beach house via an RC GI Joe and camera? Undoubtedly. The whole thing looks a bit like the intro to a slasher flick to us, but what do we know? The moral of the story is that you can still play with toys without being condemned to a life of eating Easy Mac alone in your parents' basement. Either that, or don't go in the house. One of the two. Hit the jump to see the videos for yourself.

Continue reading Size doesn't matter when using your car to flirt

Size doesn't matter when using your car to flirt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels introduces remote controlled Stealth Rides

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Hot Wheels has just rolled out two new R/C cars in the Stealth Rides line. The collapsible racers fit into their own cases which double as infrared remote controls. At the moment there are just two vehicles - one with wheels and another with treads - but in October Batman's Tumbler joins the party. The good news is they fit in any pocket, run for about 45 minutes and cost just $25. The not so good news is that when that 45 minutes is up you'll have to replace five watch batteries - three in the car, two in the remote - to get them going again. Click the link for the video at CNET. Hat tip to Sea Urchin

[Source: CNET]

Hot Wheels introduces remote controlled Stealth Rides originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Sign #5,328 You Have Too Much Free Time - Lego R/C Veyron with seven-speed gearbox

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Bugatti, Toys/Games

Remote control Lego Technic Bugatti Veryon - Click above to watch video after the jump

Someone going by the handle "Sheepo" spent who knows how many hours satisfying the urge to build a Bugatti Veyron out of Lego Technic pieces. Among its many features are a remote controlled braking system, power targa roof and motorized rear spoiler. And then there's that working seven-speed sequential gearbox - even the gear lever moves - plus reverse. If it goes 254 miles per hour to scale, we'll be even more impressed. And to any of you with this much time on your hands and dreams in your head, keep up the good work. Follow the jump to see it in action. Hat tip to Cameron!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Sign #5,328 You Have Too Much Free Time - Lego R/C Veyron with seven-speed gearbox

Video: Sign #5,328 You Have Too Much Free Time - Lego R/C Veyron with seven-speed gearbox originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement

Chris Shunk — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Hatchback, Toys/Games, Electric

The move to electric-powered vehicles is still in its fledgling stages, but there are plenty of signs that the next few years will finally start ushering in battery-powered transportation for the masses. But there's one class of vehicle that has almost always been powered by batteries: R/C cars. Slap in a couple of 9-volt batteries and a slew of AA cells, and kids of all ages get to pretend they're Ken Block in the backyard until mom says it's time to clean up for supper.

Now that full-sized rides are finally "catching up" to their scaled-down counterparts, it appears that at least one toymaker, New Bright, has decided to take the next step: an R/C car that needs no batteries. It's called the Ecomobile, and it looks like a solar-powered freehand interpretation of a Smart ForTwo mated with a Toyota Prius. As you can see by its packaging, the Ecomobile takes great pride in the fact that it's ecopowered, economical and ecofriendly. It's even packaged in recyclable materials. It's $29.95. Al Gore can't stop smiling.

But how does it run? Well, you have to leave it out in the sun for one hour for every five minutes of play time. It's reportedly slow, too, and much like the EVs we've experienced in the real world, reviewers have said that the solar-powered toy doesn't quite run as long as its OEM-promised times state. Sound like fun? We don't think so either. So, in the spirit of the holidays, we've decided to come up with some of our favorite captions and/or headlines for this eco-tastic (or is that eco-tragic?) new toy. Here are some of our not-so-hilarious efforts:

You traded in your sports car for a Prius? Now you can limit your children's fun too!
The Ecomobile: Because your kids aren't teased enough already
The perfect toy for the kid who likes to wait to have fun
Now mom can't bitch about leaving toys in the backyard
Sweet! A toy that kids north of the Mason-Dixon line can't play with until May

As you can plainly see, we need your help. Head for the comments section and give us your best headlines for this not-so-fun-looking toy. You won't win anything for trying, but your efforts could help a misguided parent choose a different (and cooler) toy for their kid.

Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't try this at home: SUV with remote-operated shotguns

Erin Mays — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc.

If you think vehicle-mounted weapons are cool in video games, wait until you check them out in real life. Observe the HAMMER Remotely-Operated Weapons System for Robotic and Manned Vehicles, which is available for use in both manned and unmanned (remote-controlled) ground vehicles as well as unmanned air combat vehicles. The company says the system, which is comprised of two 12-gauge shotguns mounted on a turret system, is ready for applications such as peacekeeping (oh, the irony), urban warfare and law enforcement right out of the box.

Check out this video of the twin shotguns mounted atop an SUV making short work of some potted plants -- pretty cool/scary stuff depending on your sensibilities. There are certainly some benefits to having firepower on tap you can control accurately yet remotely while safely ensconced inside an armored SUV.

Don't try this at home: SUV with remote-operated shotguns originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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