Autoblog

We've covered all manner of Ferrari products that have little to nothing to do with the firm's actual road cars or even its championship-winning formula racing program. These include laptop computers, PDAs, stereo systems, cell phones... you name it. Those are just the electronics, and just a few of them at that. But this... this is just too much. Ferrari, in its unquenchable thirst for more licensing opportunities, has teamed up with Segway to offer this special-edition scarlet scooter.

Okay, we'll concede that Ferrari employees actually use Segways to get around the ever-growing factory in Maranello, and heaven forbid they should use anything that isn't emblazoned with the Prancing Horse emblem. So while they were at it, the two companies at polar opposite ends of the wheeled transportation spectrum evidently decided to offer these Italian hybrids to the public.

And so the Segway PT i2 Ferrari Limited Edition was born, complete with Rosso paintwork and leather handlebars. Otherwise it's completely stock, so don't expect to be out-running anything with, you know... an actual engine, or other Segways for that matter. Like the standard Segway, it's designed to fit into the trunk of a car (maybe of a Scaglietti) and turns as instinctively as Kimi Raikkonen on the apex at this past weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Don't think this makes the geek's alternative to walking actually cool or anything, and it's no faster in any way than an ordinary Segway. But if you're filthy rich and you've wisely invested your wealth in a massive collection of Ferraris old and new, it may (and we'll stress may) make for a nice way to get around the garage. (We'll walk, thanks.)

Thanks to James for the tip.

[Source: Sybarites]

Nothing says "to serve and protect" like a cop riding piggyback on R2-D2. T3 Motion has developed a three-wheeled competitor to the Segway, which it's currently marketing to law-enforcement agencies and those crazy cops from California were first in line.

The T3 made its debut in Boston on October 14 at a police chiefs convention, though the company says it is looking into other technologies, applications and markets. Currently the T3 is being tested at the University of Southern California and on Catalina Island, among other locations.

The vehicle is powered by two battery cells, which are charged via a specially-designed charging unit that runs off ordinary wall-socket electricity. The little scooter also comes equipped with LED flashing lights, sirens and a lockable glovebox (for felonious squirrels) and even an optional GPS tracking system. That's a lot more than you could fit on a Segway (and not just because they've been recalled, either). We just wish it could say "stop, or there will be... trouble".

Because the batteries can be swapped out on the field, T3 Motion says the vehicle effectively has an unlimited range. With quick-turning agility, the company also says their scooter has "intuitive handling". Know what else has intuitive handling? A cop walking the beat.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

To some, the Woodward Dream Cruise is a heavenly celebration of America's love affair with the automobile. Just driving down Woodward these last few days has made people feel like the cars they're driving are a little bit cooler, the music they're cranking is a little bit better and the style they're sporting is a little more kickin'. For others, however, the Cruise and the gasoline consumption inherent therein is a wanton abuse of natural resources and a gluttonous disrespect for the atmosphere.

Could it be that Dream Cruising and Green Living are mutually-exclusive? Read on after the jump to find out.

Are you a scooterist? A new survey released Monday shows that roughly a third of Americans are thinking about it, with 30 percent of U.S. consumers saying they'd consider using a scooter. When consumers were asked if they'd be likely to use a scooter if they could save $25 a week on gas, 35 percent said yes.

The survey was sponsored by Piaggio Group, makers of the iconic Vespa and other two-wheelers (and three-wheelers!), which enjoyed 15 percent U.S. sales growth in 2005. The company expects scooter manufacturers to enjoy record sales this summer.

[Source: Piaggio Group Americas]

The famous Vespa scooter you always see nauseatingly trendy characters tool around on in TV shows and movies was launched by Piaggio in 1946. Fifty years later the company is introducing the MP3, a three-wheeled scooter with two 12-inch donuts up front and one in the rear. Both front wheels tilt independently to provide extreme levels of stability for a little scooter and better braking thanks to the extra disc. You can forget about a kickstand too, as the MP3's tilt suspension can be locked and easily balance the scooter upright while parked or at stoplights. The system is designed to automatically unlock the tilt mechanisms again at speed. Power for the MP3 is provided by either a 125cc or 250cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine. Seems like the perfect piece of transport for the cramped cobblestone streets of Europe.

[Source: Italiaspeed]