Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lotus gives hybrids a V8 soundtrack]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/lotus-gives-hybrids-a-v8-soundtrack/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/lotus-gives-hybrids-a-v8-soundtrack/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/lotus-gives-hybrids-a-v8-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for gallery of Lotus' Safe and Sound Hybrid

Hybrid vehicles have the potential to save a few bucks at the pump, but advocates for the blind have continued to warn about their potential to harm to the seeing impaired. Lotus' automotive consultancy arm is trying to avert the risk of hybrids quietly running in electric mode with its "Safe and Sound" demo car.

This specially equipped Toyota Prius has been fitted a waterproof speaker mounted above the radiator that can emit a sound similar to a flat-six or V8, based off the vehicle's speed and throttle position. Once the internal combustion engine kicks in, the system is muted, allowing the 1.5-liter inline four to sing its siren song.

Hit the jump to read the press release and see a video of the "Safe and Sound" demo car in action. Also keep in mind that we've yet to run across a report of a blind person being hit by a hybrid car, though there was that one kid who got knocked off his bike.

Gallery: Lotus Safe and Sound Hybrid

Continue reading Lotus gives hybrids a V8 soundtrack

Lotus gives hybrids a V8 soundtrack originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engine noiseEngineNoisehybridlotuslotus safe and soundLotusSafeAndSoundsafe and soundSafeAndSoundspeakertoyota priusToyotaPriusTue, 05 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari's $20,000 Art.Engine tower speaker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-s-20-000-art-engine-tower-speaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-s-20-000-art-engine-tower-speaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/ferrari-s-20-000-art-engine-tower-speaker/#commentsFiled under:

The most credible threat to Apple's dominance in the consumer electronics marketplace may turn out to be Ferrari, which has added a $20,000 tower speaker called the Art.Engine to its lineup of branded electronics that also includes laptops, MP3 players and cell phones. Designed by David Wiener Ventures, the Art.Engine is available in most Ferrari colors and features WiFi connectivity to receive wirelessly streamed music from your computer and a low-tech minijack to plug in your iPod. Your 20 Gs won't buy you standard RCA or digital inputs, however. Exclusivity will be guaranteed by the limited run of only 1,000 copies.

Now, we know less about the art of high-end audio than we do about... nearly anything else, so we'll take SonicFlare's word for it that while the Art.Engine may sound great and certainly sell out, Ferrari's too smart to submit its speaker tower to any publications for a serious review.

[Source: David Wiener Ventures]

Ferrari's $20,000 Art.Engine tower speaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 May 2006 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art.engineaudioaudiophileferrarispeakerTue, 23 May 2006 12:52:00 EST