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[REPORT: James May to build life-sized Lego house. But what's in the garage?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-james-may-to-build-life-sized-lego-house-but-whats-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-james-may-to-build-life-sized-lego-house-but-whats-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-james-may-to-build-life-sized-lego-house-but-whats-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,



James May, a.k.a. Captain Slow on Top Gear, has a BBC show called James May's Toy Stories. After building an award-winning Plasticine garden and the world's largest model airplane, the next thing on May's list is a house built of Legos. A two-storey house. And he intends to live in it for a weekend.

The house will be built in Dorking, England and everything that can be made out of Legos will be made out of Lego. Said May, "I've got a man working on a flushing Lego lavatory. We think it's possible." Seeing that Legoland doesn't even have a house made of Lego - and certainly not Lego toilets - this should indeed be a "pioneering Lego cause." So far, three million Lego bricks have been contributed to the build, but May is looking for more in case you have any lying around.

[Source: BBC]

REPORT: James May to build life-sized Lego house. But what's in the garage? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbuilding blockbuilding blocksBuildingBlockBuildingBlockscelebrityenglandetcjames mayJamesMaylegolegolandlegostop gearTopGeartoytoysukMon, 27 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more screen shots of Bus Driver

When I was in Kindergarten, I rode Bus 11. It was an oil-burning 32-passenger GMC that was ready for retirement by 1982. It was driven by Sarge. I'm not sure why she was called Sarge, but her demeanor definitely lived up to the moniker. Frequent exhortations to"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP" kept us all in line. Nobody ever laughed when she ground the 2-3 upshift. Think you'd enjoy ruling passengers with an iron fist? You could go get the endorsement on your license and then hit the job market, or if that takes too much effort, just buy Bus Driver, the video game.

Hey, at least it's still a driving game, but it's the staid, responsible version of gaming. Rather than speed around a track or create mayhem, your mission is to follow routes in your school bus, city bus or tour bus while picking up and dropping off fares. What fun, the replays must be enthralling. It could be worse, though - it's still a wheeled conveyance you're controlling rather than some Wiimote-powered silliness. We do wish that Meridian4, the game's publisher, had included the DeLorean bus that never got off the ground.

Gallery: Bus Driver: The Video Game


[Source: Winding Road]

Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbus driverBusDriverdriverdrivinggadgetgamegamingmeridian4toyvideo gameVideoGameTue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Make it up to the kid with an Alfa Spider]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/#commentsFiled under: ,


Uh-oh. The big day came and went and you forgot a present for that pint-size kiddie on your shopping list. This is gonna cost ya. We'd charge you for information on the ultimate "stop crying, let me make it up to you" gift, but our lawyers insist it's legally questionable and our life coach says it's "wrong", whatever that means.

So here's what you want to get to make the kid forget the conspicuous and disappointing void under the tree: an Alfa Romeo. Okay, not a real one, but everything is relative and to a child, this will seem just as cool - trust us. These downsized rideable Alfa Spiders are available with a choice of body-styles - 8C Competizione or Brera - and powertrain. A hair under three bills will get pedal-power, or an extra two hundred nets the 6-volt electric version. Shipping's extra if you live outside the UK, and the roadsters are made for kids ages 2-5. Oh, and they're available only in red.

If your kid's passion lies elsewhere than with Alfa Romeo, we'd recommend a better education. In the meantime, don't fret: Turbo Toys has a variety of similar ride-ons, including a Maserati, Audi TT, Jag XK, Porsche, and several Ferraris.

You can thank us later.

[Source: Turbo Toys via Carscoop]

Make it up to the kid with an Alfa Spider originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfacarchildelectrickidpedalrideromeospiderspydertoyThu, 27 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your Flux Capacitors right here!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/get-your-flux-capacitors-right-here/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/get-your-flux-capacitors-right-here/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/10/get-your-flux-capacitors-right-here/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Okay, let's get this straight. Back to the Future movies: cool. Making your DeLorean into a replica of the movie car: incredibly lame. Halfway between would be a reproduction flux capacitor. If you did buy this thing, you could certainly attain full lameness by installing in in your non-DeLorean.

There were talented people working in the entertainment industry to dream up those iconic vehicles of the 1980s like KITT, the BTF DeLorean and the A-Team van. Those cars have staying power with a generation of enthusiasts, but dressing up your car to match a prop is akin to putting on your C-3PO finery to go see Episode III. If you must have it for your '96 Neon, climb the stairs from your basement lair and ask your mom for $220 for what equates to a couple of lights in a box. Hey, Christmas is coming, if you jump up and down and stomp like you did in '85, you'll find this thing under the tree.

[Source: Engadget]

Get your Flux Capacitors right here! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorybackback to the futureBackToTheFuturecapacitordeloreanfluxflux capacitorFluxCapacitorfuturemoviespropthetotoyMon, 10 Dec 2007 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Project Edsel part 2 - Paint, round one]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/28/autoblog-project-edsel-part-2-paint-round-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/28/autoblog-project-edsel-part-2-paint-round-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/28/autoblog-project-edsel-part-2-paint-round-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Yeah, so that didn't work out so well. At least I'll get more practice painting. Project Edsel's time for primer had come, so I thinned some Tamiya X21 into the reservoir and fired up the compressor. It took a while to figure out the proper flow and pressure setting (a pressure gauge would be helpful to adjust the compressor's regulator), but once everything was connected up and filled, I was ready to shoot some paint.

Gallery: Autoblog Project Edsel Part 2

Continue reading Autoblog Project Edsel part 2 - Paint, round one

Autoblog Project Edsel part 2 - Paint, round one originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog project edselAutoblogProjectEdseledselfordmodelmodel kitModelKitmodelmakingtoyFri, 28 Sep 2007 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Race in a Briefcase]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/19/race-in-a-briefcase/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/19/race-in-a-briefcase/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/19/race-in-a-briefcase/#commentsFiled under: ,



As each of us gets older and has a harder time remembering when all we wanted for Christmas were toys, it's healthy to find a way to dive back in the past and relive those simpler times. That's a tough exercise to pull off with TPS reports that need copying and a 9-5 that doesn't allow for play time. Enter the "Race in a Briefcase", which is our name for this German-engineered executive toy that marries a very serious looking stainless steel briefcase with a 2-meter long toy car track on which two racers can compete. The track is slotted, and unlike the kiddy kind of yesteryear that only called for a trigger finger strong enough to last ten laps, the "Race in a Briefcase" requires deft throttle control to stay on course and not send your car flying off the boardroom table. The track uses a standard 9 volt battery that powers the fun for five hours, and a stopwatch is even included to officially time your runs. It looks like a sweet toy that can be easily slipped by your boss for hours of on-the-clock fun. Be prepared to cough up a paycheck for the privelage, however, as the "Race in a Briefcase" costs €598.00 (about $766).

[Source: Pro Idee via WindingRoad]

Race in a Briefcase originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Nov 2006 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasgermankartracetoySun, 19 Nov 2006 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Repairing childhood trauma with Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As a child who was a car geek since he was a knee-high to a back bumper, I coveted a Power Wheels electric vehicle over all the other toys in the JC Penny Christmas Catalogue. Power Wheels were magically self-propelled by something called ewectwicitee and cost hundreds of dollars ($8 bajillion in kid money). I never got one and am emotionally scarred because of it, but am waiting for the day I have my own mini-me and can spoil him on his fifth birthday with his very first car.

Power Wheels have come a long way since I was a tike, however. Case in point is the new Jeep Hurricane produced by the Fisher Price division that features Ultimate Terrain Traction. Yeah, you're reading that right. The newest Power Wheels has traction control. The PR language says it all about this "high performance drive system" though skimps on the details:
  • "It powers through places where other battery-powered ride-ons need a push"
  • "Through lush lawns, wet grass, mud, gravel, rough terrain and more"
  • "It's there when you need it - even when you think you don't"
We're not sure what comprises the Jeep Hurricane's Ultimate Terrain Traction, though it's probably not a complicated mess of electronic nannies varying power output to each individual wheel based on tire slip. It could be the simple fact that this Power Wheels has rubber tires instead of slippery plastic ones, but we won't tell the kids that.

The Jeep Hurricane also fixes some proportion issues of past Power Wheels by riding on a much longer wheelbase than past models. If that's not enough, there's also an on-board cup holder (sippy cup approved) and real working FM radio (what, no iPod jack?). The base MSRP for the Ultiamte Terrain Traction Jeep Hurricane is $400.00. There are no options to inflate the price further, but there's also no financing and certainly no incentives. That's a pretty steep price for a child's toy, but it's so cool we think dipping into junior's college fund for this is perfectly warranted.

[Source: Fisher-Price]

Repairing childhood trauma with Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childfisher priceFisherPricehurricanejeepkidpower wheelsPowerWheelstoyFri, 10 Nov 2006 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[VW Microbus record player]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/23/vw-microbus-record-player/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/23/vw-microbus-record-player/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/23/vw-microbus-record-player/#commentsFiled under: ,



If you own a classic VeeDub, chances are you might have some old vinyl LPs lying around as well. Classic tunes just seem to sound better with a little scratch and pop. Without going the full DJ route with mixers and turntables taking up half your room, playing them can be a hassle... until now. This nifty little Japanese wonder will roll around your record and broadcast the sounds of the "road" through a built-in speaker. Flower children rejoice.

Found a snazzy chrome model on eBay for 85 bucks. I wonder how many records you'll be able to play before having to rebuild the motor.

[Source: Motorpasion via CarScoop]

VW Microbus record player originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LPphonographrecord playRecordPlaytoyVanVee DubVeeDubVWWed, 23 Aug 2006 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Le Mans goes Lego on cover of Winding Road]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/le-mans-goes-lego-on-cover-of-winding-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/le-mans-goes-lego-on-cover-of-winding-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/le-mans-goes-lego-on-cover-of-winding-road/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Online auto mag Winding Road has always been an interesting read, but one area in which the digital rag's been lacking is graphic design, particularly when it comes to covers. The most recent issue eclipses all others by foregoing the expense of more talented graphic designers and putting the mag's face in the hands of Todd Osborn, an Ypsilanti, Michigan resident and apparent Lego god.

The cover features a dead-on shot of Audi's R10 diesel Le Mans racer composed entirely of Legos. Osborn used a little less than 20,000 blocks to create the work of art, and requested Winding Road return them all when the photo shoot was finished. At the end of this "Making Of" video we see the Winding Road staff unceremoniously dismantling the work brick by handful of bricks.

[Source: Winding Road via Nestcape]

Le Mans goes Lego on cover of Winding Road originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blocksdieselle manslegolego artLegoArtlegosLeMansr10toytoyswinding roadWindingRoadTue, 20 Jun 2006 18:32:00 EST