Autoblog

High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST

We imagine things get hectic pretty quickly if you happen to take a deep plunge while still in your car. As the water rushes in, things like patience and good sense can rush out, so doing something as reflexive and simple as getting out of your seatbelt can waste time you don't really have. If you're worried about ending up underwater in your car, then you'll want to check out the Escape Belt from Dutch company Fijen.

The round black plastic tube affixed to the seat belt clasp above is the Escape Belt mechanism. It contains a cartridge with a salt pill; when enough water fills the car to dissolve the salt pill - more than a spilled beverage, mind you - a curved metal clip flips out of the top of the unit and depresses the button, unhooking the seatbelt. Voila, freedom.

We're not sure who is really the ideal demographic for this, but if you're interested, it's 29.95 euros ($39 US) and you can watch it at work in the video below. And if your ejection needs are even more intense, Fijen will be happy to sell you an Escape Hammer.

Continue reading High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video]

High-tech seatbelt device wants to save you in a flood [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Putting the "Ford" in The Blue Oval's new Ranger pickup

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford, Australia

Fording with the Ford Ranger - Click above to watch video after the jump

If you're a Ranger fan, the video posted after the jump is going to make you sad. Ford engineers in Australia filmed the new but not-for-U.S.-consumption truck as its water wading capabilities were put to the test. The results were heaps good.

Ford's new Ranger is available in a Hi-Rider version that's capable of, ahem, fording through an impressive amount of water. Starting at a depth of two-inches, the engineers kept pushing until they were driving through 31.5 inches of engine-killing fluid. The two-inch deep pool is used to simulate long puddles, and the truck is run through at 19, 31 and 40 miles per hour. When filled to the max, the test area is traversed at a much slower 4 mph.

In order to achieve these results, Ford raised the air intake and alternator to a spot where they stay above the water line. Crucial components that sit lower are water-proofed. Click past the jump to see the testing in action, and be sure to read more about the Ranger in the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Video: Putting the "Ford" in The Blue Oval's new Ranger pickup

Video: Putting the "Ford" in The Blue Oval's new Ranger pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata pours $15M into project researching water as fuel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Earnings/Financials, Tata

The lure of extracting hydrogen from water in a somewhat real-time fashion in sufficient quantities to power an automobile has so far been a complete dead-end pursuit. One of the biggest problems is that it takes more energy to release the hydrogen from its water-tight bonds than is actually returned by the resulting hydrogen.

But those basic laws of physics haven't stopped scientists with well-funded checkbooks from trying. The latest endeavor comes from Daniel Nocera of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is being funded by Indian businessman Ratan Tata, who, among other things, heads the global automaker that bears his name. At this time, the total grant comes in at $15 million.

As intriguing as all of this sounds, it bears mentioning that water-powered cars have repeatedly failed in their missions (see here) of offering nearly free fuel for all.

Take the story of the MDI's air car. In 2007, Tata signed a deal with MDI to bring the air-powered car to market and the companies said in early 2008 that the car would require nearly two years of work. We have heard little about it since then except a name change to FlowAir and a lot of skepticism that it would ever see the light of day at all. Will Tata's hydrogen bet fare any better? Thanks to Matteo and Roy B. for the tips!

[Sources: Sify News, ANSA.IT | Image: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade]

Report: Tata pours $15M into project researching water as fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Fiat

Lancia di Lancia launches in Venice - Click either image for high-res image gallery

Considering that somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered by water - and that, if the global warming alarmists are right, that proportion of aqua to terra firma will only increase - it should come as no great surprise that the world's automakers and their designers have been setting sail on the open sea. Recent examples have included 28-foot speedboats and 135-foot catamaran megayachts penned by Porsche Design, sailboats and motor yachts from BMW DesignWorks USA, and speedboats from former Jaguar and Spyker supercar designers. The list goes on and on, and probably will continue to grow until we get the go-ahead to spin off Aquablog.

The latest pair - both rigid inflatables measuring over 40 feet long and packing ludicrous power - come from the collaboration between Italian shipyard SACS Marine and the Fiat Group: a white, outboard-powered open-plan tender for Abarth and a sleek black vessel for Lancia. The latter shares its nautical name with the motor launches that navigate the canals and waterways of Venice in the place of cars on any other city's streets. And that's just the venue the Italian automaker chose to launch - in every sense of the word - its stunning speedboat, during the international film festival it sponsored there this weekend.

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the Lancia di Lancia is a 13-meter rigid inflatable speedboat packing a pair of 560hp 6.7-liter 24-valve common-rail six-cylinder turbodiesels from Fiat Powertrain Technologies. It's capable of carrying 11 passengers on board in unparalleled style and topping out at 55 knots - impressive for an eight-and-a-half ton vessel, and easily the most dramatic vehicle to bear the Lancia name in decades. So much so, in fact, that Lancia and its onetime iconic sponsor Martini Racing rekindled their relationship for this speedboat. And just for kicks, they brought along Romanian supermodel Catrinel Menghia - the face of Giorgio Armani and Lise Charmel lingerie - for a cruise around the picturesque canals. You can enjoy the results in the high-resolution image gallery below and in the quartet of videos embedded (along with a press release) after the jump.

Gallery: Lancia di Lancia speedboat launches in Venice

[Source: Lancia]

Continue reading Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari breaks speed records ... on water

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ferrari

click above image for a few more pics of Molinari's Ferrari boat

So the prancing horse is having a little trouble on the track, but its engines aren't having any problems at all on the water. Speedboat designer Eugenio Molinari, using a production engine from an F430, broke the running kilometer world records in two categories on Lake Como, Italy. At 1,100 kg, he ran the kilo at 123.3 km/h, and at 1,450 kg, he did 122 km/h. The feats were dedicated by Molinari to Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari CEO, and the marque during its 60th anniversary year. A bit of trivia: 35 years ago, Molinari designed the first boat to house a Lamborghini engine taken from an Espada.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Gallery: Molinari Ferrari Boat

Ferrari breaks speed records ... on water originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Night Watch: Water powered jet car

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 01:51:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos

We really don't know where to begin with this one. We thought we'd seen every conceivable form of motivation, then this comes along and it seems to defy description. The video is courtesy of Streetfire.net, who contends that beneath all that pimperific body work, lives a water-propelled, jet-powered Peugeot 206. Our minds are reeling in an attempt to understand the technical hurdles of such a vehicle. Check the video, then speculate in 'comments'.

[Source: Streetfire.net]

Autoblog Night Watch: Water powered jet car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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