University researchers have taken a close look at the computer systems used to run today's cars and discovered new ways to hack into them, sometimes with frightening results.
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Category: Things on wheelsFiled under: Safety, Technology, Volvo
Click above to watch video after the jump
Safety is expected when you're Volvo, and when something goes wrong it's particularly embarrassing. Such was the case this week when media were invited to a demonstration of one of Volvo's latest latest safety technologies. The collision warning system on the S60 is supposed to detect an impending impacts and then autonomously apply the brakes to bring the vehicle to a halt, like this. Except it didn't!
The S60 was launched at 30 mph toward the back of a parked truck and the crowd watched as it rolled straight into it without ever braking. Volvo representatives later claimed human error in the preparation of the vehicle for the test. On the plus side, the car showed no apparent damage to the passenger compartment, again demonstrating that, even if a Volvo does crash, it will protect its occupants. In the meantime, we'll just to go back to being active participants in the driving process. Check out the video after the jump. Hats off to all the tipsters!
[Source: Wired, YouTube]
Continue reading Volvo S60 crashes during safety demonstration with cameras rolling
Volvo S60 crashes during safety demonstration with cameras rolling originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In between repeated bouts to literally knock your socks off (well, not yours exactly, but you get the idea, right?) last night, the Mythbusters crew decided to revisit an old myth that was drawing the ire of the show's fans for quite some time. And it's sure to be an interesting topic to automotive enthusiasts.
When two cars collide, each traveling 50 miles per hour, does the resulting force equal one car hitting an immovable object at 100 miles per hour?
It seems like such simple physics, no? But don't forget Newton's third law. To quote the great Wikipedia of knowledge, "Whenever a first body exerts a force F on a second body, the second body exerts a force −F on the first body. F and −F are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction." Or, more simply, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Great, thanks for that,
[Source: Mythbusters]
Continue reading Video: Mythbusters put the science of crashing cars to the test
Video: Mythbusters put the science of crashing cars to the test originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Sedan, SUV, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Safety, Videos, BMW, Specialty, Luxury
Testing BMW's armor plating - Click above to watch video after the jump
BMW has been manufacturing and selling premium security vehicles for clients around the world for over 30 years. The company's newest line-up of bullet-proof beasts includes the the X5 Security, X5 Security Plus, the 760Li High Security and the 750Li High Security. Depending on which level of protection clients require, BMW can offer armor against everything from pistol fire to assault rifle rounds and small explosions.
The company has released a new video that shows off exactly what goes into creating an armored vehicle from the factory. According to BMW, the manufacturer takes time during development of the base models to ensure the platforms can handle the added weight of the armored plating and glass. The result is a car that can not only take a serious beating, but can also handle and perform while looking no different than standard BMW models.
Hop the jump to see the video for yourself. But don't blame us if you have a sudden urge to dismantle an armored BMW with machine gun fire though.
[Source: BMW Blog]
Continue reading Ready, Aim, Fire! BMW security cars take assasin's bullet, live to tell
Ready, Aim, Fire! BMW security cars take assasin's bullet, live to tell originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Safety, Videos, Peugeot, Citroën
Citroën Nemo on its tippy toes - Click above to watch the video after the break
We've recently had two shining examples of the importance of having a properly functioning electronic stability control system (ESC) in new vehicles. The instability of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 is a known problem and Toyota is working to address it. The Lexus was equipped with ESC, it just wasn't effective enough. Over in Europe, the Citroën Nemo failed miserably in a test conducted for a British consumer magazine because it lacked ESC entirely.
Which? is something of a British counterpart to Consumer Reports and had recently worked with German auto club ADAC to evaluate a trio of compact MPVs from Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën. The Qubo, Bipper Teepee and Nemo all share the same basic design, but only the Italian variant offers ESC as an option (and then only on diesel models). The Peugeot and Citroën do not offer ESC at any price. Needless to say, the results on the dreaded "moose test" (also known as the "elk test") were not good. This particular test is a double lane change obstacle avoidance maneuver at 50 miles per hour.
After the Citroën Nemo flipped over in this test, the remaining testing of the Peugeot was abandoned. PSA, the parent company of the automakers, has announced that it will start installing ESC on the Nemo and Bipper diesel models in July of this year. A version for gas engined will have to be developed and installed starting in fall 2011. Video of the test is after the jump.
[Source: Which?]
Video: Citroën Nemo fails European "moose test," highlights value of stability control originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Design/Style
Homebrewed BMW vinyl wrap - Click above for high-res image gallery
Let's say you want to go all Mad Max on your BMW 330i, but aren't quite ready to give your shiny paint that Krylon finish. No worries. As user djaemac over on E90 Post found out, wrapping your car in vinyl isn't as hard as the pros make it out to be. Over a week's worth of evenings, the guy set about covering his entire car in matte black vinyl using nothing but some application fluid, a felt squeegee, a heat gun, an X-Acto knife and a heaping helping of patience. The results look just as good as any of the pro wraps we've seen.
The best part is that djaemac managed to do the whole thing for a mere $120. Considering the thousands of dollars a shop will charge you for the same work, that's not a bad deal. While we aren't likely to go flat black on any of our personal cars, the writeup makes the thought of covering our front bumpers in clear protective vinyl all that more tempting. Hop over to E90 Post to see the full project for yourself.
[Source: E90 Post]
How to 'murder out' your ride for just $120 - in your garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOr twist them all. In the dark! That’s what designer Junjie Zhang has on the brain, that intention in this project. This is a wrench that’s got several settings in one single piece of non-moving metal. One hunk. Tell me about this project, if you know about something similar, because it seems too simple to be true. One wrench, one shape that allows for several bolts to be twisted. Twisted all the way tight.
Now this designer just had another design featured on Yanko: the V Lock v-shaped keyhole slip, made for easy fitting of the key in the hole. This too, I thought was too simple to not have been invented before. But nay! It was new! And in 5 days the post had visits in the 5-digit range.
Now look at this wrench. I’ve got a wrench that fits several bolts now, it utilizes a screw at the head for easy adjustment of the wrench, which has two parts. The one we’re looking at here is one piece. One single piece. That cuts down on the amount of different molds that have to be made, maybe even cuts down on the amount of production time.
What do you think of it?
Designer: Junjie Zhang
Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Celebrities
Fast and the Furious F-Bomb 1973 Camaro Replica - Click above for high-res image gallery
We won't ask you whether or not you want the real-life F-Bomb 1973 Camaro because, let's face it, deep down inside, we all want a 1,500 horsepower, twin-turbo V8 beast to play with. But would you lay down your hard-earned pay check on a facsimile of the car built for the latest Fast and the Furious? If so, here's your chance. One of the movie cars built just for filming and piloted by Vin Diesel himself is up for grabs.
The car is being sold by the Volo Auto Museum for a measly $39,998. We're assured that the Camaro is fully functional, and is capable of being driven on the street if your heart so desires. It's worth noting that the replica gets its power from a fairly healthy 350 V8 bolted to an automatic gearbox instead of the glorious mill Hot Rod Magazine chose for the genuine article. Originally set up for wheelie scenes and camera work, the faux F-Bomb still boasts all of the hardware for those duties.
Could you build your own F-Bomb replica for less than $40k? Maybe, but it wouldn't have a film history behind it.
[Source: Volo Auto Museum]
Vin Diesel's F-Bomb 1973 Camaro for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Click above to watch the video after the jump
The Japanese domestic market is home to some pretty interesting tuning styles, and we're grateful that there are plenty of cameras in The Land of the Rising Sun to catch these wonky rides in action. One such style is VIP, which mixes large, rear drive luxury vehicles with mods designed to give the vehicle more luxury, more flare and more bling. And sometimes, VIP can apparently be associated with the bizarre.
One gentleman sporting a video camera and a legitimate case of disbelief couldn't help but drop an F-bomb (Seriously, NSFW) when he witnessed one of the most off-camber vehicles the world has ever seen. Hit the jump to see the brief yet bewildering footage of four very thinly rubbered wheels trying to do the splits. We can only hope the driver was on his way to the shop to have this issue looked at.
[Source: 7Tune]
Continue reading Video: Tuned Japanese car is (very) off camber
Video: Tuned Japanese car is (very) off camber originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities
Just when you thought the world was safe from Robert Van Winkle, the O.G. Vanilla Ice rears his frosted tips once again. Don't run for the hills just yet - the guy isn't bent on releasing a new attack on hip-hop this time. Instead, he's jumping feet first into hawking garage/loft condos for The Car Loft. Haven't heard of the project? There's probably a good reason for that.
According to the company's website, The Car Loft is what would have happened if someone had decided to fund and build the awesome garage/house we all drafted in first grade. The roughly 25x30 structures feature parking for up to four cars and a loft space up above for entertaining, sleeping or work. So far, so good, but we started getting skeptical when we heard each unit came pre-furnished with flat-screens, high-end tools, towels and plates monogrammed with the Car Loft logo. Oh yeah, each unit is completely hurricane-proof and features 24-hour surveillance you can monitor over the internet. No word on whether or not you have to pay extra for the robot that cleans up after you and dispense slushies at the same time.
Supposedly The Car Loft has already started its first compound in Delray Beach, and if it's successful, you can expect similar condos to crop up everywhere from Las Vegas to Detroit. Okay, maybe not Detroit. No word on how much these things are going to cost, but based on how often the word "exclusivity" appears on the Car Loft site, we're betting it's more than we've got stuffed under the mattress. More importantly, we've got to wonder how many high-rollers are going to want to wake up every morning smelling like they've spent the night under a Jiffy Lube.
[Source: TheCarLoft via MotorAuthority]
Yo, VIP! Vanilla Ice resurfaces with The Car Loft originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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