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Honda Element goes to the dogs

April 15th, 2009 No comments

I just adopted a dog.  It’s a pound puppy (well, kinda) and by the time this post is published, he’ll be the newest addition to the family.  So when I read about Honda releasing a version of their popular Element utility vehicle specifically for dog owners, I was all ears.

honda element dog1 Honda Element goes to the dogs

The Element was already popular with active folks cause it’s basically a giant sheet of plastic inside.  You can wash the thing out with a hose.  And its various tent options allow for simple tailgating to taking a family of four on a three week safari through darkest Africa.  Ok maybe only a week safari through the jungles of the exurbs, but still.

The canine-friendly version can be equiped with dog restraints, a ramp to help older dogs get in/out, a raised platform so your pooch can still see the family, rear fan for ventilation, and a built-in water bowl.  I am seriously eyeing this baby as my next car.

via Coolest Gadgets

Categories: Automotive, Lifestyle, OutDoors, Pets Tags: , , ,

Tata’s Nano 10% as much as a smartcar

April 2nd, 2009 No comments

This is a smartcar.

smart car 1 300x222 Tatas Nano 10% as much as a smartcarIt is cute, small, fuel-efficient, and perfect for urban driving.  Every time I see one of these things, I have to smile.  What immediately takes that smile away is when I remind myself that some versions of this thing cost over $20K.  Now while I may blow through that in a week, I’m always mindful of my less fortunate netizens.  So I give you this:

tata nano 300x200 Tatas Nano 10% as much as a smartcarThis is the Nano, made by Indian automotive powerhouse Tata.  Never heard of them?  Me neither.  Turns out Tata is the Indian equivalent of GE, with businesses ranging from manufacturing to services.  Now they want to make cars.  Really small cars.  For really small money.  The starting price of a Nano is $2200.  No, that’s not a typo and I’m not missing a zero.  Sure, it’s a little bigger than the smartcar (3099mm vs 1867mm for the smartcar), but the picture implies you can squeeze four people in the nano.  Try squeezing four people into a smartcar.  Unless you are a family of clowns, that’s just not gonna happen.

CNet has a video review of the Nano and its driving performance.

via

Categories: Automotive Tags: , , ,

Garage in the sky

March 26th, 2009 1 comment

You know, it always impresses me when people come up with new ways to separate me from my hordes of cash.  This building, though, has found the ticket to my safe.

skygarage 300x156 Garage in the skyThat, my friends, is a garage.  And not just any garage, but a garage in your luxury condo.  This magnificent bling abode is 200 Eleventh Avenue in New York City (where else?).  Each residence in the building has its own garage.  You access your garage via the ground floor by driving into a car elevator, which gently lifts you and your car up to your personal garage, whereupon you back out into your parking space, step out of the car, enter your home, and are greeted by your wife/mistress/sugarbaby.  The animation of how this system works is awesome and definately should be checked out.

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solCHAT untangles your car just a little bit.

March 25th, 2009 No comments

I don’t know about you but my car is a mass of wires.  I’ve got power cords for my iPhone, my GPS, and (for really long trips) a couple headrest monitors connected to a DVD player.  That’s a lot of stuff plugged into cigarette lighters jacks.  Thank god I don’t smoke, cause I really need the plugs.  And while I like wireless Bluetooth headsets, they’re yet another thing I gotta have a power cord for just in case I run out of charge while chatting with my supermodel actress “friend” from Sweden.  Well Scosche has just announced their solCHAT to help me deal with that last problem.

43612926600x400cbhsol back solCHAT untangles your car just a little bit.The solCHAT is a solar powered Bluetooth speakerphone.  So you throw this little puppy on the dash, connect it to your iPhone or Bluetooth capable handset, and head off into the sunrise talking away.

Now my supermodel friend has said that the wind noise when I’m driving topdown in my Aston Martin makes it difficult to hear my melodious voice, but that’s a small price to pay for having one less thing to plug in.

Should be available soon.

via

ParaJet SkyCar – Do you ever want to fly one of these?

March 1st, 2009 No comments

This is followup to our previous post on the ParaJet SkyCar. We now have a video. This is quite amazing and I’m really excited and passionate about this. The footage is one of the first flights of the Parajet Skycar. It also featues interview with the pilot Neil Laughton and creater Giles Cardozo.

**Footage Courtesy of Mentorn Media and Height and Hazard for Channel 4′s Daredevil series.**

Comment below if you want to give the SkyCar a try.

Fast cars. Really fast cars.

February 28th, 2009 No comments

Do you have a spare 100K+ laying around?  I know, I know, it’s busy keeping your bed soft cause you’ve stuffed all your savings into your mattress.  Personally, I just bundle my wealth into bricks for cooking purposes.  But if you want to do something less frivolous with your conspicuous consumption, then check out these beauties:bentley cont supersport 300x153 Fast cars.  Really fast cars.perana z one 300x144 Fast cars.  Really fast cars.

This here is the Bentley Continental Supersport, producing 621hp with a top speed of 204mph.  And it runs on flexfuel, so it’s got green cred.  Of course, this kind of beauty is going to cost you.  Luckily, Bentley hasn’t decided on the price yet, so you can imagine that you can afford it.

Now this beauty is the Perana Z-One, and it does have a price – an uber reasonable $75K (or so).  Pick up one of these and you’ll be one of just 999 lucky owners.  Course, since you’re paying under 100 keys, you have to make do with a Corvette engine vs. the hand-built engine in the Bentley.  But you’re still doing 0-60 in under 4 seconds with 440+ hp, so really, it’s up to you – how do you want to pick up the ladies?  Classy refined elegance or stare-at-me-cause-I’m-rich sleekness?

Categories: Automotive Tags:

Speeding Bullet! The Mission One EV Electric Sports Bike.

February 13th, 2009 1 comment
missionev Speeding Bullet! The Mission One EV Electric Sports Bike.

The Mission One EV Sports Bike

Meet the new and long overdue Mission One EV Electric Sports Bike. I must say this bike just looks so damn cool. The Mission One EV brings the future in design to the present. This electric bike continues the trend to help save our environment and dependency on foreign oil. I must say I’m quite surprised it took longer than I expect. Electric bikes should seem more feasible and less costly than than cars since they are lighter and require less energy to burn so I’m not sure why it took so long. Anyhow, I’m glad to see them here.

[svgallery name="missiononesportsbike"]

This crotch rocket beauty has speeds up to 150 mph to keep you from getting late to work. And yes, that’s on battery! I’m sure the cop will simply let you go knowing he will never catch you anyway. Another great feature about the Mission One is it can fully recharge in less than 2 hours. The distance range is an estimate 150 miles without a charge.

The founding fathers of this elegant speed demon is Forrest North, Edward West, and Mason Cabot. Need their credentials you say? How’s the fact that they worked for Tesla Motors, Ducati, and Google.  The results of their talent don’t come cheap though. The expected price tag of the Mission One EV Sports Bike is $68,995 for the special Limited Edition while a more affordable version to come in the summer.

Doesn’t it just look so cool? Leave us a comment and let us know if you’re getting one.

Via – AutoBlogger