A UK-based product and robotics specialist is developing a radical driving and flying quad-copter toy, set to be in production just in time for Christmas this year.
Witold Mielniczek, a product design and robotics graduate in Southampton, England has created the ‘B’, featuring large (220mm) flex-drive wheels, each driven by electric PDU’s (Propelling Driving Unit).
Although it’s able to cover rough terrain at high speed, if the going gets to tough, the ‘B’ can take off on the run and fly over obstacles. It also features an HD camera in the nose to record adventures.
Pitching for funds through KICKSTARTER, Mielniczek says the polycarbonate ‘B’ could be produced in full-scale as a race or rescue vehicle, and intends to give the next evolution of the toy the ability to drive up walls, interact with a smartphone app, and land and take off on water.
BMW has revealed images and details of its third-generation X5, with the new SUV placing a greater emphasis on efficiency thanks to a four-cylinder diesel.
The new 160kW 2.0-litre diesel, which will join the range shortly after its Australian launch early next year, is tipped to give the luxury-focused X5 a claimed fuel consumption cycle of just 5.6L/100km.
Set to make its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the new X5 will also be offered in rear-wheel-drive – a first for the competitive luxury SUV market.
The X5 is expected to launch with a three-tier engine lineup, including a 4.4-litre 330kW turbo V8, 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder petrol and a 280kW 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel.
Is this the world’s most expensive video game?
Codemasters is asking roughly $200,000 for this special edition of the new racing simulator GRID2: Mono Edition.
Admittedly, though, it does come with a free car.
And not just any car – but the track-focused BAC Mono.
Not able to be registered in Australia, the BAC Mono is an open-wheel, formula-style car powered by a 2.3-litre Cosworth engine producing 209kW.
Capable of a 0-100km/h sprint of 2.8 seconds, it could provide gamers with the most ‘real’ simulator experience of their lives.
Nice.
A globally significant, ultra-rare 1923 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8, found after lying dormant for 50 years in a Victorian shed, will make its public debut at this year’s RACV Motorclassica event, staged at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from 25 to 27 October.
Unearthed after awaiting a restoration that never happened, the totally original Italian machine is one of just a handful left in the world from an original production run of 600, and was the first production vehicle ever to use a straight-eight engine.
Arguably the most significant ‘barn find’ vehicle uncovered this year, it’s valued in the millions once restored, and got the team at MOTOR thinking about other amazing automotive discoveries.
The magazine’s amazing Top 10 Barn Find list includes cars found locked away, buried underground, even resting underwater.
Click through our multi-image gallery to check it out.
Reckon your car’s tough?
It’s got nothing on this ‘Tornado Intercept Vehicle’, which copped a direct hit from wedge tornado in Kansas yesterday.
The footage is pretty intense, with the car’s occupants – daredevil storm chasers Brandon Ivey and Sean Casey – surviving the tornado’s brutal 280km/h winds.
The car itself, which is based on a Dodge Ram truck, is fitted with four-wheel-drive, 1/8 inch steel armour and bullet-resistant windows.
Watch the video to see why it needs its tank-like armour.
Gene Simmons, your Volkswagen awaits…
This outrageous 1970 VW Beetle was built as a radio station promo vehicle in the USA, and is currently up for auction on ebay.
According to the seller, this truly unique vehicle is a ‘one car rolling parade’, with the starting price set at US$5000.
No bids as yet, but the 1.6-litre engine is claimed to run sweetly, and it’s recently had a new lick of paint.
Can be shipped worldwide, so check it out here KISS Bug and put your glam rock dollars down!
Meet what Aston Martin is calling its fastest ever road car – the new V12 Vantage S.
That claim ignores the limited-edition and stratospherically expensive One-77, but still, there’s no denying the Vantage S has presence.
Think of it as the hardest and most extreme Vantage to date, with Aston stripping weight, boosting power and increasing its go-fast technology.
Set to replace the outgoing V12 Vantage, the Vantage S now boasts 421kW/620Nm (that’s 41kW/50Nm more) a top speed of 330km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint of under four seconds.
Gone is Aston’s traditional manual transmission, with the S using a faster and 25kg lighter seven-speed manual with paddle shift.
In fact, most of the S’s new tech is gleaned from Aston’s GT4, GT3 and GTE racing cars.
As with all Aston’s styling changes are subtle, but the increased use of carbonfibre, new wheels and a new interior sets it apart.
What you’re looking at could be the latest version of Australia’s best-selling car – the Mazda 3.
This ‘official’ rendering, which is claiming to be the upcoming third-generation Mazda 3, has just appeared in an American bank’s analysis of the car industry.
Reportedly sourced from Mazda North America, the image’s authenticity has since sparked debate. The bank in question, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, claims it only publishes images that are supplied by manufacturers, not renderings.
But undermining the image’s credibility, is the fact the same picture was uploaded to enthusiast website Carscoops in March.
Mazda is making no comment on the image.
BMW and famous Italian design specialist, Pininfarina, have unveiled a spectacular concept coupe at this year’s ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este’, held on the shores of Lake Como.
The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe hints at a possible future flagship 8 Series Coupe for the Bavarian maker.
Powered by a 6.0-litre, 400kW/750Nm, twin-turbo V12 engine, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it sits on huge 21 inch alloy rims.
Offering luxurious seating for four, the Gran Lusso Coupe is trimmed in Foglizzo leather, with timber accents in NZ Kauri wood, selected by high-end Italian furniture maker, Riva 1920.
Meet the Renault Twin’Run concept – a city car with 235kW at the rear wheels, a big 3.5-litre V6 in the middle and a serious nod to the history books in its design.
Unveiled at this year’s Monaco GP, the Twin’Run pays homage to the iconic Renault R5 Turbo and Clio V6.
Think of it as the ultimate Renault pocket rocket – a city car built to go racing.
Using a motorsport-derived tubular chassis, the Twin’Run features a six-speed sequential gearbox, a limited-slip differential, a carbon-fibre body and a 0-100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds.
And as for size? It’s 19mm shorter than a Mini Cooper.
So small.
