Cars
Mick Hannick
Mon Nov 11 2013 13:59:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The Middle East is an important market for Rolls-Royce so at this years Dubai Motor Show, Rolls-Royce is seeking to grab a lot of headlines by decorating the Phantom’s interior with diamonds to create the Bespoke Celestial Phantom.
The 466 diamonds in the Bespoke Celestial Phantom were inserted by hand (obviously) into the door-caps, centre console lid and the rear-privacy divider.
The two-tone exterior is painted in a shade of dark blue which Rolls-Royce claims “evokes the night sky “ due to its integration of glass particle effects into the paint to achieve an “alluring sense of depth and light”. The exterior also has engraving.
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Celestial Phantom celebrates the handover of the first Phantom to a customer in 1st of January 2003 by taking the Starlight Headliner, and reproducing the constellations exactly as they were at midnight on that day. The Starlight Headliners accuracy was verified by authenticated by the South Downs Planetarium. The Bespoke division also fitted the interior with leather in a Dusk hue, bespoke glassware and custom picnic set.
The Phantom Coupe Chicane, Alpine Trial Centenary Collection and Rolls-Royce Wraith, all joined the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Celestial Phantom at the Dubai Motor Show. No word on price but if you wanted one, expect to pay much, much more than the £285,000 asking price for the base model Phantom.
Mick Hannick
Wed Sep 04 2013 13:51:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R. 420 hp from a FWD hybrid!
The Yaris Hybrid-R is set to lead the Toyota charge at the Frankfurt Motor Show – and here are the first full images of the car.
Showing off the car in detail for the first time, these pictures leave no doubt that Toyota’s engineers have taken the Yaris to a completely new level with the show model.
As we’ve already reported, the Yaris Hybrid-R ‘super’ supermini brings the best of Toyota’s hybrid knowhow derived from the Toyota Hybrid Racing team’s efforts with the TS030 Hybrid in the World Endurance Championship to a mainstream car for the first time.
This means a four-wheel drive layout and maximum power of 420bhp, achieved by the use of 300bhp, 1.6-litre engine and two 60bhp electric motors to provide extra stability and higher cornering speed.
A third electric motor is located between the engine and the car’s six-speed sequential transmission. This 60hp motor has no effect on drive, but instead operates as a generator in two different cases: during deceleration to recover energy from the braking force and during acceleration to directly power the rear electric motors.
And while the batteries used in the Yaris Hybrid-R are similar in principle to the nickel-metal hydride units used in the standard Yaris Hybrid, the concept stores energy in a supercapacitor, which enables more power to be sent to the wheels more quickly. The same goes for energy recovery through braking.
Mick Hannick
Tue Mar 26 2013 21:06:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The Stretch Truck Company is a Denver-based customizer that specializes in a unique niche: adding length to Ford trucks. For about $20,000 the company can hook up your truck or SUV with an additional row of seats, like the the F-series pictured above.
Mick Hannick
Fri Feb 15 2013 23:09:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
If you've never seen "Climb Dance," do yourself a favor and watch this. Marvel at the control of Finnish rally driver Ari Vatanen as he sets a record time in a highly modified four-wheel drive, all-wheel steering Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR at the 1988 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado, USA.
Mick Hannick
Sat Jan 26 2013 16:22:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Ferrari World is a Ferrari themed amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The central park is situated under a 2,152,782 sq ft roof making it the largest indoor amusement park in the world. Ferrari World officially opened on 4 November 2010. The theme park is home to Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster.
Mick Hannick
Thu Jan 17 2013 15:06:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
This is the full-sized Porsche 917 replica that conceals a 1:32-scale working wooden slot car track faithful to the iconic Le Mans raceway. Painted in the same color scheme and #20 race number—an homage to the classic 1971 movie starring Steve McQueen—the 917 has genuine race-worn GT prototype tires on aluminum three-piece rims and working headlights and taillights. The precisely molded replica cowling opens like a clamshell at the touch of a button to reveal the track within. Resplendent in its handcrafted detail, the raceway is built with realistic landscaping and includes period signage illuminated by working streetlights: the Esso Oil Drop Man near the Ford chicane, the Marchal sign on the famous three-level grandstand over pit row, the Martini barn, and the unmistakable Dunlop "tire" bridge. Hand-detailed aluminum Armco guardrails with weathered wooden posts convey additional realism. Dual analog racing controllers provide precise control for the 12 included limited-edition slot cars, including the dominant racing models from 1970-1971, painted in authentic period livery: a Porsche 917, Ferrari 512 Coda Lunga, and Lola T70.
