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Lucky Europeans will soon be able to get their hands on Audi’s most recent concept as the company announced production of the Roadjet will begin shortly.
Based on the popular A4, this high-riding hatchback/wagon/SUV sports a 3.2-liter V-6, amped up to 300 hp. As one would expect, the Roadjet drives all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission and ze Germans claim a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds.
The car also has some awesome technology including Audi’s MMI Multimedia Interface. Rear-seat riders each get their own, smaller MMI screens. Instead of sun visors, the windshield’s opacity can be controlled electronically – now thats cool. And finally my favourite feature is a built-in espresso maker, for those long stretches between Mugg & Bean pit stops.
This is the coolest adjustable wrench I have ever seen. First off, I’m not one to actually get stuck into working on my own car… I’m more of a “I’ll watch you do it and give you my professional (self-opinionated) opinion” kind of guy.
Regardless, we sometimes need to buy things that give us a feeling of power, control and brownie points in front of the ladies who think that guys who get their hands dirty are good in bed. Huh?!
This patented hybrid adjustable wrench combined with the ease of use of a pair of pliers is the tool that will do just that. It attacks a nut or bolt on all 6 flat sides, removing the stress and strain from the corners of the bolt – so with no slipping you wont damage the bolt.
It’s so hot right now that it’s been awarded the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award as well as the prestigious Red Dot Award Best of the Best 2006 for pioneering design in the tools category.
By Denis Droppa
I’ve always thought Little Red Riding Hood was a bit dim to be fooled by a wolf dressed in grandma’s clothing. She’d probably cotton on a lot quicker if confronted with Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evo IX – essentially granny dressed up as a wolf.
The conversation would go something like this:
“My, what a big spoiler you have, grandma; and a big turbo; and mean-looking bumpers too.”
“Yup,” the Evo would growl, “all the better to thrill you with, my dear.”
And thrill it does. The mad Mitsubishi, like its arch-rival the Subaru Impreza STi, is based on a humble family sedan (hence the granny comment) but given teeth, claws and the whole big, bad wolf …. carry on reading
U.S. Car audio manufacturing giant Rockford Fosgate is celebrating its 25th birthday, and to mark the occasion, they have created a special line of amplifiers.
Branded as the ’25 to Life’ range, the amplifiers incorporate a distinct design that clearly separates them from Rockford’s normal range. The main three amplifiers in the anniversary range incorporate a ‘heatsink-type’ design for their external case, which is covered in a gunmetal grey paint finish.
All the input and output sockets for each amplifier’s wiring is incorporated along one side of the amp, which not only makes the amplifiers look really clean, but it will surely help car audio installers create some seriously neat installations.
As we all expect of Rockford’s products, the amplifiers are built using only the finest materials and have insane but very reliable power output ratings. This of course also adds up to a rather steep price tag: The cheapest in the range is the ‘Punch 45’ (70w RMS 2 channel) with a RRP: of $500. Next is the ‘Punch 75’ (120w RMS 2 channel) for $600, followed by the ‘Punch 150’ (180w 2 channel) for $800.
The real grand daddy of the lot, though, is the ‘Power 1000’. Just the name sounds expensive, and it is: If you want an amplifier that is seriously going to impress your friends, be the envy of every car audio addict you ever meet, and power your car audio install with 1400w RMS over 5 channels, you’ll have to cough up a staggering $1 600! (almost R10 000!). Yikes!
[http://www.rockfordfosgate.com]
Richard Hagan
‘Random Rich’
Mercedes-Benz has boosted its SLR super car with more muscle by launching the “722 Edition” – it has all the attributes of a thoroughbred racing car.
The new model variant SLR 722 Edition is a homage by Mercedes-Benz to the unforgettable victory won by the British racing legend Stirling Moss and his co-driver Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating a start time of 07:22) at the Mille Miglia in 1955.
Its supercharged 5.5-litre V8, which is hand-built in the AMG engine shop in Affalterbach, generates 478 kW…. carry on reading
It’s official: West Coast Customs has parted ways with MTV! In a move sure to reduce to tears the many thousands of ride-pimping hopefuls across the United States, West Coast Customs (WCC) has officially announced that it will no longer be involved with MTV for the production of the world-famous Pimp my Ride series.
One of the main reasons for this move is apparently because WCC has signed a new deal with a production house called ‘Pilgrim Films’, which is the company responsible for the hit shows ‘American Chopper’, ‘American Hot Rod’, ‘Dirty Jobs’ (don’t worry, I’ve never heard of that one either!), and ‘Survivor’.
If you have a broadband internet connection, you can check out WCC owner Ryan ‘Haus chatting about the decision here:
http://www.westcoastcustoms.com/Home/Pages/press_release.htm
Personally I think this is some of the best news with regards to WCC and the Pimp My Ride (PMR) series that I have heard in a long time. Although I enjoyed the PMR series for a while when it first began, I felt as though the concept soon began to grow ‘old’. More importantly though, as a modifying enthusiast I was continuously frustrated by the lack of time, depth and general attention given to the incredible feats of modifying that WCC was performing for PMR.
The new series, however (no name announced yet) looks set to change all that. The WCC media release states that in it, WCC will be ‘building on TV, not for TV’. Let’s hope that this means that the new series will offer us a more in-depth and comprehensive look at the world of modifying as seen through WC Customs’ workshop. One thing’s for sure: If the show ‘American Chopper’ is any measure of what to expect, then we are surely in for a pleasant surprise.
Richard Hagan
Random Rich
RandomRich@carblog.co.za
Ok, not really, but at least I got your attention! The real news is that EA has announced the development of the latest game in the Need for Speed series, titled NFS: Carbon
The game is being developed by EA’s ‘Black Box’ department in Vancouver, British Columbia. That’s in Canada, for those of you who failed Geography in high school. As is usual for games still in the development stage, the press release is pretty tight-lipped about exactly what the new game will include. What we do know is that it will follow a similar thread to that started in NFS Underground 2, only this time it will include police!! Think NFS Underground 2 combined with NFS Most Wanted. For those that enjoyed both games as much as I did (i.e. a WHOLE LOT) this game should be a dream come true.
If you’re anything like me, there are hundreds, if not thousands of mods that you would do to your car if only you had the cash, or, there are dozens of cars you would love to be driving but simply can’t afford. The Underground series and Most Wanted have always satisfied this desire of mine quite comprehensively, and Carbon looks set to do the same: The Black Box team has developed a new technology called ‘Autosculpt’, which EA is calling ‘Ground Breaking’. They’re being annoyingly secretive about what that means for the game, only revealing that it will allow the player more power than ever to tweak the heck out of your car and your crew’s cars.
“Wait just a second there, Random!â€, I hear you say, “You just said ‘crew’s cars’!â€
Yes, reader, you heard correctly: CREW’S cars! For the first time in the NFS series, it looks like we’ll have some degree of control over several ‘crew’ cars, instead of just our own. So, rather than the whole game being focussed on your own individual progress through the game, it would appear that you will be part of a street racing team whose performance in the various races in which you participate, will ultimately affect your overall and individual progress in various ways.
There are a couple of small screenshots and a teaser video on the game’s home page (see below), and from those come several more clues as to the game’s content-to-be:
- Muscle cars seem to be part of the action (should appeal to those die-hard mustang fans out there!)
- The game environment will be free-roam and thus similar to Underground 2 and Most Wanted, except if the trailer is anything to go by, the racing will once again take place at night.
- Don’t hold me to it, but it would appear that the top marques from Most Wanted, like Porsche and Lamborghini, will be included in the final release of NFS Carbon.
- The player, it seems, will have more control over a wider variety of modifications to their vehicle. I personally would love to have more control over the engine modifications to my car in game, but we’ll have to wait and see.
You can be sure that I’ll keep you all updated as and when EA releases more details. The game is scheduled for release towards the end of the year, probably around the same time that the Playstation 3 is released, and it will be available for every conceivable gaming platform out there, so you will have no excuse for not playing it!
Check out the press release here:
http://www.ea.com/nfs/carbon/us/news.jsp?id=1
Richard Hagan
‘Random Richard’
randomrich@carblog.co.za
If record-shattering SPL is what you’re shootin’ for, then Audiobahn’s Flame Compression subwoofer is your new weapon of choice. Audiobahn’s stamped, balanced, flame design aluminum cone can belt out incredible levels of bass with virtually no distortion-causing cone break-up. The unique flame designed basket is cast out of 6mm thick aluminum for super-strength – your car will fall apart before this woofer does! Designed for the ultimate in SPL, Flame Compression AW1508T subwoofer features Audiobahn’s PHAT 2″ multi-layer foam surround for massive amounts of excursion, huge 360 oz. double stacked Strontium magnets, a vented and extended pole piece, flame designed back plate, Audiobahn’s exclusive multi-connect Lug Lock terminals, and a 3″ ASV former with dual high-temp 2 ohm voice coils. If you have around 2 kilo-watts of power to play with, step up to this beast!
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