CES is one heck of a show at the beginning of the year and even the auto giants across the globe want to make their presence felt at the event. Kia will be one of the automakers present at the event and it will introduce the UVO infotainment system for the North American vehicles.
The UVO is based on the Windows Embedded Auto Software that will help Kia introduce a number of features in the products to be sold in North America. The UVO system will compete with the Ford Sync technology that was introduced in 2007 and has been useful in rendering a number of features that range from connecting devices to receiving voice commands and real time traffic updates. Just like the Ford Sync, Fiat’s Blue&Me system is also based on the Microsoft technology but the infotainment unit is not found in their North American Cars. The UVO will be launched today at the CES 2010.
This post is bad news once again. A $1.1Million Pagani Zonda F has crashed in the streets of Hong Kong. The pictures tell the tale of one of the last ever Pagani Zondas to roll off the production line before the new one comes sometime next year.
Lots of damage, and it’s going to be lots of money to fix that baby.
What you see in the above picture is what happens when you “clip” a Seat coming out of a gas station at an undisclosed speed and smash into a row of parked cars.
At least that’s what the Italian Police wants you to believe. The crash took place after the driver of the vehicle attended a function at night promoting safe driving. Oh the irony of it all.
It was also driven by one of 20 Italian Policemen that were trained to handle the power of the Gallardo for chasing bad guys.
But I smell a rat. I think what more than likely happened was something more like this -
You’re driving along in your superfast Z06 – a vehicle that is capable of incredible feats of accelaration. As you approach the rail crossing you see there is a train fast approaching. The adrenalin starts to pump as you realise that because you’re driving you Z06 – a vehicle capable of incredible feats of acceleration – you should be able to make it across before the train crosses the road. You mash the gearlever into 3rd and stomp the accelerator hard. The force with which the car lunges toward the track is brutal.
No way is the train going to beat you. 400meters away and you’re winning, easily. 4th gear. 300m, 250m – why is that train suddenly moving so quickly. 200m. Read the rest of this entry »
Back in the late 80’s Lamborghini built a vicious 4×4 called the LM002. It had the V12 from the Countach upfront and as you can imagine with that sort of power was an incredible vehicle offroad. It would have easily been able to venture off the tarmac and onto curbs, straight over them and not really getting damaged in the process.
The Murcielago not so much. This one smashed into a curb and lost it’s passenger side front wheel.
I’ve never driven a Nissan GTR, but I’ve heard that it is so good and that the driver is probably the worst link in the car. Some say it’s so good that you have to try really hard to lose control.
We can only assume that the driver of this unfortunate GTR tried really, really hard to lose control because as you can see it looks like he succeeded. Apparently he drove into the back of another car.
That’s right. Audi has bought 9.09% of Bayern Munich, the soccer club, for a massive amount of R1 020 480 057 and 15 cents if our calculations are correct. Which they are.
So if you like Audi, you’ll now feel like buying a Bayern Munich shirt. And if you like Bayern Munich, you’ll feel like you need an Audi.
Can you bring your vehicle to a sudden stop safely? A visitor to the Arrive Alive website sent an email with the attached photo of incorrect placement of traffic signs. I could not help smiling despite knowing that this is a potentially dangerous “road condition” – which I believe has since been addressed by the traffic authorities!
It also reminds us that sometimes we might need to bring our vehicle to a sudden stop – and to have our vehicles properly maintained and the brakes checked!
Sports events are not only keeping us in front of the television, but the reason for thousands of sports enthusiasts travelling to and from sports stadiums across South Africa. We have added a few safety suggestions for our spectators travelling in their own and rental vehicles:
• Check your car’s roadworthiness. Headlights, indicators, stop lights, tail-lights, windscreen wiper blades, mirrors, brakes, steering, tyres, tyre pressures, exhaust system and possible oil or fuel leaks.
• Ensure your windscreen is always clean and scratch-free, both inside and out.
• Make sure your headlight glass is clean, that the bulbs are in good working order and that the lighting system is properly positioned.
• Check that the spare wheel is in good condition and properly inflated. Make sure that you have a serviceable jack and wheel brace.
• Do not overload your vehicle with passengers and baggage. The vehicle will be less stable, difficult to steer and take longer to stop.
• The driver’s control and operating space in the overloaded vehicle is diminished, escalating the chances for an accident.
• The overloaded vehicle cannot accelerate as normal – making it difficult to overtake
• Carry a roadside emergency kit.
Not sure if you know, but the Germans may have some of the best highways (can you say “no speed limit”?) in the world, but from my own experience, they also have great traffic control. And I’m not only talking about Police officers, but also about infrastructure and such.
That, however, wasn’t enough for a British driver who decided to make fun while speeding on the autobahn. He installed a Muppet in the passenger seat, which is where exactly the recording camera focused on. The speed cameras in Germany are made to take photos of drivers who sit in the left side of the vehicle, which in that case was a Muppet.
Here’s what they had to say about the funny Brit:
“The number plate is not enough. We need clear evidence of who is driving the vehicle too. But because this is a British vehicle we can never get a decent picture. The driver has obviously worked this out because he has placed a large puppet in the passenger seat.
This may be an example of the famous British sense of humour but it is still dangerous driving. The driver has been caught on camera on several occasions and the puppet is on the passenger seat every time. We suspect he positions the toy deliberately before accelerating past the camera.”
Usually car advertising campaigns are usually the same. A beautiful, shining car that you get to see running on a perfect road. Cases when we find something funny, are rare, but exist. Here is for example the latest SEAT Ibiza SC advertising campaign intended for cinemas. The actors are the SEAT racing team drivers, who are running to get to drive the Ibiza, but fail to do so because a mystery woman pulls away victorious. Oh and she pulls the finger at them … That’s FUN!
