Lady Drives Fiat Cinquecento with the Handbrake On

While we could understand if someone forgot to release a broken or a loose handbrake that allows the rear wheels to turn around with some difficulty, how can you drive a car on the road with the rear wheels completely locked down and not take any notice?

And that's exactly what we have in this video starring a lady behind the wheel of a green Fiat Cinquecento (which was the 500's predecessor in the Italian brand's range).

Not only did she forget the handbrake on, but she doesn't even pay attention to the young men trying to inform her about the brake. Follow the jump for the video.

Google Makes History with its First Self-Driving Car Accident

Many companies are developing self-driving cars. The latest example is VW’s TAP (Temporary Auto Pilot) that was recently demonstrated on video.

Another earlier model is Google’s automated/driverless fleet of Toyota Prius hybrids developed with the help of the military’s DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) 2007 Urban Challenge winner, Chris Urmson and Anthony Levandowski, the maker of the world’s first autonomous motorcycle (again, for DARPA) – oh, and an self-driving pizza-delivery vehicle.

The question many skeptics raise is who would be responsible in an accident involving a self-driving car. Handing over control to a machine may sound like a good idea: the car will obey speed limits, never do anything dangerous like overtaking on the right, and the streets will be safer.

However, as a recent accident in Google’s campus showed, when a Google Prius was involved in an accident practice is a different thing from theory.

Google’s autonomous car researcher Sebastian Thrun called the system “the perfect driving machine” and said that self-driving cars can save one million lives every year –and that’ a goal worth pursuing. Google later revealed to Business Insider that one of the cars was operated by a human, the implication being that the autonomous driving system is not the culprit.

While we're not questioning Google’s statement, the issue remains: who exactly is responsible in the case of an accident involving a self-driving car? Since no two situations are ever the same, how can one rely on a computer to decide what’s best and for whom –the passengers of the car it controls, those of another vehicle, or a pedestrian?

What if the software crashes? What if there is a hardware malfunction? Even PCs, with decades of development behind them encounter such problems – which, while frustrating, are not life-and-death issues.

The thing is that Nevada has already been convinced by Google to legalize autonomous cars on the state’s freeways. And Google is using its Prius fleet in California, where legislature does not pose any bans.

But is anyone ready to guarantee that AI-driven vehicles can operate in a fail-safe way dramatically reducing accidents and casualties?

Man Sinks Porsche Boxster into a Lake

Now here is something you don't hear about every day. A local businessman's new Porsche Boxster was discovered paritally submerged in a lake at the Parque Ecológico (Ecological Park) in São Paulo, Brazil on Friday, July 29.

Brazilian news site TV Sol found the owner of the car who told reporters under the condition of anonymity that he was driving through the park when lost control of the Porsche ending up into the lake.

And here's where the story gets slightly twisted as TV Sol also reported that eye witnesses placed the owner of the Boxster at a local restaurant the same night calling a cousin on the phone and telling him to "Throw the Porsche into the lake of the park".

Scroll down for the video news report.

Camaro Meets Batmobile

Fancying a GM classic with a little more, ahem, pizazz than your run-of-the-mill F-Body Chevrolet Camaro? Welcome to the wonderful world of eBay and the DreamRyder (that's how the owner spells the name of the car).

The DreamRyder is the creation of one Bill Logan who used a V8-powered 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible as a base. Logan says he spent 13 years to complete all the customizations, which include a fiberglass body said to be inspired by a number of animals such as the bat ray and the eagle.

The DreamRyder is up for sale on eBay at an undisclosed reserve price, with the highest bid currently standing at $5,900. Head down for more photos, a video and the seller's description of the car.

AC Cobra How to get Even with Your Other Half

We have no way of knowing if the protagonist of the video you're about to enjoy after the break had some scores to settle with his other half (be that his wife or girlfriend), or if he simply had his moment of Zen, but if it's the former, we can guarantee its success.

All joking aside, we'll assume that there's a large entrance located somewhere behind the man filming the driver in the Cobra roadster leaving his mark on the wooden floors – well, that or he built the car from a kit inside the room in which case we'd support the "moment of Zen" theory. Either way, watch the video after the break.

The TIV-2 is a 14,000-Pound Armored Dodge Ram Storm Chaser

A tornado is a force of nature that almost nothing can withstand. Therefore, when Sean Casey decided to see what was going inside a tornado, he had to build a very special kind of vehicle. And that’s how the original TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) was born back in 2003.

In 2008, and after the TIV made it on prime time television in a series called Storm Chasers that began airing on the Discovery Channel in October 2007, Casey and his team built the TIV-2 using a Dodge Ram 3500 as a base.

However, the six-wheel vehicle was plagued with problems leading Casey back to the drawing board for a series of improvements, which were completed in 2009.

The updated TIV-2 is armored with two-inch thick aluminum, Kevlar and steel. It is equipped with special steel plates that slide down to the road to prevent it from being lifted into the air by a tornado. If the situation calls for it, special spears shoot three-feet into the ground providing additional stability.

The truck also features a 360-degree rotating turret from where the cameraman does the shooting. It tips the scales at 14,000 pounds and is powered by a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine producing 625-horsepower enabling it to reach a top speed of 100 mph (160 km.

Scroll down to watch three videos of the TIV-2, including the official IMAX trailer of “Tornado Alley”.

Renault Samsung Motors Rolls Out Flagship SM7

The South Korean unit of Renault has come out with full details on its new SM7 flagship sedan a week before the car officially goes on sale in the country.

The French carmaker, which bought a 70% stake in Samsung Motors back in 2000 to spearhead the brand's expansion efforts in the developing Asian region, said the SM7 will have a "radical effect on the big saloon car market".

Developed over a time of 32 months, with R&D investments reaching some 400 billion South Korean won (€207 million), Renault Samsung Motors' new sedan model enters the local market seven years after the launch of the original, Nissan Maxima-based SM7 in 2004.

The new SM7 has grown in size offering improved interior space over its predecessor. According to the company, knee room for rear passengers is up by more than 70mm over the previous SM7.

Renault Samsung Motor's newest creation is powered by the third generation of the Nissan VQ engine series. The SM7 can be specified with one of two VQ engines: a 2.5-liter V6 delivering 190HP and 243Nm (179.3 lb-ft) that returns a combined fuel economy of 9lt/100km (26.1 mpg US), and a 3.5-liter V6 producing 258HP and 330Nm (243.4 lb-ft), which returns 10.4lt/100km (22.6 mpg US) on the combined cycle.

Both engines are hooked up to a standard six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift function.

Renault Samsung Motors CEO Jean-Marie Hurtiger had this to say about the firm's new flagship model:

"[The] All-New SM7 is Renault Samsung Motors' new flagship and delivers everything customers expect of a big premium saloon, including refined, luxurious styling, exceptional quality, and outstanding comfort and driving pleasure thanks to the contribution of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's world class technological expertise. All-New SM7 will set new standards in Korea's big family saloon car market."

The company said prices for new SM7 range from 30 to 39 million Korean won (€19,724 to €25,641), while that of the previous SM7 ranged from 28.8 to 37.7 million Korean won (€18,935 to €24,786).

New 2012 Porsche 911

Undisguised prototypes of the upcoming 2012 Porsche 911 are quickly becoming a more common sight than Bratwurst sausages in Germany.

In our latest encounter, a barely disguised 991 test car equipped with a sunroof was caught filling up at a gas station in Stuttgart before firing up its six-cylinder boxer engine and driving away.

Turn up the volume of your speakers and follow the jump to enjoy the video.

Toyota FJ Cruiser and Twenty-One Minutes of Australian Outback

From Toyota’s Australian arm comes this documentary-style promo for the FJ Cruiser which has recently launched Down Under. It features two Aussie blokes dumped in the outback with nothing but each other – and an FJ Cruiser – for company.

With a GPS, limited supplies and more than a few hundred kilometres between checkpoints, it’s a race against time to get back to civilization.

Just keep in mind, its twenty-one freakin’ minutes long! That’s like half an episode of Top Gear, but without the boys to entertain us along the way... Gluttons for punishment if you can watch the whole video after the jump.

Dodge Takes a Stab on the 2011 Ford Explorer

The Chrysler Group continues to aggressively market the newcomers in its vehicle lineup with new advertisements. This time the automaker has released numerous television and online spots to tout the new generation of the Dodge Durango SUV, all of which will begin airing this week.

While you can check out all the ads in the videos after the break, we must say that four commercials captured our attention including one that refers to Ferrari to show off the Durango's leather interior, another one that depicts seven Stig-lookalikes running to get into Dodge's SUV, and two spots featuring the 2011 Ford Explorer.

For the latter commercials, Dodge used Ford's SUV to demonstrate the new Durango's best-in-class towing capacity. In particular, the Durango V6 can tow up to 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg) while the V8 model up to 7,400 lbs (3,357 kg). That's compared to the Ford Explorer 3.5L V6's max loaded trailer weight of 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg).

Mr. Bean" Crashes His McLaren F1

Actor Rowan Atkinson, best known for his roles in UK TV series Mr. Bean and the Black Adder, may drive an original Mini on the screen, but in real life, he is a car enthusiast. So much that he once described in CAR magazine the process of ordering a Ferrari 456 GT and let's not forget that he owns one of the most exclusive and extreme supercars ever built: a McLaren F1.

Unfortunately, the 56-year old actor made headlines today for losing control of his precious F1, and crashing into a sign. No other cars were involved in the accident, which seems to have occurred when the McLaren met a wet patch on the road.

Thankfully, Atkinson suffered only minor shoulder injuries and was taken to the hospital, but the F1 seems in need of some serious repair work.
This isn’t the first time he has crashed his McLaren, either, since in 1999 he rear-ended a Rover Metro damaging the front end of his supercar.

Fisker Karma Test Drive

You have to admit that the Karma, Henrik Fisker’s extended-range electric sports sedan with a celebrity clientele and 3,000 firm orders, has already had its fair share of coverage on this site. And that’s before it even goes on sale.

However, Fisker’s $100,000 sedan is an intriguing car. Not just for its sensual lines, the gorgeous interior or the way it is promoted, but because it promises to deliver a supercar experience the “green way”.

That is by combining two electric motors in the rear and a turbocharged gasoline 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine up front, which charges the batteries acting as a range extender, further enhancing the Karma's performance and range.

Fisker Santa Monica published a video on Youtube showing Kyle, one of its salesmen, taking the Karma out for a quick spin around the streets of LA and explaining its functions as he would do in any regular customer (of course celebs will probably receive a better treatment…). So watch past the jump to see what a test drive in a Karma looks like.

Alfa Romeo 4C at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

 

The countdown for the highly anticipated 2011 Frankfurt auto show in the second week of September has begun and carmakers are trying to keep us on our toes with enticing teasers like this invitation from Alfa Romeo.

Shown on the Italian firm's Facebook page, the teaser is about the new 4C mid-engined sports car that was previewed as a thinly disguised concept study at this year's Geneva Salon.
Being that the Sergio Marchionne, the head of the Fiat and Chrysler groups, has said the Alfa Romeo 4C will hit European showrooms during the first half of 2012 with some examples reaching U.S. hands by the end of the same year, there's a very good chance we'll see the car in its final production form.
If that's not the case, then it could be that Alfa Romeo may show either a roadster version of the 4C or a more powerful version.
We'll remind you that the 4C concept study in Geneva was fitted with a 1.75-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pushing 200-horsepower towards the rear axle via a twin dry clutch automatic transmission dubbed “Alfa TCT”.

Lexus GS 2013

Precisely two weeks remain for the official presentation of the all-new 2013 Lexus GS 350 on Thursday, August 18th at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the Japanese automaker decided it's time to enter the teaser photo game with the release of a single, partially blacked out image of the mid-size luxury sedan.

There's not much to say about the Lexus sedan from the photo other than that it looks a lot like the LF-Gh Hybrid concept we saw at this year's New York Auto Show.

For those of you that would like to see a bit more of the new GS than what Lexus has to offer, hit the break to watch the first test drive videos of the car by U.S. magazines Motor Trend and Road & Track.

Top Gear Hammond and Stig Drive the Lamborghini Aventador

Last Sunday night BBC aired the sixth and last episode of Top Gear Season 17. In this 60-minute episode we saw a lot of things, but what impressed us more is that they drove not one, but two Lamborghini Aventadors.

Richard Hammond sat behind the steering wheel of a white Aventador and came to a rather controversial conclusion (see, no spoilers there), while the Stig took a red colored example of the V12-powered Lamborghini for TG's customary power lap.

If you missed the season finale, you can watch the video and find out both Hammond’s opinion and where the Aventador’s time was pinned on the Top Gear’s scoreboard.

Toyota Reveals Next-Gen Safety Systems

Toyota has revealed a host of both active and passive safety systems that it is developing for use in its future models. The Japanese company said that it concentrates on protecting both older drivers as well as pedestrians.

If you're wondering why, this is because of the statistics which show that in Japan, more than half of road traffic fatalities are of people aged 65 and above, while pedestrian now account for more fatalities than vehicle occupants.

Toyota said that it is trying to collect data from all over the world. The company recently set up the Collaborative Safety Research in the US to cooperate with North American universities, hospitals and research organizations in gathering data from real-world accidents to improve its testing and products.

The four key safety technologies that Toyota is currently developing are the following:

Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) with collision avoidance assist

This system uses a millimeter-wave radar and camera to monitor the road ahead and if it detects and obstacle and the driver does not apply the brakes, it activates them automatically. PCS monitors a range of factors, such as roadside obstacles and other vehicles and constantly estimates the collision chances. It can also change the course of the vehicle if the driver fails to act, in order to avoid an accident.

Pop-up Bonnet

Toyota is designing the body structures of its vehicles to reduce injury in a collision with a pedestrian utilizing data from crash test dummies and its Total Human Model for Safety virtual models. It has developed a new, pop-up bonnet that automatically increases the space between the pedestrian and the engine, thus limiting injuries. This technology can also be used in cars with a low bonnet line, further untying the hands of bodywork designers.

Emergency Response Technology

Some accidents are caused by drivers having a heart attack or a blackout. Toyota’s new system monitors cardio-vascular functions of the driver through his grip on the steering wheel and detect possible problems. The company has presented the concept to the Japan Medical Congress and will develop it further before bringing it into production.

Adaptive Driving Beam

Some of Toyota’s models already have a function when the car switches the front lights automatically from high beam to low beam once a camera detects a vehicle in front or in the opposite side of the road, then turns the high beam back on once the road is clear.

Toyota said it is further developing this system with an adaptive driving beam that shields the high beam so it doesn’t blind other drivers, yet the lights operate at near high-beam level for better illumination of the road ahead.

New Batmobile Tumbler from The Dark Knight Rises

In about a year's time (that would be summer of 2012), Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise will continue with the third movie in the series called "The Dark Knight Rises". Actor Christian Bale will return as the Caped Crusader and will go against Bane (played by Tom Hardy) and Selina Kyle, aka the Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).Also making its return to the movie is the Caped Crusader's Batmobile, also known as the Tumbler from the previous films.
Shooting of the movie commenced in May this year in India and now continues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a couple of individuals managed to capture an array of videos of the latest Tumbler while on the move as well as during filming of some scenes.
Take a look at all the videos for yourself below and make sure to tell us if you see something worth noting in the comments section.

Battle of the Beasts: Tuned Dodge Viper ACR vs Koenigsegg CCXR

The Dodge Viper ACR is one of the fastest production cars around packing an 8.4-liter V10 with 600HP and 560 lb/ft (760 Nm) of torque that allows it to accelerate from 0-60 mph (96km/h) in less than 4.0 seconds. It has also proved its mettle by breaking lap records in famous and difficult tracks such as Laguna Seca and the Nürburgring.

But it's one thing going against a Corvette and totally different story when you're challenged by the likes of Koenigsegg and its CCXR that boasts a twin-supercharged V8 delivering close to 1,100-horsepower.
The Dodge Viper ACR you're about to see, however, has one more trick under its sleeve as this snake had been enhanced with a Paxton supercharger that gives it another 150 horses.
But is that enough to even out the battle with the CCXR in a quarter-mile drag race? Watch the video past the jump to find out.

2012 Honda Civic Hits Rock Bottom

Usually new or redesigned models fare better in car reviews than their predecessors. Technology moves on during the lifespan of a model, automakers learn from their mistakes and improve their production methods, while the competition gets better forcing everyone else to improve etc.

However, that’s not the case with the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic LX, or at least that's what Consumer Reports states in its latest test of the Japanese model.

According to Consumer Reports (CR), the highest ranking small sedan for many years and a Top Pick in five of the last 10 years has in its latest iteration dropped too low to even earn a “Recommended” tag!

“While other models like the Hyundai Elantra have gotten better after being redesigned, the Civic has dropped so much that now it ranks near the bottom of its category,” wrote senior director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, David Champion.

The Civic LX’s score dropped from the previous model 78 to an abysmal 61, placing it in the second-to-last place just above the (also recently redesigned) VW Jetta, which finished last.

Consumer Reports’ testers found the new Honda Civic to feature a lower quality interior, high road noise, less agile handling, inferior brakes and a choppy ride compared to the car it replaced.

Carjack Undercover Cop in Pittsburgh, Blames Batman Movie!

Apparently, Christian Bale as Batman and Tom Hardy as the Bane filming scenes for the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster "The Dark Knight Rises" (see the videos here) weren't the only protagonists at downtown Pittsburgh this past weekend. According to news reports from the local media, a young man tried to hijack an unmarked police vehicle near filming for the latest Batman movie, and when the officer arrested him, he claimed that it was part of the movie script for "The Dark Knight Rises"!

It all went down on Sunday when Officer Robert Digiacomo was sitting in his unmarked Chevrolet Impala looking for a suspect involved in an assault. Then all of a sudden, 21-year old Micah Calamosca jumped in the passenger side of the vehicle and ordered the undercover cop to abandon the car.

Police said the officer in the car pulled out his gun and arrested the young man, despite Calamosca's claims that he was involved in the movie and stealing the vehicle was just part of the script.

Calamosca was charged with felony robbery.