Plastic is Fantastic: 1:24 Scale Supercar Exotics Encased In Resin

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a 1970's style resin “sculpture” made by an unknown French artist and featuring various 1:24 scale Ferraris.

There’s also a Lamborghini Diablo, Jaguar XJ220 and Bugatti EB110 in there among others. Props to anyone who can help us identify the rest. The unusual item is being sold by Mantiques Modern [sic] of New York.

For details on price, you’ll have to contact the dealer, but something tells us it won’t be cheap… More photos of the artsy piece in the gallery after the break.

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There you HAVEit: VW Renders Drivers (almost) Obsolete

We’ve seen them in science-fiction films: cars that drive themselves. And, as car enthusiasts, we hoped that this invention will never be realized, or at least not in our lifespan. But is seems like Volkswagen and the EU have other plans.

At the final presentation for the HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicle for Intelligent Transport) project in the Swedish city of Boras, the German car company presented the “Temporary Auto Pilot”, or TAP, a system that allows the car to semi-automatically drive itself up to speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways, with the driver simply monitoring the vehicle.

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Jeep’s Drive Your Track Lets you Plan World Road Trip from Your Music

I’ve been trying out Jeep’s Drive Your Track website for their Wrangler model’s Infinity Sound System. You start by uploading a song from your hard drive: I chose Gary Numan’s, “Cars” for reasons that should be readily apparent.

It takes a few minutes to load your song, and then the sound waves are somehow mapped to certain geographical features from around the world.

You end up with eight or so places, which for me included the Appalachian Mountains, the Himalayas, the Andes, the Ural Mountains and Colorado Rockies.

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Google Goes Electric, Sets Up 70 Charging Stations at its California Headquarters

Internet-giant Google has just adopted the largest workplace charging installation for electric vehicles in the U.S. with the completion of 70 “ChargePoint” stations at its Mountain View, California headquarters.

The new charging infrastructure will support both employee-owned EVs and “GFleet” plug-in vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF. And there are 250 more charging stations on the way, with the goal of making Google’s HQ parking facilities 5% EV-ready.

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ZF Launches World’s First 9-Speed Automatic Transmission

It was not a long time ago that 6-speed automatic gearboxes were a privilege largely enjoyed by top of the range models. However, in their quest for efficiency, manufacturers have quickly moved on to 7- and 8-speed boxes which trickle down the line to even the smallest models in the range (e.g. the new BMW 1-Series).

But ZF has outdone them all by launching the world’s first 9-speed automatic transmission for passenger cars in the VDI Conference “Transmissions in Vehicles 2011”. The new gearbox, code-named 9HP and designed for cars with front-transverse drive, is available in two model ranges, can handle torque between 280 and 480 Nm (206.5 – 331.9 lb-ft) and can be combined, according to each manufacturer’s requirements, with different stop-start systems, hybrid and all-wheel drive applications.

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U.S. Government Focusing in on Web Gadgets that Distract Drivers

We are all living in an age of networked information. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, smartphones and public internet access are making the world smaller every day. Unfortunately, in some instances all this information can distract us from the important things, such as focusing on driving. And no one agrees with this more than U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood:

“We know people are hooked on cellphones and texting devices. But there's absolutely no reason for any person to download their Facebook into the car. It's not necessary. "

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Forza Motorsport 4: Here’s how they Record Car Engine Sounds

Long gone are the days when video game developers used simple electronic instruments to emulate car engine sounds for their racing games. Now, thanks to a dramatic increase in video games sales, which of course resulted in huge budgets, developers can justify the costs of recording the actual sounds of each car featured in their games.

For those of you wondering how it’s done, the tech-savvy crew over at Electricpig were invited to Redmond, Seattle by the creator of the Forza Motorsport gaming series, Turn 10 Studios, to witness the recording of a previous generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

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For The Man Who Has Everything: Ferrari Racing Helmet

You would think a company that sells US$200,000+ supercars would have no need to hawk merchandise, but apparently not. Along with the expected assortment of watches, polo shirts and key rings is this US$331.40 racing helmet. You’re sure to look dapper when cruising around in your dilapidated ’89 Mondial cabriolet 250 Testa Rossa in this fine helmet made of satin-finish aluminium, metalised thermoplastic and genuine leather. Read more »

BMW Launches New Z4 Game for iPhone and iPod

Being the tech-savvy company it is (or at least it wants to show that it is), BMW has released a new game for the iPhone and iPod Touch to show off its new Z4 Roadster. The game that can be downloaded for free from Apple is inspired from the BMW Z4´s "An Expression of Joy" campaign and it allows players to "draw" using the wheels of their car by choosing different colors of paint so that their tire tracks create drawings.

Furthermore, the application offers players the chance to explore, customize, create and virtually drive the hardtop Z4 Roadster. For those that do not own an iPhone or an iPod (don't feel bad, we don't either), you can get a taste of the game in the official video below.

Download the game here: iTunes

Toyota Develops World's First Rear-Seat Centre Airbag

In their ongoing quest to make our cars look like the Michelin Man better our chances of survival during a car crash, automakers are constantly adding new types of airbags in their vehicles. The latest development comes from Toyota that introduced the world's first rear-seat centre airbag that promises to help reduce the severity of passenger injuries in side-on collisions. The new Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag is fitted in a large, fixed, rear-seat centre console and will make its debut in a version of a Toyota model to be launched in Japan later this year.

Chick Flick II: VW Celebrates Barbie's 50th Birthday with Pinked out Beetle Convertible

Just in case anyone had any objections that the New Beetle is squarely aimed towards the so-called "weaker sex", Volkswagen of America created a customized New Beetle Convertible in celebration of the Barbie doll's 50th Birthday. As many of you may recall, Fiat did the same thing on the other side of the Atlantic with the new 500 - see here. The Barbiedream Beetle Convertible comes fully equipped with rhinestones, sparkling pink paint and motorized vanity in trunk.

"We are extremely proud to partner with Mattel and create a customized New Beetle convertible to celebrate Barbie's landmark birthday," said Laura Soave, General Manager of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "Like the New Beetle, Barbie has made a remarkable impact on pop culture history, and still remains a cultural icon today."

Factor 001: $28,000+ Bicycle with F1 Tech and Materials

Hailed to be the world's most advanced bicycle, the Factor 001 from motorsport engineering specialists, BERU f1systems, will be revealed at the launch of the London Science Museum's new exhibition "Fast Forward: 20 ways F1TM is changing our world" next week on March 11th. The Factor 001 uses technology and materials from Formula One where BERU f1systems is a supplier of various components such as electronics and composites to every team.

Weighing in at under 7kg or 15,4 lbs, the bike uses a carbon fibre monocoque structure and comes equipped with an on-board computer and performance monitoring system that incorporates various motorsport-grade sensors, a GPS and a radio transmitter integrated into the handlebars and throughout the bike, and even carbon ceramic brakes.

Factor 001 is available to order from BERU f1systems now with prices starting at under £20,000 (around $27,600 or €22,000 with the current exchange rates) for the basic model while the full version with the software package will cost in excess of £20,000.

• Multi-channel electronics package which provides unique ergonometric data collection, logging and analysis capabilities; can correlate biometric data from the rider, physical force data from the bike and environmental data; developed with feedback from professional athletes.
  
• Carbon ceramic brakes provide endless, exact braking performance at any temperature.
  
• Almost all original parts; key components designed and manufactured in-house from Formula One-grade materials.
  
• Fully integrated structure using BERU f1systems' Wire-in-Composite patented technology; load sensors, wiring, batteries, sensors, control cables and lines for the hydraulic braking system are all fully integrated into the composite during construction, to give unparalleled efficiency and durability with a clean, uncluttered appearance.
  
• Twin-spar frame reduces sideways frame flex and preserves rider comfort.
  
• 8-spoke monocoque composite wheels deliver high lateral stiffness and robustness for everyday use.
  
• Bespoke made-to-measure frame (to within 1mm); each customer to experience Formula One-style 'seat fit' process.

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Chick Flick: Barbie gets her own special Fiat 500 for her 50th Birthday

You knew it was coming - a pinked out Barbie version of Fiat's 500 mini. Created by a partnership between the Fiat Centro Stile and Mattel, the customized Barbie 500 is a show car dedicated to famous doll for her 50th birthday and it will appear in public for the first time on Monday 9 March, when it will race through the streets of Milan's fashion district with 'Barbie' on the passenger seat and Ken behind the steering wheel.

Aside from the bright pink paintwork, Barbie's 500 also gets pink seats, an LED-decked vanity mirror, glitzy crystals on interior bezels, hubcaps, outer window moldings and antenna, as well as a glossy cover featuring the distinctive Sixties version of the Fiat 500 and a Barbie autograph.

BMW's DesignworksUSA Presents Thermaltake PC Case for Gamers

They have designed yachts, trains, coffee makers, speakers even airplanes and now, BMW DesignworksUSA, an independently operated studio owned by the BMW Group, has joined forces with Thermaltake, a company known for its flashy eye-catching products to create a futuristic-looking PC case. Previewed in prototype form at the CEBIT in Hanover (March 3-8, 2009), the BMW-designed PC case is called "Level 10".

Aimed at gamers, the Level 10 actually looks more like a chassis than a traditional case as the computer's individual components are mounted in separate compartments that are attached onto a central base.

BMW to Exhibit X3 xDrive20d Rescue Vehicle in Geneva

One of less significant premieres of next week's Geneva Auto Show will be the BMW X3 xDrive20d emergency rescue vehicle that is making its first public appearance as the Bavarian automaker wants to show off its special-purpose vehicles. The X3 medical emergency vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that develops an output of 177HP offering an average fuel consumption of 6.5 lt /100km which is equal to 34.6mpg US.

Like any emergency rescue vehicle, the X3 is fitted with a special roof-mounted alarm system, including a blue light, an electronic siren, and an LED display with the word NOTARZT ("emergency doctor"). Furthermore, there are two flashing lights are inside the boot, which when opened, provide sufficient warning to oncoming traffic.

Inside, the X3's cabin has been converted for medical use featuring among other things, a sturdy metal dividing frame between the luggage space and passenger cabin, a mounting for the radio device, which includes a power supply and a rest for the hand unit, as well as a charging point in the luggage area.

Alfa Romeo Launches Arcade Style MiTo Racing Game

As part of a new UK market promotional campaign for the new MiTo sport hatch, Alfa Romeo has launched a new online racing game that allows users to drive the subcompact model at 10 different venues on 10 different web sites. While we can't say that we were impressed by the arcade-style game, you might want to take a shot at it as Alfa is offering several prizes, including a new MiTo worth near £12,000 for those that score the best overall time.

Over the nine week duration of the promotion, top racers will be eligible to win one of 90 iPod touch units or one of 180 iPod nanos, while at the end of each week, those that reach the top of the national leaderboard will receive a Nintendo Wii. The ultimate prize is of course the brand-new Alfa MiTo 1.4 16V Lusso which cost £11,936 in the UK.

Link: MiToRally

Maserati Presents Limited Edition Handbag made of Old Car Brochures

Female car-fashionistas rejoice; Maserati has joined forces with Momaboma, an Italian firm that creates unique handbags and accessories exclusively out of vintage materials, such as old newspapers, magazines and clothes, to introduce a new limited edition handbag. What's so special about this 'femme-fatale' bag is that it is made of old brochures recovered from the Maserati archives. Produced in a limited edition of 150 copies, the hand-made Momaboma eco-bag goes on sale today with a retail price of £130 or nearly $190.

eBay Find: Vertu Nurburgring Racetrack Titanium Cell-Phone

In case you missed out on the special edition Vertu Nurburgring Racetrack mobile-phone that was produced in a limited run of 1,000 units, we found one on ebay with a "Buy it Now" price of $4,599 U.S. Designed to commemorate Germany's famous Nurburgring racing circuit, the Nokia based, Vertu cellular phone is made from knurled titanium and finished with racing leather and a radiator grill inspired bezel. Nifty it may be, but a used phone for nearly five grand doesn't quite make much sense in our books.

Link: eBay

Citroen DS Lifestyle Accessories

Oh yes; even though we're still more than a year away from the presentation of the first premium model of Citroen's newly-found DS line-up which will be none other than the production version of the Geneva-bound, DS Inside, the French automaker has already made plans to introduce a dedicated line of lifestyle accessories. As you can see in our photo gallery after the jump, the proposed DS collection will include among other products, belts, hand luggage, sunglasses even a trendy cell phone and a snowboard.