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cars

Next Generation Prius Hybrid Is Bigger, More Powerful, With More MPG

AutoObserver reports that the next generation Prius will be four inches longer, get a more powerful 1.8 liter gas engine that when combined with electrics will do a total 160 horsepower (compared with 110hp in the current 1.5 liter setup). The kicker is that it'll be more fuel efficient, too. Using Japan's metrics for fuel economy, the current setup gets 84kpg, but the next gen has been reported to run 94 kilometers under the same conditions. The car is set to be unveiled in 2009. [AutoObserver, photo above of the Prius Concept, not the next gen model, thanks Mona for realizing the KPG and MPG differences.]

4:51 PM on Mon Apr 28 2008
By Brian Lam
10,953 views, 71 comments

Latest by D.LYTE: late to the game here, but gotta get in my two cents. first of all, because the technology represents a step forward for the environment does not automatically mean it's going to be cheaper in the long run. for example. a gallon more »

cars

Paint Thickness Tester Won't Determine the IQ of Your Walls

A handy little gadget for those of you who prefer to buy second-hand cars rather than brand spanking new models that smell of plastic, Westfalia's paint-thickness tester will let you know if the vehicle has had a paint job—which can often mean it's been involved in a crash somewhere down the line. Here's how it works: More »

8:30 AM on Tue Apr 22 2008
By Addy Dugdale
4,778 views, 20 comments

pioneer

AVIC-F High-End Navigation Systems from Pioneer Rocks Voice Control

Talking to your gadgets is the first sign of madness, but people who insist on doing it should look at Pioneer's AVIC-F systems. The three models, the AVIC-F700BT, AVIC-F900BT and the AVIC F90BT all have a type of voice control developed by Pioneer alongside VoiceBox Technologies, which filters out the "um" and "ah" in everyday conversations to decipher your commands. More »

9:45 AM on Mon Apr 21 2008
By Addy Dugdale
5,122 views, 7 comments

autos

Car Engine Meets NES Controller

I'm confused, but happy to see this Civic's Corolla's engine block get a cover that looks like a NES controller. When this baby redlines, it sounds like me mashing buttons in bionic commando. Hello! Just build the turbo function INTO THE GAME. Prediction: The urge to punch down on running temperature A,B, and cross pad buttons during an oil change could lead to some pretty bad blistering. Recommendation: Sawzall the hood and give NESTER some breathing room! [Kotaku]

9:50 PM on Fri Apr 18 2008
By Jason Chen
6,889 views, 30 comments

Latest by jackfrost132: It would be pretty sweet if you could hang an lcd monitor off the hood when it was open and use the giant controller for some giant gaming. more »

gps

Video: Real-Life Driving With Dash GPS

This video is what driving with Dash is usually like. At night, it can be especially undramatic, but even when there is a lot of traffic, the truth is, Dash doesn't reroute you often. I use the map as a guide and just drive around the reds (when there are reds). It's funny how the density of traffic data varies time to time, and by what zoom level you are at. But when these things hit the market in the next few days, the traffic data, minute by minute, should shoot up in density. (And until then, the dashed lines, which are based on historical models, are pretty useful.) Also, apologies for any motion sickness incurred from watching this video. Driving stick and using GPS and camcorder at the same time is not that easy. We dropped our review of this baby last night, culled from over 1000 miles of driving, so check it out. [Dash Express review on Giz]

9:43 AM on Thu Mar 27 2008
By Brian Lam
2,567 views, 19 comments

Latest by Spoony Bard: I think I'm gonna be sick.... more »

animal welfare

Hot Dog Temperature Alert System for Car Owners too Stupid to Have Pets

If ever I want to give my late, unlamented sister-in-law—she's not dead, she's just not my sister-in-law any more—a present (other than a punch in the chops) then I need look no further than the Hot Dog Temperature Alert system for cars. Install it, turn it on, and if the temperature rises above a preset one, then the windows roll down automatically, the horn sounds and a man in uniform appears as if by magic with a red hot poker that he rams up your ass. Okay, so I made that last bit up, but here's a story about my late (I wish) unlamented sister-in-law that you might enjoy. More »

9:17 AM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Addy Dugdale
4,213 views, 12 comments

Latest by valarmorghulis: Small world, I know some people studying the Wild Dogs in Botswana. more »

topend audio

Pagani Carbon-Fiber Hi-Fi Is Order-Only, Uh-Oh, Expensive

Italian supercar manufacturer Pagani has gone into the luxury audio market and produced a carbon fiber-and-brushed aluminum stereo system whose bass speakers looks are reminiscent of the fat exhausts found on its Zonda supercar—at least, that's what the 350-watt speakers look like. Find out what else the Pagani sound system has got under the bonnet after the jump. More »

5:12 AM on Mon Mar 10 2008
By Addy Dugdale
4,985 views, 21 comments

crusher

DARPA Robot Crusher Truck Earns Its Name

There isn't anyone inside this six-and-half-ton beast, getting off on smashing through crappy 80s cars. No, the Army's latest baby, built by Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Engineering Center, is a robot. The Crusher navigates (and destroys) autonomously and will climb four-foot "steps" as easy as it tears up a hill. Apparently other vehicles in their Future Combat System family will take after this big bad monster truck, officially bringing the Army into the business of wrecking ass. With robots. [Danger Room, Vid via IEEE]

9:00 PM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By matt buchanan
12,463 views, 31 comments

Latest by BenjaminWright: As the video shows, robots can be dangerous. They and their owners will be subject to the rule of law. [hack-igations.blogspot.com] more »

pyramid car

Father and Sons Build Electric Car—a Popemobile for Pharaohs

Greg Zanis' Dream Car is a solar-powered pyramid on four wheels that he built at home with the help of his two sons. Deceptively fragile, this little one-seater weighs in at 8,000 pounds, but its 80 batteries powering four electric engines really make it shift. Find out how fast, and watch the video of it pootling along a wintry Illinois street, after the jump. More »

1:20 PM on Tue Feb 19 2008
By Addy Dugdale
6,808 views, 40 comments

scented tires

Kumho's Lavender-Scented Tires Go By the Name of Ecsta DX; Probably Answer to the Name 'Pointless'

Apparently, Kumho's skid 'n' sniff tires are going out to the "trend-setting, fashion-conscious drivers" who want their cars to rock something that no one else has: the sweet smell of lavender. Now then, while I wholeheartedly applaud Kumho's decision to bring something so unique to wheelwear, I question the choice of fragrance. Surely "Eau de Roadkill" or "Rocker's Crotch" would have been more marketable than the scent most associated with a slightly incontinent old queen who thrilled millions during her lifetime—no, not Liberace, I'm talking about Britain's late, lamented Queen Mother. Full blurb from Tire Rack's product page is below. More »

4:34 AM on Tue Feb 19 2008
By Addy Dugdale
2,693 views, 20 comments

Latest by molife: "kumho" Heh heh...heh heh heh...heh heh - beavis and butthead (I've loved the name of this company ever since I saw the first sticker. Has to be the best lost in translation named product in history. Is there a "kumho racing team"?! lol! more »

deepsea driver

sQuba Submarine Car Is Real, Looks Silly but Amazingly Fun

This is the sQuba, a concept—but very real—car devised by James Bond fanatic Frank Rinderknecht who, when he's not channeling the spirit of 007's gadget mentor Q, designs classic concept cars for a living. The amphibious two-seater has been made from a Lotus Elise, with three electric motors replacing the petrol engine—one powers the back wheels, while the other two work the specially designed propellers. More »

6:30 AM on Fri Feb 15 2008
By Addy Dugdale
29,063 views, 43 comments

batmanmachgogogo

Speed Racer vs. Batmobile Zoomdown: Entire 2008 Toy Lineup Get Us All Revved Up

We've got Mattel's entire line of Batman and Speed Racer cars for 2008, and we hope the movies are as geekgasmic as the toys. The Batman lineup punches all of my little fanboy buttons—not only the entire squadron from The Dark Knight, but the two best Batmobiles ever: from the animated series AND Adam Batwest. Speed Racer's got the Mach 5, its sleeker, zippier successor the Mach 6, plus a battle bus! Check out every one in detail after the jump, then tell us who has the most wonderful toys.

More »

4:30 PM on Thu Feb 14 2008
By matt buchanan
26,294 views, 41 comments

Latest by peter33: of course im with the batmobile, although speedracer car looks pretty sweet, but i think the movie looks really stupid. TDK im only looking foward to because ledgers joker looks interesting. but i still think the "tumbler" batmobile (if you more »

autos

Most High Tech 18 -Wheeler Ever Almost Puts Optimus Prime to Shame

Navistar's new flagship truck, the LoneStar, is a mobile geek mansion: Monsoon stereo system with 11 speakers, subwoofer and amp, a giant desk with swivel chairs, wooden floors, 42-inch mattress and a bunch of other unnecessary creature and gadget comforts, like Bluetooth. Update: Our greasemonkey brothers at Jalopnik sent over about a billion pictures of this Riche Rich big rig. More »

5:00 PM on Fri Feb 8 2008
By matt buchanan
19,174 views, 51 comments

Latest by flyboy: @nincompoop: thought you'd like this link...[guardian.spreadshirt.co.uk] more »

cars

Three Tesla Electric Car Reviews

The Telsa Roadster's been a long ways a comin', and here are the first reviews in the March issues of the fossil-fuel loving, pulp-based mongrel cousins of Jalopnik. And after a few hours flogging the e-car on California's Skyline Boulevard, most pubs have concluded that the Tesla is the first electric car—the first green car, really—that deserves a spot in any car aficionado's fantasy garage.

More »

7:01 AM on Fri Feb 8 2008
By Brian Lam
22,799 views, 53 comments

cars

Gadget-Packed Ford "Work Solutions" Truck Knows Where Your Tools Are

When I imagine surly construction workers like my uncle hauling tools and concrete and porta potties around, trucks loaded up with schnazzy gadgetry is not what I picture. But that's exactly what Ford (and Microsoft!) see. Their "Work Solutions" concept isn't even entirely bullshit, either. The feature I worker think dudes would find really useful is Tool Link, an RFID-based tool tracker system—add tags to your tools, and the bed scanner lets you know if something is missing. More »

6:10 PM on Wed Feb 6 2008
By matt buchanan
5,877 views, 22 comments

Latest by Aceoage: @ImTheKing: Nope, The Tacoma is the best selling tiny truck or "Midsize" as some call them. The F-Series full size. Ford parts are also sold pretty well everywhere. Toyota parts, not so much. I don't like imports either way. more »

ross lovegrove

Car On A Stick Is Urban Transport Concept by Day, Street Light by Night

Ross Lovegrove's Car on a Stick concept takes multi-tasking to extremes. The latest idea from the former Apple and Sony designer, who has quite a penchant for solar-powered thingies is a solar-powered transport pod that can carry up to four people, plus shopping bags, that can be stored in an ingenious fashion.
More »

4:10 AM on Fri Jan 25 2008
By Addy Dugdale
5,846 views, 9 comments

cars

Night Vision For Any Car: FLIR PathfindIR

The Bottom line: Remember that urban tale of the drug running lambo doing 200mph runs using merely night vision? FLIR, used to making commercial nightvision systems for law enforcement, marine, and airborne vehicle has trickled the tech into civilian hands. The PathfindIR is their first infrared night vision adaptable for any car, although they'll be demo'ing at CES in a BMW. The camera (below) gets mounted in a grill, and the AV output hooks into any LCD and even some dashboard nav systems. The video looks to be a relatively low res 320 x 240, with a wide 36º H x 27º V field of view. The best news: the IR system lets cars see 5x further than high beams.
The catch: Staring at a LCD on your dash sounds dangerous. Demo video after the jump. More »

5:28 PM on Fri Jan 4 2008
By Brian Lam
13,925 views, 29 comments

Latest by thinker62: These do not work in rain, snow and fog. Funny they don't tell you that. more »

Jalopnik's Legal Guide to Cellphone Yapping While Driving Jalopnik's got an extensive guide to the ins and outs of talking while driving. The map above covers the basics, but legalese on earpiece and city rules are explained fully over at [Ray Wert's Big Wheels Blog].

51 comments