Video: French Devise Innovative Alternative to Spare Tires

They say necessity is the mother of invention, but we doubt that’s the case with these fun-loving Frenchmen who decided to attach a little board on wheels on the rear tire of their Citroen Saxo. -Video after the jump

Video: Ferrari California’s Foldable Hardtop in Action

Bit by bit Ferrari is releasing more details and info on its new California 2+ coupe-cabriolet model. This time the Italian sports carmaker has revealed a short video displaying the California’s retractable hardtop that can be deployed or retracted in just 14 seconds. Video after the jump. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.it

2008 Top Gear Episode 1: Supercar Fuel Economy Test & BMW M3 vs Toyota Prius

We stumbled upon the first episode of Top Gear Season 11 on YouTube and we immediately knew we had to share it with you. In this first part the team is concerned about rising gas prices. In typical Top Gear style, they fill up five supercars (Ferrari 599, Lamborghini Murcielago, Aston DBS, Audi R8 and Mercedes SLR) with 1 gallon of fuel and race them around a track to see which one will go the furthest.

Next up, they drive a Toyota Prius Hybrid on the race track as fast as possible with a new BMW M3 Sedan following behind at the same pace. Ten laps later, guess what? The Prius did 17.2 UK MPG (14.3 US MPG) while the M3 Sedan 19.4 UK MPG (16.2 US MPG)! Not that anyone will drive a Prius like that, but it does go to show you that fuel economy isn’t always only about the vehicle you drive, but it’s also about how you drive. -Video after the jump

A Train That Never Stops at Stations: Ingenious or ...

Peng Yu-lun is a Taiwanese inventor who came up with an idea that promises to help save energy and significantly increase train speeds. In a nutshell, Peng Yu-lun devised a concept for a train that never stops at stations to pick up or drop passengers. According to Peng Yu-lun’s concept, the base train enters the station and locks into a "boarding" car filled with passengers, which is put into motion ahead of time. After the rear of the travelling train catches up, the car is joined to the rest of the train. -Continued

Likewise, those wanting to get off the moving train will have to board the designated car on top of the train as it will be detached at the next station. Peng Yu-lun says that a train like the domestic Kaohsiung MRT has a maximum speed of 85 km/h, but due to stops, it achieves an average speed of just 35 km/h. If the train followed his concept, it would be able to maintain an average speed of 85 km/h throuout the entire trip thus saving time and energy.

While the idea sounds great in theory, it does have its flaws. Leaving safety factors aside, the system is restrictive in the sense that some stations are more popular than others – what happens if more people than the designated car can fit want to get off at a particular station, can you imagine the commotion!

Info: TaiwainHeadlines

Video: Audi TT RS at the Nurburgring

The highly anticipated Audi TT RS has been caught on tape by an amateur videographer on the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany. Slated to be released sometime in 2009, the RS will be the top of the line model in the TT range competing against rivals such as the BMW Z4 M Coupe and the Porsche Cayman S.

It has been said, but not officially confirmed, that the TT RS will make use of a turbocharged version of VW’s U.S. spec 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine. Then again, we say, why should Audi go into all that trouble to transform an old engine into one that will have to comply with the strict European emission standards when it has already developed an all-new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 TFSi unit for the new S4 that could easily be pushed to deliver over 360Hp? -Video after the jump

Via: Autoblog.it