If you happen to drive a Chrysler-made car, here’s a little something that might cheer you up.

Mopar, Chrysler’s accessories and parts division, has announced earlier this week that its online store will be including components for live TV in Chrysler vehicles.

The new technology, called FLO TV, will allow drivers of Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler cars to watch up to 20 channels. It’s made possible by a small antenna that can be mounted on the vehicle’s roof.

The components for FLO TV will be available for installation at dealerships as early as December this year.

Source: Left Lane News

How many of us have actually dreamt of coasting down the streets in those diminutive, almost-whimsical bumper cars? Well, only one man actually went and modified carnival bumper cars to make them street-legal. His name’s Tom Wright and he’s a builder from San Diego County, California.

The first bumper car Wright purchased and hotwired was a retired Lussee. The process of making the small vehicle ready for the road took over a year, with Wright using a Harley motor to power the bumper car. Due to the excessive vibrations caused by the motor over time, though, the Harley motor was replaced with 750cc engines. From that first bumper car, Wright’s fleet now boasts of 8 road-ready bumper cars, all sporting customized bodies and interiors

‘FUNYWUD, ‘DMV OK’

‘IS2LEGL’, ‘NOBUMPN’

‘IBBUMPN’, ‘ENSANIT’

‘ALFACAR’, ‘HOT IDEA’

The cars’ design alone would be enough to attract a fair share of attention on the road. The fact that these babies have clocked in at as much as 160 mph is a welcome bonus.

Source: Jalopnik, Benchrace

If you like navigating the off-road trails but wish that you could bring all your creature comforts with you, then you might be interested in Dunkel Industries’ latest creation. Meet Dunkel Industries’ most recent brainchild: a Luxury 4×4 that puts other recreational vehicles to shame.

Under this ultimate RV’s sleek, shiny, black exterior and on top of its Ford F-650 chassis sit a plethora of features that guarantee to make your off-road trips as comfortable as possible. Inside the RV are customized cabinets that offer maximum storage capacities, so you can load the RV up as much as you want. The RV’s bathroom is a dream, equipped with a water pump and heater, a porcelain toilet, a fiberglass shower, and a stainless steel showerhead. The kitchen sports stainless steel walls, with a foldable kitchen sink and 2 pull-out tables.

LED accent lights, reading lights, and house lights ensure that you can go about your business even though you’re parked in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night. For your off-road entertainment, Dunkel Industries’ ultimate RV comes with power outlets and flat screen monitors. The RV even has docking ports for mp3 players, as well as DVD and CD players.

The RV’s exterior is also chock-full of features geared to make off-roading easier. Aside from providing storage space, the truck’s bed can be tilted to serve as a ramp for loading small off-road vehicles (such as dirtbikes or ATVs) onto the roof. For those situations that require heavy-duty pulling, the RV comes equipped with 3 winches. Customized tires and wheels easily support the RV’s body, capable of taking the vehicle through any off-road trail.

According to Dunkel Industries, “We created a vehicle that has unlimited versatility. A military grade 4×4 system, made by Fabco, makes our truck claw at the ground when normal RVs would be spinning their wheels. A custom wood, leather and fiberglass interior makes rest and nourishment comfortable and easy. We designed the RV as a luxury escape with no limits on how far you can travel. It’s beauty and the beast under one roof.”

Beauty and beast, indeed. With an RV like this, who wouldn’t want to pack up, take a road trip, and brave the wilderness?

Source: Autoblog, Dunkel Industries

Let’s admit it. We all are guilty of driving in our flip flops. Not to say that this is wrong but the fact of the matter is – it’s wrong. There are states which ban the use of such footwear while driving.

Not only does it tend to get stuck on the pedals, it also makes you look like you don’t own whatever car you’re driving. If you happen to be driving a Rolls-Royce Phantom, people would be wondering why, or rather, how you can afford to drive a Rolls and yet can’t afford a decent pair of driving shoes.

Blame it on the numb feeling shoes give when driving, or maybe the bulky weight which just makes them so uncomfortable, shoes are definitely second on the list for most drivers’ preferred foot wear. Compared to them, slippers, flip flops and sandals just seem to be the more practical substitute.

Well, here’s something which might help you put aside your love for slip ons – the Honda FILA Racing Shoes. Borne out of the need for a pair of lightweight footwear when behind the steering wheel, these shoes will surely give a new meaning to the term ‘light-footed’.

Available in five unique color designs, these shoes are sure to give you a pleasant time on the pedal. Not only does it promise faster footwork, it also gives you a sharper sense for the pedals.

Some of its features include cupped polyurethane heels to prevent slipping, a “ballistic” mesh material for improved feet ventilation, skinnier outsoles for a better feel of the pedals and less weight for more comfort.

FILA says the shoes embody Honda Racing’s commitment to catering to the needs of each and every racer out there. If you’re on the look out for a decent pair of driving shoes, these may fit you just right.

Source(s): Autoblog

How awesome would it be if your car had a dual-view navigation screen - a screen that allows two completely different, simultaneous displays, depending on who’s doing the looking?

Well, if you live in the US, all you can do for now is wonder.

The 2010 Jaguar XJ is among the first of its kind to feature a dual-view navigation screen. The Jaguar XJ’s navigation screen can show two displays at the same time. For example, the screen could be showing a GPS map for the driver, while allowing the passenger-seat occupant to watch some music videos.

While extremely convenient and entertaining, the avant-garde screen is considered illegal in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently mandates that entertainment systems cannt be used in the front of the vehicle while it is in motion. This prevents the driver from being distracted.

Although the driver can’t see the passengers screen, nor access entertainment controls while on the road, Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum admits that the navigation screen’s split-screen feature still violates the NHTSA’s regulations. Jaguar is allegedly hoping that the NHTSA will reconsider and allow the European auto innovation into the US.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed, eh?

Source: Automobile Mag

What can a BMW 7-Series vehicle offer you that other vehicles can’t?

The answer lies in one of the options the 7-Series Bimmer’s iDrive directory offers: the Gentleman function.

“Gentleman function” under the “Front seats” directory

Despite its dubious moniker, the “Gentleman function” is relatively harmless. The option merely allows the driver to control the passenger seat’s position. With the “Gentleman function” activated, the driver can move the seat forward and backward using a memory panel on the driver’s side door panel.

instructions under the “Gentleman function” option

BMW explains that the said option would help front-seat passengers get into the 7-Series vehicle’s cabin, and would make it easier for drivers or chauffeurs to adjust the passenger seat for backseat passengers who need more legroom.

Apparently, the option’s name makes more sense in German, from which the option’s name was directly translated. Perhaps BMW can do better than the could-be-misconstrued-as-sexist “Gentleman function”.

Source: Jalopnik, Edmunds

Having trouble keeping track of your car’s keys? Losing precious time looking all over the house for the keys that would let you get in your vehicle and start it up? Well, those problems may very well soon be dilemmas of a low-tech past.

Auto makers such as Rinspeed and Chrysler (through its division Global Electric Motors) have equipped their concept cars with iPhone sync-ing capabilities. The ignition systems of both the Rinspeed iChange and the Chrysler Global Electric Motorcars Peapod can be activated through the said handheld smartphone.

Chrysler Global Electric Motorcars Peapod

Rinspeed iChange

Both electric concept cars use a similar technology to enable keyless ignition: an infotainment system incorporates an iPhone dock and, once the iPhone is docked properly, the iPhone authenticates the driver and starts up the ignition system.

“Such concept cars are there to show what is possible,” Hans Roth,director of business development and marketing for Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH, said. But for production vehicles used by real drivers in traffic, “usability is more important than feasibility.” Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH provided the iPhone interface and infotainment system in the iChange concept car.

Some auto makers, however, are already planning to develop more smartphone functions into their driving technologies. Ford, for example, has developed its Sync technology to make many smartphone functions available to drivers. According to Joseph Berry, Sync’s chief architect, Ford is also planing more ways to integrate phone functions into cars.

The Ford 2010 Taurus even offers a “MyKey” peace of mind option. This option allows the parents to limit the car’s top speed, the ability to use the phone while driving, and even the stereo’s volume. How’s that for safe driving?

Source: msnbc.com, Jalopnik, Rinspeed

Yes, you read that right. London-based scientists have revealed a one-of-a-kind creation earlier this month: a racecar made partly from plant fibers, and powered by a biofuel processed from chocolate waste and vegetable oil.

Scientists at the University of Warwick used a mix of vegetable oil and waste from chocolate factories to develop a new kind of biofuel, one that will enable the racecar to accelerate to over 145 miles per hour. The car’s makers are hopeful about the racecar’s capacities on the track.

Aside from running on chocolate, the racecar also has other quirky features. The car’s steering wheel is made of fibers from carrots and other root vegetables, while the car’s seat is built from flax fiber and soybean oil foam.

The car, named the “WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car,” will go on display at several races including the European Grand Prix and Britain’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

 Source: msnbc.com

When it comes to exclusivity, the 2009 Novitec TuLesto has even Aston Martin’s One-77 beat. Built for Novitec’s 20th anniversary as the foremost supercar tuner and also the tuner’s first proprietary car, the two-seater TuLesto is facing a production total of just eleven vehicles. How’s that for exclusive?

 The 2009 TuLesto has more than its limited-edition badge to brag about, too. The coupe’s exterior is made from carbon power and aluminum, giving the TuLesto a lightweight yet rigid body. The supercar’s smooth, sleek curves, which are computer-designed, improve its aerodynamic balance. The interior features carbon-fiber finishes and climate control and sound systems.

Under the TuLesto’s hood sits a 4-4-liter V8 engine, whose twin superchargers are capable of powering the vehicle from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 3.4 seconds. The TuLesto’s top speed is at a nimble 350 kilometers per hour. The engine, with its maximum power output of 777 horsepower, is installed behind the cockpit for ideal weight distribution.

As mentioned, Novitec plans to produce only eleven of these Ferrari-ish beauties. (Novitec is one of Ferrari’s long-time tuners.) And all eleven, according to Edmunds.com are earmarked and spoken for by Novitec’s long-term customers.

Tsk. Some people just have all the luck.

Source:  BusinessWeek, Australian Car Advice

Thanks to Raser Technologies, Inc., the aforementioned seems highly likely.

One year ago at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit, Raser Technologies, Inc. announced that the company’s plans of developing a powertrain for an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) were well underway. Once fully functional, the E-REV powertrain would allow a four-wheel drive SUV to achieve very low emission rates and a fuel efficiency of 100 miles per gallon.

And to demonstrate the E-REV powertrain’s capacities, Raser decided to put it in a notorious gas guzzler: the Hummer H3 SUV. Raser’s plug-in hybrid version of the Hummer H3 indeed achieves the 100 mpg goal, and can go for 40 miles on electricity alone. Once the electric power runs out, the battery can be charged using a 110 or 220-volt household outlet.

“We are excited to be able to demonstrate an electric powertrain for larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs,” said James Spellman, Vice President, of Transportation for Raser Technologies. “These are the best selling vehicles in America and can benefit the most from increased fuel economy and reduced emissions.”

The Raser Hummer H3 prototype will be making its debut at this year’s SAE World Congress, on April 20 - 23, 2009.

Sources: Automobile Mag, Raser Technologies, Inc., Jalopnik