Whenever a person sees a UFO or some strange phenomena, it becomes a momentous experience that will forever remain (possibly scarred) in the heart and mind of that person. That same feeling and experience is essentially felt when a car aficionado sees something new and out-of-the-ordinary prowling the city streets. Take this new car from Ferrari for example.

What looks like to be a marriage between a racing car and a sports car, this new Ferrari FXX was caught at the rear gate of the Maranello factory. By the looks of it, the car looks like that it’s being dragged back to where it came from. Based on the image, the new Ferrari looks like it took its design cues from a pair of sneakers. While it does carry a unique design, it does deviate a bit from the standard one-color design scheme that Ferrari normally uses.

Ok, so there’s a new Ferrari car being brought out of the factory, what’s the big deal, right? Well the factory where this unique Ferrari came from is what the company uses to test new products. And since the new car sports side mirrors (which according to TopGear means that the car isn’t designed for the race track), this crazy looking ride could be headed for commercialization. That means we could actually see this speeding down the highway one of these days. So don’t be surprised when you turn your head and see this unique Ferrari FXX standing right beside you and your car.

Source: TopSpeed 

Aston Martin has made a name for itself by being James Bond’s favorite mode of transportation in most (if not all) his movies. To maintain that distinction - and at the same time ensure Mr. Bond’s loyalty to the brand - Aston Martin went back to the drawing board and came up with a way to revise one of its recently released products. And according to the review made by TopGear, it looks like they did a pretty decent job.

That product would be the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Compared to its previous version, this new V8 Vantage is now capable of giving you the performance fit for the 007 in you. The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is now equipped with a more powerful 4.7-liter engine that’s capable of dishing out 420bhp. That’s a big boost compared to the previously equipped 4.3 liter engine that can only give you 380bhp. Its torque has also received a boost from a measly 302 to a whopping 347 lb-ft. The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage can also give you 180mph at top speed and can go from 0 to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds. Its suspension system was also tweaked, giving it better set of springs and a set of Bilstein dampers. I mean, we can’t have Mr. Bond experience a bumpy ride in this sports car right? That would be just so wrong.  And to make sure that it’s also able to contribute to the welfare of the environment, Aston Martin made sure that the new V8 Vantage would be emitting less carbon dioxide by reducing its emission to just 13 percent.

And if you thought that this new car was a cold and heartless machine, well, Aston Martin equipped it with an Emotional Control Unit. That way, you can still find a way to express what you feel when trying to score with them beautiful ladies in case your 007 impersonation won’t be able to cut it.

Source: TopGear

If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where you wanted to express yourself while driving but couldn’t because you’re too focused on the road, well, here’s something that might help you do that. AU-MY Ltd. has come up with a Drivemocion signs that shows different types of facial expressions to help you let other motorists know what you’re currently feeling.

The new Drivemocion signs were actually inspired by the original Drivemocion smiley signs that AU-MY Ltd. previously released. But instead of being limited to just a smiley sign, the new Drivemocion signs now come with different animated expressions ranging from angry, flirty, happy, sad and cheeky. The new signs still retain its round shape (same as the old model) and have a suction cup that can be used to attach the signs to your car’s windows or rear windshield. The signs come with a front-mount remote control, which owners can use to operate the gadget.

So if you find yourself on the road and you’re a bit peeved about the driver behind you, then instead of cursing him or hurling some object at him or her, just activate the new Drivemocion. Even though it won’t give you the satisfaction of hitting someone, it at least helps you get away with expressing your feelings without getting into trouble.

Source: TopSpeed

Audi makes luxury cars. We all know that. But have you ever wondered what their cars would look like if they ever decided to use one in a race track? Well, wonder no more as one of Audi’s luxury vehicle, the Audi R8 was supped up, painted and covered with different endorsers in order to compete at the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

Joining the likes of the Lexus LF-A, Gumpert Apollo hybrid, and VW Scirocco, the Audi R8 race car was entered into the competition by its developer, a German team that goes by the name 24h-Project 2008: Blue-Tec. To compete against the other vehicles included in the competition, the Audi R8 race car was gifted with a 4-liter engine that’s capable of producing 530 bhp and 353 lb-ft of torque. It was also given a lighter chassis, mounted exhaust pipes, diffusers, and a rear wing. Of course, just to maintain its luxuriousness, the Audi R8 race car was given a set of silver and gold rims. Well, that’s enough bling to let the other race cars know just how a luxury car rolls.

So if you’re one of those addicted to racing and just happened to fancy luxury vehicles as well, then go and check out the Audi R8 race car as it competes in the Nurburgring 24-hour race competition this weekend.

Source: TopGear

Humor can help lighten up your day. A funny movie, a good joke or just a simple funny one-liner can automatically change your glum day into a joyous occasion. I guess that’s what the city of Oak Lawn, Illinois was trying to achieve when they set-up their comedic stop signs. Unfortunately for them, putting up those signs was against federal law. And since they already had it up before they were informed, it seems that they were unaware of that law. Now how funny is that?

According to the mayor of Oak Lawn, Dave Heilmann, the Illinois Department of Transportation said the signs went against the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. A total of $1,700 worth of signs was taken down by Oak Lawn after they received the information that they went against a federal mandate. The good news here though is that the city didn’t spend a single cent to cover for the creation of the signs that were removed. Funding came from one of the city’s local company, 3M. So you can stop fretting about your city losing money. They didn’t.

Before being requested to take down their signs, Oak Lawn had initially set-up a total of 50 of these funny stop signs to help curb speeding. I guess those folks who enjoy going beyond the speed limit must be getting a kick from the removal of these stop signs.

Sources: Kicking Tires, Fox News 

When the first Batman movie directed by Tim Burton came out, everybody said it was ground-breaking. Everything was praised from the movie’s plot, how Gotham city came to life, the Batman costume used, Jack Nicholson’s stellar performance, and of course the Batmobile. Before Tim Burton, whenever you mentioned the Batmobile, the image that comes to your mind is that 1960’s Batmobile driven by Adam West (although that in itself is a classic). That all changed after Tim Burton’s Batman came out. So imagine getting your hands on something iconic. Sounds far-fetched right? Well, not exactly. All you actually need to do is go to eBay.

Yep, you read that right. And we’re not talking about model replicas of the Batmobile. Oh, no. We’re talking about THE Batmobile. The one you can actually step into and drive. According to reports, this Batmobile is part of the five Batmobiles built for the movie. It’s measured to be 20 feet long and 8 feet wide, comes with a custom-built chassis and sports a Chevrolet 350 engine. And just like in the movie, to get in, you’ll have to enter from the top once the car’s canopy opens. Of course, getting this bad boy doesn’t free you from those legal loopholes. Since the car was owned by Warner Bros, whoever gets to buy the Batmobile has to sign a contract and other legal documents.

But if you’re willing to go through that just to get your hands on this iconic ride, then you had better start bidding. Not only will you stand out among the crowd, but you’re sure to get the attention of all the women out there. Remember what Val Kilmer said in Batman Forever: “It’s the car. Chicks love the car.” That’s going to hold true for you should you find a way to score this ride.

Source: TopSpeed

Technology makes our lives easier. Don’t think so? Well you don’t have to look further than the mobile phone you’re holding, the laptop you carry around, that mp3 player your using to listen to your favorite tunes, or even the web page your currently reading (which I’m hoping is this page). Technology has given us access to information and paved the way for portable communication. Gone are the days when you have to rush to a pay phone to make a call or when you had to wait the next day to get the news fresh from the morning paper. Because it’s rapidly advancing, you can’t help but wonder when a company will be able to come up with a system for a car that pretty much does everything. Well, we don’t have to wait any further. Thanks to the people of Hughes Telematics, that could be a reality soon.

Hughes Telematics has come up with what they call the “Black Box”, a computer system that will be built-in into selected Chrysler and BMW models. Unlike the other integrated computer systems built with other cars, this new system will be able to do more than just give you directions. Based on reports, the system will be able to provide maps with traffic alerts, provide the latest prices of the gas stations within your vicinity, allow you to make reservations and buy movie tickets via two-way satellite communications and monitor teenage drivers. All this could be done while you’re on the road.  Aside from these nifty features, the Black Box still has your basic features like being able to trigger your car’s alarm systems and activate your car’s stereo, when the need arises.

While the Black Box will be available by next year, the two-way satellite communications and live traffic update won’t be ready until 2011. So you’ll have to settle for making your reservations before you step into the car for now.

Sources: Kicking Tires, New York Times 

It looks like China is starting to reap the benefits of hosting this year’s Olympics. It not only has been getting a lot of media exposure (thanks in part to the number of rallies from protesters and Tibetan monks regarding human rights), but it has slowly managed to attract companies in investing in their country. Just take Japanese automaker Honda for example, who just recently launched a new brand of cars specifically just for the Chinese market.

Unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show, the new Chinese brand called “Li Nian” (meaning “subject”) will be released solely for the Chinese market. The new brand was formed in partnership with the Guangzhou Automobile Group and was inspired by Toyota’s Scion brand, which was able to gain a measure of popularity in the United States. The Honda Li Nian brand also follows the same marketing program used by the Scion, which was to focus on the young people who are able to drive and afford to buy their own set of wheels.

One of the first models that the Honda Li Nian brand will be releasing is a five-door mini SUV, which sports a sleek and bluish set of Honda Headlights, a fierce looking front and a grille that resembles a mixed martial artist showing off his mouth piece at you. This new concept car (which comes in a purplish shade) was designed by Honda’s own Chinese design studio and is expected to be released in 2010. The car will be based on the front-wheel drive platform of the Honda Jazz and is also rumored to carry a 1.8-liter four cylinder VTEC engine.

Even though 2010 may still be two years away, the new Li Nian concept SUV looks to be very a promising release from Honda. With its one-of-a-kind look and unique set of Honda Headlights, expect this SUV to make the headlines and help China in getting some more media exposure.

The Tundra is one of Toyota’s first full-sized pickups which it introduced in 1999. It was the company’s way of letting everyone know that they’re ready to play with the big boys. But what made this pickup standout from the rest (aside from being Toyota’s first) is the vehicle’s safety features. Unlike its competitors, the Toyota Tundra has been successful in getting high scores in the crash tests conducted by the IIHS and the NHTSA. Here’s how Toyota’s pickup fared.

Being the only full-sized pick up to bag the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick, the Tundra was able to accomplish the safety testing it underwent thanks to the Toyota Tundra Parts that it was equipped with such as the dual side airbag for the front seats. These airbags are broken down into airbags for the passengers head and a thorax airbag for the passenger’s lower body. As a result, the Tundra was able to ace the side impact collision test by getting the highest rating. It also got a perfect score after passing the tests for rear crash protection and standard stability control. But what made the Toyota Tundra successfully clinch the award was when it got a good score in the frontal offset crash test. The NHSTA on the other hand, gave the Tundra a four-star rating (five-star being the highest) for the driver and passenger frontal crash testing.

So if you’re considering getting a full-sized pick-up, then consider the Toyota Tundra. It’s one of the safest pickups around thanks to the Toyota Tundra Parts it was built with. Still not convinced? Well, maybe the fact that the Toyota Tundra won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series held at the Michigan International Speedway in 2004 and that it also brought Toyota its first manufacturer championship in 2006 might help convince you in getting one.