Is it a car? Is it a helicopter? Actually it’s both. A futuristic dream becoming reality! The first flying automobile, equally at home in the sky or on the road – meet the gyrocopter PAL-V Europe NV. “Driving and flying will be combined in one vehicle that could cost little more than an executive saloon car.”
Experts have designed the world’s first practical flying car aimed at frustrated commuters – and it looks like a Reliant Robin.
The bizarre three-wheeled vehicle promises relief to motorists stuck in traffic jams by turning into an aircraft capable of soaring up to 4,000ft above congested roads. With a top speed of 125mph on land, the Personal Air and Land Vehicle, or PAL-V, corners like a motorbike by automatically tilting as it negotiates each bend. But hidden in its roof and rear are a foldable rotor, propeller and tail section which allow it to take off and fly at speeds up to 120mph.
Its comical appearance betrays its rapid acceleration from 0 to 60 in just 5 seconds – a far cry from Del Boy Trotter’s yellow Robin Reliant in Only Fools and Horses. Its inventors believe that when the the one-seater cars go on sale to the public, they would cost little more than an executive saloon car. When airborne, the PAL-V is similar to the tiny autogyro aircraft Sean Connery flew in the 1967 James Bond movie ‘You Only Live Twice’.
The PAL-V Europe NV’s design includes a rotor on the roof to lift it through the air, and a propeller at the rear to provide forward thrust.
To fly the PAL-V you need a recreational pilot’s licence, which takes between 10 and 20 hours training to obtain, while a normal driver’s licence covers you for use on the road.
If you secretly nurtured a dream of owning a flying car, the good news is your dream can be a reality by 2011.
Terrafugia, a start-up created by Lemelson-MIT Student Prize winner Carl Dietrich and colleagues at MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is aiming to show off what it calls the Transition “personal air vehicle,” a vehicle resembling an SUV with retractable wings, to the EAA AirVenture Conference in Oshkosh, Wis., at the end of July 2009.
TMIT students, from Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, have successfully flight tested the prototype of a winged car for the first time. This car took off from a runway in Plattsburgh, New York. It flew for 37 seconds. The engine used in this whole exercise was 100 hp Rotax engine that gets 30 mpg on the highway using regular unleaded gasoline.
Many people do not think about car insurance until they need it. That’s perfectly natural. However, to save your family some stress and anxiety, be sure that you always have current car insurance. Your car insurance protects you and your car in case of an accident. Policies vary, so it is critical to check your car insurance policy. Most car insurance policies will cover you if you have a car accident with another car at either you are at fault or it is a no-fault accident. Your car insurance will pay to have your car repaired. The good news is there are some simple steps you can take to get cheaper car insurance and keep down the cost of covering your set of wheels:
1. The car insurance industry relies on customers being enticed with generous initial offers which don’t last forever, so the key message when looking for cheaper car insurance is shop around. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show you can save 35% on your premium by comparing as few as five car insurance providers – so don’t automatically settle for your renewal premium until you have made sure it is competitive.
2. Auto Car insurers use a combination of factors to work out how much to charge. Those living in areas with high crime rates can expect to pay more, as can those in certain professions. This is why it is crucial to keep your policy details accurate and up-to-date, including as much information as you can about factors such as where you park the car, your mileage, and whether you use the car for commuting.
3. Make savings by buying online, and by paying for your car insurance annually upfront, rather than in monthly instalments.
After a recent trip to two major auto parts dealers for oil, I realized synthetic oil is slowly replacing nonsynthetic on the display shelves. The problem is, I’m getting conflicting information about synthetic oil. One store attendant told me I shouldn’t go back to regular oil after changing to synthetic. Then he said it would be okay to add a quart of regular oil to synthetic, if I needed to top up. Another clerk said I should never mix the two. At a different store, the employee said it didn’t matter if I used synthetic and then later replaced it with regular oil.
Early synthetics got a bad reputation for leaking. This was because, despite the claims of the oil manufacturers, the seal-swell characteristics of the new synthetics were different from those of the mineral oils they replaced. If the seal-swell rate was lower, the seals shrank and oil leaked from crankshaft seals and rocker cover seals. If the rate was higher, the seals swelled a little extra and the engine was tight. Then if the owner changed back to mineral oil, or added a quart when no synthetic was to be had, things got really bad.
Fortunately, the situation has improved; you should have no problem switching back and forth. Adding a quart of mineral oil to a crankcase full of synthetic will be fine. Read the fine print — a lot of the “synthetics” on the market are blends containing a substantial proportion of mineral oil.Most automobile manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals of 3,000 to 6,000 miles for petroleum motor oils. Amsoil recommends up to 35,000 mile oil change which is 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes.Just think about the savings on the environment.
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. The purpose of motor oil is to lubricate and protect your engine from heat and friction; the two major enemies of your engine. Without oil, your engine would overheat and cease working. Your engine might even crack. Motor oil may be the single most important fluid you will put in your engine.
It is now confirmed that the much-anticipated Toyota small car for India would make an appearance – at least as a concept – at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.
The company said that hatchback and sedan versions of the small car would be showcased at the Auto Expo. It is interesting that the company is working on both together – although it is no guarantee that by the time the small car is ready for production, the sedan would still remain. Much will depend on the reaction of car buyers when it is displayed.
At this point, the small car is variously referred to as the “Entry Family Car“, “Emerging Family Car” or EFC. We do not know if its a real code name, or an invention by the automobile trade press. Update: The EFC is now called the Toyota Etios.
Nissan Motor Company has unveiled an original personal city electro vehicle – the Land Glider Concept. It is characterized by the ability to lean in corners, combined with a 1+1 seating layout. It has width of just 1.1 meters. The powertrain adopts 2 electric motors.
“The exterior incorporates a soft, sleek-looking body that appears to be protected by a special armor,” explains Takashi Nakajima, Nissan’s Project Design Director. “And while it is very mechanical in its nature, the four-wheeler boasts a dynamic body design that almost seems alive. As part of Nissan’s expanding zero emission family, the Nissan Land Glider Concept exudes a clean, friendly attitude.”
Technical Specifications
- Length: 3,100 mm;
- Width: 1,100 mm;
- Height: 1,415 mm;
- Wheelbase: 2,180 mm;
- Seating Capacity: 2 seats.
Honda has unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week a three seat concept car Honda P-NUT (Personal-Neo Urban Transport) Concept.
Honda P-NUT, according to representatives of the Japanese company, demonstrates the vision of designers that might look like ultra-compact city vehicle in 10-15 years.
Honda says the P-NUT is ready for one of three possible powertrains: an efficient gas engine, a gas-electric hybrid, or a pure electric set up.
The central driving position will be flanked by two rear seats and has been built to provide ample legroom. All of 11.2 x 5.7 x 4.6 feet size, it has its rear seats with a foldable option in case you need more storage space. Honda says legroom for all occupants is the equivalent of a mid-sized sedan.
Global Competition “World Car of the Year” (WCOTY) is remarkable in that predict the results quite difficult. But the jury of professional automotive journalists are so diverse and represents so many different regions, that some national and regional peculiarities and predilections don’t play a significant role in the final selection. The winner will have to please everyone.
The jury assessed each model in terms of technical innovation, cost, safety, environmental friendliness, as well as the emotional component. From this list, the world’s best recognized Honored model VW Golf next generation, the representatives of the jury also impressed with layout of a compact Toyota iQ and a fresh perspective on the world car of the new Ford Fiesta. The final choice of a “World Car of the Year” is made of the trio. Throughout the short history of the competition WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR even one brand could not win it twice. The tradition is continued in 2009.
WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR is so good because it is not tied to a specific region. The jury of the competition includes 59 automotive journalists from different countries up to Mexico to South Africa. Have the greatest representation of the country with a developed automobile industry and automobile market: ten Americans, six Japanese, five Germans, five Chinese.
The new Jaguar XJ is a beautiful car with an exterior made entirely of aluminum, giving it slightly better gas mileage and aerodynamics, according to Jaguar. The XJ8 features an luxurious interior, but trails the leaders in the luxury class.
The vehicle itself is a massive departure from previous generations, which in essence changed little in style terms over 30 years. But it gained more modern lines conceived under the supervision of Jaguar design chief Ian Callum.
The Jaguar XJ is built on a light and strong all-aluminum structure. Two engine options are available: a 300-hp 4.2-liter V8, or a 400-hp 4.2-liter supercharged V8. Both engines send power through a six-speed automatic transmission. An adjustable air suspension is responsible for the XJ’s impressive road handling abilities and luxurious ride. Safety features part include advance dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, and front side-impact airbags. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and auto electronic stability control are standard.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced at the Shanghai auto show its new car called the Ghost (once known as the 200EX/RR4 concept).
It is absolutely new car model because it evokes a sense of “adventure and technical innovation,” as well as “flair and style.”
“Simplicity is the hardest part in design principle to follow. It’s at the heart of our approach to Ghost. Seductively simple, it offers the presence you’d expect from a Rolls-Royce underpinned by the latest technology and ideas in luxury car design. Ghost is the essence of Rolls-Royce in its simplest, purest form. Every inch delivers on the power of simplicity.” – Rolls-Royce says.
Rolls-Royce also announced final specifications for the advance new car. The 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 will pump out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque and will mate to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce says the engine has also been retuned for more low-end torque, to provide a quieter and more relaxing driving experience in the tradition of the company’s cars.