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alien-car

Being weird seems to be the new fad because normal stuff seldom attracts any attention. Making weird and whacky vehicles is not a new thing; however, the following vehicles brag some of the strangest car modifications, which will beat even your wildest imaginations:

Weird Alien car

We know that aliens look weird, they travel in flying saucers and we are sure if they drive a car, then it would never resemble the normal cars used by the earthlings. However, this car surely looks like the type of car that would even attract any passing alien to have a ride in it. Designed for people with an intense Gothic taste, this car automatically alienates itself from other cars on the road.

Evil car

If you have ever imagined how Satan’s car would look like, then this Evil Car created by W.T. Burge could be your answer. Burge successfully modified this Volkswagen into a merciless automobile hell hound by making gargoyle heads and glowing eyes on the front and sides. Although it might look like a truly devilish car made for the people who sold their souls to demons for money and fame, but it took some real imaginations and brilliant engineering to create this evil masterpiece.

Mini Tank Car

There have been instances of a tank going rogue in civilian areas and resulted in large-scale property damage as well as injuries and so, the sight of a tank on the road might scare the hell out of many people. On the other hand, the sight of this mini tank on the road will instead prompt the passersby to utter numerous exclamation of amazement with its brilliant artillery tank inspired design. Originally, it was a Smart Fourtwo, which was modified to look like a mini tank by replacing the wheels with track systems used mainly in tanks. Moreover, besides the wheels, the other parts are also modified to imitate the looks of a tank along with the color which can totally blend with forest surroundings. Although we don’t have the least idea if it is equipped with any kind of artillery system or not, but this car could be a dream car for any war enthusiast.

Wired Volkswagen

A perfect example of creative art and brilliant engineering, this Wired Volkswagen is not designed for only one glance. The exterior metal body of this car has been removed and replaced by a complete wired body which leaves no stone unturned to make sure that this is purely a geek’s invention.

Art car

If you have ever wondered about the resultant product of an odd combination of sculpting and automobile engineering, then this Ford Mustang art car is here to demonstrate your imagination. It seems like the owner of this car was successful in transforming an old Ford Mustang into a whacky piece of art by installing rolling balls and jack box antenna in such a way that it looks like a moving masterpiece of modern art.

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Carmakers across the world nowadays are designing and developing vehicles, which are not only smooth to drive but give high mileage too. Due to the soaring fuel prices and environmental concerns this approach does makes sense. The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a diesel variant of Chevrolet’s Cruze lineup, which not only gives excellent mileage but is also a great car to drive. Achieving the magical number of 46 mpg, which has been certified by EPA as well, is no small feat. As far as mileage is concerned, this car ranks number one in the US in “non hybrid” category. Let’s take a brief look into this sedan’s specs and find out what all it has to offer to the end customer.

Externals The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel has an overall length of 181 inches and is 70.7 inches wide. This car comes under the category of compact cars and is a good choice if you are looking for car with superb drive comfort and fuel economy. This sedan is available is several attractive colors such as Red Hot, Silver Ice Metallic, Rainforest Green Metallic, etc.

Internals

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is powered by 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine, which generates 148 horsepower running at 4000 rpm. Considering the size and the segment this car belong to, the figure of 148 horsepower is not very impressive but still the overall driving pleasure is good enough. This car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 8.6 seconds.

Transmission and other features

This car is equipped with 6-speed automatic transmission and is basically a front wheel driven vehicle. As stated before, the mileage of this car is world class. As per the company, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel can give a mileage of 27 mpg in city while on highways the mileage can go as high as 46 mpg. This marvelously designed sedan can go as far as 700 miles on one time full tank, which is not only quite impressive but makes this car stands apart from the lot. This is for sure that if you buy this car, you are going to save lots of money on fuel expenses and your number of visits to gas station shall decrease considerably

Price and Availability

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is available at a price of $25,695. The best part is that this car is under company warranty for 3 year or 36,000 miles so you don’t need to worry about maintenance for quite sometime.

Verdict

This diesel version sedan from Chevrolet is worth buying and this is for sure that it won’t dig a hole in your pocket compared to other cars in the same category. The closest competitor of this car is the 2013 Volkswagon Jetta TDI, which is also an excellent car but lags behind Cruze diesel in terms of mileage and powertrain performance.

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Some like it classy and some like it trashy. All people don’t have same taste in automobiles. That is the reason why so many automobile manufacturers have become rich by selling cars. Every one doesn't have enough funds to buy luxurious cars but some of them like to pimp up their cars on a small budget so that it looks different, extraordinary or bizarre. The small budget cars can be given a makeover through pimping. People like to make their car reflect their personality. Even celebrities like to pimp up their cars in weird ways. The celebs get their cars pimped up in exclusive ways. In this article we will talk about some of the wild and fantastic pimped up automobiles which might give you inspiration. Ludacris’s Pontiac Convertible: Ludacris loves cars and this is no secret. So, when he got nomination in MTV music awards in 2005 he raised his Pontiac Granville 4 inch from its normal height. He is a lover of all things Louis Vuitton and how his car could be an exception. He got the interior of his car decorated with leather bearing and the LV designer emblem. Even the Steering could not escape his whim.

Japanese Pimped Trucks: Transporting goods from one place to another can be a tedious job. Sparkling up the pick-up trucks can make the job a lot more fun. The Japanese do just that, they pimp up their trucks in the most bizarre fashion. Cargo and other sort of trucks are given a special anime makeover. Most of them look fascinating and eye-catching. Actually these are the product of the ongoing ‘Truck Art’ movement, huge in the eastern regions of Asia. Lights play a vital role in the design of the trucks. Bright and colorful lights can make anything look chic; at least the Japanese seem to think so. Britney’s Hummer: The H2 Hummer would have looked classy and normal if the owner someone else but Britney Spears. It possesses 6 lit V8 engines; well enough for hard core speeding but what shocks us is the devastatingly pink interior.

Paris goes Pinky: Paris Hilton loves pink and she doesn't make any secrets of what she loves. On her birthday the heiress got her Bentley Continental GT pimped up. It got a baby pink makeover and the interior got monogrammed with her initials.

The Space Junk Art Car: Rot N Hell is one hell of a Canadian artist bent on pimping up his car inside out. Every year 2 whole months are invested along with some $3000 for decorating his ’76 Ford Maverick. At first it was just a way to pass time but he became quite engrossed and would collect all sorts of junk to use on his car.

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Hollywood is full of surprises and special effects. It uses many different elements to astound us, and cars are a major part of Hollywood movies. Not just frantic car lovers but also the nonchalant people can’t help but adore some of the famous cars used in movies. There have been some movies where the car was not just an ornament but it became a character itself and got involved in the plot. Sometimes the car played the role of savior and sometimes it acted as the accomplice of the villains. They are a part of the joy and tears evoked by movies and touched our heart. Underestimating the role of cars in Hollywood movies is a folly because they have helped in advanced thinking, technological innovation and inspired people to love cars. Following are the top iconic Hollywood cars that have been highly esteemed by all of us. Ecto-1: If you have seen Ghostbusters then you must remember the car they used always. The movie’s production and designing units turned a Cadillac Ambulance into Ecto-1 with great imaginative flair. It had the right amount of smartness combined with the gawkiness of geeks and made it a hit among teens. It promoted pimping up and inspired many teenagers to give their cars an edgy makeover.

Batman’s Car in Batman Begins: Nothing less of spectacular can work for the Batman. Christopher Nolan is quite a perfectionist who was not at all satisfied with the design or looks of previous Batmobiles used in similar type of movies. It was his idea to get a brand new car designed by the production unit. Three different cars have been used to make this iconic Hollywood car. Parts of a tank, a Lamborghini and a Hummer have been mixed to get the perfection. The James Bond Car: The Bond with the best can never settle for anything less. The secret service agent’s iconic car is equipped with all sort of stunning gadgets and is compatible with all sorts of dangerous circumstances. The Aston Martin DB5 has been used for this purpose and it packs a neat punch. This is a dream car for many car lovers because of its arrogant and dangerous appeal.

‘Grease’-1948 Ford Deluxe: This oldie Hollywood movie stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. The Ford Deluxe in bright red hue and white design does not fail to impress us. It is a musical and the car is a part of some of the musical numbers. ‘Christine’-1958 Plymouth Fury: The car is definitely a central character of this movie. It is the killer of this movie and looks stunning throughout. The red, sleek Plymouth Fury performed well and grabbed a permanent place in our memory though the movie failed at the box office.

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Concept cars play a pivotal role in auto shows organized all around the world. Different automobile manufacturers demonstrate their best concept cars to see if they are being appreciated. Based on the reception, the concept cars help manufacturers take decision whether to produce it or not. There have been complains regarding the fact that the manufactured concept cars are not exactly similar to the concept. Some concept cars never came into production despite of being fabulous. In the beginning, every concept car is just a sketch or drawing by experts and then the structure is studied by automobile engineers in a three dimensional graphic in computers. Later a model is made for demonstration. Following is the list of concept cars which should have been produced by the respective automobile companies. Mazda Furai Concept: It was demonstrated at the North American Automobile Show in the year 2008. The name of this car means “sound of the wind” because of the high speed it was supposed to deliver with the help of its 20B 3-rotor wankel engine. It looks quite similar to the car the superhero, Batman, uses. It was tested for speed but sadly it wasn’t conceived for production.

Lamborghini Estoque Concept: The Estoque looks very close to the dream car we have in mind as a vague idea. Lamborghini is not very much into sedans and almost tragically they will not be producing it at all. Estoque is a powerful sedan that combines style and comfort both together. The truth is that such a luxurious car would be very costly and though we all may want it but can’t buy it for real. Financial crunch is an international phenomenon which is making the automobile manufacturers more cautious. Renault DeZir Concept: The DeZir is truly a magnificent concept car. Renault may not be the best concept car maker and certain previous attempts might make you cringe but still the desirability of the DeZir is unquestionable. It looks so special due to the low but wide structuring, and butterfly doors. It was showcased in 2010 at the Paris Automobile Show.

Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarnia: It was a stock market tycoon who helped in making this concept car turn into a reality. Ferrari designed P4/5 with the help of the billionaire James Glickenhaus. Not only money but he also gave an existing 330 P3/4 for building this car. The outcome is not just impressive but also brilliant. It’s a shame that Ferrari will not be producing it for contemporary market.

Cadillac Sixteen: Amazing design, smooth finish, twin V8 engines, 24 inch wheels and stylish LED headlights all make this concept Cadillac a beauty to behold. It is definitely a car that the legendary superheroes like Batman or Ironman would have loved to ride.

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It may sound almost absurd that police cars can be interesting or fascinating but you will be amazed if you check out some of them. Police cars need to be sturdy and they evoke a certain fear in people. Some of them are very unique and have more than just the driving parts. The outer look is not really important for the police and they believe in real performance than anything else. Chevy Impalas and Ford Crown Victorias are two very common cars that the Canadian and American police have been spotted using. What the police sergeants believe is that frills and frolics are for babies, what matters is the driver’s skills to make an everyday car absolutely extraordinary.

The Dodge Charger: From 2006 the US police started using the new Charger launched by Dodge. The previous Crown Vic was quite lame and not formidable from any angle but that’s not the case with the Charger. It is a powerful Sedan which has V8 engines. It offers a smooth drive and it is good for putting the fear of god in every traffic rule breaker. It can reach a speed of 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. Volkswagen GTI: This car is used by the Dubai police. It is a compact police car which gives swift performance combined with good styling. It offers 200 horsepower which makes it quite a tough car of its class. Quite adept at taking up challenges, this car got an update in 2010 and became better in many ways. It is believed that no other automobile company can deliver style and strength in mid-range police cars like Volkswagen did. Hopefully the automobile manufacturer will continue to upgrade their GTI model.

Mazda RX-8: Used by the Japanese law protectors the Mazda RX-8 is a brilliant police car, high on style. Internationally the Mazda-7 and Mazda-8 models did not get too many takers but they are highly praised by the automobile critics of the world. Japanese police have not used too many stylish cars before but Mazda RX-8 is a surprising change in their stance. Porsche 911: The name of this car tells all. The famous automobile company Porsche has designed this car especially for the German police. It matches the highly stylish German roads with perfect élan. It speeds up with simple ease and gives a mileage of 150 mph. This one is definitely a looker but does not fail to perform.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia: This is the special ride of the Italian police. The Gallardo by Lamborghini is probably the most colorful and stylish police cars. It uses bright yellow, red and blue colors on the outer side. Unlike other stylish and branded police cars the Lamborghini Gallardo is not just a poster car. It is used with great gusto by the Italian police force.

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Cars have become synonymous with status, style and class. The classic American cars that have paved the path for modern automobiles are not just good looking but they have a charm and style which cannot be matched easily. The car you ride says a lot about your lifestyle and stylistic perceptions. Classic cars were modeled keeping the modern American aristocrats in mind who were not soft cads but arrogant rebels. The classic American cars have not lost their popularity. They are still being sold and bought with gusto. Car collectors of the world love the American classics cars because they are usable in modern streets and stunning to look at. The muscle cars can give you good mileage and torque even today. They have made a niche for themselves and created an identity which no one can ignore. Following are the best five American classic cars that will surely impress you. Chevrolet Corvette: The first sports car of America was marketed in 1953 and has enjoyed a large fan following ever since. It possesses all the qualities that a remarkable sports car should have and many are still interested in buying one. It comes in a cool white that is no less charming than the bright scarlet loved by playboys and naughty gentlemen. This cool classic car has a powerful V8 engine and gives great road performance.

Ford GT40: Ford and Ferrari had an ego clash and the cold war gave birth to the beautiful GT40. It is a medium sized brute that not only has power but also possesses an exquisite charm. This is the car of the free spirited Americans who are never daunted by adversities and know how to tame the shrews. The Jeep CJ: The Jeep is definitely one of the toughest American cars ever invented or designed. Its bold looks, sturdy features and many structure made both men and women become fans. Without the Jeep CJ victory in World War II would not be easy. They are also behind the inspiration that auto makers needed to make SUVs. The Jeep may not be sleek but it has a frank and spontaneous boldness about it which is spectacular.

Ford Fairlane Cobra: The Cobras made by Ford were muscle cars at their best. Powerful and sleek, these beauties are still loved by auto-collectors of the world. The V8 engines helped these cars run quarter of a mile in 14.5 seconds only.

1959 Cadillac: Extravagant in the most American sort of way the Cadillac made in the late 1950s are gorgeous. They used to have tailfins which made them stand apart from the other contemporary cars.

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What is life without a little passion and fun? We all need to unwind in some way or have something that gives us inspiration to go through daily drudgery. The cartoon inspired cars are probably a result of such feelings. They have something zestful and youthful about them and they give us the hope that probably the real world is not an utterly bad place after all. All of us have grown up with some cartoon or the other. Whichever cartoon may be your favorite, there is a nice car used by the characters which caught your fancy. Many of the famous cartoon cars have been turned into reality. The cartoon cars are special because they make us feel alive; they make us believe in all the good things life has to offer. May be the following list of cartoon inspired cars will tweak your imagination and you will also be able to find out which cartoon car you would like to own and ride in reality.

The Mystery Machine: Who can ever forget the bright, green, floral printed car used by Scooby and the young bunch of detectives? The real world version of the mystery machine looks exactly same. Lou and Steve Raguse also grew up watching Scooby Doo and in the summer of the year 2002 they took up the project of painting an old van and giving it a makeover. The first van looked so similar to the cartoon one that they painted two more vans in the same way. They sold two and kept one for themselves. Mach 5: You too probably wanted to drive a beautiful car like Mach 5. It was featured in the popular cartoon series named Speed Racer. The real life version has become very popular too. It is super stylish and has a white and red exterior just like the cartoon version. Mark Towle is a custom car builder who made the Mach 5. This reminds us that there is a kid in all of us.

Batmobile: Every kid fancies a ride in the Batmobile. It is an epitome of technology and beauty. The car made for the television series fetched $233,000 and this made automobile makers produce more of these beauties for daily use. Mater: If you have watched the movie ‘Cars’ you will definitely love this one and if you have not then too you will fall in love with this fantastic replica of Mater and its toothy smile. It was made by Eddie Paul.

Donald’s Car: Disney cartoons have touched the lives of millions of kids all over the world and Donald is one of the funniest and popular most of Disney brigade. Donald Duck’s red car has been transformed into reality.

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You can’t deny that some classic cars are so stunning that you feel a hitch in your breath. They don’t look old rather they have a naughty charm about them which gets both men and women excited. Some people might tell you that cars are for transportation and they need not look cool but believing it would be utter stupidity. Life is short and we all want something that makes it worthwhile. There are classic cars which can give sports cars a good run for their money. In this article we will describe some classic yet super cool cars which anyone will love to possess. Chevrolet Corvette: This car is the great-grand-dad of all American sports cars. It was manufactured first in 1953 by Chevrolet. There was a shortage of steel so fiberglass was used along with steel. This sports car seats two and is a truly sexy classic car. With this car Chevrolet introduced a new design in cars but kept the inner ingredients as sturdy as before. The two speed Power-glide automatic transmission makes this car special but it does not deliver good speed despite of great good looks.

Shelby 427 Cobra: The Shelby Cobra is dangerously beautiful and if you like to play hard then this is the right car which will add a sensuous touch to your personality. The problem with this car is that it is too hefty, both literally and price wise. If you are someone who is interested in getting a cool collectible classic car then this one is great but do not expect it to match the racing qualities of today’s sports cars. Oldsmobile F-88: Oldsmobile used to make charming old world cars with good capacity and then came the 50s. The decade after that has witnessed a lot of change in automobile industry, especially in car design and execution. The auto designers Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Ken Pickering and Zora Duntov did a great job making this car. The only surviving F-88 got auctioned for a staggering sum of $3, 24,000 USD.

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Ford Mustang: One of the classic bests, the Ford Mustang exudes a sensuous charm that is hard to overlook. It made its public debut in 1964. It even got a TV promotional. It was one of the most stylish yet affordable cars of that era and many bought it. About a million were sold in the first 18 weeks.

Chrysler D’Elegance: Some cars are timeless and this is true for the D’ Elegance from Chrysler. It is a closed car but still manages to look amazing. It was designed, top to bottom, by Chrysler engineers and gave a new dimension to traditional coupe cars.

Whether you have been a lifelong biker or someone who purchased a bike for the first time; having a few key motorcycle accessories is all you need to support your ‘biker dude' image. Some of these accessories are purely functional, some are necessary for on-road safety and some of them you need just to make you look cool. Remember to buy your bike accessories from a reputable retailer like www.s3performance.com.au to avoid risking your safety and security on road. Here are a few key accessories for motorbikes and their riders. 1. Storage Most new bikes don’t come fitted with storage. If your motorcycle does not have a built in trunk, you can have a top box installed. It can be fitted onto the passenger’s backrest and provides an excellent place to stash your luggage during cross-country rides. Panniers and saddlebags are also good options for providing additional onboard storage for bikers as these can house toolkits, battery chargers, jumper cables, gloves, water bottles etc. 2. Windscreens Windscreens, though not mandatory, are among the top add-ons to have on a bike. These help deflect the air away from the rider’s head while improving aerodynamics. They would be particularly helpful for a biker who lives and travels on dusty and bug-infested roads. However, bikes traveling through wetter climates should avoid getting them as they hinder visibility. 3. Tool kits A basic tool kit that fits right into the on-board storage of your bike is crucial for every biker. A basic tool kit should contain screwdrivers, pliers, Allen-wrenches and tire pressure gauges. 4. Battery chargers and jumper cables Taking a road trip on a bike wreaks havoc on its batteries. Therefore, you need to keep a battery charger on board your bike. Also, remember to travel with jumper cables to deal with emergencies, if any. 5. Communication systems To communicate with fellow riders when you ride as a group, you’ll need a solid CB or Intercom System installed on your bike. An intercom system helps you get help when you’re lost, have an accident or in emergency. Prefer buying ones that you can pair with a Bluetooth headset for added functionality. If you are really tech oriented, you can have a mount for a sat-nav system installed above your bike’s gauges as well. Accessories for bikers 1. Protective gear A good helmet is essential for every biker. Get one that fits properly and meets the guidelines of local standards and laws. Biking gloves, leather jackets, biking boots, knee and elbow pads help a biker stay safe from the elements they encounter on the road. 2. Eye protection Most bikers have a pair of favorite sunglasses that help them feel trendy and stay sun safe on the road. However, if you are riding through an area that has too many bugs, you may need a full-face shield or wraparound biker goggles to ensure that bugs don’t fly into your eyes. Also, remember to keep a bottle of eye drops in your bike’s first aid-kit in case any bugs or dust specks get into your eyes while out on the open road.

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The world is a scary place to live. Thanks to rising levels of pollution, people are finding it difficult to even breathe freely. So, why not introduce a change? Why not choose fuel-efficient cars that reduce our carbon footprint? Fuel-efficient cars will not just reduce carbon footprint, but it will be eco friendly, reducing levels of pollution and prove healthy for your pocket too! Here we have combined a list of six most fuel efficient cars

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Toyota Prius C, 2013- This smaller and lighter version of original Toyota Prius is not just less expensive, but also great for the environment. This particular car needs only $955 to fill the fuel tank for a year. With front wheel drive, subcompact car with four doors and five passenger-seating capacities, the car is for those who wish to reduce carbon footprint.
Ford Fusion, 2013- Ford is now quickly generating gas electric hybrids for their cars to ensure that they are cheaper on the road as well as lighter on the environment. Ford Fusion needs just $1058 to fill up its tank for a year. Moreover, it has 694 liters of cargo space and along with Ford’s C-Ma Hybrid; the car is actually good for eco lovers.

Scion FR-S- The sports car provides a mileage of 25 in the city and 34 on the highway, thereby making it one of the most fuel efficient sports car. Moreover, the car comes with a high resale value, where you can get almost 50% of the cost after reselling it in 3 years.
Nissan Quest S- If you are an ecological minivan lover, then you must not miss this car. With a resale as high as 47% in three years, the New Nissan Quest S is not just fuel efficient, but also a delight to ride. City mileage is 19 miles per gallon while on the highway it rises to 25.

GMC Yukon Hybrid- For families that seek to conserve nature, this car is the best bet. The SUV’s hybrid version gives it a fuel mileage of 20 miles in the city and 23 on the highway. Apart from that, the car comes laced with features such as chrome wheels, rear view camera and parking assist.
Honda Civic Hybrid of 2012- This particular hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the market. The car needs only $1100 for a yearly tank until up and the four-wheel drive sedan is easy to use, eco-friendly and comfortable.

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Super cool, shiny cars zoom around us every day, but have you ever wondered how cool a car would look if it had the sheen of a wood? Here we have compiled a list of five cool and amazing cars that have been finished in wood. Check them out-

Splinter This wooden car has taken the world by storm. Not only it can take high speeds of 240 miles per hour, but it can also look equally stylish, in fact, seductive with its deep wood finish and shiny headlamps. The car, which is 15 foot long, comes with V8 engine of 4.6 liter. Made from maple, plywood as well as fiberboard, the car is 530 pounds lighter than a Porsche 911 GT3, but exceptionally powerful and strong. Gas mileage is decent, with 20 miles per gallon. Custom built Toyota Truck This custom built wooden car is beautiful and carved on 1986 Toyota Truck. The car has been made using Chrysler 318 engine and uses automatic transmission for control. The body of this truck uses cedar for beautiful and colorful woody finish. And right now, the speedometer only shows 1800 miles!

Two faced wooden car If you are confused between two cars, then why not have a single car with two faces? Well, this particular car created by Vasily Lazarenko from Ukraine has two faces on the exterior. Although, the car has been basically designed on the model of 1981 Opel, yet it has two beautiful and unique designs. The unusual car is used by the designer.

Opel Car This Opel Car has been transformed into an amazing piece of art. Inspired by The Splinter’s concept, this car has all the details and craftsmanship finished in wood. And not just simple wood finish, it has a design of wooden blocks that have been carved in the shape of the car. Even the rear view mirrors are beautifully engraved in wood. Makes it quite woody! Diederick Kraaijeveld’s Wood Car An artist, Diederick Kraaijeveld is known for creating beautiful masterpieces. Currently, he has made a fifty inch car from wood, which he has used for travelling throughout Holland and abroad. The cars he creates use genuine colored vintage wood. So, if you are board of the regular brown, then you can get a colored wooden car customized for yourself. It takes him a few weeks to create one depending upon complexity. Cars cost an average of $8000 or more.

Car sale

Prices of cars are going up and new cars are depreciating in value faster than expected. In such a scenario, it would probably be wise to go looking for a used car. But one needs to be experienced and have a quick eye when going to buy a used car, so as to avoid ‘buyer’s remorse’ later. Here are 5 things you need to do before buying a used car:

Test Drive the Car Nothing can tell you more about a car than a test drive. If the dealer allows (which in most cases he will) take the car for a spin. Drive the car on both city roads and highways. The different environments will give you a good feel of the car. On city roads you can gauge how the car shifts, brakes and how well it can be maneuvered. On the highway, you will see how well it accelerates and how smooth or rough the engine is. Make sure to note any unusual noises encountered along the drive. Inside Out inspection Do a thorough run down of the car inside-out. The exterior and interior of the car play an important role in the valuation of the vehicle. Check upholstery, electronics, fenders and other such areas for damages and if you find any get a repair estimate. Check for rust as well.

Test for Leaks Any vehicle which is leaking any kind of fluids is a sign of trouble. While out on a test drive, park the car in a clean spot and let it run for 30-35 seconds. Move the car a little ahead and come out to see if there are spots on the ground where liquids might have leaked. Black spots indicate leak in the oil tubes, pink spots mean transmission fluid leak and green spots mean leak in anti-freeze piping. Mechanic Inspection A lot people miss out on an important thing before buying a used car – getting it approved by a mechanic. Often, it would be a wise decision to have an experienced car mechanic to tag along with you before going to purchase a used car. Be it an unusual sound under the hood or leaking transmission fluid, a mechanic can give you the entire picture.

Written Purchase Agreement Another thing that people forget to do is get a valid written purchase agreement. Make sure that all the papers of the car are in order and you get an agreement for the purchase signed by both you and the car dealer/owner.

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There are over 23,000 DIY planes in the US today and more are being built every day. Most of these planes are built by professionals using readymade kits which just need assembly. Nevertheless, there are people who start building their dream planes from scratch with nothing but their desire to take to the skies as fuel. Here are some of the most amazing DIY planes out there:

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The RP-4 Built by David Rose and Jerry Baer, both residents of San Diego, this plane was meant for speed. Rose took inspiration from a NASA project and outfitted his plane with an experimental counter rotating set of rotors. Each rotor can do 4800RPM and they can be connected straight to the engines without any reduction gearing. Rose can also modify the pitch of the rotors to achieve the most efficient output at any time during the flight. A drag racing car’s frame serves as the superstructure for the RP-4. Symmetry Cory Bird was a simple shop fabricator in aviation designer Burt Rutan’s company, Scaled Composites. But that was in 1989. This resident of Mojave, California, decided to put his knowledge of composites to the test when he set his mind upon the Symmetry. It took him 14 years to build the two-seater plane. His hard work paid off when he won the Grand Champion prize at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) airshow at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Symmetry can do 284MPH and with propeller speeds reaching 3000RPM. Bird is currently working on an improved design which will be able to land on shorter landing strips.

Lucky Stars It takes more than knowledge of aerodynamics to build DIY planes. It also takes imagination. Mark Stull, from Christoval, Texas, built his Lucky Stars with ring tail! The ring is 4.5 feet in diameter. Stull admits that it took some sneaky and innovative engineering to make it all work. Preliminary flight tests were near fatal. Stull move the pilot seat forward to maintain Lucky Stars’ center of gravity, add weights to the ring tail to balance it and also fit a hydraulic dampener so that the tail could not swing too far. Savor Savor was Chris Christiansen’s third homebuilt plane. This 31 year old resident of Temple, Arizona, was self-taught and built the plane in 15 months flat. Chris uses just a pencil and paper when he goes into pre-planning. But the end result, the Savor, looks very much like a professionally built, cross-country flight capable aircraft. The Savor looks a lot like Skycatcher (an entry level sports aircraft from Cessna). But the Savor can outrun the Skycatcher, as it can muster 200MPH which is 65MPH more than the latter can juice out.

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A Common Man’s Dream Who knew that an automobile mechanic could build a plane? Ding Shilu, a mechanic from the suburbs of Shenyang, Liaoning province of China, built his first plane for just 2600 Yuan ($395). He has not named his plane but he does admit using recycled parts from motorbikes. He flies around in his leisure time.

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A submarine is probably the last thing you would expect to see in someone’s list of collectibles! However, there are people who, at this very moment, are in the possession of a submersible vessel. The very concept of anybody but the navy or scientists owning submarines, has changed the designs and even the very boundaries of the same. Personal submarines (as they are popularly called) are owned by the rich and the famous. But, there are people and companies that come up with some really cool and awesome submarine concepts. Here are the top five in our opinion: Deep Flight Super Falcon Graham Hawkes, a marine engineer, is the guy who suddenly thought that it would be cool to “fly” underwater. The Deep Flight Super Falcon is his brainchild. It is a $1.5 million winged submarine that runs solely on a 48 volt Lithium Phosphate battery. For propulsion it uses a single tri-blade rear propeller. The superstructure of the submersible is made of an advanced carbon-epoxy mixture and the helmsman compartment is a bubble of thick Plexiglas. The battery powered engine is capable of making the Super Falcon dive at 200 feet per minute and surface at almost twice the speed. When slicing through the depths, it can easily clock 4 knots for 5 hours.

Seabreacher X This submarine looks right out of a Tintin comic. It is shaped like shark! This streamlined, beast of a submarine is rigged with two high powered engines that give it unprecedented speed and agility when underwater. The “fins” and “tail” of the vessel make it very maneuverable. In addition, it comes with GPS, video and image recording capabilities and, last but not the least, a music system. Killer Whale Submersible Made, perhaps, along the same lines as the previously mentioned submarine, the Killer Whale Submersible mimics a, well, Killer Whale! Priced at $100000, it is a streamlined submarine with enough power to race real life killer whales. The “fins” allow for exceptional maneuverability. The submersible also comes loaded with the latest maritime gadgets and instruments.

Spy Master This submarine is for those people who would want to explore the depths of the ocean alone. It is basically a chair with a propeller and a Plexiglas canopy. The company that makes this £12000 submarine has said that it can be used for sub-water oceanic exploration and underwater inspections of ships or oil pipelines. The Spy Master can clock 2 knots but cannot dive below 12 meters. Necker Nymph Millionaire Richard Branson’s prized possession, the Necker Nymph, is probably the most awesome and one of a kind private submarine in the world. It can carry 3 people to a depth of 30 feet and can easily clock 6 knots. Richard Branson has made it available for charter, so that everybody can enjoy the marvels of the blue.

paint-car

Getting your car painted by a professional car painting service can be expensive for many of us. One always has an option of painting their cars himself. For this, one needs to have preparation – because, the better the preparation, the better the results. You need to keep a few things in mind before painting your car:

Sanding Sanding your car is the first thing you should do before painting even begins. Sanding gets rid of the old and existing layer of paint, which can be then covered with primer. Without sanding, the surface will not let the primer adhere. Sanding should always be done from top to down. Use 180-grit sandpaper placed on dual-action sander for the best results. Lots of Tape You need to have lots of automotive masking tape at the ready. You will need them when to cover up the places you don’t want painted or stained by paint. Places like keyholes, window glass, headlights, door handles, trims, grilles, weather stripping, taillights and tires need to be taped. The tape protects these parts from paint yet does no damage or leaves no marks behind.

Wax and Wipe Get a microfiber towel and wipe the entire surface of the car with grease remover and wax. This help to get rid of and wax, grease and dust that are there on the surface. Be sure to do this as if any such foreign bodies remain behind then they will show up as imperfections on the dried paint. Grease remover evaporates very soon so there is no need to wash it off. Start Spraying You can now begin with spraying the first coat of primer on the car. Apply two coats of primer in total. Wait 10 minutes between coats and allow at least 30 minutes for both the coast to dry. Start Painting You need to apply at least 3 coats of paint to achieve hiding of the primer. Aim the nozzle roughly 12 inches from the surface of the car and spray in left and right strokes (not up and down). Make sure that the coats are thin – this will ensure that there is run off. Start from the top – roof, then the hood and so on. Be patient for 20 minutes between each coat of paint.

Stay Clear Now you need to spray clear coat paint as the last step. Use the same technique as spraying paint. Clear coat paint should be applied after an hour of spraying the color coat. Once it’s done, give everything 24 hours to set and dry, for that new and shiny look!

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Roads are slowly getting choked with the amount of cars spewing over them every day. With aerial cars nowhere in sight, it is only natural that we turn towards new and innovative amphibious vehicles. Here’s a list of the top five most amazing amphibious vehicles: The JMC Amphibious Pickup China is a land prone to floods and earthquakes. The illustrious Chinese came up with this amphibious bad boy for rescue and relief purposes. The JMC Amphibious pickup was built by the JMC Amphibious Vehicle Development Co. (situated in Nanchang City, Jiangxi). A turbo charged 4JB1 engine that churns out 90HP at 4000RPM powers this vehicle. It also comes with power drive, payload carrying capacity of 800KGS, an extra-large 70litre fuel tank and GPS.

DUKW Perhaps one of the most iconic of all amphibious vehicles ever built by man is the DUKW. It was built on the same 6-by-6 chassis of a standard GMC, has the same 4400CC engine with the same identical transmission. The vehicle was literally indispensable during World War II and still remains a formidable amphibian as it can even easily skim through rough seas. New DUKWs are hard to come by and a restored one will put you back by at least £25000-£30000. Amphicoach When talking about taking tourism to a whole new level you would probably want to cite the Amphicoach as an example. With a seating capacity of 50 and equipped with the latest in luxury, comfort and technology, the Amphicoach took 6 years to develop and deploy. This 5-star tourist coach can take tourists for sightseeing in a city as well as the water bodies surrounding it. The Amphicoach comes in 2X4 and 4X4 drive variants with dual diesel engines.

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Quadski The company Gibbs Technologies came up with a cross between a four-wheel drive car and a jet ski, and named it, the Quadski. It is based on the Humdinga and is the third in the line to incorporate the Gibbs HAS technology. The company says that it can be used for military, rescue and civilian use. This versatile amphibian comes loaded with a 140BHP petrol engine, which allows it to clock 50MPH on both land and water.

Amphibious Ice Cream Van The Brits are not allowing even water to come in the way of them getting some ice cream! Not by the looks of this modified HMS Flake 99 van that can deliver your snow cones and popsicles at 5 knots. It can be seen in and around the rivers and canals of UK. The motto inscribed on the van reads “Licensed to Chill”. Dave Mountfield recently completed a nationwide tour of UK’s and Venice’s water bodies in it.

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When the entire world is being held ransom by global warming, it is probably a good idea to switch to a more eco friendly mode of transport – like a bicycle. However, the normal aluminum/steel frame bicycles lack the durability for daily rough usage. Also, the metals make them cumbersome and hard to maneuver, when riding uphill or scouting for a shortcut amidst the city traffic. Here’s where carbon fiber bikes come into the picture. Sturdy, cool, lightweight and virtually indestructible – these bikes will get the job done and make heads turn in the process! Here’s the list of top 5 carbon fiber bikes: Nomad-C Bike It looks rugged and menacing but weighs a measly 6 pounds. Santa Cruz did away with the aluminum for the frame and replaced it with carbon fiber. Not only, can you race through city streets with this one, but also scale the steepest inclines you can find. It also comes with front and rear disc brakes, VPP suspension systems and Monarch 3.3 shock. It is priced at $2499.

Delta7 Ascend There are terrains which can make even the mightiest of SUVs lick the dirt. Delta7 gives the answer in the form of its Ascend carbon fiber bike. Exceptionally durable, efficient and lightweight, the Ascend can trounce any terrain you can possible throw under it. The unique IsoTruss structure of its frame makes the bike weigh only 2.3 pounds, yet the frame itself is 10 times stronger than its steel/aluminum equivalents. It is priced at $12000. BERU Factor 001 British engineering firm BERU threw all conventional bike concepts out the window and got its F1 engineer team and came up with the Factor 001. The design has been made entirely from scratch and is hands-down the last word in road/hybrid bike design. The Factor 001 has carbon-ceramic brakes and a carbon fiber monocoque frame. It also features an LCD touch-screen which displays the rider’s biometrics and other information. BERU says the bike will be custom-made as per customer specification and will be priced at $34000.

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CY-SPK227 When it comes to city commute, traction control is very valuable. Sanyo mixes the ease offered by traction control with its world’s first carbon fiber electric bike – the CY-SPK227. It features two wheel drive and traction control. The rear wheel is powered by a chain and the front wheel via an Eneloop electric motor. Even with the carbon fiber, it weighs 43 pounds. It also features magnesium suspension, LED lights and regenerative braking – all this at a price of $6600.

Nishiki Concept Bike This is a bike for those who want their bicycles to have the features of a motorcycle. Designed by Fredrik Rudenstam, this bike features a high modulus carbon fiber frame, OLED lights, a belt drive (driven by a Li-ion motor), the NuVinci gear hub (capable of automatic gear shifts) and much more.

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We have all seen or heard of supercars costing millions of dollars. Such cars are the last word in terms of power, style and luxury. However, there are motorcycles, which are equivalently as expensive as their four-wheeler counterparts are. Here’s a list that includes the top 5 most expensive production motorcycles in the world: Ecosse Titanium Series FE Ti XX Price: $ 300,000 The motorcycle company Ecosse Moto Works is world renowned for their classy and exclusive bikes. Their latest offering in the Titanium Series, the Ti XX, is allegedly the most expensive motorcycle in the world right now. The price tag of $3 million is justified when you feel its 2409CC billet aluminum powerhouse of an engine roar with 228PS. Italian leather maker Berluti has handmade the saddle. In addition, the exhaust pipes of the Ti XX are Grade-9 titanium with ceramic finish and there has been a copious amount of carbon fiber for the body of the bike to keep it lightweight.

NCR M16 Price: $232,500 What do you get when you take an already expensive street bike and splurge money on it? The NCR M16. Boffins of NCR, took the Ducati Desmosedici RR and modified it to perfection. First he put the bike on a diet regime that brought its weight down to 144KG. The diet regime consisted of a carbon fiber frame, wheels and swingarms and ceramic composite brakes. Buffins also used specifically tuned Öhlins suspension – which delivers power evenly on the asphalt. The engine churns out 203PS of power to the rear wheel. NCR Macchia Nera Price: $225,000 Another modified Ducati from NCR is the Macchia Nera and it is third on our list of most expensive motorcycles. NCR took the Ducati 998R Testastretta (with a power rating of 182PS) and put their excellent craftmanship to work. They first gave it a titanium frame and a carbon fiber fuel tank with a titanium lid. This brought down the weight of the bike to 135KG. In addition, NCR outfitted the bike with Magnesium wheels, centrally vented dual disk Brembo brake system, Öhlins suspension and an Evoluzione Slipper Clutch.

MTT Y2K Superbike Price: $175,000 How about a helicopter’s engine in a motorcycle? You would think we are crazy to even write something like that. But, Ted McIntyre, from Marine Turbine Technologies, did just that when he took the 250 Turboshaft engine from Rolls Royce’s Allison model and put it in his MTT Y2K Superbike. The bike comes in two variants – the good boy churns out 324PS of power, and then there is the badass Streetfighter variant that spews 426PS with a torque of 678Nm. With that amount of power you can easily leave everyone in the dust when you hit 365KPH (claimed top speed).

Icon Sheene Price: $172,000 Icon Sheene was built as a tribute to the legendary rider barry Sheene, by motorcycle manufacturer Icon. They needed to make it one of a kind. So, they took a 1400CC Suzuki engine and combined it with a Garrett turbocharger at a pressure of 0.4 BAR – the result? 253PS of power to the rear wheel. The bike has a tubular aluminum frame, carbon fiber body panels and a hand-beaten aluminum fuel tank.

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EIGHT GmbH & Co. KG recently came up with a new solar charging station designed for a single electric car. The company unveiled a demonstrator of this charging station from Suessen (Germany) in front of the BMW Welt in Munich. As part of a research project performed in the context of Bavaria-Saxony "ELEKTROMOBILITÄT VERBINDET" initiative, this DC fast-charging station was together activated by the BMW Group, EIGHT, ABB, RWE, Deutsche Bahn, German Armed Forces, Dresden Technical University, University of Bamberg, and University of Munich. The station initially covered a 55-sqm area designed to charge four cars at a time, which further aimed to serve large institutions and businesses. But, the newer Point.One S version is designed for a single car and can be extremely useful for households and medium-sized firms. EIGHT's managing director, Christoph B. Rößner, was quoted as saying: "The new version offers all the features which people know from the original Point.One. But, as the Point.One S is much smaller, the solar charging station needs less space and integrates even easier with the architecture of its surrounding. Just like Point.One, our new version is designed to integrate different kinds of charging technologies – depending on the needs of the customers." Rößner also said: "Our patented, impressively sustainable manufacturing system and parametrical planning processes allow the station to be adapted to the location and its surrounding architecture as effectively as possible."

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As per its philosophy and reputation for solar charging stations, EIGHT aims to get people interested and excited about emissions-free e-mobility. Thus, it designed a modified and highly intelligent user interface for the demonstrator of Point.One S in collaboration with the University for Design of Schwaebisch Gmuend. The company wants to link the modern urban lifestyle with sustainability so it can come up with innovative business models related to e-mobility. With its DC-charging project partners, the company has activated a new charging station in front of BMW Welt. This station from ABB is based on the new IEC Standard 61851-23 / Combined Charging System (CCS). Within less than half-an-hour, it can charge BMW i3's pilot production version with empty batteries up to 80%, extending its range by 130 km. To further connect this technology to the IT system, RWE Effizienz would erect a second CCS-fast-charging station at the same place. In the modern world, sustainable mobility is a requirement when new products are developed, and this attempt by EIGHT to launch a user- and environment-friendly solar charging station for electric cars is a great attempt in that direction. The way it is designed to connect people and their vehicles with renewable energy sources offers the ease of use that further drives people toward electric mobility.

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Point.One S: EIGHT intros demonstrator for solar charging station for electric cars at BMW Welt