The Smart E-Bike. Will take you everywhere, easily [Video]

Imagine living in a city full of hills and you love riding your bicycle but don't want to get to work or school all sweaty and smelling bad because, well, it isn't good. But don't fear, the future is here!

To help solve those problems Smart created this bicycle with a 250W electric engine mounted on the rear axle that is able to achieve 25km/h (close to 16mph) but the engine only works when you want it, so you can ride it like a normal bicycle.

It uses a lithium ion battery with a range of 100km that can be removed for charging or can be charged when the driver uses the brakes.

Another inovation is the USB port that is fitted in the handlebar to connect your smartphone and charge it when you pedal.

The Pedelec system multiplies the force applied by the rider, eliminating the effort it would be done on a climb with a normal bike.

It is expensive and at the price of almost €3000 or $3900 you could buy an electric scooter but the style is unmistakable and you don't need a license or insurance. The e-Bike weighs 26kg.

Source: VeiculosElectricosPT

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VW Eos won't have a direct sucessor, will probably be replaced by a soft-top. AutoEuropa suffers

According to Autocar, Klaus Bischoff revealed, during the VW Beetle Cabriolet presentation at the Los Angeles Auto Show, that the EOS will be discontinued and replaced by a larger soft-top with four seats.

This is what he had to say:

“The Eos will not be prolonged when it comes off the market. Retractable hardtops are disappearing from the market now, and to be honest that’s not something I mind.”

“There’s definitely room in our line-up for a larger convertible, so why not do it?”

“The problem with such ambitions is that all our existing factories are at full capacity, so any new additions means building new factories.”

But that last sentence isn't really true. AutoEuropa, one of the best VW factories in the world, has been asking workers to move to German plants in order to avoid firing them due to lack of orders, besides many no-production days. And now one supplier, Faurecia, fired almost 100 workers and terminated the contract by mutual consent with almost 50.

Sources: AgênciaFinanceira and AutoCar.UK. Discovered by my sweetheart.

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Seems The Stig is not happy with a book about him [Video]

The Stig was found at Watford Tesco, filmed by a security camera, and he was not happy. He pretty much bought all the copies of his book probably to keep secret the real story about him. Watch the video below.

 

Simon du Beaumarche was the one responsible for this book, following The Stig for over a year and interviewing those closest to him, including Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, leading figures from Formula 1, music, movies and the military.

Here you have the CCTV footage of The Stig filling a Lamborghini Aventador and what happened after.

Source: TopGear

 

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Ford Fusion aka Mondeo won the 2013 Green Car of the Year Award

This was announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a special ceremony for the event. The Fusion/Mondeo has five engine choices including two EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline engines with direct injection as well as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

Along with the Fusion/Mondeo there were four other cars, including the Ford C-Max, Dodge Dart, Toyota Prius C and Mazda CX-5. The 2012 year winner was the Honda Civic Natural Gas and the year before that, the Chevrolet Volt.

Source: Auto.Blog.RS

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Patent drawings of the Mazda 3 leak to the web

The new Mazda is expected to be introduced in 2013 but it seems the car appearance was already patented since August 2010. This was discovered through these patent drawings recently made public that you can see below.

The new model will follow the new design line named KODO: Soul of Motion, with the recognizable trapezoidal grille, created for the Mazda 6.

The current model dates from 2009, so this means that after only four years we will see a completely new model with a new platform, weighing less, and new engines.

Source: TeleGraaf.NL

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Chevrolet keeps teasing the seventh generation Corvette [Video]

With presentation scheduled for January 13, 2013, in the Detroit Auto Show, Chevrolet released two videos showing some details of the car but no actual information.

 

In the first video, named "Conception", we get to see the story behind the design philosophy new Corvette, including several drawings. In the second, with the curious name "Calibration", we also don't get to known anything, but we get to see the digital gauge it will be used in the Chevrolet sports car.

 

Chevrolet will release two more videos, one in December and another in January,

New Chevrolet Corvette website

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Jaguar F-Type new styling packages in the Los Angeles Auto Show

Customization is not exactly a new thing in the automotive world but car manufacturers are slowly offering more choices to personalize your vehicle right from the factory.

Jaguar is an example of that by announcing new styling packages for the new F-Type. On the outside of this F-type painted in Firesand, one of several new colors available, we have the Black and Design packages, meaning that the splitter, side sills and rear diffuser have the same color as the body and the grille, vents, front splitter and rear valance get a satin black finish.

On the inside there is the Black package that gives a glossy black finish to the instrument cluster rings, as well as a black trim to the steering wheel, air vents and door switch surrounds.

Jaguar’s Engineered To Order (ETO) division is responsible for those changes as well as the ones made to the XKR-S and XFR-S.

Source: MotorAuthority

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USA say hello to the new 2014 Kia Forte [Video]

 

The Kia Forte sedan is already known pretty much everywhere in the world. It is the K3 in Korea and the Cerato in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries, but has now arrived in the USA and in the Los Angeles Motor Show.

The new chassis under the also new body is longer (3cm or 1,2inch), wider (0,5cm or 0,2inch) and lower (0,3cm or 0,3inch) making it look more agressive, it also has a longer wheelbase (5,1cm or 2inch) making it more spacious for passengers.

The most important changes refer to ones made to the chassis, including McPherson strut front suspension and a coupled torsion beam rear axle, a new electric power steering that replaces the hydraulic system with an optional Flex Steer system that offers three settings, Comfort, Normal and Sport.

Powering the front wheels, with the help of a six speed manual or automatic gearbox, we have an 1,8liter engine producing 148hp @6,500rpm and 177Nm (131lb/ft) of torque @4,700rpm or a 2,0liter inline four cylinder GDI engine with 173hp @6,500rpm and 209Nm (154lb/ft) of torque @4,700rpm. The 2liter engine can only be choosen with the automatic transmission.

The new UVO infotainment system with eServices is standard with an optional navigation system. LED taillights are also optional.

Source: CarScoop

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Toyota Motosport (TMG) shows their new creation, the Lexus LS460

We all recognize that the Lexus LS is a very valid alternative to the German trio of BMW, Audi and Mercedes, but now the folks at Toyota Motorsport took the car to another level and created the TMG Sport 460 to be displayed at the Essen Motor Show.

This beast packs a crazy 650hp from its twin turbo 5.0liter V8 engine and, with the help of an eight speed automatic gearbox, is able to achieve a top speed of 320km/h (200mph). The aerodynamics was changed, and along with a spoiler, the downward force was increased helping keep the car glued to the road. The breaking system was also improved to assist the driver when he wants to stop those 650 horses.

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Nissan Hi-Cross Concept. The future crossovers will look like this.

This isn't really a new concept because it was already displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but Nissan also brought it to Los Angeles to preview "the next-generation of Nissan crossovers".

So we can say that surely we will see something similar to this passing by in our roads in a few years, probably replacing the X-Trail.

The Hi-Cross is a hybrid vehicle with a 2.0liter four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine with an electric motor powered by a small lithium-ion battery similar to the one in the Leaf, connected to Nissan's next-generation Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Source: CarScoop

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Honda teases the 2013 Honda Civic SI

Check out the first teaser of the new 2013 Honda Civic, who will see its public reveal at the Los Angeles Motor Show tomorrow (29/11). It has a new rear wing and rear diffuser with bigger wheels.

No more details were revealed, but we will find out more tomorrow.

Source: Honda Twitter

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BMW i3 Coupe Concept revealed, will also be at the L.A. Motor Show

BMW will take advantage of the Los Angeles Motor Show to introduce the 2-door version of the electric vehicle, i3. The car looks more "production ready", with the headlamps and taillights of a normal size.

The interior of this concept has the normal "clean" design, offering a sleek look, normal in BMWs concept cars. The model uses sustainable materials like wool, leather, eucalyptus wood and aluminium. It also includes a 6.5 inch screen where the speedometer and tachometer are displayed together with more information about the car and a 8 inch media screen.

The electric engine has 170hp and 250Nm (184lb/ft) and powers the rear wheels. The batteries are situated under the floor. To help move the car and be efficient the car has 155/60 R20 tires in the front and the back has 175/55 R20.

Source: MotorMais

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