First flying car wins permit in US

A light aircraft that can convert into an automobile has been allowed into US skies to help a long dreamed-of "flying car" come true.

Whether it is to avoid a traffic jam or just get to a destination faster, the idea of combining a car and plane or having a flying gear has always been appealing.

A private aircraft manufacturing company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, has blended the two modes of transport quite well in its roadable Terrafugia Transition.

According to Terrafugia Inc., the vehicle can fly a distance of up to 640 kilometers (around 398 mile) on a single tank of gas at a cruising speed of 185 km/h. Upon landing and with its wings folded up, it can also drive highway speeds on the road.

It is also permitted to take off a maximum weight of about 650 kilograms, which is 50 kilograms above the limit for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) light sport aircraft category.

Terrafugia won a key federal approval for its flying car which has already completed flight tests to become the latest manifestation of a long-running fantasy.

The significant innovation now fills a blank in humans' life which existed almost as long as there have been automobiles.

The company will begin production later this year with about 20 vehicles.

Terrafugia said it has collected $10,000 deposits from more than 70 potential buyers for the $194,000 craft with the first flying car expected off the production line in 18 months.

2010 Volkswagen Kai-Nalu Concept Design Study - Volkswagen Sport Car

Josep Ferriol is a graduate of Universidad Politécnica de Valencia in Spain, and a designer. Josep Ferriol created this concept car design study called the Volkswagen Kai-Nalu, a wild child with extremely exotic looks, as part of his thesis.

2010Volkswagen Kai-Nalu

The Volkswagen Kai-Nalu is a concept sports car designed by Spanish designer Josep Ferriol. The vehicle is futuristic sports car and is inspired by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea as they smash into the shoreline. The Kai-Nalu also includes a flowing glass upper section, which has been designed to mimic the sea.

 

The Volkswagen Concept Josep Ferriol includes the clear roof, highly stylised wheels and an electric drivetrain with two separate motors and design of Kai-Nalu is somewhat controversial and certainly no please everyone. But in a world where there are many supercars that follow the same formula and same style, the Volkswagen Kai-Nalu is refreshing and different.

 

Ferriol is quite aware of how bold and probably controversial the Kai-Nalu would be, given the tendency for certain modern cars to follow similar design patterns.

 

Designed to be powered by a zero-emission electric engine, the vehicle features highly stylized wheels which have been inspired by the appearance of bicycle wheels.

Most Popular Car Paint Colours in 2010

The first thing you see when you look at a car is the color. The color of a car is one of the most important things for a car owner.

It is very difficult to choose the right color for your car because of the wide variety of choices out there. It should not only be appealing to you but also it should make a statement and it is very important that it makes the right one. Whether you want to repaint your old car or if you are on the verge of buying a car you should first do a little research and see what the trendiest colors of the year are. Of course, after you decide all the other important technical aspects.

If you are planning to repaint your car alone, then you should know that it is not advisable to do it using regular paint you should only use quality car paint. But when you are choosing the color of your car paint you should make sure that it really represents you. The trendiest colors for car this year is metallic gray or metallic beige. The cars painted all in black might seem appealing up to one point but you might find it that it is not great driving in car that might send the impression that you are some kind of mobster.

The colors of the cars in 2010 are inspired from the more earthy tone. So you can choose to paint your car plum red or even silver. Silver is a color that hides dirt and nicks also. It is easy to maintain and will never go out of fashion. Also, if you are fond of black but wouldn't want to leave the impression described above then you should choose a dark blue. The color is sleek and will be the perfect substitute for black.

It is really important to choose the color that best represents you and if it is one of the colors that is also in the trend this year then it is even better.

18 year old Tunisian designer gives shape to new BMW X 9 concept

It looks more like a ‘batmobile’ than a standard BMW, yet the drawings of the new BMW X 9 concept which have recently been released on the internet, will certainly launch its 18 year old Tunisian designer, Oussama Khalfi and the car, on top of the world.

So far, little has been revealed about the car’s technical details.

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Morocco: Automotive industry experiences strong growth

The Moroccan automotive industry experienced strong growth over the last decade, with regard to several indicators :
· A dynamic market for new cars which, in view of its evolution over the last decade, witnessed substantial growth. The annual sales volume reached 120000 cars, which portends a bright future in favor of the industrialization of the sector.

· The redeployment of Renault in Morocco through the acquisition of State shares in SOMACA and the implementation of an industrial complex in Tangier with a production capacity of 400 000 vehicles per year, 90% of which to be oriented to exportation.

The overflow of business opportunities and partnership incoming from:
- Original Equipment Manufacturers interested in the competitiveness of Morocco, reinforced by the government's offer to investors.
- Prime contractors wishing to develop their purchases in Morocco.
These are tangible data that challenge the professionals on the promising development of the Moroccan automotive industry, as shown by the figures below:

Today, stakeholders at different levels must act to ensure that this sector’s dynamism is not undermined by the automotive crisis in the world. This dynamism should be perpetuated in a way to enable Morocco to establish a ''chain'', and meet the requirements of global markets.

Analysis of operators:
The main players in the Moroccan automotive sector are the following:
· Assembly lines: referring to SOMACA which assembles vehicles like Dacia, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen. The annual production volume will reach 100 000 vehicles in 2012 for both local market and export. Moreover, the Moroccan government and Renault signed in 2007, an agreement to set up an assembly line to produce 400 000 vehicles per year, eventually for exportation. It is a large-scale project likely to push forwards the automotive industry in Morocco.
· Equipment Manufacturers: This category constitutes the core sector in which it distinguishes:

- Foreign capital companies : 46%
- Moroccan capital companies : 38 %
- Mixed capital companies : 16%

· Spare parts distributors and automobile reparation:
This sector comprises:
- Hundreds of importers/distributers.
- Over a thousand retailers
- Over 4000 mechanics and repairers.
- Two reparation trademarks MIDDAS and SPEEDY

The rapid evolution on the national park is a lever for the development of these activities.

2010 Renault Modus Evian Masters Limited Edition - Renault Cars

Renault has release a new limited edition version of Modus which features the event celebrated colours, Renault Modus Evian Masters Tournaments 17th Edition. The new limited edition Modus is recognizable by its pink and white Evian Masters badging on the front wings, tailgate and logos of the Evian Masters on the front side and the trunk, as well as darkened mirrors and alloy rims.

2010 Renault Modus Evian Masters

This new limited edition version is based on the Dynamique equipment level of Modus, but comes with a number of exclusive appointments: a panoramic electric sunroof, automatic climate control, a 4x20W radio-CD with MP3 playback and steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control, and a City Pack comprising electrically-folding exterior mirrors and a rear parking proximity sensor which, combined with the car's compact size, take the stress out of parking in built-up areas.

The limited edition Modus Evian Masters can be ordered with one of two high-end engines from the Modus range:

• the TCe 100, a feisty and flexible 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant which delivers responsive performance in all situations,

• and the diesel dCi 85 which, with CO2 emissions of just 114g/km, offers a remarkable trade-off between performance and fuel economy. It qualifies for the €500 'eco-bonus' subsidy system which operates in France.

For more than 10 years, Renault has been the official partner of the Evian Masters, the 2010 edition of which will take place on July 22-25.

As official supplier to the event, Renault will provide a fleet of 90 vehicles for use by the tournament's organisers, while the 10 former Evian Masters winners attending the event will be loaned a Modus Evian Masters for their transport needs for the duration of the competition. Renault will also have a Modus Evian Masters on display at the Hole in One, as well as a stand in the Partners' Village.

Only 500 Renault Grand Modus Evian Masters will be produced, with sales beginning on June 5, 2010 (French market only). Order books have already opened, however, and prices start from €17,150 (Renault Modus Evian Masters TCe 100). Renault Modus limited edition Evian Masters: panoramic electric roof.

The Renault Modus interior ambience is further enhanced by the split leather trimmed steering wheel and gear level knob, as well by the satin-finish chrome center console and air vent surrounds. Based on the Dynamique equipment level of Renault Modus, the limited edition Modus Evian Masters has a distinctly high-end feel to its appointments. It packs the following equipment :

- Panoramic electric sunroof

- Elliptical headlamps with dedicated cornering lights

- Foglamps

- Automatic climate control with chilled glovebox

- Automatic headlamp and windscreen-wiper activation

- 80W radio-CD MP3 with six loudspeakers (including two tweeters), steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control and separate display

- Electric rear windows with driver-controlled deactivation for children

- City Pack (electrically folding exterior mirrors + rear parking proximity sensor)

Prices to the limited edition Renault Modus Evian Masters start from 17,150 Euro and represent a benefit in kind customers of 3.9 per cent. Only 500 cars will be produced. They will be available exclusive in France from June, although order books are already open.

2010 Lamborghini Supercar Cnossus Concept - Lamborghini Sports Car

This here is the Lamborghini Cnossus. The Lamborghini Cnossus Concept was designed by Russian student Victor Filipchenko with the help of his Portuguese colleague Nelson Simoes as part of their final thesis project at Italy’s Scuola Politecnica di Design.

2010 Lamborghini Supercar Cnossus Concept

Every Lambo needs a bull theme, and this supercar design study for a supercar concept named after the ancient Greek city of Cnossus (Knossus) on the island of Crete. The designers claim to have been inspired by the Lamborghini Countach, though it is evident that the edgy styling of the limited production Reventon special also played a role in the design of the Cnossus Concept.

 

Presenting a bold vision of what the firm’s future flagship could look like, the concept takes inspiration from Lamborghini models past and present, including the Countach and Reventón.

 

It boasts many classic cues such as telephone-dial wheels lifted from the Countach, scissor doors and gaping air intakes in front of the rear wheelarch. At the rear, the thin strip of LED lights with inverted arrows at the end is a clear nod towards the Reventón’s jet-fighter theme, while the diffuser looks more like something you’d find on a Le Mans prototype racer than a road car.