The Little 57-MPG Engine That Could
Ever-tighter fuel economy and emissions regs, not to mention changing consumer tastes, have automakers doing more with less. We’re seeing a resurgence in compacts and subcompacts, and automakers are putting smaller, more efficient engines in many models. But Fiat is taking it to a whole ‘nother level by putting a tiny two-cylinder engine in the adorable 500. Fiat says the TwinAir 875cc will be the world’s most fuel-efficient gasoline automobile engine — getting 57.4 mpg — when it appears in the 500 this fall. It meets Euro 5 emission regs and will allow Fiat to retain its position as the European automaker with the lowest overall fleet CO2 emissions.
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If God Had Meant Man To Flush On The Road...
...we would have been given toilet karts. Oh, wait — we were given toilet karts. A whopping 6.5 hp, 32 mph, twin-throne action, and all the TP you can stand. Ain't America great? We get emails like this all the time. "Come look at my toilet go-kart," they say. "It's the best toilet kart in the world," they say. "You'll love it, and you can flush your cares out the exhaust, and seriously, 32 freaking mph on a twin-pot crapcan that just might kill you if you look at it funny." Most of them do not have this guy — this grinning, goony goof — sitting on them. He is the man behind these things. Somehow, this makes sense. Every man dies. Not every man truly lives makes bitchin' port-a-john art. Thumbs up.
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Tesla Roadster 2.5
Tesla Motors unveiled its next-generation sports car, the Tesla Roadster 2.5, to the public this weekend at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Tesla Roadster 2.5 features improvements in design and technology, including a new front fascia, rear diffuser, improved seat comfort, sound dampening and an optional large touch screen navigation system with back-up camera. Improved interior sound reduction techniques, including new front fender liner material, make the cabin even quieter. The Festival of Speed is the world's largest motoring garden party - a unique weekend that brings together a heady mix of cars, stars and motor sport 'royalty' to create the largest car culture festival worldwide. Held in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House, this annual hill-climb extravaganza celebrates all things automotive.
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Wunda Weeder
The Wunda Weeder is a self propelled, electric powered, machine that supports and transports the operator in a lying down position, to enable planting, thining, weeding, transplanting or harvesting of row crop vegetables, herbs or flowers. These tasks have traditionaly been performed without the aid of machines and are ‘back breaking’. The Wunda Weeder allows these tasks to be undertaken, lying down! The Wunda Weeder’s electric motor and drive system is run by on board batteries which are recharged by the large solar panel (providing shelter to the operator), while the operator works. The electronics allow for a ’soft start’ and variable speed via an ‘accelorator’ when the operator is working. Forward and reverse are controlled by a single switch from the operating position, as is the steering. When ‘walking’ the machine (at walking speed), to the desired work row, the operator walks behind and steers the Weeder exactly as a shopping trolley, except the electric motor powers the machine via a ‘dead man’ switch on the handle, (let go and the machine stops automatically).
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