Author: Tabitha
The Sleuth had to check his calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day when he spied Lincoln’s Navigator concept slowly rotating on a giant turntable at the recent 2016 New York International Auto Show. In place of the Nav’s four doors were two gigantic gullwing openings plus a series of three graduated power-operated running boards. The effect certainly startled the assembled media gawkers who quickly realized that the center-hinged wings were strictly for show. However what will be part of the new-for-2018 Navigator is an all-new (and lightened) frame plus an all-aluminum body that should knock several hundred…
The Spy Guy’s take on the Wrangler Crew Chief 715 concept vehicle, one of seven different design exercises that were displayed at the recent Easter Jeep Safari event in Moab, Utah, is that it comes close to the one that will roll off Jeep’s Ohio assembly plant in 2017. For certain the pickup will be based on the four-door Wrangler Unlimited and will probably use the Crew Chief name. But whether it will be available with a soft top is less certain (although it would make for a very unique off-roader). The Sleuth hears that the nosepiece won’t use the…
The box states that the Razor Crazy Cart is suitable for people ages 9 and up, but there will likely be some older ‘kids’ trying it out when the kids aren’t around. The Crazy Cart is a kind of battery-powered go-kart that allows you to drift it through a full 360-degree sweep at varying speeds up to 12 mph. It can even be made to spin like a top, if your stomach is up for such antics. On a full charge, the 24-volt battery allows the Crazy Cart to operate for up to 40 minutes before taking a 12-hour time-out…
Many of us who travel by car or other means bring our cell phones, laptops and tablets along for the ride. That often means cramming an assorted tangle of cords, plugs and ear buds into our luggage or brief cases. Along with manufacturing safety kits, California-based SKITS produces what it calls a Geek Tech Case. The zippered 11-inch by- seven-inch by- three-inch soft-sided case isnÕt much larger than a typical shaving kit so you can store it in most vehicles’ glove boxes or floor consoles. The foldout unit opens to reveal six clear plastic pockets for stowing plug-in wires. The…
The world’s best selling small sports car will soon offer a retractable fastback model that Mazda says brings a new dimension to open-top driving and makes the roadster experience accessible to more drivers. In fastback mode, with the roofline sloping down to the rear edge, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF (retractable fastback) offers hardtop protection from the elements. The power roof opens and closes at the press of a button while moving at vehicle speeds up to 10 mph. The roof and rear window stow themselves in the back, but the MX-5 RF has the same trunk space as the…
Audi’s 2016 R18 hybrid endurance racing car has been redesigned to the point where it has ‘almost nothing in common anymore’ with its predecessor, the 2015 R18. The new model features a more radical aerodynamics concept, including a new safety cell, and its hybrid drive system is battery operated for the first time. The V-6 turbo-diesel engine has also been revised. As a result, Audi’s LMP1 sports car is more powerful and more efficient than last year’s entry, which lost the championship to Porsche’s 919 Hybrid. ‘While the new R18 is Audi’s strongest race car to date, it consumes less…
A fresh look and new technologies set Chevrolet’s popular 2017 Sonic subcompact apart from its predecessor. In a nutshell, the new Sonic is ‘much better, much safer and much more attractive’ for car buyers, says vehicle research Web site The Car Connection. Despite a name that may invoke either hedgehogs or hamburgers, ‘it’s doing well and selling to a new generation of buyers for whom a Chevy actually represents a daring and exotic choice’ after a lifetime of small Japanese cars. Some of its new tech, either standard or available, includes the latest MyLink infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen,…
The recipient of a recent subtle redesign, the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid compact sedan will also employ, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid powertrain similar to that in the latest mid-size Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sedan. Alternative-vehicle Web site Green Car Reports says both models will be crucial to Hyundai meeting its stated goal of achieving a fleet-wide fuel economy increase of 25 percent. The Optima Plug-In Hybrid will have an ‘EV’ mode for electric-only driving with a larger battery pack, giving it a per-charge range of a claimed 27 miles. Both models go on sale in North America this…
Strictly speaking, this isn’t an automotive-related gadget, but the line of versatile motorized bicycles from Motoped will appeal to anyone interested in motorized transportation. The company’s bikes are designed for street or trail use and are light enough that even a small gas engine (49-125 c.c.) will provide sufficient power to take you just about anywhere you want to go. The three different Motoped models include the Pro, Cruiser and Survival. Each one can be purchased fully assembled, including engine, or in basic kit form where you add your own propulsion. Prices start at $2,300 plus shipping charges. Check out…
If you have the desire and the means to acquire the ultimate in racing simulators, California-based VirtualGT is the place to shop. The company’s latest model, the Professional VGT Carbon, is an advanced motion simulator and is an exact duplicate of those used by professional racers. Features include your choice Momo or Sparco racing wheel with integrated fingertip controls that’s connected to a powerful force feedback steering system. There’s also an LED shift light indicator, a dashboard mph/km-h speed, RPM, gear and lap-time indicators shown on a digital display. If the $60,000 base price for the VGT Carbon seems steep,…