Author: Tabitha
People who wrench on their own vehicles often have big, cumbersome tool chests in their garages, which are not very portable if you need to transport your tools somewhere else. The Beta C41H Tool Trolley (BT-041000002) solves that problem. The steel and plastic rolling storage unit weighs 54 pounds empty and stands 36 inches tall by 21 inches wide by10 inches deep. The top portion detaches from the base for use as a hand-carried box, while the lower cabinets’ three lockable slide-out compartments can store a variety of tool shapes and sizes (there are also bungee cords attached to the…
Safety and security while transporting ski and/or snowboard equipment is always important and the variety of products offered by Sportube offer plenty of both. The company’s hard-shell containers are made from high-density polyethylene and are capable of absorbing some hard knocks, whether strapped to the roof racknor transported by other means. The Series 3 Special Edition is built to contain up to two pairs of skis or two snowboards plus boots and bindings, but will also hold all types of gear. Built-in wheels and a detachable tow handle are included as is a “nic knac pak” for storing extra gear.…
Here’s a neat idea for anyone who spends time working inside on his or her vehicle(s). The Chamberlain Garage Power Station (Model: A7008890-MC1) is a combination 100-psi air hose, 100-watt LED trouble light and 120-volt plug-in power source that you attach to the ceiling of your garage. The Power Center unit also comes with a built-in hook and a 25-foot retractable cord that you can set to any length so it’s always close at hand and will reach just about anywhere on your vehicle. The Home Depot sells the Power Station in their stores, or you can order from the…
You can really build just about anything using Lego pieces, as proven by Slovenia-based LPE Power. The company specializes in making fully assembled working scale models of various engines, including the V8 shown here. It’s patterned after a Ford Mustang engine and will rev up to 2,200 revs per minute using compressed air to activate the 31 moving parts, including pistons, crankshaft, balance shaft and valves. The engine weights less than a pound and is only about four inches long by five wide and five tall. Check out the video of a working engine and order one for about $330…
The cool Lexus LC two-door is based on the LF-LC concept model that was displayed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich. According to The Spy Guy’s sources, the LC will be available with a 467-horsepower V8 that was originally built for the Lexus RC F coupe. A hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 3.5-liter V6 (plus an electric motor) that’s rated at 500 horsepower, will be optional, as will an LC F model with a twin-turbocharged V8 rated at more than 600 horsepower. The LC is expected to launch in 2017 as a 2018 model with…
Your Intrepid Spy Guy confirms that Porsche’s next-generation Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe will lose their six-cylinder engines in favor of four-cylinder powerplants. Entry-level models are expected to receive a turbocharged 2.0-liter, while “S” models will get a 300-horsepower 2.5, with output increasing to 370 horses from a twin-turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the GTS. Although manual transmissions will be available, the availability of Porsche’s dual-clutch automated manual gearbox (PDK) is expected to increase and will likely be the only choice when the GTS is specified. It’s also likely that, for competitive reasons, race-bred GT4 Boxsters and Caymans will stick with…
San Francisco, Calif., might soon be home to the world’s largest hydrogen refueling station, and the first one to serve both land and marine vehicles. The city might also soon get its own high-speed hydrogen-fuel-cell ferry as part of a demonstration project backed by public and private interests, says alternative vehicle Web site, Green Car Reports. That ferryboat will need a place to refuel, as will hundreds and then thousands of hydrogen fuel-cell cars arriving from Toyota, Honda and Hyundai over the next five years. If it goes ahead, the fueling station will serve cars, buses and fleet vehicles, in…
It’s crunch time for Tesla Motors, reports industry watchdog Automotive News. The Silicon Valley automaker loses more than $4,000 on every Model S electric sedan it sells, and mandaged to burn through US $359 million in cash last quarter in a bull market for luxury vehicles. The company recently cut production targets for this year and next. CEO Elon Musk said he’s considering options to raise more capital, which could include selling more stock. He has given himself a deadline, saying that by next year’s first quarter Tesla will be making enough money to fund a jump from building one…
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is buying 11 portable EV ARC solar-powered electric-vehicle chargers from Envision Solar of San Diego for almost $750,000. In July, Envision Solar received a one-year contract, with two one-year extensions, to supply state and local offices and departments with its moveable solar chargers. Each one fits inside a regular vehicle parking space and generates enough solar energy each day to power 150 miles of EV driving. The system maximizes its exposure to the sun through a tracking system that enables the solar-panel array to follow the sun, generating 18-25 percent more electricity than a…
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says tests it performed found that repairing body damage on the largely aluminum 2015 Ford F-150 pickup took longer and cost 26 percent more than for the all-steel 2014 model. Ford said it disagrees with the insurance industry lobby group’s conclusions and has been fighting a perception that it costs more to own a vehicle made largely of aluminum since before it started to roll out the 2015 model, weighing about 700 pounds less than its 2014 sibling. The idea of going with aluminum is to save weight to aid fuel economy. Although a…