Archive for the ‘Gadgets’ Category

Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust: The New Chevy Volt

For those unfamiliar with the format of the show, most episodes involve the producers giving a challenge of some sort to hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The most recent episode, aired this week on the BBC in the UK, included just such a challenge. The boys were tasked to build their own answer to the extended-range EV Chevrolet Volt.

In a mere 18 hours they transformed a TVR Chimaera (interesting choice since a chimaera is a mythological creature composed of parts of a number of animals) into the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust pictured above. Once the i-Thrust was completed, it was turned over to Autocar magazine for an independent road test. As you might guess based on the photo, the results were not surprising and are a testament to perhaps taking all the time you need when developing a car. You can grab a copy of AutoCar’s full road test as a PDF or just watch the entire Top Gear segment and video of the Autocar road test after the jump.

[Source: Autocar]

Cruden Nascar, Formula 1 and WRC Race Car Simulator

Training is number one in any sport, and auto racing is no exception. Dutch firm Cruden has the bases covered when it comes to NASCAR, Formula 1, and WRC–they supply teams with their very own, and supposedly dead-accurate race car simulator. Only previously available to race drivers, Cruden has now made their machine available to the public for a cool $200k. You’ll need some space to go along with that hefty bill, as the machine comes in at 7.5 by 10 feet in diameter; though we don’t think that you’d be limited on space if you can afford that kind of bill.

Three plasma screens, 5.1 surround sound, seat belt tensioners and six massive hydraulic struts are employed to make it seem real as possible. Us? We’d take a GT3 cup car instead, thank you very much.