BMW C.L.E.V.E.R. Concept

BMW just released official pictures of its co-developed three-wheeled, natural-gas powered micro-car called CLEVER (Compact Low Emission VEhicle for URban Transport). Although nothing official yet, but this concept that was funded by the European Commission (Fifth Framework Programme) could base the C1 successor, marrying the worlds of cars and motorcycles. Partners in the C.L.E.V.E.R project included:

• BMW
• Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Land and Sea Transport (TUB), Berlin, Germany
• Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd, Melksham, Great Britain
• ARC Leichtmetall Kompetenzzentrum Ranshofen GmbH (LKR), Ranshofen, Austria
• IFP
• TAKATA-PETRI AG, Berlin, Germany
• University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Power Transmission and Motion Control, Bath, Great Britain
• Universität für Bodenkultur Vienna, Institute of Transport, Vienna, Austria
• WEH GmbH, Illertissen, Germany

The CLEVER concept, a €3.3 million (US$3.9 million) effort, is an enclosed two-seater that combines the safety of a microcar, and the maneuverability of a motorcycle, while being less polluting than other vehicles as it runs on compressed natural gas.

Its strengthened frame will protect the driver in a crash and the vehicle will have a top speed of approximately 50 mph. The 230cc BMW engine—modified by Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) to use natural gas—produces 12.5 kW (17 hp) of power and maximum torque of 15.5 Nm at 6,300 rpm.

Fuel consumption is estimated to be 2.4 liters/100 km gasoline equivalent (98 mpg US), with 59.5 g/km of CO₂ emissions. The compressed natural gas is stored in two removable gas bottles providing a range of 150 km (93 miles).

A problem with three-wheel vehicles with a symmetrical wheel layout is the tipping moment when cornering, which cannot be controlled at high speeds if the vehicle has a short wheelbase. To solve this problem the vehicle’s center of gravity can be moved towards the center of the corner—just as a motorcycle does when it corners.

The do this, the vehicle is a cabin tilter, with the system designed by the University of Bath. The cabin with the front wheel is connected to the power unit and the two rear wheels by a pivot bolt. The rotary movement of the cabin is produced by two hydraulic cylinders (actuators) that are installed between the cabin and the power unit. The actuators create the rotary angle of the cabin of +/-45° relative to the vertical power unit.

Top Gear: The Stig’s Helmet Sells for $5,327 at Auction

In a move akin to selling the Shroud of Turin, a former production coordinator from BBC's Top Gear television program put one of The Stig's iconic white helmets up for auction this week. The seller, Sophia Vaizey, explains:

"The Stig wore it [the helmet] on the show for quite a while. He then got a new one for safety reasons, so it got stored away in the Top Gear office. I was quite surprised when they gave it to me but also I felt honored."

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2020 Apple iMove Study: Macintosh thinks differently as it hits middle age

A while back there was a rumor going around that Apple and its overlord Steve Jobs were going to be getting into the city car game. Although nothing official has been announced in the years since those rumors started - and Google looks ready to shut down anything Apple has coming with its driver-less cars - the iMove, an independent design study, is likely close to what people were thinking as soon as Apple mentioned "car".

Designed by 20-year old Liviu Tudoran, the iMove is simple, smooth, cute, and most of all, blends right into the Apple product lineup of pods and user-friendly design.

The exterior uses "photocromic material" to adjust the exterior hue of the vehicle (at least on the transparent parts) based on a variety of presets. Think of it like the Mustang's MyColor gauges, but on the outside of your ride.

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How Cute: Smart Fortwo Says Hello Kitty to U.S. Buyers with Special Wraps

Hopefully, most of our readers will agree that a Smart Fortwo is a far more suitable candidate for a 'Hello Kitty' makeover than a Ferrari 360 Modena [weep here]. Furthermore, unlike the custom Modena, the Fortwo Hello Kitty is an officially licensed product as Smart's US distributor, Penske Automotive and Sanrio, the owner of the 'Hello Kitty' brand, signed an agreement to add a series of car wrap designs featuring the popular feline to the carmaker's vehicle customization program.

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Disney's Magic Highway USA is a Future that Never was

Ah, highway motoring in the 21st century: the epitome of fast, safe and comfortable transportation for the masses. Where there are rarely more than half a dozen cars on the road and the family relaxes with a board game while their car automatically whisks them to work or to the shops.

The 21st century: where traffic accidents are dealt with by airborne units that are police, fire and ambulance all rolled into one and road works cause only minimal delays thanks to prefabricated components and enormous road laying machines.

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Sony Upsets Fans by Delaying Gran Turismo 5 Yet Again

There's an old saying that I think is appropriate here: when it rains, it pours. Sony has announced further delays to its much anticipated Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) arcade racing title. The game, which was scheduled for an early November release, has been once again pushed back, this time to the "holiday season".

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Google’s Latest Killer App is one Step Closer to the Driverless Car [with Video]

It came from San Francisco Bay. A hybrid killing driving machine with a singular purpose: to destroy mankind to further the cause of safe motoring. A Toyota Prius infused with advanced technology that allows it to kill without remorse drive itself and created by the Devil himself Google! Pardoning that brief flight of fancy, here's the real scoop:

Google is working on an automated / driverless car with the help of DARPA Challenge luminaries Chris Urmson and Anthony Levandowski. Mr. Urmson was the technical team leader on CMU's 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge winning entry, whilst Mr. Levandowski built the world's first autonomous motorcycle for the DARPA Grand Challenge as well as an automated pizza delivery vehicle.

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MINI Shows Off Lifestyle Collection for Very, Very Early Christmas Buyers

When not in the business of car-making, MINI promotes its online shop. And with Christmas only [...] two-and-a-half-months away, the company thought it would be a good idea to put together a selection of gifts for early birds. We guess it could be worse as we've seen companies advertising their Christmas goodies (or ideas) from the end of summer.

In any case, MINI's latest Lifestyle Collection includes numerous items ranging from the Sonoro Internet Radio that can receive over 18,000 web radio stations via WiFi or LAN and the Cuckoo Clock, to the Snow Rocker toboggan and Baby Racer push-car. If you're interested, scroll down for the gallery.

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Halo Intersceptor Design Study is a Bugatti-like Flying / Swimming Car for Billionaires

I wasn't aware of this, but apparently billionaires absolutely despise leaving their cars to board other modes of transportation. You can just imagine Donald Trump sighing heavily in the back of his Maybach, "Do I really have to open the door and climb up those five little steps to board my Gulfstream V?"

No doubt feeling deeply for these disheartened millionaires, U.K. concept designer Philip Pauley has come up with the Halo Intersceptor [sic], a futuristic study for a car that can be transformed into a plane, a helicopter and even a boat.

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Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Online Test Drive is GTA IV with Only One Car and No Crime

Clearly taking its inspiration from those throwaway iPhone / iPod games loved so much by Volkswagen and its subsidiaries, the North American arm of Mitsubishi Motors will let a select few test drive the new Outlander Sport compact [called ASX in Europe] remotely through "Mitsubishi Live Drive".

In a world first, customers will be able to take the compact crossover around a closed circuit course, controlling the actually vehicle through an "interactive remote control" from the comfort of their own internet-connected PCs. I wonder what a "non-interactive remote control" would be...

When developing the Live Drive experience, Mitsubishi consulted robotics expert, Dr. James Brighton who was instrumental in constructing the online test drive program

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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Announces Pay-By-Height Pricing and Merry-Go-Around with Never Before Seen Prototypes

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has announced that it will be opening to the public for a short Inaugural Period, beginning at 7pm on October 27th, 2010. This period, which will no doubt be used to sort out any kinks, will continue up to the park's official, Grand Opening in November.

Unlike most parks, which sell tickets based on age, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi's tickets will be sold according to height. Guests under 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) will pay AED 165 (US$45), while guests over 1.5 metres will pay AED 225 (US$61).

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Citroën Releases Dating 2.0 to Help People Find a Date for The Paris Motor Show (and Market the DS3)

Ooohweee, does Citroën know how to get this pale, pajama-wearing, cries-himself-to-sleep-every-night hippie blogger interested. Screw match-dot-com, we've got a car dating service now. The French brand know for its wild and out of this world concepts (see GTbyCitroën, Survolt, Revolte, etc.) has created a new form of match-up for the car enthusiast called Dating 2.0, and it's one nifty little time-waster.

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Hasselblad H4D Ferrari is Another Cynical Marketing Excercise

Why can't carmakers stick to building cars? You don't see Dyson and Prada making a limited edition vacuum cleaner or Apple and Westinghouse producing an iPad integrated refrigerator (so far).

And yet, here we are. Swedish camera company Hasselblad (famous for its camera's use on the Apollo moon missions) and Italian supercar maker Ferrari have collaborated on a limited edition model of the Hasselblad H4D camera.

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Fan-made Transformers Film from Russia is Simply Awesome [with Video]

Michael Bay, you need to be taking notes, because this fan-made Transformers short film is epically cool. Created by 21-year old Alexander Vladimirovich Semenov from Russia, the film doesn't use little white trash GM robots or the ridonkulous SR-71 pirate grandpa; instead, it stars a cool old VAZ 2106...I think...and some dinky little cell phone robots.

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Real-Life Transformer Fulfills All Our Childhood Fantasies

This video of a real-life Transformer snapped rolling on Hollywood Boulevard has been making the rounds on YouTube for a few months. No, it's not a lame viral marketing attempt by Citroen or a trailer for a new shaky cam Michael Bay / Jerry Bruckheimer movie.

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Fauxmula 1: Ferrari Virtual Academy gives you the chance to Race F1 Online

Ferrari has announced a virtual simulator to give fans of its Scuderia F1 team something to do between races. Using input from its F1 drivers (Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella) and engineers, the Ferrari Virtual Academy will be revealed live at Monza in Ferrari's paddock at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.

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Twisted Metal: Transformers Sculptures Built from Recycled Steel

Found over on Robo Steel's website (thank God for the internet), here are some Transformers that you can actually own. Before you read any further, you should know that acting fast is key here, because both versions of the 60-cm Optimus Prime are sold out at €280 each. Don't worry, the €5,500 2.5-meter version is still available (whew).

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Problem Solved: HumanCar Hybrid Runs on Electricity and PEOPLE! [with Video]

The HumanCar Imagine PS is a human-electric hybrid that's capable of doing 100 km/h (62 mph) on a flat surface and 50 km/h uphill (likely with the wind at your back). Labeled a low-mass vehicle (LMV) for obvious reasons, it was developed by Professor Charles Greenwood and it's...wait for it...hand-cranked.

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V8 Hotel in Germany Offers (Vrrr)Rooms For Car Enthusiasts

For those of you looking to pick up your Mercedes-Benz or Porsche from the factory, or if you're simply in Stuttgart for a few days visiting the... mistress, may we suggest you check out the V8 Hotel. Found in the Meilenwerk, "a forum promoting driving culture", the hotel is just a car-themed venue to be enjoyed by the whole family.

The hotel features a few different areas, including an old airport building that houses the standard rooms and something called "the old shipyard" that features the automotive rooms. Some of the auto stuff is pretty snazzy (like the Vision room), and some is delightfully tacky (the drive-in).

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Mega Robot Arm Turned into Ferrari F1 Racing Simulator [with Video]

This is by far the coolest thing I'm allowed to say I've seen today. It's a massive robot arm from some future Terminator that's been transformed into a Ferrari F1 simulator... a big one. Look closely and envision yourself in that seat kicking it to some Gran Turismo 5. It's immense.

The CyberMotion Simulator, built at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, in Tübingen, Germany, rides on a theme park-derived Robocoaster arm that can lift 500 kg. But why is it important scientifically?

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