Daily Archives: April 3, 2016
Vauxhall Launched Zero Emission Adam C
Last year, the world collectively felt the hottest temperature in history. In New York, temperature didn’t drop until around New Year’s Eve, which wasn’t usually the case in the notoriously cold state.
The call for less dependency on fossil fuels is loud, more so in the automobile industry. Luckily, at least one company is putting its best foot forward. Vauxhall has just announced Adam C, the first full-size production kinetic car. It runs on a kinetic mechanism that is actually quite similar to the mechanism found on children’s clockwork toys.
On the outside, it is styled the same as any of its counterpart in the sedan arena, but inside, it’s a different story altogether. Vauxhall ditched the engine, fuel tank and battery to replace them with an innovative technology that powers up the engine.
The result is zero running costs and absolute no damage to the environment.
The kinetic mechanism basically works like this: a removable knob is plugged at the back of the vehicle, which a simple winding for 15 minutes can give the Adam C power up to 125 miles. The same power will be used for onboard features like the infotainment system.
Mick Cannical, Vauxhall’s Chief Kinetics Engineer, has high hopes for the Adam C. The use of the kinetic technology will revolutionize the way people drive. Even the winding of power was calculated based on an average person’s drive each day, which does not exceed 35 miles.
Winding the Adam C is even beneficial to one’s health since Cannical said winding would exercise the chest, shoulder, arms and core muscles, leading up to the burning of 400 calories.
And if you ever run out of power, there’s no need to find the nearest gas station or walk for miles to get there. You can just wind it up from the detachable knob at the back.
Mini Hipster Hatch Has Instagram Filter Windows
Mini is trying to capitalize in the hipster subculture that is now composed of affluent or middle class. Gone were the days when the hipster culture of the 1940s hated the idea of automobiles because luxury wasn’t “hipster” at all.
According to a report, Mini created a special edition of the Cooper, called the Mini Hipster Hatch, for fans of many hipster bands mere mortals like us have probably never heard of.
The Hipster Hatch is made available in three colors—Brooklyn Blue, Organic Pumpkin and Monochromatic Green. The colors are complemented by the red-and-black lumberjack patterns on the front fenders, side mirrors and the roof. It sits on top of three-spoke alloy wheels that are reminiscent of everything about the 90s.
Inside, this three-door Cooper received an even more vintage style. It has twin-deck cassette player, a big speaker instead of an infotainment screen, and stonewash denim upholstered seats that are good for four persons.
But if you think that’s everything this special edition Cooper have, you’re dead wrong. Mini upgraded its windows with Instagram filters, which by a touch of a button, drivers can turn nostalgic.
There are 12 pre-loaded filters, which included the ever-popular Lo-Fi, Clarendon and Crema.
The Hipster Hatch is being powered by a fixed gear drivetrain with a five-speed transmission that lacks four of the forward gears. Top speed is limited at 25 mph.
Apparently, the sole forward gear and 25 mph top speed will give the driver better control of the vehicle.
Earlier, Mini also surprised us with the announcement of the scissor doors, which will allow the driver and passenger doors to open vertically. This will address tight parking spaces, and ensure comfort for the drivers going in and out of the car.
The Instagram windows, though, is as cute as Mini has ever produced. Who doesn’t want to drive down the road on a lazy Sunday morning with the Lo-Fi filters on the windows and an old cassette tape blaring from the speakers.