Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Fashionistas Take Heed! Al & Ed's Autosound 'Goes over the Top' and Breaks New Barriers in Style and Class with Its Vehicle Enhancements, to Be Showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show : The First Ever All Limited Edition Ed Ha

Fashionistas Take Heed! Al & Ed’s Autosound ‘Goes over the Top’ and Breaks New Barriers in Style and Class with Its Vehicle Enhancements, to Be Showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

The First Ever All Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars, Numbered and Signed by French Designer Christian Audigier Promise Glitz!

LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 19, 2008 -- With a long history of innovation in new aftermarket vehicle enhancements for cars produced by auto manufacturers, Al & Ed’s Autosound will once again fire up the Los Angeles Auto Show attendees with an automotive experience a step beyond the vehicles on the traditional show floor. Exhibiting the latest in mobile electronics and unique style car customization, Al & Ed’s Autosound will present a fleet of vehicles that will astound, both in sound and fashion, car enthusiasts visiting the aftermarket “paradise,” located in the Los Angeles Convention Center’s Kentia Hall, Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 30.

Every year we put together a vehicle line-up at the Los Angeles Auto Show that shows our singular commitment to unlimited vehicle modification, from the seemingly modest to the xtreme
“Every year we put together a vehicle line-up at the Los Angeles Auto Show that shows our singular commitment to unlimited vehicle modification, from the seemingly modest to the xtreme,” said Gabi Mashal, president of Al & Ed’s Autosound. “We know no boundaries when it comes to vehicle modifications and Los Angeles drivers will ‘get it,’ as they experience our specially designed Ed Hardy Smart Cars and are physically shaken to the core in our 15,000 Watt Escalade with an amp that is as big as the tailgate, among others.”

News Image A recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry for more than half a century, Al & Ed’s has also made its mark in trendy fashion customizations that ‘go over the top’ and break new barriers in style and class. In that regard, they are also a frontrunner in fashion innovations. The company employs top flight designers for customizations such as the trunk in the 2006 Ford Mustang with full suede headliner, or the Ed Hardy Smart Cars that have koko kuture 17” wheels with the Ed Hardy “Tiger” center hub cap and custom seven layer Ed Hardy tattoo inspired satin paint scheme.

The line up of show cars on display in the Al & Ed’s Autosound booth in Kentia Hall include:

Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars

The SmartFortwo car is the hottest ride in the streets, today. But with the Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars, which are custom-built upgrades to a standard Smart Car and individually numbered by famous French fashion designer, Christian Audigier, it is simply ‘hotter than hot’. Available in Ed Hardy satin black or Ed Hardy satin white, each Ed Hardy Smart Car has been given a seven layer Ed Hardy tattoo inspired satin paint scheme, premium leather seats with Ed Hardy® tattoo embroidered suede inserts, suede upholstered upper dash, twelve piece interior accents finished in piano black gloss, chrome dual tip exhaust system by Doug Thorley, twelve piece interior accents finished in piano black gloss and headers providing a 6HP and 14ft Lbs. torque performance increase. It has integrated Bluetooth and navigation systems, iPod and iPod video interface and a specialized Ed Hardy® edition Kenwood® 6.1” touch screen AM/FM/CD/DVD player, just to name a few.

2005 Mercedes-Benz G500

This knock out G500 is nothing like you have seen around your local Starbucks, super market, or especially Gym. This high-profile client has obtained a prestigious honor in allowing us to build the proper Mercedes-Benz to give the Al & Ed’s Golden Touch to his G500. The interior includes a full complete custom look with a suede headliner as well as suede inserts, pillars, and visors. Located in the hatch, a custom Mercedes-Benz Cooler was stationed to help with that tailgate experience. The two 7" Alpine monitors allow his passengers to enjoy the full Alpine Media package including an IVAW-505 unit to control all Audio and Video functions throughout the vehicle. The fully fiber glassed Subwoofer enclosure holds two JL Audio 10" W3 subwoofers being pushed by two Solid Focal 1 along with a Focal Solid 4 amplifier powering two sets of Focal 165K2P three way components. In addition, an Alpine rear view camera was installed flush to allow parking assistance whenever needed. Finally the exterior gives a TKO putting a halt with Brembo Brakes and sets it off with three-piece 24" wheels.

2007 Black and “Lamborghini Green” Dodge Nitro

The ONLY NitroGhini is the first amongst all of Dodge Nitro's out on the streets and throughout the United States to have the first vertical door kit mocked and custom made specifically for the vehicle. The Nitro also includes a full Air Ride Suspension with nine switches allowing full function air-ride including: front, back, side to side, and pancake. The custom Air Ride Suspension allows the vehicle to rise up and drop down accordingly to better view the vehicle's 24" wheels. Besides the eye catching vertical doors and 24" wheels, color matched to the vehicle with black and Lamborghini Green paint as it tucks under the fender, the exterior of the vehicle has a custom three stage Lamborghini Green painted trimmings, grille, logos, roof, brakes, and calipers. The Audio System includes: a fully fiber-glassed enclosure holding three Power series T1500-1 1500 watt amplifiers, pushing six Power series 12" T112D2 subwoofers with two Power series T400-4 400 watt amplifiers, pushing Alpine SPS600C components in all door panels accumulating 8,800 watts of pounding power throughout the vehicle. The video package in the vehicle provides five 7" monitors: one molded in the front dash panel and four more in the head rest, two for the passengers and two more in rear for tail gate party. Speaking of hot, the uniqueness of this car cannot be overstated.

2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV – 15,000-Watt Experience

With an unprecedented 15,000-Watt Rockford Fosgate T15kW amplifier, one of only six in the world, twenty-four Rockford 6-1/2-inch component speakers and eight 15-inch subwoofers packed in to this 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV, audiophile auto-show-goers will finally be able to “feel” the music.

2008 Limited Edition Dodge Challenger Hemi

This car’s look has that eye-catching Dodge Hemi orange. Together with its custom satin black painted wheels and custom performance headers by Doug Thorley Headers and Eibach lowering springs, it is an absolute must see car. In the dash, show attendees will find Kenwood’s DNX7120 am/fm/cd/dvd/ipod/ipod video/Sirius satellite radio/navigation/bluetooth touch screen and custom installed in the front doors, are Kenwood KFC-X1720 6.5" component speakers, while in the rear deck of the car, is a custom installed Kenwood KFC-X1710. There are three Kenwood amplifiers totaling over 4,600 watts of power and two Kenwood KFC-X1022D 10" subwoofer in a custom fiberglass enclosure.

2009 Scion XB

A brand new demo car has a custom paint job that is like none other and will never be duplicated. This car also includes custom two-tone leather interior. The sound system is comprised of an Alpine radio IVA-W505, eight Rockford Fosgate 15" (woofers), two Rockford Fosgate T1500bd, one 3Sixty.2, two Rockford Fosgate T6004, one 10 Farod Capacitor, five Kinetik Power cells, one pair of 8" Marine for the rear, one pair of 6.5 Marine for the rear door and one pair of components. And behold, it has a 32" LCD hooked up to a Nintendo Wii. This is one of those vehicles that show attendees will just have to experience the ‘ride.’

2008 Spyker C8 Spyder

This is a truly fascinating car. Fascinating in details and technology (400HP). You can see (and feel) the craftsmanship in every single detail, from the gull-winged doors to the leather seams. The Spyker C8 Spyder has the absolute latest in customized electronics. In the dash is a custom installed unit, a Kenwood KVT819DVD am/fm/cd/dvd/ipod/ipod video/Sirius satellite radio/navigation/bluetooth touch screen. This Spyker also has a Focal 165VRS 6.5” component “slim” speakers installed with a custom stainless steel speaker grille. Add to that a Pioneer TSSW1241D 12” slim woofer in a custom enclosure also with a custom stainless steel speaker grille and an Alpine PDX4150 digital amplifier totaling 600 watts of power custom installed behind the driver's seat and the ‘dream’ sound surrounds the driver and passenger.

About Al & Ed’s Autosound

Founded in 1954, Al & Ed’s Autosound has grown to become the largest mobile electronics specialist with more than 20 Southern California stores. As a recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry, Al & Ed’s Autosound has been an instrumental partner in the pioneering of innovations such as FM radio for cars, cassette players for cars and the first car alarms, and is viewed within the mobile electronics industry as a barometer for the industry in Southern California. For more information, visit http://www.al-eds.com.

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[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 7:45 AM 0 comments

Tire Pressure and Fuel Economy

With the rising gas prices and the anxiety about rapidly diminishing fuel reserves, it is a good idea to go ahead and do something about your car. The best thing to do is to get hold of some mileage saving means which will enable you to save some money. Saving gas has become a great challenge nowadays and you have to work out a way to ensure that you do your bit by using an environment friendly way to run your car.

One of the easiest ways to save fuel is to have tires with correct tire pressures. Although most of us are under the impression that our tires have the correct amount of pressure, the truth is quite the contrary. There are factors like wear and tear; seasonal temperature changes and weather which make the car lose about one to two pounds per square inch each month. Although this seems to be quite an insignificant number, you will be alarmed to know that 1 psi loss in four tires means that your miles per gallon will decrease by almost 0.04%.

This means that you need to be very careful about your tire pressure in order to ensure that you get a great mileage out of your car. Tire pressure variations can affect your mileage and the sooner you understand it the better for you.

Given below are some tips which you can look at in order to see if your tires have the right amount of pressure:

1. There should be a sign on the inside of the driver’s door of your car or in the glove box indicating the correct tire pressure for your car. In case you cannot find it, call your car company and get the accurate number from them immediately.

2. Though some stickers will not specify ‘cold tire pressure’, you need to ensure that the tires are cold, which means that they haven’t been used for the past few hours.

3. The psi number marked on the tires stand for the maximum pressure that the tires can undertake. You need not consider it to be the ideal pressure for your car tires.

4. In order to know the tire pressure, always use a digital gauge. It is the best way in which you can get the exact pressure and settle the pressure of the tires accordingly.

Always keep checking the inflation of your tires as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that as many as 30% of cars and trucks do not have the correct amount of inflation. Do not ever judge the inflation and tire pressure of your cars on the basis of their visual appearance because it can be extremely deceptive, to say the least. Go for regular checks which will enable you to understand the correct amount of pressure and air required for your car. In this manner, you will be able to save quite a substantial amount of fuel by getting better mileage out of your car.

About the Author

These days the market is buzzing wirh several products that claims to save gas and improve fuel economy. To get a first hand review of few selected gas saving products visit http://www.gasmileagesavefuel.com

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Frequently Asked Questions About Driving a Minibus

Minibuses are large, passenger carrying vehicles. Because of this extra responsibility the driving regulations regarding licensing, servicing and minibus insurance are a lot stricter than a normal car.

This article is a guide to the frequently asked questions about driving a minibus.

What is a minibus?

The classification for a minibus is a vehicle that has between 9 to 16 passenger seats. With more than16 passenger seats the vehicle is classed as a coach.

What is a Section 19 Minibus Permit?

If a minibus is being driven for hire or reward then a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence is required. Certain organisations such as volunteer groups, whose activities are beneficial to a community, can apply for a Section 19 Permit. This allows a small charge to be made to cover the vehicles operating costs without the need of a PCV licence.

A driver of a Section 19 permit minibus can either be a volunteer or be paid. If the minibus is being used as a non-profit bus service a Section 22 permit can be applied for. However with this permit the driver must be a unpaid volunteer.

Minibuses used by schools and educational establishment that do not charge their pupils do not normally require a Section 19 permit.

Section 19 permits are only valid within the UK.

Do minibus passengers have to wear seatbelts?

Seatbelts requirements for minibuses vary according to the age of the vehicle, passenger carrying capacity, type of passengers (i.e children or wheelchair users) and type of seat fitted. A general rule is that if a minibus is fitted with seatbelts then they must be worn.

It is compulsory for a minibus driver to wear a seatbelt.

What are the Driving Licence requirements for a minibus?

Driving licences issued after the 1st January 1997 require a category D1 classification, which can be obtained by applying to the DVLA and passing a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test.

There are exemptions to this regulation that will allow a minibus to be driven with a full category B (car) licence, but the following conditions need to be met:

1. The minibus is used for a social purpose but not for hire and reward.

2. You must be over 21 and have held your Category B license for more than 2 years. If you are over 70 then you are required to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle.

3. No payment can be accepted for driving the minibus.

4. The minibus cannot weigh more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes with special equipment for carrying disabled passengers.

5. Towing a trailer of any size is prohibited.

6. The minibus can only be driven in the UK. Driving in Europe will require a D1 licence.

What are the speed limits for driving a minibus?

Speed limits for a minibus on UK roads are:

30 mph in urban and residential areas50 mph on A class (single-carriageway) roads60 mph on dual-carriageway roads70 mph on motorways

If the minibus is towing a trailer the speed limit on motorways is reduced to 60 mph and the fast lane cannot be used for overtaking.

Minibuses registered after 1st January 2005 must now be fitted for with a speed limiter, restricting their maximum speed to 62 mph.

What are the regulations for driving a minibus in Europe?

A 'waybill' or an 'own account certificate' must be carried regardless of whether the minibus is being used for hire or reward. The MinibusClub.co.uk has more information about these documents.

Other documents that need to accompany the vehicle include a minibus insurance certificate, European accident form and Vehicle Registration document. A specialist minibus insurance provider will be able to advise whether a Green Card is also needed.

When driving in Europe a GB sticker or EU style GB sticker must be prominently displayed on the minibus at all times.

More information about minibus driving regulations can be obtained from the Directgov website or the Minibus Club.

About the Author

The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website to get a free quote or call their hotline on 0845 609 0323. See how much you could save on your minibus insurance!

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

More Lorry Driver Urban Legends

I’ve written about lorry driver urban legends before, but they just keep cropping up all over the internet. I’m not sure quite why lorry drivers and their vehicles often seem to be at the centre of these kinds of stories – my theory is that it’s the lorry drivers themselves who spread them while running haulage jobs and return loads all over the world! Perhaps it is just that many urban legends take place on the road, and lorry drivers make for convenient and plausible participants. However they spread, these stories are here to stay, and they get wilder and more outlandish with every retelling. Here are five of the best (and one of them is even true!)

Don’t Mess With The Lorry Driver

According to this legend, three bikers arrive in a café and see a lorry driver sitting on his own. For some reason they decide it will be fun to pick on him. They drink his coffee, pour pepper over him, and eat most of his food. The lorry driver does nothing, simply eats what is left, pays the bill and leaves. Afterwards, one of the bikers says to the waiter, “He wasn’t much of a fighter, was he?” The waiter, who is looking outside, replies “He wasn’t much of a driver either; he just backed his lorry straight over three motorcycles parked outside!”

True or False? It wouldn’t surprise me if this was true, since lorry drivers are renowned for their non-nonsense nature, but there are no recorded instances of this actually happening. A scene similar to this has appeared several times on film (for example, in Smokey and the Bandit and Every Which Way But Loose) indicating that it probably belongs in the realms of fiction.

Loose Load = Decapitation

Here’s a story about a gruesome kind of “return load”! As a motorcyclist is driving behind a lorry, a loose sheet of metal slips from the back of the lorry and decapitates him. The now headless driver, propelled by the momentum of the bike, travels past the lorry driver, who sees the motorcyclist, has a heart attack, and crashes his lorry.

True or False? It was false, but it recently became true! The original story is an urban legend that has been around for decades and has dozens of variations, but gruesomely enough, similar events occurred in 2001. 43 year old Linda Riojas was decapitated by a sheet of metal that apparently fell from a lorry in front and went through her windshield before landing next a Bible in the back seat. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!

“Wait, is that a-”

A biker is on the road at night (what is it about lorry drivers and bikers in urban legends?) sees two bikers coming down the other side of the road. He decides to show off by riding in between them and turns into the oncoming lane. But at the very last moment, he sees that it isn’t two bikes on the road ahead of him, but the headlights of a lorry.

True or False? Definitely false – this one has been kicking around for a long time, told as either a joke or a spooky campfire story. A variation of it even appears in the 1921 film Hard Luck, where Buster Keaton attempts to commit suicide by standing in front of a car (seen only by its headlights) and is instead passed by two bemused motorcyclists.

The Al-Qaida Return Load

Shortly after September 11th, an email did the rounds warning that over thirty rental trucks and lorries had gone missing “taken by Arabic looking men”, presumably for a follow up attack.

True or False? Completely false. The three companies mentioned in the original email (Ryder, U-Haul and Verizon) said that none of their lorries had gone missing, and it seems to have been just another email hoax.

Deadly Shipment

A lorry filled with ten tonnes of cyanide is hijacked in Mexico for reasons unknown; terrorism is strongly suspected. The lorry is found days later, but is missing its lethal cargo.

True or False? True! Although it had nothing to do with terrorism (and it is likely that the hijackers weren’t even aware of what the lorry was carrying) in February 2002 a lorry was stopped and hijacked by three armed gunmen in Mexico. A few days later, the lorry was found, but with some of the cyanide missing. What happened to it, no one knows…

About the Author

Lyall Cresswell is the Managing Director for the Transport Exchange Group. Haulage Exchange, their freight exchange for the 7.5 tonne and above market, offers an independent environment for its members to exchange loads and manage their groupage.

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Want the Best Ride? Drive a Honda

Few weeks back I had a very fantastic experience with Honda, I hope it will be in USA with in next year. I am not sure which vehicle will successful in USA but those which are highly recommended are:

- Acura RDX

- Acura TSX

Honda started with diesel in Europe in 2004, it was called Accord but it was sold as TSX in European countries. My favorite car of choice is the European Civic five-door. Some features of this car are:

- On wheels, it looks like a space age suppository.

- It has an engine of 2.2L DOHC having 16 aluminum valves.

- The running compression of the engine is 16.7:1

- A turbocharger with variable nozzle.

- Its wheels are easily moved by the help of a balance shaft.

The output of the Civic is at 138 hp with 4000 rpm, 250 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. The only best thing I found in Honda accord is the high torque of its diesel engines.

The car which soothed my eyes is Civic.

- It has a powerful engine with i-CTDi

- Its electric motors at very low revs produce huge thrust.

In Honda, when you reach 2000 rpm, at that time you will find a modest acceleration.

- You will be pressed in to seat when the tidal wave of torque boots you with pressure.

- After that I drove that car to 12 miles by resetting its fuel meter. I ran that car in streets with hyper miler mode, skipping gears and shifting below 2000 rpm with a speed of 45 mph. you can drive this car into highest gears.

- It has the facility of series of LEDs which helps you to see the Speedo meter and judge yourself economically. When I personally tested the drive it was 3.9L/100 km, then after taking my lunch I drove that car for 43 miles.

- When I checked the reading it was dropped down to 4.7L/100 km. next day I again drove that car in type R and also noted down the readings, I found the reading dropped to 5.0L/100 km. I highly recommend this kind of car for personal and professional use.

Some other features of this model are:

- It has a build in civic like built in.

- It is seven seats and most likely to hit the market of USA in near future.

- Having protocol of cylindrical deactivation, it has added to the 3 cylinder option with 4 cylinder mode.

- Its weight is unchanged virtually as it has an effective ACE body structure.

- It is formed of aluminum with high steel to make it powerful.

- It is suited for the hard slogs in streets.

- When you sit in and driving with an ideal speed, if you try to stop at once then you don’t have to feel any stress as it has an ideal cushions to give floaty feeling.

Enjoying the wide variety that Honda and Acura offer through many different set ups and modes. It will soon hit the US market in 2009 for American drivers to enjoy.

About the Author

Many car enthusiasts like to modify their cars. If you are one of them, consider ASA JH8, ASA JH9, OZ Ultraleggera, and ASA ZR2 wheels.

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Tips to Save on Gas Bill Payments

If you have are someone who uses a car, you must have realized that the rising fuel prices are affecting your pocket. You have, then, obviously wondered about whether there is any way to save gas bill. Since the days of cheap fuel are gone for good, you have to find out new ways to save your gas bill.

One of the best ways to save fuel is to drive carefully. Although most individuals do not follow this, it is a very important part of fuel conservation. You have to become a patient driver, avoid unnecessary braking and revving up of your engine. Also, maintaining a constant speed helps a lot in conserving fuel.

1. Try to keep your car free from unnecessary weights. Excess weight in the car results in excess burden on the engine, which ultimately results in more gas consumption. Keeping your car light is a great way of ensuring that you save up a lot of fuel.

2. Avoid waiting for something with your engine turned on. In case you need to stop over somewhere for more than two minutes, try switching off the engine in order to save fuel.

3. The best way to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment is to go for alternative fuels. In case you can convert your engine to one that runs on water, it will the best way to save your gas bill.

A great way to save gas bill is to get your tires properly inflated and to ensure that the tire pressure is perfect in your car. These are often neglected details but when it comes to saving fuel, these little things can ultimately matter a lot.

A great way to save fuel is to go for nitrogen inflation. This particular kind of inflation increases your mileage by 5% to 15%. This does not even cost that much, as you can get your nitrogen inflation done for a sum of $3 to $5.

The problems with air inflation are many and thus, there is a bid to switch to nitrogen inflation which is much better. Air can result in leaks through valves, corrode the aluminum or steel wheels and also migrate through rubber. These problems can all be solved simply by using nitrogen. Nitrogen inflation means that you can maintain better air pressure in the tires and save more fuel. Ultimately, it also means that you will be able to save your gas bill by quite an amount.

Nitrogen also ensures that the tires remain cooler, which is necessary for keeping constant tire pressure. Maintaining constant tire pressure is a great way of conserving fuel.

These might seem to be really small things but when it comes to saving fuel, they contribute a lot to the big picture. There are little adjustments that you need to make in order to ensure that you can save a substantial amount from your gas bills in these days when the fuel prices are rocketing. Apply these little tips to your own driving and car maintenance and see the difference for yourself.

About the Author

For more details on which products can save gas bills view the reviews at http://www.gasmileagesavefuel.com

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Top 5 Classic James Bond Cars

The latest Bond car for the film "Quantum of Solace" is the Aston Martin DBS. Low-profile 20inch car tyres, smooth lines and curves, flared wheel arches and an overstated front grill; it is the epitomy of British cool with which to save the world.

The Aston Martin's 6.0-litre V12 engine has a distinctive throaty roar that is capable of 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 191mph.

This has to rate as one of Bond's best looking cars but to compare I have compiled a list of 5 other classic Bond cars:

1) Recently voted the most iconic car of all time, the Aston Martin DB5 appeared in 'Thunderball', 'Goldfinger' and more recently 'Casino Royal'.

It was originally introduced in 1963. Its film debut was in the 1964 Goldfinger, starring alongside Sean Connery. Its distinctive silver livery, streamlined bodywork and large front grill was new for its time.

However the aesthetically pleasing body hid a vast array of lethal surprises to confound even the most troublesome of Bond's enemies. You may remember a scene in Goldfinger where one rear brake light spurted oil onto the road. And the other released triple-spiked nails to burst the car tyres of the pursuing villains.

Other clever features devised by Q included a revolving licence plate, an exhaust that expelled smoke-screen canisters and wheel hubs that revealed knives to slash car tyres.

2) The white Lotus Elite used by Roger Moore in 1977 'The Spy Who Loved Me' surprised everyone with its ability to be driven underwater.

In an attempt to escape a pursuing helicopter the Lotus was driven off a pier into the sea. At the time you would have thought this was the end for the car. But with typical Bond creativity the car tyres retract and it was transformed into an operational submarine, complete with fins and a periscope. The persistent helicopter soon meets its demise with a missile fired from the car beneath the water.

3) The 1987 film 'The Living Daylights' saw a return to the Aston Martin. This Aston Martin V8 had a powerful engine to compliment its macho looks. It used a fuel injection system that replaced carburetion. Due to the compact nature of this new technology the car could be designed with a flat bonnet, unlike the curved bonnets of its predecessors.

As with any Bond car there were a number of clever additions including self retractable spikes in the car tyres for extra grip on icy surfaces, lasers behind the front hubcaps and missile launchers behind the headlights.

4) It was bold move not to use a British manufactured car in the 1999 'The World Is Not Enough' but BMW Z8 soon won over the Bond fan. Its retro styling and red leather interior was backed up by a 400-horsepower V8 engine that had a top speed of 158mph.

Hidden accessories included missile launchers in the side vents and a windscreen that displayed important data. The car could be operated remotely using the key chain.

5) The Aston Martin was back in the 2002 'Die Another Day' starring Pierce Brosnan. This time it was the V12 Vanquish, sometimes referred to as 'a DB9 on steroids'.

The classic styled V12 nearly met its match when confronted with the villain's Jaguar XKR. But the front mounted Gatling gun, rocket launchers in the doors and bombs in the boot soon put paid to that.

Two other clever features, which eventually won the battle for Bond, were the car's ability to become invisible and the spikes hidden in the car tyres. The latter helped the car drive up an ice wall to avoid the fast approaching enemy, causing the Jaguar to have a unceremonious demise at the bottom of a lake.

As wonderful as the Bond cars are, thankfully features like spikes in car tyres have not become common place on our modern vehicles. If they ever do be sure to consult a specialist before changing a punctured car tyre.

About the Author

Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit the website to join their discount club and receive a fabulous 5% extra discount off future purchases from their massive range of top brand car tyres, alloy wheels, batteries and exhausts.

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

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