Tags: nissan 240sx, pontiac solstice, xdc, drifting, new jersey
Categories: Cool Cars | Cool Videos

As Nissan is ramping up for the release of the all-electric Leaf in Japan and the U.S., they are announcing some nifty new features they plan on rolling out in other models as well. While the company wants to make cars that are good for the environment, they also want to be good for the drivers. So they're going to pump vitamins right out of the air conditioning vents!

A refreshing vitamin C spray will waft through the air conditioner, allowing drivers to inhale the immune system booster, while also coating their skin with the moisturizing mist. There will be also be new stress-reducing seats made from NASA technology to enable better blood circulation and lessen back pain.

But wait! There's more! Nissan also plans to equip cars with "friendly" speedometers that report much more than just your speed. You can be reminded of important events and dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries! Now if they would just include a voice synthesizer, flame thrower, tear gas launcher, and pyroclastic lamination, we'd be that much closer to owning a modern day KITT from Knight Rider!

Tags: vitamin c, vitamin c cars, nissan, nissan news, new cars, cool cars, green cars, nissan leaf
Categories: Cool Cars

Everyone was excited about the luxury Maybach Excelero coupe, but since it never went into production, the only time people saw it on the road was in Jay-Z's music video for Lost One. However, German engineering firm Xenatech is developing a luxury coupe based on the Maybach 57S, to be called the Xenatech Coupe.

Only 100 sleek and stylish coupes will be made, with each one individualized to the buyer's specifications. It promises to retain the same power as the Maybach 57S, with 612-horsepower, 6-liter twin-turbo V12, and an acceleration of 62 mph in five seconds flat. And the price? Right around $800,000. Cha-ching!

Tags: cars, cool cars, maybach 57s, xenatech coupe, luxury cars, maybach coupe
Categories: Cool Cars

Planning a trip to the capital of the United Arab Emirates later this year? Swing by Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to ride the world's fastest rollercoaster, experience heart pumping G-forces, and brush up on your racing skills in simulators and driving schools. This theme park is no Disneyland; it's an immersive experience that promises to spark the Ferrari spirit inside you!

Safety goggles are required to ride Formula Rossa, the fastest rollercoaster on the planet. It simulates the feeling of flooring a Ferrari Formula-1 race car, accelerating up to 240km/h. Other attractions include a flume ride journey through the heart of a Ferrari 599 engine, an aerial voyage over Italy following a Ferrari, and state-of-the-art driving and racing classes. There's also a vast range of Italian cuisine, along with fine Ferrari fashions. You can even have your photo taken in a vintage Alpha Romeo!

Ferrari fans, families and racing freaks can all experience the race, the culture, the indulgence and the history of Ferrari like no one has before! Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opens October 28, 2010.

More...

Tags: ferrari, ferrari world abu dhabi, ferrari theme park, world's fastest rollercoaster
Categories: Cool Cars

High performance, luxury hybrids continue to compete for the environmentally conscious consumers... that have lots of cash. Fisker Automotive recently secured a $528 million loan from the Department of Energy so they are one step closer to introducing the highly anticipated Fisker Karma.

The Technology

The Karma uses Q-DRIVE plug-in hybrid technology, developed exclusively for Fisker Automotive by Quantum Technologies. A fully-charged Karma burns no fuel for the first 50 miles. After that, the car operates as a normal hybrid vehicle with a gasoline engine running a generator which charges the lithium ion battery. The solar roof helps charge the car and cools the cabin while the car is parked. If you charge overnight and commute less than 50 miles per day, you'll achieve an average fuel economy of 100 mpg per year.

More...

Tags: cool cars, fisker automotive, fisker karma, hybrids, electric cars, luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
Categories: Cool Cars

The Kelley Blue Book crew have announced their Top 10 list of the most environmentally friendly cars available for sale right now. The criteria involved in compiling the list were fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions, safety, comfort, and the all important "fun to own" factor. 

In other exciting Kelley Blue Book news, the Apple app store just approved the KBB.com app for download. It's free and super simple to check prices on thousands of vehicles. This handy app also displays KBB's twitter feed and helps you find a specific dealership in your area.    

#10 - 2010 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid (22mpg)

#9 - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (26mpg)

 

#8 - 2010 BMW 335d (27mpg)

 

#7 - 2010 Honda Fit (31mpg)

More...

Tags: cars, green cars, top 10 green cars of 2010, kelley blue book, 2010 toyota prius, top 10 list, kbb.com, iphone apps
Categories: Cool Cars

The futuristic stylings of the Bertone Pandion was designed to shake up the auto industry. The Italian design firm, who has worked with Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Alfa Romeo, is one of the most famed auto design houses in history. With a new design director this year, Bertone is determined to show the world once again what they can do. 

It's the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo and Bertone is celebrating by introducing the Pandion, built on an Alfa chassis and powered by the 4.7L V8 engine of the Maserati GranTurismo. 

The most extreme feature of the Pandion may be the 12 foot long doors. With a push of a button, they extend straight up towards the sky. New design director Mike Robinson says this remarkable, if not ridiculous, feature was added to "bring the ‘wow’ factor to today’s lackluster automotive industry." Like, wow, how am I going to fit this into my garage? 

More...

Tags: cool cars, bertone, bertone pandion, cars, concept cars, alfa romeo
Categories: Cool Cars

Which do you prefer - the smell of gasoline or the smell of delicious fresh ground coffee? The Carpuccino runs on, you guessed it, coffee grounds! It's a modified 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco that converts the java into gas, which sounds like it would be green and cheap.

The team who built this cup o' joe jalopy is from the British TV show Bang Goes The Theory and they'll drive from Manchester to London on waste coffee grounds. Although they won't be quick about it. The 210 mile trip will use the equivalent of 11,760 espressos so they'll have to stop every 30 to 40 miles to pour in more grounds. They'll also have to clean out the filters every 60 miles, so the journey will take around 10 hours.

More...

Tags: cool cars, carpuccino, cappuccino car, car that runs on coffee, bang goes the theory
Categories: Cool Cars

500 horsepower, mid-engine V8, 2 electric motors, and 78mpg... need we say more? The new Porsche 918 Spyder was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and people are loving it.

Many are excited about the fancy stylized look, while others are awestruck over the acceleration of 0 to 62mph in 3.2 seconds. Also this Porsche has 4 driving options, all accessible with just a push of the buttons on the steering wheel.

The E-Drive mode is powered by electricity only and allows for 16 miles. Hybrid mode drives on both electric and gas, while Sport Hybrid mode boosts performance sending most of the power to the rear wheels. Then there's the Race Hybrid option which will get you to 200mph in no time.

High performance hybrids look to be the way of the future and the people are very pleased.  

More...

Tags: porsche, porsche 918 spyder, geneva motor show, hybrids, plug-in, supercars
Categories: Cool Cars

No gas tank? No tail pipe? No way!

Move over hybrids... the Nissan Leaf is a 100% battery powered electric car!

The Leaf can drive 100 miles per charge, and since 80% of U.S. drivers commute less than 62 miles each day, this car claims to be the perfect everyday vehicle. Convenient home charging units need only 4 to 8 hours to get the Leaf back on the road again. For longer trips, there will be quick charge stations, like gas stations, that will offer boosts to the battery in only 26 minutes. Nissan reports it will accelerate like a typical V6 car and reach speeds up to 90mph.

Prices have yet to be released but some test models may be seen on the roads this year, while they should be ready for mass production in 2012.

Tags: nissan leaf, zero emissions, battery powered cars, electric cars
Categories: Cool Cars