Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Volkswagen guns for endurance crown with Golf24


There is nothing quite endurance racing, running a high performance machine non-stop for 24-hours requires uncompromising discipline, Herculean strength and stamina, bulletproof reliability and Scrooge-like fuel economy, all the while belting around a race track as fast as possible without breaking the car.



Designing and building cars that can last the distance is more closely linked to building a car that can be sold to the public than putting together a Formula 1 car and most people will immediately relate to the Golf24.

In fact some people may even try to copy the looks of the Golf 24 for their road cars.


The Golf 24 is powered by a five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 440 horsepower and maximum torque of 540 Nm.

Full Press release below



PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen tees up crazy Golf for 2011 Nürburgring 24-hour

Volkswagen has announced that it is to return to the demanding Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2011 with an all-new challenger - the Golf24.

Equipped with four-wheel drive and developing 440 PS, the dramatic racing version of Volkswagen's best-selling model has already undergone initial testing ahead of the legendary 24-hour race, regarded as one of the toughest tests in the motorsport calendar, which this year takes place from 23 to 26 June.

The Golf24 is fitted with a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 440 PS and maximum torque of 540 Nm. Power is transmitted to the permanent four-wheel drive by a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shift operation.

Volkswagen's last factory fielding of the Golf on the famous roller-coaster circuit of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife dates back to 2007, at which time the 300 PS front-wheel drive vehicle that delivered about 300 hp finished in eighth place overall, ahead of numerous favourites. Successive class victories for the Scirocco GT24 over the past three years have followed but the competitiveness of the event has increased enormously meaning a new technical concept was required.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen explains: 'With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The event enjoys huge popularity, is one of the true classics in motorsport and, due to its extreme distance and unique race track, also represents a very big technical challenge, With our spectacular Golf we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience - right in time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI this year.'

Before lining up on the grid of the gruelling 25 km circuit in June, the Golf24 will undergo an extensive testing and development programme. This began at the end of last year at Portugal's Portimão circuit and further tests have been completed at Vallelunga in Italy. The Golf24 will also compete in three races in the Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

For more information about the Golf24 or Volkswagen Motorsport, please visit www.volkswagen-motorsport.info

Volkswagen guns for endurance crown with Golf24


There is nothing quite endurance racing, running a high performance machine non-stop for 24-hours requires uncompromising discipline, Herculean strength and stamina, bulletproof reliability and Scrooge-like fuel economy, all the while belting around a race track as fast as possible without breaking the car.



Designing and building cars that can last the distance is more closely linked to building a car that can be sold to the public than putting together a Formula 1 car and most people will immediately relate to the Golf24.

In fact some people may even try to copy the looks of the Golf 24 for their road cars.


The Golf 24 is powered by a five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 440 horsepower and maximum torque of 540 Nm.

Full Press release below



PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen tees up crazy Golf for 2011 Nürburgring 24-hour

Volkswagen has announced that it is to return to the demanding Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2011 with an all-new challenger - the Golf24.

Equipped with four-wheel drive and developing 440 PS, the dramatic racing version of Volkswagen's best-selling model has already undergone initial testing ahead of the legendary 24-hour race, regarded as one of the toughest tests in the motorsport calendar, which this year takes place from 23 to 26 June.

The Golf24 is fitted with a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 440 PS and maximum torque of 540 Nm. Power is transmitted to the permanent four-wheel drive by a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shift operation.

Volkswagen's last factory fielding of the Golf on the famous roller-coaster circuit of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife dates back to 2007, at which time the 300 PS front-wheel drive vehicle that delivered about 300 hp finished in eighth place overall, ahead of numerous favourites. Successive class victories for the Scirocco GT24 over the past three years have followed but the competitiveness of the event has increased enormously meaning a new technical concept was required.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen explains: 'With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The event enjoys huge popularity, is one of the true classics in motorsport and, due to its extreme distance and unique race track, also represents a very big technical challenge, With our spectacular Golf we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience - right in time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI this year.'

Before lining up on the grid of the gruelling 25 km circuit in June, the Golf24 will undergo an extensive testing and development programme. This began at the end of last year at Portugal's Portimão circuit and further tests have been completed at Vallelunga in Italy. The Golf24 will also compete in three races in the Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

For more information about the Golf24 or Volkswagen Motorsport, please visit www.volkswagen-motorsport.info

F1 teams wish Kubica well - in Polish


With Robert Kubica recovering, with the prospect of numerous operations to repair his nearly severed arm, Formula One teams on test showed their support by wishing him well, in Polish

Szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia Robet, they all said





Monday, February 21, 2011

GENEVA PREVIEW: Bertone B99 concept for Jaguar

This sleek, classic profile belongs to the Bertone B99, a concept for a compact Jaguar sedan that is set to make an appearance at the Geneva Autosalon in March. 

It appears that Bertone drank deep from Sir William Lyon's design fountain because this concept clearly  paid homage to the low-slung design and sleek profile that Lyons made famous.


The very short front overhang and long tapering tail certainly followed the proportions of the XJ6, one of the most beautiful four-door saloons ever made.



The front three-quarter view further reinforce the classic Jaguar look with the prominent chrome framed grille with the leaping cat on the hood makes it unmistakably Jag and the face is brought up to date with slimline headlamps heavily sculpted lower portion.

The slim A-pillars and C-pillars set well back is another interpretation of the classic Lyons design language.


The tapering tail and and very long rear overhang gives the impression of a jaguar in full flight with its tail stretched for balance and agility.



I do hope that Jaguar will find the elegance and sporty flair that seem to come so easily to Sir William

FIRST PICTURES: MG6, set to hit UK markets



This is the picture of the MG6 as it was posted on the company's facebook page, it was introduced to the UK media on Feb 15.


The  company's facebook entry had this to say;


The MG6 Saloon was introduced to the media today in full UK specification. A review of todays events will be posted on our new website tomorrow - mgmotor.com. For those in the Midlands area, Guy Jones will be appearing live on two programmes this evening - Drivetime on BBC Radio WM (around 5.30) and then on Midlands today on BBC One at 6.30. / Keith


Comments that followed were nearly all positive.


This compared very differently from earlier impressions which criticised the car for its quality.


While Brookland Motors used to be the official distributor for MG and Rover in Malaysia, the original UK company's demise may have voided the contract so we do not know if they will revive the deal or if anyone will bring this model back to our market.


It does look like an interesting model though, doesn't it?

Sunday, February 20, 2011

FIRST GLIMPSE: Hyundai i40 touring


Station wagon is big in Europe and the United States but in Malaysia it is almost never considered by car buyers so the bad news is that we will probably never get this gorgeous i40 touring

The i40 was engineered at the company's Russelheim design facility in Germany and it is designed specifically for the European market with engines and chassis tuning adapted to suit the driving needs of the old continent.



At a glance, the i40 looks a lot like the Sonata but Hyundai's Press release says that this is the first i40 body style to be launched, they will come up with the sedan variant in the near future. hmmmm.....

The launch powertrain is a 1.7-litre turbodiesel but Hyundai is not revealing any performance figures just yet.




PRESS RELEASE

NEW HYUNDAI i40 TO STAR AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Hyundai has revealed the first pictures of the new i40, ahead of its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The debut of i40 comes as Hyundai launches its new brand slogan 'New Thinking. New Possibilities.' The i40 reflects the spirit of change at Hyundai, and represents the company's bold new concept of 'modern premium' – the philosophy that premium quality and characteristics should be accessible to everyone.

The i40 is the company's first D-segment vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for European tastes. It will be shown in Geneva in estate form, and this will be the first i40 bodystyle to be introduced to Europe, with a saloon to follow later this year.

Designed and engineered at Hyundai's R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i40 is the latest Hyundai model to have a purely European identity. Taking styling cues from Hyundai's 'fluidic sculpture' design language, it maintains signature features such as the hexagonal grille. The grille is flanked by two jewel-like headlamps, for a contemporary, confident look that is accentuated by the characterful lines that connect the front and rear of the vehicle, adding to the i40's eye-catching, sophisticated style.

In line with Hyundai's commitment to make premium products and features available to everyone, the i40 has a class-leading level of standard equipment. Among the specification are new technologies for Hyundai, including: heated and reclining front and rear seats; a heated steering wheel; and an active de-mist system that automatically detects and clears mist on the windscreen.

The 'modern premium' concept is also evident in the efficient powertrain choices available to i40 buyers. The i40's 1.7-litre diesel engine, codenamed 'UII', will emit from just 113 g/km of CO2 emissions – a best-in-class figure that also demonstrates the advances the company is making towards global leadership in eco-technology.

Hyundai's unrivalled customer care package, Five Year Triple Care, will come as standard on i40. The industry-leading package offers total peace of mind, with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, five years' roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, "Offering more for less has always been a fundamental principle at Hyundai, and now we are advancing this with our new brand direction under the 'New Thinking. New Possibilities.' slogan. The i40 is a perfect example of how we are offering the best and making it accessible to everyone. From stunning design and specification, to industry-leading technology and aftersales care – the i40 sets itself apart from its competitors."

The i40 will be joined on stage by Hyundai's ground-breaking new 1+2 door Veloster coupe, set for launch in Europe later in 2011. The Curb concept will also be shown, highlighting the latest telematics technology from Hyundai in an 'urban-ready' design. Both cars received their world premieres at the North America International Auto Show last month, and will be making their European debuts in Geneva.

The company's press conference will take place in Hall 1 at 12:30 (CET) on Tuesday 1st March 2011.

PAINFUL FAIL: Redneck attempts truck jump


You just have to watch this video to appreciate just how mad these people are to even consider attempting a truck jump at home without proper calculation.

You an hear the driver hesitating at the last moments, feathering the throttle of the Chevrolet Silverado as he approaches the ramp.



The world would be less funny without rednecks, God bless them.


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Lewis's brother makes racing debut



Nicolas Hamilton, brother of former F1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton will begin racing in the Renault Clio Cup  this Season.


Nicolas suffers from cerebral palsy and is using this opportunity to inspire others who have to endure physical challenges to live the life that they want.





The 19-year old recently got his B-racing licence and has signed up with Total Control racing, a multiple championship winning team in the BTCC support category.



"I have loved motorsport from a young age and watching my brother achieve so much has given me inspiration to make my own racing debut," he said.

"I know this will not be an easy task, but I hope that my doing this will give inspiration to others who have challenges in their life. I can't wait to be racing."

For the full story go to Autosport

2012 Honda Civic in full glory

Civic Coupe Si

Honda has released the first set of official pictures of their all-new Civic and it is a little underwhelming because it looks more like a heavy facelift than a complete model change.

Well actually if you look at the profile, it is quite obvious that the car is all new but the design evolution took such a small step forward that it looked like it was standing still. This is especially unfortunate since Korean car makers are taking huge strides forward in design.



Civic Hybrid

According to Honda America the car will be available in three different performance levels, the eco-friendly HF specification which produces 140hp, a hot 200-horsepower SI state of tune and a Hybrid that cranks out 110hp.

In the USA, the Civic will be available in four-door sedan and two-door coupe form.

Civic HF

for the past two generations, Malaysia has taken the US Honda Civic as our home model and we can expect the trend to continue as our market dictates that space is a very important factor when making purchase decision.

We are likely to get the 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre engine if the current model line-up is followed but whether it will be in eco-friendly HF tune remains to be seen.



Usually super-green states of tune requires high grade petrol and our Euro2 may not make the grade.

Expect a slightly less green state of tune for the Malaysian market.

With the Insight Hybrid already taking root in Malaysia, Honda will probably have to consider carefully whether it is worthwhile to offer a second hybrid model, especially since the volume is particularly low.


But then again Toyota will likely continue with the Prius and the Insight is really not up to the mark to challenge the competition so Honda may have to bring the Civic Hybrid just to keep Toyota honest.

It is worthwhile noting that the USA will even get a natural gas model that produces the same level of power as the HF petrol model. With natural gas available at selected petrol station, it may be a more viable option than hybrid in Malaysia.

We will ask Honda these questions the next time we meet them.







PRESS RELEASE


All-New 2012 Honda Civic Emphasizes Style, Fuel Economy and Performance
Two models offer 40+ mpg


02/17/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.

Featuring the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Civic is designed to even better meet the diverse needs of the compact-vehicle buyer when it launches this spring. The entire redesigned ninth-generation Civic lineup will become more fuel efficient with two models – the all-new Civic HF and the Civic Hybrid – each delivering fuel economy estimates of more than 40 mpg on the highway.

Built on the tradition of Honda fuel efficiency, the economical Civic HF model will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup when it launches this spring. Equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the Civic HF is targeted to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy1 of 41 mpg on the highway. The 2012 Civic Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy1 of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the current Civic Hybrid. Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models will be equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency and Honda ECO Assist™ technology, an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback to promote more efficient individual driving styles.

"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts – fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

In addition to the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models, the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also estimated to achieve improved fuel economy compared to the current models. The Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy2 of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg when compared to the current model. The Civic Natural Gas vehicle is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current model. The Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic Natural Gas models will all be equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.

Along with improved fuel economy, the new Civic lineup also delivers more performance, particularly with the Civic Si. The Civic Si sedan and coupe models will be equipped with a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. The new engine is anticipated to deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. Even with the larger engine and a 22 percent increase in torque, Civic Si is targeted to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy1 of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.

The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, a new "HF" high fuel economy version, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.
Additional information on the new 2012 Civic will be announced closer to the on-sale date. For more information on the current Civic and other Honda models, please visit www.hondanews.com.

Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

* 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
* 5-speed automatic transmission
* ECO Assist technology
* EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
* EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Civic Hybrid Specifications

* 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
* Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
* Lithium-ion battery
* ECO Assist technology
* EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

Civic Si Specifications

* 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
* 6-speed manual transmission
* EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

1Preliminary EPA mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

2Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Friday, February 18, 2011

VIDEO: Watch Bentley's world ice speed record


Bentley's 205 mph new World Ice Speed record is certainly interesting, if for no other reason than the fact they attempted it with a near-standard convertible model with blanked out lights, no side mirrors and a brake parachute bolted to the back.

Watch the video after the jump to see just how much effort went into the project and how dicey it is to go so fast on ice.



Top ten most fined streets in London



If you think our police and local authority enforcement officers are strict, wait till you see how they do things in London.


Apparently the police there are using cars that park without proper payment or permit as goldmine for extra income and one particular street has collected nearly GBP1 million in fines and it is barely one kilometre long.



Londoners are making noise about this draconian act against indiscriminate parkers but so far their laments have fallen on deaf ears


Below are the top 10 most heavily fined streets in London so if you find yourself in London  and on these streets, please, get yourself a proper parking prepaid card/permit



  1. Clapham Park Road (Lambeth) - £914,040
  2. Green Lanes (Haringey) - £606,903
  3. The Broadway/Herbert Rd (Ealing) - £534,041
  4. Kentish Town Road (Camden) - £395,491
  5. Mare Street (Hackney) - £356,012
  6. Chiswick High Road (Hounslow) - £351,416
  7. Elephant Road (Southwark) - £327,472
  8. Lea Bridge Road (Waltham Forest) - £250,270
  9. King's Road (Kensington & Chelsea) - £203,123
  10. Penge High Street (Bromley) - £194,005
  11. Baker Street (Westminster) - £189,515
  12. Uxbridge High Street (Hillingdon) - £172,075
  13. London Road (Croydon) - £171,295
  14. Hackney Road (Tower Hamlets) - £145,612
  15. Macfarlane Road (H'smith & Fulham) - £135,319
  16. Garratt Lane (Wandsworth) - £118,436
  17. Wellington Street (Greenwich) - £75,726
  18. Yew Grove (Barnet) - £47,910
  19. Market Place Car Park (Havering) - £34,185
  20. Grove Road (Sutton) - £22,686
read the whole story at Pistonheads.com

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Paris gets LFA for birthday

File this under: Life’s not fair



Socialite, celebrity and millionaire heiress, Paris Hilton was given a Lexus LFA by her night-club owning boyfriend Cy Waits for her upcoming 30th birthday.


The luxury and high-tech sports car is just another item in a long list of presents that Waits were dishing out for her in February for Valentine’s day and her birthday.

The Yellow LFA was presented to her in front of cameras which were filming her latest reality show.
Price tag for the LFA? USD375,000 and that is before you add anything extra.

While this may seem excessive for us, the Hollywood set thinks nothing of dishing out such gifts for their partner, in fact the most expensive automotive gift was from Beyonce Knowles who gave her husband, Jay-Z a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport for his 41st birthday.

Proton Persona to contest in BTCC

Welch Motorsport to enter an NGTC-spec Persona


Welch Motorsport, a prominent player in the British motorsport scene has been planning a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race car based on the Proton Persona and it will comply with the Next Generation Touring Car specifications.

Although work is already some way down the road, the team believe that they can only take part in the second half of this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.


Team Principal, John Welch is hopeful that the car, to be driven by 27-year-old son Daniel, will make its debut at Snetterton in early August when the BTCC season recommences after a summer break.

He also said that the NGTC Persona will be powered by TOCA’s unbranded turbocharged NGTC engine and not Proton’s own engines.

Welch Motorsports Seat Leon


“We are scheduled to take delivery of the Proton road car today (Wednesday) to begin the process of building it into a BTCC car – so the realistic target is to come into the series in the second half of the season with a longer-term ambition of running two cars.

“Obviously it’s a very different challenge but in recent years we’ve come up against grids of 30 or 40 cars in the SEAT Leon Eurocup and been right at the sharp end, so have learnt something about making a saloon car go quickly.

“Daniel would be one of the quick youngsters coming in. He’s been very quick in everything he’s driven since he was seven years old – he lives and breathes motor racing and has always been fully involved on the engineering side so is a proper all-round competitor. I’m confident he really has the ability to cut it in the BTCC,” James said.

The 2011 BTCC season will kick on on April 3 at Brands Hatch and the calendar will tour 10 races throughout the year.

The BTCC is known as one of the most competitive touring car series in the world.

Apart from the BTCC, Proton is also taking part in the International Rally Challenge with their Satria Neo S2000, which is campaigned by Mellors Elliot Motorsport. The car finished in first and second at the China leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
Demand recovery in 2010 holding up prices despite ample supply with 2011 averaging USD85 per barrel 




The uncertainty that began in Tunisia and Egypt is now infecting Bahrain and this is causing jitters in the oil market, despite the fact that these three countries contribute relatively little to the global supply.



However there is genuine concern that the unrest will spread to the world’s largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia and this may cause serious disruptions in oil supply, pushing up crude prices to record levels.


The situation in Bahrain is very fluid and seem to be steadily worsening by the day, enough to make Formula One Administration to reconsider whether they should relocate the season opener to a safer venue.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Combine these market nerves with strong recovery demand in 2010 rolling into this year, oil prices can only hold on to their current position near the USD100 mark.

Brent is now pushing USD103 for the past week and fluctuated in a narrow band that never breached below the USD100 mark and if market analysts are correct, prices will remain firm for the near future.



The strong prices did not show any sign of softening even after the US began releasing their stockpile after traditional rundown for Christmas and New Year and analysts saying supply would have no ptoblems meeting existing demand.

Jim Burkhard, Managing Director of the IHS Global Oil Group says that a number of factors kept oil prices within the USD70-80 range for much of 2010 – at least until recently.

All the numbers indicate that the supply situation in 2010 is far more comfortable than in 2003-2007 but still prices remained strong.

UniCredit Securities Oil and gas analyst, Artem Konchin, says the 2010 oil environment reflected the interplay between demand and global macroeconomic circumstances.

“Basically, 3 major factors were driving the oil market in 2010. First, it’s currency volatility, which increased people’s interest in oil as a safer asset. Second, it’s inflationary expectations and finally America’s injections into the economy, with investors waiting for the market reaction on how this would influence global demand.”



Konchin believes crude prices will average about $85/bbl over the course of 2011,  with the driving factors remaining similar to 2010, but also with an increase focus on the role of speculation in the crude markets.

“I think that the key factors and tendencies will remain virtually the same, with the volume reserve capacity, or, to be more exact, the speed of their exploration being one of the strongest drivers.


He believed that inflationary expectations in China will remain a big factor and, in 2011 the market will make an attempt to get closer to a fair oil price and get rid of speculative factors.

So, some legislation changes concerning the oil trade could be introduced, ” he added.

Rinspeed BamBoo: Summer Madness

Rinspeed BamBoo brings us close back to nature, not that we would know it.




While Swiss designer Rinspeed says that the colours appearing on the BamBoo range from salmon to lobster to yellow, there is nothing that would indicate that this creation would bring us any closer to nature, or at least the beach, than any other small SUV or the Mini Moke.

Maybe the secret nature of the BamBoo’s love of nature is the perfect reflection of the Swiss love for secrecy.



Hidden underneath the eye-poking exterior is an oversized golf buggy that is overloaded with technology and ways to stay wired and connected to the world.

Still don’t see the back to nature link? Wait for it.

The BamBoo’s roof is an inflatable mattress that you can take off and use as a beach blanket, or mattress . Still no link?

Well, the top part of the inflatable roof is covered in fun stickers showing a young couple sun bathing while the bottom part of the roof is covered in special fabric, made out of genuine bamboo-fibre threads.

In one fell swoop, Frank M. Rinderknechtcould use the word bamboo in the name of the car and an entire series of Press Releases can be made to drive home the message that this mad golf car is the perfect eco-beach bum mobile.

The Press release actually says: “Rinderknecht's latest work "BamBoo" lets the sun rise over the over-engineered metal creatures at the Geneva Motor Show, whose single purpose is to never touch anything other than black asphalt. Yes, this is a taste of summer”.

If you think that this is a cheap repoff of 1960s beach cars, the releases goes on to explain that Rinderknecht ‘reinterprets the automotive references of days gone by and evolves them into the future’.

While discussion about the BamBoo’s aesthetics can continue for a long time to come, there is one thing for sure, anyone driving this Swiss concept will be the main topic of conversation at any beach they may decide to go to.


This is probably why the Bamboo is designed to stand out so much, it is n electrically powered mobile attention seeker.

 The Bamboo also tries to play matchmaker and is designed to help the driver make friends with a grille that is replaced by a display screen that can send different messages to passers by.

It even has multi-coloured lights on the roll-cage to indicate if the driver is available (green), in a party mood (blue) and orange for when the driver needs a break.


The breadbox dashboard is home to an assortment gadgets from HTC tablet PC to smartphones and Hanran JBL GreenEdge speakers.

You start the bamboo using a specially coded Swiss Army Knife.


The funky art that covers the car is the handiwork of New York-based pop artist, James Rizzi