Daily Bits

cars

Need Fuel? How About Some Wine and Cheese?

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Wine and Cheese
Wine and Cheese

Owning a car means a lot of things to different people. For some, a car is simply a means to get around when public transportation does not cut it. For others, it is a statement. Having a car that catches the attention of other people is important. Whatever a car means to you, you will probably agree with all the other car owners in the world on one thing: fueling up is getting darned expensive!

I don’t know if you still remember the days when a gallon (or a liter) of fuel was affordable. These days, the prices just seem to go higher and higher, with a little bit of respite every now and then. The future looks bleak when it comes to conventional fuel, but it seems that bright minds are busy trying to make sure that alternative fuel sources are going to be available to the average person tomorrow. [Read more…] about Need Fuel? How About Some Wine and Cheese?

Hyundai Rumored to Be Working on a Supercar

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Rumored Hyundai Supercar
Rumored Hyundai Supercar

Rumor is the operative word here. In a story ran by Inside Line ((Source)), it was emphasized – rather heavily – that it is all conjecture and whispers, and that no official verification has been received. Then again, these kinds of rumors always have a source. As they say, where there is smoke, there must be fire. So whether or not this piece of news is true, let’s feast our eyes on what is supposed to be on the drawing board over at Hyundai: a new supercar that is set to blast a lot of competition out of this world.

Think Chevy Corvette Z06. Think Nissan GT-R. Let’s add the Jaguar XK, BMW 650i, Porsche 911 and Cayman to that list. All of these are jaw-dropping, drool-inducing cars, but they just might be in for some competition from Korean car maker Hyundai – if there is any truth to the rumors.

So this car may not exist according to official channels, but the grapevine tells us that the Hyundai supercar is is going to be V8 powered and that the price tag would be anywhere from $80,000 and $100,000. More so, little birds have been saying that the same engine powering the Genesis R-Spec will be found under the hood of the yet unnamed supercar. That is, it will also have the all aluminum Tao 5.0-Liter V8 – something totally new from Hyundai, by the way. In addition to this detail, it is also being said that Hyundai engineers and designers are looking at front engine and midengine designs at this point.

The rumors have been dismissed by John Krafcik (Hyundai CEO) as “scurrilous nonsense” ((I just love the fact that he used that adjective.)) but that should not stop us from enjoying some eye candy – and from looking out for more rumors and leaks!

Rumored Hyundai Supercar Green
Rumored Hyundai Supercar Green

If the new supercar is going to look anything at all like these two images above, then car lovers will be in for a treat. Never mind that most of us will not be able to afford one.

Other Korean News

South Korea Suspends Asiana Flights Between Incheon and San Francisco

myCopter: Another Step Towards the Age of Flying Cars?

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myCopter Flying Car
myCopter Flying Car

With news about the Terrafugia being deemed roadworthy hitting the Net recently, hopes for the Age of Flying Cars are sky high. Now, another flying car is in the limelight, making the possibility of flying cars even more of a reality.

This new vehicle is called – rather unimaginatively, I think – myCopter, and it is being touted as a solution to the ever present problem of road congestion. The myCopter is a Personal Aerial Vehicle (PAV) – presumably one of the first of many yet to come – that is aimed to be part of a future personal air transport system (PATS). The idea is for PAVs to be partially or fully autonomous, doing away with the need for air traffic control, which is currently required for airplanes and helicopters. Also included in the concept for a PATS is the fact that PAVs should only be allowed to fly outside controlled airspace, so as not to interfere with the current air traffic.

Brilliant concept – no one can deny that. And if they actually get this system (including the myCopter and other future flying cars) off the ground, I guess we can truly say that this aspect of science fiction has become a reality.

Of course, there are numerous issues that have to be addressed before you and I (and everyone else) will be allowed to man myCopter. Just thinking about all the road accidents we hear about on a daily basis is enough to give anyone the shivers. Now just imagine reckless drivers, not to mention tipsy or drunk ones, taking to the air. For sure, there will always be the moron who will make the air unsafe for everyone else!

Then again, the system designers of myCopter have already taken this into consideration. That is why myCopter is going to be part of a network of flying vehicles. A controlled network, that is. Imagine a cable car system translated into an air system – the myCopters will be programmed to follow formations and avoid obstacles. That may take away from the fun of flying, but in this case, I think safety is a more important consideration. The last thing I want is two myCopters crashing above my house and killing me while I lounge in the garden!

Avoid Traffic Jams with the Terrafugia Flying Car

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Terrafugia Flying Car
Terrafugia Flying Car

What do you get when you combine the design of an airplane and the design of a car? The Terrafugia flying car, of course! This “roadable” aircraft is for real and not just a creation of an imaginative mind immersed in the world of science fiction. Neither is it a mere concept car.

The Terrafugia Transition is a light airplane that can take to the roads just like normal cars do. Imagine this. You are late for work, together with everyone who lives in the area. You have a presentation to give, which can make or break your career. You absolutely have to get to the office but the traffic is as thick as molasses. You can either take a hike – literally – or be late. That is, if you do not own a Terrafugia.

If you have one of these babies, then you can simply fly over the masses stuck in rush hour traffic. Zoom in the air without the limitations of the roads and laugh at them suckers for having regular cars.

First, you have to wait for the roadable aircraft to be manufactured, though. They were supposed to be delivered in 2009 but you know how it is with new things. Delays are inevitable, and the Terrafugia is not exempt. A new batch of test machines are being built and the manufacturer says that this year, we might just see production start.

There is the issue of price, of course, as one vehicle will cost you $250,000. Then again, for a vehicle that can hit the pavement as well as fly in the air, the price is not so bad, is it?

There is another problem, especially for those who are looking for a means of transportation that can carry several people. The Terrafugia can fly with a maximum weight of 330 pounds. That includes the passengers AND the payload. Look to your right. Now look to your left. Do you think you and your co-workers can work out a carpooling scheme? 330 pounds isn’t a lot these days!

In spite of the issues, the Terrafugia might just become the granddaddy of flying cars that future generations will take for granted. In the meantime, start saving money and losing weight to make sure the Terrafugia works out for you when it comes out!

Via The Register

Why Online Auto Parts Supply Became Such a Big Business

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Sales of online auto parts have been enjoying an upward trend for years with rapid increases beginning nearly a decade ago. Sales of online parts reached $12.3 billion in 2019, according to data from Hedges & Co., an online digital marketing firm. The company said that it expects another 16% increase of that for 2020 or about $14.2 billion in sales. Projections call for $19 billion by 2022. [Read more…] about Why Online Auto Parts Supply Became Such a Big Business

Sell Cars Online – the Old Fashioned Way

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Just because you’re eager to take advantage of all of the latest online services available to auto dealerships doesn’t mean that the entire game of selling vehicles has changed. With the latest series of online applications, designed specifically for dealership websites, you can bring all of the marketing and sales strategies of your sales team to the online forum – in fact, you’ll gain an enormous advantage by doing so. [Read more…] about Sell Cars Online – the Old Fashioned Way