Pretty Cool Things

A Youtube video from New Zealand depicting a couple of guys attaching thousands of helium balloons to a car, and watching it float away, caused quite a sensation, and debate over its authenticity. The creators of the video claim that they were trying to make a homemade version of the Flying Ford commercial, and that the car got away from them. Further investigation revealed that it was all a publicity stunt and that they brought in a crane to simulate the flight. Their stunt succeeded as they garnered over a million views on Youtube, and coverage on their local news networks. Here is the original video, the news report about it, a behind the scenes video on how they pulled it off, and finally the original Ford commercial that inspired it all.

The stunt:

The news coverage around it:

How they pulled it off:

The original Ford Commercial:

Ford teamed up with Cirque Du Soleil to produce a commercial for the Fusion and the Edge models. This innovative commercial features 18 flexible people in blue body suits, and zero cars. Check out the entire commercial along with the “making of”video, below the photos.

Source

In environmentally unconscious 1962, the Manx Peel Engineering Company of Great Britain came up with the concept of a 3-wheeled microvehicle designed to hold one person with a shopping bag. The P50, priced at a dirt cheap £150, was 53 inches long, by 39 inches wide, and weighed less than 139lbs. Its top speed was around 60 km/hr and it got an impressive 100mpg. Interestingly, it did not have a reverse gear. To get out of a confined space, the driver would have to pick up the vehicle by a handle mounted on the rear, and physically pull it around. Two years later, the company followed up the P50 with the Peel Trident, a slightly larger and more futuristic looking 2-seater. It too did about 100 mpg, but had a max speed of 75km/h. Both vehicles are still considered street legal in the UK, and about 20 originals still remain in the hands of collectors.

Peel P50

Peel Trident and Peel P50

Interior of the Peel Trident

Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear takes a P50 out for a little spin

Eco-friendly automaker Loremo of Germany announced on Friday that it will be launching an electric powered version of it’s diesel fueled prototype vehicle, the Loremo, which was unveiled last October at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The electric version, suitable named E-Loremo, will feature a 20 kilowatt engine, with the ability to mobilize up to 40 kilowatts (55hp) for short spurts, such as when passing. The max speed is expected to be 170 km/h, impressive for an electric drive, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 15 seconds. Although the battery specs haven’t been finalized, it’s expected to get 150 to 200km per charge. Based on the current price of electricity in Germany, 1 EURO ($1.48 US), will get you 100 km of driving range! The prototype is expected by the middle of the year, with production vehicles available by 2010.  No word yet on a street price.