If you are not familiar with the concept of recreational vehicles, or the RVs, you must be a dinosaur. The vehicles are usually used by couples or a small group of friends who would either drive away or sail on the water. While both at the same time were not possible until now, here is a cool vehicle called the Harmony, which has been designed by Weili Feng from China.

The Harmony is like a yacht on wheels. It is an amphibian vehicle that can be used on the road and also as a yacht on the water. It is environmentally friendly and comes with space for 4 people to live. It has leisure areas, toilet, kitchen, and entertainment facilities and makes living a “living joy”.

I would so love to get this for myself as it not only looks good and is environmentally friendly but also is a great source of joy. It comes with a hydrogen battery and solar paddles which make sure that the product is not extremely taxing on the environment. You might have to wait for a while to get this product for yourself as such cool products take time to reach the market. Sometimes, they just don’t get manufactured either!

Via: Design Boom

The Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept has finally reached the US soil. This greatest sedan ever made will make its public debut in Los Angeles. The long hood of the Bugatti Galibier truly reminds of the incredibly luxurious cars of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. In the past, long hoods made room for big engines but in today’s time it is considered luxurious.

The body of the car is ultra polished that you can see your reflection very conspicuously. The car is even better inside. The wood, leather and metals are precisely chosen and they perfectly complement the outside body of the car. The vents, long slices accented with aluminum are brilliantly designed. It has an iPod-like menu in the dash. Its center console flows through the centered gauges.

Every single feature and detail adds up equally to the elegant look of the car. It will be released in 2012. The car will cost a whopping $1.6 million. Nothing comes cheap these days and when it comes to luxury, the price naturally ought to be sky high, especially if you are talking about luxurious cars. However, I so love this Bugatti Galibier.

Via: Sub5Zero\Bugatti

SARTRE is a futuristic project envisioned by E.U as a part of the EU Safe Road Trains for the Environment. It comes with minimal technology and uses navigation systems that communicate with the lead vehicle and gadgets that control acceleration and steering. It is akin to carpooling and could bring order to the highways and the lead vehicle could even be a bus.

Following vehicles could be controlled all the cars are tethered and individual drivers can eat breakfast in peace or browse internet. It could actually change the way we travel and could reduce much of the traffic congestion and also improve safety as it requires only one person to manoeuvre all the following traffic. The cars can exit the carpool anytime and thus it would improve in fuel economy and also in aerodynamics.

Volvo and Ricardo UK are some of the companies involved in the project. It comes with a list of safety and environment benefits that can’t be ignored or brushed aside. If the project sets off successfully, you could see the European highways getting a completely new look. It would be interesting to see how these projects are completed successfully as they might have to undergo rigorous safety tests.

Via: Wired

If you are looking for a luxurious car then take a look at WaterCar Python, which is a gorgeous amphibious car. It looks ultra snazzy and elegant. You can enjoy your adventurous drives with it wherever you go. WaterCar Python comes with the right engines that enable to hit 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, which can even go up to 120mph on highways. On water it can go up more than 60mph.

The Python looks and functions a lot differently from the ordinary amphibians like sealegs. When you want to enjoy a good drive on the water, all you have to do is just press a button that retracts the wheels on an angle and it turns into a jetboat. You might have to adjust the speed once the python is on the water as it tends to fly on it.

If you want to take a break for a swim while still on the water, you can do it easily. Just open the doors and climb down and enjoy your swimming activity while the Python waits for you wherever you halt it. The Python can be driven in and out of the water at any boat ramp. It can also be driven on the natural shorelines if the conditions are favorable. Considering it’s an amphibious vehicle, you will need to register Python both as a car and a boat as per the rules in the U.S.

While the features sound a lot amazing, its price tag may not be very attractive. Python is sold by the California based company called “WaterCar” at a whopping US$170,000. The price is for a fully customized shell but without a road engine or transaxle. Once you fit them, the price may even soar up to US$200,000. If you are adventurous and rich enough then perhaps you should try this.

Via: Gizmag

The 45 days long strike initiated by the workers at Rico Auto Industries Ltd., n India has finally come to an end with the workers returning to their designated working areas and resuming the long stalled projects. The effect of the strike could be felt all the way to the United States, where work at the General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co factories came to a grinding halt.

Rico Auto Industries is located in the Indian state of Haryana and is one of the principle employers for the local work force. The company is in the business of manufacturing automobile spare parts such as  disc brakes, clutches etc. However, seeking better wages, the workers called in a strike on September 21st,,2009 and the situation worsened, when an employee lost his life during a routine demonstration against the company. The ensuing violence compelled the state government to mediate and finally a mutual agreement has been reached. According to Arvind Kapur (Managing Director, Rico Auto),

“We will start with 70% production today. We should be able to resume full production in the next two-three days. We have not worked up the quantum of production and financial loss (because of the strike). We will enter into wage negotiations with the workers now.”

The company management as a show of good faith has already reinstated the nine workers that were suspended from duty due to the strike and has assured the workers that a panel is being set up to look into their demands. The impact of more than one month long strike and the subsequent lack of parts forced General Motors to shut down its sports utility vehicle assembly plant in Delta Township, Michigan, along with removing a shit from one of its transmission plants in Warren Michigan. Ford Motor also had to temporarily close down its vehicle manufacturing plant in Oakville, Ontario.

Via Wall Street Journal.

Such stream-lined designs have been part of innovations in eco-technology among automobiles a lot lately. But this one is touted to have been more inspired by simulators and video games. The car is still a concept.

It has been designed in a way to change its shape from horizontal to vertical which is more like sleeping and standing up positions, in cases when it must adapt to urban traffic snarls.

The vehicle is controlled by a revolving electric motor located under the armrest. You can use your hands to apply breaks at the end of the left armrest and accelerator on the right.

In effect, it virtually allows you to enjoy the thrill of sledding on the road. Its touch controls however ensure a safe and comfortable ride. A pity that it is meant only for a single person ride.

The vehicle may come in handy for those who love some adventure on roads, but if you have a family, think twice about such a concept.

Via: Pagesperso Orange

Campagna unveiled its T-Rex, which is being touted as a luxury vehicle. The T-Rex comes with a 197-horsepower Kawasaki motorcycle engine and can reach speeds of up to 144 miles per hour.

It is almost impossible for you to get this three wheeler as there may no plans be to introduce this cool vehicle commercially. The T-Rex reminds me of the quirky tastes that most Japanese have when it comes to gadgets and technology. This vehicle too, is really quirky and it would certainly not be easy to drive one in London or Paris without inviting smirks.

The T-Rex looks like a futuristic car proposed by science fiction proponents and it would have been awesome if only the vehicle was manufactured commercially. Alas, I have no idea if it will ever make it! It has always been many people’s dream to get a vehicle that is not only well designed and that which comes with great power, but also looks awesome and cool.

Via: Wired

This year, the Tokyo Motor Show 2009 has been particularly dismal. There have been less number of participants than last year and very few visitors as well. It could be due to the market and how people have no more money to spend on fancy cars.

Last year, there were many participants from other countries as well, including the U.S. This year, only one company took part from the American nation and that turned out to be a farce as well. The only participant was in the form of a Jeep-logo pink shoulder bag on the back of a Japanese photographer, and that dismal has this event been!

Moreover, imagine driving around in a pink jeep even if they did take part in the event! The picture below was uploaded by one of the readers at Jalopnik, Skaycog. I would rather be dead than drive one of these.  If you think there are other such weird pink jeeps or cars, feel free to comment below and share it with us and other readers!

The 1980 Mazda Familia hatchback, 1981 Toyota Soarer Coupe, the GT HYBD, Mazda’s 1970 500cc rotary-powered RX-500 Concept, Mitsubishi’s 1917 A Model and a first generation (1976-1981) Honda Accord CVCC three-door hatchback were some of the classic cars displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show 2009.

While there have been a number of futuristic cars displayed at the event, the desire to pay respects of homage to these lovely old fashioned cars was all too prominent. The Mazda classic car almost looks like a car straight from sci-fi movies of the 60s. The car has that retro chic appeal which you can’t really ignore.

If you are fond of classical cars, you must probably head towards Tokyo and check out all that is on offer there. I would so love to be there at this moment, in spite of the event’s dryness this year! Classical cars have this unique appeal which you just can’t ignore and it is perhaps this appeal that makes them wanted and adored even today.

Via: Carscoop

The Honda CR-Z concept looks very similar to the Skydeck concept and I am plagued with doubts if the two cars are the same. The CR-Z concept is apparently very near to production in February 2010. The car seems to take inspiration from Audi, which definitely isn’t a great thing as it lacks originality.

The interiors look like they are full of clutter and the box shape of the car is a cross between the Audi and the Asian designs, which I seem to particularly dislike. The 1.5 litre version of Honda’s IMA system (currently available as a 1.3 litre in the Civic Hybrid and Insight) is something to look forward to.

The CR-Z comes with a 6-speed manual transmission which isn’t a bad thing to have. I would still like to see Honda come up with a better model than this, for it does not exactly have anything outstanding. If only Honda realized that they are the best when it comes to stylish designs and that they do not need to copy, it would be great.

Via: Paultan