At first glance, I thought this was for real. In fact, I was kinda excited into learning how the heck they got a windup VW Beetle to work. Upon further investigation, however, it turned out that the Windup Key is a faux. It’s just a simple attachment for your car. The Windup Key comes in two shapes: circular or oval. Similarly, you can opt for your key to be free spinning (which spins freely in the wind), non-spinning, or motorized — using a 12V motor allowing 30 revolutions a minute. All models come powder coated in “sparkling silver” and consists of two pieces, allowing you to remove the key for, say, car washes. Optional colors and finishes are available. Installation requires an hour of time, a few drilling, and some screwing.
The Windup Key is compatible with most “cute” cars, including the Scion xB, PT Cruiser, and New Beetle. Pricing starts at $100 with the standard powder coat finish. Prices depend on your car’s make. Optional colors and finishes start at an additional $5.
Edit (3/28/08) - Sorry, I got the pricing mixed up. Fixed. Must admit, their ordering process isn’t that user friendly.
It is kinda funny. Can you imagine all the questions you’ll you get from other drivers?
Jenny, from Fifth Gear, had a little dilemma. He wanted to make a Smart into a four-seater car while maintaining the same footprint of the dinky car. His intelligent solution? Take two Smart cars and bolt them one on top of the other, like a miniature double decker bus, for clowns. Unfortunately, the ‘new’ car doesn’t hold up performance wise, and let’s just say the ending of the segment was for the better. Watch the video, to find out.
Dirt bikes are one of the most annoying sounding vehicles ever made. Remember what BigDog sounded like? Yeah, it’s just like that. Thankfully, Zero Motorcycles has developed an electrical powered motorcycle, dubbed the Zero X, that offers the same performance capabilities as its gasoline powered equivalent. The Zero X sports a 23 horsepower, 17,400 watts electrical motor, a clutchless one-speed transmission, fully hydraulic (stainless steel) brakes, 140 pound curb weight, and a range of 40 miles on a full charge. Charging time is about 2 hours. The base model Zero X runs for about $7,450. Optionally, the motor can be upgraded with a “German made motor” that offers 10% more power — bumping the price tag to $8,350.
Watch the demo, notice how quiet it is:
The Discovery Channel did a show about the Zero X going up against the Yamaha YZ250F, which you can watch the entire four parts after the jump.
Using a slew of accelerometers and gyroscopes, the D-Air Racing Suit from Dainese has embedded airbags located around the shoulder/neck portion of the suit that is capable of deploying in the event a rider takes a spill. The built-in computer constantly monitors the rider’s orientation and is able to command the airbags to inflate in 40 milliseconds. The entire system is independent from the bike.
The D-Air Racing Suit seems to only protect the upper body: neck, shoulder, and collarbone. The motorcycle rider is still vulnerable to leg scratches and bruises, but the leather suit should offer some protection against the asphalt. It took ten years before Dainese was able to get the system just right and they’ve proudly released a demo:
Check out this Segway mod that replaces the dinky tires with 2-feet wide tires, allowing you to run the kiddies over. I kid, I kid. It looks like 3 tires attached together on each side, totaling 6 tires. Now, on with the video.
Suzuki has unveiled its Kizashi 3 concept and it looks hawt and shiny. The four-door sedan has a very aggressive, yet attractive, stance. Its front fascia and headlights give it that angry look. Which I like. The Kizashi 3 concept is outfitted with 21-inch dubs, six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and all-wheel drive. Engine-wise, Suzuki has plans for a 300-hp, 3.6-liter V6.
A Suzuki Kizashi 3 equivalent could see production as early as 2010.
The Motorized Monocycle, made in the Netherlands, is one big skinny rubber wheel with a seat and handle bars housed in the center hole. However, only the outside wheel rotates, which propels the rider forward. Its fiberglass frame is connected to an inner steel frame with a centrifugal clutch to engage a 67-inch diameter outer flywheel that actually makes contact with the ground with a rubber tire. The Motorized Monocycle can reach speeds up to 25mph, all thanks to its 31cc, four-stroke 1.5 horsepower motor. Unfortunately, you won’t be doing burnouts in this thing.
Not quite the same monocycle, but I found a similar one, so you could get an idea of how it runs:
The Motorized Monocycle can accomodate up to 6′ 3″ persons, with a maximum seating capacity of 275 pounds (110 pounds minimum). The handle bars are equipped with a finger throttle and brakes. The Monocycle can run for two hours on a half gallon tank of gasoline.
