Rolls-Royce cars now sport Lexicon sound systems.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)I went to the New York International Auto Show to listen. Weird yes, but I'm the audio guy, and nowadays high-end cars all have high-end audio systems. These cars go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and I was hoping to hear some decent sound. That didn't happen.
Naim's car audio system for Bentley didn't wow us.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)The nice folks at the Bentley Motors display put me in a spectacular Flying Spur Speed ($252,000). The car has a 6-liter W-12 engine with twin turbochargers, 6-speed automatic transmission, and a claimed top speed of 200 mph. The interior was lavish beyond belief, with truly gorgeous wood and leather that puts your average Mercedes to shame. Rock stars and sports heroes know how to live!
The sound? I'm sure the engine sounds fabulous, but they wouldn't allow me the honor of blipping the throttle. Ah, there was a Naim audio system in the car, and I'm a fan of Nain's home gear, but the Bentley's sound system was nothing to get jazzed about.
The $6,900 Naim audio system sports 15 speakers, including dual subwoofers. Just don't kid yourself, it's not remotely on par with a credible home system. I thought the in-dash display was sort of tacky. Naim would never put such a thing in its home systems.
The Mini Cooper sound system was one of the best per dollar, that's for sure.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)Next, Rolls-Royce cars, like this awesome Phantom Coupe pictured at the top of this blog ($437,000), now have Lexicon audio systems. Too bad I didn't get to hear it. (Maybe the Bentley guys told them about me, just kidding.)
The Mini Cooper people were a lot friendlier, so I checked out the sound in their 10 speaker MINI Hi-Fi Sound System. Considering it adds just $500 to the car's bottom line, it was pretty good.
... Read moreWe're not trying to give robots too much power over our lives, but let's face it...there are some things that we'd rather not have to do, and our robot underlings would be perfect fill-ins. That is, of course, until they become self aware and jump onto our faces until we surrender to their immense robotic power. But that won't happen for a long time, so don't worry about that just yet.
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Episode 115 |
DanBall the finger massaging robot looks like anything but a finger massaging robot
Roofus the snow-sweeping robot protects the roofs of large buildings
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Pink Watch
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Erasable Shower Tablet for inspired moments (thanks HollyHock!)
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What the hell?! (Vibrating stool edition)
Vibrating Toilet Seat
Mario Mushroom vibrating stool (thanks Dr. Karl!)
Gender Gap
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Tool Time (baby edition)
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Pretty……..
BMW unveils electric Mini Cooper
Dirt-cheap Christmas crap
Walmart offers $128 Blu-Ray
According to BMW's Mini division, Mini dealers in the U.S. are almost completely sold out. Much like the Apple iPod, which the stylish little car was oft compared to when it was unveiled 2001, it appears demand has completely outrun the rate at which Mini can supply them.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
Dealers report that at this point, 81 percent of Minis sold are preconfigured and ordered. Mini's Oxford, England, plant will boost production to the U.S., but only by between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles this year.
It is also reported that Mini plans to expand its dealership network from 82 to 95 stores by 2011. With its only plant running three shifts, seven days a week and still falling behind demand, we can't help but wonder if Mini is going to let the waiting list get even longer or if the company has a trick up its sleeve to supply these new stores.
Click the image to access the full gallery.
(Credit: CNET Networks)John Cooper has been a name that makes the hearts of Mini enthusiasts beat a little quicker for more than a generation. At this year's Geneva auto show, the two most recent Mini Cooper models--the Mini Cooper and the Mini Cooper Clubman--get the full John Cooper Works treatment, complete with new engines and a lots of race-inspired trim. Check out our photo gallery.
Mini Cooper S Clubman
(Credit: Mini USA)After months of making the rounds at every conceivable auto show, the 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman is finally on sale in the U.S.
The wagon-style Clubman is billed as a roomier car that still maintains the personality of the original Mini. To some, it seems like a perfect combination of form and function. But for me, the idea of a big Mini just seems ... well ... against what makes a Mini a Mini. One thing's for sure: the Clubman just seems to be one of those cars that people either love or hate.
Part of the point of making the bigger car is, obviously, to accommodate more stuff. The third door, which opens up suicide-style on the passenger's side, makes it easy for back seat passengers to get in and out -- but it does look a tad strange. And the double doors in back make way for a fair amount of cargo space.
The problem is, when we drove the 1.6-liter, 118-horsepower Clubman, we found it struggling to give us the power we needed. And that was with two adults and no cargo. I couldn't imagine trying to get that thing through the hills of San Francisco with a full trunk. While the handling, which Mini describes as "go-kart" style, was pretty quick and responsive, the car just couldn't keep up with our demands. Of course, one major benefit of the smaller engine is fuel economy - an estimated 37 miles per gallon on the highway and 28 miles per gallon in the city with the manual transmission (34/26 automatic) -- as long as you drive it alone and empty on relatively flat roads.
The Clubman S, however, was a different story. The car had plenty of pep, and while we didn't take it up any steep hills, it was able to reach highway speed and pass other cars with relative ease. But the extra performance drops the gas mileage down to 34 miles per gallon on the highway and 26 miles per gallon in the city with the manual gearbox (32/23 for the automatic).
There's no doubt that the Mini Cooper Clubman will have its loyal followers. Its signature Mini styling cues, along with some model-specific features, definitely attract attention. But unless you're willing to spring for the more powerful engine, be prepared to curse those steep city streets. And for $25k, there are plenty of other cars that could make it up the hill. Although the alternatives might not look as hip.
Mini? Mini who?
Audi has released photos of its Audi A1, aka the Audi Metroproject Quattro concept car that it plans to debut at the 2007 Tokyo auto show next week.
The Audi wins hands-down in terms of a sophisticated and elegant look for a sub-compact, inexpensive car compared with its intended rival, the BMW Mini Cooper.
The Audi A1 makes BMW's Mini Cooper look like Minnie Mouse, a colorful, fun and quirky friend you once thought was cute as a child. But now that you're an adult your interests lie more toward Heidi Klum or Seal.
My prediction is that its strong upscale look and first-new-car price will attract just as many males as females.
The concept car is a hybrid-electric car with a 1.4-liter engine. It would be able to do 0-60 in 7.8 seconds, have a top speed of 125 mph, and get about 48 mpg, according to Motor Authority, which has a full gallery on the car.
Audi A1 aka the Audi Metroproject Quattro
(Credit: Audi)Click the image to access the gallery
Mini just released all the details on its forthcoming Cooper Clubman, which is scheduled to arrive in Europe later this year and in the States early in 2008. While it might not be in the same league as the stretch Mini limo that we saw earlier this year, the new Mini Cooper Clubman is nearly 10 inches longer than the standard Mini Cooper. It also features a bizzare unique carriage door on the right hand side to allow greater access to its roomier rear seats, as well as a couple of BMW's most recent engine management technologies. Check out our gallery of the new Biggie Mini.
(Credit:
Born Rich)
It's Saturday, and here in New York City it's finally started to feel like spring. This 70-degree sunny weather sure makes me want to cruise around the streets in style; you know, in a really pimped ride. But not just any pimped ride. It's got to be a Mini Cooper. And it's got to have room for my whole posse in the back. Oh, and one more thing--there simply must be an open-air whirlpool so that we can splash around and cool off on these hot city afternoons.
Good thing a car builder in Los Angeles created the perfect ride for me!
(Credit:
Born Rich)
I want to stress one thing: This car is not a joke. It really is a 6-meter-long stretch limousine made from a Mini Cooper S car. It seats six. There's a flat-screen TV, DVD player, telephone, and black leather interior. And there's a pool, too--more specifically, a whirlpool that can hold two people. It has a retractable sunroof, so that you can have pool fun in the sun or cover it up in case anything goes on in there that, um, shouldn't be displayed in public. So yeah, how much do you think this bad boy costs? I'd be almost willing to forsake my coveted Bathtub Racers for it.
(Via Born Rich)
(Credit:
Sweex)
Regular readers of this space know that we're given to the occasional rant against silly special or limited editions, but this is one we can get behind: a "Blaze" MP4 player from Dutch company Sweex that comes preloaded with a trailer of Mr. Bean's Holiday. The player otherwise seems fairly unremarkable, available in 1GB black and 2GB pink for about $93 and $117 respectively. But there's one more thing--if you do buy one, you could win a ticket to the premiere of the movie.
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