The Porsche Boxster Spyder borrows design elements from a bygone era.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Sport car companies enjoy the luxury of pushing design to the extreme, putting issues such as passenger comfort and cargo area aside. At the Los Angeles Auto Show we found a selection of new car designs that are as beautiful as they are impractical. Porsche showed up with a convertible that makes it more difficult to lower the top than in its other models. Lotus' newest car may be more accessible than its previous models, but you will still need the moves of a break-dancer to get inside. And the second generation of the Spyker C8 Aileron takes car design into the world of art.
Check out all these cars, and a special eco convertible, in our slideshow.
Space-age design: The mPower Emergency Illuminator is set to hit stores in March, 2010.
(Credit: mPower)Flashlights are becoming more and more sophisticated, as well as rather expensive. Case in point: the upcoming mPower Emergency Illuminator, which made its press debut this week at an event in New York. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio to be "a stylish product with emergency utility, it will cost somewhere between $250 and $300 when it comes out in March of 2010.
Aside from the fetching design, the mPower Emergency Illuminator boasts some innovative battery technology. One battery "tube" stores two CR123 batteries, while the other has what's called an OnCommand Reserve Battery that the company says has a minimum 20-year shelf life and will deliver "power on command when and where you need it."
While the special reserve battery isn't rechargeable and will wear down if you use the flashlight a lot, it will never degrade just sitting around in its tube. In other words, you could never turn this torch on for years, and it would still work the moment you need it--according to mPower. Replacing the backup battery will cost you around $25, though that price may go up with inflation over the years.
It's also worth noting that the flashlight has a built-in USB port for charging cell phones and other gadgets. If there's juice available from the CR123 batteries, your device will draw power from them; if not, it will charge up via the backup battery.
Comments? Would you rather have this model or the battery-free LED quick charging flashlight from 5.11 Tactical?
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG's retro design evokes the 300 SL.
(Credit: CNET)
With all the very expensive new cars being unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show, you would think the economy never went into recession. It did, and yet here they are, a parade of new automotive objects of lust from the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce. Some emphasize sport, some luxury, but all have way more of each than your standard economy sedan.
Leading the parade is the spectacular new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a monster of a supercar with retro styling evoking the gull-winged 300 SL. Porsche shows off a couple of 911s, the styling only slightly updated but big improvement where it counts: in the engine, transmission, and suspension. Ferrari comes up with a replacement for the F430, managing to improve on that already fantastic supercar. And then there's Abarth, which offers up a tribute to Ferrari in the form of a heavily modified Fiat 500.
A number of convertibles follow, the tops chopped off of an Audi R8, Lamborghini Reventon, and Maserati GranTurismo. And finally, a couple of stately sedans from Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce take the floor.
(Credit:
Spantax)
Certain cars feature such atrocious designs that they become automotive legends. Think cars such as the AMC Pacer and Pontiac Aztek. In the last year, we've seen quirky designs that may reach such legendary status from the vaunted brands BMW, Acura, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. Some of these designs are attempts at entering the crossover segment, building an SUV with the fuel economy and ride quality of a car. Others attempt to expand model lineups dominated by sports cars, giving the prospective buyer who wants to add a baby seat an option. Take a look at these photos to see the results of these design efforts.
The Panamera
(Credit: Porsche)The Panamera is a different kind of Porsche.
It's a four-door sedan, a really fast sedan. The Panamera S at $89,800 comes with a 400hp 4.8-liter V8, capable of punching out 0-to-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph. Not quick enough for you? Move up to the Panamera Turbo, with a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8, 0-to-60 mph in 4 seconds, and a top speed of 188. That bad boy will retail for $132,600.
So why is the Audiophiliac filling space with upcoming German super sedans? 'Cause they're going to have totally awesome ultra-high-end audio systems from Berlin manufacturer Burmester Audiosysteme. I love of the idea of matching super-performance luxury cars with bona-fide high-end audio systems. Hey, if Porsche buyers happily pay an extra $42,000 (!) to go a little faster, why not also spring for a sweet sound system?
For Panamera, Burmester crafted a 16 channel amplifier system that drives, you guessed it, 16 loudspeakers. The speaker system was designed specifically for the Panamera. In keeping with the Panamera's spirit as a true sports car, the sound system's weight was a key concern.
Specially developed software-supported menu functions allow for precise sound contouring for each individual seating position. They can also compensate for cabin and engine noise, and use proprietary sound algorithms developed exclusively for Porsche. Funny, the press release didn't mention an iPod dock, but I'm sure it's in there.
The Panamera is set to go on sale in the U.S. on October 17.
What can we say? We're in the giving spirit this holiday. Whether you like 'em or not, they're yours now! Happy Holidays, everyone!
Listen now: Download today's podcast
 |
EPISODE 118 |
Nespresso Essenza Automatic Espresso and Coffeemakers with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother
Cool party favor or life-saving tool? You be the judge
Blast Knuckles: For the woman on the go who needs that extra sense of security
Mobigrip gives you a firm grasp on your handhelds
Radio-controlled key finder makes life easy for the scatterbrained
Digital Spoon Scale, for obsessively accurate cooks
PRETTY
Sun and Moon Jars
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
The first clue that the 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS isn't like other SUVs is the shifter, which works the six gears in a manual transmission. Another clue comes when you get it in the twisties, and feel its utter lack of roll in hard cornering. The Cayenne GTS offers the most sports car-like handling of any SUV, even surpassing the BMW X5 in this regard. We've heard comments around the office that the Porsche badge shouldn't be this high off the ground, but purism aside, our friendly neighborhood Porsche rep tells us that the Cayenne sells, giving the company a stable bottom line with which it can work on better and better 911s. Okay, we can accept that it's all for the greater good.
Although the transmission might be a little low-tech, the engine and suspension make up for it. The air suspension features all sorts of tricks to morph the Cayenne GTS from high-clearance, all-terrain vehicle to road-hugging canyon carver. Cabin tech is also present in the form of the Porsche Communication Management system, an all-in-one navigation, stereo, and phone unit--only, the phone part doesn't work in the U.S. Fortunately, this version of the system is on its way out, soon to be replaced by a whole new system featuring better controls and Bluetooth.
If you read the title of this weeks Gadgettes and have to ask yourself "what is fashion week?" then you are obligated to listen.
Listen now: Download today's podcast
|
EPISODE 106 |
Tech-Chic--Vivienne Tam Runway NP Notebook
Sheala: Kill this notebook, or at least any this color. It burns the eyes!
The Stiletto is a laptop stand with style
In cell phone land, is purple the new red?
Spark Lamp a bright idea for energy watchers
Full review: Apple iPod Nano 4G
ConceptFascination hints at future of Mercedes E-Class
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
Porsche)
Is this the new SUV of choice for Russian hockey moms?
The 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia will debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, which begins on October 4.
The SUV is basically a limited-edition take on Porsche's Cayenne SUV. The 405-horsepower SUV will have a 4.8-liter direct fuel injection V8 engine (from the Cayenne GTS) and the Tiptronic S six-speed automatic transmission. The SUV has a top speed of 158 mph. The funky roof headlights are a free option offered by Porsche, only dependent on your country's rules for using them on public roads.
It's the name that could signal a new marketing focus for Porsche.
U.S. customers may be fleeing the SUV market due to prices at the pump. But, as we all know, Russia is teeming with oil, and oil money, at the moment.
This is the interior of the Cayenne S Transsyberia.
(Credit: Porsche)Transsyberia refers to the 4,460-mile TransSiberia Rally road race that starts in Moscow and ends in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
This year, the race, which is sponsored by Sony Ericsson, was won by team France in a Porsche Cayenne S. Many of the teams that participated drove souped-up version of the Porsche Cayenne S, though there were also Land Rovers, Mercedes G-Wagens, Toyotas, and Suzukis. The Cayenne S Transsyberia is the street version of that rally SUV, according to Porsche.
The 2010 Cayenne S Transsyberia will be available in early 2009. U.S. pricing was not released. Porsche did say it's already selling the Cayenne S Transsyberia in Germany for about 77,600 euros ($110,400).
Other cars you can expect to see at the 2008 Paris Motor Show are Honda's new hybrid, and Chevy's production version of the Volt.
Listen now: Download today's podcast
|
| EPISODE 105 |
iDrum--making beats on the iPhone and iPod Touch
Eton P’9120 Porsche Design Clock Radio looks fast while standing still
Rubik’s cube/subwoofer mashup from Elac
BLOCK ROCKER: portable PA system for iPod
Zune Bug MP3 nightlight lulls or excites, depending on your music library
Sony IP Music Player takes retro approach to touch-control interface
Orator Briefcase PA System lets politicians make speeches anytime, anywhere. Oh, great...
What the hell!?
The Ghetto Blaster Tote with working speakers
Kill me.
Contact lens jewelry for your eyeballs: Ouch!
Hello Kitty Watch (DJ edition!)
Hello Kitty won’t stop breeding
Thanks, Azizul AND Shalin
Just make sure you grab the toy gun and shoot the designated target.
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
