Kia Soul in Police Outfit to Patrol Sussex Streets

A local Kia dealer has donated a 'vanilla-cream' Soul to the Sussex Police department in the UK for use in their neighborhood policing program. While you won't be seeing the Soul chasing law-breakers on the highway, the small crossover will be used by the team of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) as part of their routine street briefings and the general safe-keeping of Horsham South's communities.

"The car is as highly visible as we are!" said PCSO Charlotte Whittaker. "We were delighted to have been given a car by Toll House, but to have one that turns heads as swiftly as this one does only helps us become more visible to the public."

Toll House Kia, which provided the police-branded Soul Shaker to the Sussex Police department for a year, said that it will replace the car after six months.

VIDEO: Shocking Accident in Russia, Rally Car Runs Over Cameramen

How many times have we seen spectators and professionals alike being hurt or even killed at rallies simply because they were standing in a prohibited area? The answer is more times than we can remember. In this incident that occurred in Russia, two foolish -and that's an understatement- cameramen provoked their fate by trying to capture the moment at a man-made overpass.

The result? The driver of a Nissan Patrol rally truck lost control of the vehicle hitting one cameraman and running over the other one. We had to watch the video several times to believe it, but amazingly, both men actually got up all by themselves - at least that part of the brain works. Even though we can't say if they suffered any injuries or not, they should consider themselves lucky just for being alive.

As for the driver in the Nissan, what can we say; dim-witted as the two men may be, they are still human beings and we cannot comprehend the fact that he didn't even stop for a moment to see if they were okay...

Thanks for the tip Chris!

Ferrari Opens Dedicated Store at the Nurburgring Circuit

Following in the footsteps of other automakers such as Nissan and Aston Martin, Ferrari has opened a new dedicated store at the Nurburgring race track. The 240 square meter Ferrari Store which happens to be the Italian firm's first shop in Germany, offers a wide variety of products from the Prancing Horse ranges for GT car customers as well as for enthusiasts while there's also a special lounge area for meetings and a relaxation area directly overlooking the circuit itself.

And if you have been wondering why so many makers have been opening stores lately at the 'Ring, the plan is to turn the world famous circuit into an all-year round "leisure and business center" - something like a 'Disney World' for car aficionados. For this reason, a great number of buildings are being added around the course including a dedicated shopping boulevard, an events and conference center and of course, hotels.

VIDEO: Salesperson Takes Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport for a Quick Spin

If you're looking for a salesman going "slideways" or 200mph on the highway with a $2 million supercar, then sorry to say, you'll be disappointed. This video of the topless Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport was created by Adrian Hill, client advisor at St. Louis Motorsports located in Missouri. Apparently Adrian has found a different way to pitch the dealership's products by creating a string of videos that are somewhat goofy, yet charming due to their simplicity and his personal down-to-earth attitude.

Can't say if this particular video actually reaches the right clientele, but watching it makes you feel no different than if you visited a pal of yours who works at a ritzy dealership and he took you for a quick spin in a uber-expensive supercar.

Via: Autogespot , Source: Adrian

VIDEO: Ford Puts Blind Drivers Behind the Wheel of the 2010 Mustang

While the law prohibits blind people such as Roger Keeney from Athens, GA from getting behind the wheel on public roads, no one said that they can't drive a car on special course. Ford gave this opportunity to Keeney and his friends at the Arizona Center for the Blind by organizing a special event at the Ford Proving Grounds in Phoenix. The car of choice was the revised 2010 Mustang. If anything else, it's pretty rewarding to see all those smiles. Watch all four vids after the jump.

eBay Huh? Find: Ford Aspire Jet AirCar Prototype

Sometimes, we're absolutely dumbfounded by the type of products that people try to get rid off on eBay. Why would anybody actually want to buy a 1996 Ford Aspire with a pair of custom made wings? Beats us, but the eBay seller says that it retractable wings are street legal in Illinois if they are folded - we'd ask an official if we were 'high' enough to buy such a car and drive around in it. In any case, skip the jump to check out the photo gallery and the seller's amusing description.

Seller's Description:

Jet AirCar Prototype Mock-up was designed and built by Superior Areo Designs as a whimsical tribute to the concept of the flying car, or the roadable airplane. It is built on a 1996 Ford Aspire, but more on the car later. The Jet AirCar is constructed of wood, foam, metal and assorted other materials, some are actually from an experimental aircraft but most are hardware store grade. The Jet AirCar has not and never will fly, but it is an attention getter driving around town and in parades. Maximum taxi speed with the wings up is 35mph and 15mph with them in the down position. It is street legal in Illinois with the wings folded, 10ft high and less than 8 ft wide. Attaching the wing assembly takes about 30 minutes. The "Jet" engine is a nacelle only. It is taking up space in my hangar and I'm getting married in the fall so out it goes.

The car part of the Jet AirCar Prototype Mock-up is a 1996 Ford Aspire 4 door. It has a 5 speed manual trans, AM/FM radio cassette, good heater, nice interior, decent paint with little or no rust, good tires and an easy starting, strong running 4 cylinder engine. I got the car in 2006 from a local dealer friend of mine. They had sold the car in '96 and just taken it in trade from the original owner. It has about 110,000 miles, though the speedometer cable is damaged and I'm not completely sure of the mileage. The speedometer cable fitting is also the filler cap for the trans oil and it spits some oil when it runs. But the engine itself is tight and leak free. The wings can be removed but the wing mounting boards are riveted to the top of the car. The car has been stored in my heated hangar for the last 2 years, taken out only for some parades and car shows in 06 and 07. I have not kept the license or emissions test current and the winning bidder will have to accept that responsibility.

The vehicle can be driven with the wings attached, but at 30mph you will get nowhere fast. Best to put the wings in another vehicle, a small pickup or trailer would be fine. Winning bidder must make a 50% payment within 3 days of the close of the auction and the balance with 7 days of the close of the auction.

Link: eBay - Hat tip to Joe!

GM Pulls Out Camaro Youtube Videos Starring the Bumblebee Boys in Briefs

We're feeling kind of lame for missing out on the videos, but here's the story in brief - no pun intended. The USA Today reported that General Motors ordered Youtube to remove a string of videos starring the so-called "Bumblebee Boys in Briefs". The footage, which was created in conjunction with GM's recent "Chevrolet Gay Day at the Movies" Los Angeles gig for the latest Transformers film, featured a couple of boys that like boys in yellow underwear bathing a new Camaro.

General Motors spokesman Dave Barthmuss told the USA Today that "the video was not appropriate and not in good taste" adding that the firm's executives decided that the "batch of vignettes was not the way we wanted to represent the brand to the general public".

Strangely enough, and even though the videos were up on Youtube well before the June 28 event in LA, Barthmuss said that he hadn't seen the footage up until now.

Understandably, since we haven't seen the videos with the "go-go boys" and the Camaro, we can't possibly comment on the story - at least not in a serious way.

Via: USA Today

World's Faster Radio-Controlled Car Hits 161mph or 259km/h!

Now here's a radio-controlled car you wouldn't want anywhere near your kids - or for that matter, close to any immature grownups like ourselves. Billed as the fastest R/C in the world, the Pocket Rocket (apparently codenamed Schumacher Mi3) is the amazing work of Nic Case who decided to take up the interesting hobby of customizing radio-controlled cars after a motorcycle accident. According to Pop-Sci, the Pocket Rocket achieved a top speed of 161mph or 259km/h topping Nic Case's previous record by almost 30mph.

But that's not the end of the story as the 46-year-old believes that his modified R/C car is capable of reaching a top speed of 200mph. "The car's got more," said Case. "I left a lot on the table."

Case said that it took him 6 months and around $4,000 to develop the Pocket Rocket which features numerous mods include the addition of an 11-horsepower R/C motor and a 12-cell battery pack normally found in hobby airplanes as well as a gyroscope-based steering correction system from R/C helicopters that prevents the car from flipping over.

Via: Pop-Sci

Hertz so Good: Rental Lotus Elise SC Available in Italy

Fancy taking a Lotus Elise SC for a spin? Well, if you're either a permanent resident or planning to visit Italy as a tourist, you'll be happy to know that Lotus has announced a new agreement with the car hire company Hertz Italiana to supply a bunch of yellow Elise SC for its rental business in Italy. The two-seater roadsters will be available to hire from central Hertz centers throughout the country beginning from the middle of July.

"For many, to drive a Lotus is to fulfill a lifelong dream and now, thanks to Lotus and Hertz Italiana S.p.A. this dream can be realised for a longer period than just a quick test drive at a Lotus dealer," said Andrea Manni, director of the official Lotus dealer, 'Lotus Rome'

"We expect some drivers who hire an Elise or Exige from Hertz Italiana S.p.A to visit a Lotus dealership afterwards, as once you have experienced the exciting and adrenaline fueled capabilities of a Lotus, there is no turning back," Manni added.

Audi Design's €100,000 Bosendorfer Grand Piano

Ever wondered what a piano designed by Audi would look like? Probably not but we're pretty sure that you're curious enough to see how the Audi Design Studio team in Munich managed to blend in styling traits from its automobile division to an entirely different product. We're no design specialists but we reckon that the curvalicious outer skin and aluminum details of the Bosendorfer Grand Piano leave no doubts even to an untrained eye that this product is the result of the work of Audi's design team.

The German firm's young designers worked closely with the specialists at Vienna's Bosendorfer workshop so as to not affect the acoustics of the impressively styled concert grand piano.

"You can imagine the respect with which we approached the challenge of redesigning a musical instrument" said Wolfgang Egger, Head of Audi Group Design. "The limitations we faced were necessary as a means of stimulating our creativity. We were obliged to study the instrument in depth, and develop an all-embracing concept from the very start. The project was a useful source of experience for our young designers, and will benefit them later when they work on car design."

The Audi Design grand piano will have its world debut at a major ceremony held on July 16, 2009 in the Audi Forum Ingolstadt to celebrate the German automaker's centenary.

Unlike most design projects of the sort, Bosendorfer's Audi Design Grand Piano will actually go on sale from July 16 onwards at a price of approximately €100,000 or close to $140,000 at today's exchange rates.

Lincoln Sentinel Concept Car: Could be Yours for $48,500

One of Lincoln's past concept cars, the Sentinel luxury sedan study from the 1996 Detroit Auto Show has been put up for sale on eBay Motors. The 'Buy it Now' price for the concept car that supposedly fused styling traits from classic vehicles such as the 1961 Continental and the Facel Vega Excellence of the late 1950s (don't ask) with Ford's "New Edge" design theme is $48,500 US.

And yes, the front end styling does remind us of Renault's Vel Satis luxury model that was introduced in 2001 and is still under production.

This is not the first time that the Sentinel showcar has been listed for auction as back in April, O.C. Welch Ford Lincoln-Mercury in Hardeeville, South Carolina tried to sell the concept study for $80,000 without any success.

Mind you, the Sentinel is a static showpiece built on a rolling chassis without an engine and a proper interior.

Link: eBay , Via: Jalopnik