A tribute to the Peugeot 405 Mi16

Even though it isn’t one of the best known cars to have come out of the Peugeot assembly lines, 405 Mi16 has always been remembered as a good enough sedan. Offering firm, sports car-like control and agility, the 405 Mi16 came laced with a high-revving 16-valve four-cylinder pumping out 150 shrieking horsepower which back then was considered a great output for a sedan.

With a boy racer feel to it, the 405 Mi16 was less expensive to own than other power sedans of the time but these still aren’t yet considered collector cars for some odd reason. Anywho, these videos below really bring out the best of the Peugeot 405 Mi16, with the first video being the famous “Take Your Breath Away” 405 commercial.

The second is award-winning short French film showing Ari Vatanen effortlessly shredding Pikes Peak in a 405 T16 at the Dakar Rally and the Pikes Peak hill climb.

The third video is dubbed all over in foreign languages but features a high-tech intro to the car’s making and proceeds to give us some of the most stunning Dakar and Pikes Peak coverage.

Source: Car Lust Blog

A tribute to the Peugeot 405 Mi16

Even though it isn’t one of the best known cars to have come out of the Peugeot assembly lines, 405 Mi16 has always been remembered as a good enough sedan. Offering firm, sports car-like control and agility, the 405 Mi16 came laced with a high-revving 16-valve four-cylinder pumping out 150 shrieking horsepower which back then was considered a great output for a sedan.

With a boy racer feel to it, the 405 Mi16 was less expensive to own than other power sedans of the time but these still aren’t yet considered collector cars for some odd reason. Anywho, these videos below really bring out the best of the Peugeot 405 Mi16, with the first video being the famous “Take Your Breath Away” 405 commercial.

The second is award-winning short French film showing Ari Vatanen effortlessly shredding Pikes Peak in a 405 T16 at the Dakar Rally and the Pikes Peak hill climb.

The third video is dubbed all over in foreign languages but features a high-tech intro to the car’s making and proceeds to give us some of the most stunning Dakar and Pikes Peak coverage.

Source: Car Lust Blog

Following a second quarter net loss of USD$8.7 billion in 2008, Ford Europe’s union boss Dieter Hinkelmann has warned many employees at Ford’s engine plant in Germany could lose their jobs if changes aren’t promptly implemented.

Hinkelmann is calling for Ford to start building its new fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine at the Cologne plant as an investment in the future to combat tough new fuel-economy and emissions regulations.

Currently the plant is responsible for the manufacture of over 200,000 V6 engines each year along with a smaller number of V8 and V12 engines destined for the Aston Martin stable.

However with a growing focus toward smaller, more fuel efficient transport, these figures hardly push the boundaries of the plants 560,000 annual build capacity.

Unfortunately for employees at the Cologne plant, Ford’s European boss John Fleming has suggested that a new engine plant in Craiova, Romania - a former Daewoo site - will likely be used to build the engine instead.

The new three-cylinder unit is likely to find its way into the Ford Ka in overseas markets in reponse to similar models being developed by Volkswagen, Peugeot and Citroen.

This predicament may be solved for both parties, with Ford CEO Allan Mulally announcing a new priority toward smaller cars and doubling its four-cylinder engine production as a result.

Sales of the compact Focus were up 53.2 percent in the US during May, with sales of the larger Navigator and Expedition models plummeting.

Following a second quarter net loss of USD$8.7 billion in 2008, Ford Europe’s union boss Dieter Hinkelmann has warned many employees at Ford’s engine plant in Germany could lose their jobs if changes aren’t promptly implemented.

Hinkelmann is calling for Ford to start building its new fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine at the Cologne plant as an investment in the future to combat tough new fuel-economy and emissions regulations.

Currently the plant is responsible for the manufacture of over 200,000 V6 engines each year along with a smaller number of V8 and V12 engines destined for the Aston Martin stable.

However with a growing focus toward smaller, more fuel efficient transport, these figures hardly push the boundaries of the plants 560,000 annual build capacity.

Unfortunately for employees at the Cologne plant, Ford’s European boss John Fleming has suggested that a new engine plant in Craiova, Romania - a former Daewoo site - will likely be used to build the engine instead.

The new three-cylinder unit is likely to find its way into the Ford Ka in overseas markets in reponse to similar models being developed by Volkswagen, Peugeot and Citroen.

This predicament may be solved for both parties, with Ford CEO Allan Mulally announcing a new priority toward smaller cars and doubling its four-cylinder engine production as a result.

Sales of the compact Focus were up 53.2 percent in the US during May, with sales of the larger Navigator and Expedition models plummeting.

Where Is Your God Now?

A Shame Which Dare Not Speak Its Name


We had thought there to be no limit to our fascination with the perverse side of automobilia. But today we have found it. A car which jumps every shark, crosses every line, and shocks and confounds in ways we've never considered. It's the automotive equivalent of goatse. Beginning with a Cimbria Nova Sports Car kit (Good call Kuang), adding a dash of Corvette, the headlights from a Cougar, tail lights from a Vauxhall, and styling by Syd Mead, this VW powered... thing, has fractured our perception. We aren't saying it's repulsive, but there is certainly something terrifying about it. So terrifying you can't look away.

[Exotic Spotter via CarDomain]

Where Is Your God Now?

A Shame Which Dare Not Speak Its Name


We had thought there to be no limit to our fascination with the perverse side of automobilia. But today we have found it. A car which jumps every shark, crosses every line, and shocks and confounds in ways we've never considered. It's the automotive equivalent of goatse. Beginning with a Cimbria Nova Sports Car kit (Good call Kuang), adding a dash of Corvette, the headlights from a Cougar, tail lights from a Vauxhall, and styling by Syd Mead, this VW powered... thing, has fractured our perception. We aren't saying it's repulsive, but there is certainly something terrifying about it. So terrifying you can't look away.

[Exotic Spotter via CarDomain]

Mombasa teen creates mobile phone-based anti-theft device and vehicle tracking system

With car giants spilling billions of dollars in making their vehicles safer against theft, the feat of this African teen comes as a sheer shock. With no formal electronics training Morris Mbetsa, an 18 year old self-taught inventor from the coastal tourist town of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean, has invented the “Block & Track”, has created a mobile phone-based anti-theft device and vehicle tracking system.


Through a combination of voice, DTMF and SMS text messages, the real-time system uses a cell-based phone service to carry codes and messages that allow control of some of the vehicles’ electrical systems including the ignition to manage vehicle activation and disabling remotely in real time.

The system apparently also features the capacity to poll the vehicle owner by mobile phone for permission to start when the ignition is turned in real time as well as eavesdrop on conversation in the vehicle. Mbetsa is now looking for funding to commercially develop his proof of concept and launch it in commercial markets and we certainly hope that one of the car giants rope him in and pay him his due.

Watch Mbetsa demo is creation in a video below.

Source: Engadget Mobile