Rash Will Crash

Smart Car Crash Tested

2012-01-26T21:43:00.001-08:00

Hilarious video recording of smart four two crash tests (including hitting a concrete wall at 70mph) for a while now. Well, the NHTSA has finally crashed a few smarts in the name of insurance ratings security and the verdict is in: the smart is safer than you might think. The diminutive German car gets four stars for driver security and three stars for the passenger in the frontal crash test.

Side impact testing revealed five-star presentation, although a door did open throughout the test, "increasing the likelihood of passenger ejection." Granted, "Starflation" has been an issue for the NHTSA, but like an underachieving elected official, the smart is simply playing the opportunity game. The fact that the minuscule ride didn't explode into a million pieces of wound-irritating fiberglass is probably sufficient to surprise the average American consumer, who likely sees the smart as a small step up from a Segway scooter in terms of safety.

Smart Car Crash Tested

2012-01-26T21:42:00.001-08:00

2012 FIA Formula One World finals calendar

2012-01-25T23:06:00.001-08:00

03/25/2012	Malaysia
04/15/2012	China
04/22/2012	Bahrain
05/13/2012	Spain
05/27/2012	Monaco
06/10/2012	Canada
06/24/2012	Europe
07/08/2012	Great Britain
07/22/2012	Germany
07/29/2012	Hungary
09/02/2012	Belgium
09/09/2012	Italy
09/23/2012	Singapore
10/07/2012	Japan
10/14/2012	Korea
10/28/2012	India - Buddh Circuit, New Delhi
11/04/2012	Abu Dhabi
11/18/2012	United States - Austin, TX
11/25/2012	Brazil

Fashionable: Lexus LF-LC Concept

2012-01-25T04:14:00.001-08:00

Since its beginning in 1989, Lexus’ focus on the “hard” science of quality and dependability has been exciting. Even though it has some sporty models in its portfolio, the premium Japanese automaker is still frequently known for building luxury cars better known for superiority than performance. Lexus realizes the significance of its “boring car” standing and is intent to change the course. On the eve of the 2012 North American International Auto Show, we had an exclusive, secretly peek at the new Lexus LF-LC concept car, a core from which all potential Lexus models may draw motivation.

Kevin Hunter, president of Calty Design Research, eminent that they were given a clean sheet of paper to blueprint the LF-LC. The assignment was to come up with a new 2+2 hybrid coupe conception to redefine Lexus’ future design language. Only some written attributes were given as criteria: Avant-garde loveliness, Originality, Driving joy and Unequaled technology. No wonder the Calty team, including Ian Cartabiano and Edward Lee for exterior, and William Chergosky and Ben Chang for interior, was excited to work on this rare project. In fact, the designers were also told exclusively by the president and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, to make sure the concept is required to have the “wow” factor.

The face of LF-LC incorporates essentials of the Lexus spindle grille that also appears on the freshly introduced GS. Each L-shaped headlight contains three LED projectors that are similar to forward-looking camera lenses. The pointed snout set off by large perpendicular air scoops that flank the grille, plus the ribbon-like fender surfaces bending and folding aft, are some of the elements of the strong front-end management. In profile, the LF-LC has a muscular lean-back stance delineated by a simple flowing roofline that’s cantilevered at the A-pillar to give an airy feel to the passenger log cabin. Large air scoops are nestled within the wide nurture fenders. And approximately the back, the Lexus spindle outline is repeated with bold quality lines in the fascia, capped with taillights designed with depth to simulate the appearance of a jet engine with its afterburners on. Thin, vertical fog lamps fall from the edge of the taillights and well complement the stacked quad exhaust pipes.

Amid huge security, Egypt's Christians protest peacefully

2011-01-05T02:33:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of supporters of Egyptian Christians protesting a New Year's bombing that killed almost two dozen of their members marched Tuesday night on a church in a Cairo suburb, where they were met by an equal number of safety officers in riot gear.

For the first night since the car bomb, which exploded in front of a Coptic church in Alexandria, there were no reports of aggression during the protests. The car bombing death toll rose to 23, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported Tuesday.

Christians and Muslim supporters in the Shubra area of Cairo shouted their indignation over the Alexandria attack on Coptic Christians.

"With my blood and my soul I will protect the cross," chanted crowds of protesters, as they wended their way down Shubra Street in the direction of a church. Some carried crosses up to 4 feet (1.22 meters) long inscribed with messages of protest written in red ink to represent blood. Some protesters lay down on the street, prostrating them in the shape of a cross.

Protests had broken out in Christian areas of Egypt every night since the car bombing outside the Church of the Two Saints. But security forces beefed up their attendance Tuesday in Shubra and Alexandria. Hundreds of officers ready in helmets with visors, body armor and carrying shields and night sticks lined the street, leaving a path for the Shubra demonstrators to pass.

Millions of people live in the Shubra neighborhood, home to a strong Christian population and many churches. About nine percent of Egypt's 80 million residents are Coptic Christians, according to the CIA's World Fact Book.

The Coptic Church bases its religion on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity. The religion is known for its crack with other Christians in the fifth century over the definition of the divinity of Jesus Christ.