Piaggio's minicar, how are you today?

Some time ago the Italian scooter manufacturer, Piaggio has showcased a prototype of an innovative minicar named Piaggio NT3 at the event of 2014 Indian Auto Expo.

Piaggio NT3 minicar concept at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AOmPYf)

Indeed, the Piaggio NT3 minicar has existed since 2010 and showcased for the first time at the Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA) 2010. At that time Piaggio gave information that the NT3 will be produced and go on sale after the year 2013.

Piaggio NT3 is the APE's like product in the future that can provide the ideal solution to meet the needs of consumers, especially those living in urban areas. Piaggio NT3 has a four-wheel configuration, and three seats with the driver placed forward in a central line.

Dashboard view Piaggio NT3 minicar concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AOmPYf)

The showpiece was 2.4 metre long, 1.5 metre wide and 1.6 meter high with the front wheels sticking outside the body structure, to retain the spirit of a scooter. To enhance the safety credentials, the NT3 Concept was built on a spaceframe architecture and around a crash box.

Rear side view of Piaggio NT3 minicar concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AOmPYf)

Piaggio NT3 prototype is proof of the hard work of a team of R & D in order to realize the Piaggio Group's plans to produce minicars. Although the shape of the car, but Piaggio NT3 only use 200 cc petrol motor and a more powerful 300 cc petrol engine mated to an electric motor. All models offer a very attractive features for urban and metropolitan environments.

Rear view of Piaggio NT3 minicar concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AOmPYf)

Even the Piaggio claimed if NT3 minicar with the 200 cc petrol was capable of a top speed of 60 kph. The 300 cc variant was able to touch 80 kph. Both motors were capable of delivering an outstanding fuel efficiency of 30 km/l.

The plan, if later be produced by Piaggio then the NT3 minicar will distribute for the European, Asian and Indian markets. Hopefully this minicar is not only a prototype that's just present in an automotive exhibition.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INDIANAUTOSBLOG]

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Controlled sunlight for your home

In our house, there must be a room or area that we actually want to sunlight in but what can we say, if the window or room position does not allow for the sun illuminating it.

Here it is the solution, the Light Bandit is a tool that can transfer or distribute sunlight through the plastic optical fibers cable to the area you want illuminated by sunlight or natural light.

The Light Bandit consists of a box that we put in the window where sunlight entered then the light will be distributed to the existing fiber cable and the cable ends can be connected with some kind of light to spread the light.

The Light Bandit captures sunlight and allows you to use it in your home. (Picture from: http://kck.st/1x2c2Jk)

How bright light that can be distributed? According to the maker, in the middle of the day, the light can be distributed equivalent to 2 or 3 pieces of 60-watt light bulb capacity, meaning about 120-180 watts, passable to illuminate an area that is not too large. Its use is also quite extensive, we can use the light is connected with reading lamp, UV lamp to provide light to the plants to the aquarium.

Here’s the scoop on how the Light Bandit does what it does. (Picture from: http://kck.st/1x2c2Jk)

The disadvantage is that the cable length will determine how much light can be distributed, the maker says should be no more than 30 feet (9 m) and the longer gets less light, the count every distance of 30 cm, the light will be reduced by 1%. One more drawback, the Light Bandit can only be used when there is sunlight and do not have a battery in it so that when the night so we could not use it.

Apart from the existing weaknesses, the Light Bandit certainly useful for some perfunctory needs, if you willing to pay US. $349 (approximately Rp. 3.8 million) for 1 set of Light Bandit (there's incl. the Light Bandit with 20 metres cables, and special lamps). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KICKSTARTER | GIZMAG]

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Going to Venus (Part-2)

More Sense than to Mars 

Expedition to Venus will be done in several stages. As described in IEEE Spectrum's website, which first shipped is robotic satellite will check and initial investigation.

Armed with these data, a manned mission will be sent to 30-day stay at the top of Venus, then continued mission consisting of two astronauts who will be there for a year in several stages. Peak, NASA's ambition to build a permanent human colony in the floating city above the clouds.

If the city was built, further exploration will be more modest. Namely by sending Zeppelin - cigar-shaped blimp - manned with the length of 130 meters which is flown using helium. The blimp will be equipped Zeppelin smaller, measuring 31 meters long. Zeppelin will utilize the closest distance of Venus to the Sun - by absorbing energy through solar panels covering an area of 1,000 square meters located on it.

Artist's concept of the cockpit of the crewed zeppelin. (Picture from: http://cnet.co/1E18mht)

Mission to Venus will use existing technology, which is also not yet exist today. At least take one or two decades for people to realize this ambition. If successful, this program could provide a way for people to find somewhere else to live in the universe. Beyond Earth.

Another step would be NASA is to simulate the conditions of Venus on Earth - as was done on Mars. Scientists say even more sense for humans to approach Venus, before sending humans to Mars.

"Venus has value as an exploration destination even human colonization, but so far only for the complete planning an expedition to Mars," said Chris Jones from the Langley Research Center.

"If we first went to Venus, we can get the technology and ability to carry out the mission of sending humans to Mars." (to be Continued). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CNET]

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This is the world's fastest Monster Truck

Raminator become the world's fastest monster truck of the Guinness World Records version. The monster truck managed to reach the speed of 159.4 kph (99.1 mph) at Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas by driver Mark Hall.

It managed to break the previous record of 155.7 kph (96.8 mph) of the Aaron's Outdoors monster truck when driven by Randy Moore in North Carolina in 2012.

Raminator, the world's fastest monster truck. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/13qiOxG)

Raminator is the monster truck which has a rich achievements. The truck that operated by Hall Brothers Racing Team is earned Monster Truck Nationals Champion 2014 and Truck of the Year as much as 8 times. Driver Mark Hall said he was pleased with the record, but he had hoped to break 100 mph during the run.

"Taking the challenge to break the world record and this experience will not be forgotten. We are very proud to be the holder of the Guinness World Records," said Tim Hall, the President and Crew Chief of Hall Brothers Racing Team. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | UPI]

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The most expensive toy car

By Christmas usually many people who are looking for a unique gift to give to the family and relatives. The stores also do not want to lose by presenting a wide range of unique gifts to lure the buyers.

One is Selfridges, one of the famous department stores in London, England. As reported by Worldcarfans, on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, for Christmas this year, Selfridges made a special edition toy car. This car was made by the toy company Atom, which is known as the maker of miniature of the original car with the scale of 2/3.

Bespoke gold electric toy car at Selfridges. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1w9m8cn)

What differentiates with the others, the Atom's toy cars made with the design as closely as possible with the original model. Usually it refers to the premium cars types such as Aston Martin and Bentley.

Like the original car, the toy car is also able to make light of the LED headlights and produce a loud sound when the horn button is pressed. The power source of this car is a 48-volt battery that is capable of being used up to 48 hours. This battery is connected to an electric motor that can bring the car to a speed of 24 kilometers per hour.

The interior was also made as comfortable as possible by using the Nappa leather material to covering its seats. However, what makes this car really feels luxurious is the gold that used to paint its body.

Selfridges selling this toy car at a price of US $46,930 or about Rp.585 million. This far exceeds the price of one unit of the new and real Toyota Camry 2.5V in Indonesia which priced at Rp.549,6 million. Wow! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LUXURYDAILY]

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How delicious this VW T1

When talking about Christmas in Germany, surely what comes to mind is the variety of snacks made from sugar, ranging from cakes to candies. However, Rudi Dietl, a car dealer in Hanover has another idea for Christmas.

As reported by Autoevolution on Friday, December 19, 2014, he asked Helmut Buchner who happened to be a carpenter to make a replica of the VW T1 or known in Indonesia as VW Combi. By using laminated wood and plywood, the carpenter is then began to build a replica of the car that is very well known as the people's car. During the process until finished, the carpenter only takes one week.

VW T1 made of gingerbread and chocolate. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1v0Buea)

Once completed the wooden car then handed over to the team of bakers. The goal is to coat the wooden car with the German's famous, delicious and savory gingerbread. The bakers team made the cake batter weighing 280 kg that can coat the car which has a measures of 45 square meters.

To attach the gingerbread to the wood, they use chocolate materials that are heated. The entire body of the car and then sprayed with an ice spray that are not easily fall. After gluing is completed, the next thing to do is to coat the gingerbread with melted chocolate as much as approximately eight liters. The chocolate given the color of red and white which has a functions like car paint.

Then the gingerbread and chocolate-layered car is included in the auction list, which was later bought by the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The plan is the result of this work will be on display at the VW headquarters for Christmas on this year, while the money from the auction will be donated to the children with cancer. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION]

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