Waiting for the Travertson's three-wheel roadster

After some time ago Polaris launches their three-wheeled roadster called the Slingshot. Now, turn Travertson Motorcycles started teasing automotive enthusiasts with the setting up of similar products. The Florida-based company has decided to name its three-wheeler the Striker 2.0. For information, Travertson Motorcycles is known as a major 'eccentric' motorcycle maker and has two models ie. Travertson Rex and Travertson VR2.

Rendered image of 2015 Travertson Stryker 2.0. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/10czw37)

Travertson Stryker 2.0 intangibles like a roadster sports car on the front, but it only has one wheel at the rear like a motorcycle. From the photographs distributed by Travertson, seen two chairs side by side behind the small dimension windshield, as well as a pair of roll hoop over both seats.

Travertson's three-wheel roadster, Stryker 2.0. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/10czw37)

Just like a sports car, Stryker has a wide nose and bumper complete with three large air scoop and headlights on both sides with each of the two projectors lamps. The three large diameter wheels reinforces the sporty character of the vehicle.

2015 Travertson Striker 2.0 preview. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/10czw37)

As quoted from Motorcycle.com, Travertson Stryker 2.0 uses a 2,000 cc direct-injected four-cylinder engine from Ford’s catalog and claimed could spray 160 hp of power @ 6,500 rpm and maximum torque of 146 ft-lb @ 4,450 rpm.

The Striker boasts a paddle-shifting dual-clutch gearbox, and use some form of stability and traction controls. The Striker will also be endowed with adjustable suspension, power steering, seat belts, a radio, smart connection, a large cargo space and xenon lights. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORCYCLE.COM]

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Penemu kemasan makanan berbentuk 'tetrahedron'

ERIK WALLENBERG (1915–1999)

Karl Erik Sven Wallenberg atau Erik Wallenberg adalah seorang peneliti berkebangsaan Swedia yang lahir pada 25 Desember 1915 di kota Sala, Swedia dari pasangan Sven Edvard Wallenberg dan Maria Karolina.

Pada awalnya Wallenberg merencanakan untuk bergabung dengan Angkatan Darat sebagai seorang perwira, tapi saat pelatihan militer ia jatuh sakit sehingga harus meninggalkan rencananya. Kemudian ia mendaftar sekolah kedokteran di Karolinska Institutet di Stockholm dan diterima. Tak berapa lama setelah bersekolah di sana, ia memutuskan pindah ke kota Lund dan mencoba lagi untuk masuk sekolah kedokteran di Lund University pada tahun 1943.

Sambil menunggu diterima di Universitas Lund, Wallenberg mendapat pekerjaan sebagai asisten laboratorium di Åkerlund & Rausing, sebuah perusahaan manufaktur kemasan makanan lokal. Saat itu tim laboratorium penelitiannya mendapat perintah dari pemilik perusahaan Ruben Rausing untuk membuat kemasan susu yang layak serta berharga murah sehingga dapat bersaing dengan kemasan botol susu kaca yang digunakan pada sistem distribusi susu saat itu.

Erik Wallenberg, penemu kemasan 
makanan tetrahedron. (Gambar dari:  
http://bit.ly/1DtwGD5)

Kepala laboratorium sebelumnya beserta tim telah mencoba dengan beberapa solusi yang berbeda namun gagal. Pada tahun 1944, ia diangkat menjadi kepala laboratorium penelitian pada usia 28 tahun. Wallenberg mendapat ide untuk menggunakan satu lembar kertas digulung menjadi silinder dan dilipat dari dua sisi yang berbeda hingga tercipta bentuk matematis 'tetrahedron'. Volume diciptakan hanya perlu disegel di tiga tempat dan paket dapat diproduksi dalam satu urutan berikutnya dari satu gulungan kertas, sehingga menggunakan minimal bahan, dengan minimal limbah.

Pada awalnya ada keragu-raguan, dan pada akhirnya Ruben Rausing menjadi yakin bahwa penemuan ini adalah ide yang baik dan memerintahkan proyek ini untuk terus dikembangkan. Pada bulan Maret 1944 ia mengajukan paten, dan pada tahun 1951 Tetra Pak diciptakan sebagai anak perusahaan dari Åkerlund & Rausing. 

Tetra Pak awalnya memproduksi kemasan makananan dari karton kardus berbentuk 'tetrahedron' untuk berbagai produk makanan, namun seiring dengan perkembangan waktu bentuk kemasan semakin bervariasi. (Gambar dari: http://bit.ly/1rYgynx)

Sistem kemasan berbentuk tetrahedron membuat Tetra Pak menjadi salah satu perusahaan yang paling sukses di dunia. Sistem kemasan makanan ini masih dijual dan dipergunakan hingga saat ini dengan nama Tetra Classic Aseptic dan memiliki bentuk yang bervariasi.

Meskipun begitu banyak penghormatan dan pujian yang dikemukakan untuk sistem kemasan berbentuk tetrahedron ini, namun Wallenberg tidak mendapatkan pengakuan atas penemuannya ini sampai tahun 1991, saat ia dianugerahi 'Grand Gold Medal' oleh Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences untuk "gagasan dan usahanya dalam pengembangan sistem kemasan Tetra Pak". Erik Wallenberg meninggal dunia di kota Lund pada 18 Oktober 1999. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA]

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French electric sport car ready for production

Exagon Motors, a new French car manufacturer has confirmed and introduced the production version of its first electric sports car, named Furtive-eGT. This car was first introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. And the production version of the electric sports car is likely to maintain a final design that is almost identical to the original concept version.

Exagon Furtive-eGT. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1v1ZGNG)

Exagon Motors claims this is the first carbon fiber monocoque body, which enter the production line. With these materials, making the French two-door car has a weight of 1,650 kg.

Left side view of Exagon Furtive-eGT. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1v1ZGNG)

Furtive-eGT has a lightweight carbon body and aluminum chassis which is driven by two Siemens electric motors. The electric motors provide 395 hp (402 PS) of power and torque of 510 Nm (376 lb-ft). The power is channeled to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. With these motors, the electric car has an acceleration capability from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.5 seconds.

Rear view of Exagon Furtive-eGT. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1v1ZGNG)

The car uses a SAFT lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 53 kWh and weighs 220 kg, and with a fully charged battery made it could drove as far as 360 km, and for the maximum speed is limited to 249 kph. Thus quoted from Motor Authority on Thursday, July 9, 2014.

For more details of the French elactric sports car is still very limited, and will be announced closer to its official debut. For the price, this model will be sold at a price of €404 thousand or $550 thousand (or equivalent to Rp. 6.3 billion). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTOR AUTHORITY]

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10 Prehistoric fish that are still alive today (Part-1)

These are the fish that lived in prehistoric times, and managed to survive until now without much change in their appearance, so they are similar to fossils of their ancestors....

Here are the first 5-prehistoric fish,

1. Polypterus Senegalus

These African fish are often called "dinosaur eels", due to the similar appearance of reptiles and serrated dorsal fin, reminiscent of some dinosaurs dorsal spines. They are not eels, but included in the Bichir family. Bichirs been there since the Cretaceous, thus the "dinosaur" nickname for those they actually fit. Although often sold as exotic pets, the fish tend to escape from the aquarium. They can survive out of water for long periods of time as long as their skin remains wet, which enables them to wander far from the aquarium.

Polypterus Senegalus. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tgunR9)

2. Alligator Gar

The predatory fish are tough and thick, can be found in the southern US and northern and eastern Mexico, this is the largest freshwater fish in North America (although it sometimes wanders into the sea). These fish can grow up to 4 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. Often referred to by the name Gator Gars because of their reptiles appearance and long jaws, armed with two rows of sharp teeth. They are voracious attacker predators and often bite humans, though no deaths due to bite. This fish is one of the oldest fish alive today, and their origin can be traced to the late Cretaceous period.

Alligator Gar. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/100N6ph)

3. Sawfish

These endangered animals are one of the fish that survived the Cretaceous period, and can be found both in saltwater or in rivers and creeks, and has been found up to 100 km further inland. The length can reach 7 meters, sawfish may look like sharks. Their "saw" function as a weapon as well as a sensory organ, which has pores of electro-sensitivity that allows them to find their prey because their vision is myopic. Although usually calm, sawfish can become extremely dangerous if provoked. From fossil ever found, the prehistoric sawfish is the prey of Spinosaurus, the largest carnivorous dinosaur, because the ancestors of sawfish found tucked between the dinosaur's teeth.

Sawfish. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DtTeDy)

4. Coelacanth

Coelacanth is the most famous of all "living fossils fish" and deserves to be number one in this list, because this is the best example of a "Lazarus taxon". This animals that should be long extinct and unexpectedly found to be alive. The coelacanth was supposed to have become extinct in the Cretaceous period, along with the dinosaurs, but in 1938, a live specimen was caught in South Africa. Since then, more specimens were seen and photographed, and a second coelacanth species was even found in Indonesia in 1999. The coelacanth is a large predator, can reach a length of 2 meters, they eat smaller fish, including small sharks, and are usually found in deep, dark waters. Although rarely captured and consumed because it tastes bad, but the existence of the coelacanth is now endangered.

Coelacanth. (Picture from: http://on.natgeo.com/1eq3aaQ)

5. Frilled Shark

It is a deep sea predator and one of the most primitive sharks alive today, is a relic from the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Seldom seen alive, and only recently filmed for the first time, the frilled shark can grow up to a length of 2 meters (with females larger than males) and they live in deep waters. Their food is usually a squid.

Frilled Shark. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/10xYWIJ)

They are harmless to humans, but most frayed sharks spent their entire lives without ever seeing a human being. Only dead or dying specimens are usually seen and recorded by fishermen or scientists. (Jump to 2nd part.) *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES]

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The Troller T4 will launch later this month!

Famous with their prowess presents the toughest new line-up that undaunted crush off-road terrain, it looks like the Jeep must be prepared to entertain the presence of a new opponent. It was a Ford Troller T4, the latest of Ford's off-roader champion generation which scheduled debut in Sao Paulo, Brazil later this month, as quoted from Worldcarfans on October 27, 2014.

Ford Troller T4 concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tCeNBT)

An off-roader concept that has the feel like the Jeep Wrangler is capable of carrying the manly appearance coupled with its rival. On the fascia side looks 'macho' thanks to the new modified fat bumpers plus new equipment such as snorkels, winch and steel storage box into the main essence of manly charm amplifier.

Interior view of Ford Troller T4 concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tCeNBT)

Dashboard view of Ford Troller T4 concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tCeNBT)

In order to matching its perform, the combination of two-tone beige and brown are used to wrap the outer skin of Troller T4 Concept is also used as the main theme of the interior wrapping. Do not forget the advanced features such as satellite navigation system and automatic climate system is also included in a series of advanced features that pinned on it.

Rear three quarter of Ford Troller T4 concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tCeNBT)

Masculinity of the latest Ford line-up is evidenced also by the steady performance. Armed with a 5-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 3.2 liter which can generate power of 197 hp to be distributed on a 6-speed manual transmission, this stout-bodied mounts will present a stylish adventure experience.

Can Ford rival the greatness of the Jeep with the presence of this later Troller T4? We'll see what the current development of its inaugural launch on 30th of October! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WORLDCARFANS]

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Lots of drinking soda make you look older?

A study found that soft drinks can make certain cells in the body grow old faster. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco concluded that sugary soda drinks such as colas affecting the health of white blood cells on a scale comparable to smoking.

A study says that sweet drink may make you age faster. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1yEjCtz)

The researchers studied over 5,309 white blood cells in healthy adults by looking at their telomeres. Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes that shorten each time a cell divides, and the cell will die when telomeres are too short. Thus, the scientists believe they have a longer mean telomere live healthier and younger, while short telomeres are less healthy and becoming older faster.

By looking at data from a national health survey and nutrition examination during 1999-2002, researchers found that those who consumed sugary fizzy drinks associated with shorter telomeres. Consumption of 350 milliliters of soda per day can speed up to 4.6 years of aging.

The American Heart Association says that the best way to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of heart disease is to limit added sugar daily, which is not melibihi 150 calories for men and 100 calories for women. One 12-ounce cans of regular soda has 150-170 calories and about 40 grams of sugar. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WDSU NEWS]

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It used to be not sold, now its price exorbitant

A number of the car was created expensive, just look at the price of a Ferrari, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and the cars were worth billions of dollars to another. But in contrast to a series of these cars. These cars are expensive because of the amount that has been very rare. In fact, most cars do not sell well in his time, so only limited production.

McKeel Hagerty, president of the Hagerty Insurance, a vintage cars insurance company give examples of cars that had not sold, but this time the price soared. Here are the cars:

7. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1982) Value: US $10-35 thousand 

Although still using a crank, DeLorean DMC-12 has a futuristic design. Unfortunately, these cars were less powerful indulge overweight.

The DMC-12 was the only model produced by the company, which would go into liquidation as the US car market went through its largest slump since the 1930s.

1981 DeLorean DMC-12. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1wnODBw)

Management had problems with dangerous drug trafficking charges, consequently the plant can only operate for two years with the production of 9 thousand units. In 2007, about 6,500 DeLorean Motor cars were believed to still exist.

6. Amphicar (1961-1968) Value: US $26-58 thousand

1961 Amphicar is an amphibious vehicle made ​​in Germany, Amphicar produced only seven years. This car can be considered less optimal to roam the land and water.

This car is only sold about 4 thousand units. Far below their expectations, as many as 20 thousand units.

1961 Amphicar Model 770. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/12my5Qo)

However, after several decades, the Amphicar proved resilient. This car does not rust. It's not like the other German cars.

5. Fiat Jolly (1958) Value: US $30-60 thousand

Jolly is a modification of the Fiat 500 or 600. This car was deliberately designed for the connoisseur cruises wealthy. This car can be brought in the boat, and taken wherever we go.

1960 Fiat 500 Jolly. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1rsglYx)

The chairs are made of rattan and optional tassel can protect riders from the sun. Unfortunately the car is not sold. Currently, the amount is not more than 100 units worldwide. Since at least the car, making the price soared.

4. BMW Isetta (1955-1962) Value: US $30-60 thousand

BMW Isetta is an early example of a microcar or city car. However Isetta fared less well in the US market. It's like the fate of the Smart ForTwo, a modern city car that was issued in the last few years.

This car is actually been a favorite in Europe after the second world war. This car is in accordance with the needs of transportation, be able to walk on the narrow road, and economical fuel consumption.

1957 BMW Isetta. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1to3c8a)

However, in the US no matter how the car did not sell. Now the price of this car to be more than just what is desired. For most buyers, the Isetta is a sort of "comic relief" in their collection.

3. De Tomaso Pantera, sold by Ford (1971-1975) Value: US $42-65 thousand

The Pantera was a sports car produced by the De Tomaso car company of Italy from 1971 to 1991, the last one being delivered to a customer in 1992. This car is sold at the same dealer with Lincoln-Mercury. A retail sales business model is a bit odd for a car of this class.

De Tomaso Pantera GTS. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1D4e3VS)

With its Ford engine, Pantera should be easier to maintain than the impression that fussy Italian machinery. Still, this car did not sell, but currently the Pantera is very hunted by automotive collectors.

2. Continental Mark II (1956-1957) Value: US $40 to 90 thousand

Edsel was not the only car brand Ford introduced in the 1950s. Ford wanted to develop a luxury class car, with a line up launches Continental.

At that time, Continental sold for about US $ 10 thousand. Sounds cheap, but with this price, while it can get a Rolls-Royce luxury cars.

1956 Continental Mark II. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1z2GMga)

Division of Continental line-up is designed for Ford to enter the premium-class car. Currently, Continental is an impressive car. Half of the 3000 Continental Mark II was produced in 1956 still survive.

1. Ford Edsel (1958-60) Value: more than US $100 thousand in good condition

The Edsel name has become synonymous with the "failure." When Ford developed the Edsel car line-up in the 1950s, is expected to offer something a little nicer and more special than Mercury, but the reality is different.

Ford has spent US $400 million, equivalent to US $3 billion to the current value for developing the Edsel. But Edsel life is very short, only about 2 years since this car is not sold in the market.

1958 Ford Edsel. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1vW1snx)

Ford produced this car is only 118 thousand units, or only half of the company needs to break even. Currently Edsel is invaluable. Fins are filled with chrome increasing the value of this car. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES  | VIVA NEWS | CNN MONEY]

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