Vital Stats: 32:26:34 Thong or Frenchies? Frenchies Favourite Tipple: Bud Car you currently drive: No Dream car: Audi R8 Spyder Favourite sexual position: Doggie Favourite music: Dance Favourite film: The Sweetest Thing Favourite TV: alan Carr Chatty Man Favourite place: Jersey ( channel Islands ) Likes: shoes Dislikes: Messy people Starsign: Leo Superpower Id like to have: see into the future Shaven. Yes Best place you have had sex: on beach.. Ever flashed at a stranger? YES Ever been caught having sex? YES
Who doesn’t like the idea of owning a rare, expensive or just plain AWESOME sport car? We know when I was younger we wanted a new Doleran so bad that I can still taste the memory, and when DMC went out of business that small dream became impossible. Well now we CAN own a Doleran, Porche 911 or an myriad of other killer sports cars of today and yesterday. Best of all they all fit in the palm of your hand! No science hasn’t invented a time machine and shrink ray all-in-one device, though we hope that dream does come true one day; no what "science" and Flash Rods has done is give us some pretty nifty 4GB USB flash devices with classic car themes. While they wont be able to do 88 miles per hour, nor even fit more than a part of the classic Back to the Future Blu-Ray movie on its meager 4GB of space, what these little guys are, are FUN. Move over James Bond and the funky Robert Graham USB cufflinks, as these little die cast bad boys really do embody the idea of "novelty gift". As such, they will make the perfect gift for any true gadget or geek lover in your family. Best of all, with a reasonable price of only 25 to 35 dollars, unlike the Flash Rod Hard Drive version, they wont break the bank... yet they look like you did just that!
An American engineer has developed a car that can run purely on people power and reach speeds of up to 60mph.
Known as the HumanCar Imagine PS, the vehicle is operated by hand cranks. The driver and passengers crank levers back and forth to generate power that propels the car. It can reach 60mph on flat ground and 30mph on hills.
The Imagine PS can accommodate up to four passengers and it's a case of the more the merrier, as more bodies mean more power. There's also a back up electric battery to boost power when there are less passengers.
The vehicle is the brainchild of engineer Charles Greenwood, who has been developing it for over 40 years. He began the project in 1968 as a way to reduce exhaust pollution and make lazy drivers healthier.
The Imagine PS is due to go on sale next year and cost about £10,000. HumanCar says that it has already received 100 pre-orders.
A roof is being developed for production cars and there are plans to add a touch-screen satnav system and airbags.
The company has a long-term business plan and intends to market the Imagine PS in developing countries. Full production will begin when the firm has 800 pre-orders, but the Imagine PS is already road legal.
Here's a way to guarantee you'll never be late for school again.
It is the traditional yellow American school bus, except this one has been fitted with the engine from a Phantom fighter jet to give it a top speed of 367mph and neck-snapping acceleration.
Built and driven by adrenalin-junkie Paul Stender and his team at Indy Boys Inc in Indianapolis, USA, the flame-painted bus is custom made from a mix of hand-crafted materials and advanced aircraft components.
This helps it cope with the huge stresses involved in pushing it past 350mph, nearly 100mph quicker than a Bugatti Veyron.
Nicknamed 'The School Time Jet-Powered School Bus', the dragster can fire 75-foot flames from the back and uses 150 gallons of fuel in just a quarter of a mile.
At 10-feet high and 35-feet long, it is the largest jet vehicle in the world and at its heart sits a 42,000hp General Electric jet engine from an F4 Phantom.
Despite its size, this school bus seats only three passengers. And sadly, it won't be taking any kids to school in record time: it's for show only.
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From hybrid to high-performance! Honda’s new petrol-electric coupe, the CR-Z, is being readied for Type R treatment, and Bonnetbook can bring you the first exclusive images of how the hot new model is shaping up.
Revealed in production trim at this January’s Detroit Motor Show, the CR-Z has already caused quite a stir by marrying a sporty three-door body with a fuel efficient hybrid powertrain – creating the world’s first truly desirable sports hybrid in the process. But the Japanese firm is going one step further with this stunning Type R version, which boasts a raft of head-turning design cues, and a more powerful hybrid powertrain under the skin.
A tarmac-hugging bodykit will create a clear definition between the standard car and this high-performance variant, and includes daytime running lights in the front apron and a black rear diffuser with integrated exhaust pipes. But it’s the colour scheme that will be most recogniseable to Type R fans.
A black bonnet, wing mirrors and wheels set against an alpine-white paint scheme will make the CR-Z stand out in a crowd. Blacked-out A-pillars are a new styling cue - giving the impression of a glass area that wraps around the car.
The standard CR-Z uses a 102bhp 1.5-litre engine coupled to a 20bhp electric motor for a total output of just 122bhp - but the Type-R is set to offer much more than that! Mugen, Honda’s official tuning arm, is reportedly being lined-up to work its magic on the CR-Z and boost its performance credentials. There had been rumours that a reworked version of the Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine could make it into the CR-Z Type-R, but because the coupe has been designed as a hybrid from the outset, a petrol-electric powertrain is a must.
The front-wheel drive layout and six-speed manual gearbox will remain, but expect the naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre engine to be cranked up to around 150bhp and mated to a larger 50bhp electric motor. The combined output of 200bhp will move the Type-R into serious performance territory with a 0-60mph time of close to six seconds, three seconds faster than the 122bhp CR-Z, and a top speed of 140mph.
The standard car’s three driving modes will also be extended to four, to include an additional Sport Plus setting. Select it and the throttle response, steering, timing of the stop-start system and the level of assitance from the electric motor will be set for maximum performance. Upgraded brakes and stiffened suspension will complete the package.
Our sources have revealed that the CR-Z Type R is already being prepared for a debut at next year’s Tokyo Motor Show before going on sale in Japan in late 2011. UK sales are set to commence a few months after that with prices starting from around £20,000
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the new holiday destination will be the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind to open in 2010.
The theme park will feature an iconic sleek red roof that’s said to be directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, spanning 2,152,782 square feet and carrying the largest Ferrari logo ever created.
There will be a number of attractions, including rides for children of all ages and the world’s fastest
rollercoaster, travelling at speeds exceeding 124 mph. Another ride will rocket passengers through the roof and to a height of 203 feet to simulate the G-forces experienced by a drivers in an F1 car.
The site is located on Yas Island on the North East side of Abu Dhabi’s mainland, which is about a 10-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 50 minutes from Yas Marina Circuit, which will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi GP later this year.
What do you want to see on Bonnetbook in 2010, all good ideas will be taken into consideration! Also if you love cars and would like to run the official car news blog why not drop us an email! info@bonnetbook.com
So come on best idea if good enough may even win you a prize, Life VIP membership and a set of stickers!
What is the difference between Ford's new Focus RS and the ST version introduced in 2005? One could mention the nuts and bolts of it – like the RS's massively greater power and torque and its remarkable ability to transmit that to the road – and, in time, we will come to that. But, for now, Jost Capito, Ford's worldwide director of performance vehicles, puts it a bit more metaphorically:
"The ST and RS are different animals, as are a dolphin and a shark. Both are highly developed for their roles, but have unique characteristics. The ST is a balance of performance and refinement, but would not fit the attributes we set for the RS, and vice versa. It is surprising how much we used this analogy." Indeed. Killer whale, electric eel, stingray, anyone?
This is the twenty-second Ford model to wear RS (Rallye Sport) badges, first attached to the original Escort RS1600 in 1970. The quickest RS, it is also in many senses the quickest road-going Ford of all time. While the GT (based visually on the racing GT40) is faster along the straights, the new Focus RS beats it around the most demanding handling track at Ford's Lommel test centre in Belgium – and certainly in the real world, wherever that might be these days.
Nobody else has put a 300bhp front-driven car into production. The peak torque of 325lb ft is 38 per cent higher than that of the ST, which is no slug. In comparison, the earlier Focus RS (2002-2003) was, in Capito-speak, perhaps a slightly aggressive cod, with 212bhp and 229lb ft of torque. The 2009 RS can do 163mph. With applied scientific brutality, it can reach 60mph from rest in a claimed 5.9 seconds: junior supercar territory.
For this kind of money, nothing else is directly comparable. Vauxhall's Astra VXR and probably Volkswagen's forthcoming Golf GTI are more like ST rivals, while Renault's Mégane R26.R is for diehard extremists. The four-wheel-drive road-rally cars from Subaru and Mitsubishi are probably the closest, but do not really answer the same question.
The RS is much more than an upgraded, lowered, wide-track, bewinged ST: yes, it is a three-door Focus with a five-cylinder engine, mounted transversely, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. No, you cannot have a semi-automatic version. Nor can you have cruise control, which a Swiss motoring journalist at the driving launch, based near Nice, strangely considered a major omission.
In the Eighties the Audi Quattro set the aural standard for musicality in highly-tuned five-cylinder turbocharged engines. This complex RS engine sings a new and interesting tune. The development team appears to have spent considerable time achieving the desired note. Never mind power and torque, just listen: at tickover, there is virtual silence and no vibration. It never becomes unacceptably noisy, but when smacking the needle towards the red line you can hear the wastegate, a throaty induction roar, a pleasing tailpipe growl and much mechanical work in progress. There is even a satisfying, distant "Bop!" after lifting the throttle abruptly.
There are two modes of use. Mode one: keep within the 2,300-4,500rpm torque band and pretend you are driving an incredibly fast turbodiesel. You can still be quicker than just about anything else around, with low noise levels and no drama. Mode two: stay in the power band and change up at the 6,500rpm red line, never dropping below 4,500rpm.
From the outset, the option of four-wheel drive was rejected. "Front-wheel drive was our preference all along," says Capito, "because all-wheel-drive systems add cost, weight, inertia and, consequently, fuel consumption." Compensating for the extra weight required dynamic compromises Ford preferred not to make.
Controlling all this by electronic trickery was also rejected, because that effectively restricts full performance to straight-line acceleration on dry, well-surfaced roads. ESP (Electronic Stability Program) is standard, but it acts so subtly that there is little point switching it off, perhaps even on a race circuit. The engineering team's test drivers have turned in almost identical lap times at the Nürburgring with ESP on and off.
What is the key to the dynamic breakthrough? Ford RS engineers worked with Quaife to improve the limited-slip differential, and, over six years, developed the "RevoKnuckle" system, which restricts variations in kingpin offset angle. This solution, claims chief programme engineer John Wheeler, "redefines what is possible with front-wheel drive".
Having driven the RS hard on demanding roads with a wide variety of surfaces and grip levels, I can only agree. Front-wheel-drive cars have an upper power limit, beyond which they become unmanageable, or so generally accepted knowledge says. That is probably still the case, but the upper limit has shifted northwards. Torque steer, that devil of powerful front-driven cars, is not entirely eliminated but full throttle before the apex causes only a mild sensation through the steering. The desired power is always available yet there is never excessive tug mid-bend.
With rear-wheel drive in these circumstances, one would usually have to work harder to apply this level of power and torque, while with all wheels driven there is often a sense of detachment. You never feel detached in the RS.
At high speeds, the suspension (at the rear, an advanced version of the ST's control-blade multi-link) absorbs bumps and undulations. In Nice's urban sprawl, the RS is like any other Focus, except with a firm ride over surface imperfections. This is a sporty car, though it is never harsh.
Inside, it is a normal Focus, but with superb Recaro bucket seats and an almost perfect driving position. As in all manual-transmission Focuses, I would like to be able to do "heel-and-toe" gearchanges more easily, but apparently the Thought Police have some say in pedal design these days. No matter, you can slam the special short-throw lever down through the ratios without apparent harm.
The ultra-fast, smooth gear change has a strong spring bias towards the third/fourth plane. Switches, stalks and major instruments are excellent, although the smaller dials appear to be sourced from medium-range Christmas crackers and the orange-on-red LED information is unreadable in strong sunlight.
Apart from dynamic ability, the RS is remarkable in that it is produced on Ford's mainstream line at Saarlouis where, at any time and in no particular order, a car in the making might pass by as a Focus with three or five doors, or in estate form, or as a C-Max or Kuga. Only a few years ago, that would have been impossible; production flexibility is a key factor in Ford's relative resilience to the current economic meltdown.
The £24,995 RS is so well equipped as standard that extras are possibly superfluous. White paint is base camp. Performance Blue might be worth £395, but Ultimate Green at £695? No thanks. There are also luxury packs for either £750 or £1,500. Check, but I wouldn't bother.
Ford's enthusiastic RS Team would struggle to push this programme past the bean counters in the present financial climate. It will be interesting to see how it sells. Almost 18,000 STs have been shifted in Britain since introduction in 2005, many in Clockwork Orange. The more expensive RS has obviously been set a lower target, although 4,000 for the UK over two years is still rather ambitious. Britain is the RS's home patch, however, even if it is made in Germany: Ford built 4,501 examples of the previous RS and almost half sold here.
Even if they are still feeling the pinch, those who are reasonably well off might turn to the RS instead of their original, more extravagant choice. Behind the wheel they are unlikely to be disappointed, as the subtlety of RevoKnuckle and the Quaife differential combine with the musically gifted engine to make this a perfectly rounded mini supercar; there will be few circumstances in which a real supercar outperforms it, of course.
So, trade down to insurance group 19A. Mind you, parked in the drive, especially in Ultimate Green (as green as you can get without turning into a tree frog, or plankton, maybe), the RS is as subtle as a knuckle sandwich.
TECH SPEC
Price/availability: £24,995. On sale in late March.
Engine/transmission: 2,522cc, in-line five-cylinder, turbocharged petrol. 300bhp at 6,500rpm, 325lb ft of torque from 2,300 to 4,500rpm. Six-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive.
Performance: top speed 163mph, 0-62mph in 5.9sec, EU Urban fuel consumption 21mpg, CO2 emissions 225g/km.
We don't like: Essex Boy appearance; poor steering lock; Ultimate Green paint option; some aspects of interior design; and, er... where's the spare wheel, then?
Alternatives: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, from £28,499; Subaru Impreza WRX, from £22,025; Renault Mégane R26.R, from £23,995; Vauxhall Astra VXR, from £20,320; VW Golf GTI, TBA.
MINI is celebrating its 50th birthday today with the release of the first official photos of the Coupe Concept that is set to make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. In essence, it's a MINI John Cooper Works hatch that had its rooftop cutoff and replaced with a coupe-like greenhouse and a steeper front windshield.
The design of the weird-looking but lightweight aluminum top is said to have been inspired by a baseball hat that MINI designer Gert Hildebrand saw his teenage son wearing backwards - go figure. According to the company, the new roof lowers the car's centre of gravity thus significantly reducing body movement and optimizing driving behavior.
Other details like the front and rear bumpers, headlamps, front grille and evidently, the rear-end design have been reworked but that's basically it.
Inside, the Coupe model ditches the hatchback's rear seat bench which helps increase luggage space from 160 liters to 250 liters (8.8 cu ft). To justify the concept moniker, MINI's designers spiced up the hatchback's cabin with a unique color scheme and higher quality materials such as leather upholstery and carbon fiber decorative trim.
A unique feature of the Coupe is the addition of two Chronoswiss clocks adjacent the rev counter. One clock is a purpose-built stopwatch for taking lap times, the second clock shows the time in classic style.
The two seater is motivated by the MINI John Cooper Work's 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine that cranks out 211 horsepower and a peak torque of 260Nm (192 lb-ft) increasing through the Overboost function for a short while to 280Nm (206 lb-ft). Like the MINI hatch, power is delivered to the front wheels.
However, the lightweight aluminum roof together with the elimination of the rear seats and numerous other weight saving measures means that the Coupe is lighter and consequently, faster than the hatchback model.
Our sources tell us that the Coupe will be joined in Frankfurt by a roadster concept, details of which will be revealed closer to the show.
It remains to be seen if MINI will actually go ahead and produce the coupe (and/or the roadster model for that matter), but unless the car receives mixed or bad reviews from the press and public alike, we really can't see why not. After all, it's just a MINI with a different roof and two less seats...
Do you fancy doing something different and exciting? Well now you can, join us for the Urban Allstar Rally this September and explore new places, whilst raising money for your favourite charity and having a laugh. Enter the 1500 mile rally in a £200 banger and challenge yourself and your car to the ultimate adventure!
The rally kicks off in High Wycombe on Friday the 18th of September taking the Ferry from Dover to France and quickly onto Belgium. Heading towards the scenic Alps of Switzerland, the rally will thunder through the Belgium and German countryside. The final leg brings us to Zurich the largest city in Switzerland for the Urban Allstar Rally Party – one you won’t forget in a hurry!
If you are up for the challenge and think you have what it takes to nurture your car across Europe then book your place now.
So which is your fav from this list for 2009? Feel free to add your feelings about the new cars below!
Nissan 370Z: the GT-R has cemented Nissan’s performance credentials but if you find the whole PlayStation-made-real techfest a bit overwhelming the latest Z should offer more back to basics thrills. The fundamental formula proven with the fabulous 350Z stays but the new coupe gets a bigger 331hp 3.7-litre engine, more power and a much improved interior.
Aston Martin Rapide: recession is going to hit the likes of Aston Martin harder than most and even this month the firm has announced a scaling back of production and warned of possible job losses. Management remains bullish though and with stunning looking cars like the forthcoming Rapide in the product range you can see why.
Citroen C3 Picasso: if the original Picasso shouted out loud and clear that driving a practical, family car meant you’d surrendered your interest in stuff like design and looking cool this new, C3-based version is the polar opposite. Sure, it’s got all the usefulness we’ve come to expect of French family cars.
Mercedes E-Class: the Mercedes product range continues to expand and diversify but at the heart of it remains the E-Class, the very definition of the three-pointed start’s core brand values. So the arrival of an all-new generation is a big moment indeed. So what can we expect? Well, the styling is going to be a whole lot more radical than the conservative current car. Edgy SL-style headlights and sculpted flanks will no doubt get people chattering but it’s the safety tech Mercedes is making the biggest fuss about, with the next level in electronic driver aids being promised.
SEAT Exeo: so, we’re all likely to have to scale back our buying aspirations over the coming year or two. Which could set the stage for Seat’s previous generation Audi A4 re-hash to be one of the surprise hits of 2009. OK, the foundations may be old. But they’re certainly sound.
Ford Focus RS: fast Fords are always a reason to be cheerful and the 300hp Focus RS promises to be an absolute blinder – not just because of the special ‘ultimate green’ paintwork. The big question remains can Ford’s chassis geniuses really make this much power work in a front-wheel drive chassis.
Lotus Evora: a two-plus-two … are they sure? Well, Lotus wasn’t letting anyone near enough to the Evora to put the claims to the test when it debuted at the British International Motor Show in the summer but insiders assure us there really is a proper back seat lurking within the car’s controversial lines.
Golf GTI/Bluemotion: we’ve already driven the new Golf and we know it’s good. Great in fact. But it’s the two extremes of the range due next year – the Bluemotion eco version and new 210hp GTI – that promise to offer very different but equally fascinating variations on the theme.
Honda Insight: in lieu of an infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations to make its fuel cell powered FCX Clarity a viable production reality Honda is concentrating on its IMA hybrid system as an immediate answer to the need to go green. And the new Insight promises to make the technology more affordable than ever before.
Kia Soul: a regular fixture on the show circuit for 2008, in both concept and production form, Kia’s funky looking Soul could well be a breakthrough model for the ambitious Korean carmaker. Nissan’s Qashqai has proved the potential for jacked up family hatchbacks with quasi-SUV styling cues but cheaper running costs and a less controversial image.
We are looking for bloggers to create fun blogs and content for the site. Want to tell all your friends you write for Bonnetbook drop us an email... we are looking for writers of: General car news, funny stuff (jokes, funny images etc) and also a writter to hunt out the best of youtube and add it to a blog.
Got an idea of a good blog let us know also!
Critiria is easy..
1. Able to write in good level of english
2. Have a passion for the car scene
3. Able to post 3-4 blog entries a week minimum
Think your the person to be a Bonnetbook reporter? Email us at info@bonnetbook.com
So the car show season may as well be over, and what shows are left I think we all know are likely to be wet living in Britain. So the Bonnetbook Team are interested to hear what our members thought was the best show this year. Did you love TRAX even though everyone got entered into a wet tshirt competition without any choice (for those not there it rained a lot!)
So what was your best show of the year and why??? Add your comments below....
So are we loving or hating the new Fiesta Bonnetbook members? Or do you think Ford have gone too far from their roots this time? Is it just another punto clone. Or have ford left old school for new school smooth....let us know in your comments below!
So members of Bonnetbook are the ever changing petrol prices changing your driving habits? Are you finding its changing your driving style, or even how many shows you go to this year. Maybe the cost has even made you re think a new car or possibly think about changing your current car?
We want to hear from you! Join the discussion and comment below...
So as we all have seen from the press and a few weeks ago tested on Top Gear the new Impreza is out..... but do we love it or hate it?
I personally am not a fan of the hatchback and think it removes all its really roots with this new shape. It now looks way to much like an Ibiza, Leon and many other clones on our roads. Im not saying these are bad cars im saying an Impreza should look like an Impreza.
What do you guys think....add your comments below!
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After many requests the Bonnetbook.com car stickers are here!
No science hasn’t invented a time machine and shrink ray all-in-one device, though we hope that dream does come true one day; no what "science" and Flash Rods has done is give us some pretty nifty 4GB USB flash devices with classic car themes. While they wont be able to do 88 miles per hour, nor even fit more than a part of the classic Back to the Future Blu-Ray movie on its meager 4GB of space, what these little guys are, are FUN. Move over James Bond and the funky Robert Graham USB cufflinks, as these little die cast bad boys really do embody the idea of "novelty gift". As such, they will make the perfect gift for any true gadget or geek lover in your family. Best of all, with a reasonable price of only 25 to 35 dollars, unlike the Flash Rod Hard Drive version, they wont break the bank... yet they look like you did just that!
