GM Says New Cadillac ELR is the Only EV with Full LED Exterior Lights [Video Update]



LEDs or light-emitting diodes are becoming commonplace in more and more vehicles today, but we still have a few years ahead of us for cars from all segments to adopt the energy-saving technology throughout, so when an automaker makes full use of them, its something worth bragging about.
Today, GM came out with a release stating that when its luxed-up Volt (those are our words, not GMs), the 2014 Cadillac ELR extended range luxury coupe arrives in U.S. dealerships this winter, "it will be the first electric vehicle introduced with all-LED exterior lighting".
"LED lights last much longer and use less energy than traditional halogen bulbs used in most vehicles," said Martin Davis, the car's exterior lead designer. "Beyond the beautiful design interpretation, using LED lights fits with the ELRs environmentally friendly character."
Just so you know, the ultimate bragging rights when it comes to the use of LEDs on cars these days go to Mercedes-Benz and their flashing-new S-Class, which has more than 500 of them, both inside and out, completely eliminating conventional bulbs.
Update: Cadillac released a video on the ELR's LEDs, which you can watch below

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Open World Mad Max Game Coming to Consoles and PC in 2014



The post-apocalyptic theme has been used, reused and infused with zombies, aliens, outlaws or all sorts of mutated monsters over the years, with varying degrees of success. However, the games and movies that have subsequently adopted it still hold a candle to one of the classics of the genre: the Mad Max movie series.
It made the idea of driving fast and straight through desert wastelands in vehicles packed with weapons and a wide array of deadly contraptions popular, as well as the ongoing fight for survival, perpetual danger and ammo shortage.
Now, you will actually get to play as Mad Max, a lone warrior who must embark on a dangerous journey after his Interceptor is stolen by a deadly gang of marauders. A reluctant hero with an instinct for survival, Max wants nothing more than to leave the madness behind and find solace in the storied Plains of Silence.
The upcoming game, simply called Mad Max, will be set in a vast open world, designed to mimic the look and feel of the movie, allowing players to track down the characters stolen Interceptor at their own pace, and predictably, try and survive and fight brutal bandits along their way, doing side quests crafting weapons and customizing the chosen vehicle.
The story-driven gameplay will mostly consist of exploration, on-foot and vehicular combat, with the latter promising a good physics engine underpinning it all, which should make things even more entertaining.
So far, we have but two trailers and limited information on the game, which will be launched sometime in 2014 both current and next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft, as well as the PC. Check them out below, but beware, they are quite violent... There's also an official site, but it currently holds less information than the above piece - it will be updated in time, though.
By Andrei Nedelea



Watch NASCAR Star Carl Edwards Drive Henry Fords First Racing Car, the 1901 Sweepstakes


How would you feel if you had the chance to drive a 1901 Sweepstakes racing car? For me it would probably be like shaking hands with Henry Ford himself, as this car has the man's blood, sweat and tears all over it.

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards had the privilege of driving the 1901 Sweepstakes, Henry Fords first racing car, and was stunned by this moving piece of mechanical history.

While Ford was not a big fan of racing, he built the car because at the time the public refused to think about the automobile as anything but a fast toy. Therefore, we had to race. He had to do something to generate publicity, especially since his first auto venture, the Detroit Automobile Company, had gone bust. That something was called the Sweepstakes.

The cars frame is made of ash wood reinforced with steel plates, suspended on its front and rear axles by leaf springs. Sweepstakes rides on 28-inch wire-spoke wheels fitted with four-inch-diameter tires from the Diamond Rubber Company. A 26 horsepower two-cylinder boxer engine is mounted in the middle of the car on the left-hand side, under the seat. With a total displacement of 539 cubic inches (8.8 liters), the unit was linked to a two-speed planetary transmission, with a first-gear band and a reverse band.

While all these sound a bit rudimentary now, in 1901, Sweepstakes was a pretty advanced piece of machinery. Tests revealed it could do 72 mph (116 km/h). Henry Ford drove it to victory on October 10, 1901, beating Alexander Winton, one of the best and most successful racers in the country.

The victory made Sweepstakes famous and changed Henry Fords fortune, who received several offers of financial support after the race. Consequently, in June 1903, he founded Ford Motor Company, today a major global player and the second-biggest carmaker in the U.S.

You can see for yourselves how the 112-year-old car drives and feels in the video below.

By Dan Mihalascu




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