The 2017 Pagani Huayra breaks the

The 2017 Pagani Huayra breaks the "Convertible Tradition

: Many of us are already used to imagine the convertible version of sports cars much more heavier and a bit less powerful, but it’s time to leave this tradition in the past and welcome a better model. The new Pagani Huayra Roadster has a dry weight of about 2,822 pounds, which is roughly 176 pounds lighter than that of the Huayra Coupe. The Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged V12 also makes 764 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. The hardtop can match the torque number, but falls short on power by 44 horses.

The weight savings come courtesy of technology developed for the even more hardcore Huayra BC. The Roadster uses the same type of lightweight, HiForge aluminum suspension components and the 7-speed automated manual transmission of the BC model. According to Pagani, the transmission alone is 40 percent lighter than the dual-clutch unit in the Coupe, and the new suspension is lighter than the normal Huayra's by 25 percent. In addition to being lighter, Pagani also claims to have made the new Roadster stiffer than the hardtop. The changes to the Huayra Roadster aren't entirely performance focused though. The nose appears to be a bit longer and lower, with a meaner grille.

Read more

Google loses its talents because of huge paychecks

Google loses its talents because of huge paychecks: Thanks to leadership changes, strategy doubts and new startup dreams luring self-driving technology Google’s car projects have been a talent sieve. It’s been found out that early staffers had a different system that awarded them based on project’s value.

By the end of 2015 the payments have become this high that many veteran members didn’t need the job security anymore. In December, the car unit morphed into a standalone business called Waymo, and the system was replaced with a more uniform pay structure that treats all employees the same, according to a person familiar with the situation. Still, the original program got so costly that a top executive at parent Alphabet Inc. highlighted it last year to explain a jump in expenses. A spokeswoman for Alphabet, the holding company that owns Google and "Other Bets" like the autonomous car business, declined to comment.

Read more

GM, Toyota call for easing of U.S. rules limiting autonomous cars

General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. officials will tell a U.S. House panel that need changes to automotive safety rules to allow the deployment of self-driving cars on American roads. Mike Abelson, vice president of global strategy at GM, said that without changes to those regulations, it may be years before the promise of today’s technology can be realized and thousands of preventable deaths that could have been avoided will happen.

On Monday, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Senator John Thune, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, said in a joint statement they are exploring legislation that “clears hurdles and advances innovation in self-driving vehicle technology” and hope to propose a joint bill this year. Under current law, the Transportation Department can exempt up to 2,500 vehicles in a 12-month period from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle rules. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said last month she is preparing legislation that would lift the existing cap. Read more 

Top 3 Romantic Cars for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a special holiday, the day when people show their affection for another person by sending flowers or chocolates with messages of love. Nevertheless, not all of us express our feelings in the same way. Every year we try to say “I love you” in the most romantic way and in the most romantic places. If you’re committed, looking to get out, or single, chances are a car figures into your love life. Whether that means driving to a romantic getaway, or picking up a heart-shaped pizza and several pints of ice cream, wheels are one of the many paths to the heart. With that in mind, here’s the list of top 3 romantic transportation options. 

Ford F-150. Yes, we’re talking about the Ford F-150, or any pickup truck with a tough exterior and a softer side. Sure, it’s a go-to vehicle for contractors and landscapers, but the right truck also features a nice wide bench seat for getting close to that certain someone at the drive-in. With a few modifications the big open bed is perfect for sleeping under the stars with your sweetheart. Read more

Flying cars that almost made it

Flying cars that almost made it: Looks like there are many people who’d like to be the first ones adding flying cars to the market, and we’ve got to admit it, even the idea of having a flying car sounds exciting. Many of you probably saw the PAL-V Liberty, which has emerged with plans for customer deliveries at the end of the year.

Believe it or not, though, the Dutch firm isn’t the only one trying to conquer both sky and road in one vehicle. Here’s a list of the dual-purpose fly-drive machines you need (or maybe not) to know about.

Read more

US inflation expectations go up, while car sales go down

US inflation expectations go up, while car sales go down: American inflation expectation rises for the second straight month in January to its highest level since mid-2015. The data revealed indicates that American interest rates will keep it high. Residential land prices in China rose 7.9% over all of 2016.

Car sales slowed down in January comparing to December, getting hurt by holidays and reduced tax discounts. All of 2016, they reached a record high of 28 mln vehicles, up +13.7% in the year. The data released by Japan reveals that its economy has grown up 1% in the December quarter. In Europe, an official review shared with us shows the real picture of its economy. Uncertainty about American policies, Brexit and elections in Germany and France are all expected to take their toll on the euro zone economy this year and keep growth to modest levels in the region.

Read more

Only 38 Ferrari FXXs were built and one of them is up for sale

Only 38 Ferrari FXXs were built and one of them is up for sale: Supercar lovers, prepare yourself for new fun and of course for a new car. Well, not actually a new one, but a really good one, and most importantly a unique one. Not only are you looking at one of just 38 Ferrari FXXs ever made, you’re also looking at the only one in the world that’s road legal.

Quite why anyone would want to make what’s essentially an 800bhp+ racing car cum track toy into something that can be driven on our crappy road network is beyond us, but there’s probably a perverse pleasure to be had in using it to pop to Tesco to pick up a pint of milk. Based on the Enzo, the FXX saw Ferrari’s 6.0-litre V12 increase to 6.3-litres of displacement. A six-speed semi-automatic transmission allowed for brutally fast shifts, while the bodywork was given all of the aero. Oh, and slicks were added too. 

Read more