A Flying car? What Hell Is Going On Here?

Terrafugia Transition

As children of an exciting technological age, we are living in a science fiction utopia. 

In the late 70’s scientists talked about mobile phones, home computers and technologies of the future. Fast forward to the second decade of the 21^st century and we live in an era where using a mobile phone, SatNav and a computer is almost second nature, just like breathing and eating.

Even with 45 years under my belt, I never fail to be amazed at the technology that surrounds us and that makes up so much of our lives. Yet when you think about all of the everyday technologies that we interact with so naturally, it is easy to forget where we were twenty or thirty years ago. 

Although it is quite comical to see how scientists of yester-year talked about future Star Trek like technologies, what is truely fascinating is just how much this highlights how far we have come in such an exponentially little amount of time. The 21st Century has been witness to a treasure trove of new and innovative genius, which has advanced considerably to give us the kind of mind boggling science fiction-esq technologies like the iPhone, iPad, SatNav, every smaller computers - and don't even get me started on Augmented Reality!

The advances in technology don't just stop there. One only has to look at the military and galactical gap between where they were with early jet fighter machinery compared to Stealth technology and beyond.

So why is this so exciting and what's it got to do with cars? Well when I hear of a flying car being given the go ahead to don the skies in the country of our cousins across the water, then Biff Tannen isn't the only guy who's looking baffled and wondering what the hell is going on here. I also can't help but wonder how long it will be before the technology advances to the point where we're all just jumping in our cars, setting our route planner to check the traffic flow for SkyWay 21 on our iPhone, Smartphone, iPad, hand-held palm-top or SatNav and then casually flying off to the beach for the day.

If the history of our technological progress is anything to go by, it's not going to be that long.

We are increasingly living in tomorrows world, today.  

Couple attempt to reach Egypt in 1961 Mini Minor

A British couple are set to fulfil their dream by taking their classic used car to Egypt in just 35 days.

Nicky West and Rob Stacey of Hertfordshire will travel through ten different countries on their trip, including Italy Greece, Syria and Jordan.

Taking the pair on this journey of a lifetime is an unmodified 1961 MINI Minor classic used car, while they hope to raise £11,000 for the Willow Foundation, which helps seriously ill adults with special days out.

Ms West explained how the uprisings in the Middle East put the fundraising project in jeopardy, with many sponsors pulling out.

"However, thanks to support from companies such as swiftcover.com, all the money we raise will go directly to the charity we're supporting the Willow Foundation,' she added.

Amanda Edwards, senior marketing manager at swiftcover.com, said that the firm was thrilled to be helping the two adventurers with such as worthy cause.

Let us know about any motoring holidays or trips you've taken.

Top 10 Favourite Movie Cars

For all you movie buffs out there, here is a list of top 10 movie cars as listed by Screenjunkies.com;

1. The very stylish Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Eleanor in ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’: So much more interesting than Angelina Jolie. This was actually built for the film by the great Chip Foose - you may know him as the main guy from 'Overhaulin'.

2. The Batmobile in ‘Batman’ - the car from the 1990's films (even though the 60's car is now quite popular.

 



3. The absolutely gorgeous Ferrari 250GT California Spider  in ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off’ and my personal second favourite car of all time. I just need about £5 million so that I can buy one!.

4. The much abused Ford LTD Country Squire Family Wagon in ‘National Lampoons Vacation - Uh. Really???!

5. The quintessentially cool 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback in ‘Bullit’.

6. The classic 1970 Dodge Charger in ‘The Fast and the Furious'. I love the new Dodge Charger in 'Transformed' also.

7. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the popular kids film – and a good deal more convincing perfomance than Dick Van Dykes British accent – again.

8. The next car is an obscure choice and is the 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider in ‘The Graduate’. Funny, I’ve seen quite a few sunsets in my time on this planet, but if someone had asked me prior to this list what the car was in this film, I couldn't have told them – and I’ve seen it about four times.

9. The 1977 AMC Pacer in ‘Waynes World’. Just as popular for the head banging scene to Bohemian Rhapsody.

10. The DeLoreon in ‘Back To The Future’ is without doubt my favourite movie car of all time. I can't think of any other car that has been so iconic and remained so popular for so long.  In fact when you say DeLoreon, you think of Back To The Future - and when you think Back To The Future, you immediately think of the DeLoreon.

And if you're not convined, then park up next to a DeLoreon in any Porsche, Ferrari or Aston Martin (except a DB5 of course) and you'll soon feel like the unpopular kid at the school prom!

Let us know what are your favourite movie cars.

Did You Only Need One Driving Test Or Many?

 

 

 

  

 

Did You Pass Your Driving Test The First Time?

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Carmony.co.uk Lifestlye Search – A More Efficient & Relevant Way To Buy A Car

Lifestyle Search

With Carmony now listing over 100,000 approved used cars for sale with either manufacturer approved franchised and non-franchised dealers across the UK, over 1 million visitors have successfully used and taken full advantage of our innovative Lifestyle Search feature, designed to assist in helping to find their ideal car.

A car is a big ticket item and is arguably the second most expensive purchase after buying a house. Therefore, we are finding that more and more car drivers are taking that little bit longer before committing to paying for a car.

Given the current economic climate, ever increasing fuel costs and a growing concern about CO2 emissions, Carmony has seen our Lifestyle Search feature being used as a valuable tool in helping to recommend cars that fit in better with the demands of the 21st Century.

Consumers are just as concerned about fuel efficiency as they are about budget. Consequently, an increasing number of users want to set the criteria of what they want from a car.

As the cost at the pumps spiral upwards and more of the population embrace the need to reduce their carbon footprint, it is only a matter of time before car drivers base their search for cars not by make, model, CC or even primarily by budget, but by fuel efficiency, road tax band and MPG.

Anyone got of a solar powered Popemobile for sale? - Let us know, because the Pope wants one...

Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, who runs the Vatican City state, said The Pontiff would certainly prefer an electric popemobile to a traditional, petroleum-powered one given the priority he has given to making the Vatican a leader in green energy.

His comments came during a presentation of a book on the Vatican's ecological efforts: "The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican." The book documents the 2008 installation of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the Vatican's main auditorium and the 2009 installation of a solar cooling unit for its main cafeteria.

The technology has won awards and earned Pope Benedict a reputation as the "green pope."

View alternative popemobiles on carmony!

see full article in Daily Telegraph

Fiat releases limited edition '500 BlackJack'

One of the most popular models in the new generation of Fiat Cars has come back as a limited edition in black.

The Fiat 500, which was recently named the What Car? magazine Green Supermini of the Year, has a new incarnation as the Fiat 500 BlackJack.

Only 200 examples of the BlackJack will be made, so anyone getting hold of one is guaranteed that the limited edition tag means just that.

The new model is based on the 1.2 and 1.4 Sport specification, but with some added features, including metallic effect mouldings in the interior and 16-inch black alloy wheels with red coach line and callipers.

However, the most striking aspect of the Fiat 500 BlackJack is the matt black paint finish, according to Fiat UK's marketing director Elena Bernardelli.

"It has previously been a characteristic of new supercars, and gives the Fiat 500 a stunning new image. I am sure the BlackJack will be a huge hit with Fiat 500 fans," she added.

Search Fiat 500's on Carmony

visit Carmony.co.uk