LA to New York adventure sponsored by Jeep

Hot summer conditions can be an ordeal of endurance but spare a thought for Italian athlete Alex Bellini whose participation in the LA - NY Footrace 2011 involves covering the 5,000km from Los Angeles to New York. Alex, who is sponsored by Jeep, is just one of 20 or so competitors who are tough enough to face the exhausting adventure race of 70 stages of about 70km each, adding up to a total of 120 marathons in two and a half months. The race, which started on June 19 and ends on August 27, passes through the Nevada desert, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri into Pennsylvania to eventually finish up in New York.

Jeep's support of Alex coincides with their 70th anniversary of being off-road, and they've created a new online portal Jeep People to keep up to date with the progress of Alex, but also as a dedicated meeting place for Jeep enthusiasts.

Jeep People has three sections: one dedicated to Alex and accounts of his cross-American adventure; one that highlights the history of Jeep with its supporters, celebrating the last 70 years; and the last dedicated to those who live with passion, and will enable Jeep fans to launch their own challenge to Jeep (those who do will become Jeep-people: Just Enthusiastic Engaged People). What's more, the Jeep Wrangler site takes you on a journey through seven different environments that the Jeep people anticipate Alex will encounter – and reflects aspects of the JEEP Wrangler Unlimited, as well as Alex (and possibly yourself if you have the J-Factor), being Authentic, Rugged, Versatile, Dynamic, Powerful, Evolved. This short film gives an idea of the ordeal facing Alex: it begins by asking "Who among you has travelled 5,000km by plane in the past three months?'" And remember Alex is not a runner, but as he says "If there's one thing we have to realise in life, it's that we only have one. So we each have to find our own way of making it unique." Well said, Alex. Watch the vid for more inspirational wisdom. Follow Alex's journey, tell the people at Jeep why you have the J-Factor and learn more about the history, possibility and passion of Jeep during its 70 year and beyond at Jeep People. You can see Alex's journey unfold for yourself too, on the Flickr stream of the journey, or keep in the loop with his updates and Jeep People on Facebook or Twitter. Sponsored Post

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10 Cool Muscle Cars

We love cool muscle cars and here we feature our 10 favorite muscle cars. The true muscle car was built for the everyday American who wanted more power and these beauties certainly have power.

1. 1970 Buick ‘GSX’ Stage 1 
This cool muscle car did the quarter mile in 13.38 seconds and came in only two colors – Apollo White or Saturn Yellow.

2. 1969 427 COPO Chevelle 
A special order by dealers designated Central Office Production Order, the 1969 427 COPO Chevelle.

A special order by dealers designated Central Office Production Order, the 1969 427 COPO Chevelle had a limited run of about 320 cars. This 450 bhp muscle car was fitted with a L72 427-cid V-8 due to demand from muscle loving Chevy dealers. Interestingly enough, Chevy didn’t want their mid-sizes at the time to have more than 400 cid. But the COPO Chevelles were made and distributed to some very happy dealers.

3. 1965 Pontiac GTO 
Possibly the one to start the American muscle car craze, the Goat or 1965 Pontiac Tempest GTO.

Possibly the one to start the American muscle car craze, the Goat or 1965 Pontiac Tempest GTO option featured racing car options that remained inspirational long after it was out driven in speed and power. From 0-60 in 6.1 seconds was not shabby, but not awe-inspiring considering the next 10 years of muscle cars. Regardless, this muscle car has the chops to make this list just by starting the phenom that has turned car enthusiasts into weekend warriors under the hood.

4. 1969 ZL1 Camaro 
Perhaps one of the rarest of muscle cars, the 1969 ZL1 Camaro.

Probably one of the rarest of muscle cars, the 1969 ZL1 Camaro featured a jaw-dropping 500 horses under the hood in an aluminum V-8 engine. This cool muscle car could go from 0-60 in about 5.3 seconds, which was why some of the 69 models made found their way into drag-racing. Over time, the full complement of cars was sold; however, the package option was never offered again.

5. 1970 454 Chevelle SS 
The 1970 454 Chevelle SS muscle car.

The 1970 Super Sport package Chevelle featuring the LS6 package came in at a whopping 454 horse. The option was standard for the average car buyer of the day making it one of the most powerful stock cars anyone could purchase. With racing stripes and a smooth interior, this muscle monger was the average muscle lover’s dream.

6. 1969 Ford Mustang ‘Boss 429’ 
The ‘Boss 429’ 1969 Ford Mustang was the costliest non-Shelby Mustang Ford offered at the time.

The ‘Boss 429’ 1969 Ford Mustang was the costliest non-Shelby Mustang Ford offered at the time. The reason came down to the semi-hemi 429 engine that Ford wanted to get into NASCAR. While the car was not built for its screaming starts, it was known for long-haul racing capabilities and smooth handling.

7. 1970 Plymouth Hemi-Cuda 
A brute on the road, the Hemi Cuda was made for muscle lovers.

The baddest of the 1970 Plymouth Barracudas or Hemi Cudas featured a 425 bhp 426 hemi engine. This muscle car boasted a 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and was known for burning rubber without much prompting. A brute on the road, the Hemi Cuda was made for muscle lovers. The Hemi Cuda came in one engine size, 426, while the other four engine options for the ‘Cuda did not have hemispherical heads.

8. 1969 Z28 Camaro 
Perhaps one of the most stylish muscle cars, the Camaro Z28.

Not the most powerful, the 1969 Z28 Camaro was built for the excitement of road racing and loved for its sense of style and handling capabilities. Perhaps one of the most stylish and cool muscle cars, this Camaro could do a quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds though only at a speed of a little more than 100 mph. Despite that obvious lack of raw power, it was noted for its great handling with four-disc brakes, positraction and power steering.

9. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 
This sporty little number looked like a European sports car, yet had the muscle to prove it was American.

Thought to have too much power for its chassis, the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C featured an impressive 480 bhp. This sporty little number looked like a European sports car, yet had the muscle to prove it was American. Two twin turbocharged versions of this super car were made – one for Bill Cosby and one for Shelby. Cosby sold his because it had too much power and the next owner put it in a lake; Shelby’s Super Snake was sold in 2007 for $5.5 million US.

10. 1968 L88 Corvette 
The 1968 L88 Corvette is thought to be the end-all, be-all in the Corvette world.

Boasting a top speed of about 170 mph with a special order package, the 1968 L88 Corvette is thought to be the end-all, be-all in the Corvette world. The 550 bhp motor was designed specifically for racing and GM didn’t want the L88 on the open road due to its power. More standard features of everyday cars such as air conditioning and a radio weren’t even offered to make this powerful car less attractive to the common man.

Audi A3 Review

The Audi A3 has being winning over the hearts of drivers everywhere, thanks in no small part to its stylish, classy appearance and unbeatable quality. It has been described as a superb, relaxed cruiser; the dampening, coupled with plenty of suspension ensures a smooth ride – only the nastiest of surfaces will be enough to send jolts into the car's cabin. Despite this, the handling is not as nippy as many would hope, revealing a slightly sluggish steering capability and overall slower movements than some of its racier rivals.

 

The Audi A3 has many of the same parts as the Volkswagen Golf, which has certain pros and cons. Sitting firmly in the 'pro camp' is the relaxed handling and feisty engine provided, however, this has left many consumers questioning where the extra money has been invested when compared to the cheaper VW Golf. This question has been repeatedly highlighted, particularly when considering that neither brand has the best track record of consumer satisfaction.

There are a good range of engines on offer, thanks to the range of effective TDI diesels; these range from a 3.2-litre V6 to 1.4-litre TFSI (which has been acknowledged as being able to 'punch well above its weight') – those looking for a silent ride would do well to consider other possible options, as the engines have come under fire as being a touch on the noisy side of the spectrum.

The A3 is available in both a three-door and a five-door Sports back, with even the entry-level A3 three-door being widely acknowledged as a solid offering, and a credit to the brand.

Those looking for a competitive alternative to the Audio A3 may be interested in the aforementioned VW Golf, BMW 1-series, Alfa Romeo 147 or Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Pictures and Videos

The super cool Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is not only ‘fast’ in terms of its car performance (0-60mph in 2.9 seconds) but its a fast seller! In less than a month since being launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the first year’s allocation has already sold out and you’ll be looking towards 2013 for the next available production slot. Now depending on your viewpoint, either the sales rush to buy Lamborghini’s £220,000 (€255,000) flagship is a sign of growing economic confidence or due to perfect timing of its launch, just when those hard-working bankers received their bonuses. Maybe it’s a sign that Lamborghini priced it too cheaply, given that its nearest neighbour Pagani is asking three times as much for the similar performing Huayra.

First Glimpse of Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

So about this cool car...The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is the new V12 supercar from Sant’Agata. After months of speculation, leaks and drip-feeding, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was unveiled on the eve of the 2011 Geneva motor show at the VW’s Group pre-show party. It features an all-new 6.5-litre engine, a carbonfibre chassis and stunningly cool looks.

It does, adopting the same aircraft-inspired design as the limited-run, Murcielago-based Reventon. The overall silhouette is similar to the outgoing Murcielago, but while that car was quite clean cut, its successor has much more character and form and is more three-dimensional – witness the sculpted doors, jagged nose and slanted tail.

The LP700-4 has a flat underbody too, and a three-stage pop-up rear spoiler; it lies flat, or angles at 4-deg for high-speed stability, or at 11-deg for greater downforce at mid-range speeds. All the air intakes are lined with glossy back frames, and there are Y-shaped LED running lights around the bi-xenon lights in the headlamps, and Y-shaped LED taillights. It’s 4780mm long, 2030mm wide and 1136mm tall, making it longer, narrower and 1mm taller than the Murcielago. It's also just 2mm longer than a Mondeo, so it's not that unwieldy.

What about the name? What does Aventador mean and what does LP700-4 stand for?
Aventador is the name of bull that earned the Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera for its courage in Spain’s Saragossa Arena in 1993, but you want to know about is the LP700-4 designation: 700 is the engine’s output in PS, and the 4 means four-wheel drive. Mid-mounted in the Aventador is an all-new, direct-injection 6.5-litre V12 that produces 691bhp at 8250rpm and 509lb ft at 5500rpm. And it drives all four wheels via a seven-speed automated manual gearbox.

Result? In Lamborghini’s own words: 'The extremely well-rounded torque curve, the bull-like pulling power in every situation, the spontaneous responsiveness and, last but not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics are what make this engine a stunning power plant of the very highest order.' Or in the world of cold, hard statistics: 0-62mph takes a paltry 2.9 seconds, and the top speed is 219mph. Fat 255/35 ZR19 (front) and 335/30 ZR20 (rear) Pirellis do their best to put all the power down, and we’d recommend ticking the options box for the transparent engine cover so you can see the V12 in all its glory.

More Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4  details
Lamborghini has stuck with an automated manual transmission because it’s smaller and lighter than a dual-clutch ‘box; shifts times are 40% faster than the E-gear unit in the Gallardo, and the company claims it’s built 'the world’s most emotional gearshift'. And the transmission, along with the throttle response, differential, steering and ESP system can all be tweaked via the Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (track) settings of the Drive Select Mode system.

But while there’s more technology than ever before in the new Aventador, Lamborghini has also been focussed on cutting weight. Rather than a steel chassis, the LP700-4 is the first production Lamborghini to feature a carbonfibre monocoque. New carbonfibre techniques mean construction is quicker and cheaper than ever before, and together with front and rear aluminium frames, and carbon and aluminium body panels, the Aventador LP700-4 weighs just 1575kg. Okay, that’s the dry weight, but it’s still 90kg less than the dry weight of old Murcielago LP640-4, which means faster acceleration, better braking and improved handling responses.

However, although the new V12 is lighter than before, there’s still a rear-biased 43:57 weight distribution. And despite the new LP700-4 weighing less and the V12 featuring direct injection, the official figures for the Aventador are 16.4mpg and 398g/km CO2. Still, it’s way better than the LP640-4’s 13.2mpg and 495g/km.

Inside the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 
Inside the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4  there’s more room, an improved driving position, while a TFT-LCD screen ahead of the driver is customisable, and there’s a second screen for the sat-nav. The broad transmission tunnel dominates, and features a red cover for the obligatory starter button.

So...Lets go for a ride in the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4!

Exclusive Access of Lamborghini LP 700-4 Dash and Menu Structure - First Full Video on Cool Functions

The first Lamborghini Aventadors will be delivered to lucky customers in summer 2011, and UK customers will pay £242,280 for the privilege. Buy your lottery ticket now!!!!

Honda sponsors Channel 4 documentaries

An alpaca breeder from Oxfordshire and her herd of 100 friendly alpacas are the stars of a series of short films to be broadcast as part of Honda’s sponsorship of Channel 4 documentaries. Honda has created this series of films to explore and celebrate real-life people who use their Honda cars, ATVs, lawn mowers, generators, marine engines and motorbikes in unusual and extraordinary ways. The first Honda film, starring farmer Philippa Wills and her alpacas, premieres tonight, supporting a Cutting Edge documentary on plastic surgery on Channel 4 at 10pm.

Throughout 2011, Honda will be releasing a series of mini-documentaries, an online hub, and sponsorship idents for Channel 4. A new round of short films, created by W+K London, starts on 2nd June during Cutting Edge documentary, 'Bums, Boobs and Botox' on Channel 4. Philippa relies on her Honda ATV to zip around her 36 acres of land to tend to her alpacas, feeding, herding them together and clipping their toe nails. Viewers will be introduced to Philippa and her lovable woolly animals in the bumpers which will sit between the documentary and the advert breaks, while a full 90 second version of the film will be available to view on a new website: http://www.honda.co.uk/stories

In addition to the full length film, visitors to the website will be able to find out more about the stars, including Clarissa (who was born in a thunderstorm and is ‘crazy about chopped carrots’) and Kendall, who is (‘mad about the girls and thinks he’s the big boss’). There will also be the opportunity to ask Philippa questions about her herd, plus the chance to name the next baby alpaca. “I decided to take part in the Honda documentary because it sounded like fun,” commented Philippa Wills. “I use my Honda ATV every single day – it’s a true workhorse and an essential part of my business. Above all, it’s utterly reliable – which is crucial when you’ve got 100 hungry alpacas demanding food. It’s extremely agile which is especially handy when you’re trying to herd them all together. It is also a comfortable ride which ensures that I spend many happy hours working with the assistance of my Honda ATV.”

Viewers who keep their eyes peeled throughout the year will meet more Honda customers telling their own extraordinary stories through more Honda films. This new campaign continues Honda’s successful sponsorship of Channel 4 documentaries which started in February 2010 celebrating the company’s UK manufacturing site in Swindon, Wiltshire. Check out the video here:

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Cool Alpaca Facts:

• 
  Alpacas are like small llamas or long necked camels with no humps
• 
  They originate from South America 
• 
  Alpacas have a life expectancy of approximately 20 years 
• 
  The gestation period is 11 months 
• 
  They are gentle, friendly creatures and make excellent pets 
• 
  Alpaca fleece produces fibre which is silk soft, supple, smooth to the touch and hypoallergenic. It’s also extremely durable 
• 
  Clothes, rugs, scarves and hats can all be produced with luxurious alpaca fleece

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