Technology Archives - Page 22 of 28 - Imagine Lifestyle Luxury Rentals

Porsche Goes Green & Reduces Engine Size, Good or Bad?

Luxury car icon Porsche has revealed the company’s plans to offer a hybrid version of all models. That is right, hybrid Porsches available in every model, from the 918 Porsche Spider to the Cayenne.

We already knew about the Porsche Cayenne hybrid, as it was revealed earlier this year, touted as the exotic carmaker’s first-ever eco-friendly luxury SUV. So what is with the burst of enthusiasm, almost immediately announcing intentions to offer a hybrid version of all Porsche models?

Aside from a desire to preserve the environment, Porsche and other luxury car companies in Europe have been slapped with a fleet emission restriction to reduce target emissions by 2015, from the European Union. The new and stringent emission guidelines have led to both standard and luxury carmakers working overtime to develop environmentally friendly vehicles without sacrificing the heart (engine) of the models.

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Alternative Energy Exploration-Smart Grids and Smart Cars

In Chiba, Japan, the premier electronics show featured an energy efficient city of the future. The futuristic city had a special show floor devoted entirely to it at the Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (Ceatec), amid the electronics, gadgets and robots.

The city of the future is a crack at selling a vision of urban life in 2020 and beyond, a “Smart City” so to speak. The vision is of a post-fossil fuel world, utilizing alternative energies derived from the sun, wind and nuclear power, harnessed in mass quantities. The idea is much the same as the latest hybrid automobile trends, using alternative forms of energy to decrease our dependence on non-renewable resources and be more environmentally friendly in the process. So what is the vision for the future of Japan’s cities?

The power harnessed from various natural sources is distributed to buildings, homes and even electric cars that are connected through “smart grids”, which have the capacity to monitor usage throughout the energy network. Carbon emissions are decreased drastically, which are thought to be one of the causes of global warming.

A test city will be set up in Yokohama, just southwest of Tokyo, where the social and infrastructure of a smart city can be tried for the rest of the world to emulate. This will be a five-year experiment, and is titled “Yokohama Smart City Project”. Seven Japanese companies are participating in the smart city experiment, including Nissan Motor Co., Panasonic Corp., Toshiba Corp., Tokyo Electric Power Co., Tokyo Gas Co., Meidensha Corp., and Accenture’s Japan unit. The end result hoped for is a social model to sell to the rest of the world.

But Japan is not the only country creating smart grids; Australia has invested around $100 million into developing a commercial-scale smart grid in Newcastle. South Korea is also going green, embarking on a smart city project on Jeju Island and aims to slice national energy consumption 3 percent by 2030. China is also jumping on the green wagon, investing a cool $7.3 billion toward the technologies.

Toyota will launch its own home smart grid system called the Toyota Smart Center in Japan while simultaneously releasing its plug-in hybrid cars in 2012.

For more on hybrid cars and green luxury, follow links. Don’t miss our fleet of luxury rental cars, including Hybrid SUV rentals.

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

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Film Companies Dragging Feet in 3D Race?

If you are an avid technology geek, and currently have your brand new 3-D HDTV and 3-D Blu-ray player prominently displayed in your entertainment area at home, you likely already know that there are some issues. The most obvious issue being, what the hell to watch? Companies are not just dragging their feet to release 3D videos after the onslaught of 3D films that have hit the big screen-they are tripping over them!

Because unless you are 12, most of the latest Blu-Ray and HDTV compatible options are limited to children’s films. And what is going on with the new 3D burst? Companies have burst forth with delightful 3D theater experiences; yet appear to be dragging their feet in the area of releasing those same flicks in 3D for consumption. What I am trying to relay is, I want a kick-ass 3D experience available from the comfort of my home, on a screen the size of a small spaceship, so that I can make all of my friends jealous…I mean, so I can enjoy my favorite theatrical performances in 3D.

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Aston Martin Cygnet to Hit Production

Luxury carmaker Aston Martin has confirmed that its highly controversial and less conspicuous “Cygnet” model will be produced. This super-compact luxury car is a small city car based on Toyota’s iQ. When I look at it, I think of Alice in Wonderland trying to squeeze through the smallest door.

The Aston Martin Cygnet is the brand’s attempt to comply with demanding emissions regulations that will be rolling out in the near future. Especially in Europe, it has become necessary for even luxury brands to comply with stringent fuel economy and emissions standards. It will likely have a 97bph four-cylinder 1.33-liter petrol engine. My mechanical heart just came to a screeching halt.

I certainly hope Aston continues to focus on its usual fare of fast luxury cars, while still offering up the Cygnet. Green technology is making its way, but still has a bit of tweaking to endure; it is a delicate balance to maintain the integrity of the exotic automobile world while taking strides to ensure a clean and sustainable future. Straddle that fence, Aston!

According to reports, the Cygnet will essentially be an imported Toyota iQ from Japan, fitted with the appropriate Aston Martin signature pieces like the bonnet and DB9 rear lights. The iQ models will be shipped to the Aston Martin factory in the UK, where customers can choose from an unlimited palette of colors and materials to customize their Cygnet. So it is a re-branded Toyota smart car at three times the price? That means that you can expect to pay around $60,000 for the diminutive luxury car, which measures in at just 117.5 inches long, 66.1 inches wide and 58.3 inches tall. That means the Cygnet may be nearly as easy to park as a luxury motorcycle!

When the Aston Martin Cygnet launches, current Aston owners get top priority in the ordering process. Further details on the Aston Martin Cygnet including pricing and specification will be announced as they become available.

*The Aston Martin Cygnet is pictured in the top photo, and the Toyota iQ in the lower

Follow links to view our Aston Martin rentals, luxury car rentals and more automotive entertainment!

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

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Mercedes-Benz and BMW Square-Off

Luxury car makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz seem to be having a bit of a marketing squabble as of late, with nasty quotes being tossed back and forth like punches…soft, luxurious punches.

Yes, the race for the coveted top slot in the Indian luxury car niche seems to be rough, and is getting dirtier as both luxury companies spray a bit of mud from under their pricey tires. Arch rivals and world-renowned luxury car companies BMW and Mercedes-Benz do not seem to be seeing eye to eye, but rather, seething eye to eye, via the press.

Mercedes-Benz has been pointing an accusing finger at BMW, saying they feel that BMW is offering lavish discounts and de-contenting its exotic cars, in particular the 3-Series sedan in efforts to rise to the top. BMW has countered this accusation by saying that Mercedes-Benz is feeling the pressure of competition and therefore losing composure. Ouch! It seems to me that BMW is the ‘Frazier’ of this battle, with a witty and sophisticated approach to engagement.

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2013 Lotus Esprit Debuts at Paris Motor Show

A plethora of new luxury car models were unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and many of them have proven to be memorable, like the new Lotus Esprit. Complete with backing by a new management team, Lotus Cars is unveiling much more than new models, but an aggressive plan for the company’s future.

So what makes the plan so aggressive? There will be a total of 5 new Lotus models, including a sedan. It seems that even supercar brands are coming out with sedan options to cover more market niches.

I must be honest, however, and let you know that the 2013 Lotus Esprit stole the show. Not that stealing the show is anything new for this supercar, which has graced the big screen in the likes of James Bond, Basic Instinct and Pretty Woman. So which car do you think would be best to add to a fleet of Miami luxury rental cars?

The new Esprit Lotus packs a 5.0-liter V8 under its pretty little hood, capable of pushing out 620 horsepower via your gas pedal. The Esprit supercar nails the 0-60 marker in under 3.4 seconds, with top speeds of around 205 miles per hour, placing it right up there with most of the sport car ‘big boys’.

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Top 8 Strange Alternative Fuels

In today’s automotive market, being green is not only trendy, it is becoming increasingly integrated by way of tighter rules and regulations on fuel economy and emissions. It is also necessary to decrease our dependence on oil, a nonrenewable resource. Because of this, scientists and engineers are becoming quite creative in their efforts to develop alternate fuel forms, some that are awesomely atypical!

As we explore bio-materials for possible fuel sources, here are the top 8 atypical alternative fuel sources being scrutinized:

•    Chocolate
•    Styrofoam
•    Coffee grounds
•    Fat
•    Turkey
•    Sawdust, woodchips, nuts
•    Cow
•    Diapers

Chocolate. This delicious theory sounds outlandish, because when I stop at a fuel station, I can’t picture a chocolate bar replacing the pump. Strange or not, a team from the University of Warwick in Britain has constructed and track-tested a Formula 3 racecar that runs on 30% biodiesel derived from chocolate waste. The underlying theory is anything with fat can be turned into diesel. So what is chocolate ‘waste’? The bad batches from nearby Cadbury chocolate plant in Birmingham arrive by the vat, and sweet success seems to be lurking just around the corner. Nothing better than a Ferrari running on chocolate. That should increase sales of the cars and maybe even the exotic rental car industry.

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Porsche Exclusive Slams Into 25-Year Marker with the 911 Speedster

Porsche Exclusive is poised to celebrate 25 years of heart-stealing exotic car contributions and intends to tout its new 911 Speedster to commemorate the special occasion. Porsche Exclusive is the firm’s in-house individualization operation, and what better way to celebrate than to create a convertible 911 that would also make the perfect luxury rental car.

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The SSC Ultimate Aero II Poised to Pound Bugatti

It appears that Shelby SuperCars has done it again, producing the SSC Ultimate Aero II supercar. And by ‘it’ I mean unleash one hell of a fast supercar upon the market, one perhaps even capable of beating out the luscious Bugatti Veyron for the coveted title of ‘Fastest production car available’.

The Bugatti Veyron can get up to 267 miles per hour, and the SSC Ultimate Aero II is capable of rocketing up to around 274 miles per hour. Basically, the SSC Aero II not only looks like a jet fighter, it is damn fast like one, too! Check out our fleet of private jet charters, you will see the resemblance.

Before we go forward, let’s go backward, to the predecessor of the Ultimate Aero II, the Ultimate Aero. The original never really had a shot at outdoing the Bugatti, but the new one seems to have filled in all the holes. Not that the original was an embarrassment by any means, it reached speeds of about 257 miles per hour, and had the sleek appearance of a DeLorean from ‘Back to the Future’ with sweet gullwing doors. The new SSC Ultimate Aero is simply more powerful and robust, and obviously had the design team working overtime. It is literally astonishing.

Specifications include the same twin-turbo V8 engine, but kicking out 1350 horsepower instead of 1183. That is around 150 more horses than the Bugatti Veyron SS. So theoretically, the SSC Ultimate Aero will reach speeds of around 274 miles per hour, though we still must wait for the official record. I assume the brains behind Bugatti are already looking to the future, as the war wages on for the best and fastest supercar in the world. As far as a price tag, I am going to guess the SSC Aero II will hit the market at around a million USD, which will make it a bargain compared to the Veyron SS. I think after stealing a market percentage and gaining a reputation, Shelby SuperCars will gain the confidence to raise prices like Bugatti.

Follow links for more on Bugatti, luxury news and to scope out our fleet of very sexy luxury rental cars. That is right, you don’t have to be loaded to indulge in an exotic car on occasion, just rent one of ours!

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

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2010 Paris Auto Show Lamborghini Preview

The 2010 Paris Auto Show is fast approaching, and will be showcasing the latest and greatest luxury autos and more from October 2nd through the 17th. The auto blogs are blowing up with rumors of drastic changes from our friends at Lamborghini. So is it true? Is Lamborghini planning to unveil two new cars at the show?

It seems that luxury carmaker Lamborghini is generating some buzz aside from the Jota model (LB715-5), with rumors of a second model also to be revealed at the Paris Auto Show. Could it be? (Insert ‘The Hangover’ jokes here).

According to rumors, the Italian marquee will be simultaneously debuting the Lamborghini Jota and the “83X” at the show. There is also talk that Lamborghini may be showing the “83X” as soon as September 23rd at a special dealership event. So what is this elusive “83X”?

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Category: Technology

Porsche Goes Green & Reduces Engine Size, Good or Bad?

Alternative Energy Exploration-Smart Grids and Smart Cars

Film Companies Dragging Feet in 3D Race?

Aston Martin Cygnet to Hit Production

Mercedes-Benz and BMW Square-Off

2013 Lotus Esprit Debuts at Paris Motor Show

Top 8 Strange Alternative Fuels

Porsche Exclusive Slams Into 25-Year Marker with the 911 Speedster

The SSC Ultimate Aero II Poised to Pound Bugatti

2010 Paris Auto Show Lamborghini Preview

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