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Kamis, 27 Januari 2011

2012 Pagani Huayra Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

According to Pagani, its new supercar is about to whip up one hell of a storm.

Pagani has unleashed a maelstrom of photos and info on its new supercar, the Huayra. (And here we thought “Touareg” was hard to pronounce.) The name is taken from Huayra Tata—the god of wind among the Aymara people of South America—and here is the car in an electrifying nutshell: 690 hp, 738 lb-ft of torque, enough exotic materials to build five Ferraris, and looks that are, well, remarkably restrained for Pagani.

Keep Reading: 2012 Pagani Huayra Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

This two-tone, two-wheel-drive Lambo will come to the U.S.

While debuting a super-fuel-efficient VW concept may have seemed out of place in Qatar, using an auto show in the land of the oil-rich to unveil a special-edition Gallardo seems just about right. The two-tone Gallardo Bicolore will be offered only with all-wheel drive as an LP560-4 in other markets, but the version that makes it to us will drive just the rear wheels—à la Gallardo Valentino Balboni—and be dubbed LP550-2. (Yes, that means our cars will make 10 fewer horsepower.)

Keep Reading: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Bicolore – Auto Shows

Toyota has released a teaser image of the FT-86 II sports car concept, which the automaker confirms will debut at the Geneva auto show in early March. The FT-86 II is, of course, a sequel to the FT-86 that was shown at the 2009 Tokyo show, and it’s still officially in concept status. The same goes for its Subaru brother, a concept of which is also set to bow in Geneva, but bear in mind that neither is far removed from the production designs that will eventually arrive in dealerships.

Thanks to the magic of Photoshop, we’ve lightened Toyota’s teaser image for a clearer look at the car. The pic reveals squinty headlights and a big mesh lower grille that resembles our earlier rendering of the FT-86. The company promises this car demonstrates its “reborn passion” for sporty cars, something that has been missing from Toyotas of late.

Both the Toyota and Subaru versions of the car may bow in production form on their home turf at the Tokyo auto show this December—two years after the original Toyota FT-86 concept first saw the light of day. While we know the cars will use boxer engines and rear-wheel drive layouts, many questions remain, including whether turbocharging or all-wheel drive are on the agenda for either. For the Toyota, we’re expecting a final name that somehow includes the number 86, especially in light of the company’s recent trademark filing for a boxer-engined “86″ logo.

Keep an eye out during our coverage of the Geneva show for more information on the FT-86 II and Subaru concepts and—hopefully—the production versions, too.

Volkswagen unveils a turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid that could return incredible fuel economy.

In the battle for the sky-highest fuel-efficiency figure, Volkswagen continues to hone its superweapon. The XL1 concept, unveiled today at the Qatar auto show—foolishly, we neglected to put a man on the scene—is a plug-in hybrid boasting triple-digit fuel economy. It builds on prior super-high-efficiency concepts from VW, namely the 1-Liter that debuted in 2002 and the L1 concept that appeared in 2009. The former used a tiny diesel engine and was designed to travel 100 kilometers on a single liter of fuel, hence the name; the L1 added a plug-in hybrid system in pursuit of a more marketable approach to the same goal.

Keep Reading: Volkswagen XL1 Concept – Auto Shows

At Least You Aren't Shoveling Snow Today [Extra Extra]

Tragic. The i love you so much mural on the side of Jo’s Hot Coffee on Congress was tagged by a wanker, and had to be painted over. Click thru to the coffee shop’s Facebook page to commiserate with mourners.

Austin musician paralyzed after diving into underfilled apartment pool is awarded $6.2 million in damages in a Travis County trial.

This soda fountain in Rosenberg looks awesome enough to warrant a road trip! (The cherry phosphate sounds scrumptious.)

Great pictures of bikers visiting the Capitol.

Here’s a virtual tour of the NFL Experience that just opened in Dallas. Visiting this link won’t cost you the 20-plus smackeroos that visiting the real thing will!

Austin baby’s foot featured on the Tree of Life poster. The baby is now 3 years-old!

Ironically, even if you have a Super Bowl Championship ring…it’s nearly too heavy to wear.

Interesting angle on why the TV shows filmed in Texas might not have done well with viewers outside the state.

more ›

WSJ weekends in our town

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and, yes, even Monday make a sojourn in Austin with a full schedule presented on the front page of the Off Duty section of today’s Wall Street Journal (“Take Monday Off: Austin,” byline Kate Bolick).

The on-line version is illustrated by ranks of boots from Allens, but the print version shows, in addition, a delectable entree from Fonda San Miguel, an exterior shot of the Broken Spoke, a western-themed suite in the Driskill, and a half-dozen more (view the slide show).

There’s that word “mosey” again, along with an anonymous reference to a person who can only be Leslie. This piece tries to cover all bases, from some C&W flavor to urban trendy. Coming in for mentions are Hotel San Jose, Uchi, Jo’s, Uncommon Objects, the Continental Club, Waterloo Records, and many, many more destinations.

There’s quite a lively page of commentary, some of it discouraging people from visiting Austin or contemplating living here. Someone cites two of my favorite disadvantages in this context (heat and respiratory allergies), but I don’t see mention of the third repellent, which is the giant cockroach, unfamiliar to people from many parts of our great nation and truly horrifying to them on first sight.

This is really one of the better Austin once-overs; in case inspiration should fail during SxSW, tear this one out and have your house guests play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey to fill those little gaps in the schedule.

GTD This Weekend: The Brother and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantless

Plenty of opportunity for beer, followed by an opportunity to go pant-less. In other words, start the new year off right.

SATURDAY

This one basically writes itself: at the Pancakes and Booze Art Show, over 50 “underground” artists will show off their art. In addition, there will be live nude painting, music, and an all you can eat pancake bar. A little beer to wash it all down, and you have the breakfast of champions. $5. From 8pm to 2am on Saturday and Sunday at 2441 Hunter St., Downtown.

If you want to cut straight to the beer, head out to Eagle Rock Brewery, which is celebrating its very first birfday. Ten bucks gets you a commemorative pint glass with four drink tickets. $10 at 3056 Roswell Street in Glassell Park, which really is right next to Eagle Rock.

826LA hosts the 3rd Annual “I Work in Reality TV” benefit, with proceeds going to 826LA. Thankfully, you’re not going to be the next Snooki at the benefit (and I mean, “Thankfully” on behalf of the civilized and uncivilized world); rather, the benefit features photos taken by all the people behind the camera who create the reality that you think is television. Suggested donation of $10. Reality bites at 8pm at Lot 613, 613 Imperial Street, Downtown.

SUNDAY

ZOMG you’re either going to want to ride the subway today, or avoid it like the plague: GuerilLA Improv leads the charge in the No Pants Subway Ride of 2011. It’s the LA edition of Improv Everwhere’s No Pants Subway Ride, now in its 10th year. That’s a decade of riding the subway pantless, people. See the event stripped down and explained in detail here. Heh heh. The brother- and sisterhoods of the traveling pantless plan on boarding the 2:34pm train from Union Station. Pay your own train fare ($1.50/one way) and fines levied for indecent exposure, if any.

Resolve to really lose weight this year? Start it off right with Richard Simmons. Yes, you read that right: he of the shiny workout wear is offering Slimmons, a free motivatonal seminar and exercise classfor those who need to lose 50 pounds or more. Why? “Because you deserve it!” Yes, you do. Registration is at 12:30 at 9306 Civic Center Dr in Beverly Hills.

The Echoplex celebrates Elvis’ birthday a day late with a giant bash to benefit the Union Rescue Mission. Lisa Finnie, the Dusk Devils, and the South Bay Surfers will be covering some classic Elvis hits, including, I hope, “Suspicious Minds.” The King would have been 76 this year. In the words of Perry White, Great shades of Elvis. $20. 7:30 at the Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd. in Echo Park.

Photo courtesy ~db~ via the Blogging LA Flickr pool.