FROM INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2011

A California company has combined a Corvette with a luxury speedboat and thrown in some jet ski to create a holy trinity of awesomeness it calls the WaterCar Python. For around $170,000, you can pick up a Python rolling chassis and install a General Motors LS series engine of your choosing — from a used LS1 to the same mind-bendingly powerful LS9 found in the Corvette ZR1. Choose that level of insanity and WaterCar estimates the engine and transaxle installation should run an additional $30 to $50K.
Once installed, the Python will make short work of your trip to the boat launch with an average 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds. Once you get to the yacht club, stun your high society friends by driving the Python straight into the water, pressing one button to retract the wheels and another to start the jet. You’ll be gliding on a bright blue highway in seconds. Far from a glorified Amphicar, this baby can do 60 mph on the water.
In addition to being one of the absolute coolest toys we’ve ever seen, we can imagine high-speed police chases in L.A. might get a bit more interesting if suspects choose a Python as their getaway car.
On land, the Python is a custom-built hot rod that looks like a cross between a Chevy Avalanche and a Corvette. Out on Lake Havasu, where you just know one of these will show up, it’s a 20 foot luxury boat appointed with a polished wood dashboard and a leather wraparound bench seat — just like the Chris Craft you keep at your house in the Hamptons. Sadly, air conditioning, an automatic transmission and a hardtop are not currently available.
We’re especially amused by the dual set of safety and regulatory guidelines that apply to an amphibious motor vehicle. Headlamps and turn signals are to be used on land but green and red nautical lights are for use on the water. Not only do owners of the Python need to register their vehicle as both a car with license plates and a boat with marine stickers, but special amphibious vehicle insurance must be purchased unless owners want to buy both a car and boat policy.
On paper, the Python appears to be twice as fast on the water than its closest competitor, the Gibbs Aquada. We wonder how long it will be before someone smashes Sir Richard Branson’s record of crossing the English Channel in an amphibious automobile that he set in his Aquada back in 2004.

 Sales of used cars are way up. So far almost four million more have been sold this year than last. But buying a used car is never a good deal if you end up with someone else’s headaches. Consumer Reports’ auto experts can keep you on the straight path.

Car Wash

Well, summer is almost here and you know what that means. People hauling out the hoses, buckets and soaps for their traditional driveway car wash. Fun as this may be, many people are still unaware of the devastating impacts the at-home car wash can have on our environment. Each time you wash your car, an average of 80 – 140 gallons of water are used. Carried in this soapy mess are contaminants such as brake dust, exhaust fumes, oils, and harsh detergents from the soaps. Once this drains into open sewers it wreaks havoc on our water supply. Outlined below are ten eco-friendly car washing techniques that work!

• Consider switching to an waterless car wash this summer. Trade the hoses and buckets for a small spray bottle and two microfiber towels. Currently popular overseas, waterless car wash products are finally here in the U.S.
• Swap paper towels for re-usable microfiber towels. Microfibers are super absorbent and can be re-used up to 50 times.
• Steer clear of products containing “petroleum-distillates, kerosene, silicone, or mineral spirits” These products are known carcinogens and have an adverse impact on the environment.
• If you do continue using the hose method, buy an automatic shut-off valve so that water is not continuing to flow as you wash.
• Look for soaps which are phosphate-free. Phosphates encourage algae bloom when they enter water and reduce oxygen levels for other aquatic species.
• Wash your car over the lawn instead of in the driveway. You’ll both water the grass, and also prevent the contaminated water from hitting open sewers.

Just try out these simple tips and not only be able to clean your car, but also help save the environment.

The big news may be about the Tube but the Carphone Warehouse and Nokia have packaged together a rather intriguing proposition for those of the pay-as-you-go persuasion. The deal is they sell you a Nokia 5310 XpressMusic handset for £129.95 and you get not only the phone,but also unlimited access to the Comes With Music service for a year. In fact, I think I demonstrated it rather well in the picture. There's the £129.95 in pink, next to the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone which, as you can see, "comes with" a pile of CDs representing "music". And that's all at the Carphone Warehouse or at least on the forecourt of the head office.
The deal hits the insides of the blue-branded iPhone stores on 16th October and, even after your 12 months expire, you still get to keep all the music you've downloaded. Of course, it'll be DRM-ed up to the eye-balls but there you go. Anyway, at least you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own PC.
The good news is that the 5310 XpressMusic will come in a choice of eight colours, the bad news is that you still have to pay for all your phone calls.
Now, the part I'm trying to figure out is can you take the music to another Nokia phone when you're done and if that's the case, does that mean you can do it immediately? So, infact, can you lay out the £129.95, sell the handset for the £80 RRP and have yourself year-long, unlimited access to the Nokia Music Store on an N96 or another contract Nokia of your choice for £50? Because that sounds quite good.

The CityX has always been one of the most stand-out models in Buell’s already unique range. The 2010 Buell Lightning CityX XB12SX adds the ubiquitous 93bhp, 77lb/ft 1203cc Sportster-derived V-twin to the CityX’s upright chassis, iMac-influenced translucent bodywork and supermoto-inspired styling cues. That’s a 13bhp, 19lb/ft advantage for only a 2kg weight penalty (the XB12SX weighs just 179kg dry).
Only intended for the European roads, the new CityX XB12Sx combines the 93bhp Sportster-derived air-cooled Thunderstorm V-twin engine with an iMac-influenced chassis design that stands out from the crowd.

The previous Vauxhall VXR8 representing the old version of the lower-spec ClubSport R8, the new VXR8 is now based on HSV E3 GTS model, just launched in Australia. The new are packing heavily revised front- and rear-end styling, a new cabin and a raft of new technology to enhance its appeal to drivers in search of one of the last, great rear-drive V8 super-saloons.

The styling design get ‘Shockwave’ grille, LED daytime running lights and sleek new wing-vents mark the new car out from the front, while the rear features a new ‘Superflow’ rear spoiler, LED tail lamps and twin exhaust tips that mimic the shape of the front grille.

Take a look at this new car design Porsche 997 V-RT super sport car with new innovation Turbo engine official photos gallery shown below. If you not yet see the Porsche 997 V-RT specs before, read the car press release when the car tuning package and test drive performance report also included. Porsche 911 Turbo was refined by Vorsteiner which make some creative car modification with installing an aerodynamics vehicle body kit and a set of huge luxury alloy wheels. Vorsteiner Porsche 911 V-RT car model features new body kit consisting of larger carbon fiber air intakes exclusive of fog lights as in the Porsche GT2 vehicle version. At the rear view, the tuning specialists installed, presented to buy new car font bumper with a twin-finned carbon fiber rear diffuser for the quad exhaust system.

The Porsche 911 V-RT race car rims are three-piece V-306 20″ fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires for maximum grip at the race track as well as the public roads. The Porsche 911 V-RT engine is 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged flat-six with 480PS (353 kW) and 620Nm of torque. It catapults the car 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (manual) and the top speed is 310 km/h (193 mph). There is an optional Sports Chrono overboost package, which increases torque to 680 Nm (500 lb-ft). More information, visit Porsche official website.