Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car

Self driving car

Driverless cars will soon be a reality on the roads of Nevada after the state approved America's first self-driven vehicle license.

The first to hit the highway will be a Toyota Prius modified by search firm Google, which is leading the way in driverless car technology.

Its first drive included a spin down Las Vegas's famous strip.

Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licenses in Nevada.

Accident

The car uses video cameras mounted on the roof, radar sensors and a laser range finder to "see" other traffic.

Engineers at Google have previously tested the car on the streets of California, including crossing San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge.

For those tests, the car remained manned at all times by a trained driver ready to take control if the software failed.

According to software engineer Sebastian Thrun, the car has covered 140,000 miles with no accidents, other than a bump at traffic lights from a car behind.

Human error

Bruce Breslow, director of Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles, says he believes driverless vehicles are the "cars of the future".

Nevada changed its laws to allow self-driven cars in March. The long-term plan is to license members of the public to drive such cars.

Google's car has been issued with a red license plate to make it recognisable. The plate features an infinity sign next to the number 001.

Other states, including California, are planning similar changes.

"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error," said California state Senator Alex Padilla, when he introduced the legislation.

"Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analysing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely."

News by BBC

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

The Ferrari which holds EIGHT people and plenty of Christmas presents

Long Ferrari

With Christmas days away and presents still to buy for all your family and friends, sometimes a regular estate is just not big enough for all the bags.

Which may explain why these last-minute shoppers arrived at Harrods driving something a little more spacious than the usual.

Shoppers in upmarket Knightsbridge, London, looked on in disbelief yesterday afternoon when two men pulled up at Harrods in this outrageous stretched Ferrari.

With no bay in the area suitable for a vehicle of such length, the car simply stopped on double yellow lines at the front of the store.

The limousine is a one-off, made by a developer in the UK by cutting a regular Ferrari 360 Modena in half and adding some seats in the middle.

It is the fastest limousine in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 166mph and is estimated to cost as much as £250,000.

It is likely the car was not owned by the male driver but hired specially for the occasion from an elite hire company.

The limo was designed by Dan Cawley, a Manchester-based businessman who owns hire company Style Limousines.

Mr Cawley, who has sold the car to another rental company, told the Mail: 'Every boy wants to get into a Ferrari, this was a way for people to be able to do that with seven mates. It's the biggest and craziest vehicle you can get. We made it because we wanted to create the ultimate Ferrari experience.'

He added: 'There's room for eight people – so you can get plenty of shopping bags in there.'

News by Dailymail


Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

How vulgar! £1 million 24-carat gold Rolls-Royce is unveiled

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce has always had a history of elegance and class - until now.

That prestigious reputation has been smashed by the world's most vulgar makeover of the company's iconic Ghost model.

An Italian fashion design house has created a gold-covered monstrosity costing more than £1 million.

The Fenice Milano 'Diva' has been spray painted in 24-carat gold and the company is so proud of it they have described the model as a 'true.masterpiece.'

It is fitted with the same 6-litre twin-turbocharged engine of the Ghost, giving the saloon more than 560bhp and a top speed of 155mph.

Fenice Milano believes their Rolls-Royce is a 'synonym for class, elegance and style'. many would disagree.

The interior has biscuit leather and 24-carat gold throughout. The standard Ghost costs £220,000 but the Diva is now for sale at £1.05million.

Phillip Brooks, a Rolls-Royce historian, described the car as 'bizarre' but also 'spectacular'.

He said: "I think what Fenice is doing with the Ghost is quite interesting. It's certainly a case of gilding the lily, but the gilding job looks pretty good.

'My personal taste doesn't run to something like a Diva, but I think it would be great fun to show up in one. All in all, perhaps a slightly bizarre car, but a very neat one.'

 News by Dailymail


Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Renault wins an order for 15,600 electric vehicles

KANGOO

AFP - Renault won Friday most of the mega-French control of electric vehicles, with 15,600 trucks, far ahead of PSA Peugeot Citroën as part of the purchase made by the State, private companies and local authorities. The diamond brand will deliver 15,637 Kangoo ZE over a period of four years, while PSA was awarded a second batch of 3,074 copies for its small car Peugeot Ion, according to a joint statement from the Ministries of Ecology, Economy and Finance and Industry. This announcement is timely for Renault, which has relied heavily on the electric Kangoo ZE whose first arrived that day in the concessions.

The bulk order launched in 2009 provided for a third batch of four to five urban places, which has not yet been assigned. It "helped to organize and unite the needs of public enterprises, 18 enterprises of different status (ADP, Air France, Areva, Bouygues, EDF, ERDF, Eiffage, France Telecom Orange, GDF Suez, Suez Environment, GRT Gaz , GrDF, RATP, SAUR, SNCF, SPIE, Vinci and Veolia), local and state, "said the ministries in their statement. The French government shows its commitment to its automotive industry one of the pioneer vehicles' carbon-free ".