If you're a LEGO Technic fan and you like off roaders, you're going to be very excited by this news. This year, a LEGO Technic Extreme Off-Roader 2 could be yours. (You'll have to wait quite a while, however. Pocket Lint reports that it will only be available for Christmas 2008 in the UK.)

The Off-Roader will reportedly have working doors, bonet, boot, piston heads, number plates and steering controls, but this isn't the most impressive part. What is, then? The motors which can turn the headlights on, power a winch and raise the suspension, so you'll be able to drive over those tricky parts of the livingroom with no problem.

More photos after the jump.






















Via Pocket Lint and BrickSet.

A couple of days ago we gave you the Force Dynamics 401 motion platform for racer-wannabes who can't get near a racing car or who want to do a bit of training.

Today, we have the Pro Race Trainer simulator. This is designed for real race drivers, so no playing Need for Speed with it (unless you are a very hardcore gamer). It sounds like a very sweet tool for racers, as it saves lots of money spent on track time and it is highly customizable, creating precise models of the race cars and millimetre accurate re-creations of the race tracks.

Specifications:
* Light-weight, high-strength, aluminium tubular space frame chassis
* Cobra Monaco race seat.
* BRD Pro MT force feedback steering system
* BRD Pro Pedals
* BRD Pro Sequential Gearbox
* Adjustable Steering, pedal, gearbox and seating position
* Fully adjustable, integrated 21” TFT Screen
* Latest generation purpose built rackmounted PC
* Powerful in-built 5.1 surround-sound system with headphone output.
* Adjustable Keyboard Mount

Yes, it sounds like a great gaming device... But wait til you read the price tag. The Pro Race Trainer costs £9950 - that's about $20,000.

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The new Acer-Ferrari 1100 laptop has reportedly started shipping, which might make some Ferrari fans (who have a lot of money, as it's around $2000) very happy.

The 1100 is the latest in Acer's Ferrari line and its specs are pretty impressive:

• Processor: AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-66


• Memory: 4GB (2GB installed in each of two memory slots) DDR2 667 SDRAM (1024KB L2 cache, 2.3GHz)


• Storage:
  250GB SATA hard drive with Acer® DASP (Disk Anti-Shock Protection)
  Integrated slot-loaded variable-speed Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM)
  5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™


• Video: 1
  2.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LCD, Acer® CrystalBrite Technology
  Integrated ATI Radeon™ Xpress 1270 graphics
  Acer® Video Conference with integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam supporting Acer® PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions


• Audio:
  Dolby®-certified surround sound system with two integrated stereo speakers
  Microphone-in, line-in and headphones/speaker/line-out with SPDIF support ports

Detailed specs are available on the Acer website.

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Once again, cool motorcycle-related art. Brazilian artist José Geraldo Reis Pfau has created a series of motorcycle miniatures from watch parts. You can see a small sample of pictures below, but there are many more available on the artist's website.









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Have you ever felt like you wanted to know more about the state of your vehicle? The reason doesn't matter: maybe you think the mechanic is ripping you off or maybe you just want to control everything. Either way, this might be of interest.

The recently launched CarShield device plugs into a vehicle's standard diagnostic port and provides real-time information to the driver.

According to the press release, by using GPS, wireless communication, predictive diagnostics, computing intelligence and Internet access, the CarShield offers:

• Remote Early Diagnostic Warnings: Receive service and safety warnings via text, email or phone relating to engine health, battery status, tire pressure and more


• Remote Smog Check: Eliminates the need of visiting a smog check station saving time and money
  Emergency Support: Provides emergency support, sends roadside assistance and unlocks vehicle doors when keys are locked inside the car


• Teen/Family Protection: Provides email/text notification when vehicle leaves a designated area or exceeds pre-defined speed limits


• Theft Protection: Unauthorized movement alert/vehicle theft tracking


• Vehicle Tracking & Location: GPS satellite and Web interface display where your vehicle has been, and when it arrived and departed specific locations

CarShield will be available in March 2008 to new car dealerships, and in June 2008 to the general public. The annual service subscription ($140) includes all CarShield services, including roadside assistance and remote smog check.

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What do pizza and motorcycles have in common? Nothing, you say?

Well, from now one they have at least one thing. Artist Frankie Flood has designed five pizza-cutters inspired by Choppers, to show that even day-to-day objects can be a form of art. The pizza cutters are (appropriately) called Mantis, Psycho Pizza Cadillac, Easy Rider, Pizza for Life and Phatboy and were recently exhibited at the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
Even if you don't agree that this is art... at least it could make eating more fun, right? And motorcycle lovers would probably like these as a gift.

More photos after the jump.









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Have you ever felt that racing games just don't deliver the full experience? After all, you're just sitting in front of your PC clicking some buttons or maybe turning a wheel. Most people won't ever get the opportunity to drive a racing car, but if you really want to experience the same (or almost the same) sensations, check this out.

The Force Dynamics 401 motion platform simulates the real deal. You'll get your brains shaken and you can get bruises if you drive badly. Watch this very convincing video and see for yourselves:

Video

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This Solar Car Kit with Bluetooth from Anycom is dubbed "the world's first solar-powered cell-phone car speaker system with Bluetooth wireless technology". The innovative part is the solar power, so you should know that three hours of sunlight will provide about 30 minutes of talk time. If you charge it by USB or DC adapter you will get about 15 hours talk time and 25 days in standby. I don't see any mention of how much sunlight it needs in order to be fully charged, but it's probably a lot.



It can be attached to your windshield with a suction cup and its functions include voice dial, last-number redial, hold, mute and 3-way calling.

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Looking forward to the Concept Chevy Volt, the new EV from Chevrolet? Well, you'll have to wait at least until 2010 for that. However, for now you can have the next best thing: a 1:32 scale die cast of the car. Made by Bburago, it comes in metallic green and has doors that open. It's also a collector's item, since only 7500 items were produced and it is packaged in acustom designed display carton.



You can get it for $13.95, but only from the official merchandise store, as it won't be available at retail locations.

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First the Rider Scala gave you the option to add Bluetooth to any motorcycle helmet and made talking on a cell phone much easier than taking it out of your pocket and having it blown 1 mile back down the road.


Two years later, the updated Scala Rider Q2 brings something even better. Now you can talk to other Q2 users up to a distance of 500 meters (1640 feet), in full-duplex. The range might be limited, but this disadvantage balances out with the fact that you don't have to push any button to talk and that you don't have to stop speaking in order for your partner to say something.

Because, like its former version, the Q2 is Bluetooth-enabled, you can make and receive phonecalls and get vocal instructions from your GPS. And, if you get bored of talking to people, you can always use the FM radio feature.

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