The Cobra

Carroll was born on January 11th, 1923, in Texas. He suffered from heart valve leakage problem by the age of 7 and spend most of his childhood in bed. By the age of 14 his health improved and he was declared to have outgrown his health problem. But he had dealt with health issues throughout his life.

Carroll honed his driving skills with his Willys Automobile. Later, starting out as an amateur, he initially raced a friend's MG TC. He soon became driver for Cad-Allard, Aston Martin and Maserati teams during the '50s. He was sports illustrated driver of the year in 1956 and 1957. He competed in F1 from 1958 to 1959, participated in total 8 world championship races and several non championship races. He took nitroglycerine pills when he was racing because of his heart. The highlight of his race driving career came in 1959, when he co drove an Aston Martin DBR1 to victory in 24 hours of LeMan. During this race he noted the performance of an English GT car built by AC cars, known as Ace. He soon had to  retire from racing for health reasons. He later opened a high performance driving school and the Shelby American Company.

AC cars were then going through a difficult time to find an engine for their race cars. AC had designed at Shelby's request by fiting a ford V8 to the popular AC Ace sports car, in place of its standard engine. The car came out and became one of the legendary cars ever build, the AC Cobra.

Shelby remained influential with Ford, manufacturing cars, that became iconic and much celebrated in the American Automobile history. Daytona Coupe, GT40, the Mustang based Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500

After parting with Ford, Shelby moved on to help develop performance cars with two other of the Big 3 american companies, Dodge and Oldsmobile.

In 2003, Ford Motor Co. and Carroll Shelby mended ties again and he became the technical advisor to the Ford GT project. In the same year, he formed Carroll Shelby International Inc. based in Nevada.

He had a heart transplant in 1990 and a kidney transplant in 1996. Carroll Hall Shelby passed away on May 10, 2012 at the age of 89. He was inducted into the International Motorsport Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992. He was also inducted into SCCA Hall of Fame in March 2, 2013.

A trully inspiring automobile designer, racing driver and entrepreneur.

Upcoming bikes in India, to look forward in 2016

TVS Apache RTR 200

200cc engine powered Apache is expected to launch in 2016.

Expected power:22-24bhp, single cylinder air cooled. And an expected maximum torque of 18-20Nm. Price to be around INR 1-1.5 lac.

Hero Motor Corp HX250R

A 250cc bike producing 31bhp at 9000rpm and a maximum torque of 26Nm. Bike is expected to have a 6-speed gearbox.
Top speed will be around 150kph.

Price: INR 1.35-1.50 lac.

UM Renegad Commando

The UM Renegade is going to be a 223cc, air-cooled, single cylinder engine with a 5-speed transmission. A maximum power of 18bhp at 800orpm and 15.5Nm torque at 5500rpm.
Expected price to be around INR 1.25lac.

Yamaha MT-03

Yamaha Mt 03 will have a 321cc parallel twin, liquid cooled, fuel injected engine, producing 41.4bhp at 10750rpm and a maximum torque of 29.6Nm at 9000rpm. The price is expected to be around INR 3lac.

Hyosung GT 300R

Hyosung GT 300R is 275cc 8-valve V-twin engine which, when coupled with a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox, rakes up to 20.6 PS power at 10,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 23.5 Nm at 7000 rpm. The price is expected to be around INR 3.75- 4 lac.
source: zigwheels

TVS BMW G 310R

The naked street fighter comes with a 313cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine developing 34bhp. It comes with ABS. The bike expected to be launched at the Indian Auto Expo.

Bajaj Pulsar CS 400

The best looking pulsar is all set to be launched in India by April 2016. It will be a 373.2cc, liquid cooled producing 40bhp and 32Nm torque. The price is expected to be priced under 2 lac.


Benelli Tornado 302

The Tornado will hit Indian shore by mid-2016. It will have 300cc, inline twin cylinder, liquid cooled engine with a 6-speed transmission. It is expected to be priced around 3.5 lac 

History of the Raging Bull

Automobili Lamborghini has always been my favorite super car manufacturers. Many new boys like the Pagani, Koenigsegg have tried to slam down Lamborghini, but, no matter what Lamborghini have always been on top. They have been the favorite bedroom wall posters for the petrol heads for more than 5 decades. Now lets take a look into their history.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was an Italian Industrialist who founded Lamborghini Trattori, which very soon became a successful agricultural equipment manufacturer. Lamborghini's increasing wealth made him buy enough car so that he could use a different car on every day of the week. He owned Alfa Romeos, Lancias, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, a Jaguar E-Typecoupé, and two Maserati 3500GTs. In 1958 Lamborghini travelled to Maranello to buy a Ferrari 250GT. Lamborghini thought Ferrari's cars were good but were noisy and too rough to drive as a road car. Lamborghini found that Ferrari's cars were equipped with inferior clutches, and required continuous trips to Maranello for rebuilds; technicians would secret the car away for several hours to perform the work, much to Lamborghini's annoyance. He had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Ferrari's aftersales service, which he perceived to be substandard. Lamborghini brought his issue to Enzo Ferrari's notice. But Enzo Ferrari dismissed his thoughts about his car and said a tractor manufacturer had no right to complain  about his cars.

Lamborghini was disappointed. He decided he would start a company, manufacturing cars which are better than Ferrari's, to prove him wrong. The rest became history. 

Automobili Lamborghini was founded on October 1963. They started manufacturing Luxury Super cars unlike the Ferrari's. The company gained wide acclaim with Miura, which is the world's first Mid-Engine Super Car.

Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini's has been a real threat to Ferrari's. They have a soul that the Ferrari doesn't have. The flat shaped, breath taking designs are great sight anywhere in the world. The current master piece leading the race for Lamborghini is the Aventador, which will be the last car with the Lamborghini DNA ( naturally aspirated  V12 engine). 

Aventador

Huracan

Lamborghini Urus (launching soon)

FASTEST MOTORCYCLES IN THE WORLD

Ninja H2

Over the years many motorcycle manufactures have released their super bikes with challenging top speeds. So lets take a look at who leads the race. Actually many super bikes that were released recently have their top speeds almost same as to the others. The Suzuki Hayabusa (or GSX1300R) had their lead for a very long while. And many still thinks they are still the fastest. But yes, Hayabusa is still on the list but not the fastest. Hayabusa has a top speed of 194 mph( approx. 312 kph) 

Hayabusa

The Ducati 1199 Superleggera has a top speed of 202 mph(325 kph) and is faster than Hayabusa. It had a price tag of $65,000.( appr ox. 43lakh

INR)

Ducati 1199 Superleggera

Ducati's latest model the 1299 Panigale, BMW S1000RR, Honda RC213V-S, Kawasaki Ninja H2 all have their top speed of 185mph( approx 298kph)

Ducati 1299 Panigale

                                       

BMW S1000RR

The Ninja H2's track only version Ninja H2R does a top speed of 222 mph( approx. 357kph). The Ninja H2 and H2R are the most powerful road legal production bike currently.

MV Agusta F4 R 312 does a top speed of 194mph(312kph).

Where as there is a superbike The MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as the Y2K Turbine Superbike which is currently the worlds fastest motor cycle and the most expensive. But the production of this bike ended back in 2005. But I'm not sure if i would want to own this thing even if i had the money. The machine is powered by a Rolls-Royce-Allison Model 250 gas turbine. The bike claims to have a top speed of 250 mph which is close to 400 kph but they have never proven so.

Y2K Turbine superbike.

Another bike on the list is an Electric motorcycle! Its called Lightning LS-218

The manufacture claims this glorified torch does a top speed of 218 mph(351kph). But they too have never proven so. This bike production started in 2014.

Lightning LS 218

These are the fastest bike on my list. Sorry if i have missed out any. Do let me know if so.  

Top 5 smart watches to buy in 2015

■ Samsung Gear 2 Neo Smartwatch  http://amzn.to/1GgUcbS

■ Asus ZenWatch  http://amzn.to/1Fh9MlI

■ Pebble Steel  http://amzn.to/1LaM1Od

■ Motorola Moto 360  http://amzn.to/1EPC0AL

■ LG G Watch R  http://amzn.to/1EPC2Zc

Video Published by: TOP TECH VIDEOS  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCark4B2q22cutojP6bzm2kQ

By 2020

Top 10 Advanced Car Technologies that you can expect by the year 2020

10. Re-configurable Body Panels

There is an increase in demand for both SUVs and trucks todays. So what if you could have both the types in one car? A SUV with lightweight body panels and advanced motors that retract the roof and side glass into the lower body panels!!

 9. Smart/Personalized In-Car Marketing

By 2020 the average car will be fully connected to the internet, meaning your vehicle will provide marketers with a powerful set of metrics to customize their message. So, get ready for personalized, location-based ads in your car’s display.

8. Four-Cylinder Supercar

As the name suggests, a super car with just 4 cylinders and having 200+ horse power

7. Active Health Monitoring 

 A car that can pull over and call paramedics when the driver has a heart attack. The car seatbelt or steering wheel sensors that track vital statistics and most of the cars will just wirelessly pair with devices like your phone, tablet etc So when the sensors trigger that there is something wrong with the driver, it automatically calls the paramedics.

6. Remote Vehicle Shutdown

When your car is stollen you can shutdown your car with the help of a remote. This technology already exists but by 2020 remote vehicle shutdown will enter the social consciousness.

5. Active HUD

Head Up Display or the HUD is a technolgy thats been there for a long time but by 2020 we’ll see active glass capable of displaying vibrant images. Imagine a navigation system that actually highlights the next turn (as seen from your perspective, through the windshield) as you approach it.

4. Comprehensive Vehicle Tracking

Insurance companies, and some state governments, are already talking about fees based on how many miles a person drives. There is a good chance that we will see a  future where insurance companies will require comprehensive driver tracking.

3. Biometric Vehicle Access

From KEY to KEYLESS entry, and now the future of entering into your car with key-fob-less entry and start.  You’ll be able to unlock and start your car without anything more than your fingerprint ( or a retina scanner).

2. Driver Override Systems

It means the car actively disregards your commands and make its own decisions. Sounds strange, but there might be situations where you are going to hit a wall, and you still hit the gas pedal, the car overrides your decision and activates the brake. The rapid increase in sensor technology will force a shift in priority, giving the car final say — not you.

1.  Autonomous Vehicle

Not fully autonomus vehicle. Because it will take more than 5 years before a car can drive anywhere. But by 2020 we’ll have cars capable of being fully autonomous in certain circumstances, most likely rural interstates with minimal variables.

source: Forbes

Top 5 most expensive cars

5.) Ferrari F60 America

Price tag : $2.5M

F60 America

Engine: 6.2-liter V12 producing 740hp {0-60 mph under 3.1 seconds}

This limited edition was launched as a part of Ferrari's 60th Anniversary in the U.S. Designed to combine the delights of a V-12 engine and open-top driving.

4.) Mansory Vivere Bugatti Veyron

Price tag: $3.4M

Bugatti Veyron

 Engine specs: 8.0-liter W16 engine producing 1,200hp and 1,106 pound-feet of torque (0-60mph under 2.5 seconds)

The Bugatti Grand Sport got tuned Mansory. They made all new interior. New LED front lamps. Carbon fiber-ed body.

3.) Lykan HyperSport

Price tag: $3.4M

Lykan Hypersport

 Engine specs: 3.7L flat-six producing 740hp. (0-60mph in 2.7 seconds)

The Lykan HyperSport is a limited production sports car by W Motors, a UAE based company founded in 2012 with the collaboration of Lebanese and Italian engineers. It is the first supercar to be produced in the Middle East. The Hypersport is the first car to have headlights with embedded jewels; they contain titanium LED blades with 420 diamonds. The buyer has a selection of rubies, diamonds, yellow diamonds, and sapphires to be integrated into the vehicle's headlights at purchase.

 2.) Lamborghini Venono

Price tag: $4.5M

Lamborghini Venono Roadster

Engine specs: 6.5L V12 producing 750hp (0-60mph in 2.8 seconds)

Lamborghini as usual went insane with the design. As they call, it is a collector's master piece of engineering and design. An open racing prototype of extreme design and breath taking performance.

1.) Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita 

Price tag: $4.85M

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita 

 Engine Specs: 4.8 L twin-supercharged V8 producing 1,004 hp (0-60mph in 2.8 seconds)

No.1 on the list is the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita edition. Only 2 cars were ever build. By utilising this new and unique method, Koenigsegg has managed to coat fibres with a diamond finish, which was fully developed at Koenigsegg HQ.Only three CCXR Trevitas were planned to be produced, however, because of the complexity to make the special white carbon-fiber, only 2 were ever made, making it one of the rarest vehicles manufactured by Koenigsegg.

Apart from these one of the most expensive car that was purchased by Birdman in 2011 was the Maybach Exelero. He purchased it for $8M!!! 

Maybach Exelero

This car as from Wikipedia is a high-performance unique sports car built in 2004. The 700 hp (522 kW) four-seater with a twin turboV12 engine is a one-off design built by Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, on request for Fulda Tires, the German division of Goodyear. Fulda is using this car as a reference vehicle to test a new generation of wide tires. The German luxury car manufacturer created the model as a modern interpretation of its legendary streamlined sportscar from the 1930s.

Top 5 best Product Designs

1. The Ford Model T and VW Beetle
Model T for bringing automobile to the masses. The model T was cheap because of assembly line production. This was the first car to use the newly designed production method. This design changed the manufaturing process of automobiles.
The VW Beetle is considered to be the best provocative designs of 20th Century. Everyone loved the Beetle. The car had a diverse history and is considered to be one of the best automobile designs.

2. Motorola StarTAC
The first cell phone to appropriately integrate technology, interaction, style, and size.  In 2005, PC World put StarTAC at #6 in The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years. The StarTAC was among the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption; approximately 60 million StarTACs were sold.

3.  iMac
iMac made computing friendly and accessible for the masses.

4. Polaroid Camera
Instant camera uses self-developing film to create a chemically developed print shortly after taking the picture.  Polaroid Corporation showed this magic to the world. This was then followed by various other manufact55urers.

 5. Swiss Army Knife
Everyone owns this compact and amazingly useful product at some point. This small compact tool has around 141 different functions. This is by far one of the best product designs the world has seen.