Meet the World’s First Drivable Pickup Truck Made of Ice

To demonstrate that its Motomaster Eliminator Battery will resist temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit), retail chain 'Canadian Tire' mounted the battery on a pickup truck made of blocks of ice.

The truck was built by Hensall, Ontario-based Iceculture, a company specializing in ice sculptures, using a real truck chassis and running gear. The team then welded the suspension solid and used 11,000 pounds (4,989kg) of blocks of ice to shape the bodywork.

What’s interesting about the ice pickup truck is that it’s drivable – or at least it was before it melted…

On December 12, 2013, the truck set a world record for “the first self-propelled ice creation to drive”, covering a mile (1.6 kilometers) at an average speed of 20 km/h (12.4 mph).

Scroll down to see the commercial and then to watch an interesting behind the scenes documentary on how the truck was built. There’s also a video of the truck’s testing, another of its world record attempt, and, finally, a reverse video of it… melting.

By Dan Mihalascu

Story References: Canadian Tire via Autoblog-com

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More Driverless Tech from CES 2014 with Audi A7 and Navia

Audi brought out a self-driving A7 to this year’s edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and they didn’t do so in vain and even offered journalists rides in it.

This allowed CNN reporters to discover that while the technology is not yet perfect and sometimes make for a jerky autonomous ride, the progress over last year’s is evident in the packaging – no more exposed wiring looms for 2014.

Ford also brought out its latest advancement in the field: cars that talk to each other. This is different to a system that relies solely on sensors to predict a threat, and Ford’s idea is that you are actually warned in advance. It would probably work best in conjunction with the radar, cameras and lasers.

Navia is another driver-less mobility (self-driving shuttle is what they call it) pod present at the show, and again is one that people actually got a chance to sit in. It’s a slow-moving means of transporting a small group of people around closed roads with no traffic (college campuses are the example given). What’s nice about it is that it’s simple and has already seen active duty, without facing any of the legal challenges – Consumer Reports got to try it out.

By Andrei Nedelea

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Chrysler Group Joins Monster Truck Fun with Mopar Muscle Ram

The name is Mopar Muscle and it's is the first new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) monster truck to join the Monster Jam truck racing series in over a decade. The big-wheel truck will be run by the Hall Brothers Racing team, which already fields the winning trucks “Raminator” and “Rammunition”.

Standing 10 feet high (about 3 meters) and weighing 10,300 pounds (4.672 kg), the Mopar Muscle is loosely based on a 2014 Ram Heavy Duty truck, featuring a 2,000 horsepower 565 cubic inch (9.3-liters) supercharged version of the Gen II 426 HEMI V8 engine that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“We’re excited to have Mopar make its first foray into the world of monster trucks by joining the Ram brand in this popular and competitive exhibition series with a such a passionate and loyal following,” said Mopar boss Pietro Gorlier.

“So much of what Mopar does is applicable to the general consumer, but occasionally we like to show just how capable our brand is of really extreme performance. This is a great and fun opportunity for us to do that with Mopar Muscle and the Hall Brothers,” he added.

If you're into such things, you can see Mopar Muscle competing at the following events during the 2014 season:

•           January 11 – Monster Jam in Detroit, Mich.
•           February 22 – Monster Jam in Arlington, Texas
•           May 16-18 – 4 Wheel Jamboree in Lima, Ohio
•           June 21-22 – 4 Wheel Jamboree in Springfield, Mo.
•           July 11-13 – 4 Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pa.
•           September 19-21 – 4 Wheel Jamboree in Indianapolis, Ind.

PHOTO GALLERY

Bob Lutz Says the Chevrolet Volt Should Have Been a Truck

Former GM vice chairman Bob Lutz is questioning the auto industry’s judgment when it comes to electric vehicles. In an interview with the Seattle Times, the auto executive says electrification should have started with trucks, where the efficiency gains are way more significant.

“We started at the wrong end. The whole automotive industry made the intellectual mistake of thinking EVs were all about maximum range, so we all started with small vehicles that are basically very economical anyway,” said Lutz when asked if the Chevrolet Volt should have been a truck rather than a sedan.

“Yes, you do save fuel. You can use a smaller battery, but it makes less sense to take a 40 mpg vehicle and make it electric than it does to take a full-size pickup or SUV, which in town realistically gets 11 to 12 mpg. If you take that to 100 mpg, now you’re really saving money and saving a scarce natural resource and reducing CO2 emissions drastically,” he explained.

Lutz added that the electrification of full-size pickup trucks and SUVs will also help keep these “endangered species” within the strict limits of fuel-economy regulations.

“Bigger trucks are the only electrified vehicles that I know of that make instant economic sense because the fuel saving is so large that you will more than get back your monthly lease price,” Lutz says. He added that electric trucks would also have the advantage of exportable power, acting as an emergency power generator in case there’s a power outage.

While Lutz’s opinions may have something to do with his role as chairman of VIA Motors, an Utah-based company that converts GM trucks, cargo vans and passenger vans into extended-range electric vehicles, one has to admit he does have a point.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

OMSI 2, Germany’s Most Advanced Bus Simulator is Here with Articulation

OMSI proposed a direct and unassisted bus driving experience that made it a niche product. However, for those who found themselves fancying that niche, it was a breath of fresh air in a sea of commercial mediocrity that plagues it.

It did lack variety of vehicles and maps, and even if the sequel, OMSI 2, doesn’t come in to fix that with a lot more content, it is an improvement of the original formula so therefore worthwhile (if you already know and like the first one).

The main feature added by this second game is realistic bus articulation, and the introduction of an articulated single-decker one for the very first time. It’s a variation of the double-decker designs seen before, and it poses a new challenge to drive, requiring extra skill to thread through the often narrow streets found in the game (most of the cities reproduced by the modding community are European).

Aside from the new physics capabilities of the game engine, graphics have also been updated, as has the original Berlin-based map, which gets new routes. Keep in mind that this is still not a pretty game like some commercial titles, but the bus models are very detailed and the choice of maps and scenarios is practically infinite. You can customize all parameters, including weather, to your heart’s desire.

Check out the selection of videos after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

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This is What Happens When You Over Inflate a Huge Truck Tire

If you're filling up a tire with air, common sense says you should always keep at least one eye on the pressure gauge. Overdo it, and you could end up being blasted in the face and thrown up into the air like a rag doll.

This applies to all types of tires, but understandably, the bigger the wheel, the stronger the explosion if you go over the limit.

The guy in this video, possibly filmed at a Russian garage, had one foot on the truck tire when it burst out like a bomb shooting the man several feet in the air. The poster of the security camera footage says the man sustained a couple of bruises and torn ligaments in his knee.

The funny thing (well, not really, but you get what we mean) is that, if you watch the video, one of the other men in the garage approached him and pointed towards the tire, likely warning him about the pressure. Guess he had to find out the blasting way…

Thanks to Jalopnik for the heads up!

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