Metal Beasts: Cars That Are Named After Animals
When the marketing team for a new vehicle put their heads together, they put a lot of thought into the name. At least that’s the theory. With some marques, they stick with a system of numbers and letters that let you know some of the details about the car, such as the engine size (this is the preferred method of Mercedes-Benz and BMW). Other manufacturers pick an actual name: a word that will stick in the memory of potential customers and possibly capture what the spirit of the vehicle is. Often, the design team look to the animal world for images of beauty, speed and possible danger; alternatively, they give them cute, cuddly names that are likely to appeal to the more family-friendly segment of the market.
Here’s a selection of vehicles that have already been named after animals:
Red Centre Nats Continues The Street Machine Tradition
It’s said that the very first car race happened just a few minutes after the second car came off the production line. It’s also said that the first modifications to make a car go faster came just after that first race….by the driver that came second.
It wasn’t long after that when drivers began to modify their cars for looks, not just pace. And thus was street machining born. Aussie based magazine, “Street Machine” begat the now iconic Summernats, Australia’s largest street machine festival, in Canberra…that’s now given birth to an event that’s based in the centre of the country and has already been run once. September 2016 sees the return of the Red Centre Nats.
Tesla Australia Releases Model X Pricing.
Tesla recently unveiled the Model X, their fully electric SUV. There will be four models in the range: 60D, 75D, 90D and P90D. The latter is expected to offer over 460 kilometres of battery powered range, a zero to one hundred kmh time of 3.4 seconds, thanks to all wheel drive grip, and a top speed limited to 250 kmh.
Tesla Australia has released pricing for the Model X, on a state by state basis. Prices start with the recommended retail price (RRP), then include luxury car tax (LCT) and follow up with stamp duty (SD), registration costs (RC) and compulsory third party insurance (CPI).
For the Model X 60D:
Australia wide: $111900.00 RRP, with LCT $122812.20 starting price.
Victoria: $6396.00 SD + $376.00 RC + $503.00 CPI = $130087.20
New South Wales: $5425.00 + $575.00 + $623.00 = $129255.20
Queensland: $2458.00 + $366.40 + $329.60 + $125966.20
Australian Capital Territory: $0.00 + $1146.00 + No CPI + $123958.20
Northern Territory: $3687.00 + $613.85 + No CPI = $127113.05
South Australia: $4856.00 + $285.00 + $449.00 = $128402.20
Tasmania: $4916.00 + $241.03 + $338.00 = $128307.03
Western Australia: $7982.00 + $493.00 + $409.35 = $131696.55
Guard Rails And Crash Barriers
One of the hazards of losing control when travelling at speed is that you’re going to hit something. What usually springs to mind if you dare to let your imagination linger on this is hitting another vehicle. However, this isn’t the only thing that you can hit – there is a reason why they do the lamppost test while crash testing, after all. Sometimes, if you lose control and/or let your attention wander (or, in most accident cases, first letting attention wander and then losing control), you don’t end up on the other side of the road but going off the edge of it. This might be somewhat better for the people in the oncoming vehicle but it’s definitely not good news for you. In fact, according to ARRB Transportation Ltd., 30–40% of all serious and fatal crashes in Australia are caused by someone going off the road and colliding with a fixed object such as a lamppost, rock or similar.
Let’s just say that hitting a rock, lamp-post or similar in real life is nothing like hitting one in a computer game, where these obstacles simply disappear after being struck while your virtual car carries on at 200 km/h. Need For Speed games have a lot to answer for… (though I kind of like the special Porsche edition of the game with the nice scenery).
Level 2, 9 Help Street