Friday, July 29, 2011

Mystic Lake Amphitheatre Beach Boys Tickets

The Beach Boys formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961 and were already signed to Capitol Records by 1962. Their early music gained popularity across the U.S. for its close vocal harmonies & lyrics reflecting a young Southern California culture of surfing, cars and romance. They have often been called "America's Band", with a total of 36 U.S. Top 40 hits and 56 Hot 100 hits. Now YOU have the opportunity to see them perform LIVE at the brand new Mystic Lake Amphitheatre this Sunday, July 31st at 7:30pm. Ticket King has Beach Boys Mystic Lake Amphitheatre tickets available currently priced at just $34 each- what a steal! Any of our tickets can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis office located downtown by the Metrodome. Don't wait - get your Beach Boys tickets today!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Inexpensive Roy Wilkins Auditorium Owl City Tickets

In 2007, Adam Young began working on a musical project in his parents' basement in Owatonna, Minnesota. After developing a following on MySpace, Adam signed with Universal Republic in 2008. Owl City released two independent albums before gaining mainstream popularity with the 2009 major label debut album Ocean Eyes. Since then, Owl City has released a total of three studio albums and one EP. He will be performing at Roy Wilkins Auditorium this Saturday, July 30th at 7PM. If you're looking for inexpensive Owl City tickets, you've come to the right place! We have them currently starting as low as $36 for general admission or $59 for reserved seating. Don't forget you can easily pick them up from our St. Paul office located at 186 West 7th Street right before the show!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What I'm Workin' With

The idea of leaving Capella (our resort in Cabo) is downright depressing.  So I just won't think about it. The physical beauty here is astounding: our back patio, complete with a private plunge pool, overlooks the resort and the Pacific, which rages onto the beach day & night.  The water is teal-clear.  We have a two-level white couch covered in colorful pillows.  We each have our own bedroom and shower (that's not entirely true; I'm sharing with Jude). :)  Our butler makes us homemade salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips, and decadent meals.  

When we started to run low on Corona, another case was delivered promptly.  Today Jude woke up with swimmer's ear, and a doctor came to our condo and had antibiotics delivered within half an hour.

And the staff.  They run around with towels and bottles of water in bins of ice.  They are so friendly (and some of them very cute!).  I wish this could be real life.  Here are some pics:

view from our back patio

one of the three infinity pools (the adult pool with swim-up bar aka my favorite one)

Cari enjoying our newest discovery:
the spicy mango margarita with chipotle salt rim

More pictures to come.  All of these are just iPhone pics--totally unedited.  Cari and JJ have a really nice camera, so I'll share more pictures when they upload those.  In the meantime, I am happier, tanner, and more well-rested than I've been in ages.  Trying to figure out a way to move here . . . 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

George Thorogood & The Destroyers Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre Tickets

Blues rock vocalist/guitarist George Thorogood is best known for his hit song "Bad To The Bone" among many others. George Thorogood and his band the Delaware Destroyers have released 16 studio albums, including two that were certified Platinum and six certified Gold. If you haven't had the chance to see these guys LIVE before, don't miss this opportunity! Ticket King is carrying a nice selection of George Thorogood Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre tickets currently starting as low as $123 per ticket for seats in the fourth row of the left section. We do specialize in the best seats possible so it's no wonder they don't last very long. Don't let these slip away from you - purchase them today!

PGA Championship Atlanta Athletic Club Tickets

This year's PGA Championship will take place at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia. This will be only the fifth club in the United States to have hosted at least three PGA Championships when the 93rd edition of the season's final major is staged at the renowned home club of Bobby Jones. The PGA will take place August 8-14 and will welcome 156 of the best players in the world to the home club of golf hero Bobby Jones. Golf's best professionals have been competing for more than 90 years for the Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy. If you would like to be a part of this special event, Ticket King would like you to know we have a very nice selection of PGA Championship tickets currently starting as low as just $5 for general admission to Monday's session. We do have a selection of tickets to choose from for each day of the Championship so check them out & buy them before they're gone!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Quiet Time

It is damn near impossible for me to sit still.

I should ask my mama if this has always been true, or if it's a (bad) habit that I've cultivated over the years (and through an increasingly technology-dependent world).  If I am being honest, I will admit things like:

1. I don't really like to go to the movies because it requires me to sit still (and with decorum) for two hours, and

2. I get anxious during massage/acupuncture/anything like that--we're talkin' even LUX SPA TREATMENTS HERE--because I have to be motionless and quiet.  So mostly, I don't do these types of things.

Same goes for meditation.  I've tried it, repeatedly, as I know it would be so good for me & my restless soul.  And yet, my mind gets the best of me every time.  I can't stop thinking about the next moment.  Right now, I'm sitting on our incredible patio in Cabo San Lucas, looking across our private plunge pool into the rowdy Pacific.  I'm in a loose tank top and drinking a really good glass of red wine (that JJ shipped here from San Francisco).  This should be the most calming environment EVER, right?

I'm pretty calm right now . . . in Claire terms, anyway.  But still, my mind races with these thoughts:

~should I put on my cardigan or not?
~can't decide if I want to read blogs or read my book (Little Bee, btw)
~I think I left my dish in the sink & it's rude to leave it for the mayordomo
~tomorrow, would I rather run on the beach or go to the fitness center?
~I should be lesson planning


Etc., etc.  I'm not sure that I've ever just been IN THE NOW for more than two minutes.  I literally bob my leg up and down when I am sitting.  Constantly.  CANNOT BE STILL.

Anyone else have trouble with this?  Specific ideas for overcoming this incapacity for calm?

Hope you're somewhere as beautiful as I am right now.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Big And Rich Mystic Lake Amphitheatre Tickets

Country music duo Big And Rich is composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar. Rich was a founding member of the country music band Lonestar and later a solo artist for BNA Records, while Big Kenny was a former solo artist on Hollywood Records. Big And Rich released their debut album together Horse of a Different Color in 2004. Since then, they've released two additional studio albums and have appeared in one documentary. If you would like to see them perform LIVE at the Mystic Lake Amphitheatre on Friday, July 29th at 8PM, check out our remaining supply of Big And Rich Mystic Lake Amphitheatre tickets and get yours before they're gone! If you haven't had the chance to see the brand new outdoor amphitheatre at Mystic Lake, this is your chance to check it out!

hola de hermosa Cabo San Lucas!

Hola from Cabo!  Suffice to say, it is breathtaking here.  I can't post pictures yet, because we haven't loaded any from the camera, and I can't email them from my iPhone lest I receive an otherworldly phone bill.  But here's how it's gone down so far:

~we were greeted at the airport by a friendly gentleman who packed us into a van and handed us Coronas with lime for the ride to the resort

~upon arriving at the resort, a very friendly staff showed us around the grounds (teal ocean, infinity pools, restaurants on the beach) and took us to our villa. . .

~ . . . in which our sweet butler, Victor, had tamales, guacamole, and pico de gallo for us on the dining room table!

Can't wait to walk down to the beach today.  Though the view from my room is almost as exquisite as the view from the plunge pool on our balcony. ;)

Only regret: abandoning my Spanish when Jaime and I broke up.  I had actually been getting good, and then just quit cold turkey.  I hate thinking that I could be fluent by now if I'd kept it up!

Pictures coming soon, but for now, this is where we're staying.  Seriously.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Minnesota Twins Reschedule Postponed June White Sox Game

Attention Minnesota Twins fans! If you purchased Minnesota Twins tickets for the game that should have happened on June 14th, you should know it was postponed and now is finally rescheduled. The new date for the rescheduled game will be on Monday, September 5th at 7:10 PM.  Please know that your tickets from the June date WILL be honored at the new date so just hold onto your tickets & keep them in a safe place. If you're interested in attending the rescheduled game but do not have tickets yet, you can check out our remaining supply of Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox tickets and purchase them before they're gone. If you have any questions about our policy feel free to call us at 612-341-4131.  GO TWINS!!!

Guess what I got to do???



Dad took me for a ride on his Harley!  Too bad we didn't have a side car for this guy:

Ignatius watched us ride off from the driveway

Between riding with my dad and my stepmom handing me down a family heirloom--her biker chick jacket from the late 80's--I'm well on my way to being "scooter trash."  Jax Teller, here I come!

Cheap BoDeans Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre Tickets

Hey BoDeans fans! As you should know, the BoDeans will be performing at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre in Apple Valley this Friday, July 22nd at 7:30pm. This rock band from Wisconsin is best known for their 1993 song "Closer to Free" which was featured as the theme song for the TV series Party of Five. Since their debut in 1983, the BoDeans have released a total of 10 studio albums and four live/compilations. If you enjoy their music and would like to see them perform LIVE, check out our remaining supply of cheap MN Zoo Amphitheatre BoDeans tickets. We still have some awesome seat locations to choose from in row H or better and they're currently priced at just $69 and up. Check out our supply & get yours today. Also, don't forget you can easily pick them up from our Minneapolis or St. Paul offices before the show!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Guthrie Theater Tickets

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band formed in Long Beach, California in 1966. Since then, this country-folk-rock band has existed in various forms, with at least a dozen membership changes and a period when they went by The Dirt Band. The band is often cited as instrumental to the progression of contemporary music and roots music. Since their debut, the band has released a total of 31 studio albums, 15 music videos and five DVD/movies. Now YOU have the opportunity to see them perform live at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis! They'll be here on Monday, July 25th at 7:30 PM. Ticket King currently has Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tickets ranging from $69-$79 each in the first or third rows of the main floor. Get yours today!

U2 TCF Bank Stadium Concert Tickets & Parking Still Available!

The wait is almost over for the infamous Irish pop rock group U2 to finally perform their long-awaited concert at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This will be the first time a concert has been performed at the stadium and it's about a year later than it should have been, due to Bono's back problems last summer. If you would like to be a part of the history taking place here and experience the first-ever concert at TCF Bank Stadium, check out our remaining supply of TCF Bank Stadium U2 concert tickets! We also carry TCF Bank Stadium parking passes that will save you time and money later on! Tickets currently start at just $129 or parking passes at $45 each. Check them out & purchase yours now before they're gone! You do NOT want to miss this show!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Alive and Well in Georgia!

Hi everyone!  I'm back from a totally unintended blogging break, which was the result of accidentally leaving my backpack (including my laptop) in San Francisco!  I had it all packed as my carry on--laptop, books, work, phone charger, etc . . . and left it in the car when I got out at the train station.  Thus, I've been sans internet for a while . . . can't wait to catch up on all your blogs!

As soon as I got home, my mama, sis, and I headed to Tybee Island for a little beach trip.  It was good, redneck fun. ;)  I'm really grateful to have had time to spend with them--we never get time just the three of us!  Plus, the overcast weather led to much Sons of Anarchy watchin.' :)

We drove back on Saturday for my cousin Stevie's wedding:

my beautiful cousin, Stevie, and her new husband, Josh

Mama, Kate, and me at the wedding

the bride with her two sisters (we're all girl cousins on my mama's side!)

sisters: Aunt KK, Aunt Pat, my mama

uncles ;)

Daddy and me 

The wedding was beautiful and fun, and the next day I got to hold this sweet baby (my cousin Jennifer's half-sister's brand new daughter):

Emma Kate: 6 lbs 12 oz of CUTENESS

Today, after accompanying Jason, one of my bffs, to his radiation treatment (he has testicular cancer; he's gonna be fine, and he has the most incredible attitude about it), we stopped for brunch at Social House, where I had the southernest of breakfasts:

fried green tomato crepes, cheese grits, sweet tea

And then I spent the afternoon with my 91 year old grandmother, who advised that instead of seeking romance and passion, I begin to look for a man who is "rather dull."  

Off for a ride on my dad's Harley . . . so grateful he's willing to feed the obsession!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Frank Caliendo Treasure Island Event Center

Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo is best known for his work on the Fox Network series MADtv and has also been the in-house prognosticator for Fox NFL Sunday. Frank began performing stand-up comedy after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Within a year he was headlining and made his network series debut on the 2000-2001 sketch comedy series Hype. If you would like to see him LIVE at Treasure Island Event Center on Friday, September 2nd at 8pm, check out our Frank Caliendo tickets. We currently have seats in the 3rd row of the center section - it really doesn't get much better than this! Check out our supply and order yours before they're gone!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Willie Nelson Duluth Bayfront Festival Park Tickets

If you live near Duluth, MN and are a fan of Willie Nelson, listen up! Singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor and  activist Willie Nelson is one of the most recognized artists in country music. Willie was also one of the main figures of outlaw country, a sub-genre of country music that developed at the end of the 1960s. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at age ten. Throughout his entire career, Willie has released an astonishing 67 studio albums and seven live albums. If you would like to see him perform LIVE at the Bayfront Festival Park on Saturday, August 6th at 5PM, get your Willie Nelson tickets before we're sold out! We currently have seats in the 3rd or 4th rows but they won't last much longer. 
Get yours now!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Ben Folds Orchestra Hall Tickets

Singer-songwriter and musician Ben Folds is the former frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Ben's first solo release after the breakup of the band was Rockin' the Suburbs in 2001. Since then, Ben has released two additional solo studio albums, four collaboration albums and eight compilation/live albums. He will be performing at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 17th at 8PM. If you would like to see him LIVE, check out Ticket King's supply of Ben Folds tickets and purchase yours now before it's too late! We currently have seats in the front row of the center section! You will NOT find better seats ANYWHERE! Get yours today!!

Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Tickets

Hey Twins fans!! I hope you're getting excited for the Twins' return to Target Field. Having the second most wins in baseball behind the Red Sox and Braves should give the Twins the momentum they need to continue winning after the All-Star break. The Twins will return to Target Field for a series against the Kansas City Royals this Thursday, July 14th through Sunday, July 17th. If you would like Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals tickets for the upcoming series, we have them starting as low as $24 for Thursday, $19 for Friday, $34 for Saturday or $19 for Sunday. Twins tickets are a HOT commodity right now so get yours while you can! Don't forget any that any of our tickets can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis office- located at 212 Chicago Avenue and open until game time! GO TWINS!!!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Cheap WWE: SmackDown Target Center Tickets


Hey WWE fans! As you should know, the WWE: SmackDown superstars will be returning to Minneapolis in just a couple short weeks. On Tuesday, July 19th at 6:30PM, you can expect to see Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio, The Big Show, Christian, Kofi Kingston, Kane, The Corre and many more SmackDown superstars LIVE! Just check out our remaining supply of cheap WWE SmackDown tickets and order yours now before it's too late! I hear the show is SOLD OUT through the Target Center but Ticket King still has awesome deals on floor seating, with prices currently starting as low as $53 each for 10th row on the main floor. We also have front row seating available. Any of our tickets can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis office located on the corner of Washington & Chicago Avenues downtown. Deals like this don't last very long so get yours today!!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Xcel Energy Center Katy Perry Show Rescheduled

Hey Katy Perry fans! America's favorite pop sweetheart has rescheduled her Saint Paul concert at the Xcel Energy Center due to food poisoning. The show originally scheduled for this Saturday, July 9th has been postponed until Tuesday, August 23rd at the Xcel Energy Center. If you have already purchased tickets for the show, you are advised to hold onto them as they will be honored on the new date. If you would like to attend the rescheduled show, we do still have Katy Perry tickets left. Check out our website for prices & seat locations, then you can order online or by phone. If you have any questions about our rescheduled show policy, please do not hesitate to call us at 612-341-4131.

SCOOP: Seat Caught Testing Sportier Ibiza ST FR with 150HP


For being Volkswagen’s answer to Alfa Romeo (in theory at least), the Germans are sure taking their time to enhance Seat’s lineup with the most potent engines currently available in the group.

Take the Ibiza Sports Tourer (ST) for instance. In Germany, the small station wagon is offered with three petrol units: a 70HP 1.2-liter three-pot, an 85HP 1.4L and a 105HP 1.2-liter TSI, and three diesels: a 75HP 1.2 TDI, a 90HP 1.6 TDI and a 105HP 1.6 TDI.

But better late than never as Seat is preparing an FR version of the Ibiza ST fitted with the same 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine with 150-horsepower found in the hatchback model.

Read more »

Toyota Forklift Comes to the Rescue of Chevrolet Camaro Stuck on a…Curb


It can’t get more embarrassing than this – well, that is, unless someone has footage showing us how the owner of the blue Chevrolet Camaro got himself in this sticky situation in the underground parking garage in the first place.

In the Youtube clip after the jump, we see the aftermath with a...Toyota-branded forklift trying to free Chevy’s pony car, but without any success. One very strange incident indeed.

Read more »

Germany’s Edag Fuldamobil Meets 21st Century Retro Chic


If the Germans ever needed a word for, “three wheeled death trap” chances are that word would be Fuldamobil. It was a strange-looking microcar with seating for two and a face like a fish and built under licence in the UK, Chile, Argentina, the Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, India and South Africa as well as its native Germany.

It was sort of like an Isetta crossed with a Peel P50 and, contrary to what you might think, was said to be a great success at the time of its inception.

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Toyota Says Prius US Sales Will Outperform 2010 despite Earthquake Setback


In spite of the earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Japan last March and which deeply affected the country’s automobile production capabilities, Toyota remains confident that US sales of the Prius will outperform those of 2010.

The lack of inventory, with many dealers reporting as little as one day’s worth of Prius cars on their lots, led to a whopping 61% drop in July sales in the US, which is the lowest since 2004. And that’s significant because the US accounts for almost half of the all Prius models sold worldwide, which makes it Toyota’s most important market for its compact hybrid.

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Mark Cohn Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre Tickets

Folk rock singer-songwriter and musician Mark Cohn is best known for his song "Walking In Memphis" from his 1991 self-titled album. He has released six other studio albums to date and won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1991. If you would like to see him perform LIVE at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 31st at 7pm, I would suggest buying your Marc Cohn tickets now. That way you won't have to worry about finding them later and you can save money too! We currently have seats as low as $99 each and any of them can be easily picked up from our MPLS office before the show. Check them out & order yours today!

On my Nightstand

Currently, I'm in the middle of several books . . . I justify it since they're all so different:

The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri

I'd been meaning to read this one for a while (ever since I saw the author speak at San Francisco's City Arts & Lectures a few years ago).  I'm thoroughly enjoying it, despite having interrupted it upon the arrival of my next book in the mail:

Hell's Angel, Sonny Barger

By now you all know why I'm reading this.  Love it.  Wanna know everything about MC culture.  I also ordered a book about a federal agent who infiltrated the infamous Mongrols MC, so I'll let you know about that one when I'm done, too. ;)  I know you're all chomping at the bit.

the new black, Evie Shockley

I stumbled upon this new book of poems on a trip to City Lights, and I LOVE IT.  She uses a lot of traditional form (even a ghazal!) but modernizes them into a collection of poems about gender, race, identity, history, etc.  Evie Shockley might be my new fave.

Next up is this:

First they Killed my Father, Loung Ung

Kristin sent me this (along with two others!) for the book swap, and I can't wait to read it.  It's obviously going to be really intense, but I can balance it out with:

Something Blue, Emily Giffin

Novels the color of Easter eggs = guilty pleasure.

I know it's Friday, but I couldn't resist linking up with Meghan since her Top Five Thursday topic was books, so here it is a day late!

Pole Turns 1991 Audi 100 V6 into a 2008 Audi A4 Lookalike


The latest addition to our automotive travesty replica section comes from Poland and it concerns a 1991 Audi 100 2.8 V6 Quattro (the A6’s predecessor) which has been stylistically converted to remind a 2005 Audi A4 sedan. To achieve the look, the Polish owner of the car crafted the front and rear end sections of an A4 to the 100 saloon. But that’s not all he did. Read more »

GM Recalls More Than 7,500 Trucks and SUVs Over Separate Gearbox and Steering Issues


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall campaign for two separate issues concerning GM trucks and SUVs.

The first recall concerns 6,768 units of the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon from the 2011MY due to a failure in a transmission clip that may not engage the “Parking” mode even though the driver has moved the lever to the appropriate position. GM’s dealers will repair the faulty automatic transmission free of charge, and the recall is expected to begin on July 19.

Read more »

Lumma Design Unleashes BMW X6 xDrive40d


The German tuners over at Lumma Design are taking yet another stab on the BMW X6, this time, on the most powerful diesel model, the xDrive40d that is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six delivering 306-horses and 600Nm (442 lb-ft) of peak torque in factory tune.

After Lumma Design’s people get their way with the diesel unit by updating the software and adding a custom exhaust system, output is increased to a more hearty 340-horses and 670Nm (494 lb-ft).

Read more »

New 2012 Audi TT RS with 360-Horses Priced at US$56,850* in the States


After giving the green light to the U.S. specification TT RS last year, the flagship version of Audi’s sports coupe has finally arrived in the States. It will go on sale within the next few weeks with prices starting at $56,850 (*) excluding destination charges, taxes, title, options and dealer charges.

Interestingly, the North American version of the TT RS is more powerful than its European sibling as the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine is said to deliver 360-horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque between 1,650 and 5,400 rpm. The European market model is rated at 340HP and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque.

Read more »

NHTSA Says EVs and Hybrids Must Warn Pedestrians With an Alert


Hybrid and electric cars are good for the environment because of they either emit extremely low or even no emissions at all. However, there seems to be a problem: they are also too quiet. And it’s not just a problem for car lovers who will miss the sound of the engine revving, but mostly for pedestrians who will not hear an oncoming, completely silent vehicle and face the risk of an accident.

Therefore, the US NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has published a notice that, if implemented, will require by law all electric and hybrid vehicles to emit a noise that will warn pedestrians of their presence. This comes after a study in October 2009, which reported that a greater percentage of hybrids were involved in accidents with pedestrians than vehicles with normal combustion engines.

Read more »

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series Coming on July 24


*Regular Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Pictured Above
At the press launch of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, selected members of the media got a sneak preview of the all-new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. And some of them, managed to capture a few photographs of the car but the pictures were hastily removed on most sites after Mercedes’ intervened.

This was supposed to be a secret preview, since the car isn’t scheduled to be unveiled before the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring at the 24th of July. Therefore, you can guess that Mercedes’ people aren’t too happy about the leak.

Read more »

Thursday, July 7, 2011

2011 Australian International Motor Show Photo Galore


Even though it’s not as famous as its Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo or Detroit counterparts, this year’s edition of the Australian Motor Show, which takes place in Melbourne from July 1 to 10, has some interesting debuts including the Mad Max Concepts pictured above as well as a number of new production and prototype models from the local divisions of General Motors (aka Holden) and Ford.

You can take a look at all the vehicles in our comprehensive photo gallery right after the break. For those of you interested in learning more about the Ford-badged Mad Max Interceptor prototypes, check out our previous post here.

Read more »

TRW’s Retractable Steering Wheel to Help the Elderly and the Obese


Assuming you haven’t been living under a rock for the past ten years, you’ll know that much of the first world’s population is getting both older and fatter. In response to this burgeoning epidemic – which affects nations as diverse as the U.K., U.S.A., Australia and China – TRW Automotive has developed a steering wheel which retracts completely into the dashboard at the touch of a button. Read more »

Sportier MINI Countryman JCW Edition Spied Working out at the Nurburgring


Carscoop’s spy photographers have snapped some of the first images of the sportiest edition yet of the Mini Countryman bearing the John Cooper Works logo. The…high-hoon version of Mini’s urban crossover model will come with all the usual styling upgrades and performance modifications we’re used to seeing in the other JCW models.

First and foremost, the Countryman JCW will get a juiced up version of the Cooper S’ 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo engine. Being that the Countryman is much heavier than the other Mini JCW variants, engineers may further hone the four-cylinder powerplant to deliver more than 211-ponies it normally produces, possibly approaching the 230HP mark.

Read more »