HARD Lifestyle Blog » car

2012 BMW 7 Series Review

HARD Lifestyle — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:55:24 +0000

It seems like it was only yesterday we took apart our very own BMW 750Li in order to outfit it with a set of slick Dub wheels which we custom painted using a ‘Copper Chrome’ finish effect. Though the BMW by itself stood out from the crowd, the copper chrome wheels and trim effect put it in a class of its own.

Now 5 years later, this 7 Series is still BMW’s flagship sedan.

Review by Kurt Ernst, – Motor Authority

“Despite the passage of a few years since then, the 2012 BMW 7-Series has managed to age gracefully and we’d still call the big sedan one of the best that BMW has ever produced.

We’re partial to the styling of the current 7-Series, which does away with the sometimes awkward proportions of the previous model, built from 2002 – 2008. Performance is better on the new version as well, and the 7-Series manages to feel much lighter behind the wheel than you’d expect it to.

Inside, there’s plenty of room to carry three passengers, or four on shorter trips. Headroom is ample, even for rear seat passengers, and even standard-wheelbase cars have a generous amount of rear seat legroom. If you prefer more room to stretch out and read The Wall Street Journal as you’re driven to the office, the 7-Series comes in an extended-wheelbase (Li) version as well.
As you’d expect from BMW, its latest range-topping sedan comes standard with all the amenities that luxury shoppers demand, including rich leather upholstery and ample quantities of polished wood. If it’s high-tech you want, BMW offers the 7-Series with a heads-up display and night vision, too.

BMW builds a 7-Series model for almost any luxury sedan shopper willing to put down the $71,000 price of admission to the model range. Even the base 740i, with its 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, in-line six, produces reasonable acceleration while returning up to 25 mpg on the highway. Opt for a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 variant, or the 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-12 found in the range-topping 760i, and acceleration is impressive, although buyers will pay the price in fuel economy. If you want the best of both worlds, BMW offers the 4.4-liter V-8 in an ActiveHybrid version, which can sprint from 0-60 mph in under five seconds while returning up to 24 mpg on the highway.

While the 740i may have a starting price of $71,000, the sticker price rises quickly as you add option packages or move up the model range. If you want the range-topping 760Li, it starts at over $137,000, and loaded-up with options can top the $160,000 price point.”

Check out the HARD BMW 750Li Project

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Visions of the Electric Car

HARD Lifestyle — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:56:33 +0000

Sometimes one needs to just step back, look, and evaluate where one came from so as to have a vision of where they are headed. In the automotive industry the Electric Car has been worked on and developed by small groups of scientists and entrepreneurs since 1899. Though the technology has developed tremendously over this period there are still some issues that need to be ironed out before the electric car will emerge as the savior of our economy and our way of life.

In a recent post by Business Insider, ’8 Reasons Why The Electric Car Will Not Be A Success…’ were presented. Knowing where we all stand as we look to the future will help shape our lives. So what are those eight reasons why we do not yet see the electric car running around our neighborhoods more often?

1. Range – Electric cars are inherently limited to the distance they can travel before needing to recharge.

2. Charge Time – It can take up to 20 hours to completely recharge on a 120 volt outlet.

3. Infrastructure – While the infrastructure is growing, there will still be 90% less charge points available than gas stations next year.

4. Cost – Comparing The Chevrolet Volt and a Cruze which are equal in size; The Volt has a cost of $40,000 compared to The Cruze which starts at $18,000

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5. Pollution – Power used to charge the electric car comes from coal or gas power; these are the most heavily polluting industries.

Disposal of the batteries which contain toxic materials within them can also be an issue that could destroy the ecosystem of an area for hundreds of years.

6. Hydrogen – Once storage of hydrogen is perfected, in the near future hydrogen power will revolutionize the world.

7. Government – The U.S. Government is in bed with the gas powered automobile manufacturers.

8. Ease of gasoline – Fossil fuels are what made this post even possible. It has worked for us for over 100 years and it’s not easy to change to another system even with gas prices reaching $7 per gallon at the pump.

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The 2009 Toyota Prius Review – The New Aerodynamic And Inexpensive Hybrid Car

HardLifeStyle — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:21:03 +0000

The Toyota Prius hybrid is the latest model of the car that accelerated the entire hybrid craze back during its initial introduction in Japan in 1997. The Toyota Prius 2009 is everything a mid-size sedan can and should be most power, responsive, accommodating, good fuel-efficient and clean burning. This sleek, steely mid-size is popular for its wonderful fuel efficiency. The Prius is also certified as a wonderful ultra low emission vehicle so, while maximizing your distance, you’re minimizing your emissions. The Toyota Prius, the first and most successful real hybrid car.

Prius 2009 is excellent road miles, but actually improves mileage while city driving. In fact, some cars are designed to handle stop and go driving, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid. Thanks to an innovative hybrid gas / electric technology. The electric motor immediately generates maximum torque for instant speeding up. When you’re engaged in low-speed driving, a light push on the accelerator will let the electric motor and batteries to do the majority of the work. At all times, braking gently and early allows the regenerating feature more time to charge the batteries. 2009 Prius also cheats the wind with its sleek shape; a flat underbelly creates fewer turbulence and as a result less drag. In what is perhaps the most impressive statistic, Prius boasts a low, sports car-like.

The 2009 Toyota Prius has compact exterior proportions and unique framework. The interior of the 2009 Prius is well laid out, and it provides exceptional spaciousness compared with other cars in its class. It has 14.4 cubic feet of cargo room, which expands with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The hatchback design has enough room for four adults and a multipurpose rear hatch for cargo. Seating is pleasant, but the seats themselves and much of the interior are finished in lightweight, low-priced plastics.

The 2009 Prius is also called as hybrid electric car sets the standard for environmentally friendly transport.It delivers extremely great fuel saving for a four-seat car with an automatic transmission. EPA numbers peg combined city/highway fuel economy at 46 mpg. The Prius’s hybrid system combines a 76-horsepower, 1.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor for a combined highest output of 110 horsepower. The Toyota’s hybrid system allows Prius to move on one or both of its power sources to balance acceleration and fuel economy.

The new Prius 2009 has a continuously variable automatic transmission (cvt). The full-hybrid Prius can move solely on its electric motor at low speeds until the gas engine kicks in for extra power. This power transition is not as smooth as that seen in newer hybrids. ConsumerGuide.com reports a “slight shudder” on the changeover. While acceleration is pretty slow (zero to 60 mph takes 10.3 seconds, according to Edmunds.com), the electric engine produces plenty of torque, so the sole The Toyota Prius 2009 has enough quick to respond in typical city driving.

Limitations Of Electric Automobile Today most of people and manufacturers realize advantages of using...

Limitations Of Electric Automobile

HardLifeStyle — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:48:15 +0000

Today most of people and manufacturers realize advantages of using electric carriage mover. Advantages like silent driving, zero pollution, reliability, simplicity and below zero cost maintenance. But unfortunately there are still some restrictions of using electric carriages widely and they are not able immediately replace all gas cars.
The main imperfection is that electric carrier can drive without recharging the accumulators about 50 miles. So when gasoline automobile needs several short fuel stops to finish the trip time, electric car needs two, three hours to recharge batteries. Even the capacitors which are recharge much faster than batteries require highly developed electrical infrastructure with a very high current. But infrastructure is being developed and using ultra capacitors can help to charge cars quickly. So this restriction will be solved in future. Of course this issue is unsuitable for long-distance driving, for many people that use automobile for driving job rechargeable time is not so important.

Other solution is standard replaceable battery pack. The battery pack can charge on the station several hours and replaced with empty for additional fee. It’s convenient for drivers and time for changing batteries is comparable with gas refuel. One limitation of this solution is great weight of accumulator pack. It weights three-four hundred kilos and large car uses several packs.
Other approaches are using high performance energy storage technology with hybrid mover. One of alternative fuel is hydrogen. But the problem is the same as for accumulators [spin] and ultra capacitors – lack of infrastructure with hydrogen pressured tanks.

But today we can see a lot of hybrid [spin] car. It is car with auxiliary motor that works on alternative fuel like diesel, hydrogen or gas. Auxiliary engine provide additional power and performance when charge of batteries is low and driver can avoid necessary to find charging station. Also when car is in traffic jam it can use electric engine to drop pollution.

The essence of principle consists in the following: gas engine runs electric generator and required quantity of electricity pass through controlling system on electric car motor and vehicle starts propulsion. Hybrid car has also accumulators but not so heavy as electric car has.
In traffic jam or during driving with low speed and motor workload electric car motor is working powered by electricity from accumulator batteries. Gas engine is not working and not consuming gas during this time. It doesn’t work during free running and long time breaking.

On highway or during huge motor workload gas mover is working only, generator linked with gas motor charge accumulator accumulators and electric motor is not working. When carriage should do critical maneuver like emergency overtaking or abrupt jerk two motors are launching. But the most time electric car parts are using – it allows save gas up to 25% comparing with conventional automobile.

Visions of the Electric Car Sometimes one needs to just step back, look, and evaluate...
The 2009 Toyota Prius Review – The New Aerodynamic And Inexpensive Hybrid Car The Toyota Prius hybrid is the latest model of the...

Ice T Coco in 3D Anaglyph

HARD Lifestyle — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:29:04 +0000

The HARD 3D Collection just got taken to another level. That’s right, we are revisiting all of our projects in REAL 3D. We received TONS of requests to put up more pics of Ice T and wife Coco so we figured why not give you the best of both worlds and created the “Murder Red Bentley GT Showcase” in COMPLETE 3D Anaglyphs. So break out the glasses and come see Ice T and Coco in real 3D as Coco wonders “Can I find nail polish that will match this hot color?”

Don’t worry Coco if you can’t find it we will make it for you!

Get on over to www.HardLifeStyle.com and check out ALL of the new additions including a completely updated 3D gallery. The times are changing rapidly!

DIRECT LINK TO THE ICE T SHOWCASE HERE: http://www.hardlifestyle.com/3d-ice-t-bentley-project.html

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KORN and Fieldy go 3D with the custom 64 Impala

HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:27:34 +0000

Check out the newly updated 3D gallery where we have Fieldy and the guys from KORN in complete 3D Anaglyphs. You’ll need your 3D glasses for this one! This Classic 64 Impala has a rootbeer candy paint job and a pearl white top. You can view the complete project at Korn Fieldy 64 Impala | Rootbeer Candy Paint Job.

Also don’t miss the Ice T and wife Coco Bentley GT gallery in 3D Anaglyphs too at Ice T Bentley GT 3D Images | Candy Paint Job.

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Star Trek inspired Cloaking Cop Car

HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:10:42 +0000

As if taken straight out of a Star Trek movie, Steve Flanagan and cast of Paint Misbehavin take their paints and Law Enforcement capabilities to the next level and build an Escalade into a cloaking cop car. This certainly changes the way you look at paint.

TO SEE THE FULL VIDEO CLICK HERE http://www.hardlifestyle.com/heatwave_cloaking_cop_car_vid.html

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HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:21:25 +0000

Jeff Mersey and Steve Flanagan prepare to paint The Cloaking Cop Car while filming the Paint Misbehavin Television Show on TLC.

Laying out the HARDWAY PATROL Logos Steve and Jeff get started on first applying the vinyl to the cop car doors.

Insuring the HARDWAY PATROL Logos are in place, Steve and Jeff quickly lay down the vinyl turning this ordinary Escalade into a black and white police unit as seen on TLC’s Paint Misbehavin Show.

Jeff Mersey checks out the “To Serve and Profit 911″ Logos for placement on front fenders of the police car.

To Serve And Profit 911 logos find their way on the front fenders. These too will play a part in the cloaking cop car project.

Steve makes some final vinyl trimming and the police car will be ready for the color changing Heatwave Paint.

HARDWAY PATROL Logo

Jeff Mersey loads up his paint gun and goes to town as he paints the vinyl doors with the Heatwave Paint.

Now That’s HARD!

www.hardlifestyle.com

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TLC’s Newest HOT Show “Paint Misbehavin” starts today (June 25th) on Discovery Channel

HARD Lifestyle — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:07:45 +0000

Tune in tonight to TLC folks for Paint Misbehavin where you will see Steve Flanagan and his merry “paintsters” change the way you see paint! You’ll see the boys take a shot at making a cop car of the future using their Heatwave (Temperature Reacting Paint) and creating a cop car that can go from an unmarked to a marked unit at the flip of a switch. Steve also brings in the Fire Dept and Hollywood’s hot shot pyrotechnics guys to test the full capabilities of their fireproof paint Inferno. With a flamethrower in hand Steve and the Paint Misbehavin crew hit the Inferno with everything John has to offer. Will it survive? Find out tonight on Paint Misbehavin at 10pm on TLC and at 7pm and 9pm on TLC-HD.

http://www.hardlifestyle.com/paint_misbehavin_tlc_discovery_show.html

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Fieldy’s 64 Impala on Fire

HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:55:46 +0000

Fieldy, the bass player for the band Korn, is shown with his fire damaged 1964 Chevy Impala. The car caught on fire soon after getting a sweet Rootbeer Candy paintjob by Jeff Mersey of HARD Lifestyle. We’re sorry to see it all charred up Fieldy, she was certainly a beauty before all that.

Check out Fieldy’s 64 Impala project images right before the mishap.
www.hardlifestyle.com/fieldy_impala.html

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