We thought that the Audi R8 Spider we showed you yesterday was pretty slick but this R8 Blackbird pees our bonfire right out with its big fat pipe.

Like a mix between Mad Max and Kitt, the Blackbird is the one-off creation of an anonymous, rich and, if the Police scanner and taillight kill-switch are anything to go by, dodgy tech-head.

The outside is, oxymoronically, stealthily bling with only the numerous aerials and transponders hinting at the techfest that lies within.

In the cockpit, Mr. X has had his people install a roof-mounted console (how cool?) to control the remote exhaust valve, the Wi-Fi, the on-board cameras, and, best of all a liquid-cooled infrastronic wave pulse generator. No idea what it does but we want one.

[Source: Autoblog]

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As SAAB readies itself to launch its looooong overdue 9-5 replacement, further details are emerging about the BMW 5-series rival.

The biggest news is that, true to SAAB’s desire to downsize engine capacity without hurting performance, the new model will feature a high-pressure 1.6-litre engine. Despite the small engine, the next car will actually be larger than the outgoing model and will be based on the new Epsilon II platform that debuted under the new Vauxhall Insignia.

Meanwhile the next 9-3 will downsize to the Delta platform that will underpin the next Astra.

We’ll be keeping a beady eye out for the 9-5 at next Spring’s Geneva Motor Show

[Source: AutoBlog]

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Jamie Lee Curtis may be more famous for getting her baps out in Trading Places, but she’s also an environmentalist, in the Hollywood sense.

She and husband Christopher Guest took delivery of only the second customer hydrogen fuel-cell Honda FCX Clarity.

The pioneering cars are only available on lease in Southern California and Japan: the only areas with a sufficiently developed hydrogen infrastructure.

On taking delivery of the FCX Curtis had this to say: "It's luxurious, luxurious, luxurious! I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is user-friendly and very modern."

I wonder if that striptease scene's on youtube…

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The Mitsubishi iMIEV - an electric powered version of the i car Owen drove in our City Car Challenge - is expected to go on sale in Japan next year before hitting UK shores in 2010.

But what was supposed to be a very niche product now looks set to become a significant seller both in its home market and abroad. Unexpected demand for the car has encouraged Mitsubishi’s Lithium Energy Japan joint venture to build an entirely new factory that can manufacture one million palm-size lithium-ion cells a year.

That’s enough to power 10,000 i Cars, or five times the amount of vehicles initially intended for production. Let's hope these bigger volumes bring the cost of manufacture down so the iMIEV becomes a real alternative to the Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza.

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Fancy a closer look at the Mitsubishi i Car? Check out:

• City Car Challenge - Video

I’ve found myself in a dilemma: do I get myself one of those newfangled iPhones or not?

The problem is that, as clever as the technology is, you run the risk of looking like a self-pleasurer – a bit like wearing one of those hideous Bluetooth headsets (as an aside I saw a guy wearing one in each ear the other day, in the supermarket!)

The same, I suppose, could be said about a BMW M3 – it’s an awesome ‘bit of kit’ as Mr. iPhone-in-my-belt-holster might say but the problem is that the guy with the Apple logo tattooed on his man boob probably owns one.

Get behind the wheel of an M3 though and it could be plastered with images of Margaret Thatcher in the shower for all I care – if you ignore the up-and-down hand gestures of fellow road users, it offers something close to motoring Nirvana.

Well I’ve just had a play with an iPhone and I don’t care what people think of me, I’m going to get one. And the first application I’m going to buy is this Dynolicious telemetry software then at least I have an excuse to get one.

We've had noise-cancelling headphones for a while now and the principle is simple - external noise is cancelled by an equal and opposite sound wave from the speakers.

That’s all well and good in the enclosed space of a pair of cans but what about applying the same technology to a car?

Trust Toyota to be the first to try with its new Crown Hybrid. The Active Noise Control system uses three microphones to detect engine noise and uses the front door-mounted speakers and parcel shelf subwoofer for cancellation.

The system doesn’t affect the car’s sound system or passenger’s conversations although there are reports that a WGC (Whingeing Girlfriend Cancellation) setting is under development.

During my weekend at Le Mans (come back tomorrow to see how I got on) I spotted this Tesla Roadster cruising through the streets of Arnage.

The silence amid the throngs of Ferraris and TVRs was odd and it was a shame that the driver didn't oblige with the traditional Arnage burn-out - surely all that torque would make it ideal?

Still, it looked great and was perhaps the rarest car in the village.

A few years ago my mate Martin’s Dad had bought a Delorean. It was a glorious machine and was perfect apart form one minor flaw; it broke down. Constantly.

One day, after a call asking for company at the roadside from Martin after yet another breakdown (his Dad had to rush off for some reason or other) a small group of us appeared and waited next to the ill-fated car.

As you’d expect from a shiny, silver, gullwing doored car, it gained a lot of attention; but only because it was: “WOW, LOOK! IT’S THE CAR FROM BACK TO THE FUTURE!”

There are some owners who have gone the whole hog and decorated their Deloreans to match the film exactly – except many found one part, the famous Flux-Capacitor, notoriously difficult to find. Until now, that is.

A firm in the US is producing them for the tiny fee of $275. Now all I need is Martin’s Dad’s car, some wood glue, plutonium and a dog called Einstein…

If you've ever read a car magazine from the other side of the pond, you'll know by now that they are somewhat obsessed with cupholders. Make that bucket holders - these things are, no joke, measured in gallons. But now, to make your journey even more calorific, some bright spark has created this - the french fry holder.

This bad boy slips straight into your cup vat holder and features not only a non-slip finish to keep all that grease away from your upholstery, but also has a little pot at the front for your ketchup.

All we need now is a windscreen mounted burger sling to make the journey to work complete.

[Product Page via Likecool]

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For those with aspirations of owning an aquatic vehicle, but can’t quite afford the Rinspeed’s awesome sQuba concept vehicles, there is hope! It comes in the form of this Suzuki 4x4. Able to drive on land, and on the bottom of a muddy pond, it’s quite impressive. I would not, however, suggest wearing your best Bond Tuxedo while driving as it appears you would get quite wet…

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