There’s no scarcity of lunatics on Earth. But there positively appears to be a plethora of them within the nice state of Florida, because it definitely appears to churn out extra of them than some other state round. Maybe it is one thing within the water?
Yet, the most recent on this lengthy line of madness from America’s, um, panhandle, is one thing that I’d most likely strive given the possibility. Everyone’s favourite wild-eyed mechanics from Grind Hard Plumbing Co. went on all the way down to the Sunshine State to have some enjoyable with a few kitted-up Sur-Ron e-bikes.
Now, these aren’t your common modified Sur-Rons. No, one’s in full drag-spec whereas the opposite is the topic of in the present day’s story: a Sur-Ron constructed to waterski.
Here comes dinner, gators!
The bikes had been constructed by GritShift, a small Florida-based store that focuses on constructing sick-ass customized e-bikes, Sur-Rons, and UTV elements.
According to the video, the GritShift guys received the thought from a video that Robbie Maddison put out a number of years in the past the place he took his competitors dirtbike and modified it to experience some waves. The primary premise of the construct was to stay aluminum “skis” on the entrance and rear tires—which they comprised of steel purchased from Home Depot—and add a sand-type paddle tire to the rear for propulsion and that is about it.
They did a number of extra modifications to extend the ability and torque, too.
What’s wild, nevertheless, is how nicely the entire thing works. It simply dances throughout the water prefer it was nothing. Granted, the water in query is a small canal, and crossing it looks like a reasonably brief affair from the video. But nonetheless, the electrical bike simply handles it.
That stated, they’re nonetheless some teething points with the Sur-Ron Ski, because the entrance tire is claimed to kick up manner an excessive amount of water towards the inner motors and, despite the fact that they’re IP67 waterproof, one thing’s getting in and inflicting some points.
There’s additionally the store’s dope Sur-Ron drag bike, which they are saying will hit 60 mph in below 4 seconds after which they drag race a brand new Corvette Z06. The entire factor seems to be like these dope Indonesian single-cylinder drag bikes, which I nonetheless want to write down a narrative on.
Either manner, each look hella enjoyable and make me wish to strive them out.
It would possibly sound foolish at first to ask whether or not we will inform Earth is liveable. Of course it’s, that is the place all of us dwell! However, the purpose of the analysis is not to show that Earth is liveable — our mere existence proves that. Instead, it is to see what sorts of data we might get about Earth from area, and whether or not that data can be sufficient for us to say that the Earth might host life. The thought is to check out habitability exams on Earth, to see if they may sooner or later be used on exoplanets.
The researchers shared their findings in a paper in The Astrophysical Journal, working with a bunch of 5 satellites situated in area as a part of a venture known as LIFE, or Large Interferometer For Exoplanets. The purpose of the venture is for these satellites to behave like one giant telescope, working collectively to kind a device known as an “interferometer,” which may detect infrared radiation or warmth from exoplanets.
The mild given off by these planets can then be analyzed to see what an environment consists of. “Our goal is to detect chemical compounds in the light spectrum that hint at life on the exoplanets,” said chief of the LIFE initiative, Sascha Quanz.
The Earth Edition has desert-inspired seems to be and will get a recent beige paint on the skin whereas there are beige touches contained in the cabin as properly
The Mahindra Thar lately acquired a particular version known as the ‘Earth Edition’, based mostly on the top-spec LX trim, that instructions a uniform premium of Rs 40,000 over the common variants.The Thar Earth Edition has now reached dealerships, and right here’s the way it seems to be and what it provides:
Front
The solely change on the fascia of the SUV is the brand new beige end for the chrome slats within the grille. Apart from that, it nonetheless has the identical spherical halogen headlights and chunky bumper.
Side
It’s from the edges that you just discover extra distinctive touches to the particular version within the type of the ‘Earth Edition’ badges on the B-pillar, beige inserts within the alloy wheels, and the dune-inspired decals on the doorways.
Rear
There’s no change made to the rear profile of the Mahindra Thar, and it nonetheless options the identical tailgate-mounted spare wheel and rectangular taillights with the ‘Thar’ moniker.
The most blatant change on the within is the dual-tone leatherette seat upholstery with distinction beige stitching. It additionally has the dune-like embossing on the headrests. You may discover the beige end for the ‘Thar’ moniker positioned on the door panels. The Thar Earth Edition additionally will get beige highlights for the AC vent surrounds, within the centre console, and on the steering wheel.
Mahindra has offered the Thar Earth Edition with a 7-inch touchscreen, cruise management, keyless entry, and a height-adjustable driver seat. Its security equipment contains twin entrance airbags, digital stability programme (ESP), and rear parking sensors.
Two Engine Options
The Thar particular version is on the market with each petrol and diesel engine choices:
Mahindra is providing the Thar Earth Edition solely with a 4-wheel-drive (4WD) model. The common variants of the SUV additionally get a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model, that are supplied with a smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine and the identical 2-litre turbo-petrol engine.
Prices And Competitors
The Mahindra Thar is priced between Rs 11.25 lakh and Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India). It takes on the Force Gurkha and Maruti Jimny.
The Thar Earth Edition is predicated on the top-spec LX trim and instructions a uniform premium of Rs 40,000
Special version will get a beige theme to indicate the Thar desert’s dunes.
Has the ‘Earth Edition’ badges and dune-inspired decals on the outside.
Gets beige leatherette upholstery and dune-like embossing on the headrests.
Cabin options some beige accents too together with on the steering wheel and door pads.
Gets a selection of each petrol and diesel engines; comes with the 4WD solely.
Prices vary from Rs 15.40 lakh to Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India).
The Mahindra Thar has simply obtained a particular version known as the ‘Earth Edition,’ impressed by the Thar desert. It’s obtainable with each petrol and diesel powertrains, though solely with the LX exhausting high variants.
Variant-wise Prices
Variant
Standard Variant
Earth Edition
Difference
LX Hard Top Petrol MT
Rs 15 lakh
Rs 15.40 lakh
+Rs 40,000
LX Hard Top Petrol AT
Rs 16.60 lakh
Rs 17 lakh
+Rs 40,000
LX Hard Top Diesel MT
Rs 15.75 lakh
Rs 16.15 lakh
+Rs 40,000
LX Hard Top Diesel AT
Rs 17.20 lakh
Rs 17.60 lakh
+Rs 40,000
Mahindra has priced the Thar’s particular version at a uniform premium of Rs 40,000 over the top-spec LX trim.
Thar Earth Edition Details
The Thar Earth Edition will get a brand new satin matte beige shade dubbed ‘Desert Fury’ and dune-inspired decals on the doorways. Mahindra has additionally offered it with the beige shade inserts within the new silver-finished alloy wheels, on the ORVMs, and within the grille. Another distinctive contact is the unique ‘Earth Edition’ badging on the B-pillars and the matte-black end for different badges.
On the within, the largest noticeable distinction is the dual-tone leatherette seat upholstery with distinction beige stitching. The Thar Earth Edition additionally will get beige highlights for the AC vent surrounds, within the centre console, and on the door panels and steering wheel. It additionally has the dune-like embossing on the headrests. Each of the Thar Earth Edition comes with a singular numbered ornamental VIN plate beginning with serial quantity ‘1.’
It doesn’t get any characteristic variations over the variant it’s primarily based on. Mahindra is providing the particular version with the identical 7-inch touchscreen system, cruise management, keyless entry, and height-adjustable driver seat because the LX trim.
The Thar Earth Edition’s security internet contains twin entrance airbags, ISOFIX baby seat mounts, digital stability programme (ESP), and rear parking sensors.
Powertrains On Offer
Mahindra is providing the Thar’s particular version with each petrol and diesel engines. Here’s a have a look at their technical specs:
Specification
2-litre Turbo-petrol
2.2-litre Diesel
Power
152 PS
132 PS
Torque
300 Nm
300 Nm
Transmission
6-speed MT, 6-speed AT
6-speed MT, 6-speed AT
The Thar Earth Edition is accessible in a 4-wheel-drive (4WD) model solely. Mahindra additionally affords the common variants of the SUV with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model. The Thar RWD variants get a smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine and the identical 2-litre turbo-petrol engine.
Price Range And Rivals
The Mahindra Thar is priced from Rs 11.25 lakh to Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India). It is an alternative choice to the Force Gurkha and the Maruti Jimny.
It’s 2024, and the time period EV is rolling off the tongue of each automaker on earth; however sometimes, the time period isn’t mixed with the mannequin 12 months of any automobile that got here to life within the ‘60s. This fully electric 1966 Cadillac DeVille is one of the electro-mods at the forefront of changing that, and what’s below the hood might shock you.
It is sort of arduous to think about again when this ‘66 droptop DeVille originally rolled off the line, humans hadn’t even witnessed a person on the moon. Now, almost 70 years later, that very same luxurious Coupe has made earthshaking, motor-quaking information of its personal as a one-of-a-kind, electrified disruptor of the customized automotive tradition, forging an entire new phase, morphing the modded class, changing into what we are able to name a 1966 “electro-lux” conversion. So, love EVs or hate ‘em, the internal combustion engine evolution into a modern-day EV, for this ‘60s-era Caddy often called dEVille, produced by LegacyEV, embodies the increasing electro-mod motion.
Swapping an old-school automotive’s beating coronary heart for an electrical motor has its advantages, however is a controversial follow that does not bode nicely with purists
Sparking The ’66 Cadillac’s Electric Conversion
It all began with the imaginative and prescient of Rob Ward, CEO and Founder of LegacyEV from Tempe, Ariz. Touted as a one-stop store for EV kits, elements, training, and build-support, LegacyEV is answerable for the Twenty first-century twist on this traditional Cadillac.
“I love Cadillacs,” shared Rob. “My first car was a 1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and I’ve owned a lot of them since them. I purchased this ’66 in 2016 and drove it stock for a couple of years.”
The electrical re-power of Ward’s Deville kicked off in March 2021 and was an eight-month construct. It was a real mechanical transformation.
V-8 Mill Made Way For Three Electric Motors
Jody Only/TopSpeed
Seven many years in the past, the DeVille Series was in its infancy. Rolling on a 129.5-inch wheelbase, with an expansive stretch of 224 inches in bumper-to-bumper size, it was supplied as a convertible and a coupe with two or four-door choices. It was powered by a 429 cubic-inch, 7.0-liter V-8, topped with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor, and was paired to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The setup created 340 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. With an MSRP hovering round $5,500, the DeVille was undoubtedly Cadillac’s hottest mannequin for the 12 months, accounting for over 142,000 of the 195,685 Cadillacs bought.
Standard ’66 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Specs
Engine
429 Cubic-Inch V-8
Horsepower
340 Horses
Torque
480 Pound-feet
Transmission
Three-Speed Automatic
Wheelbase
129.5 Inches
Vehicle Length
224-Inches
Vehicle Width
80-Inches
Curb Weight
4640 Pounds
Top Speed
122 MPH *Theoretical
0 to 60
8.6 Seconds
Quarter Mile
16.4 Seconds *Simulation
(Specs given by AutomobileCatalog)
Ditching its unique gas-powered engine, Ward’s electrical Caddy homes three inline NetGain HyPer 9 Synchronous Reluctance Internal Permanent Magnet (SRIPM) motors which are linked in sequence. “The motors basically sit in the transmission tunnel and are tied in tandem to the driveline, and to the rear end, Rob explained. “There is a torque gear reduction box that sits between the motors and the driveline. The rear end is stock.”
Legacy EV’s ’66 Cadillac dEVille Specs
Motor Setup
Tri-motor
Horsepower
400 Horses
Torque
1,000 Pound-feet
Battery
55 kWh
Range
~100 Miles
(Specs given by LegacyEV)
The whole system creates 1,000 pound-feet of torque on the rear differential from zero to five,000 RPM. Yes, for many who haven’t skilled an EV but, a part of the driving enjoyable is the instantaneous out there peak torque at zero RPM. “Horsepower is 400,” confirmed Rob. “The battery system is a 55-kWh pack with (lithium-ion) NMC cells.” The EV’s vary is roughly 100 miles. Probably not excellent for a road-tripper; however that wasn’t the intention of this Caddy. “I wanted to get around town,” Rob added. “I wanted it to be a cool car to go out to dinner or pick up the kids from school in.”
The German Firm, e-REVOLT presents a promising path to transform your ICE automotive to an EV with out breaking the financial institution.
The Electric Caddy Also Comes With Some Other Tasteful Mods
The standout aesthetics crafted into the Cadillac are arduous to overlook. There is the white pearl steering wheel from PearlCraft and the low-profile white partitions wrapped round 20-inch, one-off billet wheels created by EVOD within the likeness of a classic 15-inch inventory Cadillac hubcap. But the artistry doesn’t finish there, and the hood hides one other fabricated improve. Notably, this newly added little bit of taste doesn’t seem in most up-to-date pictures being circulated.
Jody Only/TopSpeed
Many photos of the automotive have surfaced with a pink motor compartment cowl emblazoned with the Cadillac emblem. These outdated photos of the pink piece defend a lot of the seen electrical powerplant; nonetheless, the pink cap doesn’t stretch the total width or all the size of the engine bay. In actuality, the latest look isn’t seen in a lot of the protection being blasted off the automotive. As seen right here, it now reveals out its Bright White paint spreading into the bay, blanketing a backdrop for a large Cadillac emblem.
“The sheet metal under the hood was redone to improve the look,” stated Rob on the variations in of the compartment. “Other cars showcase the electric motors or the batteries, but for this, you pop the hood, and you get art instead of mechanical components.” This was only one extra difference-maker on this mixture of an iconic physique model, housing fashionable electrical energy.
Starting October 4, PlayStation 5 owners will have the option to purchase the new Deep Earth Collection console covers and DualSense controllers. In the United States, the console covers will be priced at $59.99 and the new DualSense options at $74.99. The collection will also be available for purchase in Japan, the U.K., and multiple European countries. To make a purchase, customers will need to order directly from Sony’s PlayStation storefront or from select retailers, which have not been specified yet.
The controller remains unchanged in terms of functionality, with the only difference being the color. Similarly, the console covers are plastic shells that can be easily placed over the existing white cover of the console. Sony offers their own range of options, but there are also third-party designs available for those who prefer something different. One such option is a cover with a larger air vent for improved thermal management, as seen in this example.
Our sleep patterns on Earth are influenced by our environment and a 24-hour cycle called circadian rhythms. These rhythms regulate our alertness and sleepiness, impacting various bodily functions. The cues in our environment, such as light, affect these rhythms. Light signals our bodies to wake up, while darkness signals sleep.
However, in space, there is no natural 24-hour day cycle. To address this, the International Space Station (ISS) follows Greenwich Mean Time to establish a consistent schedule for astronauts’ sleep and wake cycles. Nevertheless, researchers aim to enhance the astronauts’ sleeping conditions within this cycle. One approach is to use lighting that simulates different times of day, with a soft red glow at night resembling a sunset and a bright blue light in the morning similar to the sky.
The European Space Agency has initiated an experiment called Circadian Light. Astronaut Andreas Mogensen will test this experiment to investigate if changing light conditions can improve his sleep. The lighting not only changes color, but it also varies from day to day, simulating diverse weather conditions. This variability aims to provide a more engaging experience in an otherwise monotonous environment.
Unfortunately, the Google Barge was not long for this earth. Just one year after they were unveiled, the city of Portland revealed that their city’s version of the new center was sold and divided between its overall structure and its individual containers. While the structure would be sold to what the Press Herald describes as an “international barging company,” the containers would be torn down and scrapped for parts.
The strange thing about these barges was that they were never actually put to use. According to The Wall Street Journal, none of the four barges that were built officially opened due to potential structural dangers. The United States Coast Guard issued a safety inquiry into the structures and found an abnormal division of fuel across the structures.
“These vessels will have over 5,000 gallons of fuel on the main deck and a substantial amount of combustible material on board,” wrote the Coast Guard.
In layperson’s terms, they feared that even a minor malfunction could result in a massive fire. Not much else is known about the back-and-forth between the Coast Guard and Google, but there were seemingly attempts to reach a structural compromise, according to Consumerist. However, they simply were not feasible, forcing Google to cancel the project just one year after its mysterious reveal. That being said, even if the structure was deemed safe, it simply sounded too exclusive of an idea to effectively market. At least we have Google Stores now.
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
