El problema de los 4×4 de alta gama siempre a sido demostrar sus posibilidades fuera del asfalto, y es que probar algunos modelos en los que un misero arañazo en la chapa supone pedir una ampliación de hipoteca es tarea de valientes, algo que les sobra a los ingleses de Top Gear.

He subido una pequeña selección de las pruebas a las que han sometido al Volkswagen Tuareg, que si en su primera serie fueron muy criticadas sus aptitudes todoterreno, en la actual nos encontramos ante un modelo que gracias a su magnifico chasis y a la tecnología podemos confiar en él para que nos lleve donde queramos.

Veamos los vídeos:

A tope en circuito 4×4:

Tuareg en tareas cortando hierba frente a un tractor:

El clásico vídeo en el que remolcaba un Boeing 747:

The award-winning Fiat 500, which has received countless honours this year, adds an extra important one this weekend ? its first birthday celebrations.

Although it only arrived in the UK in January this year, the popular supermini was first launched in Italy on 4 July 2007, and the Fiat Group is celebrating its anniversary with a series of bold, elaborate parties across the world, including the UK.

The date of this landmark occasion is especially significant as last year?s Italian launch of the car was exactly 50 years after the original introduction of Dante Giacosa?s classic post-war 500.

The UK party, hosted by TV presenter Alex Zane, is called the Fiat 500 PicNic and takes place at Alexandra Park, North London. It?s designed to be a traditional British summer outdoor gathering, but with a special 500 twist.

With invitations extended to more than 5,000 specially-invited Fiat 500 drivers and potential owners, this Saturday?s (5 July) PicNic initiative, which was conceived to share the passion and emotion of the huge Fiat 500 community, will feature live music, delicious Italian food and drink, outdoor games, big-screen sports coverage and special ?chill-out? zones for participants.

The London event is part of a series of global parties celebrating the hugely successful first year of Fiat?s iconic city car. Athens, Budapest, Copenhagen, London, Milan, Munich, Palermo, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, Tokyo, Valencia, Hel, Liège, Zurich, and Cape Town are the chosen cities that, either in parks or on beaches, will welcome thousands of people brought together by the new car.

Music, art, and fun are the ingredients which will guarantee a successful event involving new Fiat 500 owners and those who are still waiting to get one (222,000 have been ordered so far).

This is a global initiative that we in Britain are delighted to be involved in,

says Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

It is everything that the new Fiat 500 stands for ? fun, excitement, freedom and the knack of bringing people together in a great atmosphere ? and I am sure the event will be a great success.

The London party will feature four special themed zones ? Energy, Entertainment, Chill and Children. The Energy Zone offers outdoor games, fun races and a volleyball competition, while in Entertainment there will be live music, jugglers, a giant screen and Fiat 500 interactive car configurators to try.

The Chill Zone is designed for relaxation with Tai Chi, head massages and hammocks all available, and the Children?s Zone will feature face painting, street theatre and games.

Saab continues to lead Europe?s drive on the adoption of biofuels as they can make a significant contribution to reducing the CO2 impact of road transport, particularly in the short to medium term, as we continue to work on making hydrogen fuel cell and plug in electric technologies a realistic proposition for the mass market.

One of Saab?s clear messages at the Sexy Green Car Show is that more prominence must be given to the opportunities being generated by second generation biofuels. David Pugh, General Manager, Sales & Marketing Strategy, Saab Great Britain Ltd, is adamant: ?We cannot give up the challenge of making biofuels a viable alternative to fossil fuels just because there is a whole lot of confusion around about the alleged conflicts with food production. For example, one of the main contributors to the increased demand for grain is not biofuels but an increased trend towards a more protein-rich diet in Asia.?

Saab believes that the move towards second generation biofuels should continue at full pace. These fuels can use, for example, waste by-products from agricultural production rather than the main crop. ?Over 5 years, enough bioethanol could be produced from 50% of waste straw from UK cereal production to achieve 10% blending with all petrol supplied in the UK and sufficient to power an additional 10% of new car sales on E85 from domestic sources,? said Pugh.

In the US, GM has formed a partnership with Coskata, a second generation biofuel provider. This partnership allows us to fully understand ethanol development and how to rapidly and efficiently expand production in a manner that maximises the environmental benefit. The Coskata process uses waste to create bioethanol, so arguments about land use change, food vs fuel, sustainability, etc., are irrelevant. The Coskata process uses less water per gallon of ethanol than current processes. For every unit of energy used, it creates up to 7.7 times that amount of energy and, on a well-to-wheel basis, compared to conventional petrol, the process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 84%.
The 9-X BioHybrid

The 9-X BioHybrid?s expressive looks, responsible performance and high tech communications, wrapped in a sporty, fun-to-drive package reflect the uncompromising needs of today?s consumer. Incorporating Saab?s innovative BioPower technology, with an in-built solar cell and design features such as camera-enhanced mirrors, 3-D graphics cockpit and a 4-point seatbelt, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid is a true fusion of sexy design and responsible performance.

Optimised for E85 fuel, the Saab 9-X is intelligently powered: running on E85, the small 1.4 litre BioPower turbo engine generates an astonishing 200hp and 280Nm of torque, as well as reduced emissions compared to petrol. With a full flex-fuel capability, it is a rightsizing formula backed by GM’s next generation hybrid technology, combining electric power boost, regenerative braking, fuel cut-off and automatic engine re-start. On petrol, over the combined cycle, this means CO2 emissions of 117g/km and fuel consumption at 57.6mpg, while CO2 emissions on E85 are projected to be even lower, at just 105g/km. The 9-X BioHybrid also harnesses power from the sun. The solar cell in the glass roof uses this free energy by adding charge to the battery pack whether the vehicle is parked or being driven.

El mes pasado pasado cumplimos la dura frontera del año en línea, y una vez superado Mayo ya toca celebrarlo desde la seguridad de que hemos completado el año, parece mentira que allá por el 2007 surgiera la idea de fundar un blog desde el que informar sobre todo lo relacionado con los 4×4, reconozco que no a sido fácil ni perfecto, pero que Culto 4×4 aún respire es un triunfo día a día, aunque he de reconocer que no se a actualizado tanto como quería,  mi más sinceras disculpas. Y es que llevar adelante un blog relacionado con el motor con los cientos que ya existen intentando ser diferente es harto complicado, aunque seguiremos creando entradas que seguro serán de vuestro interés, aunque seguramente con menos regularidad del que nos gustaría.

Ahora vamos a ver algunas cosillas que nos han pasado en este año que llevamos en la Red:

Estadísticas (del 10/05/2007 al 10/05/2008)

Según Google Analytics tuvimos 17.167 visitas que vieron 29.865 páginas y las palabras que más visitas originaron vía buscadores fueron; Tiguan, Mercedes G, Iveco 4×4, Mercedes Unimog y Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Mientras que Awstats informa que en Mayo del 2008 (va por años, no se puede definir fechas anteriores) tuvimos 31.038 visitantes distintos que vieron 65.928 páginas y como palabras enviadas por buscadores concuerdan con las dichas por Google, aunque añade Urovesa.

Según Google Blog Search nos enlazaron los siguientes Blogs, aunque pasa por alto otras referencias como las de MotorFull o Ejercito Mundo Militar.

Y ya para terminar señalar que las entradas con más éxito son:

1. Accidente en Hummer, ¿esto es normal?.
2. Audi recibe el premio a la mejor publicidad por el Q7.
3. Land Rover Defender SVX Edición Especial.
4. Dodge Ram T Rex 6×6.
5. Recorrido por los diseños del Mitsubishi Montero.
6. El Toyota Fj Cruiser; poderio japones en los Estados Unidos.
7. Hummer H3 Black Edition solo para Holanda.
8. Las ventas de Land Rover en aumento.
9. Toyota HDJ 100 patrullando por Afganistan.
10. El Toyota Fj Cruiser sudando en la Rubicon.

Y después de soplar la velita  es hora de coger el mejor whisky y echarnos una copa para celebrar lo que llevamos andado y lo que nos queda por andar; Muchas gracias por leernos.

GPS Tracking Helped Recover a $16,000 BMW (PRWeb)
If it hadn’t been for the wonder of GPS technology, Stephen Stough would have had to hunt much more feverishly for a stolen BMW. (PRWeb Jul 15, 2008) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/gps/tracking/prweb1106624.htm
Source: www.prweb.com

Well, I have some really exciting news. Last week I finished my last day of work as a mechanic! I have been a mechanic and working on cars since the age of 16 and next week is my 55th birthday. Yes that?s right it?s time to give these sores muscles and weak bones a break. It?s time to retire. What more fitting than to finish my career by buying one of those 55+ homes that my wife and I recently discovered.

Have you heard of these 55+ communities? These places are great and to tell you the truth it was only 6 months ago that I?d first heard of them. They are plots of land with houses on them purely for people aged 55 and over. I couldn?t believe these places actually existed. Maybe I have been living in the stone ages because apparently they are all the rage.

And, this leaves me with a lot more time to spend working on my hobby of restoring old cars. The property we have purchased has a huge garage that will accommodate all my tools and other car parts I have accumulated over the years. The next project I have planned is to restore and old Shelby Mustang. I’ve always dreamed of doing this but never really had the time to put in the effort to make it near original. I haven’t decided on the model yet but I will keep you posted.