What is that you say; "who cares about handbrakes, they're only useful around corners and on the move"? Sure, you can choose to not listen, but don't come back saying we didn't warn you when you fall in the same pickle as this young gentleman from Moscow, Russia.

He did none of the above and look at what happened to him; he almost got killed when an Audi A3 came falling down from a lift...

Luckily, he lived to tell the embarrassing tale to his boss and the unfortunate owner of the car.

More than six years later, and its owner sent us an email to inform us that the project has been completed and the car re-listed for sale on eBay.

If cars had a soul, (they don't, no matter what Alfa Romeo fan boys and marketers tell you) and could speak, we wonder what secret desires this Mazda would reveal… However, since the car itself can't tell us anything, we'll share the story from its creator who introduced himself to us as 'Duy':

"Here is a little back story to this project.  Back in 2000, I saw a Z9 Cabriolet concept car that was not going to make it to production.  I liked it so much that I had to make one for myself," he said.

"I purchased a 1994 Miata in 2002 while I was living in Arizona.  Started the project and didn't finish it until I moved to Florida.  I drove the car from Arizona to Florida in 2004 with no issues. It has been an ongoing project and I changed some details that I felt would look better than what was on the original design. The exterior of the car was completed in 2008 and I was planning to swap the complete motor, brembo brakes and AWD system from a 2003 Mitsubishi EVOLUTION that I acquired.  The engine swap was a big project and I never had a chance to start the project. The reason for selling is because I rarely get a chance to drive the vehicle because there are no rear seats for the kids".

Last we checked on the eBay listing, there were 32 bids, the highest standing at $3,050.

It's probably partly down to the price, which puts it in Tesla Model S territory, and with only 35 miles (56 km) of EV-only driving available before the 1.4-liter 84 hp petrol engine from a Chevy Aveo kicks in to recharge the 16.5 kWh battery pack.

But none of that matters to CNET and their recently uploaded video feature of the ELR, which focuses, as we'd expect from them, on the technology it comes with, the way it works, and if it's usable, useful or just annoying.

Too bad it's so darn expensive, because as this video proves, it really has a lot going for it, from the good-looking interior and exterior, to its undeniable green credentials if run on battery power most of the time, and operated in the correct fashion, taking its power from the socket and not the petrol engine.

By Andrei Nedelea

Calling it a three-wheeler EV is an understatement, because it not only looks like it's from 2025, but it's also a shape-shifter with two wheels at the front and one wider one at the back.

The front fork can pivot between a low-slung high-speed position to a more upright stance that is designed for low-speed riding (driving?) with improved maneuverability characteristics.

The unorthodox approach to its design is continued to the way you control it. There are no handlebars or a steering wheel in sight, and you steer it by turning two individual handles that in turn angle the wheels to change direction.

Like we said in regards to the Nissan IDx Freeflow concepts, if this is the manufacturer's idea of the future, then we're really interested and want to see more. Check out the photo gallery and the video (courtesy of Reuters) below to see what we're on about here.

By Andrei Nedelea

The Hövding helmet may sound like an item from Ikea, but it is a lot simpler to "assemble". Essentially a collar, you just need to wrap it around your neck and zip it up. That's all; people will think you've bought yourself a new scarf. What they don't know is that it contains an airbag that protects you in the event of a crash.

Research and development work started in 2005, with thousands of cycling accidents being re-enacted using stunt riders and crash-test dummies to collect the specific movement patterns of cyclists in accidents.

Also, an equal amount of normal cycling data has been collected using test cyclists wearing Hövding in everyday use. Based on the collected data, the company has developed an algorithm that can distinguish normal cycling from accidents so that the airbag "knows" when to deploy.

Moving on to the unpleasant part, the Hövding is listed for €399 ($535) on the company's website, which is twice the amount of what my bicycle was worth when new. As much as I love the idea, I'm going to stick to conventional, unpleasant helmets for now…

Scroll down to hear the story of the airbag helmet from the two founders, Anna and Terese, and to see how the device works in the videos posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

BMW has not announced a Gran Coupe variant for the 2-Series, but it would make sense as direct rival to the Audi A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA, and since they love covering all the niches and creating more, it's not entirely implausible.

Seen here both in regular and full-M guise (an M2), it does resonate with me, and I would genuinely like to see it materialize – a lot more so than the much more pointless 4-Series Gran Coupe…

In lesser trims, and with smaller more efficient engines, this car could become an alternative to the mundane 3-Series, helped by better style, a slightly lower price tag and all the handling, performance and efficiency advantages it derives from the smaller size and lower weight.

However, this model may never materialize, as BMW is planning a more direct rival to the two aforementioned competing models – a front-wheel drive sedan.

By Andrei Nedelea

It's always a shame when somebody dies, but it's even more painful when young peoples' lives are drastically cut short in a tragic and sudden manner, which is what happened to a military cadet and a soldier who drowned in Bolivia earlier this week while trying to save their military chief's private car, a Nissan X Terra.

A flash flood that hit the area had swept away the SUV, with the military chief jumping in the waters in a desperate attempt to rescue his vehicle. The man asked for help with two young cadets and a soldier coming to his aid - unfortunately, only one of the three men made it out alive.

The military chief was unharmed and was able to find and rescue his vehicle, which was found at a distance of 15 miles away, but at what price? As pointed out by local journalist Ramiro Quiroga in one of his tweets, "the two young men gave up their lives up not for their homeland, but for their chief"…and his shiny ride.

However, AutoExpress magazine reviewer Matthew Watson got inside the new Mini, where he noticed some interesting changes have been made. The quality is better thanks to softer plastics and better looking material, with a more upscale feel overall.

Some buttons have changed position (the window switches are now on the doors), while the huge round central display no longer shows the speed, with all the relevant driving information moved to the motorcycle-style instruments behind the steering wheel.

Some things never change in a Mini, however: although there's more space in the back than before, it's still cramped. Scroll down to find what else is new about the latest Mini hatch.

By Dan Mihalascu

It's an emergency measure speculated by Mopar specialized site Allpar as a solution to its limited range of engines and inherent market appeal. It reports that "a small team of engineers" is currently on the job.

Chrysler currently has access to three V6 engines: a 3.0-liter, 3.2-liter and the "original Pentastar" 3.6-liter. The first was apparently conjured up to avoid China and Europe's steep displacement taxes and would be capable of producing 230 hp, while the larger middle unit that can be only found under the hood of the Cherokee makes 271 hp. The 3.6L V6 makes 292 hp, but aside from powering a separate sporty edition of the Dart, it's pretty much overkill for its compact body and relatively low weight.

Whichever the case, improvements need to be brought to the base 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, a unit that has been called unresponsive by owners and road testers alike, despite packing a claimed 160 hp – the most highly regarded engine it currently comes with is the 184 hp 2.4-liter Tigershark, also the most powerful one, currently available in the faintly sportier GT model pictured here.

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References: Allpar via Autoblog

It's always good to see a car wearing these rims and in its latest release, Hamann has shared photos of its line of alloy wheels for the new BMW X5 crossover, which in this case, comes with the manufacturer's M Sport Package.

The rims you see fitted here on the F15 X5 are 22- and 23-inches in diameter. While they do fill up the wheel arches nicely, one should always be aware of the negative sides of such tall and super-low profile tires, especially in terms of comfort and ride quality.

German Frank Hachmann met one of those cars at a rally in France when he was a child and remained forever fascinated by the looks and sounds of the car. The mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo captured his imagination so much that when he turned 30, he bought himself a 1984 Renault 5 Turbo 2.

The production version of the rally car featured a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine producing 160 PS (158hp) and 221 Nm (163 lb-ft) of torque in standard form.

Although it was far from the R5 Maxi Turbo competition car's 350 PS (345hp), the rear-wheel drive production version was capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.6 seconds and could reach 200 km/h (124 mph). But most of all, the perfect balance of the car made it (and still makes it) a real joy to drive.

Hachmann has owned the car for 20 years now and, understandably, has no intention to ever sell it. Scroll down to watch the video, courtesy of Caroholics, it's in German, but the sights and sounds of the Renault 5 Turbo need no translation.

By Dan Mihalascu

Thanks to Caroholics for the heads up!

The parent company of Mercedes-Benz bought a 12-percent stake in long-standing partner BAIC Motor, the passenger car unit of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), one of the top automotive companies in China.

Daimler and BAIC Motor have been granted approval from Chinese authorities to go ahead with the deal, marking the official closing of the transaction. Daimler's investment will take place through the issuance of new shares corresponding to a 12 percent stake in BAIC Motor. The move shows the German automaker's strong support for BAIC Motor's intention to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in the future.

As part of the agreement, Daimler will have two seats on the Board of Directors of BAIC Motor, to be held by Daimler AG board member for Greater China, Hubertus Troska, and Daimler AG CFO, Bodo Uebber.

Furthermore, BAIC will get a controlling stake (51 percent) in the production joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation (BBAC). At the same time, Daimler will increase its stake in the integrated sales joint venture Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Corporation (BMBS) by 1 percent to 51 percent. The latter reunites all sales and service activities for imported and locally produced Mercedes-Benz cars under one roof and is a key pillar for Mercedes-Benz's sustainable growth in China.

BAIC Group is one of China's largest automakers, with sales of over 1.7 million vehicles in 2012.  

By Dan Mihalascu

If you manage to take your eyes off the half-naked / half-dressed female model posting inside and out of the car, you may notice some fake gill-like shapes (talk about over-doing the fish theme…) on the front fenders, which kind of (but not really) justifies the name given to Vilner's creation, the "Bullshark".

It appears from these pictures shot during the presentation of the 6-Series Bullshark that, both ends of the 6-Series Coupe have gone under the knife, as has the interior.

The 19-inch AC Schnitzer wheels aren't the only part to come from the German tuning brand, which is also responsible for the software optimization of the car's 4.4-liter V8 engine that now produces 365HP (370PS), up from 329HP (333PS), for a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 278km/h (173mph).

Story References: Vilner via Worldcarfans

Here's what McLaren said: "Actually it was not really a news and Frank Stephenson said that more on a joke tone… McLaren has no plans to create and build a car in the C-segment. In 2015, McLaren will launch the next all-new sportscar, and will take McLaren into a lower pricepoint (top-end Porsche 911/Audi R8)."

So, it turns out that designer Frank Stephenson who spoke to a Dutch site was either wrong or just joking and the humor got lost in the translation/interpretation part.

Granted, it was a bit far-fetched to begin with, but it would not have been the first time that a manufacturer had to resort to selling cars not at all close to the company philosophy, in order to make its trademark vehicles – Porsche and Aston Martin come to mind here

Chances are we will never ever hear of this McLaren hatchback, but it was fun to think what such a thing could have realistically been like. To me it sounded like a car that would be similar in dimensions to a BMW 1-Series, yet with McLaren design and distinguishing traits.

By Andrei Nedelea

Admittedly, many people have problems entering or exiting a parking spot, but what took place here is just baffling. And to think that she had her female friend stand outside and behind the car (obviously, not the wisest decision she ever made) to help her navigate the road and warn her about oncoming cars.

As you'll soon see for yourself, the cars coming from behind were the least of her worries…

Meet one of the world's worst drivers in the video that follows.

VW presented two versions of the CrossBlue this year, a 5-meter long, 7-seat study in Detroit and a shorter, sportier 5-seat concept called CrossBlue Coupe at the Shanghai Auto Show.

With a length of 4.890mm (192.5 inches), the CrossBlue Coupe is similar in size to the Touareg SUV. However, it could still compliment VW's lineup in Europe in the same way the sportier X6 does with the X5 for BMW.

In North America, VW said a decision on whether to build the CrossBlue and on the production location will be taken by the end of this year. The automaker is expected to introduce first the 7-seat CrossBlue, most likely in 2016. This model is more crucial for the United States, where VW sales have been declining lately.

Although VW targets 800,000 annual sales in the U.S. by 2018, its volume fell 4 percent to 343,000 units in the first 10 months of this year. The overall market was up 8 percent to 13 million units. The production version of the CrossBlue could be built either in Chattanooga, Tennessee, or in Mexico.

By Dan Mihalascu

Naturally, it was the French press that was going to get its hands on the R first, and thus, the first video test drives uploaded online come from the hexagon-shaped nation, as to the other non-professional acceleration videos we found.

The reviews themselves speak very highly of the R, praising its different suspension setup to that of the lower-spec models, the very pokey engine and, of course the looks that have also been enhanced over the regular car.

Driving the car seems to be an experience, and even sitting in it is nicer than in other Peugeots, as its interior is fully leather-clad (including the dashboard), and the contrasting red stitching works too, as does the oversized clock put in the place of the middle air vent in the 308 hatchback dashboard works.

Knowing the French language would be very helpful for watching the first two videos posted after the jump, but even if you don't know it, you'll still get a rough idea of what the R is like to drive, and what kind of experience it offers.

By Andrei Nedelea

According to our search results, a new Viper that year had an MSRP of $56,600.

For sure, if you want to drive it and not store it as an original piece for the next 50 years hoping to make a small fortune out of it when people will be flying hydrogen-powered car-planes, you'll likely have to get it serviced, change liquids, rubbers etc., but it's not every day that you meet an 18 year old sports car in this unmolested condition.

Whether you prefer a purebred and brutal V10-powered beast from the past to a modern muscle car with all the luxury and safety appointments like the latest V8-motivated Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang models, which can both be had for more or less the same money, depends on your preferences and needs.

Feel free to chat about your thoughts below.

[From the Seller's Description]

the top and windows have never been on this car
there is not a mark where the top goes on like most vipers
even under the front bumper does not have a scratch
every rim is solid no scrapes or scratches at all
tires are perfect
not a nick on the bumpers or hood
Tourneau cover still in plastic
spare key still in original unopened package
original service manual
window sticker
top and windows stored in original pouches
owners manual and video all ready for you
A/C car
trunk area just as new
factory markings still on factory tires
no leaks at all
showings welcomed and recommended
That's it for now "WELCOME TO 1994"

The stand features the entire Ghibli range, a model which marks a turning point in Maserati's history - for the first time ever Maserati has simultaneously two four-door sedan models in its lineup.

The Ghibli will be offered in the U.S. with a choice of two 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline engines, mated to an automatic eight-speed transmission with either rear wheel drive or Q4 all-wheel-drive. The Ghibli S features the more powerful of the two engines, which produces 404 HP at 5,500 rpm and 406 lb-ft (550Nm) of torque from only 1,750 rpm.

When fitted with Q4 all-wheel drive, the Ghibli S sprints from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.7 seconds, while the RWD model takes is 0.2 seconds slower. Top speed for the Ghibli S Q4 is 175 mph (282 km/h).

The base model's engine features 345hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, pushing the Ghibli from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.5 seconds. Both engines feature parallel turbochargers and have been developed by Maserati Powertrain in collaboration with Ferrari Powertrain. Both are produced by Ferrari in Maranello. Maserati has yet to announce U.S. pricing for the Ghibli.

Another Maserati North American debut is the exclusive Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept that features an unique color scheme, mirror polished rims and an upgraded interior upholstered in fabrics made in cooperation with the prestigious Italian fashion house.  

By Dan Mihalascu

According to the Japanese carmaker, the exclusive initial production run of the Qashqai Premier Limited Edition will be reserved for existing Nissan customers until 31 December 2013.

Based on the range-topping Tekna model, the Premier Limited Edition adds unique equipment features such as special part leather and Alcantara trim, a dark roof liner, custom dark carpets, chrome side door sills, front lip and tailgate lower finisher and special Premier-branded kick plates. Moreover, the stone colored seats are surrounded by contrasting black carpet and black headliner, while each model will come with a personalized numbered badge.

Nissan said it will offer the limited run Qashqai in a choice of four colors, named Pearl White, Night Shade, Metallic Black and Metallic Red, with power coming exclusively from 1.6-liter dCi diesel engine paired to a standard ALL-MODE 4x4-i all-wheel drive system.

Currently powered by a naturally-aspirated V8, the next one would enjoy the benefits of such a move, according to the firm's CEO, Amadeo Felisa. This had been speculated before, and it was Felisa again who made the statements - back then, he also mentioned that it may have six instead of eight cylinders.

Ferrari is one of the last automakers to resist the turbocharging and downsizing trends one notices throughout the industry, even if they had dabbled with the idea before; the F40 was turbocharged and has a relatively small displacement, yet none of the two detract from its historic value for the brand and its manic performance, even by modern standards.

The California replacement (which will be called something else) won't be a hybrid, though, as the kind of tech used in the flagship LaFerrari would be too expensive to viably offer at the latter's much lower expected retail price. However, there is the promise of very low turbo lag and instant throttle response, as well as an excellent sound signature to boot, but after turning our ear towards the prototype filmed last year around the Fiorano, we hope they improve it in production form, at least from an acoustic point of view…

In regards to naturally-aspirated V12s, the same source states that Ferrari doesn't want to rid itself of them in the foreseeable future; this will undoubtedly please the fans who will buy even more theme park tickets, caps and t-shirts because of this.

By Andrei Nedelea

We have nothing more to add (come on, you should know by now that these types of videos speak for themselves…), other than that our scientific team here at Carscoops watched this one from High Tech Corvette one more time than once and we can assure you that it is completely safe for work as well as when viewed in front of your wife/other half.

What are you waiting for? Click play on the video below!

Now, they have presented the project to the public for the very first time, detailed the specs and put their strategy for future expansion into context - the official site goes into a lot more detail.

The Bailey Blade XTR is meant to embody the philosophy of the "average American man," and is touted as being the "reinvented American machine." Style-wise, to me, it looks like a less serious take on the Wiesmann formula, which itself is an adaptation of the classic British sports car shape.

The XTR oozes American brawn, though, and it should, as it's said to be powered by a twin-turbo V8 motor, with a claimed 750 hp, and a top speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h); only the rear wheels are driven, via a six-speed manual gearbox for added connectedness. The benchmark sprint is said to come up in 3.2 seconds.

The technical stuff will be sorted more towards the car's launch date, which is expected to arrive in the latter part of 2014.

By Andrei Nedelea

We don't often get the opportunity to see what goes on at these centers, so when our spies told us that they took pictures and a video of a 2015 Smart ForTwo prototype undergoing some stressful and damaging tests, we just had to share.

In the video footage, we see Daimler/Mercedes-Benz/Smart engineers heavily abuse the 2015 ForTwo, making it jump and run over man-made wooden ramps, smash into objects, all for the safety and well-being of the car's future drivers and side passengers.

The ForTwo took quite a beating, cracking and breaking its bumpers, smashing its face and even losing its hood, but don't take our word for it, watch it for yourself in the following video.

Photo & Video Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

Called Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology (BDNT), the JV is dedicated exclusively to electric vehicles. To prepare for the market introduction of the Denza EV, BDNT is currently carrying out intensive testing of pre-production. So far, the Denza has been tested in dusty, summer conditions in the South of China, with winter tests to begin soon in the freezing cold of north-eastern China.

The plant in Shenzhen is also running production tests in order to start building what BDNT calls "the safest and most reliable electric vehicle", designed and engineered in China for the local market.

Previewed by a concept car at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, the Denza EV may be based on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive, judging from the shape of the development prototype shown in the photo.

Following the car's premiere in Beijing, the first Denza dealership will open in the Chinese capital by mid-2014, with further dealerships being built simultaneously in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Three of China's leading automobile dealership groups, Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited (Zhongsheng Group), Lei Shing Hong Auto (China) Management Co., Ltd. (LSH), and Pangda Automobile Trade Co., Ltd. (Pangda Group), will become the first dealers responsible for the distribution and service of Denza electric vehicles, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year.

Mercedes isn't the only German maker to create a new brand for electric cars in China as BMW has done the same with Zinoro, which has already released its first model, the E1.

By Dan Mihalascu