Articles by CarsGuide team

This collision of two trucks in Russia last week could have been a horror story. But in an amazing display of luck, the truck driver who cannons out through his windscreen manages to make an almost perfect landing on his feet and walk away seemingly unharmed.  

   

It should appeal to customers looking for a resolutely modern and original approach to the premium luxury car that meets both rational and emotional ownership demands. Inspired by the striking C-SportLounge concept car, DS5 completes the current DS line. All three models offer creative design, outstanding quality and desirable technology. DS5 comes standard with all the equipment and features expected in this class. For example, the standard climate control air conditioning offers three different air flow intensities while maintaining full automatic control; the glass sunroof comes in three sections, each with its own sun blind to allow each occupant to set their own level of roof light; front and rear parking sensors are backed by a rear parking camera; the automatic headlights also have an automatic high beam function. DS5 also scores a full colour head up display that provides vehicle speed, cruise control status and navigation instructions; electric front seats with memory and massage functions for the driver's seat; a cooled compartment for food and drinks; a full alarm system and dual function Xenon steerable headlights; LED interior mood lighting. Power for the Citroen DS5 comes from a 1.6-litre turbo engine developed in conjunction with BMW which produces 115 kW and 240 Nm of torque at just 1400 rpm. It's matched to an electronically controlled six-speed automatic. Combined fuel consumption is 7.3 l/100km.  

A few weeks ago someone paid $US35 million for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO made for race driver Stirling Moss. The distinctive apple-green Ferrari was one of 39 GTOs produced from 1962 to 1964. That's a lot of money for one but it's not the most expensive car ever. That gong goes to the Lunar Roving Vehicle built for the Apollo Space Program by the Boeing aircraft company in 1971. Back then Boeing quoted $19 million for the Rover, better known to Baby Boomers as the Moon Buggy. But, due to cost overruns, the final figure was closer to $38 million - that's in 1970s money. One of the companies that tendered unsuccessfully for the project was Chrysler (it could have been a Jeep). As it was GM supplied the wheels, motors, and suspension. The Moon buggy was a four wheel drive and four wheel steer, with an electric motor for each wheel. Power was provided by two 36-volt silver-zinc potassium hydroxide non-rechargeable batteries with a capacity of 121 amp/hr. The buggy could carry two astronauts and their payload a maximum distance of 92km although the range was never put to the test in case it broke down and the astronauts were forced to return on foot. It had a top speed of 13km/h, although Apollo 17's Eugene Cernan (last man on the Moon) recorded a maximum speed of 18 km/h, which makes him the unofficial holder of the lunar land-speed record. The Moon buggy was 3.1 metres long with a wheelbase of 2.3 metres and 360mm of ground clearance. It was constructed around an aluminium space frame (LOL), weighed 210kg and could carry a 490kg payload but weighed just 35 kilos on the Moon's surface. The wheels consisted of a spun aluminum hub and an 81.8cm diameter, 23cm wide tire made of zinc coated woven 0.083cm diameter steel strands attached to the rim and discs of formed aluminum. Titanium chevrons covered 50 per cent of the contact area to provide traction. The Moon buggy was used for the first time on July 31, 1971 as part of the Apollo 15 mission. It was left-hand drive and driven by the Mission commander, although the T-shaped control stick was actually located between the seats. The two folding ‘deck chairs' were made of aluminium and nylon webbing and were fitted with Velcro seatbelts to stop the astronauts from bouncing out. The buggy was also equipped with satellite navigation system. Four buggies were constructed in total, three of them abandoned on the Moon all with very low kilometres for the collectors out there. The fourth was used for spares.