Articles by Vlad Manu

Upcoming Project CARS game previewed in new Halloween-themed trailer. With Halloween nearly upon us the developers behind Project CARS have released a new trailer for their upcoming racing simulator video game.Driving a high performance sports car in the wet can be a bit scary but what's spooky to us about this preview is the realism. The trailer features entirely gameplay footage and features dark, low visibility conditions on a rain soaked track. the game is one of the most successful crowd-funded projects of all timeThe developers behind the famous Need for Speed: SHIFT series - Slightly Mad Studios - seem to have the recipe just right with Project CARS. There's superb graphics but the realism also extends to the actual gameplay.The other interesting tidbit is that the game is one of the most successful crowd-funded projects of all time, having raised in excess of $3 million USD. Coming to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in March 2015, the game was recently delayed from the expected November 2014 launch. The delay is rumoured to be a combination of polishing of the final details as well as avoiding holiday period competition with more established games franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Far Cry. 

Electric carmaker Tesla announces the first dual electric motor production car and new Model S safety and autopilot upgrades.Tesla has taken the wraps off a new flagship version of its Model S sedan, with the new P85D adding a second electric motor and all-wheel drive over existing versions.The all-paw upgrade is not just about improving traction and safety over the existing rear-drivers though, as the second motor brings supercar levels of performance to the pure-electric Model S.   While not quite in the same realm as the McLaren P1 or Porsche 918, the P85D should wipe the floor with BMW's high-tech i8 plug-in hybrid in terms of outright acceleration. Tesla claims the P85D is capable of hitting 60mph (96km/h) in a blistering 3.2 seconds – clearly significantly faster then the i8 with it's 4.4 second 0-100km/h official figure.The new Tesla is also significantly quicker to 100km/h than more traditional petrol-only performance sedans like Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S (3.6 seconds) or BMW M5 (4.2 seconds). Even the Audi R8 V10 Plus developing a massive 404 kW takes 3.5 seconds to reach 100km/h. Top speed for the P85D is also 40km/h faster than the single motor Model S P85 at 250 km/h. In addition to the P85D's impressive speed and performance, this latest version also introduces new autopilot and safety features that will be fitted to all new Model S variants.  The autopilot capability is quite revolutionary and a sign of things to come. The Model S is not yet able to take full control of the driving - regulations currently don't permit it anyway - but the technology is staring to get close. Using an array of sensors, radar and a camera the car can change lanes when the driver starts indicating and automatically steer back in the lane if you start drifting outside the lane markings. It can also avoid or mitigate front collision damage when it detects other vehicles or objects are in the way.The car can basically drop you off on the driveway and then continue to the garage by itself. The radar can see through fog and snow while the camera has image recognition capability to read traffic signs as well as detect pedestrian movements. The self-parking feature is a clever feature too, having the ability to take over and park in a pre-designated spot in your garage. The car can basically drop you off on the driveway and then continue to the garage by itself. US customers will take delivery of the first Model S P85Ds in December, while Australian buyers can expect to see it in local showrooms in June 2015. Australian pricing is expected to start at around $160,000 for the P85D performance hero, but dual motor Model S will also soon be available in less performance-focused and affordable 60D and 85D variants.

He's a Actros truck dance instructor in an abandoned factory and she's an S63 AMG Coupe seemingly on holiday in the same abandoned factory.While they may not be Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the two Mercedes-Benz vehicles recreate that famous scene from that famous movie.With a Vito twist.... The resulting offspring is due in Australia around the middle of 2015.

It's a horrible feeling when you return to your car in a carpark only to find a scratch or dent and no note. But that's nothing compared to what the driver of this LandCruiser must have felt. As it turns out - despite the wide open space around - it wasn't the best place to park.It's possible the Cruiser was destined for the scrap yard anyway or the video was part of a safety video on what not to do around huge mining trucks. Making sure you're visible to the drivers of those huge monsters seems like a great start...Watch the LandCruiser pancake video on our desktop truck. 

It might look like a video game but this car chase actually happened in real life in Denver Colorado.While the driver clearly excelled at stealing cars, driving like a maniac on the wrong side of the highway and dodging police and spike strips, he could do with a bit more practice at jumping fences.Watch the real life GTA video on our desktop site. 

These geniuses in Russia's Saint Petersburg obviously thought they were onto a winner and probably getting a bit tired after their attempts to jump start their broken down vehicle. So why not let the bus do all the hard work? With the driver busy collecting passengers surely no one would even notice a small car attached by rope.What happens next becomes fairly predictable when you realise there's no one in the car to steer or use brakes as the bus starts pulling… The attempts to stop the car are reminiscent of what Jerry Seinfeld calls "classic male idiot super-hero thinking". You know the type of situation where a mattress on the roof of a car is held together with an arm out the window...And even with the only logical explanation for this being... vodka, it's worth noticing the police response times in Russia are fantastic.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARSWatch the desktop version of the bus towing video. 

Motorist in Russia seem to capture just about everything with their dashcams and this little city car losing traction is a doozy. After sliding around during an overtake the Opel Corsa narrowly avoids a collision with a Lada and ends up perfectly positioned in a car parking spot on the side of the road.There's just one problem - the car's back to front - but perhaps the driver has an equally impressive skid planned to rejoin traffic.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS

Testing procedures vary depending on where you live, but it's safe to assume if any props are needed they are usually witches hats or crash test dummies. It looks like the army in the Netherlands prefers to use humans and is supremely confident in their tank brakes -- but not so concerned about workplace health and safety. The Leopard tank can reach speeds in excess of 70km/h and tips the scales at just over 60 tonnes. It's fair to say the brakes have to be working very hard to bring that sort of vehicle to a halt quickly. We're not completely sure if the video is real but we're glad this isn't a tank brake test fail video. Without room for error it could have easily been an entry into the Darwin Awards. Would we like to be part of a similar demonstration? No tank you... Watch the tank brake test video on our desktop site. This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS  

The Agency who was also responsible for the recent viral hit ‘Maori drug-driving warning’ has released an emotional new television commercial targeting speeding drivers. Their approach is simple - choose a safer speed that factors in the chance of human error. The ad features a time freeze just before the accident where drivers have time to get out of their vehicles to chat about their decisions leading up to the collision. The powerful ad makes you think twice about the speed you choose to travel and the need to leave room for potential errors. They paused the action in the footage, but you can't pause it in a real world collision. Watch the New Zealand Transport Agency's brilliant new road safety commercial on our desktop site.  

If you're trying to sell an old car that's well past its prime -- and you're having trouble even with Carsguide's online ads starting from $0 – there's another solution. Make a video ad of the car and let it go viral. We've seen funny used car ads before but the execution of this 1996 Nissan Maxima video ad makes it really stand out. Nissan USA recently tweeted that they'd like to make an offer on the car. And with a description like this it's hard to resist. There is luxury in a Bentley, speed in a Ferrari, comfort in Bugatti. For everything else, there's this 1996 Nissan Maxima; aged 17 years. Appropriately named, never before in history has a car had the words "time-tested" engraved into its lone spirit. Being offered up for sale I present to you a car that will make magic happen. It not only brings more admiring stares than any other car I have driven it also has seatbelts! Amazing! This pavement-yacht has a ride as smooth as a Pegasus' backside. It's such a massive and impressive land-yacht it requires the use of steering fluid that has been designed to leak out from underneath the car when it has been exhausted from the majestic work that it has done, released into the wild when the great Maxima when it has decided its time has come. This Maxima no longer needs to let the odometer tell it how far it has gone - it has chosen a path of greatness and valor and refuses to let silly numbers determine its life! Only moments after sitting it its comfort of properly weathered leather you will hear the squeals of glee that the powerful V6 motors makes as it groans to life. You are at the command of a great ship, a warrior land-ship-yacht with scars to prove that it has indeed been to war and back! This steed of sorts will carry you from here and only by its grace will it allow you to get to where you are going at the mercy of its majesty! Few have ridden its glorious wheels, and few more may see its greatness. Watch the video ad of the used 1996 Nissan Maxima on our desktop site. Also see: Subaru Brumby ad a viral hit This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS