Articles by Vlad Manu

Reversing down highway is extremely dangerous but this driver didn’t seem to care - doing it for a whole 2km.We're not entirely sure if there's some connection to the bike rider who recently filmed himself doing 240km/h without any protection equipment. If there was some sort of prize for idiotic ideas, these guys would both be in serious contention.Watch the video of the driver reversing 2km down the highway on our desktop site.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS 

Volkswagen drew attention on the streets of Stockholm with a normally silent electric e-Up making beat-box sounds – courtesy of hidden speakers and a talented passenger.There’s long been discussion about what kind of noise electric cars should make, and we can see the potential of music rather than just mimicking the sound of a conventional engine. But vocal percussion's not for everyone -- and given the car's fully electric perhaps the next ad should feature Australian rock band AC/DC.But before you get charged up about the idea of the VW e-Up and its big brother the e-Golf, be warned VW has no current plans to plug them into the Australian market.Watch the beat-boxing e-Up strut its stuff here.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS 

Those of us looking forward to the coming release of Forza Motorsport 5 have a daunting task ahead of us. Deciding which car to choose is going to be harder than ever. The new release on November 22 will have around 200 cars ranging from current to classic, and we're already getting our dibs in.For a start – and for those of us who want to be left alone because we know what we're doing --  there's Kimi Raikkonen's 2013 Lotus E21 Formula One car.  Then there are some real classics to drool over, like the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 similar to the one that topped auction prices at Motorclassica recently. And there will be other cars you've dreamed of driving … for me it's hard to look past the 2003 Renault Sport Clio V6.Watch the Forza Motorsport 5 launch trailer on the desktop site here.Here's the comprehensive car list that will ship with the initial Forza Motorsport 5 disk. Which one will you want to take for a spin first?2013 Audi RS 72013 Mazda MX-5 Miata2014 Ford Fiesta ST2013 Ariel Atom 500 V82009 Honda S2000 CR1987 Ferrari F402009 Peugeot #9 Peugeot Sport Total 9082011 Chevrolet #4 Corvette Racing ZR12011 Holden HSV GTS2010 Abarth 500 esseesse1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec1970 Nissan Datsun 5101971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R2008 BMW M31973 BMW 2002 Turbo1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST2051984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR61995 Ferrari F501995 RUF CTR21962 Ferrari 250 GTO2010 Aston Martin One-771969 Pontiac GTO Judge2009 Ford Focus RS1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 4271960 Chevrolet Corvette1966 Ford GT40 MkII2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z062005 Honda NSX-R2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe2012 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged2005 BMW M31997 BMW M31963 Volkswagen Beetle2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR1991 Ferrari 512 TR2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI2004 Honda Civic Type-R1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-4551970 Chevrolet Camaro Z281990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-42011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works2013 Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro1994 Nissan 240SX SE2012 Hennessey Venom1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec1995 Toyota MR2 GT1997 Mazda RX-71997 Lamborghini Diablo SV2011 Audi RS 5 Coupé2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 3921992 Volkswagen Golf Gti 16v Mk21984 Ferrari GTO1961 Jaguar E-type S11969 Chevrolet Nova SS 3962010 Lexus LFA2002 Chevrolet Camaro 35th Anniversary SS2009 Lexus IS F2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG2012 Jaguar XKR-S1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series1967 Lamborghini Miura P4002012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition2011 Ferrari 599 GTO2011 Koenigsegg Agera2013 Audi S41985 Ford RS200 Evolution1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex2013 Viper #91 SRT Motorsport GTS-R2010 Audi R8 Coupé 5.2 FSI quattro2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR1991 BMW M32011 Volkswagen Scirocco R2012 Dodge Charger SRT82011 Subaru WRX STI2005 Ford Ford GT2009 Lotus 2-Eleven2011 RUF Rt 12 S1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV2004 Saleen S72003 Renault Sport Clio V62003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 4421964 Aston Martin DB52012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL11995 Ford Mustang Cobra R2007 Honda Civic Type-R1983 Audi Sport Quattro1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR2010 Nissan370Z2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi2006 Audi RS 42011 Mazda RX-8 R32010 Volkswagen Golf R2007 Ford Shelby GT5002010 Ferrari 458 Italia2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia2010 Renault Megane RS 2502013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track2011 BMW X5 M2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is1997 Honda Civic Type R2001 Acura Integra Type-R1987 Buick Regal GNX2008 Aston Martin DBS2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG1970 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-12012 Hyundai Veloster Turbo2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX1991 GMC Syclone1998 Ferrari #12 Risi Competizione F333 SP2005 Dodge SRT4 ACR2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 32011 Peugeot 308 GTI1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 4542003 BMW M51971 Lotus Elan Sprint1993 McLaren F11977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am2003 Nissan Fairlady Z1965 MINI Cooper S2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi2003 Volkswagen Golf R322009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster2012 Chrysler 300 SRT82010 Audi TT RS Coupé2012 Scion tC2009 Jeep Cherokee SRT82011 Kia Cee'd2005 TVR Sagaris1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR1998 Eagle Talon TSi Turbo2008 Ferrari California2000 Ford SVT Cobra R2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S2003 Toyota Celica SS-I1971 AMC Javelin-AMX1976 McLaren #11 Team McLaren M231976 Ferrari #1 Scuderia 312T22013 Honda #9 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara DW122013 Honda #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara DW122013 Chevrolet #1 Andretti Autosport Dallara DW122013 Chevrolet #12 Team Penske Dallara DW122012 Audi #1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro2012 Ferrari F12berlinetta2013 McLaren P1™1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe2012 Pagani Huayra2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera2013 Ford Focus ST2011 McLaren MP4-12C2010 Audi R8 5.2 Coupé FSI quattro2012 Aston Martin Vanquish2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT5002013 Viper GTS1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird1991 Mazda #55 787B2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport2013 Toyota GT862013 Dallara #9 Target Ganassi Dallara DW122012 Dallara #28 Andretti Autosport DW122009 BMW #92 Rahal Letterman Racing M3 GT22011 Holden #1 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa2006 Aston Martin #007 Aston Martin Racing DBR92011 Ford #5 Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi1998 Toyota Supra RZ2012 BMW M51990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II1982 Lancia 037 Stradale2002 Ferrari Enzo Ferrari2011 Ferrari #62 Risi Competizione F458 Italia1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-4542009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR11965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe1992 Honda NSX-R1993 Ford SVT Cobra R2013 Subaru BRZ2011 Citroen DS3 Racing1986 Lancia Delta S42012 Lotus Exige S2013 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG1981 BMW M11994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS CoupeAlso watch: Stig stars with Holden Commodore for Forza 5 video.And you should also check out: Forza Motorsport 5 and McLaren MP4-12C optical illusion video.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS 

Police were swamped on one of New York's most famous streets recently during the 2013 running of the annual Broadway Bomb longboard race. The long-form skateboard event – which has run annually in New York since 2000 – see the entrants boarding through ordinary city traffic on the iconic Broadway from 116th street to the Charging Bull statue in the Financial District. While longboarding itself is not illegal, there is no organised protection for riders, pedestrians or vehicles. The element of danger is obvious even in the race's slogan "You Could Die". Growing in popularity, the event attracted more than 1900 riders last year, and NYPD was granted an injunction declaring the race unlawful. With similar numbers expected in this year's competition a couple of weeks ago, police were out in force to try and prevent the unsanctioned race from taking place. Unfortunately, their attempt to catch the skateboarders with police barricade net didn't quell the tide of longboarders, who seemed to have easily manoeuvred around the obstacle. At the end of the day, just 35 of the skateboarders were in line for legal reprimand. Watch the longboarders vs cops at this year's Boardway Bomb video here.  

There's the slow normal way to demolish a house. That involves obtaining development approval from your local council and hiring an experienced contractor to organise the work. This guy didn't waste any time though - electing to do the bulk of the work with his trusty Jeep. No, we're not sure why either. Watch the angry driver video here.

Here's a great reason to prioritise good handling when buying your next car. Not only would it be immense fun to spend the odd weekend perfecting laptimes at your favourite track, but it could save you from having a crash.Imagine a big top-heavy SUV trying to avoid this accident. We're not sure if it would have slammed in the back of the Renault Clio, the side parapet or ended up offroad -- but it surely would have made it much harder to avoid trouble.Watch the Porsche close call thanks to slick driving video here.This reporter is on Twitter: @VladCARS 

With five consecutive 500cc World Championships under his belt, Mick Doohan knows his way around a track – and knows not to race on the road. He gets the message across in tandem with some great racing footage that cleverly blends in road obstacles. The result is another great road safety message from South Australia's Motor Accident Commission – who were also behind the brilliant 'Body Crash' ad. It used the skills of Adelaide artist Emma Hack – who also worked with singer Gotye on his recent hit 'Somebody That I Used To Know' – in painting the bodies of 17 men and women to be assembled into a human wrecked car. Watch Body Crash video here. Watch The Road's No Place to Race video here.  

Ford wins second straight International Engine of the Year Award with their 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost and announces increased production. Ford's tiny engine utilitises direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to lower fuel consumption without sacrificing power.A panel of 87 automotive journalist from 35 countries considered things such as drivability, performance, economy, refinement and  awarded Ford with not only the second successive award for the engine but also the highest score in the 15 year history of the awards.Production is planned to double at the German factory in Cologne to meet demand as the engine is launched in India, China, North America and Australia. The award-winning engine is also built in Craiova, Romania.In Europe the Ecoboost engine is available in Fiesta, Focus, B-Max as well as C-Max models. Ford Australia has confirmed the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine for the facelifted Fiesta and all-new EcoSport, both of which arrive in Australia later this year. 

With the RX 350 F-Sport, Lexus is going after car buyers seeking a prestige family car with a bit more space -- but also sportier characteristics than average. This Lexus delivers in terms of luxury but it’s not over the top like some of its pricier rivals.VALUEThe entry level RX350 Luxury - from $77,400 - kicks off the range with the F-Sport as tested starting from $85,400. The top of the range Sports Luxury starts from $93,900.The standard features list is impressive and includes features like live traffic enabled satellite-navigation, reversing camera with guide assist, electric adjustable leather seats, power rear tailgate, digital audio, 12-speaker audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels and daytime running lights.TECHNOLOGYThe RX 350 kicks things up a notch from the 4-cylinder RX 270 with the smooth V6 petrol engine pumping out a very useful 204kW of power and 346 Nm of torque. Thanks to multi point injection power figures are decent and performance is respectable for an SUV weighing more than two tonnes. The 0-100kmh dash can be done in 8 seconds according to Lexus -- and it probably feels a little quicker off the mark than those figures suggest.Fuel consumption is quoted at 10.8L/100km for the combined cycle but in predominantly city traffic you can expect to chew through about 15L /100.The smooth transmission is a highlight. It’s well-matched with the engine and doesn’t sound noisy or trashy when accelerating. Sound insulation in the cabin obviously helps and it’s one of the things Lexus is renowned for.DESIGNThe revamped RX range shares the signature face of the rest of the Lexus fleet.  With its spindle grille and more aggressive F-Sport front bumper design, mesh grille and distinctive F Sport badge this RX350 stands out. The daytime running lights also help to make the front end look sporty.The interior looks good and is comfortable and spacious, with plenty of room for cargo and passengers. The dash design is shared with the new generation Lexus GS range while the remote touch system is easy to navigate. The F sport also scores sports pedals and steering wheel to underscore its sporty aims.SAFETYThere are ten airbags, including side airbags on the rear outer seats, as standard. Additional safety features include stability control and traction control, hill-start assist control, anti-lock braking and associated technology such as electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.Also notable is the Lexus active cruise control system employed in the RX range. It’s works with the a radar system detecting other vehicles up ahead and adjusting speed accordingly. It makes for smoother more relaxed freeway driving.DRIVINGThe engine responds well to the pedal and has plenty of urge for the in-gear acceleration needed for overtaking between 80-110kmh – particularly considering the size and weight of the car.This Lexus is equally at home taking the family around the city as well as relaxed travelling on freeways but don’t expect it to tow a heavy load or handle offroad terrain – it might be 4WD bit it just wasn’t designed for serious offroading.While it does handle better than the entry level RX - and the engine and transmission are a smooth combination - fuel consumption can be a bit disappointing in city driving but it makes up for that with its performance considering the size of the vehicle.VERDICTThe Lexus RX 350 F Sport is a car that will appeal for those looking for sportier family transportation, a quality interior and better performance and handling than your average SUV. As with other Lexus cars one of the reasons to consider it over some of its rivals is the fact that most of the optional extras are included as standard.Lexus RX 350 F-SportPrice: from $85,400 Warranty: 4 years/100,000km, roadside assistService Interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol, 204kW/346NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; AWDThirst: 10.8L/100km; 95RON; 254g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.8m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.7m (H)Weight: 2085kgSpare: Space-saverThirst: 10.4L/100km; 98RON; CO2 248g/km 

The new Lexus GS350 Sports Luxury is designed for those who want the comfort of a five-star hotel and the performance of a sports car in one attractive package. It's a proper sports sedan with improved looks to match the powerhouse that's under the hood.VALUEThe GS350 range kicks off with the Luxury model starting from $ 89,400. For $10,000 more the F-Sport is the middle of the GS350 range and then there’s the range topping Sports Luxury (from $109,400) which we tested.In terms of value for money the differences to its German rivals are most evident in the extra standard features included across the GS350 range. There's an abundance of comfortable soft leather throughout as you'd expect from a prestige manufacturer but also a lot of extra technology thrown in.From the massive 12.3-inch widescreen dashboard display to the heads-up display projected on to the windscreen and the centre console joystick controlling the infotainment system it's all top of the range equipment. Then there's the excellent surround sound system and comfortable 20-way power adjustable front seats that you’ll never want to leave.TECHNOLOGYThe new 3.5-litre engine of the GS 350 pumps out 27 per cent more power (233kW) and 22 per cent more torque (378Nm) than the previous Lexus GS 300, and at the some time it manages to slightly improve fuel economy by 0.1L/100km. It incorporates both direct and multiport injection and provides cracking performance.Mated with a six-speed sequential automatic transmission with paddle shift behind the steering wheel, the GS 350 is capable of accelerating to 100km/h in about 6 seconds.  Fuel consumption is a little disappointing in town (quoted at 13.7 litres/100km in the urban cycle) but expect it to drop to 7.4 litres per 100 km during highway cruising. We averaged around 14.5L in our stint in this Lexus.SAFETYThe GS has a five-star crash rating and ten airbags with all the electronic brake and traction aids. Other safety aids include lane keep assist, a blind spot monitor integrated in the side mirrors, plus auto high-beam headlights which automatically dip when detecting oncoming vehicles.DESIGNThe pleasant surprise here is that the car's look improved for the better with the new GS350 range. There¹s an attractive new grille, daytime running lights and 18-inch wheels but the rear end looks a little too Toyota Camry like in comparison with the rest of the package.The interior design is where this car excels as it successfully integrates comfort with function. Controls are easy to use and the seats are so good you might even be looking forward to getting stuck in traffic. The analogue clock in the middle of the dash is something that took a bit of getting used to but it’s reminiscent of older classy luxury cars.DRIVINGIn normal driving the quietness of the cabin really stands out but the exhaust responds acoustically with a sporty note when pushing the revs up. Road noise is kept at a minimum but it¹s the engine sounds that are brought to the front without compromising the luxury feel of the car.It has a solid and direct feel and suspension is compliant over a range of surfaces. For a car of this size the driving dynamics stand out because it feels a lot more nimble than you might expect.Rear-wheel steering contributes to this improved handling. It's just two degrees of turning angle but it's has a huge impact on how the car feels. You forget all about 1740kg kerb weight with the sports mode activated and the car suddenly feels agile and ready to devour the next corner. IIt may not be as ballistic as the BMW 535i but push the accelerator hard and you'll get similar thrills for around $50,000 less.VERDICTWith vastly superior performance than the previous model the new GS350 is fun to drive but also retains the luxurious high quality interior Lexus is renowned for. It¹s packed with features, driving dynamics are surprisingly good and value for money against the German rivals is impressive. This Lexus is definitely worth a look.Lexus GS350 Sports LuxuryPrice: from $109,400Engine: 3.5-litre 6-cylinder, 233 kW/ 378 NmTransmission: six-speed sequential automatic transmission, RWDThirst: 9.7 L/100km, CO2 emissions 225 g/km