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 7 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2014 Ford Fiesta ST 2013 Ariel Atom 500 V8 2009 Honda S2000 CR 1987 Ferrari F40 2009 Peugeot #9 Peugeot Sport Total 908 2011 Chevrolet #4 Corvette Racing ZR1 2011 Holden HSV GTS 2010 Abarth 500 esseesse 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec 1970 Nissan Datsun 510 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R 2008 BMW M3 1973 BMW 2002 Turbo 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6 1995 Ferrari F50 1995 RUF CTR2 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO 2010 Aston Martin One-77 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge 2009 Ford Focus RS 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 1966 Ford GT40 MkII 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2005 Honda NSX-R 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged 2005 BMW M3 1997 BMW M3 1963 Volkswagen Beetle 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR 1991 Ferrari 512 TR 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2004 Honda Civic Type-R 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe 2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2013 Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro 1994 Nissan 240SX SE 2012 Hennessey Venom 1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec 1995 Toyota MR2 GT 1997 Mazda RX-7 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV 2011 Audi RS 5 Coupé 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 1992 Volkswagen Golf Gti 16v Mk2 1984 Ferrari GTO 1961 Jaguar E-type S1 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 2010 Lexus LFA 2002 Chevrolet Camaro 35th Anniversary SS 2009 Lexus IS F 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 2012 Jaguar XKR-S 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator 2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO 2011 Koenigsegg Agera 2013 Audi S4 1985 Ford RS200 Evolution 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex 2013 Viper #91 SRT Motorsport GTS-R 2010 Audi R8 Coupé 5.2 FSI quattro 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR 1991 BMW M3 2011 Volkswagen Scirocco R 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 2011 Subaru WRX STI 2005 Ford Ford GT 2009 Lotus 2-Eleven 2011 RUF Rt 12 S 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV 2004 Saleen S7 2003 Renault Sport Clio V6 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 442 1964 Aston Martin DB5 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R 2007 Honda Civic Type-R 1983 Audi Sport Quattro 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR 2010 Nissan370Z 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi 2006 Audi RS 4 2011 Mazda RX-8 R3 2010 Volkswagen Golf R 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia 2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia 2010 Renault Megane RS 250 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track 2011 BMW X5 M 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is 1997 Honda Civic Type R 2001 Acura Integra Type-R 1987 Buick Regal GNX 2008 Aston Martin DBS 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG 1970 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 2012 Hyundai Veloster Turbo 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 1991 GMC Syclone 1998 Ferrari #12 Risi Competizione F333 SP 2005 Dodge SRT4 ACR 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 2011 Peugeot 308 GTI 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454 2003 BMW M5 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint 1993 McLaren F1 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z 1965 MINI Cooper S 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2003 Volkswagen Golf R32 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 2010 Audi TT RS Coupé 2012 Scion tC 2009 Jeep Cherokee SRT8 2011 Kia Cee'd 2005 TVR Sagaris 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR 1998 Eagle Talon TSi Turbo 2008 Ferrari California 2000 Ford SVT Cobra R 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S 2003 Toyota Celica SS-I 1971 AMC Javelin-AMX 1976 McLaren #11 Team McLaren M23 1976 Ferrari #1 Scuderia 312T2 2013 Honda #9 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara DW12 2013 Honda #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara DW12 2013 Chevrolet #1 Andretti Autosport Dallara DW12 2013 Chevrolet #12 Team Penske Dallara DW12 2012 Audi #1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro 2012 Ferrari F12berlinetta 2013 McLaren P1™ 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe 2012 Pagani Huayra 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera 2013 Ford Focus ST 2011 McLaren MP4-12C 2010 Audi R8 5.2 Coupé FSI quattro 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 2013 Viper GTS 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird 1991 Mazda #55 787B 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 2013 Toyota GT86 2013 Dallara #9 Target Ganassi Dallara DW12 2012 Dallara #28 Andretti Autosport DW12 2009 BMW #92 Rahal Letterman Racing M3 GT2 2011 Holden #1 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 2006 Aston Martin #007 Aston Martin Racing DBR9 2011 Ford #5 Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon 2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R 1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi 1998 Toyota Supra RZ 2012 BMW M5 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale 2002 Ferrari Enzo Ferrari 2011 Ferrari #62 Risi Competizione F458 Italia 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe 1992 Honda NSX-R 1993 Ford SVT Cobra R 2013 Subaru BRZ 2011 Citroen DS3 Racing 1986 Lancia Delta S4 2012 Lotus Exige S 2013 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG 1981 BMW M1 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe Also 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. VALUE The 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. TECHNOLOGY The 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. DESIGN The 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. SAFETY There 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. DRIVING The 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. VERDICT The 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-Sport Price: from $85,400  Warranty: 4 years/100,000km, roadside assist Service Interval: 6 months/10,000km Safety: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC Crash rating: 5 stars Engine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol, 204kW/346Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; AWD Thirst: 10.8L/100km; 95RON; 254g/km CO2 Dimensions: 4.8m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.7m (H) Weight: 2085kg Spare: Space-saver Thirst: 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. VALUE The 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. TECHNOLOGY The 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. SAFETY The 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. DESIGN The 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. DRIVING In 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. VERDICT With 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 Luxury Price: from $109,400 Engine: 3.5-litre 6-cylinder, 233 kW/ 378 Nm Transmission: six-speed sequential automatic transmission, RWD Thirst: 9.7 L/100km, CO2 emissions 225 g/km