Fun Stuff

New South Wales has splurged on car bling this year, nearly doubling the 2012 spend – but cutting back on servicing. However Victoria has been more caring of its cars, increasing the amount spent on servicing, although still laying out more than last year on accessories.In a review of the cost of motoring on the eastern seaboard, conducted by Bingle insurance, NSW spent $464 million on accessorising, an increase of 96 per cent over the $237m in 2012. Victoria was more conservative with the bling, ringing up $185m, an increase of just 50 per cent, while Queensland pulled back 29 per cent on last year’s $126m to shell out just $90m in 2013.Victoria led the three states in servicing, upping its spend 14 per cent to $2.45 billion from $2.15b in 2012, followed by Queensland’s 7 per cent rise at $1.8b (from $1.68b). However NSW cut back on servicing,  spending $2.75b – 2 per cent down on 2012’s $2.8b.However NSW led the increase in car maintenance with $939m (up 23 percent) with Victoria spending $246m for a more modest rise of 4 per cent and Queensland up 6 per cent at $135m.The tropical state had the biggest increase in tyre costs with a rise of 21 per cent to $590m, while NSW shopped up 7 per cent at $939m and Victoria cutting back 21 per cent to $498m.With all other categories of expenditure taken into account, NSW led on both overall and per-head spending, splashing out $4.94b, or $1098 per person this year – up 8 per cent. Victoria followed with $3.39b, $998 per head and up 2 per cent, while Queensland was $2.72b, $908 per head and 5 per cent up.However the per head expenditure on servicing put NSW at the tail of the trio with $612, beaten by Queensland on $647 and Victoria leading on $702.Bingle expressed concern about the emphasis on accessories in NSW at the same time as servicing spend reduced."It’s concerning that shopping on items such as car stereos, GPS devices, steering wheel covers, seat covers, smartphone car fixtures and other decorations, has increased, but investing in basic car servicing has declined," Bingle spokesperson Marcela Balart says. "The danger is that drivers appear to be splashing out on car accessories at the expense of ensuring their vehicles are properly serviced and in the best state to be on the roads."While the research is restricted to the three eastern states at this stage, Balart said the results covered a large proportion of the country’s drivers. "These three states make up the majority of drivers in Australia with the highest number of vehicles on the road -- 75 per cent -- so it could potentially be indicative of trends across the country," she said.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

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 

We’re not sure what caused this, but the driver was lucky to escape without serious injury after his truck flipped onto its side and continued to slide down the road. Watch the truck flip and slide video in desktop version here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

The latest advance in car gaming isn't on your computer, or even on your phone. It's back on your floor -- yes, where it all first started with slot cars.But the similarity between slot cars and the new Anki Drive game stops with the floor. These racers don't need a slot, instead they use a mat with an embedded code that orientates and positions them, sending the data to tiny cameras on the cars.You still control them, but with an iOS app that lets you steer, accelerate -- and fire weapons at your rivals, including a handy tractor beam to wirelessly hook onto them.And their success isn't entirely tied to -- or limited by -- your skill with the controls. The Anki Drive cars use artificial intelligence to learn and improve while racing, making their own judgements on when to pass, scrape or block the competition.Race results give you points that can be spent on upgrading your car with higher performance specs and extra weapons. Those upgrades stay on the car permanently, becoming part of the robotic racer's character. But the game's upgrade system is structured so that no car can ever have all the upgrades -- so you have to make decisions about which characteristics you're prepared to do without -- and Anki says no two cars will ever be identical.If they look space-age, it's because they're from the pen of German master vehicle artist Harald Belker, who also designed cars for the Iron Man films, Transformers, the 1996 Batmobile, the Light Cycles from TRON Legacy, the Minority Report Lexus and even Inspector Gadget's Gadgetmobile.The Anki Drive starter kit goes on sale overseas this week through the company's website and Apple Stores, with two cars and a track mat for about $120. Additional cars cost about $80 each.Watch Anki Drive app-controlled cars learn while racing video hereThis reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The world’s most popular TV show, Top Gear, has been turned away by the Gold Coast because of noisy car concerns. Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson wanted to come to the Coast next week to film a new Microsoft Xbox-sponsored V8 Supercar at the Holden Driving Centre at Norwell, in a deal brokered by racing legend Mark Skaife.But Gold Coast City Council bureaucrats put the brakes on the show, watched by an estimated 350 million people in 170 countries, when they failed to relax noise restrictions in time. Top Gear will now film in Warwick – a nice place but hardly Australia’s tourism capital. The council snub has angered driving centre boss Paul Morris, who said the Coast had lost the chance for "priceless publicity"."It’s an unbelievable lost opportunity," Mr Morris, a racing car driver and team owner, said. "We are talking about the world’s biggest TV show and the council, which is always banging on about how the Gold Coast is open for business, can’t even facilitate it. Clarkson was going to drive the car himself. It’s bureaucracy gone mad. The pen-pushers are strangling this town with red tape."Mr Morris said the driving centre, despite being located in the northern Gold Coast cane fields, operated under strict noise restrictions because of surrounding homes. He had applied for a temporary relaxation but was told it could not be done in time for Top Gear’s tight scheduling.Mr Morris said the council "should have moved heaven and earth" to get the show. "The guy cutting cane next door makes more noise with his harvester than the V8 car," he said. Deputy Mayor and Norwell area councillor Donna Gates said the council had been given only 24 hours’ notice to approve the noise relaxation."We offered to move forward on it but it would have taken a few days," she said. "I’m disappointed in any opportunity like this that we miss. Top Gear obviously has a really big viewing audience and it would have been great promotion for the city. But there are issues related to noise from the driving centre and my job is to ensure the residents of that community are not to severely impacted."

McLaren highlights former world champion James Hunt in this fourth episode of McLaren's Tooned 50 series, looking back at the history of the British race team and supercar manufacturer as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2013.   Watch the video here.

McLaren highlights former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi in this third episode of McLaren's Tooned 50 series, looking back at the history of the British race team and supercar manufacturer as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2013.   Watch the video here.  

What happens when you run into a magical fairy -- nearly -- while out driving the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG? Watch video here to find out.