Stuntman Steve Truglia drove a Toyota Yaris through what is being touted as the “world’s largest” loop-the-loop, and the stunt’s organisers have released video of the event before it airs on British TV. Since the stunt’s organisers are Dunlop, and this spectacle was at its core intended to sell tires, which apparently allow to drive in a very irresponsible, upside-down fashion, or something, you’ve go to go to their site to watch it.
This 37-inch tire can take the explosion of an IED along with a few rounds of rife fire and still haul an armoured Humvee out of a battle at 90kph. Completely airless and supported by a honeycomb-inspired series of hexagons, the tire’s structure can distribute weight loads evenly while taunting the enemy that it doesn’t even require a hubcap (unlike Michelin’s Tweel). The tires are expected to teach the military by 2011 when they’re promised to carry comparable costs to current models. [CNET]
In case gas mileage on your Hummer wasn’t spiting Prius drivers everywhere enough, engineers have pooled their talents to add aftermarket tracked belts in place of the “nothing wrong with ‘em” wheels. Needless to say, MPG and top speed will be greatly diminished on this H2. But the tears shed in the face of its general lack of humanity should be voluminous enough to wash away the world’s pollution one or two times over. [Jalopnik]
