Batman's New Wheels: Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Captured During Filming

Despite what you might think, it's actually quite difficult to snag pictures or videos during filming of a big blockbuster like the next Batman flick called the "Dark Knight Rises", as studios hire people simply to obstruct the view of anyone trying to capture the moment on camera.

Nevertheless, VW Vortex member VadGTi overcame these problems and was able to take a few good shots of Bruce Wayne's new rich-boy toy, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, which replaces the Murcielago seen in the previous installments of the Dark Knight franchise.

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Posted on 10.06 / 0 comments / Read More

New Disney Toy Cars Physically Interact with Apple's iPad

Some of you probably grew up playing only with actual toys, while others (like yours truly) had the opportunity to play with both electronic games and real life toys in their childhood before technology cast its shade over the physical world introducing the next generations of kids to the sofa couch virtual wonders of gaming.

Now, Disney is trying to bridge the physical and virtual gaming worlds with a new range of toys called Appmates, which can interact directly with apps on Apple's iPad tablet. The new toy line allows kids to use the tablet's screen as a virtual play mat.

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Posted on 12.31 / 0 comments / Read More

This 1989 Batmobile Replica is Powered by a Boeing Jet Turbine! [+Videos]

Perhaps the most celebrated Batmobile after the 1966 model from Adam West's Batman TV Show is the Anton Furst designed version from the 1989 and 1991 Tim Burton films.

And while collectors may seek the original Batmobiles featured in the movies, we're pretty sure that fans will take a special liking to this replica, which is up for grabs on eBay.

What separates this replica of the 1989 Batmobile, not only from the other clones on the market but the original as well, is that, according to the seller, it is the only turbine-powered car of its kind in the world.

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Posted on 11.51 / 0 comments / Read More

Video: Dark Knight Rise, Your Lamborghini Aventandor Awaits You

Last we heard about the next chapter in Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise, the Dark Knight Rises was filming in Pittsburgh where we got a glimpse of the Batwing as well as Catwoman (played by Anne Hathaway) riding around in a futuristic looking motorcycle.

Now new footage has emerged on Youtube, this time from the Los Angeles shoot out.

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Posted on 16.12 / 0 comments / Read More

Videos: Tony Stark Appears in New Acura Roadster Concept during NYC Shoot for The Avengers Film

The next Hollywood superhero blockbuster to hit the silver screen is The Avengers, which is due for a 2012 release.

The movie brings together Marvel Studio's greatest superheroes like Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and more.

And what does the movie have to do with an automotive site like autoscardesign, we hear you ask? Well, we're getting there. You see, following recent filming in Cleveland, Ohio, the movie set moved to New York City and Central Park this week.

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Posted on 09.24 / 0 comments / Read More

What's This? The Blues Brothers' Chevrolet Cruzemobile

Perhaps one of the most memorable movie quotes from all time came from The Blues Brothers when Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) turns to his brother Jake (played by the late John Belushi) and says, "It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." Jake simply responds, "Hit it".

It's been more than 30 years since the music comedy film hit the big screen, but The Blues Brothers has achieved a cult status and still remains kick-ass to today.

So much that, in celebration of Chevrolet's 100th anniversary, the firm's British arm decided to pay tribute to the legacy of The Blues Brothers by crafting a special one-off model of its Cruze sedan named the "Cruzemobile" that echoes the look of the famous "Bluesmobile".

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Posted on 05.53 / 0 comments / Read More

Days of Gravel: Tom Cruise Drives Red Bull F1 Racecar

It’s not every day that you see a Hollywood megastar driving a racing car. Sure, many of them own one (or 10) supercars, and some, like former 90210 Beverly Hills lead Jason Priestley and Grey’s Anatomy Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, aka Patrick Dempsey, double in motor racing as a hobby.

And no one can forget the late Paul Newman who competed as a professional racing driver from 1972 until 2005 winning, among other things, his class in the 24 hours of Daytona at the age of 70 years and 8 days. He was also the co-founder and owner of the successful Newman/Haas Racing Champ Car team.

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Posted on 17.02 / 0 comments / Read More

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Pink Panther Car to be Auctioned Off

Two unique Hollywood vehicles will go under the hummer at the Chelsea Auto Legends Show on September 4. The first is one of the rarest and most spectacular cars ever produced: the bespoke “Panthermobile” created for NBC’s Pink Panther TV show that ran from 1969 until 1976.

The 42-year old “Panthermobile” is in original condition, but according to the seller, it needs some restoration. Its engine is not running, though it did when its current owner bought it to another auction in 2007. Nevertheless, it’s not street-legal anyway… Its sale estimate is between £50,000 and £100,000 (US$81,000-$162,000).

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Posted on 11.50 / 0 comments / Read More

Blast from the Not So Far Past: Richard Hammond Blows up a Hummer

The 17th season of Top Gear recently ended with the airing of the sixth and last episode on August 2. For those of you in the States that happened to miss some or all of the episodes, we have good news as BBC America has begun releasing preview clips from the 17th season.

In the first release, we get a two-minute-long video from episode 1 with Richard Hammond trying out the Marauder, which is a South African-built armored vehicle.

During the test, Hammond compares the Marauder with the Hummer to see which one can withstand a blast from seven pounds of plastic explosives. Hit the break to watch the video.

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Posted on 12.53 / 0 comments / Read More

Largest Ever Display of James Bond Movie Cars Coming in 2012

If you're an automotive fan that also happens to like the James Bond films, then you're in for a treat.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 007 franchise, the National Motor Museum in cooperation with Beaulieu and EON Productions (the latter co-owns, with MGM, the copyright to the James Bond films), will hold the largest exhibition of James Bond vehicles ever displayed to the public.

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Posted on 10.59 / 0 comments / Read More

“Boiler Room” Director Involved in Formula 1 Movie Project

Movies about car racing are not a flourishing genre. Despite some sporadic successes such as the 1971 “Le Mans” film with Steve McQueen and the gorgeous Porsche 917, we all remember “Driven” starring Sylvester Stallone sitting behind the wheel of an Indycar, in plain clothes, at night, chasing his teammate through traffic after stealing the cars from a gala. What a nightmare…

In recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about making a movie about Formula 1. And mostly about one of its most tragic heroes: Ayrton Senna. Hollywood hotshots such as directors Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard and actor Tobie “Spiderman” Maguire were, at one point or another, linked to the film. However, Bernie Ecclestone’s financial demands, among other things, didn’t let any project come to fruition.

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Posted on 13.22 / 0 comments / Read More

Video: Meet the Jokes of Hazzard

Do you know how many people have tried to imitate the driving tricks of the Dukes of Hazzard in real life over the years? As you may have already guessed, the answer to that question is countless - as are the accidents related to these types of stunts.

In this edition, we have a doppelganger in a General Lee Dodge Charger replica trying to jump over a copy of Sheriff's Roscoe P. Coltrane patrol car. And while our driver managed to pull off the jump-over-the-vehicle part he failed miserably in the landing portion of the stunt.

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Posted on 17.24 / 0 comments / Read More

Man Attempts to Carjack Undercover Cop in Pittsburgh, Blames Batman Movie!

Apparently, Christian Bale as Batman and Tom Hardy as the Bane filming scenes for the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster "The Dark Knight Rises" (see the videos here) weren't the only protagonists at downtown Pittsburgh this past weekend.

According to news reports from the local media, a young man tried to hijack an unmarked police vehicle near filming for the latest Batman movie, and when the officer arrested him, he claimed that it was part of the movie script for "The Dark Knight Rises"!

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Posted on 11.37 / 0 comments / Read More

Scooped: New Batmobile Tumbler from The Dark Knight Rises Filmed During Shoot in Pittsburgh

In about a year's time (that would be summer of 2012), Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise will continue with the third movie in the series called "The Dark Knight Rises". Actor Christian Bale will return as the Caped Crusader and will go against Bane (played by Tom Hardy) and Selina Kyle, aka the Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).

Also making its return to the movie is the Caped Crusader's Batmobile, also known as the Tumbler from the previous films.

Shooting of the movie commenced in May this year in India and now continues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a couple of individuals managed to capture an array of videos of the latest Tumbler while on the move as well as during filming of some scenes.

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Posted on 10.14 / 0 comments / Read More

Video: Mercedes-Benz Stars in Transformers 3 Premiere

The third installment of the popular Transformers movies, "Dark of the Moon", directed by Michael Bay and produced by none other than Steven Spielberg, has made its premiere in Berlin.

Of course, all the stars including Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Torturo, Patrick Dempsey and the gorgeous Victoria’s Secret model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, were present. But since the movie is about cars, and even though the franchise features a lot of Chevrolet models, Mercedes-Benz was also present with the E-Class playing an Autobot (the good guys) and the SLS AMG appearing on screen as Huntington-Whiteley’s car.

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Posted on 11.04 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW Takes Leading Car Role in New “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” Film with i8 Concept and 6-Series

Tom Cruise’s return for another impossible mission as Ethan Hunt also marks the BMW Group’s return to Hollywood, as the Bavarian automaker will be the main automotive partner in the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise.

BMW’s product placement in the “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol” film comes in the form of the concept version of the upcoming i8 Hybrid Coupe, the Vision EfficientDynamics study while the latest 6-Series Convertible will also play a role in the movie.

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Posted on 05.31 / 0 comments / Read More

Sacha Baron Cohen gets Glitzy Gold Dartz for the Needs of his New Movie The Dictator

After becoming worldwide known for his portrayal of the fictional character Borat from the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, and the lesser successful flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion show presenter, Brüno, English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is returning to the big screen with a new movie called The Dictator.

And what may that have to do with a car site, we hear you ask? Well, for one, we’re going to see him facing off three Lamborghinis with his camel on the streets of New York, but most importantly, we learned that the dictator he portrays will ride in an “all-gold Dartz” armored truck.

For those of you with a weak memory, the Russian maker of the Dartz Prombron had made headlines about a year ago when it introduced a special version of the armored truck with its interior slathered in…whale-penis leather.

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Posted on 12.06 / 0 comments / Read More

Top Gear Season 17 Episode 1 Starts with a Blast: Forget about the Hummer, Meet the Marauder [Video]

Yesterday we brought you news about the first episode of the seventh season of BBC’s Top Gear TV series which aired last night featuring the Paramount Group’s Marauder. The South African-built armored vehicle was driven by TG presenter Richard Hammond in its native country.

However, “driven” is an understatement, since Hammond made the Marauder flatten cars, smash through walls and defy lion attacks. He also took a bright red one for a drive around Johannesburg, creating quite a fuss.

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Posted on 08.13 / 0 comments / Read More

New Transformers Movie Spawns 2012 Chevy Camaro Special Edition

General Motors is trying to squeeze every ounce of publicity out its association with the makers of the third Transformers movie, called Dark of the Moon, which opens exclusively in 3D Tuesday and worldwide Wednesday.

Aside from having an army of cars featured in the film, the Detroit automaker is also launching yet another limited edition Camaro model based on the Autobot “Bumblebee” character.

The 2012 Camaro Transformers Special Edition will be offered as a $3,000 package on 2LT and 2SS Camaro Coupes with Rally Yellow paint. Along with the content provided in the RS package, the Transformers edition adds bespoke black rally stripes that cover the hood, roof, decklid and the unique rear spoiler.

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Posted on 06.38 / 0 comments / Read More

Monstrous Paramount Marauder Armored Vehicle to Star in First Episode of Top Gear Season 17

In just a few hours from now, Top Gear will air the first episode of season 17 on BBC. During the past two weeks, we got a taste of what Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have in store for us this year through two teaser clips.

In one of those trailers, we saw a large off-road-like vehicle playing the role of a monster truck on a white Alfa Romeo 156 and an older generation Renault Megane sedan.

It turns out that the vehicle is a mine protected armored truck called Marauder from South African company Paramount Group and the driver behind the steering wheel is Richard Hammond. We were contacted by Paramount Group who told us that the Marauder will be featured in tonight's first episode of Top Gear Season 17.

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Posted on 10.33 / 0 comments / Read More