Car Rim

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage

Click above for a high-res gallery.

With excursions in light aircraft, aerobatic planes, commercial jets, and helicopters already under our belt, we jumped on Goodyear’s invite to take a flight in one of its three blimps stationed (or should we say tethered) in North America. The world’s largest tire company has been flying blimps for more than 80 years. Used as a stable camera platform, or simply for advertising, the giant silver balloons have safely carried countless passengers over the decades. Follow the jump to read Autoblog’s first review from the gondola of a lighter-than-air dirigible.

All photos copyright Michael Harley / Weblogs Inc.

Continue reading Above the Autoblog Garage: The Goodyear Blimp

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Filed under: Supercars, Mercedes-Benz, Rendered Speculation

Click to view the SLR Speedster rendering courtesy of the artist

With a host of new exotics coming out from both Mercedes-Benz and its F1 and erstwhile supercar partner McLaren, the ageing Mercedes SLR McLaren is about to be shown the back door. But not before one last hoorah. And if this illustration is any indication, it will be one rip-roaring, ear-piercing hoorah indeed.

Based on the spy shots that have already surfaced of the SLR McLaren “Speedster” (we don’t know if that’s what it’ll be called officially, but that’s the name we’ve been tossing around), talented illustrator Jon Sibal has crafted the rendering you see above. According to Sibal, the headlights will be the only element of the exterior carried over from previous incarnations of the SLR to the new, more hardcore roofless swan-song. The hood, which previously melded into the A-pillars, is more flat; the nose draws even more direct inspiration from McLaren-Mercedes formula racing cars; the exhaust pipes have been moved into the side vents… oh yeah, and there’s no roof. None whatsoever. There’s barely any windshield for that matter, just a couple of deflectors. Needless to say, we hope the actual vehicle turns out to be as dramatic as Sibal’s conception.

Check out the gallery below to see the rendering in high-resolution, along with our previous crop of spy shots of the SLR Speedster.

[Source: JonSibal.com]

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