An armored Chevrolet Suburban and a limousine belonging to Vice President Biden’s fleet, hit and killed a pedestrian just over the D.C. border in Maryland. The two vehicles were on their way to Andrews Air Force Base to a secure storage location when the incident took place.

According to the Washington Post, the man was crossing an intersection on Maryland’s Suitland Parkway at 2:27 a.m. under rainy conditions.

The two vehicles were being driven by trained employees who have taken a “protective operator’s driving course,” the report said. U.S. Park Police are currently investigating the accident.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Inside Line

Michael Schumacher, one of the world’s greatest drivers, and Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese, one of the world’s greatest bartenders, teamed up to show how drinking and driving don’t mix.

The video shows Schumacher showing off his extreme driving skills in a Maserati GranTurismo S as Calabrese tries to mix the perfect cocktail.

Thanks for the tip Mike.

- By: Kap Shah

Police arrested a man who allegedly kidnapped a dealer during a test-drive of a Honda and drove the car more than 1,000 miles from Massachusetts to Wisconsin. Officials said that a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper pulled over the 32-year-old man on Friday for speeding, reckless driving and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

The man will be sent back to Massachusetts to face charges of kidnapping.

The adventure began Thursday afternoon when the man and the Honda dealer went on a test-drive and the man refused to turn back around. The salesman escaped the vehicle when it slowed down at a toll near Massachusetts.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: CBS News (via Jalopnik)

It sucks to have your car stolen – not only because it leaves you carless but because of the hassle you have to go through to get it back (if you get it back). What’s even worse is having two cars stolen… in a one-week period.

Meet a Ypsilanti, Michigan couple, who had two cars stolen within a one-week period. First, thieves made of with the husband’s car outside a gas station on Oct. 8. He reportedly left the car running with the keys inside (never ever do that). His keys had his wife’s car key on the ring, which gave the thieves a chance to come back the following week and drive away with the wife’s car between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

The police said that they have recovered the wife’s car later that Tuesday, but are still looking for her husband’s vehicle.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Chicago Tribune (via KickingTires)

Wrapping up the day here, it’s now time for some – you guessed it – Miscellaneous Thoughts.

14-year old boy drinks gasoline to be like Optimus Prime: A 14-year old boy in China drank gasoline for five years to obtain ’special powers’ like his idols Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. The boy watched the animated TV series growing up and began drinking gasoline to become ”valiant fighter” his father said. “He began to drink gasoline five years ago, when we found he liked smelling lighter fuel,” he said. Bad parenting or crazy kid? You decide – Shanghai Daily (via Gizmodo)

New GM to launch Cadillac fragrance line: I personally love the smell of gasoline and always wished that there was a cologne inspired by the smell of gas-stations. I guess this is the closest we’ll ever get it (alongside the Ferrari cologne). The new General Motors Company, fresh out of bankruptcy court, is planning a new fragrance line using its Cadillac brand. The fragrance for men does not smell like the interior of a new luxury car but more like a “mix of geranium, tarragon and cinnamon – plus sweet spice and incense.” – Star (via Jalopnik)

GM to sell the Chevrolet Volt on eBay: GM recently announced that it is talking to eBay about forming a new partnership to sell its cars on the famous auctioning site. Each unit of the Volt is likely to be built at a loss due to the amount of expensive technology. It is now reported that GM is looking to sell the upcoming plug-in hybrid on eBay hoping that it will make profit on some of the sales. GM-Volt

- By: Omar Rana

If you live in Boston and happened to pass by Boston’s Prudential Plaza a couple days ago, you were probably wondering what a giant 18-foot sunflower was doing in front of the building. Known as Solar Flowers, these gigantic sunflowers will be popping up all over the place courtesy of Toyota and its 2010 Prius.

“These larger-than-life installations provide a place for you to sit and soak up the sun, along with access to free Wi-Fi and power to charge your laptop and cell phone” Toyota said. ”Prius Solar Flowers will only be in each city for a few days so make sure to enjoy them while they’re around.”

If you’re in Boston and you’re just finding out about the Solar Flower – don’t bother going to look for it now, it’s been gone since July 19th.

The Solar Flower will make an appearance at the following locations:

New York - Flatiron Plaza (23rd St) – July 23 – August 2, 2009
Chicago – Navy Pier – August 8–22, 2009
Seattle – Westlake Park – August 29–September 7, 2009
San Francisco – Yerba Buena Gardens – September 12–27, 2009
Los Angeles – The Americana – October 3–18, 2009

Toyota Prius Solar Flower:

- By: Omar Rana

At a BMW Art Car exhibition in Beijing, China, BMW is showing off a life-size replica of a Z4 Coupe made out of reinforced concrete.

The concrete Z4 Coupe comes with fully functional doors and glass windows. The inside is complete with a steering wheel, speedometer and a center console.

Finally, someone has created a BMW that will last forever.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Yahoo (via CarScoop)

Yes, a lot of us are cutting back on spending by eating out less, driving less and hoping to find a cheap parking spot near a meter preferably, where we can pop a couple of quarters in while we go grocery shopping (if you live in the city). However, there are many out there that love convenience and will pay the highest dollar for it – say $300,000.

An unidentified man paid a whopping $300,000 for a parking space in Boston’s upscale Back Bay section - the highest price ever paid for a Boston parking spot.

A Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agent Debra Sordillo told The Boston Globe that several residents of a building on Commonwealth Ave. had been bidding for the spot, driving up the original asking price of $250,000.

“It’s all a question of supply and demand,” said Sordillo, who sold the space. “Whether it’s a good market or a down market, you’re always going to get a good price for that space.”

That’s because walking takes too much effort these days.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Boston Herald
Photo Credit: Stuart Cahill, Boston Herald

What you’re looking at here is possibly the world’s smallest street-legal car built by a UK man – Perry Watkins. Watkins has previously been in the record books three times for having the world’s lowest car – what he calls a ‘Flatmobile.’

His latest creation is based on a little Postman Pat toy-car that stands just 39 inches tall and 26 inches wide (imagine getting in-and-out of one of those). 47-year old Watkins took out all the unnecessary equipment and added a steel frame to the fiberglass shell.

Power comes from a 150cc single-cylinder engine mated to rear-wheel-drive system. Watkins says that the car returns a whopping 70 miles to the gallon and can travel at speeds of up to 40 mph.

Check out a video of Watkin’s car after the jump.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: The Sun (via AutoblogGreen)

Recession – that word is probably not mentioned around 200 Eleventh Avenue in Chelsea. The owner of the building is offering its tenants the world’s first “En-Suite Sky Garage.” What the heck is that?

Basically, it’s an elevator that will raise you and your car to a personal garage adjacent to your expensive pad in Chelsea. The owner will drive up and into the elevator. The elevator is engineered to recognize your car and automatically take you up to your floor. Once the elevator opens its doors on your floor, you simply pull out and into your private little garage.

Cost of this luxury? $3 million, with a penthouse unit going for $17.5 million. Parking on the street has never sounded better to us.

You can check out a video of the En-Suite Sky Garage in action after the jump.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Daily News (via KickingTires)

It’s that time of the day where we gather up some random news we’ve been reading here behind the scenes at egmCarTech.

GM cancels Cobalt SS: Earlier this morning we learned that GM has canned the 2010 Chevrolet Impala SS. We now have word that the Cobalt SS is also gone. Again, we’re not too sad to see the 260-hp Cobalt be put to rest.

Illinois state trooper takes home seized Dodge Charger SRT8: According to the Associated Press, an Illinois state trooper seized a Dodge Charger SRT8 from a suspected drunk driver back in Jan. 2007. Once the paperwork was completed, Ron Cooley, the 56-year old Executive Director of Illinois State Police Merit Board, took the car home for personal use. Oh and guess who picks up his fuel tab? You – the taxpayer. – The Newspaper.com (via TTAC)

GM narrows bids for Saab: Sources say that General Motors will choose two to three preferred bidders for Saab this week. GM plans to cut ties to Saab by January 1, 2010.

GMAC needs $11.5 billion: GMAC needs $11.5 billion in additional capital reserves, the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve Board said today. – Detroit News 

President CEO of Mazda North America named 2009 Automotive Executive of the Year: Jim O’Sullivan will be named the 2009 Automotive Executive of the Year at a ceremony today in Detroit. The award recognizes excellence in automotive leadership, honoring those individuals with “staying power” who emerge from the crowd as survivors, thinkers and doers. What about Alan Mulally?

- By: Kap Shah

“The ad is intended to remind customers and the general public that the company is still in the business of selling cars, SUVs, minivans and trucks, despite announcements last week regarding the Fiat alliance and bankruptcy filing,” Chrysler said.

Another campaign will be launched later this week and will highlight the company’s products.

- By: Omar Rana

About a month ago, a teen from Middleton High School was cited for speeding and crashing his parents Audi S4. However, it wasn’t until a month later the teenager decided to post video footage of the high-seed run on YouTube showing the car’s speedometer reaching 155 mph. The teen now faces the district attorney about additional charges.

Dane County Sheriff said that the clip surfaced on YouTube showing the month old incident on a stretch of Highway 18-151 south of Verona.

The driver and passengers were not hurt in the crash. The teen now faces charges of reckless endangerment.

Of course we’ve learned a great deal from this matter. If you’re going to try to pull a high-speed stunt and show it off – make sure you don’t post it on YouTube for the world and the police to see.

Click through for the video – Kevin, Kevin, Kevin… Oh Shit!

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Channel3000 (via Jalopnik)

Usain Bolt, the World’s fastest man, received a new 2009 BMW M3 Coupe from his chief sponsor Puma in recognition of winning three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, Bolt was involved in a crash on Highway 2000 yesterday.

Bolt supposedly lost control of his M3 in the rain and landed in a ditch. He and two female passengers were taken to a hospital in Spanish Town. All involved in the crash were not seriously injured.

There are no reports of Bolt being under the influence of any drugs or alcohol; however, the NBC site for the Beijing Summer Olympics have reported a history of “hard partying” in his pre-Olympics past.

Usain Bolt Drives the BMW M3 Coupe :

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Inside Line

We plan on going on a cross-country drive later this summer but this 59-year old California man pictured above has a whole different idea of a cross-country drive. Dave Schaub is planning on driving 9,800 miles in 9 days, during which he will drive through 49 of the 50 states in the United States.

But he’s not just burning gas and rubber for the heck of it. Schaub, who will embark on his journey on Sept. 8, said that he will raise and donate up to $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

His ride of choice? A black replica 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster. Power comes from a Chevrolet engine making 355-hp mated to a GM automatic transmission.

Schaub is no stranger to long hauls. He once picked up a 1950 Chevrolet in Pennsylvania and drove it back home to California. He has also driven to Indianapolis, Colorado an Canada.

You can drop a donation by visiting http://49in9.com/.

- By: The Daily Auto Edtior

Source: AutoWeek

The French real-estate market isn’t at its all-time high (well it’s pretty much like that for the rest of the world facing the global economic downturn). Nonetheless, just like when auto manufacturers offer incentives when car sales are down – so do real-estate developers. 

A French developer is reportedly throwing in a free Tesla Roadster with a purchase of a new luxury apartment.

The company, “Welcome in France,” is targeting the very elite and is offering the Tesla Roadster as a part of an optional “ecology package.” The apartment will go hand-in-hand with your Tesla as it features solar panels, geothermal heating and ‘green’ water technology.

Tesla Roadster:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Le Blog Auto (via Inside Line)

We love the American auto industry, and we’ve been awfully kind in not making fun of GM and Chrysler since most of that is done by the traditional media. However, with something like this – they are just asking for it.

So go ahead, use this post and polk your fun at General Motors. Whoever thought we’d see the word ‘Green,’ green grass and Hummer in the same picture.

- By: Kap Shah

Yesterday we saw Lewis Hamilton drive an F1 car with a BlackBerry. Today, we introduce you to Jon and is Mazda RX-8 which is controllable from anywhere in the world using his iPod Touch.

As Jon shows in the video, his custom app lets him lock and unlock his doors, start and stop the engine and open the trunk. The app also provides him with data such as fuel-level, battery voltage, RPM speed and the temperature. It also has a GPS which allows him to locate his car using Google Maps.

No word on whether Jon plans to drive his car with his iPod Touch – but we’re sure that’s not too far off.

Click through for the video.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Engadget