We know what you're thinking: If you can't drive yourself off-road, what's the point? Well, on one level VW has developed this technology to enter the 2005 Grand Challenge, a contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense for driverless vehicles. Entrants have to negotiate 175 miles of desert near Las Vegas with no human intervention. The one that does so first earns a $2-million prize. (The DOD tried this last year, with a million dollars at stake, but none of the entrants even came close to finishing the "race.") You can imagine how valuable a self-piloting vehicle would be to our Defense Department.
On another level, VW is using Stanley to test "driver assistance" technology that the company believes will make driving safer in the future. VW is already equipping its sedans with Adaptive Cruise Control, which senses the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of it and adjusts speed accordingly to preserve a safe interval between the two. "In the next step, the systems will have to be made even better than the driver, by looking around the next corner and assessing the situation correctly," said Matthias Rabe, head of company research at Volkswagen AG.
A noble cause. But again, if you can't drive yourself, what's the point?
Second ChanceThink your life sucks? Check out Jayson Stewart's story. The Ontario (Canada) resident found his body riddled with cancer-at age 23. With a young wife and infant daughter to care for, Stewart's future looked bleak. He underwent nearly two years of chemotherapy, four surgeries and a bone marrow transplant, and spent untold hours in hospital rooms. Since he couldn't afford the $10 daily charge for television, Stewart spent his time reading. Three year's worth of our magazine, as it turns out.
While in the hospital Stewart had an epiphany. Once he got a clean bill of health, he decided not to return to his hated brick-laying job. Instead, he started Gear Guy's Off-Road and now builds custom axles, using Detroit Lockers, Warn premium hubs, 1350 yokes, 4340 inner and outer axles, and 71/48 Heim joints.
"Thanks for being there," Stewart wrote us. "If you want some advice from my journey through Hell, here you go: 'Pain is temporary; giving up is forever.'"
Want to know more about Stewart's axles? Call his shop at 705.833.2126.
Jeepin' IndyHow many 'wheelers can say they have put all four down for a lap at the Indy 500? Off-road video producer Michael Harrington has been known to take his '97 Wrangler, cameras, and crew to some of the toughest trails this magazine can find, but the Indy 500? To explain the photo, Harrington told us, "I've been busy editing videos nonstop since I wrapped the Ultimate Adventure '04 video, and I've had no time to hit the trails. So when I heard there was a chance to take my rig out on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I could not pass up the opportunity to represent. Note the Iron Range red dust from the UA '04 on my tires. Did I mention I've been busy?"
Hummer H3s ArriveGM is plenty excited about the release of its newest SUV, the Hummer H3. So excited, in fact, that it sent some poor photographer chasing after this car carrier to capture the moment when the first midsize Hummers rolled up to a dealership. Base price is just $29,500, if you're interested.
We also learned that Hummer outfitter Stinger-Mac Accessories, better known as SMA, has already tooled up some cool gear for the H3, including brushguards, tire-and-wheel packages, headrest DVD systems, spare-tire covers, and more. Go to www.smahummer.com for more info.
No New MonteroIf you just gotta have a Mitsubishi Montero, better act soon. According to Mitsu North America's CEO Rich Gilligan (and reported in Automotive News), the SUV will be dropped from the line after the '06 model year. Falling U.S. sales are to blame for its demise. To fill the gap, the Outlander will be redesigned with seven-passenger capacity for '07.