Welcome to The Smoking Tire. Kick ass automotive videos and more.

King of Hybrids: Toyota’s TS030 (Videos)

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

by Zack K

There’s no fun hybrid out there. The CR-Z has potential, but other than that, until the Porsche 918 Spyder shows up hybrid cars are a night spent at home with a blanket and some decaf tea. Whoopee. I understand their primary goal is MPG and the fun cars will take time but I like some personality in my car. Toyota has been the brand of vanilla ice cream, communion wafers and tepid water. They made really good wafers, but until the FR-S showed up, that’s all they made.

 

But today they showed up with a pepper-crusted steak, stuffed with jalapenos and a tumbler of whiskey on the side. This is their new race car, the TS030, and it’s a hybrid. It’s fast as shit, screaming around the Paul Ricard course. And unlike every hybrid we can buy, it actually screams. There’s overrun coming out of the pits, even pops and back fires. What?! Jump for 3 videos, with one awesome in-car angle with driver, Alex Wurz. (more…)

25.01.2012 News, Video No Comments

Why You Shouldn’t Leave Acetylene Bottles in a Closed Truck

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Here’s a good piece of consumer advice: You probably shouldn’t leave a bottle of acetylene, a chemical commonly used for welding, in a closed truck overnight. Acetylene is highly unstable and extraordinarily flammable, and, well, see the photo above for what can happen. FJCruiserForums user “SMK_SHO” learned this the hard way by, literally, blowing his truck up and is frankly very lucky to be alive. Here’s the story in his words:

So my time almost came to an end this morning… im very lucky to be alive.

First of all, GO HUG YOUR WIFE/HUBBY and tell them you love them.

i had an acetylene bottle in my truck, the valve was bumped so slightly and over night the truck filled with the gas. i noticed the smell, and opened the doors to air out the truck. i drove the truck out of the garage to get some more air movement. i went to roll the pass side window down and as soon as i touched the power windows. BAM. with me in the truck. i lost all hearing out of my right ear and got a scratch on the back of my head. all things considering, im alive.

so now ive got the question out to toyota about a 2012 TT. 125 to canada only, 15 in standard. i want a standard…

pictures tell 1000 words.

dont take any minutes or seconds you have for granted… it may be your last…

This would normally be the part of the post where I make fun of this guy for doing something so stupid, but I’m pretty sure his near-death experience and destroyed truck are painful enough and he’s learned his lesson.

Source: FJ Cruiser Forum

 

08.12.2011 News, Photos 1 Comment

Do You Really Need a Truck? Really?

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

A weekend camping trip with the guys, what could be better? Fresh air, fire, s’mores, guns, fire, star gazing, fishing, fire. Did I mention fire? Of course, all this burning required that we find a spot far from other campers and off the beaten path. What happens though, when you deviate from time-tested trucks and instead bring a more subdued vehicle to do your off-roading?  Do you still need a truck to do all the fun things you want to do? Hit the jump to find out.

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15.06.2011 Editorials, News, Photos 17 Comments

It’s Official: Matte Black No Longer Cool

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

That’s it, matte black paint is no longer cool. Remember in 2006, when flat black paint first came on the scene? Oh man, you weren’t cool unless you were flat black. Lamborghini started offering factory matte-finish paint jobs, Harley-Davidson released their Night Rod, which is a V-Rod, just in, you guessed it, matte black. I swear, half the cars at SEMA in 2007 wore flat black paintjobs.

But, as this Prius clearly shows, the party’s over. One Prius can’t single handedly end a trend, but it’s been on the way down for a while now, and after seeing these photos, we may as well just close the coffin.

Do we have to comment on the fact that a flat-black paint job (or wrap) will absorb more heat from the sun, forcing your air conditioning and cooling system to work harder, and reducing the efficiency of your smug-mobile? No, we don’t, because you’re not driving a Prius to be efficient. You’re driving a murdered-out appliance so girls in Malibu (where this photo was taken) will think you’re “conscious.”

Douche.

20.05.2010 News, Photos 9 Comments

Another WTF from Craigslist

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Have you ever heard of a Toyota Starlet? If yes, you’re knowledge of cars imported to the US when I was a 2 year old trounces my own, for which you win this pretty rock. If not, don’t feel bad. The Starlet was a small hatch-back produced by Toyota from 1973 to 1999, but it (specifically the 60 Series) was only sold in America from 1981 to 1983. I had a 5 speed manual transmission, a selection of 3 tiny motors (1.0L, 1.2L and 1.3L), and it had RWD. It was replaced by the Corolla in 1985, but this is basically the predecessor to the AE86.

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19.05.2010 Uncategorized 8 Comments

Exclusive Mega-Gallery: The Worst Car Show In History

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Oh yeah, he’s sponsored by Mountain Dew for sure.

With a title like “The Worst Car Show in History,” this can’t be any ordinary posting. What do all the photos in this amazing gallery have in common? They were all taken at a single car show. That’s right, all the suck in these pictures can be found at a single car show. What can you expect in this amazing gallery?

Bondo? Check

Duct tape holding on body kits? Check

Heinous paint jobs with lots of overspray? Check

Stock econoboxes parked among showcars? Check

Dangerous wiring jobs, horrid interior treatments, extraneous lighting? Check, Check, and Check.

Lamborghini doors on a Toyota with side view mirrors broken off? Oh yeah.

Hit the jump for the Carslile 2010 Mega-Gallery of suck.

Thanks, Vinny for the tip!

Source: [Zilvia.net user CTNewman]

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18.05.2010 News, Photos 12 Comments

2010 Toyota Sienna is “Sporty.” Who Cares?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Minivans are boring, they just are. While they are incredibly practical, and achieve their goals with far more ease and speed than any wagon or SUV could dream of, they have the balls of a minnow. Add to that a driving experience of a Tuff Shed in a pool of Jell-O and you have a vehicle that was anything but exciting.
Toyota wants to change that.

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04.03.2010 Editorials, Photos, Viewer Submission 9 Comments

Real Car Buying Tips From the Pros

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Welcome to Real Car Buying Tips From the Pros, where our friends at RealCarTips.com send us the latest deals and incentives in new car shopping. And like a good neighbor, we share them with you!

This week’s news:

1.  Toyota Brand Awarded Best Resale Value by KBB

This isn’t at all surprising, considering Toyotas, even the ones that have had the crap kicked out of them, seem to all run great.

2.  Dodge Offers Large Incentives for December

This is also not surprising, because I’d consider the Avenger completely “unsellable.” Despite our reporting yesterday that Challenger owners were most satisfied with their cars, prospective new buyers aren’t getting any discounts.
3.  Mitsubishi Deals Offered Through Sam’s Club Program

Have you seen the new Eclipse? ‘Nuff said.

4.  New Incentives on 2010 Infiniti QX56

If you can afford the gas, you can afford the truck, people.

10.12.2009 News No Comments