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January 29, 2009

Cars Threaten Earth's Very Existence

Via Cullen comes this scary tale of deadly restraint

Toyota is recalling 1.3 million vehicles worldwide because of a seat belt defect. The recall includes more than 130,000 Yaris models sold in the United States.

Toyota Motor Sales USA says it is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 134,900 model-year 2006 and 2007 Yaris subcompact cars. The automaker says in severe front-end collisions, the seat belt is at risk of causing a foam pad in the vehicle to ignite.

I'm trying to wrap my fragile mind about how exactly this would happen, but I just can't.

In other deadly automotive and bleeding-edge scientific developments, Tim inadvertently reveals that the LHC we need to be greatly concerned about does not lie buried beneath Switzerland but in fact is found on the very straight highways of the Australian Outback: the Large Holden Collider


This is what the W427 is all about. Its engine displaces 7.0 litres, the largest on any current road car. And what the Corvette-sourced engine lacks in the latest technology it makes up with sheer brute.

There’s 375kW, or 500 horsepower in the old scale, so it’s hardly lacking in go. HSV claims the W427 can reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, which cements it as one of the fastest four-doors on the planet. It’s also the fastest, most powerful road car produced in Australia.

From the moment you start the engine there’s a discerning growl accompanied by just enough rumble to remind you the W427 isn’t your average family car.

Friends, if two of these collide head-on at top speed the Black Hole that will be created by the impact will most assuredly end civilization as we know it.

As well as be one hell of a waste of Aus $300,000.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at January 29, 2009 08:53 AM

Comments

the seat belt is at risk of causing a foam pad in the vehicle to ignite

Yes, this is what happens when you make car seats out of recycled kitchen matches.

[/snark]

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at January 29, 2009 12:04 PM

Jeez, you gotta love this though:

Toyota spokesman Brian R. Lyons says no one has reported a case where that has actually happened.
So no actual proof that it occurs.

But, being basically a bad person, my first thought on reading that was, "Well, it was a 'severe front collision' in a Yaris. There was no one left alive to report it."

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at January 29, 2009 12:08 PM

Re: the Holden

That beastie is a "Mad Max" remake waiting to happen.

Posted by: Gunslinger at January 29, 2009 05:01 PM

What Ken said--seat belt combustion is probably the least of your worries when it comes to being in a Yaris during an accident.

Posted by: Kate P at January 29, 2009 11:29 PM