M55 aims to build hybrid bikes. Its flagship model, the Beast, has the greatest performance among e-bikes. 1,500 Watts of power can accelerate this machine to a stunning 40 miles per hour and it can go as far as 75 miles with a single charge, even off-road.

The M55 Beast represents state of the art in its every detail. The major parts are custom made by seasoned engineers, utilizing technologies and materials used in the Formula One and electric supersportcars. Titanium, carbon fiber, CNC machining, brushless motor mechanism – just to mention a few.

No more hose, bucket, or soapy mess. How? Simply spray your car with our waterless car wash formula, wipe clean and admire away. The Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash’s unique blend of plant-based surfactants break down surface grime, while polymers leave your surface smooth and protected. Eco Touch will leave your car — and your conscience — clean.

Radi Design: A new device is being launched to specifically address a woman’s comfort with a seatbelt. The patent pending Drive ‘n Comfort is an unique device which pinches the seat belt strap at the center of the chest to take the pressure off, and still flares flat above and below to hold the torso securely as intended. It takes only a second to put on and is totally adjustable to place in the spot which gives the most relief. Smaller busts may be good in the cleavage center, while larger busts may feel more comfortable wearing it lower down. But there’s no more rubbing, flattening or irritation while driving – no more temptation to drive without a seatbelt.

The Drive ’n Comfort pincher is connected to a reel which attaches to the seat belt buckle, so the pincher is easily at-hand when the seatbelt is “buckled up.” When ready to exit the vehicle, the pincher is simply pulled off, automatically retracting to the reel, and the seatbelt retracts easily with nothing bulky to get in the way. In the event of a crash, the Drive’n Comfort pincher will pop free and retract immediately to the reel so the seatbelt can be in its full, flat position.

An Innovative New Device for Women’s Seatbelt Comfort [Radi Design]

Springwise: Consumers begin by registering their car with the GottaGetGas  site, including license plate, model, colour and type of gas used. If selected, they’re then invited to get an advertiser-provided decal affixed to their car at the nearest Caltex station. In exchange, they’re rewarded with a SGD 50 GottaGetGas card, which can be used to buy gas at any Singapore Caltex station.

Consumers are clearly motivated by cash, but a brand-sponsored reward like gas could be just as compelling while providing benefits for yet another partner in the equation. For the magazine, meanwhile, it’s a nice way to connect with readers while expanding advertisers’ options. A model to emulate on the roads near you…?

Carvertising campaign rewards drivers with gas [Springwise]

Inhabitat: Earlier this year we told you all about the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid concept car and now we get to tell you — as we so rarely get to do — that this concept car is about to become a reality! The Spyder which is surely to become the sexiest green car  ever (sorry Tesla!) just got the green light to make this dream a real road eating machine. Porsche’s first ever plug-in hybrid goes from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, gets 94 miles per gallon, and undoubtedly will have most of us drooling as it zips past us on our daily commutes. But why will we be drooling instead of riding inside, you ask? The price tag for the 918 Spyder is set at a whopping US $630,000!

918 Spyder is Porsche’s First Ever Plug In Hybrid Electric Car [Inhabitat]

Engadget: Daimler hasn’t had a sales success on its hands lately with its line of Smart cars, with sales festering after an initial boom. To try to re-capture the imagination of we smartphone-loving Americans with short attention spans, Smart unveiled the Smart Drive Kit last month and now, at the NY Auto Show, is giving it a proper demonstration. The iPhone app effectively takes the place of an infotainment system like Sync, including internet radio, navigation, and hands-free calling. It’s all demonstrated in a video above, and it looks cool — cool enough to even warrant $9.99 for the app and, maybe, the $49.99 annual fee for maps and navigation.

Smart Car’s Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated [Engadget]

TrendWatching.com: Created by Fiat, eco:Drive is an application that can be downloaded to USB and transferred to a vehicle’s onboard computer, aiming to improve driving efficiency by measuring the driver’s ability to drive in an eco-friendly manner. The software evaluates the user’s driving style and gives a mark out of 100. Online tutorials subsequently encourage drivers to improve their score, and ultimately reduce their carbon emissions.

Brand Butlers [TrendWatching.com]

applied product design: When you ride a motorcycle you have to accept that there is an element of risk involved. Obviously that risk can be significantly reduced if you take the appropriate precautions and wear the correct protective clothing.
One very important innovation has been made in the area of the crash or safety helmet. 90% of motorcycle fatalities are a result of injury from the neck up, ThermaHelm technology aims to reduce this.
In the event of a heavy crash where the user suffers a heavy blow to the head the brain can swell which in turn causes an increase in brain temperature. Once the temperature of the brain reaches a certain critical level it becomes unresponsive and shuts down causing the persons heart to flatline.
To stop this from happening a new gel pack has been fitted into the ThermaHelm crash helmet that activates upon receiving a heavy impact, the gel pack then works against the increase in brain temperature to maintain a consistent and managable level of heat, reducing the amount of damage caused to the brain before emergency services can attend.
These crucial minutes after an accident can be vital and anything that can be done to help save lives must be considered a step in the right direction.
New Cool Crash Helmet Could Help Save Lives [applied product design]

Forbes.com: In 2007 Lisa and Jeff Peri developed and began selling environmentally friendly bottled car wash called Lucky Earth. Its main offering – a mixture of water, coconut byproducts, sodium carbonate and water-soluble silicone – comes in a 32-ounce bottle and retails for $14.99.
Today 200 stores carry Lucky Earth, helping this company bring in $325,000 in revenue in the first six months of 2009.
Lucky Earth products are for customers who share the values and beliefs of the company, and who choose a brand on the basis of its green credentials. Lucky Earth customers want to be environmentally responsible and lessen their own impact on the environment. Because of these values, the company can target its audience and reach them efficiently based on other brand choices, such as where they shop and what cars they drive.
Accordingly, Whole Foods sells Lucky Earth alongside other environmentally friendly cleaning products, and Lucky Earth will soon be available at Smart Car dealerships.
‘Green’ Car Wash Maker Aims To Grow [Forbes.com]

Associated Press: People who like riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles are likely to have an affinity toward a Ford truck. That’s the thinking at Ford Motor Co. at least, as it furthers its collaboration with the motorcycle maker with the introduction of a new F-150 truck.
The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150, set to be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show, blends the stylings of the popular motorcycle brand with Ford’s top-selling truck. It’s the 14th truck the two companies have designed together.
The vehicle is a niche for Ford, which has sold 74,000 co-branded trucks since the partnership began in 2000. Ford executives acknowledge that, while sales of luxury vehicles have fallen off during the recession, “image buyers” remain.
“Image buyers buy based on what the product represents,” said Matt O’Leary, chief engineer for Ford, during a preview of the truck last week. “We have a very loyal following.”
Ford teams up with Harley for newly inspired truck [Associated Press]

Iconoculture: Vehicle segments are an easily identifiable reflection of the times. In this case, it’s not just suburban SUV drivers who are feeling the pain of high gas prices. Demand for so-called weekend cars is plummeting. Convertible sales are down even more than the overall auto market.
Until recently, luxe cars always outperformed the market, but high-end marks like Porsche and Mercedes are seeing double-digit sales drops. Porsche’s total U.S. car sales were down 28% versus a year ago to date.
Sign of the times ahead. Even if our economy takes a turn for the better, the change sweeping across the auto landscape looks likely to be longer term. The SLK has always been Mercedes’ halo vehicle, but nowadays no model means more to its maker’s image (or its driver’s) than the Prius.
The future of fancy rides might be in better fuel efficiency, but automakers need to keep them fun if they want to keep them rolling off the lot.
Weekend cars are staying in the garage [Iconoculture]