Ucarmagazine

Comic Con got underway Thursday in San Diego. The sci-fi convention is a change for many to dress up in costume and get into character. But, it’s also turning into a major marketing machine for producers, movie screenings and TV programs.

The producers of several NBC shows, both returning favorites and new hopefuls, had a chance to show off their shows. Behind the scenes of NBC’s new series “Kings.” The producers call it a contemporary re-imagining of the tale of David and Goliath.

“Heroes” actor Greg Grunberg says “it’s got the scope of a feature and it’s gonna be that way every single week. people are gonna freak out. I’m certainly gonna watch the show.”

You might recognize Greg Grunberg from “Heroes.” He moderated the “Kings” panel. Producers showed panel attendees a preview of the new show. Initial feedback, positive, albeit a bit nerve racking for one of the actresses in the new series.

“Kings” actress Allison Miller says “I’ll believe it when I see it. Really that’s what I feel. When I watched it today up on the big screen I did get a wave of goose bumps and that’s usually a marker for me that something is special about it.”

Comic Con fans were also treated to a behind the scenes look at the new Knight Rider series. The biggest star will be someone you’ll never see. Val Kilmer will be the new voice of the souped up Mustang: Kitt. And boy does that car get a lot of attention.

“Knight Rider” actress Deanna Russo says “the coolest thing ever, yeah! It might blow your mind so bring a helmet.”

Comic Con runs through the July 27th at the San Diego Convention Center.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) unveiled the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the popular Ford F-150 pickup truck at Plug-In 2008 Conference and Exposition, the first international plug-in conference and expo. Converted with a proprietary adaptive controller and using a scaled-down version of the proprietary drive train HEVT has designed for transit buses, the F-150 has been transformed from a standard combustion engine vehicle getting about 16 MPG to a PHEV getting up to 41 MPG for a typical day’s driving.

The HEVT prototype was displayed during today’s keynote address by Dr. Andrew S. Grove, former chairman of Intel Corporation. “Trucks, SUVs and vans are the least-efficient vehicles on the road, so retrofitting them should be a high priority if we want to make a meaningful, near-term difference in oil consumption. Rapid commercialization of prototypes like HEVT’s is the way to go,” Dr. Grove said.

The prototype shows how HEVT’s plug-in hybrid drive train technology can retrofit existing PSVs (pickups, SUVs, and vans), to displace gasoline with electricity, cutting operating costs and harmful emissions and boosting performance. This is an important step toward energy security, because it reduces the fuel required to operate trucks and other large vehicles.

“One way to reduce fossil fuel use is to find ways to plug in some of the hundreds of millions of internal combustion engines already on the world’s roads,” said CalCars founder Felix Kramer. “The pioneering PHEV designs for trucks and buses from Dr. Ali Emadi and his team at HEVT are especially promising.”

Engineers at HEVT have developed a sophisticated electronics and software system called the Adaptive Control Unit (ACU) which serves to control the hybrid drive train. While driving, the ACU controls use of the electric motor and gasoline engine to optimize fuel economy and performance. An in-dash display unit monitors performance, indicating the charge remaining in the battery pack and the energy recovered through regenerative -braking.

“HEVT’s solutions apply to not just smaller passenger cars and hybrids, but almost any vehicle including larger gas guzzlers,” said HEVT founder Ali Emadi. “Our laboratory simulations show that the larger the vehicle, the greater the benefits – in gas costs, particulate and greenhouse emissions, and sound pollution. For this reason we are currently focused on PSVs and will later expand to school buses as well as transit buses.”

HEVT will begin with a small pilot program of Ford F-150 pickup truck conversions available to organizations and individuals on a custom basis. The pilot program will help HEVT’s continued development and optimization, pushing conversion costs down and lowering lifetime cost of ownership for converted vehicles.

The numbers tied to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh are impressive, if not overwhelming - but there’s one statistic especially worth eyeing.

Some 2,500 show aircraft and 650,000 visitors are expected at this year’s meet, which runs from Monday - Aug. 3. An estimated 10,000 airplanes are expected to fly in to the airport in east-central Wisconsin. And here’s the kicker: The event will feature one cool Ford Mustang.

A special one-of-a-kind AirVenture Mustang, the Mustang AV8R, will be unveiled on Sunday. The classic American car was named after the famous P-51 Mustang fighter, which played a key role in World War II as a bomber escort. Several P-51s are slated to be at Oshkosh, according to the show’s web site, www.airventure.org.

The team at Ford Racing helped develop the aviation-inspired Mustang AV8R. Special features on the 2009 Mustang GT include a glass roof, which is a new option on Mustangs this year; special front and rear fascias; integrated spoiler; and Shelby GT500 wheels. Ford Racing’s contributions include a handling pack (dampers, lowering springs, anti-roll bar kit and strut tower brace), supercharger and tuned exhaust that will generate 400 horsepower from the aluminum block 4.6-liter, 24-valve V-8 engine.

The Mustang AV8R is painted in Satin Silver matte paint with Black Gloss accents. The interior features distressed “bomber jacket” leather inserts and trim panels along with a “Bullitt” aluminum instrument panel appliqué and shift knob. It also has an appliqué autograph area for the aviation legends and notable enthusiasts scheduled to be in attendance, who include Edsel B. Ford II, Chuck Yeager, Jack Roush, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Jim Lovell.

Douglas Gaffka, the chief designer for the Mustang, took a restrained, modern approach for the Mustang AV8R.

“We chose anodized silver for the body sides and high-gloss black for the hood, which flows through the glass roof - it was almost like having a canopy,” Gaffka said. “We also embedded the Air Force star in the glass.”

Collectors can bid on the car. Perspective owners should contact Matt Miller at 1-800-236-1025 for details about the July 31 auction. Auction proceeds will benefit the EAA’s Gathering of Eagles program, which helps provide scholarships for young people interested in aviation careers.

Donating the Mustang AV8R is the latest example of Ford’s continuing commitment to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Last year, Ford donated two tickets to the finals of “American Idol,” which sold for $16,500. Ford and Shelby Automobiles donated a Mustang Shelby GT-H in 2006, which sold for $250,000.

“The Mustang AV8R is the latest commitment from Ford in support of EAA’s effort to build the future of aviation,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president. “This stunning, one-of-a-kind automobile will be a very special addition to our Gathering of Eagles fund-raiser, which supports EAA’s aviation education and preservation work throughout the year.”