Toyota Hilux Conquers Antarctica

The Toyota HiLux has completed an epic Antarctic journey of more than 9495 kilometres, further than any other previous attempt by a similar vehicle. The specially prepared Toyota HiLux achieved the feat without any technical or mechanical hitches. The Hilux and its latest achievement is a critical part of the longest expedition in polar history, adding to the vehicle’s success in reaching both the North and South Poles on previous occasions. Two Hilux models – two 6×6 and one-4×4 vehicles completed the expedition running on jet A1 fuel in order to handle the extreme cold. They covered almost 10,000 kilometres during four months on the ice. Other necessary modifications had to be made to the vehicles, including a crane to lift heavy equipment, and a 280-litre fuel tank for the 4×4 and a staggering 800-litre tank for the 6×6 models. Naturally, the suspension and drivetrain were beefed up for the conditions, with ultra-low speed ‘crawler’ gears added to the gearbox and huge tyres were added to the Hilux for a footprint that is 17 times the size of the standard tyres and filled with between 2.0 and 3.0psi (29.0psi standard road-going Hilux).

David Lynch Debuts Dark New 'Crazy Clown Time' Video

David Lynch has unveiled his brand new video for 'Crazy Clown Time' and you can check it out below. Taken from his first ever solo album, the track shares its name with the full-length and comes accompanied with a video directed by Mr Lynch himself. Describing the visual snippet as "an intense psychotic backyard craziness, fueled by beer”, it has been premiered on Vice's brand new Youtube channel, Noisey. David Lynch released his album 'Crazy Clown Time' back in November 2011, and has also recently unveiled that he will be releasing a special vinyl single as part of Record Store Day. Lynch will release a 12-inch heavyweight vinyl single designed by Vaughan Oliver with side a featuring a remix of the track 'Noah's Ark' (taken from 2011's 'Crazy Clown Time') by Moby and side B featuring "etchings".

 

'Dumb and Dumber 2' To Begin Production This Year

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are set to reprise their roles in a sequel to Dumb and Dumber. ComingSoon.net reports that Peter Farrelly confirmed at the press junket for The Three Stooges that the film will shoot this fall and the original stars will be back. "We're getting set to shoot 'Dumb and Dumber 2' in September," said Farrelly. "It's the first sequel we've ever done and we've got Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels back." The original film was one of Carrey's bigger early hits, and was given a poorly-received prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd in 2003. Farrelly says that this will be very different than that prequel. "We did not do 'Dumb and Dumberer'," he said. "That was a studio thing. So we've always wanted to do a sequel and finally Jim called up. Jeff always wanted to do it. We always wanted to do it. Jim was busy, but he called and said, 'We've got to do this thing again.' He had just watched 'Dumb and Dumber' and he said, 'This is the perfect sequel. Let's do it.'"

Djokovic Beats Murray In Miami Finale

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic won his third Sony Ericsson Open title Sunday, holding every service game to beat Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (4). Djokovic also won in 2007 and last year. Only six-time champion Andre Agassi won more men’s titles. The lone break point Djokovic faced came in the fifth game, and he erased that. In the tiebreaker he lost only one service point, went ahead to stay when Murray double-faulted to make it 3-2, and closed out the victory when the Scotsman sailed his final forehand long. Djokovic didn’t lose a set in six rounds, and saved 25 of 30 break points against him. “I had a great tournament,” Djokovic said. “I managed to play my best tennis when I needed to.” He improved to 20-2 this year and 90-8 since the start of 2011. He has won five Grand Slam titles, including the past three in a row. Now begins the clay season culminating with the French Open, the only major event Djokovic has yet to win. The No. 4-seeded Murray was fresh but rusty after needing only three matches to reach the final. He advanced twice due to walkovers, and was playing for the first time since Wednesday, which may have explained his slow start. The lopsided early score was a bit misleading, but Djokovic won the pivotal points and hit an ace to close out the 47-minute first set. The tense second set featured a succession of entertaining rallies. Djokovic lost one 26-stroke baseline exchange that left him panting, hands on his knees on the sunny, hot afternoon. Eager to finish, he twice was forced to deuce on his serve in the second set and slapped his hips in frustration more than once, wary of a Murray rally. “That’s why he’s right at the top — he always comes back, even if you feel you have control of the match,” Djokovic said. “I’m really happy to close it out in straight sets.” The final matched two of the game’s best returners, but it was serving that dominated. Murray faced eight break points and erased six. Djokovic’s serve was even better. When the Serb had closed out the win, he screamed to match the roar from the crowd, looked to the sky, pumped his arms and blew kisses.

“xxxALL AGESxxx – The Boston Hardcore Film” Film Premiere

“xxxALL AGESxxx: The Boston Hardcore Film” is set to debut at the Independent Film Festival of Boston later this month. The film focuses on the early Boston hardcore scene, specifically 1981 through 1984. While perhaps not as well-known as the DC, LA or New York hardcore scenes, the early-1980s DIY community in Boston spawned the likes of seminal bands like Gang Green, SS Decontrol, Jerry’s Kids and, of course, Negative FX (from whom NOFX derived their name). Click here for more specific info on the film.

Patti Smith To Release Her First LP In Eight Years In June

Singer Patti Smith has just announced her first studio album in eight years. "Banga" will drop June 5, 2012 from Columbia records. The first single, "April Fool" featuring Tom Verlaine has been released, appropriately, on April Fool's Day on iTunes, Rolling Stone reports. According to a statement from the singer/songwriter, "There is an exploratory spirit in the songs that make up Banga, including a melodic overture imagining the voyage of Amerigo Vespucci to the New World in 1497 ('Amerigo'), a rock song for the people of Japan in the wake of last years earthquake ('Fuji-san'), a classic ballad in memory of Amy Winehouse ('This Is the Girl'), an improvised meditation on art and nature ('Constantine's Dream') as well as a birthday song written for her friend Johnny Depp ('Nine')." This is Smith's 11th studio album. Her last one was 2004's "trampin." You can preview "April Fool" on iTunes now.

The Trailer For Total Recall Is Here!

The trailer for the remake of the sci-fi action film “Total Recall” has hit the web. The new clip is longer than the previous super short teaser.  “Total Recall” stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, and John Cho.

BMW i8 Concept Spyder Revealed

Earlier today BMW unveiled details about the third element of its “i” range, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder. This hybrid convertible follows the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept in a line of purpose-built alt-fuel vehicles. The Spyder is a two-seat roadster with fuel consumption “no higher than you would expect from a small car,” according to BMW. The plug-in hybrid pairs a lithium-ion battery electric motor and conventional combustion engine for 354 horsepower output and a 0-62mph sprint time of 5 seconds. Top speed: 155mph. The car remains virtually untested by outside parties–it is a concept, after all–but BMW says it consumes only 3 litres of gas per 100 kilometers (this in European testing) and that it’ll charge in fewer than two hours, with a range of 19 miles on the electric-only mode. The car is chock-full of new BMW technology, from the iPhone-enabled finders that pinpoint charging stations and parking spots to 3D console screens and high-sensitivity monitoring systems that alert drivers to precisely how much power the car is using. Sport mode and eco-mode are other drive options. As you can see from the photos, the car features an aggressive, progressive design with verticle-hinged windowless doors and seats for two–this in contrast to the 2+2 seating we saw in the i8 coupe last year. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is also slightly shorter across the wheelbase and overall length than its predecessor. BMW says its exceptionally low center of gravity and extreme lightweightness combine to give the car excellent driving dynamism.

Here are the rest of the initial specifications:

Length/Height/Width: L 4480 mm, H 1208 mm, W 1922 mm
Wheelbase: 2650 mm
Seats: 2
Curb weight: 1630 kg (3593 pounds)
Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 5.0 seconds; 80-120 km/h (50-75 mph) 4.0 seconds
System output: 260 kW / 550 Nm
Fuel consumption: 3 l/100km / 94 mpg imp
Electric range: 27-30 km (17 – 19 miles)
Battery charge time: 1.45 hours
Luggage compartment: 100 litre