Car design is something that most people enjoy – especially car lovers. This interest in car design has never changed. And it is likely to continue. Over the years, some amazing cars have been designed. These cars not only afford luxury but also encompass new style and character. Performance and speed can also be boasted as part of car design. However, not all cars that are manufactured are always great to look at. The comfort quotient might continue to be there, but the vehicle has looked somewhat strange. Personalizing these vehicles with a private number plate would surely give them a boost, however strange they may look.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most bizarre cars ever manufactured.

Oeuf Electrique

A vehicle looking like an egg – this concept is not new anymore. But once it was. And when the 1942 Oeuf electrique was introduced, it took the world by storm. The car’s name itself means electric egg. It could be termed as a green one – because it used battery instead of gasoline to run, although that was pretty long ago. And electric cars weren’t as cool back then as today.

This car was designed by the French industrial designer Paul Arzens. He was a painter in earlier life and also designed railway locomotives. The car that Arzens designed had the appearance of a bubble and was made from hand-formed aluminium and cured Plexiglass.

1936 Stout Scarab

Imagine this: an aircraft designer who is quite deft at his work suddenly had to move towards designing automobiles.

What will happen?

The answer lies in the 1936 Stout Scarab.

The vehicles has a touch of the aircraft design as well. Designed by erstwhile aircraft designer William Bushnell Stout, this vehicle integrates both luxury and leisure. It is made in such a way that the vehicle is a perfect diner car. However, it is extremely expensive. So, this car never became quite popular. And less than 10 vehicles of this model were manufactured. However, its bizarre appearance still intrigues the automobile lovers.

General Motors Firebird

Speaking of the similarity between designs of aircraft and vehicles? You just can’t leave Firebirds out.

Primarily prototype cars, these vehicles were designed by Harley Earl and were engineered by General Motors. The vehicles were introduced in the 1953, 1956 and 1959 Motorama auto shows. Four versions of Firebirds were introduced. But it’s the Firebird I, which was more close to an aircraft. It was a jet airplane put on wheels and offers immense comfort to the riders.

These cars were never meant for production, but to showcase design and technology. However, the design of this car is still one of the most popular ones among the car lovers.

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

What if a car’s exterior shifts according to the vehicle’s aerodynamic requirements at different times?

Seems impossible, isn’t it?

But that’s what the 2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model offers. It was conceptualized by BMW’s Design Director Chris Bangle. According to him, this car allowed him as well as his team to “challenge existing principles and conventional processes”. The exterior of the car is made from polyurethane-coated spandex.

This car has been regarded as one of the best offered by BMW till date and it is expected to remain high on demand of the car lovers in the years to come as well.

1951 GM Le Sabre

Cars don’t have fins, do they?

Yes, of course, some of the cars don it. And the first car to have fins was the 1951 GM Le Sabre. Besides, it also had a wraparound windshield. Soon, these design elements would gain ground in the American automobile industry. So, in a way, GM Le Sabre was a pioneer in terms of designing the automobile.

There are more to this car.

It can with a moisture detector. So, if there is any chance of rainfall, the convertible car’s top would automatically get raised, thus shielding the riders.

The car lovers are always on the lookout for vehicles that don new designs and showcase technologies, which had not been used till date. And if they can get any of these vehicles, they can give them a better look by using personalised number plates on them as well.

With every passing day, the number of vehicles on the roads are increasing at a fast pace. This has not been observed in a specific location. In fact, it is common across the globe with an increasing appetite for mobility. It’s really concerning to see that even well designed vehicles or those personalised with private number plates are involved in accidents in increasing numbers.

Did you know?

As many as 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents every year. And in many cases, it’s the car that is to blame for these deaths. It is the tyres of the car that remain in touch with the ground and prevent the vehicle from skidding or veering off the road. However, in many cases, an accident occurs when the tyre bursts or there is low air pressure within the tyre.

To reduce the number of accidents on the roads, companies have been looking to improve car design. And many of them have come up with ways to achieve it. Several innovative techniques have been introduced. One such innovation is the introduction of airless tyres.

Accidents Caused by Flat Tyres

Malfunctioning of tyres is one of the major causes of road accidents across the world. One of the most common occurrences  is a tyre blow out.  When a blow out occurs, the driver is likely to lose control of their vehicle resulting in a collision with another vehicle or fixed objects.

How can This Problem be Solved?

Most car manufacturers are aware of this issue with flat tyres causing accidents. So, the question that has repeatedly been asked, is: how can this be resolved?

Experts have analysed the problem and and a unique solution has been hatched. They have introduced tyres for cars, which are not inflated with air. Airless Tyres – this is what these tyres are. And the concept of this new tyre was named Tweel, a blend of tyre and wheel, back in 2005 by the French tyre company Michelin.

So, how is Tweel intended to work and what are the benefits?

This type of airless tyre is intended to make the ride smoother than conventional tyres. It will ensure that you avoid the experience of a bumpy ride, no matter what the road conditions are.

How is Tweel Made?

Tweel is designed and manufactured in such a way that it can function as a tyre without needing air.

How does it perform?

Tweel has spokes, which are manufactured in a special way. These spokes are able to absorb the impact of bumps. This task is performed with ease in pneumatic tyres by the compressed air present in the tyre. In this type of tyre, the tread and shear bands usually get deformed temporarily when the spike bends due to increased load. But they promptly return to their original shape.

When it comes to the durability and the performance of the tyres, the tension of the spokes play a major role. This is also true in the case of Tweels. These airless tyres are made from spokes of different materials with different stress capacities. The varied tension capacities of the spokes helps to manage the stress levels at varying loads.

Expected to Become Affordable Soon

It has not been long since Tweel Airless Tyres were first introduced. And like any other new innovation, its price is high. However, this is expected to change, as these airless tyres start to be manufactured by a number of reputable companies. So, the prices are expected to reduce as they become more widely accepted.

So, you should consider using tweels or airless tyres and benefit from the safety features they provide.

Every day, millions of cars hit the road. Thousands of car accidents happen on a daily basis. And in many instances the accidents turn out to be fatal. Researchers have revealed that there are a few cars, which tend to get involved in more in accidents than their counterparts. And in many cases, the accidents cause the death of their drivers. So, it is essential to have knowledge of these cars so that you do not end up being a victim when driving one of these vehicles. It is quite concerning to see these cars, many of which can be adorned with personalised number plates, meet with a deadly fate.

Do you feel it’s likely to be a sports car that causes the majority of fatal accidents? Think again! There are several saloon cars, which are known to be some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of those vehicles, which are known to have a high incidence of accidents, especially fatal ones.

Ford Focus

A part of Ford’s family of small cars, this vehicle has looks that can mesmerise any car lover. So, are you planning to buy one? When you are driving this car, you have to make sure that you are able to mitigate the risks. Ford Focus was introduced in markets, such as North and South America, Europe as well as South Africa as a replacement for earlier versions of Ford cars, such as the Ford Laser, Ford Escort, and others. The Ford Focus surely would live up to expectations as an amazing sedan. But the number of accidents it has already been involved in is a matter of concern for those who drive this car.

Honda Civic

Honda is a Japanese car manufacturing company. It is known across the world for the amazing models it designs and manufactures. But not all models manufactured by Honda are amazing. Although most of them look great, some of them might have a few anomalies. One such model is the Honda Civic. One of the most popular and most bought cars from Honda, The Civic is known for its high accident rate, which of course, is a reputational issue for Honda. It is amongst the most accident-prone car group in the world. Every year, high numbers of Honda Civics are involved in serious accidents. Unfortunately, the chance of survival for the driver is extremely low.

Chevrolet Aveo

One of the most popular car manufacturing companies, Chevrolet has some amazing models that hit the roads around the world on a regular basis. It is extremely popular and makes the list of the most craved for cars for a large number of people.

All is not rosy for Chevrolet though. There are quite a few models, which have been found to have caused lots of accidents. In fact, there are a number of models of Chevrolet, which are known to be accident prone. And among them, Chevrolet Aveo tops the list. It is found that this car is often involved in accidents. And in most of the cases when this has happened, the driver has been killed in the accident.

Kia Rio

Great to look at Kia Rio is one of the most coveted cars amongst vehicle lovers. The car, with its four-door sedan body style, offers wonderful comfort to the drivers and passengers. But it has been listed in a study to be at the top of all the cars, which have high driver fatality rates. So, the next time you are driving one make sure to be alert.

It is true that the vehicles are not always responsible for a car accident. In fact, drowsy driving is regarded as one of the most common causes of accidents of vehicles on the roads. Careless driving is also considered to be one of the major reasons behind fatal car crashes. But these are only a few of the causes. The malfunctioning of parts of the car can also cause fatal accidents. Cars, personalised with private number plates, are also involved in road accidents. So, it is extremely important to be extremely careful while driving cars in general. And if you are behind the wheel of any of these cars then you need to be extra cautious.

When you are planning to purchase a new number plate for your car you need to be aware of a few things. It is always advisable that you follow a few steps to ensure you don’t lose out or fall foul of the regulations. We have a list of the do-s and the don’t-s that you need to follow to get the best private number plates at the most reasonable prices.

Set a Budget before You Buy

It is important to have a budget for the number plate that you are planning to purchase. Personalised number plates are available at a wide range of prices. It is important to find the right kind of plate within a price range that you can afford. This will prevent you from purchasing a number plate, which is too expensive and beyond your reach, whilst ensuring you maximise your satisfaction from your purchase.

Have a Clear Idea of the Style You Want to Purchase

There are different styles of car registration.

These include:

=>Prefix style car registrations

=>Suffix style car registrations

=>Current style car registrations

=>Dateless style car registrations

It is important to choose the right style of car registration for your car whilst remembering that the age of your vehicle may limit your choice.

When purchasing the number plate it needs to be registered in your name. . So, it is essential that you have all vehicle documents to hand when making your purchase.

Be Flexible

You might have set a budget for purchasing a personalised number plate. But when you enquire with a registration broker you may find that the number plate that you finally like comes at an increased cost, which slightly surpasses your budget. However, it is still affordable to you.

If you remain inflexible and focus entirely on your budget you are likely to lose the opportunity to purchase your ideal number plate as they tend to increase in price with time.

Don’t Forget the Agency Fee

When you are purchasing a private number plate, you will need to make a payment to the authorising body which in the UK is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DOT fee associated with the transfer of a personalised registration to your vehicle is £80 and this needs to be borne in mind when establishing the cost of purchasing a number plate.

Use Recognised Brokers

Always buy a private plate from a DVLA recognised broker so that you have the confidence that the process will be managed in accordance with the Cherished Numbers Transfer Rules. Reputable brokers with over 10 years market experience are a good starting point as there are a large number of inexperienced companies in the market place.

The world of the car has been moving forward at a fast pace. Think of a time when only fuel-run cars used to rule the road . But the roads are not the same any more.  These days, you can find different types of vehicles on the road. And it includes autonomous cars.

What are Autonomous Cars?

It might sound quite strange, but autonomous cars are those vehicles, which run on their own. There is no provision for a driver to navigate the car. A number of autonomous vehicles have been introduced on the roads recently. Among them, the most famous is surely the Google Autonomous Car.

So, how do these cars run safely on the roads?

Autonomous cars are programmed in such a way that they can get learn the road conditions and the environment around them. This helps to ensure that the cars are not involved in any kind of accident.

But Accidents Do Happen

Despite the fact that all kinds of safety measures have been undertaken to avoid accidents of autonomous cars, they do happen.

So, when an autonomous car crashes, there is no driver involved. So, there’s no human error that’s contributing to the accident which leads to a degree of confusion.

Who should you blame when an autonomous car is involved in an accident?

This surely is one of the trickiest questions facing the global automobile industry. When people are involved in an accident there is an account of what happened and how the vehicle could or couldn’t be controlled by the person driving the vehicle.

What Does the Manufacturer Say?

When it comes to autonomous cars, those that have hit the road have been manufactured by Google. Google are not likely to blame their technology and are more likely to defend the technology. Their argument will be that these vehicles are safer than driven vehicles.

According to Google, “Human drivers are the problem.” So, Google is out to defend its autonomous cars as much as it can. So, it is saying that all accidents involving Google Autonomous Cars were caused by human errors, either of the victims or the drivers of the other vehicles involved. So, this leaves a limited opportunity for the victim to blame the autonomous cars.

Sudden Transfer of Control

Being a car enthusiast, you can opt for a driver-less car and personalize it with a private number plate. But when you are driving a driver-less car, you are likely to have a mindset of enjoying the ride without having the responsibility of driving.  But if the weather is not good and there’s a heavy downpour, the visibility of the driver-less car and its technology, is likely to be impaired, at which point you will find that control of the vehicle is transferred to you.

So, what will happen at that moment?

It’s quite obvious that you will have to take immediate charge as the driver. This might take you by surprise and may lead to accidents as a result of your lack of preparedness.

Issue of Liability Can Cause Problems

One of the major problems that is associated with autonomous cars by Google is this issue of liability. This issue stems from the fact that it is difficult to determine who will be legally and financially responsible when the driver-less vehicles are involved in an accident. According to experts, if the issue of liability is not solved very soon, it will result in decreasing popularity of driver-less cars in the future. It is highly unlikely that we will see large numbers of these cars on the roads in the immediate near future.

Classic cars are a hobby for a lot of people. Even those people who do not purchase classic cars find classic cars amazing. If you are a car lover, you are surely in awe of the array of wonderful classic cars available. Before you purchase a classic car, it is important to be completely sure that the car is a classic in all senses of the term. Only then will you ensure that you understand how to get a good return for the money you are investing.

Antique or classic cars are amazing. They have a unique appearance and everyone enjoys seeing them on the roads in the UK . Many classic cars effectively have a personalised number plate by virtue of their age and some of the most expensive cherished numbers adorn classic cars.

So, how would you go about purchasing a classic car?

There are a few cons you need to consider. You need to be aware of areas of concern in order to ensure that you are not compromised when buying a classic car.

Might Not Fetch a Great Amount on Resale

You might love to buy cars. And you don’t purchase them only for the sake of luxury. You see them as a form of investment. And there’s nothing wrong in that. A lot of cars turn out to be great investments. But you will need to ensure that you are able to maintain the car in good working condition in order to make sure it does not lose value.

Take More Time, Energy and Money to Maintain

Do you already own a car? Do you maintain that properly? You must be aware of the fact that it takes a lot of time, energy and money to maintain your new car. It’s even more so with a classic car. As the vehicle is quite old, the parts can start malfunctioning. So, to keep the car running properly, it is important to take it for regular maintenance. And even then, it might not run properly on a regular basis. You need to be prepared to invest further time and money beyond your initial investment.

Spare Parts are Not Easily Available

You have a classic car, which has been performing quite well. But it often creates a bit of a problem. It often happens that your car will need the replacement of a part. Parts for classic cars aren’t always readily available and it becomes quite difficult to keep the car on the road or in a serviceable condition. You will need to identify where you are going to be able to source parts for the classic car you are purchasing.

On the Expensive Side

Classic cars are attractive and a favourite of most car enthusiasts.  However they come with a cost that can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. You need to research how much the car is likely to cost on an ongoing basis otherwise it might not be a good investment in the long term.

Despite all the disadvantages, there are lots of benefits of buying a classic car. And generally speaking the pros outweigh the cons with one of the pros being the private number plate on the car which makes it even more unique and more valuable in the long term.