Hand-held scanner can copy car keys

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The double-edged sword that is technology has, throughout history, produced some of the most remarkable inventions the world has ever known. And while most of them have been or are being put to good use, there are some inventions that, while pretty cool in their own right, poses an element of threat should they fall in the wrong hands.



Take this new Electronic Key Impressioner for example. The EKI is a small hand-held device that has the capability to electronically map the inside of car locks and remold a key that could open the car lock that it previously scanned. With the use of a USB port and a lock mapping software, users of the EKI can completely redesign and duplicate a set number of keys.

On one hand, this new device could end up becoming a locksmith’s new BFF – imagine how easy it would be for them to just scan a certain lock’s key codes and create a duplicate using a lock mapping software. On the flip side, however, the EKI – should they end up with someone with evil intentions – could also become a thief’s new favorite toy. Can you imagine how easy it would be for a lot of car thieves to boost a car simply by using this new contraption?

It may be a little far-fetched but in a time when crime rates all over the world are steadily increasing, we figured that this may not be an appropriate time to be releasing something that could potentially lead to trouble.

Sure, it could end up making the life of a locksmith a whole lot easier. But on the same token, you can also say the same thing for a thi , a car thief, at least.

2010 Hamann Tycoon EVO M

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If the Hamann based BMW X6 is called Tycoon EVO, the tuning program for the BMW X6 M is called Tycoon Evo M, of course. Announced today it will make its world debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show.





If for the Tycoon Evo the maximum output went up to 501 HP, for the EVO M the output is raised to an impressive 670 hp (an extra 115 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 780 Nm of torque at 1,500 – 5,650 r.p.m. As a result the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 4,2 seconds and the top speed goes up to 186 mph.





The exterior package includes: front and the rear wing extensions made of light composite materials, newly designed side skirts, front apron with the four striking LED daytime running lights, enlarged air inlets in the front and a carbon bonnet, a roof spoilers and 23-inch wheels









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Submerged Bugatti Recovered After 74 Years Goes To Auction

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An original 1925 Bugatti Brescia Type 22 Roadster, submerged in a lake for over 70 years, is expected to fetch at least €70,000 when it hits the auction block later this month. The car had been in Switzerland's Lake Maggiore since 1936 following an argument between the car's owner and a government official.





Roughly 20% of the car is reusable, including the aluminum, brass, rubber, and wood used in its original assembly. The car suffered more damage on its right-hand side due to its position in the lake. Evidence of early tuning work shows a car with "a simple racing body lacking electrics," two-piece valances under the bonnet, and flared rear mudguards. The car's identity was tracked through its chassis number, 2461, engine number, 879, and gearbox number, 964. It carries a Chausson radiator, Zenith carburetor, and a twin ignition from SEV.





Proceeds from the car's auction will benifit the Fondazione Damiano Tamagni charity, which works to reduce levels of violent crimes amongst juveniles. The foundation was named for Damiano Tamagni, a young man killed in February 2008 after being severely beaten by three others in Locarno, Switzerland. Tamagni was a member of a diving club which frequently toured the car underwater. His father Maurizio is still a member of the club, and worked with them to rescue the vehicle.





The last owner of the car is believed to be Marco Schmuklerski, an architect who's buildings are still dotted around the country. Rumors in Switzerland suggest that an official, upset that import taxes were never paid on the car, demanded the car´s destruction. The official´s underlings complied by dumping the car in the water, where it was forgotten until 1967 when a local diver found the car half-buried on the lakebed.



As a group the diving club worked to surface the car, an event witnessed by Bugatti Club Suisse members last July. Estimates suggest the auction value of the car could top €90,000. The vehicle could potentially be restored, or it could be prepared as a display piece.





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Fiat 500 EV & Chrysler Badged Lancia Delta Displayed in Detroit

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Fiat is showing off their influence on Chrysler at this year's NAIAS. The Italian automaker has 20% ownership of the American brand, managerial control over it, and is using the Detroit show to introduce new models to Americans.





Small cars are seen as critical to Chrysler's a new chapter in the company's history. Thus, new management ordered engineers at Fiat-owned Lancia to rebrand the Delta as a Chrysler. Sporting a new grille, the Delta is not expected to be rebranded as a Chrysler for the North American market. The rebadged Lancia is mainly a conversation piece for Chrysler to guage reactions to the synergistic possibilities between the two brands.





The Delta is joined by the Fiat 500 EV and the Abarth 500. Fiat plans to kick-off NA sales of the 500 later this year with a 100-horsepower 1.4-liter engine produced in Michigan. A 175-horsepower turbocharged unit will be fitted for the NA-spec Abarth 500. Vehicle production will take place in Mexico





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First Look: Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

Article file under http://www.motortrend.com
By Scott Evans

TOKYO SHOW UPDATE: At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru president and CEO Ikuo Mori announced that the brand will launch its first hybrid vehicle in 2012. This all-new fuel-sipper will feature technology showcased in the Hybrid Tourer Concept, which boasts Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel drive, Lineartronic CVT, and a 2.0-liter direct-injected flat-4 combined with a lithium-ion battery.





Subaru said its hybrid will be a version of an existing model, e.g. Forester Hybrid or Outback Hybrid, and not a standalone model a la the Toyota Prius. The HTC wears a bold hexagonal front grille that hints at the brand’s corporate face of tomorrow, and the overall design theme represents Subaru's idea of what an activity vehicle will look like in the future.





Further, the HTC's use of LED front lighting will likely find its way into future products, and the 2.0-liter engine -- Subaru's first example of a turbocharged DI power plant -- will no doubt make its way under the hoods of upcoming Impreza and Legacy models



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