FOXNews.com: Toyota designs a stand-up car

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Toyota designs a stand-up car Nov 5th 2013, 20:50 Hang ten, dude! On the highway? Toyota is unveiling a vehicle at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show that is driven while standing up. Like a Segway on steroids, the FV2 was designed to be controlled by body motions. There isn't a steering wheel or handlebars, the driver just shifts his or her weight to change direction or speed. While it also doesn't have seatbelts, the FV2 is envisioned to be tapped into an intelligent transport system that will allow it to monitor other vehicles in the vicinity and alter its driver to any potential hazards and autonomously take evasive action. It can also read minds, or at least moods, and adjust itself accordingly while suggesting potential destinations. When it gets where it's going, the windshield folds down to secure the vehicle as it enters sleep mode. No, it won't be replacing the Camry anytime soon, but…well, there is no but. It's just wild.

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FOXNews.com: Gene Simmons, Ford collaborate on 'Snakebit' F-100

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Gene Simmons, Ford collaborate on 'Snakebit' F-100 Nov 6th 2013, 12:49 The Ford truck line has grown in many ways over the past half-century, but legendary KISS bassist Gene Simmons' custom 1956 F100 brings the best of the past and the present together in one beautiful show truck--with a little added spice. To make it even sweeter, the special one-off will be auctioned for charity in 2014. Unveiled at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the 'Snakebit' truck was a collaboration between Simmons, his wife Shannon Tweed, and Ford, and it is styled to salute another aspect of Ford's history: the Shelby Mustangs. A badge on the grille gives a direct nod to the high-performance muscle cars, but the Snakebit F100 also honors the legendary Shelbys in other ways. Perhaps the most impressive homage to the Shelby Mustangs is the 550-horsepower Ford Racing supercharged V-8 engine under the hood. Displacing 5.4 liters, and backed by a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine should give the rear-drive resto-mod pickup all of the punch of its sportier cousins—not to mention a healthy dose of driving fun. Read: Chevrolet Cheyenne is the Camaro Z/28 of pickups Extensive modifications were made to give the 1956 Ford F100 its new look: the wheelbase was lengthened five inches, a billet machined floor mimics a wood pattern, and 18-inch front wheels tuck up under the fenders, while 20-inch rear wheels help apply all of the 550 horses to the ground. The wheel designs were also inspired by the Shelby Mustangs. Inside the Snakebit F100, a handmade interior features two-tone leather, a custom leather-wrapped dash, and a contoured bench seat from Glide Engineering designed to suggest the Shelby interior style. Next year, the Snakebit F100 will be auctioned for charity at a Barrett-Jackson event. The proceeds will go toward construction of a children's hospital in Tweed's hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Tom Foster, president of Saskatoon's Industrial Machine & Manufacturing originally conceived the idea for the custom truck and charity benefit. Foster also named the project "Wheels of Dreams." "The Wheels of Dreams project symbolizes how people can come together to meet the needs of our children and families by raising much needed funds for the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan," said Brynn Boback-Lane, president and CEO of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. "Just like the hospital, this concept car project started as an idea and a desire to do something better for our community. "What began as a grassroots idea, the volunteers and supporters of Wheels of Dreams have turned into a major international fundraiser opportunity that will ultimately benefit our foundation and the children of Saskatchewan who require the services and care of a hospital," Boback-Lane added. More photos from Motor Authority

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FOXNews.com: Moller launches crowdfunding campaign for Skycar test flight

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Moller launches crowdfunding campaign for Skycar test flight Nov 5th 2013, 18:44 Paul Moller has been trying to get his Skycar off the ground for three decades and now he's asking the public for a lift. The Moller International founder and developer of a novel "flying car" concept designed to be driven on the road and take off and land vertically is launching an Indiegogo campaign aimed at funding completion of the vehicle and its first test flight. The company is seeking $958,000 and says it has partners who have committed to matching that amount if the goal is met. The perks offered to contributors include the opportunity to fly in the vehicle for a $5,000 contribution or pilot it for $15,000. The Skycar has gone through several permutations over the years, the most recent featuring four nacelles each housing two compact Wankel rotary engines driving propellers. During liftoff the nacelles direct their thrust toward the ground allowing the vehicle to rise vertically, then rotate toward the rear for horizontal flight. The body and small tail wing are designed to provide additional lift. To date, the Skycar has only performed a few, very low, unmanned hovers while connected to a tether for safety. Moller says the Indiegogo funds will be used to make the final modifications to the vehicle needed to prepare it for a piloted free flight. The Skycar is one of several vehicles vying to become the first viable "flying car" of the 21st century, although they all take different approaches. Most notable among them are the Terrafugia Transition, which is more of an airplane with retractable wings, and the Skyrunner, an ATV that can be converted into a paraplane. If the campaign is successful, Moller says the test flight will take place in June 2014.

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FOXNews.com: Acclaimed chef Charlie Trotter found dead in home

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Acclaimed chef Charlie Trotter found dead in home Nov 5th 2013, 19:19 Award-winning chef Charlie Trotter has died. MyFoxChicago reports that Trotter, 54, was found unconscious and not breathing in his Chicago home by his son Dylan.   He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of his death is not yet known. Trotter, a self-taught chef, redefined American cooking.  He came onto the culinary scene with his Charlie Trotter's Restaurant in 1987, winning him an array of accolades, including Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 1999.  In 2000, Wine Spectator magazine called Trotter's the best restaurant in the nation. Trotter also authored 14 cookbooks and was the host of the PBS cooking series, "The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter". Known as a taskmaster in the kitchen, he pioneered many techniques and practices that are standard in restaurants today.  He was one of the first to introduce a raw-food tasting menu and to use seasonal ingredients from local farms. In August 2012 after 25 years, his name-sake restaurant closed.    "That said, there are so many other things to do in life. Twenty-five years in this line of work is fantastic. It's just time to step back, breathe deeply and do something different," he told the New York Times. He said at the time he wanted take a three-year-hiatus to travel to Argentina, Portugal and Scotland. He also planned to use to the time to earn a master's degree in philosophy and political theory, the same subjects he majored in as an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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FOXNews.com: Diamond-studded Rolls-Royce Phantom shines

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Diamond-studded Rolls-Royce Phantom shines Nov 5th 2013, 20:10 As if Rolls-Royce's Phantom wasn't ostentatious enough, the British automaker decided to cover it with diamonds. Yes, Rolls-Royce is showing an updated version of the Celestial Phantom--originally unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show--with some new jewelry at the 2013 Dubai Motor Show this week. The Celestial Phantom was created to celebrate the birth of the Phantom, which happened January 1, 2003 at midnight, according to Rolls-Royce. So the craftspeople at the Rolls-Royce Bespoke personalization division decided to replicate the sky on that night, inside the car. The Starlight Headliner Rolls-Royce offers on other cars mimics the night sky, but on the Celestial Phantom it shows the exact position of every star on January 1, 2003. Now, Rolls-Royce is taking things a step further. For its Dubai debut, the Celestial Phantom gets 446 diamonds hand-set into the door caps, center-console lid, and rear privacy divider. Why cover a Phantom in bling? According to the automaker, the Middle East is the biggest market for its bespoke cars, so a special offering seemed appropriate for the Rolls' stand at Dubai. The diamond-encrusted Celestial Phantom will be joined by two other Rolls-Royce Bespoke cars at the Dubai show. The Phantom Coupe Chicane is a somewhat unlikely performance-oriented Rolls, built as a tribute to the Goodwood Motor Circuit, which is located near the company's headquarters. And joining the two Phantoms will be the Alpine Trial Centenary Collection Ghost, which memorializes Rolls' victory in the 1913 Alpine Trial. For more Dubai Motor Show news, head over to Motor Authority.

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FOXNews.com: Burger King to bring back Big Mac copycat

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Burger King to bring back Big Mac copycat Nov 6th 2013, 13:37 What has two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame bun? Burger King's latest sandwich. The Miami-based chain says it's bringing back its "Big King" sandwich, which looks a lot like the popular Big Mac made by its bigger rival McDonald's. Burger King says it's an addition to the permanent menu rolling out this week. Burger King says it previously offered the Big King as a limited-time offer. But back then, it didn't have the middle bun — a Big Mac hallmark — like it does now. It's just the latest move by Burger King that seems to pay more than a little homage to the Golden Arches. Last spring, Burger King also unveiled a revamped menu that looked a lot like the food McDonald's had added in recent years, such as fruit shakes, chicken snack wraps and specialty coffee drinks. Since then, Burger King has also rolled out a rib sandwich to compete with the popular McRib, as well as chicken nuggets (Burger King is better known for its chicken tenders). As the New York Post wrote at the time, "They look like McNuggets. They're as nutritious as McNuggets. Just don't call them McNuggets." What does McDonald's think of all this? "We're focused on our business and our customers," spokeswoman Lisa McComb said in an email. Scott Hume, editor of BurgerBusiness.com, notes that imitation is common in the fast-food industry. "McDonald's clones make sense if they're popular in the marketplace," Hume said. He noted that Burger King has also rolled out more differentiated products, such as a pulled pork sandwich. The changes aren't yet making a big splash with customers. In the latest quarter, Burger King said sales slipped 0.3 percent at North American locations open at least a year. McDonald's said the figure edged up 0.7 percent. Burger King Worldwide Inc. has had numerous owners over the years. 3G Capital, an investment firm run by Brazilian billionaires, bought the chain and took it private in 2010. It took it public again last year in a deal that allowed it to earn back what it paid while still maintaining a majority stake. Since then, 3G has moved CEO Bernardo Hees on to another assignment over in Pittsburgh, where he's heading up H.J. Heinz. 3G bought the ketchup maker with Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. In Hees' place, 3G installed another one its principals, Daniel Schwartz, who was 32 at the time. As for the new "Big King," Burger King's website lists it at 510 calories. The Big Mac is listed at 550 calories. Burger King also recently introduced lower-calorie fries that it dubbed as "Satisfries." Notably, Burger King has been touting the fries as having 30 percent fewer calories than regular fries. But the comparison is to McDonald's fries, not its own fries. Satisfries have 20 percent fewer calories than Burger King's own fries.

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FOXNews.com: Craft beer used to help lure in church members

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Craft beer used to help lure in church members Nov 4th 2013, 16:41 Church groups have long used coffee and the occasional stale donut as a way to bring together parishioners to talk about faith. Now, some churches are trying to attract new members through craft beer. NPR reports that Zio Carlo brewpub in Fort Worth, Tex. is home to Church-in-a-Pub, where members of the Calvary Lutheran Church meet and drink good beer. Leah Stanfield, 28, told NPR she has been going to Church-in-a-Pub for a year now. "I find the love, I find the support, I find the non-judgmental eyes when I come here," she says. "And I find friends that love God, love craft beer." Not surprisingly, some Sunday night drinkers are a bit taken aback to find a church service in their local bar. "I tell 'em, it's a church service, and they're, like, 'In a pub?' And I'm, like, yeah. Some of 'em stick around for trivia, some of 'em take off, some of 'em will hang out and have another pint or two," bartender Les Bennett told NPR. Pastor Philip Heinze says he's got no problem using beer to help with his missionary work or to help boost the declining number of church members. "I'm not interested, frankly, in making more church members," he says. "I'm interested in having people have significant relationships around Jesus. And if it turns out to be craft beer, fine." This group isn't alone. Once a month, the old First Christian Church in Portland, Ore. opens its parish hall for Beer & Hymns. So, will church-in-a-pub become a regular sight? Tell us what you think.

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