Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder In Star Wars Was Based On This Strange Little Car

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For such a strange and obscure little car, the Bond Bug sure has been seen by a lot of eyes. Luke Skywalker’s iconic Landspeeder seen in “A New Hope” – the first movie of the world-changing sci-fi trilogy Star Wars – was built using the obscure little three-wheeler. The Bond Bug may not be a Ferrari, but they still called it a sports car.

The X-34 Landspeeder from “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” | Paul Butterfield/Getty Images

Who knew we all wanted a Bond Bug as kids?

According to Silodrome, the Bond Bug is a three-wheeled, two-seater from the British automaker, Bond. The Bond Bug 700ES – used to create Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder – was a fairly radical design even by 1970s’ standards. Bond even sold the Bug 700ES as a “sports car.” While this may be a head-scratcher, I guess it was sporty enough to make the Landspeeder cut. 

The chassis and running gear were pulled for the Star Wars Landspeeder. It seems like the Empire would be able to outrun the Bug’s white-knuckled 76 mph top-speed; alas, it got Luke where he needed to be every time. 

What about the Bond Bug made its Star Wars Landspeeder worthy? 

The Bond Bug looks more like a one-off fiberglass garage build than it does a real production car. However, Tom Karen of Ogle Design for the Reliant Motor Company bought Bond Cars Ltd in 1969. The company ultimately made over 2,000 examples of the sketchy but charming little three-wheelers from 1970-1974. Karen would later develop the Star Wars Landspeeder and use the Bug platform for it.

The Bug consisted of a steel chassis underneath a little fiberglass body with one front wheel and two bringing up the rear. The Bug’s relation to the Reliant Robin is clearly seen in this feature alone. The cool part is that it was classified as a motorcycle because the Bug only had three wheels, making restrictions a bit lighter. 

What made the Bond Bug tick?

Reliant Robin parked on the side of the road in England. This little car is related to the Bond Bug used to create Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder
Reliant Robin | Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

To promptly get Luke Skywalker to Mos Eisley, the first-generation Bugs sported a 700cc Reliant light-alloy four-cylinder engine producing 29 hp. All these mighty horses are sent to the two rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. When the ES model came out, the Bug saw a power jump from its new 750cc engine. 

The 700ES model also had improved seats, more padding over the engine hatch, an ashtray, mudflats, a front bumper, and a spare wheel.

While the original 29 hp isn’t much, the whole three-wheeled rig only weighed 898 lbs. This power-to-weight ratio made the 76-mph top speed six mph faster than Britain’s national speed limit at the time. However, we doubt that’s enough to make the “Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.” 

Reliant developed a more powerful four-wheeled version of the Bond Bug later, but it was never greenlit for production. 

The Bond Bug may have been silly but Luke Skywalker never drove a Lamborghini across Tatooine, did he? 

The Bond Bug may have been a silly, dangerous little thing, but it will live in glory forever as the driving force behind one of Star Wars’ most iconic vehicles. The Landspeeder was and is still a beloved prop of the franchise. Toys were made in its likeness as well as real, driveable replicas. We have the little Bond Bug to thank for one of the coolest ever movie cars (although the Landspeeder isn’t exactly a car). Long live the Bond Bug.

RELATED: There Might Be a Star Wars Jeep Gladiator

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2022 Lexus LX: Why We Can’t Wait

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We cannot wait for the 2022 Lexus LX. For one thing, the aging Lexus flagship SUV could use an update. For another, Toyota Group’s newest chassis and engines are cutting-edge technology that belong in a Lexus. And finally, the 2022 Lexus LX may be the closest American customers can come to buying the incredible 300-series Land Cruiser.

The 2022 Lexus LX Will Have Eye-Catching Good Looks

A 2022 Lexus NX | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

The 2020 leak of Toyota’s future plans gave us a sneak peek of a dramatic new 2022 Lexus LX. The imposing SUV featured an hourglass grille stretching from hood to bumper.

Lexus has only revealed a few 2022 models. One model is the all-new Lexus NX. This model features a chin diffuser, wrap-around LED lights, and extra grill space with two “side grills” beside the center grill. We will have to wait to see if any of these new design cues are shared across the 2022 Lexus LX.

The 2022 Lexus LX Will Likely Ride On Toyota’s New Global Architecture Chassis

2022 Toyota Tundra on the TNGA-F Chassis it will share with the 2022 Lexus LX
2022 Toyota Tundra on the TNGA-F Chassis | Toyota

Historically, the LX has been Lexus’ premiere body-on-frame SUV. If the 2022 Lexus LX is still a truck-based body-on-frame SUV, we know which chassis Lexus will build it on–and we could not be more excited.

To consolidate its technologies and simplify manufacturing, Toyota Group–Lexus’ parent company–launched its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) initiative in 2015. Moving forward, each vehicle class will share a cutting-edge architecture. Toyota and Lexus will build all full-size, body-on-frame SUVs and trucks on the TNGA-F chassis.

The Toyota Land Cruiser 300-series was the first TNGA-F vehicle. The new chassis improved every aspect of the Toyota SUV: It is over 400 pounds lighter than its competitor with a lower center of gravity. At the same time, the new Land Cruiser has a more robust frame with a better-engineered suspension structure. The off-road-ready Land Cruiser even boasts 9.1 inches of ground clearance.

Toyota will not sell the new Land Cruiser in the United States. But Americans glimpsed the new TNGA-F chassis again in photos of the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. The re-engineered truck forsakes outdated leaf springs in favor of rear coil springs and control arms. We hope the GX shares the Tundra’s extended travel racing shocks and skidplates too.

The 2022 Lexus LX Will Probably Be Powered By A Turbocharged Dynamic Force Engine

The Lexus LS 500s 3.4-Liter Engine it will share with the 2022 Lexus LX
The Lexus LS 500s 3.4-Liter Engine | Lexus

When Toyota consolidated its chassis, it also consolidated its engine offerings. Toyota once produced about 800 engine options. With the manufacturer’s Dynamic Force engine initiative, it sought to cut that number to seventeen.

With its Dynamic Force engine family, Toyota combined its VVT-iE system with modular, long stroke and high-compression engine technologies. The new flagship engine is known internally as the V35A-FTS. It is a 3.4-Liter V6 with twin turbochargers. It is capable of producing 10.5:1 compression and achieving 37% thermal efficiency.

Lexus has offered this cutting-edge V6 in LS 500 since the sedan’s 2017 redesign. It produces 416 horsepower while maintaining 18 city/29 highway mpg (22 combined).

With no V8 in the Dynamic Force engine family, it appears that every TNG-F chassis SUV and truck will share this turbocharged V6. We cannot wait to see how it performs in the 2022 Lexus LX.

Lexus Is Hitting Its Stride

Three 2020 Lexus SUVs outside a Lexus dealership. Not pictured: the 2022 Lexus LX
Lexus SUVs | Photo by John Nacion/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The golden age of Lexus is upon us: Consumer Reports is giving excellent five-year reports to Lexus SUVs, such as the 2016 Lexus RX. Consumer Reports also names the 2021 Lexus RX among the most comfortable SUVs. CR even ranked the 2021 Lexus GX above the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, and our reviewer liked the GX’s cool features. Then, MotorTrend listed the 2021 Lexus LX among the best full-size luxury three-row SUVs.

Some of the technology in 2021 Lexus SUVs is, admittedly, old-school. Yet the 2021 lineup wowed fans and critics alike. We cannot wait to see what Lexus can do with Toyota Group’s cutting-edge chassis and high-tech new engines. The 2022 Lexus LX cannot come soon enough.

RELATED: The Old School Lexus GX Finally Got 1 Crucial Update

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Selling a Car Sucks. Here’s How to Safely Sell Your Car to Anyone

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If I’m being honest, I don’t like selling cars. If I had it my way I’d just keep collecting them, but I’m probably in the minority there. Odds are, you’ve realized what a stressful experience the whole ordeal can be. Negotiating is never fun, and tire-kickers make life hard, especially in this market. Honestly, there’s a lot of ways for you to end up on your ass if you’re selling. This is how to do it safely.

Location, location, location

Dealerships aren’t a bad place to sell your own cars | Smith Collection via Getty Images

First off, if you’re selling a car, do it somewhere safe. Shady backalley transactions does not a long life make. People are mean. Edmunds says you should vet potential buyers thoroughly. Give their Facebook profile a quick look. Is the dude posing with a bunch of guns? Maybe don’t take that “cash today” offer from them, as they may take your cash today. Please, talk to people who want to buy. Don’t schedule a test drive with some random off the internet without having a discussion first.

Speaking of, location is everything when selling a car. Public places are your friend. A bank is just about as good as it gets. I prefer to make all of my important transactions in the lobby of my bank. When I sold my car this morning, I made sure it was done on camera in front of a bunch of tellers. Another good one is of course, the police station. Plus, if they do try to rob you, you can’t beat the convenience.

Taking payment for selling your car can be complicated

A stack of $100 bills
Cash is still king | Valera Golovniov via Getty Images

Now, this could honestly warrant a whole article on its own. You want to make sure there’s real money being handed to you during a sale, supposing all your vetting and such has gone well. For example, your average run-of-the-mill check doesn’t technically have any real cash value. It’s essentially a piece of paper that tells your bank to move money from one place to another. Most importantly, checks can be canceled. If you have to take a check when you sell your car, make sure the funds clear before giving up the keys. However, some buyers may not be comfortable with that.

Frankly, the best method is still cold, hard cash. It’s hard to fake, banks take it and move the funds into your account immediately, and they can’t be taken back once handed over. Best part? All of those are positives for a buyer too. They’ll want the transaction done just as badly as you. If you can’t get to a bank, say on a Sunday, Amazon has pens you can buy that will change color if a bill is fake. Department stores use them all the time.

Bring your friends

Selling a car at CarMax, a dealer employee hands over the keys
Having some friends around is good for more than just a ride home | Mark Peterson via Getty Images

Finally, bring your friends. As I said before, people are mean. They may want to take advantage, so having some friends around and trusting your gut is key to making a sale go smoothly. With that in mind and the current used market, you’re sure to make some good money in a safe and reasonably short timeframe.

RELATED: What Happens When Your Auction Winner Won’t Pay?

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Tata Motors Made a Mini Bulletproof Military Vehicle in 2012

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The need for bulletproof vehicles has become a big business around the world. Concept cars of bulletproof vehicles began in 1902. Germany was the first to produce an armored vehicle, and it sat on a Daimler chassis. The car was started in 1899 and took two years to finish. Since then, bulletproof vehicles have found their way into the market through BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford. Range Rover also offers the Sentinel, which contains more than a ton of ballistic steel and armored glass.

In 2012, Tata Motors released a miniaturized bulletproof vehicle called the Tata Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV), just four short years after terrorist attacks occurred in India. This was no coincidence, as we will soon see. Let’s look at the history of Tata Motors and its place in the bulletproof vehicle industry.

The history of Tata Motors

The Tata Motors logo and signage on an engine grille | INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images

Tata Motors was formerly known as Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO). It was founded in 1945 to build trains and locomotives, according to Business Standard. Tata built its first commercially available vehicle in 1954, thanks to a collaboration with Daimler-Benz AG. However, the relationship ended in 1969. Tata Motors then made its debut in the passenger vehicle market in 1988 with the launch of the Tata Mobile, followed by the Tata Sierra in 1991. Tata released its first fully indigenous car, the Indica, in 1998. In 2008 it launched the Tata Nano, which was touted as the world’s most affordable car at the time. Tata Motors later acquired Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company in 2004 and Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008.

The company has since gone on to produce vehicles around the world. Tata has plants in India as well as Argentina, South Africa, Great Britain, and Thailand. While branching out into different companies, it also branched out into different usability genres with the advent of the MBPV, the Tata Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle.

The latest addition to the Tata Motors family

Tata Motors expanded into the bulletproof vehicle market by taking its MBPV to the private sector. Traditionally, armored cars have mostly been reserved for military purposes. So, with rising foreign and domestic tensions, Tata realized that the military might invest in bulletproof vehicles. Tata has provided more than a million vehicles to the Indian armed forces. 

According to AutoBlog, Tata’s first offering in the smaller bulletproof vehicle area was in 2012 with the MBPV. Tata continues to offer this vehicle in 2021. Its diminutive size makes it an unassuming vehicle, weighing in at only 2,425 pounds. It was conceived due to the need for small vehicles that can move around in small places such as malls, airports, and rail stations, where terrorists may seek shelter to provide safety from gunfire. This was important because the terrorist attacks of 2008 were a sort of wake-up call to not only Tata but the entire country of India. The attacks were mainly in Mumbai around the Taj Mahal hotel, and therefore, the need for small urban bulletproof vehicles was born. 

The future of bulletproof vehicles

Tata Motors filled a need when it offered the Micro Bullet Proof Vehicle. Indeed, many other motor companies have offerings, such as Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ferrari, and Lincoln, which are customizable depending on the customer’s needs. For example, Audi offers the A8 L, which has run-flat tires that supply oxygen to the cabin in case of a chemical attack. Tata has certainly not been afraid of change in the past, so that it may develop yet another generation of bulletproof vehicles in the future.

Since its inception, Tata Motors has certainly come a long way and will likely inspire many other automakers to follow suit. The need for bulletproof vehicles that can navigate small spaces is certainly an area Tata has been operating in for a while. The company has proven that it can adapt to changing times and continue to do so well.

RELATED: Is Tata Motors a Real Auto Corporation?

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