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Automotive
VW's clean diesel BlueSport concept: more economical than the Prius, with 80% more power
By Loz Blain
00:15 January 13, 2009 PST
January 13, 2009 The latest generation turbo injected clean diesels are already delivering proper sportscar performance at fuel economy levels that beat even the updated version of Toyota's pedestrian Prius hybrid - and Volkswagen's major concept debut at Detroit's Auto Show is determined to ram home the point. Using similar technologies to what VW subsidiary Audi has employed in its Sportback concept, the VW BlueSport concept's 54mpg fuel economy makes a mockery of the third-generation Prius's 50mpg, while delivering nearly twice the horsepower. A compact, corner-carving roadster, the BlueSport looks like a real giggle. Read More
Toyota's 2010 Prius breaks cover
By Paul Evans
22:21 January 12, 2009 PST
The third-generation Toyota Prius 50 MPG hybrid was revealed today at the 2009 North American International Auto show. The new Prius features a more aerodynamic shape, larger 1.8 liter petrol engine with optional roof-mounted solar panels and intelligent park assist. Unfortunately the 2010 Prius is not yet a plug in hybrid and still comes with a relatively small Nickel-metal hydride battery so EV only mode will not exceed approx 5 miles. While the current model Prius is EPA rated at 46 mpg, the third-generation Prius has increased fuel economy to an estimated 50 miles per gallon for the new Prius (it has not been EPA rated as yet). Read More
Subaru Legacy Concept close to 2010 production car
By Mike Hanlon
20:45 January 12, 2009 PST
January 13, 2008 Marking the 20th anniversary of the Subaru Legacy (Liberty in Australia), Subaru unveiled a concept model that suggests the direction of the next model Legacy four-seat sedan, due for release in 2010. Indeed, from reading between the lines, we understand this is very close to what we’ll see in showrooms later this year or early next. The model again features Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel drive system mated to a 3.6-liter six-cylinder Boxer (horizontally-opposed) engine - the dash and centre console feature touch-screens and rear vision is accomplished by cameras, in a theme that Subaru has christened "High Definition". There’s a longer wheelbase and a higher roofline for more interior space, legroom and headroom, but we’d have preferred to see the 2.2 litre diesel engine – do we really need a 3.6 litre petrol engine for a family car? Read More
Audi presents its Sportback concept, a preview of the 2010 A7 sedan
By Loz Blain
20:18 January 12, 2009 PST
January 13, 2009 While the firebreathing 5.2-litre V10 R8 supercar is clearly the performance king of Audi's Detroit NAIAS lineup, the Sportback concept unveiled does an excellent job of marrying performance, economy, stunning looks and practicality. Its 3-litre, 6-cylinder direct-injection turbo 'clean diesel' engine puts out 225 horsepower and 550 Nm, for a top speed over 150mph - and yet its average fuel economy nearly tips 40mpg. Ultra-low CO2 emissions are the result of smart decisions throughout the car, from the advanced exhaust emissions control, to electric systems like the power steering that consume no energy when they're not immediately in use, to automatic engine stop-start at the traffic lights and power-smart sunlight-white LED headlights. The Sportback's ultra-clean lines and fastback hatch somehow make this four-door coupe look sportier than some of its two-door contemporaries. Beautiful. Read More
In the flesh: BMW's 2009 Z4 roadster with retractable hardtop roof and adjustable ride height
By Loz Blain
20:18 January 12, 2009 PST
January 13, 2009 We previewed the new Beemer Z4 roadster back in December - now we've had a chance to dribble on it at the Detroit NAIAS. The hardtop convertible is as slick and sporty as you'd expect, but its posing credentials are backed up a serious performance focus. Dynamic Drive control gives you three engine mapping/stability settings for the 300hp twin turbo inline 6 engine, to control your degree of hooliganism. Adaptive suspension with electronic damping control can adjust ride height on the fly, and adapt to road conditions so quickly that if you hit a bump with the front wheels, the back wheels will be adjusted in time to deal with it. The gearshift is accomplished either through an extremely short-travel manual 6-speed, a standard paddle-shift auto or a ripping seven-speed double-clutch sports auto. Bavarian beauty, brains and brawn in a 150mph top-down giggle machine. Read More
Opulence meets economy: Lexus debuts its first fuel-sipping dedicated luxury hybrid
By Loz Blain
20:18 January 12, 2009 PST
January 13, 2009 In keeping with the strong theme of efficiency over gas-guzzling muscle at this year's Detroit NAIAS auto show, Lexus has introduced a new hybrid sedan to its lineup, slated to go on sale in Q3 2009. 30% more fuel-efficient than anything else in the Lexus range, the 187-horsepower, 4-cylinder HS 250h is an acknowledgement by the biggest-selling luxury car brand in the USA that even the cashed-up luxury market wants to control its use of fossil fuels. While the HS 250h is miserly on fuel (Lexus claim it will drink less per mile than the tiny Smart Fortwo) it's still a big spender on the interior, with some serious driver assist features, heads-up display, radar-governed cruise control, parking cameras and a voice-controlled nav/premium audio system. Read More
GM to manufacture Chevy Volt battery packs in the US
By Paul Evans
20:13 January 12, 2009 PST
General Motors is getting back into the battery business. It had been a two horse race between Korea’s LG and US startup A123 systems to win the supply contract for the Chevrolet Volt. LG Chem and Compact Power Inc. were one team and A123 Systems/Continental the second team selected from an initial field of 27 applicants to compete against one another to build the Chevy Volt’s battery packs. GM announced in September 2008 that it had chosen a battery supplier, but would not reveal which company that was. But has either team actually won? Read More
Jaguar’s new 225 mph XFR and XKR
By Mike Hanlon
16:55 January 12, 2009 PST
Jaguar unveiled all-new supercharged 510bhp XFR and XKR at NAIAS today, and announced that the new XFR prototype has already run a top speed of 225.675mph (363.188km/h). The new XFR is the first XF to carry the ‘R’ designation which defines Jaguar’s most performance-focused models. Powered by a new supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine developing 510PS and 625Nm of torque. But for the production car’s electronically limited 155mph top speed, it would be the fastest Jaguar ever, even faster than the 217.1mph (349.4 km/h) set by the XJ220 in 1992. The Jaguar XJ220 held the record for the highest top speed of a production car until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994. High-speed runs play a large role in the history of the Jaguar marque, with this May seeing the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar XK120's record-breaking 132.6mph run set in 1949. Full details of the new models inside. Read More
Toyota EV Concept confirms Battery-Electric car in 2012
By Mike Hanlon
13:47 January 12, 2009 PST
January 12, 2009 As we reported would happen last month, Toyota today announced the Toyota FT-EV concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), confirming its plan to launch an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2012, based on the same platform as the award-winning iQ. Toyota’s FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies. Read More
First glimpse: Fisker Karma S
11:14 January 12, 2009 PST
Fisker Automotive has just taken the wraps off the much anticipated technology demonstrator that will become the second model in its plug-in hybrid sportscar range at the 2009 NAIAS. The new two-door, four-seater, hard-top convertible joins the four-door sedan model announced at last year's show and is built on the same versatile Q-DRIVE platform on which the company's range will be based. The sedan model, which boasts a 50 mile electric-drive only range, acceleration of 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 125mph, remains on track for delivery later this year, while the Karma S is expected to hit showrooms in 2011. Read More
Ford outlines aggressive EV strategy - battery electric small car in 2011
By Paul Evans
04:56 January 12, 2009 PST
January 12, 2009 Ford has thrown it’s hat into the Electric Vehicle ring at the Detroit international motor show by announcing plans to bring a new family of electrified vehicles to market over the next four years. The strategy calls for the introduction of new hybrids, a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) based on two new global product platforms. The plan calls for the introduction in 2011 of a pure Battery Electric Vehicle as a passenger car in North America. Read More
Cadillac unveils extended-range electric Converj concept
By Loz Blain
03:09 January 12, 2009 PST
January 12, 2009 If one thing is immediately and staggeringly obvious at this year's Detroit NAIAS auto show, it's that electric, hybrid and extended-range electric cars have stepped out of the shadowy corners to which they were relegated in 2008, and they're now the main event for a lot of manufacturers. It seems the auto industry's well-documented woes in 2008, as well as consumer reaction to volatile petrol pricing, have galvanized even the most stalwart of old-school Detroit metal makers into action on gasoline alternatives. The extended-range electric seems to offer the most painless transition to primarily-electric motoring, and this is the way Cadillac have chosen to go with the Converj concept we saw unveiled earlier today. Capable of dealing with a typical 40-mile daily commute on full-electric, but with a petrol generator to make long trips possible, the 100mph Converj is a glamorous hint at what Cadillac intend to do with electric engines. Read More
FLIR PathFindIR aftermarket thermal imaging system for cars and motorcycles
By Mike Hanlon
20:19 January 11, 2009 PST
January 11, 2009 Though only 10% of road miles are driven at night, those miles account for half all road fatalities. Using public roads is a sight response game you play with your own and others’ lives, so being able to improve your night vision will clearly increase safety for everyone. We’ve written about the coming of Mercedes' NightVision Assist for several years now – the system is based around a thermal night vision camera which sees heat, not light, and hence enables you to see the things that count, well beyond the range of the headlights. FLIR is the company Mercedes partnered with on the project and it has now released the PathFindIR system as an aftermarket accessory for cars and motorcycles. Read More
Kia Soul’ster open air concept
By Mike Hanlon
18:57 January 11, 2009 PST
January 11, 2009 Though it’s hard to visualize summer in Detroit right now with two inches of snow in the streets, Kia debuted an interesting open air concept based on the production model Soul, which will be arriving in showrooms in Q2 starting at US$14,000. With such a low starting price, the Soul’ster’s target market of young singles would no doubt appreciate the economical budget-priced front wheel drive concept. Designed to satisfy satisfy “multiple consumer needs”, it could be a very practical vehicle in the real world, with plenty of load space, and a two-piece top that allows passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently. The roof may be retractable, but there are no fancy automatic mechanisms - this roof runs on elbow-grease technology, which is just fine because we think the Soul’ster looks likely to get the green light for production. Read More
Audi R8 V105.2 FSI
By Mike Hanlon
15:39 January 11, 2009 PST
"The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro was my pick of the first day at Detroit,“ writes Noel McKeegan from the North American International Auto Show which opened today. "It was the most aesthetically striking car that wasn’t a concept, and with the 525 hp 5.2 liter V10 engine replacing the 420 bhp 4.2 V8, performance has gone another level. With the quattro all-wheel drive, LED-headlights and aluminum body with a very curvaceous rear end treatment, it really is a knockout." Read More
Dakar Rally – 26 countries and counting
By Mike Hanlon
15:04 January 11, 2009 PST
January 12, 2009 We once dubbed it the world’s most dangerous legally-sanctioned sporting event, but the three decade history of the Dakar Rally almost certainly makes it one of the most influential and relevant sporting events to a large proportion of the world - it already had the second highest TV viewing audience of any sporting event other than the FIFA World Cup before it changed continents this week. On the weekend Chile became the 26th country in which it has been staged and from the massive following the race has developed already in South America, it won’t be the last. Since it began in 1979, the Dakar Rally has run through Senegal, Mali, France, Mauritania , Nigeria, Morocco, Spain, Algeria , Burkina Faso, Libya, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Portugal, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Namibia, Rep. Centrafricaine , Sierra Leone and Argentina became the 25th country on January 3. Volkswagen Touaregs swept through Chile in 1-2-3 formation at the head of the field, while KTM did likewise in the bikes – no doubt enhancing their brand names massively in a populous and rapidly developing continent. Read More
KITT makes an appearance at CES 2009
By Tim Hanlon
00:27 January 11, 2009 PST
Mio needed a little help promoting their Knight Rider GPS at CES 2009, and we can't complain about their choice of KITT - it's certainly holding up a lot better than David Hasslehoff. Whether you're a fan of the TV show or not, you'd be hard pressed to convince any of the team at Gizmag that this isn't a gorgeous machine. Having said that, two things disappointed us - the fact that no-one was keeping it clean, and the fact that we weren't allowed to jump in the driver's seat! Don't miss the gallery. Read More
Volvo premieres world’s most powerful truck
By Mike Hanlon
18:10 January 10, 2009 PST
January 11, 2008 With its 700 hp and 3,150 Nm of torque, the new Volvo FH16 is the most powerful commercially-produced truck in the world. Its turbocharger and intercooler 16-litre 6-cylinder diesel D16G engine is derived from Volvo’s previous 16-litre engine and has more torque and an additional 40 bhp. Quite spectacularly, the truck achieves the same economy as the previous 660 bhp version, and fewer emissions. Read More
Reynard Inverter: something very special
By Mike Hanlon
13:40 January 10, 2009 PST
January 11, 2009 Reynard is a name familiar to all motorsports enthusiasts – founded by the brilliant automotive engineer Adrian Reynard, it quickly grew to become the world's largest racing car manufacturer before some financial disasters led it to bankruptcy in 2002. No-one ever questioned Reynard’s abilities to produce remarkably competitive race cars though and now he’s back with a ballistic, road-registerable, two-seater named the Inverter. Powered by either a Honda Fireblade 1000cc motorcycle engine, or a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc motor, the Inverter weighs in at 400kg with all fluids and is so named because it has been designed to generate F1-levels of downforce – enough to deliver 4G cornering forces. Given a Hayabusa produces 250 bhp, the Inverter has a power-to-weight ratio in the stratosphere – equivalent to or better than cars that cost an order of magnitude more money. So that’s the equation – F1-levels of downforce, a stellar power-to-weight ratio , oh, and it has been designed to be manufactured VERY cheaply. The Inverter will be very special and very very affordable. Form a queue to the right please! Read More
BRM name for 800 bhp AWD electric race car
By Mike Hanlon
21:15 January 8, 2009 PST
January 9, 2009 Yet another famous British automotive name is to be resurrected in 2009, with the news that Bee Automobiles’ recently announced 250 mph AWD electric racing car will compete as the BRM Bee Four ERV in the British Hill Climb Championships this year. The car should be an awesome beastie as it is reportedly using a new topology of electric motor featuring a segmented armature and the novel use of materials. Each 13 kg motor (one for each wheel) delivers a peak torque of 130Nm (10Nm/kg) and peak power of about 50kW. Simulations show that the same motor, developed by the Electronic Power Group within the Engineering Department at the University of Oxford, is capable of achieving a peak torque of over 200Nm and a peak power of over 150kW. Read More
Eight-wheeled Japanese electric supercar shooting for 250mph land speed record
By Loz Blain
00:42 January 8, 2009 PST
January 8, 2009 What's the land-speed record for an electric eight-wheeler? It seems we're soon going to find out. A team of electron-heads at Japan's Keio University have built two of these oddly-shaped supercars, powered by Lithium-Ion batteries and an 80 horsepower electric motor for each wheel. Top speed is expected to be in excess of 230mph, with 0-60 times around 4 seconds already recorded. Power's not an issue, then... What about range? The Eliica's claimed 200 miles per charge puts it right at the pointy end of the field. While each of the prototypes has cost around US$320,000, the team plans to produce 200 units with the right backing. Read More
Breakthrough infra red sensor provides accurate tyre data
By Mike Hanlon
13:48 January 7, 2009 PST
January 7, 2008 With each new sensor man invents, we find a way to a greater understanding of how physics plays out in the real world. Sometimes the value of the data revealed by a new sensor gives access to is very important – this new system uses IR sensors to measure the inside temperature of an F1 tyre at all times and it will make life much easier for the thousands of race teams around the world attempting to understand what their tyres are doing on the racetrack. Tyre temperature sensors are normally fitted to the rim as part of the valve and the readings are often distorted by heat soak from the rim and brakes. The new sensor from BERU also allows race engineers to receive data remotely, even when the wheels are not fitted to a vehicle such as in dynamometer testing or other test beds. It has already been tested by F1 teams in the first winter tests and with new tyres in 2009 plus a dramatic reduction in testing and a subsequent ban on tire warmers in 2010, all F1 teams will want this … and that’s just the starting point for applying this technology. Read More
ENERGYA: two seater, three wheeled ultralight racecar for the road
By Loz Blain
01:32 January 7, 2009 PST
Designers from The Creative Unit have spent time working with Bombardier, so it's no coincidence that the work they've done on the Higgins-Aube ENERGYA looks a lot like a two-seater version of a Can-Am Spyder. But the purpose of this Canadian concept is quite different; since three wheelers are registered as motorcycles in many states, and motorcycles have fewer regulatory restrictions imposed on them, the ENERGYA is designed to bring racecar levels of ultra-low weight, big power and massive grip to the road that would be impossible if it was registered as a car. As such, it's got a much wider front wheelbase, enclosed seating, roll protection and double the horsepower of the Can-Am roadster. Read More
ECLIPSE car entertainment unit features removeable standalone GPS navigation unit
By Loz Blain
01:11 January 7, 2009 PST
Fujitsu Ten Limited's latest all-in-one car entertainment system incorporates CD, DVD, MP3, WMA, iPod audio and video, Bluetooth phone integration and a fully-featured TomTom navigation system - all mounted in the dash so no part of the driver's line of sight to the road is obscured. The unit's touch-screen is removeable, and acts as a standalone GPS nav system when it's not attached to the main unit. Read More
Innovative new Portable Power Products for Vehicles
By Mike Hanlon
16:37 January 6, 2009 PST
Here’s a solution with what we anticipate is massive latent demand – two strong names (Energizer and UPG) have allied to produce a line of energy-related automotive products that can charge portable devices, run kitchen appliances, jump-start a car and even inflate a tire. There’s even a US$140 all-in-one product that includes an inverter that will allow motorists to convert power from the vehicle’s DC adapter to AC and USB outlets, a jump starter that jump-starts vehicles without a second vehicle, and an air compressor for inflating, tires, airbeds, inflatable toys ad infinitum. Read More
Alexis Olson
- November 9, 2009 @ 21:08 UTC
