Subscribe to Gizmag's RSS feed
Follow Gizmag on Twitter
Automotive
The Bentley GTC Speed - not quite 200 mph with the roof down
By Mike Hanlon
13:24 January 6, 2009 PST
Bentley’s brand values haven’t changed much in the last century – exclusivity, design, craftsmanship and performance akin to no other. Key to this performance is the characteristic Bentley wave of torque and in creating the GTC Speed to build on the success of the Continental GTC, the company has strengthened what was already its biggest strength. Both Continental GTC models are powered by Bentley’s 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine with its 48 valves , four camshafts and continually variable valve timing but the Speed model has 9 per cent more power (600bhp) and 15 per cent more torque. This means the GTC Speed’s output of 750 Nm (553lb ft) is achieved across virtually the complete rev range, from just 1700 to 5600 rev/min. The experience will set you back UKP146,000 (US$218,000). Read More
Honda's Hybrid Billboards
By Mike Hanlon
20:00 January 4, 2009 PST
January 5, 2009 Primary among Honda’s brand values are its role as a leader in creating low emission, fuel efficient vehicles, and its most recent promotional efforts have taken Hybrid technology to new heights, quite literally. The massive billboards featuring the new Honda Accord Euro are illuminated by green solar power; with green energy electric backup. Just like a Hybrid. Outdoor advertising specialists, APN Outdoor have installed solar panels on several of the billboards being used in the Australian launch. Read More
Unique opportunity to watch entire restoration in 3 days
By Mike Hanlon
20:15 January 3, 2009 PST
Fear of the unknown often prevents us from fulfilling ambitions, and one aspiration common to many males is to lovingly restore an automobile. Coming up in Coventry in March is a rare opportunity to see how it’s done from go-to-whoa when a team of experts will restore a mid-1940s Allard L Type to its former glory on the Race Retro 2009 show floor in just three days. Sheet metal experts Contour Autocraft will demonstrate how to repair and recreate steel panels for the body, Jonspeed Racing will be rebuilding engines and restoration experts David A.C. Royle and Co will offer a unique insight into the craft of Ash Frame making. For those who appreciate craftsmanship, it’s an absolutely unique opportunity to time-lapse a process normally undertaken over years into a three-day tertiary course in rare craftsmanship, not to mention a weekend of auto nostalgia for the lads. Read More
Audi R8 V10 becomes first all-LED car
By Mike Hanlon
17:20 January 3, 2009 PST
January 4, 2009 The order books have opened for the 196mph Audi R8 making it the first car in the world with all-LED (light emitting diode) headlamps, daytime running lights and turn indicators. LEDs are the headlight of the future due to their power, homogenous light distribution and the agreeable, daylight-esque colour and Audi can rightfully boast a technological edge with headlights four times more energy efficient than halogen headlights in addition to having a practically indefinite service life. LEDs can be made more or less bright electronically and hence able to be precisely adapted to conditions. In the future, headlights will react to variables such as weather conditions, speed and the distance between vehicles. Audi already has a pre-production headlight which offers exceptional visibility at night without irritating oncoming drivers, by measuring the distance of the approaching vehicle and adapting the shape of the beam continuously. Read More
Regeneration no longer just about braking
By Paul Evans
20:25 January 1, 2009 PST
Recent developments in regeneration technology are almost ready for prime time. Both Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles and Power Generating Shock Absorbers are both being field tested and may be soon headed for mass production. UPS have committed to purchasing seven "series" hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicles while Electric Truck, LLC has exclusively optioned commercial rights to a technology from Tufts University that uses Regenerative Shock Absorbers to recharge the batteries of any hybrid electric and electric-powered vehicle while it is driven. Read More
Ford to introduce Active Park Assist in 2009
By Paul Evans
17:38 January 1, 2009 PST
Ford is introducing a new Active Park Assist technology on its 2010 Lincoln MKS flagship sedan and new Lincoln MKT seven-passenger luxury crossover. Available in mid-2009 as an option, Active Park Assist uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. As described in the technical review of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the EPAS system utilizes a steering column mounted electric motor that provides steering power assistance on demand and typically consumes less than 7% of the energy of a conventional hydraulic rack and pinion power steering system. Read More
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By Paul Evans
23:50 December 29, 2008 PST
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid includes some significant advances in mass production hybrid automotive technology. Although details released by Ford are technically incomplete many of the features announced to date point to the Fusion being the first to market with a second-generation parallel hybrid. Read More
Aptera EV opts for front-wheel drive
22:33 December 28, 2008 PST
The already unmistakable Aptera 2e three-wheeler is continuing to evolve as it approaches its promised 2009 release with the latest development being the introduction of front-wheel drive to replace the original belt-driven rear wheel set-up. Front-wheel drive will now be used in all production vehicles with the company citing improved traction, stability and greater efficiency at high-speed as the key reasons for making the switch. Read More
The Reiter Gallardo GT3 Strada: roadgoing race car
By Mike Hanlon
22:27 December 28, 2008 PST
December 29, 2008 Reiter Engineering’s factory-backed Lamborghinis run at the forefront of GT racing, which makes its latest offering a bit special – the Gallardo GT3 Strada is a roadgoing version of the company’s Gallardo GT3 race car. Everything you’d expect is there including more horsepower and much less weight, but the the cleverest bit is the exhaust system devised by German Formula 1 supplier MHG. Around town it delivers a sedate 75 db, but at the push of a button, remote control butterfly valves bring in high pass filters and the full symphony of the 535 bhp V-10 comes into play. You can be fairly confident that in one of these, you won’t find much out there capable of racing you to the shops and back successfully. Read More
The iChange shape-changing concept car
By Mike Hanlon
18:27 December 28, 2008 PST
Each year for the last three decades, Swiss-based Rinspeed has presented a new concept car at the Geneva motor show – customizing Porsches might be the company’s bread and butter, but synthesizing highly inventive and original concept cars is the company’s forte. This year’s concept car is entitled the iChange, and its defining feature is its ability to change shape from a streamlined teardrop one-seater, to a three seat compact sportsvan. The iChange car makes the most of its 130 kw electric propulsion system by having very low weight and high aerodynamic efficiency. Read More
The Danish Zenvo ST1 supercar – 1104 bhp and 1430 nm of torque
By Mike Hanlon
17:16 December 23, 2008 PST
December 24, 2008 The numbers and specifications of the newly announced Danish-built Zenvo ST1 sports car put it in elite company. With 1104 bhp and a weight of 1376 kilograms, the Zenvo has a power to weight ratio only bettered by a handful of cars on the planet – the Caparo T1, SSC Ultimate Aero TT, Koenigsegg CCXR, Caterham Levante and the LeBlanc Mirabeu – plus a few supersport motorcycles. The 7 litre V8 engine uses a novel forced induction set-up featuring both supercharging and turbocharging to give it a staggering maximum torque figure of 1430 nm at 4500 rpm (Bugatti Veyron = 1250 nm), making it one of the fastest accelerating cars in existence – 0 to 100 in 3 seconds fast. Only 15 will be built with what we expect will be a price tag in seven figures, commensurate with its electronically-limited 375 kmh top speed. Read More
Nissan NV200 to go into production
By Mike Hanlon
01:31 December 23, 2008 PST
Nissan moves into the United States light commercial vehicle market in 2010 with a strategy for creating bespoke personalised commercial vehicles via a chain of pro shops. This news was brought clearly into focus this week with the news that an all-new NV200 compact van based on the NV200 Concept from Tokyo Motor Show (pictured) will go on sale in 2009 serves to offer an interesting glimpse of the future. Just how many of the NV200’s innovative features will be incorporated in the production version is not known just yet but the press release hints that it will include Nissan’s sliding cargo pod. The pod is latched inside the shell of the load area when the van is being driven, but at rest, it slides out to allow easy access to the customisable storage zones. The pod is deployed using hydraulic rams, and rests securely on drop-down legs. With the pod extended, the area left behind is transformed into a mobile office or other customisable environment. Given the recent showing of the NV2500 mobile site office concept by Nissan U.S., it’s clear that some very practical and space-efficient, purpose-built vans will become available in 2010. Read More
Toyota to show battery-electric concept vehicle in Detroit
00:19 December 23, 2008 PST
There's no images and no details, just a tantalizing two line press release, but given that this news comes from the world's largest car maker and manufacturer of the first mass produced hybrid vehicle, we think it rates a mention. Here's the release in full - "Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle". Read More
The new visually unique SLR Stirling Moss
By Mike Hanlon
13:54 December 19, 2008 PST
December 20, 2008 Mercedes Benz and McLaren today released details of the US$1,000,000 SLR Stirling Moss, a limited edition supersports car that almost instantaneously goes down as a landmark in sports car design. The 650 bhp open top supercharged V8 is essentially a modern reinterpretation of the SLR 500 of the fifties, the car which dominated racing in the hands of Moss and Fangio. Available in June 2009, the puristic high-performance sports car might look spartan, but the technology, including the airbrake system, is all bleeding edge. Only seventy five units will be built, ensuring the EUR 750,000 price tag represents a solid investment. Read More
Volvo S60 Concept drives itself in stop-start traffic
By Mike Hanlon
15:59 December 17, 2008 PST
Volvo has finally released images of the Volvo S60 Concept car which will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The Concept, which we originally previewed here, gives an indication of what the all-new Volvo S60 will look like when launched in 2010. Apart from the previously mentioned floating centre stack made out of handmade, solid Orrefors crystal, the car features a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine using high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology and producing 180 horsepower. In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure. The vehicle also has an upgraded version of Volvo's Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with a queue assist function. The radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the set time gap to the vehicle in front all the way down to standstill, meaning the car can drive itself in slow-moving queues with repeated starting and stopping. Read More
The new BMW Z4 Roadster
03:36 December 17, 2008 PST
BMW's latest addition to its roadster family is set to make its North American debut at the 2009 NAIAS in January packing more power, versatile storage options, and a host of goodies not previously seen in the range including a two-piece, electro-hydraulically operated retractable hard-top roof and adjustable drivetrain and suspension which enable the driver to choose between three different ride heights as well as different throttle and steering response set-ups and gear change times. Read More
Mercedes-Benz launches triple-threat BlueZERO electric vehicle platform
By Loz Blain
18:50 December 16, 2008 PST
Mercedes-Benz has put its electric vehicle plans on the table with the announcement of its BlueZERO concept line. The BlueZERO platform is the first Mercedes designed from the ground up to take advantage of an electric drive system - rather than shoe-horning an electric engine into a chassis built around a combustion engine - and Mercedes is hedging its bets with three different energy storage options - the battery-electric E-CELL with a 120 mile range, the hydrogen fuel-cell F-CELL with a 248 mile range, and an extended-range bridging solution, the E-CELL PLUS, which is a battery-electric that uses a petrol generator to provide an extended range of up to 370 miles and easy refueling for longer trips. The lightweight 5-seater vehicle platform houses the drive and energy storage units in a sandwich-floor frame, which makes the cars exceptionally safe, frees up interior and storage room, and centralizes the mass down low for improved handling. Limited production of electric Mercs is set to start around 2010. Read More
BYD launch world's first production plug in hybrid
By Paul Evans
18:04 December 15, 2008 PST
The world's first mass-produced plug in hybrid and the world's first production series hybrid went on sale this week in China. BYD, a company best known for making cell-phone batteries has begun selling its F3DM — China's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. The car is expected to retail for around USD$20,000 in China, and make its way to the U.S. in 2011. Read More
Nissan updates GT-R for European market
22:40 December 14, 2008 PST
Nissan has made a series of subtle tweaks to the performance, paint work and pricing of its flagship GT-R sports car ahead of its introduction into the European market in 2009. The European spec GT-R's hand-built 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo engine gets a slight power boost of around one percent thanks to some electronic fine tuning along with a new, lighter pearl white exterior colour and Dunlop SP Sport 600 DSST tyres fitted as standard. Read More
The Top 10 things you CAN'T have for Christmas 2008
00:27 December 11, 2008 PST
Year's end is rolling round again and it's time to get set for the holiday season, meaning it's also time for our annual look back at some of the most outrageously expensive and as yet unattainable products we've featured in Gizmag during 2008. Read on for our selection of the coolest "toys" that you more than likely wont find under the tree this year. Read More
Porsche 911 EV unveiled by German tuner RUF
By Paul Evans
17:20 December 10, 2008 PST
German Porsche tuner Ruf has produced the world’s first professionally built electric 911, the eRUF. The prototype replaces the flat six engine with a brushless three-phase motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. Although not as quick as a petrol-engined 911, Ruf’s engineers say the eRUF is still good for a 0-60mph time of under 7.0sec and has a top speed of 160mph. More importantly it’s claimed to have a maximum range of nearly 200 miles. Read More
Audi to unleash 525 hp, 196 mph, R8 V10 supercar
21:27 December 9, 2008 PST
Audi's new incarnation of its flagship R8 supercar will hit showrooms in 2009 sporting subtle exterior refinements including re-shaped side sills, wider cooling vents, all-LED headlamps, chrome-finished grille and 10-spoke "Y design" alloy wheels, but by far the biggest change lies beneath the surface - namely two more cylinders. The introduction of a 5.2-liter, 525 hp, V10 engine delivers significantly greater performance compared with the original 4.2 liter V8 production model released in 2006 - zero to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds (compared with 4.6 seconds), a top speed of 196.35 mph (up from 187 mph) and almost 25% more maximum torque at 530 Nm - giving it the mantle of the fastest ever road-going Audi and putting it within arms length of elite company like the Porsche 911 GT2. Read More
The long, long way round (in a Solar Taxi)
By Paul Evans
04:33 December 8, 2008 PST
Swiss school teacher Louis Palmer last week became the first person to drive around the world on solar power. The 52,000km (32,000 mile) trip took 17-months at an average speed of 65kmh (40 mph). Mr Palmer said the car ran "like a Swiss clock," breaking down only twice during the grueling trip through 38 nations that started in Lucerne in July 2007. Read More
James Bond 007 goes EV
By Paul Evans
17:51 December 4, 2008 PST
The new James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace features several cameo appearances from Eco friendly Fords. The film's leading lady Camille makes her entrance driving a Gold 2009 Ford Ka while James Bond gets behind the wheel of a hydrogen-powered Ford Edge in pivotal scenes of the new action film. Read More
New RX 450h hybrid from Lexus
By Darren Quick
20:56 December 3, 2008 PST
Lexus debuted the replacement for both the current RX 400h hybrid and the RX 350 petrol engine models at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show. The new RX 450h will replace both models in the UK to produce an all-hybrid RX range, while in North America a non-hybrid RX 350 will also be offered. Both the RX 350 and RX 450h are propelled by a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder petrol engine which provides 205kW (275hp) with the 450h’s augmented by an electric motor to provide a combined output of 220kW (295hp). Read More
gadgetmind
- November 9, 2009 @ 09:47 UTC
