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Automotive
All-electric MINI E plugs-in to L.A. Auto Show
19:54 October 20, 2008 PDT
In a further sign that full-electric drive vehicles are headed for the mainstream, BMW Group will showcase a lithium-ion battery powered version of the MINI at next month's Los Angeles Auto Show ahead of a pilot project that will see 500 of the cars evaluated on US roads in 2009. Based on the current MINI Hatch, the MINI E will initially appear in two-seater form with rear seats dropped to make way for the battery pack. Rather than an in-hub motor arrangement, an electric motor mounted under the bonnet drives the front wheels through a single-stage helical gearbox derived from the Cooper S, and being all-electric, the full power kicks-in from a standing start delivering quite adequate acceleration of 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds with a top speed electronically-limited to 95 mph. Read More
The Climax bioethanol-powered supercar
By Darren Quick
23:36 October 19, 2008 PDT
Greener motoring doesn't usually mean high-performance, but bio-ethanol powered sports cars like the Lotus Exige 265E and Aston Martin's Vantage GT2 have shown that the two terms aren't always mutually exclusive. Now another British company is joining the ranks with the Climax mid-engine open-top two seater. Read More
Mercedez-Benz adaptive high-beam assistant
By Darren Quick
22:42 October 19, 2008 PDT
We’ve all nearly been blinded and had to flash our high beams at oncoming drivers who have failed to dip their lights, but Mercedes-Benz' latest adaptive lighting innovation could help end of such dangerous incidents by taking driver error out of the equation. The newly developed high-beam assistant system uses a dash-mounted camera to automatically adapt headlamp range to the distance of other vehicles, meaning drivers will at all times benefit from optimum headlamp range by becoming aware of danger spots, pedestrians and other road users more easily and more quickly. Read More
2008 Paris Motor Show round-up
19:37 October 19, 2008 PDT
As the curtain falls on the Paris Motor Show for 2008 we take a look back at some of the biggest surprises and brightest innovations to emerge from this massive global automotive extravaganza. As a starting point it's hard to go past Lamborghini, which emulated its 2007 most-talked-about crown by showing its Estoque concept. As a mid-engined four-door coupé with a V10 motor and permanent four-wheel drive, it's not really eco-inspired but a weapon to behold for the family man. Mazda definitely made our short-list for the most striking design with the aerodynamic Kiyora Urban compact and Citroen also floated some compelling concepts including the colorful Hypnos luxury hybrid crossover and the virtual-meets-real-world GTbyCITROEN which will appear on-screen in the next installment of Gran Turismo. Read More
Honda's smarter dummy
By Emily Clark
23:59 October 16, 2008 PDT
Looking like a fresh version of “Buster” from the hit TV show Mythbusters, Honda’s third generation pedestrian crash-test dummy, POLAR III, is the latest tool in the company's quest to enhance safety testing procedures on its vehicles in order to reduce upper leg and lower back injuries which are common in collisions between pedestrians and four wheel drive vehicles and mini-vans. Read More
If Jesse James drove a Hummer...
23:42 October 16, 2008 PDT
We've seen it supercharged and even converted to remote control, but we've never seen a HUMMER H3 like this. Officially it's called art, but the phrases 'automotive travesty' and 'left-field promotional opportunity' also spring to mind in regard to British artist Matthew Harrison's latest project - a H3 with the standard 16-inch alloys dropped in favor of ‘Wild West’ wooden wagon wheels. The head-turning installation will be parked opposite the Royal Academy of Arts in London as part of the Zoo Art Fair 2008 which runs from 17-20 October. The strange thing is - it kind of suits. Read More
Norway to trial Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE
18:25 October 15, 2008 PDT
Mazda has announced that its RX-8 Hydrogen RE (Rotary Engine) vehicle will undergo assessment in Norway, the first time the car has graced public roads outside Japan. The joint project between Mazda and the Hydrogen Road of Norway (HyNor) project will use a single vehicle to assess the RE’s driving performance as well as promoting the technology through appearances at public events. Read More
Navistar unveils new hybrid truck
By Darren Quick
02:45 October 15, 2008 PDT
With the spiraling cost of fuel and the average cost of diesel in 2008 climbing around 39 percent versus last year, it’s no surprise that truck manufacturers are looking to lighten the burden on trucking operators. To this end Navistar, makers of the LoneStar, has expanded its line of diesel electric hybrid trucks with the unveiling of their International DuraStar Hybrid tractor at this week’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum in South Bend, Indiana. Navistar claims that the new diesel electric hybrid Class 7 tractor has the proven capability to provide fuel savings of 20-25 percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. Read More
The Audi A1 hybrid drive Sportback concept
20:31 October 14, 2008 PDT
Audi has used the Paris Motor Show to unveil a compact 5-door variation of the 3-door A1 project quattro car first shown in Tokyo last year. The concept, which the company says "shows another possible direction for forthcoming production A1", features updated hybrid technology which combines a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor that adds up to 150 Nm of torque during acceleration and can also run purely on electric power for more than 60 miles on a single charge. Read More
The Miniature High-efficiency Motorhome
By Jack Martin
18:51 October 12, 2008 PDT
Romahome is an acknowledged master of the mini motorhome genre, having won Micro Motorhome of the Year for the last three years straight. It’s latest van however, takes things to a new level, and is about as small as you can make a motorhome and still sleep a fellow 6 ft 4 in his socks. Based on the equally groundbreaking micro-commercial Citroen Nemo recently named International Van of the Year, the R10 is a single berth motorhome that can be used for everyday transport. The R10 Solo creates a whole new genre of small, efficient, minimalist motorhomes that will be much faster point-to-point than their fat-bottomed brethren and deliver 63mpg/4.5 l/100 km on the combined cycle. Powered by an ultra-economical 70hp Citroen1.4HDi diesel engine with Sensodrive automatic, the Nemo’s unique operational, running-cost and environmental benefits pale beside the places the R10 can go - congested streets and multi-storey car parks are no problem for a vehicle just 12 ft 7 ins in length with a height of 6 ft 3 ins. When the roof is elevated, the Romahome gives an internal height of 6 ft 6 ins. Read More
The BMW Concept X1
22:33 October 9, 2008 PDT
BMW has signaled an expansion to its X series line with the World premiere of its Concept X1 at the Paris Motor Show. Described as the "first Sports Activity Vehicle in the premium compact segment" and clearly sharing the design DNA of other X series models which first hit the streets with the first generation X5 back in 1999, the car being shown in Paris is expected to be very close to the production model which is due for release within one year. Read More
Citroen takes wraps off Hypnos Concept Car
00:18 October 9, 2008 PDT
Teaser pics of the Citroën Hypnos first surfaced last month and more details have now been revealed to coincide with the unveiling of the outlandish crossover concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Pitched as a hybrid in terms of both technology and styling, the dynamically proportioned Hypnos attempts to marry the elegance of an executive saloon with the volumes of a cross-over while at the same time showcasing the company's HYmotion4 technology - a diesel hybrid drivetrain featuring a rear axle-mounted electric motor which optimizes dynamic performance and traction while keeping fuel consumption down to 4.5 l/100 km (60+mpg) and emissions at 120 g/km of CO2). What really sets the car apart however is the candy-shop "color therapy" interior - sunglasses may be required. Read More
Ford MyKey lets parents set the maximum speed of their kid’s car
By Emily Clark
18:15 October 8, 2008 PDT
Ford Motor Company has announced a new safety feature to be added to its vehicles that will help parents encourage young drivers to be more responsible on the road. MyKey aims to promote safe driving, particularly amongst teens, by encouraging seat belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions. Read More
Paris Motor Show highlights: Honda's new Insight hybrid
01:02 October 8, 2008 PDT
Few would argue with the environmental and economic benefits of hybrid vehicles, but despite an avalanche of concept cars that utilize either hybrid or fully-electric drivetrains in recent times, the cost of actually buying one of the few models that have thus far made it to market remains prohibitively high. This situation is set to change rapidly over the next five years and Honda has fired one of the first shots in the expected hybrid price war with the unveiling of its new gasoline-electric Insight at the Paris Motor Show. The 'affordable family hybrid concept' is expected to be very close to the production version slated to hit the U.S. market next year at a price of under $20K, nudging out the Toyota Prius (around USD$23K) as the cheapest hybrid on the market. Read More
NuVu: Nissan's compelling urban EV concept
18:38 October 7, 2008 PDT
Nissan has produced some very interesting concept cars in recent years – the Denki Cube, Pivo, Mixim and Pivo 2 just to name a few. Shown in Paris for the first time last weekend, the NuVu is a compact electric car specifically designed to make traveling comfortable in a gridlocked city. The idea is one of a moving urban oasis, with its own tree inside which provides shade for the interior, and generates solar energy via its ‘leaves.’ By-wire steering, unique 2+1 seating, a fast-charging Li-Ion battery system and a rear-mounted electric motor delivering a range of 125 kms and top speed of 120 km/h are among the key features of the Concept which, while not destined for production in its current form, is intended to showcase how a Nissan EV might look and what technology it might contain beyond 2010 when the company begins rolling-out electric cars in Japan and the US. Read More
Chinese Chika electric city car concept
By Mike Hanlon
02:31 October 7, 2008 PDT
October 7, 2008 The Chinese were largely noticeable by their absence at the Paris Show this year but there may well have been a Chinese vehicle of significance – it’s a very cute electric city car named the “Chika” and is the work of well known Chinese car stylist Li Shi Guang Ming, who is working on a range of original designs for China Automobile. Read More
Paris highlights: VW presents the Golf Mk VI GTI Concept
22:57 October 6, 2008 PDT
The sixth generation of the Golf GTI has been unveiled in concept form at the Paris Motor Show, providing a taste of things to come when the vehicle enters production in spring 2009. Volkswagen says the concept retains the key elements of the original Mk I GTI launched in '76 - sharp dynamics, style and practicality - while introducing advances in drivetrain and chassis technology such as an electronic limited slip differential (XDS) linked to a sophisticated ESP (Electronic Stabilization Programme) system, a first for the GTI. Read More
Proterra's hybrid-electric zero-emission bus
By Kyle Sherer
18:48 October 6, 2008 PDT
Proterra is presenting a prototype of its HFC35 composite body, hybrid-electric bus at the American Public Transportation Association expo in San Diego. Scheduled to start service in early 2009 in a nationwide trial, the 37-seat HFC35 contains a fuel cell hybrid-electric powertrain that emits only water, qualifying the bus as a zero-emission vehicle. However, it can also incorporate diesel, gasoline, and compressed natural gas engines. Read More
The Chariot – history’s first personal transport concept
By Mike Hanlon
16:15 October 6, 2008 PDT
The two-wheeled horse-drawn chariot was one of the most important inventions in history. It gave humanity its first concept of personal transport, and for two thousand years it was the key technology of war – for most of humanity’s recorded history, the number of chariots signified the strength of an army. It also became the world’s first mass spectator sport phenomenon and measured on a spectator per capita basis, achieved the most prodigious crowd-pulling feats of any sport in history. Remarkably, a set of chariot wheels from 2000BC is set to go under the auction hammer next month … read the remarkable history of the chariot. Read More
GTbyCITROEN: where the real and virtual worlds meet
By Mike Hanlon
19:33 October 4, 2008 PDT
October 5, 2008 One of the most interesting vehicles, and indeed, concepts at the Paris Motor Show which opened yesterday, is the GTbyCITROËN, the first ever car to be specifically designed to bring the virtual and real worlds together. Unlike other cars which are seen as concepts years before they are driven, Paris Motor Show visitors can actually drive the concept car in a true to life simulator. GTbyCITROËN is a joint venture between Citroën and the makers of Gran Turismo, and was created for the eagerly anticipated fifth iteration of the famous, and increasingly influential game in the Playstation series. Read More
Lamborghini shows 4-door 4-seater super sedan
By Mike Hanlon
19:30 October 4, 2008 PDT
October 5, 2008 Lamborghini sprang the surprise of the Paris Show with the Lamborghini Estoque 4-door 4-seater super sedan. Deigned to be driven more regularly than the current Lambborghini Gallardo or Murcielago product lines, the Estoque is an instant contender in the Gran Turismo category currently dominated by Ferrari and Maserati. Propelled to a top speed of 170 mph by a 552 bhp V10 motor, the car comes with the refinement of its Audi stablemate dual-clutch sequential manual transmission. This thing really looks like a projectile and it is positively huge with its five metre length and considerable mass supported by massive 22-inch wheels on the front and 23-inch on the back. A likely third product line from Lamborghini, the car could hit showrooms by 2011 with a likely price tag similar to the Gallardo. Read More
Renault's all-electric Z.E. Concept Car
17:46 October 3, 2008 PDT
Renault has taken a holistic approach to energy saving with its latest concept car. Based on the new Kangoo be bop, the Z.E. (Zero Emission) Concept incorporates a number of innovations across all aspects of the vehicle to ensure optimum range is achieved from the lithium-ion battery powered 70kW (95hp) electric motor. These include the use of heat-reflective paint, acid green-tinted glass and air-insulated body panels designed to reduce reliance on energy-sapping climate control systems, along with roof-mounted solar panels, extensive use of LEDs and aerodynamic enhancements like the replacement of drag-producing exterior mirrors with low-energy cameras. There's also an on-board electric scooter that uses the car's charging system and provides an even greener option for short city trips. Read More
Volvo to introduce 7700 Hybrid bus in 2009
By Kyle Sherer
22:11 October 2, 2008 PDT
In addition to reducing the discharge of particles and nitrous oxides by 40-50% compared with a diesel-only bus, the Volvo 7700 Hybrid has 30% lower fuel consumption which the company estimates will allow bus operators to recoup the extra cost of the vehicle within seven years. Read More
GTbyCITROEN brings Gran Turismo 5 to life
17:52 October 2, 2008 PDT
It may be destined for the game console rather than the garage, but the GTbyCITROËN concept is still one of the most outlandish examples of automotive design to emerge from the 2008 Paris Motor Show where it's making its global debut. The car is the result of a collaboration between Citroën and the creators of Gran Turismo and will appear in its virtual form in the 5th installment of the popular Playstation game. The imposing real world version stands at five meters long and features a wrap around windscreen, gullwing doors, huge air intakes and an over-sized, mobile rear spoiler. Not surprisingly for a car inspired by a computer game, tech specifications for the GTbyCITROËN are a little light on, although within the game it will do its bit for the promotion of greener motoring with a fuel cell powered electric drive train that's totally emissions free (apart from the electricity running the console of course). Read More
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S
18:53 October 1, 2008 PDT
Mercedes-Benz has announced a new limited edition version of the SLR McLaren Roadster supercar with the promise of breathtaking power and performance characteristics above that of its stunning predecessor. Improved dynamic suspension tuning and aerodynamics combined with a hand-built, supercharged, 5.5-liter Mercedes-AMG V8 engine that delivers 478 kW/650 hp (up from 460kW) give the new variant a top speed of 335 kmh with acceleration from 0 to 100 kmh in 3.7 seconds and 0-200 kmh 10.6 seconds. Why "722"? The number is a reference to the SLR racing models from the 1950s from which the two-seater cabriolet draws inspiration - Stirling Moss and his co-driver Dennis Jenkinson carried this number when they drove to victory in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR at the classic Mille Miglia long-distance race in 1955. Read More
Gary Noel
- November 22, 2009 @ 06:20 UTC
