Automotive

October 23, 2004 Italian automobile manufacturer Pininfarina has been investing in car research and development programs for over thirty years, tackling environmental issues, alternative energy sources, fuel consumption and more efficient vehicle construction. Now Pininfarina have gone back to the drawing board to rethink the car design process and revolutionise safety in small automobiles. The result has been the innovative Nido, (Italian for 'nest') which provides an ergonomic protective inner sled shell and creature comforts in a striking two seater prototype.  Read More

October 16, 2004 Toyota has announced a striking and futuristic set of vehicles for specialty niches which it will display at the upcoming 38th Tokyo Motor show in Japan. Under the theme "Ecology & Emotion", Toyota will display over a dozen concept vehicles that offer superior environmental performance and respond to social needs. The pick of the crop involve three purpose-built solutions for outdoor Djs, go-kart racers and a design that facilitates mobility for the elderly and disabled without the need for a carer.  Read More

October 14, 2004 On September 19 this year, Minnesota (USA) motorcyclist Samuel Armstrong Tilley set what is believed to be a world record for speeding on public roads. No doubt people have gone faster on public roads, but Tilley had the misfortune to do so without noticing the police plane above him, and was officially clocked at 205.11mph by a handheld stopwatch. The ticket has made news around the world, with many people proclaiming the speeding ticket must have been a mistake as motorcycles simply don't go that fast.  Read More

The 6th annual Challenge Bibendum opened today in Shanghai, the first time the landmark sustainable automobile competition has visited Asia. The three-day event is designed to promote sustainable road mobility and has brought together the most influential players in the global automotive industry.  Read More

There is no other motor as efficient as the Di Pietro Rotary Air Engine. It is 100% more efficient than any other air powered engine built to date and its high torque makes it the first air engine suitable for mobile applications. The invention has the capacity to revolutionise transportation, plus offer a multitude of energy-saving benefits in stationary applications. The engine has no emissions, is very quiet, has constant high torque, a low parts count, no vibration and is very efficient - only 1 PSI of pressure is needed to overcome the friction to enable movement.  Read More

In the case of the smart Roadster, the word Smart is both a brand and an adjective. The global automotive industry is a voracious user of global resources. This year it will create 60 million cars and consume around 50% of the world's oil production, 50% of rubber production, 25% of glass production, and 15% of steel production. If everyone drove a smart car, we'd make a massive shift towards smart sustainable living. The feel-good Smart Kart is two cars in one - a ballsy sportster and a good citizen with modest consumption for everything except fun.  Read More

There'll be a new place to look for a sports car at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney (7-17 October 2004) with Kia, best known for its top selling family cars, revealing the KC-III, a sports car study that is set to join the Kia range. Designed at Kia's Namyang R&D Centre, the KCV-III is a small coupe convertible that showcases the best-of-breed technologies and styling that Kia will be incorporating in its future line-up.  Read More

September 14, 2004 Different cars suit different purposes. It's a sad fact that few cars tend to meet more than a handful of those purposes. Accordingly, we love Citroen's convertible C3 Pluriel, a single car that can convert in seconds from a versatile hatch back, to a hatch with a massive open roof, to cabriolet, then a spider and, finally a Ute with a drop down tail gate. All of this versatility does not come at the expense of good looks, as would be expected of a company that has already won world's most beautiful car crowns for the Citroen C3 and C2 models. Nor does it come at the expense of ... err, expense. At AUD$31,490, the Pluriel versatility is very cost effective.  Read More

A new hybrid technology known as hydraulic launch assist system (HLA) promises dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Initially developed by the Environment Protection Authority in the US, initial tests on the proof-of-concept chassis has since led to remarkable progress with the release of a Ford F-550 commercial demonstration vehicle earlier this year. The HLA has a regenerative braking system that can reportedly improve fuel efficiency by 25 to 40 percent. It works by recovering some of the energy wasted as heat by the vehicle's brakes when slowing. This energy is harnessed and used to propel the vehicle the next time it needs to accelerate. The hydraulic system offers great advantages for vehicles operating in stop and go conditions because the system can capture a large proportion of the energy lost to the automobile when the brakes are applied.  Read More