Automotive

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

A new crossover concept from Mercedes-Benz will gauge the level of interest in vehicles that depart from the beaten track and take new roads into the future at this year's International Commercial Vehicle Fair (IAA) in Hanover at the end of September. Combining American styling with European dimensions and dynamism, the Activity study combines the different automobile cultures in Europe and America and is based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito van and Viano MPV.  Read More

We've covered some exotic police cars in Gizmo, such as the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Dodge Magnum SXT, but the unveiling of a Honda NSX in police livery has added weight to the trend. The car was exhibited by Avon and Somerset Police in the UK at a car show and drew some interesting responses from the punters.  Read More

March 12, 2004 Holden showed two retro-cool V8 racer roadsters at the Melbourne Motor Show. Created in collaboration with the Elfin sports car marque, the low-slung racers are an open wheeler track machine and a smooth-bodied Le Mans style roadster respectively, and will be called the Clubman and the Streamliner. They are hand-built specials which are thoroughly modern interpretations of an earlier motorsport era.  Read More

February 21, 2004 The Pagani Zonda is one of the world's most exclusive automobiles and arguably the fastest production car available in the world at this point in time. Later this month Pagani will enter the Australian market when the AUD$1.2 million machine goes on display at the Melbourne Motor Show. Ever wondered just how good a $1.2 million car can be? Read on ...  Read More

Mercedes-Benz paved the way for a new vehicle category when it unveiled the Vision Grand Sports Tourer - a new take on the groundbreaking touring saloon concept - at the North American International Auto Show in January 2004.  Read More