Automotive
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Combination Supercharger and Turbocharger for VW Golf GT
September 15, 2005 At the International Motor Show (Cars) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen is presenting to the general public a groundbreaking innovation in the drive sector: The world’s first twinturbocharged FSI engine – the “Twincharger”. The compact 1.4 litre direct-injection engine develops 125 kW / 170 PS and has a maximum torque of 240 newton metres in the range from 1750 to 4500 rpm thanks to the combination of an exhaust turbocharger with a mechanically driven compressor. Furthermore, the “Twincharger” delivers a torque corresponding to a naturally aspirated engine of approximately 2.3 litres. And its fuel consumption is around 20 percent lower. (read more...)
Two new hybrid drive concepts from Mercedes Benz
September 14, 2005 At the International Motor Show (IAA) 2005 in Frankfurt, Mercedes-Benz yesterday unveiled the “DIRECT HYBRID” and the “BLUETEC HYBRID,” two groundbreaking concept cars. Using the new S-Class as an example, the company is exhibiting unique designs for yet again markedly improving fuel consumption and emissions in the near future — while preserving high dynamic ride comfort. The focus is on combining optimised petrol and diesel engines with a hybrid system and with ultra-modern exhaust gas purification. (read more...)
Antara GTC: Opel's Coup at the IAA
September 14, 2005 Opel unveiled a Gran Turismo Crossover concept at the IAA in Frankfurt yesterday. The Antara GTC (Gran Turismo Crossover) offers a distinctively sporty interpretation of the SUV and of the dynamic Opel design language. The Antara GTC features many innovative ideas in its interior and is powered by a 212 hp twin-turbo version of the 1.9 CDTI four-cylinder Opel engine, which ensures outstanding performance. Computer simulations show a top speed of over 210 km/h and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in around eight seconds in combination with the six-speed automatic transmission. (read more...)
The car "learns" to see and understand
September 14, 2005 Siemens VDO Automotive presents an ergonomic network of driver assistance systems at the 61st IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. As the volume of traffic on the road increases, will help assist drivers by warning them of potential hazards with such systems as Night Vision, a lane-changing assistant or by making routine operations, such as parking, easier. Siemens VDO's key focus is the interaction between the driver and the system. After all, it is the interface between human and machine that will ultimately decide if future assistance systems are accepted by drivers and can work to help prevent accidents. (read more...)
Siemens VDO plans series production of the wedge brake this decade
September 14, 2005 At the 61st IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt Siemens VDO Automotive is exhibiting future braking technology with the electronic wedge brake, which will enable brake-by-wire production before the end of this decade. The modern wedge brake offers considerable safety and comfort advantages over the hydraulic brake. Future driver assistance systems will not only monitor the current traffic situation, but actively assist the driver in emergencies. Autonomous intervention in vehicle dynamics will increasingly help keep the vehicle under control, even in difficult operating situations. A rapid and intelligent braking system is one of the foundations for advancing the next generation of driver assistance systems. Siemens VDO sees its electronic wedge brake (EWB) brake-by-wire technology as the answer to future vehicle chassis safety, weight, reliability and space requirements. (read more...)
Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass concepts
September 13, 2005 Jeep designers have gone to the extreme once again, creating two all-new sport-utility-vehicle (SUV) concepts that could expand the Jeep brand into new territory. The Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass concepts are compact Jeep four-wheel-drives that would deliver fun, freedom, utility, capability, as well as the potential for exceptional fuel economy and interior flexibility — all at a great value. Making their debut at the 2005 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, these concepts hint at two future compact SUVs that the Jeep brand could build for global markets as soon as next year. (read more...)
Gangster's Roller under the hammer
September 13, 2005 A Rolle Royce with a distinctly shady past will be one of the star attractions of this year’s Shannons Australian International Motor Show Auction on October 23. ‘Cecilia’ is a 1934 model 20/25 Rolls-Royce swept tail sports coupe – named after one of her earlier and most infamous owners, gangster’s ‘moll’, Cecilia Hall. As the story goes, she was a present to Cecilia from her boyfriend, Melbourne gangster John Anderson, who was in a gang with the notorious Australian gangster ‘Squizzy’ Taylor in the 1930s. They were into drugs, prostitution and sly grog, down by the Melbourne dock area. Apparently, Cecilia was an unfaithful mistress who often enjoyed the company of other gangsters. Her sponsors soon tired of this and believing she knew too much, decided to ‘do her in’. But Cecilia was tipped off and quickly fled Australia, leaving her namesake behind her. ‘Squizzy’ Taylor was later killed in a shoot-out with rival crime boss ‘Snowy’ Cuttmore, and the car was re-acquired and used by John Anderson until he was declared bankrupt in 1948. (read more...)
Maserati Gransport Spyder opens up in Frankfurt
September 13, 2005 Maserati launched the GranSport Spyder, the open-top version of its range topping GranSport Coupe, at the Frankfurt International Motor Show yesterday combining the thrilling drive and excellent performance of the GranSport coupe with the pleasures of roof-down motoring. Set to arrive in very limited numbers during the middle of 2006, the Maserati GransSport Spyder shares all the styling, engine and chassis modifications that have lifted the GranSport to the top of its class. This includes the 4.2 litre V8 engine that delivers 400 bhp accompanied by a deep, full sound that is all the more enjoyable with the roof down, 19 inch alloys that rest at the end of up-rated suspension and styling that has been made more aggressive on the outside and, with Bright Tex fabric, cutting-edge inside. (read more...)
Ferrari reveals an even hotter F430 at Frankfurt
September 13, 2005 For drivers for whom the acclaimed Ferrari F430 does not provide sufficient excitement, Ferrari has revealed the racing version, the F430 Challenge at the Frankfurt International Motor Show today (13 September 2005). The F430 Challenge boasts a kerb weight of just 1,225 kg with weight being shed in every area of the car, such as the Lexan windscreen, the all-carbon fibre intake plenum cover, and the specific exhaust system. To ensure that drivers get the full benefit of the car's sporty prowess on the track, the E-Diff has been replaced by a mechanical differential and the EBD has been replaced with a mechanical system. Similarly, the stability and traction control is permanently disengaged and "race" settings have been maintained on the gearbox and engine management system, along with the ABS and ASR, thus doing away with the manettino switch. The ASR can be deactivated by the driver at will. (read more...)
BMW Z4 Coupe Concept Car
September 13, 2005 The Frankfurt Motor Show began yesterday and despite months of previews and first glimpses of the production debuts and concept releases, there were still a few show cars we hadn’t seen. One of the highest profile surprises of the day was from BMW, which re-ignited a passion for closed-roof sportscars with its show-stopping Z4 Coupe Concept Car. Based around the architecture of the fast-paced BMW Roadster, the sleek and eye-catching two-seater delivers the first ever look at a fixed roof Z4. (read more...)
Mini Wagon Concept surfaces
September 13, 2005 Forty-five years after the launch of the Mini Traveller (wagon) in September 1960, MINI has unveiled a new MINI wagon concept at the Frankfurt motor show. The MINI Concept Frankfurt is the first MINI design study since the launch of the MINI brand at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997 and it re-interprets the feel of the original British-built Traveller via a new concept of “Travelling in Style” for the 21st century. The MINI Concept Frankfurt is packed with innovation inside and out. Its coupe-like profile and wide-opening doors feature intelligent parallelogram hinge mechanisms. (read more...)
smart crosstown show car for the urban jungle
September 12, 2005 smart has a surprise in store for visitors to this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) which opens later today: the world premiere of the smart hybrid crosstown show car. With features such as a stowaway windscreen, electric convertible roof and the promise of even better fuel consumption, the crosstown seeks to show that it is possible to have the best of both worlds: low fuel consumption and a high degree of driving pleasure. (read more...)
Belgian F1: Raikkonen wins again, Alonso second again -
September 12, 2005 McLaren-Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday, taking his sixth victory of the season and the eighth of his career but moving not much closer to the title many see as inevitably his at some point in the next few years. Raikkonen won the event, but the 2005 McLaren curse struck again with both of the team’s cars safe in first and second place with just two laps to go when Montoya was taken out by a slower driver, dropping the team’s points haul and allowing third placed Fernando Alonso to take second spot and maintain his championship lead buffer at 25 points with just three races to go. (read more...)
Unprecedented Hybrid Drive Global Alliance: Cooperation between BMW, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors
September 13, 2005 That’s not thunder you can hear in the distance, it’s just a few global automotive giants getting together in a spirit of cooperation that might have some far-reaching consequences beyond the far-reaching consequences being announced here. In a remarkable move, the BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors Corporation have signed a “memorandum of understanding” governing the formation of an alliance of equals for the joint development of automotive hybrid drive systems. The three global automakers are cooperating in order to pool their expertise to accelerate the development of efficient hybrid drive systems. The objective is to jointly develop a two-mode hybrid drive system that reduces fuel consumption while not compromising vehicle capability. While the base two-mode hybrid design will be common, each company will individually integrate the hybrid system into the design and manufacturing of vehicles in accordance with their brand specific requirements. BMW is effectively joining the GM-DaimlerChrysler alliance announced last December (story details two-mode hybrid with diagrams). (read more...)
Lancer Evolution 4WD Wagon: the Estate Car on steroids
September 9, 2005 The concept of a high performance estate car (as opposed to the working class “station wagon”) is something we have explored before in Gizmag, but there’s now something quite different on offer from Mitsubishi. Think of the concept as a rally car you can take the kids to school in, and we’re predicting with human nature being what it is, that this very limited edition Lancer Evolution Wagon which went on sale in Japan yesterday, will become highly sought after and may even force Mitsubishi to reconsider the limited run of 2,500 vehicles with production due to cease in December. The Lancer Evolution Wagon marries the awesome dynamic performance of the Lancer Evolution IX high-performance 4WD sedan, which employs Mitsubishi's advanced and proprietary All Wheel Control (AWC) traction and stability enhancing technology, with the utility-enhancing luggage compartment of the Lancer Wagon. Available in two specifications, the GT uses the latest MIVEC 280 bhp intercooler-turbocharged engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission to generate performance that is unmatched in the err, “station wagon” category. The GT-A uses the same engine with a smaller turbocharger and a 5-speed automatic transmission for outstanding low-end and mid-range torque with little drop-off in peak power - 272 bhp. The GT goes for 3,412,500 yen (US$31,300) and the GT-A about US$500 more. (read more...)
The New Audi A4 Cabriolet Breaks Cover
September 8, 2005 Audi has released images of the new A4 Cabriolet, a vehicle that offers an enjoyable and sporty driving experience, superior and complex technology, classic and exciting styling, and luxury that satisfies even the highest demands of the luxury class. The latest generation of a car that has already become a classic will be shown for the first time in the metal at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. (read more...)
"Vision R 63 AMG": near-series interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class
September 6, 2005 Aimed at the exotic end of the SUV market, the "Vision R 63 AMG" will be presented by Mercedes-AMG at the 61st Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). Powered by the all-new, completely independently developed AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine with an output of 375 kW/510 hp and a maximum torque of 630 newton metres, the "Vision R 63 AMG" represents an unprecedented combination of unique, sporty driving pleasure, outstanding spaciousness and top-class comfort for up to six occupants. (read more...)
Italian F1 Grand prix: McLaren 1-4, Renault 2-3
September 4, 2005 McLaren once again showed it had the fastest cars and the worst luck of the leading Formula 1 teams at the weekend when its drivers won the race, but Renault and its champion-elect Fernando Alonso continue to fight an effective rear-guard action – Alonso increased his championship lead while Renault only conceded one solitary point in the manufacturers championship and maintains an eight point lead. The race was only the third time in F1 history that all cars have completed a race, and the first time since the 1961 Dutch Grand Prix. It was also the official end of an era – Michael Schumacher and Ferrari came away without points and neither have any chance of retaining the titles they have owned for half a decade. (read more...)
The “Transparent“ Porsche: Laboratory-on-wheels cuts electronics development time
September 2, 2005. The word “Cayenne” designates one of Porsche’s best known automotive achievements but it also, apparently, means “clarity.” Which is the relevant word pertaining to one of the world famous design company’s development vehicle used in assessing new components and design changes. The “transparent” laboratory-on-wheels used by Porsche is quite unique the world over and used by Porsche’s engineers for the ongoing development of safe and reliable electronic systems. It enables Porsche engineers to test future electronic systems on the road under driving conditions a year earlier than is normal in the development process and Porsche believes its leadership in this area will enable it to develop the most sophisticated, reliable and high-performance electronic systems available and reduce the development time for new models to reach market. (read more...)
Mercedes-Benz at the International Motor Show: World premiere of the new S-Class
August 31, 2005 The new S-Class will be taking centre stage at the Mercedes-Benz presentation for the 61st International Motor Show in Frankfurt (15 to 25 September 2005). The motor show will see the world premiere of this luxury saloon, which features a number of pioneering innovations. The saloon’s options include the anticipatory Brake Assist PLUS, the DISTRONIC PLUS proximity-controlled cruise control and the Night Vision system. There’s also the preventive occupant safety system PRE-SAFE to create a unique safety system, which goes into action before a threatening accident has a chance to happen. (read more...)
The new Volkswagen Cabriolet-Coupe is to be called Eos
August 30, 2005 The Volkswagen Cabriolet-Coupe which was one of the stars of the 74th Geneva Automobile Salon in March 2004 as "Concept C” is to be released under the name of EOS – and will be seen in production mode for the first time in Frankfurt on September 12. The car is one of three production models debuting at the show with a cabriolet-coupe design. The Eos body concept has not been derived from a closed roof model; it was developed as an independent cabriolet-coupe. Fundamental technology such as the engine range (85 kW/115 PS to 184 kW/250 PS) and running gear can all be traced back to the new Passat. The vehicle features a new generation of fold-away steel roof, which transforms this four-seat Volkswagen from a coupe to a cabriolet in a matter of only seconds. The roof also features an integrated glass sunroof. The concept C was powered by a 110-kW / 150-hp FSI engine – no details have been released on the Eos. (read more...)
Ford's iosis concept - four door gullwing
August 31, 2005 – Ford has unveiled the striking iosis concept car – a vehicle that defines an exciting new design direction for Ford of Europe. Building on the style of the Ford SAV Concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, iosis demonstrates Ford's new 'kinetic design' philosophy. The car will debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. "iosis is more than just a show car, it is sending a message about how Ford of Europe's future design will be defined,” says Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Design Director. "It sends a bold message because our future products will be bold." (read more...)
Mazda SASSOU B-car Design Concept
August 30, 2005 Mazda’s design concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September will be called the SASSOU (‘sa-so’) – a small, lightweight, three-door hatchback powered by a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1.0-liter MZR DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) gasoline engine. Combined with “evolved Zoom-Zoom design language” and a unique interior concept, Mazda SASSOU is a look into the future at where Mazda might be heading with its B-car. It will share the stage with the Mazda MX-Crossport concept, Mazda2 facelift, the high-performance Mazda6 MPS and the recently launched Mazda6 facelift. (read more...)
Toyota’s ENDO Urban Car Concept
August 31, 2005 Toyota is the world’s second largest automotive manufacturer and it has known for some time that it would not become number one selling automobiles as we now know them. Over the last few years the Japanese giant has both entrenched itself in traditional automotive enclaves such as prestige motoring and Formula 1, while it has evolved numerous concepts for mobility solutions in the grey area where robotics meets personal transport – ranging from walking chairs, through intelligent transforming personal wheeled transporters. Two of the concepts to be shown by Toyota at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show are in this “personal mobility” area - the Endo and the I-unit. Emanating from the company’s ED2 design studio in Southern France, the Endo is an urban-friendly car designed to address some of the key issues of modern urban life, while the i-unit has been seen previously at the New York Auto Show in January this year and is one of the major attractions at EXPO 2005 in Aichi, Japan and is "a new approach to human mobility that enables the driver to interact with his or her surroundings. The design of the i-unit is "inspired by a leaf, a natural expression of life on earth." (read more...)
German WRC: Loeb leads Citroen 1-2
August 29, 2005 Citroen notched up its first one-two of the season yesterday with Sebastien Loeb claiming his eighth victory of the season and extending his lead at the head of the Drivers’ Championship to 32 points with five events remaining. It is also the Frenchman’s fourth consecutive win in Germany. Team-mate Francois Duval repaid the team’s faith by claiming second, 37.4 seconds adrift of the reigning World Champion. Marcus Gronholm, winner of his home event in Finland, finished on the podium in third to retain second in the series. (read more...)
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