Automotive
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Ferrari F430 features a number of significant innovations
With Ferrari technology dominating Formula One, the world's most watched sporting spectacle, the unveiling of the F430 Ferrari is doubly significant in that it also signals the arrival of a new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder models. This new car takes Ferrari's extraordinary achievements with aluminium technology, begun with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level, and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters. Two of these innovations are world firsts for production cars: the electronic differential (E-Diff) and the steering wheel-mounted switch (better known to the Formula 1 Scuderia's drivers as "manettino"), which manages the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics. (read more...)
New automotive accessory adds significant horepower and torque
Now here's a story we couldn't resist. Owners of Ford F250 and F350 vehicles with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel now have a safe, easy way to improve acceleration, towing power and even fuel economy. Diesel performance technology company Edge Products now offers a system it calls "Juice With Attitude" consistently produces up to 75 more HP and at least 190 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. The kit installs in about five minutes using factory-style connectors. By plugging into PCM connections, the Juice enhances signals for fueling, turbo boost and ignition timing. (read more...)
Audi DSG manual gearbox arrives
Audi has a long tradition in the development of innovative transmission technologies and their use in production vehicles and the company's latest variation on the theme is the Direct Shift Gearbox or DSG. The DSG is a six-speed manual transmission that can offer both manual and automatic transmission. It uses all the same ingredients as a manual transmission but with an extra clutch. (read more...)
Stretched MINI - with on-board spa
MINI brought a smile and a couple of world records to the Olympics in Athens when it unveiled a new six-metre long MINI XXL. The oversized compact will service visiting celebrities in Athens and is sure to make an impression thanks to its fully-functioning on board spa. The XXL has a detachable hardtop roof section which pulls away to reveal the spa. And it's the first MINI ever to have room for an awesome foursome in the back, thanks to two rows of paired seats. (read more...)
'World's Fastest Wheel' Offered Unreserved
One of the massive 1.32 metre-tall steel wheels which carried Donald Campbell to his World Land Speed record of 645km/h at Lake Eyre 40 years ago is for sale. Complete with specially constructed Dunlop tyre, the wheel was one of 12 used on the 9.1 metre long, 4354kg 4,500 horsepower Bluebird during Campbell's rain-delayed record attempt during 1963 and 1964, which culminated in the record on July 17, 1964. The son a legend, Campbell's died less than three years later when his Bluebird hydroplane crashed at high speed attempting to break his own water speed record. His body was only recovered and buried three years ago in 2001. (read more...)
Blade Runner Dual-mode vehicle
UK-based Silvertip Design has an exciting new project that it hopes will revolutionise freight and passenger travel. After years of research and development Mechanical Engineer and head of Silvertip Design Carl Henderson has produced the "Blade Runner", a dual-mode vehicle that could transport passengers or freight over long distances on rail or road. Similar in concept to the JR Hokkaido vehicle train/bus concept, recently featured in Gizmo, the potential benefits of an affordable dual-mode vehicle are immense, especially in areas of government economic and civil planning, as well as the commercial sector. (read more...)
A new breed of high performance electric car
The Tango is an electric car no wider than a motorcycle, with a passenger or luggage space located tandem-style behind the driver. It is so narrow that four Tangos can fit in a normal-sized parking space. Despite its precarious looks, it has a very low centre of gravity and will stop , accelerate and corner faster than almost anything else on the road. It may look vulnerable but it has a carbon fibre body shell and a race-approved roll cage structure which make it a very safe, capable and environmentally responsible vehicle. (read more...)
Bike-o-Meter accessory for the Siemens M65 Mobile Phone
Siemens Germany has released an optional IBS-600 Bike-o-Meter which transforms the new M65 mobile phone into an innovative bike computer, and simultaneously serves as a holder for the phone. The Bike-o-Meter's feature set includes all the functionality of a bike computer (speedometer, time, maximum and average speed and other related calculations), and it can also display predefined route information. Users can use the M65 to retrieve training routes entered previously, or to save new tours with waypoints. (read more...)
Toyota patents cars that show their (and your) feelings
Toyota has been granted a patent for a system which enables a vehicle to recognise its surroundings, the actions of other road users and the emotional response of its driver and convey the driver's emotions to the public via a vehicle expression system on the exterior of the vehicle. The car's emotion expression system uses the cars headlights, the colour of the vehicle, a set of "eyebrows" over the cars headlights, external LED displays and the height of the vehicle and the antennae to inform other users. (read more...)
The most successful F1 car in history?
Ferrari's domination of F1 this year is not without its equal in history. After 11 wins from 12 races, Ferrari is on track to equal the 1988 feat of the McLaren F1 team which won 15 of 16 races. McLaren's drivers were the late Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, who between them took 15 of 16 poles and led for 1003 of the 1031 race laps that season. The pair also scored the most one-two finishes in a season with ten from 16 starts. The F2004 Ferrari just may become the most successful F1 car in history. (read more...)
Aston Martin DBR9 debuts
Aston Martin has revealed details of its all-new DBR9 that will spearhead the marque's return to international motor racing in 2005. Based on the Aston Martin DB9, a limited number of DBR9 racing cars will be made available to selected customers and three works teams will use the cars in sports car events such as the Le Mans 24 Hour. The DBR9 engine promises to be very powerful, based on the DB9's 48-valve, 6.0-litre V12 engine. (read more...)
Dodge Magnum SXT for Police Special Service Uses
Dodge has released details of a forthcoming Dodge Magnum police car, powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with cylinder deactivation that produces 340 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. The Magnum ups the ante in the law enforcement market with its legendary HEMI V-8 engine. The 2005 Dodge Magnum SXT model will be available this year for police special service use. For 2006, Dodge will introduce a police package which will be offered on the Dodge Magnum model. (read more...)
BMW's new V10 engine in detail
Each time BMW M introduces a new model, the focus of attention is centred on what lurks beneath the domed bonnet bulge. For the E60 M5 sedan due on sale in Australia mid-2005, the answer is a high-revving ultra-powerful V10 - a superb, state-of-the-art engine which BMW recently detailed for the world's press. (read more...)
Building the Audi RSQ for
The convergence mix is bringing some unlikely partners together as vertical market borders are blurring and morphing not just product categories but entertainment genres. The upcoming movie "I, ROBOT" has all the makings of a film of epic status – a script inspired by the classic Isaac Asimov short story collection and the public’s first detailed introduction to the capabilities of personal robotics. Everything had to be entirely believable for a film set 30 years from now so when the script called for a futuristic vehicle, a loose tender was put to the world’s leading automotive design studios and Audi won the job. (read more...)
Lamborghini takes title as the world's fastest police Car
The title of the world’s fastest police car has been secured by the Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato) wehich will soon begin using a Lamborghini Gallardo Police Car. The Gallardo Police Car will be used by the traffic police (Polizia Stradale) during emergencies and alarm situations on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway, also under the powers of the special safety operative which is already being employed along this tract of highway. (read more...)
Two New Versions of the Porsche 911
For the first time since 1977, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is launching two new 911 models at the same time: the 911 Carrera with a 239 KW (325 BHP), 3.6 litre boxer engine, and the 911 Carrera S, powered by a newly developed 3.8 litre engine, which delivers 261 KW (355 BHP). With torque... (read more...)
Ford Seattle-ite: one of history's most significant concept cars
Concept cars attempt to predict the future, demonstrating new technologies to make our lives safer, more comfortable and anjoyable. With the 20-20 vision afforded by hindsight, Ford's 1963 World Fair Showpeice stands out as one of the most visionary concept cars in history. Many concept cars have forecast technologies that have become standard equippe but few have forecast as many technologies so far before their time as the Ford Seattle-ite XXI. Built to symbolise the future of American technological knowhow for the 1963 World’s Fair, it encompassed some remarkable concepts – interchangeable fuel cell power units, interchangeable bodies, interactive computer navigation, mapping and auto information systems, and four driving and steering wheels. (read more...)
Covini's six wheeled sportscar
Covini is a name which is not well known in automotive circles outside of Italy - that's almost certain to change thanks to the small company's latest design - a six wheel sports car along similar engineering lines to the famous Tyrrell P34 Formula One racing car of the mid-seventies. The six wheeled design offers many advantages over a conventional design as it offers more traction for cornering and braking and minimises the risks associated with tyre punctures and aquaplaning. The P34 experienced a host of development issues which technology has since solved. Covini's car certainly looks the business - in the go-department it is powered by an Audi 4.2 litre V8 motor (283.4 kw / 380 bhp @ 6400 rpm) which powers it to a top speed of 300 kmh. (read more...)
Volvo Concept Car Designed by women for women
VVolvo's 'Your Concept Car' (YCC) is a concept vehicle designed by women for women. Conceived by Volvo in June 2002 with a view to targeting the most demanding premium customer, the independent professional woman, the YCC was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. The idea of an all-woman team making all the decisions in the development of a new concept car arose at Volvo Car in the autumn of 2001. Visiting Volvo at the time for a series of workshops was Marti Barletta, an American expert on female consumer patterns. She claimed: "If you meet the expectations of women, you exceed the expectations of men." "We're sure it's right," says Camilla Palmertz, one of the two project managers for the YCC. "That's why that thesis has been our guiding light in developing Your Concept Car." (read more...)
Alfa Romeo Visconte Concept by Giugaro
One of the world's leading car designers, Giorgetto Giugiaro, has revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show what he believes the new flagship luxury Alfa Romeo should look like and, as the man already tasked with producing the replacement for the beautiful Alfa Romeo 156, he is in a unique position to be able to propose what Alfa's competitor for the top of the market could look like. (read more...)
Koenigsegg makes world's most powerful production car
Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg specialises in brutally fast exotica - Koenigsegg's CC8S is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most powerful production car. With the introduction of the CCR at the Geneva Motor Show, they have effectively broken their own record - 806 hp at 6,900 rpm. The two-door, two-seater CCR's outrageous figures don't stop there. With a dry weight of 1180 kg, it has a power to weight ratio of 1.46 kg per hp, which is another industry best figure. With so much horsepower and so little weight, it's no surprise the CCR runs a standing quarter mile in nine seconds flat, with a terminal speed of 235kmh. The CCR does 0 to 100 kmh in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of close to 400 kmh (245mph), thanks to a slippery Cd (drag co-efficient) of just 0.297 and a very low frontal area (1.825 m2). (read more...)
Holden and Elfin show MS8 CLUBMAN AND MS8 STREAMLINER
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...)
Rinspeed Splash - amphibious sportscar unveiled
The Rinspeed Splash Amphibious Hydrofoil Sportscar previewed by Gizmo in December 2003 was unveiled to the world at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show - the Splash is capable of 80 kmh (approx. 45 knots) on the water and 200 kmh on land. The design is yet another concept from Swiss creative studio Rinspeed, whose concept designs have graced the pages of Gizmo several times in our short history. In 2002 it was the Presto, a collapsible car which turned from a four seat convertible to a two-seater at the press of a button. Then, last August Rinspeed showed the Bedouin, an off-road vehicle capable of extending and retracting just like the Presto. In early January this year we showed the CAD drawings of the Splash and now the car has been unveiled, the tenth Rinspeed concept car and the most outrageous to date. (read more...)
Renault Wind Concept Car
The Renault Wind concept car is a 2+1 roadster with streamlined design and lively performance which will be shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. (read more...)
New supercar on show at Melbourne Motor Show
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...)
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