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Automotive
The out of this world Extra Terrestrial Vehicle
By Darren Quick
00:15 July 2, 2009 PDT
We're not sure ET would have settled for cruising in a basket attached to a bicycle if he'd seen the Extra-Terrestrial Vehicle (ETV). Contrary to its name, the ETV was actually built by Earthling Mike Vetter at his Florida-based car customization company, The Car Factory. Made by stripping the body of a Chevy Aveo and replacing it with a futuristic shell, complete with gull-wing doors, the aerodynamic ETV will get at least 40 mpg and turn more than a few heads while doing it. Read More
Noise-free rubber promises a quieter ride
By Jeff Salton
16:20 July 1, 2009 PDT
A quieter, more enoyable ride could be just around the corner with the development of a self-lubricated, low-friction rubber formulation that helps overcome noise caused by certain automotive components like suspension bushings and engine mounts. Read More
Riversimple hydrogen-powered urban car provides fuel for thought
00:16 June 19, 2009 PDT
The Riversimple Urban Car, a hydrogen-powered two-seater capable of speeds up to 50mph and of traveling more than 200 miles without refueling, was unveiled in London this week. While the prototype car is itself a welcome development in sustainable travel, the aim of the company behind it is even more ambitious: to completely eliminate the environmental impact of personal transport. Read More
Hankook's enfren low rolling-resistance tires deliver 5 percent fuel saving
By Karen Sprey
01:52 June 9, 2009 PDT
Hankook says its new range of low rolling-resistance tires could delivering significant fuel savings and environmental benefits without consumers having to upgrade their car. The silica compound enfren tire achieved a 5.1% saving over conventional steel belt radials in a recent Fuel Economy Challenge using two identical Hyundai i30 SLX CRDi hatches. Read More
CarGo concept beats the hell out of traffic
By Paul Best
19:23 June 7, 2009 PDT
One of the corollaries of increased urban density is nerve-shredding traffic congestion and billowing pollution. So anything that addresses these problems receives our applause – like the compact, battery-powered CarGo goods van that is designed to negotiate the urban jungle, making frequent deliveries without fuss or fouling the air. Read More
Tesla delivers 500th Roadster EV
By David Greig
21:09 June 3, 2009 PDT
Tesla Motors has delivered its 500th Roadster to New Jersey Philanthropist Martin Tuchman. The fledgling electric car company - 10 percent of which was acquired by Daimler last month - also has 1000 reservations for its Model S electric sedan and plans to roll into Europe this year, opening showrooms in London, Monaco and Munich, as well as Seattle, Miami, Washington, Chicago and a second New York store in the Chelsea Art District. Read More
GM’s OnStar predicts injury severity using real-time crash data
By Alan Brandon
18:07 June 2, 2009 PDT
General Motors has announced a new capability for its OnStar service, which the car manufacturer hopes will reduce emergency response times and save lives. The new feature, called Injury Severity Prediction, analyzed real-time vehicle crash telemetry data to predict how severely the occupants may be injured. OnStar then alerts emergency services so that they can react more quickly and appropriately. Read More
Foam-bodied Spira set to make a soft impact on deadly Asian roads
By Loz Blain
22:07 May 27, 2009 PDT
A good product must be perfectly adapted to its market - and the Spira looks like an excellent fit for the chaotic conditions of South-East Asian roads. This odd little three-wheel two-seater weighs only 300-odd pounds (130kg) - that's because it uses a super-lightweight reinforced foam for 90 percent of the bodywork. It gets well over 100mpg from its 110cc engine, it's light enough to lift by hand, and the foam shell has huge safety benefits, both for the occupants and for the legions of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists that swarm the roads of Thailand. Oh, and it floats. Read More
Daimler buys 10 percent stake in Tesla
02:19 May 22, 2009 PDT
Daimler AG has announced the acquisition of almost 10 percent of fledgling Californian EV producer Tesla. The deal, which should help Tesla meet its planned 2011 launch date for the Model S sedan, is the latest news in an ongoing relationship between Tesla and the German automotive giant which also includes a previously announced agreement to supply lithium-ion battery packs in the first 1,000 units of Daimler’s electric smart car. Read More
Audi revs up and down with new stop-start technology
By Darren Quick
01:10 May 11, 2009 PDT
It may sound obvious, but the most effective way to cut a car's fuel consumption is to turn the car off. Of course that isn’t very useful if you're trying to get from A to B. But for many trips, particularly for city driving, a car can be idle for a significant amount of time. Such stop-start driving is far from being fuel-efficient, but Audi has turned that around with a new system that shuts down the engine when the car comes to a stop. The start-stop system joins a new on-board computer, as part of Audi’s modular efficiency platform, which is designed to reduce fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions. Read More
Formula 3 racing car powered by chocolate and steered by carrots - seriously
By Darren Quick
22:41 May 6, 2009 PDT
Environmentally friendly vehicles conjure up thoughts of a Toyota Prius hybrid or maybe a vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells, but a Formula 3 racing car generally wouldn’t be the first thing to come to mind. This "WorldFirst Formula 3 car" unveiled by researchers at the University of Warwick might just change that impression - and it's eco-friendliness goes way beyond the bio diesel engine that drives it. The racer is powered by chocolate, steered by carrots, has bodywork made from potatoes and can still do 125mph around corners. Read More
Mercedes SLS Gullwing interior shots released
By David Greig
23:43 April 28, 2009 PDT
The new Mercededs-Benz SLS AMG aspires to the title of “super sports car” with its front-mid 420 KW/571 hp engine, gullwing doors, aluminum chassis and blistering acceleration of 0 to 100 kmh in 3.8 seconds. Mercedes has now released pictures of the aviation inspired interior which features a wing- shaped dashboard, a jet-like operating console and even air vents designed to remind you of aircraft engines. Read More
Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster takes a trip back in time
07:06 April 28, 2009 PDT
When studio shots emerged of the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster design study last month, it wasn't something we were necessarily expecting to see out-and-about. The curious mixture of early automotive design elements and 21st Century technology stretched its legs (at a top speed of 25kmh) by covering a section of the historic route taken by Bertha Benz more than 120 years ago in a Benz Patent Motor Wagon. Read More
Chrysler chooses A123 batteries for Electric Vehicles
By Paul Evans
22:04 April 19, 2009 PDT
Chrysler this week announced it will use batteries from A123 Systems in its range of Electric Vehicles, the first of which should be a Tesla Roadster competitor - the Dodge Circuit. A123 and Chrysler have been working together over the last three years to develop a modular battery system based on prismatic cells using the same lithium iron nano-phosphate chemistry that has already gained a huge reputation following the world records set by Killacycle. Read More
Chicago unveils solar-powered recharging stations for electric cars
21:52 April 19, 2009 PDT
With the Tesla Roadster and other plug-in electric vehicles hitting the road, so demand is growing for readily accessible refueling points to recharge them. Carbon Day Automotive has now demonstrated a solar-powered recharging point, known as the Solar Plug-In Station, which lets motorists easily charge their cars using electricity that has been generated without any environmental emissions. Read More
Lotus’ patented Active Noise Control technologies poised to make motoring more comfortable
By Darren Quick
17:52 April 18, 2009 PDT
Although the environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles are well known, their near silent operation when running off batteries does pose a danger to pedestrians who are used to the rumble of an engine to alert them to oncoming vehicles. Active Noise Control technologies from Lotus Engineering address this problem by projecting engine sounds externally to improve pedestrian safety, while also employing noise-canceling technology internally to reduce unwanted cabin noise. Read More
45th anniversary of the Ford Mustang
By David Greig
20:43 April 12, 2009 PDT
On April 17, 2009, Ford and the Mustang Club of America will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the legendary Ford Mustang with a four-day celebration in Birmingham, Alabama. Based originally on the Ford Falcon, the brand has gone through many changes over its 45 year history, but still retains the essence of the breed. Ford released the first Mustang in 1964 (dubbed Mustang 1964½ because it came out at the unusual half way point of the year) and since then it has become one of the most iconic muscle cars in American automotive history, selling 9 million units along the way. Read More
Ford explores the future of the family car - the Transit Connect Family One concept
By Jude Garvey
01:03 April 9, 2009 PDT
As part of the lead up to the release of the Transit Connect utility vehicle this year Ford has unveiled the Family One Concept. Packed with added extras that will appeal to the whole clan, the Concept showcases the versatility of the platform and explores what's possible in designing a car specifically for one purpose. Innovations include digital entertainment screens, in-dash technology that is programmed with all the family's requirements and even sunscreen and hand sanitizer dispensers. Kids are sure to love the door-mounted scooters and the walkie-talkie radios while Moms are catered for by the inclusion of a stroller stored under the floor, in-built rear awning and an integrated first aid kit. Read More
The Virgin Brawn GP team's spectacular first up effort
By Mike Hanlon
16:03 March 31, 2009 PDT
The feats of Brawn GP at Albert Park in the team's inaugural race at the first round of World Formula One Championship on March 29, 2009 will surely go down in the pantheon of spectacularly successful first-up sporting efforts. A month ago they were all unemployed, but in just 28 days they put two cars on the track, tested them over a normally-inadequate 2000 km and qualified them 1-2 for the first race, at the same time announcing a heavyweight backer in the form of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and involvement with a new Virgin Fuel, reportedly a clean-burning petroleum replacement. Next day, success fueled more success with a 1-2 finish for the team, and engine supplier Mercedes. Mastermind Ross Brawn was in tears after the race, as no doubt were Honda. Read More
Mazda begins commercial leasing of Premacy RE hybrid rotary hydrogen vehicle
By Darren Quick
21:36 March 29, 2009 PDT
Mazda is providing another green option in Japan by commencing commercial leasing of their Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, a hydrogen hybrid vehicle that combines Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine with an electric motor. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid improves on the RX-8 Hydrogen RE – the first model to be commercialized - with the hydrogen fuel range of the doubled to 200 kilometers and the maximum output increased by approximately 40 percent to 110 kilowatts. Read More
The Tata Nano goes on sale
By David Greig
18:01 March 24, 2009 PDT
The Tata Nano has arrived. The world's cheapest new car at around USD$2500 was first announced in January last year and is now available for sale... but you may have to join the queue. The car is currently being manufactured in limited numbers at the company's Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand while a new dedicated plant in Gujarat with an annualized capacity of 350,000 cars will not come online until 2010. In the meantime, the first 100,000 cars will be allocated at random to those who've put down a deposit. Read More
Movito: modular, hubless electric scooter design
By David Greig
19:03 March 18, 2009 PDT
March 19, 2009 We live in a world where the need for lighter, more efficient vehicles is glaringly apparent, and in recent times designers and automotive manufacturers have ramped up their efforts to meet this challenge. Given this climate it's not surprising to see the enviro-conscious "Movito" scooter design receive accolades in the Create the Future Design Contest. Engineer/Designer Tiam Chiem's Movito is a 2-modular design consisting of an upper scooter chassis and the base which provides the drive via an in-wheel electric motor and hubless front wheel. The modular design allows a range of possible morphs, including multiple bodies to be connected to the base or two bases to be connected in parallel to form a two-seater. Read More
Koenigsegg Quant: 512 bhp 275 km/h, solar-electric 4-seater
By David Greig
20:25 March 5, 2009 PST
Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg, in conjunction with NLV Solar of Switzerland, is showing its full scale four-seater NLV Quant at the 2009 Geneva Salon. Producing 512hp with maximum torque of 715Nm, the Quant runs 0–100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and hits a top speed of 275 km/h. The all-electric car is powered through a combination of what it has dubbed a Flow Accumulator Energy Storage (FAES), which charges to full capacity in 20 minutes, and solar energy supplied via a thin layer photovoltaic coating over the car. The combined solar/FAES offer a claimed range in excess of 500km. Read More
Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce – the new king of the bulls
By Mike Hanlon
20:26 March 2, 2009 PST
At the extreme end of the supercar producer spectrum is the Volkswagen-owned Automobili Lamborghini and development of the company's product offering is nowadays seemingly continuous. Bearing witness to this is the new, exceptionally purist and even more extreme top-of-the-range Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce which is more powerful, lighter and faster than the Murcielago LP 640. With output from the 6.5 liter V12 raised to 670 bhp and a weight reduction of 100 kg (220 lbs), the limited edition SuperVeloce now boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) per hp, enabling a top speed of 342 km/h (212 mph) and a 0-100 km/h time of 3.2 seconds. Read More
New hydraulic hybrid transmission doubles MPG in city driving
By Paul Evans
18:57 March 1, 2009 PST
Mechanical transmission of power using gears is very energy inefficient. The familiar automotive multi-speed gearbox and differential suffers from the friction losses that result in 20 – 30% of engine power being lost between a car's engine and the wheels. Many techniques are being developed to eliminate mechanical transmission including Wheel Motors and Hydraulic transmissions that we have seen being trialed in UPS delivery vans. Now in an innovative new approach, Scottish company Artemis Intelligent Power has developed a hydraulic hybrid transmission system it says can double a vehicle's MPG in city driving. Read More
Robert Ferry
- July 3, 2009 @ 15:42 UTC
