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Automotive
World first imaging system to shed light on engine lubrication
23:01 November 12, 2008 PST
Yesterday we looked at the promising future of liquid crystal based lubricants in dramatically improving engine efficiency, now the other side of the equation - how to improve engine design. A neutron imaging system developed by Nissan and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) that can see through lightweight metals may help uncover some of the answers by providing researchers with unprecedented visualization of oil flow in an engine operating at high speed. Read More
Caterham’s new Superlight R300 delivers 339bhp-per-tonne
By Darren Quick
22:34 November 9, 2008 PST
British lightweight sportscar manufacturer Caterham has released details of a new addition to its ‘Superlight’ family. The new Superlight R300 is an update the previous R300, which was originally launched in 2002 and fitted with a Rover engine. The new model offers chassis developments and increased engine performance that see the R300 go from 0-to-60mph in 4.5 seconds courtesy of a new 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine, tuned by Caterham Powertrain (CPT) to deliver 175bhp. The latest 515kg interpretation of Colin Chapman’s ‘lightweight minimalist’ philosophy balances power and chassis to deliver an impressive 339bhp-per-tonne. Read More
London takes delivery of hybrid-drive double-decker
17:57 November 7, 2008 PST
London's iconic double-decker buses may soon add a green heart to their familiar red exterior. Having already made an impact in North America, buses equipped with BAE Systems’ diesel-electric HybriDrive propulsion system are soon to be trailed on the other side of the Atlantic. The first of 17 evaluation units built by Britain’s Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BAE Systems was delivered this week to bus operator Transport for London and Metrobus. Read More
Seatbelt add-on enhances driver control
01:42 November 5, 2008 PST
What the CG-Lock does is simple, but the benefits it lays claim to - with credentials boosted by its use on Top Gear and the set of the latest Bond film - are worth noting. The three ounce device clips onto your seatbelt and is used to tighten and hold the lapbelt while leaving the shoulder strap loose. In day-to-day use this prevents sliding towards the pedals and improves driver posture, while on track days or during serious off-roading it boosts control and safety. Read More
New Nissan Z set for Los Angeles debut
17:11 October 30, 2008 PDT
Nissan has released images of the new 370Z Coupe ahead of its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 19 November. The 2009 incarnation of the legendary Z represents its first full redesign since its reintroduction in 2003. Read More
2008 Peugeot Design Contest: tommorrow's urban commuters
02:47 October 23, 2008 PDT
Peugeot has announced the winners of its 2008 Design Competition with RD, a morphing three-wheeler from 25 year old Columbian designer Carlos Arturo Torres Tovar claiming the top prize in what has once again proved to be an invigorating platform for futuristic automotive design. Now in its fifth year, the theme set down for this year's contest was to "imagine the Peugeot in the worldwide megopolis of tomorrow", a challenge the winning entry meets with a small footprint that gives it the scope to navigate narrow roads combined with the ability to shorten itself by folding upwards at a central hinge point in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Along with the €10,000 prize, the designer will see his vision produced in full-scale model form for the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show. Read More
Smart cars to be trialed in city mobility scheme
By Emily Clark
23:54 October 21, 2008 PDT
In a progressive move that shares similarities to bike sharing schemes currently operating in some European cities, Daimler is looking to combat urban road congestion with car2go, a new program to be trialed in Germany which will utilize a microchip system in order for members to access environmentally friendly Smart cars. Read More
A Model-T for the modern era
By Darren Quick
20:48 October 21, 2008 PDT
A century after the Model T put the world on wheels, Ford Motor Company has announced the winners of a global competition that challenged five universities to create a similarly revolutionary vehicle concept. The winner of the competition was Germany’s Aachen University's Institute of Automotive Engineering (ika), which took home the USD$25,000 in scholarship funds by developing a concept that met the requirements set by Ford: the vehicle had to be simple, lightweight, practical, and durable, offer a range of at least 125 miles, accommodate at least two passengers and be priced no more than $7,000. Read More
New Mégane Coupé to get video game introduction
By Darren Quick
00:05 October 21, 2008 PDT
Move over motor shows, it seems that video games are becoming the platform of choice for manufacturers wanting to throw a spotlight on their shiny new wares. Citroen is using this tactic to showcase its latest concept car and now Renault has announced that video game fans will be the very first to get behind the wheel of its new Mégane Coupé in the latest installment of Electronic Arts’ popular Need for Speed series: Need for Speed Undercover. Read More
All-electric MINI E plugs-in to L.A. Auto Show
19:54 October 20, 2008 PDT
In a further sign that full-electric drive vehicles are headed for the mainstream, BMW Group will showcase a lithium-ion battery powered version of the MINI at next month's Los Angeles Auto Show ahead of a pilot project that will see 500 of the cars evaluated on US roads in 2009. Based on the current MINI Hatch, the MINI E will initially appear in two-seater form with rear seats dropped to make way for the battery pack. Rather than an in-hub motor arrangement, an electric motor mounted under the bonnet drives the front wheels through a single-stage helical gearbox derived from the Cooper S, and being all-electric, the full power kicks-in from a standing start delivering quite adequate acceleration of 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds with a top speed electronically-limited to 95 mph. Read More
The Climax bioethanol-powered supercar
By Darren Quick
23:36 October 19, 2008 PDT
Greener motoring doesn't usually mean high-performance, but bio-ethanol powered sports cars like the Lotus Exige 265E and Aston Martin's Vantage GT2 have shown that the two terms aren't always mutually exclusive. Now another British company is joining the ranks with the Climax mid-engine open-top two seater. Read More
Mercedez-Benz adaptive high-beam assistant
By Darren Quick
22:42 October 19, 2008 PDT
We’ve all nearly been blinded and had to flash our high beams at oncoming drivers who have failed to dip their lights, but Mercedes-Benz' latest adaptive lighting innovation could help end of such dangerous incidents by taking driver error out of the equation. The newly developed high-beam assistant system uses a dash-mounted camera to automatically adapt headlamp range to the distance of other vehicles, meaning drivers will at all times benefit from optimum headlamp range by becoming aware of danger spots, pedestrians and other road users more easily and more quickly. Read More
2008 Paris Motor Show round-up
19:37 October 19, 2008 PDT
As the curtain falls on the Paris Motor Show for 2008 we take a look back at some of the biggest surprises and brightest innovations to emerge from this massive global automotive extravaganza. As a starting point it's hard to go past Lamborghini, which emulated its 2007 most-talked-about crown by showing its Estoque concept. As a mid-engined four-door coupé with a V10 motor and permanent four-wheel drive, it's not really eco-inspired but a weapon to behold for the family man. Mazda definitely made our short-list for the most striking design with the aerodynamic Kiyora Urban compact and Citroen also floated some compelling concepts including the colorful Hypnos luxury hybrid crossover and the virtual-meets-real-world GTbyCITROEN which will appear on-screen in the next installment of Gran Turismo. Read More
If Jesse James drove a Hummer...
23:42 October 16, 2008 PDT
We've seen it supercharged and even converted to remote control, but we've never seen a HUMMER H3 like this. Officially it's called art, but the phrases 'automotive travesty' and 'left-field promotional opportunity' also spring to mind in regard to British artist Matthew Harrison's latest project - a H3 with the standard 16-inch alloys dropped in favor of ‘Wild West’ wooden wagon wheels. The head-turning installation will be parked opposite the Royal Academy of Arts in London as part of the Zoo Art Fair 2008 which runs from 17-20 October. The strange thing is - it kind of suits. Read More
Norway to trial Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE
18:25 October 15, 2008 PDT
Mazda has announced that its RX-8 Hydrogen RE (Rotary Engine) vehicle will undergo assessment in Norway, the first time the car has graced public roads outside Japan. The joint project between Mazda and the Hydrogen Road of Norway (HyNor) project will use a single vehicle to assess the RE’s driving performance as well as promoting the technology through appearances at public events. Read More
Navistar unveils new hybrid truck
By Darren Quick
02:45 October 15, 2008 PDT
With the spiraling cost of fuel and the average cost of diesel in 2008 climbing around 39 percent versus last year, it’s no surprise that truck manufacturers are looking to lighten the burden on trucking operators. To this end Navistar, makers of the LoneStar, has expanded its line of diesel electric hybrid trucks with the unveiling of their International DuraStar Hybrid tractor at this week’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum in South Bend, Indiana. Navistar claims that the new diesel electric hybrid Class 7 tractor has the proven capability to provide fuel savings of 20-25 percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. Read More
Peugeot's 3-wheel hybrid scooter concept puts a roof over your head
00:41 October 15, 2008 PDT
October 15, 2008 It's not a car and it's not quite a scooter. Peugeot's HYmotion3 compressor concept vehicle is an original mix of previously seen design elements - a semi-enclosed shell akin to BMW's C1 or the Benelli Adiva and the carving 3-wheel layout of Piaggio's MP3 - with hybrid drivetrain technology added to produce a 2-person vehicle that promises low CO2 emissions as well as greater safety and weather protection than conventional scooters. Read More
The Audi A1 hybrid drive Sportback concept
20:31 October 14, 2008 PDT
Audi has used the Paris Motor Show to unveil a compact 5-door variation of the 3-door A1 project quattro car first shown in Tokyo last year. The concept, which the company says "shows another possible direction for forthcoming production A1", features updated hybrid technology which combines a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor that adds up to 150 Nm of torque during acceleration and can also run purely on electric power for more than 60 miles on a single charge. Read More
The BMW Concept X1
22:33 October 9, 2008 PDT
BMW has signaled an expansion to its X series line with the World premiere of its Concept X1 at the Paris Motor Show. Described as the "first Sports Activity Vehicle in the premium compact segment" and clearly sharing the design DNA of other X series models which first hit the streets with the first generation X5 back in 1999, the car being shown in Paris is expected to be very close to the production model which is due for release within one year. Read More
Citroen takes wraps off Hypnos Concept Car
00:18 October 9, 2008 PDT
Teaser pics of the Citroën Hypnos first surfaced last month and more details have now been revealed to coincide with the unveiling of the outlandish crossover concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Pitched as a hybrid in terms of both technology and styling, the dynamically proportioned Hypnos attempts to marry the elegance of an executive saloon with the volumes of a cross-over while at the same time showcasing the company's HYmotion4 technology - a diesel hybrid drivetrain featuring a rear axle-mounted electric motor which optimizes dynamic performance and traction while keeping fuel consumption down to 4.5 l/100 km (60+mpg) and emissions at 120 g/km of CO2). What really sets the car apart however is the candy-shop "color therapy" interior - sunglasses may be required. Read More
Ford MyKey lets parents set the maximum speed of their kid’s car
By Emily Clark
18:15 October 8, 2008 PDT
Ford Motor Company has announced a new safety feature to be added to its vehicles that will help parents encourage young drivers to be more responsible on the road. MyKey aims to promote safe driving, particularly amongst teens, by encouraging seat belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions. Read More
Paris Motor Show highlights: Honda's new Insight hybrid
01:02 October 8, 2008 PDT
Few would argue with the environmental and economic benefits of hybrid vehicles, but despite an avalanche of concept cars that utilize either hybrid or fully-electric drivetrains in recent times, the cost of actually buying one of the few models that have thus far made it to market remains prohibitively high. This situation is set to change rapidly over the next five years and Honda has fired one of the first shots in the expected hybrid price war with the unveiling of its new gasoline-electric Insight at the Paris Motor Show. The 'affordable family hybrid concept' is expected to be very close to the production version slated to hit the U.S. market next year at a price of under $20K, nudging out the Toyota Prius (around USD$23K) as the cheapest hybrid on the market. Read More
Paris highlights: VW presents the Golf Mk VI GTI Concept
22:57 October 6, 2008 PDT
The sixth generation of the Golf GTI has been unveiled in concept form at the Paris Motor Show, providing a taste of things to come when the vehicle enters production in spring 2009. Volkswagen says the concept retains the key elements of the original Mk I GTI launched in '76 - sharp dynamics, style and practicality - while introducing advances in drivetrain and chassis technology such as an electronic limited slip differential (XDS) linked to a sophisticated ESP (Electronic Stabilization Programme) system, a first for the GTI. Read More
Lamborghini shows 4-door 4-seater super sedan
By Mike Hanlon
19:30 October 4, 2008 PDT
October 5, 2008 Lamborghini sprang the surprise of the Paris Show with the Lamborghini Estoque 4-door 4-seater super sedan. Deigned to be driven more regularly than the current Lambborghini Gallardo or Murcielago product lines, the Estoque is an instant contender in the Gran Turismo category currently dominated by Ferrari and Maserati. Propelled to a top speed of 170 mph by a 552 bhp V10 motor, the car comes with the refinement of its Audi stablemate dual-clutch sequential manual transmission. This thing really looks like a projectile and it is positively huge with its five metre length and considerable mass supported by massive 22-inch wheels on the front and 23-inch on the back. A likely third product line from Lamborghini, the car could hit showrooms by 2011 with a likely price tag similar to the Gallardo. Read More
GTbyCITROEN brings Gran Turismo 5 to life
17:52 October 2, 2008 PDT
It may be destined for the game console rather than the garage, but the GTbyCITROËN concept is still one of the most outlandish examples of automotive design to emerge from the 2008 Paris Motor Show where it's making its global debut. The car is the result of a collaboration between Citroën and the creators of Gran Turismo and will appear in its virtual form in the 5th installment of the popular Playstation game. The imposing real world version stands at five meters long and features a wrap around windscreen, gullwing doors, huge air intakes and an over-sized, mobile rear spoiler. Not surprisingly for a car inspired by a computer game, tech specifications for the GTbyCITROËN are a little light on, although within the game it will do its bit for the promotion of greener motoring with a fuel cell powered electric drive train that's totally emissions free (apart from the electricity running the console of course). Read More
matthew.rings
- November 9, 2009 @ 01:28 UTC
