Automotive
Audi Shooting Brake Concept
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October 25, 2005 The Shooting Brake concept evolved a century ago from European gentlemen wishing to have enough room for their guns when they were going hunting or to shooting contests yet at the same time drive their sports cars. A "shooting brake" is a modified two door coupe with an estate-wagon back crafted, rather than grafted on. We've written about some beautiful Shooting Brakes in the past such as the Protoscar Porsche 911. Audi unveiled a new highlight in the sporty compact segment at the Tokyo Motor Show: the Shooting Brake Concept is a study vehicle offering a further trailblazing interpretation of Audi's current formal idiom, blending the powerful dynamism of a sports car with a new sense of spaciousness and greater functionality. With its powerful 250 bhp, 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine and quattro permanent four-wheel drive, the Shooting Brake Concept produces a quality of road behaviour that in every respect lives up to its visual impact. The study vehicle sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds, and its top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h. Read More
Holden shows wild Hot Rod concept
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The FJ Holden is an Australian icon – Australian designed and built, the Australian public identified with the car and it remains as an instantly recognisable and much loved symbol of Australia during its most prosperous period. As the runaway best seller of the fifities, a goodly proportion of Australia’s population either owned one or was conceived in one. Now the car has been reprised by Holden in a wild 21st Century hot rod concept unveiled today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Known as the EFIJY (an effigy is a stylistic representation of someone or something famous) is a radical pillarless custom coupe boasting a supercharged six-litre V8 engine, a Chevrolet Corvette underbody and state-of-the-art automotive technology throughout. Read More
Mercedes-Benz F 600 HYGENIUS fuel cell research vehicle
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October 14, 2005 The new F 600 HYGENIUS is the latest in the series of research vehicles from Mercedes-Benz that point the way forwards for the future. Powered by a zero-emission fuel cell drive with an output of 85 kW/115 hp, the compact-class car with a family-friendly design consumes the equivalent of 2.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and has an operating range in excess of 400 kilometres. "This represents a major step towards bringing the fuel cell drive up to full production maturity, a goal that we aim to achieve some time between 2012 and 2015," remarks Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler AG Board Member for Research & Technology and Head of Development at the Mercedes Car Group. "By developing the fuel cell, we are creating a new basis for supplying energy in tomorrow's vehicles which will make a further lasting improvement to their environmental compatibility." In addition to the fuel cell technology, the Mercedes-Benz research vehicle also showcases an operating concept with virtual displays, new-style seats and other pioneering technologies designed to enhance safety and passenger comfort. Read More
The Nude Top Mitsuoka Orochi
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October 25, 2005 Mitsuoka Motors is an eccentric boutique Japanese specialist automotive manufacturer that has been growing in stature over the last decade and is already regarded as a supercar manufacturer thanks to its Orochi concept which was first shown in 2001 at the Tokyo Motor Show, evolved further in 2003 for the next big Tokyo Show and has evolved still further with a “nude top” (convertible to the rest of the world) version of the Orochi for this year’s show that began this week. The Orochi was originally based on Honda’s NSX supercar and although there are no details of the Nude Top Orochi, we suspect it still is. Just before you dismiss this as just another supercar story, check out the Le-Seyde which is just one of seven limited production models manufactured by the company. It has been in production since 1990 and is still based on a domestic 2.0 litre Japanese production model but we think it looks fabby. Great picture gallery inside. Read More
Blind Land Speed Record achieved
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October 12, 2005 On Tuesday October 11th 2005 at Evington Aerodrome near York, Mike Newman rewrote his World Blind Land Speed Record, driving alone in a BMW M5. The 507hp M5 powered to an average speed of 167.32mph over a measured mile in both directions, being the Guinness criterion for the record. In the process, Mike hit a peak speed of 178.5mph. After breaking the record, Mike Newman said: "This is dedicated to the charity VISION 2020: The Right To Sight on World Sight Day. The aim of VISION 2020 is to eradicate the world of preventable and avoidable blindness by the year 2020."
Toyota's welcoming Fine-X Fuel Cell Hybrid
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October 25, 2005 Toyota's 39th Tokyo Motor Show was probably the busiest of any manufacturer as the world's number two manufacturer of transport solutions fielded seven concept vehicles at its home motor show event. Apart from the i-swing personal mobility solution (covered in detail here), the most unconventional of the concept cars on show was the Fine-X, a new fuel cell hybrid vehicle. Toyota is touting the Fine-X as a glimpse of the automobile's future, providing the environmental performance of a fuel cell hybrid system and featuring an ease of movement through four-wheel independent drive control and a large, steering angle mechanism. The vehicle aims for a sense of "hospitality" through variable lighting intensity in the interior and through power "Welcome Seats" that move in and out of the car as the gull-wing doors open widely to assist getting in and out of the vehicle. Read More
MINI Picnic Set Concept
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October 25, 2005 The concept of cars designed to be reconfigurable for multiple purposes has long been one we've shown great fondness for at Gizmag. Our automotive section is full of interesting twists and concepts based on existing chassis and the latest concept to come out of BMW-owned Mini is one that will appeal to a lot of people. After the success of the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the Frankfurt Motor Show, MINI launched a new interpretation of the classic Mini Traveller at the Tokyo Motor Show that reflects the Japanese appreciation for all things British. The concept is experimenting with access and storage solutions. The roof system houses a table and two chairs for impromptu picnics and weary guests at cricket matches. The cargo box in the rear of the car can be taken out and attached to the side window when open to create a table for serving tea and scones. An extensive photo gallery of one of the most detailed concept cars you're ever likely to see (not to mention very narrowly focussed).
F1 Japanese GP: Kimi Raikkonen wins from 17th on the Grid
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October 10, 2005 Having won nine of the previous 12 Grands Prix the team contested, a McLaren Mercedes victory was predictable at the Japanese Grand Prix held yesterday, but in the end the team’s sixth consecutive victory was a complete surprise. Having finished the last Grand Prix in first and second positions, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen were the last drivers in the qualifying order and when torrential rain hit during the last part of qualifying, their qualifying times were so handicapped by the flooded track they began the race in 17th and 18th positions respectively. In a sport where passing is extremely difficult, that gave the team almost no chance of a victory but such is the competitiveness of the McLaren, Raikkonen drove through the field to 12th on the first lap and picked off those in front of him one by one, passing Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault part way through the last of 53 laps to take the win. McLaren must be ruing its early season fragility as this championship is surely one that got away. Read More
Nissan to unveil the GT-R PROTO
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October 19, 2005 At the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001, Nissan unveiled the GT-R Concept, confirming that the GT-R legend would be continued into the 21st century. Then, at the 37th Tokyo Motor Show in 2003, Nissan announced the next-generation GT-R would be rolled out in 2007. Now with the launch of the production model just two years away, the development of the new GT-R has moved ahead again with the reveal of the GT-R PROTO. Read More
Big Pete's Mustang - Motorsport history for sale
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October 7, 2005 In Australian motorsport history, one of the all-time crowd favourites was the late Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan sliding his famous 1967 Ford Mustang GTA around Australian racing circuits, tail well out, right foot buried, and rarely more than three wheels on the ground – and at all angles! Between 1967 and 1971, Geoghegan posted an amazing 75 wins and 20 second places out of 118 starts in the famous Mustang, winning three consecutive Australian Touring Car Championships in 1967, 1968 and 1969 in the process. This title hat-trick in the same car remains an unequalled feat and makes the Mustang arguably the most successful Touring Car in Australian history. Now Geoghegan’s fabulous Mustang, which has recently been fully-restored to its former glory, is being auctioned by Shannons at the Australian International Motor Show auction in Sydney on October 23. Read More
New Honda concepts include a dog-friendly car, a premium fuel cell sedan and a four seater sports car
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October 6, 2005 The Tokyo Motor Show is home ground for the Japanese manufacturers and Honda has indicated its intention to create a massive impression of technological progress at this year’s show due to open in a fortnight. The Concept Vehicle Zone will showcase some new ideas in concept vehicles such as the next-generation, 4-door Sports 4 Concept, designed to make sure everyone in the vehicle shares the exhilaration of the drive; the W.O.W Concept, which offers a more enjoyable, dog-friendly mobile lifestyle; and the FCX Concept, a next-generation premium fuel-cell sedan featuring advanced intelligent technologies, a low-floor, low-center-of-gravity platform and a full-sized cabin. Read More
Mazda Senku 4-seat rotary sports car for adults
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October 24, 2005 Mazda's SENKU concept vehicle debuted to the public at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show opening last Saturday and the carbon-fibre coloured machine turned out to be even more appealing in reality than it does in photos. The SENKU concept is billed as a “four-seater rotary sports car for adults” and offers a radical new departure in satisfying the desires, the pursuit of dreams and confident self-expression of mature drivers. The features include an ultra long wheelbase, minimal overhangs, a unique “floating” appearance supported by large tires, a smoothly dignified shape devoid of all ornamentation, and large "flying wing" electric powered sliding doors. These elements come together in a coupe form that is both dynamic and elegant. In the cabin, personal space was designed to give priority to the people seated in the front seats, and interior trim was executed in supple, high quality leather. Read More
Akino Concept - luxury, unconventional, compact people mover
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October 5, 2005 Chrysler has released more details of the Akino Concept it plans to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. The original sketches of the vehicle were covered here, but with more detail and imagery now available, it’s worth another look as the car is seeking to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. The Akino was designed with a small super-efficient powertrain to enable the designer freedom to create a new solution for future transportation and the result is a compact car with a roomy and unconventional luxury interior – it has a single door on the driver side, and two doors on the passenger side that open in opposite directions, allowing the interior to have a booth-like rear seat with a swiveling passenger seat. Read More
Nissan Tiida Sport Concept
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October 3, 2005 The Nissan Tiida Sport Concept is the latest in a series of dynamic performance/youth concept vehicles including the Nissan Actic and Nissan AZEAL concepts produced by the company. The Tiida Sport Concept is a dynamic three-door hatchback with a dramatic four-seat interior. It offers the look and feel of a sports-tuned car, yet is conceived as an affordable, attainable vehicle for buyers entering the new car market for the first time. Read More
New technology turns petrol engines into low compression diesel!
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October 3, 2005 It has been a sudden realisation - the world is running out of oil and the laws of supply and demand are set to make petrol prohibitively expensive in the very near future. Sonex Research has a new combustion technology that offers significantly better fuel consumption and greatly reduced emissions. The Sonex GDI Combustion System uses pistons modified to carry a chemical charge that initiates combustion from one cycle to the next, thus eliminating the need for spark plugs. High compression, typical of diesel engines, is no longer needed to make the fuel ignite; in fact, the chemistry causing this auto ignition process exists only at lower compression ratios. Thus, a low compression engine, typically used for burning gasoline, can be designed to burn either a lighter alcohol fuel like ethanol, or a heavier fuel like (bio)diesel when equipped with Sonex pistons, common rail direct injection system and associated electronic control system to control injection pressure and timing. The technology could well be first deployed powering UAVs for the military in Iraq. By James Bauernschmidt Read More
WRC Japan: Loeb and Citroen take World Rally Championship
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October 2, 2005 Frenchman Sebastien Loeb and his Citroen Xsara took the FIA World Rally Championship today, finishing second to a resurgent Marcus Gronholm’s Peugeot 307 and extending his points lead to 36 points with three events still to run in the championship series. After leading the rally for all but two stages, Subaru’s Petter Solberg was robbed of victory in the penultimate stage when he hit a rock and broke the Subaru’s steering. Victory therefore landed in the lap of Marcus Gronholm, his second win of the season. Loeb only needed to finish third, regardless of rivals’ positions around him, and drove the rally required to secure his second title. Subaru’s Chris Atkinson drove to third, his best-ever result, while Francois Duval claimed fourth ahead of Mitsubishi driver Harri Rovanpera. Ford maintained its record of scoring on each round; Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta finishing sixth and seventh respectively to claim Ford’s 57th consecutive points-scoring finish. Daniel Carlsson, stepping in for Markko Martin, rounded off the top eight. Read More
Nissan Pivo Concept Car
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October 24, 2005 One of the stars of the 2005 Tokyo Show, the Nissan Pivo concept car is an electric car with unique revolving cabin, compact packaging, multiple drive-by-wire systems and excellent visibility. The Pivo concept car examines the potential of future electric vehicles. The Pivo's most distinctive feature is its cabin that revolves 360 degrees, eliminating the need to reverse. A compact body also makes the car exceptionally easy to maneuver. Excellent visibility is enhanced by Nissan’s Around View technology, which helps reduce dangerous blind spots. The navigation and audio systems are simple to operate while driving. These features are supported by Nissan’s innovative environment-friendly technologies such as the Compact Lithium-ion Battery. Read More
Date set for World Blind Land Speed Record attempt at 200mph
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Now here’s a different slant on the land speed record – the blind land speed record. Mike Newman, the current World Blind Land Speed record holder and his Speed of Sight team have now set October 11 as the date of their World Blind Land Speed record. The date coincides with World Sight Day on the 13th October 2005 and the team will attempt to better the existing record of 144.7mph with the aim of pushing the record above 200mph. Using a BMW M5 with the 155mph electronic restrictions removed, the team expects the otherwise standard car is expected to top 205mph, using the runway at Elvington Airfield in York, UK Read More
An even quicker Lamborghini Gallardo - the SE
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September 29, 2005 Automobili Lamborghini SpA is unveiling a limited special edition uprated version of its phenomenally-successful Gallardo -- the aptly-named Gallardo SE super sports car -- at this year’s Australian International Motor Show at Sydney’s Darling Harbour October 14-23. The new Gallardo SE (Special Edition) is being restricted to just 250 units worldwide. It is characterised by its innovative two-tone paint and trim combinations, plus a raft of advanced technical modifications. Mechanically, the Gallardo SE benefits from several important upgrades: the gearbox is now equipped with shorter gear ratios in the first five gears, dramatically boosting its dynamic performance. The result is breathtaking acceleration -- from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds – shaving off 0.2 seconds, and achieving a top speed of 315 km/h versus 309 km/h previously. The effects are particularly noticeable on an Egear-equipped SE thanks to its ‘Thrust Mode’, which enables optimum acceleration and changes from a standing start throughout all gears. Read More
EyeAlert Driver Fatigue Monitor hits the market
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September 29, 2005 Driving when you are in danger of falling asleep is one of the most dangerous pastimes imaginable. Most of us have been there at some stage for probably a host of different reasons, and through circumstance, accumulated sleep deficit, whatever, it’s akin to playing Russian roulette except you’re not just gambling your own life but those of your fellow road users. For years there has been talk of research yielding such devices for the marketplace, but this is the first we’ve seen that can be purchased. The DD850 Driver Fatigue Monitor from EyeAlert is a fatigue/sleep deprivation warning device. When the ambient light drops below 50 lux the DD850 infrared camera/sensors begin to monitor the driver’s eye closure rate and duration and if the driver begins exhibiting unsafe patterns, it sounds an alarm. For professional drivers, it’s a tool of the trade – for everyone else who uses the road and regularly drives long hours at night, it’s an US$849insurance policy that won’t need renewing every year. Read More
Lancer Evolution MIEV with all wheel electric motors
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September 28, 2005 The second coming of the oil crisis will yield some very impressive automotive electronic technologies and Mitsubishi is planning to show one of the first that fits into the mouth-watering next-generation electric vehicle category at next month's 39th Tokyo Motor Show. The Mitsubishi MIEV has four high-efficiency direct-drive motors inside its 20-inch wheels, each producing 50 kW of power and 518 Nm torque adding to maximum output of 200 kW (270 bhp). And because this drive system allows precise regulation of power at each individual wheel, it opens the door to creating a vehicle dynamics control system in its ultimate evolutionary form. Mitsubishi will also show the Concept-D:5, a go-anywhere, high-performance concept car that embodies the company's "utmost safety" ideal; and, Concept-X, a concept car with styling that raises the bar on performance car looks and also boasts Mitsubishi's 4WD-based Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC1). Read More
Audi A8 Awarded Chauffeur Car Of The Year
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September 27, 2005 While we suspect most of Gizmag’s readers would rather be behind the wheel rather than some feller with a peaked cap, we do think it’s newsworthy that the Audi A8 has been awarded the Chauffeur Car of the Year at the recent Limousine and Chauffeur Show Industry Awards in the UK. Judges applauded the Audi A8 LWB for its performance, rear passenger comfort, engine variants and maintenance costs. The award actually means something - it was judged not only by respected authorities in the chauffeuring industry, but also by professional drivers across the UK who spend most of their working lives in luxury saloons. Read More
Bentley's twin-turbo, 6-litre W12 convertible - the 190mph Continental GT
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September 26, 2005 Bentley Motors has announced the introduction of the Continental GTC - a new luxury 2+2 convertible to complete the Bentley Continental model range. With a top speed in excess of 190mph (304 km/h), a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, state-of-the-art 12-cylinder engine, advanced air suspension and ultra-stiff body structure, the Continental GTC displays all the poise, exhilarating performance and dynamic handling of the Continental GT. In common with its stable mates, the interior of the new Continental GTC provides an unrivalled standard of craftsmanship, utilising natural wood veneers and leather hides of the finest quality. The Continental GTC follows the introduction of the highly successful Continental GT in 2003 and four-door Continental Flying Spur earlier this year. The new Continental GTC will go on sale in late 2006. Read More
Good vibrations could cut accidents by 15 percent
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September 26, 2005 Vibrating the hands, bottoms and feet of car drivers could cut accidents by 15 per cent, according to research at the UK's Oxford University, bringing a whole new meaning to "driving by seat of your pants". Dr Charles Spence, who lead the research team, has predicted that vibrating warning devices, pioneered by Citroen in the C4 and C5 models, could be common within a few years, along with 'earcons', directed audible warnings that will call a driver's attention to the direction of an approaching hazard. Soothing smells - another technology pioneered by the French car maker - will also be used to reduce road rage. Read More
Alonso and Renault take World F1 title
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September 26, 2005 Fernando Alonso today became the youngest world champion in Formula One history, after his thirteenth podium finish of the 2005 season in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Starting from pole position, the Spaniard drove a consistent race to claim third position and a championship lead of 23 points with two races remaining in the 2005 season - he therefore has an unassailable lead in the drivers’ championship. At 24 years old, he is the youngest world champion in F1 history. While Renault celebrated, McLaren-Mercedes wondered what might have been had the team found consistency to match its speed. Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen scored a dominant one-two in the race and last year’s champ Michael Schumacher finished fourth for Ferrari. With teammate Rubens Barrichello in sixth place, Ferrari consolidated their third place in the Constructors’ championship, the lead of which was taken by McLaren, now two points ahead of Renault with two races to go. With the title safe, an all-out fight for the constructors’ crown will be the centre of attention of the final two races of the season. Read More
Wireless Modus gets a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
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September 25, 2005 Most drivers hardly notice the difference if their tire pressure gradually drops over a period of several weeks, and as we reported in our article on Nitrogen tyre inflation, 80% of automobiles on the road are running underinflated tyres and nearly as many drivers don’t even know what the correct tyre pressures are. So it was about time that somebody took the human factor out of the equation. Renault has selected the Johnson Controls tyre pressure monitoring system to constantly monitor the air pressure of the tyres on the new Modus, informing the driver about the air pressure of all four tires via a convenient display. Special technology automatically identifies the positioning of the tires, eliminating the need for any wheel-specific receiving module. Read More
A new class premieres – the Sports Utility Cabriolet (SUC)
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September 26, 2005 The undeniable trend in world automotive sales over the last few decades has been the rise of the SUV, and in particular, the luxury SUV. The luxury SUV market offers the spaciousness, comfort, technology and customer services of a luxury car without the same price and value-for-money is just one of the reasons why luxury SUVs are increasingly taking the place of the family car. Another key trend of recent times that is gaining strength is the cabriolet – the ability to take the top off a car and drive with the wind in your hair is something people are increasingly prepared to pay for. So why not combine the two trends. German automotive specialist Karmann, best known for the Karmann Ghia Volkswagen, has done just that, and its research suggests the category could be huge within the decade. We agree. We also speak with Jorg Steuernagel, Chief Stylist at Karmann who explains how the idea came about and why the prospects are so bright. Read More
FHI and Tokyo Electric Power to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles
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September 23 2005 Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have announced joint development of an electric vehicle (EV). The two companies will spend approximately one year designing and manufacturing the new EV for commercial uses, basing it on the Subaru R1e concept car. FHI is developing and manufacturing 10 prototype vehicles which TEPCO will use as part of its business and service fleet, and examine their performance and economic benefits.
LIFECar project promises an efficient high performance fuel cell sports car within three years
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September 23, 2005 A wholly British partnership yesterday unveiled plans to develop the world’s first environmentally clean sports car, powered by a fuel cell which converts hydrogen into electricity. The partnership is made up of legendary British sports car manufacturer, the Morgan Motor Company, QinetiQ, Cranfield and Oxford Universities, BOC and OSCar. The new vehicle, known as LIFECar, will be ultra quiet and its exhaust systems will produce only water vapour. It promises a clean vehicle combined with sound motoring performance and stylish good looks. Read More
The first 2006 F1 2.4 litre V8 hits the racetrack
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September 22, 2005 Formula One is set for a major shake-up next year when the three-litre V10 engines of the last decade will be replaced by 2.4 litre V8 engines and the technological prowess of Renault, Mercedes, BMW, Cosworth, Ferrari and Honda will be tested to the max in the most expensive, ongoing, combatitive sport man has ever known. On Tuesday and Wednesday at the Silverstone GP circuit in the UK, the 2006 season Mercedes-Benz Formula One engine was tested on the race track for the first time. Pedro de la Rosa was at the wheel of the interim Team McLaren Mercedes MP4-20B, a modified version of the 2005 race car which has been adjusted to fit the new engine. Pedro completed 38 laps on Tuesday and 40 laps on Wednesday and achieved a best time of 1:22.974. Champion-elect Fernando Alonso in a Renault with V10 engine posted the fastest lap of the test with a 1:17.018. Read More
Akino Concept Vehicle
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September 21, 2005 The unique and artistically sculptured appearance of the Chrysler Akino concept and its one-box, compact size certainly turns heads. However, after the fifth person settles comfortably into vehicle, one clearly gets the idea there is more to this concept than meets the eye. The Akino will take pride of place in the Chrysler display at this year's Tokyo Motor Show. Read More
New Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
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September 21, 2005 Two years after the launch of the Coupe version of the Gallardo, Automobili Lamborghini the new Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder began the rounds of the international car shows beginning with the Frankfurt Show last week. Ist next stop will be the 2005 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. This latest addition brings the marque’s range of supercars to four models. The Gallardo Spyder is not just an open-top version of the Coupe, but is a completely new model. It has an attractive new design and a unique system for opening and closing the fabric roof that utilises the engine compartment to store the folded roof. Read More
The N2Revolution: is it actually just a lot of hot air?
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September 21, 2005 When we first saw the N2Revolution PR frenzy, we were disappointed that the hype focuses so much on the downside of poorly inflated tyres (which don’t need nitrogen to remedy the situation) and not so much on the actual benefits of the system. Launched in Florida last week, the company’s flagship tyre inflation solution, the PurigeN98, uses 98% nitrogen to inflate tyres instead of air (78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen), and the basic idea is that if everyone used nitrogen instead of air in their car tyres, the world would be a cleaner, better place, with less petrol, oil and tyre consumption and hence less pollution. That’s true and the more we looked into it, the more using nitrogen makes sense. But will it save anybody any money? Read More
MILA Concept car: single seater for the road powered by natural gas
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September 20, 2005 Magna Steyr has unveiled a new concept vehicle at the IAA 2005. Called the "MILA Concept" (Magna Innovation Lightweight Auto), the single-seater sports car has a mid-engine and rear-wheel drive and is packed with ideas and innovations. The MILA’s technical highlights include an cco-friendly engine that runs on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and thanks to the extremely lightweight monocoque construction, offers extremely sporty performance. Given Magna Steyr’s automotive production expertise, the car has been designed using modular design principles that enable different models to be built (single or two-seater, normal or high-power engine, etc.) without much extra effort, as the components and modules have been developed in advance and optimised in terms of cost and weight. Magna Steyr is confident that natural gas will gain more and more ground as an alternative fuel for road vehicles in the future. A study by the German Automotive Industry Association published in Frankfurt recently came to the conclusion that in Germany alone some two million natural gas vehicles will be licensed in the next 15 years. According to the study, natural gas vehicles could reach a market share of around 4% by the year 2020. Read More
Enhanced passenger protection: active head restraint and anti-submarining ramp
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September 20, 2005 At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Johnson Controls revealed some novel occupant protection concepts: two new versions of an active head restraint and an active anti-submarining ramp. The new solutions are designed to reduce the risk of whiplash and of injuries to passengers' pelvis and legs. By contrast with conventional solutions, new technologies have enabled Johnson Controls to optimize the functionality of both the active head restraint and the active anti-submarining ramp. Thus, they can react faster and more reliably to enhance occupant protection. In addition, these products can easily be integrated into existing seating systems. Read More
