Automotive
Mercedes premiere Vision CLS coupe study at Frankfurt
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Wednesday September 17, 2003: Mercedes' Vision CLS concept - a unique synthesis between a coup' and a saloon that incorporates the world's first seven-speed automatic transmission for passenger cars - is making its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show alongside the supercharged "gullwing" SLR McLaren high-performance sports car. Read More
Audi reveals 'Le Mans quattro' concept
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Friday September 12, 2003: Audi have unveiled the stunning Le Mans Quattro sports car concept study at the 60th International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Described as having inherited the genes of the Audi R8 - three-times winner of the Le Mans 24-Hours race - the high-performance mid-engined two-seater is powered by a longitudinally installed V10 'biturbo' engine, developing 449 kW (610 bhp) at 6,800 rpm and making 0 to 100 kmh in 3.7 seconds. Read More
Hyundai CCS Convertible Hardtop Concept
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Monday September 15, 2003: Hyundai's CCS Convertible study features a unique three-phase slide and fold glass roof that enables the driver to change from glass roof, to open roof to complete top-down convertible at the touch of a button. Read More
Chrysler Touring wagon concept joins 300C sedan
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Thursday October 2, 2003: The new Chrysler 300C Touring concept is the wagon version of the Chrysler 300C sedan revealed earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show. The touring version shares most of the design, powertrain, chassis, equipment, interior appointments and technical specifications of the sedan concept with the addition of all-wheel drive. Read More
Alfa Romeo's new 300kmh Supercar
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Sunday September 14, 2003: Alfa Romeo has revealed its plans for a new 300 kmh super car that will reach 100 kmh in just 4.5 seconds at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The carbon fibre, two-seater Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is powered by a 4.2litre V8 delivering over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm that together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the prototype to a top speed above 300 kmh. Read More
Latest StreetPilot adds touch-screen interface
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The StreetPilot 2610 portable GPS automotive navigation system features voice prompting, high-resolution touch-screen, remote control, ultra-fast map drawing and a compact design for simple transfer between vehicles. Read More
Amphibious sportscar transforms in six seconds
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Friday October 3, 2003: The Gibbs aquada high-speed amphibian (HSA) is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160kmh) on land and 30mph (48kmh) over water, taking just six seconds to transform from road-going sportscar to a jet-powered marine vessel. What better vehicle could be conceived for a waterside lifestyle in a place like Sydney? Read More
Alfa Romeo 166 Debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Friday August 29, 2003: The new Alfa Romeo 166 will make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show before arriving in Australia at the end of the year. The production version of the Alfa Romeo GT, the new Alfa Romeo 156 and a racing diesel Alfa 147 that dominated its class in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring will join the 166 when the Show opens on Tuesday 9 September. Read More
Peugeot to unveil 307 WRC
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Sunday August 31, 2003: Earmarked to replace the triple World Rally Championship winning 206 WRC, Peugeot will launch the 307 WRC at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the top-of-the-range version of the 307CC fitted with an engine developing 130 kW, the 307 WRC includes an innovative 5 speed Hewland gearbox located at the rear of the engine... Read More
BMW's Electric-Booster Research Engine
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Wednesday August 13, 2003: BMW researchers have recorded fuel savings as high as 15 % and produced 1,000 Nm of torque at low revs by using a high-power electric booster motor positioned between the combustion engine and gearbox of an experimental BMW X5. Read More
Citro'n Panoramique C3
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Monday August 11, 2003: Citro'n have released a new version of the C3 - the 'Panoramique' incorporates a twin panel glass sun-roof that promises to deliver the pleasures of open air motoring to both front and back seat occupants. The Panoramique's glass sun-roof runs almost from the top edge of the windscreen to the rear hatch. Read More
Another first for Honda's Fuel Cell Car
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Monday August 4, 2003: Honda Motor Co has become the first automaker to supply a fuel cell vehicle to a private corporation with the delivery of a Honda FCX to the Iwatani International Corporation in Tokyo. While six FCX vehicles have been supplied to the public sector since its initial release in December 2002... Read More
Rinspeed Bedouin - collapsible car concept heads off-road
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Saturday August 2, 2003: Based on the Porsche 996 turbo, the Bedouin is the latest concept from Rinspeed Design, the Swiss company that introduced the Presto collapsible concept car in 2002. The all-wheel-drive Bedouin can automatically be transformed from a two-seater pick-up into a four-seater sports wagon in less than 10 seconds. Read More
Formula One star revs-up for Terminator 3 premiere
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Thursday July 24, 2003: Rising Australia F1 star Mark Webber joined Arnold Schwarzenegger at the London premiere of "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines" yesterday in spectacular fashion, driving his Jaguar F1 car through Leicester Square in front of 8,000 fans. "There wasn't the space to go too fast but I couldn't resist spinning the wheels... " Read More
Hidden sensor offers protection from parking accidents
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Sunday July 20, 2003: The Taurus T123 is an electro-magnetic reversing sensor that operates along the full length of the bumper and alerts the driver when any object is 0.8 metres from the rear of the vehicle. Developed in Europe and now available in Australia - where more than 12,000 "at-fault" collisions from avoidable reversing incidents occurred in 2001... Read More
Bentley Motors launch all new Continental GT
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Saturday July 19, 2003: Bentley Motors have delivered on the promise of true supercar performance with the launch of the new Continental GT. Powered by a 6-litre, twin-turbocharged, W12 engine developing over 550bhp with a top speed of 318km/h and 0-100 km/h in under five seconds, the Continental GT is the world's fastest four seat coupe. Read More
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: Legendary SLR reborn
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The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a stunning combination of modern passenger car design and classical 1950's SLR styling elements from Mercedes-Benz and its Formula One ally, McLaren. The high-performance sports car made its world debut in September 2003, incorporating gull-wing doors, sidepipes, air gills in the wings and the distinctive twin-headlamp face, plus styling touches from the Silver Arrows Formula One car. Read More
New BMW 6 Series Coup' features head-up display and glass roof
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Friday July 11, 2003: BMW has given the world a sneak preview of its second generation 6 series BMW - a car slated for its first public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The first models will be available in the Australian market from the second quarter of next year. Read More
Be seen: the Ford GloCar Concept
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Sunday July 13, 2003: Ford is taking automotive illumination to a new level with a translucent concept car that uses LED lights to change body panel colours, intensity and frequency. Read More
Australian launch of the smart City-Coup' and Smart Cabrio
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Wednesday July 9, 2003:The smart city-coup' and smart cabrio are now officially on sale in Australia with sales centres open in Sydney, Melbourne, and from 2004, Brisbane. The second-generation smart car models shown by DaimlerChrysler at the Melbourne International Motor Show earlier this year go on sale from $21,900. Read More
A new way to avoid traffic jams
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Friday July 4, 2003: TrafficGauge is a handheld device that alerts drivers to traffic-congestion in real-time. The system has just been introduced in Seattle Washington where it utilises data collected on more than 280 kms of roads... Read More
Nissan previews new 350Z Roadster
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Tuesday July 1, 2003: Legendary automobiles were once the sole domain of the European and American industries, but as the history of the Japanese automotive industry is now getting some longevity to it, we are seeing a legend reborn with the famous Z series being reintroduced in Australia. Read More
Audi A8 Aluminium Sports Limousine
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Friday June 27, 2003: Audi Australia will launch the new A8 sports limousine on 20th August 2003, following confirmed production for the company's first 50 locally-specified units. Read More
Audi Nuvolari Quattro on show at Le Mans
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Audi's Nuvolari quattro concept car was presented to motorsport fans before the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in June 2003 before being driven for the first time on a racing circuit in front of more than hundred thousand spectators. Read More
Voice enabled, street level GPS navigation
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Tuesday June 24, 2003: Originally developed and manufactured in New Zealand and already launched in the US and European markets, the Navman GPS 3450 handheld navigation solution for Pocket PC is now available in Australia. Read More
Citroen demonstrates in-car Wi-Fi
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Citroen has demonstrated how the latest communications technology standard, Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity, can be fitted to its cars to provide low cost internet access while in transit. Read More
Mazda's new RENESIS named International Engine of the year
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May 14, 2003 Mazda's new RENESIS rotary engine, which powers the all-new Mazda RX-8, has been named "International Engine of the Year 2003." The prestigious award was presented earlier this week at Engine Expo 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany.Now in their fifth year, the International Engine of the Year Awards have become one of the most sought-after automotive accolades. Judged by a panel of 50 renowned motoring journalists from 22 countries, the 2003 Awards once again highlighted and acknowledged underhood engineering excellence. Read More
Toyota Prius hybrid petrol and electric vehicle
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Toyota's 2004 Prius petrol and electric hybrid is the first second-generation hybrid car and one which is expected to challenge Honda's Insight for the title of the world's most fuel-efficient car.The Prius uses a 50kW electric motor that is more than 50 percent more powerful than the previous model, and with similar performance to many current petrol-engined small cars. The 2004 Prius is the first Toyota vehicle equipped with its next generation drive-train, named "Hybrid Synergy Drive" which offers greater power and fuel economy with extremely low emissions. The Hybrid Synergy Drive integrates all aspects of Prius' hybrid system, from the proper mix of the electric motor and gas engine for optimum performance and efficiency, to the regeneration of electricity via Prius unique braking system. Regenerative braking is a feature of hybrid vehicles that allows the motor to act as a generator when braking. Read More
Black Spot Road Angel - accident prevention technology
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As the name suggests, Road Angel keeps "watch from above" by using a GPS-based system to alert the driver when known danger areas lie ahead... Read More
Hydrogen engines to out perform gasoline
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The hydrogen-powered combustion engine is superior in its power and performance potential to a current gasoline engine. This is the conclusion outlined recently by BMW's Dr. Burkhard G'schel... Read More
Honda's hybrid petrol-electric Insight
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The world's most fuel-efficient Production car AFTER two years on the market the Honda Insight remains one of the most technologically advanced cars on Australian roads. Read More
Suzuki's Twin Hybrid achieves 100 mpg
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Suzuki has launched a hybrid powered petrol/electric vehicle for sale on the Japanese market that travels an impressive 34 kilometres for every litre of fuel used - that's around 100mpg! The Suzuki Twin also features an automatic idling stop system shuts the engine down whenever the car stops at traffic lights or when stationary in heavy traffic, minimizing CO' emissions and fuel consumption. Read More
Volkswagen's 1 litre car project
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Bringing new meaning to the phrase 'running on the smell of an oily rag', Volkswagen's '1-litre' vehicle is capable of covering 100 km on less than one litre of fuel. The top secret project was first demonstrated during April 2002.. Read More
Alfa Romeo's Kamal 4WD Concept
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Alfa Romeo announced plans to enter that 4WD/Sports Utility Vehicle segment with this month's unveiling of the Alfa Romeo Kamal concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show. Read More
Twin engine Dune Buggy for the 21st Century
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The unusual Hoggar concept from Peugeot stood out from the crowd at the 2003 Geneva motor show - not only by virtue of it's radical open design, but through the use of two turbocharged four cylinder HDi (diesel) engines, one at the front, and the other at the rear, to achieve the attributes of a four-wheel drive. Each power unit has dual overhead camshafts and sixteen valves and displaces 2168 cc for an output of 180 bhp with gobs of torque. The two engines therefore supply a combined power of nearly 360 bhp and a maximum torque of ... 800 Nm! Read More
