Automotive
Volkswagen demonstrates fully-automatic reverse parking system
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Minor collisions as a result of parking mishaps are a common, costly and extremely frustrating occurrence and for several years auto manufacturers including BMW have indicated that solutions that take human error out of the equation are on the way. The latest news in the area comes from Volkswagen, which has demonstrated its “Park Assist Vision” system at this year’s Hanover Fair. The fully-automatic, remotely-operated self-parking system lets you get out of the car and watch as it backs itself into even the skinniest of perpendicular spaces, using cameras located in the left and right exterior mirrors to gauge the dimensions of the parking area available and communicate this information to the computerized steering and drive systems. Read More
H2Origin demonstrator vehicle achieves 300km range
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April 23, 2008 A three year collaborative research project by PSA Peugeot Citroën and fuel cell specialist Intelligent Energy has born fruit in the form of the H2Origin demonstrator vehicle, a battery-electric vehicle that uses a specially designed hydrogen fuel cell to triple its range to an impressive 300km (186 miles). The hydrogen storage system developed for the zero-emission demonstrator vehicle, which is based on the Peugeot Partner Origin van, is compact enough to squeeze under the bonnet and utilizes a swappable storage rack of compressed hydrogen tanks that slide out the rear, by-passing the need for a conventional fuel station and therefore simplifying the infrastructure needed to make hydrogen-powered vehicles a commercial reality. Read More
Mercedes-Benz debuts GLK-Class at Auto China 2008
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The keenly anticipated world premiere of the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class at Auto China fair in Beijing saw Chinese superstar Zhang Ziyi (think “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) champion the product. The compact SUV employs Mercedes' Agility Control suspension, the aim being to offer outstanding performance and handling AND ride comfort. Read More
New Porsche Cayenne Turbo S debuts in Beijing
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April 21, 2008 With an output of 550 hp (404 kW) and a top speed of 280kmh (174mph), the new Porsche Cayenne which premiered at Auto China 2008 in Beijing is the most powerful model in the company's SUV range to date. Capable of achieving zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, the twin-turbo, 4.8 liter V8 S model gains the edge over the standard Turbo model via a modified exhaust system and improvements in engine control that have also resulted in an increase in maximum torque by 50 Nm to 750 Nm (available between 2,250 and 4,500 rpm). Marked by 21 inch SportPlus alloy wheels, a four-pipe sports exhaust system and an exclusive “lava gray metallic” paint option, plus a host of standard interior goodies from memory seating to a touch-screen operated multimedia system, the Turbo S will be introduced from August 2008 at an expected basis price of EUR 111,400. Read More
Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle on show at Indy Japan 300
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April 18, 2008 Honda's zero-emission FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle will serve as the official car of the Indy Japan 300 this weekend at Twin Ring Motegi in Tochigi, Japan. Read More
Gearing up for Goodwood
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April 17, 2008 The wheels are in motion for this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed which will be held between 11-13 July under the theme ‘Hawthorn to Hamilton – Britain’s Love Affair with World Motor Sport’. Read More
Electronic ‘digiflag’ displays to enhance F1 night-time safety
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Every cloud has a silver lining – sometimes it’s just hard to see. One of the potential disadvantages of holding a Grand Prix at night is driver awareness – being able to see the things that count. Turning a negative into a positive, the first-ever night race in F1, the Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix to be held on September 28, will also mark the introduction of electronic flag displays as well as the colored flags traditionally waved by race officials to communicate with drivers. Already it promises a safer environment Read More
Volvo adds new massage seats to S80 and XC90 Executive models
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April 14, 2008 Seats which include massaging and ventilation functions are among the new luxury trimmings Volvo has added to their S80 and XC90 Executive models. The new massage function consists of five inflatable pockets which have been built into the front seats and are pumped up and drained sequentially to create a wave-like motion that is adjustable at two levels. As well as massaging the lower back they also double up as a new lumbar support, while built-in ventilation is designed to keep the occupant’s body and clothing fresh. Read More
The ingenious P-eye pressure sensing valve cap
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April 14, 2008 We like this – it’s a patented new device which makes it easier for commercial vehicle operators to efficiently check the tyre pressures of their fleet. The P-eye monitoring device replaces the tyre valve cap and monitors the preset minimum tyre pressure. If the tyre pressure drops more than 5 per cent below the ideal pressure the LED lamp starts blinking and the trucker can top up the pressure when he stops next. Read More
The world’s first drive-in car-fitting room – does my bumper look big in this?
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People don’t drive cars – they wear them. In the vast majority of cases, the car you choose is a reflection of who you are. A recent U.K. survey showed three out of four (72 per cent) drivers recognise they use their car as a status symbol – wanting other drivers to view it as a reflection of the owner’s personality and success. Recognising this, Chevrolet has created a bespoke drive-in fitting room in South London, which allows motorists to check out what they look like in their car before they commit to purchase. Read More
A stretched Smart car, with a stretch Murcielago next
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April 13, 2008 Carbonyte made headlines for its stretched Ferrari 360 Modena ‘limousine’ created using the HotFusion Composite Manufacturing Technology first used on the McLaren SLR Supercar. This week the company unveiled the Carbonyte Smaaart, but it’s the plan to follow up the stretched Ferrari with a range of elongated supercars that caught our eye – a Stretched Lamborghini Murcielago is next, with a stretched Bugatti Veyron and a stretched Koeniggsegg CCR on the drawing boards. Read More
New design proposed for T-REX three-wheel street racer
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Young industrial designer Johnathan Côté has proposed this slick re-design for the legendary T-REX 3-wheeler, retaining an updated variation of the distinctive recessed headlights and above seat air in-takes, dropping the exposed roll-bars and adding a heavily sculpted feel to the vehicle's low-slung aerodynamic profile. With the the first prototype released in 1994, the T-REX is a pioneer in the rapidly expanding world of modern 3-wheeled transport that has now spawned such exotic gems as the Can-Am Spyder, Brudeli's Three-Wheel Leanster, TriRod's F3 Adrenaline and the upcoming ZAP Alias highway electric car. Read More
Electronic four-wheel steering from Renault
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April 9, 2008 Renault is set to introduce its new electronically-controlled Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering next month in new GT versions of the Laguna Hatch and Sport Tourer. Four-wheel steering systems of the 1980s were essentially mechanical, with the wheels linked at pre-determined angles to make up for a vehicle's tendency to understeer. Such systems were gradually superseded by the advent of ESP. In recent times some manufacturers have begun developing electrically- and even hydraulically-operated actuators, enabling handling to be fine-tuned even further. Read More
World's first hybrid refuse truck launched in Sweden
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April 8, 2008 Volvo has announced that Swedish refuse collection firms Renova and Ragn-Sells will begin regular daily testing of two of the company's hybrid refuse trucks ahead of a market launch in 2009. Using a 7 liter diesel engine and an electric motor that utilizes regenerative braking, the trucks are capable of delivery fuel (and therefore emissions) savings of 20 percent. Read More
Chrysler's battery-electric Dodge Zeo muscle car
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April 8, 2008 Chrysler's latest battery-electric concept is an absolute ripper. The Dodge Zeo concept is an all-American muscle car with a heart of green. Sitting a tier below the all-out performance figures of the Tesla Roadster and Lightning GT, the Zeo makes around 268 horses for a 0-60mph time just under 6 seconds, and its lithium-based battery pack gets a range of up to 250 miles. It looks a million dollars, oozing sexiness and performance potential, and more importantly it's one of the first serious sports-focused battery-electric concepts we've seen from any of the major auto manufacturers. Are the big car makers catching on to battery cars as the way of the future? Read More
CPU Technology's SystemLab PS promises accelerated auto development
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April 4, 2008 Currently being used with complex military vehicles, CPU Technology's SystemLab PS Platform offers improved productivity for automotive developers by simulating an entire suite of automotive electronic control units in real time.
Collaboration aims to kick-start hydrogen vehicles in the U.K.
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April 2, 2008 Fifty million metric tons of hydrogen were produced in 2004, and the hydrogen production industry grows at an estimated 10% per year. But for hydrogen-powered cars to emerge as a serious competitor to fossil-fuel-powered transport there still needs to be substantial development of infrastructure. The latest push towards this goal in the U.K has seen ITM Power Plc and Roush Technologies Ltd sign a co-operative agreement that not only aims to put hydrogen-fueled commercial vehicles on the market within months, but also encompasses the development of hydrogen refueling station infrastructure that will enable vehicle operators to generate their own hydrogen supplies. Read More
Kia premieres KOUP Concept
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April 1, 2008 Concept cars tend to fall into two categories - there's the blue-sky, "probably wont happen" variety that push the boundaries of automotive design and thinking, then there's the more conservative, practical flavor that provide a firm indication of the advancements we are likely to see on the showroom floor in the not too distant future. Kia Motors Corporation's KOUP is the latter, and by the looks of the car, the company's future design direction appears pretty slick. Out of the Kia Motors America Design Center in Irvine, California, and debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), the Kia KOUP's aggressive exterior lines are backed by a 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged engine equipped with a GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) twin scroll turbocharger that puts out 290 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. Read More
Lane departure data collection system for commercial vehicles
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March 31, 2008 Traffic management technology maker Iteris has released the first commercially available lane departure warning (LDW) data collection system for the heavy truck market. Safety Direct analyzes real-time data captured by Iteris’ LDW system and relays the information directly to fleet operators through integration with the truck’s existing fleet communications system. Read More
Official pictures of Aston Martin's Vantage GT2
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March 31, 2008 Aston Martin Racing has revealed the first official pictures of the Vantage GT2. Based on the V8 engined Aston Martin Vantage and designed to run on both standard and E85 bio-ethanol fuel, the new race car will make its debut at the Le Mans Series at Barcelona on 5 April 2008. The addition of the Vantage GT2 gives Aston Martin Racing a full complement of cars covering each of the four categories in the FIA GT Championship: GT1 – DBR9; GT2 – Vantage GT2; GT3 – DBRS9; GT4 – Vantage N24. See the gallery for more pics.
Britain's Lightning GT electric supercar
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March 27, 2008 It seems a transatlantic battle is brewing in the high-performance electric sportscar market. As America's Tesla moves into the production phase with its 130+mph Roadster, Britain's Lightning GT is hot on its heels, with prototypes expected to hit the road later this year. The Lightning's power figures are very impressive - 700 horsepower, and 4 second 0-60mph times to almost rival the Tesla's 3.7 seconds. But it's the GT's revolutionary battery technology that might give it the upper hand: Nanosafe's Li-ion cells using nano titanate structures instead of traditional graphite give the GT an incredible 250-mile range, a full recharge time of only 10 minutes, and a life expectancy of 12 to 20 years, or 15,000 charge cycles before the battery performance drops significantly. Read More
Ricardo switching two-four-stroke engine
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March 26, 2008 Ricardo and a consortium of automotive partners today announced the completion of an advanced prototype research programme based on the highly innovative 2/4SIGHT engine concept. This gasoline engine concept uses novel combustion, boosting, control and valve actuation technologies to enable automatic and seamless switching between two- and four-stroke operation, with the aim of delivering significant performance and fuel economy improvements through aggressive downsizing. Read More
The self-inflating tire
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March 25, 2008 How often do you check your tire pressure? For most of us the answer is "not often enough". Gradual tire deflation over time is a key factor in relation to on-road safety and reduced fuel economy, not to mention the expensive exercise of replacing tires that wear out before the end of their expected life-span. The solution from Czech Republic based CODA DEVELOPMENT s.r.o. is to take the human out of the equation entirely with an integrated system that inflates itself using atmospheric air as you drive. Read More
Prototype completed for new ZAP electric truck
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March 25, 2008 In the latest news from electric vehicle specialists ZAP, a running prototype has been completed for the low-speed, 770 pound payload ZAP XL Truck ahead of expected delivery of the vehicle in Q3 2008. Reservations are also now being accepted for the much anticipated, 100mph, 3-wheeled Alias highway electric car which is expected to hit the market next year at a cost of USD$32,500. Read More
UKP14,000 TH!NK city electric car ready for showrooms
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March 24, 2008 For all the talk about electric cars, the first mass-produced electric vehicle is still to grace a showroom. The first such general consumption electric auto to reach UK motorists will be the Norwegian TH!NK city EV which goes on sale during the last quarter of this year. Revealed at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, the TH!NK city is a two-seater with a top speed of 65 mph, a zero to 30 mph time of just 6.5 seconds and it’ll reach 50 mph in 16 seconds – perfectly respectable ‘round town performance at legal speeds, and it’ll run another 124 miles after an overnight ten hour charge from any domestic power outlet. The ROI is amazing as total running costs for 10,000 miles in the UKP14,000 vehicle will be the extra UKP125 on your electric bill. Movie here, PDF brochure here. Read More
Ford Transit Connect Concept
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March 23, 2008 The design of taxis, which are still largely based on passenger sedans, is coming in for a lot of attention recently, with the CityCab a stand-out. Now comes a fresh take on taxis from the the New York Auto Show. When cities ran out of horizontal space at the turn of the 20th century, architects started to build upward. The Transit Connect Taxi concept builds an existing European design and brings that same idea to the streets, changing the shape of the space, making it taller with a smaller and narrow footprint. The resultant cavernous interior has all mod cons plus a huge display detaling the progress of your journey on a user-configurable map. Read More
Mazda2/Mazda Demio wins 2008 World Car of the Year
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March 21, 2008 The World Car of the Year Awards began in 2005 when the Audi A6 triumphed, followed by the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the Lexus LS460 last year. This year the top three contenders for 2008 World Car of the Year title were the Ford Mondeo, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Mazda2/Mazda Demio, which became the first compact car to win the award. Remarkably, the Audi R8 took out two of the main gongs, Car Design of the Year and Performance Car of the Year, but didn’t make the main event. The 2008 World Green Car of the Year was the BMW 118d Read More
Nissan’s “Denki Cube” Electric Vehicle Concept
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March 20, 2008 The 2008 New York International Auto Show kicks off today and one of the main attractions is the world debut of the Nissan Denki (Japanese for “electric”) Cube Concept. The lithium-ion battery-powered Denki Cube electric vehicle concept was created to promote Nissan’s environmental efforts but also serves as a preview as Nissan plans to sell a redesigned gasoline-powered, next-generation Cube in the United States and Canada in 2009. Read More
Scion's Hako Coupe concept: 'the sporty version of a box.'
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March 20, 2008 "Scion's Hako Coupe Concept embodies a distinct global perspective on today's youth," said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. "This type of forward thinking complements the Scion philosophy of intently listening to our customers and being willing to take risks to help us see where our brand should be. We took the xB's iconic boxy shape and explored something more vivacious, yet just as emotionally appealing. This concept is the sporty version of a box." Read More
Spraydown achieves step change in spray suppression
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March 20, 2008 Driving in the rain on a motorway at speed is a hazardous endeavour as we all know, and perhaps the point when we all hold our breath most is in passing a heavy vehicle, with the spray obscuring our vision and the additional wind buffeting. Now, a British company has patented an innovation which has achieved a major reduction in spray obscuration – over and above the performance of existing mandatory spray suppression equipment. Read More
Hummer H3 converted into super-sized remote control car
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March 19, 2008 Now here’s an interesting new direction for remote-controlled toys. British engineer Dr James Brighton has transformed the HUMMER H3 into a super-sized remote controlled vehicle to create the ultimate boy’s toy. It took a month to do, but the results have been sensational with exceptional handling, much better than anything remote controlled until now. At UKP26,500 for the Hummer, it’s probably the most expensive remote controlled civilian project in the world too. Read More
Smart solar-powered road studs
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March 19, 2008 The next generation of ‘smart’ solar-powered road markings which warn of bad weather or slow-moving traffic ahead and can help reduce motorway hold-ups, have proved a significant success on highways in the Netherlands. Read More
Fully electric, 130+mph Tesla Roadster goes into production
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March 18, 2008 A very significant milestone in zero-emissions motoring has just occurred as Tesla Motors announced yesterday that its groundbreaking electric sportscar has commenced regular production. The 130mph Tesla Roadster is the first production electric car to boast genuine sports performance coupled with a 210+ mile range between battery charges, which make it both exciting and viable for the vast majority of driving purposes. The fact that it's utterly gorgeous, with hints of the Lotus Elise, doesn't hurt either. All of the 2008 models scheduled for production have already been snapped up for just under US$100,000 each - and reservations are now being taken on the 2009 model. Read More
Fully electric Boshart Tersus off-road utility vehicle
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While we may have to wait a while for plug-in electric cars to be viable for highway use, there's plenty of other applications where battery-powered vehicles already make a lot of sense. One such application is for agricultural and industrial utility vehicles, which are driven around primarily on a business's premises. Distances are generally quite short, speeds low and use often infrequent - but they need to have good carrying capacity for heavy gear, and be cheap to run and maintain. Boshart's electric Tersus, based on the Phoenix SUT but with a smaller, much less expensive battery, provides a viable, green alternative utility vehicle around a private campus, with speeds up to 25mph, 4-passenger plus 1000lbs payload capacity and a 1-hour recharge to 80% capacity. Read More
Three-wheeler handling meets 1930s racecar style: Seattle's ACE Cycle Car
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March 17, 2007 If you don't have the cash for a Caterham Levante, and the Can-Am Spyder's looks are a bit modern for you, you could do a lot worse than check out Liberty's ACE Cycle Car, a classically styled open-top three wheeler with twin open front wheels. Powered by a loud, strong and beautiful Harley-Davidson engine, the ACE offers a classic racecar-style driving experience as it hugs the corners around your favourite twisty road. Read More
