Automotive
The Caddy Topos Sail design concept
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August 28, 2008 One of the stars of this weekend’s Dusseldorf Caravan Salon is this Volkswagen Caddy Topos Sail design concept which takes its nautical theme to the extreme of having a wooden boat deck on its roof. The Caddy Topos Sail design concept, based on the smallest model in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle van range, uses design cues from classic yachts and has its multi-functional roof covered with wooden decking surrounded by aluminium roof rails.
Automotive alchemy – Gold- or Platinum-plating your car
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As we’ve written before, you don’t drive cars, you wear them. To the male of the species, a set of wheels is largely a reflection of who they are. Customizing one’s wheels is accordingly a highly personal pursuit – some go for show, some go for go, and some go to extraordinary lengths to show how uncompromisingly “top shelf” they are. Appropriately-named London-based Alchemist now numbers amongst its customization techniques a process which coats the roof of your car in 24-carat gold. “Gold-leafing vehicles isn’t a new luxury, said company spokesperson Jacques Blanc. “The Egyptians mastered the technique more than 3000 years ago and Tutankhamun’s chariot was decorated with gold leaves. We are simply continuing this ancient and opulent tradition.”
Lexus LS 460 goes All-Wheel Drive
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August 21, 2008 The importance of the growing Russian luxury marketplace will be highlighted later this week when Lexus (AKA Toyota) will publicly debut its new LS 460 All-Wheel Drive at the Moscow International Motor Show. The all-wheel drive system is a three differential configuration featuring a highly compact TORSEN® Limited Slip Differential (LSD) – shared with the LS 600h - which distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles with a 40:60 rear axle bias in torque distribution.
Build your own three-wheel 225MPG plug-in-Hybrid
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Here's one for the dedicated back-yard mechanic. Arizona based Robert Q. Riley Enterprises has now released construction plans based on the completed prototype of its do-it-yourself, two-passenger, XR3 plug-in hybrid, a vehicle that's capable of up to 225 miles per gallon, has a top speed of 80 mph and acceleration comparable to a conventional small car. The USD$200 instructional package for the modular, three-wheeled sportscar includes printed drawings, electronic 3D virtual models, computer files that enable vendors to make parts plus a DVD that outlines the building of the car.
Historic 1949 MG TC race-car up for grabs
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The inaugural Barrett-Jackson three day Collector Car Event gets underway in Las Vegas on October 15 and one of the highlights to cross the block will be this 100 hp, 4-cylinder, 1949 MG TC - the car that iconic driver and manufacturer Carroll Shelby drove to his first victory in a road race in Norman, Oklahoma in 1952.
World's fastest Ford GT for sale on eBay
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August 19, 2008 Packing over 1000 horsepower after its GT1000 twin turbo upgrade, and with an eye-watering measured top speed of 235.4mph (378kph) that it can reach in less than 2 miles of straight road, this 2005 Ford GT has been given the full treatment by the high-velocity tuning gods at Hennessey Performance Engineering. Now it's up for sale on eBay - for the price of a small house.
First teaser pics of GM's updated Chevy Volt design
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GM's extended-range electric Chevy Volt is slated to hit showrooms in 2010. After a rave reception of the sporty concept vehicle in early 2007, GM have been going full steam ahead on the production model - and now the Volt's Director of Design is calling for feedback on the first teaser pics of the production design.
Lotus to develop Omnivore Research Engine for bio fuels
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World-renowned Lotus Engineering has entered into a collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and Jaguar Cars to develop an engine which maximizes fuel efficiency when running on renewable fuels. The OMNIVORE concept will employ novel engine architecture to achieve a high thermal efficiency when fuelled on any alcohols or gasoline. ideally suited to flex-fuel operation, the design features an innovative variable compression ratio system and uses a two-stroke operating cycle with direct fuel injection.
Electric Nissan to debut in 2010
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August 12, 2008 What will the electric car ownership experience be like? Nissan has given us a glimpse of what early adopters are letting themselves in for - rather than bundling expensive, consumable battery packs into the price of the car, Nissan plans to sell its 2010 mass-market battery-electric car for around the same price as a standard petrol car, and lease the battery pack to the buyer on a monthly fee. And the battery lease plus electricity charges should still end up cheaper than a petrol bill. Don't worry, it won't look anything like the test vehicle pictured!
The Aston Martin One-77
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August 10, 2008 The first image of a delectable new supercar has emerged from Aston Martin. Though details of the new One-77 are scarce, it is already undoubtedly the ultimate vehicle yet to emerge from the esteemed and thoroughly British marque. All that’s known for certain is that it has a carbon fibre chassis, a hand-built (err, sorry … hand-crafted) aluminium body, and is powered by a seven litre V12 motor.
Cars that talk – the Intelligent Car initiative gains momentum
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August 10, 2008 A world where humans, motor vehicles and the infrastructure will wirelessly communicate and co-operate for the greater good came a step closer this week when the European Commission reserved part of the radio spectrum for smart vehicle communications systems (so called co-operative systems). The networked road system envisaged by the European Intelligent Car Initiative promotes the use ICT to achieve smarter, safer and cleaner road transport and comes not a moment too soon – already 24% of European driving time is spent in traffic jams, and it’ll get much worse before it gets better. Research suggests the costs caused by traffic congestion could reach EUR80 billion by 2010.
Nissan's All-Around Collision Free prototype
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Nissan has unveiled an "All-Around Collision Free" system that rolls two new safety technologies in with those already developed under its Safety Shield program. The new additions are a Side Collision Prevention (SCP), which assists the driver when changing lanes, and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP), which automatically sounds a warning and applies the brakes if a collision is imminent during a reversing maneuver.
TAG HEUER Night Vision eyeglasses for safer driving
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August 7, 2008 Driving at night is far more dangerous than driving in daylight according to the statistics. Though only 10% of road miles are driven in the dark, 48% of road fatalities occur at night. That’s primarily because at night our pupils dilate, and we become short-sighted, though glare, halos, and reduced peripheral vision all contribute to ocular tiredness. TAG Heuer has released a set of ophthalmic Night Vision glasses specifically designed to correct dark-induced myopia, reduce glare, contrast the dark blue surroundings without changing colour perception and ultimately offer safer driving after dark.
ECO Pedal to reduce car fuel consumption
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With rising petrol prices and a focus on climate change, the automotive industry is looking to pioneer new methods of fuel consumption, both in terms of developing new propulsion systems and making existing technology more efficient. News on the latter approach comes from Nissan, which has unveiled technology designed to help drivers use less fuel by using an "eco-pedal" system that resists excess pressure being applied to the accelerator.
High-tech low-cost Mexican Sportscar
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One of the most interesting debuts at the British Motor Show was the Mastretta MXT, the first car to be designed and built in Mexico, and it promises to make it’s home country very proud indeed. The mid-engined, two-seater coupe uses aircraft construction techniques to create an ultra-lightweight 900kg car with bonded aluminum semi-monocoque chassis, a balanced 56-44 weight distribution with a turbocharged 240 bhp Cosworth engine supplying the herbs. The end result is a 150mph car with a power-to-weight ratio of 267bhp/tonne. The best bit though, is the price - UKP33,000 (US$64,500).
Opel Insignia World Premiere
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One of the biggest debuts at the 2008 British International Motor Show - and certainly the most floorspace - was claimed by the Opel Insignia, a new mid-size sedan that will offer seven different engine configurations and a number of technical innovations when it hits the showroom floor in Germany late this year and other markets from January 2009. The technology packed Insignia includes a new Eye camera system that reads speed and no-passing signs and displays them on the instrument panel, coupled with a Lane Departure Warning system that provides an extra level of awareness to the driver.
The world’s biggest production tire – the 63-inch Titan
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July 31, 2008 Mine operators are increasingly adopting larger equipment to lower operating costs and a new class of ultra-large machinery is demanding bigger tyres. Earlier this week, Titan Tire shipped its first giant 63-inch off-the-road (OTR) tire and wheel assemblies. The tires, each measuring nearly 14 feet tall and weighing approximately 12,500 pounds, are being shipped to Canada’s oil sands for use in mining applications and Titan envisages a worldwide market of 900 tires a year.
Elektrobay: EV recharging infrastructure expanding in the UK
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The number of electric and hybrid vehicles on the road is growing rapidly in response to rising petrol prices and climate change awareness. As with any alternative to petroleum based transport, the key issue is infrastructure, or lack of it. Already rolling-put in the UK, Elektromotive's solution for drivers of electric cars and motorcycles is an on-street recharging network called “Elektrobay” that allows you to re-charge while away from home.
Azentec SmartMirror with inbuilt GPS
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Another clever product that caught our eye at the British Motor Show is the Azentec SmartMirror - a Bluetooth enabled GPS unit complete with touch screen functionality that's been rolled into a the rear-view mirror.
Honda's sporty take on low emissions motoring
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One of the big attention grabbers at the 2008 British International Motor Show is Honda’s low-emission sportscar dubbed OSM (for Open Study Model). The open top two seater design out of the company's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany, is being shown alongside the CR-Z sports hybrid which was unveiled at Tokyo last year and the Honda FCX Clarity which is being produced in Japan and available in the US under a lease plan. While a version of the CR-Z has been confirmed for production, there are no plans to bring the OSM online anytime soon.
KIA's KEE concept car featured at British Motor Show
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Kia is exhibiting its KEE concept car at the British International Motor Show, from July 23 to August 3. Designed by Peter Schreyer, the re-interpreted 2 + 2 coupe embodies the company’s new design philosophy – sleek, light and sporty.
British Motor Show opens its doors for 2008
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July 22, 2008 Honda's Open Study Model sports concept, debuts aplenty from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Lotus, SEAT, Ford, Cadillac and Vauxhall, a swag of supercars and not surprisingly a focus on greener leaner motoring marked the first day of the 2008 British Motor Show at ExCel in London today. A number of concept cars shown on the world circuit over the past year also made their UK appearance for the first time at the show including Peugeot's 308 RCZ concept (which will enter production in 2010), Nissan's Denki Cube, Mazda's stunning Furai and Renault's Megane. The all-electric motoring charge includes exhibits by TH!NK, ZEV, GEM, UK based NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) and the 125mph Tesla Roadster.
The affordable, 100mpg, carbon-composite passenger car
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Britain's Axon claims that its newly patented mass-production techniques will make carbon composite car frames and bodywork even cheaper than their metal counterparts - and only 40% as heavy. What a revolutionary technology this could be - the power to weight ratio of any vehicle on the planet could be dramatically increased for no extra cost! The company plans to release a highly affordable 500cc passenger car making at least 100mpg from a basic petrol engine in 2010, and Axon is confident its simple, lightweight solution to the fuel economy challenge will be highly competitive against the big competition in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize contest.
Toyota employs noise-canceling tech on hybrid
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Toyota has taken the principle behind noise-canceling headphones and applied it to its Toyota Crown Hybrid. The company’s ‘Active Noise Control’ system uses three microphones located on the roof of the interior of the car to detect the muffled noise of the engine and then generates antiphase signals from three speakers – two located on the right and left front doors and one rear woofer on the rear shelf – to counter the noise. The system, which was implemented after the car’s engine was found to be noisier than expected, reduces the interior engine noise by about 5 to 8dB, the company said.
Goodwood 2008 - three day auto fest draws to a close
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July 13, 2008 The 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed wrapped up today with burnouts from F1 star Lewis Hamilton, a spectacular aerial show from the RAF Red Arrows and more sideways rally action, ear shattering antics and delectable samples of automotive excellence of almost every flavor.
Goodwood Festival of Speed takes off
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Gizmag's editor Noel McKeegan is at Goodwood this week rejoicing in the atmosphere of what is unquestionably the most influential and respected celebration of all things motorsport. Noel's thoughts, pics and vidz from a number of major events will grace our pages over the coming weeks. This is his first filing
Lotus shows hemp-based Eco Elise
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Lotus has taken a different approach to 'green' car building with the announcement of its Eco Elise - featuring hemp-based bodywork and other renewable materials. Taking the position that too many 'green' cars concentrate solely on CO2 emissions at the tailpipe, Lotus has overhauled its entire manufacturing process to reduce energy and water usage, boost recycling, use locally-sourced, renewable and carbon-neutral materials, and provide dash instrumentation to encourage greener driving habits. It's an unique 'holistic' approach to environmentally friendly car building - and the stunning Eco Elise should make at least two sales when the news reaches Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong.
Hyundai LPG hybrid production car
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July 8, 2008 Hyundai’s world first Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hybrid will go on sale in Korea twelve months from now with operating costs poised to be lowest of any hybrid currently available, despite being largely based on the existing Elantra model. It will also be the first to use Lithium-Polymer batteries to power its electric motor. The novel internal combustion powerplant is a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) 1.6 litre four cylinder assisted by a 15kW electric motor driving through a continuously variable transmission.
Gordon Murray's T.25 car reaches halfway development milestone
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Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 concept car has reached the halfway point in development, with the first prototype build scheduled to begin in early 2009. Though Murray, (the brains behind the McLaren F1 road car), has remained tight-lipped about the specifics, he is adamant about delivering a small car that will be more cost-effective at every stage: cheaper to produce, purchase and run.
New BMW 7 series gets pedestrian recognition
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The launch of the fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series will include several technical innovation firsts, including the World’s first Night Vision system with individual pedestrian recognition, the first production car with front side view camera, the first BMW Saloon with speed-related Integral Active Steering and the first BMW with Lane Change Warning. It will go on sale later this year.
Toyota’s premium ultra-compact iQ concept becomes a reality
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Toyota showed its iQ Concept at last year’s motorshows, creating a new class of premium ultra-compact vehicle, capable of carrying three adults plus a child in comfort. Now, in a move that foretells a coming era of much smaller cars, the iQ is set for production in 2008 and availability in 2009. The iQ was a sensation, proving emphatically that small does not mean basic, and drawing huge crowds – the message sunk in quickly, and now the production version (pictured) offers a completely new proposition for urban motoring that is stylish, sophisticated, technically advanced and kinder to the environment.
Tesla to build new all-electric car in California
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Tesla Motors will build the follow up vehicle to the Tesla Roadster in California. The plan to manufacture the 4-door, 5-passenger sedan was announced earlier this week by Ze’ev Drori, CEO of Tesla Motors, and California Governor Schwarzenegger
The Overfinch Country Pursuits Concept Car
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Making its debut today at Salon Prive Luxury and Supercar Show at the Hurlingham Club in London is the Country Pursuits Concept (CPC) car from Overfinch Bespoke Vehicles – an extensively modified Range Rover aimed at the upper echelons of sports-loving society. The no-expense-spared CPC comes with a 470 bhp 4.2 litre engine and an enhanced suspension system to lower the car 20cm at speed or raise it 25cm under extreme off road conditions. There’s also a fully integrated fridge and the pictured Olive Ash removable gun box with three sliding drawers which will hold a bespoke gun case, cartridges and crystal glass drinking set.
Greener motoring at the 2008 British Motor Show
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With soaring oil prices hitting hard at the bowser and low-emissions, energy-efficient vehicles evolving rapidly from a fringe sector to a mainstream concern, it's no surprise to learn that this year's British International Motor Show will include a pavilion devoted to the future of greener motoring.
The 717 bhp 348 km/h NOVITEC ROSSO Ferrari 430 Scuderia
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If your 510 hp Ferrari 430 Scuderia isn’t quite fast enough at its 320 km/h top speed, you can always add a bit more courtesy of a NOVITEC ROSSO Supersport Bi-Kompressor engine. The special twin-supercharger version of the Scuderia’s four-valve eight-cylinder engine bumps power output from the standard 510 bhp (375 kW) to 717 bhp (527 kW) and increases top speed from 320 to 348 km/h.
