Automotive
Geneva Motor Show highlights: Alfa 8C Spider
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 20, 2008 Alfa Romeo will exhibit a convertible version of the Alfa 8C Competizione supercar at next month’s Geneva Motor Show ahead of a limited production run. The silky smooth Alfa 8C Spider utilizes the same 450bhp, 4.7 litre V8 as its coupe stablemate via a 6-speed F1-style paddle shift gearbox to the rear wheels. Read More
E-Vade: world debut for lightweight, 500 kW sportscar
Image Gallery (5 images)
February 19, 2007 A joint effort between naval engineer Lieutenant Commander David Walter and his wife Peta, the track version of the two-seater E-Vade sportscar weighs just 900 kg and achieves 500 kW from its modified Nissan V6 engine mounted longitudinally behind the driver. A slightly heavier (950 kg) road-going and less powerful (300kW) configuration is also on offer with both versions incorporating a built-in hydraulic jacking system which can lift the whole car about 20 cm at the press of a button for quick wheel and tyre changes. Read More
Radar car collision prevention systems put to the test
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 15, 2008 British Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre Thatcham has put three of the car industry’s most hyped collision prevention technologies to the test – and they’ve emerged with flying colors. The Volvo City Safety, Mercedes Distronic Plus, and Honda CMBS use radar systems to mitigate and prevent low speed collisions – which, as a category, make up 75% of all motor accidents. Read More
Mercedes SL 63 AMG: coming in April, with new 7-speed Speedshift transmission
Image Gallery (6 images)
Mercedes' high performance tuning subsidiary AMG has announced the April release of its sportiest-ever SL class Benz. The SL 63 AMG's 6.3-litre engine's now tuned for 525 horses and 660Nm, and even the most ham-footed driver can hit 100kmh in 4.6 seconds thanks to the AMG Race Start launch control package. Chilly temperatures don't have to put you off driving with the top down, as the AMG features a new "Airscarf" neck-level heating system, and the electronically adjustable suspension lets you strike the right balance between racetrack grip and touring comfort on the road. The transmission's a beauty - a four mode manual auto with superfast 100ms shifting and auto-double declutching on downshifts. And if this baby's not fast enough for you, there's always the SL 65 AMG biturbo V12. Read More
Production ready Toyota iQ heads for Geneva
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 14, 2008 Launched as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, a market-ready version of the Toyota iQ will debut Geneva next month. A compact urban vehicle that can can carry three people in comfort despite being less than three meters long, Toyota hopes the iQ will change the entrenched wisdom that buying a small car means less comfort and a compromise on safety. Read More
Blaupunkt New Orleans MP58 offers uninterrupted MP3 playback
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 13, 2008 Blaupunkt's latest car radio release caters to digital music formats by including a fixed 1 meter USB cable for connecting external digital storage devices along with "no-interrupt browsing capability", meaning you can continue to listen to the current track while searching through playlists. Read More
New Passat features Continental self-sealing tyres
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 13, 2008 Self-sealing tyres from German manufacturer Continental will be rolled-out on the new Volkswagen Passat CC four-door. The tyres feature ContiSeal technology - a protective layer on the inside of the tread that immediately seals holes caused by a screw or nail puncture. Read More
Special edition KTM X-Bow set for Geneva Motor Show
Image Gallery (4 images)
February 12, 2008 In more news ahead of the 78th International Geneva Motor Show, KTM has announced it will show the special edition “X-Bow Dallara” for the first time in all its final technical details. Read More
Hyundai to present HED-5 concept in Geneva
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 12, 2008 Hyundai's main attraction at next month's Geneva motor show will be the HED-5 concept - a six seat MPV that promises fuel efficient versatility through the use of revolutionary materials and construction techniques. Read More
Navistar unveil International LoneStar big-rig
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 8, 2007 Navistar International Corp. has rolled-out a new flagship product under its International® brand at the Chicago Auto Show. Developed in a process that saw the design jump directly from math and clay models to production without any development prototypes, the LoneStar combines fuel-saving aerodynamic design with a raft of on-board technological features and creature comforts that would put most home offices in the shade. Highlights include Bluetooth connectivity, Monsoon stereo system with 11 speakers, sub-woofer and amplifier, a desk-like workspace for laptop computers, wooden flooring, swivel chairs and a pull-down bed with a 42-inch premium mattress. Read More
New York’s hybrid buses prove their worth
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 7, 2008 A government report has shown that the new Orion buses in New York City cost 40% less to maintain and 24% less to operate than earlier-generation hybrids. Read More
Provoq: Cadillac's crossover fuel cell concept
Image Gallery (14 images)
The latest platform for GM’s zero-emissions E-Flex architecture comes in the guise of a luxurious crossover vehicle - the Cadillac Provoq. The all-electric drive Provoq combines the fuel cell system with a lithium-ion battery to achieve a 300 mile range, 100 mph top-speed and all-wheel-drive traction via a 70 kW co-axial drive system for the front wheels and separate 40 kW wheel hub motors at the rear. The sleek design also harbors a number of other innovations including active front grille louvers that close at speed to boost aerodynamics, push-to-release door handles, brake-by-wire technology and an integrated solar panel in the roof that supplements power for onboard accessories. Read More
Mitsubishi to premiere Lancer Prototype-S Sports Hatchback Concept
Image Gallery (3 images)
January 30, 2008 Mitsubishi Motors has released these sketches of its Lancer Prototype-S sports hatchback concept ahead of its debut at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show. Powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder DOHC MIVEC intercooler / turbocharger engine developing 177 kW (240 PS) and 343 Nm (35 kg-m), the Prototype-S is evolved from the Concept-Sportback car shown at Frankfurt in 2005 and provides a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming 5-door hatchback variant of the Lancer family expected later in the year. Read More
Kenworth Truck Company plans fleet of LNG vehicles
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 29, 2008 Kenworth Truck Company and Westport Innovations Inc have announced that production of a line of liquefied natural gas vehicles will begin in 2009. The Kenworth T800 LNG trucks will use Westport’s LNG fuel system technology adapted for the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine. Read More
Suzuki to exhibit Kizashi Concept x 2 at the Geneva Motor Show
Image Gallery (5 images)
January 27, 2008 Suzuki will present both the Kizashi and Kizashi 2 Concept cars together for the first time at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show. Unveiled separately at the 2007 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt and 2007 Tokyo Motor Show respectively, the Concepts showcase the company's intention to build on its automotive presence already established in the compact car (Swift) and sport utility vehicle (Grand Vitara) segments by entering into the sedan market. The Kizashi - a Japanese word meaning “prelude” or “foretaste” - will feature a 2.0L 4-valve turbo diesel engine coupled with an intelligent all-wheel drive system targeting low CO2 emissions in a lean, muscular design that aims to optimize interior spaciousness and apply the no-nonsense, user-oriented approach to driver functionality gleaned from Suzuki's experience in motorcycle production. Read More
ZAP brings Alias highway electric car project closer to reality
Image Gallery (4 images)
January 24, 2008 Electric-transport pioneer ZAP is now predicting a 2nd quarter 2009 production launch for the planned ZAP Alias(TM) highway electric car. The Joint Venture Company formed by ZAP and China Youngman Automotive Group has invited engineering and technology companies to participate in the project by initiating a RFQ (Request For Quotation) process for the 150-mile range, 100mph three-wheeler which the company hopes to bring to market for around USD$30,000. The news follows the showing of the company's made for iPod electric car and iZAP rechargable battery technology at Macworld 2008 and the announcement of a deal with Coca Cola that will see a fleet of 30 of Zap's compact electric trucks used for a new beverage distribution system in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the aim of targeting areas where larger vehicles are challenged by parking shortages, traffic congestion and air pollution. Read More
Cadillac premieres 2009 CTS-V high-performance luxury sedan
Image Gallery (9 images)
Set to hit the market in Q4 2008 and to be sold for the first time in markets outside North America, Cadillac's new addition to the high-performance V-Series line - the 2009 CTS-V - boasts an array of performance enhancing technologies built around a new 6.2L LSA supercharged V-8 engine producing an estimated 550 hp (410 kW) and 550 lb.-ft. (745 Nm) of torque. These include an industry-first Performance Traction Management program, a new automatic transmission with paddle-shift control and a Magnetic Ride Control system that utilizes electro magnetic shocks and electronic sensors at each wheel to deliver what's billed as the world’s fastest-reacting suspension. The cars' blend of luxury and performance extends to an extensive on-board infotainment suite that includes a 40-gigabyte hard drive, factory-installed Bluetooth, Bose digital surround audio and an advanced navigation system. Read More
Records tumble at Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event
Image Gallery (4 images)
January 23, 2008 Auction company Barrett-Jackson has reported record breaking numbers at its 37th Annual Collector Car Event with preliminary figures showing over $88 million in sales and a new attendance record of 280,000 in a four day auction featuring 1,163 collector vehicles, 100 fewer than sold in 2007. Read More
Ford Mondeo gets Adaptive Cruise Control
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 23, 2008 Ford has announced that its new Mondeo will get Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology as an option. The adoption of ACC technology, which has appeared previously in cars such as Volvo's S80 and more recently the new Jaguar XF, provides a significant safety boost by maintaining a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front and automatically decelerating when another vehicle enters this buffer zone. One the pre-set distance is renewed the vehicle then accelerates back to cruising speed. Read More
Car crash warning system could prevent the accident waiting to happen
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 17 , 2008, According to the World Health Organization an estimated 1.2 million people lose their lives every year due to car accidents. With the hope of reducing that number, European researchers are developing a Collision Warning System (CWS) for cars, an early warning device which will warn drivers of dangers ahead and may give them enough time to avoid a crash. Read More
Mercedes E-Class and smart fortwo demonstrate fuel efficiency on the road to Detroit
Image Gallery (7 images)
January 17, 2008 - Talk about making an entrance – the smart fortwo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class travelled 4400 kilometres over seven days from Los Angeles to the Detroit Auto Show. In the trip, which aimed to measure fuel economy in real world conditions, the smart fortwo mhd recorded an average fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres, the two smart fortwo cdis recorded 3.9 L/100 km, and the business saloon E 320 BLUETEC recorded 5.8 L/100 km. Read More
The US$80K Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sports car
Image Gallery (13 images)
January 16, 2008 We’ve written before about the coming of Fisker Automotive and its highly credentialed designer/CEO Henrik Fisker, though we weren’t exactly expecting a hybrid when the premium sports car company announced its first production car at NAIAS. The Fisker Karma is a four-door plug-in hybrid with a solar panel roof, regenerative braking, a light weight body, does 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds and will have a top speed beyond 125 mph when it goes on sale late in 2009 for a projected US$80,000. The drive train is entirely electric though the car has a small gasoline engine that runs the generator, which charges the lithium ion battery pack. This allows the car to be driven for up to 50 miles a day provided the car is charged every evening. Read More
Lexus transforms LF-A concept into a roadster
Image Gallery (8 images)
January 15, 2008 In more news from the 2008 NAIAS, Lexus has taken the wraps off a roadster-version of its LF-A sports car concept. The open-top supercar uses a "front-mid" configuration of the high-revving, 500 hp V10 engine from company's LF-A coupe, first unveiled in Detroit back in 2005, and the body is also based on the Coupe's carbon-fiber and aluminum structure with the addition of a speed adaptive rear wing. Read More
Young graduates ace their first work assignment: the Hummer HX concept
Image Gallery (35 images)
January 15, 2008 Talk about hitting the ground running - three young design students, fresh out of college, fronted up for their first day of work at GM and instead of a week of fetching coffees, their first assignment was to produce concepts for a new, compact, youth-oriented off-road Hummer. The three students' input drove the design of the new Hummer HX concept, which has sparked a lot of excitement among Hummer fans. Open-topped, with a configurable rear roof section, removable body panels and an E85-capable engine, the HX concept will debut shortly at the 2008 North American International Auto Show – and it's rumored to be the base for the upcoming H4 production SUV. Read More
Ford to introduce EcoBoost engines with turbocharging and direct injection
Image Gallery (5 images)
January 14, 2008 Ford Motor Company is introducing a new engine technology called EcoBoost that will deliver 20-30 percent better fuel economy. The EcoBoost family of 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines features turbocharging and direct injection technology and is being touted as a more affordable alternative to hybrids and diesel engines, with improved fuel economy and lower emissions without compromising driving performance. Beginning with the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan, the engine technology will be rolled out globally. Read More
Mazda’s new, production-ready 180mph Furai Concept
Image Gallery (40 images)
Mazda unveiled the latest in its series of Nagare concept cars at North American International Auto Show yesterday - the Furai P2 concept celebrates 40 years of rotary engine development at Mazda plus the company’s international motorsport heritage with the raciest interpretation of Nagare design language to-date. The ethanol-burning, three-rotor rotary Furai is more than just a design exercise, having seen 180 mph on the racetrack and with strong hints that it is ready for production. The Furai concept serves as a turning point in the Nagare developmental process - while the four previous concept cars explored different ways to express Mazda’s emerging design philosophy and to explore an aesthetic, this one is all about function – every last texture and detail serves some functional purpose. Read More
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 Formula 1 car unveiled
Image Gallery (31 images)
January 9, 2008 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has presented the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The MP4-23 was completed just in time for the event where drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were joined on stage by Pedro de la Rosa and fellow test driver Gary Paffett to unveil the car. Read More
Hybrid Drive for the Porsche Panamera – the fuel efficient Gran Turismo
Image Gallery (3 images)
January 8, 2008 Porsche has announced a hybrid drive version of the forthcoming four-door Gran Turismo Porsche Panamera. The hybrid Panamera will use the components of the Cayenne Hybrid expected in 2009 and is an interesting technical solution as the hybrid module can disengage either the combustion engine or the electric motor, or combine both drive systems as one joint power unit. Thus the Panamera hybrid will be able to be driven in a number of different modes ranging from all-electric through to the muscle car sporting style of motoring so typical of a Porsche. Read More
First glimpse of Aston Martin's Vantage GT2 race car
Image Gallery (3 images)
Aston Martin Racing has released a sketch showing its first impressions of the new GT2 racing car. Based on the V8 engined Aston Martin Vantage road car and to be known as the Vantage GT2, the vehicle is designed to run on either standard race fuel or E85 bio-ethanol (where regulations allow), a conversion that was successfully completed for the DBRS9 in 2007. The new car also gives Aston Martin the mantle as the only manufacturer to offer cars in every GT racing category: GT1 – DBR9; GT2 – Vantage GT2; GT3 – DBRS9; GT4 – Vantage N24. Aston Martin chairman, David Richards, will be announcing Aston Martin Racing’s 2008 plans at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, UK, on Thursday 10 January at 10.45 am. Read More
Gleaming white KTM X-Bow set for UK debut
Image Gallery (3 images)
January 3, 2008 Following on from its recent appearance at Bologna, KTM will show its high-performance X-Bow sportscar at the Autosport International Racing Car Show this month where UK audiences will see the car without the company's trademark orange finish for the first time. The "gleaming white" bodywork of the showcar is a new option for the lightweight, carbon fiber two-seater which is slated to enter production in the first half of this year. The motorcycle manufacturer has also confirmed that it will mark its move into the four-wheeled market with a limited run of 100 sequentially numbered "Dallara Series" models (all of which are sold) featuring premium equipment designed to bolster the track performance potential of the vehicle followed by production runs of 1000 units per-year at the company's new assembly plant in Austria. Read More
Third-generation G-Wiz electric vehicle launched
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 2, 2008 UK electric vehicle retailer GoinGreen has announced the release of the latest incarnation of its G-Wiz range. Known as G-Wiz i, the emission free electric vehicle (EV) that has a certified top speed of 50mph, a range of up to 48 miles per charge and improved acceleration to 30mph. Extra torque enables the G-Wiz i to easily keep up with city traffic and to cope with hills, but the most attractive feature is sure to be running costs with the fuel bill for a year’s electricity costing less than the price of a tank of petrol. Read More
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadster
Image Gallery (13 images)
December 31, 2008 Mercedes-Benz has released details of its new SLK roadster models ahead of an April 2008 release. With around 650 newly developed parts in all, the latest line-up is marked by new-look front and rear sections - the redesigned front bumper with a modified air-dam arrangement enhances the two-seater's distinctive arrow shape while at the rear, a diffuser-style lower section, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes and the AMG-inspired darkened tail lights have been added. Interior modifications include a new instrument cluster, three-spoke sports steering wheel and improved audio and telematics systems while under the hood the supercharged four-cylinder and V6 engine options have been boosted in terms of output and fuel economy with the 265 kW/360 hp, 5.5-litre V8 powerplant retained for the SLK 55 AMG . Read More
One-off 1929 Ruxton alligator roadster up for auction
Image Gallery (3 images)
December 21, 2007 In recent months we've covered a number of the spectacular rare automobiles set to go under the hammer at the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Auction. Now, just weeks away from the event, news that another pre-war classic - the only 1929 Muller Front Drive Ruxton Engineer Prototype "alligator" Roadster ever built - will be among the more than 1100 vehicles up for grabs. Read More
FORUM: Nissan's advanced mini-van design concept
Image Gallery (15 images)
December 21, 2007 In a further exploration of the theme of automobile as communal space displayed by the Round Box Concept shown in Tokyo this year, Nissan will unveil its FORUM concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The FORUM integrates a number of design features and communications technologies aimed at creating a family-friendly environment including trackless sliding side doors, the elimination of traditional B-pillars, versatile second row "Turntable Seating", an advanced Bose® Media System, multi-camera external monitoring, a built-in microwave and a "Kids Cam" monitoring system which allows adults to keep an eye on back seat mayhem via 2nd and 3rd row cameras mounted in the headliner and connected to the main instrument panel LCD display. Read More
Aqua-car: Rinspeed preview sQuba diving concept vehicle
Image Gallery (2 images)
Never shy of venturing into unchartered territory, Swiss automotive design company Rinspeed’s latest Concept takes the aquatic theme showcased in its 2004 Splash Amphibious Hydrofoil Sportscar to the next level with its latest creation - the sQuba diving Concept Car. Thirty years after the release of the film The Spy Who Loved Me, where James Bond took to the deep in a subaquatic Lotus Espirit, Rinspeed aim to turn the famous cinematic sequence into reality with an amphibious, zero-emission Concept designed to dive to depths of up to 33 feet (10 meters) using two propellers in the stern and two jet drives in the bow. Read More
