The price penalty for the added complexity of a hybrid drivetrain has always been a bit of a concern for those looking to not just save fuel, but to save money. In some calculations from a decade ago, popular hybrids would have taken as much as eight or ten years to repay in fuel savings […]
Despite its position at the apex of consumer and motorsport automotive technology, Ferrari has largely shied away from doing serious business via the technological medium of the new millenium: the internet. That’s all changing, as Ferrari has launched a preview website for a new Grand Tourer model to debut at the Paris Motor […]
If you’re tired of paying through the nose at the bowser, a new U.S. company may have the answer for you when it comes to reducing fuel costs. E-Fuel Corp unveiled its latest creation, dubbed the MicroFueler, that allows consumers to produce their own ethanol and pump it into their car from home.
The Microfueler plugs […]
Fast factory versions of frumpy family sedans are nothing new - they’ve been around almost as long as the industry has - but few really capture the mind of the auto enthusiast like the Ford Taurus SHO did. Perhaps because it was one of the few American takes on the concept at the time, or […]
Using tactics that would make any TV crime boss proud, Chinese drivers are using electrically-operated license plate devices that either cover up the legitimate plate or swap out the plate for a fake one. The driver can activate the device whenever a speed camera is near from the comfort of the car’s cabin - while […]
Supercar brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini constantly have to deal with the conflict between boosting profits (usually by selling more cars) and retaining exclusivity. In the past, the carmakers have done this be building less cars than their customers demanded. In recent times, they have increased revenues by expanding their core operations.
We’ve seen Ferrari […]
The Los Angeles Auto Show is still half a year away but already we have details of what is likely to be one of the event’s standout attractions. In a recent interview, Cadillac boss Jim Taylor revealed plans to showcase a new motorbike concept fitted with a hybrid drivetrain containing an internal combustion engine running […]
Ken Livingstone has lost the mayoral race in London, effectively ending his reign during which he notoriously introduced the London congestion charge to the city. His departure reflects the animosity felt by Londoners towards “Red Ken” and his controversial policies, including campaign promises to increase the congestion charge and reduce speed limits in order to […]
After eight years of development, the British Steam Car Team are now just months away from attempting to break the world speed record for a steam-powered car – a record that has stood since 1906. The speed to beat is 127.659mph (205km/h) and organizers are comfortable of reaching a new top speed of 200mph (322km/h).
Before […]
A man in California has devised an innovative method of generating ‘green’ power from passing trucks that drive up and down busy highways the world over. Inventor Terry Kenney came up with the idea of using the kinetic energy of a truck barreling down a highway to compress a tank of hydraulic fluid located in […]
Antilock braking systems (ABS) have been around for almost a century - first appearing in the 1920s for the aviation industry after being pioneered by French automobile and aircraft company Voisin - but the technology has only been used in cars for the last 30 years. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the first passenger car to […]
Bentley has shown off its green credentials with a win in the Greenpower Corporate Challenge that took place at a race circuit in Goodwood over the weekend. Bentley’s entry in the challenge was the Continental DC (Direct Current), a small single-seater vehicle built out of carbon fiber and powered by a 24-volt motor.
The compact motor […]
As fuel prices continue to skyrocket to record highs, more and more consumers are increasingly becoming wary of just how much they are paying at the pump. But new reports in the U.S. claim faulty fuel pumps can be partly blamed for the rising cost of fuel and consumers are being overcharged without even knowing […]
Police in Germany are investigating a possible industrial espionage case involving Volkswagen spying on Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking. According to German media, VW personal used a baby-phone hidden behind a sofa located in a hotel room Wiedeking was staying in during a trip for a VW supervisory board meeting.
Germany’s Der Spiegel was first […]
Asian-made and designed sportscars have long been some of the best in the business - from Nissan’s Z and GT-R lines of cars to Toyota’s famed 2000GT and Supra, the region has long produced cars that span the range from budget sportscar to near-supercar. Autochina 2008, Beijing’s auto show, saw the reveal of […]