Technical
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The Alfa Romeo 4C stunned us at its original debut back at March’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and now it’s set to do it all over again at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in just two weeks’ time. [MotorAuthority] We drive the 2012 Ford Focus Titanium in New York. [GreenCarReports] Houston has followed the lead of L.A. and removed all its red light traffic cameras after it was voted on by the city council. [TheCarConnection] Ever wanted to browse the Web in your pickup? With the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado now you can. [AllCarTech] Toyota, more specifically, Toyota Motorsports GmbH...
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Yet More Details On Ferrari's FF All-Wheel Drive System
Ferrari made a shooting brake, all-wheel-drive car and the automotive world split into three camps: love it, hate it, and meh. The latest details on the Ferrari's FF all-wheel drive system may not change that fact, but it's sure to intrigue all camps--and spark endless rounds of debate...
Nelson Ireson -
Video: Ferrari FF Four-Wheel Drive System Explained
The new Ferrari FF may not be to everyone’s liking but like most models from the Prancing Horse, it’s not only a technical marvel but also one of the fastest cars on the planet. With its latest supercar, Ferrari has introduced a controversial ‘shooting brake’ hatchback...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Audi Working On Lightened R8 ‘NF’ Supercar?
Audi already has a lighter and more hardcore version of its R8 supercar, the new 2011 Audi R8 GT, which comes packing a 560 horsepower V-10 engine and a 220 pound lighter curb weight than the regular R8 V10 model. However, according to a new report, Audi engineers are developing an even lighter...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lotus Files Patent For Lightweight Dual-Clutch Transmission
Lotus has filed a new patent application for a lightweight dual-clutch transmission design, suggesting that the British sports car manufacturer is planning to offer the quick-shifting gearbox in its future models. In line with the company’s ‘performance through less weight’...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW Previews Future Heat Energy Recovery Technology
The installation of a thermoelectric generator could improve fuel economy by as much as 5%.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The new system uses electrical energy to drive a supercharger and boost engine performance.
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Ilmor Engineering Shows Off 5-Stroke Engine Concept
With the automotive world striving for smaller, more efficient engines in a bid to be seen as environmentally-conscious and attract customers, scientists and engineers are coming out of the woodwork with new combustion engines, electric powertrains and other systems that they tout as the future of...
James Martinez -
Former VW powertrain chief builds super-efficient engine
It seems that the current spate of environmental consciousness encircling the globe has spawned a number of entrepreneurs wanting to cash in on the need to go greener - including legitimate operations like Tesla and its electric cars, as well as some more dodgy operations such as the proponents of...
Ralph Hanson -
New technology allows adjustments to virtually any vehicle setting
If a company going by the name of IFR Automotive rings a bell, it may just be because of its recently unveiled Aspid Sports Car, which combined an enclosed cockpit and composite materials with a classic Lotus Seven-style semi-open-wheeled layout. Now, the Spanish company says it is in the midst of...
James Martinez -
Nissan unveils fuel-saving dual injector system
Nissan today announced the development of a Dual Injector system designed to improve fuel efficiency in small-displacement petrol engines. The new fuel delivery system, the first of its kind in the world (for mass produced cars), uses an injector for each port rather than one per cylinder –...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toyota demonstrates electric wheelchair controlled by the mind
While it may not be strictly car news, we just couldn't resist writing this story up about Toyota’s new 'Brain Machine Interface' technology. While it may sound like something out of the Terminator movies at first, the technology is an amazing step forward and could have huge implications for...
Jeremy Weber -
As automakers seek ways to create more efficient cars without compromising power or driveability, eyes are increasingly turning to new technologies and ideas. One of the leaders in this field is BMW, which has already shown off several innovative ideas such as using electricity generated by exhaust gas heat and solar power to take the electrical load off the engine and thereby improve efficiency and reduce emissions. This is only the start for BMW, however, as the automaker has a bevy of other fuel saving technologies up its sleeve. Autocar is reporting that many of these new technologies...
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Ethanol-injected Ford Bobcat V8 detailed in DOE documents
Ford’s new EcoBoost range of engines is about to go on sale, debuting in the new Lincoln MKS before filtering across to most of the automaker’s lineup. EcoBoost promises to deliver more power but better fuel economy. For example, a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is estimated to produce up to 340hp...
Ralph Hanson -
Peeling back the layers of Aston Martin's DBS
What makes a hand-built car so different from a standard robot-assembled production line car? Some might say it's attention to detail, but the scanning cameras and computer software of a modern assembly line might disagree. In truth, it's craftsmanship, and nothing illustrates that better than a...
Nelson Ireson -
Early look at BMW’s next wave of EfficientDynamics technology
As manufacturers seek ways to create more efficient cars without compromising power or driveability, eyes are increasingly turning to new technologies and ideas. BMW is looking to electricity generated by exhaust gas heat and solar power to take the electrical load off the engine and thereby...
Kenneth Hall -
Fiat boosts engine output with new MultiAir technology
Already a leader in advanced diesel engine technology, Fiat has added to its arsenal a new advancement for petrol engines the company claims will significantly boost power and torque, while cutting emissions. The new technology has been labeled it MultiAir and it will be debuting in the...
Jeremy Weber -
First Scuderi split-cycle engine prototype completed
American engineering firm Scuderi has announced the completion of the first prototype of its new ultra-efficient engine design called the ‘split-cycle’. The design uses a revolutionary new system to provide engines that release significantly fewer emissions than current offerings and is...
Ralph Hanson -
The F-22 Raptor fighter jet uses about 1.7 million lines of software code, while Boeing’s upcoming 787 Dreamliner passenger jet is expected to use close to 6.5 million lines of code, but as extensive as this sounds it is nothing compared to the amount of software used in a modern luxury vehicle. Speaking with IEEE Spectrum, Technical University professor Manfred Broy explained that a modern luxury vehicle “probably contains close to 100 million lines of software code” all of which is processed by up to 100 microprocessors networked throughout the car. Take for example the...
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Ford unveils automated parking system for Lincoln MKS and MKT
The 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover has officially been revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for all the details and images. Ford is introducing an automatic parking system in the flagship Lincoln MKS sedan, as well as the upcoming Lincoln MKT seven-seat luxury crossover, to help drivers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
UK, France, Germany, Italy agree on CO2 limits
Italy has reportedly dropped its objections to a European Commission plan to introduce softer CO2 emission limits on new cars, leaving the door open for an EU-wide agreement on a 130g/km fleet wide CO2 limit. While still not official, inside government sources in Germany told Reuters that an...
Nelson Ireson -
MIT aerodynamics breakthrough could improve efficiency, speed
A century-old problem in the physics of aerodynamics, known to scientists as fluid dynamics, has been solved by MIT scientists, both on paper and in the lab. The breakthrough makes it possible to calculate when the otherwise smooth flow of air over a complex surface will cease and separate, hugely...
Nelson Ireson -
Nissan collision avoidance system takes inspiration from bees
Bees are not the first animal most people would think of when looking to the biological world for automotive inspiration, but the engineers at Nissan are uncommon people. Those engineers are developing a collision avoidance system based around the same principles that bees use to navigate their...
Ralph Hanson -
Audi starts trial of fuel-saving Travolution traffic system
Most carmakers are focusing their efforts solely on reducing the tailpipe emissions of their vehicle lineups through conventional methods such as more efficient engines, advanced catalysts and lighter cars. Attacking vehicle emissions from a different angle, Audi is adding a new traffic management...
Nelson Ireson