Technical

BMW has unveiled a new internal combustion engine design that not only produces near zero emissions, but it apparently absorbs and burns ambient air pollutants as well. The ultra-clean engine debuts in the new mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 saloon and is on display at this week’s SAE World Congress...

No bolt is being left untouched as carmakers in both the U.S. and Europe strive to develop cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Everything from weight-saving measures to aerodynamic tweaks and even downsized engines are being investigated in the hope that engineers can come up with fuel...

Mercedes-Benz is planning a suit against Audi for infringement of its Bluetec technology. Under a European patent Daimler owns rights to the particular nature of the system, which controls emissions of diesel engines. Daimler claims to have sent at least three letters through its legal department...

Already heralded as one of the first high-performance dual-clutch gearboxes to be put into an affordable car, Mitsubishi's Sport Shift Transmission (SST) will also see use in the company's Outlander SUV. This is the first implementation of a dual-clutch gearbox in an SUV and is another step towards...

Smaller, more powerful motors are the future of the auto industry. GM and Chrysler are focusing on smaller four- and six-cylinder motors for their Camaro and Challenger, while others are pushing the envelopes of forced-induction sub-2.0L powerplants. A new technology has appeared on the horizon...

Speaking at the New York auto show today GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the engine from the high-performance versions of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky could make its way under the hood of the new Camaro. Likely a run at improving the marque's CAFE numbers, the turbocharged four-banger would...

Audi has finally announced the launch of its version of VW Group’s new seven-speed dual clutch transmission, which will be used to replace the current six-speed units over the next 12 months. The new gearbox, dubbed S-tronic in Audi-speak, is designed to work with longitudinally installed...

Motorsports company Prodrive is developing a new vehicle dynamics system that actively adjusts toe angle (the symmetric angle that each wheel makes with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) to improve vehicle handling. Dubbed ‘Active Toe Control,’ it works on the rear axle of front...

By now most of us are well aware of the benefits that lithium-ion batteries are purported to bring to hybrids: lighter weight, longer range and better power. We've also heard the downsides of lithium-ion batteries: unexpected fires and explosions, heat, and high costs. Toyota, already slow to join...

Aiming at bringing a practical, production angle to the often outlandish realm of ecological car-show concepts, the Hyundai i-blue range combines existing technologies in innovative ways to show what can be done to make a green (or blue, if you will) car - now. By increasing motor efficiency...

Toyota seems to be doing everything it can to take driving out of the hands of its drivers. Their Lexus brand has been pushing self-parking mechanisms (with varying degrees of success) for several years now. Now the world's biggest auto seller is tying its brake-assist technology in with satellite...

Most in-car PCs are generally too complicated for the average person to master and have for long been regarded as a gadget for tech-heads to boast about. Usually designed to run Linux or Windows, in-car computers, or ‘carputers’ for short, can be used as a replacement for a car’s...

Back in 2006 Alpine showcased a new dashboard display system that allows viewers to watch two different images from a single screen depending on the angle they’re sitting at. This meant that the front passenger and driver would see two separate images when looking at the single display, a...

BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and even Mitsubishi have come to market with dual-clutch transmissions in the interest of power, economy and refinement. Until now Fiat Group – including Ferrari – has done without dual-clutch gearboxes, eschewing them for traditional automatics, manuals and...

The search for more environmentally friendly fuel alternatives is in full effect, and while a few promising candidates have been found, the full results are not yet in. Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are the leaders among the new crop of ‘green’ fuels, but people are beginning...

While most carmakers around the world are focusing on downsizing engines to reduce carbon emissions levels of their fleets, one carmaker, Audi, has set out to create a new type of fuel that not only reduces CO2 by up to 13% but also cuts fuel consumption by about 10%. Audi will premiere its new...

Following the announcement of the new BMW M3 Convertible earlier this week comes news of the carmaker’s first dual-clutch transmission, which is set to make a simultaneous debut in the M3 Coupe and Sedan as well as the drop-top. BMW has raised the bar by introducing a seven-speed version of...

Automobile racing is probably one of the least 'green' things a person, or company, can do. Driving as quickly as possible just to wind up exactly where you began - it's the definition of waste. But we love it just the same. And thanks to the efforts of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and...

Those of us that grew up with the Back to the Future series of movies generally feel a little short-changed when it comes to the innovations promised and not delivered. But GM's doing its best to remedy that by teaming up with Coskata, Inc., a company that has found a way to turn garbage into...

Twin-clutch transmissions are finding their way into many cars these days, from Volkswagens to Mitsubishis to Nissans. Volvo, like other makers that have made the switch to twin-clutch gearboxes, sees benefits to performance, fuel consumption and power handling capability - even in comparison to...