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Lamborghini unwraps new 6.5L V12 engine, ISR gearbox

November 16, 2010 at 4:48 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lamborghini, Technology, Videos


UPDATE: More info and video added!

The V12 engine and Lamborghini are inseparable; all poster favourites from the Miura to the Countach and Diablo had one behind the seats. These black and white images are of Lamborghini’s all new V12 engine and automated manual gearbox, essentially the heart of the Murciélago successor that’s due next year. Just like the cars from Sant’Agata, be prepared for some dramatic descriptions.

Codenamed L539, the naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12′s 700 hp is made at 8,250 rpm while 690 Nm max torque is achieved at 5,500 rpm, 500 revs lower than present. It may be high revving with “highly emotional acoustics” but the V12 will also have “a well-rounded torque curve, beefy pulling power and incredibly spontaneous responsiveness”. Compared to the current V12, the L539 has an increased bore (88 mm to 95 mm) but a reduced stroke (89 mm to 76.4 mm). Compression ratio is up to 11.8:1 from 11:1. No direct injection for now.

Developed “from a clean sheet of paper” the 60 degree V12 will be hand built in Sant’Agata Bolognese. To reduce weight (it’s 18 kg lighter at 235 kg), the crankcase and the four-valve cylinder heads are made from aluminum-silicon alloy. The short-stroke layout ensures high-revving performance and low internal friction, with good thermal management (two switchable water circuits for rapid warm-up) and oil circulation (dry-sump lubrication with eight scavenging pumps) to back up.

There also a complex intake system with four individual throttle valves, where air flows through two flaps, several channels and one bypass. The exhaust system is said to deliver a “spine-tingling Lamborghini sound”. It’s a three-into-one system with two separate mufflers – one low-volume, one high-volume – regulated by ECU controlled valves.

The new V12′s perfect mate is the new 7-speed ISR transmission, designed for “the world’s most emotional gearshift feel”. Shift times for this single clutch ‘box are quick – 40% faster than the Gallardo’s e.gear and almost 50% less than dual-clutch unit, says Lambo – thanks to the ISR (Independent Shifting Rod). Instead of taking place in series, as with a conventional gearbox, shifting can occur virtually in parallel. While one shifting rod is moving out of one gear, the second shifting rod can already engage the next. It’s faster because both actions partially overlap and the mechanical distance is shorter as it bypasses neutral.

There are four ISRs in the gearbox, controlled via hydraulic actuators. The double-plate clutch is also hydraulically actuated. Synchronizing rings are made from carbonfibre. The ISR box’ low weight of 70 kg also compares favourably with twin-clutch units. Three modes are available: Strada (with full auto shift shifting, if you want), Sport and the most hardcore Corsa with launch control.

Looks like the Murciélago successor will be very well equipped to be the top bull in the supercar ring! Gallery and a video after the jump.
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Honda’s little wonder, ASIMO, celebrates its 10th anniversary

November 1, 2010 at 12:15 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Honda, International News, Technology

honda asimo 10

How time flies. Honda’s creation known as Advanced Step In Innovative Mobility, or ASIMO as we all know it, turned 10 yesterday, and to celebrate the humanoid robot’s first decade of existence, the company has launched a dedicated website which contains films and photographs detailing ASIMO’s evolution since its creation. A ‘Run with Asimo’ smartphone and iphone app has also been produced to allow users to interact with a virtual version of the robot on their phone, and will be downloadable from mid-November.

Created as part of a Honda research and development programme into robotics and human mobility, the robot has certainly come a long way – it has learnt to run and walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, climb stairs (and on the odd occasion, fall and not be able to get up, but hey, nobody’s perfect) and reach for and grasp objects, as well as comprehend and respond to simple voice commands, recognise faces and even avoid moving obstacles as it runs.

Honda is now focusing its research on the development of ASIMO’s intelligence, as well as exploring the scope for interaction between humans and humanoid robots. Wonder what the little tyke will be able to do at 20.

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Toyota to utilise new bio-PET Ecological Plastic for its vehicle interiors – and it has sugar cane in it!

October 14, 2010 at 6:05 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Technology

lexus ct200h

It sounds sweet, it does. Toyota has developed a new Ecological Plastic for use in its vehicle interiors, with a raw material in it derived from sugar cane. The plastic is the first in the world to be made using bio-PET, and the company says the new development is tougher, harder wearing and more shrink resistant than previous bio-plastics.

Bio-plastics aren’t exactly new, nor is Ecological Plastic – the company developed a bio-plastic made with polyactic acid seven years ago which was used in the Raum, and it introduced Ecological Plastic last year, in which injection moulded material derived from plants are used in scuff plates, trim elements and seat cushions in the current Prius.

The bio-PET featuring in the latest Eco Plastic incarnation, developed by Toyota and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has a biological raw material derived from sugar cane replacing the 30% monethylene glycol element in polyethylene terephthalate, to give PET its full name.

Toyota says the new plastic’s qualities make it suitable for use for vehicle liners, carpeting, seats and other interior surfaces, with the first application in a production model being the luggage compartment liner in the new Lexus CT 200h. In 2011, it plans to introduce a model in which the new plastic will cover 80% of the vehicle’s interior.

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Something new from Lexus, and it’s not a car – the world’s most advanced driving simulator

October 13, 2010 at 5:41 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus, Technology

lexus sim

It sounds like just the thing for video game buffs, but this one is very much geared towards designing technology to help make driving safer.

It’s the world’s largest and most advanced driving simulator, run by Lexus at its research campus in Higashifuji, Japan. A series of complex, interlocking full motion tracks span the interior of a room the size of a football field. On top of the tracks sits a round domed structure, approximately 4.6m high and 17m in diameter, supported on a full three-axis hexapod system.

Inside the dome, a real Lexus vehicle is mounted to a turntable, allowing drivers to test and experience actual vehicle controls. A high-definition imaging system provides a full 360-degree environment of roads around the vehicle, and drivers can see and hear traffic and the city around them, including receding scenery that’s viewable in the side- and rear-view mirrors.

The pod is able to tip forward, backward and from side-to-side, and coupled with the track system, which moves the pod in all directions, the simulator can create realistic sensations of acceleration, cornering and handling, being able to mimic speeds of up to 300 kph and a turn angle of 330 degrees to boot.

In essence, the simulator allows engineers to conduct tests to learn about driver behavior and reaction times. Besides traditional traffic incidents, tests are done to determine driver response while distracted by technology such as text messaging, navigation systems and car warnings/displays, as well as driving in poor visibility conditions and while drowsy.

Besides making for newer safer designs, these simulations of different driving scenarios allows engineers to analyse driver reactions before an accident and help determine what technologies can be used to assist in helping to prevent future accidents. So, while it’s not a video game, it’s surely no less cool.

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Visteon to showcase C-beyond concept based on C4 Picasso at 2010 Paris Motor Show

September 29, 2010 at 7:26 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under 2010 Paris Motor Show, Cars, Citroën, International News, Technology

Visteon will be showcasing a concept vehicle at the 2010 Paris Motor Show called the C-Beyond, based on the Citroen C4 Picasso, developed in partnership with styling firm Estech.

The concept is meant to preview the company’s technologies as an auto component manufacturer to automakers and the general public. “These concepts are designed to inspire vehicle manufacturers to ‘see beyond’ the conventional role of the vehicle to create an innovative user experience enabled by Visteon’s technology and advanced development,” according to Visteon product group head, Steve Meszaros.

This will include advanced connectivity that provides driver coaching and real-time traffic updates for the navigation system. Personal comfort features on the other hand, will include their Visteon vertical airflow concept that creates four discrete vertical airflow zones. This allows for the omission of vents in the back, as it automatically adjusts the flow according to the amount of passengers in the car.

Apart from that it will also feature Visteon’s high-intensity headlamp LED projector module that provides all main beam patterns, camera-driven adaptive high-beam system along with a glare free mode. Not all innovations in automotive technology are developed by the manufacturers, alot of the time it’s the component suppliers that comes up with the new and cool stuff in their respective fields, and then they look for a pioneer automaker to adopt it.

A picture gallery is available after the jump – you should really look at every single photo – many of the new ‘concepts’ you’ll see could make it to production cars soon.
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Japanese consortium working on self-powered car components?

September 27, 2010 at 11:49 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Technology

A consortium of Japanese companies made up 21 Japanese big hitters that include Toyota and Honda are working on technologies that will do away with auxiliary cables, wires to power sensors and switches.

They plan to develop components that do not need an external power source but instead, uses energy such as vibration, heat or light to be converted into electricity. It has been compared to the mechanism found in a mechanical watch that winds itself up trough the movement of a person’s arm, thereby doing away with batteries altogether.

The technology will save on the need for cables that send power to the long list of sensors available in modern cars today. If the technology is employed, it could save weight and help improve fuel efficiency. Not to mention add to the car’s coolness factor.

“The consortium is still studying the issue from various angles and exchanging information among its members. As such, nothing has been decided yet regarding joint development or commercialization,” said Toyota Motor Corp. spokesmen Paul Nolasco.

Not the first to toy with the idea, Pirelli already uses similar technology in its “Cyber Tyre”. It uses a vibration-powered computer chip, which provides information such as air pressure and road conditions to the car.

Other technologies include ones being researched by GM and BMW, which involve turning engine or exhaust heat to electricity to power vehicle electronics. It is called energy harvesting and has been around for some time. The only thing stopping companies from using it, is its high cost and the added size of the tech.

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Subaru to debut 3rd generation boxer engine next year

September 24, 2010 at 9:25 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under International News, Subaru, Technology

Fuji Heavy Industries, the owners of Subaru has developed a new and improved boxer engine for the Japanese auto brand. This will be the third generation model of the four-cylinder gasoline engine and it has been renewed for the first time since 1989. Accommodating this new engine, the company has built the new Gunma Oizumi Plant just for this purpose. Available in either in 2500 cc or 2000 cc forms, the engine still maintains lightweight, compact, low centre of gravity and good vibration balance. In addition to that fuel efficiency has improved by 10 percent.

Changes on the inside of this completely new engine include a more compact combustion chamber as well as a longer stroke, previously difficult due to chassis mounting conditions. There upgrades are said to improve combustion efficiency and help generate a sufficient mid-low speed torque with improved fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency has been further optimized with improved intake port configuration and the addition of partitions inside the port, the use of TGV (Tumble Generated Valve) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation).

The engine also uses AVCS (Active Valve Control System) on both the intake and exhaust valves. The intake particularly will benefit from an intermediate lock system that allows valve timing to be advanced or delayed for precise control over intake and exhaust valve timing. Apart from that, the engine employs lighter moving parts such as pistons, connecting rods and a compact oil pump, which provides approximately 30 percent reduction in friction loss.

The cooling for the engine uses a separate circuitry for the block and the head, which again improves fuel efficiency and output levels. The company also pointed out that the new 2.0 litre boxer can produce 146hp and 196Nm of torque. The new engine is expected to debut with the 2011 Forester, due next year.

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Nissan shedding weight in the design of future models

September 22, 2010 at 12:58 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under International News, Nissan, Technology

Even though emission standards don’t affect us Malaysians in our ownership of a car, it has and will drastically change the way cars are designed. This is so that car companies will be able to meet standards set by the EU, which is one of the biggest car buying markets in the world.

In a bid to meet those stricter standards, Nissan has announced that they will be slashing the weight of their models by 15 percent, compared to 2005 models. Nissan also aims to increase fuel economy in its fleet to about 30 percent by 2015. This is said to involve cutting up to 110 kilograms from the next generation of each model, giving a 5 percent increase in fuel economy for each car.

The company’s diet regime will comprise of three processes, which is the use of new engineering and design architectures, lightweight material such as high tensile steel and advanced construction.

A good example of this process is in the redesigning of the Infiniti M. The car shed 15 kilograms by just using high tensile steel. It lost another 1.4 kilograms when they replaced the car’s solid synthetic resin floor undercover with a spongy foam core. The Nissan 370Z also lost 20 kilograms by using aluminum steel instead of steel, just for the doors and the boot lid.

Other avenues for reducing weight are in the vehicle construction process. Components are usually made slightly thicker as it takes into account some margin of error in forecasting bending and breaking points. Thus if they use more accurate computer modeling, engineers can do away with the extra bulk.

Source

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Izaro GT-E – Spain’s answer to the Tesla Roadster

August 28, 2010 at 11:56 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Technology

A new Spanish company by the name of Izaro Motors have announced their plans of developing and constructing Spain’s first eco-friendly supercar.

Called the Izaro GT-E, the press release mentions that the car will be available in an electric and hybrid variant. The EV will use an electric motor producing 495hp and has a range of 250 kilometres, while the hybrid system produces 416hp and will have a range of 690 kilometres. Power from the batteries are said to have a lifespan of between 300,000 to 600,000 miles.

The body is said to employ materials such as aluminum and magnesium for the chassis along with high strength steel from the aerospace industry. This produces a car that weighs in at just over 1000 kilograms. Combined with its powertrain, Izaro promises a sprint time of under 4 seconds to 100km/h and a top speed of 280km/h.

It will be priced at 55,000 Euros, which is cheaper than a Tesla Roadster. The company say that this particular pricetag is possible due to the use of cheap and reusable materials such as basalt fibre, instead of the usual carbon fibre. It remains to be seen whether the car will ever materialise into reality, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from dreaming.

More renderings after the jump.

Source
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Scientist may have created the ultimate F1 simulator!

August 19, 2010 at 8:57 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Formula 1, Technology

Who says science isn’t fun. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany are studying how humans experience the sensation of motion. Using a giant robot arm hooked up to a racing game they did just that.

Robuffo Giordano and his team chose a Formula 1 simulator game where players will sit in a cabin which is 2 metres off the ground and drive a virtual Ferrari F2007 car around a track with force-feedback steering wheel and pedals. The robot arm used is similiar to the ones usually found in amusement parks as part of the rides.

Compared to standard simulators, the Cybermotion simulator uses a full range of motions and can also turn players upside down. They have even documented the race simulation process in video form, as a test subject hurtles his car round the Monza track. Feedback between the game and mechanical arm was so good that it only had a delay of 40 miliseconds.

Applications for this technology is countless, as it could be applied to other types of simulators such as planes, helicopters, ships, or even in Formula 1 itself. For now the team are working on expanding its range of motion even further.

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