2013 Toyota Avalon to offer Qi wireless charging
Buyers of the 2013 Toyota Avalon can do away with car chargers and their spaghetti of wires, because the full-size sedan is the first car in the world to be made available …
Hyundai previews Connectivity Concept, due in 2015
Automakers are definitely putting a lot of emphasis on in-car connectivity these days, and the latest to join the party is Hyundai, which recently previewed the first prototype of its Connectivity Concept. …
Xtrac develops hybrid AMT gearbox for supercars
Something for the techies. Performance sportscar and racecar transmission specialist Xtrac has announced a hybridised automated manual transmission called the 1010 H-AMT. Developed as an alternative to heavier and more complex dual …
Mercedes-Benz S-Class: the next-gen’s array of tech
Over the years, we've come to recognise the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as a sort of wheeled preview of the future; an impressive showcase of high-tech gadgetry, driving aids and safety systems from Stuttgart …
Honda Earth Dreams 2012 – 1.5 litre i-VTEC DI engine and G-Design Shift CVT sampled, CR-Z facelift tested
The Sport Hybrid systems, including the all-new single-motor Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive, weren't the only highlights at the 2012 Honda Meeting - Earth Dreams Technology showcase held in Japan. Honda also previewed its …
Nine speeds enough for transmissions, says ZF boss
The nine-speed transmission might be where the race to add gears ends, ZF Friedrichshafen CEO Stefan Sommer said, according to a report by Automotive News Europe. He deemed nine speeds the "natural …
Nissan unveils steer-by-wire, on sale within a year
You know about autonomous braking and drive-by-wire; now Nissan has unveiled a 'steer-by-wire' of sorts - a system that gets rid of all mechanical connections between the wheel in your hand and …
Hyundai announces new 1.0 and 1.2 turbo engines
The global downsizing trend looks East as Hyundai recently revealed its future powertrain strategy, including new Kappa 1.0 TCI (Turbocharger Intercooler) and 1.2 T-GDI (Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engines, at this …
GM, Ford collaborating on fuel-efficient 9- and 10-speed transmissions – GM for FWD, Ford for RWD
There was a time when we thought seven gears was overkill; now we have Audi, BMW and Lexus offering eight-speeders. And it's not going to stop there, for now General Motors and …
BMW’s B38 1.5 litre three-cylinder motor to spearhead new engine family – we test drive it in a 1-Series!
While it may not have always been this way, the three-cylinder engine has pretty much been confined to the K-cars of the Japanese domestic market for a long time. In Malaysia, you …
Audi shows new engine with electric turbocharger
Audi offers its solution to the decades-old problem of turbo lag with a new engine that features electrically-driven turbocharging. It's based on the 3.0 litre BiTDI V6 (yes, the diesel that can …
Mazda to debut ‘i-Activsense’ safety tech in the new 6
Good looks and Skyactiv tech have rightly taken the spotlight when it comes to the new Mazda 6, but last month's Moscow show debutant packs in quite a bit of safety tech …
Continental shows electric Renault Megane concept
German auto supplier Continental, of tyres fame, has turned this Renault Megane hatchback all electric using a total of 40 EV components from its catalogue. The car is powered by the same …
POD Point provides free home charging points to electric and hybrid car owners in the UK
With the help of a UK government grant, POD Point is installing charging points for owners of hybrid and electric cars in East Anglia and the East and West Midlands, for free. …
Finally, a diesel that can sing: Audi’s 3.0 BiTDI V6
Bestowed with the title of Audi's most powerful production diesel engine yet, this twin-turbo 3.0 litre V6 was put into service on the British-market A6 and A7 models at the start of …
EU legislation: All new cars to feature autonomous emergency braking by 2014
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems involve adaptive cruise control working in tandem with fully automatic braking to stop you colliding into the car in front, without you touching the pedals. Although quite …
Ford, GE and University of Michigan join forces to boost EV battery lifespan with advanced sensor
Arguably a significant reason for the still-rather-high costs involved in buying and running hybrid and electric vehicles is the question of battery health and lifespan. This isn't only about knowing how much …
Ford introducing virtual factory to improve efficiency
In a move to cut costs and improve efficiency, Ford is developing a complete virtual factory to simulate assembly line production processes. This will enable engineers to work together on 'virtual build …
Japanese firms working together to build cutting-edge lithium-ion battery material
Over in Japan, reports indicate that a quartet of Japanese companies is banding up to mass-produce a cutting-edge lithium ion battery material, both domestically and overseas. Kureha, Kuraray and Itochu are set …
New design from Chris Bangle – it’s a cognac bottle!
Now, we're definitely not in the habit of talking about booze, even if some of us here do enjoy the odd tipple or three now and then, but something along those lines …
