2011 F1 In Schools World Finals underway in Malaysia
Click to enlarge. The 2011 F1 In Schools World Finals is currently underway in Malaysia - over 200 students making up 23 teams from 17 countries are competing to be crowned champions …
Frankfurt: Getrag two-speed DCT gearbox for EV/hybrids
Getrag has premiered its 2eDCT600 two-speed powershift transmission in Frankfurt - the gearbox is dedicated to purely electric vehicles and also for plug-in hybrid and range extender vehicles. The scalable transmission features …
Frankfurt: Ford debuts the 1.0 litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost
Ford has officially unveiled its new 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, which will be first utilised in the Euro-market Focus in early 2012 followed by the C-MAX in the same year. The all-new …
Frankfurt: Land Rover reveals the DC100 and DC100 Sport Defender concepts
UPDATE: Live photos have been added to the gallery. Land Rover has unveiled two Defender concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The first is the DC100 concept which was revealed prior to …
Bumper to bumper – Mazda recycles old to make new
Over in Japan, Mazda has begun recycling scrapped bumpers from end-of-life vehicles (ELV) to obtain raw material for use in new vehicle bumpers. The new technology is initially being used to make …
gogopal Q5.0 GPS navigator – a lot of kit for the price
The personal GPS navigation device has certainly come a long way and made great inroads, especially in the last half a decade. These days, prices have become competitive, and you can get …
Toyota reveals tech for future vehicle safety systems
Some news on the passive safety development front, from Toyota. The Japanese automaker has announced a quartet of future vehicle safety systems, currently under development, which it is looking at introducing into …
Ford 1.0 litre EcoBoost three-cylinder to be introduced in 105 PS and 120 PS output forms
The idea of a 1.0 litre engine pulling a Ford Fiesta about may not sound very appealing, but throw in the likes of a turbocharger and direct injection with say, 120 PS …
Japan setting out to get its own GPS off the ground
Some GPS-related news. The Japanese government - with the the assistance of private firms - is ramping up research on a Japanese version of the Global Positioning System in a bid to …
ZF 9HP 9-speed auto transmission – details announced
ZF Friedrichshafen's 9HP nine-speed automatic transmission, which was first announced earlier this year, now has more specific details about it, though there's still no mention of when it is expected to debut …
Oh deer, watch out! – Volvo developing system to avoid collision with wild animals
More news on the collision avoidance assistance front, but this time, it has to do with animals - Volvo is developing a system that alerts and automatically brakes for animals on the …
Ford seeking globally harmonised communications standards for advanced wireless systems
Ford is working with automakers and safety leaders globally on a standardised platform for advanced wireless systems that can allow vehicles to “talk” to each other - based on a common communication …
In the future, cars to be a power source for the home?
Over in Japan, automakers are looking at turning electric and hybrid vehicles into external power sources for the home, aiming to turn them into a type of rolling battery, the Nikkei reports. …
Volvo Flywheel KERS system – significant performance gains, with up to 20% less fuel consumption
Click to enlarge Volvo is set to test a new system called Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which it claims will make a four-cylinder engine feel like a six-cylinder and at …
Ford develops heart rate monitoring car seat
Ford has come up with a prototype vehicle seat that can monitor a driver’s heart activity, a device that could one day reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that occur as …
Toyota Friend – an in-car private social network
Toyota has announced that it will be introducing Toyota Friend, a private social network for Toyota customers and their cars. Essentially, the in-car system will offer Toyota users the means to connect …
Shell develops 0W-10 viscosity concept lubricant
Some developments on the lubrication front. It isn't due out in the market anytime soon, but it does show how going thin can achieve better fuel consumption. It's a 0W-10 ultra low …
TRW develops roof-mounted airbag – to be seen in offerings by a major European automaker
TRW Automotive has unveiled a new 'bag in roof' airbag system, which it says can replace dashboard-mounted airbags rather effectively. While continuing to afford high levels of protection to passengers, the roof-mounted …
SafetyRec iPhone app – helping drivers drive better
In Japan, the Nikkei reports that Datatec Co, a company that develops delivery truck driving-log recorders, is starting a new Internet-based service in July called SafetyRec, which scores a person's driving skills …
International Engine of the Year awards – Fiat bags top prize
The recently concluded 2011 edition of the International Engine of the Year awards saw Fiat bagging the overall engine of the year gong with its 875cc TwinAir two-cylinder turbocharged engine. The international …
