Technology
GM Developing Vehicle-to-Vehicle And Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication Systems
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GM showed off the next step towards their new vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrstructure communication systems at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress. The technology hopes to significantly reduce traffic accidents, with GM stating that it could potentially avert 81-percent of all U.S. vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. GM is utilizing portable…
Chevrolet Volt Cheaper to Drive than Toyota Prius Plug-in for Sub-70 Mile Journeys
While the Toyota Prius has long been the automotive ambassador of the green movement, Pike Research conducted a Cost of Driving test to find out whether the all new 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in can trump the Chevrolet Volt. According to its findings, by first establishing the price for every gallon of gas at $3.50 and…
2014 Audi R8 To Get Carbon/Aluminum Hybrid Structure
As a result, combining both carbon fiber and aluminum seems like a good compromise, plus using both materials in the car’s construction will likely reduce the weight of the R8’s skeleton by some 45 lbs.
VW Vows to Keep Suzuki Shares as Partnership Turns Ugly
A public disagreement between Volkswagen and Suzuki in early September left the Japanese automaker wanting to end its partnership, but that might not happen. In a news release Monday, the company said it “will retain its stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. unchanged.” Suzuki requested its shares be returned in light of what representatives say are…
Mazda Reveals Rotary Engine On Twitter
The Wankel engine lives! Although recent reports have suggested otherwise, a tweet from Mazda’s PR department was posted in Japanese for their followers indicating a new generation rotary engine is in the works, and thus confirming a previous report stating that SkyActiv senior exec Kiyoshi Fujiwara is continuing development on the Wankel. Details on the rotary…
Cadillac CUE Debuts as the Next Big Thing in in-Car Telematics
Unveiled at the CTIA Wireless Association’s Enterprise and Applications conference in Sand Diego, Cadillac‘s new CUE system promises to be the most advanced in-car telematics interface. Rivaling system’s like MyFordTouch, it’s also designed to be easy to use and understand, even for novices. With a big 8-inch high-def screen (optional 12.3-inch) CUE has numerous unique…
Dinan BMW V10 Makes 720 Glowing Purple Horsepower [Video]
Recently, California based BMW tuning company, Dinan Cars, revealed a video of its latest engine project. Beginning with the V10 BMW S85 engine found in the E60 BMW M5, which remains one of the most sophisticated power plants engineered to date, Dinan bored and stroked the displacement from 5-liters to 5.8-liters, and then installed performance…
Chevy Volt Plant Delays Second Shift
General Motors has announced its decision to delay the addition of a second shift for the Chevy Volt assembly plant. Intended to meet projections for the Volt to double its production by 2012, the second shift is no longer necessary as a plant overhaul conducted this summer plus a modest addition of 300 workers working…
Gran Turismo 5 ‘Spec 2’ Update Coming With More Features, Improved Functionality
After a half a decade of waiting, Gran Turismo 5 failed to really live up to the hype. But at the driving simulator’s launch the game’s creator Kazunori Yamauchi promised that this was just the beginning; and now we have a clear idea of what he meant. Starting October 11th, a “Spec 2” updated version…
AMG Performance Media System Helps Record Telemetry [Video]
After gaining significant public awareness when Polyphony, developer of the Gran Turismo video game franchise, created a multifunction display model exclusively for the GTR, little can better convey a vehicle’s sporting intentions and technological prowess quite like an on-board G-meter. Mercedes-Benz AMG recognized this and revealed its new AMG Performance Media System. Able to record…
2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Starts At $26,155
The only natural gas production car to be manufactured and sold in the United States, the all-new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas will be available at 200 dealers across 38 states beginning on October 18th. Prices for this one-of-a-kind alternative energy vehicle begins at $26,155. The Civic Natural Gas is powered by a modified version…
BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Confirmed with 335-HP
Just as news of BMW‘s plans to offer a hybrid variant for the upcoming 3 series hit the net, the German automaker has announced the ActiveHybrid 5, completing hybrid trims across the core BMW four door sedan line-up. Based upon the BMW 535i, the turbocharged inline-six gets an additional 55-hp electric motor with 155 lb-ft…
Volkswagen Says No to NASCAR, Eyes ALMS and Grand Am
With ambitions to control a larger slice of the American market, Volkswagen has confirmed its intention to participate in American motorsports despite earlier dismissing any immediate plans for NASCAR. While a possible racing series to reconsider joining later in the future, NASCAR is currently viewed by VW as a costly series that would take away…
BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid on the Horizon
The walls of BMW headquarters whispered rumors of a BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid model, according to Autobild. If a 3 series hybrid is in the works, expect technologies from the big brother ActiveHybrid 7 series to be mated to BMW’s staple straight six engine. A compact electric motor will provide the hybrid with an additional…
Hyundai 10-Speed Transmission Planned for Genesis, Equus in 2014
As we first reported back in December, Hyundai is developing a 10-speed automatic transmission. Now details of when that new unit will be available have come to light, with the project expected to be completed by 2014. Hyundai president Park Seong Hyon says the new gearbox will likely be installed in the Genesis sedan and…
Car Recalls App is the First of its Kind
With every development of a new app, the smartphone is turning into a necessity. The latest to be created for car owners is the Car Recalls iPhone app. For owners who want to find a better way to stay on top of all the recalls regarding their vehicles, they can refer to this software and…
Porsche “Pajun” Sedan Planned as Baby Panamera
Porsche has been on a role with a series of successful models making the company more profitable than ever before. Known products that are coming down the pipe include the awesome 918 supercar and the Cajun small ute that falls under the Cayenne. Past rumors have suggested a Ferrari 458 rivaling mid-engine Porsche as well….
NY Senator Urges Full Investigation of OnStar’s Private Data Tracking Activity
Last week, details surfaced of OnStar’s revised Terms and Conditions that allows the company to perform private data tracking on vehicles equipped with their device, whether the owner is a subscriber for OnStar’s service or not. Even though OnStar, a telematics subsidiary of GM, had written a press release to assure customers that its two-way…
Land Rover Evoque to Take on Dakar Rally With BMW Power
Nothing can test a truck’s true mettle quite like thousands of miles of sand. For the 2012 Dakar Rally, the British Excite Rally Raid Team plans to enter the most brutal competition on Earth using three specially modified versions of Land Rover‘s new Evoque. Powered by a 3.0-liter turbo diesel straight-six engine by BMW producing…
China Tells GM to Hand Over Volt Secrets or Face $19,000 Trade Roadblock
GM has long intended to bring their Chevrolet Volt over to the Chinese market. It’s both the largest and the fastest growing market for automobiles and only within a few short years smog pollution has increased exponentially among China’s booming cities. To alleviate the headache, China will offer automakers planning to sell electric vehicles in…
EV Drivers Lose Range Anxiety After Three Months
The promises of energy independence and benefits to the environment have always contended with the range limitation concerns inherent of all electric vehicles. As automakers produce electric vehicles while city infrastructures have yet to provide proper availability of charging stations, skeptics question its practicality. But how have the believers, those who purchased EVs, felt? According…
Audi TT RS Race Car Now Available to Purchase by Privateer Race Teams
Just as the end of racing season draws near, Audi announces the TT RS Race Car is available for private sale. Although it shares its name with the production car, the new race car is nothing like it. Rather than fitting it with the Quattro system that put Audi on the map, the TT RS…
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic: the World’s Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Hybrid at 85.6 MPG
It’s difficult to remember when Ford last had as strong a line-up as it does today, but don’t believe for a second that the Blue Oval team are foolish enough to take a moment to relax. Rather, Ford is set to reveal the most efficient non-hybrid family vehicles, the Focus ECOnetic Technology and the Fiesta…
2012 Ram Pickup Picks Up A New Transmission
As Ram sales continue to increase, efforts made to keep the ball rolling result in the new for Ram “65RFE” six-speed automatic transmission that will replace the old outgoing five. The five-speed transmission, “545RFE,” features an interesting split dual cog 2nd gear. Engagement on one cog or the other depend on whether the transmission is…
