Technology
Saab Pulls Out Of Frankfurt Auto Show
Poor Saab can’t catch a break. Last week Saab’s European supplier were putting pressure on the Swedish automaker to declare bankruptcy, and this week the car company has pulled out of next months Frankfurt auto show, due to a lack of finances. A Saab spokesperson explained that the car-maker will concentrate its resources on restarting production at…
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Coming In Spring Of 2012
The third generation Smart fortwo is on its way, hitting dealers in the spring of 2012. The electric Smart car will roll off the production line in Hamback, France and will be available in more than thirty markets worldwide when released. The third generation smart fortwo electric drive features a fifty-five kW magneto-electric motor, churning…
Fords F-150 V6 Enjoying Continued Success
Ford ventured into dangerous territory five years ago, when they considered switching out the traditional V8 for a V6 powerplant. The two biggest issues surrounding the change was whether the V6 would have enough power, and whether the engine would be durable enough to compete with big boy V8’s. Doug Scott, manager of Ford’s truck…
Honda’s Asimo to Assist Workers at Fukushima; Not so Fast
It sounds like the plot to a bad science fiction movie. ASIMO, Honda‘s humanoid robot, is sent into the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plan in Japan to help out where human’s can’t, only to be transformed by Plutonium into a killing machine. But don’t worry says Honda, it’s not going to happen. Despite a…
BMW Testing Car-To-X Communication To Help Make Driving Safer [videos]
As part of a national project called SIM-TD, BMW is working on technological advancements to help make driving safer through its next-generation Car-to-X Communication technology. BMW recently conducted several field tests, showing what the technology is capable of, from activating warning lights when a vehicle makes a left turn, to alerting drivers on upcoming traffic…
KTM E3W Revealed: Motorcycle Maker Develops Three-Wheel Electric City Car
Austrian-based KTM, best known for producing motorcycles (not to mention the lightweight X-Bow racer), has teamed up with the Austrian Institute of Technology to create an electric vehicle called the E3W. The E3W (Electric 3-Wheeler) can carry two passengers for up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) using a 15kW motor and lithium-ion battery, not to…
Saab Suppliers Pressure Automaker to Declare Bankruptcy
Swedish Automobile, owner of financially-stricken Saab, is being pressured by European suppliers to declare bankruptcy, hoping the threat will pressure the automaker to pay back debts. Saab production came to a halt in April, with suppliers refusing to deliver components because they were not being properly paid. Spanish auto panels maker Matrici S. Coop prepared a bankruptcy request,…
Audi Q7 To Lose 650 Pounds, New Crossovers On The Way
Audi is continuing to dump money into the development of its next generation crossovers, with the brand selling 155,000 Q5s globally last year along with 47,700 Q7s. “There is no doubt…that crossovers are still selling like hotcakes even though the trend seems to be shifting toward more compact models,” says Audi chairman Rupert Stadler. The high-riding Q5 and Q7…
Stability Control Has Lowered Fatal Accidents by 18 Percent Says Safety Agency
According to a new study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), stability control has made cars much safer, lowering fatal accidents by eighteen percent. The government study used statistics from 1997 to 2009 to assess the effectiveness of stability control systems. The study also noted in 2005, less than twenty percent of new vehicles were sold…
2012 Toyota Camry Photo: Second Teaser Image Released
Toyota has just released the second official teaser photo of the new 2012 Camry. This picture follows a series of leaked unofficial shots and videos that ended up online in the last few weeks, not to mention the first official teaser image – of the headlight. Today’s photo shows angular taillight, with some of Toyota’s…
Diesel Car Sales Up 38.5% with Volkswagen Jetta TDI in the Lead
Diesel sales have vastly improved through the end of July, up 38.5 percent, compared to the same seven- month cycle in 2010. Volkswagen has been leading the sales with the Jetta TDI and Golf TDI. Volkswagen sold 5,206 Jetta TDI models in July, bringing the diesel powered sedan’s year-to-date total to 56,717. On the other…
Subaru XV Teased Ahead of Frankfurt Auto Show Debut
Subaru announced today that it will exhibit the all-new XV model at the 64th Frankfurt Auto Show this September. The vehicle will be unveiled at the Subaru press conference, scheduled at 9:30 on September 13th. The crossover will go on sale in Europe later this year, however there has been no confirmation as to whether…
Lamborghini Planning Street Legal Gallardo Race Car for Frankfurt
Lamborghini has announced it will unveil a “super sports car” next month at the Frankfurt auto show, with initial rumors suggesting it would be a production version of the Sesto Elemento concept. The latest report, however, suggests that, while similar, the new model will be a version of the Gallardo Super Trofeo race car. The…
Ford Focus Electric Full Launch Delayed
Ford is delaying the full launch of the 2012 electric Focus. Initially, the Focus EV was to be launched in 19 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Seattle. However, plans have changed and the primary launch will be concentrated in California and New York. Ford’s electrified-vehicles marketing manager David Finnegan said, “For the…
Mitsubishi Adding Lancer SE Model With AWD, Priced Near $20,000
Yoichi Yokozawa, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America confirmed that a new Lancer SE model will be arriving this fall as a 2012 model. The SE model will receive all-wheel drive, like its Ralliart and Evolution siblings, however it will be powered by the naturally aspirated engine found in the DE, ES and GTS trims….
2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson: First Look
The Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson has been updated for 2012 with a new look and added features. On the outside, new design enhancements include unique bodyside graphics, 22-inch machined-aluminum wheels and a new exterior color choice – White Platinum Tri-Coat. The truck also features a bold front fascia and six-bar billet-style bright chrome grill. On the…
Suzuki’s Fragile Relationship With Volkswagen Is Not Over Yet
Suzuki’s rocky relationship with Volkswagen has not ended, the Japanese automaker stated today. Even though Suzuki has made public remarks against VW’s role in the two automakers’ joint-venture, there are no plans for the Japanese automaker to pull out. Recently, a newspaper in Germany reported that the tenuous relationship was set to end, but a…
Land Rover Range_e Diesel Hybrid Entered in RAC Future Car Challenge
Earlier this year, Land Rover introduced three hybrid-electric concept vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show, and now Land Rover is looking to put them to the test. The RAC Future Car Challenge is an annual event that showcases technology that we might see in production cars in years to come. Think of it as a…
2012 Ford Edge Ecoboost Achieves 30 MPG Highway
Ford recently announced that the four-cylinder Ecoboost powered Edge achieves 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the Ecoboost option, an improvement over the 3.5-liter V6 which gets 19 mpg city and 27 highway. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder produces 240-hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, down 45-hp from the V6 model,…
Hackers Unlock Subaru and Start Engine With Android Phone
Two security researchers from iSec Partners demonstrated at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas that they can unlock a Subaru Outback and start the engine with an Android phone. Don Bailey and Matthew Solnik used an Android phone and a technique they have dubbed ‘war texting’, to exploit two unnamed remote control products…
Nissan Launches QR Smartphone Code Campaign For 2012 Models
Today, Nissan announced that it will be the first automaker to offer Quick Response codes on individual vehicle window stickers across its entire 2012 lineup. The QR codes link consumers to additional vehicle information, providing a free interactive shipping experience through smartphone devices. “Nissan’s new QR code program puts important decision-making information at shoppers’ fingertips…
Is Lamborghini Building A 250 MPH Aventador?
It looks as though Lamborghini maybe working on a very fast Aventador prototype. Spy shots have been taken of an Aventador sporting camouflage, fitted with Bugatti Veyron rims and tires. The only other explanation is that Bugatti is preparing to use the Aventador’s platform for a new supercar of its own but this is quite…
Land Rover Defender Concept To Debut In Frankfurt Next Month
The Land Rover Defender concept is set to make its debut at the 2011 Franfurt auto show next month as Land Rover decides whether the vehicle will be produced or dropped. With ever tightening emission requirements and a need to broaden market appeal, it may be difficult to produce a new Defender. Land Rover and Indian-owner…
Volkswagen Still Looking for Changes to 2025 CAFE Standards
Volkswagen was one of several large automakers that did not sign off on the Obama Administration’s proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2025. “We still have a dialogue going on with the administration in terms of how we think the policy needs to be adjusted,” said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America….
