Posted 5 months 16 days ago under:
Technology,
VolkswagenThere is something decidedly fantastical about this scene: We observe the approach of a Passat estate, it stops, the driver gets out, slams the door shut and, as he walks away from the car, he aims a remote control back at it. That car now proceeds to reverse park itself into the available space, it then independently cuts the engine and activates the door locks. End of performance. In reality, there is nothing at all fantastical about this demonstration.
Posted 5 months 21 days ago under:
News,
Technology,
BMWBMW has a fight on its hands as it guns for a fourth consecutive International Engine of the Year title. The German marque, which has scooped more trophies for engine excellence than any other company in the Awards’ 10-year history, faces tough competition from over 20 new entrants to the Awards in 2008… Expected to fare well in this year’s Awards are three particularly strong challenges from Japan. Subaru’s first-ever diesel is a much-respected effort, while Nissan’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo, found under the hood of the GT-R, and Mitsubishi’s 2-litre turbo in the EVO X are technologically advanced and powerful.
Posted 5 months 22 days ago under:
News,
Technology,
FordFord is leaving no particle unturned in the quest for fuel efficiency. Ford scientists are embracing the burgeoning fields of nanotechnology in developing paints, plastics, light metals and catalysts that allow Ford to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy without sacrificing quality. Company researchers plan to outline key ways Ford is leveraging nanoparticles to improve automotive materials during this week's 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit.
Posted 5 months 24 days ago under:
Safety,
Technology,
FordAdvanced systems which alert the driver if a tyre is losing pressure while the car is in motion are providing Ford customers with safer motoring. Ford's sophisticated tyre pressure monitoring systems detect when a tyre is deflating, and trigger in-car warning systems that enable the driver to stop and check. Even regular tyres checks can fail to reveal if a tyre is damaged or already punctured. Ford's automated system is able to monitor the tyres at all times when the vehicle is in use and can help to draw the driver’s attention to a problem before it becomes a safety issue.
Posted 5 months 27 days ago under:
Safety,
Technology,
FordFord is actively addressing drivers' demands for increased visibility with the introduction of two new features, the Blind Spot Mirror and the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind-Spot Monitoring System, arriving in 2009.
Posted 5 months 29 days ago under:
Green,
Technology,
ChevroletLeading value car brand Chevrolet has come up with a model that will save its customers even more money, with a new version of the popular Matiz 0.8S city car. On sale now in the UK, the Matiz with 0.8S manual comes with reduced CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, meaning it falls into the Band B road tax classification. This means a Matiz buyer will pay just £35 a year at current rates to tax their car, compared to £115 for the previous Matiz 0.8S.
Posted 6 months ago under:
SUVs,
Technology,
VolkswagenThe Touareg range is set to benefit from the introduction of a revised 3.0-litre V6 TDI common rail diesel engine which promises to deliver greater refinement and a useful boost in power while returning higher fuel economy and emitting less CO2.
Posted 6 months ago under:
News,
Technology,
VolvoVolvo Cars’ commitment to environmental activities and continuous investment to help reduce its carbon footprint goes far beyond lowering CO2 emissions. Volvo’s ‘Clean inside and out’ programme represents a holistic approach to the environmental impact of the car. It focuses on health, resource utilisation and the ecological consequences of the production, use and disposal of the vehicle.
Posted 6 months 4 days ago under:
Concept Cars,
Technology,
ChevroletEngineers at GM’s battery test facilities have developed a new computer algorithm to accelerate durability testing of the advanced lithium-ion batteries needed to power the Chevrolet Volt for up to 40 miles (64 km) of electric-only driving. This advanced computer program duplicates real-life vehicle speed and cargo-carrying conditions, and compresses 10 years of comprehensive battery testing into the Volt’s brisk development schedule.
Posted 6 months 6 days ago under:
SUVs,
Technology,
VolkswagenThe most powerful Tiguan yet, equipped with a new 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS common rail diesel engine, has now been released for ordering. Combining greater torque than a Golf GTI with the efficiency, lower emissions and refinement you’d expect from a modern diesel, the Tiguan strikes a balance between performance and economy.
