Porsche has further committed themselves to the green cause, announcing plans of developing three all-electric, Boxster-based prototypes, all of which will allow the Stuttgart-based firm to fine-tune their all-electric-drive technology, including battery systems and other electric powertrain components. On-road testing will begin in Germany in early 2011. “We will definitely be offering an electric sports car in …Read More

Toyota is aiming to produce hybrid variants of every model by 2020. A forerunner in the green scene, Toyota believes that their Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain, which powers the popular Toyota Prius, is versatile enough for use in every model from family sedans to sports coupes and people-carrying MPVs. “Our hybrid technology is adaptable. There is …Read More

Public pressure calling for eerily silent electric vehicles (EV) to be installed with noise-emitters appears to have paid off. Nissan has invited around 500 people, including the media, government officials and customers, to drive the new Nissan Leaf—installed with the approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians system—at the company’s Oppama test track in Japan next week. Also expected to …Read More

It appears that, in time, even diesel BMW 5-Series and 6-Series variants can sound like their range-topping counterparts, the M5 and M6. BMW engineers have found a way to manipulate the sounds that drivers perceive. In short, a torquey diesel engine can sound a lot like a high-revving petrol engine to the driver. BMW is currently experimenting with two working …Read More

The next-generation Z-car, Nissan’s iconic sports coupe including the 350Z and 370Z, would have a much larger variety of engines to choose from, benefiting from the recent tie-up between Renault-Nissan and Daimler. While the 3.5-litre and 3.7-litre V6 engines in use are excellent in performance, tightening economy and emission standards are forcing automakers to engineer cleaner, more efficient sports cars, …Read More

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has introduced a new variant of the Hyundai i10, one equipped with a more powerful and modern 1.25-litre Kappa engine in place of the current 1.1-litre Epsilon unit. Locally-assembled, the i10 1.25 is priced at RM 49,688 (on-the-road) for the standard-spec version and RM 52,688 for the high-spec version (which adds dual airbags and anti-locking …Read More

The luxury is in the details—a saying fully acknowledged by Bentley. The crewe-based English automaker has been building impeccably luxurious cars for decades, but it is only now with the advent of media that Bentley can show off their behind-the-scene crafts and efforts involved in building the Mulsanne, Bentley’s latest car which made its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Bentley has …Read More

BMW has unveiled a hydrogen-petrol hybrid drivetrain, as part of their vision for vehicles to travel emission-free at low speeds in city centres. Working BMW 1-Series prototypes have already been seen on the roads, indicating that the hybrid drivetrain could feature on the next-generation MINI and front-wheel-drive 1-Series, both of which are heading for production in 2014, sharing the …Read More

Euro NCAP, a safety performance assessment organisation responsible for testing cars on sale across Europe, has begun conducting tests on stability control systems to determine their effectiveness. While all of the initial batch of 40 cars tested passed the test, Euro NCAP highlighted that the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Subaru Impreza had room for improvement. Although the …Read More

Becoming green, or at least putting in the effort to appear green, is the norm nowadays across the automotive world. Recognising that trend is crucial to understanding why niche, low-volume car companies are going out of their way to cut consumption and emissions: Just look at Lamborghini’s go-green efforts and Ferrari’s 599 HY-KERS hybrid system, which pairs a V12 engine and …Read More

The venerable 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 will be replaced by a new 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, according to Mercedes-Benz. Despite a smaller capacity, the new flagship engine produces more power and torque, and consumes less fuel. Paired to Mercedes-Benz’s seven-speed MCT transmission, the 5.5-litre V8 generates 536 bhp at 5500 rpm and 800 Nm between 2000–4500 rpm, which compare …Read More

The Proton hybrid concept car, a plug-in series hybrid developed in collaboration with Italian design firm Italdesign Giugiaro, will be using the chassis you see above. Designed and developed by Lotus Engineering, the advanced series hybrid drivetrain features Lotus‘ Range Extender engine, which will be debuting on the Proton since its introduction at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Lotus …Read More

Mercedes-Benz, like Volvo, has always led the pack when it comes to safety technology. Talking to WhatCar?, Ulrich Mellinghoff, the German automaker’s head of safety development, says safety systems of the future will be able to detect and steer around pedestrians, hence avoiding any accident. Mercedes-Benz is working on such a system, which should make production within five years. Mellinghoff says …Read More

Lotus, Proton’s subsidiary company, has filed a patent application for a dual-clutch transmission, jumping onto the dual-clutch bandwagon which includes high-end automakers like Ferrari and mainstream automakers like Volkswagen, the company which first rolled out the gearbox technology. Filed with the U.K. patent office, the application reveals a lighter, more compact transmission design with seven forward gears and one reverse gear. …Read More

This is not your next generation high end gaming race simulator. It’s something better. Developed with the technical support of Moog, Ferrari has built its own F1 simulator. The only downside? You won’t get a chance to sit in the cockpit. The new simulator will provide Ferrari with advantage of conducting a variety of tests in a controlled environment, thus reducing costs in …Read More

Car manufacturing is certainly a sophisticated engineering feat. It involves the precise assembling of thousands of intricate parts to produce a machine designed to provide its users with maximum comfort and safety – not to mention that it is expected to work well for at least a decade or more. With that in mind, it is extra fascinating to see a fully built …Read More

Among the 2011 Audi A8’s plethora of new high-tech features is the integration of various Google services into Audi’s multimedia interface (MMI) system. For the first time ever in a production vehicle, a Google Maps/Earth-based navigation system is now an option, allowing for the transfer of internet content via the mobile phone network. Once equipped with the optional GPRS/EDGE modem, the MMI Navigation …Read More

On display at the on-going ATZ/MTZ Congress in Germany is the CO2ncept-10%, basically a Porsche Cayenne V8 that has been modified to deliver, as its name suggests, 10.1% lower fuel intake and carbon dioxide emissions. The people responsible for this concept, the Schaeffler Group, managed that impressive 10% reduction mainly from engine modifications, which include measures such as the …Read More

A hybrid’s lack of vehicle noise has been a problem all these while, with studies showing that, in certain situations, electric or hybrid vehicles are twice as likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians, particularly the blind. Although not yet legally required to do so, General Motors is currently testing a noise-emitting device on the all-electric Chevrolet Volt. …Read More

With fuel economy now a headline number alongside power and speed, automakers worldwide are cracking their heads over how best to improve fuel efficiency without sacrificing drivability. Mazda is one of them. According to Robert Davis, Mazda U.S.’s senior vice president of product development and quality, Mazda engineers have found ways of shaving at least 100 kg off each model, starting with …Read More