March 31, 2005
Lemon Aids
Well, it looks like Lemon Aid Car guides are for sale in many places now. The update page the carry is an eye-opener!
March 29, 2005
Self Healing Paint
The Bayer Scientific magazine, which seems to be the in-house science magazine of Bayer, reports that Bayer MaterialScience has made a breakthrough in automotive clear-coat paint that heal’s itself in warm weather.
Research continues to make the process work in cold environments.
With the post winter “sand storms” on our local highways, this is a very good idea indeed.
March 21, 2005
New Job, Old Job ?
I started to work for new firm, one that now own the name Hyperchip. So this is a new job, old job. Sorta.
March 18, 2005
40MPG
40MPG.org was launched yesterday.
Pam Solo, the president of the Civil Society Institute says :
“The benefits are obvious: we reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil, making us more secure; we lower the carbon emissions into the atmosphere that contribute to global warming; and we put America’s technology community to work on these important problems, creating jobs, ensuring that the U.S. leads in the development and sale of new technologies.”
My problem with the website is that it fails to mention that all the statistics are based on outdated driving style measurements.
What is needed are new tests that simulate better today’s driving environment: stop-and-go traffic, high-speed freeway, suburban stop-to-stop and so on. The tests allow for some very biased numbers as it is.
March 14, 2005
Tweel
Michelin’s Press Release says “MICHELIN LETS THE AIR OUT OF FUTURE TIRE INNOVATION”.
Tweel is an integrated tire and wheel combination that relies on the ability of the wheels shape to deform with road-hazards and then rebound to give a supple ride.
Intriguing how the wheel is going full circle with chariot spoke and hard rubber. Pun intended.
March 09, 2005
Oil
This chart from the Just Auto article is an eye-opener.
Canada is 9th biggest oil producer and 10th biggest oil burner. Just take a look at the #1 in each …
March 08, 2005
IED x1/99
Cardesignnews carries nice pictures of the Instituto Europeo di Design’s x1/99 “concept car”, recalling the 1972 Fiat x1/9 mid-engine “mini-ferrari”.
The design is eye catching and smart, given that underneath it all is a Fiat Punto, it should be inexpensive. Even if this new car is not mid-engined, it gets my vote.
March 07, 2005
Crashing Compacts
“Change the rules and the outcome changes.”
I’m not talking about a game, but the latest “update” to the side-impact test performed by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the US. With the new tests, very few cars get a passing mark: Toyota Corolla & Chevrolet Cobalt.
The list of previously acceptable cars that now receive a “Poor” rating is an eye-opener:
— Ford’s Focus (without optional airbags).
— Mazda’s Mazda 3 (without optional airbags).
— Mitsubishi Lancer (without optional airbags).
— The Saturn Ion from GM (with optional airbags).
— Volkswagen’s New Beetle (with standard airbags).
— Suzuki’s Aerio and Forenza (both with standard airbags).
— Nissan Sentra (without optional airbags).
— Kia Motors Spectra (with standard airbags).
— Hyundai’s Elantra (with standard airbags).
The biggest news is the Dodge Neon, which received a “Marginal” rating. If anything, that would be the last nail in the models’ coffin, already spoken off derisively by the president of Daimler-Chrysler. Expect the replacement model sooner then later.
Reuters has more.
March 04, 2005
No Joke
Toyota introduced a new edition of the Vitz in Japan that goes further to add fuel saving features. The car previous generation is sold as Yaris in Europe and Echo in Canada.
The new model is sure popular:
Vitz, hitting the market on Feb. 1 after being remodeled, sold 15,165 vehicles in the month, while the Corolla sold 13,811 vehicles.
Visit Japanese site
Read more on features
Additional styling updates:
March 01, 2005
Guinnes Record Touareg
This VW Touareg climbed to 6,080 meters in Chile. Wow.
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