Tesla to sell Roadster in Europe

Schwarzenegger is expected to receive this electric Tesla Roadster within a few months. He paid $100,000 for this car. His pals in the Old World won't have to wait too much longer before they can buy their own, for a cool €100,000 ($156,000.) The Roadster will be sold in Europe beginning in Summer, 2008, CEO Ze'ev Drori has told the Financial Times.

The upstart California auto maker decided to offer its vehicles in Europe for a number of reasons. Favorable tax treatment of electric cars as well as other incentives are among the measures the continent hopes to employ to lower carbon emissions. The weak dollar also makes Europe an attractive market. Although the chassis and body are made in the U.K., with no plans for a right hand drive version the English rich and royal are out of luck.

Brammo Enertia motorcycle

Is an Injury Proof Car Possible

Volvo has come out with an ambitious plan to eliminate any injuries or deaths in their cars by 2020. They also want to go one step further and design cars that don’t get into accidents at all. Though it may sound unreal, automobile industry experts believe it is possible.

Automakers, parts suppliers, governments and global agencies from the United Nations to the OECD are all looking at ways to relegate to memory the roughly 1.2 million deaths and 50 million injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes each year.

But in what some analysts see as a bid to hold its lead in consumer perceptions of safety, the Swedish carmaker now owned by Ford is the first to set a target date to eliminate death and injury in its cars.

“I think if you look into the future, we as a community will not accept that we have injuries,” said Jan Ivarsson, leader of the Volvo safety team with specialists in everything from biomechanics to engineering to behavioral science.

The HID Advantage

Bottom line, HID headlights provide better visibility than ordinary halogen bulbs. The difference is even more evident during poor driving conditions. A significant percentage of road accidents take place during bad weather, especially at night. HID lights allow drivers to overcome these conditions by providing up to 3 times more light. Added visibility contributes to driver confidence, which provides for a more relaxed, safer driver.

HID lights are able to provide greater light output with less power consumption. Studies show that a 35 Watt HID lamp produced 3 times as much light compared to a 55-Watt halogen bulb. Also, the 55 Watt halogen bulb uses a continuous power draw of 10-15 amps, while the HID system uses 20 for start-ups but drops to a mere 3 amps during operation. In addition to high output and low power usage, your HID headlight provide a longer service life. Under normal driving conditions, the bulbs will last approximately 4 years (3000 hours). That's up to 4 times as long as an ordinary halogen lamp.

Can Gas Prices Actually go down for the Summer ?

The United States may see a decrease in gas price if a bill is passed in order to provide a tax holiday on gas. In my recent study in economics I do not see any good coming out of this. Yes, gas prices will be reduced for a while but only in the short run. The demand for gas during this tax break will continue to increase and it the demand will remain the same after the break. The supply is still decreasing and I could imagine after this tax break the gas price will become more expensive.

Idea of Smart Traffic Lights

Traffic lights that are capable to wirelessly keep track of vehicles. This could be a really good technology because it could speed up journeys because you will know how to plan your route accordingly. In one respect it could also reduce fuel consumption because you will no longer have to speed up at the light from a complete stop. It will also improve urban air quality because thier will be less gas going into the air from a car at the idle state. Romanian and US researchers who show that "smart" traffic lights might reduce the time drivers spend waiting at intersections by more than 28% during rush hours. These smart traffic lights will take time off of your trip.
In the testing of this technology, "traffic lights were fed the position and speed of all vehicles on nearby roads and programmed to calculate how to phase colour changes in order to optimise traffic flow. As well as reducing intersection waiting times, the team calculates that CO₂ emissions could fall by 6.5%." It will help drivers with speed warnings. If traffic lights were able to tell the driver when they are going the change it will reduce traffic and also reduce the unneeded acceleration at a fresh green light.
For this to work, vehicles must transmit data to the computer system that controls a city's lights. This is not possible currently, but companies and research groups worldwide are already developing vehicle communications systems that might be adapted to be used for the smart lights.
Dash Express is one such car-to-car communication system expected to ship commercially in the US in February 2008. It provides drivers with real-time traffic information using data automatically gathered from other vehicles with Dash Express units. This information includes their current speed and location. This info is transfered via centralized computer.

Rideing Shotgun Roadrage

Gun-carrying motorists can be more prone to road rage

GUN lobbyists like to repeat the quote often attributed to American writer Robert Heinlein, that "an armed society is a polite society". But this is certainly not true for motorists.

A survey of 2400 drivers carried out by David Hemenway and his colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health shows that motorists who carry guns in their cars are far more likely to indulge in road rage - driving aggressively or making obscene gestures - than motorists without guns. Some 23 per cent of gun-toting drivers admitted making rude signs, compared with 16 per cent of those who did not carry guns (Accident Analysis and Prevention, DOI:10.1016/j.aap.2005.12.014).

Yet in some states it is easier than ever to own a gun and carry it a car. In the past two decades 23 states have eased restrictions on carrying guns, says researcher Mary Vriniotis.

Intelligent paint

Intelligent paint turns roads pink in icy conditions

When temperatures drop, it can be tricky to judge road conditions accurately. Soon, however, some roads could give drivers clear icy warnings by turning themselves pink.

A new temperature-sensitive varnish developed by researchers at French company Eurovia can be applied to road surfaces to warn drivers about dangerous conditions. The technique might help in preventing ice-related accidents in future.

The varnish is made of a polymer containing a thermochromic pigment. The same type of coating is already used to make frozen food packaging that responds to a change in temperature . It is the first time this technology has been used to monitor the change of temperature of the road.

This winter, researchers at Eurovia tested the varnish on roads at different sites in France. They painted squares around a metre across onto the roads and observed how the normally transparent varnish turned dark pink when temperatures dropped below 1 °C (see image on top). When the temperature rose back above 2 °C, the coating became colorless.

Zero Emission Car

Rinspeed is unveiling the first zero emission diving car (the sQuba) at the Geneva Auto Show.

The video shows a car developed by Rinspeed that is able to drive under the water as well as on the roads without producing any emission. This car not only can drive on land but it can be used as a submarine because of air tight seals throughout the car. Perfect for those who enjoy scuba diving but in the comfort of their own car. the only way that i could think would make this car sell is if it had a roof on it so the people inside the car do not get soaked. A CBS story says the sQuba prototype costs $1.5 million to make.

RMA Tire Survey

Proved That Many People Do Not Know How to Tell if A New Tire Is Needed

The RMA more formally known as the Rubber Manufactures Association is trying to enlighten drivers on proper tire pressures. Having the correct tire pressure can save lives as well as get better miles per gallon. Proper tire pressure can save as much as .10c per gallon according to the RMA. The biggest danger in having under inflated tires is they can cause accidents which could be easily avoided by checking the pressure of the tires.

Record high gas prices should be an incentive for motorists to take every step possible to help make their cars and their money go further," said Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president, public affairs. "While our survey found that 61 percent of motorists agreed that checking tire pressure is very important to maximizing fuel economy, only one in seven drivers properly perform this easy task."

Checking tires is not only a fuel saving tip, it can also be life saving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), under inflated tires contribute to 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year. NHTSA estimates that about one in four cars, and one in three light trucks, have at least one significantly under inflated tire.

Under inflated tires also cause premature tire wear that can force consumers to replace tires sooner. "Consumers can help their wallets and the environment by paying attention to their tires so they last as long as possible, reducing disposal needs," Zielinski added.

Are Hybrid Cars to Quite For The Blind ?

Gas-electric Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrids are one of the main symbols in the market of environmentally friendly vehicles. Now Hybrid makers facing another challenge, by people who are not even able to drive. The blind are no longer safe to cross streets because they rely on the sound of the cars as they pass. The new Hybrids make virtually no noise when the are cruising at lower speeds. This is because at low speeds the car only runs on electric power. Blind people say they pose a hazard to those who rely on their ears to navigate through a parking lot or even cross the street.

I'm used to being able to get sound cues from my environment and negotiate accordingly. I hadn't imagined there was anything I really wouldn't be able to hear," said Deborah Kent Stein, chairwoman of the National Federation of the Blind's Committee on Automotive and Pedestrian Safety. "We did a test, and I discovered, to my great dismay, that I couldn't hear it."

Advances in Car Stereo's

New Car Stereo Technologies

In the early stages of car development drivers were considered lucky if they had a radio in the dash and two speaker’s one in each of the front doors. Thanks to the newest technologies the car stereo can now compete with the home audio systems. They no longer use analog format this type of format has been replaced by a better developed digital format. The latest cars come available with surround sound systems, Mp3 technology, and the newest form of radio satellite radio. Similar to the home stereo system, improvements in technology has resulted in improved sound performance and clarity. The composition of a car stereo system is based on four basic components. These are amplifiers, speakers, head units and input devices like graphic equalizer, CD changer etc.

Blind spot Information System

Volvo prides itself on there noted safety innovations, this being the latest. The Blind spot information system has become available as an option in there new models. The blind spot information system alerts drivers about cars and motorcycles that are hard to be seen by using mirrors. Volvo did this by mounting two cameras which are attached to the side view mirrors. This functions by a pale orange light illuminates whenever the driver changes lanes which would result in crashing into someone who is coming up into your blind-spot.

Heart Beat Sensor

Heartbeat sensing technology was developed as an offshoot of a security system developed by a national laboratory to protect nuclear power plants. In that application, security officers set up a station at the plant entrance. There, they attached two sensors called geophones to every vehicle entering or leaving the lab grounds. The geophones measured sounds in the vehicle structure, and software in a portable computer analyzed them to determine whether the vibrations matched the patterns of a human heartbeat. No matter how big the vehicle, these heart pulses set up a distinctive vibration that the sensitive geophones were able to detect. Ford Motor Company engineers and scientists have been able to shrink that military technology to the size needed for commercial applications, using two super-sensitive micro-accelerometers instead of the bulky geophones.
The principle remains the same the sensors measure minute vibrations in the vehicle structure, and matches them against the known sonic pattern of a human heartbeat. It is able to screen out other common vibrations, such as those induced by truck traffic, road construction jackhammers or gusty wind. It is so sensitive that it can detect a person anywhere inside a vehicle. Even someone simply touching the outer skin of the body. Since it doesn't work via line-of-sight, there's literally no hiding from it, which is a major advantage over heat or motion detectors, which leave blind spots in coverage and are vulnerable to defeat.
The system will alert the driver to a child or anyone else left inside the vehicle when it is parked and locked. After a brief delay, the system will sound an alarm if it detects anyone in the car. The system is activated by the lock button on the key fob. This guards against a child being forgotten inside the vehicle on a hot day. It also would sound the alarm if a dog or cat were left inside, since their heartbeats are sufficiently similar.
The system also offers an innovative security feature. In a typical scenario, the driver returns to the parked vehicle after shopping at a large mall. The system allows the driver to "query" the vehicle from a safe distance via the fob. In a few seconds, it scans for vibrations and tells the driver whether anyone is in the car

Lane-Departure Prevention

Warning system which prevents lane departure.

This warning system detects lane markings and sounds a chime if you drift from your current lane. The Lane Departure Warning System helps support the driver in keeping the vehicle in its lane of travel. The driver is alerted by a display indicator and an audible warning when the vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its travel lane.

A Camera unit installed behind the windshield detects lane markers in front of the vehicle and calculate its position relative to the lane markers. Brake actuator controls the brake pressure of each wheel individually to generate intended movement. When the vehicle is getting close to lane markers as a result of driver inattention, system warns the driver to pay attention to driving by display and audible buzzer and assists the driver to return the vehicle in the direction of center of the travel lane by generating part of necessary yaw moment. Quick warning in case of unintended lane departure. Gentle control firmly assists the driver's maneuver. Braking actuator is used to turn the vehicle.

Automakers Offering A New Look

Glass Roofed Cars

Automakers are now starting to introduce glass roofed cars. It is essential for those back seat star gazers, also for those looking for the benefits of a convertible without the windblown hair. The increasing number of new cars and crossover vehicles that are offering broad panoramic glass roofs which are composed of one or two large panels which open up the cabin to the heavens which gives the motorists a feel of more headroom and natural light as they drive.
A leading supplier of the glass roofs "Webasto Inc estimates that the number of panoramic glass sunroofs could more than double to about 700,000 vehicles by 2012." Andreas Weller vice president of business development estimated that the option costs between $1200 and $2000 providing "almost the benefits of the convertible without the drawbacks."
With the advent of shatter-resistant and reinforcements on the roof automakers are no longer limited to the small space above the the two front seats now they can expand this to stretch over the entire top of the vehicle.

Car Industries Turning Green

"Industries moving away from speed and horsepower to green alternatives"

Car industries are making a change in the direction from one of speed to a basis of more fuel efficient cars. Due to the rise in gas prices and other factors. A main reason behind this change is an energy bill requiring more miles per gallon. Automakers are now trying to make there new models get more mileage on a gallon of gasoline, cut down on carbon dioxide emissions, and using alternate power sources.
Dieter Zetsche the chief executive of Daimler AG has pushed the idea of a diesel strategy to improve its fuel efficiency. This may be a good thought because diesel burns cleaner ans would help reduce the carbon dioxide emissions as well as more miles to the gallon. Many automakers have made their vehicles more fuel efficient in the recent years but many gains have been offset by increases in horsepower and weight.
President Bush signed an energy bill in late December that requires " the industries new fleet of cars, SUV's, pickup trucks and vans to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a 40 % increase". It was the first major change in the Car Industry since the 70's.

More High Tech Inventions To Take Your Mind Off The Road

"Drivers have never had so many distractions tempting them to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel" Bill Vlasic. Automakers are now making their latest models into living rooms on the road. Some drivers are now packing their interiors with navigation systems and DVD players and LCD screens everywhere including in the drivers view. Mr. Marcellino sponsored a bill last year to ban all display generating devices in the drivers view in New York. Safety experts say the influx of electronics is turning cars into sometimes chaotic and distracting moving family rooms. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 80% of vehicle crashes and 65 % of close calls are caused in part by driver distraction. The biggest culprit in most accidents are hand held wireless devices along with the act of dialing phone numbers or writing text messages. Some automakers say they are improving safety by offering more hands-free phones systems by simplifying voiced activated technologies.

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo

The Gallardo is a bit intimidating initially, due to its radical styling, its dimensions, the sound of its highly tuned Italian V10, and advanced features such as its available E-gear electronic gearbox. On the outside, the Gallardo benefits from Italian design. It looks exotic and flamboyant. A closer look reveals high-quality construction with body panels awash in quality paint that fit smartly and evenly.

Gallardo comes in coupe and roadster versions, plus a lighter, more powerful Superleggera model.

The Superleggera is lightning quick and blindingly fast. It grips the road so well that you'll likely work the tires only on a racing circuit. And it has fantastic braking capability. The acceleration performance is truly exhilarating and at full song in the Sport mode the E-gear changes gears like a race driver in anger. Yet, around town, in the automatic or normal manual modes, it shifts smoothly and is quite tractable at low speeds.

The 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo comes in Coupe ($186,250) and Spyder ($217,000) versions. The Superleggera ($222,800) comes only as a coupe. Safety features include seat-mounted side air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, and all-wheel drive. Only about 350 of these cars will be available worldwide, making them instant collector's items.

2008 Audi R8

Audi's first super sports car for the street takes the R8 name, challenging the Ferrari F430 and other competitors. It might be no contest with a price that is at least $70,000 less. The Audi R8 features an exotic aluminum space frame, and a mid-mounted compact V8 engine making 420 horsepower. It has a top speed of 187 miles per hour. It will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Two transmissions are offered, a six-speed manual and high-tech six-speed R-Tronic, which is a manual transmission with no clutch pedal, that can be shifted either with paddle shifters, a lever, or by automatic mode. This transmission works best when the car is being driven near its maximum; at casual speeds, it's inconsistent and jerky. What makes the R8 exceptional is that it does it all: incredible high performance without making any compromises for civility and comfort.

The 2008 Audi R8 can be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission at $109,000 or the six-speed R-Tronic sequential manual gearbox for $118,000. Some of the safety features include dual-stage front airbags with passenger sensor, side door chest airbags, side door knee airbags, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitor, and cool looking LED taillights as well as daytime running lights, because you might be coming up on traffic kind of fast and the car is real low. LED headlights, the first on any production car, are optional. LED lighting most closely resembles daylight, and is less tiring for the driver.

The best feature of the R8 is the engine under glass. Lexan, to be precise, and it's glowed upon by LED lighting. You can look right down on the compact double-overhead-cam V8, with its carbon fiber and silver-screen components. It's a beautiful installation, a work of art.

The R8 offers every creature comfort and is totally tame around town. It seems almost unkind to point out that it?s not as shapely as its Italian cousin the Lamborghini Gallardo, and its voice isn't as sexy as that of its sister the Audi RS 4. The biggest drawback might be its highest-tech component, the R-Tronic transmission, whose shifts are jerky and inconsistent on the street.

HUMMER H3T

The new hummer truck will be launched sometime in 2009. General Manager Martin Walsh claims the vehicle will have unparalleled off-road capabilities and have a completely different look than the past hummer models. It is no longer going to have that army look. Hummer has learned with the H3 that downsizing its military-inspired macho looks and maintaining above average off-road prowess can equal big sales.

Martin Walsh also mentioned that a hybrid Hummer is not in the product pipeline because it can not demonstrate true off-road capability. Since off-roading usually occurs at speeds less than 35 mph a hybrid would not be able to function properly. Hummer would have to imagine some clever software programming to create just the right throttle response would make for a compelling off-roader propelled by electrons. Either way Hummer does have plans for flex-fuel versions of its vehicles.

SMART Car

The first known development of the SMART car was in 1994. The idea behind this compact vehicle was that it would be very easy to park. The SMART car is short enough to be parked nose-in where a conventionally sized car would need to be parallel parked. The name SMART was arrived at as an acronym for its developers Swatch Mercedes ART.
The SMART was only available in select countries. In June 2006, DaimlerChrysler confirmed that smart will be officially launched in the United States in the first quarter of 2008. The cars will be offered through dealership holding company Penske Automotive Group, which is to create a new U.S. dealership network for the brand under the name smart USA.Initially, only an updated gasoline powered fortwo will be offered, starting around US$12,000.The new model made its debut at European auto shows in November 2006.