Recent Comments:
VW up! could be switched to FWD {Autoblog}
Jul 19th 2008 1:37AM sorry forgot to post the links
http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/toyota_iq_concept/toyota_iq_concept_1_x.jpg
http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2007/9/11/9070911.037/9070911.037.1M.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srqjikytsB0&e
VW up! could be switched to FWD {Autoblog}
Jul 19th 2008 1:29AM sorry forgot to post the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srqjikytsB0&eurl=http://auto-future.blogspot.com/
VW up! could be switched to FWD {Autoblog}
Jul 19th 2008 1:27AM I know mitsubishi already makes the icar with no problems and the Tata nano is going with a similar format and still being the cheapest car in the world. I am not surprised with VW for considering the switch to FWD. I remember VWs layout being a flat lying engine which is alightly different from the tiltled upright engine used in the smart, icar, and the nano. But after seeiing the magic pakaging in this toyota iq video,
It all makes perfect sense. Toyota shifted the engine behind the front axle and manage to make the car seem like it the engine was under the rear seat, but you still have the advantage of the full rear luggage.
Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid-only Prius fighter! {Autoblog Green}
Jul 17th 2008 10:02AM A close look at the rear door shut-line will reveal the similarities to the fcx clarity. It is a sharp straight line while the on the prius it has a slight curve (this can be seen in the last photo. Overall the end product would resemble the fcx more than the prius.
I know that aerodynamics was responsible for the similarities to the prius, but the last generation European accord aka acura tsx achieved a prius matching cd of 0.26 yet looked like a regular sedan. so I would think the rationale for following this design route would be to maximize volume. I wonder why audi has not remde the A2. That car shared a similar profile, but had far better detailing
http://www.audiforums.com/models/a2/images/Audi-A2-2.jpg
VIDEO: Top Gear looks at alternative fuels in 1990 {Autoblog Green}
Jul 4th 2008 12:44AM The funny part in the videos is the tald of optional catalytic converter. Its crazy to think that those things were once in the same category as satnav
VIDEO: Top Gear looks at alternative fuels in 1990 {Autoblog Green}
Jul 3rd 2008 3:27PM The Audi duo and VW golf parallel hybrid. These show that all the car makers had a fair bit of research into hybrids, but Toyota and Honda which started their hybrid programs much later are the ones that took advantage of the opportunity. This video is ultra depressing, all this years and we are still where at the same location. Lets hope this time people would wake up and car makers would move quickly.
Neander turbo diesel motorcycle now street legal {Autoblog Green}
Jul 3rd 2008 9:33AM Their website says its 4.5L/100km. In any case this bike although very innovative is not something to be considered eco friendly. For a weight of 295kg(649lbs), that fuel economy is ridiculous because most European b segment diesels do better than that and they weigh 3 times as much.
I have been following the development of this bike and its great to see it finally being approved. It little steps like this that makes automotive engineering interesting. there's no way something like this would have come out of the established Japanese or Italian motorbike makers
The twin crankshaft engine is what interests me. Such a design can be applied to a regular gas engine and it would save total weight and cost of direct injection while remaining mechanically balanced.
It's Friday: fifth grader builds air-powered car for science fair {Autoblog Green}
Mar 7th 2008 10:58PM Its so refreshing to see young folks still interested in applying learned principles in practical ways rather than the usual repition of experiments and projects. This guy has something going. I like the simplicity of the idea. from construction to completion. The use of off the shelf parts to make a unique final product is also admirable. We need more of this.
Editorial: Why must cars continue to get larger and larger? {Autoblog Green}
Sep 3rd 2007 1:24PM This is just sad. Although the nissan altima reduced its size, the rest of the pack just keep increasing size. A very unnecessary thing. I think th eproduct developers are still stuck in the old way thinking where every new version of a car has to increase in size to justify its development. Now that the Accord is no longer a midsize car, I think the cusp of this trend has officially been reached. Bigger is not always better.
Who doesn't like free money? Auto companies sign on to Thailand's eco-car plans {Autoblog Green}
Aug 4th 2007 5:49AM Nice to see this nuance from Thailand government working. The 56.5mpg is very steep and apart from the Japanese kei cars, even Honda has no car that can achieve that number in production now. But judging from what the engineers were able to do with the Fit in Canada, we can expect some surprises from Honda soon. Maybe VW should join the party and move production of the Polo bluemotion to Thailand to cut cost. Even GM is getting on board.
