Car Tech
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Recovering electrical energy from braking is common in hybrids and electric cars, but brake force isn't the only energy that can be harvested while a car is on the move. We've already written about thermoelectric technology, which recovers energy from hot surfaces such as those of the exhaust, and now we have a look at a new technology from Audi that recovers energy normally lost through a vehicle's suspension. The technology, which is still in the prototype phase, is called eROT. It relies on electromechanical rotary dampers that replace the hydraulic dampers found in most suspension shock...
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Doubts raised over China’s traffic-straddling bus
China’s Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) made headlines last week after the company behind the project, TEBtech, conducted a first real-world test. However, questions have been raised as to whether it's just one big scam. As China’s Global Times points out, much of TEBtech's capital has been...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
What's the best all-wheel-drive system?
All-wheel-drive systems are numerous, and some of them work in different ways. A Subaru, an Audi, and a pickup truck all have different needs to meet in powering all their wheels. They use systems that employ various different technologies, and once more our friend at Engineering Explained is here...
Jeff Glucker -
Hackers steal more than 30 Jeeps in Texas
As cars become more connected, hacking is becoming more of a concern. Last year, researchers took control of a Jeep Cherokee in a highly-publicized hack, but it seems hackers can cause other kinds of mischief as well. A pair of hackers were arrested last week in Texas after stealing more than 30...
Stephen Edelstein -
BAC Mono gets ultra-strong, ultra-light graphene panels
BAC has unveiled a version of its street-legal Mono track car fitted with body panels made from graphene. The advanced material is similar to carbon fiber but consists of sheets just one atom thick. Its strength is derived from the arrangement of the carbon atoms which form rigid, honeycomb-like...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercedes to make next C-Class lighter with aluminum
Mercedes-Benz made significant weight savings with its latest C-Class thanks to the use of materials much lighter than conventional steel in the car’s construction, such as aluminum and even some composites. A senior Mercedes executive has hinted that the next-generation model, due early next...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Audi recently conducted its 100th durability test, known as an "INKA" test, on a 2016 A4. INKA is the acronym for Ingolstadt Korrosion und Altern (corrosion and aging). The testing replicates 12 years of vehicle life in 19 weeks. This corrosion and aging test is conducted in five phases. First, the car is misted with salt and placed in a climatic chamber heated to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Next up is exposure to a tropical climate with a temperature of 122 degrees and up to 100 percent humidity. CHECK OUT: Things we hate about cars we love In the third phase, 80 1,200-watt halogen metal vapor...
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Roborace autonomous racing edges closer to reality with reveal of final car design
While autonomous driving technology may still be in its infancy, there are efforts underway to get a fully autonomous racing series up and running. The series has even been given a name: Roborace. We first learned of Roborace back in March. The cars would be identical, right down the various...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Should you warm up your engine before driving?
It's a generally held rule: Let your car warm up a bit before heading off to tackle the day. But is it really necessary? In a word? No. Our friend Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained is here to explain why today's cars don't really need to be warmed up before driving. Basically, it comes down...
Kirk Bell -
China’s traffic-straddling bus is real, carries first passengers
The Chinese port city of Qinhuangdao was the location for the first test of an innovative new mode of public transport called the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB), a high-riding bus that can glide over gridlocked traffic. According to China Xinhua News, the test was carried out on Tuesday, with engineers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Are CVTs the fastest transmissions?
Nobody truly likes a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). They are loud, soulless, sometimes unreliable, and frankly, they often make your car sound awful. But here's the cold hard reality: From an engineering standpoint, they make sense. Our friend Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained is...
Joel Feder -
Uber sells Chinese operation to rival Didi Chuxing
After a fierce battle for market share in China’s ride-sharing industry over the past year, Uber looks to have finally thrown in the towel. In a deal expected to be formally announced tomorrow, Uber will sell its Chinese arm Uber China to local rival Didi Chuxing. ALSO SEE: Why Ford is making...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] is close to finalizing development of a modular platform that will underpin its next generation of cars starting with a replacement for the California due out in the next year or two. The platform needed to be highly flexible so that it can underpin most of Ferrari’s lineup including mid-engine sports cars and front-engined GTs. It also needed to be compatible with rear- and all-wheel-drive setups as well as hybrid technology. ALSO SEE: New Supra to feature twin-turbo Lexus V-6? It’s a strategy already employed by arch rival McLaren, but Ferrari is sticking...
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What the heck does an oil catch can do?
Your engine is a violent place. It's filled with moving metal, hot oil and fuel, and a mass of moving air. All of that combines to create combustion, which is basically a series of continual explosions—and it's all happening right in front of you. During the combustion process, some of the...
Jeff Glucker -
Tesla and autonomous tech firm Mobileye end partnership
Technology firm Mobileye, which worked closely with Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] to develop the semi-autonomous Autopilot system that debuted on the Model S, has confirmed its partnership with the automaker is over. The information was confirmed by Mobileye co-founder Amnon Shashua during a conference...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercedes beats Tesla to electric truck
Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] a week ago announced a grand master plan that called for an expansion into more segments including electric commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks. Unbeknownst to many is that Mercedes-Benz’s trucks unit has been working on electric trucks for some years now and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Learn what makes BMW's throttle system different
You're an under-hood expert by now, aren't you? We've been sharing a whole lot of information thanks to Engineering Explained and that means you should be fluent now in "gearhead." Still, there's always more to learn and today we're taking on a subject that's a bit more complicated, which must mean...
Jeff Glucker -
Ford rolling out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across 2017 lineup
Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] unveiled an enhanced version of its Sync 3 infotainment system during January’s Consumer Electronics Show and at the time said the system will be available on 2017 model year vehicles. The Blue Oval on Monday confirmed that the system will be available across its...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Editor’s warning: This article contains some geeky in-depth engineering information about what makes the 2017 Porsche Panamera tick. Reading it puts you in danger of learning more about this car than you thought you might want to know. What is the Golden Rule? Treat others as you would like to be treated, right? Not according to Porsche. The German sports car maker says the Golden Rule is to never release a new car with new engines and a new platform built in a new plant. With the 2017 Panamera, Porsche is breaking that rule, but we get the feeling this new Panamera will treat owners...
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The Do's and Don'ts of Tesla's Autopilot system
The Tesla Model S has a feature you all know about. It's called Autopilot, which is a poor name for a system that is still essentially in its beta testing phase. I say "poor name" because as we've seen in the news, a number of owners believe this means the car is damn-near autonomous. This is not...
Jeff Glucker -
Geneva's 'flash charge' electric buses recharge in 15 seconds
Long charging times can be a drag for electric vehicles, whether they're private passenger cars or city buses. The Swiss city of Geneva wants to put more electric buses into service, and to do that it recently contracted with local firm ABB to set up a "flash-charging" network that can charge those...
Stephen Edelstein -
Porsche reveals tech behind Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid
Porsche’s 919 Hybrid is proving to be one of the most successful race cars in the German automaker’s history. It’s currently in its third year of competition and already under its belt are a title in the World Endurance Championship and a pair of victories in the 24 Hours of Le...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Here are 5 things never to do with a turbocharged vehicle
Your engine likes to breathe. There are ways to make it breathe easier, and one of them is by cramming air into the engine's "throat." You're forcing the induction. To do that, you'll need either a supercharger or a turbocharger. It's the boost-loving snail of a turbocharger that seems to be the...
Jeff Glucker -
Porsche details new infotainment system debuting in 2017 Panamera
Coinciding with the arrival of Porsche’s new Panamera sedan later this year will be a new version of the automaker’s infotainment system, known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). At the heart of the new system is a large touchscreen display located in the center stack, which...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran