A Ride In Google's Self Driving Car

 
For a long time Google has been retrofitting conventional cars/SUVs with lasers, radar, cameras and computers to learn how to convert them into self driving automobiles. And now Google has developed its own 2-seater electric self-driving prototype vehicle which hides most of the ugly sensors and gadgets under the surface and has a cute looking face.

This Google 'car of the future' has no steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal and is designed to require no human intervention during travel, allowing the riders to relax and distract themselves. It feels scary to imagine being in such a car but guys at TheOatmeal.com were brave enough to allow themselves to be driven around in this machine and have survived to share their experience (here) which can be summed up as 'delightfully dull'. Also checkout the video below from a test ride event organized by Google earlier.

A First Ride : Google Self-Driving Car Project
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Apple Preparing To Revolutionize Automobiles

Apple Car Project

Automobiles are no longer just vehicles that simply move you around. They are increasingly becoming more like devices with automated electronic gadgetry making them fool proof, literally. According to a report by Reuter Apple is working on a secret car project codenamed "Titan" which is all about developing a self driving electric car which will be competing against other such high-profile car projects like that of Google's.

Companies like Apple and Google are leaders in creating amazing softwares for mobile devices that have revolutionized the way we live and work. Now they are looking beyond their staple field and want to become part of rapidly evolving automobile industry. This is not because they want to make cool cars but are rather more interested in creating and controlling the operating system and the user interface using which the self-driving cars of the future will run.

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BMW i8 - What Color You Want?

BMW i8 Color Wrap

The BMW i8 is the ultimate modern eco-friendly hybrid sports car. It's officially available in a decent range of colors like silver, white, grey etc. If you find this color choice very limited, don't worry, just buy any shade of i8 and then finalize the color you want!! Does this sound silly?? Not really. For a few thousand bucks you can get your i8 wrapped in almost any color you can possibly think of. Its that easy, ... i mean choosing the color not the wrapping part.


A vinyl wrap is an alternative for those looking to change the exterior look of a vehicle without having to repaint. It involves covering an entire vehicle in a pattern or a solid shade vinyl which comes in an endless variety of colors . Wrapping a car like BMW i8 is pretty complex process since its futuristic styling present some very unique aerodynamic shapes and features. A good quality vinyl wrap if installed properly can last for about 5 – 7 years easily. And even when you get bored of it, the wrap can be removed revealing the original unaffected paint finish underneath.

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Nissan Leaf's Glow-In-The-Dark Paint Looks Spooky

Nissan Leaf Glows In Dark

Nissan really wants its Leaf EV owners to easily find their cars at night, as it has created a world's first unique glow-in-the-dark paint named StarPath. It is designed to absorb UV energy from the sun throughout the day and at night it is able to glow for eight to 10 hours. If you are a Tron movie fan than definately you will love it but to others it can look a bit scary at night.


According to Nissan, the paint is made entirely of organic materials and the glow will last for 25 years, that is much more than the average life of a vehicle. If you want to get a feel of it, then checkout the spooky video above that Nissan has created showing a glowing Leaf electric car wandering around in the dark.

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2009 Honda Insight To Be World's Cheapest Hybrid

Honda will debut its Toyota Pirus challenger, the new Honda Insight as a concept car at the 2008 Paris Motor Show next month. Touted as being the least expensive hybrid in the world, the Insight hatchback is going to hit the market in 2009 with a possible base price of $18,500. It will share styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle as can be seen from Honda's official pictures for the upcoming concept.

The Insight Concept defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid technology by utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) hybrid technology. The production Insight will be offered as a five-door, five-passenger hatchback. Numerous technologies, including a function to assist customers in achieving more fuel efficient driving habits, will be applied to achieve a further improvement in real world fuel efficiency.

Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka factory in Japan. The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year - approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as America's first gas-electric hybrid car. The first vehicle to break the 70-mpg fuel economy barrier, Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.

Source: Hybrid Cars
Read More On: Honda

Photo Gallery: Honda Insight Concept Hybrid High-Res Pictures.

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Audi A5 Coupe UK Lineup Gets 2.0L TFSI Eco-Friend

Just like many other autmakers, Audi also wants to display its concern for environment. So it goes ahead and adds the new 2.0L TFSI to its A5 model range and will be available this August. The vehicles reported 42.8 mpg (36 mpg US) mileage in mixed driving definately boost its eco-friend credentials but don't worry, its also fun to drive. A5 2.0 TFSI generates 208 hp of power at 4300 rpm and torque of 258 lb-ft at 1500 rpm allowing it to hit 62 mph in a decent 6.9 seconds. And its all yours for £28,760. Check press release below for details.

PRESS RELEASE:
Latest Turbo FSI engine joins Audi coupé range and reiterates that fun and frugality are far from mutually exclusive A5 2.0 TFSI now available to order in front-wheel-drive or quattro all-wheel-drive forms priced at £28,760 OTR and £30,285 OTR – first deliveries in August. All-new Turbo FSI engine is based on 1.8 TFSI from new A4, but adds Audi valvelift technology for improved engine 'breathing' to maximise performance and efficiency.

A newly developed Turbo FSI petrol engine available from this week for the Audi A5 provides the sought-after coupe with yet another choice blend of pace and pence-per-mile efficiency. The new 211PS A5 2.0 TFSI can be ordered in either front-wheel-drive or quattro permanent all-wheel-drive forms for £28,760 OTR or £30,285 OTR, and will reach its first UK customers in August.

The new high-tech 2.0-litre unit is derived from the already much praised 1.8 TFSI engine introduced recently in A3, A4 and A5 models. It delivers 211PS from 4,300rpm and a very impressive 350Nm torque maximum from just 1,500rpm – more even than the 3.2-litre V6 FSI unit also powering A5 models. It enables the front-wheel-drive A5 2.0 TFSI with six-speed manual transmission to cover the 0-62mph sprint in 6.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 155mph and return up to 42.8mpg according to the combined cycle test. And despite doing full justice in performance terms to the purposeful styling of the A5, it also shows restraint where emissions are concerned, with an output of 154g/km for the front-wheel-drive version.

Standard specification for front-wheel-drive and quattro all-wheel-drive versions of the new A5 2.0 TFSI includes xenon headlamps with trademark LED strip daytime running lamps, 17-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, 3-zone electronic climate control, a 10-speaker Concert CD audio system, full Milano leather upholstery and rear acoustic parking.

Source: Audi
Read More On: Cars From Audi


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2010 VW Golf TwinDrive Electric Hybrid Concept Revealed

Volkswagen yesterday unveiled its new hybrid concept called the Golf Twin Drive. The uniqueness of this Twin Drive concept is the combination of a fuel-efficient diesel engine with plug-in electric hybrid technology. The electric motor stored in Golf's cargo hatch runs on an array of easily chargable lithium-ion batteries generating a respectable 82hp (61kW) of power. You won't need to worry once the electric-only range of 31 miles (50 KM) is crossed and the batteries get drained as the 122 horsepower 2.0L turbodiesel engine would take over from there.

It won't be right to compare the 2010 Golf Twin Drive with the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, as unlike the Volt, there would be no charging of the batteries by the engine. But the good thing is that you can still hook-up the car to a regular household power outlet and enjoy your beer while the baby gets all charged-up.

To further boost its travelling range, Golf will be loaded with two new innovative technologies, the regenerative braking to charge the batteries, and the start-stop system to shuts off the engine when idling in traffic.

By 2010, Volkswagen along with the German government would be developing a fleet of 20 Golf test cars fitted with the Twin Drive system. And VW promises to charge the batteries for the vehicle's electric motor using only 'renewable electricity' during the trial process. If you are confused by the term 'renewable electrictiy', not a prob, it just denotes the electric energy thats generated from renewable resources such as wind and hydro power.

Source: Autoblog
Read More On: VW Golf

Photo Gallery: New Volkswagon Golf Twin-Drive Electric Hybrid Concept High-Res Pictures.

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By 2015, Mazda To Cut Fuel Consumption 30 Percent

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that it is setting its sights on reducing the fuel consumption of Mazda vehicles sold globally by an average 30 percent by 2015. This determined commitment will entail a holistic approach which includes using lightweight technologies, the upgrade of almost all of Mazda's gasoline engines, introducing a Smart Idle Stop System, a new gasoline rotary engine and new diesel engines worldwide.

By 2015, Mazda will have renewed almost its entire powertrain lineup and, from 2011, through steadily developing safe, lightweight, new generation platforms aims to reduce the weight of its new vehicles by 100 kilograms or more.

Mazda saw its hydrogen powertrain efforts progress positively forward in June 2008 when the Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid received the green light from the Japanese government to begin testing on public roads. The Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid (known as the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid in Japan) offers 40 percent more power and an extended hydrogen driving range of 200 kilometers. It will be available for commercial lease in Japan during the 2008 fiscal year.

And, Mazda is already progressing well with the development of an all-new Hydrogen RE vehicle with dynamic performance equivalent to a 3.0-liter gasoline engine and a hydrogen range of 400 kilometers.

The next technological milestone for Mazda will be the introduction of the mass production version of its proprietary Smart Idle Stop System into one of its cars in 2009.

Source: TheyReviewed
Read More On: Mazda
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2009 VW Jetta TDI Diesel's Price, Safety & Fuel Economy

Volkswagen of America today announced pricing for their eagerly anticipated Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen starting at $21,990 and $23,590, respectively. Such an aggressive pricing and some highly appreciable fuel efficiency numbers brings Jetta TDI in direct competition with the Toyota Prius. According to VW, their 50-state compliant Jetta sedan and SportWagen TDI, meets the most stringent emissions standards and both models will be available this August.

While the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Jetta TDI at an economical 29 mpg City and 40 mpg Highway, Volkswagen went a step further to show the true fuel economy of the Jetta TDI. Leading third-party certifier, AMCI, has tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway.

The Jetta TDI's come standard with Volkswagen's Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of numerous standard safety features. Jetta TDI's include six airbags, with optional rear side airbags, and like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, Jetta TDI's also feature standard Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) for added safety. Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen's carefree maintenance program, with this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle's maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty-three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Source: Volkswagen
Read More On: Eco Friendly Cars
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Audi's Prius-rivalling A3 1.9 TDIe Diesel Hatchback

Audi has launched a new version of its A3, the Audi A3 1.9 TDIe hatch that offers fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions similar to the Toyota Prius hybrid, the world’s most famous environmentally friendly car. A3's 1.9 TDIe is developed to meet Europe's proposed 2012 CO2 emissions target of 120 grams/kilometer, roughly equivalent to 52 mpg on the highway in the U.S.

Audi’s first ‘e’ model already beats that target thanks to a number of mechanical and aerodynamic tweaks that reduce the regular A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI model’s fuel consumption (from 4.9 to 4.5L/100km) and emissions (from 128 to 119g/km). That compares favourably with the Toyota Prius’s figures of 4.4L/100km and 104g/100km.

A 5-speed manual transmission, 77kW of power and 250Nm of torque headline the A3 Sportback 1.9 TDIe’s powerplant. It rides on low-friction Michelin tyres for reduced drag and comes with revised engine, better tuned electronics and lengthened third and fifth gear ratios to reach fuel economy of 53 mpg. There’s also a ‘recommended gear’ display on the dash to help the driver choose the most efficient ratio when using the manual gearbox. The new Audi A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI e comes with a price tag of $38,900 - making it the third most affordable Audi in Australia where is was launched recently.

Audi is aiming to have an e-model in each of its core model series in the foreseeable future. We at CarNoise wish them good luck.

Source: Audi
Read More On: Audi A3
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2010 Toyota Pirus To Debut At 2009 Detroit Auto Show

The next generation of Toyota's eco-friendly Pirus hybrid will make its debut at 2009 North American International Auto Show in January. According to Edmunds Auto Observer the 3rd-generation Prius will be 3 to 4 inches longer and about an inch wider, but not significantly heavier. It will sport a larger, 1.8 liter engine and combined gas and electric power is up from approx 110 hp to 160 horsepower.

The increases in power will be combined with an increase in fuel economy by about 10 percent and thus taking it up to the 50-55 mpg mark. Toyota will re-engineer the Prius' unique gas engine/electric motor/battery powertrain to make it more efficient, more tightly packaged and to extend the driving range in electric mode.

Toyota is also working on Plug-in versions of the next Prius. Its protoypes are being tested on various road conditions in different countries. Toyota plans to launch sales of Plug In Hybrids (fitted with state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries) to fleet buyers in the US and elsewhere by 2010.


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Automakers Facing 75 MPG EPA CAFE Rating By 2030

Car makers could face 75mpg rules by 2030s, EPA says
The nation's passenger cars and light trucks may have to average 75 miles per gallon by the 2030s, a top federal environmental official said at the SAE International World Congress. Margo Oge, director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said Monday at the SAE International 2008 World Congress in Detroit that's the level of fuel economy needed to meet a widely backed scientific-community proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 80 percent by 2050 from 2000 levels.

Congress has mandated automobiles and light trucks average an industry fleet-wide average of 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over current requirements. To meet the low end of the 2050 proposal, automakers would have to average 75 mpg in the 2030s, Oge.....EPA is studying the effect of different types of renewable fuels in light of the congressional mandate to hike the number of gallons of biofuels and renewables to 36 billion gallons annually by 2022 -- more than five times the current levels. By 2013, all gasoline will be blended with 10 percent ethanol, Oge said.
source detnews
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