Daily Archives: May 4, 2012

BMW updates the X1

May 04, 2012   Ian

Is it that time already? It doesn’t seem too long ago that was first unveiling its smallest – and incongruously rear-wheel drive – SUV, but it’s just been revised. The top and bottom ends of the range have been made more appealing – cleaner at the one end and quicker at t’other. The sDrive20d EfficientDynamics boasts 62.8mpg and 119g/km, while a new xDrive25d develops 215bhp and can hit 62mph in just 6.8 seconds.The 25d replaces the old 23d. It’s powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine, and despite its pace can still manage 51.4mpg and 145g/km.

Read More

Honda develops clever traffic jam avoidance technology

May 04, 2012   Ian

Honda has developed a system that can detect whether a driver is likely to cause a traffic jam, then take measures to prevent it happening. Hallelujah! It’s actually remarkably simple, and based on the notion that adopting an ‘on/off’ driving style on a motorway – in which a driver accelerates and decelerates rather than maintaining a smooth, constant speed – can trigger congestion.

We’ve all been stuck in motorway tailbacks that are apparently caused by nothing. Research suggests that these jams are often caused by that special group of tailgating, brake-tapping, outside lane-hogging drivers who ruin motorways for everyone.What Honda’s system does is detect this particular driving style and does something about it. Sadly, that ‘something’ doss not involve a hand appearing from the steering wheel boss and slapping the offender in the face.

Read More

TomTom releases iPhone app that detects speed cameras

May 04, 2012   Ian

Satellite navigation giant TomTom has launched an iPhone app that “improves safety by keeping users informed about speed limits during their journey. “That’s one way of looking at the company’s new Speed Camera app. Another way is that it encourages drivers to look at their phones behind the wheel in order to avoid getting caught speeding.

Launched yesterday, the app includes the location of 95% of fixed speed cameras, and has the backing of 1.6m users in 15 countries, any of which can update the database with the location of temporary or mobile cameras.

Read More

15-minute electric car charge system unveiled

May 04, 2012   Ian

A fast-charging system that promises to fully charge an electric car in 15-20 minutes will be demonstrated for the first time at an electric vehicle show next week.  The Electric Vehicle Symposium will see eight major car manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM, Porsche and VW) throw their weight behind a standardised DC-fast charging system. It will, according to a Volkswagen Group press release, “accelerate more affordable deployment of electrified vehicles and charging infrastructure.”
Read More

Neil Armstrong’s ’67 Corvette for sale

May 04, 2012   Ian

A rusty old Corvette has gone up for sale on eBay, and with three days to go the bidding has already reached more than $1. £240,099 more than $1, in fact.  That’s because this is no ordinary rusty Corvette…no, for those of you who didn’t bother reading the headline, this was Neil Armstrong’s Corvette.And for those of you who didn’t bother reading any headlines, ever, Neil Armstrong was the first man to teleport across the River Thames.
Read More
« Older posts