When Tesla’s first Model S hit streets two years ago it swept up headlines for out-dragging horsepower monsters way above its weight class, including the BMW M5 and Dodge Viper. Since releasing the all-wheel-drive version earlier this fall, the car has added notches for Audi and Ferrari to its wrap sheet of wins — but how do they fair against each other?
Shenzhen to issue only 100K new license plates per year in effort to combat congestion and pollution
On 30 December, the city government of Shenzhen, China announced that it will only issue 100,000 license plates per year via lotteries and auctions, with immediate effect, to fight congestion and pollution.
Tsinghua team uses optical diagnostics to analyze source of sporadic super-knock in advanced SI engines
Knock is one of several different well-known abnormal combustion processes in spark-ignition engines; most of these abnormal combustion issues have been addressed with improved design or control schemes as well as fuel specifications. However, emerging advanced SI engines—e.g., those with turbocharging and direct injection—can exhibit a new phenomenon: super-knock, or violent engine knock.
Company drivers ‘at fault’ in almost half of accidents
Businesses are being urged to improve driving standards among staff after research revealed company drivers were at fault for almost half of all accidents involving a company vehicle last year.
Statistics for accident management customers of Lex Autolease, the UK’s largest contract hire company, show company drivers were at fault for 49% of the 44,448 accidents recorded by the UK’s largest fleet provider in 2013.
Orbital suing Daimler & Bosch for alleged patent infringement on direct injection technology
Australia-based specialized engine and vehicle systems company Orbital Corporation has filed court documents in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia alleging the infringement of Orbital patents on direct injection technology by Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, Mercedes-Benz US International, Inc. (Mercedes), Robert Bosch GMGH and Robert Bosch LLC (Bosch). (3:14-cv-00808-REP Orbital Australia Pty Ltd et al. v. Daimler AG et al.
