Category Archives: engineering

Auto Sales Growth Rates to Slow

Advances in technology, tougher legislation, shorter product cycles and increased launches will create a challenging, yet opportunistic environment in the years ahead for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers, according to IHS Automotive. Continue reading

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Hella Adding “Exit Alert” to its Radar Sensors

Exit Alert, said to ensure the safety of all road users, builds on already widely produced aids, including blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and rear pre-crash braking and safety belt tightening. Continue reading

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Driverless Vehicle Technology – Not All Good?

California SB 1298, which directed the DMV to write rules covering driverless vehicles, required the department to have regulations for the public use of the robot vehicles in place by Jan. 1, 2015. DMV – dealing with complicated new technologies – missed that deadline and is still working on driverless car public use regulations. Continue reading

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Social Media Overkill? Honda HR-V to add Ten Selfie Cameras

Honda claims this is an important segment to address because one-third of all photos taken by people aged 18–24 are selfies, with more than one million selfies taken each day. Continue reading

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Delphi Record Try for Longest US Autonomous Drive

In an old-fashioned publicity stunt that includes some real prototype engineering, Delphi Automotive try to set a record by conducting the longest autonomous drive ever attempted in the U.S. Continue reading

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Jet Wiper on Volvo XC90 Safer, More Efficient

Electronics, combined with spray nozzles integrated in the wiper arm are the reasons. Continue reading

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Test World Opens Second Indoor Snow and Ice Test Track

Test World Indoor allows testing in a controlled environment, which brings cost savings for auto, supplier and tire companies, even as it adds another coffin nail to the slumping spy photo business. Continue reading

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Tiny Talking Robot Kirobo Returns from Space

After 18 months on board the International Space Station, humanoid communication robot Kirobo returned to Earth as a passenger on SpaceX’s CRS-5 Dragon cargo supply spacecraft, which successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean earlier today. Continue reading

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Porsche Buys Climatic Wind Tunnel From Modine

Modine Europe in 2004 built the wind tunnel in Filderstadt-Bonlanden, which is near Weissach. Porsche claims it still has up-to-date equipment and is suitable for both sports cars and the increasing variety of sport utility vehicles and sedans that Porsche is now selling in record numbers. Porsche will keep on two wind tunnel experts who have been working at the facility to date. Continue reading

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Volt Camouflage Designed to hide Freshened Sheet Metal

The camouflage package on the next-generation Volt was started six months in advance of early development. The tricks are constantly updated to keep spy photographers – Jim Dunne, who graciously contributes to AutoInformed – and the curious guessing. Continue reading

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Automakers Flub Launch of High Tech Vehicles, IQS Shows

The latest IQS or quality data revealed today at the Automotive Press Association meeting in Detroit shows that the number of problems experienced by new-vehicle owners has increased from the previous year, as automakers continue to have severe problems with complicated technologies now being deployed in new vehicles. Continue reading

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Franchitti to Drive Camaro Z/28 Pace Car at Indy 500

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti will drive a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 to pace the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25. Continue reading

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Honda Fuel Cell Concept Debuts at Los Angeles Auto Show

Honda’s next generation fuel cell-electric vehicle has what is for the moment the world’s first fuel-cell powertrain packaged completely in the engine room of the vehicle. This not only allows more interior space, but it gives the Japanese automaker some flexibility in the use of fuel cell technology in different vehicle types. Continue reading

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Panasonic Exec Indicted in Toyota Price Fixing Scam

A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted a Panasonic Automotive Systems executive for his role in an international conspiracy to fix prices of switches and steering angle sensors sold to Toyota. Continue reading

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2014 Toyota Corolla Ups Ante in Compact Car Game

Toyota Motor coming off two straight months knocking Ford Motor out of its traditional Number Two sales position in the U.S. market is introducing an all-new Corolla model. Not only will this present formidable competition for the Ford Focus, but it will also challenge Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Mazda3 as well as the rest of compact cars in this high volume segment. Continue reading

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