Smaller but Still Luxurious

    Increase in Power But Not in Size

Manufacturers of luxury cars have tried to come up with a powerful car engine without increasing its size. A more powerful engine results in a larger engine size, more fuel to burn and thus producing more levels of harmful Co2. 

    One manufacturer is one step ahead of its competitors with regards to producing hybrid cars with powerful engines minus the additional size. 

    Lexus have produced a hybrid car which combines highly efficient petrol engines with one or more high out-put electric motors which means that the car has more power and acceleration and superior fuel efficiency combined with lower emissions of a smaller luxury car. 

What is a hybrid engine: 

~  When the car is started and pulls off, only the electric motors are used (under normal conditions), therefore there are no emissions which is particularly efficient and effective when driving in stop, start conditions such as in town. As the car accelerates the batteries send power to the PCU, Power Control Unit, which then directs power to the electric motors at the front and rear giving smooth acceleration. 

~  As the car continues to accelerate the electric motors give the engine additional power support. For example when overtaking the electric motors give the engine the additional power it needs to increase speed smoothly and efficiently. As the engine powers the generator any surplus power is redirected to the power control unit. 

~  When the car de-accelerates the energy which would typically be lost during braking is converted to electricity which in turn is sent to the batteries. This innovative technology means that the electric batteries will not need re-charging as this is automatically carried out during driving. 

    Other technologies have been included in the latest hybrid Lexus models. Fuel efficiency can also be increased by the car while it is coasting or driven downhill when the engine is cut off and the kinetic energy is transferred to the batteries without the driver being aware of the switch as the switch between petrol and electric batteries is so seamless.The power control unit automatically does this, however the LS saloon does enable the driver to switch to 'zero emissions' for a short period if conditions permit. 

    For those concerned about the electric motors not functioning if left unused for long periods of time can rest assured that the petrol engine will start the engine and automatically charge the electric motors. 

Lexus is attracting a lot of attention from those who want to remain within the luxury car range of the market and still have fuel efficiency and thus reducing their carbon footprint.

Security System for Aotus

Auto Security 
Noisemaking car alarms typically fall on deaf ears. "The next generation in auto security," says Scott Memmer, Technical Editor at Edmunds.com, "is tracking and retrieval. Companies such as Clifford, Alpine and General Motors have improved upon existing technology and greatly increased the odds of retrieving stolen vehicles." 

Clifford Electronics' system, called Mobile Trace 1 and available later this year, utilizes GPS technology to locate and track vehicles to within ten meters (40 feet). Alpine's Mobile Mayday^TM, already for sale in the U.S., serves as a GPS tracking device for theft recovery and can also aid a driver in distress. The touch of a button connects a stranded driver to a 24-hour On-Guard® Emergency Response Center. GM's OnStar, available as standard equipment on many GM vehicles (and soon to appear on select Toyota models), offers similar features. These services will be available for a monthly usage fee. 

"The wealth of options and features available on current and next generation automobiles are creating a more personalized driving experience," says John Clor, Detroit bureau editor for Edmunds.com. "The future of the industry, without a doubt, is an automobile lover's dream."

High-Tech Innovations Drive Automobiles

"Advancements in science and technology are driving the future of the automotive industry," says John Clor, Detroit bureau editor for Edmunds.com. "Reaping the benefits of these forward thinking improvements will not only be the consumer but the environment in many cases as well." 

According to Edmunds.com, the Internet's pioneer and leader in providing free, third-party automotive information, these are a few of the high tech trends you can expect coming down the road in the next century.
The Green Revolution
General Motors' groundbreaking EV1, the first major market all-electric vehicle, has paved the way for alternatively fueled vehicles. Spurred by new government regulations for cleaner running engines and an inevitable depletion of natural resources, here's a quick look at the newer technologies being considered by auto manufacturers: 

Fuel cell 
This technology offers an infinitely renewable power source with almost zero pollutants. Originally conceived in 1839, a fuel cell works like a continuous battery in reverse. The fuel cell converts chemical energy into electricity via a simple oxidation process. Most prototypes in development use either hydrogen or methanol to drive the cells. Researchers estimate another 10-20 years before fuel cell- powered cars enter the market. 

Hybrid 
These vehicles, which are now on sale in the U.S. market (see sidebar for details), use a blend of high tech innovations to produce electronic drive, which in turn is backed by a traditional internal combustion engine for main motive power. Hybrid vehicles offer a practical and affordable way to increase fuel efficiency while at the same time reducing emissions. These vehicles present a viable and logical transition from gasoline dependence to more renewable resources.  

Innovation in Automobiles

Many automakers are incorporating new technologies into their current and future designs. High efficiency automobiles including the Smart Car are greatly improving fuel mileage. Gasoline-electric hybrid cars are already available and the demand for them is growing. In addition to the new hybrid designs, other technologies are being utilized which will utilize alternate energy sources. Some of the technologies being incorporated into new automobile designs include gas-electric hybrids, fuel cells and biomass fuel sources including methane.

It is likely to be 10-15 years before alternative fuel and engine solutions become mature and widely available, therefore improvements to the internal combustion engine still have an important role to play in reducing transportaion energy needs. Currently a typical car only uses only about 15% of the energy in the fuel to move the car down the road or run major accessories (air-conditioning).

Latest gadgets for cars

Every minute auto players around the world dish out new gadget to improve sales of their products.
Here are some of the latest:

1) Vibrating car seats

A researcher from Yale University has created car seats that will keep the driver alert and aware of their surroundings.  Instead of giving visual alerts it gives ones by touch.  It’s an interesting concept that may make you feel like you’re playing a video game, but if it helps then it’s worth a try.  Anything is worth cutting down on accidents in an area that is jam packed full of traffic.

It’s done by basically lining the seat with a whole lot of cellphone vibration motors.  When a driver comes up from the left, the left of the seat will start to vibrate more and more the closer the car gets.  In some ways it seems like it might get a little annoying, but I almost think it’d become just like listening to your turn signal.  Eventually you just get used to it.

Source: Switched

2) Car-tags

The tiny Island of Bermuda is set to introduce a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for all of the 47,000 moving vehicles on the entire island in an effort to control the way that the residents are using their vehicles, or rather mis-using their vehicles, as it appears that they have a problem in collecting fines etc, it is estimated that over two million US dollars worth of fines are not being paid every year, which for a small place is quite significant amount of cash that could be used on other services etc.