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What do you get when you cross a Corvette with the original military Hummer? A heck of a hybrid. But it still wouldn't have the outrageous performance and capabilities of [...]

The article evaluates several classic cars that were displayed at the 2018 New York International Auto Show including a 1938 Bugatti Type 57c Stelvio Cabriolet by Gangloff, the Duesenberg Model J and a 1931 Stutz DV-32.

More automakers are touting the increased rigidity of their products. They have realized that good steering and handling are linked to body rigidity and torsion. The easiest way to make an automobile stiffer is to add more metal and weight, a task that has been made simpler by computers and powerful software tools. Improvements in welding and metal fastening technology are expected to further enhance rigidity., Increased rigidity helps in fine-tuning car and truck components for the right resonant frequency. Increased rigidity is being stressed more and more by automakers these days. Buick, for example, declares [...]

The article evaluates several concept cars for 2017 including Cadillac Escala, Mercedes Maybach 6 and Buick Velite.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992 did not bother major motor manufacturers. The role of the manufacturers in the setting of the standards which was concurrent with their adoption of these energy requirements and competitiveness of the market are seeen as the two factors for this complacency. However, motor users are exhorted to be aware of this policy in order to be able to factor in reliability, costs and efficiency in the maximization of their return on investment., Most motor manufacturers already meet or exceed the efficiency requirements of the Energy Policy Act. However, to maximize return on investment, motor users must consider reliability and initial cost as [...]

Buick has decided to pull out of the Indy 500. Ford and Chevrolet are now contending for the void left by the company. In its bid, Chevy significantly reduced its engine size in order to harness the aerodynamic advantages afforded to those using small Ford engines. A corollary development is the new chassis being designed by the Rahal/Hogan Racing team in order to complement the advantages of this new Chevy engine., This year the 200-lap classic pits Ford against Chevy. Last year's Indy 500 saw Roberto Guerrero qualify for the race in a Buick-powered car with a record-breaking speed of 232.482 [...]

There's a war brewing in Indy car racing, and the big battle will be at the Indianapolis 500, the first 500-mile race of the season and perhaps the most well-known [...]

NEW CAR MODELS UNVEILED each year reflect the increasing contribution of electronics technology toward better automobiles. Electronics contribute to higher levels of vehicle performance, serviceability, product differentiation, reliability, and safety [...]

In the recent issue (June 5) Leland Teschler leads off with an editorial about the scarcity of high-mileage cars in the 1970s and the scarcity of them today. Then, a [...]

POWER HALL-EFFECT SENSORS TAKE TO THE ROAD The typical luxury car can employ up tone one hundred sensors to monitor doors, windows, fluid levels, acceleration, and seat position. In many [...]

Modular Controllers for Future Engines U.S. AUTOMAKERS ARE UNDER intense pressure from two quarters. On the one hand, the Federal government continues to issue more stringent fuel-consumption and emissions standards. [...]

GIVING CARS A MIND OF THEIR OWN Automobile-navigation technology may soon turn road maps into collector's items. Instead of fumbling with a map, drivers in the future will describe a [...]

POWERFUL CHIPS DRIVE AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS Automakers are pushing chip makers to produce components that will help them comply with new, tougher laws at both the state and Federal level. The [...]

According to independent testing by Argonne and Sandia National Labs, the TPS ignition can boost fuel efficiency by up to 20% while reducing NOx emissions by more than 50%. In the decades ahead, auto companies can achieve large fuel efficiency gains and emission reductions by rethinking their approach to ignition, and it's time they did so with urgency. Over the years, automotive OEMs have implemented several approaches that have increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, including gasoline directinjection (GDI), turbocharged engines, supercharged Miller-cycle engines and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). [Extracted from the article]

The federal government and the US Council for Automotive Research, composed of DaimlerChrysler Corp, Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co, combined resources and expertise to develop technologies for building revolutionary vehicles capable of running 80 miles on a gallon of fuel and are compliant to federal safety and emission requirements. Their alliance gave birth to the cooperative research and development program called Partnership for a New Generation Vehicles (PNGV). To date, PNGV is focusing on developing compression-ignition direct-injection diesel engine technology., CIDI engine technology builds the ultimate diesel beast The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) is a cooperative research and development program between the federal government and the [...]

Mitsubishi Motors Corp is continuing on improving its proprietary gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engine technology. Unlike a diesel engine, the injection timing of the GDI engine is controlled to match load conditions and the fuel control allows for the combustion of a very lean mixture of gasoline and air for high fuel efficiency. The GDI engine also reduces hydrocarbon emissions faster, resulting in cleaner emissions. Mitsubishi, however, does not use the engine in the US because the gasoline used in the country contain sulfur levels that degenerate the engine catalytic converter., Gasoline direct-injection technology may foster super-efficient powerplants for future autos As automakers race to build more efficient engines, engineers at Mitsubishi Motors Corp. continue to develop and improve the gasoline [...]

Robert Bosch GmbH has developed the Bifunction Litronic headlight that is capable of low and high-beam light distribution using only one discharge bulb and one variable-focus reflector. Automobile drivers can electromechanically change the position of bulbs using a small motor and gear. Computer design techniques allowed the developers to maximize the use of the reflecting surface., Stuttgart, Germany - On an extremely dark night, on a hillside in Germany, a band of journalists gathered recently along a deserted roadway. Silently they peered ahead along a road [...]

Craig Breedlove will attempt to break the world land-speed record. Breedlove will be driving a third-generation Spirit of America jet racer. The 44-ft.-long jet racer is powered by a GE J-79 engine from an F-4 Phantom which has been modified so it can run on gasoline instead of jet fuel. UK's Richard Noble holds the current world land-speed record of 633 mph which he set at Nevada's Black Rock Desert in 1983., American racer uses trial-and-error engineering in an attempt try to regain the land-speed record. In trying to reclaim the world land-speed record-cracking 700 mph, ideally-Craig Breedlove has made extensive changes [...]

ELECTRONIC BACKSEAT DRIVERS GET AROUND ROADBLOCKS Automatic collision-avoidance systems today help drivers change lanes safely and avoid backing into things. If government and private research efforts succeed, the future may [...]

The article discusses the possibility of the U.S. switching to natural gas for its transportation. According to the article, natural gas would save money that could be used to finance alternative energy research, but natural gas vehicles (NGV) require natural gas filing stations that are not commonly installed. The use of liquid natural gas (LNG) by long-haul truckers and the building of bifuel trucks by manufacturers including Chrysler, General Motors, and Volkswagen are mentioned.

The article offers information regarding the advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) which is considered to be the material that is finding out the swift development of automobiles. It mentions that the qualities of AHSS, such as high-strength and high-ductility, come from distinctive microstructures of metal such as the combination of martensite, bainite, and ferrite phases. Moreover, previous studies had shown that application of AHSS can reduce the automobile's weight amid 10 and 25 percent.

The article evaluates several cars including e-tron all-electric compact sports car from Audi AG, Concept ActiveE car from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) Prius from Toyota Motor Corp.

The article evaluates several automobiles including the Dodge Zeo from Dodge, the Cadillac Provoq from Cadillac, and the Lexus LF-A Roadster from Lexus.

Presents information on the concept cars unveiled by several automobile manufacturers in 2006. Features of the Urge automobile from Nissan; Combination of sporty performance and flexible use of space in the Mini concept car; Design concept for the Volvo C30 aimed at younger consumers.

Describes several automobiles that will be featured in the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Syn; Lexus LF-A; Acura RD-X; Toyota FT-SX.

Describes the vehicles showcased at the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) headquarters of Ford Motors Co. in Dearborn, Michigan. Appearance design for the SVT Mustang Cobra vehicles; Engineering design of the Ford GT; Engine specifications of the Ford GT; Engine specifications of the Ford H2RV; Features of the H2RV. INSETS: WHY DOES FORD OWN A FERRARI?;DRIVE A DREAM: LIVING LEGENDS CONTEST.

Introduces automobiles featured at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Mercury Messenger; Cadillac Sixteen; Ford 427. INSET: FORD 427.

Presents information on the automobiles designed and created by the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) of Ford Motor Co. SVT Focus; SVT Mustang Cobra; SVT F-150 Lightning. INSET: 2002 SVT Focus -- POCKET ROCKET.

Provides information on the 2001 Saleen S7 supercar from specialty carmaker Saleen Inc. in Irvine, California. Objectives in the design and construction of the car; Structure of the chassis and suspension systems from Ray Mallock Ltd.; Performance features of the car; Availability and price.

The world's rarest automobile --a 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 convertible concept car--could have 'killed' the Corvette, had it been allowed to go into production. While Chevrolet was coming out with the [...]

Focuses on the environmental impact of auto emissions. Measures taken by the automobile industry to minimize the problem; Development of Ranger EV automobile by Ford Motor Co.; Comparison of an internal-combustion engine with a fuel-cell engine.

Highlights several 1998 model automobiles, focusing on the safety features of these automobiles. Profile of several of the 1998 automobiles; Detailed information on the specifications of the automobiles.

Reports on `Machine Design' magazine's first annual Best Ride competition which involved ten 1997 four-door sedans. Top honors taken by the Ford Taurus; Test procedure; Ride test for rough-pavement performance; Judging of higher speed performance; Braking tests; First place votes for the Pontiac Grand Prix and Mazda 626.

Presents Chevrolet's concept cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles showcased at the Specialty Equipment Market Association/Auto International Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. ZL2-Plus 4; Rad Tracker; Tahoe; Cavalier ZR-24 MOAB; LT5 Impala SS.

Features several 1997 model automobiles. Includes Toyota Camry; Pontiac Grand Prix; Chevrolet Malibu; Cadillac Catera; Cadillac DeVille Concours; Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Focuses on the technical innovations for Toyota and Lexus cars designed at the Calty Design Research studio in California. Jet pump in the divided fuel tank in the Toyota RAV4; Reduction of nose dives during braking using a MacPherson strut front suspension; Flexible pin-joint to absorb engine vibration; Driver-select locking rear differential system.

Features 1996 model automobiles in the United States. Includes the Porsche 911 Turbo; Dodge Viper RT/10; Corvette's two-passenger line; Pontiac Firebird.

Features the automobiles models scheduled for release in 1995. Includes Chrysler Cirrus; Dodge Stratus; Dodge Avenger; Chrysler Sebring; Porsche 911 Carrera; Mercury Mystique; Ford Contour; Toyota Avalon; BMW 540i; Subaru Legacy; Ford Explorer.

Presents photographs of automobile models introduced at the 1994 International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Includes Concept 1 automobile by Volkswagen; Ford Power Stroke; Mercedes Vision A; Mitsubishi HSR-IV.

Presents car models for 1994. Dodge Ram, Neon, Caravan and Voyager from Chrysler; Changes to the Dodge Stealth; Toyota's Celica; Changes on Lexus' ES 300; Sedanlike truck from Nissan; Honda Accord.

The Buick Regal seems to have shrunk a bit on the outside, but it still seems like your standard, ail-American sedan. And I say this knowing that for the CXL [...]

You wouldn't normally think a sedan with a 3.5-liter V6 as a candidate for a hybrid drive train. In the case of the Lexus GS450h, however, combining the big V6 [...]

Engineers at Jaguar Cars Ltd. took a truly innovative approach when designing the C-X75 concept car. The two-seater's hybrid drive uses a 145-kW (195-hp) hub motor on each wheel, giving [...]

The Transition, a flying car from Terrafugia, Woburn. Mass., is scheduled to go on sale late next year, making it the first FAA-approved and street-legal 'flying car' to hit the [...]

That's why our annual Indy 500 issue garners a lot of attention, our Web site gets particularly higher volume when we feature racing lawnmowers or the latest mountain bike, and [...]

The world record for a wind-powered car is 126.1 mph, set last year by British engineer Richard Jenkins on a stretch of the Mohave Desert near the California-Nevada border. But [...]

To motorheads and car aficionados, hybrids probably have about as much appeal as minivans. There's not much power or sex appeal to either of them. Sure there's the Tesla, but [...]

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in previous issues including "Teamwork in overrated" in the August 6, 2009 issue, the article that discusses the review of E85 in the May 21, 2009 issue, and an editorial "Car buying in the age of bankruptcy" in the July 9, 2009 issue.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in the previous issues including "Not Enough Juice" in the May 21 issue, about driving a General Motors Corp. (GCM) pickup and a Chevy Monte Carlo automobile and about the fluctuation of fuel prices.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "MPG figures that aren't what they seem" in the September 11, 2008 issue, an editorial section that discusses the mileage of the car, and the issue regarding the strict NOx requirements.