Gizmodo Australia » automobiles

Mercedes Prototype Automatically Slams On Brakes At Red Lights

Mark Wilson — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The light has been yellow for too long, and you’re not making it through the intersection before it’s red. But either you don’t notice or you don’t care. But even though your foot is on the gas, the car brakes.

Mercedes-Benz is experimenting with this very scenario at their R&D facility in Palo Alto.

Using a smart intersection, the light essentially communicates with the car. And if the driver still isn’t responsive to, say, brake after several warnings of a red light, the car can stop itself. (Start the clip around 50 seconds in for the full demo.)

Mercedes-Benz admits that, though the technology is “almost there”, we’re still a decade out from its deployment. After all, every stoplight in America would need an upgrade to smart intersection status (for which there are no agreed standards). Plus, given that these intersections would cost money that would surely be lost through less tickets, it’s hard to imagine where the money will come from.

So what do you think? Is this a handy safety feature or a limit on our human rights to break the law? [BBG]

Electromagnetic Car Drives Us Crazy And Nowhere

Mark Wilson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:20:00 +0000

If we lived in a world so sweet that anything artists could draft was instantly a functional product, you still couldn’t drive the “Peugeot” ELA.

Powered by a diminutive solar panel on the roof, the car glides over air without the hindrance of friction thanks to electromagnetic propulsion, like you might might see in a high speed rail.

And herein dies the fantasy, as our infrastructure is one of pavement and concrete, not awesome magnet tracks of The Future.

But we’d still accept a gift of this non-functional car of tomorrow, if only to park it in the driveway, wax it every Sunday and obsessively open/close the front hatch until the hinge broke. [Yanko Design via ubergizmo]

Backwards Painted Truck Doubles As Pants Crapper 3000

Mark Wilson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:20:00 +0000

I can’t imagine the momentary terror of a semi coming straight at me on the open road, nor can this trucker imagine the keying coming his way the first time someone crashes as result of his prank. [imgur via jalopnik]

80s Superhero Alert: Motorcycle Features Full-Sized Sidecar

Mark Wilson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:02:52 +0000

The sidecar always seemed like a precarious way to ride a motorcycle. So maybe it’s a good thing that this ridiculous yet awe-indicting “Snaefell” fit a whole 2-seater car on the side of a bike.

It’s the product of 10 years and $US20,000 worth of custom work, a combination of a Kawasaki 1000 RX the and a Citroën Xantia…along with who knows what else (though Laverda is name-dropped, too). And it reminds us how wonderful the world would be if only more of our transportation were designed by the M.A.S.K. team. [Snaefell via Auto Motto via DVICE]

New Prius Hybrid Dashboard Photos

Brian Lam — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:43:28 +0000

The dashboard looks primitive, especially next to the Ford hybrid dashes that grows leaves when you hypermill. But it’s rated at 50mpg under mixed driving, and is supposed to be faster than the old model.

As previously mentioned, the car also has a solar panel used in the roof used to ventilate the car while parked, reducing AC usage once in motion, and LED taillights and daytime running lights.

The fore mentioned Ford dash, here:

Full details of the new Prius are over at Jalopnik.
[NetCarShow via Jalopnik]

Argentine Aerocar Flew Down Highways with Gigantic Propeller

Mark Wilson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:20:00 +0000

Back in the October 1955 edition of Mechanix Illustrated, readers got a glimpse of their automotive future that never was. The Argentine Aerocar eschewed the normal automotive design for GIANT PROPELLER BLADE technology.

The photo tells you pretty much all that we know—the car could reach 160kph using a giant fan to power its motion…probably forcing those driving behind to progress a bit less quickly.

But we can’t help but be a little remiss that our future is one of near-silent whirring electric engines rather than the apocalyptic roar of an airboat loose on pavement. You know how sometimes the passenger will hop out of the car, get behind it and help the driver parallel park? That would not happen in said future. [modern mechanix via MAKE]

Michelin Develops Revolutionary Active Wheel for Electric Cars

Jack Loftus — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Is this tire really the “Holy Grail of Eco-Transportation,” as Treehugger believes? Maybe. Time will tell if the electric engine inside the Active Wheel from Michelin will catch on and further drive down the cost of electric vehicles. For now, let’s delve deep into this tire-motor combo, and you can decide for yourself if it has what it takes to kill the gas-guzzling combustion engine for good.

The wheels, while still in development over at Michelin, already have a vehicle ready to receive them. Called the Heuliez Will, this tiny tot from Opel doesn’t look like much, but it has it where it counts, and might produce an offspring that, in in a galaxy far, far away, makes the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Or requires no gasoline to run. Probably the latter.

Even more impressive is the notion that in-wheel motors would free up space in the front or rear of the vehicle. This model also eliminates the need for other notorious space hogs like transmissions and exhaust systems. More room means more freedom for tomorrow’s automobile designers, and cooler cars for we consumers. (*fingers crossed* anyway).

The target price for the Opel right now is about $US24,000-37,000, which puts it in line with the upcoming so-called savior of Detroit, the Chevy Volt. Testing on the Opel has already begun, with an official consumer roll out expected by 2011. Active Wheels are also expected to come standard on the Venturi Volage sometime in 2012. [Michelin via Treehugger]

Only 25 Tesla Roadsters Left On Sale For 2009

Gizmodo US Edition — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Tesla Motors has finally begun deliveries of its awesome 100-percent electric Tesla Roadster, but eco-conscious sports car fanatics willing to plunk down the US$109,000 need to reserve one quick. The company said it only has 25 production slots left for the second quarter of 2009. Locking in a reservation will cost a refundable US$5000. An additional US$55,000 will give you a set production slot and delivery time frame.

For your money, you’ll be getting one of the fastest all electric vehicles around. The 2009MY can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds, has a top speed of 200 kph, and can go 365km on a 3.5 hour charge. If you’re especially opulent, you can add sweet extras like a painted carbon fibre top for US$3,200 or a premium leather interior for US$1,800.

Want to think a little more before you let this sweet lil’ ride burn a hole through your bank account? Here’s a couple of reviews to help you make your decision. Or if you’re in California, scuttle over to their dealership in LA. [Tesla Motors]

The GMC Van Makes a Comeback on eBay, Baby

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:15:00 +0000

Some of my best childhood memories are napping-away in the back bed-seat of our old van. But this four-axle GMC is going to make me need some therapy. Because aside from stylish oak kitchen cabinets and a comfortable La-Z-Boy recliner, the van makes room for a sauna (and they don’t just mean that the A/C doesn’t work…from what we can tell). Sure, that solar-powered Prius will get you slightly better MPG, but legroom’s gotta count for something. And in this case, your legroom can be in a voluntarily sweaty, hellish environment. [eBay via Jalopnik]

Chrysler UConnect In-Car Wi-Fi Detailed

Mark Wilson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Chrysler hasn’t exactly hidden their intentions on bringing Wi-Fi to their automobiles, but today they’ve come forth with all the fun details. If you’re interested in the UConnect service, the wireless broadband router will cost US$449 plus another US$50 for installation. Then, if you’d actually like to browse the web on the device, that’ll be another US$29 per month. While it certainly seems like the next logical step in shutting up your children in the backseat, who out there is willing to shell out another big pile of money on internet access just for the car? Until we have at least five more (legitimate) children, we’ll be sticking to our overpriced handset plan that goes with us everywhere, thanks. [freep via Jalopnik]