Author: autoevolution

The notion of continuously variable transmissions (CVT) is most commonly used in modest-powered automobiles. But, if we look closer at the transportation industry, we’ll find that CVTs are also used on bicycles. The latest examples that demonstrates this comes from the U.S. Io DuPont company, who is currently building a prototype of an innovative CVT destined for pedal-power.

The transmission, called Infinity Drive, has been tested through computerized simulations, with a real model expected … (read more)

The fact that Sebastian Vettel’s problems in the 2010 Australian Grand Prix have not been brake-related, as initially believed, is no news to anyone, as it had emerged shortly after the race had ended that it was in fact a damaged wheel mounting that caused the German to lose control of his car and run into the gravel.

Following his DNF in the gravel, Vettel was heard by the worldwide audience of the Aussie race telling his team, via radio, that his front left brake had been damaged. And, alt… (read more)

First unveiled at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January, the new electric vehicle charging station from Ricardo and PEP Stations will also be present at this years NYIAS event. The two companies will offer live demonstrations of the ‘pay at the plug’ station to the show’s visitors.

The pavilion will feature an indoor ride-and-drive test track and will show how drivers of electric vehicles can access electricity via an access card or credit card just like tod… (read more)

The Cool Hunting iPad application, set to be launched on April 3, is being sponsored and inspired by GM’s 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe. In the first twelve weeks following the release of the application, the car’s design and performance will inspire the hunt for cool things with the help of Apple’s latest gadget.

The Cadillac CTS Coupe serves as muse for our design and technology stories. Josh Rubin, founder Cool Hunting said in a release.

We’re always looking for ways to inspire our audience … (read more)

After Mark Webber, another member of the Red Bull Racing organization, former Grand Prix driver and current advisor for the Milton Keynes team David Coulthard also defended Lewis Hamilton following his incident with the Victorian police last weekend.

The 2008 Formula One champion was pulled over by the police on Friday, after doing some burnouts for the fans. The incident was blown way out of proportion, leading to Victoria’s Road Minister Tim Pallas calling Hamilton a d***head for endangerin… (read more)

wCamouflage is a technique which has made its way through the Darwinian Scheme of Evolution, starting from ancient creatures and reaching present time marketing strategies. In order to look greener, automotive manufacturers use a plethora of tricks, ranging from planting trees to supporting cycling championships. Honda seems to fancy the last one, as its UK arm has announced that it is extending its partnership with the country’s cycling world through the introduction of multiple partnerships wi… (read more)

The Porsche Panamera has become one of the tuning companies’ favorite targets, so customers in the market for a modified German exquisite saloon have an ever increasing range of options to choose from.

The latest enhancement kit for the Porsche Panamera (Turbo) comes from Switzerland and has been released by Sportec. The Sportec SP560 package (this is how the Panamera Turbo was baptized by the tuner) had been previously presented but now the company has released some of its details.

The t… (read more)

The Australian division of Subaru announced today it is planning to further enhance the Forester’s All-Wheel Drive appeal to customers by adding an adventure-ready accessory pack. During the month of April, the Forester X models will feature extras valued at more than AU$2000 for no extra cost.

Forester X models are priced from AU$30,990 for the manual and AU$32,990 for the automatic version.

As with every vehicle in the Subaru range, Forester X variants have a five-star crash worthiness r… (read more)

… for at least 15 more days. American manufacturer GM, the best friend of the US government in 2009, announced today it will delay the release of last year’s financial report (yes, it has one) because it is trying to determine what is worth how much…

"Due to the size of the company, the global application of fresh-start reporting and the associated determination of the fair value of its assets and liabilities is a significant undertaking, which requires extra time," GM wrote in… (read more)

After getting one of their drivers to the finish line of a Formula One grand prix – namely Karun Chandhok, in Australia – Hispania Racing F1 Team has set some bolder plans for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix. According to the team’s principal Colin Kolles, HRT F1 will target a two-driver race finish at Sepang, as he’s confident there are some couple of seconds still to squeeze from their 2010 challengers.

After starting the season with a 10-second gap from the front-runners, HRT have improv… (read more)

Tire manufacturer Dunlop recently unveiled its latest product, the Dunlop D211 GP-A tires, at the Auto Club Speedway AMA National in the US. Used exclusively in the Daytona SportBike and SuperSport classes, the D211 GP-A follows the Sportmax D211 GP made in the UK.

The Sportmax D211 GP-A complements Dunlop’s family of Sportmax tires, shares both IRP and MT technology with the Sportmax Q2-a tire designed for street and track use, and borrows the MT technology with the sport/touring oriented Sp… (read more)

T minus 16 seconds: take foot of accelerator. T minus 10 seconds: put foot on brake pedal. 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… apply brake… 3… brake!… 2… BRAKE!!!… 1… brake fail,  we have crash of the 24th attempt to stop a Toyota…

This is how a future NASA countdown protocol may sound like, after a group of nine NASA scientists, experts in electronics, electromagnetic interference, software integrity and complex problem solving has been commissioned by Transportation Secretary Ray L… (read more)

Will Power seems to be on a roll this season, as the Australian driver recorded his second win in a row in the 2010 IndyCar series, taking the chequered flag of the St Petersburg race less than a second ahead of Dreyer & Reinbold’s Justin Wilson.

Penske could have had all its drivers on the overall podium hadn’t it been for Wilson, as Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Power dominated the St Petersburg weekend in style, scoring fastest … (read more)

The upcoming 2010 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), which will be held between April 2 – 11 at the Jacob Javits Center, will make off-road enthusiasts feel like it’s 2004 all over again.

No, no time machine will have its world premiere at the event, but Camp Jeep, the ultimate outdoor auto show off-road driving test, will be present, returning to the show where it debuted six years ago.

Jeep’s off-road indoor course marketing tool has been featured in the NYIAS in the past years, b… (read more)

A legend among avid motorcyclists, the Indian motorcycle has long been one of the most iconic two-wheeled American rides. It, however, never got to the West Coast, But as the word goes, good things come to those who wait. One hundred and nine years after it was founded in 1901, the reborn Indian motorcycle is finally making its West Coast premiere.

The grand opening of Indian Motorcycle Los Angeles in Harbor City will take place on April 17 – 18, when five new 2010 models will be unveiled for… (read more)

Only a few days after the exciting Australian Grand Prix, the teams are now preparing for the upcoming race in Malaysia, scheduled to take place this very weekend. And, according to F1 tire manufacturer Bridgestone, the teams should prepare for some entirely different conditions at the Sepang circuit, which will affect the tires far more as compared to the first couple of races in 2010.

Of course, this will happen in case the weather in Malaysia will be as hot as usual. Past experiences have … (read more)

Dogs of all breeds, unite! It’s time to put an end to all the pointless barking at the tires routine… Can’t you see it’s not working? Can’t you see nobody pays any attention to us? Or worse, they laugh and spit out infamies: "Uh, uh, mom, look, what a nice puppy.. And IT has a thing for our wheels…"

No, we don’t have a thing for your wheels, curly blonde. WE HATE CARS (except for those stupid pets, who ride amongst men, their head out the window and their tongue dangling in the… (read more)

THINK, the Scandinavian creator of the City electric vehicle, has inaugurated a new product development site at its corporate headquarters in Fornebu, Olso (Norway).

The carmaker’s team of  70 technicians and engineers will soon start working at the center , using its modern facilities, such as a dedicated climate chamber, dynamometer, clean room and multiple laboratories dedicated to electrical equipment testing.

As the development is based at the company’s expanding corporate headquart… (read more)

Although penalized by the FIA for his race incident with Lewis Hamilton, Australian racer Mark Webber did not hesitate in defending the 2008 F1 champion following his short encounter with the Victorian police last weekend.

As we’ve reported to you on Friday, the British ace was pulled over by the police for doing some burnouts with his Mercedes C63 AMG. He was fined and his car was confiscated by the police for 48 hours, after which Hamilton issued a public apology for the incident. And if th… (read more)

Much like all the other seasons until now, the battle between drivers in Formula One is matched by the one between manufacturers. While the racers use everything they’ve got to try and edge each one’s rival for point finishes, the manufacturers are placing themselves in an ongoing war to limit one another in terms of technical innovations.

After the famous F-duct system introduced by McLaren Mercedes during the Bahrain GP – a device that can be triggered by the driver via his knee – it was no… (read more)