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National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) says it is not ruling out a bid for Saab Parts, to provide the appropriate level of aftermarket service to future customers.

Saab says it is already testing a prototype electric vehicle in Beijing ahead of its proposed launch next year through the auspices of its new owner.

Videos 11 Oct, 2013

'Creating a symphony with 7 generations of Porsche 911' advertisement

Toyota, BMW's Mini and Ford have all announced new driver aids this week that are either available now or under development.

News 11 Oct, 2013

MINI reveals new advanced in-car technology and driver assistance systems ahead of new hatch's debut next month

Pictures 11 Oct, 2013

China auto sales rose 21 percent in September to an eight-month high, as Japanese automakers rebounded from a consumer backlash sparked by a territorial dispute last year. The Ford Focus was the best-selling sedan last month.

A few weeks ago, we asked you if you would be interested in a Ford Ecosport, a compact sport utility based on the

The past two days have been quite an emotional roller coaster. First, we were crushed to hear that the end of the line is fast approaching for the rugged, beloved

Toyota sees fuel cells as the key to a bright, green future, with

The Department of Energy will consider bids to purchase Fisker Automotive's government loan on Friday in what could be the start of a lengthy and expensive process to revive the dormant green-car startup.

Daimler randd chief Thomas Weber believes that the Mercedes B-class Electric Drive will outpace the BMW i3 and other competitors in the fast-growing EV segment.

The Mini brand is set to undergo a major change as up to 10 next-generation models adopt the front-wheel-drive UKL architecture from parent BMW.

VW's top executives are said to be divided over whether and how workers at the company's U.S. assembly plant should be represented by a union.

Toyota will introduce safety systems in about two years enabling cars to communicate with each other to avoid collision. The move is another step toward self-driving cars, analysts said.

Toyota wasn't at fault in a fatal accident in which a 66-year-old woman crashed her Camry into a tree after it sped out of control in the wrong direction on a one-way road, a U.S. jury said.

Volkswagen's top executives are said to be divided over whether and how workers at the company's U.S. assembly plant should be represented by a union.

After detailing my profound hatred of ultra-loud car stereos in last week's blog, I now want to focus on the cult of noise (yeah, I'm calling it that), as well as its physical and legal consequences.

About decibels...
Merriam-Webster defines the decibel (dB) as a “degree of loudness,” or more precisely “a unit for expressing the ratio of two amounts of electric or acoustic signal power equal to 10 times the common logarithm of this ratio.” The higher the decibel count, the greater the risk of damaging your hearing. The human threshold of pain is 120 dB, a night club gets close to 110 dB, and a quiet city street is 50 dB (Source: Psychoacoustique, Marie-Claire Boete, Edition Inserm.)

One time is enough
Myth: Only frequent exposure to loud noise leads to hearing loss.

Science has shown that people can develop troubles like total or partial deafness, hyperacusis, and tinnitus after listening to a single loud noise.

What's more, alcohol and fatigue are some factors that inhibit our sound sensitivity; the risk of hearing loss increases because you tend to crank up the volume higher before you start to feel any pain.

You vs. others
If you want to go deaf at a young age that's your problem, but like I told you last week, this doesn't entitle you to make people around you suffer. There are laws in place to counter noise pollution in many cities across Canada, including Montreal:

• Noise whose sound pressure level is greater than the maximum set by ordinance, or noise
• specifically prohibited under this by-law, constitutes a nuisance and is prohibited as being
• contrary to peace and order.
• Any holder of a motor vehicle that produces a noise whose sound pressure level is greater
• than the maximum set by ordinance contravenes this by-law.

PENAL PROVISIONS
Any person who contravenes this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable:
(1) for a first offence, to a fine of $100 to $300;
(2) for a second offence, to a fine of $300 to $500;
(3) for a subsequent offence, to a fine of $500 to $1000.
(Source: ville.montreal.qc.ca)

“My stereo's louder than yours!”
While searching for this blog, I couldn't believe the insanely powerful sound systems certain folks fit to their car. For instance, I came across a Scion xB with a 15” subwoofer, eight amplifiers, and 24 batteries. Of course, that's nothing when compared with a Ford F-250 that has 12 subwoofers, 48 amplifiers, and 72 batteries for a combined 72,000 watts of sound!

These vehicles have to use armoured glass and bolted doors to cope with the sound pressure generated by their stereos. I know it's all for competition purposes, but to me it makes as much sense as trying to gulp the most hot dogs in three minutes. The difference is that those eating champs make a quiet carnage.

Bottom line
We live in a society where one's freedom ends where another's begins, and there are laws against noise pollution to deter those who like to blast their music through the entire neighbourhood. Offenders must remember that they'll lose not only a chunk of money, but more importantly, some or even all of their hearing ability.

Please keep the volume to a reasonable level!

Source: rqcb.ca

Photo: Philippe Champoux

NASCAR driver, Travis Kvapil, was released from jail, in Mooresville, NC, on bail Wednesday and permitted to practice for the Charlotte Motor Speedway race on Thursday for Saturday night's race.

Kvapil had been accused of assaulting his wife at their home in a suburb of Charlotte, NC. In the United States an arrest is an accusation and a general principal of law he is innocent until proven guilty. That's why he was released from jail on a bond.

Since Kvapil has not been convicted of any crime, so far, NASCAR permitted him to practice on Thursday afternoon.

“NASCAR does not condone the actions with which Travis Kvapil has been charged and we are disappointed to learn of this incident. We have been in close communication with the race team and are in the process of gathering as much information as possible. NASCAR takes this matter very seriously and will continue to monitor the situation as it moves forward." - NASCAR statement.

His BK Racing team officials' issued a statement “"BK Racing understands the severity of the situation and we don't condone the actions that Travis has been accused of," commented Ron Devine, co-owner of BK Racing. "We feel it's important to let the system take its course. For that reason, we have elected to support Travis and his family and keep Travis in the car for this weekend's race. Further comment will be available as additional information becomes available”

From GMM

Maria de Villota, who lost an eye after a near-fatal F1 testing crash last year, died early on Friday.

The 33-year-old Spaniard was found dead in a hotel room in Seville, where she was to give a lecture, Cadena Ser radio reported.

Marca sports newspaper said de Villota's family, led by former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, confirmed the death but did not yet know the cause.

"Dear friends: Maria has left us.
She had to go to heaven like all angels. We are thankful to God for the extra year and a half that he left her with us," read the statement of her family.

Maria de Villota. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso said after Friday practice in Japan: "I just took my helmet off and (manager) Luis (Garcia Abad) told me.

"I can only pray for her and all her family," Alonso is quoted by El Pais newspaper.

De Villota sustained serious head and facial injuries in July last year when the Marussia she was testing at Duxford, UK, inexplicably drove into the loading ramp of a truck.


UPDATE

Maria de Villota was in the Spanish city to give a presentation ahead of the launch of her autobiography, 'La vida es un regalo' (Life is a gift), and according to reports had appeared in perfect health on Monday.

Spanish motor racing president Carlos Gracia, who said de Villota had sent him an email at about midnight on Monday, told Marca newspaper: "All I know for now is that her personal assistant, Arancha, came into the room and could not wake her.

"She was already dead. Apparently it was a natural death, but we know nothing," he added.

Manuel Franco, the F1 correspondent for the sports newspaper AS, added: "There were no drugs found or any signs of violence, so she is likely to have died of natural causes."

Spanish television Antena 3, who said de Villota has suffered from migraines since recovering from the near-fatal 2012 crash, revealed there will be an autopsy.