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Speciality chemicals company Lanxess is expanding its Gastonia, North Carolina, compounding facility for high-tech plastics by adding a second production line.

New vehicle sales in Vietnam increased by 36% to 11,173 units in July, from 8,209 units in the same month of last year, according to data released by the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers Association.

Germany's Federal Cartel Authority has authorised the takeover of IMA Automation Amberg by Preh

News 14 Aug, 2014

Toyota unveils second design for FT-1 Concept, and a hotter Vision GT version makes its virtual debut in Gran Turismo 6

Pictures See all 7 pictures 14 Aug, 2014

Features 16 Aug, 2014

Price comparison sites are getting more and more popular, but are buyers getting the best deal?

China will fine Audi about 250 million yuan (30.4 million euros) for violating anti-monopoly laws, the 21st Century Business Herald, an influential business daily, reported on Thursday.

China will fine Audi about 250 million yuan ($40 million) for violating anti-monopoly laws, the 21st Century Business Herald, an influential business daily, reported on Thursday.

News 14 Aug, 2014

US experts assessed cars for their vulnerabilities with Jeep Cherokee and Cadillac Escalade the easiest to hijack

The world's automakers are going to be doing a lot of cringing now that J.D. Power plans to criticize them for one of the most poorly executed technologies they offer to consumers -- voice recognition.

As U.S. auto sales and output roar back to levels many in the industry feared they would never see again, leading industry economists and forecasters have a warning: Dark clouds are on the horizon.

The world's automakers are going to be doing a lot of cringing now that J.D. Power plans to criticize them for one of the most poorly executed technologies they offer to consumers -- voice recognition.

Today we take a closer look to the infamous fuel flow sensors; the device that led to the disqualification of Daniel Ricciardo and his Red Bull RB10 from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.

Racecar Engineering recently posted a very complete feature on that topic.

To limit the power of the new Formula 1 V6 Power Units, the FIA introduced two major new regulations this season: the fuel tank is limited to 100kg (220 pounds) of fuel, and the amount of fuel the V6 engine can swallow per hour, which is limited to 100kg.

In Formula 1, fuel load in F1 is calculated by mass (kg) rather than volume (litres).

Like in sportscar racing such as Le Mans' LMP categories, there is a restriction on how fast the fuel can be injected into the engine. In other words, it would be like if there was some kind of a funnel at the end of the fuel line prior to the motor.

Fuel rate varies constantly depending on various factors such as engine speed. However, at peak power, the fuel low in F1 cannot exceed 100kg/hour.



The above video shows how flow rate changes over a lap of the road course at Daytona International road course.

The simulated car is an LMP2 but the data is similar to what would be seen in an F1 car. The box on the top left shows the instant flow rate, the central box shows the same but in a cleaner form, whilst the top left shows the total fuel consumption.

In F1, the FIA mandates all cars to carry a spec fuel flow sensor. Generally it is installed inside the fuel cell area of the car. These sensors are made by Gill Sensors, a British company that specialises in devices used to monitor fluids.

Gill fuel flow sensor (Photo: Gill)

The Gill meter works using ultrasonic technology to calculate the flow rate.

The sensor uses the differential transit time principle to measure the velocity of fluid using ultrasound and time of flight technology, by detecting the time an ultrasonic pulse takes to reach one transducer from another.

Since the technology used the sensor has no moving parts, this solid-state approach means there is minimal interference to the flow path, resulting in higher accuracy, the company says.

FIA officials can monitor fuel flow in each car when it is out on the race circuit, and an alarm is set when the maximum flow of 100kg/hour is exceeded.

Fuel-cell vehicles are slowly but surely gaining ground in the quest to find sustainable mobility solutions, but the average consumer doesn't know how they work.

Hyundai, which developed the Tucson FCEV, came up with this animated infographic to show how hydrogen is transformed into electricity within the fuel cell and how it all safely comes together to move the vehicle.

Source : hyundailikesunday.com

In an interview he gave to ESPN, Venezuelan Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado said he does not regret having moved from Williams to Lotus.

This seems to be a bit difficult to understand since Maldonado suffered a series of technical woes since the start of the season with Lotus, and has failed to score a single championship point.

In the meantime, team Williams lies fourth in the constructors' championship (just behind Ferrari), having finished on the podium three times so far this season.

"I'm feeling better," Maldonado declared.

"I was not feeling really bad at Williams. I felt good, especially in my first two years when I won and also when I first started with Rubens [Barrichello] as a teammate,” he said.

"But last year I felt like it was the time to discover something else for myself. We were not getting progression in terms of development, but for sure I knew that this year would not be a repeat of 2013 [for Williams] because they got the Mercedes engine and they have a good car. The extra power is helping them quite a lot in my opinion,” he explained.

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus (Photop: Lotus F1 Team)

How come Lotus has had so many problems this season?

“At Lotus, in the past, they used to have some of the best cars in F1, always really clean and good. This year maybe the package is not working together, but it's not that the car is really bad because our numbers are quite good in terms of downforce and efficiency. Now maybe the biggest problem is the lack of power and the big difference between engines,” he explained.

Lotus' technical director Nick Chester gave more insights in an interview posted on Formula1.com.

“We were hurt at the start of the year because of the car being late - plus we had pretty poor reliability, so in Melbourne we were in pretty bad shape.,” Chertser explained.

“Over the first four races to Barcelona we then improved very heavily, in quite a few areas really. Not really just on the chassis side but also the power unit - the mapping got a lot better and we had quite a lot more power by Barcelona, where the car was performing pretty well. We haven't been happy with where we have been in the races that followed. In Monaco we expected the car to perform quite well and it didn't - we struggled with some of the low-speed corners - and then at places like Montreal and Spielberg, we struggled with the power-sensitivity of those tracks,” he said.

While a number of automakers have begun developing autonomous vehicles and even testing them on the road, a new survey of U.K. drivers by SmartWitness reveals that nearly two thirds are against government plans to allow driverless cars on British roads by January 2015.

What's more, 88% call for forward-facing cameras to be installed so that they can't be held responsible in the event of a collision.

“Two thirds of motorists said that the Government was premature in allowing driverless cars on U.K. roads and that more tests were needed to ensure the safety of the new technology,” SmartWitness Managing Director Simon Marsh said.

U.K. Business Secretary Vince Cable announced the move last month for a £10 million trial (approx. $18 million) for driverless cars to go ahead in three cities and on certain roads such as highways and in specific lanes.

Companies that are developing autonomous vehicles, including Volvo, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Honda and even Google, insist they'll be equipped with a manual over-ride, allowing the “driver” to take control if necessary.

Yet, according to SmartWitness, 69% of motorists would not want to buy a driverless car and 42.6% would refuse to go on a journey in a one.

Do you trust autonomous car technology? We'd love to get your opinion!

Source: SmartWitness

Autonomous cars (Photo: Ford)

A market research by TNS Infratest shows that sales of aftermarket parts, tires, rims and accessories have never been stronger online, reaching well over US$6 billion last year.

"Online buyers of car parts set great store by attractively priced offers and favourable terms of delivery, but the issue of security and data protection during online purchasing is central in their choice of an online shop," says Michael Plotegher, Senior Director at TNS Infratest. "The majority of online buyers always compare several offers before they opt for a particular online shop, so search engines are used intensively. Market success therefore requires very good search engine marketing and a persuasive differentiation of your online offer against the competition."

According to the experts at TNS Infratest, over half of online private buyers prefer to use the Internet to buy auto parts today, with some even making their purchases exclusively online. For 60% of tire purchases online this is already the case.

Source: TNS Infratest

From GMM

Frenchman Eric Boullier has admitted McLaren Formula 1 team is looking to eventually "refresh" its driver line-up.

Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen only debuted this year, but Mexican Sergio Perez was also only a single season into his McLaren career when he was ousted at the end of 2013.

It is rumoured strongly that, ahead of the start of its works Honda partnership, Woking based McLaren is seeking a top driver to spearhead the project, such as former team racers Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton, or four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

"I can only do my best and hope that is good enough," said Magnussen.

"Anyone at McLaren should feel that you have to deliver to your best to deserve to be there and that goes for me and Jenson as well."

It is believed that if McLaren does oust a current driver to make way for a newcomer, it would be the 2009 world champion Jenson Button, 34, who is out of contract.

McLaren supremo Ron Dennis made waves recently when he urged Button to "try harder".

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-29 (Photo: WRi2)

"Jenson knows the important thing is to score as many points as he can," team boss Boullier is quoted by Britain's Mirror newspaper.

"He doesn't have to prove anything as he is a world champion and has won many races for McLaren.

"We need to be realistic as well, because in one, two, three years we may need to refresh our driver line-up and obviously we will be seeking the best drivers at that moment in time," he added.

For his part, Button - the second-oldest driver in F1 but even more experienced than Kimi Raikkonen - insists he intends to stay on the grid for a sixteenth consecutive season in 2015.

"Right now, my interest is to race in F1," he said.

"In F1 the emotions are all over the place -- it is highs, it is lows.  I have lived my life like that for a long time and I want to continue my life like that.

"I am young and fast and enjoy what I do for a living, and I don't want that to change," added Button.

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed "unfounded gossip" about Fernando Alonso's future at Ferrari.

The Italian marque's president was responding to what he described as typical "summer" speculation that the Spaniard could be looking to end his contract early and switch to another team.

At the same time, there have been rumours that Alonso, already reportedly the highest paid driver in F1, is demanding a huge pay-rise from Ferrari.

"We know that the summer heat always produces silly stories," Montezemolo said, adding that the latest rumours are "senseless".

Alonso seemed to back the comments, insisting that driving for Ferrari "has a more intense feeling than doing it with any other team. That's what always makes it so appealing."

Fernando Alonso's patience with Ferrari seems to be running out (Photo: WRi2)

On the other hand, having not won a single grand prix since last May, the Spaniard said the most important thing in F1 "is to win.

"You feel them (wins) all very intensely, but I think the win is much more important than the way in which it is obtained," Alonso added.

Meanwhile, Montezemolo also dismissed suggestions struggling Kimi Raikkonen could be ousted, insisting Ferrari is "lucky to have two great champions".

He said Maranello is working hard behind the scenes to make "in-depth changes" following a disappointing first half-season in the new turbo era.

Founder Enzo Ferrari's only living son, Piero Ferrari, said his late father would be "happy" with how the team is reacting to the current situation, as there are "no reactions that can be seen as emotional".

"Instead there is a careful and meticulous analysis of what must change prior to decisions being taken," Ferrari added.

From GMM

New team boss Christijan Albers is not denying Caterham will axe the 2014 car's unseemly nose.

We reported last month that the distinctive solution at the front of this year's green-liveried car could be the popular victim of a development push by the team's new management.

In the wake of the unsuccessful Tony Fernandes era, Caterham is currently last in the constructors' standings, but new management headed by Albers and Colin Kolles have targeted rising above tenth place and securing about $20 million in official prize money.

Christijan Albers (left) is not denying Caterham will axe the 2014 car's unseemly nose (Photo: WRi2)

We reported in July that the team's mysterious new Swiss-Middle Eastern owners have approved a timely development push, involving sending a 60% car model into the state-of-the-art Toyota TMG wind tunnel in Cologne.

Speed Week now claims that the curious 'double nose' could have been replaced by an all-new solution when the season resumes in Belgium next week.

Italy's Omnicorse tips that the new Caterham nose will resemble the solution at the front of the impressive 2014 Williams.

Asked about the nose reports, Dutchman Albers said: "We will see at Spa-Francorchamps."

The reports also said the under-developed Caterham is set to be updated with reduced weight, a new floor, front and rear wings, sidepods and engine cover.

Caterham CT05 (Photo: Rene Fagnan)