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Nashville, TN -- It's always interesting driving test mules, having a chance to experience upcoming products in their rawest form, before they're refined and production ready.

Over a short route through some of Nashville's toniest Belle Meade rural properties, we had a first look at what could be the latest version of Nissan's midsize pickup -- a diesel-powered Frontier -- during a one-day program featuring Nissan's entire current lineup.


What is the Nissan Frontier Diesel?
Known as the Navara in Asia, the original Frontier debuted in North America in 1986. Up until 2004, it was considered a compact truck. The current generation, which was introduced in 2004 is now classified as a midsize pickup.

Although Nissan confirmed that the next full-size Nissan Titan will offer a 5.0L diesel powertrain, the idea of an oil-burner Frontier is still in the draft stages.

Nissan Frontier Diesel Price & Specs
If Nissan does decide to go ahead and produce a diesel-powered Frontier, it won't be the one we drove, which was a test mule based on the current generation.

Rumour has it that the next Frontier could be based on the early D22 platform from 1997.

Our tester was powered by a 2.8L 4-cylinder turbodiesel Cummins engine mated to an 8-speed ZF transmission. While its 200 horsepower doesn't quite match the 4.0L V6's 261 horsepower, its 350 lb-ft of torque, compared to the gasoline engine's 281 lb-ft, more than makes up for it.

Inside and Out of the Nissan Frontier Diesel
Unlike the concept truck debuted at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show -- the Frontier Diesel Runner that boasted eye-catching graphics, a colourful interior, and a transparent hood -- our test mule was a plain, grey pickup, hardly distinguishable from any conventional Frontier.

Riding shotgun was Steve Sanders, an engineer with Cummins Inc., and one member of the team responsible for the truck's development.

The plain interior featured a few of the parts-bin oddities you sometimes see in a project test mule -- Sanders pointed out the wonky automatic shift lever sourced from Chrysler and the steering wheel borrowed from an Altima.

"That airbag light?" he said, "That's because there isn't one. Your passenger will be OK if you crash, but you won't."

Good to know.

Driving the Nissan Frontier Diesel
It took a bit of effort to actually get rolling, as finding reverse with the cobbled-together shifter was a bit of a guessing game.

The engine is a reworked version of the existing 2.8L and is a prototype developed specifically for this project. There's been no effort put into tuning it for noise and vibration, as was rather evident from the clattering at start-up.

A great deal of the diesel engine's torque is concentrated down low in its powerband, giving the Frontier a lot of thrust off the line. However, there's a dead spot while the turbo spools up before the power comes on strong again. Presumably there will be extensive tuning to broaden the powerband before it's production ready. Nissan claims this powertrain will offer a 35% improvement in fuel economy, in no small part thanks to the ZF-sourced 8-speed transmission. Smoothing out the power delivery will go a long way towards reaching that goal.

Comparing the Nissan Frontier Diesel
The small-truck market is an increasingly small one with the departure of the Dodge Dakota and more recently, Ford's venerable Ranger.

However, General Motors is stepping up to the plate with soon-to-arrive diesel powertrains in their midsize GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado -- and in the same 2.8L 4-cylinder configuration as the Frontier's.

Despite being a work-in-progress, the diesel-powered Frontier impressed us as an idea that makes good sense in the quest to lower overall fuel consumption numbers.

Nissan isn't ready to confirm that it will see production any time soon, but we're willing to bet that it will.

Google and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are launching the Littlebox Challenge: Any team that manages to create a high power density inverter for electric vehicles in a significantly smaller package will be rewarded with a $1 million prize.

Those in the know will tell you that the size of inverters remains an obstacle in the development of more efficient EVs. Right now, the inverter in the Fiat 500e has a volume of about five litres, while the one in the Prius is around 5.4 litres in size.

Google and the IEEE want teams to aim for a volume of under 0.66 litre while still achieving a power density of at least 3.05 kW/L.

“We believe that inverters will become increasingly important to our economy and environment as solar PV, batteries, and similar power sources continue their rapid growth,” Google says.

"We expect that the innovations inspired by this prize will have wide applicability across these areas, increasing efficiency, driving down costs, and opening up new uses cases that we can't imagine today."

Teams will have to register by September 30th to enter. From then, they'll need to submit a technical approach by next July and bring their inverters in for testing by October 21st, 2015.

Source : greencarreports.com

Global carsharing company car2go has just launched "ride2provide," a donation feature to be integrated into the car2go mobile app for iPhone and android iOS.

The new initiative seeks to help car2go communities in 15 North American cities work together in donating to a charitable cause, and will first kick off with a 90-day partnership with Whole Planet Foundation as the program's first exclusive charity.

Across North America, car2go members will have the opportunity to view a number of "heart cars" labelled with $1 donations based on their current location within the Home Area, where members can pick up and drop off a vehicle. For each "heart car" used, car2go will contribute a lump sum donation directly to the Whole Planet Foundation.

"Since car2go's inception, we have long supported our members by helping them get from Point A to Point B with complete ease," said Paul DeLong, Chief Marketing Officer of car2go North America. "Our support for Whole Planet Foundation reinforces our commitment to the communities we serve, and we hope that by connecting our members through ride2provide, we can harness this power and help aspiring entrepreneurs around the world build a stronger future for us all."

Source: car2go

Photo: car2Go

Sebastien Blin is a professional journalist/photographer who travelled the karting circuits around the globe in the 90s and early 2000s. He got the chance to see several current Formula 1 drivers race karts at a very high level.

Below, he explains to us what he found so impressive with the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton starting a run in his Formula Super A kart in 2001. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

In 2000, the karting circuit of Valence in France played host to the second Swiss Trophy and the ultimate round of the European Karting Championship.

In 2000, international karting adopted some F1 technology, such as these screens... (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“I saw Lewis Hamilton with his teammate, Nico Rosberg, in the stands of the MBM.com team, a karting team that had been specially set up for the two up and coming drivers,” said Blin.

Lewis Hamilton taking down notes during a Bridgestone tire test in 2001. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“Aged only 15 at the time, Lewis Hamiton was fully focused. In deep concentration, the young Brit was getting ready for the most important race of his burgeoning career. He knew he had to clinch the title to prove to Ron Dennis and the McLaren F1 team that he had what champions are made of,” he added.

With his teammate Nico Rosberg. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

A few hours later, Lewis was the new European champion. He drove intelligently and demonstrated impressive maturity by letting victory slip by in order to collect just enough points to bag the title.

Hamilton competed in the famous Paris Bercy indoor karting event. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“With the help and support of McLaren, his career was easy as long as he'd clinch titles. Hamilton was already part of a highly professional karting team that relied on some of the best chassis/motor engineers such as Dino Chiesa,” Blin continued.

Hamilton during the 2001 World Karting Championship at SRA. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“Rumours circulated at the time that his engines were tuned by McLaren. However, Hamilton knew that victory could not rely on the engine alone.

Getting ready to contest the race of the European Karting Championship in 2000 in Valence, France. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“Hamilton was always hard at work. The moment he returned to the paddock after a run, he would write down every details about the behaviour of his chassis, engine, carburetor and tires. He would also take notes on air temperature, pressure and humidity as engine characteristics were determined by the quantity of air the 32-mm carburetor could feed to the two-stroke engine. These were important pieces of data for an engine that revved up to 20,500 revolutions per minute!

Hamilton on the starting grid of the FSA World Championship in Mariembourg, Belgium. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

“His father Anthony and his brother Nicolas were often with Lewis at the races. Their support greatly helped the young racer to fulfil his objectives. One year later, Lewis Hamilton started his car racing career, competing in the Formula Renault 2000 UK Winter Series with Manor. He was en route to Formula 1,” Blin terminated.

Racing in the rain in Kerpen, Germany during the second round of the FSA World Championship. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

Hamilton with Nico Rosberg in the Parc Fermé in Italy. (Photo: Sébastien Blin/Sportimage)

A new survey of automotive engineers and designers sponsored by DuPont and published by WardsAuto reveals that lightweighting (the process of making vehicles lighter) is the preferred solution (49%) to meet tougher fuel-consumption requirements, which will increase to 54.5 mpg (4.3L/100km) in the U.S. by 2025.

Other priorities include engine efficiency programs (39%), vehicle electrification (26%), and the adoption of diesel engines (13%).

In a similar survey by WardsAuto in 2011, engine efficiency and electrification topped the list. Lightweighting ranked third.

“There are probably a couple of reasons for the shift,” says Jeff Sternberg, director of DuPont Automotive Technology. “I suspect one of the reasons stems from several high-profile lightweighting examples, like the 2015 Ford F-150 and BMW i3 (electric vehicle). Another reason is the growing recognition that every pound reduced from a component can pay dividends in being able to downsize other parts of the vehicle. For example, if you take 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) out of an engine or exhaust component, you need much smaller and lighter fasteners. All these weight-savings contributions add up.”

The primary targets for lightweighting include the powertrain (24%), chassis (12%), body-in-white (11%), electrical and accessories (9%), and body panels (9%).

As for materials, aluminum is obviously the first choice of engineers (27%), followed by multi-material solutions (16%), engineering plastics (13%), advanced high-strength steel (11%), advanced composites and carbon fibre (8%), and magnesium (1%).

Source : wardsauto.com

From GMM

Aldo Costa insists he is "sorry" to see his old team Ferrari struggle in formula one.

Amid an earlier dip in the fabled Maranello team's form, the 53-year-old was ousted by Ferrari in 2011 and he joined Mercedes, who are now utterly dominating the sport.

"Comeback? Actually I am fine where I am," said Costa, who although based at Brackley is currently holidaying in his native Italy.

"Ferrari -- do we have to talk about it?" he told Ferrari insider Leo Turrini in his Quotidiano blog.

"Write, then, that I am sorry. Honestly.

"I'm an emiliano (from the Emilia-Romagna region) and I worked for a company that is a myth. It cannot please me to see the level they are working now in formula one, even though they sent me off in a way that I wouldn't describe as exactly elegant.

"That said, I don't think Mercedes' problems in 2015 will come from the Rossa (reds). We're worried about Red Bull, who have proved and are proving to have an extraordinarily fast reaction."

Aldo Costa and Luca Marmorini, both ousted by Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked what he thinks Ferrari's main problems are, Costa replied: "It is not absolute -- it is my opinion. But very serious mistakes were made in the strategic vision.

"An example: in 2008, we in the racing team thought it essential to have a new wind tunnel to remain competitive. We were told there was no need.

"In Ferrari, all the strategic decisions were always made by (Luca di) Montezemolo. He took them when Ferrari triumphed and when Ferrari ceased to triumph. Just to be clear."

When Costa was ousted, however, it was rumoured that it had come at the behest of Ferrari's number 1 driver, the influential Fernando Alonso.

"I do not believe Alonso was out to get me," he insisted. "In the car, I consider him to be a great. Out of the car, I was never able to understand him -- to me he is an inscrutable, enigmatic character.

"I don't think we will see him at Mercedes. I don't see why Hamilton would leave a team like ours," added Costa.

Clearly, the manner of Costa's Ferrari departure still rankles. When asked about Nikolas Tombazis, Costa recalls rumours that his own presence was stifling the Greek designer's creativity.

"After I left his (Tombazis') imagination must have been freed," Aldo Costa said, "with results that are before everyone's eyes, no?

"(Stefano) Domenicali? There is no resentment, sometimes we write a text message. Ferrari belongs to his past and to mine, and (Luca) Marmorini's and many others."

Aldo Costa, 1-2 finish at Bahrain for Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Actually, Costa has no need for resentment, as his career at Mercedes has culminated in a period of success rarely obtained in the highly-competitive world of formula one.

"Professionally it is a happy time," he agreed, "and I'd be a liar to deny to you that I feel a deep satisfaction.

"In Mercedes there are twelve Italians; twelve engineers in the team. I recruited them myself -- some from Ferrari, others straight from university. We are a small 'tricolore' colony within a multinational.

"Now I'm already working on the 2015 project in a normal way, as are all those who do my job.

"I will not come to any more races this season -- at most maybe in Belgium or Monza, then my priorities are elsewhere," said Aldo Costa.

Audi and Chrysler are facing sanctions from China for violating the country's antitrust laws. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) found that the two automakers exaggerated the price of their vehicles and spare parts.

A similar enquiry also targets Mercedes-Benz (Daimler).

"Monopolistic practices are quite rampant in the auto industry. NDRC is first targeting imported luxury brands because the problem is most severe in this area," said Yale Zhang, managing director of consultancy Automotive Foresight (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. "It's also a warning signal to the industry. If top brands like Audi gets punishment, others would know what to do."

Foreign automakers argue that the price difference is due to higher import duties and other taxes in China. Both Audi and China are fully cooperating with NDRC investigators, however.

Pressed by Chinese authorities, some manufacturers have agreed to slash their prices in recent weeks. For example, Daimler will make more than 10,000 parts cheaper beginning September 1st.

Sources : autonews.com

From GMM

Willi Weber, famous for having been Michael Schumacher manager, has joined those decrying the new face of Formula 1.

"There are many reasons for the decline of F1," he told Wednesday's latest edition of Sport Bild magazine.

"The fish rots at the head," the German claimed, when asked about the sport's apparent dwindling popularity amid the ever-modernising era.

"Bernie Ecclestone is much too old to embrace the age of new media. And FIA president Jean Todt lacks the strength to enforce."

Weber also blamed the latest generation of F1 driver.

"Who wants to watch the wimps of today complaining on the radio?" he asked rhetorically.

"There are no more Michael Schumachers, Ayrton Sennas, Jacques Villeneuves. They wouldn't have complained on the radio but given their answer on the track."

Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. (Photo: WRi2)

And Weber said he doesn't blame the fans for switching off.

"The cars are not just ugly, you can't even listen to them. The kids prefer to create their own world on the playstation," he added.

Navdy is a new hands-free communication system that allows drivers to use navigation, respond to messages and answer calls through voice command and motion recognition, which means they don't have to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the steering wheel.

Using a compact projector and a 5.1” transparent display that sits on the dashboard, drivers can view and share specific information from their favourite smartphone apps.

When you get an incoming call, all you have to do is raise your thumb in front of the projector to start the conversation. To hang up, just move your finger like you would do on a tablet (without even touching the device). As mentioned earlier, voice commands will work, too.

The following video shows how easy to use Navdy is. The only problem? It's not even on the market yet. Developers are banking on crowd-funding to raise US$60,000 and get the project off the ground.

That being said, anyone can pre-order a Navdy at US$300. If all goes as planned, deliveries will begin in early 2015.

Source : gizmodo.com

Frenchman Tristan Vautier, the 2012 Indy Lights champion and 2013 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, took the new Indy Lights IL-15 car out for its maiden full test at Mid-Ohio.

“It's a proper race car and definitely good step forward for the series,” said Vautier after a dozen laps on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course. “I love the sound and performance of the turbocharged engine, the drivability, the brakes. I'm very comfortable in the seat.”

The introduction of the chassis to competition next year will coincide with the 30th anniversary of Indy Lights. Vautier is scheduled to test August 12 and 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at the Milwaukee Mile later in the month.

Additional on-track testing, which will include Verizon IndyCar Series drivers to provide feedback, is scheduled for September.

The new car is about 180 pounds lighter than the current Indy Lights car with more horsepower.

Tristan Vautier, Indy Lights IL-15 (Photo: IndyCar)

The IL-15 mirrors the IndyCar Series' car supplied by Dallara with full-length anti-intrusion panels, side-mounted radiators to assist in energy absorption, a raised monocoque to protect the driver's head, a front wing span to reduce wheel-to-wheel contact and increased underwing width to also reduce wheel-to-wheel contact.

Paddle shifting and push to pass also are mechanisms shared with the IndyCar. And the Indy Lights car has an onboard starter - an attribute not on the current IndyCar.

Car specifications
Top Speed: 200 mph
Design: Carbon chassis and bodywork
Weight: 1,400 pounds
Length: 192 inches
Width: 76 inches
Transmission: 6-speed semi-automatic

AER-P63 engine
Engine: 2-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 450 horsepower plus 50 horsepower push to pass
Design: All aluminum
Weight: 230 pounds dry crated
Features: Carbon plenum, carbon inlet runner and trumpets and “drive-by-wire” throttle control
Electronics: AER with full active-knock control, ignition-angle learning, advanced boost control and integrated gear-shift strategies

Additional components
• Cosworth looms, data logger, dash, display and sensors
• Dynamic dampers
• Life Racing paddle-shift kit
• Tilton carbon clutch
• PFC brakes
• 2014 carryover items include gearbox internals (including ratios), dampers and springs

From GMM

Ferrari F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen looks set to race into the world of fatherhood.

Currently vacationing on his yacht off the Mediterranean island of Corsica, photos have emerged of the Finn's girlfriend Minttu appearing apparently pregnant.

And Minttu has added a photo of the couple to her Instagram account including the hashtags 'babyonboard' and 'momanddadtobe'.

Raikkonen's spokesman, Riku Kuvaja, is quoted by the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat: "Minttu and Kimi hope, above all, for peace from the media in this joyous time."

Kimi and Minttu in Monaco. (Photo: WRi2)

Federal prosecutors are asking questions about the practices of GM's financing unit, subpoenaing the company in the midst of a resurgence in U.S. auto sales fueled partly by a subprime lending boom.

The new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-sized pickups will be priced about $8,000 to $10,000 less than comparably equipped models of their larger showroom siblings, the Silverado and Sierra.

Warner Peacock, CEO of New River Auto Mall in South Carolina, is teaming up with Florida mega dealer David Maus to form a new company called First Team Automotive Group LLC.

Toyota is retiring the 'andon cord,' the emergency cable strung above assembly lines that came to symbolize the built-in quality of the Toyota Way and was widely copied through the auto industry and beyond.

Rolls-Royce will expand its lineup with a new convertible that will go on sale mid-2016. Media reports said the car will be a convertible version of the Wraith coupe, which is based on the Ghost sedan.

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