Volkswagen has revealed their new Polo R WRC Street concept car in this week Wothersee festival in Austria. VW promises that the car will be faster than the Golf GTI and the production model will be launched in late 2013.
The Polo R WRC Street is inspired by the car entry at the World Rally Championship starting from 2013. The Polo R WRC sport powered by 1.6 liter TSI engine with 295hp(300PS) and the prototype tested with 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine rated at 217 horsepower (220PS) or 10 horsepower more than the Golf GTI.
It is redesigned front bumper with larger vents and a lip spoiler, a rear diffuser, black wheel arch extension, a rear wing and larger alloy wheels.
Source :- CarScoop
Automakers try to meet tightening government fuel economy regulations and designer , Michael Arbaugh proposed to throw away CD player in automobile to reduce weight. Arbaugh’s vision to save an average of 5 lbs in weight which is a big deal for automakers.
It is not just lighten the load but it also opens up some highly valuable space. With technical advancements and changes taking place, designers would easily replace the CD player.
Source :- EGMCartech
I think it is not a big deal to loss CD player especially in this era. We can get entertainment without CD player using another small technology.
One option when choose a car is about how save the fuel. Nowday, many technology that could fuel saving. Let’s find about the technology
Image Hosting
1. Start-Stop System
- I dunno whether it effect much but the technology shuts off the gas engine when car is stopped. When the car move again, the car will used energy stored in the battery from the regenerative brakes to work the electric starter ans start engine. Oo before I’m forget, it is available on hybrid or electric car only.
2. Variable Displacement/Active Cylinder Deactivation
- It is bit technical and I dunno what this technology (that’s why I’m write, to learn about it..). A cylinder deactivation system that deactivates half the cylinder in its V8 and V12 engines (okay, my current car MyVi won’t have this technology).It will turning them into more frugal 4 or 6 cylinder engines.
3. Direct injection
- Okay, I’m noob. I though the direct injection will cause more gas to use. But direct injection use to injected right into the cylinder chamber of each cylinder in the engine and mixing better with the air and improving combustion.
4. Smart Alternator
- Smart alternator function is to chooses the best time to recharge the car’s battery. It could set the time to charge battery and save the power used.
5. Electric Power Steering
- Nowaday, many carmaker switch their conventional hydraulic steering systems to electric power steering (dunno if there’s a car stil using hydraulic steering system.. anybody know?). It could save fuel by not being a drag on the engine at all times.
6. Eco Button
- Eco button will alters the Drive-by-Wire throttle system response curve in the range. ( Okay I’m not really understand about this technology).
7. Low Rolling Resistance Tires
- More companies including low rolling resistance tires on their vehicles. The low rolling resistance tires minimize energy wasted from friction between the tires and the road. Only used on hybrids.
Source :- AutoGuide
Okay, most of the technology is not really work on me cause it features at expensive vehicle. How can save if the car is expensive? Hope, it will include in medium cost car like Perodua MyVi. Maybe in my dream..
Oo, yeah.. How about the device that can save fuel?? Is it really useful?
As we know, Malaysian automotive industry has been dominant by national car maker either Perodua or Proton. According to Malaysian Automobile Association (MAA), Proton and Perodua sold 158,657 and 179,989 units vehicle last year and the market share about 56% of the local in 2011.
Image Hosting
The National Automotive Policy (NAP) that expectected to be announced later this year and bring about a level playing field for Malaysian automotive industry. It will shaken the dominance of this carmaker if they don’t do something about it. Perodua managing director, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh feels that Perodua is ready to compete.
The collaboration between this carmaker still pending because Perodua will wait for DRB-Hicom Bhd to take operational control of Proton.