Koenigsegg’s camless engine revealed ( FREEVALVE )

A subsidiary of Swedish supercar marque Koenigsegg has been working on a new type of valve system for engines that does away completely with the camshaft, hence the descriptor “camless” is often used. That subsidiary is FreeValve (previously Cargine), which has published a video that shows the inner workings of its revolutionary engine.

The engine relies on pneumatic valve actuators to open valves, which are then closed by air pressure or springs. Each of the valves can be controlled individually, which enables infinitely variable valve lift and duration as well as easy cylinder deactivation. A pneumatic valvetrain also draws less energy from the engine than conventional cams.

This is all said to result in both significant gains in output (up to a 30 percent increase in horsepower and torque) and a jump in fuel economy (also up to 30 percent). Overall emissions are said to be reduced significantly as well.

So what’s the hold up? Reliability, refinement and noise levels aren’t up to scratch and remain the biggest hurdles in the technology's advancement. And while such technologies won’t ultimately save the internal combustion engine from being replaced by electric motors in more and more cars, they should at least help prolong it.

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2018 Ford Fiesta reveals its new face

As expected, Ford will reveal the 2018 Ford Fiesta later today. But before the full launch, Ford of Europe dropped the first photo of the new hatchback on its Twitter page. The company only released one image so far, but the front three-quarter shot still reveals quite a bit of the new design.

As predicted, the redesign is evolutionary. The car has much softer lines and curves than its predecessor, most evident by the toned down fender arches. The headlights aren't swept back as much either. The car's grille has also been updated with corners that don't stretch down as far, which reflects that of the updated American Fusion and European Mondeo.

This particular Fiesta is also a European ST-Line model. This trim adds a sporty-looking interior and some exterior bits to make a normal Fiesta appear more like a high performance ST model, but with none of the mechanical parts. Expect the standard model to look a bit more tame, and the ST to be more aggressive.

Ford has yet to reveal other details, but they should come later today. We expect the Fiesta will be more efficient and more refined, and to go on sale sometime next year, probably around the same time as the EcoSport subcompact crossover.

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World's 10 Best Engines for 2015

It's the end of the year, which in the auto industry means various 'of the year' lists are appearing to sum up the most significant new cars and trucks of the past 12 months.

The jurors at Ward's evaluated 37 new or improved powertrains and—showing automakers' current emphasis on fuel economy—that group included 15 turbocharged four-cylinder engines, four electric powertrains, and the first-ever hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain to be eligible for the award. They made up what the jurors called the most diverse field ever.

Here are Ward's 10 best engines for 2015:

• 127-kilowatt electric motor (BMW i3)
• 6.2-liter OHV V-8 (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray)
• 6.2-liter Supercharged OHV V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat)
• 1.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC 3-cylinder (Ford Fiesta)
• 100-kW Fuel Cell (Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle)
• 1.5-liter Turbocharged DOHC 3-cylinder (MINI Cooper)
• 3.0-liter Turbodiesel DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
• 2.0-liter Turbocharged H-4 (Subaru WRX)
• 1.8-liter Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Volkswagen Golf)
• 2.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Volvo S60)

The supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 from Dodge has generated plenty of buzz everywhere else, and with 707 horsepower it certainly has the muscle to be considered a great engine. It's joined by another 6.2-liter V-8, the naturally-aspirated small block from the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which was eligible again because it made the list last year. The 2015 Subaru WRX's boxer four also made the cut.

The two V-8s were outliers. They each have just over twice the displacement of the next biggest engine-—the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 from Ram—and the Chevy small block was the only naturally-aspirated engine to make the list this year.

Stretching the definition of "engine" were the BMW i3's electric motor—the second electric powertrain to make the list—and Hyundai's fuel-cell powertrain.

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Toyota Mirai

The Toyota Mirai is the first production vehicle from this venerable Japanese automaker to be powered by the hydrogen fuel cell. The Mirai was first officially revealed at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.“Mirai” means “future” in Japan and this vehicle represents what Toyota believes to be the future of car engine technology. The Mirai is expected to sell for roughly $57,500 when it is first released into the US which is scheduled to be in the summer of 2015. The UK, Denmark and Germany will start receiving the vehicles in September 2015 with the vehicle spreading to other countries sometime in 2017.

The History of the Mirai

The Mirai is based on the original FCV fuel cell concept car that was first featured at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle certainly made an impression with its teardrop shape which emphasizes the fact that it was being powered by the hydrogen found inside of water. The FCV features a large grille and other openings which helped keep the engine cool. In addition, the FCV had a range of 430 miles before it needed refueling.The FCV was similar in size to the Toyota Camry and became the basis for the Mirai concept which has varied from the water-based design to a certain degree. Plus, advances in fuel cell technology have greatly reduced the cost of the engine which is just 5-percent of the cost of the 2008 Toyota FCHV vehicle. The FCV also includes an electric motor which is charged by the power of the fuel cell and acts in support of the engine when in operation.

As the FVC was being finalized into the Mirai design, Toyota began plans to market the vehicle to the general public. However, such plans needed to wait until enough hydrogen refueling stations became available in the country before the Mirai could be considered a practical solution. This means that the vehicle will not be introduced until at least March or April, 2015 in Japan.

Safety Issues

While the hydrogen itself presents no real danger, the fact that the two hydrogen tanks are pressurized initially raised some concerns just like other fuel systems such as propane need pressurization to work in car engines. However, the carbon fiber reinforced plastic hydrogen tanks are extremely tough, durable and impact resistant. This means the force to puncture the tanks would exceed most impact situations. Toyota proved this in January 2014 by firing both small caliber bullets and large caliber 50mm armor piercing bullets into the H2 tanks. There was no explosion or fire with either weapon.

The emphasis on safety has led to extensive testing to fully realize the extent of how the hydrogen tanks respond to impacts and the results that have come in has led to the advancement in tank construction technology.

The Toyota Mirai will be the true test market vehicle for the company to see if the hydrogen fuel concept is truly viable. Its future will depend on the cost of the vehicle and the availability of hydrogen fuel around the country.

Toyota Mirai Specifications

• Uses hybrid and fuel cell technology
• Powered by Toyota Fuel Cell System and PC boost converter
• Fuel cell stack output is 153 hp
• 0 – 60 mph acceleration in 9.0 seconds
• Refueling time: 3 to 5 minutes
• Range is 312 miles
• Contains two 10,000 psi carbon fiber polymer fuel tanks
• NiMH rechargeable battery pack
• 152 hp electric traction motor

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Hydrogen Cars Now

Some say hydrogen cars are the future, but in reality they are here now (just ask Hyundai and Toyota). When H2 cars become the status quo, the U. S. can lessen its dependence upon foreign oil, achieve lower prices at the fuel pumps and cut down on the greenhouse gases that produce global warming.

The future of H2 cars is not a pipe dream, as there are already many hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV’s) and H2ICE (hydrogen internal combustion engine) vehicles on the roads. California, Japan and the European Union (especially Germany) have many H2 cars being used as fleet vehicles now.

In 2005, Honda leased the first commercial FCV to a family in Redondo Beach, California. In 2008, the Honda FCX Clarity became the first production line built fuel cell lease vehicle rolled out to the same family plus dozens others. In late 2012, Hyundai started building production line fuel cell vehicles for sales to fleet managers worldwide.For the past 36 years, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been conducting research on fuel cells for use in transportation, industry and residential use.Unlike many of the hybrid and “green” vehicles currently on the market, hydrogen fuel cells can offer the promise of zero emission technology, where the only byproduct from the automobiles is heat and water vapor. Current fossil-fuel burning vehicles emit all sorts of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone and microscopic particulate matter.

This cluster model involves building hydrogen fueling stations in population centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco and rolling out hydrogen cars in the same locations. Afterwards, more large cities will get clusters of H2 refueling stations and fuel cell cars. Eventually these clusters will need to be connected through infrastructure.

The conversion from gasoline-powered internal combustion engines to hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines is agreed upon by most scientists and engineers to be a particularly easy transition and would buy time for fuel cell cars to be fully adapted.

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2017 Colorado ZR2 Vs 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

These are exciting times for truck enthusiasts who also like off-roading. The 2017 Ford Raptor is out, launching the second generation of Ford’s halo F-150. Toyota has its new-for-2017 Tacoma TRD Pro that’s based on the new-for-2016 Tacoma. And Chevy comes late to the party with its Colorado ZR2 – a production truck based on the concept version from 2014. These three trucks represent the upper crust of the pickup segment. It’s a prestigious group that’s focused on going fast over rough terrain while still conquering the daily commute.
The Raptor might be the premiere pickup, having birthed this niche segment back in 2010, but the Toyota and Chevy new-comers aren’t slackers. In fact, thanks to their smaller sizes compared to the full-size Raptor, these mid-size pickups are more agile and can fit down narrower trails. The famed Rubicon train in California, or instance, is too narrow for the Raptor’s immensely wide track. The Tacoma TRD Pro and Colorado ZR2, however, should have no problem traversing the tight terrain.
The Toyota and Chevy are also less expensive (or rumored to be) than the Raptor. That puts them basically in a head-to-head fight for customers. Typical things like design, features, and brand loyalty goes a long way in choosing which truck is best, but a more objective comparison should be made. That’s especially true for someone who’s ready to pull the trigger on a purchase.

Both the Toyota and Chevy pickups come with unique bodywork that separates them from their conventional counterparts. The Tacoma TRD Pro has a unique grille with the throwback TOYOTA logo that harks to iconic vehicles like the FJ. It also has a hood scoop, unique fog lights from Rigid Industries, and a bumper with a high approach angle. Visible skid plates help protect vital components from damage. Bold fender flares and TRD Pro-specific wheels and tires give the truck a mean look. Toyota chose to run Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires that measures 265/70R16 – or a 30-inch tire for you off-road types. The tires aren’t all that aggressive, but they are reinforced with Kevlar, making them less susceptible to puncture. The Tacoma also gets a bevy of badges, including ones just below the side mirrors, on the tailgate, and the TRD Pro logo stamped into the bed wall sheet metal.

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 takes a similarly wild approach to styling. The front grille is specific to the ZR2, as is the shorty-style bumper with an incredibly high approach angle. Exposed tow hooks make vehicle recovery a breeze. Wider fenders are capped with black flares cover the widened suspension track. The truck is 3.5-inches wider than a standard Colorado, in fact. This is said to improve the trucks stability, both on- and off-road.
Around back, the ZR2 gives up the Colorado’s step bumpers in favor of an improved departure angle. A bed-mounted spare tire carrier is optional, but does cut into cargo space. Chevy says it’s offering the option to improve the truck’s departure angle while easing access to the spare should damage occur to a rolling tire. Speaking about tires, the ZR2 uses the Goodyear Duratrac sized at 31 inches on a 17-inch wheel. The Duratracs are more aggressive than the Toyota’s Wranglers, and also have the Triple Peak snowflake indicating their ability to operate without chains in winter conditions. 

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2016 Hyundai Autonomous Ioniq Concept

        The Hyundai Ioniq was unveiled to the public in early 2016, after a couple of years of speculation and spy shots of camouflaged test cars. Developed to compete against the popular Toyota Prius, the Ioniq sports a modern design that combines the company’s latest styling language with a few unique design features of its own. Available in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions at launch, the Ioniq is also set to get an all-electric variant in 2017. At the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai confirmed that the EV will also get an autonomous system and showcased a concept car featuring the new technology.Essentially identical to the hybrid inside and out, the Autonomous Ioniq is one of the few self-driving cars in development to have a hidden LiDAR system in its front bumper instead of on the roof and Hyundai says that its goal is to keep the self-driving systems as simple as possible. This will be accomplished by using the Ioniq’s Smart Cruise Control radar, along with its Lane Keep Assist cameras and integrating them with LiDAR technology.Hyundai also announced that it’s developing its own autonomous vehicle operating system, which will result in a low-cost platform that can be installed in future Hyundai models that should be more affordable. A display-only model in L.A., the Autonomous Ioniq will be further showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2017, where two cars will be found driving on the streets of Las Vegas.There’s no specific timetable as to when the production car will arrive, but Hyundai is already testing three autonomous Ioniqs and two autonomous Tucson Fuel Cell SUVs at its research and development center in Namyang, South Korea. The second half of 2017 sounds like a reasonable launch date.

Drivetrain

           In order to make the Ioniq autonomous, Hyundai added many features and new technology to the drivetrain. First up, there’s a LiDAR system that allows the Autonomous IONIQ to detect the absolute position of surrounding vehicles and objects. Unlike other autonomous concepts, the technology is hidden in the front bumper instead of the roof, giving the car a more conventional appearance. Another new feature is the three-camera array which detects pedestrian proximity, lane markings, and traffic signals. A GPS antenna helps determine the precise location of each vehicle around the Ioniq, while high definition mapping data from Hyundai MnSoft delivers location accuracy, road grade/curvature, lane width, and indication data. Lane changes are executed safely thanks to a new Blind Spot Detection radar.

Unlike other autonomous concepts, the LiDAR technology is hidden in the front bumper instead of the roof.

The car also comes with many technologies already available on the standard Ioniq. The package includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross-Traffic Assist. The vehicle also incorporates all autonomous controls into existing systems to ensure that drivers can have a seamless transition between active and self-driving modes.

All told, Hyundai claims that the autonomous Ioniq will be able to tackle "high levels of pedestrian traffic, stop lights, stop signs, school zones, road construction and roadblocks, speed bumps, dogs without a leash, children at play, shopping centers, and intersections without traffic signals."

The Korean company had nothing to say about the drivetrain, but it’s safe to assume that the autonomous Ioniq will use electric motors and a battery. Unfortunately, there’s not much information to run by, as the Ioniq has yet to get an EV version. All we know so far is that it will be powered by a high-capacity, ultra-efficient lithium-ion battery and that it will return significantly more than 100 miles on a single charge.

Interior

                       

A quick glimpse inside the car is enough to notice that the cabin is also identical to the standard Ioniq, but there a few extra features worth mentioning. First, a big screen pops out atop the dash, just above the regular infotainment display in the center stack. Hyundai Hyundai didn’t provide information about the new device, but the photos suggests that it displays data from the autonomous system, including a simulation of the ahead, navigation, speed, speed limits, and changes, and the position of the steering wheel.

There’s also a new button in the center stack that reads "Emergency Stop." The center console is also different, with the surface that houses the gear shifter and control sitting higher and being wider. This modification makes a lot of sense, as the car’s autonomous drive requires some new technology in there. New devices are attached to the roof, just behind the windshield. These likely contain the cameras and systems that enable the Ioniq to "see" the traffic ahead. Screens that display the same images as the one atop the dashboard are also mounted in the front-seat backrests, giving rear-seat passengers access to the car’s autonomous system.

Conclusion

Although Hyundai did release a significant amount of details on the technology behind this car, it’s still early to draw a conclusion as to how it will behave on the road and compare against the competition. That’s because the car is still under development, plus the fact that there aren’t too many semi-autonomous electric vehicles to compare it to. The Tesla Model S would be a good example here, but the American brand is still struggling to update the system in order to fix various flaws, which unfortunately led to a fatal crash earlier in 2016. What’s really important here is that Hyundai is taking autonomous technology very seriously and it has already gathered valuable know-how recently. For a company that didn’t matter much on the hybrid and EV market a few years ago, this is pretty big! Also, I like the fact that the autonomous Ioniq is basically identical to the standard model. This will help customers embrace the new technology much easier.

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