DETROIT: Cars that drive themselves could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp executives say. GM, parts suppliers, university engineers and other automakers all are working on vehicles that could revolutionize short and long-distance travel.
And on Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas GM CEORick Wagoner will devote part of his speech to driverless vehicles. "This is not science fiction," Larry Burns, GM's V-P for R&D said. The most significant obstacles facing the vehicles could be human rather than technical: Government regulation, liability laws, privacy concerns and people's passion for the automobile and the control it gives them. Much of the technology already exists for vehicles to take the wheel: Radar-based cruise control, motion sensors, lane-change warning devices, electronic stability control and satellite-based digital mapping. And automated vehicles could dramatically improve life on the road, reducing crashes and congestion. If people are interested. "Now the question is what does society want to do with it?" Burns said. "You're looking at these issues of congestion, safety, energy and emissions. Technically there should be no reason why we can't transfer to a different world." GM plans to use an inexpensive computer chip and an antenna to link vehicles equipped with driverless technologies. The first use likely would be on highways; people would have the option to choose a driverless mode while they still would control the vehicle on local streets, Burns said. He said the company plans to test driverless car technology by 2015 and have cars on the road around 2018. Sebastian Thrun, co-leader of the Stanford University team that finished second among six teams completing a 60-mile Pentagon-sponsored race of driverless cars in November, said GM's goal is technically attainable. But he said he wasn't confident cars would appear in showrooms within a decade. "There's some very fundamental, basic regulations in the way of that vision in many countries," said Thrun, a professor of computer science and electrical engineering. The Defense Department contest, which involved 35 teams, showed the technology isn't ready for prime time. One team was eliminated after its vehicle nearly charged into a building, while another vehicle pulled into a house's carport and parked itself. Thrun said a key benefit of the technology eventually will be safer roads and reducing the roughly 42,000 US traffic deaths that occur annually 95% of which he said are caused by human mistakes.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Suzuki to unveil Concept A Star in India
IT is an A-segment five-door hatchback reflecting a focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort, as claimed by Suzuki.
Thanks to a newly-developed Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminum petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km). And like the already-launched Suzuki world strategic models, it will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy.
The production model that inherits some of the design themes of the Concept A-Star will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant, to be marketed mainly in Europe and other countries including India. The start of production is scheduled in October 2008. Substantial production for Europe is targeted to start in December 2008, followed by expansion to other markets around the world.
The new 1.0-litre aluminum engine will be produced by Maruti Suzuki India, and a manual transmission for it will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, an SMC subsidiary that based beside Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant.
Suzuki Powertrain India produces a 1.3-litre diesel engine, but SMC does not plan to use it in the new production car since the new 1.0-litre petrol engine is environmentally superior. SMC is ready to study options for small diesel engines from Suzuki Powertrain India in future.
Given the importance of India to the Suzuki world strategy, it is planned to invest ¥200 billion for plants in India from 2007 to 2009. Also, it plans to expand Maruti Suzuki India production capacity to 960,000 units per year by March 2010 in line with growing demand in India and a vision of exporting the new world strategic model from India to markets around the globe.
The Concept A-Star is the first concept car in which designers from Maruti Suzuki India research-and-development division have been involved from the initial stage for its styling, the company said.
Suzuki has been early to recognise India potential, it partnered with the Government of India to establish Maruti Udyog Limited (now named Maruti Suzuki India Limited, an SMC subsidiary), whose Gurgaon plant began producing cars in December 1983. But, have they invested enough in India?? Have they done enough for the market, in spite of being a dominant market-leader ? A question to ponder.
Thanks to a newly-developed Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminum petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km). And like the already-launched Suzuki world strategic models, it will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy.
The production model that inherits some of the design themes of the Concept A-Star will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant, to be marketed mainly in Europe and other countries including India. The start of production is scheduled in October 2008. Substantial production for Europe is targeted to start in December 2008, followed by expansion to other markets around the world.
The new 1.0-litre aluminum engine will be produced by Maruti Suzuki India, and a manual transmission for it will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, an SMC subsidiary that based beside Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant.
Suzuki Powertrain India produces a 1.3-litre diesel engine, but SMC does not plan to use it in the new production car since the new 1.0-litre petrol engine is environmentally superior. SMC is ready to study options for small diesel engines from Suzuki Powertrain India in future.
Given the importance of India to the Suzuki world strategy, it is planned to invest ¥200 billion for plants in India from 2007 to 2009. Also, it plans to expand Maruti Suzuki India production capacity to 960,000 units per year by March 2010 in line with growing demand in India and a vision of exporting the new world strategic model from India to markets around the globe.
The Concept A-Star is the first concept car in which designers from Maruti Suzuki India research-and-development division have been involved from the initial stage for its styling, the company said.
Suzuki has been early to recognise India potential, it partnered with the Government of India to establish Maruti Udyog Limited (now named Maruti Suzuki India Limited, an SMC subsidiary), whose Gurgaon plant began producing cars in December 1983. But, have they invested enough in India?? Have they done enough for the market, in spite of being a dominant market-leader ? A question to ponder.
Ladies Driving School ( exclusive)
The Emirates Driving Institute has launched an exclusive ladies driving institute, the first of its kind in the GCC and Middle East, in Dubai.
The institute boasts a full training yard for conducting training on parking, garage, and uphill. Also fitted with devices and aides for holding courses and lectures, in addition to simulators enabling trainees to emulate driving on roads in changing weather conditions, and other related aspects such as crossing light signals, intersections, detours, and overtaking vehicles in front, aided by three-dimensional screens fitted to the device.
For kids accompanying their mothers, there is a play area too...
These initiatives will surely 'Safe Driving
The institute boasts a full training yard for conducting training on parking, garage, and uphill. Also fitted with devices and aides for holding courses and lectures, in addition to simulators enabling trainees to emulate driving on roads in changing weather conditions, and other related aspects such as crossing light signals, intersections, detours, and overtaking vehicles in front, aided by three-dimensional screens fitted to the device.
For kids accompanying their mothers, there is a play area too...
These initiatives will surely 'Safe Driving
Monday, December 17, 2007
Audi
It has been a truly excellent year for Audi, claims the German car manufacturer. Not only have sales figures gone up at a rapid rate, the media and the general public have rained awards on the company – six in all, an official spokesman added.
The winning streak of awards started with the “Manufacturer of the Year” award presented by Car Middle East magazine and was followed by the Audi R8 being voted “Car of the Show” at the ninth International Middle East Motor Show with more than 10,000 voters. But the main surprise was yet to come. At the most coveted awards of the region, the Autocar Middle East Awards held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Audi had already collected the “Premium Luxury Car of the Year” trophy for the Audi S6.
After three days of testing the independent judges had determined the R8 as the overall winner with 1,086 of 1,295 possible points covering the areas of handling, safety, ergonomics and driving pleasure among others.
“Being a German car manufacturer, the truth for us generally lies in numbers – sales numbers and customer satisfaction indices. But to receive such support from the public and the media with the People’s Choice Award and the Car of the Year Award is just tremendous! Thank you everyone for your support,” said head of marketing at Audi Middle East, Bernd Rosenbichler.
The winning streak of awards started with the “Manufacturer of the Year” award presented by Car Middle East magazine and was followed by the Audi R8 being voted “Car of the Show” at the ninth International Middle East Motor Show with more than 10,000 voters. But the main surprise was yet to come. At the most coveted awards of the region, the Autocar Middle East Awards held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Audi had already collected the “Premium Luxury Car of the Year” trophy for the Audi S6.
After three days of testing the independent judges had determined the R8 as the overall winner with 1,086 of 1,295 possible points covering the areas of handling, safety, ergonomics and driving pleasure among others.
“Being a German car manufacturer, the truth for us generally lies in numbers – sales numbers and customer satisfaction indices. But to receive such support from the public and the media with the People’s Choice Award and the Car of the Year Award is just tremendous! Thank you everyone for your support,” said head of marketing at Audi Middle East, Bernd Rosenbichler.
Toyota
Toyota Motor expects its global production in 2008 to expand to about 9.9 million vehicles, about 500,000 units more than the projection for this year, the Nikkei business daily reported.
The expected growth in global output is due to continuing robust sales in China, the Middle East and other emerging economies, the paper said.
Toyota is set to unseat General Motors as the world's biggest car maker by sales volume this year.
The expected growth in global output is due to continuing robust sales in China, the Middle East and other emerging economies, the paper said.
Toyota is set to unseat General Motors as the world's biggest car maker by sales volume this year.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Islamic Car
A car to be made by Iran, Malaysia ( Proton) will be launched in 2011, the head of the Middle East's biggest carmaker and partner in the project, Iran Khodro, said yesterday. Chief executive and president of the partly state-owned Iranian company Manouchehr Manteghi said Islamic countries would be behind all the investment and production.
The car could boast special features like a compass pointing to Mecca and a dedicated space to keep a copy of the Koran and a headscarf. The idea came during a visit to the Middle East by a delegation of Malaysian politicians and businessmen.
Malaysian press reports say officials in Iran originally suggested the idea. Safety features or fuel economy is one way of selling a car, but Proton thinks vehicles designed specifically for Muslims across the world represent a huge gap in the market.
The car could boast special features like a compass pointing to Mecca and a dedicated space to keep a copy of the Koran and a headscarf. The idea came during a visit to the Middle East by a delegation of Malaysian politicians and businessmen.
Malaysian press reports say officials in Iran originally suggested the idea. Safety features or fuel economy is one way of selling a car, but Proton thinks vehicles designed specifically for Muslims across the world represent a huge gap in the market.
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