Honda to Forge New Brand for China   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
In a first for the Chinese auto industry, Honda has announced that it will develop a new brand of car with its Chinese partner, to roll into showrooms by 2010. Chinese law requires foreign automakers to join Chinese partners. Most...
Source: wired.com

Spy Photo of VW Scirocco Spotted in U.S.   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
It was first revealed as the IROC concept car (pictured here) in 2006. The new Scirocco will debut in Europe in 2009. What's interesting is that a mule has been snapped for hot-weather testing in the United States. Most insiders...
Source: wired.com

Alternatives to Speed Cameras Prove Effective   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
A study released by the non-partisan Virginia Transportation Research Council showed that LED stop signs and optical speed bars were effective at slowing traffic, even if drivers failed to completely stop. The LED stop signs, which are solar powered and...
Source: wired.com

Monumental Labor Talks Commence While Wall Street Listens   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Ron Gettelfinger doesn't much like cameras and microphones--or even people, for that matter. But the UAW's president is known for his deft practicality and for behind-the-scenes diplomacy. These will be crucial assets as he begins the toughest contract negotiations in...
Source: wired.com

Green Flag Drops on Solar Race from Texas to New York   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Nine participating teams left Dell Headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, for New York in vehicles powered by the sun. The 12th annual Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge is a 2,020-mile road race that features hand-built, solar-powered cars, designed and built...
Source: wired.com

Americans Love Hybrids (for Other Drivers)   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
There's no question that Toyota's Prius is a ripping success. And yet it hardly validates hybrid technologies. Honda recently dropped its hybrid Accord. The company's hybrid Civic sells poorly. There are rumors that Ford's hybrid Escape and Mercury Mariner may...
Source: wired.com

Leaked Papers Reveal Plans to Snoop on UK Drivers   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Already the most monitored people on earth, thanks to some 4.2 million CCTV cameras watching over England's motorways, the British may now find that details of their journeys are being recorded as well. Papers leaked from Downing Street indicate that...
Source: wired.com

Moller M200G Volantor Flying Car Heads for Production   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Even the company refers to it as a Jetson-like vehicle. Moller's flying car, which has been under development for years, is going into production. The vehicle is propelled by eight enclosed fans, each driven by a rotary engine, controlled by...
Source: wired.com

Study Confirms Plug-In Hybrids Could Dramatically Reduce Emissions   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
It won't surprise devotees of the technology, but two independent research groups released a study last week showing significant reductions in greenhouse gases through a wide-scale switch to plug-in hybrids. The study was conducted by the nonprofit Electric Power Research...
Source: wired.com

Firefly Gives New Life to Lead Acid Batteries   30 Jul 2007 15:16 GMT
Most automakers are betting that lithium ion batteries will power tomorrow's hybrids. But a Caterpillar spin-off, Firefly Energy, brings an innovation to a very old technology--lead acid batteries. Instead of using lead plates, however, the company's batteries use carbon-graphite foam....
Source: wired.com