Car Tech - Crave at CNET UK

T.27: World's most efficient electric car?

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:44:02 +0000

Gordon Murray -- the man responsible for such supercars as the McLaren F1 -- has teamed up with Zytek to help develop the world's most fuel-efficient electric vehicle

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi takes pole position as world's biggest and fastest theme park

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:10:01 +0000

With the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix minutes away, we take a look at Ferrari World, the world's largest indoor theme park currently being built right next to the track

MIT Affective Intelligent Driving Agent: Robotic backseat driver

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:21:01 +0000

It sits in your dashboard, looks like ET, and knows when you need to stop off to pick up some loo roll. Behold MIT's marvellous Affective Intelligent Driving Agent

Nissan fish robots move in driving schools

nick.hide@cnet.co.uk (Nick Hide) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:34:02 +0000

Nissan has shown off cute new robots called Eporos that can move in a group and avoid crashing into things -- and each other

Top Gear showing in HD from November

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:19:02 +0000

After receiving "several hundred emails", the most popular car show on the planet is now being captured on hi-def cameras, and will be broadcast in the new format from November

Audi R8 Spyder: Microphones? In the seatbelts, you say?

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:38:01 +0000

We love the electric e-tron take on the R8, but Audi hasn't forgotten about its petrol-powered brethren. It's been busy with the hacksaw, creating a convertible spyder version of the R8

Renault Twizy, Zoe, Fluenz and Kangoo electric cars due in 2011

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:44:02 +0000

Renault has unveiled four (count 'em) electric car concepts due for release in 2011 -- just in time to save us all from the smog-belching spectre that is the internal combustion engine

Ford Focus Battery Electric Vehicle set to electrify London

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:54:02 +0000

Good news, G-Wiz haters -- the electric Ford Focus is on its way to London, and it's bringing all five of its seats along for the ride

Audi e-tron: Electric R8 charges wirelessly

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:41:01 +0000

Audi has just announced the e-tron -- an electric supercar that doesn't discriminate against people who live in high-rise tower blocks

Volkswagen E-Up! electric car is all smiles

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:31:02 +0000

Volkswagen pokes its hypothetical finger into the metaphorical electric car pie with a vehicle named after a casual northern English salutation. Gather round for the E-Up!

Aston Martin Rapide: Mum, are we there yet? No? Good

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:18:02 +0000

If you're fed up with transporting your gaggle of Bond girls in the boot of your Aston Martin, you'll be delighted with the new four-door Rapide

Ferrari 458 Italia: Quintessentially German

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:56:02 +0000

Ferrari is putting its faith in the 458 Italia -- as if adding its homeland to the name wasn't bold enough, the Prancing Horse has also drafted in F1 legend Michael Schumacher for advice

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing: Flyer than ever

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:24:01 +0000

It's not a bird, and we're pretty sure it's no plane, but we've just sat behind the wheel of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and it's one of the flyest cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics: Inspired by Usain Bolt's trainers

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:35:02 +0000

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a bonkers new concept car that can worry an M3 in a drag race, challenge a Toyota Prius for scanty emissions, and beat Nicole Ritchie's newborn child in a stupidest-name contest

Peugeot BB1: The car you can tweet from

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:52:02 +0000

According to Peugeot, the electric BB1 will let you access the Internet at broadband speeds when you attach an iPhone to the dock in the steering wheel. This is the future, people

Citroen Revolte: A 2CV for the 21st century

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:44:01 +0000

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Citroen unveiled its brand new Revolte supermini, sporting a rechargeable hybrid drivetrain and Gallic charm aplenty

UK invented mobile phones in 1978, according to Tomorrow's World archive

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:24:02 +0000

Tomorrow's World played a huge part in making us the geeks we are today -- so we're thrilled to see the BBC putting some archive material from the show online, including a British invention -- the mobile phone

Aston Martin DBS road test video

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid,Drew Stearne) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:59:02 +0000

Car Tech faces its greatest challenge -- its Everest, its World Cup final, its Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living -- as Rory takes to the race track in the astonishing Aston Martin DBS

McLaren MP4-12C road-legal supercar: F1 on the M1

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:52:02 +0000

You won't see McLaren's newest supercar, the MP4-12C, on a track: you can see it stuck in tailbacks after McLaren Automotive opens its doors and begins building road cars

Rolls Royce Ghost: Baby roller-ghoster

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:34:02 +0000

We've already had the scarily named Phantom, Wraith and Silver Shadow, but Ghost? Seriously? What's wrong with 'Banshee' or 'Poltergeist' or 'Incorporeal Being'?

Vexia Econav 435 and 355 tested: Saving you petrol, in theory at least

jason.jenkins@cnet.co.uk (Jason Jenkins) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Vexia is poised to release a new wave of Econavs, the 435 UK, 435 Europe, 355 UK and 355 Europe. We test its claims that it'll save you up to 30 per cent on your fuel bill

Mini Coupe concept photos: Tiny, faster

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:02:02 +0000

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is nearly upon us, and we're beginning to see leaked images of some smokin' new cars. The latest to burn through the Intertubes is the Mini Coupe concept

Alpine iXA-W407BT Digital Media Station: Watch iPod video in your car

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:20:02 +0000

Envious of the futuristic entertainment systems in modern cars? Alpine just unveiled a touchscreen head unit that'll drag your old banger kicking and screaming into the 21st century

British Steam Car smashes 103-year-old land speed record

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:29:02 +0000

A team of plucky Brits is claiming to have beaten the 127mph land speed record for a steam-powered car, set in 1906 by a Stanley Steamer

Aston Martin DBS: Road-testing the Bond bombshell

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:35:02 +0000

�160,000 can buy you many things. In London, it'll get you a small flat. Up North, it can purchase several hotels. Or it could land you the ultimate gadget -- an Aston Martin DBS

eniCycle: The electric unicycle the world's been waiting for

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:50:02 +0000

Thank goodness. Slovenian inventor Aleksander Polutnik has sparked the transportation revolution the world needs, with a self-balancing electric unicycle

Photos: Concept cars galore at Pebble Beach

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:42:02 +0000

The latest sports cars from Lotus, Mercedes-Benz and companies you've probably never heard of were on display with vintage autos at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance auto show in California

Nissan GT-R: Meet the 193mph fire engine

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:53:02 +0000

What happens when you mix a fire engine with a 193mph supercar co-designed by the makers of Gran Turismo? You get the fastest, coolest emergency vehicle in the world

BMW 7 Series High Security: As hard as bomb-proof nails

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:57:01 +0000

BMW has just announced an armoured vehicle that's the first to comply with the stringent VR6/VR7 security standard, meaning it can withstand all manner of ballistic attacks

Formula One KERS systems to boost mainstream cars?

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:48:02 +0000

British company Zytek is the driving force behind the KERS power-boost system used in McLaren-Mercedes' Formula 1 cars. But is it working on KERS for road-going cars?

Nissan Forest AC: The electronic nose is born

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:21:02 +0000

It's safe to reach for the beans -- Nissan has just dreamed up an advanced air conditioning system that can sniff out and eliminate bad odours

Nissan goes green with electric Leaf

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:13:02 +0000

Due to go into production in 2010, the Leaf will use laminate lithium-ion batteries to achieve a range of 100 miles, and sports a fairly innovative on-board computer

Video: Jaguar XKR convertible test-drive

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid,Drew Stearne) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:15:02 +0000

Rory is sent slightly mad by the power of the Jaguar XKR in our test-drive video, comparing its throaty growl to a T-Rex gargling hand grenades

Photos: Ferrari 458 Italia exploits F1 tech

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:23:02 +0000

Ferrari has launched an all-new mid-engine sports car to replace the F430. The 458 Italia features stunning looks, racing-level performance, and a new focus on lower carbon-dioxide output

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: All-electric, all-powerful

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:52:01 +0000

In a move that could have the folks over at Tesla quaking in their boots, Mercedes has dropped the bombshell that it's developed an all-electric version of its SLS AMG supercar

Parajet Skycar: �60,000 flying car available now for pre-order

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:29:02 +0000

The British-developed Parajet Skycar has undergone a funky redesign and is now available for pre-order with a tentative release date of early 2010. That's right, friends, the future is next year!

Peugeot Metromorph: The car that's also a lift, balcony and winter garden

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:54:02 +0000

What the eff? Someone's made a car that can travel vertically up buildings, attach itself to the side of your high-rise apartment and serve as a temporary balcony

Snaefell Project: French Frankenstein creates home-made sidecar

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:48:02 +0000

A French man has spent 10 years and �15,000 fusing a motorbike to a car constructed from a Volkswagen GTI, Audi 80 and Citroen Xantia

Video: Smart fortwo CDi test drive

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid,Drew Stearne) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:01:02 +0000

Smart's diesel has the distinction of being the least polluting road car in production, and it's incredibly efficient too -- it does a mammoth 83mpg. We take it for a spin

Jaguar launches 2010 XJ

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:21:01 +0000

Substantially endowed in the chin department, Jay Leno on Thursday presided over the launch of the restyled 2010 Jaguar XJ in London

Video: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S test drive

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid,Drew Stearne) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:10:02 +0000

Rory steps into the luxurious, gadget-filled cockpit of the 911 Carrera 4S in this gorgeous video and takes it for his customary whirl

Video: Jaguar XFR suits the refined hooligan

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:05:02 +0000

The regal Jaguar XFR offers amusements galore to keep you diverted while you idle in traffic, but it's more than happy to tear your face off when the lights turn green, as Rory finds out in our video

Aston Martin Cygnet: Automotive netbook

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:16:01 +0000

Aston Martin looks set to translate the netbook philosophy to the world of cars with the Cygnet -- a dinkier, less expensive take on the luxury supercar

Video: 2010 Toyota Prius road test

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid,Drew Stearne) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:56:02 +0000

The new generation III Prius is greener and cleaner than its predecessors -- so we're keener. Especially when we learn it's faster too. Check out our video road test

Jaguar XFR road test: Faster than they think

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:32:02 +0000

Green light! As the XFR's accelerator pedals met with its soft downy carpet, so the guttural bellow of its V8 met the summery evening air. The race was on

New 2010 Toyota Prius road test: It's back to save us all

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:10:02 +0000

It's difficult to deny that the Prius has always been a technological tour de force, but has the latest iteration evolved sufficiently to silence the brand's critics? We think so.

UK to plug in world's largest electric car trial

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:44:01 +0000

The UK is to host the world's largest co-ordinated trials of assorted electric and hybrid cars, with manufacturers, universities and power companies joining forces. Electrifying stuff

BMW and Toyota rev up new hybrids

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:08:02 +0000

The Web has gone hybrid nuts with rumours of a new hybrid Toyota sports car and a hybrid BMW sedan

The 2010 Toyota Prius is here, and at 71mpg it means business

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:02:02 +0000

Crave is in Sweden for the UK launch of a Japanese car designed to save the world. Yup, we get to do some pretty bonkers things, but this has to be up there with them

Video: Smart Brabus Electric Drive sound generator tested

rory.reid@cnet.co.uk (Rory Reid) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:53:02 +0000

The Smart Brabus Electric Drive incorporates a gadget that that may save the lives of the visually challenged -- it has a sound generator that sounds like a space ship!