Quick Hit: Jaguar Makes Hybrids Sexy

 

Jaguar announced that they will be going into production with Williams F1 to create what they’re calling the C-X75. A super-sexy hybrid sports car that can go 0-60 in about 3 seconds while at the same time releasing as much CO2 as a Prius according to Jaguar.

The car made it’s debut as a concept at the Paris auto show last fall and will join other european hybrid supercars like the Porsche 918, the Audi e-Tron and the Mercedes AMG SLS E-cell when it goes into production.

Williams F1 is not releasing any detailed specs yet, but state that the car will come with a ‘highley boosted’ gas powered engine and two electric motors for all-wheel-drive.

All this sexiness comes at a price, about $1.1 Million and Jaguar is only planning on making 250 of these beasts.

Source: Wired

New Alcohol Detection System Being Tested, Could Save A lot of Lives

 

Researchers and federal officials are testing a new alcohol detection system for vehicles that is designed to be unobtrusive and could save thousands of lives.

QinetiQ North America a research and development facility has been testing a system that could measure a drivers blood alcohol content and prohibit the vehicle from starting if they’re above the limit.

The technology is designed to detect through the breath or skin and is being made so that it would not delay a sober driver from quickly starting their vehicle.

Check the link for a related article

Article: New Alcohol Detection Technology Could Save Thousands Of Lives

Car Train Gets First Road Test

The BBC ran a report today about a new technology that link vehicles into "road trains" had it's first tests on Volvo's test track in Sweden.

The technology is allows for a train of cars to be under the control of a single lead driver in order to cut fuel use, boost safety and hopefully cut congestion.

Researchers hope to have platoons of car trains cruising around Europe within the decade.

Hit the link for the full article.
Article: 'Road Train' Technology Trials Get Rolling

Chevy Volt

Chevy is introducing the first production mass produced electric vehicle.
It's got all sorts of interesting tech inside. But the real kicker is it's engine. It charges using a normal 3 pronged outlet and a full charge only cost about $1.50. Besides it's main electric engine it's also got a gas powered electric engine that runs when the battery dies and you can't get somewhere to charge it. According to Chevy's site it can get 375 miles before it runs out of juice.
Hit the link to take a closer look.

Link:Chevy Volt