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Todays motoring and car news headlines...
What effect will climate change have on the future of motoring? We have all heard about the threat of global warming, right? Currently its big news and we are all being told that we must change our ways in order to safeguard the future of our planet. Then we are told that in the meantime we must pay for our sins with increased road tax, pay as you go road charges, higher fuel costs etc. So what’s the truth? Are we really killing the planet? And is the motorist to blame? Well before you start digging out your bicycle clips in a guilty frenzy. Remember that is not your fault, you are just the end user of a product that modern society has dictated as a necessity to many of us. You did not invent the internal combustion engine, you did not put lead in your fuel nor did you consciously set out to change the climate and damage the environment. Another thing that you should consider is this; in 30 years time it is unlikely you will be driving a petrol car. Of course in the meantime the environmentalists will continue to hound the motorists and the Government will continue to cash in on your guilt, but in reality the motoring industry has been long planning for the switch to greener motoring and alternative fuels. It has been known for many years that fuel supplies from natural resources won’t last forever so the motoring manufacturers as well as the fuel companies have long been looking elsewhere for solutions as well as developing current technology to be more and more efficient. Think back to the 1980's (if you are old enough) when we drove around in cars that drank highly leaded fuel and if you got 30 mpg you were doing well. There are now unleaded petrol cars in production that will achieve 60 mpg and diesel cars that can do nearly 80 mpg. Hybrid cars are already here and may not be the long term answer but certainly provide a good combination of reduced emissions, reduced noise pollution and excellent economy. In fact battery electric vehicles have been around in various forms since the 1830's and were still produced as cars in the 1930's until changes in technology saw the internal combustion engine flourish. The 1980's saw renewed interest in the electric car, particularly in the USA with the introduction of tax credits for low emission vehicles. Critics of the electric car point to the need to power them from electricity derived from highly polluting power stations. This problem could be solved by the next generation of low emission nuclear fusion plants, but they could still be 50 years away. So what will we be driving? Well, expect more hybrids, particularly hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines which should appear in Japan very soon (2-3 years) leading eventually to full hydrogen fuel cell powered cars in 20-30 years if not sooner. Bio-fuels using ethanol derived from the Sugar or Starch present in many crops are already being used. Most of these are duel-fuel engines modified from standard form to run of both petrol and ethanol. So expect oil prices to fall in the coming years and the price of crop shares to rise dramatically. Researchers at Arizona University in America have been working on various forms of Algae-based bio-fuel technology. Some Algal even produce oils that could power Aeroplanes. These fuels could be a matter of years away. The main obstacle to widespread use of alternative fuels at the moment is the implementation of the huge worldwide strategy needed such as the economical growth of suitable crop supplies and the conversion of the world’s filling station pumps to accommodate the new fuels. So don't despair, there are alternatives on the way and petrol engines will eventually be replaced by new and greener technology. This may not however, be the answer to global warming. While many still believe that this is a closed subject and the argument has already been proven, Science has yet to back this up conclusively. On Feb 2nd the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) declared that climate change in the second half of this century was "very likely" due to man-made greenhouse gases. They define "very likely" as 90%. The hardened believers fail to explain why many areas of the world have recently experienced unusual frosts and that while the Arctic sea-ice has reduced in size in the Antarctic it has increased. Of course these stories do not make such good headlines and cannot be used as emotively by politicians. Studies that are contrary to the current politically correct view are always dismissed as being funded by Oil companies and barely make footnotes in the news. Well firstly, there are many wholly independent studies that shed doubt as to the true extent of man made global warming and secondly, of course the Oil companies will carry out their own studies in an area which directly involves their own industry. I'd be more worried if they didn't bother. So are we being arrogant to think that in twenty years we can directly affect a climate that has been ever-changing and adapting to all the stresses and strains of the Universe for millions of years? Take Sunspots for example. They are insignificant to us yet they directly affect our weather and produce power, energy and temperatures that we cannot comprehend. When Sunspot activity is higher the temperature on earth increases and vice versa. The last big lull in sunspot activity coincided with "the little Ice age" over 300 years ago. During this time the temperature dipped a couple of degrees resulting in colder weather. During the winter the Thames in London used to freeze on a regular basis as did many rivers all over Northern Europe and America. This period ended around 1850 when the global temperature began to rise again long before the human activity that is blamed today. Solar physicists predict such cooling will occur again during the Suns next lazy period. In fact the temperatures we live in today are almost exactly comparable to those of the pre "little Ice age" period of around 1350. These small cycles of Global change exist within much larger cycles causing the Earth to go in and out of Ice ages in cycles of a Hundred Thousand years or so. In between these cycles the Earth warms up and continues to for 15-20,000 years or so before cooling again. We are currently in the 18,000th year of a warming period. It has also been studied by Henrik Svensmark in Copenhagen that during these "lazy spells" more atomic particles, which are released by exploding stars, are allowed to reach earth. This is because the effect of the suns magnetic field, which normally deflects them, is reduced. This results in increased cloud cover and colder weather. The sun is currently more active so there is less global cloud cover. It was only in the 1970s that environmentalists were warning of Global "Cooling" due to pollution blocking out the Sun. How quickly things can change. There is no doubt that the climate is changing, it always has done and it always will. We just happen to be living in moderate period. The main problem is our perception that the worlds weather should remain constant throughout our lifetime and that any change must be our own fault. This is a ridiculous statement which is very rarely addressed when dealing with this subject. I’m not dismissing man-made effects on the climate completely, but this current cycle started long before the human element entered the equation. Nature has contended with universal elements and forces far greater than anything we can even imagine for billions of years. Could it be that we are arrogantly and ignorantly over-playing our own significance against the might of nature?
Audi S6
Audi S6
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Alfa Romeo Brera
 BMW have confirmed that the new 3 Series Convertible, which goes on sale in Spring 2007, will have a folding metal roof. This design had previously been dismissed by the German company because of the effect it had on the weight distribution and centre of gravity. No one has test driven the car yet so it is unclear wether they have overcome these problems or simply compromised in order to satisfy consumer demands for this type of roof. The design will certainly add extra weight to the car and impose on boot space more than a fabric roof. The inclusion of folding rear seats may help the problem of boot space. The first models released will be the 325i at £33,030 and the twin turbo 335i at £37,895.
Audi are a brand brimming with confidence right now and massive investment in many new models reflects this. The move to replace one of the most iconic cars of recent times was never going to be easy but the popularity of the passing model meant that there was never a need for Audi to hurry. In fact their timing has been impeccable and the world is now ready for the new TT and will no doubt lap it up. Heres what the nice people at Audi have to say about their new baby: 06.04.2006 Power born from passion - The new Audi TT Coupé A cult car, an icon – the Audi TT, launched in the autumn of 1998 – took the sports coupé segment by storm and sharpened the brand profile. Now the second generation of this successful model is making its debut. The newTT Coupé is even more dynamic than its predecessor– in terms of its design, its drivetrain, and its running gear. The very architecture of the new Audi TT Coupé embodies the style, stability and power of a pure driving machine. The bullish stance of the base body and the low, narrow styling of the greenhouse together form a sculpture of simple, unfussy lines. The Audi design team has lovingly adopted and enhanced the visual code – the motif of circles and domes – of the predecessor model. The new TT appears more stretched, and even at a standstill seems to be striving to move forward; taut panels emphasise the impression of dynamic movement. The new TT is 137 mm longer than its predecessor at 4,178 mm, and 78 mm wider at 1,842 mm. The body is constructed in the ASF Space Frame design developed by Audi and consists of aluminium and steel. This is the first time that it has combined different materials alongside each other. 69 percent of the superstructure is made of aluminium. The steel components making up the remaining 31 percent are to be found at the rear end, so as to ensure balanced distribution of the axle loads. To improve downforce, a spoiler is extended from the tailgate when the vehicle reaches a speed of 120 km/h. The new Audi TT, like its predecessor, is initially available as a 2 + 2-seater coupé; the separate roadster model is scheduled for later launch. The basic luggage capacity of the easily accessible boot, under its large-format lid, is 290 litres. This capacity can be increased to 700 litres by folding down the rear seat backs. The sports seats provide outstanding side restraint. There is a choice of three different leathers for the covers. The cockpit is oriented strictly to the driver and is perfectly ergonomic in design. It embodies the classic circles motif of the TT in a number of ways, such as in the three centre air vents. Two powerful petrol engines are available to power the car. The 2.0l turbocharged four-cylinder TFSI unit featuring FSI direct injection develops 147 kW (200 bhp). With a six-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates the TT to 100 km/h in just6.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 240 km/h. The sonorous-sounding, naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6 engine develops 184 kW (250 bhp), accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically governed). Both engines are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. On request they can be combined with the dynamic S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Whereas the four-cylinder engine comes with front-wheel drive, the V6 distributes its power across both axles by way of the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system – an exclusive technology feature in the sports coupé segment. The Audi dynamic suspension was newly developed and tuned for the TT Coupé. One of its hallmarks is its self-steering behaviour right up to the handling limits, which ranges from neutral to light understeer. This sporty orientation produces driving fun, agility and supreme handling characteristics. The track enlargement, with larger wheels ranging from 16 to 19 inches in size, and extensive changes in the area of elastokinematics were key areas of the developers’ work. The new multi-link rear suspension ensures optimum driving dynamics at a sports car level. The high-tech Audi magnetic ride damper system is available as an option. In this system, tiny magnetic particles circulate in the oil inside the shock absorbers. When a voltage is applied to them, they alter the damping characteristics within milliseconds. This adaptive system simultaneously ensures high levels of ride comfort and thoroughly sporty dynamism, according to the specific driving scenario and the preferences of the driver. The standard features of the new Audi TT include an automatic air conditioning system and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel. The latter is not only entirely suitable for the sports car but also makes it easier to get in and out. The air vents, steering wheel spokes and many of the controls are finished in an aluminium look. With regard to options, customers can choose from a variety of high-tech solutions, including the adaptive light dynamic cornering light system and the Audi parking system which aids parking. The new TT marks the premiere of a new generation of audio systems. It is characterised by state-of-the-art reception and playback technology and intuitive user control. Six so-called softkeys control a variety of functions depending on which menu is selected. The chorus radio system with single CD drive comes as standard. A Bluetooth interface is available for mobile phones. The telephone function can be operated via the MMI, the multifunction steering wheel and by speech control. The operator control for the optional navigation system takes its cues from the exemplary MMI system familiar from the Audi A6, A8 and Q7 model series.
I hear people all the time berating the new Bugatti Veyron, saying it’s pointless, it has no reason to exist, it’s a waste of money etc. Well cars like the Veyron do have a purpose, like any technology that pushes back the boundaries. Cars like this take us to new territory, to places we have never been before, and like many pioneering examples of human achievement, it is a thing of beauty. Why did we climb Everest? Because it is there. Why did we build the Veyron? Because we can. Embrace it. Marvel at it. Deal with it. Return to top of car news and views
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