Mitsubishi Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën agree to enter cooperation on all-new SUV’s
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation CEO, Takashi Nishioka and PSA Peugeot Citroën CEO, Jean-Martin Folz signed today a Memorandum of Understanding for a partnership on all-new SUV’s. A final agreement will be completed by Spring 2005.
This Memorandum plans the annual production in Japan of 30,000 units for PSA Peugeot Citroën’s needs, based on a Mitsubishi platform currently under development.
To be launched in 2007, these new SUV’s will have specific designs for Peugeot and Citroën. They will be equipped with the latest generation PSA Peugeot Citroën’s HDi Diesel engines with particulate filter. For the PSA Peugeot Citroën group, these SUV’s will expand the ranges of the two brands Peugeot and Citroën. The models aim to attract new customers predominantly in European markets. For Mitsubishi Motors, the additional volume will enable the company to raise capacity utilisation rates and to improve productivity.
Consortium for vehicle-to-vehicle communications sets to work
Europe's top six car manufacturers - Audi, BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Renault and Volkswagen - have combined forces in the so called 'Car-2-Car Communication Consortium' (C2C CC). One aim of this body is to develop a Europe-wide open industry standard for communications from car to car and between vehicles and infrastructure facilities. Beyond that, the C2C CC plans to push for the allocation of the requisite radio frequency to enable this, as well as developing and testing suitable radio communication systems.
With the aid of car-to-car communications, the selective forwarding of information helps to optimize traffic flow and appreciably enhances traffic safety. Here's an example: if a vehicle encounters a critical situation such as congestion, fog, ice or an accident, it passes the relevant information on to all affected road users in the immediate vicinity of the danger spot. Traffic approaching from further away is given ample warning and can respond to the situation.
In this spontaneous information network, each vehicle can take on the role of a sender, receiver or router. It allows a chain of information to be built up, rather like a relay race. With the aid of this process, known as multi-hopping, information can be spread further afield to cover a substantial distance. The data exchange between vehicles is made possible by ad-hoc networks. These short-distance connections are spontaneously created between the vehicles as the need arises and can organize themselves without the help of any external infrastructure. The technology is based on wireless LAN. The efficiency of car-to-car communications increases with the number of vehicles on the market which feature the requisite equipment. Independently of this, the technology can also be used for communications between vehicles and external infrastructures. Possible deployment scenarios include wireless fault diagnosis and downloading digital maps.
Further information at www.car-2-car.org.
Exide Technologies is launching battery testing program, "Testing In Advance Is Always Better." The program, which was created to meet the battery-testing needs of auto repair garages and vendors, follows last year's highly successful launch of the EBT 155 and 255 battery testers.
When you consider that electric-system failures are the leading cause of automotive breakdowns, Exide's "Testing In Advance" program is a valuable tool. Thanks to this new testing program, auto repair garages and vendors will be better able to determine whether a motorist needs to recharge or replace the battery in his or her automobile - and that is no small matter. In a recent test of 100 cars, 22 battery-related problems were detected. Of those, 13 resulted in the purchase of a new battery.
Exide also will display a new Memory Saver. The Memory Saver - which incorporates a light and easy-to-handle 7.2 Ah Gel battery - is designed to eliminate risk of memory loss to onboard electrical equipment during battery replacement. It can also serve as a backup safety battery while at sea thanks to its unique lid-and-socket construction.
The Toyota Prius has been voted 2005 Car of the Year by the 58 members of the European Car of the Year Jury. After 2 rounds of voting, the car was chosen from a list of 7 finalists and declared winner after gathering 406 points.
Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid vehicle, is propelled by the combination of an electric motor and a petrol engine. This unique system, called Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive®, will spearhead the development of new environmentally friendly powertrains and is part of Toyota's effort to create the ultimate eco car.
Since its introduction in early 2004, Prius sales in Europe are expected to reach 8,500 units this year.
Next year, the sales target has been set at 15,000 units for Europe, whilst an increase in production capacity will allow 180,000 cars to be sold worldwide.
Romain Gauvin wins the Renault Design competition "Imagine Espace in 2024"
The competition to "Imagine Espace in 2024" has been won by Romain Gauvin, a fifth-year student at Strate College. Renault Design organized the competition to coincide with Espace's 20th anniversary, inviting entries from students at its partner schools in France (Issy-les-Moulineaux) and Germany (Pforzheim).
"The intention was to design a car that travels on the ground yet feels like it is soaring through the sky, like flying a hang-glider", explains Romain Gauvin. The "suspended" cabin features illustrate this idea, with a pared-down dashboard and two rows of three seats, each on a central support. The hybrid engine takes up less room in the engine compartment to free space in the cabin. The seats are arranged "lounge-style" around a low table, inviting passengers to relax and chat. The discreet low-slung dashboard allows for exceptional forward visibility through the sloping windscreen, giving a full view of the road.
The streamlined profile and the shape of the rear end mirror aerodynamic flow to reinforce this sensation of flight. The side windows roll down below the feature line to give passengers the impression they are hovering above the road. Romain Gauvin's Espace of 2024 combines light and space in a concept that takes its cue from flight.
The aim of the competition was to inspire creative interpretations of a powerful and innovative concept that has made its mark among automobiles over the past 20 years: Espace. Romain's prize was a graphic tablet and the loan of a Modus.
BMW Group opens Training Academy in Unterschleissheim near Munich
End of July, BMW opened a new 33 million Euro technical training facility in Unterschleissheim near Munich. The "BMW Group Sales and Aftersales Training Academy" will be the flagship training centre for 45,000 employees within the BMW Group worldwide dealer network. Service engineers will be able to develop the advanced engineering knowledge required to work on the latest BMW and MINI vehicles. In the past two years, BMW has launched more new models than ever before in its history, each fitted with a wide range of innovative technologies.
Over 10,000 German dealer staff will be trained at the centre. Staff from international markets will work on the principle of 'train the trainer', whereby trainers and technical specialists will participate in the Academy and then pass on their knowledge to the training establishments in their 'home' countries.
Visteon Corporation has become the latest premium member of the Autosar partnership (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) - the co-operative alliance set up by vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to develop and establish an open industry standard for automotive electronic and electrical architecture.
Visteon is joining a growing number of OEMs within the Autosar organization, including core partners BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Toyota and Volkswagen as well as premium members Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Porsche, Renault and Volvo together with major suppliers (see www.autosar.org). It is expected that the first production vehicles that will incorporate elements of Autosar will be in model year 2007-8.
Valeo joins AUTOSAR, standard for automotive electrical and electronic architectures
Valeo today announced that it has joined AUTOSAR as a Premium Member. AUTOSAR is a partnership of automotive industry companies, both vehicle manufacturers and suppliers (BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Volkswagen et Toyota, PSA Peugeot Citroën and suppliers Bosch, Continental et Siemens VDO), which are working together to develop an open standard for vehicle electrical and electronic architectures. Such a standard would help reduce development time and costs as well as improve reliability.
Valeo, with its expertise in electrical and electronic architectures, is a leader in this field and works closely with many vehicle manufacturers. Within AUTOSAR, Valeo will focus on areas such as car body functions, new "off-the-shelf" hardware ECU's (Electronic Control Units) and adaptability to various OEM architectures.
Siemens VDO develops energy managers for the automobile
As today's vehicles employ new solutions for reducing fuel consumption and emissions, their requirement for electricity to power modern systems and components grows with consumer demand for innovations. At the Vienna Motor Symposium held on Apr. 30, 2004, automotive electronics supplier Siemens VDO Automotive AG presented "Power Trader" software, an application that allows the vehicle's electric system to monitor and regulate power supply and demand.
To meet the modern vehicle's increasing energy requirements, Siemens VDO Automotive has developed the "Power Trader" software, which enables the automobile's electrical systems to mutually regulate power requirements in line with available supply and instant demand. The innovative software shifts power usage throughout the vehicle, from comfort and convenience features that consume large amounts of energy to safety and driving-relevant systems when even more electricity is needed. For example, the power requirements of a turbocharger and other electronic drivetrain components in passing or overtaking operating conditions can be met by decreasing the electrical consumption of the seat heating element for a few milliseconds. The Power Trader software solution can be implemented without having to make major modifications to the vehicle's electrical system or install additional controllers.
While Power Trader is an immediate solution to vehicle electrical energy resource management, Siemens VDO Automotive's integrated starter-generator (ISG) is a mid-term solution to providing the necessary electricity to power new automotive engineering developments. The ISG provides more than six kilowatts of continuous electrical energy and increases the onboard network to 42 volts.
In addition to power supply improvement and augmentation, the ISG can boost internal combustion engine output during the acceleration phase or completely power the vehicle in stop-and-start situations. Siemens VDO Automotive plans to utilize high-performance capacitors, or supercaps, that can be highly charged with electrical energy during normal vehicle operation (such as when braking) to enable these advanced functions. Integrated starter-generators are expected to be introduced in conjunction with the 42-volt onboard network in 2010.
Creative packaging and weight reduction are imperatives in automotive industry. Delphi Corporation's alternative to conventional wiring answers the call, with a flexible, low-profile system that optimizes capability and electronics integration in vehicle applications.
This low-profile alternative, Delphi's Flat Wire, combines flexible printed circuits and flat extruded cable to create a more efficient and less complex cabling system that helps automotive manufacturers reduce weight, simplify assembly, enable routing in tight spaces, and improve reliability and quality.
Delphi's Flat Wire can be found in numerous areas where electronic integration complexity and packaging restraints meet head on. Those areas include, but are not limited to, integrated electronic side mirrors and rear-view mirrors, door and headliner harnesses, instrument clusters, steering stalks, electronic antennae, heater connectors and illumination. Through the Flat Wire approach, leaded and surface-mounted electronic devices can be assembled directly on flexible printed circuits.
The new SL 65 AMG is the world's most powerful and highest-torque series-produced roadster. The open-top two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and passes the 200 km/h mark after just 12.9 seconds. Obviously, It features an impressive list of hightech technology :
6.0-litre V12 engine, biturbo system, water-type charge-air cooling, 450 kW/612 hp and 570-Nm - see documentation Supercharging and turbocharging.
Redesigned engine cover, made from deep-drawn aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)
Mechanical, asymmetric, multiple-disc limited-slip differential with a lock factor of 40 percent under load.
Active Body Control (ABC)
Composite brake system with 390 x 36 mm brake discs at the front and 360 x 26 mm brake discs at the rear.
Air Liquide will supply the new Arcelor steel shop in Belgium
Air Liquide and Arcelor, world leader in the steel industry, are pleased to announce the signing of a new contract. Under the terms of this contract, Air Liquide will supply oxygen, nitrogen and argon to the new Arcelor steel shop currently under construction in Carlam (Belgium). The new site, called UGINE & ALZ CariNOx, is scheduled to come on stream in 2005 and will have an annual stainless steel production capacity of 1 million metric tons. This project will enhance Arcelor's competitiveness in the stainless steel market.
To meet the requirements of this new plant (oxygen: 55 million m3/year; nitrogen: 16 million m3/year; argon: 15 million m3/year), the UGINE & ALZ CariNOx site will be connected to Air Liquide's North European pipeline network. Some of the oxygen will be used in the electrical arc furnace while a combination of oxygen, nitrogen and argon will be used in the converter - a specific tool for decarburizing stainless steel.
Melexis organizes the second edition of the Melexis Safety Trophy
On Sunday April 25th, the Melexis Safety Trophy takes place in the Brabanthal in Leuven, Belgium. More than 40 teams of engineering students and hobbyists have created their own autonomous robot (without remote control) to take part in this annual international robot competition. Prizes worth euros 15.000.
The challenge consists in developing an autonomous vehicle that works its way through an obstacle course by means of intelligent sensors. The track resembles a real traffic situation, including road markings, obstacles, traffic signs and other vehicles.
Teams come from all over the world including UK, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
Mitsubishi Motors Sells Part of Kyoto Powertrain Plant Premises
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today signed a deal with the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies to sell 9,400 square meters of its 299,000 square meter Powertrain Plant in the western Japan city of Kyoto.
MMC will hand the land over to the university during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.
Located in the northeastern corner of the plant, the land includes the No. 8 Shop, which was turned into a recreation area in March 2003 after a reevaluation of production capacity, and its surrounding areas. The university will use the land as a sports ground for its affiliated high school.
MMC's Kyoto Powertrain Plant employs 1,800 people and turns out gasoline and diesel engines for vehicles bound for some 150 countries.
The novel Bosch's wiper blade park position of the Seat Altea
The new Seats Altea sets new design trends by being the first car parking its window wipers in the A-pillars. Precise positioning of the wipers in this rest position is made possible by the electronically controlled Bosch wiper drive system featuring two motors. Furthermore, putting this idea into practice has also been facilitated by the low height of the Aerotwin wiper blades by Bosch.
The Seat Altea comes with a high windshield. For this reason, Seat opted for opposed-pattern wiper systems in order to produce a maximum-size field of vision when it rains. "As the wiper arms can now be driven independently, both of them can be parked precisely behind the A-pillar cladding. Due to the existing tolerances and safety clearances this was impossible with previous systems featuring only one motor," says Dr. Arnold Ewald, head of the Bosch "Wiper Systems" business unit. The exact position of the wiper arms is determined by sensors. In addition, the system is capable of detecting any wiper blade jam, which may occur during the winter season, for example, by snow collecting at the reversal points. This also protects the motor from overloading.
An additional effect of the new park position is the smooth transition from the engine hood to the windshield; previously, such a design feature was to be found only in design studies without wiper systems. In addition to the optical and functional benefits for the driver the new Bosch drive concept yields another advantage for the automotive manufacturer. With the linkage previously required in opposed-pattern wiper systems having become redundant, more space becomes available in the engine compartment.
Two BMW GB dealer master technicians, Dennis Carey from BMW Scotthall - Borehamwood and Michael Futers from BMW Castle - York, have won the BMW International Service Technician competition held in Munich on 6 February 2004. A total of 6,298 technicians from BMW dealers in 33 countries competed to gain a place at the finals. During the four-day competition, all technicians had to complete five practical tests detecting and repairing faults in a wide range of vehicle electronic systems, as well as a two-hour theory examination.
BMW GB has an impressive record in the awards achieving top three places in four of the last competitions since 1995. In this year's competition Austria came 2nd place and China took 3rd place.
Mazda and Toyota Collaborate on In-Vehicle Information Service : Mazda's domestic Japanese models to feature G-BOOK from 2005
Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation today announced that they have reached a basic agreement on providing Mazda owners with G-BOOK, a Toyota-developed network information service. Mazda aims to introduce this service from 2005.
Toyota began providing the G-BOOK service to Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. last August and has already announced similar agreements with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. Mazda and Toyota reached the agreement based on a mutual belief that it is important for automakers and the information infrastructure industry to work together to promote the early establishment of an industry standard.
This will serve to facilitate the development of systems with an extensive network that provide customers with high quality services at reduced cost. In the future, both companies will continue collective efforts to promote the widespread use of telematics, an interactive network information service using in-vehicle terminals, and provide customers with a safe and further enhanced service. When the cooperative relationship envisaged in the basic agreement between Mazda and Toyota is fully realized, both companies will be able to provide high-quality, lower-cost services to more customers while working towards the creation of an industry standard in order to further support the widespread adoption of telematics services.
Mazda has been providing its own "Mazda Telematics" service for members since July 2000, but is looking to move towards a unified G-BOOK service in the future. Mazda will continue to provide current members with the existing service.
Valeo's G5 clutch facings meet new European environmental regulations
Valeo's new range of G5 clutch facings for car and commercial vehicle applications, is now being supplied to OEMs worldwide.
All clutch facings in the G5 range are manufactured using new water-based, solvent free, production processes. These processes represent a significant innovation that have enabled Valeo to totally eliminate chlorinated solvents and so achieve compliance with European regulations well in advance of their introduction. End-of-life recycling of the clutch facings is made possible because of their lead-free construction.
The new production processes employ state-of-the-art technology to manufacture a wide variety of G5 clutch designs to meet individual customer specifications. These customers include BMW, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen Group.
For its 29th year, Rétromobile will open its doors, covering 20,000 m² of exhibition. A world first, the 2004 show will be bringing together exceptional vehicles that have taken part in the wildest distant expeditions :
The Citroën Expeditions
The amphibious " Half safe ", the Automobile that Crossed the Oceans
The 2CV of the 1973 African Raid
Renault Reinastella RM2, Viva grand sport ACX2, coupé Vernet Pairard 4CV, Frégate présidence
Alfa Romeo coupé Sportiva
Practical Information :
- Dates: 13 - 22 February 2004
- Place: Hall 2.1 at Paris Expo-Porte de Versailles - Paris, France
- Admission price: € 11 (€ 7 for children 6 to 12 years old)
- Hours: Opening day: Friday 13th, 12 noon to 10.00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. , Tuesday and Friday 20th: late nights, show open until 10.00 p.m.
www.retromobile.fr
The new Opel Astra 3rd generation will be launch during the coming spring. Opel´s new compact is the first car in its segment with an integrated chassis control network. In addition to ABS and ESP Plus, the network also includes CDC (Continuous Damping Control), which is a major component of the IDS Plus system. A coming Auto-innovations' document will explain this technology. This option price is 880 €.
This mid-size car will offer also others new technologies :
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) with bi-xenon, an other first in this segment
Honda of Canada produces its three-millionth vehicle and will built its first SUV
Honda of Canada Mfg. announced today the production of its three-millionth vehicle. A silver 2004 Acura MDX rolled off the assembly line on Saturday morning, January 10, to mark the milestone.
The three-millionth production achievement follows an announcement on January 4 that the plant has been awarded the production mandate to build the all-new Honda Sport Utility Truck, scheduled to go on sale in calendar year 2005.
Honda's Alliston manufacturing plant set all all-time production record this past year with an increase of nearly 9 percent over 2002 with total vehicle production of 392,230 units. "Demand in North America continues to remain strong for the high-quality products built at our Alliston, Ontario, facility," said Kalim Ansari, Executive Vice President of Honda Canada Inc.
"In addition, the overall vehicle production quality that our Canadian associates at HCM have consistently achieved was instrumental in being awarded the upcoming launch of the new Honda Sport Utility Truck -- a very important new model for Honda," Ansari said.
PSA Peugeot Citroën joins the automotive standard AUTOSAR
PSA Peugeot Citroën joined the Automotive Open System Architecture "AUTOSAR" development partnership as a core partner, which was formed by carmakers and automotive equipment manufacturers to develop a standardized international electric/electronic architecture concept for automobiles.
"AUTOSAR"'s core partners include carmakers BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corporation and equipment manufacturers Bosch, Continental and Siemens VDO.
The partnership's objective is to specify and supply a common software architecture standard to all "AUTOSAR" members. The domains covered include body, drive train and suspension electronics, as well as multimedia, telematic and human-machine interface systems.
PSA Peugeot Citroën's decision to join "AUTOSAR" fits in with its strategy of simplifying and standardizing electronic functions. Through its membership, the Group intends to significantly reduce development time and costs and make onboard electronic systems even more reliable and robust. On average, electronic systems currently represent 20% of a vehicle's production cost at PSA Peugeot Citroën. This percentage is likely to increase sharply in the years ahead if no measures are taken to generate economies of scale through a global partnership.
Now that PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota Motor Corporation have joined "AUTOSAR" at the same time, this partnership has been reinforced in its status as a global alliance. We have now reached a worldwide representation of active supporters of this novel automotive standard in E/E architectures, said Professor Dr. Harald Heinecke, "AUTOSAR" spokesperson.
Repair with telediagnosis and interactive TV - Volkswagen
Modern cars use more and more control systems and are becoming increasingly complex. The new Golf alone carries around 40 on-board computers. However, while these developments may make life easy for drivers, staff at repair shops face more and more challenges.
Volkswagen has created the Technical Service Centre (TSC®) in Wolfsburg with around 40 members. Service partners in Germany and repair shops across the world can contact experts at the TSC using the latest tools, for example, Hotline Channel, telediagnosis and the company's interactive television service (iTV).
The Telediagnosis product-support technicians at the TSC in Wolfsburg can control the diagnosis unit at the workshop from their workstations - no matter where the workshop is located. They can query data and modify settings. One further advantage is that service technicians on site can follow the process and are thus trained as they work.
A new interactive television (iTV) studio has also been set up to expand the capabilities of the TSC. Each week training programmes are broadcast from the studio to workstations at the service companies, for example. New repair and testing methods, technologies and tools are demonstrated live and interactively. If service partners have any questions, they can contact the television studio and receive an answer while the broadcast is still on air.
A new headwind-cooled all-wheel drive acoustic dynamometer at MAGNA STEYR
A new headwind-cooled acoustic dynamometer goes into operation at MAGNA STEYR's Engineering Department. The test rig enables stable thermal and acoustic all-wheel drive roller measurements to be taken for vehicles of up to 500 kW. Noise and comfort can therefore be optimized in even the most powerful all-wheel drive limousines, sports cars, SUVs and convertibles.
Tests that can be performed on the rig include interior and exterior noise measurement and correlation with component vibrations, simulation of the accelerated pass-by run for ISO noise emission measurement, tow mode with out-of-balance excitation, driveline vibration analyses and engine performance measurement with loss determination. Headwind cooling means that the readings are realistic without thermal distortion and the engine performance corresponds to figures obtained on the road. Design features can thus be analyzed and enhanced using the latest testing methods.
MAGNA STEYR's rig consists of rollers measuring 6 meters in circumference, which can be adjusted for wheelbases ranging from 2100 to 3600 mm. The vehicle mass to be simulated can be varied between 600 kg and 3600 kg with acceleration of up to 4.9 m/s² and a maximum speed of 200 km/h being achieved. Up to 124 kW brake power can be applied per wheel. The airflow rate required for cooling is 135,000m³/h, which is provided by a 75 kW fan and permits headwind simulation up to 135 km/h. The air outlet has a cross section of 2 m x 0.5 m and all the supply and extract air ducts have soundproof linings with the result that, when the cooling is on the total sound level, it is less than 35 dB(A).
Exide Technologies is launching battery testing program, "Testing In Advance Is Always Better." The program, which was created to meet the battery-testing needs of auto repair garages and vendors, follows last year's highly successful launch of the EBT 155 and 255 battery testers.
The Toyota Prius has been voted 2005 Car of the Year by the 58 members of the European Car of the Year Jury. After 2 rounds of voting, the car was chosen from a list of 7 finalists and declared winner after gathering 406 points.
The competition to "Imagine Espace in 2024" has been won by Romain Gauvin, a fifth-year student at Strate College. Renault Design organized the competition to coincide with Espace's 20th anniversary, inviting entries from students at its partner schools in France (Issy-les-Moulineaux) and Germany (Pforzheim).
Creative packaging and weight reduction are imperatives in automotive industry. Delphi Corporation's alternative to conventional wiring answers the call, with a flexible, low-profile system that optimizes capability and electronics integration in vehicle applications.
The new SL 65 AMG is the world's most powerful and highest-torque series-produced roadster. The open-top two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and passes the 200 km/h mark after just 12.9 seconds. Obviously, It features an impressive list of hightech technology :
On Sunday April 25th, the Melexis Safety Trophy takes place in the Brabanthal in Leuven, Belgium. More than 40 teams of engineering students and hobbyists have created their own autonomous robot (without remote control) to take part in this annual international robot competition. Prizes worth euros 15.000.
The new Seats Altea sets new design trends by being the first car parking its window wipers in the A-pillars. Precise positioning of the wipers in this rest position is made possible by the electronically controlled Bosch wiper drive system featuring two motors. Furthermore, putting this idea into practice has also been facilitated by the low height of the Aerotwin wiper blades by Bosch.
For its 29th year, Rétromobile will open its doors, covering 20,000 m² of exhibition. A world first, the 2004 show will be bringing together exceptional vehicles that have taken part in the wildest distant expeditions :
The new Opel Astra 3rd generation will be launch during the coming spring. Opel´s new compact is the first car in its segment with an integrated chassis control network. In addition to ABS and ESP Plus, the network also includes CDC (Continuous Damping Control), which is a major component of the IDS Plus system. A coming Auto-innovations' document will explain this technology. This option price is 880 €.
Modern cars use more and more control systems and are becoming increasingly complex. The new Golf alone carries around 40 on-board computers. However, while these developments may make life easy for drivers, staff at repair shops face more and more challenges.
A new headwind-cooled acoustic dynamometer goes into operation at MAGNA STEYR's Engineering Department. The test rig enables stable thermal and acoustic all-wheel drive roller measurements to be taken for vehicles of up to 500 kW. Noise and comfort can therefore be optimized in even the most powerful all-wheel drive limousines, sports cars, SUVs and convertibles.