BMW 5-series
Car Technology
Regenerative braking in a non hybrid
Engineers at Bavarian Motor Works,commonly known as BMW,have tried to apply the technology they developed to attain one single goal,superior handling and performance.Now BMW has announced a revised 5-series sports sedan which has regenerative braking-which is used first time in a non-hybrid car.This idea came from an alternator control project show in Paris last year.The basic principle is changing the time at which the alternator charges the battery.Usually it is being charged the whole time,means loading the engine whole time,in spite of whether the car is ascending or descending.
But in the new BMW 5-series car the alternator is connected only when the car is decelerating.So at the other times,the load on the engine is less,the whole power generated is used to move the car,whole of this refers to low fuel consumption.The alternator haven’t changed much.BMW just added an electronically controlled clutch that engages when the car is decelerating.BMW have changed the structure of battery so that it can suit itself to the frequent charge/discharge cycles.
The 3.5 KWs power required to drive the electronic components of BMW 5-series is supplied by a powerful battery.BMW wont release the exact numbers,but they said they are using glass mat technology.In this technology the battery plates are separated using a saturated absorbent glass—boron silicate—rather than the common liquid electrolyte or gel.The microfibers hold the acid electrolyte which improves the energy storage during the frequent charge/discharge cycle.
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Audi R8
Car Technology
LED lights on the road
The R8,with which the Audi entered to the super car turf,is estimated to cost around 130 US grands when it is released this year.The Audi R8 has everything you need,like,advanced new technology, including a direct injection mid mounted V8,an aluminum space frame,and a 465-watt twelve speaker sound system.The Audi R8’s shock absorber is also new,which is filled with viscous fluid whose viscous property can be changed electromagnetically.But this is not new,its already working in SRX and Cadillac XLR.
These technology aren’t new,they have been in the other cars,but not each and everyone of these technologies have appeared in one car,which makes the Audi R8 special.The two seater R8 owns something else which makes it distinct,LEDs for the day time running-lights.LEDs have many advantages compared to normal lights as automotive lights,which includes low-power and longer life.The famous lighting company,Hella says that just 10W for a couple of LED lights,compared to the usual 150W from a standard incandescent-lights.LEDs life time is around 100 years or 50,000 hours for an ordinary car,which is more than enough.Wait there is more for Audi R8,it is small which gives the stylists/designers great freedom on front design.But nothing comes free,same here too.LED lights costs $1000 per two lights,if you ever want to replace those.Thats 10 times costlier to normal lights.So currently LED lights are only available in some high end Audis.But how ever,R8 beats its siblings ones step by using an LED to illuminate the 4.2 liter, high revving V8,309-kilowatt , which is cooler when you look through the window which is on the back of the seats.
The running lamps of Audi R8 has twelve separate LED lights group in a sinusoidal fashion.Each one of the LED gives out eighteen lumens @ 140 milli amperes.Mean while Audi is not alone at the race to bring LED lights to cars,Audi is being chased by Lexus.Observers say that Lexus will win by its LS600H-the ultra luxurious hybrid-electric title of the LS series-is expected to come to showrooms any time.
Subaru Outback
Car Technology
A sensible car acquires multiple personalities
Subaru is back with a state-of-the-art technology.Although its four wheel drive vehicles such as Impreza WRX sits in the show room,which is developed by many years of hard off-road rallies,now Subaru is back with a technology which allows the engine to have multiple personality !!! just by twisting a dial in the console.This is done by using a Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system which gives the driver three modes ; intelligent,sport,sport sharp.This piece comes on 3 2007 models-one of them is,the Outback 2.5XT with automatic transmission,and even more in the coming years.
The double-overhead-cam,2.5 liter engine in the Outback 2.5XT is turbocharged,in which,the cylinders are placed horizontally,just like in a Porsche.This helps in lowering the center of gravity.This engine produces a maximum of 243 hp(horse power) and an exciting 327 newton meters of torque.As you change dial on the console of Outback 2.5XT,the system’s control software readjusts its settings for throttle response, automatic-transmission shift points and engine control.
In intelligent mode,the Outback 2.5XT gives a maximum of 309Nm torque,which is 20% lesser than the maximum.It also,makes the throttle response,gradual and smoother,which improves the fuel mileage considerably (about 10 percent),says Subaru.
In sport mode,it sharpens the throttle response to give out more power and acceleration over fuel efficiency.This is best suited for suburban and freeway driving in hilly terrain.
The sport-sharp mode,point out instantaneous power.Re-amped shift points holds the Outback 2.5XT in the lower gears longer,and improving acceleration by around 50 percent compared to that of intelligent mode,says Subaru.
The team’s main challenge building Subaru Outback 2.5XTis the fact that,giving 3 performance modes required 3 times as much software testing and development. !!!
