Audi, What Big Eyes You Have: New R18 is a Diesel Racer with Lots of LEDs

Audi has unleashed its latest LMP1 racer, the R18. After winning the Le Mans 24 Hours nine times since 1999 with the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI, the Ingolstadt-based automaker aims for the top spot with a closed coupe again.
“In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past”, says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests”.

Unlike its predecessor, which had a 5.5-liter V10 diesel engine, the new model uses a much smaller, 3.7-liter V6 TDI, mated to a modified six-speed transmission.
The R18 features a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque, which saves weight and increases stiffness. Audi says that the chassis and aerodynamics were developed with a lot of know-how borrowed from the previous R models.
The headlights are the most eye-catching parts of the R18. Boasting “optimized” LED technology, they incorporate Audi light designers’ personal touch: daytime running lights shaped like a “1”. According to the press release, this was intended to inspire associations with the brand’s historic logo.
The Audi R18 was given the green light in mid 2009, while engine testing began in summer 2010. The first track test took place at the end of November, with Allan McNish at the wheel.
The Ingolstadt-based maker plans to enter three cars in next year’s Le Mans, run by Audi Sport Team Joest.

By Csaba Daradics

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Your Taxpayer Dollars at Work: DARPA wants a Roadable Aircraft for the US Military

The roadable aircraft is nothing new. It’s essentially an airplane with folding wings and four wheels, allowing it to be driven like a car. It’s so old, in fact, that working examples have been in existence since 1949 in the form of the eponymous Aerocar. Which begs the question: why haven’t we tried to militarize these things? After all, we’ve successfully militarized the motorcycle, the automobile and the airplane.
As anything is possible when you have a defense budget that rivals the GDP of East Timor, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is providing Terrafugia, builders of the world’s only (in more than one sense of the word) working roadable aircraft with US$65 million of funding to build a four-seat roadable aircraft known as the Transformer / TX.

The Massachusetts based firm is teaming up with AAI, a U.S. DoD contractor and builder of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and its Textron subsidiaries to build the TX, which will have a proposed range of 280 miles on land and air, vertical take-off capability and automated flight controls for operation by non-pilots.
Strangely enough, it sounds to me like the same thing Paul Moller has been working on for the last forty years in the form of his M400 Skycar. Somebody ought to give that man a DoD contract just for trying.
The three phase program expects to produce a working prototype as early as Q1 2015, with the TX being pressed into medivac, remote resupply and Special Forces insertion roles sometime after that (you know, if it doesn’t all fall by the wayside *cough* *cough* X-33 *cough*). Though it has to be said: what part of this can’t be achieved with a Bell UH-60 helicopter and a HumVee?
Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich is, as one would expect, very excited about the project:
"This DARPA program effectively leverages Terrafugia's core competencies and enables us to grow from a pure [General Aviation] company to an emerging aerospace company with both general aviation and defense development programs. Our strong team of Terrafugia engineers with recent experience designing and building a dual purpose vehicle will bring a unique perspective to the TX program that is highly valued by DARPA and the other contractors on our TX team."
But don’t think that all this talk about militarization will dissolve the dream of the roadable aircraft for John Q. Public; Terrafugia is still committed to producing its Transition Light Sport Aircraft with an expected launch after Q3 2011.

By Tristan Hankins

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Hybrid and Diesel Tax Credits to End on December 31

If you’re still in the market for a hybrid or clean diesel, you should try to get one this holiday season, as most tax credits are going to expire on December 31, with no new tax breaks in sight for next year. Among the diesel models, the Mercedes ML350 BlueTec is one of the victims, while the natural gas-powered 2011 Honda Civic GX will also lose its $4,000 tax credit. The same goes for the recently introduced 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid.
 
Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf buyers are safe for now: both EVs have separate tax credits that don’t expire this year. The Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit was legislated under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and supported buyers of eco-friendly vehicles with incentives. Currently, hybrids get tax breaks ranging from $900 up to $3,400.
Below is a list of cars and trucks that still qualify for tax credits:

• 2010-2011 BMW ActiveHybrid X6: $1,550
• 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid Li: $900
• 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i: $900
• 2011 BMW 335d: $900
• 2011 BMW X5 xDrive 35d: $1,800
• 2010-2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: $1,550
• 2010-2011 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010-2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010-2011 GMC Sierra Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010-2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010-2011 Honda Civic GX: $4,000
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec: $1,550
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec: $1,800
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec: $900
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec: $1,550
• 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid: $1,150
• 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid: $2,200
• 2010-2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid: $2,350

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Kicking Tires

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2011 Kia Sorento Recalled for Defective Brakes

The Hyundai Group has issued a separate recall for each of the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2011 Kia Sorento over the same issue concerning the rear brake calipers that may not have been properly machined. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the defective calipers could lead to brake fluid leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel. If the problem is not taken care of, it will lead to reduced braking power.


The recall affects some 7,697 Kia Sorentos manufactured from September 14, 2010, through October 4, 2010, and 1,783 Hyundai Santa crossovers Fe built from September 28, 2010, through November 25, 2010.
Naturally, dealers from both automakers inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The two companies have not yet provided an owner notification schedule.

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