News

Porsche Unveils Hi-Tech Concept Car at Geneva

Porsche revealed an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car that features hybrid and electronic drive technology at this month’s Geneva Motor Show.

The 918 Spyder combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a wide range of innovative new qualities. For example, it comes with a fuel consumption rate of nearly 78 mpg, which is truly outstanding, even for an ultra compact city car. But the Spyder is intended to offer the performance of a super sports car with a top speed of 198 mph, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nurburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.

How does a supercar achieve such range? The Spyder is a parallel hybrid like the Prius. This means that two powertrains – both gas and electric – can operate together or separately to keep the wheels turning. There are four modes that configure the powertrains for anything from maximum efficiency to maximum performance and everything in between. The E-Drive mode means pure electric power, and the car can reportedly last up to 16 minutes on electrons alone. Next up is hybrid mode, which would be primarily be used for everyday driving. The Sports Hybrid mode uses both powertrains, but leans a little more toward performance with most of the power reaching the rear wheels. Finally, the Race Hybrid mode means all systems are go for the lowest lap times possible.

The Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The trio – made up of Porsche’s new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive, and the two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engine sports car with plug-in hybrid technology – clearly demonstrates not only the great promise of this new drive technology, but also the innovative power of Porsche as a genuine pioneer in hybrid drive.

The highly-innovative 918 combines Porsche’s Intelligent Performance philosophy with the high-technology from motorsport, with classic but modern design to make what I believe is a truly convincing statement.

View a previously written post by Mouli Cohen about innovative concept cars

  • March
  • 8th, 2010
  • 10:56 am

Filed under: News

Hyundai & BASF Team Up on Hi Tech Concept Car

Hyundai and BASF are presenting their jointly developed i-flow concept car this month at the Geneva Motor Show. The innovations in the i-flow are the first included in any vehicle to date, and illustrate a great many possibilities for mobility in the future. For example, the interior of the i-flow offers a revolutionary seating concept, and the high-gloss liquid metal coating is not only eye-catching but environmentally friendly thanks to the use of a waterborne paint system.

BASF’s contributions to the concept car allow for far greater fuel efficiency, a lower environmental impact, freedom of design, as well as greater comfort and safety. The i-flow’s energy concept provides an impressive example of high tech, encapsulating a modern diesel engine with a rigid foam polyurethane insulation system that protects both the engine and the environment. A brilliant effect is provided by a new mirror-like paint from BASF Coatings – the liquid metal basecoat makes the i-flow look as though it is chrome-plated rather than painted. In addition, the innovative iGloss clearcoat makes the paint surface both scratch resistant and weather resistant.

“The i-flow is a milestone on the road to the car of the future. Because Hyundai was quick to involve us in the development process, we were able to offer our full strengths. We are very happy with the outstanding results of our cooperation,” said Dr. Wolfgang Hapke, head of BASF’s Performance Polymers division, at the presentation of the new concept car in Geneva on Wednesday. “BASF proved to be a true partner, with whom we jointly developed innovative solutions for design and engineering. For example, our new ‘fluidic sculpture’ body language is particular well expressed by the innovative coating technique used for the i-flow concept car,” explained Thomas Bürkle, head of Hyundai’s European design center.

View a previously written post by Mouli Cohen about Hi Tech

  • March
  • 5th, 2010
  • 8:00 am

Filed under: News

Society for Information Display Announces Keynote Speakers

The Society for Information Display (SID) announced this week its lineup of keynote presenters slated for Display Week 2010, May 23-28, 2010, at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. The 48th annual SID International Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition returns to the Pacific Northwest this year amid growing commercialization and the first stirrings of an economic recovery. The displays that people will be blogging and tweeting about at the event will be appearing inside the hottest new products at leading consumer events.

The keynote speakers promise to maintain a future-oriented perspective, as each will explore a different aspect of next-generation displays. The keynote addresses will kick off on Tuesday, May 25. This year’s speakers will be:

• Dr. Sang-Soo Kim, executive VP, Samsung Mobile Display along with Samsung Fellow and SID Fellow
• Mike Sinnett, vice president/787 systems chief engineer, The Boeing Company
• Steve Bathiche, director of research, Applied Sciences Group, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft Corp.

Another exciting event attendees won’t want to miss is the annual SID luncheon, being held on Wednesday, May 26. Terry Schmidt, chief scientist, Christie Digital Systems, Inc. will reveal what happened “Behind the Screens at the Beijing Summer Games.” Schmidt will walk attendees through the challenges of the high-tech setup in an outdoor venue of this immense scale, and explain how these displays contributed to the overall spectacle of this memorable event.

This is just a sampling of the exciting presentations attendees can expect at this year’s Display Week. More information on the program will be announced soon. You can visit www.sid2010.org for additional information, or follow SID’s Twitter at @DisplayWeek.

What makes Display Week so exciting to me is that it’s kind of like the electronics industry’s crystal ball, previewing display technologies that will enable the commercial products of the future.

View a previously written post by Mouli Cohen about Hi Technology

  • March
  • 4th, 2010
  • 11:16 am

Filed under: News

Recent posts

1

Porsche revealed an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car that features hybrid and electronic drive technology at this month’s Geneva Motor Show.

Hyundai and BASF are presenting their jointly developed i-flow concept car this month at the Geneva Motor Show.

twitter feed

20 hours ago

RT RT Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life. Wayne Dyer #quote

more tweets