UNVEILED: RUSSIAN DANDELION TIRES

Biodiesel, recyclable plastics and carpets, and e85 ethanol fuel are just some of the eco-friendly components that automakers have implemented in their products over time. Tire company Continental wants to introduce a tire that puts less of a burden on the environment as well. In Russian Dandelions (and only that particular species), the rubber in its roots can be extracted and combined with 40+ materials to make a tire. Named the Taraxagum tires, they are currently undergoing testing and will be in production in around five to ten years, if all goes as planned. The main perk of using dandelions is sustainability. Unlike today's methods in which rubber is extracted from rubber trees, Russian dandelions are not as affected to changes in weather, and can be sourced from all over the world. 

Continental is showing the world how tires, quite literally, could be "green". 

LICENSE

Getting a license is a really big deal, especially for car enthusiasts. I recently got mine, and it has changed my entire perspective on cars. Before getting my license, I used to spent countless hours on YouTube watching professionals race and drift with their cars. I used to think, "I am completely sure that I will be able to drive like those guys when I get my license. I mean, who can't, right?". I couldn't be any more wrong. Driving is very challenging, and it brings a great sense of fun and danger simultaneously. Despite the latter fact, I am excited to be driving at this age and hope to become a better driver soon. 

Huge respect to the pros and drive safely everyone.

MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS

Along with the automatic transmission,  the manual transmission (also named 'manual') is yet another type of transmission available to the average consumer. Like the name suggests, the main difference  between the two transmissions that the manual requires the driver to manually shift the gears. There are other fundamental differences as well, as seen in the video.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS

Today, the amount of engineering required for creating an essential automotive part, such as the transmission, is absurd. Its universal nature in current automobiles is often frowned and looked down upon. However, its complexity in design and function in an engineering aspect should not be overlooked at all. Take a look at the video above, and see for yourself. 

TECH FEATURE: GLOWING ROADS

Ever since the introduction of streetlights, more cities and towns have been brightly lit than ever before. However, there are still parts of the countryside that do not have streetlights, thus making those areas a little bit dangerous. Although governments have been unable to do anything due to financial reasons, there seems to be a 'bright' solution: glow-in-the-dark roads. 

In the Netherlands, design studio Studio Roosengarde used photo-luminescent paint on 500m of an unlit public highway. In theory, the paint is able to emit a bluish hue for around 8 hours after a sunny day. Furthermore, the design studio plans to install invisible snowflakes to warn drivers of the icy conditions in freezing temperatures. Lastly, they plan to have lanes that charge electric cars.

Only time will tell if this proposed solution actually works. For example, the paint will not be efficient on a rainy day because it is light-sensitive. Next, the snowflakes could end up being a distraction to the drivers. Still, this is such a great proposal.

TECH FEATURE: AUTONOMOUS CARS IN GOTHENBURG

Along with Google, Volvo is becoming closer towards making autonomous cars a reality. In Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo has put a team of 100 cars to navigate 31 miles of selected roads. Using a variety of advanced computers, sensors, and cameras, those cars basically do all of the driving functions that an ordinary driver would do. Volvo says that this technology has been going well, although a test driver is needed for safety reasons. In the future, they hope to complete the entire route in entirely autonomous mode.  

TECH FEATURE: TRANSPARENT HOOD/BONNET

Although the invisible car will not be made for some time, the new Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept is a step towards accomplishing just that. Using cameras on the grille of the car and an intelligent heads-up display system, the concept is capable of capturing the action underneath the car to the driver in the cabin along with a virtual view of the wheels. This system won't be applied on future Land Rover/Range Rover models until 2015. Still, this is an exciting combination of modern technology, no?

TECH FEATURE: LASER HEADLIGHTS

Automotive headlights have come a long way. Halogens were first introduced in 1962, and became universally used by 1978. Then, the HIDs were first introduced by BMW on their 1991 7 series sedan. Next came the LEDs, and they were first widely used just a couple of years ago. Along with BMW, Audi has announced their laser headlights, which work with LEDs as well. The lights are in a trapezoidal structure, with a matrix of LEDs surrounding the laser aperture lens. Inside the lens are the laser diodes used to emit the laser beams. Compared to regular LED headlamps, laser diodes can emit up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) which is roughly 3 times the distance compared to the LEDs. 

Of course, there are some obvious problems of having extremely bright headlights. Laser diodes are fully capable of blinding people, and it would not end well if the oncoming driver happened to look at the laser diodes. Hopefully,these are problems that will be addressed as technology progress.

TIRE FEATURE: CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT

One of the best days to an automotive enthusiast is when he or she gets new car parts. That happened to me last sunday, when the family SUV switched its tires from Kumho Solus KL21s to Continental ContiProContact tires. Designed to grip better on wet surfaces, the new Continentals are a much-needed modification to the constant rainy weather of Seattle. Plus, it's impossible to go wrong with the low price tag. 

IMPORTANCE OF POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO

One of the key characteristics of an agile car has to do with its power-to-weight ratio. A good power-to-weight ratio requires to have high amounts of power while still being fairly light. Measured in units hp/lb, hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron have a ratio of 0.535hp/lb. In comparison, a regular Kia Soul Exclaim has a ratio of 0.05hp/lb. However, Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg launched its One:1 model, emphasizing world's first power-to-weight ratio of 1hp/lb (1341hp/1341lbs). That gives it a staggering top speed of 280mph, a 0-62mph time of 2.6 seconds, and it will even generate a face-deforming 2G on the corners. 

Going against the current automotive bandwagon of adding both power and weight to a car, Koenigsegg has succeeded in creating a car that is truly world-class.

UNVEILED: Toyota FT-1 Concept

The highly-anticipated Toyota Supra replacement has finally come. Shown at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, The Toyota FT-1 Concept is not only a styling achievement, but also a technological one. All the scoops, winks, and lines are all designed to give the car maximum downforce in real life. With a rear-drive, front-engined, and an affordable price at around $60,000, the new Supra is bound to be great.

INTRODUCED: FORMULA E SERIES

For several decades now, Formula 1 (and of course, Formula 2 and Formula 3) racing series has drawn in millions and millions of motorsport enthusiasts with high-pitched wails, rivalry, and the ever-present risk of getting into a fatal crash. At this years' CES in Las Vegas, the FIA has chosen to take a step into the all-electric future by introducing the Formula E series with the newest, Spark-Renault SRT_01E racing car. Built with companies like McLaren, Williams, and Dallara, this car really does pack quite a punch. Will the racing series have the same effect? Find out in the first Formula E race during September 2014 in Beijing.

FACT OF THE DAY: THE BMW i8 KEYFOB IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER

If you thought Porsche keyfobs were cool, think again. The upcoming BMW i8, the hybrid-sports car that has a total of 357bhp and goes to 113mpg, will come with a very technologically advanced remote key. Not only does it have the usual features of locking/unlocking doors, but it also comes with an LCD screen that shows the available range, charge levels, and time on charge. Even more, owners can use the key to set up the car without having to get inside the car!

Such technology.

FACT OF THE DAY: PAUL WALKER

November 30, 2013. 

On Saturday, beloved and well-known actor of the Fast and Furious franchise Paul Walker and pro racing driver, Roger Rodas crashed due to a blind curve while going about 140 mph. There are claims that the Porsche Carrera GT crashed into a car in the opposite direction, thus resulting in a curve. In the end, the car crashed into a light pole, caught on fire, and the duo were found dead.

Rest in peace, Paul Walker and Roger Rodas.

FACT OF THE DAY: THE HEAD AS AN AMPLIFIER

You may have seen a video that shows a person unlocking her car (from about 50 meters away) by holding the remote  car key to her head. This is possible because the human skull acts like an amplifier to the signal given off by the remote. Thus, holding a car remote to your head will double its range. 

ENGINE PLACEMENT PART THREE: REAR-ENGINE

The last and final category out of all the cars today is the 'rear-engine' car. This is the rarest breed, for they require a lot of engineering attention to bring out the advantages of having the engine located at the back of the car. Unlike front-engine cars, rear-engine cars have most of the weight of the car at the very back, which makes the car prone to oversteer. Oversteer occurs when the rear tires lose traction, and cause the entire to move sideways. The main difference between a rear-engine car and a mid-engine car depends the engine's exact location of the car. If it is placed behind the rear axle (towards the outside of the car), it is counted as a rear-engine car. On the other hand, if it is placed in front of the rear axle (towards the inside of the car), it can be seen as a mid-engine car. 

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera  GT3

Rear-engine cars tend to be rear-wheel drive (RWD), because the rear wheels have more grip than the front wheels thanks to the engine's weight and location of the car. There are a couple of rear-engine cars that are all wheel drive (AWD), and they are mostly aimed at the snowy/wet regions of the automotive market.


Because the engine is in the rear of the car, the trunk of rear-engine cars is located at the front. Similar to mid-engine cars, the interior space is often limited and can only hold up to two adults. Whether the car is easy to live with would depend on the car itself.

One of the most famous rear-engine, rear-wheel drive cars is the class-leading Porsche 911 Carrera (all models). The people at Porsche have stuck with the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive combo for several decades with their flat-six engine. Through many generations, they have set the benchmark of the fun-to-drive nature. 

ENGINE PLACEMENT PART TWO: FRONT-ENGINE

The next category out of all of the cars in the world today is the 'front-engine' car. This is the most common type of car, for it is the cheapest to engineer and build. Unlike the 'mid-engine' setup, having the engine located at the front of the car significantly decreases its handling ability for most cars. Like the previous category ('mid-engine', see http://bit.ly/GLVy2M), there are several varying characteristics. For example, an ideal front-engined car is one that has its engine behind its front axis. This would then decrease the chance of having understeer because it doesn't leave the weight (front) of the car prone to gravity. 

There are also other variables that apply in this category. Front-engine cars come in front wheel drive (FWD), rear wheel drive (RWD), and all/four wheel drive (AWD/4WD). Like mentioned above, the front-engine platform is one of the oldest tradition in the history of the car making business, so many companies choose that route to build their cars. 

Unlike the mid-engine setup, front-engine cars have a bigger trunk (boot), more interior space, and is thus easier to live with compared to the other categories (with exceptions).

One of the most famous front-engine FWD car is the well-known Volkswagen Golf GTI, which combines both practicality and sportiness with its hatchback style. The praised Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ are one of the leading examples of the front-engine RWD layout, due to its fun-to-drive nature and its low price tag. The famous Nissan GT-R is one of the best front-engine AWD cars out there as well. 

ENGINE PLACEMENT PART ONE: MID-ENGINE

Out of all of the cars in the world today, they all can be divided into several categories. One category is the mid-engine car segment. This is quite a special segment because all of the cars are very sporty, due to several reasons. But first, we need to clarify by what we mean by a 'mid-engine' car. By 'mid-engine cars', we are referring to cars with engines placed in the middle. Since the engine is the one of the heaviest components of a car, that allows for near-perfect weight distribution (the weight is equally distributed on the front and the rear axles). Also, it allows the car to be more agile during turns, since the inertia of the car is put directly on the middle of the car.  Thus, it makes the car very sporty, something that all car enthusiasts want. Having equal amounts of weight put on both axles also make the car safe, since electronic systems are able to run more efficiently as well. For example, the ABS systems will be more effective in a mid-engine car compared to a regular front-engine car, because the brakes at all four corners will use the same amount of force to stop the car. The main drawback is space of the rear passengers. Even though engine sizes vary for mid-engine cars, they all limit both cargo space and passenger room quite a bit. More specifically, the presence of the engine forces the cabin to be moved closer to the front of the car (for safety reasons), resulting in less cargo space at the back of the car. 

There are a couple of mid-engine cars on sale today like the Lotus Evora (base and S), Porsche Cayman (all trims), Lexus LFA, and so on. 

CHANCE OF LOWER OR HIGHER FUEL PRICES

Precisely six days ago, the dictator of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, was announced dead. So then you might ask, "how does that affect our fuel prices?" Well, Venezuela was (and still is) one of the largest fuel exporters  of the United States. Without the strict anti-democratic ruler out of Venezuela, the US might be able to gain good relations with the new government, which could lead to lower gas prices. However, it could also turn out the other way, for a even more anti-American government could appear, which would make the gas prices soar into the mid four dollars or even five dollars. That would be catastrophic.

MOST POWERFUL CAR FOR THE MONEY

We have been on a roll with the Ford Mustangs lately. That is because today, we will be talking about the most powerful car for the money. Being sold on the market today, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (quite a long name) is the most powerful car you can have for the cheapest price. It produces about 662 horsepower, which is more than the amount of horsepower from four Honda Civics combined. 662 horsepower is still more than a Nissan GT-R, Chevy Corvette ZR1, and so on. Its price starts at around $54,995, which is a complete bargain if you just look at horsepower. That's because this monstrosity might be fast off the line, but not in the bends.