WHEN it comes to safety, TRW Automotive believes in transparency – literally.
The safety system maker has made its Frankfurt motor show demonstration car see-through.
While an acrylic car has about as much chance of making production as a new Falcon, the array of life saving technology within this demo will be and in some instances already can be found in cars from Ford, Volkswagen, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz.
A Volkswagen XL1 is presented during the second press day of the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture: AP Source: AP
Chairman of the board of BMW Norbert Reithofer presents the new BMW i8 at the IAA international automobile show on September 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
So clever is this demo device that the model in the driver’s seats is herself there for demonstration purposes.
The TVR car is piloting itself – autonomous driving capability being, along with electric cars, one of the main themes of Frankfurt 2013.
Visitors looks at an Nissan Auris Hybrid model at the IAA international automobile show on September 11, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
Using 360 degree sensors to process information from all directions, it goes, stops, restarts and even tightens or relaxes the seatbelts as it perceives the need.
Thus the model drivers are able to wear otherwise impossibly high heels.
A man cleans a Ferrari 458 Speciale during the second press day of the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. Picture: AP Source: AP
Only slightly less transparent is the electric version of Renault’s Twizy, a battery-powered two-seated quad bike that can make a 100km, or roughly a week worth of commuting between recharges.
A visitor sits in the Renault Twizy electric drive. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
A Renault Twizy Sport F1 is on display during the second press day of the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture: AP Source: AP
As far as fast cars go – few come quicker than Peugeot’s Onyx concept.
Australians enchanted by V8 Supercars might like to know that just like those that’ll roar around Bathurst soon, the Peugeot is a V8.
Unlike them, however, the Onyx’s engine is a diesel.
Built largely of carbon fibre, the Onyx is impressive for its sheer lightness of being. At 1100kg it’s about the weight of the smallest hatchbacks.
The new Jean Bugatti is on display during the second press day of the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture: AP Source: AP
For the technically inclined, that means its power to weight ratio is better than the Bugatti Veyron which gets from zero to 100kmh in 2.46 seconds.
So it’s not a matter of being able to look through the car to see how it works, as trying to see which way it went.
source: http://www.news.com.au
Tags: cars
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