motor

We've driven just about every variant of Kia's Optima sedan and the consensus is that they're all pretty good. We've even gone as far as to call the SX Turbo variant "sporty." However, for the handful of you holding out for a true sports sedan from Kia, the automaker has something even better on the horizon: a rear-wheel driven sports sedan concept that's set to debut in Frankfurt.

The jury's still out on the power train, as the automaker hasn't announced anything beyond the rear-wheel drive configuration and that it's &… Read more

Shark Week is over, but the Discovery Channel seems to have forgotten about a new species at the top of the underwater food chain: Air Swimmers. Unlike RC blimps and other flying mechanical toys, these Mylar balloons add realism and movement with moving fins that swish back and forth to propel the fish through the air.

How does it work? It's simple, kind-of: a 1.5-volt AAA-powered motor attaches to a small plastic pod on the bottom of the balloon, and the accompanying controller uses infrared reception to control the tail rudder's speed and navigation.

The set-up requires … Read more

Tesla has released yet another preview video of its upcoming Model S electric sedan. This time, rather than a single Model S blasting down a back road, a trio of camouflaged Alpha sedans have a go at a track to collect data for the Beta sedan, which is the next step in the Model S' development. Normally one of the coolest parts of checking out a track testing video is hearing the roar of the engine, but the Model S is all electric and all silent, so you'll have to make due with the sound of wooshing wind and … Read more

Photos of a camouflaged 2012 Honda Civic design as a European, C-segment competitor, popped up on the Web today.

Here's what has been revealed so far: the new Civic has been developed specifically for the European market, and it will debut at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September.

Offered exclusively as a five-door hatchback, the new Civic offers a roomy cabin and bold look.

Developed in Japan, at Honda's Research and Development facilities, the automaker's Japanese development team worked closely with their European counterparts to improve the ride and handling on European roads.

"Honda'… Read more

Hundreds of Chevrolet Volt drivers will participate in a first smart-grid pilot in an effort to increase energy efficiency and offer lower charging costs, GM said.

Modeled after nationwide programs that allow utility companies to stop and start participating customers' home air conditioning units as needed when electricity demand is high--reducing electricity bills, GM and OnStar's smart-grid solution builds on this concept, but to a much more advanced and sophisticated level, GM said.

With the smart-grid pilot, OnStar will let the utility actively manage EV charging for participating consumers. The utility can then reduce peak loads by offering discounts … Read more

Tesla Motors today said that it has signed an agreement worth $100 million to supply electric power train equipment to Toyota.

In a regulatory filing, Tesla said that it will supply the battery, charging system, inverter, motor, and related software to power Toyota's planned electric version of its RAV4. Toyota plans to sell the small SUV to both consumer and residential customers next year.

Toyota took a $50 million stake in Tesla last year and signed an agreement to use Tesla's electric power train in the electric RAV4. In Tesla's filing, it said production of the electric … Read more

If you want the benefits of the OnStar system, such as emergency services and turn-by-turn navigation, but your car didn't come with OnStar hope is not lost. OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) will be available this week.

Launching July 24, OnStar FMV will be available at Best Buy for $299.99, plus $75 for installation. Service plans for OnStar FMV will start at $18.95 a month, or $199 a year.

"The wait is over," OnStar President Linda Marshall said in a press release. "Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, … Read more

By-the-numbers MBAs are not always a good fit for U.S. companies. Particularly those in the business of product innovation. Just imagine a bean-counting mathematical-model-driven MBA running Apple.

Instead of the iPad, we might have an Apple Netbook. Instead of the iPhone, a Rokr. In short, products that are low risk, devoid of inspiration, and easy on the balance sheet.

MBA-as-CEO is a point eloquently made by Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of General Motors. While MBAs have a role to play, the by-the-numbers, post-1970s variety sitting at the top of the corporate chain of command can be devastating … Read more

A Washington state technology company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ford today in federal court.

Eagle Harbor Holdings, and its subsidiary MediusTech, claim Ford used several automotive technologies in Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles without authorization.

According to the lawsuit, Ford uses patented technologies such as Sync, Active Park Assist, Blind-Spot Identification System with Cross Traffic Alert, Integrated Control System for Stability Control, and MyKey.

"Our representatives began meeting with Ford in 2002 to discuss and disclose our patented automotive systems technology and its applicability for use in Ford vehicles," Jeffrey Harmes, general counsel for Eagle Harbor … Read more