The World's Fastes Snow Cat Wehicle: Subaru WRX STI

Japanese automobile maker Subaru and American rally driver Ken Block created the world's fastest cat track operation automobile named TRAX STI.

This automobile is made from modified Subaru WRX STI. Manufacturers decided to remove tires and to add snow cat tracks.

TRAX STI earned a tittle of the world's fastests snow cat vehicle. All modifications to original WRX STI model were done by Vermont SportsCar.

Nissan to mass produce it's first electric car

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.



Nissan, one of the leading Japanese carmaker, yesterday unveiled it's first electric car called Leaf.

Nissan could hopefully be the first carmaker to mass produce electric vehicles.

Nissan's electric car Leaf will appear on American, European and Asian market next year.

Company didn't reveal the price of their first electric car but they said that it would be "very competitive".

"We need to invest a lot of money to build the car plants and the battery plants at a moment where all the auto companies are saving investments", said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan chief executive and he added that there is very high potential in Nissan's Leaf model.

Nissan announced that their goal is to reach production capacity of more than 100.000 electric cars per year by 2012.

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

- Zero-emission power train and platform
- Affordable pricing
- Distinctive design
- Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles)
- Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system

Credits: Nissan-global.com

Tata received 203.000 orders for Tata Nano automobile

Six weeks after the $ 2000 worth Nano formally introduced in Mumbai, Tata motors announced this week that it has received orders for 203,000 cars during the special 16-day period for the reservation, which was ended at April 25.

Nano is the first car in India which had had more than 200,000 orders on premiere. For comparisons, a small Suzuki Alto, one of Japanese best-selling car in India sold 913,000 vehicles since 2000.

Because the prospective buyers are pre-paid the full amount of money for the Nano, Tata Motors, the largest producer of vehicles in India has received 507 million dollars in cash.

This will ease the financial pressure on this company because it is mandated for a short-term over 3 billion dollars due to pick Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford, in March last year.

Nano delivery will begin in July, but due to limited production capacity, tens of thousands of customers may wait more than a year for delivery. The company has pledged to deliver the car for the first 100,000 customers who will be selected in the lottery by 2010 year.

Cranfield University experts designed airbag system aimed for pedestrian and cyclist safety

The expert team from Cranfield University lead by Roger Hardy announced that they made new airbag system which is focused on pedestrian and cyclist safety.

New airbag system is designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists from injuries when accident happens.

This innovative technology has been developed during the course of a collaborative research project on pedestrian and cyclist safety, one of seven sub-projects of a €30 million project on Advanced Protection Systems (APROSYS) sponsored by the European Commission.

Roger Hardy believes that this new airbag system will reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries from accidents for 50%.

Ford announced plans about Active Park Assist

Ford has announced plans about launching Active Park Assist, a device which uses ultrasonic-based sensing system to help in parking car.

Ford said that this new system should come with Lincoln MKS Sedan by the end of 2009. and also in MKT Crossover which introduction is planed for January 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show.

Active Park Assist system is based on the front and rear of car and during the parking it gives advices to driver about proximity of other vehicles or objects.

Driver can take over control any time and automated process can be interrupted by his command.