Munich - Modern aerodynamic car designs with wide window frames are obstructing visibility, especially to the rear and when changing lanes, according to a test conducted by Germany's ADAC automobile association.
Many car makers have improved the passenger safety cell but this has come at the cost of sacrificing all round vision with wide A, B, and C pillars - that form the window frames, the ADAC testers said.
Washington - Detroit's annual auto show is usually a glitzy affair and time of celebration for the US car industry, but not after a year that saw car sales plummet to their lowest level in decades.
The North American International Auto Show, which opens for a three-day media preview on Sunday, will see domestic and foreign automakers unveil their latest US models amid an uncertain future for the world's most lucrative car market.
Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi's latest attempt at a city car, the three-door, four-seater A1 is set to spawn a whole range of premium compact models, the company has hinted.
"I think we could come up with a whole family of A1 models. We have plenty of ideas," Audi head Rupert Stadler told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. "We've also got a few things in the pipeline from 2010 and a model or two in the compact car sector are certainly on the cards."
Rovaniemi, Finland - German carmaker BMW plans to introduce a four-wheel drive version of its flagship 7 series limousine, the company revealed during winter testing in Finland.
The rugged variant of the 7 series will use BMW's Xdrive four-wheel drive system which features in the X3, X5 offroaders and in the xi 3 Series and 5 Series saloons. The new 7 will ride higher than the standard car and be fitted with underbody protection in the form of sump and transmission guards. The new car is likely to be unveiled in late 2009.
Stuttgart - Japanese carmaker Mazda is planning to use a hydrogen-powered version of its Wankel engine for its new RX-9 sportster.
According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine, the radically-styled, RX-9 coupe will make its debut in dual-mode form, with an engine which can burn both petrol and hydrogen. The car will go on sale in 2012, said the report, which quoted sources close to the company.
London - Jaguar has given the XF luxury saloon a more powerful diesel engine which is said to save fuel at the same time.
The 3 litre, six-cylinder turbo diesel unit in the XF Diesel S replaces the current 2.7-litre unit, boosting performance by 33 per cent. Despite the power gain, the bigger engine
(275 horsepower) is said to be 12 per cent more fuel-efficient and it cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent to 179g/km. The car will feature at the Detroit car show from January 17-25, 2009.
Munich - Modern aerodynamic car designs with wide window frames are obstructing visibility, especially to the rear and when changing lanes, according to a test conducted by Germany's ADAC automobile association.
Washington - Detroit's annual auto show is usually a glitzy affair and time of celebration for the US car industry, but not after a year that saw car sales plummet to their lowest level in decades.
Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi's latest attempt at a city car, the three-door, four-seater A1 is set to spawn a whole range of premium compact models, the company has hinted.
Rovaniemi, Finland - German carmaker BMW plans to introduce a four-wheel drive version of its flagship 7 series limousine, the company revealed during winter testing in Finland.
Stuttgart - Japanese carmaker Mazda is planning to use a hydrogen-powered version of its Wankel engine for its new RX-9 sportster.
London - Jaguar has given the XF luxury saloon a more powerful diesel engine which is said to save fuel at the same time.
