Blog: Automotive Design & Production

Automotive Electronics

Cars were once predominately valued in steel, glass, rubber, and aluminum. Now it’s silicon. Electronics developments drive the vehicles of today and tomorrow.

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser

By: Gary S. Vasilash - April 04, 2018 at 6:58 AM

Jules Verne published 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1870; the 1954 film version staring James Mason as Captain Nemo came to mind while driving the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Tofino: Another EV Under Development

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 30, 2018 at 6:39 AM

A car company based in Vancouver, Canada?

Emergency Calling Becomes Required in the EU

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 27, 2018 at 6:28 AM

Automatic emergency calling functionality—“eCall”—becomes mandatory for all new cars and light commercial vehicles next Saturday (March 31) in the European Union.

TourX: That’s a Buick?

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 26, 2018 at 6:20 AM

One of the best, most stylish vehicles available in the U.S. market last year was the Buick Regal.

BMW and Toyota and FMCW Lidar

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 21, 2018 at 6:20 AM

This is not a piece of modern art: Rather, it is an image from Blackmore Sensors and Analytics of Bozeman, Montana, micro-Doppler signatures of pedestrians (or maybe that’s a pedestrian, singular) walking (see it now?). Blackmore is a company that is developing FMCW lidar.

Ford Amps Up Fusion for 2019

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 20, 2018 at 3:18 PM

In 2017, according to its own figures, Ford sold 209,623 Fusions in the U.S.

2018 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 07, 2018 at 6:07 AM

The Kia Stinger was a finalist for the 2018 North American International Car of the Year Awards.

Renault’s New Motor

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 06, 2018 at 7:05 AM

Typically when an automaker announces the development of a new powertrain for a production vehicle, the words downsized and turbocharged are near the top of the announcement because that’s the way things have been going of late.

The doors are aluminum so they are easier to heft. And speaking of aluminum, it should be pointed out that in addition to the doors, the door hinges, hood, fenders and windshield frame are aluminum. The swing gate is produced with magnesium.

2018 Jeep Wrangler: Some Things to Know

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 02, 2018 at 4:34 PM

Design, materials, powertrain and manufacturing details about what is arguably the quintessential vehicle in the Jeep lineup.

ZF has developed a steering wheel concept that facilitates Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

The Steering Wheel Goes Semi-Autonomous

March 02, 2018 at 12:45 PM

ZF has developed a new concept steering wheel for Level 3 automation.

Biometrics firm Fingerprint and Gentex, which makes automatic dimming rearview mirrors and other hardware for the automotive and aviation industries, have teamed up to give mirrors the intelligence to scan irises.

Tech Watch: Rearview/Re-envisioned

By: Scott Anderson - March 02, 2018 at 12:24 PM

Biometrics firm Fingerprint Cards and long-time automotive mirror supplier Gentex have teamed up to give the simple mirror the intelligence to scan irises.

Volvo Funding Tech Startups

By: Gary S. Vasilash - March 02, 2018 at 6:45 AM

Volvo Cars has announced that it has launched an investment fund—the Volvo Cars Tech Fund—that is specifically focused on investing in tech startups around the globe.