What's New - June 2005

Mercedes-Benz Bionic concept The Bionic showcases the potential of bionics for automobile development, and is inspired by the boxfish(!) In DaimlerChrysler's words: "Despite its boxy, cube-shaped body, this tropical fish is in fact outstandingly streamlined and therefore represents an aerodynamic ideal". This 4240mm long car that seats four has a Cd value of just 0.19 which, in combination with light-weight construction and an advanced diesel powertrain, gives 20% lower fuel consumption and up to 80% lower nitrogen oxide emissions. This reduction in NO2 is achieved by spraying 'AdBlue', an aqueous urea solution, into the exhaust system in precisely metered quantities to convert the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water, so even if it looks like it should, it shouldn't smell fishy...

New BMW M1 – the Green Supercar

BMW are planning a new Supercar - a 'Green' M1. BMW M1 Hommage pictured. Earlier this year BMW took the M1 Homage (or Hommage, if you’re German) to the Melbourne motor show, a concept designed to show what BMW thought a new M1 for the 21st century would look like.

Toyota Prius recalled for water-pump fix

Toyota is recalling about 650,000 units of the Prius hybrid for a problem with the coolant pump that could cause the engine to overheat. The recall covers 2004 to 2007 models of the Prius. More than half of the vehicles being recalled, 378,000, were sold in the United States.