Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Volvo Group plans wirelessly charged bus line

There's one bit of futuristic transportation technology that seems to get trotted out almost as often as autonomous cars, electric cars and flying cars: Inductive, or wireless, charging for city buses. It's not as sexy or as memorable as the perpetually out-of-reach commuter-grade Harrier jet, but it uses proven technology (GM's EV-1 uses inductive charging, as do electric toothbrushes) to save or eliminate fuel and to reduce emissions. And unlike the flying car, induction-charged buses are hardly fantasy: They've been used in European cities for over a decade, South Korea started testing a fleet last year and Utah got in on the act recently.

Fuel-tank probe rekindles old issue

The placement of fuel tanks on passenger vehicles has changed over the past three decades, and for good reason. Automakers gradually have repositioned the tank to an area in front of the rear axle, generally below the rear passenger seat. Statistically speaking, the tank in that location is less vulnerable in a high-speed, rear-end crash than in the previous location--between the rear bumper and axle.

Mazda Mazda6 [w/Gallery]

Mazda gave its Mazda6 its world debut today at the 2012 Moscow auto show. The Mazda6, which is the production version of the Mazda Takeri concept first seen at the Tokyo motor show last year, follows the automaker's new ‘KODO - Soul of Motion' design language. The Mazda6, which measures in at 4,800mm long, 1,840mm wide, 1,450mm high with a wheelbase of 2,830mm, features the ‘signature wing' - an element of the new design language - set into the front, while the creases extending from the tips flow into body character lines.