Tech powers of the new Discovery

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 16 April 2014 17:37 SUVs that can be driven remotely like a Tamiya toy car, with cockpit functions controlled via gestures or freeform speech, and glass that relays images from external cameras to provide genuine 360-degree vision – Land Rover has given a glimpse inside its R&D lab to reveal exciting technology under development. Think it's all pie in the sky stuff, decades from production? There's a remote control, current-shape Discovery out there testing right now, which can be driven from the outside using a touchscreen tablet.

Investor group wants to buy Saturn, sell overseas brands

An investor group called Telesto Ventures says it wants to acquire Saturn's retail operations and provide dealers with vehicles from General Motors through 2011 and mostly overseas manufacturers thereafter. A GM spokesman said today the group's proposal is legitimate and "very interesting." "I can tell you this is one of the interested parties with Saturn, and we have been working with them throughout this process," said spokesman Steve Janisse. "There are other interested parties as well who we're working with.

Aston gets ultra-quick paddleshift

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 28 September 2006 06:35 Aston Martin today unveils a new, Ferrari-style paddleshift transmission for the V8 Vantage. Dubbed Sportshift, the automated manual promises gearchanges in less than 200millisec, faster than you can swap cogs with the six-speed manual. Developed over the past 18 months with Magneti Marelli, the electro hydraulic six-speed box has numerous modes.