Itm Engine Components 09-58526 Intake Manifold Gasket on 2040-parts.com

MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

Vauxhall Insignia CDTi 4×4 – the first diesel 4×4 in the Insignia range

The Vauxhall Insignia CDTi 4x4 gets launched in September The Insignia range is proving to be a big success for Vauxhall (and Opel, for that matter) with a strong range of models from the rep-special 1.8 petrol on up to the range-topping Insignia VXR Sports Tourer. And most models can be grabbed with a wide variety of trim and engine options to suit the buyer. Unless you want a diesel 4×4.

Vauxhall Adam Rocks (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 19 February 2014 14:00 The new Vauxhall Adam Rocks is surely one of the most bizarre new car niches to wing its way to this year’s Geneva motor show. To create this supermini crossover, Vauxhall has raised the ride height of the Adam city car by 15mm, fitted workmanlike plastic body cladding – and taken a tin-opener to the roof. Yep, you can retract the canvas roof’s centre section, in the same style as a Fiat 500C or Citroen DS3 Cabrio.