Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S racer (2013) first pictures

Aston Martin will race this hydrogen-powered, twin-turbocharged Rapide S at the Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race in May 2013. The radical Rapide is set to become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international racing event, and the only car ever to complete a racing lap of the infamous Nordschleife without emitting so much as a gram of carbon dioxide. Read on for the under-the-skin tech lowdown.

Vauxhall launches speed limit detectors on Insignia (2008)

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 19 June 2008 07:53 Vauxhall's new Insignia will be the first of a wave of cars to have a forward-facing camera that can read road signs. The optional kit will detect speed limit and no overtaking signs – and flash up a reminder to the driver on the dashboard.GM calls the tech, which will be launched in early 2009, Traffic Sign Recognition and it uses a small, wide-angled camera system supplied by Hella. It sits at the top of the windscreen near the rain sensors and rear-view mirror, scanning the road ahead taking 30 photos per second.It's 1984 all over again...With a range of 100 metres, the camera focuses on circular patterns and then interprets the numbers inside by contour comparison; if a match is found on the software's database, that road sign will be flashed up in the driver's binnacle.The front-facing camera is also used as a lane departure warning system, alerting the driver if they unintentionally swerve out of their lane on a motorway.Cars with cameras: a growing trendMore and more manufacturers are fitting cameras to their cars nowadays and you can expect a flood of systems like the Insignia's to be launched in 2009, including the new BMW 5-series.CAR tried out these new systems on Bosch prototypes in 2007.

VW Golf MK 7: BlueMotion & 4Motion announced

Volkswagen has revealed additional engine options for the VW Golf MK 7 – 1.2 & 1.4 TSI BlueMotion – and 4Motion 4WD. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen is going to be offering their eco-star BlueMotion setup in the new Golf with two petrol options available and the option of ACM (Active Cylinder Management). Entry-level for the new Golf BlueMotion will be the 1.2 litre TSI with 105PS with a more powerful version with the 1.4 litre 122PS engine also available.