Yamaha Yfz350 Banshee Yfs200 Blaster Control Sending Unit 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.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at the Nurburgring – Video

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Nurburgring video below In February we reported that Porsche has developed the unthinkable – a hybrid 911. But this wasn’t a hybrid 911 with a bank of batteries and a fluffy-bunny conscience, but a rampant track 911 with a great big electro-magnetic flywheel and a KERS-like thump of an extra 160bhp – the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The 911 GT3 R uses technology developed by Williams F1 and comprises of a pair of generators in the front wheels that shove energy to a composite flywheel (conveniently located next to the driver – not sure how well that would go down on a road0going version) which is the stored and can be thrown at the back wheels whenever the driver wants, in a way very similar to KERS.

Hyundai i40 – more detail +photos

A leaked picture of the new Hyundai i40 / Sonata Hyundai has released sketches of the i40 as a tease ahead of the launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, but unfortunately for them we’ve received the picture you see at the top – and those in the photo gallery at the bottom – that show the real deal. Which sort of takes the edge off the ‘Stylised’ sketches Hyundai has released. Sketch of Hyundai i40 / Sonata The real deal is not quite as swoopy/futuristic as the real deal, but actually the real car is pretty impressive looking.