Latest Cars World: 2009

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Mercedes-Benz SL-500

Mercedes-Benz SL-500
Mercedes-Benz SL-500Mercedes-Benz SL-500 offers an irresistible sporting experience. The New SL-Class Roadster is the first Mercedes to be equipped with SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC). This electro hydraulic braking system achieves an even more dynamic braking feel, with impressive deceleration. In emergency braking, SBC reduces the car's stopping distance. It also enhances safety when braking during cornering, by optimizing the brake force distribution between the wheels.

Mercedes-Benz SL-500 has 8 V, 5.0 L engine that generates an output of 306 bhp @ 5600rpm and a torque of 460 Nm.

Technical Specifications

Engine: SL- 500
No of Cylinders / arrangement 8 V
Engine Displacement (cm3) 4966
Bore and Stroke (mm) 97.0 x 84.0
Maximum Power
(kW / bhp @ rpm) 225 / 306 @ 5600 rpm
Maximum Torque
(Nm @ rpm) 460 @ 2700 - 4250 rpm
Compression Ratio 10.0
No. of valves per cylinder 3
Fuel Preparation Electronically controlled petrol injection (HFM).
Suspension and Running Gear
Suspension

Front: 4-link suspension, Active Body Control (ABC) with level control.

Rear: MB-Multi-Link suspension, Active Body Control (ABC) with level control.
Brakes Sensotronic Brake Control (electrohydraulic brake), 4 brake discs ventilated, front discs perforated, ABS with Brake Assist (BAS).
Steering Speed Sensitive Power Steering
Wheels 8 ½ J x 17
Tyres 255 / 45 R17 alloy
Dimensions and Weights
Kerb Weight (kg) 1845
Gross vehicle weight* (kg) 2140
Height (mm) 1298
Length (mm) 4535
Width (mm) 1815
Wheel base (mm) 2560
Front / rear track (mm) 1559 / 1547
Ground clearance (mm) 135
Trunk volume (litres) 317
Fuel tank capacity / reserve (litres) 80 / 10

Car Models in India

Honda Civic 2005

Honda Civic - The VTEC edge
Distractingly good looking

There's lots to love about the Civic : it's reliable, economical and remarkably fuel-efficient.
And have you seen the Civic up close and personal? It's now equipped with new headlights, bumpers and grille, so you'll have a tough time concentrating on anything except its stylish good
The Dream Comes True HONDA CIVIC Specifications.
Type

EXi

VTi
ENGINE
Type

Water-cooled 4-stroke SOHC

16-valve in-line 4-cylinder

Transversely Mounted
Fuel Supply System (mm) PGM - FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) PGM - FI + VTEC - III
Bore / Stroke (mm) 75.0 X 84.5 75.0 X 90.0
Displacement (cubic cm) 1,493 1,590
Maximum horsepower
(KW (PS) / RPM) 81 (110) / 5,800 96 (130) / 6,600
Maximum torque
(N.M (KGM) / RPM) 135 (13.8) / 4,500 146 (14.9) / 5,000
TRANSMISSION
Manual Synchromesh five forward speed, one reverse
Prosmatec 4 - speed fully automatic (Progressive Shift Management Technology)
STEERING SYSTEM
Gear Type

Rack & pinion, Power assisted
DIMENSIONS
Overall length (mm) 4455
Overall width (mm) 1720
Overall height (mm) 1455
Wheel base (mm) 2620
Tread (Front / Rear) (mm) 1470 / 1470
Ground clearance (mm) 170
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Front New McPherson Strut front suspension
Rear

New rear double wishbone suspension
BRAKING SYSTEM
Type 4- wheel disc brakes 4 - wheel disc ABS
(Anti-Lock Braking System)
Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)

X

O
TIRE / WHEELS
Tire Size 185 / 65 R 14 (86H) 185 / 65 R 15 (88H)
Wheel Size 14 X 5 JJ 15 X 6 JJ

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Honda Civic 2007

Performance

Experience a sense of rising expectations.

Honda heightens your driving enjoyment with a rare combination of spirited engine response and exceptional fuel efficiency. This ideal balance is achieved by Honda's next-generation 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine - the first entirely new Civic power plant in 17 years. Through Honda's advanced i-VTEC (Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system and DBW (Drive By Wire) technology, it performs like two types of engines in one compact unit. At high engine loads, such as when starting from a standstill or stepping on the accelerator, DBW fully opens the throttle while VTEC optimizes intake valve timing to generate 2.0-liter-equivalent power. At low engine loads, such as during high-speed cruising, DBW narrows the throttle opening while VTEC delays valve closing to achieve 1.5-liter-equivalent fuel efficiency. Settings are intelligently switched in a seamless manner to ensure smooth, linear response at all revolutions

High-output mode rocker arm and fuel economy mode rocker arm are not inter-connected.

Valves operated according to high-output cam profile.

High-output mode rocker arm and fuel economy mode rocker arm connected via the synchro piston

Valves operated according to fuel economy cam profile with delayed valve closing.

Front: McPherson strut

High-caster and High-Trail

Responsive steering feel

Improved return of the steering wheel and stable straight run at high speed

Rear: Trailing arm type Double-wishbone

Damper spring positioned at the back

Improved comfort during driving
Improved comfort during driving

Safety

Advance Safety Measures.

In the event of collision, advanced safety feature provides supplemental protection of the driver and passengers. Dual SRS airbags for driver and front seat passenger help prevent head and torso injury by deploying in frontal collisions.

Trust the assurance of preeminent protection.

As your excitement builds with sporty performance, your confidence in dependable Civic protection also grows. Honda supplies advanced active safeguards - such as ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) - that help your avoid driving hazards. Count on Civic to care for your welfare as well as your driving pleasure

A gratifying escape.

Honda significantly raised torsional and dynamic
body rigidity while simultaneously reducing body weight through the extensive use of lightweight components like high-tension steel panels. The resulting solid structure contributes to a quiet ride further enhanced by well-placed insulation, refined aerodynamics and other measures 'that reduce noise and vibration from the engine, wind, and road. Honda purposely tuned the intake resonator, however, to emit an exhilarating engine growl during hard acceleration.

Interior

Price

Models Available Ex-Factory Price (Pak Rs.)
i-VTEC Manual Transmission Rs: 1,329,000.00
i-VTEC Prosmatec Transmission Rs: 1,369,000.00
VTi Oriel - Manual Transmission Rs: 1,459,000.00
VTi Oriel - Prosmatec Transmission Rs: 1,499,000.00

Cars or buses: computer simulation of a social and economic dilemma

We report computer simulation experiments to model the dilemma of using cars or mass transportation in large cities. The individual Pavlovian agents may cooperate with each other for the collective interest (public transportation) or may defect, i.e., pursue their selfish interests by driving their cars. Their decisions to cooperate or defect accumulate over time to produce a resulting collective order that determines the success or failure of the transportation system. The results show that it is quite possible to achieve a situation when the enormous majority of people prefer using mass transportation to driving cars.

Chemically specific imaging of cryptosporidium oocysts using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy

We demonstrate the application of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy for the rapid, label-free chemical imaging of waterborne pathogens. Chemically selective images of cryptosporidium were acquired in just a few seconds using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy, demonstrating its capability for the rapid detection of cryptosporidium at the single oocyst level. We discuss the applicability of such a technique in a near-real time automated water testing system.

Imaging metal oxide nanoparticles in biological structures with CARS microscopy

Metal oxide nanomaterials are being used for an increasing number of commercial applications, such as fillers, opacifiers, catalysts, semiconductors, cosmetics, microelectronics, and as drug delivery vehicles. The effects of these nanoparticles on the physiology of animals and in the environment are largely unknown and their potential associated health risks are currently a topic of hot debate. Information regarding the entry route of nanoparticles into exposed organisms and their subsequent localization within tissues and cells in the body are essential for understanding their biological impact. However, there is currently no imaging modality available that can simultaneously image these nanoparticles and the surrounding tissues without disturbing the biological structure. Due to their large nonlinear optical susceptibilities, which are enhanced by two-photon electronic resonance, metal oxides are efficient sources of coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS). We show that CARS microscopy can provide localization of metal oxide nanoparticles within biological structures at the cellular level. Nanoparticles of 20 – 70 nm in size were imaged within the fish gill; a structure that is a primary site of pollutant uptake into fish from the aquatic environment.

Fast extraction of resonant vibrational response from CARS spectra with arbitrary nonresonant background

We describe a new, robust method of numerically extracting equivalent Raman spectra from coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectra. The extraction procedure requires no a priori information regarding the vibrational resonances or the shape of the nonresonant background (NRB). The method we present here is robust to situations where the NRB is not spectrally flat, and is accurate over a wide range of signal-to-background ratios. This simple and quick computation method, which relies primarily on a small number of fast Fourier transforms, could reasonably be used in conjunction with spectral imaging, where millions of spectra must be analyzed. Published 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

NASCAR CAR CARE AUTO FAIR

The present disclosure is related to the combination of a car show and product demonstration in connection with a NASCAR race. Car enthusiasts may be invited to participate and bring their cars for display at the car show. While at the show, the car enthusiasts may be exposed to several displays promoting and demonstrating products targeted to the car care enthusiasts. Sales data or survey data may be collected at the car show to enable data mining to determine associations between various products featured at the car show and attendees of the car show. A car care product company may easily market products to attendees of the NASCAR race. The company may also demonstrate the quality of the products by showing the use of the products in a real-world environment, such as with the NASCAR automobiles or with cars of the car enthusiasts participating in the car show.

Advances on IPM technology for hybrid cars and impact in developing countries

The past thirty years have been an exciting period for tremendous advances in the development of interior permanent magnet (IPM) electrical machines. Over the course of this time, interior permanent magnet synchronous machines (IPMSM) have expanded their presence in the commercial marketplace from few specialized niche markets such as machine tool servo drives to mass-produced applications including high-efficiency electric traction drives for the latest generation of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV). Power ratings of available IPM motor drives have dramatically expanded by approximately three orders of magnitude during this period, now reaching power levels up to 1 MW ratings. What are the factors that made such impressive progress possible? Closer examination reveals that several different knowledge-based technological advancements and market forces have combined, sometimes in fortuitous ways, to accelerate the development of the impressive IPMSM drives technology that we find available today. The purpose of this paper is to provide a broad explanation of the various factors that lead to our current state-of-the-art IPM technology. This highly efficient energy conversion technology has enormous impacts on the world electrical energy supply and demand utilizing conventional fossil fuel sources like oil, coal and gas. Examples will illustrate commercial successes of Toyotapsilas hybrid electric vehicles like PRIUS, utilizing the latest developments in knowledge based highly efficient and smart automobiles now and in the very future.

Method and system for determining, for any instant in time, total peak power consumption for bank of elevator cars

A method and system determine peak power consumption over time (401) by a bank of elevator for servicing a set of passenger hall calls and delivery requests, and selecting elevator schedules that keep peak power consumption below a predetermined threshold. For each car in response to receiving a hall call, a set of all possible paths to service all hall calls assigned to the car are determined, in which each path includes a set of all possible segments (100). A peak power consumption for each possible segment is also determined (200). The peak power consumptions for the set of all possible segments for each time instant are added to determine a total peak power consumption for each time instant, and a particular path is selected as a schedule to operate the bank of elevator cars, if the total peak power consumption for any instant in time while operating according to the selected schedule is below a predetermined threshold.

Holistic processing for faces and cars in preschool-aged children and adults: evidence from the composite effect

The current study compared the development of holistic processing for faces and non-face visual objects by testing for the composite effect for faces and frontal images of cars in 3- to 5-year-old children and adults in a series of four experiments using a two-alternative forced-choice recognition task. Results showed that a composite effect for faces was present as early as years, and none of the age groups tested showed signs of a composite effect for cars. These findings provide the first demonstration that holistic processing is already selective for faces in early childhood, and confirm existing evidence that sensitivity to holistic information in faces does not increase from 4 years to adulthood.

A comparative Raman and CARS imaging study of colon tissue

An experimental evaluation of the information content of two complimentary techniques, linear Raman and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy, is presented. CARS is a nonlinear variant of Raman spectroscopy that enables rapid acquisition of images within seconds in combination with laser scanning microscopes. CARS images were recorded from thin colon tissue sections at 2850, 1660, 1450 and 1000 cm-1 and compared with Raman images. Raman images were obtained from univariate and multivariate (k-means clustering) methods, whereas all CARS images represent univariate results. Variances within tissue sections could be visualized in chemical maps of CARS and Raman images. However, identification of tissue types and characterization of variances between different tissue sections were only possible by analysis of cluster mean spectra, obtained from k-means cluster analysis. This first comparison establishes the foundation for further development of the CARS technology to assess tissue. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Hydrogen storage in metal–hydrogen systems and their derivatives

During the last years, the power densities of automotive fuel cell systems have been raised dramatically. However, a major technology improvement is still needed for the on-board fuel storage system since hydrogen exhibits a rather low volumetric energy density (regardless whether it is stored as a liquid at cryogenic temperatures or as a compressed gas). Furthermore, the cost for current hydrogen containers is far from what gasoline tanks cost. Therefore, alternatives like solid-state absorbers of hydrogen (e.g. metal hydrides or complex hydrides) are investigated for their feasibility by the car industry. These kinds of systems show very high volumetric storage densities on a materials basis. Unfortunately, the host compounds are usually quite heavy and thus possess a low gravimetric storage density. Also, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the absorption/desorption reactions and their impact on the tank design in general (and on the heat management in particular) have to be considered. Within the framework of this paper, the properties of the most promising solid-state storage systems are discussed and compared to those of the liquid and compressed gaseous hydrogen technologies.

Hedonic prices indexes for new passenger cars in Portugal (1997–2001)

This paper evaluates the effects of quality change on the price index for new passenger cars in Portugal for the years 1997–2001. Hedonic regression models are studied, giving particular emphasis to the relation between the form of the price index and the econometric techniques used for inference. The results of the empirical part of the paper indicate that during this period the changes in the quality of new cars sold in Portugal are responsible for price increases averaging 4.8% per year. Because this quality change was not entirely taken into account, in recent years the CPI component corresponding to the sales of new passenger cars may have been overestimated by as much as 2.2 percentage points per year. This corresponds to an overestimation of the overall CPI by about 0.15 percentage points per year.

Effect of passenger car curving on rail corrugation at a curved track

The paper presents a corrugation calculation model, which considers Kalker's non-Hertzian rolling contact theory to be modified, a material wear model and a vertical and lateral coupling dynamics of a half passenger car and a curved track. The dynamics characters of the curved track model in frequency domain were investigated by the commercial finite element code ANSYS, and some results concerning rail corrugation are presented in this paper. During a passenger car passing a curved track the dynamical performance of the vehicle and track and the initiation and growth of the curved rail corrugation are analyzed with the present corrugation calculation model. In the numerical calculation, two track states are investigated. One is that the track does not have any congenital defect except for the discrete rail support by sleepers. The other is that the track has a lateral dent on the gauge corner of the high rail. The rail corrugations analyzed are attributed to the material wear mechanism. The numerical results obtained indicate that (1) a high passing frequency corrugation initiates on the smooth running surface of the curved rail during the first passing of the passenger car through the curved track without defects; (2) the initial corrugation develops quickly and its passing frequencies change with an increase of passenger car passage; (3) the interaction of the leading wheelset of the bogie and the curved rails causes more severe corrugation and wear on the rail running surface than that of the trailing wheelset of the same bogie; (4) discrete rail support by sleepers is the congenital defect leading to rail corrugation formation.

Physicochemical and redox characteristics of particulate matter (PM) emitted from gasoline and diesel passenger cars

Particulate matter (PM) originating from mobile sources has been linked to a myriad of adverse health outcomes, ranging from cancer to cardiopulmonary disease, and an array of environmental problems, including global warming and acid rain. Till date, however, it is not clear which physical characteristics or chemical constituents of PM are significant contributors to the magnitude of the health risk. This study sought to determine the relationship between physical and chemical characteristics of PM while quantitatively measuring samples for redox activity of diesel and gasoline particulate emissions from passenger vehicles typically in use in Europe. The main objective was to relate PM chemistry to the redox activity in relation to vehicle type and driving cycle. Our results showed a high degree of correlation between several PM species, including elemental and organic carbon, low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and trace metals such as lithium, beryllium, nickel and zinc, and the redox activity of PM, as measured by a quantitative chemical assay, the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. The reduction in PM mass or number emission factors resulting from the various engine configurations, fuel types and/or after-treatment technologies, however, was non-linearly related to the decrease in overall PM redox activity. While the PM mass emission rate from the diesel particle filter (DPF)-equipped vehicle was on average approximately 25 times lower than that of the conventional diesel, the redox potential was only eight times lower, which makes the per mass PM redox potential of the DPF vehicle about three times higher. Thus, a strategy aimed at protecting public health and welfare by reducing total vehicle mass and number emissions may not fully achieve the desired goal of preventing the health consequences of PM exposure. Further, study of the chemical composition and interactions between various chemical species may yield greater insights into the toxicity of the PM content of vehicle exhaust.

Comparison of Real-World Emissions from Two-Wheelers and Passenger Cars

Passenger cars are the primary means of transportation in Europe. Over the past decade, a great deal of attention has therefore been paid to reducing their emissions. This has resulted in notable technical progress, leading to unprecedentedly low exhaust emissions. In the meantime, emissions from motorcycles have been ignored due to their subordinate role in traffic. Even though the motorcycle fleet is small in comparison with the car fleet, and logs lower yearly mileage per vehicle, their contribution to traffic emissions has become disproportionately high. Exhaust emissions of CO, HC, NOx, and CO2 from 8 powered two-wheelers were measured and compared to previous measurements from 17 gasoline-powered passenger cars performed at EMPA with the aim of ascertaining their relevance. Using exhaust emission ratios from both vehicle types, comparisons based on mean unit, mean yearly, and fleet emissions are considered. Present-day aftertreat ment technologies for motorcycles are not as efficient as those for cars. A comparison of mean unit emissions shows that motorcycles exceed cars in NOx emissions. All comparisons reveal a significant HC ratio, to the detriment of two-wheelers. Overall, the relevance of emissions from powered two-wheelers is not negligible when compared with modern gasoline-powered passenger cars.

mprovement of rotational CARS thermometry in fuel-rich hydrocarbon flames by inclusion of N2-H2 Raman line widths

Abstract
In rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) thermometry applied to air-fed flames, the temperature sensitivity mainly depends on the intensity distribution of the nitrogen spectral lines. Temperatures are estimated by numerical fitting of theoretical spectra to experimental ones, and one uncertainty in the calculation of theoretical CARS spectra for specific flame conditions is the accuracy in utilized line-broadening coefficients. In a previous article, self-broadened N2-N2 line widths were considered in the spectral calculations as well as those of N2-CO, N2-CO2, N2-H2O, and N2-O2. In the present article, we also include N2-H2 line widths calculated from a newly developed model, and it is shown that the evaluated temperature from flame spectra increases with increasing mole fractions of hydrogen. For example, in a very rich flame at = 2.5, the use of available line-width data for all major species gives a temperature raise of 72 K at a temperature of 1700 K, in comparison with using self-broadened N2-N2 line widths only. Half of this temperature raise is related to the inclusion of N2-H2 line widths. This article emphasizes the importance of using adequate line-broadening models for rotational CARS thermometry in flames. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Different contrast information obtained from CARS and nonresonant FWM images

We demonstrate that coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy can be used not to obtain vibrational contrast related to a particular chemical species only, but furthermore, it directly yields topological contrast. Topological contrast is due to the spatially dependent refractive index of the sample and a number of linear effects as interference, refraction and absorption contribute to the topological contrast inherent to CARS images. In order to distinguish between different contrast mechanisms we propose an image correction method based on the analysis of the nonresonant four-wave mixing (FWM) signal distribution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.