100 Cool Things

[NarendZORCE]

100 Cool Things
Automotive News / April 16, 2007 - 1:00 am


Think there's nothing new under the sun? How about this collection of innovations - from headlights that see around a bend to a state-of-the-art voice-recognition system that handles explicit commands such as "find Thai restaurant."

How do we define cool? You know it when you see it. It can be high-tech, low-tech or no-tech.

Thousands of cool things can be found in modern cars and trucks and in automotive factories. Here's just a sampling -- a mere 100 -- in no particular order.


1. Pop-up tweeters

The optional Bang & Olufsen stereo in the Audi S8 makes you want to stay in the car long after that big engine shuts down. Bang & Olufsen specializes in high-glitz home electronics equipment that sounds good and looks spectacular. With the S8, the Danish company ventures into car audio. Slide into the driver's seat, turn the key and, magically, a tweeter rises out of the dashboard on each side, right by the A-pillars. The tweeters are augmented by 12 other speakers, including a subwoofer, and the whole system gets its power from a 1,100-watt amplifier. All that fancy optional gear comes at a price: about $6,300.

2. It makes the grade

Driving on a steep, unstable grade is a true test of an off-roader's skill. Land Rover's Gradient Release Control helps a driver's confidence by holding the vehicle in place on steep uphill or downhill inclines, even after the driver's foot is off the brake. That allows the driver to be more poised when applying the accelerator - rather than having to stab at it. GRC, developed by Continental Automotive Systems, makes its first appearance on the 2008 LR2.

3. An end to parallel-parking panic

The Lexus LS 460 parks itself. As you cruise slowly through a parking lot, front-bumper sensors search for open spots. Shift into reverse, and the backup monitor displays the targeted parking space. Confirm the parking spot, release the brake and let go of the steering wheel. The car automatically swings into the parking spot.

4. Deep tracks

The MyGIG system that Chrysler offers on its Sebring sedan and several other vehicles comes with a 20-megabyte hard drive capable of holding MP3 songs, photos and navigation system software. Chrysler says 1,600 MP3 songs take up less than half the hard disc. There's a Gracenote search engine to find song information from the most popular of 4 million CDs it has on file.

5. You're so vein

Hitachi Ltd.'s door locks identify car owners by the patterns of veins in their fingers. When used for personal computer security, the system scans finger veins on the palm side. But gripping a car's door handle deforms those veins. So Hitachi scans veins behind the fingernails instead.

6. Thoroughly modern milling

Because mass-production cast cylinder heads are so expensive to mill, tolerances of as much as plus or minus 1.2 mm have been accepted. But Linamar Corp.'s 5-Axis contour milling does a lot better than that. Combustion chambers and intake and exhaust ports are machined to tolerances of plus or minus 0.004 mm. And the process costs a fraction of the estimated $2,500 per cylinder head for custom milling. Engine horsepower and efficiency rise, while noise, vibration and harshness decrease. Linamar's system was first used on the LS7 V-8 engine that powers the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6.

7. Wireless wonder

Let's say you have spent hours programming Kenny G, Yanni, Barbra Streisand and Krokus into your iPod. Now you want to take it in the car with you. No problem, if you own one of the 30 car brands that are Bluetooth-enabled. The wireless communication system lets electronic devices such as cell phones, music players and laptops communicate with each other without plugs or cables. It also allows voice-activated devices to work seamlessly without the driver pressing any buttons.



8. Soooo cool

The Chrysler group calls it the Chill Zone, a cooled storage bin that is standard on several models. The bin, on the passenger side of the instrument panel, can hold as many as four 12-ounce beverage cans. A vent at one end of the bin pushes cold air around the cans when the air conditioner is on.

9. Compression makes impression

By changing the compression ratio of an engine, fuel economy can be increased and emissions reduced without affecting performance. FEV Engine Technology Co., of Auburn Hills, Mich., is a pioneer in variable compression ratio engines. The FEV system raises and lowers compression by pivoting the crankshaft electronically. Several cars have performed well in durability tests. FEV has several development contracts.

10. Threefold improvement

The new BMW 3-series convertible solves a huge problem common to cars with folding metal hardtops: lack of trunk space. When the top is down on cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK, Mazda Miata or Pontiac G6, little cargo room remains. But BMW's roof, from German supplier Edscha Convertible Roof Systems, folds flat upon itself in three layers, leaving ample room for a suitcase or other large items.

11. See that sign? Slow down!

Toyota is developing a system that uses a camera to recognize a school-zone sign. If you are speeding, it then automatically slows the car to no more than the legal limit.

12. Back-seat TV

If the kids are bored with the same old DVDs they play in the rear of the minivan, help is on the way. Chrysler rolled out Sirius Back Seat TV at the New York auto show this month. The system will be offered first on the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans. It operates with a SiriusConnect SC-V1 Audio/Video Tuner that will be connected to back-of-the-headrest monitors. Rear-seat occupants can watch TV while the car is moving. Front seat occupants also can also watch on their MyGIG hard-drive screen when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in Park. Chrysler and Sirius will offer a menu of channels with an emphasis on kids.

13. Less friction, runs great

Engines lose about 6 percent of their fuel's energy to friction as parts rub against each other. The Nissan 350Z's engine cuts friction 25 percent and thus boosts fuel efficiency about 3 percent. It uses a hydrogen-free, diamondlike carbon coating plus special engine oil for piston rings, valve lifters and other parts. The coating and oil bind better to create a smoother film between parts.



14. Active all-wheel torque

BorgWarner engineers have matched an all-wheel-drive system to modern safety controls, including electronic stability control, to create an electronically controlled torque unit that actively manages traction. The system improves performance and stability at high speeds and on slippery surfaces. It was first used on the Porsche 911 Turbo, introduced in March 2006.

15. Where's that cupholder?

While driving at night, steaming Starbucks cup in your hand, how many times have you searched blindly for the cupholder? The Dodge Caliber features illuminated cupholder rings that glow bluish green, helping you make a perfect landing every time.

16. Fast-delivery piezo

Diesel engines with piezo injectors run much smoother and quieter than diesels with old-fashioned, spring-loaded, electromechanical injectors. Siemens VDO and Bosch Automotive have the first piezo injectors in production. Siemens' are in the new Ford Super Duty pickup's 6.4-liter twin-turbo engine. Bosch's piezo injectors are in diesels in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz E320. Siemens also has gasoline piezo injectors on the new BMW 335i.

17. Battery of the future

Lithium ion batteries hold four times the power of the nickel-metal batteries they will replace in hybrid vehicles. Look for Toyota to introduce lithium ion batteries in the 2009 Prius.

18. Fuel-efficient pocket rocket

In a world of high fuel prices, the 1.4-liter Volkswagen Golf GT may be the performance car of the future. Zero to 60 mph takes 7.6 seconds, and fuel economy is about 50 mpg. VW has equipped the hatchback with a supercharger for off-the-line acceleration and a turbocharger for extra passing power.

19. Listen up

Voice recognition is coming of age. In some Acura vehicles you can operate the air conditioner, radio, phone and navigation system without taking your eyes off the road. In the TL, for example, the voice-recognition system from Alpine Electronics can be taught to recognize explicit commands such as "find Thai restaurant." Then you can tell the system to call the restaurant so you can make a reservation.

20. Quiet riot

With its high-pressure, direct fuel-injection system; special pistons and low weight, the 3.6-liter V-6 coming this fall in the revamped 2008 Cadillac CTS is one of the most advanced engines General Motors has built. At 300 hp, it's also the most powerful production V-6 GM has yet produced. It's quiet, too. An insulator that fits on the end of the fuel injectors reduces noise from the injectors, which operate at more than 1,700 pounds per square inch.

21. Weld done

Dacia's low-automation plant in Pitesti, Romania, uses jigs and manual welding for the point at which a vehicle's floorpan, sides and roof are joined. The problem with manual spot welds is that they often aren't flat on the surface, making a failed crescent-shaped weld that is weak. The Pitesti jigs use 3-inch tubes that indicate where the welds are supposed to go. The welding guns have long, slender tips on them that fit directly into the holes, and - Voila! - the welds not only are in exactly the right spot for strength but are guaranteed to make square, perfect contact.

22. See the light

The Lexus LS 600hL has the world's first LED low-beam headlamps, built by Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd. of Tokyo. The LEDs, or light emitting diodes, are scarcely larger than a penny, yet they crank out gobs more light than halogens or standard bulbs. Each headlamp housing holds nine LEDs in the cluster - three in the low-beam headlamp, two in the lower low-beam lamp, two in the side-marker lamp and two in the front clearance lamp. The five low-beam lamps require only 58 watts and will last the life of the vehicle.

23. Pay attention!

The Lexus LS 600hL has a steering-column-mounted driver monitor that checks not only whether the driver is drowsy but whether he or she is paying attention to the road. The system, made by Japan's Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., has six infrared sensors that work even in the dark. If sensors detect an imminent problem and the monitor determines that the driver is not paying attention, the system will sound an alert and tap the brakes as a warning.



24. Who says the electric car is dead?

Take the bones of a Lotus Elise, fill it with the electrical engineering knowledge of castoff aerospace engineers, fuel it with Silicon Valley venture capital cash and start building cars in Albuquerque, N.M. Electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors says its initial run of 100 two-seat roadsters, priced at $100,000, is sold out. Next up: a sedan.

25. Unexpected gain

The drivetrain of the Escape Hybrid is so quiet that Ford engineers were able to detect and reduce other noises. That led to upgrades in the gasoline-powered Escape.

26. Be aware, clean air

Carmakers can make Earth-friendly cars, but driver behavior is the key to cleaning the air. That's where simple "eco-meters" come in. According to Nissan's research, installing a gauge that shows mpg on the instrument panel makes drivers want to boost their fuel economy. The result: a 7 percent drop in emissions.

27. Just right

The 2007 Chrysler Sebring sedan and the 2008 Dodge Avenger sedan and Sebring convertible have cupholders in the center console that can cool a beverage to 35 degrees Fahrenheit or heat it to 140 F. Look for this feature to appear on more vehicles.

28. Roll control

Lots of automakers have traction control systems, but none is so boldly named as Volvo's Roll Stability Control. The Volvo system, developed by Continental Automotive Systems, uses a gyroscope to determine the risk of a rollover. When Roll Stability Control determines that a roll may be imminent, it cuts engine torque and applies brake force to one or more wheels. During a high-speed parking-lot test of an XC90, notorious car thrasher Jay Koblenz couldn't even force a spinout, much less lift a wheel off the ground.

29. Torque in the road

Honda's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive doesn't just shift torque from front to rear, as other systems do. It shifts the torque from side to side as well. Honda says the system reduces understeer and oversteer on dry pavement. It is used on the Acura RL and MDX.

30. A glove box to match your thirst

The glove box of the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 minivan, sold in Japan, heats or cools food and drinks. It can hold a small water bottle lying on its side. Need more space? Remove the glove box's false bottom, and it is large enough for two one-liter bottles standing side by side.



31. Letting gravity do the work

Most car fuel cells are aligned horizontally. They push hydrogen and oxygen through a membrane, producing electricity to turn the wheels and water as a byproduct. Honda decided not to push. It shrank the fuel cell to fit it vertically into the former driveshaft hump down the center of a car. Gravity pulls the water through the fuel cell.

32. Brake-through

The electronic parking brake system on BMWs, Jaguars and a few other cars eliminates the cables and levers that have been used since the 1940s. The driver pulls a small handle and an electric motor on the caliper squeezes the brake pads against the disc. The brakes can be programmed to keep a car from rolling backward or to engage when the driver turns off the ignition. Suppliers include TRW, Continental, Dura Automotive and Siemens VDO.

33. Reinventing the wheel

Placing motors in the hub of the wheel would allow engineers to do away with brakes, axles, transmissions and driveshafts. Wheel hub motors free space that normally would be used to house the drivetrain and would enable four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Engineers are working to make them watertight, keep them cool and make them weigh less. GM's Sequel fuel cell vehicle has motors in the rear hubs.

34. Gleaming wheels

Thanks to Alcoa Wheel Products' Dura-Bright forged wheel treatment technology, brake dust and road grime can be rinsed off aluminum wheels. Scrubbing isn't necessary. Dura-Bright is a corrosion-inhibiting chemical that penetrates the aluminum surface. It was adopted first by Pittsburgh's transit system and now is used by most makers of heavy trucks and trailers. Automakers are testing the system on cars and trucks.

35. Grape is the answer for allergies

Most air filters catch particles as small as 10 microns. They don't block diesel soot (1 micron) or cedar pollen or dust mites (0.3 to 0.5 micron). Nissan's filter is impregnated with natural grape seed polyphenol. It bonds with certain allergens to remove them from cabin air. Also, its natural electrostatic charge traps 0.5-micron particles.

36. The advantages are manifold

By integrating the exhaust manifold into the cylinder head, Lotus reduces engine mass; cuts build cost; speeds assembly time; reduces noise, vibration and harshness; and achieves 20 percent quicker catalyst light-off. The windshield de-mists faster, too, and lower thermal stresses improve durability.

37. Ethanol makes car go faster

Fill up your flex-fuel vehicle with E85, and you'll probably notice a little extra kick when you put the pedal to the metal. The blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline contains octane of about 105, compared with 87 for regular unleaded. A flex-fuel vehicle has an engine computer that senses the amount of octane in the fuel and tunes the engine accordingly.

38. How to test a hydrogen engine

Ford Motor Co. engineers want to know how well regular car engines would hold up over time when burning gaseous hydrogen. But it isn't easy to pile tens of thousands of miles on hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. That's because you can count on one hand all the filling stations in the country that dispense hydrogen. So Ford built a test fleet of 25 E-450 airport shuttle vans outfitted with hydrogen-fueled, 6.8-liter V-10 engines. The shuttle vans will begin running this summer in Ottawa and Orlando, Fla. The test will last three years.

39. Smart storage

At less than nine feet long, the new Smart ForTwo isn't a car that can afford to waste any space. That's why it's available with an ingenious drop-down tailgate that conceals a compartment containing not just a first-aid kit but also a warning triangle, high-visibility jacket, spare bulbs, flashlight, ice scraper - and even an umbrella.

40. Jag's blue-light special

Jaguar's C-XF concept car, which debuted at this year's Detroit auto show, has a jewellike power button that pulses like a heartbeat on the center console. When it is pushed, aluminum rings lower from the center console to reveal the gear shift knob. As the engine starts, a blue light sweeps around the cabin; the entire roofline illuminates with a muted blue light; and a final blue light shines from the front grille, signifying the car's ignition.

41. Pedestrian-friendly fronts

Notice the full-frame grilles on the latest Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. They're made of softer material, have more empty space behind them and are designed to deform quickly. They conform with the European Union's new pedestrian safety regulations.

42. Order in the trunk

Nissan has a patent pending on the Sentra's Divide-N-Hide trunk system. Lockable storage compartments let owners stow grocery bags and other loose bits and pieces instead of allowing the stuff to slip and slide around.



43. Safety burst

The rear seat in the Ford Interceptor concept is equipped with inflatable safety belts that fill with air during a crash. A strap of airbag material in the seat belt webbing inflates into a cylindrical shape when front airbags deploy. The idea is to spread forces from a vehicle crash over a broader section of the body than traditional seat belts.

44. Turning Tahoe into fuel-sipper

This heavy-duty hybrid gearbox may be the most complex transmission ever installed in an automobile. The Two-Mode - co-developed by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and BMW - will give big SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Dodge Durango a 25 percent boost in fuel economy. Watch for it in the Tahoe and Durango this fall.

45. Best of both worlds

One technology showing promise for reducing emissions and boosting fuel economy is Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition. An HCCI engine combines the best features of gasoline and diesel engines. The gasoline and air mixture is ignited by compression - like a diesel engine - rather than a spark plug. The engine runs on a leaner mix than a regular engine, and that reduces oxides of nitrogen. Nearly all the world's major automakers are developing the technology.

46. Continuous improvement

Just when you thought the continuously variable transmission would never catch on in the United States, Nissan and Audi have revamped the fuel-saving gearbox and made it work with higher-displacement engines. The secret: stronger belts in the case of the Nissans and a more robust chain for the Audis. Both use improved hydraulic and computer controls. Ford and General Motors tried and failed with CVTs. But make no mistake - the nonshifting gearbox is here to stay. The biggest suppliers of CVTs are Jatco, a Japanese company, and Germany's ZF Group.

47. Keyless goes classless

Radio-controlled key systems that allow drivers to start a vehicle by pressing a button on the instrument panel no longer are a feature for expensive cars only. For example, Nissan's Intelligent Key System now is in the $13,000 Versa.

48. Easy does it

It's a rite of passage: Get a pickup, drop the tailgate, hear it slam. For the 2007 Tundra redesign, Toyota installed a gas strut, hidden behind a taillamp, so the tailgate eases down on its hinges, rather than slamming. It's a nice touch for the neighbors of the contractor who loads his truck at 5 a.m. The strut also makes raising the tailgate a two-finger affair.

49. An extra twist

The Lexus LS 600hL's Active Stabilizer Suspension System from Japan's Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. has the front and rear stabilizer bars equipped with electric motors (actually, 46-volt actuators) that provide torsional twist based on steering angle and vehicle speed. The system reduces vehicle roll and enhances cornering characteristics. It even comes in sport mode.



50. Simple Siemens

Siemens VDO has developed an electronic braking system that does away with hydraulic lines, master cylinders, brake boosters and other hardware. The system uses 12-volt electric motors to move metal wedges that squeeze the brake pads against the rotors on disc brake systems. Stopping distances are shorter and assembly is simplified. Siemens has several development contracts.

51. Virtually real

RTT USA Inc. has created software that makes virtual three-dimensional vehicle prototypes from computer-aided design data. The computer-generated, photo-realistic prototypes can be manipulated and shown with unlimited colors and materials. Users can see the vehicle in detail and under varying light conditions - even at night. And unlike cumbersome and expensive clay modeling, these prototypes take just days to produce.

52. Mild, but not meek

Fuel economy gains usually come in small increments. It's rare that one simple bolt-on device can raise fuel economy 20 percent. But the electric motor/generator used on the Saturn Vue and Saturn Aura Green Line mild hybrids does just that. A Vue Green Line is EPA-rated at 32 mpg on the highway. The cost to consumers is less than $2,000. The downside: The Green Lines don't drive solely on electric power, as does a Toyota Prius.

53. One small step, one giant leap

Ford's new Super Duty pickup comes with a sturdy fold-away step and grab handle concealed in the leading edge of the tailgate. The step - which is easily deployed and can support 1,000 pounds - makes climbing into the bed with an armful of cargo a lot easier.

54. How about a back rub?

The rear seat of the Lexus LS 460L is patterned after a business-class airplane seat. It reclines, kicks out an ottoman, has heating/cooling/massage, a swivel-out table and an infrared sensor of the occupant to ensure proper climate control. A nine-inch DVD screen makes going out to the movies redundant.

55. Let there be ambient light

In the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S class or CL, just under the wood and chrome trim that encircles the center stack, a row of soft fiber-optic lights give the car its ambience. The driver can adjust the brightness or turn off the system. Chrysler and Ford are using colored lights on consoles, and in Ford's Mustang, the driver can change the color of the instrument lights.

56. Slimming the Super Duty

At almost 8 feet wide, Ford's new Super Duty pickup cuts a wide swath. But with the press of a button, the truck can get skinnier. The optional door-mounted power mirrors can be folded against the body or retracted 3 inches.

57. Taking the sting out of whiplash

The Japan-market Lexus LS 460 flashes its hazard lights if its rear bumper's radar determines it will be rear-ended within 1.5 seconds. If the approaching vehicle doesn't slow, sensors find the driver's head. The driver's headrest extends forward up to 2.4 inches, to just shy of the driver's head. The goal: reduce whiplash injuries.

58. New bearings

The humble roller bearing used in hubs and axles has not changed for decades. But FAG, a division of Germany's LuK Group, and Timken Co. have developed dual-row bearings that use less space than traditional tapered roller bearings. They also reduce friction.

59. Pushing the pushrod

Huge pushrod 505-hp V-8 engines aren't supposed to get 16 mpg city and 26 on the highway. But the 7.0-liter V-8 in the Corvette Z06 does. What's the secret? A huge reduction of friction in the engine, creative use of gearing and generous use of such lightweight materials as aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber.

60. Mettle to the pedal

Wouldn't it be cool to have a trained off-roader sitting next to you - instructing how to stomp or feather the gas pedal depending on whether you were driving over snow, mud, rocks or sand? All Land Rover vehicles come with "Terrain Response" software, designed by Land Rover's engineers, which does just that. Using a radial dial on the center console, the driver selects the picture that matches the driving conditions, and the engine and transmission controls are remapped accordingly.

61. From out of nowhere

Side-mounted cameras on the Volvo S80 peek behind for any cars that might be lurking in blind spots. If a vehicle is present, an orange light appears on the windowsill as a warning. The optional device, called the Blind Spot Information System, can be turned on and off.



62. 'Suicide doors' that think

The wide-opening, forward-hinged rear doors on the Rolls-Royce Phantom may be the highest-tech portals on the road. These "suicide doors," which enable easy ingress and egress, are electronically controlled. And they can't be opened from the inside while the car is going faster than 2.5 mph.

63. Feel the noise

Quadrascan Technologies Inc., of Brentwood, Tenn., has patented a device that will help automakers hear wind noise before it happens, either at the r&d stage or on the assembly line. Using transmitters placed inside vehicles as they go down the production line, an ultrasonic scanner captures any sound waves that leak from the car. Catch a wave, correct the leak, stop the noise.

64. Surround sound

The Toyota FJ Cruiser's audio system has a pair of NXT SurfaceSound transducers that convert the vehicle's entire headliner into a speaker diaphragm. Forget 12-inch woofers, this is a 72-inch speaker membrane. The headliner doesn't create huge sound. But it does complement the FJ's conventional speakers, creating a broad, omni-directional dispersion of Mozart - or Metallica.

65. Choose your ride

With drive-by-wire systems, like that on the Chevrolet Sequel, you can tune the handling of your car to fit your mood. Let's say you want to take the Corvette to work in the morning. All you'll do is turn a knob to stiffen the suspension and sharpen the response of the steering and brakes. If you want the supersupple Cadillac ride along the way, you'll turn the knob in the other direction. Look for complete by-wire systems to appear about 2020.

66. Straighten up

A camera mounted on the rearview mirror or grille reads the lines in the road. When the car drifts too close to the center or the edge, the driver hears a beep or feels a slight vibration in the steering wheel or seat. The lane departure warning system, which debuted in 2005 on the Infiniti FX, helps drivers stay between the lines. Suppliers include Delphi, Visteon, TRW and Continental.

67. Clutchless, not shiftless

Want to flash through the gears like a Formula One driver? Audi and Volkswagen are leading the way with their six-speed direct-shift gearboxes that can be shifted either by paddle shifters on the steering wheel or the gearshift lever on the console. Other carmakers are not far behind. What makes the direct-shift gearbox seem more like a real manual transmission is the dual-clutch system that enables the car to accelerate with virtually no delays between shifts. The exhaust makes an ever-so-pleasing boy racer popping noise after you hit the next gear just right.

68. Incoming!

The same kind of radar that tracks missiles is being adapted to cars and trucks. Valeo Raytheon Systems' multibeam radar blind-zone radar sensor will protect drivers from traffic in blind spots. The radar determines the direction and speed of an object using two devices, one on each rear side corner of the vehicle. When traffic is detected, the system illuminates an icon in the side-view mirror to inform the driver. Software distinguishes between vehicles and roadside structures. The first use will be on three North American vehicles in mid-2007.

69. Ford goes capless

Ford Motor Co. plans to do away with the fuel filler cap on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles starting in 2008. Ford gave Illinois Tool Works' capless system a dry run on the 2005-06 GT supercar. Inside the fuel filler neck is a rubber flapper valve that keeps the tank sealed, except when the fuel nozzle is filling the tank.

70. Let's talk

Vehicle-to-vehicle communications can help avoid accidents. Nissan and General Motors are working on communication systems that enable cars to detect each other and help the drivers avoid collisions in perilous situations, such as blind intersections and turning across oncoming traffic. Warning lights and beeps alert drivers before the danger is obvious.

71. Pedal power

Electrically adjustable pedals boost safety and comfort. Ford Motor started the trend in 1999, equipping the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable with brake and accelerator pedals that could be moved forward or back by pressing a button on the dash. Some GM vehicles now also feature them.

72. Seeing around the bend

Ford Motor Co. engineers are working on a better idea for swiveling headlights, which will most likely debut on its Lincoln brand. Headlights automatically illuminate toward bends in the road. Instead of the mechanical system used by others, Ford is close to perfecting an electronic system that uses sensors in the steering wheel to activate a series of lights on the front and side of the vehicle.

73. Taking a dim view

Automatically dimming rearview mirrors have been a hot ticket for years - so why not put them everywhere? Audi did on the 2007 TT coupe. A three-mirror system from Gentex Corp. dims the glare from the rearview and driver- and passenger-side mirrors as bright lights hit them.

74. Reverting to form

General Motors is working on technology that could allow cars to repair themselves after minor accidents. GM scientists are close to perfecting plastics and metals that revert to their original shape when heat or electricity is applied. Got a parking lot ding? No problem. Just aim your blow-dryer at it and bingo, the dent is gone. The technology can also be used to open and close vents, such as those on a grille.

75. Feels like the first time

"One of the main decision makers for high-end vehicles is how the switches feel," says Barbara Wilson, an engineer in Ford's Interior Harmony Group. Ford wants each button, switch and knob to work and feel as if it were designed as a complete set - requiring the same amount of pressure and movement. The redesigned 2008 Escape crossover is Ford's first vehicle that has all controls, lighting and sound harmonized.

76. Jaguar's light touch

Lotus founder Colin Chapman's idiom for increasing performance was "Add lightness." Lotus' brethren at Jaguar are taking it to heart, using aluminum for the body-in-white and panels for the XJ sedan and XK coupe. While a pricey alternative to steel, aluminum saves hundreds of pounds of weight, thereby increasing acceleration and fuel economy.

77. Hot sauce

Thirteen 2007 General Motors vehicles offer Microheat Inc.'s HotShot heated windshield wiper fluid system. The system sprays fluid heated to 149 degrees F onto the windshield to clear frost and ice. Ford plans to install the system on a sedan in 2010.

78. Easy button

Press a button in the rear cargo area of the Ford Expedition and the split third-row rear seats automatically fold flat into the floor - a nifty feature that makes loading cargo easy. Pressed again, that same button raises the seats. Ford is the only automaker to offer the system.

79. Thinking outside the boxes

Engine well in front, fuel tank far in back, people in between. That three-box layout rules in car design. Breaking the rules, innovative cars such as the Mitsubishi i (shown), Honda Fit and Smart maximized interior space by rearranging their engines and fuel tanks.

80. Red-hot design

Red rivers of lava light run down the back end of the Volvo XC60 concept, which was at the Detroit auto show in January. Volvo's Gothenburg, Sweden, design studio bent and twisted the fixtures to flow around the vehicle's curvy hips.

81. The current trend

If General Motors builds the Chevrolet Volt hybrid - and if it works as well as GM claims - some drivers theoretically might never have to buy a drop of gasoline for it. The low-slung Volt is designed to travel about 40 miles on electric power alone - more than enough range for most Americans to commute to and from work. The Volt uses a turbocharged three-cylinder engine to power a generator that keeps a lithium ion battery pack charged.

82. Swivel 'n Go

The Chrysler group, which surprised and delighted minivan enthusiasts with Stow 'n Go seating, has added a clever feature: Swivel 'n Go. Not only do the seats fold flat into the floor, but each seat in the second row swivels 180 degrees. Second-row occupants can talk face to face with third-seat passengers. A portable table allows them to play games.

83. Corvette-like cornering

ZF Group's electronic suspension system has computer-controlled shocks that virtually eliminate body roll during cornering. The continuous damping control system is used on such high-end cars as Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Maserati. But GM Europe makes damping control optional on four inexpensive Opel models, including the Astra hatchback. For about $500, the system makes the Astra handle like a Corvette.

84. Chicken-and-egg solution

It's chicken or egg. Which will come first: hydrogen-powered cars or hydrogen fuel pumps? Mazda's dual-fuel, rotary-engine RX-8 car has two tanks: gasoline and hydrogen. If you run low on hydrogen, flip a button and switch to gasoline until you can find a hydrogen station. Call it the oyako domburi solution. That's a Japanese dish that translates as "mother and child bowl" because it combines both chicken pieces and an egg over rice.

85. Learning from crashes

These days about 90 percent of new cars and trucks have a black box. The data recorders capture loads of information during a crash, including the vehicle's speed, position of the steering wheel and brake system performance. They help automakers design safer cars and help investigators piece together details of an accident.

86. Cloud of suspicion

OK, it won't show up as a factory-installed Cadillac option anytime soon. But FlashFog, from Arias Tech Ltd. in Mississauga, Ontario, is still a cool antitheft gadget. A thief tries to start your car, and, in just a few seconds, FlashFog fills the cabin with a harmless vapor that is so thick, he can't possibly drive anywhere.

87. Hybrid made simple

Hybrids have to be complex - or do they? Zytek's Smart ForFour-based prototype uses an electric motor up to 40 mph and a diesel for higher speeds. The two-speed gearbox selects a low ratio for electric and high for diesel. No costly clutches, no fancy epicyclics or continuously variable transmissions - just a seamless transfer of torque between the two sources of power.

88. Triple play

Here's the trifecta of environmentally friendly technology in one vehicle: a fuel cell, electric motor and lithium ion batteries with plug-in recharge capability. In January, Ford showed the futuristic powertrain in the Airstream concept vehicle at the Detroit auto show. In March, a running version installed in a Ford Edge appeared at the White House, where President Bush inspected the crossover with Ford CEO Alan Mulally. Ford calls the powertrain HySeries Drive.

89. The smoke clears

You could drive behind a new diesel vehicle, such as the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and not even know it. The cleaner diesel fuel that began arriving at fuel pumps last summer reduces the amount of sulfur from 500 parts per million to 15. That cuts harmful emissions, such as soot and oxides of nitrogen. In other words, you'll no longer see black smoke. The clean fuel is triggering the return of the diesel in North American cars. Eight automakers promise new diesels by 2010.

90. Keeping your distance

Active cruise control has been around since the late 1990s. But Mercedes-Benz has taken the technology further with its Distronic Plus system. Instead of just slowing the car when a vehicle ahead gets too close, Distronic Plus, from Bosch, can be tuned to stop the car. Want to see how it works? Go to: autonews.com/distronicplus. Look for the technology to filter down into nonluxury vehicles.

91. The screen scene

How do you present a lot of information to drivers without causing sensory overload? Try a reconfigurable display - a screen that, with a press of a button, can show everything from radio controls and air conditioner settings to navigation routes and data about the vehicle's condition. Mercedes-Benz uses reconfigurable screens in many vehicles. The system in the CLK coupe is an example of how versatile these screens have become.

92. Warning stripes

White stripes painted on the floor of Fiat's assembly plant in Tychy, Poland, mark the beginning and end of each workstation on the line. They indicate the boundaries within which each employee does his or her task. About a meter from the end of each station, a red line is painted. Says a foreman: "If I see an employee consistently working in the last meter of his station � I know something is wrong - his air gun is not adjusted right, or he doesn't have the right parts - and I can help him fix it before we have a quality problem."

93. 2-stage boosters

Any safety-conscious parent knows what a nightmare child seats can be, with different designs needed for each age group. Volvo's dual-height booster cushions, integrated in the rear seats of the new V70 station wagon, promise optimum seat belt geometry for children weighing 33 to 80 pounds - and an end to loose seats forgotten at home or buried in the trunk.

94. Ecotec: King of horses

The 260-hp, 2.0-liter version of the Ecotec four-cylinder engine, used in the Saturn Sky Red Line and Pontiac Solstice GXP, holds General Motors' record for output per liter. No regular-production GM engine has ever developed more than 130 hp per liter - not the fire-breathing V-8s of the muscle-car era or even the wildest Corvette engines.

95. The 8 works great

The eight-speed automatic transmission in the Lexus LS 460 - an industry first - helps the huge 4,244-pound luxury sedan post respectable fuel economy numbers: 19 mpg city and 27 mpg on the highway. And it's a mechanical marvel. Not only is the eight-speed the same size as the six-speed it replaces, but the new gearbox adjusts its shifting based on driving conditions, driver habits and internal wear.

96. That ain't paint

The Trax is one of three Chevrolet minicar concepts that General Motors unveiled this month at the New York auto show. To reduce costs color is added to the thermoplastic used for the front and rear fascias, bumpers, rocker panel molding and side fenders. That way the trim does not need to be painted.

97. Road rage relief

No need to wait for your AM news radio station to broadcast its abbreviated "traffic on the sixes" if you have XM NavTraffic. XM Satellite Radio has linked to the navigation displays in Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Nissan and Cadillac vehicles to superimpose real-time traffic flows onto maps of local highways. Color coding shows traffic speed along stretches of highway. Accident, construction and other data also are displayed, showing the exact locations. XM NavTraffic is installed for 50 major metro markets.

98. Shushing the shaft

It's just a pickup prop shaft, but oh, what a feeling. Toyota chose a bimetallic shaft from Dana Corp. to cut drive noise on the redesigned 2007 Tundra pickup. Dana's combination of steel and aluminum lets the shaft work with less mass, meaning less vibration and a smoother rotation. The result: a quieter ride.

99. Multijob fob

Volvo's Personal Car Communicator key fob does more than lock and unlock the car. Within about 325 feet, the fob can tell you whether the vehicle is locked, if the alarm has been triggered and even if someone is inside the car. That last function is done with a highly sensitive heartbeat sensor.

100. Clean diesel

Shooting an ammonialike acid called urea into the exhaust system of a diesel vehicle is an inexpensive way to reduce the discharge of oxides of nitrogen, the smog precursor known as NOx. Look for Mercedes-Benz to install urea injectors first, in the 2009 model year.
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