Articles by Karla Pincott

A new radar system combines movement sensing and video to detect when a car is still in an intersection while the lights are yellow – and hold them there until it has safely crossed. The TrafiRadar system, unveiled by Belgian company Traficon, is able to analyse how much more time a car needs to get through the intersection, and keep the opposing lights from changing until the coast is clear. In tandem with TrafiRadar, Traficon revealed a similar system that uses thermal imaging to determine if a cyclist is still in the intersection, and give them enough light time to get clear. The VIP Bike technology can also tally the number of bikes that uses the intersection. The technology was presented in the US last week at the 117th annual conference of the International Municipal Signal Association, which explores and certifies public safety technology for a range of systems from traffic lights to fire alarms, “Vulnerable road users in general, and bicyclists more specifically, just need more time than motorists to make it across the intersection,” Traficon USA vice president Bill Klyczek said in the presentation. The systems are another step in the developing arsenal of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication aiming to make the streets safer. And technology such as TrafiRadar would undoubtedly make traffic-light intersections safer for both cyclists and motorists – with a likely reduction in rear-end and T-bone collisions. But we have to wonder whether Australian councils might consider it collides with the current network of revenue-earning red light cameras.  

Debuting at Paris motor show in September, the S-Cross points to a future compact crossover vehicle from the Japanese brand. The S-Cross in production form will give Suzuki fresh ammunition in the popular compact softroader market, although it will be interesting to see whether it complements the brand’s SX4 crossover – or replaces it in a few years. Suzuki describes the S-Cross concept as embodying an “Emotion x Quality x Aerodynamics” design theme. The press statement goes on to promise “distinctive dynamic lines” and “design elements that suggest stability and solidity … create a cutting-edge crossover look”. The teaser sketch – and a rendering of a single headlight – aren’t yet enough to judge whether that’ll be the case.  We’ll have to wait until more details are revealed, as the build-up to Paris motor show continues.  

Heralded by the sleekly styled coupe concept that was revealed at Detroit motor show in January, the new Accord design has been streamlined and updated, and now sits closer to the Accord Euro standard in a more premium look. Honda says the sedan will have a slightly more compact exterior with improved packaging meaning no loss of interior space. The Japanese carmaker is also talking about better engines, with the current 3.5-litre V6 revised to offer better performance and economy – helped by a deactiviation system that shuts down some cylinders when under light load – paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. For overseas markets, the base model 2.4 litre four-cylinder engine has been ditched in favour of a new  2.4-litre direct-injection one, mated to a new fuel miser continuously-variable transmission (CVT) that Honda claims will offer class-leading economy. The sedan range overseas will get a new all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid electric-petrol version that can toggle between three modes: electric, hybrid and petrol only. Honda says the plug-in will get up to 23km range in electric-only mode, relying on a 120kW motor and 6kWh lithium-ion battery with a recharge time claimed to be less than 90 minutes on domestic voltage. In hybrid mode the electric system is joined by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which takes over full duties at high speeds. New technology includes lane departure and front collision warning systems with monitoring from a windscreen-mounted camera. The sedan will arrive here early next year, with local specification and prices revealed closer to launch.  

The images could herald the look of what will be among the world’s most expensive 4WDs. If they’re the real deal, the drawings leaked on the internet show the production version has kept the Juke-R concept’s mini-muscle looks, pumped-out wheel arches – and unique split rear spoiler wings.  

Move over Megatron and Optimus Prime. Ford is entering the battle between Autobots and Decepticons with a tilt at having a Falcon turned into a Transformer artwork. To kickstart the action, Ford fans are invited to hit the company’s brand and Falcon Facebook pages, and vote on which model should be the basis for Transformer. The Ford-loving public will decide on model, colour, name – and whether it should be a good-guy Autobot or a Decepticon baddie. High Moon Studios, the developers of the coming Transformers: Fall of the Cybertron game, will turn the results into a piece of concept art showing the Aussie Falcon in both car and bot form. The artwork will be unveiled to coincide with the new Playstation game’s release on August 22, and signed copies will be used for future Ford activities.

The complaint filed in Michigan, US, claims that "the unlawful actions GM took to avoid competition with Saab Automobile in the Chinese market" would legally be considered as tortious interference - intentionally damaging business or contractual relationships. The main part of the accusation is directed at the disintegration of a deal between Saab’s owner, Spyker, and Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile (Youngman). The deal, called the Framework Agreement, was the last of several that had been successively mounted as Saab slid into crisis from the start of 2010, when it ceased being a wholly-owned GM subsidiary. GM had refused to approve previous deals on the basis that the Saab 9-4X and 9-5 contained a large amount of its engineering intellectual property which would be transferred to the Chinese owners – in a market considered critical to the US giant’s future growth. However the Framework Agreement took GM-based Saab models off the table, and would have seen Youngman using only Saab’s Phoenix platform which contained virtually no GM technology. The lawsuit alleges that despite this, GM publicly insisted the Framework Agreement could not go ahead without its approval, which they refused to give. The Framework Agreement then collapsed – and so did Saab. Under receivership, the bulk of its assets are being bought by a consortium of Swedish, Chinese and Japanese stakeholders under the name National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, which says it intends to make electric cars at Saab’s Trollhattan plant. Spyker’s press statement says the lawsuit has been in preparation since Saab went into bankruptcy in December, and is being bankrolled by a third party investor. And it sounds like they’re in it for the long haul.  “We owe it to our stakeholders and ourselves that justice is done and we will pursue this lawsuit with the same tenacity and perseverance that we had when we tirelessly worked to save Saab Automobile, until GM destroyed those efforts and deliberately drove Saab Automobile into bankruptcy,” Spyker's CEO Victor R. Muller says in the statement.  

The fourth body style - joining the single cab-chassis, wagon and troop carrier bodies and making a range of nine versions - has been prompted by demand from the mining and construction sectors, with strong interest also from rural and regional communities."The 70-Series is so popular for the really tough jobs that customers have been modifying the wagon version to provide the flexibility of a double-cab ute," Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said."The double cab will carry five adults as well as providing a one-tonne payload for their heavy gear, such as surveying equipment," he said. "For other customers, including farmers, the large cabin will allow the kids to ride along, while also offering the touring benefits of a dual-cab ute along with the legendary LandCruiser toughness."The double-cab will be powered by the same 4.5-litre turbodiesel V8 as current models -- developing 151kW at 3400rpm and 430Nm of torque between 1200-3200rpm -- with a five-speed manual transmission and part-time 4WD with two-speed transfer case.It will be sold in only two of the three existing spec levels, but will include features from the recent 70-Series revision, such as anti-skid brakes, snorkel, upgraded seats and updated audio system with Bluetooth, audio streaming and voice-command.The Workmate spec - aimed at the mining and building sites - is priced from $63,990 ($5200 up on the single-cab) and gets a tough-treatment fit-out that includes vinyl-wrapped seat and floor surfaces, aluminium side steps, 16-in steel wheels, black bumpers and optional diff locks.There’s no mid-range GX, but the family focus will be on the $67,990 GXL (priced to match the troop carrier GXL) which gets alloy wheels, fabric seat coverings, carpet, remote central locking, power windows, foglights and diff locks as standard. Toyota LandCruiser 70-Series range and prices     

The spectacle will be a bid to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Parade of Ferrari Cars -- yes there really is a standing record.That one was set by Ferrari North Europe in 2007 at the UK's Silverstone Circuit as part of the Ferrari Racing Days event, and saw 385 Ferraris on the track -- later increased to 490 cars.The latest attempt will take place at Silverstone Circuit in mid-September, again as part of the Ferrari Racing Days 2012 event, and will take advantage of extensions to the Grand Prix track to cram more cars on there.Ferrari will donate the equivalent of $7.50 to charity for each car that turns up to take part.

Powered by AMG’s 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 it gets to 100km/h in less than 5 seconds.  

The first Mazda 6 off the production line is a wagon, and Mazda has released an official image of the Mazda 6 wagon as part of the celebrations at their Japanese plant.