Technology

The Tesla sports car is arguably the most exciting electric vehicle to emerge yet, with performance to rival a Ferrari.But, if you're not convinced, check out this Tesla which has been given the once over by German auto tuner Brabus.The Tesla Roadster Sport Brabus Green Package is the work of Brabus's Zero Emission business division in collaboration with RWE, one of the world's largest producers of electricity. To make the finished product more attractive, Brabus is throwing in a hi-tech quick charging station and 30,000km worth of free environmentally friendly power.Also included is a free, one-year pass to use RWE's charging stations.The quick charger is three times faster than charging the two-seater at a normal household power outlet.In less than six hours the open-top eco sports car is fully charged with an operating range of some 350km.Brabus has added an especially light carbon-fibre front lip and LED daytime running lights which have been integrated into the front grille.The rear wing and rear diffuser are also new and futuristic underfloor "Space Lights" have also been added.You can have the Tesla in any colour you want, from conventional metallic and non-metallic paints to matte paints and effect paints with genuine crystals.A custom tyre and wheel combination complete the look with 215/35 18s at the front 255/30 19s at the rear, specifically for their low rolling resistance.To lend the two-seater a more exciting sound the BRABUS electronics specialists have developed a space sound generator.You can select from various engine sounds from a typical V8 to a racecar or two futuristic soundscapes called Beam and Warp.The sound intensity is dependent on the power output of the electric motor.

I was regularly passed by "speeding" trucks and cars on a recent trip from Adelaide to Melbourne in my new Subaru Outback, even though I had my car set at the speed limit! I checked it with the RAA and found that I'm traveling at 10 percent below the speedometer reading i.e. doing only 92 km/h when it indicated 100 km/h. The dealer said it?s a Subaru safety feature and not change-able, but I want it adjusted so I don't have to second-guess my car's actual speed.

a vehicle now has to look good, go well and have a label on the windscreen showing it runs on the smell of an oily rag.

The US state has authorised the development of rules and regulations governing the use of driverless cars - such as Google's concept car - on its roads.And while these auto-pilot automotives may be still some way down the track the move by the legislators has been welcomed in some circles as an important step toward the future of motoring.Nevada - home to other great gambles such as Las Vegas and Reno - also has a lot of open space and deserts so the driverless cars can be tested with room to move.Internet giant Google has tested auto autos in California over 220,000km but these have carried two people - someone monitoring the gear and another behind the steering wheel in case of trouble.It's claimed cars without drivers would reduce fuel consumption and accidents. Some see the machines used for goods deliveries or taxis.But could you be pulled over after a long night at the local honky-tonk?

…in the European New Car Assessment Program.

l've just taken delivery of a 2011 Series II Berlina International Sportswagon and my Nokia 6720 classic is not compatible with the car's bluetooth. Holden have advised that they are working with Nokia on a fix. Is this correct? l had no connection issues with the Series I.

A warning light I had never seen before came on in my 2006 Nissan Navara D40 auto. My Nissan dealer informed me it was the diesel particulate filter. They kept it for a week and did a forced burn, which didn't fix the problem, and I was told I was up for $3200. I told them I would like Nissan to come to the party with the cost, which I thought was reasonable because there is no information about it in the manual, but the answer was no. I have done some research and apparently on each trip you have to travel above 80 km/h. Do I have a case against them?

The app lets players challenge each other slot-car style, on virtual circuits, and switch between Sport and Eco driving modes to log the best lap times while bringing in a good fuel figure.The two players who finish with top scores overall on all the app’s tracks will get to face-off in person at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on Sunday, June 19. The final winner will take the grand prize: a Lexus CT 200h.The two finalists will receive return flights to Melbourne from their nearest capital city and accommodation in the luxurious Crown Metropol.Lexus spokesman Peter Evans says the mobile app is “the perfect launch platform” for the all-new CT 200h. "The CT 200h is a completely new proposition for Lexus and brings with it a new, younger audience,” Evans says.“The addition of mobile applications to our marketing activity makes perfect sense.”The Lexus CT City Challenge app is available now at the following link: Lexus CT 200h on iTunes

Very Small Particle Company (VSPC) boss David MacInnes says their nano-scale lithium ion phosphate (LFP) will enable electric vehicles to be re-charged in about the same time as it takes to fill a tank of petrol."Instead of taking eight hours to fully charge an electric car battery, you can charge our battery in about four minutes. About the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee at the service station," he said. "I could imagine in six months a lot of vehicles will be using this, especially in China."VSPC has developed a process to make the material in the cathode part of the battery much smaller than before, giving it far greater efficiency because of the increased surface area."If you think of the size of a basketball compared with the world, then our particles are about that size compared with a basketball,"  MacInnes said. "We don't grind the particles down to that size like other producers. We make ours with a special chemical process."Our material can be used in many battery applications, but the electric vehicle is what we are focusing on because of the growth and value."VSPC has received $2.09m from the Federal Governments Green Car Innovation Fund to help perfect the product and process. "We hope to scale up and build the equivalent of 2000 tones (of cathode particle material) per annum at our Wacol factory in less than two years," MacInnes said."Our powder is already being tested in batteries that could be used in electric vehicles. "Other technologies can be quite dangerous. The thing that makes ours special is the quick charge and discharge ability without any explosive danger."MacInnes said they plan to build their own electric vehicles to demonstrate the technology."Ideally we will take an Australian car and electrify that," he said.A battery consists mainly of a cathode and anode with the cathode representing about 40 per cent of the value. MacInnes said their technology had already received significant international attention from the automotive industry and battery manufacturers, but he would not disclose any names.

1. Set your seat for the correct driving position. This should be with the steering wheel close enough so your arm held straight will touch the top of the steering wheel with your wrist and when holding the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock, you arms are comfortably bent. 2. Tilt your head as far as you can comfortably go to the right and adjust the right wing mirror so you can only just see the rear of your car. 3. Tilt to the left and do the left mirror the same way. 4. Adjust your windscreen mirror so it is centred on the rear window. 5. Test for blind spots by getting a friend to walk around the rear of the car from one side to the other and watch them move from mirror to mirror without a blind spot.