Technology

Nissan's Navara has just been updated, with the Japanese brand focusing on a much-needed tech update to the cabin of its popular workhorse.Chief among the changes is the long-awaited inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on certain trim levels.The N

When Mazda committed to resurrecting the rotary engine in late 2015, it was clearly on the basis of having overcome the Wankel engine’s intrinsic efficiency, emissions and reliability issues. But how? The then-rumoured and now production-ready Skyactiv-X compression ignition technology seemed like the only possible solution, but Mazda executives weren’t ready to discuss the still-industry leading technology at the time.  We had the chance to check in on the future rotary with Mazda’s global engine development boss Eiji Nakai at last week’s international launch of the Mazda3 Skyactiv-X in Germany. Asked whether the brand could make a new rotary work without Skyactiv-X, Nakai-san wouldn’t confirm that it was a dependency, but did admit its compatibility. “We have this technology to create air fuel mixture, controlling technologies for ignition, so these technologies are even applicable to rotary engine, so you can get the better efficiency.”This is elementary given that a rotary engine natively relies on high compression to work, while struggling for an efficient burn of the air/fuel mixture on each combustion cycle. The fact that spark plug location has always been a compromise with previous rotaries adds even more to this rationale, with the plug being forcibly located outside the combustion chamber to avoid interference with the passing rotor/s. Skyactiv-X offers a solution to both of these issues, with compression ignition ensuring a cleaner burn and only relying on a spark plug to trigger the ignition process.   Reliability is likely to have been sorted by Skyactiv-X’s advanced cylinder pressure sensors and computer power, along with advances in material technology since the most recent production rotary appeared with the RX-8 in 2002.Then-global R&D boss Kyoshi Fujiwara suggested to CarsGuide that a turbocharger is also likely for the rotary’s return at the Tokyo motor show in 2015, contrasting with what we now know of the supercharger used for the new Skyactiv-X piston engine.“Turbocharger is one of the big contributor for future rotary engines,” he said at the time. Aside from this theoretical sports car application, the use of a rotary engine as a range-extending generator in a plug-in hybrid application is now a firm part of Mazda’s future product plans. However, Fujiwara’s intentions as of 2015 were for the rotary to appear as a stand-alone performance engine first. “I want to introduce new rotary without electrification first. If I introduce with both, people will say electrification helped the rotary engine.”These intentions were supported by recent patent application images, which show a turbocharged, twin spark plug design for an upcoming rotary engine. It’s still our hope that a production version of the 2015 RX-Vision design concept will herald the return of the production rotary as the centrepiece of Mazda’s 100th birthday celebrations in 2020.

At the launch of Nissan's second-generation Leaf EV, Nic Thomas - the brand's global director of EVs - told CarsGuide the Navara skipping straight to a fully-electric drivetrain was unlikely, at least for the foreseeable future.

Nissan's mission toward a "Zero Emission" range is set to expand in the near future, with the brand's global head of electric vehicles, Nic Thomas, telling CarsGuide that a Qashqai-sized SUV would be the next EV to hit the market.

A Toyota Prius that can run using the power of the sun has been developed in conjunction with technology company Sharp, and it's due to begin testing on Japanese roads this year.

Two weeks ago we bought a 2019 Mazda3. A week later we had problems with the navigator screen going completely dead whilst driving, and the radio went dead too. Phoned up Mazda dealer who told us to call NRMA. When I was talking to dealer on Bluetooth, he told me to press the home button and then even the Bluetooth went dead. Now our new Mazda has been at the dealer for two days and he told us to collect car, as there is nothing wrong with it. We insisted that what happened to us after one week is unacceptable, so he agreed to change the navigator screen. I have paid $30,000 for this car, but now I am very stressed as to why Mazda does not want to replace my car? Please help us. Should we have a new car instead of the one that gave us trouble after one week?

Renault has unveiled its all-new Captur small SUV, following in the footsteps of the new-generation Clio hatchback unveiled earlier this year.

Almost half of all 18 to 35 year olds admit to engaging in dangerous and illegal habits behind the wheel.

The Japanese auto industry has joined forces on a self-driving future, with some of the biggest names in the country investing in a company that focuses on autonomous and ride-sharing technology. Toyota and Japanese financial institution SoftBank set

In sweeping predictions about global markets, a member of BMW's board for development, Klaus Froelich, says diesel engines will exist for another 20 years, and petrols for at least another 30.