Cadlllac's "Super Cruise" To Take On Autonomous Driving

We’ve all dreamt about the idea of hopping into our car, popping our destination into the car navigation system, and sitting back and listening to the car stereo while our car drives itself. Google has been working on the autonomous car for years now, but who knows when the day we start seeing these cars for sale will come. Out of the 160,000 test miles Google has put on these cars there has never been an accident, so the reason for delay is more about legality. However, many car companies are making steps in this direction. For years cruise control has been almost a standard feature on any car, leaving only steering and breaking up to the driver. Many of us have cars that can parallel park themselves, alert us if were crossing into another lane, and have cameras that give us a complete view of our surroundings.

Cadillac is one of the manufacturers making bold steps into the future of the automobile industry. With what they dub “Super Cruise”, their vehicles will be able to control the steering, gas and brakes with no input from the driver using all of the technology that are in most new cars already. Although full-autonomous driving is the end goal, the feature would most likely be limited to highway-only use to start. Sensors and cameras will let the car know its surroundings and it will rely on the GPS to know its location. Sounds simpler than you’d expect, right? Check out a video of Super Cruise in action here. 

Lamborghini Finally Unveils SUV at Beijing Auto Show

Lamborghini has been hinting for awhile now that it was considering either a sedan or a crossover for its third model line, and the answer is finally here: a crossover named the Urus. While it may end up with a supercharger (and hopefully avoiding parent company's Volkswagen Jetta turbocharger), you can bet it will still be extremely fast. Urus is the name of a Spanish breed of bull that is known for both its fighting size and hauling size. They are known for having broad shoulders and being taller than most. While I’m not sure the attribute of extra height applies in this metaphor, the Lamborghini Urus is certainly a broad, sleek, powerful, and beautiful crossover.

 The first thing you’ll notice about the Urus is that, despite being a crossover, it still thankfully looks like a Lamborghini. Its super aggressive lines and low structure create an image that is distinctly Lambo. The Urus will be a 4x4 with over 600 HP, stretching over eight inches longer than an Aventador and costing over 200k. They project sales volume to be about 3,000 per year which will triple Lamborghini’s annual production.

 

Press releases state that the production model will be available in 2015 and that they are trying to make it powerful but less polluting. By 2015 European high-performance cars will need to be able to emit no more than 200 grams of CO2 per km in order to pass recent regulations so the Lambo will have to be somewhat eco-friendly
.

A big help in this department will come from shedding as much weight as possible using light and strong materials in construction in lieu of metal. Even the interior will be optimized for lightness. Steering will be electro-mechanical and the range of travel adjustment on the suspension will be 3.5 inches.

 Fifty percent of sales are projected for the U.S. The Urus wil hunker down to a minimum height of 65.4 inches with a width of 78.4 inches. The 196.5 inch current length is matched to a wheelbase measuring 114 inches. Four passengers are said to have plenty of room inside, even with head room in the back seat.

What do you think of the new Lamborghini Urus? It is still awhile off before production models start circulating, but it seems to keep in step with previous Lamborghini design and ethos. Do you think Lamborghini should keep to the fast supercar market?

Synthetic vs Conventional Motor Oil

Maintaining clean motor oil is essential in the proper care of your vehicle, but whether you take it to a shop or do it yourself, a debate is inevitable: conventional or synthetic? Synthetic is obviously more expensive, but is it worth the extra dollars spent? You might want to to tune in, especially if you have a vehicle with a supercharger or turbocharger.

Synthetic oil does perform better than conventional oil when it comes to longevity and the ability to handle high temperatures. It provides better lubrication in very low temperature starts, and it also has a greater resistance to oxidization and sludge build up. But synthetics usually cost double of what conventional oil costs. Whether it is worth the cost is largely dependent on the type of car you drive and your own preference.

Both conventional oil and synthetic oil are derived from petroleum, so there is really no environmental benefit either way as far as sustainability goes. However, synthetic oil does last longer than conventional oil so you don’t need to do oil changes as frequently, so you use less oil over time. In that sense synthetic oils might be the lesser of two evils.

Recently however, Valvoline released a brand new product called NextGen that is conventional motor oil comprised of 50% recycled oil. You can typically return your used oil back to the shop you purchased it at to recycle it, thus greatly reducing its environmental impact. So if you were to use recycled oil, it might be comparable in environmental-friendliness to synthetics at a reduced cost.

As far as emissions go, synthetic oil has been shown to have lower volatility and thus not vaporize out the exhaust as quickly, reducing emissions. 

It should also be noted that any performance vehicle, especially if it is driven hard, should have synthetic motor oil because of the enhanced capabilities of synthetics. Because synthetics have a higher tolerance for extreme temperatures, engines with turbochargers or superchargers would benefit from using synthetics to prevent burnt oil build-up in their engine. But the rest of us who have normal passenger vehicles, and just shuffle from our residence to work every day, don’t typically need to worry about getting every horsepower available out of our engines or burning motor oil in our performance parts.

Ultimately it’s important to identify if the cost vs benefit for your specific vehicle and situation. Either option will do the job, which is probably why this issue is hotly debated. What do you think is better for your car, and wallet?

Fresh Squeezed Orange Oil Tires

Tires are the only thing between the entire rest of your car and the ground, so it goes without saying that they are extremely important factors in the safety, efficiency, and handling of your vehicle. There is more to it than simply making sure you have a properly functioning air fuel ratio sensor and O2 sensor. There are several components to a great tire, but two main components that effect fuel efficiency and longevity of the tread are the rubber and oil mixture used to make the tire.

 The outside tread of a tire is usually comprised of 10% oil from petroleum products. The composition of a tire seeks to compromise traction, tread life, and rolling resistance. The less rolling resistance you have, usually the less traction you have. Less rolling resistance leads to better fuel economy (less fuel to get the car moving and maintain a speed) but typically a more slick tire that doesn't have great handling. Tire company Yokohama discovered that replacing the petroleum oil with orange oil resulted in a tire that offered a 20% reduction in rolling resistance without sacrificing performance in traction. Yokohama’s orange oil tires allow for a better tire in all three categories.

 

They introduced these tires three years ago with the dB Super E-Spec, offering only four sizes and orange oil racing slick tires that were used in the American LeMans Series to show its true durability. They are now making a new orange oil tire called the AVID Ascend in a variety of sizes that cover about 85% of the touring market. They are marketed as eco-friendly, as they are now comprised of rubber and orange oil, both renewable resources (as opposed to petroleum). 

If you’re into performance tires, the new AVID Ascend is definitely worth looking into. They are priced just slightly above other brands of touring tires, but maintain much higher tread-life warranties making the extra cost well worth it. And if you’re concerned about the environment, it’s a great option as well. However, if you're looking for a citrus-y scent to accompany your burnouts, you're going to have to settle for one of those sandpaper trees hanging from your rear-view mirror.

NHTSA wants Brake-Throttle Override Systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to upgrade the agency’s current safety standards to include brake-throttle override systems. This will most likely be included in the software on your engine control module and would control things like your ABS control module does. This is to disable the throttle in the case that the driver presses both the throttle and the brake at the same time. The new standards would apply to all vehicles and buses regardless of size and weight.

This is supposedly to protect drivers in the case that the gas pedal gets stuck, allowing for easy and controlled breaking. If you recall there was a huge 2010 Toyota snafu after a few people claimed their family member’s crashes were the result of a faulty gas pedal that got stuck (or that the car’s computer caused “unintended acceleration”). Investigations revealed there was no evidence to substantiate the claim that Toyota vehicles had an issue with “unintended acceleration” from the manufacturer, but that didn’t stop the lynch mob.  

 The NHTSA commented on the situation, "We learned as part of the comprehensive NASA and NHTSA studies of high-speed unintended acceleration that brake override systems could help drivers avoid crashes," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "While NHTSA's defect investigation program will continue to monitor and consider consumer complaints of any potential vehicle safety issues, this proposal is one way the agency is helping keep drivers safe and continuing to work to reduce the risk of injury from sticky pedals or pedal entrapment issues."

On its face, this seems like a good and safe idea. One thing is bothering me about this though: this seems more to prevent the idiots who freak out in an accident and press both the gas and brake at the same time and less about vehicle manufacturer problems to me. People who react like that should not be driving. Sure, we could spend a long time talking about who and who should not be driving but this measure seems like yet another attempt to idiot-proof driving a vehicle.

Operating a car in this country is still a privilege, as it should be.  The problem is that many people in this country have a job and a life and there is simply no choice for them but driving, even if they shouldn’t be. Think about the people you have met in your life – I’m sure you can think of at least one or two who have caused several accidents and shouldn’t be on the road. I think the public transportation system in this country needs to actually work, so those who should not be driving have a viable alternative. 

This is also yet another system I imagine breaking at some point. Can this thing go haywire and prevent the vehicle from accelerating at all? How expensive is it going to be to fix?

All-in-all, with the current driving laws we have today, I think this could potentially be a good idea. I’d like to see how many accidents are caused every year by “unintended acceleration” of any kind and the cost of implementing these systems in all motor vehicles. What do you think about idiot-proofing cars?

The 2013 SRT Viper

The New York Auto Show is this week, and although there are thousands of cars on display, you might not notice because everyone’s talking about the same thing: the new SRT Viper. Sure, it doesn't have a supercharger or a turbocharger but it's still an absolutely breathtaking sight to behold. After a few years hiatus the Viper is back with a vengeance under the SRT name. Let’s dig in to some of the great details that make this car so magnificent.

The new Viper has a brand new exterior design that still pays homage to previous Viper models. An all carbon-fiber hood, roof, decklid, and aluminum door panels not only look great but keep the car as light as possible. The entire body is beautiful and extremely aerodynamic, with a .364 drag coefficient. The hood has been re-designed with a “double-bubble” shape that gives improved headroom to both the driver and passenger while maintaining a low profile. The Viper is equipped of course with dual-function bi-xenon projector headlamps and LED daytime running lamps and turn signals in the classic sinister snake eye configuration. The wheels will be offered in a five-spoke, forged-aluminum “Rattler” design.

The interior is fully leather with accent colors applied to the seats, doors, center console, and stitching. Both seats are high-performance racing seats with lightweight Kevlar/fiberglass shells. For the first time ever, seat height can be adjusted by up to 40mm and seat travel has been expanded by 90mm overall. A new 7-inch, full-color customizable instrument cluster is available for the discerning driver, with Uconnect to access more information, entertainment, and emergency services in-vehicle.

 Under the hood lies a new 8.4L all aluminum V-10 overhead valve engine that delivers 640HP and 600lbs of torque – the most of any naturally aspirated engine in the world. The engine also features a new, ultra-high flow and lightweight composite manifold, high strength forged pistons, sodium-filled exhaust valves, new catalysts to reduce back pressure, and an aluminum flywheel that reduces reciprocating losses. This is paired with an updated Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual trans that has a shorter throw shifter and closer gear ratios.

This amazing piece of work will go into production at the end of 2012 to go on sale as the 2013 model. No word yet on exactly how much it is going to cost, but something tells me that if this is on your 2013 wishlist it’s going to set you back quite a bit. For the rest of us, the drool-worthy extensive photography will have to suffice.

The First Auto Show – 1900

With the New York International Auto Show in full swing this week, it’s interesting to take a look at the humble roots of this show. Back to a simpler time before air fuel ratio sensors and 02 sensors. The very first of its kind was held in 1900 at Madison Square Garden. The weeklong event displayed 31 brand new vehicles and a variety of accessories to customize each “horseless carriage.” Even more interesting is this excerpt from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on October 13^th, 1900 describing the show: 

“During the Automobile Show at Madison Square Garden, November 3 to 10, there will be contests of many kinds. The usefulness of the automobile in all kinds of going and under all conditions will be fully tested, and everybody will have an opportunity to see how the experienced chauffeur gets out of trouble. All the contests but these on Friday will be for vehicles on the show, and the programme, under the directions of the technical committee and the contests and exhibition committee of the Automobile Club of America, C.J. Field, chairman, will be as follows–

• November 3: Brake contest and obstacle contest for steam vehicles.
• November 5: Brake contest and obstacle contest for electric vehicles.
• November 6: Brake contest and obstacle contest for gasoline vehicles.
• November 9: Obstacle contest between electric cabs for hire, competition of electric delivery wagons.
• November 10: Championship competition and obstacle contest between winners in steam, electric and gasoline, championship between winners of stopping competition in steam, electric and gasoline.”

  

 The focus was more on pitting the different engine types against one another in feats of agility and power, versus the different styling and technological features we have today. There was a special ramp built to test the vehicles power for driving up inclines, and to prove how rugged and durable the Oldsmobile runabout was, they drove it from Detroit to NYC.  Patrons were charged 50 cents for admission, yet despite the steep price (about $13 in today’s cash) about 48,000 visitors attended throughout the week. 

The Oldsmobile runabout, or “Curved Dash,” was the world’s first mass produced car. It was built between 1901 and 1907 and sold for $650. General Motors bought Oldsmobile in 1908 and produced more than 35 million vehicles under that name before it retired it in 2004. None of the automobile makes displayed at the first New York Auto Show exist today.

The first car advertisement, 1898.

Interestingly enough the gasoline powered engines were the least popular vehicles at the first show due to their noisy and noxious qualities. They ran on “light spirits” such as stove gas, lamp oil, alcohol, and of course gasoline. Gasoline was once an unwanted byproduct of producing kerosene (the oil used for light and heat at the turn of the century) and cost only 15 cents a gallon. It was quickly discovered that gasoline was the superior fuel and provided far greater horsepower, so its popularity took off.

It’s interesting to look back at how far auto shows and the cars showcased in them have come, but the basics are still the same. If you’re planning on attending the New York Auto Show this year, think back on its humble beginnings – if you can remember while drooling over the new 2013 SRT Viper.

Why is the price of gas so high?

When gas prices start to rise to astronomical levels, there’s a lot of chatter about gas rising to “$100 a barrel” and about supplies in the Middle East; but what, exactly, causes the fluctuations in gas prices and why do they get so high? We've got to have something for our fuel injectors and fuel pump assemblies to operate on! We’re going to discuss a very simplified version of how gas gets from the ground into your vehicle, and how the price changes along the way.

First thing to understand is that there are three different markets for oil: contract, spot, and futures. Each is influenced by different factors that affect the price of gas at the pump. The futures market is publicly traded on a sales floor like you see on Wall Street. The spot and contract markets are informal networks of people in the business.

The contract market is a market made up of agreements between oil companies and oil refineries.  Oil companies’ main business is in exploration to find new deposits of crude oil to drill. The oil companies drill for the oil and have contract agreements with oil refineries to decide exactly who gets the oil, and how much they get. Oil refineries play an equally important role. Oil doesn’t come out of the ground as the gas you put in your car – it must go through a process at the refinery to separate it out into the many petroleum based products we use, from gasoline and diesel to jet fuel and petroleum jelly. Refiners plan their business around how much oil they plan to get from oil companies laid out in the contracts. Because they know how much oil they will get beforehand they pay a premium which they pass on to their customers.

The spot market consists of the spare product oil companies have left over after fulfilling their contractual obligations. They will put the extra oil onto the spot market, and if a refinery needs extra oil they purchase it at a spot, or daily, price. Since there is no contract involved and there is never any guarantee whether or not there will be spare oil to buy on the spot market, prices are usually much cheaper than contract prices.

Oil futures are traded on the American Mercantile Exchange. The futures market represents the state of the entire oil market at any given time – thus it can be extremely volatile. When you hear reporters talking about the price of oil reaching $100 a barrel, they are speaking about the futures market. The prices of the futures market are driven by information; they are often referred to as speculative markets because the price can change violently purely on speculation. Most people buying and selling oil futures rarely want the actual barrels of oil, but just trade paper contracts in order to make money, much like the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, or other stock markets.

Refineries have played a large role in the increase of gas prices over the last few decades. There used to be over 350 refineries in the early 80’s, most of which were owned by oil companies. They saw refineries as an integral part of their business and not a place to make extra profit. Now there are only 153 refineries, the majority of which are independently owned and of course exist to make a profit. Gas coming out of a refinery is sold at a “rack price,” which is the cost of gas to dealers. This rack price is often influenced by the spot and futures markets, and can be further inflated when it is labeled by a premium brand. Branded gas is more expensive because it is perceived as being of higher quality than non-branded gas (which is typically untrue), but also because they have much more stable contracts and thus a more reliable supply of gas.

Gas stations also play a role in gas prices, but maybe not as much as you think. Some are owned outright by the oil companies, where some are leased by dealers who sell one particular brand of gas.  There are of course plenty who are independent and sell unbranded gas as well. Branded gas stations have a contract that states a minimum amount of gas they must buy where unbranded stations get their gas wherever they can – obviously as we discussed before the uncontracted gas will be less expensive, and thus allows independent gas stations to get the gas cheaper.

At oil-company-owned stations, the oil company decides the price of gas, and that’s what is charged. With leased gas stations, the oil companies sell the gas by the DTW or Dealer Tank Wagon. The DTW price is set by the oil companies and is driven by the spot and futures markets. Oil companies decide what to charge by looking at their competitors stations in the same market. Lessee’s can’t negotiate the DTW price because they signed a contract saying they have to buy a certain amount of gas, but the oil companies allow them to tack on a profit margin from 3-10 cents per gallon to guarantee income. The gas stations can’t go crazy with the profit margin however because they are still in heated competition with the other gas stations in the area and might lose business if they charge too much.

Lastly, taxes make up about 18% of the price of gas depending on what state you live in. California in particular has more expensive gas because California has passed restrictions that require even cleaner burning fuel than the rest of the nation, which is more expensive to refine and in shorter supply.
So, as an example, for every dollar you spend the price of gas might be broken down like this:

Taxes: 13 cents
Distribution and Marketing: 8 cents
Refining: 14 cents
Crude oil: 65 cents

As you can see, what determines the price of gas is involved and complicated, even in this over-simplified explanation. No one entity has complete control over the price of gas (although there are some, like the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries/OPEC, who have more control than most). Next time you’re at the pump and you’re frustrated about the high price of gas, see if you can follow down the chain to see what caused the recent inflation so you know where to rightly target your angry letters.