Car News

Pedestrian detection in autonomous emergency braking systems are inconsistent or "completely ineffective" at night, a new study from the US Automobile Automobile Association (AAA) has found. The latest Tesla Model 3, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, and Honda Accord were put through their paces in a range of scenarios:

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a… Hyundai. Well, there aren't any flying Hyundais yet. But the Korean automaker has established an Urban Air Mobility Division, appointing aeronautics engineer Dr. Jaiwon Shin as the head. While other automakers are thinking laterally about the future of transportation, looking at ride-sharing services and autonomous vehicles, Hyundai is thinking vertically.

Williams Advanced Engineering has revealed a new battery module it claims is lighter but more power-dense than conventional lithium-ion units. Autocar reports the new lithium-ion battery module uses Adaptive Multi-Chem technology that could make battery packs up to 30 per cent lighter and 37 per cent more energy dense. This could deliver longer range and higher power without making the battery packs any physically larger.

Honda engineers in the USA have developed a new kind of front passenger airbag, designed to be more effective in front-on accidents. Where conventional airbags use only one inflating component, the new Honda unit relies on four: a large central chamber, two chambers inflating outwards off the side, and a 'sail panel' linking the two outboard sections.

Bosch is working on new digital dashboard technology that could make three-dimensional displays a reality in your next car. The idea behind three-dimensional dashboards is rooted in safety. Drivers are bombarded with information in modern cars as screens take over from simpler analogue dials, with making it harder to discern what's important and what's just background noise.