Aston Martin Appoint First Female Chair

25 Sep 2018

Aston Martin caused a bit of a stir when they announced their plans to float 25% of the company for a desired £1.1 billion, valuing the company at £4.3 billion.

Electing to do so during the height of Brexit turmoil has led to some debate over the timing of the float. To raise such a figure when confidence in the UK is so low is no small feat, with many failing to see enough appetite from investors to take such a risk.

What Is E10 and Why Is It A Problem?

20 Sep 2018

Within two years your local garage forecourt may very well be selling an environmentally friendly fuel billed as E10. Despite aiding efforts to cut greenhouse emissions nationwide there is one notable drawback … not all cars will be compatible.

Yes, as unlikely as it seems, almost one million of us will be warned off this ‘greener gas’ due to the sheer age of our vehicles. Moreover, it is not just archaic motors excluded from the party.

Zero Tolerance Speed Limits

18 Sep 2018

Back in January 2018 it was widely reported that the head of Road Policing for the National Police Chief Council, Anthony Bangham, wanted to implement a zero tolerance policy in regards to drivers that exceed the speed limit.

He was heard at the Police Federation’s road policing conference effectively saying exceeding the speed limit by any amount should result in the driver being punished and/or prosecuted because they broke law.

The GT-R50

28 Aug 2018

Italdesign is a renowned automotive development company that just so happened to begin its life at the same time the first Nissan Skyline was produced – and to celebrate they’ve teamed up to produce the jaw dropping GT-R50 in honour of its 50th anniversary...

Essentially a redesign of the GT-R35, this one-off piece has been extensively modified to produce a fitting tribute to such a fine racing lineage.

Are You Using Your Air Conditioning Correctly?

20 Aug 2018

The UK is in the midst of a summer heatwave and as temperatures soar so too does the need for an effective air conditioning system. When left parked in the sun your car takes on the role of a steel sweatbox, one you soon have the misfortune of having to clamber back into.

Come such time an inclination to hit the AC button is instant, heck if a bucket of ice was handy you would probably immerse yourself in that just as quickly.

The Future of Roads - The Parking Problem

25 Jul 2018

You may or may not have heard of ‘Road to Zero’. It’s the government’s plan to become a world leader in zero and ultra-low emission vehicle technology, and one of the plans primary ambitions is for at least 50% of all new car sales to be ultra-low emission or better by 2030.

Smartphones To Work As Car Keys

16 Jul 2018

All too many of us are these days glued to our handheld devices and mobile phones in particular. Well, there will soon be another reason to keep yours close-by. That’s because an elite group of technological giants have joined forces to create digital keys, the kind designed to make the unlocking of cars that bit easier.

Porsche 919 Evo Breaks Nürburgring Lap Record

13 Jul 2018

History was made at the end of June when the Porsche 919 Evo smashed a 35 year old track record to smithereens. In scenes scarcely believable, the sports-prototype made mincemeat of Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, completing a full lap in a remarkable 5:19.55s.

Shocked? The feat is more surprising when considering the sheer make-up of the car, which doesn't include the monstrously sized engine you would expect.

The Future of Roads - Crash Barriers

28 Jun 2018

When travelling on Britain’s motorways one of the most prominent features of the journey are the crash barriers lining the way. These steel constructions are designed to prevent vehicles leaving the road in the event of an incident, while dissipating some of the impact energy.

Vehicles leaving roadways, particularly at high speeds, are extremely dangerous and represent a threat to life for not only those travelling in the vehicle, but to anyone in the vicinity too.

The Devel Sixteen - Beyond 300mph...

26 Jun 2018

A while ago we wrote about What Happens at 300mph, which explored the problems and limitations facing hyper car manufacturers in their quest to best a truly astounding speed. Breaking through this barrier in a road legal car is a monumental feat of engineering, and worthy of recognition if and when someone succeeds in achieving it.

How Car Accessories Can Save You Money

18 Jun 2018

Motorists the world over are looking for ways to save money. Even those cruising around in Lamborghini’s appreciate a good deal and the rise in aftermarket car accessories mean plenty abound. Knowing what to lookout for however is not so easy.

Indeed so many gadgets exist in 2018 that combing through them can prove painstaking. Sorting the must haves from the nice to haves however pays dividends longer-term.

11 Car Safety Systems Set To Become Mandatory

14 Jun 2018

The European Union are on a mission to stop all road deaths. Yes, you read that correctly.

What on the surface seems like wild optimism has is in fact been strategized and last month a plan titled Vision Zero was unveiled to the world. Its remit is simple in theory if not reality, to achieve ‘close to zero fatalities and serious injuries’ on highways across the continent. As if to complicate matters the powers that be have given themselves a mere 30 years to realise the ambition.

What Car Sells The Most In Which Country

1 Jun 2018

End of year reports go some way to revealing just how well (or poorly) a car manufacturer has performed. Sometimes however raw sales do not tell the whole story. Far from it.

Indeed greater insight is often found in assessing what sold where. Geography has long played a significant role in the motoring industry, with certain countries boasting certain favourites. And clear preference can shape strategy.

Could 50mph Speed Limits Become More Common?

30 Mai 2018

The Welsh government have announced plans to introduce 50mph speed limits on five stretches of motorway from June. New speed cameras will be installed in a bid to tackle harmful Nitrogen Dioxide emissions that pollution critics believe have been swept under the carpet in recent times. The announcement has received mixed reviews to put it kindly and ignited fierce debate nationwide.

Is The EZ-GO The Future of Taxis?

21 Mai 2018

At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show Renault revealed a concept car detailing their vision of how ride hailing services would operate in the not too distant future – the EZ-GO.

The EZ-GO is an electrically powered, level 4 autonomous vehicle, meaning it will operate independently of a driver. It will certainly need that ability as one of the most obvious features missing from the vehicle is a drivers seat - as well as basic controls like a steering wheel and pedals.

What Is Left Foot Braking?

18 Mai 2018

Left foot braking is a driving technique that can be used with all different types of transmissions to varying degrees - but is it something that should be employed often, or even at all?

Assuming you learnt to drive in a car with a manual transmission, your driving instructor would have taught you to use your right foot for the accelerator and brake while your left was for the clutch. Alternatively, if learning in an automatic it’s very likely your right did everything while your left foot did nothing.

The Future of Roads - Smart Motorways

4 Mai 2018

The very first smart motorway was implemented on the M42 east of Birmingham back in 2006. This pilot programme examined the effects of using monitoring technology to manage and enhance traffic flow efficiency, instead of committing to road widening construction programmes.

The data gathered by that first scheme ascertained that journey reliability on Smart motorways could be improved by 22%, and also that the number of accidents that resulted in injury was reduced by half while their severity was also significantly reduced.

World Car of The Year - British Design Wins Again

3 Mai 2018

The prestigious World Car Awards were held in New York earlier this month, shining a light on the best the automotive industry had to offer in 2017/18. Recognised as the leading ceremony of its kind the WCA’s are bestowed on the say so of storied writers from all corners of the globe.

Who's Restoring The Classic Car Industry?

2 Mai 2018

The classic car industry is worth a staggering £5.5 billion to the UK economy but is now faced with the very real prospect of extinction. Indeed of the 34,900 people believed to work within the sector an average age of 42 hints at, or more accurately screams at, a precarious disconnect amongst today’s youth.

Strident efforts are predictably being made to breathe new life into the restoration of vintage vehicles and by extension pique the interest of a whole new generation. They’re needed.

Types of Differential and How They Work

25 Apr 2018

Like most things on modern automobiles, the simple piece of gearing known as a differential has seen constant refinement and experimentation - leading to a range of types each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

The concept of the differential – that is, to allow wheels mounted on the same axle to rotate independently of each other – is an ancient design, with the first known instance of its use recorded in China during the 1^st millennium BC.

The State of Engineering 2018

24 Apr 2018

With the first quarter of 2018 past us, the report compiled by EngineeringUK on the state of engineering related industries and employment for 2017 makes for interesting reading. Unfortunately much of it sounds all too familiar.

It’s no secret that the current demand for skilled engineers is far exceeding the current supply, with 61% of engineering associated businesses in the UK not being confident they will be able to fill their higher skilled positions. 

VW's Vizzion

19 Apr 2018

Motor enthusiasts were afforded a glimpse into Volkswagen’s future this month when the car giant unveiled plans for a signature EV model. Choosing the Geneva Auto Show to debut the aptly titled Vizzion, chief executive Matthais Muller proudly talked up plans for an augmented reality, one in which drivers navigate via facial scanning no less.

It is certainly high tech stuff and progress underlining VW’s commitment to producing one million electric vehicles by 2025.

EURAC Production 2017 [INFOGRAPHIC]

17 Apr 2018

Is The Porsche 911 Ready To Embrace Electricity?

16 Apr 2018

Porsche have teased images of the latest instalment to their flagship model, the hallowed 911. While excitement builds ahead of a 2019 launch, rumours abound as to future incarnations and whether electrification will soon come as standard.

It seems a logical enough step, does it not?

Who Was The Top Car Manufacturer in 2017?

12 Apr 2018

Volkswagen sold more cars than any of their competitors in 2017, pipping Toyota to the ‘crown’ for a second year in succession.

In a record breaking twelve months for the German manufacturer combined sales hit the 10.7 million mark, contributing to revenue in excess of $367 billion. The figures are eye-watering and proof that reports of a demise – or even a blip – were in actuality greatly exaggerated.

The Future of Roads: Liquid Speed Bumps

9 Apr 2018

The simple speed bump, or ‘traffic calming’ measure in city planner speak, has been present on UK roads for closing on 50 years. Whilst their intention as a low cost method to prevent speeding may have been virtuous, their generic application of effect has caused problems.

Every driver crossing one has to slow down considerably or risk damaging their car. So rather than being a method of slowing down speeding drivers, they are instead a punishment to all drivers regardless of their intent to speed or not.

What Do You Get If You Cross A Tesla Roadster...

28 Mar 2018

As ambitions go launching a car into space is a pretty lofty one, but that’s exactly what happened in February when the Tesla Roadster became the first automobile to enter orbit.

A long held goal of engineer turned inventor turned business mogul Elon Musk, this venture sees his two companies combine for an altogether different kind of mission. Indeed the Tesla Roadster has been attached to a Falcon Heavy rocket no less, allowing for a top speed in keeping with galaxies if not motorways.

What Driverless Tech Is Already In Your Car?

8 Mar 2018

The future is upon us. As recently as a decade ago the very idea of self-driving cars remained fanciful. In 2018 that concept is a reality, sort of.

Indeed the connected and autonomous industry has developed at a rate of knots and far quicker than anyone anticipated. Technological advancement has led us to a point where nearly all newly built models boast a score of at least one on the Level of Automation (LOA) scale. It rises to five, in case you were wondering

How Much Does Traffic Cost?

2 Mar 2018

Traffic jams are the scourge of drivers everywhere. Indeed there is seemingly no escape from congestion nor the retrieval of hours frittered away to queues and tailbacks. But can our frustration be monetised? How much are standstills truly costing the British taxpayer? Fortunes, it transpires.

Indeed research conducted by data analysts INRIX show that the UK lost a staggering £37.7 billion to traffic jams last year.

What Are Carbon-Ceramic Brakes?

1 Mar 2018

Using carbon and ceramics in braking systems offers significant advantages over other materials, but the processes involved in their manufacture are considerably lengthy and more expensive – why are they so expensive and is it worth the cost?

Perhaps an indicator to their eventual cost, the use of heat resistant carbon/ceramic based materials originated in the ever so expensive endeavour of space exploration.

The Future of Roads: Intelligent Road Studs

28 Feb 2018

Despite the efforts made to improve road safety, traffic collisions still regularly occur. The latest development in road infrastructure aims to reduce the numbers of accidents even further by evolving the tried and tested ‘cat’s eye’ into something more.

Invented in the UK in 1934, the cat’s eye has been quietly doing its job for over 80 years - the simplicity and effectiveness of its design standing the test of time and seeing it adopted around the world.

Types of Brake Pads and Which Should You Use

19 Feb 2018

Speed merchants may not like to admit it but the ability to stop in good time far outweighs the importance of lightening quick acceleration. With that in mind, appropriate brake pads go some way towards ensuring motorists’ safety on the road.

So what are they? Put simply, the component that applies the requisite pressure and friction to brake rotors, allowing a car to stop.

What Is The Effect of Tailgating On Traffic?

16 Feb 2018

Tailgating is the scourge of drivers everywhere. Indeed there is seemingly no motorist safe from those intent on getting up close and personal, whose impatience come ignorance invariably brings us bumper-to-bumper.

But aside from infuriating those on the receiving end, what effect do tailgaters have on traffic itself? A negative one, it transpires.

Orchestrating Your Engine - Why Sound is Important

15 Feb 2018

High end car brands place huge importance on the sound their vehicles make because of how they believe it affects potential buyers. Many have dedicated departments that spend millions on precisely tuning their cars to produce a very specific sound designed to induce the desired effect. 

Dania Flyby [Video]

6 Feb 2018

A flyby of our Dania facility. Split across two locations in Denmark and Poland, they specialise in the production of Industrial Hydraulic Housings.

Apprentice Activity Day [Video]

2 Feb 2018

Take a look back on action packed day for MAT Foundry apprentices...

Why Burn Engine Oil?

19 Jan 2018

A bit of a stir occurred in F1 this 2017 season with regards to teams using engine oil in ways other than prescribed. Several teams are under suspicion of using oil to supplement their fuel and gain more power as a result, and whether this was clever innovation or just being sneaky is still being debated.

To put some context behind this, fuel in F1 is heavily regulated.  You are strictly limited to 105kgs, and additives are restricted to tiny amounts - leaving the fuel used in F1 engines very similar to that of ordinary road cars.

Can Diesel Be Saved

18 Jan 2018

Diesel fuelled new cars sales have had a tough time this year. After the negative press surrounding their impact on the environment and the tax penalties suffered because of it, sales in the UK have dropped sharply.

December has seen new diesel car sales drop by 31% on the year, following a similar drop in November (-30%) and October (-21%)  – contributing to a 17% fall in annual diesel fuel car sales compared with 2016.

Women In Engineering (And Why They Are Needed)

16 Jan 2018

Gender gaps in employment sectors are still very much a reality for more industries than modern society would like to admit. Industries ranging from Fashion to Science to IT have all seen their work forces skewed one way or the other and have, or are working towards, overcoming the issue of a gender biased workforce.

What Is Double Clutching (And Should You Do it)?

22 Dez 2017

“Granny shifting instead of double clutching like you should”

Words made famous by ‘Dogranny-shiftingm’ (Vin Diesel) in 2001 film The Fast and the Furious. Maybe the low expectations of the movie led the makers to deem fact checking unnecessary, but this line staDouble clutchingnds out as a glaring error amongst a host of them relating to motor vehicles and their operation.

Steering Knuckle [Video]

21 Dez 2017

Passenger cars performance is constantly improving. As a result, mechanical stresses on the components are increasing – particularly for chassis applications.

Tesla's Electric Truck - Can it Deliver?

21 Dez 2017

In November 2017, Tesla announced their first effort in the commercial vehicle market – the Semi. In the presentation given by CEO Elon Musk, some very impressive claims were made about the capabilities of the Semi - but given Tesla’s problems surrounding the Model 3, can they deliver on them?

Alfa Romeo Return to F1

20 Dez 2017

In 2018 Alfa Romeo – after a thirty year absence – will be re-joining the pinnacle of motorsport for the Formula 1 18/19 season having teamed up with the Sauber team.

They are a marque with undoubted pedigree and a long history stretching back to the days of the very first Grand Prix’s, and will be a welcome addition to the F1 stable.

The Future of Roads - Plastic

15 Dez 2017

Appearing as if from nowhere and spreading across the roads like black pits of alloy shattering despair - winter brings about the growth of the dreaded pothole more than at any other time of year.

In their wake arises the relentless sea of orange plastic and amber light, to further torment motorists into traffic jam induced rages of impotence.  It doesn’t have to be this way, salvation is close to hand.

Terzo Millennio: Lamborghini and MIT's Self-Healing Car

13 Dez 2017

Technology is currently advancing at the fastest rate ever seen in the history of mankind. Advances that had never been dreamed of let alone fulfilled have come and gone; every new challenge that arises invites even greater determination to conquer it as soon as possible.

Bloodhound SSC - 1000mph Land Speed Record

5 Dez 2017

Back in 1997, Andy Green driving Thrust SSC shattered the land speed record by the largest margin in the records history when he achieved a top speed of 763mph - becoming the first and only supersonic man on land – and beating the previous record of 634mph set by Richard Noble driving Thrust 2 back in 1983.

Driverless Car Investment and Why Is It Happening?

29 Nov 2017

In November 2017 the UK government announced it was committing £100million to an industry matched investment fund designed to encourage the testing and development of driverless car technology on its roads. There are currently two existing testing centres in the UK and this will work to combine them into a central hub.

How Do Synchromesh Transmissions Work?

27 Nov 2017

Since its inception, the automobile has been subject to constant and relentless refinement to the point where the average car now possesses some extremely clever and complex engineering.

One of the more impressive components in any automobile is its transmission or ‘gearbox’, and whilst most cars do not benefit from the technology, the synchromesh gearbox is what the single-clutch manual transmission aspires to be. At least for the time being.