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Porsche is going all-electric

Will premium sports car buyers sidle up to a model that needs to be plugged in? Porsche thinks so, and next year will begin production on a sports sedan that's currently code-named the Mission E. It'll be followed by a sport-ute version, and from there, the sky might be the limit. Find out more in my story at the National Post.

And to make everything more complicated, it's being built in a factory that's being built in a factory. The new facility is an addition to the 911/Boxster/Cayman facility in Zuffenhausen, which is wedged between the town and the railway, and comes complete with a height limit and traffic issues. Find out how it's being done in my sidebar at the National Post.

Carbon fibre: How it's made...and why

It's strong, it's lightweight, and it's pricey, but it's starting to show up in more mainstream vehicles as automakers try to lose weight in the name of fuel efficiency. Why's it so expensive? Find out in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How cylinder deactivation works

Your engine doesn't really need to provide full power all the time -- such as when you're cruising at a steady speed -- but it's still using a full supply of fuel. Many automakers are now adding cylinder deactivation, which "shuts off" some of the pistons for better efficiency. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

What triggers a highway "slow traffic" warning sign?

You might think it's someone sitting in a window watching the road, but it's far more high-tech than that. The system is monitoring your Bluetooth and checking to see how fast you're going. Find out more in my story at AutoTRADER.

Smooth and slippery: All about aerodynamics

Cars may all have a similar shape these days, and that's because of aerodynamics. How air travels over a vehicle can affect its fuel consumption, as well as its engine cooling and wind noise. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Could your engine blow itself up?

A lot of new cars have small-displacement, direct-injection, turbocharged engines, mated to multi-speed automatic transmissions, because it's a good way to get power with low fuel consumption. But they can also be prone to a problem called low-speed pre-ignition, or LSPI, which can cause severe damage with no warning. Find out more in my story at AutoTRADER.

Electronic stability control: Staying off skid row

Electronic stability control is mandatory on new cars, and for good reason: it can help keep you going in a straight line if your vehicle starts to skid. Find out how it works in my technology column at the National Post.

How do towing and payload work?

They're the all-important numbers when automakers advertise their trucks, but they're not an exact science -- and the highest capacity doesn't necessarily belong to the biggest truck. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How does power steering work?

It's been available on cars since 1951, and the hydraulic type of system used on those cars is still found today, but increasingly, automakers are switching over to electric power steering. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Old-car owners: More ethanol may be coming

Canada currently allows a maximum of 10 per cent ethanol in fuel overall, but if a proposed amendment passes, it could go to 15 per cent. What does this mean for an older vehicle? Find out more in my story at the National Post.

The wheels on the car go ... well, you know ...

But do you know all about wheels? Most people know there's a lot of technology in tires, but they don't think about the rims. Find out more in my "How It Works" column in the National Post.

How cars know to stay in their lanes, and warn you about other vehicles...

Once considered a science-fiction scenario, many cars are now able to keep their distance from the car in front, come to a complete stop and then start again in heavy traffic, warn if another car's alongside, and slam on the brakes if you're about to hit something. Find out how these work in my technology column at the National Post.

Car design: The inside's as important as the outside

Car design isn't just about the exterior. The interior has to be created as well, and just like the outside, the cabin is created with sketches, computer design, and even clay models. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Why BMW is going electric

At the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, the only noise from BMW's press conference was the music: everything the automaker brought out on stage was powered by electricity. I had an opportunity to interview the company's global CEO about it -- find out more in my story at the National Post.

How does fuel injection work?

Better than a carburetor! Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

The building blocks of self-driving cars

Autonomous cars are not going to jump fully-fledged off the assembly line. Instead, they will be the result of hundreds if not thousands of systems working together, some of which are already available on vehicles today. One of these is Nissan's ProPilot, debuting on the 2018 Leaf. Find out more about this and how it will tie into self-driving vehicles in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Car paint: What's it all about?

From oil-based pigments slapped on with a brush, to modern coatings that meet environmental standards, auto paint has come a long way over the years. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Nissan ProPilot: A step toward self-driving cars

Self-driving cars are coming, but there are two issues automakers have to get out of the way: engineering the technology to do it, and just as importantly, getting customers ready for it. Nissan has moved a step ahead with its new ProPilot Assist, which will debut on the next-generation Leaf. I drove a prototype equipped with it -- find out more in my story at AutoTRADER.

How does a CVT work?

They're showing up on more and more vehicles, thanks to their fuel-saving technology, but they're considerably different than a regular automatic transmission. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Flat tires may become a thing of the past ...

Lose the air in your tire, and you're not going anywhere. While tires are better than they've ever been, air loss still happens, and companies like Michelin are working on airless tires such as this new Vision concept tire. Find out more in my story at the National Post.

How does your air conditioning work?

It's a complex system, and as odd as it sounds, it takes heat to make cold. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How does car manufacturing work?

BBuilding a car is more than just bolting it together. It depends on a lot of scheduling, making sure that cars and parts end up at exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Virtual reality: Building a car in cyberspace

Car designs can still start with a pencil, but using high-tech methods, designers and engineers can work with the vehicle both inside and out, and some are starting the initial designs right at the computer level. Find out more about Ford's VR labs in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Meet Canada's newest F1/Infiniti employee!

Each year, for the past four years, Infiniti and Renault Motorsports have sponsored the Infiniti Engineering Academy, which picks the top engineering students from around the globe to do a one-year stint with its engineers in Britain. Canada has been part of it for two years, and this year, Matthew Carsson of London, Ontario represents the country. Find out more in my story at AutoTRADER.

How does a diesel engine work?

They make more power and use less fuel than a comparable gasoline engine, but do you know how they do it? Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Don't let your car get hot under the collar

Engines work best at a specific temperature, but if they go too far above that, they can quickly turn into expensive pieces of scrap. Find out more about how your vehicle's cooling system operates in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How do electric vehicles work?

There's a battery and there's a motor, but how do they work together to get you where you're going? Find out more in my "How It Works" column over at the National Post.

What's the sound of vehicle silence?

Actually, there isn't one -- a car shouldn't be completely silent, because you need at least some noise to judge your speed and how your car is reacting to your foot on the throttle.

But they do spend huge blocks of time figuring out to stop the hums, vibrations and rumbles, right from the very start when the car is still on the drawing board. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Tires: What you need to know

For all the safety items that your car may have, the most important ones touch the road: your tires. Everything else is there to get your butt out of the fire once the tires lose their grip. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

What's up with engine oil?

What do those numbers mean, such as 5W-30? How often should you change your oil? And what does it mean when that oil warning light comes on? Find out in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

What's lighting your way? How about a laser?

Headlights have come a long way from the first ones, which used an actual flame, and it might not be long before your lights are lasers. Find out more in my "How It Works" column in the National Post.

You know you need winter tires, but why?

It's all because of what's in the rubber, and what's on the tread. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How do shock absorbers work?

They're more than just a smooth ride: they help keep your car under control. And they do wear out, which can be dangerous if they're not replaced. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How do crash barriers work?

They may look like simple guard rails, but they're actually very highly engineered, and there are several different types depending on what's needed. Find out more in my "How It Works" column in the National Post.

How do your brakes work?

After you press the pedal, what happens to make your car stop? It's all about using friction to stop a spinning object, which means parts wear down and you need to look after them to stay safe. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

How does a hydrogen-powered fuel cell car work?

It's actually an electric car that makes its own power while it's driving. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

What's driving your wheels?

AWD and 4WD are popular options on vehicles, but it's important to know what kind you're getting. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

Parcel delivery may never be the same ...

This is the Mercedes-Benz "Vision Van" concept, unveiled yesterday in Germany. It's never going to be bringing parcels to your door, but it contains a number of technologies that Mercedes-Benz is working on: delivery by robots and drones, fleet vehicle sharing, and automated packaging. Find out more in my story over at the National Post.

Does your car have a recall? Here's what it means

What, exactly, does a recall mean? Why can't I get my recalled vehicle fixed right away? And isn't a TSB the same thing? Find out answers to these and more in my "How It Works" column in the National Post.

Infiniti introduces an all-new engine technology

The internal combustion engine's basic design hasn't changed in some two centuries, but there have been all sorts of improvements and variations on it since then. The latest is a variable-compression engine that Infiniti will wedge into some new models starting in 2018. It isn't the first to work on this particular design but says it will be the first to market. Find out more in my story at the National Post.

Controlling a BMW with one finger ...

No, not that finger. BMW has a new system, called Gesture Control, which lets you work some of the infotainment systems just by waving your hand. Find out more in my "How It Works" column at the National Post.

What makes a self-driving car work?

A lot of very high-tech systems, most of which are already in vehicles and just waiting for their chance to do it alone. Find out more in my story over at the National Post.

Mazda is throwing its weight around...and you'll probably never notice

Mazda has unveiled a new system, coming out first on the Mazda3 and Mazda6 and then eventually on almost all vehicles, to improve handling. Called G-Vectoring Control, it's a method of weight transfer that's complicated from an engineering standpoint, and so simple from the driver's seat that you'll barely know it's there. Find out more in my story over at the National Post.

Your tires may soon be "talking" to you

Depending on the model you have, your car may warn you if you're drifting out of your lane, following the car ahead too closely, or even if you're too tired to drive. Your tires? They're not so talkative -- at least not right now. Pirelli is working on a "cyber tire" that could also warn a driver of adverse conditions or even help adjust the cruise control. Find out more in my story at Tire News.

Fuel-efficient cars: Do you know all the terms?

Hybrids, extended-range, plug-ins, direct injection ... there are all sorts of new technologies to improve fuel efficiency, and there are so many that it can be confusing. Cut to the chase with my explanation over at the Toronto Star.

Testing the Ford F-150: Yes, it's aluminum

That's the big news for Ford's best-selling truck: it will be the first in its segment to have an all-aluminum body. The entire truck is going through extensive testing, and I had the opportunity to visit Ford's research center in Dearborn, Michigan to find out more. Read all about it in my story over at the Toronto Star.

Headline of the day ...

I just received a press release from Environment Canada. The headline is in big, bold letters - Harper Government Improves Fuel Efficiency of Canadian Vehicles.

Wow.

I write a lot of technology columns, and that means I spend time talking to automakers about fuel efficiency. They dedicate a lot of money to this. I've been to R&D labs where people spend all their time working to shave half a kilogram off car parts to improve fuel mileage. I've talked to engineers who are up to their armpits in engines every day, figuring out how to coax a little more energy efficiency from them. Even companies that make tires and oil are working on their products so they'll help contribute to the improvement.

Why they bother I don't know, because Stephen Harper is taking care of the problem.

Now, if you read the fine print, what the government has actually done is proposed stricter regulations for fuel efficiency. By 2025, we're told, new cars will consume 50 per cent less fuel. It's all on the automakers, of course, because the government wouldn't dare suggest that consumers change their driving habits - which in many cases could pretty much achieve the same goal tomorrow, on the cars we're driving today.

Still, it's good to know that, judging by the headline, our men and women in Ottawa are making such a substantial improvement to our vehicles. And they didn't even have to put on a lab coat. Amazing!

MyFord Touch: Finally, Ford is listening

In the news today: Ford is simplifying MyFord Touch, the touch-screen system introduced last year to control such features as the stereo, navigation, climate and telephone functions. It seems the automaker bowed to complaints about how slow and non-intuititive the Touch can be.

Ever since I first used it, I've thought it should be bundled with a cinderblock and thrown off a cliff - most recently in the Ford Focus. If you just get the "plain" MyFord Touch system, you end up with a screen that requires you to tap the very edges to access anything - tough enough when the vehicle's standing still, and much harder when it's moving - and then page through various computer screens to get to what you want. If you upgrade to the Sony system, you also get tiny spots on a glassy surface that are virtually impossible to hit accurately unless you're driving on an equally glassy road.

And when it's cold, such as when you start the car on a frosty morning, the system takes forever to do anything. You can almost time it by the calendar.

To its credit, Ford is making the changes fairly early in the program (unlike BMW, which took years to admit that the original iDrive wasn't the greatest thing since sliced bread). Still, why do automakers - or any electronics company - send out products that aren't easy to figure out in the first place?

I've always said that once any system is designed, be it a stereo, navigation or any other electronic device, the engineers should take it out and give it to everyone in the building who isn't an engineer. If the receptionist, the janitor, the lunchroom servers can't figure out how to make it find an address, play music or set up a phone call, it goes back to the drawing board until they can.

Part of the MyFord Touch remake also includes online tutoring videos showing you how to use it, and training at the dealership level so the staff can tell customers how to work it. Which means it's probably still too complicated. I used to praise Ford to the skies for the big, simple controls it used for functions. That was, unfortunately, too long ago.

Another look at the EcoCAR in Oshawa

The EcoCAR Challenge is into its final stages, and three Canadian teams are among the 16 student teams building alternative-propulsion vehicles in the competition. I visited the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, Ontario, and you can read all about it by clicking here.

Drinking and driving: Here's one possible solution

It's called DADSS, or Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, and it's being researched in the U.S. with the ultimate goal of possibly incorporating it into every new car. Systems being considered include sensors that would determine the driver's blood alcohol concentration through the starter button or breath analysis, but without any active driver input. You can read all about it in my story by clicking here.