Petrol engines will...
Petrol engines will be cleaner and more economical in the future, thanks to an improved direct-injection system. Created by German component maker Bosch, the fuelling set-up will be fitted to new cars from 2006. A spokesman for the firm said: "By 2008, one in every five petrol models will use diesel-style direct-injection to make them more fuel efficient."
Car seats that fold...
Car seats that fold and stow out of the way when not in use are nothing new. But they’re normally in the third row of a seven-seater. Now, an auto÷motive interior design firm has taken the idea to a whole new level.
As you can see from our official sketch, the Slim Seat concept – which has been dev÷ised by US company Johnson Controls (JC) – has a large open area behind the front seats. That’s the standard set-up for the cabin, although two more occasional chairs can fold down from the rear bulkhead at the push of a button.
The movement is thanks to what JC calls a ‘mechatronic release mech÷anism’, rather than electric motors. More information will be released when the as-yet-unnamed prototype makes its world debut at the Frank÷furt Motor Show next month.
Legroom for back seat occupants is also more generous, as the front chairs have thin backs. Yet despite offering more space, the clever set-up provides as much comfort and safety as a conventional seat.
A respected industry supplier, JC hopes to attract interest from major car makers at the German event.