Archive for December, 2009

What Do You Make of the Hyundai ix-Metro?

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

hyundai-ix-metroHyundai has been responsible for some pretty cute little vehicles. The renderings of this one — a concept known as the ix-Metro — were just recently made available not to long ago, and the actual concept got its unveiling at the IAA that took place in Frankfurt.

Namyang, Korea’s Global Design Team has created a whole series of new concept cars, of which this is the fifth. It is designed as a showcase vehicle for the “Blue Drive” eco initiative Hyundai is pushing.

The ix-Metro is a CUV — a sub-B segment hybrid electric one, to be exact. Hyundai promises that the concept will give out CO2 emissions that are only eighty grams per kilometer. The vehicle uses an petrol engine, an inline three cylinder, that displaces a mere liter.

Ford’s Human Occupant Package Simulator — It’s Brand New!

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Ford's Human Occupant Package Simulator Ford is actually imploring some real skills here and they are using real humans in a video game simulator so that they can build better cars and trucks.  The technology that has already been used in films and also in some fantastic video games is now making its way into the automotive industry and it seems that Ford is the first automaker to actually use it.

Basically, HOPS is the name of it and that stands for Human Occupant Package Simulator.  In real life – this basically means that there are human test subjects that are using this particular simulator in order to produce better quality cars and trucks.

Ford – to me is really taking the next step and I personally think that is absolutely incredible.