2014 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado New engines and new design still ugly

General Motors revealed the 2014 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado ahead of the scheduled debut in the Detroit Auto Show (North American International Auto Show), next January.

 

Lets start with the engines. GM introduced three new EcoTec3 engines, a 4.3liter V6, a 5.3liter V8 and a 6.2liter V8 whose specifications are still unknown, but we know they will have direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, new pistons, new cylinder head design with a compression ratio of at least 11:1 and cylinder deactivation technology.

 

GM promises, besides being more fuel efficient, the trucks will also be more comfortable and will have better handling, thanks to the new suspension, electric power steering, body mounts, brakes and wider wheels. 

Outside, one of the major objectives was to reduce the noise caused by wind and the drag. But that did not stop GMs designers from increasing the front grille and headlamps. You even have optional LED lights in the bed rails besides those in the headlamps (GMC). And if you want you can choose from 17 to 20inches rims and a special 22inch wheel is also available.

 

In the cabin the interiors are all new, with an upright instrument panel, six-gauge instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch color Driver Information Center displaying vehicle and infotainment data. Also available will be the IntelliLink system with an eight inch color touchscreen, plus a 110-volt outlet, up to five USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and a SD card slot.

Standard safety features include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning with an Active Safety Seat, Front and Rear Park Assist, StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist.

Source: GM

Hankook Tire The Future of Tyre Design Video Reviews

Hankook Tire held a competition in the U.S.A. challenging the "brightest industrial design students" to display how they envision the future of tyres in several types of vehicles. and what we get is some cool looking designs that might actually workd in the real world, we will have to wait and see.



The winning entry by University of Cincinnati student Ben Zavala took the brief somewhat literally, with his Tiltread car tyre rolling into corners at an angle like a motorcycle tyre.

Zavalas breakthrough idea was to split the tyre into three parallel ring sections, each mounted on a corresponding split section of wheel.

As the wheel turns and leans, the three tyre sections are individually raised or lowered, allowing them all to maintain traction with the road surface.

Tiltreads wheels are hubless and contain an electric drive motor which varies power to each tyre section, allowing the sections to spin at different rates during cornering.

University of Cincinnati associate professor Ralph Zammit said the competition demonstrated just how great an impact improvement in tyre design could have upon the overall efficiency, ecology and economy of road transportation.

"Hankook proposed a very challenging assignment that provided the students with real-world insights as to how tyres are currently designed, manufactured and the performance issues they must address," said associate professor Zammit.

"Students were especially encouraged to consider sustainability needs such as reducing and reusing raw materials."

Second place in the competition was taken by Mark Hearn who imagined an off-road tyre called Motiv, which features numerous height-variable, non-pneumatic tread blocks that can adapt to extremely rough terrain without risk of blow-out.

Third-placed Miranda Steinhausers proposal for an eco-friendly tyre also impressed the competition judges.

The Tessela tyres easily removable tread components allow consumers to replace worn-out tread when required, rather than the whole tyre carcass, reducing tyre waste and landfill.

Models of the first, second and third placed tyres were displayed on the Hankook stand at the 2012 SEMA automotive show in Las Vegas.