Jesse Crosse Technical editor

Under floor aerodynamics explained - Porsche Taycan

Under the skin: Why reducing lift and drag requires under-cover policing

Spoilers aren't the be-all and end-all when it comes to aerodynamics - underfloor design comes into it too

30 September 2019
News
Audi A8 spotlight cutaway
Advanced lighting technology, like this Audi A8 laser spotlight developed by Hella, makes night driving safer but is an enabler for EV technology as well

Under the skin: Why LEDs are a bright idea for fuel economy

Light-emitting diodes cast a brighter glow and use less energy, but there are other benefits as well

23 September 2019
News
A breakthrough in motor and electronics design by Continental AG allows mild hybrids to deliver electric-only driving like a full hybrid for less cost

Under the skin: Why modern cars need 48V electrical systems

As well as allowing cars to temporarily run on electric power, a 48V system can take care of all the ancillaries

16 September 2019
News
ZF 9HP gearbox cutaway
Automatic gearboxes like the ZF 9HP have evolved far beyond a box for swapping cogs. They now form part of a super-efficient integrated powertrain

Under the skin: the evolution of the automatic gearbox

From early three-speed pioneers to today's silky smooth nine-speed set-ups, the automatic gearbox has become a truly advanced piece of kit

9 September 2019
News

Williams reveals lighter yet longer-range EV battery module

New energy-dense cells would be suitable for high-performance electric sports cars; series production could begin in 2020

5 September 2019
News
Audi torque converter-based gearbox
Torque converter-based gearboxes are the original type of automatic transmission and they’re evolving fast

Under the skin: How torque converters improve refinement

The original type of automatic gearbox, a torque converter unit can provide the most satisfying acceleration curve

2 September 2019
News
Tesla Full Self-Driving computer chip
Tesla developed its own processor specifically for neural networking and autonomous driving. It’s called the Full Self-Driving Computer (FSD)

Under the skin: How Tesla is making cars think like humans

Autonomous cars must interpret and react to situations as a human driver would. Here's how that will work

26 August 2019
News
Volkswagen MQ281 gearbox cutaway
The Volkswagen Group’s new MQ281 gearbox shows how far manual gearbox technology has progressed over the years and how it still has a big part to play in cutting fuel consumption and emissions

Under the skin: Why Volkswagen is bringing back manual gearboxes

New six-speed MQ281 unit is lightweight, compact and shows that the future isn't necessarily automatic

19 August 2019
News
Fuel combustion chamber - cutaway
Here, fuel and air are microseconds away from being compressed and ignited in a direct-injection petrol engine. How much it can be compressed depends on the octane rating of the fuel

Under the skin: The difference between regular and super unleaded fuel

It's easy to imagine pricier petrol liberates some extra horsepower from your car's engine, but it's probably best to preserve your pennies

12 August 2019
News
Four-cylinder iVT cylinder head
Four-cylinder iVT cylinder head gives complete individual control of both inlet and exhaust valves

Under the skin: How valves are taking back control of our engines

Intelligent valve technology (iVT) is reshaping the way camshafts work, and could herald a new era for combustion

5 August 2019
News

Pages

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week