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
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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

Under the skin: Why Volkswagen is bringing back manual gearboxes
Four-cylinder iVT cylinder head
Four-cylinder iVT cylinder head gives complete individual control of both inlet and exhaust valves
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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

Under the skin: How valves are taking back control of our engines
HyundaiKia continuously variable valve duration engine
Variable valve lift and timing in combustion engines has been around for some time. Now Hyundai has found a way to control how long inlet and exhaust valves stay open to gain more efficiency
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Under the skin: How manufacturers are preserving pistons

Hyundai and Kia have unveiled an innovative new petrol engine design, and they're not the only firms committed to saving internal combustion

Under the skin: How manufacturers are preserving pistons
Toyota Mirai platform cutaway
The Toyota Mirai is the first mass-produced FCEV. GM, Daimler, Ford, Hyundai and Kia have also made huge investments in fuel cell tech
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Under the skin: Why hydrogen could be an easy cell

Less wasteful than a petrol or diesel car, easier to use than an EV - is now the time to stop dismissing hydrogen as a load of hot air?

Under the skin: Why hydrogen could be an easy cell
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Under the skin: How acoustic vehicle alert systems make EVs safer

The old "stop, look and listen" mantra isn't much good when it comes to EVs, but there is a solution

Under the skin: How acoustic vehicle alert systems make EVs safer
Jaguar I-Pace electric platform
If solid-state batteries become a reality, range of EVs could double, weight would reduce and batteries, like this one in the I-Pace, would shrink significantly
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Under the skin: Why solid-state batteries are a big positive

Safer and more durable than their lithium ion counterparts, solid-state batteries could be the next big thing in EV development

Under the skin: Why solid-state batteries are a big positive
Gordon Murray T.50 hypercar sketch
Engines have come a long way in the past 140 years, but although it may be a pricey supercar, Gordon Murray’s T.50 shows that a return to basic principles can be really effective
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Under the skin: How Gordon Murray's T50 V12 will peak at 12,000rpm

The McLaren F1 successor's 641bhp Cosworth-designed V12 will be the highest revving production engine ever made

Under the skin: How Gordon Murray's T50 V12 will peak at 12,000rpm
Getting a physical haptic response from a touchscreen can make them less distracting to use and even extend their reach to steering wheel controls
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Under the skin: How haptics are making touchscreens safer

Fast-developing technology will make button-less interfaces safer to use by providing physical feedback

Under the skin: How haptics are making touchscreens safer
McLaren carbonfibre tub
McLaren made the first ever CRFP F1 chassis in 1981 and has led the way in making road car monocoques since 2010. Now it’s brought previously out-sourced production in-house and tub number 01 was built in March
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Under the skin: How carbonfibre is trickling down to the mainstream

Once set aside for only the most hardcore Lamborghinis and McLarens, the lightweight material is becoming more affordable and widely used

Under the skin: How carbonfibre is trickling down to the mainstream
Porsche 918 Spyder chassis diagram
The end game in carbonfibre car production looks like this Porsche 918 Spyder chassis. The way in which the weave of the carbonfibre cloth is laid up in the moulds plays a major part in the structural integrity and rigidity of the structure.
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Under the skin: what exactly is carbonfibre?

The super-lightweight material can be found in most modern sports cars. But how is it made and what does the future hold?

Under the skin: what exactly is carbonfibre?
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Under the skin: Why aluminium is a weight watcher's friend

With EVs needing increasingly heavy batteries to provide longer ranges, lightweight construction has never been more important to car makers

Under the skin: Why aluminium is a weight watcher's friend

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