Obama Pushes Plan To Boost American Manufacturing

By Jason Paur Email Author February 17, 2012 |  6:36 pm |  Categories: Air Travel  | Edit

President Barack Obama examines the overhead bin of a 787 Dreamliner with Boeing employee Rick Goade during a visit to Boeing on Friday. Photo: Susan Walsh/Associated Press

EVERETT, Washington — President Obama, standing before a long line of 787 Dreamliners at the Boeing factory here, pushed a proposal to boost sales of American products by enhancing funding for U.S. exporters competing with foreign firms.

The president, visiting the nation’s largest exporter to trumpet his manufacturing and exporting initiatives, wants greater export financing for American manufacturers and expanded support for small businesses. He also stressed the need for fairer trading practices with China.

To illustrate the point, he outlined the role of the federal government’s Export-Import Bank in helping foreign carriers buy Boeing airliners. The President wants to expand the use of government-backed financing to provide the same assistance to domestic airlines.

“I’m instructing the bank to give American companies a fair shot by matching the unfair export financing that their competitors receive from other countries,” he told a cheering crowd of Boeing workers.

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Tags: Aviation, Boeing, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Policy
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Mazda5 Review: The Smallest of Vans Stands Alone

By Keith Barry Email Author February 17, 2012 |  1:45 pm |  Categories: Cool Cars  | Edit

If you call yourself an auto enthusiast, you’ve got to have some love for Mazda. I don’t care if you take factory delivery of a new M3 every four years or have a Mustang logo tattooed on your bicep — when it comes to championing technology that nobody else will, the fifth-largest Japanese automaker can’t be beat.

While the MX-5, RX-7 and first-generation Cosmo earned the company some street (and track) cred, there’s a definite freak flag flying over Mazda headquarters. For almost 50 years, it churned out lightweight, fuel-thirsty Wankel engines until stopping development in 2011. The rear-wheel-drive 929 sedan had a solar-powered sunroof vent before the Prius was a twinkle of code on a screen. And the posh Millenia S featured the world’s first production Miller cycle engine. Even the reskinned Ford Probe that was the MX-6 got four-wheel steering. Focus groups in Mazda’s hometown of Hiroshima must consist of highly imaginative contrarians, the sort of people who drink French beer and Canadian wine.

Returning to the States after a mysterious one-year absence, the redesigned Mazda5 is no exception to the corporate-sponsored quirkiness.

Continue reading the Wired.com review of the Mazda5…

Tags: Mazda, Reviews
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Tilt Rotors, Pusher Helicopters Coming to Civilian Sector

By Jason Paur Email Author February 17, 2012 |  12:00 pm |  Categories: Air Travel  | Edit

Photo: AgustaWestland

Two companies have announced plans to sell remarkably fast and innovative aircraft that bring tilt rotors and pusher helicopters to the civilian sector. AgustaWestland  is producing something similar to the V-22 Osprey, while Eurocopter will build a production version of the lightning-quick X3.

The AgustaWestland AW609 is a smaller civilian version of the V-22 Osprey used by the Marines and Air Force. The on-again, off-again tilt-rotor project first flew in 2003 as the Bell-Agusta 609. It borrows technology from its military sibling and moved on to Europe’s AgustaWestland after Bell Helicopter sold its interest.

The vertical take-off weight of the AW609 is 16,800 pounds, compared to nearly 53,000 for the Osprey. Aimed at customers currently using medium-lift helicopters, the tilt-rotor craft offers superior speed and range, topping out at 275 knots (316 mph) and 800 miles. Unlike the Osprey, the AW609 is pressurized, making higher altitude flights possible. The company expects to sell as many as 500 to civilian and government customers.

AgustaWestland says it plans on having the tilt rotor certified in 2016. There are 70 on the order books, according to Rotor & Wing.

Meanwhile, Eurocopter plans a production version of the X3 technology demonstrator that topped 230 knots (265 mph) last year. Though it fell short of the 290 mph achieved by the Sikorsky X2, it remains significantly faster than typical helicopters.

With a maximum weight of around 10,000 pounds, Eurocopter says the production version — currently called the X4, just to keep things confusing — is expected to make its first flight in 2015. Company CEO Lutz Bertling told Aviation Week the X4 will reduce noise by 70 percent and fuel consumption by 30 percent compared to similarly sized helicopters.

Not all of the technology from the X3 will be used initially. The X4 will feature fly-by-wire controls, and Eurocopter says it will not introduce any of the speedy technology from the X3 demonstrator — presumably the extra propellers — until 2020.

Tags: Aviation, Eurocopter X3, Helicopter, Sikorsky X2
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Feds Propose Limits for In-Car Dialing, Texting, Surfing

By Chuck Squatriglia Email Author February 16, 2012 |  8:19 pm |  Categories: Cool Cars  | Edit


Federal regulators, worried that motorists will use the growing connectivity of cars to surf the web, update their Facebook pages and generally do anything but drive, want automakers to engineer safeguards into infotainment systems to minimize the threat of distracted driving.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today the Department of Transportation’s first-ever guidelines encouraging automakers to voluntarily minimize distractions by regulating how communications, entertainment and navigation systems can be used while driving.

The non-binding recommendations would effectively bar drivers from doing things like surfing the web or accessing social media sites from behind the wheel, disable manual texting and limit the ability to enter addresses into navigation systems while the car is in gear.

“Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America’s roadways,†LaHood said in a statement. “These guidelines are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages.â€

Such guidelines come as automakers rush to increase the connectivity of our cars. Factory-installed vehicle tech including connected systems like Ford Sync and Audi Connect will account for nearly $7 billion in sales this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. About 15 percent of American households own a vehicle with connected communications, and analysts expect that figure to climb sharply in coming years.

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Tags: Electronics and Gadgets, Intelligent Vehicles, Policy, Safety
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Honda’s Going Electric-Motorcycle Racing

By Hell For Leather Email Author February 16, 2012 |  2:15 pm |  Categories: EVs and Hybrids, Motorcycles  | Edit

Photo: Honda

By Wes Siler, Hell for Leather

Honda becomes the first major manufacturer to enter the electric racing fray when its close partner Mugen enters an all-new electric motorcycle in the Isle of Man TT Zero this summer. It’s a hugely historical moment, both for electric motorcycles and a manufacturer that won its first race ever at the TT in 1959.

Hell For Leather
The company will race alongside electric innovators like MotoCzysz vying to be the first to lap the 37.7-mile Mountain Course at an average of 100 mph.

“We are keen to use this excellent event to educate and prepare the engineers of the next generation for the use of future technology,†Satoshi Katsumata of Team Mugen said in a statement. “We are very excited about adding to the long history of Japanese manufacturers on the Isle of Man.â€

Although it’s Mugen formally entering the race, Mugen essentially is a division of Honda Motor Company. It was founded in 1973 by Soichiro Honda’s son, Hirotoshi, and remains closely associated with Honda. One of Mugen’s functions as a tuner and engine builder is serving as a de facto skunkworks, proving new concepts and technologies before they’re adopted by Honda. The company has a long history of motorsports involvement, including a stint in Formula 1.

Honda has shown growing interest in electric motorcycles of late and unveiled its first electric motorcycle concept, the Honda RC-E (pictured), late last year at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Participating in the TT Zero has a nice historical symmetry for Honda. In 1959, Honda entered its first international competition on the Isle of Man, beginning a history of grand prix wins that’s carried through to this day.

Tags: Electric Vehicles, Honda, Motorcycles
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