Xtrac shows seamless gearchange alternative to dual clutch transmission

After two years secret development in motorsport competition, Xtrac unveiled an important new driveline technology this week in the form of an Instantaneous Gearchange System (IGS). It does exactly the same thing a dual clutch transmission achieves with less weight, cost, and complexity. The secret to Xtrac IGS is the integration of a ratchet and pawl mechanism between each gear hub and the main shaft so that two consecutive gear ratios can be selected and engaged simultaneously, but with only one set of gears driving.

via gizmag.com

Video: Mitsubishi Evo can't be tamed by dyno — Autoblog

Video: Mitsubishi Evo can't be tamed by dyno

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 14th 2010 at 12:31PM

Mitsubish Evo dyno disaster – Click above to watch video after the jump

Under the right conditions, testing a vehicle on a dyno is a safe way to get a good idea of how much power your engine is producing. It's also an excellent tool for precision tuning, so if you're into squeezing all you can out of your car's beating heart, chance are you're going to be ponying up for time on the rollers. Just make sure that the shop that's doing your dyno work knows how to properly secure your vehicle.

via autoblog.com

BBC: At nearly $7.30/gal and climbing, UK gas prices hit record high — Autoblog

Think fuel prices are high in the United States? What Yanks pay is nothing to what our former colonial masters are forced to shell out at the pumps, as reports come in of record-high prices in the UK.

According to the BBC, prices have hit an all-time high of 121.76p per liter in the United Kingdom. The numbers work out to $7.27 per gallon in American terminology, but the record doesn't take inflation into account. To put the current British petrol prices into perspective, consider that it will now cost English soccer moms in Chelsea over $163 (!) to fill up their BMW X5s.

via autoblog.com

$163 dollars to fill up the tank.. YIPES!!
I thought a 50 dollar fill up earlier today was bad..