Here’s the fourth part of this amazing Lamborghini documentary, and today we explore what’s going on behind closed doors at the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese. These historic premises at the moment accomodate more or less 850 employees, who work meticulously to produce the iconic super sports cars in an environment as neat and clean as an operating theatre.

Lamborghini’s exclusive production line only delivers an average of a dozen units a day and features a mixture of hi-tech and hand craftsmanship, which ensures vehicles are assembled to the highest quality standards.

General Motors and the students from Israel’s Bezalel Academy of Art and Design have created the Windows Of Opportunity (WOO), a device which will basically turn the car’s side windows into multifunctional touch screens. With the WOO, passengers will be allowed to play, draw, write messages, interact with the surroundings and so on, making bored kids complaining on the back seat a distant memory. The device is still well into its testing stage and uses both motion and optical sensor technology, but at the moment it does not feature the “smart glass” function (that would modify the transparency or black out the windows), which will be implemented if the WOO will actually enter into production.

The current Windows of Opportunity prototype makes use of four different characters/apps called Otto, Foofu, Spindow and Pond - each one of which is in charge of a single specific function - that should be able to effectively entertain the kids while introducing them to the use of the WOO. We will be waiting for further development of this interesting idea, but for now you can enjoy the exhaustive video above.

Mercedes-Benz is at the 2012 International CES in Vegas with its newly unveiled SL roadster (just introduced to the world at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit) as well as the by now well-known C-Class coupe and the F125! Concept. Here is a bunch of pictures taken live at the event in Vegas by the colleagues from our parent-site Autoblog.it.

The much hyped new SL boasts a new aluminum body-frame that makes it 140 kg than the previous version, and will come in two variants: the SL350, equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 producing 306 hp and 370 Nm of torque, and the SL500, powered by a 4.7-litre twin turbo V8 unit delivering 435 hp and no less than 700 Nm of peak torque. More powertrain options and an AMG version will soon expand SL’s engine range.

The F125! Concept has been created to celebrate 125 years of automotive history, which also means 125 years of history for the three-pointed star house. The model is a hydrogen fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid electric car that boasts a range of no less than 1,000 km (about 620 miles) and, accordingly to its maker, anticipates the future of the automobile. This concept made its first appearance at the last Frankfurt Motor Show and has its fuel tank integrated in the body of the car, allowing for more room for passengers and luggage alike. The F125! is an all-wheel drive vehicle that adopts the e4matic technology, which implies that each one of the four wheels has its own dedicated motor. The car uses 23″ rims and develops 313 hp. The F125! goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) of 4.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 220km/h (137 mph).

View the full Mercedes-Benz at the 2012 CES photo gallery

Ford is at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas with three very significant models: the new Fusion, the Focus Electric and the Evos Concept. The new Ford Fusion - revealed just a few days ago at the 2012 NAIAS - is a prime example of the ‘One Ford’ global strategy that the Blue Oval has adopted as its business policy: the car has been developed on the same platform that will also generate the Mondeo (Ford Fusion’s European twin) and Lincoln MKZ, an operation that rationalizes and optimizes the costs but not to the detriment of the quality of the models. Accordingly to CarScoop website, the implementation of this policy is going even faster than what Ford expected: originally, the carmaker was aiming at reducing its total number of platforms to 11 units by 2014, but apparently they will be able to go down to just 9 platforms by the end of 2013. The move will allow Ford to produce 85% of its global output with these 9 architectures only, with positive effects for both its finances and the overall quality of the vehicles.

The Ford Fusion is clearly inspired by the Evos concept - which was introduced to the world at the last Frankfurt Motor Show - and represents an evolution of the stylistic language known as Kinetic Design. Measuring 4.50 meters in length, 1.97 in width and 1.36 in height, the model boasts a pretty sleek figure that shows how the carmaker is trying to adapt to the rules of a globalized marketplace, rather than trying to adjust to the requirements of a single area. This is also the reason why the new Ford Mondeo will basically turn out to be a mere ‘clone’ of the Fusion: this will allow for a more organic development of just one model, as opposed to do that for two utterly different cars.

The Evos had introduced a new design pattern for the front end, dominated by a large grille that we find quite reminiscent of the typical Aston Martin styling, and that has been adopted - among others - by the Focus Electric as well. This environment-friendly version of the popular hatchback is expected to make its debut on the market by 2013 and is powered by an electric motor delivering 125 hp with 245 Nm of peak torque, fed by a ion-lithium battery package (courtesy of LG-Chem) located at the back of the vehicle. However, none of what has been written so far in this article explains in full why Ford Motor Co. is at one of the most important electronic fairs of the planet: to find that out, click on the ‘Continue reading’ link below.

View the full Ford at the 2012 CES photo gallery

The main reason why Ford is at the 2012 International CES in Vegas is to introduce the latest evolution of its own SYNC system, which will be offered as an optional extra for European vehicles too starting this year. The newest version of Ford’s factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system is now fully integrated with the MyKey system and receives a number of the new functions, such as the ability of recognizing over 10,000 vocal commands in 19 different languages, the possibility of installing a wi-fi hotspot and connecting all sorts of video and audio devices through its USB and aux decks and SD-card reader.

For those who do not remember it, the MyKey system is a sort of electronic parental control device for teen drivers that sets certain parameters such as vehicle’s top speed and maximum audio volume without giving drivers the chance to change them. Only by the holder of a certain key can do that, as well as impose safety-belt use, earlier low-fuel warnings and set programmed sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 mph, making sure that young drivers have these functions permanently enabled. The My Key is by now part of the standard equipment on most Ford models.

The updated Ford SYNC system also uses Ford’s own Emergency Assistance, which identifies exactly where an accident has taken place before calling 112 (or any other sort of emergency number) in the local language with an introductory message and exact coordinates.

Rinspeed will present at the next Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18) an original and innovative modular mobility system called Dock+Go, aimed at all the electric vehicle out there (the Smart ForTwo you see on the pics has been picked for demonstration purposes only).

The main idea behind this very interesting mobility concept is the docking “backpack on wheels”, which adds an extra axle to the vehicle and significantly increases its load capacity, and can be attached to the car whenever the need arises. Apparently, there will be different versions available, each one designed and developed for differet applications (i.e. mail delivery, food delivery, craftsmen and so forth). But there is more to it: the module comes with an “energy pack”, meaning a combustion engine or range extender - packed with batteries or powered by a fuel cell - that provides the car it is attached to with more range. Basically, the docked third axle drives the rotating second axle and thus recharges the on-board battery of the city car. Genius.

By the end of the year Mercedes will present the new and completely redeveloped SL Roadster, which is said to have taken the meaning of the SL tag (’sporty’ and ‘lightweight’) even more seriously. Our colleagues from Autoblog.it had the chance to see it at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Carlsbad, California, where they also met engineers and designers involved in the project, and here is an account of what they told them.

The car surely lives up to Mercedes’s high standards combining tradition and innovation, and its most distinctive feature is possibly its brand new state-of-the-art aluminum frame, the first full aluminum bodyshell ever implemented in large series production by Mercedes-Benz. This construction uses different kinds of aluminum, and each one of its components has been specifically designed and optimized for its own specific task. All parts are obtained through chill casting or vacuum die casting, worked into extruded aluminum sections or into aluminium plates of different thicknesses. Apart from being significantly lighter, this new structure is superior to the previous steel construction also in terms of rigidity and safety, with lower resonance and vibrations. However, it is not a 100% aluminum bodyshell as Mercedes also used the even lighter magnesium for the rear panel and high-strength steel tubing integrated in the A-pillars. Let’s translate all this into numbers then: weighing in at 254 kg, this new structure will allow the new SL 500 to gain 125 kg over its predecessor while the new SL 350 will be no less than 140 kg lighter than the current version. Torsional stiffness has gone up as well, going from the already impressive 16,400 Nm per degree of the last models up to 19,400 Nm per degree of this new aluminum bodyshell.

Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below the thumbnails to find out more about the new chassis and see more pictures and videos.

Our colleagues from Autoblog.it got the chance to talk to Mr.Thomas Rudlaff, responsible for the aluminum bodyshell at Mercedes-Benz, and report that he is as far from the cold ultra-precise-German-engineer cliche as you can imagine. When asked about the latest brainchild of his team, Mr.Rudlaff just hits you with a passionate flow of words: he could tell you the whole story of each and every bit that makes up his latest creature. He also explained how things worked when it came to integrating his vision to what designers and mechanical engineers had in mind, confirming once again that ‘teamwork’ and ‘mutual understanding’ are key elements at Mercedes-Benz. But our friends also pointed out that even the most discrete technician of them all is genuinely and utterly proud for having contributed to the birth of the new SL.

FrontBass system

Keeping the focus on the new frame, one of its most interesting features is the so-called FrontBass system, which will make its debut on the new SL. The system provides that bass loudspeakers get fitted in the footwells in front of driver and front seat passenger, a move that enhances the quality of low-frequency sounds in the cabin. Basically, the speakers get placed on either side of the footwell and the cavities in the longitudinal members behind the speakers act as resonating chambers. Mercedes claim that “the position of these two independent closed bass boxes in the footwell permits the creation of ideal acoustic conditions. The firewall, the vehicle floor and the underside of the dashboard form a sort of funnel that focuses and concentrates the sound”, resulting in an overall better sound performance and in a significantly improved acoustic effectiveness.

The FrontBass system will come as standard equipment on all SL versions. In its entry-level variant it is coupled with an amplifier that is integrated in the ‘Comand’ head unit with an output of 4×25 Watts, two FrontBass loudspeakers with a diameter of 217 mm, two two-way systems for high and mid-range tones in the doors and two more mid-range speakers in the rear. The optionally available Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system in conjunction with the FrontBass system are a further enhancement and a musical delicacy of concert hall quality. The heart of the matter is a Class D amplifier with a total output of 600 Watts and digital signal processor (DSP) for 10 audio channels. And finally, the absolute summit is the also optionally available Bang&Olufsen sound system. Its two Class-D ICE power amplifiers with a combined output of 940 Watts deliver exclusive audiophile high-end sound to the vehicle via their integrated digital signal processor and its 12 high-end loudspeakers.

Our mates from Autoblog.it got the chance to test the FrontBass system in its basic Harman Kardon configuration, confirming that the quality of the sound is absolutely solid and clear, and at high volume it really gives you that sort of ‘concert hall’ feeling, with the low frequencies piercing your body and making it vibrate. Besides, the power that you feel inside the passenger compartment almost doesn’t get out of it if you keep the windows up, because the new structure of the car leaves no room for unwanted pealing or vibrations.

Magic Vision Control

Talking about innovations, Mercedes also introduced the Magic Vision Control, a new adaptive windscreen washing system created by the engineers of the three pointed star. The innovation lies in the way the fluid is conducted to the windscreen in order to clean it. This is done by means of a sophisticated system of ducts that go to the wiper blade, which is flanked by two precisely formed water channels at left and right, with minute laser-cut discharge openings (see the image above).

Via these channels, the innovative Mercedes-Benz washer/wiper system always supplies washing water to the windscreen efficiently and precisely where it is needed: just in front of the wiper blade lip, according to the direction of movement of the wiper. This way, the Magic Vision Control can clean the windscreen at all speeds, even when the roof is open, without any of the water spraying into the vehicle interior, avoiding also that familiar splash of water that briefly disrupts the driver’s field view (something that is especially unpleasant at night or when the sun is low in the sky). Moreover, the Magic Vision Control system features three partly autonomous wash programs for summer, winter and cabriolet driving, automatically adapting the wiper water quantity to the surrounding conditions, i.e. ambient temperature, current driving situation and, quite obviously, speed.

The new Mercedes-Benz SL, with and without cover

Even though the new SL was kept covered under a veil during most of the photo-session, the new model (still slightly disguised) was briefly revealed at the very end of it. The new SL Roadster seems to be more streamlined than its predecessor, with a windscreen that leans more toward the driver. It is quite an innovative car in comparison to its predecessor and still - as Mercedes-Benz’s tradition dictates - its styling retains certain elements that clearly links it to the glorious history of the SL model. In the cabin the car uses top-notch quality in every single detail, perfectly combining luxury finishing with its sporty attitude.

The front-end design of the AMG version for the US looks particularly aggressive, with all the main lines of its design that begin right there and then spread across the body of the car providing it with its distinctive look. However, these lines disappear once they get to the rear-end, which is definitely smoother and more sober. Overall it makes a good result, although rumor has it that the European version of the SL will make use of more sober aesthetics. By the way, no official confirmation was released in regard to the engine range that will equip the SL in Europe: absolutely no word on possible diesel units, while some rumor circulated about the possible inclusion of a naturally aspirated 3.5 litre V6 unit. We just need to wait a little more to find that out.

Pictures and video | Autoblog.it

If you want to steal younger car customers away from other brands the best way to do that so far seems to be to offer them everything their life packed into their Smartphone can handle, on the inside of the car. Mercedes Benz quotes one of its users as saying “I don’t want my life to stop when I get into my car” and so here are the new connectivity solutions being offered on the Mercedes A-Class concept.

The Concept A has quite a futuristic interior and the infotainment system graphics are described as “revolutionary”. While they might appeal more to geeks than to “digital natives”, they do suit the car and get the message across. What is the message? Much like the Ford Evos Concept, the Mercedes Concept A interior and connectivity is all about continuing your lifestyle on the inside of your car. Although for our money, Ford seemed more focused on providing a new driving experience and way of thinking, rather than possibility to update your Facebook status.

The Mercedes system means you can Twitter away while actually in your car as smartphone apps are made accessible by the car’s connectivity system. All this “while you’re driving”, although Mercedes does actually clarify that the intuitive system has been developed with minimal driver distraction so that customers can keep their eyes on the road.

That’s nice to know - we have visions of lots of distracted driving or alternatively lots of people sitting in parked cars, maybe in their garages, as they Twitter before entering their own home…. On the whole, though, it’s pretty cool stuff - see how the new Mercedes A-Class concept connectivity works in the video above.

Ever wondered how the famous new Porsche 911 seven-speed gearbox works? In this video perhaps the most important aspect of the 2012 Porsche 911 changes gets explained, and it looks like we’ve got some intelligent technology on our hands. The first six gears of the 911 are in a quick shift racing format, while the seventh has been created for lower engine speeds at long distance, high speed travelling.

That’s going to help in keeping fuel consumption down on the new 911 and we guess will be something rolled out on other models in the future. The dual-clutch PDK transmission also has the seem setup with the sports ration and then the “long ratio” on the seventh gear. See how it works in the video.

While we’re unlikely to see the Jaguar brand on a Formula 1 car anytime soon, Williams has stated that after its collaboration on the Jaguar C-X75 Concept, it would like to develop the relationship further, becoming Jaguar’s official racing arm. Autocar reports that Williams chairman Adam Parr says: “We would like to become the competition and sporting side of Jaguar.”

The Jaguar C-X75 set the supercar world aflutter when it appeared as a concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and since then it has been under development with Williams. The kinetic energy recovery system could have great potential and while Williams isn’t saying much about the technology being built around the C-X75, we’re lead to believe exciting innovations are on the way.

According to Parr from Williams, the C-X75 is set to be the world’s most environmentally friendly supercar, and with racing potential to meet future regulations, it’s a tantalising idea which is becoming reality. Parr says: “We are concentrating on a downsized internal combustion engine combined with some pretty amazing kinetic energy-recovery systems.

“The C-X75 is not a Le Mans car, of course. But Jaguar had a tremendous record at Le Mans. I think you can say that competition and high-performance cars is an area where Jaguar are keen to develop their brand.” How much do you like the sound of that?

The geeky looking guys in lab coats don’t really evoke the kind of petrol head dream the acronym AMG represents, but after all this is a video about AMG technological innovation and high performance engines - not the gorgeous cars the powertrains end up in at the end of their production lifecycle.

The AMG technical video takes us through the new AMG 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 which has recently been released on the new Mercedes SLK AMG. The engine not only uses the naturally aspirated technology but has been modified on all fronts to provide better performance but also fuel economy. The video gives us the low-down on the camshaft, valve and fuel injection functions and everything else.

The video also gives us an insight into the cylinder control of this engine, revealing just why it’s so efficient and easy on the fuel for a performance unit. If we needed convincing that AMG is at the top of its game, we certainly don’t anymore and it’s only through this kind of research and development that we’ll be able to drive top performance, fuel-powered cars into the future.

Here in Europe we’re lucky enough to know that manuals have a stronghold on our market, and learning how to do a hill start is still an essential part of any driver’s knowledge. But in the US there is a battle on to save the manual transmission and Mini has got the boxing gloves on, offering a discount on its manual options.

The Mini Cooper, Clubman and Convertible models will all be offered with a $500 discount when purchasing the manual option, which is great news for any in the market for a new Mini. Whether you need an extra incentive to buy manual or not, it’s always nice to know you’ve got one.

Autoblog suggests that the manual transmission, otherwise known as an “essential piece of driver involvement”, will soon be extinct in the future, but here in Europe we hope to hang out with our gears for a bit longer yet. And if Mini were to whip 500 euros off manual models here… well, we’d probably be seeing even more of them on our streets.

The Bentley Continental GT is said to be testing a new four-litre V8 Bentley engine which should be into production by 2012. The new Bentley engine lineup will have both a single-turbo unit with about 415 hp and a twin-turbo powerplant with 555 hp. Spy shots originally appearing were thought to be the Bentley Continental Speed version, but according to Autocar that now isn’t the case, although the model pictured possibly equips the twin-turbo unit.

The Bentley Continental family is supposed to get a better driving feel with the new engine and a sportier character. Matching the new engines will probably be a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission like the Audi S-Tronic. The Continental platform has been redeveloped to house the new gearbox, and the new V8 engine will also be shared across other VAG brands, possibly going into the bonnet of the new Audi S6.

The Audi S6 will get the single-turbo version and the RS6 the twin-turbo unit. The S6 looks set to debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, where the new Bentley Continental GTC will also turn up - but without its new V8 engine. It will more likely get a 2012 launch date at either Detroit or Geneva.