Body

Developing steel cord reinforcement for injection molded parts BASF, Voestalpine, and Bekaert are working together to develop steel-cord-reinforced injection molded parts that the companies believe will make a significant contribution to vehicle safety. Read full story

Video Interview: SCM Metal focuses on lightweight future AEI spoke with SCM Metal Products’ Tom Pelletiers at the SAE 2012 World Congress about the North Carolina-based company’s next-generation lightweight materials. Read full story

Video Interview: Inteva VP shares ‘panoramic’ view of roof-system trends Stefan Land, Vice President of Roof Systems at Inteva Products, sees the market for panoramic roof systems expanding, particularly in China and North America. At the SAE 2012 World Congress, Land discussed with SAE Magazines a range of roof-system technology trends. Read full story

Wheelchair-accessible taxi exhibited in New York The MV-1 from Vehicle Production Group is a purpose-built body-on-frame vehicle for wheelchair use with an access ramp and greater interior room than converted taxis. Read full story

Flying car makes debut in New York With folding wings to reduce width to garageable status, the Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft fits into the “light sport plane” category and delivers 35 mpg fuel economy on the road. The company claims 100 orders with $10,000 deposits for the $279,000 vehicle. Read full story

2013 Avalon styling surprises in New York It's the first Toyota car that not only was completely designed in North America at Calty, but also is being carried all the way through to production by the engineering team in Ann Arbor, MI. The new car takes a new direction in styling, is lighter, and puts more emphasis on handling. Read full story

Mercedes' 6th-generation SL is light in weight, heavy on technology The car's development director and aerodynamics specialist reveal the finer design and engineering points of the two-seat, high-performance, folding hardtop luxury cruiser. Read full story

Mazda CX-5 gets Skyactiv treatment The CX-5, replacing the CX-7 in the U.S., has window sticker EPA numbers as high as 26/35 mpg. Although 5.6 in (143 mm) shorter, it has a larger interior package than the CX-7. The AWD unit is redesigned to save 86 lb (39 kg), and the vehicle is at least 220 lb (100 kg) lighter, up to 575 (261 kg) lighter for heaviest models. Read full story

Jaguar launches its first large station wagon Jaguar has never before produced a station wagon variant of a large model, with the only previous station wagon in the company’s history being the X-Type. That gap was filled with the unveiling of the XF Sportbrake at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, based on the revised 2012 model year variant of the XF saloon. Read full story