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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Ford's sweeping car redesign packs a lot of IT ]]></title>
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    <lastBuildDate>2013-05-22T09:24:30-07:00</lastBuildDate>
             

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        <title><![CDATA[The stirling is already being used in modern submarines..]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523863]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[(diesel electric)and it is possible to run this underwater because they store LOX on-board, and the exhaust is dissolved enough not to leave a bubble trail. They could also use this exhaust in a process to grow algae methanol that would recycle a portion of the CO2 to be used again for electric generation by methanol/methane fuel cell. No methanol or methane  would need to be stored on-board, making this efficient enough to compensate for LOX storage.Despite the sordid past of storing oxygen on board submarines, they are already using the first part of this design in smaller classes of modern subs primarily from EU military countries. I really wondered why they didn't use other chemical methods of storing oxygen, that would reduce explosive hazards, but perhaps they are already working on that.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523863]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:41:23 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[The Escape is actually a Japanese iteration...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523861]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[of a foreign design. I agree that Ford missed the boat on it; but at least it was one way to get a 30 mph vehicle that was larger in size than most high mileage vehicles, and at least reasonably priced. I would be interested to know if you average mileage was any where near what EPA had it rated at?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523861]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:23:24 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[I'm already spoiled rotten on my backup camera!..]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523860]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I never could rubber neck well enough to see behind me; with this thing I can even assure children aren't hiding behind my license tag! I gotta admit - though - the voice activated dial up on the integrated cell phone isn't exactly WATSON smart, if you know what I mean.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523860]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:18:33 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Yep! That is just one thing bad about OnStar!!..]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523839]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Some criminal could remote in and shut off your engine at an inopportune time and get you killed! GAH!!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523839]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:05:28 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[I want this car]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523434]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I want this concept, not some dumbed down, middle-americanized, 4 door familicanized car for the masses.  I was so excited to see the chevy volt come to market - until I saw it come to market. What a disappointment in style..]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3523434]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[MattInSD73]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:04:43 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Wouldn't bother me...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495674]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[anymore that other modifications in surface design that were actually fake trappings in the '60s. It never seems to fail that if a design is useful, it amazingly follows, that it looks good too. I know I like the look of the Toyota vans that use this same system. I don't even remember noticing the rail slots. After all, they are slots. No drag coefficient factor was affected in these designs - in fact - I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't lower the drag co-efficiency, much like was discovered in aircraft design.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495674]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:53:06 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Just the bleeding obvious]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495642]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[What you are describing is a engine designed to produce Thrust to drive the vehicle that it drives.What I was suggesting was a Turbine Engine used to spin a Alternator which requires far less thrust and as  a side effect fuel. It takes far less power to spin a 300 W Alternator than it does to push even a small aircraft through the air and the Engine suggested above isn't for a small Aircraft.For instance you could have a Turbine with a working area of 1 inch to spin an alternator of the desired power. Where as the Aircraft Engines are how big?Col]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495642]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[HAL 9000]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:11:02 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Sliding doors]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495332]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Sliding doors require rails.  Rails on a sports car would ruin its contour and consequently, it's look.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495332]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[thoiness]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:27:26 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[If GM killed it..]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495193]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[it was because big oil execs who are also on the board voted to keep any GM vehicle from becoming popular if it saved too much fuel. This is why they couldn't wait to destroy their first successful electric car. They wouldn't let the customers buy them either, only rent.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495193]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:32:19 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[These doors would &amp;quot;stick out&amp;quot; less that standard doors when open..]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495203]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[(nt)]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495203]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JCitizen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:25:05 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Do Commercial Vehicles]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495144]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Have to meet the same design criteria as Passenger Cars?If they do that is something new. Col]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3495144]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[HAL 9000]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:26:55 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Imagine a Babbage-mobile!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3494698]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[With a fully mechanical automatic gearbox.Fully mechanical fuel injection control system.Fully mechanical KERS and ABS and ESP (that'd be MSP) systems.Might have to be as big as house... but it would be a geek tourist attraction all by itself.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3494698]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[AnsuGisalas]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:20:33 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I won't ask you to put a *spoiler* warning ;)]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3494710]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Although I was pleasantly surprised by how odd it all turned out to look.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3494710]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[AnsuGisalas]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:15:14 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[As this is a Concept Car]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493203]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I was not thinking of using a 50 year old Design like that used on the VW Kombi.The idea of a Concept Car or at least when I was working in the Auto Industry was to show something Exciting &amp; Different to show what was possible. When the unit goes to production if ever those things disappear and the unit looks more Proddy.Actually the entire idea of Concept Cars was to develop them and then never send them to production but maybe incorporate features of the Concept Car into different production models.The problem I have with doors of any kind is the amount of space that they require beyond the outside of the vehicle and the strengthening built into them to prevent side intrusion. Even with light weight metals the door is going to be heavy and in the case that dissimilar metals are used the possibility of Electrolytic Decay occurring is way too great to be a long term solution.Maybe a better idea is that used by the Kit Car the Purvis Eureka where the entire roof lifts/swings up and you get out that way. Doesn't require any side space and doesn't require a height much greater than the average adult. That setup uses less space and allows for a tighter packing of cars in a car park.http://www.eurekacarclub.com.au/pics/04meet2.jpg Of course once the Hydraulic Lifts fail you have a problem and the Roll Over Protection is limited. Col]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493203]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[HAL 9000]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:06:37 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[What nobody wants?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493116]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Funny!  A friend of mine makes his sole income by getting cheap cars that need a little work and after fixing them up he sells them on the side of the road.He can't pay his rent selling big cars, but any small car he puts out sells fast.It looks like the area where he lives, MPG is the highest priority.  People in this area care more about that than a few dings in a door.  He sometimes will put in a stereo or do something nice, but it usually doesn't help make his cars sell any faster. So now he only does that if there's a hole in the dash where a radio used to be.The smaller the car, the faster it sells. And usually for a few dollars more.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493116]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:41:54 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Mirrors]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493109]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[on this prototype are just for looks.  They were made to be nice to look at, not to look into.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493109]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:34:52 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Massive Hole]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493114]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Is addressed by an internally re-inforced structure, like any current car door.The JaTech company claims that the undercarriage structure this requires will increase the body stiffness and make the car safer.I've noticed that the bottom panel will result in an aerodynamic underside, which is a necessary feature for a future car.These doors will cost the same as a powered sliding van door. And those doors have the same 'massive hole' issue well under control.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493114]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:31:13 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Car Computers]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493104]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[You almost have the right idea, but to date all the black boxes in a car are proprietary devices, running custom code that is incompatible with any other manufacturer.To implement this cloud system, will likely be a very profound shift in the design of the black boxes.  So far, the only thing that even comes close to a centralized networking topology is the onboard diagnostics required by federal law.  And even that requires specialized procedures depending on make.The cloud idea as presented by this prototype is a much bigger shift in car design than the article makes clear.Another point to keep in mind is that this society is becoming used to defective devices being sold new. Just look at the cell phone market.  First few months, some features are disabled, or bugs are discovered after release. But we keep buying this stuff.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493104]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:07:06 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Another set of compromises]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493101]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[But really, do you need a processor-controlled car to operate when the electrical system is run down so low that the car becomes unsafe to be on the road? - 'not even the hazard lights worked' Last I seen, the hazard lights still use a simple flasher circuit based on a heating element for the control method.So you take one bad day, and enshrine it in your mind as the epitome of all things wrong?  Then you stop thinking and project this analysis onto all other cars.I've seen other people do this.  It's called 'making mountains out of molehills'.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493101]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:51:25 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Chipless]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493076]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Tata makes cars like that.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-347782-3493076]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shadetree Engineer]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:35:06 -0700</pubDate>
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