Chicago 2010: Racecars zoom into McCormick Place

It isn't so much "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday," here at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, maybe more like "Show on Sunday, sell on Monday." While many manufacturers have their newest production cars on display here at McCormick Place, a number of them also dragged out their racecars to remind the public of their motorsports heritage.

Racecars are always a popular attraction at auto shows, and the ones here in Chicago are exemplary. There are dragsters, funny cars, and pro stockers for the quarter-mile fans, NASCAR stock cars, amateur racers, open wheelers, and even Le Mans runners. Mazda, Audi, Ford, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Acura, Honda, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mitsubishi and others are all here with stickered up and numbered racecars.

Videos: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses Williams F1 flywheel KERS

The hybrid drive system being used by Porsche in its new 911 GT3 R isn't what you find in your average Prius or Fusion. Instead of a battery for energy storage, the 911 will use an electro-mechanical flywheel. The system being used was actually developed by the Williams formula one team and its Williams Hybrid Power subsidiary.

The system is comprised of an electrically driven flywheel and a motor/generator on the gearbox. During braking the gearbox mounted generator drives the flywheel to spin it up to 40,000 rpm. When needed for extra acceleration, the flywheel drives its integrated motor/generator to spin provide power back to the unit on the gearbox.

In the case of the 911, a pair motor generators are actually on the front wheels instead of the single unit on the gearbox as it was on the Williams F1 car last year. This provides more regenerative braking capability as well as all wheel drive.

The flywheel itself is made of a composite material that is infused with magnetic particles when it is being molded. This actually acts as the permanent magnet for the motor, helping to keep the overall weight down. The result is a very efficient system with less mass than a battery system and the ability to absorb energy more rapidly than a battery similar to an ultracapaitor. Like ultracapacitors the downside for automotive applications is limited energy storage capacity.

As a result, electric driving is limited meaning that this really behaves more like a mild hybrid system than a strong hybrid. However, the power output is closer to what is available from most strong hybrids. Williams Hybrid Power is working with a number of automakers on implementing its flywheel system although only Porsche has been publicly identified. Porsche's has setup a microsite for its new Hybrid racecar, and for more details, make the jump for the release and a video explaining the system, along with two promo videos.

Chicago 2010: Women of the Windy City

This year's 2010 Chicago Auto Show is just about over, at least for us media types, and while a couple of significant vehicles were unveiled here, it's basically a repeat of Detroit – the industry has definitely scaled back. Although Chicago hasn't always been one of the pre-eminent events on the calendar, we usually get a lot out of our trip to the Windy City, and while that's generally new car debuts, there's plenty else to occupy our time here.

Despite 'Big Brother' barbs, Europe looking at pinpoint GPS car tracking

Navigation systems are quickly becoming commonplace even on the cheapest new cars and trucks, and the European Commission is working to use technology to make the systems far more accurate than the current technology allows. The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, or EGNOS, is already online in Europe, and the European Commission is encouraging navigation providers to utilize the technology to make directions far more accurate than they are now. As an example, Wards Automotive quotes sources who say EGNOS can improve the accuracy of nav systems from 10 to 20 percent versus nav systems without EGNOS.

Despite 'Big Brother' barbs, Europe looking at pinpoint GPS car tracking

Navigation systems are quickly becoming commonplace even on the cheapest new cars and trucks, and the European Commission is working to use technology to make the systems far more accurate than the current technology allows. The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, or EGNOS, is already online in Europe, and the European Commission is encouraging navigation providers to utilize the technology to make directions far more accurate than they are now. As an example, Wards Automotive quotes sources who say EGNOS can improve the accuracy of nav systems from 10 to 20 percent versus nav systems without EGNOS.

Opel releases updated Corsa in Europe

Some new vehicle launches come as a surprise, while others are expected well in advance. After Fiat released the updated Punto Evo, it was only a matter of time until Opel did the same with its Corsa.

Why is that, you ask? Because the Corsa isn't just a competitor to the Punto: it shares the same platform. In fact the platform that underpins the Corsa can also be found in everything from the Alfa Romeo MiTo to the Peugeot Bipper, all courtesy of joint ventures among three major automakers across Europe. It was co-developed between General Motors and Fiat, and underpins some eight different vehicles sold as at Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Citroën, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall dealerships. But even setting the others aside, the Corsa is Opel/Vauxhall's top seller, accounting for some 30 percent of its overall sales. A vital product, then.

For the latest Corsa, Opel has kept things simple. That is to say, simple on the outside. While the exterior remains virtually unchanged, a host of revisions have been carried out underneath the skin. For starters, the engine range – comprised of five gasoline fours from 1.0-liter up to a 1.6 turbo and three diesels – has been revised to deliver more power while consuming less fuel and emitting fewer carbon molecules. The suspension has also been recalibrated for increased ride comfort and the steering comprehensively re-tuned by the company's OPC performance division for greater precision.

Geneva Preview: Citroën teases DS High Rider concept *UPDATED

Citroën has released the dark teaser images you see above, previewing the new DS High Rider crossover concept that is expected to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The silhouette shows a high-riding GT-type body style, similar to such past Citroën show cars as the 2005 C-Sportlounge and the 2008 Hypnos. The concept is a diesel hybrid, but this being a show car, anything can happen along the road from concept to production. While the DS4 is expected to borrow its underpinnings from the C4 (like the DS3 does from the C3), the bodystyle ought to further distance the premium crossover from the mass-market hatchback.

Reports: Toyota fixing 50k pedals per day, considering redesigning pushbutton start

Toyota's got its sticky-pedal fix in high gear, with dealers exorcising an impressive 50,000 unintended acceleration demons per day. Thus far, 225,000 of the several million recalled vehicles have already been repaired. Going all-in on the fix was the only choice for Toyota, anything less would telegraph an attitude of apathy toward safety, and brand perception has tumbled precipitously lately.

There's a long way to go to finish all the fixes for the various massive recalls of Toyota vehicles, but there have been positives lately, too. MotorWeek named the Prius its 2010 Car of the Year, overall customer complaints have been low for the past decade, and a refreshed Avalon rolled out in Chicago. On the other hand, some members of Congress would like Akio Toyoda, president of the company, to pay a visit to Capitol Hill for what's likely to be a less pleasant experience.

As a result of the runaway acceleration issues, Toyota is also considering forward-looking revisions to its Smart Key pushbutton start system. The changes wouldn't be part of any recalls, and would be for yet-to-be-birthed cars. Adding a three-press shutdown feature, instead of the current mode of holding the start button for three-plus seconds is a change that would bring Toyota in line with other automakers that use pushbutton start. The hope is that in an emergency, shutting down the vehicle will be quicker and more intuitive.

Alfa Romeo Executive Fastback Sedan

Even if Alfa Romeo's long-awaited replacement left 166 premium sedan has been shelved for the time being (from what we've heard the same thing applies to the successors to the 159, Brera and Spider), while the Fiat group revaluates historical brand in the future? The matters for independent designers such as Jacob Mcmurry who have the freedom to envision the future of any form they wish.

In this case, Mcmurry design of a future proposal for a non-topping Alfa Romeo in 2017, which he said was inspired by the Carnival of Venice - do not ask ...

He claims that he was determined to 'pointy' living room with Italian strange tail end of the boat equipped with a diesel would be ideal to send V8 power to the rear wheels. More pics after the end of the first half.

Exhibitions only eight deaths in the design of clothes 500 in London

Show romanization
In the celebration of the second anniversary of the launch of the United Kingdom from 500 popular vehicle in the city, and deaths brought a unique set of special edition 500s from all over the world to Marylebone showroom in London. These include 500 of Capri Castagna, and Italy's Valentino Rossi 500, 500 by Andy, 500 Diabolika, 500 Ron Arad, 500byDiesel, a race Abarth 500 and 500 run limited new pink, which went on sale in the United Kingdom earlier this week.