THE CAR NAIRA BLOG

Automotive supplier giant Continental has a tire concept whose technology may end up in production in the not too distant future. A continental concept tyre Called "Conti C.A.R.E." (Connected, Autonomous, Reliable and Electrified), the concept was first shown at the Frankfurt International Motor Show and was developed with future self-driving taxi fleets in mind. It can send information to a fleet manager. The tire features sensors able to measure key vitals such as tread depth, temperature, air pressure, and signs of damage. When necessary, the tire can send information from these sensors to a cloud network where a fleet manager could monitor it. Suppose the tread on a self-driving taxi is getting low, the fleet manager would receive a warning and could call the car back to the station. It can adjust it's air pressure on the fly. Another interesting aspect is the tire's ability to actively adjust its air pressure on the run. This is made possible by centrifugal pumps

Scratches and swirl marks are part of car ownership. Despite best efforts to keep a car clean and of imperfections, such paint imperfections are often out of the owner's control, that is, if the keke and cab drivers don't get you first. Enter corn to solve the problem. A ceramic coated Chevrolet Camaro A new corn-based lacquer promises to fill in scratches and swirl marks that normally mar a paint finish's outer coat of clear lacquer with nothing other than heat to fix the problem. Germany's Leibniz Institute for New Materials announced Wednesday that it had developed the corn-based lacquer, which is actually derived from corn starch. The lacquer features what the scientists called a "nanomer" property that includes ring-shaped molecules known as cyclodextrins. The molecules are threaded onto a chain of polymer molecules and the cyclodextrins are free to move about this chain, so to speak. They also can't fall off due to the presence of other molecules tha

Volvo's new cars and SUVs strike up a conversation with one another 2020. The automaker has announced Monday that every new car sold in Europe will be fitted with its latest connected-safety technology that can warn other Volvo drivers about road conditions or vehicle crashes. Volvo connected car safety Volvo calls the features its "Hazard Light Alert and Slippery Road Alert", which rolled out in 2016 on the brand's 90-series cars, but was relegated to Sweden and Norway. Now, all 2020 model year Volvos will feature the technology across Europe. Motor Authority reached out to Volvo to learn if U.S. drivers will be treated to the technology and a spokesman confirmed there are plans for an introduction. However, Volvo isn't ready to say when it will be ready for the U.S.  Before you ask, there's no hope for Africa.  Volvo connected car safety The technology works over a cloud-based network that all Volvo cars will be connected to. From there, every car will anony

Android users have a new way to interact with their built-in Google Assistant. Google has announced a new Driving Mode for the assistant. Screenshot of Google assistant's driving mode The Driving Mode turns the Google Assistant into an extension of an infotainment system for any Android smartphone. The Driving Mode also focuses on accomplishing tasks with just the driver's voice so they can keep their attention on the road ahead. Upon pairing the smartphone with a car's Bluetooth connection, Driving Mode will open automatically and provide information for the trip ahead. For example, Driving Mode will suggest events or reservations. Drivers can then begin a navigation route to the destination from Driving Mode without fumbling around with their phones. The most relevant functions are front and centre on the screen, such as navigation, media, messages, and phone. The media function ensures a song, podcast, or whatever the driver was listening to before jumping in the car pic

General Motors has said it will test a prototype airless tire from Michelin. The prototype is called the UPTIS, short for Unique Puncture-proof Tire System, and GM plans to test them on a fleet of Chevrolet Bolt EVs, with a view to making them available as early as 2024. An airless tyre from Michelin Airless tires, often called tweels, are nothing new. Michelin has been developing them for over a decade and already offers them for some commercial vehicles.  A Chevrolet Bolt EV fitted with prototype airless tires from Michelin Airless tires feature a conventional tire tread wrapped around a resin spoke that can compress to absorb impacts. The design eliminates the worry of flats and blowouts, which in turn reduces the use of raw materials and waste. The airless tires also last longer than conventional pneumatic tires, since they also eliminate irregular wear and tear caused by tires with too much air or too little. But the benefits don't end there. Fewer and fewer cars are being sup

 The days of needing your keys, phone, and wallet are about to be over thanks to Apple. The Silicon Valley-based tech company's World Wide Developer Conference, Apple announced CarKey as part of the iOS 14.0 iPhone operating system, which is scheduled for release this fall (September to December 2020). An update of iOS 13 will support the feature as well.  Apple CarKey An iPhone with the iOS 14.0 operating system and CarKey will use the phone's NFC chip to act as the vehicle's key signal. The first vehicle to work with CarKey will be the 2021 BMW 5-Series, thanks to a partnership between Apple and BMW. Other vehicles and automakers will offer CarKey next year. The 5-Series was also the first vehicle with wireless Apple CarPlay Users will hold their Apple NFC-equipped device, such as an iPhone or Apple Watch, next to the vehicle's NFC reader, typically in the vehicle's door handle, and will then authenticate via Face ID or Touch ID to unlock the vehicle. The process

In modern cars, the windshield washer pump comes as one unit with a small electric motor. Typically, the windshield washer pump is installed in the lower portion of the windshield washer fluid tank (bottle).  Windshield washer pump (motor), located at the bottom of the windshield washer fluid tank. In most cars, the windshield washer tank is located behind the front bumper, in front of one of the front wheels. How It Works:   When you operate the washer with the switch, it sends the signal to the control module (e.g. BCM) that, through the relay, operates the windshield washer pump. The pump pumps the windshield washer fluid through the hoses that are connected to the washer jets. Windshield washer pump/motor basic wiring diagram Windshield washer pump problems One of the common problems is when the windshield washer pump electric motor fails. In some cases, the pump fails, so you can hear the motor running when the washer switch is operated, but the washer fluid doesn't spray. A b