In this video, Francois Bancon, Nissan’s General Manager, Marketing and Communication Group, Global Zero Emission Business Unit, took a few minutes to chat with the audience about Nissan’s vision for a zero-emission future.

Waterloo Labs have come up with a home-brewed system that enables them to drive a car using an iPhone.

Make has shared some pictures of a prototype airless tire currently under development for the U.S. Military.

The Copenhagenize blog has come up with a radical concept – warning labels on cars. Similar to the bold text warnings found on packs of cigarettes in many parts of the world, the labels would reveal the hidden dangers of driving, encouraging people to bicycle instead.
Copenhaganize explains:
I think it’s safe to say that we have a pressing need for marketing cycling positively if we’re to encourage people to ride bicycles and begin the transformation of our cities into more liveable places.
Instead of scare campaigns about cycling [a life-extending, healthy, sustainable transport form], wouldn’t it be more appropriate to begin campaigns [...]

Mercedes-Benz has recently announced plans to go ahead with the electric-drive SLS Gullwing.  If this car makes it to final production, it will join cars like the much talked about Tesla Roadster in the electric sportscar category.  What is interesting about both of these vehicles is the strong design element.  The original 300 SL Gullwing, introduced in 1954, is unquestionably one of the most beautiful cars that Mercedes-Benz has ever built.   Forget about the mileage, performance, and other green credentials, people will want to own this car because they are going to look good driving it.  Similarly, although not [...]

PSFK was recently invited to meet BMW and on our trip we paid a visit to the brand new museum and hyper-showroom just by the auto-maker’s head office in Munich. We took some photos along the way and thought you might be interested. These ones are of the Coop Himmelb(l)au designed BMW World:
Related: Site Visit: BMW Museum, Munich

We were recently invited to a roundtable discussion with David Schembri, President of Smart USA.  The event marked Smart’s first attempt at engaging bloggers as part of their marketing outreach.  While there wasn’t any car being launched, it was a nice opportunity to hear about how the company is fairing and what they have in the pipeline.
Smart has been selling cars in the U.S. for just under two years, and in that time has sold in excess of 30,000 units.  They are in the process of bracing for some new competition, expected to pop up in the next two years [...]

A project from Geekmyride.org gives new meaning to the term “remote controlled car”. Using a web server connected to an Arduino setup, an Australian man has turned his iPod Touch into a remote control for his Mazda RX-8. With a simple touch interface, he can now turn the engine on and off, lock and unlock all doors, display engine parameters and show the car’s current location on Google Maps. This tricked out car also acts as a mobile 3G broadband hub where authorized users can access the Internet. And if the owner ever forgets his iPod (or keys), it’s not [...]

Streetsfilms point out a useful crosswalk modification they discovered along Seattle’s waterfront. The pedestrian walkway is different than most due to lines of blinking lights that border the crosswalk.  They act as a signal for drivers to be aware and stop for people walking through.
Another useful design tweak is that the crosswalk signal lights are foot activated by stepping on a pad embedded with sensors rather than pressing a button. It’s a simple change from a typical crosswalk, but one that makes crossing a road safer, and a more seamless experience for walkers.
[Streetsblog via Eyebeam Reblog]

There’s an ominous new, all black storefront on Lafayette Street near Soho in NYC. Large, dark wood doors are flanked by windows covered in black and white photographic murals lit by giant film-set style lights. Not a sliver of the interior can be seen from the sidewalk but it’s obviously an apparel store, seemingly a clone of Abercrombie & Fitch. But hidden inside is a surprise: one of the most successful racing cars ever produced.
Etiqueta Negra, meaning ‘black label’ or ‘black tie,’ is the leader in the high-end clothing segment in Argentina. It was founded in 2003 by Federico Álvarez [...]

Instructables has an incredible  do-it-yourself project that shows the step by step instructions to modify a car to run on garbage. Using a process called gasification, which uses heat to transform solid biomass into a natural gas like fuel, this homemade engine runs on nearly anything. Wood, food scraps, leaves – pretty much any kind of solid, dry organic matter you can get your hands on will make this car go.  Equally surprising is the fact that gasification has been in use for quite a long time.
Instructables explains:
Did you know that over one million vehicles in Europe ran onboard gasifiers [...]

About the trend for retro Station Wagons from the 70s and 80s are the must have car: as long as it has wood panelling.