The 370Z launched in India comes with the Synchro Rev Match manual transmission. This system facilitates a smooth gear change by increase or decreasing the rpm of the engine so that the clutch plate and the flywheel mess at the same rpm. For instance when you change down from 4th gear to 3rd you would take the foot off the throttle, apply the clutch and change the gear, at this moment the Synchro Rev Match kicks in. It matches the engine rpm (i.e. flywheel’s rpm) to that of the clutch shaft’s (i.e. shaft connecting the clutch and the gearbox) and then re-engages the clutch which results in ultra-smooth gear change.

It does this by means of sensors (obviously). Synchro Rev uses engine rpm sensor, gearbox rpm sensor throttle position sensor and a sensor to monitor the position of the gear lever. In the 6-speed manual 370Z, the output shaft spins at the same rpm (5000 assuming) as the engine at 6th gear as the gear ratio is 1.1 (almost) but the gear ratio for 5th gear is 1.56:1 (assuming) hence when the gear is shifted from 6th to 5th the engine has to spin at 5000*1.56 rpm for a smooth gear change. Synchro Rev increases the rpm of the engine to 7800rpm so that both the flywheel and the clutch plate spin at the same rpm and then re-engages the clutch. Other than the smooth gear change, Synchro Rev reduces the wear and tear of the clutch plate.

click through for a video explanation

Fiat displayed the Linea Dualogic at Delhi which might even be launched later this year. The word “Dualogic” refers to the transmission of the Linea. Dualogic on the functional basis is both automatic and manual but it is not the same kind of automatics with torque convertors. It is so unique and brilliant that it is 10% fuel efficient than any other automatic gearbox and 3-5% fuel efficient than any other manual gearbox.

It is a known fact that a good car with a bad driver behind its wheels will get lesser mileage than a good driver. All these mileage is lost mostly in the shifting of gears which involves shifting at the right time and short time. A conventional automatic gearbox doesn’t solve this problem either as it is worse on mileage however good or bad the driver is. Fiat thought out of the box to solve this and thus was born the Dualogic.

Dualogic transmission consists of the same 5-speed gearbox as a manual but it doesn’t have a clutch pedal. A servo arrangement which consists of an electronic motor which turns on and off up on receiving of electronic signals, this engages and disengages the clutch through a mechanical linkage. This servo arrangement also has the actuating mechanical links which shift gears. In simple English instead of you depressing you foot on the clutch pedal and shifting the gear with your hand, the computer controlled robot inside the car depresses the pedal and changes the gear at the right time for better mileage and better power. If automatics aren’t your thing switch to manual mode in which you move the gear lever forward for shifting up and backward for shifting down.

Though Dualogic refers to the gearbox, it’s got its roots spread all over the car. There are sensors to monitor how far the brake is depressed, the car will start only if the brake is depressed which is an indicator of a driver’s presence. If the driver’s door is open the gear will shift automatically into neutral. There are sensors to monitor the inclination/declination the car is taking and gearshift is based on that. In fact every parameter which would affect gearshift is monitored and gear shifting is done to get the best performance from least amount of fuel.

Valvetronic Variable lift (VVL) is a patented System of BMW used first in its 2001 3-series and is now being impregnated into the 2011 5-Series. Nissan has a similar system in its Skyline Coupe (Infinity G37). What this system does is vary the volume of fuel entering into each cylinder by varying the lift of the inlet valve. It does this continuously with increase and decrease in RPM.

The system adds two main parts to the cylinder head cam rocker arm assembly. The first is an electric motor which gets its input from the throttle position sensor. The second is an intermediate rocker-arm which is turned by the electric motor and transmits its output to the rocker arm.

When the driver calls for more power the electric motor turns the intermediate rocker arm and this causes the valve to open deeper. This helps fuel efficiency since in a conventional engine no matter at what RPM the engine runs the valve opening is constant, which means even at low RPM the inlet valve is a bit more open than needed.

Click through for the Pictorial representation

Let’s take for example a FCV like Honda FCX Clarity, the One James May reviewed in Top Gear. The Clarity has two main parts in its drive train a normal electric motor and something known as “Fuel Cell” which provides electricity to the motor.

A Fuel Cell is an electro-chemical unit which produces electricity by a chemical reaction between fuel and air. The Fuel Cell used in the Honda and other FCVs is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell. When you fuel the Honda with Hydrogen, the Fuel Cell on-board the car strikes a chemical reaction between Hydrogen and oxygen from air and creates electricity. This electricity produced by the fuel cell runs the electric motor and the car in turn.
Instead of pure hydrogen, hydrogen rich fuels like methanol, natural gas or even petrol can be used as the fuel but they all have to be converted into hydrogen gas by an on-board device called reformer.

The Fuel Cell Vehicles might be the thing for the future because of the following advantages

• Unlike petroleum we won’t run out of Hydrogen as it is one of the most abundant elements.
• It is so abundant the only cost of hydrogen comes from processing, it costs a bit less than petrol.
• FCVs don’t produce any pollutants as the output of the chemical reaction between hydrogen and Oxygen is water vapor H20.
• Fuel efficiency of 116Kms per kilogram of Hydrogen.

Honda is currently leasing out the FCX Clarity only in California. It is leasing because the technology is very expensive which is its main downside and Honda is only selling it in Cali because only Cali has Hydrogen fuel bunks.

Yesterday’s Hindu paper reported that the switch from compressed air to nitrogen for tyre inflation is catching up in Chennai.

The advantages of using Nitrogen instead of compressed air are:

• Nitrogen is cooler and the tyres don’t get heated much during long drives
• Nitrogen is lighter than air.
• Nitrogen is non-combustible
• Nitrogen doesn’t contain moisture that prevent wear and tear due to oxidation of the inter tyre surface.
• 25% better tyre pressure retention.
• Provides better grip.

Because of all these advantages Hp has installed nitrogen tyre inflation machines in 22 of its 137 bunks in the city. It can be filled in both two-wheeler tyres and tubeless tyres of cars. Before filling up your tyre with oxygen, compressed air should be completely removed.

Though most bunks offer this as a free ad-on service to their customers, some bunk charge up to Rs.50 for each tyre and Rs.10 for subsequent re-fills.

The U.S National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a safely alert for all Toyota and Lexus owners requiring them to remove the floor mat off the driver’s portion. There have been cases of the throttle pedal getting jammed in open position due to the floor mat. This is caused because of low clearance between the floor and the pedal and also because of the floor mat design. This problem is specific to Toyota and Lexus cars because of their unique flood design.

The cars that have been identified to have this problem are:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

If you ever find you self in this position Toyota would want you to do this: Brake hard with both feet, apply clutch (in case of manual transmission), and shift to neutral (in both manual and & automatic). If you have key less entry, push and hold the start/stop button for 3 seconds to turn off the engine. If it’s a conventional key-ignition turn the key to the ACC position, do not remove the key at any time since it will lock the steering wheel. To know about various Key positions click here.

Toyota recommend that you remove the floor mat,but if you choose not to , Toyota recommends that you ensure that a proper floor mat is used and installed properly. Toyota gives more information on this in its webpage www.toyota.com.