Awful Materials Found in Automobiles

Brian Turner

With all the attention on the outside pollution that the vehicles of today placed into the atmosphere, one would think that the regulators in government and the private institutions that are overseeing the auto industry would've picked up on something else – the toxins that reside inside of each car that is slowly killing drivers under the radar.

Mostly in older vehicles, asbestos was used in different vehicle parts for fire-resistance like brake linings, gaskets, hood liners, clutch plates, etc. Exposure to this substance can lead an aggressive disease called mesothelioma. Hobbyists and mechanics need to take safety pre-cautions before performing on their cars.

The many substances that are used to create the plastics that go inside cars have been shown by many studies around the world to be completely toxic and unhealthy for people of any age, and the things that they cause inside of the body are often not curable and are completely long-term and even terminal in nature.

Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are acidic compounds that are used to increase the usability of plastic through increasing their longevity, flexibility, durability and transparency. They are usually used in PVCs, which is definitely not a group of products that is in favor with the Western world right now. There are many products that are being phased out because they contain these types of chemicals for the same health reasons that they should not be used in cars.

The other large form of chemicals that are used in cars and cause major health problems for drivers is known as PBDEs. This group of chemicals is similar to phthalate esters in that they cause definite long-term, completely incurable problems in all human beings, although they are not being fazed out of products at the same rate as phthalate esters are.

These awful materials usually find their way into the human body through inhalation of dust particles, which are contained on the inside of the vehicles. What this means for drivers is that the one way to keep as much of those toxic materials out of your body as possible is to keep the inside of your car as clean as possible. Along with that, another way to keep these substances out of your system is to wear a gas mask whenever you are dealing in close proximity to the car, including working under the car, pumping gas for the car and looking under the hood for any type of problem.

Citroen C1 facelifted

This is the new, facelifted for 2012, Citroen C1. In addition to the more obvious physical changes, the new C1 will cost £700 less than the outgoing model when it arrives in April this year. 

LED lights have been added to a body that will now come with a greater choice of colours for the outside and a greater choice of cloth materials for the inside. 

The higher spec models will likely be a lot more expensive than the lowest VT trim level and so will not drop much in price, however the car in its most basic form is nonetheless a significant amount cheaper than it was, while looking better as a result.

Detroit Auto Show - Vauxhall reveals new Mokka

Vauxhall has revealed a totally new car, the Mokka, set to compete with the Nissan Juke/Ford Kuga class of cars. To be sold in America as the Buick Encore, the Mokka will arrive in the UK in November this year.

The car measures 4.28m long x 1.645m tall, so although it looks a little like a tall Corsa, it is in fact a much larger car, differing greatly from the supermini. It will however use the Gamma II platform which the next generation Corsa will be based on.

There will be several engines available, both petrol and diesel. The petrols will include a 1.6-litre, 117bhp motor and a 1.4-litre turbo producing 142bhp. Customers will also be able to choose a 1.7-litre CDTi turbodiesel with 132bhp and 221lb ft of torque.

The standard car will be front-wheel-drive but the car will be available in 4x4 specification. All cars will come with start/stop technology and the turbos will be available in either six-speed manual or automatic configurations.

Although it will be related directly to the new Corsa, the Mokka boasts promising amounts of space - with the rear seats folded it provides 1372 litres of load space and 533 with them up.

The car will be fitted with 18-inch wheels and as well as the usual driver assists the Mokka will use hill start assist, hill descent control systems with adaptive forward lighting and even the option of a front-facing camera.

Detroit Auto Show - 9th Jan Gallery

Due to the sheer number of cars that debuted yesterday, I'll only be able to update you with a gallery and brief details on every car so far.

The Smart For-us - a zero emissions pick-up style concept

The new Mercedes SL - due to be released mid-2012

The electric version of Nissan's NV200 van

The new Nissan Pathfinder concept.  The new car will be far less rugged than its predecessor using an entirely new platform

The Volvo XC60 plug-in-hybrid concept, boasting 325bhp

The upcoming Hyndai Genesis Coupe, rumoured to come with an eight-speed auto

The new Hyundai Veloster coupe, with 210bhp and three doors - literally

The Mini Roadster will compete with the Mazda MX-5 in late 2012

The all-new BMW 3-series made its first appearance in America

An all-new V8-powered Bentley Continental GT made its first appearance

The Scion FR-S - North America's take on the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GT86 - also broke cover

The new European Ford Mondeo appeared under American Ford Fusion guise, to be sold as a saloon in North America but also as an estate and hatchback in Europe

Also making its first appearance was the new Dodge Dart, based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta 

The soft-top convertible version of Ford's new 200+mph Shelby GT500 also made its debut

It was revealed that the North American BMW M5 will come with a six-speed manual, whereas the European  M5 will use an automatic transmission

Following the release of the new 911 last year, the first 911 cabrio debuted at Detroit

Mercedes will be using its most powerful 2.1-litre engine in the new E300 BlueTec Hybrid

Cadillac's 3-series rival, the ATS, finally broke cover

Although only a concept, the Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sports Coupe showcases the firm's new design styling

The new Audi A4 has been facelifted and given a new 1.8-litre 170bhp TFSI engine

Audi also showcased its new Q3, the Vail concept, supposedly inspired by a Colorado mountain resort

Chrysler showed off its new MPV, the 700C by showing a concept of what the styling could look like

Perhaps the biggest story of the show so far, Honda turned up with yet another NSX concept, although this time it is very likely that a successor will be made

A new 'sporty' VW Beetle appeared in the shape of the E-Bugster, a preview of the new Beetle cabrio and VW's electric technology that we may see in the near future

This Scion FR-S drift car with 600bhp and 500lb-ft of torque will compete next season

This completes most of the exhibits as of the 9th January, please return later for more.

Special Edition one-off 4x4 Fiat 500

This new Fiat 500 will start life as a Fiat 500 coupe Zagato. It will then be taken in by the American company Scagliarini Motorsports and the finished product will be called the Scagliarini Fiat 504 Coupe Zagato Elaborata.

The company will replace its regular chassis with one from the Abarth 500, add a four-wheel drive system and Scagliarini's latest carbon fibre technology. The rear windows will be filled, the car will get Abarth 500 Alcantara front seats, Brembo brakes and a new Regazzon performance exhaust. The 1.4 litre 178bhp engine will remain unchanged.

Construction will take place in Italy using a standard Abarth 500 and the all-wheel drive system from a Fiat Panda. The car will be a one-off as a publicity exercise for Scagliarini  Motorsports to establish the brand.

2012 Renault Clio Williams abandons old colour scheme

In 2012 there will be a new version of the famous Renault Clio Williams - a hot hatchback that blended the Clio with Williams F1's engineering and technical knowledge to produce a truly brilliant car. The new version will arrive in 2012 as a celebration of the outgoing Renault Clio. This news follows the announcement that the Williams-Renault partnership will be revived for 2012 in Formula One, so it is likely that this was also a contributing factor.

Since the original car of 1993, the Subaru Impreza has become more noticeably associated with a blue body, gold wheels colour scheme, so it is possible that Renault will consider a new, more futuristic colour scheme while designing the new car. 

It could feature subtle hints of the old colour scheme, or perhaps the red, white and blue of the current Williams livery and colour scheme of both the British and French national flags.

New Fiat 500C by Gucci

The Fiat 500C by Gucci will come as a convertible in either glossy black with shiny chrome-plated trim or white with matt chrome-plated trim.

The soft-top roof will come with a Gucci themed green-red-green pattern and the body-coloured 16-inch alloy wheels will feature double G logos in the centre.

The car will be available from August onwards, costing £17,434.

Maserati GranTurismo gets new Sport Pack

Maserati's new Sport Pack for the GranTurismo S Automatic will feature a revised exhaust system with a richer sound with a faster automatic gearbox thanks to new MC Auto Shift technology. 

Visually the car will also differ from the standard car: Grigio Neptune-design alloy wheels; body-coloured side skirts; a new black grille featuring a red-highlighted Maserati logo and an integrated boot spoiler. The headlights will feature a 'black look' tint and the car will now have oval exhaust pipes.

The power, weight, torque and straight line performance of the car will not change and will be the same as the standard GranTurismo S, but the Sport Pack will add £3,840 to the price.

Ford to reveal 4 new cars at Frankfurt Show

Ford is set to reveal four new cars for its global market at the Frankfurt Show this September. The only information we know about these models is that at least one will be a 'major new design concept' and another will be the next performance version of the Focus, probably the ST.

The cars will be revealed on Ford's predictably enormous stand at the Frankfurt Show, next to its 2800 square-metre test track where customers will be able to see Ford technology including Active City Stop and Active Park Assist in action.

The new concept(s) will likely reveal the way future Fords will be designed, especially if there happens to be more than one concept on display. 

Nissan To Build MX-5 Rival

Nissan has decided to go ahead with its car to rival Mazda's legendary MX-5. Crucially, though, its car will be electric.

Nissan tried to revive the 200SX in the past but had to give up in 2008. This car would have used the 370Z's platform with a 1.6 litre turbo producing 188bhp that the Juke now uses. The plan has changed however, and the car will now have a completely different name along with its own chassis. This will likely originate from Daimler who agreed to supply Mazda with mid-size chassis that could accommodate anything from four-cylinder engines to V8s.

This chassis will then be used for the new 370Z, GT-R, Infiniti G and a new Infiniti sports car. There are no confirmed details on what engine will power this new car, although it is rumoured that it could use a tuned version of the Leaf's electric motor or a hybrid engine.

The car will definitely be rear-wheel drive though. Mazda have also recruited engineers from Lotus Engineering to help with the chassis, to ensure that the car handles well.

The new car will arrive in 2013 and cost around £20,000

New Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 will sit below the CX-7 in Mazda's model range as their entry-level SUV, rivalling the Land Rover Freelander. It will be the first of Mazda's cars to use its SkyActiv eco technologies, giving it CO2 figures of 120g/km. These technologies include a brand new chassis, engine and transmission and it will also be the first of Mazda's cars to use their Kodo design. 

The car will be powered by a new 2.2 litre turbodiesel unit that will produce 173bhp and 310lb/ft. This new engine, coupled with the also new six-speed manual transmission give the car its remarkable CO2 figure. Mazda have optimised the compression ratio to 14:1 to make the car 20% more economical than the 2.2 diesel that this engine will replace, but this engine will also come in a higher power format too, along with a range of SkyActiv petrol engines.

The car should arrive in the UK in Spring 2012.