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Spreading technology's benefits
The benefits of new vehicle technologies are beginning to reach Australian roads at a faster pace. Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that Australians are buying so many new cars that it has started to reduce the average age of vehicles on the roads.
It always takes many years before new car technical improvements to safety and engine performance bring widespread community benefits. But according to the bureau, the average age of Australia's car fleet is now falling steadily. Since 1997 the average age has dropped from 10.7 years to 10.2.
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Combination fuel
Brazil - one of the countries backing the trans-South America natural gas pipeline - has also been developing its own low-pollution minicar, especially for the export market.
It is known as the Obvio! 828, and is so small two will fit into a standard roadside parking space. It runs on either ethanol or petrol, or any combination of the two and in city conditions it will travel 12.5 km/litre.
When in full production in 2007, the Obvio is expected to sell for about $US 14,000. A North American distributor in California has already put in orders for 50,000 of the cars.
Tight parking
The trend to smaller cars has also brought technology developments in tight steering. Toyota has shown the potentials with its new fuel-cell concept car, the Fine-T. It not only has the ability to drive at right angles but turn 360-degress on its vertical axis. Peripheral cameras give the driver 360-degree vision too.
