Vintage The General Oil Filter Canister Model 1a-25a / Red & Black / Novi, Mich. on 2040-parts.com

MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

Volvo plans diesel and electric cars for U.S., will aim S60 at enthusiasts

Volvo will add diesel and electric cars to its U.S. product lineup as it tries to meet stricter U.S. fuel-mileage standards that will begin phasing in for the 2012 model year.

Fiat 500C drops cover (and top) for Geneva show

To keep in step with Mini, Fiat will launch a convertible version of the 500 at the Geneva motor show. The 500C comes a couple months after Mini showed its own new convertible at the Detroit auto show. In place of the fixed roof is a power retractable soft top with rear glass window and built-in rear brake light.