Powermadd 45538 Pivot Style Riser Block 10'' Height X 4.25'' Wide Ski-doo 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.

Ruf Stormster concept (2009): the electric Porsche Cayenne

Ruf might be a tiny German tuner, but it’s just unveiled the first ever electric Cayenne. Called the Stormster it's Ruf's second battery-powered Porsche, uses the same motor as the company's electric 911, weighs close to 2.7 tonnes and hits 62mph in ten seconds. No at all – in fact, earlier this week Ruf took its 676bhp GT2 to 229mph at the Nardo test track in southern Italy.

Maserati new model rollout confirmed

Maserati has revealed its plans for a new model rollout over the next few years as it targets 50,000 annual sales. It seems Fiat’s plans for Maserati, and their aim to sell 50,000 cars a year by 2015, is on target with the latest infographic from Fiat clearly showing which Maserati models are planned. The first car on Maserati’s list is the one we’ve already seen – the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte – which had a reveal recently and will get its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.