The union of technology and automobiles is ushering in a new era of connected and intelligent cars. These super smart cars come equipped with extraordinary features that were until now only a figment of our imagination. 

At some point in life, many of us have wished that a crack in our car bonnet would simply disappear, but, of course, never thought it possible. Well, think again. Lamborghini’s Terzo Millennio has the ability to conduct its own health monitoring to detect cracks and damages in its substructure derived from accidents. If it suffers damage, a self-repairing process starts via micro-channels filled with healing chemistries, reducing to zero the risks of small cracks propagating further in the carbon fiber structure. 

Yesterday, Euro NCAP publishes the safety ratings of eight new vehicles: the Volvo XC60 in the large off-road category; the VW T-Roc, Škoda Karoq and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in the small off-road category; the Citroën C3 Aircross and Opel Crossland X small MPV category; and two superminis – the new&nb

Defence and security company Saab announces that the Gripen E smart fighter flew supersonic for the first time. The aircraft broke the sound barrier over the Baltic Sea on the 18th November.

The Gripen E smart fighter flew at speeds greater than the speed of sound, at over Mach 1, as part of the ongoing flight trials programme. The purpose was to collect data from the aircraft as it achieved and sustained supersonic speed. The flight took place over the Baltic sea and the aircraft sustained supersonic speed for a number of minutes, whilst carrying out maneouvres, demonstrating the successful combination of the aicraft’s fighter design and its powerful engine.

At Busworld in Kortrijk, Belgium, Scania unveils the hybrid Scania Interlink Low Decker and premieres the battery electric Scania Citywide bus.

With the addition of hybrid technology, Scania now meets the entire scope of alternatives for suburban and intercity operations. The Scania Interlink Low Decker is presently available for diesel, biodiesel, HVO, CNG/CBG, ethanol and, with the latest addition, hybrid. It complements the Scania Citywide Low Entry Suburban, which is also available for the full range of alternative fuels as well as in a hybrid mode.

GrabCAD, the world’s largest online community for engineers, designers, manufacturers and students, has hit 4 million members worldwide.

Founded in Estonia in 2010, GrabCAD began life as a service bureau connecting engineers with engineering jobs, but it was the power of its Community that soon took on a life all its own. Today, as part of 3D printing giant Stratasys, GrabCAD has over 100 software professionals working in five locations worldwide, including Tallinn, Boston, Cambridge, UK, Israel and Minneapolis, USA.

Range Rover is the latest brand to capitalise on increasing popularity of SUVs in Europe with the launch of the brand new Velar.

The SUV segment has continued to grow more than any other and sales of small SUVs are expected to reach two million in 2018.  Fifteen popular SUVs, large and small, have already been tested by Euro NCAP since the start of 2016. These include sport utility vehicles by established players, such as the Jeep Compass and the Audi Q5, as well as new entrants like the Seat Ateca, Škoda Kodiaq and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. 

Volvo is now launching trucks that can cut CO2 emissions by 20 to 100 per cent. With a firm focus on new, energy-efficient technology for gas-powered vehicles, Volvo Trucks makes it possible to significantly reduce the climate impact of heavy regional and long-haul transport operations.

ABB today announced the acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions, GE’s global electrification solutions business. GE Industrial Solutions has deep customer relationships in more than 100 countries and an established installed base with strong roots in North America, ABB’s biggest market. GE Industrial Solutions is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has about 13,500 employees around the world. In 2016, GE Industrial Solutions had revenues of approximately $2.7 billion, with an operational EBITDA margin of approximately 8 percent¹ and an operational EBITA margin of approximately 6 percent¹. ABB will acquire GE Industrial Solutions for $2.6 billion; the transaction will be operationally accretive in year one.

MassChallenge, in collaboration with PKO Bank Polski and Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship, are opening submissions from September 1st for the first ever Bridge to MassChallenge Warsaw program. MassChallenge is one of the largest startup accelerators in the world operating in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mexico and Israel. The program is dedicated to ready-to-go-global startups from Central and Eastern Europe.

Central and Eastern Europe is one of the emerging startup ecosystems - not without a reason the biggest accelerators are increasingly looking at this part of Europe. Bridge to MassChallenge Warsaw – a competition for startups from CEE region, will be looking for promising ventures to support their international careers.

YuMi, the world's first truly collaborative dual-arm robot, made its debut at the opera on Tuesday (Sept. 12) by conducting Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa.

YuMi, which is manufactured by Swiss technology pioneer ABB, was invited to the stage by Mr. Bocelli, who performed the famous aria "La Donna è Mobile" from Verdi's Rigoletto. YuMi also conducted works of Puccini and Mascagni during its first night at the opera in front of a sold-out Teatro.

Among the guests was ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, under whose leadership YuMi was developed.

The unique demonstration showed what can happen when advanced robotics meets the arts.