STETTEN, Germany — The Fiat Grande Punto has been one of Europe's hottest models this year and a huge factor in the Italian auto giant's surprising resurgence. Now, the Novitec tuning house gives sports fans an even bigger reason to love the Grande Punto with its X-One edition. The latest addition to Novitec's X-Treme family gets a pumped-up version of the familiar 1.9-liter turbodiesel, with 160 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque on tap. That's enough to provide 0-60 acceleration in less than 8.6 seconds — not bad for a thinly disguised family hauler. Novitec adds a stainless-steel sport exhaust with dual pipes, plus a new adjustable sport suspension that lowers ride height by up to 3 inches. Novitec's matte-black N8 rims are shod with 215/35R18 rubber. An extreme aero body kit includes new front and rear bumpers, front spoiler, grille, hood, roof spoiler and air intake, rockers, rear skirt and rear diffuser.

Diesel pollution 'clogs arteries'

Lead researcher Dr Andr Nel, an expert in nanomedicine, said the impact of diesel particles and cholesterol fats combined was much greater than the impact of each in isolation.

He said: "Their combination creates a dangerous synergy that wreaks cardiovascular havoc far beyond what's caused by the diesel or cholesterol alone."

The researchers focused on the interaction between diesel exhaust particles and fatty acids found in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - the "bad" type of cholesterol that leads to artery blockage.

Both are sources of molecules called free radicals which cause cell and tissue damage, and can trigger the inflammation that leads to artery disease.

Cell cultures

The researchers combined the pollutants and fats and cultured them with cells taken from the inner lining of human blood vessels.

A look at the vehicles in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

As the second-oldest motorsports event in the U.S. to only the Indianapolis 500, the 85th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will pit racers against altitude, weather, tricky terrain and the clock Saturday. The 12.42-mile Race to the Clouds will feature 56 drivers and 109 riders competing in 19 divisions distinguished by engine size and various modifications. Practice begins Tuesday, but competitors spent Monday undergoing technical inspections at the Sheraton Hotel. Inspectors took a close look under the hood. We take a close look at each of the classes. Car Divisions Unlimited Nicknamed Monster, Japanese driver Nobuhiro Tajima will race solo in this division. With its carbon fiber body and 1000 horsepower, Tajima's Suzuki Grand Vitara has been custom-built for the Hill Climb. The car cost more than $1 million to make and produces nearly 1,000 horsepower through a twin-turbo V6 engine.

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The widely acclaimed turbodiesel version...Camogli Alfa Romeo was first to the market with a JTD Common Rail direct injection diesel engine with the launch of the Alfa 156 in 1997. This crucial lead in diesel technology has not been squandered and, in its latest 20-valve MultiJet guise, the new 5-cylinder 2.4 litre unit is the most powerful engine in the Alfa Romeo JTDM family, with a specific power output of 84bhp/litre.This is the most powerful Multijet engine, what Alfa Spider needs to offer thrilling emotions to its worldwide owners!Enraged hearthSeveral changes have been made to the latest version of this 5-cylinders 20-valve turbodiesel to boost performance and engine torque at low speeds whilst returning excellent fuel consumption figures. The common rail system includes two new control strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injection, to both lower noise and reduce vibration, whilst the direct injection pressure has increased from 1400 to 1600 bar.The engine also includes a number of new components; a cylinder head with small stem valves to boost inlet air quantity, steel connecting rods of a new, stress resistant design, a new inlet manifold fitted with a throttle valve at one of the two inlet ports to control air turbulence, a new, high efficiency intercooler, and a throttle valve to prevent shaking if the engine is stalled.The electronic EGR exhaust gas cooling system has also been modified; the lubricating circuit has a new oil pump and an external air/oil heat exchanger to cool the oil, whilst the water pump on the cooling circuit is also new.Turboboost is provided by a KKK 2080 turbocharger with a variable geometry turbo that improves power delivery and also generates very high torque at low engine speeds; 90% of the impressive 295 lb ft peak torque is available from between just 1750 and 3500 rpm.

Fiat 4X4 Concept Car - Oltre

Engine Engine Configuration : I Cylinders : 4 Aspiration/Induction : Turbocharged Displacement : 3.00 L | 183.1 cu in. | 3001 cc. Horsepower : 185.00 BHP (136.2 KW) @ 3700.00 RPM Torque : 456.00 NM (336.2 Ft-Lbs) @ 1800.00 RPM HP / Liter : 61.7 BHP / Liter Fuel Type : Diesel The vehicle's extraordinary capacity as an ''explorer'' is also enhanced by the fact that all-wheel drive is engaged automatically when it is needed. All three differentials lock, a system that guarantees optimal wheel grip in all conditions. Thanks to these solutions, the Oltre Fiat can negotiate a lateral gradient of up to 40%, and longitudinal gradients of 80%; it can also tackle fords of up to 85 cm, and this can be increased to 1.5 metres by mounting special inlet and exhaust pipe extensions. And finally, the show car is fitted with high performance, ultra sporty (V speed code), low profile Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 315/40R26 XL (Extra load) tyres.

One big Cobia family

MANITOWOC Two of the USS Cobia's four diesel engines were fired Saturday afternoon, emitting thick clouds of blue smoke from the exhaust ports of the World War II-era submarine.

But the feature attraction of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum no longer has propellers, and a treaty between the U.S. and Canada prevents the decommissioned warship from traversing the Great Lakes.

"At one time we were hopeful the Cobia would be allowed to sail on the surface of Lake Michigan," but no authority has been granted, said Charlie Stewart, one of six surviving USS Cobia crew members attending this year's reunion.

Saturday's ceremony on the deck of the USS Cobia recalled ultimate sacrifices and freedom-preserving war service by American submariners.

The unofficial historian of the Cobia, Stewart said an additional 26 men did not attend but are living.

Nissan plans to bring diesel models to U.S.

LOS ANGELES Nissan Motor Co. may make diesel autos widely available in the U.S. by 2012 models as the carmaker looks to add fuel-efficient vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide, its U.S. product development chief said.

Diesel Oxidation Catalyst for the Locomotive

July 23, 2007- Newberg, Oregon Harco Manufacturing Co. a leading fabricator of premium Engine Exhaust Silencers and Emission Control products announced today the development of a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst package for the Locomotive market. In partnership with Motive Power Incorporated, a subsidiary of Wabtec Corporation (WAB) and Sud-Chemie, Inc., a producer of diesel oxidation catalysts, Harco Manufacturing has developed an Oxidation Catalyst Package that takes the place of the silencer and sits directly above the engine and is not visible from the exterior of the locomotive. Initial testing for the Harco Eliminator (TM) was done on an EMD 16-645 F3B engine using procedures as outlined in 40 CFR Part 92 Emission Standards for Locomotives and Locomotive Engines. Results of that testing: Harco Manufacturing is currently working to fill an order for Motive Power for 15 units to be installed on the MetroLink rail, with the first completed locomotive due for delivery at the end of August.

Mercedes Launches E300 Bluetec in Europe

STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz has launched the E300 Bluetec, the first of its passenger cars to employ the clean-diesel technology in Europe. The automaker, which has been selling Bluetec-equipped models in North America for the past year, said the E300 Bluetec meets future Euro 5 emissions standards. The car is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 common-rail turbodiesel that develops 211 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. The car accelerates from zero to 60 mph in less than 7.2 seconds, with a top speed of 152 mph, yet returns 32 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The Bluetec system employs advanced technology, including a multistage exhaust-gas treatment system and a diesel particulate filter, to cut emissions without compromising performance or fuel economy. Mercedes plans to apply the system to nearly all its passenger-car diesels over the next two years.