  Ad Placeholder

  728 × 90 Banner

General Motors’ manufacturing team is looking to college students to develop practical applications for the latest crazes of the techno-elite like 3D-printed gnomes and glasses that will go beyond providing the wearer directions to the nearest coffee shop.

The GM Innovation Challenge will engage students at four major universities in a fast-paced competition to find new uses for additive manufacturing – 3D printing – and augmented reality – devices similar to Google Glass.

Pennsylvania State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor are participating in the GM Innovation Challenge, recruiting student teams to develop concepts for products and processes that can be deployed on a factory floor.

“This challenge is one of multiple things GM is doing around the world to change the perception that manufacturing employs old-world techniques to build vehicles,” said Kurt Wiese, vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering. “In fact, many new and emerging technologies that are often viewed as fads have practical applications in a factory.”

The GM Innovation Challenge formally kicks off the week of Oct. 6 with teams at each of the four schools selecting a topic, brainstorming ideas and developing concepts that will be presented to a team of GM judges the week of Nov. 3. The winning team from each school will travel to Detroit for the finals on Nov. 17-18.

Each winning team at the school level will get $500 per team member. The overall winner will get $1,000 per team member and internships at GM during the summer of 2015.

“Wearable devices, augmented reality and 3D printing are perfect examples of the impact a rapid advance in technologies can have in providing solutions not conceived of just a few years, or even a few months ago,” said Anthony A. Atchley, senior associate dean at Penn State University’s College of Engineering

For Jeffrey Motala, manager of vehicle systems integration at GM, the challenge will test the students’ abilities to develop something that can be reasonably implemented, but still push the boundaries of creativity.

“GM employees around the world already look at unconventional tools, technologies and processes and how they can be applied in our factories,” Motala said, mentioning the use of Google Glass to train paint shop employees at GM’s Orion Assembly plant. “By challenging college students to do the same, we hope to demonstrate the possibilities that await them if they choose a career in manufacturing.”

The deadline for students at the four schools to register for the competition is 10 p.m. Sept. 30. The registration link is: http://goo.gl/oAwa86

NOW TRENDING

Audi RS 5 Goes Hybrid, Is This the Future of Performance?

Published

3 months ago

March 3, 2026

A.Giron

Can a plug-in hybrid truly deliver the raw emotion and edge expected from an RS badge? Audi Sport believes the answer is yes, and the all-new Audi RS 5 is its boldest proof yet .

For the first time, the RS 5 pairs a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with a 130 kW electric motor, producing a combined 470 kW (639 PS) . The result is serious performance: 0–100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and an optional top speed of 285 km/h . Yet it also offers up to 84 kilometers of all-electric range, giving drivers the option to cruise silently through the city before unleashing full hybrid power.

The biggest innovation lies beneath the surface. Audi introduces a world-first electro-mechanical torque vectoring system within its new quattro with Dynamic Torque Control . Torque can be distributed between the rear wheels in milliseconds, enhancing agility, traction, and cornering precision in ways traditional mechanical systems cannot match.

Visually, the RS 5 looks every bit the performance machine, with widened bodywork, a honeycomb Singleframe grille, and an aggressive rear diffuser . Inside, RS-specific digital displays allow drivers to track lap times, G-forces, and hybrid energy flow in real time .

So here’s the real question: has electrification just made the RS formula even stronger?

NOW TRENDING

MINI Revives a Rally Legend with the 1965 Victory Edition

Published

3 months ago

March 3, 2026

A.Giron

MINI is celebrating one of the most iconic wins in its history with the introduction of the new MINI 1965 Victory Edition. The special model honors the classic Mini Cooper S that triumphed at the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, where Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter showcased the car’s agility, durability, and fearless spirit in extreme winter conditions.

The 1965 Victory Edition blends that heritage with modern performance. While the edition is offered globally across multiple variants, U.S. customers will receive an exclusive version based on the MINI John Cooper Works 2-Door. Powered by a 228-horsepower engine delivering 280 lb-ft of torque, it sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds, staying true to the brand’s performance roots.

Visually, the model makes a bold statement. Chili Red paint is paired with a white hood-to-roof stripe and a distinctive white “52” graphic, referencing the original rally car’s competition number. A white panoramic roof, subtle “1965” badging, and 18-inch JCW Lap Spoke two-tone wheels complete the exterior.

Inside, exclusive details including “1965” lettering on the door sills, steering wheel, and key cap serve as constant reminders of MINI’s motorsport legacy. Limited in production, the 1965 Victory Edition arrives in March 2026 starting at $46,220 plus destination.

RACING

Formula DRIFT Introduces Revolutionary Digital Judging System for 2026

Published

3 months ago

March 3, 2026

A.Giron

Formula DRIFT is set to make the biggest change in its history as the 2026 season introduces a groundbreaking digital scoring system in partnership with Race Data Labs. The move will reshape qualifying in the FD PRO Championship while enhancing competition across both PRO and PROSPEC divisions.

After two seasons of the All-Tandem Qualifying format, drivers were surveyed during dedicated summits. The majority of PRO drivers voted to remove the All-Tandem Seeding Bracket format and return to Two-Run Qualifying. Meanwhile, PROSPEC competitors chose to retain Seeding Bracket Qualifying due to its positive impact on driver development.

The solution comes through Race Data Labs’ Universal Drift Scoring Method system. Approximately 80 percent of a PRO driver’s qualifying score will now be automated. Drift line and angle will be measured objectively through telemetry, while the remaining 20 percent, focused on driving style, will still be judged by Formula DRIFT’s three-judge panel.

Beyond qualifying, the telemetry system will assist judges during tandem battles by analyzing proximity, speed, angle, deceleration, and off-course violations. It will even help clarify fault in collision scenarios.

Fans will also benefit, as live telemetry data will be integrated into free livestream broadcasts beginning with the Long Beach season opener on April 10-11.