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12.04.08

Tech Trends: Sub-Subcompacts

Inexpensive and efficient, the smallest cars are finally available in the U.S.

By Stephan Wilkinson Posted 03.09.2006 at 3:00 am 0 Comments

Small streets and pricey fuel have shaped the European car market to favor smaller cars. In fact, what we call a compact car is a midsize on the continent. But now that Ameri- cans are feeling the burn of expensive gas, automakers have responded by bringing a fleet of smaller-than-subcompact vehicles to our shores. Unlike previous stripped-down econoboxes, these will be equipped to appeal to both the budget-minded and the car-savvy consumer.

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speedy Wind Turbine Towers
"To maximize energy output, the tapered towers of the Bahrain World Trade Center funnel wind between them, creating a negative pressure zone behind the buildings that draws more air through the gap."
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speedy A Super-Strong Bridge Beam
"The Hillman Composite Beam weighs one third as much as concrete competitors—saving 20 percent on shipping and installation costs—and can hold 50 percent more weight."
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speedy Transforming Bamboo
"First Yan Xiao tore strips of bamboo from the stalk and arranged them in such a way as to provide the most strength. He then coated the strips with glue and compressed them in a self-built hydraulic press into beams, 33 feet long and up to three feet wide, each capable of supporting eight tons."
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speedy Surf the Web Without a Browser
"Adobe AIR's programming tools let developers create snazzy desktop applications that connect to the Web."

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