VOA标准英语2014--Cars of the Near Future on Display in Geneva 未来汽车在日内瓦进行展示

 

Cars of the Near Future on Display in Geneva 未来汽车在日内瓦进行展示

Car shows around the world increasingly suggest that in the not-too-distant future, cars will feature autopilots handling some of the driving. The auto¹ show now under way in Geneva, Switzerland, is showcasing other possible trends - including cars manufactured by 3D printers.

The future of automobile² travel - for the wealthy, at least - may look like very different. Swiss design firm Rinspeed is exhibiting a luxury vehicle, based on the U.S. electric car Tesla Model S, with swiveling recliner seats, a large TV screen and an espresso maker³.

Rinspeed’s CEO Frank Rinderknecht says, in a car with autopilot, he does not want to just sit and watch the steering⁴ wheel turn left and right.

“I want to sleep, relax, watch movies, news, anything else. So that's the vision, which we have," he said. "That one day on the boring motorway⁵ traffic, you just do anything which makes your life better.”

One of the most intriguing⁶ ideas on display is a car built on a 3D printer. The chassis⁷ of the ‘Genesis’ - by German engineering firm EDAG - is printed in one piece out of thermoplastic.

“To create a car without the use of any tool. This would be a real revolution for the industry,” said EDAG’s spokesman Cristoph Horvath.

EDAG says its design is based on the turtle shell, providing the required strength and stiffness.

Other automakers did not look so far into the future. Skoda's model ‘Vision C’, with an eco-friendly compressed natural gas engine, is due to be launched in two years, says the company's European media relations manager, Jo Davidson.

"It demonstrates sub-100 grams of CO2 and shows what the brand can do for the environment in the future,” she said.

Volvo is showcasing its Estate Concept car which, as design manager Cecilia Stark⁸ says, is all about comfort and creativity.

“It's to show the Scandinavian arts and crafts and music scene, and fashion and things like that," she said. "To be emotional, expressive⁹, charm-full.”

 

But it’s also about technology. All the functions in this car are controlled either by voice commands or from a large centrally-positioned touch screen, which analysts¹⁰ say is close to being ready for market.

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

3 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

4 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

5 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

6 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 chassis   

n.汽车等之底盘；（飞机的）起落架；炮底架

参考例句：

• The new parts may include the sheet metal,the transmission,or the chassis.新部件可能包括钢壳，变速器或底盘。
• Can chassis and whole-vehicle manufacturers co-exist peacefully?底盘企业和整车企业能相安无事吗？

8 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

9 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。