With whisper-quiet electric cars set to proliferate, the motor industry is under pressure to give them an artificial noise for safety purposes, but should they sound like traditional petrol vehicles? BBC News Magazine discuss the issue with WMG's Professor Paul Jennings.

The UK’s technology base was given a major boost today when Tata Motors’ European Technical Centre (TMETC), a wholly-owned UK-based subsidiary of Tata Motors, announced that it will be expanding its partnership with WMG at the University of Warwick. TMETC plans to increase their team of highly skilled engineers working on the campus by 40% over the next two years.

Dr Steve Maggs, Principal Fellow has been awarded the Rowbotham Medal for an outstanding contribution from a young person to the development or innovative use of materials for automotive applications.

The Medal was presented at a ceremony hosted by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining as part of the Institute's Medal and Prizes for 2010.

A Formula 3 racing car designed by researchers at WMG at the University has just received two significant accolades confirming its reputation as the ultimate green racing car.

Just two weeks ago the car was selected to be one the green technologies presented to The Prince of Wales during the Birmingham leg of HRH’s Start tour of the UK. Now today, Thursday 23rd September, the car has also been shortlisted for the THE (Times Higher) award for Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year.

WMG has been hailed as a role model of partnership between science research and industry in a key speech by Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Dr Vince Cable.

Dr Cable was speaking about the context of the impending major government spending decisions, how the UK invests in science and research, and he posed the question “can we achieve more with less?”

The speech praised WMG for being “outstanding” in its ability to innovate and bring together a range of disciplines.

University of Warwick WMG Research Engineer Stephen Lambert will unveil the WorldFirst Hybrid Westfield racing car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend introducing electric hybrid cars to club racing.

The WorldFirst Hybrid Westfield Racing car showcases an innovative drivetrain which is capable of propelling the vehicle from 0-60 miles per hour in under 4 seconds. This incredible acceleration is achieved through the use of an innovative four wheel drive system which increases the available traction. A formula one style “push to pass” button controls the power generated by the two 75kW motors which, in turn, use a formula one style inboard suspension to drive the front wheels independently of the 195bhp turbo charged engine, a first for Westfield Sports Cars.

Researchers from WMG will be taking poll position at the prestigious 2010 MIT Energy Conference held in Boston from 5th to 6th March 2010. They will be showcasing their eco friendly “WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car” which can be powered by chocolate, steered by carrots, and has bodywork made partly from potatoes.

Full details of the £29million West Midlands-based project that will ensure Britain’s place at the heart of the low carbon vehicle revolution were revealed at a launch event held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire yesterday.

Over 150 representatives from government, stakeholder organisations and small/medium-sized businesses heard how the Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project (LCVTP) will shape the future of passenger transport.

Following an address from Geoff Dart, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Industries at BIS, guests heard presentations from the project’s partners: Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors, Zytek, Ricardo, MIRA, WMG (formerly Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick and Coventry University - who set out their vision for low carbon vehicles and invited like-minded potential suppliers to work with them in close collaboration.

The University of Warwick's International Digital Laboratory has won two Coventry City Council design awards, Sustainable Design and The Peoples’ Choice for New Buildings.

An environmentally friendly racing car has helped propel University of Warwick researcher Dr Kerry Kirwan to the award of a prestigious British Science Association Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award Lecture.

The Award Lectures are coveted prizes for talented communicators with an interesting story to tell about their research. The British Science Association has identified Dr Kirwan as one of the five scientists and engineers who have demonstrated exceptional skills in communicating to non-specialist audiences to give these prestigious lectures at the British Science Festival at the University of Surrey next week.