The private event was a chance for the Jaguar Academy of Sport ambassador and world record hurdler to take himself to new top speeds, courtesy of the 510PS Jaguar XJ Speed Pack.

After hitting 171mph, Jackson said: “That’s a new record for me – the car was incredibly stable and quiet.

“It really felt totally at ease with travelling at such enormous speeds – we pulled more than 1G in deceleration, it was quite a ride!”

His comments demonstrate that high-performance motoring does not have to mean high noise levels, as aerodynamics and automotive acoustic insulations can all help to reduce the sound generated by wind drag and contact with the road.

At Autins we are continually developing our range of acoustic insulations for cars of all performance levels, to eliminate unwanted vibrations and road sounds during everyday use.

Where the vehicle’s high-performance engine is itself the source of the noise, our engine bay liners can prevent the sound from transferring into the interior cabin.

Our thermal insulations provide a similar level of protection against the heat generated by the engine, ensuring the all-round comfort of the driver and passengers.

Noise generated by the tyre under normal operating conditions is one of several factors that must be clearly labelled from November 1st, along with its fuel efficiency and wet-weather braking performance.

“The labels will help to explain to motorists how tyres perform in these three key areas and help them make a more informed choice about safer and more environmentally friendly driving,” says Stuart Jackson, chairman of tyre-safety campaign TyreSafe.

Of course, it’s likely that quieter, higher-performance tyres will cost more than their counterparts once the information is clearly visible to motorists at the point of purchase – but there are other ways to achieve noise reduction, regardless of the choice of tyre.

At Autins, our automotive acoustic insulations can be used in all areas of a car, including the linings of wheel arches – and we also produce thermal insulations, if you’re concerned about the transfer of heat from the tyres, engine or exhaust to the interior of your vehicle.

However, Japanese specialist tyremakers FALKEN have been looking into ways to improve the inherent thermal insulation properties of tyres, reducing the amount of excess heat that is produced due to friction between the rubber and the road.

For engineers, this has been a long-term problem, as there’s a need to offer high levels of grip during periods of wet weather, but increasing the rolling resistance of a vehicle’s wheels also raises its fuel consumption and heat generation.

Now FALKEN have created a new rubber compound, consisting of long, modified polymer chains combined with silica, which lowers the heat generation of the tyres and improves fuel efficiency by almost 4%.

The silica compound increases the contact area between the wheel and the road, for greater grip without increasing the diameter of the wheel, and also reduces the pressure exerted on the tyre in a way that extends its usable lifespan.

Like FALKEN, we at Autins are constantly looking for new performance materials to offer thermal insulation and acoustic insulation in all areas of a vehicle – you can read more about our underbody and exterior automotive insulations here.

Described by the manufacturer as a subtle refresh of the existing line-up, thermal insulation is an as-standard feature of GT trims and above, available on the 2.0-litre models.

Heat-insulating tinted glass is fitted from the B pillars to the rear of the vehicle, with heated front seats adding to the ways of warming the driver and front passenger.

Electronic climate control promises to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature anyway, but the thermal insulation helps to maintain a consistent environment during extremes of weather, without undue stress on the ventilation, heating and cooling systems.

At Autins, we can supply a range of thermal and acoustic automotive insulations, to ensure the comfort of a vehicle’s occupants against unwanted variation in temperature, excess heat from the engine, sound and vibrations.

Our range of automotive insulations covers four main areas of the vehicle – the exterior, the engine bay, the interior cabin and the boot – for an all-round approach to heat and noise insulation.

For more information about our full product range, click here.

According to the manufacturer, the GL-Class delivers comfort on a par with the S-Class, in part thanks to new-style automotive insulations used in its construction.

“Relaxed (and therefore safe) driving in all possible conditions, both on and off the road, is one of the new GL-Class’s strengths,” Mercedes-Benz adds.

As you might expect, it’s not just about noise reduction – the GL-Class has a surround-sound audio system to fill the vehicle with your preferred choice of music, with the promise of concert-hall acoustics.

Our automotive insulations are part of a range we continually develop and refine, in order to offer you the best possible acoustic insulation performance for your vehicle’s interior cabin.

We can help you to create the vehicle interior you desire, with high-performance automotive insulations to eliminate unwanted sound and create a concert-hall audio experience akin to that of the GL-Class.

And if your car is equipped with surround-sound speakers, we can even provide acoustic insulations to deaden any unwanted vibration of the speakers in their mountings, so all you hear when you hit the road is your favourite music.

Many motorists rely on the general feel of their vehicle – along with the noise of the engine and the dashboard dials – to know when they should change gear.

However, there is no reason why those sounds and vibrations should become distracting or unpleasant, and the right levels of noise reduction can keep feedback at a useful but non-invasive intensity.

In the Hyundai Santa Fe, insulating bushes mount a specially designed front subframe, supporting the engine, suspension and transmission while reducing unwanted vibration and noise.

And it’s the ‘unwanted’ part of that description that’s important – essential feedback about the engine’s performance level still makes it back to the driver, to allow them to change gear or adjust their acceleration appropriately.

Our automotive insulations can help any vehicle to perform better in terms of sound reduction, with acoustic insulations for the engine bay and for the interior cabin.

To find out more, click here for more details of our acoustic insulations and thermal insulations for the engine bay.

The conference, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Mainz, Germany, looked at the current challenges faced by the automotive industry, addressing issues such as how to create lightweight and cost effective materials without compromising performance or customer comfort. Other international speakers at the event represented Bentley Motors, Aston Martin, the Volvo Truck Corporation and Volkswagen.

Jim’s speech discussed the range of absorbing and sealing materials that are currently being developed to combat noise reduction and how they can also reduce weight without impacting on performance, making for a more environmentally friendly vehicle.

“It was a great honour to be chosen to be a presenter at the event and explain some of the ground breaking work that we are doing at Automotive Insulations,” comments Jim. “The conference was also a fantastic opportunity to meet with other industry experts and gain a better understanding of current developments.”

Established in 1966, Automotive Insulations employs over 45 staff in a range of research, engineering and administrative positions at their Warwickshire facility. Specialising in acoustic and thermal insulation, they are an industry leading company dedicated to finding the most effective ways to reduce sound vibrations in automotive products.

Ben Poore, vice-president of Infiniti Americas, explains that the new model is built to deliver the kind of comfort level drivers might normally expect to experience in their own homes.

The natural noise reduction associated with electric vehicles is complemented by design features such as a specially designed drivetrain, along with low-positioned batteries that create a low centre of gravity while providing passengers with more leg room than in other electric cars.

Outside, aerodynamics make the vehicle efficient, while disguising the fact that it is powered by an electric engine, rather than by petrol – a combined effect Mr Poore says is part of the vehicle’s “Infiniti-ness”.

“The same can be said of the interior,” he adds, “which takes advantage of the low-noise drivetrain to provide the tranquil quietness of a living room – though one that offers far more exhilaration and mobility.”

As electric vehicles become more commonplace, the sounds they produce are likely to remain an area of focus – with manufacturers and governments looking to make sure they can still be heard as they approach on the road.

Our automotive insulations can continue to keep these noises – whether natural or artificial – outside the vehicle where they belong, and ensure passengers can enjoy that tranquil quietness modern vehicles can offer.

Two local Rugby based companies have joined forces to help a little girl with a rare illness which left her unable to speak find a way to communicate with family and friends. Jim Griffin of Rugby based car component manufacturers Automotive Insulations lives near to nine year old Mollie Abbott who has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. Jim and Adrian Hobbs of Flex Recruitment have donated an iPad2 to Mollie with a specially developed Smartphone app to help her language skills..

Pitt Hopkins Syndrome is a genetic disorder which was diagnosed when Mollie was 12 months old. Shortly afterwards, her parents, Karen and Darren Abbott set up Mollie’s Fund to raise money for her twice yearly visits to The British Institute for Brain Injured Children in Somerset.

Despite being told that she would never walk or have any independence, through a programme of therapy at the centre and at home, Mollie took her first steps in 2007. The family is now working on helping Mollie to develop her communication and sensory skills. Having the tablet will enable Mollie to use a special app known as Verbal Victor developed by the father of a fellow Pitt Hopkins sufferer.

“Mollie is a great little girl who works hard to overcome the disabilities imposed by her illness, so we are delighted to be able to do something to help her,” comments Jim. “Having access to the iPad and the app will help to improve her communication skills which can be a real source of frustration for her.”

VerbalVictor allows parents to take pictures with accompanying audio of words, phases or sentences which can be turned into buttons. The user then presses the relevant button so they can express themselves more clearly.

“We very appreciative of the generous support from Automotive Insulations and Flex Recruitment,” comments Mollie’s mother Karen. “Being able to connect with our little girl, create closer bonds and understand her needs better is a great gift.”

This time out, the EcoBoost’s noise reduction is achieved through subtle redesigns of the engine balance, such as the relationship between the flywheel and pulley.

By deliberately unbalancing these, they generate a vibration that counteracts the usual shaking forces of the compact in-line three-cylinder engine.

Overall, this cuts down on the usual booming sound that is produced – and is not the only sound-reducing design element at work.

The cambelt is designed to operate in oil, reducing friction and also cutting down on the sound it produces.

“With this engine there is no compromise; it delivers best-in-class fuel economy, outstanding driveability and excellent refinement,” says Ford powertrain engineering supervisor Thomas Zenner.

At Autins our automotive insulations are designed to deliver not only sound reduction, but also thermal insulation.

We can supply thick foams for the engine bay, either to fit under the bonnet or to insulate ‘beauty covers’ against escaping sound and heat.

By insulating the interior cabin against heat from the engine bay, our automotive insulations help to make for a more comfortable ride, whether or not engine noise is a concern.