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[extract] Volvo
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It seems that Asian automakers somehow have the ability to manufacture pretty interesting super-mini cars. Take a look at the Mitsubishi Mirage, for example. It seems like Mitsubishi tried to shrink the car so that it can just fit into the A-segment. However, with Honda, things seem to change a little bit as the Japanese automaker seems to be lean towards practicality. You see, instead of competing in the A-segment as well just like the Mirage does, the Honda Fit (also known as the Jazz here) plays in the B-segment and it's quite big too. Carrying a chunky boot capacity of 335 litres, I think the Fit is a leader in its class. However, if you are satisfied with the boot capacity of the current generation Honda Fit, you may feel happier to know that Honda is already preparing the next generation Honda Fit that carries a total of 400 litres when it comes to bringing along your stuffs. Yes, you heard it right, it's the 2014 all new Honda Fit that's in the works! The car will make its first bow to the public of its home country by the end of 2013, after which it will also go global. But thanks to these accompanying Japanese scans, we're not going to have to wait that long just to know how the car will possibly look like. These scans manage to show us some parts of the car, including the interior and possible colour choices - two of which seem to be very bright neon colours - that Honda will be offering for its latest Fit. While the car is supposed to play in the B-segment still, it has grown a little, by 60mm (that's around a little above 2 inches). So, the car now measures 3,960mm. Well, don't be disappointed if you're keen on practicality that comes from a smaller size. The smaller the size of the car is, the easier it is for you to manoeuver through traffic, right? But, the good news is that passengers will have more spacious legroom, thanks to the wheelbase that now has a length of 80mm. This growth in size is probably partially due to the new architecture the car is being built upon. I believe it is this new architecture that Honda will also use in order to produce its very first SUV/crossover in the B-segment. Well, honestly, the car looks modern and is also prettier than the previous generation Honda Fit, although it does look kind of boxy in a few spots. The car also borrows a transparent nose that we've come to know from the Honda Civic hatchback of the previous generation. Now, let's get to the most important part of a car - under the hood. With the 2014 Honda Fit, we'll have the privilege to choose between a 1.2-litre and a 1.4-litre VTEC petrol engines. And, if we choose the latter, we'll also be able to choose a six-speed automatic transmission. Yet, for those who live in the European continents of this world, a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that produces 120bhp is also an available option. Actually, I would say that there's still one engine that Honda will probably offer with its 2014 all new Fit. That would be the hybrid engine with a total capacity of 1,500cc in addition to a power output of 110bhp. This engine is previously used by the Civic as well. However, this engine will only see the light of day provided that the seemingly hybrid car pictured in the scans is actually a hybrid car indeed. Despite a bigger size than its older brother, the car maintains a light weight. This is possible thanks to the fact that the head and block utilises aluminium alloy. So, with its bigger size that makes for more spacious legrooms, do you think that the 2014 All New Honda Fit is still practical enough for you to be interested in? If you feel like sharing your thoughts, the comment section below may be your best friend.
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VW introduces 'Side Assist' technology in a rather strange way
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
If driving a car is one of your daily routines, I suppose that you know how it feels to be surprised by a vehicle that just comes out of nowhere every now and then. The vehicle seems to have come out of nowhere because each and every single car out there has a blind spot. In fact, due to the blind spot, automakers are now equipping their cars with technologies that can help drivers with the blind spot issue. One automaker to do this is Volkswagen (VW). The German automaker is now equipping its cars with what it calls 'Side Assist' technology. Taking advantage of two rear radars, this technology is capable of scanning the areas behind the car for as far as 50 metres and also in the blind spots at the sides of the car. This technology will light an indicator at the side mirrors when a vehicle is in the blind spot. So, if there's a vehicle in the blind spot of the left side, VW's side assist technology will light the indicator at the left side mirror. To introduce its side assist feature, Volkswagen has come up with something that may turn out quite strange, or somehow amusing. The German automaker creates a video advertisement showing a man cleaning himself up in front of the mirror when, all of a sudden, a rather chunky, bearded man stares at him from behind the back. Afterwards, a message is displayed saying, "Beware of the biker that comes from nowhere." -
If you're one of those people out there who happened to buy the KIA Rio last decade, you may no longer recognise KIA cars of today. The thing is the South Korean automaker is picturing itself as 90 percent of an European brand. With that being said, the company has been decorating its cars with everything European, from LEDs to leather interiors and electronically retractable side mirrors. In addition to that, the South Korean brand is also seemingly pursuing the ST, RS, and GTI lineups from its rivals. All of these lineups are pretty legendary as they tend to make it to the cover of most car magazines every year. For KIA, on the other hand, it has already prepared the pro_cee'd GT to kick off with. KIA cee'd GT Launched just recently in Great Britain, the three-door sporty hatchback (or Sportback, as Audi would say) runs on a 1.6-litre turbo engine that promises a total power output of 201bhp. The good thing is, the pro_cee'd GT may not be KIA's only GT lineup as the company has confirmed that the Rio GT is a possibility. A KIA insider confirmed with Auto Express that if everything went well and that the KIA pro_cee'd GT was received warmly, the GT lineups could be seen expanded, possibly including the Rio GT. However, there may still be one other problem. It is said that KIA will also see how its five-door procee'd GT fares in the global automotive market before continuing with the Rio GT. But then again, the model won't be launched until 2014 and by then, the Rio would have been three years old. Well, if only KIA would 'pro_cee'd' with the Rio GT sooner..
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[extract] A classic among fuel economy drives is conquering all U.S. States
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Radical will be attending the Salon Prive this September and for the first time, they will display the new Radical RXC. The RXC is Radical's first ever enclosed car and marks an exciting new step in the development of the marque, by bringing genuine Le Mans engineering and aerodynamics to the road in a package that delivers incredible performance whilst remaining easy to own. The V6 engine and seven-speed gearbox configuration has been developed specifically for the RXC under the guidance of Radical's Managing Director Phil Abbott as well as Chief Designer Nick Walford and his development team. The Ford Mustang sourced engine is a 3.7-litre 24-valve V6 unit with twin-independent variable cam timing and sequential multi-port electronic injection, controlled by a bespoke Radical/AER Life engine management system as employed successfully on the SR3 SL roadster. The six-cylinder develops 380bhp and 434Nm of torque. Since the RXC only weighs 900kg, the power-to-weight ratio of the car is 422bhp/ton, which will provide a century sprint of 2.8 seconds before climbing to a top speed of 281km/h. The car's striking design elements include gullwing doors, with Radical saying the RXC has the most complex body it has ever produced, as it includes both composite and carbon fibre sections. "It's the car we've always wanted to make, and by applying our extensive knowledge and understanding we have produced a GT car that - just like our other products - will outperform machinery costing many times more. But more important than that it's going to be incredibly thrilling to drive," said Radical's Managing Director Phil Abbott.
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Caterham delighted by completing maiden Le Mans entry despite few hiccups
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Caterham Motorsport celebrated the completion of its maiden Le Mans 24 Hours at the La Sarthe circuit by finishing 11th place (out of 22 entries in its class) in the LMP2 category. The team came in 24th in the overall standings. Drivers Alexander Rossi, Tom Kimber-Smith and Eric Lux delivered behind the wheel of the Caterham Motorsport Zytek Z11SN-Nissan despite suspension failure and a puncture. From the lights, Kimber-Smith took the Caterham LMP2 as high as fifth place in class, before handing over to Caterham F1 reserve driver, Alexander Rossi, in his first ever Le Mans race. The American driver -
Not so long ago, Japanese automaker Honda introduced the new 9th generation Honda Accord. However, it seems that Honda has yet to be satisfied as the company has introduced another variant of its luxury sedan, the Honda Accord Hybrid. The launch took place on 21st June 2013 in Japan. On this occasion, Honda took the privilege to launch two versions at the same time. The first version is the pure hybrid version which makes use of the so-called Sport Hybrid i-MMD (intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) drivetrain. Another version is the plug-in hybrid version. The Japanese automaker claims that the pure hybrid version will reach 30km/L in terms of fuel efficiency. As for the plug-in hybrid version, Honda claims it has what it takes to reach 70.4km/L. I believe what plays an important role in this case is the fact that the driver can choose to max out the electrical power with the plug-in hybrid version. It also seems likely that Honda will apply the Sport Hybrid i-MMD drivetrain to its upcoming models. And, with the launch of the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda is offering no less than three driving modes. If the driver chooses the first driving mode, only electrical power will be used when the car is standing still, moving slowly, or when it is running at an average speed. It is only when the speed starts to climb higher that the car will switch to its gasoline engine. With the second mode, the gasoline engine will directly start using the generator provided in order to supply energy to the electrical motor so that the car can move. This will also give the car maximum acceleration. Then, with the last driving mode, the car will count on its gasoline engine to help the car run at its maximum reachable speed. Conveniently, the driver can also choose to turn on all of the driving modes. This seems more suitable to new drivers, I believe. Choosing this option will give a fuel efficiency of 30km/L in average. The Honda Accord Hybrid uses a lithium-ion battery which, if fully filled, will ease the driver's mind in terms of refueling or recharging up to 37.6km! It's quite a far distance to enjoy driving a luxury Japanese sedan and forget about juice, isn't it? However, unfortunately, Honda seems determined to only rent the plug-in hybrid version of the Honda Accord Hybrid while it is offering the pure hybrid version for sale already.
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Motorcyclists can finally have a navigation system too!
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
A comprehensive navigation system has become a standard for most, if not all, of today's cars. However, the same can't be said of motorcycles, at least not yet. With that being said, a motorcyclist will have to go through all the difficulties in reading a paper map if he wants to get the right direction to where he's heading. But now, things are about to change, thanks to a Russian company. This company is planning to come up with a solution known as the LiveMap. Featuring an earphone, a microphone, a light sensor, and - the best part - a micro display, this navigation system will project directions in the form of a heads-up display, just like what we can find featured in today's fighter jets. How cool does that sound? Unlike Google Glass - which projects images on the upper right hand side, the LiveMap will project directions right on the centre of the visor of the helmet the motorcyclist is wearing. And, thanks to the light sensor, the directions on the visor will remain transparent regardless of whether it is in the day or night. I would say that this is absolutely important as it ensures safety. A digital compass and an integrated gyroscope are also in place to make sure that the motorcyclist gets the correct orientation of the projection displayed on his visor, even if he's leaning the bike or tilting his head. Wow, this is yet another cool feature to anticipate, isn't it? But then, there's another problem, what about the power supply the helmet is going to need? Well, counting on a couple of lithium-ion batteries, the Russian company behind the solution claims that the helmet is likely to last a day. However, a USB charge plug will also come in handy should the motorcyclist require extra juice. How does this augmented-reality helmet sound? Well, if you're interested, you may want to help make it become a reality as the company is currently trying to raise US$150,000 (S$191,235) via Indiegogo. That amount is required to build a prototype that should work as expected. Then, if everything goes well, one of this LiveMap helmets may demand around US$2,000 (S$2,550) from any motorcyclist interested in it. Of course, there're always chances that prices may go down, even if we may have to wait for another decade. -
The rear view camera of the Nissan Note is vital for proper functioning of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection. It is akin to a human eye that keeps a lookout for danger. Dust or dirt gets into our eye some time and impairs its function. Similarly, the rear view camera can get dirty. Hence, the engineers at Nissan have incorporated a self-cleaning feature into the camera. "We couldn't allow the camera's lens to get dirty at any time because it would detract from the technology's performance in everyday use with the customer. However, we didn't want the task of cleaning the lens to fall at the hands of the driver, so the intelligent self-cleaning system was developed," explained Richard Picton, Nissan's Safety Shield engineer. The self-cleaning system is smart enough to differentiate between mud and rain water. It uses a blast of air to clear away light dust while a slash of muddy water from a puddle will require a squirt of water followed by an air blast. Below is a video presentation explaining the camera's self-cleaning function. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlFEQHSzgn4
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There's no doubt that Swedish automaker Koenigsegg knows how to make some of the world's fastest production cars that ever exists. The company even makes sure that the twin-turbo 5.0-litre V8 engine of its production cars will run on E85 fuel. However, unfortunately, some places in this world just aren't quite ready for such fuel yet, just like in Singapore. So, keeping that in mind, it seems that despite the total power output of 927bhp offered by the Agera or 1,124bhp offered by the Agera R, neither of the models is really quite of our interest here in Singapore. That's not to mention the highly demanding price tag of the super car. However, realising that, Koenigsegg has finally produced the Agera S. Unlike its elder brothers, the Koenigsegg Agera S doesn't need ethanol to be mixed into its fuel. It'll run just fine with the fuel we already have here. In addition to that, this fine super car is quite powerful as well, offering the power of up to 1,040 horses. With all the advantages that it has, the Koenigsegg Agera S comes with a demanding price tag of around USD$4.2 million (approximately S$5.3 million). Yet, despite the price tag, the fourth example in the world has already met its new owner, who is a Singaporean. Yes, Koenigsegg recently introduced the Agera S here, at a special reception which was attended even by the founder of Koenigsegg Automotive AB himself, Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg. The reception took place at the Hotel Ritz Carlton Millenia on 14th June 2013. As it was private, the reception was only open to 200 VIPs and guests. The lucky person to have the fastest production car on our shores happened to be Ms. Angela Tan, wife of Mr. Denis Chua, an investor. According to Mr. Chua, he and his wife bought the car after having test-driven it personally in Sweden. Hand-crafted by Swedish skilled artisans with enhanced aerodynamics in mind, the Swedish luxury super car can go from 0-100km/h within a mere 2.9 seconds. In addition to that, the car will stop climbing speed only after it has reached a speed of at least 400km/h. How does that sound? The Koenigsegg Agera S super car was introduced to us here by the Motorway Group of Companies. This is a rental car company that also serves as a pre-owned luxury car specialist. If you are wondering, the car is available in both right and left-hand drive. Photo credits: Nicholas TJR
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Lexus will return to Salon Prive later in September this year to showcase its industry-leading range of full hybrid models. It will have a special focus on the F Sport versions of its cars, which combine sportier styling and performance with the peerless luxury, craftsmanship and advanced technologies that are associated to the Lexus brand. Among the line up will be the IS 300h F Sport, representing Lexus's all new sports saloon. Adopting Lexus Hybrid Drive technology for the first time, the new IS presents the latest interpretation of Lexus's L-finesse design philosophy. The effect is even more pronounced in the F Sport, with a stronger rendering of the spindle grille design and styling cues inside and out that take reference from the Lexus LFA supercar. As it delivers increased driving pleasure, the IS 300h achieves CO2 emissions from 99g/km and an official combined cycle fuel economy of 27.9km/L at the same time . It will be joined by the new GS 450h F Sport, representing the fourth generation of Lexus's luxury sports saloon. The GS's hybrid system combines a 288bhp V6 petrol engine with a compact but powerful electric motor. The GS 450h F Sport can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in less than six seconds and progress to a 249km/h top speed despite emitting a modest 141g/km of CO2. The Lexus RX - the original luxury SUV - has been consistently refined and developed over the years to the current RX 450h. It will be present at Salon Prive in F Sport trim too, demonstrating how Lexus has successfully interpreted its sporting theme across its full model range. Common with all current Lexus hybrids, the RX allows the driver to select different drive modes to prioritise fuel and emissions efficiency or performance, according to personal preference or driving conditions, including an EV mode for all-electric running with zero tailpipe emissions and fuel consumption. The LS 600h Premier is the flagship of the Lexus range, a limousine rich in advanced technologies and luxury features. The innovations include the world-first Lexus Climate Concierge, which maintains an ideal cabin environment by monitoring the individual facial temperature of each occupant to determine appropriate co-ordination of the ventilation, heating, heated seats and heated steering wheel. With handcrafted finishes, a supremely smooth V8 hybrid powertrain and a cabin designed for optimum comfort, the LS 600h fulfills Lexus' mission to deliver a world-class limousine.
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In 2011, Audi presented the Quattro Concept, the final production version of which has yet to come. But now, it seems that the German automaker is finally ready to take the wraps off the final production version when the 1984 Audi Sport Quattro celebrates its 30th anniversary. Rumour has it that the final version will look sportier as well as sharper than the Quattro Concept. It's also said that the final version of the car will carry a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine. Capable of producing a total power output of 650bhp, the car will seemingly take only 3.4 seconds to go from 0-100km/h. The Quattro Concept, however, had to count on a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine with a total power output of 408bhp. In addition to a powerful V8 engine, the successor to the Audi Sport Quattro will also feature a sports tuned suspension with adaptive dampers, a sports Quattro rear differential, and carbon-ceramic brakes. To keep things light, Audi will be using such components as aluminium, magnesium, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). In total, the car won't weigh over 1,300kg. If you are keen on seeing the car with your very own eyes, you may want to anticipate the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show as the German automaker is likely to show it there. And, if all the rumoured specifications turn out to be true in the end, expect to see a price tag of around
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Although it was actually first rumoured back in March 2012, there has yet to be any more information regarding the supposedly successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo. To make matters worse, the Italian automaker only unveiled a Gallardo facelift last year when most car enthusiasts were actually expecting the next generation Gallardo. So, it was kind of like a prank from the raging bull. However, it seems that the long wait is about to be over. Pictures have emerged on the internet showing what is believed to be the Lamborghini Cabrera. Judging from the images, I believe they reveal the real deal. Looking at the images of the car, it reminds me of one of the latest models Lamborghini recently introduced to the public. Yes, the Cabrera borrows a lot of styling cues from the Aventador, from its front to the rear fascias. Rumour has it that the Lamborghini Cabrera will count on a V10 engine and that its four wheels will receive a total power output of 600bhp from the car's automatic transmission in addition to a dual clutch system. The latter is a new addition as the raging bull used to employ the single clutch E-Gear system. So, it seems like the long wait for the next generation Lamborghini Gallardo supercar is about to come to an end. What do you think?
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Drivers, behold 'Points', the internet-enabled digital street sign
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
You know, asking for directions is inevitable if you are driving around a place you aren't that familiar with. Unfortunately, doing it over and over again may somehow become quite an annoyance and it'll feel tiring, too. This is probably why street signs were built in the first place. However, street signs are not always easy to read, especially if you are driving at night. In order to see what is written on a street sign at night, it is often the case that drivers have to slow down their car or even pull over and take a close look at the sign. Nevertheless, thanks to the evolution of digital technologies these days, drivers may no longer have to deal with such cases as mentioned earlier. This is especially true if the countries in the world finally start using 'Points'. It's a digital street sign developed by Breakfast Products. It took the company no less than three years to be able to build such an impressive device. Yet, the result is, well, quite impressive indeed if the sign works just as it's advertised. 'Points' has a pole that is about as tall as a human being where it displays a five-segment interface menu. This menu is continuously updated by utilising an internet connection. This digital street sign fetches data from a number of onboard sensors in addition to social networks such as Foursquare, Twitter, and even RSS feeds, among others. Then, based on the data, 'Points' will display information on its three directional arms. Seeing the directional arms in motion, I believe some of you may wonder if the electrical wires inside them will be tangled. Well, as Breakfast Products takes advantage of rotary electrical interfaces and micro transmissions (consisting of 11 gears as well as multiple motors), tangled wires are really nothing to worry about in the case of 'Points'. As a matter of fact, the arms can swing smoothly up to 360 degrees regardless of how bad the temperature or weather may be at any given time. Additionally, this digital street sign also uses a processor which can remain cool most of the time, preventing the power from being drained quickly. Oh yeah, did I mention that 'Points' is mostly made of aluminium? Aluminium is chosen for the sake of durability and strength in a diverse set of environments. Earlier, I mentioned that drivers would possibly no longer have to slow down or pull over to read street signs, didn't I? Well, this is very possible because 'Points' utilises over 16,000 ultra-efficient and super bright LEDs. So, even during the night, you'll be able to clearly see what's displayed on this particular digital street sign. Although 'Points' is made in America, hopefully it makes its way here to Singapore as well. -
With a USD$1.14 million (S$1.42 million) price tag to it, the McLaren P1 is definitely not just another car. Yes, it's a super car built by British automaker, McLaren Automotive, which has very good credibility, thanks to its reliable production cars. However, it seems that nobody really is perfect, not even the guys behind the U.K.-based car manufacturer. You see, during the recent Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza event held in Italy, the super expensive Italian car happened to show its weakness, just when it was least expected. Honestly, it would have been a lot better had the case be just some malfunctioning minor features. However, it was quite an embarrassment for McLaren that its P1 failed to start completely that day. Furthermore, things have become even more embarrassing for the Brits because it seems that there's no such thing as keeping the embarrassment local nowadays. Thanks to the Internet and the massive number of people carrying cameras along with them wherever they go today, the mishap can now be watched over the internet! The McLaren representatives in charge that day had to tow the car onto a trailer in the end, after having failed to start it no matter what they tried to do. The representatives have yet to figure out why the McLaren P1 wouldn't start at all. The only thing noticeable was a couple of error messages displayed on the dashboard screen. One of the error messages read 'Park Brake Fault - Call McLaren Service Centre' and the other one read 'ESC Fault Vehicle Limphome - Go to McLaren Service Centre'. Essentially, they both suggested that the car be towed to a McLaren service centre, just like what the McLaren reps did eventually. These error messages somehow lead me to wonder if there's nothing the owner can do without bringing the super car to the service centre in the case that something goes wrong. Well, I believe that McLaren would have preferred such a thing to take place somewhere more 'private', such as at its plant, rather than at a place filled with multi-millionaires. In other words, those people at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza event are undoubtedly capable of purchasing one example or more of the Italian super car. What a shame and a bad thing it is to happen, at a wrong place and at the wrong time!
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Recently, we've been getting some teaser images from the Japanese automaker Toyota for its upcoming 2013 model year Corolla in New Zealand. Well, for those of you asking yourselves how much longer you are supposed to wait to see the whole thing, worry no more as your wait is about to be over. Toyota has released quite a few commercials unveiling the latest generation of its Corolla lineups. However, if you happen to keep a pet cat, you may want to consider putting your cat away from the car. You'll definitely find out the reason as soon as you have watched the accompanying videos. In these videos, there's this Persian pet cat which just can't seem to get enough of the comfort that the all new 2013 Toyota Corolla (NZ) is capable of offering. As a result, it keeps wanting more and more to be inside the car over and over again. Funny thing is, the cat is really willing to do whatever it takes just in order to be taken by its owner to the vet in the car it just seems to love so much. Oh, how cute
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BMW's Intelligent Headlamps, now keeping more people safer
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Do you often drive when nighttime falls? Well, my father, for one, quite so often does just that. And, if you do so, too, chances are you often find yourselves kind of blinded by the illumination of cars which are coming from the opposite lane. That's not to mention that there's a great number of cars that utilise Xenon bulbs these days, blinding you even more. However, the frequency of you getting blinded by oncoming traffic is about to decrease, thanks to the so-called 'Intelligent Headlamps' feature. This is an illumination technology that comes from highly reputable German automaker BMW. To be honest, this technology isn't entirely new as it was first introduced back in July last year. Back then, it was introduced exclusively for the BMW 7 Series. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't standard even on the really expensive models from BMW. Instead, customers who desired to have the feature available on their BMW 7 Series would have to purchase the optional Adaptive LED Headlamps package. Nevertheless, probably realising how its technology may actually decrease traffic accidents significantly, ultimately leading to saving a whole lot more people, the luxury German car manufacturer is now offering the technology on the company's new 3 Series Saloon and Touring lineups as well. You'll only have to make sure that the models do have a Visibility package available on them. So, what this feature does is it detects the situations of the road and traffic ahead and then adjusts the lighting that comes from the headlamps of BMW cars accordingly. This way, it prevents the lighting from blinding drivers from the oncoming lane. Not only will it prevent drivers on the oncoming lane from being blinded, it won't emit much glare to the driver ahead of you, either. With that being said, nighttime driving will surely become safer, by a significant degree. Simply put, the technology provides optimal illumination. To make things even better, this technology is useful not only during nighttime but also when the weather isn't very friendly. In order to work its charm, this feature has to work side-by-side with BMW's 'High-beam Assistant' technology. However, my words and words alone may not really give you any ideas on what on Earth I'm talking about. Therefore, I think you may want to check out the accompanying videos. That's even more so in case you happen to be planning to purchase a BMW yourself. BMW's Intelligent Headlamps with High-beam Assistant Real life demonstration -
Nissan Leaf EV winning the hearts and wallets of cab drivers in the U.K.
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Taxi operators across cities in Europe are going through a quiet revolution as they start to shift from conventional diesel powered cabs to zero-emission - and near silent Nissan Leaf taxis. Two years after the EV went on sale in Europe, Nissan Leaf taxis are now operating in European cities like Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. The world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) is fast becoming a favourite among taxi drivers too, thanks to lower running costs and fueled by a desire to reduce airborne pollution in city centres. These road warriors are fast-becoming EV advocates showing colleagues the benefits of making the switch from diesel to electric. One of the strongest advocates is Amsterdam-based Taxi-E company. With a fleet of 13 Nissan LEAF's, the firms' drivers have covered over 700,000km - further than the distance between earth and the moon. The cars are quick-charged two or three times daily using 100 percent green energy, meaning they're always ready for passengers. The city of Zurich in Switzerland, will soon obtain ten Nissan Leaf supported by a network of city-wide fast chargers as part of the city's plans to make 15 percent of its taxi fleet electric by 2015. Capable of restoring the battery life by up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, many customers arrive with partially full batteries, thus making the average stay - just 15 minutes. In Portugal, the first European country to sell the Leaf, Lisbon based owner-driver Jose Ferreira replaced his diesel powered taxi with a Leaf and has since driven more than 15,000km so far. Interestingly he reveals 70 percent of his customers liked the experience - and they would actively choose to ride in an electric taxi. Fuel and running costs are the biggest factors for taxi owner-drivers. Owner-driver Roberto San Jose from Valladolid, Spain, would have to spend more than -
Drayson Racing Technologies aims to break land speed record set in 1974
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Drayson Racing Technologies has announced to make an attempt for the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on 25th June at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, U.K. It's the latest challenge to be undertaken by the pioneering electric motorsport firm, which has been at the forefront of sustainable racing since 2007 and was first to sign up for the new FIA Formula E championship series. The attempt will be made in the sub-1000kg class to be piloted by entrepreneur, racing driver and former U.K. Science Minister Lord Drayson. He will drive a low-drag version of the Drayson B12 69EV electric Le-Mans Prototype flat-out along Elvington's 2.99km long runway. Lord Drayson will aim to better the current record of 281km/h set by Battery Box General Electric in the United States back in 1974. Lord Drayson, CEO and co-founder of Drayson Racing Technologies, commented, "It is not the outright speed that is impressive about this record attempt, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1,000kg electric vehicle to such a high speed and sustaining that speed, before stopping safely all within a relatively short distance then turning round and doing it again within an hour." With the electric land speed record it intends to showcase what is possible with an electric drivetrain and underscore Britain -
Ford celebrates 21 years of sponsoring UEFA with new Kuga and Fiesta ST
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Ford is celebrating 21 years as an official UEFA Champions League partner and this year marked the company's largest ever presence at the four-day UEFA Champions Festival. Ford made its presence felt with the new Kuga, Fiesta ST and special guest driver - Ken Block. The new Ford Kuga was featured heavily in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League Finals appearing on match-day hoardings in stadiums around Europe and leading Ford's 'Drive to Wembley' competition. Drive to Wembley was the largest ever ticket giveaway for a UEFA Champions League Final that saw 360 winners from 27 countries around Europe attending the match between FC Bayern Munich and BV Borussia Dortmund. Fans at festival experienced the new Ford Kuga with test drives that highlight Ford -
The Lotus Exige S Roadster is about to be ready for bookings
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Back in the Geneva Motor Show last year, British automaker, Lotus, introduced the world to its potentially fastest handmade convertible ever, the Exige S Roadster. Based on the company's new Exige S coupe, this roadster looks mostly identical to its coupe counterpart. However, the rear spoiler has been disposed of and there's now soft top roof available. Weighing no more than 1,166kg, this roadster will let you feel the wind blowing your hair at a speed of 233km/h, thanks to its supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine. Mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or the automaker's Serial Precision Shift (SPS) transmission system, the engine can provide the power of 345 horses in addition to 400Nm of torque. The Lotus Exige S Roadster will get you going to 100km/h in no longer than 3.8 seconds, from a complete standstill. And, to complete your comfort, you can choose a sporty or a comfortable enhanced plush interior. As Lotus is readying the 2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster for order, the automaker has also announced the prices of its latest roadster for 3 regions - UK, European Union, and Japan. With Japan being closer to us here in Singapore than the other two, I think we can assume that the price tag of the roadster there won -
In May 1913, James Radley set off from Brown's Hotel in London's Mayfair for a famous motoring adventure - the 1913 Alpine Trial. A century later, the same Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has returned - ready to depart for a re-enactment of the event. Forming the modern day Rolls-Royce Works Team, Radley's car will join a contemporary pioneer, a 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Collection Rolls-Royce Ghost on a faithful re-enactment of the rally in June this year. But the Works Team will be accompanied by more than 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts - many over a century old to traverse over 1,800 miles of Alpine roads. The rally will start in Vienna on 14th June 2013, and will pass through Italy, Croatia and Slovenia before returning to Austria's capital for a special evening hosted by Margraf Pallavicini at his Palais, exactly 100 years to the day since the finale of the original Alpine Trial. Taking in some of Europe's finest and most challenging mountain roads, the rally will meet with a group from the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club at Riva Del Garda, Italy, on Friday 21st June where 100 historic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will assemble for the largest gathering of its kind in history. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts' exceptional performance in the 1913 Alpine Trial saw it earn the moniker 'The Best Car in the World', cementing the marque's reputation for engineering excellence and impeachable reliability. To celebrate this extraordinary moment in Rolls-Royce and automotive history, the Bespoke department at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England designed and crafted a 21st century homage. Finished in an exterior hue that takes inspiration from the Radley car, the 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Ghost features exquisitely crafted bespoke touches that elegantly tell the story of the 1913 Trial. The clock displays the stages of the rally and timings while inlays to rear picnic tables and the front fascia express the topography and distances of the Alpine route. A hand-painted coachline referencing the four Rolls-Royce motor cars that took part in the rally and headlining, colour-matched to the hood of Radley's car, completes a beautiful homage.
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[extract] While some automakers such as Mazda and Honda are shifting their production to Mexico, the Blue Oval, Ford, is planning to do just the opposite. The American automaker is planning to shift its Fiesta production from Chennai and Cuautitl
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Renault has signed on as official Technical Partner of Spark Racing Technology to supply Formula E cars that will contest in the FIA Formula E Championship. Formula E is a class of auto racing governed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and is intended to be the highest class of competition for one-make, single-seat, electrically-powered racing cars. The series was conceived in 2012, with the inaugural race to be held in 2014. Demonstration events have been planned for the second half of 2013. Former Formula One driver Lucas di Grassi will be the series' test driver. Forty two cars were ordered have been ordered with Formula One team - McLaren - providing the motor, transmission and electronics that will be used by all the cars while Dallara Automobili will construct the chassis. Ten host cities are planning to hold the races and will occur exclusively on street circuits including in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Bangkok, Beijing and Miami - among others. The agreement was signed by Patrice Ratti, Renault Sport Technologies Managing Director and as a Renault SAS representative, Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings and Frederic Vasseur, President of Spark Racing Technologies. Renault's ongoing involvement in motor racing's series provides it with a unique technological laboratory, giving it an edge not only in the world of production vehicles but also on the race track. Renault's technological excellence extends not only in F1 but also in all Z.E. range. The forty two Formula E single-seaters built for the beginning of the first season will be aptly named 'Spark-Renault'.