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McLaren P1 The British automaker McLaren has already confirmed that it will soon start development for the successor to the P1 hypercar. However, don't get too excited now, as the company has also mentioned that we aren't likely to see what the successor looks like within the next decade (yes, that's ten years altogether). McLaren P1 The news came along with the news that McLaren's F1 staffs had started carrying out some necessary works in the UK-based automaker's joint effort with the Japanese automaker Honda, seemingly for the sake of the 2015 F1 racing season. It was Greg Levine, the Sales and Marketing Head at McLaren, who shared the news regarding the successor to the P1. McLaren MP4-12C "The only way a car like the P1 works is by being exclusive and having a short product cycle. After that, you have to step back from the market for a few years. These sort of launches can only happen every ten years or so," commented Levine. McLaren MP4-12C Until now, the automaker is about to produce its 375th P1 and - miraculously enough, I would say, considering the very high price tag of US$1.3 million (that is around S$1.6 million) - it has received customers for three quarters of the total units of the P1 to be produced. McLaren MP4-12C Spider Now, judging that Levine mentioned that it will take ten whole years for McLaren to introduce a new hypercar, I'm guessing some of you may be wondering if the company will have nothing to offer in the meantime. Well, in this regard, the British automaker is preparing an entry level model it's probably going to slot under the MP4-12C. The entry level model is dubbed the P13. Unfortunately, there has yet to be any image leaked on the styling cues of the model. Sources inside McLaren are also keeping their lips sealed tightly for the time being. However, it is known that the P13 will more likely lean on the styling cues of the P1 than those of the MP4-12C. According to sources at McLaren, the company's MP4-12C is 'too much about technology and less about beauty' and that the P13 isn't going to suffer from the same fate. Regarding the price of the P13, it seems wise to believe that it will range somewhere around US$200,000 (approximately S$251,000) or less. I think it's safe to assume that the price won't reach US$250,000 (approximately S$314,000), otherwise it may distract the sale of the MP4-12C.
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The Australian authorities have come up with an innovative way to prevent tractor drivers from crashing their oversized vehicles into the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, which could result in fatalities and costly repairs. The Softstop system, developed by a company called Laservision back in 2011, projects an image of a bright red stop sign onto a water screen at the entrance of the tunnel. This gives an impression of driving right into a stop sign. The system only activates if the driver ignores the flashing warning signs as he approaches the tunnel. Projection of images onto a water screen is often used in the entertainment industry. A good example is the water laser show at the Marina Bay Sands Atrium (By the way, the show is free). The system could also be activated for other reasons, such as warning the drivers to stay away from the tunnel in the event of a fire or a severe accident.
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15th May 2013 was the world premiere of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Mercedes unveiled its new luxury sedan at the Airbus A380 Delivery Centre located in Hamburg, Germany. However, what attracts me besides the debut of the luxury German sedan itself is the odds that the German automaker is set to launch the coupe version soon. On its official Facebook page, Mercedes Germany has released a sketch of its new model. To me, the sketch looks like the 2014 S-Class coupe, well, although Mercedes-Benz didn't necessarily mention the term 'coupe', and the new model seems kind of wider than the previous generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe. Furthermore, it's known that the 2014 S-Class will also come in a convertible and coupe version. In addition to that, no matter how I look at it, the styling cues portrayed in the sketch don't seem to match those of the actual sedan being launched at the home country of Mercedes-Benz today. So, in short, I think it's safe to say that we should be getting ready to behold the launch of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe which will seemingly take place in the near future. Otherwise, I don't think the German automaker will be revealing the design of its new model in such detail.
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A recent visit to Honda Singapore's Facebook page revealed the impending arrival of the all new Honda Accord. The ninth generation Accord already went on sale in the North American market back in September 2012. Since the past two generations of the Singapore-bound Accord hail from Thailand, the factory source of the latest version is almost a forgone conclusion. The specifications of the Thailand Accord will tell a lot about the model that we will be getting. The new Thailand Accord is available with a 155bhp 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine or a 174bhp 2.4-litre i-VTEC Earth Dreams Technology. The 2.4-litre unit is a brand new engine from Honda that employs VTC (Variable Timing Control) and direct injection technology with extensive friction reduction measures. This is in addition to the usual DOHC and VTEC technologies. Both engines are mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. This may sound a tad disappointing as class competitors such as the Kia Optima and Mazda 6 have already adopted a six-speed setup. Measuring 4,870mm by 1,850mm by 1,465mm (L x W x H), the new Accord is shorter but wider and sits lower than the outgoing model. The front double wishbone suspension has been replaced with a MacPherson strut design while the rear retains a multi-link setup. It is the first Accord to use a strut suspension since the second generation. From a safety aspect, the new Accord is available with Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) that alerts the driver of an imminent front end collision and applies the brake automatically. The Honda Lane Watch Blind Spot Display provides an enhanced view of the passenger-side roadway. The 2.4-litre variant comes equipped with six airbags while the 2.0-litre makes do with four. Vehicle Stability Assist is standard across all models. The complete specifications of the new Thailand Accord can be found below.
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Volkswagen planning carbon fibre roof option for high performance Golf
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Volkswagen is working on a carbon fibre roof option for performance versions of the Volkswagen Golf. Although Volkswagen did not specify the specific models, it would be safe to assume that the GTI, GTD and 'R' variants would be receiving the carbon fibre treatment. According to Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen's Research and Development Chief, the challenge at the moment is to develop a set of waterproof joints to seal the roof to the car's body sides and to its windshield. The carbon fibre roof will provide a weight saving benefit of about 18 to 20 pounds (eight to nine kilograms), improving performance and fuel economy. There are no details on the pricing or launch date for the option at the moment. In recent years, there has been a great interest in the use of carbon fibre material among car makers. BMW and Boeing announced last year that they were collaborating on carbon fibre materials while Volvo has been working on a carbon fibre flywheel technology that can provide up to 25 percent fuel savings when paired to a four-cylinder turbo engine over a six-cylinder unit. -
Cars might be getting smarter, more efficient and environmentally friendly over the years but one aspect that hasn't changed in the face of motoring - fuel prices. The Volkswagen Group are among numeral carmakers that are actively pursuing ways to manufacture cars that are environmentally friendly and fuel efficient. Audi is no stranger to this formula and the premium German marque aims to bring it one step further - from saving fuel to saving money on fuel through a nifty online feature. Aptly dubbed the new Fuel Prices service
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MG is developing a range of turbocharged, direct-injected gasoline engines which will be launched in China at the end of 2014, and arriving in Europe a year later. These engines include 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre force-fed units as well as a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit that claims to rival Ford's Ecoboost unit. Given that Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has been named the 2012 'International Engine of the Year' - MG has got some very serious work to do. "Our benchmark for the 1.0-litre has to be the Ford Ecoboost engine," commented MG's Head of Powertrain, Paul McNamara. "Ford has got the technology to market first and changed perceptions. Our goal is to be competitive with their figures and attain the best real-world results possible," McNamara added. The larger 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged engines will be available in the MG3, MG5, MG6 and a production version of the CS Concept (above) displayed at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show. In addition to new power plants, MG is also working on two dual-clutch transmissions, namely a wet version that can handle 359Nm of torque and a dry version that can take up to 223Nm of torque. The wet dual-clutch transmission will go on sale in China this year while the dry one will likely go into production in 2015. The MG Car Company Limited was a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s. On 22nd July 2005, the Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to the MG brand and the assets of the MG Rover Group, creating a new company called MG Motor.
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Claimed to be the fastest street car Ferrari has ever produced so far, there's almost nothing to criticise regarding the LaFerrari. From its eye catching styling cues to its mild hybrid powertrain featuring 963bhp, I don't see anything this car is lacking of. Instead of sporting a single focal point, as in the case with most other cars, there isn't any on the LaFerrari. Well, the only one perhaps, is its canopy like roof that seems quite interesting to me. In short, this is one dream Italian prancing horse built in Maranello. Some other models such as the Ferrari 458 Spider and the Ferrari FF were also built in the aforementioned Italian city. The Ferrari LaFerrari has been detailed perfectly by means of carbon fibre material. As far as design is concerned, it seems to me that the only thing which can outdo the design is the car's stunning performance with a top speed of 350km/h and an ability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just less than 3 seconds. As mentioned earlier, the LaFerrari is a hybrid model which means it carries a V12 petrol engine along with an electric motor. The Italian automaker is planning to sell no more than 499 units of its latest supercar - which happens to be the company's first hybrid prancing horse. Well, it seems quite a good idea to bring the model to China - through the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show - as the country may be able to 'swallow' all units of the model based on financial ability. That also leads to figuring out the actual number of units that will actually see the land of the Far East. That said, I believe that there'll be some for the Middle East to 'consume' as well. Regarding the price, as far as I know, Ferrari will stick a price tag ranging somewhere around
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Italdesign Giugiaro - more commonly known as Italdesign - is a design and engineering company based in Italy and since August 9th (National Day) 2010, Lamborghini acquired 90.1 percent of the shares to the firm - which by extension means it belongs to Volkswagen. Volkswagen and Italdesign go a long way and the design firm has been responsible for the design of several notable Volkswagen vehicles including the first generation Volkswagen Golf (1974), Volkswagen Scirocco (1974) and Volkswagen Passat (1973). Quite recently Italdesign revealed the Parcour crossover that is powered by Lamborghini. It was named after the modern sport of - pioneered by the French group Yamakasi. Parkour focuses on moving around urban obstacles with speed and agility - though basically to me they are modern day, very flexible ninjas. Either way, the Parcour car has a coupe and roadster variant which fuses elements of crossovers, sports cars and the sharp styling expected of a modern Lamborghini. In fact, paint it orange, slap a raging bull logo and christen it with the name of a famous bull - and we have a striking Lamborghini CUV. The coupe and roadster have enough room for two and are powered by a 542bhp 5.2-litre V10 engine lifted from the parent company's Gallardo. The engine is mated to a seven-speed double-clutch automatic transmission that drives all four tyres on 22-inch rims. The concepts measure 4,530mm long, sit 2,070mm wide and stand 1,335mm tall and weigh just 1.5 tonnes. Italdesign believes the Parcour could hit 100km/h in a rather brisk 3.6 seconds before hitting a top speed of 320km/h.
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Targeting the younger people aging somewhere around their twenties in China, the Friend-ME Concept is Nissan's approach for decades to come that may give other automakers a run for their money. Nissan claims that the car has been designed for those who have a very distinctive automotive outlook. The reason why Nissan is targeting youths is because Nissan believes it will shape the global automotive trend in the decades to come. This was revealed by Nissan's Advanced Planning and Product Strategy Division General Manager, Fancois Bancon. Looking at the design of the car, there's nothing wrong for Nissan to be proud of its Friend-ME Concept. Sporting both flowing and edgy lines, the car is able to sit four passengers altogether in a spacious and comfortable cabin. Speaking of the cabin, it's here that all the main attractions lie. Featuring a cockpit-like cabin, the car enables all the passengers inside to access everything the car has to offer. This is an unconventional approach that we aren't likely to get with other cars, at least not for now. According to Nissan, this is possible thanks to its console that the company considers to be kind of like an 'Oracle Stone'. With the so-called 'Oracle Stone', everyone inside (not just the driver) the car will be able to have a look at the road in front of them, access music, navigation, speed, and a lot more. As we mentioned earlier, this is something that other cars can't offer us at present. Nissan said, "Our console is like an Oracle Stone that gives the Friend-ME crew the power to look down the road ahead, over the horizon, through walls
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Just a couple of weeks ago, Mitsubishi teased us with images of its new compact sedan. It came with four doors and it seemed to be only as big as, if not smaller than, the Chevrolet Sonic or the Renault Symbol. However, the wait is over and now, we've finally got to see what the latest compact sedan from Mitsubishi will actually look like. Planned to bow at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, official images of the car have spread across the World Wide Web. The car is to be called the G4 Concept at the automotive exhibition in China that will take place later this April. According to the Japanese automaker where the car comes from, the Mitsubishi G4 Concept will feature high clarity diamond headlamps and front grille that are cut brilliantly. In addition to that, Mitsubishi also claims that the rear combination taillights will have a sharp impression left behind as the car heads away out of sight. Judging from the images, the exterior of the Mitsubishi G4 Concept looks sporty somehow with the sporty front bumper design, side skirts, and a sporty rear bumper. There's also a spoiler trunk lid featuring a highly mounted (seemingly LED) brake lamp. The automaker is planning to sell this model globally so we should also see one on our shores when it's finally marketed. If you're curious about what it has under its hood, well, the model will feature a MIVEC engine with a displacement capacity of 1,200cc. It will be mated to a CVT transmission and the body of the car will be equipped with RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) technology. Well, it's up to Mitsubishi to claim that the car will leave a sharp impression. Yet, from what we've seen on the images, there's just too much blue on it. The headlamps feature a blue colour and so do the front grille, front fog lamps, and even the rear combination taillights. Honestly, it looks kind of tacky.
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[extract] Despite slated for a 2015 release date, the NSX supercar
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Hyundai 'baby' Sonata leaked prior to 2013 Shanghai Auto Show
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Despite the recent massive recalls of Hyundai cars, the South Korean automaker keeps on trying to attract customers with its vehicle lineups. This time, it's the 'baby' Sonata's turn to amaze customers with its styling and features. Officially known as the Mingtu, the Chinese media prefer to call it the Sonata Lite. Regardless of what the more appropriate name is, the car looks quite attractive indeed. Judging from the leaked image, the Mingtu sports some visual styling cues that come from its bigger brother, the original Sonata. Yet, it has its own uniqueness to show as well. The headlamps, for example, are not the same as those of its bigger brother. Also, on the front bumper, there're LED daytime running lights ready to assist the car in terms of illumination. The Hyundai Mingtu is actually intended to occupy the gap that exists between the Sonata and the Elantra in a new segment in the Chinese car market. Rumour has it that this 'baby' Sonata will feature both 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines along with a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. The image of the Mingtu can be seen on a billboard next to Hyundai's stand in the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show. If you can't wait to see this little baby with your own eyes, don't miss out the event that will start opening its doors to the press on the 20th April 2013. -
Mercedes reveals the GLA Concept before Shanghai Auto Show
RchLuvSlly posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Although the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show won't take place until 20th April 2013, the premium German automaker Mercedes-Benz seems impatient to reveal its latest compact crossover concept. Mercedes calls it the GLA Concept. Looking like a taller A-Class, the concept is based on the German automaker's new MFA platform. With that being said, it's likely that Mercedes will price the car close to the price of the B-Class. Besides, it will go below the GLK lineups. The interior of the German compact crossover concept is dominated by brown-silver colour combination. The designs of the dashboard and centre console are quite futuristic, too, with some blue illumination. The GLA Concept will have a total power output of 211bhp, with a probable AMG version. The AMG version is expected to feature a total power output of up to 354bhp, thanks to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. This latest compact crossover concept from Mercedes-Benz will come with an FWD drivetrain and will be available with either a diesel or a petrol engine. Unfortunately, though, it seems that you won't be able to buy this car at least until the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show as the production version isn't due until September. -
Following the step of its German rival, Mercedes-Benz, BMW will also launch an exclusive 5 Series lineup that only the Japanese can get their hands on. The premium German automaker will be offering sedan and touring variants for the BMW 5 Series Exclusive Sport Edition. The Japanese can choose a 2.0-litre diesel or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine for both variants. These exclusive 5 Series will be limited to only 300 units, featuring a complete M-Sport package for its exterior. Meanwhile, on the interior, customers will get the comfort from a three-spoke M steering wheel, sports seats wrapped in Cinnamon Brown leather material, a Heads-Up Display, an upgraded audio system and a lot more to mention. If you're a fan of BMW and are lucky enough to be living in Japan, we think you might want to add this limited edition model to your collection. You can take it home for an exchange of something between 7,190,000 to 7,490,000 Japanese Yen. After all, you won't find the BMW 5 Series Exclusive Sport Edition in other countries or when the model is sold out - it's limited to 300 units only, remember?
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Chris Harris takes the most powerful electric car to the track
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
With Audi and BMW toying with the E-Tron and 'i' electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz needed an engineering defying car of their own. And eventually they did create one - the SLS AMG E-Cell. Finished in an eye blinding shade of yellow the E-Cell EV impressed with a 525bhp via four permanent all-wheel drive electric motors, rotating to a maximum of 12,000rpm each. Being an EV, the 880Nm of torque is instantly available, accelerating the car to 100km/h in four seconds. After almost half a year, the E-Cell got updated, more than in nameplate and colour to the SLS AMG Electric Drive (SLS AMG ED). The SLS AMG ED is the most powerful AMG vehicle that produces a total output of 740bhp and a maximum torque of 1,000Nm from four motors in each corner of the car. The electric motor weighs 45kg, each, and distributes varied torque to individual wheels via an axially-arranged transmission design. At 13,000rpm, the SLS Electric Drive propels to a 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds to reach an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h making the 'Green' gullwing the world's fastest production EV. Each battery module contains 72 lithium-ion cells and is engineered with collaboration between Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Britain. As expected this is also the quietest sports car in the world, but as evident from the video, it certainly isn't any less exciting. -
Renault's eccentric new concept is an ideal ride for Poison Ivy
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
French automaker Renault and British designer Ross Lovegrove have collaborated on a new nature inspired EV concept - the Twin'Z. The 980kg weighing Twin'Z is essentially an EV, rear-wheel driven car featuring a rear mounted motor that is good for a range of 160km. The motor produces 68bhp and 260Nm of torque for a top speed of 130km/h. The concept aims to bring together two worlds in which design plays a prominent role - furniture and automobiles. The design language centres around the phases of the human life cycle represented as a six-petal flower. Inspiration comes from iconic models, such as the Renault 5 and Renault Twingo. The location of the rear-mounted motor and four lithium-ion battery packs allows an ample cabin space on top of renowned handling that makes it a delight to drive. The human life cycle inspired design fits Renault -
The Japanese automaker Suzuki doesn't usually have eye-catching sedans that are really interesting. As a matter of fact, this, probably, may have always been one of the main reasons why its sedans are hard to accept for Asian people. In Indonesia, for example, the company's Baleno, SX4, and Swift find it hard to get to the heart of the customers. However, that is likely to change with the Authentics, a concept that Suzuki will be bringing along to the Shanghai Motor Show this upcoming April. From the teaser images Suzuki has released, the Authentics seems to be a mid-size four-door sedan. It also comes with a seemingly long wheelbase which, in turn, might result in spacious legroom for front and rear passengers alike. It's still unknown what will power this sedan. However, our guess is that the Authentics concept will carry a petrol engine with four inline cylinders mated to a CVT transmission or a similar powertrain. From the teaser images, it can be seen that the Authentics is distinctive from other Suzuki models. Not only does it look prettier, this concept looks pretty luxurious as well, thanks to its LED combination taillights with a chrome bar in between, twin exhaust pipes surrounded by chrome accents, chrome trim surrounding its windows, and chrome door handles.
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[extract] It is no longer a secret that the Toyota Vios has often been converted into a taxi. At least, this is what is happening in Indonesia
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Well here it is - the first accident involving the chic looking all-new Jaguar F-Type roadster which will not be available till later this year. Sadly any information regarding the crash are not available and from the picture it is kinda obvious the front end needs many hours of repair. Apparently the crash happened during a comparison test between the Jaguar F-Type and two other cars. Thankfully no one was injured, except the car. Hey cars have feelings too ok? The Jaguar F-Type, is the successor to the famous Jaguar E-Type and will enter production in a couple of months.
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Nissan to reduce vehicle weight with the help of high strength steel
FaezClutchless posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
The usage of advanced materials to cut vehicle weight has been rapidly increasing nowadays. Many automakers have started using materials such as aluminium, carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced plastics on their new models. Nissan has recently announced that they will initiate a new plan which will radically reduce vehicle weight over the next few years. The Japanese auto firm's plan will involve the usage of high strength steel in up to twenty five percent for all new vehicles. The usage of high strength steel in the automotive industry is nothing new and it has been proven that it could save unnecessary weight. But the usage of high strength has been very limited. This is due to it being very difficult to mould into complex shapes. And many automakers have chosen other materials in order to reduce vehicle weight. Nissan has developed a new 1.2 GPa ultra high strength steel which retains all the structural benefits of ordinary high strength steel but it offers a higher degree of formability and greater elongation. This will allow it to be used for parts which have complex shapes. Additionally, the company also mentioned that their current production lines are able to be modified to use the new high strength steel without any additional major upgrades. The company will start using the new material in 2017 and this will reduce vehicle weight by fifteen percent. -
After making its debut in the MK 7 Golf Sport, VW's new 1.4 TSI with cylinder deactivation has found its way into the hoods of the Audi A1 and A3. The primary goal of the system is to reduce fuel consumption significantly by temporarily shutting off two of the four cylinders during low to mid loads. The greatest benefits are realised while driving at constant moderate speeds. The 1.4-litre unit is also fitted with a start-stop system. The 1.4-litre engine pumps out 138bhp at 5,000 rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm. Installed in the Audi A1, the mini hatchback with S-tronic goes from 0 to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds while the Sportback version takes just 0.1 second longer. For the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback, the century sprint takes 8.3 seconds and 8.4 seconds respectively. Looking at how the new engine replaces the 'Twincharger' in the Golf Sport, it won't come as a surprise if the same thing happens for the A1 S-Line. Volkswagen is the first carmaker to implement cylinder deactivation technology in a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in large-scale production.
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Volvo introduces cyclist detection system with auto brake function
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] Volvo has unveiled their new cyclist detection with full auto brake system. The new feature works in conjunction with the brand -
From the company that brought us side airbags, Volvo has introduced the Active High Beam Control Technology. According to Volvo, this system allows drivers to use their high beams at all times without causing disturbance to the rest of the traffic users. Volvo will display the new technology at the Geneva Motor Show. The system uses a camera mounted at the back of the rearview mirror to detect the traffic ahead. A device in the head lamps then partially blocks out the high beam in order not to cause glaring to oncoming drivers. Volvo says that the program is designed to be so precise that even an oncoming motorcycle can be detected and shielded from the high beam effectively. "When another car approaches from the opposite direction, the system helps to prevent dazzling of the oncoming driver by shading out only as much of the beam as necessary. The same functionality applies to drivers in front. The side of the road is still illuminated, which makes it easier to detect unprotected road users," Volvo explains. The new system will be available as an option in the updated S60, V60, and XC60 in early 2014. Personally, I feel that it should be fitted as a standard equipment instead as I believe not many people would want to pay extra for something that does not benefit himself.
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The current range of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engines found in the Volvo S60 and S80 are essentially Ford's EcoBoost units. However, such arrangement is going to change in the near future. The Swedish car maker is distancing itself further from Ford Motor legacy as it prepares to launch a new range of in-house engines and a modular platform. Ford sold Volvo to China's Geely Holding Group in 2010 for US$1.8 billion. Volvo's new engines will have a maximum of four cylinders and will be turbocharged. The modularity of the engines implies that gasoline and diesel units will share 30 to 40 percent of the components. A three-cylinder gasoline unit is likely and each cylinder will be just below 500cc. The petrol engines will range from 140bhp to 280bhp while the diesel variants will produce between 120bhp to 230bhp. They will be launched before end of 2013. Apart from a new engine range, Volvo will develop a new Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) that will underpin the all-new XC90 large SUV. Following that, the next V70 and S80 will also use the SPA although they will carry the V90 and S90 designations respectively when they go on sale. The new modular engines and platforms will enable Volvo to enjoy cost savings in areas such as material costs, engineering costs and installation investment cost. This is essential for the brand