Tag Archives: technology
New Jaguar Land Rover Tech ‘Talks’ To Traffic Lights
A new technology developed by Jaguar Land Rover allows cars to communicate with traffic lights. It tells drivers to either to speed it up (so they miss the red lights) or to slow down when approaching stop lights.
The vehicle-to-infrastructure or V2X system is called the Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory or the GLOSA. It is designed to prevent tailbacks at traffic lights and is aimed at reducing traffic in urban areas.
Jaguar Land Rover said that the widespread adoption of the GLOSA will prevent drivers from trying to beat the red light. It thus improves air quality because the system reduces harsh acceleration and braking.
JLR connected technology research engineer Oriol Quintana-Morales said GLOSA has “the potential to revolutionize driving by creating safe, free-flowing cities that take the stress out of commuting”.
The research for GLOSA continues as JLR aims to make the commute as comfortable as possible for their customers.
Right now, the GLOSA is being tried in the Jaguar F-Pace . It is part of the government’s £20 million project called UK Autodrive that aims to reduce the time commuters spend in traffic. JLR is also testing a number of other technologies with the same purpose.
One of these technologies is called the Intersection Collision Warning (ICW), which can alert drivers when it is unsafe to proceed at a junction. It also informs drivers if other cars are approaching from another road and suggests the order in which they should proceed when crossing the junction.
The company is also working with technologies that will give drivers real-time update about the availability of parking spaces in their destination. There’s also another technology called the Emergency Vehicle Warning, which will alert drivers when an ambulance, fire truck, or other emergency vehicle is approaching.
With connected technology, JLR plans to deliver “zero accidents, zero congestion, and zero emissions.”
Is Your Connected Car Turning Into A Digital Billboard?
The MBUX or Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system.
The way our connected cars are linked to our smartphones, to manufacturers, and to third-party service providers is done to ensure our utmost convenience and comfort. There is nothing on paper about using the data collected from our cars and turning that data into a marketing ploy.
Marketers know too well how the data collected from a connected car can help them reach a potential $750 billion in profit by 2030. That figure from McKinsey may be astronomical at first but imagine the possibilities of what marketers can do with this kind of data. Thanks to large infotainment screens, they could effectively send out advertisements to your screens at the most effective and opportune time.
Imagine the possibilities. You are cruising along the highway when suddenly your luxury SUV hits a snag and your tires blow. Without a companion, you have to change the tires all by yourself. After fitting the tires, you’re back on the road, but on the next traffic signal, a message on your screen pops out that offers a roadside assistance 24/7 for just $20 a month. After spending an hour changing your tire and having to explain to your boss why you’re late, you may think that a $20 bill isn’t so bad after all. You click to pay and the marketers win.
How about if you’re driving to the mall with your kids in tow when a car suddenly stops in front of you causing you to hit on the brakes hard? The system will send a message to the manufacturer about a near-collision event. The next thing you know, while you’re contemplating about how your kids will live without you, there’s a message on your screen about insurance. The company is offering a life insurance policy, which will protect the future of your kids for just $5. After that run-in with the bad driver, you will be inclined to accept the deal.
More connectivity with our cars means more opportunity for marketers. It’s only a matter of time until our infotainment screens get flooded with ads.
New BMW X5 To Feature The Latest iDrive Infotainment System
BMW has confirmed that a new model under its X series will become available by the end of this year. The BMW X5 will also be the best platform for the German brand to feature its latest iDrive infotainment system.
The new fourth-generation BMW X5 will be revealed most likely at the Paris Motor Show in September, and might become available in dealerships around the end of 2018. This information was confirmed by BMW head Harald Kruger during BMW’s 98 th annual general meeting. This will be the fourth X model to arrive this year, after the X2, the new X3, and the X4.
This new SUV will be the first vehicle to feature BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment technology, which is called the BMW Operating System 7.0. The same system will also be featured in the upcoming 3 Series saloon and the flagship X7.
The spy shots revealed a lot about the evolutionary design language that BMW has used for the X5. As a rival to the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne, the photos showed the company’s latest hexagonal lighting signature even when it is completely covered in camouflage.
CLAR Platform
The current X5, which was introduced in 2013, is still using the same platform as the second-generation X5 from 2006. The biggest challenge then is finding a suitable platform for the new X5, and this could be the CLAR platform, which has already transitioned from the saloon to the SUV in the latest X3. On the latter, the platform has already shed off 55kg off the kerbweight. The larger X5 will have more saving in terms of weight and fuel efficiency.
The new X5 will follow the 5 Series’ four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
SUV sales for BMW grew rapidly in the past decade as this segment continues to be the main focus of customers. The company hopes to build on that success when the X5 is revealed later this year.
A Closer Look At The 2019 Audi A8
The unveiled 2019 Audi A8, which will go on sale in 2018, may be a little conservative when it comes to its exteriors looks, but the technology is super advanced. This fourth-generation A8 is the oldest among its peers, but there is still significant interest on what Audi can still possibly do with this particular line.
A redesigned version of the flagship sedan was launched on Tuesday during a special event in Barcelona, Spain. It’s nothing special from the outside, but Audi fitted it with a “Level 3” self-driving capability. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a Level 3 self-driving technology is when a car can take complete control in specific situations, with the driver being able to take over after a short warning period.
Level 3 Artificial Intelligence
The major technological feature of the 2019 Audi A8 is the AI-based software that it comes fitted with. The system not only controls the self-driving capability of the vehicle, but also acts as an “electronic concierge” of some sorts. This is the first software announced to have a Level 3 capability since the most advanced software the public has seen so far is a Level 2 self-driving capability.
A Level 2 software requires the driver to monitor the situation and to take over in an instance in case of an emergency.
Included in the A8, the Level 3 system can take over during “some” parking situations and self-drive during traffic jams on uninterrupted roads like highways. The system can provide a speed up to 37mph, allowing ample time for the driver to take over if something goes wrong. Under these situations, the driver can use the phone or read a book while the system has taken over.
The possibility of sleeping in a car under a self-driving situation is still not possible, though, unless a Level 4 is realized. Experts are predicting that a Level 4 car may be available by next decade while a Level 5, where there is no driver needed, would have to take some more time.
Volvo To Offer Only Electrified Powertrains In The Future
Volvo is joining the rest of the European car manufacturers in steering the auto industry towards an electrified future. The company announced on Wednesday that it will only offer electrified powertrains starting in 2019, completing phasing out the internal combustion engine from its lineup.
According to Autonews , Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in a statement that the announcement comes on the heels of the manufacturer’s plans to sell one million electrified cars by 2025. “When we said it[,] we meant it. This is how we are going to do it.”
Back in 2014, Volvo revealed plans of offering a plug-in hybrid alternative alongside versions of its traditional gasoline and diesel-powered engines. The company CEO explained that the move will allow Volvo to “stand out” from their competitors.
Henrik Green, Volvo’s research and development head, told the source that vehicles powered only by a combustion engine would be phased out from the company’s lineup between 2023 to 2025. That’s a long way from now, but it seems to look doable under Volvo’s current plan.
Between 2019 and 2021, Volvo plans to offer five cars from its full-electric lineup. The company presently has nothing in this department, but the next years will prove challenging for the car manufacturer as it shifts away from the use of combustion engine.
Three of the planned full-electric vehicles will come from Volvo while the remaining two cars planned will be produced by Polestar, which parent company Volvo plans to transform into a stand-alone brand for high-performance electric vehicles.
Electrified Technology is on the Rise
Volvo’s electrified models will be manufactured in its factories in Europe, China, and the United States. Although heftier in investment costs, Samuelsson told Reuters this will be shouldered by the company’s existing budget.
The switch towards an electrified future is a move well-recognized in Europe, where analysts ave been predicting the rise in electronic technology by 2020. Aside from Volvo, its competitors Renault and the Volkswagen Group are also offering hybrid technology.
A number of key European cities may also be banning the use of diesel engines, but the cost of an after-treatment systems to make diesel comply to new emissions regulations may not be worth the investment.
Lilum Jet: Meet the New Flying Car of the Future
A flying car used to be a subject of a science fiction novel. With the rapid development of technology, it is slowly becoming a reality. Recently, another flying car was previewed in Germany called the “Lilium Jet”.
How it was considered to be a car beats us, because it is more like a small jet. The Pop.Up of Airbus is more of a car than this one. However, if we take a look back at the flying cars in movies, Lilium resembles a lot of them.
Key Features
According to the Verge , Lilium Jet is being developed by Lilium Aviation. The company is a startup based in Munich, Germany.
The flying car is electric-powered with two-seating capacity. It features a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operation, thanks to its 36 propellers distributed across its 10-meter wings and 12 movable flaps. Then once airborne, the flaps adjust horizontally to provide the small aircraft a forward thrust.
Lilium said that the electric battery of the jet has 90% better efficiency than the drone-styled aircraft. The prototype is capable of covering a range of 300 kilometers at full charge and it is 300 km/h quick. That will definitely get you to faraway places fast because it is not hindered by most land barriers such as hills and rough terrains, which serve as challenges to the cars of today.
The Lilium Jet is already undergoing testing. It is still being piloted remotely though. The flying car’s maker claimed that the manned testing of the aircraft is near.
Challenges
While the technology to build flying cars is close-at-hand, there are a lot of hurdles it must face before it reaches mass production for consumers. As pointed out by Mathias Thomsen of Airbus, there is the issue in public infrastructure. But this can be resolved with careful urban planning. Next are the modern day road regulations.
Top 3 Features Of The Kia Soul First Class Concept
The Kia Soul First Class concept, which was specifically designed for the 2016 SEMA show, is taking autonomous technology to the next level by pairing it up with luxurious features such as rear facing front seats, a massive rear view screen, in-floor leg rests, and an elegant and comfortable cabin you’ll want to rest in.
Here are the top 3 features of the concept car based on a source :
Exterior
Kia tapped the resources of LUX Motorwerks to give the Soul a unique vision of what’s in the future for SUVs and crossovers. The first step is to bathe the Soul in LUX Electric Blue finish from top to bottom. Then, they also put LED lights that give a mysterious blue glow on the upper and lower grille.
The concept’s Rotiform Monoblock CCV 19-inch wheels are also fitted in Continental all-season tires. The backgrounds of the Kia emblems on the exterior are also painted LUX Electric Blue while the “Kia” lettering remains black. The headlights are getting the same LUX Electric Blue treatment as accents.
Interior
This is called Soul First Class for a reason. The interior is so luxurious it can make you think you’re inside a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. What modifications this concept lacked outside, it more than makes up for what you can find inside.
What LUX did was to strip off everything out of the cabin and start on a clean canvass. The rear seats now face the back of the car while a new console was installed between the two seats. Each of the passengers will have access to a tablet device that can control and monitor every aspect of the vehicle.
The seats are made with gray leather with diamond stitching while the floor has been equipped with a modern gray wood, giving off that feel of class and luxury. In the rear, you’ll be able to see an entertainment center installed to that floor that has a Mac Mini computer.
Drivetrain
There are no chassis or drivetrain upgrades, but it is expected to have a 1.6-liter, all-aluminum, four-banger that can produce 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. Higher models can offer 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque from a 2.0-liter engine.
Tesla Will Equip All Its Cars With Self-Driving Tech
Electric vehicle maker Tesla announced on October 19 that all the cars it will produce—including Model 3—will be equipped with technology that will allow them to go on auto-pilot.
Last year, the company co-founded by Elon Musk introduced the Autopilot system. Although it is far from offering fully-autonomous driving to its cars, the technology already has the elements that will pave way for that goal.
So far, the system allows auto-braking. It will also offer several features that will heighten the safety levels of the car, which is far more than the capability of a human driver.
To achieve such, Tesla equipped its cars with twelve updated ultrasonic sensors. The sensors double the capability of the old system in detecting hard and soft objects within the vicinity of the vehicle. The tech increases the awareness of the driver on the road too especially during heavy rain, dust, fog and in detecting incoming cars using its forward-oriented radar with enhanced processing.
Tesla said the new onboard computer in its cars provides 40 more computing capacity than the previous generation. The upgrade gives Tesla cars a new neural net enhancing their vision, sonar and radar. With that, every direction is seen by system simultaneously, which is far more than what the human senses are capable of.
Tesla reminded that customers will not have to wait for the mentioned technology anymore. The Tesla Model S and Model X have it already. The vehicles are being sold now.
For the meantime, Tesla stated that it will have to conduct more tests with their new system. The calibration would require millions of miles in real-world driving to ensure optimum safety and convenience. As a result, some features of the Autopilot will have to be disabled for the moment like the emergency braking, collision warning, lane assist and active cruise control. Over the air updates will be released to enable the blocked features once Tesla is confident in their new system.
2017 Toyota Highlander Will Get Stop-Start Function
2017 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum edition. (Photo via Autoblog)
The stop-start technology is nothing new in the world of cars and SUVs. However, Toyota hasn’t introduced the feature yet in its North American vehicles. All that is about to change as the 2017 Toyota Highlander will come equipped with that system.
Simply put, the stop-start technology works by shutting off the engine of the vehicle when it is stationary. Brian Williams of Toyota explained that the integration of the function in their vehicles will allow the Highlander to have a fuel efficiency of one mile per gallon. It will also improve the EPA fuel economy of the SUV.
Even after turning off the engine, the stop-start functionally will still feed electric supply to the vehicle for at least two-minutes during a complete halt or when stopped under a traffic light. The engine is configured to be turned on by default every ignition cycle. Customers can choose to manually shut it off though with a push of a button. The auto stop-start operation is overridden too when the air conditioning unit of the auto is at a maximum or on a grade higher than eight degrees.
Williams revealed that more Toyota models will get the stop-start technology after the Highlander. However, he remained mum though about the specific models that will get it. The report claimed that the larger vehicles of the brand will most probably have it because those are the ones that could benefit more from it. The upcoming 2018 Toyota Sienna is a likely recipient of the system.
Williams estimated that around 85 percent of all 2017 Toyota Highlander SUVs will get the stop-start tech. He added eight percent of the Highlanders that will be sold to customers this year will be the LE trim while seven percent will come from the hybrid variants of the range.
Lexus UX Concept Pioneers 3D Driving Experience
The Lexus UX Concept will make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, and it is charged to showcase Lexus’ vision of a compact SUV for the future. The vehicle will apparently represent the company’s new approach in designing and in providing an exceptional driving experience.
The UX concept has a bold and imaginative approach to designing and technologies. It aims to provide customers an immersive driving experience, thanks to the on-board HMI technology that has been designed to offer an “innovative, three-dimensional driver experience.”
The instrument binnacle of the driver has a transparent, hologram-like globe that houses a combination of analog and digital information. The binnacle is both functional and has an unexpected user interface. The center console, on the other hand, features that prominent and faceted crystal structure. Within that, you can find a hologram-style display of air-conditioning and infotainment system that is clearly visible both to the driver and the front passenger.
The new UX concept will also showcase the latest advanced in-vehicle electrical technologies, which include electro-chromatic windows and electrostatic switchgear that is housed under transparent covers. The sideview mirrors have been replaced with e-mirror camera housings. These are far slimmer than the conventional mirror housings on current vehicles.
Drivers may also expect a new audio experience from cars using the UX Concept thanks to the fin motif on the dashboard, the same one that was used on the A pillar. In fact, a removable sound bar was even built into the passenger side of the dashboard, so that everyone can enjoy a one-of-a-kind audio experience.
Stephen Rasmussen, designer at the European Design Centre, ED2, said that the Lexus’ goal is to create a new genre of compact crossover. They want a vehicle that can create an innovative and 3D experience for the user.
