New 500bhp BMW M4 seen for first time in cabriolet form

BMWs upcoming M4 has been spotted in disguise in convertible form ahead of its release next year. The new generation of Munich’s Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet rival can be seen to sport more athletic body proportions, afforded by the adoption of a new fabric roof. Replacing the heavy and bulky folding metal hard top arrangement, the fabric top allows better interior packaging, a shorter rear deck and, we expect, a significant weight reduction. Differences between this and the standard 2020 4 Series are familiar, with the return of the blistered wheelarches, bigger intakes and quad exhaust tailpipes. We already know that the next-generation BMW M3 and M4 due in 2020 will receive a significantly upgraded six-cylinder engine capable of more than 500bhp in its top form. The flagship model to use this new engine will be a new M4 Gran Coupé (imagined by Autocar above), the first time the four-door coupé has featured a full-fat M variant. The coupe and cabriolet will also return beside the M3 saloon. The 3.0-litre powerplant, which carries the internal codename S58, is a development of the firm’s standard B58 unit, as used in the existing 440i and other BMW models. But as M division officials have revealed to Autocar, “it is for all intents and purposes an all-new drivetrain with significant changes to the base engine that allow it to rev beyond 7000rpm and deliver a much higher specific output” than today’s S55 engine. As well as being earmarked for the next M4 Coupé and the first-ever M4 Gran Coupé, the new twin-turbocharged straight six is also planned to propel a new M4 Convertible, the upcoming sixth-generation M3 and, in a lesser-powered form, the second-generation M2. It will be launched in the new X3M and X4M. An increase in power provides the new S58 engine with a higher specific output in Competition guise than the old S55 with water injection, a set-up used by the 493bhp M4 GTS. That unit provides the outgoing M4 Coupé with 425bhp in standard guise and 444bhp in Competition form. BMW’s M division engineers have managed to raise power by more than 11% in the standard M4 and 13% in the M4 Coupé Competition, with claimed outputs of 473bhp and 502bhp respectively. These figures appear set to place the new model in direct competition with the 444bhp Audi RS5 and 503bhp Mercedes-Benz C63S Coupé. Torque is also increased by 37lb ft, with the new S58 engine delivering 442lb ft on a band of revs between 2600rpm and 5600rpm. Despite the increase in performance, the S58 engine has been developed to meet strict new emission regulations to potentially provide the standard M4 with a CO2 figure of less than 200g/km, thanks in part to the adoption of twin Otto particulate filters. Key among the changes over the S55 engine is the adoption of a longer stroke, at 90mm. The bore measurement remains 84mm, but BMW M claims the altered internal measurements help to boost torque potential. Also included are two mono-scroll turbochargers in place of the single twin-scroll unit used on the B58 engine, as well as BMW M’s latest Valvetronic variable valve timing and ‘Double Vanos’ variable camshaft profile. The compression ratio has also been reduced, from 10.2:1 for the S55 to 9.3:1. Although the new engine goes without water injection, officials say it may appear on a further-developed version of the S58 unit likely to appear in a successor to today’s 453bhp M4 CS. Secrecy surrounds the rest of the M4’s mechanical makeup. However, insiders suggest it is in line to abandon tradition by adopting an eight-speed torque converter-equipped automatic transmission and a similar xDrive four-wheel drive system to the latest M5 (with an M-Dynamic mode apportioning power to the rear wheels) in at least one version. It is also suggested a cheaper and lower-powered entry-level model could potentially be offered, with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel
Origin: New 500bhp BMW M4 seen for first time in cabriolet form

Unreliable charging infrastructure preventing EV rollout

The UK’s public charging infrastructure is just about keeping pace with electric car expansion, but there’s now a new concern: the poor usability and reliability of the network. Currently there are 13,702 public chargers with a total of 23,280 connectors across the UK, according to the latest data from popular charging locator app Zap-Map. These chargers support a growing fleet of vehicles classed as ultra-low emission (the vast majority of which are plug-in), which totalled 185,853 by the end of 2018, according to data from the Department for Transport. As firms such as Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Honda expand their electric car lineups, the number of plug-in cars will grow dramatically to seven million in the UK by 2030, according to a recent study from consulting firm Deloitte. However, because most will be home-charged, it believes only 28,000 public chargers will be required to service them. Theoretically then, we’re already nearly halfway there, even though slower chargers will need replacing and the geographic imbalance must be addressed (for example, Greater London has 26% of chargers, while Wales has just 3%, says Zap-Map). But public charging is already frustrating many users. “How the hell are we expected to get to carbon neutral when the charging network is so random, inconsistent and generally awful to use?” tweeted Conor Twomey, head of UK public relations for Mitsubishi, maker of the country’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, the Outlander PHEV. A snapshot provided by ZapMap for 29 May showed that almost a quarter of chargers were out of service. Of those, 7.5% were flagged up with a problem while 16% were not communicating their status, leading Zap-Map to assume they were not working. The sheer number of charger providers is one problem. Zap-Map lists more than 50, each with their own network and, sometimes, their own monopoly of a location. Ecotricity, for example, signed exclusive agreements with motorway service station operators such as Welcome Break, but has been singled out multiple times for the poor reliability of its chargers. The alternative is off-motorway stops, usually in places without the variety of shopping and eating choices motorway services offer. Ecotricity declined to comment. Even if the charger is working, you then have to figure out how to use them. Some of the blame can be pinned on the car manufacturers themselves for not agreeing on a standard charging protocol, resulting in different connectors for different charging systems. CCS (combined charging system, so called because it combines AC and DC charging in a single plug) is becoming more popular, but the dominant connector is still the Japanese-developed Chademo DC system used by both the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander. But perhaps the biggest stumbling block to usability is payment. To foster loyalty, a charger provider might require you to become a member and pay a monthly fee in return for cheaper charging. That might work fine if you stay in that network but, with more than 50 charger operators, it’s almost impossible. The competing tussles of the charger operators have got the attention of Conservative MP Bill Wiggin, who tabled a Private Members’ Bill to try to bring some order to the payment system. “Electric vehicle users in the UK are currently disadvantaged compared with our European neighbours due to our lack of an interoperable payment system for EV charging,” he told parliament in November last year. From 2018, charger operators have had to comply with a Europe-wide order to offer ad-hoc charging payment: in other words, you don’t have to be a member of a particular network before using one of their chargers (although you might have to pay more). But payment is still a minefield. “EV drivers in the Netherlands, for example, are able to charge their cars using a common payment card system,” Wiggin said, proposing a similar system here. This wasn’t a bid to nationalise charging, he added, but “simply to ensure the free market is working for consumers”. A second reading of the bill due in March didn’t happen and Wiggin didn’t reply to our questions. The cry from EV users on social media is to make payment possible by contactless bank card, bringing charging closer to the simplicity of buying petrol or diesel. Already some operators offer that, including Engenie, InstaVolt and Shell Recharge. But others are kicking back, citing the cost. And money is tight. Deloitte calls it a chicken and egg situation. Consumers don’t want electric cars until they’re happy the charging network is established, but charger operators are reluctant to invest until the customers are there. Public chargers are lying idle, too. According to Zap-Map data, a fast charger was used on average 0.8 times a day in the first three months of 2019, while rapid chargers were used 1.8 times. Ecotricity’s Electric Highway Company lost £830,000 last year, according to company
Origin: Unreliable charging infrastructure preventing EV rollout

New 500bhp BMW M4 seen for the first time in cabriolet form

Is the new De Tomaso a copy of this Glickenhaus one-off?

There are no take-backs on the Internet. Especially when tens of thousands of people’re watching your social media accounts. But that seems to be fine with James Glickenhaus, the American filmmaker and owner/manager of boutique exotic shop Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG), who hasn’t even bothered to try to delete the Twitter and Instagram insults he recently lobbed at the new De Tomaso P72 and its creators. Glickenhaus quotes himself in an Instagram post from @glickenhaus (as well as in a Tweet) saying in no uncertain terms that the P72 directly rips off his P3/4 and P4/5, as well as interior features from Pagani. He also throw in a little diss on American artist Jeff Koons for some reason. View this post on Instagram Due to the increasing cascade of posts like “Nah, I don’t see any similarities, LOL” and inquiries from the Fourth Estate, here are our responses: “They put tracing paper over our P 3/4, pasted on much of our P 4/5, stole an interior from Horacio, pumped it up like a Vargas Girl and turned it into Anime. I see Koons not Caravaggio.” Jim Glickenhaus “Copy, noun: ‘a thing made to be similar or identical to another’” Jesse Glickenhaus #ferrarip45bypininfarina A post shared by Glickenhaus (@glickenhaus) on Jul 8, 2019 at 7:41am PDTDe Tomaso claims the P72 is a new design inspired by the brand’s P70 of the early 1960s. The P70 began as a collaboration between Carroll Shelby, Alejandro De Tomaso and Peter Brock, with Shelby bringing the motor, De Tomaso the chassis and Brock the design. It was never officially finished. We refuse to take sides on this one, but the cars certainly have their similarities, including the shape of the front end, as well as the canopy. Just different enough to avoid actual plagiarism. Similar enough to the sincerest form of flattery. Think Ferrari Barchetta and AC Ace. Charles L. Rosenblum (@CharlzR) July 8, 2019As one Twitter commenter points out, maybe Glickenhaus should just take it as a compliment. De Tomaso will make just 72 of the P72s. And at US$1.1 million each, if they’re “copies” as Glickenhaus claims, they’re pretty darn good ones.
Origin: Is the new De Tomaso a copy of this Glickenhaus one-off?

LEGO made a life-size Harley-Davidson Fat Boy to celebrate new set

Just in time for the beginning of the end of riding season, LEGO has released a Creator Expert series Harley-Davidson Fat Boy model. And because it’s basically just what you do now, it’s also built a life-size replica to go with it. You can only own one of them, though. LEGO worked with Harley-Davidson to create the 33-cm model, which comes together from 1,023 pieces, including bits that make up a Milwaukee-Eight engine with pistons that pump when you spin the rear wheel; a moveable gearshift; brake; dual exhaust pipes; functioning kickstand; teardrop fuel tank; handlebar steering; and a speedometer. “It’s been exceptionally exciting for Harley-Davidson to collaborate with the LEGO Group — another brand that champions creativity and expression,” said Heather Malenshek, Chief Marketing Officer at Harley-Davidson. “Not only do we want customers to be inspired by the end result, we want them to enjoy the building process.”The set goes on sale August 1, or July 17 for LEGO VIP. Then theres the life-size model. Its not actually drivable like that Bugatti Chiron, but it does a pretty good imitation, with Wi-fi-animation control for light and sound effects, and silver-coated parts. It took LEGOs Master Builders some 865 hours to click together its 69,569 pieces.Harley and/or LEGO fans can check out the life-size LEGO Harley Fat Boy at select LEGO stores and Harley-Davidson
Origin: LEGO made a life-size Harley-Davidson Fat Boy to celebrate new set

Unreliable charging infrastructure prevents EV rollout

Bloodhound land speed record project to test in South Africa

Bloodhound, the British land speed record project dramatically rescued from receivership early this year after a last-minute intervention from engineering millionaire Ian Warhurst, is to begin a series of high-speed trials in South Africa this autumn as the first step to challenging the 21-year old world land speed record. The jet-and-rocket-powered Bloodhound LSR car, which has been 10 years in the building but came within hours of being sent to a breaker’s yard, will begin a series of tests in October, described by the team as a “full dress rehearsal” for record runs currently scheduled for late 2020. This year’s tests will investigate the all-important 400-500mph speed range where, as the car accelerates, control passes from the car’s steered wheels to its aerodynamic surfaces. Testing must be thorough through this phase, Warhurst says, as the team compares actual results with theoretical data. Bloodhound, which last year successfully ran at 200mph at Newquay Airport, will also roll for the first time on its new all-aluminium wheels. Bloodhound will be driven by former RAF fast-jet pilot and current record-holder Wing Commander Andy Green, who back in 1997 became the only person ever to drive a car at supersonic speed on land when he took his Thrust SSC record car to a new mark of 763.035mph. The Grafton LSR crew believe they can achieve 800mph as a first step. The record attempt is scheduled to take place late in 2020, but the team has set no timetable for their other, much tougher objective of achieving 1000mph on land. “We’ve divided our aims into two separate phases,” says Warhurst, owner and CEO of the project’s supporting company, Grafton LSR. “We’ll concentrate on the record first, and when we’ve achieved that, we’ll use the data and knowledge gained to make a judgement about whether to go for the second phase.” The latest Bloodhound tests will take place on a specially prepared 12-mile test track at Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape, South Africa, which has been specially prepared on a dry lake bed by members of the local Mier community. Working by hand, they have removed more than 16,500 tonnes of stone in preparation for Bloodhound’s runs. Twelve parallel tracks have been laid out, because the car’s unique aluminium wheels — which don’t have tyres because the rotational speed would throw them off the rims — penetrate the track’s hard surface as they run, and “up to 12” runs are planned for this first trip to South Africa. The new Bloodhound ownership team is maintaining its role as at attraction to STEM subjects for school-age students, by making its results and research findings publicly available. “This is the first land speed record attempt of the digital era,” explains Ian Warhurst. “Digital platforms can share data in real time from hundreds of sensors on the car, allowing budding engineers to see exactly how the car is behaving as it dices with physics.” Warhurst is funding the current preparations himself, but is depending on the forthcoming tests to attract new backers, especially title and livery sponsors. For now, the car is painted all white, but the Warhurst believes when it “does something” interested corporate and technical partners, currently waiting in the wings, will come forward. The project has moved from its old base near Bristol and will now be based in new premises in the SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College, in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. The car’s new livery – a red fin with a white body – is intended to encourage new investors in the project, which for the first time will offer both title and livery sponsorships. Bloodhound’s original yellow and blue livery, from what they’re now calling the RD phase, will still be used in photographs and videos, the new owners say. Warhurst has established a new company, Grafton LSR Ltd, to run the project. The name is taken from an 1839 painting by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, which now hangs in the Tate Gallery, of a bloodhound called Grafton. Warhurst is joined in the new company by familiar faces including driver Andy Green and chief engineer Mark Chapman, along with many others from the original team “to provide continuity”. The team also now includes commercial director and ex-Formula 1 money man Ewen Honeyman, whose job will be to find new backers for the project. For the time being, Warhurst, who was eight days into his retirement when he heard last December of Bloodhound’s demise by text from his son, will provide “the cashflow to keep the project on track” until extra backers are found. Warhurst recently sold Melett, a turbocharger parts and equipment supplier of which he was the owner and managing director. “I have been overwhelmed by the passion and enthusiasm the public has shown for the project,” said Warhurst. “Over the past decade, an incredible amount of hard graft has been invested in this project. It would be a tragedy to see it go to waste. It’s my ambition to let Bloodhound off the leash and
Origin: Bloodhound land speed record project to test in South Africa

Why some Japanese people are renting cars — but not driving them

General Motors’ new car-sharing service, Maven, will provide customers access to highly personalized, on-demand mobility services. A reported pilot program could extend that service to include vehicles owned by customers. At first it was confusing. Orix Auto Corp, a car-sharing company in Japan with around 230,000 registered users, discovered a portion of its rented vehicles had “traveled no distance,” meaning those who’d paid to use them hadn’t actually driven anywhere. As it happens, Orix wasn’t the only company to have noticed the trend, reports Japanese national newspaper The Asahi Shimbun. A leading provider in the car-sharing space called Times24 Co. (1.2 million users) also noted a lack of miles being added in some instances. So it did a survey of its customers and found some interesting answers to the question ‘What were you doing in that rental car if not driving?’ One person said they’d used the cars to store bags and other items when local coin-operated lockers weren’t available. Another said they’d paid for cars to nap or work in. “Usually the only place I can take a nap while visiting my clients is a cybercafe in front of the station, but renting a car to sleep in is just a few hundred yen (a few dollars), almost the same as staying in the cybercafe,” said one survey respondent. Following the earthquake that devastated parts of Japan in 2011, some cars were used as charging points for cell phones. Another survey responder just wanted a place to eat. ”I rented a car to eat a boxed meal that I bought at a convenience store because I couldn’t find anywhere else to have lunch,” said the 31-year-old man who definitely also needs a hug. With car-sharing rental prices starting under $5 for thirty minutes of use, and bookings made instantly through apps, it’s easy to see how we got here. Makes one wonder: is this happening in Canada’s cities, too? If you’ve used car-sharing for something other than driving, we want to hear about it in the
Origin: Why some Japanese people are renting cars — but not driving them

County in California makes it almost illegal to repair your car at home

An example of a home garage.Stanley Munn Residents of Sacramento County may be in a bit of a bind the next time they elect to take on a car repair in their own garage. At issue are the countys zoning codes, some of which are worded with a vagueness that would make a politician proud.First expounded upon at the Grassroots Motorsports forum and brought into the mainstream consciousness by the gearheads at Jalopnik, the lawmakers have cleaved the activity of auto repair into two buckets: minor and major.Minor automotive repair is listed as including brake part replacement, minor tune-ups, change of oil and filter, repair of flat tires, lubrication and other similar operations.Major repairs are considered anything outside that scope, plus body or painting work of vehicles or vehicle parts. This is presumably meant to ward off neer-do-wells from setting up a chop shop or paint booth in their backyard.Heres the sticky part, though. The zoning law goes on to state it is unlawful to engage in even minor repair under the following circumstances:If using tools not normally found in a residence; When conducted on vehicles registered to persons not currently residing on the lot or parcel; Conducted outside a fully enclosed garage and resulting in any vehicle being inoperable for a period in excess of twenty-four hours. Number one on that list has a few people up in arms. What constitutes tools not normally found in a residence? Is it a welder? Air tools? Torque wrench? All of those reside in your authors suburban garage and see weekly use.The code goes on to say that The chemicals involved in major automobile repair can pollute our neighborhoods and endanger the health and wellbeing of our residents. Fair enough, as no one would want a person pouring motor oil or gallons of DuPont Hot Hues down the sewer drain.But its easy to see how haphazard enforcement of this code can get out of hand, especially when it goes on to say that this kind of activity increases vehicle traffic and the visual impact can negatively impact property values. Until the long arm of The Man comes knocking on my garage door, Ill continue giving my tools a
Origin: County in California makes it almost illegal to repair your car at home

Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifts a Lincoln he’s not sitting in

Drift champ Vaughn Gittin Jr. has slithered his way around racetracks in just about every machine imaginable, including a 900-horsepower Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR along the length of the Nurburgring. Your author cant even do that within the virtual confines of Forza, fer chrissakes.Now, Gittin can add teleoperation to his rsum. Seriously.At Goodwood this past weekend, the man himself donned a Samsung virtual reality headset and flung a Lincoln MKZ around the Festival of Speed drift area while standing hundreds of metres away from the car itself.Touted as the worlds first remotely-controlled 5G car, the stunt was an opportunity for U.K. mobile provider Vodaphone to show off the low latency of its snazzy new 5G network. The test allegedly produced a latency of less than 100 milliseconds, which is surely better than the latency found in the vast majority of human drones sailing along the 401 highway.Keep in mind, though, that there are few users on the 5G network right now, a detail which certainly contributed to the low latency numbers.Still, controlling a full-size car over a cellular network is one helluva achievement. The teleoperation system is built by a company called Designated Driver, which first announced the technology back in March of this year.In addition to addressing the critical and non-negotiable issues of latency and safety, our product has been designed to be easy to deploy and use, said Designated Driver CEO Manuela Papadopol. This enables the best user interaction and experience for both passengers and teleoperators.Any sort of teleoperation a term which, we have to acknowledge, instantly calls to mind teleportation needs to have near-zero delay for driving inputs, lest your eco-friendly transportation pod suddenly careen headlong into a school bus full of disabled orphans. For this test, Gittin piloted the car from Samsungs Future Lab zone at Goodwood, where he sat in a state-of-the-art G-force Vesaro racing seat, a perch which not all future teleoperators will enjoy.Its interesting and gob-smacking tech, one which needs to be made right before being unleashed on public roads. Until then, your author will enjoy watching YouTube drift pros huck Lincolns around closed
Origin: Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifts a Lincoln he’s not sitting in