Clip from a AAA video of a pedestrian detection emergency braking system testAAA Cars equipped with pedestrian avoidance technology are a step in the right direction, but much more development is needed for them to be truly effective, a new AAA study, covered by Consumer Reports, shows.The systems in the four cars the group tested struggled, and ultimately failed, to find pedestrians at night, or upon executing right-hand turns at low speed. They also failed to avert disaster when at speeds of 48 km/h or higher.It’s a signal to manufacturers, and a reminder to consumers, that while technology to reduce pedestrian deaths is needed and being implemented, it has some severe limitations. You cannot hand over control of your car and disengage from the complex task of driving, no matter how many systems are being touted. Pedestrian detection is used in combination with automatic emergency braking systems; if the car detects a pedestrian the driver doesn’t, it will alert the driver and start to take action to slow or stop the car. It uses cameras, radar and sensors that allow the car to “see” a pedestrian, and should be very effective in urban areas at speed limits of up to 30 km/h. The AAA study is alarming because the four different vehicles they tested – Tesla Model 3, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu – delivered underwhelming results.In daylight, at 32 km/h, the cars hit an adult pedestrian 60 per cent of the time. Even worse, “none of the test vehicles avoided a collision (or even mitigated the impact speed) with a pedestrian crossing the road immediately after the test vehicle, traveling at 15 mph (24 km/h), made a right-hand turn.”If you’re a little one, forget it: “If the test vehicles came across a child darting into traffic from in between two cars, with the test vehicle traveling at 20 mph (32 km/h), a collision occurred 89 per cent of the time; at 30 mph (48 km/h), none of the test vehicles avoided a collision.”Are we there yet? Nope. Don’t take your eyes from the road, be aware of your surroundings and don’t count on your car to save those around you — just
Origin: Pedestrian avoidance technology much less effective at higher speeds: study
Audi’s forthcoming electric range will be built on the backs of these four platforms
MLB evo (e-tron), J1-Performance Plattform (e-tron GT concept), MEB (Q4 e-tron concept), PPE (Designmodell Sportback-Layout).Audi Audi is on a power surge that will see 30 new electrified rides launched by 2025. Ten will be plug-in hybrids like the upcoming Q5, A7 and A8 vehicles. The other 20 new products will be pure electric. This side of the future portfolio is based on four new platforms that will underpin everything from the outrageous e-tron GT to future SUVs like the Q4 e-tron, as well as new sedans, coupes and wagons.The first of the core platforms already sits beneath the Audi e-tron. The modular longitudinal platform or MLB evo will also sit under the e-tron Sportback thats set to be shown at this years Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The 95-kilowatt/hour lithium-ion battery gives the current e-tron a range of 400 kilometers.Moving ahead, the platform will be used for future SUVs and sedans with different outputs and battery capacities there will be two different battery sizes and electric motor outputs offered when the e-tron Sportback lands. The second J1 platform is a joint venture between Audi and Porsche. It was designed specifically for high-performance cars. Currently, it underpins the Porsche Taycan and will sit beneath the e-tron GT when it arrives.The concept car, shown at last years LA Auto Show, clearly points to the production version add door handles and remove the illuminated e-tron badge on the front splitter and you have the production-ready version. It has two electric motors with a combined output of 582 hp and 612 pound-feet of torque from rev one.The instant-on performance delivers a run to 100 kilometres an hour of 3.5 seconds. It also has a battery capacity of more than 90 kW/h. In a different move, the e-tron GT has two cutouts in the battery to make room for the rear seat riders feet. The e-tron GT also uses a new 800-volt system. This allows the charging times to be much faster than with a system with a lower voltage rating think Ohms law. This high-voltage system is going play a big roll in Audis future.Moving forward, derivatives with different electric motor outputs and battery modules with allow the future lineup to expand quickly. The third platform is the modular electrification toolkit, or MEB platform that underpins the upcoming Q4 e-tron. This platform, which comes from VW, represents the future of all Audi compact and mid-size pure electric models. Its a scalable architecture that supports SUV, sedan, coupe and wagon body styles. It will arrive with a rear electric motor, but allows for the addition of a second electric motor at the front. This gives it a quattro extension. As with the J1 platform, its designed to accommodate different electric motors and lithium-ion battery packs.As used in the Q4 e-tron, the MEB platform delivers the exterior dimensions of a Q3, but it has the interior space of a Q5. It will have 301 hp. There was no mention of battery size.The Premium Platform Electric or PPE is another joint Audi-Porsche venture and it will be used for future luxury cars arriving in 2020 and beyond. It is a rear-drive platform, but has the ability to accommodate a front electric motor, which, again, gives it quattro all-wheel-drive. Its a curious decision given Audis current crop of high-end sedans and SUVs arrive with standard quattro. The Audi e-tron GT Concept Audi The PPE platform is fully scalable it supports different wheelbases, track widths and ride heights so it will be used for SUV, sedan, coupe and wagon derivatives. Again, it uses the 800-volt electrical system.The PPEs dimensions and overhangs are shorter than those of the current gas engine models. The real plus is that as electric cars do not need a central tunnel to accommodate the rear driveshaft and exhaust system, theres significantly more interior space. Other features include active torque vectoring when there are two electric motors aboard, air suspension and available four-wheel steering.As envisioned, the sports car based on the PPE platform will be a low-slung speedster with a long wheelbase and an oversized wheel/tire package. While the secret concept shown at the mobility workshop was a pure design exercise, if the production model picks up the key styling cues, the future looks seductively
Origin: Audi’s forthcoming electric range will be built on the backs of these four platforms
SUV Review: 2019 GMC Acadia
2019 GMC Acadia SLT AWDJil McIntosh OVERVIEW A smooth-and-simple midsize people-mover PROSNice to drive, fairly realistic third-row seat CONSCabin construction doesn’t always look the price VALUE FOR MONEYOptions add up, but two years of oil changes are standard equipment WHAT TO CHANGE?$1,695 for a Black Edition, and then black badges and wheel nuts are $650 more? HOW TO SPEC IT?SLT-1 without extra options Of all the brands in GMs stable, GMC is the slimmest. Its never made a car, and has but three SUVs: The smaller Terrain, the larger Yukon, and my tester, the middle-place Acadia.The Acadia got a complete makeover for 2017, making it slightly smaller than before unusual in the industry as well as shaving off some 317 kilograms and improving its looks. On the heels of that, there are very minor changes for 2019, including new paint colours and the Black Edition, an option added to my tester for $1,695, which added black exterior accents and 20-inch aluminum wheels. It shares its platform and V6 engine with the Chevrolet Traverse, but theyre fraternal siblings, not identical twins. The Chevy is slightly larger overall, has a longer wheelbase, holds up to one more passenger than the Acadia, and has a different transmission and only one engine choice.The Acadias model line starts with a four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. This keeps the price down it starts at $34,300 but youll want more than this engine pulling it around if you plan to load anything into it. My tester carried a 3.6-litre V6, making 310 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and with all-wheel drive. I had the SLT-1 trim level, which starts at $45,800, but with numerous options that lifted it to $51,235 before freight and taxes.Its all a matter of preference, but I like that GM went with a conventional V6 for its higher-powered version, rather than bolting a turbocharger onto a four-cylinder. Theres just something about the simplicity that appeals to me. The six-cylinder is a smooth operator, quiet but with good acceleration, and while most automakers have put more cogs in their transmissions, the six-speed does its job very well. In combined city and highway driving, I got 11.9 L/100 kilometres, half a hair below the published rate of 11.7. The four-cylinder tows up to 1,000 pounds, but the V6 handles up to 4,000 pounds, or 1,814 kilograms. A console-mounted dial switches between front- or all-wheel drive, which sends power to the rear wheels, and then further distributes it between the left and right rear tires as needed. The Acadias handling is livelier than you might expect from a sport-ute, and the ride is well-composed and with only the very nastiest potholes bumping up through the suspension.Almost all Acadias have three rows of seats the off-roadish All Terrain can be ordered with two and with a second-row bench for seven-passenger seating, or captains chairs for six, as mine was equipped. Those second-row seats slide forward a considerable distance for access to the third row, even if a child seat is attached, making it easier to get back there. Those farthest-back chairs arent super comfy, but theyre roomier than most and are acceptable for most adults, especially if the second-row occupants slide forward to give up a little of their legroom to provide more for the back.The second and third rows fold flat, but when theyre all in place, the cargo compartment is limited to 362 litres (plus another compartment underneath), which doesnt always jive with the number of chairs. Ive seen an awful lot of three-row owners picking up a full load of passengers at the airport, and trying to figure out just what to do when each one came off the plane with a full-size suitcase in tow. Thats the case with pretty much every three-row that isnt a minivan these days, but just keep it in mind if your usual load includes something like a sports team and all the gear. Both the first- and second-row seats are comfortable and supportive, clad in leather on the SLT-1. My tester also included stitched padded panels on the dash and door pads, along with the console and steering wheel, but overall, the interior is a bit of a mixed bag. The styling is handsome, but the upscale metallic accents often butt up against hard, cheaper-looking plastics, and with some uneven panel fit. And on a sport-ute that starts just shy of $46,000, why do I get heated seats but no heated steering wheel? I have to move up to the top-level Denali to get that.I like the simplicity of the controls, including big dials and buttons for the climate control, hard buttons to pull up the touchscreen menus, and large, intuitive icons once you get there. Theres no need for simple operations, like turning up the fan speed or activating a heated seat, to be distractingly hidden in a maze of computer menus as some automakers do. Simple should never be considered
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 GMC Acadia
This lawn mower wears a Honda racing throwback livery
A Twitter user by the name of McMike has earned a pat on the back and a handful of free stickers from Honda for painting his lawnmower in the same colours as one of the automakers old F1 racing cars.In a Twitter thread spanning back to January 2019, @_McMike_ chronicles the build of his 2019 Honda lawn mower dubbed Mowrichiro after company founder Soichiro Honda complete with doctored pictures and videos showing the mower tracing its lineage back to the RA273 race car.Multiple updates are included, showing the painting and building of the mower, as well as the self-made memes: Mr. Honda on a shirt with the mower, a photo of the lawnmower inserted into a picture of the real race car in 1966, that sort of thing.Inspired by Honda’s 1966-67 Formula One team, I’m very proud to launch the Mowichiro Honda HHRA273 the challenger for the 2019 Formula Lawn season. #McMower #FormulaLawn #Mowichiro #F1 #RA273 pic.twitter.com/wbRaVWRczS McMike (@_McMike_) February 8, 2019The real Honda RA273 was powered by a 400-horsepower 48-valve 3.0-litre V-12. By contrast, Mowrichiro is probably making somewhere around 4.4 horsepower.The 3.0-litre V12 engine used in the RA273 was adapted from the RA272s 1.5-litre V-12, engineered by Shoichiro Irimajiri, who would go on to become the CEO of Sega and spearhead the Dreamcast video game console project. (Obviously, he was a man of great ideas.)The RA273 wasnt a very successful racing car, earning only a fourth-place victory in the Formula 1 World Championship in 1967 in the hands of John Surtees. However, it did pave the way for the RA300, which won the 1967 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, again in the hands of John Surtees, with the same 3.0-litre V-12 engine.Earning the support of the factory, McMike received a reply from Honda Racing itself, asking for his address so it could send him some sweet die-cut racing stickers for his devotion to the
Origin: This lawn mower wears a Honda racing throwback livery
Silverstone start-up Lunaz to electrify British classic cars
Lunaz, a new classic car electrification company, has chosen Silverstone as its global headquarters as it prepares to bring its first models to market. The start-up, led by ex-Renault F1 technical director Jon Hilton, claims it will make “the most beautiful and celebrated cars in history ready for the future”, with a focus on fully electrifying mid-century British luxury and sports cars. Currently under development are electric versions of the 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, the 1956 Rolls-Royce Cloud and the 1953 Jaguar XK120. At the time of its launch, the latter was the fastest production car in the world. Each car will be sympathetically restored before electrification, with Lunaz offering a range of one-off paint schemes and interior packages designed by bespoke automotive styling specialists. The Phantom V, a large eight-seater, is equipped with a 120kWh battery pack, while the lighter Jaguar has an 80kWh unit. All models feature EV-specific functions, such as fast-charging capabilities and regenerative braking, with modern additions such as traction control and cruise control enhancing their usability. The XK120, powered by a twin-motor setup producing 375bhp and 516lb ft, is said to be undergoing its final stages of testing before it’s launched as Lunaz’s first model. Lunaz has confirmed that the entire powertrain is built and assembled in-house but refused to give any more details. The process of electrifying each vehicle begins with a comprehensive analysis of its shape, weight and intended driving dynamics. The original powertrain and its associated hardware are then removed before the car is 3D-scanned so that Lunaz engineers can use scale models for reference. The vehicle is then subject to a thorough restoration process that involves taking the paint back to bare metal and rectifying any imperfections by hand. Upon completion, the interior is modernised with the addition of sat-nav, wi-fi and a contemporary infotainment system. Existing vehicle hardware, including the fuel filler cap, dials and vents, is retained and reconfigured to suit the electric powertrain, but braking, suspension and steering components are uprated to cope with the added power. Company founder David Lorenz said: “I wanted a car like a 1953 Jaguar to be my daily driver. Lunaz takes a history we all love and gives it a bright future. We are innovating to create cars that are usable, dynamic and stand as the ultimate drivers’ classics.” Prices for a Lunaz-converted electrified classic start from £350,000, with order books opening in November. Build slots can be secured only through direct connection with the
Origin: Silverstone start-up Lunaz to electrify British classic cars
BMW design boss defends radical styling direction
BMW’s design boss has again defended the brand’s controversial new styling direction, continued in earnest by the recently revealed Concept 4 Series Coupé. After it was unwrapped at the Frankfurt motor show, Adrian van Hooydonk was asked about the polarising views of BMW’s recent design debuts. He told Autocar: “I’m not a psychologist but I know BMW is a brand that not only has customers, it has fans. They know our entire design history and have strong opinions on that. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, it means we have really connected with these people on an emotional level. Okay, I know that there might be some discussion with fans because they’ve grown to love what you’ve just done and you’re changing it already. “As a company, you have to keep moving,” he continued. “The minute you start standing still, you become an easy target. The market is very competitive now, more than ever. But the hardest thing to do is make changes while you are successful. If you are no longer successful, people will immediately start saying you need to make changes, but then you are in panic mode.” Describing the 4 Series specifically, van Hooydonk said: “It is a sporty coupé, and by definition it has to have a very expressive design, and you see that all around the car, not just the front. But there are not that many lines or elements – it’s not a complex design. “We want to do this for all our cars: we want to have fewer elements, then each element you use plays a bigger role.” Van Hooydonk did acknowledge, however, that it was the recent facelift of the 7 Series flagship that was the most visually distinctive – and there’s a good reason for that. “It was part of the brief,” he said. “People liked the car, but they said by and large it looks quite similar to the previous one, so why should they buy the new one? Now everyone has noticed and production has ramped up
Origin: BMW design boss defends radical styling direction
Respect Your Elders: The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is a love letter to the 1960s
The iconic highlight of Bullitt is the scene that sees a Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT 390 Fastback, driven by Steve McQueen as Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, chase a black Dodge Charger R/T through the streets of San Francisco. It’s regarded as one of the most influential chase sequences in movie history the inclusion of close-ups showing McQueen doing the driving himself makes it the scene by which all others are measured, and this in spite of the Charger losing no fewer than eight hubcaps. The scenes most enduring moment arrives when the bad guys are searching for Bullitt he suddenly appears in the Chargers rearview mirror.Fast forward to today, and we pit a replica of the original against the 2019 Mustang Bullitt that pays homage to the movies sassy co-star.The restoration of the replica 1968 Mustang has been meticulous, to say the least. It was built on the same assembly line two weeks after the movie cars, and it came with the same options, including the S-code package. After the body was stripped, it was painted using the original PPG Highland Green paint, has the same door mirror from a 1966 Mustang, and the radio antenna was moved to the right rear fender to keep it out of the shots of McQueen muscling the steering wheel. Further adding to its accuracy, the replica has an Autolite battery and alternator, both of which are rare finds. The original Mustang GT 390 had a 390 cubic-inch V8 that got its go-juice from a four-barrel Holley carburetor. It produced 320 horsepower, 427 lb.-ft. of torque, and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. The engine was bored and stroked, now measuring 435 cubic-inches and produces 500 horsepower insert a very big smile here. The hitch in the powertrain is the manual gearbox. It has a less than defined gate and the throws are just shy of a time zone, but in fairness, the gearbox does whats required. The long ratios and the engines flexibility see the two work together rather well, once youve gotten used to the setup.The 2019 Mustang Bullitt counters with 5.0-litre V8 pushing out 480 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque through a six-speed manual and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential at the back wheels. The transmissions throws are short, the spacing just right, and clutch action light. It also benefits from a rev-matching system, blipping the throttle on a downshift. I do have one wish for the new Bullitt, however: Its been 50 years, so 10 horsepower for each year would put an even 500 under the hood. Im not complaining about what it has, but 500 just seems like such a nice, round number.Any Mustang without a proper exhaust note would be an utter travesty. Both cars have that and then some, and unlike so many modern cars, none of the wonderful sound is man-made. The 68 has more or less straight pipes all the way through, so it blasts a deep, guttural growl whenever the gas pedal is worked. The key difference with the new Bullitt is the exhaust modes at one end of the spectrum, theres a quiet mode for a stealthy getaway, while at the other is Track mode. Now, Ford does warn against using Track mode on the road, but when you encounter a silly Civic at a red light with a baked bean can for a muffler, a quick switch to Track mode will show them whos boss. The performance differences proved to be surprisingly small. The original 320-horsepower Mustang GT 390 ran from rest to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, while the 2019 Bullitt chops that to 4.9 seconds. Considering theres five decades between the two cars, the original holds its own with its big-block heads high. With its enlarged
Origin: Respect Your Elders: The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is a love letter to the 1960s
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2Chevrolet The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado will debut its facelifted facade at SEMA in Las Vegas this November, but not before making a special appearance at the 2019 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic on October 10.Weve sold 520,000 Colorado pickups in five years through a relentless, foot-on-the-gas approach to product and feature updates, said Bob Krapes, director of marketing, Chevrolet Trucks.With its new-look front end and tailgate, Colorado will now have a more aggressive appearance to match its award-winning capability.Chevrolet just can’t seem to figure out a good-looking grille for its new trucks, but at least the lack of a lower section on this one means it has a much better approach angle for taking it on the trails. Adding to the off-road capability, the ZR2 also comes with segment-exclusive Multimatic DSSVTM position-sensitive dampers, standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, two-inch suspension lift, a 3.5-inch wider track, off-road rocker protection, cast-iron control arms, Autotrac transfer case and multiple skid plates. The SEMA truck has a more complete look, with a front grille bar and KC lights to hide the missing bumper. Literally on top of that is a classic looking light bar, and around back is a bed-mounted spare tire.A new colour is available on the Z71 and ZR2 trims called Sand Dune Metallic, but if you ask us, it looks like they just used the leftover paint from the Pontiac Aztek production line. Also from the Aztek production line is the rear bedside wind deflector, which looks like a traced cut-out of the much-maligned SUVs rear windows.The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado goes on sale next year, and pricing will be announced closer to
Origin: The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
Volvo and Geely to merge engine production efforts into new company
The 2019 Volvo XC60Volvo Volvo Cars and Chinas Geely plan to merge their engine operations into a standalone company, a step the Swedish automaker says will cut costs as it shifts to a fully electrified lineup.The combined unit would supply two million diesel and gasoline-powered engines, compared with the 600,000 Volvo produces today, giving the two companies more scale to reduce material costs.It could also supply other car manufacturers, though none have expressed interest yet, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said, save for Geely-owned Lotus sports cars.Global automakers are walking a financial tightrope as they spend billions to develop electric vehicles that IHS Markit forecasts will grow from 2 per cent to 12 per cent of new-car production by 2030. At the same time, slowing sales, trade wars and tightening emissions regulations in China and Europe are pinching profits. Forming a standalone supplier will free up Volvo to focus on electric powertrains and platforms in-house without starving its internal combustion engine business of resources, Samuelsson said.Its not like the combustion engine is going to be a growing business, he said in a phone interview. The right thing to do is to consolidate and seek synergies. And the earlier you do that, the stronger you will be.Volvo said no jobs will be eliminated in forming the new supplier, which will employ about 3,000 Volvo workers and 5,000 from Geely, including people in engineering, procurement, manufacturing, information technology and
Origin: Volvo and Geely to merge engine production efforts into new company
2020 Subaru Impreza to still start at $20k despite added features
The 2020 Subaru Impreza will cost the same in Canada as last year, despite the fact it will arrive with much more value than previously offered.The base price remains $19,995 (or $20,995 for the hatchback) but theres a lot more standard features than on the 2019. Obviously you get all-wheel-drive standard, a long-standing feature of all Subaru models that make them the most affordable AWDs on the market.Subarus EyeSight driver-assist system is now standard on all Impreza models when equipped with the CVT gearbox; CVT models also gain a driver-selectable SI-Drive engine management system with either Sport or Intelligent mode. On top of that, theyll see standard adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane departure and sway warning, as well as lane-keep assist.As for tech, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now comes included on all Imprezas, as does cruise control, air conditioning, automatic door lock/unlock, power windows, 60/40-split fold-down rear seats and power side mirrors. Standard on most models is Subaru Starlink Connected Services, which uses the nationwide 4G LTE cellular network to enable Advanced Automatic Collision Notification in the event of a collision, SOS Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Concierge Service.The looks have also changed slightly, with a revised front fascia and 16-inch alloy wheels on Touring trims. A set of 17-inch alloy wheels are available on the Sport trim, and 18-inch wheels are available on the Sport-tech trim.Touring with EyeSight and a CVT rings in at $24,695 for the sedan and $25,595 for the hatch to start, while Sport wth EyeSight and CVT is $27,895 sedan, $28,795 hatch. The top-of-the-line Sport-tech trim with a CVT comes in at $30,795 sedan, $31,695
Origin: 2020 Subaru Impreza to still start at $20k despite added features
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