BMW has revealed a one-off, black version of its new X6 SUV, finished in a shade intended to emphasise the silhouette of the second-generation model, and so dark it obscures most design details. To be revealed at Frankfurt motor show, the model has been finished in ‘Vantablack’ paint by Newhaven-based Surrey Nanosystems. The non-reflective colour can make an object appear two-dimensional and, as a result, is “a rather unsuitable vehicle paint finish” according to BMW. Asked why the new X6 will be painted in this way, the model’s designer, Hussein Al Attar, said: “Internally, we often refer to the BMW X6 as “The Beast.” I think that says it all. “The Vantablack VBx2 finish emphasises this aspect and makes the BMW X6 look particularly menacing. Moreover, the BMW X6 has always been the most provocative and in-your-face model in our portfolio. So why not emphasise this even further, with a finish that simply captivates the viewer’s attention?” ‘Vanta’ stands for Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array, and refers to the microscopic carbon structure that forms the basis of the finish. Each strand is 5000 times thinner than a human hair, at 14-50 micrometers long and 20 nanometers in diameter. Each square centimetre of the one-off X6 contains around 1 billion nanotubes, which reflect rather than absorb light, and effectively convert it to heat. The technology was originally designed for use in space exploration; its propensity to reduce glare and bleaching means it is suitable for coating aluminium and optical components. Ben Jensen, founder of Surrey NanoSystems, said: “We turned down numerous requests from various automobile manufacturers in the past. It took the BMW X6 and its unique, expressive design for us to entertain the idea.” The company’s first Vantablack paint was launched in 2014, and was claimed to absorb 99.965% of light. Jensen said this product would not have been suitable for the X6 as “ as the viewer would have lost all sense of three-dimensionality”. The show car will make its public debut at Frankfurt, alongside the production X6 and the bulletproof X5 Protection
Origin: BMW paints new X6 in light-absorbing ‘Vantablack’
ThunderBikes team dedicated to the art of electric personal mobility
UBC ThunderBikes team members, left to right, Bhargav Thoom, Kevin Heieis, Huy Nguyen and Ramiro Bolanos with the teams electric MK3 mountain bike.Andrew McCredie Despite its members having diverse countries of origin, this university club has a singular focus: advancing personal mobility using electricity.The brainchild of fourth-year mechanical engineering student Bhargav Thoom, the UBC ThunderBikes is a student-run design team with a goal to educate and enthuse members about electric bikes and electric bike conversions.I sat down with three club members, including Thoom, last week in a shared workshop in the William and Wayne Engineering Design centre on the Point Grey campus to find out what tomorrows electric vehicle engineers are learning today.Thoom is from Calgary and was inspired to start the ThunderBikes team after learning about a University of Calgary club called Team Zeus, which builds for and competes in electric motorcycle competitions.We didnt have anything like that and I thought we were a better university so I thought we should do something similar, he said with a bit of a wry smile. My decision to start with an electric bike (rather than an EV motorcycle) was so we could build our foundation on something that was a little easier to work with so that members can get hands-on experience with their own personal projects.Then once we had that experience we could build bigger motors, bigger components and better cooling systems. The MK3 uses an electric hub motor at the rear wheel to power the bike so that pedaling is not required at anytime. Andrew McCredie The club began in earnest last summer with Thoom, club founder and inaugural team captain, and nine members embarking on a project to design and build an electric mountain bike to compete in a 10-kilometre off-road competition at the The Lost Sierra Ebike Festival competition this summer.Team mechanical lead and newly appointed team captain Huy Nguyen said they settled on a design that is very similar to a number of commercially available EV mountain bikes, one that features an electric hub motor at the rear wheel, which powers the bike without any pedaling required.Dubbed the MK3, the bike came together somewhat slowly, as funds were short which meant many of the components were rebuilt used ones. Then in February of this year, a major setback none of the team of bright students expected occurred: the MK3 was stolen.We didnt have shop spaceactually we still dontso we were working out of my dorm room on campus, Thoom said. One day when I was moving stuff around in my room I had to leave the bike outside for an hour or so. And it wasnt there when I got back. It was devastating.He took to social media and was amazed at the response from Vancouvers bike community. Exactly a week after the theft he received a text from someone who had spotted the MK3 for sale on Craigslist.We contacted the Vancouver Police Department and they got it back for us. The Calgary-based Daniel Family Foundation has provided much-needed sponsorship money to the team’s projects. Andrew McCredie Thoom says he missed a lot of classes that week without the bike, and thanks his profs for being so understanding. He also is grateful for the media coverage the theft generated, noting it led directly to the securing of their first big sponsor.A Calgary-based group called the Daniel Family Foundation heard about what we were doing from those news stories about the theft, liked the mission statement of our project and they became our biggest sponsor and will support us for the next three years.Though they are still on the lookout for more sponsorship and funding (you can reach the club at thunderbikesdesign@gmail.com), the Daniel Family Foundation commitment allows the club to look at expanding its project builds to the point that the team is now building two new electric-powered vehicles a more powerful, longer range mountain bike, and an all-electric motorcycle to compete in a Super Sport competition in California next summer. And there is also a side project to, as new team captain Nguyen puts it, fix the MK3 from the crash.Ah yes, the crash. In addition to being founder and team captain, Thoom was also the MK3 rider at the Lost Sierra competition, which took place just a few weeks ago in California.Our suspension was off, Thoom explained. We used cheap parts from one of my previous builds due to our limited budget (they used one-third of their entire budget just getting to the competition). After my first (and only) test run the suspension was killing me so I asked the team to adjust it for more cushion.He suggested to deflate the tires a little bit, but admits he forgot to think about the weight of the (rear hub) motor. One kilometre into the race, the bike was not performing well, with little power, and on a steep descent into a rocky flat, Thoom realized he had a rear flat tire and a dented rim (called a pinch-flat caused by the heavy rear hub). Thus,
Origin: ThunderBikes team dedicated to the art of electric personal mobility
Two-wheel heaven at Crescent Beach Concours d’Elegance
This 1928 Harley Davidson Model JL Special Sport Solo was purchased by Roger Seaholm from Fred Deeleyís Vancouver dealership in 1928.It has narrow fuel tanks, speedster handlebars and a high performance motor with larger inlet valves, a special camshaft and magnesium alloy high compression domed pistons. It also features standard 18-inch wheels as well as a speedometer, luggage carrier, tire pump, side stand and a fire extinguisher, which were special order accessories at the time. The J Range of Harley Davidson was produced from 1915 to 1929.Submitted For classic motorcycle fans, this weekends Crescent Beach Concours dElegance is serving up a 15 beauties from five countries.The 8th annual outdoor show on the grassy lawn of Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach in South Surrey actually marks the 17th year that event organizers have brought together a Labour Day long weekend gathering of collector automobiles and motorcycles, with the first nine taking place on the cobblestone streets of Gastown.This year, as in the past, the spectacular list of entrants80 cars in addition the vintage two-wheelerscome from all over the west coast of North America, and cover a broad span of makes and years and included vehicles that are often rare and seldom seen by the public. There will be six motorcycles built by British manufacturers and representing a wide variety of interests from the land that at one time virtually ruled the roost for motorcycles as transport and sport. Three of these represent the very best England had to offer for fast, efficient road travel for their time. These include two models from AJS, a 1956 Model 30 shown by Ben Bekker and a 1928 K6 shown by John Parsons, and a 1970 Norton Commando shown by master restorer Tony Cording. For fans of sport bikes Tom Nelson will be bringing his 1969 Greeves 380 Griffin, a bike designed specifically for motocross racing and the American desert racer market.Then there is a Brian and Randy Pollocks bikeor is it a car? Depending on where it was registered, the 1932 Morgan Aero Super Sports can be classified as both. This particular three-wheeler is registered as a motorcycle, and represents a unique and innovative vehicle that harkens back to an era when not all machines looked like they came out of the same mould.Rounding out the Brit bikes is a Triumph T160 Rob North Replica built and shown by John Martin. These bikes were raced by Triumph in the early 70s, and this particular example is believed to be the only Rob North special in North America that is street legal.Another rare motorcycle in the show hails from Germany. Alyson Nerkers very rare 1967 BMW R69S is a fine example of the R69 range, which was produced from 1955 to 1969. A 1962 magazine article published in Cycle World stated, It is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride.From the land of the Rising Sun we have two bikes, as different as the proverbial chalk and cheese. A much modified 1982 Kawasaki KZ1000S1R Eddy Lawson Replica shown by Steve Willgoose and a 1974 Honda CT70K3 Trail 70 shown by Steve Gurry. The Kawasaki is about as close to a full race bike that can be legally ridden on the street, while the Honda is a charming little machine used for casual riding on streets and trails.From the U.S. there will be three remarkable machines. Representing Harley Davidson, a tasteful and skilfully modified 1992 Sportster Caf Racer shown by Fred Dallyn and a 1928 Model JL shown by Rod Busch. The differences (and similarities) between these two machines are remarkable, but both epitomize everything one can expect from this iconic company. Also from the U.S. is a 1948 Mustang 2 shown by John Crawford. These lightweight motorcycles, said to be named after the famed P51 fighter plane, were built in California from 1946 to 1965. This bike is a much sought after piece of U.S. history. In addition to beautiful bikes, the Crescent Beach show features an eclectic array of very collectible cars, such as this 1938 Steyr 220 Roadster, one of just six ever produced. Cam Hutchins And lastly, from Italy, are three of the very best produced by that country. A 1982 Laverda Mirage 1200 TS will be shown by Robert Smith. Primarily meant for fast cruising, it combines great engineering with superb styling. The 2002 Ducati MH 900 Evoluzione shown by Bill Dickinson and the 1981 Ducati 900 Mike Hailwood Replica shown by Rick Crebbin are both a perfect fit in the motorcycle world. They go extremely fast, are extremely beautiful, and sound fantastic, just what you would expect from their country of origin.Returning to the show this this year is well-known motorcycle journalist and photographer Robert Smith as part of the panel of motorcycle judges, joining Steve Harding, Gary Richardson and Alan Comfort.Awards will be presented for first, second and third in the Judged Class and for Best Presented Motorcycle from all motorcycles entered.IF YOU GOWhat:
Origin: Two-wheel heaven at Crescent Beach Concours d’Elegance
First Drive: 2020 Mini JCW Clubman ALL4
2020 Mini JCW Clubman All4Handout / Mini FRANKFURT Minis are cute. Sure, there are reasons to like Minis other than their teddy-bear headlights and rounded, pudgy faces, but theyre nonetheless endearing little cars. Well, maybe not so little when were talking about the Mini Clubman, which boasts six yes, six doors, and seating for four-and-a-half; there are seat belts for three in the back seat, but squeezing three adults will test ones tolerance for personal space intrusion.The Clubman received its last generational upgrade in 2015, so for 2020 it receives an expected mid-cycle refresh, including new LED exterior lighting, a reworked front grille, new interior trims, and some suspension changes. If that were it, there wouldnt be much point in this test drive, but were actually here in Germany to drive the more muscular Mini John Cooper Works Clubman All4 it receives a significant upgrade, in the form of an extra 73 horsepower and 73 lb.-ft. of torque.The additional power comes via extensive changes made to the 2.0-litre turbocharged four. Boost has been increased through the use of a larger turbocharger, and subsequently, a variety of internal engine changes have been made to deal with the additional power. These in include strengthened crankshaft and bearings, pistons, connecting rods, and an improved engine cooling. The compression ratio was also lowered to prevent the engine from disintegrating due to the additional boost. Claimed engine output is now 301 horsepower and 331 lb.-ft. of torque; thats good enough to propel the JCW Clubman from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds significantly quicker than the 6.3 seconds the current, 228-horsepower JCW Clubman. The engine mates to an all-new eight-speed automatic, with a torque converter clutch that locks up as soon as the vehicle gets moving, providing a manual-transmission-like direct connection to the wheels. All-wheel drive is standard, and it now incorporates a mechanical locking front differential. Several internal components in the AWD system have also been upgraded to deal with the additional power.Externally, the JCW is distinguishable from other Clubman models by the large side air intakes in the fascia, the aerodynamic side skirts and the small roof spoiler that hangs above the vertically split rear-door windows. The interior is roomy enough for four, and storage space behind the third row seats is decent, at 360 litres. Folding the rear seatbacks down expands storage to a useful 1,250 litres. The ride is comfy and relatively quiet, unless you select Sport mode (theres also Normal and Green modes), which aside from firming up steering and sharpening throttle response, also electronically enhanced engine sound in the cabin.Probably the JCWs most redeeming quality, aside from its newfound power which allows it to blast out of corners with a little anger in its stride is its sports-car-like handling. Despite weighing in at 1,625 kilograms, it steers sharply and with precision; its rigid chassis feels taut, and it exhibits very little body roll through corners. It is also very stable in a straight line, inspiring confidence at the wheel, even with autobahn speeds approaching 200 km/h. Electronically adjustable adaptive suspension is optional, but my tester is equipped with the standard, non-adjustable dampers. The revised suspension sets the Clubman 10 mm lower than before and is set quite firm, which really enhances the JCW Clubmans handling on smooth German pavement, but is too stiff to provide a comfortable ride on our pockmarked Canadian roads. Its too bad we didnt get a chance to drive a Clubman equipped with the adaptive suspension, because I suspect it will be the better setup, since it is adjustable.The new eight-speed automatic works remarkably well, providing smooth, almost seamless gear changes when driving normally, and enthusiastically slamming into gear when upshifting while driving hard in Sport mode. Moving the gear selector to the left engages sport-shift mode, which holds gears longer than regular auto mode. Using the paddles when the gear selector is to the left engages manual mode, which allows instantaneous manual gear changes. The power increase also prompted a move to larger brake discs, and while braking is more than adequate to slow the JCW Clubman easily from speed, the pedal is sensitive at lower speeds, requiring a light touch at the pedal.The Clubman isnt Minis biggest seller, coming in just ahead of the Mini Convertible, which slots into last place in terms of sales volume for Mini. Its nonetheless a lot of fun to drive, and despite its unassumingly cute appearance, it packs the punch of a middleweight fighter. The 2020 Mini JCW Clubman ALL4 will arrive at dealers in the fall, starting at $41,090, a $3,000 increase from the current
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Mini JCW Clubman ALL4
Pagani CEO: “We will build V12 hypercars until 2026”
Horacio Pagani, the founder of Italy’s most extravagant hypercar maker, has confirmed that a fully electric hypercar is in the works – but the highly regarded V12 engine will stick around for some time. Pagani is a man who has always found it difficult to say no to his customers. His company’s first hypercar, the Zonda, had its retirement delayed for years because affluent buyers, including Lewis Hamilton, begged for the chance to buy one. Now we’re facing what is meant to be the last version of the Huayra, the BC Roadster, although Pagani himself admits that plan may slip. “It is scheduled to be the last production model,” he told Autocar. “But I am also listening to some private collectors who are asking maybe for a one-off or a limited edition, which will probably extend the lifespan a little more.” Pagani remains ultra-exclusive even by the standards of Italian hypercar makers, producing around 40 cars a year. But the company is profitable and has always taken a long-term approach to planning, with Pagani saying that work is well advanced on the Huayra’s replacement – known internally as the C10 – ahead of a launch scheduled for 2022. “This next model will have a similar philosophy. It will have a traditional combustion engine, a new-generation Mercedes-AMG V12 twin-turbo,” he said. “We have a very close relationship with Mercedes already and this new V12 engine will be homologated until 2026.” Pagani is also working on an EV that will be developed from the same core architecture as the conventional hypercar. “The C10 will have a regular V12 but, at the same time, there will be a full-electric vehicle,” he said. “It is not going to be exactly the same platform. It will be modified.” Horacio Pagani said the company’s changing customer base has been integral to the move to electrification, as well as environmental legislation. “At the beginning, our clients tended to be car collectors in Europe in their 50s or above,” he said. “Now the average age has dropped significantly and we have a lot of younger buyers in Asia Pacific and also in North America and Silicon Valley.” Beyond 2025, Horacio Pagani said, the brand may do something radically different and he even admitted that plans for an SUV have been considered. He said: “If I had to come up with a Pagani SUV, it would need to have a price tag of €3 million or above to be in line with our current strategy. We don’t know if there is any market for such a product, but there could not be any compromise. If there is a Pagani badge on a vehicle, it must be the highest quality. But it is something that has been discussed a number of times with collectors. “We would access the technology of Mercedes-Benz because they produce SUVs, and because of the close relationship we enjoy, we could maybe use the big SUV platform. It’s something that has been in the back of my mind, but the journey from concept to reality for anything like that is a long
Origin: Pagani CEO: “We will build V12 hypercars until 2026”
James Ruppert: how to pick up a bargain Beetle
So, farewell to the Volkswagen Beetle. Twice this year, I’ve been asked to give on the radio what is in effect an oral obituary for the long-serving model. The Beetle’s backstory is a fascinating one and it bears retelling, although not here. It isn’t a practical buy, but a style one. Its unaerodynamic blunt front eats into the mpg and the boot isn’t the biggest – but at least it isn’t another boring hatch. Shall we take a peek at what the classic market is up to? Well, £4450 buys a fully operational 1971 1200 Beetle that’s apparently unrestored and used as a daily, which surprised me a bit. There are some Californian imports for similar money and projects at the £1500 mark, so if you fancy some work and rust, knock yourself out. When it comes to the reborn Beetle, these are proper bangers now and presumably the £300 examples are worth more in bits. I found a 2002 1.6 petrol local to me with a couple of months’ MOT for that money and only a cracked windscreen and 175,000 miles on the debit sheet. Then a few miles more in the other direction was a 2001 2.0, which was blue with black wheels and a full year’s MOT for £500. Then there was a 2009 1.6 Luna with 90,000 miles and a full MOT at £1800. Not bad for a decade-old cared-for example. The Beetle is all about showing off and, for £1500 upwards, there are a ton of cabriolets around that are perfect cruising buys. For example, there was a 2004 1.6 with reasonable miles and a private plate chucked in for £1500. Personally, I would respond more warmly to the subtle rumble of a 2.3 V5. No one else wants those, so there are tidy one-owner 2001 examples at £750. Dealer prices can be £2995, but they should be pretty mint and warranted. Then there is the last-of-the-breed Beetle 2, which isn’t quite so lovable. The petrol 1.2 TSI starts at £5500, so a contemporary model at a reasonable price. I have a lot of time for a 1.6 Bluemotion, which does address the older cars’ fuel economy issues and deliver 65mpg, officially anyway. A 2013 one with over 90,000 miles is £5995. A bunch of special editions increases the choice and I like the idea of a Fender I can actually drive. I saw a 2013 2.0 TDI with 50,000 miles, a DSG gearbox and Fender logos. The sound system should be decent, it had a DAB radio and it was a two-owner car for £9999. Certainly, the Beetle isn’t for everyone, but they are good value, and in the world of the me-too hatch, it is the curvy exception. Otherwise, buy a Golf or Polo. What we almost bought this week It was going so well – pretty little French hatchback in the right colour, full main dealer service history, a reasonable 75,000 miles on the clock and a recent new cambelt and water pump, all for just £890. And then the admission that the electric hood is playing up. Sadly, roof problems are the Pluriel’s Achilles heel. Moving on… Tales from Ruppert’s garage Volkswagen Golf, mileage – 55,725: It’s always good to know that aftermarket gadgets are actually working and have a real-world purpose. You might remember I have a Michelin Fit2Go tyre pressure checker. The posh one on the Baby Shark is resting at the garage at the moment – more on that next time. The Golf, though, uses a simpler version, but it rapidly zeroed in on the fact that the nearside rear tyre had a large tack in it. I’ve already sold a few of these to mates with lower-tech 1990s cars who reckon this could be a lifesaver and it is. So let’s get that tyre fixed as there’s no spacesaver these days. Reader’s ride Nick has a great tale involving two cars, so we have split it into two exciting instalments: “Having got tired of depreciation and only needing to go to the railway station for much of the past few years, I spent £700 on a 12-year-old 206 1.4 Verve in early 2018. It had 58,000 miles and three owners to its credit. Not much service history but the belts and clutch had been done. “After 20,000 trouble-free miles, I landed a position that requires a daily 65-mile round trip, so I was toying with the idea of getting a diesel.” Part two next week… Readers’ questions Question: What’s the best way to wash my car without scratching the paint? Dean Whittam, Boston Answer: We asked Richard Tipper, top vehicle detailer and founder of Perfection Detailing, who said: “It’s best to do it on an overcast day so the water doesn’t dry off. Hose down the car, then apply a snowfoam to soften the dirt and leave for a few minutes to do its work. Now hose off the foam. If there are still stubborn bits like tar spots on the paintwork, use a clay bar to gently rub them away. Then, using a bucket with a grit guard, shampoo the car using a hand mitt. Hose off and dry with a chamois.” John Evans Question: I have up to £40,000 to spend on a new convertible but it must have space in the back for two teenage sons, who insist the car must have street cred, too. What do you recommend? Jason Clarke, via email Answer: A convertible with street cred?
Origin: James Ruppert: how to pick up a bargain Beetle
Autocar confidential: Byton thanks Tesla, Fiat pumps out more Pandas, and more
As we chat to the motoring industry’s bigwigs this week, we hear how Tesla made life easier for Byton, how Audi will differentiate between each of its SUVs and more. Fiat Pandas to market demand It may be ageing but sales of the Fiat Panda have risen substantially this year, thanks to the popular new City Cross model. The high-riding, snappily dressed version looks like a four-wheel drive (a version you can still buy) but isn’t. Volkswagen: diesel’s not dead… yet Volkswagen sales and marketing boss Jürgen Stackmann says the brand isn’t giving up on diesel yet. “There is nowhere the date (we give up on diesel) is written,” he said. “We believe diesel is great for certain vehicle types and long-distance drives, with unparalleled efficiency. We’re the only manufacturer that has actually grown its diesel mix. We’ll give it a strong shot for EU7.” Ingolstadt draws up a plan Audi’s ever-growing SUV range makes varying the design of each model vital in order to identify its place in the line-up, according to Jakob Hirzel, exterior design leader of the recently facelifted Q7. “It’s about character, and identifying where it makes sense to make them different,” he said. “It’s a much bigger line-up now, so it’s a challenge to make sure they all make sense.” Byton boards the Tesla train Tesla’s early success helped lay the groundwork for other electric car makers, according to Byton CEO Carsten Breitfeld. “They did a great job to build up this premium electric brand. They changed the perceptions of people,” he said. Hiring designers and engineers for the upcoming M-Byte SUV was that much easier because “no one is questioning the potential of electric cars any more. No one would say an electric car is something
Origin: Autocar confidential: Byton thanks Tesla, Fiat pumps out more Pandas, and more
Exclusive: the future of Ford, according to its bosses
One hundred years ago nearly half of the cars on British roads were Fords. Henry Ford opened his first dealership here in 1910. A year later he chose Trafford Park, Manchester, as the site of his first Model T factory outside the US. He built the first British cars before 1911 and by 1914 he was making cars there on a moving production line. On that beginning Ford’s leading position in the UK car market was founded, along with the enduring notion that Ford is a British company. Although the Blue Oval no longer makes cars or vans here, it does make huge numbers of engines and employs 3000 engineers at its Dunton design and engineering centre. But over the past decade it has struggled to make profits in Europe and has been through several bouts of ‘right-sizing’, involving retrenchments and plant closures, without much improvement of the bottom line. Meanwhile, its all-American rival General Motors has sold up and departed Europe for good. Given all this, and the unprecedented challenges car makers face over the next decade, we thought it right to visit Ford’s epicentre in Dearborn, Michigan, to meet the company’s leaders and learn their plans for the future, for Europe and for the UK. The following story reveals our findings. Darren Palmer: meet ‘Mr EV’ Darren Palmer remembers the moment his vision of electric cars changed. It drove him to leave a dream job launching exciting conventional cars to lead Ford’s headlong dash towards an entirely new kind of battery-propelled mobility. “I was in charge of Mustang, Explorer and Lincoln’s performance models, and having a great time,” Palmer recalls. Then out of the blue he got the call. The new challenge, it turned out, was to become product development director of Ford’s Project Edison, a 70-strong cross-functional think-tank set up in a former hosiery factory in Detroit’s Corktown district to conceive a new range of high-performance EVs. “I was unsure at first,” Palmer recalls. “For me, electric cars were more about sensible buying than the exciting cars I knew. Then Sherif Marakby, our autonomous vehicle CEO, said, ‘trust me this is going to be the next big development in cars’. When you know them, you’ll love them. And he was right. “I just couldn’t believe how good these new cars were. They could do things you’d never do in an ICE (internal combustion-engined) car. They were just better.” Such passion from Palmer, a tall, fast-talking Englishman who has spent much of his 28-year Ford career on the fast-track, is all the more powerful for the fact that this is the man who delivered Ford’s much-loved Fiesta ST200, a skunkworks pocket-rocket universally admired. He also delivered the Mustang to Europe, proudly watching it become the world’s best-selling sports car. He’s a car lover since childhood, so when he starts talking about this new strain of EVs being “sexy and emotional”, you need to listen. The big plan, first publicised by Ford around 18 months ago and expanded since, is to spend $11 billion on a cycle of exciting EVs beginning next year. Under the deal recently agreed with Volkswagen, Fords built on the MEB platform will kick in from 2023. The flow will start next year with a ‘Mustang-based crossover’. The name Mach One was floated early on, although it has since emerged that it will be called the Mach E. A battery Ford F150 will come before 2022, says Palmer, and a fully electric Transit. Palmer won’t confirm that a Ranger or Bronco (the famous compact 4×4 that’s returning with conventional power after disappearing in the mid-1990s) are in the BEV mix, but he doesn’t deny it either. “We’re hitting our biggest icons first,” he says, “but we have more. And we’ll keep working through them.” Meanwhile, starting now, Ford is launching a new or renewed supporting range of smaller plug-in hybrids, first being the Escape SUV (our Kuga) with a larger Explorer not far behind, although it isn’t currently planned for the UK. Project Edison grew out of an earlier plan to build a second generation of the decent but dull economy BEVs, such as a second-generation electric Focus. But the decision to stop making saloons in the US, along with a realisation that the way to sell new BEVs at a profit was to build exciting cars closely related to existing icons, brought a new philosophy. “We decided very carefully where we’d play in the electric car market, and that every one would amplify the characteristics of the model it was based on. Each one had to be extremely desirable, but at an attainable price,” says Palmer. “These cars won’t necessarily be cheap, but they’ll be gotta-have-it models, sold at a price we judge is attainable for our existing customers. They’re our focus. Ford has always democratised technology and this will be more of the same. But early adopters of BEVs have a lot to deal with, so Project Edison is working on every aspect of ownership, from the minute someone considers an electric car, through the whole
Origin: Exclusive: the future of Ford, according to its bosses
BMW armours X5 for bulletproof Protection VR6
BMW has unveiled an armoured version of its X5 SUV, designed to offer protection against explosives, firearms and attempted kidnappings. The X5 Protection VR6, named in reference to its certified protection rating, is almost indistinguishable from the standard X5, but is clad all over in high-strength steel armour plating, which overlaps at each panel and trim gap to maximise coverage. Underneath, a thick aluminium splinter shield protects the powertrain and floor from explosive devices such as hand grenades, while the standard X5’s windows have been replaced with 33mm thick, polycarbonate-reinforced glass. The glazing features what BMW calls ‘post-blast protective technology’, which offers protection against secondary attacks in the wake of an explosion. Only the driver’s window is electric as standard, although an electric passenger window is an option. The four-seat interior mirrors that of the standard X5 but features a number of additional security mechanisms not available on production cars. The luggage compartment partition, for example, is armoured and provides an additional layer of protection for rear seat passengers. BMW claims the armoured X5 can protect occupants from a range of firearms, including the AK-47, and explosive blasts of up to 15kg from a distance of four metres. The firm has not said how much more the VR6 weighs than the standard X5. An optional armoured roof panel can be specified as a means of protecting against drone or aircraft attacks. The X5 Protection VR6 is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 found in the new X5 M50i and X7 M50i, producing 523bhp and 553lb ft. Mechanical changes are relatively minimal, but a self-sealing fuel tank, capable of automatically closing in the event of a puncture, replaces the standard unit. With the extra weight of all the protective modifications, BMW says the VR6 will achieve 21mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. It will almost match its standard counterpart in terms of performancce, however, accelerating from 0-62mph in 5.9sec and on to an electronically limited top speed of 130mph. Additional equipment fitted as standard to the VR6 includes an intercom system that uses microphones built into the door mirrors and roof, as well as an attack alarm that automatically locks the doors and windows. Customers can specify optional equipment also available on the production X5, including active seat ventilation and a 360deg camera, with model-specific additions ranging from a roof-mounted light beacon to armour plating for the battery. The VR6 will be produced alongside the standard X5 at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the US, with pricing set to be revealed at its public debut later this year. Earlier this year, Volvo unveiled a similarly modified version of its XC90 SUV. Tipping the scales at 4.5 tonnes and with a superior protection rating to the X5, the XC90 Armoured is priced from
Origin: BMW armours X5 for bulletproof Protection VR6
Not sure about a recall? Now you can ask Alexa!
As if Amazons Alexa doesnt already have enough to do, Canadas Ministry of Transportation is rolling out a pilot project where youll be able to ask her about recalls on your car.With Vehicle Recalls Canada, a new Alexa service, users say, Alexa, open vehicle recalls. After asking a few questions about the vehicle make and model, the program provides all of the recalls that apply to it.The service is intended as a six-month pilot test, and is one of the first uses of voice assistance by the government to provide services to Canadians. The Vehicle Recalls Canada service can be enabled through the Amazon Alexa application.Transport Canada said that, on average, vehicle manufacturers issue some 650 safety recalls each year that affect over five million vehicles but approximately 25 per cent of vehicle owners never get the recalls done. Not every recall applies to every vehicle, even among similar models, and the new Alexa program will allow owners to pinpoint recalls that apply to their specific vehicles.Those who dont subscribe to Alexa can determine if their vehicles have outstanding recalls by visiting Transport Canada’s website. When a recall is announced, auto manufacturers also mail notices to vehicle owners which is why, if you move, its a good idea to call the manufacturer or visit a dealer to get your new address updated in the
Origin: Not sure about a recall? Now you can ask Alexa!
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