Dynamic photo, Colour: Florett Silver Audi is adding a rear-wheel-drive version of its venerable R8 supercar to its permanent lineup, and this time, you wont need to be on a waiting list to see if you get the privilege of owning one.Rear-wheel-drive in Audi R8s has been available only on special edition models up to this point, but now your regular Jolene (assuming theyve a fair chunk of change in their pocket) can own a more hair-raising version of the supercar, too.You still get a V10 with 532 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque, with the sonorous soundtrack coming frombehind your head; difference is the vehicle is 65 kilograms (143 pounds) lighter thanks to the omission of all the quattro parts. Down 30 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. from the AWD model, the RWD version matches the special-edition RWS. To tell the RWD from the AWD, all you have to do is look at the distinctive side blades. The AWD versions will be painted all-black, while the RWD version sees blades body-coloured on the bottom with a black upper portion. As well as being distinctive, it also gives the car a much more cohesive look.Both coupe and spyder versions will be available, and since theyre missing the front-wheel-drive parts, theyre both cheaper than the standard R8. Only European pricing has been unveiled, but there it starts at 144,000 for the Coupe; and 157,000 for the Spyder, both representing a 22,000 discount from the AWD
Origin: Audi’s bringing back its rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 for good
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Seat tech boss: it’s ‘possible’ to stop cars speeding for good
One of the Volkswagen Group’s senior figures in in-car technology has confirmed it has reached the point where governments could insist that cars no longer break speed limits. Leyre Olavarria, head of connected car and infotainment for Seat, admitted that cars actively preventing drivers from breaking a speed limit does not pose a technical challenge, given ‘intelligent speed assistance’ will be made mandatory from 2022. Asked what would happen if governments legislated for cars to no longer be capable of exceeding speed limits, in order to reduce road casualties and remove the cost of buying, installing and maintaining networks of speed cameras, Olavarria told Autocar: “From a technical perspective, it is possible. We can do it. It’s more a legal issue; how do regulators want to position themselves. It’s not a technical challenge to do that – the data is available.” Some experts envision a future where drivers may choose to opt out, and switch off any system that prevented them from breaking a speed limit, in much the same way it is possible to cancel the electronic stability control system of some cars. As the connected car and associated data becomes commonplace, many drivers have expressed concerns over the potential for data to be used against them. Olavarria said that, at present, GDPR data protection law clearly defines that data associated with driving remains private and the property of the owner of the vehicle. “We are GDPR-compliant, and that is our priority. The data belongs to our customers and they are the only ones who can release the data. But if the law changes, then we will change as well and adapt our policies,” said Olavarria. Modern cars already alert the emergency services in the event of a serious accident. And Hyundai recently revealed that it was working with MDGo, a company that specialises in medical artificial intelligence systems, to provide detailed predictions about likely injuries to vehicle occupants, based on the forces involved, deployment of airbags and more. Olavarria manages Seat’s new software development centre, which is leading research and development solutions around micro mobility on behalf of the Volkswagen Group. She defines micro mobility as being based on small vehicles, with two, three or four wheels, that will be used over short distances. “Looking into the future, there are many cities… that are trying to push the car out of the city centre but still there are mobility needs; people need to move from A to B. That’s what we are focused on,” said Olavarria. “As we are based in Barcelona, in the city centre, it’s kind of the perfect playground to test and make rapid prototyping in the real environment, and know about the city and mobility partners and better understand citizens’ needs and how mobility needs are changing.” Seat claims to be platform agnostic, exploring subscription services that could, in the future, allow for individuals to subscribe to a mobility service that is priced according to a monthly mileage that allows users to seamlessly switch from a car to public transport to electric scooter or autonomous vehicles. Olavarria is confident there will still be demand to sustain volume car manufacturing in the future, despite the millennial generation embracing shared transport solutions. James
Origin: Seat tech boss: it’s ‘possible’ to stop cars speeding for good
Land Rover makes good use of Defender durability testing by volunteering in Kenya
It may have been just an ordinary Tuesday for you, but Land Rover celebrated a major milestone on April 30, 2019. Because not only was it Land Rover Day—didn’t you know, it’s the 71st anniversary of the Land Rover’s debut at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show?—but it also marked the completion of 1.2-million kilometres of testing in the new Defender prototype by the brand. To ensure ultimate off-road readiness, these 1.2M klicks have been collected all over the planet. The brand even put together this graphic to demonstrate the extremes to which it’s taken the new offroader, and where. It has been ripped around the Nurburgring, subjected to -40 degrees Celsius cold in the arctic and 50 degrees Celsius heat in the desert, and seen altitudes upwards of 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. But to honour (and hype) this latest milestone, JLR has released a new set of images of the camouflaged Defender hauling a** through the rugged Kenyan terrain, where it will complete its final phase of testing. The brand plans to put the 44 to the test while aiding the Borana Conservancy and the Tusk Trust, a 15-year partner, by transporting goods and people and helping with other such chores across the park’s 35,000 acres. “In addition to the extensive simulation and rig testing, we’ve driven new Defender 1.2 million kilometres across all terrains and in extreme climates to ensure that it is the toughest and most capable Land Rover vehicle ever made,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover. “The incredible opportunity to put it to the test in the field, supporting operations at the Borana Conservancy in Kenya, with Tusk, will allow our engineers to verify that we are meeting this target as we enter the final phase of our development program.” The new Land Rover Defender is set to be revealed in full, peeling off the camo wraps, in September.
Origin: Land Rover makes good use of Defender durability testing by volunteering in Kenya
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