Lexus is updating its UX for the 2020 model year, to cram in more tech and better connectivity.There are two powertrain choices, the standard being a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that produces 168 horsepower, sending power to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. The second option is a hybrid powertrain built around a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder, coupled to Lexus fourth-generation self-charging gasoline-electric system.The hybrid option makes 181 horsepower, sending gasoline power to the front wheels via a CVT and using an electric motor for the rear wheels to make the vehicle all-wheel-drive. Lexus says more than 95 per cent of customers choose the hybrid.Taking a page from Tesla, the Lexus UX can now be unlocked with an included key card when specced in the Luxury trim options. Android Auto and Apple Carplay are now available as standard.The base model UX starts well-optioned at $37,450, featuring heated and ventilated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels. Stepping up to the Sport Series 1 at $39,750 adds a heated steering wheel, LED fog lamps, F SPORT appearance package and 18-inch alloys.Hybrid models feature the same standard equipment, as well as all-wheel-drive, starting at $40,000. The luxury package is $45,300, and adds a 10.3-inch display screen with embedded navigation, head-up display, a drivers seat memory system, intuitive parking assist with auto-braking, hands-free rear hatch and a wireless charging system.The UX 250h F Sport Series 1 ($42,100) and Series 2 ($48,900) both add the same features as the gasoline versions.Both models are available
Origin: The Lexus UX gets a refresh for 2020, ups the tech quotient
tech
New Ford tech could use your sweaty butt to adjust the A/C
Dont have the time or mental wherewithal to extend a digit and switch on that switch for heated (or cooled) seats? This may be your lucky day, if a new patent from Ford is any indication.According to reports, the Blue Oval has been issued a patent for moisture-sensing seat technology, one which deploys sensors underneath liquid-permeable seat upholstery to detect wetness or dampness.Before you go there, this doesnt seem to be intended to solve a problem created by an infants leaky diaper.The patent application talks about the very practical problem of a seat being dampened by a spilled water bottle and then being excluded from use in ride-share applications, for example. If a network of sensors pick up on the problem before the driver does, the seat heater can be turned on automatically to dry the seat for the next rider. There is also mention in the patent about the system further incorporating a lighting device for illuminating the seat with a light colour indicative of a wet-seat condition. Your author could have used this technology on many occasions before clambering aboard knackered taxicabs after a nights partying on George Street in Newfoundland.Yes, its also possible for this system to detect your sweaty posterior and automatically turn on the seats ventilated system. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, thats all we have to say about that.Heated and cooled seats are one of the best inventions since the wheel, permitting a comfortable space no matter the ambient temperature. Tied in with the cars remote starting system, it is now possible to sit oneself on the black leather seat of a car left to perish in the hot Arizona sun without losing several layers of skin. Here in Canada, heated seats help to prevent frozen giblets on an icy-cold winter morning.Would you want your car seats responding to the temperature of your backside? Sound off in the comment section
Origin: New Ford tech could use your sweaty butt to adjust the A/C
Hyundai’s Active Noise Control tech is a world-first
Noise cancellation is a pretty nifty science, even if it has been around for awhile. By projecting sound waves at an inverted frequency to those coming in, systems are able to decrease the overall noise heard. In a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, this means music untainted by the sounds of whatever noisy thing is nearby. In a car, it means a quiet cabin mostly free of the unwanted sounds coming from the engine and road. Hyundai Motor Group recently announced its new Road Active Noise Control (RANC), which improves on old tech (ANC) to reduce road noise by up to an additional 3dB, giving the Korean automaker an industry-best interior noise cancellation system. Old systems relied on insulation and dampers to passively kill sound, which ultimately resulted in extra weight and a faint, low-frequency buzz seeping through. The ANC system, on the other hand, uses software and components like controllers and microphones to measure and reduce noise. It’s like this: the mics pick up a sound, the software analyses it, and then the speakers spit out the inverse waves, thus cancelling it altogether. But that process was limited by the software, which struggled to get the cancellation done in the 0.009 seconds it takes for road or engine noise to reach the ears of passengers, says Hyundai. The new RANC will do the deed in just 0.002 seconds. “Using an acceleration sensor, RANC calculates the vibration from the road to the car and the control computer analyzes road noise,” the brand explains in a release. “As its computation and signal transfer speeds are optimized, it only takes 0.002 second to analyze the noise and produce an inverted soundwave, generated by the DSP (Digital Signal Processor).” “The microphone constantly monitors the road noise cancellation status, and sends the information to the DSP. RANC is able to conduct accurate noise analysis and rapid computation to combat road noise for the driver’s seat, the passenger seat and rear seats separately.”Hyundai anticipates the system working particularly well within the cabins of electric vehicles which, without combustion engines beneath them, will be particularly susceptible to road noise more than engine noise. The RANC system will debut in an unnamed upcoming Genesis
Origin: Hyundai’s Active Noise Control tech is a world-first
Mazda 2 hatch upgraded with mild-hybrid tech
The Mazda 2 will gain mild-hybrid power as part of a facelift for the compact hatch, which also includes design tweaks and technology upgrades. The Japanese firm’s Ford Fiesta and Hyundai i20 rival will retain the 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine, but is now boosted by a belt-integrated starter/generator on all manual models. It will be offered in two stages of tune, with a 74bhp version on entry level SE-L models, and a 89bhp powertrain for SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT Sport Nav trims. The manual versions produce 94-95g/km of CO2, depending on trim level, with a WLTP-certified combined fuel economy of 53.4mpg. Mazda cites a number of tweaks to improve the handling of its supermini, including a new urethane top mount in the rear dampers, revised power steering and the introduction of a G-Vectoring Control Plus system, which uses the brakes to aid cornering. The design changes include a revised grille with a new design closer to the Mazda 3, a wider wing, new bumper and revised LED headlights. Inside, the dashboard trim, air vents and other features have been tweaked, with new-shape seats designed to offer more comfort. Mazda also claims the use of new damping materials and the reduction in the gap around the B-pillar reduce noise and improve refinement for those inside. The entry level SE-L Mazda 2 will cost £15,795, and includes rear parking sensors, 15in alloy wheels and climate control. As well as the more powerful engine, SE-L Nav models and above gain the Mazda Connect navigation system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and driver assistance features including brake assist and lane-keeping assist. SE-L Nav models start from £16,610. For £17,310, Sport Nav models add 16in alloy wheels, a gloss black grille, rear privacy glass, chrome exhausts and keyless entry. The top-rung GT Sport Nav models feature a reversing camera, leather seats, a head-up display, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Such models start from £18,110 for manual models, and £19,370 with an automatic gearbox. The revised Mazda 2 will go on sale in the UK in
Origin: Mazda 2 hatch upgraded with mild-hybrid tech
Next-gen Mercedes-Benz C-Class to gain S-Class tech
The next Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been redesigned from the ground up, with highly efficient new hybrid drivetrains and advanced autonomous driving technology set to be some of its key draws. Having experienced a sharp drop in C-Class sales in recent years because of the universal gravitation of buyers towards SUVs, the German maker is providing the fifth-generation model with many of the developments being readied for the new S-Class. The new C-Class, codenamed W206, will challenge the recently facelifted Audi A4 and new BMW 3 Series when it arrives in UK showrooms in 2021. As evidenced by the latest prototypes, the design of the new C-Class is a clear evolution of the styling seen on today’s model. Although its exterior features a new-look front end with more angular headlights, the new car’s proportions, dimensions and overall silhouette remain very close to those of the model it replaces. The starting point for the new C-Class is Mercedes’ MRA (Modular Rear Architecture) platform. It offers a number of advances over the earlier version of the steel and aluminium structure. These include, according to insiders, more advanced electrical architecture that supports a 48V system, which is key to providing the 2021 model with a new range of plug-in hybrid drivetrains. The MRA structure uses a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, with adaptive damping likely to be offered as standard across the range in most markets, including the UK. The new C-Class will continue to provide the option of rear air springs on selected models. As well as being used by the C-Class saloon, estate, coupé and cabriolet, the new platform will underpin successor models to the GLC and GLC Coupé, with a choice of both rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive. New all-terrain model As an addition to the existing line-up, Mercedes has given the green light to a new Audi A4 Allroad rival in the C-Class All Terrain model. Based on the standard estate, it will receive more rugged styling, with unique bumpers and wheel-arch cladding, increased ride height and beefed-up underbody protection measures already brought to the larger E-Class All Terrain. The engine line-up for the fifth-generation C-Class will consist primarily of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines featuring a choice of EQ Boost mild-hybrid and EQ Power plug-in hybrid functions in combination with either a starter/generator or gearbox-mounted electric motor. New electric motor and battery technology should increase the efficiency of future hybrid drivetrains, although the plug-in C-Class is likely to continue to offer the 31-mile range of the current C300de at the start of sales. Despite the focus on efficiency, Mercedes is also planning successor models to today’s C43 and C63. The C43’s 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine will adopt mild-hybrid tech, but the C63 is set to continue with an updated version of today’s 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, with up to 550bhp in a new range-topping C63 S 4Matic+. That will use a fully variable four-wheel-drive system rather than today’s rear-driven set-up. In a bid to make the new C-Class the most advanced car in its class, Mercedes will bring in the very latest autonomous driving features to set what one source involved in its development has described to Autocar as “new standards in human-machine interface in the automotive field”. Leading the push is a new Drive Pilot function with level three functionality. Due to make its debut on the seventh-generation S-Class in 2020, it will allow hands-off driving at speeds of up to 80mph for extended distances. This brings a whole new range of sensor functions, including long-range lidar, multi-mode radar, the latest ultra-sonic sensors and a new stereo camera from Korean supplier LG. It also provides the basis for a new level four automated valet parking function developed by Mercedes in partnership with Bosch. It allows the new C-Class to negotiate parking garages and manoeuvre into free parking spaces – all via a smartphone app interface. Advanced adaptive cruise control will allow the C-Class to follow the car ahead at speeds of up to 130mph, slowing down automatically when speed limits change. It will also support the usual active lane change, lane keeping, emergency stop and brake assist with cross-traffic functions. To make the most of these functions, the C-Class’s new interior will be inspired by the earlier Concept EQ. It will feature large digital displays incorporating both the instruments and infotainment functions as well as new touch-based controls in a less bulky dashboard. This will also provide a greater feeling of interior space, it is
Origin: Next-gen Mercedes-Benz C-Class to gain S-Class tech
Ferrari tech boss on EVs, V12s and next LaFerrari
“Emotions are the actual secret of Ferrari. Take Bugatti: they put 1000hp in a car, and if you go straight, it works very well. To have fun on mountain streets, we think this is our secret. It’s not just about being on the limit. Our cars are always fun. “But what’s fun? It’s sound, perceived acceleration – not just the 0-100kph or 0-200kph times. I accelerate and I feel the torque and how the acceleration evolves. It’s not like driving a diesel. It’s a turbo that evolves power and torque like on a naturally aspirated engine. “Then it’s a go-kart feeling. Everything you do brings a controllable feel to the car. Every customer can drive a Ferrari and have fun. “We have a very special engineering approach which combines engineering data with perceived emotions. We have a catalogue of manoeuvres which are connected to car characteristics perceived from customers. So we talk a lot to customers and our test drivers are very capable of translating customer perceptions into more engineering evaluations of cars. “So back to the F8 and its successor. If an SF90 is a very performance-orientated car with high fun to drive, the F8 successor will have less performance (than 1000hp) but maybe more fun to drive. More driving emotions, more capable, even lighter… We’re thinking of some specialities.” Will you continue to develop V12 engines? “We will try and build it for as long as possible. I am convinced there is still space for it on the market and we can do it technically and manage emissions. We’re working on the next EU6c emissions and will add gasoline particulate filters to manage this.” With the SF90 Stradale and the upcoming SUV in 2022, there will be six Ferrari model lines. Will you stick at six in the future? “No. The company has to grow. By repositioning that, you can grow in a certain way, or add certain models. We’re not interested in volume. It’s revenue. Volume doesn’t interest us.” Will you make a pure-electric Ferrari? “Right now, the technology is not mature enough. Look at customer requirements: the most important thing is sound. Today, there is also a problem on range, which for a sports car really is a problem. The range of an electric car is especially so if you accelerate or go with high speed. These are contributors to sports cars. You need high speeds and you can’t limit to 200kph. If you’d like to remove that technical constraint, you add so much weight it’s not a sports car. “Maybe in a few years, it could be a possibility. To sell the technology, you need a big step.” Ferrari tends to make a new hypercar around every 10 years. As the LaFerrari is almost seven years old, is work under way on its successor? “It is true that almost every 10 years we bring one out. It’s also true that Ferrari only does one when new technology is available. So we have to understand what is the technology we want to be on new supercars.” Will you make more special models like the Monza? “We want to segment our offering into four pillars: GT, sports cars, Icona (icons) and Special Series. Icona (where the Monza sits) will be a line of cars. “Monza is not the only one. We have a few we discuss. It’s a big success for us, Monza. There are less technical constraints with these cars. To drive Monza is like driving a
Origin: Ferrari tech boss on EVs, V12s and next LaFerrari
Updated 2020 Bentley Bentayga to receive tech overhaul
Bentley will update its best-selling model – the Bentayga SUV – next year to bring it up to scratch with its latest models, and disguised prototypes have hit the road. Although not exactly long in the tooth, the Bentayga has been around since 2016 with no significant styling or technology upgrades. Since its launch an all-new Continental GT has come to market, while the latest generation of Flying Spur will arrive in dealers soon. In order to ensure the Rolls-Royce Cullinan rival isn’t left behind by both its competitors and its siblings, revisions to the exterior will bring it into line with the latest brand look. It’s too early to tell how extensive these will be, but expect a reshaped grille, fresh bumpers and tweaks to the lights front and rear. Just as significant will be the technology overhaul inside. The current car’s infotainment system is often criticised for feeling out of date next to cheaper siblings from Audi and Porsche, so the priority will be to bring in the latest system from the Continental GT and Flying Spur. A fully digital instrument display will likely also feature, while the range of active safety technology should advance. The flagship W12 engine is expected to receive upgrades to boost efficiency, but don’t expect anything dramatic across the rest of the range. The V8 is relatively new, too, while the six-cylinder plug-in hybrid model still isn’t on sale after a lengthy delay. Question marks remain over the diesel model, which was officially axed from the firm’s line-up in 2018. A change in attitude towards the fuel was blamed for its removal back then, but since then sister brand Audi has introduced several large capacity S-badged diesel models to its range. Expect to see more details emerge early next
Origin: Updated 2020 Bentley Bentayga to receive tech overhaul
The 2020 BMW X6 debuts with more tech and more power
Everybodys favourite SUV-coupe is all-new for 2020: yes, the BMW X6 just debuted with tons of technology and more power.And, as if having a massive kidney grille wasnt enough for this generation of BMWs, the X6s also lights up.The X6 now rides on BMWs new Cluster Architecture, borrowed from the X5.The base model sDrive40i and xDrive40i receive BMWs trusty twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, which produces 335 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque, sent to either the rear wheels only or all four depending on the trim.For added performance, there is also the X6 M50i, which uses BMWs 4.4-litre V8, this time with two turbochargers spinning it up to 523 hp and 554 lb.-ft. of torque. Those ponies help the X6 get to 96 km/h from zero in just 4.1 seconds.Theres a new off-road package available for the xDrive40i as well, which includes air suspension for both axles, an electronically-controlled rear differential and four off-road driving modes: snow, sand, gravel or rocks. Inside, the X6 is as comfortable as you would expect, and its loaded with tech. A 12.3-inch touch screen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster feature BMWs updated seventh generation of Live Cockpit with iDrive. This means the Hey, BMW voice assist, gesture control, wi-fi, wireless charging and Apple CarPlay are all available.Safety features are also huge on the X6: BMW Active Assistant, blind-spot detection, forward collision warning and park distance control are all standard. Lane-keep assist, automatic lane-change assist and side-collision avoidance are all available as extras.In the U.S., the BMW X6 starts at US$64,300; Canadian pricing and availability have not been
Origin: The 2020 BMW X6 debuts with more tech and more power
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
BMW and JLR partner to develop new EV drive tech
BMW and JLR partner to develop new EV drive tech Electric drive development will be shared by Jaguar Land Rover and BMW Group Jaguar Land Rover and BMW have announced that the two manufacturing groups will work together to develop next-generation electric vehicle technology. The partnership will see BMW and JLR work on new electric drive units, with both firms already well established as electric vehicle manufacturers. BMW’s i3/i3s leads its pure-electric portfolio, with Jaguar represented by its I-Pace. In terms of plug-in hybrids, there are a large number of models built by the two groups, including PHEV versions of BMW’s 3 Series, 5 Series, X5, and i8, while JLR has both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Both companies have plans for further pure-electric and PHEV models in the near future. The power units will be built in-house by each group, but there will be a joint team based in Munich tasked with developing the next generation systems further, plus each group will benefit from improved efficiencies in terms of shared development, production costs, and economies of scale from joint purchasing. Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Director added: “We’ve proven we can build world beating electric cars but now we need to scale the technology to support the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover products. “It was clear from discussions with BMW Group that both companies’ requirements for next generation EDUs to support this transition have significant overlap making for a mutually beneficial collaboration.” Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, said: “The automotive industry is undergoing a steep transformation. We see collaboration as a key for success, also in the field of electrification. “With Jaguar Land Rover, we found a partner whose requirements for the future generation of electric drive units significantly match ours. Together, we have the opportunity to cater more effectively for customer needs by shortening development time and bringing vehicles and state-of-the-art technologies more rapidly to market.”
Origin: BMW and JLR partner to develop new EV drive tech
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