There are acres of driver aids in modern vehicles to help the driver navigate their way through an unfamiliar city. Satnav led the way and is now supported by a cast of colourful heads-up displays, audible alerts and vibrating seats (hold your rude comments about that last one, please). Luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover is working on a steering wheel that could provide another directional cue for drivers, one which doesn’t require taking one’s eyes off the road, citing driver distraction as one of the major contributors to road traffic collisions around the world. The company has a point—during your commute home this evening, take note how many drivers are eyeing their smart device, hoovering a Big Crunch, or talking into their phones while holding it horizontally like a slice of pizza. Jag says its “sensory steering wheel” can help address this problem. It uses heat to inform drivers where to turn, when it’s safe to change lanes, and warn of impending doom if another vehicle is trying to occupy the same spot in the space-time continuum. A steering wheel developed by Jaguar Land Rover could help keep drivers’ eyes on the road – by using heat to tell drivers when to turn left or right.#Technology #FutureMobility pic.twitter.com/iVbhgUHG6J Jaguar Land Rover (@JLR_News) May 29, 2019 An infrared illustration shows the left-hand side of the steering wheel getting warm as the driver approaches a scheduled turn as determined by the satnav. After rounding the bend, the Jag’s wheel returns to normal temperature. By using heat to tell drivers when to turn left or right, it eliminates the need for them to divert their eyes to a map screen on the centre stack. Interestingly, the video shows both the left and right sides of the wheel heating up when the route is plotted to continue straight ahead at an intersection. Company studies suggest temperature-based instructions could also be used for non-urgent notifications, where vibrations could be deemed unnecessarily attention-grabbing, for example as a warning when fuel is running low, or for upcoming events such as points of interest. Thermal cues can also be used where audio feedback would be deemed too disruptive to cabin conversations or media playback. Naturally, the company tosses around the words ‘autonomous’ and ‘mobility’ in the film, buzzwords wholly appropriate for this day and age if not this particular application. Your author thinks this invention would be great in a normal car, thank you very much. Of course, this leaves us with the question of what happens to a plain old heated steering wheel? Here in the Great White North, most drivers enjoy them more than a kid loves cake. You’ll have to drag mine from my cold (literally)
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover develops wheel that warms to help with navigation
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Watching paint dry with Britain’s road markers
White lines, yellow lines, rumble strips… We take them for granted but the material they’re made from is designed to operate in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. They’re replicated in laboratories like the one tucked at the back of Hitex International, a leading manufacturer and applier of road markings based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Here, Steve, one of the company’s most experienced chemists, mixes, heats, weighs and generally tests road marking formulations to destruction like some bearded wizard of the white lines. In one corner of the lab is a portable skid resistance machine. It has an arm fitted with a calibrated rubber slider designed to pass over a sample of road marking. As it does so, it brushes it, generating a skid resistance value or SRV. A white centre line should have an SRV of 45+. Close by it is a retroreflectometer for testing the night and daytime reflectivity of road marking samples. Beads derived from recycled glass provide the reflectivity. Elsewhere in the lab, Steve (he won’t reveal his surname – “Confidential,” he says, only half jokingly) tests the colour fastness of road markings. He tells how Hitex saved the day on the M3 when Highways England noticed the orange-painted emergency refuge areas on the smart motorway were bleaching. “We developed a more UV-stable pigment in the lab for them,” he says, proudly. I don’t bother asking for the recipe. Confidential, probably… Easily the simplest but most ingenious piece of equipment in his lab, though, is the softening point tester. A glass beaker is filled with a calibrated heat-transfer liquid in which a circular disc of solid road marking material is suspended. A steel ball is then placed on the surface of the disc. The temperature at which the ball sinks through the material is the material’s softening point. It’s an important number to know, especially for road marking applications in extreme heat; for example, in Bahrain, where the road surface can easily reach 90deg C. This man with no surname is a vital cog in an industry worth £270 million a year in the UK alone. However, his efforts and those of others like him in the labs of the other eight or so major producers of marking material will, in 2020, be augmented by tests of road markings and studs on real roads, following an agreement between Highways England and the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) that represents the road marking industry. They’ll be the first such tests in 10 years. Engineers will be testing skid resistance, wet and dry reflectivity, and erosion caused by so-called ‘wheelovers’, or the action of millions of car tyres on the road markings. Stu McInroy, head of the RSMA, claims the tests will help reduce accidents and their associated costs. “A study by the Road Safety Foundation in 2018 showed that every £1 of road safety engineering, including applying accurate road markings, returns £4.40 in societal benefit.” Bosses of trade associations are fond of quoting such figures, of course. McInroy’s are challenged by another study by Transport for London which suggested white lines give drivers a misplaced sense of confidence and that removing them could create “an element of uncertainty, reflected in lower speeds”. Its theory has since found a home in Exhibition Road, London; a so-called ‘shared space’ free of white lines, where pedestrians enjoy priority over cars. “A shared space is fine for controlled, inner-city environments but not a busy A-road,” says McInroy. “Take away the white lines at a slip road and you’d soon know about it!” I’ve come to Hitex International primarily to push a pram. That’s what road markers call the little trolley that ‘draws’ the white line on the road. There’s a big problem, though: it’s raining. “Anyone who can come up with a road marking you can lay in the wet will clean up,” says Dominic Haynes, group marketing manager of Hitex International. He gazes out of his rain-lashed office window at the company’s fleet of road marking trucks parked up, going nowhere. They’re made by Somerford Equipment, owned by Hitex. The biggest is the Multimark, in the firm’s words “the ultimate truck-mounted solution for the application of spray, extrusion and profiled thermoplastic road markings”. In addition, there are anti-skid/ high-friction surfacing vehicles, demountable road marking units, extrusion/profiled trucks for applying a wide range of markings of different densities and solo marking vehicles combining all operations in one vehicle. Easily the most interesting, though, is the road stud installation truck, which does exactly what it says. On board is a hydraulically operated stud-drilling head and a powerful suction system for removing road debris. Hitex manufactures the road marking material it lays: a choice of the more traditional thermoplastic markings and cold-cure, durable thermoset markings made of methyl methacrylate, a compound that’s
Origin: Watching paint dry with Britain’s road markers
Uber can now ban users with poor ratings
Jesse Vega checks a vehicle at the first of Ubers Work On Demand recruitment events where they hope to sign 12,000 new driver-partners, in South Los Angeles on March 10, 2016.Mark Ralston We all have that friend who treats their Uber like a karaoke machine. If Beyonce comes on the radio, watch out. Historically, these types of people and others like them who, for one reason or another, might not be the most popular with drivers, may have suffered from poor ratings in the app, but were still able to use the service. But that, says Uber, changes now. The ride-hailing service recently announced a policy change that will see some users with poor ratings banned from the app. The deactivations will impact riders who “develop a significantly below-average rating,” effectively booting them from the app. But there may be hope for your backseat-Beyonce-butchering friend yet. Uber says it’ll push tips on how to boost ratings – like using manners and not leaving trash in the back seat (uh, duh) – and provide several opportunities to improve before it deactivates any account. “Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability,” the statement reads. “Drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city. While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do.” Wow. Uber doing right by its drivers? Would you look at that! Some might consider it a change of pace from a company that has cultivated a reputation of not caring too greatly for its “partner” drivers. The policy is part of Uber’s greater ‘Community Guidelines,’ which it says is designed to make both drivers and passengers feel safe and respected.
Origin: Uber can now ban users with poor ratings
New Flying Spur will be first Bentley with all-wheel steering
The third-generation Bentley Flying Spur will be the first model from the marque to receive all-wheel steering, as the car maker seeks to make its four-door luxury saloon the most dynamic yet. Alongside this, it will also feature active all-wheel drive and Bentley’s Dynamic ride system, as found on sibling model, the Continental GT. Bentley said the trio of systems promises “unparalleled agility in the segment,” which includes the Rolls Royce Ghost and Mercedes-Maybach S 600. It added that the introduction of all-wheel steering will “enhance both stability at highway speeds and manoeuvrability around town”. The last two generations of Flying Spur used all-wheel drive, but the new model’s active system means drive is sent to the rear wheels in normal road conditions for a sportier feel. This latest image and video (below) shows the model undergoing final testing at Nardo test track. Bentley has also shown an image (above) of the door card which features three-dimensional, textured leather upholstery, a claimed world-first. The final clue Bentley has shown ahead of the Flying Spur’s full reveal is a video (below) of the car’s bonnet and Flying B emblem, which appears to have illuminated wings. The Crewe-based firm hopes that the upcoming Flying Spur, which will be unveiled on June 11, will appeal to a new generation of Bentley buyers. It will also aims to better distinguish the model from its two-door sibling, the Continental GT by having a more distinctive design with more defined surfaces. It is, however, based on the same MSB platform as its sibling, and uses familiar Bentley engines, including the 6.0-litre W12 and V8. It’s also expected to be the next Bentley to receive a V6-powered plug-in hybrid. An electrified version will be crucial to bolster Bentley sales in China, among other markets. Bentley said: “Both sports sedan and luxury limousine, Bentley’s all-new Flying Spur owes only its historic name to the preceding model and will deliver an unparalleled touring experience for the driver and passengers alike.” It added that the model is “ground up development that pushes the boundaries of both technology and craftsmanship to deliver segment-defining levels of performance and refinement”. Following the launch of the Flying Spur, the firm will turn its focus to what Autocar understands will be a next step in its design, promising a more radical change to something more fresh and modern. It is Bentley’s centenary year, and a host of celebrations in July will include a concept reveal showcasing “the future of grand touring”. Bentley, under the tenure of boss Adrian Hallmark, who joined last year from Jaguar Land Rover, is finalising its broader model strategy for the next few years, which is expected to focus on grand touring models and SUVs rather than sports
Origin: New Flying Spur will be first Bentley with all-wheel steering
Fiat Chrysler plans merger with Renault in latest auto industry jolt
In this file photo taken on August 21, 2017, a car dealer in Turin, Italy, shows the logos of Jeep, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo automobile company, brands of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).Marco Bertorello / Getty Images Fiat Chrysler Automobiles proposed a merger with Renault to create the world’s third-biggest carmaker as manufacturers scramble for scale to tackle an expensive shift to electrification and autonomous driving. The transaction would be structured as a 50-50 ownership through a Dutch holding company, Fiat said Monday. Renault shareholders, including the French government, would get an implied premium of about 10 per cent. In a statement, Renault’s board said it would study what it called a “friendly” proposal. The carmakers are moving ahead without Renault’s 20-year partner, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors, the other member of their troubled alliance. Fiat has conditioned the merger talks on Renault agreeing not to pursue a transaction with Nissan in the short term, according to people familiar with the matter. The Japanese company would be welcome to join the merged entity later. The broad strokes of the plan would make Fiat’s founding shareholder, the Agnelli family’s holding company Exor NV, the single largest investor in the combined entity. Fiat chairman John Elkann would likely stay in the role while Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard would be chief executive officer, the people familiar with the proposal said. The talks come as automakers worldwide face intense pressure to spend heavily on new technologies and adapt to trends such as car-sharing. Falling sales in the world’s biggest markets – China, the U.S. and Europe – have brought fresh urgency to consolidate. Fiat and Renault expect their joint annual synergies to amount to more than 5 billion euros, coming from areas such as purchasing power. “Fiat and Renault are looking for surer footing by gaining scale, and that’s not a bad idea for mass-market carmakers,” Bankhaus Metzler analyst Juergen Pieper said. “The execution of the deal is a significant hurdle. But on paper, this proposal looks good.” The plan has political backing from the French state, which is Renault’s most powerful shareholder. Italian Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, who initially threatened to intervene, later gave his blessing—telling Agence France Presse he trusts the deal “will safeguard every job in this country.” Together, Fiat and Renault made about 8.7 million cars last year, which would vault the pair past South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group and Detroit’s General Motors. That’s still behind the world’s two biggest automakers, Volkswagen and Toyota Motor, who both topped 10 million vehicles last year. But if combined with output of Renault’s existing alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi, the total would be more than 15 million vehicles a year. Fiat and Renault would have a “broad and complementary brand portfolio” covering markets from luxury to mainstream, the Italian company said in its statement. Premium brands Jeep, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Infiniti would come under a common umbrella. Fiat would give Renault access to the North American market, while gaining clout in Russia, the French carmaker’s second-biggest market with its Avtovaz
Origin: Fiat Chrysler plans merger with Renault in latest auto industry jolt
Three family-toting minivans with some generous discounts
On the last three Fridays of every month, Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find you the best deal for your money in new cars. This week, we look at family-toting minivans. The hot deals are on the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring, Dodge Grand Caravan GT and Honda Odyssey EX. 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring Chrysler Pacifica Handout / Chrysler Unhaggle discount:$7,500 Sticker Price: $35,530 (not including taxes and fees) Introduced in 2017, the Chrysler Pacifica carries over this year. The cabin is ringed with nice materials and arrives with Chrysler’s Uconnect 4 infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen and six speakers. It remains one of the easiest systems to live with — pairing a phone is the model of simplicity. It also works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, the Touring requires the Cold Weather group to get some of the basics like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Access to the rear environment is through dual power sliding doors and a power liftgate. The second-row Stow ’n Go seats fold into the floor in a simple operation that does not require muscle. When the seats are upright the in-floor bins provide addition storage. The third row, which also folds neatly into the floor, is tight and best left for kids. The cargo space rates 915-litres with all seats up, 2,478L with the third row folded and 3,979L with the both rows stowed. It requires the SafetyTec group ($995) to get blind spot monitoring and rear parking sensors. Other safety features are not offered on the Touring. The Pacifica is powered by a 3.6L Pentastar V6 that fires 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission and the front wheels. The engine is refined, although the same cannot always be said of the transmission — reports of jerky shifting persist. The combination brings a run to 100 kilometres an hour in 7.7 seconds, a posted average fuel economy of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres and a towing capacity of 1,633-kilograms. On the road the Pacifica is comfortable and quiet thanks to the active noise cancelling. The featured model gets a slightly firmer touring suspension, which is a good thing as there’s less body roll without making the ride feel harsh. The steering is light a low speed, but a little numb on-centre at highway speeds. The Chrysler Pacifica Touring arrives with a combined Unhaggle discount of $7,500 and a pre-tax sticker of $35,530. 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan GT Dodge Grand Caravan Handout / Dodge Unhaggle discount:$11,250 Sticker Price: $37,280 (not including taxes and fees) The Dodge Caravan can legitimately lay claim to having invented the minivan segment in 1984. Since its introduction the Caravan has grown into the Grand Caravan. The hitch is it has not seen a major rework in a decade and there’s little change for 2019. The cabin is workman-like in its finish and execution — the difference between the GC GT and the Pacifica Touring highlights the difference between then and now. For example, the 430N infotainment system with Garmin navigation and a 6.5-inch touchscreen is beginning to show its age — it does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Grand Caravan’s key strength is interior flexibility — there are 81 seating/cargo configurations. There is plenty of room in the middle row seating and enough to support a pair of adults in the third row as long as they don’t mind being a little friendly. The Stow ’n Go seating is easy to deploy and the bins provide 340L of additional storage space when the seats are up. The cargo capacity rates 881L with the third row up, 2,234L with it folded and 3,973L with the middle row stowed. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors are part of the $975 Safety Sphere group. Other safety features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking are conspicuous by their absence. The Grand Caravan is powered by the same 3.6L Pentastar V6 as the Pacifica. In this instance it makes 283 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is unflustered and the transmission shifts smoothly and quickly when a downshift is demanded. The combination delivers a run to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, a posted average fuel economy of 11.8 L/100 km and a 1,633-kg tow capacity. The GT earns a performance suspension. It imparts some welcome agility to the driving characteristics. There is less body roll, the steering feels sharper and the P225/65R17 tires deliver solid grip. Nobody will mistake the Grand Caravan for a Challenger or Charger, but if handling is as important as highway cruising it works. The Dodge Grand Caravan GT has a sticker of $37,280 after the generous combined Unhaggle discount of $11,250 is applied. 2019 Honda Odyssey EX 2018 Honda Odyssey Handout / Honda Unhaggle
Origin: Three family-toting minivans with some generous discounts
Couple’s ‘baby’ photos with supercharger go viral
A Utah couple’s new arrival photoshoot has gone viral because, instead of posing with their newborn baby like every other proud/annoying Facebook parent, they’ve captured themselves with an Eaton supercharger. Awwww, cute! Brayden Tomicic and his partner Payton are happily married in Utah, where Tomicic runs a photography company called South Valley Photography. They do not have any human children. Tomicic posted the sarcastic gallery to his Facebook page along with a message. “So not many of you have known this but it’s finally the right time to post this. The last two years Payton and I have been preparing for this moment and finally the time has come, he wrote. It’s something i have always wanted but never knew how soon it was going to happen. We have been truly blessed this last year and finally it is here. We would love to welcome this Supercharger into our household! It is going to be whining a lot but can’t wait for all of the fun!” Actually the whole shoot was just a way for the couple to get back at Tomicic’s mom, who had started getting insistent about seeing the family name survive another generation. “Honestly the idea came from the my mother pressuring me and my wife for grandchildren, so I thought I would retaliate a little with something for my car since it is my baby,” Tomicic told Jalopnik. The couple plans to have the turbocharger raised up right, underneath the hood of their 2007 Ford Mustang
Origin: Couple’s ‘baby’ photos with supercharger go viral
BMW keeps teasing its R18 concept, with retro bike bowing in Italy
BMW Motorrads 2019 R18 ConceptBMW VILLA D’ESTE, ITALY—BMW’s prolonged launch of its proposed new cruiser continues, with yet another “concept” version of the R18 revealed at the recent Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Como, Italy. It continues the outlandish themes of the two previous concepts – by Japanese customizer Custom Works Zon; and Austin, Texas hot-rodder Revival Cycles, respectively – but with more customary BMW Boxer motifs. So while this Motorrad version, designed in Munich but crafted in Sweden by Unique Custom Cycles, does feature an outlandish 21-inch front wheel and wildly idiosyncratic Solex dual-throat carburettor – the carbs do have a history on BMWs, just only on Munich’s famed 2002 four-wheeler – replacing the traditional Bings, there are numerous reminisces from BMW bikes gone by. The giant air- (and oil-)cooled 1,800-cc engine, with absolutely massive cooling fins, is an obvious blast from the past. Ditto the exposed, chromed driveshaft, which is pure 1950s Boxer. Likewise, we’ve seen spring-mounted leather saddles on plenty of BMWs of yore. But the overall lines, save for the gas tank with its hand-painted pinstripes that reminds me of the “pregnant guppy” R75/5 I rode through college, is pure R32, the BMW’s first opposed twin. From the sweep of its faux hardtail frame to the curve of the rear fender, this is one way-retro – as in all the way back to 1923 – concept. Oh, to be sure, the new 1,800-cc R18 engine dwarves the R32’s 494-cc unit, but the sweep of the of the twin inlet tracts from that gargantuan Solex is almost a carbon copy of the R32’s inlet pipes. Indeed, while the previous two concepts were individual customizers’ take on the Boxer twin, this version is pure BMW Motorrad. And while we can’t be sure this third iteration is anywhere near the final production version, it’s likely at least a few of these historic touches – I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts the twin inlet tracts, with fuel injection replacing the archaic carburetor, will make it to production – will be found on BMW showroom floors soon. Stay tuned for even more teasing until then, however, the good folks in Munich seem to be having some fun with this one. The 2019 recreation of the long-lost 1970 BMW Garmisch Concept by Bertone BMW BMW also released something it’s calling the Homage Concept, which is supposed to be a recreation of the famed BMW Garmisch, the concept car designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone that supposedly vanished after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970. “Marcello Gandini to me is one of the grandmasters of car design and his cars always have been an important source of inspiration for my work,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice-president of BMW design, who claims to have been intrigued by the Garmisch since he first discovered a faded period picture of the car some years ago. “Building the BMW Garmisch for a second time gave us the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Gandini, recall one of his lesser-known cars and highlight Bertone’s stylistic influence on the evolution of BMW design.” The 2019 recreation of the long-lost 1970 BMW Garmisch Concept by Bertone BMW The signature garnish of the Garmisch was its bold, vertical and almost angular variation of BMW’s kidney-shaped grill, which is faithfully interpreted on the Homage Concept. Ditto for the interior which, according to van Hooydonk, has a distinctly “Piemontese twist” to the rather functional interior design habits typical of BMWs at the time. Gandini was, of course, more famous for his work on the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, not to mention the Alfa Romeo Montreal, but he did numerous works for BMW, including the Spicup show car, as well as the first iterations of the 5
Origin: BMW keeps teasing its R18 concept, with retro bike bowing in Italy
2019 Skoda Superb revealed with plug-in hybrid option
Skoda has revealed the revised version of its flagship Superb saloon and estate, which will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. The hybrid will be launched as the Superb iV in recognition of Skoda’s new sub-brand that will be used for its bold electrification plans. The firm launched the Superb alongside the pure-electric Citigo-e at an event in Slovakia. The Superb iV features a 154bhp, 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine mated to a 114bhp electric motor, which sends drive to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG transmission. The peak system output is 220bhp, with 295lb ft of torque. The car will be capable of completing 34 miles of pure electric running, identical to the similar Volkswagen Passat GTE. Skoda has yet to release performance figues, but insiders suggest they will closely match the Passat, hinting at a 0-62mph time of around 7.4secs for the saloon. The battery pack is located under the floor and ahead of the rear axle, which means a slight reduction in boot capacity – 485 litres for the saloon and 510 litres for the estate, compared to 625 and 660 for the non-hybrid versions respectively. Beyond the well-hidden charging port integrated into the front grille there will be little to give away the PHEV’s part-electric status. The infotainment system can display information on battery status and electric range and additional controls for the various powertrain modes. It will also be possible to programme the PHEV’s aircon to cool the cabin before the car is needed. The existing Superb powertrains will be carried over for the facelifted model, with a new 2.0-litre 190bhp TSI unit added. The range-topper will continue to be a 280bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged version. The redesigned Superb has gained a new-look grille, with added chrome trim between the LED rear lights. There is also a new front bumper, which stretches the length of the car by 8mm to 4869mm. The car is the first Skoda to gain full LED Matrix headlights as an option, and new driver assistance features include predictive cruise control. Sales for the facelifted car begin in September with the plug-in hybrid version following earlier next year. Pricing has yet to be revealed, but Skoda promises the PHEV will be highly competitive in its increasingly crowded part of the market, and is anticipated to constitute up to 20% of sales in the
Origin: 2019 Skoda Superb revealed with plug-in hybrid option
He joked about sheep with Elon Musk on Twitter—now he has a job at Tesla
The photo of the absolute unit shared on the museums Twitter page that started the exchange with Elon Musk.The MERL via Twitter Adam Koszary ran social media campaigns for the Museum of English Rural Life in Berkshire, U.K. where his knack for viral content eventually resulted in Elon Musk changing his profile picture on Twitter to a sheep last month. Now he says he’s landed a job at Tesla to manage the company’s social media. Tesla and Koszary did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The jokes first started after Musk tweeted and then changed his profile picture to a sheep found in the museum’s archives. The museum, known as the MERL, responded by changing its own profile picture to a head shot of Musk. It followed up by tweeting a picture of a sheep in space with the caption maybe. Excuse us @elonmusk but what pic.twitter.com/2c1w8KpaOJ The Museum of English Rural Life (@TheMERL) April 17, 2019 Can we put a sheep into space in a car now please it’s 2019, the museum asked in another tweet. The MERL, affiliated with the University of Reading, ultimately racked up a total of 133,000 followers, including Musk, who only follows 83 other accounts. Maybe pic.twitter.com/jkE7kfVtZp The Museum of English Rural Life (@TheMERL) April 18, 2019 Relive the whole exchange
Origin: He joked about sheep with Elon Musk on Twitter—now he has a job at Tesla
All about car 