Mazda dumping ‘Nagare’ design language, wants to be the ‘Japanese Alfa Romeo’.Mazda’s chief of design in Europe has confirmed this week that the Japanese carmaker will soon move away from the ‘Nagare’ design language, a styling direction that gave us Mazda’s smiling grille and sharp swooping lines.Speaking with British magazine Auto Express, Mazda Europe Chief of Design Peter Birtwhistle said that while the styling carried a ‘wow’ factor for the brand’s futuristic concepts, it had been difficult to translate to production models – particularly the new Mazda5 (not offered in Australia).“Nagare is done. After the 5, it’s highly unlikely that there will be another nagare car. Mazda has moved on,” Birtwhistle said.With Nagare’s creator Laurens van den Acker departing for Renault last year, it now falls to Mazda’s new chief designer Ikuo Maeda to determine the look of the Japanese carmaker’s next-generation range – likely beginning with the Mazda6, the oldest model in the current line-up.Interestingly, Mazda – the only one of Japan’s bigger international brands no longer offering a separate luxury line-up – appears to be pushing for a more upmarket feel for its future models.Birtwhistle said that Maeda and Mazda management are looking to turn the brand into “a Japanese Alfa Romeo, producing cars which are great to drive, but crucially that also have the right premium feel, particularly inside.”
Mercedes to have 16 new or upgraded models by 2011.Following a global sales increase of 17 percent in May, beating Audi’s 15 percent growth and 11 percent for BMW, Mercedes-Benz has announced it will launch 16 new or upgraded models by 2011.On the schedule of new models is the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive, the B-Class F-Cell and the A-Class E-Cell. Mercedes will also launch new ‘BlueDIRECT’ turbocharged V6 and V8 engines, featuring direct injection and offering a 24 percent improvement in fuel consumption.Select models will also be offered with a stop-start system for even great efficiency.While Mercedes has not disclosed the full list of updated models, recent spy photos have revealed that an updated SL-Class, C-Class and the 2011 CLS 63 AMG will likely figure among the ‘new’ models.Beyond 2011, Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch an even greater number of new models, including a new C-Class Coupe, the roadster version of the SLS AMG and a new ML-Class.Mercedes-Benz has also launched a new advertising campaign, dubbed “The Best or Nothing.” A new version of the famous three-pointed star is also expected to appear over the next year.
The integration of Porsche into Volkswagen’s management structure continues this week with news that Matthais Mueller will step into the top role at Porsche.Mueller, who ran product management at Audi for four years, succeeds current Porsche CEO Michael Macht, who has been elevated to Chief of Production for the wider Volkswagen AG empire.According to reports out of Europe this week, Mueller’s first challenge will come in the form of a new line of sub-Boxster models, likely based on Volkswagen’s on-again off-again Bluesport concept.Reports of a new more affordable entry-level Porsche have been circulating for some time now, and with Volkswagen’s stated aim of becoming the world’s number one carmaker by 2018, a volume-selling Porsche would go a long way to achieving that goal.If it goes into production, the new model could help Porsche recover sales lost with the Boxster and Cayman, which together have seen a drop of 12 percent, falling to less than half the sales of the brand’s best-selling model, the Cayenne.Even before Volkswagen’s takeover of the sports carmaker, Porsche had been pushing to grow its range beyond the current four-model line-up, hoping to double its global sales to 150,000 vehicles.
Following news last month of a $5 million dollar funding boost from the Federal Government, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has today launched a new, more accessible version of its website.Giving new-car buyers improved access to the latest crash test ratings and data, the new ANCAP website provides simple, easily understood information about ANCAP testing regime and vehicle safety.“Our latest research has shown that more people are aware of ANCAP and its role in crash testing vehicles and publicising their safety ratings – this new site will make it easier for new car buyers to compare the relative safety ratings of many new models in the market,” ANCAP Chair Lauchlan McIntosh said.“It also explains how ANCAP works and the protocols used in its crash testing program.”Thanks to increased Federal funding and the greater number of crash tests that ANCAP is now able to do, the new website is expected to increase pressure on manufacturers to bring safer and more advanced vehicles to market.
The infamous Judge Dredd movie truck has landed in Sydney for a promotional tour organised by Vibe car audio. Built in the UK, this monster truck is now one of the loudest audio display trucks in the world.The bulk of the volume is projected through 24 Vibe Space series subwoofers and over 50,000 watts of Black Box amplifier power, needless to say when its turned up way past 11 the Vibe-Dredd can do real damage. Built at a staggering cost of $120,000 this is one ridiculously loud demo vehicle.
British research company Onepoll.com surveyed over 3000 men focusing on their attitude towards women drivers. Results showed men often pushed their feet down involuntarily when their wife or partner was late to hit the brakes.Other men revealed they regularly spent part of a journey gripping the edges of the passenger seat.A spokesperson from Onepoll.com said in a news.com.au report, “the study showed that most men felt they were better drivers than the women in their lives. They [men] believe they concentrate a lot better, read road situations more quickly and clearly and have better reactions.”It was also found that 20% of couples have arguments about the other one’s driving ability.And 1 in 10 men felt it necessary to ask their wife to pull over so they could take the wheel.What do you think of these results? Do Australian men share the same sentiments?
SUSTAINABILITY equals premium? Dr Hans Rathgeber couldn’t believe it either. The hard-headed engineer, who has worked on BMW Group’s Efficient Dynamics program since 2000, says it was always clear that car buyers would grow increasingly concerned about driving’s environmental impact.
But the man in charge of total vehicle architecture and integration never dreamed that high efficiency, low consumption, and the use of recycled and renewable materials, would become priorities at the top end of the market. “That I didn’t see coming,” he says, shaking his head.The Vision concept, a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid 2+2, is proof that BMW believes this market shift is close at hand. Arguably the most significant car at Frankfurt in 2009, it was built specifically to discover where the tastes of wealthier car buyers are headed. During the public days of the Frankfurt motor show, BMW conducted detailed interviews with potential customers.Original and arresting, beautifully proportioned, deliciously detailed, it’s hard to imagine anyone disliking the Vision’s design. But its technology poses some difficult questions. As Rathgeber observes, its looks say ‘V10’, yet the engine between its rear wheels is a small, three-cylinder turbo-diesel. “This is very, very far away from what the customer nowadays is used to,” he says.What the Vision does offer, however, is familiar performance levels. Rathgeber insists that the car’s computer-calculated power and performance claims are achievable. They’re impressive: the maximum system outputs of the Vision’s diesel engine and two electric motors is 262kW and 800Nm, good for 0-100km/h in 4.8sec (0.1sec faster than a manual M3 sedan) and a (limited) top speed of 250km/h.Yet the fuel consumption, also computer-calculated, is just 3.8L/100km, for carbon dioxide emissions of 99g/km. That’s with the diesel running. With charged batteries, the Vision’s electric-power-only range is 50km, with even lower carbon-dioxide emissions (taking into account what’s coming out of the power station smokestack, of course).As well as being a design exercise and a market research tool, the Vision is a rolling showcase of technologies BMW believes have a place in the sustainable-equals-premium near future.
Key highlights
FRONT ELECTRIC MOTORA second, more powerful electric motor is packaged between, and connected to, the Vision’s front wheels. Capable of a sustained output of 60kW, it also can be boosted briefly to much higher power: 84kW for up to 30 seconds, 104kW for up to 10 seconds. Maximum torque is 220Nm. Like the rear motor, it can also recycle energy via regenerative braking.LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERIESThey’re already popular in model aircraft, but Vision’s lithium-polymer batteries (an advanced kind of lithium-ion technology) come from elsewhere. “We took this battery from F1,” confides Rathgeber. One of lithium-polymer’s chief attractions is that it doesn’t require the complex and weighty cooling of conventional lithium-ion batteries. But a more important attribute, he says, is their ability to deliver brief bursts of high energy. “Normally, if you design a car, the maximum power, it’s for every situation,” he points out. “Now, I limit it a little bit, because no-one drives a car always with full throttle.” The LiPo batteries are the reason both of the Vision’s two electric motors are able to briefly boost to high power outputs. The 98 cells in the car’s centre tunnel have a gross storage capacity of 10.8kWh, with 80 percent, or 8.6kWh, of it useable.REAR HYBRID UNITVision’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo-diesel is literally one half of BMW’s latest 3.0-litre, in-line twin-turbo diesel six, but with higher per-litre output figures. Maximums are 120kW and 290Nm. Despite its three-cylinder configuration, this is premium technology. “It’s not an engine for people with small wallets,” says Rathgeber, drily. Sandwiched between the diesel and its six-speed double-clutch transmission is an electric motor (similar to that in the 7 Series hybrid), that delivers a sustained 25kW or, for brief bursts, 38kW (see breakout, left). Its torque rating is 290Nm. Capable of driving the Vision in electric-only mode, the motor can also generate electricity through regenerative braking.CHASSISDisregard the Vision’s aluminium chassis structure, says Rathgeber. It just happened to be what BMW chose for this concept car. For production, the choice of chassis material would depend on the numbers. “There is always the question: ‘what sales volumes do you plan for the car?’” he says. “And that depends if such a concept is standing alone, or if it has synergies with other models…”WHEELS & TYRESNow engineers, as well as designers, want 21-inch wheels. The size of the Vision’s wheels was selected for purely technical reasons, according to Rathgeber. The larger diameter brings a fuel-saving reduction in rolling resistance, he says, but with no loss in grip for cornering and braking. Even though the tyres’ size is 195/55, the longer contact patch puts as much rubber on the road as a wider tyre on a smaller diameter wheel. “That is engineering thinking…”THERMO-ELECTRIC EXHAUSTOne of the most fascinating details of the Vision is its exhaust, which features a muffler-like 200W thermo-electric generator to turn normally wasted heat into useful energy. Rathgeber admits this technology, which converts heat directly into electrical energy, is still under development. The metal-based semi-conductor material that does the magic has problems with higher temperatures. But the executive believes they will be overcome. “Everywhere you look over the country, energy is wasted,” he says, especially in conventional coal-burning power plants. “All over the world, not only in the car, people will look for this efficiency.”DESIGNVision’s exterior and intriguing interior are the work of two young designers; one Croatian, the other Belgian, both hired from Volkswagen. Mario Majdandzic and Jochen Paesen were the winners of an internal design competition run by BMW with the aim of giving the company’s Efficient Dynamics slogan a recognisable face.Their winning presentation was made using some virtual work and lots of paper, no models. From sketches to show took just six months. “It was very fast,” says Majdandzic. After the initial rough design work, the pair had just five weeks to complete detailed drawings. Building the Vision took another four months.Ironically, given BMW’s decision to withdraw from Formula One, Majdandzic cites F1 as one of the major influences on his design. “All the wings [on an F1 car] improve aerodynamics,” he explains, “we’ve just reduced [them] and make [them] look more elegant.”Vision’s elegance also derives from the designers’ determination to make everything they could multi-functional, like the strip of LED tail-lights that are shaped to also serve as a rear spoiler. This aero-inspired multi-functionality is key to the Vision’s distinctive ‘layered’ look. And because so much of the interior is visible, the same theme is continued there. Paesen thinks the Vision’s sustainable materials have particular appeal. “Natural materials wear in a different way,” he says. “You get to see that they have been used, but this has a quality about it.”
RateCity reports on the newest player to enter the car insurance market and the innovative offerings that you could claim.Gone are the days when car insurance can be purchased only from insurance companies. Now, a range of organisations have expanded their product offerings and are now selling car insurance.One of these organisations to join the car insurance arena is supermarket giant Coles. After conducting a trial in Tasmania last year, Coles now offers car insurance nationwide. Coles extended their product range to include third party property damage, third party fire and theft and comprehensive car insurance to customers, both online and through a dedicated call centre.Wesfarmers General Insurance, owners of the Coles Group, are the underwriters for Coles Car Insurance as well as Kmart Car Insurance, which launched in March this year.
Are the ‘prices down’?
Whenever a new car insurance company enters the market, drivers are skeptical on how much cheaper is it in comparison, how does the level of cover compare and what is so special about it that you should choose it over your current car insurance provider?According to Coles Chief Financial Officer Tony Buffin their aim was to create a “…unique and compelling car insurance product for Australians.” And unique they do bring, by offering a handful of extra rewards such as fuel discounts (triple the existing 4 cents per litre off fuel voucher once per month for a year), a 5 percent discount in the first year when purchasing online, Flybuys points when purchasing a policy, and your groceries are covered if they are damaged in a collision.They are certainly offering something that no other car insurers currently do, but the big question is – how does it compare in price?RateCity used the same driver profile for an address in Doncaster, Melbourne, and for an address in Marrickville, Sydney, and compared 26 other car insurance companies against Coles comprehensive car insurance. The results showed that in Sydney, Coles was below the average cost at $1143 and in Melbourne Coles offered the lowest quote overall at $533, followed by Bingle which followed closely behind on $556.60.However while the prices may be competitive, if you want to include car hire or one excess free windscreen claim, adding each of these options will set you back an extra $64, although several other companies also charge for these extras.
More players in the market means more reason to shop around for your car insurance
With Coles and Kmart Car Insurance now on board and with other new players such as Virgin Car Insurance offered by Virgin Money, there is now more reason to shop around and compare car insurance quotes online.When there are more players, obviously there is more competition, which then challenges the major players to offer better priced deals in order to keep their customers happy. By comparing online through financial comparison websites, customers are able to gain an idea of what they should be paying and what is too high. Could you get a better price for your policy?
Its full name is the Aventador LP 700-4, the first part of its name coming from a famous fighting bull that won the Trofeo de la Pena La Madronera in 1993 for its “outstanding courage”.The LP 700-4 represents its 700 horsepower output and its four-wheel-drive layout.The Aventador is powered by Lamborghini’s new V12 engine and helping to make the most of that power is a carbon fibre body developed in partnership with airline manufacturer Boeing, thus making it possible to achieve a top speed of 350km/h.For those interested the Australian price is yet to be announced.
Toyota’s long-awaited new sports car comes one step closer to a production reality, with the unveiling of the FT-86 II Concept at the Geneva Motor Show.Announced in January as a ‘pre-production’ concept, the FT-86 II follows 2009’s FT-86 Concept as a preview of what’s to come in Toyota’s return to the real-wheel-drive sports coupe platform.Toyota says the engine and driving position of the FT-86 II Concept have been set “as low and as far back as possible,” with a focus on balance and stability.That, for now, is all the world number one car manufacturer has officially let on – but with production expected to start later this year, all will be revealed soon enough.
