EDAG, Yo: German Engineering Firm Creates Odd “Light Cocoon” Concept

EDAG, Yo: German Engineering Firm Creates Odd “Light Cocoon” Concept

Driverless automobiles get the green light

Driverless vehicle technologies has sophisticated rapidly in current years, and most significant automobile companies are operating on their own versions.

In the US, Google is deep into road trials of its autonomous automobiles, and Apple is rumoured to be pondering of joining the fray.

Questions to be addressed

But an innovation as revolutionary as driverless automobiles begs a lot of inquiries:

• who is accountable for the automobile?


• who is liable in the event of an accident?


• what occurs if the car’s computer systems are hacked?


• can a driverless car operate with no-one particular in it?


• can you use an autonomous automobile if you are blind or partially sighted, or otherwise physically impaired?


• what about when you are more than the alcohol limit?

Changing attitudes

Then there’s a whole clutch of concerns about the behaviour of other road customers.

For instance, will pedestrians quit utilizing crossing and just step out into the road, safe in the expertise that cars will cease for them?

Exact same applies to cyclists, and drivers of ‘normal’ vehicles.

If so, what will be the effect on targeted traffic flow and congestion?

And what about carjackers? Step in front of a auto you fancy, and it will roll to a quit at your feet. Deeply worrying for anybody to contemplate, specifically these with youngsters on board, and ladies driving alone.

Pilot programmes

As the world adjusts to the driverless phenomenon, the government is backing 4 trials in Greenwich, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Coventry to measure the achievement of the technology, decide the insurance and legal implications and gauge the public’s reaction.

It hopes for a strong return on its investment of £19 million from a worldwide market that is anticipated to be worth billions in the next decade.

In the meantime…

The autonomous Meridian shuttle will run in Greenwich and appears a bit like an elongated golf buggy.

Then there’s the prototype driverless pods in Coventry and in Milton Keynes, trundling amongst the railway stations and shopping centres.

The Wildcat is most likely the most thrilling car. It’s a modified military jeep becoming tested in Bristol.

In the trials, a totally certified driver is on hand to take more than the controls if essential.

Cracking the code

The subsequent step is a code of practice, due in the spring, that will supply the framework for tests in actual-life scenarios.

A complete assessment of domestic regulations will not take place till 2017 and will most probably involve alterations to the MOT test and amendments to the Highway Code.

The review will also appear at the legal implications of a collision involving a driverless car and think about regardless of whether a greater common of “driving” need to be demanded of automated vehicles.

Driverless automobiles get the green light

2015 BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible: Heavy Cars, Light Refresh

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BMW’;s heavyweight 2-doors get light updates.

The BMW M6 is a paradoxical automobile. Its name harks back to an epic road-burning coupe, a single with a race-derived inline-6 engine, but in its present type it is a gigantic and heavy luxury machine that just occurs to be quick. In each coupe and convertible types, the M6 weighs in at about 2 tons, heft that’s overcome making use of a 560-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-7 Against this discussion of mass, let us introduce the 2015 M6—it’s nevertheless big and porky, but it receives a light freshening this year, just as its 4-door Gran Coupe and pedestrian 2-door 6-series siblings do.

Really, light doesn’t even start to describe the alterations BMW has created to the M6 for 2015. The organization changed virtually absolutely nothing about the car’s design and style. Whilst the regular 6-series receives new, reduce front air intakes that are painfully reminiscent of Mercedes-AMG, the M6 keeps its previous “jetfighter” appear intact, full with an appropriately jet-styled central front air intake and its host of subtle aerodynamic components.

Only the headlights are changed, possessing switched to normal full-LED illumination and seeing the turn-signal components moved from the bottom to the prime of the units. For the cabin, there are a few new colors and trim alternatives, and the infotainment technique now delivers a lap timer application as properly as GoPro video-camera integration. We’ve sampled BMW’s embedded GoPro camera controls in a new M3 sedan and identified the widget nifty, if slightly restricted compared to the similar GoPro iPhone app.

There are no changes to the M6’s great powertrain. The 560-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 and 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission remain, and the pair delivers exhilarating performance. Once again, a 6-speed manual transmission occupies the selection sheet as a no-expense item BMW wouldn’t offer the stick have been it not for the U.S. market, which demanded it stayed. Perhaps there’s hope left for the original M6’s race-automobile-for-the-street vision.

Down the road, BMW will probably provide a Competition Package, as it did starting with the 2014- model-year M5 and M6. In these cars, the kit raised the V-8’s output to 575 horsepower, added a sports exhaust system, and modified the hydraulic power steering for far more directness. Offered how the base M6’s mechanical setup enters 2015 unchanged, don’t anticipate the Competition Package’s upgrades to deviate from the present tune.

Sadly, BMW’s mid cycle update for the M6 does not consist of any sort of diet. Stripping out some weight would go a lengthy way toward producing the effective coupe and convertible duo more engaging to drive. Of course, automakers tend to stray from significant light-weighting measures when carrying out something brief of redesigning a model totally, but at least BMW’s updates for the attractive and highly capable M6 had been light.

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2015 BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible: Heavy Cars, Light Refresh

2015 BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible: Heavy Cars, Light Refresh

Official Images and Info

arrow

BMW’;s heavyweight 2-doors get light updates.

The BMW M6 is a paradoxical car. Its name harks back to an epic road-burning coupe, one with a race-derived inline-6 engine, but in its existing kind it is a gigantic and heavy luxury machine that just takes place to be quickly. In each coupe and convertible forms, the M6 weighs in at about 2 tons, heft that is overcome making use of a 560-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-7 Against this discussion of mass, let us introduce the 2015 M6—it’s nevertheless massive and porky, but it receives a light freshening this year, just as its 4-door Gran Coupe and pedestrian 2-door 6-series siblings do.

Actually, light does not even commence to describe the modifications BMW has created to the M6 for 2015. The company changed almost nothing about the car’s design and style. Even though the normal 6-series receives new, reduce front air intakes that are painfully reminiscent of Mercedes-AMG, the M6 keeps its earlier “jetfighter” appear intact, total with an appropriately jet-styled central front air intake and its host of subtle aerodynamic components.

Only the headlights are changed, having switched to common complete-LED illumination and seeing the turn-signal components moved from the bottom to the top of the units. For the cabin, there are a couple of new colors and trim choices, and the infotainment method now delivers a lap timer application as well as GoPro video-camera integration. We’ve sampled BMW’s embedded GoPro camera controls in a new M3 sedan and found the widget nifty, if slightly restricted compared to the comparable GoPro iPhone app.

There are no changes to the M6’s great powertrain. The 560-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 and 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission stay, and the pair delivers exhilarating performance. When once again, a 6-speed manual transmission occupies the option sheet as a no-expense item BMW wouldn’t provide the stick had been it not for the U.S. market place, which demanded it stayed. Perhaps there’s hope left for the original M6’s race-vehicle-for-the-street vision.

Down the road, BMW will likely provide a Competitors Package, as it did beginning with the 2014- model-year M5 and M6. In those automobiles, the kit raised the V-8’s output to 575 horsepower, added a sports exhaust program, and modified the hydraulic power steering for far more directness. Provided how the base M6’s mechanical setup enters 2015 unchanged, do not count on the Competitors Package’s upgrades to deviate from the present tune.

Unfortunately, BMW’s mid cycle update for the M6 does not contain any sort of diet program. Stripping out some weight would go a extended way toward producing the strong coupe and convertible duo more engaging to drive. Of course, automakers tend to stray from important light-weighting measures when performing anything short of redesigning a model entirely, but at least BMW’s updates for the attractive and extremely capable M6 were light.

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2015 BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible: Heavy Cars, Light Refresh

All is Fare in NYC: Nissan NV200 Taxi Gets Green Light

In a surprise reversal, an appeals court judge has ruled that New York City can indeed force all of its taxi drivers to buy Nissan NV200 vans, marking yet yet another stalemate in an 18-month court battle over the city’s “Taxi of Tomorrow.”

In October when Nissan rolled the very first vans to dealers, a judge ruled that the Taxi and Limousine Commission had no authority to establish 1 taxi model after the Greater New York Taxi Association complained the van wasn’t handicapped accessible or a hybrid. Current regulations require all new taxi purchases to be hybrids and for any taxi van to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act—both of which Nissan, which successfully won a $ 1 billion contract with the city in 2011, had not completed with the NV200 taxi.

As we’ve reported, taxi organizations and drivers just do not want to be told to get one automobile, regardless of the car in query. The Commission has approved 47 autos for taxi service (there’s even a few Mercedes and Lexus cabs roaming about) and until Nissan sells a hybrid NV200, taxi drivers can shop from any of the hybrids on that list. Even though an all-electric e-NV200 is now on sale in Japan, that Leaf-based model is still far from any U.S. debut.

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The most current ruling, according to Bloomberg News, is a “legally acceptable response to the agency’s statutory obligation to generate a 21st-century taxicab consistent with the broad interests and perspectives that the agency is charged with guarding.” Nissan, which spent years building the NV200 taxi to the Commission’s specifications and has been loaning unmetered yellow vans to journalists, has stayed out of court and kept quiet on the rulings. Expect one more volley by the Taxi Association.

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All is Fare in NYC: Nissan NV200 Taxi Gets Green Light

Light and commercial vehicle market adopting a cautious ‘wait and see’ attitude to new purchases

Steven Barker, Head of Secured Lending at Standard Bank

While the Reserve Bank remains confident that the economy is unlikely to fall into a recession, the possibility that South Africa could slide into a recession if a second quarter of negative economic activity is recorded, will impact on the sales of light and commercial vehicles alike, says Standard Bank.

The increasing pressure on the automotive sector has been particularly felt in the sales of new vehicles, says Steven Barker, Head of Secured Lending at Standard Bank. This has been apparent in the slowdown of credit growth within households, to its lowest level since November 2012 when it stood at a high of 10.4%. In April this dropped to only 4.6%.

Commercial vehicle sales are also under pressure across all categories. Fleets are getting older as replacement cycles are lengthened, and this has resulted in rapidly increased vehicle maintenance costs. Fierce competition for loads between transport operators is also leading to reduced profit margins, placing further stress on the sector.

When considering that fuel costs have increased considerably and continue to fluctuate, insurance premiums are up, and wear and tear increases as vehicles exceed their replacement cycles, and their values depreciate, the pressures within the commercial sector become obvious.”

“It was therefore no surprise that recent sales figures revealed that during May, domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses continued to decline year on year by 5.1% to 13866 units, although in comparison to April of the same year, we have seen a marginal increase in the number of units sold. Sales of medium commercial vehicles, at 752 units continued to dropped 14.4% year on year whilst new heavy trucks and bus sales increased by 4.3% to 1785 units.

“Vehicle Exports continue to show a sharp decline year on year at 40.5% with a total of 15613 units, some 10000 less units than May 2013. Expectations of increased exports rest heavily on an improved production in the second quarter and an introduction of another vehicle for the export market” Barker says.

With inflation creeping past the 6% ‘comfort level’ set by the Reserve Bank, many potential car and commercial vehicle buyers could also be delaying purchasing decisions, says Mr Barker.

“There was a welcome respite last month when the Reserve Bank decided not to increase the base prime interest rate-despite many predictions to the contrary.”

It can be expected, however, that rates are on their way up. More cautious vehicle buyers will consider this and the impact it could have on mortgages and other financial commitments. On the other hand, many buyers will stay in the market and either ‘buy down’ or look to acquire a pre-owned vehicle in the belief that buying now could pre-empt further increases later in 2014 and early in 2015.”

“A bright spot in an otherwise subdued outlook for the remainder of the year is that exports of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class are expected to begin in July. This could see volumes of exports increasing and a recovery in export sales in the second half of 2014.”

Although various authoritative sources within the industry expect either a decline (Naamsa 3, 5%) in new car sales, there is consensus that the second-hand car market will show significant growth in the personal market.

“The value of sales in this arena will be bolstered by the number of low mileage vehicles that come on the market with portions of service and maintenance contracts intact. This sector will be made more attractive by expected subdued economic growth. Further price increases for new vehicles will be above the inflation rate due to pressure on the rand and interest rates.

“Whilst businesses are under strain, we urge business owners to weigh up the increased costs of servicing older fleets plus the increased down-time on your business versus purchasing new vehicles. When your maintenance costs out way the cost of a new vehicle, then the obvious choice of replacing becomes financially sound”

“Many will regard the purchase of a new vehicle at this stage of the year as a way of staying in the market, and will attempt to stabilise their motoring costs by defining their budgets and holding them at a set level. Mechanisms like balloon payments, no deposits, as well as competition amongst finance houses will undoubtedly assist these decisions.”

“Other buyers will purchase down to stay with their favourite car brand, with the belief that we have weathered recessions before, and that economic downturns are cyclical events. They will rationalise that where there is a downturn there must be an upturn, and that the purchase of a new vehicle should be seen in this light,” says Mr Barker.

Also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

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Light and commercial vehicle market adopting a cautious ‘wait and see’ attitude to new purchases