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BMW i3 Urban Suite previews the mobility experience of the future

For the past 7 years, the BMW i3 has played the role of an ‘ambassador’ for pure electric driving pleasure, sustainability and intelligent connectivity in urban areas. These qualities have helped to make it the world’s best-selling electric car in the premium compact segment. Soon, at the coming CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas, the BMW Group will show a mobility experience tailored entirely to the passenger’s individual needs – the BMW i3 Urban Suite.

Transformed i3 interior
To achieve this, a standard BMW i3 underwent a complete transformation (with only the driver’s seat and dashboard left untouched) so that its interior now has the relaxed feel of a boutique hotel. The aim was to create an inviting space with a high feel-good factor in which to spend time – the perfect place for relaxing, enjoying in-car entertainment or focusing on work in a laid-back setting.

The changes made include, among other things, the installation of a large, comfortable seat with footrest, a screen that flips down from the headliner, and a personal Sound Zone.

Sustainable mobility
The i3 Urban Suite also represents a logical step forward in the BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility. The car is underpinned by a holistic approach to making responsible use of resources, encompassing the powertrain with zero local emissions, the careful selection of materials and the production processes involved.

Fabrics containing recycled materials therefore come together with certified wood and olive-tanned leather, while the floormats are made from recyclable materials that can be fed back into the materials cycle, as per circular economy principles.

In preparation for the CES, a fleet of standard i3 EVs were converted into Urban Suites in Munich and then shipped to Las Vegas where they can also be seen moving around the streets of the city that regards itself as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’. Indeed, anyone wishing to be chauffeur-driven to their desired destination can use a special app to hail one of the i3 Urban Suites.

The car will offer its passenger a first-hand experience of the BMW Group’s innovative and sustainable mobility concept, while clearly demonstrating that luxury travel in the future will have nothing to do with vehicle size.

The i3 is part of the BMW i family which is a comprehensive concept for sustainable mobility. The i3 with eDrive is designed especially for cities with restrictions for certain vehicles. The i3s impresses with its brisk acceleration, from low speed or even from standstill – and with a high-voltage lithium-ion battery with an everyday range claimed to be up to 260 kms. Currently, the i3s being sold in Malaysia is priced at RM278,800 (excluding insurance).

Lamborghini Huracan RWD used as ‘Follow-Me’ car at Italian airport… what a waste!

It seems like such a waste for a Lamborghini to be assigned to do duty as a ‘Follow-Me’ car at an airport. Such vehicles usually have to travel at a low speed and guide aircraft to their parking bays or to taxi to the runway for take-off. Needless to say, the aircraft travel slowly so the car also has to do likewise and not be too far ahead.

Apparently, Automobili Lamborghini has had an arrangement with Guglielmo Marconi Airport, an international airport located in Bologna which is adjacent to Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini’s home in Italy.

This is the sixth collaboration between the airport and the carmaker and this time, Lamborghini has supplied a Huracan RWD for the job. The supercar has a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 engine which develops 580 ps to give it the ability to reach a top speed over 300 km/h. But that capability is wasted since the aircraft typically taxi at no more than 35 km/h…

Obviously, it’s a promotional thing for Lamborghini and the car sports a very special livery designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile. The orange body features graphics depicting the typical machines maneuvering in the airport areas, and the exterior is enhanced by the Italian flag on both doors, roof, front and rear intakes.

Like the other considerably less powerful Follow-Me vehicles at airports, the Huracan RWD has an orange light-bar on the roof and distinctive stickers that say “Follow me”. The car is also fitted with communications gear to stay in touch with the control tower and get instructions.

Click here for other news and articles about Lamborghini at PISTON.MY.

Ford Transit Smart Energy Concept extends EV range with innovative approaches, including ambient lighting

Ford Motor Company has revealed the new Transit Smart Energy Concept – a one-of-a-kind 10-seater minibus which is helping the automaker explore solutions for maximising the energy efficiency and driving range of electrified vehicles. However, the distance that drivers can travel on a single charge of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) continues to be greatly impacted by the use of cabin heating features.

Research has showed that using the climate control system in a BEV can reduce the driving range by up to 50% in cold weather. Perhaps the same also applies in hot weather though there would be different issues creating the same drawback.

Challenges to energy usage
Compared to goods transport vehicles, multi-occupant vehicles such as minibuses require significantly more energy to create a comfortable temperature for occupants. The energy is provided by the high-voltage battery, presenting a significant challenge to the vehicle’s driving range. In vehicles with combustion engines, an engine-drive compressor is used as a separate pump for coolant.

Demonstrated recently, the fully-functioning, all-electric Transit Smart Energy Concept delivers 150 kms driving range from a 4-hour charge, supported by energy-saving and energy-generating innovations from solar panels to powertrain heat recovery systems.

“With frequent door openings, a large space to keep at comfortable temperatures, and a big payload to carry, a minibus presents the toughest challenge for maximising battery-electric vehicle range, and that’s exactly why we chose it for our new Transit Smart Energy Concept,” said Kilian Vas, Project Leader, Vehicle Architecture, Ford of Europe. “By developing this concept we’ve found a number of clever ways to save energy which could help further improve the electrified vehicle experience for customers in the future.”

Innovations that enhance energy efficiency
The Transit Smart Energy Concept uses the same drivetrain technology as the StreetScooter WORK XL commercial vehicle, and a Transit chassis fitted with a battery-electric drivetrain for zero-emissions driving. Innovations which enhance energy efficiency and driving range being tested for the first time include:

♦ An innovative heat pump system which utilises waste heat from the drivetrain components, the outside air, and the air within the cabin to reduce heating system energy usage by up to 65%, resulting in a range extension of 20%.;

♦ A power sliding door which opens halfway to reduce heat loss and can be activated by the passenger using a smart device. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning blower is automatically deactivated when the door is open;

♦ Heated business-class passenger seats and surfaces which enable passengers to control their local temperature, reducing the energy required for the large cabin;

♦ 6 roof-mounted solar panels which charge a 12V battery for powering seat heating, cabin lighting, and on-board electrical systems, including wireless charging for passenger mobile devices;

♦ A polycarbonate divider between the passenger door and seating area, which further reduces heat loss as passengers enter and exit, and protects passengers from external elements;

♦ Ventilated double-glazed windows which reduce cold contact surfaces, and insulate against heat loss; and

♦ An insulated rear floor and roof which further reduce cabin heat loss.

Colours can also help to go further!
Mood lighting which adjusts according to cabin temperature – red for warmth and blue for cooling – subliminally influencing passengers’ perception of cabin temperature. Experts claim colour choices can influence our mood, our responses… even how many likes we get on social media! Now Ford is exploring how matching the right colour to different driving situations could extend electric vehicle range.

The ambient lighting makes passengers feel warmer (with red lights) or cooler (with blue lights). This helps take the strain from the climate control system so that energy saved can instead be used to cover more kilometres.

In a trial simulating a winter’s day of 0° C and a summer’s day of 30° C, passengers were subjected to rate their level of comfort based on feeling too hot or too cold. In both cases, the ambient lighting resulted in reducing the power usage of the climate system: by 3.3% for cooling and 2.5% for heating.

“Our exposure to colour can change our mood in all sorts of ways. Here it is simply a case of using red ambient lighting inside the car to make people feel warmer and blue ambient lighting to make people feel cooler. Reducing the burden on the aircon could make a significant difference to extending vehicle range,” explained Lioba Muller, Lighting Team Engineer, Vehicle Architecture at Ford of Europe.

Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more about Ford models available in Malaysia.

A 20-year journey to ‘hands-off’ motoring

Having to continuously hold the steering wheel while driving can be tiring but it should be done for safety reasons. On long journeys, many drivers may wish that they could just take their hands off the steering wheel, just like cruise control where you set the desired speed and don’t have to keep pressing on the accelerator pedal. It helps to reduce fatigue and makes motoring more enjoyable.

Cruise control is now available in many cars but ‘hands-off driving‘ is still rare as carmakers are still developing the systems to ensure safety. However, Nissan’s new ProPILOT 2.0 system already offers it in the latest Skyline which is now on sale in Japan. The award-winning advanced driver assistance system – a unique ‘wow’ factor for the model – lets drivers take their hands off the wheel under certain conditions in a single lane on certain highways in Japan. It also assists the driver with traveling on a multi-lane highway until reaching a predetermined exit, able to handle overtaking and lane changes.

For the team that developed the ProPILOT 2.0 system, creating a ‘wow’ factor wasn’t the goal. “Our team started the development of ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) technology 20 years ago,” explained Tetsuya Iijima, General Manager of Autonomous Driving and ADAS at Nissan, whose team developed ProPILOT 2.0. “And in the first 10 years, we were mostly focusing on the driver assistance technology to help avoid accidents.“

20 years of innovations in safety
In 1999, Nissan introduced adaptive cruise control, which helps prevent rear-end collisions [with the vehicle ahead] by reducing the car’s speed when it approaches a vehicle in front. In 2004, Nissan was the first carmaker to introduce a lane departure warning system. This evolved into a lane departure prevention system that physically helps the driver manoeuvre their car back into its lane. Neither was intended to ‘wow’ customers – they were simply meant to help avoid collisions due to driver inattention or in emergency situations.

Iijima’s team went further, pursuing driver safety and peace of mind in non-emergency situations as well. “We shifted to more integrated driver assistance systems,” he recalled. “Such systems assist in multiple tasks leading to a safe and comfortable overall driving experience.”

Nissan ProPilot — *Display when the car’s computer is doing the driving.*

The first-generation ProPILOT was launched in 2016 and was an outcome of this effort. Currently available in certain models in selected markets, it assists with steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane. The technology works in tandem with the driver, providing peace of mind and helping reduce fatigue behind the wheel.

“We drew a realistic roadmap to deliver more sophisticated and trustworthy technologies step by step,” Iijima explained. “That’s the reason we came to this point faster than anyone else.”

Field tests and feedback accelerate introduction
Getting advanced safety technologies to customers early and receiving their feedback helped Nissan in its continued pursuit of driver safety and comfort. Iijima’s team also carried out field tests in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo starting in 2013. “These experiences gave us rich information that helped us expand the technology’s capabilities,” he said.

The introduction of ProPILOT 2.0 marked another major milestone for these efforts. It uses 5 cameras including one trifocal camera, 5 radars, and 12 sonars for a 360-degree, real-time picture of the vehicle’s surroundings. The system combines this with high-definition 3D map data that covers the number of lanes, merging and split points and intersections to provide a smooth driving experience. Going beyond the original ProPILOT, the second-generation system also supports lane changes and hands-free driving under certain conditions.

“After 20 years, we’ve come to a certain point where the driver can trust the system and allow it to support major parts of driving on the highway,” Iijima said. “ProPILOT 2.0 integrates a whole suite of new technologies that required support from other suppliers – like a high-definition map provider and a sensing technology provider. So, this is really a collaboration.”

“Our team always gets a bit overwhelmed when starting to work on entirely new technology,” Iijima revealed. “However, when we complete development and see it benefiting customers, we gain new confidence and energy to go to the next step.”

Nissan Intelligent Mobility System
The Nissan Intelligent Mobility System available in some models sold in Malaysia such as the Serena, X-Trail and LEAF EV is also the outcome of constantly evolving safety technology at Nissan. The intelligent technologies available include an Intelligent Around View Monitor which has 360-degree coverage that also has sensors to detect moving objects around the vehicle.

There’s also an Intelligent Forward Collision Warning system with emergency braking which immediately activates if there is a likelihood of hitting the vehicle ahead. If the system finds that the driver has not reacted in time, then it will immediately apply the brakes. Even if a collision occurs, its severity can be reduced as the braking lowered the speed earlier. The Intelligent Driver Alertness system detects when the driver is drowsy and suggests taking a break.

Visit www.nissan.com.my to locate a showroom where you can experience these advanced Nissan technologies.

Tata Motors unveils Nexon EV with ZIPTRON Technology, on sale in early 2020

Tata Motors has started taking bookings for its new Nexon EV, billed as ‘India’s Own Electric SUV’, which will be in showrooms in early 2020. It joins the growing EV market in India with offering such as the MG ZS, Hyundai Kona EV, and Mahindra e20.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD of Tata Motors said: “After introducing our cutting-edge EV technology, ZIPTRON, we are thrilled to unveil the first EV featuring this technology – the Nexon EV. This is a high-performance, connected vehicle that is uniquely suited to address the aspirations of Indian customers and break all barriers for EV adoption. We are confident that this development will mark an important milestone in India’s electrification journey, and further reinforce our commitment towards developing sustainable and responsible mobility solutions for India.”

Tata Motors’ ZIPTRON technology incorporates a powerful and high-efficiency 129-ps/245 Nm permanent-magnet AC motor powered by a high capacity 30.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It promises to give brisk performance with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h claimed to be 9.9 seconds and a range of over 300 kms on a full charge.

Besides constant recharging with Regenerative Braking that charges the battery pack while coasting through, when plugged into a Fast DC Charger, the Nexon EV can reach 80% battery capacity within 60 minutes. In addition, charging can be done from any 15-amp plug point.

The EV comes with a best-in-industry dust and waterproof battery pack which meets IP67 standards. This high-density battery pack is liquid-cooled to handle India’s high temperature conditions. The battery pack is placed underneath the vehicle body, giving the SUV a centre of gravity more akin to that of a sedan or a hatchback, ensuring maximum stability and excellent dynamic performance on winding roads.

The 3994 mm long Nexon EV retains all its learnings from the Nexon Global NCAP rating and comes with class-leading safety features. It has been rigorously tested for 1 million kms over the toughest terrain in India, covering high altitudes, unpaved roads, steep gradients and under extreme weather conditions. Tata Motors is confident of its durability that it offers a warranty of 8 years or maximum of 160,000 kms on the battery pack and electric motor.

Last Porsche 911 of the 991 generation has left the factory

Without a doubt, Porsche’s 991 series has been the most comprehensively developed generation of the 911 to date – and the most successful too, with 233,540 units produced. And its production recently came to an end with the final unit – a 911 Speedster – prepared for the US market.

“The 911 – the core of the brand – replaced the 356 in 1963 and, in the decades that followed, our rear engine model grew into an unrivalled sportscar icon. The 991 generation in particular has set new standards in terms of performance, drivability and efficiency. It fills me with pride, as well as a touch of sadness, to have to send it off into retirement. For myself, I can say that the 991 has given me enormous pleasure,” said Michael Steiner, Chief Research & Development Officer at Porsche AG.

Review of the 991 series
The 991 generation was launched in 2011 as one of the biggest development steps in the history of the model line. Nearly 90% of all components were newly designed or had undergone substantial further development.

Thanks to a lightweight body made of an innovative aluminium-steel composite, it was the first time that a new 911 had weighed less than its predecessor. The chassis, which benefited from a 100 mm longer wheelbase than the model that it replaced, could be equipped with a new, optional roll stabilization system. This was the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and it set the benchmark in terms of driving dynamics.

The Cabriolet followed at the beginning of 2012 with another innovation. When closed, the lightweight magnesium bows made it possible to achieve a coupe-like curve of the roof that had never been seen before, and with a silhouette that was retained even at high speeds.

The new 911 Targa, which came out at the end of 2012, was equally spectacular. Like the legendary original Targa, the new model had the characteristic hoop running the width of the vehicle. At the push of a button, however, the top section of the roof could be moved automatically and stored in the rear of the vehicle.

The host of innovations continued in the 911 Turbo, which saw the first active aerodynamics and particulate filter-equipped turbo engines on any 911 Carrera model.

The 991 generation also proved the ideal basis for special models and radical sports cars. Porsche celebrated the 50th anniversary of its cult sportscar in 2013 with an exclusively equipped limited edition model, of which only 1,963 examples were built.

In 2016, the 500-bhp naturally-aspirated 911 R evoked memories of the road-approved 1967 racing sportscar that had the same badge. Two other purist sportscars with classic predecessors made their debut in 2017: the sporty 911 Carrera T and the 911 GT3 high-performance variant with Touring Package offer.

One-millionth 911
The one millionth 911 was also built during the 991 generation. As with Ferry Porsche’s first company 911, the not-for-sale commemorative model was painted in Irish Green and boasted leather and Pepita seats. In the same year, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur presented the 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series with 607 bhp and spectacular Golden Yellow Metallic paintwork.

Other notable facts: The fastest and most powerful 911 racing technology ever seen in a production road-going 911 appeared in 2017 in the form of the 700-bhp 911 GT2 RS. Its naturally-aspirated sibling followed a few months later. The 911 GT3 RS had a racing chassis and a 520-bhp 4-litre naturally-aspirated engine, perfectly combining road and racetrack.

Right on time to mark the 70th anniversary of Porsche sportscars, the 911 Speedster embodied the original virtues of Porsche: lightweight construction, efficiency, purity and driving pleasure. It delivered 502 bhp from the 4-litre naturally-aspirated engine, had a manual 6-speed transmission and a high-performance sports chassis.

The two-seater was not just the last derivative of the 991 generation but has now also become the last model of the series to be manufactured. Like its ancestor and archetype, the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 Roadster, it will become an ambassador of the brand.

Piston.my

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