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Ferrari CEO confirms plans to build new SUV

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO and effectively head honcho of Ferrari, has confirmed that a Ferrari SUV or a FUV if you will, is in the cards. Sergio Macrchionne confirmed to Bloomberg that the Italian automaker will be building such a vehicle but admitted that they won’t be rushing into anything.

Marchionne’s reasoning behind this is, the brand needs to understand the new relationship and ensure that the new vehicle remains exclusive while still remaining attainable. Unlike Porsche with the Cayenne, Ferrari isn’t interested in creating a high volume SUV to improve its bottom line.

Rather, the automaker wants to make an SUV that is blessed with Ferrari credentials, be able to build them in a ‘sufficient enough volume’ yet, making sure that like many vehicles that preceded it, a certain level of exclusivity is maintained for added value.

Regarding rumours of a potential sell off of Jeep to Chinese automotive giant Great Wall, Marchionne refuted the claim stating that such a move was not be in the company’s best interest at the moment. Jeep holds great value to FCA and though it is opened to a tie up with other automakers to improve its product portfolio, it won’t happen overnight.

This comes after rumours surfaced in August that Great Wall Motor had placed a bid to FCA for the aqquistion of its highly coveted SUV brand, Jeep. In recent years, Chinese automakers have been attempting to establish a beachhead in western markets. Like Geely with the acquisition of Volvo and Lotus, Great Wall may be trying to mimic the move with Jeep.

Whatever the case maybe, FCA’s decision to turn down the proposal, will enable Ferrari to employ the expertise of Jeep’s engineers and their wealth of knowledge as the Italian firm goes to work on creating their very own SUV. Much to the dismay of Ferrari purists, the allure of luxury SUVs has proven too strong for the automaker to resist.

In as little as 30 months, we might be able to get a glimpse of the new SUV, which is the timeframe that Marchionne has given before they decide on production details. This, is a case of never say never, which begs the question, when will we see another Lamborghini SUV?

Source: Bloomberg

Peugeot introduce L750 R Hybrid racer for Gran Turismo Sport

Peugeot and Peugeot Sport have joined forces to produce a sleek concept vehicle called the L750 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turismo. This is the follow up racer to the L500 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turismo, which was introduced last year for the Playstation virtual world.

The L750 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turism has been launched alongside the release of the latest PlayStation®4 Gran Turismo Sport video game. It features an angular designed body that tapers toward the rear to form a wedged-like nose.

It’s an extremely low-slung design that looks unlike anything else that the French automaker has ever produced. And though its destined to remain in the virtual PlayStation realm, it would look just as awesome had it been made for real.

Peugeot says that the vehicle benefits from the company’s expertise in performance and ultra-efficient engine designs. Under the hood is a petrol engine that produces nearly 580bhp at 10,000rpm, which is assisted by a 170bhp electric motor.

Belle détermination ! La bataille fait rage. Go, go, go ! 💪🏻 #PeugeotSocialRace pic.twitter.com/NydAwtuua5

— Peugeot (@Peugeot) October 10, 2017

You're catching up very fast! You're having an amazing race! 😮 #PeugeotSocialRace pic.twitter.com/XaxOsrEAKm

— Peugeot (@Peugeot) October 10, 2017

This 750bhp super sleek racer is said to come with a whole host of innovative features. They include dual-circuit hydraulic braking system and four ventilated carbon discs as well as independent front and rear suspensions which vary the ride height according to the car’s speed.

It has a carbon-fibre structure meaning the L750 R weighs a mere 825kg, which is about 175kg lighter than its predecessor. Meant to be an absolute powerhouse, this new vehicle is available to drive in the Playstation 4 exclusive game, Gran Turismo Sport, which should be made available for purchase this month.

Until then, check out the picture gallery below to view the most outrageous cars that will be made available in the upcoming game. Gran Turismo Sport is said to feature some of the most realistic graphics and particle physics of any racing simulation game. The textures and 3d modelling look almost life-like, which is a major selling point for the game’s producers.

Ford Fiesta crowned champion of MPG marathon

At the recent MPG (miles per gallon) Marathon, an annual competition in the UK where fuel sipping cars go head to head to prove, which is most efficient, Ford came out on top. Compared to its rivals, the new Fiesta proved to be the most frugal on the 563km event.

Despite having a turbocharged 125bhp engine, the little Fiesta managed to achieve a fuel consumption figure of 41km/l, which overshadows the previous record that was set at 36km/l. This effectively made the Blue Oval’s contender the champion for the petrol category.

As for the diesel category, another Fiesta was crowned champion, allowing Ford to lay claim to the title of the manufacturer with the most efficient cars on the market. The diesel powered Fiesta set a new recorded too, by achieving 52km/l, which was significantly higher than the previous record of 46.2km/l.

This feat was enough to crown the oil burning Fiesta as the overall champion of the competition. And with that, Ford can expect a surge in demand for cars such as these in the near future.

Though the various Fiestas did tremendously well in their individual categories, their respective drivers played pivotal roles that lead to the clean sweep at the MPG marathon. Ex- works rally team Andy Dawson and Andrew Marriott drove the petrol Fiesta and journalist Paul Clifton with Ian McKean piloted the diesel.

Equipped with six-speed gearboxes, both cars managed to exceed their official fuel consumption figures thanks to conservative use of the accelerator pedal and the cars’ frugal consumption of their respective fuels.

Andy Dawson, Ford lead driver on the MPG Marathon, said, “Maximising fuel economy not only saves money, but smooth driving can also be fun thanks to the new Fiesta’s brilliant steering and suspension. Using less fuel also means reduced emissions, limiting motorists’ environmental impact.”

The new Fiesta has been on sale in the UK market since July of this year and to date, more than 15,000 examples have been sold to customers. According to official sales numbers, the Ford Fiesta has been Britain’s best selling supermini since 2008.

Mitsubishi e-Evolution to feature artificial intelligence

Mitsubishi Motors has released further information regarding its upcoming e-Evolution concept vehicle that will make its debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motorshow. The all-electric crossover SUV will feature a number of innovations that allow it to stand out from other similar offerings.

The sleek and angular Mitsubishi will come with some decent tech that make it a sophisticated performance vehicle. According to the automaker, the e-Evolution will get a triple motor 4WD system with two of those motors being governed by Active Yaw Control (AYC), high torque electric drive and adaptive response characteristics.

This vehicle makes use of electric motors that deliver high level of horsepower and torque that send power to all four wheels via the sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. A single motor drives the front wheels while two others, power the rear wheels.

Power is shifted between them through the electronically controlled torque-vectoring Active Yaw Control (AYC) unit. And the vehicle’s smooth power delivery is made possible by the vehicle’s high capacity battery system that allows for gradual power delivery to the respective motors.

Working in tandem, Mitsubishi says that the vehicle will be able to offer drivers precise and nimble handling as well as the ability to adapt to his/her driving style. Unlike other EVs, the e-Evolution is able to offer improved performance characteristics, although exact figures have yet to be released.

But the e-Evolution’s party piece is its use of artificial intelligence to enhance the capabilities of a driver. The vehicle is fitted with a whole host of sensors that allow the AI system to read changes in road and traffic conditions as well as study and assess the driver’s intent.

It is able to think ahead of the driver, and match his/her intentions with that of the vehicle’s performance, it acts as a safety net, allowing drivers to enjoy the drive without worrying about loosing control.

Adding to that, this particular AI system can also help improve a driver’s expertise by constantly providing suggestions through voice dialogue or by displaying messages on the dashboard. It works by examining a driver’s skill level then constructing a training program that will help him/her sharpen their skills behind the wheel.

This and several similar AI technologies will be showcased by Mitsubishi at the motorshow, which will definitely be to the liking of its legion of fans who have waited patiently for the news.

VW’s new e-Golf is best EV to convince consumers to switch over

Electric cars have been around for quite awhile, its just that before Tesla burst unto the scene, such vehicles were seen as drab and unpractical alternatives to a hybrid. Though that may have been true before, automakers like Nissan and Volkswagen have been steadily improving their EV designs to allow for better usability.

The Volkswagen e-Golf is one such example and unlike the Tesla Model 3, it does very little to convince you that it is in fact a purely electric vehicle. Instead, lest for a few trim pieces, it vastly resembles the regular petrol or diesel powered Mk7 Golf.

VW introduced the e-Golf to the world in 2013 but only put it into production a year later. It featured an unimpressive range of between 130km to 140km on a single charge, though the actual figure varies depending on traffic conditions.

Now however, the German automaker has released the 2017 version of the car, which is based on the facelifted Golf Mk7 platform and features the same bells and whistles that made the Golf the desired choice of family hatchbacks.

Compared to its predecessor, it has a significantly higher range and can travel up to 290km on a single charge. Though slightly heavier than its predecessor, it is able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds, which is a marked improvement over its predecessor’s 10.4 seconds.

Unlike other electric vehicles, the e-Golf doesn’t fool you into thinking that it’s anything other than ordinary. At a single glance, one might mistake it for a regular petrol powered Golf that is available for purchase at any VW authorized dealership.

And that is its main selling point, the car is meant to win over the hearts and minds of the fervent followers of the fossil fuel movement. The people who unequivocally believe that personal mobility should involve using fuel that goes ‘bang!’in the engine.

The uncanny similarities between the regular petrol or diesel Golf to the e-Golf, will take the edge of that ‘scary new’ experience that some might feel when faced with an EV. Inside, the switchgear, dashboard and arrangement of its instruments are fairly similar too, which many have become accustomed to seeing in a regular VW.

Though many will see this as a lazy attempt by Volkswagen to enter the foray against Tesla’s dominance in the EV market, from a consumer’s perspective, its pure genius as described by former Fifth Gear co-host Johnny Smith in a video below.

Check out the amazing video that was published by Youtube Channel, Fully Charged where its presenter, Johnny Smith explains the car’s specifications and quirks that make it the practical electric car for the masses. Take the time to look through the channels’s plethora of videos on electric vehicles and renewable energy in general to learn more about this this.

Mercedes-Benz’s finest to star alongside Justice League superheros

Mercedes-Benz’s cars will be well represented in the soon to be released Warner Bros. movie, Justice League. The highly anticipated release, which is based on DC comics’ comic book characters is slated to hit theaters around the world starting on the 17th of November.

It will feature many beloved characters from the DC universe that include Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash as they race to save the planet from an alien assault of catastrophic proportions.

Three Merc vehicles will enjoy the limelight in the Justice League film and serve as the primary mode of transportation of the movie’s protagonists. The new E-Class Cabriolet will be driven by the character, Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot. The car is featured in a scene where Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman, drives on a mission to speak with Victor Stone, aka Cyborg.

Apart from this, a G-Class 4×4^2 will also make an appearance alongside Diana’s E-Class, but the star of the show will undoubtedly be the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. This futuristic masterpiece oozes class and sophistication like no other vehicle. This is why, fittingly, it will be the vehicle of choice for Bruce Wayne aka Batman.

During the movie, the car can be seen piloted by Bruce Wayne, played by Ben Affleck, when he drops in on Barry Allen, aka The Flash, to recruit him into the League. Revealed to the world in 2013, the AMG Vision Gran Turismo was Mercedes-Benz’s ultimate creation for the PlayStation virtual world.

The car was specially modified for this movie by Merc’s own design team by developing a fully fleshed-out interior with illuminated elements, racing seats and a virtual dashboard section. Compared to the original concept car, the one featured in Justice League was scaled to 110% in order to accommodate seating the film’s rather tall, 6ft. 3 ½ inch tall Ben Affleck.

“With Justice League, we found the perfect partner to highlight our current vehicles as well as communicate the fascination of our brand. The E-Class Cabriolet is a natural fit for Wonder Woman,” says Dr. Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

https://youtu.be/OVCjhR7ltJM

We are therefore very excited to partner with Warner Bros. Pictures on this much-anticipated movie as we reach out to as many people as possible with a creative and innovative campaign,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz will be setting up an impressive marketing campaign to build more interest for the film’s release by introducing a 30-second TV commercial, print, online and OOH advertising. It will also launch six exclusive digital comic stories for Mercedes-Benz’ Instagram channels, developed in cooperation with DC’s Custom Creative Studio.

Check out the image galley below and let us know what you think of these vehicles and whether they truly fit the personality of the characters in the movie.

GM working on hydrogen-powered modular transport vehicle

General Motors is currently working on a new heavy transport vehicle that is able to cope with the toughest obstacles caused by natural disasters, complex logistics environments and global conflicts. Called the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure or SURUS, this vehicle is designed to carry its payload silently to the intended destination.

Adapted for military use, SURUS is built upon a flexible fuel cell electric platform and is endowed with autonomous technology. It uses GM’s newest Hydrotec fuel cell system and truck chassis components. As a result, the truck has a high-performance and zero-emission propulsion system unlike those used by current gen electric trucks.

The objective of building such a vehicle is to minimize the logistical burden in tough situations and reduce human exposure to surrounding dangers. GM believes that such a vehicle offers a wide variety of benefits that include quiet and odor-free operation, off-road mobility, field configuration, instantaneous high torque and quick refueling times.

Since this is a fuel cell vehicle, it generates water as a byproduct, which in some cases,is safely for consumption or used for other purposes. Since it outputs electrical energy, that same power can be used to power nearby electrical equipment, which may come in handy when carrying out rescue operations or top secret military missions.

“SURUS redefines fuel cell electric technology for both highway and off-road environments,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Business. “General Motors is committed to bringing new high-performance, zero-emission systems to solve complex challenges for a variety of customers.”

Unlike a number of other mainstream automakers, General Motors believes that Fuel cell technology represents a key piece of it’s zero emission strategy. This technology can be scaled to benefit large vehicles with equally heavy payload requirements and operate over longer distances than battery powered EVs.

SURUS’s platform features:

Two advanced electric drive units
Four-wheel steering
Lithium-ion battery system
Gen 2 fuel cell system
Hydrogen storage system capable of more than 400 miles of range
Advanced propulsion power electronics
GM truck chassis components
An advanced, industry-leading suspension

SURUS will be able to navigate with decent agility through challenging terrain and be able to coordinate with other such vehicles while in a convoy configuration. This could reduce the manpower that is required to safely execute some military missions. Adding to that, SURUS has a low heat signature and quiet operation that helps reduce detection and other risks when in enemy territory.

General Motors plans to adapt SURUS’s tech for use with utility trucks, mobile and emergency backup power generation, cargo delivery systems, commercial freight transportation, as well as light and medium duty trucks to replace the current Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 that is in service with the US military.

Volvo records global surge in demand for its vehicles

The once ailing Swedish automaker is doing quite well in 2017 by announcing impressive sales figures compared to the same period last year. This September alone, Volvo managed to sell 53,674 cars, which is a 11.2% increase compared to the same month last year.

Until the end of September, the company has managed to sell 413,472 vehicles this year alone,which is a steady 9% climb compared to last year’s figures. Volvo has partly attributed this rise in demand to customers interest in its new 90 series vehicles and its newly launched XC60 SUV.

Speaking for the UK market, Jon Wakefield, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said, “These impressive figures show that we are well on track for another record year of sales for Volvo. They are a result of the desirability of our cars, and of all the hard work from everyone at Volvo Car and the dealer network.”

Volvo’s largest market, China, recorded an exceptionally good 29.8% sales growth this September compared to the same month last year with 11,544 cars sold. In Asia pacific, sales were up 23.7% in September compared to the same period in 2017, which is said to to be the strongest growth for the brand.

The Swedish automaker says that the Chinese assembled XC60, S60L and S90 models contributed quite a bit to the surge in demand in that particular market. This is understandable considering that its latest crop of vehicles are equipped with the company’s latest tech and incredibly beautiful design language.

https://youtu.be/fatNLD6m21E

In the US, Volvo reported that it achieved a 40.7% increase year-on-year sales for the month of September due to strong demand for the XC90, S90 sedan and XC60. For other regions in the Americas as a whole, demand grew by 36.3% for the month of September.

Since Geely’s acquisition of Volvo, the Swedish marque has been able to turn things around. Thanks to an influx of cash from the Chinese automotive giant, it has managed to throw more capital investment into new technology and vehicles that are able to rival offerings from the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

That said, Volvo aren’t done yet, because it has plans of electriying its upcoming models while gradually phasing out its fully fossil fuel-dependent ones by 2019.

Koenigsegg Agera RS beats Bugatti Chiron’s record

The Buggati Chiron, built to be the pinnacle of hypercar performance, has held the 0-400-0 record, since it was announced at the recent Frankfurt Motorshow. The feat is accomplished by accelerating from 0-400km/h and then back to 0km/h in the shortest amount of time -the Chiron has done it faster than any other car in the world.

Until 1st October, the Chiron has held that record with a blistering time of 41.96 seconds. The man behind the wheel was former F1 driver, Juan Pablo Montoya. Powering the monster is an 8-litre W16 quad-turbo engine that produces 1,479bhp and an incredible 1,600Nm of torque.

As powerful as that may sound, it wasn’t enough to keep Koenigsegg’s monster at bay. The Agera RS bested the Chiron’s time by achieving the 0-400-0 feat in a mere 36.44 seconds, about 5 seconds faster than the Bugatti.

The Car was driven by Niklas Lilija and the recorded run was completed on an airfield runway in Vandel, Denmark. That said, Koenigsegg fans’ celebrations may appear to be short lived as the incredible run was discredited, and won’t qualify as an official record.

The reason for this is, the Koenigsegg Agera RS that was used to accomplish the run wasn’t a road legal production car but was a modified vehicle and as such, may not be allowed to be on public roads. The Bugatti on the other hand, is completely road legal and if one had deep enough pockets, he/she would be able to walk into a Bugatti dealership and purchase an it.

That said, this does not negate the fact that the Agera RS is a much faster car than the Chiron. And it won’t be long before Koenigsegg find a way to make the Chiron-killer, legitimately road-legal. Till then, enjoy the picture galley we have put together.

Police approved Ford Interceptors are ready for duty

Two of Ford’s latest law enforcement vehicles, the 2019 Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and the 2018 Ford F-150 Police Responder have completed their testing phase. Michigan State Police confirmed that Ford is first to offer law enforcement agencies a pursuit-rated hybrid police car and full-size pickup truck.

Due to the high level of crime these days, Police forces have to be equipped with vehicles that can take on any kind of situation. From local patrolling to on-road pursuit to off-road capability, law enforcement agencies in the US have said they need a wide variety of pursuit-rated vehicles.

Pursuit ratings are determined by individual manufacturers who equip thier vehicles to comply with relevant criteria. They then hand them over to a third party to validate the claims. As for the two police vehicles from Ford, they we put through some ‘strenuous’ exercises to ensure that they will hold up to the demands of Michigan’s finest.

Each of them was subjected to a grueling 32-lap pursuit simulation at Grattan Raceway. These simulated tests are designed to assess each vehicle’s overall durability, including powertrain, suspension, brake and tyre systems.

https://youtu.be/3YUPzVgQy40

“Our new Fusion-based Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is quicker than our legendary V8-powered Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, while offering fuel efficiency that’s estimated to be double that,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager.

“Plus, our new F-150 Police Responder offers police customers both on-road pursuit and off-road capability,” he added.

Based on the latest results, the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is significantly faster than its predecessor, the Crown Victoria and bests at at fuel consumption figures too. Like the F-150 Responder, the sedan makes use of a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine that allows it accelerate to 100km/h in under 6 seconds.

This same powerplant is used to power all three pursuit vehicles from Ford, which include the standard Police interceptor sedan. It also holds the record for the fastest overall lap around the course and also for having the faster average lap.

Law enforcement agencies have an entire fleet of vehicles at their disposal, naturally once they decide to upgrade, they want replacement vehicles that are faster, more efficient and are friendlier to the environment. This is why many are turning to hybrid technology in the hopes that it will offer the best of both worlds.