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Lincoln introduce smart HUD for Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator has been given some pretty interesting tech that will help curb distracted driving as well as make vehicular information more presentable. It has been fitted with advanced head-up-display (HUD) technology that is fully customisable. This is the same digital light processing that is used in movie theaters.

Ford says that the display remains clearly visible on the windshield despite being hit with direct sun light or, when viewed through polarized sunglasses. The system consists of a tiny chip that contains 400,000 sturdy mirrors, each with a pixel refresh rate of up to 5,000 hertz operating in synchronized movement to control the system’s optics.

The picture is then projected in full colour, upwards, providing an illusion that it’s float just above the vehicle’s hood. The emphasis, of a system such as this is, reducing screen clutter and focusing on the timing and size of the information. The chosen info is projected as and when needed. And as its importance increases, its displayed more prominently.

“A typical head-up display duplicates information displayed on the cluster,” said Anthony King, development lead on Lincoln’s all-new head-up display. “But this display makes for a unique and easy-to-use experience for our clients.”

He later added, “This eminently visible head-up display and the instrument cluster serve to complement each other to ensure Lincoln clients look forward to every time behind the wheel.”

Current speed and stipulated speed limits remain visible at all times, but other information, change when the driver receive a call or when a navigation prompt is needed. Due to its relative importance, this information is displayed clearly and brightly with greater prominence.

HUD technology isn’t new, several upmarket cars have utilized it for years to keep drivers’ eyes on the road at all times. But Lincoln’s approach, is just a little bit smarter, its system does the thinking for the driver, negating the need for him/her to faff about with the display settings.

Alfa Romeo Giulia picks up two awards

Alfa Romeo has won a couple of accolades at this year’s Car of the Year Awards organised by Evo Magazine UK. Two different variants of the Giulia took home these awards, which is no easy feat. The Quadrifoglio was crowned Supersaloon of the Year whole the Veloce was named Sports Saloon of the Year.

Alfa’s Quadrifoglio features the same elegant contours as the standard Giulia but is powered by a potent turbocharged V6 engine that produces 510bp and 600Nm of torque. The car can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 275km/h. It is the most powerful and expensive Giulia in the range, making it the complete package.

Sitting directly below it is the Veloce, which may not have the same brute power as the Quadrifoglio but compensates for that, with finesse and 50:50 weight distribution. Under its hood is a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.

Andrew Tracey, Sales and Marketing Director for Alfa Romeo, said, “To have two models in the Alfa Romeo Giulia range recognized in evo’s Car of the Year 2017 is a huge achievement for Alfa Romeo and is testimony to the passion and dedication that went into building a beautiful sports saloon with outstanding performance and sector-first technology.”

Alfa Romeo has been at the top of its game these past few years, by consistently churning absolute stunners. Unlike the old days, its latest crop of cars have been able to complement their svelte looks with the power and handling that are worthy of the name. And with Alfa joining F1 next year, things should heat up in the industry, even more.

British engines are wanted all over the world

This has been a good year for the British engine manufacturing business. Despite the economic turmoil caused by the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, this sector hasn’t been affected. In fact, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) states that the UK has seen substantial investments in this area for 2017.

In November alone, 279,532 engines were produced compared to just 250,879 during the same period last year. Year-to-date (YTD) figures tell a similar story with 2,544,575 engines built this year compared to 2,387,044 in 2016. About 54.6% of all engines that were made in 2017, were meant for export markets.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “2017 has been a very robust year for UK engine manufacturing, with huge investments into new facilities and engine models delivering impressive dividends both at home and overseas.”

This is good news for the region considering that Brexit hasn’t been easy for either side, threatening to wreak havoc for several industries that rely on mutual partnerships. Many consider the UK as the technology capital of the world. Most Formula 1 teams operate from within the UK due to the unrivaled wealth of knowledge and expertise available.

Once the separation is complete however, things may not look as rosy. There is a high probability that it could cause a ripple effect that will affect other parts of the globe. The magnitude of this problem will depend on how well, British PM, Theresa May and her government are able to navigate the country past the messy divorce.

New Acura RDX prototype to be revealed

Acura, Honda’s North American luxury sub-brand will be unveiling the new 2019 RDX prototype at the upcoming 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The vehicle incorporates key design elements from the Acura Precision Concept and Acura Precision Cockpit.

Unlike its predecessor, the new RDX is designed and developed in the USA using the new Acura-exclusive platform. It’s angular contours, wide haunches and commanding presence make for an extremely appealing crossover SUV. The menacing front fascia and large LED headlamps are a welcomed edition to the 2019 model year.

This third-generation RDX gets an all-new interior design, user interface and operating system built and designed from scratch. Though the exact details have yet to be revealed, we are guessing that it should feature the automaker’s suite of cutting edge tech featured in the rest of its premium vehicles.

Acura’s RDX is one of the best selling vehicles in the premium-entry SUV segment for the US market. This particular segment has been steadily growing with each passing year, and is on a path to unseat the dominance and desirability of premium sedans.

Mitsubishi partner Fast & Furious Live global tour

Fans of The Fast & Furious movie franchise who aren’t happy waiting a couple of years for the release of the next installment, will be happy to know that the F&F Live show exists. During this live event, a number of supped up performance cars will be driven around the arena in a manner that closely resemble maneuvers depicted in the movies.

Mitsubishi UK has decided to partner the live show by providing several stunt and support vehicles. Cars that will perform these stunts include a Lancer Evolution that is part of a unique interactive segment of Fast & Furious Live. A fleet of Mitsubishi L200/Triton pickup trucks will be tasked with assisting the show’s production team.

“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Mitsubishi’s turbocharged presence to our live-arena production,” said James Cooke-Priest, CEO, Fast Live Productions. “The audience will expect to see this famously fast Japanese brand mixing it up in the live action, and we’re very excited at the support Mitsubishi is providing the show.”

The Japanese automaker has had a long and illustrious relationship with the movie franchise since the The Fast and The Furious first hit the silver screen. Brian O’ Conner’s (Paul Walker) Green Mitsubishi Eclipse, Yellow Mitsubishi Evolution VII and Roman Pierce’s (Tyrese) Purple Eclipse Spider, are sometimes revered more than the show’s stars.

And with Fast & Furious Live, Fast Live Productions, the maker of the show plans on rekindling some of the action packed and adrenaline pumping scenes of F&F. It aims to recreate stunts depicted in the movies with cars and locations that criss-cross the various installments. Key scenes will be recreated via state-of-the-art 3D projection mapping.

The show’s producers say that the experience will transport fans straight into an immersive extension of the Fast & Furious movies. Fast & Furious Live’s global tour will kick off in the UK in January of 2018. If you would like to know more about it, CLICK HERE.

Bugatti sells 75 Chirons this year

This year has rewarded Bugatti with a decent level of properity. It’s highly-acclaimed hypercar, the Chiron has been well received by fans and customers alike. So much so, that the automaker has managed to fulfill it’s quota of selling 70 vehicles this year. This brings the total vehicles made to about 300 from a maximum of 500 Chiron cars that will ever be built.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. said, “It is a tremendous success for the entire Bugatti team that we have already reached the target of 70 vehicles in the first full year of production of the Chiron. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our suppliers for their commitment and delivery compliance.”

So far, 43% of sales of the Chiron have come from various parts of Europe, 26% have come North America, 23% from the Middle East and 8% from the Asia-Pacific region. Production of the mind-bending Chiron started in 2016 with first customer deliveries beginning sometime in March of this year.

Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, Alsace serves as the car’s production area. And the process of building a single vehicle, takes tremendous amount of time and a number of skilled technicians working together. The vehicle is powered by an 8.0-litre W16 engine that produces 1,479bhp. Until recently, it’s performance was unrivaled, but that changed once Koenigsegg wanted a piece of the action.

Genesis recognized for its designs

The Genesis GV80 Concept SUV and G80 Sport mid-luxury sedan both picked up accolades at the 2017 GOOD DESIGN® awards. Organised by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, this recognition lends credence to the notion that the automaker is fully able to produce some spectacular looking vehicles.

Genesis joins other transportation, electronic, consumer and lifestyle product brands at this year’s award ceremony. The GV80 Concept is the automaker’s interpretation of a luxury yet versatile SUV. It combines suave looks with cutting edge technology and performance. The G80 however is an improvement over its predecessor both in terms of power and styling.

“We believe in the power of design to seduce and inspire the human spirit,” said Erwin Raphael, General Manager of Genesis Motor America. “We’re pleased that GOOD DESIGN® is a mainstay recognition going well into its seventh decade and couldn’t be happier to accept their acknowledgement of our dedication to design.”

The GOOD DESIGN® awards is the oldest of its kind, founded in 1950 by designers, Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and by architecture historian and philanthropist, Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. Each year, a panel of experts get together in San Francisco and New York to review award-worthy products from 46 different countries then decides the winners.

New Infiniti could signal directional shift

Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury sub-brand has released a teaser image of a new sleek concept car. It will officially be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, January 2018. The automaker says that the car will take the look of a traditional sedan to the next stage of evolution.

Based on first impressions, the car should have angular contours that builds upon Infiniti’s sporty design language. Blessed with fluidic contours that seem to be concentrated toward the front fascia, the new car is poised to be a show stopper.. Sporting a muscular stance, this Infiniti will herald in a new era for the brand.

Though details surrounding performance are a bit sketchy at the moment, Infiniti did say that it that will have smarter, more compact and less intrusive powertrains. This could lead many to suspect that the new car will have some sort of hybrid powertrain.

Whatever the case maybe, we will know for sure next month when the car graces the auto show in Detroit alongside its retro-modern cousin, Prototype 9, another special creation. If Infiniti keeps this momentum going, it could be on its way to win several awards in 2019.

New Honda Insight is marked improvement over predecessor

Honda is gearing up for the unveil of its all new Insight at the upcoming North American International Auto Show that will take place in January. The unveil will be of a prototype vehicle that will serve as a precursor to the actual production version, slated for launch later next year.

Unlike its predecessor, the new Insight will feature a sedan body-style and be positioned above the Civic as a refined family car. Sporting a similar silhouette to the current generation Civic, the 2019 Insight inherits the rather handsome and front grille of the Accord but with sleeker contours.

As for the rear, the automaker has chosen a less cluttered approach to the design, fitting angular LED taillights that slightly resemble those from a certain German manufacturer. That said, the entire design, is a step in the right direction. Where the second generation Insight resembled a MPV, the new one forgoes that look for a more business-like one.

“With its sophisticated styling, dynamic stance, ample interior space and best-in-class performance, the all-new Insight embodies Honda’s approach to creating electrified vehicles without the typical tradeoffs,” said, Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of Automobile Sales and general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“You won’t have to be an electrification advocate to appreciate the new Insight – it’s a great car in its own right, independent of what’s happening under the hood,” he later added.

Honda says that the new Insight will come with premium features and the performance that will win over the favour of many. Its two-motor hybrid powertrain will be able to provide all the benefits of a hybrid but none of the compromises.

Cars bound for the North American market will be built at Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside Civic and CR-V. This latest addition to the family is part of the Japanese automaker’s plan, that by 2030, two-thirds of its products will consist of only electrified vehicles.

Red Edition Focus RS to be launched soon

Ford has decided to introduce a limited edition Focus RS just in time for the holidays. Called the RS Red Edition, with just 300 examples salted for production, will feature a Race Red exterior, grey brake calipers, black cast alloy wheels as well as contrasting black roof, door mirrors and rear spoiler.

Like the special edition RS, this one also gets a front mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential (LSD). This clever tech provides the car with better traction to the wheel that needs it most. As such, during hard cornering, the Focus RS will be able to deliver impressive levels of grip and stability.

“The Focus RS Edition represents accessible performance at its finest”, said Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain. “As RS production nears its end, we wanted to celebrate with a limited run of cars for those who want to stand out as an RS fan.”

The car is available to order now at Ford dealerships but its production will only begin in February of 2018. As such, this jolly red Focus RS won’t be rolling out in time for this Christmas but we are sure many enthusiasts wouldn’t mind the wait.

In general, the latest Focus RS is a technological masterpiece, it crams sports car-like performance into a compact package. Powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, all-wheel-drive and a Limited Slip Differential, it’s a hot hatch that can give certain supercars a run for their money.

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English

Lincoln introduce smart HUD for Navigator

Alfa Romeo Giulia picks up two awards

British engines are wanted all over the world

New Acura RDX prototype to be revealed

Mitsubishi partner Fast & Furious Live global tour

Bugatti sells 75 Chirons this year

Genesis recognized for its designs

New Infiniti could signal directional shift

New Honda Insight is marked improvement over predecessor

Red Edition Focus RS to be launched soon

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