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Keyless entry systems aren’t as safe as you might think

The ‘In’ thing these days in terms of vehicle features has to be keyless entry. This is a term used to describe the ability to get into a vehicle without the need for a key or its remote unlocking capability. Instead, a signal is transmitted from the remote key to the car’s locking system when it is in close proximity, which prompts it to unblock the doors the moment you tug on the door handle.

Though this tech makes it convenient and easier to get into a car, there is a caveat. In the presence of an experienced and tech savvy car thief, it can be manipulated to allow access to just about anybody. A news report was published by the BBC, in which CCTV footage showed that a couple of car thieves were able to unlock a white car without the need for its key.

The ‘transmitter relay’ attack seen in the footage exploits a vulnerability in a vehicle’s keyless entry system. These criminals were able to capture the signal from the remote key inside the house, replicate then relay it to the vehicle. As mentioned earlier, keyless remote fobs differ greatly from a regular remote fob, in that, it is constantly transmitting a signal to its intended car.

Richard Billyeald, chief technical officer at Thatcham Research comments, “Keyless entry systems on cars offer convenience to drivers, but can in some situations be exploited by criminals. Concerned drivers should contact their dealer for information and guidance, and follow our simple security steps.”

Bear in mind that the technology isn’t as easy to crack as the movies may have you believe. That said, Thatcham Research recommends that you do the following to make your keyless experience a little less worrisome.

Contact your dealer and talk about the digital features in your car. Have there been any software updates you can take advantage of?
Check if your keyless entry fob can be turned off. If it can, and your dealer can also confirm this, then do so overnight.
Store your keys away from household entry points. Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to gain proximity to the key to amplify the signal.
Be vigilant. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your neighbourhood – and report anything unusual to the Police.
Review your car security. Check for aftermarket security devices such as mechanical locks and trackers, which are proven to deter thieves.

Regardless of how secure a security system claims to be, there is still the odd chance that someone somewhere, has managed to exploit a vulnerability that can compromise its usefulness. It’s an extremely unlikely scenario, but it pays to be vigilant and exercise caution when accessing your vehicle.

Spyker C8 Spyder is a pleasantly bizarre car

Doug DeMuro, an avid car journalist and Youtuber, has a penchant for reviewing some of the most interesting vehicles in existence, and this time is no different. Spyker, is a Dutch car maker that specializes in building elegantly bizarre vehicles that stirs the imagination. And the Spyker C8 Spyder is that kind of car.

Everything from the four spoke steering wheel to the needlessly complicated metal-bar styled gear shifter, screams attention. It seems as though the automaker commissioned a 9-year-old to cherry pick the design elements, then made the engineers work against their will to make the vehicle a reality.

Its a sports car in every sense of the word and one that is as exotic as they come. It is powered by an Audi sourced 4.2-litre V8 engine that produces close to 400bhp. The car of its namesake but with a T in its nomenclature, features a turbocharged version of this engine that produces 525bhp. Then, the C8 Double 12S, based on the racing car,it produces a mental 620bhp.

The C8 weighs a mere 1250kg and is capable of exceptional performance. And at 4185mm long and 1880mm wide, it isn’t exactly as large as the competition in its group. Spyker has taken it racing in competitions like the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours Le Mans, FIA GT and GT2 as well as a number of others.

If you don’t have the means to own the car in real life, perhaps enjoying it in the virtual world will offer some consolation. Several iterations of the C8 have been made available in a number of games that include Forza Motorsport 4, Project Gotham Racing 3 and Gran Turismo 6, just to name a few.

Check out the video and let us know what you think of it and whether Spyker should continue to produce more of such vehicles in the new future.

Toyota reveals new humanoid robot

Toyota has revealed its third generation humanoid robot that it calls the T-HR3. The project is part of the automaker’s future mobility programme, which has brought to fruition many innovative and bizarre creations. This particular one was designed and developed by Toyota’s Partner Robot Division.

It will help the company explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings as well a remote movement system that allows for the robot to mimic the movement of its human operator.

Similar in purpose to Honda’s Asimo, the T-HR3 will help Toyota explore how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs. It is an evolution of previous generation instrument-playing humanoid robots, which were created to study and develop precise joint movements.

“The Partner Robot team members are committed to using the technology in T-HR3 to develop friendly and helpful robots that coexist with humans and assist them in their daily lives.The core technologies developed for this platform will help inform and advance future development of robots,” said Akifumi Tamaoki, general manager, Partner Robot Division.

https://youtu.be/uPI0-14kEZI

T-HR3 is controlled from a Master Maneuvering System, which allows a human operator to manipulate its movement through the use of wearable controls that map hand, arm and foot movements. Using the dead-mounted display, the operator is able to see exactly what the T-HR3 sees, making useful movements far more effective.

Toyota’s new toy is made up of motors, reduction gears and torque sensors that are connected to each of its joints. Working in unison, they operate 29 individual body parts, which allow the robot to mimic with precision, the movements of said operator.

In total, the T-HR3 weights 75kg, which is equivalent to a regular size adult male. It’s moving parts comprises of 32 axes and 10 fingers, which allow for easier and more human-like movement. Its creation is a testament to the ingenuity of Toyota, who, since the 1980s has been developing industrial robots to enhance its manufacturing processes.

BMW may issue a recall of i3 in the USA

Due to certain safety concerns, BMW may be on the verge of organising a voluntary recall in the USA. According to a recent article by InsideEvs, the issue is with the BMW i3 regarding the less than acceptable data received by NHTSA based on its crash test results.

Apparently, during a crash, a ‘5th percentile female’, who isn’t wearing a seatbelt, can suffer neck injuries that are slightly above the acceptable limit. In this context, the 5th percentile female can be defined as a female driver, weighing 50kg or less and is about 5 feet tall.

This means that drivers who do not fall into this category have no cause for concern. This issue only effects a small portion of i3 drivers, but is still being treated as a serious matter. The article also states that a Stop-Sale order has been made that will effectively halt vehicle deliveries to customers until the problem has been rectified.

All BMW i3 cars since its launch in 2014, are effected by this issue, which equates to about 30,000 vehicles in total. There is no news yet on how the Bavarian automaker tends to tackle the problem but whatever it decides, this probably won’t be an easy fix.

So far, the problem seems to only affect the North American car but we shall have to wait and see if it stems from a manufacturing defect or a design flaw. If the latter is true, BMW may find themselves in a little bit of a pickle, especially if they want to continue selling these cars in markets with stringent safety laws.

The BMW i3 is a compact eco car that has been made available as a full-fledged electric vehicle or a hybrid/range extender. It’s a decent looking city car that helped change our perception on hybrid and EVs in general. We will let you know more as the i3 issue unfolds in the coming weeks.

Soource: InsideEVs

Review: Nissan Teana 2.5 XV

Automakers churn out D-segment luxury cars to cater to customers who appreciate decent legroom, acres of leather and steady road holding. Such vehicles take up the entire width of a road lane, which isn’t ideal, especially when squeezing past cars that are double parked on both sides of the road.

Like other vehicles, these barges are governed by the laws of physics and common sense. And based on this understanding, comfort and sporty handling, in this case atleast, are both mutually exclusive. Unfortuntely, Nissan wasn’t informed of this, and as such, went about creating a sporty D-segment car for the masses.

The automaker took its executive level sedan, the Teana, and gave it to its performance gurus at NISMO. The name is an acronym of the automaker’s tuning arm, called Nissan Motorsport. Similar to what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz, so is NISMO responsible for turning regular run-of-the-mill cars into impressive machines.

Vehicles that have been given the NISMO treatment, differ greatly in terms of performance from that of the ones that they are based on. And they have pulled it off with the Teana, effectively making the term ‘performance luxury car’ less of an oxymoron. Don’t ask me how, but Nissan has managed to grab a rabbit out of the hat with this one.

I was skeptical of the idea of a D-segment car being sporty. It’s an unnatural notion, one that can be likened to seeing a two-headed whale. The reasoning behind it is, big cars are heavy and slow to react to a driver’s input. Miraculously however, this isn’t the case with the Nissan Teana 2.5 XV NISMO. In fact, its a damn good vehicle, period.

Nissan may have gone overboard with the spoiler kit though. The massive front spoiler adds length and girth to the front bumper. It protrudes a few centimeters at the bottom and sides, which increases the risk of getting it scuffed when making sharp turns or dealing with steep inclinations.. Besides this, the car’s front overhang is slightly longer than the standard one.

The same is true for the rear as well, NISMO gave it the same dark grey spoiler with red pin-striping. This coupled with the fact that the car has an off-white body colour, provides an illusion to its overall size – the car feels far bigger than it actually is.

But the beauty here, is in the way it was crafted. It doesn’t feel tacky or boy-racerish. Instead, it lends credence to the idea of a sporty luxury car. Topping it off, is the NISMO tuned suspension, which not only reduces the overall ride height, but alters the vehicle’s driving dynamics in an immensely fun way.

Its driving dynamics isn’t the same as the regular base car. It rides 20mm lower due to the sports suspension and feels far more planted. Quick and brisk maneuvers are dealt with fairly easily. The body remains hunkered down and composed even when meandering past b-roads. This secure feeling gives you the confidence to take more daring risks.

Backed by a powerful 2.5-litre engine, the car is able to punch well above its weight. the Linear torque delivery right up to the redline leads you into believing that it can take on anything south of a proper sports car. It never leaves you wanting for a lack of power, instead it serves up dollops of it with a mere prod of the throttle pedal.

Though it’s mated to a CVT gearbox, overall drivability is decent, and the performance is devoid of needless thunks and clunks that are considered as par for the course of regular slush boxes. Mind you, its no match for a DCT, lightning quick shifts are something that is alien to a car like the Teana, but that suits me just fine.

Having said that, the electric steering lacks feel and rarely invokes any semblance of confidence or sure footedness when making brisk turns. It isn’t a deal breaker, but for those who require pin-sharp response, this isn’t the car for you. Then there’s the infotainment system that has been somewhat long in the tooth since 2014.

Controls and navigation buttons seem counter intuitive at times but are overall still usable. Newer setups require less interaction to yield the required results. That said, it is still usable and feature rich. This is one of the few qualms that I have with the car and that ruins an almost perfect experience.

See, I wasn’t expecting much going in to this. I expected to receive mediocre handling coupled with a harsh ride quality, but the contrary was true. The Teana was able to cope with my demands with good composure, and the ride quality, though a bit stiffer than the standard car, was able to soak up road undulations pretty well.

If you are looking for a decent sized vehicle that fits the needs of your job and family, this car should be on your shortlist. It performs well and is able to offer a good blend of comfort and sporty handling characteristics.

Piston Review Rating: 8/10
Nissan Teana NISMO Specifications
Engine: 2.5 XV Twin CVTC
Transmission: CVT
Horsepower: 170bhp
Torque: 243Nm

Should you buy a new or used car?

This is the age old question, and one that isn’t easy to rationalize. There are basically two schools of thought here: buy a used car if you have a wad of cash and are looking for something interesting, buy a new one if you want to make a sensible choice.

Both these notions no longer hold water in light of the evidence that there are decent second hand cars that are reliable and brand new ones that come with a deplorable list of problems. The key to making the right decision is to identify your expectations and deduce the possible outcome of your decision.

And if that isn’t easy enough for you, we are going to share some of the lessons we have learnt over the years due to the egregious lack of foresight on our part. Following is a list of things to consider when buying a vehicle:

Budget
Surmise a collective figure that you are willing to pay each month for the luxury of owning this vehicle. Do not allow yourself to deviate too far from that figure, no matter how enticing the dealer’s sales pitch might be. Pay only what you can afford, do not settle for something in order to appease his ego or assertive stance. It’s your money – period.

Maintenance Cost
Besides monthly payments, petrol and servicing costs need to be considered as well. Remember to do your research to gauge how much running costs will be. This is an area that many neglect to consider because they assume that the monetary value is proportional to buying a Coke or Pepsi. In the case of a used car, chances of a mechanical failure arising is greater than that with a new one.

Depreciation
If you are the kind who keeps his/her cars for more than 7 years, then you can skip this part. For those of you who swap their every few years, then this is of paramount importance to you. A vehicle’s depreciation is heavily dependent on desirability and demand.

The more sought after a vehicle is, its rate of depreciation will be considerably lower than one that isn’t appreciated that well. The rule of thumb is, buy a Japanese vehicle if you are looking to sell it off in a few years. Over time, it will depreciate far less than those of certain continental makes.

Reliability
Certain cars are plagued with reliability issues, regardless of whether they are new or used. An inherent flaw in the design can cause a chain reaction that could lead to probable and frequent faults down the road. However, new cars are backed by lengthy warranty periods that should nullify repair costs for at least 3 to 5 years. In any case, exercise rationale and speak with a current owner, this way, you will have the necessary facts to make an informed decision.

In conclusion, buying a vehicle may not be as difficult as rocket science, but it isn’t as easy as many might lead you to believe. Do your homework and run your decision past your trusted mechanic for his point of view. Last but not least, buy a vehicle that you would be happy to own and not one that though sensible, drains your joy and effectively, the will to live.

Michelin is official tyre partner of Goodwood

Goodwood has announced its decision to make Michelin the official tyre partner for the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival for a further five years. This deal will see the world renowned tyre manufacturer becoming the official tyre brand for its international motoring events until 2022.

Rebeca Nieto, Commercial Director for Car, Van and 4×4 for Michelin in the UK and Ireland, said, “Events like Revival and the Festival of Speed allow us to showcase all those sides of our business – technological breakthroughs that have transformed the motor industry.”

“Everything the Goodwood Estate does is premium, and that reflects our own ethos. From the tyres we make to the restaurants we recommend, Michelin delivers exceptional quality to consumers,” she added.

Michelin is a French tyre maker that has existed since 1889. It is the second largest tyre producer in the world after Bridgestone. Until recently, the duo were bitter rivals in the world of Formula One. For decades, various Formula One teams chose one or the other, depending on which best suited their vehicles.

Due to rule changes that were not favorable to these manufacturers, Pirelli become the sole tyre supplier for all F1 cars in the championship. There’s a possibility that, with the return of more than one brand to the sport, competition between teams could heat up quite a bit.

Contrary to popular belief, Michelin produces tyres for a variety of different vehicles that include space shuttles, aircrafts, cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Tyres that bear its name are of the highest quality and perform on par if not better than that of its rivals with similar specifications.

Renault EVs recognised by GreenFleet

Renault has been awarded the title of Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year at the UK’s 2017 GreenFleet awards. It also picked up another, for City Car Manufacturer of the Year thanks to its line-up of compact EVs that include the ZOE.

Annually, GreenFleet Awards recognizes manufacturers or organisations that successfully introduce fuel saving strategies and innovations that include low emission vehicles. Renault currently has several different vehicles that utilizes EV technology, which include the upgraded Kangoo Z.E.33.

Speaking of the accolade, Angela Pisanu, editor of GreenFleet magazine, said, “The winner this year has had their experts come up with new battery technology that has enabled them to increase the range on their small car and van EV offering.”

The latest ZOE has received a decent upgrade that includes an improved battery pack that allows for a 50% increase in range on a single charge. The automaker has admitted that, in real world driving conditions, the car should be able to cover a distance of 299km in warm weather conditions and 200km in areas that are subjected to winter conditions.

Through the use of its patented Chameleon Charger, the ZOE is able to charge its battery from 0-80% in an hour. In addition to that, this charger is able to adapt to a wide range of power supplies to ensure that the charging duration is kept to a minimum.

Similarly, the new Kangoo also has an upgraded battery pack that allows for a 60% improvement in range over its predecessor. This electric van is able to travel for about 274km on a single charge, which isn’t extraordinary but increases practicality.

Apart from these two vehicles, Renault also has a number of other EVs that are just as efficient, which include the Twizy quadricycle and the upcoming Master Z.E. large panel van. This line-up is responsible for spearheading the French automaker’s charge to dominate the increasingly popular EV market.

And the GreenFleet award is a testament to this very fact. However, there are several other publications that have given these vehicles the same recognition for innovation, practicality and ease of use. The following are the latest accolades picked up by Renault:

What Car? Best Electric Car 2017 – Renault ZOE
What Car? Best Used Green Car 2018 – Renault ZOE
Autocar Game Changer 2017 – Renault ZOE
Parkers Eco Car of the Year 2018 – Renault ZOE
Pure Electric and Hybrid Cars Green Apple Champion 2017 – Renault ZOE

Expect more from this French automaker in the near future because competition in the EV market is bound to increase by several orders of magnitude. Tesla has recently announced a fully electric lorry that may revolutionize the way we see freight transportation in general. All we can say is, this is a pretty interesting time for the automotive industry.

The Grand Tour searches for The American’s replacement

Since the departure of the American, the trio of Clarkson, Hammond and May from The Grand Tour have had to scout around for a replacement. A series of short clips have been released on the show’s Youtube channel, depicting the ‘rigorous vetting’ process that drivers are put through to determine what they are made of.

Meant to be taken as a jovial introduction to the second season, which will air in early December, Clarkson and Hammond, each are given a say in the process. They decide to allow their respective candidate to demonstrate his/her capabilities. Surprisingly enough, Clarkson’s pick is none other than former F1 driver, Mark Webber.

Webber is given the opportunity to take a Porsche and Mercedes-Benz around The Grand Tour test track. Things go as planned in the Porsche but the clip takes a bizzare twist once the Australian-born F1 driver gets his hands on the Merc. We won’t ruin it for you, check out the video for the fully story.

Hammond’s pick is an actual stunt driver, and an experienced one for that matter. The youngest of the trio is adamant that moving forward, someone with a background in stunt driving would be better suited for the role on the show rather than a regular racing driver.

Check out all three videos and let us know your thoughts on the subject and who you suspect could be The American’s replacement in the upcoming season.

VW owner proud of being a loyalist for 50 years

Brand loyalty isn’t something we hear much about these days. Modern car buyers aren’t brand conscious anymore, instead, flock to manufacturers that provide them with the best bang for their buck. That said, a Volkswagen car owner in the UK, has the exact opposite understanding.

Karen Wilson has owned in total, 16 VW cars and plans to keep it that way. She currently drives a 4-year-old Polo R-Line with a 1.2L TSI engine. Prior to this, she has owned a pretty colourful list of Volkswagen vehicles dating back to 1967.

In the past 50 years, Wilson has owned several cars including a Campervan, 2 Beetles, 3 Golfs and 10 Polos. Her first love was a cream-coloured Volkswagen Beetle that she purchased new, in 1967. She loved it from the very beginning, taking it on several road trips including one, from Austria to Germany.

The Beetle may not have been a technological marvel or a powerhouse, but its peppy flat-four engine was extremely reliable and easy to maintain. Running costs were low and since it made use of rudimentary mechanicals, mending a problem was fairly simple.

Wilson’s love for the brand stems from this very reputation. VW is known for building safe and reliable cars. In her ownership experience, her vehicles have been extremely dependable, getting her from point A to B with little to no fuss at all.

Her local retailer, JCT600 Volkswagen York, invited Wilson over for coffee and cake as an appreciation gesture for her loyalty and love of the brand. Besides the food and beverages, the celebrations also included gifts and a letter of thanks from the Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones.

Speaking of the sales and after-sales aspects of the brand, Wilson, said, “I’ve always had really good service from all the Volkswagen dealerships. They’re nice and friendly and when you walk in they remember your name, and the salespeople don’t put pressure on you to make a sale. They don’t need to because of their confidence in the cars.”

According to Volkswagen UK, Wilson’s love affair with the brand is quite common in the country. Her experience isn’t unique because there are many other owners who have similar stories to share. In fact, VW’s customer service in the UK is aware of a number of high mileage cars that are still out and about.

However, Wilson’s commitment to the brand is nothing short of remarkable. These days, consumers are spoiled for choice due to the market being flooded with good vehicles. So, for someone to pledge an allegiance to a certain brand, said automaker has to offer something extraordinary in return.