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Ford uses virtual technology to design future vehicles

The future of vehicle design is here and Ford, is one of the first automakers to have accepted it with open arms. This type of hologram technology enables designers and engineers to collaborate on design and construction efforts for any given project.

Relatively unchanged since the early days of the automobile, designers have had to resort to building clay models of new vehicles in order to truly assess their practicality. And in recent years, 3D modelling has helped somewhat in terms of lowering production time.

That said, the benefits of both, pail in comparison to the relative efficiency, ease of use and time saving measures that come with hologram technology. Ford has incorporated it for use on its vehicles through the use of Microsoft’s HoloLens system.

It’s an augmented reality setup that enables users/viewers to add virtual overlays to the physical world. Unlike the virtual reality fad, where a user is immersed in an enclosed virtual world, augmented reality enhances the physical one with its various systems and functions.

In order to use HoloLens, Ford designers will need to put on a special wireless headset that will overlay the virtual objects on the physical ones. It’s information is received from a PC running Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Through this method, what used to take days, weeks or even months of communication between engineers, designers and the ‘decision makers’, efforts that involve grille designs, body panels and other elements can be created, altered and approved within hours.

This will significantly lower the cost of R&D work and its labour intensive nature, and enable automakers to shorten the time frame needed for producing a single vehicle. Many brands already employ 3D modelling to help visualise and simulate stresses on components,which have helped with crash testing.

Speaking of the HoloLens tech, Jim Holland, Ford vice president, vehicle component and systems engineering, said, “It’s amazing we can combine the old and the new – clay models and holograms – in a way that both saves time and allows designers to experiment and iterate quickly to dream up even more stylish, clever vehicles.”

“Microsoft HoloLens is a powerful tool for designers as we continue to re imagine vehicles and mobility experiences in fast-changing times,” he later added.

Ford has been using the tech for the past year in it’s Dearbon design facility in Michigan. Doing so has enabled the automaker’s legion of employees to work in a more cohesive manner and review designs or their changes more efficiently and in a manner that was inconceivable just a few years ago.

We hope that such tech is adopted across the board and that automakers are able to benefit greatly from it. This could result in better designed vehicles that are offered at a significantly cheaper price.

Nissan produces 150 millionth car, gears up for launch of new Leaf

Nissan has achieved a major milestone this week by producing its 150 millionth vehicle. It’s a feat that has taken the Japanese automaker 84 years to accomplish, which it attributes to the conitnued support from all of its stakeholders worldwide, legion of employees, dealers, suppliers and loyal customers.

The automaker managed to produce its 100 millionth vehicle in 2006 and at the time, 76.5% of the total vehicles that Nissan made, came from Japan. In the following years, it opted to localise production based on their respective markets, which helped bolster yearly sales figures even further.

That, Nissan said, was the catalyst that allowed it to build another 50 million vehicles in the span of just 11 years. And now, 76.5% that bear the Nissan name, are made outside of Japan with 13% of them being produced in Europe.

It has been producing vehicles in Spain and the UK for the past 30 years. And since its St. Petersburg plant in Russia opened 10 years ago, Nissan has been making full use of these facilities to feed the demands of the continent.

Currently, Nissan is gearing up to introduced its second generation Leaf, a name that is remembered by many as the first mass-produced family sized electric car in the world. Introduced in 2010, the car received a lukewarm welcome, thanks to a less than stellar range and worldwide infrastructure that wasn’t ready for the EV revolution.

This new car however, will feature some of the latest safety tech and offer an improved range over the first generation Leaf. This, coupled with new infrastruce to support electric vehicles, will help increase demand for the new Leaf.

If proven true, Nissan will be on track to have an excellent year. And it wont be long before the Japanese automaker announces that its 200 millionth vehicle rolled off the production line somewhere in the world.

Mitsubishi e-Evolution to be revealed at Tokyo Motorshow

Mitsubishi Motors has picked the 2017 Tokyo Motorshow as the venue that it will use to reveal its new concept vehicle and future plans. The vehicle in question is the e-Evolution and will incorporte the best technology that the automaker has to offer.

It will replace the venerable Lancer Evolution, the Japanese tuner vehicle that has amassed a cult following since the mid-90s. Built as a rally car for the road, the Evolution, with each new iteration, became faster, more agile and technologically advanced than its respective predecessor.

The last model that was introduced was the Evolution IX, a spitting image of the humble Lancer safe for the aero upgrades. The car was the most advanced Evo in the company’s history. And if this has you excited about what Mitsubishi will reveal in Tokyo, don’t be.

The coveted formula that defined every Evo since the original, has been done away with. Instead, in its place will be a fully-electric vehicle that will resemble a coupe-like SUV. Mitsubishi says that will be fitted with a 4WD electric drivetrain and advanced ‘Artificial Intelligence’ technology.

Though it retains some of the current car’s angular styling, the e-Evolution may not have the same bonkers performance as the original car. That said, it’s all speculation at this point because Mitsubishi has chosen to keep mum about the exact details till the designated date.

All will be revealed at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017, which takes place on October 25th at the Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center. As such, we hope that the automaker will resurrect the Evolution nameplate for the right reasons.

Rare Porsche heads for Silverstone auction

A rare and unassuming 1992 Porsche 911 (964) RS Touring will be one of the first cars to grace the Silverstone Auctions Porsche Sale taking place at the Wing, Silverstone on 21st October. Only 11 such cars have ever been made, fewer still that are in right-hand-drive.

Porsche started selling the car to customers as a way to homologate the model for the Porsche Carrera Cup race series. Customers could choose between two different variants, namely the Sport and Touring. Though lighter and more bare-bones than the Touring, the Sport wasn’t as appealing to many customers.

It’s punishing ride quality and stripped out interior wasn’t to everyone’s tastes. Rather, the Touring variant with its more refined equipment, sound proofing and creature comforts similar to that in the Carrera, made it the favoured choice.

Compared to the standard 964, the RS Touring had a blueprinted 3600cc air-cooled engine, lowered and stiffened suspension, ‘Uniball’ top strut mounts, strengthened engine and gearbox mounts, and uprated brakes.

Though fewer weight saving measures were carried out on the RS Touring compared to the Sport, the former still managed to be lighter than the standard 964. Porsche worked on the engine by re-chipping the engine management system and fitting a lighter, single mass flywheel.

Though the improvements only added 10bhp to the overall performance, the engine’s torque was significantly higher than that found in the standard car. As such, it’s a nimble sports car that is able to hold its own on racetracks.

The RS Touring that is up for sale sports a black body colour, black interior, sports leather seats with triple colour inlays, tinted windscreen and a sunroof, as well as unique magnesium 17-inch wheels rims and low-profile Michelin N3 tyres.

Earlier on, certain performance upgrades were carried out on the car by JZ in King’s Langley, which included a “de-cat system and Supply and fit performance chip.” As a result, power is now rated at 279 bhp at 5909 rpm.

“This is a very special Porsche, the rarest of the rare,” declares Guy Lees-Milne, general manager of Silverstone Auctions. “These cars are actively sought after by serious Porsche collectors all over the world, and this is a truly superb example.”

Current estimates peg the asking price for this particular 964 RS Touring at £185,000 (RM1,048,211) – £210,000 (RM1,189,861), which is a significant amount of money for that has not isn’t really a classic Porsche. If you would like to know more about this or the auction, please visit www.silverstoneauctions.com

Hyundai elect new leader for USA division

Hyundai has elected to promote one of its most trusted senior executives of global operations to the position of president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. Kyung Soo (Kenny) Lee, will be responsible for Hyundai’s U.S. sales and marketing.

The Korean automaker has tabled September 18th as the day Lee will take over president and CEO duties. He will occupy the position left vacant by Jerry Flannery who has now returned as the company’s executive vice president, chief legal and safety officer.

Speaking of the new appointment, Won-hee (Wayne) Lee, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said “Lee has an in-depth understanding of Hyundai Motor’s global operation, following nearly two decades in diverse markets around the world, including the U.S., Europe and Latin America.”

He was later quoted as saying, “I would like to personally thank Jerry Flannery for his leadership and the stability he brought the organization while serving as interim president and CEO.”

Lee, now 61 years of age, has had a long an illustrious carrier at Hyundai that began in 1982 The most recent position that hed held before being appointed as head honcho of Hyundai USA was, president and CEO of Hyundai Translead, a manufacturer of dry and refrigerated van trailers, container chassis and converter dollies.

According to Hyundai, here Lee played vital roles for more than 10 years adding to his expertise in overseas markets. These credentials, the company says, made him the favoured candidate to take on the top job. That said, he has a heavy weight on his shoulders.

Now, he will be tasked with leading Hyundai’s charge against domestic brands such as Ford, GM and Chrysler while still ensuring that it remains competitive enough to fend off the upstart Chinese makers who have managed to undercut it at its own game.

Jaguar ‘Game of Drones’ aims to prove XJL’s spaciousness

Jaguar has picked an unconventional way to prove how capacious its XJ’s cabin can be through the use of drones. The automaker staged a remote-controlled drone race called ‘Game of Drones’ to demonstrate how much room its flagship long-wheelbase saloon has to offer.

As part of the race, these high-speed mini aircraft, that were piloted by professional drone racers, flew through three cars on a course that was marked out with 13 gates that were the same shape as an XJL rear door.
Considered a marketing ploy, the drones that were travelling at close to 100km/h had to navigate their way through the door-shaped gates lit in Phosphor Blue and Red to highlight two of the XJ’s interior lighting options.

Speaking of this unique drone race, Brett Collis, a champion drone pilot, said, “I’ve been racing drones in competition for years, but this is a first for me. The course was a great test, but the fact we were able to go at such speeds proves how much space the doors of the Jaguar XJL gave us.”

“Despite having to fly through the cabin we were still pushing the drones to their top speeds,” He later added. These ‘to close for comfort’ drone maneuvers were executed to demonstrate the difference that it makes to have five extra inches of legroom with the long-wheelbase car, that that offered with the base car.

Jaguar’s XJ is the largest four door saloon that the company makes and it boasts an ‘exquisite’ interior that is bestowed with the latest technology. It also features airline style reclining seats with massage function, increased headroom, fold-out tables and specially tuned rear suspension to enhance ride comfort.

The car is also equipped with full LED headlights, all-wheel drive and All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), as well as the latest Touch Pro infotainment system. It’s basically Britain’s ultra luxury answer to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series.

Currently, the XJL and its more powerful sibling, the XJR575 are built at Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich plant alongside the XE, XF and F-TYPE. In recent years, the model has helped bolster the company’s yearly sales.