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Nissan take life-size remote controlled GT-R around Silverstone

You may have heard of miniature RC or remote controlled vehicles, the same machines that have brought joy to children and adults all over the world since the 1980s. In fact, special RC tournaments are conducted annually, in several parts of the world to prove who has the best reflexes at successfully maneuvering their vehicles past challenging miniature circuits.

Nissan has decided to take this one step further by introducing a full-size RC vehicle in the form of the latest iteration of the GT-R supercar. It has done this to celebrate the launch of the highly acclaimed Gran Turismo Sport game for the PlayStation 4 console.

Called the GT-R/C the vehicle is a fully standard car with the stock V6 engine that puts out 542bhp and an all-wheel-drive system. Engineered in the UK by JLB Design Ltd, the car has been fitted with four robots that operate the steering, transmission, brakes and throttle. Six computers mounted in the boot update the controls at up to 100 times a second.

The vehicle is driven/controlled though operating an unmodified DualShock 4 controller that connects to a micro-computer which interprets the joystick and button signals and transmits them to the GT-R /C’s on-board systems. From an operator’s perspective, there is no discernible difference between the game and the real life car with the exception of the viewing angles.

This vehicle was driven around the Silverstone circuit by NISMO racing driver Jann Mardenborough. If that name sounds familiar, it is because he is one of the most successful winners of GT Academy, Nissan’s unique driver discovery and development programme.

Mardenborough controlled the GT-R/C via the DualShock controller from the cockpit of a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. Since the controller had to be within a 1km distance of the car to safely control it, the helicopter had to fly at a very low altitude for the duration of the session.

As a safety net, the GT-R/C was fitted with two independent safety systems, operating on different radio frequencies, which allow two additional operators to apply full ABS braking and cut the engine, should there be any signal interruption from Mardenborough’s controller.

Speaking of the event, Mardenborough said, “This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff. The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of Motorsport – in a way I never thought possible.”

“The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well,” he added.

Next year, Nissan will be taking this car on a tour to primary and secondary schools in the UK to promote future careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. And maybe, inspire the next generation of engineers to turn to Nissan’s R&D platform.

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.