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Project Cars 2 to feature second-gen BAC Mono

Project Cars 2, the second installment of the highly acclaimed racing simulator game will feature the Briggs Automotive Company’s (BAC) Mono racer. It will be made available for console platforms that include the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

BAC worked with the developers of Project Cars, Slightly Mad Studios, to ensure that the Mono that featured in the game, reflects the same driving and handling characteristics as the real thing. They collaborated to bring the car’s unique handling ability, rapid acceleration and brutal braking power into the virtual world.

Considered a driver’s car, the Mono is a lightweight sports car that weighs a mere 580kg. The bodys structure has been made from lightweight materials to ensure that the car doesn’t carry excessive weight.

The vehicle is powered by a 2.5-litre Ford inline four engine that is tuned by Mountune to deliver 305bhp and 310Nm of torque. This coupled with a low kerb weight, gives the Mono a power-to-weight ratio of 525bhp per tonne, which can be considered as supercar-like performance.

Regarding the Mono in PC2, BAC Co-Founder and Director of Product Development, Neill Briggs, said, “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Project CARS 2 and are delighted with how it’s captured the essence of Mono and everything that makes it a global superstar.”

“It’s the dream of driving purists around the world to get behind the wheel of the Mono, and Project CARS 2 provides the next best thing with its realistic handling, poise and speed,” he later added.

Project Cars 2 will be made available on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 starting from 22nd September 2017 for racing simulator fans to enjoy. No word yet on when the game will be made available for those on the PC platform though, but we are hoping that the launch date won’t be that far off.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross unveiled

Mitsubishi fans who were expecting a resurgence in performance vehicles manufactured by the brand, will be disappointed. Though the Japanese automaker has revived the Eclipse nameplate, the vehicle that carries the name, is a crossover.

The angular styling is inline with Mitsubishi’s current design language, and overall, the Eclipse Cross has a silhouette that is a cross between a hatchback and an SUV. The raked roof, elongated rear taillights and overall compact dimensions give it an almost car-like presence.

Sporting similar looks to the Outlander SUV, the Eclipse Cross is powered by an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that develops 163bhp and 250Nm of torque. It can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic one with Sport mode.

The automatic unit features step logic technology that enables it to offer the efficiency of a CVT but the responsiveness of a standard geared transmission. It sends power to the wheels via the latest generation Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) system.

Available in a number of trim levels, the Eclipse Cross is fitted with sophisticated infotainment system with smartphone compatibility (support for Apple Play and Android Auto), six speaker system and a touch-pad controller.

The vehicle comes with the latest safety tech that include Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) that uses radar technology to detect a risk of collision, ABS, Active Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, seven airbags, dusk and rain sensors and automatic operation of the headlamps’ dipped beam.

Other features include leather trim, electrically-adjustable driver’s seat, electric opening panoramic roof, 18-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and keyless start, electrically folding door mirrors and of course, silver side sills.

Though many consider it a major let down, the new vehicle does add to Mitsubishi’s SUV portfolio, which should help boost its bottom line. Evidently, the automaker is done with producing fast sedans, instead, its focusing on building capable and electrified SUV styled vehicles.

Ford contributes $5 million to support automated technology

Ford Motor Company has contributed $5 million (RM21 million) to the American Center for Mobility (ACM) to support connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology development. This will designate Ford as a Founder-level sponsor and member of a government-industry team that supports ACM’s efforts.

The investment will help ACM create an automated vehicle proving ground in Southeast Michigan. This is where companies will be able to develop their CAV technologies and work on other areas that include creating the appropriate standards and education programmes.

Located at Willow Run in Ypsilanti Township, the new non-profit 500-acre state-of-the-art testing site will be used for testing, validation, product development and education purposes. This facility’s first phase will be operational at the end of this year, signaling the beginning of major studies into autonomous transportation.

This latest investment brings ACM’s fundraising total to $95 million (RM397 million), which will go a long way in helping it accomplish its goal. This will also allow for better synergy between entities who share the same goal of creating more advanced autonomous systems.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have Ford Motor Company join the ranks as a Founder. When we first announced our plan to develop the American Center for Mobility, it may have seemed a little ambitious to some,” said John Maddox, president and CEO of ACM.

“However, we’re well along in making this a reality as national and global partners continue to support the facility,” he later added.

Ford’s contribution has allowed it to join ACM Founders Toyota Motor North America (TMNA, Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and AT&T in paving a path for the future of mobility.

Uber banned from running services in London

Uber has been banned from operating in London after authorities ruled that the ride-hailing service hadn’t complied fully with the rules and regulations. According to an article by Car Throttle, Transport for London (TfL) ruled that Uber’s ‘approach and conduct’ was not satisfactory.

As such, Uber won’t be able to renew its private hire license once the current one expires at the end of this month. That said, the company will have a 21-day grace period during which, it will be able to appeal the decision.

The reason for TfL’s decision is Uber’s less than satisfactory approach of reporting criminal offenses, obtaining medical certificates, how background checks are done and that its software is designed to keep law inforcement from having full access.

This is good news for Landon cab drivers who have, since 2012, railed against Uber for its unconventional approach to public transportation services. Unlike Uber drivers, regular cabbies are subjected to more stringent background checks, health checks and competency certification before being granted a license.

Currently, Uber has about 40,000 drivers who use its service and about 3.5 million users who employ the transportation services of these drivers through the app. Uber will probably make the necessary amendments to its current business practices in order to comply with the relevant regulations, but its going to be a tough road ahead.

TfL isn’t the only governmental body that Uber has rubbed the wrong way, Other agencies around the world as well as those here in Malaysia have been less than welcoming of the service. Apart from this, internal struggles within Uber have hampered progress quite a bit.

That said, Uber has had a positive impact on public transportation, stiff competition between Uber drivers and regular cabbies have made many realise that complacency is no longer something that consumers will tolerate.

Source: Car Throttle

Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils all-electric Hummer

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the famous hollywood actor and former governator of the state of California, has collaborated with Kreisel Electric to develop an EV Hummer. Based on the original H1, the all-electric prototype was unveiled by Schwarzenegger himself to hoards of fans and members of the media.

The civilian version of the US military Humvee, the EV H1 forgoes its gas guzzling V8 in favour of two electric motors, one for each axle. Juice is supplied via a 100 kWh battery pack that enables this behemoth to reach a top speed of 120km/h and cover a distance of 300km.

https://youtu.be/sHe485QW3zE
Video taken from königstein performance Youtube Channel

Weighing 3300kg, this isn’t even in the same ballpark as your average Prius. It retains the entire shell of the original vehicle and as such, still has the macho and go anywhere appeal of the original that made it a staple of the US military.

As daunting a task as it maybe to convert the H1 into an all-electric vehicle, it took Kreisel a mere two months to complete the project. This labour intensive effort may have been well worth the cost because it shows the general public that any car can be an EV.

That said, this project isn’t the first time that the governator and Kreisel has collaborated on creating a new vehicle. He previously worked with the company to develop an EV Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon that is capable of holding its won against the legendary vehicle that it is based on.

Unlike the unruly nature of the standard V8 powered G-Wagon, Kreisel’s version operates quietly yet is able to match the capabilities of the world famous vehicle that it is based on.

https://youtu.be/nSMpmMskqXM

https://youtu.be/1y4evYuPGgk

Kreisel Electric is a mobility company who believes that the electric motor is the most efficient method of propulsion. They have developed their own battery solutions for high performance applications.

The company’s founders Philipp, Johann and Markus have been involved in the electronics sector for the past 35 years. Philipp is the mechanical engineer, Johann the electronic specialist while Markus concentrates on the commercial aspects of the business.

Their company website provides an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings at Kreisel Electric and the amazing work that they are doing. This goes to show that you don’t need to be a fortune 500 company to do amazing things in the automotive industry.

Source: Road & Track, Kreisel Electric

Breitling chronograph timepiece pays tribute to Continental GT

Bentley Motors has teamed up with Breitling to create a watch that pays homage to the new Continental GT that was launched at IAA 2017 in Frankfurt. Called the Bentley GT Dark Sapphire Edition chronograph watch, the timepiece has been released to celebrate the launch of Bentley’s new sports car.

Despite sporting similar styling as its predecessor, the Continental GT has been reworked to have more elegant contours, better luxury materials and powered by the third generation 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine that develops 635bhp and 900Nm of torque, but I digress.

This new chronograph features an ultra-light, ultra-strong case made of Breitlight®. its a proprietary new advanced material that mirrors the innovative, authentic new luxury materials inside the Bentley Continental GT.

It is supposed to be resistant to scratches and corrosion, which should alleviate the concerns of owners who enjoy an active lifestyle. Apart from that, It does not contain magnetic or allergenic properties and has a subtle black, streaked effect.

The 48mm diameter watch face encompasses a movement that is developed in the Swiss brand’s Chronométrie workshops and is distinguished by the unique 30-second chronograph system, which is protected by cambered sapphire crystal and glare-proofed on both sides.

It is a Breitling Calibre B06 movement that is self-winding, high-frequency (28,800 vibrations per hour), 47 jewels. Power resever is rated at over 70 hours and the timepiece itself is officially chronometer-certified by the COSC.

A carbon fibre-like weave that adorns the outer part of the watch face provides depth to the dark gunmetal appearance of the watch body. The blue and white contrasting markings also add to the appeal of this chronograph timepiece.

A central hand completes a full sweep of the dial in 30 seconds, and features a A blue ‘30-second chronograph’ inscription on that particular dial. This is a noteworthy feature for those who will use this luxury timepiece as a stopwatch.

Breitling has given the watch a unique rubber strap bearing the same design as the Continental GT’s dial that is secured in place with a push piece-operated folding clasp. This should keep the watch firmly placed on the wearer’s hand yet offer a comfortable fit.

According to the watchmaker, only 500 such timepieces will ever be made, which is a nod to the level of exclusivity enjoyed by the car that it pays tribute to. Check out the pictures and let us know what you think of this elegant, hand-made Bentley timepiece.