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Nissan has big plans for its electrified future

Nissan is going to be quite busy within the next several years according to its ‘Four Pillars’ plan that was revealed in Norway. This quartet signifies the company’s focus on the launch of new electric vehicles, additional infrastructure investment, battery charging and home storage advances as well as a revolutionary way of offering free power to EV owners.

The new Leaf has already gone into production and is expected to hit markets such as the UK, very soon. There will be a special variant for Europe called the 2.ZERO, which will have unique fittings that set it apart from the base car. In general, the Leaf will offer a range of 378km per charge, ProPILOT driver assist and autonomous parking systems.

Nissan will also be update its e-NV200 electric van that offers 280km range on a single charge, which is a 60% improvement over its predecessor. Despite the increase in performance, the vehicle’s battery size and weight has remained the same as the one in its predecessor – an impressive feat because storage space and payload capacity remains unchanged.

Working with the EV fast charging standard called CHAdeMO, Nissan plans on expanding its outdoor charging network by 20% over the next 18 months. As it stands, the company already has an extensive network of charging stations that includes over 4600 quick chargers. Now, it plans on installing a further 100 chargers over the course of the next 18 months.

The third area where Nissan plans on making an impact is with improvements to its range of home and office charging units with the introduction of its double speed 7kW charger and 22kW fast charger. the 7kW one is able to charge a Nissan EV to 100% charge in 5.5 hours which is about 70% faster than before.

Its 22kW charger on the other hand, which is mostly targeted at fleet and business owners, can accomplish the same feat in just 2 hours. This super-fast charger can also be purchased by the general public who want a quicker charging experience.

Supplementing this is Nissan’s smart energy storage system for EV owners that will charge connected vehicles when needed and depending on electricity tariffs. This offers customers greater control over the costs incurred for charging their EVs.

Last but not least, through its new bi-directional charging system, Nissan hopes to offer ‘free-power’ to its customers. This system allows Nissan EVs to draw power from the grid when needed and ‘sell back’ this power when the vehicle is sitting idle in a driveway. This helps offset the daily costs of charging such a vehicle.

Though not groundbreaking, Nissan’s latest steps will help shape the way we see electric mobility. Such systems are already at play in places like Denmark but it should catch on in places like the UK where the infrastructure is already available to support the future of electric mobility.

Hyundai unveil monstrous Sante Fe for SEMA

Hyundai has released a teaser image of a highly modified version of its ever popular Santa Fe, called the The Rockstar Energy Moab Extreme Concept that will be on display at SEMA 2017. The vehicle has been kitted out with some high performance upgrades which include massive oversize tyres.

“The Rockstar Energy Moab Extreme Concept was specifically designed to withstand the extraordinary demands of Moab off-road terrain,” said Nic Ashby, Rockstar Marketing. “Leveraging the outstanding Santa Fe Sport platform and powertrain, we definitely pushed its capabilities to new limits to conquer the pinnacle of challenges at Moab.”

Though the vehicle sports a similar overall look compared to its base model sibling, this Moab edition features a modified off-road suspension kit to accommodate the massive tyres and superior ground clearance.

There’s also an array of lighting equipment fitted to the front bumper guard as well as on the vehicle’s roof to help with visibility especially during excursions at night. The bodywork features a subtle grayed camouflage-like paint scheme that blends well with the theme of the vehicle.

The following is the extensive list of modifications that have been carried out on the Rockstar liveried Sante Fe:

R1 Concepts, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear big brake kit
KING, Coil-over Suspension and 2.5” Internal Bypass shocks with reservoirs
KMC 17-inch Machete off-road bead-lock wheels
Mickey Thompson 35×12.50R17 Baja MTZ off-road tires
HID Projectors OEM upgraded headlights and taillights
Mishimoto Intercooler, Downpipe, Rockstar Energy Catch Can, Coolant Overflow Reservoir
Yukon Gear and Axle Drive train Accessories
AEM Intake
KICKER audio sound system
Roadwire custom leather interior
Odyssey battery Dry Cell
Rockstar Performance Garage Skid plates, Bumpers with Warn® winch & Factor 55 Link
Rockstar Performance Garage Custom roof rack with Bulldog LED lighting
Heatshield for heat protection
MagnaFlow exhaust
Scosche Magic Mounts, Bluetooth Speakers and Lifestyle Accessories
Nitrous Express wet system
Bulletliner Bedliner protection
Casacadia Tents
Tintman, Thermal Heat protection
Powertank Portable Tank for refilling tires on the trail

This mean Hyundai will be on display at this year’s SEMA show for attendees to view and admire. The SEMA or Specialty Equipment Market Association show, is a trade exhibition in the US, that brings together aftermarket manufacturers, original equipment suppliers (OEM), specialty equipment distributors, installers, retailers and restoration specialists under one roof.

It also serves as a platform for the aforementioned entities to showcase their finest work and network with other companies or customers to increase their brand presence and grow their businesses.

It’s the ‘go to’ destination for anything that relates to aftermarket parts or modifications of the automotive industry. And this year, Hyundai will put on display, a vehicle that will certainly turn a lot of heads.

Jaguar helps former Olympian enter Guinness Book of World Records

Jaguar’s XF Sportbrake has enabled former British Olympic Skier Graham Bell to set a new Guinness World Record for the ‘Fastest Towed Speed on Skies’. The task was a daunting one because Bell would have to battle the -28 degrees Celsius temperature at high speed at Jaguar Land Rover’s Revi Test Centre in the Arctic Circle.

Attempting this wasn’t an easy feat considering the relative dangers involved with high speed skiing. But the task was made easier thanks to the XF Sportbrake’s Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR) and All Surface Progress Control.

These systems oversee the power delivery of the car’s all-wheel-drive system and ensure that the XF remains planted and well within the control of the driver. Maintaining stability at high-speeds is something that is extremely important in a situation such as this.

As a result, not only did Bell break the previous record of just under 113 km/h, but managed did so by a huge margin. He was able to clock a time of 188 km/h which is about 76 km/h faster than the previous record. This is a testament to the capabilities of Jaguar’s AWD system, which kept the former Olympic skier out of harms way.

Speaking of the feat, Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said, “The XF Sportbrake’s superb traction, handling and high speed stability made it the perfect choice for this speed record attempt.”

“We’re extremely proud to have supported Graham in this incredible world-beating achievement – it’s this kind of trail-blazing activity that really tests our cars to their limits,” he later added.

This adds to the list achievements of the Jaguar XF family, which includes being ranked the “Large and Luxury Car” in the JD Power Survey. The latest crop of Jaguars are leaps and bounds better than their predecessors and evidently, many are taking notice of topic.

Chevy kicks start Trucks Legend programme to celebrate loyalty

Chevrolet trucks is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with the introduction of its 2018 line up. And to commemorate the occasion, the company is launching a nation wide programme to reward its loyal customers called, the Trucks Legend programme.

Those who have owned the following vehicles are eligible to be members of the programme:

Silverado and Silverado HD (and past C/K trucks)
Colorado (and past S-10 trucks)
Tahoe
Suburban
Avalanche

It’s been introduced to recognize customers who have owned a Chevy truck that has travelled more than 160,934km or have had a brand new one in their lifetime. Customers who fall into this category are eligible to join Chevy’s active community that has grown to more than 5,400 members.

“We had an incredible response to the Truck Legends pilot program, and greatly appreciate the owners who have shared their stories,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks Marketing director. “We look forward to hearing from customers across the country, and for the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our most loyal customers.”

Through this same programme, Chevrolet will periodically offer Truck Legends members once-in-a-lifetime experiences for events that include front-row seats at concerts, attending sold-out Major League Baseball events and getting a sneak peek at new Chevrolet models.

Later in the year, a select number of people from the Truck Legends programme will be invited to join an exclusive Chevy Trucks Centennial Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The event will feature opportunities to experience the latest Chevrolet products and have the opportunity to meet celebrities like Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well as a number of others.

Chevy will also be giving out memorabilia to members of the exclusive programme that include branded hats, decals and decals celebrating milestones in mileage and number of vehicles owned.

As such, 2017 is shaping up to be a very memorable year for Chevy and its legion of truck owners who have loyaly stood by the brand its trucks. Unlike other parts of the world, in the US, trucks serve more than just one purpose, in fact, they are a way of life.

Mercedes-Benz GLC earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+

Mercedes-Benz’s ever popular SUV, the GLC has scored big with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States. It has earned the highest award by being named the 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Merc’s GLC outdid the competition by passing several crash tests with high ratings.

The GLC managed to secure first place due to its intelligent body construction and avoided collisions in IIHS track tests with its standard front crash prevention system. Based on the C-Class platform, the GLC replaced its predecessor, the GLK in December 2015.

Sporting a combination of aluminium and high strength steel, it is significantly lighter than its predecessor but provides a more rigid passenger safety compartment surrounded by deformation zones.

According to the crash test results, the GLC received good ratings for various tests that include the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. It was identified that, in the event of a collision, the GLC SUV helps keep occupants secured with its three-point safety belts with belt tensioning, belt-force limitation and airbags.

In addition to that, the vehicle recieved the Superior rating for the crash prevention category due to its Collision Prevention Assist Plus system’s ability to avoid IIHS collision testing at both 19 km/h and 40 km/h.

The latest accolade allows the GLC to join the E-Class and GLE SUV as the top picks of the IIHS, which found that the latest crop of Mercedes-Benz models offer the best level of safety currently available in the industry.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is fastest SUV around Nurburgring

Alfa Romeo managed to set a new lap record at the Nurburgring with their soon to be launched 2018 Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Piloted by the same daredevil who made the Giulia Quadrifoglio the fasted four door sedan around the legendary circuit, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has become the fastest SUV to do so.

“We specifically engineered and designed the Stelvio Quadrifoglio to set world-class benchmarks and it did not disappoint with a world-record Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes and 51.7 seconds,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Alfa Romeo.

“We’re proud to now hold two Nürburgring lap time records with the Giulia Quadrifoglio as the fastest four-door production sedan and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio as the fastest production SUV,” he added.

Lapping the infamous proving ground of mainstream automakers in just 7 minutes and 51.7 seconds, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the halo vehicle of the Stelvio line up. It features some of the best tech of the entire line up and includes the following options:

Ultra-lightweight carbon fiber shell Sparco racing seats, providing maximum lateral support during extreme cornering thanks to more aggressive bolstering, and designed to be the lightest in the segment, while providing comfort for long road trips
Ultra-high-performance Brembo carbon-ceramic material (CCM) brake system

Fabio Francia, hurled the SUV around banked corners with great aplomb as he chased the elusive title of fastest SUV to lap the Nurburgring. The Performance SUV segment isn’t a big one and Porsche has pretty much been the King of the Hill until recently.

But that should change soon as automakers such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Maserati are gunning to be crowned the best of the best. This is why Alfa Romeo hopes that its latest achievement, proves that the Stelvio Quadrifoglio offers the best mix of high performance, capability and design.

Powering the vehicle is a 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine that produces 505bhp and 601Nm of torque. This colossal amount of power is sent to all four wheels via Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, which is said to deliver better performance and superior control.

The latest feat makes Alfa Romeo the only manufacturer at the moment to hold the lap record for a production four-door sedan and an SUV. But if these vehicles don’t tickle your fancy, Alfa does offer more docile variants of these performance vehicles for much lower prices.

That said, check out the youtube video below to witness Alfa’s record breaking attempt at the Nurburgring: