Tesla’s Autopilot Predicts Crashes Freakishly Early [VIDEO]

June 9, 2017 admin Leave a comment

All Tesla vehicles, including the future Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver. As you can see in the video, all these drivers have to do is angrily lay on the horn after the fact. This is an awesome demonstration of where transportation technology is headed, and how countless lives can be saved.

Teslas have eight surround cameras provide 360 degrees of visibility around the car at up to 250 meters of range. Twelve updated ultrasonic sensors complement this vision, allowing for detection of both hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of the prior system. A forward-facing radar with enhanced processing provides additional data about the world on a redundant wavelength that is able to see through heavy rain, fog, dust and even the car ahead. The car calculates changing velocities of surrounding vehicles to predict whether you are in danger of an accident beyond your possible comprehension. I can’t wait to see more videos showing how innovative technology is changing what we think is possible on the road.

Lucid Air

On the Lucid Air

June 9, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Lucid Air

On December 14, 2016, Lucid revealed the Lucid Air to the world during a private VIP event in Fremont, California. Since then, the California based company and its Tesla challenger, the Lucid Air, has been the talk of the high tech electric automotive startup scene. The fully electric drive cars are not expected to roll out to customers until 2019, so it’s still in the early stages of development. At around this time there has been a lot of speculation about the price, feasibility, and realism of the idea that it will compete with the Tesla Model S. However, a lot of media members have been able to get their hands on the early models and go for test drives. The Lucid Air features impressive digital displays and all of the trappings of a futuristic luxury sedan. It is equipped with the necessary sensors for automated drive and really utilizes space well in the back and front seats for, well, activities you will have time for when your not really driving.

Lucid recently started a blog to address some confusion about the Lucid Air they call Clear the Air, the first edition of which they used to elaborate further upon the pricing and features of the Lucid Air:

The Base Lucid Air

The car that we have been showing publicly represents a well-optioned Lucid Air, leading to confusion regarding the price range. Much of the speculation suggests that the starting price of the car will be over $100,000, which is not accurate. The Lucid Air will have a base price of $52,500, after the federal tax credit available to buyers of battery electric vehicles is subtracted. The base model car will be well appointed and enjoyable to drive. It will provide superior comfort, a better user interface, and better performance than comparably priced BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.

Features of the base Lucid Air include:

240-mile range
400 horsepower (rear-wheel drive)
All hardware necessary for autonomous driving
Huge interior space in an efficient package
Two trunks, one in the front and one in the rear, with a combined storage capacity of over 32 cubic feet (similar to the volume of a 4-person hot tub)
12-way power front seats
LED multi-lens array headlights
Four screens, with interactive-touch surfaces on three
5-seat configuration with a rear bench seat
10 advanced airbags
Aluminum roof
19-inch wheels
10-speaker audio system
Over-the-air software updates

Options

Above the base model, there will be a number of available options, as demonstrated by the alpha show car, which will allow the Lucid Air to compete with the best of the large luxury cars. We don’t yet have all of the options and packages ready to announce, but we can give you a sense of what options will be available:

315-mile and 400-mile-range battery options
Up to 1,000-horsepower twin-motor configuration, with all-wheel drive
Fully active suspension, delivering a world-class ride
Glass-canopy roof
Rear executive seats that recline up to 55 degrees
22-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, dynamic bolsters, and massage
21-inch Lucid-design wheels
29-speaker audio system with active noise cancellation
Expanded leather trim with corresponding material upgrades

A fully loaded Lucid Air will have higher performance, greater comfort, and better efficiency than the current high-end market benchmarks. This unique set of attributes will allow the Lucid Air to compete with the best in the world, across multiple automotive classes. The price of a fully loaded Air will be above $100,000, but we are not yet able to provide specific top-of-the-line pricing.

The Launch Edition

We have also received many questions related to the pricing and features for the 255 Launch Edition cars that will be the first customer cars off of the production line. These cars will be very well optioned as standard and will be priced over $100,000. Expect a 315-mile range, 1,000 horsepower, autonomous driving hardware, 21-inch wheels, and an upgraded audio system for starters. Some features, such as the rear executive seats, cannot yet be confirmed for early production. The Launch Edition cars will also have unique colors and badging, signifying their special nature. Additional details will be announced closer to the start of production.

We hope this post has provided additional insight into the pricing and optional feature strategy for the Lucid Air. We intend to have a car that is competitive in features and price with mid-level luxury vehicles and can also be configured to compete with the best cars in the world across classes.

Reserve your Lucid Air and Lucid Air Launch Edition today.

Chevy Bolt

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review and Road Test

June 8, 2017 admin Leave a comment

America’s largest automaker, GM, is manufacturing its most affordable, consumer friendly electric vehicle since the GM EV1. Better equipped than the Nissan Leaf and cheaper than the BMW i3, the 2017 Chevy Bolt packs a 60 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery that has an EPA estimated range of 238 miles on a charge. While Car and Driver observed a 190 mile highway range, that should still be more than enough for anybody’s expected and unexpected daily driving needs. This tiny four door hatchback has the type of mass appeal that GM hopes will make it a major player in the electric automotive market. The Bolt will have to compete with the highly anticipated Tesla Model 3, Elon Musk’s “Model T” of sorts, an affordable Tesla for Joe Sixpack, and Jill Sixpack.

The Bolt starts at $37,495, but a $7500 federal tax credit will put the price under $30,000. Further, climate minded municipalities might have extra incentives to push that price down as well. If you want all the trimmings, you can get the Bolt Premier with a starting price of $41,780. It adds leather, heated front and rear seats, roof rails, a 360-degree-view camera system, a rearview camera mirror, rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. Options included an upgraded Bose stereo, wireless phone charging, and two USB ports in the rear for $485, and a Driver Assistance package with forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams for $495.

The Bolt has a lot of pop on the road. The instant electric torque accelerates the Bolt from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 sec. The top speed is limited to 93 mph.

Other than that the Chevy Bolt is very similar to your average compact hatchback. Test drivers have mentioned it is quite cramped inside, with a lot of plastic trim. But you do get a state of the art infotainment system and heads up display, which adds to the futuristic experience. Overall, if you are really inclined to get of petroleum for your transportation needs, the Bolt is a great option that is now in the feasibility price range for many of us.

Isuzu

Extra Muscle for 2017 Isuzu D-Max and MU-X

June 6, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Isuzu is known for producing fun, reliable, and sometimes quirky pickups and SUVs. The Isuzu Trooper was a roomy family size SUV, great for getting the kids to soccer practice and navigating treacherous grass parking at weekend tournaments. The Rodeo was like the more agile off-roading cousin. Later, the 1999-2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS was like a concept car that never was compromised on the cutting room floor and somehow made it to market. This thing is quickly becoming a modern collectible for its sabre tooth front grill and RC truck design. Low-mileage VehiCROSS trucks are already selling for more than their original sticker price. Off-road enthusiasts put some oversized tires and aftermarket lift kits on them and it becomes a real head turner if not head scratcher.

Sadly, Isuzu withdrew from the US market in 2009, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still make awesome, sporty pickups and SUVs elsewhere in the world. For example, the Isuzu D-Max and its SUV variant, Isuzu MU-X, are popular utility and family trucks in the Asian market. The latest iterations of the Isuzu trucks are available with a 2.5-liter engine and the new 3.0 VGS Turbo variant that delivers up to 163 horsepower and up to 380 newton meters of torque. The Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger responds quickly without the turbo lag you might get from older turbochargers. This torque has made it a favorite among the industrial and business workforce as it can be modified with custom canopies. There are also a lot of customizations enthusiasts can have applied to their ute, such as liners, roof racks, LED lights, and drawer units. As for Isuzu D-max ute canopies, try to find it on the website. The i-GRIP (Isuzu Gravity Responsive Intelligent Platform) provides a more rigid ride and better stability for towing loads. Not only can these Isuzus tear up the asphalt, but they can also switch to off road 4×4 mode seamlessly. The Terrain command system uses a spin system to allow for instant switches of drive modes from 4-Wheel to 2-Wheel Drive.

The Isuzu brand may not be in North American dealerships anymore, but the fun, sporty, and reliable spirit of Isuzu is still alive and well in the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X around the world. These sport utility trucks are very efficient, but I would like to see Isuzu develop and electric or hybrid SUV in the future to go along with their low pollution alternative fuel heavy duty trucks and their clean diesel technology vehicles.

Uncategorized

Top 5 Safe Cars of 2017

April 24, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Photo Credit

The modern car is built with safety very much in mind. Endless tests are done to help prevent accidents from happening in the first place, and if they do, protecting the driver and passengers in the vehicle is a priority. Though all manufacturers now make safety their aim, some cars are better than others. So, let’s take a look at some of the safest cars on the market these days and what it is that makes them so great.

Hyundai Ioniq

When it comes to small family cars, the Ioniq stands up there with some of the very best on the market. Many people will be impressed to read that it boasts a five-star Euro NCAP rating which is very difficult to obtain. It is available in three distinct models: standard hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric model. The looks are fairly standard, but beneath the surface, it is a car that has safety at its very core.

Toyota Prius

It would be hard to write an article about the safest cars on the market without giving the Toyota Prius a mention. The original car that popularised the hybrid trend, the Prius is now in its fourth generation and safety is very much a priority. The main advantage of the Prius is that it is packed with the latest technological features including an autonomous braking system and lane-keeping assist. Not only this, it was voted Euro NCAP’s safest large family car in 2016.

Honda Jazz

If you are looking for a small vehicle that is also very safe, look no further than the latest Honda Jazz. Though this is a car that is targeted at a younger market, it may well be parents who are impressed by the safety features and suggest this as a perfect first car. For added peace of mind, it is worth having them take a defensive driving traffic school online. Spaciousness and practicality are two features that have always been focused on, but now the five star Euro NCAP crash test rating is an added bonus.

VW Touran

With a comfortable interior and good level of driveability, the VW Touran is an excellent choice for family buyers. The engine is economical, meaning that running costs are relatively low. And with regards to safety, it has scored well across the board. It scored particularly highly in the Child Occupant category which means that children ride in the safest seats possible.

Ford Galaxy

Those who after a large vehicle that is also safe, the Ford Galaxy comes right near the top of the list. It performed very well across all categories of the Euro NCAP which means that it is a very safe car indeed. New additions include better quality materials and a touchscreen infotainment system. Despite its large size, the steering and suspension are good which means that it is fun to drive as well as being practical and safe.
These are just five of the top safe cars on the market. The general rule of thumb is that the newer the vehicle, the safer the car tends to be.

Uncategorized

Beijing to Replace All Taxis with Electric Vehicles

March 30, 2017 admin Leave a comment

This is news very near and dear to my heart and lungs. Reducing toxic air pollution in urban environments is crucial to improving public health. If you live in an urban city, you may or may not be familiar with AQI, the air quality index. This measures the amount of ground-level ozone, particulates, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air. Depending on where you live, the AQI will exclude some of these measures. But ground level inhaled particulate matter and other toxins spewed from internal combustion vehicles have adverse affects on local lives, including asthma, bronchitis, sinus infections, cancer, and death. Especially in Asia, which has developed so much industrially and socioeconomically, pollution is a very big, very visible problem. Many months of the year, citizens are encouraged to wear face masks, and you can forget about exercising outside unprotected. So it is great to see China taking action against localized deadly pollution.

China will begin to replace all taxis in Beijing with electric vehicles. All new replacement models for decommissioned taxis will have to be electric starting in 2017. Hopefully, China will make a serious push to lower their toxic emissions, because as of right now, the smog can reach as far as the west coast of the United States, thanks to prevailing wind patterns. But the most harmful pollutants are happening on the streets, as localized emissions are trapped between buildings and hover on the sidewalks and windows where people live, work, and play. This type of pollution is usually not expressed by AQI indexes because of where the monitors are set up, so the harmful effects are much worse than indicated. Electric vehicles are the best way to reduce localized air pollution in urban environments.

On Electric Cars