The Nissan e-NV200 Combi: Big Car, Small Emissions

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Most of the hybrids and electric cars you see today or either the small models that hardly contain three people or they are massive, like the ones that Elon Musk is pedalling at the moment. But the Nissan e-NV200 Combi is one of those cars that is bridging the gap between small and large. It is the world’s first 7 seat MPV that is all electric. The idea for this model is to cater for shuttle services as well as appeal to large families. In this respect, the NV200 is catering for quite a niche market, so let’s put it to the test.

Nissan was one of the first firms with a mainstream EV, and this model, based on the NV200 van, is pretty much cut from the same cloth as the Nissan Leaf. As far as its power is concerned, the electric motor has a decent 107 bhp, as well as 187lb ft of torque, meaning that its modest power lends itself well to the family contingent. And while the NV200 model is considerably bigger than the Nissan Leaf, it has the same 24wHk battery that the leaf has. So if you’ve got a small family but opted for this car, you may find yourself heading to a used auto service to trade it in. And as the somewhat a limited battery power is felt at higher speeds, despite the larger front than the Leaf, the official range for the vehicle is only 106 miles.

Despite its somewhat limited range, it comes with two different charging options in both versions of the car, the Combi and the Tekna. The two charging options, the Rapid, and Rapid Plus, and while the Rapid version can take 4 hours to charge, the Rapid Plus version has a high speed 6.6Kw AC option for charging onboard. There isn’t much difference between the Combi and the Tekna, save for the 15-inch alloy wheels, as well as climate control, and the usual features like Bluetooth and so forth. The benefits of both models are that it has the Nissan Carwings Infotainment System, which includes satellite navigation, as well as a DAB radio.

The one thing you notice when taking it out for a spin is that it’s so quiet, as well as it being without a diesel engine, and no manual gearbox. This means that negotiating heavy traffic is easy work. And while the van is able to keep up with other high-speed traffic, the top speed of 76 miles per hour can be a bit of a problem. It’s also important to remember that other factors will drain the battery. The one major issue is that if you are driving in hot weather, the climate control will put a lot of pressure on the battery.

But, as far as a family car is concerned, this is certainly one of the front-runners in the category of “driving five or more kids to the game”, but with its limited capabilities, it appears more useful in shuttling people back and forth, rather than long, strenuous journeys.

Jaguar E-Type Zero: The Future Of Electric Cars

‘They don’t make them like they used to.’ You hear people say that about things all the time, especially cars.The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most iconic cars out there and a great choice for any classic vehicle enthusiast. However, they’re not that efficient to run and they’re pretty bad for the environment. If only there were a way to strike a balance between amazing design and a cheap clean engine.

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Well, now there is. The Jaguar E-Type Zero is, without doubt, the coolest electric car on the planet. It captures everything that was so amazing about the original model and brings it into the future with an electric engine. It’s surely going to usher in a new age of electric car technology. This new E-Type, based on a model from 1968, is pretty much exactly the same apart from the updated engine. So, how does it hold up against its classic counterpart?

Exterior

The E-Type is one of the most recognisable cars in the world and even took pride of place in a James Bond movie. To ruin that iconic exterior would be a great shame, which is why it’s a good job that they haven’t done that. This is the kind of car that you’ll want to wash regularly with top rated car wash shampoo to keep it in tip top shape. All of the classic lines and elegant curves are still there and the ride is low. At first glance, you would never realise that this is an electric car and not a classic 60’s E-Type. The only small changes that have been made are for energy efficiency, for example, the headlights have been updated with LED lights. It’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the classic look.

Interior

The interior of the car has had a bit more of an upgrade, but it still captures the essence of the original. The gear stick has naturally been replaced with one that has the drive, neutral and reverse features that you need in an electric vehicle. The dash has been replaced with a slick looking carbon fibre one and they’ve added a modern screen display. There are also lots of new controls but they’ve all been designed with a classic car feel to create a great marriage of modern electric car design and the traditional aesthetic of the old E-Type. The wood rimmed steering wheel and hand cranks for the windows give the nostalgic feel of driving the Zero’s original counterpart.

Drive

To create the electric engine, Jaguar built on their existing electric cars. The 220kw drivetrain is powered by an impressive 40kw battery. If you’re worried about losing the power of the original E-Type you can rest easy. It’ll do 0-60 in a staggering 5.5 seconds. When you compare it to other electric cars, the range isn’t amazing. It’ll do around 6 or 7 hours on a full charge which can usually take you about 170 miles. It’s not the best for long distance but nobody ever bought an E-Type for getting from A to B.

The E-Type Zero is a triumph in electric car design that proves that we don’t need to make compromises on power or appearance to reduce carbon emissions.     

Why A Prius Is The Perfect Car For Your Kid

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When it comes to picking out the perfect car for your teenager, you probably have no idea where to start. You want to make sure that you pick out something that’s going to be easy for them to drive and look after, but also that will be safe for them. Assuming that you’re looking for a mid-priced car, and a new one at that, we’re going to put forward that a Toyota Prius is a great choice for you. This hybrid car is a popular choice in the market among a range of different consumers, but it’s also been dubbed one of the best new cars for teens. So let’s take a look why it could be perfect for your teenager too.

Reliability

Investing in a car for your kid is a big deal. In general, you’re going to want to make sure that the investment you make is not only worth it, but pays off too. In general, you don’t want to buy something that’s going to break down on you, or cost a lot in maintenance right away. The good news is, the Prius is a good little car. As a hybrid, it’s relatively quite efficient, but it’s reliable runner too. What Car suggest that it’s better than average in five out of their six checks, which include bulbs, brake fluid, air conditioning, filters, and brake discs.

Safety

But that’s not all you’re going to want to be concerned with. Because it’s essential for you to ensure that your kid is going to be safe when they’re driving. As much as you hope they’re not going to be driving reckless, although click here if that doesn’t happen, you want the car to be safe is they do get into an accident. With a Prius, there’s collision warning tech along with brake assist to keep them covered.

Price

Of course, this is a car for your child, so you’re not going to want to be spending the earth on them. But at the same time, you know you need to invest if you’re going to get them a good, reliable car. With a Toyota Prius, you’re good. You’ll be looking at around $23,475 – $30,015 for the Prius itself, and then around $26,675 – $30,935 for the Prius V.

Running Costs

Maybe the upfront costs aren’t too much of a concern for you? When that’s the case, you’re definitely going to want to make sure that the running costs are much more affordable, especially if your teen will be paying for this part! In general, the service costs are low, and the Prius has great fuel economy to with a good 50MPG.

Style

While you’re trying to make sure that the model you pick out for your kid is suitable for them to drive, you know that they’re only going to care about the look. And with a Toyota Prius, you’re both going to be happy. Because it really is as cute as it is impressive!

Elon Musk Surprises Everyone with the 2020 Tesla Roadster

Following the reveal of the Tesla Semi tonight, Elon Musk pulled out a huge surprise: the new Roadster. Yes, the Tesla Roadster is back, and we’ll apparently see it on the road sometime in 2020. The performance is said to be absolutely staggering. Whether or not it’s worth the hype, well, we’ll leave that up to you. But these preliminary details indicate something super cool is on the way.

Let’s cut right to the chase:

  • 7,376 pound-feet of torque. Yes, you read that correctly.
  • 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, making it the quickest production car in the world.
  • 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds.
  • Quarter mile in 8.8 seconds, which beats every other production car.
  • 250+ mph top speed.
  • 620 miles of highway range.

As Elon points out, according to this data, you’ll be able to drive the new Roadster from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back on one charge, at highway speeds. And by the way, these numbers are only for the prototype car shown tonight. The production car could be even quicker, with more range, and a higher top end. We’ll believe it when we see it, of course, but man, that’s incredible.

The new Roadster will use three electric motors – one in the front and two in the back – giving it through-the-road all-wheel drive. The incredible power comes courtesy of a 250-kilowatt-hour battery. True to its name, you’ll be able to remove the roof. And for added practicality, it’ll seat four people… well, okay, two and some grocery bags.

Want one? You’ll need $50,000 to reserve one, and the base price will be $200,000. Or you can be one of 1,000 people to order a Founders Series car, which costs a full $250,000, right up front.

See it for yourself in the high-res gallery below, or head to Tesla’s site for more information.

Source: Tesla

Tesla Reveals a Super Semi, 0-60 in Under 5 Seconds!

At an event in Los Angeles on November 16th, 2017, Tesla unveiled its new Semi electric truck, which is capable of traveling 800 kilometers (500 miles) on a single charge with a loaded trailer.

Powered by four independent Model 3 motors, the vehicle can go from 0-60 mph in just five seconds; it’ll take 20 seconds while paired with an 80,000 pound load. The idea with the Semi is to create a shipping solution that’s not only more environmentally friendly than a diesel truck, but also more economical to own and operate.

The interior features a central cockpit for greater visibility and two large displays for navigation and other controls on either side of the cabin. The shatter-proof windshield uses Tesla Armor Glass that the company says is far more durable than standard glass; that’s a big deal because a cracked windshield takes time to replace, and it’s illegal to drive with a damaged one in the US, which means downtime and money down the drain for trucking companies.

In addition, the Semi beams data to a mobile app that presents vital information about the vehicle, along with remote diagnostics, preventative maintenance, and fleet management information.

With the Semi, the big draw for logistics companies will likely be the lower cost of ownership. Tesla says that a diesel truck is 20 percent more expensive to run per mile, and that running an Autopilot-powered convoy of Semis is even more economical than transporting cargo by rail, while also being 10 times safer than having the vehicles manned by human drivers.

It’ll be interesting to see if that’s enough to convince shipping companies to make the switch to Tesla’s electric offering. The Semi will begin production in 2019, and you can reserve them now by wiring across $5,000 apiece.

SOURCE: TheNextWeb

Important Care Tips for Your New Porsche

If you have splashed out on a stunning new Porsche, you will want to care for it properly so that it look as good as new for as long as possible. After all, a gorgeous vehicle like that deserves some serious TLC. However, despite your best intentions, if you don’t go about looking after your Porsche correctly, you could end up causing more damage than good. With that in mind, read on for some top tips.

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  • Dealing with steam – Is your vehicle steamed up? You may need to shift the seat and move the carpets for this one. It’s also a good idea to check the bottom edge of the door panels. If you have a Porsche Boxster996 especially, this is a critical maintenance tip. This is because your Electrical Control unit is situated under the left seat, which means that steam can actually be dangerous. After all, the EC unit coming into contact with stream is the last thing you want for your new vehicle. Nonetheless, steam is something that can impact all models, so don’t overlook the importance of this. It’s also worth pointing out that the 996 Cabrio and all Boxster models have drains underneath the soft top, which need to be kept clear.
  • Choose cleaning products with care – No doubt, cleaning your new Porsche will become your new favourite hobby on the weekend. Nonetheless, the last thing you want to do is scratch your new car or leave it with smudges or covered in a sticky residue. This could easily happen if you don’t choose your cleaning products with care. A good place to start is with Test Facts best spray wax page. You will discover more about the 12 best spray waxes on the market, including information about the features of each product, helping you to choose the best one for your Porsche. You can also find such information on all of the other cleaning products you need. Reading reviews from other Porsche owners comes highly recommended too.
  • Check the brakes – Have you purchased a second hand Porsche? If so, you should check your brake discs as soon as possible. You’re checking for corrosion! Most of the damage tends to be at the back of the brake, which is annoyingly the part that you can’t see. Other signs that your brakes could be rusty is if your experience a slight vibration whenever you brake.
  • Check the tyres – Last but not least, checking tyre pressure is a given with any vehicle. Nonetheless, you also need to carefully check the edges of the tyres too. Grip is going to reduce, as the tyres get older, because the rubber deteriorates. Therefore, checking the integrity of the tyres is especially important if you have opted for a used Porsche.

Needless to say, you will want to give your Porsche the love and attention it deserves. Use the tips that have been mentioned above to ensure your Porsche sparkles brightly and works amazingly for years and years to come.

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