Auto News 5

The all-new 2015 Volvo XC90, which is set to make its global debut in August, will feature a number of advanced safety technologies that will take the company a significant step closer to its vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.

The list includes two world firsts.

Run-of road protection
In a run-off road scenario, the new Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and tightens the front seat belts to keep the occupants in position. The belts are firmly tightened as long as the vehicle is in motion.

Also, in order to help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain. The system is capable of reducing the vertical occupant forces by up to one third.

Auto brake at intersections
The XC90 becomes the first vehicle in the world that can automatically brake if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car at an intersection. This helps avoid a collision or mitigate the consequences of a crash.

By the way, City Safety will become the umbrella name for all of Volvo's auto brake functions.

“City Safety is one of the most advanced standard crash prevention offers you can find in a modern car. It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night,” explains Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist Safety at Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “We are now able to cover the whole span from dusk to dawn by a high-sensitive camera combined with advanced exposure control.”

Photo: Volvo

The all-new 2015 Cadillac Escalade will launch in the Middle East next month, but that didn't stop many customers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to order one. In fact, according to Liberty Automobiles Co., the exclusive dealer in the country, the Escalade has received a large amount of pre-orders over the past three months.

Such strong demand can no doubt be attributed to the Escalade's newly revamped interior, which incorporates extravagant luxury and the latest technology.

“The sophisticated luxury SUV - designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology - both meets and exceeds customer expectations, delivering an unparalleled driving experience for the most discerning car enthusiasts,” says Felix Weller, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing Director for Cadillac in the Middle East.

The interior features rich wood trim options as well as cut-and-sewn and wrapped materials, befitting of the elegance that the Escalade is known for. Meanwhile, the CUE infotainment system comes standard and features state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls.

Under the hood of the new 2015 Cadillac Escalade is a revised 6.2L V8 engine that's more powerful, yet more fuel-efficient than the previous unit. Magnetic Ride Control and all-wheel drive are also part of the package.

Source : gmauthority.com

In his recommendations following a February 2011 collision that killed five people, coroner Quoc-Bao Do is pressing the Quebec government to make drowsy driving a similar offence as drunk driving.

He also hopes the SAAQ will intensify awareness campaigns including road signs to remind people of the potentially tragic and deadly consequences of driving under fatigue.

In related news, a team of British researchers, together with the electronic specialists at Plessey, has developed a unique seat fabric that incorporates capacitive sensors and is able to monitor cardiac activity, which could alert drivers when they start to show signs of drowsiness.

Ultimately, this technological breakthrough could lead to the system having the power to slow the vehicle down if the driver fails to respond to the alert.

There's no doubt many accidents could be avoided as a result, but the best and safest thing to do will always be to pull over at the slightest sign of fatigue.

Source : industrie-techno.com

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Forbes magazine that the Mexican Grand Prix will be back on the schedule next year.

After months of negotiations, Ecclestone confirmed to Forbes that it has got the green light and said “we have got Mexico past the post.”

The race will be held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, located downtown Mexico City. The last F1 race held there was in 1992.

Tavo Hellmund - the creator and mastermind of the F1 USGP and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin - is backing the race with Alejandro Soberon, chief executive of the world's third largest live entertainment company CIE.

New Renault Sport F1 director Cyril Abiteboul says that the French auto manufacturer is well advanced with the 2015 version of its V6 turbo engine.

Like those of Mercedes and Ferrari, the Renault Power Unit has had to be developed in line with the FIA's homologation rules.

“We are quite well advanced on the 2015 version of the V6 actually, there was already the first fire-up of next year's engine on the dyno last week,” Cyril Abiteboul said in Germany.

“It's going well; we need to improve performance however,” he added.

Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1. (Photo: WRi2)

The French engineer confirmed that Renault will evaluate the split turbo idea pioneered by Mercedes this season.

Mercedes modified its turbos in other to have the air compressor and the turbine on separate ends of the engine.

It is said to help reduce turbo lag for improved efficiency, as well as assist with the car's aerodynamic packaging.

Remi Taffin, head of track operations at Renault Sport F1, explained it would be wrong of his engineers to not investigate it if the concept can bring a benefit.

"For sure we are looking at a different solution," he said when asked about going down the split turbo concept. "We will explore all the solutions.

"If I knew [the answer now] it would be wrong, because I should not know now what we are doing. It's being developed."

Group 1 Automotive, the third-largest auto dealer group based in the United States, has acquired Houston dealerships Munday Chevrolet and Munday Mazda, the company said today.

Tesla Motors today halted production at its sole assembly plant for the first time for a revamp the company said is necessary to speed Model S output and prepare it to make electric crossovers.

July has been a busy month for news updates on many future EV, hybrid, PHEV and fuel cell vehicle programmes, with some especially interesting facts on the next Prius.

High-tech TDI engines that provide economy and performance sit at the heart of the Audi brand's values and technological DNA. As Audi marks a quarter century since it debuted TDI, Calum MacRae takes a look at Audi's strategy to develop TDI powertrain technology further to meet tighter future CO2 emission targets and the need for still higher efficiency from internal combustion engines.

Toyota plans to remain the top-selling auto brand among Hispanic customers in the United States as competing automakers boost efforts to win a bigger share of business from the nation's largest ethnic minority group.

Russia's Severstal said it agreed to sell its two steel plants in the United States for $2.3 billion, withdrawing from the market at a time of rising tension between Russia and the West and turning its focus to its domestic business.

Russia's Severstal said it agreed to sell its two steel plants in the United States for $2.3 billion, withdrawing from the market at a time of rising tension between Russia and the West and turning its focus to its domestic business.

General Motors made changes to redesigned ignition switch parts on four models in 2003 and 2004 but did not ensure that older, potentially faulty parts were taken out of circulation, the automaker said in a filing with US safety regulators made public on Friday.

Ignition switch problems are continuing to plague General Motors. Over the weekend, it was reported the automaker had earlier this month ordered Cadillac dealers to stop selling some versions of the CTS model range because it does not have a fix yet for cars recalled in late June over an issue where engines can be shut off if the driver's knee bumps the ignition key.

Swiss engineering group ABB and Volvo said they were setting up a global partnership to co-develop and commercialize electric and hybrid buses with fast-charging systems.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) and Fiat India have extended their diesel powertrain sourcing deal for an additional three years, reported local media.

Porsche has officially opened three new buildings at its Weissach development centre, marking the conclusion of the largest investment project in the centre's history.

BASF has opened its new catalyst plant in Sroda Slaska, a special economic zone near Wroclaw, Poland.

News 22 Jul, 2014

Volvo's new XC90 SUV gets raft of world first safety aids including Junction Autobrake

News 21 Jul, 2014

Founder, CEO, chairman and product architect of Tesla, Elon Musk, wants to set up a colony on Mars. We met up with him