Category: News

The Audi Q4 E-Tron compact electric SUV first debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, and… frankly, a whole lot has happened between now and then. Yet, despite all that, what we first saw in Switzerland doesn’t seem to have changed all that much between the concept and the production model, and new information from Audi shows just how clever this little EV will be, whether it involves the windshield or just some cup holders.

Audi on Tuesday unleashed a slew of information about the upcoming Q4 E-Tron, including its camouflaged production exterior. As was promised back at its concept debut, the version that will actually reach showrooms doesn’t look all that different from what was seen at the last Geneva show. Its compact proportions are a little on the stubby side, thanks to a wheelbase of about 9.1 feet, but all that space between the wheels means the interior is much larger — about that of an Audi Q7, and its cargo area offers as much space as the segment above this one. If you’re familiar with any of Audi’s other E-Tron models, the styling shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

The exterior teasers are just a small part of what Audi offered up. Most of the focus was placed on the Q4 E-Tron’s interior. Thanks to a flat load floor and by-wire controls for the transmission, the Q4 E-Tron’s center console is like nothing else Audi makes, with a higher protuberance containing the start button and transmission controls, leaving gobs of space underneath for wireless device charging, USB-C ports and a pair of cup holders, with a traditional under-armrest cubby hanging out between the seats, as well. Speaking of beverage storage, all four door panels have a unique high-mounted bottle holder just ahead of the window switches for easier access to drinks measuring up to 1 liter.

There’s a whole lot of new tech on the interestingly styled dashboard, too. The Q4 E-Tron’s touchscreen is the biggest the company has made thus far, measuring some 11.6 inches on the diagonal (in its optional form; the standard size is 10.1 inches). The steering wheel ditches physical switchgear in favor of touchpads on the left and right sides. So, instead of a thumb wheel, you merely slide your finger up and down the volume control to change speaker loudness. But some actual switches remain, many of which are relegated to the climate control functions just above the gear selector. Like just about every other Audi on sale today, Virtual Cockpit replaces the traditional gauge cluster with a configurable display that reduces distraction by placing pertinent information front and center.

If that’s not front-and-center enough for you, say hello to something properly new — an augmented-reality head-up display. While Mercedes-Benz figured out how to overlay turn-by-turn directions onto a dash-screen camera feed, Audi took it one step further and put that same kind of information on the windshield itself.

Credits to https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/audi-q4-e-tron-electric-suv-augmented-reality-hud/

” When it comes to audio systems for cars, Harman Kardon is one of the best names in the business. The company has supplied sound systems to vehicles like the Alfa Romero Giulia Veloce Visconti Edition, the all-electric BMW iX, and the latest Kia Stinger. Now it’s the Polestar 2’s turn, with the Swedish automaker announcing that Harman Kardon has created “a new soundscape for the car”, with warning, notification, and functional sounds carrying a “robotic, digital feel while remaining clean and clear.” These sounds have been created fresh and are unique to the Polestar brand. The company hopes this will add to the premium feel of its electric sedan. ”

Are you ready for the ultimate experience?

credits to : https://carbuzz.com/news/polestar-2-upgraded-with-stunning-new-sound-system

Almost five months after Subaru unveiled its all-new 2022 BRZ, Toyota has taken the wraps off its new GR 86 in Japan. The two companies have once again collaborated to take this RWD and relatively low-priced sports car into its next generation.

This time around, its name incorporates GR, for Toyota Gazoo Racing. It follows the company’s GR Supra and also the GR Yaris, a hot hatch that – unfortunately – isn’t scheduled to come to North America.

The 86 was initially sold here as the Scion FR-S when it launched for 2012. When the Scion sub-brand was discontinued, the car reverted to its global-market 86 name. The car was jointly developed by the two companies – Toyota owns a stake in Subaru – but it’s mostly Subaru under the skin.

This means a Subaru horizontally-opposed “boxer” four-cylinder engine, but this time it’s a 2.4L, rather than the current 2.0L. That engine makes 205 horsepower, while the 2.4L is rated at 232 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

Toyota claims the car’s zero-to-100 km/h acceleration has shaved to 6.3 seconds, down from 7.4 seconds, and engine response has been improved.

Those are the Japanese-market specifications, and we’ll likely get a slight modification when it arrives here. Subaru is advertising 228 horsepower in its U.S.-market 2022 BRZ.

to read full article link below

Credits to : https://driving.ca/toyota/86/auto-news/news/toyota-unveils-its-redesigned-2022-gr-86-sports-car

1. Oldsmobile Monte Carlo
   Just as gas prices started heading down, Chevrolet stuffed an Oldsmobile diesel into the Monte Carlo for the 1982 model year. This was the same unit that debuted in the 1979 model-year GM cars—the 5.7-liter LF9 V8 engine with 120 hp on tap. The LF7 4.3-liter V8 diesel was on the menu as well, producing 90 hp. 1984 would be the last year of the diesels for the Monte Carlo, with their share of the Monte Carlo sales dipping into mere hundreds of units. We can just picture one of these at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in the year 2050, as the last remaining 1984 Monte Carlo diesel is started on the auction block to applause from the crowd.

2. Peugeot 604

Styled by Pininfarina, the Peugeot 604 was the marque’s counterpoint to Citroën’s futuristic CX sedan, and in terms of design and philosophy the two couldn’t be more different. The U.S. version, however, was primarily known for two things: first, for having positively gigantic DOT rubber bumpers (great for sitting on), and second, for making good use of the somewhat-maligned PRV V6 engine. The three dozen prospective stateside buyers also received the option of a turbocharged diesel version, in the form of the 2,304cc Indenor inline-four badged as the 604 GTD.

3. Volkswagen Dasher
The first-generation Volkswagen Passat was sold as the Dasher in the U.S. Neither the gasoline nor the diesel model was particularly dashing but rather soberly designed in that familiar German way. The good news was that the 1.5-liter inline-four appeared on the market in 1979, so at least it wasn’t terribly late to the party. The bad news was that it produced all of 47 hp. That meant a 0-to-60-mph jog of just under 20 seconds. This fact failed to dent Dasher sales, which remained steady during this period.

4. Chevrolet Caprice

It wasn’t just Oldsmobile and Cadillac that got diesel engines in the early 1980s (just as the business case for them was evaporating). GM spread the diesel love around, with woody-sided Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon receiving the massive 5,737 cc diesel V8 engine for 1980 through 1985. Early units churned out 120 hp, while later versions produced all of 105 hp. Needless to say, this was not an energy-efficient engine by any stretch. Sales by the end of the production run had tapered off for the diesel model, as gas was back in vogue.

5.Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Brougham

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Brougham, or “Bro” for short, was one of the first cars to receive the storied Olds diesel. Contrary to gearhead urban legend, the engine was not adapted from a gasoline version even if there are similarities in their construction and specs. Fraught with issues, the 4.3-liter LF7 V8 had trouble with water contamination because not enough thought was given to the fuel delivery system. The engines could also barely cope with the higher pressures inherent in diesel combustion. Head gasket failures at relatively low mileage intervals were common, but the only replacement parts were more of the same thing, so repairs only bought owners some time until a repeat of the same problems.

credits to : https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/classic-cars/g36106078/diesel-cars-time-forgot/

LONDON (Reuters) – Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars said on Monday it has signed an agreement to provide cars to the autonomous driving technology unit of China’s top ride-hailing firm, Didi Chuxing, for its self-driving test fleet.

Volvo will provide XC90 SUVs equipped with backup steering and braking systems that DiDi Autonomous Driving will integrate with Didi Gemini, its new self-driving hardware platform.

Didi is currently working toward an initial public offering with a valuation of at least $100 billion.

Just last week self-driving startup Cruise, which is backed by General Motors Co, said it had raised $2.75 billion in its latest funding round from investors including Walmart Inc, taking its valuation to over $30 billion.

Volvo Cars, which is owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd, will initially provide Didi with hundreds of vehicles, with the aim of adding more as the self-driving test fleet expands, head of strategy Alexander Petrofski told Reuters.

“For us this is a tremendous opportunity because we gain real-world know-how and get to test our vehicles in a real-world environment,” Petrofski said. “This is something we will benefit from when we start rolling out this technology in applications for our customers.”

Petrofski said a few of the vehicles have already been delivered to Didi.

Volvo began providing test cars to Uber’s autonomous driving unit back in 2016. Uber Technologies Inc sold that business to self-driving car startup Aurora last year and is still using Volvo vehicles.

“This (new agreement with Didi) is in line with our vision to be the partner of choice on a global level” for self-driving fleets, said Volvo’s head of autonomous driving strategy, Johan Taws.

The built-in backup systems and safety features on Volvo’s XC90 cars, combined with Didi’s self-driving system ,will eventually allow the cars to operate without safety drivers in robotaxi services, Volvo said.

CREDITS: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/business/reuters/volvo-to-provide-cars-for-didis-self-driving-test-fleet-577539/