Audi e Tron Sportback: An Electric SUV With A Charming Design

Audi e Tron Sportback: An Electric SUV With A Charming Design

      Audi revealed, as expected, its e Tron electric SUV Sportback. A four-door coupe with a charming look marked by an octagonal grille with horizontal slats, a muscular body and a roofline that drops "abruptly to the rear" of the vehicle. 

     In short, this zero-emission vehicle has a lot to offer from a purely aesthetic standpoint.

     This SUV has a 60-liter front trunk and a total luggage capacity of 615 liters. The vehicle also features 20-inch wheels, sport-tuned air suspension, and optional virtual outside mirrors.

EMPHASIS ON AERODYNAMICS

     The firm from across the Rhine insists on the presence of Matrix LED digital headlights, a high-end technology present from the first level of finish. 

     The press release published by the German group states: Their light is broken down into tiny pixels and illuminates the road in high resolution. 

     The German group also praises the aerodynamics of its product, which has a direct impact on range.

"Approximately 10 kilometers of this increased range compared to the e-Tron can be attributed to the vehicle body, the more favorable aerodynamics," says Audi. 


     The range, in fact, is 446 kilometers according to the WLTP approval cycle, thanks to a battery with 95 kWh of gross energy (86.5 kWh of net energy).

     On the power side, the double asynchronous electric motor has a total power of 265 kW (360 hp) and a torque of 561 Nm. 

     The result: the e-Tron Sportback is capable of reaching top speeds of 200 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds, or 5.7 thanks to a "boost" mode that is active for just eight seconds. 

     All these figures are to the credit of the most powerful of the versions, the 55 Quattro.

     The second version, soberly called 50 Quattro, has a power output of 230 kW (313 hp) and a torque of 540 Nm. 

     Maximum speed: 190 km/h. Acceleration time: 6.8 seconds. Its battery provides 71 kWh of gross energy (64.7 kWh of net energy), giving it a shorter range of 347 kilometers. 

This is a relatively short range for a station wagon that is normally designed to cover medium and long distances.

TRIPLE SCREEN

     At the dawn of the 2020 vintage, Audi logically plays the card of modernity and connectivity. 


     Its teams have thus implemented the "MMI touch response" operating system within its double screen located between the driver and the front passenger. "When the finger actuates a function, a haptic and acoustic confirmation is triggered," he explains.

     The passenger compartment is equipped with a 12.1-inch touch screen at the top to "control infotainment, telephony, navigation, and dedicated e-Tron settings", while the lower 8.6-inch screen "allows text entry and management of comfort functions and temperature control". 


     A third 12.3-inch screen (1920 x 720-pixel resolution) as a digital instrument panel invites itself in front of the driver.

     To top it all off, Alexa Voice Assistant will give users the opportunity to manage certain features with their voice alone. "The service provides access to more than 80,000 Alexa commands," Audi said. 

     The service provides access to more than 80,000 Alexa commands," said Audi. "And a final touch of connectivity is provided by the Audi connect digital key, supported by the myAudi mobile application.

CHEAPER COMPETITION

     In addition to its compatibility with the e-Tron Charging Service, which provides "access to almost 120,000 public charging points in 21 European countries", this zero-emission SUV can be charged on direct current up to 150 kW (120 kW for the 50 Quattro version). 

     This means that 80% of energy can be recovered within 30 minutes. Alternatively, the 11 kW alternating current public stations can be used.

     Finally, the final offer consists of thirteen body tents, a limited edition "edition one" (plasma blue color) and a basic version available for pre-order at the end of November 2019, before deliveries start in spring 2020. 


The press release indicates German prices: 71,350 euros. This is an onerous cost compared to its future competitors: the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach E, for example, will cost 58,000 and 48,990 euros, respectively.

Autonomous vehicle: what are the differences between the levels of autonomy?

Autonomous vehicle: what are the differences between the levels of autonomy?

     Driving assistance, autonomous piloting systems, 100% autonomous cars... What is behind these terms and what are the different levels of autonomy?

     Would you be willing to let your car handle everything for you?

     Today, virtually all mobility stakeholders, and many more, have focused on autonomous vehicles.

     Tesla, the PSA group, Renault, Google Waymo, Mercedes, Uber, Volvo... all are working on car autonomy, even if some car manufacturers have had to revise their roadmaps recently and redirect research and investment funds in this area to other sectors, such as energy transition.

     Legislation has never really been very clear on autonomous vehicles. There was often confusion between autopilot and autonomous piloting. 


    Autopilot is still a very advanced driver assistance system, but it cannot do without a human driver. The opposite is true of autonomous driving, which must be able to do without a human presence.

Defining what human drivers and autonomous systems can and cannot do

     In 2014, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) International, a professional organization of scientists and engineers, proposed a grid for understanding and classifying autonomous vehicles.

     This grid is the basis for the classification into categories, defining what human drivers and autonomous systems can and cannot do.

     It also serves as a reference for manufacturers and governments who regularly address the various issues related to the mobilities of the future, mobilities that are sometimes directly related to autonomous systems.


     The International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) has also defined a European scale with six levels of vehicle autonomy, a system similar to the one designed by the SAE.

LEVEL 0: NO AUTONOMY OR ASSISTANCE

     As the name implies, it is the zero level of autonomy and assistance. 


     Understand that the entire driving part is done by the driver, without any help from the car. Here, there is no cruise control, no automatic emergency braking or even lane-keeping assistance.

     The small light indicating an engine defect or a fault in your engine oil level cannot be considered as assistance but as a warning of danger.

LEVEL 1: AUTOMATION OF CERTAIN FUNCTIONS

     This is generally what we find on the majority of our cars today. 

The driver is obviously present 100% of the time and the car is not supposed to make any decisions "alone". Among these aids, we can mention cruise control or automatic emergency braking.

     We can also take as an example assistances that seem "normal" today, such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS) or the programmed electro-stabilizer (ESP), two assistances that are now mandatory for all new cars.

LEVEL 2: AUTOMATION OF COMBINED FUNCTIONS

     This is the level that tends to be democratized on all our modern cars. 

     Even if the legislator does not allow it, which is why cars regularly tell you to put your hands on the steering wheel when you don't, you can theoretically let go of the controls for a few seconds and let the car do its work. 


     Of course, the driver must keep an eye on his environment so that he can quickly regain control if a problem occurs.

     Level 2 allows the car to manage acceleration and braking, for example with adaptive cruise control. 

     This is combined with lane-keeping and tracking, as is the case with a Mercedes-Benz EQC or an Audi e-Tron, for example. 


     The car knows how to move on its own, but is not aware of the entire environment around it. Other functions include the famous "Park Assist", which is now present in many vehicles and allows the car to park by itself.

LEVEL 3: LIMITED AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

     That's where we can really start talking about an autonomous vehicle. 

     Cars are able to read and analyze their environment, allowing them to take actions according to their evolution. 


     Level 3 indicates that the driver must be able to regain control of the vehicle at any time, but that the car is perfectly autonomous under certain conditions, on motorways for example.

     Today, some production cars oscillate between levels 2 and 3. This is notably the case of Tesla, which, just a few years ago, offered a very convincing automatic driving system, but today unfortunately constrained by the legislator's standards that force the brand to revise its copy. 

     Nevertheless, at Tesla, the car uses cameras and radars to understand its environment and apprehend the dangers. 

     It can accelerate if you activate your blinker to overtake, decelerate to maintain safe distances while keeping an eye on other road users.

     At the moment, due to legislation, Tesla's are still below level 2 range, but they do check a few boxes on level 3. The Californian company claims to be ready when level 3 of autonomy is legalized and democratized.

LEVEL 4: ALMOST COMPLETE AUTONOMY

     The vehicle performs the entire driving task completely autonomously, i.e. without even the necessary presence of a driver on board. 

     The system is responsible for all the actions that it will perform, in particular concerning maneuvers or its decisions according to the evolution of the environment.

     On motorways, the vehicle must be able, for example, to exit the motorway and stop alone at a rest area. We can also take the example of the "City Park Full Automatic" feature, which allows the vehicle to park in a line or in a battle without a driver.

LEVEL 5: FULL AUTONOMY

     The vehicle combines absolutely all driving tasks and is not subject to any human intervention. Whether it is on the motorway or in the city center, it is capable of driving in total autonomy. 

     All the big companies are working on this, like Google for example and its famous Google Car, or Uber. There is not even a steering wheel anymore, it is the car that makes all the right decisions without human intervention. 


     If it wants to, it can even ignore a human order if artificial intelligence thinks it is dangerous.

WHEN WILL 100% AUTONOMOUS CARS ARRIVE?

     Certainly not for tomorrow, as we read all over the place a few years ago. 

     While manufacturers are generally well advanced in this respect, it is the legislator who will have the last word. There are still a lot of parameters to be taken into account, and the range of a vehicle depends not only on the vehicle itself but also on the surrounding environment. 

     For example, cities will also have to be connected in order to smooth traffic flow or to send information to autonomous vehicles.

     We have also recently noted a slight decline in interest from car manufacturers in vehicle autonomy, especially since some short-term issues are more important, such as those related to the energy transition. 

     The budget dedicated to research and development of autonomous cars has had to be cut in some cases and transferred to other sectors, such as electric powertrains or batteries.

     Some manufacturers are also delegating these activities to companies specializing in new technologies.


     This is the case of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which has joined forces with Waymo, a company owned by Google, to assess market opportunities and to work together to provide a commercial, legal and regulatory framework for autonomous automobiles in France and Japan.

Hyundai to Produce Uber's Flying Taxis

CES 2020: Hyundai to Produce Uber's Flying Taxis

The Korean firm unveiled the first prototype.

     In Las Vegas, Uber and Hyundai announced a new partnership at the CES. The Korean manufacturer will design the future flying taxis to be deployed by Uber Elevate.

Producing vehicles in large quantities

     It has been talked about for several years now, and the advent of flying taxis seems closer than ever. It is not for nothing that firms such as Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Volocopter are all working on an urban aircraft concept. 

     However, it seems clear that one company has got a head start on its competitors.

     Indeed, Uber has just joined forces with Hyundai, which will build the flying taxis that the company plans to deploy in 2023. 

     It should be noted that the Korean company is not the first manufacturer to join Uber Elevate since the latter also works with Boeing, Bell, and Embraer.

     "Hyundai is our first automotive partner with extensive experience in large-scale car manufacturing," said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate. 

     "We believe that Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at a speed never seen in today's aerospace industry, producing reliable, high-quality aircraft at high volumes to reduce the cost of passengers per trip," he continued. 

     Specifically, Hyundai will produce the vehicles, while Uber will provide the transportation service.

What's this vehicle going to look like?

     At CES, the Korean company Hyundai unveiled a prototype of a flying taxi with four rotors. 

     Able to travel at altitudes ranging from 300 to 600 meters and at a maximum speed of 290 kilometers per hour, the electric vehicle will be able to cover up to 96 kilometers in a single trip. In its early stages, it will have to be controlled by a pilot and will later become autonomous.

     Hyundai has also said that its aircraft will be quieter than a helicopter, but that may still be the equivalent of a more or less bearable sound. 

     The Korean firm has already imagined a flying parking lot that looks like something out of a science fiction movie for its aircraft.

Find all the CES 2020 news on News Tech

     This partnership is part of a much larger project on the part of the builder. Called Smart Mobility Solution Provider, it highlights several mobility systems that will potentially be deployed in the cities of the future.