Ford unveils the Mustang Cobra Jet: a 1400-horsepower electric dragster

Ford unveils the Mustang Cobra Jet: a 1400-horsepower electric dragster

     Ford announces an impressive racing model, the Cobra Jet. Reserved for drag races, it takes full advantage of the capabilities of a supercharged electric motor.

     Electrification is spreading everywhere. Even in places with high-performance internal combustion engines, we will see, one day or another, a move towards environmentally-friendly vehicles.

     Ford is paving the way with the unveiling of the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1,400 100% electric prototype. For some, this is pure heresy, but in reality, we realize that a 100% electric engine can be extremely powerful.

     Another piece of good news, considering that you only drive a little more than a quarter-mile, because you need a long-range!

     The figures speak for themselves for those who are in doubt about the performance of this engine: ¼ of miles under 8 seconds and a top speed of 274 km/h.



     It must be said that the technology presented by Ford isn't a piece of cake. This monster of acceleration delivers 1,400 horsepower and 1,100 lb-ft of torque.

     Of course, everything goes directly and strictly on the rear wheels. Ford wouldn't have gone so far as to make it all-wheel drive.

     While we're amazed by this power, Ford keeps a reserve in terms of the technology used as well as the type and size of the battery. As for range, frankly, it doesn't matter.

     For Mark Rushbrook, director of Ford Performance Motorsports, this is undeniably an exciting project: "We saw the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 project as an opportunity to start developing 100% electric engines in an existing package in which we have a lot of experience.

     We had the performance standards that we had to meet or exceed. He goes further, adding that he hopes other projects will come on the table: "It was a fantastic project we worked on.

     We hope this is just the first of many to come for the Ford Performance Motorsports team.

     Although Ford has some experience with electrification, in the specific case of this project, the American manufacturer called on other companies with expertise in this area.

     In the batch, we count on MLe Racecars, Watson Engineering, AEM EV, and Cascadia.

     In short, the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 is really exciting. However, for the moment, it's only a prototype; Ford isn't yet offering it to its customers who love acceleration racing.

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.

BMW X5 Hybrid SUV xDrive Review

The new BMW X5 SUV xDrive Hybrid swaps its four-cylinder for a six-cylinder. Consumption is on the rise, as is the size of the battery, to meet the European measurement cycle.

BMW X5 Hybrid xDrive: more cylinders, more battery, more fuel consumption     

     On this new X5, everything changes! If the third generation was technically close to the second one, this fourth version makes a clean sweep of the past, by adopting the new CLAR platform, inaugurated by the current 5 Series and now shared by all the propulsion range of the Bavarian manufacturer. 

     The X5 has taken advantage of this to move up in the range, further increasing its size. The length, 4.92 m, is impressive. 

     But it is above all the width, 2 meters excluding the rear-view mirrors, which is impressive, to the point of being a disadvantage in an urban environment. The X5 has chosen its target: it is primarily intended for the American market.

     Born almost sporty and athletic, the BMW X5 is now a classic and statutory car. Because, for those who want a more dynamic look, there is the X6 (not declined in plug-in hybrid ... for the moment?). 

     While those who want ostentatious luxury can turn to the X7 (no Plug-in Hybrid here either). In short, if it wasn't so massive, the X5 would be almost inconspicuous!

Luxury on board

Inside, too, the X5 shares nothing with the previous generation, although the atmosphere remains typically BMW. 

The lines of the furniture have been refined, while the finish is perfectly flawless. By tapping into the copious options catalog, it is possible to choose the color and type of material for every inch of the interior.

Once you get used to how the iDrive system works, it convinces with its highly intuitive ergonomics. The thumbwheel on the center console makes it easy to navigate through the menus. 

Above all, gesture control is a valuable ally in everyday use: you don't have to take your eyes off the road, just twirl your finger to adjust the sound. In addition to this, it has one of the most powerful voice recognition systems on the market.

It would be indecent to criticize the habitability of such a colossus. Given the size, the space on board is obviously generous. 

However, it should be noted that this Plug-In Hybrid version can't have the seven-seat option, due to the presence of the battery. 

No offense to the front passengers, who enjoy some of the most comfortable seats on the market, including head restraints as soft as cushions and a convincing optional massage function.

The technique

If there's one thing the X5 Plug-in Hybrid hasn't changed, it's the transmission. Still supplied by ZF, the gearbox incorporates a 113 hp electric motor instead of the torque converter. 

Everything else is new, starting with the battery, it adopts an enormous capacity for a rechargeable hybrid: 24 kWh, which is the same as that found on the first Renault Zoé and Nissan Leaf... 100% electric! A necessary evil, in order to have a decent electric range and thus keep a favorable tax system.

Because what BMW gives on one side, it takes on the other. This larger battery is designed to limit the CO2 emissions of a revised engine. 

Probably to better compete with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, this X5 xDrive45e is upgrading to an inline six-cylinder. This unit develops 286 hp, for a combined total output of 394 hp. 

This is enough to ensure performance in line with the - high - demands of the class: the top speed is 235 km/h, while 0 to 100 km/h is shot down in 5.6 seconds. Not bad for a vehicle weighing 2,510 kg, whose CO2 emissions are contained at 47 g/km in the worst case (with the largest 22-inch wheels).

Behind the wheel of the BMW X5 xDrive45e

The BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid drives first and foremost... like an X5! In other words, it is without a doubt one of the most comfortable SUVs on the market. 

Especially since the xDrive45e version is the only one in the range to benefit from standard air suspension, optional on other engines. 

The road's unevenness is all the more remote as the soundproofing is very high. Together with the remarkably comfortable seats, this makes this big SUV a real cocoon.

Of course, you'd expect a BMW in the field of dynamism. The X5 does a good job of defending itself for such an imposing machine. 

The chassis, which is well-balanced and almost playful when provoked, accepts being abrupt. But the absence of four-wheel steering, unavailable on the Plug-In Hybrid version, limits fantasies. 

Above all, we regret fundamentally imprecise steering around the midpoint. Things get a little better with the active steering option.

Where this X5 really expresses itself is on the highway. Steering always proves problematic when it comes to maintaining a precise heading, but the kilometers pass without fatigue and passing maneuvers are immediate and consistent. 

It's an interesting compromise between responsiveness and length, even if the resources seem less inexhaustible than those of the X5 M50d six-cylinder quad-turbo diesel engine, which boasts a power output of close to 400 hp. 

But the electric motor only acts as a boost at high speeds, which explains this difference in feel.

Consumption on the rise

If technical choices allow CO2 emissions to be contained on paper, thanks to the European type-approval calculation method, this is not the case in real life. 

Because the big battery means more weight, and the six-cylinder is naturally greedier than the old four-cylinder. In hybrid mode, average fuel consumption is around 11 liters per 100 kilometers. No miracle.

Of course, the use of a generous battery allows a rather decent range in electric mode, since we recorded a little over 60 km, with consumption around 30 kWh/100 km on a mixed course. 

This means that a good part of the daily commute can be done in electric mode... provided that the battery is recharged regularly, which is not necessarily natural for customers of this type of model, whose main advantage is the tax advantage. 

It should be noted that BMW does nothing to make life easier for them, with a saving of a penny on the on-board charger, limited to 3.7 kW. So there's no need to look for a big wallbox to fill up the battery in less than seven hours...

BMW i3 Urban Suite: a level 3 autonomous version

BMW i3 Urban Suite: a deluxe version for level 3 range testing

     As the first model in the i range, the BMW i3 is characterized by numerous technological innovations. Launched in 2013, the BMW i3 is now available with a 42 kWh battery.

Powertrain & Performance of the BMW i3

     The car has a 125 kW electric motor with 170 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The i3 is a rear-wheel-drive car with a single-speed gearbox. 

     The electric motor is equipped with BMW eDrive technology, which enables energy recovery during braking or deceleration. The recovery power is up to 50 kW.

     The BMW i3 accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h.

Fuel consumption, Battery & Autonomy of the BMW i3

     The car has electricity consumption of 13.1 kWh/100km.

     The BMW i3 offers three types of the lithium-ion battery:

     The first has a capacity of 22 kWh, of which 18.9 kWh can be used, and announces 190 km of autonomy in NEDC cycle, i.e. 130 to 160 km of autonomy in real use. This one is no longer marketed today.

     The second was launched in July 2017 with a capacity of 33 kWh (27.2 kWh usable), i.e. an NEDC range of 300 kilometres and a real range of 200 kilometres. This one is no longer commercialised to date.

     The third, announced for the 2019 vintage, will have 42 kWh of energy capacity for an announced WLTP range of between 285 and 310 km.

     The battery guarantee extends over 8 years or 100,000 km, for a minimum capacity of 70%.

     In use, different driving modes can influence the autonomy: ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ which allow gaining 20 km of autonomy each. In theory, the BMW i3 can, therefore, cover up to 310 km depending on driving style and type of journey.

The interior design of the BMW i3

     Inside the car, you'll immediately notice the tablet-like control screen on the dashboard. The majority of the materials used are recycled carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). 

     However, the natural and elegant touch is provided by the wooden part of the dashboard in front of the passenger seat and to the left of the steering wheel.

As a regular at the CES 2020, BMW was present this year in Las Vegas for a level 3 autonomous car demonstration.

     Like every year for the past 7 years, BMW has made the ESC the perfect time to talk about its progress in the field of autonomous vehicles. 

     In 2020, it is the i3 that is in the spotlight in an Urban Suite version capable of level 3 autonomy. 

     This so-called conditional autonomy level is applied when the car is able to see its immediate environment and act accordingly, in a predefined environment or in a delimited area (such as a motorway or a car park, for example). 

     The demonstration in the car park adjacent to the CES consisted precisely in driving the BMW i3s over a precise route with a passenger in the back but... nobody at the wheel. 

     In fact, the German manufacturer's electric compact car zigzags perfectly between the columns placed on the parking lot to complicate the task, before returning to its starting point according to a circuit defined upstream. 

Level 3 autonomy

     But BMW didn't settle for this technical demonstration. The Munich manufacturer wanted to transform its i3 so that it would best embody the possibilities offered by the level 3 range. 

     As a result, the interior of the classic BMW i3 has been almost completely redesigned. Only the driver's seat and dashboard were spared in the process of turning the car's interior into a small hotel room. 

     The result is the Urban Suite version of the i3, which not only offers plenty of room in the rear, but also a footrest and a retractable screen integrated into the headliner. 

     Finally, a touch-controlled lamp providing ambient lighting adorns what looks like a small bedside table. 

     Of course, the BMW i3 Urban Suite would like to be eco-responsible. Its electric engine is the first step, but this model goes further with the use of many recycled materials for its plastics but also the use of renewable fibers or leather tanned with olive oil. 

     Whether it is a real desire to reduce its carbon impact or a crude attempt at greenwashing, we'll let you be the judge of that, but as far as the technical aspect and precisely the autonomy are concerned, the demonstration is a success.

Sennheiser's amazing in-car audio system

When the whole car becomes a loudspeaker: Sennheiser's amazing in-car audio system

     At CES 2020, Continental and Sennheiser demonstrated that you can make a car sound without using a single loudspeaker. 

     The two manufacturers combined their respective technologies, Ambeo 3D for Sennheiser and Ac2ated Sound for Continental. 

     The device, inspired by string instruments that use their structure as a sound box, reproduces a 3D sound by vibrating elements of the car's interior such as the membranes of a loudspeaker thanks to acoustic transducers.

     "The result is an extremely natural sound experience for the occupants, who feel as if they are sitting in a concert hall surrounded by sound," Continental and Sennheiser explain. This acoustic process is nothing new. 

     LG and Sony have been using it for a long time and have integrated it into TV sets at CES 2017.

     In the case of the automobile, the innovation offered by Continental and Sennheiser has many advantages. First of all, the weight can be reduced by 75 to 90 percent compared to existing audio systems. 

Find all the CES 2020 news on News Tech

     There is also space savings and space freed up by the presence of the speakers, giving designers greater freedom. It remains to be seen when this technology will make its appearance in production cars. 

     Neither Continental nor Sennheiser has given any indication on this point.

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.

Mercedes-Benz unveils a stunning VISION AVTR concept car

Mercedes-Benz unveils a stunning VISION AVTR concept car based on the film Avatar

     The German brand Mercedes has unveiled an electric concept car straight out of the future: the AVTR Vision. 

     Inspired by the Avatar universe, it aims to put people, machines, and nature at the heart of the user experience.

     The Mercedes Group has the art and the way to put the spotlight on its projects. Its latest concept car was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 in Las Vegas. 

     The Vision AVTR (Advanced Vehicle Transformation), named after him, draws its inspiration from the world of Avatar, directed by James Cameron. The result is a totally futuristic model based on the interaction between man, machine and nature.

     From the outside, the vehicle has very round shapes: its overall appearance is even similar to a cocoon. Its blue interior atmosphere is reminiscent of the predominant atmosphere of the aforementioned film work, while Dinamica vegan leather and a wooden floor form part of the product's interior. 

     To put it plainly: the designers have given up their horses to design a phantasmagorical four-wheeler.

Machine-man connection

     Placed at the heart of the user experience, human-machine interaction is materialized by a dedicated area located in place of the center console. 

     "Instead of a traditional steering wheel, the multifunction control element in the center of the console allows the human and the machine to merge," explains the press release available for download on the official Mercedes website.

     He continues: "By placing your hand on the control unit, the interior comes to life and the vehicle recognizes the user by his heart rate and breathing. 

     A selection menu is projected onto the palm of the hand, through which the passenger can choose between different functions intuitively. 

     For example, a 3D graphic can be used to explore Pandora's virtual world from different perspectives.

700 KM OF AUTONOMY

     This biometric connection is supported by thirty-three "bionic flaps" installed on the roof of the vehicle: "They are reminiscent of the scales of reptiles and are able to communicate with the driver," the report says. 

     From a technical standpoint, the Vision AVTR necessarily follows the joys of an electric engine, which delivers 300 kW, or 407 horsepower.

     Its 110 kWh battery also gives it a range of 700 kilometers, all available in four-wheel drive. 

     Finally, an automated charging technology would allow the battery to be fully charged within 15 minutes. 

     The AVTR is covered on its back with 33 retractable scales, called "bionic flaps" by Mercedes, which the company says could be used to communicate with others. 

     The shape of the wheels is directly inspired by the emblematic white seeds of the tree of souls that can be seen in the 2009 theatrical release. 

     These four circular wheels are designed in such a way that the concept car can move horizontally as well as sideways.

Find all the CES 2020 news on News Tech

     These are all fantasies that are not about to come true: that's what a concept car is all about.