Twenty five years after the outrageous LM002 ended production, Lamborghini is getting back in the SUV game with a new model, the Urus. We haven’t seen it in the flesh yet, but we actually know quite a lot about this new SUV. It’s just two months away from making its debut, so in the meantime, let’s get caught up on what we’ve already heard.

1.It’s Set to Be the First Turbocharged Lamborghini


Lamborghini is one of the few automakers that has stuck steadfastly to naturally aspirated engines, but that’s set to change with the Urus. Company CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed earlier this year that the SUV would get a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 650 hp. Interestingly, this engine isn’t the new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 developed by Porsche for use across the VW Group – Lambo’s V8 is brand-exclusive.

Lamborghini went for a twin-turbo V8 presumably to improve fuel economy, but also because it better suited the character of an SUV. In 2015, Lamborghini R& boss Maurizio Reggiani said that a V8 would be light, and provide nice low-end torque.

The Urus might have fewer cylinders than Lamborghini’s other cars, but it’s not lacking power – it’ll have 10 more horsepower than the Huracan Performante and it won’t be far off the 691-hp Aventador.

2.There’ll Be a Hybrid Version Too



When Domenicali confirmed that the Urus would receive V8 power, he also mentioned that a plug-in hybrid model was coming too. We don’t know too much about this powertrain, but it will utilize the regular Urus’ V8, and it’s not meant to be a high-performance model. Domenicali said that this is the version to get if you care about fuel economy. The Urus plug-in hybrid should arrive a year after the regular V8 model goes into production.

3. It’ll Be Fast
[imghttps://i0.wp.com/carfreaksng.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/AAtmmCQ.jpg?w=728][/img]
Well obviously the Urus will be fast. It may be a family car, but it’s a 650-hp Lamborghini too. How fast? Lamborghini says the Urus will hit at least 187 mph flat-out, and it’ll be the quickest SUV at the Nürburgring. Currently, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio holds the SUV record at that famous German circuit with a 7:51.7 lap. Lamborghini shouldn’t have too much trouble beating the Alfa considering its SUV makes nearly 150 more horsepower.

4. It’ll Share a Platform With Other VW Group SUVs
The Urus might get an all-Lamborghini engine, but under the skin, it’s closely related to the new Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne. These platform-mates are surprisingly different, so the Urus won’t likely be just a fancied-up Q7.

5.Starting Price Is Less Than $200,000



When Domenicali confirmed the Urus’ twin-turbo V8, he also gave us an idea of US-market pricing. When the Urus arrives at dealers in the third quarter of 2018, it should start at less than $200,000. But of course, this is a luxury car, so options will undoubtedly drive that price way up if you’re not careful.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/13/2019-lamborghini-urus-five-things-know/

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The last available 2017 Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet has sold to a private Belgian buyer, with all proceeds to benefit the children’s sports charity the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The price tag at the Zoute Sale at Bonhams was a record €1.2 million, or about $1.4 million.

We previously dubbed the luxury off-roader “the ultimate safari machine” for its super-extravagant features. Its soft top can be raised or lowered electronically, as can a glass partition to the driver’s compartment (wouldn’t be a Landaulet without that, now would it, Jeeves?). What’s more, the two rear seats can be fully reclined, with leg rests extending from below, and with access to folding tables, 10-inch LCD screen and heated, cooled and illuminated (!) cup holders.



As it has the number 650 in its name, however, the Landaulet also features a twin-turbocharged V12 that generates 630 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Bringing up the G-Wagen part of the bargain is a four-wheel-drive system with front, center, and rear differential locks, that sends power to solid portal axles front and rear, which move the differential and drive axles above the wheel centers for additional ground clearance.

The grandest G sold Friday in Brussels was reportedly straight from the factory and one of only 99 to be built. No G650 Landaulets were sold in the United States.



The Bonhams Motoring Department’s fifth annual Zoute Sale also saw the purchase of a 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC Coupe for €805,000 euros ($945,000), the second most-valuable lot of the sale.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/10/see-2017-mercedes-maybach-g650-landaulet-sold-500-million-naira/

i dey sell the phone in lagos 35000

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I Was There

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1g07RpTPFE

Koenigsegg has posted a video of an Agera RS running from 0 to 248.5 mph and then back again to 0 in 36.44 seconds. With this run, the Agera RS beats the Bugatti Chiron’s previously recorded time by a good margin.

POWER

A performance data logger and recorder clocked the Koenigsegg Agera RS’s maximum speed at 250.4 mph during the run. It took the car 6,424 feet and 26.88 seconds to accelerate to 248.5 mph and 1,585 feet to come to a stop, which took an impressive 9.56 seconds. Carbon ceramic brakes with bespoke calipers built by Koenigsegg helped to provide maximum stopping power on this particular vehicle.

Powering the Koenigsegg Agera RS is a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 rated at a staggering 1,360 hp and 1,011 lb-ft of torque paired to seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The car in the test was equipped with the automaker’s 1MW engine upgrade and an optional removable roll cage for additional safety during performance driving.

The Swedish supercar maker says that although this run was originally planned for the upcoming Regera plug-in hybrid hypercar, it did the run using the Agera RS because the car’s owner wanted to verify its performance capabilities. Koenigsegg still intends to do the same test on the Regera.

The automaker had originally planned to do the test run in a test facility in Papenburg, Germany, but due to weather, it opted for Vandel Airfield, a former military base that was built during World War II and closed in 2003. Behind the wheel was Koenigsegg factory driver Niklas Lilja who had to remain in full control of the car because the surface on the 1.73-mile track was littered with pot holes and imperfections due to it having deteriorated over time.

As a result, the traction control system turned on for the first three gears. Once it got traction, the Agera RS traveled 328 feet per second before dropping to 308 feet per second as it got closer to 250 mph before full braking force was applied. When taking into account the overrun to a top speed of 250.4 mph, the Koenigsegg Agera RS accelerated from a stop to that speed and then back to a stop in 37.28 seconds, beating the Bugatti Chiron’s previous record of 41.96 seconds in the 0-248.5 test.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/09/watch-koenigsegg-agera-rs-beats-bugatti-chiron-0-249-0-mph-run/

“Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to lock the doors of my Murano.”



Honking the horn, flashing the lights, locking the doors, and remote starting your vehicle’s engine can now be done from inside your house, as long as you own one of Nissan’s compatible vehicles. Later in the month, Nissan will add Alexa integration on a host of models, including the Altima, Armada, GT-R, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, and Titan XD. The new Amazon Alexa skill, called NissanConnect Services, can be utilized free of charge and is found under the connected car category in the Amazon Skills Store.



Depending on the specific model, the new Alexa feature will be available on 2016, 2017, 2017.5, and 2018 model-year vehicles equipped with NissanConnect Services telematics. Owners will be required to have an active NissanConnect Services subscription and a valid Nissan Owner Portal account.

Once the skill is enabled, commands such as “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to start my Maxima,” or “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to lock the door of my Rogue Sport” can be said. Alexa will then confirm the request and the vehicle will comply. For added security, a four-digit pin number will be required for certain commands including remote engine start.

Nissan has plans to expand Amazon Alexa to other models, including the redesigned 2018 Nissan Leaf. If you own the original Leaf (2011-2017), you’ll be able to manage remote charging, adjust the climate controls, and check the battery charge status using the Alexa skill called the NissanConnect EV and Services Skill.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vf8Q5k-l1Q

Nissan is not the first automaker to use Amazon Alexa for vehicle commands. Ford recently announced it’s bringing Alexa to its Sync 3 system and Genesis offers Alexa compatibility on its G80 and G90 models.

Owners can also change the name of their vehicle to whatever they like. So don’t be confused if you hear someone say, “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to honk the horn of my Speed Racer.”

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/09/alexa-can-now-pass-commands-nissan/

At this point, it seems like every automaker has announced it will offer electrification across its entire lineup by 2020 or 2025. But while that goal helps automakers meet emissions goals, it doesn’t sound all that fun for enthusiasts. The Toyota GR HV Sports concept, though, sounds like a car that would make our electrified future a lot less bland.



As far as we can tell, the GR HV is a modified Toyota 86. But it gets a new front and rear end that the Japanese automaker says is inspired by the TS050 hybrid race car, as well as a matte black paint job. Under the sheet metal, the race car inspiration continues, with the GR HV getting a performance hybrid system that trickled down from the TS050.



But the GR HV’s most interesting feature is in the cabin. There’s a push-button automatic transmission, but for drivers who want to shift their own gears, there’s also a six-speed H-pattern shifter. It’s not actually a manual transmission, and there’s no clutch to press, but it would theoretically offer a driving experience closer to what you get with a stick shift. That same shift lever also houses the start button under a fighter-jet like cover. Maybe it’s a little cheesy, but it’s still a neat trick.



With the engine up front, the battery in the middle, and the power going to the rear, Toyota says it’s able to provide the performance of a genuine sports car while also offering the environmental friendliness of an economy car. Sadly, there are no official power or performance figures just yet. And with no mention of the potential for production, we have to assume this will stay a concept.Then again, maybe we’ll see some of these same elements in the upcoming Toyota Supra revival.

Look for the Toyota GR HV Sports concept to make its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/08/toyotas-gr-hv-sports-concept-makes-electrified-future-look-pretty-good/

In an effort to increase efficiency and performance, some manufacturers have implemented a “hot V” setup in in their engines, placing the turbochargers for their V-shaped blocks between the cylinders rather than on the outside. But how exactly does that improve the engine? Well, it’s all about packaging.

As Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained shows us, putting the turbocharger and its associated piping inside the V saves an enormous amount of space when compared to a normal turbocharger setup. Since there’s no snails hanging off the side of the engine, there’s a lot more freedom to place the powertrain within the car. Additionally, the amount of distance the charged air and exhaust energy have to travel is significantly reduced, meaning the turbocharger will spool quicker.

Cooling is better off as well since the hot V setup separates the warm and cool parts of the turbo system. The way it’s set up, the turbochargers and hot exhaust are at the top rear part of the engine, while the intake and charged air remain at the front and either side.

But that’s just a simple explanation. Watch the whole video to see how it works for yourself.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcNvc_p5prU

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/07/hot-v-turbocharged-engine-works/

Mtcheew

As you may remember from the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, billionaire Bruce Wayne, the alter ego of Batman (spoilers), spent the opening sequence behind the wheel of a Jeep Renegade. As we at The Drive have expressed previously, an affordable subcompact crossover just didn’t seem like a fitting mode of transportation for playboy Bruce Wayne.

In previous films, Bruce drove supercars like a Lamborghini Murcielago (“murcielago” means “bat”…get it?) and exotic motorcycles like an MV Agusta F4. Something about the Renegade, courtesy of product placement from FCA, didn’t sit right. More fittingly, Bruce also drove an old Aston Martin DB Mark III in the movie, which made a lot more sense than the Jeep.

In the upcoming film Justice League, Bruce Wayne gets a big upgrade. Cars for this movie are being provided by Mercedes-Benz rather than FCA, so Bruce traded in his Renegade for a Mercedes-AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept. Things at Wayne Enterprises must have been going well since the last movie.

This radical concept was introduced for the 2013 video game Gran Turismo 6 and this is the first functional version of the car. In order to ensure 6’ 4” Ben Affleck would fit in the car, they made the whole car 10 percent larger. In the video below, Affleck describes the car as “pretty awesome.” We’d call that accurate.

Bruce Wayne isn’t the only member of the Justice League getting a new Mercedes. Wonder Woman/Diana Prince played by Gal Gadot (previously of Fast and Furious fame) will drive the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, which is a good fit.

In the video below, Gadot seems even more excited about her character’s E-Class than Affleck is about the Vision GT.

“I was very impressed,” says Gadot. “The car Diana drives is very elegant and not too flashy. Very chic and practical.”

Hopefully, Wonder Woman kept her Alfa Romeo 4C from Dawn of Justice as a weekend car.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/07/mercedes-amg-vision-gran-turismo-feature-justice-league/

I was surprised by GM’s announcement of their new robotic fuel-cell-powered all-terrain utility-truck platform, SURUS. Most automaker reveals aren’t this confidently utilitarian, and it also seems to be a rebirth of a GM concept I thought was long dead, the Hy-wire fuel-cell concept that featured a self-contained, skateboard-like platform. The surprise is good, because the concept seems very promising.



In a lot of ways, SURUS is like a very modernized version of the old Willys M274 Mechanical Mule. It’s like the Mechanical Mule self-propelled platform concept combined with the electric fuel-cell propulsion system of the Hy-wire program, and then enhanced with modern autonomous driving tech. The result is a robotic, all-terrain vehicle with a load area the entire length of the vehicle itself.

GM is pitching the SURUS concept to utility and military applications, and their press release describes the vehicle’s potential abilities:

SURUS will deliver highly mobile autonomous capability and agility in unpredictable terrain. Operating multiple vehicles in a leader-follower configuration could reduce manpower needed. For future potential military uses, the system’s inherent low heat signature and quiet operation offer benefits in environments to reduce detection and risks. TARDEC has been in discussions with GM evaluating the commercial SURUS concept as a next step of the broader collaboration to evaluate fuel cell technology for future military applications.

SURUS has four-wheel steering, two motors, a LiON battery system as well as a fuel cell system for a total of 400 miles of range and uses chassis components from GM’s existing truck lines.



Oh, the odd acronym SURUS technically stands for “Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure” but that feels sort of forced. I suspect GM wanted the name SURUS because Hannibal’s last war elephant was named Surus (which means “the Syrian”). Naming something like this after a war elephant is a pretty cool idea.



I’m also excited to see a major automaker introduce what is essentially a blank electric chassis onto the market. I’ve been advocating that Tesla do this with their self-contained, skateboard-like chassis for over a year, and I’m just pleased to see the idea happen in some way, even if obliquely like this.



But think about it—a civilian version of SURUS would make a fantastic platform for delivery vehicles, buses, and, best of all, RVs! A camper that could drive itself down the highway while you cooked up some pizza rolls or took a leisurely bowel movement is essentially the modern human’s dream, realized.



GM has some images showing a passenger cab on the platform, and it’s easy to imagine how that nice flat area could accomodate all manner of other body types as well, like this ambulance concept:



This is an exciting idea, and I’m very curious to see where it goes next.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/07/gm-shows-off-new-autonomous-fuel-cell-truck/

Though Toyota effectively started the funky box trend in America with the original Scion xB, the company has abandoned the sub-segment since killing off the second-generation model in 2015. The Japanese automaker has shown renewed interest in this niche, though, first with the FT-4X that debuted at the New York Auto Show, and now with this Tj Cruiser it will reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show.

According to Toyota, the “T” in Tj stands for toolbox, because this practical little machine can be used like one to store all sorts of stuff. We suspect that a toolbox was also a key design inspiration. It’s all slab sides and sharp corners like a traditional metal toolbox. There are also a variety of strakes stamped in the metal that suggest it’s stiff and strong. The silver paint is accented by panels coated in a bed liner-style material to make it look tougher, as well as resist scratches. We also noticed the grille mesh evokes the look of diamond-stamped steel plates. The slab sides are broken up by wider fenders that help it look lower. Though on paper these design details sound like they would be over-the-top, the overall look is actually rather attractive and it’s restrained enough that we could see a production one looking extremely similar.

The interior continues the theme of straight lines and practicality. The instruments are laid out in a thing and wide binnacle on the dash. The steering wheel is squared off with a horizontal rectangle functioning as the spokes. There are also functional and decorative woven straps throughout the Tj. Even the door panels look like peg boards. All seats but the driver’s fold completely flat, and the backs are covered in the same bed liner material as found on the exterior. The seat backs have plenty of tie-down points, too. Add-in the sliding rear doors, and the Tj Cruiser seems like a very versatile little hatch.

It sounds as though Toyota could be considering this little box for production, too. The company suggests that it would use the TNGA platform that currently underpins the Prius and the C-HR. In addition, it would offer front- and all-wheel-drive drivetrains, along with a “2.0-class engine + hybrid system.” We take that to mean that it would have an engine sized up to 2.0 liters, possibly with or without an electric motor. Of course a hybrid, and one with that engine displacement, would be easy to accommodate on the TNGA platform seeing as the Prius uses it. The C-HR even offers an all-wheel-drive hybrid variant overseas. Not only would the platform make it feasible, but Toyota has registered the “TJ Cruiser” as a trademark in the U.S., and that was before showing this concept. That’s no guarantee of production, but Toyota sure seems serious about this thing.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/06/new-toyota-tj-cruiser-giant-tool-box-wheels/

As luxury cars come, the Toyota Century has occupied its own very special niche. There haven’t been that many generations of the Century built since the first version was unveiled 50 years ago: The initial car survived with relatively minor changes until 1997, and the second generation was at a glance nearly identical, except for one noteworthy thing — the V12 engine. Unlike the first, V8-engined Centuries, the 1997-2016 car was powered by a five-liter 12-cylinder, which produced 280 horsepower (of course it did). That engine was Toyota’s first V12, and it made the Century the sole Japanese V12 production car. And now it is no more, as the new Century for the new century again makes do with a V8 engine, albeit with hybrid tech. The change is in favor of improved fuel consumption.



The new 2018 Century will be formally introduced in the Tokyo Motor Show. And very formal it is, with the lines drawn in conservative fashion, the design treading somewhere near recent Rolls-Royces and classic Lincoln Continentals. You couldn’t mistake it for anything else, and the cloth interior in the sumptuously equipped car is worth noting: no noisy leather for the discerning customer. There’s plenty of legroom available thanks to the wheelbase of over 10 feet, and audio and air conditioning can be controlled from the rear seat via the prominent touchscreen. The car will be made available to customers in mid-2018; traditionally, Japanese politicians and industry leaders have been seen traveling in a Toyota Century. There is also a custom-made royal edition, which still uses the V12 engine.



One other significant nameplate used by Toyota since forever is the Crown, and it too is reborn for the next decade. The Crown Concept has Toyota combining connected tech with driver involvement, as the carmaker says the Crown has benefitted from Nürburgring testing as well as the implementation of shared traffic information technology it calls ITS Connect.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/06/check-toyota-luxury-car-looks-like-rolls-royce/

Amen Bless u too bro! RESPECT

gbzed:


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gbzed:
#teamhonda

Make Baba God bless Hustle mak I sample dis ride

The 2018 Honda Accord marks a big step forward for the midsize sedan category, and its high-tech features are partially to thank for it. Here are just a few of the features you’ll find on the new Accord.

SOUND-ABSORBING WHEELS



Honda riffs on Continental’s ContiSilent tire technology, which applies an acoustic absorbing material on the inside of the tire tread. To ensure sound deadening for the life of the car, Honda developed its own proprietary plastic resin material that gets applied to center of the wheel rim so it continues absorbing the noise generated by a lifetime of replacement tires.

FOUR-LAYER “ZELKOVA WOOD”




Open-pore wood is all the rage these days, and the stuff accenting the dash and doors of Accord EX trims and above is the most convincing we’ve seen. It’s produced by applying four different layers of material over a plastic substrate, with the upper layers featuring voids that produce the open-pore look. The grain is meant to resemble Japanese Elm, or zelkova serrate, a species often used in bonsai.

FIRST AUTOMOTIVE NFC CHIP



Bluetooth phone pairing has become pretty simple as of late, but Honda’s making it even easier for mobile devices equipped with Android Pay or Apple Pay Near Field Communication chips. Just tap the phone on the little “N” emblem on the dash of any Touring grade Accord, and you’re paired. You can also transfer a wallpaper image the same way.

“HIGH ACCURACY” URETHANE SEAT FOAM



New urethane foam was developed for the Accord’s seats, with precise and varying firmness—softer in the thigh-support area and harder with higher rebound resilience on the bolsters. And those side bolsters now extend higher by almost 5 inches on the front seats and 2 in the back. The rear center armrest extends 2 inches longer, too.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/10/03/4-unique-features-2018-honda-accord/

Legendary founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner, died this week at the age of 91. While Hef may not have been known as an avid automotive enthusiast, much of his life was surrounded and accented by over-the-top rides. Most people don’t know that the name of his now famous empire was inspired by a defunct automaker with the same name, as the story goes.

The Playboy Automobile Company was founded in 1947 in Buffalo, New York. Though it wasn’t anywhere near as successful as other American automakers that came before or after, the respectable, small manufacturer built a handful of cars before it went out of business in 1951.

A total of 97 cars were produced between 1947 and 1951, the first and most notable being the Continental. Under the hood was a 40-horsepower four-cylinder engine, and its advertised top speed was just 75 miles per hour (121 kilometers per hour). With a wheelbase of just 90 inches, and a total length of just 156 inches, it was a tiny car. The magazine that soon followed, though, was anything but.



Playboy Magazine was founded in 1953. The name reportedly came from an employee of Playboy Automobile Company who suggested to her son’s friend that he call his new magazine ‘Playboy.’ That friend was Hugh Hefner.

Like the auto manufacturer after which it’s named, the magazine had its sights set on a male-dominated audience. The men’s lifestyle brand was one of the first of its kind – but it wasn’t all just about beautiful women. Cars were an integral part of the Playboy personality, specifically in the magazine’s Playmate of the Year award, which was given out annually beginning in the mid-60s.

The first Playmate of the Year was Lisa Winters in 1953. But it wasn’t until 1964 that the company began including a vehicle prize along with the honor. Donna Michelle was the first to be awarded a car as Playmate of the Year in 1964 – a tacky bright pink 1964.5 Ford Mustang complete with a 289 V8 (pictured below).



The award continued on annually from then, and varied in uniqueness from an odd Lamborghini Countach Roadster kit car, awarded to India Allen in 1988, to the Eagle Talon, given to Julie Lynn Cialini in 1995. The most recent winner of Playmate of the Year, Eugena Washington in 2016, took home a brand new Fiat 124 Spider. Other unique offerings included a Mazda 6 in 2009, a Shelby Series 1 in 1998 (below, bottom right), a pink Volvo P1800 in 1973 , and a Plymouth Barracuda in 1967.



Alongside Playmate of the Year, Hef himself was known for his impressive selection of vehicles. The Playboy Mansion was often pictured with a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman limousine in the driveway, typically alongside a first-generation Maserati Ghibli, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL convertible, or both.

Playmate of the Year, the magazine’s annual Car of the Year award – which saw winners like the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS in 2015, and the Jaguar F-Type in 2014 – and its heavy involvement in motorsport cemented the magazine, and Hefner, in history as an automotive influence to be sure.
Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/30/know-playboy-named-car-company/

The 2018 Toyota Camry has improved in many, many ways. It’s actually both engaging to drive in a straight line and in corners, and it has styling that can raise your heart rate. But for consumers, two of the most important upgrades are the headlights and automatic emergency braking, which have improved enough to earn the Camry the IIHS’s highest safety rating, Top Safety Pick +.

According to the IIHS, every model of Camry has headlights that are at least “Acceptable,” the second-highest rating from the organization, and there are turning headlights available that earn the highest rating of “Good.” This is a significant improvement over the previous generation, which had four variations of headlights, only one of which was rated “Acceptable.” Another set was rated “Marginal,” and two sets of LED lights were rated “Poor.”

The front crash prevention system was significantly improved as well, moving up to a “Superior” rating. The previous generation received only an “Advanced” rating because it was able to reduce collision speed from 12 mph by 10 mph, but could only reduce the speed from 25 mph by 5 mph. The new model was able to come to a complete stop and avoid a collision from both the 12 mph and 25 mph test speeds.

http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/30/toyota-improves-2018-camrys-headlights-automatic-braking/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae8bVGqFG9I

Modern cars are stuffed full of all kinds of sensors. There are sensors to help you park, keep your distance on the highway, recognize if someone is in a seat and not wearing a seatbelt, and oodles of important ones in the engine bay. Now, Nissan, with help from Dutch design company Droog, has developed a rather strange sensor, one that reads your sweat and determines if you’re dehydrated.

Yes, we’ll admit, that it sounds pretty gross and potentially a little too personal. But it is interesting technology. As the video demonstrates with the prototype Nissan Juke, the steering wheel and seats are outfitted with a special cloth coated in a material called SOAK. It looks normal at first, but when you’ve been sweating a lot, the cloth changes colors depending on your hydration. If you’re dehydrated, the cloth turns yellow, and after rehydrating, the cloth turns blue.

Now you may be asking, why is this so important besides general health? Well, Nissan cites a study by the European Hydration Institute and Loughborough University in the U.K. that found dehydrated drivers are as dangerous as drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08, the legal limit both in the U.K. and throughout the U.S. With that in mind, a car company would have some interest in keeping people from driving impaired.

Somehow, we don’t see these hydration materials becoming common in cars anytime soon, though. For one, we’re not so sure people want their sweat so clearly visualized in their cars, nor do we think many people want to see their upholstery become discolored for any reason. There’s also the issue that you can become dehydrated even without sweating significantly, and it seems that this upholstery is very dependent on sweat to work. So if you just haven’t been drinking, even without exercising, it’s possible you could be dehydrated, even without really obvious signs. But it is an interesting project, and we can imagine the fabric could find a home in athletic wear.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/30/nissan-creates-sweat-sensing-seats-steering-wheel-detect-dehydration/

Animals and cars really don’t mix. Goats, longing for their ancestral mountain homes, like to clamber onto car hoods and roofs. Cats make the fateful decision of snuggling up against a warm radiator — and fan blades — on a cold winter day. Deer just stand there, you know, in the headlights, awaiting an outcome that’s bad for everybody. And then there’s Vitus, the hungry donkey, whose idea of fine dining is a $300,000 McLaren. Or a 10-cent carrot. Not sure which.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWitADdpu1s

The ass — hey, that’s just what he’s called — landed his owner in court in Giessen, Germany, because he chomped on the supercar.

Markus Zahn left his car parked next to Vitus’ paddock last September. When he returned, Vitus decided to tuck in.

“I looked into the rear-view mirror and suddenly saw a pair of fluffy ears! And then I heard a strange sound,” he told German newspaper Bild. “The sound came from a donkey, who was gnawing at my fender.

“The donkey probably thought the car was a carrot on wheels. I’m not mad at him.”

For the record, Zahn’s McLaren 650S Spider is Elite Volcano Orange, not McLaren Orange or Tarocco Orange. And for the record, we have no idea if donkeys can even see in color. And even if so, that’s where the resemblance to a carrot ends.

Vitus caused about $35,000 worth of damage. The McLaren dealer covered most of the cost of the repair, but the situation wound up in court when an insurance company refused to pay the remaining $7,000 bill, claiming Zahn should have chosen a better parking spot.

The court on Thursday sided with Zahn, ruling Vitus’ owner liable.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/29/confused-donkey-chews-carrot-colored-mclaren/

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s got a shiny, new $2.9 MILLION toy … and he’s already takin’ it out for a victory lap.

The international soccer superstar posted a vid showing off the brand new 2017 Bugatti Chiron on Thursday … with his ever-so-lucky son, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jr., ridin’ shotgun.

CR7 pauses to say something to the camera — we’re not sure what — but it’s probably something like, “I’m rich, beeeyotch!!”

And, since we knew you were wondering … the car goes from 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/29/cristiano-ronaldo-buys-1-billion-naira-bugatti-chiron/

The whole point of a self-driving car is that you, the occupant, don’t have to do any driving. Yet Toyota’s newest autonomous car adds a steering wheel instead of subtracting one.

The new rig is a Lexus LS 600hL and Toyota Research Institute chief technology officer James Kuffner calls it “the most perceptive car in the world” according to The Verge. That perception comes from a heavy dose of technology like LIDAR, radar, and a bunch of cameras inside and out of the car keeping eyes on the road, the surroundings, and the driver.



TRI is using an undisclosed number of these mules to test out two different autonomous research systems. Toyota calls them Chauffeur and Guardian which are Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, respectively. Level 4 autonomy limits the car to certain areas that are already mapped out and Level 5 is full automation intended to work anywhere.

The most curious thing about this Lexus is the presence of two steering wheels. The one on the left is to drive the car normally and the one on the right is, apparently, to let the car drive itself without anyone in the driver’s seat. So it sounds like it’s really just there to give you the option of sitting on the other side of the car if you want. A driver has to be in the car in case of an emergency and in this Lexus that can be done from either side, for some reason.

That isn’t the only goofy thing about this autonomous Lexus. Overall, it kind of looks like an experimental autonomous car from ten years ago. It has very obviously placed cameras all over the place and doesn’t look nearly as clean as autonomous testing units like the Waymo Chrysler Pacifica or the notably normal looking autonomous Ford Fusion. Granted, every experimental autonomous car starts looks goofy in its own right like the Cruise Automation Chevy Bolt that wears what look like a goal post on its roof, but this Lexus just looks sort of cobbled together with no attempt at subtlety. It’s almost like it was thrown together so Toyota can say it’s working on self-driving tech too.

Toyota has some catching up to do in the world of autonomy. Here’s hoping this silly-looking Lexus can help the brand gain some ground.
http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/28/toyotas-new-self-driving-car-two-steering/

Tesla Model 3 sedans are just now starting to filter their way into dealerships across America, and that means we’re finally getting answers to some of the most pertinent questions we have about the vehicle. Chief among those questions are details about how the Model 3’s massive LCD touchscreen works. Some of it looks great, some is questionable, and some features are completely absent … at least for now.

One item sure to generate controversy is the complete lack of a radio. At present, the Tesla Model 3 has no FM radio (AM is completely unsupported), and no streaming of music through a phone or any other electronic device. The only way to play music in the Model 3, at least for now, is to use a third-party streaming service over the car’s 4G internet connection. In the end, this won’t be too big of an issue, as an over-the-air update is planned that will enable FM radio and bluetooth streaming, and it’s thought to be coming very soon.

It’s also interesting to see just how many critical functions the touchscreen is used to control. For instance, there are no manual air vent controls. Instead, a sub-menu has to be entered to change the direction and speed or air flow. The windshield wiper controls, too, can only be adjusted through the touchscreen. Everything from the climate controls to the audio volume is adjusted through this one large screen, though there are two buttons on the steering wheel that can be customized as the owner sees fit.

While the lack of buttons and gauges certainly makes for a clean-looking interior, we’re not so sure it’s the best option for usability. Watch the videos above and below, and feel free to let us know what you think.
Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/28/tesla-model-3-no-fm-radio-no-bluetooth-streaming/

BMW’s marketing brass, which has apparently moved on from drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid to quaffing Red Bull, is trying to build excitement for the November release of its all-new X3 by launching a global campaign that pairs the redesigned SUV with extreme athletes, a new limited-edition branded mountain bike — and the topper, a 360-degree virtual reality drive on the surface of the Red Planet.

The German automaker dubs the multimedia campaign “On a Mission” and says it’s meant to celebrate discovery and pursuing your passions. It’ll use Facebook and the brand’s other social media channels, a TV spot, plus the virtual reality feature, available through YouTube (we’ve embedded the video below) and best experienced with VR glasses.

“Using virtual reality, the BMW X3 takes customers and fans on the world’s first test drive through the breath-taking scenery of Mars — quite literally pushing the boundaries,” the company says. “Spectacular images and evocative sounds transform the trip to Mars into an immersive experience. During a virtual reality drive across the atmospheric and ever-changing surface of the planet — reminiscent of a Hollywood film — different features of the BMW X3 are presented as part of the “BMW Personal Co-Pilot.”

It’s a promotion that might have been better suited for an electric car (such as the Mars rovers), since an internal combustion engine won’t work in Mars’ thin atmosphere. But let’s suspend disbelief and enjoy the VR ride.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFkhq40z348

Also, a TV spot features extreme athletes surfing the Arctic, mountain-biking across rocky ridges and camping on steep rock walls. BMW says it’ll also use the campaign to present a limited special edition of the BMW Turbo Levo FSR 6Fattie, a collaboration with bike maker Specialized. A separate Facebook Canvas ad will offer an interactive vehicle visualizer that will allow users to create their own custom X3 followed by an invitation to test-drive one.



Built in Spartanburg, S.C., the U.S. will get two BMW X3 models at launch: the X3 xDrive30i, which gets a 248-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, and the X3 M40i, with a 355-horse turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. You can read all about the SUV’s other specs here.

So welcome to the future of brand marketing. Hope you enjoy driving on Mars and aren’t put off by the idea of errant SUVs or traffic jams there.

http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/27/bmw-invites-users-take-new-x3-virtual-spin-mars/

King Salman of Saudi Arabia took to state television today to announce that he will overturn the ban that kept women from driving in his conservative kingdom. Although the move isn’t immediate, the king said he hopes that the announcement will improve the country’s international reputation. Saudi officials also reportedly hope that allowing women to drive will have a beneficial impact on the country’s economy as more women will be able to enter the workplace.

A set of policies will need to be implemented by the ministries of internal affairs, finance, labor and social development before women are actually allowed on Saudi roads. It’s not yet known how long it will take to craft regulations that will grant women access to driver training and licensing.

Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving has long been held as an example of the country’s poor human rights record. Only recently, a Saudi cleric and government official called for the ban to remain in place, claiming that women “lacked the intellect” needed to drive. It was just one of the many absurd reasons given over the years to keep the ban in place.
http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/27/saudi-arabia-finally-allows-women-drive/

King Salman of Saudi Arabia took to state television today to announce that he will overturn the ban that kept women from driving in his conservative kingdom. Although the move isn’t immediate, the king said he hopes that the announcement will improve the country’s international reputation. Saudi officials also reportedly hope that allowing women to drive will have a beneficial impact on the country’s economy as more women will be able to enter the workplace.

A set of policies will need to be implemented by the ministries of internal affairs, finance, labor and social development before women are actually allowed on Saudi roads. It’s not yet known how long it will take to craft regulations that will grant women access to driver training and licensing.

Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving has long been held as an example of the country’s poor human rights record. Only recently, a Saudi cleric and government official called for the ban to remain in place, claiming that women “lacked the intellect” needed to drive. It was just one of the many absurd reasons given over the years to keep the ban in place.

Source: http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/27/saudi-arabia-finally-allows-women-drive/

The Suzuki e-Survivor comes with four in-wheel electric motors but it’s been envisioned as a two-seater car without a roof, but what we can see is that it’s a 4×4. The extremely short overhangs at both the front and rear axles, show the compactness of the e-Survivor concept, while the lack of wheel arches give us a glimpse into what the suspension where we get to understand that the setup is a 4×4 vehicle.



Now, it’s different than any 4×4 we’ve encountered yet, because it comes sans a roof. The e-Survivor comes with electrically retractable running boards and features a modern front fascia derived from the Jimny with circular LED headlights and an illuminated five-slot grille.

The cabin is just as interesting as the design of the car as you get a massive full-width head-up display along with a screen built into the flat-bottomed steering wheel. The centre console sees the use of yet another display that gives out a wide array of information in a 3D layout. There’s an additional display on the passenger’s side, plus two more tiny screens built into the seats. Speaking of which, there are speakers and air conditioning ducts mounted within the seats.



The concept sits on a truck-derived ladder frame configuration, one of the oldest in the business and also is preparing to celebrate Suzuki’s centenary in 2020. The 45th edition of the Tokyo Motor Show will see Suzuki bring more concepts and production cars and we can’t wait to see more.

Source:http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/26/check-acclaimed-cutest-suzuki-previews-e-survivor-concept/

POWER
Every 2018 Camry—from the base L, to the mid-level LE and SE, and all the way up to the top-of-the-line XLE and XSE—comes standard with a 2.5-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Armed with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque (206 horsepower and 186 lb-ft in the quad-exhaust XSE model), the Camry’s all-new four-cylinder produces an additional 25 horsepower and 14 lb-ft of torque compared with its predecessor.

The new four-cylinder Camry is also considerably more economical than the previous-generation car, with EPA fuel-economy figures that climb by 4 mpg in the city (to 28 mpg), by 6 mpg on the highway (to 39), and by 5 mpg overall (to 32 mpg combined). We matched that combined figure over the course of 1188 miles. Even more impressive was the Camry SE’s 45-mpg showing on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy run, which is 1 mpg better than that of the Camry hybrid.



It’s a Cruiser Not a Bruiser

Even though the 2018 Camry’s more engaging persona has transformed it into a competent driving companion, at heart it remains, well, a Camry. Despite a wheelbase that has been stretched 1.9 inches, overall passenger volume is down a smidge and rear legroom decreases by 0.9 inch. Still, only NBA-size passengers will notice the difference, as the Camry’s aft quarters remain plenty spacious. The supportive and well-padded rear bench has a 60/40 split-folding seatback (except on the base L). But the pass-through is relatively small, and it’s further compromised by the seatbacks’ inability to lie completely flat.

Up front, the driver is greeted with a dashboard that features clearly marked gauges, easy-to-reach controls, and rich materials. Cost cutting, however, is apparent on the center console and door panels, which feature harder plastics. Shutting this Camry SE’s doors resulted in a disappointingly hollow sound unbecoming of a vehicle with a starting price of $26,095. Other demerits include Toyota’s decision to equip the Camry SE with just one USB port (the $29,345 XLE and the $29,895 XSE both come with three), as well as a lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, which are unavailable on any Toyota.



The four-cylinder’s straight-line performance was less rousing. Zero to 60 mph required 7.9 seconds, just 0.1 second ahead of the old car. Meanwhile, the new Camry’s slow-to-downshift automatic transmission contributed to a 50-to-70-mph passing time of 6.0 seconds, 0.4 second worse than the previous-generation Camry SE and 1.2 seconds behind the Mazda 6.

Like its predecessor, the 2018 Camry SE also is available with a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain or a 3.5-liter V-6. The former option produces a combined 208 horsepower and managed to scootfrom zero to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds and from 50 to 70 mph in 5.1 seconds. We’ve yet to test a V-6 car, but we expect the 301-hp engine to get the Camry to 60 mph in less than 6.0 seconds.



Priced to Sell

Like the entry-level $24,390(8.6m) Camry L and the $24,895(8.8m) Camry LE, the Camry SE comes standard with LED headlights and taillights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beams, and automated emergency braking.

The SE adds automatic climate control, cloth-and-faux-leather seats with power adjustability for the driver, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters. SE models also include their own special dash trim, 18-inch wheels, a tacky-looking exterior kit that features a decklid spoiler and fake vents below the taillights, and an odd striped pattern on the seat inserts that doesn’t give off an upscale vibe. We’d take a hard look at stepping up to the better-equipped XSE or XLE model, which substantially improves the perceived quality of the interior.

Our $28,220 test car featured the optional sunroof ($900) and the $1225 Convenience package, which includes a proximity key with push-button start, an automatically dimming rearview mirror, and a blind-spot monitoring system. An in-dash navigation system and dual-zone automatic climate control are available as part of a $3380 bundle that also includes the sunroof and the contents of the Convenience package.

Although family-sedan shoppers who prize driving engagement will be better served by a Honda Accord or a Mazda 6, choosing a Camry no longer means forsaking satisfying driving dynamics. Pinch us, we must be dreaming.



Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $28,220 (base price: $26,095)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-capable inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection

Displacement: 152 cu in, 2487 cc

Power: 203 hp @ 6600 rpm

Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 111.2 in

Length: 192.7 in

Width: 72.4 in Height: 56.9 in

Passenger volume: 100 cu ft

Trunk volume: 15 cu ft

Curb weight: 3409 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:

Zero to 60 mph: 7.9 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 20.5 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 32.0 sec

Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.2 sec

Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.3 sec

Top gear, 50–70 mph: 6.0 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 16.2 sec @ 90 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 133 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 175 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.88 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY:

Observed: 32 mpg

75-mph highway driving: 45 mpg

Highway range: 720 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:

Combined/city/highway: 32/28/39 mpg

http://carfreaksng.com/2017/09/23/review-2018-toyota-camry-se-2-5l/