Posts

Mercedes hopes to roll out Level 3 self-driving in U.S. this year, CEO says

​ Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius says the automaker is hoping to win certification this year for Drive Pilot system, which allows drivers to take their focus off the road. Mercedes Benz hopes to introduce Level 3 autonomous driving in the U.S. this year, CEO Ola Kallenius said, after winning certification in Germany for the technology last year. "It’s our objective to roll out this technology this year," Kallenius told reporters on Thursday during Mercedes has been conducting tests in the U.S. and talking to the authorities there, he said, without offering specifics other than to say he hoped the technology could be offered on a wide scale rather than piecemeal. Mercedes was the first auto makers to receive clearance from Germany's car watchdog for its Level 3 driving system, which it calls Drive Pilot, last December, based on technical requirements laid out in United Nations regulations.   Drivers can take their hands off the wheel and engage in "certain secondary activ...

Aston Martin to continue building V12 sports cars

​ The new new V8-powered  Aston Martin DBX 707 SUV   just edges the V12-engined DBS grand tourer on outright acceleration, but boss Tobias Moers has no immediate plans to phase out the company’s own 12-cylinder motor. Asked if the DBX 707’s V8 – a modified version of  Mercedez AMG ’s most potent engine – could replace the V12 in the Aston Martin  DBS  and the top-rung  DB11 , Moers said: “No, we won’t do that. The V12 still has a bit of potential, and having the V12 Vantage shows there’s still room for a V12 in our sports car generation.” The new V12 vintage is expected to use a similar powertrain configuration to the  V12  spider speed which makes 690bhp and 555lb ft. It has already been confirmed as a swansong for the V12 Vantage name, but Moers’s latest remarks suggest the engine will maintain a role in  A...

Tesla considering second factory in China – report

​             A new Tesla factory may open in the coming years in northern China, according to a government social media post, as the brand eyes growing sales in China and abroad. Tesla may be looking to open a second factory in China, according to an overseas report, as the brand's current Shanghai Gigafactory reportedly nears maximum capacity. According to a social media post from officials in the north-eastern Chinese province of Liaoning – discovered by News in China could be preparing to open a new facility in the province's capital of Shenyang, to complement the car maker's current factory in Shanghai. While far from firm confirmation, the Weibo social media post notes says development work planned for the city will "lay the foundation for the implementation of major new energy vehicle projects such as Tesla" – indicating talks are underway for a new Tesla facility. Car News China reports Shenyang was one of the cities bidding to be the home of T...

Toyota patents manual transmission for electric cars

​   Toyota   – the world’s best-selling car maker – could revive the manual gearbox for electric cars.  The prevalence of three-pedal transmissions has declined significantly in recent years due to changing market demands and the improved efficiency of torque-converter automatics. In 2021 it's believed approximately five per cent of passenger cars sold in Australia had a manual, down from almost 30 per cent two decades earlier. However, new patents filling from Japan reveal preliminary plans to resurrect the technology for zero-emission vehicles. Electric vehicles generally do not require gears due to their instant torque and the nature of their power band, however the recently-uncovered designs attempt to replicate the experience of driving a traditional petrol car with a manual transmission for enthusiasts. "This is a technique for producing a pseudo shift change in a vehicle that transmits torque to wheels from a drive motor," the document says. "The torque can be...

2022 Ford Ranger fuel consumption increases

​ The official fuel-consumption rating for the popular Ford Ranger ute – equipped with the twin-turbo 2.0-litre engine – has gone up after losing fuel-saving technology amid the semiconductor shortage. The 2022 Ford Ranger equipped with the twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine will use more fuel than previous examples, after losing a fuel-saving technology amid the global semiconductor shortage. Specific examples of Ford’s popular Ranger four-wheel drive ute – equipped with the twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and built from January 2022 – now display an average consumption figure of 8.0 litres per 63.137 miles on the official rating label. The 5 per cent increase in consumption – up from 7.6 litres – comes from the deletion of stop-start technology, which cuts engine power and automatically restarts it when stopped in traffic.

Why you should use enclosed auto shipping services

​ f you are looking to have your car transported, there are many options that you can choose from. In this article, we are going to go over why you should use enclosed car transport for your next journey. Whether you have a vintage car, a high-value vehicle or a family car, we are going to explain to you why enclosed car shipping could be right for you. It keeps your car protected One of the major benefits of covered car transport is the safety that it offers. This transport service will use a specialist vehicle with an enclosed trailer. By doing so, reduces any damage which may be caused to the vehicle by the weather as it will be inside and protected. Another benefit that may not seem so obvious is the risk of theft from vehicle transport. As the enclosed vehicle cannot be seen by anyone from the outside, no one will actually be able to see if there is anything of value inside and therefore much less likely to try and steal it. Enclosed services will also offer better value for your ...

Tips for winter driving

​ Driving during the summer and the winter are two completely different things. Winter brings much harder driving conditions which can make roads much more dangerous. It is important to make sure to reduce the risk of driving in the winter months as much as possible. Driving during the summer and the winter are two completely different things. Winter brings much harder driving conditions which can make roads much more dangerous. It is important to make sure to reduce the risk of driving in the winter months as much as possible. Driving during the summer and the winter are two completely different things. Winter brings much harder driving conditions which can make roads much more dangerous. It is important to make sure to reduce the risk of driving in the winter months as much as possible. Allstates Auto Shipping are on hand to offer you winter driving tips. 1. Maintaining your distance An important thing to consider is maintaining your distance between other cars when driving. The wint...