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News

Land Rover Defender drops six-cylinder petrol, good points three-pot PHEV

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The Land Rover Defender line-up has been shuffled, with the addition of an opulent new seven-seater, a stronger diesel engine – and a plug-in hybrid that makes use of a three-cylinder engine. 

The revamp comes 4 years after the launch of the L663-generation Defender and, whereas not as substantial as a full-blown facelift, ushers in a spread of vital mechanical and beauty tweaks, together with a reorganisation of the trim construction. 

The headline change for the up to date Defender comes beneath the bonnet, the place the D300 diesel engine has been swapped for the stronger D350 from the Range Rover, boosting outputs by 49bhp and 37lb ft – to 345bhp and 516lb ft – with the end result that “everything from overtaking to towing is even more effortless”, says JLR. 

JLR has not revealed any efficiency figures for the brand new engine, however little doubt it can enhance barely on the D300’s 7.0sec 0-62mph time. 

So too has the P400 Ingenium straight-six petrol been changed by a 419bhp model of JLR’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8, and the plug-in hybrid Defender swaps its two-litre four-cylinder engine for the P300e association used within the Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs – based mostly round a 1.5-litre triple and producing 305bhp all up.

The modifications have been made so as to make the Defender compliant with Euro 6e emissions laws, so little doubt the petrol straight six will quickly even be retired from the Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport line-ups. 

Chief among the many cabin upgrades is the introduction of a brand new Captain Chairs pack for the three-row Defender 130, which swaps the center bench for a pair of particular person armchairs – with entry in between for the rearmost three seats. 

Heated and ventilated as normal, and with easy accessibility to a pair of cupholders within the center, the captain chairs are mentioned to convey “front-row comfort to those travelling in row two”, and can be found on Defender X and V8 fashions.

News

A basic, remixed: Driving an electrical Mercedes SL Pagoda

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Who spends nearly half 1,000,000 kilos on an electrified restomod? According to Everrati, it’s a really eclectic bunch.

Many of its clients are within the US; round one-third of them are feminine; and a few don’t but have a driving licence however are as an alternative the lucky beneficiaries of petrolhead mother and father foreseeing a zero-emissions future and ordering an EV basic to make sure their offspring could have one thing really particular to drive. 

Perhaps what’s much more hanging is that some patrons are already on their second or third Everrati.

The Oxfordshire-based electric car specialist has grown impressively since I final drove one among its automobiles, the Porsche 964-based ‘Signature’, nearly three years in the past. 

The mannequin vary now encompasses varied Land Rovers, a Ford GT40 tribute and this Nineteen Sixties Mercedes-Benz SL, which, alongside a brand new ‘Engineering by Everrati’ consultancy division, ensures its workforce has swelled. 

Founder and CEO Justin Lunny smiles as he lists the earlier firms on his workers’ collective CV: McLaren, Bentley, Rimac and Singer are essentially the most spectacular. “People are coming to us, we don’t have to go looking for them,” he says.

While the 911s and GT40s that got here earlier than the SL are able to whipping web sites’ feedback sections and social media platforms into frenzies, maybe this W113-generation SL ‘Pagoda’ is a safer guess: it’s a automotive that hasn’t historically traded on excessive revs and a sonorous soundtrack as a part of the expertise. 

It additionally helps show the idea of a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive automotive with the Everrati powertrain system; Lunny hints at way more to return from the set-up that’s shoehorned into the Pagoda’s compact transmission tunnel. Astons, Jags, Rolls-Royces… The prospects are monumental.

Bring Everrati a donor automotive – it may be a 230, 250 or 280SL – and its straight-six engine and gearbox are eliminated and changed by an electrical motor (made by Helix, whose tech powers the Lotus Evija) and a selection of two batteries: you’ll be able to have 54kWh or 68kWh for a 160-or 200-mile vary respectively. 

News

Renault Rafale: Flagship coupe-SUV priced from £38,195

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Entry-level Rafales tip the scales at 1653kg, whereas the four-wheel-drive PHEV is 1714kg. Four-wheel steering provides one other 7kg to every automotive.

UK deliveries will start in July.

Q&A with Gilles Vidal, vp of design, Renault Group

This is the primary new Renault beneath your course. What makes it completely different?

“We were able to start from a blank sheet of paper – one very important thing. “The mission was to make the car assertive, especially at the front and rear, but not to overload it with details. The sharp, shape-defining lines have helped a lot. We think the wider stance carries a special promise of driving pleasure. There’s cladding along the sides to split the masses and make the car look sleeker, too. And we’ve worked hard on the unique wheel styles. “The promise is that this is a great driver’s car.”

What makes the Rafale’s face so sturdy?

“Two things. We’ve designed a unique grille made up of angled tiles shaped like the Renault badge, which appear to move as you view them from different angles. That’s a great feature when you’re close. [And] when the car is driving towards you, the daylight-running lights stand out. You first see the shapes and angles of the Renault badge, and there’s nothing like them. That feature will go on all our cars.”

How about inside?

“There’s plenty: the use of sustainable materials, the new instrument graphics, the superb new seats. We even use slate as a trim material. [Plus] the solar roof that darkens progressively at the touch of a switch and the special rear armrest that offers new things, such as device holders and power sources, for rear passengers.”

Car review

Mini Cooper SE evaluate

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The Mini Cooper, then, comes as a Cooper C or -S (constructed at Mini Plant Oxford, and powered by combustion engines) or as a Cooper E or SE (inbuilt China, at BMW Group’s three way partnership Spotlight manufacturing facility, with the assistance of Great Wall Motors). UK first drives within the former ought to come quickly – however for the latter, Mini laid on a pan-European press launch occasion in Barcelona final week, with right-hand drive UK examples arriving in summer season 2024.

This time, there are two electrical Minis, then – and, critically, each supply larger drive batteries and extra electrical vary than the famously nippy-but-short-legged outgoing Mini Electric. The Cooper E will get a brand new nickel-manganese-cobalt drive battery with 36.6kWh of usable capability, up from 28.9- within the outgoing automobile – and a WLTP Combined electrical vary of 190 miles (up from 140-) – with costs ranging from slightly below £30,000. That’s Mini delivering a 36 per cent enhance on usable vary, and preserving peak energy the identical because the outdated automobile, for broadly the identical worth for cash. Not unhealthy.

But if you would like extra of any of the above, the brand new Cooper SE now goes that little bit additional. Here, usable battery capability climbs to 49.2kWh; electrical motor energy to 215bhp; WLTP Combined vary to 249 miles; and the departure-point value to £34,500. There had been solely Cooper SEs to check in Barcelona, in order that’s the mannequin we’ll deal with right here – however Mini expects most Cooper electrical consumers to plump for the SE in any case.

And design-wise? Well, Mini has handled the design of its three-door, heartland-territory ‘icon’ mannequin moderately rigorously because it first appeared in 2001 – however this fourth-generation automobile is a bolder transfer. In pursuit of a cleaner- and extra upmarket look, it has taken away a lot of the outdated automobile’s brightwork, and some of its trademark design particulars.

There are not any cutsie foglamps, entrance wing badges, plastic wheelarch extensions or chunky chrome doorhandles on the brand new automobile. There’s a way more restrained entrance grille; and the wraparound clamshell bonnet – which so famously helped to outline the look of the 2001 BMW Group fashionable Mini, and thru which the headlights of subsequent generations have cheekily poked – has gone, too. The designers wished a smooth ‘pebble-like’ search for the brand new automobile, they are saying; however to those eyes, the impact is barely much less charismatic and endearing on the attention than we’ve develop into used to from Mini. Neater, maybe – however a bit bit much less distinctive and extra generic.

News

BMW M4 joins ‘Competition Sport’ line-up

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BMW has revealed a stronger and track-focused model of the M4 as the newest entrant into its motorsport-inspired CS lineage.

Following on from the prevailing ‘Competition Sport’ variations of the M2, M3 and M5, the brand new M4 CS has extra energy, much less weight and a reworked chassis set-up in contrast with the Competition automobile, in a bid to enhance its straight-line efficiency and on-limit dealing with.

It packs the upgraded model of the M4’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six that featured within the limited-run CSL, upping its peak energy from 523bhp to 543bhp with a rise in turbo enhance strain from 1.7 bar to 2.1 bar.

Although the CS doesn’t produce any extra torque than the Competition, it sustains its 479lb ft peak for an extra 220rpm on the prime finish of the rev vary, holding it from 2750rpm to 5950rpm.

The powertrain has additionally been reworked to be able to endure lengthy classes on the monitor: the engine’s cooling system is improved, for instance, and the provision of oil to the clutch has been elevated to make sure the four-wheel drive system maintains its efficiency.

Stiffer engine mounts, that are bespoke to the CS, are additionally mentioned to enhance the powertrain’s responsiveness.

In addition to additional energy and adaptability, the CS can be 20kg lighter, courtesy of a titanium exhaust silencer and numerous carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts, together with the centre console, gearbox paddles and numerous inside trim items.

With much less weight and further efficiency from the engine, the CS cuts the 0-62mph dash time from 3.5sec within the Competition coupé to three.4sec, whereas its 50-75mph time is quoted at 2.6sec in fourth gear and three.3sec in fifth.

The CS’s chassis has been tuned to enhance steering precision and wheel management, with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars which might be additionally mentioned to cut back roll by tight bends.

The stability management system has additionally been reprogrammed to lift the restrict at which it intervenes to right a slide.

Mazda

Mazda Continues to Elevate Customer Experience With three hundredth Open-Concept Dealership

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Mazda Continues to Elevate Customer Experience With three hundredth Open-Concept Dealership

Retail Evolution sellers now account for greater than 85 p.c of Mazda gross sales

IRVINE, Calif., May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has opened its 300th Retail Evolution (RE) dealership with Luther Mazda in Kansas City, Mo. Mazda’s Retail Evolution program, out there since 2014, is concentrated on uplifting buyer expertise by upscale, open-concept ground plans that provide the next degree of enterprise transparency and buyer satisfaction.

“The opening of the 300th Retail Evolution dealership is a testament to our dedication to providing customers an uplifted experience at every touchpoint with Mazda,” mentioned Tim Manning, senior VP of retail operations at Mazda North American Operations. “Throughout this journey, we have remained focused on elevating the in-dealership experience. Across our Retail Evolution locations, dealer owner loyalty is up 4.3 percentage points, and service retention is up 5.2 percentage points.”

“We strongly believe in the future of Mazda and our investment in Retail Evolution is a symbol to our employees, guests, and communities of the strength of Mazda,” mentioned David Luther, vendor principal of Luther Automotive. “In today’s market, you must give your guests what they want and RE provides exactly that — a more transparent, open, and modern environment.”

A key component of Mazda’s long-term enterprise technique within the U.S. market, the Retail Evolution program provides a constant expertise that begins from the second a buyer walks into the showroom and continues by to the service of their automobile. Currently, 70 p.c of Mazda sellers have both made the transition to Retail Evolution or dedicated to take action, and so they account for 87 p.c of complete retail gross sales. Retail Evolution dealerships persistently outperform non-upgraded services in month-to-month throughput, averaging a 126 p.c improve. In the ten years for the reason that Retail Evolution program started, greater than 380 Mazda sellers have dedicated to upgrading their dealerships.

For extra info on Mazda or to seek out your native vendor, go to MazdaUSA.com.

Proudly based in Hiroshima, Mazda has a historical past of subtle craftsmanship and innovation, and a objective to complement life-in-motion for these it serves. By placing people on the middle of all the pieces it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our autos and folks. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the gross sales, advertising and marketing, components and customer support assist of Mazda autos in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia by roughly 795 sellers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For extra info on Mazda autos, together with images and B-roll, please go to the net Mazda media middle at news.mazdausa.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads.

Technology

Tanks In The Vietnam War: What Role Did They Play?

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The struggle in Vietnam would see the deployment of America’s most superior tank but: the M48 Patton. The Patton was a part of a large Army tank modernization challenge to confront Soviet tanks extra successfully (in any case, it was additionally the Cold War). The M48 was armed with a 90mm most important gun and .30 and .50 caliber machine weapons. The tank was wrapped in armor that ranged from 120mm thick within the entrance to 44mm within the rear and will obtain a prime velocity of 30 mph. The U.S. would deploy the primary M48s to Vietnam in March 1965 at Da Nang with over 600 finally discovering their method to the struggle.

The M48 Patton and all of its variants weren’t alone in Vietnam. Though not a tank, the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) was the counterpart to the M48 and a necessity for U.S. troops within the struggle. Developed within the Nineteen Fifties, the M113 had mild armor of between 12mm and 38mm thick with a .50 caliber Browning machine gun. It was manned by a crew of two and will transport as much as 11 troopers. The APC would first arrive in Vietnam in 1962 with many variations showing throughout its service to fill varied wants. These included the addition of M60 machine weapons, flamethrowers, and even Vulcan 20mm Gatling weapons.

Smartphones

iPhone Volume Keeps Going Down? Change These Settings

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Unless you are somebody who continuously retains your iPhone on silent mode in order that the one indicator for a cellphone name or notification is a vibration, then listening to your cellphone’s ringer is an immensely necessary a part of really having a cellphone. It’s how one can be stored abreast of necessary calls and very important data being pushed to your display. You could also be turning up the volume with the buttons along the left side of the iPhone, however your ringer is not getting any louder than it was. Well, because it seems, the amount of what you play on the system just isn’t essentially linked to the amount of your ringer. Here’s how one can modify that.

  1. Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
  2. Select the Sounds & Haptics possibility.
  3. On the Change with Buttons possibility, toggle the change to “on” with a purpose to modify your iPhone’s ringer with the facet buttons.

By toggling this on, your ringer, haptics, and system audio will all be tied collectively on the identical degree. If you wish to hold the 2 ranges separate and simply wish to elevate the amount of the ringer and haptics to a set degree, then toggle this feature off, and proper above that change, you will note a slider devoted to the amount degree of your ringer. Slide that to your most well-liked quantity setting, and that would be the degree at which it would function.

Tools

Everything You Need To Know About Milwaukee Tool’s M12 Green 360° 3-Plane Laser Kit

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The M12 Green 360° 3-Plane Laser, powered by the model’s M12 REDLITHIUM 4.0 XC battery, is designed to supply a runtime of greater than 15 hours. What’s extra, you do not have to buy the battery or charger individually, on condition that these equipment are included as a part of the package. The device produces pretty clear laser strains — two vertically and one horizontally — which have a spread of as much as 125 toes (250 toes in diameter) or as much as 165 toes should you’re working with a laser detector.

Although it is a subtle device, it is fairly impact-resistant. Milwaukee, actually, claims the product has an affect resistance of as much as one meter (3.3 toes), which basically means it’s unlikely to maintain harm even when it falls from this peak. This will be particularly helpful, given the tough situations which might be often prevalent at building websites. Additionally, the product can be IP54-rated, which ensures a point of safety from mud and water splashes — each of that are often inevitable when engaged on building tasks.

Also, whilst you’re at your job web site, you seemingly do not need to maintain this laser towards the wall to make sure alignment. The excellent news is that as a result of this mannequin is designed with uncommon earth magnets, they keep put when positioned vertically towards metallic surfaces, guaranteeing hands-free operation for you. There’s additionally a dangle gap within the device, which may turn out to be useful if you wish to mount this device on non-metallic surfaces.

Science

Where Is Tornado Alley, And How Did It Get Its Name?

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If you might be questioning precisely why that huge area of the nation has earned the Tornado Alley designation, it is as a result of tornados have traditionally shaped extra commonly inside the area than wherever else within the nation. Likewise, the areas that sometimes fall underneath the Tornado Alley flag are comparatively flat, making twister occasions notably damaging to low-lying residential areas.

That being mentioned, a case might be made that essentially the most damaging tornados don’t originate in Tornado Alley, with tornados in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas claiming a bigger toll on human life. Nonetheless, when it comes to the sheer quantity of tornados per 12 months, the American Heartland continues to be floor zero for such excessive climate occasions. There is, after all, a scientific cause behind the variety of tornados plaguing Tornado Alley, with the area serving as a degree of convergence for risky air lots making their approach throughout the nation. When these lots collide, the result’s usually the manufacturing of notably sturdy thunderstorms and even dreaded supercells.

While supercells are the least widespread sort of thunderstorm, they have a tendency to provide extra excessive climate occasions like heavy rain, excessive lightning, and hail. Yes, supercells are additionally vulnerable to the form of higher ambiance circulation that may start a twister. While there is no method to cease tornados from occurring in Tornado Alley, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continues to review climate patterns all through the area. Combined with technological advances including the potential use of predictive AI and even help from NASA satellites, early warning indicators are higher than they’ve ever been in historical past, and if you’re coping with the damaging forces of a twister, an early warning might be the distinction between life and demise.