Tag Archives: Architecture

Lotus Elise successor to reach in 2027 at £75,000

Lotus Type 135: Architecture and specs

Lotus LEVA architecture

The Type 135 might be constructed across the devoted Project LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture) construction that was set to additionally underpin the Alpine A110 successor.

The new E-Sports platform, which incorportates LEVA, will give it a mid-engined-style format, most probably with the battery pack stacked in the course of the automobile, reasonably than beneath the ground, as is common for EVs. That will enable the Porsche Boxster rival to take a seat decrease and guarantee weight distribution is extra in step with its remit. 

The E-Sports platform has but to be revealed in its entirety, however the LEVA ingredient is alleged to be 37% lighter than the equal construction utilized by the combustion-engined Emira sports activities automobile.

It has been designed from the bottom as much as compensate for the added weight of an electrical powertrain and with a view to replicating the standard dynamic traits of earlier Lotus fashions.

The batteries can both be stacked vertically behind the seats, in a format harking back to a traditional mid-engined format, or organized beneath the ground in longer-wheelbase automobiles with rear seats.

The LEVA unit might be mated to a bulkhead and entrance finish fully unrelated to these utilized by the Emira, however managing director Matt Windle beforehand mentioned he was eager for Lotus’s trademark dynamic agility to be carried over to the brand new fashions.

“It’s our DNA: dynamics, aerodynamics, lightweighting – that’s what we do on all our products,” Windle advised Autocar on the LEVA’s unveiling. “We still want these to be Lotus products. They are going to have a different propulsion system but that system comes with benefits as well: instant torque, easier cooling and better packaging, so the first sports car [the Type 135] will have a lot of storage and packaging benefits as well.”

The E-Sports structure will host single- and twin-motor powertrains ranging in output from 469bhp to 872bhp. This means the entry-level sports activities automobile will pack almost double the facility of even essentially the most highly effective iteration of the Elise, and extra highly effective variations may fill the hole left by the extra track-focused Exige.

Audi RS6 Avant

It’s a tribute to Audi’s inside designers that the model’s big-car cabin structure hangs collectively equally properly for a luxurious, high-quality really feel in a £50,000 Audi A6 because it does in a £112,000 RS6. This cabin is as tech-laden and electronically subtle as you’d count on a flagship Audi to be, due to its sharp show screens and well-judged mixture of cool metallic and shiny black floor therapies.

The normal tasteful but usually restrained sporting particulars do assist to distinguish this efficiency mannequin from its lower-order A6 siblings, although. Contrasting pink stitching stands out on the black leather-based upholstery, and the Alcantara steering wheel and kit selector really feel suitably motorsport-derived. There’s a powerful sense of area within the entrance half of the cabin, too, afforded partly by the non-obligatory panoramic glass sunroof but additionally by the Audi’s sheer girth.

This airiness extends to the second row, the place our tape measure recorded typical leg room of 720mm. Although that’s 20mm lower than in a BMW M5, the Audi has extra head room (990mm versus 920mm). In any case, there’s greater than sufficient room for 2 adults to take a seat comfortably and sufficient general width for 3 youngsters to suit throughout the again seats with out an excessive amount of sophisticated tessellation of booster seats.

The boot, in the meantime, has a seats-up capability of 565 litres, extending to 1680 litres with the rear seats folded flat. The aperture itself is usefully huge; the boot flooring is near flush with the opening, which makes loading heavy stuff straightforward; and for stowing cargo, you’ll discover rails, nets, hooks and a helpful elastic strap within the RS6’s boot, all of which assist to forestall what you’re carrying from smashing itself to items when you’re having fun with what we’re coming to subsequent.

Audi RS6 sat-nav and infotainment

Audi’s flagship MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system and 12.3in Virtual Cockpit come as commonplace on all specification ranges of the RS6.

The high quality of the graphics and the speed of response to your inputs are, as we’ve skilled up to now, impressively crisp, but it surely stays a barely awkward system to make use of on the transfer. The want to use a good bit of stress to garner a response is one disadvantage, however the necessity to avert your eyes from the highway for longer than you’d like is its best concern.

Still, the Virtual Cockpit is impressively configurable and ‘RS’ mode will little question attraction to some – even when some testers thought it seemed a bit naff.

A £6300 Bang & Olufsen sound system was fitted to our take a look at automotive as properly. It’s expensive, definitely, however when arrange accurately, it’s among the finest automotive stereos that we’ve come throughout.

The identical, sadly, can’t be mentioned for each infotainment screens. One is used for the air-con, the opposite for the radio, they usually each use haptic suggestions for key features such because the heated seats.

While the system is good to have a look at and largely slick sufficient to make use of, it’s not the very best in the marketplace. You need to take your eyes off the highway for a second or two longer than can be comfy if you wish to regulate the temperature, and the display screen makes you push it more durable than you’d count on, so you end up repeating prods time and time once more.

Ford’s Kinetic Design Explained: What You Need To Know

Kinetic design, also referred to as kinetic structure with reference to stationary installations like buildings, is a design philosophy that seeks to both emulate the concept of motion within the stationary, or apply the idea of motion to subtly shift the form of the stationary. Examples of this notion embrace a lamp with a twisting cloth shade, or constructing partitions with wavy, swooping patterns. Whether it truly strikes or not, the purpose is to make you have a look at it and suppose, “Wow, look at that thing move.”

This is a nifty idea from each a design and advertising and marketing perspective, and for related causes. Applying kinetic design to issues makes them look modern and futuristic, and, because it so occurs, folks like shopping for slick and futuristic issues. If you make your product appear like a flowing floor, onlookers will likely be naturally entranced by it, and thereby prepared to slap down money to maintain it.

The upcoming Toyota Celica will incorporate innovative EV technology with classic driving excitement

The details of the new architecture reveal the flexibility Toyota has in designing models of various sizes and shapes in the electric era. The FT-Se, for example, stands at 1220mm tall, making it 75mm lower than a Porsche 718 Cayman, demonstrating the potential for creating truly low sports cars.

The new architecture is constructed with three modular sections: front, center, and rear. Each component, including the e-axles and HVAC system, has been downsized. The front and rear modules are designed to be mirrors of each other, utilizing ‘gigacasting’ construction to reduce 86 different steel component parts into a single die-cast aluminum piece. The center module accommodates the battery, which is integrated into the floor.

The battery pack, known as the ‘Performance’ prismatic battery, offers double the potential range of Toyota’s current bZ4X battery pack at 20% lower cost. It is also considerably smaller and available in two different sizes, with the smallest being only 100mm. This allows for greater flexibility in fitting the battery pack into vehicles with varying dimensions.

These three modules are assembled together and equipped with crash structures that are designed for easier servicing and minimized repair costs.

By breaking the architecture into three modules instead of using a fixed platform, Toyota can push the boundaries in creating diverse vehicle types. This approach also brings manufacturing benefits such as reduced complexity, enhanced efficiency, and increased productivity, ultimately streamlining the production process. The commonality of the architecture means that even radically different cars could potentially be manufactured on the same production line.

People Are Paying More Than the Sticker Price for Chrysler 300s

The Chrysler 300 is quite an old car. The current generation was introduced in 2011, but the core architecture of the car dates all the way back to the original model from the mid-2000s – a vehicle itself based on a decades-old Mercedes platform. Despite its age, Consumer Reports reports that people are paying more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Chrysler 300 on average, in comparison to any other vehicle on sale.

Consumer Reports analyzed data from TrueCar to identify which vehicles are currently selling for the most over their respective sticker prices. The analysis revealed that on average, each Chrysler 300 was selling for 12 percent over MSRP. This is a surprising statistic, especially considering that very little has changed about the car in the last decade.

Tata to Utilize JLR’s EMA Platform for Premium Electric Cars

Tata, the Indian conglomerate, has announced that its new luxury electric car brand will be built on the EMA SUV architecture developed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). This platform will serve as the foundation for a range of upcoming models.

Tata introduced its Avinya brand earlier this year, showcasing a concept vehicle with a focus on interior space and flexibility. The concept boasts a long wheelbase, swiveling front seats, and combines the silhouette of a coupé-SUV with features typical of an MPV.

The company presented the Avinya concept as a preview of its next generation of electric models, claiming that it will feature the ability to charge up to 310 miles in just 30 minutes. However, this capability is subject to the development of supporting infrastructure.

As reported previously by Autocar, the EMA platform will also serve as the foundation for the next-generation Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport models.

The platform will support 800V electrical systems, enabling rapid charging at rates of around 350kW. Battery supply for the platform will come from Tata’s newly established plant in Bridgwater, Somerset, which is expected to begin operations in 2026.

JLR CEO Adrian Mardell has confirmed that Tata’s Avinya brand will use the EMA platform through a licensing agreement with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM).

Mardell stated, “TPEM has decided to utilize the technology we are developing, including the EMA architecture, electrical architecture, and battery packs, to produce their own range of premium battery electric vehicles (BEV) at their plant in India. They will be producing their vehicles using our intellectual property.”

Tata Avinya EV Will Be Based On Jaguar Land Rover’s EMA Platform


The Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform is exclusively designed for electric vehicles and can support advanced autonomous driving technologies

Tata Avinya

  • The Electrified Modular Architecture platform will provide maximum cabin space and a high driving range.

  • Jaguar Land Rover will also collaborate with Tata Motors for the production of Tata Avinya.

  • The Avinya is expected to have a range of over 500km with ultra-fast charging capabilities.

  • The price of the Tata Avinya could exceed Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom) and it will mark Tata’s entry into the global EV market.

The EV-specific division of Tata Motors, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), has partnered with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), both subsidiaries of Tata Motors, to share EV platform technology. The collaboration includes an agreement allowing TPEM to utilize JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture platform for the development of the Tata Avinya. Additionally, both subsidiaries will enter into an Engineering Service Agreement (ESA) for the production of Tata’s upcoming EV.

What Is This Platform?

Tata Avinya Side

JLR has developed the Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform specifically for its future mid-size electric SUVs, which are set to enter international markets from 2025 onwards. This platform is designed for pure electric vehicles and allows for maximum cabin space, well-integrated propulsion systems including larger battery packs, power management systems, and fast charging speeds. These features improve driving efficiency, increase the range, and provide sufficient performance.

Also Read: Beyond Tata Nexon EV: Here Are 4 Upcoming Tata Electric Cars In 2024 You Don’t Want to Miss!

The EMA platform’s electrical and electronics capabilities also enable the Avinya to support Level 2+ autonomous driving, over-the-air software updates, and over-the-air feature additions. By utilizing the EMA platform, Tata will reduce development time and costs to complete the Gen3 platform for the Avinya.

About Tata Avinya

Tata Avinya Cabin

The Tata Avinya was first showcased in 2022 as Tata’s concept for entering the premium EV market globally. The concept focuses on a minimalist cabin design and maximizing passenger space. According to Tata, the Avinya will have a range of over 500km and will feature ultra-fast charging, providing a range of 500km in just 30 minutes.

Launch Timeline

Tata Avinya Rear

The Tata Avinya is expected to begin production in 2025 and go on sale in the same year. It is anticipated that this EV will be priced above Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom) and will serve as Tata’s premium EV offering in the global market.

The Reason Your iPhone 15’s USB-C Is Slower Than Expected

Apple had to make changes to the USB Type-C design for the iPhone 15 and its Pro models due to the controller architecture. Unfortunately, this alteration resulted in a slower data transfer rate. The difference is significant, with a speed of 10Gbps for the Pro models compared to 480Mbps for the standard iPhone 15. It’s important to note that in order to take advantage of the faster data transfer, you will need a compatible USB-C Gen 3 cable, which is not included in the retail package provided by Apple. However, this discrepancy in USB standards does not seem to have a noticeable impact on charging speeds.

The iPhone 15 and its Pro counterpart can reach 50% battery capacity in approximately 30 minutes, while the iPhone 15 Plus and its Pro Max sibling take around 35 minutes. Furthermore, the maximum charging speed is the same for all models. The differences in silicon also affect other features, such as the exclusive ProRes video capture capability on external devices, which is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models. This upgrade is particularly beneficial for creators, even though it may not be relevant for the average user. On a positive note, the USB Type-C port on all iPhone 15 models allows you to connect it to a larger display, which may be a desirable feature for some.

Electric Audi R8 Expected on New Supercar Platform

Audi is reportedly working on a customized electric vehicle architecture specifically designed for low-volume, purpose-built sports cars and supercars. As part of this initiative, an electric version of the Audi R8 is set to be developed.

The company is planning to release a series of models based on the new PPE platform, which has been developed in collaboration with Porsche. The first model, the Audi Q6 E-tron, is scheduled to be launched early next year. In addition, Audi will also start introducing cars on the upcoming VW Group SSP platform, which is expected to go into production in 2027.

During the 2023 Munich motor show, Oliver Hoffmann, Audi’s technical boss, confirmed that the company will also utilize the VW Group’s MEB platform for future entry-level electric cars. This platform is currently used by vehicles such as the VW ID 3, Cupra Born, and Audi Q4 E-tron.

However, when asked about the suitability of these platforms for lower-volume, performance-oriented EVs like the TT and R8, Hoffmann hinted that Audi would instead invest in a dedicated sports car architecture. This new architecture would incorporate elements from the SSP platform, combining aspects of both the MEB and PPE platforms in what Hoffmann referred to as a “toolkit.”

Although Hoffmann did not provide specific details about the structure of this architecture or plans for direct successors to Audi’s current sports cars, he did confirm that work is underway. He also stated that Audi has a strong focus on launching a wide range of new models in the next two years, with over 50% of them being battery-electric.

SSP Architecture

The SSP platform is expected to be utilized by approximately 80% of vehicles in the entire VW Group portfolio. According to Hoffmann, this leaves room for certain models to be based on modified versions of the platform or even entirely different architectures.

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume has already confirmed that the SSP platform will support powertrains with outputs of up to 1700bhp, indicating that purpose-built electric sports cars and supercars are on the horizon.

It’s worth noting that Audi’s sister brand, Porsche, has announced that its upcoming Porsche K1 luxury SUV, positioned above the Cayenne, will be the first model to utilize its own modified version of the VW Group architecture called SSP Sport.

This highlights the platform’s flexibility and its potential for use across a wide range of models and segments.