Tag Archives: Architecture

Motorsport

2024 Mercedes V-Class / V-Class Marco Polo, Vito / eVito, And EQV Revealed

Mercedes-Benz Vans will introduce its Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) in 2026. But before that, the company has given its midsize vans a refresh for 2024. The V-Class, V-Class Marco Polo, Vito, e-Vito, and EQV have all received updates to stay competitive in a challenging market. Depending on the trim level, some of the vans now feature multiple three-pointed stars embedded into the grille, similar to the new E-Class cars.

Speaking of the grille, the V-Class / V-Class Marco Polo and EQV now come with an illuminated LED contour. Additionally, the V-Class Exclusive model now includes a classic hood-mounted upright star for the first time. Multibeam LED headlights are either standard or optional, and the LED taillights have been updated with a darkened contour. The V-Class models and EQV feature chrome trim with Mercedes-Benz lettering. The exterior updates are completed with the introduction of five new paint colors and several aero-optimized alloy wheels available in 17, 18-, and 19-inch sizes.


News

Top 10 Best Family Electric Cars 2023

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the top contenders in the family electric car market of 2023. Built on a unique electric vehicle model platform, it features a powerful 800V electrical architecture that enables faster charging. This innovative technology is currently shared only with models like the Porsche Taycan, Audi E-tron GT, and related Kia models. It’s like equipping the original Ford Focus with the twin-turbocharged flat-six engine from a contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo.

Not only does the Ioniq 5 excel in technology, but it also stands out with its distinctive retro-futuristic design, reminiscent of a space-age reinterpretation of the Lancia Delta. Its modern and high-quality interior adds to its appeal.

Despite its size and weight, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers an engaging driving experience with strong performance, good grip, and just enough adjustability to keep things interesting. It also provides a comfortable and quiet ride, making it a great electric car for relaxed cruising. The spacious interior and usable boot space make it family-friendly.

In a recent group test, the long-range rear-wheel-drive version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 outperformed the Skoda Enyaq iV, showcasing its superior driving dynamics and bolder design. The combination of a larger 77kWh battery and a single motor delivers an optimal mix of speed, price, and endurance.

The price range for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at £43,445 for a 168bhp rear-wheel-drive model with a 240-mile range. The flagship Namsan Edition, equipped with a 321bhp twin motor and all-wheel drive, reaches a staggering price of £57,945.

For those looking for more excitement, a hot 641bhp N model will be available in showrooms later this year. Early test drives have left a positive impression, highlighting the car’s engaging handling and impressive performance.

The Skoda Enyaq iV is another noteworthy entry in the family electric car market. Skoda has a reputation for taking Volkswagen Group mechanicals and packaging them in a more practical and spacious design, offering better value for money. The Enyaq iV is built on the same MEB ‘skateboard’ platform as the Volkswagen ID 3, Volkswagen ID 4, and Audi Q4 E-tron. Its clever design choices make it highly competitive in the electric SUV segment.

News

Alfa Romeo CEO: Prioritizing Driver-Focused Interiors

Alfa Romeo is set to adopt Stellantis’s new electronic architecture for its new Giulia in 2025. However, CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato has clarified that this update will not result in a complete overhaul of the brand’s interior design philosophy or an attempt to compete with German manufacturers in terms of in-car technology.

Imparato acknowledges and respects the digital technology advancements made by Mercedes, but he believes that Alfa Romeo customers are not looking for excessively large infotainment screens or a multitude of digital assistance systems. He states, “We’re developing our technology, and you will see what we’re working on in 2025 when Alfa Romeo becomes the first to deploy the Stellantis group’s all-new electronic architecture, STLA Brain. But it won’t change how our cars speak or appeal to our customers. We must continue to play to our strengths.”

Based on customer research, Alfa Romeo has discovered that its buyers desire a captivating telescopic double-cowled instrument panel and an infotainment system that provides them with specific information about the car’s condition without overwhelming them with unnecessary data.

Imparato confirms that the future Alfa Romeo models will retain the distinct cannocchiale aesthetic and will feature larger central displays where appropriate. He also expresses interest in implementing a larger head-up display that projects a “ghost car” on the road ahead, helping drivers position their vehicles as they drive. This feature aligns with Alfa Romeo’s goal of enhancing the driving experience and keeping the driver engaged. Imparato emphasizes, “What I don’t need is to know the weather for three weeks’ time. I don’t care – I’m here to drive.”

In terms of autonomous driving technology, Alfa Romeo plans to offer separate driving modes: “I want to drive” and “I want to be driven.” Drivers will be required to select the appropriate mode at the beginning of each journey, preventing any confusion between semi-autonomous operation and full human control.

Featured

BMW Recalls iX Vehicles Due to Unintended Cruise Control Activation

BMW has announced a safety recall for the iX, an all-electric utility vehicle. A total of 11,180 units are being called back to address the issue of unintended cruise control activation. To resolve this problem, a software update will be provided.
In late 2022, BMW started taking this issue seriously after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received reports of unintended cruise control activation in the iX vehicles. As a result, the German automaker is taking proactive measures by issuing this recall.
The iX is built on a unique platform called the Cluster Architecture, developed specifically for this electric model. However, despite the advanced technology, it appears that there is a flaw in the cruise control system that causes it to engage unintentionally.
Owners of the affected iX vehicles will be notified by BMW and instructed to take their cars to authorized service centers for the necessary software update. This update is designed to prevent the cruise control from activating unintentionally, enhancing the safety of the vehicle and its occupants.
The recall serves as a reminder that even with cutting-edge technology, automakers must ensure that all safety systems are thoroughly tested to avoid any potential hazards. BMW is committed to addressing this issue promptly and efficiently to maintain the trust and satisfaction of its customers.
To learn more about this recall, you can continue reading here.
Volkswagen

Focus on sustainability: Volkswagen Group supports German Pavilion and grand neighbourhood festival of Venice’s 18th International Architecture Biennale

The 18th International Architecture Biennale opens in Venice on 20 May 2023. The Volkswagen Group is a partner of the curatorial team of the German Pavilion and supports the pavilion concept ‘Open for Maintenance – Wegen Umbau geöffnet’, which focuses on sustainable approaches to building construction and urban development. For the first time, the citizens of Venice as well as local and social initiatives will be invited to a grand neighbourhood festival on the eve of the opening to get in contact with artists and experts. Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz takes part as commissioner of the German Pavilion. In March, materials for the pavilion were sustainably transported from Leipzig to Venice in an ID. Buzz Cargo.

The German contribution to this year’s Biennale takes up curator Lesley Lokko’s chosen theme, ‘The Laboratory of the Future’, with a multilayered conception of the term ‘laboratory’ – including as a workshop in an actual sense. The German Pavilion is orienting itself to local needs and is being transformed into a site of collaborative everyday life. In this spirit, citizens of Venice, artists and Venetian initiatives will come together for the first time in a grand neighbourhood festival on 19 May. The goal is to jointly discuss the interplay of sustainable habitats and resource use and to establish connections between local social initiatives and experts. In the framework of its international cultural engagement, the Volkswagen Group is a partner of the German Pavilion and of the neighbourhood festival.

Benita von Maltzahn, Head of Global Cultural Engagement at the Volkswagen Group: ‘We need spaces in which to live and work, but above all in which to generate ideas. Rethinking how we give shape to these spaces while placing the highest priority on using resources sustainably is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We’re thrilled that we can support the curatorial team of the German Pavilion in opening this topic up for critical artistic and creative examination among a broad public in Venice.’

The curators of the German Pavilion say about their idea: “Transforming the way we build toward sustainability does not depend on changes of economic, financial and legislative frameworks. We have to empower the people to take responsibility for designing their living environment according to social and ecological principles. And that is why the German contribution to the International Architecture Exhibition 2023 also covers questions and solutions discussed by people in Venice, and it promotes the process of making. The support of Volkswagen Group helps us to connect ideas and people in Venice so that our work resonates beyond the Biennale.”

The Volkswagen Group has supported the curators of the German Pavilion since the start of their work on the project. Among other things, the Group provided an all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo so that the team could bring equipment and materials for the pavilion workshop from Germany to Italy in a resource-saving manner. For the period of the Biennale, the workshop will serve as the basis for various Venetian and international initiatives and institutions of higher education to engage in the maintenance of socio-spatial structures on-site through 1:1 interventions. The German contribution to the exhibition was conceived by the curatorial team of ARCH+ I SUMMACUMFEMMER I BÜRO JULIANE GREB. The curators were selected in an open competitive process under the direction of the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building.

Volkswagen Cultural Engagement

As a promoter of art and culture, the Volkswagen Group supports institutions and actors in enabling impactful and multilayered encounters between the artistic and public spheres, as well as innovative offerings in cultural education. The Group is especially dedicated to providing opportunities for as many people as possible to get to know artistic standpoints, exchange with one another and, through

this, to gain new perspectives. These dialogues are essential for the development of creativity, innovation and strengthened social understanding.