Tag Archives: inevitable

Motorsport

Dodge CEO Admits EV Transition Was Like ‘Heading Towards A Wall’

Change is inevitable. It comes simpler to some than others, and for Dodge, change has been powerful. It’s been 19 months for the reason that Charger Daytona SRT EV Concept debuted, pointing the way in which towards the corporate’s electrified future. And now that future is right here with the 2024 Charger Daytona, billed because the world’s first electrical muscle automotive.

Whether patrons settle for prompt electrical torque over a raucous V-8 stays to be seen. But on the Charger Daytona debut occasion, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis acknowledged the tough path going through the corporate. After 18 years of strolling tall on a variety of Hemi engines, he likened the EV transition at Dodge to racing in direction of a wall the corporate could not keep away from.


Motorsport

SUVs Now Account More Than Half Of All Cars Sales In Europe

The inevitable has lastly arrived. Everyone is aware of SUVs are fashionable – within the US they outsell different classes together with pickup vehicles. The similar may be stated for Europe, however an much more disturbing statistic reared its head within the Old Continent for 2023. SUVs weren’t merely the most well-liked car class. They outsold all different classes mixed.

We saw this coming last year when preliminary numbers pointed in direction of complete SUV dominance, however a tally from Automotive News Europe exhibits the 50-percent threshold was certainly crossed for 2023. Specifically, 51 p.c of recent car gross sales went to SUVs and crossovers, leaving sedans, vehicles, wagons, and hatchbacks to replenish the remaining. It’s a 19-percent year-over-year improve for the phase, led by the Tesla Model Y, which earned the title of best-selling vehicle in the world for 2023. For some context, Model Y gross sales alone elevated a whopping 85 p.c within the area.


Motorsport

Range Rover’s First Electric SUV Promises V8 Performance

The inevitable is occurring – JLR (formerly known as Jaguar Land Rover) is teasing its first-ever electrical Range Rover. Even earlier than the total debut, the British luxurious model is already accepting preorders from early adopters. In the meantime, preliminary particulars verify the high-end SUV will not lose its iconic off-road chops.

The change from combustion engines to a totally electrical powertrain will not come on the expense of all-terrain skills. The model says prototypes are being subjected to one of many harshest testing packages ever to make sure go-anywhere capabilities. Land Rover mentions the Range Rover Electric will wade by way of waters as deep as 33.4 inches. That means it’s going to match the mighty Defender fitted with its coil-spring suspension.


Motorsport

Morgan’s New Electric Three-Wheeler Only Weighs 1,540 Pounds

Even the smallest automakers should adapt to the inevitable electrical future. And for sports activities automobile producers targeted on weight, putting in a battery pack and an electrical motor is usually a robust process in comparison with the equal combustion engine.

Caterham confirmed that minimizing the load penalty is doable with its Project V electric coupe. Now, one other British marque is revealing what it has achieved up to now when it comes to a sporty, light-weight EV.

Meet the Morgan XP-1, an experimental prototype with an all-electric coronary heart. It’s based mostly on the Ford-powered Super 3, however it has had its oily bits yanked off to make room for the brand new {hardware}. Fun truth: This automobile makes use of Morgan’s first powertrain developed in-house, no matter whether or not we’re speaking a few combustion engine or an electrical motor.


Motorsport

Future Hyundais May Hear You Scream And Alert The Police

A future surveillance state seems inevitable. Law enforcement agencies are already accessing user data shared with Google, Facebook, and other digital service providers, often getting the information by purchasing it from the companies concerned, bypassing any constitutional concerns. If Hyundai Motor Group’s Orwellian vision of the future becomes reality, that data could soon be coming from your car as well.

The company highlighted the winners of its 2023 Ideas Festival, a program designed to foster and produce creative research concepts from its employees. This year’s theme was “Technology with a Heart that Changes the World,” and one of the bronze prize winners was an idea called “H-SOS.”

The concept imagines a future where a car equipped with external microphones could always be listening for signs of distress, like a person screaming or an explosion. If it detects such an occurrence, the car could activate its headlights, hazards, and horn and begin using its cameras to record its surroundings.

It would then alert police, sending officers the vehicle’s location and video footage. For cases of extreme crimes or disasters, the car could alert nearby vehicle owners to stay away from the area.

Much of the technology for such a connected car already exists. It’s the implementation and integration that is lacking. Tesla’s Sentry Mode is famous for catching vandals and thieves of all varieties, and Rivian’s vehicles feature a similar video security system.

Shazam and Google can listen to a few seconds of a song and identify it, while SoundThinking Inc.’s technology, formerly ShotSpotter, uses algorithms to listen for gunshots across several American cities. While a human does listen to the audio before alerting the authorities, there are ongoing debates about the technology’s efficacy and usefulness.

Many modern cars are already connected to the internet in some capacity, capable of receiving over-the-air updates via cellular network or WiFi. General Motors has been offering connected services through OnStar for nearly 30 years, which can track and remotely slow down stolen vehicles and alert police to their location.

The proposed implementation is an “idea for building a social safety net to prevent crimes and accidents in blind spots,” which sounds hopeful. Technology like this is not nefarious on its own, but without robust privacy protections for consumers, it makes it even easier for corrupt governments and companies to surveil whomever they want with few barriers.

Connected cars and their digitization make it easier for governments to mandate these new nanny systems in vehicles, and US regulators seem eager to test the surveillance waters. The hardware – cameras, sensors, and microphones – will only get cheaper, and software can live in the cloud thanks to 4G and 5G connectivity.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require automakers to implement intelligent speed assistance technology to alert drivers when their vehicle exceeds the speed limit. Having the car log your speed and alert the police to any infractions seems like a logical next step for safety and feels easily feasible in 2023.

The feds also asked automakers in 2021 to explore integrating drunk driver detection technology that would prevent an intoxicated person from operating a vehicle. HMG also awarded a bronze prize to “Drunk Hunter” this year, which imagines using AI-based technology to predict and prevent drunk drivers and analyze their real-time behavior.

Motorsport

Ferrari Purosangue Is Even Better With A Widebody Kit and 820 HP

With the Purosangue, Ferrari surprised many by introducing an SUV. While it isn’t the first Ferrari with rear doors, the high-riding Ferrari SUV won’t be as rare as the exclusive 456 Venice GT. Unlike Lamborghini with its Urus dominating sales, the Purosangue won’t make up the majority of deliveries. Production will be limited to only 20 percent of the factory’s annual capacity.

If you’re an early adopter and find the SUV’s design uninspiring, Pogea Racing can give it a dramatic makeover. Lowered to the ground, the already contentious model is transformed into a remarkable creation that is sure to turn heads. It comes with 23-inch front and 24-inch rear wheels fitted within widened fenders.


Motorsport

Mercedes CLS And Rolls-Royce Ghost Hearses Are Posh Rides To The Afterlife

The saying that death and taxes are unavoidable is still very true. While some people find ways to avoid paying taxes, no one can escape death. When that unfortunate event occurs, why not depart in style with a luxurious hearse? The Italian company Biemme specializes in converting luxurious models for the journey to the afterlife, and some of the conversions are quite interesting, or should we say, unusual.

One of these conversions, named “Aymon,” is a fancy hearse made from the Mercedes CLS. Ironically, the CLS itself is no longer in production as it ended in August. The conversion maintains the rear seats and doors while adding a sizable coffin compartment with a shatterproof divider. Additionally, Biemme has reinforced the body structure with external moldings and stainless steel. It also installed a glass rear door and retained the spare wheel.


Featured

Mahindra Thar EV Concept Vs Thar – All Differences In 10 Pics

The electric concept ramps up the ruggedness of the already aggressive Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

With the inevitable dawn of electric vehicles across every fold, it was only a matter of time before our icons become EVs as well. The newly unveiled Mahindra Vision Thar.e Concept showcases the electric future of the legendary off-roader.

The current iteration of the internal combustion engine-powered Mahindra Thar is quite handsome as well as butch to look at. The Thar.e concept takes an even beefier approach, still retaining its charm. So, here are all the differences between the petrol- and diesel-powered Thar and its future electric counterpart: 

All-new Exterior Design

FRONT

Mahindra Thar.e Vs Thar

The Thar.e looks like a military-grade vehicle ready from the front. Instead of the Thar’s iconic slats, you get the EV-specific closed grille with the illuminated ‘Thar.e’ inscription. However, to maintain its iconic look, three illuminated slats are also housed in the grille. The Thar.e replaces the off-roader’s old-school round headlamps with squared LED DRLs around the headlights, but with rounded edges. 

Mahindra Thar.e Vs Thar

The bumper of the EV is definitely bigger and chunkier, carrying tow winches and a rugged skid plate. 

ALLOY WHEELS

The tyres of the EV concept are bigger than the 18-inchers on the internal combustion engined (ICE) model. The alloy wheels are also different from the latter’s five-spoke design. 

SIDE PROFILE

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

The same boxy silhouette of the Thar can be seen in the Thar.e, but with even sharper cuts and creases. The wheel arches are more protruding and bulging and with the increased ground clearance over the regular model, it looks more dominating. 

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

The significant difference is that the Thar.e has been showcased in a five-door format, while the current Thar is only available in a three-door SUV. There is also a five-door Thar in the works which has been spied numerous times while testing and due to launch in early 2024.

Also Read: Check Out The Mahindra Thar EV Through These 15 Detailed Images

REAR PROFILE

The boot-mounted spare wheel styling is identical to the regular Thar. The entire top half is taken up by the windscreen with minimal surround. The bumper design is new, with the squared-off LED lights to match the front fascia, instead of the Thar’s rectangular tail lamps. 

ROOF

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

The Thar EV concept gets a semi-fixed glass roof instead of the regular model’s plastic hard top and soft top convertible options. This same glass roof panel design is unlikely to make it to the production version, though it could get a fixed metal top. 

INSIDE THE THAR.e

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

The interior of the Thar.e is significantly different from its ICE version, the only common thing being its upright dashboard layout. Following Mahindra’s design language for future EVs, the Thar EV concept gets a three-layered design with a huge touchscreen infotainment system taking the centre stage. Climate controls appear to be integrated into the toucshcreen with off-road functionalities still getting switches below it.

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

Even the steering wheel is more modern looking, while the analogue instrument cluster is replaced by a digital driver’s display. The centre console is quite wide and will flow from the dashboard to the second row, housing the gear lever and other vehicular controls. 

SECOND ROW

The Thar, being a three-door SUV, gets two individual seats at the back. On the other hand, the Thar.e gets a three-seater bench at the back. An interesting concept design seen here is that the rear headrests are mounted to the roof, not the seatbacks.

Also Read: Mahindra Takes The Covers Off The Scorpio N-based Global Pik Up Concept

POWERTRAINS

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

Powering the Mahindra Thar are either a 2-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine, with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions. You can also choose between rear and four-wheel drivetrains. The same options are expected on its five-door ICE version as well. 

The technical specifications of the Thar EV are yet unknown, but we expect a big battery pack (over 50kWh) and a range of over 400km. A dual electric motor setup is expected, with AWD as standard. 

Mahindra Thar EV Vs Thar

The Mahindra Thar.e is expected to arrive around 2026 with a price tag of around Rs 25 lakh. On the other hand, the three-door ICE version retails from Rs 10.64 lakh to Rs 16.78 lakh (all prices ex-showroom). The only other known globally sold off-roaders that are set to go electric as of now, are the Jeep Wrangler and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny.

Read More on : Mahindra Thar Automatic

News

How Cadillac Is Taking On Tesla As Well As Rolls-Royce

General Motors (GM) is committed to revolutionizing all of its brands towards electric vehicles (EVs). By 2030, GM plans to make Cadillac an all-exclusive EV brand. Cadillac aims to compete head-to-head with Tesla, the EV market leader, and wants to change the game. To target different segments, Cadillac will release the Lyriq to compete with the Tesla Model Y and the Celestiq to compete with the Rolls-Royce Spectre. This bold move by Cadillac will certainly catch the attention of other giants in the industry such as Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Rolls-Royce Spectre Is Worth Over $400,000

Cadillac Has The Might To Take On Both Tesla And Rolls-Royce

Red Color Cadillac Lyriq
Cadillac 
Front three quarter shot of Cadillac Lyriq parked outside of a buidling

The Lyriq is Cadillac’s first electric vehicle that will compete with the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Polestar 3. This SUV features an all-wheel-drive version with a range of 307 miles, 500 horsepower, and 450 pound-feet of torque. The Lyriq offers a 33-inch diagonal screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The base model starts at $58,000 and the top-of-the-line model costs over $70,000.

Cadillac Lyriq Sport Specs

Electric Motor

Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup

Horsepower

500 horses

Range

450 pound-feet

Electric Range

307 miles

Price

$74,590

The Celestiq is a luxurious sedan that will rival brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes. This sedan offers 600 horsepower, a 300-mile range, and can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.8 seconds. The Celestiq is expected to cost around $300,000.

Cadillac Celestiq Specs

Electric Motor

Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup

Horsepower

600 horses

Range

640 pound-feet

Electric Range

300 miles (est.)

Price

$300,000

Cadillac also has plans for the Escalade IQ, a three-row electric SUV expected to start at over $100,000.

Related: 15 Solid Alternatives To The Tesla Model Y

The Cutting-Edge Ultium Platform: The Secret Ingredient To Potential Success

Ultium platform
General Motors
Wide shot of three battery skateboards built using the Ultium platform

The Ultium platform, developed in collaboration between General Motors and LG, is the key to Cadillac’s potential success. The platform’s design allows for efficient packaging of batteries, maximizing space and power. It also incorporates advanced chemistry that reduces cobalt usage by 70 percent and extends battery life. With the Ultium platform, Cadillac’s vehicles can easily achieve the industry-standard 300-mile range.

Related: Why The Cadillac Lyriq Is The Best Electric SUV

GM’s Undivided Attention To Make Cadillac An Exclusive EV Brand

An interior shot of the dash of the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac
2024 Cadillac Celestiq interior shot

GM is fully committed to making Cadillac an exclusive EV brand. The company has divested from money-losing projects like its European brands, Opel and Vauxhall, to focus on investing in the future of its own brands, especially electric vehicles. GM plans to invest over $81 million in the Celestiq project alone, demonstrating its seriousness about Cadillac’s electrification. Cadillac aims to have a fully electric lineup by 2030, but it will have to convince current Escalade owners to upgrade to its electric version. In addition to electrification, Cadillac has set a goal to run its operations in the United States on 100 percent renewable energy by 2025, showcasing its commitment to sustainability.

Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac
A rear 3/4 view of Cadillac Celestiq on a plateau overlooking mountains in the background

Only time will tell if Cadillac can successfully challenge automotive giants like Tesla and Rolls-Royce. However, their transition to electric vehicles is a necessary step in the industry, and Cadillac seems to be moving in the right direction. One potential challenge for Cadillac could be the production capacity of the Ultium platform’s batteries. Overcoming this challenge and ensuring a sufficient supply of batteries will be crucial for the success of Cadillac’s EV lineup and to compete with Tesla and other automakers.