Tag Archives: inhouse

News

Skoda Enyaq Mk2 Expected in 2028 with 12-Minute Charging

The upcoming Skoda Enyaq Mk2 will feature several technical advancements, including a new ‘Unified’ battery structure developed in-house. This battery structure will be utilized across most VW Group model lines, resulting in cost savings through economies of scale.

While specific details regarding capacities and ranges have yet to be confirmed, early reports suggest that the Enyaq Mk2 will have 800V compatibility. This will allow for a significantly improved charging time, with estimates suggesting a 10-80% charge in as little as 12 minutes on average. In comparison, the current Enyaq takes around 35 minutes to charge.

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume has expressed optimism regarding this new modular approach, as it will enable a higher percentage of components to be shared between cars and brands. This scalability is expected to contribute to cost parity between electric vehicles based on the SSP platform and traditional combustion cars.

As a result, it is reasonable to anticipate a decrease in price for the next Enyaq, potentially positioning it at a similar price point as the five-seat Kodiaq. Additionally, the Enyaq Mk2 will introduce a new software stack, denoted as 2.0. This upgraded software will enhance usability and functionality, with features such as hands-free driving up to level four.

Q&A with Klaus Zellmer, Skoda CEO

Klaus zellmer

Will the new Kodiaq be as popular as the last one?

“We’re hopeful that the new Kodiaq will surpass the popularity of its predecessor. However, the current landscape is different from 2016. We are introducing battery-electric vehicles, increasing complexity, offering subsidies, and providing tax advantages. The success of the new Kodiaq will depend on how these factors play out. The plug-in hybrid version with an EV range of 100km [62 miles] has the potential to attract customers who may have range anxiety and are not fully convinced about battery-electric vehicles due to their long-distance travel requirements.”

Is Skoda targeting premium players with its high-end cars?

“While it is not our explicit objective, we strive to evolve with the market and meet our customers’ expectations for haptics, quality, functionality, and intuitive design like the ‘smart dials.’ Ultimately, our focus is on providing value for money. Skoda has always emphasized offering a lot of value for a reasonable price, rather than solely being the cheapest option.”

Laptops, Smartphones, Tablets

5 Reasons Why Safari Might Be a Better Browser Choice Than Google Chrome

Safari has a major advantage over Google Chrome as it is specifically designed for Apple hardware. It utilizes less CPU and RAM compared to Chrome because it is integrated into the Mac operating system. You can verify this yourself by opening both browsers and launching the Activity Monitor from the Utilities folder. The results will show that Safari consumes significantly fewer resources.

Resource consumption can be particularly demanding if you utilize Chrome’s extensive range of extensions and add-ons, which surpasses one hundred thousand. Although Safari offers fewer extensions, the advantage is that it consumes fewer resources. This might not be an issue for your Mac at home, but if you use a laptop on the go where battery life is crucial, you may find that Safari allows you to work longer without needing to charge.

Motorsport

2023 Dodge Challenger, Charger Get Mopar Special Editions For One Last Time

Mopar, the in-house upgrades division for Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles, has announced special edition models for the 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger. This is a bittersweet moment as it will mark the end of these iconic vehicles. The special edition models, called the Mopar 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger, are based on the R/T Scat Pack Widebody trim and come with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. The upgrades are mainly aesthetic, with no changes to the engine’s standard output of 485 horsepower.

2023 Dodge Charger And Challenger Mopar Special Edition

The Challenger comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission, and an eight-speed automatic transmission is optional. The Charger, on the other hand, is only available with an automatic transmission. Both vehicles feature the Widebody competition suspension with six-piston Brembo brakes in the front and four-piston brakes at the rear. The calipers of the special edition models are coated in blue, unlike the typical black calipers found on standard Dodge models. These special editions also come with 20-inch wheels and widebody fenders.

In terms of design, both the Charger and Challenger special editions feature a thick matte black stripe with blue accents along the edges. The grille has a bespoke Mopar badge with blue detailing, and the rear of the vehicles sports an exclusive carbon fiber spoiler. Inside, there are Mopar-branded floormats and instrument panels, with the latter showcasing a unique serial number. To further distinguish these special editions, they come with trunk mats and bright door sills.

Production of these special edition models will be limited to a total of 440 units, with 220 units of each model. Out of these, 200 units will be available for buyers in the United States, and 20 units will be allocated for Canada. The color options for these models are restricted to black.

The Mopar Special Edition package adds $3,995 to the price of the 2023 Charger and Challenger Scat Pack Widebody. The starting price for the 2023 Challenger is $55,855, including destination charges. The Charger Scat Pack Widebody starts at $57,920. Production will begin in September, and deliveries are expected to start in October. The current generation Dodge Charger and Challenger will cease production in December.

NewsNew

JD POWER SURGE FOR THE HUSKY TX300: PRODUCT REVIEW

PRODUCT: JD Jetting became well-known in the world of two-stroke tuning by conducting extensive in-house testing and offering jetting solutions for popular models. In addition to that, they now provide tuning methods for the latest fuel-injected motorcycles, including recent KTM and Husqvarna two-strokes with throttle-body injection. The Power Surge is an EFI tuner that is manufactured by Dobeck Performance for JD. This piggyback tuner modifies the fuel delivery in fuel-injected motors by adjusting the signal between the CPU and the injectors. It allows users to make the fuel mixture richer or leaner in six different zones. JD conducts its own testing and provides proprietary programming for this product.

OUR TAKE: The Husqvarna TX300 two-stroke is a great bike, but it can be a bit challenging to handle. It offers two maps through a handlebar switch – one aggressive and one mild. The aggressive map is suitable for motocross but can be difficult to manage in rocky or muddy off-road conditions. The mild map, on the other hand, provides a softer power delivery that is better for trail riding. However, many riders want a setting that falls somewhere in between. With the JD Power Surge, you can achieve that. Installing it is simple, and it can be securely attached to the steering head. The unit comes with connectors that are compatible with the original equipment wiring. When we tested the JD Power Surge, we noticed a significant difference in power in the lower midrange of both maps. In the mild map, the power increase was enough to enhance off-road riding and racing. However, in the aggressive map, the power boost was a bit excessive for off-road use.

The tunability of the Power Surge is extremely valuable in finding the right balance. By making slight adjustments to the fuel mixture, we were able to achieve a setting that made the aggressive map more manageable without sacrificing power. It’s important to note that this product only affects fuel mixture and does not impact spark advance or power-valve timing. However, future advancements may provide options for adjusting power-valve timing.

BOTTOM LINE: We highly recommend the JD Power Surge for fine-tuning throttle-body-injected two-strokes. Without it, you’re limited to the factory settings that may not suit your riding preferences.

PRICE: $251.95

CONTACT: www.jdjetting.com