Tag Archives: Joint

News

Italian Brand Malaguti Updates Madison 125 With Styling Revisions

Malaguti, the historic Italian brand, continues to operate under a joint venture between Piaggio and Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Zongshen. The brand primarily focuses on the European market and offers small displacement motorcycles and scooters that comply with beginner and entry-level regulations in the region.

One of Malaguti’s latest offerings is the Madison 125, a sporty maxi-scooter designed to provide a convenient and practical riding experience in the city. For the 2023 model-year, Malaguti has implemented several updates to the scooter. The Madison 125 still adheres to A1 regulations, positioning it as both an entry-level scooter for first-time riders and a practical urban mobility option for riders of all backgrounds.

Italian Brand Malaguti Updates Madison 125 Scooter With Styling Revisions

One of the significant updates to the Madison 125 is its restyled bodywork featuring more rounded lines, giving it a sleeker and more elegant appearance. It now includes a small tinted windscreen and gold-painted alloy wheels for a sportier aesthetic. The scooter also receives restyled LED headlights, further enhancing its overall look. It is available in three color options: Snow White, Toro Black, and Albero Green.

Italian Brand Malaguti Updates Madison 125 Scooter With Styling Revisions

In addition to the cosmetic updates, the Madison 125 retains its approachable underpinnings. It is powered by a 125cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine equipped with Bosch’s EFI technology. The engine produces 12 horsepower and 11 Newton-meters of torque. A conventional CVT sends power to the rear wheel, as commonly found in scooters of this specification.

Italian Brand Malaguti Updates Madison 125 Scooter With Styling Revisions

The Malaguti Madison 125 features standard telescopic forks at the front and a pair of shock absorbers at the back. It is equipped with a 250-millimeter disc at the front and a 220-millimeter disc at the rear for braking. The maxi-style scooter weighs only 147 kilograms, making it beginner-friendly and easy to handle. It is priced at 3,399 Euros or approximately $3,715 USD.

Technology

How the MRAP Was Designed to Withstand Massive Explosions

In 2006, the MRAP Joint Program Office was created by the Marine Corps Systems Command, bringing together the U.S. Marines, Army, Navy, and special operations units to expedite the deployment of MRAPs. The Department of Defense joined the mission a year later.

The previous Humvees had flat bottoms, similar to regular commercial vehicles, making them highly vulnerable to explosives. When an IED was detonated under a Humvee, the blast would directly impact the flat underside that lay parallel to the ground, receiving the full force of the explosion.

To counter this threat, MRAPs were designed with a V-shaped armor-plated hull, strategically engineered to deflect explosions upward and away from the vehicle. Military experts claim that this unique design provides up to 10 times more protection. MRAPs also feature a raised chassis that helps reduce fragmentation, blast overpressure, and the force of an IED explosion. Moreover, these vehicles can be equipped with additional layers of armor to defend against RPG rounds.

There are four categories of MRAPs: I, II, III, and M-ATV. Category I is the smallest and is employed in urban combat scenarios and for casualty evacuation. Category II is utilized for convoys and transporting troops, whereas Category III specializes in mine and IED detection. The MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) is the most agile among them and was specifically designed for extreme conditions.

According to Aeroweb, a total of seven different vehicle designs have been procured from five different contractors, namely BAE Systems, Force Protection Industries (FPI), General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), NAVISTAR Defense, and Oshkosh Corporation.

Motorsport

Seven Carmakers To Launch New EV Charging Network In North America

A new joint venture will be established in North America by seven major global automakers to create a public EV charging network.

The automakers involved in the venture are BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. They aim to significantly increase access to high-powered charging in North America by installing at least 30,000 charging points in urban and highway locations. The goal is to ensure customers can conveniently charge their electric vehicles whenever and wherever they need.

This charging network will provide an elevated customer experience with reliable and high-powered charging capability. It will also offer digital integration, appealing locations, various amenities, and exclusively use renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the network will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles, regardless of the automaker, as it will support both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors.

The first charging stations are scheduled to open in the United States in summer 2024, with Canada following at a later stage. These stations will be strategically deployed in metropolitan areas, major highways, connecting corridors, and vacation routes to ensure accessibility for customers in various locations.

Each site will feature multiple high-powered DC chargers and include amenities such as canopies, restrooms, food service, and retail operations. Some flagship stations may even offer additional amenities. The network will seamlessly integrate with participating automakers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, enabling functions such as reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, and transparent energy management.

The coalition aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations in North America, meeting or exceeding the requirements of the US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The joint venture is expected to be established this year, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

BMW

BMW Munich and FC Bayern München Basketball announce a long-term partnership for sustainable mobility.

BMW Munich and FC Bayern München Basketball GmbH have joined forces in a mobility partnership, which was officially launched on July 1, 2023. The collaboration aims to provide sustainable transportation solutions for the five-time German champions. At a joint press conference held at the BMW retail outlet in Munich, the partners emphasized their commitment to promoting electric mobility and supporting social initiatives in the local community.

During the event, Bernd Döpke, Head of BMW Munich, handed over the keys to two fully-electric BMW iX cars. One car was given to Marko Pešić, the general manager of FC Bayern München Basketball GmbH, and the other to guard Andreas Obst on behalf of the team. The initiative will enable the basketball players and coaching staff to travel emission-free in the Munich area.

Speaking at the press conference, Döpke highlighted the significant contribution of FC Bayern to the development of basketball in Munich, both nationally and internationally. He also emphasized the shared values of success, dynamism, and the joy of sports that are embodied by both BMW Munich and FC Bayern München Basketball.

Starting from the upcoming season, BMW Park, the home stadium of FC Bayern München Basketball, will become the new venue for home matches. The renaming ceremony took place with Pešić symbolically presenting the keys to Rudi-Sedlmayer Hall, which was constructed in 1972.

Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Pešić expressed his gratitude for BMW’s support and emphasized the advantages of being located in close proximity to the automotive giant. He also emphasized the common goals shared by the two prestigious brands. The partnership aims to solidify FC Bayern München Basketball’s position among the top teams in Europe and attract more fans to the sport. Additionally, the collaboration will extend beyond sports, as both partners are committed to launching and supporting social projects in Munich.

The first matches to be held at BMW Park are scheduled for September 16th and 17th, 2023, as part of a warm-up tournament. The inaugural home match in the BBL league will take place on September 29th, 2023, against the Mitteldeutscher Basketball Club. The joint social initiatives will also commence in the new season, with further details to be announced at a later date.