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RollsRoyce

ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES LONDON CRAFT WEEK: LONDON CALLING

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  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showcases modern Bespoke craft at this yr’s London Craft Week
  • Inspiration taken from London, a world luxurious hub
  • Three outstanding items of workmanship might be on show at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London, in the course of the occasion, from 13 to 19 May 2024

“Craftsmanship lies at the very heart of Rolls-Royce with creativity nurtured at every turn. As a brand synonymous with perfection and craftsmanship, London Craft Week – a celebration of the very best of British craftsmanship – is a truly important occasion in our annual calendar. For the 10th anniversary of the event, I am delighted that our highly talented artisans from the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood have created a stunning portfolio of Bespoke craftsmanship. Appropriately for this tenth edition of London Craft Week, the UK’s capital city has acted as inspiration for these magnificent works of craftsmanship, which celebrate London’s world-famous status as a luxury hub, as well as its rich tapestry of architecture, art, design, and culture. These exquisite examples of creativity and ingenuity will be on display at our flagship showroom in the heart of Mayfair for the duration of the event in May.”
Boris Weletzky, Regional Director – UK, Europe, and Central Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

To have fun the tenth yr of London Craft Week, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will debut a outstanding exhibition of workmanship on the marque’s flagship residence in Mayfair. For this yr’s occasion, the marque has taken inspiration from London, house to among the most well-known luxurious areas on the planet, a lot of which themselves are marvellous examples of design and structure.

Internationally famend as a luxurious capital and as a location that serves as the house for a lot of Rolls-Royce clientele, London is a befitting alternative because the theme of this yr’s occasion. A metropolis comprised of many alternative areas and districts, Rolls-Royce artisans needed to seize each the trendy and conventional tradition and magnificence of London, showcasing a wealthy tapestry of landmarks. There can also be a extremely potent connection between the marque and London; co-founder, The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls, was born in Hill Street Mayfair solely a stone’s throw from the exhibition, and 14-15 Conduit was the West End headquarters of Rolls-Royce Ltd for a lot of the 20th century.

LONDON BONNET

For this yr’s occasion, artisans from the marque’s Exterior Surface Centre have drawn inspiration from the well-known haunts of London to create a real murals: a map of London introduced on the magnificent canvas of a Phantom bonnet. This extremely Bespoke bonnet, which options over 20 coats of paint and took over 100 hours to finish, showcases the marque’s peerless fluency in craftsmanship. To create the masterpiece, the bonnet was first painted in a base coat of Andalusian White, earlier than a crystal clearcoat was utilized and the outlines of the map of London have been sketched by a single artist. The subsequent step noticed an artisan airbrush the bonnet utilizing a color gradient method, to conjure the impression of a concentrate on Mayfair, the house of the exhibition. After a number of layers of airbrushing, a singular interpretation of a few of London’s most recognisable landmarks was meticulously hand-painted onto the bonnet, earlier than the art work was finalised with a sign-written ‘London’ motif and the cautious utility of gold leaf highlights.

LONDON ICONS DOOR CARD

Rolls-Royce’s extremely expert artisans from the Interior Trim Centre have created a vibrant door card for the occasion. This very particular Bespoke pattern showcases a singular perforated art work – in whole this door card includes a staggering 7,700 perforations. A vibrant Turchese leather-based has been chosen for the bottom leather-based on one facet of the door. The leather-based has then been lined with a layer of Scivaro Grey which, when perforated, reveals the Turchese undercolour, conjuring the impression of an aerial view of the River Thames. Similarly, on the opposite facet of the door, a vivacious Lime Green leather-based has been chosen as the bottom leather-based color, uncovered solely when tiny perforations within the Scrivaro Grey overcoat create a recent but summary expression of town’s world-famous structure.

PICNIC TABLE

Continuing the London theme, Rolls-Royce’s specialists working within the Interior Surface Centre have created a phenomenal picnic desk that celebrates among the metropolis’s most well-known buildings. To create this particular picnic desk, one extremely expert artisan spent over 50 hours reducing, urgent and assembling completely tessellated items earlier than the picnic desk was lacquered.

These distinctive items are indicative of the marque’s fluency in Bespoke and might be displayed within the window of Rolls-Royce’s flagship showroom, Berkeley Street, Mayfair, from 13 to 19 May 2024.

Motorsport

This Autonomous Vehicle Looks Like a Terminator however It Actually Fixes Potholes

Should you end up traversing the streets north of London and occur upon a bizarre black automobile creeping alongside at a snail’s tempo, give it some house. Don’t fear, it would not have lasers. But it does have the flexibility to detect cracks within the pavement and seal them up, all by itself. It’s referred to as the Autonomous Road Repair System—ARRES for brief—and it is at present present process real-world testing in Hertfordshire.

Yes, it seems a bit scary. New Atlas likens the angular physique to the Tesla Cybertruck, although we get extra of a Syd Mead / Blade Runner vibe from its odd proportions. And let’s overlook the truth that its acronym-formed identify is shared with the god of battle in Greek mythology. There are not any oscillating purple lights that we are able to see, so presumably it is secure from changing into an evil murder-bot bent on destroying humanity. It does have some fairly cool wheels, although.

 

Kidding apart, the actually cool stuff is what we will not see. Developed by researchers on the University of Liverpool and a tech firm referred to as Robotiz3d, it makes use of quite a lot of sensors, cameras, and different tech at the side of patching tools that fills cracks all by itself. That stated, ARRES might be remotely managed by a human operator, however the entire level of the challenge is to develop one thing that may autonomously conduct highway repairs 24 hours a day.

According to the Hertfordshire County Council, the challenge has been in growth since 2020 and lately accomplished its first real-world take a look at. Specific particulars on precisely the way it works aren’t revealed simply but, however trials will proceed within the area to additional fine-tune the system for official use. There are additionally plans to construct a bigger model that may lead a military of terminators accomplish much more automated highway restore duties.

“We are devoted to our mission to assist construct a secure and sustainable highway infrastructure by clever, and automatic upkeep and restore,” stated Sebastiano Fichera, co-founder and technical director at Robotiz3d.

“ARRES Prevent is designed to autonomously perform crack sealing tasks by combining the groundbreaking features of ARRES Eye, our cutting-edge AI-powered road survey solution with state-of-the-art robotics and unmanned mobility, to proactively reduce the number of potholes. Working with Hertfordshire County Council has accelerated our development pace, propelling us towards our goal of revolutionizing road maintenance practices.”

News

London earns £8.5m from pavement parking fines in 2023

London councils have earned almost £8.5 million from pavement parking fines in 2023, in keeping with knowledge obtained by Autocar.

A Freedom of Information request uncovered that within the 12 months main as much as November, £8,443,068 was earned by councils in London from penalty cost notices (PCNs) given to drivers who parked on a pavement.

Newham was discovered to be the preferred borough for such infractions, with greater than 21,000 PCNs issued – almost half of which (45%) have not but been paid. 

Further analysis by Autocar revealed that almost a 3rd of all of the fines issued throughout London throughout that interval hadn’t been paid, with 167,066 issued and 111,495 paid.

Despite this, Newham council nonetheless earned £936,391 from pavement parking fines between January and November 2023.

Fines are handed to drivers discovered to be in breach of parking contravention code 62, which prevents vehicles from being parked with a number of wheels on the pavement. 

The regulation additionally bans parking on footways, on footpaths, in entrance of dropped kerbs or on raised carriageways and is enforced all 12 months spherical.

Last week, this got here into drive in Scotland, with its authorities introducing a regulation that may make offenders pay as much as £100.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw mentioned: “Scotland is following London’s lead by clamping down on pavement parking, which might have critical penalties for pedestrians – particularly these with decreased mobility.

“Drivers throughout the nation – in each rural and concrete areas – want to grasp the principles to keep away from being fined.”

In the capital, fines gathered from parking infractions are certain by regulation to be put again into the mayor’s transport technique, which was launched in 2018 and includes an enchancment in public transport and jobs and houses created for London residents. 

The cash will due to this fact be invested in off-street parking, public transport providers and freeway upkeep.

Motorsport

This Electric Minivan Was Built By The London Taxi Company

You’ve in all probability by no means heard of the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC). This is the agency that produces the resurrected London Taxi within the type of an electrical cab with a 1.5-liter Volvo-sourced engine appearing as a spread extender. LEVC is owned by Geely – the identical producer that additionally owns Lotus, Volvo, Smart, Zeekr, Polestar, and others – and is increasing its enterprise into new territory with the L380.

The single-box automobile has a minimalist design impressed by the Airbus A380 with a coast-to-coast LED strip on the entrance and principal beam headlights mounted within the bumper. From the facet, it appears fairly peculiar other than the flush door handles and the excessive greenhouse. What’s below the pores and skin is extra attention-grabbing, although.


News

Taxi maker LEVC reveals eight-seat luxurious MPV

LEVC, the maker of the London taxi, has revealed an electrical eight-seat MPV as the primary in a variety of recent “mobility solutions” it would launch within the coming years.

It’s referred to as the L380 in reference to the Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner.

It has already been confirmed to go on sale in markets outdoors of China, the place will probably be constructed, after it is launched there in 2024, though LEVC refused to inform Autocar whether or not these will embody the UK.

The L380 relies on LEVC’s new Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), which was detailed in an event at the firm’s Coventry factory in May.

Capable of internet hosting EVs ranging between 4.86m and 5.95m in size, it is designed to optimise inside area, ease of entry, rolling refinement and vary – and can underpin a variety of huge industrial and passenger automobiles separate from the UK-built TX taxi and VN5 van.

Details revealed by Chinese media recommend the L380 measures 5316mm lengthy, 1998mm extensive and 1940mm tall and weighs 2805kg.

Its eight seats are organized throughout 4 rows of two, with the rearmost capable of be folded and stowed and the third row capable of slide backwards and forwards to spice up leg room.

A extra luxurious six-seater, little question with the requisite gear and performance to rival the brand new Lexus LM, will even be supplied.

LEVC will affirm full technical particulars subsequent 12 months, however early studies recommend the L380 might be supplied with the identical 268bhp front-mounted motor because the technically associated EM90 MPV from sibling model Volvo and a selection of both a 73kWh or 120kWh battery for a most vary of 432 miles.

LEVC has confirmed that the SOA platform will underpin EVs with greater than 536bhp from a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain, however it hasn’t but stated whether or not the L380 will supply a selection of outputs.

VauxhallUk

VAN DRIVERS COULD SAVE NEARLY £150 PER MONTH BY SWITCHING TO AN ELECTRIC VAUXHALL WITH NEW STELLANTIS E-LCV GRANT

  • Van drivers in the expanded London Ultra Low Emission Zone could save nearly £150 per month by making their next van an electric Vauxhall, instead of a diesel van
  • Vauxhall Combo Electric and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric available with £2,500 Stellantis e-LCV (electric light commercial vehicle) Grant
  • e-LCV Grant is on top of existing government grant for electric vans and ULEZ van scrappage scheme, offering potential savings of up to £17,000 on a new electric van
  • Offer includes a wallbox installed at home for no extra cost*
  • Customers will also receive £400 credit on an Octopus Electroverse card, providing up to 2,500 miles of free public charging from over 500,000 chargers across the UK and Europe**
  • Offer available now on all purchase and lease options, on select stock

Van drivers in the expanded London Ultra Low Emission Zone could save nearly £150 per month by switching from a diesel van to a fully electric Vauxhall Vivaro Electric with the new Stellantis e-LCV Grant.

The Stellantis e-LCV Grant offers customers a £2,500 incentive on small and medium electric vans, including the Vauxhall Combo Electric and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric. This is on top of the existing government grant for electric vans, worth up to £5,000. Businesses and sole traders operating in the recently expanded London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) can also apply for up to £9,500 to scrap a non-compliant van and replace it with an electric model – meaning customers could enjoy up to £17,000 off a new electric van.

The Stellantis e-LCV Grant also includes a free home wallbox installation* and £400 credit on an Octopus Electroverse card, delivering up to 2,500 miles of public charging from over 500,000 chargers across the UK and Europe**. This contributes to a total cost of ownership for a new Vauxhall Vivaro Electric of just £403.23 per month when factoring in the cost of travelling into the ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones – representing a saving of £145 per month compared to a new diesel Vivaro. Even drivers not initially looking to replace their current van could benefit from zero-emissions-in-use driving and the latest features without any extra outlay by upgrading to a Vivaro Electric (based on an old Euro-5 diesel van).

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “With £2,500 off a new Vauxhall Combo Electric or Vivaro Electric alongside existing government grants, it’s an ideal time to switch to an electric van. For van drivers affected by the recent expansion of the London ULEZ, going electric offers significant financial savings. As the UK’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer, Vauxhall is committed to electrifying Britain’s businesses.”

Vauxhall has been the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer for the past two years and continues to lead the sales charts so far in 2023. More than one-in-four electric vans sold in the UK year-to-date has been a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, making it the UK’s best-selling e-LCV (according to the latest SMMT registration figures***). Vauxhall is one of few brands to offer a fully electric variant across its entire LCV line-up.

The free home wallbox available alongside the e-LCV Grant will be supplied by Ohme or Free2Move eSolutions (subject to availability) and is compatible with the MyVauxhall app. The wallbox installation is managed by Octopus, with customers also able to benefit from an optional Octopus energy tariff. If a customer already has a wallbox installed, they will instead receive a £750+VAT Customer Deposit Contribution towards their new van.

The e-LCV Grant is available on all purchase and lease options, including outright purchase, conditional sale/hire purchase, Finance Lease or Business Contract Hire through Leasys, ensuring all customers making the switch to electric can benefit.

The offer applies to orders, on stock vehicles, from today (02/10/2023) until and including 31/12/2023.

* Standard home installation according to the installer’s guidelines. Extra costs will be applicable where non-standard install material/practices are required, such as additional cabling.

** Based on WLTP test figures and average public charging costs across networks which can be accessed using Octopus Electroverse card.

*** SMMT data. August 2023 YTD.

News, Space

This Enormous Satellite is Causing Problems for Scientists: Here’s Why

According to Imperial College London, the BlueWalker 3 satellite possesses the largest commercial antenna system ever deployed in low-Earth orbit, occupying 64 square meters. This development raises concerns regarding light pollution. While scientists are accustomed to observing satellites during their research, the resulting streaks must be digitally altered in the final images. Correcting these images becomes a daunting task when a succession of satellites, like the Starlink trains, pass by. The massive reflective profile of BlueWalker 3 could exacerbate this problem.

Referred to as artificial light at night (ALAN), light pollution caused by these large satellites not only creates optical interference but also generates radio interference. Experts insist that these issues must be addressed simultaneously. The International Astronomical Union has published an extensive report [PDF] that sheds light on the extent of the problem and offers guidelines for maintaining the integrity of astronomical research in the face of man-made satellites. Additionally, there is a concern about preserving the cosmic heritage. SpaceX has already obtained a permit from the FCC to launch 12,000 satellites and plans to launch another 30,000 units. Scientists worry that these satellites will obstruct the clear view of the night sky not just for themselves, but also for amateur stargazers.

PeugeotUk

UK CLEAN AIR AND LOW EMISSIONS ZONES HAVE GENERATED MORE THAN £418 MILLION SINCE MARCH 2021

UK clean air and low emissions zones have generated over £418 million in fees and penalty charges since March 2021, according to new research by PEUGEOT UK. The London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) contributed the most to this income, accounting for £319,822,943 between October 2021 and April 2023. All net revenue generated by the ULEZ is required by law to be reinvested back into London’s transport network. With the expansion of the ULEZ to all London boroughs on August 29, eligible vehicle owners in these areas can apply for up to £2,000 for scrapping their car as part of a £110 million scrappage scheme. PEUGEOT is offering a new e-Grant that allows customers to save £3,000 on electric models, providing potential savings of up to £5,000 on a new electric vehicle.

The UK currently has 13 low emissions zones, clean air zones, and zero emissions zones. Nine of these zones charge non-compliant vehicles an entry fee, with penalty charge notices issued to drivers who fail to pay the daily charge. PEUGEOT’s research, based on Freedom of Information requests, revealed that eight zones have generated a total of £418,501,974 in income from motorists since March 2021 (data from Bristol Clean Air Zone was not provided). Each zone has different charging criteria, such as specific emissions standards for diesel and petrol vehicles. Some zones, like the Low Emissions Zones in Scotland, have a ban on vehicles that do not meet the emissions requirements, with no option to pay a fee to enter the zone.

In addition to generating income, revenue from clean air zones in the UK must be reinvested into local transport policies. For example, Birmingham City Council has invested over £52 million of net surplus revenues from its Clean Air Zone to fund a hydrogen bus trial, upgrade train stations, and improve cycling infrastructure. Bristol’s Clean Air Zone uses the surplus revenue to provide grants and loans to individuals and businesses for replacing vehicles that do not meet the zone’s emission standards.

PEUGEOT is already ahead in meeting the latest Euro 6 emissions standards for both petrol and diesel models, and the company offers electrified versions of all its models. By 2030, PEUGEOT plans to sell only fully electric vehicles in the UK to comply with future emissions standards. Adam Wood, Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, emphasizes the importance of improving urban air quality and the company’s commitment to helping drivers avoid charges and reduce emissions by offering incentives like the e-Grant.

The tables provided in the article showcase the income generated by various clean air initiatives in different local authorities and the estimated annual costs for motorists entering non-compliant vehicles into the zones on a daily basis. It is important to note that the time periods for enforcement and fee structures vary among different zones.

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF ASTRA ELECTRIC WITH MURALS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER

  • Vauxhall has commissioned two murals in London and Manchester to celebrate the launch of the new Astra Electric
  • British artist Iain Macarthur collaborated with Vauxhall to create dynamic street art inspired by the Astra Electric
  • The public can view the murals throughout August
  • Vauxhall will transition to becoming an electric-only brand starting in 2028

Vauxhall is celebrating the recent launch of the Astra Electric by showcasing two eye-catching murals in London and Manchester. Created by British artist Iain Macarthur, the murals will be on display until August 27th. They represent Vauxhall’s commitment to innovative design and artistic expression, highlighting the brand’s dedication to British design influences.

     

The murals, located in Shoreditch, London, and the Northern Quarter in Manchester, showcase Macarthur’s unique surrealist style and convey the vibrancy and dynamism of the Astra Electric. This design philosophy earned the Astra a prestigious Red Dot Award for Product Design earlier this year.

Iain Macarthur stated, “I wanted to capture the energy of the Astra by creating patterns that resemble electricity, flowing throughout the design in a visually striking way that aligns with Vauxhall’s bold and pure design language. Partnering with Vauxhall was a pleasure, as they allowed me creative freedom to express my vision of what clean energy would look like.”

The murals feature scannable QR codes that the public can scan to visit www.vauxhall-mural-ar.com and experience the Astra Electric through augmented reality, offering an interactive and immersive experience of the vehicle.

By collaborating with an innovative British artist and exhibiting the murals in iconic locations in London and Manchester, Vauxhall honors its longstanding connection to British design and heritage.

The Astra Electric is equipped with Vauxhall’s next-generation 54kWh battery and a 115kW (156hp) electric motor, capable of achieving up to 258 miles of range (WLTP) on a single charge. By 2024, all Vauxhall cars and vans will have a fully-electric version, and by 2028, Vauxhall will exclusively produce electric vehicles as a brand.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, commented, “This mural celebrates not only the launch of the exciting Astra Electric but also our Bold and Pure design language, which draws inspiration from the best of British art and innovation. I am eager to see Iain’s work in person and extend my gratitude to him for contributing to something that the public can enjoy in London and Manchester.”

  

Citreon

Introducing the Perfect ‘Supercar’ for the City: Citroën Ami 100% Electric

  • Citroën Ami 100% Electric, wrapped in gold, steals the spotlight among supercars in London.
  • The one-off golden Ami 100% Electric will kick off the nationwide #AmiOnTour in London.
  • Public can participate in a competition to win an Ami vehicle by visiting the Ami Hub in each city.
  • #AmiOnTour will visit London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.

Citroën Ami 100% Electric recently challenged popular supercars in London with its eye-catching gold chrome wrap, showcasing itself as the ‘Perfect Supercar for the City’. During its visit to popular supercar locations such as Knightsbridge, New Bond Street, Mayfair, and Park Lane, the Ami garnered more attention than even the most luxurious cars, impressing onlookers who couldn’t help but capture a photo.

With the rise of Ultra Low Emissions Zones and Clean Air Zones, the Ami presents an accessible zero-emissions mobility option in urban areas. It is Citroën’s bold response to the challenges faced in congested cities.

As an electric vehicle, the Ami produces zero emissions and features a 5.4kWh battery that can be fully charged in just four hours. With a range of 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, the Ami 100% Electric offers an affordable and clean mobility solution for all.

#AmiOnTour will bring the Ami 100% Electric to famous landmarks in each city, inviting the public to engage, take pictures, and experience the Ami in their own surroundings. To celebrate each host city, the seven prize-winning vehicles will be customized with unique designs by Jenni Sparks, featuring local landmarks and cityscapes.

During the tour, the public will have the chance to enter a competition and win one of the seven wrapped Amis, with each winner receiving the Ami associated with their city. Simply scan one of the competition QR codes located at the Ami Hub in each city between 12:00 and 16:30 to enter.

#AmiOnTour kicks off tomorrow and will visit seven cities in just over two weeks:

  • Friday 18 August – London (Ami Hub: Leicester Square)
  • Monday 21 August – Bristol (Ami Hub: Queens Square)
  • Wednesday 23 August – Cardiff (Ami Hub: Churchill Way)
  • Friday 25 August – Manchester (Ami Hub: Piccadilly Gardens)
  • Wednesday 30 August – Liverpool (Ami Hub: Church Street)
  • Friday 1 September – Newcastle (Ami Hub: Northumberland Street)
  • Monday 4 September – Edinburgh (Ami Hub: Castle Street)

* Terms & Conditions apply

** World Motorcycle Test Cycle