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This Is The APD Concept From Vmoto And Pininfarina

If you paid attention to EICMA 2022, you might remember the aerodynamic electric concept that electric mobility specialist VMoto and world-renowned design firm Pininfarina debuted at the event. In 2023, both firms are pleased to show off how their partnership has progressed.

This is the APD Concept, which Vmoto describes as “the preview of a new scooter model that Vmoto will introduce into the range in the near future.” Previously, Vmoto has focused on smaller scooters, not maxi scooters.

The APD Concept is clearly an electric maxi scooter—a genre that hasn’t been common among most electric manufacturers so far. The most well-known electric maxi scooter introduced to date is the BMW CE-04. To be completely fair, the APD Concept kind of looks like it could be a cousin of that design.

Still, maxi-scooters offer an eminently practical combination of power and on-board storage space that’s appealing to a certain kind of rider. It was only a matter of time (and probably also energy density and battery pack advancement) before electric OEMs started expanding in this direction.


VMoto APD Pininfarina Concept

15 Photos

Vmoto also refers to the APD concept as “The Power of the Air,” stressing the importance of aerodynamic developments in this concept. While good aero has been a pursuit among vehicle makers for about as long as motorized transportation has existed, it’s especially important for extending range on EVs. Less wind resistance = squeezing every last kilometer out of a full charge.

“We are extremely excited to be able to present the new Concept APD at EICMA 2023, the most important motorcycle fair in the world,” Vmoto International president of strategy and business development and chief managing officer Graziano Milone said in a statement.

“The partnership with a historic company like Pininfarina is a source of pride for our entire company and I believe that the final result is absolutely extraordinary: a scooter that is not only beautiful, but innovative and high-performance, which combines Vmoto’s electric technology with the Italian style of the designers by Pininfarina,” he concluded.

It’s not yet clear how near the “near future” that Vmoto mentions might be for whatever production electric maxi-scooter the APD Concept eventually becomes. In any case, we’ll look forward to seeing the finished item once it does.

Motorsport

More People Than Ever Paying $1K A Month For New Cars In Q3 2023

Last quarter, average monthly payments for both new and used cars remained high. While shoppers paid $30 more per month for new cars, payments for used cars decreased by $2.

New car buyers are spending more each month to finance a smaller amount, as the interest rates have increased and the loan terms have shortened. In Q3 2023, the average financing amount for new cars was $40,149 for 68.4 months, resulting in a monthly payment of $736 with a 7.4 percent APR. In comparison, during the same quarter last year, people were paying $703 per month at 5.7 percent for 70.3 months on $41,347.

  New, Q3 2023 Used, Q3 2023
Term 68.4 70.1
Monthly Payment $736 $567
Amount Financed $40,149 $29,328
APR 7.5% 11.2%
Down Payment $6,907 $4,111

Used car monthly payments slightly decreased last quarter to $567 compared to Q2 2023, but they are still higher than the $565 paid in Q3 2022. The average amount financed for used cars also decreased to $29,328, down from $31,367 in Q3 2022 and $29,665 in Q2 2023.

In July, August, and September, a record number of new car buyers opted to pay $1,000 or more per month for their vehicles. The percentage of these consumers increased from 17.1 percent to 17.5 percent in the last quarter.

The rise in interest rates is a major factor contributing to the high monthly car payments. The APR for used cars averaged 11.2 percent over the last three months, a significant increase from the 9.0 percent seen last year. The average APR for new cars has also risen by nearly two percent.

These interest rates were last seen in 2007, with new cars having an average APR of 7.4 percent and used cars at 11.4 percent. Average down payments for both new and used cars have also increased, with new cars requiring an average down payment of $6,907 and used cars requiring $4,111.

Edmund‘s study predicts that monthly payments will remain high in the near future. There is a possibility that the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates again before the year ends, and the ongoing UAW strike could adversely affect inventory levels for those automakers, resulting in higher prices for new and used vehicles.

A study by iSeeCars from last month revealed that the limited production of new cars during the pandemic has caused used car prices to rise by 33 percent compared to prices in 2019. With fewer new cars available at dealerships, prices are expected to increase for everyone.

Citreon

TOTAL COST OF POTHOLE COMPENSATION COULD HAVE FILLED AN ADDITIONAL 340,000 POTHOLES LAST YEAR, FINDS CITROËN UK REPORT

  • Exclusive Citroën UK research reveals damage compensation paid to road users in 2022 could have filled an additional 340,000* potholes.
  • More than £22.7 million** was paid out in damage compensation last year.
  • Total compensation payments since 2017 could have filled more than 2.3m potholes***.
  • Since 2017, more than 1,100 people have been injured on roads in England and Wales, 355 ‘seriously’ and 16 ‘fatally’, due to a ‘defective road surface’‡.
  • Average lifespan of a UK road now stands at 116 years‡‡.
  • From 1 May – 30 June, Citroën UK is offering a Free Pothole Damage Inspection for Citroën owners, which covers damage caused to wheels, suspension, and tyres.

Go to: FREE Pothole Damage Inspection (citroen.co.uk)

 

Compensation payments made by local authorities in England and Wales, to road users who suffered damage to their cars due to poor road surfaces, could have paid for an additional 340,000 potholes to be filled in, according to exclusive research by Citroën UK.

 

Comparing Department for Transport‡ as well as Asphalt Industry Alliance figures†, Citroën found that in the last year, local authorities in England and Wales spent a total of £93.7m fixing over 1.4m potholes, at an average cost of £66.93 per repair‡‡. Over the same timeframe, total compensation claims of £22.7m were paid out to road users. These costs are made up of payouts equaling £11.6m, and staffing costs spent handling claims of £11.1m. The money used on compensation claims could have filled in an additional 340,000 potholes.

 

Since 2017, a total of £139.9m has been spent on damage compensation, which could have filled an additional 2.3m potholes. At the same time, between 2017 and 2021 (the most recent data available), police forces in England and Wales recorded 1,114 accidents on the roads that resulted in injury due to a ‘defective road surface’, with 355 people ‘seriously injured’ and 16 killed‡. Serious injuries are classed as those that require hospitalisation as an in-patient, including fractures, severe cuts, burns and internal injuries ††.

 

The research found a worsening picture on Britain’s roads. The frequency roads being resurfaced, on average, is now every 116 years, up 46 years from a lifespan of 70 years estimated in 2022. The average cost of filling a pothole rose to £66.93 in the latest data set, up from £63.18 the year before, and 300,000 fewer potholes were filled in compared the previous year. The one-time catch-up cost (the total cost of repairing roads back to a condition when the network can be managed cost effectively), now stands at £14.2bn – up from £12.64bn in 2022‡‡. In 2017, the one-time catch-up cost stood at £12.6bn – it dropped to £9.3bn in 2018, before gradually rising in the years since.

 

As part of its commitment to safety, driver well-being, comfort, and serenity, Citroën is offering a Free Pothole Damage Inspection for Citroën owners, including checks for damage caused to wheels, suspension, and tyres. The offer is available until 30 June at participating retailers.

 

The Free Pothole Damage Inspection includes checks on areas most commonly affected by poor road surfaces. Tyres are checked for damage, bulges, cuts, and tread depth. Wheels are checked for cracks and damage too. Key suspension components, such as coil springs and ball joints are also inspected. Retailers will also check tyre pressures and adjust these back to the recommended levels as part of the process. Where possible, retailers will also offer wheel alignment – at an additional cost.  

 

Many Citroën models – such as New C5 X – benefit from Citroën’s Advanced Comfort® Programme, with enhanced suspension and supportive seating for a smoother ride. All versions of New C5 X feature Citroën’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushion® technology, which integrates hydraulic bump stops into the suspension system to better control compression and rebound on damaged surfaces.

 

Inside, New C5 X comes as standard with Advanced Comfort® seats. With broad cushions and seat backs, they combine high-density foam at the heart of each seat, and a thick 15mm layer of extra textured foam on the surface, to keep occupants comfortable and relaxed when on the road.

 

Greg Taylor, Managing Director of Citroën UK, said: “The 2023 ALARM report shows that the UK faces an 11-year and £14.2-billion backlog of road repairs. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that millions are spent each year on damage compensation for motorists. To help drivers avoid the worst of pothole damage, Citroën is glad to offer a Free Pothole Damage Inspection at participating retailers from 1 May – 30 June.”