Tag Archives: particular

Car review

Omoda E5 prototype assessment

Leave a comment

The Omoda E5 is meant to have a somewhat upmarket really feel, and Hyundai and Kia are a selected goal. However, there’s a whiff of tackiness to the trim in our top-spec Noble prototype take a look at automotive. Small particulars just like the chiny, chrome speaker covers, and the wave sample on a number of the plastic trim. It’s attempting a bit too laborious, in areas.

Still, the double wi-fi telephone charging pad is nice – particularly because it has its personal cooling vent, to maintain your telephone from overheating – and there are another neat touches together with display brightness controls which are completely seen on the panel subsequent to the steering wheel. Talking about illumination, although, the back-lit, touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel disappear fully if it’s nonetheless mild outdoors and also you flip the headlights on. Don’t anticipate to have the ability to flip your music down when it’s foggy or raining closely, then.

Naturally, there’s an enormous, 12.3-inch touchscreen on high of the sprint, which is housed along with the large driver’s readout. Our automotive was but to have its last software program replace, however even with the tweaks that we’re advised will occur earlier than the mannequin hits dealerships, the system will like really feel a contact dated. The graphics are a bit grainy, discovering a number of the automotive’s settings takes too lengthy (you must prod at the very least three- or 4 occasions to show lane-keep help and pace restrict warnings off), and the house menu icons and in-screen temperature controls are small and fiddly. It’s harking back to MG’s touchscreen software program again when the MG4 was first launched, in truth, and also you’ll discover the methods from Kia, Hyundai, Renault and (dare we are saying it…) even Volkswagen, usefully higher. Still, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary, so that you received’t have to make use of the native system fairly often, anyway.

Rear passenger house is okay. You’ll get a few six-footers within the again with relative ease, though headroom is a bit tighter than in some rivals and there’s little or no foot house beneath the entrance seats.

The boot has a paltry 292-litre claimed capability, which is completely woeful and extra what you’d anticipate in a metropolis automotive than a household crossover. We’re a bit sceptical about that determine, although, and suspect that Omoda hasn’t included underfloor storage, because the boot actually doesn’t look so dangerous to us; you’ll get the large store in there, no worries. There’s additionally a small frunk, though it’s shallow sufficient that you simply’ll most likely find yourself sticking your charging cables within the boot, anyway.

And should you do carry that boot ground up – reward be to the automotive gods, it’s an electrical automotive with a full-size spare! We thought we’d by no means see the day, and when the E5 involves the UK it’s attainable that it’ll be a space-saver, however even that could be a large enchancment on a tube of gunk, or nothing in any respect.

News

Dakar 2024: Branch Back At The Top Of The Rankings At The Start Of Stage 6

In the Dakar Rally, there is not any stage that is unimportant. However, Stage Five was of explicit significance to riders operating the 2024 version. Why? Because the outcomes would decide the operating order of the GP class riders in the monster 48-hour marathon known as Stage Six. Rules for Stage Six had GP-class riders operating in reverse order of how they completed in Stage Five.

While Duust Rally Team rider Konrad Dabrowski had mechanical points, it was one more occasion the place you possibly can clearly see the Dakar Spirit on show as he had assist getting his bike again up and operating. 

Adrien Van Beveren thought he had the highest time and would due to this fact be sitting fairly for the beginning of Stage Six, however Pablo Quintanilla swept in to beat Van Beveren’s time by a mere 37 seconds. In all, right here have been the highest 10 outcomes for Stage Five of the 2024 Dakar Rally.

Racer Team Time
Pablo Quintanilla (Chile) Monster Energy Honda Team 1 hour, 32 minutes, 53 seconds
Adrien Van Beveren (France) Monster Energy Honda Team 1 hour, 33 minutes, 30 seconds
Toby Price (Australia) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1 hour, 34 minutes, 32 seconds
Daniel Sanders (Australia) Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing 1 hour, 35 minutes, 51 seconds
Mason Klein (USA) Korr Offroad Racing 1 hour, 35 minutes, 54 seconds
Ross Branch (Botswana) Hero Motosports Team Rally 1 hour, 36 minutes, 35 seconds
Ricky Brabec (USA) Monster Energy Honda Team 1 hour, 36 minutes, 41 seconds
Stefan Svitko (Slovakia) Slonaft Rally Team 1 hour, 37 minutes, 03 seconds
Tobias Ebster (Austria) Kini Rally Racing Team 1 hour, 37 minutes, 26 seconds
Skyler Howes (USA) Monster Energy Honda Team 1 hour, 37 minutes, 48 seconds

Incidentally, these outcomes put Hero Motosport rider Ross Branch again on high of the general standings after Stage Five.

The 48-Hour Marathon Loop Of Stage Six: Shubaytah to Shubaytah

The first day of Stage Six has wrapped, however as a result of the stage lasts for 48 hours, no official occasions can be found but. The riders nonetheless have one other day to journey to finish the stage.

Unfortunately for Skyler Howes, a mechanical failure ended his 2024 Dakar Rally effort simply 39 kilometers into the beginning of Stage Six.

 

2024 Dakar Rally Overall Rider Standings After Stage Five

The total leaderboard modified once more after Stage Five, so here is the place we’re at as Stage Six continues.

Racer Team Time
Ross Branch (Botswana) Hero Motosports Team Rally 19 hours, 5 minutes, 03 seconds
José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Chile) Monster Energy Honda Team 19 hours, 6 minutes, 17 seconds
Ricky Brabec (USA) Monster Energy Honda Team 19 hours, 8 minutes, 50 seconds
Adrien Van Beveren (France) Monster Energy Honda Team 19 hours, 23 minutes, 13 seconds
Kevin Benavides (Argentina) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 19 hours, 26 minutes, 20 seconds
Pablo Quintanilla (Chile) Monster Energy Honda Team 19 hours, 31 minutes, 50 seconds
Toby Price (Australia) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 19 hours, 36 minutes, 39 seconds
Daniel Sanders (Australia) Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing 19 hours, 42 minutes, 47 seconds
Romain Dumontier (France) Team Dumontier Racing 19 hours, 43 minutes, 55 seconds
Martin Michek (Czech Republic) Orion Moto Racing Group 19 hours, 44 minutes, 55 seconds

It’s undoubtedly not the ending that Skyler Howes hoped for on the 2024 Dakar Rally, however the one constant factor about Dakar is that something can (and does) occur. 

We look ahead to seeing what the second day of Stage Six brings, together with the remainder of the 2024 Dakar Rally.

News

This Honda Stream Was Team Red’s First Leaning Trike Design

Here in 2024, relying in your specific space of moto curiosity, you may be aware of the Honda Gyro. If you’ve got been following Honda’s efforts at electrification as of late, you may additionally be aware of the newest model, the Honda Gyro e:, which makes use of these swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack e: models.

If you thought that the Honda Gyro was the primary Honda leaning three-wheeler, although, you would be incorrect. As it seems, the Gyro had a couple of predecessors within the Honda lineup, starting with the Honda Stream. (Yes, we all know that there is a Honda automotive that got here later with the identical mannequin identify, however we’re speaking in regards to the OG Honda Stream three-wheeled scooter right this moment.)

In 1981, Honda first launched the Stream as an especially sensible and mild-mannered three-wheeler. As you’ll be able to see on this reasonably wonderful exploration of the Stream from Small Bike Stuff, the 2 wheeled rear portion can also be the place the engine sits. It stays in fixed contact with the bottom, whereas the rider can lean the entrance portion backward and forward nearly as a lot as they need. The result’s a fairly secure journey for whoever’s within the saddle.

Why A Leaning Three Wheeler, Honda?

Ask anybody who’s aware of Honda motorcycle historical past and so they’ll inform you that a very long time in the past, Honda took a couple of extra design dangers than it has been recognized to do within the 2000s.

Still, even when the Honda Stream did not keep in manufacturing lengthy, the truth that Honda went on to refine it into further three-wheeled designs just like the Honda Just and later, the Gyro, reveals that the corporate was clearly onto one thing. The Gyro and now the Gyro e: have been well-liked supply autos for companies in a number of nations throughout Asia for many years.

The Idea Came From England

The many and various threads of motorbike historical past intersect in unusual methods generally, and that is a kind of instances. See, with out BSA, there would arguably have been no Honda Stream, Honda Gyro, or every other Honda leaning three-wheelers. 

BSA Ariel 3 and Daihatsu Hallo

BSA was wanting to get into the moped market, and a British designer named George Wallis had been engaged on arising with a safer bicycle design for a couple of years. Prior to his involvement with BSA, Wallis had additionally began engaged on motorized three-wheeled prototypes. Some of them even utilized an engine from a Triumph Tina scooter.

Anyway, BSA went on to license a design from Wallis that finally turned the Ariel 3 leaning three-wheeled scooter, which premiered in 1970. While it in all probability wasn’t the one factor liable for the corporate’s downfall, the Ariel 3 undeniably proved to be a large gross sales flop for BSA. The firm had reportedly anticipated to promote round 25,000 Ariel 3s, and as an alternative solely shifted 7,000 in that first 12 months.

After that, for a really quick time within the Seventies, Daihatsu briefly acquired into making scooters. It additionally licensed Wallis’ leaning three-wheeled design for the leaning three-wheeled Hallo, which you’ll be able to see above.

The third firm was evidently the allure, although, as Honda determined it wanted a few of that candy leaning three-wheeled scooter design for itself. Thus, it launched the Stream, and finally the Gyro, which has now been going sturdy in its area of interest for many years.

This 1984 Honda Stream That’s For Sale

1984 Honda Stream - Left Side

Now, ultimately, we come to a 1984 Honda Stream that somebody is promoting proper now on Bring a Trailer. While Honda by no means bought the Stream within the US, it was imported a while in the past and is at present registered in Maryland. It’s powered by a wee little 49cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine, and has a complete of 610 kilometers (about 379-ish miles) on the clock. As with all used autos, complete precise mileage is unknown.

The earlier proprietor previous to the present vendor is claimed to have completed some routine upkeep, together with cleansing the carburetor and altering out issues just like the spark plug, fluids, and battery. There’s a working video up prime, the place you’ll be able to see that it was apparently working fairly properly in late 2023. 

1984 Honda Stream - Dash

Does it have what may presumably the best sprint recognized to humankind? Perhaps I’m overstating the case a bit, however I believe you’ll be able to agree that it is fairly wonderful. 

This is clearly not going to win any pace awards (except, after all, you do some form of mad engine swap with it), however it will definitely be a superb dialog starter. 

It’s at present being supplied at no reserve on Bring a Trailer, with an public sale finish date of Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. The bid is as much as $1,000 on the time of writing. We’ll record the hyperlink in our Sources to see extra images or bid on it when you’re .

Technology

5 Fun Tech Christmas Gift Ideas For Someone Who Already Has Everything

While this specific present concept might not precisely match most individuals’s invoice for “fun,” it is actually one thing virtually anyone can profit from utilizing, together with people who find themselves notoriously troublesome to buy. The Phonesoap 3 is a nifty machine designed to disinfect not simply your telephones, however different high-touch and germ-prone objects as nicely like your keys, wallets, earbuds, and small jewellery, amongst different issues. By encasing objects in a chamber that is totally uncovered to UV-C gentle, germs and micro organism may be accomplished away with in solely a matter of ten minutes.

Apart from its disinfecting function, the Phonesoap 3 can even double as a common cellphone charger, due to its built-in USB-A and USB-C ports.The santizing chamber ought to match most smartphones which might be 6.8 inches lengthy and three.74 inches large. It is available in many colours as nicely, however for now, the black model is offered at 50% off on Amazon for the price of $39.95.

News

The Aprilia RS 457 Made Its Presence Known At EICMA 2023

The Piaggio Group had a significant presence at this year’s EICMA show, with Aprilia showcasing some of its models such as the Tuareg and SR GT. However, the spotlight was on the Italian brand’s latest small-displacement model, the RS 457.

Aprilia’s smallest sportbike was on exhibit at EICMA, and the new RS 457 garnered attention from spectators. While the pre-order books for the RS 457 are now open and the prices have been revealed in North America, this was the first time the bike was publicly displayed at the show. With a price of approximately $7,000 USD, the brand targets both beginner sportbike riders and experienced riders looking for a smaller bike.

The RS 457 marks a significant milestone for the Italian manufacturer. It was developed from the ground up as an entirely new project, boasting lightness and the best power-to-weight ratio in the A2-restricted motorcycle category. Leveraging the company’s racing expertise, its technological features are designed to enhance the rider’s experience and skill progression on both road and track.


2024 Aprilia RS 457 - Studio - Prismatic Dark - Right Side

7 Photos

The bike is powered by Aprilia’s new 457cc parallel-twin engine, producing 46.9 horsepower, which is at the legal limit for A2-restricted riders in the European Union. Its 270-degree firing order is similar to the setup of the CFMoto 450 SS and other models. The use of an all-aluminum frame and the engine as a stressed member of the chassis results in a lighter weight compared to other motorcycles in the segment.

Additional features include an optional quickshifter for the six-speed manual transmission, a front 41mm upside-down fork with 120mm of travel, rear mono-shock with up to 130mm of travel, preload adjustment on both ends, a braking system with a 320mm front disc brake and a 220mm rear disc, and 17-inch wheels on both ends with respective tire sizes. The bike also incorporates luxuries such as a five-inch TFT display, ride-by-wire throttle, traction control with three levels, and ride modes.

It will be interesting to see how the RS 457 competes with other small-capacity sportbikes in the market, including the KTM RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 400, and Honda CBR500R. The competition will also involve the CFMoto 450 SS, offering a more affordable option, but the RS 457’s lighter weight and more advanced features make it a compelling contender in the segment.

News, Technology

Bing AI Joins Microsoft’s Bug Bounty Program – And The Payouts Are Big

Of particular interest in Microsoft’s latest bug bounty initiative are vectors targeting Bing Chat. A rival to ChatGPT and Google Bard, Microsoft’s AI chatbot is a crucial element of the company’s vision to make the search experience more immersive and rewarding. But given some well-known faults in the not-too-distant past, it is no wonder that Microsoft wants independent minds to have a go and discover issues with a reward deal.

“Influencing and changing Bing’s chat behavior across user boundaries,” “modifying Bing’s chat behavior,” “bypassing Bing’s chat mode session limits,” and forcing Bing to reveal confidential information are some of the areas that Microsoft wants experts to break. These aspects are often discussed on social media and experts also tend to challenge the guardrails of these AI models.

Even Microsoft admits that “Bing is powered by AI, so surprises and mistakes are possible.” That’s not merely a standard warning. The chatbot is occasionally known to go off the rails and act creepy, especially when a person engages in long, deep conversations. That’s also the reason why Microsoft decided to limit user queries to 50 per day and only allowed five questions per session. Then, there’s also the whole saga of Microsoft’s Tay chatbot that truly went bananas on Twitter a few years ago and had to be pulled quickly.

News

Understanding the Fire Risk of Electric Vehicles

With the increasing popularity of electric cars in the UK, concerns about their safety, specifically regarding car fires, are arising.

While it is true that both petrol and diesel cars have the potential to catch fire (as demonstrated by past incidents such as the Vauxhall Zafira fires), electric vehicle (EV) fires tend to attract more attention.

How common are electric car fires?

Although electric car fires often make headlines, they are not actually common occurrences. According to Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions, there were 239 EV-related fires recorded in the UK between July 2022 and June 2023.

It is worth noting that while this shows an 83% increase compared to the previous year, the number has risen in line with the growing presence of electric vehicles on the roads.

In comparison, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reported 1,898 fires from petrol and diesel vehicles in 2019, with only 54 fires from EVs.

Furthermore, a study conducted by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency revealed that petrol and diesel cars are 19 times more likely to catch fire than EVs.

Why do electric car fires attract so much attention?

Several factors contribute to the increased attention given to electric car fires. Firstly, the technology is still relatively new and therefore considered newsworthy. Additionally, EV fires tend to be complex incidents that are often accompanied by highly toxic fumes, distinctive hissing noises, and directed jets of flames, which may be followed by an explosion.

Moreover, extinguishing electric car fires can be extremely challenging. The fire may appear to be out, only to reignite hours, days, or even weeks later.

Considering these factors, it is understandable why electric car fires raise concerns, particularly among those responsible for firefighting.

How do fire crews handle EV fires?

Fire services are developing new strategies to handle electric car fires. For instance, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service announced that one of their fire engines will accompany the recovery vehicle back to their facility after an incident involving an EV to assist with any potential fires.

Moreover, the service has implemented a system to help fire crews identify the EV model involved in an incident and locate its battery and isolation switches.

Experts have differing opinions on the best approach to tackle an EV fire. Generally, the standard method involves using large amounts of water to cool the battery pack (although this may not prevent the fire from reigniting), a fire blanket to suppress flames, and breathing equipment to protect firefighters from toxic fumes. In some cases, allowing the fire to burn itself out is also a feasible approach.

Attempts to suffocate the fire using inert gases are typically ineffective since the fire does not require oxygen due to its chemical nature. Additionally, the surrounding area must be thoroughly examined for battery cells that may have been propelled from the pack during an explosion and could potentially ignite later.

News

Germany Sees Strong Motorcycle Sales in August 2023

Motorcycle sales in Germany and across Europe have experienced a significant increase in 2023. Sales data from Germany reveals that the motorcycle market is at its highest point in five years, with 2023 being the best year for multiple manufacturers in terms of sales. The introduction of new models in the market has contributed to the growing demand, leading to more people buying motorcycles.

German motorcycling publication Motorrad references data from the KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt), which indicates that the German motorcycle market has been very strong in 2023. From January to August, a total of 102,152 motorcycles have been newly registered, marking a 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022. In 2022, there were only 88,050 new registrations, while in 2021, which was a year of recovery, there were 94,808 new registrations between January and August.

Naturally, motorcycle manufacturers in the country are extremely pleased with this positive trend. KTM, for example, has seen a remarkable 27.9 percent increase in sales so far in 2023. Meanwhile, BMW continues to enjoy significant success, especially with its best-selling model, the R 1250 GS. In August 2023 alone, 670 new R 1250 GS bikes were sold. With the upcoming launch of the all-new R 1300 GS, it is expected that BMW’s sales will soar even higher.

Among all the brands, Honda has particularly achieved great success. It has registered a remarkable 80.3 percent sales growth in 2022, securing the top spot in terms of market share for all motorcycles in the German market. The brand’s success can be attributed to its new 750cc models, namely the CB750 Hornet and the Honda Transalp XL750. In terms of best-selling models for August 2023, the Hornet ranks second with 385 units sold, while the Transalp sits in fifth place with 209 sold. In total, Honda sold an impressive 2,005 motorcycles in August 2023, with the CB650R and CBR650R also contributing to driving sales.

Cars

How Magic Erasers Make Cleaning Glass in the Car a Breeze

Magic Erasers are a type of disposable cleaning tool that is known for its ability to remove tough stains. While “Magic Eraser” is a specific product name, the generic term for this type of cleaning tool is a melamine sponge. Think of it like the difference between a Band-Aid and an adhesive strip.

Melamine sponges are made from an organic compound called melamine, which is rich in nitrogen. Normally, it is in a foam form, but when compressed into a sponge, it can be dampened and squeezed to release controlled bursts of cleaning power. Despite their lightweight and fluffy appearance, these sponges are actually highly abrasive. This is what gives a Magic Eraser its ability to effectively scrub away tough messes, even with minimal force applied.

Typically, Magic Erasers are used to clean hard or porous surfaces in the home, such as bathtubs, sinks, stone tables, and more. However, if you happen to have one handy, it can also be the perfect tool for cleaning your car’s windows.

BMW

BMW Motorrad presents BMW Motorrad MetaRide.

The new BMW CE 02 is an electric eParkourer that is aimed at young people. It offers a new way of accessing the world of BMW Motorrad. To allow people to experience the CE 02 up close, BMW Motorrad has created the BMW Motorrad MetaRide, a digital brand space of virtual reality. In the MetaRide, motorcycle fans can ride and experience the CE 02 in the form of an avatar, similar to physical reality. It also serves as a platform for fans to connect with the BMW Motorrad brand. The virtual environment in the MetaRide will resemble the real world, and there are various activities to enjoy, such as virtual test rides, playing basketball, collecting tokens, and earning virtual clothing for your avatar. The virtual brand space will be expanded to include other BMW Motorrad products in the future.

The world premiere of the BMW CE 02 was partly held in the BMW Motorrad MetaRide and in the real world during the Pure&Crafted Festival in Berlin. The virtual and real worlds interacted with each other during the premiere. To access the BMW Motorrad MetaRide, you can visit the BMW Motorrad website, the BMW Motorrad social media channels, or directly through the Spatial Metaverse platform. There are also specific links available for direct access to the virtual world.

The virtual BMW Motorrad products showcased in the MetaRide are protected against imitation, similar to their physical counterparts. BMW AG has extended trademark protection to cover virtual goods, including virtual vehicles and virtual clothing.

For press material on BMW motorcycles and rider equipment, please visit the BMW Group PressClub website. If you have any queries, you can contact Dominik Schaidnagel, Spokesperson BMW Motorrad, or Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad.

The BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, with brands including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. It also offers premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group has production sites worldwide and a global sales network. In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and over 202,000 motorcycles. The company focuses on long-term thinking and responsible action, with sustainability and efficient resource management as central pillars of its strategic direction.

For more information, please visit the BMW Group website or follow their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.