A stark reminder of the realities of street racing forward of the Isle of Man TT.
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Toyota Corolla Commercial 2023 long-term check
As a reminder, whereas the B mode in most EVs and hybrids ramps up the regenerative braking, in hybrid Toyotas, it really works to maintain the engine on when decelerating and the revs up for extra engine braking.
As a outcome, if you happen to had been to drive in B mode on a regular basis, you’ll get considerably worse financial system. To be clear, that is not what I’m doing. My level is that I by no means have trigger to make use of it, and it could be extra helpful if it acted just like the B mode in most EVs.
The brake pedal within the Corolla is properly progressive and the gauge cluster exhibits neatly the purpose the place you are shifting from regen to the friction brakes, however it could nonetheless be helpful to rapidly max out the regen with a B mode.
As it’s, B mode does make the engine extra responsive, so that you may use it as a sort of sport mode, however I favor to depart it in Eco as a result of the impact remains to be superficial. That apart, Toyota hybrids appear to be the one automobiles whose Eco mode makes them nicer to drive.
Rather than render the powertrain apparently gutless, it appears to uninteresting the preliminary a part of the throttle pedal to be able to hold you inside the electrical motor’s functionality.
Because electrical motors have instantaneous response, this feels satisfactory for lots of city and suburban driving; as soon as the engine fires up, the software program appears to make use of as a lot electrical energy as attainable to maintain the engine revs down.
That’s good for each gas financial system and dulling the CVT impact. In this newest technology of Toyota hybrids, the everyday CVT ‘mooing’ has been considerably diminished anyway. You would not need this technique in a sporty automobile, however for the Corolla it is excellent.
It stays pretty quiet even if you ground it, and the dearth of gearchanges means it is all the time easy. As a stress-free and economical approach of getting round, the Corolla nonetheless takes some beating.
Hot stuff
Even the lowliest Corollas include heated seats – and a pair of huge rocker switches with which to function them.
Display displeasure
Our favorite vehicles of 2023: Prodrive P25
The Prodrive P25 shouldn’t actually enchantment to me. As a reminder, it’s a reinterpretation of a 1997 WRC Subaru Impreza, however with 2023 parts, know-how and know-how.
Crucially, it doesn’t require an engineering workforce to run it and you’ll – effectively, might – apply it to the highway. It does come at a value: greater than £550,000.
I suppose it’s geared toward the one that liked WRC within the ’90s, has come into some cash over the previous 25 years and now needs to relive that point.
That may be very a lot not me: I used to be 5 on the time and I typically suppose Subaru Imprezas are a bit naff. I harbour no nostalgia in any way for Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
But I like a singular driving expertise, and flinging the P25 round a humid Anglesey circuit was precisely that.
Driving it under nine-tenths is pointless, aside from to get to a location the place you may drive it flat out, so that you must be on a circuit or a closed highway.
On a monitor, I’m typically a really easy driver – gently pouring the automotive in to corners and never upsetting the steadiness, however the P25 woke up a latent rally driver in me.
It quickly turned clear that the P25 likes to rotate into corners off the facility, with the fantastically mild but communicative steering speaking you thru each diploma of rotation.
Then there’s a second, and a selection. With its four-wheel drive and complex diffs, it’s by no means going to settle into a mild powerslide, so that you must both collect it up and be in your approach or Commit. With a capital C.
Watch Hybrid Mercedes-AMG S63 Reach 186 MPH on the Autobahn
Here’s a reminder that in the world of cars, being big and heavy doesn’t always mean being slow. While small, lightweight cars can excel at maneuverability, it’s impressive to see a car that can carry five people in comfort accelerate from 0 to over 180 mph in just 30 seconds.
This is exactly what the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance is capable of. A new video from AutoTopNL showcases this large luxury sedan doing what it does best – cruising at high speeds on Germany’s autobahn. The video wastes no time, immediately showing the car accelerating from a standstill to 295 kph (183 mph) on the speedometer. While we don’t have an exact time for this acceleration, our stopwatch recorded it at a mere 31.16 seconds. This is quite impressive considering the sedan’s weight of over 2.5 tons.
Stellantis Predicts Combustion Engine Cars Will Remain in Use Until 2050
As automakers move towards an all-electric future, Stellantis reminds us that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will still be around for a while. Stellantis’ Senior VP Christian Mueller states that many of the company’s current combustion vehicles will continue to operate long after the electric vehicle (EV) revolution takes place.
In partnership with energy company Aramco, Stellantis has been working to develop and use synthetic e-fuels. By testing various engines with e-fuel samples provided by Aramco, Stellantis discovered that 24 engines used in Europe by different brands ran smoothly without any modifications. The e-fuel is produced by reacting carbon dioxide with hydrogen, and Stellantis claims it can reduce vehicle lifecycle carbon emissions by 70 percent.
Stellantis remains committed to its Dare Forward 2030 plan, which aims to have a fully electric lineup for Europe by 2030. However, the company recognizes that customers will not immediately transition from their gas-powered cars to electric models. Stellantis acknowledges that approximately 25 percent of their vehicles are still in use after 20 years, illustrating the considerable exposure time to e-fuels and the importance of supporting long-term combustion engine use alongside the development of e-fuels.
“I think 25 percent of our vehicles are still in use after 20 years,” said Mueller. “Hence, this kind of exposure time to e-fuels is considerable, very considerable.”
The use of synthetic fuels for current and future combustion vehicles is not a new idea. Porsche, for example, made a significant investment into a biofuel company in April 2022. Bentley also showcased their vehicles running on biofuel at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The potential benefits of e-fuel have led the European Union to revise its 2035 ban on new combustion-powered cars, allowing for an exemption if the cars are running on e-fuel.
Furthermore, not only Europe but also US states like California, Oregon, and New York are aiming to ban new internal combustion vehicles by 2035. However, there has been pushback against these plans, and there is still time for policies to change. As the development of e-fuel progresses, the next few years promise to be fascinating.
“We are exploring all solutions to reinforce our ambitious strategy of becoming a carbon net zero company by 2038,” said Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic. “Drop-in e-fuels can have a massive and almost immediate impact on reducing the CO2 emissions of the existing vehicle fleet, offering our customers an easy and economically efficient option to reduce their carbon footprint – one as simple as choosing a different fuel pump at the station, with no additional modification to their vehicles.”
Maruti Invicto Now Gets Rear Seatbelt Reminder As Standard
The Maruti Invicto Zeta+ trim now gets rear seatbelt reminder at a premium of Rs 3,000
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Maruti launched the Toyota Innova Hycross-derived Invicto in July 2023.
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It is sold in two broad variants: Zeta+ and Alpha+.
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Alpha+ already has this safety feature since the MPV’s launch.
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No other changes have been made to the safety kit of the Zeta+ trim.
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New prices of the MPV range from Rs 24.82 lakh to Rs 28.42 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Shortly after introducing the Toyota Innova Hycross-derived Maruti Invicto, India’s largest carmaker has now equipped its most premium MPV with rear seatbelt reminder even in its entry-level Zeta+ trim. This feature was already available on the range-topping Alpha+ variant since Invicto was launched.
Applicability And Price Revision
The latest safety tech addition is applicable to both second- and third-row seats of the Maruti MPV. Prices of the Zeta+ variants (available in both 7- and 8-seater) have hence gone up marginally by Rs 3,000.
Other Safety Equipment Onboard
Maruti has made no other changes to the Zeta+ trim’s safety net. It comes with six airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, vehicle stability control, hill-start assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchorages.
That said, features such as a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and rear defogger are still reserved for the Alpha+ variant.
Also Read: Maruti Invicto Zeta Plus vs Toyota Innova Hycross VX: Which Hybrid MPV Should You Pick?
Prices And Rivals
The Invicto’s revised price ranges from Rs 24.82 lakh to Rs 28.42 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Its only direct rival is the Toyota Innova Hycross, while the Kia Carens and Toyota Innova Crysta are positioned below it.
Also Read: Upping The Coolness Quotient Quite Literally: Cars With Dual Zone Climate Control Under Rs 30 Lakh
Read More on : Invicto Automatic
Ford Stand-Up Driving Patent Is Latest In A Year Of Interesting Ideas
Patent filings by automakers are not a guarantee that the ideas will become reality. This holds true for Ford as well, as they frequently file patents that may not materialize. However, a recent patent filing by Ford about a stand-up driving position has caught attention.
The patent, filed in 2021 and published recently, shows a depiction of a Bronco with a driver positioned at the windshield pillar. But the actual application of this system is not as extreme as it appears. The primary purpose is to control the vehicle from a standing position, using sensors on the windshield frame. In theory, controls could also be placed in other locations to provide better visibility for the driver in off-road situations. This system could be particularly useful when there is no spotter to assist the driver in navigating tricky obstacles.
The second aspect of this patent involves the use of sensors to detect whether a driver is present in the vehicle, not just sitting in the seat. This can affect the operation of convenience and safety systems in the vehicle, such as shifting to park if a driver is not detected. Safety measures are incorporated into the system, with certain functionality limited to specific modes and low speeds.
This stand-up driving patent is just one of many interesting ideas Ford has filed in recent times. They have also filed patents for gullwing doors on SUVs, systems to detect oncoming trains, a drive-in movie mode that adjusts the rear suspension for a better view, and even a controversial patent that allows a third party to lock owners out of their vehicles if they fall behind on payments.
Whether any of these patents will become a reality in production vehicles remains to be seen. Only time will tell.