Tag Archives: revealed

The Controversial Tech Behind The Missing Titanic Submersible

CBS reporter David Pogue was part of a Titan crew in 2022, during which he revealed some concerning details about the design of the submersible vessel. Pogue mentioned that the vessel was operated using a modified Logitech F710 wireless game controller, with custom sticks replacing the direction joysticks for improved navigation.

There is a comparison to be made with the U.S. Navy’s use of Xbox 360 controllers for its submarines. However, there is an important distinction: the Navy utilizes the controller to operate periscopes, not for maneuvering the submarine itself. Furthermore, the Logitech F710 is an inexpensive controller that was first introduced over a decade ago. Given the gravity of the situation, it seems peculiar to rely on such an old and economical controller for such a critical task.

Additionally, the submersible reportedly only has a single button inside for turning it on, with the rest of the control systems relying on computers and digital displays. This is similar to the trend in modern cars, where buttons and dials are being replaced by touch screens. While this design was intended to make operating the submersible easier, it could become problematic if the vessel loses all electrical power, especially since it relies on Starlink for communications.

Bugatti Bolide Laps Le Mans In First Public Debut As It Tests Aero Pack

It’ll be three years this October since Bugatti first revealed the Bolide. We’re nearer to its launch than ever as Bugatti continues to check the mannequin’s aerodynamic packages and finalizes the manufacturing automotive. Deliveries start in 2024, however the supercar simply made its first public look and did it at this yr’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Bugatti first launched the Bolide to the world in 2020, but it surely did not reveal the production version until a few months ago. The gamut of assessments the Bolide goes by means of is pushing the hypercar to the restrict to make sure it creates the right degree of downforce and achieves the absolute best dealing with. The automaker is testing it on “real, revered racetracks.”

 

The manufacturing Bolide will generate practically three tons of downforce and might obtain as much as 2.5 G laterally, due to its aerodynamic bundle. At the entrance, the splitter compresses the air, then expands underneath the diffuser to create a suction impact that pulls the Bolide to the bottom. Unique air curtains in entrance of the entrance wheels direct air across the automotive, decreasing general drag. Bugatti even designed the wing mirrors to divert air towards the facet intercoolers for max effectivity.

Racers will be capable to regulate the aero bundle to seek out the suitable stability between downforce and drag. That consists of the rear wing house owners can set to satisfy every observe’s distinctive traits. The track-focused design is why Bugatti included a bodily rear-view mirror, which permits drivers to estimate distances to the vehicles behind them higher.

The Bolide’s quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine makes 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. It has a dry weight of three,637 kilos (1,650 kilograms) and generates practically 6,600 kilos of downforce at pace.

The Bolide has a bit extra finalizing to finish earlier than it arrives in clients’ fingers. Deliveries start someday subsequent yr, and Bugatti is barely making 40 of the track-only hypercars. Each will value 4 million ($4.3 million at at this time’s trade charges. The Bolide lapped the observe at Le Man on Saturday afternoon with Andy Wallace, a 1988 Le Mans winner, on the wheel. Wallace is an official Bugatti driver.

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST EXTENDED: A WORK OF ART FROM THE PRIVATE OFFICE DUBAI

  • The first Private Office Dubai commission revealed: An exceptional two-tone Ghost Extended in Sunrise Sparkle and White Sands Bespoke exterior colours
  • Ghost Extended offers the indulgence of enhanced rear seating space with no compromise to Ghost’s driving dynamics
  • Ghost Extended is the product of an exhaustive process of consultation with a new generation of Rolls-Royce clients
  • Ghost provides the ideal blank canvas for Bespoke commissions


Since the inauguration last July of the Private Office Dubai, the first Private Office outside the UK, I am thrilled to say that our clients have been immersing themselves in a n unrivalled creative environment. Bringing Goodwood to the Middle East, the Private Office is a space which provides a unique experience; it’s where our clients can bring their ideas to life and explore the marque’s Home and people in real-time, via seamless technology. The success of this concept is clear to see as the Private Office’s first commission is revealed: a mesmerizing Ghost Extended work of art.”
César Habib, Regional Director Middle East & Africa, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ unrivalled Bespoke capabilities, endless creativity and excellence in engineering enable the marque’s clients to give their imagination free rein, as they commission their unique and deeply personal motor car. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Private Office – a concept which brings together clients, designers and engineers and which is being expanded from Goodwood to other major luxury centres around the world. Private Office Dubai was the first to be inaugurated outside the Home of Rolls-Royce, more will follow in due course.

Only eleven months since Private Office Dubai was opened, Rolls-Royce is delighted to present the first commission from the Office: displaying dazzling craftsmanship and great creativity, this Bespoke presentation of Ghost Extended is a true work of art.

Reflecting an evolved appreciation of luxury, one defined by purity, but underpinned by great substance, Ghost Extended embodies elegance and agility. The purest expression of Rolls-Royce, it is a motor car that inspires greatness.

Inspired by the magic of the Middle Eastern sunrise and the mystery of the Arabian sands, this Bespoke Ghost Extended radiates luxury, capturing the imagination as its Sunrise Sparkle exterior gleams against Dubai’s skyline. Guided by the Spirit of Ecstasy, and enhanced by the hand painted Coachline in Moccasin, a single, sculpted shoulder line extends from the front to back, creating a continuous silhouette. Elegantly luminous in the dark of the night, the illuminated Pantheon Grille emits an ethereal glow.

The interior of this Bespoke Ghost Extended is defined by elegance. A serene realm in Grace White and Moccasin, cocooned by the finest materials, drivers and passengers alike are transfixed by a rarefied vision of pure beauty, as the Starlight Headliner is emphasised with an ephemeral show of shooting stars.

Ghost Extended is built on the Architecture of Luxury, Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium spaceframe that underpins every Rolls-Royce model. The marque’s hallmark Magic Carpet Ride is delivered by the marque’s unrivalled Planar Suspension System, itself the result of more than 10 years’ exhaustive testing and refinement by specialist engineers. Featuring continuously variable, electronically controlled shock absorbers, self-levelling high-volume air strut assemblies and a world-first upper wishbone damper; Ghost and Ghost Extended are the first-ever production motor cars to benefit from this spectacular technology, with Ghost Extended also offering all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering.

Power is provided by a 6.75-litre twin turbocharged engine developed exclusively for Ghost. It produces 571PS and 850Nm of torque. The requirement for silence when travelling is answered through 100kg of acoustic damping materials incorporated into the chassis, bodywork and tyres, delivering exhilarating performance without disturbing the serenity within.

“Ghost presents a world of boundless potential, and t his Bespoke Ghost Extended is another example of what we are capable of creating . Ghost, like every Rolls-Royce, presents a perfect blank canvas where we can inspire greatness with ambitious creativity and endless elegant possibilities. Whether it’s a Ghost, Ghost Extended or even Black Badge Ghost, there are no limits to what Ghost can become – all one has to do is imagine.”
Chris Hardy, Bespoke Client Experience Manager – Private Office Dubai

NEDCcorr (combined): CO2 emission: 343 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.8 mpg / 15.0 l/100km WLTP (combined): CO2 emission: 348-359 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18-18.5 mpg / 15.3-15.7 l/100km.

PEUGEOT REVEALS NEW PANORAMIC i-COCKPIT®

PEUGEOT has revealed the new look panoramic i-Cockpit® that will debut on the new PEUGEOT 3008 later this year. The next-generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® features a 21-inch high-definition curved panoramic screen floating above the dashboard, a new compact steering wheel and touch-sensitive i-Toggles.

 

PEUGEOT celebrated 10 years of i-Cockpit® innovation this year with almost 10 million units sold. The different generations of PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® have included the latest technologies available – including a digital instrument cluster, wireless connectivity, voice commands, 3D effects, and customisable i-Toggles. The next generation i-Cockpit® continues this tradition of innovation by including a curved 21-inch high-definition floating touchscreen that incorporates the head-up display and central touchscreen.

 

The new design brings together two of the three fundamental elements of the i-Cockpit®, the raised head-up display and a large central touchscreen. These are now built into a curved panoramic screen made up of a single 21-inch high-definition panel, which extends from the left-hand end of the dashboard to the centre console. The screen is attached by a rear mount that is invisible from the passenger compartment to create a ‘floating’ effect, accentuated by LED mood lighting beneath the screen.

 

The screen is positioned for optimum ergonomics and is slightly curved towards the driver while remaining accessible to the passenger. It combines two key functions of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®:

 

  • On the left-hand side of the panoramic screen, the instrument cluster displays all the information relating to driving such as speed, power meter, driving aids and energy flow, all above the compact steering wheel.

 

  • On the right-hand side, in the centre of the dashboard, the touchscreen section is accessible to both driver and passenger. It can be used to control the heating/air conditioning, navigation, media/connectivity and other systems.

 

The central part of the dashboard houses the i-Toggles, fully customisable touch-sensitive buttons that can be programmed with 10 pre-sets to provide rapid access to the user’s favourite functions, such as calling a favourite contact, starting navigation to a frequently used destination, tuning the radio to a favourite station, or setting the ideal temperature for the air conditioning.

 

The centre console is airy and uncluttered to increase the space available for storage and wireless smartphone charging. This has been made possible by moving the automatic gearbox selector to the dashboard, to the side of the steering wheel, and just next to the car’s stop/start button. This allows easy access to the gearbox control and to stop or start the engine in a single intuitive gesture.

 

The compact steering wheel has always been a fundamental element of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® and has been extensively reworked to offer an even greater driving feel and comfort. It has retained its compactness, yet features a more modern design – the redesigned central cushion is smaller and ‘isolated’ from the steering wheel spokes to give a levitating effect similar to the panoramic screen on the dashboard.

 

The controls located on the new compact steering wheel are now ‘tactile clicking’ for optimum user ergonomics. To avoid any accidental inputs, they automatically detect the driver’s fingers but are only activated when pressed.

 

The 21-inch floating panoramic screen is not the only element that contributes to the spectacular look of the new PEUGEOT panoramic i-Cockpit®. The strong appeal and technological character are enhanced by the ambient lighting which extends across the entire width of the dashboard and door panels. This lighting is reflected on an elegant piece of aluminium and can be customised in eight different colours.

 

PEUGEOT REVEALS NEW 2008 WITH UPDATED DESIGN AND NEW ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAINS

PEUGEOT has revealed the new 2008, with a more assertive SUV design, enhanced technology and new electrified powertrains.

 

Launched at the end of 2019 and with nearly 700,000 units produced, the PEUGEOT 2008 has consistently been among the top three best-selling B-segment SUVs in Europe, topping the list in 2021. The success of this model is attributed particularly to the e-2008, which accounted for 17.4% of European 2008 sales in 2022.

 

The new 2008 features an updated, more assertive design, an enhanced i-Cockpit® and a new electric powertrain for the new e-2008 that offers up to 252 miles of range (WLTP). It will be open for orders in the summer with a choice of three trim levels – Active, Allure and GT.

 

Design

 

The new 2008 features an updated design which reflects its move upmarket and strengthens its SUV status. The model has a new, wider front end incorporating the new PEUGEOT shield and includes a specific lateral pattern that connects to the headlamps. On Active versions, the front end is enhanced with a horizontal pattern in gloss black, while on Allure and GT versions, the front end has a vertical pattern in the same colour as the bodywork.

 

The front of the new 2008 also adopts the latest PEUGEOT light signature first seen on the new 508 and 508 SW, which is characterised by three vertical light claws integrated into the gloss black inserts on the bumper. GT versions feature exclusive full LED headlamps made up of three light modules. This distinguishes the GT versions from the rest of the range by giving them an exclusive front-end signature.

 

At the rear, the new 2008’s distinctive three-claw light signature has also been redesigned. The LED rear lights are made up of three superimposed horizontal double slats, which help to visually widen the car’s stance. The reversing lights and indicators are also LEDs.

 

The front, side and rear badges of the new 2008 have been given a new typeface and are finished in a new Basalt Grey colour, while the new e-2008 has an “E” badge in Dichroic Blue and White. At the rear, the PEUGEOT monogram runs across the entire width of the boot lid.

 

The new 2008 is available with alloy wheels ranging from 16-18 inches, with a disruptive design in line with those introduced on the new PEUGEOT 408. Customers have a choice of six body colours: Selenium Grey, Cumulus Grey, Okenite White, Nera Black, Elixir Red and Vertigo Blue. All versions feature gloss black door mirrors, while GT models feature a black bi-tone roof.

 

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®

 

PEUGEOT’s innovative i-Cockpit® has been updated for the new 2008, with a new design for the 10-inch digital instrument cluster, which features a 3D display on GT versions. The colour of the display, the order and the layout of the information can be fully adjusted to suit the driver’s preferences.

 

All new 2008 models now come with a 10-inch central touchscreen as standard. Under the central screen, the piano keys allow quick access to key functions.

 

Finally, the new 2008’s compact steering wheel displays the new PEUGEOT logo in its centre and houses controls for the infotainment system, as well as voice control. On GT models, steering wheels also feature a new GT badge on the lower part of its rim.

 

The interior of the new 2008 also benefits from new seat fabrics throughout, including new Alcantara® upholstery available as an option on GT versions.

 

Technology

 

On Allure trims and above, the new 2008 is available with PEUGEOT’s i-Connect® infotainment system, which offers full connectivity through wireless phone mirroring (Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto). The system can be controlled via the central 10-inch high-definition touchscreen or via natural voice recognition, activated by saying “Ok PEUGEOT.”

 

PEUGEOT i-Connect®  Advanced is available as an option across the range, which adds a high-performance TomTom® connected navigation system with over-the-air updates.

 

For easier and safer driving, the new 2008 comes with a range of driver assistance features, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Automatic Emergency Braking, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert and Blind Spot Monitoring. For enhanced traction, Advanced Grip Control, together with all-season tyres, is also offered, which provides access to three additional driving modes: Sand, Mud and Snow.

 

Powertrains

 

The new 2008 will be available with a range of electric, hybrid (from 2024), and petrol powertrains, enabling each customer to choose the version that best suits their needs.

 

From launch, the new fully-electric PEUGEOT e-2008 benefits from a larger 54kWh battery and a new electric motor, with maximum power increasing by 18% to 156hp. The range also increases to 252 miles (WLTP mixed cycle), up from 214 miles.

 

Two types of onboard chargers are available on the new PEUGEOT e-2008: as standard, a single-phase 7.4kW charger and, as an option, a three-phase 11kW charger. The new e-2008 can be recharged from 0-80% in 30 minutes from a 100kW rapid charger, or 7 hours 30 minutes from a 7.4kW charger.

 

In 2024, the new 2008 will also be available with a new 48V HYBRID powertrain, which consists of a new-generation 136bhp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine, coupled with a new six-speed dual-clutch electrified gearbox that includes an electric motor. Thanks to a battery that recharges while driving, this technology offers extra torque at low engine speeds and up to 15% lower fuel consumption. In urban driving, the new 2008 equipped with the HYBRID system can operate more than 50% of the time in electric mode.

 

PEUGEOT will continue to offer customers a choice of advanced 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines. The PureTech 100 is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox featuring a new gearshift knob for improved ergonomics, while the PureTech 130 can be combined with either the EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual gearbox.

 

MyPEUGEOT® app

 

The launch of the new 2008 coincides with the introduction of three new features to the MyPEUGEOT® app, including a virtual maintenance book which stores all invoices and keeps a record of all work carried out on the car. Journey details can also be sent to the onboard navigation system in advance via the app. Lastly, MyPEUGEOT® can now assist with journey planning for electric vehicle drivers by predicting the level of charge available when you arrive at your destination. Drivers can continue to pre-condition the cabin and to check, schedule, start or defer charging remotely via the app.

 

 

CITROËN CELEBRATES 55 YEARS OF THE MÉHARI

  • Citroën is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Méhari, revealed on 16 May 1968 at the Deauville golf course
  • Between 1968 and 1987, 144,953 units were produced, mainly at the Citroën factory in Forest, Belgium
  • This atypical, all-terrain and all-season vehicle was renowned for its modularity, practicality and economic benefits
  • The Méhari became an iconic model both for Citroën and more widely within the automotive world and enjoyed a diverse career which included film appearances and service with the French army
  • The Méhari shares this distinctive and leisure-oriented attitude with the Citroën C3 Pluriel, which will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary, and more recently with My Ami Buggy

 

Citroën is celebrating 55 years since the reveal of the Méhari, which was shown for the first time at the Deauville golf course on 16 May 1968.

 

The Méhari’s unusual pick-up design was built on a Dyane 6 platform, while the model produced between 28 and 32hp and featured an innovative ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic body designed by Roland de La Poype.

 

During the Méhari’s almost 20 years in production between 1968 and 1987, 144,953 units were built (including 1,213 4×4 Méhari), making it a surprising success. The Méhari was mainly produced in the Citroën factory in Forest, Belgium, but also in seven other factories in France, Spain and Portugal.

 

AN ALL-TERRAIN AND ALL-SEASON VEHICLE

 

The Méhari’s name derives from the name given to dromedary camels in North Africa and the Sahara. These animals are known for their off-road ability, their resistance and their ability to transport both goods and passengers over long distances – making it a fitting name for a model known for its ability to adapt to all terrains.

 

From the outside, the Méhari doesn’t appear to be suitable for all seasons, as it looks more like a small convertible used during the summer holidays. Thanks to a winter cover, the car is completely sealed, turning it into a vehicle that can be used all year round.

 

PRACTICAL, MODULAR AND ECONOMICAL

 

The Méhari is highly modular, being able to transform part of its floor into a backrest, which allows it to add two seats at the rear and thus accommodate up to four passengers.

 

The body is made up of only 11 easily repairable parts and can be cleaned with a single blast of water both inside and outside. This makes the car easy to maintain and economical for its customers.

 

THREE UNIQUE VERSIONS

 

Although it was produced for almost 20 years, only three different versions of the Méhari were added to the range, including two limited editions.

 

In 1979, Citroën introduced a new variant of the Méhari with the 4×4 version. Then, in 1983, two special editions were launched. The first to be launched was the Méhari Plage, with its holiday look and bright yellow colour scheme, which was sold in Spain and Portugal. Finally, in April 1983 the Méhari Azur was launched in France, Italy and Portugal, limited to just 700 units.

 

A DIVERSE CAREER

 

The Méhari was a popular choice among organisations as varied as the police, customs, airports, racecourses and many others, but also appealed to shopkeepers, craftsmen and private individuals.

 

The model enjoyed a long career with the French army, which ordered a total of 11,457 Méhari between 1972 and 1987. The Méhari 4×4 also served as a medical assistance vehicle, with ten vehicles taking part in the 1980 Paris-Dakar Wheel alignment to provide medical support along the route.

 

Finally, the Méhari even appeared in films, most notably ‘Le Gendarme de Saint Tropez’ starring Louis de Funès.