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Cars

2024 Jeep Wrangler First Drive: Exploring the 392 To 4xe

June 29, 2023 David

When I arrived at the Rock Bowl in Sand Hollow State Park, I was immediately struck by the breathtaking orange-red rock formations scattered throughout the area, as well as the numerous Jeeps parked in various adventurous positions. After a brief discussion about the correct pronunciation of the “Willys” trim level (pronounced either as it is spelled or as “Willis”), the event began (Jeep states that both pronunciations are acceptable).

Jeep aims to improve upon previous versions of the Wrangler with this new generation. Their goals include increasing ride comfort, offering more off-road options, providing side-curtain airbags, and keeping the price point reasonable for base trims (the starting price for the base-model two-door sport is $31,895).

However, the company also wanted to preserve the iconic “Jeep-ness” that made the vehicle famous. Options such as a six-speed manual transmission, the distinctive brick-like shape, easy removal of doors, and the ability to tackle sand, mud, and rocks are still available.

Motorsport

2024 Honda Odyssey Revealed in Spy Photos, with Front and Rear Changes

June 27, 2023 Prafful Singh

The Honda Odyssey, known for its reliability and spaciousness, is set to receive an update. While the changes are not drastic, they aim to refresh the vehicle’s appearance. Recently, spy photos of the upcoming 2024 Honda Odyssey have emerged, providing a sneak peek of what’s to come.

Although the minivan’s front section is concealed under camouflage, we can still discern some key details. The grille and headlights appear to retain their current shape, with rectangular cutouts indicating stacked driving lights. However, the structures do seem to have some minor differences. Additionally, the lower portion of the front fascia features new notches, adding an interesting touch to the design.

News

The KTM 450 SMR Is Ready To Rule The Race-Track In 2024

June 26, 2023 David

Supermotos are probably one of the greatest things the human race ever invented. Take an incredibly fun-to-ride motocross bike and put some road tires on it, so you can ride it on the street. Even better, put some slick racing tires on it and race these pieces of motorcycle art around a small track. Since 2003, and AMA’s first-ever Supermoto Championship, their popularity only grew. So if you are looking for your next bike, besides buying a superbike or a supernaked, why not give a supermoto a chance? And when it comes to supermoto bikes, one name sure stands out, those three magical letters… KTM!

The KTM 450 SMR – Built To Dominate The Race-Track

Photo of a KTM 450 SMR doing a wheelie on a race-track

One of the best things, besides Arnold of course, that has ever come out of Austria. The KTM’s supermoto line, and the 450 SMR that was imagined as the ultimate track-day weapon. Without a doubt, this machine is just way too tempting to be overlooked, and for 2024, it’s getting even more addictive.

There are plenty of upgrades for the new 450 SMR, so let’s start with everyone’s favorite part. The engine. It is a one-cylinder four-stroke 449.9 cc engine that makes an impressive 63 horsepower. KTM swears that its new single-overhead-camshaft engine continues to be one of the most insane and perfectly executed mechanical gems. Going down the same line as their motocross and hard-enduro/dual-sport line-up, the 450 SMR’s engine was lightened (now weighs only 59 lbs) and pushed towards the center of the bike for better handling and anti-squat behavior.

How did they get a lightweight engine capable of pushing 63 horsepower? With the new cylinder head. Shorter and lighter with a more compact profile. Next was the new ultra-light crankshaft to offer more performance, better response when you twist the throttle, and to keep any pesky vibrations to a minimum. The housing for the crankshaft was made through a high-pressure die-cast process to get thinner and more durable walls. The slipper clutch is from Suter Racing and offers rear stability when you slam on the brakes in the middle of an apex.

Making The 450 SMR Ultra-Light

KTM 450 SMR 2024 doing a burnout

The light-weight exhaust is a compact two-piece header that can easily be removed without messing around with the rear shocks. But, things get even better at the exhaust department. You can also order, from the KTM’s power parts list, an Akrapovič ‘Evolution Line’ exhaust. Made from light-weight, high-grade titanium, and 1,9lbs lighter than the stock one.

The frame was made to provide flexibility while keeping it solid length-wise. The sub-frame was made from reinforced aluminum and polyamide for increased durability and flexibility. The swing-arm was also made to be as light as possible, therefore aluminum was used to make it.

The suspension on the 450 SMR is top-of-the-line, specifically made for supermoto bikes. The front fork is a 48 mm air-sprung WP XACT that uses AER technology (basically a capsuled air spring and a pressurized oil chamber). It is easily adjustable through a single air-pressure valve. The rear shock is also WP XACT, and can be easily tuned without the need for tools. Wheels are light-weight Alpina, 16.5 at the front and 17 inches at the rear, and they come dressed in Metzeler’s Racetec K1 supermoto tires. To stop this bad boy is a job for Brembo brakes. A four-piston radially mounted caliper with a 310 mm disc at the front and a one-piston caliper with a 220 mm disc at the rear.

The high-tech stuff is also quite interesting. You get to choose between two engine maps. The first map gives you easily controllable, tamed power delivery. The second map will give you more of a no-holds-barred, anything-goes approach to power output (you were warned). Another cool feature is the easily de/activated quick-shifter that allows you to shift into higher gears without squeezing the clutch, but only from second to fifth gear. To keep you safe when things get slippery is what the traction control is for. If the revs jump too fast, the onboard computer sees that as a loss of grip and cuts down the power to the rear wheel. What kind of street rocket would the 450 SMR be without the launch control? Just press the traction control and quick-shifter button together for this to activate. All of these nice-to-have gadgets come with a base price of $11,999.

The Blue And White Option

A studio photo of a Husqvarna FS 450 for 2024

The biggest competitor to KTM for the wildest bike is, who else but the KTM-owned Husqvarna. Both of their line-ups for 2024 seem to be aiming at each other’s throats. In the world of off-road bikes, this is the best news someone can hope for. Husqvarna’s FS 450 for 2024 seems more than upgraded and ready to take on the KTM’s 450 SMR.

Although the spec sheet reads the same, a keen motorcycle fan knows that the bike, and the company that makes it, is more than just a list of parts. Husqvarna and KTM do not make the same motorcycles. They are however, in this case, equally priced.

Featured

Hyundai Exter Has These 5 Additional Features Over The Grand i10 Nios

June 18, 2023 Prafful Singh

The Hyundai Exter does also have a few things in common with its hatchback sibling

We have recently received detailed images of the cabin of the Hyundai Exter. The automaker has also confirmed several features that will be available with the micro SUV. As the Exter is positioned above the Grand i10 Nios in the lineup, it offers new features compared to its platform sibling.

Let’s take a look at the top five features that the Exter offers over the Grand i10 Nios:

Digitised Driver’s Display

Grand i10 Nios’s instrument cluster

Hyundai has equipped the Exter with the same digitised instrument cluster found in the facelifted Venue. It also comes with a coloured TFT MID in the center, displaying vital information such as tire pressures, odometer reading, and distance to empty. On the other hand, the Grand i10 Nios only features a coloured TFT display in the center of its two analogue dials.

Six Airbags As Standard

The facelifted Grand i10 Nios does offer up to six airbags, with four as standard. However, Hyundai has gone the extra mile and made six airbags standard in the Exter. This also gives the Exter an advantage over its direct rival, the Tata Punch.

Dual-camera Dashcam

The Venue N Line was the first Hyundai car in India to come with a dashcam setup as a standard feature, rather than an accessory. Hyundai has now confirmed that the Exter will be equipped with a dual-display unit, which will be useful in emergency situations and for recording trips or documenting long journeys.

Also See: Facelifted Hyundai i20 N Line Caught On Camera For The First Time

Single-pane Sunroof

The inclusion of a single-pane sunroof sets the new entry-level SUV from Hyundai apart from not only the Grand i10 Nios but also the Punch. It may even be the smallest offering in India equipped with a sunroof.

Semi-leatherette Upholstery

In contrast to the fabric seats found in the top-spec variants of the Grand i10 Nios, the Exter will come with semi-leatherette upholstery. While the Exter has an all-black cabin theme, the hatchback also offers the option of a dual-tone interior.

Key Similarities

Although Hyundai has given the Exter a significantly different cabin and exterior design, it still shares several key features with the Grand i10 Nios.

The Exter shares the same 8-inch touchscreen system, wireless phone charging, cruise control, auto climate control, and steering wheel with the Grand i10 Nios. It also has the exact same wheelbase and powertrain options: a 1.2-litre petrol engine with the choice of manual and AMT, as well as a CNG alternative.

Launch And Price Update

The Hyundai Exter is set to launch on July 10. It is expected to be priced from Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom). Along with the Tata Punch, the Exter will also compete against the Citroen C3, Maruti Fronx, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger.

Read More on : Hyundai Grand i10 Nios AMT

VolvoCars

Small yet mighty: say hello to the fully electric Volvo EX30 small SUV!

June 8, 2023 David

As a small SUV that does big Volvo things, our new fully electric Volvo EX30 is designed to be as safe as you’d expect from us. It is designed to have the smallest CO₂ footprint of any Volvo car to date, and to make people’s lives safer, more convenient and more enjoyable through cutting-edge technology and Scandinavian design.

Revealed to the world today in Milan, Italy, and available to order now in selected markets*, the EX30 is our first small premium SUV and expands our constantly growing, all-electric offering to four models. As the market is rapidly moving towards full electrification, the EX30 will help us capture growing demand for fully electric cars in a fast-growing segment.

What’s more, the attractive pricing of the EX30 – which starts at around EUR 36,000 – means our customers get a premium all-electric SUV for a similar price as an internal combustion engine-powered equivalent. The EX30 will also be available with our Care by Volvo subscription package, with its set pricing and transparent ordering process, making ordering one a breeze.

“The fully electric EX30 might be our smallest ever SUV, but it’s a big deal for our customers and a big deal for us as a company,” said Jim Rowan, our Chief Executive. “We like to say the EX30 is small yet mighty, because it delivers on everything you’d want from a Volvo but in a smaller package. Like any Volvo, it’s an outstanding product which is safe and designed around people and their needs.”

The EX30 embodies all of our design values in a smaller format. A long wheelbase, large wheels and equal overhangs bring balance and refinement to the exterior. It’s distinctly electric, with a confident face, closed shield and a digital rendition of the Thor’s Hammer headlights. Five vibrant exterior colours, from stylish Cloud Blue to bright and expressive Moss Yellow – the latter inspired by lichen growing on rocks along the Swedish west coast – give it character and personality.

Battery tech that suits your needs

So let’s talk about our battery technology. First of all, there’s no such thing as simply ‘a battery’ when we discuss powertrains. Instead, we’re giving you the freedom to choose the battery technology that best suits your needs, offering the EX30 with three powertrain options and two different battery types, which also allows us to offer an attractive entry price point for the EX30.

If you spend most of your time in the city or tend to travel shorter distances between charges, we’re offering a single-motor option with an LFP battery. The LFP standard-range battery, which uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry, is more cost-effective and less resource-intensive to produce, meaning it is the best option if you don’t need maximum range.

If you prefer to maximise range, the Single Motor Extended Range variant with an NMC extended-range battery is your EX30 of choice. The NMC battery features lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt, and produces its energy more efficiently than the LFP variant. This single-motor, extended-range option gives you a range of up to 480km between charges.

Finally, if performance is your priority, pick the Twin Motor Performance variant in which we pair the NMC battery with an additional second e-motor. This all-wheel-drive variant of the EX30 provides 315kW (428hp) and takes you from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds – it’s officially our fastest-accelerating car ever!

Another thing the EX30 does fast is charging. The extended-range Twin Motor variant has a charging capacity of up to 153kW, while the standard-range car has a capacity of 134kW. That means you can charge your battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a little over 25 minutes. Through the car’s centre display and app, you can set the amperage, maximum charging level and when you want to start charging.

To support the best possible driving experience, we’ve tuned the chassis of the EX30 to make the most of the car’s compact dimensions. Its low centre of gravity as well as its relatively low and evenly distributed weight are complemented by ease of driving and nimbleness in the city and beyond.

A smaller carbon footprint, yet a big safety impact

As we wrote in earlier blogposts, the EX30 is designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date, and represents an important step forward for our sustainability ambitions. By tackling emissions across the entire production and lifecycle of the car, as well as a considerate use of materials inside and out, we managed to reduce its total carbon footprint over 200,000 kms of driving to below 30 tonnes*.

The EX30 is also designed to be as safe as you’d expect from a Volvo, and aims to look after both you and others in hectic urban environments. For example, it includes as standard a special safety feature for bikes that helps to prevent so-called ‘dooring’ accidents by alerting you when you are about to open your door in front of a cyclist, scooter or runner.

Our protective safety technology further illustrates how we’ve applied our high safety standards to our new small SUV. It contains state-of-the-art restraint technology, as well as top-notch structural design that fulfils our ambitious in-house safety requirements – designed to prepare our cars for various real-world scenarios.

The EX30 also aims to make your life more convenient, more relaxing and more enjoyable inside the car through cutting-edge tech and considerate Scandinavian interior design. You can choose from four distinct interior rooms, each with their own expression, while there are smart storage options throughout the cabin.

Together with a contextual single-screen UX, with Google built-in and running the latest version of our infotainment system, these features all reflect the hallmarks of true Volvo design.

Speaking of cutting-edge tech, the Volvo EX30 is our first car to include a new generation of our popular Park Pilot Assist feature. It can handle all types of parking spaces, including parallel, curved, perpendicular and diagonal fishbone-style, making parking in tight spaces a breeze.

The new Park Pilot Assist will identify any available parking spots around you. Then, once you’ve tapped the one you want in the new 3D user interface, the feature will operate the accelerator and brake as well as the steering. While you supervise the parking process, the screen shows the distance to objects such as cars, walls and bollards in metric or imperial figures.

As with any Volvo car, for the EX30 we’ve worked closely with tech partners such as Google, Apple and Qualcomm to deliver the best possible user experience. We’ve also worked closely with ECARX through our jointly owned HaleyTek software joint venture to deliver the best possible infotainment platform for our customers.

A sense of calm

Of course, the EX30 will also come with a digital key functionality which is both convenient for you and makes it easy to share the car with others. Built on the advanced UWB and CCC industry standards, our technology will be compatible with a wide range of phone brands and models.

The car’s dedicated app contains all relevant services related to the car, from charging to finding your car in a busy car park, locking it and heating it on a cold winter day. The EX30 is also prepared to receive software updates over the air that will make it better over time.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Volvo EX30 also comes with a choice of five different ambient lighting themes. Each is inspired by a different Scandinavian landscape and subtly shifting in colour, adding a sense of calm to the interior.

Whether you prefer the warm sunlight falling through the leaves of a Scandinavian forest, a sunset on the Swedish west coast, the world famous northern lights, the golden summer skies of Swedish midsummer or the bright mood of an urban sunset, your EX30 will be filled with the colours of your choice. For extra immersion, you can pair each lighting theme with an ambient soundscape.

Zooming across the country in style

Finally, we’ve got a surprise for you. Starting next year, our EX30 will also become available as a Cross Country variant. Order books for this special version of our small electric SUV will open in 2024, with production expected to start later that year.

The Volvo EX30 Cross Country will build on our long Cross Country heritage, our celebrated line-up of models for customers who want a bit more adventure from their car. It’ll come with a range of bespoke features, such as more ground clearance, 19-inch black wheels and the option of 18-inch wheels with bespoke tyres.

When you take your EX30 Cross Country off the beaten path, it will be recognisable by its skidplates on the front, rear and side, special black panels on the front bumper and bootlid, and stylish Cross Country branding – the small, bonnet-mounted Swedish flag is the cherry on top.

Watch our Chief Executive Jim Rowan unbox the new EX30 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBsPUpqSPFs

The small print

The Volvo EX30 is available for order as of today across Europe and other selected markets. In the United States, customers can place pre-orders, while orderbooks will open in other markets at a later stage that will be communicated in due course.
The carbon footprint calculation of below 30 tonnes over 200,000 kms of driving is based on usage of charging electricity from the EU27 electricity mix. The lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date statement relates to globally available products over 200,000 kms of driving.
Charging times are dependent on factors such as outdoor temperature, current battery temperature, charging equipment, battery condition and car condition.
Range according to the realistic WLTP driving cycle under controlled conditions for a new car. Real-world range may vary. Figures are based on preliminary target.
Digital key functionality subject to phone compatibility. UWB-based technology is scheduled to be rolled out next year via an over-the-air software update.
Features and services may not be available in all markets and will not be standard in all markets or for all models.

VolvoCars

The all-electric Volvo EX30 small SUV is designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date

June 8, 2023 David

The new Volvo EX30 is a distillation of all the great things about Volvo Cars: a small, fully electric SUV for the modern era, designed to be safe and have a smaller CO₂ footprint than any Volvo car ever before.

By tackling emissions across the entire production and lifecycle of the Volvo EX30, we managed to reduce its total carbon footprint over 200,000 kms of driving to below 30 tonnes*. This is a 25 per cent reduction compared with our fully electric C40 and XC40 models – a good step towards our aim to cut our overall CO₂ emissions per car by 40 per cent between 2018 and 2025.

As a fully electric car, the Volvo EX30 has zero tailpipe emissions, which not only contributes to a lower CO₂ footprint. The impact on air quality can be significant: for example, new research by the University of Southern California* found that even a small increase in electric cars in an area has a direct positive effect on the amount of emergency room visits due to asthma.

But in order to reduce the overall carbon footprint of a car, electrification is not enough. A car is not just driven, it is also designed, developed, built and transported – and all those steps offer opportunities to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our new EX30 is a big step in the right direction for our sustainability ambitions,” said Anders Kärrberg, our Global Head of Sustainability. “By 2025, we aim to reduce our overall CO₂ emissions per car by 40 per cent from 2018 levels through a 50 per cent reduction in overall tailpipe emissions, and a 25 per cent reduction in emissions from our operations, raw material sourcing and supply chain – all on the way towards our ambition of being a climate-neutral company by 2040.”

Recycled materials all around

So how did we cut the CO₂ footprint of the Volvo EX30 to 75 per cent of our current electric models? First of all, designing a smaller car means that you need less material to produce it. Given that aluminium and steel are two of the biggest contributors to production-related CO₂ emissions, this is where we and you as a customer can make a big difference.

On top of that, while we use less steel and aluminium when building our new small SUV, more of it is also recycled content. Around a quarter of all aluminium used in building the car is recycled, as is approximately 17 per cent of all steel used in producing a Volvo EX30, further reducing the environmental impact from those materials.

That approach continues inside, because the most sustainable component is the one that does not exist. By using optimisation as a guiding sustainable design principle, our designers have managed to combine multiple functions inside the Volvo EX30 within one component. This reduces the number of parts needed inside without compromising on functionality.

The material used for the Volvo EX30 is another contributor to a more sustainable way of creating new cars. About 17 per cent of all plastics in the car, from interior components to exterior bumpers, are recycled – the highest percentage in any Volvo car to date.

Another step towards climate-neutrality

Another crucial area for emission reduction is the manufacturing and supply chain, for example through the supply of clean energy. The Volvo EX30 will be built in a factory powered by high levels of climate-neutral energy, including 100 per cent climate-neutral electricity.

As for the supply chain, we’ve worked with our Tier 1 suppliers for this car and 95 per cent of them have committed to 100 per cent renewable energy in their production by 2025 – and many are already there. This reflects our ambition to not just reduce emissions in our own operations, but also to encourage partners in our wider supply chain to do so.

The production process for the Volvo EX30 has also been streamlined in multiple ways. This means the car represents one of our highest rates of material utilisation in stamped body parts during manufacturing.

And as we continue to tackle the challenge of material traceability, especially when producing the battery packs for the Volvo EX30, we have blockchain technology in place to help trace critical raw materials, which now include lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite and nickel.

Smarter and more sustainable materials

Inside, we use a wide array of recycled and renewable materials for seats, dashboard and doors, including materials such as denim, flax and a wool-blend that also contains around 70 per cent recycled polyester. The denim in particular is a good example of how to use materials in smarter and more sustainable ways.

To create the denim interior deco, we use fibres that would otherwise be waste products of the denim recycling process. When jeans are recycled, the shredded fibres are twisted into a yarn, and long fibres link with one another. The short fibres, however, usually fall away as waste – and we have rescued these short fibres by using them in our denim interior deco.

Downsize without compromise

All this adds up to a car that has a so-called cradle-to-gate CO₂ impact of an estimated 18 tonnes. Cradle-to-gate describes the CO₂ impact from the extraction of raw materials to the finished car arriving at the dealer, so before it’s driven.

At its end of life, the EX30 is designed to be recovered to 95 per cent, by recycling the materials and recovering energy from what can’t be recovered.

In short, the Volvo EX30 gives you as a customer more scope to downsize and reduce your personal CO₂ impact, without having to compromise on safety, driving comfort or convenience. That’s a good thing for you as a driver, and less damaging to the environment.

The new Volvo EX30 will be revealed on 7 June and will be available to order or pre-order in selected markets on the same date.