Tag Archives: vehicles

Motorsport

See Naughty Bear Run For Freedom After Getting Stuck Inside SUV

Encounters between vehicles and wildlife seldom end well, but this video at least offers a happy ending for flesh and blood creatures. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the interior of this third-generation Toyota RAV4, in which a young black bear took up unintended residence for a few hours. And it wasn’t for a nap.

Recently shared on YouTube through ViralHog, the incident took place in rural Virginia on June 6. According to the video description, the vehicle owner headed out around 10:00 AM local time and, upon approach, noticed the airbags were deployed and the windshield was cracked. That’s when the bear was spotted inside, lunging towards the window. We imagine that was quite a horror-movie moment, but thanks to a Facebook post from Mindy Maine, we don’t need to imagine. In a word, yikes.

 

For reasons that should be plainly obvious, nobody went inside or even opened a door. Instead, authorities were notified and a conservation police officer showed up in about 90 minutes to help out. Rather smartly, a rope was tied to the door handle so it could be opened from the safety of another vehicle. After a few moments, the bear hopped out and scampered away, looking none the worse for wear. It’s unclear exactly how long the creature had been inside; comments on the video say the SUV had been unlocked and the bear entered at some point through the night.

The Facebook photos show the RAV4 essentially gutted on the inside. The dash was torn apart, headliner ripped down, seats shredded, all in addition to the smashed windshield and deployed airbags. Presumably, the bear had been in there for quite some time and was antsy to get away. Per the Facebook post, the vehicle was written off as a total loss by insurance.

Dealing With Bears

This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve seen bears inside vehicles. Lest we forget the brave woman using her authoritative mom voice to chase a bear out of a GMC Sierra Denali, but is that a smart way to deal with bears? We checked in with the state of Colorado, where bears are certainly plentiful.

The best defense is to keep bears out in the first place, which means always locking the doors. They’re smart enough to use door handles, and if there’s some tasty food inside, bears can smell it. Don’t keep food in the car, or if you’re camping, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) recommends storing it in bear-proof lockers well away from cars and tents.

If a bear is already on-site (or any dangerous, wild animal for that matter) it’s best to contact authorities first. If there’s an immediate threat, CPW advises people to not turn and run. Make loud noises, wave your arms, anything to make yourself look big and scary. Bears generally don’t consider humans as food sources, but a bag of chips inside an unlocked pickup truck is a midnight snack just waiting to happen.

As we move into the summer months, bears will be extremely active. Stay safe out there, everyone.

Motorsport

Best Spy Shots For The Week Of June 5

Motor1.com puts up spy shots of upcoming vehicles practically every day and sometimes more often than that. If you want to stay on the cutting edge of what’s on the way check out this list of all of the glimpses of development vehicles from the past week.

The updated BMW 1 Series boasts a new front fascia with a large, trapezoidal grille with triangle-shaped air openings at the sides. This one has quad exhausts at the back, indicating it’s a higher-spec, sporty trim.


BMW

BMW Presents Hollywood Action and Sustainable Marine Experience at Cannes

BMW stunned the crowds with its environmentally-conscious luxury, innovative mobility on water, and electrifying action at the Cannes Film Festival. As the Official Partner of the event, BMW offered guests, VIPs, and festival participants a fleet of over 200 fully-electric cars. The most powerful of these vehicles was the brand new BMW i7 M70 xDrive, the lead actor in BMW Films’ latest creation debuted at the festival. The shuttle service that took the attendees around the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès allowed them to experience a locally emission-free premium ride in a sophisticated BMW.

The ICON: Revolutionary Marine Experience

BMW partnered with boat maker TYDE to showcase The ICON, a watercraft that has revolutionized the approach to environment-friendly marine mobility through its electric propulsion system. The craft boasts hydrofoils that maintain a top speed of 30 knots (55 km/h) and a range of more than 50 nautical miles. With its elegant design and soundless movement through water, it was a popular attraction among the festival-goers. The ICON focuses on modern urban lifestyles and can be further personalized by customers for use in both the private and commercial sectors.

BMW Films’ “The Calm”

Bollywood royalty such as Pom Klementieff and Uma Thurman graced the world premier of BMW Films’ “The Calm.” The seven-minute spy thriller features the BMW i7 M70 xDrive in a dramatic car chase scene. Attendees got to watch the film from the comfort of the luxurious rear compartment of the BMW i7 while viewing it on the BMW Theatre Screen. After the event, viewers who missed the in-car screening experience were able to see “The Calm” on the BMW YouTube channel.

BMW i7 M70 xDrive: Electric power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 23.8 – 20.8, WLTP.

Volkswagen

Exclusive Golf R 333 Limited Edition model: a highlight both inside and out

Curtain up for the Golf R 333 Limited Edition. The new special-edition model limited to 333 vehicles is based on the Golf R Performance and packs a real punch with an output of 333 PS (245 kW). The necessary driving stability and traction of the all-wheel-drive special-edition model are ensured by a host of high-quality equipment features such as R-Performance Torque Vectoring including Vehicle Dynamics Manager. The Golf R 333 comes from the factory with eye-catching Lime Yellow Metallic paintwork. Black accents additionally underline the appearance of the special-edition model, which is being launched as a potential collector’s item. The special edition can be ordered in German dealerships from Friday, 2 June. The vehicles will be delivered in October this year.

“The Golf R 333 is the first R model with a specification predefined by us that leaves no customer wishes regarding performance unfulfilled – thanks to its extensive equipment,” says Hakim Halimi, Head of Product Marketing at Volkswagen R. The features include R-Performance Torque Vectoring with Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which distributes the drive power not just between the front and rear axles but also between the two rear wheels. This offers a special dimension of sportiness, particularly when cornering. The Drift and Special driving profiles, designed for the Nürburgring racetrack, also offer additional driving pleasure away from public roads. The R Performance exhaust system from Akrapovič with titanium rear silencers and black 19-inch Estoril wheel rims with semi-slick tyres additionally highlight the motorsports character of the special-edition model. The top speed has also been increased to 270 km/h.

The basic idea for limitation of the edition was provided by the engine power of 245 kW (333 PS). This is the most powerful output rating of the Golf with a torque of 420 newton metres. In addition, the optimised engine tuning means that the load change response is extremely spontaneous. The turbocharger is preloaded to keep it at a constant speed during partial-load driving. This then allows faster power development for subsequent acceleration. The open throttle valve in overrun phases also improves dynamics and performance on the road. When the driver takes their foot off the accelerator and then accelerates again, this allows faster build-up of the engine torque and noticeably improves the engine’s responsiveness. With an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, the Golf R 333 Limited Edition delivers the best-in-class value (compared with key competitors).

The paintwork in Lime Yellow Metallic extends the colour range for the Golf R, which comprises Pure White, Lapiz Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl Effect. “With the special exterior colour, black-painted roof and design decals with 333 logo on the sides, this Golf R will be offered in a combination that is unique up to now,” says Halimi. “It is the first Volkswagen R model with a strict limitation to 333 units and with a sequentially numbered badge in the interior.”

The standard equipment also includes premium sport seats in Nappa leather (with integrated head restraint) and the powerful IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights (including Light and Vision package). State-of-the-art driver assist systems are contained in the IQ.DRIVE package. These include Travel Assist, the Lane Assist lane keeping system, Emergency Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go function. The Golf R 333 Limited Edition also comes with a centre airbag (front) and a rear view camera system. A system from Harman Kardon with 8+1 loudspeakers and 480 W total output supplies perfect sound in the interior.

The Golf R has cult status. Since 2002, more than 250,000 orders have been placed for the bestseller from Volkswagen R. “The Golf R 333 Limited Edition is extremely important for our brand,” says Peter Jost, Head of Marketing & Sales, Volkswagen R. “It is precisely such limited and high-performance vehicles that turbocharge the Volkswagen R brand – a genuine eye-catcher and extremely attractive. Every customer can be sure that they have an extremely rare vehicle and a potential collector’s item in their garage.”

With prices starting at 76,410 euros, the special-edition model can be ordered at German dealerships from 2 June. Production of all 333 vehicles in Wolfsburg is scheduled for September this year so that the first models can be handed over to customers from October. In addition, a customer event in the Autostadt is planned for all buyers of the Golf R 333 Limited Edition who pick up their vehicle in Wolfsburg (Germany) in October.

PeugeotUk

LESS THAN 25% OF UK DRIVERS SAY THEY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Less than a quarter of UK drivers say they have a good understanding of electric vehicles, according to new research conducted by PEUGEOT UK.

 

In a recent survey of 2,000 UK motorists*, just 23% rate their understanding of electric vehicles as good or excellent, while 38% believe that their knowledge is poor or very poor. This is despite the fact that there are now almost 1.1 million electrified vehicles on UK roads** as the country moves towards the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

 

PEUGEOT UK’s latest research reveals significant gaps in the public’s understanding of electric vehicles, with less than half being aware that battery electric vehicles emit zero tailpipe emissions. A surprising 12% also believe that plug-in hybrid cars and electric cars are exactly the same type of vehicle.

 

Less than a third of respondents know that electric models such as the new PEUGEOT e-2008 can be charged from 0-80% in just 30 minutes from a 100kW rapid charger.

 

There is also misunderstanding around the electric vehicle charging network, with 70% of respondents saying they find the way different providers operate to be confusing.

 

The same percentage also finds the language surrounding electric vehicle power, battery capacity and efficiency difficult to understand, with only 31% aware that Kilowatt Hours (kWh) is the unit used to measure battery capacity in EVs.

 

In contrast, when asked which car powertrain they have the best understanding of, 67% cited petrol and diesel, compared to just 7% who chose electric powertrains.

 

Generation gap

 

The research also reveals that young people are more likely to think they have a strong understanding of electric vehicles, with 58% of 18-24-year-olds rating their knowledge as good or excellent. Meanwhile, half of those over 65 rate their understanding of electric vehicles as poor or very poor.

 

Nearly half (46%) of 18-24-year-olds correctly selected ‘Miles per kWh’ as the unit commonly used to measure efficiency in electric vehicles, compared to just 20% of over 65s.

 

When it comes to charging, 46% of 18-24-year-olds correctly stated that an electric car can be charged to 80% in as little as half an hour, compared to 23% of over 65s. And 50% of 18-24-year-olds said it was true that in some UK cities, electric vehicle drivers do not have to pay for parking when charging, compared to 28% of over 65s.

 

Young people’s knowledge extends to other types of electric vehicles too, with 64% of 18-24-year-olds aware that electric vans are eligible for a UK government grant – a fact known by just 26% of those over 65.

 

Drivers’ perceived knowledge of electric vehicles also varies across the country. An impressive 10% of Londoners rate their understanding of electric vehicles as excellent – the highest of any region – whereas people in the North East claim to be least knowledgeable about electric vehicles, with 53% saying their understanding is poor or very poor.

 

Almost four out of five Londoners (79%) are familiar with the term ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ (ULEZ), with the capital’s own ULEZ set to expand across all boroughs from 29 August. Less than half (45%) of people from the North East are familiar with the term.

 

To help drivers understand the capabilities of electric vehicles, PEUGEOT UK has created a Range Calculator that allows drivers to predict how far their electric PEUGEOT can travel on a single charge, in a variety of conditions.

 

Adam Wood, Managing Director, PEUGEOT UK, said: “Our research reveals there are still gaps in the public’s understanding of electric vehicles, with many motorists unaware that EVs such as the new PEUGEOT e-2008 offer zero tailpipe emissions and can be charged to 80% in just thirty minutes. PEUGEOT is committed to helping customers understand the benefits of going electric, so they can find the model that’s right for them.”

 

By 2025, PEUGEOT will have a 100% electric version available across its entire model range, and in 2030 will sell only electric vehicles in the UK.

 

To find out more about PEUGEOT UK’s range of 100% electric vehicles, click here.