Watching Niclas Lindberg, an ice-driving specialist, fluently testing adhesion in a Volvo EX30 is sufficient to mesmerise even a sophisticated motorist, not to mention this humble author on his first journey to Lulea, about 750 miles north of Gothenburg in Swedish Lapland.
This is the place Volvo has been testing, near the Arctic Circle, because the Nineteen Sixties. Right now, they’re evaluating the EX30 and rebadged EX40 (née XC40 Recharge).
Both vehicles have been topic to untold mileage (the precise quantity is difficult to compute, as a result of testing takes place over a number of years, with many autos concerned) throughout numerous maturity ranges, from early prototypes to remaining manufacturing vehicles.
Drivers, with numerous ranges of expertise, take a look at the vehicles in ambient temperatures of between -40deg C and +60deg C. Systems and parts should assure hundreds of various capabilities with very particular necessities.
Volvo’s senior security technical chief, Mikael Ljung Aust, has a background in cognitive science and is a driver behaviour knowledgeable. His analysis appears on the contributing components to crashes, and finally he tries to mitigate them.
He says: “Winter testing is easy sufficient. It checks how a automotive behaves, in a really strong method. It checks how a automotive behaves in extremes and, importantly, the way it interacts with drivers.
“Ultimately, from a security testing perspective, there are plenty of questions that want answering. What if it’s a wet day and there’s ice on the highway? How do the digital programs behave within the chilly? What concerning the exterior sensors? What concerning the inside ones? How does the battery final within the chilly?
“And sure, we could try and do it in some kind of hermetically sealed test environment. But nature is free!”
Volvo’s consideration to element means travelling removed from dwelling to know and handle a difficulty. Ljung Aust continues: “We’ve gone as far as sending engineers to America to test an edge case for our autonomous software systems. There was this bridge that set off the autonomous emergency braking – not just for Volvo – and we figured out the sensors were confusing the layout of the bridge with the rear of a truck. Using real-world data and learning from it, you see.”
I used to be watching a typically excellent video from Engineering Explained on the new Bugatti V-16, once I realized one thing attention-grabbing. With a little bit of math, my ears, and a sine-wave generator, I may work out roughly how excessive this exceptional engine revs. The reply? Very. Bugatti did not share too many particulars on its new V-16, however Engineering Explained’s detective work and images posted by Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac on Facebook reveal a few of the engine’s loopy specs. A teaser clip from Bugatti additionally options audio of what appears to be the engine operating by means of the gears.
Here’s the place we get into some inexact science. The dominant frequency of the engine exhaust sound from the video at its peak is round 1275 hz. You may get a precise determine with a spectrum analyzer, however absent that, I made up my mind that quantity utilizing my ear and a sine-wave generator, which creates a pure tone. Match the tone from the sine-wave generator and the video, and you have got an approximate determine.
You can calculate the dominant tone coming from a automobile’s exhaust with simple arithmetic. Take engine velocity in RPM and divide by 60 to get a worth in hertz, on this case, revs per second. As a four-stroke engine solely fires twice for each diploma of crankshaft rotation, you are taking that quantity and multiply it by half the cylinder rely. For a four-cylinder operating at 5,000 rpm, the equation is (5,000/60) x 2, which supplies you a worth of 166 hZ.
Working backwards from 1,275 hZ with out figuring out precise engine velocity, you merely divide by 8—half of the engine’s 16 cylinders—and multiply by 60 to transform revolutions per second into revolutions per minute. That provides us a determine of 9,562.5 RPM.
It’s slightly onerous to find out the precise highest dominant exhaust pitch from the video, and this assumes that the sound clip is the engine operating to its redline. It may not be. But if the sound is consultant—and there no good cause to imagine it is not—we will assume someplace within the vary of 9,500-9,600 rpm.
Sometimes automakers can emphasize different exhaust-tone frequencies with intelligent tuning of manifolds, and the end result are different tones which can be virtually or simply as loud because the dominant tone. These are referred to as harmonics, however to my ears, it does not sound like Bugatti is doing that right here. There’s one tone ringing much more loudly and clearly than the others, and it is round 1,275 hZ.
Can I be 100-percent assured? Of course not. But I’m fairly near full confidence. What is evident past any shadow of a doubt is that Bugatti’s V-16 might be like nothing else.
If you are watching a video or listening to music on a suitable iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Apple TV 4K, then you may share your audio with one other individual, if they’ve suitable AirPods or Beats headphones, that’s. Whatever media you are streaming, simply faucet the button within the nook of the Now Playing display, which you will discover both within the Control Center or on the lock display. There, you must see a “Share Audio” possibility, and whenever you faucet that you will get a pop-up telling you to carry the brand new set of headphones near the machine. With any luck, the second set of headphones will join similar to that.
Once you are listening collectively, you may alter the quantity for every pair of headphones individually. To do that, entry the Control Center and press and maintain the quantity slider. A brand new display will seem exhibiting two quantity sliders, every labeled with the title of the headphones they correspond to. You also can change Noise Control, Spatial Audio, and Noise Control settings from this display. This is a nifty little function that is particularly nice for pals and {couples} who wish to journey collectively, permitting you to look at films on trains, buses, or planes with out disturbing the folks round you.
If you are a racer, know racers, otherwise you’ve spent any period of time watching motorsports, you recognize that racers normally are inclined to need only one factor: To race. It sounds virtually too easy to be actual, however once you begin to think about all of the components that need to go proper for that to occur, you start to know the potential factors of problem.
Back in 2010, Ian Hutchinson (who’s extra popularly generally known as Hutchy to street racing followers) turned the primary ever Isle of Man TT racer to scoop 5 race wins in a single week of racing. He raced throughout a number of courses, and to today, he is nonetheless the one racer to have ever achieved that feat.
Now that it is 2024, Hutchy is about to have that likelihood but once more. After being sidelined in 2023 following a stroke that the extraordinarily match rider suffered throughout coaching earlier within the yr, Hutchinson has been cleared to race on the 2024 IOMTT. He has reunited with the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles staff, which can also be the staff he was with throughout that unforgettable week again in 2010.
Since that gorgeous week in 2010, Hutchinson went on to rack up a complete of 16 TT wins to his title. That places him firmly in fifth place within the rankings of high TT winners of all time, solely behind Joey Dunlop (26), Michael Dunlop (25), John McGuinness (23), and Dave Molyneux (17).
He’ll be racing two machines this yr. The first is the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP within the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, and Milwaukee Senior TT races. The second is the new Honda CBR600RR within the two Monster Energy Supersport races.
“I’m actually happy to be again with Clive and the staff. I feel that the best way that I work and the staff works simply suits proper. Clive places collectively a motorcycle you recognize you will get on and experience quick straightaway. With accidents, COVID and lacking final yr, I don’t really feel as if I’ve had an excellent run on the TT since 2017 and so it’s ideally suited to be with the staff that may let me get the laps which is what I would like,” Hutchinson mentioned in a press release.
“We’ve already been out testing in Spain and we’re again out once more to Portugal and Spain within the subsequent few weeks, plus we’ve a lot extra observe time within the run as much as TT so I’m actually trying ahead to what 2024 can carry,” he added.
VHS tapes and VCRs had been as soon as the go-to for house film watching and recording, standard from the late Seventies by the early 2000s. The VHS tape, a big rectangular cassette, saved films on magnetic tape, and the VCR was the machine that performed these tapes in your TV.
Using a VCR was fairly simple. You’d slide a VHS tape in, hit play, and your film or present would seem on the display screen. Recording was easy too, simply click on file to tape your favourite TV exhibits proper off the air.
But VHS wasn’t excellent. The image and sound high quality had been fairly primary, particularly in comparison with what we’re used to now. The tapes did not age effectively, both. Over time, they’d get worn out, making the image and sound even fuzzier. Plus, they had been cumbersome and took up a whole lot of shelf area.
Then DVDs arrived and adjusted the whole lot. DVDs had been smaller, had crisper audio and visuals, and had been way more sturdy, shortly making VHS feel and appear outdated. As digital recording and streaming providers got here into play, the comfort and high quality of watching and recording exhibits improved exponentially.
Now, VHS and VCRs have a form of nostalgic appeal, a throwback to an easier time in house leisure, reminding us of how far expertise has come.
I’m a giant fan of off-road motorsports. Growing up watching WRC, Dakar Rally, and enduro, I’ve all the time imagined what it will be prefer to drive a thoroughbred rally automobile, or experience a top-tier enduro bike via a number of the world’s most grueling off-road programs. Needless to say, my model selections in the case of the automobiles in my storage are clearly influenced by these of motorsport, as I’ve owned a number of KTMs up to now.
Speaking of which, Toyota’s been making it fairly huge within the rally world lately, with the Hilux Rally Car proving to be a extremely profitable machine. The pickup truck-based rally racer received the FIA world cup in 2016, 2017, and 2021, in addition to the Dakar Rally in 2019, 2022, and 2023. This inevitably performed a job in my resolution in shopping for my most up-to-date every day driver, a 2023 Toyota Hilux. Yes, I do know, my pickup truck has nothing to do with the Hilux Dakar from a technical viewpoint, however hey, it’s additionally carrying a Toyota badge. I slapped on a set of aftermarket wheels resembling these of the Hilux Dakar, too, simply to provide it a contact of rally.
My private Toyota Hilux which I typically think about as a Dakar Rally automobile.
So sure, I’m a Toyota fanboy, and on the identical time, an off-road moto junkie. As such, I couldn’t assist however get all excited once I noticed this video of a Toyota Hilux Dakar going face to face in a hill climb race towards a Sherco laborious enduro bike. Posted by none apart from Red Bull Motorsports themselves, the video was set within the Sani Pass, located on the border of South Africa and Lesotho. The cross is in no way a stroll within the park, because it’s not paved in any means in any respect. That stated, it’s in terrain like this that the Hilux Dakar and the Sherco 300SE Factory each shine the brightest.
The Sherco 300 was piloted by seven-time Roof of Africa winner Wade Young, whereas the Toyota Hilux Rally Car was pushed by Dakar veteran Giniel De Villiers. The race was to be a time assault, with every of the automobiles rocketing up Sani Pass one after the other towards the clock. To elevate the stakes even additional, the loser must pay for a spherical of drinks, whereas ingesting a shoey from the winner’s boot. So, who was going to be topped the Victor? The Sherco or the Hilux?
The actual Hilux Dakar which is clearly a totally totally different automobile.
The Sherco was first to do the run, with Wade Young launching laborious from the place to begin. We’re handled to a cacophony of two-stroke goodness because the bike works its approach to the highest of the cross, tackling hairpins, unfastened gravel, numerous rocks, all whereas throwing a bunch of smoke in its wake. After the four-kilometer stretch was over, the Sherco clocked in a formidable time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds.
Up subsequent, the Hilux. Its twin-turbo V6 sang its tune all the way in which to the highest, accompanied by epic slides and plenty and many mud. The long-travel suspension soaked up all of the rocks and ruts, making it seem like the Hilux was driving on easy, paved roads. At the top of all of it, Giniel De Villiers made it to the highest in a blistering three minutes and 45 seconds.
After all was stated and performed, is it actually a shock that the Hilux took the win? After all, it has 356 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, and to not point out chunky tires and four-wheel-drive at its disposal. If something, Wade Young’s spectacular four-minute run simply goes to point out how a lot talent the dude has, on condition that he’s packing a fraction of the ability and traction of the Hilux.
When you stand on any corner and watch the traffic pass by, it will become evident that most cars in the United States are made by Toyota or Honda. This isn’t just anecdotal evidence, as both Toyota and Honda are among the top four car brands in America. Ford and Chevy round out the list, but their strength relies on truck sales. It’s fair to say that the Japanese brands dominate the car segment.
Toyota and Honda are incredibly successful because they make solid, reliable cars that appeal to the car-buying public, but there are other Japanese imports that are equally impressive. Subaru, Mazda, and Nissan make great vehicles as well, but there are other amazing rides from across the Pacific that may have been forgotten. At some point, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki all sold fantastic rides in the States. Even Daihatsu had a brief stint in the American market.
It’s important to remember that Nissan used to be Datsun and brought their popular Z-cars to our shores for generations. Japanese imports are as much a part of American car culture as Ford, GM, and Mopar. This is not to say that American cars aren’t great, but there’s plenty of room and love for the great cars that have defined our lives. While Toyota and Honda are the top dogs of Japanese imports, they aren’t the only ones to make iconic rides for the U.S. market.
To provide the most up-to-date and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and authoritative sources, including Automobile Catalog, Fastest Laps, and ConceptCarz. In the interest of fairness and history, these imports have been ranked in chronological order from the least powerful model to the most powerful.
101968 Subaru 360
Power: 25 Horsepower
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The 1968 Subaru 360 may be considered a great Japanese import despite its diminutive size. Weighing under 1,000 pounds, this sub-sub-compact had impressive gas mileage of 66 miles per gallon, although it wasn’t designed to survive a crash due to not adhering to U.S. highway safety regulations.
Notably, in 1968, businessman Malcolm Bricklin imported 10,000 Subaru 360 cars despite the absence of a market for such vehicles in the U.S. This move was akin to his introduction of the Yugo to America. Despite the lack of market appeal, the Subaru 360 was sold for an MSRP of $1,300.
Malcolm Bricklin founded Subaru America
MSRP for a 1968 Subaru 360 was $1,300
91985 Suzuki Samurai
Power: 63 Horsepower
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In 1985, the Suzuki Samurai was introduced to the U.S. market. Although it faced allegations of being prone to rolling over, the allegations were later refuted in a Suzuki lawsuit. Consumer Reports had to admit that the car was safe during normal operations. Despite this, the allegations tarnished the image of this fun, quirky off-road vehicle.
Performance Specifications
Engine
1.3-liter I-4
Transmission
Five-speed manual
Horsepower
63HP
Torque
73 pound-feet
Driveline
Four-wheel drive
0-60 MPH
16.9 seconds
Top Speed
79 mph
(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)
During its time in the U.S. market, the Suzuki Samurai garnered attention from various groups, including zombie apocalypse survivors, Power Rangers, and even Scooby Doo. It also outsold the Jeep Wrangler upon its introduction in the U.S., but its image was ultimately marred by safety concerns, leading to a decline in sales.
Known popularly as the Jimny in the rest of the world
A dedicated fan base remains hopeful for the rebirth of the Jimny in the U.S.
81978 Subaru Brat
Power: 67 Horsepower
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The Subaru Brat, popularly known as a “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter,” was introduced in the U.S. as a compact coupe utility that competed with the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino. It was best known for its unique feature: rear jump seats in the truck bed.
Performance Specifications
Engine
1.6-liter H-4
Transmission
Three-speed automatic
Horsepower
67HP
Torque
81 pound-feet of torque
Driveline
Four-wheel drive
0-60 MPH
15.6 seconds
Top Speed
82 mph
(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)
The Subaru Brat’s unique ability to avoid the “Chicken Tax” on imported pickups by installing rear jump seats contributed to its appeal in the U.S. market. The model gained popularity and eventually became a cult hit, selling over 100,000 units in the U.S. between 1978 and 1987.
A popular choice for President Ronald Reagan, who utilized it on his ranch
The 1979 Mazda RX-7 was a game changer in the North American sports car market, being lightweight, fast, and affordable. It was much cheaper than its closest rival, the 1979 Porsche 928, making it an attractive option.
Drag races are exciting and it’s always fun to watch our favorite motorcycles compete for straight-line dominance. However, most drag races focus on high-power superbikes and heavily modified machines. That’s why Bike World’s latest video is refreshing as it showcases the straight-line performance of popular middleweight naked bikes.
As a fan of middleweight naked bikes, I was immediately interested in this video. I currently own two bikes from this segment, the Yamaha MT-07 and Triumph Street Triple RS. Bike World’s test features five of the most popular middleweight naked bikes on the market: Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07, Suzuki GSX-8S, KTM 790 Duke, and Aprilia Tuono 660.
These bikes share common characteristics such as lightweight chassis, 100 horsepower or less, and affordable price tags. They represent the entry-level intermediate models for these manufacturers, striking a balance between performance and technology. If you’re familiar with these bikes, you can probably guess which one would be the fastest without even watching the video.
The Kawasaki Z650, the slowest bike in terms of power, was used in the test. It’s based on an older platform with an engine that has been around for almost two decades. The Z650 completed the quarter mile in a respectable 13.3 seconds.
Next up were the Yamaha MT-07 and Suzuki GSX-8S. The MT-07, although not as old as the Kawasaki, has been around for a while with minimal changes. It set a time of 12.8 seconds. The GSX-8S, with its 10-horsepower advantage over the Yamaha, achieved a slightly quicker time of 12.5 seconds.
The European contenders, the KTM 790 Duke and Aprilia Tuono 660, then battled it out. The KTM offers impressive performance and technology at a great value, while the Tuono 660 boasts the highest power output of 100 horsepower. Surprisingly, both bikes completed the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds, with the Tuono 660 winning by a narrow margin.
It’s important to note that all five bikes are fast, even the Z650’s time of 13.3 seconds is quicker than some performance-oriented cars. For example, the Subaru WRX has a quarter-mile time of about 13.6 seconds. Additionally, the test was conducted in wet conditions, so faster times could be expected on dry asphalt.
Watch as a Honda Gold Wing defies expectations and goes off-road in a hill climbing challenge. Despite its heavy build, the Gold Wing proves to be more capable than most riders think. In this challenge, YouTuber Matt Spears and his Gold Wing, named Piggy, take on a hill climb race against five-time Great American Hill Climb Champion Austin Teyler.
In previous videos, Spears has demonstrated that the Gold Wing handles trail riding surprisingly well. With a custom paddle tire, it even performs admirably in sand. The Gold Wing, weighing around 1,000 pounds, was primarily designed for paved roads but shows unexpected off-road potential.
Hill climbs involve ascending steep hills and maneuvering downhill. Typically, lightweight dirt bikes excel in this terrain. However, Spears pushes the boundaries of what the Gold Wing can do. While it encounters some difficulties, such as temporarily tipping over on a steep incline, Spears manages to navigate the challenges and reach the top.
The final climb in the video takes an unexpected turn, resulting in Piggy tumbling sideways down the hill. Fortunately, no one is injured, but the Gold Wing sustains significant damage. Spears gathers the scattered parts and contemplates how to recover the bike from its remote location. Is Piggy lost forever? Only time will tell.
You may not even realize it, but the 2010s were not that long ago. One second you’re watching the Chicago Cubs win the World Series and break their 71-year curse, “Gangnam Style” was the biggest song in the world, and everyone suddenly became an activist after using #KONY2012 on their social media. Next thing you know, you’re buying baby formula, teaching yourself how to balance a checkbook, thanking whoever it was that invented the air fryer, and debating on whether you should deactivate all your social media accounts and enjoy life.
We have all gone through significant changes in a short amount of time, and the motorcycle industry is no different. These days motorcycles are outfitted with technology that is downright futuristic, and it keeps getting more and more advanced every day. But the 2010s were also great for the motorcycling world too. It was a decade for when the standard for what makes a sport bike great was raised to a new level. Bikes saw new designs, bigger engines, more torque, more power, and best of all… more fun. So let’s take a cruise down memory lane and check out some of the sport bikes that made the 2010s a great decade to start your motorcycling journey.
While the 2010s were a big decade for motorcycles in general, the one class that really took this time to stand out are superbikes. One in particular that managed to stand out from the crowd was the release of the Ducati Panigale V4 in 2018. Up until this point, Ducati had been in the habit of pushing out capable-yet-clunky Panigale V-twins that many customers were growing weary of. Seeing room for improvement, the motorcycle manufacturer replaced it with a new brand-defining model with new standards of performance, power, torque, and control. The Panigale V4 based its frame off that of a MotoGP and was available in for trims: the standard V4, the performance-focused S, the even more performance-focused Speciale, and the top-shelf V4R. This V4’s approach to power was direct and instant, as it could accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 3.2 seconds, 100mph in 5.63 seconds, and 150mph in 9.85 seconds. With a top speed recorded at 191.3mph, the Panigale V4 served as the new face of Ducati by attracting customers ranging from casual weekend riders to full-blown competitive racers.
What happens if you take the Ducati Panigale and strip it down? You get the Ducati Streetfighter. By doing away with the additional fairings and bringing a set of higher handlebars, Ducati’s Streetfighter line is about as “naked” as these bikes can get. By bringing some of the style of its V4 brethren, the Streetfighter is powered by a V2 engine that brings all the fun and speed one can expect from a Ducati, but at a more affordable price point. Also, thanks to its easy-to-handle nature, this motorcycle is often viewed as a decent entry-level model for someone looking to enter the Ducati world without feeling overpowered by the bike. While the model we are referring to comes equipped with the V2 engine, multiple versions of the Streetfighter are available with V4 engines.
If there was a motorcycle that understood the assignment of “perfect timing”, it would be the BMW S 1000 RR. This superbike was launched by the German auto manufacturer in 2010, and it also happened to be their first attempt entering the superbike world. But considering that BMW has some of the greatest engineering minds on the planet, it seemed rather appropriate that the S 1000 RR set the bar high for the decade in terms of power, performance, and handling. Outfitted with ABS, traction control, four selectable ride modes, and the option to add a quickshifter, this bike first started out as a limited-edition model with only 1,000 available units for sale. But considering the positive response it had from customers, as well as hungry buyers, BMW quickly brought this bike back into the factory for mass-production.
