http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1563
McLaren has announced the markets in which it will sell its eagerly-awaited new F1-inspired supercar – and South Africa made the list.
The 448-kW MP4-12C will be sold in 35 markets around the world, including the US, England, France, Germany and Kuwait. Johannesburg is the single South African city to be graced with its own McLaren dealership, the company told Wheels24.
The first 23 retailers on McLaren’s list are expected to be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, while the remainder will be announced throughout the year, Autonews reports.
Only 1 000 cars will be produced. Expect the reverie to begin in 2011, when the first deliveries of the spiritual successor to the iconic McLaren F1 kick off.
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Journalist's 4l/100km in BMW 3 Series
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Motoring scribe and former circus performer Tom Ford has managed to drive 1 630km on a single tank of diesel. Ford's goal was to drive from the UK to Munich and back on a single tank of fuel via the Chunnel.
Piloting BMW’s latest Efficient Dynamics equipped 320d, Ford managed to average 4l/100km for the journey.
Known for his off-beat antics (chainsaw duelling whilst at University), FifthGear presenter Ford did not nurse the 320d in time-honoured economy run fashion. His average pace was 96km/h.
Despite the mercurial economy achieved Ford eventually ran out of fuel 120km short of Calais, France, on the return journey – after filling up (61l) just before entering the Chunnel on the UK side when setting off.
The 320d used by Ford was powered by a 2l four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 122kW and 360Nm, which is 8kW less powerful than a standard 320d yet boasts an additional 10Nm. Ensuring optimal efficiency on the 320d was an auto start-stop function, brake energy regeneration, a longer transmission ratio, lowered suspension and Michelin EnergySaver tyres.
Ford’s best consumption on his marathon drive was 3.72l/100km just outside Munich.
"Think about it in the context of everyday motoring: comfortably more than 1 600km s on one tank of diesel means just 12 fills a year for the average motorist - and even driven normally I still think you're looking at 1 207- to 1 287km per fill. BMW's EfficientDynamics: it does what it says on the tin," Ford said.
South African buyers, due to local fuel quality issues, are unfortunately not in a position to reap the full benefit of BMW's Efficient Dynamics system.
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Anti-virus for your future car?
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It's clear that one of the most important selling points and design features of future cars will be the driver interface. In a world of increasingly connected social media outlets and smartphone apps, the car is becoming an extension of all that. Google has announced a collaboration with GM, Ford has its collaboration with Microsoft... I wonder who Apple will partner with? Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about it.
But all this nifty integration and connectedness may come with a dangerous price: opening your vehicle up to the whim of a hacker and his viruses.
Although we still don't fully know what went wrong with (Toyota's) "unintended acceleration" fiasco, one thing it did elucidate was the fact that bad things can happen if electronics and software go wiggy.
Now, some researchers from the University of Washington and the University of California San Diego have begun to try and put their finger on these potential future threats... and they've come up with some shocking results.
In a paper from the Center for Automotive Embedded Systems Security (betcha didn't know that existed), the researchers say that they were able to gain surprising access to a car's computer system and force it to disengage its brakes while moving or even slam them on at will. They were also able to control all the exterior and interior lighting.
Two cars tested
Although the researchers only tested two cars from different automakers, the systems they used to obtain access are available on every modern car and they say they would fully expect the same level of vulnerability on other cars.
It should be noted that the researchers conducted their experiments by physically connecting up with the car, and they say that current car drivers shouldn't be worried as the hacking now requires a physical connection.
But they warn that in the future, given the fact that internet connected cars with access to a gigantic library of applications are almost here, we can expect clever hackers to be able to gain access to a car's electronics and software from anywhere in the world.
Now that just gives me the skeevies thinking about it. Although I can see the unlimited potential in all of these new features, I wouldn't want to give up my car's complete autonomy. Although, with the example of "unintended acceleration," maybe I already have? Toyota although have stated, though, that the cause of the "reported unintended acceleration" is not an electronic glitch.
Can you see it now... not only will you have to pay a monthly subscription for anti-virus software for your computer, you'll have to pay the bastards twice for your car as well.
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Italian design houses rejoice after VW purchase
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According to a recent report, competing design firms are ecstatic about Volkswagen's purchase of Italdesign Giugiaro.
While this seems like an odd reaction, companies such as Bertone, Fioravanti, I.DE.A. and Pininfarina stand to gain clients from automakers who are wary of Italdesign's new overlords. Considering the company raked in nearly 100 million euros ($123 million) from non-Volkswagen accounts annually, their joy is understandable.
Even if other automakers approve of Italdesign's new owner, Volkswagen could force Italdesign to focus on their cars instead of competitor's models. This could cause Italdesign to drop labor-intensive accounts such as Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corp (which wants IDG to design and engineer 8 models for the U.S), Proton, Brilliance China Automotive and Chery.
As we reported yesterday, Lamborghini Holding S.p.A will acquire a 90.1% stake in Italdesign Giugiaro. Volkswagen sees this as a critical move to expand their design and engineering pool in an effort to sell 10 million vehicles annually by 2018.
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89 deaths linked to "unintended acceleration"
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Sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles may have been a factor in the deaths of 89 people since 2000, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency, which stated in March that 52 casualties had been linked to the problem, is investigating if sticking gas pedals led to 71 car crashes resulting in the deaths.
A recall tied to the problem was issued by Toyota in late 2009. The delay in notifing the U.S. government and American consumers of the problem led to a $16.4 million fine against the automaker.
Thus far, the NHTSA has been notified of 6,200 cases of sudden acceleration since 2000. 2,600 of the reports were filed since March 2010, including 100 from consumers who reported the problem after Toyota had already repaired their vehicle.
The agency does not yet believe a new recall for the same problem is warranted. Toyota will install a brake override of the throttle-by-wire on new models starting in 2011. This will also be retro-fit to seven models subject to the recall.
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New BMW 5 Series - crash test brake intervention
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BMW, in conjunction with DEKRA (Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein), has successfully tested 530d models fitted with preventive protection systems. These anticipatory assistance systems found in some new 5 and 7 Series models basically work by sensing an impending collision, thereafter taking steps to minimise the inevitable damage.
Firstly the car's advanced sensors will sense a probable collision. A preliminary visual warning that appears as a red car symbol on the instrument panel and the HUD, will then be issued. Simultaneously brakes are automatically applied very slightly in order to build up brake pressure faster for the moment when the driver finally steps on the pedal.
Should the system detect that the driver's intervention will no longer be of consequence it will apply emergency braking in order to reduce the speed on collision.
The result was that during the 530d test the normal 64 km/h impact speed applied in conventional Euro NCAP crash-testing was reduced to just 40 km/h. The impact and subsequent damage to the car and occupants was therefore greatly reduced. Keep in mind that NCAP tests are done without applying brakes.
BMW hopes that in completing this exercise it will help open the way for changes in future testing methods, given that in time, more and more cars will have these pre-crash safety systems installed. Current Euro NCAP regulations do not allow them for testing procedures.
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