International jury names the Bugatti Chiron as the winner in the “Exterior Premium Brand - Luxury” category

• German Design Council honours the product design of the Bugatti brand
• International jury names the Bugatti Chiron as the winner in the “Exterior Premium Brand - Luxury” category

It has been officially confirmed. The world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car has the best design in the world. In its "Automotive Brand Contest", the German Design Council honours outstanding product and communication design in the automotive industry every year. 

At this year’s awards ceremony, the Bugatti Chiron¹ was selected by the jury as the winner in the category “Exterior Premium Brand - Luxury.” This March, the Chiron celebrated its world debut in Geneva. The awards ceremony was held on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show.

In their citation, the international jury of independent experts explain their decision as follows: “The designers have succeeded in interpreting the Bugatti DNA in a modern way and adding new, distinctive features in line with the motto of “Form follows Performance”. These features became necessary as a result of the technical requirements posed by higher performance.” In the category of “Exterior Premium Brand - Luxury”, which takes a closer look at the exteriors of all vehicle classes under the aspect of elegant design, the Chiron convinced the jury.

“The Bugatti design team is extremely pleased about this award,” said Achim Anscheidt, Chief Designer of Bugatti, at the awards ceremony held in Paris on Thursday evening. “The stylistic challenge posed for us designers by the tension between Bugatti’s traditional brand DNA and the need to adapt the exterior design of the car to the technical requirements of this ultimate 1,500 PS super sports car was enormous. Honours like this and the extremely positive reaction of our customers and fans to the Chiron confirm that we adopted the right approach.“

The Automotive Brand Contest is held annually by the German Design Council. As the only impartial design competition for automobile brands, it has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most important competitions in the industry. The German Design Council is one of the world’s leading competence centres for communications and know-how transfer in the design field. The association currently has more than 230 members. The German Design Council was established in 1953 at the initiative of the German Bundestag to strengthen the design competence of German industry.

The All-New Bugatti Chiron had it's Asian Unveiling at last weekends Singapore Formula One Grand Prix.

• Ceremonial unveiling of the world’s most powerful, fastest, most exclusive and most luxurious production super sports car in Singapore
• Bugatti partner in South-East Asia, Wearnes Automotive, invites customers to exclusive private appointments
• Fans admired the Chiron¹at the Formula 1 Grand Prix last weekend
• Singapore is Bugatti’s hub in South-East Asia

On its world tour, the Bugatti Chiron is now visiting South-East Asia. Following its debuts in Europe and North America, the world’s most powerful, fastest, most exclusive and most luxurious production super sports car was ceremonially unveiled in Singapore today. 

Over the past few days, Bugatti and Wearnes Automotive, Bugatti’s dealer in South-East Asia, had presented the Chiron to customers at exclusive private appointments. 

The French super sports car will also be on display this weekend at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Singapore is Bugatti’s hub in South-East Asia. 

“With the presentation of the Chiron here in Singapore, Bugatti is honouring the special importance of the South-East Asia region for the brand,” said Dr. Stefan Brungs, Member of the Board of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service. 

“Especially here in South-East Asia, there are a large number of super sports car collectors as well as Bugatti owners and brand ambassadors. Here, people show fantastic levels of appreciation and passion for groundbreaking performance and exclusive brilliance as well as enthusiasm for the Chiron. For us, it is a special pleasure to celebrate the premiere of the Chiron in South-East Asia with our highly esteemed customers and loyal fans who follow the Bugatti brand with such passion.”

“In Wearnes Automotive, we have a partner with the capabilities, the network and the passion we need to bring our business in South-Asia forward,” Brungs added. Wearnes Automotive has been the official dealer of Bugatti South-East Asia since 2006. The two partners recently agreed to continue this cooperation.

Pang Cheong Yan, Managing Director of the Prestige Division of Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd, said: “Having officially renewed our dealership appointment with Bugatti, we are thrilled that the Bugatti Chiron has made its way to Singapore. It is truly the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car, and we are honoured to showcase the actual car for the very first time in Asia to an exclusive group of customers and guests here.”

For this special occasion, Bugatti and Wearnes Automotive have created a stylish and elegant Bugatti world in Singapore. In an ambience of Bugatti blue, not only the Chiron finds the perfect scenery. The presentation also focuses on exhibits and animations highlighting the extraordinary technical achievements and the elegant and aggressive design of the super sports car as well as the history of the brand.

This weekend, which will probably be the most eventful weekend in the Singapore calendar this year, the Chiron will be on show to fans and potential customers in the renowned Amber Lounge at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. After that, the super sports car will be on display for a short time at the Bugatti Singapore showroom.

¹ Near-production vehicle without type approval – Directive 1999/94/EEC does not apply

Jeep Brand unveils two new models at the New York Show, both adding luxury and capability in good measure.

Jeep Brand Introduces New 2017 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and Summit Models at the New York International Auto Show

• New Trailhawk model expands Jeep® Grand Cherokee lineup with most capable version ever produced
• Grand Cherokee Summit models boast new, even more luxurious hand-crafted leather interior, new appearance and added standard premium features
• Both new Grand Cherokee models arrive in Jeep showrooms in late summer

Already the most awarded SUV ever, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is about to become even more capable and even more luxurious. 

At the New York International Auto Show today, the Jeep brand expanded its Grand Cherokee lineup with the introduction of a new Trailhawk model – the most capable factory-produced Grand Cherokee ever. 

The brand also introduced the 2017 Grand Cherokee Summit, bringing a new exterior appearance, a plush new interior and even more standard premium features to consumers looking for the ultimate premium full-size SUV.

“With our new Trailhawk and Summit models, Jeep Grand Cherokee becomes even more capable and more luxurious,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global. 

“Our Cherokee and Renegade Trailhawk models are among our fastest selling and most sought-after models, and we are following that successful formula to provide consumers even more legendary Jeep 4x4 capability for Grand Cherokee – the most awarded SUV ever.

“Our new Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit is in direct response to consumers who continue to ask for even more luxury, craftsmanship and standard premium features in a full-size SUV packed with capability,” Manley added.

In 2015, Jeep Grand Cherokee sales rose 7 percent to 195,598 units in the U.S.

The new Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and Summit models arrive in Jeep showrooms in late summer. 

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

The Jeep brand introduced the “Trailhawk” name on the Grand Cherokee concept vehicle that first appeared at the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The idea was to deliver a unique and more rugged appearance, with a host of functional features that resulted in an increased level of off-road 4x4 capability.

The “Trailhawk” name moved to production with the introduction of the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee, as the most capable of four models (Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk), and continued with the all-new 2015 Renegade. It joins the Grand Cherokee lineup as a sixth model for 2017 (Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trailhawk).

Grand Cherokee Trailhawk models are equipped with a host of standard off-road capability features, including Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system with rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential (ELSD) for all powertrains, a unique version of Grand Cherokee’s Quadra-Lift air suspension – developed for Trailhawk – that offers improved articulation and total suspension travel, as well as Selec-Speed Control with Hill Ascent Control. Skid plates and a Trailhawk-specific anti-glare hood decal are also standard.

Approach angles on the Jeep Grand Cherokee are 29.8 degrees or 36.1 degrees when the lower front fascia is removed for severe off-roading, while the breakover angle is 27.1 degrees and the departure angle is 22.8 degrees. Grand Cherokee Trailhawk models offer up to 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk exterior features a front fascia and seven-slot Jeep grille that debuted on the 2016 Grand Cherokee 75^th Anniversary edition, Trailhawk-signature red tow hooks in the front and rear, standard rugged 18-inch or optional 20-inch Goodyear Adventure off-road tires with Kevlar reinforcement, new Trailhawk and Trail Rated badges with red accents, mirror caps and a roof rack with Neutral Gray accents, and optional Mopar rock rails for added protection.

Inside, Trailhawk models feature a unique black interior with leather and suede performance seats for comfort and control, red accent stitching, brushed Piano Black appliques, gun-metal finish on all painted interior parts, a Trailhawk badge on the Jeep steering wheel, and red accent stitching on the seats, doors and console. A standard 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen includes updated off-road pages showing wheel articulation and other vehicle 4x4 capability features, such as suspension height and 4x4 and Selec-Terrain modes.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk models are available in Redline Red, Billet Silver, Bright White, Rhino, Granite Crystal, Velvet Red and Diamond Black Crystal exterior paints.

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

Packed with standard premium amenities, the new 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit is the most luxurious vehicle in the full-size SUV segment.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s exterior boasts a new look with an updated front fascia, grille and LED fog lamps, with new 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. 

A stunning new full-wrap Laguna leather interior in Indigo and Ski Gray is one of four color schemes. The full leather interior boasts a Nappa leather-wrapped dashboard, center console and door panels, and Laguna leather seats with edge welting.

Other Summit interior colors are Black, Brown and Dark Sienna Brown. All Summit models come equipped with a suede premium headliner, lighted door sill, acoustic windshield and full side glass, Active Noise Cancellation, premium Berber carpet mats and a Harmon/Kardon 19-speaker, 825 watt amp audio system with three subwoofers.

An array of technological and other features are also standard on the 2017 Grand Cherokee Summit, including auto-folding power mirrors, headlamp washers, Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and, for the first time, Lane Departure Warning and Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. 

Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system with ELSD is standard on all Summit models, as is Grand Cherokee’s Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Speed Control.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit models are available in Light Brown Stone, True Blue, Bright White, Ivory Pearl, Granite Crystal, Velvet Red, Diamond Black Crystal and Luxury Brown exterior paints.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever and the vehicle that has long defined what a premium SUV should be. The Grand Cherokee Summit models receive added features, as well as a Summit California Edition appearance package that further enhances Summit’s premium exterior aesthetics.

Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers best-in-class 30 miles per gallon (mpg) highway courtesy of an available 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine and standard eight-speed transmission. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 boasts an unmatched driving range of more than 730 miles.

Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of three available 4x4 systems, Jeep’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system and class-leading Selec-Terrain traction management system. Grand Cherokee boasts best-in-class towing of 7,400 pounds and a crawl ratio of 44.1:1.

A refined exterior design — complete with available bi-xenon headlamps with signature LED daytime running lamps (DRL) — provides a premium appearance. Interior luxury is achieved with premium amenities, including Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood trim and unique color offerings.

TOKYO SHOW - The Vision Tokyo is the latest trailblazing spatial experience to come from Mercedes-Benz.

Mobile club lounge for young, urban trendsetters

The Vision Tokyo is the latest trailblazing spatial experience to come from Mercedes-Benz: its monolithic structure, futuristic design idiom and unique lounge ambience in the interior define it as luxurious, young and progressive – thus making it a fitting tribute to the sophisticated megacity and trendsetting metropolis that is Tokyo. 

Spatially efficient, versatile and intelligently connected, the Vision Tokyo – which is also capable of driving autonomously – is an urban transformer that reflects the growing youthfulness of the Mercedes-Benz brand. At the same time, this innovative five-seater continues a tradition of visionary design-study showcars that has included the Vision Ener-G-Force (Los Angeles, November 2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013) and G-Code (Beijing, November 2014).  

Japan's capital city Tokyo represents home to some nine million people, in an area that is just 622 square kilometres in size – smaller than Paris but with more than four times as many people. This megacity represents a fascinating combination of tradition and contemporary high tech and is constantly defining new trends – making it the ideal location for the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo. It will be on display to an international audience for the first time at the Tokyo Motor Show (30 October to 7 November 2015).

Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG: "The Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo embodies the concept of an automotive lounge for a future generation of megacities. The purity and sensuality of the Vision Tokyo's styling defines a new interpretation of modern luxury from Mercedes-Benz." 

The conceptual message of the vehicle reflects the increasingly youthful appeal of the Mercedes-Benz brand and perceptions of it as a stylistically influential design brand. The Vision Tokyo is the brainchild of the designers working within Mercedes-Benz's global network of Advanced Design Studios.

Hot on the heels of the F 015 Luxury in Motion autonomously driving luxury saloon comes the Vision Tokyo, with which Mercedes-Benz aims to show how the car of the future can be turned into a hip living space – a chill-out zone in the midst of megacity traffic mayhem.

The Vision Tokyo is a homage to the urban Generation Z, the cohort of people born since 1995 who have grown up with the new media. 

The role of the vehicle has changed for this global generation: it is no longer simply a means of getting around, but a digital, automobile companion. 

The Vision Tokyo takes things another step further: innovative algorithms allow it to evolve constantly; Deep Machine Learning and an intelligent Predictive Engine mean that, with each journey, it becomes more and more familiar with its occupants, their likes and preferences. All of which makes the Vision Tokyo the perfect partner for Generation Z.

The spaciousness of the Vision Tokyo marks a new conceptual approach for Mercedes-Benz Cars. These proportions are emphasised by the monochrome Alubeam paintwork and by side windows screen-printed in the colour of the vehicle. These give the vehicle's occupants privacy, while at the same time allowing sufficient light to penetrate into the interior and an unimpeded view out.

Surfaces and lines illuminated in blue – among them the 26-inch wheels and the side skirts – provide unexpected colour highlights and are indicative of the concept car's emission-free electric drive system. A pointer to the potential for autonomous operation and the comprehensive system of vehicle environment sensors that this requires, including a 360-degree camera, is provided by the fin on the vehicle roof.

Instead of a conventional windscreen, the Vision Tokyo features a continuous stretch of glass panelling – similar to the glazed cockpit of a powerboat. As was the case with the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, the front headlamps are set well to either side and at an angle. The area across the front of the vehicle can be used to display a series of different lighting functions. If music is playing inside the vehicle the display will, for example, visualise a sound pattern, rather like a sound analyser. The rear window is set into a surrounding ring of red LED cubes, which gives it visual depth. Once again, the LED field can be put to good use – as an indicator display or as part of the analyser function.

The dimensions of the Vision Tokyo (length/width/height: 4803/2100/1600 mm) are comparable with those of a mid-series vehicle. Up to five passengers access the interior via the upward-swinging door on the left-hand side – ideal for the right-hand-drive traffic in Japan's megacity. The conventional seating arrangement in rows is thus redundant, while there is also no "front" or "back" here: passengers take their seats instead on a large, oval-shaped couch. 

This unique lounge-style arrangement allows everyone on board to enjoy the benefits of autonomous driving. For even though the members of "Generation Z" are frequent users of social media, they nevertheless prefer personal contact whenever possible. And it is for this face to-face communication that the seat layout has been optimised. As a contemporary-style club lounge, the Vision Tokyo brings people together. With the car in autonomous driving mode they are able to chill and chat, without having to worry about steering a way through the dense traffic.

Behind the passengers are large wraparound LED screens. The perforated seats are back-lit, giving rise to a high-tech ambience that presents an intentional contrast to the soft surface finish of the pale leather. Apps, maps and displays emanating from the entertainment system are presented as three-dimensional holograms within the interior space.

Should there be a requirement for the Vision Tokyo to be controlled manually rather than it driving autonomously, a seat facing in the direction of travel can be released from the centre of the couch at the front, rather like the "jump seat" in an aircraft cockpit. The steering wheel, too, is then moved from its standby position into driving position.

The bodyshell of the Vision Tokyo has been designed to allow the crash-protected integration of a fuel cell-powered electric drive system. This is based on the trailblazing F-CELL PLUG-IN HYBRID of the F 015 Luxury in Motion and combines the on-board generation of electricity with a particularly powerful and compact high-voltage battery that can be charged contactlessly via induction. The use of pressure tanks made from CFRP is envisaged for the storage of hydrogen in the concept car. The electric hybrid system has a total range of 980 kilometres, of which some 190 kilometres are courtesy of battery-powered driving and around 790 kilometres on the electricity produced in the fuel cell.

The Vision Tokyo continues a tradition of visionary design-study showcars that has included the Vision Ener-G-Force (Los Angeles, November 2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013) and G-Code (Beijing, November 2014). Thanks to the global nature of the Mercedes-Benz Design function, these concept vehicles take cues from local trends in design, culture and mobility and make these the focal point of the respective mobility concept. At the same time these showcars are already looking well beyond the next generation of vehicles.

Global Advanced Design – the Mercedes-Benz Design Studios

When it comes to its Advanced Design activities, Mercedes-Benz relies on a global network: designers and modellers in five Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad (USA), Sunnyvale (USA), Como (Italy), Beijing (China) and Sindelfingen (Germany) mull over ideas for the vehicles of tomorrow – and beyond.

Institute of Advanced Motorists call for changes to car interiors and complicated Electronics.

TMW THOUGHTS

I fully agree with these findings from the IAM, cars are getting more and more complicated, the miriad of button, dials, and knobs makes every journey that little bit longer, the Sat-Nav on the latest Citroen C4 Cactus is so confusing and not at all easy to use, makes you NOT want to use it, the touchscreens on some makes are so very complicated, and with buttons so very small, you have to take you eyes off the road for more than the two seconds that the IAM recommends.

I also agree that some of the tech should be "locked" once the car is in motion, to stop you from playing with them, it would be quite interesting to see what the percentage of accidents today are caused by people not watching the roads, and concentrating on iPods, Phones, tablet screens etc, either way, whilst we, the customer demand these things, they manufacturers will continue to supply them, until, of course, governments, dictate that they are either locked, removed or banned altogether.

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The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that car manufacturers are building high-tech distractions into their new vehicles and have made interiors so comfortable they are being turned into living rooms.

The warning came from IAM chief executive officer Sarah Sillars, who said efforts to reduce distraction factors for motorists are being undone by the relentless pace of technology and eagerness of car makers to pack more gadgets onto dashboards.

She said the main areas of concern were highly sophisticated satellite-navigation and GPS systems, smartphones that mirror tablets and easy connectivity of internet and social media.

The IAM has suggested the UK should adopt guidelines suggested by the US Department of Transportation and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

They say drivers should be restricted from using certain non-essential forms of technology while the vehicle is in motion, and car makers should not introduce any technological development which takes the driver’s attention off the road for longer than two seconds (reference 1).

These voluntary guidelines are to be phased in over the next three years to address this large-scale problem in the USA.

US Federal data figures showed in 2011 that accidents involving a distracted driver killed 3,331 people and injured another 387,000 (reference 2).

And for younger drivers the problem is worse. Car accidents are the main cause of death of teenagers (as it is for all people aged between five and 34), and a quarter of all teen-driving crashes in the US are attributed to distracted driving (reference 3).

Sarah said: “We cannot allow the same trends in the USA to happen here. While car makers work constantly to incorporate active and passive safety features into vehicles, making us safer than ever before, they are also guilty of making us too comfortable and making us feel more cosseted – like we were in our own living rooms.”

The IAM says as technology constantly changes, continued education campaigns are required to reinforce and update the current laws (reference 4).

Sarah concluded: “Technology could be a great way of helping to cut the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. It would be a tragedy if technology became a reason why more, rather than less, people lose their lives.”

Reference 1: 

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/U.S.+DOT+Releases+Guidelines+to+Minimize+In-Vehicle+Distractions

Reference 2: 

http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html

Reference 3:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811737.pdf

Reference 4: 

http://www.iam.org.uk/media-and-research/policy/our-policies/mobile-phones

The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. 

The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. 

It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.