Jaguar Land Rover Commissions SkunkWorks Surf Co. to Make Five Surfboards from early Range Rover Evoque Design Model

• Custom Surfboards Made From Discarded Automotive Models Hit Southern California Shores Following LA Auto Show
• Jaguar Land Rover Commissions SkunkWorks Surf Co. to Make Five Surfboards from early Range Rover Evoque Design Model

Closing out the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, Jaguar Land Rover surfboards hit the water for the first time in North America on the shores of El Porto Beach in Manhattan Beach, CA on December 1. Created as part of the Jaguar Land Rover ‘Waste to Wave’ project, first debuting at Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest in September, the boards are made from recycled polyurethane foam used as the structure in discarded vehicle design studio models.

The surfboards were shaped in partnership with SkunkWorks Surf Co, a surf company based in Northern Ireland with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. Five custom boards were handmade for the Los Angeles Auto Show with colorful designs showcasing the Californian lifestyle, including the Hollywood sign, rock guitarist and a tie-dye pattern. The boards feature carbon fiber rails from the nose and a carbon strip from the tail for additional strength while allowing flex to push through high-intensity maneuvers.

Plastic sent to landfill can take up to 500 years to decompose. The Waste to Wave project is part of a wider ‘second life’ initiative by Jaguar Land Rover and supports the company’s longer term zero waste strategy.

Polyurethane is used in the manufacturing process of life-size clay models which are modelled by hand at the very beginning of the car design process. The polymer forms the ‘skeleton’ of the models, which is normally destroyed once a car is launched, while the clay is recycled and re-used on site.  Now, Jaguar Land Rover is ensuring that plastic is recovered and sliced into blocks ready for a second life as surfboards or paddleboards.

The Los Angeles surfing event was the first time the boards had been used outside of the UK since England’s number one female surfer, Lucy Campbell, first tested them off the coast of Northern Ireland in September.

The new Audi A8 is the first car in the world developed for conditional automated driving at Level 3.

• Conference for artificial intelligence in California
• Audi innovation project: Neural network generates highly precise 3D models of the environment

On the road to autonomous driving, Audi continues powering ahead at top speed: The company is exhibiting an innovative pre-development project at the world’s most important symposium for artificial intelligence (AI) – the NIPS conference in Long Beach, California (USA). The project uses a mono camera that uses AI to generate an extremely precise 3D model of a vehicle’s environment. The conference is co-sponsored by Audi and takes place December 4 to 9.

The new Audi A8 is the first car in the world developed for conditional automated driving at Level 3 (SAE). The Audi AI traffic jam pilot handles the task of driving in slow-moving traffic up to 37mph, provided that laws in the market allow it and the driver selects it. A requirement for automated driving is a mapped image of the environment that is as precise as possible – at all times. Artificial intelligence is a key technology for this.

A project team from the Audi subsidiary Audi Electronics Venture (AEV) now is presenting a mono camera at the Conference and Workshop on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) that uses artificial intelligence to generate an extremely precise 3D model of the environment. This technology makes it possible to capture the exact surroundings of the car.

A conventional front camera acts as the sensor. It captures the area in front of the car within an angle of about 120 degrees and delivers 15 images per second at a resolution of 1.3 megapixels. These images are then processed in a neural network.

This is where semantic segmenting occurs, in which each pixel is classified into one of 13 object classes. This enables the system to identify and differentiate other cars, trucks, houses, road markings, people and traffic signs.

Utilising neural networks

The system also uses neural networks for distance information. The visualisation is performed here via ISO lines – virtual boundaries that define a constant distance. This combination of semantic segmenting and estimates of depth produces a precise 3D model of the actual environment.

Audi engineers had previously trained the neural network with the help of “unsupervised learning.” In contrast to supervised learning, unsupervised learning is a method of learning from observations of circumstances and scenarios that does not require pre-sorted and classified data. 

The neural network received numerous videos to view of road situations that had been recorded with a stereo camera. As a result, the network learned to independently understand rules, which it uses to produce 3D information from the images of the mono camera. The project of AEV holds great potential for the interpretation of traffic situations.

Along with the AEV, two partners from the Volkswagen Group are also presenting their own AI topics at the Audi booth for this year’s NIPS. The Fundamental AI Research department within the Group IT’s Data:Lab focuses on unsupervised learning and optimized control through variational inference, an efficient method for representing probability distributions.

Finally, the Audi team from the Electronics Research Laboratory of Belmont, California, are demonstrating a solution for purely AI-based parking and driving in parking lots and on highways. In this process, lateral guidance of the car is completely carried out through neural networks. The AI learns to independently generate a model of the environment from camera data and to steer the car. This approach requires no highly precise localization or highly precise map data.

In developing autonomous driving cars, Audi is benefiting from a large network in the artificial intelligence field of technology. The network includes companies in the hotspots of Silicon Valley, in Europe and in Israel.

In 2016, Audi became the first automobile manufacturer to participate at NIPS with its own exhibition booth. The brand appears again this year as a sponsor of NIPS and is seeking to further develop its network in California. AI specialists can also learn about employment opportunities with Audi there.

The MONO Supercar is expanding into the USA with upto 10 dedicated dealers.

• British manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is continuing to take the world by storm and has officially launched BAC USA
• The brand behind the world’s only single-seater, road-legal supercar – the Mono – is now rolling out a direct Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) strategy for its operations in the United States
• BAC has enjoyed success in North America with the Mono, having exported the highly acclaimed luxury supercar with the help of distribution partners before the adoption of OEM
• BAC USA operates out of Sonoma, California, and will be headed up by BAC USA President Mark Rayner

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has officially launched BAC USA Inc., as the British maker of the One-of-a-Kind Mono supercar expands its operations in North America.

Having previously worked with distribution partners, BAC will now roll out a direct Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) strategy to bring factory assembly, sales and maintenance services to United States shores.

Designed to provide the most authentic driving experience, BAC’s bespoke and luxurious Mono is the only road-legal, single seater supercar in the world, and it’s taken the U.S. by storm since its launch in 2011.

Now with the facility to directly sell and service cars, BAC aims to enhance its already sterling reputation and bring the Mono to a more diverse audience and improve the BAC experience for existing customers.

BAC USA is based in Sonoma, California, with Mark Rayner overseeing the business. Mark has been involved in the North American automotive industry prior to BAC. He is taking his broad experience and is currently building a robust Stateside operation.

The brand’s dealership programme is now in full swing in the U.S., boosting its profile in major cities and states across the country.

BAC USA’s launch will bring about even more success across the country and ensure buyers have total peace of mind. The company is also providing technical support, dealer acquisition and technician training and aims to have between 8-10 dedicated dealers across the USA within the next 12 months.

Mark Rayner, BAC's Chief Operations Officer and BAC USA President, said: "This is an incredibly exciting time for BAC with the launch of BAC USA. It’s the optimum time in the evolution of the North American market for BAC to enter the region as the OEM, and I’m very proud to be leading the operation. By offering factory presence in the U.S., buyers can benefit from added peace of mind and we can attract new customers to experience the Mono."

Company co-founder and Director of Product Development Neill Briggs added: “Our venture in the United States of America is born out of extensive industry research. It’s the biggest and most informed supercar territory in the world, which is why it’s at the very top of our global sales strategy. BAC USA is another string to BAC’s bow and we’re looking forward to sharing the Mono dream across the Atlantic even more.”

Notes to Editors

Bespoke supercar manufacturer BAC (Briggs Automotive Company) is based in Liverpool and was co-founded by brothers Ian and Neill Briggs. It produces the fast and highly acclaimed Mono supercar, a single-seater formula-style car that provides a visceral and exhilarating driving experience.

Since its launch in 2011 it has been going from strength to strength and is now sold in several markets around the world. It launched with great success and fanfare in Hong Kong at the end of 2015, with eight cars sold in a single night. BAC dealers can also be found in North America, Japan and London.

The 2016 model year version of the Mono comes with a four-cylinder 305bhp 2.5-litre Mountune engine, which takes the 580kg car from 0-60mph in just 2.8sec.

BAC recently launched a carbon hybrid wheel and announced the use of super material graphene, which is up to 20 per cent lighter than carbon fibre and as much as 200 times stronger than steel.

Despite its global appeal, BAC Mono remains proudly British, with parts sourced from its home country wherever possible.

Volkswagen celebrates it's commercial vehicle devision topping 50,000 registrations in the year.

• Record UK registrations for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand
• Over 50,000* vehicles registered by the brand for the first time
• Market share up to over 12 per cent; brand retains number two position
• Substantial increase in Transporter and Caddy volumes

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced a fifth consecutive new UK sales record in 2016, registering over 45,000 new vans. 

The latest generation Transporter and Caddy model ranges saw significant sales increases, while the brand’s passenger carriers and campervan registrations took Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ total 2016 registrations to 50,068*, up nearly five per cent on 2015 (47,739). 

This result means the brand has more than doubled its volume since 2009.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also not only maintained but strengthened its number two position in the light commercial vehicles sector, recording a market share of 12.1 per cent.

The multi-award winning Transporter accounted for 22,872 registrations, up over 11 per cent on 2015 (50,533). 8,156 Caddys were registered, down 757 compared to 2016, though Caddy Maxi sales were up over 35 per cent to 6,377, giving total Caddy registrations of 14,533.

Both the Amarok and Crafter models saw small declines in sales as the brand prepares to relaunch the refreshed pick-up and all-new Crafter this year. (3,586 Amarok down from 3,908 in 2015; 7,137 Crafter down from 8,009 in 2015.)

Commenting on the brand’s performance, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Carl zu Dohna, said: ‘2016 was a really successful year for the brand, with the Transporter and Caddy consolidating their positions in the market after being launched in September 2015. I’m really proud of my team and the Van Centre network for achieving this result.’

He added: ‘I’m delighted that customers are getting to know our latest products and appreciating not only their inherent strengths, but also the after sales support and complete mobility packages which we have put around them. The support we give to our customers to help them choose the right vans and minimise in-life downtime, as well as adding value to our range of products remains extremely important to us.’

*SMMT data. Includes passenger carrying models registered as ‘cars’:

• Passenger carriers include: Caravelle, Transporter Shuttle, Caddy Life, Caddy Maxi Life and Caddy Maxi Camper.
• Transporter registrations include California.
• Registrations include LCV/HCV market up to 6.0T.

UBER and Volvo collaborate to utilise driverless cars in San Francisco, USA.

Uber, the ride-sharing technology company, is expanding its self-driving pilot to San Francisco, California, using specially converted self-driving Volvo XC90 premium SUVs.

The move marks the next phase in a deepening alliance between Volvo and Uber after the two companies signed an agreement in August 2016 to establish a jointly owned project to build base vehicles that can be used to develop fully autonomous driverless cars. These cars were initially tested in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The latest cars to be used in San Francisco have been built by Volvo and sold to Uber, after which Uber’s own self-driving hardware and software package has been added, most visibly in the roof-mounted control apparatus.

These cars will drive around the streets of San Francisco autonomously, but as part of the pilot programme they will at all times have an Uber technician on board to supervise the car’s operation.

“The promise of self-driving ride sharing is becoming a reality,” said Mårten Levenstam, vice president product planning at Volvo Cars. “Volvo is proud to be at the forefront of the latest developments in the automotive world alongside our partners at Uber.”

The alliance with Uber forms one part of Volvo’s three-part plan to develop autonomous driving (AD) technologies.

In January 2017, Volvo will begin a project entitled Drive Me, which will be the world’s largest autonomous driving test in which up to 100 AD cars will be given to members of the public to be driven on real roads around Gothenburg, Sweden. Their experiences will be used to co-develop Volvo’s AD cars.

The second part is a joint venture with Autoliv, the leading automotive safety technology company, to set up a new jointly owned company to design and manufacture separately branded AD and driver-assistance software technology packages for sale to third-party OEMs. The new company will have its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, and an initial workforce taken from both companies of around 200, increasing to more than 600 in the medium term. The company is expected to start operations in the beginning of 2017.

The third part is the ongoing relationship with Uber to build and co-develop base vehicles for AD cars. This deal reduces Volvo’s development costs, gives it a chance to develop cutting-edge technology and could ultimately boost sales significantly.

The base vehicles are manufactured by Volvo and then purchased from Volvo by Uber. Volvo Cars and Uber are contributing a combined USD300m to the project. Both Uber and Volvo will use the same base vehicle for the next stage of their own autonomous car strategies.

The cars to be used in San Francisco are developed on Volvo Cars’ fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). SPA is one of the most advanced car architectures in the world and is currently used on Volvo Cars’ top-of-the-line multiple-award-winning XC90 SUV, as well as the S90 premium saloon and V90 premium estate.

SPA has been developed as part of Volvo Cars’ USD11bn global industrial transformation programme, which started in 2010, and has been prepared from the outset for the latest autonomous drive technologies as well as next-generation electrification and connectivity developments. It is these capabilities that attracted Uber to Volvo.

USA - The All-New Land Rover Discovery has had its US launch on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, Calif.

• All-new Land Rover Discovery displayed publicly for first time in U.S. on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, Calif, Nov. 11-14 alongside the latest innovations in active lifestyle gear including surfing, boating, cycling and fitness
• Guest appearances throughout the exhibition include big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and champion volleyball player and fitness leader Gabby Reece, as well as additional Southern California personalities including Chef Stuart O’Keeffe, Olympic gold-medali
• All-new Land Rover Discovery full size SUV features unparalleled versatility, seating for seven adults(1) and offers very unique optional activity features, priced from $49,990(4)
• Discovery offers active consumers exclusive features including Intelligent Seat Fold(5) technology and waterproof Activity Key
• Lightweight aluminum construction cuts approximately 1,000 lbs(2) from the weight of the outgoing LR4 and delivers up to 14 percent greater City fuel economy(3)
• New Land Rover Discovery and full Land Rover lineup to be on display at the LA Auto Show from Nov. 18-27

Land Rover today announced the North American debut of the all-new 2017 Discovery SUV at an interactive consumer popup activation in the iconic Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

The Discovery Venice popup opened to the public today with big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and wife Gabby Reece, champion volleyball player and fitness leader, on hand to help open the activation. The space is now open to the public through Monday, Nov. 14.

Attendees will be able to explore the new Land Rover Discovery and view a curated selection of the latest in premium activity gear, with opportunities to try out interactive training experiences and state-of-the-art fitness technologies with virtual reality. Curated gear will include surfing, cycling, sports and fitness innovations from ROKA, Cerevo, Hobie, Eddyline Kayaks, Parsons Xtreme Golf, Atlas Snowshoe Company, YERKA Bikes, FEND, Hiplok, PTX Performance Products USA, Blind Dog Surfboards among other top active lifestyle brands.

“We are thrilled to join Land Rover in the debut of the Discovery here in our hometown where outdoor activities and an active lifestyle are encouraged,” said Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. “The Discovery’s smart technology helps families on-the-go like ours; not only stay connected but also provides incredible room and storage, offering the perfect mix of versatility, innovation and luxury. We are so excited to introduce the car to the Venice community and join our fans for the exciting activities at Discovery Venice.” 

“The Land Rover Discovery is the perfect choice for today’s active consumers who need vehicles that make their lives easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s an exciting vacation or just a quick trip to the beach, the seven seat option provides versatility for any adventure, big or small,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “The new Discovery will make its US debut  on Abbot Kinney in Venice with a fun and innovative pop up activation featuring the latest road bikes, fitness equipment, kayaks and surfboards. We really look forward to meeting local customers who share our same passion for innovation and design.”

The Land Rover Discovery is the brand’s most versatile SUV offering premium design and interiors, all-terrain capability and unique cutting-edge technology. With seating to accommodate up to seven full size adults comfortably(1), the Discovery features a distinctive stepped roof design for enhanced passenger headroom and comfort. Intelligent Seat Fold technology(5) allows owners to instantly configure seating remotely via their smartphone app.

The 2017 Discovery SUV is also available with Activity Key technology, which allows customers to enjoy sports and active hobbies without having to carry the standard key fob. The waterproof Activity Key simultaneously locks the vehicle and disables the standard key, which can be left safely inside. This leaves Discovery owners free to pursue their passions without worrying about the security of their vehicle.

The Discovery features advanced aluminum construction for enhanced capability and efficiency. Lightweight aluminum construction cuts approximately 1,000 lbs(2) from the weight of the outgoing LR4 and when equipped with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine, the new Discovery delivers up to 14 percent greater City fuel economy compared to the outgoing Land Rover LR4 SUV(3).

Events at the Discovery Venice activation will include guest appearances from Southern California athletes, chefs and designers including Chef Stuart O’Keeffe, Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Conor Dwyer, vegan cookbook author Kristy Turner and interior designer Nathan Turner. Local food trucks including The Butcher’s Daughter, Cousins Main Lobster, Mandoline Grill, The JUICEBOX Truck, Urban Espresso and Peaches' Smokehouse & Southern Kitchen will be onsite throughout the activation with food available at discount rates. Consumers are also encouraged to visit nearby Venice businesses that have partnered with Land Rover for further discounts and special offers.

The Discovery Venice activation will be held at 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, California, 90291 and will be open to the public on the following days:

–          Friday, Nov. 11 from 12 – 8 p.m.

–          Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

–          Sunday, Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

–          Monday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Kia Motor's will use the 2016 Paris Motor Show as the base for the World Premiere for the All-New Rio hatchback.

The all-new, fourth-generation Kia Rio will make its world premiere on 29 September in Paris, at the 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile.

The Rio’s progressive new exterior and interior design was led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the company’s main design centre in Namyang, Korea. 

Straight lines and smooth surfacing give the car a distinctive new character, while a longer front overhang and bonnet, longer wheelbase, and upright C-pillar give the car an even more confident and balanced appearance than its predecessor.

The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features, and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.

The Kia Rio is the Korean manufacturer’s global best-selling model, with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015. The next generation will enter production towards the end of 2016 for Europe, with production timings for the UK to be announced closer to launch.

Kia’s 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile press conference will start at 14:45 CET on 29 September. Kia’s stand will be located in Hall 3 of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Acura stuns the crowd at the weekend with the Precision Concept, the future design direction of the brand.

Concept model expresses performance direction of Acura design

The Acura Precision Concept has been chosen as one of the featured models on the Concept Lawn at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, August 21. 

Developed by the Acura Design Studio in California as a dynamic expression of Acura's 'Precision Crafted Performance' brand DNA, the Acura Precision Concept – with its supercar-like stance, performance-minded proportions and alluring design details – points the way toward a bolder, more distinctive future for Acura design.

 

The Acura Precision Concept also showcases the Acura's new diamond pentagon grille, which was rapidly applied to the redesigned 2017 Acura MDX.

"We're proud to have the Acura Precision Concept featured among the most prestigious vehicles in the world at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura Division.  

"More than a concept, the Acura Precision Concept is the blueprint for Acura's future styling direction and manifests our commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every element of the Acura experience."

The Acura Precision Concept's crouched and athletic stance is further emphasized by its deeply sculpted side surfaces pouring over swelling rear wheel arches covering 22-inch wheels and tires. 

The forward-looking concept also features signature lighting designs – in front with its Jewel Constellation LED headlights composed of organically arranged fractal elements, and in back with floating LED taillights.

A key design theme, dubbed "quantum continuum," is seen in the seamless transition of materials and structure from the exterior to the interior of the vehicle, which is further highlighted by the absence of a b-pillar. 

The large door rocker panel flows into the interior side sill, transitioning into a cantilever for the floating rear seats. The rear center high-mounted stoplight becomes an architecture element piercing the rear glass and then flowing down to help form the structure for the metal airfoil shape of the rear headrests.

The elegant and powerful exterior is matched by its dramatic interior design, where cantilevered surfaces meet with striking tones, expressive surfacing and modern detailing. 

Of particular note are the double-layered instrument panel, the high-contrast front seat surfaces, the ultra-thin "floating" rear seats, evoking the look of modern lounge furniture, and the hand-crafted audio speaker grilles made of exotic wood.

The driver's space is highlighted by a compact, race-inspired, sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) controls, a floating center meter, a driver's head-up display, a cantilevered center stack and an ultra-wide, thin and curved center display screen. 

New Acura HMI Concept

The Acura Precision Concept also explores a new approach for Acura's digital human-machine interface (HMI), enabling a more intuitive, advanced and seamless connection between man and machine. 

The ultra-wide and curved center screen is operated by a floating touch pad suspended on the cantilevered center stack. Upon entry, the system scans each occupant and selects personalized features and functions, including maps, audio and customized vehicle performance settings.

Acura Precision Concept Dimensions

Width	84 inches
Length	204 inches
Height	52 inches
Wheelbase	122 inches
Wheels/Tires	- 5-spoke machined wheels - 22-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport Summer Tire