Nissan employees create prototype 48 kWh LEAF, doubling the capacity of the production 24 kWh model.

• Nissan employees create prototype 48 kWh LEAF, doubling the capacity of the  production 24 kWh model
• Technicians formed from Nissan’s Innovation team worked on the project during evenings and weekends
• The prototype participated in several ECOseries events, showcasing its increased range and demonstrating Nissan’s commitment to its vision for Intelligent Mobility

In a demonstration of their passion for innovation, Nissan engineers have created a prototype Nissan LEAF with a 48 kWh battery – in their spare time.

Following the manufacturer’s principles of on-going research and development of electric vehicles, the 48 kWh prototype carries a battery twice the size of the original Nissan LEAF production model, with a 75 percent increase in driving range in everyday conditions.

It was created by a group of engineers at Nissan’s Technical Centre in Barcelona (NTCE-S), whose passion and commitment to their work has given rise to the Nissan Innovation team. The team of volunteers take on a range of exciting endeavours, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with electric vehicle technology.

The prototype, codenamed “Cocoon” in reference to the American sci-fi film of the same name, was built to compete in the Spanish motorsport event, ECOseries - a new initiative which rewards “efficiency and fuel economy rather than outright speed.”

Dario Fernandez, Senior Engineer at NTCE-S, said: “It has been a great privilege to work on this project and to see our finished prototype race in the ECOseries. We all have a real passion for what we do and being able to work on prototype projects gives us the creative freedom to be as innovative and forward-thinking as we possibly can.

“Battery range improvement is important to the on-going adoption of electric vehicles, so this was a great opportunity to utilise our knowledge of zero-emissions technology to look at how battery range could potentially be extended in this particular application.”

Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, said: "As a pioneer of the electric vehicle market, Nissan has consistently innovated and advanced its technology to remain at the forefront of the zero emission sector. Whilst there are no plans to put this prototype into production, it serves as a useful exercise in thinking outside the box, something our engineers and designers do on a daily basis. The Nissan LEAF 48 kWh showcases the passion our employees have for their work.”

These extra-curricular projects feed in to Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision and allow employees to draw on their expertise, skills and experience to experiment with technology, design and engineering. The Intelligent Mobility framework informs all of Nissan’s future products and technologies, with the aim of developing a smart, connected, sustainable zero emission transport network.

Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF as the world’s first mass-market, 100 percent electric vehicle in 2010. Since then, the auto-manufacturer has continued to design and produce innovative zero emission solutions, including the e-NV200 pure electric light commercial vehicle and a longer range LEAF with a 30 kWh battery.

jaguar Land Rover makes plans to enter the 2016 FIA Formula E Championship.

• Jaguar Land Rover confirms its electric future with entry for Jaguar into the innovative FIA Formula E Championship
• Formula E to provide a real world performance test bed for future Jaguar Land Rover technology
• Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's leading investor in research and development, strengthens its commitment to British engineering by extending development of electrification technology into the racing environment 
• Jaguar Land Rover engineers will work directly with Jaguar's race team to push the boundaries of electrification technology  

Jaguar today announced its return to global motorsport. In the autumn of 2016, Jaguar will enter the third season of the exciting FIA Formula E Championship as a manufacturer with its own team. FIA Formula E is the world’s first global single-seater championship for electric powered cars.

FIA Formula E offers a unique opportunity for Jaguar Land Rover to further the development of future EV powertrain including motor and battery technology. 

Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “I am proud to announce Jaguar's return to racing with an entry into the innovative FIA Formula E championship. 

Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio and Formula E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies. The Championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions.

"It is my belief that over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades. 

The future is about being more connected and more sustainable; electrification and lightweight technologies are becoming more important than ever as urbanisation continues to increase. Formula E has recognised and reacted to these trends and the championship's exciting and pioneering approach is the perfect fit for our brand."

Jaguar Land Rover employs over 8,000 engineers and is the UK's largest investor in research and development across any business sector. Jaguar's Formula E team will be able to draw upon this industry leading resource with Jaguar Land Rover engineers working closely with the race operations team. 

Those engineers will not only be able to apply their knowledge within the race team environment but crucially use the experience to extract data and push the boundaries of electric technology in a performance environment. 

Williams Advanced Engineering will be Technical Partner to the Jaguar Formula E Team and provide extensive motorsport knowledge, combined with high performance EV Systems experience and success. 

Jaguar Land Rover has a long term relationship with Williams, who partnered with Jaguar on the development of the Jaguar C-X75 plug-in hybrid concept car. The team entry has been granted by Formula E and approved by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Alejandro Agag, Chief Executive Officer for Formula E, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jaguar into Formula E. Jaguar is a brand with a rich sporting heritage and the fact that it is returning to global motorsport with Formula E is a huge endorsement of the championship and its ability to influence the development of electric cars. 

Jaguar brings with it a passionate fan base that will drive the popularity of the championship across the world and once again shows that Formula E is the future of motorsport.”

Jean Todt, President of the FIA said: “The FIA is pleased to welcome Jaguar as a new manufacturer to enter the FIA Formula E Championship. We built this series to offer an alternative competition for manufacturers to step into the sport and develop road-relevant electric technologies. 

The choice of Jaguar to come back to motor racing with Formula E is a proof of success. As it forges a path forward for the future of the electric car, Formula E managed to attract one of the most prestigious and historical brand across the automotive industry. I wish them success ahead of their arrival in 2016/2017.”

James Barclay, Jaguar Team Director, said: “We looked in detail at alternative ways of returning to motorsport.  This was such an important decision for Jaguar and we wanted to get it right. With our future EV plans, Formula E was the obvious choice and we believe that the benefits are enormous.  

The FIA and the promoter have exciting plans for the future of the championship and we are proud to be one of the first vehicle manufacturers to commit to the series with our own team. We have a lot of work to do ahead of the first race but it is a challenge we relish.  We hope that we can welcome a new generation of fans to Jaguar through this exciting programme.”

More details on Jaguar’s return to racing including team presentation, drivers and partners will be released in the run up to season three.

Volvo launches Concept 26, a new way for autonomous drivers to relax, create or to actually drive.

Volvo Cars’ ongoing research into autonomous driving has confirmed what we all know - that the daily commute is taking the joy out of driving. It is during the commute and on long motorway trips that people are most willing to delegate the act of driving to their car.

With this in mind, Volvo has developed Concept 26, named to reflect the average daily commute to work of 26 minutes* – time that could be spent doing something more meaningful than sitting in stop-start traffic. Volvo has set out to bring choice and freedom back to the driver; to enjoy the driving experience when they want to, or to delegate driving to the car when they want to do something else.

Drive, Create, Relax

“It’s all about people. Our research clearly shows that some people will want to use their commuting time creatively when they have full autonomous drive available, while others will want to just sit back and relax, watch online media or listen to music. Autonomous drive will make all of this possible. This is what Concept 26 has captured by reimagining the entire car experience,” said Robin Page, Vice President of Interior Design at Volvo Cars.

Concept 26 is based around an all-new patented seat design that actively cradles the driver during the transformation phase into one of the three modes: Drive, Create or Relax. With these three modes the concept creates a new autonomous drive innovation platform that can adapt to new needs and technologies over time.

When the driver wishes to delegate driving to the car, the steering wheel retracts, the seat reclines and a large display emerges from the dashboard allowing the driver to enjoy the time spent in the car as they like. Concept 26 embraces the need for radical change of the basic design of car interiors and provides a space that can be used as the driver/passenger wishes.

Concept 26 opens up a new paradigm of possibilities in the car - from entertainment to service provision and beyond, using the technology that is now a natural part of our everyday lives. It also signals the huge potential for new business opportunities and high-tech collaborations that autonomous drive will bring.

“We have gone to great lengths to understand the challenges and opportunities that autonomous cars will bring to people in coming years, and our flexible approach to engineering and design, enabled by our new Scalable Product Architecture, means that we can readily bring this from concept to reality,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Group.

Confidence

Volvo Cars’ ongoing Drive Me research project, which will see an extended fleet of fully autonomous cars driving real customers on the roads of Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2017 is further proof that Volvo is a leader in autonomous drive technology, building firmly on its foundation of safety.

“Volvo Cars is among the first to address the subject of self-driving cars and liability. We firmly believe that car makers should take full responsibility for the actions of the car when it is driving in full autonomous mode. If a manufacturer does not accept liability, it clearly implies that they are not confident about their autonomous drive technology,” said Dr Peter Mertens.

*Based on research of the average commute time in the United States

The largest number of graduates, 139, begin apprenticships and industrial placements in Bentley’s history.

• Over 135 trainees begin Bentley career this week
• The largest number of graduates, apprentices and industrial placements in Bentley’s history
• Investment in future talent supports Bentley’s skills development programme 

Bentley Motors has welcomed 139 graduates, apprentices and industrial placement students this week, the company’s highest intake in history.

The new recruits cover roles in every Bentley department, from engineering to manufacturing, and sales and marketing to human resources. All new trainees will begin with a formal induction, before commencing their respective programmes.

Welcoming the new recruits, Marlies Rogait, Member of the Board for Human Resources at Bentley Motors, said: “I join the rest of the business in welcoming our new trainees to Bentley and I feel proud that this is our largest ever intake, demonstrating our dedication and commitment to skills development and investing in the talent of the future.

“These programmes will give them a solid foundation upon which to build the skills and knowledge required to become skilled professionals and experts in their chosen field.”

Bentley has created over 1,000 jobs in the past two years and was recently named as a Top Employer for the fourth consecutive year, praised for its focus on skills development within its workforce.

Annabelle Wain, who joined this week as an apprentice working in the manufacturing department, commented: “I’m really pleased to be joining Bentley and begin the next step in my career. I’ve read all about the new SUV, Bentley Bentayga and after the initial time in the classroom as part of the apprenticeship, I can’t wait to get started working on the new car.”     

The apprenticeship programme offers an invaluable way of gaining recognised qualifications while undertaking key training at Bentley, for three or four years, dependent on which area the apprentice is working in.  

The majority of apprentices will be undertaking the manufacturing programme, learning skills within areas such as wood, leather, paint and mechatronics. The first year of their programme will be theoretical learning at South Cheshire College, before working in practical areas of manufacturing at Bentley.

Bentley’s graduate scheme is a two year development programme where recruits are given the opportunity to work on business projects, working in a specific department, or across a number of functions.

The industrial placement scheme offers a 12-month development programme focused on undergraduate degree students looking to complete a year out in industry as part of their studies.

Recruitment for the next intake of graduates will start later this month, with apprentice and industrial placement positions open in March 2016.

SEAT to Spend Spend Spend on new Equipment, Facilities and Research and Development between now and 2019.

SEAT is going to spend 3.3 billion euros on equipment, facilities and R&D between 2015 and 2019. The announcement was made by SEAT Executive Committee President Jürgen Stackmann during the visit to the company’s facilities in Martorell by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the SEAT Technical Centre. 

The Premier was joined by Dr. Francisco Javier García Sanz, member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and SEAT Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Jürgen Stackmann.

Stackmann pointed out that “the 3.3 billion euros is earmarked for promoting new vehicle development R&D projects at the SEAT Technical Centre as well as equipment and facilities in the Martorell factory”. 

As it currently stands, this spend, which is the largest in the history of SEAT for new models, will go towards launching four new vehicles in the next two years. 

“These models are part of an ambitious plan to continue to strengthen the brand and boost sales, which have been growing consistently since 2013. The spending on innovation ensures competitiveness and employment, and secures the future”. 

The first model of SEAT’s offensive to reach the showrooms during the first half of next year will be a compact SUV, the brand’s first incursion into this segment.

The 3.3 billion euro figure is part of the amount announced by the Volkswagen Group last May. In this respect, Dr. Francisco Javier García Sanz indicated that “Spain is a key country in the Group’s strategy. 

These resources underscore our commitment as a driver of the Spanish economy and represents a guarantee for the future”. He went on to stress that “the 3.3 billion euros strengthen SEAT’s position within the Volkswagen Group and as the country’s main industrial investor in R&D”. 

SEAT is the only carmaker which, bolstered by its own Technical Centre, has the capacity to design and develop vehicles in Spain. In the last five years, the company has spent 1.4 billion euros on R&D.

SEAT is one of the main pillars of industry in Spain and the largest company in the car industry, which currently accounts for 10% of the country’s GDP. SEAT contributes roughly 1% to Spain’s GDP and 4% to Catalonia. Many SMEs are suppliers to SEAT, which provides direct and indirect employment to around 70,000 people. 

The spending announced today will also have a positive impact on the auxiliary industry as it will significantly increase the supply of parts and components manufactured in Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy acknowledged the spending made by the Volkswagen Group and SEAT, which continues to strengthen the automotive industry as one of the country’s strategic sectors. 

In his first trip to Martorell, Rajoy visited the brand’s Design Centre and got a close look at the vehicle development process. In this facility, which is a part of the Technical Centre, technology and creativity come together to produce all of the brand’s future models.

Following the visit, the Prime Minister was transferred in a Martorell built CNG fuelled estate version of the Leon TGI to the Meisterbock, where SEAT ensures the quality of its vehicles during their launch and development phase. Rajoy witnessed first-hand all the work and latest technologies put in by the company to ensure the precision and perfection of all its vehicles.

The Prime Minister’s visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of the SEAT Technical Centre (CTS), whose creation was a turning point for the company and the car industry in Spain. From the outset, the Technical Centre shaped SEAT’s genetic make-up and has been responsible for developing the company’s most iconic models, such as the Leon, Ibiza, Toledo, Alhambra, Malaga, Marbella, Cordoba, Altea and Arosa, among others, which were all shaped by a common development philosophy that confers them with signature SEAT character and silhouettes. 

In addition, the CTS participates in Volkswagen Group projects and has developed and implemented absolute state-of-the-art technologies, the use of ecological Ecomotive engines and systems that enable car connectivity.

Over the course of these last 40 years, the SEAT Technical Centre has become the main local and national driver of industry and serves as a catalyst of technological development among businesses, institutions, universities and suppliers to the company all over Spain. Today it occupies an extension of 200,000m² and by the end of the year will employ 1,000 engineers, after the addition of 100 new employees who are being recruited in recent months.

Multi-million pound R&D Centre will advance simulation technology for the automotive industry

A £2m new research and development centre that features one of the world’s most advanced vehicle simulators has opened in Hethel, Norfolk. Ansible Motion’s all-new facility at the Hethel Engineering Centre will be used to develop and showcase simulation technologies for testing and developing vehicles in a virtual environment. 

The facility features Ansible Motion’s new Delta series simulator with a six degrees of freedom motion system, powered by 16 5GHz computers, with five projectors offering a frame rate that is five times faster than a cinema projecting a 240 degree wrap around view on an 8m screen. 

The R&D Centre also features a full control room to monitor up to 300 channels of data, separate viewing gallery and secure conference rooms.

Founded in 2009, Ansible Motion designs and builds ‘Driver-in-the-Loop’ simulators that are increasingly used by vehicle manufacturers and motorsport engineers to develop and test vehicles.  

Ansible Motion focusses on ‘engineering-class’ simulators that are so advanced they can be used to validate safety vehicle systems, sign off vehicle settings and in motorsport, where the company has already supplied one F1 team, to define aero, gearbox and suspension settings and predict a lap time before creating a physical car. 

By working in a consistent virtual world, engineers can cut months from a vehicle test programme with significant cost savings from being able to test road and weather conditions from anywhere on the planet in a laboratory setting.

“Simulators such as the Delta series in our new R&D Centre offer vehicle manufacturers a no-compromise method to reduce development costs and time,” says Kia Cammaerts, founder of Ansible Motion. “Using our simulator has cut the validation time from 10 days to just three for an Electronic Stability Control programme for one particular car maker.

Apply those kinds of savings in cost and time across the whole car and it explains why we are now getting more and more enquiries from global OEMs to see what our simulator can do. This R&D Centre will enable automotive engineers to assess how our simulator performs and it also serves as an internal development resource to ensure our simulators, built here in Norfolk, remain at the leading edge of this invaluable technology.”

The rising demand for Ansible Motion’s simulator has been driven by the very different approach it has taken to create its light and compact platform. 

With a strong emphasis on getting the driver to engage in a realistic way with the simulator, Ansible Motion focussed on creating an immersive experience by embedding a model of the human vestibular system in the software and eschewed the usual hexapod machine architectures to ensure the most realistic vehicle motion. 

“Experienced drivers feel the difference straight away when they drive this simulator,” explains Cammaerts. “We were inspired to open our R&D Centre to visitors so rather than just tell people about how different our approach is, they can come here and actually experience it. 

One recent European OEM visitor with significant experience with other simulators was stunned by the realism of our simulator. We know that climbing aboard and having a drive is the best way for someone to experience the Ansible Motion difference, so we are pleased to be able to allow this peak behind the curtain at our R&D Centre.”

Thanks to Auto Express for some of the pictures 

PSA, for the eighth year running, again leads French Patent filing.

France's National Intellectual Property Institute (INPI) ranking confirms that PSA Peugeot Citroën is once again the country's leading patent filer, with 1,036 patent applications published in 2014.

PSA Peugeot Citroën's R&D strategy is based on a tradition of innovation that has won the INPI's recognition for the eighth year in a row. The INPI ranking reflects the commitment of the Group's teams to implementing innovative solutions that will shape the car of the future.

Gilles Le Borgne, Executive Vice President, R&D Operations, said:

"Our active patent strategy delivers clear competitive advantages, while allowing the Group to control the use of its proprietary innovations. It's also a key tool for accelerating the Group's expansion in all of its host regions."

The one thousand plus patents filed in 2014 relate to three main R&D challenges: emission reduction, connected services and the development of automated systems that will ultimately drive the autonomous vehicle. 

They also concern appealing, differentiating technological innovations intended to enhance the identity of the Group’s three brands.

Reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions

As a result of a long-term innovation process, PSA Peugeot Citroën is the European leader in terms of CO₂emission reduction, with average emissions of 110.3 g/km.

Setting the benchmark in its category, the three-cylinder EB Turbo PureTech petrol engine has 120 patents to its name, and the 100 patents filed for the BlueHDi exhaust system have made the Peugeot 208 1.6l BlueHDi the world's most fuel-efficient internal combustion vehicle, with CO₂ emissions of just 79 g/km.

A priority objective is lowering vehicle weight to reduce fuel consumption, particularly through the use of composite materials. With more than 60 patents published on weight reduction, PSA Peugeot Citroën received an innovation prize at the JEC Europe Composites Show & Conferences for a composite structural concept that is capable of replacing steel.

Enhancing the appeal of its vehicles

PSA Peugeot Citroën's innovations are applied to Peugeot, Citroën and DS vehicles depending on the strategy adopted by each brand.

For example, the Peugeot 208 is now available with a textured paint finish – a world first for a production vehicle – which changes shade and appearance in response to light.

Similarly, the Citroën C4 Cactus sports the exclusive Airbump® side impact protection system which on 2 April 2015 was named the 2015 World Car Design of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.

Borrowing directly from the Divine DS, Wild Rubis and Numero 9 concept cars, the DS 3 is equipped with the DS LED Vision signature lighting system, which clearly illustrates how technology and attractiveness can go hand in hand.