USA - Honda to show the Civic Si Prototype at this years Los Angeles International Auto Show.

• 2017 Civic Si will be fastest, most powerful Si yet
• Si Coupe and Si Sedan joining 10th-generation Civic lineup in 2017
• Active steering, active suspension, limited-slip differential and high-performance tires among Si performance upgrades
• All models to feature short-shifting 6-speed manual

The Honda Civic Si Prototype made its global debut today, giving Honda enthusiasts a good look at the design and performance direction for the 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan, both launching next year. 

The Civic Si Prototype will be on display at the 2016 Los Angeles International Auto Show where it will be joined by its Civic Sedan, Coupe and Hatchback siblings, plus the radical Civic Type-R Prototype, providing the first public opportunity to see all five Civic variants. 

This will also be the first time the Type-R interior will be shown.

The shimmering Rallye Red Pearl Civic Si Prototype features a full Factory Performance (HFP) aero kit, including front and rear splitters and rear spoiler, plus a center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher and 19-inch 235/35Y high-performance tires mounted on HFP 19 x 8J 10-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels.

The 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will be powered by a high-performance, high-torque 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC) mated to a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. Additional performance upgrades for the Si variants will include a new active damper system, active steering system, limited-slip differential and available high-performance tires.

"With the new Honda Civic Si, we're injecting even more sporty goodness into our 10th-generation Civic lineup," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of Honda.  "This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever offered to our customers."

The Civic Si Prototype interior closely previews the production model and features Si-exclusive front sport seats with red stitching, including stitched Si logos.  The red sport stitching carries through to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The Si Prototype interior also features a red driver's TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim.

The Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will launch next year as the latest additions to the 10th-generation Honda Civic lineup, joining the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and just-launched Civic Hatchback. The rollout of the 10th-gen Civic lineup will be completed with the launch of the new track-ready Civic Type-R next year. 

The 2016 Civic Sedan was named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in January. Civic is the best-selling car with individual American car buyers in 2016 and is on track to post the highest U.S. sales in its 44-year history, with sales up 11.7 percent to 310,142 units through the end of October. The previous U.S. sales record for Civic of 339,289 units was set in 2008.

BIT OF FUN - Cant afford a new Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245, then get a LEGO® version, its cheaper.....

The LEGO® Group and Daimler AG once again join forces to build a powerful LEGO® Technic construction site vehicle.

Another remarkable collaboration between the LEGO Group and Daimler AG reveals a brand new scale model of one of the world’s most complex trucks - the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245.

Complete with the advanced Mercedes-Benz Arocs frame and suspension system, steering, drives and lifts, the LEGO Group presents the new LEGO® Technic Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 – one of the most advanced and complex trucks in the world.

“After the very successful cooperation with LEGO Technic on the Unimog-project, Mercedes-Benz Trucks subsequently considered a follow-up project,” says Andreas Gruber, Marketing Manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

“In the context of the new Mercedes-Benz Trucks product launches - starting in 2011 - one specific vehicle seemed to have a special potential for a new joint LEGO Technic/Mercedes-Benz Trucks project: the new Arocs 3245,” says Gruber.

With its 2,793 elements, Power Functions, and several of the new LEGO pneumatic actuators, it will be one of the most complex models in the LEGO Technic assortment. The Truck will measure 12” (31 cm) in height, 5” (14 cm) width and 21” (54cm) length.

“It is a perfect fit for LEGO Technic,” says LEGO Senior Marketing Manager Niels Henrik Horsted. “Our ground pillars are authenticity, functionality and challenging and engaging building. Whenever we design a new set, our aim is to give Technic builders a stunning model that looks as detailed as its real life version as possible. It should have all the main functionalities you would expect. And we strive to introduce inspiring new ways to build with the Technic elements. Our version of the Arocs 3245 fulfils that in every way.”

To make sure designers replicate as many details as possible on the Arocs 3245, Horsted and his team visited the Mercedes-Benz Trucks production facilities in Wörth to take a closer look at the assembly line.

“We wanted to match the real Arocs 3245 as best as we could. Our model comes with new four axle suspension, a new outrigger element, a new turntable element, pumps, and of course our advanced new Pneumatics 2.0 system, which offers an easier, more realistic way of connecting cylinders and hoses. And, as always with our big LEGO Technic models, this box comes with building instructions for an alternative model that is equally authentic and challenging to build. It’s a Mercedes-Benz Articulated Construction Truck, which is just over 30” (77 cm) long.”

For Andreas Gruber and his team at Mercedes-Benz Trucks it was also important to get the LEGO designers as close to the real Arocs as possible.

“The key priority we discussed with the LEGO designers was getting the design, scale and advanced functions as similar as possible to the original Arocs 3245,” says Gruber, “including adding as many iconic details in from the real Arocs to the LEGO model as possible – handrail, step-up, wheel chock, etc. It was very important to us that everyone would immediately identify the LEGO Technic model as the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245. They have accomplished that.”

The LEGO Technic Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 will be available from all good toy retailers from 1^st August 2015.

Range Rover Sport controlled via your Smartphone, to drive the car - well, its happened, and here it is !

JAGUAR LAND ROVER SHOWCASE A REMOTE CONTROL RANGE ROVER SPORT, CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER ON A SMARTPHONE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE

• Jaguar Land Rover researchers developing new sensing technologies that will work in all weathers and in all environments – so any future autonomous car can go anywhere
• Autonomous driving prototypes revealed include the ‘Multi-Point Turn’ Range Rover Sport, which will perform an autonomous 180-degree turn in the road
• Jaguar Land Rover’s vision is to create driver-focussed autonomous technologies to enhance the driving experience

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed some of the prototype technologies that its UK-based research team are developing to deliver autonomous driving in the future.

A Remote Control Range Rover Sport research vehicle demonstrates how a driver could drive the vehicle from outside the car via their smartphone. The smartphone app includes control of steering, accelerator and brakes as well as changing from high and low range. 

This would allow the driver to walk alongside the car, at a maximum speed of 4mph, to manoeuvre their car out of challenging situations safely, or even to negotiate difficult off-road terrain.

The driver could use the smartphone to reverse the car out of a parking space if someone has parked too close for them to open the door, or allow the driver to become their own off-road spotter, to guide the car over off-road obstacles from outside the vehicle.

By walking alongside the car, the driver could continually check ramp, approach and departure angles and allow precise positioning of the vehicle when rock crawling. It could also be an invaluable aid when the vehicle is fording a stream or traversing sections made slippery by mud or snow. 

The remote control function will only operate if the user is within 10 metres of the car and if the smart key can be detected. The system will stop the vehicle if the driver moves out of range or gets too close.

Future possibilities for this technology could include more autonomous functionality where the driver gives a simple command from the handset to traverse an obstacle or exit a parking space, and the car does the rest.

MULTI-POINT TURN CAR

Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Multi-Point Turn’ Range Rover Sport is capable of autonomously manoeuvring through 180 degrees to turn the car in the road and point the car in the opposite direction. 

This autonomous vehicle could extricate itself from the most difficult situations, such as a dead-end roads or congested car parks, as well as performing many drivers’ least favourite manoeuvre – the three-point turn in a busy street or car park.

The system uses sensors to assess available space and to avoid pedestrians, vehicles and other objects. The system takes over gear selection, steering, braking and acceleration to make as many forward and backwards movements as necessary to achieve the manoeuvre.

The research team is working on a system to scan the environment around the car and inform the driver whether it is safe to perform the turning manoeuvre. The driver then confirms the manoeuvre and the car would move forward until its path is blocked. 

It then selects reverse and uses the steering, throttle and brakes to do the same again. It repeats this as many times as required until it is facing in the opposite direction.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said:“Getting a car out of a tricky parking manoeuvre can be a stressful experience for any driver. 

A Remote Control car, or a vehicle that can autonomously turn in the road, demonstrates how we could use these new technologies to reduce the tedious parts of driving and improve road safety.

“Research into technologies like these won’t only help us deliver an autonomous car. 

They will help make real driving safer and more enjoyable. The same sensors and systems that will help an autonomous car make the right decisions, will assist the driver and enhance the experience to help prevent accidents. Autonomous car technologies will not take away the fun of driving.”

Jaguar Land Rover’s vision is to offer a choice of an engaged or autonomous drive. This means the car will be able to drive itself if the driver chooses, or offer systems that can be adjusted for a more engaging and involved drive.

“Because our customers drive in all terrains and in all weathers, any future autonomous Jaguar or Land Rover must be as capable on rough tracks and unpaved roads as it would be on city streets,” added Dr Epple.

“We know our customers drive in heavy rain, and snow, and bright desert sunshine every day. We are working on an array of new sensors that would enable a car to operate in any environment, without any outside intervention or input from lane markings or roadside infrastructure like traffic lights. Our research engineers have a nickname for a car with this level of capability: the ‘Solo Car’.”

‘Solo Car’ enhanced sensing

Jaguar Land Rover has an advanced research programme underway to enhance the car’s sensing capability. This project is developing a range of sophisticated sensors to make autonomous cars viable in a range of driving environments and weather conditions.

Creating a car capable of functioning autonomously in all situations requires a fusion of sensors with different attributes including radar, LIDAR, cameras, ultrasonics and structured light technology. 

Each of these is needed to enable an autonomous car to function in the real world and to ensure the car can make safe and accurate decisions anywhere.

USA - Volkswagen recalls certain 2015 Golf models for possible steering issues.

Volkswagen considers the safety and satisfaction of its consumers and passengers a top priority. As such, Volkswagen of America today notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the front stabiliser rods on certain 2015 model year Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf vehicles.

The recall affects approximately 2,001 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf vehicles from model year 2015. The fasteners that secure the front stabiliser rods can work loose over time. If this happens, there will be considerable noise coming from the front of the vehicle. In rare cases, this can lead to the rod detaching and interfering with the vehicle’s steering, leading to increased steering effort. Potentially, this could lead to a crash.

To fix the issue, Volkswagen will replace the front stabiliser rods on all affected vehicles.

No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported.  Volkswagen will notify all owners of affected vehicles and will instruct them to arrange for an appointment with an authorised Volkswagen dealer.

New Q50 from Infiniti knows who you are !

• Infiniti’s all-new Q50  synchronises car and driver in class-leading fashion

The Infiniti Q50 is a car with a great memory for names. And faces, and seat positions, and cabin temperatures and routes home… even whether the driver prefers an ABC or a QWERTY keyboard. Depending on model, Infiniti’s all-new premium saloon will not just welcome the driver aboard by name, it can even display photographs of friends and family on one of the car’s dual touch-screens.

On sale later this year and priced from £27,950, the Infiniti Q50 takes the idea of a car with a memory to a whole new level in the premium mid-sized class. Thanks to 96 selectable settings across 10 functions, possible permutations for personalisation exceed billions, allowing for optimal syncing of car and driver based on the driver’s preferences.

The Infiniti Q50 can remember the personal settings for up to four people – three registered users and one guest – covering the areas of life on board, dynamic performance and safety technology.

The concept behind this bespoke digital solution is called “My car knows me.”  And it is just as simple to use as it sounds, with the car doing all the hard work and the few controls that do exist being entirely intuitive to use.

Central to “My car knows me” is Infiniti’s advanced intelligent i-Key. Each of the two i-Keys supplied with every Q50 stores personal settings for two different drivers. The information is saved automatically and can easily be updated, or deleted, on the touch screens. Tailoring the personal profiles extends to a facility to load up to 16 photographs.

While memory functions vary between countries and Q50 models, engines and transmissions, a constant ingredient is the new Infiniti Drive Mode Selector, fitted to every model. Operated by a switch on the centre console, the selector offers performance choices that include Standard, Sport, Eco (not diesel), Snow (automatic only) and Personal.

Depending on country and model, Personal is the custom setting where a driver can choose his or her ideal performance feel, not just engine and transmission changes but also steering weight and response type on vehicles equipped with Infiniti’s steer-by-wire Direct Adaptive Steering system.

The Infiniti Q50 can also remember each driver’s preferences for the host of hi-tech technologies working away behind the scenes to enhance the drive and keep the car out of trouble. Where these systems offer control choices – ranging, for example, from a simple on/off to the level of electronic intervention required – the settings are stored and automatically engaged whenever that driver is behind the wheel.

This guarantees that, whoever is driving, the car’s electronic systems – many of which form part of the Q50’s innovative Safety Shield – will always be perfectly set for that driver without the need to press buttons or scroll through menus.

The considerable extra peace of mind this facility ensures is especially valuable given that the Safety Shield is more complete than ever in the Q50. Features include the world-first Predictive Forward Collision Warning which uses some of the most advanced sensor technology yet developed to react to the speed/distance not just of the car in front – but also the car in front of that.

Other systems, many of which have user preferences so they can be precisely tailored to driver and journey, include (depending on model and country) Back-up Collision Intervention, Intelligent Brake Assist Plus, Lateral Stability Enhancement, Active Trace Control, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, High Beam Assistant and Blind Spot Intervention and Warning, as well as Active Lane Control, another world-first system that uses Direct Adaptive Steering (where fitted) to “magnetise” the car to the centre of its lane on motorways.

Life on board offers even more personalisation options – all of which the Q50 will recognise as that driver’s every time he or she gets behind the wheel. Depending on model, favoured driving position (seats, steering column, exterior mirrors), climate control, navigation routes and options, and preferences for the Infiniti InTouch™ communication, entertainment and information functions can all be set and stored. Screen displays, language, colours, photographs and shortcuts can be chosen, too – the system will even remember whether you prefer l/100km or mpg, Fahrenheit or Celsius and an analogue or digital clock.

About the Infiniti Q50

Designed to appeal to both the heart and the head, the Infiniti Q50 marries the brand’s flowing, concept-car design themes with a welcoming cabin inspired by both high technology and traditional craftsmanship. The four-door, rear- or four-wheel drive saloon is available with a choice of two low CO2, high-performance engines: a 170PS, 400Nm 2.2-litre diesel (114g/km and 64.2mpg) and a 360PS 3.5-litre hybrid (144g/km and 45.6mpg). Depending on market, the Infiniti Q50 goes on sale later in 2013 priced from £27,950.

TOYOTA RECALL - Power Steering Module

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 74 Model Year 2012 Toyota Yaris vehicles.

In the involved vehicles, a relay in the Power Steering Control Module of the electronic power steering system could experience a short circuit due to insufficient distances between terminals in the relay and moisture contamination of relay coil windings.  This could cause a loss of power steering assist, resulting in increased steering effort at low speeds.

If this condition should occur, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate and a buzzer will sound to alert the driver that the system is not operating as designed.

Owners of vehicles subject to this recall will receive a notification by first class mail. The remedy will involve replacement of the Power Steering Control Module.

Detailed information is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recalland at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.