The All new Hybrid London Taxi undergoes extreme hot weather testing in Arizona, USA.

• As Summer Arrives In The UK, London Taxi Company’s All-New Range-Extended Electric Black Cab Shines In Extreme Arizona Desert Heat

London Taxi Company (LTC)’s strenuous testing regime for its range extended electric vehicle has taken the cab to the extreme desert heat of Arizona in the U.S.

A critical part of the development programme of the vehicle, extreme climate testing not just proves the considerable distances the vehicle can cover whilst the atmospheric controls are running at full power, but also that the new cab is a vehicle suitable for the world, not just for London.

On sale in the final quarter of 2017, LTC’s new electric taxi will be the most comprehensively tested product in the company’s history, all to ensure thatit meets not just the high regulatory standards of London but the requirements and climates of cities all around the world.

Chris Gubbey, CEO of the London Taxi Company said:“Since announcing this project we have had considerable interest not just from European cities but hot weather cities around the world. To convert this interest into sales we must prove TX5 can perform as well in the 45 °C heat of Dubai as it can in the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic, and as it does in the changeable conditions of London.”

On these trials, the vehicle successfully undertook daily of journeys of 300 miles, the equivalent of driving from Heathrow to central London some 20 times. This is roughly triple the average daily mileage of the typical London cab, reassuring cab drivers that there are plenty of extra-miles in the tank if they’re sharing the vehicle with another driver, or, should they land a popular “roader” (London cabbie parlance for a long-distance fare). 

This shows that despite additional pressure of extreme heat on the battery, the cab can still cover considerable distances. So, regardless of the conditions outside, both driver and passenger will be able to travel in comfort without worrying about the range of the vehicle.

Leaving the passenger free to enjoy the sights of the city through the panoramic roof, and the driver to experience long range, zero emissions driving in maximum comfort.

Dr Wolfram Liedtke, Head of Quality at LTC said: “Testing in these extremes provides us with a huge amount of data, helping us to understand how the performance of the batteries changes at high temperatures, and how can get the most charge out of them.

“In the next few weeks, our equipment testing will also take us to extremely humid environments, as well as some more mountainous terrain. This is all preparation for one of the most challenging environments for vehicles – everyday use on the streets of London.”

LTC is due to start its vehicle demonstration programme in London this summer and, thanks to this testing in Arizona, the cab’s first customers will keep cool during what has started off as a sweltering summer in the capital.

Sales launch for the newly developed BMW M4 GT4 race car.

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, together with Dirk Adorf (GER), who was heavily involved in the testing of the car as development driver, launched the sales phase during an exclusive customer event at the Nürburgring (GER). The BMW M4 GT4, which is ready for use thanks to a comprehensive starter package, will cost 169,000 Euros (plus VAT).

“Even after many years, the launch of a new car is still one of the absolute highlights for me as BMW Motorsport Director,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt at the presentation event in the paddock at the Nürburgring. “The start of the sales phase sees us reach another milestone with the BMW M4 GT4. We are looking forward to seeing the car enjoy success in the hands of our customer teams from 2018. 

We are offering our customers a sophisticated and reliable GT4 car, which incorporates all of BMW Motorsport’s expertise, coupled with the strong basis provided by the BMW M4 Coupé. The development of the BMW M4 GT4 focussed on mileage, cost efficiency and ease of maintenance.”

Production technology meets motorsport innovation.

This is guaranteed by the use of proven production technology and innovative developments from the BMW M6 GT3. The engine and transmission, including control electronics, were adopted from the BMW M4 Coupé (combined consumption: 8.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 194 g/km). 

The carbon bonnet comes from the BMW M4 GTS (combined consumption: 8.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 199 g/km). In addition, the BMW M4 GT4 has carbon-fibre doors, motorsport-specific front splitters and rear wings, and a racing exhaust system. 

The seat, brakes and pedal box make use of solutions that are also included in the top model in customer racing, the BMW M6 GT3. The interior concept is designed entirely for the comfort of the driver, so that he or she can focus fully on driving.

The BMW engineers went in a totally new direction in terms of engine control software. The BMW M4 GT4 is the first BMW Motorsport car to be fitted with power sticks, which can be pre-programmed for different engine performance levels. 

Thanks to the system, which has been approved by the SRO Motorsports Group and is well protected against manipulation, Plug-and-Play gives BMW Motorsport customers the ability to react quickly and flexibly to changes to the Balance of Performance in various races.

Next big test: 24h Nürburgring.

In recent months, the BMW M4 GT4 has been tested by many BMW works drivers, Juniors and customer racing drivers at various racetracks, with different tyre types and in a wide range of external conditions. 

The purpose of this testing was to adapt all the technical applications, such as the DSC stability system and ABS, to meet the demands of motor racing in as much detail as possible. The car has already proven its reliability and performance in races on the Nordschleife and at the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE).

The outing at this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours is the next tough test in the development of the BMW M4 GT4. 

Dirk Adorf (GER), BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) and Jörg Weidinger (GER), test and development engineer at BMW M GmbH and himself a very successful participant in the BMW Sports Trophy for many years, will use the endurance classic to gain more valuable knowledge about the new car. 

They will race at the Nürburgring 24 Hours alongside British motorsport journalist Jethro Bovingdon (GBR) in the BMW M4 GT4 media car, with the support of tyre partner Hankook. Never before has a journalist had the opportunity to drive a pre-production BMW car like the BMW M4 GT4.

Jaguar makes the most powerful car in its history with the XE SV Project 8 - 5.0 litre V8.

• New Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is next Collector’s Edition sports car designed, engineered and assembled by SVO
• Production strictly limited to 300 units worldwide
• Project 8 will offer supercar performance and dynamics in a sedan
• 600PS 5.0-litre V8 will make Project 8 the most powerful road legal Jaguar in history
• Project 8 prototype featuring unique camouflage by SVO Design now on test at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. 

Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) today announces the most powerful, agile and extreme performance Jaguar: the new XE SV Project 8. A prototype version of the 600PS Jaguar sports sedan offering supercar performance has now undertaken its debut test at the gruelling Nürburgring Nordschleife, adorned with an exclusive camouflage created by SVO Design. 

With the most highly tuned version of Jaguar Land Rover’s five-litre supercharged V8, Project 8 will become the second Collectors’ Edition vehicle from SVO, following the successful launch of Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 in 2014. No more than 300 cars, all hand-assembled at SVO’s Technical Centre in Coventry, will be created for sale worldwide.

John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations said: “The time is right for SVO to produce the most extreme performance road car in the history of Jaguar. The SVO team is possessed by the spirit of performance and committed to creating the most thrilling driving experience imaginable.

“Our clients worldwide were thrilled by the F-TYPE Project 7. The new XE SV Project 8 takes aerodynamics and performance engineering to another level – it is conceived for enthusiasts and the most discerning collectors. The price for such an extreme performance sports car available in strictly limited numbers will reflect that.”

Full specification details for Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be revealed at www.Jaguar.com on 28 June 2017, ahead of its world dynamic debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex in the UK on 30 June.

The latest round of testing for the Euro NCAP has taken place with results at either end of the star system.

Euro NCAP releases the test results of two new cars. The BMW 5 Series gets a top five-star safety rating and FIAT’s made-over Doblò gets three stars.

Launched late last year, the seventh-generation BMW 5 Series continues its successful track record in Euro NCAP’s Executive Car segment. 

The car showed good all-round performance in crash protection and avoidance tests thanks to its new platform, body and updated safety features. 

Track tests demonstrated that the autonomous braking system can effectively assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating critical rear-end crashes with other cars and pedestrians. 

With an 81 percent score, the 5-series particularly impressed in pedestrian safety through its standard-fit “Person Warning” system and active bonnet.

Thirteen years after the tests on the original FIAT Doblò, Euro NCAP has taken another look at the versatile small MPV. The latest generation Doblò was already introduced in 2010 and is also sold by Opel and Vauxhall brands as Combo. 

The version tested by Euro NCAP is the 2015 Doblò facelift that includes, apart from small safety updates, cosmetic upgrades aimed at extending the lifecycle of the car. 

The three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, however, reveals the car’s true age and highlights the lack of ambition to compete on safety with other, more modern competitors in the segment. 

The Opel/Vauxhall Combo has not received a similar facelift, so would be expected to end up with even fewer stars, but Opel have their eyes fixed on the future.

The All-New Electric London taxi is undergoing exhaustive testing to ensure it is up to the rigours of the job.

These pictures from the London Taxi Company (LTC) demonstrate just part of the extreme testing programme the all-new electric black cab is undergoing in LTC’s most comprehensive product quality programme in its 98-year history.

Underway now in the lower reaches of the Arctic Circle in Norway, the extreme cold climate testing is just part of the new programme LTC has developed to ensure the highest levels of quality, reliability and usability for demanding taxi usage cycles before launch later this year.

Testing the vehicle in a real life environment of -15°C helps LTC ensure that the battery and range of the vehicle are not disproportionately affected by cold weather.

However, extreme cold weather testing is not just to guarantee battery performance, it also serves to check the quality of driver and passenger experience in cold weather. This means checking that cab heating and ventilation continue to perform to the highest standards – no matter how bitter the temperature outside. Driving experience is also checked – so the impact of grip, drivability and visibility are also checked. LTC engineers can then make adjustments to ensure that drivers have the best drive regardless of the conditions.

This regime to check the vehicle performance in even the harshest conditions will only get more stringent over the coming weeks, with the vehicle set to be cooled down in giant fridges to -49°C. These checks will seek to guarantee that the vehicle will always start, even after the coldest nights.

The new range extended electric taxi will also undergo similar endurance testing in extreme heat environments before it is deemed ready for sale.

On sale in the final quarter of 2017, LTC’s new electric taxi will be the most comprehensively tested and developed product in the company’s history, as Quality Director Wolfram Liedtke explains:

“Our new taxi is being developed with two key engineering principles – quality and endurance to meet the needs of the demanding taxi duty cycle.  We are now nearing the end of our development programme, and will soon commit the product to series production at our all-new manufacturing facility in Ansty, near Coventry” 

“We understand drivers will want to be sure that our range extended electric vehicle technology works in all conditions which is why we’ve gone to such efforts to test in these extreme environments. It will be, without doubt, the highest quality and resilient product in London Taxi’s history.”

Wolfram brings to the London Taxi Company huge experience having run manufacturing plants across Europe during his career which includes 10 years as Executive Director for Quality at GM Europe and 4 years as Quality Director for premium car maker Jaguar Land Rover.

The feedback of cab drivers is a hugely important part of the development of this vehicle too. So Steve McNamara, General Secretary at the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, also joined LTC for part of the testing.

“It was truly amazing to witness the new London black cab being tested in such an extreme climate and performing so well. This new clean modern 21st century vehicle will ensure that the world’s best cab drivers now have the best tool for the job” said McNamara.

London Taxi Company CEO Chris Gubbey added: “2017 is a momentous year for the London Taxi Company, and I am very proud to be leading the business at such an exciting time.  Our brand new manufacturing facility in Ansty is now complete and will be officially opened later this month, and shortly after the all-new range extended electric taxi will enter series production.  The first dedicated and zero-emissions-capable taxi in the world to enter series production.”

He added: “As proven in these wonderful images from the Arctic Circle – chosen not just for its extreme climate, but also as a symbol of our zero-emissions-capabilities being tested in the cleanest air environment on Earth – we really have put the new vehicle through its paces.  Given these extremes of testing – both in hot and cold climates –   we demonstrate that our vehicle will be a taxi for London and the world over, capable and at home in any city.”   

LTC is due to open its new facility on the 22^nd March 2017 thanks to a £300 million-pound investment from parent company Geely.

Vauxhall-Opel opens a €210 Million 7-floor testing and development building for propulsion systems of the future.

• Seven-floor testing and development building for propulsion systems of the future
• €210 million investment at Rüsselsheim, Germany headquarters

Only two years after the ground breaking ceremony the new, ultra-modern Global Propulsion Systems Center at Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany is ready to go into service. The Opel Group includes the Vauxhall brand representing its largest market.

More than 800 engineers and technicians will develop the propulsion systems of the future in the complex with a surface area of around 36,000 square metres. 

The complex not only has a technology centre and office space but also 45 latest generation test dynamometers.

The €210 million invested in the new Global Propulsion Systems Center is the biggest single investment in buildings in Rüsselsheim since the inauguration of the new production plant in 2002.

“The new development centre will make our work even faster and even more efficient. It not only strengthens Opel but also Rüsselsheim and the entire GM development network,” said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel CEO.

“This new centre is a very important strategic investment. We will develop the propulsion systems of the future here by using ultra-modern tools and a total of 45 new dynamometers. GM decided to build this centre in Rüsselsheim for good reason. It is a sign of appreciation for the performance and the know-how of our highly-qualified Opel engineers. The global network makes GM and Opel especially strong”, said Dan Nicholson, Vice President GM Global Propulsion Systems.

This new construction is part of the €230 million investment in new testing and development facilities at the International Technical Development Centre (ITDC) and at the Development Centre in Rodgau-Dudenhofen announced two years ago, with most of the total amount being invested in Rüsselsheim.

The facility is integrated in the global development system of GM Global Propulsion Systems. The output can be optimally evaluated and implemented thanks to the internationally standardised testing procedures and software.

SEAT knows how to test its cars by making them go through a range of testing over 25,000km's, using 40 cars, 80 tests & 50 engineers.

• 50 engineers, 80 tests, 25,000 kilometres driven and three weeks of work
• All cars are tested in extreme conditions to verify their reliability in any circumstance; now it's the new SEAT Ateca's turn

A total of 50 engineers and 40 cars are ready to cover 25,000 kilometres and perform 80 tests in the desert region of southern Spain where daytime temperatures soar to 45°C in the shade. 

This is extreme summer testing, one of the world’s most demanding performance exams for cars, a genuine boot camp that lasts three weeks. Today it’s the SEAT Ateca’s turn, but what kind of extreme tests are a vehicle put through? Here are some examples.

• Traction and controlled descent test. This tests the traction control systems on declines of up to 35% and how the Hill Descent Control performs; this system guarantees a controlled descent without the driver having to activate the brake pedal as well as the automatic enabling of the ABS system where necessary.
• Towing control test. There is a greater risk of losing control of a vehicle when pulling a trailer. This test verifies the performance of the Trailer Stability Program, which is a system that helps the car remain stable when it has a hitched trailer.
• Klapper test. A typical car has over 3,000 parts. This test ensures that all the components work in perfect harmony and do not cause any irritating noises for the passengers, no matter the type or condition of the surface being driven on.
• Dust intake test. A lead car drives through the desert leaving a large dust cloud in its wake, immediately followed by the car being tested to determine the service life of the air filter.
• Gravel test. The vehicles are driven 3,000 kilometres on a specific gravel course to analyse the impacts made by gravel on the entire undercarriage, wheel arches and the exterior and under surface of the bumpers. The goal is to ensure all the parts will resist during the vehicle’s service life. 

With nearly a month of trials and over 80 verifications behind them, the cars have been tested in all their possible configurations so that nothing is left to chance. Thanks to the extreme testing carried out by hundreds of engineers and technicians around the world, drivers can rest assured of being able to drive reliably on any road in the world. Next stop: winter testing.

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2015, SEAT’s turnover amounted to over 8.3 billion euros, the highest in its history, and the company achieved worldwide sales of more than 400,000 units for the first time since 2007.

SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia. 

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future.

Rolls Royce is moving ahead with testing on the Phantom VIII, ready for it's debut and sale in 2018.

• Development programme for eighth generation Phantom makes excellent progress at the home of Rolls Royce as strong demand for the outgoing Phantom continues.

The development programme for the eighth generation of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, considered to be the ‘Best Car in the World’, has taken another significant step forward. New images of the all-new aluminium architecture being engineered at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood show how well the project is advancing and how the new Phantom is taking shape. 

This all-new hi-tech aluminium architecture will underpin the new Phantom, which arrives in 2018, as well as all other future Rolls-Royces.

In the meantime demand for all four models of the current Phantom VII has remained strong since the announcement in February of this year that it will be replaced. Patrons and connoisseurs of true luxury, unwilling to compromise their expectations of an authentic super-luxury motor car, have snapped up all 50 of the final Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé Zenith Collection cars.

In addition they and their trusted Rolls-Royce dealers around the world are requesting further Bespoke Collections and one-off examples of the pinnacle Phantom limousine before the line closes on 31 December 2016. In recognition of this demand, Rolls-Royce is developing highly-individual cars which will be offered in order to satisfy demand well into 2017.

“To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Phantom’s death are greatly exaggerated,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The huge level of demand for Phantom VII, which we will fulfil well into 2017, clearly demonstrates that the Rolls-Royce customer and patron of true luxury will accept no compromise when considering the purchase of a super-luxury motor car, and will not be seduced by mass-luxury brands. I am proud and excited to confirm that a new Phantom is on the way – and it will be a contemporary and beautiful Phantom befitting of its role as the flagship of global luxury."

The 2017 Chrysler underwent 3.4 million real world driving miles to iron out any possible issues.

• All-new minivan underwent more than 3.4 million miles of testing
• Pacifica has been driven to the moon and back (7 times, to be exact)
• Endured weeks of extreme-weather testing conducted in Arizona, Nevada and Alaska
• Corrosion evaluations simulated a decade in the world’s worst climates for vehicle rust

With an unsurpassed level of attention to detail and quality, the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is poised to deliver segment-leading durability and reliability as it arrives in dealer showrooms this spring.

Thousands of simulated and laboratory tests conducted on Pacifica set the foundation for the regimented reliability, capability and durability testing that continues at FCA US LLC’s proving grounds around the world.

More Than 3.4 Million Miles … and Counting

Reliability is synonymous with quality and it’s something customers expect from their vehicles. Knowing that, the development team literally went the extra mile to ensure the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica does not disappoint.

With more than 3.4 million real-world miles driven, Pacifica has gone to the moon and back – seven times, to be exact. This distance represents one of the highest pre-production mileage totals of any Chrysler brand vehicle ever.

“The main objective of putting Pacifica through more than 3.4 million miles of real-world driving is to identify and prevent any issues from occurring in the first place,” said Scott Garberding, Head of Quality, FCA - Global. 

“This commitment to quality is just one piece of a comprehensive strategy that focuses on attention to detail, as it represents one of the final steps in a quality process that began with the inception of Pacifica.”

Traversing “The Grand Canyon State”

Extreme-weather testing is a crucial step in vehicle validation and Pacifica was up for the challenge. FCA tested Pacifica day and night, on all kinds of road surfaces, at high and low altitudes and through blizzard conditions, as well as in dry, desert heat.

During numerous 4,000-mile-plus roundtrip drives from Auburn Hills, Mich., to FCA’s Arizona Proving Ground (APG) in Yucca, Ariz., Pacifica was put through the wringer in numerous tests that saw the all-new minivan withstand scorching heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the arid, dusty desert climate.

Knowing that many customers are focused on local driving, the minivan team took Pacifica to the busy downtowns of Las Vegas and Los Angeles for hours of slow, grueling city traffic in heat up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pacifica also ventured to Arizona’s Davis Dam for a grueling durability evaluation that’s usually reserved for payload testing of light and heavy-duty pickup trucks.

The notorious Davis Dam grade sits on Highway 68, a punishing hill climb from the Colorado River at its base to a rocky summit nearly 11 miles up. From start to finish, it's an almost 3,000-foot elevation gain, providing Pacifica engineers with one of the steepest continuous incline roads in the U.S. 

With its award-winning Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine under the hood, Pacifica successfully traversed the Davis Dam route with the air conditioning on full blast while towing a 3,600 lb. trailer behind it.

Exploring “The Last Frontier”

In addition to hot weather testing in Yucca, each FCA vehicle goes through extensive cold weather evaluations at the Company’s 740-acre winter test track in Houghton, Mich., located in the state’s Upper Peninsula.

Pacifica received special attention when it came to cold weather evaluations as the minivan was brought to Fort Greely, Alaska, for three weeks of testing in frigid climates that reached temperatures of minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit and below.

In Alaska, the minivan’s quality was put to the test on snow and ice to evaluate a number of critical systems, including traction control, anti-lock brakes, air-induction system, electronic stability control (ESC), driver-assist systems, cold-weather durability and engine cold start.

“The trip allowed our Pacifica engineers an opportunity to refine the minivan for customers as several ESC calibration adjustments were made to improve system smoothness and reduce noise, vibration and harshness,” said Garberding. “ESC enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. 

The technology provides driver benefits in critical driving situations, such as turns, and is valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions, including snow, ice or gravel.”

Outrunning Rust

Owners can be confident their minivans will outlast almost anything nature throws at them. Through months of accelerated testing, Pacifica withstood a rigorous corrosion evaluation, the equivalent of which is enduring a decade in the worst corrosion climate in the world – an environment that produces significant snow, humidity and salt mist coming off the ocean.

Pacifica also endured corrosion tests on dozens of durability drives and with direct salt applications. To ensure thorough coverage, Pacifica was locked in chambers where salt was sprayed all over the vehicle body and engineers ran the minivan again and again through a salt splash trough. 

The trough exposed Pacifica’s undercarriage to high concentrations of salt, which are normally present on roadways, typically from de-icing salts.

Stretching Out

Quality does not stop with the driver experience, especially in a vehicle like Pacifica, which can seat up to eight people. With the all-new, one-of-a-kind Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system featuring two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens, Pacifica transforms the passenger experience.

While thorough driver-focused testing was conducted during more than 3.4 million miles driven, additional tests were conducted by passengers seated in the second and third rows. Everything from the built-in apps and games on the Uconnect 

Theater to the seat comfort and ride quality were thoroughly exercised. Technicians worked through an extensive checklist to validate the functionality and reliability of the Uconnect system, as well as how compatible it is with a wide variety of mobile phones, music players and other media devices.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is available in five models and the Pacifica Hybrid in two models. The Chrysler Pacifica is now available in dealer showrooms, with the Pacifica Hybrid arriving in the second half of 2016.