Nissan is working with the European Space Agency and created a go-anywhere ground based observatory. It uses a Navara and bespoke trailer to reach the best places off road to look view the night sky with a 16-inch mirror telescope. University of Wales Trinity St Davids is holding an engineering open session 4-7pm on wednesday 26 September in its centre at SA1 Swansea. It is offering a … [Read more...]
Newcomers to watch….
The Abarth 124GT shown at Geneva last spring is now available to order. Just 50 will be imported from £33,625 with distinctive carbon fibre roof, 17-inch OZ wheels, Bose sound system and adaptive front headlights. The new VW Touareg has secured top marks for safety from Euro NCAP crash tests. It is the flagship of their range and offers the company’s greatest number of driving … [Read more...]
Jaguar completes trans-Channel crossing
The Jaguar I-PACE has demonstrated its real-world usability by driving 229 miles from London to Brussels on a single charge. The all-electric performance SUV began its intercity trip on London’s South Bank, with its 90kWh battery fully charged, before heading to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. But unlike the 80 million vehicles that have made the crossing by train since the … [Read more...]
Big is not always better for batteries
Matching battery size with vehicle use is crucial for the environment, reveals a new report from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. It scotches the idea that a bigger battery is always better for a vehicle and says the important factor is likely use of the vehicle to better match performance and reduce emissions. A new study by Ricardo for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) aims to … [Read more...]
Low carbon shift new opportunities for suppliers
The seismic shift towards low-carbon vehicles will open up supply chain opportunities worth hundreds of billions of pounds, according to industry experts speaking at the Future of Technology Zone at Cenex LCV 2018. In the opening seminar from the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Future of Technology Series, Dave Oude Nijeweme, Head of Technology Trends at APC UK, explained the countless … [Read more...]
Newslines 18 September
JLR will go down to a three-day week from October. It has been hit by falling demand, particularly of the diesel engines it has heavily invested in and comprise nearly all UK sales, and hopes to avoid job cuts but is concerned about implications of tariffs and stock holding when the UK leaves the EU next spring. Motorists in north Wales face five weeks of disruption with the westbound A55 … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 September
VW and printer-maker HP are developing the world’s first printed 3D metal parts. GKN is using the system to produce parts for Volkswagen, with an additive process layer by layer and then sintering the component. The unveiled BMW Vision iNEXT concept suggest future luxury models may not be saloons from the company but crossover or SUVs. The pure electric model will have a 373 miles range … [Read more...]
MEPs underestimate progress cleaning up transport, claim
The environment committee of the European Parliament called for stricter CO2 targets for passenger cars and vans than proposed by the European Commission and a threshold in addition to incentives for sales of low and zero emission vehicles. “Automotive suppliers fully support the objective of reducing emissions and are proud to deliver the technology to achieve it. However, the sector calls for … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 September
Production of the current Beetle will end next year with special final editions being built. Sales have been declining but the company has not ruled out reintroducing the name on a future model, possibly with an electric or hybrid powertrain. Drivers are concerned about possible changes to motoring abroad after Brexit, said RAC Europe spokesperson Rod Dennis. While the majority would … [Read more...]
Electric dream or nightmare?
A major insurer broker has questioned the realities behind the ‘electric dream’. Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech at the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit, Dan Hutson, Head of Motor Insurance at Compare the Market, said, “The two key issues holding back electric cars from becoming the norm are the cost and the infrastructure. "Electric cars, while often cheaper to run than petrol or … [Read more...]