Wednesday 21 August 2013

ŠKODA Starts Rapid Spaceback Production

The newest member of the expanding ŠKODA family, the Rapid Spaceback, has officially joined the line-up. The first customer cars have left the production line at the brand’s main factory in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic.
The Rapid Spaceback will receive its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday 10 September 2013, and launch at retailers across Europe from October. The car will be on-sale in the UK early 2014.
The start of manufacturing marks ŠKODA’s eighth production launch this year. “Our whole team, from purchasing, technical development, to production and logistics as well as quality assurance, has once again done a great job to ensure that this launch of an extremely important model was carried out reliably, to the highest quality and on time,” said Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA Board Member for Production.
In order to accommodate the Rapid Spaceback, ŠKODA has adapted its operations and expanded facilities at the Mladá Boleslav plant. The car is produced alongside the current Fabia model on one production line. The Spaceback’s sibling, the ŠKODA Rapid, is also assembled on site, plus the all-new third-generation Octavia Hatch and Estate.
Upgrades to accommodate this year’s new models have included new equipment for car body production, a fully-automated paint shop and a new ultra-modern press line. Since April, a new logistics warehouse has been in operation, ensuring the supply of parts to vehicle and powertrain production is faster, more flexible and more efficient than ever before.
The Rapid Spaceback is a ŠKODA through and through, offering owners generous interior space, the highest safety standards, low fuel consumption and great value for money. It’s also an engaging car to drive, packed with ‘Simply Clever’ solutions for modern drivers’ needs.

Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID

The third hybrid model of the new S-Class, the S 500 Plug-in hybrid, sets new benchmarks with regard to efficiency as well as drive-system and climate comfort. With CO2 emissions of 69 g/km and returning 94.2 mpg the S-Class sets a new benchmark for luxury saloons that just a few years ago was thought virtually impossible. In Germany the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID is referred to as a genuine 3.0-litre car as it can cover 100 kilometres with just three litres of fuel. The 80-kW electric drive with externally rechargeable battery makes emission-free driving for about 18 miles possible. It is combined with the new 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged engine. Mercedes-Benz will present the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). The market launch will be next year.
The S 400 HYBRID was the first car in the world to feature a standard-specification hybrid drive system with lithium-ion battery in 2009. With the new S-Class Mercedes-Benz expands the hybrid line-up in this model series to three models: the S 400 HYBRID, S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID. All second-generation hybrid drive systems share the seamless integration into the powertrain. The combustion engine can be completely decoupled from the electric motor. Further features are the second-generation recuperative braking system and the anticipatory Intelligent HYBRID energy management system.
"With the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID Mercedes-Benz sets another milestone on the road to emission-free mobility on the basis of our modular hybrid matrix", explains Prof Dr Thomas Weber, responsible on the Daimler Board of Management for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Product Engineering. "In this way the S-Class turns into a genuine three-litre car with generous space and superlative drive-system comfort."
While the batteries of the S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID as autonomous hybrids are charged during braking or coasting or by the combustion engine, the new high-voltage lithium-ion battery of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID has ten times the energy content and offers the option of being recharged from an external source with a charging socket located on the right side of the rear bumper. With the help of the electric synchronous motor (80 kW/340 Nm) the S-Class can thus drive for up to around 18 miles on electric power alone.
Four hybrid operating modes can be selected at the push of a button:
  • HYBRID
  • E-MODE: electric power only
  • E-SAVE: fully charged battery is reserved to be able to drive on electric power alone later
  • CHARGE: battery is charged while driving
Under the conditions specified by the certification rules the S-Class as a full hybrid generates 69 g CO2 per kilometre. With consumption equivalent to 94.2 mpg the S-Class sets a new benchmark for luxury saloons that just a few years ago was thought virtually impossible. It delivers these top values without restrictions in power, passenger comfort or operating range and offers a high level of climate comfort thanks to the pre-entry climate control functions.
The most important benchmark data of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID:
  • Power output of 245 kW of the combustion engine plus 80-kW electric motor and torque of 480 Nm of the combustion engine plus 340 Nm of the electric motor
  • Overall consumption (NEDC) 69 g CO2/km (94.2 mpg)
  • Operating range on electric power alone about 18 miles
  • Top speed 155 mph, 0-62 mph in 5.5 sec.
  • Intelligent HYBRID: anticipatory energy management system with optimal use of recuperation during deceleration
  • Individualisation possible as the result of the combination of the transmission modes with the four hybrid operating modes – HYBRID, E‑MODE, E-SAVE and CHARGE.
  • Haptic accelerator pedal for superior vehicle control: A point of resistance on the accelerator pedal provides feedback about the activation of the combustion engine and helps in metering the power output.
  • Fast external charging of the high-voltage traction battery
  • Pre-entry climate control of the interior
Intelligent HYBRID: anticipatory energy management system
The second-generation S-Class hybrids feature an anticipatory energy management system and thereby improve energy efficiency. The operating strategy of the hybrid drive system not only accounts for the current driving condition and driver input, but also adjusts to the likely route (inclines, downhill stretches, bends or speed limits) for the next five miles.  Intelligent HYBRID uses the navigation data from COMAND Online to manage the charging and discharging of the high-voltage battery. The goal is, for example, to use the energy content of the battery for propulsion ahead of a downhill stretch in order to recharge it while going downhill using recuperation.
Recuperative braking system: the electric motor as alternator
The largest potential for lowering the energy consumption of hybrid drive systems lies in maximising energy recovery during coasting and braking. Upon depressing the brake pedal the deceleration is initially effected by the electric motor and not by the disc brakes. The new S-Class is the first to use a recuperative braking system (RBS) of the second generation. It ensures an unnoticeable overlapping of the conventional mechanical brakes and the electric braking performance of the electric motor in alternator mode.
The driver's desired braking power is recorded by a pedal-travel sensor. The deceleration is dependent on the driving condition and is split into a recuperative brake-force portion and a portion to be supplied by the wheel brakes. The brake pressure on the rear axle is controlled by the RBS dependent on the current recuperation potential of the powertrain.
In addition, the combustion engine is switched off any time the vehicle is coasting and its drag torque when rolling is used by the electric motor as recuperation torque. However, without depressing the brake pedal no additional deceleration torque is provided for charging the battery and the vehicle can "sail". The combustion engine is to be used for charging the battery as little as possible and only at suitable and most efficient operating points.
Hybrid pioneer in the luxury segment
The world's first standard-specification hybrid drive with lithium-ion battery debuted at Mercedes-Benz as early as 2009: the S 400 HYBRID was the most fuel-efficient petrol-powered luxury saloon for a long time. And the most successful hybrid in its segment: some 20,000 buyers worldwide opted for the S 400 HYBRID.
With the new S-Class Mercedes-Benz now continues its comprehensive hybrid offensive. In the S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID there are already two hybrids of the new S-Class to choose from:
  • The new S 400 HYBRID returns 44.8 mpg on the NEDC cycle (combined). This represents a reduction by 20 per cent over the predecessor. CO2 emissions of 147 grams per kilometre also represent a new record in this vehicle segment. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with outstanding performance potential: the petrol engine develops 306 hp, while the electric motor adds another 27 hp. The torque of the combustion engine is 370 Nm plus 250 Nm from the electric motor.

  • In the S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Mercedes-Benz has combined the 2.2‑litre four-cylinder diesel engine developing 204 hp with the powerful hybrid module developing 27 hp. The peak torque of 500 Nm produced by the combustion engine is overlaid by the 250 Nm of peak torque produced by the electric motor.The S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID returns 64.2 mpg on combined cycle (CO2: 115 g/km) and complies with the criteria for energy efficiency class A+. Consequently Mercedes-Benz has, over the course of ten years, nearly cut fuel consumption in the 150-kW performance class by half.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

2014 Honda Accord Coupe

Honda today announced the 2014 Accord Coupe will go on-sale tomorrow in U.S. followed by the Accord Sedan on August 22. Featuring the award-winning Honda Earth Dreams Technology powertrains, the Accord lineup includes a direct injected 4-cylinder engine and a powerful and fuel-efficient V-6. A sporty CVT (4-cylinder models only) and a 6-speed manual transmission are also available. A new 2-motor Accord Hybrid, built1with the rest of the Accord lineup in a Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio, will debut later this fall.
Launched in fall 2012, Accord was the most popular midsize passenger car in America for the first six months of 2013, based on sales to individual (non-fleet) car buyers, according to new vehicle registration data from R.L. Polk.
The all-new 2013 Accord has earned a host of awards for setting new benchmarks for fuel efficiency, fun-to-drive performance, customer-friendly connectivity, advanced safety features and overall value.
Starting at $21,955, the 2014 Honda Accord Sedan goes on sale August 22, 2013, and the Coupe, with prices starting at $23,625, launches tomorrow. The 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid Sedan, with prices starting at $39,780, debuted in early 2013. Pricing for the 2014 Accord Hybrid Sedan will be announced closer to its October on-sale date.
The 2013 Accord has received numerous accolades, including an unprecedented 27th Car and Driver "10 Best" title for the model, as well as an Automobile Magazine All-Star award, a Best Family Car award fromParenting magazine and Edmunds.com, and Best New Sedan Under $25,000 status from KBB.com. The Accord also topped the competition in a six-way midsize sedan comparison test by Cars.comUSA Todayand Motorweek, and was found to have the highest resale value in its class by KBB.com. The Accord's Earth Dreams Technology 4-cylinder and V-6 engines were also chosen as among the 10 Best Engines of 2013 byWard's.
Sophisticated and Athletic
Using the highest amount of high-strength steel in the history of the model, the Accord Sedan and Coupe bodies combine sophisticated and athletic styling with high-efficiency safety protection and remarkable aerodynamic streamlining. Extensive use of under-covers improve the aerodynamics for increased fuel efficiency, while other advances include available LED headlights, DRLs and brake lights, and mirror-mounted turn signals. New for 2014, the dual-exhaust tips on the Accord V-6 models have a more upscale finish.
Earth Dreams Technology
Innovative Earth Dreams™ Technology powertrains include Honda's next-generation 2.4-liter, direct-injected 4-cylinder engine with continuously variable transmission or 6-speed manual transmission. New for 2014 are refined finishes for the Earth Dreams cam-cover emblems. The 2014 Accord Sedan and Coupe are also available with a powerful and efficient V-6 mated to 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual (Coupe only) transmission. The Accord Plug-in Hybrid Sedan and new Accord Hybrid Sedan both use an all-new two-motor hybrid system paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel efficiency is the best ever for Accord in the EPA Midsize class, with 4-cylinder models earning a 36 mpg highway EPA rating2 and V-6 models garnering a 34 mpg highway EPA rating2.
Well-Appointed Interior
The Accord interior provides a level of luxury and craftsmanship never before seen in the Accord. Available in Black, Gray and Ivory colors schemes, in cloth or leather, the Accord interior combines welcoming comfort with an impressive range of available technologies. New for 2014 are a more premium cloth seat fabric on the Accord LX Sedan and a softer headrest material on models equipped with leather seating surfaces. A new smarter auto-dimming rear-view mirror no longer requires an on/off switch. Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, 8-inch (diagonal) "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID), Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone interface, Pandora internet radio interface and an SMS text messaging feature.
Other innovative technologies include the cloud-based HondaLink™ connected car system, which lets drivers put away their smartphones and still stay connected to the people, music and social media they love. Also available is the Honda LaneWatch blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror for an enhanced view of the passenger-side roadway. The Accord also has a standard rearview camera and an Expanded View Driver's Mirror.
Responsive Chassis
A highly rigid unit-body, refined suspension technology and advanced electronics define the Accord chassis as the most capable in model history. The Accord is quiet and responsive on city streets, smooth and composed on the highway, and faithful to the driver's wishes on winding roads.
Features include a MacPherson strut front suspension (with Amplitude Reactive Dampers on Hybrid models), a hybrid steel-and-aluminum front subframe (all-aluminum on Hybrid models) and electric power steering (EPS). Active Noise Control (ANC) and Active Sound Control (ASC) on both 4-cylinder and V-6 models counteract noise for a more serene cabin.
Comprehensive Safety and Driver Assistive Technology
The Accord Sedan and Coupe offer the greatest range of active and passive safety and driver assistive features in Honda history. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA) is standard on all Accord models, and available new technologies include Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). The Accord's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) II body structure, standard on all models, helps improve frontal crash safety performance. This allows the Accord to be one of few midsize offerings to excel in the rigorous Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small-overlap frontal barrier crash test, earning it the IIHS' coveted TOP SAFETY PICK+ crash safety rating. The Accord also obtained a top 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).3
Accord Model Range
The 2014 Accord Sedan is available in eight model choices, including six gasoline-engine versions (LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6 and Touring), the Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, and the new Accord Hybrid Sedan. The 2014 Accord Coupe is available in four model choices (LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L V6).
Manufacturing
Celebrating 31 years of Accord production in the United States, the 2014 models reflect the expanding capabilities of Honda in North America. The Accord Sedan and Coupe, and the Accord Hybrid are produced in Marysville, Ohio by Honda of America Mfg., Inc.

Sunday 18 August 2013

2013 Cadillac Elmiraj Concept

Cadillac has revealed the Elmiraj Concept, a grand coupe expressing the pure enjoyment of driving and exploring new dimensions for Cadillac’s ongoing expansion. The Elmiraj Concept showcases a new vision for luxury driving and the top of the brand’s expanding range.
“Cadillac is fueled by the creativity of our designers, led by Ed Welburn,” said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president, Global Cadillac. “Elmiraj provides a look inside the Cadillac Studio on how we envision performance and luxury for the next generation of luxury drivers.”
A modern update to the classic format of a two-door grand coupe, Elmiraj is a pure expression of streamlined design and engaging rear-wheel drive performance.
At 205 inches (5207mm) in overall length, Elmiraj is four-seat coupe with presence and poise. Taking up from where the memorable Ciel Concept left off, Elmiraj is a statement of pure luxury and performance with a purposeful character and proportion.
The concept advances Cadillac’s philosophy of dramatic design and performance, and its commitment to lightweight, agile cars. Elmiraj is constructed with chassis and structural elements of an ongoing Cadillac vehicle development project slated for future production. This new vehicle architecture expands the brand’s commitment to lightweight RWD performance, exemplified in the ATS sport sedan and the all-new and elevated 2014 CTS launching this fall in the U.S.
“Elmiraj advances Cadillac’s provocative modern design and performance, contrasted with bespoke craftsmanship and luxury,” said Mark Adams, Cadillac design director. “It explores performance driving, as well as how we’re approaching elevating the Cadillac range and new dimensions of Art & Science philosophy.”
Elmiraj is powered by a 4.5-liter twin turbocharged V8 delivering an estimated 500 hp. The engine takes the baseline technology from the new Cadillac Twin Turbo V6 featured in the upcoming 420-hp 2014 CTS Vsport edition, and expands it to the classic performance format of a V8 engine.
Dramatic Exterior Proportion
With a heritage of imaginative designs, Cadillac approaches concept cars as a method for projecting design forward rather than simply exaggerating or “teasing” future production models. Elmiraj was created from this mindset, and therefore suggests new territory for Cadillac Art & Science.
“This concept is the second chapter, following the Ciel Concept, of our exploration of the personas of true luxury,” said Clay Dean, executive director of advanced design. “This project originated around the simple persona of “the drive,” or the visceral experience of driving a great luxury coupe. It’s an expression of the confidence and poise you feel driving a high-performance car, which we feel is an essential element of top-level luxury.”
The dramatic proportion communicates power and performance. A long dash-to-axle front profile, a Cadillac signature, gives the coupe a performance-oriented form. The long wheelbase and clean body side characterizes the car’s spacious dimensions and elevated status.
The fast cabin sits within a fuselage where taut fender lines spline through the full sectioned body, literally blending art and science. Cadillac’s vertical light signature is represented in both the headlamp graphic and tail lamp. A gently applied feature line in the sheet metal extends the full length of the body side, connecting those vertical front and rear elements.
“Elmiraj is about poise and proportion,” said Niki Smart, lead exterior designer. “We wanted a mature statement for Cadillac, where simplicity and subtle adornments create a purposeful presence.”
Elmiraj contains design elements emphasizing Cadillac’s capabilities for engaging driving performance in its production portfolio. Two vents in the car’s long hood are functional, acting as hot air outlets for the twin turbo engine. Elmiraj has 22-x-9-in. aluminum wheels are backed by large ceramic brakes with Cadillac monoblock calipers. The car’s rich blue exterior finish wears the brand’s Vsport designation, Cadillac’s new level slotting directly under the high-performance V-Series.
The face of Elmiraj experiments with new visual elements, yet is unmistakably Cadillac. The grille emphasizes the car’s substantial road presence. The Cadillac Crest appears in a conceptual form, streamlined and tailored to the car’s overall design. This design idea for a revised crest reflects the fact that Cadillac’s unmistakable symbol has evolved dozens of times through history to mark new eras or design achievements.
Exquisitely Crafted Interior
The interior of Elmiraj blends elegantly crafted luxury and generous space with driver-focused performance elements. The upper section of the instrument panel is a single piece extending across the full width of the car, while the lower forms a cockpit space tailored for performance.
“A concept provides not only an opportunity to explore new design ideas, but to pursue new techniques for elegant craftsmanship and materials,” said Gael Buzyn, lead interior designer.
Backlit titanium trim curves from the cowl to the doors, dividing the rich upper camel leather from the wood trim. Cadillac Studio craftsmen handpicked fallen Brazilian Rosewood, a wood veneer prized for its use for hundreds of years in home furnishings and musical instruments. The wood is hand-cut into three dimensional sections for perfect control of the grain flow.
The car’s instrumentation features an analog tachometer and speedometer that are transparent. Directly behind the analog gauges sits a wide screen, high resolution display which projects driver information and the output of a front-mounted camera. A 10-inch touchscreen for navigation and connectivity can be concealed inside the instrument panel when not in use.
The 2+2 layout features high-performance seats, designed to support spirited driving while also delivering luxury accommodation. Elmiraj passengers might actually lobby to sit in the back. The rear bucket seats each contain a valet feature to ease entry and exit. The front bucket seat slides 10 inches forward while the rear bucket seat slides 4 inches forward to meet the passenger, then slides him or her back into position once seated. The rear bucket seats recline for additional comfort.
Many of the most celebrated automotive designs through history have been luxury coupes
“We were influenced in particular by the 1967 Eldorado, both its actual design and the fact that in its time that car was a very stark contrast and a new direction. More recent design like the CTS-V Coupe and the ELR are provocative,” said Dean, the advanced design director. “Both of these cars were major statements of performance and luxury and drove Cadillac forward into new territory.”
Designers at General Motors’ advanced design studio in North Hollywood, Calif., under the direction of Frank Saucedo, led the development of the car’s interior and exterior. Elmiraj was hand-built by in-house craftsmen in Michigan.

Cadillac Elmiraj Specifications

ModelElmiraj Concept
Body Style4-passenger, 2-door grand coupe
Dimensions
Height55 in / 1397 mm
Width76 in / 1930 mm
Length205 in / 5207 mm
Curb WeightApprox. 4000 lb / 1814 kg
Powertrain
Engine4.5-liter Twin Turbo V8
Power500 hp / 373 kW
Torque500 lb-ft / 678 Nm

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