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sheet-music-for-teachers-school · 5 years ago

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Cyberbit Announces New Cybersecurity Technology Portfolio for Managed Service Providers - PR Newswire - #Cyberbit #- #Technology #aePiot

Cyberbit Announces New Cybersecurity Technology Portfolio for Managed Service Providers - PR Newswire

The date of publishing: Wed, 11 Apr 2018 07:00:00 GMT

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2016 Acura RDX - Top Speed

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whittlebaggett8 · 6 years ago

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We drove a $64,000 Cadillac XT5 and a $47,800 Acura RDX to see which luxury SUV was better — and the winner was obvious, Defence Online

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The stalwart Acura RDX.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The Acura RDX is a solid luxury crossover that’s been recently revamped.

The Cadillac XT5 was the brand’s first – and quite successful – effort at launching a new lineup of crossovers.

The vehicles don’t match up exactly, but they are quite similar, and consumers are likely to be comparing them with each other, and with SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Lexus.

The Acura RDX takes the prize in this comparison because it’s both fun to drive and priced to perfection.

Visit Defence Online’s homepage for more stories.

We live in the Golden Age of the luxury crossover SUV. Automakers have been launching them at a furious pace, to capture customers who have abandoned sedans and wagons in droves.

The major players are Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Lexus. But don’t forget about Acura, which has been selling a pair of superb SUVs, the MDX and the RDX, for some time. And don’t overlook Cadillac, which in the past few years has added a total of three crossovers to its lineup.

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The impressive Cadillac XT5.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

The first was the XT5. I like this SUV, but I’ve always been an Acura fan. So I thought I’d compare the XT5 with the RDX. Obviously, there are some segmentation questions that arise from such a matchup: the RDX covers both the compact and midsize segments, while the XT5 is intended to be Caddy’s midsize warrior (the XT4 covers the compact/subcompact space, and the XT6 handles three-row midsize duties).

The RDX is also priced significantly lower than the XT5. But segmentation is kind of shaggy these days, as some automakers stick with their smaller lineups and others add new vehicles to dice and slice markets.

Ultimately, I think it’s valid to cross-shop the XT5 with the RDX, thus this comparison. Read on to find out how it went down:

We checked out the all-wheel-drive Cadillac XT5 back in 2017, not long after the SUV was rolled out in 2016.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

We also tested the XT5 in both the Northeast and in Florida: the black SUV in the Sunshine State and the white version in the New York metro area.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

Transportation Reporter Ben Zhang tried the black XT5, which came with a slightly higher-level trim package and tipped the price scales at about $64,000, while Senior Correspondent Matt DeBord investigated a $58,000 “crystal white” XT5.

The new XT5 is undeniably sharp, but it proves that Caddy is shifting away from its at-time divisive “art and science,” Stealth-fighter design vocabulary toward a more globally appealing approach.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

There’s a smooth sweep of lines from front to back, with an integrated spoiler completing the roof line, and a bold – but not too bold – chrome-trimmed angle on the rear windows picked up and extended by the large rear tail lights. A pair of chromed exhaust ports delivers a sporty vibe.

The XT5 was the first new crossover from Caddy to join the stalwart full-size Escalade in the lineup. Cadillac has since unveiled a small XT4 and larger XT6.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

There’s more than cargo space to use the XT5 as an upscale weekend utility vehicle, to send it to the mall to load up on threads and flatscreen TVs, or to take it on a weeklong road trip with a family of five.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

We didn’t enjoy the combination of a 310-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, even when we put it into manual mode and used the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel and pepped up the driving mode. This bugged us. A premium crossover with a decent-size V6 should have been oomphier.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

We asked Cadillac to explain. A spokesperson told us that Cadillac’s “engineering’s team was aiming to get the best real-world fuel economy and day-to-day usability for buyers in the market segment,” adding that fuel economy ranks really high in owner surveys.”

This confirmed our theory. We didn’t think there was anything wrong with the engine, but we figured that Caddy had gone for MPGs-18 city/26 highway/21 combined-over performance.

The eight-speed shifts tidily, and the XT5 hauls you from 0-60 mph in a Caddy-claimed 6.6 seconds, and it had a reasonably competent all-wheel-drive system that should be able to handle the worst the suburbs throw at it.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The interior of the XT5 is, in a word, fantastic. It’s roomy. It’s luxurious without being too much. It isn’t an orgy of topstitching and bright chrome. The materials are all excellent, premium, supple. The leather feels really good.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

The XT5’s panoramic moonroof is a stunner.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

The instrument panel is sort of old-school, but the steering wheel — leather-wrapped and wood-trimmed — is thoroughly modern, with buttons to control just about every function on the XT5.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

The infotainment system is a standout feature for the XT5.

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Benjamin Zhang/Defence Online

What makes it so effective is that the touchscreen interface is simple and intuitive; both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available; voice commands work well; the navigation is excellent and well-integrated with OnStar; and wireless 4GLTE connectivity means that an entire car full of people can use their devices on the road. That’s an amazing package.

The Bose audio system is wonderful.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

We’ve sampled all the premium audio systems on the auto market, and while some are more dynamically interesting than Bose, and some really make you feel as if you’re in a rolling concert hall, Bose Surround Sound will please almost any driver or passenger and can handle any type of music, from heavy metal to New Age, pumping it all blissfully through 14 speakers.

It hits a sweet spot. You just can’t find anything to complain about. That’s why it was our Defence Online Car Audio System of the Year in 2017.

On to the Acura RDX, which I tested in an Advance trim level. Sticker price: $47,800 (the base is $37,000, but that’s front-wheel-drive, versus all-wheel-drive for my tester).

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Matthew DeBord/BI

For many, many Americans, the RDX is their version of a premium wagon and it’s dedicated to upscale family duty. But it also promises zesty performance and plenty of technology, given the typical needs and wants of an Acura enthusiast

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Matthew DeBord/BI

This new-gen RDX is also taking some design cues from Acura halo supercar, the NSX, which took home Business Insider’s Car of the Year trophy in 2016.

SUV rear ends are usually a weak point, aesthetically, and the RDX’s is no exception. There’s a lot going on back there, what with all the swoops and indents and those crab-pincer tail lights. Bonus: Dual exhaust!

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Matthew DeBord/BI

Our RDX was of the “Super Handling” all-wheel-drive variety, with torque vectoring that sends traction to the wheel that needs it most. This helps the RDX with stable handling and in bad weather and on poor roads.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

There’s no third row of seats, and thanks to the RDX’s larger overall dimensions relative to the previous gen, the cargo space is now a considerable 30 cubic feet. There’s also a power liftgate.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The four-cylinder, 272-horsepower, turbocharged motor is demonstrably torque-happy with 280 pound-feet of pull on tap. It is also not torque-steer-y in any way.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The RDX can serve up a 0-60 mph dash in about six seconds. Fuel economy is about what you’d expect: 21 mpg city/27 highway/23 combined. I drove around for a week on single tank.

The 10-speed automatic transmission, which has four driving modes (Comfort, Snow, Sport + and a default Sport), along with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The leather interior is “Parchment” and almost but not quite as nice as the XT5’s.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The 2019 RDX is bigger than its ancestors. The subtle size increase makes the rear seats notably more comfy for passengers. On a side note, getting in and out of the RDX is a breeze – not something one can say about every luxe SUV.

Both SUVs have panoramic moonroofs.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

I always find the Acura’s driver’s view to be soothing. That’s weird because you’re presented with all kinds of buttons, thumbwheels, and a switch on the RDX’s steering wheel. And although the analog instrument gauges are old-school, the somewhat complicated center display isn’t.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

Acura’s new infotainment system is called “True Touchpad,” and it uses a high-res center screen that juts from the dashboard and displays a host of apps, along the map, which is nearly always on view.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

Here’s where the magic happens. This touchpad can be used like a trackpad on a laptop, and there are several hard inputs. But you can also simply drop a fingertip to an area of the pad that corresponds to the screen.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

I found the voice-recognition feature to be satisfyingly accurate, and Bluetooth pairing, navigation, and USB/AUX inputs for devices were all successful. There are better infotainment options out there, but given Acura’s history, this new True Touchpad approach has promise. Best of all, once you learn it, you can keep your eyes on the road.

Apple CarPlay is available, but not Android Auto yet.

The ELS Studio 3D audio system is all Acura — specially designed for the brand and outfitted with 16 speakers in the RDX.

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Matthew DeBord/BI

The system is spectacular – it won our Defence Online Car Audio System of the Year award for 2018.

And the winner is the Acura RDX!

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Matthew DeBord/BI

When I reviewed the RDX last year, I swooned. “I’d buy one,” I wrote.

“Seriously, I enjoyed the RDX immensely in the week that I drove it around the Jersey ‘burbs and the mean streets of New York City. But I tend to respond quite favorably to Acuras. For whatever reason, I think they combine a high level of luxury and value with legendary reliability and fun motoring that isn’t too demanding.”

A key differentiator for me between the XT5 and the RDX was the engine. The underpowered V6 on the XT5 that we tested was trumped by the overpowered turbo four on the RDX. The RDX’s power was snappier, and the fuel economy is superior.

The driving dynamics, however, were neck-and-neck. If I had to, I’d give the RDX a slight edge, but around corners, both crossovers are fun to handle.

Acura’s updated infotainment system is a notable improvement over the old setup, but the XT5 has an industry-leading system, so the RDX has a ways to go before it even thinks about knocking off the Caddy on this score.

In terms of interior appointments, the Caddy edges out a victory. But a slight one.

Overall, the Acura RDX wins this comparison because it simply feels more like a well-engineered, premium crossover that makes good on its brand promise. The XT5 is a dandy SUV, and it’s sold quite well since its introduction, giving Caddy an all-important crossover to pit against BMW and Audi.

But the new RDX continues to more than hold its own. It’s also extremely well priced. My tester was more than $10,000 less than the pricier cheaper XT5 trim that we sampled. OK, yes – the XT5 could be classified as more of a midsize luxury crossover, and perhaps we should see how the RDX stacks up against the Caddy XT4 that recently impressed us. But the Acura MDX has three rows, while the XT5 doesn’t (the new XT6 does). The vehicles are also almost exactly the same size (the XT5 is three inches longer).

The bottom line is that the RDX is and has been one of the most appealing offerings in the luxury market, both as an extreme value and as a capable crossover that’s a joy to drive. It’s one of those vehicles that I can recommend almost without reservations.

The post We drove a $64,000 Cadillac XT5 and a $47,800 Acura RDX to see which luxury SUV was better — and the winner was obvious, Defence Online appeared first on Defence Online.

from WordPress https://defenceonline.com/2019/05/17/we-drove-a-64000-cadillac-xt5-and-a-47800-acura-rdx-to-see-which-luxury-suv-was-better-and-the-winner-was-obvious-defence-online/

#Acura #BITranspo #Cadillac #car reviews #Features #Finance #GM #Honda #Life #Luxury Cars #News #SUVs

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franciscocortesinfo-blog · 6 years ago

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2019 Volvo XC60 Review

The 2019 Volvo XC60 has one of the finest interiors in the class – an elegant, relaxing space fused with an appealing number of standard safety and tech features. Read More by #franciscocortescars at http://franciscocortes.info

Is the Volvo XC60 a Good SUV?

The 2019 Volvo XC60 is a decent luxury 2-row SUV. Its interior is one of the best in the class, with divine seats, luxurious materials, sophisticated styling, and a lavish list of standard safety features. The XC60's refinement extends to its powertrains and ride quality as well. The three available engines are among the most powerful in the class, and both engine upgrades are equipped with a turbocharger and supercharger. This lineup also includes a plug-in hybrid powertrain that makes this vehicle quick off the line and remarkably fuel-efficient. This probably isn't a good pick if you're after something that provides a lot of driver engagement, however. There are more fun options in the class.

Should I Buy the Volvo XC60?

The XC60 is an excellent SUV if you’re looking for a sophisticated ambiance, cutting-edge technology, and a good amount of room in the second row and cargo area. It's also a solid pick if you want a brisk, fuel-efficient engine or plan to tow a small boat or trailer. The XC60's tuning is focused on comfort; it isn't a very athletic SUV. Competitors that provide a higher level of agility include the Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace, and Acura RDX.

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hileyacura · 6 years ago

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Hiley Acura Customer Review Mr. Anthony Malone provided us five star service today. We appreciate his call, offering us a same day appointment and showing us all the features of the 2019 RDX. During price discussions, Mr. Malone was upfront and instructive on discounts available and applicable to our situation. Mr. Malone was considerate of our financing situation with our credit union. Mr. Malone, thank you for your professionalism, courtesy and helping us locate the Acura RDX we were looking for. gene Gamez, deliverymaxx.com/DealerReviews.aspx?DealerCode=SXYT&ReviewId=78935

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227snewfacebookfries · 6 years ago

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enginerumors · 6 years ago

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Acura 2019 RDX Review, Specs, News

Acura 2019 RDX Review, Specs, News – Correctly where challengers, by way of example, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and Lexus NX utilize turbocharged 4-barrel engines, the Acura RDX continues to be by using a robust V6 joined to some easy-transferring programmed sometimes controlling the leading or each of the four tires.

Other than the latest schnoz, minimal more changes for the most prevalent…

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perksofwifi · 5 years ago

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Best Small Luxury SUVs: These Utes Are Sensible and Fun to Drive

With so many small luxury SUVs on the market, it can be hard to find the one that checks off all the boxes. On this list, you’ll find some of our favorite entries in this competitive segment. Each one of these vehicles offers both style and substance, making them some of best small luxury SUVs money can buy.

2020 Acura RDX – $38,595

Acura is working to beef up its performance cred, and the RDX is a successful product of this effort. Along with sharp steering, the RDX boasts immediate acceleration with the help of its sprightly 2.0-liter turbo-four with 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. With lots of standard features and a huge cargo bay, the RDX is one of the best small luxury SUVs for the price.

2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio – $41,840

Few other SUVs will get your heart pumping like this one. It’s thrilling to take around corners, and even the base turbo-four engine is potent with 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque. The Quadrifoglio’s 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 makes an otherworldly 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Simply put, this is the SUV for people who don’t like SUVs. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio was the first ever utility vehicle to compete in our Best Driver’s Car competition, where it hit 0–60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

2019 Audi SQ5 – $53,395

The SQ5 is quiet on the highway, allowing you to enjoy the sumptuous interior. It’s a top pick among compact luxury SUVs when it comes to interior technology, with an easy-to-operate screen and fully digital instrument cluster. The SQ5 provides sharper driving dynamics than the standard Q5, thanks in part to its 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 349 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace – $70,525

The I-Pace electric crossover is a worthy alternative to the larger Tesla Model X. It benefits from a precise steering and a smooth ride, exhibiting almost no body roll. As we found out in our 2019 SUV of the Year competition, it even performs well off-road in sand pits and steep dirt hills. Its electric motors produce a combined 394 hp and 512 lb-ft of torque, making for a 4.0-second run to 60 mph. Range is not a worry, because the I-Pace is rated to travel 234 miles on a charge.

2020 Lexus NX – $37,745

The Lexus NX is a smooth-riding crossover and has an equally comfortable interior. What it lacks in headroom it makes up for with plenty of legroom front and rear. Along with satisfying handling, we like the standard 2.0-liter turbo-four with 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque as well as the efficient 194-hp hybrid model. The Lexus NX 300h was named the Best Overall Value for a premium vehicle by IntelliChoice.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA – $35,245

Is it a hatchback or a crossover? Whatever you want to call this hot hatch on stilts, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is fun to drive because of its nimble handling. Its standard 2.0-liter turbo-four engine makes a just-enough 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the GLA 45 is rip-roaring fun with 375 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC – $43,495

MotorTrend’s 2017 SUV of the Year has only gotten better over time. For the 2020 model year, it receives a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four. With 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, the unit feels more like a V-6 than a four-cylinder. If you want a ridiculous amount of power, opt for the V-8 with up to 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This is one of the few small luxury SUVs to offer a plug-in hybrid variant; this version makes 315 hp and 516 lb-ft.

2020 Porsche Macan – $52,250

Now Porsche’s best-selling model, the Macan appeals to buyers looking for top-notch performance. In addition to its buttery smooth ride and sharp cornering abilities, the well-rounded Macan S packs a robust 3.0-liter turbo V-6 with 348 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a 248-hp, 273 lb-ft turbo-four engine and a 434-hp, 406 lb-ft V-6 option.

2020 Volvo XC40 – $34,695

This small SUV is full of surprises, from its spunky exterior to its unique interior with bag hooks, a ski pass-through, and optional orange carpeting. An available 2.0-liter turbo-four provides quick acceleration from its 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. In a review, we noted the XC40’s quick reflexes are well suited to urban driving.

2020 Volvo XC60 – $41,145

This well-rounded SUV boasts a quiet ride, good visibility, and plenty of room for passengers and cargo. We like all the powertrains, including the base turbo-four with 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, a turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder with 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a plug-in hybrid with 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.

Best Luxury Small SUVs

2020 Acura RDX – $38,595

2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio – $41,840

2019 Audi SQ5 – $53,395

2019 Jaguar I-Pace – $70,525

2020 Lexus NX – $37,745

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA – $35,245

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC – $43,495

2020 Porsche Macan – $52,250

2020 Volvo XC40 – $34,695

2020 Volvo XC60 – $41,145

The post Best Small Luxury SUVs: These Utes Are Sensible and Fun to Drive appeared first on MotorTrend.

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jeramymobley · 7 years ago

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New York Auto Show: A Big Apple Serving of Practical Luxury

Electric and autonomous vehicles are the future. But EVs and AVs are being overshadowed by consumers’ desire for more crossover and sport utility vehicles, however they’re powered or driven, in North America. The New York International Auto Show—which opens to the public on March 30, with press and analyst previews happening now—is a big case in point.

Among the big reveals at this year’s NYIAS are refreshed versions of two compact SUVs that are crucial to their brands, the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester, as well as debuts including the Cadillac XT4 (above), Lincoln Aviator, a smaller version of the seven-seat Volksagen Atlas and an updated Hyundai Tucson.

There are market-specific reasons why some of these vehicles are making their debuts in the Big Apple. The Tri-State area in which New York is located over-indexes for luxury buyers, and upscale consumers are flocking to utility vehicles as never before. Another reason show-goers are expected to demonstrate major interest in SUVs such as the all-wheel-drive new Forester—record recent snowfalls have boosted the appeal of roomy, comfortable vehicles with all-weather skills.

Here’s a brand-by-brand look of what auto-buyers and buffs will be checking out at the New York Auto Show—and what it means from each brand’s perspective:

Acura: The Honda-owned luxury brand will debut a production version of its new RDX crossover on the heels of introducing the concept of the vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The model, available mid-year, boasts a fresh exterior design; a new, more intuitive dashboard; and an elegant user interface.

From prototype to production, the wait is finally over. Introducing the 2019 #RDX. It’s everything we ever imagined, and then some. #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/sgI8WG5jHq

— Acura (@Acura) March 28, 2018

Bugatti: The Chiron Sport will be showing in North America for the first time, a sporty follow-up to the $3.26 million Chiron that debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show.

#BUGATTI #ChironSport makes North American debut in New York @NYAutoShow 2018 #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/ifuupXmvhn

— Bugatti (@Bugatti) March 27, 2018

Cadillac: Seeking utility vehicles to broaden its lineup and hit the sweet spot in the premium market these days, Cadillac introduced the XT4 compact utility (at top) at its Cadillac House HQ in Soho; it conveys a more sculpted design language for Cadillac which, for more than a decade, has emphasized exterior angularity. The 2019 CT6 V-Sport, meanwhile, is the first-ever V-Performance model of its top-of-range sedan. The introduction of the high-performance variant coincides with a makeover of the entire CT6 lineup that incorporates the newest iteration of Cadillac’s design language featured on the Escala Concept.

The first-ever #CT6 #VSport, debuting at the #NYIAS. pic.twitter.com/yUezBdiqkC

— Cadillac (@Cadillac) March 28, 2018

Fiat: The FCA-owned brand will be debuting the latest edition of its popular 500 series, this time an Urbana Edition that offers what the automaker calls a “unique, urban look” with black-trimmed exterior lights, “hyper-black” aluminum wheels and black sport-cloth front bucket seats with silver accent stitching.

Meet the #FIAT500 Urbana, the latest edition to the Urbana lineup. pic.twitter.com/CC1NZxa4q0

— FIAT USA (@FIATUSA) March 26, 2018

GMC: Pickup trucks also continue to be the rage in the US market these days, and GMC will be showing off its redesigned Sierra, with the AT4 featuring industry-first technologies such as a carbon-fiber box and six-way tailgate, along with the next-gen Sierra Denali.

The ultimate in refinement and capability. See the Next Generation #GMCSierra #Denali and the first-ever #GMCSierra #AT4 at #NYIAS. pic.twitter.com/py2TC9Ul9C

— GMC (@ThisIsGMC) March 28, 2018

Honda: Sedans are top of mind for Honda’s U.S. team at the Javits Center in Manhattan for NYIAS—including the production version of its new Insight hybrid, the original version of which was one of the first hybrids in the U.S.

Here's your first look at the all-new #HondaInsight before its world debut at the @NYAutoShow. Get exclusive updates: https://t.co/B0YxqlXha1 pic.twitter.com/pj3waqgQKb

— Honda (@Honda) March 26, 2018

Hyundai: Light on utility vehicles until lately, Hyundai’s debut of the freshened 2019 Tucson compact crossover in New York will be an important one to watch.

Refreshed, upgraded and looking sleeker than ever, meet the 2019 #HyundaiTucson! Bonus: Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Lane Keep Assist now come standard https://t.co/SqVcWKHxzp #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/o6oUMo4X4w

— Hyundai USA (@Hyundai) March 28, 2018

Jaguar: The Tata-owned British luxury icon, which just opened its North America HQ across the Hudson River in New Jersey, will be showing its Tesla-challenging production I-PACE all-electric vehicle, which “takes advantage of the inherent benefits found with EV packaging, all while offering the driving dynamics expected of all Jaguar vehicles.” Also on show: the E-PACE, Jaguar’s first compact SUV, and the F-PACE, its “most powerful performance SUV to date.”

Electric city. #IPACE Similar to the technology found in the I‑TYPE #FormulaE racing car, the motors in the I-PACE generate 394 HP and 512 Lb-Ft of torque. Feel the charge for yourself at the @nyautoshow, March 30-April 8 #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/iadYknP9bT

— Jaguar USA (@JaguarUSA) March 28, 2018

SUV, supercharged. The #FPACE #SVR making its inaugural appearance at last night's grand opening of the new @JaguarUSA HQ. #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/94ogoR4Ep5

— Jaguar USA (@JaguarUSA) March 28, 2018

Kia: The Korean automaker is introducing the new K900, which should help Kia raise its brand perception and move it more upmarket in the U.S.

A thing of beauty. Say hello to the all-new K900. #KiaNYC18 #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/MDnXIKf0Pq

— Kia Motors America (@Kia) March 28, 2018

Lexus: Toyota’s luxury marque is “opening a new gateway into the brand,” Lexus said, with the all-new UX compact luxury crossover that is making an arty (see below) North American debut in New York. It features a “bold new design, ultra-efficient new powertrains and innovative luxury features” such as Amazon Alexa integration.

Discover a new way to explore. Introducing the all-new luxury crossover #LexusUX, shown here making its North American debut last night in partnership with nonprofit @RxArtInc and artist Daniel Heidkamp. #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/IGsomJg3nD

— Lexus (@Lexus) March 28, 2018

Lincoln: Another key luxury SUV reveal will be the Aviator, a marque that Lincoln retired in 2005 and has resurrected to apply to its new mid-size model that will arrive in showrooms next year and features optional plug-in hybrid tech.

The return of a storied name — with a thoroughly modern twist. The #LincolnAviator Preview, featuring optional plug-in hybrid technology. (Prototype vehicle shown.) pic.twitter.com/KYjd69GALI

— Lincoln Motor Company (@LincolnMotorCo) March 28, 2018

Mercedes-Benz: Already flush with utility vehicles, Mercedes-Benz will spotlight some of its beloved models in New York and debut a collection of upgraded C-Class variants—a coupe and convertible—just weeks after it unveiled a new C-Class sedan at the Geneva auto show.

Fast. 0-60 in 3.1 seconds fast. And four doors. Introducing the all-new 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. #AMG #NYIAS2018 pic.twitter.com/bckzudE38J

— Mercedes-Benz USAㅤ (@MBUSA) March 29, 2018

Nissan: Watch for the all-new Altima mid-size sedan, featuring intelligent mobility technology and all-wheel drive, plus a roomier interior and a wider vehicle stance.

All-new 2019 Nissan Altima – with Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology, new powertrains and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive – makes world debut at New York International Auto Show. https://t.co/pXGHrOFv87 pic.twitter.com/CBFccepsYa

— Nissan (@NissanUSA) March 28, 2018

Subaru: The upstart brand has been re-engineering the underpinnings of its vehicles. “Even with the larger SUV range” that Subaru is introducing, says IHS Markit automotive analyst Stephanie Brinley, the all-new “Forester is forecast to continue to deliver about 26 percent of the brand’s U.S. sales going forward.”

The all new 2019 Forester is here! See more at https://t.co/Py4FM9oHNV pic.twitter.com/YWRF3h1onJ

— Subaru (@subaru_usa) March 28, 2018

Toyota: The RAV4 crossover was America’s best-selling vehicle last year (with the exception of pickup trucks). Toyota will show an updated version of the nameplate that was last redesigned as a 2014 model. Boasting “More power. More MPG. More everything,” its chunkier styling than the version it’s replacing is in line with a recent evolution in Toyota’s exterior design language.

World debut #ICYMI – meet the all-new 2019 Toyota #RAV4 Limited, XSE HV, and Adventure grades. https://t.co/LM7b5BTstN #NYIAS pic.twitter.com/GYgiUUu7eS

— Toyota USA (@Toyota) March 28, 2018

Volkswagen: With its Atlas three-row utility vehicle already in the U.S. market, the biggest SUV that VW has ever sold, in New York the brand is already “stunning” observers with the Tanoak five-seater concept that’s also a pickup.

Drawing from heritage of U.S. pickups, the #VWAtlas Tanoak co

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car-loanz · 5 years ago

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Safest new cars of 2020 awarded by IIHS

Safety first.

A solid rule for the road, and one the IIHS Top Safety Picks can steer you toward.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its annual list of best-performing new cars based on updated criteria that prioritize protection for pedestrians as well as vehicle occupants.

Sixty-four vehicles – all 2020 model-year cars and SUVs – are split across Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. To qualify, each must have good ratings in crashworthiness evaluations; good or acceptable headlights, and available front crash prevention with an advanced to superior rating.

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the safest small SUVs around. Credit: Mazda/Newspress USA

Most attention goes to 23 models achieving the higher Top Safety Pick+ accreditation, for which good or acceptable headlights are standard rather than available.

Good visibility is key to avoiding crashes in the dark, emphasizes the IIHS, and the awards criteria make it easier for consumers to find the right lights.

As you read through the winners that follow, bear in mind these awards reflect the safest vehicles within specific size categories.

“Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones,” says IIHS. “Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn’t earn the award.”

Top Safety Pick+ winners

Small cars

Honda Insight, 4-door sedan

Mazda 3, 4-door hatchback

Mazda 3, 4-door sedan

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, 4-door wagon

Midsize cars

Mazda 6, 4-door sedan

Nissan Maxima, 4-door sedan

Subaru Legacy, 4-door sedan

Subaru Outback, 4-door wagon

Toyota Camry, 4-door sedan

Midsize luxury cars

Lexus ES 350, 4-door sedan

Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Tesla Model 3, 4-door sedan

Large luxury cars

Audi A6, 4-door sedan

Genesis G70, 4-door sedan (only vehicles build after December 2019)

Genesis G80, 4-door sedan

Small SUVs

Mazda CX-3, 4-door

Mazda CX-5, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru Forester, 4-door

Midsize luxury SUVs

Acura RDX, 4-door

Cadillac XT6, 4-door (only vehicles build after October 2019)

Hyundai Nexo, 4-door

Lexus NX, 4-door

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention; only vehicles build after July 2019)

Top Safety Pick winners

Each vehicle was chosen with specific headlights.

Small cars

Honda Civic, 2-door coupe

Honda Civic, 4-door hatchback (does not apply to Type R)

Honda Civic, 4-door sedan

Hyundai Elantra, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Hyundai Elantra GT, 4-door hatchback (with optional front crash prevention)

Hyundai Veloster, 2-door hatchback (with optional front crash prevention)

Kia Forte, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Kia Soul, 4-door wagon (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru Crosstrek, 4-door wagon (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru Impreza, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru Impreza, 4-door wagon (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru WRX, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Toyota Corolla, 4-door hatchback

Toyota Corolla, 4-door sedan

Midsize cars

Honda Accord, 4-door sedan

Hyundai Sonata, 4-door sedan

Nissan Altima, 4-door sedan (with optional front crash prevention)

Midsize luxury cars

BMW 3 series, 4-door sedan

Volvo S60, 4-door

Large cars

Kia Stinger, 4-door hatchback (with optional front crash prevention)

Large luxury cars

Audi A7, 4-door hatchback

Small SUVs

Chevrolet Equinox, 4-door

Ford Escape, 4-door

Honda CR-V, 4-door

Hyundai Kona, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention)

Hyundai Tucson, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention)

Kia Sportage, 4-door

Lexus UX, 4-door

Lincoln Corsair, 4-door

Toyota RAV4, 4-door

Volvo XC40, 4-door

Midsize SUVs

Ford Edge, 4-door

Hyundai Palisade, 4-door

Hyundai Santa Fe, 4-door

Kia Sorento, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention)

Kia Telluride, 4-door

Mazda CX-9, 4-door (with optional front crash prevention)

Subaru Ascent, 4-door

Volkswagen Tiguan, 4-door

Midsize luxury SUVs

Lexus RX, 4-door

Large SUVs

Audi Q8, 4-door

For further information about these vehicles, visit iihs.org.

The post Safest new cars of 2020 awarded by IIHS appeared first on RoadLoans.

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actutrends · 5 years ago

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Comma.ai launches Comma Two, a $999 kit that imbues cars with assisted driving features

Two years ago, analysts predicted that upwards of 10 million self-driving cars would hit the road by 2020. They weren’t the only ones — in 2015 and 2016, respectively, The Guardian and Business Insider proclaimed that people would become “permanent backseat driver[s],” riding in fully autonomous cars from 2020 “without needing any interaction from [drivers].”

Fast forward to today. Despite assurances that as many as 8 million driverless cars will be added to the road in 2025, even operations like that of Alphabet’s Waymo have yet to expand beyond selected metros. The reasons are regulatory as well as technological in nature, but expense plays a role. Conservative estimates peg the cost of outfitting cars at between $100,000 to 250,000 per car.

So why not go the do-it-yourself route? That’s the question George Hotz posed five years ago — he’s the American hacker best known for developing exploits that targeted Apple’s iOS operating system and reverse-engineering Sony’s PlayStation 3. In September 2015, Hotz founded Comma.ai with the goal of developing a semi-automated system — OpenPilot — that would improve cars’ visual perception and electromechanical motor control. Unlike most full-stack solutions in testing, it’s intended to replace OEM advanced driver-assistance systems, effectively imbuing cars with self-driving capabilities.

For the first time in its history, Comma.ai has an official presence at the Consumer Electronics Show. The company this week invited members of the press (including VentureBeat) to test-drive the latest version of its system — and to show off the Comma Two.

OpenPilot

OpenPilot’s development had a bit of a rocky start. The first version’s reveal in a Bloomberg article and video prompted a cease-and-desist letter from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which accused Comma.ai of testing a self-driving car in the state without a license. Subsequently, OpenPilot was packaged into a shippable device dubbed the Comma One, which again ran afoul of the authorities because of noncompliance with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Under pressure from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration, Comma One was canceled, and Comma.ai open-sourced OpenPilot on GitHub.

Much has changed. In the roughly three years since Comma.ai made OpenPilot available to the public, over 1,500 users have racked up more than 14 million autonomous miles collectively, half of which were driven autonomously. (That’s up from 10 million miles as of May 2019.) Moreover, they’ve forked the GitHub repository over 2,300 times, adding features like automatic lane change and support for older Tesla, Chrysler, and Jeep models.

Comma Two

Comma.ai previously sold the Eon Devkit, a self-contained and windshield-mounted modified OnePlus phone. It started at $599, and once OpenPilot was installed to it, it automatically recognized car models by analyzing CAN network traffic. (The presence of certain CAN messages and their lengths is an indication of the model year, car brand, car model, and trim.) Companion devices dubbed the Panda and Giraffe plugged into cars’ OBD-II ports to track RPMs, MPG, cornering G-force, battery life, and more, and to provide access to the communication buses and enable the Eon to interface with the car.

The Comma Two replaces the Eon, but it retains all of the Eon’s features and then some. That said, it ditches the Panda for a single-cord solution, and it’s slightly pricier at $1,000 (though it’s available on a payment plan through Affirm).

The first batch of 300 units are available for purchase today. They’ll begin shipping later in the month, Hotz says.

The Comma Two is powered via OBD-C as opposed to by battery, which Hotz says was a top complaint among current Eon owners, and it has a larger mount as well as a custom fan-based hardware cooling solution. Like the Eon, which used a camera to recognize drivers’ faces and decelerate if it detected those drivers were distracted, the Comma Two performs facial recognition. In point of fact, it’s in improved in that it leverages two infrared sensors as opposed to an RGB sensor, enabling it to work during nighttime.

Other highlights include front and back cameras, as well as a fourth CAN bus to connect the OBD-II port and a low-power mode that automatically shuts off the Comma Two after three days to save car battery.

The Eon was equipped with cellular service and a SIM card supplied by Comma.ai. Data was unlimited (though capped to 512Kbps), and users could spring for Comma Prime if they so chose, a $24 per month service that enables remote access (via T-Mobile) from anywhere and online storage of 14 days’ worth of drive data (compared with the standard three days). The Comma Two also taps cellular for connectivity and plays nicely with new and existing Comma Prime subscriptions, and it comes with a year’s worth of storage.

By default, OpenPilot uploads driving data in real time from the road-facing camera, CAN, GPS, inertial measurement unit, magnetometer, thermal sensors, and operating system to Comma.ai’s servers for machine learning training and development purposes. Much of this data can be accessed locally through the Comma Connect app for iOS and Android or through Explorer, an online dashboard of recent drives from which disengagements (i.e., instances when a driver took control from OpenPilot) can be annotated to help improve the system.

From within the app, Comma Two owners can remotely wake up the Comma Two and snap a picture from either the front- or rear-facing cameras. Additionally, they’re able to switch among multiple units on the fly and to view their real-time geographic locations.

Compatibility

OpenPilot isn’t compatible with every car under the sun. It only works with these models and model years:

Acura ILX (2016-2018) and RDX (2016-2018)

Buick Regal (2018)

Chevrolet Malibu (2017)

Volt (2017-2018)

Cadillac ATS (2018) and Pacifica (2017-2018)

GMC Acadia Denali (2018)

Holden Astra (2018)

Honda Accord (2016-2019), Civic (2017-2019), Civic Hatchback (2017-2019), CR-V (2015-2019), CR-V Hybrid (2017-2019), Fit (2018), Odyssey (2018-2019), Passport (2019), Pilot (2016-2019), and Ridgeline (2017-2019)

Hyundai Elantra (2017-2019), Genesis (2018), and Santa Fe (2019)

Jeep Grand Cherokee (2016-2019)

Kia Optima (2019), Sorento (2018), and Stinger (2018)

Lexus RX Hybrid (2016-2019) and ES Hybrid (2019)

Subaru Crosstek (2018) and Impreza (2019)

Toyota Avalon (2016-2018), Camry (2018-2019), C-HR (2017-2019), Corolla (2017-2020), Corolla Hatchback (2019), Highlander (2017-2018), Highlander Hybrid (2018), Prius (2017-2019), Prius Prime (2017-2020), Rav4 (2016-2019), Rav4 Hybrid (2017-2018), and Sienna (2018)

Equally critically, OpenPilot isn’t capable of fully autonomous driving on all road types in all conditions. It can currently handle lane centering on roads without clear marking thanks to machine learning algorithms trained with user data, and it can maintain a safe follow distance and drive in stop-and-go traffic without supervision.

But it’s complicated. On all supported cars, OpenPilot’s automated lane centering and lane keep assist replace the stock systems. Only on specific supported cars does the system’s adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning slot in for default, however, and on no model does OpenPilot take over things like auto high-beam, blind spot warning, and side collision warning.

Driving experience

So how’s the driving experience with the Comma Two? “Smooth sailing” sums it up. OpenPilot indeed maintains its lane position even when the markings aren’t obvious — or aren’t visible. In a construction site with cones on either side and on an unpaved road without dividing lines, we watched OpenPilot deftly keep centered and maintain a comfortable following distance from the car in front of it.

It doesn’t much matter whether the road ahead is straight or severely curved. OpenPilot used to scrape OpenStreetMap for road curvature and traffic data, but it doesn’t any longer — now, it’s smart enough to calculate the trajectory in real time and to ensure it doesn’t speed along that trajectory too violently.

In this respect, OpenPilot is akin to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, Volvo’s Pilot Assist, and GM’s Super Cruise, the last of which is one of the few systems that offers hands-free driving thanks to an eye-monitoring infrared camera. But in contrast to Super Cruise, which only engages on about 130,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian highway that GM has mapped, OpenPilot theoretically works anywhere there’s a discernible road.

OpenPilot can change lanes automatically, but it requires signaling from drivers before it does so — they have to first switch on a turn signal and nudge the steering wheel in the direction they’d like to go. It smoothly merging while keeping pace with the traffic ahead in our brief experience. But Hotz noted that OpenPilot won’t prevent lane changes when cars are to the immediate left or right, in the Comma Two’s blind spot.

Of course, Comma Two and OpenPilot can’t anticipate every situation. An SUV rear-ended a hatchback during our driving demo, forcing Hotz — who was behind the wheel — to tap the brake and disengage the system. And OpenPilot doesn’t handle things like red lights or stop signs — at least not yet.

Safety

Whether OpenPilot can be considered truly safe is a semantics question, in part. The driverless car industry lacks an agreed-upon metric for safety — Noah Zych, head of system safety at Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group, told Wired in an interview that miles traveled isn’t a particularly insightful measure without context like location. Derek Kan, U.S. secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, echoed that sentiment in remarks at a conference two years ago.

Companies like Intel’s Mobileye and Nvidia have proposed mathematical models that aim to codify good habits like giving other cars the right of way. Essentially, they’re decision-making policies in a motion-planning stack that monitor unsafe actions by analyzing real-time sensor data.

Comma.ai has a safety model of its own, which Hotz said involves several forms of regression testing. Commits aren’t merged to the OpenPilot codebase before they’ve met the test suite’s muster.

This aside, Comma.ai problematically hasn’t committed to regularly publishing any sort of statistics beyond miles driven, like disengagements or accidents. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles mandates that all companies testing autonomous cars report disengagements, but because Comma.ai doesn’t have a permit to test cars, it’s exempt from this requirement.

Hotz for his part asserts that the infrared sensors in Comma Two will improve safety substantially, as will the onboarding video customers are required to watch before they launch OpenPilot for the first time. On the subject of the former, a warning appears on the Comma Two’s screen if a driver diverts their eyes from the road for four seconds, and after six seconds, OpenPilot disengages and begins to slow down. (Unclicking the driver-side seat belt or opening the car door also disengages the system.)

For what it’s worth, we encountered only one disengagement — Hotz’s stop to avoid the accident — over roughly 7 miles and 25 minutes of driving “We pushed on nuance [with this latest version of OpenPilot],” said Hotz. “Intersections have no lane lines — it’s unclear where you should go. [OpenPilot] follows the path that the human would follow.”

Backend improvements

On the backend side of the OpenPilot equation, new is a simulation environment called the Small Offset Simulator that loads in real-world routes and simulates deviations of them. “You can’t just take a lot of data and train a model to mimic the data, because that model doesn’t realize that if it takes action, the world will change,” said Hotz. “The only way to really do that is to build a simulator.”

Using a technique called projected geometry and generative adversarial networks (GANs), or two-part AI models comprising generators that synthesize data samples and discriminators that attempt to distinguish between the synthesized samples and real data, the simulator redraws scenes meters to the left or right or with curvature and other perturbations. Hotz said that the models within the Small Offset Simulator are now training on 200,000 minutes of driving data collected by Eon users.

It’s similar — but not quite the same — as the simulation environments deployed internally by Uber, Waymo, and others. GM’s Cruise, for instance, leverages a replay approach that involves extracting real-world sensor data, playing it back against the car’s software, and comparing the performance with human-labeled ground truth data. Cruise also engages in planning simulation, which lets the company’s data scientists create up to hundreds of thousands of variations of a scenario by tweaking variables like the speed of oncoming cars and the space between them.

Future developments

Going forward, Comma.ai plans to release new hardware on roughly a yearly cadence — Hotz believes its business model of selling devices at profit and eating the cost of software development is sustainable. (Comma.ai has raised $8.1 million in venture capital to date across two funding rounds, the most recent of which closed in April 2018.) As for OpenPilot, achieving a better end-to-end driving experience remains an acute area of focus for the engineering team.

“What we want to do is move away from [lead car following] and move to an end-to-end longitudinal [model],” he said. “One of the problems we as a company have trying to convey is, when it works well, you don’t even notice it. Our company mission is to solve self-driving cars while shipping intermediaries.”

But Comma.ai isn’t discouraging rivals from cloning its hardware and piggybacking off of OpenPilot. In fact, Hotz encourages it, just as he encourages those with proprietary solutions to compete with Comma.ai.

One such challenger — former Yahoo CTO John Hayes’ Ghost Locomotion — emerged from stealth last November promising an aftermarket self-driving kit to retrofit existing cars. Another — Cambridge, U.K.-based Wayve — claims its driverless cars self-improve by learning from safety driver interventions. Mobileye doesn’t sell a consumer product, but like Comma.ai, its driverless tech leans on cameras for autonomous decision-making. And then there’s Tesla, which recently release a preview of an active guidance system (Navigate on Autopilot) that navigates a car from a highway on-ramp to off-ramp, including interchanges and making lane changes.

Hotz is unconcerned. “Mobileye is the Windows [of autonomous driving] that’s going to do Microsoft-style business development deals with big companies, Tesla’s the Mac that’s going to ship sexy hardware to consumers, and we’re the Linux,” he said. “Everybody should use us for whatever they want.”

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