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perksofwifi · 4 years ago

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2021 Toyota Mirai XLE First Test: Delightful and Grounded

The 2021 Toyota Mirai has transformed itself from the oddball eco-friendly four-door that you occasionally see in a California Costco parking lot to a handsome, slick-looking sedan. This second-generation Mirai now looks like a fully developed car, and it’s more upscale and more dominant in the fledgling fuel cell class.

Featuring different design language and a confident personality, the all-new Toyota Mirai is 2.5 inches lower, 2.7 inches wider, and 3.3 inches longer. Exterior highlights include the dual-stacked headlights, a broader streamlined grille, 19-inch five-double-spoke wheels, and a full-width LED taillight panel.

The new platform, rear-drive configuration, and newfound ability to seat five instead of four are significant improvements. Above all else, though, the one feat that should matter to proponents of a cleaner future and capture the attention of competitors is the newly improved 402-mile EPA-estimated driving range.

Our test vehicle, priced at $52,330, came in the XLE trim with Heavy Metal paint ($425) and the Advanced Technology package ($1,410). In addition to the reconstructive surgery, the newly redesigned Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) from Toyota delivers a smooth-sailing driving experience and is exceptionally comfortable.

2021 Toyota Mirai: Slightly Quicker and Smooth as Hell

The Mirai drives delightfully no matter what road you travel on. Sharing its GA-L architecture with the Lexus LS, the Mirai gets through road defects, parking lot speed bumps, and dips without causing a scene. The nicely tuned front and rear multilink suspension, in addition to a rock-solid chassis, translate to premium drivability, resulting in a pleasantly easygoing ride.

Backed by 182 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque from an electric motor (now mounted on the rear wheels instead of the front), the Mirai is noticeably quick on initial acceleration but then cools off to an acceptable hybrid-like pace. Based on our testing, the 2021 Mirai is 1.2 seconds quicker down the line than our long-term 2016 Mirai achieving a 0–60 dash in 7.4 seconds. If you insist we mention the quarter-mile test results here (because why not), the Mirai accomplished it in 15.8 seconds at 87.2 mph.

On the topic of acceleration, road test editor Chris Walton said, “The best part is 0–20 mph, where you can feel the torque. Quiet and repeatable. It is fun to watch the power display, and you cannot tell at all when the handoff from battery power to fuel cell power occurs.”

2021 Toyota Mirai: Grippy, and Balanced, BUT …

Braking, for the most part, is consistent. However, it can sometimes be unclear how much stopping power is necessary from the driver due to regenerative braking. From our track test, the stopping distances were as follows: 118, 122, 119, 122 feet.

Moreover, the second-gen Mirai performed about a second faster than the outgoing Mirai on our figure-eight course. While undergoing the skidpad assessment, it managed a maximum lateral grip of 0.86 g. The hydrogen fuel cell electric sedan completed its best lap in 27.4 seconds at an average of 0.61 g.

Walton, on how the Mirai performed: “That wooden brake pedal was a detriment to the car on the figure eight. It must be brake by wire because it’s nearly impossible to modulate. It has a very digital feel. As a result, it was difficult to release the brakes (progressively) at the appropriate time going into the turns.”

Despite handling better than the previous generation in everyday driving, the Mirai is no sport sedan. Driven hard for our testing, the Mirai exhibited vague steering and “a decent amount of grip and acceleration with good balance,” Walton said, “but it’s everything else that suffers. This fuel cell is a smooth-riding, decently quick transportation pod.”

2021 Toyota Mirai: Breaking Down the Powertrain

By combining stored hydrogen with oxygen from the air, the Mirai’s fuel cell produces an electric current, and the only emission is water. 11 pounds of hydrogen are stored in three 10,000-psi carbon-fiber-reinforced tanks. Combined power from the fuel cell and the battery goes to a rear-mounted electric motor that drives the wheels using a single-speed transmission.

The battery (located between the rear seat and the trunk) stores excess electricity generated by regenerative braking and the fuel cell. Equipped with a more compact lithium-ion battery than the first generation, it has a higher capacity (4.0 amp-hours compared to 6.5 amp-hours).

An increase of power output from the fuel cell from 114 kilowatts to 128 kW came through optimizing the gas channel separator electrodes and seals and relocating the air intake manifold. The 650-volt fuel cell, which is 20 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter in the 2021 model, was relocated under the hood. Integrating a lightweight power control unit with the fuel stack also helped reduce the system size. A longitudinally mounted tank in the center of the car decreases legroom; this is why even though there’s a fifth seat now, rear passengers seated in the middle may not be as comfortable.

2021 Toyota Mirai: H2O on the Highway

Even though the Mirai XLE we tested at our Auto Club Speedway venue is approximately 170 pounds heavier than the previous generation, the fuel-cell-based sedan moves positively despite its 4,243-pound curb weight. Thanks in part to improved weight distribution and a lower center of gravity, the attractive FCEV feels firmly grounded all the time.

On the highway, the Mirai handles like any other mainstream car, so much so that sometimes you forget it is a fuel cell vehicle. Until the H2O release button on the dashboard reminds you to use the accelerator prudently. We wonder what other drivers were thinking at the sight of the Mirai ridding itself of its water contents in the middle of the road.

At any rate, wind noise at highway speeds is moderate, but it’s nothing that amounts to a nuisance—even with the JBL sound system turned off. The steering wheel feels nice in your palms, and the inputs are quite precise during swift lane changes. Suffice it to say that the 4,000-plus-pound Mirai does not have trouble passing or keeping up with the flow of Los Angeles traffic.

2021 Toyota Mirai: Testing the Range

Our test fell short of the EPA-estimated 402 miles; however, considering how uncivil we were with the accelerator pedal, it comes as no surprise. We spent a weekend driving the 2021 Toyota Mirai XLE in everyday situations and drove it more aggressively than we ideally should have. And in all fairness, most of the driving took place on the highway. After using approximately half a tank, our average mpg-e was 63 over a total of 158.6 miles, at which the indicated range remaining showed 143 miles. Had we continued on this trajectory, we’d have only managed 300 miles on the tank. With the dearth of hydrogen fueling stations at present, it’s imperative to take your driving style into account when planning your refueling schedule, especially on long trips.

Still, subjected to further testing, it turns out we like the zero-emissions cruiser more than the forecast had been predicting.

2021 Toyota Mirai XLE BASE PRICE $50,495 PRICE AS TESTED $51,905 VEHICLE LAYOUT Rear-motor, RWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan MOTOR 182-hp/221-lb-ft permanent-magnet elec TRANSMISSION 1-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4,243 lb (49/51%) WHEELBASE 114.9 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 195.8 x 74.2 x 57.9 in 0-60 MPH 7.4 sec QUARTER MILE 15.8 sec @ 87.2 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 118 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.86 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.4 sec @ 0.61 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 76/71/74 mpg-e ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 44/47 kWh/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.00 lb/mile (at vehicle)

The post 2021 Toyota Mirai XLE First Test: Delightful and Grounded appeared first on MotorTrend.

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fokohow · 4 years ago

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THE TOP 25 MODELS TO COME, ACCORDING TO CAR AND DRIVER

The American magazine Car and Driver recently published its list of 25 models that deserve to be expected over the next few years. We’re going through this fine selection of vehicles with a grain of salt.

Ah yes, don’t think that these 25 upcoming models are the only ones planned for the next 3-4 seasons. Even though the pandemic is currently affecting the entire industry, the automotive world is preparing for what’s next… and the resumption of production as soon as possible!

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2022

According to the publication, the next level of Corvette is expected in 2022. We can expect a multiplication of versions of the model, which, it should be remembered, now uses a centrally located engine. Over the years, Chevrolet has introduced us to several liveries of the sports car, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the ZR1 badge coming back. For this future Z06, a naturally aspirated V8 engine is probably the solution, while on-road performance is likely to be more spicy.

Porsche 718 GT4 RS 2022

Still in the ultra-sporty segment, Porsche is busy pushing the limits of its most affordable coupe even further. After the GT4, the RS badge would theoretically end the career of this generation of the coupe. The 4.0-liter naturally aspirated 6-cylinder flat-bed engine is expected to be more muscular than ever in this track-ready car.

McLaren 765LT 2021

This “longer” evolution of the 720S (LT stands for Long Tail) has already been unveiled on the web. So we know many details about the final version, because even the pictures are available. What is certain is that the 765LT will certainly be even more formidable than the 720S. Lighter than the 720S, the 765LT will also be more powerful thanks to a 755-hp twin-turbo V8 engine. Its arrival is expected before the end of the year.

Aston Martin Vanquish 2024

Let’s stay in the UK if you don’t mind, as Aston Martin is also preparing a metamorphosis of its entire line-up.

Obviously, the DBX SUV is the number one priority for the next few months, but after that, the British firm’s engineers will have to focus on moving the majority of sports cars to a mid-engine configuration. After the Valkyrie supercar, the automaker intends to market a Vanquish with a turbocharged V6 engine and electric power assist. Yes, even Aston Martin cannot escape electrification.

Maserati MC20 2021

There’s also something new at Maserati, the Italian automaker, which is already working on a mid-engine sports car powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine that could, according to the magazine, surpass the 600-horsepower mark.

And since the Italian firm has already indicated its intention to electrify its entire fleet, it wouldn’t be surprising if the MC20 receives a hybrid powertrain and even a pure electric one a little later in its lifecycle.

BMW i8 M 2024

Despite the mixed success of the BMW i8, Car and Driver believes that the Vision M Next prototype (see photo) presented in 2019 shows what to expect from the i8 replacement.

For now, it is too early to confirm the return of the i8 name, but what is certain according to the publication is that the manufacturer is preparing a sequel to this first exotic plug-in hybrid. And this second opus would be more focused on high performance. However, patience will be needed, because this future BMW, a half-petrol, half-electric vehicle, is expected in 2023 at the earliest.

GMC Hummer 2022

The American giant made a lot of noise earlier this year by unveiling part of the snout of the first all-electric pickup truck for GMC. Not only is this a first for GMC, but the division has chosen to bring the Hummer name back to the market. The manufacturer even announced a 1,000 horsepower and extra-long range.

Competition is beginning to take shape in this niche of electrically-powered pickup trucks.

Tesla Cybertruck 2022

In fact, if there’s one American manufacturer who knows how to attract all the attention to its products, it’s Tesla! And the brand founded by Elon Musk also made a lot of headlines last year with the presentation of the Cybertruck, the most unusual van in history with a triangular design that leaves no one indifferent.

Just like the GMC Hummer, the Tesla Cybertruck promises breathtaking accelerations thanks to powerful engines and very interesting autonomy.

Hyundai Santa Cruz 2021

We’ve been waiting for this one for a long time. Hyundai presented its Santa Cruz prototype in 2015 and its arrival is finally scheduled for 2021.

This first foray by the Korean giant into the mid-size pickup segment will in a way follow the model first introduced with the Honda Ridgeline, the Japanese pickup based on a monocoque architecture, unlike the other vehicles in the category, all perched on ladder-type chassis.

4-cylinder powertrains are also to be expected for the Santa Cruz, which will be positioned as a leisure van rather than a real work tool.

Ford F-150 2021

Speaking of pickup trucks: the world’s best-selling pickup truck is set to receive a light sweep for the 2021 model year, as several make-up prototypes have already been seen on North American roads.

So this is not a design revolution, but rather a revision of exterior usage. Under the hood, several powertrains will be back, but the arrival of a hybrid version is expected, while Ford has already revealed its intention to tackle the electric niche, thanks to the partnership with Rivian.

Car and Driver is also looking into the future of the Raptor, which, with the arrival of the Ram Rebel TRX, could benefit from a supercharged V8 engine borrowed from the Shelby GT500. The Ford F-150 should continue to dominate for a few more years to come!

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2021

The current generation of the 4×4 has been in service since the 2011 model year. Although it has aged very well over the seasons, Grand Cherokee is in need of renewal.

We can expect a few mechanical changes under the hood of the SUV, as well as a new architecture. The Daimler Chrysler-era skeleton will be replaced by Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform. What’s important is that the Grand Cherokee retains its 4×4 status as part of an all-utility vehicle lineup.

Kia Sorento 2021

Earlier this year, the Korean automaker unveiled the new generation of the popular crossover. While the design is evolving timidly, it’s under the hood that the Sorento presents itself in a new light. Indeed, with a hybrid powertrain and two other four-cylinder engines, Kia seems more serious in its approach to taking sales away from the competition.

Genesis GV80 2021

So far, the Genesis division hasn’t really managed to establish itself in the collective imagination with its three sedans, despite the qualities of the latter and the many prizes they’ve won.

Perhaps a superbly crafted crossover will make up for that. The GV80, as its name suggests, is the elevated equivalent of the G80. However, the SUV offers an entry-level 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, while a twin-turbocharged 375-hp V6 completes the lineup. The GV80 also consolidates the brand’s new language.

Lexus LQ 2022

A quick look at the Lexus alignment confirms that the manufacturer is well represented in all segments. Unfortunately, buyers of large SUVs don’t necessarily need a genuine 4×4 like the LX (essentially a dressed-up Toyota Land Cruiser).

That’s where a more comfortable SUV inspired by the LS limousine would fit in. The Lexus LQ would fit into a segment occupied by the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5s of this world and could even aim higher with a livery tattooed with the F badge.

Lincoln Mark E 2022

Ford’s luxury fender has already indicated that it wants to partner with Rivian in the development of a future all-electric SUV. Here, the name is purely fictitious, but as Car and Driver indicates, with an electric powertrain, the name Mark E seems appropriate.

Still, you’ll have to be patient in this case, as his arrival is expected in 2022.

Land Rover Defender 80 2023

To keep up with the current trend for off-road-flavoured utility vehicles, Jaguar Land Rover may be tempted to emulate Ford, which is about to launch the Bronco and Bronco Sport at the same time, the latter being only a scaled-down copy of the former.

Land Rover has just relaunched its legendary Defender, but this model is not for everyone. A Defender 80 (read smaller) could fill the coffers of the brand supported by the Indian giant Tata.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2021

For the past year or so, Audi has been offering its North American customers the e-tron SUV, the vehicle that has recently been joined by the Sportback penchant.

Unfortunately, both of these models are expensive, a detail that could be corrected by a smaller electric crossover. The Q4 e-tron prototype unveiled in 2019 also looks very close to a production model, suggesting that the Q4 – which is based on Volkswagen’s SEM platform – could come along quickly next year.

Alfa Romeo Tonale 2021

If there’s one manufacturer on this list that needs help, it’s Alfa Romeo. Despite the Italian manufacturer’s glorious past, sales figures were simply not taking off, even before the current pandemic.

The arrival of the Stelvio, the brand’s only utility vehicle, certainly helped, but a more urban and accessible model inspired by the Tonale concept would be welcome these days, especially with a hybrid powertrain as promised by the prototype.

Toyota Corolla GR 2022

Rumors have been around for a few years, but it seems the time has finally come for Toyota to add a little adrenaline to its Corolla lineup.

While it’s clear that the Yaris GR introduced earlier this year is a strictly European affair (our North American Yaris is a Mazda2 in disguise), the Corolla could benefit from the Yaris GR’s turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. With 257 horsepower, a Corolla GR equipped with a six-speed manual transmission – and everything needed to keep up with the road – could take a few sales off a certain Golf GTI.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 2021

When GM announced the end of production of the large CT6 sedan last year, many fans wondered what would happen to the new twin-turbo V8 engine also known as the Blackwing. It seems that the 5.5-litre block isn’t compatible with the new CT5 sedan, as Car and Driver claims that this Blackwing variant will be powered by the good old 6.2-litre supercharged V8 previously used in the CTS. Better yet, the publication states that the car will be available with a six-speed manual transmission or the 10-speed automatic unit. Despite the confusion in the nomenclature, this CT5-V Blackwing 2021 is sure to be a track bombshell with 650 horsepower!

Hyundai RM20 N 2023

The Korean giant has already been working on this mid-engine sports car project for several years. And it looks like the idea is about to be approved for series production.

As mentioned by C&D, Hyundai’s senior management is reportedly still studying the option of transferring the project to the Genesis side. However, performance enthusiasts are leaning towards Hyundai, as a car sold under the popular brand is likely to be more affordable than the same architecture at Genesis.

Hyundai might be about to bring back the concept launched by a certain Renault 5 Turbo in the 80s, and that’s very exciting!

Mazda6 2023

Launched in 2013 as a 2014 model, the current Mazda6 was already positioned as a sedan with high-end aspirations. Since then, the manufacturer has been constantly looking to raise the level of its vehicles, as if it wanted to move to the luxury side. The next 6 could even come to play in the big league, as it’s rumored that the car will be equipped with a 6-cylinder inline-drive and even a rear-wheel drive architecture. Any questions?

Acura TLX Type S 2021

All indications are that the next Acura TLX will be decidedly more competent on the road than its predecessor. The current TLX isn’t bad, but it lacks that spark to worry the class leaders. Chassis work and a new twin-turbo V6 engine should contribute to a little more passion for this long-awaited return of the Type S badge.

Nissan 400Z 2021

One of the oldest cars on the road is a Nissan. The 370Z was launched in 2009, which explains its slightly more archaic driving experience. With Nissan’s economic and financial turmoil, the addition of a niche sports car is certainly not the brand’s priority at the time of writing, but for Nissan’s fame, the rebirth of the mythical Z is necessary.

The Infiniti Q60’s twin-turbo V6 engine is expected to be the chosen engine to power the 400Z, while it’s likely that buyers will still have the choice between a manual transmission or an automatic unit. As for design, it’s rumored that the next Z will be largely inspired by the original 240Z. It looks promising!

Ford Fusion Active 2022

The manufacturer of Dearborn has abandoned the traditional car in North America, with the exception of the Mustang and the Fusion which persists for a few more months. However, it seems that the brand’s decision-makers want to tackle the Subaru Outback with an elevated wagon based on the Ford Mondeo.

It should be remembered that originally, the Ford Focus Active was supposed to cross the Atlantic, but this project finally fell through. This Fusion Active could correct the situation and bring a so-called car back to the continent, despite its utility side.

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years ago

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Tech Takedown: Separating the Vaporware from the Software and Hardware at CES

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is always a potpourri of the present and future, practical and fantastical. It’s where pragmatism and aspiration collide in a torrent of ones and zeros, where automakers unveil technologies destined for your next car with those that might never see the light of day—sometimes at the same booth.

I’ve canvassed the expansive Las Vegas Convention Center during CES for some 30 years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve developed, it’s a keen sense of being able to separate the big ideas from the BS. Here’s my take on the tech tales of CES18—good, bad, and otherwise.

Ford’s Self-Driving Future and Sync Present

Ford CEO Jim Hackett’s CES keynote was full of philosophical musings on the cities of tomorrow and taking the streets back from cars—although addressing the automaker’s stalled stock price wasn’t part of his pontification. Hackett and members of Ford’s executive team instead laid out their vision for autonomous and connected cars and how the company will use data and connectivity to make lives better for commuters. Less clear is how those developments will make money for the automaker.

Ford says it will leverage its recent investment in Autonomic, a mobility data firm, to create a Transportation Mobility Cloud. The automaker calls it an open platform for , which will allow third-party developers to build tailored apps around vehicle connectivity, route mapping, and more. Ford also announced a partnership with Qualcomm to develop cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) capability. The goal is to use 5G connectivity in order to allow cars, roadway infrastructure such as traffic lights, and the rest of the world that comprises the Internet of Things to communicate and share information.

Together, Ford envisions its mobility services platform and C-V2X communications system enabling autonomous vehicles to move around urban environments in high volumes, ultimately influencing the way people and goods get around. As part of this vision, Ford has also partnered with Postmates, an urban delivery service, to explore how self-driving technology could change the home-delivery business and help struggling brick-and-mortar retailers reach and retain customers.

More immediately, Ford wants to help drivers get out of a jam by becoming the first automaker to integrate the popular Google-owned Waze navigation and traffic app into its dashboards via Sync 3.

Toyota Saves Retail and Fuel

Toyota introduced one of the more ambitious CES visions with its e-Palette Alliance, part of the automaker’s Mobility Services Platform. (Notice a trend here?) The literal vehicle for the platform unveiled by CEO Akio Toyoda is called e-Palette, a kind of autonomous electric lorry. It looks similar to other autonomous shuttles, but Toyota says e-Palette is “scalable and customizable for a range of Mobility as a Service” applications.

Beyond providing autonomous ride-sharing—basically a small city bus, sans a driver—and creating a true mobile office for commuters, Toyota envisions e-Palette as an opportunity to save small brick-and-mortar retailers from being driven out of business by e-commerce giants like Amazon. During a presentation at CES, Toyota demonstrated how a local leather craftsman (complete with a hipster beard) could deliver from his workshop to customers’ doorsteps.

Get a fleet of e-Palettes together, and you could have a pop-up craft fair, festival, or concert almost anywhere. But for all the talk of helping small businesses and artisanal entrepreneurs, Toyota also announced that its e-Palette launch partners include Amazon, Pizza Hut, Uber, and Chinese ride-hailing service Didi along with Mazda, which will collaborate on vehicle planning and development.

While waiting for platoons of e-Palettes to hit the road, Toyota is readying its next-generation automated-driving research vehicle based on a Lexus LS 600h L. Toyoda also repeated the automaker’s commitment to have an alternative-fuel option for every model line by 2025, including offering more than 10 purely battery electric vehicles from 2020 forward.

Nissan Reads a Driver’s Mind

Nissan had one of the more bizarre CES innovations: brain-to-vehicle (B2V) technology. It uses electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brainwaves via a skullcap outfitted with electrodes in an effort to read a driver’s mind and intentions. If drivers think about hitting the brakes just before some jerk cuts them off, the car would know and ease off the throttle and pre-charge the brakes.

A driver’s thoughts could also alert, say, a blind-spot warning system that they want to change lanes before even activating a turn signal. And once human drivers are out of the equation and vehicles become autonomous, B2V tech could detect and analyze occupant discomfort levels and change the self-driving configuration of a robo-car to compensate.

With overall mobility investments approaching $100 billion over just the past five years, Nissan also announced at CES that, along with Renault and Mitsubishi, it will bet as much as $1 billion to fund mobility startups over the next half decade. The trio of automakers will invest as much as $200 million during the Alliance Venture fund’s first year to finance new developments in electrification, autonomy, connectivity, and artificial intelligence.

Mercedes-Benz is in the MBUX

While the Mercedes-Benz booth featured its forward-reaching Concept EQA and Smart Vision EQ concepts to demonstrate what it believes electric and autonomous mobility will look like in the future, the brand also used CES 2018 to unveil the Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system (MBUX). It ditches its present kludgy COMAND controller for a touchpad in the center console and a screen that stretches from the instrument cluster to the center of the dash.

MBUX uses artificial intelligence technology to create what Mercedes calls an “intuitive operating system,” augmented by a new voice-activated assistant that can be summoned with the phrase “Hey, Mercedes.” Far from vaporware, Mercedes said it will introduce MBUX as standard equipment in the automaker’s next-generation compact car set to make its debut later this year.

Hyundai-Kia One-Two EV-HFC Punch

Hyundai and Kia have traded off participating at CES each year, but in 2018 the Korean auto brands occupied side-by-side booths to introduce new alternative-fuel crossovers. Hyundai unveiled its Nexo hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which it says can go up to 370 miles between fillings and will be available in California later this year. Kia showcased its Niro EV concept, which will launch in 2020 and is reportedly good for 238 miles of range on a full charge, adding a battery electric offering to the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Niro already on sale.

Kia also promised to produce 16 hybrid, all-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2025 and said it intends to operate a large-scale autonomous technology test fleet on public roads starting next year in a bid to commercialize Level 4 autonomous driving technology by 2021. Hyundai has also teamed with Cisco to introduce an Ethernet-based in-car connectivity architecture to create a bigger pipe for the large amounts of data that future vehicles will produce and to enable greater security. Although we’ve heard about in-car Ethernet for years, Hyundai boasted at CES that it will implement the technology into production cars in 2019.

Byton Busts a Move

One of the car companies with the most buzz at CES was Byton, another in a long line of Chinese EV startups. Byton says the range of its base model SUV with a single rear-mounted motor and 71-kW-hr battery pack is just under 250 miles, and a dual-motor version with a 95-kW-hr battery pack is good for 323 EV miles.. But it’s the reported price of the base model ($45,000) that had the media at CES calling the concept EV the latest China-based Tesla killer.

Although the exterior of the Byton concept is unremarkable, the interior screams future, with a 49-inch screen spanning the dash from door to door and a 10-inch screen embedded in the steering wheel just for the driver when the vehicle is in autonomous mode. Buttons? The Byton concept don’t need no stinking buttons. Functions are controlled by hand gestures with what the company calls Air Touch sensors.

Byton says the car will go on sale in the Chinese market next year and in the U.S. and Europe in 2020 (something else we’ve heard before). Next up is a Byton sedan and a utility vehicle using the same platform. But we can’t help but recall another Chinese EV startup, Faraday Future, which also caused a stir at last year’s CES before flaming out. And even though it’s a concept, the Byton vehicle on display at CES had elements that looked pieced together rather than ready for production.

Nvidia Hooks Up with Everyone

Nvidia is like the hot chick or hunk in high school that everyone wants to hook up with, and the high-flying chipmaker continued to woo automakers and connect with Tier 1 suppliers and other AV players in Vegas. Uber chose Nvidia to supply the AI computing system for its fleets of self-driving cars and trucks, and VW’s I.D. Buzz van will use Nvidia technology for driver-assist systems. Nvidia and VW also created a three-way with Aurora, a renowned team of autonomous engineers formerly from Google, Tesla, and Uber to develop Level 4 and Level 5 self-driving hardware.

Nvidia, German Tier 1 supplier ZF, and Chinese search giant Baidu are also creating a production-ready AI autonomous vehicle platform designed for China, the world’s largest automotive market. The collaboration is based on the new Nvidia Drive Xavier platform, ZF’s new ProAI car computer, and Baidu’s Apollo platform.

Baidu Moves at China Speed

Probably the only auto tech company that has more collaborators than Nvidia is Baidu, which has gathered more than 90 partners to help develop its Apollo self-driving platform. At CES, Baidu announced an Apollo 2.0 platform that will help the company develop self-driving cars at what the company calls “China Speed” and that it has partnered with four Chinese automakers to bring L4 autonomy to production vehicles in the next three years.

Baidu also announced new partnerships with Microsoft to leverage the software giant’s Azure cloud services in markets outside of China and with Udacity to launch autonomous driving online courses designed to help train the next generation of autonomous engineers and developers. Finally, Baidu announced it had pulled off the near impossible: the support of four highly competitive computing platforms from Intel, Nvidia, NXP, and Renesas for Apollo in 2018.

Here Is Everywhere

At CES 2017, digital mapping company Here connected with automakers and tech giants such as Intel, BMW, Mobileye, Pioneer, and Nvidia. At CES this year, Here was seemingly everywhere and with everybody. Just before CES, competing German Tier 1 giants Bosch and Continental announced each had acquired a 5 percent stake in Here and would use its maps for self-driving development, among other things. Here Mobility was also unveiled at CES. It aggregates and supplies white-label transportation services ranging from limos and Ubers to public transit ticketing for the travel industry and any business that moves people. Finally, Here unveiled a concept passenger app for Virgin Hyperloop One. The app lets you not only book an ersatz ride on the 700-mph vacuum tube transport but also includes information on public transit schedules and r from Performance Junk Blogger 6 http://ift.tt/2DQ8cvs via IFTTT

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jesusvasser · 7 years ago

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Tech Takedown: Separating the Vaporware from the Software and Hardware at CES

Ford’s Self-Driving Future and Sync Present

More immediately, Ford wants to help drivers get out of a jam by becoming the first automaker to integrate the popular Google-owned Waze navigation and traffic app into its dashboards via Sync 3.

Toyota Saves Retail and Fuel

Nissan Reads a Driver’s Mind

Mercedes-Benz is in the MBUX

Hyundai-Kia One-Two EV-HFC Punch

Byton Busts a Move

Nvidia Hooks Up with Everyone

Baidu Moves at China Speed

Here Is Everywhere

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