Tag: Cars

The 2020 McLaren GT—by no means thoughts the appears, love the best way it drives

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  • I am not in love with the best way the McLaren GT appears, however I did fall in love with the best way it drives. [credit: Jonathan Gitlin ]

It has been fascinating to observe McLaren Automotive profiting from its platform. The corporate has been extremely resourceful, utilizing the identical (or extremely related) primary constructing blocks—a carbon-fiber monocoque tub and twin-turbo V8 engine—to construct a variety of supercars and hypercars for many events. With the McLaren GT, the carmaker has gotten as distant from laptime-obsessed machines just like the hybrid P1 or the wing-covered Senna as it could actually. GT stands for “grand tourer,” and which means it is a automobile designed to be comfy over lengthy distances.

That is one thing I attempted to place to the take a look at as greatest I may, given reasonably strict directions to not put greater than 250 miles (402km) on the odometer. And it is true—that is probably the most comfy, most easy-to-live-with McLaren I’ve pushed. However do not go anticipating one thing smooth or podgy—it’d say “GT” on the chassis plaque, but it surely’s nonetheless a real supercar, by means of and thru.

First, a confession: I am not a fan of the best way it appears, ahead of the B pillars. The nostril seems borrowed from a goblin shark, and the best way a number of the GT’s strains intersect midway down the automobile makes me marvel if members of the design staff every contributed components with out anybody speaking to one another. Then once more, from different angles, notably the rear, I feel elements of it look superb. However appears are subjective, and loads of passersby considered the form of its (aluminum) physique much more favorably than I do.

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The Hyperion XP-1 hypercar needs to offer hydrogen a halo impact

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  • That is the Hyperion XP-1, which is powered by a hydrogen gasoline cell. [credit: Hyperion ]

Angelo Kafantaris is a person on a mission. He is the CEO of Hyperion, which on Wednesday morning debuted a brand new hypercar that wishes to show you possibly can go actually quick with out wrecking the planet. However this car is not packed stuffed with lithium-ion cells. As an alternative, the XP-1 is powered by a gasoline cell, and its job is to offer hydrogen a halo impact that extra pedestrian gasoline cell electrical autos just like the Toyota Mirai or Hyundai Nexo have not fairly managed.

“The important thing criterion is to ship this clear highly effective power supply in an economical approach in order that the remainder of the world may take pleasure in it,” he instructed me after we spoke a number of weeks go. “So we determined we needed to assist this trade develop in order that the remainder of us take pleasure in the identical advantages, which after all can be actually lengthy vary, actually quick refuel time, an extended life cycle that does not degrade with each cost (or refuel on this case), a really excessive gravimetric power density, the character of recyclability, which isn’t price prohibitive as in comparison with batteries, after which I believe lastly, sturdiness since hydrogen autos should not prone to low efficiency in excessive warmth or very chilly temperatures. All this stuff make hydrogen a beautiful worth proposition for the patron when utilized to autos.”

It definitely appears to be like the half, showing a bit like a Bugatti Chiron that had a transporter accident with an IndyCar. The headline figures for the XP-1 would make it a winner in a recreation of hypercar Prime Trumps: Zero to 60mph in underneath 2.2 seconds. A high velocity above 221mph (356km/h). And a spread of 1,016 miles (1,635km) between gasoline stops. The monocoque tub and bodywork are constructed from carbon composite with strands of titanium woven by way of it for added power, but the XP-1 has a curb weight of two,275lbs (1,031kg). And it is powered by a hydrogen gasoline cell that feeds power to a pair of electrical motors, with an ultracapacitor in there as an power storage machine.

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All the time learn the wonderful print? GM Tremendous Cruise solely free for 3 years

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Promotional image of car interior.

Enlarge / 2019 Cadillac CT6 with Tremendous Cruise engaged. (credit score: Cadillac)

I’ve recurrently been effusive about Basic Motors’ Tremendous Cruise. By geofencing the mixture of adaptive cruise management and lane preserving so that it’s going to solely interact on divided-lane highways and topping that with a gaze-tracking driver-monitoring system that solely permits Tremendous Cruise to perform when drivers have their eyes on the street forward, it really works extraordinarily nicely and inside a good operational design area that ought to preclude any probability of encountering a parked automotive.

After attempting it out within the Cadillac CT6 in 2018, I used to be so impressed I echoed Alex Roy and known as on GM to make Tremendous Cruise out there in as many fashions as doable, as quickly as doable. GM is slowly doing this. Even Shopper Stories was impressed. However in all that point, I assume I by no means learn the wonderful print.

Effectively, the individuals over at MotorTrend did, and guess what? It seems that when you purchased a mannequin 12 months 2018, 2019, or 2020 CT6, you truly solely get a free three-year trial of Tremendous Cruise performance. After that time, you need to have an lively OnStar account for Tremendous Cruise to proceed to work:

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Hyundai will launch three new electrical vehicles, beginning in 2021

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  • Hyundai is spinning out Ioniq as a model for electrical vehicles, in the identical approach that it spun out Genesis as a standalone model for luxurious vehicles. It is going to launch three new battery electrics between 2021 and 2024. [credit: Hyundai ]

Hyundai goes to market a variety of latest battery-electric vehicles beneath Ioniq branding. The Korean automaker first launched the Ioniq title in 2016 with a subcompact that is available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and BEV flavors, however early in 2021 these vehicles might be joined by the Ioniq 5, a midsize BEV crossover primarily based on a 2019 idea referred to as 45. In 2022, Ioniq will launch the Ioniq 6, an electrical sedan primarily based on the beautiful Prophecy idea automotive from earlier this yr. Lastly, in early 2024, there might be a bigger SUV referred to as the Ioniq 7. It isn’t the primary time we have seen this technique from the automaker, which did the identical factor with the creation of Genesis as a standalone luxurious model.

“The Ioniq model will change the paradigm of EV buyer expertise. With a brand new emphasis on linked dwelling, we’ll provide electrified experiences integral to an eco-friendly life-style,” mentioned Wonhong Cho, govt vice chairman and international chief advertising and marketing officer at Hyundai Motor Firm.

Ioniq’s first three BEVs might be constructed on a brand new platform that Hyundai is creating, referred to as the Electrical International Modular Platform, or E-GMP, which it says is extremely versatile with regard to physique fashion and inside design. We will most likely anticipate these vehicles to be in-built severe quantity; Hyundai Motor Group (which additionally consists of Kia and Genesis) is aiming to promote 1 million BEVs a yr by 2025. By that very same yr it additionally plans to promote greater than half one million hydrogen gas cell EVs.

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New automobiles can keep of their lane—however won’t cease for parked automobiles

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A test vehicle collides with a dummy car at a AAA test track in California.

Enlarge / A check automobile collides with a dummy automobile at a AAA check observe in California. (credit score: AAA)

In recent times, plenty of automobile firms have—like Tesla—begun providing driver help programs that supply lane-keeping in addition to adaptive cruise management. This may seem to be a giant step towards a “self-driving automobile,” since a system like this could journey down the freeway for miles with out human intervention. However a brand new report from AAA underscores the constraints of those programs.

Its most dramatic discovering: the superior driver-assistance programs (ADAS) on the newest automobiles nonetheless wrestle to keep away from collisions with parked automobiles. They examined automobiles from BMW, Kia, and Subaru; none persistently prevented working right into a pretend automobile partially blocking the journey lane.

The researchers additionally examined the ADAS within the Cadillac CT6 and the Ford Edge, however these automobiles’ programs weren’t included within the parked-vehicle check as a result of their driver help programs would not have interaction on AAA’s closed course. They have been included in different assessments performed on public highways.

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Cadillac reveals the Lyriq, its new long-range electrical SUV

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  • The Cadillac Lyriq is the primary battery EV to make use of Normal Motors’ new Third-generation EV platform. [credit: Cadillac ]

On Thursday night time, Cadillac unveiled a brand new SUV, the Lyriq. It is the model’s first battery electrical automobile, and the primary automobile to make use of Normal Motors’ new BEV3 platform and Ultium battery expertise, which is about to spawn 22 new BEVs throughout the corporate’s vary of manufacturers between now and 2023. Cadillac is not spilling all of the beans concerning the Lyriq simply but, nevertheless it did share some data with Ars forward of the livestream launch. The headline figures are a variety of “past 300 miles” (482km) on a single cost, DC quick charging at “over 150kW”, and the truth that it’s going to are available rear- and all-wheel drive configurations.

Moreover, it may characteristic a large 33-inch show on the dashboard that mixes the principle instrument panel and the infotainment system, a dual-plane augmented actuality heads-up show (that options info like automobile pace on an in depth airplane, and navigation instructions on a far airplane), and superior driver help methods together with the most recent model of Tremendous Cruise and the flexibility to remotely park itself.

Not too long ago, I spoke with Michael Harpster, world chief engineer for electrical and hybrid propulsion methods at GM, to search out out a bit extra concerning the new BEV3 platform and the teachings that GM has realized from its earlier automobiles just like the EV1 and Chevrolet Bolt EV. “We had been doing the maths, and you already know, we have 25 years of manufacturing EV expertise, going again to the EV1. So, there’s an enormous historical past of Normal Motors and electrical automobiles,” he advised me, including that his group at GM nonetheless consists of a few engineers who labored immediately on the EV1, which was in manufacturing between 1996 and 1999.

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Three seats, a V12, and a handbook transmission: The GMA T.50 reveal

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  • That is our first correct take a look at the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, the non secular successor to the almighty McLaren F1 supercar from the mid-1990s. [credit: Gordon Murray Automotive ]

On Tuesday, Gordon Murray lastly revealed his newest creation to the world. It is known as the T.50, and in an age of heavy hybrid hypercars, near-instantaneous semiautomatic gearboxes, and driver-flattering digital security nets, it’s a refreshing different with a minimal of digital frippery; it even makes use of an H-pattern gearshift with an precise clutch pedal. However that is smart when you think about Murray’s final supercar: the McLaren F1. Whereas many people contemplate that automotive the best of all time, Murray disagrees—he describes the T.50 as bettering on his mid-’90s masterpiece “in each conceivable manner.”

From the angle of a automotive nerd of a sure age, Murray ranks up there with the best of the business’s greats. The majority of his profession was spent in System 1, the place he designed cutting-edge, championship-winning vehicles for Brabham after which McLaren. After tiring of the racetrack, he turned his consideration to element to road-going sports activities vehicles, designing first the Gentle Automotive Firm Rocket after which the McLaren F1, a three-seat V12 riot in carbon fiber that shattered data for acceleration, high pace, and listing value, in addition to blitzing the sector within the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.

After leaving McLaren, he set his sights on making the method of constructing vehicles extra sustainable and created a brand new manufacturing course of known as iStream that will enable vehicles to be made with 60 % much less power. However he did not overlook about sports activities vehicles. Murray designed a brand new automotive for TVR, though frankly at this level, the percentages appear distant that it’s going to ever enter manufacturing. And he additionally determined to revisit the supercar, this time forming an organization bearing his personal identify to construct it.

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Electrical automotive startup Lucid is difficult Tesla’s anti-lidar stance

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Promotional image of high-end electric car.

Enlarge (credit score: Lucid)

Electrical automotive startup Lucid would not just like the phrase “Tesla killer,” however the comparability is difficult to keep away from. The corporate raised $1 billion from Saudi Arabia two years in the past and is engaged on the Lucid Air, a high-end battery electrical sedan harking back to Tesla’s Mannequin S. Lucid is scheduled to formally unveil the automotive in September and start promoting it subsequent yr.

One space the place Lucid is trying to differentiate itself from its extra established electrical rival is with its superior driver-assistance system (ADAS) referred to as DreamDrive. Elon Musk has formidable objectives for Tesla’s Autopilot know-how, however the firm has struggled to fulfill them. One doable issue: Musk has dominated out utilizing lidar, a sensor that’s extensively utilized by firms trying to develop totally driverless autos.

“Anybody counting on lidar is doomed,” Musk stated at an occasion final yr to showcase Tesla’s progress in self-driving know-how. Musk believes that cameras and radar shall be ample to attain full autonomy and that lidar is a “crutch” that distracts firms from pursuing extra basic breakthroughs.

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Choose orders New York to pay unemployment to Uber and Lyft drivers

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Judge orders New York to pay unemployment to Uber and Lyft drivers

Enlarge (credit score: Smith Assortment/Gado | Getty)

A federal choose has ordered the state of New York to shortly pay unemployment advantages to 4 Uber and Lyft drivers who’ve been ready for the funds since March or April. The New York Taxi Employees Alliance, which filed a lawsuit over the difficulty again in Could, says that the ruling may finally assist hundreds of drivers in comparable conditions.

Uber and Lyft have lengthy argued that its drivers are impartial contractors, not workers. That stance has come underneath growing strain. Since 2016, the New York Division of Labor has held that ride-hail drivers have been workers for functions of unemployment insurance coverage. However Uber and Lyft have dragged their toes, failing to supply wage knowledge that might allow the company to calculate unemployment funds for every employee.

Consequently, when Uber and Lyft drivers compelled out of labor by the pandemic utilized for unemployment advantages, some have been informed that they weren’t eligible as a result of state knowledge confirmed them with zero earnings. Employees continued to be denied advantages even after they submitted 1099 tax kinds displaying their earnings.

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Tesla picks Texas, will redesign Mannequin Y for European manufacturing

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020

Enlarge / Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends a gap ceremony for Tesla China-made Mannequin Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020 (credit score: Xinhua/Ding Ting through Getty Photographs)

On Tuesday afternoon, Tesla CEO Elon Musk answered questions from buyers following the publication of the corporate’s newest quarterly outcomes. The headlines information is that it has picked Texas as the location for its subsequent manufacturing unit. When requested what number of vehicles this new automobile plant might construct, Musk informed the decision that “long run—lots,” with a chuckle.

Musk refused to be drawn on specifics about any new Tesla EVs past those we already find out about. “It is affordable to imagine we would make a compact car… sooner or later,” he mentioned, earlier than stating that the corporate has a protracted method to go together with the Fashions three and Y.

The most important asset worth improve in historical past

Musk nonetheless believes that the introduction of a very autonomous driving system will likely be a sport changer for Tesla, and predicted that it could lead to a five-fold improve within the worth of a automobile due to a lot larger utilization. With reference to that program, the “main milestone is the transition of the autonomy system—or the automobile’s AI—from considering in like 2.5D, doing picture recognition, partially correlated in time, to 4D. What we have been doing this far is admittedly largely 2D and never nicely correlated in time. It is laborious to convey simply how a lot better a totally 4D system would work,” Musk mentioned.

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