Whilst much attention has been paid to airborne particulates emitted by combustion engines, commuters risk being exposed to more of them when using the London Underground. This could see greater importance placed on ensuring the health of those travelling below the streets.
The incredible findings have been published by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) in a new report. Research has found that concentrations of particulate matter were up to 30 times higher on the platform at Hampstead tube station, than standing beside a road in urban London.
What lurks beneath
Hampstead is notable for being one of the deepest stations on the London Underground network. The number of deep tunnels, along with the overall age of London’s tube system, make it worse for particulate matter.
Average commuters spend one hour per day travelling on the London Underground. However, the data found by COMEAP shows that just a single hour on the tube creates the same particulate exposure as an entire day spent above ground.
The only good news for users of public transport comes for those using the bus. Exposure to particulate matter on a 2.5 hour bus journey – estimated to be the same distance as an hour on the tube – would mean only a third of the particulate exposure from going underground.
ULEZ for the London Underground?
On average, the air breathed in walking around London is likely to contain 18 times less particulate matter that using the London Underground. Such a dramatic difference suggests that focussing so much attention on drivers may be missing a greater health risk.
A centrepiece in the drive to reduce air pollution in the capital is the planned expansion of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone. The changes, planned to take effect from 2021, have been built on the promise to protect the health of Londoners from poor air quality by charging non-compliant cars £12.50 per day.
Despite the attention paid to air quality above ground, COMEAP notes that much more research into the health effects of breathing the air found in the tube network is needed.
The new report also recommends that Transport for London (TfL) invests further in developing new ways of cleaning air in the London Underground. Transport for London has previously cleaned stations and tunnels with “magnetic wands” to try to reduce the volume of particulates.
Jaguar Land Rover is today cutting another 4,500 people from its global workforce, on top of the 1,500 who left the company in 2018. It’s part of a plan to cut costs by £2.5 billion in 18 months.
The headlines focus on the painful job losses, and rightly so. Lives and careers will be affected and that’s never good news.
However, JLR also announced some investment today, and it’s this that has taken industry watchers by surprise – in a good way.
Its massive new Wolverhampton engine plant, which was built primarily to focus on the diesel engines that power nine in 10 JLR cars (and which are now decidedly out of favour), is to be readied for the future. From later in 2019, it will start producing electric drive units (EDUs), as well as petrol and diesel engines.
What’s more, the EDUs will be powered by batteries assembled at a brand new Jaguar Land Rover Battery Assembly Centre in Hams Hall, North Warwickshire.
In other words, JLR will this year become future-ready, building its own electric motors AND assembling its own batteries – both in the heart of the British Midlands.
It’s no small operation, either. The Battery Assembly Centre will be among the largest of its kind in the UK, probably on a par with Nissan’s facility in Sunderland that produces battery packs for the Leaf electric car.
And because JLR is making motors and batteries in Britain, we can assume new British-built electric cars are on the horizon, too. New electric and electrified Jaguars and Land Rovers could be here as soon as early 2020, to build upon the success of the critically-acclaimed Jaguar I-Pace.
CEO Dr Ralf Speth says “the next chapter in the story of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands will be the most exciting – and challenging – in our history”.
The company is “investing in cleaner, smarter, more desirable cars and electrifying our facilities to manufacture a future range of British-built electric vehicles [which] form part of building a globally competitive and flourishing company.
Fully-electric Jaguars and Land Rovers, as well as plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids, are coming. Today’s news is painful on the jobs front, but the company is already preparing itself to put right the problems – and with British manufacturing central to the solution.
Will it involve turning Jaguar into a fully electric car brand? Will we see an all-electric Range Rover to take on Tesla? The swift changeover from diesel models to plug-in hybrids?
Goodness, could it even involve Jaguar bringing production of the Austrian-assembled I-Pace into Britain and turn the Castle Bromwich factory into an EV centre of excellence?
Time to start speculating, because JLR knows it doesn’t have time to waste, and it’s getting ready to roll the necessary new cars out sooner rather than later…
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed it is reducing its global workforce by around 4,500, with the majority of the job cuts likely to affect employees in the UK.
In a statement issued this lunchtime, JLR said the process will begin with a voluntary redundancy programme in the UK, as it seeks to ‘create a leaner, more resilient organisation with a flatter management structure’.
As part of its ‘Charge and Accelerate’ programme, JLR must reduce costs by £2.5 billion, while improving cash flow and managing long-term strategic operating efficiencies.
Professor Dr Ralf Speth, JLR chief executive officer, said: “We are taking decisive action to help deliver long-term growth, in the face of multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions as well as technology challenges facing the automotive industry.
“The ‘Charge and Accelerate’ programme combines efficiency measures with targeted investment, safeguarding our future and ensuring that we maximise the opportunities created by growing demand for Autonomous, Connected, Electric and Shared technologies.”
Cuts will affect around 10 percent of UK workforce
JLR employs 44,000 workers at sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside, with management, marketing and administration roles expected to be the hardest hit by the cuts. The luxury carmaker shed 1,500 jobs in 2018 and is operating a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich facility.
In October 2018, JLR revealed a 13.2 percent decline in quarterly sales, reporting a pre-tax loss of £90 million. At the time, the firm blamed a slowdown in China as the primary cause, but slow sales in North America, a WLTP-affected European market and Brexit were contributing factors.
JLR retail sales in 2018 totalled 592,708 vehicles, down 4.6 percent compared to 2017. There were contrasting fortunes for the two brands, with Jaguar sales up 1.2 percent and Land Rover down 6.9 percent.
China crisis
But in China, JLR’s biggest market, the car industry recorded its first sales slump in more than two decades, with registrations falling six percent to 22.7 million units in 2018.
In a statement, JLR said it would continue to ‘work closely with retailers in China to respond to the present market conditions’.
As a manufacturer of saloons and SUVs, JLR has been left exposed to the slowdown in diesel sales, with 90 percent of its vehicles powered by a diesel engine.
To counter the effects of ‘dieselgate’, the firm has invested heavily in hybrid and electric technology, with the Jaguar I-Pace set to become one of the most sought-after EVs of 2019.
Later this year, next-generation Electric Drive Units (EDU) will be produced at the company’s facility in Wolverhampton, while batteries will be assembled at a new centre in Warwickshire, said to be one of the largest of its kind in the UK.
An ‘exciting and challenging’ future
Dr Ralf Speth said: “The next chapter in the story of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands will be the most exciting – and challenging – in our history.
“Revealing the iconic Defender, investing in cleaner, smarter, more desirable cars and electrifying our facilities to manufacture a future range of British-built electric vehicles will all form part of building a globally competitive and flourishing company.
Fresh from the announcement that the BT62 will be offered with a road legal package, the £1 million supercar will now lend itself to being a GTE racer, too.
Sights are firmly set on tackling international sportscar racing, with a trip to Le Mans the ultimate aim. The plan is to enter the 2021-22 sportscar racing season, giving the new company some time to prepare.
The return of a famous name
Le Mans holds particular significance for Brabham Automotive managing director, and lead test driver, David Brabham. The Australian driver was part of the Peugeot Sport LMP1 team which took outright victory at the French 24 hours race in 2009.
David’s older brother, Geoff, also enjoyed Le Mans success in 1993. At the same event David took first place in the GT class, but was later disqualified. As David notes: “returning the Brabham name to Le Mans is something I have been working on for years.”
However, the legacy stretches even further back in time. Motor racing legend Sir Jack Brabham won the only ever Grand Prix race held on the Le Mans Bugatti circuit in 1967. Targeting Le Mans certainly gives the BT62 plenty of success to try to emulate.
Comprehensive racing programme
Whilst entering the Le Mans 24 hours endurance race is the jewel in the crown, Brabham Automotive has additional racing plans.
Competing in lower rungs of sportscar racing forms part of the strategy. Whilst the main assault on Le Mans will be funded by Brabham Automotive and its principle backers, customer racing will also become a possibility.
Early investors in the Brabham BT62 Driver Development Programme will also have the opportunity to help test drive the Le Mans racer. Pro-Am competition potential will also be offered to the first buyers of the BT62 track car.
For now, the aim is to further the development of the BT62, preparing it for endurance racing. More details will be announced as the sportscar project evolves, with the company now focussed on creating a Le Mans racer alongside the existing BT62 supercar.
Volkswagen is starting a company called Elli, short for Electric Life – but it’s not an all-new electric car brand. Think of it as an energy company, aimed at providing carbon-neutral power across a diverse network of charging points.
Volkswagen is going to deploy mobile electric car charging stations
There is an automotive link, however. VW is addressing the leap customers need to take when buying an electric car. With current infrastructure on the road network and, indeed, at our houses, electric cars aren’t quite as ‘plug and play’ as we’d like. In the case of many residences, it’s more ‘lob an extension cord out the window’.
With that in mind, consider the following statement from Elli CEO Thorsten Nicklass: “The name ‘Elli’ stands for ‘electric life’ because we intend to enable a lifestyle that fully integrates the electric car in people’s everyday lives. This approach could be compared with the use of a mobile phone, which is taken for granted nowadays.
“We will be creating a seamless, sustainable ecosystem that addresses the main applications and provides answers to all the energy questions raised by electric car users and fleet operators.”
The intention is to help prospective customers ‘upgrade’ their lives around their electric car purchase.
Elli wants to help put charging points at homes and workplaces, as well as across Volkswagen and VW Group dealerships. Fleet charge points (for company cars) and chain outlets are also on the radar. In Elli’s ideal world, there will be a unified charging infrastructure from your garage to your workplace, and where you’re going to eat or go shopping.
At present, VW employee car parks have 1,000 charging stations. That will increase to more than 5,000 by 2020. All 4,000 dealers throughout the EU will receive similar charging provisions by 2020.
There is also scope for energy management. That means communication across a network of car chargers that can, for instance, manage charging network-wide so that minimal strain is put on the local power grid. Your car can also be used as an energy storage unit and give power back to the network into which it’s plugged. Cars will even be able to take in power via their solar charging systems and add it to the grid.
Thinking about it now, electric car proprietors taking such an active role in upgrading the infrastructure makes an awful lot of sense, rather than leaving it to local authorities and governments to make it happen.
Companies like Elli and schemes like VW’s mobile charging systems will surely proliferate in the coming years.
Vauxhall will launch an all-new Vivaro van in 2019, after investing millions of pounds in the Luton factory that will build it – and this Vivaro Life previews what the crucially important new commercial vehicle will look like.
Also to be built in Luton, the Vivaro Life is described as a leisure MPV, seating up to nine people and offered in two lengths – a 4.95 metre ‘medium’ and 5.3 metre ‘large’, the latter being as long as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine.
Vauxhall says high-spec shuttles such as the Vivaro Life are growing in demand. The fancy, full-size seats are mounted on aluminium rails and are fully configurable: pick from five, six, eight or nine-seat configurations.
Housewives and vicars – the changing face of van drivers
There’s even a ‘Lounge’ spec for the longer of the two variants. Front seats are heated and have electric massage functions; two rear chairs are furnished in leather and have 480mm-wide seat cushions – “VIP passengers can thus sit facing each other and enjoy the legroom”. There’s even a fold-away table for them, and a panoramic roof to flood the interior with light.
Take the seats out and there’s a total, ahem, ‘van-like’ load capacity of 3,397 litres.
Interestingly, Vauxhall is proud of the fact both versions are less than 1.9 metres tall, so “can access typical underground garages – important for use as hotel shuttles”.
Vivaro van preview
Judging from what we can see with the Vivaro Life, the new Vivaro Van is going to be quite a stylish-looking thing. Overhangs are short, giving it a squat and well-planted appearance, and the front end is distinctive.
It has a premium appearance and there’s some great attention to detail, from the 3D rear lights to how the fuel filler flap follows the lines of the chunky rear wheelarch.
Inside, it seems a class apart from the current Vivaro. The dashboard has a clean look and a high-mounted touchscreen, giving it a feel more like a large SUV than a working CV.
The 7.0-inch touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Multimedia Navi option includes 3D mapping, plus points of interest displayed in full HD.
Vauxhall says a powerful sound system is available on all variants – and the range-topping model gets a full 10-speaker system for premium audio sound.
Also available are parking sensors front and rear backed up by a rear-view camera that displays either through the touchscreen or the rear view mirror: the latter has a bird’s eye view with 180-degree visibility, taking the guesswork out of reversing a van.
Vauxhall can even fit a full-colour head-up display, lane-keep assist, drowsy driver warning, radar cruise control and auto high beam control.
New Vivaro coming soon
Vauxhall plans to build as many as 100,000 new Vivaros in Luton (it made 60,000 there in 2017); the big investment has secured 1,250 jobs at the factory.
The Vivaro Life, like the new Vivaro Van, is based upon the Groupe PSA EMP2 platform, which brings plenty of flexibility for future variants.
It also allows the Vivaro to go electric – a full EV version will be launched in early 2021.
Ordering for the new Vivaro Life opens on February, following its introduction at the Brussels Motor Show on 18 January 2019. And the Vivaro van? Keep your eyes peeled in coming weeks for that…
CES is where future trends are first revealed, so the technology you see in Las Vegas will probably hit car showrooms in the near future. It might not be a pure motor show, but it sets the tone for the year ahead and gives manufacturers and tech suppliers a chance to showcase their next big things. Here, we reveal some of the coolest tech on show at CES 2019.
Hyundai Cradle
‘The four-legged Hyundai Elevate will redefine our perception of vehicle mobility,’ claims Hyundai. It combines the power of robotics and electric vehicle technology to take people where no vehicle has been before and could transform the way we deal with natural disasters. Imagine deploying this when faced with the aftermath of an earthquake, forest fire or hurricane. It’ll reach the parts where even the most intrepid 4×4 would not dare tread.
“When a tsunami or earthquake hits, current rescue vehicles can only deliver first responders to the edge of the debris field. They have to go the rest of the way by foot. Elevate can drive to the scene and climb right over flood debris or crumbled concrete,” said John Suh, Hyundai vice president and head of Hyundai Cradle. It could also enhance the lives of people living with disabilities, as highlighted by this illustration. Cool thing.
BMW Vision iNEXT
Visitors can have a play with BMW’s ‘mixed-reality installation’, giving them a chance to experience what it would be like to drive autonomously, emission-free and fully connected. The Intelligent Personal Assistant will suggest an agenda for the day and plans the activities for the trip. It’s a brave new world…
According to BMW, the ‘drive’ will begin as normal, but the vehicle soon takes over, with the ‘driver’ interacting with the car via virtual reality goggles and voice control. ‘What will cars look like when they no longer have to be driven by a person, but still can be?’ asks BMW. CES 2019 might have the answer. Meanwhile, the new X5 is on display to showcase a range of functions that will be available for new models from March 2019.
Kia ‘Space of Emotive Driving’
Kia is giving visitors the chance to experience vehicle technology that recognises their physiological emotions based on facial expressions, electrodermal activity and heart rate. It’s all thanks to a Real-time Emotional Adaptive Driving (R.E.A.D.) system, an AI-based interactive in-cabin space demonstrated via experiential modules. There’s a ‘R.E.A.D. Me’ for one person, a ‘R.E.A.D. Now’ for two people and a ‘R.E.A.D. Motion’ for four people, with the latter simulating a mobile workspace.
Which all sounds very impressive, but what does it mean in reality? Well, the technology establishes a baseline in user behaviour, then identifies patterns and trends to customise the cabin accordingly. In other words, it uses the five senses to create an optimal space, whether it’s the ambient temperature, the type of music or the colour of the mood lighting.
Toyota Guardian
‘Toyota Guardian is being developed to amplify human control of the vehicle, not replace it.’ This sentence from Toyota’s press release will go down well with motorists who believe a fully autonomous future is far from ideal. Indeed, the more we read about the development of Toyota Guardian, the more we begin to realise that tech that can operate with a human driver and/or an autonomous driving system is the way forward.
Toyota likens the system to the way that modern jet fighters are flown: the pilot uses the control stick but they are not flying the plane directly. Instead, their intentions are translated by the control system to keep the aircraft stable. Shifting from air to land isn’t a smooth interpretation – there are more things for a car to look out for – but the principle remains.
To demonstrate the system, Toyota showed a three-car collision on a California highway, played out in front of its research cameras and sensors. The Guardian used the experience as a learning tool, with the scenario re-created on a test track using real vehicles and a soft-target dummy car. The response: the Guardian chose to accelerate away from the encroaching vehicles.
Phoenix AI Ultralight Wheelchair
This is the UK-designed Phoenix AI Ultralight Wheelchair, a lightweight and self-balancing wheelchair that eliminates painful vibrations by using smart sensors to remain in sync with how the user moves. It’s one of five finalists in the three-year Mobility Unlimited Challenge, launched by Toyota in partnership with Nesta’s Challenge Prize Centre. Each of the five finalists will receive $500,000 to develop their concept further.
Audi virtual reality experience
Forget autonomous driving systems, because Audi is focusing on back seat drivers with its virtual reality glasses. It promises to redefine in-car entertainment with technology that adapts virtual content to the movements of a vehicle in real time. So, if a car turns right, the spaceship in the virtual reality experience will do the same. We’re not sure what this will do for car sickness.
The VR experience is brought to life courtesy of Marvel’s Avengers: Rocket Rescue Run, with passengers wearing VR glasses in an Audi E-tron transported into outer space. Visitors can take control of a ship as it makes its way through space, with every movement of the car reflected in the experience in real time. Cries of ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ could be consigned to the history books.
Harman clear conversations
Staying in the back seat for a moment, Harman is showcasing an In-Car Communication (ICC) system, combining microphones, voice processing and in-vehicle audio signal processing to create the ideal environment for conversation within the cabin. It allows the driver to communicate with back-seat passengers without needing to turn around or take their eyes off the road. It’s also designed for three-row MPVs and SUVs, making it easier for passengers in the first row to communicate with those in the third.
Nissan ‘Invisible to Visible’
Nissan’s ‘Invisible to Visible’ technology merges data from sensors on the inside and outside of the vehicle with online data to help drivers ‘see the invisible’. This should provide motorists with a better view of the road, maybe even allowing them to see what’s coming from the other side of a building or over the brow of a hill.
While the safety features are obvious, it could also project scenes of a sunny day to help lift the gloom of a rainy afternoon. Tired of looking at the rear-end of a Ford Focus on the M25? Perhaps Nissan’s tech could change it into a Ford GT or a priceless work of art. CES visitors can experience the system using augmented-reality goggles and a demonstration cockpit.
Daimler Trucks Level 2 Automated Truck
In 2015, the Freightliner Inspiration Truck was the first automated lorry licensed to operate on US public roads. At CES 2019, Daimler has introduced the new Cascadia, complete with SAE Level 2 driving capabilities, enabling it to accelerate, decelerate, and steer independently. The truck also features active brake assist and side guard assist.
But Daimler isn’t stopping there. It has chosen CES to announce a €500 million investment in a global push to bring highly automated trucks (SAE Level 4) to the road within a decade. It is skipping Level 3, claiming it ‘does not offer truck customers a substantial advantage compared to the current situation’. Global road freight is expected to more than double between 2015 and 2050.
BMW lightweight camper concept
BMW subsidiary Designworks has teamed up with The North Face to build a lightweight camper concept. Called ‘Futurelight’, the camper uses Nanospinning technology to create the world’s most advanced, breathable, waterproof material. In simple terms, the process creates tiny holes, allowing for ‘incredible porosity’, while maintaining total waterproofness.
“We combined both physical and digital worlds to showcase this material, ensuring the holistic vision of the brand was clearly communicated, while giving people a real ‘hands-on’ experience,” said Laura Robin, Designworks LA studio director. “Thinking about extreme performance in new and unexpected ways from our experience of working across multiple industries, helped us to provide consumers with a unique and never before seen insight into the very heart of the material and its key attributes.”
Rinspeed plays Snap
You can always rely on Rinspeed to unveil something pretty wild at a motor show. At last year’s CES, the Swiss company presented a vehicle where the chassis (Skateboards) and bodies (Pods) can be swapped at any time. A year later, the Snap concept has been refined into the MicroSnap, with the dimensions of a Renault Twizy.
It’s all rather clever. Designed for today’s world of online business, where even fast food is ordered via the internet, the MicroSnap makes it easy for firms to switch bodies. One minute the vehicle could be delivering refrigerated food, the next it could be delivering a hot pizza. Then, it could be transporting people to the theatre. The bodies are designed to last as long as a car, while the ‘Skateboards’ are recycled after a few years.
Lexus TRI-P4
This Lexus LS is playing a key part in the Toyota Guardian development and benefits from new chassis and steering control technology. Known as the TRI-P4, the latest LS is smarter than its predecessor, processing inputs faster and reacting more quickly to its environment.
The Lexus TRI-P4 makes use of two additional cameras to improve situational awareness to either side. There are also two new imaging sensors: one facing forward and one pointed to the rear. Toyota is working on two avenues of autonomy: Chauffeur, in which the human is removed from the driving equation, and Guardian, in which the tech is there to support the driver.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA compact coupe has been unveiled at CES, with the German company keen to promote its onboard gadgetry. Of interest to CES visitors will be the dual screens and next-generation MBUX Interior Assist. This includes gesture control, which works in sunlight and darkness. “We are now igniting the next level with an intelligent interior assistance system for the compact class,” said research and development chief Ola Kallenius.
Voice control has been enhanced, with the ‘Hey Mercedes’ functionality taken to the next level. It’s a little like having your own personal assistant in the car. “Which child-friendly Asian restaurants are nearby that are neither Chinese nor Japanese?” you might ask. It will help. “How has the Apple share price performed compared to Microsoft?” – it will tell you. We wonder how it would respond if you asked for details of the nearest BMW dealer…
BMW self-riding motorcycle
The BMW R 1200 GS is able to start, accelerate, corner, slow down, and come to a stop, without a rider. According to BMW, this isn’t a step towards replacing the motorcyclist, rather an opportunity to gather valuable insights into riding dynamics, which can be used to help the rider recognise dangerous situations and master difficult manoeuvres.
So, it’s an education device. BMW claims that the self-riding motorcycle will give riders a ‘comprehensive understanding’ of ideal lines and perfect cornering, correct braking points, and traction-optimised acceleration. That’s as may be, but you wouldn’t bet against self-riding motorcycles appearing in our city centres, delivering everything from takeaways to blood.
Byton M-Byte
If everything goes according to plan, the Byton M-Byte electric SUV will go on sale in China at the end of the year, with European and American sales following in 2020. The Chinese-built EV will deliver up to 325 miles of range, depending on the model, with an 80 percent recharge possible in just half an hour. Much of this is old news. But something else is grabbing the headlines at CES 2019…
It’s the M-Byte’s 48-inch – yes, 48 inches – ‘Shared Experience Display’, which is essentially a fancy name for a digital instrument display. It extends across almost the entire width of the car, delivering all of the information, all of the time. The screen is controlled either via seven-inch touchscreen in the centre of the steering wheel or an eight-inch touchpad in the centre console.
Honda autonomous ATV
Anything Hyundai can do, Honda can do slightly differently. This is the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle, a self-driving ATV designed for all manner of scenarios. There are three modes – ‘A to B’, ‘Follow Me’ and ‘Pattern’ – with each one serving a different purpose. For example, ‘A to B’ was used at an agricultural college in California, where it transported crops from field to packaging. ‘Follow Me’ has been used to direct firefighters across tricky terrain, while ‘Pattern’ saw it used to pull a lawnmower.
Nissan Leaf 3.Zero e+
Faced with an ever-increasing number of EV rivals, Nissan has given the Leaf the battery it deserves. The Leaf 3.Zero e+ has a 62kWh battery, more than 50 percent larger than the standard car’s 40kWh battery. This delivers a 40 percent increase in range, enabling the Leaf to hit 239 miles from a single charge. Deliveries will start in the summer.
Read more:
Futuristic Nissan tech lets you ‘see the invisible’
Harley-Davidson is embracing the electrification future, with a new motorbike that seems certain to upset brand purists.
Launched at the Consumer Electronics Show alongside a slew of concepts, the LiveWire is the first foray by the brand into battery power. The Milwaukee company has plans to announce more electric models in future, with a major commitment to attracting a new type of Harley owner.
Whilst Harley promises impressive performance from the electric powertrain, the biggest impact will be the loss of the iconic V-twin engine noise.
Future sounds of Milwaukee
Harley-Davidson is clearly well aware of the importance of its aural significance to riders. The LiveWire is said to produce a new signature sound, demonstrating the smooth electric performance of the new bike.
The company also claims that the lack of heat and vibration from the electric motor only serve to enhance rider comfort. We imagine some diehard Hog fans may need convincing of the benefits.
However, there are unlikely to be many complaints on straight line performance. The instant torque from the electric motor, combined with no gears, means acceleration is, well… electric. Although optimised for urban use, Harley claims the LiveWire will accelerate from 0-60mph in under 3.5 seconds.
Rider aids and advanced telematics
Not satisfied with just adding electric power, the LiveWire also incorporates a range of services with the H-D Connect services. Through a smartphone app, user can check the battery charge remotely, get servicing notifications, or either be told if the bike is being tampered with.
A full charge of the battery pack can be made overnight whilst connected to a domestic plug outlet. The LiveWire is also able to use rapid charging where available. Total range when fully charged is claimed as 110 miles, making the LiveWire more than suited to average daily commutes.
Customers in the United States can place an order for the LiveWire now, with prices beginning at $29,799 (£23,440). UK riders will be able to place orders from next month, with more details to follow on pricing.
Nissan will finally roll out a Leaf electric car with a battery big enough to take on a growing number of long-range rivals. The Leaf 3.Zero e+ has a 62kWh battery, more than 50 percent larger than the standard car’s 40kWh pack.
This gives it a range of 239 miles on a single charge, compared to the standard car’s rather paltry 168 miles (that’s a 40 percent increase). Both figures are judged according to the strict new WLTP test cycle.
But despite a more competitive battery, the new Leaf’s range is still behind that of new rivals such as the 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric (292 miles) and Kia e-Niro (282 miles)…
The Leaf 3.Zero e+ does boast more performance though, thanks to a boost in power to 217hp. The top speed is raised 10 percent to 97mph and Nissan says it’s 13 percent faster accelerating from 50mph to 75mph.
Just to confuse things, Nissan is also launching a range-topping Leaf 3.Zero limited edition, with new body colours and two-tone combinations. This costs £31,095, including the government Plug-in Car Grant – but does NOT get the larger capacity battery.
Only the Leaf 3.Zero e+, which is priced from £36,795 including grant, gets the battery boost. Look for the ‘e+’ symbol to spot the longer-range Nissan Leaf. Ordering for both models is open now; deliveries of the 62kWh car start in the summer.
Nissan adds both cars get an improved, larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen, an improved NissanConnect EV app and standard ProPilot ‘hands-on, eyes-on’ driver assist.
Europe’s favourite EV
The launch of the longer-range Leaf comes after a successful 2018, says Nissan. It sold more than 39,000 cars in Europe last year, making it the region’s favourite electric car.
It’s also the world’s best-selling EV, with sales of over 380,000 since 2010.
Gareth Dunsmore, director of electric vehicles and connected services at Nissan Europe, said: “The Nissan Leaf 3.Zero e+ Limited Edition broadens the appeal of the Leaf family even further, adding more range to an award-winning package that remains great to drive and live with.
“Since we launched the new Nissan Leaf last year, the customer response has been outstanding. In an EV market that is constantly growing, sustaining the Leaf’s status as the most popular EV in Europe in 2018 is a testament to the strength of the product.
“We hope the Leaf 3.Zero models will help continuing this extraordinary growth in 2019.”
It’s not just new technology being revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year – Mercedes-Benz is unveiling its brand new CLA compact coupe. And don’t worry, gadget fans, it’s not wanting for on-board wizardry.
First, the car itself. Consider this the four-door coupe version of the acclaimed Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The previous one was popular; Mercedes-Benz sold 750,000 of them, mainly to people who’d never owned a Merc before. Those buyers are typically 10 years younger than the average Mercedes customer, too. The firm is targeting more of the same this time.
The fact the new CLA is even sportier than the original should help. It’s longer, wider and a bit lower-slung, and Mercedes has worked hard to make the rear end smoother-flowing and less awkward. It’s tried to give it the ‘long-nose’ look of a proper GT, which isn’t easy to achieve on a compact car, but the balance is better here than the original.
Inside, it has the same open-plan architecture as the A-Class, complete with freestanding dual widescreen displays. With extra emphasis on sportiness and jewel-like detailing, the wow-factor is upped even more. The CES crowds are going to love it.
Underneath, it’s all A-Class, albeit with a lower centre of gravity and wider tracks front and rear. The suspension is firmed up accordingly (electronically controlled adaptive suspension is optional) and we’re told it will be the sportiest of all Merc’s compact-class cars. Wheels? From 16 inches to 19 inches. Of course, you really need the 19s.
The engine is a four-cylinder turbo that puts out 225hp and drives the front wheels via a DCT automatic gearbox. More engines will filter through in due course. But engines are immaterial: the new Mercedes-Benz CLA is all about the tech.
Gesture control
The dual screens are built around the new MBUX architecture, and the CLA introduces the next development of that, called MBUX Interior Assist. This introduces gesture control, but don’t worry – it’s a step beyond the rather rubbish systems we’ve seen from brands such as BMW up to know.
For starters, it works in both sunlight and darkness. Raise your hand towards the interior mirror and the reading lamp comes on, reach over to the passenger seat and the area is illuminated, turning off again when your hand moves away. It recognises which passenger is gesturing, too – so an animated passenger won’t inadvertently turn the stereo volume up.
There are gesture control ‘favourites’ too. Spread index and middle finger in a v-shape over the centre console (flick it the v-sign?) and commands can be stored – such as, ‘navigate me home’. Again, driver and passenger can have their own favourite commands.
“We are now igniting the next level with an intelligent interior assistance system for the compact class,” said R&D chief Ola Kallenius. “By recognising gestures, it facilitates natural operation.
“Hey Mercedes” and avocados
Voice control has also been developed. Part of the MBUX User Experience, saying “Hey Mercedes” now works on much more complex queries than the launch system on the A-Class.
You can, reckons Mercedes-Benz, say, “Which child-friendly Asian restaurants are nearby that are neither Chinese nor Japanese?” and it will find just the place for you. You can ask it sport questions, stock exchange questions (“How has the Apple share price performed compared to Microsoft?”), even get it to do calculations (“What is the square root of three?”).
If you’re really keen, ask Hey Mercedes general knowledge questions. It really can, if you want, tell you the fat content of avocados, or the size of Texas. Coming to America first, other markets will follow with this next-level functionality in due course.
Oh, and if you have passengers in the car, they don’t need to zip it when you’re talking to your Mercedes: the system has been trained to respond only to the commands of the person who last said “Hey Mercedes”.
Tech fest
What else? The so-called Mercedes-Benz ‘Energizing Coach’ connects to a Garmin wearable device and logs stats such as stress level, pulse rate or quality of sleep. It duly adjusts the air-con, seat massage, lighting and music to give a bespoke ‘wellness’ mood tailored to both an individual and a situation.
“The aim is for passengers to feel well and relaxed even during demanding or monotonous journeys,” says Mercedes-Benz. Presumably, if a driver hasn’t had much sleep, the air con chills and blasts accordingly, to keep them sharp.
Mercedes-Benz is even launching a special Vivoactive 3 Garmin smartwatch at CES to link up with it.
After being shown at CES 2019, Mercedes-Benz will ship the new CLA to other auto shows in the build-up to its market launch in May. The firm says it “sets new benchmarks for the compact class”. It certainly packs in plenty of tech for the CES faithful to get their teeth into.
London drivers have been vilified for contributing to air pollution, but a new report suggests a bigger danger is lurking underground.
Hampstead is notable for being one of the deepest stations on the London Underground network. The number of deep tunnels, along with the overall age of London’s tube system, make it worse for particulate matter.
On average, the air breathed in walking around London is likely to contain 18 times less particulate matter that using the London Underground. Such a dramatic difference suggests that focussing so much attention on drivers may be missing a greater health risk.
Jaguar Land Rover is 
Anglo-Australian 
Le Mans holds particular significance for Brabham Automotive managing director, and lead test driver, David Brabham. The Australian driver was part of the Peugeot Sport LMP1 team which took outright victory at the French 24 hours race in 2009.
Whilst entering the Le Mans 24 hours endurance race is the jewel in the crown, Brabham Automotive has additional racing plans.
Early investors in the Brabham BT62 Driver Development Programme will also have the opportunity to help test drive the Le Mans racer. Pro-Am competition potential will also be offered to the first buyers of the BT62 track car. 
Harley-Davidson is embracing 
Harley-Davidson is clearly well aware of the importance of its aural significance to riders. The LiveWire is said to produce a new signature sound, demonstrating the smooth electric performance of the new bike.
Not satisfied with just adding electric power, the LiveWire also incorporates a range of services with the H-D Connect services. Through a smartphone app, user can check the battery charge remotely, get servicing notifications, or either be told if the bike is being tampered with.
Nissan will finally roll out a 
It’s not just new technology being revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year – Mercedes-Benz is unveiling its brand new CLA compact coupe. And don’t worry, gadget fans, it’s not wanting for on-board wizardry.
