Rolls-Royce Cullinan The World's Greatest Luxury SUV

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Rolls Royce is arguably the superlative of automotive luxury, building some of the best limousines known to man. But going with the trend that is cemented by its compatriots like the Bentley Bentyga and the Range Rover, Rolls Royce has finally revealed its first SUV in its glorious history that pans beyond 112 years. They are calling the Rolls Royce Cullinan, named after the largest natural diamond that the world has ever seen. Chief executive Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the new Cullinan, which will cost more than £200,000, was a "seminal" moment and probably the "most anticipated" Rolls-Royce ever.


The Rolls-Royce Cullinan shares its underpinnings with the new generation Phantom, using the same aluminium architecture. The suspension system is also said to be carried over, along with the four-wheel drive system and the SUV also comes with a 4-wheel steering. The traditional design has been carried over on the Cullinnan, and the SUV is instantly recognisable as a Royce-Royce. The massive grille and sharp headlights dominate the front, while the overall boxy proportions make for a behemoth of a size. As Rolls-Royce puts it, this is the first "three-box" model in the SUV-sector.


Power on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes from 563-horsepower 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 that debuted in Phantom VIII.there is slightly less torque than in Phantom, arriving in full at yet lower engine revs: maximum torque of 627 lb-ft at 1600 rpm (850 Nm). With all-wheel drive, the SUV is also capable off-road and can take on any kind of a terrain with multiple driving modes and a dedicated off-road mode. The Cullinan comes with a wading depth of 540 mm, which is super impressive.

With a wheelbase of 3,295mm, the cabin is typical limousine class. The Cullinan welcomes you to a flat floor and uber-luxurious individual seats by lowering itself by 40mm. There is the typical Rolls Royce minimalism in here. The dashboard is done with in open-pore wood and a new box-grain leather. Driver aids comprise of 360-degree cameras, heads-up display, night vision and attention assist. There is wifi hotspot capability, amongst a host of other creature comforts meant to pamper the owners.


The Rolls Royce Cullinan is built around the new 'Architecture of luxury' aluminum space frame that debuted with the new Rolls Royce Phantom 8. It is suspended by all-independent air-struts in all four corners mated to double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. The suspension is setup for a magic-carpet like ride than long travel. That said, the Cullinan proudly hints that it will do everything that a Range Rover can. It even gets an 'Everywhere' mode to that effect, which alters chassis and drivetrain components to take on the trickier outdoors. Snow, rocks, sand or similar loose terrain will not worry the Cullinan, hints Rolls Royce.

Things that make Ford go vroom!

Just like our modern lives, locomotion isn’t untouched by revolutionary tech. To get a sense of how cars, in particular, are evolving to adjust to our increasingly smarter, responsible lifestyle, we reached out to Julius Marchwicki, Director, Connected Vehicle Services, Ford Motor Company.

Reporter: Just how close are we to realizing fully autonomous vehicles on the road? What’s the serious timeframe that you’re anticipating this to happen throughout the world?
Marchwicki: At Ford, we believe the path to autonomous driving will come in phases. We’re already manufacturing and selling semi-autonomous vehicle features that use software and sensors to steer into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces, adjust speed based on traffic flow or apply the brakes in an emergency. We have fully autonomous vehicles in development – with research vehicles already on the road.  We are excited by all the innovation occurring and know the increased attention will not only speed-up the technology but also help align industry, regulatory and economic leaders. Fully autonomous driving likely will be possible with the right combination of environmental, regulatory and economic factors.

Reporter: What are some of the challenges and opportunities of developing autonomous vehicles? Is it because we are lazy?
Marchwicki: Laziness is definitely not a reason. Autonomous technology brings visions of being more productive, safer and more efficient. Everyone dreams of reading the paper and drinking a coffee while being driven to their destination.
As the technology continues to develop, we will rely on the well-defined regulatory framework and broad public trust on issues of safety and security. While autonomous cars incorporate sophisticated safety features, human inputs will remain critical to their correct usage.  To help learn about this input, our semi-autonomous technologies are helping reduce human error in driving and improve safety.
Autonomous vehicle technology is another step closer to production at Ford, moving from a research effort to an advanced engineering program, the company announced today.

Reporter: According to you, what is smart mobility? Is it beyond just short-term gimmicks, features and functionality that actually help the consumer in the long run?
Marchwicki: At Ford, we’re driving innovation in every part of our business. It starts with Ford Smart Mobility, which is our plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and big data. At CES in January 2015, we announced 25 global experiments, and added more in the first quarter of the year. Applying the learnings of an initial round of global experiments, we are moving from research to the start of the implementation of our Ford Smart Mobility plan. We are focusing our work going forward on two strategic areas – Flexible Use and Ownership and Multi-Modal Urban Mobility Solutions.

Reporter: What are some of the exciting trends in the world of automobiles both from the perspective of advanced Western MARKETS and emerging markets, including India?
Marchwicki: By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. With more people living in dense, urban environments, we anticipate significant resource congestion and infrastructure issues. Our Ford Smart Mobility plan is helping us figure out solutions to many emerging issues. Through the MyEnergi Lifestyle program and COLLABORATIONS with utility companies, Ford is integrating the vehicle into the city and the home to help customers save energy, reduce emissions, and take advantage of renewable energy.
The second trend is the effect of automation. As I said, fully autonomous driving likely will be possible with the right combination of environmental and regulatory updates within five years.
Third, is the rise of digitally-native members of Generation Z – most of whom are still in their teens – mobility will be a unifier, and they will consider different vehicle options such as car sharing and ride hailing.

Reporter: From a technology standpoint, what unique user demands are you witnessing increasingly in the marketplace at point-of-sale?
Marchwicki: Customers today are very well informed and want the best – right from technology to safety. Our recent introductions in India, Figo Aspire and new Figo have received great response from customers on all these counts. Both cars understand that our customers need to stay safely connected to the outside world. Among some of the things liked by customers is MyFord Dock -- a first-in-class feature that offers drivers a unique solution for storing, mounting and charging mobile phones, MP3 players, and satellite navigation systems, and for integrating these devices into the car’s entertainment system. Addressing the need to encourage responsible driving, both Figo and Aspire feature Ford MyKey technology that allows owners to program the car’s key with restricted driving modes such as increasing seatbelt use, limiting the vehicle’s top speed and regulating audio volume.
Consumers looking for even greater technological integration can choose a Figo equipped with SYNC with Ford AppLink, Ford’s advanced in-car connectivity system. It essentially enables you to access and control your favourite apps on your smartphone via voice-control, plus your car’s audio systems, steering-wheel controls, multi function display and centrestack. By creating a hands-free link between your mobile and your Ford, you can stay connected, informed and entertained while you’ve got your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Julius Marchwicki, Director,
Connected Vehicle Services, Ford Motor Company

Reporter: Google is close, Tesla, too. According to you just how close are we to realizing fully autonomous vehicles on the road? What's the serious timeframe that you're anticipating this to happen throughout the world?
Marchwicki: At Ford, we believe the path to autonomous driving will come in phases. We’re already manufacturing and selling semi-autonomous vehicle features that use software and sensors to steer into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces, adjust speed based on traffic flow or apply the brakes in an emergency. We have fully autonomous vehicles in development – with research vehicles already on the road.  We are excited by all the innovation occurring and know the increased attention will not only speed the technology but also help align industry, regulatory and economic leaders.
Fully autonomous driving likely will be possible with the right combination of environmental, regulatory and economic factors.


Reporter: What are some of the challenges and opportunities of developing autonomous vehicles? Is it because we couldn't be any lazier?
Marchwicki: Laziness is definitely not a reason. Autonomous technology brings visions of being more productive, safer and more efficient. Everyone dreams of reading the paper and drinking a coffee while being driven to their destination.
As the technology continues to develop, we will rely on the well-defined regulatory framework and broad public trust on issues of safety and security. While autonomous cars incorporate sophisticated safety features, human inputs will remain critical to their correct usage.  To help learn about this input, our semiautonomous technologies are helping reduce human error in driving and improve safety by reducing driver stress and workload.
Autonomous vehicle technology is another step closer to production at Ford, moving from a research effort to an advanced engineering program, the company announced today.

Reporter: What are some of the learning's from the VW emissions debacle not just for Ford but for the entire automobiles industry?
Marchwicki: We are focused on Ford and continuing to accelerate the pace of our One Ford plan, delivering product excellence and driving innovation in every part of our business.

Reporter: According to you, what is smart mobility? Is it beyond just short-term gimmicks, features and functionality that actually help the consumer in the long run?
Marchwicki: At Ford, we’re driving innovation in every part of our business. It starts with Ford Smart Mobility, which is our plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and big data. At CES in January 2015, we announced 25 global experiments, and added more in the first quarter of the year. Applying the learnings of an initial round of global experiments, we are moving from research to the start of the implementation of our Ford Smart Mobility plan. We are focusing our work going forward on two strategic areas – Flexible Use and Ownership and Multi-Modal Urban Mobility Solutions.

Reporter: What are some of the exciting trends in the world of automobiles both from the perspective of advanced Western MARKETS and emerging markets, including India?
Marchwicki: By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. With more people living in dense, urban environments, we anticipate significant resource, congestion, and infrastructure issues. Our Ford Smart Mobility plan is helping us figure out solutions to many emerging issues. Through the MyEnergi Lifestyle program and COLLABORATIONS with utility companies, Ford is integrating the vehicle into the city and the home to help customers save energy, reduce emissions, and take advantage of renewable energy options to help offset major grid problems.
The second trend is the effect of automation. As I said, fully autonomous driving likely will be possible with the right combination of environmental and regulatory updates within the next five years.
Third, is the rise of digitally-native members of Generation Z – most of who are still in their teens – mobility will be a unifier, and they will consider different vehicle options such as car sharing and ride hailing than earlier generations who strived to purchase.

Source : Digit

Microsoft HoloLens and Volvo bring augmented reality to car showrooms

Microsoft has partnered with Volvo to bring augmented reality technology to showrooms, via HoloLens. The aim is to enhance the experience of buying a car by letting buyers inspect each aspect of the car in detail as a hologram. Buyers can open up the car completely and take a look at the engine, inspect the chassis or watch the drivetrain and transmission, while it is working. Buyers can also customise certain aspects of the car, like colour, interiors or rims, and see it in full scale, before it is manufactured. HoloLens can also be used to showcase certain features of the car, that a buyer may or may not be aware of, unless they read the manual.

Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President, Marketing Sales and Service at Volvo Cars said, “With HoloLens we have the freedom to create a bespoke experience which customers can steer themselves. Imagine using mixed reality to choose the type of car you want – to explore the colors, rims, or get a better understanding of the features, services and options available.”

Volvo isn’t the only company that will use HoloLens. In Microsoft’s official blog, the company says that it is working with other commercial partners like NASA JPL, Trimble, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic. It says that the device “enables innovative experiences that are impossible on any other device — or any other platform, and can transform the way companies work.”

Microsoft announced its HoloLens earlier this year during the BUILD conference. The device comes with its own CPU and GPU built into the headset, and is completely wireless. In its event in October, the company announced that it was inviting applications for HoloLens Development Edition. The device will start shipping from Q1 2016 for $3,000 (approx. Rs. 1,98,000).

Microsoft is not the only company working on augmented reality technology. Google Glass, which changed its name to Project Aura, may be working on two or three new wearable devices. One of these may be a glass-less, consumer grade headset, that is targeted at sports enthusiasts, and relies on music as its key functionality. Google may also be planning on expanding its wearable portfolio to enterprise users.

Better late than never? Samsung IT arms push into automobile

Samsung Electronics and group companies are trying a belated push into the business of supplying technology to car makers, while rivals are already sewing up lucrative deals with an industry that is notoriously difficult to break into.

Data compiled by Thomson Reuters IP & Science shows the world's top smartphone maker and other Samsung Group tech affiliates are ramping up research and development for auto technology, with two-thirds of their combined 1,804 US patent filings related to electric vehicles and electric components for cars coming since 2010.

The analysis did not include filings made after 2013 due to a lag between filing and publication.

They haven't yet landed significant business, and Samsung Group declined to comment on strategy, but the lure is obvious.

Automakers already incorporate or are developing technologies to enhance safety and provide better smartphone connectivity and entertainment systems, creating an opening for tech companies to break into a market for software, services and components that is worth around $500 billion, ABI Research analyst Dominique Bonte said.

"There are two trends: the car becomes a connected software device, and the entire mobile and ICT ecosystem is getting very interested in playing a part in that evolution," Bonte said.

That is particularly welcome as demand for smartphones, TVs and computers slows, but Samsung is arriving late at a party where some of the best partners are already taken.

Cross-town rival LG Electronics Inc announced a major supply agreement with General Motors in October, sending LG's shares surging, while US chipmaker Nvidia Corp, known for graphics processors that power games consoles and laptops, says its chips will be in more than 30 million cars in the next three to four years.

Unlike Apple and Google, there is no clear sign yet that Samsung is developing its own autonomous driving technology.

IHS analyst Danny Kim said Samsung Group does not yet have a unified, group-wide approach to building its supplier presence in the industry.

"Samsung needs a serious commitment to drive the synergies between all competent organisations within Samsung Group," he said.

A decade after selling its debt-laden carmaking unit to Renault, Samsung Group in 2010 announced its second foray into the auto industry, identifying car batteries as one of its five growth businesses.

Its Samsung SDI Co Ltd is now the world's No. 6 electric car battery maker, counting BMW, Chrysler and Volkswagen among its clients.

IN THE HUNT

Other parts of the Samsung empire are now in the hunt.

Samsung patent filings show a wide range of technologies including a drowsy-driving detection system, an alert system for break-in attempts and a transparent display for directions and traffic information.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd recently formed a dedicated team to sell components such as camera modules to new auto clients and says it would consider acquisitions to boost car-related businesses.

Samsung Display has also cited the auto industry as a potential growth area and has been testing its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays with BMW and auto parts maker Continental.

The growth prospects are mouthwatering.

Nvidia says its autos revenue was $148 million for the first half of this fiscal year, nearly doubling in a year.

Consulting firm McKinsey said in a 2014 report that revenue from hardware, software and services for connectivity-enabled cars could grow to 180 billion euros ($200 billion) by 2020 from an estimated 30 billion euros in 2014.

Carmakers may spend an additional $6,500 per car when they launch fully autonomous vehicles, the Boston Consulting Group said in a report this year.

Analysts say the supply relationships built by SDI could be expanded by bundling parts and services from other Samsung arms.

Samsung insiders acknowledge, however, that it may take several years before tech arms other than Samsung SDI generate significant auto-related sales.

Product development cycles in the auto industry are far longer than in consumer electronics, and carmakers are cautious about adding suppliers without a track record. It took the better part of a decade for Nvidia to gain acceptance as a global supplier, while LG worked with GM for nearly a decade before it got its supply contract for the Chrevrolet Bolt.

Samsung Electronics could still catch up by taking the one-stop-shop approach, similar to that of LG Electronics, by working with sister companies to combine offerings such as batteries, chips, sensors and software such as the Tizen operating system into a single package, analysts say.

ABI's Bonte said Samsung could also speed things up by acquiring established players such as Japan's Renesas Electronics Corp, which researcher Gartner says was the world's top auto semiconductor maker last year, with $3.1 billion in revenue.

"It's important for a supplier to be able to sell not just one single component but provide that entire platform," he said.

Chevrolet's Active Phone Cooling will keep phones from overheating

Chevrolet has developed a neat glovebox technology that will help keep your phones cool. Continuously using cellphones for turn-by-turn navigation or music streaming while driving often results in heavy battery wear and overheating. Chevrolet will fit a wireless charging box along with an air conditioning vent, that will cool the phone down as well as charge it up wirelessly, providing that the phone is compatible with Qi and PMA wireless charging standards.

This is a useful feature, seeing that recent processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 are known to overheat with extended regular usage. Plus, with the advent of in-car technologies like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, phones might need to be always active, integrating calls, messages, navigation, music streaming and video playback constantly. Such extended usage can heat up any phone, and will be sure to run down the battery uber-fast. A feature like this might be a first in present times, but is sure to become a standard in most cars in future.

There is no complicated or super-advanced technology involved behind this useful little feature. Chevrolet is simply redirecting an air-conditioning channel to inject cool air directly to the phone. "Innovation doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. Sometimes simplicity offers the most elegant solution to a problem," said Dan Lascu, designer of the Chevrolet Impala.

The Active Phone Cooling will start featuring in the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Volt and Cruze vehicles. They will also have Chevrolet MyLink in-car entertainment technology integrated within the cooling zone.

BMW 7 series UK prices revealed, India launch soon

BMW UK have revealed the pricing of the sixth generation BMW 7 series. The company has put a price tag of 72,000 GBP on the upcoming version of the 7 series saloon car. However,not much information is available for the India-bound model of the new BMW 7 series.

What is new with the car?

Engine:

The sixth generation BMW 7 series will be available in two petrol variants and three diesel variants in the UK MARKET.

While in India, BMW will launch the 730Ld and the 750Li variants, with the launch of the 760Li variant in the near future to rival the recently re-launched Mercedes Maybach.

ALSO READ: BMW Motorrad reveal Concept Stunt G 310 at Salao Duas Rodas

Design:

The sixth generation BMW 7 series will have minor changes in its appearance. The saloon car will feature a new front grille, headlamps along with new bumpers. Overall, the BMW 7 series will feature the same design as the previous models.

Price:

The pricing of the sixth generation BMW 7 series will be somewhere around Rs 75 lakh -Rs 78 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) and will be launched in the country at the Auto Expo 2016.

Android Auto is not spying on you, Google says

Google is denying claims made by a report earlier this week that suggested Android Auto collects more data than it should.

The report from Motor Trend says Porsche chose Apple's CarPlay instead of Android Auto for the infotainment system in its new vehicles due to concerns about Google's data collection.

Specifically, the report says, "Porsche said certain pieces of data must be collected and transmitted back to Mountain View, California," sparking concerns on if Google could end up spying on you with the information is does collect through Android Auto.

In response, Google released a statement to a number of publications, including Motor Trend, denying it is collecting the types of data suggested in the article.

"We take privacy very seriously and do not collect the data the Motor Trend article claims, such as throttle position, oil temp and coolant temp," Google said.

"Users opt in to share information with Android Auto that improves their experience, so the system can be hands-free when in drive and provide more accurate navigation through the car's GPS."

This is similar to the opt-in sharing features found on Android phones and tablets during initial set up of the device, which can be switched on or off later as well.

We'll be getting in touch with Porsche to clarify the statements it made to the publication in regards to Android Auto.

The Bugatti Vision GT is a completely bonkers hypercar that happens to be very real

So the way it generally works with high-performance cars and their fans is they get to experience their favourite driving machines as virtual counterparts in their favourite computer and console racing games. Meaning the real cars come first, which are then replicated for driving pleasure on a computer, PlayStation or Xbox.

These days there appears to be an interesting reversal in the trend--and Bugatti is leading that charge. A few weeks ago, the French hypercar company (now Volkswagen-owned) happened to be the prime accused behind the case of jaws dropping en masse at the Frankfurt Motor show, thanks to their Vision GT unveiling. Resembling something born out of a marriage between Chris Nolan Batman and Joseph Kosinski TRON Legacy, it’s a completely stupendous car. But when people realized that the car on display was no cardboard mockup, that it was an actual vehicle that could be driven around, it sent ripples of speculation about whether this would be the spiritual successor to their venerable Veyron.

Now in this recently-released video, it comes directly from the horse’s mouth--that yes, this car marks the beginning of what will mark their next era of hypercars. From an engine that sounds like the soundtrack to an impending cataclysm to automotive design lines like nothing you’ve ever seen, here’s something that appears destined to dwell among the rarefied hypercar pantheon. As Sasha Selipanov, Bugatti’s Head of Exterior Design Creative Department, says, “We’ve had a dream to do such a car for a very long time in the design department: taking the Bugatti, stripping it of all of its excessive luxury and doing a thoroughbred racing car.”

It’s a car that is designed--ground up--so that every feature is function-driven. From the flowing fin that extends from the roof to the hindquarters that provides aerodynamic stability to the manner in which the controls in the cabin are laid out, everything has a purpose. And that purpose is single-mindedly performance. Brought to life as an actual drivable virtual car in the popular Gran Turismo driving simulator on PlayStation, it’s a drive that every gamer could potentially experience.

GM recalls SUVs, tells owners not to use windshield wipers

Dealers will replace faulty wiper motor covers that allow some electrical terminals to come in contact with each other.

General Motors is telling owners of some SUVs not to use their windshield wipers because an electrical short could cause the wiper motor to catch fire.

The company is recalling nearly 32,000 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia SUVs from the 2016 model to fix the problem.

Only 6,400 were sold and the rest are being held at dealerships until they are repaired. Most are in North America.

ALSO READ: Now probe on BMW, Land Rover, General Motors

GM says if weather stops owners from taking their SUVs to dealers, it will pick up the vehicles for service. It also will arrange rental cars if parts aren't available.

Dealers will replace faulty wiper motor covers that allow some electrical terminals to come in contact with each other. Parts are being shipped and will be used first to fix customer vehicles and those that have been sold.

ALSO READ: General Motors India rings in senior level changes

The problem was discovered when a wiper motor overheated at a factory near Lansing, Michigan, where the SUVs are made. The plant's quality manager reported the problem on Sept. 21 through GM's "Speak up for Safety" program, and GM began investigating five days later.

The company says no fires have happened outside the plant.

Bridgestone India launches fuel efficient, environment friendly Ecopia tyre

Ecopia tyre is one of Bridgestone's flagship brands that represent the company 's eco-activities

Bridgestone India on Wednesday announced the launch of its fuel-efficient Ecopia EP150 and Ecopia EP850 in India. Ecopia tyres are engineered with a combination of light and strong materials for greater fuel efficiency and to reduce carbon emissions. Independent test has demonstrated that  Ecopia EP 150and Ecopia EP850 provides 7 per cent and 10 per cent better fuel efficiency respectively, when compared to conventional tyres.

Ecopia is a combination of the words, 'Ecology' and 'Utopia'. It is one of Bridgestone's flagship brands that represent the company 's eco-activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kazuhiko Mimura, Managing Director, Bridgestone India said, "Bridgestone's Environmental Mission  statement of "To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations" is the driving force behind our launch of Ecopia in India. Through Encomia's fuel-efficiency , Bridgestone can contribute towards the reduction of CO2 emissions in India, while enabling Indian drivers to achieve fuel-savings. Apart from increased fuel- efficiency and being environmental-friendly, EP150 and EP850 are also designed to provide durability and excellent road handling performance."

Bridgestone's ECOPIA range of tyres utilizes compounds and cutting edge technology in tread design to strike a balance between fuel efficiency , low rolling resistance, safety and durability. This enable Ecopia to cope with the demands of a wide variety of drivers.

The Ecopia tyres are available in 26 sizes initially, ranging from 13" to 18" rim diametres, and is designed to fit many popular compact vehicles. Ecopia EP150 caters to small and mid-sized vehicles while the Ecopia EP850 caters to SUVs.

The fuel savings offered by Ecopia contributes to Bridgestone's global goal of improving tyres rolling resistance by 25 per cent by 2020. The Ecopia tyres range also brings Bridgestone closer to its long-term environmental vision of achieving  a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 by the year 2050.