Technology Road
Ford explained that no one company or industry would be able to solve the mobility issue alone. And, the effectiveness of any plan would be contingent on customer acceptance of new technologies.
Ford predicted, “If we do nothing, we face the prospect of ‘global gridlock’, a never-ending traffic jam that wastes time, energy and resources and even compromises the flow of commerce and healthcare.” He continued, “The cooperation needed between the automotive and telecommunications industries will be greater than ever as we prepare for and manage the future. We will need to develop new technologies, as well as new ways of looking at the world.”
With the fast-paced increase in in-vehicle technologies, we can see that the telecommunications industry is critical in the creation of an inter-connected transportation system where cars are intelligent and can talk to one another as well as the infrastructure around them. Ford’s suggestion is that now is the time for us to be looking at vehicles on the road the same way we look at smartphones, laptops and tablets; as pieces of a much bigger, richer network.
The company’s “Blueprint for Mobility” will seek solutions for a problem that is already becoming a reality in expanding vehicle markets around the world. In Sao Paulo, traffic jams regularly exceed 100 miles long and the average commute lasts between 2 and 3 hours a day. Despite this, car buying is growing at a rate of 7.5 percent annually. In China, the world’s longest period of gridlock was registered at 11 days.
The problem is not restricted to emerging markets, either. For example, it is estimated that the cost of congestion to the economy in England through lost time will rise to around $35 billion annually by 2025. In Germany, sustaining a town of 300,000 people is estimated to require 1,000 truck deliveries daily.
Solving the issue of urban mobility is a huge challenge that will only be successful if government collaboration, infrastructure development and industry come together globally.
Ford said with the company’s blueprint will set near, mid- and long-term goals for significant reductions in the company’s global environmental footprint.
In the next 5 to 7 years, Ford plans to be at the forefront of developing increasingly intuitive in-car mobile communications options and driver interfaces that proactively alert drivers to traffic jams and accidents. They have already successfully experimented with this technology in England and in Germany.
Another near term plan is to deliver a better-connected, safer and more efficient driving experience with limited autonomous functions for parking and driving in slow-moving traffic – building on existing Ford features including Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Active City Stop. Many Ford vehicle’s already have the foundation of this technology and some can even be “upgraded” to offer ways to let a driver move through traffic jams in a more efficient and safe manner with the car essentially driving on auto pilot.
Within the next five to ten years, Ford will introduce semi-autonomous driving technology including driver-initiated “auto pilot” capabilities and vehicle platooning in limited situations – technologies that will provide improved safety and driver assistance features, but allow the driver to take control, if needed.
They also plan to increase interaction between individual cars on the road through utilization of ever-increasing computing power and numbers of sensors in vehicles, helping reduce the number of accidents at intersections and enabling limited semi-autonomous and autonomous highway lane changing and exiting.
And, the arrival of vehicle-to-cloud and vehicle-to infrastructure communication that contributes to greater time and energy efficiency by enabling vehicles to recommend alternative transport options when congestion is unavoidable and to pre-reserve parking at destinations.
Ford told the mobility conference, “Cars are becoming mobile communications platforms and as such, they are a great untapped opportunity for the telecommunications industry. Right now, there are a billion computing devices in the form of individual vehicles out on our roads. They’re largely unconnected from one another and the network.”
He continued, “We’ll increasingly take advantage of the car as a rolling collection of sensors to reduce congestion and help prevent accidents. I’m confident that we will see many of these advances on the road in this mid-term period because the early versions are already being designed, and in most cases, tested.”
Long term plans call for radically different transportation landscape where pedestrian, bicycle, private car, commercial and public transportation traffic will be woven into a single connected network to save time, conserve resources, lower emissions and improve safety.
This would include smart vehicles capable of fully autonomous navigation, with increased “auto pilot” operating duration, plus the arrival of autonomous valet functions, delivering effortless vehicle parking and storage. Obviously there may be many changes on the technology horizon. It’s good to see that one of America’s innovative automobile companies is at the forefront helping to set new world standards that can make driving safer, more efficient and more enjoyable for everyone.
Mazda Performance Parts
The automobile is one of the greatest luxuries of life. After all, who really wants to use two feet when they can use four wheels and save the stress son their tender legs. With that said, a number of different car brands design fabulous cars that catch the eyes of numerous car enthusiasts. Among one of the better vehicle manufactures include Mazda. Mazda automobiles are known for their super classy style and cool little sports cars. The Mazda Miata is a one if the top little cars that Mazda makes and that people all over the world love. The ideal thing about Mazda is that they make great performance parts that can be used to make these already zippy cars even quicker.
Unlike many automobile brands that have parts that are hard to come by, Mazda performance parts can easily be found any regular automobile parts stores all across the nation and world. In an effort to provide consumers with more choices for high caliber backup parts for repairing, replacing, and customizing their Mazda’s; automobile stores are now offering an even more extensive line of Mazda parts. Some of the cool Mazda performance parts include high quality body and frame parts, car lamps, and other vehicle accessories that will dazzle the eye. They also offer intake systems, exhaust systems, breaking kits, body kits, suspension kits, and other kits and systems that are specifically designed to fit Mazda prototypes.
Technology in Tyres
Advances in Pneumatic Tyres
Pneumatic tyres are the industry standard for all consumer vehicles. Early rubber tyres were solid, however, ever since John Dunlop designed the first pneumatic tyre in 1888, the world embraced this form of tyre, in spite of the durability of solid rubber, they were downright uncomfortable.
In approximately 455 factories around the world over 1 billion tyres are produced every year containing the same basic ingredients; rubber, carbon black and various chemicals.
Tyres are constructed on a drum and cured in a press under heat and pressure. The heat creates a polymerization reaction that links the rubber monomers and creates long elastic molecules. This allows the tyres to compress where the rubber meets the road and then reform to their original shape.
Different manufacturers uses their own compounds to deliver a combination of durability and performance. However, most tyres all start out the same way.
Digital Tyres
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli has been testing “digital tyres” on the Ferrari FXX K supercar to collect data about coefficient of friction, footprint and pavement grade. This information is then transferred to the car’s ECU and the traction control systems to optimize power delivery based on grip.
Evolving Tyres
Michelin has made some very impressive developments in the longevity of tyre wear. The tire manufacturer has invented a tyre that will evolve as it wears out, preserving its road-gripping performance until the bitter end.
This new technology uses main tread grooves that get wider as they wear down, leaving plenty of space for water to still escape. The new tyres have tiny slices that expand into teardrop shapes and compensate for having shallower grooves, making the tyres safer as they age.
Self-inflating Technology
Self-inflating tyres for the consumer market are also being currently explored. This technology is already being used for heavy machinery and military vehicles, and uses sensors that measure the tyre pressure. If the pressure drops too low, an air compressor inflates the tyre, if the air is too high, a pressure relief valve deflates it.
Airless Tyres
Hankook has been experimenting with a tyre design that doesn’t require air. One of, if not the biggest drawbacks to pneumatic tyres has always been punctures and leaks. The new “iFlex” tyres are being made from completely eco-friendly materials.
The tyre manufacturer has been working with geometric shapes, in place of air, to offer pliable, bouncy qualities of a typical tyre. When tested for durability, hardness, stability, slalom and speed the Hankook NPT (non-pneumatic tyres) performed comparable to traditional air-filled tyres.
The Audi TT will be replaced
The sports car segment comes (once again) to lose an old friend: the Audi TT. This was confirmed by Bram Scot, president of the House of Representatives at the annual meeting of the brand. Fortunately, the sport will be replaced by another type of “emotional” model with a similar price range, with one difference: the mechanics provided for this future model will be electric, unlike the three engines offered on this side of the market.
Launched at the end of the last century, the coupé based on the platform of the Volkswagen Golf has marked the last two decades for its timeless design, but also for its increased performance. Over the years, the manufacturer has offered the TT in coupe and cabriolet, in addition to adding a V6 engine, several 4-cylinder turbo engines and even the legendary 5-cylinder turbo aboard the TT-RS.
But, as is often the case with sports, sales of the model are in free fall in recent years. What’s more, Audi is clearly turning towards an electric future and the TT is simply no longer part of the brand’s short-term plans. The head has even mentioned the R8 in its reflection, although no decision on the future of the exotic has yet been taken car cover.
As for this replacement of the TT, the manufacturer remains elusive on what awaits the public, but it is allowed to believe that the architecture of the Volkswagen ID3 could possibly be used by the division with the four rings for the development of this sport model to come up. We will see in a few years, the priority of the brand which is of course to accelerate the electrification of its range, especially large-scale models, which is not the case of future TT – let’s call it so for the moment – electric!
Audi A4 2020: new appearance and even hybrid technology
The automaker Audi has lifted the veil on the new version of its popular A4 ranges this week. Appearing in its current form for the 2017 model year, the Audi A4 receives its first mid-term changes and even though, at the time of writing, the information about the Canadian model has not been revealed, it is safe to believe that the new A4 will be here in the autumn of 2019, as a 2020 model, as is the case on the European market. Unless his arrival is delayed in the winter of 2020. We’ll see in a few months.
On the menu, the traditional rhinoplasty is worthy of mention, the grille is overlooked by this false air intake at the base of the hood. The optical blocks are also new bill, as the cutting of the bumper. It’s the same thing in the back with a renewed signature of the position lights and the bumper too. The division with four rings of course unveiled all variants of its European range, which includes, in addition to the sedan, the family A4 Avanti, not to mention the A4 All road and liveries S4 and S4 Avanti. Barring a turnaround, the North American market should continue with the A4 sedan, the S4 sedan and the A4 All road.
It is too early to know the specifications of power trains for our territory, but for our neighbors in the Old Continent, the three liveries equipped with gasoline engines come from office with a light hybrid system of 12 volts, which, according to according to the brand, reduce consumption by 0.3 liters per 100 km. Will the North American A4 be equipped with this technology when it comes to us? Audi has also unveiled its new S4 which, for the occasion, is flanked by a V6 turbo diesel engine on the European continent. But with the reputation of TDI engines in North America, the S4 sedan is guaranteed to keep its V6 turbocharged 354 horsepower.
Inside, the engineers reworked the MMI entertainment system housed inside this 10.1-inch wide screen, which would be easier to use, especially in terms of navigation. Consumers may have an attraction for utilities these days, but sedans such as the Audi A4 (let’s not forget the A4 All road in the equation) have largely helped to establish the builder in North America , especially in Canada where vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive are very popular. The future of the A4 range is therefore not threatened on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
An Audi e-torn GTR to replace the R8?
Like almost all divisions of the Volkswagen Group, the Audi manufacturer is turning towards electric propulsion, the arrival of the utility e-torn being only the beginning of the story. In the near future, several other fully electric vehicles will be available in the brand’s showrooms. This 180-degree turn has implications for the most exotic car in the range, the Audi R8. Indeed, the only variant to be equipped with an atmospheric V10 engine is threatened with extinction, not only because of its large engine capacity, but also because the concept has aged, and it is time to turn the page.
The good news is that senior management does not intend to leave this niche for the worlds best-off. The British magazine Car also says in a text published earlier this week that a replacement is in the development phase and it would be called Audi e-torn GTR. And for those who would worry about the performance aspect of this future silent racing car, know that this exotic future will be even faster to shoot down the 0-100 km / h, the publication that speculates on a time slightly over 2 seconds for reach top speed on most of our Canadian highways.
Car magazine says that its sources in Ingolstadt have already confirmed the presence of a trio of electric motors and a battery with a capacity of 95 kWh. The total power of the car would be 650 horsepower, while the range between refills would reach 300 miles (or 483 km). In authentic Audi dedicated to the performance, the wheel would be integral type. Finally, the magazine announces the arrival of this e-torn GTR by 2022, which coincides with the end of the cycle of the venerable R8.
Peak Power Inverter
You do not want to be caught off guard and without power once a storm hits in your area as this will cause you a great amount of stress. There are several option for you to consider in order to be prepared in a case of an emergency.
Do you recall the last time you were without power and much of your precious food spoiled or someone caught a cold and worse yet, there was a freeze-up and you had no way to get heat into your home?
There are several options for you to be prepared. You may either purchase a generator or a Peak Power Inverter that you may plug into a vehicle battery. You would plug an extension cord that is attached to the battery of your vehicle into the Inverter.
With this Power Inverter you may then plug your refrigerator, a small appliance, some lights, a portable heater, a sump pump or such items into the Inverter. You should not plug all of these items in at the same time as this will overheat the Inverter and cause a power failure.
Tips to run a Power Inverter Safely!
- Read the manual and follow the directions
- Have extra gasoline stored in a dry cool place away from heat or sparks
- Make sure your vehicle is parked at least 15 feet away from your home with the exhaust facing away from your home as this could cause carbon-monoxide poisoning
- Use undamaged extension cords to run from the vehicle to the Power Inverter
- Do not run the Inverter cable to the cigarette lighter adapter or AC power source because it is not strong enough,
- Plug the Power Inverter cable to the battery terminals of the vehicle
- Keep the Inverter far from the vehicle engine in a cool dry place, because of gas fumes which could cause a fire.
Used Cars Are Better Than New
Certified Vehicles
It used to be that when you bought a vehicle from the market of used cars, you were going to have to deal with some deficiencies, such as faded paint, worn tires, dirty seats, or rust on the frame. Buying pre-owned also meant that you wouldn’t have the luxury of a warranty if anything went wrong. Fortunately, consumers now have the option to buy certified used cars that are as close to new as possible. Certified pre-owned vehicles are carefully inspected by dealerships, and any problems are fixed. That means the interior is cleaned, the paint is fresh, and any dents, dings, or scratches are repaired. They even have the new car smell. Furthermore, since these vehicles have been so closely inspected, they are offered with a factory warranty. That means you can drive off the lot with a vehicle that is new in all but name, but carries a reduced price tag since it is considered pre-owned.
Same Safety Features
Years ago, people would buy new sedans or trucks in order to have the latest safety features. Drivers wanted air bags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. Fortunately for buyers of used cars, these features are standard, or at least very commonplace. Since the mid-1990s air bags are installed in every car. Since 2011, anti-lock brakes have been necessary requirements in all vehicles sold in the U.S. Buyers can easily find a model that is a few years old with all of the best safety equipment. This means that a pre-owned automobile can offer the same level of safety as a new one, at a greatly reduced price.
Better for the Environment
In years past, the environment was generally not something considered by the average automobile buyer. Fortunately, consumers today are more aware of how their purchases impact the world. For every new truck or convertible that is built, a large amount of energy is used to create it. In fact, some recent studies have shown that the energy used to build a new vehicle is greater than the energy emitted by that vehicle over the course of its lifetime. Furthermore, for every new vehicle, a pre-owned model goes unused. The unused vehicle then has to be disposed, creating waste. If you buy an auto that is several years old, a new one will not be built, and an old one will not be junked. It is a win-win situation.
Auto Locksmithing
The best thing to do when you get a new car with factory original keys is put those keys away in a safe place; after getting spares made. Use the spares and then every time you need a new key you’re getting it made off an original; rather than copying a copy. It is not unusual when someone’s problem is the spares he had made don’t work and they lost their other set. Or the key they are using works but they have had to play with it and wiggle it, and now even that doesn’t work. The problem is many times that they have a worn out key.
But when you have such problem, locksmith can supply, copy and repair automotive transponders keys for many types of vehicles, with no need for you to go to the manufacturer or dealer. With Automotive Transponder device locksmith can make a new set of your car keys and program your automobiles Electronic Management System computer, to match the Immobliser Technology built in.
Locksmiths are acquainted with any vehicle lock system out there, from simple car keys to biometric keys and locks. Locksmith solution is an answer to any car lockout scenario. Replacing outdated car locks, ignition keys and vat keys is also one of locksmith companies features and due to advanced security on modern vehicles replacing lost or stolen keys can be a costly process often involving sending the car back to the dealers. Auto locksmiths are equipped with the latest in vehicle key and remote programming equipment and are able to program new transponder keys from the original, to the lock or from the code. Locksmith also offer a full range of low cost replica keys and remotes for large range of vehicles.
Slip Sliding Away
- Drive only if it’s absolutely necessary. I know you have probably heard that over and over again, but it’s true. If you don’t go out in the bad weather, you can’t get in trouble on the road.
Is your journey really that important and necessary? What harm would come if you were delayed for an hour or so? Chances are for most of us… nothing would happen. Stay home and have an extra cup of coffee or a nice breakfast with your family. That will give the road crews more time to clear the roads.
- Clean off all the snow and ice from your vehicle. If you don’t have a garage then by all means clear off all the snow and ice before getting on the road. Don’t just clear off a small area on the windshield so you can peek out.
- Make sure you have a full tank of gas. This way if you get stuck in traffic, or in a snow bank, you can keep your heater going to stay warm. The extra weight can also help by giving you more traction.
- Slow down and keep your distance. Remember back in your driver’s training class… stopping distances can increase dramatically in icy conditions. It’s a fact that it can take up to ten times as long to stop on an icy road compared to a dry one.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Notice how far the next stop light is or the next corner you need to take. Drive carefully and gently using a constant speed. This will give you more time to act if you need to stop suddenly.
Watch out for road crews with the big snowplows and smaller trucks with plows. They’re lots of slow moving snowplows in snowy conditions.
- Hang up your phone and just focus on your driving. As Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I have to say about that!”
- How to deal with skidding. It’s always a good idea to test out your brakes and steering to test the road and see how slippery it is. If you find it slippery then slow down and take your time.
If you feel your car starting to skid, then take your foot of the gas and allow the speed to drop by itself (don’t hit the brakes) that will only make it worse.
If the car starts to spin out on you, steer into the direction of the spin and allow the car to straighten out.
Finding Your Balance…
Proper Car Care
Washing Paint
Oxidation (starvation) occurs when paint loses its natural oils. Even mild soap accelerates this condition and detergent based commercial car wash products can dull the paint work.
For years, manufacturers of fine automobiles have recommended using only plain, cold water to wash their cars. To avoid paint damage use an extremely mild, low PH, essential oil based car wash that totally disperses in cold or warm (not hot!) water. Surfactants lower the surface tension and increase the natural solvency of the water. The essential oils will dissolve into micron diameter drops. These ‘drops’ will capsule surface grit and allow the grit to be washed away without scratching the surface wax. Wash top down in small sections rinsing frequently. Dry gently with two (2) clean soft terry towels.
Washing Wheels
Brake dust can permanently damage the finish of wheels. The adhesive used to mold brake pads will etch and pit if the dust is allowed to remain in contact with the heated wheel surface. Use a non corrosive, non-phosphoric, low PH wheel wash designed to break the cohesive bond between brake pad dust and chrome, painted, coated alloy, aluminum or steel wheels. Do not wash or rinse any wheel directly after vehicle operation. Wheels and rotors can be damaged by the sudden temperature change. Let wheels cool before washing. Wheel cleaner concentrates can be diluted to the strength you need for your particular wheel condition and cleaning regimen. Apply the wheel cleaner to dry wheels for best results and brush the wheel with very soft, heavily populated brush before rinsing thoroughly with cool water.
Be sure to turn the spray tip of the spray bottle of your wheel cleaner to a full close position to prevent leaks. Dry gently with a clean soft terry towel.
Cleaning Paint
Paint, like any surfaced exposed to the elements, gets soiled, stained, and in many cases, burned by the exposure. Sunlight and acid rain perpetrate more crimes against auto finishes than any other offender. The object of cleaning is to remove the foreign material and repair the exposure damage. Use a neutral cleansing astringent that has the properties to penetrate and release trapped dirt, impurities and dead paint adhering to the primary painted surface during the initial application. Natural oil based products will adhere to the released deposits to be easily removed. Work in small sections applying the cleaner with a medium pressure. Use a simple terry towel to buff the cleaned surface. Do not scrub the painted surface with the abrasive or caustic materials. Abrasive cleaners should be used only by professionals especially in view of the application of special acrylics for the new car surfaces.
Waxing Paint
Use a true natural wax without any cleaning properties. With pure wax the natural oils and wax will adhere to the paint and harden quickly without the traditional white staining or deposits. Excess wax can be removed using a terry towel without strenuous buffing and re-cleaning. Apply wax on dry days to a dry car as most natural wax is hygroscopic (naturally absorbs water) to prevent streaking. Wax small areas at a time using minimal amounts of wax. Most waxes do not need strenuous buffing. Buff lightly with a clean, chemically free microwipe, terry towel or soft cotton cloth.
Autonomous Cars Work
An autonomous car will feature a 360-degree vehicle monitoring system with an evolving Safety Shield, leaving the car monitored at all angles. The vehicles will feature two of the current released technologies.
Automatic lane centering and cruise control. Automatic freeway exiting, lane changes, stopping at red lights, and overtaking a slow or stopped vehicle will be new features on these vehicles. All of that will be implemented without driver involvement for these features to be activated. The all-around sensors will also warn the driver of any surrounding hazards so that the driver can react.
Also these vehicles could monitor incoming traffic while turning and overtaking, and side distance control (the latter works to avoid obstacles and steer away to avoid potential collisions). The technology also merges the car away from blocked roads and safely merges the vehicle into another lane, even if there is incoming traffic. In addition, these cars can also monitor against possible theft and can park themselves when prompted to do so. Just a few remarkable things on the already semi-long list of ‘tricks’ these vehicles can perform and it only promises to continue to get better.
So far, these vehicles have successfully (and safely) driven around a parked car, and entered to intersections during a lapse in traffic. This technology which consists of lasers scanners, cameras, advanced artificial intelligence and actuators which further extends the Safety Shield, helps implement real world scenarios so that the situations may be monitored and the car will be “taught” properly how to react. The cars need to react in the same way that a human driver would since these vehicles will be placed on the road with other human drivers, who may or may not be driving an autonomous vehicle.
Although the technology of these cars has advanced, there’s still a lot that needs to be done to ensure these cars will be safe on the road when they come to market at a dealer near in 2020. Advancements will include the ability to react to traffic lights and road signs, preventing the car from lane departure, and braking safely in traffic. The technology will also have to be advanced enough to differentiate between what is a hazard and what necessarily isn’t, to prevent any mishaps that could only potentially put the driver or other vehicles in danger. But Motor Chief Executive is confident they can get the technology to where it needs to be by the end of the decade.