Urban DriveStyle UDX is the Electric BMX

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January 31, 2020

5e30152bc7674371dd847856_Gallery-19 — photo: Urban DriveStyles

With all the focus on fat tire e-bike homages to 70s minibikes and scramblers, it was likely only a matter of time before someone came out with a rad 80s style 2-wheeler with a nod to the iconic BMX. Enter Germany’s Urban DriveStyle and their new UDX.

There’s no doubt that the shape of the UDX is completely intentionally BMX-like. Even still, you can choose between a “period correct” rigid frame, a half frame suspension or a full frame suspension. You can also spec more practical commuter mobility items like lighting… because the run home from work may require it while shredding dirt ramps with your buds when you were kids didn’t.

There are more options. An interesting feature depending on your needs is the ability to mount your battery in three locations whenever you want, or mount several for increased power and range. You can place it above the cross bar gas-tank style like many of these smaller fat tire mini bikes. You can also mount it on the inner down tube, or behind the seat post near the back tire.

The UDX features batteries ranging from 10Ah to 17.5 Ah, making similar ranges from to 28 to 50 miles. Weight ranges from 55 to 62 lbs. It’s got flexible Shimano 7-speed gearing and disc brakes. Like your old BMX, the frame is chromoly.

There are lots of options, so playing around with their configurator can be interesting to consider the possibilities. Now, if they just had white tires, white mag wheels and checker board hand grips. We figure freestylin’ takes on the BMX can only be next. Right?

The UDX has just recently been announced, meaning that if you want one then you’ll have to pre-order. More information HERE.

Byton x CES 2020 Press Conference

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George Achorn

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January 6, 2020

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Sony Vision-S Prototype Vehicle Concept Movie Short

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George Achorn

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January 6, 2020

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CES 2020: Sony Press Conference

By

George Achorn

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January 6, 2020

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CES 2020: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz Keynote

By

George Achorn

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January 6, 2020

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CES 2020: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz Keynote
Ola Källenius presents a groundbreaking concept car at their CES 2020 keynote, inspired by one of the most innovative entertainment brands, envisioning a completely new form of interaction between humans, technology and nature.
Posted by CES on Monday, January 6, 2020

Khyzyl Saleem Reimagines Tesla Cybertruck and It Is Awesome

By

George Achorn

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November 29, 2019

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If you’re not already familiar with Khyzyl Saleem, let us introduce him for you. Known as @the_kyza on Instagram, he’s a self-taught concept artist who hails from Manchester, UK and more recently has been grabbing attention at the likes of the SEMA show with BMW and Polestar builds (thus far) under his Live to Offend brand. Khyzyl most recently took a stab at augmenting the recently introduced Tesla Cybertruck.

Here’s what Khyzyl did in his own words posted to his page on ArtStation.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love what Elon is doing in this industry, truly breaking those boundaries and the original design is bonkers, I just wanted to add my own flavour to it.

“I modelled the truck as my base first, and altered a few body lines slightly just to make it a bit more interesting, its still a truck so went down the Trophy Truck esque route, oh, and I filmed me modelling the entire thing! I added fenders that add a bit of curvature to the truck, but still tried to maintain the futuristic element to it. Bertone inspired, still the same size/scale as the original, just on the lowest height setting.

“Genuinely had a blast with this one and happy with the outcome, I will make more renders to show the details properly! Hope ya’ll like it! Cyberpunk is ma realm, this was incredibly fun!“

It’s interesting Khyzyl mentions Bertone. By lowering the Cybertruck and adding the extra width in flares, particularly the one that overlaps onto the top at the front, the vehicle begins to strongly harken the Bertone-designed Lancia Stratos rally car. The surprisingly jeered wedge-shape of the Cybertruck, once lowered, takes on a strong harkening of 80s era wedge-shaped supercars like the also Bertone designed Lamborghini Countach. In this case, the appeal of the lowered Cybertruck likely strikes a nerve for those who grew up with such cars printed to posters on their bedroom walls.

Could Kyzyl Saleem and Live to Offend build a conversion kit for the Cybertruck? It’s certainly be rad if they did. At this point though, it’s too early to tell. The Cybertruck has barely been shown to the public by Tesla, so any conversions like this will have to wait until after the truck goes into production.

Of course, in scale, the Cybertruck would dwarf a Lancia Stratos by a considerable margin. It’s made to scale closer to the Ford F-150. Even still, if you’d have told us before viewing Saleem’s work that a 4-door pickup body style would resemble the Lancia Stratos, we’d have told you that you were crazy. Now, we’re the crazy ones… crazy for Khyzyl Saleem’s take on the Tesla Cybertruck.

Volkswagen ID.R and ID.3 at the Essen Motor Show

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volkswagen

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November 29, 2019

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Essen Motor Show 2019 — Volkswagen ID.R, Volkswagen T-Roc R

ID.R electric race car and the ID.3¹ large-scale production model are exhibited together
Record-breaking appearances of the ID.R e-race car provided know-how for the development of the ID. family.
Reciprocal knowledge and technology transfer between motorsport and series development

The ID.R electric racing car and the new ID.3 will meet at the Essen Motor Show (30 November to 08 December 2019). The prototype for the racetrack and the large-scale production model for road use will be presented to the public in Hall 3 of the largest tuning fair in Europe. At first glance, the two electro pioneers represent two vehicle concepts that could hardly be more different. However, the ID.R, which has been setting records around the world since 2018, and the Volkswagen ID.3, which was presented for the first time in September, share more than just the electric drivetrain. The development of the ID.R and its appearances have provided valuable information for the series development of the ID. family. At the same time, production development supported the Volkswagen Motorsport team with know-how gained during large-scale production.

Common ground: Maximum efficiency

The development of both models focused on a shared philosophy: maximising the efficiency of the electric drivetrain to ensure optimum usage of available energy – on the racetrack and on the road. The objective for the ID.R, a racing car that operates at the absolute limit, was peak performance on defined routes, while the ID.3 production module requires the most efficient usage of battery capacity in everyday operation and the ability to achieve the greatest range possible. To develop the batteries, Volkswagen Motorsport worked with the laboratories that are also involved in researching the technology for the ID. product family. The cells are integrated into the vehicle floor in the ID.R and in the ID.3 – producing a low centre of gravity that has a positive effect on handling properties. There are also parallels to be found in the charging strategy – for external charging with a rapid charging system and also during brake energy recovery (recuperation) while the vehicle is in motion. One shared feature, which is clear to everyone, are the aero rims on both cars. These have been optimised specifically to improve the cw value. The 20-inch alloy wheels on the ID.3 not only improve aerodynamic efficiency, but their flatness also fits perfectly into the new design language of the ID. family.

Technology transfer between Volkswagen Motorsport and series production

“The entire development of the ID.R led to reciprocal technology transfer between Volkswagen Motorsport and series development,” explains Dr. Frank Welsch, Chief Development Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “This primarily concerned the field of electric drive, as well as technologies such as lightweight design and high-efficiency aerodynamics. For example, motorsport benefited from the production development know-how in building battery cells and handling high-voltage components in the vehicle. On the other hand, the production developers watched how the motorsport team dealt with rapid charging technology and the strategy it used to optimise energy deployment and recuperation while driving.”

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets adds: “We are proud to have supported the development of the ID. production models with the development of the ID.R and its record-breaking appearances. The spectacular performances of the ID.R have also prompted a significant increase in the popularity of the new ID. family and shown that electric cars are not just environmentally friendly, but also fast and fascinating.”

¹The vehicle is not yet on sale in Europe.

Audi Improves Efficiency and Range for e-tron, Plus Adds S-line

By

George Achorn

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November 28, 2019

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Standard efficiency measures cut consumption
Customers enjoy an extra 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) of range in the WLTP cycle
S line exterior package provides an even more dynamic look

Just in time for the premiere of the e-tron Sportback**, Audi is introducing a standard technical update for its first electric product line. This combines optimized drive system hardware with software adjustments to improve efficiency. As a result, all versions of the e-tron SUV will come off the assembly line with an extra 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) or so of range. The new models are available now to customers in Europe.

“Every detail counts” – that was the principle that engineers working on the Audi e-tron applied as they succeeded in extending its range yet further. Future versions of the Audi e-tron 55 quattro** will be able to drive for up to 436 kilometers (270.9 mi) on a full battery charge (WLTP cycle), which is an additional 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) over its previous capability. Thanks to a new type of wheel brake, the developers have achieved further reductions in what is known as residual brake torque. This refers to losses that occur as a result of the proximity of the brake calipers to the brake discs. The drive system has also become more efficient. In normal driving, the motor on the rear axle provides propulsion as standard. Now, thanks to a number of optimizations, the front electric motor is almost entirely disengaged and disconnected from the electricity supply. Only when the driver requests more power do both motors spring into action. Running without power or drag losses, the major advantage of the asynchronous motor concept, is even more effective as a result. In addition, the usable range of the high-voltage battery has increased. The battery in the Audi e-tron 55 quattro** has a total capacity of 95 kWh and now gives customers access to a net power figure of 86.5 kWh. All newly produced models will benefit from the technical upgrade. There is no change to prices for the Audi e-tron 55 quattro**, which start at €80,900.

Highly efficient thermal management

The engineers have also made improvements to cooling. The highly flexible thermal management system, which comprises four separate circuits, has been revised and now regulates the temperature of the high-voltage components even more efficiently. Volume flows in the coolant circuit have been reduced, which means that the pump uses less power. The sophisticated cooling system continues to guarantee rapid DC charging, a long battery life cycle and reproducible performance even under heavy loads. The standard heat pump harnesses waste heat from the high-voltage battery to keep the interior warm. Depending on the outside temperature, that can boost the Audi e-tron’s range by up to ten percent in customer operation.

Improved coasting recuperation

The innovative recuperation system contributes to up to 30 percent of overall range. The Audi e-tron can recover energy in two ways: by means of coasting recuperation when the driver releases the accelerator, or by means of braking recuperation when the brake pedal is depressed. In both cases, the electric motors function as generators and convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. During deceleration actions of up to 0.3 g – which applies to over 90 percent of such actions in everyday driving – the high-voltage battery is charged by the electric motors, which act as generators. The recuperation system provides for variable regulation of energy recuperation between both electric motors, both in coasting mode and during braking. The degree of coasting recuperation can be set to any of three stages by means of paddles on the steering wheel, and there are now greater distinctions between the three, which allows the driver the option of a more pronounced “one-pedal feeling.” When braking from 100 km/h (62.1 mph), the Audi e-tron can recuperate up to 300 Nm (221.3 lb-ft) and 220 kW. That corresponds to more than 70 percent of its operating energy input.

Sporty S line

The S line exterior package emphasizes the sporty DNA of the Audi e-tron. The new equipment version is available now and features 20-inch wheels and sport air suspension. The more distinctively contoured bumper is flanked by bigger and more expressive air curtains, which improve air flow. They extend below the headlights, thereby creating a dynamic appearance even from a distance. An S line emblem adorns the radiator grille, while the illuminated aluminum door sill trims feature an #S logo. The spoiler fitted as standard and a striking diffuser at the rear contribute to the outstanding aerodynamics of the e-tron Sportback. In contrast to the basic model, the attachments on the S line exterior are painted in the exterior body color, including the wheel arch trims, door sills, bumpers and exterior mirrors. The optional black styling package also accentuates the area of the Singleframe, the side windows and the bumper. The exterior mirror housings are also available in black as an option.

Second output level

At market launch of the e-tron Sportback, Audi will be offering a second motor variant. The e-tron 50 quattro**, available as an SUV or Sportback coupé, delivers 230 kW of power and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque (combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi)*: 26.6 – 21.6 (WLTP); 24.3 – 21.4 (NEFZ); combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 0). The model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 190 km/h (118.1 mph). The battery comprises 27 modules, each with twelve prismatic cells. The system is roughly 120 kilograms (264.6 lb)lighter than the one in the sister model and provides 71 kWh of gross power (64.7 kWh net). As a result, the Audi e-tron 50** can cover up to 336 kilometers (208.8 mi) on a full charge in the WLTP cycle, while the Sportback version can reach 347 kilometers (215.6 mi) thanks to its streamlined body. The Audi e-tron 50 quattro** is available now starting from €69,100, while prices for the Audi e-tron Sportback 50 quattro** begin at €71,350. As a result, both models qualify for the Umweltbonus subsidy offered in Germany.

Fuel consumption of the models listed(Information on fuel/power consumption and CO₂ emissions in ranges depending on the chosen equipment level of the car.)

Audi e-tron Sportback 55 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.0 – 21.9 (WLTP); 22.7 – 20.6 (NEFZ)
Combined CO₂ emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0

Audi e-tron Sportback 50 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.3 – 21.6 (WLTP); 23.9 – 21.4 (NEFZ)
Combined CO₂ emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0

Audi e-tron 55 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.4 – 22.4 (WLTP); 23.1 – 21.0 (NEFZ);
Combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 0

Audi e-tron 50 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.6 – 22.4 (WLTP); 24.3 – 21.9 (NEFZ);
Combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 0

Formula E: BMW’s Sim Takes Second Round in Diriyah

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formulae

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November 23, 2019

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2020-Formula-E-Diriyah-Round-2351 — Maximilian Günther (DEU), BMW I Andretti Motorsports, BMW iFE.20 with front wing damage

– Alexander Sims wins at second time of asking, after starting from Julius Baer pole position both days in Diriyah and securing maiden victory in ABB FIA Formula E Championship
– BMW i Andretti Motorsport completes one-two finish with second place for Maximilian Guenther, but podium place still uncertain with safety car procedure under investigation
– Lucas di Grassi shows speed in second race of season to take third place and put first points on the board for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler at SAUDIA Diriyah E-Prix

Alexander Sims (GBR) BMW I Andretti Motorsports, celebrates in Parc Ferme

To read the full race report, receive updates on the results and final classification, visit the Formula E website or download the app on iOS and Android. Alternatively, follow the ABB FIA Formula E Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. @FIAFormulaE#ABBFormulaE

Neel Jani (CHE), Tag Heuer Porsche, Porsche 99x Electric

First Lotus Evija Prototypes Complete High Speed Test

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lotuscars

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November 22, 2019

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New film shows Lotus Evija engineering prototype in action during rigorous global development programme
World’s first all-electric British hypercar makes its China debut at Guangzhou Auto Show
Comprehensive validation and initial build process well underway ahead of start of production in 2020

(Guangzhou, China – 22 November 2019) – Lotus confirms today that the Evija has entered its initial build phase in the UK, as the hypercar’s global tour continues this week with its Chinese debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show.

To celebrate, Lotus premiered a new film during its press conference at Guangzhou. It reveals engineering prototype #2 in high-speed action on a private circuit, and marks a landmark moment – the dynamic world debut of the all-electric British hypercar.

The film highlights just how far development work has progressed since the Evija was unveiled last July. It also confirms the pioneering two-seater is on course for start of production next year.

Dynamic testing will involve track time at Hethel, UK – the home of Lotus – and on other demanding high-speed and performance handling circuits across Europe. Over the coming months several prototypes will cover many thousands of miles and many hundreds of hours of driving assessment, including on public roads.

The Evija – with a target output of 2,000 PS making it the most powerful production series road car in the world – has already been through kinematic and compliance testing and endured multiple dynamic load and suspension simulations.

Both the dynamic and static testing are part of a comprehensive validation process designed to guarantee the car will meet customer expectations and demands in key global markets and environments. They are in addition to the extensive programme of computer simulations already completed as part of the hypercar’s development.

Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes, Lotus Cars, commented: “Physical prototype testing at speed is a landmark moment for the Evija and hugely exciting for everyone involved. Our aim is to make sure it’s a true Lotus in every sense, with exceptional performance that’s going to set new standards in the hypercar sector.”

Speaking from the Guangzhou Auto Show, Matt Windle, Executive Director, Sports Car Engineering, added: “Everything about the Evija is ‘For The Drivers’. I don’t believe there is another EV in the world that can claim this. From the mid-engined-inspired Lotus layout, to the aerodynamics and downforce, the driving position, vehicle stance and unbelievable performance. It is instantly recognisable as special with a unique character, yet it is unquestionably a Lotus.”

Illustrative of the innovative thinking and ingenuity which has always been part of the Lotus DNA, the Evija is a technical tour de force. It continues the legendary Lotus bloodline that’s rich in firsts and technical game-changers, both in the automotive and motorsport sectors.