Having problems with evasive maneuver? Ford's Evasive Steering Assist got you covered

The odds of surviving an accident in modern cars are getting increasingly likely thanks to the fitment of safety features, such as Automated Emergency Braking (AEB), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), airbags and many more. Well, Ford has decided to add another feature to the list of safety features, the Evasive Steering Assist (ESA).

Imagine you are dawdling around minding your own business when out of nowhere, say a crate, rolled into your path. Assuming you have AEB, the car will automatically slam on the brake to avoid collision. But, what if braking alone is not enough to avert disaster? Naturally you will jerk the steering to one side to steer around the obstacle, but what if you are not applying the right amount of steering to avoid the obstacle? This is where Ford's ESA can lend a helping hand.

Ford's ESA acts as a second pair of hand in case if the AEB could not prevent fender-bender alone. Just like AEB, ESA also relies on camera and radar system to determine if you are performing an evasive maneuver (ESA only kicks in during evasive maneuver, not before), and if necessary, speed up steering response to increase your chances of a successful evasive maneuver. Think of it like an invisible hand magically boosting the steering's response for a quicker evasion.

If you need more details on Ford's ESA, do watch the video below.

Video Credit: Ford Media

Honda NSX GT to terrorise Super GT

Source: Honda

It seems like Honda is not ceasing to produce more racing version of their NSX supercar. After the introduction of the NSX GT3 and the quad electric motor NSX Pikes Peak, Honda has rolled out their Super GT challenger, the NSX GT. 

Just like the NSX GT3, the NSX GT ditches the road-going version's Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) and 9-speed dual clutch automatic for rear-wheel drive and 6-speed sequential racing transmission. The difference though lies in the engine specs. Where the NSX GT3 retains the 3.5 litre twin turbo V6, the NSX GT makes do with a 2.0 litre turbo 4 cylinder projected to output around 600 horsepower.

Will Honda continue to spawn more racey NSX? This writer wonders if an LM GTE NSX is secretly being planned for future introduction?  

Nissan e-POWER electric drivetrain

Source: http://www.nissan.com.au/Discover/News/2016/November/02/NISSAN-INTRODUCES-NEW-ELECTRIC-MOTOR-DRIVETRAIN-ePOWER

Nissan has introduced its brand new electric drivetrain system under the Nissan Intelligent Mobility electrification strategy. Christened the e-POWER, the new electric drivetrain system is, according to Nissan, a result of knowledge gained from the development of the all-electric Nissan Leaf. The Nissan Note (pictured above) will be the first Nissan model to equip the new electric drivetrain system.

How does it work? According to Nissan, the e-POWER dispense of the need for external charging port thanks to the addition of a small petrol engine driving the power generator. The engine will fire up when the battery is low on charge. This will recharge the battery as you are driving along, which helps alleviate the so-called 'range anxiety' associated with all-electric vehicles. The battery will then feed its juice to the electric motor to propel you down the road.

This is in contrast to all-electric vehicles which does not lug around the internal combustion engine (ICE), nor the conventional hybrid where the ICE takes the propulsion duty over from the electric motor when the latter is low on charge.

Nissan's e-POWER is essentially a series hybrid system and in a way, it's nothing new. However, with the e-POWER technology, Nissan has managed to make the battery smaller compared to the Leaf's battery, which helps in weight reduction and more importantly, enables the electric motor to deliver high output for smooth, powerful acceleration.  

Nissan Tsuru discontinued; zero-rated NCAP safety rating

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Sentra#B11_.281982.E2.80.931986.29

Safety first folks! Nissan has decided to pull the plug on their Mexican-market Tsuru sedan (otherwise known as the B13 Sentra) by May 2017 due to its dismal zero-rated NCAP safety rating.

Global NCAP and Latin NCAP conducted a car-to-car crash test between the Tsuru and the five-star rated 2016 Nissan Versa (known as Almera in Malaysia). The result of the test revealed the squalid protection offered by the Tsuru.

A 50 percent overlap crash test revealed the Tsuru's main structure failed to absorb the impact, resulting in the driver's head hitting the steering wheel as shown in the video above. Global NCAP posited the driver of the Tsuru could easily suffer life-threatening injuries in an actual road accident. To compound matters, the Tsuru is not equipped with airbag.

Global NCAP secretary-general, David Ward, stressed on the importance of meeting minimum crash test standard to prevent sales of unsafe cars, "Our first ever car-to-car test clearly shows the importance of minimum crash test regulations. Mexico doesn't yet apply them and the US has had them for decades. The lack of standards can result in the sale of unsafe cars like the Nissan Tsuru".

Meanwhile, Latin NCAP reported on this April that the Tsuru was responsible for more than 4000 deaths on Mexican roads between 2007 and 2012.

Video Credit: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Toyota and Mazda strike up connected cars and electric vehicle (EV) deal

Source: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/business/technology/

Seems like Toyota and Mazda are getting greener. After inking a deal last year to share each other's efficiency-enhancing technologies (Toyota provides Mazda with their fuel-cell and hybrid tech; in return Mazda provides Toyota with their efficient, compression-optimised SkyActiv petrol and diesel), the Japanese duo has struck up a deal that will see them focusing in developing connected cars and electric vehicle (EV) technologies, according to Automotive News.

The details of the deal, however, still remains under wrap, as Akira Marumoto, Mazda's executive vice president, declined to share the details.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/article/20161102/OEM01/161109974/mazda-says-toyota-tie-up-could-yield-electric-connected-cars

Volkswagen officially withdrawing from FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126936

So it is then. Volkswagen has called it a day to their FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) participation, after sister brand, Audi, officially ended their participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans racing to focus more on developing electric cars technology with Formula E Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport next year (though they have not quitted DTM German Touring Car racing). 

Blame that on Dieselgate. With mounting calls for buyback and increasing fines worth billions of dollars, it just does not make sense financially to continue funding the brand's racing programme. 

Frank Welsch, Volkswagen's board member overseeing technical development, hinted on the brand's electrification alternative, "With the upcoming expansion in electrification of our vehicle range we must focus all our efforts on important future technologies".

Could this be hinting at Volkswagen's participation in Formula E, following Audi's footsteps?   

  

W213 Mercedes-AMG E63 4MATIC+, E63 S 4MATIC+ launched!

Source: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2017-mercedes-amg-e-63-officially-revealed

Say you are a family man. Your daily grind involves dropping your kids off at school, a trip to your office, or taking your family on a nice vacation. Having a sedan is most likely in your bucket list to transport yourself and family in great comfort. But, does it have to be a boring endeavour? Is the sedan's sole purpose to be a comfortable, family-carrying cruiser? If fun is what you want, but you still need the extra room to carry your family, Mercedes got you cover: say hello to the W213 Mercedes-AMG E63 4MATIC+ and E63 S 4MATIC+!

Yes, you have 2 variants to choose from, with the E63 S 4MATIC+ the obvious hardcore version. Regardless of which variants you choose, both will be fitted with AMG's 4.0 litre twin turbo V8. The E63 4MATIC+ makes 563 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, while the hotter E63 S 4MATIC+ makes 603 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque. As a result, the E63 4MATIC+ will hit 62 mph from standstill in 3.5 seconds (3.4 seconds for the E63 S 4MATIC+). Furthermore, the potent E63 S 4MATIC+ is equipped with a dynamic engine mount which strikes the balance between soft and firm mount to ensure comfortable ride quality, but without sacrificing handling dynamic.

On the transmission front, both variants will receive the AMG Speedshift MCT nine speed transmission, utilising a wet start-off clutch in place of torque converter to improve throttle response. Feeling like a budding racing star? You can play around with a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter.

Living up to its name, both E63 variants will channel twin turbo V8 grunt to AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all wheel drive system. It features an electronically-controlled coupling that varies the torque distribution between the rear and front axle to optimise handling dynamic. Pick the base E63 4MATIC+, you make do with a mechanical differential lock; the potent E63 S 4MATIC+ will come with an electronically-controlled differential lock.

Thinking you are the next Keichii Tsuchiya? Mercedes AMG has you covered thanks to the addition of drift mode. You heard that right. This new W213 generation E63 lets you have your sideway fun (unless if your spouse thinks otherwise). To engage the drift mode, select Race mode, pull the paddle shifter (don't forget to turn off ESP!) and put the transmission in manual mode. Congratulations, you are a new drift hero! Drift mode remains engaged until you deactivate the mode.

Speaking of driving mode, both E63 variants offer AMG Dynamic Select. There are four driving modes - Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. The E63 S 4MATIC+ adds a fifth mode, the Race mode for track use. Launch Control function is also available. To engage it, select Sport, Sport Plus or Race mode (assuming you have the E63 S 4MATIC+), left foot on the brake and floor the throttle pedal, and enjoy a nice, clean launch.

Worry about fuel? Again, AMG has you covered. Just select Comfort mode, drive at partial throttle and the AMG Cylinder Management will shut off the second, third, fifth and eighth cylinder.

Onto the braking system, both variants will be stopped by AMG high-performance braking system. Go with the E63 4MATIC+, you will have 360 mm discs front and rear; the E63 S 4MATIC+ sports a larger 390 mm front discs with no change in diameter to the rear discs. If you go with the E63 S 4MATIC+, you have the option of speccing it with the optional AMG Carbon Ceramic brakes, which measures 402 mm front and 360 mm rear.

As for suspension, both variants will sit on the Air Body Control air suspension. To further keep the car glued on the tarmac, Mercedes AMG dials in higher negative camber.

Source: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2017-mercedes-amg-e-63-officially-revealed

Source: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2017-mercedes-amg-e-63-officially-revealed 

Sporty performance has to be accommodated by sporty looks. Wheel arches are menacingly wide as a result of wider track width. AMG lettering is conspicuous between the twin silver chrome front radiator grille. At the rear, boot spoiler decks out the back end along with the lovely quad trapezoidal exhaust pipes with chrome-surround. Large 19-inch wheel is standard fitment on the E63 4MATIC+ (E63 S 4MATIC+ will get a much larger 20-inch wheel).