Mercedes GLC 200 - a GLC 250 4Matic on the budget

At times of dire economic situation with rising cost of living rearing its ugly head, it is perfectly understandable to adopt a pragmatic approach to keep expenditure to a minimum. The ideology comes in handy if you're currently shopping around for a new car. It may be tempting to put the money down on posher stuff, but you can't have everything in life. Want to keep your bank account happy? Then some sacrifices are to be made.

Retailing at RM288,888 (OTR without insurance), the recently launched Mercedes Benz GLC 200 saves you RM37,000 over the GLC 250 4Matic AMG Line and more importantly, keeps you from draining an extra RM250,000 over the hardline AMG GLC 43 4Matic. As you may have guessed from the variant name, the cheaper variant makes do without the proprietary all wheel drive, the 2.0 litre M274 turbo 4 pot feeding its 184 hp and 300 Nm grunt exclusively to the rear wheels mediated by the Tristar's 9 speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.

Personally, I wouldn't mind the removal of all wheel drive as it makes the compact SUV mechanically simpler. With less parts to worry about, maintenance should be less of a chore financial wise.

The minimalistic approach also divests the AMG Line styling kit that graces the GLC 250 4Matic, so outgoes accoutrements such as 20-inch AMG multispoke wheel, in its stead a 19-inch five-spoke wheel that wraps around a 235/55 run-flat tyres. Other than that, other sacrificial kit includes perforated front disc brakes, panoramic sunroof, AMG sports suspension and surround view camera. 

Though life outside seems dearth of knick-knack, life inside is quite a different story. There is still abundance of luxury, with the freestanding touch screen display taking centre stage and a healthy dose of leather upholstery. The GLC 200 makes do without flat-bottomed steering wheel as found in the more expensive GLC 250 4Matic and a brown wooden centre console trim instead of dark in the latter.  

Despite being an on the budget SUV, Mercedes still retains rear air-con vents, Thermotronic triple-zone auto climate control, reverse camera and powered front seats with lumbar support.

Difference between Atkinson and Budack cycle

Atkinson cycle engine has been the technological de rigueur targeted at cars design for outright efficiency over balls-out performance. Chief recipients of the technology are commonly hybrid cars such as Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius. 

So what is Atkinson cycle? It's a variation of the four-stroke cycle where instead of closing the intake valve just before the piston reach, or is exactly at bottom dead centre, the intake valve is shut as the piston is roughly 30 percent on its upward stroke during the compression stroke.  

This effectively lowers the effective compression ratio without changing the expansion ratio in contrast to the conventional Otto cycle. As a result, efficiency improves as the engine wastes less energy trying to compress the dense air-fuel mixture and ensures every drop of fuel burnt is converted into useful work (that is actual work in applying downward pressure on the piston) rather than being wasted for nothing.

Of course, this comes at a detriment to power output as leaving the intake valve open during the compression stroke pushes some air-fuel charge back to the intake port, reducing the air charge density left for combustion. 

Volkswagen, however, has a different take in achieving such feat. Instead of leaving the intake valve opens during the compression stroke, the intake valve is instead closed before the piston reaches bottom dead centre. 

This effectively achieves what Atkinson cycle does, which is to lower the effective compression ratio without changing the expansion ratio. If you want power, Volkswagen have you covered by employing a camshaft lobe that alters the intake valve duration, enabling a switch to Otto cycle.

That's about the lowdown I can elucidate. For a detailed rundown, do watch the video by Engineering Explained below.

  

Jaguar Future-Type Concept lets you own a steering wheel

Source: Jaguar

With the relentless pursuit of autonomous car gaining more and more momentum, we are looking at the prospect of a future where drivers just take a seat and enjoy a sip of latte while the car expertly provides a smooth, chauffeured-ride by itself. To those who sees driving as more than just a monotonous point A to point B chore, it's understandable to feel the world has left them out in the cold. For that reason is why Jaguar decides to offer up a solution - a dual-mode autonomous car with a choice to let the car handle the driving task or hand over complete control to the driver.

Meet the Future-Type Concept, Jaguar's idea on implementing full self-driving car while allowing drivers to take over at will. The Future-Type Concept is set for 2040 introduction. The concept behind Jaguar's futuristic autonomous car is interesting nonetheless. In Jaguar's word, the Future-Type Concept is underpinned by "on-demand service club", meaning the operation of the concept is done by a portable, voice-activated artificial intelligence steering wheel. Yep, all you need is the steering wheel and not the car. 

Source: Jaguar

Dubbed Sayer (named after Malcolm Sayer, the E-Type designer), Jaguar said the steering is capable of performing hundreds of tasks which include summoning the car, play your favourite music and even knows what is inside your fridge. What is more, the ownership of the steering eases ride-sharing service as a fully charged Future-Type Concept can be summoned on demand, or if privately owned, lets you call Future-Type Concept for a late night jaunt to posh restaurant with your significant others.

As per the concept's raison d'etre, Jaguar said the car can be entirely left to its own devices or if you're in adrenaline mode, Sayer steering is on hand to let you thrill yourself at your favourite B-road.

                           
                                                                                          Source: Jaguar

Owing to the demand of the increasingly connected world, the Future-Type Concept will feature a 2+1 seating orientation, with a rear-facing front seat enabling face-to-face conversation with front-facing driver seat and rear passenger seat.  

The Future-Type Concept is a step towards the future that doesn't take away altogether driving involvement that enthusiasts yearn for. This has to be an example of innovative ideas that preserve the sanctity of driving while still giving the impetus for progression in technology.

Source: Jaguar

     

Toyota C-HR preview at 1 Utama Shopping Centre

The ongoing Toyota C-HR preview finally made its way to 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya starting from 6 September until 10 September. The C-segment compact SUV that will take on the likes of Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 will make its official unveiling to the Malaysian market in February 2018, as informed by one of the exhibitor on site. 

Let's start with a disclaimer. The car you see here is not a full representative of the spec Malaysian market will receive. This is instead an Australian model. A quick chat with an exhibitor on why the Australian model was chosen for preview in lieu of the Malaysian model revealed that there's no difference in exterior design language between Malaysian and Australian model. In other words, what you see from the outside is what you get. The difference, according to the exhibitor I had a word with, lies on the interior fit and finish.

Technically, question marks are still floating around on what the actual spec Malaysian customers will get. The preview model seen here is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense suite of safety features which include Pre-Collision Safety, Active Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning and Automatic High Beam. Whether these features will see the daylight in Malaysian model is anyone's guess.

On to the interior side of things, we can see dual automatic climate control, fabric seat and multi-function steering wheel, but as always, it's anyone's guess if these features will appear when the compact 'Coupe-High Riding' SUV makes its premiere in the Malaysian market. According to the exhibitor I struck up the conversation with, the interior fit and finish might be subjected to change, so take the information with a pinch of salt.

While the Malaysian C-HR remains shroud in mystery, the only bit that has been confirmed to make it to 'Boleh' land is the oily stuff. The preview model carries an 8NR-FTS 1.2 litre turbocharged four cylinder mill paired to a CVT transmission. The Malaysian model will instead be motivated by a 1.8 litre naturally aspirated Dual VVT-i petrol (JPJ wants to make more money??) also mated to the CVT transmission with sequential shifter.

Details are still largely scarce though, including retail price and whether or not a hybrid model (either in CBU or CKD form) will be introduced to the Malaysian market in the near future. 

What do you think of Toyota's HR-V and CX-3 fighter? Will it win the hearts of Malaysian consumers enough to steer them away from Honda and Mazda's compact high-riding people carrier? More importantly, how much do you think the asking price should be? Do leave your comment below.

  

Feast your eyes on this life-sized Ferrari SF70H made of Lego bricks

Ever wish to come across a life-sized F1 car made from Lego bricks? Well, the Danish brand that makes ends meet with plastic bricks has made your wish come true in the form of the Ferrari SF70H. Yep, it's the very same race car at the helm by Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel for this year's Formula One championship.

Following in the footsteps of the McLaren 720S, the 2017 Ferrari F1 car is built from 349,911 individual bricks as claimed from the video above. That's a far higher number compared to 280,000 required for the life-sized McLaren 720S.

Anyway, enjoy the video above showing the time-lapse build process of the Ferrari F1 race coming into being.

Video Credit: Lego  

Mazda SkyActiv-X, a spark-aided Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition

Source: Kickaffe via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

The battle for high efficiency, low emission engine continues to gather momentum when Mazda made a revolutionary announcement earlier this month in the form of the SkyActiv-X engine technology, which Mazda predicts will find its way into production cars by 2019. What the heck is that? Another one of Mazda's trick techno wizardry? In no uncertain term, it is one heck of a piece of tech. It is Mazda's speak for Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine, which mixes air and fuel in the cylinder like a gasoline engine, but ignite by piston compression like a diesel engine.

That sounds like a win-win proposition-diesel efficiency combines with clean gasoline emission. Except with a but. A BIG but. There has never been a production HCCI engine in mainstream cars. Why? Well, it's due to this conundrum: timing. Unlike on conventional gasoline and diesel engine where ignition timing can be easily controlled and adjusted with the spark plug (gasoline) and fuel injector (diesel), HCCI has no such luxury. It relies solely on cylinder temperature which if not controlled properly, can create a whole host of nasty problems such as the dreaded knock when it's too hot or compromised combustion if it's too cold.

To remedy this problem, Mazda throws in the spark plug. The idea is that when condition is less than ideal for compression ignition (cold engine, low ambient temperature, high load/rpm), the spark plug will take care of ignition. During highway driving or low load/rpm, the engine will revert to compression ignition to increase efficiency. Speaking of efficiency, Mazda claims their SkyActiv-X tech can improve efficiency by 20-30%. Bold claims there Mazda.

Efficiency aside, this warrants some questions:

1. How will Mazda ensure seamless transition from spark ignition to compression ignition and vice versa? 
2. What approaches will Mazda adopt to control the time combustion occurs?

Let Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained offers some educated guess:

Video Credit: Engineering Explained

    

Petrol and diesel vehicles ban from France by 2040

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid from 2016 MIECC Auto Show

Are we seeing more and more proposal to consign fossil fuel-powered vehicles to the history book? Looks like the trend is gaining traction as the French government has taken a bold step towards a greener future by proposing that by 2040 there will be no more vehicles motivated by prehistoric dinosaur leftover clogging the French thoroughfare. 

In a move announced by Nicolas Hulot, France ecology minister, the move is part of France plan to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The French, however, is not alone in this initiative as their northern neighbour, Norway, is set to fully adopt hybrid and electric cars by year 2025.  

What does this entail? Well, in my opinion, this is nothing surprising as automakers have to meet emission standard before being certified as road legal. Phasing out pure Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars seems to be a more feasible option as authorities worldwide are looking for solutions to address pollution woes in their respective countries.