ICYMI - Motoring Quick Bites

[inlinesix]

On 12/27/2024 at 10:31 AM, kobayashiGT said:

The softtop is made of Alcantara?

 

I don’t think so

[kobayashiGT]

On 12/27/2024 at 10:34 AM, inlinesix said:

I don’t think so

ahhh. if not maybe after winter, mold will grow all over it liao. hahaha. 

Then mazda become mati liao. hahaha 

[Carbon82]

What do you think? It is a nay for me.

Florida’s Building A Test Road From Radioactive Waste

• The use of phosphogypsum can cause cancer, something the EPA acknowledges, but says the public won't come in contact with it.
• Florida’s test road made with radioactive waste raises serious concerns about public health risks.
• The EPA claims keeping phosphogypsum under 4 inches of asphalt is as safe as a storage stack.
• The Biden administration reversed a 2020 Trump-era decision to use radioactive waste in roads.

[ER-3682]

On 1/5/2025 at 12:33 PM, Carbon82 said:

What do you think? It is a nay for me.

Florida’s Building A Test Road From Radioactive Waste

The use of phosphogypsum can cause cancer, something the EPA acknowledges, but says the public won't come in contact with it.

Florida’s test road made with radioactive waste raises serious concerns about public health risks.

The EPA claims keeping phosphogypsum under 4 inches of asphalt is as safe as a storage stack.

The Biden administration reversed a 2020 Trump-era decision to use radioactive waste in roads.

 

If Singapore got Nuclear Power Station,then We talk about it.

[Carbon82]

Go or no-go? I know @Hamburger is going to have some comments about the steering wheel...

BMW's New Infotainment System Throws Everything Onto the Windshield

BMW's new iDrive system ditches the trend of ever-larger screens, throws out the instrument cluster, and puts more information on the windscreen so the driver can see it at a glance. It's called "Panoramic Vision," and it will be standard on every BMW Neue Klasse model moving forward—regardless of powertrain.

Panoramic Vision ditches the conventional layout of current BMW models. It doesn't have an instrument cluster, instead, elements are projected onto a single screen at the base of the windshield that runs from pillar to pillar. It's like a head-up display on steroids. The central display is a parallelogram-shaped touchscreen, and it's all managed on the back end by the automaker's new Android-based "Operating System X."

Operating System X is likewise the key enabler of what BMW calls "shy tech." The steering wheel may look busy at first glance, but those functions are only illuminated when they're actually available. If you're getting a call, for example, the buttons to accept or reject it will illuminate. Otherwise, they're off completely. 

[Tohto]

On 1/9/2025 at 11:01 AM, Carbon82 said:

Go or no-go? I know @Hamburger is going to have some comments about the steering wheel...

BMW's New Infotainment System Throws Everything Onto the Windshield

BMW's new iDrive system ditches the trend of ever-larger screens, throws out the instrument cluster, and puts more information on the windscreen so the driver can see it at a glance. It's called "Panoramic Vision," and it will be standard on every BMW Neue Klasse model moving forward—regardless of powertrain.

Panoramic Vision ditches the conventional layout of current BMW models. It doesn't have an instrument cluster, instead, elements are projected onto a single screen at the base of the windshield that runs from pillar to pillar. It's like a head-up display on steroids. The central display is a parallelogram-shaped touchscreen, and it's all managed on the back end by the automaker's new Android-based "Operating System X."

Operating System X is likewise the key enabler of what BMW calls "shy tech." The steering wheel may look busy at first glance, but those functions are only illuminated when they're actually available. If you're getting a call, for example, the buttons to accept or reject it will illuminate. Otherwise, they're off completely. 

I also think steering wheel jing pai kua.

Where should I hold by hand? 

Not sure is the designer drink too much beer when he put his pen on the design board.

Edited January 9 by Tohto

[ArtOfPagani]

On 1/9/2025 at 4:43 PM, Tohto said:

I also think steering wheel jing pai kua.

Where should I hold by hand? 

Not sure is the designer drink too much beer when he put his pen on the design board.

I think he really drunk, added the vertical handles by mistake hahahah - otherwise it might look pretty futuristic (assuming there's an almost transparent thing holding up the horizontal piece).

[Carbon82]

Which Has Better Aero: A Land Cruiser Or a Loaf of Bread?

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a wonderful tool, allowing aerodynamicists a way to visualize and optimize airflow in a way impossible in the real world. It can also be used for sillier aims. Like comparing the aerodynamics of a 40-series Toyota Land Cruiser to a loaf of bread. 

We've always joked about this sort of thing, but YouTube channel Premier Aerodynamics actually went and did it. Well, I am not going to share the details and who won in this no one asked for comparison. Watch the video for the answer (quite interesting actually) 😉 

 

[Carbon82]

Their hay day is over... Err wait, I hear Triumph shouting, MAGA!

Detroit Auto Show Attendance Plummets As Glory Days Fade

• The Detroit Auto Show only attracted 275,000 visitors last month.
• That’s down nearly half a million people in less than six years.
• The 2025 show was disappointing as there wasn’t much besides two new Fords.

The Detroit Auto Show used to be a can’t miss event, but its return was barely worth mentioning. The Ford Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America were introduced ahead of the event, leaving the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards as the only worthwhile news on media day.

While organizers tried to put a positive spin on things, the numbers are truly terrible. Over the course of 11 days, just 275,000 people attended. As The Detroit Free Press noted, that pales in comparison to the 774,179 people who attended in 2019.

Despite the awful attendance, organizers proclaimed it was “one of the largest auto shows in the U.S.” However, the numbers aren’t much to brag about as the former Motor City Jewel barely beat the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, which had a shorter 10-day run that attracted nearly 260,000 guests.

The lackluster showing isn’t much of a surprise as most automakers have decided Detroit isn’t worth the effort. As a result, dealers, four indoor tracks, and randomness – including the Army, Marines, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency – helped to fill up the leftover space in Huntington Place.

This didn’t stop officials from proclaiming the show had a “true energy” and a “robust lineup of vehicles.” While that’s enough to make your eyes roll, the event had an estimated economic impact of up to $370 million.

Organizers also said there were 34 brands on display as well as nearly 500 vehicles. However, the latter figure appears to include “150+ modified, personal vehicles” that were shown in partnership with Modded Detroit.

[Volvobrick]

On 2/6/2025 at 11:08 PM, Carbon82 said:

Their hay day is over... Err wait, I hear Triumph shouting, MAGA!

Detroit Auto Show Attendance Plummets As Glory Days Fade

• The Detroit Auto Show only attracted 275,000 visitors last month.
• That’s down nearly half a million people in less than six years.
• The 2025 show was disappointing as there wasn’t much besides two new Fords.

The Detroit Auto Show used to be a can’t miss event, but its return was barely worth mentioning. The Ford Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America were introduced ahead of the event, leaving the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards as the only worthwhile news on media day.

While organizers tried to put a positive spin on things, the numbers are truly terrible. Over the course of 11 days, just 275,000 people attended. As The Detroit Free Press noted, that pales in comparison to the 774,179 people who attended in 2019.

Despite the awful attendance, organizers proclaimed it was “one of the largest auto shows in the U.S.” However, the numbers aren’t much to brag about as the former Motor City Jewel barely beat the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, which had a shorter 10-day run that attracted nearly 260,000 guests.

The lackluster showing isn’t much of a surprise as most automakers have decided Detroit isn’t worth the effort. As a result, dealers, four indoor tracks, and randomness – including the Army, Marines, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency – helped to fill up the leftover space in Huntington Place.

This didn’t stop officials from proclaiming the show had a “true energy” and a “robust lineup of vehicles.” While that’s enough to make your eyes roll, the event had an estimated economic impact of up to $370 million.

Organizers also said there were 34 brands on display as well as nearly 500 vehicles. However, the latter figure appears to include “150+ modified, personal vehicles” that were shown in partnership with Modded Detroit.

Maybe Sg's Car-nival had more visitors.... 

[Tohto]

On 2/6/2025 at 11:08 PM, Carbon82 said:

Their hay day is over... Err wait, I hear Triumph shouting, MAGA!

Detroit Auto Show Attendance Plummets As Glory Days Fade

• The Detroit Auto Show only attracted 275,000 visitors last month.
• That’s down nearly half a million people in less than six years.
• The 2025 show was disappointing as there wasn’t much besides two new Fords.

The Detroit Auto Show used to be a can’t miss event, but its return was barely worth mentioning. The Ford Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America were introduced ahead of the event, leaving the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards as the only worthwhile news on media day.

While organizers tried to put a positive spin on things, the numbers are truly terrible. Over the course of 11 days, just 275,000 people attended. As The Detroit Free Press noted, that pales in comparison to the 774,179 people who attended in 2019.

Despite the awful attendance, organizers proclaimed it was “one of the largest auto shows in the U.S.” However, the numbers aren’t much to brag about as the former Motor City Jewel barely beat the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, which had a shorter 10-day run that attracted nearly 260,000 guests.

The lackluster showing isn’t much of a surprise as most automakers have decided Detroit isn’t worth the effort. As a result, dealers, four indoor tracks, and randomness – including the Army, Marines, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency – helped to fill up the leftover space in Huntington Place.

This didn’t stop officials from proclaiming the show had a “true energy” and a “robust lineup of vehicles.” While that’s enough to make your eyes roll, the event had an estimated economic impact of up to $370 million.

Organizers also said there were 34 brands on display as well as nearly 500 vehicles. However, the latter figure appears to include “150+ modified, personal vehicles” that were shown in partnership with Modded Detroit.

American car and design for their market.  Mai lah.

[SGCM928]

I am seeing extra revenue source for BYD, which will put them in better financial position to fight the battle domestically and externally. I am however surprised with Tesla in one of the pools, since they have already bring in billions of dollars selling carbon credit on their own.

China's BYD in advanced talks to form pool in Europe over carbon credits (https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-byd-advanced-talks-form-pool-europe-over-carbon-credits-2025-02-10/)

Chinese EV giant BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab is in talks to form a pool with European automakers and sell them carbon credits to help them avoid hefty European Union fines on 2025 emissions, a BYD representative said on Monday.

"We're in talks, we are well underway," BYD's special adviser for Europe Alfredo Altavilla said during a car presentation in Italy.

He did not offer further details.

Earlier this year automakers announced the creation of two pools, one with EV maker Tesla, Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Subaru, and another one between Germany's Mercedes, Polestar, Volvo Cars and Smart.

Companies with lower EV sales can pool their emissions with EV market leaders, purchasing emissions credits from them to lower their overall averages and save them hundreds of millions of euros in EU fines.

Automakers have to notify the European Commission of pooling agreements by December 31 of each year.

Brussels can request extra information about the agreements, but not assess their commercial terms.

Pool participants must not share data or exchange information other than about average specific emissions of CO2, specific emissions targets and the total number of vehicles registered.

[SGCM928]

The EV landscape may change if the merger materialize, and BYD position as the largest EV producer may be threaten.

Dongfeng, Changan hint at merger that could create world's 5th largest auto group (https://cnevpost.com/2025/02/10/dongfeng-changan-hint-at-merger/)

China's state-owned auto giants Dongfeng Motor, and Changan Automobile have announced plans to reorganize, hinting they could merge to become one of the world's largest auto groups.

The two car companies announced almost simultaneously last night that their respective indirect controlling shareholders are planning reorganizations with other state-owned central conglomerates.

The reorganizations may lead to changes in their indirect controlling shareholders, but will not lead to changes in actual controllers, both companies' announcements read.

Neither Dongfeng's nor Changan's brief announcements mentioned the other, but sparked speculation about their merger.

In a report today, local media outlet 36kr said the two car companies will merge and form a new automotive group.

Dongfeng looks set to dominate the new auto group. The chairman of the new group will be Yang Qing, current chairman of Dongfeng, and the general manager will also come from Dongfeng, according to the report.

Changan's chairman Zhu Huarong is not on the management list of the new auto group, seemingly related to his impending retirement in 2025, the report noted.

If Dongfeng and Changan are successfully reorganized, the new auto group will have annual sales of about 4.58 million units, and will overtake BYD to become China's No. 1 carmaker, as well as the world's fifth-largest auto group, 36kr said.

The new auto group is expected to first overhaul its supply chain.

In the future, the two companies will likely integrate supply chain resources and unify the procurement of parts and technologies from high-quality suppliers, according to the report.

This is seen as a key step for the two state-owned auto giants to consolidate their resources to cope with a new market environment. With the rapid electrification of China's auto industry, carmakers are facing new challenges in their operations.

Zhang Yuzhuo, chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, or SASAC, said in March 2024 that state-owned car companies had been slow to move on new energy vehicles (NEVs), hinting that more policies were on the way.

In terms of regulating state-owned assets, China needs to incentivize companies to innovate boldly and break down some of the institutional barriers to development, such as in NEVs, Zhang said in a group interview with the media at the time.

State-owned automakers were not developing fast enough in the NEV sector, and the country would adjust its policy to give the three centrally-administered automakers, separate assessments of their NEV businesses, he said.

Zhang did not directly mention the names of the three automakers in that interview, but the centrally-administered automakers directly regulated by SASAC are FAW Group, Dongfeng and Changan.

The FAW has yet to make a similar announcement.

[Carbon82]

Deep in my mind, "Why waste time and money on this to protect some idiots"...

Subaru’s Forester Gets The World’s First Airbag For Cyclists

• Subaru’s new Forester features the world’s first airbag designed specifically for cyclists.
• The technology previously focused on pedestrians only, but is now larger to help both groups.
• This life-saving feature is Japan-only for now, while the availability in other countries not confirmed yet.

Subaru changed the airbag design to extend up the sides of the windshield. This protects cyclists from the A-pillar, one of the strongest parts of the car. In addition, it adjusted the way the upper and lower panels of the airbag attach, which keeps it in place for both cyclists and pedestrians. Subaru says this is the first airbag of its kind in the world, which sounds right.

At the same time, this is far from the first time that airbags have been applied to cyclists. It’s just the first time that we’ve seen it done precisely this way. In the past, safety advocates have created wearable airbags for cyclists to wear themselves. For example, the Helite B’Safe wearable vest airbag expands similarly to the way a wearable inflatable device from an airplane would, only much faster.

[Carbon82]

Not only Chinese cars, should also ban made-in-China phones, shoes and wireless bras...

Chinese EVs Banned From UK Military Sites Amid Fears They’re Watching Every Move

 

• UK military staff are being advised not to park EVs with Chinese parts near sensitive sites.
• Fears stem from Chinese laws granting government access to data collected by EV sensors.
• The Defense Ministry wants “to mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles”.

Modern EVs are loaded with cameras, radar, and other tech that could, in theory, be used to collect sensitive data. With that in mind, UK military personnel have been quietly instructed not to park EVs containing Chinese parts near military facilities. Officials have also been advised to avoid having sensitive conversations inside vehicles manufactured in China, citing fears of potential surveillance.

[Volvobrick]

On 4/19/2025 at 5:46 PM, Carbon82 said:

Deep in my mind, "Why waste time and money on this to protect some idiots"...

Subaru’s Forester Gets The World’s First Airbag For Cyclists

• Subaru’s new Forester features the world’s first airbag designed specifically for cyclists.
• The technology previously focused on pedestrians only, but is now larger to help both groups.
• This life-saving feature is Japan-only for now, while the availability in other countries not confirmed yet.

Subaru changed the airbag design to extend up the sides of the windshield. This protects cyclists from the A-pillar, one of the strongest parts of the car. In addition, it adjusted the way the upper and lower panels of the airbag attach, which keeps it in place for both cyclists and pedestrians. Subaru says this is the first airbag of its kind in the world, which sounds right.

At the same time, this is far from the first time that airbags have been applied to cyclists. It’s just the first time that we’ve seen it done precisely this way. In the past, safety advocates have created wearable airbags for cyclists to wear themselves. For example, the Helite B’Safe wearable vest airbag expands similarly to the way a wearable inflatable device from an airplane would, only much faster.

I would have invented an air bag attached to the end of a large swing arm that will swipe the cyclists out of the way to one side.... 

[Volvobrick]

On 4/19/2025 at 5:52 PM, Carbon82 said:

Not only Chinese cars, should also ban made-in-China phones, shoes and wireless bras...

Chinese EVs Banned From UK Military Sites Amid Fears They’re Watching Every Move

 

• UK military staff are being advised not to park EVs with Chinese parts near sensitive sites.
• Fears stem from Chinese laws granting government access to data collected by EV sensors.
• The Defense Ministry wants “to mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles”.

Modern EVs are loaded with cameras, radar, and other tech that could, in theory, be used to collect sensitive data. With that in mind, UK military personnel have been quietly instructed not to park EVs containing Chinese parts near military facilities. Officials have also been advised to avoid having sensitive conversations inside vehicles manufactured in China, citing fears of potential surveillance.

But their mobile phones are almost all made in China.... Not scared take photos when they go toilets meh? 

[Jamesc]

On 12/27/2024 at 8:38 AM, Carbon82 said:

A racing team in Thailand has built what could be the world’s first Honda-powered Lamborghini, and it’s being prepped to compete in a 25-hour endurance race next year.

 

On 12/27/2024 at 9:04 AM, kobayashiGT said:

will it be underpowered? 

Might not come first 

in a 25-hour endurance race

but will finish the race!

The Italian engine would have lead the race in first place 

and the half way break down.

Italian reliability.

Edited July 20 by Jamesc