Audi Introduces the Future of Vehicle Owner’s Manuals

Augmented reality apps, where the camera and a smartphone are used to overlay important information on top of real images, is a concept that has been around for awhile. Audi, never missing an opportunity to promote the advancement of technology, has unveiled their app that is designed to replace the owner’s manual in their vehicles. It will provide the driver with information about warning lights and diagnostic codes, as well as helping identify unknown parts of the vehicle. This should bring a little less confusion to maintaining a complex automobile.

Audi is not the first company to provide an owner’s manual electronically (the Hyundai Equus has already done it), but it is the first to feature full augmented reality. If the driver is unsure of what a particular button does, he or she can take a picture of it and the app will identify what it is. Full owner’s manual information will be available on the phone’s screen for the driver to process.

Audi is the first manufacturer to ditch the owner’s manual for an augmented reality app.

If a warning light illuminates on the instrument cluster, the driver can take a picture of that warning light with the app. It will identify what the warning light is and inform the driver. In addition, if the warning light is related to a fluid like coolant, the driver can open the hood of the vehicle and the phone will direct the driver to the right area of the engine bay to put in the fluid. The driver simply holds the camera up to the engine compartment, and the app will show an arrow over top of the area that he or she needs.

Regular preventative maintenance, like checking fluid levels and tire pressure, is important to having a reliable and safe vehicle. As vehicles become more and more complex, even basic maintenance may seem like a daunting task. Introducing augmented reality as a training tool should make the experience less stressful and also make vehicles safer.

Spyshots: 2015 Jaguar SUV Snapped for the First Time

The very first spy shot of the upcoming Jaguar SUV was recently captured and while it’s extremely blurry, it does give us our first look at the upcoming crossover.

Most significantly, this spy shot showcases the low-slung roofline of the new Jaguar SUV as well as its classic Jaguar taillights almost identical to the first generation Jaguar XF sedan. Other than those small details, no other features about the Jaguar SUV are obvious except for the fact that it has an extremely high tailgate and a very small rear window.

While the recently announced production ready Bentley SUV will be the world’s most expensive car of its type, the Jaguar SUV will target an entirely different market. Rather than cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Jaguar SUV is expected to start at just £31,000 thus making it the perfect rival for the BMW X3.

Development of the Jaguar SUV has been underway for over two years now and Jaguar has already begun secretly previewing the design of its new SUV to potential customers and Jaguar enthusiasts. It’s believed that the styling of the Jaguar SUV will be somewhat inspired by the Infiniti FX.

The new Jaguar SUV will hit the market a couple years after the entry-level Porsche Macan SUV hits the market sometime next year. Both cars will be similar in size and should feature similar standard and optional features. No name for the Jaguar SUV has been released, but it could be badged the Jaguar XQ.

[Via Autocar]

New-gen Rolls-Royce Phantom might come in 2016

A new generation of the Rolls-Royce Phantom is expected to make its way onto the market, probably in 2016.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is believed to be the most luxurious car in the world but after a decade of production, the model is now getting ready to receive a new generation. The announcement hasn’t been made official just yet by the BMW owned brand but according to a recent report, the model in question is expected to receive a new generation, which might make its way onto the market by 2016, with a new looks, a new platform, new engines and by using lightweight materials.

According to the guys at Automotive News, the future generation of the Rolls-Royce Phantom is expected to be based on the future BMW 7-Series generation. This will make it less expensive than the current model and it may affect sales, considering the fact that the company’s fans will probably buy the 7-Series instead of the more luxurious Phantom model. As for the engine lineup, don’t act too surprise if you will see the 6.75 liter V12 engine carried over, but slightly upgrade. An optional all-wheel drive system is expected to become available. The Phantom Coupe will hit the market two years after the regular version.

A Guide to Trading in Your Xbox 360 for the Xbox One

With just months left until Microsoft officially launches the Xbox One, selling its predecessor (the Xbox 360) could be the easiest way for gaming enthusiasts to scrape up the $499 to purchase console of the console just in time.

For that reason we’ve gathered some of the most current pricing information and trade-in values for users looking to sell their Xbox 360 and accessories to purchase an Xbox One.

Games

Users will be able to purchase Call of Duty Ghosts for the Xbox 360 and then trade it later for a version for the Xbox One.

GameStop

Users looking to get Xbox One versions of their favorite games need look no further than GameStop. The company will allow Xbox 360 users who have a free GameStop Power Up rewards card to trade in their Xbox 360 versions of titles, for version on the Xbox One for just $9.99. Effectively, the company will allow gamers to redeem their Xbox 360 titles for $50 up until December 5th. Titles include Madden 25, FIFA 14, Battlefield 4, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag and Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Right now users can still look forward to getting decent trade-in value for the most played Xbox 360 games. The world’s most popular online title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, is still valued at $25.20 with a GameStop Power Up Rewards card. That’s before users take advantage of any special deals being held by GameStop that particular week.

GameStop also offers users the option of halving their trade-in value in exchange for cash for their games, so for those who have placed a pre-order somewhere else besides GameStop, that could be a fairly decent deal.

Amazon

That same standard edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 can be sold to Amazon for $27.99, just two dollars more than what GameStop is offering users. On nearly every game we tested, Amazon offered slightly high trade-in values for most the titles we checked.

Best Buy

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 would only net users $15. It, plus other games we checked, confirmed that Best Buy actually offers significantly less value through its trade-in program for all games. That isn’t to say that users who have pre-ordered the Xbox One shouldn’t trade in their games towards their new console at Best Buy for convenience, but users should keep the lower value in mind.

On the other hand, Best Buy is offering a 100% trade-in bonus for top performing tiles on the Xbox 360. However, the company’s website didn’t offer a list of games that qualified for the bonus, so values in store may vary greatly.

Consoles & Accessories

When it comes to Xbox hardware trade-ins the situation gets pretty complicated. With all of the sources we checked, the amount of money users can get back on their Xbox 360 hardware depends on a number of factors, including hard-drive size and console model.

The Xbox One.

GameStop

GameStop makes the process a little cumbersome. Instead of allowing users to trade-in the entire Xbox 360, GameStop breaks up the console into individual parts. For example a white first or second generation Xbox 360 with a wireless controller will net a user $40 before any in-store promotions. Any hard drives that were attached to that system would garner another $5 for a 60GB hard drive.

Trading in a wireless controller to the outlet would net a user about $10 before any limited-time promotions. Users who have an Xbox 360S could expect as much as $80 in in-store credit before any limited time deals or promotions.

User should note that a Kinect Sensor would count as an accessory and would have to be traded in separately. It would net users another $20 on top of their other Xbox accessories.

Amazon

Just as with games, Amazon offers fairly middle of the road trade-in values for the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 Pro with a 20GB hard drive could be traded in to the retailer for $57.15 in Amazon credit, while a 4GB Xbox 360S and a Kinect sensor is valued as high as $120.

Wireless Xbox 360 controllers traded into Amazon are significantly lower than GameStop’s offers, just $12.60.

Best Buy

The same Xbox 360 4GB with Kinect Bundle the would net users $80 for the console itself and another $20 for the Kinect Motion Sensor, would get a user just $60 in trade in value from Best Buy, depending on its condition, making it far less appealing than any other retailer.

Craigslist

A quick check on Craigslist found that Xbox 360 uses can expect around $200 in cash for their console depending on configuration. That’s not exactly to say that all users can expect this, most of the deals there also included a small collection of games.

Individual game prices greatly varied depending on location and age of the game.

Ebay

The Xbox 360S 4GB with Kinect has sold on the online-auction house eBay for around $150 lately. Again, as with Craigslist, that price can vary widely depending on location and condition of the device itself.

Overall, these trade in values are all decent for users looking to offload their consoles. It should be noted that those users who’ve made a significant investment in their Xbox 360 with digital games and other items may want to hold off on selling their console. Unfortunately, the Xbox One will not be compatible with any Xbox 360 titles at all.

That being said, any Xbox LIVE Gold subscription time left on an Xbox 360 account will transfer over to the Xbox One when it becomes available this November.

Audi A3 saloon spied in India

The A3 will sit below the A4 saloon in the Audi lineup. It is built on VW’s new transverse engine, front-wheel-drive MQB platform. The A3, when launched, will come powered by 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and a 2.0-litre 150bhp diesel motor as well.Audi has begun testing the A3 saloon in India.  The spy shot was sent to us by our reader Harjoot Mankoo.  The car spied in India didn’t not sport LED elements for the tail-lamps nor the signature Audi LED daytime running lamps which could mean that Audi may price the A3 aggressively in our market.

Audi will also offer the A3 with the Audi drive-select system and a manual gearbox for some variants. 

The A3 saloon, which has the Mercedes-Benz CLA as its chief rival, is 4460mm long, 1796mm wide and 1416mm high, with a wheelbase of 2400mm. These dimensions also make it 170mm shorter, 19mm wider and 19mm lower than the Mercedes CLA. The wheelbase of the CLA is 63mm longer than the A3 saloon’s.

Expect Audi to launch the A3 saloon in India next year.

Hyundai to stir up mass market with new launches of Grand i10

New Eon to take on Maruti's Alto K10; Grand i10 to battle Swift.

Hyundai Motor India, the second-largest car manufacturer in the country, is beefing up its small car portfolio with a slew of new models to take on market leader Maruti Suzuki.

The company is planning to launch new Eon 1.1 litre, which will be pitted against Maruti’s Alto K10.

“Eon competes with the entry-level Alto (now Alto 800), but does not have a product that competes directly with Alto K10. The company may introduce the new Eon with 1.1L engine, which is currently being used in Santro Xing,” said a person familiar with the development.

The company launched Eon in October 2011 and currently offers 814cc gasoline engine.

“The company wants to focus on the entry-level segment. Eon was launched to compete with Alto. Alto is one of the best selling models in the country, while Hyundai has not been able to catch up with the Alto numbers. The new Eon will co-exist with the existing Eon,” said the source on condition of anonymity. 

The company did not respond to an email query.

In the last financial year, Alto sold roughly around 20,000 units a month, while Eon sales averaged around 7,000-8,000 units a month.

The company will also launch its small car Grand i10 in September this year, which is expected to compete with Maruti’s Swift. Grand i10 is a completely new car and will be positioned between i10 and i20. It will be manufactured at the company’s Chennai plant.

“The Grand i10 has been positioned above the existing i10 and is targeted at the emerging compact high-entry segment,” the company said.

Grand i10 will come with two engine variants -- 1.1 litre U2 diesel and 1.2 litre Kappa petrol.

Even though the passenger car segment declined 10% this fiscal, experts feel that a new launch will bring excitement in the market.

“Bringing a new product in the segment definitely creates a pull. In terms of product strategy, Hyundai is good at hitting the right area. They offer what Indians want. They were a bit weak on the diesel engine front, but the company will surely benefit with the new diesel engine offering,” said Puneet Gupta, associate director, IHS Automotive. 

Hyundai India reportedly is planning to launch up to four new models in the next two years, including a compact SUV and compact sedan.

Tata Motors launches Safari Storme in Nepal

Tata Motors today launched the new Tata Safari Storme in Nepal. The Tata Safari Storme is a combination of luxury and comfort with raw power and supreme off-roading performance, which this ‘Real SUV’ has been known for.

Commenting on the launch of the New Safari Storme,Mr. Gurinder Singh, Country Manager, Nepal and Bhutan, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “In addition to our current dynamic offerings, we now introduce the Tata Safari Storme to our customers in Nepal. We are sure that customers will be delighted with the look and off road capability of the Real SUV, the Safari Storme”.

The Tata Safari Storme is powered by a 2.2 L VariCOR engine, turbocharged with VTT (Variable Turbine Technology), which delivers a max power of 140 PS & peak torque of 320 NM. The 4×4 variants features ESOF (electronic shift-on-fly) technology, enabling engagement of the 4×4 or 4X2 mode, on the move. The Safari Storme has a claimed fuel efficiency of 14kmpl (4×2 variant) and 13.2kmpl (4×4 variant).

 The Safari Storme’s ladder frame chassis is constructed with advanced hydroformed members, for high load capabilities and robustness. Hydroforming enhances rigidity while reducing weight.

The vehicle also has a double wishbone suspension set-up which provides excellent ride comfort. The Safari Storme boasts of a best-in-class turning circle radius of 5.4 metres, making driving and manuevoring in tight confines absolutely easy. The ground clearance is 200 mm, with 26 degree gradeability. The new rack & pinion steering system offers perfect feel and accuracy, for a confident driving experience, especially at high speeds. Reverse parking system with audible and graphical representation on the antiglare IRVM (Inside Rear-View Mirror), electrically operated power fold ORVM (Outside Rear-View Mirror) with turn signals, enhance the driving experience.

The Safari Storme prices start at NRS 37.85 lakhs in Nepal. The range is available in three variants, LX, VX (4×2 and 4×4), in six vibrant colours – Urban Bronze, Sardinia Red, Pearl White, Pearl Champagne, Astern Black, Arctic Silver.

The Safari Storme will be available throughout the large Tata Motors network in Nepal which consists of Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd., the official distributor and its 12 dealerships. The Tata Safari Storme comes with a warranty of 2 years or 75,000kms, whichever is earlier.

BMW i3 pictures and hands-on: The premium electric megacity car

If you were playing buzzword bingo at the launch of the BMW i3, then "megacity" would probably be the winning word, so keen was BMW to tell us exactly who should be buying the new BMW i3.

It's a term that makes us think of Judge Dredd, throwing us into a vision of the future. It's fitting then, that we're talking about BMW's new electric vehicle, its first step in what will be a line of "sustainable mobility solutions".

In the flesh the BMW i3 is an interestingly designed car. Under the surface is perhaps the most significant aspect: a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) "passenger cell" that makes up the frame of the car, fused with aluminium chassis components. BMW says it is going to be producing carbonfibre reinforced plastic on an industrial scale as its lightweight material of the future.

The BMW i3 weighs 1195kg as a result, shedding weight to reduce energy demands and make sure that you're not spending that precious battery power on hauling an overweight beast up those hills.

But from the exterior the BMW i3 has a distinctive look. It has a high ride height that makes it look more like a pumped-up hatch or baby SUV. The advantage that brings for the driver is better visibility as you're cruising around town/megacity, which is exactly what this car is designed to do.

It's a slightly odd beast. From the sides, there's a flash of Land Rover Evoke in the rear quarter, there's a drop in the bodyline to give the rear passengers a slightly bigger window and from the front, the pronounced front bumper seems to lift and squish the distinctive BMW kidney grille a little.

From some angles it looks futuristic, modern and exciting; sometimes we'll blink and be reminded of the Fiat Multipla. But we do think it's enhanced by the two-tone finish, the striking contrast of orange and black will certainly turn heads as it silently rolls down those megacity boulevards.

Large 19-inch wheels help add to those SUV looks, but the tyres are pretty skinny, 155mm wide for the regular model, slightly wider at the rear if you opt for the range extended model. From some angles it perhaps looks a little more like a super-mini than it intends to, thanks to those skinny tyres.

But many of those mixed feelings melt away when you open up the large front doors, and flip open the rearward-opening coach style back doors. There's no central pillar, so it's surprisingly accessible. The height makes it easy to sit into and although the front seats will fold forward to give better access, we found we didn't need to do so, we could just sit straight into the back.

They're impressively comfortable and finished in soft BMW leather. The advantage of that dropped door line is evident, so you don't feel quite so walled in. But there's more space than there appears to be at first glance from the outside. We saw four European motoring journalists happily sitting inside and chatting away, so this really is a car that will carry four adults.

Slip into the front and it's perfectly comfortable and finished with the sort of quality you would expect. Perhaps we're not entirely sold on the fusion of wood, leather and wool materials that BMW has chosen - there seemed to be a lot going on in the interior finish of those front doors - but there's no doubting the quality.

The interior has been designed to be open which is where the BMW i3 really impresses. It starts with the lack of centre door pillar, extends to the lack of transmission tunnel and finishes with a dashboard that appears to float. The steering column then extends out towards the driver, the only intrusion in the lounge that is the interior.

The space helps to bring that futuristic vision to reality again. Big levers are gone, the drive mode selector moved instead on to the steering column. It's a bit of a lump, but it's out of the way. The driver also isn't faced with a collection of dials, instead there's a display for the driver and a larger central display. Neither were powered-up while we were in the car, so we can't really judge how the split between driver information, navigation and entertainment will play out.

We do know that the BMW i3 will be a very connected car and not just to the mains. Having had a good look at the BMW ConnectedDrive Remote app for BMW i, we know you'll be able to monitor the status of your car from your phone, as well as set timers for the most cost-effective off-peak charging, run the climate control before you get in, and have navigation that doesn't start and stop at the car, but extends to your journey on foot, or via public transport too.

We're yet to get the BMW i3 out on the road, so we don't know how this electric car will drive in the real world. BMW tells us that the driving experience is hugely important and hasn't been sacrificed and that's a key point, because at £25k you're asking people to step away from their BMW X1 or BMW 3 series, and pay £10k more than they would for a Nissan Leaf.

But the BMW i3 is about a different approach to motoring. With a range of around 80-90 miles and a charging time of about 8 hours, the BMW i3 is being pitched towards those making short journeys in cities. Like many electric vehicles, it's designed as a zero emission alternative to the SUV you're using to run the kids to school or for your daily commute.

If that distance sounds like it is just too short, there's a range extender version too, which adds an engine back into the mix. The 650cc engine, with a 9-litre petrol tank, is used to generate electrical energy, almost doubling the range. It sits alongside the electric motor and, importantly, you don't lose any boot space if you opt for it - but it will cost a few thousand more when you buy the car.

The BMW i3 is an important step forward for electric cars. It's practical and it's premium and pitched at those who can probably afford to make the switch away from a conventional car. It's also from one of the top automotive marques and BMW reinforced today that it's serious about EVs, it's investing heavily in sustainable solutions and renewable energy to make the BMW i programme as green as possible.

The BMW i3 brings welcome attention to the world of electric vehicles, but the barriers remain the same. The range and the refuelling times will still define how you can use this type of vehicle. Narrowing the pitch to megacity dwellers removes that barrier to an extent, but once you set the environmental arguments to one side, you can still buy a lot of "normal" car for this sort of money.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport Review (Video)

Does having a family mean that a fan of horsepower and performance has to give up their sports car? Ford doesn’t think so. This week, we review the very big, and very fast, 2013 Ford Explorer Sport; a vehicle that attempts to do everything the more expensive Porsche and Mercedes-Benz SUVs can do, but not as pretentiously. It is a vehicle loaded with tech, has off-road credentials, goes like stink, and one of the best ways to take the kids on the school run.

Our test Explorer showed up in Ruby Red Metallic paint carrying a sticker price of $47,390. This includes the $4,130 option package that includes the navigation system, blind spot monitoring, power lift gate and more. It comes standard with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 packing 365hp and 350ft/lbs of torque. Yes, that is a lot. It feels every bit as fast too.

Ford Explorer Sport Technology

The Ford Explorer sport looks aggressive with blacked out lights and big wheels.

Our review Ford Explorer Sport came loaded with MyFord Touch. While the system is fundamentally the same across the entire Ford and Lincoln line, there are little intricacies and interface differences with each model.

The Explorer Sport features MyFord Touch and touch-sensitive buttons.

Perhaps the most annoying aspect of this particular implementation is the center knob in the middle of the controls. It can physically be rotated to adjust volume, but to turn the system off the driver taps the middle of the knob. But there is no click because it is touch-sensitive. Also, if the driver hits the white button-looking thing below “Source” nothing happens. But if the driver actually touches the word “Source” it will change stereo input.

The Explorer Sport has a customizable instrument cluster.

The system has a load of inputs, and operates pretty much as expected. I enjoy the dual screens in the instrument cluster that can show useful information like song and track information or navigation information.

The Ford Explorer sport also features a Terrain Management feature. This system is controlled by a knob on the center console, and allows the driver to select from some pre-defined off-road settings. These include Mud and Rut Mode, Sand Mode, Wet Grass and Snow and Normal. Lastly, if the driver presses the button on top of the rotating knob, it will engage Hill Descent Control.

The on-board computer takes information about the terrain from the driver’s selection, and then adjusts the throttle, traction control and anti-lock braking system to provide the most control on any given surface. It does seem a bit out of place on a vehicle designed for high-speed pavement pounding.

The Ford Explorer Sport features a rear-zone climate control system.

Rounding out the cabin technology is the rear-zone climate control. The driver enables the system from the front, and then can set a desired temperature for the rear seat passengers. What is really interesting about the system is that the driver can choose whether or not the rear seat passengers can control the temperature themselves.

Also in the same area as the rear seat climate controls is a 110v regular outlet. This is great for charging a laptop or other portable device!

Ford Explorer Sport Practicality

If I were looking for a sports car to purchase, I would buy a sports car. There are plenty of them out there. But someone looking at an Explorer is looking at one because it needs to be practical. The Ford Explorer Sport does a great job in this department.

Our test unit came equipped with 2nd row captain’s chairs.

Our test unit had optional 2nd row captain’s chairs, which reduced the seating capacity of the Ford Explorer Sport to six passengers instead of seven. However, the two separate seats make it even easier to gain access to the 3rd row, and makes the rear feel more roomy.

After reading the directions on the seat (I don’t have children) I was able to easily manipulate the 3rd row seating to provide more storage space.

The rear seats in the Explorer fold down out of the way.

When folded flat and out of the way, the Ford Explorer Sport sports 43.8 cu. ft of storage. Also adding to the convenience is the height-adjustable power lift gate. If the owner parks in a low overhead garage, the owner can choose how high the gate will open.

Blind spots are minimal, but with the available blind spot monitoring system, it is even less of an issue.

Lastly, on the subject of interior space and practicality, our reviewed Ford C-Max Energi seemed to have more headroom than the Explorer.

Ford Explorer Sport Driving Dynamics

I dislike the steering wheel in this vehicle. The airbag cover is too big compared to the size of the rest of the wheel. The luxury-oriented Lincoln MKZ we tested had better grip points and a thicker wheel. However, that is the only real downside to the driving of this vehicle.

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The Explorer sport wheel has redundant audio controls and paddle shifters.

Once I got past the looks of the vehicle (which I think are superb) I wondered, “Why does a big, heavy SUV need paddle shifters?” Well, because as a driver I wanted to constantly change gears just to hear the engine growl.

Performance-oriented EcoBoost motors make a fine induction noise on throttle. The paddle-shifted automatic in this vehicle is one of the better ones I have driven. It provides crisp shifts almost immediately after the paddle is pulled. Yes, a DSG-style unit from BMW, Audi or Ferrari would shift faster, but this is still good.

Another great thing about the transmission is that it will skip gears. When I was driving along in 6th gear, I could put my foot to the floor and the computer would automatically select 3rd gear. It would do it without going through 5th and 4th first.

If I could keep my foot off the throttle, I could easily achieve 22-24mpg in mixed driving. But overall for the week I scored 16.6mpg. Shifting this car is just too fun!

It is also deceptively fast. Driving along on the Interstate at 70mph feels like 40mph in this vehicle. It almost makes highway driving boring.

Due to a large amount of rain, and my not trusting of the off-road capabilities of the Ford Explorer Sport, I ended up only doing want grass/mud off-road test. Selecting the grass setting really numbs the throttle input. Much like the Raptor we tested earlier in the year, the Ford Explorer Sport is smoother the faster it moves.

For a high-riding SUV the Ford Explorer Sport corners well. Body roll is minimal for this type of vehicle. It is by no means a sports car, but does behave pretty well when the driver asks it to.

Ford Explorer Sport Final Verdict

The Ford Explorer Sport has a way of making the driver feel like he or she is 8 years old again. A raucous noise on throttle and high performance will do that. There is a lot to love about this vehicle.

If I were to nit pick, I really wish HID headlamps were available on the Sport. Also, some of the interior pieces (specifically the sunglass holder) seemed cheaper than it should be for an as-tested $47,390. Our tester’s seats were also brown. While brown and red make sense, the abundance of black inside the cabin does not mix well with the brown. Lastly, the seats do not have enough side bolstering for this type of vehicle, and the seat coolers seemed to barely work.

None of that really matters when driving the Sport though. All that really matters is that it can haul the family and do it very quickly. Long journeys are a breeze in this vehicle. If the journey results in camping at the end, the Explorer Sport can handle the light off-roading that can come with it.

When driving the Ford Explorer Sport, it feels special. Even though it does not carry a ST, SHO or SVT badge on the bumper, it has clearly been given some special love and attention from the performance junkies at Ford. It’s every bit the better for it. Like the Raptor, all of the little bits that are different about the vehicle come together in a package that looks like an Explorer, but really isn’t.

It also has the ability to fly under the radar. Yes, it has big wheels, and in the red paint of our review unit screams for attention. But really, compared to other sporty vehicles on the road (including AMG Benzes and Porsche Cayenne models) it is as innocuous as a Ford Explorer. And when compared to those more expensive alternatives, the Ford Explorer Sport is one of the ultimate sleepers when it comes to budget vehicles.

NOTE: Vehicle provided by the Ford Motor Company for review.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jen Wall-Farrell

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New 2013 Skoda Octavia spotted again. To be unveiled in India on Aug 9

It looks like the new 2013 Skoda Octavia has secure to not depart of limelight! solely yesterday, we tend to rumored regarding the 2013 Skoda Octavia Republic of India launch date and currently, the automotive has once more been noticed testing on our roads.

A 2013 Octy was recently noticed testing in Pune and it looks like Skoda Republic of India is functioning overtime to induce it terribly right with fine standardization the automotive for Indian conditions.

The new Octy is already on sale in many European countries and would be undraped in Republic of India on August ninth, with sales expected to start someday towards the tip of next month.

The Volkswagen cluster in hand Czech carmaker has high hopes from the new Octavia and that we feel that the newest Octy might be among the simplest cars to possess ever return from Skoda, what with automotive vehicle hacks round the world being extremely affected with it?

Underpinning the new 2013 Octavia is that the a lot of advertised MQB platform. constant platform underpins more new-age Volkswagen cluster cars.  The engine choices for the new 2013 Octavia area unit possible to be shared with the Laura and this suggests that the new Octavia would get a one.8 TSI turbocharged gas and a a pair of.0 TDI turbocharged diesel. Skoda Republic of India may also later add AN entry level one.6 litre TDI turbo diesel variant to stay the prices below check.

It is virtually obviously that the new Octy are going to be costlier than the Laura however on constant time, the automotive may come upon as a far additional price for cash proposition owing to its larger size, newer technology and an even bigger instrumentation list.

We area unit thirstily waiting to check the new Octavia on our roads. Also, it might be attention-grabbing to visualize the result that the new automotive can wear sales of alternative entry level D section cars.

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Force Motors to launch Force One 4x4 and Viano MPV in September

Force Motors can launch the new Viano MPV and therefore the Force One 4x4 model in Gregorian calendar month. The Viano-based MPV are hopped-up by a a pair of.2-litre diesel motor and can turn out 140bhp. this is often possible to be priced between Rs 9/11 lakhs and can be a seven-seater. As always, area are a significant USP for this MPV too. this can be the third model within the Force Motors railroad car portfolio. At the instant, there's the Force One and therefore the Gurkha.

Force One

Force One LX is that the new vary topping variant and it gets all the bells and whistles that SX gets with the electronic shift on fly 4x4. The Force One conjointly gets ABS with EBD. The Force One LX gets all the options like animal skin seats, daylight running lamps, steering mounted audio controls for integrated music system. Force Motors claims the Force One to possess the simplest kneeroom within the second and third rows during this section. The Force One LX has an equivalent a pair of.2-litre diesel motor that churns out 140bhp of power. this is often an equivalent technologist engine that conjointly powers the Force One SX and is BSIV criticism.  The Force One's base model comes with a a pair of.6-litre diesel motor and it produces 82bhp OF power.

Video: Ford’s New Lane Keep Assist Keeps Tired Drivers Within the Line

lane keep assist system, developed by Ford, in the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. This system uses a camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror and watches the road ahead. It can identify the lines on the road and then determine where the vehicle is. If the driver veers too close to the lines, the system can automatically apply turn the steering wheel and navigate it back into the lane.

For a driver who is not distracted, he or she is making many small adjustments to the steering wheel every second to keep the vehicle in the correct lane. Lane keep assist only comes into play when the vehicle is about to leave the lane completely. If the driver were to enable the system and take his or her hands off the wheel (not recommended), the vehicle would drive down the road bouncing off each lane line. Also, if the driver approaches the line too quickly, like in a lane-change maneuver, the system will not interfere.

MKZ Lane Keeping System activated. (Image Courtesy of Lincoln Motor Company)

Ford also uses the system to determine if the driver is starting to fall asleep at the wheel. If the driver hits the lines too many times, the car will advise the driver to pull over and rest (or drink coffee). Also, if the driver is driving distracted without his or her hands on the wheel, the system will also sound an alarm. As mentioned before, an attentive driver makes many mini-corrections while driving. If the wheel is being held solidly in place, either the driver has let go or needs to pay attention.

Ford is not the only company using this type of technology Mercedes-Benz has been using a system like this that can completely stop the vehicle for a driver if he or she cannot see, or is not paying attention. In addition, the system from Mercedes-Benz can also detect pedestrians and actively avoid them.

As computers and radar units become standard in more vehicles, advanced accident avoidance features will become more commonplace.