2006 Mercedes-benz Sl-class Couperoadster on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Recharge Wrap-up: Mercedes gets F1 efficiency, EV charging in Vermont, VW e-Golf to use Bosch

Efficiency equals performance, especially in the case of Formula 1 racing. The Mercedes AMC Petronas team points to several key efficiency technologies it uses to get the most out of its cars. And if their utter dominance so far this season is testament to this relationship, perhaps we should pay attention. Mercedes highlights hybrid tech, turbocharging, aerodynamics, lightweight construction, tribology (both in making internal components and lubricants more slippery) and simulation as crucial to getting around the track faster than anyone else. These just happen to be some of the same things that make the cars we drive on public roads more fuel-efficient. Learn more in the press release below. It's a good read. Brammo, maker of sweet electric motorcycles, is teaming up with TEAM Industries to make drivetrains for electric vehicles. TEAM, which specializes in drivetrain technology, will also become an investor in Brammo as part of the partnership. "The electric vehicle market is a growth market," says TEAM CEO and President David Ricke, "and TEAM and Brammo will be providing a wide range of solutions for OEM manufacturers." Read more over at EV World. Vermont celebrated the installation of a new EV charging station as part of a Green Energy Corridor between Boston and Montreal. When finished, drivers will be able to make the whole trip in an EV with access to charging along the way. For $5, customers can charge their vehicle in about 30 minutes at the Red Hen Baking Company in Middlesex. There are currently only about 700 EVs on the road in Vermont. The state has a goal to get 90 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, and getting more EVs on the road is crucial to that mission. Vermont hopes that expanding the charging infrastructure will convince more people to go electric. Read more at Vermont Public Radio's website. For it's new e-Golf, Volkswagen will use Bosch chargers for home installation and ChargePoint stations at its dealerships. Bosch will have various 240-volt options for the home, and will also provide installation. e-Golf customers will also get a free ChargePoint membership, and will have access to the company's network of charging stations worldwide. The 2015 e-Golf goes on sale in the US later this year. Read more in the press release below. Synergies between F1 and Road Car Development: Efficiency equals performance In Formula 1 Racing, performance is everything.

NHTSA, IIHS, and 20 automakers to make auto braking standard by 2022

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and virtually every automaker in the US domestic market have announced a pact to make automatic emergency braking standard by 2022. Here's the full rundown of companies involved: BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo (not to mention the brands that fall under each automaker's respective umbrella). Like we reported yesterday, AEB will be as ubiquitous in the future as traction and stability control are today. But the thing to note here is that this is not a governmental mandate. It's truly an agreement between automakers and the government, a fact that NHTSA claims will lead to widespread adoption three years sooner than a formal rule. That fact in itself should prevent up to 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. The agreement will come into effect in two waves. For the majority of vehicles on the road – those with gross vehicle weights below 8,500 pounds – AEB will need to be standard equipment by September 1, 2022. Vehicles between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have an extra three years to offer AEB. "It's an exciting time for vehicle safety. By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives," said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in an official statement. "It's a win for safety and a win for consumers." Read on for the official press release from NHTSA. Related Video: U.S. DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment of 20 automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.

Brabus luxes up new Mercedes V-Class

Looking for a luxury coach to get you around town in style and comfort, but don't need anything as big as a Sprinter? Mercedes will gladly point you towards the smaller V-Class, trading Stateside as the Metris. And now Brabus has released a full array of customization options for the van as well. The list of modifications available from the venerable Benz tuner include an aero kit to give the van a sleeker look while reducing front-end lift, a full complement of 18- and 19-inch wheel options, a retuned suspension, engine enhancements, exhaust upgrade, and a fully refitted interior. The first-class cabin on this show vehicle has been reupholstered in leather and Alcantara, offset by wood and carbon-fiber trim, and a complete entertainment system. It includes a pair of 15.6-inch LCD screens that drop from the headliner and WiFi. Finally, there's a touchpad integrated into the interior C-pillars to operate the system as well as the lamps, heated seats, power windows and curtains, and the sliding doors. Accommodation is clearly the emphasis here. But Brabus being Brabus, it has also optimized the BlueTec four-cylinder turbo diesel engine to produce 44 more horsepower and 52 pound-feet more torque. With output now up to 232 hp and 376 lb-ft, the van will reach 62 miles per hour from a standstill in 8.8 seconds and top out at 130 mph – and look that much slicker in the process. Related Video: Engine tuning, exclusive looks and entertainment: BRABUS Exclusive Program for the new Mercedes V-Class The new Mercedes V-Class as a sporty-elegant jack-of-all-trades: in a world premiere, BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, internet www.brabus.com) presents the exclusive refinement program for the new Mercedes V-Class. BRABUS upgrades the people mover with powerful engine tuning, an exclusive appearance package, tailor-made wheels and an individual entertainment concept. A sporty-elegant design is the trademark of the BRABUS aerodynamic-enhancement kit for the new Mercedes V-Class and Vito. All components are manufactured from PUR in OEM quality, giving them a precise fit and making them easy to paint. To give the vehicle an even more distinctive face, the BRABUS designers have developed attachments for the side air intakes, which can be complemented with auxiliary LED side markers, and a front spoiler that attaches to the lower section of the bumper.