Motoring

• Segment-defining Ford EcoSport range bolstered with introduction of automatic gearbox on 1.5 Ambiente – a first for the entry-level offerings in the compact SUV class
• New 1.5 Ambiente with six-speed automatic expands the EcoSport line-up to seven models
• Numerous feature enhancements on Trend and Titanium models, including Ford’s Collision Mitigation System, an underbody protection shield and addition of cruise control with speed limiter on Trend models

Pretoria, South Africa, 21 April 2020 – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is bolstering the Ford EcoSport’s leading position in the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment with the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission for the popular and most affordable Ambiente petrol derivative. This is complemented by specification upgrades on the Trend and Titanium models that enhance driving safety and comfort.

“The compact SUV category grew substantially with the maiden launch of the EcoSport in South Africa in 2013, and the model has dominated this class ever since,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at FMCSA. “The introduction of a six-speed automatic transmission for the EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente represents another trend-setting move for this successful model, which now also offers the best value for money automatic in the entry-level compact utility segment.

“Paired with the smooth-shifting six-speed automatic gearbox and the lively 91kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, the EcoSport Ambiente is a unique and compelling proposition that offers exceptional value for money,” Mashinini adds. “It is ideally suited to active individuals and families where the convenience of an automatic makes it perfect for busy city driving, while delivering comfortable and hassle-free open-road cruising.”

In addition to the new Ambiente model, the EcoSport Trend and Titanium derivatives benefitted from the inclusion of Ford’s Collision Mitigation System – a pre-collision assist feature that alerts the driver of a potential collision with the vehicle ahead, pre-charges the brakes and, if necessary, applies maximum braking pressure once the driver presses the brake pedal.

Cruise control with an adaptive speed limiter has now been added to the Trend models, while the Titanium gains front parking sensors to complement the rear sensors that are standard across the range. An underbody protection shield on Trend and Titanium models makes the EcoSport more robust for less-than-perfect roads in combination with its 206mm ground clearance.

“These attributes, combined with the EcoSport’s impressive list of safety, comfort and convenience features, plus a standard 4-year/60 000km service plan, ensure that the expanded range is more appealing and competitive than ever,” Mashinini states.

With the addition of the new model, a total of seven EcoSport derivatives are available, starting off with the 1.5 Ambiente in five-speed manual or the new six-speed automatic version. The charming three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine available in the Ambiente auto’ is renowned for its eager power delivery and sprightly performance, delivering 91kW and 151Nm of torque for impressive overall drivability and low fuel consumption. A 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel model is also available in Ambiente trim, producing 74kW and 205Nm, linked to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The multiple award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost engine, which produces 92kW and 170Nm, powers the Trend and Titanium models, which can be specified with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

Another area where the EcoSport punches well above its weight is in the number of airbags fitted, as all Ambiente models feature no less than six airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags), while the Trend and Titanium also incorporate a driver’s knee airbag.

Multimedia functionality remains a stand-out feature of the EcoSport, as the EcoSport Ambiente incorporates Ford’s SYNC^® with Bluetooth and Voice Control, as well as two USB ports, six speakers and a 4.2-inch screen.

The Trend models boast a more sophisticated version of the SYNC^® infotainment system with a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, while the Titanium’s SYNC^®3 features an 8-inch display as well as embedded turn-by-turn navigation.

Active driving safety features across the board include ABS brakes, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TC), as well as Roll Stability Control (RSC) in the EcoBoost range, that adjusts engine torque and braking to help drivers maintain control. The 1.0 EcoBoost-powered models are also equipped with Hill Launch Assist (HLA) that makes pulling off on steep inclines easier, along with Ford’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

All EcoSport models come standard with Ford Protect which includes a four-year/60 000km service plan, three-year unlimited distance roadside assistance and four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty. This is complemented by a five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000km.

Model Range and Recommended Retail Prices:

EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente 5MT                                      R279 700

EcoSport 1.5 TDCi Ambiente 5MT                             R289 900

EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente 6AT                                   R297 600

EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Trend 6MT                          R319 200

EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Trend 6AT                           R333 900

EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium 6MT                      R357 000

EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium 6AT                      R370 400

Despite having to deal with the nightmare of its souring investment in JLR, Tata is forging ahead with development of its Altroz hatchback.

The Indian automotive giant has confirmed an evolution of the Altroz, revealed at the Geneva auto show this week. Imagined as an Indian Polo rival, the Altroz is built on Tata’s Agile Light Flexible Advanced (ALFA) platform.

Tata claims that its ALFA engineering project allows for a modular approach to body styles and engine options (even electrification) on a single platform. It’s an industrial engineering copy of the principles which underpin most of VW’s vehicle architectures such as MQB, which serves as a platform to no less than five Audis and fourteen different VW models.

The styling features a dual-headlamp design, flared wheel arches, door creases and strangely asymmetrical windows, with the front doors housing much more glass than the rear doors. Inside there is fully digital instrumentation and a 7-inch infotainment screen which sits atop the dash, framing the centre-vents.

Powering Altroz is a 1.2-litre petrol engine, good for 75 kW and 140 Nm. Classified in terms of size the Altroz is 55 mm shorter, 26 mm narrower and 7 mm taller than VW’s current eighth-generation Polo.

Although the compact hatchback segment is defined by an aspiration to become everything VW as achieved with Polo, the reality is that Altroz’s price positioning will likely be closer to Hyundai’s i10 or Suzuki’s Baleno when it launches to select global markets towards the end of this year.

source :

The Drivers ZAhttps://thedriversza.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/tatas-altroz-is-an-indian-polo/

• The Ford Mustang – today celebrating its 56^th birthday – was the best-selling sports car in the world last year, and the world’s best-selling sports coupé for the fifth consecutive year
• Since sixth-generation Mustang global exports began in 2015, through December 2019, Ford has sold 633 000 Mustangs in 146 countries around the world – including 102 090 Mustangs in 2019
• In South Africa, 2 943 Mustangs have been sold to date through to March 2020, giving this legendary model a 69-percent share of its segment

This Mustang Day – the nameplate’s 56^th birthday – Mustang can now celebrate two global sales crowns, earning world’s best-selling sports car and its fifth straight best-selling sports coupé title. Mustang is also America’s best-selling sports car of the last 50 years.

“We’re proud of our growing Mustang stable and performance variants,” said Jim Farley, chief operating officer, Ford Motor Company. “From Sweden to Shanghai, more and more driving enthusiasts are enjoying the feeling of freedom and the open road in these new Mustangs. We are honoured to serve our owners, enthusiasts and fans for 56 years and counting.”

Two global sales crowns

Mustang sold 102 090 units, according to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit,making it the best-selling sports car in the world in 2019. During this period, Mustang sales in Germany increased 33 percent, in Poland sales rose by nearly 50 percent, and in France, they nearly doubled.

The year also marks the fifth consecutive year that Mustang was the best-selling sports coupé in the world. Sports coupés, as defined by IHS Markit, include two-door and convertible models.

In South Africa, Mustang remains the runaway leader in the sports coupé segment, having sold a remarkable 2 860 units from 2016 to the end of last year. Total Mustangs sold to date, including the first quarter of 2020, stands at 2 943 vehicles, giving the legendary American icon a 69-percent share of the sports coupé segment.

Performance line-up

Mustang is available in fastback and convertible body styles, with a choice of a 331kW 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, or the 213kW 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – all using Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission.

The special edition Mustang Bullitt, featuring an enhanced 338kW 5.0-litre V8 engine and a six-speed manual gearbox is exclusively o

Hyundai Motor has revealed more details of its Prophecy Concept EV. In a new walk-around video, Hyundai Motor Group’s chief design officer Luc Donckerwolke explains some of the key features inside and outside the vehicle.

The Prophecy enjoyed a digital premiere last month. Rather than being a pure concept, its name refers to the fact that this vehicle teases ideas and features the Hyundai will develop in the future.

Classic car design to achieve Ultimate Automotive Form

The Prophecy is inspired by vintage cars of the 1920s and 30s, with a smooth, coupé-like design. Sweeping curves and smooth lines set it apart from the angular 45, another Hyundai concept car that was revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.

However, like the 45, it inherits the design language of pixel lights. Its dynamic shape and rear spoiler give it a sporty appearance, and propeller-shaped wheels reduce air resistance. This look is based on Hyundai’s design identity: Sensuous Sportiness.

Inside, the car exudes relaxation, with dark colours and natural materials that hark back to nature. This is meant to create a completely new type of in-car experience.

“The word ‘sensuous’ integrates the value of more emotion in our designs. ‘Sportiness’ implies dynamics, to be reactive of what’s happening around us,” says Donckerwolke. “Sensuous Sportiness is not about a new language or philosophy. It’s about a new concept in the creation of our cars.”

No steering wheel, but joysticks

One of the unique characteristics of the Prophecy is the steering mechanism. Rather than a steering wheel mounted high on the dashboard in front of the driver, the Prophecy is controlled by dual joysticks located left and right from the driver: one on the centre console and the other on the door trim.

In combination with a spacious interior, this not only creates a more comfortable seating position while driving, but also frees up more space on the dashboard for other features. In addition, 90% of the vehicle’s functions can be controlled via buttons on the joysticks, so there is no need for the driver to take his or her hands off the joysticks to change the music. This ergonomic setup is known as the Intuitive Human Interface, with the benefit of increasing passenger safety as well as visual freedom.

Optimised seating position through Smart Posture Care System

Installing joysticks is not the only way the seating position has become more ergonomic in the Prophecy. The new Smart Posture Care System (SPCS) allows drivers to enjoy an optimised seating position based on their individual physique.

The driver can either adjust the seat manually to fit his or her preferences or allow the car to suggest a “smart” seating position. In “smart” mode, the driver enters their height, seated height, and weight, and the car automatically adjusts to the driver’s individual physique. The SPCS controls the seat, steering wheel, mirror and Head-Up Display, and is based on medically verified information

Relax mode: turning a vehicle into an entertainment space

The infotainment system is integrated into a large screen stretching across the entire front of the vehicle’s interior. When not driving, the car can be used as an entertainment space by switching into Relax Mode. In Relax Mode, the seats recline and the dashboard swivels upwards, creating the optimal seating position from which to enjoy the content on the display.

Because of the lack of a steering wheel, the occupants have virtually zero visual obstacles – they see only the horizontal pillar-to-pillar display and the wing-shaped dashboard. As autonomous driving technology progresses, the potential for vehicles to be used as relaxation spaces will grow in importance.

Cleaning the air inside and outside the vehicle

Not only is the Prophecy a zero-emissions electric vehicle, but it also cleans the air. This is due to a unique air filtration system with a fine dust sensor built into the vehicle. When particle levels inside the vehicle get too high, the air system activates, taking in fresh air from the outside, filtering it for purity, and circulating the clean air throughout the vehicle. Moreover, this does not just happen when the car is driving – the Prophecy continues to clean the air, even when it is idling or charging, and even if no one is inside.

In most cars, the driver or passenger rolls down the window when they want a breath of fresh air. With the Prophecy, the air is always fresh, so the windows of dual-pane glass are locked in place. When the air inside the vehicle grows stale, fresh air is allowed in via intake valves at the front of the vehicle. When no fresh air inside the car is needed, the filtered air is pumped back into the outside world via two outlets at the bottom of the side doors. This system is significantly more energy efficient than a traditional ventilation system.

Platform and powertrain

Following the 45, the Prophecy is the second Hyundai vehicle built on the Electric Global Modular Platform or “E-GMP” – Hyundai’s first dedicated EV platform. A dedicated EV platform opens a world of possibilities for new design and comfort features.

Electric powertrains are much more compact than internal combustion engines, which means there is no need for a wide front hood or a bulky centre console. This allows automotive designers to reclaim the space for passenger use, and to reimagine the range of in-car experiences.

Source

The Drivers ZAhttps://thedriversza.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/hyundai-reveals-more-about-prophecy-concept-ev/

During the Easter period it is a widespread tradition to decorate ‘Easter eggs’ and hide them in the most unexpected corners of the house to have children join in an exciting treasure hunt. In this way, the home environment is enlivened with little appealing surprises, which only the most careful eyes can find.

• ‘Easter Eggs’ are styling gems designers conceal in Jeep_® vehicles to surprise and delight the customers they are designing for
• ‘Easter Eggs’ enhance the customer experience in discovering a new model
• They are testament to the stylists’ creative passion and the fun they had in designing  Jeep vehicles

A similar tradition belongs to the Jeep_® brand, which has made “Easter Eggs” an integrated step in the creation process of each vehicle, and a distinctive, very special design feature.  ‘Easter Eggs’ are hidden decorative motifs that Jeep stylists conceal in Jeep vehicles, meant to be discovered throughout time by their owners.

Jeep Easter Eggs add an element of surprise in the experience of a new vehicle, further extending the pleasure of discovery. They are a testament to the designers’ creative passion and visually express the fun they had in the development of Jeep vehicles.

These hidden gems are unique and unexpected, they change from one Jeep vehicle to another and can be found both on the exterior and on the interior. Originally, Easter Eggs were an offhand addition of a graphic to an otherwise standard part of the vehicle but over the course of the years, they developed into something typical of Jeep design.  Often, they are styling cues that recall the brand’s design heritage – such as the seven slot grille or iconic Jeep models  like the Wrangler – to underscore the original roots of Jeep’s design philosophy. Other times they take inspiration from nature or the spirit of adventure. Often they can be found in small functional areas, such as storage compartments, to be discovered by customers during the daily use of their vehicle.

Today, the practice continues with every new Jeep model and customers will shortly have an opportunity to discover the Easter Eggs hidden in the soon-to-be launched Jeep Renegade and Compass 4xe.