Mazda, Toyota, Honda Vows to Spend on R&D Even as Profits Plunge

Hard hit by production stoppages and weakening sales, some carmakers have turned to conserving cash as means to ride out the coronavirus pandemic; but not for Mazda, as well as Toyota and Honda. These automakers intend to continue spending and developing next-generation technologies.

A report out of Automotive News (subscription required) says these three automakers are keeping their focus squarely at the long-term. Mazda which booked a net loss of USD 20.3 billion, and a 20 percent decline in global sales (January to March 2020) says they will continue to set up their development game. Quoting Akira Koga, Mazda senior managing executive officer:

“We will not relent in our investment in development and facility for our future growth. We will continue and step it up.”

These sentiments are echoed by Toyota President Akio Toyota. Despite suffering an 86 percent net income tumble, he suggested that it’s shortsighted of companies to cut back on advanced research or programs to save money in the short term. He said:

“I sense that there seems to be much talk about a V-shaped turnaround. By deciding to stop various things, an individual company can turn its results around. It bothers me that such action often seems to be praised. That’s not right. This is how I feel.”

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo feels the same way.

“In order to survive, we will continue to invest in the next-generation technologies at all cost. We have no intention of scaling it down.”

For fiscal year 2020-2021, Toyota will actually increase its R&D outlay from 3.7 to 4.6 percent of revenue. Meanwhile, despite selling just 1.42 million vehicles compared to Toyota’s 10.46 million, Mazda will spend 3.9 percent of its revenue on R&D. And while Honda hasn’t released a figure, last year, it funneled 5.5 percent of its revenue into future technologies.

This kind of thinking contrasts with other carmakers such as Ford and General Motors which have previously announced cutbacks to its long-term technological investments. It remains to be seen what road other Japanese carmakers such as Nissan and Mitsubishi will take.

Chery Auto PH Launches Smartphone App

Chery Auto Philippines distributor United Asia Auto Group Inc. (UAAGI) announces the launch of its own locally-developed smartphone app.

The Chery Auto PH App is now available for download on the Google Play Store for Android, with an iOS version to follow soon.

This app functions as a digital showroom where customers can check out Chery's vehicle models and their specs, see the list of all Chery dealerships nationwide, request and schedule a test drive, book an appointment for car maintenance and repair, order spare parts, inquire about specific Chery models, and request for a quotation for the Chery model they are interested in.

The Chery Auto PH App also has a rewards program where users earn points for using the app to purchase a vehicle, refer a friend, and schedule a service.

The app, UAAGI says, is part of their commitment to provide a satisfying Chery Auto ownership experience.

Marking its launch, Chery Auto PH will give P 5,000 to five (5) lucky winners who have downloaded the app for the Chery App Kick-off raffle.

Raffle requirements are: download the app, like both Chery Auto PH Facebook and Instagram pages, follow Chery Auto PH on Twitter, and comment on the promo post on Facebook. The winners of the raffle will be drawn on May 22 at 3:00 PM.

Mercedes-Benz's New Steering Wheel Can Punish You If You Don't Hold It Right

Mercedes-Benz will debut a new steering wheel on the 2020 E-Class that will, among other things, force you to hold it properly.

The 2020 version of Mercedes-Benz’s mid-sized sedan will now have the ability to detect if your hands are off the wheel. Sensors located at the front and back of the wheel rim can sense if it’s being held. If not, it can trigger the various driver assist systems; lazy finger trip drivers, beware.

The new tiller reduces mechanical buttons thanks to the adoption of capacitive buttons. It’s a further development of the Touch Control buttons seen in the current E-Class. Mercedes-Benz says the tech has been tested to work even in extreme temperatures, with the buttons designed to work in temperatures that’ll burn the skin (over 100 degrees Celsius).

The 2020 E-Class will also benefit from various steering wheel types—Sport, Luxury, and Supersport. Regardless, Mercedes-Benz says “it’s the most beautiful steering wheel they’ve ever built.” As for the size, the German automaker has opted for fixed sizes for their wheels from 370 to 380 mm in diameter, 29 mm wide, and 42 to 4 mm deep.

Ford Tests Its Paint Against Bird Poop

With not much driving going on (and car detailers closed), cars may experience one problem: getting struck and stuck with bird poop. That is, unless you’re in a Ford.

While bird poop has serious implications for a car’s paintwork, Ford’s paint is tested for this with the help of, get this, artificial bird poop.

The laboratory-developed synthetic droppings are so realistic that they can accurately reflect the differing diets—and subsequent different acidity of droppings.

Applied to test panels as a spray, sample pieces are aged at varying temperatures—40, 50, and 60 degrees Celsius in an oven to replicate customer use in extreme heats, pushing the paint corrosion protection to its limits.

The “bird poop test” is just one of the ordeals paint samples are put through. Ford also sprays phosphoric acid mixed with soap detergent, and synthetic pollen on panels before aging them in ovens at 60 and 80 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. The test guards against airborne particulates such as pollen and sticky tree sap.

Summer is an especially dangerous time for paint because it softens and expands under intense sunlight. When it cools at night, it contracts and any grime, including bird droppings, attaches to the surface. If left on the vehicle, it can leave a permanent impression that requires specialist treatment to remove.

Leaving bird poop on any car is never a good idea. The advice for any car owner is simply to regularly wash your vehicle with a sponge and lukewarm water containing neutral pH shampoo, and gently remove harmless looking substances from the paintwork immediately. Waxing painted surfaces once or twice a year helps ensure new paint finishes can better resist harshest attacks, while staying shiny for longer.

Upcoming Volvos May Come with This Peculiar Bump on the Roof

The next-generation of Volvo cars will come with this little bump on the roof. Now, before you think that it’s a rally-inspired scoop of some kind, it’s actually LiDAR tech which should enable full self-driving technology, at least for highways.

Volvo’s next-generation of vehicles, underpinned by a new modular architecture called SPA 2 will be hardware-ready for autonomous drive as they roll off the production line in 2022. Tech firm Luminar will provide the LiDAR equipment which will be integrated into the roof.

Volvo says that cars based on the SPA 2 architecture will be updated with software over the air, and if customers decide to opt for it, the Highway Pilot feature that enables fully autonomous highway driving will be activated once it is verified to be safe for individual geographic locations and conditions.

In addition to the Highway Pilot feature, Volvo Cars and Luminar are also exploring LiDAR’s role in improving future advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Potentially, all future SPA 2-based cars will come with the LiDAR sensor as standard.

Luminar’s technology is based on its high-performance LiDAR sensors, which emit millions of pulses of laser light to accurately detect where objects are by scanning the environment in 3D, creating a temporary, real-time map without requiring internet connectivity.

LiDAR is key in creating cars that can navigate safely in autonomous mode, providing them with the reliable vision and perception that cameras and radar alone cannot provide. LiDAR is the ideal basis for safe decision-making in complex environments at high speeds.

To enable the Highway Pilot feature, Luminar’s perception technology will be combined with autonomous drive software and the cameras, radars and back-up systems for functions such as steering, braking and battery power installed on forthcoming Volvo cars equipped for self-driving. Put together, this gives Volvo users who want it access to a safe, fully self-driving feature for use on highways.

As part of the announcement, Volvo Cars and Luminar are deepening their collaboration to jointly ensure robust industrialization and validation of Luminar’s LiDAR technology for series production. Volvo Cars has also signed an agreement to possibly increase its minority stake in Luminar.

For Silicon Valley-based Luminar, partnering with Volvo Cars represents the company’s first delivery of its technology into series production. This is a key step to achieving the economies of scale that are required to bring the technology to the wider automotive industry.

Geely's New Satellite Network Will Provide Centimeter-Accurate Location Data

Last March, we happen to come across news that Geely was going to launch its own satellite network in a bid to boost its capabilities in the autonomous driving game. Well, just two months later, they’ve confirmed that two will go into space by the second half of 2020.

Geespace, a subsidiary of Geely Technology Group, says that the two satellites have successfully met all of its performance metrics. The satellites form a part of its open platform OmniCloud satellite-based AI cloud platform and can provide centimeter accurate positioning services.

The next stop for the satellites will be final validation tests in June before being shipped to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in North West China for launch.

The Geespace satellites can things such as urban traffic management more efficient especially with public transportation fleet management, ride-hailing, and ride-sharing management.

For the development of autonomous drive, OmniCloud will be able to monitor surroundings through the use of fully connected infrastructure and vehicles, allowing it to assist with AI decision making to support safe and highly autonomous drive.

In the industrial sector, OmniCloud can provide support with the help of sensors on manufacturing equipment, allowing operators to remotely monitor, control, and maintain equipment anytime and anywhere.

Chery Auto PH Now Equips N95-Certified Cabin Air Filters

Chery Auto Philippines is now fitting most of its local line-up fitted with an N95 certified cabin filtration system.

The term “N95” equates to the standards set by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for 95 percent air filtration of airborne particles measuring 0.3 microns or higher. It’s since become a household name right after the Tall Volcano ash fall last January, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Realizing its importance in the health and safety of its owners, Chery Auto Philippines is now equipping it on all models in the country—from the Tiggo 5X upward.

The Tiggo 5X, Tiggo 7, and Tiggo 8 now come fitted with an N95-certified long-life cabin filter. Made up of an extremely fine mesh of synthetic electrostatic polymer fibers (non-woven polypropylene fabric), these can block out most hazardous particles including bacteria and viruses. On top of that, it has an activated charcoal layer that filters out harmful gases while deodorizing peculiar smells. The high efficiency filter also helps dehydrate and remove moisture from the cabin air, effectively reducing the lifespan of most germs.

The Chery Tiggo 5X starts at P 818,000 while the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 are priced at P 1,195,000 and P 1,280,000, respectively. All Chery models come with a 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, 3-year free PMS package, and a 10-year engine warranty.

Toyota Has Now Sold More Than 15 Million Hybrid Electric Vehicles

In January 2020, Toyota achieved an important milestone by selling more than 15 million hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) globally since the launch of the first-generation Prius in 1997.

Today, the range of available hybrid electric vehicles from Toyota and Lexus reaches 44 models, far eclipsing the original flag-bearer that remains the symbol of the company’s early and visionary foray into mass electrification.

Toyota’s decision to develop hybrid electric vehicles started over 25 years ago when Takeshi Uchiyamada led a team to develop a car for the 21st century, one which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants.

The first-generation Prius was launched in 1997 around the time of the Kyoto Protocol signing, which gave new momentum to the environmental movement. Today, 15 million hybrid sales later, Toyota has made a significant contribution to the environment as its hybrid electric technology has reduced CO2 emissions by more than 120 million tons worldwide to date compared to sales of equivalent petrol vehicles.

Across this period, Toyota has seen demand for its hybrid electric vehicles soar as the company has combined this innovative technology with the roll out of its next-generation TNGA global platforms. Beyond the current 4th generation hybrid system, Toyota is continuing to refine its hybrid technology to achieve even lower emissions and ever-better fuel efficiency.

How a Global Design Team Resulted in the Geely Coolray Becoming a World-Class Car

To create a world-class car, you need a team that knows the world. With the Coolray, the result is a global collaboration between teams of designers and engineers.

With studios in Shanghai, Sweden, California, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, Geely Design alone has nearly 1,000 designers and support staff spread over the globe. “Our design studio is like the United Nations – we have over 21 nationalities, and on a daily basis at our Shanghai studio, I hear Malay, Chinese, Swedish, French, German, and of course English conversations,” says Guy Burgoyne, Head of Geely Design China.

From such a global pool of talent emerges a car that embodies and symbolizes the energy and charisma of its target audience: globally-orientated youth and young families. “They appreciate design; they want design to be a focal point of their daily lives, and they want the car they drive to be an extension of their personality. What they don’t want, but what they’ve had to settle for so far, are bland, uninspired blobs on wheels with nondescript grey or black interiors”, says Jamie Barrett, Lead Exterior Designer for the Coolray.

The Coolray’s personality exudes fun and confidence, yet at the same time is exciting and mature; it balances performance with safety. All these facets are embodied in the exterior design. Although clearly part of the family, the Coolray has its own personality and will not be mistaken for another family member. “We aim for our cars to have different themes based on a core style,” says Jamie.

Take Geely’s iconic Cosmos Grille for example – on the Coolray the rings are wider and deeper, and create a wide mask containing the grille and lights. Meanwhile, the lower bumpers have been sculpted to pass air around the car thereby improving fuel economy. “The front is sculpted to have bold volumes that give off a strong 3D effect. The hood features a strong power bulge that narrows towards the front, focusing in on the Geely badge. The surfaces and curves feel rich and premium to give off a quality feel,” Jamie explains.

The satin chrome wing leads the eye over the car’s powerful front haunches expanding into the side profile before rising into the D-pillar. Boosting the Coolray’s sporting credentials are the carbon fiber elements on the front and rear bumpers, along with the rims, which together give the car its sporty stance and fun road presence.

The low-slung silhouette and speeding hood have been built to give the car its presence. Many of the elements of the design are inspired by the world of aviation. Where the roof shoots down at the rear it appears to be suspended over the D-pillar.

“This is inspired by aircraft wing stabilizers, to simulate cutting through the air with precision and create a floating sensation,” says Jamie. The aero-inspired spoiler and jet thruster-like twin exhausts build on this theme and help give the Coolray its playful, sporty feeling.

Inside, the aviation theme continues right down to the two side air vents, again inspired by jet engines. As Mei Song, Interior Designer of the Coolray mention, “The layout of the driving area adopts the design style of a cockpit, expressed in a lighter and more dynamic way, bringing sheer driving pleasure to the driver.”

The first thing many people will notice is the 10.25-inch floating control panel, which gives a vibrant feeling to the interior. However, countless more design nuances contribute to the car’s interior experience. Mei Song continues, “The expansive cabin space was created using seamless layered architecture. For example, the horizontal theme extends from the instrument panel all the way to the door panel, making the visual look wider.”

The visual cues and details add to the overall aesthetics. During the daytime, decorative dashboard panels display an orbiting planet-inspired pattern. As night rolls around, this switches to an echoing pattern which features a resemblance to the expanding front Cosmos Grille.

Adding to the sporting vibe is the red dashboard and accenting on the seats and door inserts. This, however, is not any old red – much thought has been put into the hue and its effect on the driver. “The red color used in the interior is optimized with the right levels of saturation and hue, just like the color of a vintage red wine. This gives an overall stylish and stimulating look and feel while avoiding the usual visual fatigue caused by bright red that can also affect driving safety,” says Mei Song.

Rounding out the fighter plane like cockpit is the ergonomic jet throttle-inspired shifter. Just like in a real fighter jet, this sends commands rapidly down a wire to the 7-speed dual clutch unit rather than by a mechanical connection.

Some Carmakers Have Their Safety Priorities Backward

With the multitude of driver assist technologies like blind spot warning and lane keep assist, the question now beckons: which tech actually prevents accidents?

Based on the latest findings published by the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it’s clear that technology designed to automatically help vehicles stay in their lanes doesn’t provide the same safety benefit as other advanced safety systems.

The IIHS study examined claims data for BMW vehicles from the 2013 through 2017 model years that were equipped with different levels of BMW crash avoidance packages, some of which included LKA.

According to the IIHS study, automatic emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot warning (BSW) can reduce the frequency of insurance claims due to car crashes, but lane keeping assistance (LKA) systems that can automatically steer vehicles between lane lines don’t appear to offer drivers the same safety advantages.

Still despite the benefits, BSW is seldom included as standard safety equipment on new cars and is instead offered as a stand-alone option or as part of a more expensive package of driver convenience options—even on vehicles where LKA comes standard.

A system with FCW, lane departure warning (LDW)—which alerts a driver when the vehicle crosses over a painted lane line but does not take control of the vehicle’s steering automatically—and AEB reduced collision claims by 5 percent, property damage claims by 11 percent, and bodily injury claims by 16 percent. A more technologically advanced version of these systems available in BMW’s Driving Assistance Plus package reduced claims even more. But the addition of optional LKA did not lead to a further reduction in claims.

This echoes an earlier study by Consumer Reports (CR) where they believed that forward collision warning (FCW), AEB, and BSW should come standard on all trim levels. To be named a CR Top Pick, a vehicle must have FCW and AEB with pedestrian detection as standard equipment on all trims, but doesn’t add points to a vehicle’s Overall Score for LDW or LKA.

The IIHS study shouldn’t stop automakers from trying to improve their LKA systems though. That said, they’re reiterating that AEB and BSW should be made standard on new vehicles as well.

Peugeot Celebrates a Decade of the i-Cockpit

This year, Peugeot is celebrating a decade of the i-Cockpit—one of the French carmaker’s most distinct design features that’s been standard on all their cars since the first-generation 208.

With the appointment of Gilles Vidal as Head of Design, Peugeot pushed for a new era in their design, culminating with the i-Cockpit. Since then, i-Cockpit hasn’t stopped evolving, but it does retain four key features throughout:

• Compact steering wheel
• Instrument cluster located above the steering wheel
• Large high-definition touchscreen in the driver’s line of sight; 
• Series of piano keys or toggle switches allowing for quick access to main comfort functions.

These four key features were decided by Peugeot to give the i-Cockpit a three-level arrangement based on the human body for optimal ergonomics and driver comfort.

• Eyes: the information falls within the driver's line of sight so that the driver does not need to take their eyes off the road.
• Hands: the materials are pleasant to the touch, the assembly is well controlled, and the tactile or physical controls are well-placed. The shifter is intuitive and ergonomic. The associated steering wheel paddles allow the driver to change gears manually from time to time without losing the automatic function.
• Body: the passenger compartment forms a cockpit that wraps around its occupants. The front seats provide excellent comfort and support.

According to Peugeot, i-Cockpit works simply because they’ve accumulated anthropometric data on a global scale.

In their research, they’ve noticed that it isn’t the driver’s height that matters, rather it’s their chest to leg ratio that needs to be assessed. For example, some people have a longer torso compared to their leg length. But for others, it’s quite the opposite... If the average height of a man is 1.76 meters, the length of his torso varies from 87 to 98 centimeters. This has a direct impact on the positioning of his vision.

This anthropometric data has made it possible to calculate the range of adjustment for the seats or steering wheel, in order to reinforce the feeling of being in a cocoon and optimize on-board ergonomics, whatever the driver’s size.

The latest iteration of the i-Cockpit is called 3D Peugeot i-Cockpit, found in the all-new Peugeot 208. As in past designs, information is presented within the driver’s line of sight, however, with the 3D Peugeot i-Cockpit, the instrument cluster projects information like a hologram. This information is dynamic and animated: getting closer to the eye depending on the degree of importance or urgency, and potentially increasing driver reactivity by half a second.

Land Rover's Newest Engine is an Electrified 3-Cylinder

Land Rover unveiled its newest engine, and it’s one that you’re not expecting: a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine. This becomes the cornerstone in Land Rover’s first-ever Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) in the form of the Range Rover Evoque P300E and Discovery Sport P300E.

The low friction, lightweight engine is joined by an electric rear axle motor giving it a total of 309 horsepower and 540 Nm of torque (the internal combustion engine alone delivers 200 horsepower). Together with a 15-kWh lithium-ion battery, it can run solely on electric power by up to 66 kilometers and return 71.42 km/L.

According to Land Rover, the Range Rover Evoque goes from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, while for the Discovery Sport, the figure stands at 6.6 seconds. In both cases, it can use electric power at speeds up to 135 km/h.

For those who still go off-road, these PHEVs are designed to take some punishment. With new Premium Transverse Architecture designed to accommodate a plug-in variant from the get-go, the battery is protected by a 6-mm steel under tray. Furthermore, it’s packaged beneath the cabin floor without compromising interior space.

The placement even improves dynamics, lowering its center of gravity by 6 percent and further optimizing the front-rear weight distribution.

The engine is mated to a new 8-speed automatic. Not only is it lighter than the 9-speed gearbox used in other models, but it’s specifically designed to match the PHEV’s power and torque delivery.

Consumers Losing Confidence in Self-Driving, EV Tech

With almost every carmaker saying that their future business relies on CASE or Connected Autonomous Shared and Electric, a new survey just released by J.D. Power says carmakers may want to dial back on those mobility dreams. Why? Buyers may not want them anymore.

The 2020 Q1 J.D. Power Mobility Confidence Index Study points out that for the first time, consumer confidence on self-driving and battery-electric vehicles have dropped.

The quarterly study is the pulse of market readiness and acceptance for self-driving and battery-electric vehicles, as seen through the eyes of consumers and industry experts. The 2020 Q1 study includes insights from the United States and Canada where more than 8,000 consumers and industry experts gave their opinions about self-driving vehicles and battery electric vehicles.

“Frankly, we’re concerned for automakers,” said Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction & human machine interface research at J.D. Power. “They’re pushing forward with technology that consumers seem to have little interest in. Nor are they making the strides needed to change people’s minds. Especially now, automakers need to reevaluate where they’re spending money. They are investing billions in these technologies but they need to also invest in educating consumers. Lack of knowledge is a huge roadblock for future adoption.”

When it comes to self-driving vehicles, J.D. Power finds that majority of respondents (67 percent in the U.S., 75 percent in Canada) don’t believe the technology or society is ready. With the slow rollout of technology from automakers, predictions for when self-driving vehicles have gone up to 18 years—five years later than the last Mobility Confidence Index Study. Respondents also fear in creating “a lazy society dependent on technology and with diminished driving skills.”

J.D. Power also says that the COVID-19 pandemic may steer people away from the notion of shared transportation and more towards private vehicle ownership once more to minimize physical contact. Having said that, driverless delivery vehicles may gain a higher level of acceptance.

When it comes to battery-electric vehicles, consumer confidence is still fairly low with respondents (70 percent in the U.S., and 67 percent in Canada) showing concern regarding long-term usage, cost of ownership, and overall environmental impact. Surprisingly, previous ownership of EVs don’t guarantee future purchases. Among respondents who’ve owned a battery electric vehicle, around 30 percent of them won’t buy again due to high maintenance costs, purchase price, limited range, and performance in extreme weather.

The J.D. Power survey also notes that the same three barriers to the acceptance of battery-electric vehicles—charging station availability, driving range, and purchase price—remain. These were the very same barriers in 1997. It shows that 23 years on, consumer perceptions haven’t budged. Even those who have owned a battery-electric vehicle previously have these items as their top 3 barriers.

Mazda Confirms That Rotary Engine Will Return in MX-30 SUV

As part of its 100th anniversary, Mazda has been busy tugging at nostalgia such as coming up with models inspired by the R360 and also highlighting one of its crowning achievements: the mass-production of the rotary engine.

On the surface, the Mazda PR seems innocuous enough, talking about the history of the RX-7. However, there are a couple of lines that stick out and we’ve taken the liberty to highlight it for you below:

“…the company developed a prototype Mazda2 EV with a small single-rotor engine used as a range extender. A similar system could find its way onto the Mazda MX-30...”

Mazda’s continued development of the rotary engine is no secret, but this is the first time we’ve gotten official confirmation from the Japanese carmaker as to its layout and application.

As the company’s first all-electric vehicle, the MX-30 packs an in-house developed battery-driven powertrain called e-Skyactiv. Together with a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, it has a range of about 209 kilometers. Once fitted with the rotary engine as a range extender though, range is expected to more than double. Moreover, Mazda says a rotary engine is perfect as a range extender because it’s quiet, vibration-free, and extremely compact.

Volvo's Polestar Just Re-Invented the Side View Mirrors

It’s not everyday that a carmaker can claim that they’ve re-invented the side view mirror, but that’s exactly what happened with Volvo’s performance-oriented all-electric brand, Polestar.

Despite all the advancements in automotive tech, side view mirrors have remained largely the same for quite some time. Sure, some carmakers have started tinkering by replacing the mirrors with outboard cameras, but because this is still largely untested tech, some countries still haven’t certified them.

Enter Polestar’s compromise: the frameless side view mirror. Part of Polestar’s signature design features that include pixel LED headlights and an illuminated logo reflected on the panoramic glass roof, this new kind of side view mirror happens to meet not just worldwide regulatory requirements, but they also help improve fuel efficiency and reduce wind noise.

Polestar explains that their frameless side view mirrors are 30 percent smaller (in terms of volume) compared to the standard side view mirror, but keeps the available field of vision (and even tech like auto dimming and blind spot indicators) intact.

The carmaker explains that they were able to achieve this signature look by changing the way the side view mirrors move. In a conventional setup, the mirror moves within a fixed enclosure. In the Polestar though, the entire enclosure moves as one!

Currently, this technology is available exclusively on the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, but it’s highly likely that it’ll migrate to Volvo, and perhaps even the Lynk & Co and Geely brands in the very near future.

BMW Judged to Have Easiest to Use Infotainment System, MG the Worst

The “eyes” (and fingers) have it—BMW has easiest to use infotainment and climate control system, while MG has the worst. This is judged by UK-based What Car?.

The leading consumer champion and new car buying platform tested 20 different in-car systems that encompass the majority of the different types of infotainment systems and dashboard layouts on offer in the latest new cars.

Their testers performed six tasks that drivers frequently do while on the move, including changing the temperature, zooming out on a set sat-nav route, and changing from one radio station to another, with each action timed.

Distracted driving can be quite dangerous, notes What Car?. Every second spent looking away can be dangerous, as a vehicle moving at around 50 km/h will travel 13.5 meters every second.

In their research, What Car? says that systems with physical buttons are much less distracting to use on the move than those that can only be altered using a touchscreen.

It took twice as long to adjust climate controls on some cars with touchscreen controls rather than physical dials. And it took up to four times longer to zoom out of the sat-nav map to view a pre-programmed route using a touchscreen than it did using a rotary dial controller. The easiest systems for adjusting the sat-nav map were Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus and BMW’s iDrive, while the fiddliest was the Lexus 12.3-in multimedia display. 

The tests also highlighted the benefits of having a range of different ways of doing a task, so the driver can choose the most convenient for each situation. The best systems let you use physical buttons, the touchscreen, or voice control to do a wide range of commands.

Using a sophisticated voice control system is the least distracting way of doing many tasks. The systems in the Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all recognize natural speech, so you can activate them by talking and then ask them to carry out your desired task and hardly take your eyes off the road at all. However, not all voice control systems are as intuitive or fast to respond; testers were looking away from the road for more than twice as long in cars with the worst systems.

Here’s how every infotainment system ranked with its rank and total score out of a perfect 30:

1. BMW 3 Series with Live Cockpit Professional – 28
2. Mercedes-Benz CLA with 10.25-inch Touchscreen – 27
3. Porsche Panamera with Connect Plus and PCM – 27
4. Audi Q3 with Virtual Cockpit Plus – 26
5. Mazda3 with 8.8-inch and Mazda Connect – 25
6. Volkswagen Passat with 8-inch Composition Media System – 24
7. Ford Fiesta with SYNC 3 and FordPass – 23
8. Hyundai Ioniq with 10.25-inch Touchscreen – 22
9. Vauxhall Corsa with 10-inch Multimedia Navi Pro – 22
10. Skoda Kamiq with 9.2-inch Touchscreen – 21
11. Jaguar XE with 10-inch Touch Pro Duo – 21
12. Volvo S60 with SENSUS – 20
13. Toyota Corolla with Touch 2 – 20
14. Nissan Juke with Nissan Connect – 19
15. Honda CR-V with 7-inch Touchscreen – 18
16. Lexus RX with 12.3-inch Multimedia Display – 18
17. Peugeot 508 with 10-inch Connected 3D Navigation – 17
18. Skoda Citigo-e iV with Color Screen – 16
19. Fiat 500X with 7-inch Touchscreen and Uconnect Live – 14
20. MG ZS with 8-inch Touchscreen - 12

These "Air Tight" Honda Odysseys Will Help Transport COVID-19 Patients in Japan

Honda has just transformed 50 of its Odyssey MPVs to transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals and quarantine facilities in Japan. And they’ve done so without risking the driver from infection by sealing off the rear section.

The carmaker has placed an airtight divide between the driver and the rear passenger areas of the vans and tweaked their air conditioning systems to enable fresh air to enter through the front near the base of the windshield wipers, pass through to the rear passenger area through vents and exit through the back.

The one-way ventilation system ensures that air from the rear section doesn’t enter the driver’s space.

Honda began lending these special MPVs to health authorities in Tokyo, and eventually to nearby Saitama prefecture where the Odyssey is currently being produced. The company said it will consider making more available depending on demand.

By May 2020, Honda will begin producing its own face shields at its manufacturing sites in Tochigi and Suzuka.

How A 0.01 Second Difference Resulted in One of the Mazda CX-30's Little Known Trademark Features

One of the more intriguing, but often unmentioned detail in the Mazda CX-30’s design has to do with its turn signal lights. Just as Mazda focused their attention on something as small as car keys, wipers, and doors—starting with their newest model, they’ve done so as well with the blinkers.

LEDs are becoming the norm on modern cars, simply because of their visibility benefits. Unlike halogen bulbs that gradually increase in brightness when turned on and gradually lose brightness when turned off, LEDs instantly emit light when an electrical current is applied, and reach its peak brightness almost instantaneously. Furthermore, they instantly go out when turned off.

Unfortunately, Mazda sees this “0 or 1” operation as something cold—not fitting with their cars which are supposed to be emotional and evocative. With that, they decided early on in the CX-30’s development that they wanted signal lights that flashed and disappeared like a heartbeat—inspired largely by their very own instrument cluster. This gives it a sense of warm and a sense of life, according to the carmaker.

Working with all the necessary laws and regulations worldwide, their designers and engineers worked with supplier Stanley Electric to make this a reality. The resulting CX-30 signal lights turn on instantaneously like regular LEDs, but gradually dim 0.01 seconds after reaching peak brightness. This gives it a “lingering” effect, resulting in the heartbeat effect that Mazda wanted.

Aside from serving an aesthetic role in the CX-30, these dimming signal lights or heartbeat signal lights are also supposed to make it easier for people looking from the outside to understand the CX-30 driver’s intentions. This, in turn, eases the driver’s tension.

Have you noticed this remarkable little detail in the CX-30? You can see the difference for yourself in this short video below.

What Does the Jeep "Trail Rated" Badge Mean?

Today is Jeep 4x4 Day, the annual celebration of the iconic brand, and the freedom of off-road driving that goes with it. In commemoration, Jeep goes behind the brand’s “Trail Rated” badge—a mark reserved for only the most off-road capable models in their line-up.

Now in its fifth year, Jeep 4x4 Day is held on the fourth day of the fourth month (4/4) and is now enjoyed by Jeep owners and enthusiasts worldwide. It recognizes the invention of the SUV and the 80 years of Jeep evolution and innovation that have followed.

From Argentina to Zambia and everywhere in between, the Jeep brand's “Trail Rated” certification is so much more than just a badge. It is a methodology, a guarantee and a recognized standard for proven off-road capability. Trail Rated Jeep vehicles are put through a series of grueling tests designed to prove off-road performance on the world’s most demanding terrain.

The testing process begins in Jeep’s research and development departments, continues in the icy temperatures of North Michigan and finishes in the boulders of the Rubicon Trail, considered the toughest off-road testing ground in the world. The Trail Rated badge certifies that the vehicle has been designed to successfully pass five performance test categories to meet the most extensive level of off-road requirements in a production vehicle – traction, water fording, maneuverability, articulation, and ground clearance. Only when a Jeep model has passed all tests with flying colors can it claim to be among the most capable production off-road models on the market.

Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology initially established by the Nevada Automotive Test Centre (NATC) and the Jeep R&D Team to objectively measure the off-road performance of all Jeep vehicles. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, as well as computer-simulated evaluation tests, this methodology provides a repeatable, consistent, and reliable measurement of off-road performance.

The Five Trail Rated Categories

Traction. Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s feature a variety of four-wheel-drive systems to suit all kinds of off-road challenges and driving conditions. Trail Rated traction helps maintain a controlled forward motion in snow, ice, sand, and mud. Traction testing includes traction on untamed, slippery roads (wet, mud, snow) and on steep gradients. Crawl ratio is a key metric used to distinguish the traction and capability of Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s.

Water Fording. Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s feature additional electrical and body sealing along with a high air intake to help navigate streams and flooded underpasses that stop others cold.

Maneuverability. Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s have the capability to navigate narrow gaps, dodge emergency situations and avoid cosmetic damage thanks to precision steering and optimized wheelbases. The smaller the turn radius, the more capable the vehicle is at negotiating narrow gaps.

Articulation. Keeping the rubber on the trail helps the car to keep moving. When one or more wheels are elevated, good articulation allows the other wheel(s) to maintain ground contact longer, allowing for maximum available traction at all times. Trail Rated suspensions enhance off-road performance by maximizing flexibility, axle articulation and wheel travel, to ensure the tires grip the ground, even on steep surfaces.

Ground Clearance. Jeep 4x4s are tested for their ability to drive over obstacles, and the criteria include ground clearance and approach, breakover and departure angles to ensure the car can clear logs, rocks and uneven ground.