More than 33 years after the popular American TV show Knight Rider showed David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff talking to his car KITT, Volvo and Microsoft are launching a wearable-enabled voice control system.
Volvo owners will be able to talk to their car via their Microsoft Band 2, allowing them to instruct their vehicle to perform tasks including, setting the navigation, starting the heater, locking the doors, flashing the lights or sounding the horn via Volvo’s mobile app Volvo on Call and the connected wearable device.
In November 2015 Volvo and Microsoft announced their high-profile collaboration with the first automotive application of HoloLens technology. HoloLens is the world’s first fully untethered holographic computer, which could be used in future to redefine how customers first encounter, explore and even buy car. Now the two companies are delivering remote voice control for Volvo cars via the Microsoft Band 2 as another proof-point in their ambition to jointly develop next generation automotive technologies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7717752-volvo-cars-microsoft-enable-people-to-talk/
CHI & Partners announce the launch of ‘Swarm’, the second project in the Lexus ‘Amazing in Motion’ global brand campaign series.
‘Swarm’ is the result of a creative and innovative collaboration between Lexus, Director Sam Brown of Rogue Films and KMel Robotics. ‘Swarm’ takes existing quadrotor technology out of its typical engineering environment and moves it into real world settings and locations. The result is a playful story of quads exploring the city at night while we sleep.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64149-lexus-launches-swarm-amazing-in-motion
Nearly five dozen 2019 models meet stricter criteria to qualify for a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 30 first-tier “plus” award winners earn the highest rating for passenger-side protection in a small overlap front crash and have good-rated available headlights, while the 27 winners of the second-tier award qualify with an acceptable or higher rating in the newest IIHS crash test and the nighttime headlight evaluation.
All 57 vehicles in this elite group earn good ratings in the Institute’s five other crashworthiness evaluations and have an available automatic emergency braking system that rates advanced or superior for front crash prevention.
IIHS now requires a good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test to earn a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ versus an acceptable or good rating for the 2018 award. An acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side test is a new criterion to earn a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK.
This marks the sixth time that IIHS has raised the bar to earn the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award since introducing it in the 2013 model year to recognize vehicles that offer a superior level of safety. The TOP SAFETY PICK accolade launched in the 2006 model year to help consumers identify vehicles with the highest ratings. Over the years, IIHS has added to and strengthened criteria for both awards to encourage manufacturers to speed up safety advances.
2017 Renault Zoe
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault's Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of 2016.
Double the range for even longer journeys
As the pioneer of all-electric mobility and Europe's number one seller of electric vehicles, Renault has stepped up its innovation programme and the deployment of its Zero Emissions strategy.
Fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery, the Renault ZOE now delivers a record NEDC driving range of 400km, which is twice the distance delivered by the model at the time of its original launch.
The new Z.E. 40 battery has a real-world range of 300 kilometres in urban or suburban areas, for example.
The range permitted today by the ZOE is the longest of any mainstream all-electric vehicle and motorists can take advantage of this step forward now.
The ZOE is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe and provides a real alternative to internal combustion-engine cars, since average daily commuting distances are well within the ZOE's capabilities.
The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since ZOE users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worry about charging. This makes weekend trips a real possibility.
The Z.E. 40 battery's charging rate is similar to that of the standard battery, so 'topping up' doesn't take long at all. For example, just 30 minutes are required on average to charge the battery for an extra 80 kilometres of driving range when plugged into one of the many public charging points in operation in Europe. The ZOE continues to be equipped with the Quick Charge function to take full advantage of the maximum capacity of fast charging points located predominantly along motorway corridors.
An innovation that doubles battery capacity with no increase in size
The ZOE's new Z.E. 40 battery boasts 41kWh of useful energy, equivalent to almost double the storage capacity of the ZOE's standard battery (22kWh of useful energy).
Developed in close partnership with LG Chem, the battery uses high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Renault and LG engineers have succeeded in increasing storage capacity without making the battery any bigger or a lot heavier. It was optimised by working on the chemistry of the cells in order to increase their energy density, rather than stacking additional battery modules, a commonly used technique.
This major new technology has been developed while ensuring the battery's reliability or safety.
The battery's large storage capacity ensures longer range for the ZOE thanks to the meticulous work that went into integrating the battery in the vehicle. The electronic management system of the battery optimises the ZOE's energy use on the move, while the new air circulation system maintains the temperature of the ZOE's battery at a constant level, making the car economical to run in very hot or very cold weather.
Two complete cars, one MAN truck, 53
tonnes of spare parts and a naked trucker called Wazza. Take a look at
what it takes just to get the Red Bull Racing Australia team to the
track at every V8 Supercars round.
One era ends and another begins as Zlatan Ibrahimović says goodbye to Swedish national football team in new Volvo V90 film.
After fifteen years representing Sweden in the national football team, team captain Zlatan Ibrahimović thanked his large fan base and revealed that this was his last match in the yellow jersey. Volvo Cars’ new film captures this moment and Zlatan’s journey back to Sweden.
In the film, Zlatan and his family take an emotional road trip in the new Volvo V90, retracing the highs and lows of his career and ending back where it began in the tough Malmö neighbourhood of Rosengård.
“Making this film was of course emotional, but the time has come for me to hang up my shirt and hand over to the next generation. For me it is all about looking forward, not back. A new journey is starting – both for me and for Volvo.” said Zlatan Ibrahimović.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7867251-zlatan-ibrahimovic-swedish-team-volvo-v90/
Generations of the Lexus LS have inspired an entire industry through visionary innovation, craftsmanship and design. And now the flagship not only has a new face, but has more than 3,000 new parts. The LS line-up also includes the first-ever LS F SPORT, and a marketing campaign to highlight the thrilling, exclusive lifestyle LS drivers live. The LS campaign caps off a successful year of launches showcasing the brand’s bold new face and attitude for the future.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58825-lexus-ls-2013-marketing-campaign
Volvo Cars has unveiled a new concept that takes executive in-car luxury to a new level at the Shanghai Motor Show. Labelled the Lounge Console, the concept offers busy chauffeur-driven business people the ultimate executive accessory; a compact and versatile solution to expanded storage and comfort. The Lounge Console replaces the front passenger seat, providing a wealth of functions and amenities.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7496751-volvo-lounge-console/
A key component to Kia Motors’ Green Car Roadmap was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show today as Kia Motors America (KMA) hosted the global debut of the all-new 2017 Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV). A no-compromise vehicle that combines driving enjoyment with eye-catching design, functional utility and hybrid efficiency, the all-new Niro strikes the perfect balance for today’s consumers and stakes claim to a unique position between the hybrid-electric vehicle and CUV segments.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7731853-kia-2017-niro-hybrid-cas/
February 24 -- There are more than one billion cars on the road worldwide today, and only one tenth of one percent of them have a plug. OPEC contends that even in the year 2040, EVs will make up just one percent. But don't be so sure. By 2020, some electric cars and SUVs will be faster, safer, cheaper, and more convenient than their gasoline counterparts. What if people just stop buying oil? In the first episode of our animated series, Sooner Than You Think, Bloomberg's Tom Randall does the math on when oil markets might be headed for the big crash.
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Jaguar announced the three renowned actors to appear in “Rendezvous,” its 60-second television advertisement to debut during the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII, and revealed details of its largest-ever brand and product marketing campaign, called “British Badboys” which introduces the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe (on sale spring, 2014). “Rendezvous” stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong, and was filmed by Oscar-winning British director, Tom Hooper, in London. It is Jaguar’s first Super Bowl TV advertisement.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64994-jaguar-first-super-bowl-commercial-f-type
Lytx®, Inc., the global leader in video-based driver safety, unveiled today a giant leap forward in safe driving innovation with its Lytx ActiveVision℠ service available for select Lytx DriveCam™ clients immediately, and industry-wide in January 2016. The ActiveVision service will be publicly demonstrated this weekend at the 2015 American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in Philadelphia.
The ActiveVision service is a revolutionary and comprehensive safety solution that helps detect and address, both in real time and over time, distracted and drowsy driving and following too close, all potentially dangerous and costly driving behaviors that often go undetected -- behaviors that contribute to 6,000 deaths, 500,000 injuries, and more than $175 billion in economic costs each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7277351-lytx-activevision-distracted-driving/