Volvo Using the Cloud for Car-to-Car Communication |
- Volvo Using the Cloud for Car-to-Car Communication
- 2016 Fiat 500 Spied During Winter Testing
- Analyst Thinks Apple Will Buy Tesla
- Self-Driving Volvos On Sale in 2017
- Top 10 Worst Vehicles for the Environment
- Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6 Sold Out
| Volvo Using the Cloud for Car-to-Car Communication Posted: Share this Article Volvo is turning to the cloud to make car-to-car communication a reality. The company is working with the Swedish Transport Administration and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration on a cloud-based project that will enable vehicles to share information about ice and other road conditions. By using a cloud-based network, Volvo will expand from 50 to 1,000 test cars as the project is moving rapidly towards its goal of making the technology available to consumers. SEE ALSO: Volvo Developing 'Self-Fueling' Cars According to Volvo, the testing and validation phase is about to begin and will broaden the test area to include two big Scandinavian cities: Gothenburg and Oslo. As part of developing a cloud-based solution, the company will also incorporate hazard-light and slippery-road alerts as the first safety features in the Volvo cloud. The new technology will also play an integral role of Volvo's safety vision that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. "In the future we will have increased the exchange of vital information between vehicles, as well as between vehicles and infrastructure," said Erik Israelsson. "There is considerable potential in this area, including safer traffic, a more comfortable drive and improved traffic flow." Discuss this story at our Volvo forum Loading, please wait...  |
| 2016 Fiat 500 Spied During Winter Testing Posted: Share this Article The 2016 Fiat 500 has been caught playing in the snow by AutoGuide.com's spy photographers. The Italian automaker is giving its compact a facelift for the 2016 model year and as you can tell by the spy photos, the mid-cycle refresh for the 500 won't be drastic in nature. The city car will retain most of its design while receiving new front and rear bumpers while the headlights and taillights will likely receive small changes. The biggest change we can see is that the Fiat 500's fog lights will be slightly larger with a thicker chrome surround. SEE ALSO: 2014 Fiat 500c Review While there are no photos of the interior, expect Fiat to make more changes inside than outside since it wants to retain the Fiat 500's classic style. It is likely that the company will incorporate a new infotainment system with a larger screen while light tweaks in the engine bay will slightly improve fuel economy and emissions. Discuss this story at our Fiat 500 forum Loading, please wait... |
| Analyst Thinks Apple Will Buy Tesla Posted: Share this Article With rumors that Apple is investing into developing its own vehicles, would the tech giant consider buying Tesla for a generous sum? Jason Calacanis, angel investor and entrepreneur, believes Apple will purchase Tesla to the tune of $75 billion within the next 18 months, ahead of the entry-level Model 3 heading to market. It is believed that Tesla's rising market capitalization will result in a merger between Apple and Tesla rather than an acquisition. Currently, the American electric automaker has a market cap of $25.55 billion that seems small compared to Apple's $740 billion. SEE ALSO: Apple iCar Rumors Resurface Calacanis believes it only makes sense that Apple is interested in buying Tesla, especially given Tim Cook's passion for renewable energy. Another factor that could play a role in Apple's interest is Tesla CEO Elon Musk's recent announcement that the company is working on a source of energy for the home. There's also the reasoning that one of Apple's main competitors, Google, is working on its own driverless car technology and Apple won't hesitate to compete in the same space as Google in another market. The big question is if Musk is willing to sell Tesla and if Apple is the right fit. In an interview with Bloomberg, the eccentric CEO did not categorically say he would never sell Tesla, but he did say that any acquisition is "very unlikely." Then again, he's got a "mission to Mars" he wants to fulfill and $75 billion would go a long way in making that happen. [Source: Tech Times] Discuss this story at our Tesla forum Loading, please wait... |
| Self-Driving Volvos On Sale in 2017 Posted: Share this Article Volvo is close to putting driverless cars into the hands of real consumers. The brand's 'Drive Me' program aims to put 100 XC90 SUVs with driverless technology in the hands of customers in Gothenburg, Sweden during 2017. Volvo says it has built a "production-viable autonomous driving system," that will be able to handle even the most complex traffic scenarios. Initially, the vehicles will only be able to operate fully autonomously on a select 31-mile piece of motorway chosen by Volvo because it has no oncoming traffic, cyclists or pedestrians. SEE ALSO: 2016 Volvo XC90 Priced From $49,895 Unlike other company's driverless car testing, Volvo says that the drivers in its vehicles will not have to stay alert to the road ahead and can focus their time on other activities. This is also the first time that members of the public will have access to fully autonomous vehicles. "Taking the exciting step to a public pilot, with the ambition to enable ordinary people to sit behind the wheel in normal traffic on public roads, has never been done before," said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Volvo. A combination of laser scanners, senors, sonar and cameras make it possible for the autonomous Volvo to have a 360-degree view around itself. Connection to GPS allows the car to receive up-to-date traffic info while a cloud-based vehicle-to-vehicle positioning system will show the position of lane markers along with posts and other hard objects to the car.
"Making this complex system 99 per cent reliable is not good enough. You need to get much closer to 100 per cent before you can let self-driving cars mix with other road users in real-life traffic," says Erik Coelingh,Technical Specialist at Volvo Cars. "Here, we have a similar approach to that of the aircraft industry. Our fail-operational architecture includes backup systems that will ensure that Autopilot will continue to function safely also if an element of the system were to become disabled." SEE ALSO: Volvo Says Driverless Cars Will Become a Reality Volvo designed backup systems to make sure that even if one of the autonomous controls cuts out, the car will still be able to drive itself, as the company acknowledges that the driver will likely not be ready to take over in an emergency situation. "Once the public pilot is up and running, it will provide us with valuable knowledge about implementing self-driving cars in the traffic environment, and help us explore how they can contribute to sustainable mobility," said Coelingh. Exactly how Volvo will choose the 100 customers is still unknown, although they will have to live or work along the 31-mile route. Discuss this story at our Volvo Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Top 10 Worst Vehicles for the Environment Posted: Share this Article Newton's third law says that for every action, there is a reaction. You might have seen the list of the 10 greenest cars of 2015 on AutoGuide.com earlier this week. While Newton's third law doesn't exactly apply here, you get the idea. This ranking comes from GreenerCars.org, a site that analyzes the fuel economy, emissions and environmental impact from the manufacturing of vehicles. After combining that information, the site comes up with a "Green Score." This ranking is about the vehicles that are the "meanest" to the environment. Naturally, the ranking is full of big trucks and fast exotics; essentially purpose built vehicles, but that doesn't mean they're exempt from being criticized for their poor environmental record. [Source: Greenercar.org] Loading, please wait... |
| Posted: Share this Article Mercedes is finished building one its most ridiculous projects to date, the G63 AMG 6×6. With just over 100 sold, the brand is calling it quits to make sure that these behemoths retain their exclusivity. Base pricing for the massive G63 starts at 379,000 Euros or roughly $500,000 USD and power comes from a twin-turbo V8 that makes 536 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque. Complete with six wheels, this G63 also packs five locking differentials. SEE ALSO: Mercedes G500 4×4² Revealed in Official Photo Although the six-wheel version is going away, Mercedes is planning to show off a more sane four-wheel variant at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The new version, known as the G500 4×4², uses portal axles and other off-road goodies from the 6×6, but opts for a naturally aspirated V8 and just two axles. [Source: GT Spirit] Discuss this story at our Mercedes Forum Loading, please wait... |
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