Monday, 21 December 2015

Lexus NX Gets Wheels and Tires Crafted Entirely in Ice for Winter

Lexus NX Gets Wheels and Tires Crafted Entirely in Ice for Winter

Lexus NX Gets Wheels and Tires Crafted Entirely in Ice for Winter

Posted:

Lexus has created the world's coolest wheels and tires… literally.

To create the world's first set of working wheels and tires made from frozen water, the Japanese automaker commissioned a team of ice sculpture specialists to see how ice could be used in lieu of conventional alloy metal and rubber. The team took three months to research, design and test before the finished wheels were fitted onto a Lexus NX for the ultimate ice drive. Before the crossover got a chance to drive down a London road, the NX itself was deep-frozen and stored for five days at negative-30-degrees Celsius(-22 Fahrenheit.) Lexus was quick to mention that the NX started on its first time despite the below-freezing temperatures.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Lexus NX Review

The ice for the wheels and tires were made from softened water taken from a moving flow to ensure it was perfectly clear when taken from the freezer. To ensure the wheels could take the load of the NX, acrylic inserts were added. In total, four sculptors worked for 36 hours to produce each wheel and even the tread patterns on the tires were faithfully reproduced.

"Creating Amazing is what Lexus is about," said Lexus director Richard Balshaw. "Projects such as our hoverboard, the origami-inspired cardboard car and now a dazzling set of fully functioning ice wheels, demonstrate how we use advanced technologies and the best craftsmanship traditions to achieve outstanding results. That's not just for eye-catching one-off projects, but for the cars we deliver to our customers, too."

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Discuss this story on our Lexus NX Forum

Loading, please wait...

Cadillac ELR ‘A Big Disappointment’ Admits Chief Marketing Officer

Posted:

The Cadillac ELR hasn't exactly been a hit in the marketplace, barely selling over 100 units last year.

This year has been much better for the luxury plug-in hybrid, having sold nearly 900 units through November 2015. Despite that, the ELR is being considered "a big disappointment" by the company's chief marketing officer, Uwe Ellinghaus. Speaking in an interview with Automobile, Ellinghaus acknowledged the ELR hasn't sold well but also admits that he wants it because it shows that Cadillac can tackle electromobility. Ultimately, the ELR is a product "that was the niche in the niche in the niche" and its volume shows.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Cadillac ELR Price Slashed by $10K

As a result, Ellinghaus said that Cadillac will no longer go down the road of the ELR, but rather add plug-in hybrid variants to "almost" all its cars. For example, one year after the launch of the new flagship CT6 sedan, the American automaker will add a plug-in version of the vehicle. This strategy will be followed by the brands future cars and SUVs. Essentially, Cadillac has conceded that it cannot emulate Tesla's success, saying with the luxury automaker putting more focus on dealing with range anxiety, which led Cadillac to adding a combustion engine in the ELR. Meanwhile, Tesla had the belief in the electric engine being the sole engine on board with consumers embracing all-electric vehicles.

[Source: Automobile]

Discuss this story on our Cadillac ELR Forum

Loading, please wait...

Corvette E-Ray Trademarked: Is Chevy Planning an Electric Corvette?

Posted:

A new trademark filing by General Motors raises quite a few questions, namely, what else could the name "Corvette E-Ray" hint at, if not an electric Corvette?

The USPTO is reporting two trademark filings, (numbers 86850510 and 86850500) by General Motors, one that described as "Corvette E-Ray" while the other is just "E-Ray." The filings apply specifically for "Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles."

In the spirit of jumping to conclusions, we'll say there's no way these trademarks don't point to the possibility of GM developing an electric, or maybe even hybrid-powered Corvette.

The American automaker has really been pushing its electrification strategy lately, with a new second generation Chevrolet Volt impressing critics. The Volt was even a nominee in AutoGuide.com's Car of the Year award.

See Also: Chevrolet Volt: 2016 AutoGuide.com Car of the Year Nominee

In the past, the company's Spark EV even featured incredible torque figures, including an eye-raising 420 lb-ft of torque. With electric motors offering full torque at practically zero RPM, a Corvette with such technology could be an impressive performer. After all, Tesla has shown the amazing acceleration capability of an electric powertrain with its Model S P90D capable of a 0-60 time of just 2.6 seconds.

With the high-tech focused Consumer Electronics Show a few weeks away, perhaps GM will spill a few more details about this new trademark filing in the new year.

Thanks to Dennis for the tip!

Discuss this story at our Corvette Forums

Loading, please wait...

Mitsubishi Mirage Recalled Over Airbag Issues

Posted:

Mitsubishi is calling back about 25,185 Mirage subcompacts to fix an issue with the airbags. 

The recall only affects cars from the 2014 and 2015 model years that were sold in States that use salt to melt the ice during winter months. This is because snow and salt tracked into the car on boots can work its way behing a kick panel next the driver's dead pedal, potentially causing a delayed reaction by the airbags.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT Shows its New Face

No injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of this issue. To fix the problem, dealers will inspect and replace electrical connectors if necessary and then fit a waterproof shield over the wiring to protect it. A timeline was not provided for when the recall will take place.

Mitsubishi recommends that you try not to track too much snow into the vehicle. If the malfunction occurs, the airbag warning light will illuminate in the dash.

Discuss this story at our Mitsubishi Mirage Forum

Loading, please wait...

Ford is Spreading Holiday Cheer with Snowkhana 4

Posted:

The holiday season is upon us once again and Ford is celebrating with Snowkhana 4. 

In the fourth instalment of the video series, which seems to be becoming a holiday tradition, Ford shows off what the new Ford Focus RS looks like sliding sideways through the snow. A miniature Focus RS also joins in on the action thanks to the magic of stop-motion animation.

A star-studded cast is included in Snowkhana 4, with appearances by Darth Vader, Buzz Lightyear and even Santa Claus himself.

Ho Ho Hokhana is Ford's gift to us for Christmas. So go enjoy it!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Loading, please wait...

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Revealed in Spy Photos

Posted:

The Hyundai Ioniq has been spied at a photo shoot wearing no camouflage at all. 

Hyundai is looking to take on the Toyota Prius and has already announced that the Ioniq will be available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicle when it debuts. A small 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is expected to be used in the hybrid cars, though details on range and fuel economy are still unknown.

The overall shape of the small hatchback is reminiscent of the Prius, both of which were designed to have as little aerodynamic drag as possible.

SEE ALSO: Five Facts About Hyundai You Didn't Know

A new platform has been put together for the Ioniq, though many of its parts were borrowed from other Hyundai models. Independent rear suspension is said to be offered with the car, while the interior takes its cues from the Elantra.

The Hyundai Ioniq will make its official debut next month in Korea, while the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March of next year will host the car's world debut. After that, the Ioniq will travel to the New York Auto Show for its North American reveal.

Discuss this story at our Hyundai Forum

Loading, please wait...
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)