Flying cars: metropolitan Air Port gains government backing

flying cars and trucks might be on the way, with the UK government having awarded monetary support to a business that’s establishing aviation facilities for electric as well as autonomous air vehicles with vertical take-off as well as landing (VTOL) capability.
British firm metropolitan Air Port’s job ‘Air-One’ will see the world’s very first completely operational hub for electric VTOL aircraft – such as cargo drones as well as flying taxis – set up in Coventry later this year. The company’s wider aim is to provide zero-emission air traveler journeys as well as deliveries.

Future cars and truck technology: innovations coming to cars and trucks in the future

Urban Air Port has now been chosen as a champion of the Government’s Future flight Challenge, entitling it to a £1.2 million grant. The money comes from the £125 million industrial strategy difficulty Fund as well as is expected to be matched by as much as £175 million from personal industry.
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The firm is already a concern facilities partner of Hyundai motor Group’s metropolitan Air Mobility Division. The Korean brand is supporting Air-One as well as means to develop its own electric VTOL aircraft, which it wishes to commercialise by 2028.
Urban Air Port plans to establish more than 200 sites in the next five years. Each one will be 60 per cent smaller than a traditional heliport, emit net-zero carbon as well as be totally off-grid. The sites – which can be developed in “a matter of days” – will likewise be of utilize in emergency situations, with the capability to quickly deploy drones as well as flying vehicles to deliver supplies, devices or people.
Ricky Sandhu, creator as well as executive chairman of metropolitan Air Port, said: “Flying cars and trucks utilized to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air-One will bring clean metropolitan air deliver to the masses as well as unleash a new airborne world of zero discharge mobility.”
Gary Cutts, UK research study as well as innovation Future flight difficulty director, stated Air-One would “help to setting the UK at the vanguard of electric metropolitan air mobility”.
Are you keen to get on board a flying car? let us understand in the comments…

Vauxhall Adam S appears at Geneva motor show

Vauxhall has revealed its plans for a faster version of the Adam city car, with this new 148bhp turbocharged Vauxhall Adam S. The new range-topping model is at the Geneva motor show as a production preview concept that is essentially how the car will look when it arrives later this year.
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Under the bonnet is a turbo version of the current 1.4-litre engine, increasing power by 50bhp – putting it in the same kind of territory as the new small Cooper. With its new-found grunt Vauxhall says it’ll be able to hit 137mph, and while nothing is confirmed you can expect 0-62mph in just under eight seconds.
This isn’t quite a VXR version, but it does have what Vauxhall calls a VXR braking system with 16-inch discs up front and red-painted calipers. With the Adam based on the Corsa’s platform it could still theoretically use the Corsa VXR’s 189bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre engine for a future model.
The Adam S will be easy to spot despite the hundreds of personalisation combinations available with the standard car. The red body paint of the show car is topped by a black roofing system ending with a spoiler, sill extensions underneath and an unmissable exhaust pipe round the back. new alloy wheels complete the exterior look while inside Recaro sports seats and red and white flashes on the instrument and door panels mark the car out from the standard model.
It’s not the only new engine available for the Adam ­- also at the show is a production model with the new three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that Vauxhall hopes will take some of the shine off Ford’s Ecoboost unit with similar specs.
That was shown in the Adam Rocks, a version of the car given a mild SUV makeover with body cladding and a canvas retractable sunroof, but it will be made available in the larger range soon to give a version of the car with CO2 emissions below 100g/km for the first time.

Polestar 2 electric cars and truck line-up broadened for 2021

A new design line-up has been revealed for the Polestar 2. The Tesla design 3 rival is now offered with three battery as well as motor combinations, with the variety starting from £39,900.
Polestar’s new common variety single motor variant features a 64kWh battery pack as well as a single electric motor mounted on the front axle. The system has an output of 221bhp as well as 330Nm of torque, as well as Polestar states it’ll cover up to 274 miles between trips to the plug.

Best electric cars and trucks to buy 2022

Standard devices for the entry-level design includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED front as well as rear lamps, all-round auto parking sensors as well as a rear-view camera. Inside, purchasers likewise get an 11-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as well as an eight-speaker stereo system.
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Polestar’s new mid-range option, called the long variety single Motor, is priced from £42,900. It features a somewhat more powerful, 228bhp version of the exact same front-mounted electric motor as well as a larger 78kWh battery pack. The brand states the powertrain offers a maximum variety of as much as 335 miles.
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Above that sits the Polestar 2 long variety double Motor, which is priced from £45,900 as well as replaces the introduce edition specification as the EV’s flagship model. It’s powered by the exact same 78kWh battery pack as well as twin electric motors, which have a integrated output of 402bhp as well as 660Nm of torque.
It likewise costs £4,000 less than the introduce specification, as that car’s plus as well as Pilot packs are now optional extras. The former costs £4,000 on its own as well as adds a full-length panoramic sunroof, a 13-speaker Harman Karmon stereo system as well as black ash dashboard trim.
Buyers likewise get electrically adjustable as well as heated front seats, together with heating functions for the rear bench, steering wheel as well as wiper blades. Polestar even offers an improved warm pump, which captures excess warm from the drivetrain as well as utilizes it to warm the cabin, cutting the energy demand from heating by 50 percent.
The Pilot pack adds £3,000 to the Polestar 2’s starting cost as well as adds a hold of additional driver assistance technology, including the company’s improved Pixel LED headlights, LED fog lamps, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping help as well as cross web traffic alert.

Polestar likewise continues to offer its optional performance Pack, for an additional £5,000. The upgrade is only offered on the two most costly variations as well as adds forged 20-inch alloy wheels, adjustable Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes as well as some gold trim inside as well as out.
Now checked out our evaluation of the Polestar 2 here…

Top 5 news stories of the week

1. GM axes Chevrolet in Europe
The most significant new this week came from GM after it announced Chevrolet would be dropped from European markets by the end of 2015. focus will now be placed on Vauxhall and Opel who have both struggled to compete in the increasingly competitive European market. GM also revealed it would be expanding the Cadillac brand across Europe too.
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Read more: GM axes Chevrolet Europe
2. Ford Mustang revealed
The all-new sixth-generation Mustang has been unveiled and for the first time in its 50 years of production, it will be making its way to UK shores in right-hand drive. There’s still no official word on pricing but a figure around £30,000 is expected, with the high-performance V8 model asking around a even more £5,000 when sales start early 2015.
Read more: Ford Mustang 2015 UK revealed
3. Audi Q1 confirmed
Audi confirmed the Q1 would be joining the lineup in 2016 as the new entry-level Q model. It’s initially aimed at Nissan Juke buyers who want something a little much more upmarket but BMW and Mercedes both have entry-level SUVs in the pipeline, which will rival the Q1. technical details are still limited but it’s likely the engines from the A1 supermini will be adopted.
Read more: Audi Q1 confirmed
4. Saab 9-3 back in production
Production of the Saab 9-3 has restarted under the new ownership of national electric cars Sweden. The restart in production also sees a slightly revised model roll off the production line, which will be initially sold in the Chinese market. The manufacture also announced plans to develop an electric version in 2014.
Read more: new Saab 9-3 unveiled
5. Audi crossover concept official sketches
Audi’s second major announcement this week came in the shape of some official crossover sketches, which appear to preview the new style direction for models such as the A4 and A5. The three-door concept will debut at the Detroit motor show in January next year, where we will find out its name and what’s fitted under the bonnet.
Read more:  Audi crossover concept official sketches

Huge difference in driving-test pass rates for ethnic groups

Pass rates for driving tests are considerably higher for White people than for people from any type of other ethnic background, according to data acquired from the chauffeur as well as car requirements company (DVSA) by car Express.
The data shows the typical pass rate for White people taking the useful test between 2016 as well as 2020 was 52.24 per cent, compared with just 34.62 per cent for Black people. The typical pass rate across this period for all ethnicities was 46.7 per cent.

Driving test update to protect the handbook gearbox

The pass-rate disparity is at its many stark when comparing figures for Black people with those for White people, however the pattern continues across other ethnic minorities as well. The typical pass rate for Oriental people from 2016 to 2020 was 37.86 per cent; the typical pass rate for Chinese people was 39.08 per cent; as well as the typical pass rate for ‘Gypsy/Irish or Scottish traveller’ (as the DVSA records it) was 42.25 per cent – although data for some ethnic minorities was not recorded in all years.
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The DVSA advised caution over its figures, explaining: “Ethnicity info is voluntarily offered by test candidates, as well as over 70 per cent of candidates do not state any type of ethnicity at all. It is, therefore, extremely likely that the info is subject to self-selection as well as reporting biases, as well as neither DVSA nor DfT [Department for Transport] would suggest that individuals depend on this data being a true reflection of the ethnicity of all candidates.”

Renault to deliver complimentary batteries on Christmas Day by means of #SOSBattery hashtag

families facing Christmas Day present disappointment due to missing batteries could find an unlikely saviour in Renault, after the French firm announced it will deliver batteries for complimentary over the festive period.
Residents living within the M25 can tweet @RenaultUK using the hashtag #SOSBattery on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, whereupon a member of the Renault team will come to their home with “a package of batteries and goodies”.
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• top 20 best Christmas presents for automobile fans
Given the variety of different batteries used by the current toys and gadgets, Renault promises its delivery motorists will bring “a large range” to any home inside the M25.
Renault also says eco-conscious buyers can rest easy, as the batteries will be delivered by a member of staff driving an all-electric Renault Zoe.
The Zoe’s own batteries are substantially a lot more powerful than those likely to be missing on Christmas day: the Z.E. 40 Zoe can officially travel 250 miles on a single charge using NEDC assessments, which is equivalent to 186 real-world miles in summer and 124 miles in winter.
Will you be using Renault’s emergency battery service? let us know in the comments below…

‘The British motor show ain’t optional. It’s compulsory’

The united states hasn’t had one this year. Neither has France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Korea or most other major car-producing nations of the world. however we in Britain are about to get a national motor show. depending upon your age, you’ll be able to go to in person for at finest a fiver, at worst £18.50. 
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That’s for a packed eight hours (10am-6pm) of motoring entertainment, education as well as career advice for all your petrol/diesel/electric-head needs. Your eyes will be treated to tens of millions of pounds’ worth of cars, new as well as old. as for your other senses, they’ll tingle to the unmistakable tune of performance, traditional as well as stunt cars, plus screeching tyres. What’s more, your selfie collection should grow if you get up close as well as personal(ish) with worldwide TV stars who’ll be on-site as well as will, if you’re patient as well as respectful, play ball. 

New vehicle awards 2021: the winners

So why all this anticipation as well as imminent action on the automotive agenda? exactly how come there’s so much pent-up excitement, expectation as well as activity? What’s with these sensibly priced tickets (plus free parking) for members of the public feeling disenfranchised by the frequently prohibitively costly costs of entering Wimbledon, Wembley, Goodwood, Silverstone, Twickenham as well as similar venues?
It’s simple: THE BRITISH motor show IS BACK. It’s the vehicle exhibition most countries want in 2021 but, for challenging reasons, can’t have. Although it’s still a month away, it’s looking attractive, accessible as well as affordable. Farnborough worldwide exhibition Centre in Hampshire is the venue, 19-22 August the dates, as well as thebritishmotorshow.live will tell you more.

New 444bhp Audi RS4 Avant on sale from £61,625

The new 444bhp Audi RS4 Avant is now on sale in the UK complying with on from its expose at the Frankfurt motor show in September. two versions are offered at launch, with the common RS4 Avant priced from £61,625.
At that cost tag, purchasers get 19-inch ten spoke alloy wheels, LED headlights with high beam assist, RS super sports seats with honeycomb stitching, plus a full suite of tech, including Audi’s 12.3-inch online cockpit system, an extra 8.3-inch screen on the dashboard, sat nav, cruise control, auto parking assist, as well as a hatful of driver helps as well as security features. 
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Alongside the routine car, the RS4 Avant Carbon edition will be offered, priced from £71,625. styling tweaks such as larger 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers as well as carbon wing mirrors make the cut, together with an RS sports exhaust system as well as LED Matrix headlights. Nappa leather RS seats as well as carbon inlays are discovered in the cabin. 
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After a couple of generations of V8-powered RS4s, the new hot estate version of the A4 goes back to the design of the original RS4 Avant by adopting a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The 2.9-litre system creates 444bhp as well as 600Nm of torque – enough, Audi claims, to take the cars and truck from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, as well as on to an digitally restricted speed of 155mph. Audi will likewise offer an RS dynamic bundle that increases the car’s limit to 174mph.
• finest performance cars and trucks on sale
Despite the performance, the new RS4 Avant’s motor – which transmits its power with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as well as long-term four-wheel drive – is significantly more effective than the old V8. It’s around 17 percent easier on fuel consumption, in fact, with integrated economic climate of 32.1mpg as well as CO2 emissions of 199g/km.
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The new design gets aggressive air intakes at the front, as well as it sits 7mm lower than a fundamental A4 with sports suspension. An extensive choices listing will include RS sports suspension with active dynamic trip control, carbon-ceramic brakes as well as RS-specific dynamic steering. 
The RS4 Avant’s spec includes 19in forged-aluminium wheels (20in products will be optional), Nogaro blue paint, oval tailpipes, a bespoke diffuser insert as well as a roof-edge spoiler – together with wheelarch blisters that are 30mm wider than a common A4’s. The cabin gets a flat-bottomed leather RS wheel, Audi’s online cockpit screen as well as RS sports seats with an optional honeycomb pattern. 

What do you believe of the new Audi RS4 Avant? let us understand below…

Kia GT4 Stinger idea at Detroit motor show 2014

If you believed Kia was only about household hatchbacks as well as practical crossovers, the GT4 Stinger idea is right here to modification your mind. exposed at the 2014 Detroit motor Show, this muscular 2+2 coupe shows exactly how a Kia rival to the Toyota GT-86 might look, as well as a production version hasn’t been ruled out.
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You might most likely assumption that it’s been created at Kia’s Californian studio, with the assist of some traditional us muscle mass vehicle cues. A short rear overhang, bulging rear arches as well as a clamshell bonnet that’s shrink-wrapped around the front arches must go down well in motor City. other features like a new tiger nose grille as well as vertical LED lights point towards a subtly-different style language across the range.  
• Detroit motor show 2014 
Power comes from a highly-tuned version of Kia’s familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged T-GDI petrol engine, sending 311bhp to the rear Pirelli P-Zero tyres. We have likewise discovered that the Stinger will be developed on its own, bespoke platform that has independent double wishbone suspension all round.
Kia declares the function of the GT4 Stinger was to produce a “purebred, affordable sports car,” which is why there’s a six-speed manual, instead of a a lot more challenging twin-clutch ‘box, as well as a back-to-basics interior.
Kia GT4 Stinger: interior
Inside, there’s rubber mats instead of carpets, pull straps where you’d usually discover door handles as well as no stereo. A flat-bottomed steering wheel as well as leather buckets seats draw connections to the race track, while a glass hatch at the rear exposes a little storage compartment.
Built on a bespoke chassis with independent double wishbone suspension all round, the GT4 Stinger has a shorter wheelbase, however similar length to the Cee’d hatch, although it’s likewise broader than an Optima saloon as well as 229mm lower than the Rio hatch. Custom 20-inch alloys with carbon-fibre inserts are fitted with 15-inch Brembo brakes, while the general weight is 1,304kg – just a few kilos heavier than the GT-86.
While officially there are no plans to put it into production, Kia couldn’t assist however fan the flames of speculation. It declares the GT4 Stinger “provides a possible as well as extremely provocative look into Kia’s future”. Kia has likewise verified that a production version of its 2011 GT idea will go on sale in 2016 – although it’s still not remove whether it will utilize a rear or front-wheel drive layout.

• Kia news as well as reviews• Detroit motor show 2014

MINI Countryman gets new look for 2014

The tiny Countryman crossover has been given a fresh new face for the summer. The popular 4×4 has sold over 350,000 units worldwide and the subtle updates bring the greatest model in the range closer to the all-new tiny hatch, with lower emissions across the range and extra power for selected models as well as the styling tweaks.
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Most of the changes to the exterior are reserved for the front end – which gets a new grille design with a famous scoop and new crossbar – plus a sporty red ‘S’ badge for the quicker versions. new LED fog lights are optionally available for the first time, and incorporate a ring of daytime running lights for a modern look.
Four new colours, including Jungle Green, are now available, and Cooper and Cooper S variants come with a lighter set of five-spoke alloys as standard. The Cooper S has been given some extra power too and its twin-scroll 1.6-litre turbo now produces 190bhp (7bhp a lot more than before) and takes 0.1 seconds less to reach 62mph from a standing start.
However the whole range is also a lot more efficient than before too. thanks to better use of the brand’s MINIMALISM technology and lower rolling resistance tyres all versions of the Countryman now meet the stricter Euro 6 emissions standard.
Emissions for the Cooper S fall to 139g/km and it will now return 47mpg, while the a lot more prudent Cooper D models emit just 111g/km and return an excellent 67g/km – which still makes them the least expensive version to run.
ALL4 four-wheel drive versions of the Countryman now come with metal scuff plates built into the front and rear bumpers for a a lot more rugged look, and they are optionally available for front-drive models as well.
Every Countryman in the range now gets the anthracite dials from the JCW model, and even the most potent 218bhp Countryman will get the same changes as the rest of the range, with buy books opening at the start of the summer, this June.