Author: Tabitha
Construction has begun on a 10,000-unit solar array to cover a parking lot at the Bentley production plant in Crewe, England. Once completed, the ‘solar-farm parking lot’ will deliver about one quarter of the plant’s entire energy needs with about 2.7 megawatts of power, reports automotive-lifestyles magazine Motor Authority. Including a 20,000-plus solar panel rooftop constructed in 2013, the facility will have more than 30,000 panels operating, or enough energy to power 1,750 homes. With backing from the United Kingdom’s innovation agency, Bentley expects the solar-car park to be completed in about six months. Once finished, the parking lot will…
Autonomous-car technology company Waymo’s first commercial self-driving taxi service will be able to operate 24/7 within the city of Phoenix, Ariz., later in 2018. It will cover a ‘geofenced’ area of 100 square miles. Waymo head John Krafcik said in April that members of the public “will be able to take our cars anywhere in our service area.” The geofenced area within the sprawling city will cover dense urban centers, high- and low-speed roads and suburbs, Krafcik said. “There’s every driving scenario to be imagined.’ Regarding the fatal collision in March in which an Uber test car in self-driving mode…
Following the announcement of an all-new Chevrolet Silverado, General Motors’ GMC Sierra pickup will receive similar treatment, but with a more distinctive appearance and features to distance it from its sibling. Chief among them is an optional carbon-fibre cargo bed that’s claimed to be lighter and sturdier than Ford’s highly touted aluminum construction, and eliminates the need for a spray-on or insert-type liner. Buyers can also opt for the MultiPro tailgate that has a full-width step and also an assist handle for easier entry to the cargo box. The MultiPro also has a ‘load stop’ barrier that flips up to…
The Sleuth has viewed the automaker’s new all-wheel-drive I-Pace electric hatchback that heads to market later this year as a 2019 model, and he’s rather keen on the car’s slinky styling and quasi-practical shape. Forget any notion of tameness as this Jag’s twin electric motors (one for each axle) collectively produce 394 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. According to Jaguar, the I-Pace can sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in 4.5 seconds. The only possible negative could be the 240-mile (385-kilometre) range, which is considered about average for an electric vehicle these days and falls short of…
When considering historical automobiles from Great Britain, most people think MG, Mini and Austin Healey, but there are a number of other makes that one way or another were imported to North America. “Triumph & Standard Cars 1945 to 1984” by Kevin Warrington, provides a pictorial history of each brand plus a brief description and technical specifications. Triumph operated as a separate entity until, following bankruptcy, it was absorbed by Standard after World War II. Eventually, all models produced by the newly formed automaker would be called Triumphs. The soft-cover book is available for $22 from Veloce Publishing of England…
If your vehicle wasn’t equipped with a head-up display (HUD) system at the factory, there’s still a way for you to add it at a reasonable cost. Car Dash Cam Pro sells a universal phone holder that, when mounted to the dashboard behind the steering wheel, can project GPS navigation, speed, road information and other relevant info onto a glass screen, depending which HUD app you’ve downloaded onto your smart phone (there are many on the market to choose from). You can purchase the unit for $30 (not including apps) at www.cardashcampro.com.
With Ram truck and Jeep brands selling like proverbial hotcakes, The Sleuth notes that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is going all out to update and revamp both lineups (unlike the seemingly forgotten Dodge and Chrysler four-door family cars). In particular, the Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler are each refreshed for 2019, the 2018 Grand Cherokee can now be had with a 707-horsepower V-8 (borrowed from the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat models) and a new second-generation Compass arrived last year. Now, the Spy Guy’s undercover team is confirming that the stubby little Renegade will be given a mild front and rear facelift…
You could easily drop 15-20 grand (or more) for a fancy Rolex wristwatch that all your friends will probably think is a knock-off anyway. But you could also spend that same portion of your inheritance on a super-cool timepiece from former British specialty-car builder Devon Motor Works (now called Devonworks) and be really different. For example, the Tread 2 uses four miniature motors attached to a series of drive belts that control the hour, minute and second readouts. All of the action, which is visible through the watch’s bulletproof-glass casing, is controlled by a battery-powered microprocessor. Tread watches start in…
The lineup for your favorite hot beverage has just been reduced to one. Handpresso of France makes this portable 140-watt espresso machine that fits in your vehicle’s cupholder and plugs in to a 12-volt receptacle, such as a lighter socket. The $200 unit takes most E.S.E (Easy Serving Espresso) coffee pods and brews up the contents in about two minutes (the Handpresso beeps three times when it’s done). Get the details regarding this unique device and available accessories at www.handpresso.com, but your best bet for orders within North America is www.amazon.com, and www.nextag.com.
The company headed by 70-year-old Sir James Dyson of England is well known for making vacuums, bladeless fans and other household items. However, according to The Spy Guy’s sources, Dyson is planning to enter the automobile business. He has reportedly earmarked $2.7 billion to develop electric vehicles and plans to hire 400 employees. Much of the initial effort will be directed at battery development as well as engineering lightweight composite body structures. Given Sir James’ expertise in both areas, albeit on a smaller scale, he seems to have a good shot at succeeding in his new venture. Dyson has earmarked…