Tag: Daimler

Cox Automotive forms new business division after acquiring tech platform

By Eric Mandel  – Digital Producer , Atlanta Business Chronicle Aug 13, 2018, 11:11am EDT Cox Enterprises Inc. is speeding into another venture, with the formation of a new business division inside its automotive subsidiary. The Atlanta-based company said Monday that Cox Automotive is leveraging its recent acquisition of Clutch Technologies to create Mobility Solutions Group,… Continue reading Cox Automotive forms new business division after acquiring tech platform

Exclusive: In Chinese port city, Japan’s Toyota lays foundation to ramp up sales

BEIJING (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp is likely to make 120,000 more cars a year in the Chinese port city of Tianjin as part of a medium-term strategy that’s gathering pace as China-Japan ties improve, said four company insiders with knowledge of the matter. FILE PHOTO: An employee walks past as he checks on newly-produced… Continue reading Exclusive: In Chinese port city, Japan’s Toyota lays foundation to ramp up sales

Geely Mulls $1.9 Billion Revival Plan for Lotus Cars

LISTEN TO ARTICLE SHARE THIS ARTICLE The Chinese owner of Lotus Cars is considering an investment of at least 1.5 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) to revive the iconic British brand featured in James Bond movies, according to people familiar with the matter. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which also controls Volvo Car Group, plans to… Continue reading Geely Mulls $1.9 Billion Revival Plan for Lotus Cars

  Insurance Institute Spots Problems in Driver Assistance Systems 8 Aug

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Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic-Jam Assistants

Electronic safety systems in today’s vehicles don’t always measure up to claims made for them, says a report published Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit supported by auto insurers.

“We zeroed in on situations our staff have identified as areas of concern during test drives with Level 2 systems, then used that feedback to develop road and track scenarios to compare vehicles,” IIHS senior engineer Jessica Jermakian said, according to the report.

Level 2 autonomy employs advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which as the phrase implies are meant to help drivers, not replace them. A Level 2 car has the two functions of lane keeping and adaptive cruise control, a feature that maintains a safe distance from the car in front.

The Insurance Institute isn’t yet at the point of ranking Level 2 systems for safety, although it does say that all of the five cars it has just tested have excellent emergency braking systems. That function is the sole criterion for Level 1 autonomy.

The tested cars were the 2017 BMW 5-series with Driving Assistant Plus; the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with Drive Pilot; the 2016 Model S and the 2018 Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot (using different software versions); and the 2018 Volvo S90 with Pilot Assist.

When starting at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph) and with the adaptive cruise control turned off, the two Teslas were not able to brake in time to completely avoid hitting an obstacle. The other cars were able to stop well short of the obstacle. With the adaptive cruise control turned on, all the cars stopped in time.

When set to follow a lead vehicle that first slowed and then stopped, all five cars were able to keep their distance and to stop in time. When the lead vehicle moved out of the way to reveal a stopped vehicle in the lane, all five cars were able to avoid hitting it.

So far, so good. But these tests were conducted on the track; in traffic, things weren’t always so smooth. Engineers found that all of the cars except the Tesla 3 would sometimes be baffled by a stopped car. And even the Tesla 3 had a problem: excessively cautious braking.

“In 180 miles, the car unexpectedly slowed down 12 times, seven of which coincided with tree shadows on the road,” the report recounts. “The others were for oncoming vehicles in another lane or vehicles crossing the road far ahead.”

Such braking isn’t dangerous, the researchers note, but it could be annoying enough to induce drivers to turn off the adaptive cruise control. They’d then give up the safety edge that the function normally provides.

As for the other Level 2 function—keeping to the right lane—all the cars had a little trouble. In one set of tests, only the Tesla 3 consistently stayed within its lane; other models sometimes oversteered enough to require that the driver intervene. But in another set of tests, on hilly roads, even the Tesla 3 sometimes required the driver to intervene.

The Insurance Institute says that though lane keeping is a somewhat less potent safety function than adaptive cruise control, it could—if properly implemented—prevent 8,000 deaths a year.

New Mercedes-Benz A-Class: New Mercedes-Benz A-Class

08.

August 2018

Stuttgart

Press Contact for this Press Release (2)

Markus Nast

Manager Communications Compact Cars

markus.nast@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-96357

Fax: +49 711 17-79055289

Koert Groeneveld

Head of International Product & Technology Communications

koert.groeneveld@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-92311

Fax: +49 711 17-94365

Combined fuel consumption: 5.6-4.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 128-118 g/km*Stuttgart. The Mercedes-Benz models A 180 d (with dual-clutch transmission; combined fuel consumption: 4.5-4.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 118-108 g/km)[i] and A 200 (with dual-clutch transmission; combined fuel consumption: 5.6-5.2 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 128-120 g/km)1 have successfully completed the TÜV validation audit for the Environmental Certificate. This certificate is based on a life-cycle assessment in which the independent experts at TÜV Süd (German Technical Inspection Authority) comprehensively examine the environmental impact of the passenger car over its entire life cycle. More details about the Environmental Certificate can be found in the documentation series “Life Cycle”.

The new A-Class came to the starting line with new efficient diesel and petrol engines throughout. And with a Cd value from 0.25 and a frontal area (A) of 2.19 m2, it is the aerodynamic leader in its segment and at the same time better than the predecessor (Cd value: from 0.26/frontal area: 2.20 m2).
As many other cars from Mercedes-Benz, the new A-Class is certified according to Euro 6d-TEMP and for this purpose also has completed the so-called RDE road test (Real Driving Emissions). This has effects on the life-cycle assessment: the exhaust emissions during the phase of its use were calculated based on the applicable RDE limits. Compared to earlier life-cycle assessments, driving operations therefore have a greater share of the entire life cycle.
The comprehensive life-cycle assessment also comprises the emissions from the production and recycling phase in addition.
Manufacturing vehicles requires a high degree of material usage. For this reason, one developmental focus is on further reducing the use of resources and the environmental impacts of the materials used. To this end, renewable raw materials and recycled plastic materials (recovered plastics) are also used.
Some examples from the new A-Class: The reinforcing frame of the sliding sunroof is completely new. In combination with a thermosetting bonding agent, a natural fibre mat replaces the conventional sheet steel frame. In addition to saving resources, this also cuts the weight nearly by half.
With the Dinamica® material, a high-quality secondary raw material is used in the interior of this model series. The completely redeveloped structure of the instrument panel also contributes to conserving resources: Because this allowed optimising the production process, there is a lot less stamping waste. A recycled material composed of reprocessed starter batteries and bumper panelling is used for the wheel arch linings.
[i] All stated figures were determined in accordance with the prescribed measuring method. These are the “NEDC CO2 figures” according to Art. 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures.

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Order stop for environmentally friendly cars at VW

Monday, 08/06/2018 10:36 clock Customers who buy a VW buying a car planning, you have to expect trouble. For models with hybrid and natural gas drive currently no orders would be accepted, said a VW spokesman. Previously, the “Welt am Sonntag” had reported on the topic. Reason for the stop are problems with new exhaust… Continue reading Order stop for environmentally friendly cars at VW

No need to buy a Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo when you can simply subscribe

In a world awash in hassles, this seemed like a dream come true. A near-new Cadillac delivered to your home, office or wherever else you’d like. No insurance or maintenance to worry about. If there are issues, a “concierge” is an email or phone call away. Grow tired of the car? Just go to the… Continue reading No need to buy a Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo when you
can simply subscribe

End of a cartel

The cartel allegations against Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and VW destroy the confidence of politics in the industry DER SPIEGEL 2017/31 revelations For decades, politicians and the auto industry have messed with each other. Since the cartel allegations against Daimler, BMW, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen everyone is fighting against everyone. Now Bosch is under suspicion.… Continue reading End of a cartel