Ford hires 400 engineers to double size of its connectivity team

Ford said on Thursday it was hiring 400 engineers, mostly in Canada, to work on connectivity software and hardware, part of a wider push to meet demand for more connected cars.

The 300 engineers in Canada and 100 in the United States will double the current size of the Detroit automaker's mobile connectivity engineering team. Ford also plans to establish a new research and engineering center in Ottawa. That's because t​​​​​​he majority of the hires will come from BlackBerry's shuttered phone handset business, TechCrunch reports, where they gained extensive experience working with QNX, the operating system that powers Ford's SYNC 3 and is used by a large number of the world's leading automakers in similar capacities.

Ford on Thursday was also announcing production of a new engine in Windsor, Ontario, two sources told Automotive News, an investment that would boost Canada's auto industry after years of job losses to Mexico and the U.S. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was expected to be on hand at the Ford Essex Engine Plant in Windsor for announcement of the 7X large engine for pickups.

​​Connectivity is a key investment area for the auto industry as in-car technology catches up to that of smartphones. As more modems are built directly into cars, vehicles are able to access a richer array of digital services. Ford plans to equip 20 million cars with built-in modems in the next five years.

"In order to have autonomy, the vehicle's got to be connected, it's just fundamental," Ford's Chuck Gray told TechCrunch. He is Ford's global director for Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering."The vehicle itself, whether there's a driver or not, has to be communicating with the cloud for various reasons, so this group immediately is working on creating that connectivity spine or network upon which everything else can be built."

Of the hires from BlackBerry, Gray said, "Obviously they have deep skills, in embedded software, in mobile devices, in connectivity, and when you look at the subsets of products they work in – they work in RF, they work hardware, they work at the chip level, they work in operating systems, they have a renowned reputation for security and stability [...] so it was a really good fit."

The new hires will work on infotainment, in-vehicle modems, gateway modules, handset integration, security, driver assist features and autonomous vehicles, Ford said.

The move underscores how many new jobs in the auto sector are for white-collar technology jobs related to connectivity, mobility or autonomous vehicles, versus traditional factory jobs.

Ford said on Tuesday it was investing $200 million for an advanced data center in Michigan to support advances in vehicle connectivity and future developments in autonomous vehicles.

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Toyota recalls another 2.9 million vehicles over Takata airbags

Toyota on Thursday said it was recalling a total of about 2.9 million vehicles globally in the latest campaign having to do with Takata airbag inflators.

The affected cars are in Japan, China, Oceania and other regions, including its Corolla Axio sedan and RAV4 SUV crossover due to potentially faulty airbag inflators.

Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, Mitsubishi Motors and truck maker Hino also recalled a total of about 240,000 vehicles in Japan over inflators made by Takata Corp, which can explode after prolonged exposure to heat.

At least 16 deaths have been linked to exploding Takata inflators, mainly in the United States, which prompted the auto industry's biggest-ever global recall.

Global transport authorities consider Takata inflators containing the chemical compound ammonium nitrate to be unsafe if used without a drying agent, and have ordered all of the about 100 million on the market to be withdrawn.

The Japanese automakers said that the latest recalls were part of a wider recall of Takata inflators ordered by global transport authorities last year.

Vehicles sold in North America, Toyota's biggest market, were exempt from the latest recall, it added.

Takata is currently seeking a financial sponsor to help pay for the costs related to the recalls. Last month, it pleaded guilty to a U.S. felony charge as part of a $1 billion settlement over its faulty inflators.

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Skoda To Introduce A 300-mile electric SUV | Autoculture

If you thought Volkswagen wasn't serious about electric vehicles, think again. Its subsidiary Skoda will reveal an electric SUV concept called the Vision E at the Shanghai auto show in a few weeks. Not only is it the fourth all-electric concept shown by the VW group (following the I.D., I.D. Buzz, and Sedric), but it previews the electrified future of Skoda, which announced that it will have five pure EVs in its lineup by 2025.

The Vision E is just as impressive as the company's electric ambitions, too. It boasts a roughly 310-mile range on a charge, and packs a motor that makes about 300 horsepower. The car will be capable of level 3 autonomy, which will allow it to operate autonomously on highways, in stop-and-go traffic, and to find parking spaces. Its top speed isn't amazing at around 111 mph, but it isn't a sports car. Rather, it's an "SUV coupe" similar to the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. As such it has a more sedan-like back. The styling is also unique with full-width headlights and foglights, and another lighting element that extends from the front fender down the doors. The only obviously Skoda styling cue is the bulge down the center of the hood.

The Vision E is also similar to the X6 and GLC Coupe in other ways. Its specs are quite close to those crossovers, particularly the Mercedes. It's a few inches shorter than the GLC Coupe, but it's an inch wider. It also makes the same amount of horsepower as the entry-level X6 and outguns the Mercedes by an impressive 59 horsepower. Of course, these are figures currently only projected and hypothetical since the Vision E is a concept, but it helps us get an idea of what this vehicle is like.

So far, Skoda has only released sketches of the concept. We'll have to wait until the Shanghai show to see the real thing.

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Microsoft announces patent license agreement with Toyota

 

Toyota and Microsoft this week reached an agreement in which the software giant will license many of its patents related to vehicle connectivity to the automaker. The patents cover a host of vehicle technologies ranging from voice recognition to driver gesture control. The agreement is not exclusive — Microsoft can reach similar deals with other automakers — but it's the first of its kind.

The two companies have a history of working together. Toyota and Microsoft have been collaborating for the past 10 months on a data project that uses Microsoft's cloud computing expertise. The project, called Toyota Connected, leverages Microsoft's Azure cloud-computing platform to provide data for areas ranging from nearby traffic patterns to safety to the driver's health.

But the partnership goes back quite a bit further. Toyota also said last summer that Microsoft would help build computer systems for the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team. Additionally, Toyota said back in 2011 that it would work with Microsoft to accelerate development of telecommunication and information technology for automobiles. The first cars to be on the receiving end of such research were Toyota's 2012 plug-in vehicles.

Microsoft is also working with other automakers. At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, the company said it had reached partnerships with Nissan and Volvo on technology related to car connectivity. At that point, Microsoft had already reached agreements with Ford as well as Delphi involving in-vehicle technology.

Microsoft didn't disclose financial terms of the most recent agreement with Toyota. Take a look at Microsoft's press release here.

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Volvo India To Increase Prices By Up To 2.5% | Autoculture

Volvo Auto India announced that it will revise the prices across its entire product portfolio. All the models would undergo a revision in the Ex-showroom prices by up to 2.5 percent. The revision of the prices will be effective in April 2017. Recently, the Swedish marque introduced Sensus in-car user interface, which will be first launched in the new Volvo XC60 and the brand’s new 90 Series.

In a statement, Volvo Auto India said, “The increase is due to rise in input costs which affects all models sold in India. Volvo Cars focus has always been to provide the best-in-class products to our customers at a competitive price with class-leading safety and intuitive features offered as standard across models.”

In India, Volvo sells  V40 Cross Country, V40 hatchback, S60 sedan, S60 Cross Country, S90 luxury sedan, XC60, XC90 Excellence SUV, apt for Indian roads. The prices of the entry level Volvo car starts from Rs 25.49 lakh to Rs 1.25 crore (All Prices, EX showroom, Delhi).

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2017 Honda CR-V Gets Top Safety Pick+ Rating from IIHS | Autoculture

17 Honda CR-V has earned the highest possible safety rating of  Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The model equipped with Honda Sensing and LED headlights fetched this rating. The SUV earned a superior rating for frontal crash prevention when equipped with available Honda Sensing. The CR-V earned a top rating of GOOD in five IIHS crash test modes, including the rigorous small overlap frontal crash test. The CR-V SUV also earned an ACCEPTABLE rating for its headlights.

To earn the 2017 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, a vehicle must earn a rating of good in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also must have an available front crash prevention system with an ADVANCED or SUPERIOR rating and headlights that earn an ACCEPTABLE or GOOD rating. For those asking, Honda Sensing technologies include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with forward Collision Warning (FCW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The 2017 Honda CR-V comes with the multi-angle rearview camera as standard equipment.

Additional standard safety equipment on the CR-V include Advance Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, advanced front airbags and front side airbags. The CR-V is being produced at the company's East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) in East Liberty, Ohio. This is the first time a Honda plant in the U.S. has led the mass production efforts for a global model. The CR-V will also be built at Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ont. and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana in Greensburg, Ind. In a CR-V first, the new 1.5L turbocharged engine is built exclusively at the Honda engine plant in Anna, Ohio.

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McLaren BP23 three-seater hyper-GT teased | Autoculture

Woking supercar manufacturer McLaren has released a teaser image of its upcoming, three-seater hyper-GT model, for now, known as the BP23. From this rear three-quarter perspective, the BP23 appears to flaunt classic mid-engined proportions, with the suggestion of a distinct cabin-forward posture which should allow its occupants (primarily the driver) a clear forward view, bookended by the tops of the front fenders.

Its rear window slopes down towards the rear end in a manner similar to that of the 720S, with a hint of 458 Italia in the rear haunches as the lines sweep over the rear wheels. Meanwhile, the rear fascia features a much slimmer pair of tail lights, even compared to the slender items on current McLarens.

Just 106 units of the BP23 will be produced, and all have been sold, according to McLaren. Further details are still scarce, but the three-seater hyper-GT is expected to pair electric drive with the M840T 4.0 litre V8 which currently powers the 720S, for a ballpark output figure somewhere between the Super Series car’s 720 PS/770 Nm and the 913 PS/900 Nm of the P1, which is part of the Ultimate Series range.

As suggested by the hyper-GT inclinations, the BP23 will take on more of the 570GT‘s flavour rather than the 720S, in being more road-biased for longer range touring comfort, instead of a single-minded focus on performance and lap times. Certain things haven’t changed though: the BP23 stays true to McLaren’s carbon-fibre construction ethos with its Monocage II monocoque tub and structure.

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2017 Force Gurkha launched at Rs. 8.38 lakhs | Autoculture

Force Motors has launched the face lifted version of the extreme off roader car, the 2017 Force Gurkha. It is made with a couple of mechanical as well as exterior changes which make it much more upmarket that the out gone version.

The new Force Gurkha has a strong looking front bumper which is made with steel. The headlamps and fog lamps are covered with steel grille. The side section gets scuff plates with the raised body and suspension. The highlighting feature is the snorkel intake pipe which is positioned near the A-pillar on the right side. There is also a rear mounted spare wheel. It is available in both hard top as well as soft top variants.

In the interior of the Force Gurkha, there is a four spoke steering and a newly designed gear knob. Overall, the Gurkha is built on a very strong platform and chassis which is welded through a kind of robotic technique. This makes the vehicle one of the best off roaders in present time.

In terms of the mechanism, the new 2017 Force Gurkha comes with a BS IV compliant engine unit. There is a 2.6-litre intercooler turbocharged diesel motor based on the Mercedes OM 616. It is capable of making a maximum power of 85 bhp and a peak torque of 230 Nm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox.

The Force Gurkha is a tough looking vehicle and gets its nomenclature from the brilliant army operation of the North East and also served the British as well. They are known as the fiercest fighters around and that is exactly what the Gurkha off road vehicle derives its inspiration from.

The Force Gurkha is available in 3-door Xplorer as well as 5-door Expedition editions and gets an exclusive showroom price tag of Rs. 8.38 lakhs.

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Next generation Audi A8 to be unveiled on July 11, 2017

The Audi A8 has been up on sale for a very long period of time on the global arena. The recent announcement suggests that the latest generation of the A8 will be making its first public appearance on the 11th July, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The global premiere will be at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2017.

The new generation Audi A8 will be built off the company’s MLB EVO platform, which will make it lighter than its predecessor. The Chairman of Audi, Rupert Stradler, has said that the new A8 will be a completely new operating concept with generous dimensions. He3 has even mentioned that as soon as the legislation is passed that would allow automatic driving on highways and when it is legally safe to do so, the company will offer the technology.

The latest Audi A8 is expected to get a 6.0-litre, Bi-turbo, W12 engine which would be able to make a highest power of 600 bhp and a maximum torque of 900 Nm. We currently find this engine in the Bentley Bentayga.

The 2018 Audi A8  expected to come in India by the end of 2018. Once launched, it will be up against popular vehicles like the Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW 7 series.

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Mazda patents show rotary engine for range-extended EV | Autoculture

Two years ago, Mazda introduced a fascinating range-extended electric car called the Mazda2 RE Range-Extender. It took an electric Mazda 2, and dropped in an itty-bitty 330cc rotary engine. It wasn't the rotary-powered sports car we had hoped for, but it seemed like a unique way to keep the quirky engine alive and kicking. But not long after the car's reveal, it seemed to disappear. Now the basic idea has resurfaced with a few modern updates in a couple of US patents.

The first patent is pretty straightforward and describes a range-extended EV similar to the BMW i3. At the front is an electric motor driving the front wheels. At the back is an internal combustion engine that powers an electric generator. In the middle is a lithium-ion battery for storing and delivering electricity. It's the same set-up as that Mazda2.

The second patent is for an engine start-and-stop system, but specifically for rotary engines. The system is designed to shut off a rotary engine when not needed, much as modern piston engines do. It also stops the rotor in a position that closes the intake port to ensure no fuel or exhaust emissions slip out through the intake tract. This is necessary since there are no valves in a rotary, and air and exhaust come through ports that are "opened" and "closed" by the rotor itself. The patent also describes the possibility of firing a spark plug after the fuel has been cut to eliminate any leftover fuel emissions. This system would theoretically improve a rotary engine's fuel economy and emissions significantly, which would be a boon as those are two of the rotary's major weaknesses.

The rotary engine patent also includes the same range-extended powertrain drawing as the first patent. It's there as a description of a possible application. And in such an application, where the rotary wouldn't have to run all the time, the system could take advantage of the rotary's inherent strengths. Weight can be kept low thanks to the engine's small dimensions, which should help in keeping the car sprightly and efficient. Rotaries are renowned for smoothness, too, so it shouldn't need too much refining and sound deadening, the latter of which adds more weight. The small size would also help with packaging, leaving more space for people, cargo, or possibly batteries.

And since it has been patented, the company may be looking to bring the system to market. Unfortunately, it's no guarantee, since the company also patented a new turbocharged rotary engine that seemed suitable for a sports car, but nothing more has surfaced, and the company squashed hopes of a production RX-Vision. Even so, we certainly hope this powertrain reaches production. It's an interesting iteration of the range-extended EV idea, and production of it would keep our hope for another rotary sports car alive.

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BMW India Announce Price Hike of 2 Percent Across Entire Range

BMW India has announced price hike by an average of 2 percent across the entire product range from the beginning of Indian financial year, i.e. 1 April 2017. The BMW Plant Chennai locally produces the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1, the BMW X3 and the BMW X5. BMW dealerships also display the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, the BMW X6, the BMW Z4, the BMW M3 Sedan, the BMW M4 Coupe, the BMW M5 Sedan, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, the BMW X5 M, the BMW X6 M and the BMW i8 which are available in the country as Completely Built-up Units.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW India has been in the forefront of providing Sheer Driving Pleasure to the Indian customers by introducing innovative products, building world-class dealerships and offering state-of-the-art services ahead of its time. In today’s economic conditions, to maintain our exceptional brand positioning and continue offering a distinct value proposition to our premium clientele, we have decided to marginally revise the prices of the BMW and MINI product portfolio.” With its three brands, BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group has its sight set firmly on the premium sector of the Indian automobile market.

Along with automobiles and motorcycles, the BMW Group's activities in India comprise of financial services for its premium clientele. Headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region), BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group. Till date, BMW Group invested over 4.9 billion Indian Rupees (€ 69 million) in BMW India. The wide range of BMW activities in India includes a manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Mumbai, a training center in Gurgaon NCR and development of a dealer organization across major metropolitan centers of the country. Currently, BMW India has 41 sales outlets in the Indian market. The total number of employees at BMW Group India is 650.

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All things you need to know about upcoming BMW 5-series releasing in India

The current-gen 5-series was quite luxurious and comfortable but weren't really a driver’s car with thoroughbred BMW DNA. The next-gen car promises to change that, making it the most fun to drive 5 in years. It is smarter, sharper and better-equipped, making it a compelling luxury sedan. Here’s what else you need to know:

1. It will come with three engine options:

The new 5 promises to meet BMW standards of performance with plenty of power available in all variants. The car will come to India with three engine options – the 256hp straight-six diesel (530d), the 190hp four-cylinder diesel (520d) and the 252hp four-cylinder petrol (530i).

2. It’s tech-laden:

The new 5-series also gets plenty of tech from the 7-series which includes gesture control, a lot more touch controls, fully-digital instrument cluster, adaptive driving modes, a high resolution infotainment screen, the latest iDrive system, a smartphone-like key and a remote parking function where the driver stands outside the car and guides the car forward.

3. Comfort levels are up too:

The new 5-series is covered in high-quality genuine leather, unlike some of its competition, and fitted with comfortable, supportive seats in the front and back. The front seats get seat memory while the rear seat offers ample support, space and comfort.

4. You get a spare tyre:

BMW has decided to tuck a space-saver tyre under the boot floor for the India car, thus making the car more suitable for highway use in case you get a tyre puncture. And what’s nice is that the enclosure is well designed and nicely configured.

5. Expect Rs 50 lakh-plus price tag:

The new 5-series will only be launched in June or July this year, so there is no official word on the price. But we expect it to be priced in the range of Rs 52-65 lakh (ex-showroom) with the 530i being the most affordable car in the range.

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Special Edition Toyota Innova Crysta Touring Sport to be launched in April

Reports suggest that Toyota Kirloskar Motor will be introducing the Toyota Innova Crysta Touring Sport, a special edition of the standard model, in April. It has high chances of being similar to the Innova Venturer which is currently on sale in the Indonesian market.

Similar to the Toyota Innova Venturer, the new “Touring Sport” edition will also be offered in 6-seater trims with captain chairs for the second row. It is also expected to get a 4.2-inch TFT MID, premium leather black upholstery, exclusive floor mats and automatic climate control.

The Touring Sport edition of the Toyota Innova Crysta is expected to get the same engine that drives the standard version. A 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel and 2GD-FTV 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel are the diesel engine options in the standard Innova, along with 2TR-FE 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol mill. However, it is still unknown whether the newer edition will get all the three trims or just one engine option.

The Toyota Innova Crysta Touring Sport will get black coloured cladding on the front and rear bumpers and wheel arches. The front grille, ORVMs, bumper and rear windscreen will get generous amount of chrome inserts. It will also get 17-inch alloy wheels from the top end trim of the Innova Crysta.

Just around a week back we had recently reported that Toyota Innova Crysta has crossed 67,500 sales mark in India. Considering this recent success, it can be expected the special edition, slated for a launch in April, will also get a good grip over the market.

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Third party vehicle insurance to be more expensive

The e-Government of India will soon eradicate the upper cap for the insurance companies on liabilities on third parties in an event of road accidents or death. IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has sent an application to the government authority proposing that the third party insurance should be increased by 50 per cent for all segment of cars for the current fiscal year, excluding some vehicles like mini hatchbacks, vans, and small trucks.

The rates of premium for the insurance is updated by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India every year. These revisions and updates are based on the number of insurance claims have been made and according to the loss suffered by the insurance companies.

The insurance companies might also push for another hike in the rates of premium after the Motor Vehicle Bill amendment is passed. The hike amount or percentage will depend on the type and displacement value of the vehicles. The figures are yet to be seen.

Third party insurance is taken in order to cover for any injury or death by an accident caused by you to an individual or property. This kind of insurance is comprehensive on cars and motorcycles. However, vehicle owners can also avail standalone for third party insurance.

The vehicles having a displacement of over 1,500 cc had seen the third party insurance premium rates get up by 25 percent, while the vehicles with displacement below 1,400 cc witnessed a surge of 40 per cent last year. On a similar note, for two wheelers with a displacement of below 150 cc, the rate went up by 10-12 per cent, while the motorcycles with a displacement value between 150-350 cc had a hike by 25 per cent. However, the motorcycles with over 350 cc displacement saw the rates going down by 10 per cent.

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DeLorean Once Considered Building This Amazing Tiny Off-Road Vehicle

It’s almost impossible to think of the name “DeLorean” without thinking of a specific stainless-steel sports car, a series of movies about time travel and not boning your mom, and cocaine trafficking. There was, of course, much more to the DeLorean Motor Company, even if they only managed to make one car. For example, there was this amazing little off-roader: the DMC-44.

People forget the DMC-12 was never intended to be the sole product of the DeLorean Motor Company. DeLorean had plans for radical engines, and, more practically, the company identified the growing off-road and utility vehicle market as an area they’d consider entering. They even commissioned a J.D. Power market feasibility study to better understand the potential market.

That study suggested that the small vehicle DeLorean came up with could be successful in a market that was currently served by a mix of small trucks, Jeeps, Land Rovers, and full-size utility vans.

The little DMC-44 off-roader was really a clever and simple design. It was a mid-engined little trucklet with a cab-over-wheels passenger compartment and a flat multipurpose loading area to the rear. By positioning the engine in the middle below the loading floor, the entire wheelbase of the DMC-44 was usable for passengers and cargo.

This was much better than something like a Jeep, which had a small load area, and a full 1/3 of the vehicle’s length was used for the hood/engine, something DMC points out in this promo video for the little workhorse:

There were two proposed engines, both off-the-shelf units: an air-cooled two-cylinder making between 35-40 horsepower and a four-cylinder making about 75 HP. They don’t specify what off-the-shelf engines they have in mind, but if I had to guess I’d say maybe a BMW flat-twin motorcycle engine for the small one, and maybe something like a Ford Kent 1.6 for the bigger one? Just guesses.

The DMC-44 had solid axles front and rear, with plenty of suspension travel and a generous ride height. In design, it’s sort of similar to the U.S. Military M274 “Mechanical Mule,” just with more provisions for bodywork.

There were a lot of power-take-off (PTO) options considered, and in the J.D. Power study it’s interesting to note that the suggestion was made that the DMC-44 should be compatible with existing PTO tools like pumps and winches and mulchers and industrial marital aids or whatever from Sears and Montgomery Ward.

The suggested entry-level price for a hypothetical DMC-44 in 1980 was going to be about $2500, which would be about $7800 today. That’s pretty good, and cheaper than a similar modern vehicle, like a Yamaha Viking EPS side-by-side.

It’s not clear if the DMC-44 was intended to be street-legal or not, but they do list “commuters” in their scrolling list of uses, and in the video they say the DMC-44 has “special gear trains geared for pulling or urban commuting,” which suggests they felt the DMC-44 could be used as a city car of some sort, which makes this whole thing even more fascinating.

Of course, the DMC-44 never made it past the prototype stage, and by 1982 DMC was bankrupt. DeLorean is back now, though, and they’re planning to re-start production of the famous gullwing DMC-12. Maybe if that goes well, they’ll consider resurrecting the DMC-44 as well?

I mean, J.D. Power thought it was a pretty good idea.

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Renault India Launched Kwid Climber, Prices Start At ₹ 4.30 lakh

 Renault India has added another variant to the Kwid line-up and it's called the Climber. The company had showcased the Kwid Climber at the 2016 Auto Expo and since then, according to the carmaker, it has received numerous queries with regards to this car and which is why it's launched this new edition. The Kwid Climber costs ₹ 4.30 lakh for the 5-speed manual variant while the AMT costs ₹ 4.60 lakh (both prices ex-showroom Delhi) and is basically the Kwid with a cosmetic update.

The Kwid Climber will only be available for the more powerful 1.0 litre petrol engine and is available in both a 5-speed manual and automated manual transmission (AMT). It will be available over the top-end RXT (O) variant in manual transmission with three colour options - Electric Blue,  Outback Bronze and Planet Grey. Bookings have commenced across all Renault dealerships in India.

To put things into perspective you will have to shell out ₹ 25000 more for both the manual transmission and AMT variant of the Kwid Climber. The additional ₹ 4000 will be charged for metallic paint and the Kwid Climber is only available in metallic paint and hence the hike is of ₹ 29000. Designed and developed by Renault's design studios in Mumbai and Chennai, there are no changes to the specifications of the car. We've already driven the 1.0 litre version and the AMT version too have told you how peppy it is, so we expect nothing different from the Climber.

The Renault Kwid has been able to dent the sales of the Maruti Suzuki Alto, which was the segment leader in this segment. In fact, in the first eight months of FY 2016-17 Alto sales have taken a hit. Sales have declined by 7.4 per cent to 1,62,894 units, while the Renault Kwid has shot up to 73,676 units from 11,044 units sold in the same period the year before. The Kwid has been looking good and has already garnered 20 per cent market share in this segment. Having already sold 1,30,000 units since its launch in 2015, the Kwid has been successful in creating a benchmark for the segment and with the Climber, Renault is pushing the envelope by introducing more options on the Kwid.

Specifications - 

Dimensions - 

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Suzuki Swift Debuts At Geneva Motor Show 2017, India launch in 2018

Suzuki Motor Corporation unveiled the next generation 2017 Suzuki Swift at the ongoing 2017 Geneva Motor Show followed by its official debut in Japanese car market. The new generation Swift was earlier speculated to arrive in the country later this year, however, as per details from our sources, it is believed that the next generation hatchback will make its Indian debut at 2018 Auto Expo. As far as the styling and design is concerned, the new generation hatchback will carry a large hexagonal grille, LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, halogen fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and LED tail lamps as compared to the outgoing model.

As far as the dimensions are concerned, the new Swift carries a length of 3840mm, width of 1695mm and height of 1525mm along with the wheelbase of 2450mm. As compared to the outgoing model, the overall length of new 2017 Swift is reduced by 10mm, height has been cut by 10mm and the wheelbase has been increased by 20mm.

On the inside, the new Suzuki Swift gets the all new avatar as well that add up the premium quotient to derive the cabin with a sporty look. Giving a simpler look to the center console with fewer buttons and dials, it now gets a 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, a sportier flat bottom steering wheel, all-new twin pod instrument cluster with color MID, circular dials with displays for the climate control system and much more.

Talking about the European spec Swift, it will be offered with two engine options – K12C 1.2-litre four-cylinder and K10C 1.0-litre three-cylinder Booster jet (turbocharged) engine options. The 1.2-litre petrol unit will be offered with SHVS mild hybrid technology that will be mated to CVT unit that can develop 91Ps of power with 118Nm of torque. On the other hand, the 1.0-litre Booster jet petrol engine can develop 102PS and 150Nm of power figures which will be mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

For the Indian market, the 2017 Maruti Suzuki Swift will continue to carry the same set of engine options. The petrol unit will be powered by a 1.2-litre K-series petrol engine which is capable of developing 83bhp of power against the peal torque of 115Nm whereas the diesel variant will carry a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel unit which is good for 74bhp of max power with 190Nm of peak torque.

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Aston Martin's New Hypercar Finally Gets A Name - Valkyrie, Presented in Geneva

The Aston-Martin hypercar formerly known as AM-RB 001 finally has a name that doesn’t sound like R2-D2's love interest in the next Star Wars movie: Valkyrie.

In Norse mythology, Valkyrie literally translates as “chooser of the slain.” These female figures select who may live and who may die in battle. The Valkyrie then bring half of those slain on the battlefield to Valhalla, where they are governed in the afterlife by Odin, ruler of the gods.

“Aston Martin model names have deep meaning. They need to inspire and excite. To tell a story and enrich a narrative that stretches back some 104-years,” design boss Marek Reichman said in a statement. “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is an incredibly special car that demands an equally remarkable name; an uncompromising car that leaves nothing in reserve.”

To go with its otherworldly name, Aston Martin is promising otherworldly performance. And from what we've learned, that should be a cinch. The Valkyrie will have a hybrid powertrain featuring a 6.5-liter V-12 developed by Cosworth with electric boost courtesy of Rimac. Total output should be about 1,000 horsepower.

That figure should match the car's weight in kilograms (2,200 pounds) as weight savings will be the order of the day. Multimatic, the builder of the Ford GT, will create the carbon fiber monocoque, and the car won't feature a single piece of steel.

Aston Martin has also confirmed that the Valkyrie will run on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires measuring 265/35 ZR20 at the front and 325/30 ZR21 at the rear. The wheels, measuring 20x9.5 inches at the front and 21x11.5 in at the rear, will be a lightweight magnesium alloy set with center-lock nuts to further reduce unsprung mass.

A total of 175 cars will be built, 25 of which will be for track purposes only. A reveal of the completed car will take place next year with deliveries to follow in early 2019.

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