Hot Cars

Nissan: Concept Car To Showcase Anti Drink-driving Technology

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to reduce drink-driving. The various technologies are designed to detect the driver’s state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilisation of the vehicle.

Alcohol Odour Sensors

1) A hi-sensitivity alcohol odour sensor is built into the transmission shift knob which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver’s palm as he or she attempts to start driving. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission, immobilising the car. A “drink-driving” voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.

2) Additional alcohol odour sensors are also incorporated into the driver’s and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.

Facial Monitoring System

A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to monitor the driver’s face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver’s state of consciousness through eyes. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated which tightens around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.

Driving Behaviour

By constantly monitoring the operational behaviour of the vehicle (e.g. sensing if the vehicle is drifting out of its driving lane), the system can identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the system detects such behaviour, voice and message alerts are issued via the navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated, tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied to future production cars, part of an ongoing programme from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drink-driving.

Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk-driving. In June, the company introduced the “drink-driving” message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyser system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilise the vehicle if the driver’s breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.

Nissan is taking a holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a “safe driving environment”, Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture – aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

The All-New Mazda6 World Premiere

Mazda Motor Corporation has officially announced that the all-new Mazda6 will make its world premiere at the 62nd annual Frankfurt Motor Show at the Mazda press conference on Tuesday, 11th September 2007 at 13:45 (local time).

The Frankfurt Motor Show press days are September 11 and 12, and the public days are Saturday 15 September to Sunday 23 September.

The all-new Mazda6 arrives as a full redesign of Mazda’s first model to embody the Zoom‑Zoom product philosophy, offering a thrilling drive to all those who still remember the love of motion first experienced as a child. Following the all-new Mazda2, the all-new Mazda6 is the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage, further deepening the emotional connection between man and machine - Mazda calls it “Kizuna”.

The all-new Mazda6 inherits Mazda’s tradition of responsive handling and performance that has become recognised around the world while evolving the original model’s distinctive design and exceptional functionality.

The all-new Mazda6 takes a step forward in quality and offers strengthened environmental and safety performance. The result is an exciting and delightful experience that only the all-new Mazda6 can deliver.

MINI & Onitsuka Tiger Team Up To Welcome Clubman

Japanese trainer brand Onitsuka Tiger and MINI have come together to create a dedicated range of stylish footwear for both men and women. The limited edition range will be on sale across the UK from 1 December 2007.

The launch of the shoe marks the arrival of the MINI Clubman, which is the next model from MINI’s Plant Oxford to hit UK roads. First deliveries of the car begin on 10 November this year.

The exclusive trainers will be on sale at Onitsuka Tiger stores, selected fashion outlets and numerous MINI dealers across the country. The shoe will be offered in three colour combinations, Chocolate/Cream, Black/Silver and Cream/British Green.

Along with the new footwear, a range of luggage cases and bags produced in collaboration with Finduck, the company behind the Mandarina Duck brand, will be available from November 2007. The entire MINI Collection can be viewed online at www.MINI.com/shop.

Auto Union Type C Pedal Car

A body made from aluminium, handcrafted leather trim and an extraordinary design – the vehicle sends Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking, into a rapture the instant he lays eyes on it: “This car is something really special.” And, indeed, the car in front of him is no ordinary car – it’s the Auto Union Type C pedal car which AUDI AG has brought onto the market as an absolute first. No other car manufacturer offers a pedal car built so elaborately and to such a high standard.

How did Audi stumble upon this idea? “We needed a highlight for our collection which conveys the brand message and, at the same time, is spectacular enough to find buyers,” says Katharina Wicker, Head of Audi design – Lifestyle Articles. And this was how the idea came about to design a pedal car that mirrors the company’s heritage at first sight.

The Type C Grand Prix racing car provided the ideal blueprint for doing this. The Auto Union Silver Arrow dominated the world of motor racing in 1936, racking up a total of ten Grand Prix victories. Furthermore, the Type C is one of the best-selling heritage models in the range of Audi miniatures. The pedal car will therefore be an exhibition piece for “grown-up” fans too.

The car’s execution called for a great deal of technical know-how and creativity. For a start, how large should the pedal car be made? How close should it keep to the original in order to nevertheless demonstrate the quality and workmanship of a true Audi? Which materials are best suited to underlining the Audi brand values of sophistication, progressiveness and sportiness?

“The greatest challenge of all was transposing a historical model to a pedal car for children whilst remaining as faithful as possible to the original,” reveals Achim Badstübner, director of the Munich design studio that created the first draft designs. Those responsible for the project eventually decided to build the pedal car on a scale of 1:2 to make it large enough to accommodate budding racing drivers up to 1.35 metres tall.

The technical drawings originated in Audi’s own tool shop. And in true keeping with the premise “designed by Audi, produced by Audi”, special tools and jigs were purpose-designed for the pedal car’s manufacture in the Audi tool shop too. The pedal car is made up of over 900 individual parts.

It features a hydraulic dual-disc brake and its speed is controlled via the seven-speed hub gear with back-pedalling brake function. Further technical highlights include the aluminium space frame and the body made from aluminium panelling which, just like on the full-size Audi models, symbolise the brand’s expertise in the field of lightweight design.

The seats, framing and steering wheel have been upholstered in leather by a bag-maker, as in the Audi TT, while the elegant spoke wheels have been custom-made. And because this pedal car seeks to replicate many different aspects of the racing car on which it is modelled, the steering wheel can be removed to make getting in and out easier, just as on the original.

The prototype of the pedal car was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2006. Visitors to the show were instantly enthralled. “Lots of people even wanted to buy the exhibition model there and then!” recalls Katharina Wicker.

This pedal car, which is limited to a run of 999 models and is far more than just an exclusive collector’s item, was an absolute joy to work on for all involved in the project. “It took me straight back to my childhood days.

And I wasn’t the only one to be seized by that play instinct again,” says a delighted Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking. And Achim Badstübner is equally thrilled about the project’s success: “Everyone put their heart and soul into this pedal car. And that is something we are all very proud of.”

The pedal car can be ordered from the Audi importer for the specific country, who will also be able to provide details regarding the respective price.

The Lexus Symphony Orchestra

Lexus has created the world’s first classical music ensemble composed entirely of cars. The Lexus Symphony Orchestra, a group of 12 LS 460 limousines, will perform for the first time this summer at two major open air concerts, presenting a programme of popular classics and original works.

The orchestra has been created by Lexus GB to demonstrate the quality of the LS 460’s sound system, designed specially for the car by international audio specialist Mark Levinson. With an array of 19 custom-engineered speakers and a 15-channel 450-watt amplifier, it gives ‘reference’ sound reproduction that matches the results from a professional music studio monitoring desk.

To reveal this quality to a larger audience, Lexus brought together the London Symphony Orchestra and the Bach Choir in a recording session with conductor Alastair King at Sir George Martin’s world-famous AIR Studios in London. The musicians performed the celebrated classical pieces Pavane for a Dead Princess by Ravel and Satie’s Gymnopédie No1, and two new commissions written specially for the Lexus auto-orchestra: Summon the Hero and Karma Nirvana, composed by Chesney Hawkes and Chris Nicolaides and orchestrated by Alastair King.

The results will be presented for the first time at the Proms Spectacular at Castle Howard on 18 and 19 August and at the Last Night of the Summer Proms at Crystal Palace Park on 25 and 26 August.

The Lexus Symphony Orchestra will be providing interval entertainment on its own stage, with guests invited to sit inside the cars to hear the music and watch a video of how the performance was created.

There will then be a full scale performance involving all 12 cars, each one representing a different section of the orchestra, co-ordinated through a central digital sound desk. Each vehicle will be precisely positioned, with doors open, to produce the ideal orchestral effect.

You can sample the orchestra’s music making on-line by visiting www.lexus.co.uk and clicking on the Lexus Symphony Orchestra track links.

Hyundai Introduces Santa Fe Limited

The highly acclaimed Hyundai Santa Fe range is joined in the showroom this August by a limited edition model, Hyundai Santa Fe Limited, offering £900-£1,100 worth of additional equipment over the usual CDX model.

Diesel powered, the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited is available as either a 5 seater for £23,795 or a 7 seater for £24,895; automatic versions are priced at £25,195 and £26,295 respectively. Metallic and Mica paint are an additional £375.00.

This strictly limited edition model includes integrated running boards and wheel arch trims, privacy glass, reversing sensors, sports mesh grille, limited badges and a choice of four colours – Ebony Black, Sleek Silver, Gun Metal and Black Pearl. The highly visual special equipment package would usually cost consumers £1200 for the 5 seater and £900 for the 7 seater.

The Santa Fe range is still receiving plaudits from the media. In July Santa Fe CRTD CDX won a group test in Auto Express beating the newly introduced Chevrolet Captiva and the well established Honda CR-V. In addition What Car? placed the Santa Fe CRTD CDX ahead of the Chevrolet Captiva and Mitsubishi Outlander, praising its spacious cabin, practicality, refinement, comfort and warranty package.

Specification levels for the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited include high levels of safety equipment such as an Electronic Stability Program, ISOfix child seat fittings, side impact bars, traction control, active head restraints, multiple airbags and adjustable head restraints all round.

Inside the new highly specified Santa Fe Limited standard fittings include leather seats, seven speaker audio system with MP3 compatibility, air conditioning, electric driver’s seat and much more.

Fuel consumption is 38.7 mpg on the Combined Cycle, delivering a potential range of over 600 miles.

The new Santa Fe Limited comes with the famous Hyundai warranty package that includes 5 year unlimited mileage warranty, 6 year anti-perforation warranty as well as 3 year Hyundai RAC assistance.