Driverless car technology receives £20 million Gov funding

The Department for Transport has committed £20 million of funding to help develop the next generation of autonomous vehicles.

Eight new projects have been awarded £20 million in funding to research and develop enhanced communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure or urban information systems, including new ‘talking car technologies’. This is described as a ‘landmark moment’ and will allow Britain to lead the way in the testing of connected and autonomous vehicles.

The projects are the first to be funded from the government’s £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund which ranges from developing autonomous shuttles to carry visually-impaired passengers using advanced sensors and control systems, to new simulation trials for autonomous pods to increase uptake and improve real-world trials.

Trials to test driverless cars on the streets are currently being worked on in Bristol, Coventry and Milton Keynes, and Greenwich. With a rich fabric of scientists and engineers who have established the UK as pioneers in the research and development of connected and autonomous vehicles, today’s funding will help strengthen the UK as a global centre for the fast-growing intelligent mobility market, estimated to be worth £900 billion per year globally by 2025.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our cars of the future will be equipped with the technologies that will make getting from A to B safer, faster, and cleaner. They will alert drivers of accidents ahead and be able to receive information from their surroundings about hazards, increasing the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “These projects will help profoundly change the way we travel within years, transforming our roads by making travel a simpler experience for drivers, reducing accidents and helping traffic flow more smoothly. They will also bring great benefits to our society and the wider economy by opening up new routes for global investment.”

Chris Reeves, Commercial Manager, Future Transport Technologies and Intelligent Mobility at HORIBA MIRA, added: “This project will pave the way for the development and deployment of connected autonomous vehicles in the UK and help the industry address global challenges relating to safety, efficiency and convenience. It will help establish the UK as a global centre of excellence and drive forward the commercialisation of connected vehicles, and deliver a major wealth creation and inward investment opportunity for the UK.”

“Britain is uniquely placed to become a global leader in connected and autonomous vehicle development, technology that has the potential to generate around £51 billion for the UK economy, save 2,500 lives and generate 320,000 jobs. Today’s (1 February 2016) first allocation of the government’s funding pledge, which will be matched by industry, is an important first step on the road to realising that opportunity” surmised Mike Hawes, Chief Executive Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT).

All the projects have received financial backing from industry in addition to government funding, and are backed by leading automotive businesses, engineering firms, IT specialists, universities and local authorities. The UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UKCITE) project, which the Business Secretary will visit today, includes HORIBA MIRA, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, and Vodafone Group amongst others. He will also see demonstrations and simulations of the Flourish and Move UK projects.

In addition to the 8 collaborative R&D projects, the Business Secretary also announced 14 feasibility studies to identify where additional data could help the UK CAV market develop further.

One-off Infiniti Q30 sculpture at London Art Fair

Infiniti has unveiled a Q30 with a difference the opening of the 2016 London Art Fair at the Islington Business Centre.

 Located just outside the show's entrance is a special Q30, to which 48,000 copper tacks have been painstakingly adhered, covering half of the hatchback's entire bodywork.

Created with the help of contemporary artist Rachel Ducker, the sculpture is made more dynamic with the addition of one of the human like steel wire figures for which she is renowned, leaning out of the side window. The female figure is topped with long two-tone coloured hair, which is flowing outwards as if it were blowing in the wind.

From one side the Q30 appears untouched while the other side is completely covered in the copper tacks. From a distance the car seems to be covered in a layer of long copper coloured hair but to the touch the sharp heads of the tacks can be felt, just like a bed of nails. 

These tacks were specifically chosen due to the ability of the copper colour to radiate a variety of different shades depending on the light conditions and angle of viewing; similar to the Liquid Copper Q30 launch colour.

Each tack took approximately 10 seconds to adhere to the body of the Q30, which means that that aspect of the sculpture took around 8000 minutes (or 133 hours) to create.

Rachel Ducker, a self-confessed car nut, spends most of her time living either in Oxford or Marrakech these days, but made a special appearance at the show to not only reveal the Q30 but to also meet with the Infiniti Car designer Simon Cox to discuss the thinking behind the project. 

Rachel stated: "My work is all about energy and movement and to put my figures alongside such a well-designed car as the Q30, gave me the opportunity to combine both of my passions. Art is all about what people see as they look at the display, whatever it may be. I do not believe in giving a descriptive list of what it is supposed to mean or what it means to me. Everyone sees things differently depending on the mood of the individual or how the light portrays the image at that particular time." 

Simon Cox, Infiniti design director based in Paddington London, had a similar background to Rachel, studying sculpture and jewellery design, before moving onto cars. Simon was both excited and intrigued to see how the car looked. "It is amazing to see how the copper tacks provide a dramatic effect to how the light reflects across the bonnet and down the shoulder lines. It creates a striking flow as you move around the car. I really like Rachel's work and how she portrays movement to bring her models to life."

The one-off Q30 sculpture will be on display outside the entrance to the 2016 London Art Fair in Islington until Sunday 24 January.

Revell Ford GT snap kits up for grabs at Detroit

Ford GT snap kits will be available to purchase through online stores and retailers starting in April

Kids can get their very first Ford GT when they stop by the Ford stand at the Detroit Auto Show in January. 

Ford is giving away Revell-built Ford GT model snap kits and will introduce a retail line in April. 

The auto show kit includes 14 pieces for easy assembly in just a few minutes, and will feature a unique auto show stamp on the bottom to signify the special edition. The retail model is more detailed; it has 28 pieces, takes 10 to 15 minutes to build, and will be widely available to purchase for $14.99.

“Our annual Revell Make ‘n Take model kit program has become a fun-filled auto show tradition,” said Mark Bentley, Ford Licensing manager. “Letting kids build their own Ford GT is a great way to introduce them to the Ford brand and create new enthusiasts.”

Ford has worked with Illinois-based Revell to build snap kits for motor shows and for retail sale since 2013. The licensing agreement started with Mustang, followed by a Raptor version. 

“We’ve always enjoyed building Ford products,” said Brian Eble, Revell’s Vice President of Marketing. “Ford’s iconic designs make them a great brand to replicate. From first time model builders to master builders; Ford products continue to be one of the most sought after subject matter for scale plastic model kits.”

Lexus NX runs on ice

Lexus has created a the world’s first set of working wheels and tyres made from ice.

Lexus commissioned a team of ‘ice sculpture’ specialists to explore how ice could be used in place of conventional alloy metal and rubber. After three months’ research, design and testing, the finished wheels were fitted to a Lexus NX for the ultimate ice drive. The car itself was deep-frozen, stored for five days at -30°C before being driven off down a London road.

The use of in-wheel LED lighting added an extra dramatic dimension to the cutting-edge contemporary styling of the NX. The project was undertaken by Hamilton Ice Sculptors, a London-based business established for more than 35 years. For the Lexus commission, genuine NX wheels and tyres were laser scanned and replicated using computer design and numerical control techniques. The result was an 'unprecedented fusing of art and engineering'. Four sculptors worked for 36 hours to produce each wheel. The millimetre-perfect finish was achieved with hand-crafting, using Japanese steel chisels and shaping tools, even the tread patterns on the tyres were faithfully reproduced.

The ice was made from softened water taken from a moving flow to ensure it was perfectly clear when taken from the freezer. Acrylic inserts were added to ensure the wheels could take the load of the NX.

Richard Balshaw, Lexus Director said: “Creating Amazing is what Lexus is about. Projects such as our hoverboard, the origami-inspired cardboard car and now a dazzling set of fully functioning ice wheels, demonstrate how we use advanced technologies and the best craftsmanship traditions to achieve outstanding results. That’s not just for eye-catching one-off projects, but for the cars we deliver to our customers too.”

Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Car up for auction

Bidding has opened for a piece of motoring history – the Vauxhall Astra used by Top Gear as their ‘Reasonably Priced Car’.

With proceeds of the sale going to automotive industry charity, BEN, the five-door Power Red 1.6-litre (115bhp) Vauxhall Astra Tech Line has been added to eBay. Currently at £10,301.00, bids can placed at www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/231786726259, with all proceeds being donated to BEN.

The mileage on the Astra stands at 2,908, and comes with front Corbeau Sprint Racing seats, 5 point safety belt harness and full roll-cage. Bidders should be aware that the airbags have all been disabled to make room for the roll-cage. To re-instate the airbags would involve removing the roll-cage and seating. So, in its current state, the car is not type-approved and should not be driven on the road. The Vauxhall Technical Team will work with the successful bidder at handover to fully explain how the vehicle has been adapted, advising that converting the vehicle back into use on the public highway would incur a ‘significant cost’.

Other features, aside from the car’s celebrity status include 17-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Sat-nav system with seven-inch colour monitor, and three-spoke leather-covered sports steering wheel.

With an estimated 350 million views in 170 different countries per week, the Vauxhall Astra was initiated with a star-studded barbeque, featuring celebrities including comedians Jimmy Carr and Warwick Davis, and singers Brian Johnson and Joss Stone. Celebrities such as Olly Murs, who topped the leader board, Margot Robbie, Ron Howard and James Blunt all thrashed it around the Top Gear Test Track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey.

“David Main, BEN Chief Executive commented on the auction, saying: “We are reliant on the generosity of our supporters to enable us to continue our work helping people who work within the UK automotive industry, so we are very grateful to Vauxhall Motors for this kind donation of a piece of history for a great cause.”

BEN’s goal is to make positive differences to people’s lives in the automotive industry, supporting them in times of difficulty through a wide range of free, confidential information, advice and support services.

The Force Awakens with Dodge Stormtroopers

In celebration of the upcoming release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", Dodge is taking to the streets of LA with a team of specially-wrapped cars.

A pair of First Order Stormtrooper-themed white 707-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat vehicles have been patrolling greater LA along with an intimidating Kylo Ren-inspired wrapped black Dodge Viper ACR.

Star Wars and Dodge fans can track vehicle locations in real time on Twitter, using the hashtags #Dodge and #TheForceAwakens, and see the brand's daily fan favorites on the Dodge Facebook and Instagram pages.

Dodge is launching the promotion to give fans the opportunity to take photos and videos with the cars before the latest "Star Wars" adventure opens in cinemas worldwide from December 18.

Lucasfilm first announced in August that it was collaborating with FCA US and six other global brands to promote "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." In November, the FIAT displayed a custom-painted Fiat 500e Stormtrooper, inspired by the armour of the First Order Legion, at the LA Auto Show.

Vauxhall launches Backseat Bedtime Xmas stories

Vauxhall and Radio DJ Edith Bowman have launched ‘Backseat Bedtime’ to help with long car journeys over the festive period.

The series of narrated popular children’s stories by author Tracey Corderoy aim to ease car journeys for parents, with over 12 million cars on the road during peak Xmas times. More Brits embark on long drives over Christmas and the New Year than at any other time of the year according to an 2014 RAC survey.

Unsurprisingly, three quarters of parents say they find these long car journeys stressful, with the majority (80 per cent) saying they find it hard to keep their little ones amused. To deal with this stress, half of parents (48 per cent) time long journeys to coincide with bedtime and over half (56 per cent) put their children in their pyjamas before setting off, hoping they will sleep straight through.

Narrated by mum of two, Bowman, the content, which can be streamed as audio or video content through Vauxhall’s in-car system OnStar, has been created to showcase the new levels of connectivity available across the Vauxhall range but also aims to minimise stress over the busy Christmas period.

The three stories – Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Cat Burglar and Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble – from author Tracey Corderoy and independent publishers Nosy Crow, were chosen for their popularity, and follow the exploits of two robber dogs who turn good, and a very peculiar granny.

Edith Bowman said: “Reading or listening to stories has always been something I've done with my kids from a very early age, both at home or on our travels. It's one of my favourite things to do as a parent, so being a bedtime storyteller was a dream for me. The idea is brilliant, using that time when kids are stuck in the car to entertain them, help them get some rest and give parents some peace!”

Sara Nicholson, OnStar Program Lead for Europe commented, “Vauxhall OnStar is a personal on-board assistant available across our vehicle range. It offers Wi-Fi capability for up to seven devices, vehicle data visible on your phone, stolen vehicle assistance, automatic crash response and much more.  Technology needs to enhance our customers everyday lives and for us at Vauxhall, the little things like quiet, hassle-free car journeys with young children are worth every penny.”

The backseat bedtime stories are available to view through the Vauxhall website: www.vauxhall.co.uk/backseatbedtime