Important Innovations

  Mid-Sized Motorcycles Driving Adventures Motorcycling's ADV Adventure Segment is Booming in Popularity The mid-sized, ADV adventure segment of motorcycle riding is booming in popularity.  It's a fun sport, athletic and keeps you outdoors. And it's relatively inexpensive to buy a vehicle, which you can also use for highway commuting.  Now, nearly 100-year-old Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati and its latest bike Desert X have joined the ADV race, that includes BMW, Yamaha and KMW.  Desert X is an all new, all terrain bike that packs 108 hp at 9,250 rpm and 68 ft lbs of torque at 6500 rpm.  Desert X will hit dealer showrooms in May 2022.  The starting price is $16,795.00 and the technology is impressive.  Ducati is owned by Audi via its Italian subsidiary Lamborghini.   Tech Specs The Desert X is powered by the 11 degree, Testastretta Desmodromic L-twin engine, used in the Monster bike. The Desert X bike hits 108 hp at 9,250 rpm and 68 ft. lbs of torque at 6500 rpm. It

  Audi, BMW & Daimler Making Major Hydrogen Pushes                                           Source: BMW Hydrogen SUV Europe Joining Japan, South Korea & China in Development of Green Hydrogen Cars Big German automakers, including BMW and Audi, are betting that hydrogen fuel cell technology is extremely important to the future of driving, along with battery electric cars.  The current global consensus is that electric battery vehicles, your current and future EV, are the primary key to the near term, global automotive future.  But the new twist from top automotive executives is the growing support building around the upcoming emergence of hydrogen powered cars, which are clean, zero emissions and much quicker to re-fuel.  BMW and Audi, in particular, are ramping up their hydrogen vehicle development plans. They know that EVs remain a big part of the nearer zero emissions future and are building a portfolio of EVs. But they are signing on to a longer term strategy that hydrogen

  Audi, BMW & Daimler Making Major Hydrogen Pushes                                           Source: BMW Hydrogen SUV Europe Joining Japan, South Korea & China in Development of Green Hydrogen Cars Big German automakers, including BMW and Audi, are betting that hydrogen fuel cell technology is extremely important to the future of driving, along with battery electric cars.  The current global consensus is that electric battery vehicles, your current and future EV, are the primary key to the near term, global automotive future.  But the new twist from top automotive executives is the growing support building around the upcoming emergence of hydrogen powered cars, which are clean, zero emissions and much quicker to re-fuel.  BMW and Audi, in particular, are ramping up their hydrogen vehicle development plans. They know that EVs remain a big part of the nearer zero emissions future and are building a portfolio of EVs. But they are signing on to a longer term strategy that hydrogen

  Self-Driving "Living Room" Experience on Wheels                                            Source:  Audi Grandsphere Cutting Edge Automotive Technology Innovation Audi has just unveiled its Grandsphere concept vehicle.  It's a luxurious, electric, long form (17.6 feet) sedan that's a self-driving living room on wheels. This "2+2" seater is a completely new mobility vehicle with transformative technologies. The EV uses Level 4 self-driving technology, which provides fully autonomous driving under certain conditions.  It has a fully electric drive system.  When driving autonomously, the interior transforms into a living space with the most advanced digital technologies.  Audi says that Grandsphere passes beyond an automobile into an "experience device".  The technologies and design features of this new Audi concept are not just theoretical.  They are expected to be in future Audi series.  And, Audi is promising extensive "personalization"

  New EV Concept Skysphere                                             Source:  Audi Skysphere Autonomous Car That Changes Sizes With Driving Mode Luxury car maker Audi's new EV roadster concept Skysphere redefines the future of what a car can be.  Skysphere is sleek, autonomous and electric, with a digital cockpit, retractable steering wheel and incredibly it can change sizes based on the driving mode. The range for Skysphere is 310 miles.  Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen, says the vehicle represents what Audi believes it can achieve as it transitions to electric and autonomous vehicles in the second half of the decade. Besides its highly advanced new technologies, Skysphere represents a new design direction for Audi and for travel.  It's a fascinating vision of the future of driving. "Two Vehicles in One" Audi calls the Skysphere "two vehicles in one".  The first is an electric sports car that accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. The EV has 553 po

  New EV Concept Skysphere                                             Source:  Audi Skysphere Autonomous Car That Changes Sizes With Driving Mode Luxury car maker Audi's new EV roadster concept Skysphere redefines the future of what a car can be.  Skysphere is sleek, autonomous and electric, with a digital cockpit, retractable steering wheel and incredibly it can change sizes based on the driving mode. The range for Skysphere is 310 miles.  Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen, says the vehicle represents what Audi believes it can achieve as it transitions to electric and autonomous vehicles in the second half of the decade. Besides its highly advanced new technologies, Skysphere represents a new design direction for Audi and for travel.  It's a fascinating vision of the future of driving. "Two Vehicles in One" Audi calls the Skysphere "two vehicles in one".  The first is an electric sports car that accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. The EV has 553 po

  New "Sphere" Concept Cars                                                  Source:  Audi Cars "Shaping the Future" Audi designers and engineers have innovated a new series of concept cars:  a sports car - the Skysphere; a limousine - the Grandsphere; and a SUV - the Urbansphere.  Audi says these concept cars, that will debuted over the next year,  reflect how Audi envisions luxury cars of the future.  The sphere theme represents Audi's holistic, digital ecosystem for an exciting in-car experience.  Technological innovations and luxury envelop the passengers.  The vehicles can be driven or drive autonomously. Skysphere The first vehicle to premiere will be Skysphere on August 10, 2021.  Skysphere is a sports car that can be driven or drive autonomously and it can be converted into a personal lounge.  Audi says the vehicle is shaping the future and "redefines progressive luxury".  It is a large, 2 seat vehicle with a possibly transparent roof in Audi&#

  New "Sphere" Concept Cars                                                  Source:  Audi Cars "Shaping the Future" Audi designers and engineers have innovated a new series of concept cars:  a sports car - the Skysphere; a limousine - the Grandsphere; and a SUV - the Urbansphere.  Audi says these concept cars, that will debuted over the next year,  reflect how Audi envisions luxury cars of the future.  The sphere theme represents Audi's holistic, digital ecosystem for an exciting in-car experience.  Technological innovations and luxury envelop the passengers.  The vehicles can be driven or drive autonomously. Skysphere The first vehicle to premiere will be Skysphere on August 10, 2021.  Skysphere is a sports car that can be driven or drive autonomously and it can be converted into a personal lounge.  Audi says the vehicle is shaping the future and "redefines progressive luxury".  It is a large, 2 seat vehicle with a possibly transparent roof in Audi&#

  With Last Mile Mobility Solutions                                          Source:  Audi Neo-Bauhaus A Future Car With Everything Audi has created a car concept for an amazing travel future.  The car is all-electric and fully autonomous.  Importantly, it also provides solutions for the last mile of the journey.  The Audi Neo-Bauhaus has big enough trunk space to carry a bike or e-scooter.  During the last mile or so of the journey, should you get stuck in a nasty traffic jam, you can pull out your bike and pedal to your destination.  The car waits for the traffic to clear and then drives itself to a parking spot.  If it is programmed to go to a charging station, then it will be charged and ready to go when the driver returns. Designed For Generation Y The Audi Neo-Bauhaus concept was designed for Audi by freelance designer Simon Grytten.  He says the vehicle was created for Generation Y, those 25 to 40 years old who love innovation and want the "Next Big Thing".  The concep

  Winner of Audi Innovation Award                                      Source:  Audi Innovation Award Innovation From Jordan Insect Kids is a biodegradable, recyclable ad reusable toy designed to benefit kids, their parents and the planet.  The toy is the creation of a brother and sister team Ahmad and Rasha Jarrar of Jordan.  They have received the prestigious Audi Innovation Award for their invention.  The focus of the Audi competition was "circular models", meaning that the materials and resources used for the design would be reusable over the long term, yielding their maximum value. A Toy That Eliminates Clutter and Plastic Waste The Insect Kids toy can be constantly reused and disassembled when not in use to avoid household clutter.  The toy is sustainable and recyclable.  The inventors used flatpack technology and biodegradable materials that help maintain a minimalist clutter free home.  It also benefits the planet by, according to the Jarrars, "removing the toxic

   Audi Phasing Out Combustion Engines Source:  Audi Electric/Autonomous Car Prototype                                             Source:  Audi e-tron EV Greening of Global Automotive Industry VW's luxury brand Audi CEO Markus Duesmann believes that protesting the environment and economic success go hand in hand.  He just disclosed his intent to phase out combustion engine cars in the Audi new vehicle lineup.  The lineup will go all electric vehicles.  That is a seismic change for any global automaker.  Audi's timeframe to accomplish this is within the next 10 to 15 years. Green Is An Environmental & Economic Good By 2031 or 2035, Audi will offer only new electric vehicles.  It is now working on a concrete time frame with target dates.  The plan, that will be finished within a few months, will detail vehicle numbers and dates for each factory.  The plan will serve as a guidepost as the plants transition production from combustion engine to electric vehicles.  This importan

Partnering with EnBW to Power Grids with Used EV Batteries Source:  MIT Green on Green Power An environmentally friendly, innovative undertaking by German automaker Audi and utility EnBW to recycle and reuse old EV batteries has just been announced.  They'll use the old batteries to help power the grid.  By the end of this year, they will have completed a new electric car battery operation at EmBW's Heilbrom plant to build scalable energy storage facilities.  E-battery recycling and reuse are the holy grail for car and battery manufacturers.  And the storage of energy is another big priority for industry. Energy Recycling, Reuse, Storage For renewable energy companies, storing excess, unused surplus energy of solar and wind power generation is an urgent need.  So, Audi wants to develop what they're calling  a "plug and play" battery storage system for the energy industry.  Audi says this system will be a blueprint for a scalable product that they inte

Leading Electric Driving Source:  Audi e-tron electric SUV World's Top EV Nation In Norway this January, the sale of electric vehicles hit a whopping 44% of all new car sales.  Norway already has the world's highest rate of electric car use.  There are forecasts that the % will climb to the 50 to 60% range during 2020.  For the full year of 2019, electric car sales represented 42.4% of the new car market.  The numbers testify to Norwegians commitment to a cleaner environment and reducing carbon emissions from car exhaust. Environmental Target for 2025 Norway wants to phase out the sale of combustion engine cars by 2025.  To achieve that, the Norwegian government has exempted battery powered vehicles from the taxes imposed on gas and diesel powered cars.  As a result, Norway is the world's #1 user of electric vehicles and a favorite among global automakers to serve as test grounds for their new EV models. Audi the Big January Winner Interestingly i

Audi AI:ME - May Be World's Most Intelligent Car Source:  Audi AI:ME Audi's Concept Car that's Electric, Autonomous with Enhanced AI The AI:ME is Audi's vision of the future of autonomous, intelligent mobility.  The concept vehicle is  electric, autonomous and loaded with enhanced Artificial Intelligence and what Audi calls "empathetic learning". This concept vehicle is expected to be a big part of Audi's mobility future. Awesome Technology The AI:ME is designed to show how Audi engineers are integrating future powertrains and drive systems with autonomous functionality and electric propulsion into their new vehicles.  One incredible component that Audi is working on is empathetic AI that can read the moods of occupants and adjust various features to make the drive as comfortable as possible. Real-Time Interior Adjustments thru AI for Maximum Comfort Infotainment, lighting. climate control and even seat ergonomics are continuously adjus

Global Electric Vehicle Wars German Engineering Talent Powers Elon Musk's Move to Europe Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has announced that he's starting operations in Germany to produce electric cars and batteries.  This is a tribute to German automation and engineering prowess.  Musk flew in to the US six planeloads of robots and equipment from Germany, in the past year, to accelerate battery production for his luxury electric sedan Model 3.  Germany's automation talent ended bottlenecks in his Tesla plant in California.  It was so successful it's now powering his battery move to Europe via the new operations in Germany. Direct Global Electric Vehicle Competition By opening operations in Germany, Tesla is in direct competition with many of the world's top luxury brands headquartered in Germany, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes.  All of these iconic brands are developing their own electric vehicle models. Electric Vehicle R&D Is Very Expensiv

Futuristic Off-Road and Autonomous Buggy/SUV Source:  Audi Unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show Audi unveiled a revolutionary vehicle concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show today.  It's the Audi AI: Trail Quattro Concept.  The vehicle combines off-road capabilities with autonomous driving technology.  Plus, it's all electric. E-Vehicle The vehicle has a fully electric powertrain with four electric motors and a large, lithium-ion battery.  An e-motor is installed on each wheel and drives them directly.  The Audi AI has a battery range of 250 to 310 miles on a charge. Autonomous, Electric Buggy Essentially, the Audi AI: Trail Quattro is a futuristic buggy style SUV with four doors and a lot of style.  On highways, it's capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, which is the second highest international level.  Off-road, it can provide autonomous driving at the Level 3 range.  It's also capable of going through 1.6 feet of water.  It's one of the most exciting and i

Disney & Audi Develop Virtual Reality In-Car Entertainment System IMMERSIVE Audi and Disney have teamed up to deliver a virtual reality, in-car entertainment system.  The in-car system for passengers provides VR video games that are in sync with the movements of your car.  It's brand new VR innovation in motion.  For a great news blog on it, go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane's blog at Important Innovations Collection: Disney-Audi VR In-Car Entertainment : Disney-Audi Virtual Reality Combination Source:  Audi IMMERSIVE In-Car Entertainment What a fun combination!  Virtual reality, Disn...

Knowing What's Around the Corner Source:  Honda's Smart Intersection Display Smart Tech for Smarter, Safer Driving Audi and Honda are setting up and testing smart intersections in the US.  The approach involves display alerts on your dashboard and cameras positioned at intersections.  Audi's technology sends an alert to the driver warning that a light is going to turn red before you get through it.  Honda's sends an alert of an oncoming emergency vehicle, car or pedestrian that are not yet in sight. Audi's Pilot Program Audi is working in Washington, DC and Las Vegas to outfit intersections to work with Audi's countdown traffic lights system.  The system is designed to give the driver ample warning that they aren't going to make it through a light before it turns red. Honda's Pilot Program Honda has a Smart Intersection pilot program underway in Marysville, Ohio.  The system flashes a yellow image of an unseen vehicle on the HUD - he