Important Innovations

  $800,000 Brabus Crawler                                                                 Source:  Brabus Crawler Something New and Cool at the Beach Here's a fun vehicle for your summer at the beach.  From Germany, the Brabus Crawler that costs $800,000 and is unlike any other buggy for the beach with its combination of rugged good looks and advanced technologies.  The Crawler packs 900 hp and is the creation of German luxury "tuner" automaker Brabus.  The buggy has a tube-frame chassis, composed of high-strength steel and a carbon fiber body.  Crawler has no doors and no windows but tons of fun, driving attitude.  Tech Specs The vehicle has a twin-turbocharged 4.5-liter V8 engine.  It pumps out 900 hp and 774 pound-feet of torque with a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all of the 4 wheels.  The Crawler does not crawl.  It can accelerate to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds.  Top speed is 99 mph.  The vehicle's fully adjustable shocks provide ground cleara

  Revolutionay Car: Combustion Engine Fueled by Hydrogen                                  Source: Renault Car Teaser & H-Van The Future of Zero Emissions Driving French automaker Renault is about to unveil the world's first hydrogen powered car that appears ready to go into production.  The technology in this vehicle is revolutionary.  It has an internal combustion engine that is powered by hydrogen instead of gasoline.  The company just released a teaser image of the new h-car.  It shows a new Renault logo on the side window, a slim front grill and an interesting headlight line and configuration.  It appears to be a tall vehicle with a rather low bumper line.  Some automotive experts believe that it is a hydrogen powered SUV.  According to Renault, the hydrogen car represents Renault's "sustainable development vision and commitments".  Within the past several months, Renault has displayed its commitment to hydrogen vehicles by unveiling its Hyvia series of three

  World of Expanding Automotive Infotainment                                                Source: Audi & Holoride For Audi Passengers, New Virtual Reality Experiences The world of automotive infotainment systems just became a lot bigger and more exciting.  Audi is introducing virtual reality technology into many of its top models starting summer 2022.  The VR in-vehicle technology has been developed by Munich-based Holoride, which Audi helped to found. What differentiates this new VR tech is that it merges VR content with the car's driving movements in real-time, for passengers wearing VR glasses in the back of the car.  Audi is the first global automotive company to bring VR entertainment from Holoride into the series production of many of its key vehicle models.  For passengers, it promises to be a brand new, immersive and entertaining driving experience, taking the boredom out of travelling from point A to point B.   What Does Audi Need to Install? The new technology that

  BMW iX5 Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Being Tested in Northern Sweden                                                  Source:  BMW Small Scale Production to Start Before End of 2022 Germany-based BMW has a vision for the future of zero emissions travel.  The vision is of vehicles that are hydrogen fuel cell powered with greater efficiency, longer range and faster recharge times than that of traditional electric vehicles.  The luxury car maker has developed a hydrogen powered BMW iX5 SUV that is close to being ready for small-scale production of a limited number of the vehicles.  The vehicle is now being tested in rugged, real-life conditions of extremely frozen, northern Sweden.  BMW says the hydrogen system is delivering full capacity even at -4 degrees (F).  BMW plans on manufacturing a limited number of the hydrogen iX5 before the end of this year. Tech Specs BMW is one of the automotive industry's leading advocates for hydrogen powered vehicles.  The iX5 has a fuel cell system that

BMW iX5 Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Being Tested in Northern Sweden                                                  Source:  BMW Small Scale Production to Start Before End of 2022 Germany-based BMW has a vision for the future of zero emissions travel.  The vision is of vehicles that are hydrogen fuel cell powered with greater efficiency, longer range and faster recharge times than that of traditional electric vehicles.  The luxury car maker has developed a hydrogen powered BMW iX5 SUV that is close to being ready for small-scale production of a limited number of the vehicles.  The vehicle is now being tested in rugged, real-life conditions of extremely frozen, northern Sweden.  BMW says the hydrogen system is delivering full capacity even at -4 degrees (F).  BMW plans on manufacturing a limited number of the hydrogen iX5 before the end of this year. Tech Specs BMW is one of the automotive industry's leading advocates for hydrogen powered vehicles.  The iX5 has a fuel cell system that u

  Corvette Sea-8                                                       Source:  Waterlink & Corvette Stingray A Classic Car for Boating A Dubai-based company called Waterlink has invented a unique, new means of water travel.  They've converted a road-riding Corvette into a serviceable, pleasure boat.  It's an exotic new way to travel lakes, rivers and seas.  You can rent it in Dubai for $700.00 per hour or purchase it for $40,000 to $50,000.  It's called the Corvette Sea-8 and it is unique travel innovation. The Car-Boat The Corvette Stingray is one of the world's favorite, classic muscle cars. It is an iconic symbol of automotive coolness.  The Corvette Sea-8 has the classic styling of the Vette with a smooth, sleek, and sporty design. Just like the car, the "car-boat" has a steering wheel, gas pedal and gear shift.  There are no brakes.  It slows down when the driver eases on the gas pedal.  The 1.8-liter engine can support speeds up to 62 mph. There'

  The New Alpine A4810 Hydrogen Supercar                                             Source:  Alpine A4810 Design Collaboration Between Alpine Cars & IED France-based, Renault-owned Alpine, which is a distinguished race and sports car maker, and Turin, Italy based Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) have designed a hydrogen powered supercar. The first sketches of it have just been unveiled and the vehicle will debut on March 18, 2022. It is called the Alpine A4810 and represents a vision for the future of the French car brand.  The design is a very sporty, 2 seat vehicle with a hydrogen powertrain.  28 graduate students from one of the top transportation design schools in the world and Alpine's design studio created the design.  They say the hydrogen car "represents the extreme sportiness of the future" that's more technological and sustainable. Very Sleek, Low, Wide & Powerful Design The Alpine A4810 is a look at the future of zero emissions, hydrogen powered d

  Big Technological Convergence                                                        Source:  Sony Sony's  First Electric Cars in 2025 There has been a seismic move in the global electric car marketplace.  Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony is teaming up with global automotive giant Honda to develop and manufacture electric cars.  The new cars will go to market and be ready for purchase in 2025.  This partnership makes Sony the latest big player in the rapidly accelerating electric car business.  And the throw-weight of the synergistic technologies that the two partners bring to the table is mammoth.   Sony EVs Sony first announced its interest in developing electric cars in 2020.  At CES 2022, it unveiled a stunning electric SUV concept called Vision-S 02.  It can carry 7 people and includes the capacity for them to play video games made for the Sony Playstation 5 console.  Rather than following the path to develop and manufacture the e-SUV alone, Sony Mobility is

  Solar Roof Options by 2024                                               Source:  Mercedes German Luxury Automaker Taps the Sun Mercedes Benz unveiled a stunning electric concept, the Vision EQXX, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week.  The sleek, futuristically designed sedan has a 117 solar cell panel on the roof to generate an additional 15.5 miles of driving range.  While the Vision EQXX doesn't have a date to go into production yet, the solar roof does.  Mercedes has decided to offer the solar roof as an option on all of its electric vehicles starting in 2024. Unique Solar Technology Mercedes worked with the renowned German research institute Fraunhofer to co-develop the new solar technology.  Power generated by the 117 solar cells is stored in a separate lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  It provides power for the car's lights, infotainment and other systems.  The solar system supplements the main battery pack and increases the driving range.  The

  Edition 1 Deliveries of GMC EV Hummer in December 2021                                        Source:  GMC Hummer EV More Editions Coming in 2022 & Beyond GMC's greatly anticipated, all-electric Hummer pickup truck will be delivered to buyers in December 2021.  This is Edition 1, which is a super heavy all-electric pickup truck with a 329-mile range on a charge, according to the company.  December will be the start of Edition 1 deliveries of the heavy EV super truck, despite global delivery disruptions, high energy prices, COVID and big supply chain problems.  This is a great achievement for GM against all global transportation, manufacturing and other business odds. It's an achievement for GM that President Biden recently gave a big salute to. Future Editions of EV Hummer Pickups Edition 1 is a heavy-duty pick-truck and its 329-mile range has not been certified by the EPA.  The next Hummer EVs will be light duty trucks and are expected to get EPA range certifications, wh

  Racing at Ferrari's New Legoland California Racetrack                                        Source:  Lego and Ferrari Fabled F40  This is new innovation with plenty of horsepower.  Legendary, luxury automaker Ferrari is partnering with Lego on a new, interactive and virtual racing experience for kids at the Legoland California resort.  Called Lego Ferrari Build and Race, it is the world's first Ferrari racing attraction. Kids will be able to build their own miniature Formula One race car with Lego bricks and then test and race it on one of three Ferrari racetracks. Formula One Racing with Ferrari & Lego for Kids When the attraction opens in spring 2022, kids will be able to test their inventions on a testing zone track, steering track or speed track.  On all of the courses, times will be taken.  After the race, the kids can digitally scan their car and mini-figure driver to compete in a virtual race on a Lego version of Ferrari's racetrack, the Pista di Fiorano.  Par

  2 New EV Mega Manufacturing Plants in the US                         Source:  Ford New EV Plant & EV Trucks $11.4 Billion for Electrification - Major EV Commitment Ford, along with South Korea's SK Innovation energy company, are investing $11.4 billion to build two, huge manufacturing facilities for electric vehicles in Kentucky and Tennessee.  Ford is partnering with SK on the development and manufacturing of much less expensive lithium-ion batteries to bring down the price of Ford electric vehicles and make them much more affordable to the average consumer.  Ford is investing $7 billion in the project.  SK is investing $4.4 billion. That is the biggest manufacturing investment in Ford's 118 year history.  The projects will create 11,000 new US jobs and the facilities are expected to be up and running by 2025. Ford's Big Electric Plans Ford's plans for electric vehicles are big as it shifts away from gas powered vehicles.  The company will invest a total of $30 b

  2021 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe Plug In Hybrid                                                                                                                      Source:  Jeep Wrangler Wrangler with Near Zero Emissions Like the rest of the global automotive industry, Jeep Wrangler's future is electric.  We now have the first example of a more environmentally friendly Jeep Wrangler.  Thirteen years in research and development, the 2021 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe plug-in hybrid is rolling out in showrooms.  It is the most fuel efficient Wrangler to date and also the second most powerful after the 392 V-8 model.  Jeep says the vehicle can go 40 miles on electricity alone, close to 400 miles on a full tank and a full charge and use only 8 gallons of gas doing it.  The new hybrid, when used in electric and electric hybrid mode, is very close to zero emissions driving and as good for the environment as you can get in the very popular Jeep Wrangler. Tech Specs With a fully cha

  Breakthrough, Zero Emissions, Electric Car                                                                                  Source:  Honda Clarity No Charging is Needed on This EV The EV is called the Honda Clarity and it is revolutionary new green technology. It is powered by ordinary air and hydrogen.  Their combination triggers a chemical reaction that generates electricity to power the car. Clarity is an FCEV or a fuel cell electric vehicle.  What is truly remarkable about the vehicle is the way electricity is produced and that no charging at all is needed to drive the car. How Does It Work? What makes the Clarity so different is the pressurized fuel tank of hydrogen that the driver fills.  When combined with air, it yields enough electricity to provide a 366 mile range.  There is no charging needed.  And the fuel system is zero emissions producing only water vapor.  This is breakthrough, new automotive technology that Honda has been developing for several years that is now comin