News Dynamo

Apple Inc. on Tuesday confirmed that it has acquired self-driving shuttle firm Drive.ai. Technology news website The Information   reported earlier this month  that the iPhone maker was considering acquiring the firm as a move to bring aboard some of its engineering talent to boost Apple's own self-driving efforts. One of hundreds of startups pursuing autonomous vehicles, Drive.ai had been running a small fleet of test shuttles in Texas ,  Automotive News   reported in March . But the startup told California regulators that it plans to lay off 90 people in a permanent closure. The  San Francisco Chronicle   earlier reported the closure . In Silicon Valley , it is common for larger companies to acquire struggling startups primarily to hire their engineers , a move known in the industry as an "acqui-hire." Apple is vying against rivals such as Google affiliate Waymo to develop self-driving vehicles. In the past year , Apple has revamped...

Undoubtedly, electric is the next big thing in the auto industry, and most of the automotive giants are leaving no stone unturned to leave a lasting mark on the mindset of the buyers. Now, Morris Garages is all charged up to launch its global pure Electric Vehicle – the MG EZS . The carmaker has confirmed that MG EZS will be manufactured at its facility in Halol of Gujarat state .  Here we list out things which you might not be aware of about MG's global pure EV - SUV EZS:- -   LAUNCH:  MG EZS will be introduced in India in December this year. - MG  has  tied up with Finland-based clean energy major Fortum  to install the  country’s first 50 KW DC fast-charging EV stations , ahead of the launch MG EZS - According to MG, EZS has a full-sized boot and room for five .   -  "The MG EZS is the perfect car for people who want to drive an EV but also need the space and practicality of a compact SUV , " says Morris Garages . - ...

INNOVATION IN PERSONAL AIR MOBILITY The Volante Vision Concep t is Aston Martin’s exploration into personal air mobility.  Produced in partnership with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Cranfield University and Rolls-Royce , the concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities demonstrates Aston Martin’s forward-looking design ingenuity.  Air travel will be a crucial part in the future of transportation and the Volante Vision Concept describes Aston Martin’s influence in mobility innovation.  SIGNATURE DESIGN With room for three adults , the concept is a near future study that previews a flying autonomous hybrid-electric vehicle for urban and inter-city air travel, providing fast, efficient and congestion free travel. The Volante Vision Concept will take full advantage of the latest advances in aerospace, electrification and autonomous technologies, coupled with Aston Martin’s signature design. POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP Combining ...

BMW has unveiled the third-generation of the BMW X6 coupe-SUV internationally, a car that pioneered this sub-segment, to begin with. Like its more mainstream relative, the BMW X5, the X6 moves to BMW CLAR architecture and comes with a noticeably larger footprint than the earlier car. The X6 is now 26mm longer, 15mm wider and 6mm lower than before. The wheelbase has grown by 42mm as well. As with most new BMW SUVs, the styling is dominated by the larger kidney-grille, which can now be optionally illuminated for the first time. Also new is the styling, with the heavy sculptures on the bonnet and sharp lines on the rear haunches which meld with the more aggressive bulges along the sides. The blue-tinged laser headlamps are now a bit slimmer and the coupe roofline is now more heavily raked. The rear is reminiscent of the X4, with its wide slim headlamps and the notched hatch. Two styling options are available, the more luxury-oriented xLine and the sportier MSport with its more a...

BMW Vision DC Roadster concept features an electric powertrain that will most probably replace the iconic Boxer engine in the near future. BMW Motorrad has unveiled the Vision DC Roadster concept which happens to be their first naked bike concept with an electric drivetrain. For over 90 years, the 2-cylinder Boxer engine has been one of the key elements of BMW Motorrad’s identity but it also stands for visionary zero-emission vehicle concepts at the same time. The Vision DC Roadster concept’s purpose is to retain the iconic appearance of the brand while also presenting a completely new kind of riding experience.  According to BMW Motorrad, the concept bike conveys a sense of lightness to emphasize its driving dynamics. The seat and cooling system have been designed to leave an impression of hovering around the battery. The motorcycle gets a vertically positioned, longitudinally oriented battery setup. The side elements have been designed to act as cooling ribs and in...

What happens when you give two brothers who have a knack for making some striking custom motorcycles a spare  BMW R NineT Scrambler ? Whatever radical custom Beemers you have in mind can’t possibly top this - the Type 18. It’s the brainchild of Bujar and Gazmend Muharremi of Auto Fabrica . Based on the BMW R NineT Scrambler, this custom motorcycle has been commissioned by  BMW  itself. We don’t know about you, but this custom motorcycle has made our jaws drop to the floor. Commissioned by BMW Motorrad, the custom motorcycle is called the Type 18 Auto Fabrica, a London based custom bike maker , is the company behind this ace-looking custom Beemer It features custom bodywork , a custom suspension setup and a redesigned exhaust system Powering this beast is the R NineT Scrambler’s 1170cc powerplant, albeit with a remap Powering the Type 18 is the same 1170cc engine as the standard model, albeit with a remap. The standard bike pumps out 110PS and 116Nm of tor...

If you’re looking for an incredibly small and fast motorcycle and could care less about your personal safety then we’ve got a bike for you. Designer Pierre Yohanes designed the Halbo for eco-minded people who want something compact and electric powered. The front wheel is stationary and the back tail turns, so it’s kind of like riding a motorboat. So you’d like to have a tiny motorcycle. So you’d like to have a fast motorcycle. So you’d like to have a safe motorcycle. I am sorry you cannot have all three! What you’ve got here is a very fast, very dangerous vehicle. It’s called the Halbo, and it’s got a BMW stamp on it. It’s tiny and it’s got a front wheel motor combined with a sphere form rear wheel. The target user for this vehicle is a “vibrant eco-minded young individual.” Speed on! It’s half the size of the “regular high end motorcycle,” and it’s full name is Halb Organismus. Wild enough? Also it’s electric powered. The front wheel is stationary, while the back… tail...

THE GREAT ESCAPE. VISION NEXT 100: The motorcycle of the future. Glasses in place of a helmet, smart clothing, full balance without a kickstand: Only three of the many inventions that could become standards for riding a motorcycle and add a new dimension to the sense of freedom in an increasingly digitised world. And the best thing about it: this vision vehicle is already here. Introducing the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100. The futuristic two-wheeler glides through the auditorium, the jet-black triangular frame illuminates the blue and white BMW logo. The female driver only wears a visor, which looks like a pair of glasses from the next century instead of a helmet. She stops and stands up from the seat, without taking either foot off the pegs. The vision bike presented at the "iconic impulses" exhibition. "The BMW Group Future Experience" that is celebrating its world premiere in Los Angeles, transports the viewer to the year 2130. Self-balancing:...

The Uber Elevate team is working toward transforming the world through aerial ridesharing at scale. Imagine soaring above congested ground traffic. With Uber Air, this future is closer than you think. Uber is developing shared air transportation—planned for 2023—between suburbs and cities, and ultimately within cities. We’re working with our Elevate Network partners to launch fleets of small, electric VTOL (Vertical TakeOff and Landing) aircraft in Dallas, Los Angeles, and a to-be-announced international market.  Take a Look at The Video by Uber Air - Uber Air Launch Markets Over the next few years, Uber will continue to work closely with city and country stakeholders to create an aerial ridesharing network that’s intended to be safe, quiet, and environmentally conscious, and to support other transportation options. Recently announced, Melbourne joins Dallas and Los Angeles in becoming the first cities to offer Uber Air flights, with the goal of beginning demonstr...

High-performance sports car with electric drive: For the first time, Audi is presenting a design and technical concept car at Pebble Beach Automotive Week in Monterey, California. The all-electric Audi PB18 e-tron presents a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow. Broad and flat, visibly inspired by the wind tunnel and the race track, its very presence signals that it is destined to push boundaries. Inspiration Drawn From Motorsport The Audi PB18 e-tron package follows the traditional architecture of a mid-engine sports car with a cab that is positioned far forward. The car’s center of gravity is located behind the seats and in front of the rear axle – which benefits the driving dynamics. This does not involve the engine-transmission unit, as in a car with a conventional drive system, but rather the battery pack.  The PB18 e-tron is 4.53 meters long, 2 meters wide and just 1.15 meters tall (14.5 x 6.4 x 4.6 ft). These dimensions a...

FACTS The assignment is to move containers from the DFDS logistics centre in Gothenburg to an APM terminals container terminal according to needed capacity. The autonomous system is monitored by an operator in a control tower who is also responsible for the transport. The solution is suited for repetitive flows with a maximum speed of 40 km/h. Infrastructure adaptations are part of the scope in the implementation of the total transport system, including automated gates at the terminals.  Volvo Trucks and DFDS are main partners but several actors are involved in implementing Vera’s first assignment. Volvo VERA - The Autonomus Vehicle QUESTIONS  answered By  Mikael Karlsson, Vice President Autonomous Solutions, Volvo Trucks Q1. What does Vera offer customers? Ans.  For Volvo Trucks it is important to offer a premium experience, giving our customers peace of mind and trouble-free transport solutions. We believe that Vera can take ...

VERA – A VEHICLE LIKE NO OTHER SEEN FROM VOLVO BEFORE Vera is an autonomous, electric vehicle that can operate with significantly less exhaust emissions and low noise levels. It is controlled and monitored via a control centre, and has the potential to make transportation safer, cleaner and more efficient. Revealed in September last year, the autonomous Vera is powered by the same drivetrain and battery packs found in Volvo's electric trucks. It is, however, more electric sled than electric big rig, consisting of four-wheels and a low-profile body that can be latched onto by standard load carriers and trailers. Several VERA vehicles are intended to operate on a Pre-defined route (with a maximum speed of 40 km/h), partly on public roads, Transporting Goods from the DFDS Logistics Centre to an APM Terminals port facility in Gothenburg, for distribution across the world.As Volvo Trucks gain more experience, Vera will have the potential to be used in similar applications as ...