automotive design
Kia Gets Spicy With HabaNiro EV Concept.
Unveiled at the Manhattan Auto Show, the HabaNiro concept is a fully-electric, all-wheel drive, four-seat wonder car with an All Electric Range (AER) of more than 300 miles/480 kilometres, level-five autonomous mode, butterfly wing doors and more advanced tech than that which helped land men on the moon.
Tom Kearns, vice president of design for Kia Design Center America, said: “We wanted this concept to be comfortable navigating city streets, carving turns on a coastal road and off-roading with confidence to remote wilderness adventures.” 
With its rugged 20-inch wheels, short overhangs and big haunches, the HabaNiro exudes coiled muscularity and capability, whether you’re on a grocery run, en route to a meeting or in search of a remote fishing hole.
Says Michael Cole, KMA chief operating officer and executive vice president: “The HabaNiro is a genius work of skill and imagination. Not only does its beautiful design incorporate the needs of future mobility, but its engineering and technology anticipate the way people will want to move in the near future.”
It’s looking to be a multi-role vehicle, essentially an all-electric Everything Car or ECEV: commuter, crossover, sport utility, state-of-the-art technology workroom and adventure vehicle.
Exterior design of the 4430mm long concept sees protective metallic grey cladding encompassing the front wheels which extends onto the body sides and the bright “Lava Red” aero panel that defines the C-pillar and extends up and over the roof. This look is reinforced by the single character line that wraps around the front end, extends through the shoulder, and ends pointed at the rear wheels.
The HabaNiro grille resembles a shark’s snout, complete with a slit-like gap full of gloss black aluminium “teeth” similar to the cooling blades found on high-end electronic equipment. The EV chassis architecture allowed the wheels to be pushed to the corners, giving the HabaNiro its wide and confident stance, including the 2830mm wheelbase with 265/50/20 wheels and tyres
Satin aluminum skid plates, milled billet aluminium tow hooks, anodized Lava Red aluminium accents, and the embossed HabaNiro name complement the upscale look while suggesting the vehicle’s adventure-ready attitude.
The doors open in a similar butterfly fashion to another electric vehicle. The concept car’s Lava Red interior is said to suggest passion and vibrancy.The Lava Red interior suggests passion and vibrancy.
Contributing to the interior’s clean and modern appearance is the absence of rectangular screens and traditional control knobs and buttons. Instead, the HabaNiro features a full-width front windshield Heads-Up Display (HUD) system controlled by a concave acrylic instrument panel that is a large interactive touchpad display with Sensory Light Feedback (SLF). Technical Option Sharing System (TOSS) allows users to swipe and move vehicle options across the HUD screen as though moving chess pieces.
HabaNiro’s occupants are kept comfortable by a slim Perimeter Ventilation System (PVS) that quietly and evenly blows a curtain of air throughout the cabin. and are lit by a soft ambient glow that shines through the bold geometrically-patterned floor. The Lighting Colour Effect (LCE) can be dimmed or brightened, and the hue can be modified to impact the mood of the interior environment.
When HabaNiro’s part-time level-five autonomous driving system is engaged the steering wheel and instrument panel retract forward to provide more room for the front occupants. Media or other entertainment, such as a movie for a long highway haul, can be displayed on the full-width HUD video system. There’s plenty of interior space thanks to the 1950mm width.
HabaNiro features Kia’s new Real-time Emotion Adaptive Driving (R.E.A.D.) System introduced earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show. R.E.A.D. can optimize and personalize a vehicle cabin space by analyzing a driver’s emotional state in real-time through artificial intelligence-based bio-signal recognition technology.
The technology monitors the driver’s emotional state and tailors the interior environment according to its assessment – potentially altering conditions relating to the human senses within the cabin and in turn creating a more pleasurable and safer driving experience. R.E.A.D. also enables the HabaNiro’s Eye Tracking System (ETS) with 180° rearview video display.
The system uses AI-based emotional intelligence to monitor when the driver looks up to the top of the windshield where conventional rear view mirrors are traditionally located.
The AI immediately senses the driver’s need to see behind the vehicle and instantly activates the 180° rearview video display. There are no immediate plans to utilize AI to sense when the driver is hungry and then direct to the nearest drive-through where an order will be waiting, but the technology may someday evolve to make just such a task possible.
AI and automation shouldn’t take the joy out of driving, as some auto lovers fear, but should enhance it – anticipating needs so we can concentrate on the driving experience.
Naturally, being a concept, some of these features, including the doors, are unlikely to make it into production, should Kia move ahead with it.
Renault Climbs the Mountain Again With The Alpine A110.
Renault and Alpine (pronounced Al-peen) go back well over a half century. Much like AMG, M, or Tickford and HSV, Alpine was an extension for the venerable French brand in regards to the sorts of vehicles manufactured and was originally its own marque. The originals stood out in the World Rally Championships and Le Mans 24 Hours, and were noted for the slimline design, grip, and extra lights up front. Renault officially bought out the name in 1973.
In the early 2010s, Renault put down the plans to revive the name and in 2018, the reborn Alpine A110 saw Australian tarmac for the first time.
Power comes from a mid-mounted 1.8L four cylinder with 188kW. That’s good enough to see the 1100kg two door to 100kmh in just 4.5 seconds, on its way to a top whack of 250kmh. Peak torque from the lusty turbocharged donk is 320Nm, and those velocities come courtesy of that peak torque being available at 2000rpm, the sweet spot for overtaking when needed. Weight is saved by using aluminuim throughout.
Styling is dramatic. In profile there’s no doubt about the car’s heritage. It’s a teardrop shape, with a slimline A pillar, low roof, and easy to live with B pillar. The doors have a deep set scallop, and the rear end evokes classic European coupes. Rear lights are full LEDs. The rear glass burrows deep into the sides of the Alpine A110 and hide what would be an otherwise conventional coupe shape. Wheels are 18 inches in diameter and have different styles for the three models available, the Australian Premiere Edition, A110 Pure, and A110 Legende.. 
Inside it’s comfortable in a two door, two seater, kind of way. Leather and cloth seats feature a diamond quilt pattern in the material, which is also featured in the doors, and the seats themselves are fitted with strong bolsters. The centre console features three buttons for the gear selection, an unusual design choice, but they mirror the three dials in the binnacle for information. The Alpine also features a telematics screen that allows track day drivers to monitor their on-road and on-track prowess. There’s access to tyre pressures, power and torque display, and other forms of engine information. Pricing starts from $97K plus on-roads. The Australian Premiere Edition is limited to just 60 units and is priced from $106K plus on-roads.
Jaguar Threepeats In Major Awards.
It’s rare, if ever, that one brand and one car takes out more than one major award at one event.The Jaguar I-Pace was a triple winner in three award categories: the overall 2019 World Car of the Year, the 2019 World Green Car and the 2019 World Car Design of the Year. This is the first time in the World Car Awards’ 15-year history that one-car has achieved a win across three categories. It is the second time in 15 years that one company has achieved a triple-win. Mercedes-Benz previously attained this honour in 2015.
The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, are meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries. This year, the cars eligible for the 2019 World Car Design of the Year award encompassed all the contenders competing in the other five award categories.
In doing so, Jaguar-Land Rover has created history. 2019 marks the third consecutive Design win for the company and the fifth time overall, having won the World Car Design of the Year award in 2018 (Range Rover Velar), in 2017 (Jaguar F-PACE), in 2012 (Range Rover Evoque) and in 2013 (Jaguar F-Type). No other car manufacturer has achieved this number of Design wins in the event’s 15 year history.
The I-Pace itself is garnering accolades where it counts. Sales of the I-Pace have reached in excess of 11,000, with customers in over 60 countries, since it was released.
The I-Pace uses a 90kWh lithium-ion battery. This can deliver a potential range of nearly 500km. There is a charge rate of flat to 80% in just 40 minutes using a 100kW DC system, or takes just over ten hours to achieve the same state of charge when using a domestic wallbox which charges at 7kW AC. This is perfect for overnight home-charging.
In respect to the design awards, The I-Pace’s mix of cab-forward profile, short overhangs and taut, muscular haunches provide a clear visual difference compared to other SUVs. There is a spacious interior thanks to the electric drivetrain, and naturally is finished with beautiful premium details and exacting Jaguar craftsmanship.
And being fully electric brings the Green Award. Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “It is an honour that the Jaguar I-PACE has received such an accolade from the prestigious World Car jurors. For I-PACE to be awarded 2019 World Green Car gives our first all-electric vehicle the ultimate recognition it deserves. I would like to thank the team who have created I-PACE for their passion in making it so outstanding.”
Upgrades and Updates Makes Tesla Longer Lasting.
Tesla has revealed details on an update to their drive systems. Further development of their latest generation of drive unit technology raises the efficiency level to 93% which improves overall range by over 10%. Part of this comes from pairing a permanent magnet motor in the front with an induction motor in the rear.
In addition to adding range, power and torque increases significantly across all Model S and Model X variants, improving 0-100 kmh times for the Long Range and Standard Range models.
Paired with the new more efficient drivetrain design, V3 Superchargers have improved on power delivery. Model S and Model X are now capable of achieving 200 kW on V3 Superchargers, and 145 kW on V2 Superchargers. Together, these improvements enable our customers to recharge their expected range by up to 50% faster.
The air suspension system has been updated for Model S and Model X with fully-adaptive damping, giving it an ultra-cushioned feel when cruising on the highway. It also applies when using Autopilot. It’s an in-house software package using a predictive model to anticipate how the damping will need to be adjusted based on the road, speed, and other vehicle and driver inputs. The system is fluid in its ability to adapt the suspension for the road conditions, automatically softening for more pronounced road inputs and firming for aggressive driving.
Another improvement is the leveling of the suspension system while cruising, keeping the car low to optimize aerodynamic drag. As with all of Tesla’s in-house software, the adaptive suspension can receive over-the-air updates. This ensures the latest information can be made available as soon as possible.
Wheel bearings and new tyre tread designs are being added to the range to improve range, ride, and steering.
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