Smart headlights
Smart headlights – which offer a lot of light and visibility without blinding oncoming cars or cars in front of you – will become reality, but it may not be for a couple of years. Traditionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has mandated that vehicles in the U.S. have distinct high and low beams, but not lights that can dynamically adjust, writes Eric Taub in the New York Times. But NHTSA is proposing a rule that would allow the new headlights – called “adaptive driving beam” headlights, or A.D.B. – on the road. Modern vehicles already contain most of the software, sensors and cameras to make A.D.B. lights a reality. Industry experts expect they will become legal in the United States in 18 to 24 months, and available shortly thereafter.
Grocery pile-up?
Costco run at the end of the day? This is just a patent, mind you, but Ford SUVs may some day have a conveyor belt system for their SUVs, allowing you to put down a bag of groceries and let the conveyor bring it to the far reaches of the cargo hold, reports The Drive. When it’s time to unload, the belts would do the same thing, in reverse. Since these are simply patent filings, this in no way to confirm that the technology will actually come to production on Ford or Lincoln SUVs, comments the magazine. It’s also not fully thought-out yet. For example, how would this system prevent a grocery pile-up against the back of the second-row seats?
The Accord still looking good
Americans are increasingly flocking to crossovers at the expense of conventional cars, but cars still represent millions of annual sales, notes cars.com. The publication analyzed three mid-sized sedans, all costing between $28,000 and $32,000 – and selected the 2018 Honda Accord EX-L as the prize. (Two top-sellers, also rated highly, were the 2018 Toyota Camry XLE and the 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV.) Why the Accord? Cargo volume, spacious legroom in the rear seats, comfy front seats, a nice ride and a sharp multimedia system. The Altima, meanwhile, is said to have a low seat profile, which can be a turnoff with all the tall crossovers on the road; and its continuously variable transmission (CVT) is reported to have laggy performance.
Power charging for electric vehicles
BMW AG and Porsche unveiled a charging station that in less than three minutes can jolt electric vehicles with enough power to drive 62 miles – pushing ahead of Tesla Inc. in the race to make battery-powered cars more convenient, reports Automotive News. The ultra-fast prototype charger has the capacity of 450 kilowatts, more than triple Tesla’s Superchargers. Test vehicles developed to take that much power were recharged to 80 percent capacity in 15 minutes. Tesla’s stations need about 30 minutes for a similar charge, according to its website. One drawback: The charger offers more power than current models can take on. The BMW i3 limits its power intake to 50 kilowatts, while the battery-powered iX3 will triple that to 150 kilowatts when it rolls out in 2020.
Your dog rides in comfort
If you had a very successful 2018 sales year AND you like to take your dog with you on sales calls, here’s a deal for you: British automaker Jaguar has announced a range of pet accessories designed for the E-, F- and I-Pace crossovers and the XF Sportbrake wagon, reports Motor Trend. The options include a spill-resistant water bowl, a foldable carrier, and a rear-access ramp that can help ease access for big dogs that weigh up to 187 pounds. There’s also a tony quilted luggage compartment liner and a portable shower. Like its vehicles, Jaguar’s pet products don’t come cheap. They’re available in four packages that range from $338 for a rear-seat protection liner up to $1,302 for the entire set of accessories.
Electric vehicle for Volkswagen
Volkswagen board of management member Jürgen Stackmann revealed details about the first EV in the company’s anticipated I.D. line via social media in December, reports The Drive. The I.D. will be a hatchback whose production-ready body will be revealed in 2019, possibly in the spring, when Stackmann states orders for the model will open. It will be the first of VW’s models to pioneer a streamlined ordering process wherein customers select their desired model, its range, its color, and any other options. VW was reported in November to be preparing a sub-$23,000 EV for mass production, and given Stackmann’s statement that the I.D.’s price will be comparable to a Golf GTi, the I.D. is a candidate for that price point. The I.D. will have an estimated maximum range of 550 kilometers (342 miles) in WLTP testing.