Range Rover - Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Leaked info reveals plans for 8-seat Land Rover Defender 130 - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Land Rover’s Defender will spawn a redesigned model later this year, which will be the first time since the iconic off-roader was launched more than three decades ago.

Prototypes for both a short-wheelbase, 3-door “Defender 90” and standard-wheelbase, 5-door “Defender 110” have been spotted, matching the original Defender 90 and 110 models.

However, leaked information from what appears to be an internal presentation, published by the Disco4 Forums on Friday, reveals plans for a third model, a long-wheelbase “Defender 130” fitted with up to eight seats. This model would span 200.7 inches in length, though its claimed wheelbase of 119 inches equals the Defender 110 model, suggesting that the Defender 130 would feature an extra-long caboose.

The leaked information reveals that the Defender 130 will arrive in August 2020 as a 2021 model, with the Defender 90 arriving in October as a 2020 model and the Defender 110 arriving in March 2020, also as a 2020 model.

Land Rover Defender design shown in instrument cluster - Image via landroverphotoalbum/Instagram

There's also confirmation of a 6-strong powertrain lineup consisting of three gasoline engines and three diesels. The most potent powertrains are found in P400 and P400e grades. The P400 features a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 while the P400e features a plug-in hybrid setup pairing a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 with an electric motor. In both cases you're looking at more than 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

Land Rover had planned to have its redesigned Defender ready shortly after the production of the original ceased in early 2016. The automaker even previewed a new design for the Defender in 2011 with its DC100 concept car. The original plan was to launch an affordable, go-anywhere vehicle along the lines of the Jeep Wrangler or Toyota FJ Cruiser but the concept didn’t prove popular and the project got delayed while Land Rover formed a new idea.

That new idea has seen the redesigned Defender move into a position between Land Rover’s mainstream Discovery and upmarket Range Rover. And even more body styles are thought to be coming to appeal to lifestyle-oriented buyers. These are expected to include a pickup and a version with a removable roof.

We also know that production of the redesigned Defender will take place at Land Rover's plant in Slovakia, and not the traditional home of Solihull, United Kingdom.

  source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1101279_leaked-info-reveals-plans-for-8-seat-land-rover-defender-130

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Mercedes - Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - 2020 Mercedes- Mercedes-Benz EQV electric minivan revealed - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday unveiled the latest addition to its growing family of battery-electric cars grouped under the EQ sub-brand.

The latest addition is the EQV minivan, essentially an electric version of the V-Class minivan that's sold in the United States in Metris commercial trim. Mercedes already sells the electric eVito (also based on the V-Class) and eSprinter commercial vans, though the EQV will be the first electric van from Mercedes targeting both private and commercial users.

The battery is a 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion unit that Mercedes said will deliver a range of 250 miles. High-speed charging of the battery will enable a charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 45 minutes.

Drive comes from a single electric motor-generator at the front axle, rated at 204 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes hasn't mentioned acceleration, though top speed is a claimed 99 mph.

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQV

Compared to the regular V-Class, the EQV features a unique, sealed-off grille. There are also unique 18-inch wheels and a charging port at the front. The interior can be ordered with seven or eight seats, and it features a specific EQ version of Mercedes' infotainment system that shows details such as charging current, departure time, and energy flow between the battery and motor-generator.

The EQV was previewed by a concept of the same name earlier this year and is due to go on sale in Europe shortly after a world debut at next month's Frankfurt International Motor Show. Availability in the United States is yet to be confirmed.

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQV

Currently, Mercedes' EQ offerings in the U.S. consists of only the Smart EQ Fortwo, though this model bows out after 2019. The EQC small SUV arrives next year and we should also receive an EQS large sedan in the not too distant future.

Joining the EQV at the Frankfurt auto show will be a new concept car from the EQ sub-brand. The action all unfolds on September 10, but in the meantime you can learn about some of the other vehicles set to appear at the show by visiting our dedicated hub.

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1124642_mercedes-benz-eqv-electric-minivan-revealed

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com

 

Porsche - Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Porsche invests in sensor tech that can see in fog, rain - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

One of the major roadblocks for self-driving cars is the ability for their various sensors and cameras to see in poor weather, such as fog, rain or snow. It's why most testing of self-driving cars takes place in areas with fine weather throughout most of the year, such as Arizona and California.

There are companies working on solutions, however, one of which is TriEye. The Israeli startup has developed short-wave infrared (SWIR) technology that can see in poor visibility conditions, and Porsche has just acquired a minority stake via the company's first round of funding.

TriEye's technology, which relies on a unique, patent-pending semi-conductor design, has an added benefit. It makes it possible to manufacture SWIR HD cameras that outperform but cost a fraction of current offerings, Porsche said Wednesday in an announcement about its investment.

Other key investors include Intel and a state-owned Israeli venture capital fund.

“TriEye is a promising technology company led by an exceptionally strong team with experience in the areas of nano-photonics, deep learning and the development of semi-conductor components,” said Michael Steiner, who heads Porsche's R&D team.

Steiner said there was great potential for TriEye's technology in developing safer, more robust electronic driver assist and fully self-driving systems.

Fortunately, Porsche isn't looking to take the actual driving away from humans. The company has already demonstrated how self-driving systems can be used as an aid to make you a better driver. For example, its InnoDrive system uses GPS data to judge the angle, slope, and height of the road ahead. It then combines the data with information from a vehicle's sensors, considers the speed limit, and determines an appropriate cornering speed so you pass through smoothly.

source:https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1124682_porsche-invests-in-sensor-tech-that-can-see-in-fog-rain 

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com