Aurelia Butler

The Audi Activesphere is the latest in a series of “Sphere” concepts, and takes the shape of an off-road-oriented crossover with a coupe-like roofline. The highlight is the cabin, which uses augmented reality for all of the vehicle controls—like navigation, climate, and entertainment—instead of a screen.Another cool feature on the Activesphere is the split tailgate, which sees the rear glass slide upwards to turn the cargo area into an exposed bed for hauling bikes and other gear.The Audi Activesphere concept blurs the lines between automotive segments, combining a sloping, carlike roofline with a decidedly SUV-esque stance and ride height. The fourth in Audi’s series of “Sphere” concepts—after the Skysphere roadster, Grandsphere sedan, and Urbansphere minivan—the Activesphere imagines a smoothly styled crossover that supports an outdoorsy lifestyle and shows off new technologies that Audi hopes to implement in the coming decades. Like its conceptual companions, the Activesphere is electric, riding on the PPE platform that will underpin the upcoming A6 e-tron as well as Porsche’s electric Macan. A 100.0-kWh battery provides over 370 miles of range, and electric motors on the front and rear axles combine for 436 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. PPE also brings 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing the battery to add around 186 miles of range in 10 minutes at 270 kW. Audi also claims the battery can go from 5 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes. The Activesphere stretches nearly as long as a gas-powered Audi Q8, but it’s 3.0 inches wider, stands about 4.0 inches less tall, and has a 1.0-inch shorter wheelbase. The concept rides on an air suspension with adaptive dampers and 22-inch wheels wrapped in 285/55 tires designed to tackle a variety of terrains. The wheels feature active aero—opening up when off-roading for cooling and closing when on pavement to improve efficiency. Cameras replace traditional sideview mirrors to decrease drag, boosting range.The focus on off-road exploration led to a see-through interpretation of the “Singleframe” grille that has adorned Audis over the past two decades, so the driver can better spot obstacles in front of the vehicle. The lower portions of the doors are also glass. The 8.2 inch ride height can be raised by 1.6 inches when leaving the asphalt, and Audi quotes the approach angle at a decent 18.9 degrees while the departure angle is a more versatile 28.1 degrees.One of the Activesphere’s niftiest features is the “active back.” Essentially a split tailgate, the lower section folds down like on a pickup truck while the rear glass slides upwards, turning the cargo area into a small bed which can hold a pair of bicycles. A motorized bulkhead behind the rear seats keeps the cabin enclosed, and a ski rack is integrated into the roof. The Activesphere is the first Audi designed with a split tailgate, but the brand was coy about production feasibility.Audi gets really experimental inside the Activesphere’s cabin. There is still a steering wheel and pedals, but the physical controls fold away when autonomous driving is activated. Straight lines dominate the simple dashboard, which includes a full-width sound bar and air vent. Red trim pops against the black background, and the center console has heated and cooled beverage storage. You may have noticed that the Activesphere bucks the trend of giant touchscreens. That’s because the entire interior is the screen, thanks to the extensive use of augmented reality. Four headsets—stowed in a console in the roof—allow occupants to engage with what the automaker calls the “Audi dimensions.” The system basically layers information and controls over what you can see and physically interact with in the real world—similar to what Iron Man uses to work on his suits in the Marvel films, although you will need to don special glasses and probably aren’t as effortlessly charismatic as Robert Downey Jr.Vehicle status, navigation, and entertainment are all included in the augmented reality interface, and the system tracks the user’s eyes, calling up more detailed information if the user focuses on a certain menu or display. Gesture control allows the user to interact with the virtual controls they are seeing like they would with a physical control, rotating to adjust a dial or tapping to click a button.More Audi EV NewsThe augmented reality can also extend beyond the cabin—when off-roading, a topographical map can be projected onto the surrounding environment, while traffic information, routes, and safety warnings can also be layered onto the driver’s view of the road when commuting. The passengers, meanwhile, can see their own individual feed, adjusting their climate or entertainment settings or researching restaurants or activities for the final destination. Audi also says the headsets can be used outside of the car, either to monitor the vehicle’s condition or when engaging in sports like skiing or biking.While the Activesphere’s exterior design doesn’t look too far-fetched, the sci-fi interior is certainly years—if not decades—away from production. Still, the unorthodox crossover provides a look into Audi’s crystal ball, hinting at what the electrified future of the brand might look like and the technologies Audi is developing that could change the way we use our cars’ interiors. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

For 2024, the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan and S-Class will be the first U.S. models to have Level 3 autonomous driving.The Level 3 system (called Drive Pilot) lets the car handle most driving duties but requires the driver to be able to take over at any time.Mercedes already launched Drive Pilot in Germany, and now it’s been approved for use in America, starting with Nevada.With Mercedes-Benz today announcing it’s the first automaker approved to use its Level 3 autonomous system in America, some of us will finally have access to hands-free driving, in certain conditions, of course.Drive Pilot is what Mercedes calls its Level 3 system, and the technology is set to make its U.S. debut as an option on the 2024 EQS and S-class sedans. Drive Pilot allows the driver to hand over primary duties to the car, meaning they don’t have to touch the steering wheel or constantly watch the road on compatible thoroughfares. This is distinct from Level 2 systems such as GM’s Super Cruise, which have monitoring systems to make sure the driver is looking at the road. However, even in the Mercedes system, the driver must be ready to re-take control of the car at any time if it’s unable to drive itself.Guiding Drive Pilot is a mix of GPS, lidar, myriad sensors, and more. It only works at speeds up to 40 mph. If any system fails, Mercedes says there are braking and steering fail-safes to safely maintain control of the car until the driver regains control. If the driver is unable to do so in the allotted time, the system is said to bring the car to a complete stop, activate the hazard lights, and contact emergency services. Mercedes launched Drive Pilot in Germany back in May 2022. For now, Nevada is the only U.S. state where Drive Pilot has received regulatory approval. However, Mercedes says it’s currently working on earning approval in California with the hope that it’ll be certified sometime later in 2023. The 2024 EQS sedan and S-class models are expected to start being delivered to customers in the second half of this year.More on Level 3 AutonomyThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

• A juggernaut of turbocharged Porsche power, the GT2 is basically a more hardcore version of the 911 Turbo.• Just 300 GT2s were delivered to the U.S. in the 996 era, and with very low mileage, this example represents excellent potential.• This Bring a Trailer auction ends on January 29. The GT2 is a car with a certain reputation—rare, raw, with a bloodline stretching back to the original “Widowmaker” 930 Turbo. Now, with this auction on Bring a Trailer, is your chance to get a taste of one of the burliest 911s Porsche ever built.To the uninitiated, this is just another silver 911, and judging by the oblong headlights, not even one of the truly desirable ones. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll spot yellow calipers indicating carbon-ceramic brakes, a unique rear wing, and the subtle GT2 script out back. This is no mere pedestrian Neunelfer; a monster lurks here.More GT2 GoodnessWhile the GT3 was more of a track star destined for mid-corner battles with the likes of the Corvette Z06, the GT2 was basically an untamed 911 Turbo: lighter, more powerful, and stripped of driver aids such as electronic stability control. If the GT3 was a scalpel, the GT2 was a claymore, and if you weren’t careful you might send a limb or two to Tucumcari. Like the 930 of yore, the GT2 does not suffer fools gladly.Out back, the GT2 received the same racing-derived 3.6-liter flat-six as the Turbo of its day, but with larger turbochargers, more cooling, and reprogrammed software. Power was up by almost 15 percent to 474 horsepower, and removing the all-wheel drive helped shed about 220 pounds. Beefy carbon-ceramic brakes were standard, certainly helpful when approaching the GT2’s stated top speed of 196 mph.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerDriving the car in Germany in 2001, we noted that the GT2 “demands unwinking concentration as the speedometer needle twirls toward the top end of its scale… an eye-widening drive—but seriously addictive nonetheless. Along with the GT2’s insistent ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,’ there’s an implicit disclaimer line, a serious-drivers-only message that’s saying something like, ‘Look, schmuck, I’m not your mom. You’re on your own here.'”This example up for auction is a 2003 U.S.-market car, and it is nearly flawless, with all the pertinent documentation present. With three days to go, bidding sits at $155,000, though that figure is likely to surge as the end draws nearer.Bring a TrailerThis one has just 4000 miles on the odometer and is finished in silver with a black interior. 996-era interiors generally don’t hold up well over the years, but this car has all kinds of well-kept leather trim inside, and it presents as efficient and business-like—just what you want in a Porsche.While this GT2 may be blue-chip investment material, if you take this GT2 home, please drive it. It won’t make much of a difference if it has 4000 miles or 6000 miles on the clock, and the current owner recently changed out most of the engine’s consumables, including a new set of spark plugs. The lucky buyer owes it to themselves to get at least one sweaty-palmed blast of turbocharged Porsche adrenaline behind the wheel of this car. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Akio Toyoda, the president and CEO of the Toyota Motor Corporation, will step down on April 1 and become the chairman of the board of directors.He will be replaced by Koji Sato, current president of both the Lexus brand and Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsports and performance car division. Under Toyoda, the automaker has remained committed to hybrids and slow to adopt EVs, but that may change under new, younger leadership.Akio Toyoda, the president and CEO of the Toyota Motor Corporation, will relinquish his position as head of the Japanese automaker on April 1, the company announced today. Toyoda, 66, will become the chairman of the board of directors, with current chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada retiring, although he will remain a member of the board. Toyoda is the grandson of the company’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, and has been the CEO since 2009.He will be succeeded by Koji Sato, currently the president of both the Lexus brand and Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsports division that has also developed the brand’s road-going high-performance cars including the GR Supra and GR Corolla. Sato, 53, started in this role in 2020. Toyota’s only full EV, the bZ4X.The announcement could signal a strategic change in Toyota’s approach to electric vehicles. Although the company pioneered hybrids with the Prius, under Toyoda’s reign the automaker has been reluctant to commit to a transition to a fully electric lineup, citing concerns over the abundance of the raw materials that such a move would require. The launch of Toyota’s first dedicated EV, the bZ4X, also went poorly, with a recall and stop-sale last year for faulty wheel hub bolts. Although the electric crossover has recently been relaunched, the automaker has low sales expectations.But with Toyoda stepping aside, the brand’s priorities may shift. “Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars,” Toyoda said, as reported by The Financial Times. “I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.” Toyota EV NewsHe acknowledged that the new personnel will be able to shift the direction of the company, explaining that he needs “to take a step back in order to let young people enter the new chapter of what the future of mobility should be like.” In 2021, the company showed off a series of potential future EVs it was mulling over and announced a $35 billion investment in electric vehicles, and Sato’s appointment could see many of those concepts reach production with an influx in funding dedicated to electrification. However, the “car guy” spirit of Toyoda which helped bring the brand to the forefront of affordable performance cars over the past several years could be preserved thanks to Sato’s Gazoo Racing ties. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Honda’s latest 3.5-liter V-6 that powers the new Pilot switches to a dual-overhead-cam design, the first naturally aspirated DOHC V-6 in any Honda or Acura since the first-generation NSX.Bore, stroke, and compression ratio carry over, while peak power is up by 5 hp to 285 hp and torque holds steady at 262 lb-ft.This new V-6 is dramatically cleaner, with some pollutants reduced by 40 to 50 percent, which should keep it compliant until at least 2030.Hiding in the heads of the 2023 Honda Pilot’s new V-6, code name J35Y8, is a dramatic change: an additional camshaft for each bank. Every previous naturally aspirated V-6 from either Honda or Acura except for the first-generation NSX has instead been a single-overhead-cam (SOHC) design. Bore and stroke carry over (and therefore its 3471cc displacement), as do a 60-degree bank angle, and a 11.5:1 compression ratio. But this new engine that powers the Pilot (and almost certainly any future V-6–powered vehicles, such as the Odyssey and Ridgeline) gets the compact DOHC heads from the turbocharged Type S-variants of the Acura TLX and MDX, where the cam bearing caps are incorporated into the valve cover, shrinking the head height by 1.2 inches. Peak power is up by 5 hp to 285 hp at 6100 rpm, while peak torque is identical at 262 pound-feet at 5000 rpm; those peaks occur at slightly higher engine speeds, 100 rpm and 300 rpm, respectively. Hydraulic lifters are also new, which means no more valve-lash adjustments, and depressurizing them keeps the valves closed during three-cylinder mode. The DOHC V-6 continues to use a timing belt, which has the same 100,000-mile replacement interval as the SOHC engine before it. We Drove the New Pilot, and More TrailSports Are ComingEmissions-wise, this latest V-6 jumps to a SULEV30 rating, which amounts to a reduction of 40- to 50-percent in particulate and NOx output. Fuel control is more precise, with direct-injection-system pressure up by 50 percent to 30 MPa (or 4351 psi), along with smaller injector holes and an ability to do up to three squirts per combustion cycle. Another key enabler is using cam phasers to continually adjust both intake and exhaust timing rather than the high-lift and longer-duration intake lobes on the previous V-6. But that means this new engine doesn’t have VTEC, and a smooth and linear pull to redline replaces the manic switchover point that helped give VTEC a cult following. Based on today’s rules, these changes will keep the V-6 compliant until at least 2030. More