As we come to the end of another week we look at some of the Motoring news which you may have missed starting with the Aznom Palladium, the first “hyper-limousine” in the world
We are just a few weeks away from the unveiling of the much awaited Aznom Palladium, the first “hyper-limousine” in the world.
Inspired by the great sedans used by heads of state and by the opulence of luxury automobiles from the thirties, with their voluminous dimensions and all-terrain capacity, Palladium is without a doubt a surprising vehicle and, in the manufacturers’ intentions, is set up to fill an interesting and exclusive niche.
As a matter of fact Palladium’s designers have described the car as a “hyper-limousine”, uniting the traditional characteristics of luxury sedans (unparalleled comfort, quality of materials and manufacturing, ample space and reliability) to its incredible dynamic qualities, usually peculiar to other types of cars.
Palladium, which will be manufactured in a small series, is an aggregate of luxury but is also powerful, strong and unstoppable like a true all-wheel drive off-road vehicle.
Its very own name points at majestic and classic esthetics, chosen by designer Alessandro Camorali and his Camal Studio based in Torino, Italy.
From its name the connection with architect Andrea Palladio comes into focus (famous for taking inspiration from classic Greek and Roman style for his creations) and the first images released by Aznom already show something unique … if only for the extra-large dimensions of the vehicle (almost 2 meters in height and 6 meters in length).
The official unveiling of Aznom Palladium is scheduled for the last week in October in Milan, during the Milano Monza Open Air Motor Show.
New BMW 4 series Convertible
The sporting prowess and exhilarating driving experience of the new BMW 4 Series are taken to even greater heights with the addition of the new Convertible version.
With its standalone design, brand new soft-top construction, diverse line-up of engines, advanced chassis technology, and impressive levels of standard equipment, the new BMW 4 Series Convertible delivers the brand’s hallmark driving pleasure in a highly exclusive form.
Sharper than its predecessor and echoing the bold style of the BMW 4 Series Coupé, the new BMW 4 Series Convertible blends sporting driving pleasure and open-air thrills to continue the 35-year legacy in this model class that began with the first BMW 3 Series Convertible.
All models feature the M Sport specification as standard, with the new, even more performance-focused M Sport Pro Edition also available. In addition, both specifications can be upgraded with the Technology Pack – one of several option Packs that enable a high level of personalisation.
The new arrival to the sixth model generation’s model range – the BMW M440i xDrive Convertible – offers standout performance courtesy of a 374hp six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, with power transferred to the road via a Steptronic eight-speed gearbox and the intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
There will also be a choice of two four-cylinder petrol units and a four-cylinder diesel from launch in March 2021. Two straight-six diesel engines will join the engine line-up later in 2021.
The new BMW 4 Series Convertible will be built at BMW Plant Dingolfing. First deliveries in March 2021, priced from £45,785 OTR
New Fiat Panda Hybrid priced
Following the Panda City Cross, the new Panda Easy mild hybrid is now available to order in the UK priced at £11,840 OTR. The most popular city car in Europe now receives all the benefits of an efficient, compact, lightweight and accessible hybrid powertrain. The new features continue the electrification journey that Fiat began in February with the launch of the Panda Hybrid Launch Edition, the exclusive special series introduced at the same time as the Fiat 500 Hybrid.
The Panda will be available with a new petrol mild hybrid engine that combines the latest 3-cylinder FireFly 1.0-litre engine family with a 12-volt BSG electric motor and a lithium battery that delivers 70hp (51kW).
Compared to the outgoing 1.2-litre 69hp petrol engine, the mild hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions on the road by approximately 10 per cent without impeding performance. It also ensures a very high standard of driving comfort thanks to the BSG system, allowing for a quiet, vibration-free restart of the internal combustion engine in Stop&Start mode.
Pirelli is to exclusively equip the new McLaren 765LT
Pirelli is to exclusively equip the new McLaren 765LT, having been set a mission to deliver as much performance as possible on dry-weather for the luxury British supercar company’s fastest-
ever Super Series car to lap a circuit. The P Zero Trofeo R tyre was chosen as the starting point for this latest collaboration: Pirelli’s best-performing track day tyre that’s also entirely road legal. Now the Trofeo R has been further refined in a joint effort from Pirelli and McLaren to meet the high-performance requirements of this latest car, following some intense work from Pirelli’s renowned research and development division. For drivers who are less inclined to use their cars on track, the Pirelli P Zero tyres are also available.
New Mitsubishi Shogun Sport
The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is now available from just £29,975 OTR, including three years free servicing, representing outstanding value for money for customers in need of a truly tough and rugged 4X4 vehicle.
Built with some of the toughest environments in the world in mind, the Shogun Sport remains the most capable full-size off-roader ever produced by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), combining a powerful 181PS 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine with an advanced Super Select 4WD-II system that has been engineered to take on even the most challenging terrains.
Every Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, including a dedicated commercial version, is equipped with four transmission hardware settings, four Terrain Control System traction modes, a switch-operated locking rear differential as well as several additional software systems to help with extreme off-road or towing situations, including Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Uphill Control, Downhill Control, Throttle Release Control and Rapid Kick-down Control.
Underpinning its sure-footed dynamics is a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, fully coil sprung, while the mount points and the structure of the lateral rod mounts have been engineered to provide straight line and cornering stability.
And yet despite being so capable in the harshest of driving environments, Mitsubishi Motors’ off-road flagship also delivers bold and distinctive styling; ample interior space with seven seat capacity and high levels of luxury including an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB and smart phone connectivity, leather upholstery with electrically-adjusted front seats and dual-zone climate control on all variants.
The Shogun Sport is also equipped with a number of key safety technologies as standard including LED headlamps, tail lamps and DRLs; Hill Start Assist; rear view camera, reversing sensors and speed sensing automatic door-locking. Top-of-the-range Shogun Sport 4 models are additionally fitted with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning (BSW); Ultrasonic mis-acceleration Mitigation System (UMS) and a 360° camera.
Electric vehicle charging
Rightcharge have launched the UK’s first electric vehicle (EV) energy tariff, home charging and installation online comparison service, which could save customers more than £230 per year on their energy bills. Drivers can also save more than £100 on the upfront cost of installing a charger.
Growing environmental awareness, tightening government legislation and the dramatically falling costs of EVs has driven rapid growth in the ownership of zero emission vehicles, with registrations up by 157% in 2020.However, a lack of clear information means drivers are missing the opportunity to switch to special EV energy tariffs and install smart charge points – a mistake that is costing them hundreds of pounds every year in energy bills.
Rightcharge’s free online service enables drivers to find the most suitable energy tariffs and smart EV chargers, as well as the best company to install the home charger. Drivers can compare all available options, using information about their home and driving habits to tailor their results.
EV-specific energy tariffs offer cheaper energy rates at times of low demand, such as overnight. Combining this with a smart charger, which can be scheduled to charge a car at the cheapest times, saves bill payers hundreds of pounds and helps to ensure the energy is as green as possible. However, it’s estimated that only a fraction of households currently take advantage of smart home charging, meaning many drivers are overpaying on their energy bills by an average of £233.19 per year1, or as much as £1,102.94 per year for those who have a high annual mileage.
For example, by adopting a smart charger and a time-of-use tariff, drivers can charge overnight for as little as 5p/kWh – around 1p per mile. A Standard Variable Tariff, at an average 17p/kWh, would cost drivers four times more to charge their car – around 4.5p per mile.
Hyundai Announces New Horizons Studio to Develop Ultimate Mobility Vehicles
Hyundai Motor Group have announced the formation of New Horizons Studio, a new unit focused on the development of Ultimate Mobility Vehicles, or UMVs for short.
Throughout history, humankind has shared an innate desire and need to explore new frontiers. New Horizons Studio envisions building vehicles to wander with unprecedented mobility. The products will target customers who have a need for travel in unconventional and off-road terrain, including places where vehicles have never roamed before. These vehicles will be subject to more challenging applications and environments, adaptable to changing conditions. Pushing the boundaries of vehicle development, the unit will reimagine how vehicles might traverse the world.
New Horizons Studio is led by Vice President Dr. John Suh, who has held several leadership roles at Hyundai Motor Group since 2011. He served as founding director of Hyundai Ventures, and then led Hyundai CRADLE (Center for Robotic-Augmented Design in Living Experiences) as its founding director based in Silicon Valley. He brings over 35 years of expertise in the automotive and emerging technology sectors, including roles at Stanford University, Palo Alto Research Center (PARC; formerly, Xerox PARC), and General Motors Company.
“We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle,” notes Dr. Suh.
The new unit furthers Hyundai Motor Group’s vision to shape the future of mobility and onboard forward-thinking, innovative leadership from Silicon Valley and other innovation hubs.
