CAR COMPARISONS

Senin, 30 Agustus 2021

In 1971, Nissan made an electric ute with a 500km range…

Nissan’s world-record breaking utility trucks never got past the prototype stage.

Electric vehicles aren’t exactly a new phenomenon. And neither are electric-powered pick-up trucks.

Japanese car maker, Nissan, was experimenting with EV light commercial vehicles 50 years ago, producing two versions of what it dubbed the EV4 or Experimental Electric Vehicle.

The two prototypes were the result of a 1971 government-sponsored project for the development of electric vehicles in Japan. Major manufacturers worked alongside government agencies, including the Industrial Science and Technology Agency and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in a project that some estimates put at a then $20 million investment.

Nissan delivered two protypes for evaluation, the EV4-P and EV4-H.

The first, the decidedly futuristic looking EV4-P, was powered by a lead-acid battery system sending power to a DC motor, good for 27kW.

Thanks to its light-weight fibreglass reinforced plastic bodyshell, the EV4-P covered 302km on a single charge during an evaluation conducted by the Industrial Science and Technology Agency. It was, at the time, a new distance record for an electric vehicle on a single charge, even if it was set in control conditions with a. constant speed of 40km/h.

To hit the 40km/h mark took just 6.9 seconds, according to Nissan. The EV4-P’s top speed was rated at 87km/h.

Those performance figures aren’t exactly earth-shattering, but a 300km range from a single charge in 1971, certainly was.

And then there’s the EV4-P’s undeniably funky design. That curvaceous cab-forward design wouldn’t look out of place on something designed for the space exploration, hardly surprising since the Space Race was in full swing, its adventurous spirit an inspiration to designers everywhere, not just of cars and trucks, but almost every imaginable consumer product.

The EV4-P wasn’t small either, measuring in at 4.69 metres long with a wheelbase of 2.48 metres. Payload was rated at 1000kg, on a par with today’s dual-cab utes. Drum brakes were fitted all ’round while the suspension set-up consisted of torsion beam up front and leaf springs at the rear.

Nissan took the idea of an electric ute one step further with a follow-up protype, the EV4-H. Improvements to technology saw Nissan utilise what it dubbed a ‘hybrid’ system that offered greater range from the high-energy-density zinc-air and high-output-density lead-acid batteries.

Nissan described the ‘hybrid’ control system in the EV4-H in a 1973 brochure.

“This control system, when combined with an electric motor, provides remarkable efficiency: 78 per cent of battery energy is realized as motor output.

“The electronic components and safety circuits incorporated are the products of a joint development effort with Hitachi, Ltd., Shinkobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

“The zinc-air battery with an electrolyte circulating system is a high-density energy battery capable of generating 168V, 110Wh/kg and 400Ah (5 HR).

“A lead-acid battery capable of generating 120V, 50Wh/kg and 170Ah (5 HR) is employed when accelerating and decelerating.”

The EV4-H also featured a regenerative braking system while further refinements to the body and chassis resulted in an even lighter utility vehicle than the EV4-P.

The end result of Nissan’s research and development was a pick-up truck capable of a world record 496km of driving range on a single charge.

Further, the batteries in the EV4-H could be easily removed and serviced or replaced. The zinc-air battery lived on a sliding tray housed in the side of the body of the EV4-H while the lead-air battery had its own sliding tray, this one housed at the front of the load area.

Dimensionally, the EV4-H was similar in size to its predecessor, although Nissan had toned down the spacey design, in its place a more conventional looking truck.

Payload remained at 1000kg as did the drum brakes, but with the rears fitted with a “thyristor regenerative” system.

Top speed improved slightly to 90km/h but it was in acceleration the biggest performance gains were made, Nissan claiming a 0-40km/h sprint time of just 4.9 seconds, two seconds faster than its predecessor.

Nissan never intended either utility truck to reach production, instead using the government-sponsored project as a test bed for what could be achieved.

As per Nissan’s own words, “Although practical application of these prototypes will necessitate further R&D work and breakthroughs in technology, the excellent results achieved during the course of this project are certain to contribute a great deal to transportation systems of tomorrow.”

Fifty years later, and it appears “tomorrow” is almost upon us.

MORE: Everything Nissan
MORE: Everything Electric Vehicles

The post In 1971, Nissan made an electric ute with a 500km range… appeared first on Drive.

Volkswagen to phase out manual transmissions by 2030 – report

The three-pedal layout is on its last legs in Wolfsburg, with new reports pointing to the manual gearbox’s death in new Volkswagens by 2030.

The Volkswagen brand will phase out manual transmissions by the end of this decade, according to a new report from well-sourced German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

Citing company insiders, the outlet claim increasing costs, low customer demand, and the shift to electrification as the primary factors responsible for the move. Drive’s own sources suggest the timeline laid out in the article is accurate.

Volkswagen currently offers just two passenger models in Australia with a manual option: the Polo city hatchback and Golf small hatchback. The Amarok dual-cab ute, along with the brand’s commercial vans, can also be had with three pedals.

A spokesperson for the company locally told Drive: “We’re quite advanced on this front – here, manuals make up in the low single digits as a percentage of total sales.”

By 2030, Volkswagen claims electric cars will account for approximately 70 per cent of sales in Europe, and half of all sales in the USA and China. Few electric vehicles have more than one gear ratio, and manual transmissions are extraordinarily rare.

It is unclear if the wider 14-marque Volkswagen Group will be subject to the move. However, a spokesperson for Porsche has previously suggested the sports car brand would continue to offer a three-pedal layout in select models for as long as it was viable.

The post Volkswagen to phase out manual transmissions by 2030 – report appeared first on Drive.

Minggu, 29 Agustus 2021

Nissan to offer hybrid tech in Australia from next year

Nissan plans to add petrol-electric hybrid technology – dubbed E-Power – to key models from 2022.

Nissan is set to introduce the first in a new wave of hybrid models in Australia next year, with confirmation its E-Power series-hybrid system will be available for local buyers in select models from 2022.

The powertrain drives the wheels exclusively through an electric motor. However, a three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine keeps the lithium-ion battery pack perpetually topped up, combining the instant torque and response of an electric vehicle without range anxiety concerns, according to the manufacturer.

While yet to be officially confirmed, it’s expected the technology will debut locally in the upcoming 2022 Nissan Qashqai small SUV, confirmed for a local launch in early 2022 – though it’s not clear whether the hybrid will be available at launch.

The tech could also make its way into the larger X-Trail set to enter a new generation locally within 2022.

“We call E-Power a best-of-both-worlds solution, offering a driver the key benefits of an electric vehicle drive experience without ever having to plug in,” managing director of Nissan Australia, Adam Paterson, said.

“While a traditional hybrid adds battery power to an internal-combustion engine, E-Power delivers an electric vehicle-like driving experience, including exhilarating acceleration and near-silent operation, all while drastically reducing your fuel use and emissions.”

The E-Power hybrid system first appeared in the Japan-only 2016 Nissan Note hatchback. The Nissan Kicks SUV and Serena minivan are also now available with the technology, though all three vehicles aren’t bound for Australia.

The post Nissan to offer hybrid tech in Australia from next year appeared first on Drive.

Road rage video divides viewers, police deem both drivers at fault

A dash cam video showing a Ford Falcon skid out of control after overtaking a car on the freeway north of Sydney, has divided viewers over who was at fault. Police say both drivers deserve tickets.

A road rage video shared across social media – that shows a Ford Falcon skid out of control and crash after overtaking a car that was hogging the overtaking lane – has divided viewers over who was at fault.

However, police who have seen the video – filmed on the M1 freeway north of Sydney and uploaded by Dash Cam Owners Australia – say both drivers deserve tickets.

The footage shows vehicles travelling southbound on the freeway just north of the Hawkesbury River bridge at Brooklyn.

Traffic is light and the vehicle fitted with the dash cam is travelling in the far right, overtaking lane.

About 20 seconds after overtaking a car in the middle lane – during which time police say the driver of the dash cam vehicle had ample time to move out of the passing lane – the red Ford Falcon drives alongside the dash cam car, to pass the right-lane hog.

However, the car fitted with the dash cam can be heard accelerating sharply, in an apparent attempt to block the red Ford Falcon from coming into the passing lane. Unlike the UK, in most Australian jurisdictions it is not illegal to pass slower traffic from the middle lane.

Drive contacted a number of highway patrol officers from NSW Police, and all were scathing of the behaviour depicted in the video.

Police canvassed by Drive said both drivers deserved to receive tickets.

The driver of the red Ford Falcon ought to be issued with a $464 ticket and three demerit points for “negligent driving,” police officers told Drive.

The driver of the vehicle equipped with the dash cam – who can be heard after the crash swearing at the Ford Falcon driver after the crash – ought to be issued with a $464 ticket and three demerit points for “negligent driving” for speeding up, and another $349 ticket and two demerit points for “not keeping left unless overtaking.”

The video highlights the frustration of drivers who don’t keep left when traffic is light, as appeared to be the case in this clip. It also shows that right-lane hogs can cause other drivers to take dangerous and unnecessary risks.

“In essence, they’re both at fault and this crash was completely avoidable,” said a high-ranking NSW Police highway patrol officer contacted by Drive.

“Both drivers should reflect on their actions and realise the risk they put themselves and other motorists in that day.”

It is unclear whether police will make further enquiries into the incident or take formal action against either driver.

However, Taskforce Puma has been established by NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol to follow-up driving offences caught on camera by members of the public, and also to target repeat driving offenders who continue to drive despite lengthy suspension periods being ordered by the courts.

Watch the full video here, and let us know in the comments below whether you believe both drivers contributed to this crash.

The post Road rage video divides viewers, police deem both drivers at fault appeared first on Drive.

Toyota suspends self-driving shuttle bus program after vehicle hits pedestrian

A Paralympian was left battered and bruised last week, after Toyota’s ‘e-Palette’ autonomous transporter failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing.

Japanese manufacturer Toyota has temporarily suspended its self-driving shuttle bus program, after one of its vehicles hit an athlete at the Paralympic games in Tokyo last Thursday.

The ‘e-Palette’ autonomous transporter allegedly struck vision-impaired Judo competitor Aramitsu Kitazono within the confines of the Paralympic village, having failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing.

Kitazono was badly “cut and bruised” by the incident, and has been forced to drop out of the international sporting event. However, his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

A spokesperson for Toyota said: “We would like to express our sincerest apologies to the individual that was injured due to this unfortunate collision and we wish them a speedy recovery … We would also like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to those who use our mobility vehicles in the Athletes’ Village.

“All operations of the e-Palette are currently suspended. We are fully cooperating with the police investigation into the incident in order to determine the cause of this accident. In addition, we will conduct our own thorough investigation.”

The shuttle bus – developed by the brand’s autonomous research division Woven Planet Holdings – was heavily showcased alongside other Toyota concepts at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as part of a multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal with the Japanese government and IOC.

Earlier this year Toyota bought US ride-sharing company Lyft’s extensive autonomous program, and promised its own e-Palette bus would be rolled out for commercial operations “within the next few years.”

The post Toyota suspends self-driving shuttle bus program after vehicle hits pedestrian appeared first on Drive.

Ford Falcon GTHO Phase IV sets new price record for an Australian-made road car

One of Australia’s rarest cars – a 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV – has reportedly sold for $1.75 million, overtaking the previous record of $1.15 million paid for a pristine 1971 Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III earlier this year.

One of the most significant cars in Australian motoring history – a 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV, one of just four built – has reportedly sold for $1.75 million, setting a new sale price record for a locally-made road car.

While the price has not been made public because the sale was handled privately by specialist car brokers Australian Muscle Car Sales – rather than by auction – the vehicle is believed to have changed hands for $1.75 million, according to people who know the anonymous Sydney buyer.

Australian Muscle Car Sales declined to nominate an exact sale price, but in a statement said the vehicle sold for “just under $2 million” which is “believed this to be the highest … price ever paid for an Australian-made road car.”

The previous record price paid for an Australian-made road car was $1.15 million – for a pristine 1971 Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III bought at auction by an art collector in February 2021.

In 2018, the same bright red 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV that has just sold, went under the hammer in a Lloyds auction for $2 million – with video showing racing legend Allan Moffat smacking down the hammer.

However despite Lloyds auction declaring the car was sold, the deal didn’t go through and the vehicle stayed in the owner’s hands.

Australian Muscle Car Sales had been doing some routine maintenance on the 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV at their facility in Sydney, when they were approached by an avid car collector to see if he could buy the sought-after vehicle.

The firm approached the owner of the 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV, Paul Carthew, who has had the vehicle for 20 years, discreetly reaching a deal to sell the car in the past couple of months – though the news was only made public over the weekend via social media.

Australian Muscle Car Sales director Mr Chris Tzortzis, who was instrumental in brokering the deal, said in a media statement: “We have known of this car for many years, and with only 4698 miles from new, have always understood its unmatched provenance and significance as one of the best and most desirable Australian muscle cars in existence.”

The 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV is legendary because only three race cars and one road car were built before the program was killed off by a “supercar scare” headline in the Sunday Sun-Herald in Sydney in June 1972.

The front page news story quoted government officials who queried the sense of Australia building the world’s fastest sedans at a price young drivers could afford – at a time when road deaths were on the rise.

Motor racing regulations in that era stipulated the vehicles on the track had to be representative of cars in showrooms.

This led to a series of high-powered, super-fast special editions being sold in showrooms, to deliver Ford and Holden an advantage on race tracks.

But the plug was pulled on the 1972 Falcon GTHO Phase IV program after Ford quickly bowed to government pressure and newspaper headlines.

The successor to the all-conquering 1971 Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III, the 1972 version of the road-going racing Falcon sedan was built in secret by Ford in June 1972 for the upcoming Bathurst race in October of that year.

But once such vehicles were dubbed “bullets on wheels” by newspapers amid a rising road toll, all three Australian car manufacturers with motor racing programs – Ford, Holden and Valiant Chrysler – abandoned their plans amid the perceived public pressure.

“It was a shattering moment for all three manufacturers,” said Tzortzis. “If they put their next Bathurst supercars on the road, they could expect to be shouted down as irresponsible, a danger to society, and see no more sales of any cars to the Australian Government.”

“So the … special hand-built 1972 Ford XA Falcon GTHO Phase IV prototype sedans were never given a chance to strut their stuff on a race track in anger,” said Tzortzis.

He said the cars were in “various stages of completion when the pin was suddenly pulled on their development.”

Australian Muscle Car Sales says this red example is “the only unrestored Phase IV remaining, and is an incredible time-warp example of originality from the era (with) original paint, original interior, it even wears its original factory tyres on original Bathurst Globe wheels.”

While some of the photos show the car with racing ‘stickers’ – and some without – the logos are in fact magnetic signs, so they can be easily displayed or removed.