Automotive

Chevy’s 2.7L Turbo Silverado: Does It Pass Muster?

Chevy’s 2.7L Turbo Silverado: Does It Pass Muster? Chevy’s turbo Silverado will hit the market before the end of the year.
The new 2.7L Turbo, according to Chevy, tops comparable Ram and Ford engines.
How will the new turbo hold up in a product line long dominated by 5.3 and 6.2 V8 engines?
While the 6.2 V8 is the biggest and baddest rooster in the Silverado barnyard, Chevy is showcasing a new spring chicken for their 2019 1500 lineup. It’s hard to imagine General Motors – with the mighty 6.2 and evergreen 5.3 – going smaller. And turbo. But alas, as Garfield once observed, the times are always changing.
Meet the new 2.7L Turbo four-cylinder for the 2019 Chevy Silverado.
By The Numbers
When the 2019 Silverado debuted, new engine technologies, advanced manufacturing, and “mixed material strategies” were the core of the discussion. Earlier this year, we received further insight into how the new Silverado came together, after sitting down with Scott Damman, Lead Development Engineer for the 2019 Silverado.
“The engineering team was actually tasked with going and looking at every single part for weight savings,” he explained. “To do that we actually went to our suppliers and our supply base to begin pulling on new technology, which included new processes for building things.”
A 2019 Chevy Silverado with the 2.7L Turbo is 380 lbs. lighter than a current model with the 4.3L V6. As a bonus, the turbo Silverado is still lighter, despite increased interior and cargo space. Standard on LT and RST, the new turbo offers a 14 percent torque increase and a 13 percent bump in city fuel economy versus the 4.3 V6. It’s also a full second quicker when sprinting to 60 mph (6.8 seconds).
EPA fuel economy ratings come in at 20/23 city/highway for rear-wheel drive models. Max towing is 7,200 lbs. with a 2,280 lbs. max payload when properly equipped.
“With up to 23 mpg on the highway, the truck is efficient while still offering plenty of capability to tackle weekend projects and trips to the lake,” said Tim Asoklis, Silverado Chief Engineer.
Chevy’s 2.7L Turbo endured 475,000 validation tests and a million miles of real-world testing. Photo: Chevrolet.
While the 6.2 V8 is the biggest and baddest rooster in the Silverado barnyard, Chevy is showcasing a new spring chicken for their 2019 1500 lineup.Click To TweetBarnyard Brawl
On the nitty-gritty end, Chevy is swinging heat at their fellow Detroit rivals. The bowtie brand says the turbo Silverado delivers 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft. of torque, topping Ford’s 3.3L V6 and Ram’s 3.6L V6 mild hybrid by 31 and 29 percent respectively. With the 2.7L Turbo, peak torque runs between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm; the engine reaches said peak quicker than the aforementioned Ram and Ford mills, according to Chevy.
Chevy’s 2.7L Turbo should not be confused with Ford’s 2.7L EcoBoost, which is a V6. Same displacement yes, but different class. That engine generates 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. of torque by comparison. Ford’s 3.3 V6, which is naturally-aspirated, creates 290 horsepower and 265 lb-ft. of torque.
Still, with Chevy having such an extensive history with the 5.3 and 6.2, how will – or how can – the 2.7L Turbo Silverado find its place? Granted, Ford’s EcoBoost engines are in a different class, but does GM now look like Johnny Come Lately? Is turbocharging half-ton trucks best left to Ford, considering the EcoBoost F-150 launched in 2011?
Hard to say.
Given the extensive number of options and price ranges, it may ultimately boil down to personal preference. One thing for certain though, trucks today are pulling their weight. And not just in payload but in efficiency. As manufacturers stack their truck lines with more advanced powertrains and lighter materials, the long-term benefits are likely more than we realize, according to this recent Detroit Free Press report.

Chevy’s 2.7L Turbo is paired with an eight-speed automatic. Photo: Chevrolet.
With Chevy having such an extensive history with the 5.3 and 6.2, how can the 2.7L Turbo Silverado find its place?Click To TweetPhysical Chemistry
The 2.7L Turbo’s genetic makeup includes a dual overhead cam valvetrain system. This enables high- and low-lift valve profiles, continuously variable valve timing, and Active Fuel Management – or cylinder deactivation. The combination helps strike an optimum balance between performance and efficiency.
The 2.7L Turbo is also Chevy’s first application of Active Thermal Management, which uses heating and cooling advantageously across the entire powertrain system.
Translation: this helps with fuel economy, recovering otherwise wasted exhaust heat so the engine and transmission warm up quicker. Finally a dual-volute turbocharger housing improves response and cuts lag.
“The new Silverado 2.7L Turbo delivers impressive performance and fuel efficiency,” Asoklis added. “It’s fun to drive every day – quick from the start, and pulling hard under acceleration.”
When the 2019 Silverado debuted, new engine technologies, advanced manufacturing, and mixed material strategies were the core of the discussion.Click To TweetAvailability
The 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 features eight trims and six engine/transmission combinations including the new turbo. Expect the 2.7L Turbo at dealers before the end of the year.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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Scare Everyone With This Free Nissan Leaf Pumpkin Carving

Scare Everyone With This Free Nissan Leaf Pumpkin Carving Nothing more terrifying than poor gas mileage . . .
It’s Halloween! A time of sweet treats, costume parties, and repeated spins of Jim Stafford’s Spiders and Snakes and Warren Zevon’s Werewolves of London on local radio. The trick-or-treaters will soon dress up and seek out their respective trove of candy treasures. Some of those trick-or-treaters will even be kids.
College students in Detroit. You know who you are.
Scream For Green
Revving up a big muscle car to rattle the bolts of lesser machinery certinately has its allure. However, equally as terrifying is the bill to keep such a muscle car: fuel, tires, washes, fuel, accessories, performance parts, fuel, insurance, tires, fuel, tires, storage, and the list goes on. Did we mention insurance?
Instead of painting black marks onto the pavement, might we suggest a little more green for Halloween? Like Nissan Leaf green. Instead of doing the same old Jack-o-Lantern patterns – dark castle, scary kitty, freaky spider, flying bats, funky trolls etc. – why not transform this year’s gourd into a green machine?
NissanPartsPlus.com and StoneyKins have created a free, first-generation Nissan Leaf pumpkin carving pattern.
“Sure, you might be able to scare some kids with carving big, jagged teeth or whatever, but what if you make this sensible electric vehicle look really cool to a 10 year-old,” said Steve Ferreira, Director at NissanPartsPlus.com. “This Halloween decoration holds up to tradition while giving a nod to the future.”
The Nissan Leaf. Leafs? Leaves? Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Battery Packs & Raisin Boxes
The 2019 Nissan Leaf has an estimated 150 miles of range with its lithium-ion battery pack. Total output stands at 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque, an increase of 37 and 26 percent respectively. Among the top features: ProPILOT Assist, which includes safety tech like automatic braking, and the e-Pedal system to bolster more efficient driving.
According to Nissan, the individual structures of the laminated lithium-ion battery cells have improved, representing a 67 percent increase in energy density versus the original 2010 model. Incidentally, the new Leaf was named “2018 World Green Car” by the World Car Awards in March.
“Beyond this being a cool decoration, it is a way to celebrate your environmental side,” Ferreira said. “I’d like to encourage everyone’s love of nature, but please don’t be the house that gives away raisins.”
Well said. And the part about the environment was good too.
Where To Find The Leaf Pattern
You can grab the free Nissan Leaf carving pattern here.
And if you just can’t shake that performance car vibe, here are two others for you. Both free. Happy Halloween!
2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE pattern.
2018 Subaru WRX STI pattern.

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Famed Automotive Artist Draws Beautiful Acura NSX Cutaway

Famed Automotive Artist Draws Beautiful Acura NSX Cutaway Acura is showcasing a new cutaway sketch of the NSX, hand-drawn by famed automotive illustrator Shin Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa’s cutaways represent, in fine detail, the powertrain, chassis, and mechanical components of a given automobile. This Acura NSX cutaway sketch took months of perpetration and research, but it was drawn mostly from notes and memory.
Which, given the depth of the NSX, is incredible!
Details Are Everything
For reasons like this, Yoshikawa is among the greatest living automotive artists. However, creating this Acura NSX cutaway sketch was hardly a walk in the park.
“The NSX’s innovative power unit was extremely challenging to draw, making the second-generation NSX the most difficult vehicle I have sketched,” Yoshikawa explained.
The 2019 Acura NSX produces a total system output of 500 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque. The 24 valve, twin-turbo V6 features forged steel connecting rods, a dry sump system, and cast aluminum pistons with integrated cooling channels. Acura measures the turbo boost at 15.23 psi. With a compression ratio of 10.0:1, the NSX cranks out more than 140 horsepower per liter of engine displacement.
“Everything comes down to the details,” Yoshikawa continued. “If you don’t understand the technology that goes into building vehicles, you won’t be able to build them, and you certainly can’t draw them.”
2019 Acura NSX. Photo: Acura.
New & Improved
The 2019 Acura NSX made its global debut during Monterey Car Week. Updates include a new body-color front grille garnish and high gloss treatment for the front and rear fascia mesh. A Thermal Orange Pearl paint, an Indigo blue leather interior, and two new brake caliper colors complete the styling treatments.
Performance enhancements include stiffer stabilizer bars and new software tuning. Acura says the NSX now has a time nearly two seconds faster around the Suzuka Circuit.
Below is a clip of Yoshikawa on Jay Leno’s Garage, along with a full-scale image of his NSX sketch. Yoshikawa has been an automotive artist for the last 50 years.

Acura NSX cutaway sketch by Shin Yoshikawa.
Source: Acura.

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Hyundai & Aurora Eye 2021 For Bringing Level 4 Automation To Market

Hyundai & Aurora Eye 2021 For Bringing Level 4 Automation To Market
Hyundai Motor Company has announced a strategic partnership with Aurora to bring self-driving vehicles to the market by 2021. Hyundai says the partnership with Aurora is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to make fully autonomous driving a reality. Hyundai was granted a licence in Nevada in 2015 to test automated vehicles on the state’s public roads. Last year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hyundai publicly demonstrated their autonomous technology.
Level 4 Leadership
Hyundai will incorporate Aurora’s automated and machine learning innovations into specially-developed models for test programs in pilot cities. At the onset, the partnership will concentrate on hardware and software development as they move toward the technological requirements needed for Level 4 automation. Level 4 automation, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, means a vehicle can operate without human input under certain conditions. Hyundai and Aurora note the end goal is to successfully and safely commercialize autonomous cars globally
“We know the future of transportation is autonomous, and autonomous driving technology needs to be proven in the real-world to accelerate deployment in a safe and scalable manner,” said Dr. Woong Chul Yang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor. “Combining our advanced vehicle technology that embeds the latest safety features with Aurora’s leading suite of Level 4 autonomous technology will advance this revolution in mobility with Hyundai in a leadership position.”
Global Vision
Hyundai and Aurora underscored their common vision for improving safety and mobility, believing together they have the skills and experience necessary to accomplish this end. In general, autonomous driving proponents say increased safety is one of the key benefits, pointing to studies by the National Safety Council that found 2016 was the deadliest year on U.S. roads since 2007. There were 40,000 vehicle deaths in 2016 marking a six percent increase from 2015. Although safety remains the biggest concern, recent studies show the public is warming up to the idea of a car that drives itself.
“Aurora is excited to partner with Hyundai Motor to make the social benefits of self-driving available globally,” said Dr. Chris Urmson, Chief Executive Officer, Aurora. “This partnership combines Hyundai’s strengths in vehicle design, safety, and manufacturing with Aurora’s expertise in self-driving technologies to make a positive difference in the world.”
Photo: Hyundai Motor Company.
In Person
Hyundai’s newest fuel-cell vehicle will make its global debut at CES next week, and will be the first to undergo the aforementioned testing process later this year. Hyundai says the vehicle is the ideal platform for the autonomous technologies which require a substantial amount of energy. The hydrogen-powered Hyundai can provide stable electric power for data communication and sensor operation without infringing on driving range.
CES runs January 9th through the 12th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor Company.

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2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE Review

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE Review
Urban dwellers looking for a sporty compact hatch have a number of options, but none are as quick and agile as the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s a commuter for those who like to have fun on the drive to and from work. We think it fills a need for performance enthusiasts who don’t want to spend $40,000 to $50,000 on a high performance model. For around $30,000 you get a hot hatch that’s high on the fun-to-drive meter.
What’s New For 2018
The Golf GTI remains unchanged for 2018 except for the packaging and available equipment for each model. It does get new LED tail lamps and a different infotainment system is available.
Features & Options
The 2018 Golf GTI ($31,165 as tested) comes standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-reclining front seats, leatherette upholstery, 17-inch alloy wheels, a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ambient cabin lighting. Our GTI SE tester had LED headlights, an eight-inch infotainment screen, blind spot monitor, and automatic emergency braking.

Interior Highlights
The Golf GTI SE interior is simple and well laid out. The controls are easy to use and the touchscreen nicely controls the navigation and Fender premium audio system. The cabin is high quality and there’s enough soft touch materials throughout to make it comfortable. We would describe it as distinctly European, comfortable, and the SE trim is especially sporty.
The seats provide ample support and comfort for longer trips in the hatchback. There’s a handy bin ahead of the shifter, perfect for a cell phone. The power-reclining front seats offer up the perfect driving position for a compact hatch. The rear seats offer plenty of room for average-sized adults and are also comfy for longer trips. There’s ample head and shoulder room too, thanks to the higher hatch roof. There’s also a convenient folding rear armrest/cupholder with a pass-through to the back. Behind the rear seats, it comes with 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, easily accessible through the rear hatch. With the seats folded flat, it offers up a class-leading 52.7 cubic feet of space.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The front-wheel drive 2018 VW Golf GTI SE is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated to the optional dual-clutch direct shift automatic gearbox (DSG). EPA fuel economy estimates are 24/32 city/highway and 27 combined with the automatic gearbox.
Driving Dynamics
Our tester came with the dual-clutch DSG automatic and it made us forget about wanting the 6-speed manual rower. The DSG comes with steering wheel shifters for crisper gear changes simply by touching the paddles. VW’s DSG is sweet and one of the best automatics on the planet. They call it an automatic, but mechanically and internally, it works like a manual gearbox; in a practical sense, it’s a super-sharp automatic.
The GTI trim is fun to drive in the city and we could easily get around slower traffic. We chucked it around the tight corners on our commute from the mountains west of Denver where the GTI feels right at home. The GTI’s steering was responsive and the upgraded brakes made it far more capable and enjoyable in the curves. We pushed the GTI hard and it accelerates quickly when the turbo spools up to utilize every bit of the available 220 horsepower. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine makes this hatch one of the quickest compacts in its class.
Conclusion
The 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a fun hatch that’s also practical with plenty of utility. It absolutely dials up driver engagement, and we like the DSG automatic better than the 6-speed manual. There’s a lot to like and we would recommend it for those wanting a sporty commuter and a fun drive to and from work. Overall, the Volkswagen Golf GTI lives up to its hot hatch heritage and instills plenty of driver confidence.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Gallery

Volkswagen Golf GTI Official Site.
Photos: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

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Volvo Expanding On Demand Fuel & Wash Services In Seattle

Volvo Expanding On Demand Fuel & Wash Services In Seattle Volvo’s semi-goofy idea of turning your car into a smartphone loaded with handy apps is moving into the Seattle, Washington area to test things out. This makes sense, not just because there’s a lot of tech-savvy people in Seattle, but another, much more indigenous reason: Scandinavians. Scandinavians are the number one ethnic group in the Pacific Northwest. In Seattle proper, there are so many ‘Sons, ‘Ssons, ‘Sens, and the occasional ‘Dottirs running around it can feel like you’re living in Tromsø in northern Norway.
Besides all the blonde hair and blue eyes, the other way you can see that Scandinavians are the number one ethnic group is cars. You see hundreds of Volvos and Saabs running around. So whether Volvo knows it or not, the Pacific Northwest is a perfect testing ground for any of their products.
Digital Ecosystem
After a successful run in San Francisco, Seattle developed into the second city in Volvo’s growing “digital ecosystem” program. This allows owners of 2015-and-a-half and newer Volvos to do things like order fuel and get their car washed wherever it’s parked in Seattle.
“First San Francisco, now Seattle, and soon many more Volvo owners will have access to concierge services via an app,” noted Anders Gustafsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Car USA. “This is another example of how we are using connected car technologies to make life less complicated for our customers.”
This digital ecosystem, which Volvo says is expanding (they aim to make the thing some sort of near-worldwide standard eventually) connects car owners with services via a smartphone app. That app, coupled with exclusive connected car platforms and strategic partnerships with companies like Filld and STRATIM, means filling the tank or having the car cleaned is just a tap away on your smartphone. As you would expect, you can call up these services at any time, day or night, say while owners are working, sleeping, or even traveling abroad.
Photo: Volvo Car USA.
Time Specific Features
Volvo says they are the only automaker with an ecosystem of these connected technologies. Yes, I agree “ecosystem” is a very pretentious term, but the idea of connecting a car with cloud storage, your cell phone, and integrating third party companies into one unified system is technically sweet. And Volvo isn’t messing around with this whole idea, oh no. They didn’t just kluge something together in a back room in a Kongsberg factory. No, Volvo went and dialed all this up at their Mountain View digital center in Silicon Valley. There they were able to accelerate development through recent technology acquisitions and take advantage of recent investments at the facility. This will prepare Volvo as they add new services as customer demands grow and change.
The other implication here is that when connected through your mobile device, Volvo’s digital ecosystem provides a time-specific location of your car. That means Volvo’s authorized partners can provide the requested services without interacting you directly.

Practical Application
I could see where this might come in very handy. You go into the office, call up the app, tap-tap-tap, and while you’re in that endless Friday meeting with the budget gargoyles from the 12th floor, your Volvo is getting all nice and shiny and clean for the weekend.
“The ecosystem that powers Volvo Concierge Services is unique to Volvo. It shows how the company is redefining the consumer experience around convenience by leveraging technological building blocks from the car to mobile,” explained Atif Rafiq, Chief Digital Officer, Volvo Cars. “We are at an exciting time when cars can be better integrated into daily life.”
In other words, yesterday San Francisco, today Seattle, tomorrow The World.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Photos & Source: Volvo Car USA.

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Polestar Spaces Are NOT Traditional Dealerships, Company Says

Polestar Spaces Are NOT Traditional Dealerships, Company Says Polestar, a new electric performance band from Volvo Car Group, is establishing their retail network.
The company wants a look, feel, and experience different from traditional car dealerships.
The first “Polestar Space” will open next year in downtown Oslo, Norway on Øvre Slottsgate.
Polestar Spaces
Don’t call them dealerships, don’t even think of them as such. “Polestar Spaces” are anything but traditional dealerships, according to the automaker. The new electric performance brand, fresh off the North American reveal of the Polestar 1, will begin establishing its retail network.
“Polestar will be a fully digital brand, but a Polestar Space is where customers will be able to come into direct contact with us,” explained Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer, Polestar. “In a Polestar Space, they’ll meet and interact with a Polestar brand and product expert, see the engineering under the skin as well as be able to take a test drive.”
The first Polestar Space will open in the middle of 2019 in Oslo, Norway, a key market according to the automaker.
“As Norway is one of the world’s most important electric vehicle markets, it is logical to begin the Polestar Space story in Oslo,” Ingenlath said.
Museum Exhibits & Multiple Channels
Polestar wants a minimalist approach, with a showroom space that closely mirrors the design and philosophy behind Polestar cars. The locations will have a museum-like feel. Wheels and carbon-fibre sections will stand like exhibits, complimented by material finishes, paint colors, and leather samples.
“A visit to a Polestar Space will be a very different experience to today’s typical car dealership,” Ingenlath said. “We aim to surprise and delight our customers, removing the hassle that comes with traditional car ownership.”
Representatives and employees will also embody the company’s retail philosophy.
“As the customer will order the car online, they won’t experience hard-sell, commission-based salespeople in a Polestar Space. Our customers will never feel pressure to sign a contract,” Ingenlath continued. “Polestar is a multi-channel brand which is why it must be supported by a unique retail experience.”
Polestar Spaces will feature elements of the company’s design language and philosophy, according to the automaker. Photo: Polestar.
Forward Looking
Polestar opens their portfolio with the Polestar 1, a 600 horsepower, low-volume performance hybrid. The aptly named and higher-volume Polestar 2 and 3 will follow as full battery-electric vehicles.
“By the middle of 2020, we aim to have opened up to 60 Spaces around the world to support the key launch markets for the brand,” Ingenlath said. “As we progress, we will open Spaces in more locations to support our retail development, making the brand more accessible with the opening of each new Space.”
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Polestar.

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Texting & Eating: New Documentary Examines How Badly We Drive

Texting & Eating: New Documentary Examines How Badly We Drive 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel Overview
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel is a new documentary and podcast series.
The film shows how frequently distracted driving occurs by following eight different individuals.
Boyd Productions and Connecticut Public Television gathered hundreds of hours of footage.
Leading minds showcase how new technology may help curb distracted driving.
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel is available now.
An interesting documentary landed on my desk recently titled 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel. Three seconds is the time it takes to travel a football field while driving. Coincidentally, that’s the amount of time it takes the average driver to do something like look at a text message, choose a song or, even worse, reply to a text message.
The movie states up front that it is not here to scare you, and in that they are right. This is not one of those horrid driver’s education films from 1964 with lots of rock-a-billy and misspent youths and screeching tires and regrets.
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel is 55 minutes of exploration of not only distracted driving, but also trends in smartphone usage, autonomous cars, and augmented driving. That’s a fairly nice way of saying, narrative-wise, 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel is rather meandering and has a hard time getting to any one point. And, most crucially, it seems to not fully understand the point it is ultimately hoping to make.
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel follows the lives of eight people, ages 18 to 65, over six months using in-car cameras and tracking technology to monitor their driving habits. Photo: Jonathan Olson.
Honest & Intimate
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel is divided into three critical chunks. The first is a look at a data analysis firm that conducted a study of rather delicious deviousness. They mounted a bunch of cameras inside the cockpits of various cars, and pared that footage with accelerometer data from the driver’s phones. And not just any drivers, but a lot of teenagers. Those that have driven with or recall what you drove like as a teenager will readily know it can be frightening.
But I’m not just talking about hot-rodding reprobates out looking for cheap thrills and jazz music, oh no. I’m talking about drivers of all ages that are constantly on their phones or are constantly distracted. Everyone in 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel spends a terrifying amount of time reading texts and responding to them, plus full-on jamming to tunes with both hands off the wheel for long stretches. We’re talking Neil Peart-level air drum solos!
And eating food while driving . . . even eating it off plates with plastic utensils!
“While many of these driver’s habits will shock you, this is a very honest and intimate look at human behavior,” said Executive Producer Jennifer Boyd of Boyd Productions.
Katie, a young mother and photographer, is one of the subjects in film 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel. Photo: Boyd Productions, CPTV.
The Things We Do Instead of Driving
All of this accompanied by some juicy rationalizations: “Oh! The reason I was eating that was because I got the food like that, on a plate, at a birthday party. Swedish meatballs.” I’m not sure what the mitigating factor is here: the fact that she got the entire plate of food at a birthday party or that it was Swedish meatballs.
Nevertheless, all of this in-car footage makes you wonder, “Do I really pick my nose that often?”
“You’re in kind of a private space that is typically reserved for just the driver, and now you get to observe a lot of these things that are going on – that we all do,” explained Eric Jackson, Director of the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center at the University of Connecticut. “But you don’t think about it until you start watching the videos and you’re like ‘I do that.'”
Global Concern
It’s not just in the United States either. A survey conducted by Carzoos found that 75 percent of Australians eat while driving and another 55 percent use a mobile device. The same study found that 25 percent of women, aged 25 to 34, apply makeup while driving.
“We don’t have a distraction epidemic; we really have an attention epidemic,” said Bryan Reimer, Research Scientist, MIT. “I think that we really need to begin asking the question: What is distraction? Could it be that the act of driving has become the distraction from the communication and infotainment world that we all live in?”
The European Transport Safety Council reported last year on surveys conducted by Ipsos and Dekra. Ipsos found that 36 percent of drivers in the Czech Republic use their phone behind the wheel; Dekra found around 25 percent in Spain and Ireland did the same. And in a bizarre yet tragic case two years ago in Japan, the Pokémon Go game was a factor in a fatal accident.
“In today’s electronic digital age, it seems impossible for some people to resist answering phone calls or responding to text messages or Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook posts even while behind the wheel,” said Special First Lieutenant and Traffic Safety Specialist Jim Flegel of the Michigan State Police. “When a person drives distracted one time and nothing bad happens, they think they can do it all the time with the same results. This is not true! It only takes being distracted for a brief moment before a tragedy can occur.”
In the film we meet Aubrey who often checks social while driving. Photo: Boyd Productions, CPTV.
Just Google It
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel then drifts towards talking about automated driving. There’s no real clean break when they move from act one to act two, so it doesn’t work all that well. Still, the producers talk with people at Google working on better strategies for UIs (user interfaces) in the automotive world. Things like where the yes tap should be versus the no tap versus the go back tap on a smartphone screen.
Google has a very nice driving simulator rig with multiple screens and umpteen ways of tracking the driver being tested; facial expressions, eye movement, eye gaze, how long your eyes linger on a given point, body language, head motion, and speed – just thousands of data points to draw from. Curiously, the Google folks make no mention of voice recognition or voice control.
The producers give some passing time to talking about Tesla’s Autopilot, although they (like Tesla) point out how it’s not a real “set it and forget it” autopilot.
Possible Solutions
Ultimately, 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel tries to show what industry experts and entrepreneurs are doing to improve road safety. Recent data from the National Safety Council suggests roadway deaths this year may climb as high as 40,000.
It is at this point the film gets to what I’m guessing is the whole point: augmented driving. This segment has the most narrative and methodological oomph behind it, but the producers never really come out and state it. As a matter of fact, the film never uses the term “augmented driving” but that’s what it is. They talk with a National Transportation Safety Board accident investigator about autonomous versus augmented systems.
We also meet a Swedish automotive engineer from Autoliv who backs up what the NTSB guy says.
In so many words: taking humans completely out of the loop is a bad idea.
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel examines new technologies that may offer solutions to rising crash statistics. Photo: Jonathan Olson.
Human Intervention
The logic presented in 3 Seconds Behind the Wheel goes something like this: we don’t want the machine doing everything, because machines are bad at thinking on their feet during random, chaotic events. What we want is the machine doing most of the thinking, and then, if things go all cock-eyed, the human intervenes and solves the problem.
Other experts share similar views, and even offer real-world situations where human involvement might be the better option.
“When a driver approaches a ball in the street, they can determine that perhaps a child is following. Of course you can tell a computer this simple script, but a human can determine many different types of balls that could be in the road,” said Saskia de Craen from the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research during AutoSens Brussels last year. “The point is that people are very good at adapting in situations like this and computers do make mistakes.”
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel examines how airline manufacturers have the ability to automate the entirety of a flight, but don’t. Human pilots control the take off and climbing to altitude. Once the plane is cruising eight miles high, then they switch on the automatic systems. Autoliv is working on something similar. The car can and does drive itself, but urges you to take the wheel when it feels you’re the better option.
Key Considerations
This film should present very few (if any) surprises to us grease-stained gearheads. We already know this. We already know we’re not driving a phone booth or a diner or a beauty parlor. When driving a car, we are doing so with the appropriate levels of care, dedication, and skill that our love for cars demands.
3 Seconds Behind the Wheel, in short, is not for us gearheads. It for those other lack-wits out there we are forced to share the road with. Let’s hope they’re watching this movie and paying attention.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz

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Inside Brembo’s Hybrid Material Braking System For The 2019 Corvette ZR1

Inside Brembo’s Hybrid Material Braking System For The 2019 Corvette ZR1 The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 arrives this spring as the most powerful Corvette in history. The LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8, complete with 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft. of torque, boasts an intercooled supercharger system with 52 percent more displacement than the Z06’s LT4 supercharger. The aerodynamic features, including two different rear wings, help the ZR1 achieve tremendous downforce and a top speed in excess of 210 mph.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 is lightning quick and getting it moving isn’t an issue, but what about controlling it? That’s where Brembo comes in with a uniquely designed “hybrid” braking system.
Special Treatments
Many of today’s performance and muscle cars are equipped with Brembo brakes: The Ford GT, Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Packs, Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE, Subaru WRX STI Type RA, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata all utilize a Brembo setup to amplify their individual performance attributes. And now the 2019 Corvette ZR1.
“Consumers have very high expectations for modern performance cars, not only for straight line speed, but for all driving attributes – including braking,” explained Dan Sandberg, Brembo North America President and Chief Executive Officer. “All of the work Chevrolet did to maximize the acceleration and cornering potential of the ZR1 would be useless if the car didn’t also have a brake system that could perform equally as well, lap after lap.”
Front six-piston monobloc calipers with carbon ceramic discs (394mm x 36mm), and rear four-piston monobloc calipers (390mm x 32mm) with two-piece, carbon ceramic discs comprise the ZR1’s Brembo system. The front and rear brake pads include new formulations from Brembo’s R&D Center for better stopping power and pad wear. The size of the fixed aluminum calipers hasn’t changed from the Corvette Z07, but the brake rotors and friction materials are enhanced to handle higher thermomechanical loads. This attribute is vitally important and separates the ZR1 from the rest of Brembo’s portfolio.
“While Brembo carbon discs are also found on other supercars, the ZR1 discs have a specialized heat treatment for improved energy and thermal management,” Sandberg said. “These specialized brake discs are paired with Brembo monoblock aluminum calipers and a unique Brembo-developed friction material found only on the ZR1.”
Photo: Chevrolet.
Hybrid Theory
The ultimate challenge was designing the ZR1’s braking system to handle both the track and the street. Each environment presents its own individual demands for a performance car. Brembo has long held the “from racing to the road” mantra, and Brembo’s engineers were again tasked with putting that belief into the ZR1’s braking components. The maxim stems from the idea that what is accomplished on the track can be transitioned to the street. In the case of the Corvette ZR1, it’s most wonderfully seen in the actual substance used to construct the brakes.
“Internally, our engineers like to call the new brake pad material our “hybrid” material, meaning it is a hybrid between traditional road materials and our racing friction materials,” Sandberg revealed. “While the pads on the Z07 are a great performer, these Brembo hybrid pads offer a higher level of friction output and can operate in a higher temperature range, giving the driver confidence in the brakes lap after lap.”
Photo: Chevrolet.
Dedication & Innovation
The beginnings of Brembo’s story are humble enough: Emilio Bombassei, father of the group’s current president, put together a small mechanical workshop near Bergamo, Italy in 1961. They conducted business with vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, but in 1975 were approached by Enzo Ferrari. He needed a braking solution for his Formula 1 racers. As the old adage goes, the rest is history. Yet, that “do-it-yourself” mindset is still prevalent at Brembo’s facilities today, just like it was in 1961 at Bombassei’s shop.
“The pads mentioned earlier are a good example of where Brembo’s desire to remain at the forefront of technology forced us to try something new,” Sandberg said. “When we started developing the ZR1, the global marketplace didn’t offer a friction material that matched our performance targets, so we set out to develop our own.”
Brembo operates in 15 countries on 3 continents, with 24 production and business sites, and about 9,000 employees, 10 percent of whom are engineers and product specialists active in R&D. As the automotive industry moves toward electrification and autonomy, the entire scope of how cars are designed, engineered, and manufactured will change. According to Sandberg, innovation will be the key in addressing those challenges successfully.
“Today’s cars are evolving dramatically from product cycle to product cycle, and customers want to see advancements in safety, performance, efficiency, and sustainability with each successive model,” he said. “We continue to look for technologies that will complement the car of the future, all while retaining the unique character and brand identity of Brembo.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Source: Brembo North America.
Cover Photo: Chevrolet.

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