Cadillac To Expand Super Cruise & Other Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications Systems

Cadillac To Expand Super Cruise & Other Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications Systems Cadillac is planning to make Super Cruise available on all models beginning in 2020, with other GM brands to follow after that time. Cadillac’s Super Cruise feature can automatically steer, brake, and keep the vehicle positioned on the highway in certain, optimal conditions. The automaker is also planning to offer V2X communications in a high-volume crossover by 2023, and eventually expand that technology across the product range.
Market Position
With the broader implementation of these technologies, GM believes they can better serve consumers in the future.
“The expansion of Super Cruise and V2X communications technology demonstrates Cadillac’s commitment to innovation, and to making customers’ lives better,” explained Mark Reuss, GM Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “GM is just as committed to ushering in a new era of personal transportation, and technologies like these will enable it.”
“Cadillac is proud to be the leader for the company’s innovation,” added Steve Carlisle, Cadillac President.
Photo: Cadillac.
Super Cruise Features
Super Cruise uses high precision LiDAR map and GPS data, an advanced driver attention system, and a network of camera and radar sensors. Cadillac says customers can drive hands-free on more than 130,000 miles of limited-access freeways in the United States and Canada, provided they have an active OnStar plan with emergency services.
“The driver attention system helps to keep drivers engaged and detects when drivers need to pay more attention to the road,” reads a statement from the automaker. “Even while using Super Cruise, drivers must always pay attention and not use a handheld device.”
Expanding Technology
Cadillac introduced vehicle-to-vehicle communications on the CTS sedan last year, which uses Dedicated Short-Range Communications technology. With a range of nearly 1,000 feet, drivers can be alerted to possible threats in time to avoid a collision. V2X compatible vehicles can decipher hazardous road conditions, traffic light statuses, and upcoming work zones among other things.
V2X technology can also be expanded to help protect roadway users including cyclists and pedestrians.
“Groundbreaking technologies like these continue to provide unparalleled comfort and convenience for our customers,” Carlisle said.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Cadillac.



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2019 Audi Q8: A Brief Walk Around

2019 Audi Q8: A Brief Walk Around The 2019 Audi Q8 recently made its debut at the Audi Brand Summit in Shenzhen, China. The automaker says the five-passenger SUV will offer advanced connectivity, infotainment and driver assistance systems, and solid on-road capability. The Q8 will serve as the flagship SUV for Audi, who delivered nearly two million vehicles globally last year.
Technology & Connectivity
The MMI operating system utilizes haptic and acoustic feedback that should be fairly easy to acclimate to. Similar to a smartphone, drivers will hear and feel a “click” when they activate a particular function. The MMI system can be personalized with configurable and movable “favorites” buttons.
A natural-language feature means drivers can speak various requests: “I’m hungry,” for example, will prompt the Q8 to search for and suggest nearby eateries.
Those commuting on a daily basis will appreciate the 2019 Audi Q8’s wireless phone charging and Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Styling & Design
The 2019 Audi Q8 represents a new direction for the automaker with regard to SUV design. Exterior highlights include the Singleframe, octagon grille, contoured air inlets, sloping roofline, and “gently inclined” D-pillars.
On the inside, Audi promises plenty of cargo and passenger room as the Q8 is wider and lower than the Q7.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Driving Dynamics
Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive technology (no surprise) will be a mainstay of the new Q8. With a mechanical center differential, the Q8 runs a normal power split of 40:60, but when necessary, can divert a substantial amount of power to the axle with the most traction.
An adaptive damping suspension is standard but an air suspension with different drive modes is available.
A range of engines is likely but Audi did not confirm anything specific in their press materials.
Pricing & Availability
Some reports say the 2019 Audi Q8 will be available in Europe toward the end of this year, with the United States market to follow early next year. Other reports say the vehicle will arrive in the U.S. as soon as this fall.
Audi did not officially disclose the release dates or pricing on the 2019 Audi Q8.
They did, however, provide us with this short and informative video on what inspired the new Q8’s design.
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.

2019 Audi Q8 Gallery











Photos, Video & Source: Audi of America, Inc.



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This LEGO McLaren 720S Is Just Plain Cool!

This LEGO McLaren 720S Is Just Plain Cool! A full-size LEGO McLaren 720S is now on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The 1:1 scale model was completed this past Saturday (June 2nd) when the final orange bricks were attached thanks to the help of museum volunteers.
The full-scale model will be displayed through August 19th as part of an interactive exhibit where attendees can customize their own LEGO McLaren via an iPad app. The customization app includes racing stripes, flames, checkered flags, license plates, and other backgrounds.
Attendees can also add their name and print a custom sticker of the car they designed.
Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Attention To Detail
McLaren Automotive worked with the only certified group of professional LEGO builders in the United Kingdom for the project. The group provided in-depth engineering and vehicle CAD data in order to bring the LEGO model to life. Complete with a steel frame, the LEGO McLaren 720S consists of more than 280,000 pieces, tipping the scales at 3,200 lbs.
By comparison, the road-going 720S’s dry weight is 2,828 lbs.
It took a team of six working for over 2,000 hours to complete the project by hand. Builders even included the new Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and corresponding graphics found on the road-going version.
In Person
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California, 90036. General admission prices are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and students, and $8 for children ages three to 12. Active military, personal care attendants, and children under three are admitted for free.
The Petersen’s Discovery Center will also host daily access to race ramps and build tables for museum attendees who want to build their own LEGO race cars.
The McLaren 720S has a starting MSRP of $284,745. The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren 720S miniature set will be available in the Petersen Store for slightly less than that.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: McLaren Automotive.



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New Study: Consumers Trust Autonomous Cars Less & Less

New Study: Consumers Trust Autonomous Cars Less & Less Autonomous vehicles seem like a science fiction topic more so than an automotive one, but industry experts are plugging away, refining the technology and determining its role in society. That is the abbreviated version anyway. Those working on autonomous cars are, essentially, trying to make them viable, scalable, and ultimately profitable.
Autonomous cars usher in a flood of headline commitments from manufacturers and companies. The benefits of driverless cars – far more than the risks – are communicated, and it seems almost too Utopian at times. This is not to say autonomous cars don’t have benefits – they certinately do – and this is not to say autonomous cars won’t one day hit the road – they certinately will.
Yet how quickly they will, and how quickly society will realize those benefits is another matter.
And how does the public feel about all this? The short answer is not so good.
Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
Survey Says
AAA recently concluded a multi-year tracking study that examined how consumers feel about driverless cars. The study found that, despite the industry’s headline commitments and grand visions, 73 percent of Americans say they are too afraid to ride in an autonomous car. This represents a steady increase too – only late last year, the figure was 63 percent. The jump is likely attributed to the recent, highly publicized accidents involving autonomous technology.
“Despite their potential to make our roads safer in the long run, consumers have high expectations for safety,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. “Our results show that any incident involving an autonomous vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust, which is a critical component to the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles.”
Over 60 percent say they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with an autonomous car, especially if they were walking or riding a bicycle. Even millennials, a generation one might think would readily embrace them, are cautious. AAA’s study found that 64 percent of millennials are too afraid to fully trust autonomous cars, up from 49 percent just a year ago. This metric represented the largest increase of any generation surveyed.
An autonomous Hyundai Ioniq detects a pedestrian. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Growing Trends & Increasing Concerns
AAA’s findings on safety being a primary concern for car buyers is supported by other studies. During AutoSens Detroit this year, experts attending the global summit on autonomous driving rigorously examined the challenges facing the technology. One of the themes was how to help the public trust the process of going from driving to being driven.
“While autonomous vehicles are being tested, there’s always a chance that they will fail or encounter a situation that challenges even the most advanced system,” explained Megan Foster, AAA’s Director of Federal Affairs. “To ease fears, there must be safeguards in place to protect vehicle occupants and the motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians with whom they share the road.”
“We have to manage expectations better, especially on the timing of when these vehicles will be part of our everyday lives,” added Cliff Banks, Founder and President of The Banks Report, an automotive retail publication. “We should be skeptical of the claims made by executives touting the technology.”
Ford conducting road tests with two autonomous Fusion cars. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Universal Language
With the release of the study, AAA is advocating for what they call a common sense approach to driverless cars. This includes a universal nomenclature and classification system, with clear definitions as to what the varying automated technologies are and how they work.
“There are sometimes dozens of different marketing names for today’s safety systems,” Brannon explained. “Learning how to operate a vehicle equipped with semi-autonomous technology is challenging enough without having to decipher the equipment list and corresponding level of autonomy.”
“I’m not sure anyone can properly define what an autonomous vehicle is yet,” Banks said. “Also, commercials from automakers such as Nissan and Cadillac touting their driver assist technology as hands-free creates confusion.”
Cadillac’s Super Cruise feature can automatically steer, brake, and keep the vehicle positioned on the highway in certain, optimal conditions. Photo: Cadillac.
Future Considerations
Previous testing of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology, and lane keeping assist have shown great promise, according to AAA officials. These systems are becoming more common on today’s cars and are a precursor to autonomous driving. Still, the organization says this recent study reaffirms the need for ongoing, unbiased testing of such technologies. This remains key in earning the public’s trust and acceptance.
“Once autonomous vehicles hit the mainstream and become a normal part of the landscape, public acceptance will be a non-issue,” Banks said. “I’m sure people felt unsafe the first time they got onto any kind of moving device, whether it be a horse, a wagon, or a train or an airplane.”
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.



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Inside The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid & Plug-in Hybrid

Inside The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid & Plug-in Hybrid Even in this day and age of commercially-available electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf, sales of hybrid vehicles rose steadily by 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. This represents a 12.4 percent rise in total sales with 368,137 hybrid vehicles sold last year.
It is interesting to point out traditional hybrids are the most popular among the three types of green cars including EVs or electric vehicles and PHEVs or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
This is the primary reason why Hyundai is hard at work in improving the safety, comfort, practicality, and driving enjoyment of the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. The Korean automaker is also updating the features of the 2019 Ioniq Electric to make it one of the most desirable EVs that money can buy.
Hybrids Just Want To Have Fun
From a performance perspective, the biggest caveat of hybrid vehicles is the lackluster and anesthetized driving experience. The standard CVT transmission in most hybrid cars is partly to blame, but Hyundai addressed this matter by bolting on a six-speed EcoShift DCT dual-clutch transmission in the 2019 Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.
The new transmission features low-viscosity oil and low-friction bearings to offer a mix of fuel economy and sporty responses. The driver can also select between two transmission modes: ECO and SPORT. The former will optimize the gear selection to deliver better fuel economy while the latter will hold lower gears longer to give you a sportier driving experience.
Want more control? SPORT mode will also ensure the gasoline engine remains ON while the electric motor will offer power assist when you need it most. Both the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models are also equipped with paddle-shifters if you feel the need to shift all six gears at your behest.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Power To The People
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and Ioniq Electric are all equipped with a compact and highly efficient battery and electric motor. All models come with a lithium-ion polymer battery that is 20 percent lighter than non-polymer variants with lower battery memory sensitivity, better charge and discharge efficiency, and a high maximum output for better responsiveness.
The batteries are located underneath the rear seats to offer an interior volume of 122.7 cubic feet, which is more than the Toyota Prius according to Hyundai. The new Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid and Ioniq Electric is still able to offer a generous interior volume of 119.2 cubic feet despite being equipped with a larger battery system than the Ioniq Hybrid.
The new Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a Kappa 1.6-liter, direct-injected four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle motor that cranks out 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft. of torque. The electric motor is rated at 44.5 kW which helps supplement an additional 60 horsepower of shove.
The electric motor on all Ioniq models is a permanent magnet synchronous unit that is smaller and lighter than conventional motors. It features a rectangular-section cooper wire to decrease the thickness of the core components by up to 10 percent.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Charge Me Up
All 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric models are now equipped with a Level-3 DC fast-charging system and SAE Combo Level-3 DC 100kW fast charger. This means you can juice up the lithium-ion polymer battery up to 80 percent in just 23 minutes. I bet your high-end smartphone can’t do that, huh??
For added convenience, the charging system also comes with an integrated In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) that allows you to use a standard household socket.
Hyundai is also working closely with ChargePoint to offer a wider vehicle charging network with more than 32,000 locations in the United States. Still in a rush? The charging network also includes more than 400 Express DC fast-charging sites so you can juice up your Ioniq in about the same time it takes for you to wolf down a succulent 72-ounce steak.
Safe In The Heat of The Moment
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq comes equipped with a bewildering array of active and passive safety features. The rigid and lightweight body is achieved by utilizing advanced high-strength steel to minimize cabin distortion in a collision.
Advanced safety features are numerous, and include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, and Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. New for 2019 is Driver Attention Alert and High Beam Assist.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Economy & Efficiency
The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid with a more powerful 44.5 kW electric motor has an all-electric range of 29 miles and 119 MPGe in EV mode. This vehicle can easily run 52 MPG in hybrid mode. The new Ioniq has a 0.24 coefficient of drag, among the best in a mass-produced vehicle.
The 2019 Ioniq Hybrid is equipped with a less powerful yet still potent 32 kW electric motor that produces an additional 43 horsepower and 125 lb-ft. of torque for a combined output of 139 horsepower and 58 MPG, which is the highest fuel economy rating of any non-plug-in vehicle sold in the USA, according to Hyundai.
If you happen to be considering an EV for your next vehicle, you should take a closer look at the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. It offers pure electric power courtesy of a 28.0kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and 88kW electric motor that produces 118 horsepower and 218 lb-ft. of torque. This EV has an estimated range of 136 MPGe.
No matter which Ioniq model you choose, it is safe to assume that fuel consumption is the least of your concerns.
Sea of Voices
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time driving your 2019 Hyundai Ioniq, the car comes equipped with a high-definition seven-inch TFT information cluster. The display changes to a revolving digital speedometer with an analog-type tachometer if you engage SPORT mode.
Further enhancing driver and passenger convenience is “natural-language server-based voice-recognition technology.” This package comes standard on all 2019 Ioniqs equipped with a navigation system. Also available is Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Blue Link, and wireless charging for Qi-compatible devices.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
New Look
The Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid features a hexagonal grille, vertical C-shaped LED daytime running lamps, low-beam LED headlamps, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Ioniq Hybrid can be distinguished with standard Bi-Xenon HID headlamps and C-shaped LED positioning lamps and two-tone 15-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels.
Finally, the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric has a sleeker grille design, HID Xenon headlamps, LED tail lamps, and 16-inch Eco-spoke wheels.
All 2019 Ioniq models will be available this summer.
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine. 
Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor America.



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Porsche Introduces Augmented Reality Glasses for Vehicle Servicing & Repair

Porsche Introduces Augmented Reality Glasses for Vehicle Servicing & Repair Virtual reality is the biggest thing in the gaming industry. But it seems Porsche has a unique and more practical solution that utilizes augmented reality to fix your car. Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) will start rolling out Tech Live Look to all 189 Porsche dealerships in the United States. The system consists of smartglasses to provide live interaction with remote experts located hundreds of miles away.
If this sounds like the new wave of the future, then you’re right on target.
What Is Augmented Reality?
Glad you asked. Without sounding like a computer boffin with unruly hair and spectacles the size of the London Eye, augmented reality is being developed to enhance or improve the way humans interact in the real world.
We got a good taste of augmented reality with Google Glass back in 2013. It was basically an optical head-mounted display, shaped to resemble a humble pair of eyeglasses. Think of it as your smartphone being projected in your eyes. You can open, read, and respond to emails, search for directions on Google Maps, or chat with your buddies on social media using voice commands.
You still with me? Good. We covered a similar story on Tech Live Look last year. After conducting a series of successful pilots in 2017, the system went live at three Porsche dealerships recently. The goal is to have 75 more dealers go live by the end of this year with the remainder to follow by 2019.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
How Does Tech Live Look Work?
The system works like a carefully balanced orchestra. Dealer technicians will wear smartglasses to connect to the augmented reality software while fixing your Porsche. Remote experts from far away can see in real-time a high-definition video feed of what the technician is working on courtesy of the glasses.
But what if the technician gets puzzled by, say, an issue with the electric power steering? Instead of leaving the floor and tolling away at the computer or phone in the office, the Porsche technical support team (located in Atlanta) can simply press a couple of buttons to project step-by-step technical bulletins, repair procedures, and schematic drawings on the display in the technician’s glasses. This means faster repair times and better efficiency.
The technician can also open and view documents while working on the vehicle. This is better than browsing the pages of the service manual with dirty hands, and it sure beats making multiple phone calls, sending emails, and making on-site visits to identify and diagnose the issue for repair.
Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Customer Focused
With the Tech Live Look system in full swing, PCNA is looking to dramatically shorten service resolution times – by up to 40 percent.
“By solving issues faster, our dealer partners can get their customers back into cars with less disruption. And our overall service quality increases as we share expertise more efficiently between our experts and dealer technicians,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Tech Live Look is the kind of digital innovation Porsche values because it raises the quality of the customer experience.”
Porsche’s Tech Live Look is the first such application at scale in U.S. auto repair, and won a best-in-class award from the annual Field Service USA conference back in April.
There is no other way to put it. Tech Live Look is one of the coolest things to ever happen in auto repair.
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine. 
Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.



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2018 Indy 500 Notebook: Part 9: Moving On

2018 Indy 500 Notebook: Part 9: Moving On Tony Borroz opens up what has been dubbed “The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook” for an unedited look at The Greatest Spectacle In Racing. The 2018 Indy 500 Notebook is an unfiltered look and what makes the Indy 500 so alluring in the first place. The series concludes with this final installment, Part 9: “Moving On.” 
The prologue can be found here.
Part 2: “Hey Hinchcliffe, Wanna Race? Then Go Faster!” here.
Part 3: “Carb Day” here.
Part 4: “By This Time Tomorrow” here.
Part 5: “On The Fly – Before The Green Flag” here.
Part 6: “On The Fly – Everything That Matters” here.
Part 7: “A Modest Proposal: The EV 500” here.
Part 8: “Letters” here.
The Indianapolis 500, as big as it is, is a thing of the past. Or at least now it is. The dust has barely settled and the teams have all moved on to the next round, a double-header race set on the beautiful Belle Isle Park in Detroit, with Will Power riding a wave of considerable momentum. At this point, I’d say Power is now the favorite to win the series championship, but this whole thing is far from over.
Power always seemed like he was running closer to an emotional edge than most other racers in the series. His last race, or few races, always seem to affect what’s coming next more with Power than with his competitors. That’s why winning this year’s 500 will have such a big impact going forward for him, both this season and in years to come. After chalking up a big win at Indy – two, actually, since you should also count his win on the Indy road course – Power will most likely be able to parlay that into enough wins, places, and shows to notch up another championship.
His joy at winning The 500 seemed like more than that, more than just elation at (finally) winning one of the crown jewels in all of racing. Along with all the screaming, gesticulating, furtive twitching and such, Power displayed a sense of relief that was almost worrying in its intensity. It became easy to stitch together a bunch of stuff in Power’s past with his Victory Circle response.
With his victory this year, Will Power became the first Australian to win the Indianapolis 500. Photo: IMS LLC.
Call Me Will
Up until winning Indy, you could see that it was Bugging him with a capital B; I mean Bugging him the way not settling the score with Moby Dick was starting to bug Ahab. We’re all complex creatures, we humans, and some of us are very complex indeed. Will Power seems to fall into that latter half of humanity. Having a certain level of drive and determination is part and parcel of being a racer at this level. Roger Penske or Michael Andretti or Josef Newgarden didn’t get to where they are because they had nothing else better to do. You don’t back into anything at this level. So having a certain amount of dogged determination to “succeed” is to be expected.
But, like anything else in life, it’s when you get on the other side of that power curve of determination that I start to worry. Captain Ahab is not a heroic figure. There is nothing fine and noble and valiant at attaining your goals at the cost of your humanity. I’m not saying that Power was going full Ahab here, but I am saying that his palpable sense of relief at finally winning worried me that he was edging closer to that.
Cats In The Cradle
I’ve seen it before, and far too many times at literally every level of this sport. I’ve seen drivers so blindly determined to win that they slowly lose everything along the way. Racing, as an activity, is riddled with broken relationships, snapped bones, burned out friendships, twisted frames, destroyed families. Some disabilities are not physical. Some drivers (and team owners) become so fixated, so focused on Winning, that literally nothing else matters to them.
Normal, healthy relationships with their spouses or children or close friends? They can be jettisoned with nary a backward glance if they are in the way of “winning.” Not winning can be the worst thing in the world. Not winning can Cost You, and you won’t know what the final bill is until it’s far too late in your life to be able to truly pay it.
And that’s why, in retrospect, I’m as relieved as Will Power over his 2018 Indy 500 win. Looking back, I can see how Power could have let missing another 500 win affect him. It would gnaw at him, and the pressure would mount, and build, and, like 90 percent of the other racers out there, he would have responded the only way racers know how: work harder, try harder, sacrifice more, risk more. When you buy into the mindset that your racing results define who you are as a human being, then results are all that matter.
Will Power in disbelief after winning the 102nd Indianapolis 500. Photo: Karl Zemlin.
Changing Places
That is, obviously, seriously unhealthy. Eventually, the results have got to stop. Eventually, the spotlight fades and the applause dies down and you are left with time on your hands. And if you’re one of those people who don’t know how to balance out all aspects of your life, even the big aspects of your life, like being a racing champion, then that time can stretch out before you like a yawning chasm. You can turn into one of those irascible old jerks at the local bar; one of the “remember-whens” and “I used to . . .” people.
No, Will Power finally winning The 500 wasn’t his “cure” for that. It never is. But what it hopefully will do for Mr. Will Power is give him some peace. Now that he has ticked off the “Win Indy 500” box, maybe he can get some perspective. Now, maybe he will realize he’s working, not from a place of accomplishment (although he surely is working from that as well), but from a place of peace and calm and quiet and he can move on and live a more balanced life.
Sure, this will make him a much stronger racer, especially in the short term, but eventually this will also make him a much stronger person, and we are all better off knowing that.
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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FCA Expands Partnership With Waymo For Greater Autonomous Mobility

FCA Expands Partnership With Waymo For Greater Autonomous Mobility FCA US LLC and Waymo are expanding their partnership further, this time with an agreement to add up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo’s self-driving fleet. Vehicle deliveries are expected late this year, and both companies are discussing the use of Waymo’s self-driving technology, including potentially licensing it, in a FCA-manufactured vehicle available to retail customers.
Innovation & Accessibility
Earlier this year, FCA US LLC delivered 500 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo to boost the tech company’s autonomous driving program. To date, FCA has delivered 600 Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo.
“FCA is committed to bringing self-driving technology to our customers in a manner that is safe, efficient, and realistic,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. “Strategic partnerships, such as the one we have with Waymo, will help to drive innovative technology to the forefront.”
“Waymo’s goal from day one has been to build the world’s most experienced driver and give people access to self-driving technology that will make our roads safer,” added Waymo CEO John Krafcik.
Photo: FCA US LLC.
Future Goals
One of the goals for FCA and Waymo was to develop an autonomous vehicle for mass production. The partnership paired FCA and Waymo engineers together who devised ways to implement Waymo’s automated technology into the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Leaders from both companies say leveraging each other’s strengths, experiences, and resources is critical for the successful and safe implementation of autonomous driving.
FCA and Waymo engineers have continued working together to support Waymo’s expansion, and to advance the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid with autonomous technology. Waymo’s self-driving system includes a powerful hardware and software suite honed over 6 million miles of on-road testing.
Later this year, Waymo will launch a self-driving transportation service, allowing the public to use Waymo’s app to request a vehicle.
“We’re excited to deepen our relationship with FCA that will support the launch of our driverless service, and explore future products that support Waymo’s mission,” Krafcik said.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.



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SoftBank Vision Fund To Invest Over 2 Billion In GM Cruise

SoftBank Vision Fund To Invest Over 2 Billion In GM Cruise The SoftBank Vision Fund will invest $2.25 billion in GM Cruise Holdings LLC, a move aimed at strengthening the company’s plans to commercialize and scale autonomous vehicle technology. General Motors will also invest $1.1 billion in GM Cruise upon closing of the SoftBank Vision Fund transaction.
“Our Cruise and GM teams together have made tremendous progress over the last two years,” explained GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Teaming up with SoftBank adds an additional strong partner as we pursue our vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.”
Increased Flexibility
The SoftBank Vision Fund’s first tranche of $900 million will come at the closing of the transaction. The second installment of $1.35 billion (with regulatory approval) will be completed by the Vision Fund when the Cruise AV vehicles are ready for commercial deployment. The SoftBank Vision Fund will then own a near 20 percent equity stake in GM Cruise. Officials say the relationship will allow increased flexibility with respect to capital allocation.
“We’re excited to be joining forces with a tech leader who shares our belief that AV technology will change the world,” said GM President Dan Ammann. “We look forward to partnering with SoftBank as we work toward deploying this technology safely and in massive scale.”
“GM has made significant progress toward realizing the dream of completely automated driving to dramatically reduce fatalities, emissions, and congestion,” added Michael Ronen, Managing Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers. “The GM Cruise approach of a fully integrated hardware and software stack gives it a unique competitive advantage.”
General Motors President Dan Ammann (left) and GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra (right) give SoftBank Investment Advisers Managing Partner Michael Ronen a closer look at the Cruise AV on Wednesday, May 30th, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Steve Fecht for General Motors.
The GM and SoftBank Vision Fund investments are expected to provide the necessary capital to reach commercialization at scale, beginning already next year. Earlier this year, GM filed a Safety Petition with the Department of Transportation for its fourth-generation self-driving Cruise AV. The petition says the Cruise AV would be the first production-ready vehicle to operate safely with no driver, steering wheel, pedals, or manual controls.
“We are very impressed by the advances made by the Cruise and GM teams, and are thrilled to help them lead a historic transformation of the automobile industry,” Ronen said.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: General Motors.



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