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jacewilliams1 · 5 years ago

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Five airplanes every pilot should fly

You don’t get to pick your parents and most pilots don’t get to pick the airplane they learn to fly in. If the local flight school has a beat up old Cherokee, that’s what you’ll fly, whether you love Pipers or not. But once you earn your license, it’s a real thrill to check out in (or at least log some time in) a variety of airplanes. I actually think this is more interesting than adding a new rating—new models offer new adventures and new lessons to learn, and there are no annoying FAA tests to pass.

What should you fly? Almost anything with wings. I might skip the rare Soviet warbird that hasn’t flown in 25 years, but unless you have reason to doubt the design or construction, strap in and go flying. You won’t catch Barry Schiff; still, it’s fun to try.

While all airplanes have stories to tell, some are more important and more interesting than others. Here are five I believe should be in every pilot’s logbook or on their to-do list. These aren’t necessarily the best or most exciting airplanes ever to take to the skies, but they define specific ages in general aviation and make up the rich history of our industry. Call it the general aviation canon.

1. Piper Cub. The familiar yellow taildragger almost single-handedly created general aviation in America, teaching an entire generation of pilots to fly. Consider the numbers: in 1939 there were fewer than 35,000 pilots; by 1950 there were over 500,000. One key reason so many Americans earned their license was obviously the military, but that meant the Cub was often their first airplane. In fact, nearly 20,000 were built in less than a decade. For comparison, only 10,000 piston airplanes total were delivered between 2010 and 2019.

A yellow Piper Cub in the grass is the essence of recreational aviation.

But the Cub is also a survivor, a symbol of a general aviation boom that didn’t really happen. At the end of World War II, some enthusiasts assumed that the thousands of returning military pilots would want to settle down to family life with an airplane in the garage. It didn’t turn out that way (commuting by Cub wasn’t quite as practical as boosters predicted), and many interesting airplanes disappeared as the post-war boom turned into a bust.

Not the Cub. Almost 100 years after it was introduced and many decades since it was last produced, the Cub remains an iconic airplane. It’s fun to fly, affordable to own, and challenging enough to be rewarding when mastered. Some are basic airplanes with no electrical system, some are fully restored showplanes, and some are modern reincarnations of the famous design—all of them are recreational aviation in its purest form. Spending a late afternoon with a Cub on a grass runway is just about the most fun you can have in aviation. It’s like going back in time, but without having to stroll around a dusty museum.

2. Beech Bonanza. After the bust of the early 1950s, general aviation began its next big boom in the 60s. Cessna thought the post-war future looked like the 195, a gorgeous but fairly dated airplane with a tailwheel and a radial engine. Beechcraft, on the other hand, designed a strikingly modern airplane with low wings, retractable gear, and an engine we would recognize today. The public voted with its checkbook, and by the mid-60s the Bonanza was a best-seller. In particular, the V-tail S35 and V35/A/B models were memorable designs, the pinnacle of general aviation flying in that decade. When you showed up in one of those sleek airplanes, you not-so-subtly told the world you had arrived.

Beyond making good airplanes, Beechcraft helped to create the era of personal transportation by light airplane. Here was a machine that could go beyond the local area, with both the performance and reliability to be a personal airliner. Ads from the 60s show businessmen and families alike traveling in the comfort and speed of a Bonanza, a dream that pilots still chase today.

Much like the Cub, the Bonanza lives on. In this case, you can buy a brand new one, but you’ll find even 55-year old models doing everything from chasing $100 hamburgers to logging hard IFR flights. It’s still a joy to fly, with responsive controls and solid performance. I was raised on Cessnas, so the first time I hand flew a Bonanza I felt like I had stepped out of a pickup truck and into a sports car. I instantly understood why people loved it. The Bo has had many imitators over the years, but not until the Cirrus (see below) did the graceful Beech finally face a real threat—an incredible run of over 50 years.

3. Cessna 172. Here’s my nominee for best all-around general aviation airplane. It’s not fast, it doesn’t haul that much, and most pilots wouldn’t call it a beautiful airplane, but it’s capable of handling a wide variety of missions without complaint. As a trainer it is unmatched, taking the place of the Cub as the most popular flight school airplane. As a cross-country IFR airplane it is surprisingly capable, as Richard Collins proved many years ago during his criss-crossing of the US in one. It has also served as a photo platform, a law enforcement tool, and a perfect first airplane for new owners.

The Cessna 172 is the most popular trainer for a reason.

One reason for its success is its forgiving nature and bulletproof design. It has enough power to take three people on a 300-mile trip but not so much that pilots quickly get in trouble, a complaint early in the V-tail Bonanza’s life. The systems are basic but reliable: just watch the abuse the landing gear takes during a typical pancake breakfast fly-in if you want proof. The 172 (don’t call it a Skyhawk) is the everyman airplane.

It also represents the glory days of general aviation, a 10-year span in the late 60s and 70s when it seemed like flying would become a mainstream activity. Cessnas were on popular TV shows and sales were as red hot as the Miami condo market in the mid-2000s. In 1978, over 17,000 piston airplanes were delivered, a stunning number never to be equaled (or even approached), and the Cessna 172 led the charge.

4. Cirrus SR22. After the GA winter of the late 1980s, many pilots wondered if the industry would ever recover. Cessna restarted its single engine line in 1996, but arguably the real rebirth of personal aviation came from two brothers in Minnesota. When the Klapmeiers’ sleek SR20 hit the market in 1999, it had some radically new assumptions (fast airplanes can have fixed gear, safe airplanes have a parachute, big color screens are better than round dials) and some sexy marketing to go with it.

Many scoffed, but it worked. Cirrus has delivered more than 5,000 airplanes since 2006, dwarfing Cessna’s 182/206 line of traveling airplanes and even outselling the vaunted Bonanza by a wide margin. In one of the most impressive turnarounds in aviation history, the SR22’s accident record has gone from a liability to a strength, and the once-scrappy startup has established a powerful brand with devoted fans. It is the airplane non-pilots dream about.

Whether it’s the parachute or the occasionally abrasive fans, Cirrus has made some enemies over the years, but in my experience, the biggest skeptics have the least experience with the airplane. My advice? Don’t hate it until you fly it. The SR22 is everything a modern airplane should be: it’s a joy to fly, the performance is impressive, and the interior comfort is magnificent. On a cross country trip in one last year, I found myself cruising along at 170 knots in air conditioned comfort, with deice protection and great avionics to point the way. Not bad for a fixed gear piston airplane. I think it’s fun to fly, but at the very least, passengers love it—and that should count for a lot.

The RV-12 is one of the few successful Light Sport Airplanes.

5. Van’s RV series. What will follow the Cirrus? Maybe nothing in the transportation segment of the market. But to me, the next generation of recreational aviation has been around for a long time and is only now starting to claim the spotlight. As certified airplanes have become more and more expensive (that 172 is now a $400,000 airplane), the “Van’s Air Force” of homebuilts has become a more attractive option for everyday pilots. The build time has been reduced with the use of ingenious quick-build kits, and the avionics options are actually better than most certified airplanes.

Which RV to fly may be the hardest question. The RV-12 is what an LSA should be, light on weight but heavy on fun. The RV-10 is basically a half-price Cirrus, with excellent performance and seats for four. The RV-8 is your own personal airshow airplane, with thrilling performance but reasonable operating costs. All of them exhibit great flying qualities and affordable operating costs (I remember being shocked the first time I flew an RV-12 and saw a fuel burn of less than 4 gallons per hour).

While I’m not a homebuilder, I’m excited by the energy and the innovation in that world. The latest models are safer than previous generations and practical enough to be used both in flight schools and for cross-country travel. If there’s going to be a rebirth of piston aviation, I would put my money on RVs and not Skyhawks or Bonanzas.

Bonus: I promised I would stop at five airplanes, and I will. But if you’re looking for extra credit, let me add a category: light jets. Along with experimental airplanes, the real growth in general aviation over the last 10 years has been in turbine airplanes. These are wildly expensive and certainly overkill for VFR pilots in search of the next great airport diner, but the progress here has been stunning. I got to ride in the right seat of a Citation Mustang a few years ago and couldn’t believe how easy it was to fly. Compared to a Cessna 421 or a King Air, the top of the heap in the late 70s, the Mustang was a walk in the park—even single pilot. Life is just different in the turbine world, from the systems (FADEC, automatic pressurization) to the maintenance (much better than typical piston shops) to the training (regular simulator sessions). Light GA manufacturers and pilots could learn a few things from the jet jockeys, so if you’re ever offered a ride in a CJ or a Phenom, don’t hesitate.

What airplanes are on your personal to-fly list?

The post Five airplanes every pilot should fly appeared first on Air Facts Journal.

from Engineering Blog https://airfactsjournal.com/2020/07/five-airplanes-every-pilot-should-fly/

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hudsonespie · 5 years ago

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COVID-19: A Maritime Perspective

Without a doubt the entire world has been affected in some way or another by COVID-19. This event has ignited an intense amount of research resulting in data analysis, visualizations, models, and dashboards being created on a daily basis in order to help better understand the current impact, how this pandemic may have happened, and what the near-term future may look like.

Unsurprisingly, the maritime community has also been affected in a big way. Recently, ports have started quarantining vessels for up to 14 days before they enter the destination port, depending on whether their last port visit was in a highly infected country1,2,3. This concern is not unfounded since COVID-19 cases have recently been confirmed for the first time on a container ship4. Quarantining vessels will lead to a tremendous impact on global trade and commerce due to vessels being held for up to 14 days before exchanging goods.

CCRi was interested in seeing if we could identify the impact of COVID-19 on maritime traffic using our existing tools and data. With the analytic and visual tools of our Optix platform, we found that we could build port-based risk score models using reported COVID-19 infection data along with geospatial port boundary data to give insights about potential vessel destination risk and implications on trade and commerce. In this case risk is defined by the location of the last port visited by a vessel relative to nearby infected regions.

Analyzing Maritime Activity with the Optix Platform

The research and results described here focus on COVID-19 from a maritime perspective using the Optix platform. Optix provides a way to analyze real-time maritime traffic by ingesting and displaying satellite-collected Automatic Identification System (AIS) data along with other maritime-related contextual layers (for example, port/country boundaries and economic exclusion zones). For this project we used global AIS provided by exactEarth to identify vessels that are inbound to the US and then retrieved their location history to further determine which ports and countries they visited before departing for the US. This is important from both the perspective of the vessel carrier and the port authority due to potential quarantine times before actually unloading or receiving cargo.

Using Optix we can easily filter vessels of type Cargo, Tanker, Passenger, and Pleasure Craft that have a declared LOCODE destination for any US port. We used this filter criteria to query for one week of AIS history. For each vessel within this dataset, we determined the last port and associated country the vessel has visited. We then used this information to supplement the AIS record.

We also loaded the JHU COVID19 dataset5 into Optix to obtain the infection, recovery, and death counts along with locations of the infected regions. For each port, we identified infected regions within that port’s country and then used their infection statistics and the geographic distance between the port and those regions to calculate an infection risk factor for that port. When a vessel that was determined to have passed through a port, we applied the associated port risk to that vessel. With risk scores applied to all US-bound vessels based on their prior port visit, an aggregated risk could be found for a destination port.

US-Bound Vessels

The Optix platform provides graphical representations of geospatial datasets known as “layers” that it displays as overlays on a map that a user can navigate through the browser-based Optix user interface. One of these live layers displays real-time satellite-collected AIS from global vessels. We applied an ECQL filter to this layer to only show vessels that have declared the US as a destination using a LOCODE value consisting of a two-digit country code and a three-digit port code–for example, USNYC. Once these vessels were identified we used their Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) values to retrieve one week’s worth of their historical AIS data. Querying for one week and filtering to US LOCODE values retrieved about 1.5 million records for 187 unique vessels. The image below shows these vessel colored by their MMSI identifier:

One week historical AIS for vessels having a declared destination port within the US

Determining Last Port Visit

The AIS standard provides static and dynamic report vessel data but offers no way to report on a vessel’s last port visit. To find these visits, we supplemented the AIS record with data about the last port visited using a world port geometry layer6. Using this ports layer, we analyzed all the vessel traffic of interest to determine which port the vessels last visited. The metadata for each vessel was then enriched with this value. In the below example, the tanker Largo Mariner with MMSI 538007574 indicates a last port visit to Antwerp, Belgium:

Example of vessel leaving Port of Antwerp recording of last port field in record

Determining the Impact and Risk on the US

Next, we sought to determine what this could tell us about risk or potential impact from vessels inbound to the US. The time-lapse histogram below shows an upward trend in inbound vessels starting around March 22. This could be related to goods being held up in other countries that are making their way to the US or increased supplies. The chart shows the breakdown of these vessels by last country visited and can be used to select individual or multiple ports.

One week of historical AIS for US-bound vessels colored by country of last port visit

In the image below the vessels are colored by last country. Multiple countries (China, South Korea, United Kingdom, France) have been selected using the bar chart.

Time-lapse of select US bound vessels

Building a COVID19 Risk Model for Ports

To further understand the potential impact of COVID-19 spread by vessels arriving from disparate ports, we built a notional risk score for each port. In the example below, we look at the Port of Shanghai, China where there is an infected region within the port geometry with 468 confirmed cases, including five deaths and 334 recoveries recorded as of 03/27/2020. The confirmed and death counts were used along with the haversine distance between the port polygon centroid and reported infection location to calculate the risk associated with the given port. The score is calculated by taking the sum of confirmed and death cases and dividing by the distance, which causes infected regions that are further away to become less significant while still accounting for multiple infection regions in a country. This was done for all 1,157 ports relative to the 3,429 infected regions collected by JHU.

Left: Example of using port location, COVID-19 infection data, and the distance apart to calculate a port risk. Right: Port of Shanghai and COVID19 infection details.

COVID-19 Risk of US-Bound Vessels Based on Previous Port

Using each port’s risk score in combination with vessels’ data enriched with their port of call, CCRi can use the Optix platform to begin to analyze risk to the destination ports. Currently, multiple ports are imposing mandatory quarantine time periods for vessels arriving from highly infected regions, such as the Hubei Province of China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, and the United States. As more ports begin to impose mandatory quarantine periods, we can leverage this data to determine when and where to take action that will have the most impact while balancing the impact on trade.

In the image below, the same vessels shown previously are colored by a color ramp based on the risk score of the the vessel’s last port visit. A brighter red represents a potentially riskier vessel, while a fainter red represents a potentially less risky vessel. Vessels located near European ports show the most associated risk given their port visits during this particular period of time; not many are traversing the Atlantic to the US.

US-bound vessels color ramped by their potential COVID19 risk

Looking in the Pacific shows many more vessels on their way to the US west coast. Optix’s chart feature can be used in this scenario to inspect the destination ports and select one or more to filter the map. The image below illustrates this feature by selecting the destination LOCODE for Port of Long Beach (US LGB and USLGB) which filters the map to only those vessels. A few brighter shaded vessels can be seen coming out of Shanghai, China where many close surrounding areas have high infection rates.

Vessels with a destination of Port of Long Beach color ramped by their potential COVID19 risk

The total impact of the COVID19 outbreak on the maritime industry continues to evolve but is guaranteed to be substantial. The ability to know which vessels are headed to a particular country in real time and which ports and countries they most recently visited could be very valuable for port authorities, government organizations, and health organizations.

Next Steps: Earlier Alerting and Forecasting

CCRi has a lot of expertise building and applying Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms to drive real-time and predictive models. In our follow-on work, we plan to adapt some of these methodologies to give us earlier warnings of risk and a more refined forecast of the impact of this risk on traffic. Features could include:

• Live alerting based on attribute changes (for example, changes in destination or navigation status values) • Vessel quarantine tracking • Vessel volume forecasting by port

We hope that this work can make some contribution to a better understanding of how to mitigate some effects of the pandemic.

References

1. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/freight-rates-set-to-spike-as-india-puts-ships-arriving-from-corona-infected-nations-on-14-day-quarantine/article31129907.ece 2. https://www.nepia.com/industry-news/coronavirus-outbreak-impact-on-shipping/ 3. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/chinese-port-restricts-ships-from-virus-hit-nations-for-14-days 4. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/first-confirmed-covid-19-cases-on-a-container-ship 5. https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 6. Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK

About CCRi: CCRi builds real-time multi-domain global situational awareness tools and technologies by applying innovative data science, scalable software engineering, and advanced visualization to solve meaningful challenges. Founded in 1989 and currently employing over 130 data scientists, developers, and engineers, CCRi is located in Charlottesville, Virginia (US). For more information or to get connected, reach out to us at [email protected].

This blog post relies upon publicly available data from multiple sources that do not always agree. CCRi hereby disclaims any and all representations and warranties with respect to the post, including accuracy, fitness for use, reliability, and non-infringement. Reliance on this post for medical or commercial guidance is strictly prohibited.

from Storage Containers https://maritime-executive.com/article/covid-19-a-maritime-perspective-1 via http://www.rssmix.com/

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maritimecyprus · 5 years ago

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(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 13 January 2012 at 21:45, Costa Concordia struck a rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the eastern shore of Isola del Giglio. This tore open a 50 m (160 ft) gash on the port side of her hull, which soon flooded parts of the engine room, cutting power from the engines and ship services. With water flooding in and the ship listing, she drifted back towards the island and grounded near shore, then rolled onto her starboard side, lying in an unsteady position on a rocky underwater ledge. The evacuation of Costa Concordia took over six hours and of the 3,229 passengers and 1,023 crew known to have been aboard, 32 died.

The graphics and maps below reveal more about what happened.

The Costa Concordia left the Italian port of Civitavecchia at 19:18 local time (18:18 GMT).

The ship was heading out on a week-long cruise around the Mediterranean with 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew onboard.

As it made its way north-west along the Italian coastline, Captain Francesco Schettino ordered the ship to be steered close to the island of Giglio as a “salute”.

Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport published a detailed timeline of events in its report into the accident (PDF), released in May 2013.

Other details emerged at pre-trial hearings, including excerpts of the frantic conversations between the Captain and his crew in the aftermath of the accident, captured by the ship’s “black box” voice recorder.

Nearing Giglio just after 21.30, the captain gave the helmsman coordinates, followed by the warning “otherwise we go on the rocks”.

Minutes later, at 21:45, the Costa Concordia hit a rocky outcrop while travelling at around 16 knots.

How the Costa Concordia capsized

The ship was holed on the left-hand side, started taking on water and began to tilt. Engine rooms were flooded and power was lost.

The crew struggled to assess the situation and relayed incomplete information to the Italian authorities.

At 21:52 the chief engineer and electrical officer tried and failed to start the ship’s emergency diesel generator.

Shortly afterwards, passengers were told that the ship was suffering a “blackout”, but that the situation was under control. The same information was given to the harbour master at Civitavecchia.

Costa Concordia crew member tells coastguard “we have a blackout”

Positioning data shows that the Costa Concordia turned and began to drift back towards the island’s port soon after 22:00 due to, investigators say, a combination of the wind and the rudder positioned to starboard (right).

As it drifted, the ship then began to list in the opposite direction, possibly caused by water in the damaged hull rushing to the far side during the turn.

At 22:12, the coastguard called the ship to say passengers were reporting problems to the local police, but the captain replied: “We have a blackout and we are checking the conditions on board.”

At 22:22 the captain gave orders to tell the coastguard that they had had a “failure” and needed help from tug boats. The radio operator did this and added that all the passengers had been given life jackets, none was injured and there was a gash in the left side of the ship.

At 22:33 the general emergency alarm was raised and passengers told to go to muster stations and await instructions.

By 22:48 the ship had settled on the rocky sea bed, tilted by more than 30 degrees. The captain finally gave the order to abandon ship at at 22:54.

Most passengers escaped in lifeboats, but evacuation efforts were hampered by the angle of the tilting ship. The coastguard launched boats and helicopters to carry stranded passengers to safety.

At 23:19 Captain Schettino abandoned the bridge, leaving the second master to co-ordinate the evacuation.

However by 23:32 the second master also left the bridge. Around 300 passengers and some crew were still on board.

At midnight dozens of passengers remained, many clinging to the exposed side of the ship.

In a conversation recorded at 00:42, a coastguard commander ordered the captain to get back on board. He did not, and went ashore.

The rescue continued over the weekend, with the ship’s safety officer, Marrico Giampietroni, being discovered and evacuated with a broken leg at 12:00 on Sunday. A South Korean couple were also rescued.

A recording was released in which the coastguard ordered Captain Schettino to ‘get back on board’. Capt Schettino was arrested and later went on trial, charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and abandoning ship. He admitted making a navigational error, and told investigators he had “ordered the turn too late” as the ship sailed close to the island.

The ship’s owners, Costa Cruises, said the captain had made an “unapproved, unauthorised” deviation in course, sailing too close to the island in order to show the ship to locals.

Crash investigationAutomatic tracking systems show the route of the Costa Concordia until it ran aground on 13 January. Data from 14 August 2011 show the ship followed a similar course close to the shoreline, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. On 6 January 2012, it passed through the same strait but sailed much further from the island. Divers searched the ship as it rested on the seabed in about 20m of water. The operation had to be suspended a number of times as the ship shifted position. The sea floor eventually drops to about 100m.

The Dutch salvage firm Smit brought a barge alongside the ship and divers installed external tanks to collect the diesel. More than 2,200 tonnes of fuel was eventually extracted, but the engineers were unable to remove all of it from some of the most inaccessible tanks. The decision to salvage the ship, rather than break it up, was taken in May 2012, four months after the disaster. The contract – awarded jointly to salvage companies Titan and Micoperi – was described as an unprecedented operation. The ship was eventually refloated in July 2014 and taken to Genoa, for the final scrapping operation.

The captain Francesco Schettino, who was dubbed Captain Coward for his actions, was sentenced to 16 years in jail for manslaughter last year. More than 4,000 passengers were evacuated from the stricken vessel – but the captain fled before everyone had made it safety.

Salvage and scrapping efforts are estimated to have cost roughly £1.2billion – making it the most expensive maritime wreck recovery in history.

Watch video: Costa Concordia, Before and After (credit: TheSeaLad)

youtube

Relevant news articles:

Whither Costa Concordia, Amid Environmental Concerns

Costa Concordia Refloated and will soon be towed away and broken up for scrap.

Costa Concordia cruise ship refloating operation started

Costa Concordia wreck reaches Genoa

Incredible Costa Concordia Salvage Operation (Video)

youtube

Flashback in maritime history – Costa Concordia grounding, sinking and 32 fatalities, 13 Jan 2012 (www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 13 January 2012 at 21:45, Costa Concordia struck a rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the eastern shore of

#Costa Concordia #Marine Accident investigation #Passenger ship

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thefeedpost · 6 years ago

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Toyotas brand-new Rav4 muscle mass its method right into SA

The Toyota Rav4 has been around since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy. And like our beautiful country, it has changed dramatically over 25 years, and five generations.

The latest model is now available in Mzansi. Wheels24’s Sean Parker drives the new SUV in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Lofty ground clearance

It’s safe to say Toyota is one of the world’s more conservative automakers and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The new Rav4 introduces adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, lane departure warning and a rotary off-road controller for the first time in its history.

It’s based on the firm’s new global architecture platform, the same as the new Camry, and offers a 30mm longer wheelbase to increase to 2690mm, this is despite a shorter overall length by 5mm to measure in at 4.6m long.

Ground clearance, which is important to buyers in this segment is pegged at 195mm for the GX models and a class-leading 200mm, according to Toyota, for the flagship VX models.

Which models are on offer?

Toyota will offer two engine derivatives (both naturally-aspirated petrol units); a 2.0-litre, producing 107kW and 203Nm and the 2.5-litre producing 152kW and 243Nm.

The larger capacity engine is only available in the flagship VX. The entry-level GX (priced from R416 400) is available with a six-speed manual and is one of two-wheel drive models in the line-up, the other is a VX grade 2.0-litre mated to a CVT.

There are three specification grades available: GX, GX-R and the top-end VX. Standard equipment includes LED headlamps, cruise control, reverse camera and a 17cm touchscreen to navigate the audio system and Bluetooth settings etc.

A nifty touch is the rubber inlays on the door handles, volume and climate control vents and a storage section in front of the passenger. It’s the little things that count.

Toyota has 17″ wheels for the GX and increase this to 19″ alloys on the VX.

What’s it like to drive?

I first sampled the 2.5-litre powered derivative and the quickly nestled myself in the plush leather pews.

The big improvement is the 8-speed automatic gearbox over the previous generation’s transmission. It shifts seamlessly and marries well with the engine’s power, offering a comfortable drive along the N2 from Richard’s Bay airport to the overnight stay.

The one drawback to the drive is the body-roll evident on the VX model, mainly due to its overall height of 1650mm.

There was moderately less body roll on the GX-R model I drove during the second stint of the launch.

I also found the CVT in the 2.0-litre model to ‘drone’ under hard acceleration though quite smooth when cruising along.

It’s a supremely comfortable car on the national road as well as the gravel section I travelled on. As mentioned on all-wheel drive (AWD) models, there is a rotary controller to change the drive mode. Two modes are available: ‘mud and sand’ and ‘rock and dirt’.

The AWD integrated management system, according to Toyota, alters the steering, brake and throttle control and where torque is distributed while navigating different surfaces.

Keeping up with the pack

Toyota reckon it has a winning formula with the new Rav4. Its front-end might have taken a dramatic change but the rest of the SUV maintains the Japanese SUV’s DNA.

It’s a handsome SUV and looks more robust than the previous generation.

And so, the Rav4 battles against some good competitors in this arena. The Volkswagen Tiguan is the segment leader and perhaps offers a classier alternative to the Rav4.

But the Toyota has well just that, a Toyota badge, which has more equity than a paid-up property in Camps Bay.

It also offers the largest volume of boot space in its segment with 580 litres in the VX model, 60 litres more than the Volkswagen.

Overall, the Toyota has muscled in with a Rav4 to battle each rival, from the front-wheel drive models to the all-wheel drive VX with its splendid 8-speed automatic. It’ll continue to go from strength to strength in the segment.

Prices:

2.0 GX MT 2WD – R 416 400

2.0 GX CVT 2WD – R 427 600

2.0 GX-R CVT AWD – R508 100

2.0 VX CVT 2WD – R505 400

RAV4 2.5 VX 8AT AWD – R577 900

The post Toyotas brand-new Rav4 muscle mass its method right into SA appeared first on TheFeedPost.

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parallelkernel · 7 years ago

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5 Crazy Startup Concepts That Settled

Start-up concepts start after looking for issues, and also preferably issues people have themselves. These are actually what the owner themselves wish for, just what they themselves could construct, as well as just what few others recognize are worth doing. Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple, as well as Yahoo are all tends to start in this manner. Venture capitalists, generally in Silicon Valley, wish to construct start-ups of the rarest kind; startups with a shot of coming to be the next Facebook, Apple, or Google. These suggestions are audacious, insane, or foolish attempting to create a market where none existed. Here is a review of five wilder startups that had their legs strongly grown on the ground. Xiaomi Xiaomi, the globe's third-largest mobile phone producer, is founded in China in 2010. It has actually ventured past smart devices right into other consumer as well as clever house gizmos. Xiaomi doesn't believe in earning profit by sales of phones yet instead, it relies upon purely on-line circulation while others send their merchandise to physical retail places. It utilizes Android and also counts on its customers heavily for responses. It plans to make cash from shopping and also services. Why did it work? • The mix of these techniques drove its item expense down. • Gathering as well as carrying out individual comments increases customer loyalty. • It saves loan from warehousing and equips brisk modifications to its products. • The users are flattered for their suggestions made right into the item, which changes them into followers and evangelists. • Alongside Apple, Xiaomi is just one of the few consumer electronics companies with as dedicated an adhering to. flipkart offers With the growing trend of ecommerce, Flipkart needs to accomplishment the spot of the biggest shopping website. Previous Amazon workers Sachin and also Binny Bansal have begun it in 2007 which has actually had the assessment of US$ 11 billion currently. The idea starts the time when India did not have shipment communications for shopping and the people weren't aware of online buying or offline retail. Why did it function? • It focuses on a classification that had reduced startup costs. • It gains the depend on of customers over on-line shopping with the advancement of cash on the distribution repayment system. • Growth of its own supply chain monitoring system for delivering goods on schedule. • Flipkart used significant discount rates on its products researching rate delicate nature of Indian customers. • It provides a larger variety of goods compared to ever. Slack Slack was started by Stewart Butterfield, who initiated Flickr- a picture sharing website. It is a workplace interaction chat tool that was introduced in August 2013 with greater than 30,000 teams utilizing it. Slack wishes to replace the workplace e-mail by incorporating workplace communication and work documents and be the one application that is made use of at all times in the office. Why did it work? • It assembles all the significant venture applications like Google Application, Dropbox, Zebdux, GitHub, Heroku, as well as much more. • Slack has a search attribute that allows accessing your paper data and also history immediately as well as maintaining track of exactly what you do on these services. • Chat is the Trojan horse; this app has got a hot begin, as well as its future appears brilliant. Razer Razer is an US company established in 1998 that develops customer electronic devices for gamers with the value of US$ 1 billion. Razer has actually lately introduced its own smart wristband, the Nabu. It builds video gaming computer mice, key-boards, and also laptops and also believes in constructing an equipment company simply by servicing gamers. The core service stuck to buying the PC in spite of the stagnancy and decline of the system. Why did it function? • Gaming has blown up as well as become mainstream, expanding four times in the US from 1889 to 2008 • Razer looks as if it is pythonic by building particular niche products nearly prior to that specific niche existed. • Amazon has actually gotten a site named Twitch that streams video games as they are being played for almost a billion United States dollars. • Tight integrations in between hardware and software have actually led to having 30% of the gaming mice and also keyword market. Uber Uber is the greatly demanded transportation company worldwide with a value of US$ 40 billion. For vehicle drivers, it provides an updated technique to grabbing passengers as well as gains earnings. For travelers, it conveys a flight to your front door which they could order from the app. Cash exchange and all various other deals are handled by Uber's system in the background. Uber believes the smartphone can come to be the prevailing method individuals get a trip that provides an army of exclusive drivers which can be the enhance or perhaps replace the taxi industry. Why did it function? • Silicon Valley elites initially removed the application with the costs Uber Black service that has the tendency to concentrate on making users look but as well practical. • Vehicle drivers could quickly find the passenger as the mobile phone spots the customer's place. • Repayment is flawless as well as the application automatically subtracts from the charge card. • Ordering a ride is simply a number of button presses away. WHAT MAKES A STARTUP SUCCESSFUL? Start-ups are the voyage on a mystical path, and also business owner's enthusiasts being mollified as well as dependable on this path. So as to craft the start-up worthwhile mix of précised vision, speed, social skills, spending plan monitoring skills, determination, capability to adjust obstacles as well as fundraising top quality is needed. If you do not have these collection of skills, you can not make your startup a winning venture.

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weannoyingbouquetgalaxy-blog1 · 7 years ago

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What are cheap insurance companies in Ontario? (Toronto)?

"What are cheap insurance companies in Ontario? (Toronto)?

Also: I have my G2 (for 2 years now, got my G1 4 years before that) I have been in one at-fault accident (fender bender, small)

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare quotes: : http://howmuchisinsurance.xyz/index.html?src=tumblr

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First, don't worry, I have wonderful insurance so me and my baby will be just fine. But, today in one of my college classes we were talking about medical costs without insurance and it got me thinking.... how much would we have to pay for prenatal care, hospital bills, and doctor's fees if I was not covered by insurance (from conception to delivery)? Anyone know?""

Getting insurance on a bike?

I plan on getting a motorcycle near the end of February. I have never bought a motor vehicle before, so I'm not really sure about how I go about getting insurance. I plan on getting something used from Craigslist (most likely 2008 or newer Ninja 250/300), then either having the owner ride it to my home before I pay, or taking it in a truck or something. What do I do after that? How do I insure the bike? I will probably get Progressive. Also is full coverage worth the extra money, or should I stick with liability? I'm 17 years old so it will be more expensive for me than for others. I live in California by the way. Thanks!""

What are cheap insurance companies in Ontario? (Toronto)?

Also: I have my G2 (for 2 years now, got my G1 4 years before that) I have been in one at-fault accident (fender bender, small)

How much would car insurance typically cost for a first time driver with a used car?

I'm almost 18 and will hopefully be driving soon and I was wondering how much I would pay for car insurance for a used car? I'm not looking for a normal teen car, I'm looking more for a very child friendly safe vehicle for me and my son. Generally what am I looking at price wise either per/month or yearly for insurance?""

How am I supposed to afford car insurance?

I'm driving uninsured right now because for me to get car insurance is $900 every six months. That would crush me financially right now. Between rent and gas, and what little Starbucks pretends to pay me, not to mention food (and sometimes that's one meal a day, and even then it may be stealing expired sandwiches and pastries from the garbage can at Starbucks). So, it's utterly naive of the government to think of driving as a luxury , when in reality- when you have to travel 20 miles a day to get to work at Starbucks- walking is unrealistic. The bus routes do not go by there, by the way. How the hell do they expect a 24-year old man to afford car insurance, when he has to work to earn the money to pay for it, and he has to drive to work, and in order to drive he has to drive illegally?! The @#*%ing system is completely screwed up if you ask me. Don't get me started on how the hell I'm supposed to afford gas these days, either.""

How to upgrade my current auto insurance?

I'm currently looking for a financed car, but I don't want to make a purchase without first understanding how much my insurance will cost to upgrade to full coverage. I contacted my current auto insurance (GMAC Insurance/National General Insurance). I was told that in order to be quoted for a new car, they would have to delete my car from my policy & put the new car on. I'm not understanding why my car has to be deleted just to get a quote for something I haven't purchased. I'm constantly getting the run around with this. Shouldn't I just be able to be quoted the new car without it affecting my current policy?""

Insurance Corp. refuse to pay for a stolen car....?

My friend's new Honda was stolen near his home. ICBC, a crown corporation, refused to pay because they said the car was thief proof. And they suspect may friend stole his own car then filed the insurance claim. Does anyone had such an experience with the insurance company? What should be done about it?""

Will this progressive insurance claim raise my rates?

So I was driving along the turnpike here in Oklahoma the other day when I noticed a vibration I was pushing 70mph at the most in my 1998 ford ranger when i noticed this. my truck was valued by the claims adjuster at $5800 As the vibration continued I pulled over and slowed down right then I noticed and felt my tire tread from the rear drivers side fly out and do some damage to the bed the tire still had air in it but when i got out to look my tread had flown completely off along with some other truck pieces. The adjuster said more then likely the belt slipped or snapped or something along those lines the damage total was $2,695.00 less my $500.0 deductible the insurance will pay the remaining balance. it would have totaled out had the repair cost more the 50% of the value of the truck. Now my question will be tricky to answer because everyone has a different driving record I haven't filed a claim sense 2004 I hit a car ! guilty I have had speeding tickets but not sense 2007 I had one guy try and file a claim against me in 2008 he said i backed into him but he didn't carry insurance and had no proof and the claim was never paid out so I'm pretty sure my rates will go up come time for renewal I'm just trying to see by how much? can i call progressive would they tell me? do they even know???? I know that a lot of this depends on your claims trend. this is really the only claim I've filed in yrs and the 2nd one in 4 yrs with this company. that first claim never payed out either.. I'm a 26 yr old male if that helps any..... thanks everyone who contributes""

How do you go under someone elses insurance ?

im getting an m1 liscence and i was told insurance would be cheaper if i put the bike in my parents name and i was listed as someone who would drive it, so a few questions, would one of my parents need an m1 liscence, and how much qould it cost?""

Car insurance!?

im looking to get a car and insurance on my own is outragous. the question is my mum has her own car with her policy with NIS. on direct line i want my mum to be the main policy holder with me as an additional driver. is this possible for my mum to have 2 policies on 2 different cars?

Price of car insurance?

say im 17 and buying my first car and its a 2003 bmw how much will insurance cost for it per month?

Does the Affordable Health Care law really prevent insurance companies from denying pre-existing conditions?

They say that now, insurance companies can no longer deny insurance to people with pre -existing conditions. So what was HIPAA passed in 1996 for? This law states that insurance companies CAN NOT deny people with pre -existing conditions. The only change I see is it gets rid of the 12 month exclusion period. I had two aunts with lupus, both lived in California and had insurance, until they moved to Texas. If they could have kept their insurance, they would have, but for some odd reason liberals are against insurance across state lines. They had no problem finding insurance, they just had to be out of pocket for 12 months. HIPAA also states that if you can go six months without any medical visits, advice/procedures, insurance companies are not allowed to look further than that and must not apply the exclusion period. So did the Affordable Care Act really stop insurance companies from denying coverage for pre existing conditions, or was it ALREADY a law? http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html""

Anyone have experience with ASDA car insurance?

Asda car insurance seems to be the cheapest by far in the comparison websites but are they reliable?

Best health insurance in Texas?

I want to buy a car insurance on my own and i am 18 years old.?

I want to buy a car insurance on my own and i am 18 years old. and i am going buy an used car (130,000miles). I get just have my driving license. i am a no experience driver. I live in EDISON NJ 08837, is it possible my car insurance is high than $2000/ year?""

""How much is insurance for state farm for a 1000cc, 750, and 600 gsxr for a 16 year old?""

I know what your thinking but hear me out, the new 2009 Suzuki gsxr has different modes like the 600cc mode, 750cc mode, and 1000cc mode i was thinking to get the 750 but if the 1000 has those modes then id want to get that and stay on that till i felt ready for the 1000 power cause i was gonna get the 1000 in college anyway but why waste the money now on the 600 then have another payment in 2 years on the 1000 when i can just use the settings till then when i have more experience??? but put that all aside how much is the insurance for a 1000cc bike? just so i can know for when im 18 if i dont get the 1000""

Confused about insurance law in CA?

Hey guys, I obtained my license a couple weeks back but I do not have insurance, meaning I was not added to my parent's premiums yet and do not have my own as well. However, the car that I drive does have insurance on it. Just clarifying, but technically, it is illegal for me to drive as of right now correct? Or is it legal for me to drive as long as the car has insurance? Thanks!""

Can someone please tell me why used Audi's or so cheap?? Can someone help me pick which used car to buy!?

2003 BMW 325I 84K Miles $10,900 2002 Audi S4 64K Miles $10,900 2005 Audi A4 1.8T AWD 79K Miles $10,900 2006 Honda Civic EX 1.8 75K Miles $10,900 2003 Infiniti G35 sedan 64K Miles $10,900 insurance is no problem, all these are clean car fax, clean title, all under KBB value, the infiniti is $3,000 under value, the rest are about $1000 under value. Any ideas why Audi are so cheap? im just looking for about a 10-11,000 car with low miles. Which should i pick?""

How much would my insurance be?

I will be a sixteen year old male and im getting my lisence the summer before junior year i have around a 3.2 gpa and the main car ill drive is a 2006 honda pilot and my dad has a 2007 honda civic. Also my dad is insuraned through geico and same with my sister but shes at college. Around how much would my insurance be? I know its more cause im a male but I would just like a ballpark amount. Thanks.

I am looking for health insurance?

I run a small nonprofit with a staff of 3. We are looking for affordable health insurance.

""I'm looking at Mercedes Benz E500 or S500 and BMW 745Li? Which car you think is better? Cost, Insurance etc.?

Mercedes Benz or BMW?

Where can I get cheap car insurance for a 17 year old?

I need car insurance preferably under 3000, I can be a named driver on my dads insurance (he's been driving over 25 years and has 5 years no claims bonus). I have tried comparison websites and even for a 1L 1998 Vauxhall Corsa, they are quoting around 7,000 - it's daylight robbery!!! Where can I get cheap(ish) insurance from? What type of cars are best (eg new/old, engine size etc)? Thanks.""

How cheaper would it be to insure a v6 99-01 mustang rather than a GT mustang for a new driver?

I want to buy a mustang someday. But i'm only 16 and I dont have a job or license yet. I fell inlove with the 99-04 mustang series. People say that v6 has better gas mileage and is cheaper to insure. The only thing I like the GT for is the loud exhaust. Could I just by a V6 and upgrade the exhaust? would the insurance be higher?

""Republicants, you do know that the larger the insurance pool the lower the cost?

Everybody pays into a pool it makes it cheaper overall.

""Car insurance for a 17 year old UK, is it cheaper if i add my mum as a driver?""

Basically, If I add my Mum as another driver to my car on my insurance, does the price get lowered?""

""Drivers licence, auto insurance in california.?""

I have my drivers permit, and I want my drivers license. I don't have a car so if I get my drivers license are they going to make me pay for auto insurance? Because I don't plan on driving a car, I don't have a car yet so how can they make me pay for auto insurance if I don't have a car? I just want a license so that I can save up for a car and just have a license before I buy a car. So I have until August 2010 to pass my drivers test and this insurance thing is really holding me back because I don't have money to pay for car insurance. So can they really make me pay for car insurance in California when I don't have a car to drive?""

Will my insurance company repo my totaled car if I'm still making payments?

April 2011 my car suffered enough hail damage to become totaled. I owe more on my loan then my insurance company is giving me, and would need $4500 to buy it salvaged. I can not afford to buy a new car and this one still runs perfectly fine (it was all cosmetic damage). I have been paying on my insurance and my car loan and have not been called regarding my choice to keep or sell my car in a very long time. My insurance policy has even been renewed for another year with no changes to my policy. I see no reason they would come and take it and not just let me finish paying my car. The problem is now my wife (who is fresh out of college with tons of debt and lowered my credit score) wants me to take out a personal loan and buy the salvaged title to make sure they won't repo it. My current loan has all the interest paid off the new loan would have much worse interest rates.""

Insurance for Kids?

I work at an insurance agency and have to give a presentation about insurance to grade school kids. Does anyone know where to find interesting info about insurance that kids would understand?

What are cheap insurance companies in Ontario? (Toronto)?

Also: I have my G2 (for 2 years now, got my G1 4 years before that) I have been in one at-fault accident (fender bender, small)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/best-travel-insurance-quote-usa-luis-hunt/"

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years ago

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2018 Automobile All-Stars: The Winners

So good was the assembly of machines at our 2018 All-Stars competition that our editors at one point stood atop Mount Charleston, soaked in the introspection-inspiring views, and mumbled something about naming every car present an official All-Star, and it wasn’t the thin mountain air talking. We can’t be more clear about this: To receive an invitation to our annual shootout, culled from an initial list of dozens more, always means a car is massively impressive and already a winner worthy of recognition. This year more than ever, there are absolutely no losers in this group.

As always, our formula is simple: no price caps, no categories, and no convoluted point-scoring rules. We pride ourselves on being this industry’s most straightforward awards shootout: The vehicles that spark the most passion, inspire the biggest grins, and deliver an experience as true to their original intent as possible inevitably walk away with an All-Stars trophy.

Is it raw speed that matters most? Physics-defying handling? World-class interior appointments? Those things all count, but this isn’t just a numbers game. It’s a soul-searching quest to identify cars that stir emotions, achievable only by driving them and, more critically, feeling them, hearing them, even smelling them. Because oftentimes the most important elements to dedicated car enthusiasts aren’t apparent on a stopwatch, a dyno, or a score sheet but only through the heart.

This year was among the most difficult evaluations in the history of our event. Compelling arguments were made for far more than the eight vehicles we ultimately chose as the 2018 All-Stars, but when the votes came in, this group stood just high enough above the rest to make the top step of the podium.

2018 McLaren 720

After Every Drive You’ll Expect a Checkered Flag

“A single-seat race car for the road.” That’s the takeaway a lot of us shared after exiting this sizzling McLaren’s form-fitting driver’s seat—once we were able to catch our collective breath, that is. More than any other car in this year’s formidable All-Stars field, the 720S left everyone who drove it gobsmacked, speed-struck, and, frankly, in need of a little quiet time.

“From 100 to 160 mph, it made the Lambo and the Ford GT feel positively wheezy,” gushed our resident hot shoe, Andy Pilgrim, after lapping the Speedvegas circuit. Contributor Marc Noordeloos agreed: “I can’t remember the last time I drove a car this fast. Wow.” Let it be noted that both of those guys spend a lot of time in seriously quick machinery. Then again, such is the giddiness that erupts when you drive a vehicle that can sprint to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and blitz to a top end of 212 mph. (Fittingly, this track-day predator wears bodywork inspired by the beautifully menacing shape of the great white shark.)

One of the most successful Formula 1 teams of all time, McLaren has notched 12 world drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles since its first F1 race in 1966. The company knows a thing or three about speed. That’s evident the moment you slide behind the wheel of the 720S: That same race-bred character is evident in its every molecule, integral to its visceral, purebred purpose. The tub, the windshield surround, and much of the greenhouse are crafted in lightweight, super-rigid carbon fiber. (McLaren claims the new structure—dubbed Monocage II—cuts 40 pounds off the outgoing 650S’ monocoque.) The cockpit is a pilot-focused workspace of premium leather, deep racing buckets, and minimal controls. The view to the front, enhanced by notably thin A-pillars, is nothing short of breathtaking—like riding in the nose turret of a B-17 or, yes, in the open cockpit of a Grand Prix car.

The engine lies right behind you, and what a monumental piece of work it is. Twin turbos and 32 valves feeding 4.0 liters of V-8 displacement, all tweaked and tuned to produce 710 horsepower at a screaming 7,500 rpm. Mind you, that’s 79 horsepower more than the already volcanic Lamborghini Huracán Performante. Add such muscle to the 720S’ light touch on the scales—it weighs less than 3,200 pounds—and you have performance that leaves even veteran auto journalists laughing in disbelief.

The McLaren’s suspension redefines handling brilliance. Outfitted with Proactive Chassis Control II—which continuously monitors driving conditions and automatically adjusts chassis dynamics—plus driver-adjustable modes (including a new Comfort setting) and huge, sticky Pirelli P Zero tires, the 720S delivers both blistering responsiveness on the race circuit and supreme civility on the road. “Precise, linear electrohydraulic steering tells you exactly what the car is doing,” Noordeloos said. “Amazing and rewarding on both the track and the road.” Design editor Robert Cumberford concurred. “Suspension is superb, for handling and for comfort,” he said. The 720S is one of those exceedingly rare sporting machines that truly becomes one with its driver. You wear the car like a wet suit, and through that fine skin you feel every tickle of the road, easily sense the grip of the tires, instinctively grasp the approaching limit. The 720S is better than you are—and in turn wrings the best out of you. Few cars of such extreme capability are so reassuring to push hard.

Quibbles? Nothing significant in a car like this. “You need to be a contortionist to get in and skilled at sleight of hand to buckle the safety belts,” Cumberford grumbled. Noordeloos complained about the touchscreen, noting that many often-needed functions—normally operated by cockpit switches or buttons—are buried deep in the system. Also, the McLaren’s standard carbon-ceramic brakes are touchy and take some time to adjust to, though there’s no doubt about their staggering stopping power.

Those are trifles compared with the incomparable driving experience the 720S delivers. Social media editor Billy Rehbock summed up the McLaren’s All-Stars win best: “It’s almost unbelievable how many boxes the 720S ticks. Supercar styling, power, handling, drivability. One of the wildest cars I’ve ever driven. I wanted more the minute I got out.”

—Arthur St. Antoine

2018 McLaren 720S Specifications

PRICE $288,845/$378,215 (base/as tested) ENGIN 4.0L DOHC 32-valve twin-turbo V-8/710 hp @ 7,500 rpm, 568 lb-ft @ 5,500 TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 2-passenger, mid-engine, RWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 15/22 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 178.9 x 76.0 x 47.1 in WHEELBASE 105.1 in WEIGHT 3,150 lb 0-60 MPH 2.5 sec TOP SPEED 212 mph

2017 Ford GT

Who Says Racing Doesn’t Matter?

Road racing’s popularity in the United States is a long way removed from its all-time high decades ago, and that’s a real shame in our collective opinion. It’s also a bit bizarre when you consider how many sports cars and supercars this country’s affluent purchasers snap up annually—cars that produce their astounding performance thanks to technologies and engineering lessons learned on racetracks around the globe. Regardless of whether you’re a race fan, the good news for enthusiasts is that manufacturers continue to push the motorsports envelope, leading to ever more impressive offerings for the street.

Make no mistake, Ford’s latest GT is a modern homologation special created first and foremost to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a feat it accomplished in 2016. Its competition-bred roots are apparent immediately in the road-going version—but not everyone appreciates them right away. Some of our staff even initially declared the car a bit of a disappointment, relatively speaking, on the street, as the dual-clutch gearbox isn’t as slick and smooth as some others on the market. And although the twin-turbo EcoBoost’s 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque are nothing to mock, neither do they make the GT as brain-bendingly quick as something like the McLaren 720S. Of course, that really says more about the amazing state of the performance car world when a machine capable of running from 0 to 60 mph in a tick less than three seconds is no longer automatically considered mind-blowing in the acceleration department.

The car’s carbon-fiber monocoque construction is a piece of race-proven hardware, but simultaneously the no-frills cockpit’s motorsports-influenced design and trim give you a bit of that old kit-car feeling. But we knew from our experience driving the GT last year that initial impressions don’t tell anywhere close to the full story. As Noordeloos noted while making it clear the GT didn’t blow him away on the street, “It feels like it’s dying to go to the track.”

Some of us smiled knowingly, as once the GT hit the Speedvegas road course, any lingering doubts about it disintegrated within the first lap or two. Suddenly the engine that sounded a bit agricultural at low rpms on the street began to spit and hiss all manner of turbo and induction sounds, snorting, popping, and screaming its way through corners faster than anything else on site as its monster midrange torque proved massively impressive. Previous grumbles from taller drivers about a lack of headroom disappeared as they suddenly and happily found a way to shoehorn their helmet-clad skulls into the left seat, grinning the entire time. The GT’s steering, braking, and suspension setup are all phenomenal, allowing you to attack apex curbs with an aggressive I-will-own-you style that seemingly rewards drivers more the harder they push.

On top of all the mechanical goodness, the more experienced and skilled drivers among us repeatedly mentioned the GT’s aerodynamic performance. “Without doubt it has the most downforce and generates the most lateral g’s on the track, especially when using the suspension in the ultra-low Track mode,” Pilgrim said. “It’s definitely the best-handling car in the field.” Indeed, where other cars required a throttle lift to make it through certain sections of the circuit, the GT dug in and rocketed itself off of corners with no issues. The chassis balance and grip it provided in Speedvegas’s quicker turns—none of which qualify as truly high-speed—and the corresponding confidence it inspired had several of us dreaming about running the car somewhere more wide open, like Road America or Road Atlanta or Spa-Francorchamps.

So then, the 2017 Ford GT proved itself as one of the best, most track-capable production cars of all time, which led to our stable of drivers rethinking its character on the road as well. It won’t feel familiar to drivers of Porsches and Ferraris and Lamborghinis, as its overall design philosophy is far more results-based than comfort- and luxury-oriented. In other words, exactly what Ford Performance intended from the outset. As a group, we were wholly unprepared for this car’s capabilities. It’s a zero-compromises speed master, and if you drive it, you don’t have to give two cents of a care about road racing—but you’ll understand instantly why it still matters. This is easily one of the most intriguing cars of the past decade and then some. After all, almost no one builds them like this anymore.

—Mac Morrison

2017 Ford GT Specifications

PRICE $450,000 (base) ENGINE 3.5L twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/647 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 550 lb-ft @ 5,900 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 2-passenger, mid-engine, RWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 11/18 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 187.5 x 78.9 x 43.7 in (41.7 in low mode) WHEELBASE 106.7 in WEIGHT 3,354 lb 0-60 MPH 2.9 sec (est) TOP SPEED 216 mph

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

From Out of Nowhere

The amusing thing is, we didn’t plan to invite the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS to this year’s edition of All-Stars. We wanted the latest GT3 and believed we had it locked in. But a ripple in Porsche’s test-vehicle pool meant the car originally earmarked for our evaluation was sent packing back to the mother ship in Germany, leaving us empty-handed.

“But wait,” Porsche Cars North America inquired. “Would you like us to send the new GTS?” We looked at each other for a brief moment, huddled together, and reviewed this 911’s case for attending. We remembered how we laughed last year when we realized this 450-horsepower, turbocharged, rear-drive Carrera is much faster than the turb from Performance Junk Blogger 6 http://ift.tt/2FzLgRS via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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renalyndaza30-blog · 7 years ago

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HISTORY 0F 20OO

Based on Wikipedia:

Cost Of Living 2000

How Much things cost in 2000 Average Cost of new house $134,150.00

Average Income per year $40,343.00

Average Monthly Rent $675.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.26

Average cost of new car $24,750.00

US Postage Stamp 33 cents

1 LB of Bacon $2.97

Ground Coffee per IB $3.44

Loaf of Bread $1.72

Dozen Eggs 89 cents

Barrel Of Oil Tops $30.00 per barrel

Events 2000

U.S.

The State of Vermont passes HB847, legalizing Civil Unions for same-sex couples.

The Tate Modern opens in London.

European Union

The Euro falls to record low against the US dollar

The new Millennium Bridge across the Thames is opens on June 10th and is closed on June 12th due to safety fears for modifications.

France

Concorde Air France Flight 4590 crashes just after takeoff from Paris killing all 109 aboard and 5 on the ground.

Australia - Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics are held in Sydney, Australia.

More Information for Sydney Olympics

1. The XXVII Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia began during September of 2000.

2. A total of 10,651 athletes from 199 different countries participated in 300 events at the Millennium Olympic Games.

3. These were the first games to feature events in taekwondo and the triathlon, and the first to allow female athletes to compete in the modern pentathlon and weightlifting.

4. The XXVII Olympiad ended in October and the United States took home the most medals with 93 in total, ahead of Russia with 89, and China and Australia in third and fourth with 58 each.

United States

Founder of Microsoft Bill Gates leaves his position as CEO.

More Information for Bill Gates at Microsoft

Microsoft co-founder and creator of the modern PC Bill Gates left his position as the Chief Executive Officer of his company during January of 2000. Gates left his position in order to spend more time doing charity work with the “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation” a private charity foundation that he and his wife created. Gates remained in his position as Chairman of Microsoft until 2014 and also became the Chief Software Architect until 2008. Steve Ballmer took over as CEO in 2000 and was then replaced by Satya Nadella in 2014.

The UK fuel protests take place, with refineries blockaded, and supply to the country's network of petrol stations halted

Egypt

Divers discover the ancient port of Alexandria the home of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony

U.S.

300 gallons of black sludge is released into the Mississippi River causing an environmental disaster

Yemen

In Aden, Yemen, the USS Cole is badly damaged by two suicide bombers on October 12th

Japan

Sony releases the Playstation 2 Gaming Console in Japan.

More Information for the Playstation 2.

During March of 2000, the newest Sony gaming console, the Playstation 2, was released for sale in Japan. The Playstation 2 went on to become the best selling gaming console in history, selling over 155 million units worldwide. Part of its success relied on the system’s backwards compatibility, allowing users to play games on the console from the previous model. The Playstation 2 was sold and manufactured around the world until January of 2013 when it was discontinued prior to the release of the Playstation 4, making it one of the longest sold systems.

World - Website "DeviantART" Launched

The popular website "DeviantART" is launched.

More Information for DeviantART

The popular online community DeviantART is launched during August of 2000 by creators by Scott Jarkoff, Matt Stephens, and Angelo Sotira. The site, created to help users share and discuss their own artwork and the creations of others. Typically, the art featured on the site is non-traditional, and they showcase a variety of styles including photography, Flash animation, digital art, and much more. Over the years the website grew and boasts over 65 million visitors per month, over 38 million registered users, and over 160,000 uploads per day.

United States -- Bush V. Gore

1. In December of 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court rules to end the vote recount in Florida in the Bush v. Gore case, giving the presidency to George W. Bush after a prolonged legal battle following the election.

2. The results in Florida were so close that it triggered an automatic machine count of votes under Florida law, the results tightened the race showing that less than 600 votes separated the two candidates.

3. Gore pursued the option to have a manual recount in 4 counties.

4. They were not able to complete the manual recount in the days required by the law which led to a legal battle between Gore and the state of Florida which eventually made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

5. The court ruled that the methods in the recount violated the 14th amendment and also ruled to end the recount.

Israel

Pope John Paul II visits Israel prayed for forgiveness of the sins of those involved in the Holocaust

U.S.

California suffers the first of two years of Rolling Blackouts

World

The use of mobile phones continues to grow as mobile phones move from the percieved "Yuppie Device" to an essential consumer product.

Rhodesia / Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe pressed on with his plan to remove Zimbabwe's farms from white ownership.

Mexico

Mexican voters vote for Vicente Fox as president

Australia

A fire at the Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel on June 23rd in the town of Childers, in Queensland, Australia leaves 15 backpackers dead

The UK is hit by one of the worst snow storms in the last 50 years bringing public transport to a halt

U.S.

The Lifespan in US is now 77.5 years

European Union

Mad Cow Disease causes alarm in Europe due to it's growth

U.S.

America Online and Time Warner Combine

U.S.

Grand Prix Formula One returns to US after nine years to Indianapolis Motor Speedwa

Australia

The Summer Olympics are held in Sydney Australia

Austria

A cable car taking skiers up to a glacier in Austria catches fire in a mountain tunnel killing 156

U.S.

Hillary Clinton is elected to the US Senate representing New York

Panama

Control of the Panama Canal joining the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is handed over to Panama after 75 years of US control

Indonesia

An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale strikes the western island of Sumatra, Indonesia on June 5th

Azerbaijan

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale strikes Baku the capital of Azerbaijan

U.S.

Over 5 million acres destroyed by brush fires in Western US worst in 50 years

U.S.

Tiger Woods becomes the youngest player to win a Grand Slam in Golf

Ken Livingstone is elected as London's first elected mayor

U.S.

U.S. presidential election, 2000 Republican challenger George W. Bush defeats Democrat Vice President Al Gore, but the final outcome is not known for over a month because of disputed votes in Florida.

Philippines

Jeffrey Schilling Taken Hostage By Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Group in Philippines

Technology 2000

The Concerns over Y2K passes without the serious, widespread computer failures and malfunctions that had been predicted

Microsoft releases Windows 2000.

AOL and Time Warner Merge

The Dot Com Bubble Bursts and thousands of DotComs go bust

Faulty Bridgestone/Firestone tyres on the Ford Explorer range blamed for nearly 100 fatalities.

One American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts prepare for 4 month stay on the international space station,

The Worlds largest Ferris Wheel or Observation Wheel ( The London Eye ) is opened

According to NASA the hole in the Ozone layer over Antarctica has increased by .62 sq miles to 17 square miles in just 12 months

The NASDAQ peaks at 5132.52 just before the dot com bubble bursts.

It is agreed by European Airbus Consortium to go ahead with plans to build the worlds largest passenger plane the Airbus A3xx , it will accommodate up to 656 passengers.

A destructive computer virus ILOVEYOU spread by e-mail shuts down computers world wide

First Draft of Human Genome handed over to society on June 26th

Popular Culture 2000

The popular show Big Brother is broadcast on German private channel RTLH and captures worldwide media interest

The Latest Harry Potter Book Is Published "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

51 million viewers watch the first season finale of the reality show "Survivor"

The last of the original Mini's rolls off the production lines

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itsworn · 8 years ago

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Build a Sleeper L72: When 425 Horsepower Is not Enough for Your Restored Chevy

No other engine in muscle car history lost 25 hp simply by switching air cleaner labels, but that’s the story of Chevrolet’s 1966 427ci L72 big-block. When introduced for duty aboard the Sting Ray, the iconic, semicircular label affixed to the open-element air cleaner read “Turbo-Jet 450 HP.” But then mysteriously, after several weeks of production, a new sticker reading “425 HP” replaced it. Minds boggled, gossip and speculation flowed.

Looking back, we now know the sticker switch was an effort to elude government safety zealots. No mechanical changes were made to the L72 427, and despite the “sticker shock,” 5,258 Sting Rays were equipped with the snarling, solid-lifter rat motor in 1966, plus 1,856 installations in fullsize Chevys.

Vette owners weren’t the only lucky ones. The L72 would find its way into a handful of 1967 Camaros built by Bill Thomas and others, kicking off a whole new wave of supertuned supercars. Let’s watch as Donnie Wood and the guys at R.A.D. Auto Machine take an L72 all the way out to 489 cubes, stuff in a hydraulic roller cam, and wind up with 589 hp and 641 lb-ft of torque. We are going to need a new air cleaner label!

1 The pen points to the external oil cooler attachment points seen on all solid-lifter 427 blocks. Ours was cast on February 14, 1966, and bears suffix code IP, telling us it was born to an L72 Sting Ray. L72s destined for Impala, Bel Air, and Biscayne applications bear suffix codes ID (manual transmission) or IO (automatic).

2 The pen indicates where the crankcase needs grinding to make room for the Eagle stroker assembly. The stock L72 bore and stroke are 4.251 by 3.760 inches. With a 0.030-inch overbore an enhanced stroke to 4.250 inches, final displacement grows to 489 cubes.

3 R.A.D. honcho Donnie Wood sets the forged steel Eagle stroker crank (PN 445442526385) in place. Bearings are fully grooved TRW items (PN MS 2976P). The oil clearance is 0.0025 on mains and rods.

4 Forged Eagle H-beam rods (PN CRS 63853D) measure 6.385 inches center-to-center and team with 0.030 oversize flattop J&E forged pistons (PN 142979). Full-floating pins are secured with Spiral-Locks. Ring end gap is set at 0.018/0.020 inch (top/second).

5 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov made sure there was plenty of engine setback in the 1963 Sting Ray chassis and frame. This delivered nearly 50/50 front/rear static weight distribution even with the hefty big-block. The black pan (bottom) is a reproduction L72 Corvette unit. The extended leading edge of the Sting Ray sump interferes with Nova, Camaro, Chevelle, and Impala chassis crossmembers without surgery.

6 With the L72-specific four-bolt main caps, windage tray, and new Melling pickup screen (PN 77S9) in place, Wood installs the pan. Note the Corvette pan’s antisurge panel and spring-loaded trap door inside the sump. To preclude air leaks, Wood welds the suction tube to the pump body.

7 A Comp XR288HR hydraulic roller cam (PN 11-433-8) with 0.521/0.540-inch lift and 288/294 degrees of duration replaces the L72-spec 0.519/0.519-inch lift, solid flat-tappet cam. The pen points to the oil feed groove added by R.A.D. to the No. 5 cam journal. It works with a fully grooved Durabond No. 5 cam bearing (PN CH-9A) to ensure plenty of oil flow to the lifter galley, a critical detail with hydraulic roller lifters. Thanks to its cast steel core, the Comp roller cam is compatible with standard distributor drive gears. No bronze, plastic, or exotic distributor drive gear material is needed.

8 A double-row true roller timing set from Liberty Performance Components (PN LT98110T-9) has a narrow Torrington bearing between the top gear and block. The camshaft is installed 4 degrees advanced. The locking tabs secure the trio of cam bolts.

9 Details, details. The 1965-1966 high-performance front cover (top) is unique for its integral (spot welded) timing tab. It is also set farther outboard to clear the larger, 8-inch damper used on high-performance L78 (396)/L72 (427) engines. All pre-1967 big-block timing covers (and blocks) are also unique for their lack of alignment-dowel pin holes (nearest pen). Also specific to all pre-1967 timing covers, the farthest pen points to a “chin mounted” oil pan bolt. National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) judges reach down behind the damper to make sure this bolt is present on restored pre-1967 big-blocks.

10 Surprise! At 68.2 pounds, each cast iron square-port cylinder head is 10 pounds heavier than a Mopar 426 Street Hemi casting. But they flow like mad, and that’s what counts. Comp moly retainers and dual valve springs deliver 165/430 pounds (closed/at 0.550 lift).

11 The pen points out minor chamber unshrouding work. The stock diameter 2.19-inch intake valves remain, but L88-sized 1.840-inch exhaust valves (up from 1.720) help feed the extra 62 cubes. Like the block, the heads are legitimate L72 items with casting number 3873858. When done, it is headed for a restored 1966 Sting Ray.

12 With the Fel-Pro gaskets’ (PN 818OPT2) 0.042-inch crushed thickness, 0.015-inch block/0.010-inch head shave, 96cc chamber volume, and “zero” piston deck height, compression calculates to exactly 10.0:1. Despite the iron heads and 92-octane unleaded dyno gas, no preignition, detonation, or abnormal combustion was noted during our dyno tests.

13 Morel hydraulic roller lifters (PN 4603) and Comp pushrods (PN 7815-16) actuate the valves. Wood dunks the roller in oil during assembly, but not the multipiece lifter body. He says, “The oil inside the lifter can give you false readings when you’re feeling for zero lash.” Preload is a half-turn beyond the point of observed zero lash.

14 By most accounts, the factory-issued dual-plane L72 intake manifold is a very capable unit. Thanks to its aluminum composition, it only weighs 19.6 pounds. Observed markings include integrally cast part number “3855069” and a casting date of “9-26-65.” The 1.7:1 roller rocker arms (PN 0845403) are from PRW Industries.

15 The PRW roller rockers fit inside the stock Corvette valve covers without contact. The “spires” direct streams of oil toward pivot points during operation. Big-block Corvettes didn’t get chrome valve covers until the 1968 model year. Duntov’s team elected to paint the covers orange to make the engine really fill the engine bay.

16 Lacking the original 855-cfm Holley 4150 carburetor, we tested with an 850-cfm Q-850 unit from Quick Fuel Technologies. The only major difference is its double accelerator pumps. The only Corvette with a factory-issued double-pumper Holley was the 1967-1969 L88. The rest were single pumpers. Ignition is handled by a Street Fire HEI (PN 8362) set at 36 degrees BTDC.

17 More streamlined than any Chevy small-block “ram’s horn” exhaust manifold, the iron L72 castings weigh 18.8/17.0 pounds (driver/passenger) and were used on big-block Vettes with only minor variations from 1965 through 1974. Note the plumbing for the optional K19 Air Injection Reactor antismog system. The round pod is a one-way check valve that lets air in but blocks outward exhaust gas flow.

18 Ever run a marathon with a thermometer under your tongue? Typically found on California cars, the K19 system cost $44.75 and was installed on 2,380 of the 27,720 Corvettes built in 1966. The stainless tubes are fed by a belt-driven air pump. The air excites the superhot unburned hydrocarbons for one last shot at combustion before exiting the dual tail, or side, pipes.

19 The best of several baseline runs on R.A.D.’s Land and Sea dyno delivered a stout 508.2 hp at 5,700 rpm and 562.6 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm. Compared to a stock L72’s 425 (or is that 450?) horses at 5,600 rpm and 460 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, the stroke and big cam more than make up for the one-point drop in compression ratio. To recap, we have now got an extra 83.2 hp (or 58.2, depending on the air cleaner label) and 102.6 lb-ft.

20 Like so many L72 owners who added headers on day two of ownership, R.A.D.’s Bob Petersen swaps the iron manifolds for a set of 2-inch Hooker Chevelle tubes. Everything else is left alone.

21 Holy smokes! The free-breathing headers unlocked an extra 81 hp and 79.2 lb-ft of torque! Totals are 589.2 hp at 5,800 rpm and 641.8 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm over the stroked L72 exhaling through iron manifolds. Compared to a bone-stock 450-horse L72, we are 139.2 hp and 181.8 lb-ft ahead! It’s nice to see how well the Quick Fuel Q-850 carburetor adapted on its own with no adjustments needed or made.

22 To keep up with the high-revving solid cam, all L72s came standard with the Delco-Remy K66 transistorized ignition system. Instead of bounce-prone mechanical breaker points, the K66 distributor (left) uses a magnetic pickup to trigger the spark. With the iron manifolds back in place, the retro ignition delivered 504.6 hp at 5,700 rpm and 560 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, a mere 3.6 hp and 2.6 lb-ft behind the HEI unit (right).

23 Just unpacked, this N.O.S. K66 transistorized ignition system was the go-to sparker for hot rats in the pre-H.E.I. days. Note the Corvette-specific tach-drive distributor body. The finned black box is the amplifier unit. Failed boxes can be remedied with repair kits from Lectric Limited.

24 A quick way to measure the compression ratio of any assembled engine, the Katech Whistler taps into the number-one cylinder and calculates the squeeze as you slowly rotate the engine by hand. R.A.D.’s Steve Chmura quickly and easily verifies the mathematical calculation of 10.0:1 on this stroked L72 427. These machines are popular with busy engine shops and race organizations with compression ratio limits.

The post Build a Sleeper L72: When 425 Horsepower Is not Enough for Your Restored Chevy appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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robertkstone · 8 years ago

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The Automobile 2.0: Chevrolet Bolt EV vs Nissan Leaf vs Tesla Model 3 Long Range

Can I see a show of hands for all of the Tesla Model 3 reservation holders out there? Now drop your hand if you’re put off when I tell you that the one Motor Trend tested is a big-battery ($9,000), “premium features” ($5,000) Long Range version that stickers for $60,500. Mostly shrugged shoulders? You know how Tesla rolls, then. Although the base price on the window sticker in fact reads “$36,000,” we get the loaded version to test. Just like any premium automaker, the high-profit versions get delivered first.

Now how about everybody who is serious about plunging into a long-range electric car but doesn’t have the stomach for Tesla’s financial roller coaster? Quite a few. That means you’re picking between two other recent entrants: the 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt EV (last year’s Motor Trend Car of the Year) or the redesigned, 150-mile Nissan Leaf—both of which we’re comparing here to the Model 3. By the way, any of you buying the Chevy or Nissan with profit you made off of Tesla stock? Just kidding. Sort of.

I’ve been covering electric cars for so long that I once pushed a stone-dead General Motors EV1 down a street. There have been plenty of “firsts” in this rapidly evolving segment. But this exclusive comparison—the Model 3, the second-gen Leaf, and the Bolt—matters because it’s a milestone. This is the first time anyone has tested and compared three electric vehicles that really could be your affordable, everyday, one-and-only car. With ranges of 150 to 310 miles and stripper-version base prices from $37,495 to $36,000 before federal and local incentives, they’re full-fledged, meat-of-the-market automobiles. And Tesla’s global Supercharger network is 7,320 (and counting) nails in the coffin of the argument that an EV can’t replace your gas-gulping jalopy as your road trip car of choice.

To help with evaluating our exclusive gathering, we brought in some veteran co-conspirators of all things electric. Patrick Hong has a 23-career testing cars (including that same GM EV1) and carries degrees in both mechanical and aerospace engineering. Alec Brooks is a seminal figure in the history of the modern electric car, having led the development of the GM Impact, predecessor of the EV1, and run the development of the of the tzero electric sports car, which was the inspiration for Tesla’s Roadster.

As if there weren’t enough built-in tension already in this test, Hong rolls a grenade into the big picture takeaway from the comparison: “Comparing this Model 3 to the Bolt and Leaf isn’t fair—like comparing a BMW 3 Series with a Camry or Accord.”

It’s an awkward setup, yes. As with any head-to-head test, you just have to weigh whether extra features and qualities seem worth their price. And although we’ll get to the “How do they drive?” part soon, we’ll start with a more fundamental comparison: how people fit. After all, if this is your everyday car, you’re likely going to have passengers.

Hong thought the Tesla’s back seat is roomy enough but “felt a little sunken in, without much forward vision.” As for seat comfort in general, Brooks found the Tesla’s and Leaf’s front seats more comfortable than the Bolt’s—the Chevy’s bottom cushion is too narrow; its little side bolsters cut into his thighs.

Brooks then examined the trade-off of the Tesla’s sweeping glass roof, which maximizes headroom but at the expense of some sunload during daytime driving: “The glass was noticeably warm when the car was sitting in the sun. Access to the rear seats isn’t as good as the Leaf and Bolt due to the low seating position and substantial sills.” Of the two hatchbacks, the Bolt gets the rear passenger’s thumb-up for better foot space beneath the front row.

And thus we’ve tripped over the slow-unfolding evolution of the electric car’s architecture and how it affects its human cargo. Take a look at the three cars’ seating profiles.

Having batteries slabbed beneath the floor might be great for lowering the cars’ center of gravity for handling purposes, but it pinches headroom. No big deal for the Bolt and Leaf silhouettes, which are as draggy as coral reefs anyway (Cd’s of 0.31 and 0.28, respectively). They just go taller. As such, Hong found the Bolt’s back seats to be roomy with a stadium-seating configuration.

But the Model 3’s lower, sloping profile is reaching for slicker aerodynamics (0.23) resulting in some unusual consequences in back: a roof crossmember forward of the rear passenger’s heads allows for a headroom-maximizing thin sheath of glass directly above their noggins. Simultaneously, their knees are noticeably raised due to the smallish difference between foot and hip heights. Still, it’s worth noting that on paper, at least, the Model 3’s traditional SAE rear dimensions are quite similar to those of the BMW 330i.

The thing is, Tesla’s compromised back seat gives the direct payoff of less drag, leading to more efficient battery use. Despite being 400 pounds heavier than the Leaf and 350 more than the Bolt, the Model 3’s combined mpg-e is 6 percent higher than the Chevrolet and 13 percent better than the Leaf.

Equating the consumption of electricity to fossil fuels is dubious, but EVs are extremely efficient. The value of the Model 3’s better aerodynamics is evident in its highway mpg-e.

Now to a driving dynamic unique to EVs: “One pedal driving”—as in, not having to touch the brake pedal to slow down. As you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal, the electric motor furiously captures kinetic energy (giving some charge back to the battery) while slowing the car. Think of it like super strong engine braking that can substitute for light braking situations. Nissan has even branded its feature as “E-pedal,” and it’s pretty cool. Particularly in that it automatically interweaves friction braking if the battery is too full or when coming to a full stop (no need to hold the brake while paused on a hill).

During our tests, the Bolt and Leaf similarly lift-pedal decelerated, though the Chevrolet’s can be further intensified and fine-tuned by squeezing a steering wheel paddle. By comparison, the Model 3’s regen deceleration is more of a speed corrector; the brake pedal is needed for real slowing and absolutely required to come to a halt, as regen vanishes at about 4 mph.

Most EV drivers quickly find that slowing for traffic or corners by simply lifting their right foot is a really cool way to drive. The Bolt wins this debate with a steep slope, decelerating to zero mph and having a hand paddle to fine-tune it. A plus for the Leaf’s “e-pedal” is that it seamlessly employs its friction brakes when the battery’s close to full and there’s no capacity left to fill. The Tesla has selectable profiles but still requires friction brakes to stop.

Brooks felt rather strongly about how the Tesla system works (or doesn’t): “It’s not strong enough to slow the car for normal corners—you have to constantly move your foot to the brake pedal. From my experience, I know firsthand that strong regen and rear-wheel drive don’t always play well together.”

When it is necessary to use the brake pedal in an electric car, it often is a shotgun wedding of friction braking and regen deceleration. And the words we often use to describe it are “nonlinearity,” or more poetically, “fishiness.”

Regenerative brakes recoup some of the kinetic energy otherwise lost to brake heat. Try that with an internal combustion engine! The trouble is that at higher stopping rates, regen and friction braking must be combined, and not always very artfully. Here, we’ve accumulated data from several stops, measuring both brake pedal travel and foot force versus stopping rate. Things to look for: A fuzzy plot means an indistinct response, and the straighter the line, the more predictable it is. Favorite? The Model 3. The Bolt’s effort is mushy; the Leaf’s travel has too much initial play.

Depicted as data, it’s recognizable as that fuzziness in the Bolt’s nearby plot of pedal force versus stopping g’s. It suggests an indistinct initial feel—that rather uncertain sensation in the car’s braking feedback. The Leaf’s effort is light and there’s a lot of free motion when you step into the pedal. The Model 3’s pedal doesn’t move much, but its 1.00g stopping rate signals why it was the shortest stopper in our emergency, 60–0-mph brake test.

Where are the more familiar performance numbers, you ask? They’re next. Just know, as we embark on an electric future, charts like these are going to be increasingly important. But to satisfy the old-school folks, here are the ones that matter when chatting with your friends.

0–60: The Model 3 buries the other two. It takes 4.8 seconds to hit 60 mph versus the Bolt’s 6.3 and the Leaf’s 7.5. As for entering a long freeway on-ramp, the Tesla’s quarter-mile time was 13.4 seconds at 104.9 mph, whereas the Bolt’s was 14.9 at 92.9, and the Leaf’s was 15.8 at 87.6 mph.

In terms of handling, it’s a blowout. At Hyundai’s winding track handling venue, the Bolt was pointy and nimble, but the Leaf felt softer, less powerful, and nose-heavy. The Model 3? It handled like a four-door Porsche Cayman (albeit loaded with luggage).

“I thought the Model 3’s handling felt terrific, and its rear-wheel drive was noticeable by its lack of steering drama on hard acceleration,” Brooks said. Added Hong: “The Leaf understeered heavily on the track, and its chassis felt dated.”

So why can’t Chevy and Nissan simply make their electric cars handle better? With very few exceptions, firming up a car’s handling means that ride comfort gets harsh and uncomfortable. One feature of Hyundai’s Proving Ground is a reproduction of some infamous Southern California freeway surfaces—all of which we traversed at 70 mph while logging the driver seat’s vertical acceleration and the noise levels in the front row. Although there are striking differences, each car’s ride is actually good if it fits your taste and expectations. The Leaf is great if you like downtown L.A. pothole compliance; the Model 3 is perfect if your commute is paved like the Nürburgring. Swap audiences and preferences, and both will feel terrible.

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hudsonespie · 5 years ago

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COVID-19: A Maritime Perspective

Analyzing Maritime Activity with the Optix Platform

US-Bound Vessels

One week historical AIS for vessels having a declared destination port within the US

Determining Last Port Visit

Example of vessel leaving Port of Antwerp recording of last port field in record

Determining the Impact and Risk on the US

One week of historical AIS for US-bound vessels colored by country of last port visit

In the image below the vessels are colored by last country. Multiple countries (China, South Korea, United Kingdom, France) have been selected using the bar chart.

Time-lapse of select US bound vessels

Building a COVID19 Risk Model for Ports

Left: Example of using port location, COVID-19 infection data, and the distance apart to calculate a port risk. Right: Port of Shanghai and COVID19 infection details.

COVID-19 Risk of US-Bound Vessels Based on Previous Port

US-bound vessels color ramped by their potential COVID19 risk

Vessels with a destination of Port of Long Beach color ramped by their potential COVID19 risk

Next Steps: Earlier Alerting and Forecasting

• Live alerting based on attribute changes (for example, changes in destination or navigation status values) • Vessel quarantine tracking • Vessel volume forecasting by port

We hope that this work can make some contribution to a better understanding of how to mitigate some effects of the pandemic.

References

from Storage Containers https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/covid-19-a-maritime-perspective-1 via http://www.rssmix.com/

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