Audi reveals R8 E-Tron Piloted Driving concept at CES Asia

Audi reveals R8 E-Tron Piloted Driving concept at CES AsiaImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: AudiImage Credit: Audi2015 R8MSRP$115,900ShopReviewsMore Photos2016 Audi R8 e-tron: Geneva 20152016 Audi R8 LMS: Geneva 20152016 Audi R8: Geneva 20152016 Audi R8 LMS2016 Audi R82015 Audi R8 Competition: LA 2014Noah Joseph

Designed as they are to take the driver out of the equation, you might think that the idea of an autonomous vehicle would seem diametrically opposed to that of a supercar. But Audi disagrees. The German automaker has cooked up a series of "piloted driving" concepts that are increasingly focused on performance, and this could be the ultimate iteration yet.

Audi's latest Piloted Driving demonstrator is based on the R8 E-Tron. It's altogether almost identical to the one we saw in Geneva, packing an electric powertrain to deliver 456 horsepower, 679 pound-feet of torque and a 0-62 time of 3.9 seconds. Only in this case, it can do it all on its own, without any driver intervention.

To pull that off, Ingolstadt has fitted this show car with an array of sensors, including a new laser scanner, multiple video cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar transmitters at both ends – all handled by a central "driver assistance control unit."

It's the latest in a series of concept cars that has already included a version of the RS7 Sportback designed to lap the racetrack, and the Prologue concept that drove itself to CES. This concept was similarly unveiled at CES Asia, the Eastern counterpart to the tech expo we usually catch in Las Vegas.

Just what the point is in engineering (or buying) one of the best-driving cars on the market and then handing over its operation to a computer, we don't quite get. But at least we can rest easy knowing that Audi is not giving up on performance as autonomous tech turns the driver into just another passenger.


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#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933867{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933867, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933867{width:100%;display:block;}Show full PR textAudi R8 e-tron piloted driving technical concept car

340 kW of power, 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds and a driving range of 450 km (279.6 mi) – Audi has extensively developed its all-electrically powered high-performance R8 e-tron sports car further. The technology study is one of the highlights of CES Asia, and it brings together future technologies – which relate to lightweight design, high-performance drive systems and functions for piloted driving.

The Audi R8 e-tron piloted driving concept car is based on the multimaterial Space Frame of the new production R8. A rear car body module made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) integrates the luggage compartment, which extends the frame structure. The walls of the luggage compartment shell are corrugated, so that they can absorb extreme amounts of energy with little material weight in case of a rear-end collision. Thanks to specific modifications made to the outer shell and wheels, the Audi R8 e-tron piloted driving attains a low Cd value of 0.28. Its front end and sideblades feature e-tron specific lighting solutions.

The T-shaped battery is structurally integrated into the center tunnel and behind the occupant cell – its low center of gravity further boosts the already excellent driving dynamics of the R8 e-tron piloted driving. The high-voltage battery is based on a new lithium-ion technology that has, for the first time, been specifically designed for the drive system of an all-electric vehicle. Compared to the first technology platform, the battery's energy capacity has grown from 49 kWh to approximately 92 kWh. Optimized space utilization and improved battery cell technology enabled this progress without requiring package modifications. Audi produces the high-voltage battery itself.

The R8 e-tron piloted driving achieves an electric range of 450 kilometers (279.6 mi) instead of a previous 215 kilometers (133.6 mi), its energy density was increased from 84 Wh/kg to 154 Wh/kg and several other modifications were made. The high-performance sports car has the Combined Charging System (CCS) on board, which allows charging with direct and alternating current. With this system, the customer can charge the large battery in significantly less than two hours.

The two electric motors each output 170 kW of power and 460 Nm (339.3 lb-ft) of torque to the rear axle. The R8 e-tron piloted driving rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds on its way to an electronically-governed top speed of 210 km/h (130.5 mph) or 250 km/h (155.3 mph), depending on the car's tires. Intelligent energy management and an electromechanical brake system enable high energy recuperation rates. Targeted torque vectoring – needs-based distribution of power transmission between the rear wheels – ensures maximum stability and dynamism.

The R8 e-tron piloted driving technical study is equipped with all of the functions of piloted driving. Data is acquired from the interplay of an array of sensors: a new type of laser scanner, several video cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar sensors at the front and rear. Based on signals from these sources, the central driver assistance control unit (zFAS), a compact central computer, computes a comprehensive picture of the vehicle's environment.

Audi can build the R8 e-tron in handcrafted quality to meet special customer requests. The company uses its high-performance electric sports car primarily as a high-tech mobile laboratory.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1.7 – 1.5** (138.4 – 156.8 US mpg);
Combined electrical power consumption in kWh/100km: 124 – 114**;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 39 – 35** (62.8 – 56.3 g/mi)

Audi Q7 e-tron 2.0 TFSI quattro
This vehicle is not yet on sale. It does not yet have type approval and is therefore not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC.

Audi R8 LMX:
This vehicle is not yet on sale. It does not yet have type approval and is therefore not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC.

Audi R8 e-tron:
This vehicle is not yet on sale. It does not yet have type approval and is therefore not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC.

**Details on the fuel consumption, the CO2 emissions and efficiency classes given as a range depend on the tire/wheel set used.Featured GalleryAudi R8 E-Tron Piloted Driving Concept

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Goodbye Zoom-Zoom, Driving Matters is Mazda's new slogan [w/video]

Goodbye Zoom-Zoom, Driving Matters is Mazda's new slogan [w/video]Image Credit: MazdaImage Credit: MazdaImage Credit: MazdaImage Credit: MazdaImage Credit: MazdaMore Photos2016 Mazda MX-5 Club Edition: New York 2015Mazda MX-5 Forza Horizon 2 Car PackMazda LM55 Vision Gran TurismoMazda MX-5 Global Cup Car: SEMA 20142016 Mazda MX-5 Global Cup Racing SeriesMazda Kodo ChairChris Bruce

Timed with the launch of the 2016 MX-5 Miata, Mazda is now changing gears with its advertising strategy in the US by launching a whole new slogan. The Japanese brand's latest marketing motto takes a much more direct approach than Zoom-Zoom by simply saying Driving Matters. The two-word phrase is meant to make customers believe that a good time behind the wheel can improve their lives.

Driving Matters is also supposed to say something about how Mazda engineers vehicles. "Whether it's for safety purposes or for maintaining our 'fun to drive' nature, it all comes down to the fact that driving matters to our customers and it matters to us." Russell Wager, vice president of marketing at Mazda North American Operations, said in the announcement of the new campaign.

However, Zoom-Zoom isn't entirely dead, and the words still appear in small print in some of these spots. According to Wager in an interview with Automotive News, the old slogan isn't necessarily understandable to some focus groups. "I'll ask them to explain to me what 'Zoom Zoom' means, and I'll get 6 or 7 different answers. That's what Driving Matters is supposed to address. It's supposed to solidify what 'Zoom Zoom' means to people," he said.

So far, the company has released several examples of the campaign to highlight the Miata and Mazda6. At the same time, Mazda is launching a new commercial (embedded below) called A Driver's Life that showcases many of its models but puts a big emphasis on the MX-5.
Show full PR textMazda Launches All-New Advertising Campaign, "Driving Matters"

- New Campaign Communicates How the Joy of Driving Can Enhance Your Life -

IRVINE, Calif. (May 21, 2015) –The Oxford Dictionary defines "driving" as, "operating and controlling the direction and speed of a motor vehicle." Mazda believes that driving is more than a definition. Driving is an experience that can enhance your life. To better illustrate how every Mazda vehicle embodies why "Driving Matters," today Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is rolling out a new advertising campaign.

Driving Matters is an evolution of the Game Changers campaign. With Game Changers, Mazda succeeded in increasing consumer awareness of the functional attributes of our vehicles. Driving Matters will extend the message by creating an emotional connection to the brand.

"Through the Driving Matters campaign, consumers will get a glimpse at why driving matters so much to Mazda and why we obsess over every detail in designing our cars," said Russell Wager, vice president of marketing, MNAO. "Whether it's for safety purposes or for maintaining our 'fun to drive' nature, it all comes down to the fact that driving matters to our customers and it matters to us."

Mazda's all-new Driving Matters campaign will showcase various aspects of what makes the driving experience so important. Through Mazda's advance technologies and design, the campaign will dive into the importance of vehicle safety, good-looks, fuel efficiency and the fun-to- drive personality of Mazda cars. The engineering and design that goes behind each car in Mazda's lineup epitomizes the enhancement driving has on a person's life.

The campaign will launch with "A Driver's Life," which chronicles the major moments and life stages in a driver's life, like getting a license and buying your first car, through raising a family and obtaining your "reward" car. The spot will feature multiple 2016 models but the aim is to celebrate driving and the core values of Mazda customers. The campaign will launch on Friday May 22nd in cinema and television with a mixture of a :60 and :30 second ads. It will be supported digitally and on our social channels.

"Mazda makes cars for people who take pleasure in driving, and "Driving Matters" perfectly aligns with that philosophy. Through our creative process, it became evident that Mazda's inspiration for pure driving enjoyment is something that relates to the typical car buyer," said Harvey Marco, creative director, Garage Team Mazda.

Mazda's long-running Zoom-Zoom tagline will continue to be a part of the brand's DNA. Since its inception in 2000, Zoom-Zoom has come to symbolize what a Mazda stands for – stylish, insightful and spirited – and the Driving Matters campaign will communicate the company's core belief in the joy of driving and illustrate the emotional enhancement driving has on our lives in everyday situations.

Mazda will deliver the new advertising message via in-cinema, television, print, out-of home and digital media.

Assets from the campaign can be seen on Mazda's media website here.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.Featured GalleryMazda Driving Matters Ad Campaign

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Driving the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro | Edmunds.com

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We're about to get some seat time in the newest muscle car on the Detroit horsepower scene, the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.

It was just yesterday that we joined over a thousand Camaro owners at Detroit's historic Belle Isle Park to witness the introduction of the all-new, fully redesigned sixth generation of the legendary Chevy Camaro. The crowds are gone now, but the new Camaro is still here and we have an empty road course at our disposal.

Actually, the Camaros on hand today are preproduction hand-built prototypes of the new muscle coupe. They're even still wearing the camouflage used to foil spy photographers during the car's development. But that's close enough; we don't care about panel gaps right now.

All-New From Top to Bottom
Don't let its looks fool you. The sixth-generation Camaro may look similar to the current car, but the only parts that carried over from the soon-to-be-departing 2015 model are the rear bowtie badge and SS emblems.

It rides on an all-new rear-wheel-drive chassis shared with the Cadillac ATS. It uses aluminum components throughout the chassis, frame and interior, which results in a 200-pound weight reduction compared to the current car.

The new five-link rear suspension system alone knocked 26 pounds off the overall suspension weight. The dimensions have been revised to go hand-in-hand with the diet plan but also to improve handling.

Since the fifth generation of the Camaro debuted in 2010 it has been seen by some as too big and heavy, especially when compared to its rival the Ford Mustang. This time around Chevy made it smaller. The new Camaro is 2.3 inches shorter (188.3 inches), almost an inch narrower (74.7 inches), and its wheelbase has shrunk almost 2 inches (110.7 inches).

Strangely it's an inch taller, however.

Chevy's engineers also narrowed both the Camaro's front and rear tracks and spent a lot of time working on the car's balance, trying to get as close to that magical and elusive 50/50 weight distribution as they could.

A Firsthand Look at the Cabin
As soon as a car rolls up to the pit lane, we hop in to take a look. Despite being a test mule that's missing some interior bits and pieces, the new interior is a major step in the right direction for the Camaro.

The new instrument panel and dash have a slight hint of retro, but if you're old enough to catch these styling cues, maybe you're not the intended buyer. The front, side and rear visibility are about the same as before, which is no surprise as this is a sport coupe, not a family hauler.

Wide Range of Engines
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro will be powered by one of three engines: a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, which is also used in the Cadillac ATS; a 3.6-liter V6; and the brawny LT1 V8 borrowed from the Corvette Stingray. All offer variable valve timing and direct injection.

Rated at 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, the 2.0-liter engine will deliver 0-60-mph acceleration in less than 6.0 seconds according to Chevrolet. All while delivering more than 30 mpg on the highway. Now GM can claim the most fuel-efficient Camaro ever with performance stats that would leave some of its ancestors in the weeds.

Next up is what will most likely prove to be the most popular engine ordered: the new 3.6-liter V6 rated at 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. Chevy claims it's the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated V6 in production.

At the top of the pecking order sits the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS, which will come standard with the 6.2-liter LT1 V8 that will smoke a set of tires at will thanks to 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. And that makes this the second most powerful normally aspirated Camaro ever, behind the limited-production 2015 Camaro Z28, and the most powerful Camaro SS ever.

All three engines will be available with a new eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, and of course all Camaros are rear-wheel drive. Although there were some rumors of an all-wheel-drive option with the turbocharged four-cylinder, Chevy hasn't mentioned it…yet.

It's V6 or Nothing Today
All the prototypes on hand are powered by the midgrade V6, which makes more power than the optional L36 big-block 396 offered in 1969. Amazing. This unit also has the new eight-speed automatic, so we immediately put it into manual-shift mode.

Turns out we don't need it. Leaving the shifter in Drive does the job just fine as the transmission bangs off gears at the 6,200-rpm redline and gets plenty of motivation out of the powerful V6. Around the corners, downshifting is dependent on engine speed and how hard we were on the brakes. This is a nice combination that feels right even in this harsh, hammer-down environment.

Speaking of brakes, Brembos are now available on all 2016 Camaro trim levels and we're glad they're on our test cars.

The new 3.6-liter V6 has plenty of power, and despite having a much improved exhaust note, it sounds like a V6. For most buyers, it won't be a deal breaker, but for power-hungry buyers looking to rattle Mustang and Challenger owners, the 6.2-liter LT1 V8 in the Camaro SS will be a necessary upgrade.

The biggest improvement is the weight reduction and handling improvements. According to Chevrolet, the 2016 Camaro SS is faster around a road course than the tricked-out 2015 Camaro SS with the 1LE handling package. We don't doubt it.

With the six-speed manual, the 3.6L V6 feels like a totally different animal and is much more fun to drive. The 3.27 final-drive ratio helps it accelerate out of the corners much more quickly than the 2015 model, and plants us hard into the seat.

Plenty More To Come
Maybe it's just as well we don't drive the 6.2L LT1 at the track; there might have been some carnage. Actually there was carnage, but it wasn't us. Other journalists actually bent a couple of the priceless prototypes.

Our drives were short and the street course was little more than a concrete-lined tunnel, so we didn't exactly push it to the limit. That's for another day.

But our takeaway from the weekend is that the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro has gotten back to its roots as an affordable, lightweight, fun, sporty car to drive — regardless of what's under the hood.

We can't wait to drive it again. And we're looking forward to seeing the convertible.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.

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ADVERTISEMENT Comments subatomic Posts: May 18

It will be interesting to see if the "Skip-Shift" feature is still required on models with the V-8 engine and manual transmission.

Flag throwback Posts: May 18

"The front, side and rear visibility are about the same as before,"Too bad, the current car is like looking out of a tunnel. I was hoping they would improve outward visibility. I will still test drive a SS, I'm curious how the magnetic ride shocks work on this platform.

Flag any1there Posts: May 18

The LT (V6) model is said to have achieved close to a 300 pound weight reduction; if true, that should be noticeable. I'm disappointed GM made little effort to improve the limited outward visibility of the current car, but with such an attractive overall design and packaging (especially by not decontenting the V6 model, as Ford did with their newest Mustang), I'm really impressed. 'Can't wait to drive one.

Flag s197gt Posts: May 18

my first impression is that it looks better than the new mustang. it looks smaller and "tighter". proportions seem better. will probably be a better car than the regular GT. i heard another source say they did improve the view outward.

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