D december 5-8, 2015 • LA WeeKeNd ASIAN JOUrNAL
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2015 LA Auto Show debuts connected vehicles by Allyson A weAlth of new, connected vehicles was showcased at the 2015 lA Auto Show, held at the lA Convention Center in November. From improved safety through features like adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection, to remote engine start systems, many new vehicles unveiled at the Auto Show boasted technological features to enhance the driving experience. Among models debuted at the Show included Mitsubishi’s 2016 Outlander Sport and 2017 Mirage, the 2016 Nissan Sentra, hyundai’s 2016 Sonata hybrid plug-in and 2017 elantra, and the 2017 Kia Sportage. Ford’s 2017 escape was also on display, as well as toyota’s 2017 Mirai and 2016 RAV4 hybrid. Mitsubishi while connectivity was a large area of focus on vehicles at the 2015 lA Auto Show, automakers also invested thought into the appearance of new models. Mitsubishi’s 2016 Outlander Sportwas among those that revealed a new, bold exterior with a “Dynamic Shield” front design. It also comes with new power folding mirrors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Safety features include seven airbags (one of which is meant to protect the driver’s knee, a tire pressure monitoring system and brake assist. the automaker’s new Mirage also offers a new exterior - with changes made to its hood, grille and bumpers – as a means of optimizing fuel efficiency. the Mirage also comes with improvements to its breaks, and safety features such as those found on the Outlander Sport. Nissan Nissan unleashed its new Sentra with a redesigned exterior and interior with a combined fuel economy of 32mpg. It also comes with a new level of available advanced Safety Shield technologies and
EscobAr And AgnEs constAntE / AJPress
New cars revealed at the auto show • 2017 Buick laCrosse • 2017 Fiat 124 Spider • Jaguar landRover - Jaguar Xe, the Jaguar F-PACe, and the land Rover Range Rover evoque Convertible • 2016 Porsche Cayman Gt4 • New Mercedes-Benz Sl • 2017 Cadillac Xt5 • Subaru Impreza Sedan concept • Scion C-hR concept • 2017 Kia Sportage • Volvo Concept 26 • 2016 Nissan Sentra • 2017 lincoln MKZ • hyundai Sonata plug-in hybrid • Mitsubishi 2016 Outlander Sport and the 2017 Mirage • Mazda CX-9 (three-row crossover) driving technologies, and is what Pierre loing, vice president of product planning at Nissan North America, Inc., says is “the most connected Sentra ever offered.” these features include apps that come with NissanConnect, such as Facebook and music streaming services; remote access; the ability to set speed, boundary and curfew notifications; voice recognition that allows drivers to make hands-free phone calls, and send text messages and emails hands-free. Nissan’s 2016 Sentra also comes equipped technologies, such as Intelligent Cruise Control, Blind Spot warning, Forward emergency Breaking and Rear Cross traffic Alert. Hyundai hyundai debuted its first hybrid vehicle with the 2016 Sonata Plugin at the lA Auto Show. It offers a driving range of up to 600 miles with a two-liter, four-cylinder engine. the base model is equipped with eight-inch touchscreen navigation, rear cross-traffic alert and a blind spot detection system. the new hyundai elantra, though not a hybrid, boasts increased fuel economy, achieving a combined 33mpg. It also provides safety features similar to the Sonata hybrid, along with available
automatic emergency breaking and pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist, among others. Connectivity features include voicecontrolled search capabilities, and split-screen display that shows map and music data. It also comes with a refined exterior with a new grille and new headlights. Kia the 2017 Kia Sportage boasted a bolder look at the lA Auto Show and is slightly longer than the previous model, which offers additional legroom in the rear and more headroom. Its interior was also revised with materials to dull noise and car vibrations. Connectivity features for the base model include a five-inch touchscreen display for informational and entertainment purposes. the 2017 Sportage has wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, as well as an available navigation system. Fuel economy for the new model has yet to be announced, but it does come in a 2.4- or 2.0-liter engine. Ford the escape, Ford’s second best-selling vehicle comes in two new options – a 1.5 liter or 2.0-liter engine, which include an auto stop/start function that are said to boost fuel economy. technology
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integrated in the vehicle include park assist and adaptive cruise control, among others. Toyota toyota’s 2017 Mirai, based on the automaker’s Fuel Cell Vehicle concept car, was on display at the lA Auto Show with a “Back to the Future” edition. It achieves a fuel economy of 67mpg city/highway/ combined, the highest ePA estimate of any zero emission electric vehicle on the market. toyota is also offering a hybrid version of its 2016 RAV4, which comes with a 2.5-liter engine with a combined fuel economy of 33mpg. It is also equipped with an electronic on-demand all-wheel-drive system. Safety features include automatic pre-collision breaking, a standard blind spot mirror, and rear cross traffic alert, among others. toyota expects that the hybrid model will account for 15 percent of RAV4 sales. the new RAV4 also comes with a sleeker exterior with a more dynamic stance. Virtual driving the Auto Show also featured virtual driving activities for visitors, including a 4-D experience from Subaru to demonstrate the safety features of the new Impreza Sedan concept, and a simulation of what it would be like to drive on a race track with a wRX. Ford also offered game-like demonstrations involving parallel parking and a safety feature that helps drivers stay in their lanes while on the road. Connected Car Expo showcases the future of cars the award-winning Connected Car expo (CCe) featured the top automotive and technology professionals in the industry, highlighting the future of the “connected car” - the vehicle of now and beyond; with advanced engineering, enhanced safety and alert systems, and hi-tech and autonomous features that ease the comfortability and convenience of driving. As part of the lA Auto Show from Nov. 17 to 19, media and car professionals were invited to a series of press conferences that showcased the latest in connected car progress and technology. los Angeles Mayor eric Garcetti began the expo with welcoming remarks, affirming the city’s commitment to autonomous and connected cars. “los Angeles is now the technology capital of America, with more tech jobs in lA County than any other county in this nation. we are a city that is embracing the future. we don’t want just smarter cars, we want smarter cities,” he said. Garcetti also announced the formation of the Coalition of transportation technology, with the partnership of lA Metro, Caltrans, and the city’s Department of transportation. “Connected and selfdriving cars promise to not only transform how we commute--but also how we think about the safety and convenience of all automotive travel,” he said. los Angeles, a city of thousands of cars and even thousands more
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commuters, has depended on the convenience and safety of both connected and autonomous vehicles, and experts say that these new technologies can have the potential to significantly reduce traffic, save passengers’ time during their commute, and make the city’s streets safer for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. the coalition will ensure that new technology will be “fully considered, as we invest in our infrastructure and plan for l.A.’s transportation future.” this year’s CCe was emceed by CNet editor at large, Brian Cooley, who in his remarks embraced technology as “how we get things done. In the vehicle, that means how we get where we want to go, how we do so efficiently and comfortably with the vehicle serving us, as opposed to us having to alter our lives around the nature of transportation…and that’s really getting turbo-charged in this connected digital era of vehicles.” the keynote address was given by John Zimmer, co-founder and president of lyft, who talked about the dwindling car ownership in major American cities such as los Angeles, where residents spend over 250 hours a year in commuter traffic. “the new transportation consumer…values experience over ownership, and this is a trend that is accelerating rapidly,” Zimmer said. “when my daughter is born next month, I won’t teach her to drive or buy her a car on her 16th birthday…because she won’t want to own one, and more importantly, she won’t need to. we can start fresh, change transportation, and stop building our cities around car ownership, and instead around people. we have to create new mobility solutions that increase both efficiency and occupancy. Cars are a big part of the solution. with the end of car ownership and the rise of new mobility, picture 30 percent more seats in cars that were previously empty filled, enabling a free-flow of traffic. we didn’t start lyft to replace cars--we’re here to reimagine and reinvent how people use those cars.” lyft, the app-based service started in 2012, boasts 7 million rides in October, and is the fastest growing and most popular ridesharing service in the country. technology experts from Volkswagen, Continental, and Delphi
presented on the future of autonomous (or self-driving) cars, which are being tested and becoming more frequent around the world. experts believe self-driving cars, which use radar-based cruise control, electronically scanning “RAcams,” and multimodal interface with smart audio/visual cues, will be a regular thing of the road in at least 10 years. even “taxibots” are being tested worldwide, capable of driving over 10,000 miles without a driver, and are estimated to be cheaper than getting owning a private car or a regular taxi ride. “this is the future of self-driving cars in urban areas, giving people the ability to travel long distances for people who can’t necessarily afford it…we are bridging the equality gap,” said eric Spiegelman, president of the lA taxi Commission. Representatives from Google discussed the progress in AndroidAuto technology, keeping both drivers and passengers connected while on the road. “we are building new, authentic experiences for the automotive environment,” said AndroidAuto design lead evan Malahy. “when you buy a car, you are always getting a little bit of tomorrow, today.” Integrating the innovations of tomorrow, other advanced technologies in the car industry were unveiled at the expo, including a showcase of the top 10 automotive startups for 2015 (including apps for distracted driving, an Uber-like ride service for kids, voice recognition systems, and on-demand vehicle renting), an active wellness driver’s seat from Faurecia, and over-the-air web connectivity. local Motors also gave an exclusive look at the world’s first 3D-printed car: the Swim, priced at $18,000+, and will be available on the road by 2017. Between switching from Bluetooth to Internet radio streaming, to semi-autonomous cars with the ability to park and drive itself through traffic, today’s cars are becoming more and more advanced. “By 2025, all 100 percent of cars will be connected,” said Mahbubul Alam, chief technology officer of Movimento. In a study by edison Research, the way consumers are demanding safer, efficient, and inexpensive technology in their vehicles has rapidly evolved, making today’s cars more connected than ever.