LIFESTYLE
GADGETS FOR THE NEW YEAR
GC’s shortlist of some of the most innovative technological devices that made their debut in 2018
VECTOR BY ARC
“Vector isn’t just a motorbike; it’s the world’s first fully-electric café racer, it’s an innovative heads-up display helmet, and it’s a sensory riding suit – all working in unison to create an experience package like no other,” says Mark Truman, Founder & CEO at Arc, a subsidiary of InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund. The world’s first all-electric motorcycle with a fully integrated Human Machine Interface (HMI) was unveiled at the Milan Motorcycle Show on November 6, 2018. With just 399 units expected to be produced in the first year, the price tag is princely at £90,000 which includes the bike as well as its integrated helmet and jacket. The bike has a 103-kilowatt electric motor that produces an astounding 397 Nm at the output sprocket. It has a single speed transmission that will take the bike to a top speed of 200 kmph, with a 0-60 mph (0-97 kmph) acceleration achieved in just 3.1 seconds. Weighing in at 220kg, Arc claims the bike has the best power-to-weight ratio of any electric motorcycle of its class by a considerable margin. The Zenith full-face helmet is based on the Hedon Heroine. It has a retro-feel to it with calfskin lining to match the bike’s cafe racer styling. It is voice-control enabled and Wi-Fi-enabled for wireless communication with the bike. It functions as the bike’s keyless ignition, its dashboard and its rear-view mirror. Therefore, the bike cannot be ridden without the helmet. The bespoke Origin jacket is integrated with the helmet and was co-developed with Knox, the market-leader in riding armour. It features eight “haptic feedback modules” across the shoulders and back which is a wireless audio system using large-amplitude speaker oscillations for feedback sensations. USD 117,000 102 JAN / FEB 2019
