February 2013
BizBlitz 15
Motoring
“Child-Proofing” the New Ford B-MAX EVERY parent is familiar with the challenge of keeping a new car clean in the face of everyday use by children and pets. Ford has now tried to make that job a little easier for mums and dads by “child-proofing” the new B-MAX. Engineers subjected the new B-MAX to laboratory tests that simulate the toughest treatment children and pets can dish out, including soaking materials in milk and fizzy drinks; testing fabrics with a “mace”; and pounding plastics with a heavy rubber ball. “By testing for everything from soft drink spills to muddy boots, we’ve made sure the B-MAX interior is ready for anything.” said Mark Montgomery, senior materials engineer, Ford of Europe. “I’ve got young children myself, so I’m very familiar with
the mess they can create.” The B-MAX’s Ford Easy Access Door System provides unrivalled access for families and luggage through hinged front doors and sliding rear doors that integrate the central body pillars. Samples of all leathers and fabrics used in the compact multi-activity vehicle’s interior were tested for stain resistance and ease of cleaning after being soaked for 24 hours in the liquids and being smeared with soil and grease. Engineers also tested resistance to damage that can be caused by abrasive zips and fasteners found on children’s clothing and bags. The “mace test” used a metal ball with needle-sharp spikes to brush fabrics 600 times and replicate the effect of snagging zips and studs; also engineers carried out a special test to repeatedly rub the
seat material with Velcro. Impact tests – conducted at temperatures as low as -30 C when plastic is more brittle – used a rubber ball ten times heavier than a regulation football to ensure that plastic parts could withstand bumps and knocks. Fabrics were also rubbed 60,000 times in a 17hour non-stop wear test; metal spikes were scraped across plastic parts to test scratch resistance; and carpets were checked for durability on a special test rig fitted with rough abrasion wheels. “These tests make sure we’ve done everything possible to make sure the car looks as good the thousandth time that families sit in it as it does the first time,” added Montgomery.
NISSAN GT-R: EVEN SHARPER FOR 2013 NISSAN’S iconic performance flagship GT-R has arrived in Europe for 2013 with improved response times, greater stability and even sharper handling. Alongside the enhanced 2013 model 370Z, the GT-R spearheads Nissan’s performance car line-up. At the very top of the Nissan range, the GT-R now has a reworked 550PS 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, generating improved responses from the mid and upper rev ranges. Modifications have also been made to the dampers, springs and front anti-roll bar. The result is greater high-speed stability, improved traction,
a more refined ride and an enhanced driver experience. The 0-62mph time is now only 2.7 seconds, 0.1 seconds quicker than in the model year 2012 car. The revised model is also even faster around the Nürburgring, lapping the famous German circuit in 7min 19.1 seconds when undergoing testing last year. Kazutoshi Mizuno, creator of the GT-R, has revealed that 0.5 seconds were lost to traffic on that hot lap, indicating that the MY13 GT-R is capable of a 7min 18.6 seconds lap. That compares to 7min 21 seconds for the MY12 GT-R. With the GT-R always showcasing Nissan’s latest technology, the modifications
made are derived from data generated during competitive racing at the 2012 Nürburgring 24-Hour race in Germany in which two near-production GT-R models were competing last year. The Nissan GT-R is a fourwheel-drive super-coupé like no other, with a lineage and integrity that stretches back more than four decades. When the current version debuted in 2009 its aggressive and unique styling and thunderous performance created a storm of publicity and rave reviews. It has been subtly upgraded every year since.
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