Driving under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous and can affect driving skills in a number of ways.

Cannabis users often think they are safer when they are under the influence because they drive more slowly. However, cannabis slows reaction and decision times. It can also distort perception of time and distance, and result in poorer concentration and control of the vehicle.

Cocaine leads to a sense of over-confidence and this is reflected in user’s driving style. Users typically perform higher risk, more aggressive manoeuvres at greater speeds.

Ecstasy (MDMA) is extremely dangerous to drive on because it results in distorted vision, heightened perception of sounds, altered perception and judgment of risks and an over-confident driving attitude.

Others are Alcohol,

During the phase whilst the effects of any illegal drugs are wearing off the user may feel fatigued, affecting concentration levels.

Driving in any of these conditions is a bad idea – not just for the driver but for their passengers and other road users.
Read more http://myplanet-car.com/

In a world where motor vehicles can be weapons and cars increasingly depend on internal computers and internet connections, automakers are under increasing pressure to find ways to guard against cyber-attacks.
Auto industry chiefs, security experts and government officials warned at an auto industry conference that hackers can threaten to do everything against cars that they do to other computers: remotely steal owner information, or hijack them and render them more dangerous than the truck that killed 84 people in Nice, France on July 14.
"When you look at autonomous autos, the consequences are so much greater" than the Nice attack by a possibly Islamic State-inspired man, said John Carlin, assistant US attorney general for national security.
"We know these terrorists. They don't have the capability yet. But if they're trying to get people to drive a truck into crowds, then it doesn't take too much imagination to think they are going to take an autonomous car and drive it into a crowd of people," said Carlin.
General Motors' chair and chief executive Mary Barra said that the advanced information technology that comes in new cars, especially "connectivity" systems linking cars to the internet, creates huge new challenges.
"One of these challenges is the issue of cyber security, and make no mistake, cyber security is foundational," she said.
Barra pointed to the need to protect the personal data of customers who use their in-car system for banking or to pay for other services.
"The fact is personal data is stored in or transmitted through vehicle networks," she said.

On top of that is the complexity of the newest auto IT systems, which, she said, "opens up opportunities for those who would do harm through cyber-attacks."

"Cybersecurity is an issue of public safety," she said.
Carlin said cyber-attacks generally have cost the US economy billions of dollars, and that the problem is that hackers often outpace efforts to strengthen security.

That will be the case for the auto industry, especially as it pushes ahead with self-driving cars, he said.
The problem, said Steven Center, a Honda Motor Co. vice president, is that car makers are under pressure from consumers to add more and more connectivity features to their vehicles.
More: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=279

The Elantra hits 40. As in MPG. For real this time.

In the seemingly interminable wake of the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal, there is only one true beneficiary: Hyundai. VW has helped us forget that in 2014 the Korean company’s U.S. outposts were assessed the single largest fine in the history of the Clean Air Act. Hyundai and Kia overstated the fuel economy of a combined 1.2 million vehicles, costing the sibling rivals $100 million in penalties plus the forfeiture of $200 million in greenhouse-gas-emission credits. Dealers are still providing annual cash reimbursement to owners of affected vehicles, including the previous-generation Elantra, which was infamously promoted as able to achieve 40 mpg in highway driving. After the EPA bust, Hyundai restated the Elantra’s fuel economy, downgrading its highway rating to 38 mpg.
We ponder all this now because Hyundai is back with a new Elantra for 2017, and a new model, the Eco, which again boasts a 40-mpg EPA highway rating. In CarandDrive first two fill-ups of the new car, they calculated 42 and then 43 mpg. Impressed, they pitted the Eco against a regular Elantra Limited on a mixture of highways, twisty back roads, and city streets. The Eco returned 42 mpg in this exercise, for a 6-mpg margin of victory. When they totaled all the Elantra Eco’s miles over the course of their testing, they actually beat its EPA combined rating of 35 by 3 mpg.
The Eco’s miserly prowess is derived mainly from its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It makes just 128 horsepower—19 less than the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter in other Elantras —but remedies that deficiency with an extra 24 pound-feet of torque. The 1.4 hits its torque plateau at just 1400 rpm, when its 156 pound-feet delivers a swell of acceleration. It’s enough to make the Eco half a second quicker to 60 mph than other Elantras, a welcome win-win that may better justify the upcharge than any projected savings at the gas pump. The paltry $400 extra you’ll pay for an Eco over a similarly optioned Elantra SE will take years to recoup, at least as long as fuel prices remain low.
Another significant mechanical difference between the Eco and the rest of the Elantra lineup is its transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that stands in for the conventional six-speed automatic. In this application, however, the dual-clutch comes from the frugal branch of the gearbox tree rather than the sporty one that bears fruit like paddle shifters and launch control. While the transmission shifts quickly enough, it does sometimes falter at low speeds. This often leads to the car leaping rather than creeping forward when you’ve let off the brake from a stop.

Read more + exclusive photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=278

Here’s one less thing for the ultra-rich to worry about: A new Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan is on its way.
The British brand has confirmed that the redesigned Phantom will arrive in 2018.
In an effort to shed a few pounds, the forthcoming Phantom will use an aluminum architecture, pictured above, which will trickle down to all of its future luxury cars—including its new SUV. Sadly, that cohort will not include new versions of Rolls-Royce’s stately Phantom Coupe and Drophead Coupe (convertible); those models are not being replaced.
Unveiled more than a dozen years ago, the current Phantom has undergone modest updates that included a thorough refresh for the 2013 model year, as well as a barrage of bespoke special-edition models. Production is finally set to end on December 31, although the company claims it will have Phantoms to sell “well into” 2017. That’s still more peace of mind for those equally impatient and well heeled, who just can’t wait for the new version.
See spy photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=277

Diesel vehicles must be banned from London if the UK is to meet its air pollution targets, a thinktank warned on Monday.

Cars, vans and buses using diesel fuel are the leading cause of air pollution in the capital, and although steps are being taken to discourage their use, through the congestion charge and clean air zones, this will not be enough to clear the air, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found in a new report.

The number of diesel vehicles on the capital’s streets has been increasing in recent years, according to reports.
Any phase-out of the vehicles will be controversial, as many drivers bought diesel cars in the belief that they were better for the environment. Diesel engines produce less carbon dioxide than their petrol equivalents, but they also produce nitrogen oxides and small particles, which pollute the air and can cause breathing difficulties in vulnerable people, such as the elderly and the young, and people with existing respiratory conditions.

More than 9,000 premature deaths a year are caused by polluted air in the capital.

While applauding the measures announced in recent weeks by Sadiq Khan, the recently elected Labour mayor of London, IPPR said....
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=276

2017 Elantra Sport goes on sale later this year to fight the Civic Si and VW Jetta GLI

Hyundai is aiming to take the fight to the Jetta GLI, Civic Si and the rest of the enthusiast compact segment with its 2017 Elantra Sport trim, and it's not waiting for the new N cars to do it.
The new model, about which we're just getting details, hits all the right notes for the spirited driver. It gets the 1.6-liter GDI four from the Veloster Turbo with 200 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. Drivers get to choose from a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddles.
The new Elantra Sport also gets a redesigned multi-link rear suspension to help improve roadholding, new bodywork and new interior upgrades like a flat-bottomed, sport-style steering wheel, sport seats and contrasting stitching on the upholstery.
After a big year in 2015, Hyundai’s only moved about 100K Elantras so far in 2016 -- down 25 percent in a vehicle segment that's down overall. That’s still a bunch of cars, but the Elantra does trail the perennial leaders, Civic and Corolla, by 80K units or so. This new trim doesn’t hit the streets until the fourth quarter of this year, so it might give Hyundai a small boost at the end.

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL PHOTOS OF THE 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SPORT: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=274

Mirrorless cars are coming to Japan, and will soon be appearing in other countries as well.

A mirrorless car replaces the rearview mirror and the sideview mirrors with camera monitoring systems. These systems basically replace the mirrors with displays that show video footage of the car’s surroundings.

According to industry experts, these monitoring systems are much safer than using mirrors because the camera views are wider, thus eliminating blind spots.

Last year, the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which sets international safety standards for vehicles, said it will allow carmakers to replace mirrors in cars with cameras and display systems.

Japan passed a law in June allowing for automakers to make and sell mirrorless cars, making it one of the first countries to embrace the technology. The EU is expected to follow suit soon and the US could put in place regulations for such vehicles by 2018, according to a report from Automotive News.

While production vehicles without mirrors will be a first, automakers have shown off mirrorless concept cars for quite sometime. In January, for example, BMW showed off its i8 concept car, which was completely mirrorless.

Read more + photos: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=273

One crash has been linked to exhaust issue known since 2012, report says

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened up an investigation into the 2011-5-15 Ford Explorer after receiving reports of exhaust fumes making their way into the cabin, according to Automotiveews.

In all, the NHTSA has received 154 such reports, with one of them now being linked to a crash that did not result in any injuries.
According to Automotive News, the problem has been reported by owners in instances of acceleration at full throttle, as well as when the air-conditioning system is set to recirculate air inside the cabin.

An investigation is the step before a possible recall; an investigation can lead to a recall but doesn't always, with the goal being to determine whether a recall is needed. In this case the number of reports is significant though neither the NHTSA or Ford have mentioned any specific systems in the Explorer SUVs from those model years that are under suspicion.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=272

Meet the 2018 AM-RB 001

It might look like a still from a video game, but what you see here is the nearly finished design of the forthcoming AM-RB 001, the joint collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing. Its makers aim to claim the title of fastest street- legal car in the world—by a considerable margin—when it arrives, probably late next year. It could create a whole new category of car in need of a fresh prefix, over and beyond super-, mega-, and even hypercars.

It’s an extraordinary-looking thing, with a tiny passenger compartment and a motorsport-style “keel” running beneath the car, and the 001’s aerodynamic mission is demonstrated by the fact that the face it presents to the wind is as much gap as it is bodywork. According to Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer, approximately 100 copies will be built—the final figure is still being decided—with two variants, one being fully street legal and one being track only. We’ll have to wait until later for the full shock-and-awe statistics, but the critical one comes with confirmation from the man who led Red Bull’s side of the project, chief technical officer Adrian Newey, that the track version aims to be as fast as an LMP1-class Le Mans endurance racer.
See official photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=270

A person briefed on the matter says Volkswagen would repair or buy back polluting vehicles and pay each owner thousands of dollars under a $14.7 billion legal settlement stemming from its emissions-cheating scandal.

The unidentified auto expert said the deal sets aside $10 billion to repair or buy back roughly 475,000 polluting Volkswagen vehicles with 2-liter diesel engines, and to compensate each owner with an additional payment of Read more here http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=268

Concept uses an advanced lightweight platform made of composite materials; is powered by a high-performance electric drivetrain

The Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100, a luxurious futuristic concept, has been unveiled to celebrate the centenary year of Rolls-Royce's parent company, BMW.

The concept is an electric-powered car conceived to preview styling, packaging, electronic and engineering ideas being pursued by the famed British car maker for inclusion on future models.

The futuristically styled Rolls-Royce is based around a lightweight carbonfibre structure, and is powered by a zero emissions drive train with two 250kW electric motors – one positioned at the front and the other at the rear, providing the big concept car with a total of 500kW. The drive is channelled to all four wheels – towering 28-inch items featuring intricate chromed spokes and housed within individual guards.

From the wheelbase to the body design, Rolls-Royce says the concept can be tailored to suit the needs of customers.

At 5900mm in length, the Vision Next 100 is 184mm shorter than today’s Phantom Extended Wheelbase. However, it provides seating for just two on a sofa-like bench seat, which is positioned at the rear of its rakish cabin.

See the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept images here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=267

The Skoda Kodiaq has been teased in a pair of new sketches ahead of its official unveiling at the Paris motor show this autumn.

The images confirm the production model's design will retain most of the look of the concept it is based on, the VisionS. Earlier spy photographs add further weight to this suggestion.
Although the last spotted development car is far from production-ready, it's immediately clear that the Kodiaq development car has kept the Vision S's bulky wheel arches, although it does appear to have a slightly more slanted nose - perhaps to conform with pedestrian impact safety standards - as well as lightly reshaped headlights.
It's likely that more modifications will be made to the car throughout testing. The finished product is due to go on sale next year.
See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=266

Mercedes-Benz resets the bar for the luxury SUV.

In great shape: A midsize SUV that's all lean muscle.
Has your SUV been working out? People can't help but notice the muscular new look of the GLC. Honed in the wind tunnel and tuned on the track, its long wheelbase, big wheels and wide track add up to more space, stability and sportiness. And from its crisp proportions to its chrome details, it attracts admiring eyes like it's drawn to the road.

Take it on: Advanced 4MATIC is all-wheel drive for all kinds of drivers.
Available 4MATIC® all-wheel drive continually sends the engine's torque to the wheels that can put it to the best use. On slippery roads, 4MATIC elevates control and confidence. It's nimble and quick to respond, to enhance handling and fun in dry corners. And it's lightweight and fuel-efficient, so you can enjoy its benefits year-round.

In your pocket: A world of connections, from your car or your smartphone.
From your GLC, your computer or your phone, mbrace connects you to your world. You can remote-start the car from your smartphone. Enjoy an ever-fresh array of in-car apps. WiFi and streaming audio are available. And mbrace even looks after your car with new remote diagnostics. Five years of mbrace® Connect features and services are standard.
See the Merceds-Benz GLC here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=265

Ford Performance is starting work on the next-generation Fiesta and Focus ST now that the Focus RS is in production, but a hot version of the current Mondeo looks increasingly unlikely.

Focus RS chief engineer Tyrone Johnson told Autocar his next job was to start work on the replacements for the Fiesta and Focus STs.
Although Johnson wouldn’t discuss production dates, the new Focus and Fiesta are due in 2018-2019, suggesting launch dates for the ST versions of 2019-2020.

Johnson says both cars will have to retain their blend of accessible performance and everyday usability but will also have to evolve to deal with competition from new rivals.

Johnson was less encouraging about a Mondeo ST being engineered to rival the Audi S4/S6 and BMW M3/M5. “It’s a pretty big car and the rivals are now offering around 500bhp. I think that’s a big ask for the Mondeo,” he said.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=263

The SUV will go on sale next year priced at less than N15million and will be previewed by a thinly-veiled concept at the Paris motor show

Ssangyong is planning to launch three new models over the next three years that it believes will move it towards profitability and increase global production towards 500,000 units a year.

Next year, it will replace its Range Rover-sized Rexton 4x4 with an all-new model. The new Rexton, codenamed Y400, is aimed squarely at Hyundai’s Santa Fe.

It will come with a choice of new 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines and equipment will include lane departure warning and autonomous braking. Prices are expected to start below N15 million when it goes on sale.
In 2018, Ssangyong will launch a new Rexton-based, full-sized crew-cab pick-up, codenamed Q200, to battle Ford’s Ranger and Toyota’s Hilux. It will come in two different wheelbases and with a choice of two load bay lengths, and will be powered by the same powertrains as the new Rexton.
In 2019, the Korean car maker will replace the current mid-sized Korando SUV with a stylish third generation model designed to rival the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Its styling will draw inspiration from the Tivoli, and it will use a lengthened version of the Tivoli’s monocoque architecture, including multi-link rear suspension.

Company bosses are currently evaluating three design proposals for the model, codenamed C300, and say they must decide soon if the model is to meet its planned schedule.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=262

Newly appointed Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne says potential customers have already been approached

Ferrari is privately offering selected individuals the chance to buy a spider version of its LaFerrari hypercar ahead of a 2017 launch.
New CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed in an interview with the Automobile website that a LaFerrari Spider was in development. Potential customers have already been shown the car. It is an open top version of the fixed-head LaFerrari, all 499 units of which have already been sold.
The biggest difference between the LaFerrari coupé and spider will, of course, be the roof. Ferrari’s most recent convertible models, the 488 Spider and California, have been folding hard-tops, and the same is expected for the LaFerrari Spider.

A removable targa-style top is an option rather than a fully retractable hard-top, due to the extra weight of a full convertible and the tight packaging of the mid-mounted V12 engine and hybrid system.
Whichever option Ferrari chooses, the exceptional rigidity of the LaFerrari’s carbon fibre chassis should mean no loss in torsional stiffness in the transformation from coupé to spider.
The hybrid system from the LaFerrari coupé, which mixes a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 engine with an electric motor and battery pack for a combined 950bhp, is expected to make it over to the spider version unchanged.
The production run of the LaFerrari Spider is likely to be even shorter than the coupé’s and the price even greater than the £1 million of the coupé.
It is not uncommon for all of the models to be sold out before the wider world gets to see or hear about it, such is the demand, desirability and exclusivity of such Ferraris and the way they are sold.
However, Autocar has heard from one private broker who claims to be able to source a brand-new LaFerrari Spider for €3.5 million (£2.8m) before taxes for 2017 delivery.

See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=261

Bears a resemblance to the Discovery Vision concept

We’ve known for quite a while that Land Rover is replacing the LR4 with a new Discovery SUV. Now for the first time, we’ve spotted a prototype that gives us clues as to what a final model could look like when it reaches our shores.

Motor trends caught the SUV driving down the streets of Las Vegas in plain sight recently. Despite the heavy camo, it’s clear the mule bears a resemblance to the Discovery Vision concept that debuted in 2014. Along with a subtle rear spoiler, the model features a rounded hood and boxy rear end just like the concept. However, you can tell camouflage covering the taillights and part of the roof is distorting the SUV’s shape a little in these images. It appears Land Rover has changed up the wheels as well.

Up front, the mule’s large dual intakes could signal intercoolers for turbochargers. That means the Discovery could be getting new Ingenium twin-turbo inline-six or inline-four cylinder engines.
Photos: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=260

The second-generation A5 coupé is unveiled at Audi's Ingolstadt HQ; uses MLB platform recently introduced on A4

Audi has lifted the veil on the second-generation A5 coupé at a media presentation held at its Ingolstadt headquarters in Germany on Thursday evening.
The svelte new two-door holds few surprises. It flaunts a predictably evolutionary appearance that uses many of the stylistic elements established on its nine-year-old predecessor, albeit in a reinterpreted form that gives it a lower and more athletic look along with added precision and accuracy to its surfaces and shutlines.
Key exterior design details include a wider and lower-mounted single-frame grille, newly shaped headlights with complex LED daytime running light graphics and dynamic blinker function, a longer bonnet and larger wheelhouses with pronounced bulges similar to those that graced the manufacturer’s Ur-Quattro.
Farther back, there is a more angular glasshouse graphic, a flatter roof, more prominent shoulders with a deep swage line running the length of the flanks, pillar doors with greater structure within their lower section and sharp new tail-lights featuring a new take on Audi’s traditional LED graphics.
Audi says it did not want to stray too far from the formula of the original A5, which sold a total of 330,000 units over its lifespan, but rather wanted to make the new model "more elegant and sharper looking".
Frank Lamberty, design boss for the ‘B9 family’ says that the philosophy when designing the second-generation A5 was to: "Make it better. Sharpen it, make it more sporty and more elegant. We had a strong message with the original A5, which we wanted to keep."
Beyond its familiar appearance, the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class Coupé rival adopts a brand new version of Audi’s MLB platform, providing it with wider tracks, a longer wheelbase and a similar increase in size to that of its recently introduced four-door sibling, the A4.


See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=259

In what may turn out to be worrying trend, officials in Paris have placed a ban on older cars and motorcycles.

As first reported by Le Monde, cars registered before 1997 and motorcycles before 1999 will be outlawed from entering the city center during the week starting from July 1.

Cars will be divided into six categories based on their age and level of emissions, and a windshield sticker will be used to allow authorities to easily identify them. Violators will face fines of up to €35 ($39), though this is set to rise as early as next year.
The new rules, which will affect around 10 percent of the vehicles in Paris, is just the latest measure to reduce smog and traffic in the popular tourist destination. Previously, cars were blocked from entering the city center on certain days based on license plate information and other factors, and complete bans on trucks already came into effect last year.

Worryingly, stricter rules are scheduled to role in at a later date. Eventually, we could see any vehicle older than 10 years banned from the city center, regardless of whether it’s a weekday or the weekend. This is to encourage more people to switch to lower-emission vehicles.
Proponents of the rules point to high levels of smog in the city as well as studies from the World Health Organization that claim fine-particle air pollution is responsible for around 42,000 deaths per year in France. A report from the French Senate also estimated that air pollution cost the country as much as $112 billion per year.

In the opposing camp are numerous motoring groups. They point out that the new rules will more harshly affect lower-income families that may not be able to afford newer cars. They also point out that there’s no exemption for classic or historically-significant cars like the Citroën 2CV shown above.

http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=258

Audi's lighter, more stylish A5 will get a choice of four-cylinder petrol engines, 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel options and a hybrid; V6 petrol and diesel units will head the range

The 2017 Audi A5 Coupé will be revealed at a special event in Ingolstadt this Thursday, before sales for the new model kick-off early next year.

The A5 is already one of the oldest models in Audi’s line-up, having been introduced in 2007. The new model will feature an extended wheelbase, adding extra cabin space in a class where a little more practicality can go a long way.
The move to the five-link suspension set-up from the A4 and a weight saving of about 100kg should give the A5 a little more agility, too. The car will still be pitched as more of a style-focused model than BMW’s handling-orientated 4 series, though.
The A5 will get the same range of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines as the latest A4, as well as 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel options.
Petrol and diesel V6s will be fitted to the cars at the top of the A5 range. A plug-in petrol-electric hybrid, using the same 1.4 TFSI engine and electric motor set-up as the A3 sportback e-tron,is also likely.

Spy shots have shown that the A5 coupé will retain its subtle side-on profile but adopt the crisp, slim headlights and tail-lights of the latest A4. Its cabin will also be based heavily on that of the saloon, including the option of Audi’s well-received Virtual Cockpit instrument panel.
Audi will also prepare a new RSS to rival the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé and BMW M4. As with the next generation of RS4, it will switch from a normally aspirated V8 with 444bhp to a twin-turbocharged V6 producing around 500bhp. The performance model should arrive soon after the regular editions; Audi is said to have been focusing on delivering its RS versions earlier in the product cycle, due to customer demand.
See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=257

BMW’s new M5 super-saloon has been spotted testing again; it will do battle with the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 when it arrives next year

The next-generation BMW M5 has been spotted testing again, revealing significant design features including its large front air intakes and drilled disc brakes.

The new 5 series flagship is set to offer a choice between rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive for the first time. It is tentatively due to be unveiled at the 2017 Geneva motor show, with a developed version of BMW’stwin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine under the bonnet.

Like the current car, it will use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but the engine's peak output is expected to increase from the 552bhp and 502lb ft of torque of today’s model.

Along with the rest of the 5 series range, the next M5 will feature an evolved design that takes influence from the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe concept of 2013. Photographed development cars confirm it’ll get a more heavily raked rear window and a sloping boot deck, giving it a sleeker profile and more shapely rear end than the current model.

Inside, much of the car’s dash design will resemble that of the new 7 series, and it'll also get 48-volt electrical architecture to enable advanced autonomous driving systems. A self-steering mode will operate up to a pre-determined speed, and a sophisticated anti-collision system and fully autonomous braking will also be available.

See Photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=256

The SUV gets early praise for comfort and ease of use, even on shorter trips, but the infotainment has some troubles

I’m into my second month with the Tucson and, generally speaking, everything is going well.
It probably helps that the car has had an easy introduction to the swing of things, with a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between home and airport parking — although later this month I’ve got a trip to the Isle of Skye planned that ought to be a proper test of its practicality and comfort.
The early word on that is good; the last (or first) two people to experience travel time in the rear seats seemed satisfied. But that was for 15 minutes; after seven hours of back-agitating motorway furrowing, we’ll know for sure.
I should also have a clearer picture of fuel economy. At the moment, it’s hovering around 38mpg, which isn’t exactly spectacular for a 1.7-litre engine with a claimed combined figure beyond 60mpg.
Admittedly, that’s off the back of chugging repeatedly between home and Heathrow, so I’m going to hold off on my disappointed face until the results come in from some longer motorway cruises.
Otherwise, as with so many other things in modern life, I’ve been mostly preoccupied with the stuff that appears on the Tucson’s infotainment screen. Here, of course, is where the niggles ruck up like a bed sheet on Sunday morning.
By and large, happily, it’s fine. Being fast and responsive in the processor makes it easy to forgive underlying faults in the software — and so far my cringes have been modest.

Read More: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=255

SEVENTY per cent of drivers attached to most governors operate with expired licences and are not well trained, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, said yesterday.

He spoke when he visited Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello in Government House, Minna in continuation of the commission’s public sensitisation on use of standard tyres.

The corps marshal said the Federal Government is working on sensitisation programmes for drivers in the convoy of chief executives to educate them.

Oyeyemi, who was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal/ Head Policy, Research and Statistics Kayode Olagunju, explained that lack of knowledge on the expiration date of tyres by drivers has led to the loss of lives and other challenges in traffic management.

He added that this led the FRSC to begin a nationwide sensitisation on use of standard tyres.

According to him, a good percentage of road crash was caused by expired tyres.

He stressed that people were not taking the issue of tyres seriously as the usage of expired tyres, over-inflating and under-inflating of tyres were among the most significant challenges in the country’s traffic management.

Oyeyemi hailed the governor’s efforts in the massive construction and rehabilitation of roads network within the state.

He added that it would help in reducing carnage on highways and save lives of motorists.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Ketso, urged the commission to create a synergy with other safety officers to ensure that the sensitisation programme get to the grassroots.

Read More: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=254

The Phantom is predicted to remain on top of Rolls-Royce's traditional order, despite the upcoming release of the Cullinan SUV

The upcoming Rolls-Royce 'Cullinan' SUV is unlikely to overtake the Phantom as the halo car in the luxury marque’s range when it’s launched in around 2018, according to sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson.

“In my opinion, the halo will remain as the Phantom, because history has always pointed at large sedans as the most desirable cars,” said Robertson. “We live in a changing world, of course, and this may be the shifting point, but I expect the traditional Rolls-Royce order to remain.” Robertson remained tight-lipped on whether the next-generation Phantom limo or the SUV, which has yet to have its name confirmed, will arrive first. Both will sit on an all-new architecture that will underpin all future Rolls-Royces.

Bentley revealed in March that customers had placed 10,000 pre-orders for the Bentayga, deliveries of which are due to begin this month. The SUV is set to be the Crewe car maker's best-selling model.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=252

Larger Scenic follows regular model by swapping MPV looks for crossover styling; five and seven-seat options available

The new Renault Grand Scenic will go on sale later this year, featuring new exterior and interior styling, new technology and more space than before, says Autocar.

Following on from the five-seat Renault Scenic, which made its debut at the Geneva motor show, comes the new Grand Scenic. It can seat up to seven passengers, or be bought with just five seats.

This new model is taller, longer, wider and sits higher off the ground than the car it replaces – something which equates to more interior space, and also helps to give the Grand Scenic more of an SUV profile, rather than that of a traditional MPV. The new car will sit on 20in alloy wheels as standard.

See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=251

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has said no fewer than 100 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were dismissed in the last one year.

The Commissioner stated this on Friday at the ongoing annual ministerial briefing holding in Ikeja to mark the first one year of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in office.

Mobereola disclosed that the officials were dismissed for various unpardonable offences bordering on unethical conducts.

He said: “Up to 100 LASTMA staff members have been dismissed while many were demoted.”

Noting that government had trained and retrained several LASTMA officials for effective service delivery, Mobereola advised them to carry out their duties within the law and stop extorting money from motorists.

Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=250

Mercedes-Benz has been running camo'd E-Class Coupe(and Convertible) prototypes around for many months now, but this time, CarScoop spies nabbed a shot of its interior.

Blink and you’ll miss the small changes made over the new E-Class Sedan's dashboard, but they’re there and they include the funkier turbine-style nozzles on the air vents and the modified lower center console that sits higher and does away with the saloon’s analogue clock for a cleaner and more compact look. This particular tester sported the base version of Merc’s instrument cluster with two round analogue dials separated by an LCD screen, but the more futuristic fully-digital console will be available on higher-end models.


You can’t see it in these images, but another, more substantial difference for both the Coupe and the Convertible will be their four-passenger layout with individual rear seats.

With Mercedes having removed most of the heavy body cladding on the outside, and despite the swirly camo, we can interpret the elegant yet sporty exterior lines of the new 2017 E-Class Coupe. While it seems to have a more powerful presence than the chunkier and smaller C-Class Coupe, the E-Class Coupe suffers from the ‘Matryoshka doll’ syndrome that prevails the German luxury car industry these days.

Under the sheetmetal, the Coupe sits on the same MRA platform as the E-Class sedan and which also underpins the C-Class and S-Class. It will borrow the saloon’s powerplants from further up the scale, including a base 241hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and turbocharged V6s culminating with the E43 AMG's 396 HP (401 PS). Europe will get a choice of diesels too.

A fully-fledged E63 AMG performance model with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 delivering 571PS (563hp) and 750Nm (553 lb-ft) in base trim, and 612PS (604hp) and 850Nm (627 lb-ft) in ‘S’ guise, will round out the range later down the road.

Prices should hover around the same levels as those of the current car when it goes on sale in early 2017.

See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=249

Land Rover is working on an update for its Range Rover Sport, as evidenced by camouflaged prototypes spotted testing in Europe.

As this is an update we’re talking about, likely the second-generation model’s mid-cycle update, the changes should be minimal.

The prototype shown here has a new bumper design, with a new shape for the air intakes and license plate support. There is also a revised grille surround as well as what appears to be a new hood, one likely designed to fit the revised grille.

The second-gen Range Rover Sport was all-new for the 2014 model year. The original model had a lifespan of about eight years, and assuming the same for the second-gen model it means we should see this updated version introduced for the 2018 model year. A 2016 Range Rover Sport has just been announced. It’s received a new diesel-powered HSE Td6 variant as well as some new technologies for the cabin.

Similar updates to those you see here look to be set for the flagship Range Rover SUV, whose current generation was launched a year prior to the second-gen Range Rover Sport. The high-performance Range Rover Sport SVR has also been spotted in prototype form.

Stay tuned for further information as development continues. See spy photo here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=248

The Model 3 reception was phenomenal, but the 400,000 mark reported was inaccurate.

First, Tesla wiped out 4,200 reservations as duplicates; probably customers too eager to get in line making a mistake or a glitch in the company's system.

On the other hand, 8,000 people had second thoughts and cancelled their pre-order. Still, the compact EV saloon's launch remains a smash hit and it will be the one that will propel Tesla a tenfold increase in its annual sales, to 500,000 vehicles, by 2018.

According to AutomotiveNews, quoting Tesla Motors, the numbers are part of the brand's filling to raise $1.4 billion in a share offering to ramp up production for theentry-level electric vehicle.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=247

Transport ministers to honour achievement of Russia’s capital city at global summit in Germany on May 19
The city of Moscow has been awarded the 2016 Transport Achievement Award for its exemplary approach to improving traffic conditions in the Russian capital. The prize is awarded by the International Transport Forum (ITF), a Paris-based intergovernmental organisation and policy think tank with 57 member countries.

Following twenty years of almost uncontrolled development of urban traffic, the city of Moscow introduced a rigorous and comprehensive set of policies to address the gridlock on its streets. Over the past five years, these measures have reduced the number of cars in central Moscow by 25% and increased the average speed of traffic by 12%, despite 600 new cars being registered in the agglomeration each day.
In 2013, Moscow traffic was ranked as worst in the world by the TomTom Traffic Index. In the 2016 edition it has improved to fifth place in that index.

The ITF jury recognized the “impressive achievement in improving overall traffic in Moscow.” In particular, the jurors highlighted “the effectiveness of coherent, coordinated initiatives and policy actions that facilitated this remarkable change.”

Measures put into place in Moscow include: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=246

The ultra luxury British manufacturer has announced the introduction of the Phantom Zenith, the 50 cars that mark the final year of production for the current generation Phantom.

First showcased just a few months ago, the Zenith series is now available from Rolls-Royce, the catch being that all 50 examples have been pre-ordered a long time ago. The Zenith line comes in coupe and drophead coupe body forms only, and mark the final year of production for the seventh generation Phantom model. Each unit of the Zenith series is bespoke since it has been manufactured to custom specifications from the owner, but also feature some factory upgrades that make them stand out among the series produced Phantoms. For example Zenith buyers will get a new glass shelf for the rear tailgate, a bigger champagne fridge – now with room for two bottles – and a unique version of Rolls-Royce’s picnic hamper.

The fascia’s surround uses a Best English Blacking finish –that’s a technique usually associated with fine gun-making – and inside the cabin there are uniquely numbered badges for the build position. Inside Rolls is also fitting a piece of metal from the soon-to-be decommissioned Phantom production line, with custom coordinates to signify where it was located in the carmaker’s Goodwood plant. The owners may also notice the brushed steel speedometer and lighter colored leather front seats compared to the ones in the back. The mesmerizing starlight headliner also features a unique pattern, illuminating the river and front passenger with more light than those in the rear. Not that it matters anymore, but the already sold out Phantom Zeniths were available for £338,616 and £358,488, for the coupé and drophead coupé, respectively.

See photos here: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=245

The automakers announced that Nissan has purchased a controlling 34-percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors, as the latter deals with a Japanese-market fuel economy scandal.​

Lastweek, we reported a rumor that Nissan may take control of Mitsubishi Motors. That's now official as Nissan announced that it signed an agreement to invest $2.2 billion in exchange for a controlling 34-percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors. The agreement will allow both companies to share platforms, technology, and manufacturing facilities. Nissan will also take control of Mitsubishi's board of directors. Expect the agreement to be finalized by the end of the month.

While Nissan's investment is being called a "strategic partnership," it comes in the wake of Mitsubishi admitting it had been rigging fuel economy numbers on Japanese-market vehicles since 1991. Since April 19th, Mitsubishi's new car sales have dropped significantly, and the automaker's stock price has fallen 43 percent.
Read more: http://myplanet-car.com/autonews.php?sid=244