Karma presents hot new models at Shanghai 2019

Luxury electric vehicle automaker, Karma Automotive, chose Auto Shanghai 2019, the world’s largest automotive show, to usher in a new era for the company and launch its New Dawn product showcase illustrating its immediate, mid-term and long-term future.

The big three include;

1.       2020 Karma Revero GT luxury electric vehicle: it’s fast, smart, stunning in design, and will be available for sale during the second half of this year. The new car offers improved technology, performance, interior and exterior options and customization capability. It features a TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder in-line engine supplied by BMW AG to power an on-board electric generator and enhance overall vehicle performance. Karma engineers created a world-class electric drive system that alongside a series of other technological advancements enables the new 2020 Revero to be as fast as it looks.

2.    Karma Pininfarina GT coupe: the first result of a partnership with Pininfarina, the iconic Italian design and engineering house. The Pininfarina team took a new 2020 Revero GT, retained the fundamental engineering parameters and then crafted a new body style, panels and interior, offering an alternative design interpretation.

3.       Karma SC1 Vision Concept: a signpost to Karma’s future – one that recognizes and embraces full electrification. The roadster reimagines Karma design language for tomorrow and soon-to-come customization options and shows the brand’s future direction based on full BEV offerings at the company’s core. The Karma SC1 Vision Concept features the best of some of tomorrow’s cutting-edge technologies with Karma’s distinctive take on integration. At the core of SC1 Vision Concept’s technological suite is a new infotainment architecture with 5G connectivity as well as a humanized communication system, which integrates touch, voice, eye, and graphical interfaces to enable seamless interaction with the roadster.

Tosan Aduayi reports on motoring periodically - flowtranglobal@gmail.com

COTA IndyCar series 2019

The inaugural IndyCar Classic was held at Circuit of the Americas-COTA on March 24, 2019. It was a 60-lap event that was won by rookie Colton Herta of Harding Steinbrenner Racing, who became the youngest race winner in IndyCar Series history at 18 years of age.

It was one of the two additions to the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule, which officially revealed that COTA had obtained a race as part of a multi-year agreement when it was released on September 4, 2018.

COTA was joined on the 2019 schedule by a revived Grand Prix of Monterey on September 22, the season finale and the first IndyCar race at Laguna Seca in 15 years. IndyCar Classic was the second race of the 2019 season, following the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg two weeks earlier on March 10.

The placement of the Austin race, as well as the forward shift of the Grand Prix of Alabama that follows it, will reduce the number of long gaps in the early portion of the season.

Tosan Aduayi reports on motoring periodically - flowtranglobal@gmail.com

Land Rover’s expedition to tackle malaria

Land Rover is working with the Mobile Malaria Project, winners of the 2018 Land Rover Bursary in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), as it heads to sub-Saharan Africa to embark on a unique eight-week journey of Discovery.

Made up of three Oxford University researchers, led by Dr George Busby, the Mobile Malaria Project will travel more than 6,300km across Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya. Driving a specially-modified Land Rover Discovery, they will investigate the challenges facing those on the front line of malaria control in Africa – where 90 per cent of the world’s cases occur.

Designed and developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, the Discovery is equipped with a mobile genetic sequencing laboratory that makes full-use of the vehicle’s 1,137-litre load space. Not only does it feature a fridge/freezer unit to safely store scientific supplies, there is also a bespoke load space configuration frame system with specially-designed storage equipment cases and an on-board expedition battery.

The Land Rover Discovery has a 30-year track record of tackling the most difficult terrain, reaching threatened habitats and vulnerable people across the world. The expedition group has also teamed up with another of Land Rover’s global humanitarian partners, what3words, to accurately plan their route, navigate on the ground and document their findings in real-time.

The Mobile Malaria Project will depart the UK on 22 March to begin its eight-week expedition.

bout the Land Rover Bursary

About Land Rover Bursary

The Land Rover Bursary was first awarded by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in 2007, offering funding and the use of a Land Rover vehicle, as part of a partnership that stretches back more than 35 years. The bursary is awarded every year to an enthusiastic team who undertake a journey for which a Land Rover is integral, to promote a wider understanding and enjoyment of geography and to take the recipients beyond their normal limits and boundaries.

About Land Rover

Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's SUV sectors, with 80 per cent of this model range exported to over 100 countries.

About the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG; Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geography. Formed in 1830 for 'the advancement of geographical science', today we deliver this objective through developing, supporting and promoting geographical research, expeditions and fieldwork, education, public engagement, and geography input to policy. The Society aims to foster an understanding and informed enjoyment of our world. The RGS-IBG holds the world's largest private geographical collection and provides public access to it. www.rgs.org

About the Mobile Malaria Project

As winners of the 2018 Land Rover Bursary, Dr George Busby from the University of Oxford's Big Data Institute, Jason Hendry and Dr Isaac Ghinai will drive 6,300km across Africa in March 2019 to document current innovations and challenges in eliminating malaria – a parasitic infectious disease transmitted between humans by mosquitoes.

Tosan Aduayi contributes on motoring from Dallas, Texas

BUGATTI hyper sports “LA VOITURE NOIRE”

French luxury brand Bugatti has shown that it can transform these challenges into unique models. With its one-off car “La Voiture Noire1“Bugatti has again proved that it makes the world’s most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive hyper sports cars. “The true form of luxury is individuality. ‘La Voiture Noire’ is now at the cutting edge of automobile production.

The heart of the new creation is the iconic 16-cylinder engine with a displacement of 8 litres developing 1,103 kW/1,500 PS and 1,600 Newton-metres of torque. Six tailpipes at the rear bear witness to its incredible power and are also a tribute to the 16 cylinders.

The new “Voiture Noire“, the perfect grand tourisme, is just as exclusive, powerful and luxurious as Jean Bugatti’s historic car. “Bugatti arouses passion and emotions throughout the world. Customers expect us to continually surprise them and to raise the goalposts beyond the limits of their imagination. 

We have just succeeded in doing so with ‘La Voiture Noire‘,” says Stephan Winkelmann. Bugatti will continue to work hard to shape the future of the brand. This will be a future full of beauty, passion and surprises.

Tosan Aduayi reports on motoring periodically - flowtranglobal@gmail.com

Jaguar I-PACE wins European Car of the Year

The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE has been voted ‘Car of the Year’ at the European Car of the Year Awards 2019. This is the first time a Jaguar has won the coveted prize. The European Car of the Year jury comprises 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries, and the award recognises technical innovation, design, performance, efficiency and value for money.

Designed and developed in the UK, the Jaguar I-PACE has had profound sales success globally, with more than 8,000 customer deliveries to date – 75 per cent of them in Europe*.

Nothing else on the road looks or drives like the I-PACE. It is engineered to take full advantage of its electric powertrain and bespoke aluminium architecture, offering sports car performance and SUV practicality.

Charging is made easy for customers using the Jaguar public charging service, accessed via a dedicated app or using an RFID key. With tailor-made charging packages and tariffs compiled into a simple monthly bill, it gives I-PACE customers access to more than 85,000 charging points throughout Europe.

The I-PACE has received 55 awards worldwide since it was revealed a year ago, including German, Norwegian and UK Car of the Year, BBC TopGear magazine EV of the Year, China Green Car of the Year, and Autobest’s ECOBEST Award.

Tosan Aduayi reports on motoring periodically - flowtranglobal@gmail.com

USA cops receive safer Dodge Chargers

A while back in New York, two police officers were attacked unnoticed and murdered in their patrol vehicles. There has been a push to ensure that cops feel safer while on duty. To this effect, more than 10,000 Dodge Charger Pursuit police sedans across the U.S. are now equipped with the Officer Protection Package thanks to an alliance between FCA US LLC and Intermotive, Inc.

 The Officer Protection Package combines InterMotive’s Surveillance Mode Module™ with FCA’s Fleet Safety Group technology – ParkSense rear park assist system and ParkView rear backup camera – to alert officers when movement at the rear of the vehicle is detected.

Cops are can now immediately see what is behind the vehicle via the camera monitor. At the discretion of the local law enforcement agency, the tripped sensors can also be programed to automatically initiate any or all of the following: a signal for the doors to lock, front windows to roll up, reverse lights to turn on and tail lights to flash, giving the officer a few critical extra seconds to assess and react to the situation.

Dodge SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is America’s mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

Tosan Aduayi is a veteran motoring journalist and contributor - tosan@trendyafrica.com

KBB 10 COOLEST NEW CARS UNDER $20k FOR 2018

Kelley Blue Book has named its 10 coolest cars under $20k for 2018. The award recognizes vehicles that offer comfort, style and driving excitement at an affordable price.

1. 2018 Mazda Mazda3

Widely regarded as the best-looking and most fun-to-drive vehicle in its segment, the Mazda3 is the all-time champion of our budget-minded coolest cars list, appearing here for the 15th time.

2. 2018 Honda Civic

Kelley Blue Book's Small Car Best Buy of 2018, the Civic is a well-rounded car offered as a sedan or coupe that's comfortable, roomy, practical, efficient, packed with cool tech, and a blast to drive.

3. 2018 Hyundai Kona

The newest addition to this list is the Kona, Hyundai's new small SUV. The Kona was given a healthy dose of modern style, and the clean, crisp cabin is filled with a bevy of connectivity and advanced safety features.

4. 2018 Volkswagen Golf

Euro-tuned handling and a sporty attitude are only part of what makes the Golf such an appealing car.

5. 2018 Kia Soul

Few vehicles match the Kia Soul's alluring combination of bold style, SUV-like versatility, and practicality, with a roster of standard and available features that add to the Soul's value.

6. 2018 Jeep Renegade

Of all the vehicles on this list, the Renegade is the one that can get you the furthest beyond where the pavement ends.

7. 2018 Subaru Impreza

Already earning extra credit for its standard all-wheel drive, a recent redesign gives the Impreza sedan and hatchback sharper looks, more refinement.

8. 2018 Honda Fit

This diminutive hatchback has a feature called the Magic Seat that gives the interior space and versatility that rivals that of a small SUV.

9. 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai's Elantra was already established as a high-value car loaded with a wide array of standard features.

10. 2018 Chevrolet Sonic

The Sonic's starting price of $16,170 makes it the most affordable car on this list. But what keeps Chevrolet's subcompact sedan and hatch on our list of coolest cars is its compelling combination of tech, comfort and a fun attitude, all wrapped in redesigned sheetmetal.

Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder, Trendy Africa Magazine and Flowtran global blog. He has reported on Motoring with trademark columns; Roadrunner and Carliners. Contact; tosan@trendyafrica.com