mini has revealed the aceman, a new electric-only production model that looks much the same as the aceman concept car. the aceman fits in between the cooper hardtop and the countryman suv in terms of size. it’s not yet confirmed for the u.s. market, but we think it will come here.
fully electric go-kart feeling.
the new mini aceman is only available with a fully electric drive, giving locally emission-free mobility combined with the driving fun that only mini can give. the new mini aceman will be launched on the market in the mini aceman e version and as the enhanced performance mini aceman se. the mini aceman e achieves a range of 310 kilometres in the wltp test cycle. the high-voltage battery in the mini aceman se enables a range of 406 kilometres according to the wltp. charging is quick and easy with alternating current at 11 kw or with direct current in the mini aceman e at 75 kw and in the aceman se at up to 95 kw. this charges the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes at an appropriate fast-charging station.
new mini design language: “charismatic simplicity”.
the entire new mini family features a reduced and clear design. the minimalist design language is also expressed in the mini aceman: “the minimalist design style of the mini aceman also powerfully conveys its progressive character. the mini aceman is a strong character with his own young personality within the new mini family. it has an independent design language, is compact and looks agile. with its distinctive expression, it is the perfect everyday companion for those who value individuality in urban areas,” emphasizes oliver heilmer, head of mini design.
the exterior features a streamlined front, short overhangs and a functional two-box design. the “clever use of space” design principle, typical of the brand, takes on a new form. the front of the mini aceman has a distinctive design and reinterprets typical mini elements such as angular headlights and an octagonal front grille. the daytime running light elements of the led headlights display three different modes, individualising the front view of the new mini family member. the eye-catching design of the mini aceman makes a progressive statement, while at the same time paying due homage to the brand’s history and marking the vehicle out as a mini at first glance.
immersive experience in the interior.
the interior design also pursues a consistent reduction of alec issigonis’ original idea: the cockpit invokes three central design elements of the classic mini with the practical steering wheel, the round oled display in the centre and the redesigned toggle switch bar. a knitted recycled polyester material covers the surface of the dashboard. structure and colour lend the interior a homely character with accentuated colour contrasts. this effect is enhanced by light projections displaying different patterns and colours on the surface of the dashboard. these are part of up to eight mini experience modes. they all provide an immersive driving experience with light, sound, and graphic design in the oled display.
innovative infotainment through oled display and new operating system.
the round oled display is the central control element for the innovative infotainment in the interior. when combined with the mini operating system 9, it makes intuitive touch operation possible, based on smartphone menu navigation. the operating system is an in-house solution and demonstrates the software expertise the bmw group has developed – also in terms of over-the-air software updates. with over 7 million vehicles, bmw group has the largest completely upgrade-enabled fleet in the industry. as such, in future new mini models will also receive regular remote software upgrades, so that the vehicles are always fully updated. the mini operating system 9 also features the mini brand’s first fully-fledged voice assistant. animated graphic elements, typography and an avatar are used to visualise voice-controlled interaction on the oled display.
photos courtesy of bmw group
[ mini aceman ]
enel x, a leading european electric energy provider, launched in 2017 the campaign e-mobility revolution, to install thousands of public chargers to recharge electric vehicles.
chicago-based koz susani design was tasked with designing the entire portfolio of these electric vehicle chargers. this was a rare opportunity to design a product with no precedents, to create a new urban icon designed to look familiar in the city landscape while providing an innovative function.
electric cars promise to be respectful of the quality of life in a city. likewise, juicepole, is designed as a piece of urban furniture, with a design language that integrates perfectly with any street, whether in the historic center of a small italian town or in the parking lot of the most modern shopping center.
the iconic shape is a pure cylinder, a simple, familiar form. the size of the charging station is miniaturized, to allow its top to fit below the line-of-sight while reducing the visual presence on the street.
there’s a separation between the hi-tech ‘head’ where the high-resolution user interface is, and the ‘body’ that uses traditional architectural materials like stainless steel and a variety of stone finishings. these ‘open source’ materials enables every city to select the material that best mirrors its architectural landscape.
currently juicepole, is only available in european market, but the company itself, enel x, is active in the u.s.a. too, and they’ll have similar products for the u.s.a. market in upcoming months.
the enel x juicepole and juicebox, designed by koz susani design, have been selected for adi design index 2019, selection for compasso d’oro, the most prestigious design award in italy. juicepole also won the core77 design award 2019, notable, transportation design.
the name taycan roughly translates from turkish as “lively young horse” in reference to the steed of the stuttgart coat of arms on the porsche crest.
the taycan is a billion-dollar bet on an electric-drive future, the first in what the high-end german car company hopes will be a long line of battery-powered high-performance cars and sport utility vehicles.
the interior of the car is based around up to four digital displays, including a curved, free-standing 16.8 in configurable driver’s display. this marks porsche’s first fully digital instrument binnacle. a 10.9 inch screen is situated to the right of the instrument binnacle which serves as the infotainment system of the car. an optional screen is placed to the right of the infotainment screen which allows the front passenger to customize the infotainment system. an 8.4 inch screen is present in a portrait layout on the centre console with a trackpad to control the functions. the screen displays the status of the power train and tells the driver to efficiently use the power. despite using an all digital layout, the dashboard features the classic porsche clock on the top.
[ vitals ]
model > taycan turbo
engine > 2 ac synchronous electric motors
transmission > 1-speed direct-drive (front), 2-speed automatic (rear)
power > 500 kw (680 ps; 671 hp)
torque > 850 n⋅m (627 lb⋅ft)
0—60 mph > 3.0 seconds
top speed > 162 mph
range > wltp: 381–450 km (237–280 mi)
price > $150,900 usd
model > taycan turbo s
engine > 2 ac synchronous electric motors
transmission > 1-speed direct-drive (front), 2-speed automatic (rear)
power > 560 kw (761 ps; 751 hp)
torque > 1,050 n⋅m (774 lb⋅ft)
0—60 mph > 2.6 seconds
top speed >
range > wltp: 388–412 km (241–256 mi)
price > $185,000
charging
charging time for alternating current (ac) with 9.6kww ( 0 to up to 100% ) = 93 minutes
charging time for direct current (dc) with 50kww ( 5 to up to 80% ) = 93 minutes
charging time for direct current (dc) with 270kww ( 5 to up to 80% ) = 22.5 minutes
sales slated for december 2019.
[ porsche official site ]
a space in which the experiential journey created by artist carlo bernardini, through a specific study of optical fibers that draw light shapes, brings the visitors to discover the energy of the new hyundai kona, first compact suv available also in full electric version, and the concept kite, electric dune buggy made by students of turin based ied’s master in transportation design with the support of hyundai’s european design center.
walking through the light installation, visitors will be brought in a dimension permeated by pure energy, that shows itself in geometries and perspective games crated by luminous optical fiber in the dark.
in bernardini’s works in fact, light is mediated by the use of optical fiber, which the artist uses since 1996, and with which he creates sensational effects of geometries and spaces that multiply the possibilities of vision and perception of the spectator, who finds himself inside the installation having the impression of being in front of a different artwork for each point of observation.
in a journey in which touch and hearing are also engaged, in addition to sight, “energy zone by hyundai” visitors enter a dimension where emptiness and darkness are the true substance, and where light becomes a mean to mold space, forcing them to use their imagination to see (or not to see) an invisible dimension.
ford motor company promises to spend $11 billion on technology by 2022, rolling out 16 all-electric cars within five years, the first of which would arrive in 2020. also promised is 24 hybrids. the first all-electric looks to be a high-performance suv. other categories could be commercial vans and…a mustang coupe.
in a nod toward global sentiment recognizing that regulation around the globe will continue to crack down on fuel economy and pollution, and rightfully so. lower prices, longer range, and more charging stations, will drive consumers to electricity rather than gasoline.
“we’re expecting more customer acceptance,” said joe hinrichs, ford’s president of global operations, at the detroit auto show. hinrichs added, “we certainly can see the day when internal combustion engines go away.”
[ of interest ] – european union mandates all new homes must have ev chargers by 2019.
all-electric bmw i3 | click > enlarge
The new i3; BMW’s first series-produced all-electric car, was created for practical everyday driving. It focuses primarily on the drive-ability in urban settings and of course zero emissions. This may be the best of the all-electrics due out and looks to be out first.
prius c hybrid | click > enlarge
Toyota’s smallest Prius, the Prius C (think city) concept includes a 1.5-liter engine and 144-volt nickel metal hybrid battery. Toyota claims this car will offer up the highest mileage of any non-plug-in hybrid.
fusion hybrid | click > enlarge
The fusion is not only getting better, it’s getting greener by dropping all V-6 engines and instead adding a pair of greener sedans: a hybrid and plug-in-hybrid.
smart for us pickup | click > enlarge
Bonus: Smart For Us urban pickup truck is tiny, a two seater, zero emission, all-electric just over 11.5 feet long and under 5 feet wide. It will haul anything as long as it’s small.
[ more on bmw i3 ]
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