The experts are telling us that the Midwest could experience the coldest weather that it has ever seen this week. Wind chill temperatures of -40 and -50 degrees will be common throughout the region, and it is being projected that some spots will actually get hit by wind chill temperatures of up to -60 degrees. A shift in the polar vortex is being blamed for this life-threatening weather, and we are being told to expect the coldest temperatures to arrive on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. But all-time records are already being set. For example, according to Accuweather the temperature in the city of International Falls, Minnesota hit 45 below zero on Monday morning…
The coldest weather in years will put millions of people and animals throughout the midwestern United States at risk for hypothermia and frostbite to occur in minutes during the final days of January.
The deep freeze continued across the Upper Midwest on Sunday with temperatures plummeting well below zero in the morning. The low of 45 below zero F in International Falls, Minnesota, shattered the day’s record of 36 below zero F from 1966.
Please keep in mind that was not a wind chill temperature.
That was the actual temperature outside.
As the week progresses, bitterly cold temperatures will be accompanied by heavy snow and strong winds across the Midwest. The polar jet stream has weakened, and as a result the polar vortex will “dip into parts of North America”…
The wintry onslaught will be driven by the Northern Hemisphere’s polar vortex, the pocket of cold air sitting atop the North Pole. When temperatures rise in the Arctic, the polar jet stream — the torrent of westerly winds that hold the polar vortex in place — can weaken and dip into parts of North America.
“Occasionally this ring of winds deforms or even splits, which allows the cold air to spill southward over mid latitudes — this is exactly what’s happening now,” said Jennifer Francis, a senior research scientist with Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts, in an email. “It just so happens that the lobe of cold air is located over central North America, with Chicago in the crosshairs.”
This is an extremely dangerous situation, and we will probably read about some people that underestimate the danger and end up dead.
According to weather.com, the air will be so cold that it “could lead to frostbite on exposed skin in a matter of minutes”…
This bitter cold will be accompanied by strong winds at times Tuesday through Thursday, leading to life-threatening wind chills in the Midwest that could lead to frostbite on exposed skin in a matter of minutes. A large swath of the Midwest will have wind chills in the 30s, 40s and 50s below zero by Wednesday. A few spots in Minnesota and eastern North Dakota may see wind chills in the 60s below zero.
Unless you absolutely must go out for some reason, if you live in the Midwest you should stay inside until temperatures begin to warm up again.
This weather is so unusual that even President Trump is tweeting about it…
In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!
Now that even the president of the United States is acknowledging that this winter could be “the coldest ever recorded”, I want to remind everyone that we were warned about this months in advance…
–“Climate Chaos: Following Record Heat This Summer, Experts Are Predicting There Will Be A Nightmarishly Cold Winter”
–“November Snow In Texas? Experts Warn Decreased Solar Activity Will Shatter All Global Climate Models”
–“The Coldest And Snowiest November Ever? Here Is Why America’s Freakish Weather Is Only Going To Get Worse…”
–“A Mini Ice Age? NASA Scientist Warns That Diminished Solar Activity Could Mean The Coldest Winter In Modern Times”
–“-75 Wind Chill On Thanksgiving??? Why This Could Be The Coldest Winter In America EVER…”
I wrote article after article warning that this would happen, and now it is happening.
At this hour, schools and businesses are closed throughout North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin as blizzard-like conditions sweep through both states. And Chicago is bracing for what will likely be the coldest day ever in the history of the city…
After seeing a high around 34 on Monday at O’Hare International Airport, temperatures will drop to near zero before the end of the day, according to the National Weather Service. By Tuesday night, temperatures are expected to take another plunge, to 23 below zero, flirting with Chicago’s coldest temperature ever: minus 27 on Jan. 20, 1985.
Temperatures are forecast to inch up to a daytime high of about minus 14 on Wednesday — the first subzero high temperature in five years and the coldest winter high ever recorded in Chicago — before dipping, again, to about minus 21 overnight. The coldest daytime high in Chicago was minus 11 on Christmas Eve 1983.
Our planet is changing, our climate is collapsing, and this is going to put an increasing amount of strain on social order.
And we are already starting to see evidence of this. In fact, Chicago police are telling us that in recent days people have been getting robbed of their expensive winter coats at gunpoint…
Chicago police are reporting gunpoint robberies targeting people wearing pricey Canada Goose jackets as temperatures plunge in the city.
Over the past two weeks, police say there’s been a spate of the thefts in which people wearing the luxury coats have been targeted and forced to give up the jackets. The coats can cost upward of $1,000 and are often seen on celebrities.
Six people had their Canada Goose coats stolen last week and two more were targeted Wednesday.
Unfortunately, this is only just the beginning.
Global seismic activity is rising, weather patterns are becoming more extreme, and a worldwide environmental collapse is already well underway. If you have any doubts that this worldwide environmental collapse is happening, just read this excellent article by Chris Martenson.
We have been making the wrong decisions for decades, and now the consequences of those decisions are starting to catch up with us. The clock is ticking, but most Americans are still completely and utterly clueless about what is coming.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Monday, January 21, 2019
Eight Things to Know About the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Plug-in Hybrid
The incentive to buy electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in Ontario came in the form of a government cash rebate. Up to $14,000. Depending on the size of the battery and electric range.
Something like the GLC 350e which packs an 8.7 kWh battery pack under the load floor would have qualified for $7000 cash back. But on July 3rd of 2018, Ontario pulled the plug on these rebates and left many reconsidering whether or not battery-powered vehicles were worth it to them. Sales of the popular Nissan Leaf EV seemed to have plummeted nearly overnight. In the case of the GLC 350e, the $13,000 premium it commands over the base model would have been much easier to swallow with that rather substantial discount.
But because it’s a plug-in that still retains a good ol’ gasoline engine as its primary source of propulsion, the 350e like many other plug-in hybrids I’ve driven have a lot going for them: great economy, much quicker charge times than a full EV, the ability to drive in zero-emissions electric mode and, best of all, no range anxiety.
I spent a week with the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC and these are eight things I learned about it.
Note: The GLC 350e reviewed here was a 2018 model and the 2019 GLC 350e carries on unchanged, but the base price is now $60,200.
It’s a plug-in hybrid—undercover
Compared to items like the ugly-duckling Honda Clarity and even the Outlander PHEV with all its EV badging, the plug-in GLC looks like any other GLC on the road. This means you get a handsome and conservatively styled SUV with that desirable three-pointed star on the nose. It doesn’t attract too much attention and just sort of blends in with everything else.
Apart from the tiny “EQ power” badges on the front fenders and the 350e badge on the rear hatch, which could mean anything these days, there’s not much to tell this one apart from standard GLCs.
Eagle-eyed folks out there might spot the cutout for the charge port, but even then it’s on the rear bumper, almost like Mercedes tried to hide it. Other manufacturers put them on the opposite side of the fuel filler where you expect it. I appreciate the stealthy play here, also the quizzical looks on people’s faces when you pull up to a charging station to plug it in.
Cargo space takes a hit
The GLC 300 has 550 litres of luggage space making it competitive in the compact SUV segment. The 350e, on the other hand, has to make do with 155 litres less due to the space required by the battery pack. And it is a bit tight back there, only just fitting our full-size stroller. But for a typical grocery run or short trip, it works.
It’s quick
Slotting in between the base GLC 300 and the powerful AMG GLC 43, this electrified Mercedes couples a turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with an 85 kW electric motor to produce 315 hp and a hefty 413 lb-ft of torque that you can feel the second you prod the gas pedal. The GLC 350e positively leaps off the line and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, half a second quicker than the base model. It feels faster than the numbers suggest, thanks to instantaneous electric torque.
Despite weighing about 200 kg more than the gasoline-only GLC, the 350e wears its weight well and you can really only feel it when pushing hard through a corner where body roll becomes more pronounced. And, really, that’s not what it was intended to do and I doubt any customers shopping this segment care too much about ultimate cornering grip.
It’s efficient
Some plug-ins have bigger battery packs and offer more range, but the 21 km rating seems pretty accurate and I saw about that on a full charge. And it was pretty cold outside too, with temperatures hovering just above the freezing mark. The 8.7 kWh battery takes about 2 hours to top up completely when hooked up to a 240v Level 2 charger.
Living in a condo limits my options for plugging in, so I had to find charging stations at local shopping centres. There are more and more of these popping up, but it can still be a bit of an inconvenience. Even so, when the 350e is low on battery power it still manages to run very efficiently. At light throttle openings or when coasting the engine will usually power down, indicated by the revs dropping to zero. It intelligently and seamlessly kills the engine at every opportunity it can find. So despite not being able to plug in too many times I still achieved a respectable 10.5L/100 km. Numbers that would have easily dropped by a litre or two if I had a dedicated spot to charge it overnight. The GLC 350e is officially rated to do 8.6L/100km on the highway and 9.6 in the city. The gas-only GLC 300 has almost identical highway numbers but is only able to muster an average of 11 in city driving.
It has a haptic feedback gas pedal
The GLC 350e has a gas pedal that communicates with the driver by offering force feedback, like a video game controller. Think being shot playing Call of Duty. It can be turned on and off through the menus but is on by default in Eco mode. By generating a series of knocks that can be felt under your right foot, the pedal tells you to release some of the pressure on the gas pedal if you are pushing too hard.
It’s an odd feeling at first that might even have some people thinking something is wrong. It is nonetheless quite effective at reminding you that you can be driving in a more efficient manner.
It’s comfortable
One of my favourite aspects of this GLC has to be the ride. The suspension did a remarkable job of soaking up just about everything downtown Toronto roads threw at it and in electric mode the interior is as quiet as an S-Class, if not quieter.
When the gasoline motor kicks in, you do hear a slight drone but it’s not intrusive like some other plug-in hybrids I have driven. Driving the GLC especially in EV mode felt akin to being sealed in a Zen chamber that I did not want to get out of.
It can tow
You can get an optional factory trailer hitch and equipped this way, the plug-in Benz can haul up to 1588 kg. Not a large number but more than enough for towing a trailer carrying two personal watercraft.
This is the only plug-in Mercedes you can buy today
And although that will change very soon, the GLC 350e is the only Benz currently offered for sale that you can plug in.
The new CLS and AMG E 53 both offer a mild hybrid powertrain that couples an inline-6 gasoline engine and an integrated starter generator but neither offers full electric operation and plug-in capability.
This will all change with the 2020 EQC: a full electric crossover that will return between 400 and 450 km of range on a full charge, and give Tesla a run for its money. But it’s still about a year away from hitting Canadian showrooms.
In the meantime, this is one of the few luxury SUVs on the market that’s also a plug-in, and it’s a really good one. I enjoyed driving it quite a bit. But without that cash back offer from Ontario, it would take many years to make up the difference in fuel savings over a GLC 300, making this one a difficult decision to make.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC
BODY STYLE: 5-door, 5 passenger compact SUV
CONFIGURATION: Front-engine, All-wheel drive
ENGINE: 2.0 L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder + 85 kW electric motor; Power: 315 hp @ 5000 rpm (combined); Torque: 413 lb-ft @ 1200-4000 rpm (combined)
TRANSMISSION : 7-speed automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: (Premium gasoline in L/100 km) 9.8 city; 8.6 highway; 9.3 combined
OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 10.5 L/100 KM
CARGO CAPACITY: 395 litres; 1445 litres with rear seats folded
Something like the GLC 350e which packs an 8.7 kWh battery pack under the load floor would have qualified for $7000 cash back. But on July 3rd of 2018, Ontario pulled the plug on these rebates and left many reconsidering whether or not battery-powered vehicles were worth it to them. Sales of the popular Nissan Leaf EV seemed to have plummeted nearly overnight. In the case of the GLC 350e, the $13,000 premium it commands over the base model would have been much easier to swallow with that rather substantial discount.
But because it’s a plug-in that still retains a good ol’ gasoline engine as its primary source of propulsion, the 350e like many other plug-in hybrids I’ve driven have a lot going for them: great economy, much quicker charge times than a full EV, the ability to drive in zero-emissions electric mode and, best of all, no range anxiety.
I spent a week with the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC and these are eight things I learned about it.
Note: The GLC 350e reviewed here was a 2018 model and the 2019 GLC 350e carries on unchanged, but the base price is now $60,200.
It’s a plug-in hybrid—undercover
Compared to items like the ugly-duckling Honda Clarity and even the Outlander PHEV with all its EV badging, the plug-in GLC looks like any other GLC on the road. This means you get a handsome and conservatively styled SUV with that desirable three-pointed star on the nose. It doesn’t attract too much attention and just sort of blends in with everything else.
Apart from the tiny “EQ power” badges on the front fenders and the 350e badge on the rear hatch, which could mean anything these days, there’s not much to tell this one apart from standard GLCs.
Eagle-eyed folks out there might spot the cutout for the charge port, but even then it’s on the rear bumper, almost like Mercedes tried to hide it. Other manufacturers put them on the opposite side of the fuel filler where you expect it. I appreciate the stealthy play here, also the quizzical looks on people’s faces when you pull up to a charging station to plug it in.
Cargo space takes a hit
The GLC 300 has 550 litres of luggage space making it competitive in the compact SUV segment. The 350e, on the other hand, has to make do with 155 litres less due to the space required by the battery pack. And it is a bit tight back there, only just fitting our full-size stroller. But for a typical grocery run or short trip, it works.
It’s quick
Slotting in between the base GLC 300 and the powerful AMG GLC 43, this electrified Mercedes couples a turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with an 85 kW electric motor to produce 315 hp and a hefty 413 lb-ft of torque that you can feel the second you prod the gas pedal. The GLC 350e positively leaps off the line and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, half a second quicker than the base model. It feels faster than the numbers suggest, thanks to instantaneous electric torque.
Despite weighing about 200 kg more than the gasoline-only GLC, the 350e wears its weight well and you can really only feel it when pushing hard through a corner where body roll becomes more pronounced. And, really, that’s not what it was intended to do and I doubt any customers shopping this segment care too much about ultimate cornering grip.
It’s efficient
Some plug-ins have bigger battery packs and offer more range, but the 21 km rating seems pretty accurate and I saw about that on a full charge. And it was pretty cold outside too, with temperatures hovering just above the freezing mark. The 8.7 kWh battery takes about 2 hours to top up completely when hooked up to a 240v Level 2 charger.
Living in a condo limits my options for plugging in, so I had to find charging stations at local shopping centres. There are more and more of these popping up, but it can still be a bit of an inconvenience. Even so, when the 350e is low on battery power it still manages to run very efficiently. At light throttle openings or when coasting the engine will usually power down, indicated by the revs dropping to zero. It intelligently and seamlessly kills the engine at every opportunity it can find. So despite not being able to plug in too many times I still achieved a respectable 10.5L/100 km. Numbers that would have easily dropped by a litre or two if I had a dedicated spot to charge it overnight. The GLC 350e is officially rated to do 8.6L/100km on the highway and 9.6 in the city. The gas-only GLC 300 has almost identical highway numbers but is only able to muster an average of 11 in city driving.
It has a haptic feedback gas pedal
The GLC 350e has a gas pedal that communicates with the driver by offering force feedback, like a video game controller. Think being shot playing Call of Duty. It can be turned on and off through the menus but is on by default in Eco mode. By generating a series of knocks that can be felt under your right foot, the pedal tells you to release some of the pressure on the gas pedal if you are pushing too hard.
It’s an odd feeling at first that might even have some people thinking something is wrong. It is nonetheless quite effective at reminding you that you can be driving in a more efficient manner.
It’s comfortable
One of my favourite aspects of this GLC has to be the ride. The suspension did a remarkable job of soaking up just about everything downtown Toronto roads threw at it and in electric mode the interior is as quiet as an S-Class, if not quieter.
When the gasoline motor kicks in, you do hear a slight drone but it’s not intrusive like some other plug-in hybrids I have driven. Driving the GLC especially in EV mode felt akin to being sealed in a Zen chamber that I did not want to get out of.
It can tow
You can get an optional factory trailer hitch and equipped this way, the plug-in Benz can haul up to 1588 kg. Not a large number but more than enough for towing a trailer carrying two personal watercraft.
This is the only plug-in Mercedes you can buy today
And although that will change very soon, the GLC 350e is the only Benz currently offered for sale that you can plug in.
The new CLS and AMG E 53 both offer a mild hybrid powertrain that couples an inline-6 gasoline engine and an integrated starter generator but neither offers full electric operation and plug-in capability.
This will all change with the 2020 EQC: a full electric crossover that will return between 400 and 450 km of range on a full charge, and give Tesla a run for its money. But it’s still about a year away from hitting Canadian showrooms.
In the meantime, this is one of the few luxury SUVs on the market that’s also a plug-in, and it’s a really good one. I enjoyed driving it quite a bit. But without that cash back offer from Ontario, it would take many years to make up the difference in fuel savings over a GLC 300, making this one a difficult decision to make.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC
BODY STYLE: 5-door, 5 passenger compact SUV
CONFIGURATION: Front-engine, All-wheel drive
ENGINE: 2.0 L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder + 85 kW electric motor; Power: 315 hp @ 5000 rpm (combined); Torque: 413 lb-ft @ 1200-4000 rpm (combined)
TRANSMISSION : 7-speed automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: (Premium gasoline in L/100 km) 9.8 city; 8.6 highway; 9.3 combined
OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 10.5 L/100 KM
CARGO CAPACITY: 395 litres; 1445 litres with rear seats folded
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Show stoppers of the 2019 Singapore Motorshow
New cars are among the highlights of the 2019 Singapore Motorshow
High-voltage and high-octane models hog the limelight at the Singapore Motorshow, which is on until tomorrow.
In all, 140 cars are on display, with 25 of them being launched officially or shown for the first time here.
Here are some highlights.
INFINITI QX50
Few carmakers work on new engines these days. Nissan's Infiniti is one. Its QX50 with actress Zoe Tay boasts the world's first production variable compression ratio turbo engine. The 2-litre continually adjusts its compression ratio to optimise efficiency. It combines the power of a petrol engine with the torque and efficiency of a diesel engine.
AUDI Q3
Making its Asian debut here is Audi's compact crossover, now sportier, smarter and sharper than ever. The second-generation Q3 is also a five-star scorer at the European New Car Assessment Programme crash tests.
MAZDA 3
The current Mazda 3 is already a sleek number, but the new one is even sleeker. Variants arriving include a mild hybrid and a variable compression model.
BMW 3-SERIES
The 3-series has always been BMW's ultimate driving machine. The latest one packs a host of innovative features, including the ability to retrace its path backwards for 50m.
BMW X5
This family sport utility vehicle debuts as a five-seater, with a seven-seater due shortly. A new design hides its bulk cleverly.
PEUGEOT 508
Peugeot never lets you down in the design department and the new 508 is proof yet again. The latest car looks sportier and has a sumptuous interior.
LEXUS UX
Lexus' foray into the mass-premium crossover segment looks yummy inside and out. .
JAGUAR I-PACE
This premium electric car is too low-slung to be a crossover. Shod with big wheels and a long-range battery, the I-Pace promises a sporty drive to Kuala Lumpur.
DS7 CROSSBACK
If you tire of German sport utility vehicles, check out this luxury offering from Citroen. It packs adaptive LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control, camera-based predictive damping - all within a 1.6-litre turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
NISSAN LEAF
The world's best-selling electric car looks premium enough to be branded an Infiniti. It also drives amazingly well.
NISSAN SERENA E-POWER
If you want a big car with a small running cost, this hybrid multi-purpose vehicle is it.
ALPINE A110
With 250 horses hauling a body weighing just a little over a tonne, the Alpine A110 - a Porsche Cayman competitor - hits 100kmh in 4.5 seconds. It marks the first appearance of the Alpine brand here in decades.
SUZUKI S-CROSS
This biggish crossover (above) is powered by a 1-litre turbo engine behind a grille never seen on a Suzuki before.
TOYOTA CAMRY
Toyota has attempted to make the Camry less "uncle" and more hip. This eighth-generation executive sedan is said to have a lower centre of gravity and a tauter chassis to enhance handling. It is available as a 2 or 2.5-litre, with a hybrid expected later.
PORSCHE MACAN
This is the latest Porsche to sport full-length tail-lamps that are now common among Porsche and Audi cars. Inside, you get a bigger 10.9-inch infotainment screen.
TOYOTA RAV4
Joseph Schooling's new ride is a handsome crossover which has as much presence as a Harrier, and is far less fussy than the CH-R.
VOLVO S60
It looks exactly like a smaller version of the new S90 flagship sedan, which is a very good thing indeed. But with its more compact footprint, expect more dynamism on the road too.
SUBARU FORESTER E-BOXER
With a small battery pack you can see in the boot powering a motor incorporated into its symmetrical all-wheel drivetrain, the Forester e-Boxer brings Subaru into the 21st century.
RANGE ROVER SPORT PLUG-IN HYBRID
A big and hefty sport utility vehicle can always benefit from power via a wall socket. This car offers Range Rover fans the chance to do so.
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
The second iteration of the world's favourite Range Rover makes its Asian debut here. Expect minor styling tweaks and a host of new tech features.
HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC
The fact that private-hire operator Grab ordered 200 units says plenty about this new electric car.
Parc Esta
High-voltage and high-octane models hog the limelight at the Singapore Motorshow, which is on until tomorrow.
In all, 140 cars are on display, with 25 of them being launched officially or shown for the first time here.
Here are some highlights.
INFINITI QX50
Few carmakers work on new engines these days. Nissan's Infiniti is one. Its QX50 with actress Zoe Tay boasts the world's first production variable compression ratio turbo engine. The 2-litre continually adjusts its compression ratio to optimise efficiency. It combines the power of a petrol engine with the torque and efficiency of a diesel engine.
AUDI Q3
Making its Asian debut here is Audi's compact crossover, now sportier, smarter and sharper than ever. The second-generation Q3 is also a five-star scorer at the European New Car Assessment Programme crash tests.
MAZDA 3
The current Mazda 3 is already a sleek number, but the new one is even sleeker. Variants arriving include a mild hybrid and a variable compression model.
BMW 3-SERIES
The 3-series has always been BMW's ultimate driving machine. The latest one packs a host of innovative features, including the ability to retrace its path backwards for 50m.
BMW X5
This family sport utility vehicle debuts as a five-seater, with a seven-seater due shortly. A new design hides its bulk cleverly.
PEUGEOT 508
Peugeot never lets you down in the design department and the new 508 is proof yet again. The latest car looks sportier and has a sumptuous interior.
LEXUS UX
Lexus' foray into the mass-premium crossover segment looks yummy inside and out. .
JAGUAR I-PACE
This premium electric car is too low-slung to be a crossover. Shod with big wheels and a long-range battery, the I-Pace promises a sporty drive to Kuala Lumpur.
DS7 CROSSBACK
If you tire of German sport utility vehicles, check out this luxury offering from Citroen. It packs adaptive LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control, camera-based predictive damping - all within a 1.6-litre turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
NISSAN LEAF
The world's best-selling electric car looks premium enough to be branded an Infiniti. It also drives amazingly well.
NISSAN SERENA E-POWER
If you want a big car with a small running cost, this hybrid multi-purpose vehicle is it.
ALPINE A110
With 250 horses hauling a body weighing just a little over a tonne, the Alpine A110 - a Porsche Cayman competitor - hits 100kmh in 4.5 seconds. It marks the first appearance of the Alpine brand here in decades.
SUZUKI S-CROSS
This biggish crossover (above) is powered by a 1-litre turbo engine behind a grille never seen on a Suzuki before.
TOYOTA CAMRY
Toyota has attempted to make the Camry less "uncle" and more hip. This eighth-generation executive sedan is said to have a lower centre of gravity and a tauter chassis to enhance handling. It is available as a 2 or 2.5-litre, with a hybrid expected later.
PORSCHE MACAN
This is the latest Porsche to sport full-length tail-lamps that are now common among Porsche and Audi cars. Inside, you get a bigger 10.9-inch infotainment screen.
TOYOTA RAV4
Joseph Schooling's new ride is a handsome crossover which has as much presence as a Harrier, and is far less fussy than the CH-R.
VOLVO S60
It looks exactly like a smaller version of the new S90 flagship sedan, which is a very good thing indeed. But with its more compact footprint, expect more dynamism on the road too.
SUBARU FORESTER E-BOXER
With a small battery pack you can see in the boot powering a motor incorporated into its symmetrical all-wheel drivetrain, the Forester e-Boxer brings Subaru into the 21st century.
RANGE ROVER SPORT PLUG-IN HYBRID
A big and hefty sport utility vehicle can always benefit from power via a wall socket. This car offers Range Rover fans the chance to do so.
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
The second iteration of the world's favourite Range Rover makes its Asian debut here. Expect minor styling tweaks and a host of new tech features.
HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC
The fact that private-hire operator Grab ordered 200 units says plenty about this new electric car.
Parc Esta
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
2020 Mercedes CLA-Class svelte shape revealed at CES
The interior comes standard with a pair of 7-inch screens, and buyers can opt for larger 10.25-inch displays.
The teasers are finally over, and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is here after an unveiling at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The saloon's new generation will have its European market launch in May 2019, and Mercedes will announce pricing info closer to launch. Unlike in US market, the Edition 1 will not be offered in the UK.
The little four-door on display in Las Vegas is the CLA 250 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. The mill produces 221 bhp and 258 pound-feet of torque. For now, Mercedes isn't offering many performance details for the 2020 CLA beyond its electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour.
The latest CLA-Class grows a little over the previous generation. Overall length is up 48 millimetres to 4,688 mm, and the wheelbase increases by 30 mm to 2,729 mm. The company also pushes out the wheel tracks by stretching them 63 mm at the front and 55 mm at the rear. The greater size doesn't translate to big boosts in cabin space because front legroom decreases by 1 mm and rear legroom grows by 1 mm. In the boot, cargo capacity decreases by 10 litres to a total of 460 litres.
On the inside, the CLA-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) software, and the standard cabin features a pair of seven-inch displays – one for the instruments and other for the infotainment system. Customers can upgrade to two 10.25-inch screens for a more eye-catching view. Another option adds gesture control to the tech that lets occupants just wave their hands to make selections, rather than using the usual touchpad on the centre console. Further available improvements include navigation and a Burmester Surround Sound System.
The 2020 CLA comes standard with an Active Brake Assist system that can automatically slow the saloon to avoid collisions with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. However, the optional Driver Assistance Package loads the vehicle with helpful driving aids. It includes features like adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, lane keep assist, speed limit sign recognition, and blind spot monitoring.
Mercedes Singapore News
The teasers are finally over, and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is here after an unveiling at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The saloon's new generation will have its European market launch in May 2019, and Mercedes will announce pricing info closer to launch. Unlike in US market, the Edition 1 will not be offered in the UK.
The little four-door on display in Las Vegas is the CLA 250 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. The mill produces 221 bhp and 258 pound-feet of torque. For now, Mercedes isn't offering many performance details for the 2020 CLA beyond its electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour.
The latest CLA-Class grows a little over the previous generation. Overall length is up 48 millimetres to 4,688 mm, and the wheelbase increases by 30 mm to 2,729 mm. The company also pushes out the wheel tracks by stretching them 63 mm at the front and 55 mm at the rear. The greater size doesn't translate to big boosts in cabin space because front legroom decreases by 1 mm and rear legroom grows by 1 mm. In the boot, cargo capacity decreases by 10 litres to a total of 460 litres.
On the inside, the CLA-Class comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) software, and the standard cabin features a pair of seven-inch displays – one for the instruments and other for the infotainment system. Customers can upgrade to two 10.25-inch screens for a more eye-catching view. Another option adds gesture control to the tech that lets occupants just wave their hands to make selections, rather than using the usual touchpad on the centre console. Further available improvements include navigation and a Burmester Surround Sound System.
The 2020 CLA comes standard with an Active Brake Assist system that can automatically slow the saloon to avoid collisions with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. However, the optional Driver Assistance Package loads the vehicle with helpful driving aids. It includes features like adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, lane keep assist, speed limit sign recognition, and blind spot monitoring.
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