Cadillac has introduced vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology that allows vehicles to share information, which can be used to alert drivers to upcoming potential hazards. Cadillac’s V2V solution uses dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) and GPS and can handle 1,000 messages per second from vehicles up to nearly 1,000 feet away. For example, when a car approaches an urban intersection, the technology scans the vicinity for other vehicles and tracks their positions, directions, and speeds, warning the driver of potential hazards that might otherwise be
invisible.
• The all-new 2017 Chevrolet Malibu is now in its ninth generation and offers customers two power options — a 2.5L and the all-new 2.0L turbocharged engine that is now available in the Middle East. The 2.0L turbocharged engine delivers 250 turbocharged horsepower (186 kW) and leads its segment in fuel efficiency with 14.2 km/l. Stronger and lighter, the new Malibu delivers an optimized ride and handling, two aspects that are complemented by the power and performance of the 250hp capable 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine. Acceleration from a standstill and while underway happen effortlessly thanks to the 350Nm of torque, the majority of which are available early on in the acceleration phase.
• Effective March 2018, the eCall automatic emergency call system will be mandatory in the EU. This means that every new car will be a connected car by default. By 2020, there will be 250 million connected cars on roads across the globe. As cars increasingly become mobile devices on wheels, buyers are focusing more and more on digital services, such as the ones that monitor the car’s condition or warn of drivers approaching from the wrong direction. Speaking at the Bosch ConnectedWorld 2017 conference held in Berlin, Dirk Hoheisel, a member of Bosch’s management board said: “Services for connected cars are increasingly becoming a differentiating factor within the automotive industry.”
• The first Audi Innovation Award for the Middle East was presented to Sahar Madanat from Jordan at the opening of Design Days Dubai for her “One-Handed Tableware Set” design. UAE-based designers Mansour Attia and Nick Karinzaidis secured the second and third places for a “Metro-Bike flyover” proposal and a “Gaudi style responsive bath system” respectively. The award’s theme for 2016 was “Alternative.” The competition seeks to empower regional designers.