ZF Unveils Heated Seatbelts, Claims Novel Technology Will Help Improve Range In EV Offerings.

It wasn’t long ago that heated seats were once considered novelties, with the technology first making its debut in the 1960s on a Cadillac model. Since then, the art of the tush warmer has been perfected, and the gift of heat has been extended to the steering wheel and even the armrest. However, ZF Automotive is prepared to take things in an exciting direction, heated seat belts.   Seatbelts Embrace The Heat While Still Focusing On Safety At first glance, these heated seatbelts look like typical belts down to the tried and true fabric construction. However, these units have small …

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Aston Martin Reinvents Its Sporting Pedigree With 2018 Vantage Coupe

With a new era being ushered in thanks to a partnership with Mercedes Benz, the newly re-energized Aston Martin is keen on reinventing itself, and has followed up on the recent unveiling of the DB11 with perhaps the most important offering yet, the 2018 Aston Martin Vantage. The previous generation Vantage was a lingering spectre of the old Aston Martin with an aging platform, V8 engine, and a fussy semi-automated manual relegating the otherwise handsome Vantage to the back of the sports car line. In short, it was like a hipster wearing Abercrombie and Fitch in a sea of Ralph …

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2016 RINSPEED Etos Concept – Self-Driving, Drone-Launching Technical Tour de Force

The RINSPEED concept for 2016 is out, with highly advanced digital-car tech of the future taking a front seat for nearly every technical element of the machine. And if there were a back seat in the Etos, the two occupants could both chill back there while the self-driving tech takes over, sinks the steering wheel into the dashboard, and performs fully autonomous self-driving. A basis on the BMW i8 platform means that style, to some extent, has taken a back seat to tech this year.  This means the BMW kidney grilles are replaced up front by ultralight plastics and 3D-effect …

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2015 IVECO Vision PHEV Concept Shows Futuristic Design + Cabin Tech Innovations

Your packages have never traveled in such comfort and style! The 2015 IVECO Vision Concept finally brings a cool sci-fi, Hollywood-ready look to a full-size van. Its surfacing and proportions take a bold look into the future of IVECO van designs — pairing brutal and aggressive lighting and nose to friendly, flowing forms to van roof-lines that are usually far boxier. But before we look at the cool design and tech of the IVECO Vision, there is one thing to note first thing: the IVECO Vision is absolutely gigantic. From some angles, the concept appears to be only slightly larger …

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#BlackSwanMoments – 1969 McLaren M6GT – Fantasy Colorizer

 McLaren is running a series of teasers dubbed #BlackSwanMoments ahead of the arrival of the newest, and cheapest, sportscar some time in 2015. We are on number 5 of 13 moments so far. They all touch on the magic of how McLaren came to be, what the company is proudest to have achieved, and how these impactful, breakthrough moments have inspired the new 2016 Sport Series of cars. It is a dark and relatively moody look back at history, racing, innovation and Bruce McLaren himself. It’s deep. Number 5 #BlackSwanMoment is our cherished 1969 McLaren M6GT, a car intended to …

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Hypercar Icons – 1969 McLaren M6B GT with 2014 McLaren 650S at The Quail

The McLaren M6B GT is perhaps even more important to the foundation bedrock of McLaren Automotive than the all-conquering F1. In many ways, the latest McLaren Automotive division is the realization of founder Bruce McLaren’s dream of a supercar operation that is enhanced and supported by the racing team. 35 or so years on from the first prototype M6GT, the dream is more than some future longing. It is real and thriving with the latest 650S and P1 cars building a devoted following among hypercar fans all over the world. Even among those who do not follow Formula One closely, …

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4.2s, 203-MPH 2015 Aston Martin RAPIDE S Also Nabs New Dampers, Torque-Tube and 8-Speed ZF Transaxle

Even more thrilling news from Aston! The technical upgrades to the Vanquish and Vanquish Volante also join the Rapide S saloon-car for 2015. This brings an enormous leap in agility and pace at all times thanks to the latest and greatest ZF Touchtronic III automatic transmission. Mounted in back on the rear axle, this transaxle setup creates an exceptionally balanced sportscar with weight distribution balanced exquisitely. A transaxle layout is the best method for a supercar sedan – as shown by the previous Maserati Qauttroporte and other heroes with four doors over the years. The Rapide S also brings new …

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3.6s 2015 Aston Martin VANQUISH Adds Amazing ZF 8-Speed Auto for 201-MPH Vmax

Thrilling news from Aston Martin today! The 2015 Vanquish brings a hefty set of upgrades and updates – including the best-ever automatic transmission from ZF. Dubbed Touchtronic III in its Aston duty, this amazing box is a wonderful complement to the new 2015 adaptive/adjustable dampers and a new torque tube as well. The eight-speed auto optimizes the 568-hp V12’s power to great effect in all scnearios. This includes the 60-mph sprint, where the 2015 Vanquish nails a 3.6-second pace. This is down more than 0.6-seconds versus the current car. Great stuff! The full details are out – below is nearly …

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2015 Range Rover Evoque Gains 9-Speed Auto, Refreshed Info Tech and Boosted Engine HP

The 2015 Range Rover Evoque’s updates are a bit deeper than first reported at Geneva with the loaded Autobiography trim level. It now appears that the full US range of Evoques will benefit from an exterior refresh as well as a tech suite update inside. The exterior changes are extremely subtle, and include new Range Rover Sport-style wheels and grille detailing. The Autobiography model shown here will offer gloss black for all these brightwork accents (orange car) or the normal satin silver shown on the grey model. The other changes include a new accent element for the foglamp surround up …

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2014 Overfinch Range Rover Sport To Debut at Salon Prive With +40HP and Extra-Loud V8 Bellow

If there are two certainties in the JLR supercharged V8 in its latest Ford-Coyote-derived 5.0-liter supercharged setup, it is the huge power and huge wall of sound it is capable of delivering. Not supercharger whine these days either: it is all induction up front and exhaust bark out back. Through the amazing ZF eight-speed automatic, the stock powertrain is nothing short of remarkable. Both the speed and the noise are standard features on cars like the F-Type R – but not available on the Range Rover Sport yet. This changes with the launch of the very exclusive Overfinch Range Rover …

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2014 Bentley GT Speed W12 Easily Wins Fastest, Most-Sideways Award at Road America

How can an all-wheel-drive supercoupe be ‘most sideways,’ you ask? The Conti GT Speed was giving demo rides with none other than Bentley Works GT3 driver Jamie Morrow at the helm. This polite and dapper gentleman turns into a car-hurling beast on the track — with lurid Scandinavian flicks rocking the car off-balance and the huge, huge W12 Speed’s engine power pulling around corners in a perma-drift heaven. It was absolutely magnificent. A man in a Breitling watch and an official Bentley pay stub can certainly push the car he knows so well to the limits — better than a …

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