The NHTSA report

The continuous recommendations of the authorities are not giving great results. The latest case to cause a sensation in the United States, that of a 71-year-old who crashed – fatally – with his van while enjoying a Bratwurst, the typical sausage sandwich of German origin. The final blow came from a report by the powerful National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): as much as 65% of road accidents in the United States would be caused by distracted motorists, who eat or drink. And so the institution has compiled the list of the ten most likely foods and drinks to cause accidents.

The ranking

In first place, not surprisingly, coffee (American) or cappuccino: on American cars, cup holders / bottle racks / cup holders are no less important than the steering wheel. But as long as it remains in its place, everything is fine, when the glass is taken in hand, the danger is triggered. After coffee there are broths and soups, which in the Anglo-Saxon countries are consumed in the cup: impossible from us, in the heat it is hot chocolate and tea. Third and fourth place for two import passions: tacos and chili. Do not smile in the second case: in America it is easily found, and the danger lies not only in the inconvenience of consumption, which requires a spoon, but in its spiciness: coughs and spasms are lurking … Then a sequence of risks for carnivores: hamburger ( often require two hands), grilled meats (they easily get dirty and grease the steering wheel), fried chicken (watch out for the bones).

The risk of cleanliness

Eighth place for stuffed donuts: cream and jam tend to splash out. Ninth for cans of cola, orange soda, sodas and carbonated drinks in general: we have already seen the reason. To close the bad ten, there are chocolate bars. Because they lose flakes, and to clean or clean the car – according to NHTSA – one gets too distracted. In this sense, better not to be fixed with cleaning.

«The name Desert Ride is a reminder the vocation of a possible four-wheel drive granturismo, able to face very demanding routes – explains Fabrizio Giugiaro -. The basic project, Vision 2030, was born from a commission from Saudi Arabia: the request was a futuristic, sporty, luxurious, ecological 4×4. The Desert Ride pushes that “vision” to the extreme, preserves the central body of the original concept and emphasizes the off-road mission: oversized wheels and wheel arches, spare wheel outside, specific rear … “.

Hypercar and hypersuv they share the architecture (two dry seats, aluminum chassis and mechanics, carbon bodywork) and the “heart”: a system with 600 horsepower, consisting of two 200 kW electric motors and a 90 kW battery » . The maximum speed that can be reached is 200 times. “On every terrain,” says Fabrizio. The feature of the Desert Ride, in fact, is the extreme versatility of the set-up and suspension: «Developed starting from the Kangaroo, the system raises the car and changes the stiffness of the suspension, which thus adapts to very high speeds even in off-roading harder, like the dunes of Saudi Arabia ».

The two concepts are an essay of innovation. From the T-position of the batteries (they run under the tunnel between the driver and passenger and extend perpendicular to their shoulders) to the two wings of the roof that rise to facilitate accessibility, to the “shadow lights”, the hidden position lights that they model a “light-shadow” effect.

«Our job as a designer – says Giorgetto Giugiaro – is to anticipate new architectures, to go further ». Going further in every sense: after leaving, in 2015, his Italdesign (acquired by the Volkswagen group, is now under the control of the Lamborghini holding), Giorgetto, with his son Fabrizio, founded GFG Style in 2016. The taste of challenge is more alive than ever. “In the car world – explains Giorgetto – there is a growing demand for advice”. In 4 years GFG Style has produced 7 concepts, born from European, Asian and Middle Eastern collaborations.

But in Geneva there will also be a third twist signed GFG Style: the Bandini Dora, a zero emission sports boat that marks the rebirth of Romagna Bandini Automobili. It is the matrix of future electric Bandini and bears the name (Dora, in fact) of the mother of the founder Ilario and that of the great-grandson Michele Orsi Bandini. A “hedonistic” two-seater that incorporates the manufacturer’s 1950s sports philosophy. «We were inspired by the Formula 1 Halo – explains Fabrizio Giugiaro -. Here then is the clean windshield, as it was once used, without reinforcements, as linear and light as possible, but with a real superstructure that integrates with the style, with a marked protective function for both the driver and the passenger “.

We are at the beginning of a great challenge. In the case of seats, for example, the challenge represented by the lower fabric, which is currently tied to the upper material by means of an adhesive. We are working to replace the latter with a recyclable polyester solution – says Ute Grnheim, responsible for the development of textile materials at Audi AG -, the near horizon to produce coatings with pure recycled materials, destined for further re-use so as to give life to a virtuous circle. But we are not far from a formidable goal that we set ourselves a few years ago: the textile upholstery of all Audi ranges must be entirely made of recycled materials.

The Easy Wallbox is the result of the activities of the approximately 100 engineers and ENGIE Eps researchers who have been working for over 15 years, in synergy with the Polytechnics of Turin and Milan – clarifies the CEO of ENGIE Eps -, a technology that solves the problem of accessibility to recharging, which then the real obstacle to electrification . As Guglielminotti recalls, equipping your garage with a traditional Wallbox requires in fact still too complex steps that discourage the customer, especially if it is a condominium garage. For example, it is not always possible to pass the new cables needed to power 7.11 or even 22 kW sockets into the system, which ensure fast recharges but still involve high installation costs and compliance with strict safety standards. The advantage of Easy Wallbox that can work immediately, without any modification of the electrical system, with a simple schuko socket (up to 2.2 kW), guaranteeing up to 180 kilometers of autonomy with a night recharge (from 8 in the evening until at 7 in the morning).

The device, which attaches to the wall by means of two simple plugs, then manages energy consumption in an intelligent way, protecting the electrical system and avoiding the overload that triggers the safety switch. If you then decide to activate a dedicated power line, Easy Wallbox is already set up to charge the car faster with capacities up to 7.4 kW. Baster insert the socket.

FCA has numerous electric and hybrid models on the way – explains Roberto Di Stefano, e-Mobility manager -, from the Fiat Panda and 500 Hybrid already on sale to the rechargeable hybrid Jeep Renegade and Compass, which will be in the first half of the year, up to the new 500 and the Ducato fully electric that will come later. They are the first, fundamental part of a complete and articulated strategy, a new way of conceiving the mobility that focuses on the environment without losing sight of the needs of the customer.

Strategy that leads FCA not only to change its products, but also to launch two important initiatives at the Mirafiori plant in Turin in the sign of sustainability: the first is the largest experimental Vehicle to Grid (V2G) project in the world, which, when fully operational, will consist of 700 electric vehicles capable of producing 25 MW of energy and provide stabilization services to the electricity grid while vehicles are not used; the second then the Solar Power Production Unit created in collaboration also with ENGIE Italia: a system of photovoltaic panels installed on 120 thousand square meters of roofs and covering 1,750 car parks for 30 thousand square meters of surface, which will be able to produce 15 MW of power energy. Thanks to it, FCA will contribute to the reduction of emissions for over 5 thousand tons of CO2 per year, providing sustainable energy for the charge of the electrified models produced in Mirafiori.

The Geneva debut was skipped, the electric 500 will be revealed to the press tomorrow via the web. At the moment it is known that the car has a redesigned front with a new bonnet and new optical units, which has an autonomy of about 200 km, which will be produced in Mirafiori (where the assembly of the specimens is already underway series) and, finally, which will have a price of about 20 thousand euros. Meanwhile, the 500 and Panda Hybrid, both equipped with the new 3-cylinder engine of the Firefly family of 70 hp, which works in conjunction with the 3.6 kW BSG (Belt integrated Starter Generator) electric system are already available. Both are fundamental models in FCA’s e-Mobility strategy, because they are capable of reducing consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent, as well as guaranteeing all the tax and circulation benefits reserved for hybrid vehicles, while remaining accessible in price.

On another front sales champion, that of the Jeep brand, FCA recently presented the 4×4 SUVs Renegade and Compass in the 4xe version, the first specimens with Plug-in Hybrid technology (to which the Wrangler, presented at Ces at the beginning of the year). The two vehicles are currently available in the limited “First Edition”, available in the two Urban and Off-road configurations. The total power is 240 hp, generated by the 1.3 petrol turbo engine (on the front axle) and the electric unit (on the rear axle). The latter is powered by a rechargeable battery in motion or via an external socket, which guarantees 50 km of full-electric autonomy and CO2 emissions of less than 50 grams / km (Nedc2 values).

FCA’s approach it also provides for the development of solutions and services to facilitate those who buy electrified cars: this is the case of the Easy Wallbox, a plug-and-play recharging device developed with Engie Eps and which can work immediately, without changing the electrical system. Just fix it to the wall with two plugs and connect a schuko socket (up to 2.2 kW), to guarantee a Compass up to 180 km of autonomy with a night recharge (from 8 in the evening to 7 in the morning), protecting the power surge system. If you then want to load the car faster, the appliance is already set up to operate up to 7.4 kW.