Apple has announced a new digital car key function at its WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week.
The WWDC is a major event for the technology giant, Apple, and it’s where the firm announced the iOS 14 software update for iPhone. Interestingly, the update will include a new digital car key function, called CarKey.
The CarKey allows iPhone and Apple Watch users a new way of accessing and starting their compatible vehicle using Near-Field Communication (NFC). The feature will be first used on the updated BMW 5 Series which is due in South Africa towards the end of 2020.
With the digital key, users no longer need to carry the physical key and the vehicle can be accessed by tapping their iPhone/watch near the door handle to unlock the car and the car can be started by simply placing the iPhone in the smartphone tray.
The digital key can also be shared with family members or friends. More so, the owner can set various parameters of access including engine start, top speed, engine output, sound volume and so forth.
Interestingly, even if your iPhone runs out of battery power, you will still be able to use the digital key for up to 5 hours after the phone has shut down. Most BMW models produced after 1 July 2020 will support the digital key and the feature will be offered in at least 45 countries.
Compatible smartphones include iPhone XR, XS or new while the digital key will work on the Apple Watch Series 5 or newer.
An enhanced digital key is also expected to launch next year and will allow users to unlock their vehicle without the need to tap your iPhone or Watch on the door handles. In other words, it will simply unlock as soon as you approach the car.
If you are into blingy cars, German tuning firm, Hofele, is offering a striking tuning kit for the Mercedes-Benz GLE range of SUVs.
At first glance, you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a Maybach GLE, but it’s not. Tuning firm, Hofele, has worked its magic on the GLE to create this rather flamboyant luxury SUV which comes to life thanks to its two-tone paint job featuring a Tiffany Gold finish combined with Obsidian Black. Also, notice the prominent vertical chrome slats in the grille as well as the chrome surrounding the gaping air intakes and lower air dam which adds further contrast to the bodywork. The chrome garnishes are also found at the rear where the quad exhaust system communicate performance intent.
The Hofele GLE rides on massive 23-inch forged alloy wheels featuring a turbine-inspired design with a polished gold finish to match.
The bling continues inside where Hofele has kitted out the interior in Nappa Leather and Alcantara. The driver has access to a widescreen cockpit featuring the latest MBUX infotainment system and there are 2 individual seats at the rear divided by a central console and rear passengers also have access to mounted infotainment screens. The load bay has been reworked to feature a high-gloss wooden floor finished in aluminium.
Hofele badging is seen on the seatbacks and headrest pillows while interior mood lighting creates a sense of comfort and luxury inside this opulent GLE.
Is this upgrade by Hofele something you would consider if you owned a GLE? Share your thoughts with us!
BMW has been operating in the alternative fuel development space for decades. A hydrogen-fuelled V12 engine was available on the e65 7 Series and BMW has often attempted to push its hydrogen technology, despite an absence of infrastructure support.
With regulators forcing traditional automotive companies into reducing their CO2, BMW is outsourcing some of its alternative fuel technology. The German company has announced a new investment in Prometheus Fuels.
BMW is allocating R215 million in funding for Prometheus, a Californian chemical technology company founded by Rob McGinnis. By using an advanced chemistry process, Prometheus Fuels claims to use recaptured CO2 (presumably from the atmosphere), for conversion into synthetic petrol, diesel and aviation fuel using solar power.
Although the process is very energy-intensive, with a theoretical efficiency of only 50%, Prometheus uses solar power, to reduce the carbon footprint of its production methods.
How does Prometheus make fuel for your car, from recaptured CO2? It uses catalysation, by exposing a solution of water CO2, interacting with an electrified copper plate. Incredibly dense filters block the water, only allowing through ethanol.
From this 95% grade ethanol, Prometheus can use zeolite catalysation to deliver more complex and popular fuel hydrocarbons such as petrol or diesel.
Using electricity to power the catalysation of fuel is not a revolutionary idea but doing it from a clean source is. BWW is desperate to have most of its global production assets on sustainable power during the next decade.
The company’s Rosslyn production facility already runs on 30% sustainable energy, supplied from a bio-gas project in Gauteng.
What makes the BMW investment in Prometheus Fuels interesting, is that how it does not seek to revolutionise engine technology or fuel supply and distribution. By putting money into Prometheus Fuels, BMW appears to be indicating that it would prefer for fuel and current internal combustion engine technology to remain unchanged – but powered from a sustainable solar source, in terms of production.
2021 BMW M5 vs 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63: What can we expect?
The timing was perfect as 2 German powerhouses revealed updated versions of their supercar-hunting sedans within 24 hours of each other. The updated BMW M5 Competition takes on the new-look Mercedes-AMG E63 S. With both cars due in South Africa before the end of the year, we look at just how close this rivalry will be.
The current generation of BMW M5 Competition and Mercedes-AMG E63 S blends insane performance with high-end luxury. Many will argue a supercar purchase is pointless when you consider that either of these Teutonic road-legal weapons offer 99% of the performance with the massive bonuses of comfort, refinement and practicality. These 4-door monsters are at home doing the traffic jam crawl on a grey Monday morning and capable of setting eye-widening lap times on a race circuit.
For the 2021 model year, both BMW and Mercedes-AMG have revealed updated versions of their respective super sedans and ahead of their arrival in South Africa, we put them head to head to see just how evenly matched they are.
Styling
Both vehicles have received styling updates and first glances would suggest none of the aggression has been lost. We do think the new red paint job on the BMW M5 Competitions gives it a bit of an advantage here, but the jury is out on whether the typically older customers will opt for such a vibrant hue. Colours aside, the visual updates are significant enough to differentiate both cars from their respective predecessors.
The BMW M5 Competition gains a new-look front end and headlights. The new bumper looks aggressive, while at the rear, there's a diffuser and new tail lamps. Look closely and you'll see these wheels are straight from the BMW M8.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S benefits from a more subtle approach. Look, it still has the bold Panamericana grille which is guaranteed to fill up your rearview mirror, but we think it has lost some of its hard aggression. Fortunately, this is not a beauty contest… There are new slim-look LED headlamps, more prominent wheel arches, while the rear gains newly-designed tail-light clusters extend into the boot lid.
Engines and Performance
Perhaps the most important things about these vehicles are what's under the bonnet and how fast can they go? Both cars have a lot in common, with the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and BMW M5 Competition both adopting turbocharged V8 petrol engines. Kicking off with Stuttgart's finest is the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine with 450 kW and 850 Nm. Munich's monster counters with a 4.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 460 kW and 750 Nm. So while the BMW M5 Competition has more power, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S has more torque.
In both cars, power goes to all 4 wheels via automatic transmissions. The E63 S features the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed transmission sending all that grunt to the AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, while the M5 makes do with an Eight-speed M Steptronic transmission which powers the BMW M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Now for the performance figures. The 2021 BMW M5 Competition will hit 100 kph in a claimed 3.3 seconds and run to a top speed of 250 kph. If you want to hit 305 kph, then tick the option called M Driver's Package. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S will hit 100 kph in just 3.4 seconds and it too will hit a maximum of 250 kph. Want to breach the 300 kph mark? The AMG Drivers Package will allow that.
Under the skin, the BMW M engineers have been hard at work refining the suspension of the M5 Competition. There are revisions to the damper control system that BMW claims 'will enhance ride comfort during high-speed highway driving as well as over bumps' as well as new shock absorbers which are lifted from the BMW M8 Gran Coupe. There are also revisions to the BMW M Servotronic steering setup.
Meanwhile, the E63 S still features the AMG Ride Control+ suspension with a multi-chamber air suspension and adaptive adjustable damping ADS+ (Adaptive Damping System), but Mercedes-AMG claims the comfort characteristics of the suspension have been tangibly increased thanks to some retuning, which has, in effect, made the difference between the super sedan’s comfortable and sporty suspension settings “more clearly perceptible”.
Infotainment
These cars can't just be fast, they also need to demonstrate the latest in-car technology. The Mercedes-AMG E63 S receives MBUX with AMG-specific displays and settings, and there are 12.25-inch screens onboard standard. The artificial intelligence Hey Mercedes is also part of the package.
On the other hand, BMW has given the M5 Competition the new infotainment system seen in the X5, but with a focus on M. There's a large 12.3-inch display as well as a digital dashboard. There's a reworked centre console with 2 new buttons to provide direct access to systems and sport settings.
Summary
As ever, these 2 German super sedans are as closely-matched as ever and we're itching to get behind the wheel of both. The new BMW M5 Competition forms part of the updated 5-Series range and is expected to make landfall in SA in the 4th quarter of 2020. The Mercedes-AMG E63 S will be joining the updated E-Class range and it's expected to land in South Africa before the end of the year.
As far as pricing goes, the current iterations of the BMW M5 Competition and Mercedes-AMG E63 S are priced at R 2 119 286 and R2 224 440 respectively, so expect an increase when the updated versions arrive. Conversely, seeing as there's not that much of a mechanical change, perhaps now is a good time to grab one of these mega machines.
Remember the Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar? It's still on track as these latest spy shots show.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
We remember the reveal of the Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar. It was 2017 and the Frankfurt Motor Show was about to commence. No-one saw it coming. No-one could have predicted that Mercedes-Benz was going to try to convert a Formula One powertrain into a road-legal car. Three years have passed since that jaw-dropping announcement and to be fair, it was never going to be an easy gestation as the technology involved with this engine is highly advanced.
As a reminder, the engine is an F1-sourced, turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engine from the championship-winning WO7 Hybrid, coupled with a “purely electric and wheel-selective front axle drive concept”. The engine will idle at 4 000 rpm and will redline at an eye-watering 13 500 rpm. According to reports, the engine will be good for at least 50 000 km before needing a rebuild, which is probably alright, seeing as most hypercars do so little mileage. The engine will work in conjunction with 2 electric motors. The first 80 kW electric motor is tasked with keeping the turbocharger on the boil at all times while the second 120 kW motor is linked directly to the crankshaft.
An additional 2 electric motors at the front axle will allow for pure electric driving with a range up to 24 km on electric power alone. Essentially, we're looking at a vehicle powered by five engines! Power outputs? Around 760 kW is the claim, with power headed to all 4 wheels. A claim of 2.5 seconds to complete the 0-100 kph run, but perhaps more impressive is the 0-200 kph time of just under 6 seconds.
Deliveries were expected to kick off in 2020, but we don't think this will happen as a lot has happened this year to throw this highly-niche project off course. Our spy photographers spotted it testing at an undisclosed location and suggested it will be launched as a 2021 model.
Watch this space as this will surely be one of the most iconic hypercars of the modern era.
Jaguar’s world-conquering electric SUV has received another update and the Coventry-based marque intends to roll-out iPhone style upgrades throughout the vehicle’s life.
Having scooped an abundance of global awards, including World car of the Year in 2019, the I-Pace has come in for some upgrades for 2020. Jaguar says that it will continuously update the I-Pace throughout its life, even on a yearly basis, much like an iPhone is updated every year. Jaguar is able to do this via over-the-air software updates which allows the brand to connect to your car and then send updates to it, in much the same way as your Smartphone updates apps.
The 2020 update does include one small visual tweak, an Atlas Chrome finish to the grille pins is now standard. A Bright pack option is available which adds chrome finishes to the grille, Atlas Grey mirrors, rear diffuser and window surrounds. A Black Pack option pack is also available adding a gloss black finish to the rear badges.
New paint colours in the form of Caldera red, Portofino blue and Eiger grey have been added to the colour choice. 19-inch wheels have also been added to the option list, down from the original model’s 20-inch-only.
Infotainment speed upgrade
New Pivy Pro infotainment system is 85% faster than the previous system.
The major update for the 2020 model comes in the infotainment department where the I-Pace will be the first Jaguar to receive the Pivi Pro infotainment system. It’s a faster and more interactive system than previously. It boots up much quicker and is ready to go the moment you switch the car on. The menus have been redesigned to feel more like a Smartphone and the button presses for key features have been reduced to make it easier and less time-consuming to operate.
Wireless charging is finally available and with it comes Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The wireless bay boosts signal on the phone too. The infotainment system comes with a dual modem embedded Sim and Bluetooth meaning you can pair 2 phones to the system at a time (one for media and one for calls).
Better charge
At the end of 2019, the I-Pace received a 20 km range upgrade courtesy of a software update learned from its Formula E race car. This year the on-board charging infrastructure has been upgraded. Those with three-phase power are now able to charge the I-Pace at 11 kW compared with the 7 kW previously. Single-phase powered houses can still charge the vehicle but are limited to 7 kW. Theoretically, the 11 kW charger can add 53 km of charge per hour and will ‘brim’ the electric tank in around 8 hours.
Safety improvements
A ClearSight rear-view camera has been added projecting an image from the rear antenna backwards. We’ve used this system in the Evoque and found it to take some getting used to but provides a much clearer view of what’s going on behind you. It even works well in the dark, where most cameras struggle.
Coming to SA?
Jaguar SA confirmed the updated I-Pace will be here towards the end of this year. No price has been indicated yet, but we will update this article as soon as further announcements are made.
The Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo is based on the V-Class but caters for those who spend their time in the great outdoors. This modified Marco Polo Horizon has a few tricks up its sleeve thanks to some modifications from Hartmann.
South Africans love the outdoors and it’s a pity that the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo is not offered locally. But then again, it’s a niche vehicle and even if it was offered in Mzansi, we suspect very few people would be willing and able to fork out roughly R1.5-million or more for a luxury camper van.
The Marco Polo Horizon you see here has been modified by Harmann with what the firm calls a VP Gravity upgrade to make it more effective at being your best outdoor companion. Hartmann used the V250d as a starting point, which is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 140 kW and 440 Nm of torque.
In an effort to enhance the practicality of the Marco Polo, Hartmann installed a rear storage system with 2 drawers measuring 117 cm long, each with a 100 kg load capacity. More so, 3 aluminium storage boxes are also fitted and these can also be used as a table if need be and can each store up to 12 litres of water. This nifty kitchen is perfect for weekend camping with the family.
Furthermore, ground clearance has been raised by 30 mm and this vehicle rides on 19-inch wheels finished in matte silver and black while the additional plastic body cladding further protects the vehicle as you go in search of your ideal campsite.
Other useful features include the pop-up roof tent and foldable mattress which means you don’t have to pitch a tent.
The working relationship between BMW and Mercedes-Benz has lasted merely a year.
In July of 2019, these two titans of the global automotive industry announced they would enter a joint-venture technology partnership, with the aim of developing autonomous driving technology.
Although BMW and Mercedes-Benz command significant R&D resources between them and employ some of the world’s most talented engineers, the cost of autonomous technology is enormous. After doing the numbers last year, BMW and Mercedes-Benz decided that dividing work and leveraging their capital investment between each other, would be best.
The aim of BMW and Mercedes-Benz’s autonomous driving project was to deliver a host of new features to their road cars, by 2024. These included next-generation driver assistance systems and comprehensive automated parking functions – none of which will now happen in partnership.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz have announced that the autonomous drive technology joint-venture has now been dissolved. Each brand will pursue its own research in the field of driver assistance systems, using technology partners such as Bosch and Continental.
This latest industry cooperation failure illustrates that the surge in digital technology requirements is proving a huge challenge for traditional car companies to manage.
Even the most established manufacturers and brands, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, where technology has always been a bedrock of the business, are struggling to tame the autonomous vehicle cost curve.
Ford has revealed some more capable versions of its Transit and Transit Custom Vans. Would you take one over a double-cab bakkie?
These rugged-looking vans feature some proper body cladding and offroad-focused mechanical upgrades. At the front, there's a bold Ford logo that looks remarkably identical to the one used on the Ranger. There's black cladding around the front and rear bumpers and there are 16-inch alloy wheels. A new limited-slip differential has been fitted and the traction control system has been reworked, so these vans can actually go further than your standard-issue Transit. The intelligent all-wheel drive setup is also available and when the going gets tough, the system sends 50% power to the front axle.
Speaking of power, a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine is on duty and you have varying power options to choose from. At the top of the range sits a potent 135 kW and 415 Nm. Inside, the leather upholstery is durable and Ford has thrown in air conditioning, a heated windscreen as well as power-folding door mirrors. “The Active and Trail models demonstrate how versatile and capable the Transit range can be," said Hans Schep, general manager for commercial vehicles at Ford of Europe. "From businesses that operate off the beaten track to families who want a vehicle as adventurous as they are, there is a Transit to suit every need."
South Africa is not really a van market, with the majority of businesses opting for the double-cab bakkie. Still, both the Transit and Transit Custom are on sale – see pricing and specifications here.
BMW has announced that it will make its new Golden Thunder Edition trim package available on most 8 Series derivatives from September 2020 onward. Is it a suitably glamorous and exclusive upgrade for the Munich brand’s flagship model – or a cynical and chintzy add-on to shore up demand for the slow-selling range? We'll let you decide…
Even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on vehicle sales across the globe, several online motoring titles were reporting that BMW’s 8 Series was selling especially slowly. It was surprising, given that the brand's flagship range is relatively new to the market and was recently expanded into Convertible and Gran Coupe variants.
And, as is the wont of Internet commentators, several theories have been put forward to explain the low demand: the Munich-based brand hasn't marketed its flagship range intensively enough or made a concerted effort to differentiate its 8 Series variants in consumers' minds; it's too expensive compared with the range it replaced (6 Series) and competes in a shrinking market segment; it lacks the brand cache to compete with super-luxury marques, such as Bentley.
Note how the gold striping flows from the middle of the rear bumper into rear corners of the 8 Series' side skirts.
Whichever theory is the closest to the truth, BMW has decided to do something in a bid to ensure that its otherwise accomplished 8 Series does not suffer the same fate as its ill-fated E31 precursor, which arrived with much fanfare in 1989, but sold slowly until it was quietly discontinued in 1999. The 8 Series nameplate was only resurrected about 2 decades later…
Now, the Munich-based brand says it’s raising the 8 Series “to collector’s item status” by availing a trim package of BMW Individual design and equipment features named “Edition Golden Thunder” – yes, that’s the order in which the words are embroidered on the Coupe and Gran Coupe’s front headrests and Alcantara Anthracite roof liners.
The Golden Thunder Edition enhances the standard M Sport Package. Golden 20-inch double-spoke rims are included.
From September 2020, 8 Series Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible derivatives (from the 840i to the M850i xDrive, but excluding the top-of-the-range M8) will be optionally available with the Golden Thunder Edition trim package, which features – you guessed it – liberal lashings of gold accents, directly from the BMW factory in Dingolfing.
The additional trim supplements the adornments of the M Sport package, which is standard on those derivatives, to give such-equipped derivatives the “character of a custom-built vehicle (sic),” BMW says.
A Golden Thunder Edition 8 Series derivative is finished in either Sapphire Black- or Frozen Black metallic, replete with golden accent lines on the bumpers and along the side skirts, matched with similarly-finished side-mirror housings, an M boot spoiler (exclusively available on the Coupe version) as well as 20-inch M double-spoke light-alloy wheels.
Inside, the trim package includes aluminium mesh-effect gold inserts/finishes, as well as an edition emblem.
For further contrast, the gold elements are combined with BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trim and black calipers for the cars' M Sport braking system.
Inside, apart from the aforementioned embroidered front headrests and BMW Individual roof liner (in the case of the Coupe and Gran Coupe), the Golden Thunder Edition features extended BMW Individual black Merino leather trim in combination with aluminium mesh-effect gold inserts/finishes, as well as an edition emblem.
Finally, Golden Thunder Edition-equipped derivatives feature CraftedClarity glass finishes for selected controls and a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system.
Does the special trim package improve the appeal of the 8 Series family appreciably… or is the plethora of gold accents overkill? Please let us know.
