She passed away on July 20 in the Gers, but we only learned the news at the beginning of the week. A last fit of modesty? Louisette Texier was used to it, even if she was nicknamed the “bulldozer”. Modest and flirtatious, did she not declare, after one of her rally victories, that she was bound to “arrive before the others to have time to put on make-up before the finish” ? But she was not only modest, she was also of the caliber of those who never flinch, and never flinch. Because Louisette has come a long way. Precisely from Armenia, where she was born in 1913.

France after the Armenian tragedy

She was two years old when her father was hanged. The Armenian genocide perpetuates its massacres and the one who is still called Harpiné Hovanessian is hidden and hastily taken to an orphanage in Istanbul. She left it ten years later to join other homes, in Salonika in Greece, then in France. But at fifteen, she wants to be free. She runs away, trades her name for that of Louisette Texier and becomes a successful dancer in the cabarets of Montmartre.

Years go by and the Germans occupy Paris. Louisette no longer performs on stage. She enters into resistance, hides Jews and participates in the liberation of Paris. Its post-war period will be calmer. She married and gave birth to two children. But her taste for independence takes over and she divorces. Louisette has an idea: she wants to sell jeans for women. A trade that the Americans are barely starting. In France, no one has ever risked it. She opened a shop in Neuilly in 1956 and it was a success. But at the same time, another passion will emerge in his life and occupy him for a long time. She attends a motorcycle race where a pilot friend has trained her. it’s love at first sight for motorsports.

She will train and learn not to ride a motorcycle, but to pilot a car. A few months later, she became the first woman to enter the Monte-Carlo rally, driving a Simca Aronde P60 Montlhéry. Until 1964, she went through rallies, and participated in the Tour de France auto with her Jaguar MK2. In 1963, she finished second overall and went on to win victories across Europe. The car ? This is his thing “the rest, I didn’t care. I never even rode a bike”, she will explain at the end of her life. But auto racing would never occupy him full time. At the same time, she is developing her boutiques. She will own, and manage, three until her retirement, which she deigns to take, at 90 years old.

Before that, she will have raced her last rally, that of Kenya, at 80 years old. Retired in the Gers, Louisette will once again put on her helmet for a karting session with her grandson. She was then 104 years old. She passed away this summer after a long journey of 108 years. Obviously, she will be missed by her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. But Louisette has lived a life like no other. An exceptional life because, after a chaotic start, it was the one she had chosen for herself, the one she decided to lead as she pleased, to the end.

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The American authorities will allocate $ 1.2 trillion for the creation of infrastructure for electric cars.

The U.S. Senate voted today to pass a massive $ 1.2 trillion electric vehicle infrastructure package that will fund roads, bridges, railways, transit and the electricity grid.

In particular, the bill plans to allocate $ 7.5 billion to the automotive industry to help establish a network of charging stations for electric vehicles throughout the United States. It also envisions an additional $ 7.5 billion to help buses and other forms of public transport move from gasoline or diesel to zero-emission fuel.

The move supports the White House’s plan for automakers to voluntarily make 50% of all new cars sold in the US fully electric by 2030. While the move is part of a broader pledge by the Biden administration to support electric vehicles and tackle climate change, many Democrats say the plan is not enough.

“Of course we Democrats think we need to do a lot more,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told NPR. “We are moving on to the second path, which will lead to the transformation of generations.”

Following the passage of this bipartisan bill, the Senate voted to begin discussions on an even broader $ 3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes $ 198 billion for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, mainly related to clean energy development.

“Rapid and widespread development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure with federal government support is critical if consumers want to implement zero-emission vehicles at the scale and pace necessary to prevent a climate catastrophe,” Democratic leaders said.

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The first time we saw the Alfa Romeo Tonale dates back to March 2019. It was at the Geneva Motor Show and the Biscione presented its third model there, a compact SUV with a very different style to that of the Giulia and Stelvio. , with a plug-in hybrid engine and the promise of seeing it arrive in series in 2022.

But the story did not go as planned, with several postponements. Instead of seeing it on our roads in 2022, we should now discover the final version next year. For now the SUV is still in full development, and one of the mules was surprised and photographed by one of our friends near Turin.

This is the first time the Italian compact SUV has been seen on the road and the thick camouflage that extends to cover its rims does its job, hiding the lines of the body to perfection. However, we won’t stop at trying to guess what his style will look like. Let’s already try to gather all the elements that we have on the vehicle (between confirmations and rumors), on its technologies and its engines.

Which front face?

The front of the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept was very striking, with the thin LED light beams framing the classic Alfa badge. A style that should stay on the production model. The body will remain classic, as opposed to coupe-style SUVs, but it is not impossible that one day a variant with a leaky roof arrives, as in the competitors (Audi Q3, BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC).

Contrary to the concept, the rear handles seem to be positioned on the doors and not integrated into the rear pillars as on the Giulietta.

Revolution in the interior

Another element that had made people talk – and not just a little – on the Tonale seen at Geneva 2019 was the interior, with its minimal and high-tech presentation. A typical style of a concept that we won’t find on the production Tone, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some similarities.

Much of the work done so far has indeed focused precisely on the interior, not only to make it more comfortable but also to completely renew the infotainment, both from a hardware and software point of view.

The interior of the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept

Indeed, the game of premium brands is no longer just about the quality of materials but also a cutting-edge technological offer, with connected systems, over-the-air updates and much more.

It remains to be seen now who will sign the Tonale software: the options on the table are numerous and include FCA’s Uconnect 5 – used by the most recent innovations of the former Italian-American group – and Google, with which PSA has signed. in 2020 an agreement for the adoption of the operating system for cars on future models. Now that FCA and PSA are united within Stellantis, it is difficult to say which solution will be adopted.

A 3008 signed Alfa Romeo?

But the most important question of all regarding the Alfa Romeo Tonale is: what platform will it use? In 2019, it seemed almost a given that it would adopt the same mechanics as the Jeep Compass, namely front-wheel drive and the ability to mount plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Alfa Romeo Tonale, illustration by Motor1.com

An idea that has never been confirmed and which now, with the birth of Stellantis, is called into question, especially with options on the side of PSA. If we exclude the CMP of the Peugeot 2008 and Opel Mokka (which does not offer plug-in hybrid versions but 100% thermal or 100% electric), there remains the EMP2 which already serves many SUVs such as the Citroën C5 Aircross, the Peugeot 3008 and 5008.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid

A platform that has been using electrification for quite some time now, and not just to reduce emissions, but also to increase performance (and not just a little). Performance which is the basis of the postponement of the launch, initially scheduled for 2021, to 2022. According to many rumors, in fact, CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato was not satisfied with the Tonale plug-in hybrid SUV and asked his engineers more performance.

How to do ? On closer inspection, the EMP2 becomes the number 1 choice, with the PSE version of the Peugeot 508 offering 360 hp, 520 Nm of torque, 0-100 in 5.2 seconds and all-wheel drive. Figures that would suit a high-end brand with a sporting soul like Alfa Romeo and which, for the occasion, could also develop further. Maybe by creating a Quadrifoglio version, who knows?

Peugeot 508 PSE

Alfa Romeo Tonale, when is it due?

2022 therefore, but in which month will the Alfa Romeo Tonale be presented? We are talking about the end of the first quarter, when (but here the conditional is more than de rigueur) could reopen its doors after 2 years of nothingness the Geneva Motor Show. It would be a kind of “homecoming” for the Biscione SUV, which would close the circle that will take it from concept to production model.

Beginnings which would follow by a few weeks the start of production at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant (where the Fiat Panda is currently produced) while the arrival at the dealership is set (according to the words of Jean-Philippe Imparato) at June 4, 2022. In just under a year, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will finally be a reality.

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The luxurious Japanese car has shown its ability to the so-called extreme agility. It turned out to be slow but safe.

“Elk test” is a fairly common test of a car for its ability to react to sudden obstacles on the road. YouTube channel km77.com showed how the 2021 Lexus LS 500 executive sedan coped with this test.

It should be noted that during the test drive, the premium sedan did not reach the test value of 77 km / h. However, this did not stop the experts from saying a lot of flattering words in his address. As a result, the best attempt was made at a speed of 71 km / h. Moreover, according to experts, if they had more time, they would have been able to raise this limit.

At a speed of 77 km / h, the sedan could not return to the originally occupied lane, experts share the results of the check.

In general, the model showed a fairly safe and predictable behavior on the road. The driver controls it almost intuitively, and ESP intervenes in the control very correctly.

But with cranking, there were problems: it is difficult to return to your lane after going around an obstacle.

Earlier, AutoTimesNews said that the serial sports car Honda Sports EV will enter the assembly line in 2022. This term is called by the Japanese edition Carsensor. The novelty will be a co-platform for the electric hatchback Honda e.

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The safety of the new KA4 next-generation van was checked by experts from the Australian association ANCAP.

To prove its passive safety, the new Korean van had to pass six tests at once. From the classic frontal impact and collision with a pole to bench tests of seats and a staged accident with a pedestrian at a speed of 40 km / h.

Already in the “base” Kia Carnival, which the Koreans offered to their Australian customers, receives eleven airbags at once, and four are responsible for protecting the driver at once.

The list of available options also includes an automatic braking system, tire pressure sensors, anti-lock braking system, an assistant for lane control and monitoring of “blind” zones, etc.

According to the results of all tests, the newest Kia Carnival showed excellent results, having received the maximum five stars.
For the safety of adult passengers, he was awarded an assessment of 90%, children – 88%, pedestrians – 68%, and for active safety complexes he was given 82%.

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Stylish French car Renault Arkana could perform better than the Japanese Toyota RAV4.

In Spain, the km77.com edition brought the coupe-like Renault Arkana crossover to the “moose test”. Immediately, we note that the car coped well with the test at a speed of 77 km / h.

Not a single cone was knocked down during sharp maneuvers at such speed. The result of 77 km / h was demonstrated during the first attempt – then they wanted to improve the result further, but this was never done.

Experts appreciated the work of the suspension and steering wheel as excellent. I was also pleasantly surprised by the electronics, which behaved correctly under such heavy loads. Even with the rear wheel off the ground, it was possible to maintain control over the machine.

As a result, km77.com experts gave Renault Arkana the People’s Choice Award.

It should be noted that the tests involved a version of the car for Europe, which is made on the CMF-B platform.

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The “moose test” is used to check how quickly the car is able to react to obstacles that suddenly appear on the road. The Fiat 500e performed well in difficult conditions.

Fiat 500e test video published by Km77. The new-generation Fiat 500 subcompact hatchback copes well with the first test at 74 km / h. A hit cone looks more like a driver error.

The car seems to be very balanced in all phases of the maneuver – understeer is felt, but overall this is a very good result for a road car. While there was a foul at the start of the first test, 500e eventually finished the test without blunders.

For such a miniature car, this is an impressive result. The Fiat shown in the video is fitted with 205/45 R17 Continental ContiEcoContact6 tires – tires where efficiency beats performance.

Although other tests at higher speeds have shown insufficient traction on the front axle, it is clear that this is a very difficult situation for any vehicle.

The final slalom test gave very similar results as the “moose test”: the electric car was able to maintain its composure at a speed of about 70 km / h. Overall, the Fiat 500e’s test results are average. There were cars that coped with the “moose test” better, and there were those who frankly failed it.

Earlier, our portal said that the Porsche Panamera from the TechArt tuning studio received an insane body kit and became more powerful. German tuners have modified the native engine, which now produces from 669 to 720 horsepower.

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Kia Seltos / KX3 has received praise from C-NCAP experts.

Crash test in Chinese means an offset impact at a speed of 64 km / h. Cars that are checked by European specialists from the Euro NCAP organization undergo the same test. But for a test with full overlap in China, a lower speed is provided – 50 km / h, and not 56, as in European colleagues.

During the test, the Kia KX3 performed well at all stages and earned the maximum five stars. Its overall result is 85.8%. This figure was formed from the results of assessing the safety of the driver and passengers (here the cross did not reach the 87 percent mark), pedestrian safety (just over 73%) and the effectiveness of active safety systems (almost 94%).

These points gave experts the right to say that the Kia KX3 outperforms direct competitors in terms of safety. The rivals of this Korean SUV have an average rating of no more than 66%. By the way, the Chinese “Seltos” received the maximum possible score for emergency braking systems and ESC, as well as for protecting the legs of pedestrians.

Recall that the Kia KX3 / Seltos for different regional markets receives its own set of security systems: somewhere it is better, but somewhere it costs the necessary minimum.

Earlier, AutoTimesNews said that the queue for a new SUV based on the RAV4, stylized as an American classic from the 70s, stretched for two years. This is a compact SUV with the original Mitsuoka Buddy appearance, the first deliveries of which will begin in June this year.

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Presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2016, the Skoda Kodiaq is the first SUV of the Czech brand. He thus inaugurated the nomenclature of all the models of this range of adventurers, whose name begins with K and ends with Q: we will subsequently find the Skoda Karoq, Kamiq or more recently the Kushaq.

On the same subject

Skoda Kodiaq: sold in more than 60 markets around the world

The production of the Skoda Kodiaq was initially handled by the factory of Kvasiny, in the Czech Republic, which was then supplemented by production sites in Russia, China and India.

In just under five years, these are 600,000 copies of the Skoda Kodiaq that have been produced in the world, allowing the model to be sold on more than 60 markets international. The Kodiaq is especially popular in China, where we find an exclusive SUV coupe version of the model: the Kodiaq GT.

With the arrival of the Skoda Karoq, Kamiq, Kushaq and other Enyaq IV (the latter breaking the nomenclature with its initial E, classifying it among the electric models), SUVs now represent nearly 40% of global sales of Skoda in 2020, and the brand has also surpassed the 2 million SUVs produced.

A record on the Nürburgring

During its career, the Kodiaq was notably the first 7-seater SUV to have signed a record on the Nürburgring : in 2018, Skoda indeed entrusted Sabine Schmitz with the mission of taking a Kodiaq RS, which completed a time of 9: 29.84 minutes on the 20.832 kilometers of the famous Nordschleife.

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