The Japanese automaker has unveiled a pair of exclusive running shoes designed specifically for driving. “This pair is very similar to Mazda in terms of design,” reads the official press release.

Mazda has partnered with Japanese sportswear company Mizuno to unveil a new pair of driving shoes that “best reflect the brand’s design philosophy.” Working closely with Mizuno, the pair of sneakers carries the Mazda Kodo Soul of Motion design that features minimal lines and a simple approach to styling – just like on Mazda cars.

It should be noted that Mazda has hosted a YouTube livestream for the debut of the driving sneaker.

That said, a pair of Mazda x Mizuno sneakers isn’t all about aesthetics. According to the release, they are designed to provide “lightweight, stable yet comfortable pedal operation.”

The Mazda / Mizuno shoe has key functional features such as “Mizuno rear flexion support”, which improves pedaling precision.

In addition, the shoe has a rounded outsole, which improves contact with the floor and also makes it easier to rotate the foot while driving. A structured mesh around the Achilles tendon absorbs deformation and maintains a fit.

While most sneakers have a hard and thin outsole that makes them awkward to use outside of the vehicle, Mizuno uses Cob Pod Clusters for cushioning. This technology provides pedal feedback while still being comfortable for everyday use.

Mazda’s new driving shoes are now available for pre-order in Makuake for around $ 360

Not so long ago, AutoTimesNews wrote that Mazda shared data on the large volumes of sales of its crossovers. The Japanese automaker reported fairly successful sales in 2021. The most popular cars of the company are the CX-5, CX-9 and CX-30 crossovers.

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After the presentation at the beginning of June of an unusual crossover concept car, a mixture of Z4 Coupé and X5, BMW continues to visit the reserves of its design center. This time it’s heavy, very heavy even, with a prototype never seen to date. It dates from 1995 and contains all the beginnings of the BMW 7 Series Bangle, the E65 launched in 2001. Discovery.

BMW ZBF: a taste of the 7 Series E65?

This exterior styling study carried out between 1995 and 1996 bore the code ZBF, German acronym of Future BMW family, which translates into the language of Molière as “future BMW family”. An internal competition at the BMW style center, based in Munich, put the designers in competition with the theme of each creating a whole family of models. In short, it was a question of sketching the future BMW range, that embodying the modernity of the XXI.^e dawning century.

TO READ. BMW 7 Series E65 (2001). The unloved limousine turns 20

The cult of the grille

After the preliminary sketches, the projects that caught the attention of management moved on to the next stage, that of the 1: 1 scale model, in other words life-size. And when it comes to the BMW 7 Series, it’s almost the madness of grandeur. The ZBF prototype you have in front of you is the most successful of all the projects. It has a passenger compartment, but also an engine. The other proposals were only full or semi-hollow models.

The birth of the iDrive

Note that the interior design is the work of another stylist. This is a usual approach among builders, where skilled people work in pairs. Surprisingly, the dashboard of the BMW 7 Series ZBF abandons the usual inclination of the center console towards the driver for a completely symmetrical shape. The aim was to create a new feeling of spaciousness and, to make sure nothing wasted, to make the left-hand drive / right-hand drive conversion easier.

The display concept, like that of the controls, clearly announces the arrival of the iDrive in the range. It will also be the “famous” Series 7 E65 which will celebrate it. From the outset, this magic wheel was designed to be deployed at the front as well as at the rear. A BMW 7 Series is appreciated as well by driving it as by taking advantage of the second row seats when you are lucky enough to have a driver. In conclusion: that those who were shocked by the BMW 7 Series E65 twenty years ago be reassured, it could have been much worse.

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Chinese brand XPeng has unveiled an updated version of the G3 known as the G3i in China.

The G3i is slated for release in September and features a sleeker bezel that echoes that of the P7. The novelty is equipped with a thin LED strip located above the new headlights.

A taller bonnet and new concealed door handles can be seen at the rear. The crossover also received an updated rear end with a new bumper, redesigned diffuser and updated taillights. Internal changes are more modest. The G3i has an upgraded 15.6-inch infotainment system that uses the Snapdragon 820A auto-class chip. It also has a full-script voice assistant that supports “continuous dialogue and customizable voice commands.”

Car enthusiasts will find the XPILOT 2.5 semi-autonomous driving system from XPeng, which has been described as “the most powerful autonomous driving assistance system in its class.”

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor that produces 194 hp. and 300 Nm. This allows the crossover to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in about 8.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 170 km / h.

The entry-level model is equipped with a 55 kWh battery, allowing the G3i to travel 460 km. Higher tier variants have a larger 66 kWh battery, which extends the NEDC’s range to 520 km.

When the G3i goes on sale this fall, prices will start at ¥ 149,800.

Although the G3i is not as flamboyant as the P7, the G3 was the brand’s first mass-produced model. It was released in 2018. The model has become “the second best-selling all-electric crossover SUV in China’s mid-to-high-end segment,” so it is critical to the company’s success.

Earlier, our portal wrote that Xpeng electric vehicles have learned to drive outside the city in autonomous mode.

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Jeep unveiled the first images of its fully redesigned 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid at EV Day 2021, the EV Day 2021 virtual press conference on the EV Day 2021 on July 8, dedicated to the electrification of its brands.

According to speedme.ru, citing a press release from the brand, the fifth generation of the Grand Cherokee will be officially unveiled at the 2021 New York International Auto Show, where they will see the entire Grand Cherokee range. The legendary SUV has garnered a record number of awards over the past 30 years, received the most flattering reviews from market participants and crossed the seven million mark in global sales.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe marks another step towards expanding the use of electric propulsion and strengthening Jeep’s Zero Emissions, 100% Freedom concept in the brand’s 80th anniversary, synonymous with innovation and success.

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BMW’s latest electric vehicle is not a car, but an all-electric scooter with a futuristic look with a range of 128 km, named CE 04.

The CE 04 scooter can accelerate to 120 km / h, so it is good for a small highway. Ideal for short daily commutes. Rechargeable from 0-100% in 4 hours and 20 minutes from a standard plug. With a level 2 charger, this time is reduced to 1 hour 40 minutes, and if you need to go from 20-80% of the charge, it will do it in 45 minutes.

Power comes from a 42-horsepower motor that sits between the 8.9 kWh battery and the rear wheel. The model will have regenerative braking. It is triggered when the rider is completely off the throttle and automatically decides how much drag torque should be applied to the front and rear wheels. Since the electric motors can simply rotate backward, they also have a walking speed reversal to make the CE 04 easier to maneuver.

Along with the regenerative brakes, it also has 10.4-inch double disc brakes at the front with 4-piston fixed calipers and a single 265-millimeter disc at the rear with a floating caliper. Here, too, Bosch’s latest ABS has been selected for its ability to operate the front and rear brakes independently for added safety.

The CE 04 is equipped with an 89x381mm light-alloy wheel at the front and a 114x381mm wheel at the rear. It has a 1,676mm wheelbase, a 26.5-degree steering column and a 119mm roller, making it easy to maneuver and stable, BMW says.

Four driving modes help the driver cope with any conditions, including ECO mode for maximum distance, Rain mode for added safety, Road mode for normal driving and Dynamic mode for maximum performance. Modes can be selected on a 10.25-inch color screen that can display the instrument cluster, charge status and navigation map.

The CE 04 starts at $ 11,795 and comes in light white as standard. There is a premium package that includes: adaptive headlights, Pro driving modes, ABS Pro, level 2 charging cable, seat heating and a tire pressure sensor. It costs another $ 1,650.

Read also that BMW has recorded quite high demand for the electric i4.

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The limited edition Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 received a 780-horsepower V12 and permanent all-wheel drive, providing acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in just 2.8 seconds.

Avomobili Lamborghini has unveiled the Aventador in the limited edition LP 780-4 Ultimae to celebrate the iconic V12 supercar. The Aventador LP 780-4 combines the characteristics of the SVJ and underlines the refined elegance of the Aventador S, combining design and dynamism in a collectible coupe and roadster.

More than a year later, with events around the world canceled due to the pandemic, the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupe and Roadster will be unveiled at the UK Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​2021 in front of car enthusiasts and owners.

The 12-cylinder 6.5-liter Longitudinale Posteriore (LP) engine develops 780 hp, an increase of 40 hp. more than the Aventador S, and 10 hp more. more than SVJ. The model also boasts permanent all-wheel drive. The LP 780-4 Ultimae reflects the intuitive character, power and performance of a decade of Lamborghini Aventador evolution. This is the grand finale of the history of the traditional V12 combustion engine and the perfect Aventador in every sense.

The unique, extremely stiff and lightweight Aventador LP 780-4 carbon fiber monocoque and extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the body contribute to a weight reduction of up to 1,550 kg. The coupe, which weighs 25 kg less than the Aventador S, delivers the same weight-to-power ratio as the SVJ – 1.98 kg / hp. This allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 355 km / h. The CCB braking system is able to stop the car from a speed of 100 km / h in just 30 m.

The LP 780-4 Ultimae uses a special front bumper concept to increase the aerodynamic front end, with longitudinal characteristics similar to the SVJ. ESC is calibrated to quickly and accurately control traction and vehicle dynamics, recognizing and adapting to different types of surfaces, including low-grip surfaces such as snow and ice. The permanent all-wheel drive, thanks to the rear-wheel steering, is calibrated to provide more torque to the rear axle. The systems are controlled by Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Attiva (LDVA), which processes accurate information about vehicle movement in real time using sensors, thereby determining the best response of all active systems to ensure the best vehicle dynamics in all conditions.

The driving modes of the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae allow the pilot to select not only the dynamic parameters STRADA, SPORT and CORSA, but also in EGO mode to select their own parameters for optimal tuning of the Lamborghini Active Suspension (LMS), traction control system, as well as tuning the steering.

A new palette of exterior and interior options has been created for owners of 350 coupes and 250 individually numbered roadsters. Its silhouette, clean and free, has the same recognizable and timeless lines as other classic V12-powered Lamborghinis such as the Countach, Diablo and Murciélago. There are 18 colors as standard with an unprecedented range of options and over 300 colors available through the Lamborghini Ad Personam, allowing owners to create their own unique take on Lamborghini V12 automotive history.

The interior also received a number of improvements. A customizable digital instrument cluster with a TFT screen displays the power plant operating modes and also allows you to control the connection in the car. Apple CarPlay manages voice and entertainment, and the Lamborghini telemetry system is available as an option.

From launch, the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae will be available in coupe and roadster configurations on the Lamborghini network, excluding mainland China, South Korea, Vietnam,

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Bentley didn’t have much of a choice. If the brand wanted to continue selling luxury cars, in particular to the Chinese, it was necessary to change strategy and not to use thermal power at all. Access to large cities in Asia is sometimes restricted in the event of heavy pollution, and while Bentley does not yet have an electric vehicle to offer, the rechargeable hybridization solution has become a natural choice.

It is the Flying Spur that inherits this novelty from Bentley, which did not have to look far to find the ideal powertrain. It is quite simply that of the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, with an ultra-compact 410 hp supercharged 2.9 V6 (catalysts placed in the center of the block between the cylinder banks, coils integrated into the cylinder heads with the injectors, etc.) associated with an electric motor, placed between the V6 and the gearbox, for a total of 544 hp and 750 Nm.

With its 14.1 kWh battery (corresponding to the old capacity of the Panamera SE Hybrid), it can travel around forty kilometers in electric mode, and especially 700 km on a full tank, and probably with an egg under the right foot. .

Three driving modes are offered on board this Flying Spur: Hold (which maintains the charge level in the battery, by default with Sport mode), Hybrid (mode in which the heat engine is intelligently managed according to the navigation for optimize consumption) and EV Drive (blocking the electricity).

Aside from the charging hatch and the Hybrid logo on the front fender, it will be difficult to differentiate this Flying Spur Hybrid from a classic Flying Spur.

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Double good news. The fact of discovering an unprecedented generation of the 2 Series Coupé is already a first. At a time when brands are leaving niche segments to concentrate spending on SUVs and electrics, BMW remains in the market for small coupes. The second good news is that this coupe is still rear-wheel drive, while the firm’s other compact vehicles have switched to front-wheel drive!

On the other hand, there is a point where purists will certainly be more critical: the design. The Series 2 is back with a more angular, more exuberant look. It will not be unanimous, especially as the stylists have dared original details. This is the case for the optics, which have only one light element, a nod to the 02 coupe according to BMW.

Travel upgraded

These headlights form a point towards the grille. This one does not have the gaping shape of Series 4. Here we have horizontal beans, with a surprising 3D effect. The profile retains the famous Hofmeister off-hook. We note that the M240i version has specific mirrors, inspired by those of the “real” M. At the rear, the lights are in one piece.

The new Series 2 is 4.54 meters in length. It is 10.5 cm longer than the old model. The width took a little over 6cm (at 1.84m), while the height was lowered by 2.8cm, to 1.39m.

Surprise inside. We do not find the dashboard of the Series 1, but that of the Series 4. We will therefore travel upgraded! The presentation is in the standards of the last BMW, with a central touch screen (up to 12.3 inches) close to the digital instrumentation. The air conditioning controls are associated with the central ventilators. The coupe receives sport seats as standard. At the rear, the bench can be folded up in the 40/20/40 format. The trunk volume is 390 liters, which is little for the size.

No hybrid but still diesel

The Series 2 partly takes over the chassis of the Series 4. Three engines are planned for the launch. The entry level is a 184 hp four-cylinder petrol engine. The model does not renounce diesel, with a 220d of 190 hp. They are therefore propulsions. The top is the M240i declination, with xDrive all-wheel drive.

The M240i is equipped with a strong 3.0-liter straight-six with 374 hp, which is 34 hp more than the old model. The maximum torque is 500 Nm. The car goes from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.3 seconds. Like all 2 Series Coupes, it has an 8-speed automatic transmission. This variant receives a specific suspension and braking, signed M. A real M2 is announced for 2022.

The vehicle is already available to order, with prices starting from € 41,800.

The prices

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Czech manufacturer Skoda celebrates 120 years of motorsport. In honor of this event, the brand unveiled an electric rally car.

This concept, called the RE-X1 Kreisel, is based on the Fabia Rally2 evo and is the result of a collaboration between Skoda Motorsport, Skoda Austria, Kreisel Electric and Baumschlager Rallye & Racing.

As part of the project, Skoda has updated the Fabia Rally2 evo to fit an electric drivetrain from Kreisel. The company did not go into details, but the RE-X1 Kreisel is equipped with a 52.5 kWh battery and an electric motor that produces 349 hp. and 600 Nm of torque.

The new setup makes the concept more powerful than the standard rally car with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine developing 287 hp. and 425 Nm of torque.

To accommodate the electric transmission required “major” body floor modifications, as the lithium-ion battery needed to be installed as low as possible. The car has also received an updated suspension and will be accompanied by a dedicated 200 kW charging station at the rallies.

Although the car is technically a concept car, it has been homologated by the Austrian Motorsport Federation AMF (ÖAMTC). This will enable him to take part in the Austrian Rally Championship later this month.

Skoda Motorsport boss Michal Grabanek said the concept is “an exciting combination of traditional and future-oriented technology.” He noted that “the car offers all the tuning options of the latest generation Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, but with an all-electric powertrain, and I really think rally fans will find this combination really interesting.”

Read also what Skoda has revealed about its successful new products in 2020.

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Until then, the futuristic car existed only in digital imagery. In its second debut, the promising model finally took on tangible forms.

Mini unveiled the Vision Urbanaut concept last November. It was not a real product: the minivan existed only in pictures. The British brand has gone even further, transforming a futuristic minivan into a tangible product.

The real version looks exactly like the concept, with short overhangs, a convex sleek body and cute styling. And you can even ride it. The concept represents Mini’s vision of what mobility might look like in the future, when autonomous driving becomes a standard feature of any vehicle.

Another focus is personalization. The minivan offers three customization modes called “Mini Moments”, which provide various internal configurations: changing scent, own music, ambient lighting, etc.

Mini takes the idea of ​​personalization beyond simple lighting and music, allowing you to transform the interior according to your needs.

For example, in drive mode, the cab is equipped with four seats and two swivel front seats. At the rear of the cabin, a deep, wide bench seat is installed, which will look more appropriate in the office than in a minivan.

Another feature is the convertible dashboard, which folds down to provide an additional seating area. The steering wheel is hidden under the dashboard and the pedals slide into slots in the floor.

Mini believes the Vision Concept will be used for joint mobility with next-generation autonomous driving systems. Such a tandem is possible in the future, which will have to wait. Now and in the coming years, such a concept with its revolutionary ideas may seem too unrealistic. But he is quite capable of changing our ideas about movement today.

Earlier, AutoTimesNews said that the next generation Ford Ranger Raptor pickup revealed interesting details in spy photos. The debut of the novelty will take place before 2022.