Apparently, Uber has intensified its efforts to realize its vision of transporting the commuters of the future through flying cars.

Although nothing is concrete at this stage, it seems that the recent hiring of a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engineer has hinted that Uber is up to something big in its research and development department.

Reports have it that the hiring of Mark Moore as Uber’s director of engineering for aviation means that he would lead the research into the technology of flying cars.

Apparently, Uber wants to ease traffic congestion on the roads by operating fleets of airborne taxis, which would let commuters hop across cities in less than half the time.

To work on VTOL technology

Mark Moore is expected to work on the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology, which is seen as the future of urban aerial transport, reports the Telegraph of UK.

While the vehicles would take off vertically, they could use fixed-wing designs to save energy when flying.

Uber, whose app connects self-employed drivers with passengers, has shaken up the taxi industry but also has an eye on the future.

The company is reportedly undertaking the trial of self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh and Phoenix, after a recent test in San Francisco was deemed illegal. Uber has also espoused the benefits of flying vehicles.

Jeff Holder, head of product for Uber said that flying vehicles could change cities and how people work and life. He explained that their company wants to offer its customers as many options as possible to move around.

Uber projects that the flying vehicles, which could carry several passengers, would be dropping and picking people up at helipad-style stations.

It explained that a 57-mile journey from San Jose to San Francisco, which takes one hour and 40 minutes in a regular Uber car and costs $111, could take 15 minutes via the flying car.

The company has suggested the airborne journey would initially cost $129 but over time that could fall to $20.

A ‘puffin’ aircraft

While he was still working for NASA, Mark Moore created designs for an electric ‘puffin’ aircraft that would be able to carry one passenger.

Critics are saying that flying cars are likely to be years away because it requires a large-scale development of the technology, changes to regulations, and more pilots being trained.

However, if an autonomous flying software can be developed soon, then flying cars could be not too distant as of this time.

In fact, the current limitation on flying vehicles has not stopped several companies from investigating its potential.

Airbus has said it will have a prototype ready by the end of the year, while E-hang, a Chinese start-up, says it has won approval for testing in Nevada.

As the billion-dollar tech giant behind the on-demand taxi app, Uber has certainly made something going with the hiring of Mark Moore.

While still working for NASA, Moore also wrote a paper on the practicalities of a vertical take-off and landing vehicle for personal air travel.

It seems that he was precisely taken in by Uber to continue working and turn his paper into reality.

In a recent interview, Moore said that he can’t think of another company in a stronger position to be the leader for the new ecosystem and make the urban electric VTOL market real.

It can be recalled that Uber first put forward the bare bones of the idea in October last year, outlining a futuristic vision of on-demand urban air transportation.

The post Uber Commissions NASA Veteran to Do Research and Explore the Possibility of Flying Cars for the Future! appeared first on Master Herald.

With the first flying car already available for pre-order, it is just a matter of time that a flying taxi would follow suit, they believe.

In fact, there are more commercial projects involving flying vehicles looming large on the horizon as a result of the advent of the flying car.

To get things rolling toward such end, Dubai has announced its plans to introduce flying drone taxis in the near future.

A different level of technology

While it may sound like an out-of-this-world project, but the Middle Eastern city of the United Arab Emirates is really serious about the rather unusual concept of passenger-commuting.

Some critics aver that people living in Dubai are thinking on a different level compared to the rest of the world. The city is known for its technological prowess, which raises a lot of eyebrows every now and then.

Then again, some of the projects taking place in the city will set an intriguing precedent for the rest of the world. Flying drone taxis may seem a bit far-fetched for the time being, but the concept seems solid thus far.

Dubai has a thing for technological advancements in the transportation sector. Teams are already working on hyperloop trains and driverless metro lines.

Thus, flying drone taxis seem to be a logical fit, looking at the bigger picture. Whether or not they can pull it off, is a different matter entirely, that much is certain. There are quite a few intriguing details about these flying taxis that necessitate a closer look, details The Merkle.

A driverless vehicle

It should also be noted that the flying drone taxis being envisioned in Dubai are going to be unpiloted, which means passengers put their life in the hands of software and hardware.

The idea may turn off quite a few people at first, as trusting an autonomous machine is still hard for many people. Moreover, there can only be one passenger per taxi, which seems to be more a safety precaution rather than an issue imposed by the technology itself.

There is more, as the passenger and his luggage cannot weigh over 220 pounds. This restricts air travel to the skinny part of the population, which is somewhat discriminatory.

Plus, the unpiloted taxi drone will only have a range of 31 miles, which means flight time is restricted to mere minutes per passenger. Then again, that is still a very solid distance for the first generation of these commercial vehicles.

Using an unpiloted drone taxi makes a lot of sense in Dubai, though. Its roads are considered one of the world’s deadliest, and traffic congestion is reaching alarming heights as of late.

Flying in a drone to cruise above the people standing bumper-to-bumper can be quite a pleasant experience. Considering the drones reach 62 miles an hour in speed, the journey will not be slow by any means.

It is unclear how much one would have to pay for the unique experience. But knowing Dubai, it will not be a cheap endeavor by any means.

Despite its restrictions based on passenger weight and travel distance, it is a somewhat safe experience by the look of things.

Meanwhile, transportation experts believe autonomous flying taxis could be a fad still in the next 10 to 15 years because the challenges to their implementation are going to be significant.

While numerous companies are working on the technology needed for such vehicles, infrastructure has to be firmly in place to support their usage.

Way before Elon Musk of Tesla Motors planned to drill under Los Angeles to avoid traffic, several companies had already been toying with the idea of beating traffic by going over it.

Flying cars have long been a part of science fiction, but they could soon become a part of everyday reality. And once people have autonomous flying cars, it’s only a matter of time before autonomous flying taxis also comes out, notes Futurism.

Charles Eastlake, an aerospace engineering professor at Embry-Riddle University, said that his best engineering guess is that people will be using autonomous air taxis in the next 10 or 15 years, but definitely not certain, citing that the challenges are going to be big.

The post Dubai Appears Headed to Take the Lead in Introducing Flying Drone Taxis Amid Forecast that the Earliest that They Could Become Available is in a Decade! appeared first on Master Herald.

Apparently, there has been a significant increase in the number of new cars registered in the country last month and it is actually the highest in 12 years.

What is more interesting is the fact that electric cars have also taken a record share of the market by eating 4.2% share of new vehicle registrations. It is the highest figure for electric car registration on a monthly basis, beating the previous high of 3.6% recorded in November of last year.

Cumulatively, the 4.2% share of electric cars in January this year is way higher than the 3.6% share recorded in November last year because the overall total number of new car registration was also higher.

According to SMMT, UK drivers registered 174,564 cars in January 2017, up 2.9% from the year-ago level, to reach the highest monthly level since 2005, details The Guardian.

Impending slow down of motor trade

The SMMT had also warned of a slowdown in the motor trade in 2017 because of the impact of the weak pound, but there was no sign of deceleration in the first monthly numbers of the year.

Alternative fuel vehicles, mainly electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, increased by a fifth to reach a record share of new vehicle registrations.

Petrol cars were also up strongly, gaining 8.9%, with diesel car registrations down 4.3%, continuing the fall seen in December, amid suggestions of higher taxes to curb emissions.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said he expected some cooling off in the car market as the year progresses. However, he adopted a more upbeat tone than at the end of 2016, when he warned of a challenging 2017, with the weakness of the pound likely to increase the cost of imported parts, that would surely drive up car prices.

Hawes added that January’s numbers were buoyed by a great range of new models which are safer and cleaner than ever before.

He also pointed out that it is encouraging to see alternatively fuelled vehicles benefiting from the positive growth, reaching a record market share.

Still in good position to withstand challenges

Despite the anticipated cooling off period in the coming months for the car industry, Hawes said that the market is in a good position to withstand short-term challenges on the conditions that interest rates remain low and the economy stays stable.

Based also on the figures released by the SMMT recently, the Ford Fiesta remains the UK’s most popular car, followed by the Volkswagen Golf and then the Ford Focus.

Based on the figures also from the SMMT, there have been 7,279 alternatively fuelled vehicles that were registered last month, which is a 19.9% increase from the total of 6,072 vehicles reported last year.

It should be noted, however, that the category is still dwarfed by traditional gas guzzlers as more than 78,000 diesel cars and 88,000 petrol cars were registered last month. However, it is also clear that progress is being made.

The interest in electric vehicles is growing. Most manufacturers are developing ‘green’ cars now, which is giving British customers more options to choose from, reports Engadget.

The number of electric chargers or charging stations is also increasing. Following the moves of Tesla and Ecotricity, Shell has announced plans to launch a small charging network in the UK.

The decision of the company should help solve the long-standing ‘chicken and the egg’ problem. To persuade people to buy cars, there is a need for more chargers or charging stations conspicuously located all across the country.

But to justify the establishment of the charging stations, the electric carmakers need more people buying cars. It is a good thing that the situation is improving on both sides. And with the release of the mass-production sedan from Tesla, the Model 3, later this year, it seems that the process would further be hastened.

Meanwhile, Australian industrial minerals firm Syrah Resources Limited recently made a fearless forecast that the sales of electric cars worldwide would reach 100 million units by 2020.

The post Electric Cars in the UK Make Up 4.2% of New Vehicle Registrations as of January 2017; Industry Analysts Note Increasing Trend for Usage of Electric Cars! appeared first on Master Herald.

With reports that Nanoflowcell will be ushering the Quant 48Volt in the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, many are bewildered on how the company was able to do it using hydrogen fuel cell.

Despite the voltage reduction, performance reportedly does not drop at all, though, at least not on the latest piece of paper Nanoflowcell has issued.

In fact, the Quant 48Volt only gets better as it can now go from 0 to 62 mph in 2.4 seconds, features a 186-mph top speed, and also has a 620-mile range on a single charge.

Nanoflowcell first showed its 48Volt electrical system on the more modest, everyday-driver Quantino concept, which debuted next to the 1,075-hp Quant F at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

After running through a couple of years of Quantino testing and development, Nanoflowcell announced that it had readied a variably controllable flow cell, allowing it to drop the supercapacitors it had previously relied on to store energy and regulate current flow, saving both weight and money.

Nanoflowcell explained that it has previously not been possible to vary the control of flow cells directly because it needed buffer storage through the supercapacitors to be able to manage the flow of current for regulating driving speed

It pointed out that supercapacitors are very expensive and comparatively heavy. The breakthrough with the new low-voltage flow cell drive in the Quant 48Volt is that it will no longer require supercapacitors.

Exuding unbelievable numbers

Nanoflowcell packages the new 48V technology inside the Quant supercar concept that first hit the scene back in 2014, creating a car with more unbelievable numbers than ever.

The Quant 48Volt has an all-wheel-drive layout of four low-voltage motors, teaming up to create 751 horsepower. The motors have been redesigned for the latest concept car and rely on a solid aluminum net structure in place of the copper windings familiar in electric motor design.

Nanoflowcell said that it reduces the volume, weight, and cost of the motor while also making series production simpler.

The juice spinning those motors comes from the flow cell, where it’s the result of the electrochemical reaction of two electrolyte solutions separated by a membrane. Nanoflowcell explains how it optimized the process in its 48Volt system.

Quant 48Volt’s selling point

The big selling point of the low-voltage electrical system is that it makes the vehicle safer.

The Quant 48Volt appears to wear a shade of bluish-gray close to that of the original 2014 Quant E but gets some copper-colored jewelry running down its sides.

The face gets a more vertical set of slats across the intakes, along with copper-colored trim at the sides. That look is repeated at the rear, where copper outlet surrounds split up the fascia.

The interior has also been updated, with newly-colored two-tone seats visible through the open gullwing in one of the pictures Nanoflowcell released ahead of the debut.

The Quant 48Volt uses four 140kW electric motors to deliver 760hp to all four wheels.

The key to the new Nanoflowcell fuel cell is that it runs at low voltage. The fuel cell claims to be the lightest, safest, most environmentally compatible, and economical powertrain for EVs out there. The show car is a prototype and there is no word on when it might hit production, details Geeky Gadgets.

Nanoflowcell has been touting its electrolyte-liquid-powered sports cars.. The Liechtenstein-based company is developing an engine powered by batteries that run on electrolyte liquid, otherwise known as flow batteries.

The post Quant 48Volt Electric Sports Car Concept Discards Supercapacitors to Make Possible Drastic Voltage Drop from 700 Volts! appeared first on Master Herald.

However, even this early, there are already reports that the company shall be releasing an all-electric semi-truck after the release of the Model 3.

Reports have it that Tesla is already making progress on the development of the all-electric semi-truck, which was also part of the company’s ‘Master Plan, Part Deux’ unveiled by CEO Elon Musk in July of last year, reports the Business Insider.

It was also Musk who also made the online buzz on the Tesla semi-truck when he made mention of the vehicle on Twitter early this month.

In a reply to the tweet of Electrek’s Fred Lambert, Musk said Jerome Guillen, Tesla’s vice president of programs who is in charge of the Tesla semi-truck initiative, is making progress on the project.

He added that the Tesla Model 3, however, remains the top priority for the company. Guillen led Daimler’s semi-truck program before joining Tesla in 2012.

The Mercedes-Benz parent company showed off an all-electric truck designed for urban transport in November that can drive 124 miles on a single charge.

Substantial reduction in cost

Musk said that the Tesla semi-truck will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate.

Although that was the first official announcement, Tesla has been hinting for quite some time that it was interested in building a semi-truck.

Tesla CTO JB Straubel discussed the role that Tesla could play in the truck industry at the International Transport Forum in Germany in May last year.

Straubel said at that time that he can’t say too much about the new products and the things they are developing, but from a pure technology point of view, everything that they have done on vehicles translates directly into trucks, adding that there is no reason that they can’t make a very compelling electric truck.

An electric bus is also in the plan

In addition to an all-electric semi-truck, Tesla is also looking to build an all-electric bus, which indicates that the American electric carmaker would start focusing on big vehicles after it releases the Model 3.

In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicles needed, which are heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport.

Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year, Musk said.

An electric and eventually autonomous, long-haul truck has a number of potential benefits, like allowing truck drivers to catch some rest while the vehicle drives itself, and allowing them to communicate with family members on a long outing.

A central dashboard could also be used to gather data and identify spare capacity on particular destinations to suggest consolidating and optimizing routes, details The Daily Dot.

But those holding out for a heavy-duty truck will have to wait until everything surrounding the Tesla Model 3 starts dying down. Musk says the budget-friendly consumer vehicle is the company’s overwhelming priority.

Early last month, Tesla also unveiled the Ludicrous Plus mode for its production vehicle, the Tesla Model S P100D.

The Ludicrous Plus mode is merely a software update so it did not do much in as far as altering the design elements of the Tesla Model S P100D. However, what seems clear is that the new mode has significantly boosted the acceleration of the production vehicle.

Interestingly, under the new Ludicrous Plus mode, the Tesla Model S P100D can actually go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.389 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating electric car in the world.

It can be recalled that during the Consumer Electric Show (CES) 2017 held in Las Vegas, Nevada early last month, Faraday Future proudly stated that its new FF91 electric car will compete one day with Tesla.

The post Tesla All Electric Semi-Truck to Deliver Substantial Reduction in Cost of Cargo Transport, Says Elon Musk! appeared first on Master Herald.

Apparently, the 1978 Range Rover is a fully restored edition of the original under the Land Rover’s new Reborn program, which first revived a Range Rover Series 1 last year.

Land Rover is the parent company of the Range Rover and under its Reborn program, a vehicle isn’t just fixed up, it is actually returned to a factory-new condition by the factory that made it in the first place, using original but new parts, notes Outside Online.

And Reborn is using the rarest, most sought-after version of the vehicle, which is the three-door model that was sold only from the Range Rover’s release in 1970 until 1981. The result is the nicest, most collectible, and rarest SUV in the world.

A showcase of engineering expertise

Tim Hanning of Jaguar Land Rover says that the Range Rover Reborn program is another showcase of their company’s in-house engineering expertise.

He said that the program underscores the company’s commitment to nurturing the rich heritage of Land Rover and is a rare opportunity for customers to own a valuable and genuinely collectible automotive icon.

Hanning explained that it is a wonderful way to preserve the much sought-after three-door original Range Rover from the 1970s, from period-correct colorways to interior trim and accessories.

Part of the boom in popularity of the Range Rover or any old Land Rover, Toyota 4×4, or Jeep for that matter, can be attributed to the declining off-road capability of their modern counterparts.

But just like their modern-day counterparts, these vehicles can comfortably and capably get the user and his family including their dog down pretty much any off-road trail in the world.

Under the Land Rover restoration program, genuine, robust mechanical capability like true four-wheel drive and locking differentials have been replaced with complicated, fragile computers.

The ground clearance necessary to clear off-road obstacles has had to make way for pedestrian crash safety standards and sleek aerodynamics designed to maximize fuel economy.

Then there’s the ease of maintenance and repairs. When an old truck breaks down on the trail, anyone with half a tool set can fix it. But with the modern truck, what is under the hood are all plastic. Just diagnosing which onboard computer has what problem will require hooking the car up to another computer, and that typically has to be done at a dealership.

Old means cool

The biggest factor that draws buyers is the fact that these old vehicles are cool. Something about the simple, timeless honesty of square corners and upright windshields just speaks to people in a way round plastic crossovers never will. Fashion is the primary reason old vehicles have gotten so expensive.

While it’s gotten nearly impossible to find a decent Defender, Land Cruiser, or Wagoneer at anything approaching a sensible price, first-generation Range Rovers, produced from 1970 to 1996, can still be had for less than $10,000 in excellent condition. Project vehicles are sometimes less than $1,000.

For that amount of money, a motorist does not just get an SUV that will comfortably get him anywhere in the world, it will also get him there in style.

Riding on the most capable suspension and decorated inside like Balmoral Castle’s library, the Range Rover is refined, serene, and elegant.

The base V8 engine comes with 510 hp and 550 hp is optional. Both engines mate to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system that features more adjustments than a chiropractor. If the standard-wheelbase model isn’t enough, a long-wheelbase version with an added 7.3 inches of rear legroom is available.

Incidentally, the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is already available in the market to fill the multi-passenger vehicular void that no supercar could.

The post Restored 1978 Range Rover Costs Twice as Much as a New One But is the Most Collectible and Rarest SUV in the World! appeared first on Master Herald.

Officially called as the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, the latest iteration of the sturdy SUV shall usher performance chops to the brand.

The latest SUV from Dodge has a 475-hp, 470 lb-ft V8 engine under the hood, which displaces 392ci and is the Hemi variety Dodge is known for, reports Geeky Gadgets.

The big V8 engine can push the SUV to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and onto an NHRA certified quarter mile run of 4.4 seconds.

In addition to being fast, the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT has plenty of space inside. It can also tow more than other SUVs in its class. It has an 8,600-pound towing capacity.

The SUV also features standard suede and leather interior and an all-wheel drive system with SRT Drive modes for the track, snow, and others.

It is also expected that when it comes out on the market later this year, the 2018 Dodge Durango shall be one of the most expensive SUVs in its class. However, it seems worth it as the SUV really looks good with the revised hood and fascias front and rear.

A fast accelerating SUV

The 2018 Dodge Durango accelerates like a sports car as it can sprint to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds.

Amid its lousy fuel economy, the 2018 Durango SRT has not officially been rated by the EPA, but the similar Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT comes in at just 15 mpg combined.

However, some critics say that the 20-inch Pirelli tires offered in summer and all-season flavors probably won’t last more than 10,000 miles and run about $450 a corner.

The 2018 Durango SRT is not a plush family cruiser. It’s so intense that Dodge includes a day at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Arizona with the purchase of a Durango SRT.

Nearly identical with the Jeep Grand Cherokee

Underneath, the 2018 Durango SRT and the slightly shorter Jeep Grand Cherokee are nearly identical. It’s not much of a surprise then that the well-received Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT has spawned a three-row sibling.

Both share the same 475-horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque 6.4-liter V8 engine and aggressively-tuned all-wheel drive system. Needless to say, that’s a hefty increase over the 360 ponies cranked out by the non-SRT Durango’s optional 5.7-liter V8 engine. Helping make the most of that newfound power is an eight-speed automatic, the only gearbox on offer.

For 2018, the entire Durango lineup features a new shifter design that replaces last year’s much-maligned control knob. A sports exhaust system bellows out the V8’s aggressive rumble.

Underneath, the 2018 Durango SRT rides on a lowered suspension with thicker sway bars and its own spring tuning. Special lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in a choice of summer or all-season rubber provided by Pirelli. Big Brembo brakes bring the Durango SRT to a complete stop in just 115 feet from 60 mph.

A total of seven driving modes is featured on the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT including Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco, Valet, and Street.

Sport and Track hold gears far longer and reduce intervention from the electronic stability control system. Snow mode locks the all-wheel drive 50/50 and tweaks the stability control system further.

The post 2018 Dodge Durango SRT Expected to Tow More than Other SUVs in its Class When It Hits the Market Later This Year! appeared first on Master Herald.

In the year 2016, Tesla publicized its plans to begin shipping cars that are completely proficient for self-driving. It had opened booking for Indian consumers too and received a decent response from people who gave out $1000 for the automobiles.

Elon Musk had said in April this year that Tesla has included more countries like Brazil, India, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea, to the Tesla Model 3 order booking page. Also, included in the list of countries included is Ireland. The vehicle which is estimated to be priced around $35000, before tax breaks: will go into production in the late 2017.

On the agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while visiting Silicon Valley in 2015 was a visit to the Tesla Factory. Modi who is the Prime Minister of India, invited the company to setup shop in India. India being clearly one of those countries most suitable for this technology.

The Indian delegation also had its eyes on the Tesla Powerwall, as it’s no mystery how this solar battery could aid Indians tap into the one resource they have in plenty. The Tesla Powerwall could help Indian homes and families become self-reliant in their energy requirements.

To facilitate Tesla’s access to India, the country’s Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has offered the company land near India’s major ports last, July. This offer was made with the intention to make India the manufacturing hub of Tesla for Asia and then export the product to South and the South Asian Countries.

The invitation was offered while he was visiting the Tesla factory close to San Francisco and offered to encourage joint ventures between the firm and Indian automobile companies with a plan to introduce environment friendly and pollution free road transport in India. Particularly commercial and public motor automobiles, according to an official statement.

When Elon Musk said that the Tesla Model 3 will be available for purchase in several new markets, it was a real surprise for many people to take in. However, Musk showed that he meant all business with that statement when he opened up opportunities for pre-order for $1000, in countries like India, South Africa, Brazil and New Zealand.

Tesla’s arrival in India has sparked the interest of many businessmen. The creator of PaytmVijay Shekhar Sharma, VC Mahesh Murthy, entrepreneur Vishal Gondal was among the limited few people who pre-ordered the Model 3 previous year.

Chances are that the final price of the Model 3 is going to carry a heavy import duty, according to domestic law. If media reports are to be believed then, Tesla and the Indian government has had discussions about getting the car manufacturer to setup a plant in the country.

This would permit Tesla to produce locally and avail several tax concessions and aids from the government. Though, reports have suggested that Tesla will only commit to the deal if the Model 3 gets a good welcome in India.

Irrespective of these facts, it will be nothing short of pleasure for many Indians to see a self-directed vehicle on Indian roads. India has some of the world’s worst kept roads even in urban zones with negligible respect for traffic rules.

Another hurdle for Tesla would be to set up its network of Superchargers where owners would be able to charge their vehicles. Earlier last year Musk had confirmed that Tesla would set up its ‘Supercharger grid’ across India.

The post Tesla Cars are Coming to India Later This Year, Confirmed by the Company’s CEO Elon Musk appeared first on Master Herald.

Although the logo that Tesla proudly bears is not in any way anonymous or goes past the eyes of the public unnoticed, still it turns out that there is more to it than meets the eye. Several subtle facets of its design are not immediately made apparent at first glance of the logo.

Like for instance what the consumers innocently might assume as the stylized “T” is not just that but is also a reference to the products it sells. The CEO of the company, Elon Musk revealed a few interesting and insightful facts about Tesla’s logo in a recent Tweet via Motor1.

Elon Musk explained to a questioning Twitter follower, that in the new logo the ‘’T” essentially tries to characterize, the cross section of the product the manufacture; an electric motor car. What Musk intended to say was, that the main body of the ‘’T’’ depicts one of the poles that stick out of a motor’s rotor, with the second line on top representing a portion of the stator.

If we are to impersonate the shape of the Tesla logo in a circle, with the top of each ‘’T’’ facing outward, then it goes on to become what can be called a remarkable facsimile of the cross section of an electronic motor. Although, it should be taken into consideration that not all the motors have the same architecture and can easily vary; however, for understanding, we should consider it as a simplified explanation.

In this context, it bears an uncanny resemblance to the logo of SpaceX, another of Musk’s undertakings. SpaceX on the other hand designs and constructs rockets, and contracts to guide payloads into orbit. The stylized “X” in the SpaceX logo is designed to represent a rocket’s trajectory, Musk revealed in his tweets.

Both logos were the brainchild of RO-Studio, which is a design firm rooted in New Jersey.
If we are to compare the logos of Tesla and SpaceX, with the logo of Musk’s third chief project, we will find that it is relatively straightforward.

SolarCity’s logo consists of a sun graphic, which is meant to signify the power source for the solar panels of the enterprise. Musk negotiated Tesla’s procurement of SolarCity the previous year, alluding to expected synergies between solar energy and Tesla’s energy storage battery business.

SolarCity was formerly controlled by Musk and members of his household but had been a distinct corporate entity from Tesla. The purchase of SolarCity is the latest signal that Musk regards Tesla as more than just an auto manufacturing business. Recently, the company formally re-branded itself as simply Tesla Inc.; in place of the previous Tesla Motors.

Last year, it acquired the rights to the domain name “Tesla.com” after around ten years of trying and has since adopted it as the domain for its website. So, it is amply clear that Elon Musk is acutely aware of the fact that the brand of an automaker is equally or perhaps more significant for it growth, besides the standard of the product it’s offering.

In Detail About the Tesla Logo

Confirming what has already been said about the new Tesla logo, according to a recent report by GreenCarReport, they stated as well that the customized design of the ‘’T’’ is a silent reference to the company’s products. There too they mentioned how Elon Musk had explained it is but the cross section of an electric motor.

The post The New Logo of Tesla Explained by the CEO of the Company Elon Musk, There is More to It Than We Thought appeared first on Master Herald.

The Corvette Shooting Brake was finally unveiled by Callaway on Friday, and it confirmed the debut of the vehicle during the 2017 Michelin NCM Bash. It is the annual get-together at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky’s Bowling Green and this year; it will run from 27^th-29^th April.

It is called the C21 Aero Wagon, and the conversion is only available for the coupe body style of the Corvette, but it can be reversed if the owner desires. For the panels, carbon fiber is used, and the rear piece comes in the form of a tempered safety glass which further retains a defogger. The good thing about it is that this design doesn’t impinge on the removable roof panel of the car.

In reality, it makes use of the latching mechanisms and original hardware. The downside to this is that since there are no structural changes, there isn’t enough space to add in a 2+2 configuration, which explains the absence of an extra pair of seats. However, you still get the extra storage in the trunk.

Callaway is a specialist constructor that has close ties with the OEM, similar to Alpina (BMW), Ruf (Porsche), and Mountune (Ford). The conversion is therefore to the same standard as the cars which are coming out of the factory. The pricing starts at a lump sum 14,990.

Currently, the order books are open, and the installation procedures will be conducted at Callaway workshops in California and Connecticut, along with authorized Callaway retailers. However, car enthusiasts need to stop what they are doing and have a gander at the new Corvette Station Wagon.

The highly awaited shooting brake conversion package for the C7 Corvette is now genuine, and it looks very impressive. After waiting for four anxious years since the original announcement, the Corvette AeroWagon has finally been unveiled by Callaway with the shooting brake conversion presented in person.

Similar to the renders that were released back in 2013, Callaway has gotten hold of a stock C7 Corvette Coupe and has had the roof elongated, which finally stretched it to the rear portion of the car. This resulted in the creation of a two-door shooting brake which makes for greater practicality and extremely impressive looks.

The car recently pictured is a Z06 model which has been painted in Torch Red along with some sweet aftermarket wheels. In spite of the work that was needed to transform the C7 into a wagon, it looks pretty clean enough to be factory-built.

According to Callaway, the removable Targa roof is still highly functional, and there has been a significant increase in the cargo space. Also, the installation takes around a few hours, and there is no fabrication required whatsoever. Therefore, for a price of just 14,990 dollars, you can turn the C7 into a fully two-seat road ripper.

Callaway reports that AeroWagon deliveries were supposed to commence from December last year. Since this is the first time that people have laid their eyes on the vehicle and the shooting brake in person, the team is a little behind the actual schedule. However, we can and should forgive them since the result is exceptional.

Therefore, three years after Callaway showed off its idea, we can finally order the company’s AeroWagon shooting brake conversion, designed for the C7 Corvette. Sadly, the work to have the longer roof added doesn’t start before the fourth quarter of this year.

The post The Corvette AeroWagon Will Be Commercially Built by Callaway from This Year, The Shooting Brake Design for The C7 Corvette AeroWagon Is Finally Here appeared first on Master Herald.