Gizmo could revolutionise road safety
A £75 computer system could revolutionise road safety by allowing cars to talk to each other and warn drivers there is a hazard ahead.
More than 1.35 million people die each year in traffic accidents, with between 20 and 50 million suffering non-fatal injuries.
To tackle the issues, connected vehicle experts at Autotalks have developed a chip which broadcasts a car’s location, direction and speed up to ten times per second.
All other ‘connected cars’ in the surrounding area receive messages - and each vehicle can then estimate the risk imposed by the transmitting vehicle.
If there is a potential hazard, such as a motorcyclist not slowing down for a junction, a warning will show up on the car’s infotainment screen.
Eventually, instead of just providing drivers with a warning, fully autonomous cars will take direct action to prevent a crash.
The technology is known as ‘vehicle to everything’ (V2X) and allows the car to talk to other vehicles along with infrastructure such as traffic lights and, eventually, mobile phones to help prevent pedestrians being involved in collisions.
V2X, which could cost as little as £75 to be installed on a new car, is being highlighted by Hyundai, whose Tel Aviv-based CRADLE team has invested in the company.
It follows research by Hyundai which revealed 15 per cent of British motorists have had a nearmiss in the past month after becoming distracted at the wheel.
MERE mention of the name Wrangler conjures up images of a hardcore off-roader.
That’s certainly the case with the fourth generation Jeep of the same name.
It’s a no-nonsense mean machine that makes jagged boulders feel like pebbles yet ensures its passengers travel in leather-clad luxury with the latest technology at their fingertips.
These days the Wrangler boasts more than just that trademark ‘go anywhere, do anything’ capability, it also now has appeal to a lifestyle audience.
Up for grabs in three trim grades – Sahara, Overland and Rubicon – and with a choice of 2.0-litre turbo petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines all using an eight-speed automatic transmission, the new Wrangler starts at £44,905.
That tab is for the Sahara 2.0-litre three-door variant rising to £48,420 for a Rubicon four-door model with 2.2 Multijet II diesel.
And as paint jobs like Hellayella, Punk’n Metallic, Mojito, Sting Grey and Firecracker Red might suggest, this vehicle is a bit of a looker.
Only Sahara trim doesn’t come with full leather upholstery and a substantial amount of standard kit includes the likes of keyless ignition, a pin-sharp rear view camera, blind spot alert, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a colour touchscreen that allows you to configure info in 100 different ways.
As for hardware, two four-wheel drive systems are available – Command-Trac on the Sahara and Overland trim and Rock-Trac for the Rubicon – and operate in four driving modes engaged depending on the prevailing conditions.
While dealing with the toughest of terrain comes naturally to the Wrangler, this is not just a vehicle for the rough stuff - proving smooth, solid and pleasant to drive on pretty much any road. Regards styling there are rounded headlights, a seven-bar grille and huge wheel arches while buyers can have a folding windscreen and removable doors plus a hard or soft top.
In the centre of the cabin is a new 8.4-inch touchscreen system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while safety features include blindspot monitoring, rear cross path detection, a reversing camera, electronic stability system and four airbags.
All Wranglers also come with a five-year warranty, three-year servicing programme and five-year roadside assistance.
Jeep’s UK line-up also includes the attractive Compass compact SUV, which starts at £23,450 for the 1.6-litre Multijet diesel Sport model while prices for the tough and versatile Renegade start at £18,500 for a 1.6-litre petrol powered Sport variant.
The Grand Cherokee Limited Plus model powered by a 3.0 V6 turbo diesel costs from £48,880.