A NEW generation of car buyers is looking beyond factors such as luxury and performance when deciding on their next choice of vehicle.

Buyers brought up in the era of the laptop and iPod are now assessing the levels of technology and connectivity featured in a vehicle before making their final choice.

Vehicle manufacturers are becoming increasingly more aware of this and their latest vehicles have to reflect the latest trends.

Such a move was evident at the latest New York Motor Show where Jaguar Land Rover opted to focus as much on its latest technological developments as it did on its new models.

The technologies include remote control off-road driving, predictive infrared laser scanning, gesture and voice control activation, smart glass that transforms the connectivity of the interior experience, and semi-autonomous driving, both on- and off-road.

“The car of the future will become more capable, cleaner, more connected, more desirable and more intelligent,” says Dr Wolfgang Epple, JLR’s Director of Research and Technology.

“These are the five themes that are leading the research we are undertaking at Jaguar Land Rover today.

“We are showcasing some very exciting new technologies on the Discovery Vision Concept car. While some have real potential and others are just concepts, both Jaguar and Land Rover will continue to set new standards and continue to grow by bringing these new technologies and innovations to our customers.”

The all-new Discovery family will be unveiled next year and JLR has confirmed the first model in the range will be the Discovery Sport, which it has pitched as a premium compact SUV (sports utility vehicle).

“This will be the most versatile and capable SUV in its segment,” said Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern, during his speech at the opening of the US show.

For the Land Rover brand, a priority is to push the technological boundaries of its legendary off-road abilities.

JLR has said the next generation of Land Rover’s multi-mode terrain-tackling system, Terrain Response, could be enhanced by predictive Terrain Scanning, which uses infrared lasers in the Discovery Vision Concept’s front fog lamps to scan the ground in front of the vehicle.

These sensors analyse the type of terrain about to be traversed and assess and predict the vehicle’s reaction to it. The vehicle can then automatically engage the appropriate traction system to best deal with the terrain ahead. A map of the terrain can be displayed on the high-definition cluster screen, providing the driver with a visual reference.

Wade Aid takes Land Rover’s current Wade Sensing technology a stage further by predicting the depth of water before the car enters. A new sensory system would use lasers to judge the depth of a stream or pond and let the driver know the feasibility of the intended wading manoeuvre even before the tyres get wet.

The company is also working hard on autonomous vehicles that, if the driver wishes, can drive themselves.

“We see the autonomous car taking away the boring, the tedious, the routine part of the journey while allowing the driver to actively stay in contact, do some work, or relax with the vehicle’s infotainment system,” says Dr Epple.

“But when the driver wants to enjoy the driving experience, our new driver assistance systems will give them more because customers will still want to be engaged with their vehicle. A smarter car should not take away driving pleasure – it should enhance the driver’s experience on- and off-road.”

These driving aids include All-Terrain Progress Control, which allows for semi-autonomous off-road driving at slow speed.

Reducing driver-induced errors is the key reason for developing more intelligent vehicles, as 99% of accidents are caused by driver error.

“The new driver assistance technologies we will roll out in the coming years have the potential to reduce accidents to zero, but we will ensure the excitement and enjoyment of driving will not be taken away as cars become more autonomous,” adds Dr Epple.

Additionally, smart glass is used in the entire glasshouse of the Discovery concept – in all the windows, the panoramic roof and, allied to Head-Up Display (HUD) technology, in the windscreen.

This offers numerous advantages, including in-car information and improved visibility. Cameras in the car can project video images onto the smart glass or the HUD. These can make awkward manoeuvres, such as reversing around a corner, much easier. The ‘smart’ glass can also carry switchgear, which only becomes visible when a finger gets close to the glass.

The doors and tailgate of the Discovery concept are also all activated by gesture control, as are a number of other functions.

Gesture control will become a reality on Jaguar Land Rover vehicles in the near future.  The controls recognise designated hand or finger movements, eliminating the chance of unintentionally triggering functions.

One of the most intriguing of the new aids is the Transparent Bonnet virtual imaging concept, left, which vastly improves the driver’s visibility at the front of the car.

Cameras under the vehicle’s grille send video of the terrain being traversed to the Head-Up Display in the windscreen, allowing the driver to see terrain normally obscured by the bonnet and engine, and to see the direction of the front wheels.

The Discovery concept also uses laser light tuned to specific colours in the visible spectrum to project images onto the road that can be seen by both the driver and other road users. This has numerous applications, including projecting warning triangles onto the tarmac behind the car for other motorists to see in the event of a stoppage or in fog.

The system can also project images onto roads and walls to help parking or driving in congested spaces, or to help the driver judge tight gaps between obstacles off-road.

Audi A3 crowned World Car of the Year

AUDI has stolen a march on the competition after its A3 was named 2014 World Car of the Year.

This is the second overall title for Audi in the 10-year history of the World Car of the Year Awards as the Audi A6 won the inaugural overall title in 2005.

The third generation of the Audi A3 overcame the challenge from 23 other cars to win the prestigious title, which was selected by an international panel of judges comprising 69 top automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world.

Rupert Stadler, Audi board chairman, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014 World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all aspects of car making, not least in the areas of lightweight technology, drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”

The new Audi A3 is available in the UK as a three door, Sportback, cabriolet and saloon. It is powered by a range of TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Later this year, the A3 Sportback will also be available as an e tron, which features a plug in hybrid drive enabling journeys of up to 31 miles in all-electric mode.

The A3 story began in 1996, when the first generation of the model series established what Audi claimed was an entirely new market segment – the premium compact class.

It was thought at the time that the car would compete with Volkswagen’s best-selling Golf for buyers, ironic considering it shared the Golf’s platform.

With the second generation, which followed in 2003, the brand began to create its own niche and the range was expanded with the addition of a cabriolet and the Sportback body style.

The third A3 generation has seen the model range expanded again to include a saloon version.

This latest win maintains Audi’s position as the manufacturer with the most World Car of the Year titles.

In total, the four-ring brand has previously won:

2005 World Car of the Year – Audi A6
2007 World Performance Car – Audi RS 4; World Car Design of the Year – Audi TT
2008 World Performance Car – Audi R8; World Car Design of the Year – Audi R8
2010 World Performance Car – Audi R8 V10

Renault looks to expand Brazilian operations

RENAULT has announced it is to beef up its operation in Brazil with the development of two new models for the home market.

Group chairman and chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the £133m investment would take place between 2014 and 2019 and be channelled into the Renault plant in Curitiba.

“Since 2011, Brazil has been the brand’s second largest market after France and it is a priority in the group’s global growth strategy”, he said.

Renault has been producing cars in Brazil for 15 years. With a market share of 6.7% it is the fifth largest carmaker in the country. The group is targeting an 8% market share by 2016.

The group has so far invested almost £400m into Brazil with a growth strategy based on three pillars:

•    An annual increase in production capacity from 280,000 to 380,000 vehicles
•    The addition of the new Master and Logan to the product range; and
•    An expansion of its dealer network to 275 outlets.

It has also announced a new national parts distribution centre planned for the second half of 2015. The new centre represents an additional investment of £64m over the next 10 years.

The centre will support the group’s operations across South America, supplying parts to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as Central America, South Africa and France.

Drive safely.