car

Tricks to use car air conditioning in the most efficient way

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Summer, 40 degrees in the shade and desire to return home to throw us the deserved nap that we all deserve when we come from taste a paella. The same one that can be indigented if we ride in the car and do not apply some simple tricks to cool the cabin as soon as possible. Here is the difference between cope with the return home or make the car seat a real hell. First of all, be foresee. You cannot always but it is evident that the longer the car passes in the shade, the better it will go later. Keep in mind that if there are extreme temperatures on the street, these are much higher inside our car, overheated without an escape to come out all that hot air. Therefore, before leaving the car to his fate, he tries to leave it under a shadow and, whenever possible, with the parasol placed. The RACC calculates That when the sun makes its own, the interior temperature of the car can rise at up to 20 degrees. Especially in those cars with black upholstery. Then, A parasol helps reduce temperature Interior in up to 11 degrees, what we like to reduce the suffocating heat as soon as possible. Also, small Offtopic, Heat can damage the dashboard materials. The windshield makes of magnifying glass and the temperature that the upper plastics reach can be very high. With a parasol we will reduce the risk of premature wear such as the steering wheel “peel” and lose part of the plastic or break the leather that covers it. The Japanese “trick”. Some time ago what was called as “the Japanese trick” was viral. The truth is that I could carry the word “trick” but The Japanese thing seemed a bit free. Anyway, the case is that it works. If you get to the car and you are burning, it is a good idea to lower the windows and open the doors for a few minutes. Thus the hot air will escape little by little from the inside. To accelerate this process, what we can do is take a couple of doors and “fan” with them the car. Moving them with some momentum we will generate a current of air that will lower the temperature faster. Click on the image to go to the original post “The first thing, go down the windows”. If, on the contrary, you want or need to get the car as soon as possible, Juan José, one of the Ebenezer workshops mechanics that follow more than 300,000 people in Tiktok, more than 300,000 people, recommends That “the first thing, when riding you, is to lower all the windows of the car.” The council follows the same logic that before but is applied in motion, during the first meters, the car in progress generates an air stream that will help the heat escape from the interior and the temperature is reduced as soon as possible. What is recommended is that when we win speed, Let’s keep the driver or passenger window open and the opposite. If we keep all the windows at the same time open or only one of them we generate that annoying noise caused by the displacement of the air inside the car. The air, up or down? It is one of the big doubts. Juan José recommends putting the cold air down, “towards the feet” because “the cold air weighs more and the hot air will tend to climb and go through the windows.” Indeed, Cold air weighs More so it is interesting to put this system into practice as long as we keep the windows of the car open a few meters. In this way, it will help air the interior. Of course, then Juan José talks about climbing the cold air to the roof. Although in the video it is not mentioned, this should be done when we have already closed the windows. The idea is that the air that escapes for them is hot and if we have them open and put the air to the ceiling, it will escape part of that cold air. With them closed, the cold air “falls” to being denser and cools before the air conditioning. Maintenance. Finally, do not forget that all this works as long as we have done adequate maintenance. Before going on a trip, it’s always good take an eye on filters To have them in the best state, which will help us to cool more and breathe a better quality air. Likewise, if the car cools little, it may be due to problems with the load of air conditioning gas. Similarly, it is important to review it before summer because, if you do not, you can find that All workshops are completely full. Photo | Verse engine and Xataka In Xataka | Solving one of the great debates of the summer: if the car consumes more with air conditioning or not

Hybrids have become the best selling car in Spain. Now we know how much it costs to change your battery: a lot

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35.35% of the cars sold in Spain are hybrid. Last yearthe category of hybrids is the one that enrolled most vehicles and right now no other shades in our country. With June datain our country 254,604 hybrid cars have enrolled, by the 192,447 gasoline cars, the second category most purchased in our country. That has been possible by the little trick of the Microhíbridosthat add a small electric battery of very small dimensions, which slightly reduce consumption but, basically, allow manufacturers electrify models with very little investment. That investment, however, adds complexity to the whole. That is, greater problems if we have to make a repair. Because it is not only to replace a battery. In relation to its size, changing the battery of a hybrid is very expensive. And contrary to what we would expect, we will have to leave more money the smaller the battery. Small battery, large cost That is what the International Energy Agency That it states that last year, the average price of a 20 kWh battery pack for a plug -in hybrid had a cost similar to a 65 kWh electric car battery. This is explained for various reasons. The first is that in the report itself it is highlighted that the price of batteries for electric cars in China has been significantly reduced, falling the cost by 30%, compared to 10-15% on average that has fallen in Europe and the United States. Taking into account that China is the country where more electric cars are boughtthis has significantly decreased the average global price of batteries. The second reason is that the battery, large or small, have components that do not vary and, in addition, those of a plug -in hybrid need higher energy and energy density requirements because they are required more power (in relation to their size), which makes the product more expensive. The problem is that, as our partners of Motorpasionthis scale in reverse. The battery of a hybrid is more expensive to that of a plug -in for the same reasons indicated above. Adding that, in addition, many plug -in hybrids are bought (they enter the electric category), which reduces its price global medium. But non -plug -in hybrids are not bought so those prices are not reduced. And everything gets exaced when we get to cars Mildhybrid Or light hybrids, those that carry a small battery of 48 volts (or even 24 volts) and are already indicated as hybrid vehicles. In that case, the average cost of battery replacement is 2,000 euros but in some cars it approaches 3,000 euros if we add the labor. In MotorpasionThey put some interesting examples with 48 volt batteries. For example, within the Volkswagen Group, changing the Audi A6, A7 and Q8 or their sports versions S and RS entails an expense of 3,000 euros, of which 2,500 euros are taken by the battery. In a Volvo XC60, the change in this component entails the disbursement of about 2,000 euros. Prices are not as expensive as in non -plug -in hybrids but when we look at the price to disburse in relation to battery size. For example, the 1.2 kWh battery assembled by the Renault Clio, Captur, Arkana and Symbioz (But also the Dacia Jogger and Duster) It costs 3,500 euros in the official network of the brand. And if we go to the battery that rides the Renault Rafale1.7 kWh, we are already talking about about 4,000 euros. That is, the KWH price of this last case is 2,352 euros but, as we have seen, with that money in some cars of the Volkswagen group we would not change the 48 volt battery and in the case of the Volvo XC60 we would barely have money. In addition to all of the above, it must be taken into account that the replacement of the batteries is usually carried out in official workshops, so the cost of labor is usually superior. At the moment, there are not many independent workshops that are specialized in this type of breakdowns and although the data says that They are growingthe offer remains limited. Photo | In Xataka | I’ve been trying electric cars for years. I bought one of combustion for a single reason

China has broken the electric car deck with brutally fast recharges. So much that autonomy is already the least

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When Jim Farley returned from China, several lessons were brought under his arm. Almost that it doesn’t matter when you read this because, with each visit to China of the Ford CEO, Farley always takes care of airing everything he has learned there. Among what has been learned, one day he questioned the real importance of the unacabable autonomies for an electric car. Taking into account that the battery size of an electric car remains a Too much spiny matter When lowering cars, Farley pointed out that his strategy for the future went through Manufacture small electric electric Because as soon as the price was put more battery. “If you have batteries like that, you can’t make money,” argued In reference to gigantic battery cars, the same ones that promise autonomies of many hundreds of kilometers and that, in the face of the future, promise to reach 1,000 kilometers between recharges. Farley has been a critical voice with those gigantic electric cars but is not the only one that has been expressed in those terms. Mazda, for example, made the same reflection Some time ago, focusing that large batteries raised the costs of the car … and its weight, a red line that the Japanese company has always tried to dodge. Although the approach was not exactly the same in the form (the Japanese study incorporating extended range versions With engines Combustion rotatingas they have done with the MX-30), in the background they did show that the bet should be another: contained autonomies but with systems that will stretch them in a simple way. Either with very fast recharges or, in the case of Mazda, with a small combustion engine that can save you at any time. In China they think something similar. While there are two clearly defined paths and one of them is committed to huge batteries, others are clear that they must get the fastest possible charges to offer an attractive electric car to the general public. Byd is one of them. But it is not the only one. More kilometers or faster When last week we attended the presentation of the Mazda 6eI felt that the press conference we attend with a bittersweet aftertaste and a more or less clear idea with everyone with whom I spoke. The completely electric Berlina, which Mazda has created with Changan, is sold with a 68.8 kWh battery or a second of 80 kWh. This last option seemed ideal for those who wanted Use your car to travel comfortably. If we suppose a consumption of 20 kWh/100 km, the first will not reach 350 kilometers between recharges and the second one would touch the 400 kilometers of a single sitting. However, the first battery can be loaded at a maximum of 165 kW of power, going from 10 to 80% in 24 minutes. The second, on the other hand, cannot do it at more than 90 kW, limiting that rapid recharge from 10 to 80% to 47 minutes. The general impression, so I talked to the fellow journalists, is that we would all sacrifice those 50 kilometers of autonomy if that would allow us to stop almost 25 minutes less when plugging the hose. Everyone seemed to us that a 90 kW recharge is not up to a car with aspirations to be an electric supervent. In ByD they have a similar impression and their bet is determined: Ultra -grape rechargesat the pace of filling a gas tank even if you have to stop once more. Although for now, They assured usits 1 MW recharge was mainly intended for heavy transport, they aspire to be an attractive solution for their own customers, with launches of more cars (right now they have two that admit this power) that can make use of these loaders. His approach is that the by and tang l can recover 400 kilometers of autonomy in five minutes. I would dare to say that the vast majority of drivers need or prefer to make a small stop before covering that distance. Huawei is one of them. The technological presented a few months ago A 1.5 MW recharge. Again, it is a very interesting formula for heavy transport but, to put it in perspective, a car with a large 100 kWh battery could be completely filled in five minutes if it did not have the obvious power restrictions so as not to be completely damaged. In spite of everything, if a manufacturer offers energy accumulators as resistant as those of Byd, filling a battery of this size should not take more than 10-15 minutes. Although Byd has filled headlines since he presented this load system, they are not the only ones. In April, Catl also presented a recharge system capable of overcoming that of the company of Stella Li, vice president of Byd than in Coach has defended these recharge systems against Autonomies of a thousand kilometers and said they aspire to bring them to Europe. In the interview he said that “they don’t give me more than 300 kilometers because I don’t want to pay the cost (of a greater battery).” Although I understand why Stella Li defends this approach, I also understand that Western manufacturers continue to prefer to offer much higher autonomies in order to sell as a purchase value. Perhaps 300 kilometers are fair but firmly believe that more than 350-400 kilometers of autonomy are needed in an electric car if the recharge network is powerful enough. I believe it with loaders of more than 150 kW, let’s not say with those plugs (and cars) that allow recharges at 1,000 kW. Despite this, There is something cultural In Stella Li’s words. You have to understand that China is a country so big that long trips They are usually done by plane or bullet train. The cities are so large that they favor adoption to the electric car because it is the environment where its virtues are more valued: without noise, without vibrations and … Read more

The Ave to Andalusia seemed a perfect alternative to the car this summer. Has encountered a problem called Toledo

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We are on July 14, summer trips to the south of Spain multiply. High speed had to offer a quick exit to the sea from Madrid, connected to Malaga by trains of up to three different companies. But, in what we have been from the month, the problems have multiplied until thinking that the usual is already suffering some type of delay. Catastrophic misfortunes. In case their own problems were their own, this weekend Spanish high speed has suffered more and more delays. Even for reasons that have nothing to do with the trains themselves. Catalonia and suspensions or delays caused by heavy rains They are a good sample of this. But the worst part, again, takes Andalusia. The Autonomous Community has had a first look in July to forget. After 15 days in which the delays have been a constant, yesterday, Sunday, July 13, A fire next to the tracks Among the Cordoba municipalities of La Marota and Santaella cut the circulation again. In total, only Renfe already registered 10 modifications at his schedules. In the afternoon, at 5:49 p.m. they pointed out that The circulation would gradually restore. Own problems. The fire next to the tracks has only been the drop that has filled the glass of a weekend that had already registered problems on Saturday. An incidence in the Adif facilities again caused delays in trains that were directed on the way Andalusia or Madrid. Again, a good handful of trains recorded delays of more than an hour on the ferrous roads of the Andalusian region. The incidence in the facilities was found in the vicinity of La Sagra (Toledo), where at the beginning of July the biggest Ferroviaro problem was recorded in these first two weeks of the month. 13 hours arrested. Julio began his journey in summer in a very worrying way in southern Spain. Thousands of passengers (it is estimated that more than 16,000 people) were affected by a problem in the lines that extended for more than a day. The problem caused a collapse in the high -speed line that resulted in the suspension of services and The stop (without assistance) of more than 13 hours of a train that ended up meeting the night. Over there, An old woman had to be treated For respiratory failure. Many reproaches … Since that stop happened in high Andalusian speed, the government, Adif and Ouigo have been sent Cross messages for the problems caused. The origin of the fault He was in a disconnection of an ouigo train with the signal recognition system, mandatory to continue operating. His stop forced to stop the trains that circulated below. The cluster of vehicles caused an over -line over the line that resulted in a fault of a Renfe train. The latter did not unwill for a problem in their own systems that force disconnection to avoid breakdowns in case of over -overdraft. Ouigo has not rejected his involvement in the incident but he did defend himself from The words of María Jesús MonteroMinister of Finance and Vice President of the Government, to whom open microphones captured her criticizing the company. The French blamed Adif that Insphorastructure had to endure unforeseen Like these. … And few solutions. After the chaos of the first days of summer, Adif announced that he would carry out an emergency action on the line and that he got to work to identify the weak points of the Andalusian connection. A movement that Ouigo pointed out how insufficient. Those actions They were going to be carried out in La Sagra. Yes, exactly at the same point where the over -the end of the month of July was produced that ended with all the circulation stopped for more than 13 hours. There, ADIF plans to perform an emergency action by changing the location of various elements of the catenary. Two weeks later, trains stand up again in the same place. Photo | Nelso Silva In Xataka | Ouigo has partially retired from Madrid-Barcelona. Then, prices have struck in Andalusia

I thought I had a problem with the ABS of my car, but it caught me in surprise to see that it was something completely unexpected: rats

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The ABS light flashing on the dashboard is never a good sign. Almost none Witter of the dashboard It is, but when the engine witness also adds, you start imagining four -digit figures in the workshop budget. The funny thing is that when I took my car to fix it, I discovered something that I never imagined what would happen: The rats ended up biting several cables Internal of my car. The initial diagnosis. When I arrived at the workshop with the warning lights on, the mechanic, after an inspection of the car, assured me that I could change everything The ABS system. A new one for my Seat Ibiza TDI 1.9 of 2005 can be a rather important expense, one of those expenses that you think if you better pass it, since it is dangerously approaches the price through which I could sell the car today. The price of the second -hand and scrapping ABS system, the thing changes. One can lead normally if the ABS does not work, but it is a risk for security, since it compromises the emergency braking and we do not have that help that the car gives us at critical moments, allowing our brakes to end up blocking. The real problem. After almost a week in the workshop and a more detailed inspection, the mechanic discovered the authentic cause of the failure: the ABS system cables and some that communicate with the engine They had been bitten. It was not a normal wear or component failure, but the rats had been roying the car cables. For a rat, gnawing cables and objects that are in its path is their day to day, since their teeth do not stop growing throughout their lives and need some means to polish their teeth. What a pity they had to run into my car. Unexpected, but in a way, relieved. What seemed like a serious problem with the brake system and the emergency light of the engine was solved with a cable repair. The joke came out for about 120 euros. A considerable relief compared to the complete change of the ABS that initially the mechanic had raised. From the workshop they repaired the damaged cables and the dashboard warning indicators were turned off. The background problem. Now the real challenge is not in the car, but in the garage. It is a private garage under a floors building where several vehicles park. Days before I had already seen a rat that was shot from under my car to a hole that is right next to my parking space. From the workshop they recommended preventive measures such as spraying in the vain motor or placing camphor balls, especially useful when the car remains a long time stopped. Of course, this should be done with the car standing and cold. I bought the spray as a temporary measure until they finished solving the hole in the garage. And now what. The priority is to cover the garage hole where the rats access, since the alternative remedies will be of little if the problem persists right next where I appear. Fortunately, it seems that garage insurance will cover the workshop spending, which good news for that part. In addition, we are already mobilizing the community to solve the problem of rats. I could have changed their garage directly, although things are not currently to make this decision lightly. We will see what everything is left. Cover image | Michael Fusert and Svetozar Cenisev In Xataka | The best -selling cars in 2024 and 2025 in Spain

Mercedes wanted to jump into the electric car in record time and is clear that they were wrong

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Four years now meet. It was a summer of 2021 when Mercedes launched his ordinance: in 2030 they would be an exclusively electric brand. They wanted to do it by building eight gigafactories to go out to their electric cars and batteries. Today they are clear that they were wrong. “They will last more than expected”. “We have changed the course, electrified combustion engines will last more than expected.” They are the words of Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes, in Auto Motor Und Sport Confirming what was an A Voca Secret: Mercedes will not fulfill the deadlines planned in the electric car. The company, therefore, will continue to bet on combustion engines that are key. It is not that he was going to withdraw overnight but that self -imposed obligation of being electric in 2030 led them to significantly reduce their offer until they focus exclusively on the electric car. Two symptoms (1). Although he had been rumored for a long time and in winter Mercedes already said that “There was too much optimism in the industry”there are two great symptoms that came to tell us clear that the time of combustion engines had not died. The first was The failure of EQS as flag bearer of the electric car in the company. The great electric Berlina, “the electric class” has been a failure and confirmed that the customer of a luxury car continues to bet mostly on combustion. Time will say if it is something exclusively linked to the autonomy or there is also a certain political positioning behind. The truth is that the company took advantage of the car to give a wash in the face of the image, sell the maximum refinement with the latest technology and its most advanced software with a Hyperscreen that surprised by groundbreaking. The truth is that the Mercedes client has continued to prefer the most classic class S. Two symptoms (2). The second symptom that advanced that Mercedes had changed course was given by its AMG sports division. The wealthy customer is especially complicated to convince when it comes to electrifying the fleet. To meet the European demands, Mercedes opted in its sports division for A four hybrid cylinders and although He got 680 hpcars that have mounted it have failure in sales. The solution has gone to return to these luxury cars the V8 engines. The company confirmed that will continue working on them And although they will be electrified, the potential car customer of more than 100,000 euros and extremely sports seem to continue asking for huge engines. It is no accident that, in his day, BMW already announced that he would continue to focus efforts on developing combustion engines. Specifically in those of six and eight cylinders. If you want gasoline, you pay it. Everything indicates that, as will happen with lower ranges, we will begin to see Two product categories clearly differentiated in Europe. Pollution policies will lead us to see An extensive electrification (with plug and electrical hybrids) in the low and medium range and a fence to the Combustion engines in the most expensive or luxury offer. In the case of Mercedes, everything indicates that they will continue to develop combustion engines but fenced to their most unattainable offer or Markets where hurry With the electric car are not so many. The confirmation that, in addition to the V8 for AMG, also They will continue selling the huge V12 Limited to the Maybach versions of its class S is a good example. But it is also that Mercedes has focused on “democratizing” its electric cars. He Electric Mercedes It will not be the cheapest car but the German company does want it to become its first great super electric success. And the formula is clear: improve the autonomy. “Rational”. For Källenius, in addition, this strategy is the most “rational.” Yes, the same one that Toyota has been holding so far, to sell the most demanded technology where they ask or let it sell. That is why they continue to focus on hybrids but ensure that the electric car will be key … in Europe. And Källenius knows that multienergy strategy helps them stay afloat. Its hybrid mechanics and huge engines will continue to be key in the United States and in Europe (who can pay it), while needing competitive electric cars in China. “It is our most important and crucial market for our technical innovations,” CEO himself pointed out from Mercedes a few months ago. A product that passes not only through the engine. Here, the latest generation software is essential because without it they do not think they can compete in China. They are aware that “Chinese clients not only use the car to move from A B. For many, it is also a second living room.” And there Mercedes needs to make differences if he does not want to star in a free fall. One that has already begun. Photo | Mercedes In Xataka | The Mercedes Class wanted to overcome the discomforts of the electric car. It is incompatible with a multitude of loaders

Ferrari had been demanding a toy company for 10 years. Everything for Testarossa to be a car and not a bicycle

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To whom we already comb some gray hair, the name Testarossa transports us directly to the Miami of the late 80s, when Sonny Crockettand Rico Tubbs they jumped from the yachts of the drug traffickers and put themselves at the wheel of a Ferrari Testarossa Blanco in the Mythical corruption in Miami (Miami Vice). In a good part thanks to that series, Ferrari turned the Testarossa in a legend Departure from Pininfarina pencils, causing all the children of the time to sigh to see the unmistakable lateral air intakes (they were known as cheese gradators) of this model. However, in an act of monumental awkwardness by Ferrari, the Italian firm lost commercial control of the Testarossa brand. According The published by Reutersa judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (TJUE) has been returned after more than a decade fighting for them. “A toy” that one day set up a V12 The nightmare for Ferrari with the Testarossa brand began just over a decade ago. AUTEC AG, a German toy company, appealed to the expiration of the Testarossa brand registration proving that Ferrari had not used it in any product between 2010 and 2015. The European trademarks They establish that, although trademarks have been registered, they must use them within five years since their registration. This loophole allowed to request the rights of uses on the Testarossa brand before the Office of Intellectual Property of the European Union (EUIPO) that accepted the petition. From that moment, the name of the Ferrari engineering jewel of the 80s, which mounted a 390 hp V12 engine That allowed him to touch the 300 km/h, it could also be an electric bicycle, razor machinillas or a radio -controlled car. In the late 80s, the new Ferrari Testarossa had an approximate price of about 145,000 euros, which is equivalent to about 419,000 today. Today, some of those cars They have come to auction for up to 241,000 euros. Not bad for a car with more than 35 years. The Ferrari Testarossa are eternal According to assured Andrea Scioletti, director of Used Vehicles of Ferrari A Drivemore than 90% of the Ferrari who have left the Maranello factory They are still in circulation. Paradoxically, That reliability It is the one that has saved the Italian manufacturer from losing his most legendary brand. The 7,000 units of the Ferrari Testarossa were manufactured between 1984 and 1996. Since then, that model has only been marketed through second -hand concessionaires or Distributors authorized by Ferrarias well as that of its spare parts. According to The criterion of the Court of Justice of the European Union, those resale of products under that brand can already constitute an effective use of the brand, either directly through its distributors, or authorizing your sale When it comes to third parties. With This sentencethe European Court revoked an earlier ruling of the Regional Court of Düsseldorf that, according to The published In the German Spiegelgranted AUTEC AG the right of use of the Testarossa brand by denoting the argument of second -hand cars and the spare parts that Ferrari wielded. “The use of the brand to guarantee the identity of the origin of the products for which it was registered, by reselling second -hand products, can constitute effective use,” the new sentence details. The cultural imprint that left in the young people of the time the iconography of the series, made years after the end of its production, continue to sell figures at the Testarossa scale graduated by Ferrari. Which has also been considered by the TJCE as a form of use of the brand. In Xataka | The Rocambolesca History of Ferrari 512 TR of Michael Jordan: 15 years lost and has appeared among the ashes of a fire In Xataka | Ferrari will expand its blacklist prohibiting “tuning” and other extravagances: it is not for bad taste, they are just business Image | Ferrari, Wikimedia Commons (Janderk1968)

Autonomous driving for a 9,000 euros car

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With a driver but under intense rain and with a car that can be bought in China for 9,000 euros to the direct change. Those have been the bases of the autonomous driving test that Byd has made available to have a contact with the Eye of Godthe most advanced system of the Chinese company, which already works in the Asian country and that will reach all cars of the company. Regardless of its price. First of all, the eye of God Although the experience will arrive below, it is important to present what the eye of God is, what their credentials are and what is proposed. A few months ago, Byd presented its most advanced autonomous driving system. Nothing especially new if it weren’t because I was punching the industry table. His great attraction is that he will reach all his cars, regardless of its price. That is the real incentive. Until now, the most advanced functions in autonomous driving systems have been sold as extras or as a part of a complete but high price. They are, in short, a source of income with which it is even tantest with subscription services As Tesla does, for example. With his eye of God, Byd aspires to generate added value to the product to attract new customers. That the most basic models allow you to enjoy vented services so far seems like a good strategy. The big doubt is: What will happen to that income? On this we ask Stella Li during our brief talk at a round table with other fellow journalists. Then, Byd’s vice president just said that they had already thoroughly studied the matter and “contemplated other income paths” but without explaining to them what they were. Much has been written since then and one of the possibilities that seem more evident is income generation through its own store of applications within the vehicle’s infotainment system, which allows you to visualize or access any other time contained in a stop … or on the way. The latter is what is aspired in cars with More advanced autonomous driving levels And even, it would be to legally possible In the United Kingdom if Mercedes could apply the sufficient conditions to activate your level 3 of autonomy With Drive Pilot. But it is still, new, limited to vehicles of the high range. Byd has pointed out that the system, base, will reach all its vehicles but has three levels. The first is only available on the highway and is the one we have tried. This is our experience. A 9,000 euros but autonomous car He Byd Dolphin Surf (Surname Seagull in China) arrives at our hotel led by an employee of the company. He picks us up to start the test and go to filmed traffic. For a few minutes, the driver takes various exits and we check some details that tell us that we are facing a different car. On the outside, the Seagull differs from our Dolphin Surf in a camera in the front fins. Inside, the resolution of the cameras, which is quite good in our national model, seems even better here. In the instrument table a greater number of objects are displayed that around the vehicle (pedestrians, other cars, cones …) that appear and disappear while the vehicle advances. Curiosities, in the browser, in addition to the route, at each crossing the waiting time of the traffic light is shown with a countdown if it is closed. When it opens, a small sound warning alerts the driver. And if the traffic light allows the free passage of vehicles, the regressive account indicates, how much time it remains for the traffic light to close. This is not something exclusive to byd but it is surprising how well it works. Especially since it detects the traffic light that corresponds to us, since the main traffic light does not always coincide with those of taking a detour to the right or left and take another exit. In those we are when the driver takes the exit to the highway. It makes us a gesture. In the browser a gray signal has appeared that indicatesThe eye of God is available. The driver has the opportunity to press it on the touch screen or activate it with a steering wheel button. Opt for the second … and nothing happens. And it is the best thing to say. Ahead we have about thirty kilometers to travel with an autonomous driving system. The driver keeps his hands under the steering wheel but does not pressure and, really, if he wanted to take control of the car for an error of it would cost him a precious time before taking the controls. That is, the car is the one that keeps us on the road without help. The driver by pressing the activation of the autonomous driving system with the steering wheel First, the operation is very good, scratching the excellent. The car is kept focused on the lane and from there the curves, or dilating joints or bridge structures do not move. These last two are felt a lot to our path but the Dolphin Surf Byd remains unchanged. The only point at which it suffers a little is when another vehicle advances us and is located A few meters ahead of the vehicle. When cutting the trajectory and safety distance disappears, the braking is too abrupt. However, the car recovers the speed with a shallow ease and, above all, with a very good decision that, this time, does not fall into abruptness. Acceleration is clean and progressive. The green light of the mirrors shows that the car circulates in autonomous mode That black point is really the only one. During our test, the Dolphin Surf Byd had to face complex weather conditions. He had a good time raining when we got into the car and on the road he kept a lot of water. So much so that the spray … Read more

He returned his rental car and found an extra bill of $ 400. The reason: the AI ​​hunted a tiny scratch

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During a trip, unforeseen events may arise. That is something relatively common, assumed and that must internalize anyone who considers making the bags to spend a few days away from home. Much less frequent is what happened to Patrick, a traveler who recently encountered a bill of More than 400 dollars When he returned his rental car at the Hertz branch of the International Airport Hartsfield-Jackson from Atlanta, in the US. The reason: A system with AI He analyzed the vehicle thoroughly and in just a few seconds he discovered that he had a scratch of several centimeters on a rear wheel. The story He has revealed it The Drive And more than one tourist who considers renting a car this vacation is probably removed. At least around Atlanta, in the US. Patrick recently, a client of Thriftya vehicle rental company linked to the international chain Hertz, found a surprise when he wanted to return the vehicle that had leased. Betrayed by algorithms The man did the usual one: he went to the company’s branch, delivered the vehicle (from the Volkswagen brand) and gave the procedure per setback. After a few minutes, however they told him that he had to pay a whopping $ 440. The reason? The company had identified a friction on the rear wheel on the driver’s side, a 2.5 cm scrape whose arrangement had to pay. Not just that. The company also broken down to him how he had calculated those $ 440. Of that amount almost half would be dedicated to repair. The rest corresponded to a series of expenses that made Patrick crawl the eyebrow. According to the company$ 125 responded to processing and 65 to administrative expenses. The man also found that the invoice came through a web application that contributed the damage test and allowed him to enjoy A small discountor as long as he paid at the same time. According to collect The Driveif it accepted the conditions and disbursed the money in 48 hours the company offered a bonus of 52 dollars. In case something else was delayed, but did not miss more than a week would be 32.5. The man chose not to pay. Moreover, when a few days ago He spoke with The Drive He had not yet paid the amount that the company claims for the wheel scrape. “Save 30 dollars to accept responsibility is not worth it,” says the driver, who after meeting the invoice first resorted to the Chatbot from Hertz (without too successful) and then sent an email to the company. So far the story is curious, but what makes the case of Patrick exceptional and has caught the media attention from other countries It is how the company detected the damage on the rear wheel of its Volkswagen. The merit was not of any operator or worker of the Branch of Atlanta International Airport especially diligent when examining the cars. No. The failure in the wheel was located by a New scanning system of cars that is based on AI. In April Hertz announced An alliance with Uveye, a firm specialized in the inspection of vehicles with AI, precisely to apply its technology in the US. “The camera systems with the Uveye and the algorithms of Machine Learning They allow automated inspections in real time of the body, the crystals, tires and low “, He claims Hertzwhich emphasizes that the new technology allows you to detect failures “with unprecedented speed and precision.” {“Videid”: “X91SZ26”, “Autoplay”: False, “Title”: “This is the perfect shipment of an airplane and no airline does it ❌✈️”, “Tag”: “Webedia-prod”, “Duration”: “567”} Already then The company advanced That the system would be released in Hartsfield-Jackson, although its objective is to expand it in not much time to the main US airfields. The company also claims that by “complementing” traditional exams with Uveye technology, it can guarantee its customers “more efficient and transparent reviews”, the latter nuance that He stressed These days a The Drive. The app that informed Patrick in fact included A photo of the scrape and another of the same part of the car just when he rented. The service, yes, does not seem free to leave. Hertz He explained That the so -called processing rate, which at least in the case of Patrick represents a sensitive part of the invoice, corresponds to “the cost of detecting and estimating damage during rent.” As for the administrative rate that includes the invoice, “it covers part of the costs incurred by Hertz by processing the claim.” Images | Uveye Via | Motorpasion In Xataka | Car rental: what is important to look before hiring (Function () {Window._js_modules = Window._js_modules || {}; var headelement = document.getelegsbytagname (‘head’) (0); if (_js_modules.instagram) {var instagramscript = Document.Createlement (‘script’); }}) (); – The news He returned his rental car and found an extra bill of $ 400. The reason: the AI ​​hunted a tiny scratch It was originally posted in Xataka by Carlos Prego .

In his obsession to control every corner of the car, Apple has crashed into the wall. The new carplay has it raw

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In his wwdc 2022, Apple announced to Bombo and Shaw the New carplay generation. One that left aside the simple concept of moving the iPhone system to a small central screen, to bet on a complete solution in which control of practically every element related to the electronics of the car was taken. What is Carplay Ultra. Until now, Apple Carplay It worked exactly like Android Auto: you connected the iPhone to the car and access a simplified version of iOS, a kind of application pitcher adapted to the car. Allowed to use apps like Apple Maps, Google MapsTelephone, messages or spotify projected on the vehicle screen, but without intervening in the car system itself. With Carplay Ultra, The approach changes radically. We no longer talk about a simple execution of apps: the iPhone takes total control of the car interface. From the instrument frame to air conditioning, native navigation, vehicle levels or battery status. Everything is integrated into a unified visual environment and completely designed by Apple. It is, in practice, an Apple software layer that replaces the manufacturer’s interface. The delays. To Apple It has cost three years to materialize carplay ultraand soon you will understand why. Announced in 2022, and after years of silence, Apple Carplay Ultra was officially announced on May 16, 2025 in the most discreet way possible, With a press release. For 1%. Exclusivity remains one of Apple’s main values, but orient the launch of Carplay Ultra to a brand that represents less than 1% of the official market began to make the eyebrow archeish. Carplay Ultra was first integrated into Aston Martin, with the promise that he would later reach brands such as Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, three manufacturers that belong to the same business group. Interestingly, there was no trace of the manufacturers mentioned in 2022. Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ford, Lincoln, Audi, Jaguar, Acura, Volvo, Honda, Renault, Infinity and Polestar. Just Porsche has confirmed that he will adopt Apple’s software in some of his cars, Without drawing a specific roadmap. The wall. Many of the manufacturers that Apple mentioned in their presentation have shown their refusal to implement Apple Carplay Ultra, as they collect Financial Times sources. Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Polestar and Renault are some of the manufacturers that have opposed the Apple system. It is something that we advanced in 2022, Apple Carplay Ultra is a Trojan horse. This was Apple’s goal with Carplay. At the moment it is only in Aston Martin, which did not even appear on the list. (Almost) nothing to do against manufacturers and google. That an operating system takes control of the infotainment system of a car is no drama. Android Automotive He has been doing it for almost a decade. The approach problem is that Apple Carplay Ultra is conceived since its birth as an intruder, not as a native system. In Android Automotive, Google and the manufacturer close a pact: Google puts the car software and the manufacturer is forgotten. There is no need for the user to connect the mobile, the software is native. With Carplay Ultra, the manufacturer has to continue developing its software platform. But by connecting the iPhone, the control to Apple is completely yielded. Carplay Ultra is a stranger, a system that is accessed by connecting the iPhone and replaces the efforts that the manufacturer previously made to develop its own platform. The future. The three years of delays and integration in Aston Martin make it clear that the adoption of Carplay Ultra is far from massive. Here the key will be in the agreements, some who have not transcended and in which the position against manufacturers willing to give full control to Apple does not seem favorable for the American company. Meanwhile, Android Automotive continues with its expansion, having even reached the world of two wheels by Ktm or Japanese like Honda. Groups like Stellantis too They have set aside former partners like Amazon to bet on Google and integrate Android into their fleets. Image | Apple In Xataka | This car was a pioneer with Android Automotive, but its users shouted and Red Auto. His wish has been granted

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