Nissan is just one step away from self-driving car with its Qashqai
Nissan has unveiled its new-generation Qashqai and says it’s just a step away from a fully self-driving car.
Most of the hi-tech kit needed for the car to drive itself — from self-parking to collision avoidance — is already hard-wired into the new version, and Nissan pledges to have it ready by 2020.
The new Qashqai has cameras, radar and laser sensors, and can park itself. The only missing link is the computer software or brain to replace the driver.
The second-generation Qashqai crossover comes equipped with a host of features more usually seen on luxury vehicles
And it’s not far off that, says Andy Palmer, Nissan’s global chief planning officer.
The second-generation Qashqai crossover comes equipped with a host of features more usually seen on luxury vehicles.
The new car is around two inches longer, nearly an inch wider and just over half an inch lower than the existing model. Deliveries start on February 1 next year though the order books are open now with prices ranging from around £16,000.
Among the car’s new features are a 360-degree parking camera which gives a top-down bird’s eye view of the car and its position, as well as Intelligent Park Assist, which steers the vehicle into a parallel parking bay.
There is also traffic sign recognition which flashes up road signs such as speed limits on the dashboard. Moving Object Detection warns if an object crosses the vehicle’s path when reversing.
And Lane Departure warning tells the driver if he or she drifts out of motorway lane without indicating. A Blind Spot Warning tells drivers if an overtaking car is approaching out of view.
A special Front Collision Avoidance system scans the road ahead using radar and, depending on speed, can bring the car to a full stop if collision is imminent and the driver takes no action.
Otherwise it ‘mitigates’ the crash to reduce potential damage and injury by automatically applying the brakes.
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Harriet Vickers is the first winner in a new scholarship programme from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
Young women are being encouraged to help create the cars of tomorrow.
None more so than 18-year-old Harriet Vickers, who this week was named the first winner in a new scholarship programme from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), designed to attract more female engineers into the motor industry.
Harriet, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, attended the all-girl Spalding High School and has just started an engineering degree at Durham University.
As the first recipient of the ‘Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship’ bursary she is to receive £3,000 — £1,000 a year over three years — and professional mentoring from JLR and WISE representatives to support her studies. The programme wants young women ‘to change the face of British engineering’.
Currently women ac count for only around 13 per cent of the UK’s engineering workforce.
Harriet said she knew she wanted to be an engineer at the age of 13 and has done work experience with National Grid and Arup, as well as taking part in an expedition to Tanzania and Kenya to help build foundations for a medical centre.
Also this week, JLR launches its 2014 apprentice recruitment campaign, to find up to 150 new GCSE and A-level recruits, including many more female students. It’s also launched a ‘Girls in the Know’, which aims to ‘dispell outdated stereotypes associated with manufacturing’.
More details at: jaguarlandrover careers.com
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Ford's UK boss revealed this week that the term ‘Mondeo Man’ had dragged the brand down-market.
Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain’s chairman and chief executive, 49, said too many potential customers now looked on Fords as merely ‘average’ when in technical, stylistic and quality terms they are way above that.
Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain's chairman and chief executive, said too many potential customers now looked on Fords as merely 'average' when in technical, stylistic and quality terms they are way above that
To fight back, Ford is introducing its upmarket ‘Vignale’ arm.
Pronounced ‘Vin-ya-lay’, it honours the Italian coach-building firm that styled many luxury cars.
The Mondeo will be the first Ford to have the Vignale treatment in early 2015
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A hard-top coupe version of Jaguar’s all-aluminium F-Type sports car will be unveiled on the eve of the Los A ngeles motor show later this month.
Jaguar design boss Ian Callum promises a ‘drama-filled event’ on November 19.
