1.
Electric car
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An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device. Electric motors give electric cars instant torque, creating strong and smooth acceleration and they are also around three times as efficient as cars with an internal combustion engine. The first practical electric cars were produced in the 1880s, Electric cars are significantly quieter than conventional internal combustion engine automobiles. They do not emit tailpipe pollutants, giving a reduction of local air pollution. They also provide for independence from oil, which in several countries is cause for concern about vulnerability to oil price volatility. Recharging can take a time and in many places there is a patchy recharging infrastructure. For long distance driving, many cars support fast charging that can give around 80% charge in half an hour using public rapid chargers, drivers can also sometimes suffer from range anxiety- the fear that the batteries will be depleted before reaching their destination. Cumulative global sales of highway-capable light-duty pure electric vehicles passed the one million milestone in September 2016. About 61% of the stock of 2 million light-duty plug-in electric vehicles by the end of 2016 were pure electric cars. The worlds all-time top selling electric car is the Nissan Leaf, released in December 2010. The Tesla Model S, released in June 2012, ranks second with global sales of over 158,000 units through December 2016, the Model S has been the worlds top selling plug-in car for two years in a row,2015 and 2016. Electric cars are a variety of electric vehicle, the term electric vehicle refers to any vehicle that uses electric motors for propulsion, while electric car generally refers to highway-capable automobiles powered by electricity. Thus, a car that derives its power from an on-board battery pack is a form of battery electric vehicle. Most often, the electric car is used to refer to battery electric vehicles. Thomas Parker built the first practical production electric car in London in 1884, the Flocken Elektrowagen of 1888 by German inventor Andreas Flocken is regarded as the first real electric car of the world. The electric vehicle stock peaked at approximately 30,000 vehicles at the turn of the 20th century, advances in internal combustion engines in the first decade of the 20th century lessened the relative advantages of the electric car. These cars were withdrawn from the U. S. market. California electric automaker Tesla Motors began development in 2004 on the Tesla Roadster, the Roadster was the first highway legal serial production all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car to travel more than 320 km per charge
2.
Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003)
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The 7th generation of Rolls-Royce Phantom was a large luxury car made in the United Kingdom by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It was launched in 2003 and is the first model introduced during the BMW era, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé, are both based on the 2003 Phantom. It also won the Top Gear Car of the Year Award for 2003, the Phantom uses a unique chassis platform, body, interior, and retains traditional Rolls-Royce design cues. Final assembly, including all body, paint, wood, and leather work, is completed to each customers individual specification at the Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood, the plant is close to the historic Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit. The plant contains the paint shop, body shop, leather shop, woodworking shop, assembly line, there are only three robots in the factory. The robots paint the body, the paint is polished by hand after the robots spray each coat, the coachlines, which are exactly 3 mm wide, are done, as well as all other work, by hand, in keeping with the Rolls-Royce tradition. The aluminium extrusions that are used to construct the aluminium spaceframe are produced in Norway using hydroelectric power, shaped and machined in Denmark and finally hand-welded in Germany. The Phantom is 1.63 m tall,1.99 m wide,5.83 m long, weighs 2,485 kg, customers can choose from 44,000 paint colours, and specify any leather colour. The vehicles unique instrument panel has no tachometer, instead it has a power reserve dial that indicates how much of the engines power is not being used and available to the driver. The rear doors are rear-hinged, a commonly referred to as suicide doors. Because of the position in relation to the rear inner-door handles. An electronic lock prevents the doors from being opened when moving. The car will automatically brake to a walking speed if a coach door remains open when driving off, when front or rear doors are opened, umbrella compartments built into the rear doors are accessible. The factory supplied umbrellas are Teflon coated so they, and the compartment in which they are stored, the traditional Spirit of Ecstasy ornament has an automatic electronic retraction mechanism to prevent theft and protect pedestrians in the event of an accident. It may also be retracted by the driver at the touch of a button, the ornament base contains a sensor that detects movement, and will retract it if someone tampers with it. The RR logos on each of the hubs are independent bezels in order to always remain upright while the wheel is rotating. There are extensive options available through the Rolls-Royce Bespoke programme through which the factory will create any reasonable option a customer asks for. In October 2010, the Phantom was included in a recall involving cars with a V8 or V12 engine from BMW, an extended wheelbase Phantom was presented in March 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show, which is 250 mm longer than the standard Phantom
3.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited engineers, manufactures and distributes luxury automobiles and automobile parts worldwide. Rolls-Royce Motors Cars Limited is the manufacturer of Rolls-Royce branded motor cars since 2003. Although the Rolls-Royce brand has been in use since 1906, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars subsidiary of BMW AG has no relationship to Rolls-Royce branded vehicles produced prior to 2003. The Rolls-Royce Phantom four-door sedan was the first product offered for sale in 2003, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited has been manufacturing Rolls-Royce branded cars since 2003. Current chief executive Torsten Müller-Ötvös joined the company in January 2010 and that year, the companys sales in China increased by 600%, meaning that it is now Rolls-Royces second largest market after the US. In 1998, Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors, the most likely buyer was BMW, who already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, but BMWs final offer of £340 million was beaten by Volkswagens £430 million. BMWs contract to supply engines and components to Rolls-Royce Motors allowed BMW to cancel the contract with 12 months notice, volkswagen would be unable to re-engineer the Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles to use other engines within that time frame. With the Rolls-Royce brand identification marks split between the two companies and Volkswagens engine supply in jeopardy, the two entered into negotiations. Volkswagen agreed to sell BMW the Spirit of Ecstasy and grill shape trademarks and BMW agreed to supplying engines. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited became the manufacturer of Rolls-Royce branded cars in 2003. From 2010 – Ghost 4-door sedan, Rolls-Royce announced in September 2006 that it would develop a new four-door model named Ghost. The Ghost will be smaller than the previous Rolls-Royce automobile launched, only 20% of the components would be sourced from BMW F017 Series, and it will be positioned below the Phantom. On 4 March 2014, the new Ghost Series II was revealed to the public at the Geneva Motor Show and it has a facelift front with new LED headlights. The interior has had an update as well, from 2013 – Rolls-Royce Wraith coupé. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars launched a new car at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 2013, the new car, named the Rolls-Royce Wraith was a luxury coupe, with a long bonnet and a sleek roof line, and was a coupe version of the Ghost. It was powered by a 623 bhp, twin-turbocharged V12 engine connected to an eight-speed gearbox, deliveries were expected to begin by the end of 2013. Rolls-Royce had stated that the Wraith would be the most powerful Rolls-Royce motor car to that date, from 2015 – Rolls-Royce Dawn 2015 Rolls-Royce announced the production of SUV for the very first time in the company history. According to Rolls-Royce, the new SUV will set new standards among cars of this segment
4.
Geneva Motor Show
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The International Geneva Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo, a centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs dAutomobiles, exotic supercars often steal the spotlight during their debuts at the show. Prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs, international partnerships, as well as political and social debates, have announced at the exhibition. The show is regarded as a playing field for the worlds automakers. Areas of the show, Motor cars 3 or 4 or more wheels, electric cars and alternative powered cars. Special bodywork for motor cars, car design, engineering, the International Advanced Mobility Forum is the Geneva Motor Show forum on the mobility of the future. The 87th Geneva Motor Show was held from 9 to 19 March 2017, the 86th Geneva Motor Show was held from 3 to 13 March 2016. The 85th Geneva Motor Show was held from 5 to 15 March 2015, the 84th Geneva Motor Show was held from 6 to 16 March 2014. The 83rd Geneva Motor Show was held from 5 to 17 March 2013, the 82nd edition was held from 8 to 18 March 2012. The 2011 edition was held from 3 to 13 March 2011, the 80th edition of the Geneva Motor Show was held from 4–14 March 2010. Over 80 introductions were expected for the show, press days for the show started on 2 March 2010, when most of the major introductions occurred. The 2009 Geneva Motor Show was held from 5–15 March 2009, the following vehicles were introduced, The 2008 Geneva Motor Show was held from 4–16 March 2008. Bolloré Bluecar Fiat Panda, hybrid petrol -natural gas, ford Focus Turnier 2.0 Honda Small Hybrid Sports Honda FCX Clarity Opel Corsa D, with optimized 100HP1. 6l natural gas engine. Reva Greeny AC1 and AC1 Z Subaru R1e, small city car
5.
Lotus Cars
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Lotus Cars is an English company that manufactures sports cars and racing cars with its headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, England, and is a subsidiary of Malaysian automotive company Proton. Notable Lotus cars include the Esprit, Elan, Europa and Elise sports cars, Lotus Cars is based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and it also owns the engineering consultancy Lotus Engineering, which has facilities in the United Kingdom, United States, China, and Malaysia. Lotus is owned by DRB-HICOM through its subsidiary Proton, which acquired it following the bankruptcy of former owner Romano Artioli in 1996, the company was formed as Lotus Engineering Ltd. by engineers Colin Chapman and Colin Dare, both graduates of University College, London, in 1952. The four letters in the middle of the stand for the initials of company founder. When the logo was created, Colin Chapmans original partners Michael and Nigel Allen were led to believe that the letters stood for Colin Chapman, the first factory was situated in old stables behind the Railway Hotel in Hornsey, North London. Team Lotus, which was split off from Lotus Engineering in 1954, was active and competitive in Formula One racing from 1958 to 1994, the Lotus Group of Companies was formed in 1959. This was made up of Lotus Cars Limited and Lotus Components Limited, Lotus Components Limited became Lotus Racing Limited in 1971 but the newly renamed entity ceased operation in the same year. The company moved to a purpose built factory at Cheshunt in 1959 and since 1966 the company has occupied a modern factory and road test facility at Hethel and this site is the former RAF Hethel base and the test track uses sections of the old runway. In its early days Lotus sold cars aimed at privateer racers and its early road cars could be bought as kits, in order to save on purchase tax. After the elegant but delicate Lotus Elite of the 1950s, Lotus found critical, Lotus was notable for its use of fibreglass bodies, backbone chassis, and twin cam engines, initially supplied by Coventry Climax but later replaced by Lotus-Ford units. Lotus worked with Ford on the Lotus Cortina, a sports saloon. The Lotus Seven, originating in the 1950s as a simple, Lotus then sold the rights to produce the Seven to Caterham, which has continued to produce the car since then. The mid engined line continued with the Lotus Esprit, which was to one of the companys longest lived. Lotus developed its own series of four cylinder DOHC engines, the Lotus 900 series, and later a V8, variants of the 900 series engine were supplied for the Jensen Healey sports car and the Sunbeam Lotus hot hatchback. In the 1980s, Lotus collaborated with Vauxhall Motors to produce the Lotus Carlton, by 1980, Group Lotus was in serious financial trouble. Production had dropped from 1,200 units per year to a mere 383, in early 1982, Chapman came to an agreement with Toyota to exchange intellectual property and applied expertise. This initially resulted in Lotus Engineering helping to develop the Mk2 Toyota Supra, secondly it allowed Lotus to launch the new Lotus Excel to replace the ageing Lotus Eclat
6.
Battery electric vehicle
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A battery electric vehicle, battery-only electric vehicle or all-electric vehicle is a type of electric vehicle that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of internal combustion engines for propulsion and they derive all power from battery packs and thus have no internal combustion engine, fuel cell, or fuel tank. BEVs include bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rail cars, watercraft, forklifts, buses, trucks, cumulative global sales of highway-capable light-duty pure electric vehicles passed the one million unit milestone in September 2016. PHEVs with a series powertrain are also called range-extended electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Volt, in China, plug-in electric vehicles, together with hybrid electric vehicles are called new energy vehicles. The concept of electric vehicles is to use charged batteries on board vehicles for propulsion. Battery electric cars are becoming more and more attractive with the advancement of new technology that have higher power and energy density. BEVs include automobiles, light trucks, and neighborhood electric vehicles, two of these buses were used for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. A similar bus was operated in Napa Valley, California for 14 months ending in April,2004, the 2008 Beijing Olympics used a fleet of 50 electric buses, which have a range of 130 km with the air conditioning on. They use Lithium-ion batteries, and consume about 1 kW·h/mi, the buses were designed by the Beijing Institute of Technology and built by the Jinghua Coach Co. Ltd. The batteries are replaced with fully charged ones at the station to allow 24-hour operation of the buses. In France, the bus electric phenomenon is in development, PVI, a medium company located in the Paris region, is one of the leader of the market with its brand Gepebus. In the United States, the first battery-electric, fast-charge bus has been in operation in Pomona, the Proterra EcoRide BE35 uses lithium-titanate batteries and is able to fast-charge in less than 10 minutes. In 2014, the first production model all-electric school bus was delivered to the Kings Canyon Unified School District in California’s San Joaquin Valley, the bus was one of four the district ordered. This battery electric bus, which has 4 sodium nickel batteries, is the first modern electric school bus approved for student transportation by any state. The same technology is used to power the Mountain View Community Shuttles and this technology was supported by the California Energy Commission, and the shuttle program is being supported by Google. The buses will also be built in the United States and Finland, Tindo is an all-electric bus from Adelaide, Australia. The Tindo is made by Designline International in New Zealand and gets its electricity from a solar PV system on Adelaides central bus station, rides are zero-fare as part of Adelaides public transport system. Proterras EcoRide BE35 transit bus, called the Ecoliner by Foothill Transit in West Covina, California, is a duty, fast charge
7.
Plug-in electric vehicle
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In China, plug-in electric vehicles are called new energy vehicles. Plug-in cars have several benefits compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. They have lower operating and maintenance costs, and produce little or no air pollution. Plug-in hybrids capture most of these benefits when they are operating in all-electric mode, despite their potential benefits, market penetration of plug-in electric vehicles has been slower than expected as adoption faces several hurdles and limitations. The global market share of the light-duty plug-in vehicle segment achieved 0. 86% of total new car sales in 2016, up from 0. 62% in 2015 and 0. 38% in 2014. However, the stock of plug-in electric cars represented just 0. 15% of the 1.4 billion motor vehicles on the roads by the end of 2016. As of December 2016, plug-in electric vehicles are more expensive than conventional vehicles, as of December 2016, there are over 60 models of highway capable plug-in electric passenger cars and light-duty utility vans available for retail sales in the world. Cumulative global sales of highway legal plug-in electric passenger cars and light utility vehicles achieved the 2 million unit milestone in December 2016, the global ratio between the stock of all-electrics and plug-in hybrids was 61,39 at the end of 2016. Global sales of electric cars and vans achieved the 1 million milestone in September 2016. The Tesla Model S has been the top selling plug-in car for two years in a row,2015 and 2016. As of December 2016, China has the worlds largest stock of highway legal light-duty plug-in electric vehicles with cumulative sales of more than 645,000 plug-in electric passenger cars. Among country markets, the United States ranks second with more than 570,000 plug-in electric cars sold through December 2016, Japan is the worlds third largest plug-in car country market with about 147,500 plug-ins sold through December 2016. More than 637,000 light-duty plug-in electric passenger cars have registered in Europe up until December 2016. China is the leader in the plug-in heavy-duty segment, including electric all-electric buses. The stock of new vehicles sold in China totaled more than 950,000 units through December 2016. As of December 2015, China was the worlds largest plug-in electric bus market with a stock of almost 173,000 vehicles, Plug-in electric vehicles are also sometimes referred to as grid-enabled vehicles and also as electrically chargeable vehicles. In some European countries, particularly in France, electrically chargeable vehicle is the term used to designate the vehicles eligible for these incentives. A battery electric vehicle uses chemical energy stored in battery packs as its only source for propulsion
8.
BMW
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Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, usually known under its abbreviation BMW, is a German luxury vehicle, motorcycle, and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It is one of the luxury automakers in the world. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index, headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, BMW owns Mini cars and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW was established as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1912 named Aerowerke Gustav Otto, after the end of World War I in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft-engine production by the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty. The company consequently shifted to production as the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted in 1923. BMWs first significant aircraft engine, and commercial product of any sort, was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of 1918, known for good fuel economy, with German rearmament in the 1930s, the company again began producing aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe. The factory in Munich made ample use of forced labour, foreign civilians, prisoners of war, the few Me 262 A-1b test examples built used the more developed version of the 003 jet, recording an official top speed of 800 km/h. The first-ever four-engine jet aircraft flown were the sixth and eighth prototypes of the Arado Ar 234 jet reconnaissance-bomber. Through 1944 the 003s reliability improved, making it a power plant for air frame designs competing for the Jägernotprogramms light fighter production contract. Which was won by the Heinkel He 162 Spatz design, the BMW003 aviation turbojet was also under consideration as the basic starting point for a pioneering turboshaft powerplant for German armored fighting vehicles in 1944–45, as the GT101. Towards the end of the Third Reich, BMW developed some military aircraft projects for the Luftwaffe, the BMW Strahlbomber, the BMW Schnellbomber and the BMW Strahljäger, but none of them were built. By the year 1958, the division of BMW was in financial difficulties. It was decided to carry on by trying to cash in on the current economy car boom exploited so successfully by German ex-aircraft manufacturers such as Messerschmitt, BMW bought the rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta. BMWs version of the cars were to be powered by a modified form of BMWs motorcycle engine. This was moderately successful and helped the company get back on its feet, since 1959, the controlling majority shareholder of the BMW Aktiengesellschaft has been the Quandt family, which owns about 46% of the stock. The rest is in public float, BMW acquired the Hans Glas company based in Dingolfing, Germany, in 1966. Glas vehicles were badged as BMW until the company was fully absorbed. However, this factory was outmoded and BMWs biggest immediate gain was, according to themselves, the Glas factories continued to build a limited number of their existing models, while adding the manufacture of BMW front and rear axles until they could be closer incorporated into BMW
9.
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
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The Phantom VI was a British ultra-exclusive rolling chassis made from 1968-1990. From 1968 to 1973 it was manufactured by Rolls-Royce Ltd, and they were bodied as limousines but there were a few landaulettes. Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled fascia and was powered by a derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Most of the coachwork was created by Mulliner Park Ward, usually in limousines form, the Phantom VI was the last Rolls-Royce with a separate chassis. It featured coil springs in front, leaf springs and live axle in rear, and drum brakes on all four wheels. The car was powered by a 6,230 cc 90 degree V8 with a bore of 104 mm and stroke of 91.5 mm with twin SU carburettors, coupled to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. In a 1979 upgrade, engine capacity was increased to 6,750 cc, a 3-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter was substituted, inclusion of the engine from the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in 1982 increased engine displacement once more, to 6,750 cc. The very last Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, coincidentally also the last Landaulette body, was completed and delivered to the customer in summer of 1992, a total of 374 Phantom VIs were made. Design of a Phantom VII based on the Silver Shadows body was discussed in the 1970s, within the fleet of cars used by Queen Elizabeth II and her family in the United Kingdom are two Rolls-Royce Phantom VIs, the Silver Jubilee Car, and a more conventional 1986 model. These two cars were the official state cars until the introduction of the two Bentley State Limousines in 2002, like all British state cars, the Phantom VIs have a special mount for a Royal Standard and coat of arms. When in use by the Queen, the Spirit of Ecstasy is replaced by a solid silver model of St George slaying the dragon. In Australia, the monarch, her family, and the Governor-General of Australia use a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI dating to 1970 and it is typically used only rarely, such as for the state opening of parliament or the swearing-in of a new governor-general. On September 2010 a Phantom VI that belonged to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, three other Phantoms were built between 1995 and 1997, also by order of the Sultan of Brunei. This car was named Rolls-Royce Cloudesque and sometimes referred to as Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, the exterior reminds one of a stretched Phantom V Limousine, the extra length being added at the B-pillar. The boot is redesigned, looking more like that of a Silver Seraph, the headlights were designed in a Silver Cloud III style, hence the name Cloudesque
10.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
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The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car that was produced in the United Kingdom in various forms from 1965 to 1980. It was the first Rolls-Royce to use unitary construction, a response to concerns that the company was falling behind in automotive innovation, to date, the Silver Shadow has the largest production volume of any Rolls-Royce. The Silver Shadow was produced from 1965 to 1976, and the Silver Shadow II from 1977 to 1980, initially, the model was planned to be called Silver Mist, a natural progression from its predecessor Silver Cloud. The name was changed to Silver Shadow after realizing that Mist is the German word for manure, rubbish, or dirt. The design was a departure from its predecessor, the Silver Cloud, although several styling cues from the Silver Cloud were modified and preserved. The John Polwhele Blatchley design was the firms first single bow model, more than 50% of its predecessor had been sold on the domestic market where, by the standards of much of Europe and most of North America, roads were narrow and crowded. The Shadow featured a 172 hp 6.2 L V8 from 1965 to 1969, the cars most innovative feature was a high-pressure hydraulic system licensed from Citroën, with dual-circuit braking and hydraulic self-levelling suspension. At first, both the front and rear of the car were controlled by the system, the front levelling was deleted in 1969 as it had been determined that the rear levelling did almost all the work. Rolls-Royce achieved a degree of ride quality with this arrangement. In 1977, the model was renamed the Silver Shadow II in recognition of major changes, most notably rack and pinion steering. Externally, the bumpers were changed from chrome to alloy and rubber starting with the late 1976 Silver Shadows and these new energy absorbing bumpers had been used in the United States since 1974, as a response to tightening safety standards there. Nonetheless, the bumpers on cars sold outside of North America were still mounted and protruded 2 in less. Also now made standard across the board was the deletion of the small grilles mounted beneath the headlamps, outside of North America, where tall kerbs and the like demanded more ground clearance, a front skirt was also fitted to the Silver Shadow II and its sister cars. 33 75th anniversary cars were designated for and shipped to the North American market, a long-wheelbase variant, some 4 inches longer to provide additional rear seat legroom, was offered in the United States from May 1969, and available to domestic customers from early 1970. A pilot series of ten long wheelbase cars had been built in 1967 and sold, some long-wheelbase models were fitted with a privacy glass divider. The cars with a divider lost the entire gain in wheelbase, the glass divider was electrically retractable. Initially, the model did not have a separate name, but in 1976, with the introduction of the Silver Shadow II. The Wraith II is identified by all alterations found on the Silver Shadow II and additionally an Everflex-covered roof, some Silver Wraith IIs were also fitted with electric divisions which took up the extra four inches of leg room in the rear
