2020 Toyota Highlander Platinum

The modern three-row crossover SUV needs to haul a bevy of people in comfort, style, and with the latest technology. The redesigned 2020 Toyota Highlander does all these things, but excels at none of them.

More info: thecarconnection.com

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Introducing the all-new Diamond Aircraft 5 Seat DA50 RG with retractable gear

The award-winning all carbon fiber DA50 RG with retractable gear, an extra-large luxurious cabin and excellent payload, powered by a 300hp Continental CD-300 jet fuel engine, will please private pilots and air charter companies alike.

The DA50 RG painted in the winner design of Diamond Aircraft’s Exterior Design Competition from Kirk Smith, Digital Artist and winner of the DA50 Exterior Design Competition.

Spectacular look and easy access through the large gull wing doors and cargo door.

The extra-large luxurious cabin will please pilots and passengers alike.

The DA50 RG comes with a standard installed Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck with standard 3-axis GFC700 Automated Flight Control System (Garmin GCU 476 keypad optional)

With one of the widest, most comfortable cabins in its class, the DA50 RG spoils both pilots and passengers with everything known from the twin-engine DA62: generous front seats with adjustable backrests, a 60/40 split folding three seat second row bench, easy access through the large gull wing doors and cargo door and exceptional leg, shoulder and head room. Luxury features abound throughout, including premium interiors in several styles, colors and materials, LED interior lighting and many optional features, such as removable right-hand control stick, oxygen system, electric air conditioning, TKS de-icing system, Garmin GCU 476 keypad or a built-in tablet mount.

Source: diamondaircraft.com

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Gulfstream Aerospace Will Deliver the Last G550 Next Year

Gulfstream built more than 600 G550s since the model’s first announcement 20 years ago. Pixabay

Mark Burns said “The G550 set the standard for subsequent aircraft and the industry.” That’s not simply Burns’ opinion as Gulfstream’s president. The popular G550 in 2003 earned the aircraft’s development team the coveted Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded annually “for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.”

The aerospace giant last week announced it had sold the final position of the G550 aircraft that’s slated for delivery in 2021. Gulfstream has to date delivered more than 600 copies of the aircraft. First announced in 2000, the G550 entered service in 2003 as the launch platform for the transformational Gulfstream PlaneView flight deck. Its range and high-altitude capabilities earned the aircraft more than 55 speed records. The G550 is capable of cruise speeds of Mach 0.90.

Burns was quick to point out that, “While manufacturing of the G550 will end, our industry-leading support of the aircraft will continue. With more than 30 company-owned and factory-authorized service centers on five continents as well as the ability to produce and procure parts, we are well-prepared to continue offering G550 owners the highest level of support.”

Source: flyingmag.com

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2021 Mini Countryman

Mini continues to charm for the 2021 model year. The British brand owned by BMW returns a 6-speed manual transmission to its small lineup, further enhancing its reputation for quirky urban cars that are fun to drive but offer limited practicality. 

From the Union Jack taillights and rear barn doors to the circular design features adorning the inside and outside, Mini stands out amid a sea of homogeneous small crossovers and vanishing compact cars and hatchbacks.

More info: thecarconnection.com

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Self-driving car developers, states line up to participate in nationwide testing program

Waymo self-driving car

Eight states and nine self-driving developers and carmakers announced this week that they would participate in a nationwide testing program designed to showcase the autonomous cars’ development and make public the routes and information gathered during testing.

More info: thecarconnection.com

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Bedtime in space

2019-05-24 – It’s time to get ready for bed aboard the International Space Station! CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques shows us how astronauts tuck themselves in for a good night’s sleep in space. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, NASA)

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2021 BMW X5 xDrive 45e

BMW’s newest crossover with a plug will manage more than double the all-electric range of its predecessor, the automaker announced Wednesday.

The 2021 BMW X5 xDrive 45e upgrades from a 308-horsepower turbo-4 with a 9-kwh battery to a 389-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with a 24-kwh battery.

More info: thecarconnection.com

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Space by Ecocapsule

Ecocapsule®, an innovative Slovak company and global ecological pioneer within segment of sustainable living, introduces new SPACE by Ecocapsule – an energetically semi self-sustainable mobile micro-unit for different purposes of usage. Indeed, wrapped in an attractive design of a giant egg.

SPACE has a multiply usage – it can be a home office, a guest room, an attractive sales place for small entrepreneurs, additional housing for a cottage, a houseboat or simply your personal space. As for situations, that we are currently experiencing globally, it can be an effective solution of accommodation for travel businesses and resorts.

Source: homeadore.com

https://www.ecocapsule.sk/

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2021 Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision five-seat crossover SUV is updated with a stylish new exterior,  more standard safety features, and the brand’s top Avenir trim for the first time. It is smaller than the Buick Enclave and bigger than the Buick Encore GX. The Envision competes against the Lincoln Corsair, Cadillac XT4, Lexus NX, Acura RDX, and Volvo XC60. 

More info: thecarconnection.com

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2021 Acura TLX

This time around, the 2021 Acura TLX sculpts a daring shape around zesty turbocharged engines and powertrains to jog our memories. It goes on sale later this year, while a hot TLX Type S sedan is penciled in for early next year.

More info: thecarconnection.com

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2021 Audi Q8

 

The 2021 Audi Q8 stands alone as the most expensive crossover in its showroom, the most comfortable for four adults, and the quickest, too. Audi may not agree with us that it’s the Audi that all other Audis aspire to be, but we know a duck when we see/hear/drive one.

 

 

More info: thecarconnection.com

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Sonification of a Hubble Deep Space Image

 

Space becomes “sonified” in this visualization of a cluster of galaxies imaged by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Time flows left to right, and the frequency of sound changes from bottom to top, ranging from 30 to 1,000 hertz. Objects near the bottom of the image produce lower notes, while those near the top produce higher ones. Most of the visible specks are galaxies housing countless stars.

A few individual stars shine brightly in the foreground. Stars and compact galaxies create short, clear tones, while sprawling spiral galaxies emit longer notes that change pitch. The higher density of galaxies near the center of the image — the heart of this galaxy cluster, known as RXC J0142.9+4438 — results in a swell of mid-range tones halfway through the video.

Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 acquired this image on Aug. 13, 2018. Download this video: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/det…

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2021 Buick Encore rolls on with 5-star safety rating

2020 Buick Encore

 

The Buick Encore isn’t going anywhere for 2021, despite a crossover on the lot that shares its name—the Encore GX. Still, the 2021 Encore gets top marks from federal testers for crash safety, according to ratings released this week.

The Encore GX is slightly larger and was expected to replace the Encore. In addition to larger, more American dimensions, the GX comes standard with vital safety technology lacking in the Encore.

Still, the small Encore rolls on for 2021 and once again aces all of the NHTSA’s crash tests except for a four-star rating in the rollover test, which is common for many crossover SUVs on account of the taller ride height.

Available with all-wheel drive, the Encore lacks the standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection that will be standard on the GX. Most automakers have voluntarily agreed to make AEB standard on 2022 models. Opting up for forward collision and lane departure warnings that help avoid or mitigate crashes might not be worth it on the Encore. The IIHS rated it as “Basic” for the 2020 model.

In crash-testing, however, the 2021 Buick Encore gets the feds nod of approval.

 

Source: thecarconnection.com

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Gulfstream G700™

 

The industry’s new flagship Gulfstream G700 completed its first flight on February 14, 2020, bringing the future of aviation one step closer. The G700 delivers the most spacious, innovative and flexible cabin in the industry, plus all-new, high-thrust Rolls-Royce engines and the award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck™.

 

 

Authorized operators may increase their access to airports by using our Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) with dual head-up displays to land. Other key safety features include our award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System.

 

 

The award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck features the safety of active control sidesticks. Intuitive touch-screen avionics, paired with Phase-of-Flight™ intelligence, reduce both pilot workload and aircraft start-up time.

Performance

Maximum Range¹

7,500 nm

High-Speed Cruise

Mach 0.90

Long-Range Cruise

Mach 0.85

Maximum Operating Mach Number (Mmo)

Mach 0.925

Takeoff Distance (SL, ISA, MTOW)

6,250 ft

Initial Cruise Altitude

41,000 ft

Maximum Cruise Altitude

51,000 ft

 

 

Web: gulfstream.com

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ESA’s Navigation Directorate supporting EGNOS and Galileo services continuity

In response to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, ESA’s Directorate of Navigation has shifted to teleworking while also ensuring the continuity of essential tasks, in particular the continued delivery of positioning, navigation, and timing services of the European satellite navigation system Galileo and the augmentation system EGNOS.

Priority has been given to ensure continued operations of both EGNOS and Galileo, so  the ESA Navigation Directorate has been supporting the European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency, GSA – the operator of Galileo and EGNOS, on behalf of the European Commission. .

In addition to ensuring business continuity in critical areas, the team is maintaining constant contact with the various stakeholders and several measures have been taken as follows:

• The first two satellites of Galileo’s Batch 3 are currently based at the ESTEC Test Centre in the Netherlands, for engineering tests ahead of launch. This test campaign has been suspended, based on the medical advice that too high a concentration of people would be needed on-site if testing were to continue.
• These stored satellites are being monitored by staff visiting ESTEC every few days, to verify that all is in order.
• Other Galileo-related testing continues with the aim of supporting future launches. ESTEC-based lifetime testing of the next set of rubidium atomic clocks is set to continue, involving on-site monitoring every few days.

Galileo

In addition, the Directorate team has shifted to teleworking, using video and audio-conferences to continue meetings with the industries involved and thereby minimise the impact on the deliveries of EGNOS upgrades, Galileo Batch 3 satellites, and the preparatory work for Galileo Second Generation.

The navigation R&D projects undertaken under the Directorate’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP) are continuing although at a somewhat slower pace, given the crisis. So are the Satellite Navigation projects financed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and which develop future technology for the EU satellite navigation projects.

 

Source: http:/.esa.int/Applications/Navigation/ESA_s_Navigation_Directorate_supporting_EGNOS_and_Galileo_services_continuity

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2020 Porsche Taycan

The 2020 Porsche Taycan is the benchmark for electric-car performance.

It takes longer to correctly pronounce “Porsche Taycan” than it takes to accelerate up to 60 mph—less than three seconds.

If you need to learn the correct pronunciation, which is “TIE-cahn” as in “Ticonderoga,” the Taycan can hit 100 mph—less than seven seconds. If you’re interested in knowing where the word “Taycan” came from, the first all-electric Porsche sports car may very well be in another time zone.

 

The 2020 Porsche Taycan is pure performance and one of the quickest cars we’ve ever driven. It’s an 8.8 on our overall scale, propelled by its perfect efficiency, performance, and beautiful exterior. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

 

 

More Info: https://thecarconnection.com/overview/porsche_taycan_2020#image=100725030

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FlightSafety Unveils New Artificial-Intelligence-Based Training Tool

FlightSmart can be used on a variety of civil and military simulators.Flight Safety International

LaGuardia, New York-based Flight Safety International, in collaboration with IBM, yesterday unveiled a new, fully-integrated training tool called FlightSmart that employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to evaluate a pilot’s ability as they perform critical tasks and maneuvers during all phases of flight. The new product is an attempt to leave qualitative-based instruction behind in favor of evidence- and competency-based training.

Instructors using FlightSmart will now have a comprehensive understanding of a pilot’s strengths and weaknesses through access to real-time data, which objectively measures performance using advanced analytics and data collection from virtually any training medium.

 

FlightSmart delivers important feedback to trainees and instructors in an easy-to-understand format.Flight Safety International

FlightSmart uses that training data to create a customized corrective action training path that addresses identified deficiencies. Instructors will also proactively address deficiencies by optimizing a pilot’s training curriculum that focuses on areas that need improvement rather than repetitive actions rooted in a fixed syllabus. FSI said FlightSmart provides a solid foundation for adaptive learning and student-specific insights and is ideal for use during training of new and experienced pilots operating both commercial and military aircraft.

 

FlightSafety also said it received a contract for FlightSmart from the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) for implementation at Columbus Air Force Base on 16 T-6A training devices, including initial and operational flight trainers with options to expand to other Air Education and Training Command bases that operate the aircraft. The use of FlightSmart is expected to one day include aircraft maintenance technicians, operators of unmanned systems, and others.

 

Source: flyingmag.com

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2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid gets 40 mpg city

 

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid will have EPA fuel-economy ratings of 40 mpg city, 35 highway, 38 combined when it arrives on dealer lots March 1, the automaker announced Thursday. 

The first hybrid version of Honda’s best-selling model in the U.S. is a bit of disappointment. Three of the best-selling compact crossovers come as hybrids this year, and the CR-V trails the pack for efficiency. The 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid is rated at 44/37/41 mpg with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive only costs 1 mpg city and combined. Like the CR-V Hybrid, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes standard with AWD and gets 41/38/40 mpg. 

Even by Honda’s standard, the CR-V Hybrid falls a bit short. It shares its two-motor 212-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 powertrain with the Honda Accord Hybrid, which gets 48/47/48 mpg, but the CR-V Hybrid adds AWD. 

However, the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid’s advantages over its rivals are a lower starting price and a wider availability across trim levels. Starting at $28,870 (all prices include the $1,120 destination) for the base LX, the CR-V Hybrid is about $500 less than the competition. Like the RAV4 Hybrid, the CR-V Hybrid is offered in four trim levels; the Escape Hybrid is offered only in two trims.

In addition to standard AWD, the CR-V Hybrid comes standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control. 

The $31,380 EX trim hits the sweet spot by upgrading from a 5.0-inch central display screen to a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, heated front seats, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support, one-touch power windows, dual-zone climate control, push button start, and blind-spot monitors. Wheels get swole, bro, from 17-inch alloys to 18-inch alloys, and it adds a moonroof. We’d recommend the EX. 

The $33,870 EX-L trim adds more refinement with leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a 4-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, an 8-speaker sound system, and a power tailgate with programmable heights. 

The $37,070 Touring trim completes the lineup with navigation, a premium sound system, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, LED headlights, roof rails, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

 

Source: thecarconnection.com

 

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Safest 2020 vehicles, Genesis wins big, Model X recall: What’s New @ The Car Connection

2019 Tesla Model 3 – IIHS small overlap frontal crash test

 

IIHS awards safest cars for 2020 

The bar has been raised for vehicle safety in 2020. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced Thursday stricter criteria in awarding its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ honors to 2020 models.  

Here are the affordable new crossovers on their way in 2020

Death, taxes, and new crossovers. Few things are as certain as the deluge of tall-riding hatchbacks on the way this year for new-car shoppers.

Ford recalling more than 225,000 vehicles for faulty suspension

Ford said Wednesday that it would recall more than 225,000 Taurus sedans, Flex crossovers, and Lincoln MKT crossovers for a faulty suspension component that could crack under heavy use. 

 

2020 Genesis GV80, 2020 Chicago Auto Show

 

From Motor Authority:

Genesis tops 2020 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study

The relatively new luxury brand topped the list, in the first year its cars were eligible for the list.

Nissan files $91M lawsuit against former Chairman Carlos Ghosn

The lawsuit alleges that the former executive bilked the company for years.

Bentley has a new coach-built special coming, and it’s inspired by the EXP 100 GT

Bentley has big plans for the Geneva auto show, and it’s called the Bacalar.

 

2018 Tesla Model X

 

From Green Car Reports:

Tesla recalls 15,000 early Model X vehicles for power-steering issue

The issue affects early production models of the Model X crossover sold as 2016 models.

Polestar EV brand flaunts sustainability, natural and recycled materials

Low carbon footprint is only the start for the nascent luxury automaker.

First electric fire truck in US finds a buyer: Los Angeles

The city purchased the Austrian-made truck and it’ll likely start service in Hollywood sometime next year.

 

 

Source: thecarconnection.com

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2020 Nissan Leaf revealed: Electric car offers more tech and better safety features for less money

 

When it arrived nearly a decade ago, the Nissan Leaf electric hatchback had a bulbous shape, spartan interior, and 73 miles of range.

On Friday, Nissan debuted the 2020 Leaf with standard 8.0-inch touchscreen, front and rear automatic emergency braking, and a base range of more than double the Leaf of just 10 years ago, for less money.

The base 2020 Nissan Leaf S will go on sale later this year and cost $32,525, including destination but before any applicable state and federal tax breaks, which is about $200 less than the base 2011 Nissan Leaf when it went on sale in 2010. The 2020 Leaf S is equipped with a 40-kw lithium-ion battery rated for 149 miles, according to the EPA.

 

 

Base Leaf S models are still relatively spartan compared to the rest of the range, but include front and rear automatic emergency braking, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 16-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, a 6.0-kwh onboard charger, and seats for five. Nissan says the base Leaf can recharge on a Level 2 charger in about eight hours, or a household plug in about 35 hours. A quick charger that can replenish the battery from 0 to 80% in about 40 minutes is a $1,690 upcharge on the base Leaf only. A 62-kwh battery rated for more than 220 miles of electric range by the EPA costs $6,600 more in Leaf S models and includes a standard quick-charger. The uprated battery arrived last year.

 

 

The Leaf SV costs $35,115, including destination, and adds 17-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, navigation, adaptive cruise control and better options including an all-weather package that adds heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a heat pump for climate control for $900. A bigger 62-kwh battery is available on Leaf SV hatchbacks and costs $5,560.

 

 

The Leaf SL is available only with a 62-kwh battery and costs $44,825, including destination. It includes just about every nicety such as leather upholstery, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, Bose audio, LED lights, rear HVAC, and Nissan’s suite of driver-assistance features called ProPilot Assist than can help keep the Leaf centered in its lane.

The 2020 Leaf will arrive in dealers before March.

 

 

Source: https://www.thecarconnection.com/

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