Motoring News Issue January 2014 Issue 1 Jan 2014

12 Motoring News ideas within safety and design. Volvo Car Group explores new safety and design ideas by partnering with high-tech sports gear developer POC Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) has established a partnership with the Swedish company POC, which develops hightech protective gear for gravity sports athletes. The two companies will exchange knowledge in order to explore new ideas within safety and design. toric route from Zouerat to Tichit (Mauritania) in 2005. The drivers must cross rivers, negotiate ravines, and be wary of the opposition. The route on day four features expansive spaces, making overtaking relatively easy. At the same time, the special stage to Chilecito (Argentina) is also the longest on the 2014 Dakar. Toyota FCV shines light on how to beat the blackouts range of at least 300 miles on a full tank, and can be refilled just as quickly and safely as a conventional petrol or diesel model. When driven, the car's only tailpipe emission is water, the byproduct of the fuel cell system's electricity generation process. Toyota has made its hybrid vehicles central to its research into developing low-carbon homes, integrating the rechargeable Prius Plug-in into its "smart grid" housing developments in Toyota City and in a pilot project which ran last year in the Indianapolis region in the USA. Unoﬀicially, Toyota hybrids have already proved their worth as mobile power stations, notably with Prius models being drafted in as emergency energy sources in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011. A new hydrogen-powered Toyota could be the answer to keeping the lights on when power cuts strike. Instead of fumbling for the candles when the electricity supply fails, owners of the new Toyota FCV could simply reach for their car keys to keep their homes warm and bright. The FCV, due to make its world sales debut next year, is demonstrating its potential as a back-up domestic energy supplier at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. The four-door saloon's electric motor can produce more than 100kW and, with a full tank of hydrogen fuel, could generate enough energy to power a regular home for a week. Engineers are now researching an external power supply device that could be used with the car to provide a safe and simple domestic connection. The FCV's potential as an emergency power supply is of course secondary to its principal role as a practical, zeroemissions vehicle. Benefitting from Toyota's extensive hydrogen fuel cell research and development, it has a Volvo Car Group explores new safety and design ideas by partnering with high-tech sports gear developer POC Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) has established a partnership with the Swedish company POC, which develops hightech protective gear for gravity sports athletes. "POC's products blend functional design with lightweight, high-performance materials that oﬀer the ultimate sense of freedom and protection when things really get rough. This is perfectly in tune with our aim to make functionality and safety an emotional experience," says Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Cars. "Just like their high-tech sport gear, our cars blend sophisticated design with strength and intelligent capability. Having the right gear - in our case the car - builds peace of mind and confidence. This in turn enables you to fully enjoy your drive and your adventure," adds Thomas Ingenlath. Initial focus on cars and cyclists The new partnership will explore and use the possibilities to extend the safety knowledge and product oﬀer for Volvo Cars as well as POC. The first results will be presented in the second half of 2014. An initial research and development project focuses on communication between cars and cyclists. "Several orange details and exterior graphics combined with bold use of matte rubber mouldings, which cover the rear of the car, add to the highly functional expression of the design," says Thomas Ingenlath. Supports repositioning The Volvo Concept XC Coupé has a strong connection to both an active outdoor lifestyle and Volvo Cars' aim to oﬀer customers a world-class safety and support package. "The partnership with POC will be inspiring and fruitful. Both of our companies have a strong emphasis on safety and protection. POC can inspire us to make safety an emotional experience and to create even more desirable cars," concludes Thomas Ingenlath. "Communication with cyclists around the car is a possible extension of our groundbreaking Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology. Providing the cyclist with confirmation that he or she is seen by the vehicle can make interaction between cars and cyclists smoother and safer in urban areas," says Jan Ivarsson, Senior Manager, Safety Strategy and Requirements at Volvo Cars. Mutual vision "With POC's mission of doing the best we can to possibly save lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for gravity sports athletes and cyclists, it's a treasure to interact on cycling safety together with Volvo Cars. They have the vision, competence and experience and have been leading the development within road safety for more than 80 years, " says Stefan Ytterborn, CEO and founder of POC. Inspiration for the new concept car The two companies will exchange knowledge in order to explore new XC Coupé, which will make its world debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is inspired by the design of modern sp

Motoring News Issue January 2014 Issue 1 Jan 2014 | Page 12