Latest news with #AdvancedDriverAssistanceSystem
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Honda launches new City Sport variant at ₹14.88 lakh
Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has introduced a new variant of its popular mid size sedan, the City Sport, aimed at younger customers who seek distinctive design and new variant joins the existing City line-up and will be available in limited units. It is priced at ₹14,88,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The City Sport is powered with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that is compliant with E20 fuel standards . It is paired with a continuously variable transmission ( CVT ) and paddle shifters. The engine delivers 121PS of power, 145NM of torque, and a fuel efficiency of 18.4 km/l. Safety features include Honda SENSING , the company's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite. Exterior and interior changes The City Sport variant includes changes to the exterior and interior. On the outside, it features a black grille, trunk lip spoiler, shark fin antenna, and grey alloy wheels. Blacked-out wing mirrors and a 'Sport' emblem are also part of the package. The cabin features black leather seats, soft door inserts, and red stitching on seats, door panels and the steering wheel. Black roof lining and pillars are included, along with a dark red dash insert and black AC vents. Ambient lighting with seven colour options is also part of the interior package. Commenting on the launch, Kunal Behl, vice president of Marketing & Sales at Honda Cars India Ltd., said, 'The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.' The City Sport will be available only in CVT and offered in three colour options: Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl and Meteoroid Grey Metallic. An additional cost is applicable for the Pearl colour.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Skoda Kushaq Facelift Spotted Testing; Here's What's New
Skoda is testing a refreshed version of its compact SUV, the Kushaq, in India. Recently spotted on the road with heavy camouflage, the updated model keeps its familiar shape but features some noticeable changes. These include slight exterior updates, upgraded interior features, and a new automatic transmission, making it a fresh option in a competitive market. Here's what to expect from the updated version. Skoda Kushaq Facelift: Exterior Changes The Kushaq's overall shape remains similar, but the facelift brings some stylish changes. The front bumper now has a redesigned air dam with sharper lines and a more squared-off air dam with an all-black honeycomb mesh grille. The headlamps are slightly reshaped, and the rear features slimmer boomerang-style LED tail lamps connected by a thin LED strip, making the SUV look wider. Other updates include new blacked-out alloy wheels and changes to the bumpers to better match the refreshed front design. Skoda Kushaq Facelift: Interior Skoda is expected to upgrade features without completely redesigning the interior. It is expected to offer an updated trim, new upholstery, and better ambient lighting to enhance the cabin feel. Moreover, it is expected to introduce a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), providing useful features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic braking, making the Kushaq more competitive with other tech-savvy vehicles. Skoda Kushaq Facelift: Powertrain The Kushaq facelift will likely keep the same mechanical setup with some minor updates. It will still offer two turbocharged petrol engines, a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI engine and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder TSI EVO engine. The 1.0-litre engine delivers and 175 Nm of torque. It will have a 6-speed manual transmission and a new 8-speed automatic gearbox, expected to improve fuel efficiency. The 1.5-litre engine will be available with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. The Skoda Kushaq facelift is expected to launch in India towards the end of the current year or early 2026.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Steering technology towards better vehicle dynamics
Until autonomous cars become mainstream, which some argue is a really long time away, if at all it happens, the steering wheel isn't going away and the vehicle steering system will continue to see technology development. 'I don't think that the steering system is disappearing in the next 30 years,' Dr. Peter Pfeffer , CEO, MdynamiX , and Professor, Automotive Engineering , Munich University of Applied Sciences. A joystick could also replace the steering wheel, but at the system level there's a change happening, and that's software replacing hardware. Steer-by-wire technology is set to be the next big thing in steering system engineering. 'A lot of OEMs have large projects to get the steer-by-wire in mass production. Some of them stopped the game because of the economic pressure, but some others are still working,' says Dr. Pfeffer. ADAS and vehicle dynamics With the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) trend increasingly gaining traction, vehicle driveability, handling and comfort, or vehicle dynamics in other words, is attracting more attention. That's also leading to more hardware-in-loop (HIL) testing. The HIL test benches, linked to the driving simulators, can help gauge and calibrate the steering feel and brake feel on the driving simulator. 'This is a new trend, and a lot of people say that then driving simulator makes really sense, because then we can calibrate the systems like steering system, brake system, lane keeping system and so on, and make the evaluation of the tyres too,' says Dr. Pfeffer, who's also a global expert in steering systems and vehicle dynamics. The Pfeffer Steering System designed by Dr. Pfeffer is a well used conceptual framework for engineering vehicle dynamics, with a special focus on steering behaviour and its effect on droveability. It was first developed as a "very large research project" for BMW, which focused on strong driving dynamics as a brand attribute, with also a tagline of 'Sheer Driving Pleasure'. The German luxury car major's goal was to find objective targets for steering feel. They wanted to develop the steering feel with virtual methods. 'And here one part was to make this evaluation of the steering system with test drivers, subjective evaluations, and the other side was the objective evaluation. And the next step was that we want to produce these objective values out of the simulation tools. And this was the driver of this development,' explains Dr. Pfeffer. Good steering feel or feedback is key for a better driveability or driving experience. Will a drive-by-wire system be able to match the experience of a mechanically linked steering system? Yes, according to Dr. Pfeffer. He says, 'We made such a car, in partnership. It was also used for racing, and the feedback from race drivers was very, very positive, but this is not in mass production. It was just some first prototypes.' Autonomous, ADAS tech will see gradual progression Autonomous Driving is one of the key global megatrends but its progression has significantly lagged behind other megatrends such as electrification, Connected Vehicles. Assisted driving in the form of ADAS tech is paving the path for it, but time will have to be invested too for the requisite technology maturity. 'When you look back, the first ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) was launched around 2000, and now 70 or 80% of cars in Germany are equipped with this system. It has taken more than 20 years (for the tech) to get to a maturity level, and the same will be for lane keeping tech which started later. So it takes time,' says Dr. Pfeffer, who is confident that Autonomous Driving will 'of course' become a reality. Role of Industry-Academia collaboration In an increasingly technology-intensive, disruptive era, automotive industry players have to innovate and develop technologies faster than ever before. In such a scenario, the value of or need for industry-academia collaboration may be stronger than ever. Dr. Pfeffer, who also had a stint at Audi as a chassis and NVH engineer, many years ago, believes that it's important for academia to be in tune with the trends and needs in the industry landscape. 'The big benefit of having worked in industry is that you know what the industry is needing, and you are not teaching stuff which is not for any use in the industry,' says Dr. Pfeffer, who also points out that in Germany it's essential for an individual to have industry work experience to apply for professorship. Academicians-led enterprise Dr. Pfeffer, and his core teammates at MdynamiX also form an interesting example of academicians and entrepreneurs at the same time. Peter Pfeffer, Bernhard Schick, Stefan Sentpali, and Markus Krug, all professors, came together to form MdynamiX, an engineering firm specialising in ADAS/AD, UX, vehicle dynamics, steering & brakes and NVH, in 2014. Why did a group of professors form an engineering firm when they could have done developmental projects in their labs? 'Because there are so many PhD theses, tons of papers written, there's so much knowledge in this. But development engineers don't have time to read the PhD for the whole day or so. And so to make it easier to use them, we said, okay, we have to develop easy to use products and software out of the best ideas,' says Dr. Pfeffer. MdynamiX also has an academy automotive engineers are trained to use such methods. Given the growing ADAS trend in India and the opportunities arising thereof, the Munich based MdynamiX has also established an India presence with a joint venture with Delhi based Automotive Test Systems . To get more insights and also discuss the various vehicle dynamics related topics with Dr. Peter Pfeffer, be at the 6th ETAuto Tech Summit, where the technologist and academician will participate as a Keynote Speaker.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
QCOM Gains Traction in Automotive: Will It Deliver Sustainable Growth?
Qualcomm Incorporated QCOM has been witnessing solid momentum in the automotive segment over the past few quarters. During the second quarter of 2025, the company reported staggering 59% year-over-year growth in this segment. It boasts a worldwide client base that includes leading automakers and technology companies like General Motors, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Royal Enfield, Volvo, Google and more. Over the past few years, Qualcomm has taken an approach of continuous innovation with strategic acquisitions to expand into the automotive the acquisition of Veneer, Inc., the company has steadily gained a strong foothold in the emerging market of driver-assistance technology. The Arriver business of Veoneer operates the dedicated software unit focused on sensor perception and drive policy, including a full stack of features and functions. With this buyout, Qualcomm has integrated Arriver's Computer Vision, Drive Policy and Driver Assistance assets into its ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) portfolio. It has allowed QCOM to deliver an open and competitive platform for automakers to better compete with rivals within the self-driving vehicle market. The company recently acquired Autotalks, an industry leader in direct vehicle-to-everything communication technology. Integration of Autotalks' robust portfolio of automotive-qualified global V2X solutions will facilitate the development of leading-edge, reliable solutions to enhance road safety and optimize traffic demand for the company's Snapdragon Digital Chassis product portfolio, which includes telematics and connectivity platforms, digital cockpit and C-V2X solutions, is expected to drive growth in automotive in the near term. In the second quarter, Qualcomm secured 30 new designs, including five ADAS programs and designs from Chinese automakers such as Nio, Zeekr, Great Wall, Dongfeng and more. Per our estimate, the company is expected to generate $3.7 billion in revenues from the automotive segment, indicating 27.3% year-over-year growth. In the automotive segment, the company faces competition from the NVIDIA Corporation NVDA and Intel Corporation INTC. NVIDIA DRIVE solutions include a comprehensive stack of hardware and software tools designed to support autonomous vehicles. It is also swiftly working on V2X technology, specifically in AI-driven connectivity for autonomous vehicles. With a vast client base that includes Mercedes-Benz, Li Auto, General Motors, Toyota and several other prominent automakers, NVIDIA has gained solid market traction in the AI-driven autonomous driving Mobileye has rapidly expanded in the autonomous car technology market. Mobileye's technologies related to cameras, in-car networking, sensor chips, roadway mapping, cloud software, machine learning and data management are gaining popularity among automakers. More than 70 million vehicles from BMW, Volkswagen, Ford and Nissan use Intel's Mobileye for driver assistance. However, with the integration of advanced V2X and a broader portfolio of digital cockpit, infotainment and connectivity, Qualcomm is expected to maintain its competitive edge in the automotive vertical. QCOM shares have declined 25.5% over the past year against the industry's growth of 18.1%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 12.87 forward earnings, lower than 30.31 for the industry and the stock's mean of 17.79. It carries a Value Score of A. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Earnings estimates for 2025 have decreased 0.17% to $11.8 per share over the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 have decreased 3.18% to $12.19. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Qualcomm stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
With 98% R&D in India, Netradyne puts Indian deeptech on the global mobility map
Every year, about 1.2 million lives are snuffed out in road accidents worldwide, according to a World Health Organisation report. Of this, India reports the most number of fatalities. But this deeptech startup, which is also the first unicorn of 2025 in India, is out on a mission to improve road safety and efficiency by leveraging cutting-edge technology that transforms the transportation industry. Netradyne , founded in 2015 by Avneesh Agrawal and David Julian–both Stanford alumni–provides AI-powered fleet safety and video telematics solutions , a form of passive ADAS ( Advanced Driver Assistance System ). Its flagship product– Driver•i– powered by advanced AI analyses every minute of drive time with up to 99 per cent accuracy, recognising both risky and safe driving behaviours. With over 20 billion of driving miles analysed, the company claims the product has delivered a significant reduction in accident rates amongst its users. 'Our customers from India and the US have reported a 50 per cent reduction in accident rates,' Durgadutt Nedungadi, Senior Vice President, Netradyne, told ETAuto. Now, the San Diego-based startup is planning to launch a new line of products which will raise the bar further in its preemptive approach to road safety, with a focus on detecting driver fatigue. 'Shortly, we will launch products which focus on the sleep cycle. By using advanced technology, we have worked on a number of these sleep scales that study blink rates. In this way, we can raise an alert early in the cycle when a driver is sleepy,' said Nedungadi. In the near future, we will also work on technology that can capture pupil dilation to detect state of inebriation, he added. Profitability & R&D focus The Softbank-backed startup has recently announced its global expansion plans, with a target to expand its footprint to 15 countries. The company currently has commercial operations spanning 10 countries, including India, but counts the US as its biggest market. 'About 90 per cent of our sales come from the US. But, over the next few years, we want to reach a stage where the rest of the world contributes a far greater percentage of revenues so that we're truly a global kind of company, notes Nedungadi. Fresh from its Series D round funding, the company has set its eyes on revenue growth while chasing profitability. Over the last two years, the company registered a growth of over 50 per cent and intends to continue the momentum. While not specifying a timeline, Nedungadi emphasised the goal of achieving profitability in the near-term horizon. In 2024, it generated a revenue of $210 million (around ₹1,743 crore). The startup, which has over 3000 customers across the markets including Shell, IndianOil, among others, is also in talks with a number of OEMs from the commercial vehicle segment to explore potential collaborations and integration of its technology. The company has a deep focus on R&D, with about 550 of its 850 employees engaged in the tech area. " Our company has upwards of 30 patents to its name. For us, tech is the important aspect and unless we keep innovating, we will not get to where we really want to be," noted Nedungai. "Although the company is incorporated in San Diego, our tech headquarter is in Bengaluru," he added. With over 98 per cent of its R&D based in India, this startup is not just fostering the future of safe mobility, but also amplifying India's deeptech presence on the global map.
