BMW has developed a new version of its gear shift assistance system, “Motorrad Shift Assistant Pro,” which completely eliminates the need to use the clutch lever to change gears. Renamed “Automated Shift Assistant,” the system is expected to be available this year. Slowly but surely, automatic transmissions are becoming prevalent in the motorcycle world. With the rise of scooters, even the most die-hard bikers have begun to appreciate the ability to change gears without using the clutch, while motards have started to value the true automatic transmission. This allows them…
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Igus “Rcyl,” the first urban bike made with 90% recycled materials
The “Rcyl” bicycle, designed and manufactured by Igus, a German company specializing in the production of high-performance plastic components, is now in production and on sale for around 1,200 euros. Active for some time in various industrial sectors as a component supplier, the company decided in 2022 to launch the “Igus-Bike” project, aimed at creating a bicycle made with the highest possible percentage of recycled plastic. After two years of development, the project has taken shape, resulting in a product that is 50 percent constructed from plastic derived from recycled…
Read MoreOn or fff road: the Mv Agusta “Lxp Enduro Veloce”
In 2023, street enduro motorcycles have proven to be the best-selling models on the market. So much so that, out of the ten best-selling motorcycles, eight are enduros. In fact, it’s eight and a half, as in third place, behind the Benelli “Trk 502” and Honda “Africa Twin,” is the Yamaha “Tracer 9,” which straddles between street enduro and touring bike. This trend makes it inevitable for major manufacturers to maintain a presence in this segment with at least one model, and has even prompted MV Agusta, a brand traditionally…
Read MoreChina is near, Europe is not
Editoriale di Furio Oldani – Macchine Motori 86 After nine months of investigations, on June 12th, the European Commission acknowledged the substantial subsidies that the Chinese government grants to its electric vehicle manufacturers, genuine gifts that allow brands from the Celestial Empire to sell in Europe below production cost. Hence the decision to impose additional tariffs ranging between approximately 17 and 38 percent on top of the existing ten percent. This measure would take effect on July 4th, and since today is June 18th, it is currently unclear whether it…
Read MoreCummins “X15” engine: 700 horsepower
522 kilowatts of power, equivalent to just under 710 horsepower, and torque reaching 3200 newton-meters. With such performance, Cummins presented the new version of its 15-liter displacement “Next Gen X15” units at the largest French construction fair, Intermat, last April. These engines were developed to meet off-highway applications by implementing the latest technologies developed by Cummins and realized on the “Helm” platform. This solution allows different cylinder heads and fuel systems to be associated with a single engine block, structuring the engine to accommodate different types of fuel. From diesel…
Read MoreFord “Mustang Gtd Carbon”: limited edition
The 2025 “Gtd” version of Ford’s iconic “Mustang” was presented in a limited edition mid-last year, but deliveries have yet to begin, as they are expected between the end of this year and the beginning of 2025. This supercar is decidedly testosterone-fueled, a term justified by its strong technical and aesthetic content aimed at combining racing car performance with street muscle car design. For instance, the main design constraint given by Ford to its engineers when they started developing the “Mustang Gtd” was to create a car capable of lapping…
Read MoreAudi “S3” model year 2024
In an increasingly globalized automotive market where manufacturers seem almost exclusively focused on electrification processes, Audi reminds the entire industry that cars are also about passion and driving pleasure. This reminder comes with the restyling intervention that the German brand has decided to apply to the “A3” series, refreshed in both exterior and interior design details, along with the announcement of the revamped “S3” sports version. In this case, however, calling it a restyling is quite an understatement, as the Ingolstadt brand has profoundly renewed one of the most appreciated…
Read MoreJeep by Mopar
Every year in the state of Utah, particularly in the town of Moab, one of the most important off-road enthusiasts’ gatherings takes place, an event that attracts thousands of cars, each more or less elaborately modified depending on their intended uses, as well as the owners’ economic means and fantasies. These modifications have over time turned the gathering into a sort of tuning showcase, featuring the top brands in the industry. Among these is Mopar, a brand belonging to the Stellantis group, especially under the Jeep brand, which has been…
Read MoreCes 2024, near future preview
On January 9th of this year, the 2024 edition of CES, the consumer electronics trade show that has become a showcase for new technologies, was held in Las Vegas, United States. The absolute protagonist was artificial intelligence. In these pages, a summary of the two themes proposed on-site and most debated, which will surely impact the world of transportation as well: hydrogen and human-machine interface software. Following are the most interesting products from a design perspective. Since in most cases these are concepts and therefore feasibility studies, it is anticipated…
Read MoreAirbus “CityAirbus NextGen”, urban specialization
Under the influence of ecologically-driven initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of urban mobility for both people and goods, the aeronautical sector is witnessing a diversification in air transport solutions and the development of a new generation of aircraft specialized in short-range travel. “Advanced Air Mobility” is the term coined for this new category of aircraft, although it’s somewhat misleading to define them as such, given their specialization in facilitating the movement of people and goods within large cities or areas with operational radii of just a few dozen kilometers.…
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