NEWS

JLR use aerospace tech to develop lightweight vehicles

Jaguar Land Rover is taking part in pioneering research trials to test the capability of advanced lightweight metals and composites to be used in future vehicles. As part of a 2 year project, the company will use technology developed for the aerospace industry to understand how materials respond to corrosive environments, in global markets and over rigorous terrains.

Samples of new metals and composites planned for use in future vehicles will be built into aerospace-grade sensors, and put through their paces in some of the world’s most extreme physical conditions, tested for over 400,000km across North America.

The sensors will continuously measure the performance of the materials, and share data with the JLR’s product development team in the UK. With this information, the engineers can accurately forecast the material’s behaviour in the development of future vehicle programmes to ensure that next-generation lightweight metals meet the company’s stringent standards, delivering a longer-lasting, high quality finish.

Matt Walters, Lead Engineer, Metals and Process Materials for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This research project is a prime example of our commitment to developing lightweight, durable and robust materials for our future vehicles. Using advanced aerospace-grade technology, such as these sensors, is testament to the quality and standards we are achieving.......... as we continue to raise the bar for quality and durability.”

Working with industry leaders across quality assurance and manufacturing to develop future lightweight vehicles, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions further is a key part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero vision - a future with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

The project builds on continued research into future materials, from the REALITY project, a pioneering recycling process which gives premium automotive-grade aluminium a second life, to the development of printed structural electronics, which can reduce the weight of in-car electronics by up to 60%.

TORUS' extreme 4x4 school bus for the toughest school runs

TORSUS has revealed the Praetorian school bus, an extreme and special-made version of the durable, heavy-duty and versatile Praetorian that’s intended for the toughest school run routes in the world.

This special edition is ready to carry schoolchildren across some of the world’s most rugged environments in comfort and safety. Based on the same platform as the standard Praetorian model, the school bus edition can carry up to 35 children, and retains all of the off-road features that make the TORSUS vehicle a durable off-road all-rounder. The heightened ground clearance of the bus allows the Praetorian to clear obstacles with ease, while the 4x4 drive adds to its capability in challenging conditions.

Special features include bespoke original seats styled around mathematics and science designs. The seats are covered with a polymer protective coating and come equipped with a seat belt suitable for all ages, while optional extras for the seats include a foldable armrest and hip support bar on the aisle side.

The TORSUS Praetorian is built for world’s toughest jobs and to transport personnel and equipment across inhospitable terrain in any conditions. The Praetorian is based on an upgraded heavy-duty MAN chassis and is powered by MAN engines and drivetrain. The school bus edition of the vehicle features uprated off-road Michelin tyres and coating on body parts meaning that Praetorian is engineered to take on any terrain, on any terrain, anywhere in the world.

VW Commercial reintroduces California 6.1 Beach Model

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is reintroducing the Beach model to the California 6.1 range, following increased interest in campervans as more people holiday in the UK. The California 6.1 Beach will feature two variants, Camper and Tour, with prices starting from £52,062.

By extending the California 6.1 range to include two new versions, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles aims to make the California line-up more accessible for larger families and to those who need a more flexible MPV to accommodate their hobbies or occasional rest stops.

The California van has been the campervan of choice for many and provides the ideal companion to explore some of the UK’s most popular destinations as more people opt for staycations instead of travelling abroad. The addition of the Beach to the line-up makes the range more comprehensive allowing customers to tailor the campervan to suit their needs.

The Camper and Tour models are on sale now, but deliveries aren’t expected until March 2021.

Both feature a manual pop-up hydraulic roof, 17inch alloy wheels, DAB radio with App Connect and a camping table with two folding chairs. Both models will be offered with the 2.0 TDI 150PS seven-speed engine and direct-shift gearbox (DSG).

The California Beach 6.1 Tour features five seats as standard, with an option to increase to six or seven making this the only factory-produced camper on the market flexible enough to seat this many people. It also features sliding doors on both passenger and driver’s sides to ease entry and exit.

The California Beach 6.1 Camper features four seats as standard with an option to increase to five, as well as a pull-out mini kitchen that includes a single gas hob and pull-out awning.

Further details on the new California Beach will be available on www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk around the end of October.

Yorkshire Green Laners clean up the countryside

Green laning has a lot of negative connotations in the minds of many people who also explore the great outdoors, but a small group of people in Yorkshire have taken it upon themselves to do some good for the places they they like to roam.

On Sunday 20th September, a few members of the Yorkshire Green Lane Facebook group took part in the GB SeptemberClean.

Liasing with Nidderdale AONB (Nidderdale AONB is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in North Yorkshire, bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the east and south) on where would be best suited to take part in the clean, and areas around Pately Bridge and Lofthouse were identified as the best places.

The small group of laners met up at Pately Bridge, cleaned that area, then headed north towards Lofthouse, stopping to admire the view at Gouthwaite Reservoir, and gave the picnic area a quick tidy up. They then moved to Lofthouse where they cleaned up around their community bins.

Weather-wise it was a good day, and once the cleaning was complete they all took advantage of the clear sky, and continued along the a few of the local green lanes that included Scarhouse reservoir and Dead Man's Hill.

Members who took part included James Henderson and his wife Laura, Jon Meredith (a first time green laner) and his sister Ailsa Shields along with their 2 children Chloe Meredith and Ben Shields.

Find out more about the Yorkshire Green Laners here: www.facebook.com/groups/Yorkshire.Green.Lanes