Volkswagen Group’s Software Organisation and Microsoft will build an Automated Driving Platform for the agile development of automated driving functions
With the cloud-based platform, Software Organisation will simplify its development processes on Microsoft Azure to bring automated driving solutions to the Group’s cars even faster
With the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud, the automated driving functions can be tested, deployed and operated
Volkswagen Group further strengthens its capabilities in the development of automated driving (AD) solutions.
The Group’s software company Car.Software Organisation will collaborate with Microsoft to build a cloud- based Automated Driving Platform (ADP) on Microsoft Azure and leverage its compute and data capabilities to deliver automated driving experiences even faster at global scale. With ADP running on Azure, Car.Software Organisation will increase the efficiency of the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and AD functions for passenger cars across Volkswagen Group brands. Volkswagen and Microsoft have been strategic partners on the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud since 2018, which will span all of Volkswagen’s future digital services and mobility offerings.
“As we transform Volkswagen Group into a digital mobility provider, we are looking to continuously increase the efficiency of our software development. We are building the Automated Driving Platform with Microsoft to simplify our developers’ work through one scalable and data- based engineering environment. By combining our comprehensive expertise in the development of connected driving solutions with Microsoft’s cloud and software engineering know-how, we will accelerate the delivery of safe and comfortable mobility services,” said Dirk Hilgenberg, CEO of the Car.Software Organisation.
“This is the next evolution of our foundational work with the Volkswagen Group to enhance their transformation as a software-driven mobility provider,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Cloud + AI at Microsoft. “The power of Microsoft Azure and its compute, data and AI capabilities will enable Volkswagen to deliver secure and reliable automated driving solutions to their customers faster.”
Build AD and ADAS solutions faster with one development platform ADAS and automated driving vehicles can help improve passenger safety while reducing congestion and making mobility even more comfortable. Building these solutions requires large-scale computational capabilities. Petabytes of data from road and weather conditions to obstacle detection and driver behavior need to be managed every day for the training, simulation and validation of AD functions. Machine learning algorithms that learn from billions of real and simulated miles driven are key to connected driving experiences.
Car.Software Organisation will address these challenges together with Microsoft by simplifying the developer experience and leveraging the “learnings from miles driven” through one database comprising real traffic data from the Group’s vehicles as well as simulation data. Microsoft Azure compute, data and machine learning services as well as Microsoft’s know-how in agile software development will enable one development environment for Car.Software Organisation’s developers globally. ADP will help reduce the development cycles from months to weeks and efficiently manage the huge amount of data. The companies will start working on ADP immediately and are looking to continuously expand the functional scope of the development platform.
Both companies intend to enable technology partners to build tools and services that integrate with the platform to enhance the creation of AD and ADAS solutions.
Volkswagen Group increases in-house development of software in the car The Volkswagen Group is driving forward the digitalisation of the car rapidly. By 2025, the Group will invest around EUR 27 billion in digitalisation and increase the proportion of in-house development of software in the car to 60 percent from 10 percent today. Founded last year, the Car.Software Organisation plays a key role in the transformation of the Volkswagen Group towards a software-driven mobility provider. It bundles and continuously expands the Group’s software competencies, including the development of high-performance driving functions for passenger cars that will be integrated into future models of Volkswagen Group’s brands.
Deploy and operate ADAS and AD solutions with Volkswagen Automotive Cloud Since 2018, Volkswagen and Microsoft have been collaborating on the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud (VW.AC), which is focused on integrating all the digital services and mobility offerings across the Group brands and models in the future. VW.AC’s engineering team, based in Seattle, has enabled data to be exchanged between the vehicles and the cloud through Azure edge services. The cloud connectivity is also enabling Volkswagen to deliver vehicle updates and new features independently of the vehicle hardware to continuously improve the customer experience.
The first VW.AC connected test fleets are expected to hit the road in 2021. Production rollout is planned for 2022. Car.Software Organisation will integrate ADP and VW.AC as the company moves toward further integrating their software solutions, tools and methods to empower its engineering teams, customers, and partners globally. With VW.AC, the AD and ADAS functions developed on top of ADP can be tested, deployed and operated across the Group’s vehicle fleet.
2005 Maserati Quattroporte for auction with The Market
Ordered new by Sir Elton John with a whole host of extras
Incredibly low mileage and in excellent condition
Online auction to start on Thursday 18th February and close on Thursday 25th February
A stunning, low mileage, 4.2-litre V8 2005 Maserati Quattroporte, first owned by Sir Elton John, CBE, will be auctioned by the original online classic car auctioneer, The Market.
Added to Sir Elton’s extensive collection of thoroughbred cars back in 2005, this particular Italian beauty features a whole host of extras which ensured Elton and his passengers were transported in complete luxury and comfort. Some of the added bells and whistles of mid-noughties nostalgia include a rear DVD player and screen, games input, two headphones, remote control and a six CD autochanger.
The winning bidder will also receive a number of really special and quite unique extras to accompany the car, like the official Maserati welcome letter addressed to ‘Mr John’ and a copy of the original V5 certificate donning Sir Elton’s name and the current number plates.
“Sir Elton is a national treasure and a global superstar, who has impeccable taste when it comes to buying cars,” comments Tristan Judge, director, The Market. “Indeed, the car is in excellent condition and has evidentially been treated like a celebrity itself over the years.”
The Market is no stranger to selling classics previously owned by A-list celebrities and in 2021 has already sold a BMW 635CSi formerly owned by acting legend, Sir Sean Connery, and a Range Rover Sport owned by former England captain, David Beckham.
“This is a very special opportunity for worlds to collide for enthusiasts of both music and collectible cars, grabbing themselves a genuine piece of memorabilia,” adds Judge. “The vehicle’s new owner will be able to enjoy the kind of luxury drive you can expect from a top of the range Italian beauty, as well as revel in the history this car has had in the hands of a music icon.”
Having been purchased by the current vendor in 2016, the car has covered just 1,000 miles since then and has been dry stored for some of that time, adding to its well-preserved condition. Indeed, the car’s odometer shows it has covered just 28,493 miles during its lifetime and is backed up with a host of main dealer and specialist service stamps, to further authenticate and confirm the care and attention it has received so far.
Expected to sell for between £15,000 and £40,000, the car is finished in Verde green paintwork complemented by a Cuoio, biscuit interior and rosewood veneer.
The auction of this Maserati Quattroporte will start on Thursday 18th February and end on Thursday 25th February.
Citroën C3 Aircross SUV has been updated with a fresh new look and more Advanced Comfort features.
Customers now have a choice of 70 colour combinations and exterior styles for ultimate personalisation.
New C3 Aircross SUV gains an entirely restyled front end, paired with enhanced practicality and versatility.
Ride comfort is improved with the addition of new Advanced Comfort seats, while upgraded interior technology and 12 driver aids improve well-being and safety.
New C3 Aircross SUV is available with a range of efficient and high-performance PureTech petrol and BlueHDi Diesel engines.
New Citroën C3 Aircross SUV will arrive in UK showrooms in June 2021.
With 330,000 vehicles produced since its launch at the end of 2017, C3 Aircross SUV has proved very popular in the highly competitive B-SUV segment.
From launch, customers have been impressed by its ultra-customisable and unique design, and by its spaciousness and unrivalled practicality.
Showcasing the importance of personalisation, the majority of current C3 Aircross SUV customers have opted for high-end versions, with the ‘Shine Plus’ trim level now accounting for 75% of UK sales. Offering real versatility in use with its compact exterior dimensions and generous cabin space, C3 Aircross SUV is an ideal vehicle for motorists with active lifestyles – particularly those looking for more comfort and practicality from their vehicle day to day.
Now, for the summer of 2021, New C3 Aircross SUV has been restyled with a distinctive new look, even greater in-cabin comfort, enhanced personalisation options and more features for customer peace of mind.
“New Citroën C3 Aircross expresses modernity and originality with a true SUV attitude, featuring unmatched roominess and modularity, and technologies that make everyday life easier. We wanted to capitalise on these strong points, creating a more mature vehicle in the expression of its design and extra comfort on board. Its face has been updated radically with a more angular and assertive front-end, and the new seat construction reinforces the well-being experience inside the vehicle. New C3 Aircross ticks all the boxes of an SUV “by Citroën” and has all the assets to continue its commercial success.”
Vincent Cobée, Chief Executive Officer, Citroën
MORE ASSERTIVE DESIGN AND ENHANCED PERSONALISATION
New C3 Aircross comes with a more assertive SUV-like design, a spacious interior and a dominating stance due to its raised ground clearance and large wheels. Its appearance is underpinned with lower-body and wheel-arch protection, front and rear skid plates, and stylish roof bars. New C3 Aircross SUV is now more self-confident and mature, featuring a more premium look that is consistent with evolving customer expectations in the segment.
MORE EXPRESSIVE FRONT END New C3 Aircross SUV features an entirely redesigned front face. Inspired by the CXPERIENCE concept car – and first introduced on New C3 in 2020 – it represents Citroën’s new design language, with a bold and unique identity.
The improved front end design features a new LED headlight signature, while the chrome-trimmed chevrons have been updated, extending out towards the LED lights – similar to the look on New C3 and New C4. Featuring LED lights as standard, New C3 Aircross also sports a new grille with a brand-new geometric pattern and a new aluminium-grey skid plate with coloured inserts that enhance the model’s sturdy appearance. A higher-set bonnet is the final design change at the front. New C3 Aircross boasts an impressive look that instantly sets it apart in the B-SUV segment.
ADDED PERSONALISATION The personalisation possibilities with New C3 Aircross SUV have also been upgraded, to satisfy every customer need.
There are now 70 exterior combinations in total, made up as follows:
New C3 Aircross is available with seven different body colours. Three are new for 2021: ‘Khaki Grey’, ‘Voltaic Blue’ and ‘Polar White’.
Customers have a choice of four Colour Packs, including two new colour themes playing on higher-end textured effects: ‘Anodised Orange’ and ‘Anodised Dark Blue’. The Colour Packs comprise original and eye-catching coloured inserts on the leading edges of the front skid plate, on the door-mirrors and on the rear quarter-lights. The quarter-lights are also home to a new graphic signature in which the distinctive coloured louvres are supplemented by new cube-shaped designs according to the Colour Pack selected – a mirror-chrome louvre effect (chrome quarter-light decor) for the ‘Shiny Black’ and ‘Anodised Dark Blue’ Colour Packs, a white cube effect for the ‘Polar White’ Colour Pack, and an orange cube effect for the ‘Anodised Orange’ Colour Pack.
A choice of three roof colours: monotone (body-coloured), white or black.
New C3 Aircross SUV is available with new 16 and 17-inch diamond cut or full black alloy wheels that feature a completely new design.
The personalisation upgrades continue inside. New C3 Aircross SUV is available in the UK with three ambiences, each with its own separate identity:
The standard ambience has grey seat decor, combined with a textured grey dashboard for a pure and clean look.
The ‘Metropolitan Graphite’ ambience combines a graphite leather-effect material with a flecked grey fabric, alongside a strip on the upper part of the seat backrests and a dashboard strip in flecked grey for a cosy and modern look.
The refined ‘Hype Grey’ ambience features grey-green leather and black leather-effect fabric, a grey-green leather dashboard strip and strips on the upper backrests with a chevron motif.
Both the ‘Metropolitan Graphite’ and ‘Hype Grey’ ambiences feature Citroën’s distinctive new topstitching, which is unique to the segment. This topstitching was first introduced on New C4 and ë-C4.
BRINGING SERENITY TO ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
ADVANCED COMFORT PROGRAMME® New C3 Aircross SUV makes customers feel like they are at home by further enhancing in-car comfort through the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme.
In addition to class-leading ride comfort, New C3 Aircross SUV offers even greater comfort when travelling with its new Advanced Comfort seats – an innovation first seen on C4 Cactus and C5 Aircross SUV. Available with the ‘Metropolitan Graphite’ and ‘Hype Grey’ ambiences, Advanced Comfort seats improve perceived comfort in four ways: visual comfort, initial comfort, postural comfort and dynamic comfort:
Visual comfort is all about appearance, and comes in the form of unique padding and distinctive Citroën stitching that gives an immediate visual impression of soft and cosy cushioning.
Initial comfort is provided by an insert of an extra 15mm of foam, boosting comfort and support. The difference is noticeable immediately when you first sit down in the car.
Postural comfort is characterised by the reinforced support offered by the broad and generously sized seats.
Dynamic comfort makes longer trips more comfortable through the use of a high-density padded section in the centre of the seat alongside thicker, more structural foam.
CLASS-LEADING SPACE AND VERSATILITY New C3 Aircross SUV keeps all of its predecessors’ class-leading versatility and spaciousness. With its compact body length of 4.16m, New C3 Aircross features unrivalled cabin space in the segment.
Boasting outstanding interior space, with exceptional rear leg and headroom for the segment, New C3 Aircross SUV offers unparalleled versatility thanks to a rear bench seat that can slide longitudinally by 150mm. Featuring a 60/40 split design, both parts can be moved independently for added practicality. A flat-folding front passenger seat is also available that gives New C3 Aircross SUV a maximum load length of 2.40m – ideal for transporting particularly long objects such as items of furniture and sports equipment. Boot volume can be increased from 410-litres to 520-litres with the rear bench placed in its forward-most position. Up to 1,289-lites is available with the rear bench fully folded down.
Another key strength of the interior is its exceptional brightness and airiness, thanks to the amount of glass around the cabin and the optional panoramic opening glass sunroof that lets the light flood in.
New C3 Aircross SUV is even more functional than before, thanks to a new central console featuring a large storage space at the rear that can be accessed by both the front and rear passengers, and closed with a sliding shutter.
Storage spaces are laid out conveniently for all occupants, including a small tray in front of the front seat passenger, cup holders built into the folding central armrest on the rear bench, pockets on the backs of the front seats and numerous storage areas at the bottom of the central console.
TECHNOLOGIES THAT SIMPLIFY LIFE AND HEIGHTEN ADVENTURE New C3 Aircross SUV is equipped with useful technologies for even more serenity and safety at the wheel. Depending on the version, it features a new, larger 9-inch touchscreen for improved interaction, clarity and practicality. The new, higher-quality screen highlights the Citroën Connect Nav functionality, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay™. Wireless smartphone charging and Citroën Connect Assist are also available.
New C3 Aircross SUV comes with up to 12 intuitive driving aids that simplify everyday life and make each journey easier and safer. Safety technologies, depending on version, include a colour head-up display to keep useful information in the driver’s line of vision, speed sign recognition and recommendation, Active Safety Brake and automatic high/low-beam headlights. New C3 Aircross SUV is also available with equipment that simplifies daily life, such as keyless entry and start, Park Assist and the Citroën brand’s Top Rear Vision reversing camera, which displays a clear image of the area behind the vehicle on the touchscreen.
Finally, to underline its SUV nature and to effortlessly handle most types of terrain, New C3 Aircross can be equipped with Grip Control® with Hill Descent Assist – a system that enables drivers to deal with challenging weather and road conditions. The system enables the driver to adjust the car’s front-wheel traction depending on the terrain, and to maintain a safe speed when descending hills, even on steep inclines.
New C3 Aircross SUV is available with a range of efficient PureTech petrol and BlueHDi Diesel engines.
From launch, the following four configurations are available:
PureTech 110 6-speed manual
PureTech 130 6-speed automatic
BlueHDi 110 6-speed manual
BlueHDi 120 6-speed automatic
New C3 Aircross SUV arrives in UK showrooms in June 2021.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS § Length: 4,160mm § Width: 1,760mm § Height: 1,640mm § Wheelbase: 2,600mm § Boot volume: 410-lites to 520-lites, and up to 1,289-litres
This 1962 Aston Martin DB4 is an incredibly exciting and original discovery out of over 40 year ownership.
Blue with red leather interior. Retaining its matching numbers engine, this DB4 has been sitting in storage for the last 30 years patiently awaiting restoration and is the very first Series IV DB4 ever produced. After the previous owner returned from Vietnam in the 1970’s, he went back to work at a local body shop. When his boss asked him to help with a repair on his own car, he agreed to go over to his house and work on the car. He worked on the car over the course of a few weeks and once he completed the job, his boss gifted him the Aston Martin DB4. He had the car towed home and planned on restoring it but just never got around to it. He parked it in a barn where it sat until recently when it finally saw the light of day after over 30 years in storage. This is the ideal restoration candidate. This once in a lifetime opportunity to own the very first Series IV DB4 ever produced is not to be missed by any collector or or enthusiast of the marque.
The introduction of the Aston Martin DB4 marked a new era for the British sports car manufacturer that would restore performance and prestige to the fabled marque. Wrapped in a seductive, lightweight alloy body fashioned by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan and featuring a powerful 3.7-litre engine, the DB4 offered performance to match its pedigree, becoming the world’s first production car to achieve 0-100-0 mph in under 30 seconds.
The Very First Series IV DB4 Ever Produced
Exceptionally Original and Rare DB4
Retaining its Matching Numbers Engine
Offered from 40+ Year Ownership
A True Barn-Find Out of 30 Year Storage
The Ideal Restoration Candidate
A Rare and Collectible Aston Martin from the Golden Era
We knew there was going to be an iron fist in this particular velvet glove, but at today’s world premiere of the new fully electric Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT the knockout performance capability of the beautifully sculpted sports cars was revealed in all its instantly accessible and environmentally benign glory!
For grin-inducing rapidity and gripping handling look no further than the e-tron GT with its 530-horsepower peak output and e-quattro drive.
Or for sheer jaw-slackening pace that feels more akin to teleportation try the RS e-tron GT. Capable of mustering up to 646 horsepower and bludgeoning 62mph in just 3.3 seconds, it’s notable as the most powerful production road car ever to hail from our Audi Sport division.
Orders for both will be acceptable from the spring, with reservations available right now (online or in dealership), and as usual in the UK we’ll be offering Vorsprung versions with a similarly breath-taking specification.
Find out more about our brand-shaping new model here: Audi eTron
