Ducati Smart Jacket uses the latest evolution of Dainese’s D-air® airbag technology and guarantees protection for the rider in the event of an accident or fall
The vest is smart, safe, versatile and can be worn over or under any motorcycle jacket
Extremely ventilated and practical, Ducati Smart Jacket is easily foldable and can be stored in a backpack or motorcycle bags
Ducati is continuing its commitment to the safety of motorcyclists, which is reflected in the adoption of the best devices available on the market.
In addition to the development of active safety systems on its motorcycles and the promotion of responsible riding courses, the Bologna-based company is also paying great attention to the clothing offered and, in collaboration with Dainese, now presents Ducati Smart Jacket: an innovative and revolutionary sleeveless vest which uses the well-known D-air® airbag technology of Dainese in a version with graphics made specifically for Ducati.
Ducati Smart Jacket guarantees a high level of safety compared to the applicable standards, thanks to the research and technology used in the racing leathers of MotoGP riders. The result is a versatile vest, suitable for every motorcyclist and for all types of road use, available in both men’s and women’s versions and which can be worn over or under any motorcycle jacket, without requiring any type of connection with the motorcycle.
The operation of the vest is regulated by the electronic control unit which analyses the data 1,000 times per second. In cases of intended engagement*, the electronic control unit detects autonomously dangerous situations such as sliding, high-siding of a rider, rear-end collision, impact with another object or stopped-vehicle impact, and activates the rider’s protection system.
Thanks to the vest structure with internal micro-filaments patented by Dainese, the airbag bag inflates in a uniform and controlled way along the entire surface, creating a shield that wraps around the body and guarantees the protection of the declared protective areas. The bag offers protection equal to that of seven level 1 back protectors, without having any rigid protector inside.
Ducati Smart Jacket is an extremely light and practical garment, which, once you get off the bike, can be easily folded and stored in a side bag or backpack. It has a 26-hour battery life and, when discharged, can be conveniently recharged via any USB socket. In addition, another technological innovation introduced by Dainese allows the protective bag on the chest to be folded, to occupy a smaller area and thus allow the passage of air through the fabric of the vest.
Ducati Smart Jacket can be purchased, together with the entire 2021 Ducati Apparel collection, in dealers around the world. Before using the device it is necessary to register it and activate the system. The procedure can be completed at the dealer where the garment is purchased, or online at the following address: www.ducati.com/ww/en/smartjacket.
Further information on the Ducati Smart Jacket is available on the Ducati.com website. On the YouTube channel of the Borgo Panigale company there is also a video showing the features and practicality of the new vest.
* Warning: before purchasing and using Ducati Smart Jacket, carefully read the instructions and warnings indicated in the user manual, its operating characteristics and protective performance.
Ford is introducing a new seven-speed automatic transmission option for electrified EcoBoost Hybrid powertrains that will for the first time enable drivers who want an automatic gearbox to reduce their CO2 emissions and save money using Ford’s 48-volt mild hybrid technology.1
Available on Puma and Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid, the seven-speed automatic can make driving less demanding – particularly in city driving and stop-start traffic. In addition, fast, seamless gearchanges complement the hybrid powertrain’s electrically-boosted performance to further enhance the fun to drive experience.
Ford’s EcoBoost Hybrid technology uses a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) to recover energy usually lost during braking and coasting and charge a 48‑volt lithium-ion battery pack. The BISG also acts as a motor, integrating with the engine to provide torque assistance that can enhance fuel efficiency or performance, depending on the driving scenario.
Torque supplementation
Torque supplementation uses the BISG to increase the total torque available from the powertrain by up to 20 Nm, for more responsive in-gear acceleration.
In-gear acceleration for Puma 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid 125 PS seven-speed automatic is improved by up to almost 4 per cent compared with than the non-hybrid variant
Puma 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid 155 PS seven-speed automatic accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds
In Sport Drive Mode, the Puma EcoBoost Hybrid automatic gearbox holds lower gears for sportier responses
Triple-downshifts enable faster overtaking when drivers request maximum acceleration
The seven-speed automatic gearbox offers manual gear selection, with sporty paddle-shifters for Puma ST-Line X and ST-Line Vignale models
Torque substitution Torque substitution uses the BISG to provide up to 24 Nm of extra torque – reducing the amount of work required by the engine for improved fuel efficiency. The seven-speed automatic EcoBoost Hybrid combination is particularly well-suited to city driving, where frequent stop-start driving allows regular capturing and re-deployment of energy.
Puma EcoBoost Hybrid and Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid seven-speed automatic models are anticipated to improve CO2 emissions by up to more than 5 per cent compared with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol equivalents (WLTP).
The seven-speed automatic transmission can help keep the hybrid engine at the optimum rpm for efficiency
Shifting to automatic Pairing the dual-clutch transmission with a hybrid powertrain brings the advantages of both technologies to the customer, as well as increasing the availability of fuel-saving hybrid powertrains to people who want an automatic transmission.
Automatic appeal:
The seven-speed automatic transmission’s dual-clutch architecture delivers seamless acceleration with smooth gear changes
Automatic transmissions can be particularly beneficial for drivers with restricted mobility
Two pedal operation requires fewer driver inputs, particularly in city driving scenarios
Electrifying line-up The Ford Puma EcoBoost Hybrid and Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid are two of 17 electrified vehicles Ford is introducing in Europe before the end of this year.
Enhanced driver assistance tech The seven-speed automatic transmission enables additional technology in combination with EcoBoost Hybrid efficiency for the first time, including:
Stop & Go functionality for Adaptive Cruise control, 2 which can bring the vehicle to a complete halt in stop-start traffic and automatically pull away if the stopping duration is less than 3 seconds
Remote Start, via the FordPass app 3
Quote “Adding the option of our seven-speed automatic transmission for EcoBoost Hybrid is another step in our mission to make electrification accessible to all our customers.” Roelant de Waard, general manager, Passenger Vehicles, Ford of Europe.
Footnotes 1 Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid 125 PS seven-speed automatic anticipated CO2 emissions from 118-128 g/km and anticipated fuel efficiency from 5.2-5.6 l/100 km WLTP with standard equipment tyre specification.
Puma 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid 125 PS seven-speed automatic anticipated CO2 emissions from 129-131 g/km and anticipated fuel efficiency from 5.7-5.8 l/100 km WLTP with standard equipment tyre specification.
Puma 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid 155 PS seven-speed automatic anticipated CO2 emissions from 131-134 g/km and anticipated fuel efficiency from 5.8-5.9 l/100 km WLTP with standard equipment tyre specification.
Officially homologated fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions figures will be published closer to on-sale date. The declared fuel/energy consumptions, CO2-emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.
2 Driver-assist features are supplemental to and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and the need to control the vehicle.
1970’s super car, the Aston Martin Bulldog is halfway through its restoration, which will ultimately see the car being driven to its intended top speed of 200 miles an hour.
A feat it never achieved in period.
The restoration of this British icon by Classic Motor Cars in Bridgnorth, Shropshire is being followed by thousands of people worldwide on social media, in motoring magazines and newspapers .It has its own following and fan base who are excited to hear about its every move.
But this wasn’t always the case. After the launch of the car, and its abortive run to reach 200mile an hour to claim the production car speed record, it disappeared into obscurity. But now more and more history about the car is being found.
Project Manager Richard Gauntlett said: “ The Bulldog became something of a mythical beast, lots of people knew about it and wondered where it was after it was sold by Aston Martin to an owner in the Middle East. It then disappeared from general view.”
He added: “ There were sightings all over the world, In the late 1980’s it was spotted in a lock up in Arizona, it was back in the Middle East in the 1990’s but it was RM Sotheby’s who tracked it down in Asia.
Richard said: “With top restoration company, CMC being chosen to carry out the 18 months plus restoration and get the car ready for its 200-mph run, the Bulldog was coming home. The car had come full circle not only geographically but in terms of its history.
“While the physical restoration has been going on at CMC, a huge amount of work continues to be done forensically piecing together the full history of where the car has been.”
RM Sotheby’s car specialist Alexander Weaver said: “ “Our team of Car Specialists is always on the hunt for unique, elusive or obscure cars on behalf of our clients and the Aston Martin Bulldog fit that bill perfectly.
“We found this one-of-a-kind concept within an exceptional collection where it had quietly resided for decades. As one would expect we were keen to facilitate its sale knowing the interest in it would be strong.”
He added: “ After extensive discussions and negotiations, the owner agreed to part with the long hidden Bulldog and we were able to facilitate a sale to our client and friend Phillip Sarofim, through our Private Sales division. We are certainly excited to see the car undergo the restoration to its former glory and I’m personally eager to see the Bulldog crack 200mph, as it was intended and came so close.
Nigel Woodward, Managing Director at CMC said: “ Bulldog has been with us for nearly a year and in that time, we have carefully dismantled the car, meticulously recording every detail of its construction. We have peeled back some of the later additions and modifications that had been carried out to the car after it left Aston Martin, and the process is now well underway to return the car to its former glory.
Cyan Racing chief engineer Mattias Evensson and his crew headed to northern Sweden with the Volvo P1800 Cyan, throwing the car sideways between the snow walls in -20 degrees Celsius.
“The Volvo P1800 Cyan is our way for us to combine the best from the past and today, moving away from the power, weight and performance figures of contemporary performance cars,” said Mattias Evensson Volvo P1800 Cyan Project Manager and Head of Engineering at Cyan Racing.
The team traveled close to 1000 kilometers north of the Cyan Racing headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, to the frozen lakes and snow drenched roads of Åre, Mattias Evensson’s hometown.
The location provided the team with the right conditions to explore the characteristics and limits of the Volvo P1800 Cyan in challenging conditions.
“What really struck me from this expedition was that the car is so easy to drive and that you do not need to provoke it to get it where you want,” said Mattias Evensson.
“All of the properties that we have tried to achieve were almost amplified by driving it on the low grip of snow and ice.
“The basic concept of the car seems to work really well, it does not matter that much if you are on a bone-dry racing circuit, a wet and twisty country road or on the crisp ice here in northern Sweden. You still feel confident and in control.
“I would say this concept has somewhat been lost along the way for the performance cars of today. For us, this is returning back to basics.”
The Volvo P1800 weighs less than 1000kg, featuring no driver aids, a dog-leg manual gearbox and an engine designed to deliver increasing power all the way to the redline.
“Our aim has been to make a car with a sound base design that leaves it to you as the driver to explore the limits, rather than leaning on electronic driver aids to control the power and weight as with most modern performance cars,” said Mattias Evensson.
“And it’s all connected with the engine response, the chassis balance and the low weight, making the car playful and rewarding.”
About Cyan Racing and this project Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed the last three touring car World titles, most recently the 2020 WTCR drivers’ and teams’ titles with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015, including the concept models Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype.
Please note that the Volvo P1800 Cyan will be marketed independently by Cyan Racing. Furthermore, it should be noted that there is no collaboration between Cyan Racing and Volvo Cars in relation to this car project, as well as that the trademarks “Volvo” and “P1800” are owned by Volvo Cars.
Heveningham Concours has announced that its fifth annual motorsport and aviation event will now take place in the summer of 2022 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event, which was also sadly cancelled last year due to the pandemic, hosts 50 or more of the world’s most beautiful cars, while the aviation concours features around a dozen equally rare propeller planes at Heveningham Hall in Suffolk.
Chairman of the motorsport judging panel, Max Hunt, said: “With huge regret and in light of the ongoing uncertainty, we have taken the decision to cancel this year’s concours and country fair, which were due to take place in June. We are determined to look ahead to 2022 and will focus on hosting an extra special event – even by our standards! Thank you for your continued support and let’s look forward to better times ahead.”
Each year, the judges award Laurence Edwards-designed bronze trophies in the following classes: post-war, pre-war, supercar, plus the Hanna Aviation Trophy to the best plane.
There’s also a separate prize for the winner of Horsepower Hill, a timed sprint along the estate’s main drive that takes place on both days and features its own supercar paddock and drifting area. Spectators are at the heart of the action, with grandstands overlooking a spectacle not to be missed.
As ever, all proceeds go to charity, plus the concours also provides a full scholarship for a student to undertake a post-graduate MA in Intelligent Mobility at the Royal College of Art.
Heveningham Concours takes place at the same time as the long-standing Country Fair that attracts around 20,000 people annually, again with all monies going to charity.
As we slipped indistinguishably from a constrained Christmas to what felt like the longest January on record, the historic motoring community remained in isolation at home, for the protection of ourselves, the vulnerable and those working in the NHS.
Following the success of two events in 2020 and an RAC Historic Award, Classics for Carers is back for 2021! The March event is focused on NHS well-being and mental health, aiming to raise £13,000, which would provide an NHS well-being pod – a quiet restorative space for staff.
The National Stay At Home Motor Show is once again inviting classic car and bike enthusiasts, clubs and businesses to exhibit a nation-wide show of appreciation for NHS carers and their sustained effort over what is now a year of living with the coronavirus pandemic.
Commenting on the event’s return, organiser Nick Chivers said: “In May and June of last year, we hosted two charity at-home motor shows, raising £17,500 for NHS Charities Together, providing much needed resources for NHS staff. Numerous mini motor shows on people’s driveways gave classic car and bike enthusiasts a chance to put their passion on show and fundraise for a national cause. We are honoured to have been voted 2020 winner of a Royal Automobile Club Historic Award, in the category of Motoring Spectacle. A true testament to everyone who supported the events of 2020.”
As social distancing measures remain in place for at least the beginning of 2021, the motoring and motorsport sector has endured a prolonged period of cancelled meetings and it is unknown when we will see a return of in-person classic car and bike events.
Classics for Carers provides a live motor show, where attendees from all over the UK and further afield, can shine and share their pride and joy at home, and join the event online through social media. The collective efforts of the national motor show are streamed live on the Classics for Carers Facebook Group, Instagram and Twitter channels.
Fundraising towards the March 2021 target is drawn from generous donations from participants and spectators (including those passing by on their permitted daily exercise) and from the sale of event specific rally plates and stickers (where all profits go to the charity).
Key Information:
Return of award winning charity motor show, Classics For Carers
National collective of classic motoring community in support of NHS carers
Static stay-at-home motor show, showcasing classic and sports cars and motorbikes
Event rally plates and stickers available for purchase – all profits to NHS Charities Together
Share participation in the event via social media, using the hashtag #classicsforcarers
Classics for Carers is an entirely charitable event, with funds raised being donated to NHS Charities Together, the membership organisation representing, supporting and championing National Health Service (NHS) charities across the UK.
