Archive for category: News

• Product is designed for minimal service effort
• Plug-and-play approach guarantees easy retrofitting of additional components
• Easy-to-understand training and service platform

Friedrichshafen, Germany. With the market launch of the new ZF Bike Eco System, ZF also presents details of its comprehensive service and training concept. The three-step concept guarantees manufacturers, dealers, and end customers minimal effort for servicing and retrofitting.

From the start of product development, ZF attached great importance to a high-quality, intensively tested and easy-to-service product. The ZF CentriX drive unit can be installed and removed in just a few minutes. Retrofitting of other components, such as remote, display or light, can be easily integrated into the ZF Bike Eco System at any time, thanks to the plug-and-play approach.

The powerful and ultra-compact ZF CentriX e-bike drive unit can be removed and reinstalled in just a few minutes. The entire ZF Bike Eco System drive system is designed to be maintenance-free and easy to install.

On-site training courses throughout Europe

In 2025, ZF offers on-site training courses for e-bike dealers throughout Europe, in which ZF experts will impart practical knowledge about the product, servicing, the integration of new components and the service concept. Registered dealers can find an overview of the dates in the ZF Dealer Service Portal and can sign-up there.

Individual service and training videos are also available in the ZF Dealer Service Portal. This is an efficient way for workshop personnel to learn about the most common service cases, and for sales personnel to learn about features, new products, and component integration.

Reliable and fast replacement service

Generally, the ZF Bike Eco System is designed to be maintenance-free. If dealers require spare parts, they can order them quickly and reliably from ZF. If they order before 12 noon, spare parts will be shipped the same day, ensuring a smooth process for dealers and end customers. Any other questions dealers may have about the ZF Bike Eco System service can be quickly resolved through direct, personal contact with ZF service experts.

Images: ZF

During inspection, a current status read-out of the ZF Bike Eco System drive components is easily accessible via a magnetic universal click socket on the Core Controller.

• Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.  signed a Purchase Agreement on January 8th in Japan Standard Time (January 7th in US time) to acquire the DUNLOP trademark and other rights for four-wheel tires in Europe, North America and Oceania from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (hereinafter “Goodyear”). The acquisition price is US$526 million (JPY 82.6 billion*1)*2.
• With the acquisition of this trademark right, except for certain regions and products*3, we will be able to operate our tire business globally under the DUNLOP brand.

Looking ahead, DUNLOP aims to establish itself as a premium tire brand in the global market. By leveraging our rich heritage and strong brand recognition, we will set ourselves apart from competitors through innovative products that integrate cutting-edge technologies in addition to meeting the evolving needs of the next-generation mobility society. Specifically, the company will focus on new products that incorporate our innovative “Active Tread”*4 technology, OE tires for premium vehicles, and motor sports.

In addition, for the FALKEN brand, which has been deployed in Europe, North America, and Oceania, we will utilize the product planning and marketing capabilities we have cultivated in each region to focus on bold, one-of-a-kind products that appeal to its core fanbase. Through a dual-brand approach to business development, we aim to increase sales volume in each region and raise the proportion of premium products*5.

Furthermore, we will position DUNLOP as our core brand and advance our brand strengthening activities as a joint effort between our tire and sports businesses. By accelerating brand investment in motorsports and global marketing activities in tennis, we will increase the value of the DUNLOP brand around the world and develop it into the brand of choice for customers.

Comment from President and CEO Satoru Yamamoto

Our group has a history of acquiring DUNLOP in various countries in the 1980s and producing and selling DUNLOP brand tires in Europe and North America in addition to Japan. It has been a great opportunity for our group to be able to use the DUNLOP brand globally, and we are delighted that this acquisition has enabled us to use the DUNLOP brand almost all over the world.

Going forward, we will maximize the potential of the DUNLOP brand, not only in the new regions where we have acquired rights, but also in existing regions, and further accelerate our efforts to realize our purpose: “Through innovation we will create a future of joy and well-being for all.”

Overview of Goodyear

HARMAN marks the next phase of “Consumer Experiences. Automotive Grade.”—adding empathy and contextual awareness to the car

CES 2025 – LAS VEGAS – January 7, 2024 – Imagine stepping into a car that doesn’t just respond to your commands but understands your needs, adapts to your preferences, and creates an environment that understands and uniquely engages with you. HARMAN, the automotive technology leader and subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., is making that vision a reality. At CES 2025, HARMAN is unveiling the next evolution of its groundbreaking innovations—a suite of intelligent, contextual technologies and products that are redefining what it means to drive and ride in a car.

It’s no secret that the automotive industry is undergoing a consumer-technology revolution. Expectations for vehicles are no longer limited to performance and reliability; today’s drivers and passengers demand integrated, personalised experiences akin to the smart devices they use daily. And for years, HARMAN has been at the forefront of in-cabin innovation, turning the car into a connected, responsive hub of activity. HARMAN’s products like Ready Upgrade, Ready Care, and Ready Display, infuse vehicles with a “brain,” “senses” and a “voice.” More recently, HARMAN leveraged sensors and feedback loops in automotive products such as Seat Sonic for immersive audio, Ready Vision for augmented reality displays, and Ready Connect for ubiquitous connectivity to the outside world.

Now, HARMAN is propelling the industry further once again. With the latest enhancements to its Ready product portfolio being unveiled at CES 2025, HARMAN is making cars not only smarter but empathetic.

First, HARMAN introduces “Luna,” an avatar powered by Ready Engage, its new emotionally intelligent AI system. “Luna” personalises interactions through voice and visuals, fostering a natural and intuitive bond between occupants and technology. Integrated with the advanced Ready Vision products, including the award-winning QVUE windshield display, it delivers immersive augmented reality features like dynamic street visualisation and transparent hood views to elevate safety, comfort and engagement. Fully customisable by each automaker, the Ready Engage AI system redefines the in-cabin experience by deeply connecting to its occupants’ needs and environments.

Helping to power these innovations are HARMAN’s Ready Upgrade cockpit domain controllers and HARMAN central compute unit (CCU) platforms. These serve as the “brain” behind intelligent in-cabin experiences, seamlessly integrating products like Ready Engage into vehicles. Ready Upgrade reduces development cycles and costs with turnkey solutions, enabling software updates as fast as every three months and vehicle launch updates in as little as six months. HARMAN’s collaboration with HL Klemove takes this innovation further, delivering a light CCU based on HARMAN Ready Upgrade and HL Klemove’s Level 2 software stack and ADAS sensor set. This collaboration unites HARMAN’s deep in-cabin expertise and HL Klemove’s market-proven ADAS solutions. In the next level of their collaboration, HARMAN and HL Klemove are now developing a product-grade CCU platform that will integrate their latest cockpit and ADAS feature sets and offer automakers shorter time to market and full flexibility to customise.

“HARMAN is pioneering the next frontier in automotive technology by translating user states and situational understanding into truly contextual in-cabin experiences,” said Armin Prommersberger, Chief Technology Officer at HARMAN International. “HARMAN’s portfolio of intelligent solutions is the most comprehensive in the industry, and our products go beyond proven, technical excellence. We help OEMs deliver differentiation and deeper engagement for their customers, making us the transformation partner of choice for automakers.”

At CES 2025, HARMAN will demonstrate its newest products, each designed to work individually and together as integrated solutions. HARMAN’s suite of Ready products redefine in-cabin experiences with innovations that adapt to evolving consumer and automaker needs. Other highlights include:

A new frontier for safety and comfort

HARMAN’s Ready portfolio brings vehicles to life with empathetic, in-cabin systems that understand and adapt to driver and passenger needs. By integrating advanced sensors, actuators and immersive displays, these technologies support safe and more comfortable journeys. The Ready Care in-cabin monitoring product takes empathy to the next level, using AI and neuroscience to monitor a driver’s cognitive and visual load as well as breathing rate to detect distraction or drowsiness, offering real-time, tailored interventions to reduce stress and enhance focus. Meanwhile, the new Ready Aware vehicle-to-network (V2N) software-as-a-service (SaaS) product adds situational intelligence by delivering precise, machine-learning-powered alerts that anticipate road hazards and enhance decision-making, creating a driving experience that feels smarter, safer and more personalised. HARMAN’s Ready Display, powered by Samsung Neo QLED, now features boosted brightness levels—critical in automotive environments for optimal visibility in varying light conditions.

Connected mobility—anytime, anywhere

HARMAN’s Ready Connect suite of telematics control units (TCUs) infuses intelligence and empathy into connectivity by ensuring vehicles remain reliably connected, even in remote areas. By enabling modular upgrades from 4G to 5G and then from 5G to satellite communication, Ready Connect keeps vehicles in touch with the world while reducing development complexity for automakers. Achieving an industry-first milestone by bringing satellite communication to a TCU, Ready Connect supports entertainment, productivity and situational awareness, fostering a driving experience where technology understands and responds to the needs of its occupants at any moment.

Your software and implementation partner for automotive intelligence

HARMAN’s Ready Link Marketplace offers tailored in-car apps, services and features, enabling automakers to unlock recurring revenue and extend vehicle lifecycles. With over 150 apps and value-driven features like predictive adaptive cruise control, automakers can enhance user engagement and deliver personalised, evolving experiences. Supporting this, HARMAN Automotive Engineering Services (AES) bridges integration challenges by ensuring efficient deployment of software-driven products, enabling automakers to bring solutions to market faster and more effectively.

Driving the future of contextually intelligent in-vehicle experiences today

HARMAN’s Ready portfolio redefines in-cabin experiences with innovations that adapt to evolving consumer and automaker needs. By combining Samsung’s consumer-tech expertise with HARMAN’s automotive innovation, the company is uniquely positioned to deliver transformative, intuitive and empathetic technologies for the vehicles of today and tomorrow.

Each of these products will be on display as HARMAN returns to the Las Vegas Convention Centre during CES 2025. For more information, visit the HARMAN CES 2025 press kit.

Download high resolution images here.

• Delivered in time for Christmas – beautifully-restored MkII Mini Cooper S is latest car to receive Tolman’s ‘non-invasive’ approach to improving and enhancing performance and usability
• 90 bhp, 685 kg with 80 ft/lb torque from 3000 rpm – 6000 rpm delivers engagement and usability to enjoy more often
• Bespoke exhaust, suspension overhaul and full electronic engine management implemented during year-long build process
• Full rebuild retains authentic Mini appearance inside and out with concealed improvements to enhance reliability and convenience such as heated screen, Bluetooth connectivity and fuel injection
• Latest chapter in this particular Mini’s long history, which includes sharing Silverstone track day with Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO
• Download high resolution images here

Rugby, UK, 19 December 2024: Tolman, creator of the highly acclaimed ‘Tolman Edition’ Peugeot 205 GTi restomod, has revealed the latest customer commission to receive its treatment. The Cooper S Mk II is the smallest car Tolman has fastidiously restored and refined, making this undertaking anything but ‘Mini’.

Tolman’s now renowned approach, which seeks to create cars that look how you remember and drive as you recall they did in period, caught the attention of this Mini enthusiast. Having used the car for over a decade, he turned to Tolman to create a Mini he could enjoy as a daily driver with all the charm of the original, but with fewer of the pitfalls of a 56-year-old car.

The 12-month project began where every Tolman car does, a complete strip-out of the interior and mechanicals, in preparation for a blast back to a bare shell and significant bodywork to achieve crisp and even shut lines and panel gaps. The Mini’s hydroelastic suspension has been swapped in favour of KAD adjustable tie rods and Bilstein dampers, ensuring the Mini remains comfortable but engaging on unpredictable British backroads. Fully adjustable, it can be set up to suit its owner’s requirements – which will include domestic driving and a regular commute.

As in period for the MkII Cooper S, it retains front disc brakes with rear drums whilst ATEC CNC brake lines, proven with Tolman’s motorsport activities, provide a more consistent feel.

Rather than opting for modern, grippy rubber, the Mini wears period style 10” 145 Dunlop Aquajet tyres. With power almost doubled to 90 bhp, 80 ft/lb of torque from 3,000-6,000 rpm and weighing just 685 kg, the Mini is lively when driven hard, but also far more practical and tractable in lower gears. The team decided not to opt for a limited-slip differential – this addition would make the car snappy through turns and detract from the original experience. The same goes for the refreshed gearbox, where the four-speed configuration was retained for authenticity.

The engine has been fully rebuilt and now benefits from fuel injection, a feature that wasn’t standard on Minis until 1991. The battery box in the boot now houses the fuel system with a collector fuel pot, high-pressure pump return and lift pump seamlessly integrated. With the regulator away from the engine, only one fuel line comes into the bay, maintaining the original appearance.

A one-off Tolman stainless steel exhaust ensures a sportier ‘A-Series’ sound but has been tuned to avoid being overwhelmingly noisy. Advanced heat protection under the bonnet protects the injection system whilst sound deadening throughout the cabin keeps unwanted road noise at bay. A fully electronic engine management system improves cold starts, idle control and low oil pressure detection.

As a track car in the 80s, even sharing Silverstone with Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO, the original SU carburettors had been replaced with Webers, accommodated for in period by forming a cutout in the bulkhead using a Pratt’s Oil can. For mechanical integrity, the can was replaced with a stronger version to retain integrity and this small part of its story.

Tolman’s sympathetic approach means many original parts were retained, including the brightwork, headlining and Tartan Red with black roof paint scheme. Sumptuous leather replaces vinyl for the seats and the aftermarket Webasto sunroof has been refurbished.

Heated front and rear screens, LED lighting all round plus invisible Bluetooth integration add to the discreet but impactful upgrades to day-to-day use – as does the addition of a period-style rev counter. To combat the British weather, this Mini has received full stone chip protection coating and Lanoguard on the underside and in the cavities, combined with Supagard ceramic coating on painted surfaces.

“The Mini is already a famously fun and practical car to own, our job was to take these attributes to the next level,” explains Chris Tolman, founder of Tolman. “In keeping with our previous projects, our team’s decades of motorsports experience have not been used to create the fastest Mini possible – instead we’ve been tasked with the greater challenge of enhancing what made the car special in the first place.”

This 1968 Mini Cooper S Mk II complements Tolman’s growing catalogue of refined, enhanced models – projects which sit at the top of a growing portfolio of premium automotive products and services.

With the Mini returned to its owner in time for Christmas, Tolman now looks ahead to 2025 and more one-off commissions including two 1980s icons and four new Tolman Edition Peugeot 205 GTis in build.

Download high resolution images here.

• First Volume production application of damping technology in premium models of a German sports car
• Active chassis technology reduces pitching and rolling of the vehicle during steering, acceleration and braking manoeuvres
• ZF is an industry leader with 25 years of experience in chassis damping system development

Friedrichshafen. A new era of damping technology has begun as sMOTION from ZF now brings stability and dynamics together for improved comfort and driving performance. This revolutionary system adapts damping forces precisely to the corresponding driving situation while initiating rapid vertical movements of each individual wheel, thus actively lifting the vehicle to ensure optimal roadholding performance while enhancing the driving experience. The capability of sMOTION creates a unique driving experience. The system’s damper technology is now incorporated in two new models of a German premium manufacturer.

Combining excellent dynamic properties with high-level comfort in automotive chassis applications has often been challenging. sMOTION has made this easier for automakers as the pitching and rolling manoeuvres inevitable in dynamic steering, braking and acceleration have been virtually eliminated.

“Our fully active sMOTION chassis system can almost completely prevent vehicle body movements in certain driving situations,” explains Dr. Peter Holdmann, Member of the Board of Management at ZF and Head of the Chassis Solutions Division. “At the same time, the comfort characteristics of vehicles equipped with sMOTION increase significantly.”

Two new Porsche models, the Panamera and Taycan, make use of part of ZF’s sMOTION active suspension system. Each features Porsche’s “Active Ride” air suspension which uses sMOTION’s damper and valve technology.

sMOTION sets standards for driving comfort, dynamics and safety
The sMOTION active chassis system is based on ZF’s well-known, adaptive damping system CDC (Continuous Damping Control) with two external valves, each of which independently regulates the compression and rebound direction of the damper. In this way, damping pressure is optimally adapted to the respective driving situation, an important quality for driving comfort and dynamics. sMOTION goes a step further using a high-performance oil pump to actively move the wheel suspension via the piston rod. In this way, the electronic control system can neutralise the effect of road unevenness on individual wheels. It is also able to compensate for, or even counteract the wheel height when cornering – during acceleration and braking, for example.

Active vertical movement of the wheels
sMOTION is particularly powerful during dynamic driving manoeuvres: A sharp steering movement to the right would normally cause a conventionally damped vehicle to “tilt” to the left. Passenger cars equipped with sMOTION automatically adjust the cornering inclination to the speed. Thus, the vehicle’s driving behavior takes on a ‘hover mode’.

For example, a vehicle equipped with sMOTION can use the active damper system to elevate a vehicle by as much as eight centimeters within half a second. This allows the control electronics, also developed by ZF, to hold a passenger car weighing three tons almost horizontally on the road up to a cornering force of one g.

Motion sickness: Minimise causes
This wheel-specific active body control, which does not use stabilisers, has significant potential in terms of comfort. If vertical movements of the vehicle body are prevented, so-called “motion sickness” can be potentially eliminated.

“Our system virtually eliminates motion sickness, which today primarily affects passengers reading or watching films while traveling,” explains Thomas Kutsche, Vice President Engineering Product Line Suspension at ZF. The calming of the vehicle body can be increased even further, for example, if information on road conditions such as bumps or potholes are known, the system can compensate for these in a targeted manner. If automated and autonomous driving continues to increase in practice, this chassis characteristic becomes increasingly valuable for all vehicle occupants.

Expansion of ZF’s system portfolio – 25 years of CDC
With sMOTION, ZF is adding to its product portfolio for passenger car steering, braking and chassis. With these electronically controlled actuators, ZF can influence the complete longitudinal, transverse and vertical dynamics of vehicles, providing an overall software-controlled system. In the future, the combination of these technologies will lead to networked chassis systems that can be coordinated holistically with the ZF cubiX software: “We can support manufacturers not only with the components, but also with software driving functions for the overall system,” says Holdmann.

ZF is among the top technology suppliers when it comes to semi-active and active damping systems. The first CDC system came onto the market 25 years ago and today, sMOTION uses the latest generation of CDC technology, namely CDCrci, which has two valves on each damper – one for the rebound stage, the other the compression stage.

The sMOTION active damper system controls pitching and rolling of the vehicle during steering, acceleration and braking manoeuvres, thus improving both passenger car comfort and driving dynamics.

New volume production application for part of the sMOTION technology: Porsche Panamera and Porsche Taycan use damper technology from ZF for their “Active Ride” chassis.

Photo credits: ZF