Important Innovations

  "La Metamorfosi"                                              Source:  Alfa Romeo New Model Represents Alfa Romeo's Metamorphosis The all-new Alfa Romeo Tonale "La Metamorfosi" is a dazzler, with a more than 100-year-old Italian sports car pedigree, coming to market in 2023. Alfa Romeo says the model represents the company's metamorphosis.  It's a subcompact luxury crossover vehicle that the company hopes will reinvent the meaning of automotive sportiness for the 21st century. For the legendary brand, the EV showcases a new era of electrification, luxury and connectivity while maintaining its racing inspired DNA. Tech Specs The vehicle has state of the art, electric plug-in hybrid technology, coveted high seating and all-wheel drive.  Two powertrain options are available: PHEV Q4 AWD, 6-speed automatic transmission, 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery with a 90-kW electric motor, that's located on the rear axle and can produce 1,844 lb-ft of torque, along

  Bold New Design That Stands Out                                                                           Source:  Toyota Part Sedan - Part SUV Toyota is resurrecting its longest running model name with the unveiling of its new hybrid flagship sedan, the 2023 Toyota Crown.  The hybrid-electric vehicle will replace the Toyota Avalon in the Japanese automaker's lineup.  The Crown has quite the pedigree, dating back to 1955.  It became the first Japanese car sold in the US in 1958.  For 15 generations, the Crown was Toyota's premiere sedan.  The new Crown is much taller than a sedan with a high-riding SUV-like body.  Automotive experts are hailing the design as bold and blurring the lines between a SUV and a sedan.  It's a one-of-a-kind small SUV/sedan in the global automotive market.  Tech Specs The Crown will actually be a series of vehicles crossing vehicle classes.  It will be available with a choice of two different powertrains and 3 grades:  Crown XLE, Limited and Plat

  2023 All-Electric Corvette                                             Source: Chevrolet Corvette Hybrid Electric Corvette As Early As This Year  The iconic muscle car, the Chevrolet Corvette, is officially going electric.  According to Chevrolet President Mark Reuss, a fully electric Vett will be in showrooms in 2023 and a hybrid electric version will be on the market much sooner, possibly this year.  It appears the hybrid could be a Vett first with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.  To date, all Corvettes have had rear-wheel drive. Electrifying Vetts Reuss indicates the hybrid model will be based on the current generation Vett design and style.  The all-electric version could be a totally new design.  There also could be what Reuss is calling "electrified variants" of the car.  Most EVs currently on the market are sedans and SUVs because the current generation of batteries optimize the performance of larger, heavier cars more so than that of sports cars.  However, with new

  2023 All-Electric Corvette                                             Source: Chevrolet Corvette Hybrid Electric Corvette As Early As This Year  The iconic muscle car, the Chevrolet Corvette, is officially going electric.  According to Chevrolet President Mark Reuss, a fully electric Vett will be in showrooms in 2023 and a hybrid electric version will be on the market much sooner, possibly this year.  It appears the hybrid could be a Vett first with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.  To date, all Corvettes have had rear-wheel drive. Electrifying Vetts Reuss indicates the hybrid model will be based on the current generation Vett design and style.  The all-electric version could be a totally new design.  There also could be what Reuss is calling "electrified variants" of the car.  Most EVs currently on the market are sedans and SUVs because the current generation of batteries optimize the performance of larger, heavier cars more so than that of sports cars.  However, with new

  The e:Ny1 is Coming in 2023                                                Source:  Honda New Concept Car Honda intends to launch a small, new, all-electric SUV, based on a new concept called the "e:Ny1" in 2023.  The company says the new EV's range will exceed that of other Honda electric vehicles, so the range should be well in excess of 200 miles on a charge.  Automotive experts believe that it will be an electrified version of Honda's newly released hybrid HR-V. Intensifying Electric Vehicle Global Competition The new EV will go into direct competition with the VW ID4 and Hyundai's Ioniq 5 as the global market for electric vehicles heats up.  The e:Ny1 has sleek, classic design lines, a sloping roofline and break lights that span the full width of the back of the car.  The interior is expected to be similar to that of the HR-V. The dashboard is minimalist with a raised touchscreen and a digital driver's display. There are no official details from Honda o

  Powerful Vehicle But With Less Emissions Source:  GM & Corvette E-Ray Expected to Debut in 2023 GM's iconic sports car, the Corvette, is about to roll out its first, electrified model.  GM is working on a plug-in hybrid version of the C8 Vette called the E-Ray.  The next-G Vette has a radical design shift with a mid-engine layout.  Automotive reports indicate the hybrid powertrain will generate a powerful punch of 650 horsepower.  The EV is expected to debut in 2023. Tech Specs & More Firsts The new Vette pairs a 6.2 liter LT2 V-8 engine with an e-booster electric motor on the front axle.  The e-Ray won't produce any emissions until it is travelling over 35 mph.  For the first time in Corvette's history, the vehicle will have four-wheel drive.  Automotive experts say that the ability to send power to both axles should improve the car's performance even further.  Interestingly, GM is making no comment about this greatly anticipated new vehicle.  To take a look

  Flying Car Testing in the Public Domain by 2022                                        Source:  SkyDrive Flying Cars on the Roads & in the Sky by 2023 The government of Japan is a big believer in the importance of flying cars in the Japanese transportation mix.  In fact, it wants flying cars operational on the roads and in the sky by 2023.  To facilitate that goal, it is allowing public domain testing in 2022.  Clearly, Japan is a global leader in the effort to deploy flying cars. Japanese Collaborative Effort What differentiates Japan is strong collaboration between the government and private companies to bring flying cars into widespread use.  The government wants to deploy flying cars and passenger drones as short distance transportation solutions in cities, rural areas and in disaster relief zones. SkyDrive An outstanding flying car vehicle in the R&D pipeline is being developed by Tokyo-based startup SkyDrive.  The company has successfully completed the first manned flig

  Volocopter of Germany, eVTOL Flying Taxis. in Singapore                                             Source:  Volocopter Takeoff by 2023 Germany's Volocopter will start flying taxi service in Singapore by 2023.  The first flights will carry a pilot and one passenger.  When cleared for autonomous operations, the Volocopters will carry two passengers.  This is a world first and the beginning of an exciting era of flying urban mobility with Singapore leading the way. Singapore At the Forefront Singapore is at the forefront of putting flying taxis into service thanks to its more supportive regulatory environment for deploying new technologies as compared with other nations.  The Volocopter is nimble and small enough to travel into densely populated cities and take-off from small spaces.  It's an eVTOL or electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Technology Innovation Volocopter says it is working with Singapore battery developers, material scientists and with authorities to

70 Space Mission Launches Per Year Starting in 2023 Source:  SpaceX Space Base Starlink Satellite Megaconstellation, Customer & NASA Launches, Starship to Mars SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has an ambitious plan for at least 70 space mission launches a year starting in 2023.  There will be 38 launches by SpaceX in 2020.  So, the plan is to nearly double that.  The launches will take place from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  A big part of the launches will be building SpaceX's Starlink mega-constellation of satellites for global internet services.  SpaceX is also enjoying a growing number of space flight bookings from customers and NASA. Mobile Service Tower For Launches Space X's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets will have more versatility and options with a new mobile services tower that SpaceX is deploying.  The tower will allow missions to be assembled vertically rather than horizontally, which is a big advantage.  SpaceX will al