All New KIA

The use of a suitable oil is vital for the proper functioning of a car engine and, obviously, to ensure its durability and avoid serious and even catastrophic breakdowns.

That which, It does not seem that using vegetable cooking oil, like the one we use at home for frying or dressing a salad, as an engine lubricant in the car is a prudent action. In fact, as we will see in the case at hand, the consequences can be dramatic.

I have been a Reddit user for many years. and one of the subreddits The one that has generated the most addiction for me has been, without a doubt, that of Just Rolled Into the Shop, a meeting space in which mechanics and hobbyists showed us in photographs and videos some of the most disastrous breakdowns that had been found in their workshop. Breakdowns generally caused by ignorance, negligence, or recklessness of its customers.

I recently discovered the Just Rolled In channel on YouTube, which follows the theme of the famous subreddit followed by millions of users. And that is precisely where it was published the disaster caused in a Peugeot 308 HDi in which vegetable cooking oil had been used instead of the relevant motor oil that a diesel like this requires. At the beginning of the video embedded on these lines you can see the consequences of this imprudence. And then we are shown many other disasters caused by customers.

I don’t think it’s necessary to remember why you shouldn’t use cooking oil in a car engine. This video is explicit enough to understand that, in addition to being able to cause irreversible damage to the engine, the viscous mass into which the mixture of motor oil and cooking oil can become may require – in the best of cases – cleaning in depth of the engine.

The importance of our car’s engine oil

Understanding that using cooking oil in a car engine is not a good idea, it is not a bad time to remember the importance of using the right oil for our engine andespecially, some important advice in this regard:

• First of all, let’s use a suitable motor oil that meets the specifications determined by the manufacturer.
• Let’s avoid mixing engine oils with different specifications and viscosities. If our car consumes oil, the ideal is to acquire a bottle of oil in the workshop where we have carried out the maintenance and make sure to fill it only with that same oil.
• We comply with the maintenance periods. The consequences of using the same oil for tens of thousands of kilometers, and many years, can be very similar to those in this video, as we recently saw in the case of a SEAT León that did not change the oil for more than 95,000 kilometres.
• It is important to periodically check the oil levels, especially in old cars that do not warn of a low oil level, or if we know that our car loses or consumes oil. If our car’s engine runs out of oil, the consequences can also be serious.
• Let’s use the most suitable motor oil for our needs. It is important to be well advised and in a good workshop they will be able to recommend the right oil for our engine and the use we make of our car. The specifications of the most suitable oil for an engine will depend on the climatic conditions of the place where we use the car, and even on the type of driving we practice (daily, urban, highway, casual, sports driving). As if that were not enough, even the mileage and age of an engine can cause the recommended viscosity to vary with what we should use during break-in and for the first tens of thousands of kilometers.

After the Audi Skysphere, the two-door gran turismo, the Audi Grandsphere (the sedan) and the Audi Urbansphrere (the minivan), comes the fourth member of Audi’s Sphere family, which is probably the most peculiar of all. The Audi Activesphere, an SUV with a pick-up complex… and virtual reality.

The Audi Activesphere it has an unusual style: it is a cross between an SUV, an SUV and a sports car. It combines a coupe silhouette with generous ground clearance and off-road tires. As with the rest of the Sphere family, it is not expected to go into production, although it is likely that we will see some of its features in the brand’s future electric vehicles.

A variable headroom

Like the rest of the Sphere prototypes, the Audi Activesphere is based on the PPE architecture: It measures 4.98 meters long, 2.07 meters wide and 1.60 meters high. It has a wheelbase of 2.97 meters and a ground clearance of 20.8 centimeters, which increases to a considerable 24.8 centimeters in off-road mode or drops to a figure similar to that of a car: 16.8 centimeters for driving on asphalt.

It is powered by two motors, one located on the front axle and one on the rear: They deliver a joint power of 440 CV and have a torque of 720 Nm; this force is distributed among the four wheels. The 800 volt battery pack has a capacity of 100 kWh and offers a driving range of more than 600 kilometers. It supports charging power up to 270 kW, which means you can go from 5 to 80% in less than 24 minutes with a compatible ultra-fast charger.

From SUV to pick-up

The Audi Activesphere boasts an aerodynamic silhouette, almost a single volume, while the bodywork is characterized by being muscular and having large glass surfaces: not only in the windows, but also in the front grille and in the lower part of the doors. The side mirrors have been replaced by cameras and it sports 22-inch wheels: they are made of alloy and have a six-spoke design that integrates holes that open and close.

The most peculiar characteristic of the body of the Audi Activesphere is found in the rear: it is possible to slide the rear glass over the roof and lower the tailgate to become something similar to a pick-up. This space is capable of transporting two bicycles and other sports equipment, while the roof has an integrated ski rack.

indoor virtual reality

The interior design of the Audi Activesphere is equally striking. The suicide doors and the absence of B-pillars facilitate access to the cabin, which has four seats. The individual seats are armchairs with integrated armrests and headrests: the driver is provided with a yoke-shaped steering wheel, while the dashboard lacks screens. With autonomous driving, this entire structure disappears completely, along with the steering wheel and pedals, opening up the space in front of the driver and front passenger. The central tunnel, by the way, is enabled to store food and drinks.

However, the most curious thing about the cabin of the Audi Activesphere is on the roof: that is where they are stored. four glasses with which it is possible to access Audi Dimension, that is, a mixed reality that mixes virtual with augmented reality.

Each passenger can access infotainment features interacting with 3D graphics through touch, gestures or eye movement. All menus and functions are displayed near points of interest (climate controls next to the vents, the audio system menu with the speakers…) turning all interior surfaces into invisible touch screens

The compact car is still one of the favorite purchases by the public, even now that SUVs are so fashionable. The offer is varied, there are designs for all tastes, but nevertheless it is increasingly difficult buy a compact at a good price. That is why the offer that we bring you today is so interesting, because For 18,700 euros you can take home one of the best compact cars on the marketwith a very good quality/price ratio and also equipped with a huge trunk of almost 500 liters.

The Skoda Scala is the most affordable compact that the Volkswagen group manufactures today, a car designed to be a more sensible and accessible alternative to models such as the SEAT León and Volkswagen Golf. Direct rival of models such as the Fiat Tipo or the Citroën C4, the Czech compact offers an interesting formula which also highlights the fact of having a spacious cabin and a 467-liter trunk, the largest in its category and by quite a difference.

Its large trunk, the use of an efficient gasoline engine and a reasonable price make the Skoda Scala one of the best buys among compacts

The offer that concerns us on this occasion is for a Skoda Scala animated by the 1.0 TSI 95 hp gasoline engine and the Active finish. We are talking about the simplest configuration available in the range of this model, but this does not mean that it is not an interesting finish. With this engine, the Skoda Scala approves an average consumption of 5.2 l/100 km, obtaining the C emissions label from the DGT. We therefore speak of an engine capable of being efficient and with sufficient performance to move agilely on a day-to-day basis.

As regards staffing, the Skoda Scala Active for 18,700 euros It already includes 16″ alloy wheels as standard equipment, rear parking sensors, LED daytime lighting, electric windows, air conditioning, multimedia system with 6.5″ screen, DAB radio and hands-free function for our phone, assistant for hill start, lane departure warning, emergency braking and electric mirrors with heating function. This special offer is subject to a promotion that requires financing a minimum capital of 10,000 euros through Volkswagen Bank GmbH SE, providing an initial entry of 8,700 euros and establishing 48 installments of 258.73 euros per month.

This January 26 was marked as the date on which Microsoft had raised a ‘Developer Direct’ or presentation in which they were going to detail the news that the new title of the Forza saga brings with it, intended for players on both PC and Xbox, and the great antithesis of Gran Turismo. Noted as one of the great releases of this year 2023, Forza Motorsport has been presented with a solid image of being a breakthrough visually compared to its predecessor, promising to be the most technically advanced driving game “ever made”.

At least that is what Chris Esaki has assured, the creative director of Turn10 Studios and the one in charge of introducing this new installment of a franchise that has known how to diversify through its two aspects to try to reach all players. Horizon offers you non-stop racing and action in abundance from a more arcade perspective and focused on collecting and exploring the scenery, while motorsport has focused on trying to unseat the title of Polyphony Digital as the reference in terms of driving for consoles.

No specific release date:

Launched in the month of October 2017Forza Motorsport 7 had already shown good capabilities in said duel with Gran Turismo, but the long development of a successor even pushed the duration of the licenses it owned to the limit, so that, since September 2021, it ended its presence in the digital stores of Xbox and within the program of GamePass. With the pandemic lengthening practically all processes, It has finally been in 2023 when the new installment will be released. When specifically? Well, unfortunately that is one of the questions that have not been revealed in this ‘developer’s diary’.

Turn10 Studios has made the closest thing to a reset to your great product. The development has been practically from scratch, with the aim of thus making the most of the capabilities of the new hardware, and become the first representative by Microsoft that should be considered as a video game outside of that ‘intergenerational’ border. In total there will be 500 vehicles available and clinically detailed (both competition and series), all of them with a very high degree of customization through a catalog of parts that will exceed 800 unique improvements.

As for the circuits, It is known that there will be 20 different tracks with different variants (and the dynamic climate) in some of them in order to multiply the options, although it still seems like a figure that may fall too short in that inevitable and direct comparison with Gran Turismo. The evolution of driving physics It is what has led those responsible for Turn10 to talk about the most technically advanced racing title. We will have to wait for it to reach Xbox Series X / S and PC, we do not know how long, but the wait promises to be endless for the unconditional

Perhaps it is in that sense where 2023 faces a lot of uncertainty As for racing video games, especially since three of the most anticipated releases, such as TDU Solar Crown, the new EA Sports game from the world of rallying, or Forza Motorsport itself currently do not have a fixed arrival date. stores, both virtual and physical.

Finding a cheap car in these times is increasingly difficult. If we are also looking for an SUV and we need plenty of space, with a large trunk, and the availability of a third row of seats to complete 7 seats, the situation becomes even more complicated.

But the model we are talking about today is a great unknown. Y the only SUV that offers 7 seats, a huge trunk, comes well equipped as standard, even with an automatic transmission throughout the range and all this for €24,995. A price similar to that of the cheapest SEAT Ateca that neither has 7 seats, nor is it as spacious, nor does it have such complete standard equipment.

Where’s the catch?

A very little known 7-seater SUV for €24,995

DFSK is one of the lesser known brands on the market. But he has been selling his products in Spain for years. It belongs to the Chinese giant Dongfeng. It has 27 dealers in Spain and offers a 7-year warranty. Undoubtedly, it is one of those manufacturers of Chinese origin that, at a time when the European industry has begun to abandon the cheapest cars in its range, claims to be an anti-crisis solution.

The DFSK 580 is a great SUV that starts at €24,995. A really adjusted price, if we take into account that it has 7 seats and that its length, 4.68 meters, is similar to that of a SEAT Tarraco that starts from €34,210. We are talking about a €10,000 difference. An important difference, especially if we take into account that the DFSK is equipped with an automatic transmission (continuous variator) as standard in its turbocharged gasoline engine with 149 HP of power, while the most basic Tarraco uses a 1.5 TSI engine of 150 CV and manual transmission.

The simplicity of the DFSK range is maximum. While it is offered only with this mechanism (although we can optionally buy it with an adaptation to LPG and therefore with an ECO label) and two lines of equipment. The most basic line, called Luxury, already includes an 11″ touch screen, rear parking camera, and a practicable sunroof.

To better understand what the DFSK 580 offers, we recommend you watch our video comparison with the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, which you can see on these lines. As a summary of the conclusions reached by my colleague David Clavero, evidently the DFSK 580 has numerous weaknesses compared to alternatives such as the SEAT Tarraco or the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace with which we compare it. But the only question we should ask ourselves before buying it is whether those weaknesses outweigh the €10,000 or €15,000 difference that there may be with its 7-seater SUV alternatives.

But what economic alternatives exist in the market?

• If what we are looking for is an economical 7-seater car, there are few better options than the Dacia Jogger from €20,450 (in 7-seater configuration). It is not an SUV, but a minivan with a crossover look, but also one of the cars that offers the most space per euro invested
• If we want an SUV of a certain size, and wide, but we do not need the sixth and seventh seats, the MG HS part of the €22,990 and it is also one of the cheapest options for those looking for a large SUV.
• It is not cheap. But SEAT Tarraco from €34,210 Yes, it is one of the most complete 7-seater SUVs

When drivers have not finished getting used to electric cars, solar ones have arrived. The idea of ​​driving a model that recharges with sunlight could seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but Aptera wants to make it a reality this year with the first edition of its vehicle, of which it has already revealed a key fact. . The Aptera Launch Edition already has official autonomy and exceeds 600 kilometers.

As long as they have the necessary investment, Aptera plans to manufacture 5,000 units of this launch version which, aesthetically, is the same as the copies seen so far. The Aptera Launch Edition is an electric and solar car designed to boast of energy efficiency: not surprisingly, it ensures that, to circulate, it will only need a quarter of the energy required by electric and hybrid vehicles already on the market. And to achieve this, it has lightened weight and has opted for an aerodynamic design not suitable for all tastes that, yes, guarantees a coefficient of 0.13 Cx.

More than 600 kilometers on one charge

We knew this data, but Aptera had not provided the official range that the Aptera Launch Edition will have on a single charge: 644 kilometers. Its solar panels are also capable of generating up to 64 kilometers of daily autonomy thanks to the sun. The company points out that, every day, American drivers do, on average, less than those 64 kilometers, so they point out that it is possible to drive with it without connecting it to the network.

Of course, drivers can not always count on the sun and Aptera is aware of this. Which is why they’ve equipped the Aptera Launch Edition with a 110/120 volt outlet which, for every hour of charging, will provide more than 21 kilometers of autonomy. With a 240 V connection, the model can reach up to 92 kilometers of range in sixty minutes and also has the Tesla NACS system.

Aptera has not provided hard data on the performance of the Aptera Launch Edition, but its three motors will provide drive to all three wheels of the vehicle and allow this solar car to reach a top speed of 163 km/h going from 0 to 100 km/h in four seconds.

40,000 reservations

Aptera already said, at the time, that the price of its solar electric car will range from $25,900 to over $46,000 (23,800-42,350 euros, according to the current exchange rate). It is not yet clear how much this launch edition will cost, but, if all goes to plan, the first units will be delivered before the end of 2023. We could even see the Aptera Launch Edition in Europe in 2024.

The development of the vehicle is entering the fourth and final phase: at which time Aptera will carry out crash tests and validation. If all goes according to plan, the next step will be to scale production (there will be a single finisher to speed up this process) to shape 10,000 vehicles per year. Not in vain, they assure that they have more than 40,000 reservations. Subsequently, they will increase that rate to 20,000 copies per year and hope to have, by 2028, eight assembly plants spread throughout the world.

the year was running 1980 and the Pope Juan Pablo II was set to visit Lisieux on June 2, a small French town of 20,000 inhabitants in Normandy where the Basilica of Santa Teresa, built in honor of the Saint from whom it takes its name in 1937 and to whom the Supreme Pontiff was going to pay homage. For that occasion, instead of using his brand new Mercedes G-Class in Mystic White, the chosen one was aPeugeot 604 Limousine Heuliez with a 155 CV V6 PRV engine and some exotic 90 degrees between benches that would end up painted with a brush and forgotten in a winery, to finally occupy the place it deserves in the Peugeot Gallery.

The Peugeot 604 of Pope John Paul II, fruit of the passion of the French president

The fact that Pope John Paul II used a Peugeot 604 Limousine in that act was not the result of chance, nor of commercial interests, but of passion felt by the then President of the French RepublicGiscard d’Estaing, for the flagship of the lion’s firm, the Peugeot 604. In fact, it is rumored that he himself used to get behind the wheel very often of the unit that he enjoyed as the official car.

This is how he found out about the papal visit asked Peugeot for one of the 124 units of the 604 in its Limousine version bodied by the French specialist Heuliez, for which the brand took chassis number 10 in metallic smoked gray color from its fleet and sent it back to the bodybuilder with the aim of installing a series of modifications for its special purpose: a sliding roof so that the Supreme Pontiff could take his usual mass bath, as well as an internal grab bar and remove the folding seats to make room for a platform. The car returned just in time for its debut on July 2, in the absence of solving the homologation problem, which d’Estaing himself could have mediated, but which they solved by resorting to temporary registration plates.

From being painted with a brush to the Peugeot Gallery in San Gimignano

After its use as a papal car, it went to the Heuliez facilities for the third time, where it was restored to its original Peugeot 604 Limousine specifications and was once again incorporated into the brand’s fleet to its sale as a second-hand vehicle. Years later, already in the 90s, he ended up in Marseillesin the hands of a photographer who did not hesitate to paint it white using a brush and incorporate the so typical boomerang-shaped television antenna on the tailgate with the aim of turn it into a limousine in the purest style yankee. This is how this 604 went from transporting the highest representative of the Catholic Church to young newlyweds in a service low cost.

finally it was abandoned in the cellar of a small local champagne producer until one day it was discovered by chance, and after verifying that both its interior and its mechanics were in relatively good condition, it undertook its last trip to the Peugeot Gallery in Tuscany (Italy), where he shed his previous clothing and returned to his original state. However, no one there knew how special that unit was, and it was thanks to a member of the Peugeot 604 Clubthat after visiting Heuliez and studying his archives, he realized that the 604 Limousine with chassis number 10 exposed in Tuscany was the same one used years ago by John Pope II.