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Teamwork

TOYOTA is collaborating with Kawasaki to develop hydrogen engines for motorcycles. While moving ahead with the commercialisation of eco-friendly vehicles, Toyota aims to share data and issues with the motorcycle industry, a move the auto giant believes will speed up the development of hydrogen engines for cars and bikes alike.

Earlier this month, Toyota President Akio Toyoda drove a hydrogen-powered off-road vehicle at the Mobility Resort Motegi circuit in Tochigi Prefecture during a demo unveiling the car. The engine in the car is for a motorcycle developed by Kawasaki Motors. | The Washington Post

Aston Martin

FERNANDO Alonso has the “speed, hunger, motivation and experience” to help Aston Martin take the next step, but things could get difficult if they don’t deliver a fast enough car for him, team boss Mike Krack said. Alonso is set to move from Alpine to Aston Martin in 2023 as a replacement for Sebastian Vettel.

“Normally, drivers with this experience do not have this desire to win, especially if they have won already. Fernando has this unique combination of speed, hunger, motivation and experience. The downside could be that if the car we deliver is just not good enough, then we know it gets difficult,” Krack said. | Reuters

THE Xturismo hoverbike, which is made by Japanese startup Aerwins Technologies, wowed crowds at the Detroit Auto Show. The hoverbike can fly for 40 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 100km/h.

“I feel like I just got out of Star Wars and jumped on their bike,” said Thad Szott, co-chair of the motor show after taking a test hover.

The hoverbike is on sale in Japan, and Aerwins says there are plans to sell a smaller version in the US in 2023. The price? A galactic $777 000 (R13.7 million) – although Aerwins founder Shuhei Komatsu said the company hopes to get the cost down to $50 000 for a smaller, electric model by 2025. | Reuters

Future

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden touted an electric automotive future at the Detroit Auto Show as the new-generation models shared the stage with traditional petrol power. “The great American Road Trip is going to be fully electrified,” Biden proclaimed after test-driving an EV during a gleeful spin on the showroom floor. While petrol-powered cars still dominate US roads, Detroit auto giants have unveiled more EVs as they seek to wrest control of a growing market from Tesla and newer upstarts. “People are on the precipice of a massive adoption of EVs,” Chevrolet vice-president Steve Majoros said at the event. | AFP

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