RETTmobil is a trade show held in Fulda, Germany where companies involved in the emergency response industry show their latest offerings. Auto manufacturers have become a large part of the show since having the proper vehicle for the sort disasters life assails us with can be critical.
Volkswagen is one such company, and it knows that being a first responder to a situation doesn’t necessarily mean showing up in the biggest truck available.
For practical needs, VW has kitted out a Golf Alltrack wagon to act as a department’s command car, much like how we here in the U.S. frequently see rugged SUVs playing the role. The car will be loaded with special operational equipment like a digital radio console and accident data recorders to help legally sift through the aftermath of an incident.
Specially equipped VW Tiguans and Touareg SUVs will also be on hand. They represent the vehicles that can come to a rescue where the terrain is rough. These can be set up with loads of important features to deal with important matters like warning systems and flashing lights.
When things get a little too hairy, VW will premier its Transporter T6 commercial van for the first time as an armored personal carrier. The rear cargo area can be set up with up to five single seats as well as offer any additional necessary equipment. As we’ve seen plenty of examples in Europe where civil unrest has escalated in full-scale riots, we’re thinking that would be where an armored T6 would come into play. What a far cry from its hippie, free lovin’ days.
Volkswagen’s mid-size pickup, the Amarok, will even be on hand demonstrating how it would be the car of choice for emergencies on or near beach areas. It’s interesting to see how automakers invest in an area of the industry we either take for granted or choose not to think about because its unpleasant. Thankfully, the people who think about these things are supported by companies who recognize their importance.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.