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Audi A6 e-tron concept

Audi is giving us the four-door Audi A6 e-tron concept at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show as a preview of the future, fully electric luxury cars, taking their new “Premium Platform Electric,” or PPE for short, into production for new Audi cars on the horizon, for 2022, the first production cars using the PPE will be launched in the C-segment, later to be joined by models in the B-segment, and Audi also intends to extend their PPE platform to both SUVs and dynamically styled models with a lower ride height, such as the upcoming Audi A6 e-tron.

The Audi A6 e-tron concept to be shown at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show represents an entirely new design concept, the only thing it has in common with the current A6 are its dimensions, at 4.96-meter-long, 1.96-meter-wide, and 1.44-meter-high, the concept’s body was designed as a Sportback, and its lines are an obvious reflection of the systematic advancement of Audi’s current design language.

For its part, the PPE technology will ensure that what the car’s lines imply is actually translated into dynamic driving performance and everyday suitability befitting use as a primary vehicle. Specifically, this means that depending on the selected drive system and model version, an Audi A6 e-tron is expected to boast a range of more than 700 kilometers (based on the WLTP standard) in the future – and the most powerful member of the family is anticipated to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.

Large 22-inch wheels and short overhangs, the flat cabin, and the wide coupe roof arch give the vehicle proportions distinctly reminiscent of a sports car. The absence of hard edges results in smooth transitions between convex and concave surfaces throughout the body, as well as in soft shadows. The Audi A6 e-tron concept appears monolithic, as if from a single mold, particularly when viewed from the side.

Heliosilver is the name of the technoid-looking color of the paint, which in turn adds aesthetic presence and functionality to the appearance of the Audi A6 e-tron concept. The paint accentuates the shapes of the body with a three-dimensional depth effect, which is particularly visible in the area around the quattro wheel arches. In the front end, the Singleframe grille, also in Heliosilver, forms a striking contrast to the deep matte black color of the frame. This stark contrast also accentuates the horizontally oriented proportions in the rocker panel sections on the sides of the vehicle.

The heart of the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s drive technology, and that of all future PPE models, is the 800-volt charging technology. Like the Audi e-tron GT before it, this ensures that the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s battery can be charged with up to 270 kW in a very short time at public DC fast-charging stations. This revolutionary technology will enter the high-volume mid-range and luxury segments with the PPE for the very first time.

This technology makes charging times possible that come close to a stop to refuel a car powered by a conventional engine. Just 10 minutes at a public DC fast charger are enough to charge the battery to a level sufficient to power the car more than 300 kilometers. And in less than 25 minutes at a public DC fast charger, you can charge the Audi A6 e-tron concept’s 100 kWh battery from 5 to 80 percent.

Together with an expected range of more than 700 kilometers, depending on the selected drive system and power output, the Audi A6 e-tron concept is uncompromisingly suitable for use as a primary vehicle. Furthermore, its range and charging speed keep pace with those of combustion engines, making it the perfect universal car for everyday needs, from short trips to the store to longer road trips when going on vacation.

April 19, 2021 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini sets records … again

While some companies are really struggling to stay afloat in the current economy, it seems Lamborghini managed to keep a really good pace in selling their amazing supercars from Sant’Agata, the first quarter of 2021 again set record figures never seen before since 1963, when Automobili Lamborghini SpA was founded.

Over a period of only 3 months, from January 2021 to March 2021, they managed to deliver a total of 2,422 cars to their fortunate owners, which is a record over their entire history, and while it’s a 25% increase over the same number from Q1 in 2020, it also a very impressive 22% higher than the same period back in 2019, which set the record two years ago … Lamborghini is on a roll here.

And it isn’t slowing down, Stephan Winkelmann, President, and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA confirmed they already have the next nine months of production completely sold out, so for the entire production capacity for the rest of 2021 they are already fully booked as we speak, that’s impressive considering we are talking about cars that are well over the $200,000 mark each, with some more than triple that amount.

As we would expect, the Lamborghini Urus Super SUV is the best-selling Raging Bull at the moment, 1,382 units were sent out to customers, the V10 powered Huracán is not too far behind with 753 units while the aging flagship, the V12 Aventador still reached 287 units during the first quarter of 2021 … as usual the United States, China, and Germany are the markets that seem to be growing again.

And it seems the V12 Aventador reign isn’t over yet, despite being unveiled ten years ago, at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, we are still having to wait at least another year before a successor will be unveiled, Stephan Winkelmann mentioned in an earlier press release we are going to see two more V12 derived models later this year.

At the moment there is no official information yet on what these V12 models will be, but keeping in mind you can’t actually order any Aventador model anymore at this time, what might be on the horizon next for the Lamborghini flagship? You can’t walk into an authorized Lamborghini dealership right now and custom order an Aventador S or Aventador S Roadster anymore, they still have brand new cars in stock, and a very few are still incoming, but you can’t change the options on them, those are stock models. The same thing with the SVJ Coupe and SVJ Roadster … both were a limited edition model, and they are sold out.

The factory is apparently only building the Aventador SVJ, SVJ Roadster, and their ’63’ versions, the final units of the ‘one of ten’ Xago models, and naturally the remaining units of the 63 Sian Coupe while production of the 19 Sian Roadster will start soon … so what could be the two V12 based models that are still coming?

Rumor has it one of these will be a very limited production Countach homage model to celebrate the Countach Prototype’s 50th anniversary, based on the Aventador chassis and V12 engine, there is mention of a hybrid setup that will be an evolution of the Sian Supercapacitor, so perhaps a little more total power, with a price in the same range as the Sian. And what could be the second model then? An Aventador GT as a swansong to the model, an ultimate track-inspired model like the Huracan STO then, or perhaps a one-off like the SC20 for another high-net-worth customer?

Who knows, but it’s clear when you read between the lines of the Q1 results press release there is no intention of an Aventador successor in 2021 already, the current production capacity is already sold out, so they need the Aventador production line going until at least the end of this year, and they still have two more V12 models to unveil, which will also have to be built in the end, are these already sold out and calculated into production yet?

My guess is that we will be seeing the first Aventador successor in early 2022, probably the initial pre-production models of the successor will be built at the special Research & Development facility in Sant’Agata while the actual production line inside the factory gets converted from building the Aventador into the new model, which as we all know, will come with a Hybrid V12 initially … I for one can’t wait to see what Lamborghini comes up with next …

April 18, 2021 / Comments Off

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Carbon Fiber options for the Shelby GT500

I’m a big fan of clear carbon fiber on a car, and while I’m a Lamborghini guy, I don’t really like their Forged Composite lightweight material, it looks add, I’m old-fashioned, just give me a nice, old school carbon fiber weave with a satin or high gloss topcoat and I’m happy.

So when Ford Performance Parts released some amazing clear carbon fiber parts for the already impressive Mustang Shelby^® GT500^®, they got my attention, I rather like a GT500, I think it really is an impressive Ford Mustang, these amazing looking carbon fiber parts were shown at the GT500 track tour event at Texas International Speedway outside Dallas.

In total there are four carbon fiber parts being available now, a front hood vent and rain tray kit ($1,185), front lower spoiler replacement complete with undertray ($1,820), complemented by a stunning front bumper insert ($1,150) and a very nice rear decklid trim panel that fits between the taillights ($575).

“Authenticity and personalization are what our Mustang Shelby GT500 customers want, and our new carbon fiber performance accessories provide an elevated track-proven look from every angle,” said Mark Wilson, Ford North America vehicle personalization, planning, and operations manager. “Beyond leveraging this high-performance material to reduce weight, we track-tested and validated its durability at Ford Performance Racing School in North Carolina.”

Most of the carbon fiber parts achieve a reduction of almost 50% on the standard parts they replace, in total 9 pounds gets taken from the original weight of the GT500, these new parts provide additional authentic carbon fiber options for Shelby GT500 buyers to supplement the existing Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Package, which includes 20-inch carbon fiber wheels, an exposed carbon-fiber instrument panel and GT4 track wing, splitter wickers and more.

GT500 and Shelby are registered trademarks of Carroll Hall Shelby Trust.

April 17, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Continental GT V8 Equinox Edition

Before you get your hopes up about adding this stunning white Bentley Continental GT V8 Equinox Edition to your garage, there is one catch with this latest Mulliner Collections Portfolio addition … it’s only available on the Japanese market, and there will only be 10 units ever made for those lucky customers in the Far East.

The special GT will feature a monochrome color theme combining black, silver, and white, the Equinox theme brings power and grace through simplicity, the 10 units of the Equinox Edition are destined for homes across Japan including the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Yokohama.

For the body of the Bentley Continental GT V8 Equinox Edition, the Japanee customer can choose from black Onyx or icy cool Glacier White, the aerodynamics of the base Continental GT will receive the Styling Specification for these Equinox Edition versions, created from bespoke, high gloss, black carbon-fiber, the Styling Specification option adds a front splitter, a rear diffuser, a boot lip spoiler, and side sills, showing amazing looking, metal Bentley wings.

To set the Equinox Edition even more apart from the base V8 model, Mulliner adds a pinstripe to the edge of the carbon fiber pieces, finished in ‘Moonbeam’, which is a rich silver shade, this pinstripe is painted by hand onto each of these 10 limited edition cars, it takes a specialist at Mulliner a total of five days to apply this little, but important detail, that looks even better with the 22” Mulliner Driving Specification wheels, which on this special edition are finished in a dark metallic Tungsten paint, only available on the Equinox Edition.

The interior in the Equinox Edition is finished in stunning Beluga black leather, but it is complemented with silver parts on the headrest and the edges of the seats while the stitching is done in silver too to work in perfect harmony with the dual finish veneers done in Piano Moonbeam over Grand Black.

Sadly this car will not be available in the United States nor in Europe, it is a Japan-only special edition after all.

April 16, 2021 / Comments Off

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FOR SALE: 2019 McLaren Senna Drenched in Bespoke Options

One of the latest supercars to hit BringATrailer is an absolutely glorious 2019, McLaren Senna, finished in Liquid Silver – which happens to be a $97,566 option. It comes with only 1,900 miles on the odometer along with all original owner’s manuals, accessories, clean Carfax, and a clean Pennsylvania title. The auction is set to end on Tuesday, April 27 at 2:00 pm.

This Senna is #196 of 500 cars produced to commemorate Ayrton Senna’s success with McLaren’s Formula 1 team. It’s finished in a bespoke Senna GTR-inspired livery along with Burton Blue accents from the McLaren Special Operations team and Satin Blue tinted carbon-fiber trim.

This car features over $265,000 of specified options – making it almost one of a kind. These options include bespoke blue Alcantara seats, Satin Blue tinted carbon-fiber interior trim, a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, Burton Blue brake calipers, Gorilla Glass side panels, and an MSO Push-to-Drink system.

Not only does this McLaren feature a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle, racing-inspired center-locking wheels, but it also comes with the creature comforts found standard in most luxury cars. Things like adjustable driving modes, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, navigation, and touchscreen infotainment.

One of the neatest features on this McLaren Senna is the underside of the front panel – it has been signed by members of the McLaren Special Operations division. You can hop in the driver’s seat of this incredible car knowing that the MSO team is with you on the ride.

April 16, 2021 / Comments Off

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The new BRABUS 500

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class isn’t a bad looking four-door luxury sedan, especially when you opt for the S500 model that comes with a 435 hp engine, but that doesn’t keep world-renowned BRABUS from tinkering with it to get more power and add some aerodynamic parts to this flagship model from Germany, keeping in mind BRABUS was actually voted the best and most popular tuning brand by the readers of Germany’s leading motorsport magazine: Auto Motor und Sport … for the 15th time in a row!

And while they build stunning, high-power supercars like their BRABUS ROCKET 900, not every owner is interested in the fastest, harshest riding Mercedes possible, some just want to add a touch of personality to their factory-fresh car, and that is exactly what BRABUS now offers for the S500 with their plug-and-play BRABUS B50 – 500 PowerXtra module, just integrate it into the factory electronics and you’ll get an additional 65 hp and 70 Nm of torque, the result is a total power output of 500hp.

The BRABUS B50 – 500 PowerXtra module makes the large Mercedes S500 reach 100 km/h from standstill in only 4.7 seconds, the top speed is however still limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), and there is even an option for the diesel-powered S400d, aptly called the BRABUS PowerXtra D40 performance kit, bringing the power output for this six-cylinder compression-ignition engine to a healthy 365 hp with 750 Nm of torque at as low as 2,500 rpm … this diesel takes only 5.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

And this is just the beginning, I’m sure BRABUS is already working on 750, 800, or even 900 hp versions for the new Mercedes S-Class range, but power and speed are really nice, but BRABUS is also known for their amazingly well designed aerodynamic add-on parts and elegantly designed custom wheels, and part of those are already available as you read this.

A newly designed BRABUS front spoiler not only looks good, but it also reduces front-axle lift while the surrounds on the side air intakes make this car look even more aggressive, add the LED side markers and we’ve got a winner, while we haven’t even discussed the new rear bumper inset yet, complete with absolutely stunning looking, black chromed tailpipes in that typical BRABUS design. A carbon-fiber rear wing is under development at the moment but will be available soon.

Forged BRABUS “PLATINUM EDITION” wheels have been custom made for the new Mercedes S-Class, these monoblock wheels are available in either 19, 20, or massive 21-inch version, the car on these photos comes with the BRABUS Monoblock M “PLATINUM EDITION” wheels, 9×21 on the front axle and size 10.5J21 at the rear with 265/35 ZR 21 and 305/30 ZR 21 tires respectively, sourced from either Continental, Pirelli, or YOKOHAMA. To get the stance just right on this large S-Class, the BRABUS Airmatic Sport Unit will lower the factory car by 25mm (1 inch) to offer both a sportier look and even more agile handling without compromising the outstanding ride comfort we all come to love from the big Mercedes model.

And the fun continues on the inside, while the factory does an amazing job on the interior of these S-Class, BRABUS lifts it to another level altogether, like a two-tone BRABUS fine leather interior created from soft and breathable leather in the contrasting colors porcelain and black. The leather treatment continues onto the dashboard and the center console. Attention to detail is shown on the pinpoint precision perforated seats and showing a stitching pattern to mimic the cube design of the center sections on the door panels. They even go as far as offering a BRABUS Signature Carbon, which was developed exclusively for the new S-Class.

April 15, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Continental GT Speed Convertible

In late March 2021, Bentley unveiled the impressive Continental GT Speed edition, the top of the line version in terms of performance and driver-focused in the Bentley model range, but I’m more of an open-top kind of driver, so I was really happy to see Bentley now adds their Convertible model to the ‘Speed’ range too, with the new Continental GT Speed Convertible.

Usually, the open-top version of the Bentley Continental GT gets the GTC denomination, but for the Speed version they keep it at GT Speed Convertible, strange, but that’s marketing I guess, still, this new gran tourer now offers everything we’ve seen on the Speed coupe, but with the added bonus of having your hair in the wind, enjoying the sun with the impressive burble of the massive, 6.0-liter W12 TSI engine emitting from the large exhaust at the rear.

The Continental GT Speed Convertible still comes with 650 bhp and 900 nM (664 lb-ft) of torque to deliver an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in only 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h) … with the top down, I guess a trip to the hairdresser will be required after testing that top speed.

Every Bentley convertible has been known for being as quiet as the coupe once the roof comes up, and on this Continental GT Speed Convertible that is no different, Bentley proudly states: “Roof improvements deliver a convertible as quiet inside as the previous generation coupe”, which isn’t bad, to be honest, and to make things even more interesting, you have to choice of seven different roof colors … including tweed. The Z-Fold roof only takes 19 seconds to change this car from a luxurious coupe to an open GT, fully automated naturally.

Naturally, the new GT Speed Convertible comes with enhanced chassis technology, including All-Wheel Steering, an electronic rear differential, and optional carbon-ceramic disks, but also with the special Speed sport sills, dark tint grilles, and Speed badging, while three different finished are possible on the bespoke 22-inch forged Speed wheels.

Chris Craft, Member of the Board for Sales and Marketing at Bentley Motors, comments: “The new Speed is the most driver-focused Continental GT Convertible available and unique in its ability to offer extremely refined, all-season open-top Grand Touring with the added edge of astonishing performance and dynamism. Combined with exquisite, handcrafted interior details, the Continental GT Speed Convertible exemplifies all Bentley knows about creating the world’s most stylish and elegant cars for roof-down motoring.”

Being a convertible, this new Bentley requires additional commodities compared to the Continental GT Speed coupe, a neckwarmer is seamlessly integrated into the heated and vented Comfort Seats, optimizing efficiency and airflow around the electrically adjustable headrests. The styling highlight of the new neckwarmer is a chrome center vane that stretches the full width of the duct, echoing Bentley’s famous “bullseye” vents. Combined with a heated steering wheel and heated armrests, these sophisticated comfort features create a luxurious driving experience in all
environments.

Our extensive image gallery on the new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible:

April 14, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Cullinan Recreation Module

Rolls Royce takes the concept of a tailgate party to a completely different level with their Recreation Module on the luxury SUV in their range, the massive Cullinan, with a 2,245 mm loading length and boot capacity of up to 1,930 liters, there is room for some bespoke options in the rear of this impressive high-end SUV, and this opportunity is taken up very nicely by Rolls Royce Motor Cars.

Aside from the Recreation Module, you can add a second option at the rear of the Rolls Royce Cullinan, a set of seats that slide out of the rear onto the tailgate so owners can have a seat outside of their car and admire the surroundings, called the Viewing Suite, just press a button and a pair of rear-facing seats, nicely arranged either side of a retractable cocktail table, slide out.

The new Recreation Module is actually a motorized drawer that fits nearly invisibly into the Cullinan’s luggage compartment floor, this module slides open electrically to reveal equipment, accessories, and paraphernalia personally selected by the customer, each item ensconced in its own individually tailored container, trimmed to match or contrast with the car’s interior or exterior.

The Recreation Module starts with 48 liters of space that can be configured by the customer, the options are nearly unlimited, as long as it fits inside the container that can be divided into various smaller sections, and more importantly, the entire Recreation Module can be removed from the Rolls Royce Cullinan and stored in the owner’s garage, this also offers the possibility to have different Recreation Modules to comply with various needs the customer might have.

For instance, if you want to offer a high-end hosting experience out in the wild, the Bespoke feature for Cullinan named the Hosting Service might be a good idea, it offers a range of accouterments to create the perfect beverage while enjoying the world’s most breathtaking vistas. Suited to hosting up to eight adults, the Hosting Service comes complete with glassware and utensils for creating a fresh cocktail or a classic gin and tonic for passengers. Elegant highball glasses are adorned with discreet Rolls-Royce monograms whilst wooden chopping boards are made of the highest quality American walnut. Additionally, space is provisioned for light snack service.

But there is also an Urban Photography Recreation Module, which comes with specialist equipment for professional photographers, which includes a DJI Mavic Mini drone, a 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro, and a 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro for image capture and editing on location. The Bespoke Collective of Designers, Engineers, and Craftspeople also found room for Riccioni’s Sennheiser PXC550 MkII noise-canceling headphones, Persol PO3225-S sunglasses, and outerwear from streetwear brand Supreme.

It is clear Rolls Royce wants to create bespoke cars for their clients, this has been the case for decades, and in this case, the sky is really the limit when it comes to customization on this Recreation Module, whatever you would like to have stored elegantly in the rear of your Cullinan, Rolls Royce can accommodate it inside this tray for you.

Pricing? Well, you know what they say … if you have to ask …

April 13, 2021 / Comments Off

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The new Jaguar F-TYPE R-Dynamic Black

For about a $10,000 premium, you can now order the new Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Black version that further heightens the purity and presence of this sports car, this special edition is available on either the 300 hp four-cylinder or the more powerful 450 hp V8 model, and both in Coupé and Convertible.

The R-Dynamic Black edition comes with a Black exterior pack and stunning 20-inch wheels called ‘Style 5039’, these rims will not be available on other versions of the Jaguar F-Type to ensure exclusivity for the R-Dynamic Black version customers. To offset these glossy black wheels you can opt from three different metallic paints listed by Jaguar: Santorini Black, Eiger Grey, or Firenze Red

The Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Black comes with a pair of 12-way adjustable, slimline Performance Climate seats, these will be upholstered with amazing looking Windsor leather, either in an Ebony tint with Light Oyster contrast stitching or a more sporty looking Mars with Flame Red stitching.

The same monogram design is used to emboss the suede cloth wrap for the 12.3-inch reconfigurable Interactive Driver Display, while other refinements include satin-finish aluminum gearshift paddles, an Ebony suede cloth headliner, and illuminated treadplates featuring the Jaguar script.

Julian Thomson, Design Director, Jaguar, said: “Creating the new F-TYPE R-Dynamic Black models gave us the opportunity to subtly enhance the way the car looks – inside and out – and at the same time amplify both the luxury and sporting elements of its character. The result is an even more purposeful, focused, distinctive design with real presence, whether you choose the Coupé or Convertible, the four-cylinder or the V8.”

April 12, 2021 / Comments Off

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Porsche 911 GT3 fine-tuning

The new Porsche 911 GT3 is packed with technical highlights. During development, the engineers pursued one aim in particular: to
further enhance the performance of the high-performance sports car without compromising on everyday usability.

Fine-tuning in the wind tunnel

The technological progress in the area of aerodynamics is particularly apparent. It is the first time that a suspended rear wing has been fitted on a Porsche series production car. Its swan-neck mounting is used in a similar form in the GT racing car 911 RSR and the one-make cup racing car 911 GT3 Cup. Since two aluminum brackets now hold the wing element from above, the airflow can pass undisturbed across the underside, which is aerodynamically more sensitive. This new design led to a reduction in the flow losses and not only increased the downforce but also resulted in well-balanced negative lift conditions together with many other detailed measures. “We developed the aerodynamics of the new 911 GT3 in around 700 simulations. We spent more than 160 hours fine-tuning the car in the wind tunnel,” explains aerodynamics engineer Mathias Roll.

The angle of attack of the new rear wing can be set to four different positions. Correspondingly, the front diffusor can also be adjusted to four positions. “The new 911 GT3 generates 50 percent more downforce than its predecessor at 200 km/h just in the ex-works setting. In the setting with maximum downforce, the increase is as much as over 150 percent,” adds Roll. Similarly to motor racing situations, the aerodynamic balance of the new 911 GT3 can be individually adapted to track conditions and individual driving style.

“Not only are the components very similar to those used in our race cars, but the development methods are also similar,” explains the aerodynamics engineer. “In our ultra-modern wind tunnel in Weissach, we do not just drive straight ahead, we simulate every conceivable driving situation. We make the car roll, pitch, and yaw in order to simulate the physical influences on the track.”

High-revving engine with motorsport DNA

Testing on the test rig during the development of the 4.0-liter high-revving naturally aspirated engine (911 GT3: Fuel consumption combined 13.3 – 12.4 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined 304 – 283 g/km) was even more time-consuming. “In total, the engine in the new GT3 ran for more than 22,000 hours on the test rig. During testing, we repeatedly simulated typical circuit profiles and ran the engine at full throttle for a very high proportion of the time,” explains Thomas Mader, Project Manager GT Road Car Engines. The engine, which responds eagerly when the accelerator is pressed, is based on the racing engine of the GT3 race car 911 GT3 R and is also used virtually unchanged in the 911 GT3 Cup. At 375 kW (510 PS), its output is 10 PS higher than in the GT3 predecessor model. It delivers its maximum power at 8,400 rpm and the electronic limiter only cuts in on this outstanding revving ability at 9,000 rpm. Maximum torque has been increased from 460 to 470 Nm.

As in motorsport, precise valve actuation at high revs is delivered via rigid rocker arms. The proven VarioCam technology ensures camshaft control adapted precisely to engine speed and load condition. A crankshaft with large bearing diameters, wide connecting-rod bearings, and plasma-coated cylinder liners ensure lower friction losses and reduce wear. “The individual throttle valve system is taken straight from motorsport and significantly improves responsiveness,” says engine specialist Mader.

Oil supply like in motorsport

The high longitudinal and lateral acceleration forces produced by the new 911 GT3 on race tracks mean that the oil supply for the high-revving
engine is of particular importance. Like in motorsport, this is performed by a dry-sump lubrication system with a separate oil tank. With a total of seven suction stages, this routes the engine oil back into the external reservoir quickly and efficiently, while lubrication of the highly loaded connecting-rod bearings takes place directly via the oil pump through the crankshaft. “The engine in our 911 GT3 Cup race car essentially differs in respect of just two components: the exhaust system and the engine control unit. Everything else is identical,” explains Mader.

The engine of the new 911 GT3 was also put through its paces by the engineers and test drivers off the test rig. “We conducted 600 emissions tests during development in order to meet the strict standards,” says Thomas Mader. Very strict standards were also applied in terms of the engine’s endurance: it had to perform flawlessly on a continuous stretch of more than 5,000 kilometers on the oval at Nardo in Italy at a constant speed of 300 km/h, stopping only to refuel.

April 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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McLaren Artura sets new supercar standards

With acceleration figures now verified, the all-new High-Performance Hybrid powertrain in the McLaren Artura sets new benchmarks for performance, building on the levels of high-performance hybrid excellence set by the pioneering McLaren P1^TM,the world’s first hybrid hypercar, and the Speedtail Hyper-GT.

The Artura’s advanced petrol-electric powertrain delivers an unrivaled combination of throttle-response, acceleration, and electric-only, zero-emissions capability. It has been engineered to ensure the all-new McLaren supercar excels across the full spectrum of driving experiences, from everyday urban journeys to track day sessions.

“The McLaren Artura’s all-new, super-lightweight electrified powertrain is at the cutting-edge of high-performance-hybrid technology, engineered to offer all of the advantages of internal combustion and electric power in one package and establish new benchmarks for combined performance and efficiency in the supercar class. The ‘clean-sheet’ design of the Artura has allowed us to focus on how to make this power accessible to the driver and deliver the levels of engagement expected from a McLaren.”
Geoff Grose, Chief Engineer, McLaren Automotive

Minimizing weight was key to the design of the all-new powertrain. This is hugely important in an electrified supercar, as well as being absolutely aligned with McLaren’s philosophy of super-lightweight engineering that is fundamental to the performance, agility, and driver engagement inherent in every McLaren.

Breaking with the V8 convention established with the first supercar from McLaren Automotive, the 12C, at the heart of the Artura is an all-new, 3.0-liter V6 internal combustion engine. The 120-degree, twin-turbocharged M630 unit not only delivers unrivaled performance, but it also allows the most compact packaging possible. A 180-degree angle was considered but dismissed because it would raise the height of the crankshaft and therefore the center of gravity of the car. The wide-angle of the V6 cylinders allows the turbochargers to sit within the banks in a ‘hot vee’ configuration, which also benefits efficiency as they sit within a straighter, and therefore less restrictive, exhaust layout. Generating 585PS and 585Nm of torque, the all-new V6 engine is 190mm shorter and 220mm narrower than McLaren’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, and also 50kg lighter.

While the configuration of the all-new engine is key to Artura’s powertrain packaging, it is the innovative technology within that provides the biggest gains in lightweight and performance. The cylinder head and block utilize 3D printed cores, allowing uncompromised precision cooling, including a micro-compact 2mm cooling passage between the cylinders. The block has directly coated parent bores rather than separate coated liners, into which fuel is injected at 350bar pressure.

The Artura’s V6 engine is designed not just for compact packaging and efficiency, but also to increase driver engagement. Shared crankpins enable a very short and stiff crankshaft that allows the M630 to redline at a thrilling 8500rpm. It’s also a very refined engine, designed with the chain drive at the rear and with ancillary noises reduced so that the occupants only hear the V6’s distinctive intake and exhaust note, routed via Gasoline Particulate Filters to reduce emissions.

The V6 engine powers the rear wheels via an all-new eight-speed seamless shift transmission that has also been designed for optimized packaging. The length of the gear cluster has been reduced by 40mm, helped by the use of a nested clutch rather than a parallel unit and also the removal of a reverse gear, this function now achieved by Artura’s E-motor spinning in the opposite direction. The ultra-compact motor is fully integrated within the transmission bell-housing, delivering torque in-fill and linear acceleration via an E-differential to the rear wheels.

The Axial Flux design of the E-motor is another Artura benchmark. It is similar in size to a McLaren brake disc and at just 15.4kg it is only a little heavier than a conventional iron rotor component, yet it can generate up to 95PS and 225Nm as well as enable journeys of up to 30 kilometers in near-silent pure EV mode, attributes that are ideal for city driving or early-morning starts.

Providing the electric-only capability is a 7.4kWh Five-module Lithium-Ion energy-dense battery pack. Fully integrated into the Artura’s McLaren Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) chassis, the battery pack is positioned low-down in the car behind the driver, incorporated into the floor, and protected on three sides by the main carbon fiber structure and from behind by the engine. This positioning also helps to optimize both center of gravity and the polar moment of inertia, benefitting dynamic agility.

The hybrid battery sits on a cooling manifold, which is shared with the new electric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system also used to control the air temperature in the cabin. Incorporating technology first developed for the McLaren Speedtail, the batteries are thermally controlled using dielectric oil – a technology also used to keep the E-motor at operating temperatures that deliver the highest level of performance.

True to the Artura engineers’ determination to optimize packaging and weight, the battery management unit sits alongside the modules, with the power distribution unit (PDU) integrated into the battery. An integrated Power Unit (IPU) acts as a DC/DC converter for the vehicle’s 12v system, further reducing weight by removing the need for a separate alternator and onboard battery charger.

Taking just 2.5 hours to charge from zero to 80% using an EVSE socket, the battery is carefully managed so that it never truly runs out of power; there is always something in reserve for reversing or starting the engine, even when parked for extended periods. This management process also ensures that the battery remains in peak condition and accordingly the unit is warranted for 6 years or 75,000km.

An Artura driver can adjust how the electric motor is deployed to prioritize range or power or choose to shut off the internal combustion engine for silent running. Energy harvesting is achieved purely from the combustion engine in order to maintain the brake pedal feel, yet the battery can be charged from low to 80% full within minutes under normal driving conditions. This ensures that the Artura is always ready to switch to electric-only mode, an option that adds discretion and enhanced economy to the driving experience, as well as reduced CO₂ emissions at just 129 g/km.

Additionally, Artura’s High-Performance Hybrid powertrain contributes to significant ownership benefits above and beyond the performance and driving engagement it delivers: a comprehensive 5-year vehicle and 6-year hybrid battery warranty are standard for Artura customers, as is a 3-year service plan.

McLaren Artura Validated Performance Figures

97km/h (0-60mph)
0-100km/h (0-62mph)
0-200km/h (0-124mph)
0-300km/h (0-186mph)
¼ mile
Maximum speed (electronically limited)

3.0 seconds
3.0 seconds
8.3 seconds
21.5 seconds
10.7 seconds
330km/h (205 mph)

April 10, 2021 / Comments Off

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First photos of the MG Cyberster

It has been only a few days since we published the first renders on the brand new MG Cyberster concept car they intend to unveil at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, but today we can already show you actual photos of the dark red metallic concept they will be showing on the MG stand in China later this month.

Developed by the MG Advanced Design Centre in London, the new MG Cyberster will be a two-door, two-seater sports car taking inspiration from the legendary MGB Roadster, but with a modern twist with high-tech features like an interactive gaming cockpit and 5G connectivity.

To take the MG brand into the future, this new Cyberster is fully electric, thanks to a new, intelligent architecture MG lists an autonomy of 500 Miles (800 km), thanks to the lightweight construction acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62mph) is below the 3 seconds mark, as a reminder to their heritage, the large MG logo is fitted at the front, but in this case, it doubles as an air intake.

The round headlights are another blast from the past, but on the MG Cyberster, they come in the form of interactive ‘Magic Eye’ headlights that open when switched on, another striking detail of the MG Cyberster is the ‘laser belt’ LED strip down the side of the car and around the outline of the door, which follows the direction of the LED strip.

The MG Cyberster boasts a ‘Kamm tail’ rear design, where it almost looks like the tail has been cut from the car in an almost vertical manner, naturally, the taillights on this new MG are LED units too, in a rather typical design to mimic the UK flag.

On the inside, we find ‘Zero Gravity’ seats with a floating headrest, also note the stunning MG logo on these headrests, and what MG describes as a ‘Digital Fibre’ design theme, still a driver-centric layout with a separation from the passenger, there is a display in front of the driver, behind a very stylish steering wheel, and a second display on the central console.

Carl Gotham, Director of SAIC Design Advanced London, said: “The Cyberster is a bold statement that looks strongly into MG’s future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our technology and advanced design. Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us.”

There hasn’t been a price mentioned yet, and more details on the specifications and such will also only be available once the car is unveiled to the public at the Shanghai Motor Show that runs from April 21 to 28, 2021.

April 9, 2021 / Comments Off

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FOR SALE: 1992 Jaguar XJ220

Today, it’s only appropriate we feature a stunning supercar that has a strong British heritage. This beautiful 1992 Jaguar XJ220 will be hitting the prestigious auction block of Historics Auctioneers on April 17, 2021. This fine specimen comes finished in Silverstone Green Metallic with grey leather interior and has 22,691 km (14,100 miles) on the odometer.

The early 1990s were not fun times as far as supercar sales were concerned. Some would say that the most successful companies, were the ones who did not release a car during those tough times. However, Jaguar was one of the few that was determined to prevail with its latest creation – the stunning Jaguar XJ220. The XJ220 was even able to hold a production car speed record for a moment before production was cut short to 282 units due to the global recession.

This left-hand-drive example, car number 97 from the XJ220’s limited production, has been thoroughly recommissioned by the world-renowned XJ220 guru, Don Law. He performed a six-year service, new timing belts, replaced all the seals and gaskets on the twin-turbo V6 engine, overhauled the brake system, as well additional odds and ends. This work was completed in October 2020 and costed a total of £31,760.03 ($85,000).

Historics Auctioneers have projected the sale of the XJ220 to fetch between £325,000 and £375,000 ($446,000 – $515,000). These figures would have been tough to hit a decade ago but in the last few years, they have started to become the normal amount for this underappreciated 90s icon. When compared to a Testarossa, E30 M3, or other euros from the 1990s, the XJ220s value hasn’t gone wild yet but has plenty of room to grow.

April 9, 2021 / Comments Off

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The New Porsche 911 GT3 Went Around the Nardo Ring at 186MPH for 17 Hours

Porsche’s new 911 GT3 was recently put under some serious stress testing at Volkswagen’s notorious Nardo Ring test track located in Italy. The team at Porsche ran the car for 5000km (3,107 miles) at 186mph and only stopping for fuel. This means the car spent a total of nearly 17 hours at full throttle.

Porsche has been known to overbuild their cars and the new 911 GT3 is no exception. The car’s engine spent over 22,000 hours being tested on a static test rig under different simulations to prepare for real-world testing.

Porsche’s engineering team developed a very sophisticated oil supply for the GT3’s engine. The oil supply is almost identical to the one found in Porsche’s race cars and utilizes seven suction stages. “The engine in our 911 GT3 Cup race car essentially differs in respect of just two components: the exhaust system and the engine control unit. Everything else is identical,” according to Thomas Mader, Porsche’s GT road car engine specialist.

While the new 911 GT3 isn’t much more powerful than the previous model, it makes use of some welcomed upgrades and proves to be significantly faster. The model has proved to be over 12 seconds faster than the previous generation’s model. Porsche’s official statistics state the new 911 GT3 can hit a top speed of 197mph (317km/h) – whereas the previous top speed was 193mph.

Porsche has proven to provide a high-performance coupe without sacrificing reliability flawlessly. If it’s Porsche news, it’s always exciting news.

April 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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30 years of Hennessey

The car that started three decades of making fast cars even faster was a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, back in 1991 John Hennessey modified his own car to compete in the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb and Nevada Open Road Challenge races, he would later set a class record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and win the Unlimited Class at the Silver State Classic open road race in Nevada that same year.

He also founded Hennessey Performance together with his wife Hope in 1991, with a single principle in mind, too much horsepower is never enough, from building cars for international rock stars and world-famous athletes to claiming countless speed records, including the “World’s Fastest Car” title, the business ethos has always been to seek out the next challenge.

Shortly after founding the company, John Hennessey turned his attention to boosting the performance of the now-iconic Dodge Viper. By 1997 he achieved an important accolade with his 650hp Hennessey Viper Venom GTS being the first to break 200mph. Since 2006, the company’s recently extended 51,000 sq-ft HQ has been next to its own test track enabling the acceleration of its R&D, engineering, and tuning business with cars like the 234mph, twin-turbo 1000hp Ford GT, and 200mph HPE 600 Corvette C7 produced by the experienced team of Hennessey engineers.

By 2010, the business had built its own hypercar, the Hennessey Venom GT. Based on the chassis of a Lotus Exige, the 1244hp monster weighed just 2743lb and was powered by a turbocharged Hennessey V8 that enabled 0-200mph in just 14.51 seconds. The Venom GT set a production car Guinness World Record for the fastest 0-300kph time (13.63 seconds) in 2013, then followed that in 2014 with another world record, becoming the fastest production car in the world with a 270.49mph top speed.

Truck tuning emerged as a new customer-led trend in 2012 with the 600hp Hennessey Velociraptor beginning a generation of ‘hypertrucks’ from 1000hp supercar slayers to 6×6 conversions. Alongside these monsters of the road, the Hennessey team continued its muscle car work with models like its 1000hp ZL1 Camaro – named The Exorcist – raising the profile of the business further still.

Today, alongside producing upwards of 500 customer cars a year, the Hennessey team is focused on the all-new 100% bespoke Hennessey Venom F5 hypercar. This ‘decathlete of hypercars’ boasts 1817hp from its Hennessey-built 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine and targets a top speed exceeding 311mph (500kph).

In its 30^th year, Hennessey sees the launch of the F5 as a rebirth for the brand and the beginning of an exciting new future. Looking ahead, Hennessey plans a series of exciting models, built on the same 100% bespoke basis as the F5

April 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Bugatti EB 110 celebrates her 30th Anniversary

A combination of tenacity, dreams, and boundless passion always prevails. No one knows this better than Romano Artioli. For decades, the Italian had dreamed of a modern super sports car, and this is what led him to revive the dormant Bugatti brand.

“Romano Artioli is a part of our brand’s history. It was thanks to his initiative and perseverance that Bugatti was revived,” explains Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “Romano’s energy and enthusiasm, his irresistible passion for Bugatti, helped to transport the brand into the 21 century.”

Artioli’s love of cars is closely linked to his background. Born close to Mantua, the home town of racing driver Tazio Nuvolari, as a child he was fascinated by racing drivers and their cars. At the age of 12, he devoured a book on driver’s licenses. “After that, it was clear to me that my life would be dedicated to cars and engines,” he once told the magazine Classic Driver. Artioli studied mechanical engineering in Bolzano, and after the war, he repaired cars.

When in 1952, at the age of 20, Artioli heard the news that production at Bugatti had ceased (at least for the time being), he was shocked. A brand of such superior quality, sophisticated design, ideas, and technical achievement had to one day be revived. At that moment he vowed: “If no one reacts to the situation at Bugatti, I will work as long as it takes to one day bring the brand back”. It would take 39 years for him to achieve his ambition. Over the coming years, the Italian earned his living as a vehicle importer, including the brand GM and Suzuki. He became the largest importer of Japanese cars in Italy and the largest Ferrari dealer. His private car collection at that time featured numerous historic Bugatti models.

By the mid-1980s, the Italian had begun to negotiate the sale of the brand with the French government, discreetly and concealed from public view for two years. In 1987, he founded Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. and became its chairman. Artioli initially wanted to resurrect the company in Molsheim. “Molsheim is comparable to Maranello in Italy or Hethel in England. It is a Mecca for Bugatti, but at the time there were neither production halls nor engineers in the region,” says the 88-year-old. He asked fans of the brand to support him to create a link between Molsheim and a new location, Campogalliano.

State-of-the-art car production plant built in Campogalliano

In the years that followed, the world’s most modern car production plant was built with intensive planning on a site covering 240,000 square meters in the vicinity of Ferrari, Maserati, De Tomaso, and Lamborghini. The site incorporates an administrative building, design studio, engine and test development area, production halls, test track, a stylish canteen, and exhibition space. The halls are open, bathed in natural light, and fitted with air conditioning systems so that the employees feel as though they are sitting in the open air. He handed the architectural commission to his cousin Giampaolo Benedini, who designed a spectacular building, one which went on to inspire other manufacturers.

Benedini also modified the initial design of the future super sports car, smoothing the sharp edges and the extreme wedge shape. “With the EB 110, we had to push the boundaries in terms of performance and quality. I owed that to Ettore Bugatti. Production output was less important than uncompromising quality and innovation,” explains Artioli, who today commutes between his office in Lyon and his family home in Trieste. The car enthusiast enlisted the region’s top engineers and designers to put his plan into action.

The EB 110 came into being on a blank sheet of paper, breaking with many of the conventions of its class and reaching the peak of automotive excellence. It was to become the best and fastest super sports car in the world. The EB 110 featured the first series-produced carbon chassis, all-wheel drive, four turbochargers, and a 3.5-liter V12 engine with five valves per cylinder and a power output of 550 PS. With a top speed of over 351 km/h, the two-seater broke multiple records. Almost 30 years ago, on Ettore Bugatti’s 110 birthday (September 15, 1991), Romano Artioli presented the EB 110 in Paris. Over 5,000 reporters and leading industry figures from all over the world, not to mention countless eager spectators, attended the premiere in Paris. Several hundred security personnel were needed to safeguard the event on the Place de la Défense. All of the fans shrieked as Alain Delon drove down the Champs-Élysées with Artioli’s wife Renata.

The most high-profile customer was Michael Schumacher, who had tested various super sports cars as part of a comparison test for a car magazine and had been particularly impressed by the EB 110, which he regarded as unrivaled. “Michael came to Campogalliano immediately after and purchased a yellow Super Sport with a blue GT interior. He did not ask for a discount, he was clearly a fan,” recalls Artioli. Every owner was able to individually configure their own EB 110, like a tailor-made suit.

However, times changed. While the response to the EB 110 had been extremely enthusiastic despite the global financial crisis, the Americans were suffering from the effects of the Gulf War, and the value of the yen was rising while in Italy the economy was collapsing, the market shrank and sales fell. Moreover, Artioli had invested in the automotive company Lotus and amassed debts; problems with suppliers followed.

After 39 years of dreaming and seven years of hard work, the Bugatti project under Romano Artioli came to an end. On September 23, 1995, after the construction of around 128 vehicles, he filed for bankruptcy. He paid his 220 employees up to the very last day. “The employees understood the spirit of Bugatti. They were what made the EB 110 so special, losing all that was a shock. It was a terrible day for all of us,” explains Artioli. The almost completed EB 112 super-saloon could no longer be launched. “An incredible car, a delight to drive, with a 6.0-liter V12 installed behind the front axle. The chassis was made of carbon fiber and the internal suspension was lightweight. It drove like a go-kart,” recalls Artioli.

But the legend that is Bugatti did not rest for long. In 1998, Bugatti returned to the French town of Molsheim, to the place where, in 1909, Ettore Bugatti built his first car in his own name. Since then, the Atelier in Alsace has produced the inimitable hyper sports cars Chiron, Divo, Chiron Pur sport, and in homage to the EB 110, the Centodieci.

April 7, 2021 / Comments Off

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A road legal track car?

We all know those multi-million dollar hypercars that are built for the track only, names like the Pagani Zonda R, the Pagani Zonda Revolucion of which only 5 were ever made, or a McLaren Senna GTR, not to forget the brand new Pagani Huayra R that will be built soon, all of these are amazing hypercars that have been developed to their limits, but to be used on the track only, none of these cars are street-legal, so you can’t enjoy them on the open road … or can you?

There seems to be a loophole for this, take your track-only hypercar to UK based automotive company Lanzante Limited, which offers a road-legal conversion for these cars, so you can register it in the UK and get a UK license plate, and they have done this before, on a McLaren F1 GTR, McLaren P1 GTR, and even a McLaren Senna GTR … and now TopCar Design apparently asked them to convert one of only five Pagani Zonda Revolucion, a list of necessary modifications will be published later.

The 2013 Pagina Zonda Revolucion in question is apparently car #4 of 5, upon completion of this conversion TopCar Design intends to showcase the car around Europe, with the value of a track-only Zonda Revolucion around the €6,000,000 mark, once this one becomes the only street-legal version, her value will be considerably higher.

The Pagani Zonda Revolucion weighs only 1,070 kg, with a 6.0-Liter, AMG V12 engine taken from the Zonda R, with 800 hp and 730 Nm of torque to the rear wheels only, the top speed is said to be around 375 km/h (233 mph) while acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is completed in a mere 2.7 seconds, back in 2013 the MSRP on these 5 cars was €2,200,000 before taxes.

(all images taken from our Pagani Zonda Revolucion gallery)

April 7, 2021 / Comments Off

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M340i xDrive DCL dAHLer competition line

The BMW M340i comes from the factory as a ‘Mild Hybrid’, this means there is a starter-generator and a battery added to reduce fuel consumption and increase overall power output, the 48-volt adds up to 11 hp (8 kW) to the normal combustion engine to get you off the line quicker during acceleration, in this model the engine is the B58 unit with 374 hp (275 kW) and 500 Nm of torque.

But Dahler Competition Line AG from Bern, Switzerland, takes this mild hybrid to another level after their overhaul, which is available in two levels, the Power Boost level 1 brings power output to an impressive 435 hp (320 kW) and torque up to 610 Nm (450 ft-lb), and as this tuning is WLTP-E6d tested and approved for sale in the EU and Switzerland, you even keep the factory warranty on your brand new BMW M340i.

Going for the Power Boos level 2 ‘powered by dAHLer’ option will get you to 455 hp (334 kW) and 640 Nm (472 ft-lb) and will in the near future come with an increased setting for the top speed limiter, but you’ll could run into some issues with the factory warranty from BMW themselves, so that’s a risk you might need to take in this case.

To make sure the looks of the BMW M340i dAHLer fit the sound from the exhaust, you might want to get their stainless steel exhaust system, specially tuned to the series GPF. It comes with quad ceramic-coated 90mm tailpipes, a top-quality ceramic coating is not only highly practical, with outstanding features such as hardness and resistance to wear, electrical insulation, low thermal conductivity, and a consistently reproducible surface structure, it also has a highly refined look.

Dahler Competition Line AG is also preparing an Eventuri intake system and they offer an additional, CAN bus-controlled exhaust valve controller so you can have a more subtle sound when you drive in the city, but unleash the sporty, signature dAHLer sound on the highway.

If your BMW M340i comes with the EDC Electronic Damping System from the factory, you can install an upcoming Competition coilover suspension “Built by dAHLer” with DDC plug and play, but for now, they already offer a Competition coilover suspension that can be manually adjustable in height and hardness, however, if you’re only going for looks, a set of sport springs is also a possibility.

But you will have to get a set of ultra-light 20-inch “dAHLer CDC1 FORGED” wheels, 9×20 inches at the front with 235/35ZR20 tires and 10×20 inches at the rear with 275/30ZR20 tires (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S) to finish of the mild aero tuning from dAHLer in the form of a front splitter, a rear spoiler, special M Style mirror caps, a carbon-fiber roof antenna cover, and a front grille design in three different looks.

April 5, 2021 / Comments Off

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FV Frangivento Sorpasso

We all think about Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini when someone mentions ‘Italian supercar’, but there are many more car builders in Italy, like FV Frangivento, located in Turin, and they just introduced their latest creation, the FV Frangivento Sorpasso, and while the ‘base’ model is called the Stradale, they also have a GTXX model, and it’s this one that comes with an interesting option.

As a special customization option, you can opt for the FV Frangivento Sorpasso GTXX to come with your choice of numbers for the ‘XX’ in the name, so you could have it as GT40, or GT63, or whatever number you like, and that’s not even the best part … there is also Programma Sviluppo and Programma Ego, this will give you 30-day access to the stylists at FV Frangivento to actually design you very own Sorpasso Stradale or Sorpasso GTXX.

The car in these press renders is in fact the FV Frangivento Sorpasso Stradale, the more elegant supercar, in this case, finished in ‘Grigio Hermes’, the Sorpasso GTXX will come with a GT3 inspired, more aggressive design and boast two-tone paint finish, for the interior a combination of Alcantara and leather is possible, and FV Frangivento lists an optional Avatar Driving Assistant. Which should become an AI technology-based co-pilot or travel assistant.

The FV Frangivento Sorpasso comes with four-wheel drive and a V10 engine, while the Stradala makes do with 610 hp, the GTXX will get a supercharger installed to raise the power output to 850 hp, the latter will be able to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.9 seconds and won’t run out of breath until her maximum speed of 345 km/h (215 Mph) is reached.

No pricing yet, but FV Frangivento already has orders in, and plans to have the first of their latest Sorpasso delivered to their clients by July …

April 4, 2021 / Comments Off

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From Race to Road

Hispano Suiza and competition have gone hand in hand since its foundation in 1904. Back then, taking part in the most prestigious races not only gave the brand national and international visibility, but also allowed Hispano Suiza to learn about the behavior of its vehicles, when they were tested to the highest level of demand: it was vital to continue offering its customers increasingly powerful, reliable and, ultimately, better cars.

In its new stage, Hispano Suiza has maintained this philosophy. Both the Hispano Suiza Carmen, as well as its more powerful version, Carmen Boulogne – whose name honors its triumphs in the George Boillot Cup, in Boulogne, a century ago – have been designed by racing engineers, and their development carried out by professional racing drivers. Likewise, Hispano Suiza takes part in the new 100% electric SUV championship, Extreme E, an innovative concept that promotes values such as sustainability, equality, and electrification, and that will also provide the brand with valuable knowledge to be applied in future models.

A motto that defines the brand

“From Race to Road” is the motto that perfectly defines the philosophy of Hispano Suiza, the same one that has accompanied it since its foundation more than a century ago and that has forged its legend on circuits and roads around the world. The aim of the brand has always been to transmit through its new cars the passion for driving, high performance, luxury, craftsmanship, and ultimately, excellence on wheels.

When the historic Spanish manufacturer resurfaced in 2019, it did so together with its technological partner, Spanish engineering company QEV Technologies, bringing together a group of professionals with a wealth of experience in the main automotive championships all over the world. Hispano Suiza decided to return to the automotive world with Carmen, a hyper-luxury sports car, 100% electric. It needed that know-how to offer its customers a product that lives up to the brand’s legacy, with a design inspired by its own history, cutting-edge technology, dreamlike features, and unlimited customization possibilities that turned each car into a work of art on wheels.

Many of the technologies present in Carmen and Carmen Boulogne derive directly from Formula E, the first 100% electric racing championship where the members of Hispano Suiza’s technological partner achieved the first Drivers’ title in history, with the NEXTEV team and Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet Jr behind the wheel. Formula E has evolved enormously since that first 2014-2015 season, a period in which cars had to be replaced mid-race due to lack of autonomy, and during which they barely reached 270 hp of power. Now, the single-seaters are much more spectacular aesthetically, they complete the races without even having to stop to recharge the batteries, they exceed 340 hp and reach a top speed of 280 km/h, 55 km/h more than the previous generation.

Hispano Suiza has not only been a direct witness of this evolution but has also used this experience to build one of the most beautiful and innovative vehicles ever made in the world. Among the technologies derived from Formula E that are part of Carmen and Carmen Boulogne is its power train, with four permanent magnet synchronous motors, housed in its rear axle. The impressive torque of each engine is controlled through sophisticated vectoring systems developed in-house with experience gained in Formula E. From 0 to 6,500 rpm, the engines are capable of reaching a maximum of 1,160 Nm of torque, enabling breath-taking acceleration, from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.6 s, and seemingly endless power and traction.

The lithium-ion polymer battery has a capacity of 80 kWh that allows it to develop a homologated range of up to 400 km. Batteries are designed and produced in-house and include a complete temperature control system to ensure that the cells can operate optimally. They have a fast charge capacity of more than 80 kW DC, requiring only 30 minutes to charge 30-80% through a CCS2 fast charger.

The exterior is made of carbon fiber, a material that guarantees maximum resistance and lightness, and which began to be used in Formula 1 in the 80s. In total, the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne weighs 1,630 kg, which together with its 1,114 hp of power, guarantees a magnificent power-to-weight ratio of 1.5 kg/hp. The suspension also comes from Formula E: it is optimized to guarantee the maximum possible lightness. It’s design and architecture are the meeting point between the asphalt and the driver. It preserves the Racing DNA, also guaranteeing reliability and safety.

Another important technological feature is the software, responsible for transmitting more than 1,000 hp of power to the wheels, and which has been developed – also based on experience gained in Formula E – so that any customer can get behind the wheel of a vehicle with these characteristics without being a professional driver. Through the software, different driving modes (Sport, ECO, and Comfort) can be selected to guarantee the best sensations and performance at the right time.

“We have tried to transfer our six years of experience in Formula E to a vehicle that is unrivaled,” says Joan Orús, CTO of Hispano Suiza. “It is not a car made to break records but to convey the passion for driving and, above all, to make everyone who climbs in it, fall completely and utterly in love. It is a vehicle designed to enjoy. Its more than 1,000 hp of power, located on the rear axle, ensure exceptional performance, and together with a magnificent exterior and interior design, unique and handcrafted, we achieve an innovative, beautiful, and at the same time comfortable vehicle ”.

“Thanks to this project we made a dream come true”, adds Orús. “We have been able to shape a sketch made on a blank sheet of paper. It is the dream of any automotive engineer: we have taken all the technology from Formula E and we have brought it to a road car. We have built a high-performance supercar and added details of pure luxury, hence our concept of hyperlux ”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, at the forefront of development

For the development of its vehicles, Hispano Suiza chose to have authentic racing drivers, who were used to pushing competition cars to the limit to discover where they can improve, continue to evolve, and who knows how to transmit the feedback of the vehicle to the engineers. as precisely as possible. During the development process of Carmen and Carmen Boulogne, the brand relied on the expertise of Luis Pérez-Sala, former Formula 1 driver and two-time Spanish Touring Car Champion, and Pablo Suárez, technical specialist in electric vehicles and racing driver.

Over the past year, Pérez-Sala and Suárez have travelled more than eight thousand kilometres on roads throughout Spain and on circuits such as Calafat, the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya and even Le Mans. All this to achieve the best performance, reliability and thus be able to transmit to the driver of the Hispano Suiza Carmen the authentic sensations of a unique car born on the circuit, prepared and developed by professionals and racing drivers, and that, in addition, can be driven on the road.

April 3, 2021 / Comments Off

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