Motorsport

Aston Martin DB12 Arrives in North America at Q New York Location

The Aston Martin DB12 has made its official debut in North America, but unfortunately it is not yet available for purchase. The company will begin deliveries of the new GT car later this year. However, you can view it right now at Aston Martin’s new ultra-exclusive location in New York City called Q New York.

Q New York is not just a dealership but is in fact Aston Martin’s “ultra-luxury flagship location” for those customers who want to create their dream car using the company’s bespoke service called Q by Aston Martin. Its location on Park Avenue in Manhattan places it in the heart of New York’s luxury row, making it a perfect spot for special events, product launches, and even an overnight hotel for Aston Martin’s most distinguished customers.


Motorsport

2024 Nissan Sentra Receives a Fresh Look and New Trim Level Amid Falling Sales

Nissan has given the eighth-generation Sentra a makeover for the 2024 model year. The latest updates offer a sleeker design and a more fuel-efficient powertrain, although the new fuel economy figures have yet to be revealed.

The 2024 Sentra is set to be available in S, SV, and SR grades when it goes on sale in late summer. The front of each Sentra now sports a fresh V-motion grille paired with a refined bumper design and brand-new headlights. The SV grade will also come equipped with an eight-speaker Bose sound system as part of the new SV Premium Package. Additionally, integrated side-mirror turn signals and Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor are also included. The SV is available with a fresh 16-inch wheel design.


Motorsport

Upcoming VW Jetta or Sagitar for Chinese-Market Spotted during Tests in Europe

A Volkswagen car model was seen recently during testing in the Austrian Alps, sparking curiosity among car enthusiasts. Whether it’s the Jetta for the United States or the Sagitar for China is unknown. What’s evident is that the vehicle is undergoing brake testing, as indicated by the “Bremsprobe” label on the rear.

The car has some features in common with the current Jetta and Sagitar. It has pointed elements on the inner part of the headlights and a trapezoidal lower fascia with shiny metallic components in the mesh. Managed air curtains also occupy the outer edges.


Motorsport

Buick Unveils 2024 Envision with Avenir Trim and Super Cruise

Buick has released a preview of the updated version of its Envision model, three years after it launched the second generation in the US. The facelifted car has already been seen in China, where it was showcased via publication by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as part of the homologation process. The US version is being revealed in the luxury Avenir trim, which will feature bigger wheels, a different front grille pattern, and orange side markers. The latest model features a redesigned front fascia, inspired by the Wildcat concept, and substantial changes to the overall design. The 2024 Envision will introduce Super Cruise, which will work on more than 400,000 miles of road, making it the first Buick model to offer this feature.

2024 Buick Envision

The Envision will have hands-free capabilities and a cabin with a luxurious feel, with plenty of leather, nice stitching, memory seats, and an upgraded steering wheel to accommodate the self-driving system. The facelift features a dashboard with merged displays similar to other car models launched recently. The instrument cluster and infotainment displays have merged into one unit with a 19-inch screen that boasts eight inches for the driver’s display and 11 inches for the touchscreen.

Although this is just a preview, Buick has confirmed that the updated Envision will be the third of five new models to be launched in the US by 2024. With the crossover registering its best half-year sales results, it is on target to generate record deliveries in 2023.

In contrast to the US, Buick sedans remain popular in China, with the Verano, LaCrosse, Regal, Excelle, GL6, and GL8 being offered.

Motorsport

Nyobolt Develops EV Concept with Revolutionary Battery Technology: Fully Recharged In 6 Minutes

One of the biggest complaints about electric cars is their long charging times that cannot compare with refuelling speeds of gasoline-powered vehicles. Nyobolt, a British firm that produces ultra-fast-charging batteries, claims it has revolutionized battery technology and developed a battery pack that can fully charge in less than six minutes. The concept EV sports car boasts a 35-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can cover a range of approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) on a single charge. Although the weight of the sports car has not been officially disclosed, Nyobolt hinted that it is closer to one tonne than two, indicating that the car weighs less than 3,307 pounds (1,500 kilograms).


Motorsport

Spofec Takes Rolls-Royce Phantom to the Next Level with 24-Inch Wheels and 685 HP

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is not typically known for its performance capabilities. While the V12 engine provides plenty of power, the luxury vehicle has never been designed to be sporty. Nonetheless, Spofec has given the dignified limousine a healthy dose of power, amped up its appearance, lowered its stance, and turned it into a formidable four-door sedan.

Taking a look at its appearance, it’s impossible to ignore the massive wheels. The Phantom Series II now boasts 24-inch Spofec SP3 alloys, which are polished and brushed, and developed in partnership with Vossen and built by the American company using precision CNC machining technology. The small openings on the wheels are not purely decorative, however. They also provide airflow to cool the brakes. Additionally, Spofec states that these wheels are exceptionally robust and are suitable for the Phantom EWB long wheelbase model.


BMW

Postcard Story: The MINI Cooper SE in Oxfordshire

Require assistance? To get help, please get in touch with our support team between 9 AM to 5 PM CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

Wed Jun 14 00:01:00 CEST 2023 Press Release

With its lively electric motor and nimble frame, the electric MINI in the stunning Chili Red hue is a head-turner traversing the streets of Oxford. The compact car is capable of cruising through the tight streets of the old town with ease.

The brand’s classic go-kart sensation is achievable with the electric MINI offering uninterrupted acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, resulting in an incredible driving experience on the streets of Oxford. The sporty design of the MINI Cooper SE is topped off by the 17″ MINI Electric Power Spoke, which has a two-tone wheel.

BMW

BMW International Open 2023: “Eagles for Education” Campaign and BMW i5 Hole-in-One Award

BMW organizes the BMW International Open from 21st to 25th June 2023 at Golfclub München Eichenried. The BMW Group is committed to providing educational opportunities and is launching its long-term charity campaign “Eagles for Education” at the tournament. For every eagle achieved, the BMW Group will donate 1,000 euros to the organisations “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben”. The 2023 Hole-in-One Award on the 17th hole will be the first fully-electric BMW i5. Thomas Müller and Gareth Bale tee off in the Pro-Am. Here’s what you need to know about the BMW International Open 2023.

The BMW Group is committed to its social responsibility and is expanding its commitment to the BMW International Open by launching a new campaign. The “Eagles for Education” campaign will donate 1,000 euros to the organisations “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben” for every eagle achieved during the tournament. The BMW Group’s goal is to provide better career opportunities for underprivileged children and young people. The BMW Group has already raised 44.5 million US dollars (roughly 41.4 million euros) for the Evans Scholar Foundation at the PGA TOUR Playoff event, the BMW Championship.

The BMW i5 will be the Hole-in-One Award if a player scores an eagle on the 17th hole. An eagle on a par-three hole is an ace, and as such, the player who scored the eagle wins the BMW i5. The BMW i5 is the first fully-electric BMW 5 Series and is produced at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, where the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the vehicle are also produced.

The top-class field for the 34th BMW International Open includes Luke Donald, Thomas Bjørn, Edoardo Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts, Haotong Li, Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Pablo Larrazábal, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, and many others.

The BMW International Open has a long tradition of commitment to education. The tournament also features a Pro-Am tournament with sports stars such as Thomas Müller, Gareth Bale, and Martin Borgmeier. The tournament offers free admission to children and young people aged 16 and under and has various activities to inspire the next generation of golfers, including the “Abschlag Schule” project, which involves school classes visiting the tournament.

Visitors to the tournament can also experience the BMW fleet of fully-electric and electrified cars, as well as win prizes in the “Nearest to the Pin” competition and take part in the “Longest Putt Challenge” to win season tickets for the Ryder Cup in Rome. There are many options for following the BMW International Open from afar, including live coverage on Sky, ORF Sport+, and Sport1, as well as a free livestream on BMW Golfsport and Sport1.de.

The BMW International Open will use a fully-electrified BMW shuttle fleet, charged with 100% green electricity. The tournament can be accessed via a free bus shuttle service and parking for visitors is available free of charge in officially marked parking spaces.

The BMW International Open would like to thank its partners, including DP World, Emirates, Five9, NTT Data, Rolex, Visit South Africa, Antenne Bayern, Goodyear, Hilton, and all supplier partners for their support and collaboration.

Volkswagen

Transformation of Mobility in Astypalea: The Future of Sustainable Transportation

The Greek island of Astypalea is serving as a test bed for sustainable, smart mobility initiatives. The Volkswagen Group and the Hellenic Republic have partnered to slowly transform the island’s transportation system to include e-mobility, digital mobility solutions, and green energy. The initial results are promising. The digital mobility solutions, such as the ASTYBUS ride sharing service, show positive acceptance rates with 25% of the island’s population taking advantage of the service. In the last year alone, the service has completed over 200,000 customer kilometers. Electrification of the transportation system is also making strides. Almost all of the new cars registered on Astypalea are now fully electric.

The Volkswagen Group is investing its knowledge and expertise in mobility to help Astypalea achieve its goals. Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Ducati, and SEAT MÓ have all provided vehicles to support the project. The transformation of Astypalea’s mobility sector is nearly complete. This includes the implementation of a public charging infrastructure, a special subsidy scheme for private customers and companies, the electrification of authority vehicles (such as police and airport vehicles), as well as mobility services such as ASTYBUS and astyGO. The number of electric vehicles on the small island has gone from zero to 84 in a short period of time.

ASTYBUS, the ride-sharing service, displace the limited traditional bus line that was the only means of local transportation on Astypalea. Unlike the bus line, ASTYBUS operates all year round, connecting many more places on the island. Depending on the season, up to five vehicles are used for this service. With astyGO, customers can rent electric cars from Volkswagen, e-scooters from SEAT MÓ, and e-bikes from Ducati. Users can easily book these vehicles through their smartphones by using the integrated astyMOVE app.

Maik Stephan, Head of Business Development of the Volkswagen Group, has commented “Over the next two decades, we will see many of the changes that make up the Astypalea project in other regions of Europe as well. Particularly impressive is the people’s change in mood from initial skepticism to great approval. This shows that rapid transformation is possible if companies, politicians, and society work together.”

Green Energy: 3 Megawatt Solar Park

The next phase of the project includes the renovation of the energy system, with a gradual switch towards locally produced renewable energy. The smaller existing solar plants currently power parts of the island’s electrical fleet with renewable energy. The construction of a hybrid power system is the next milestone in the project. This system is set to begin operating in 2024 and will consist of a 3.5-megawatt solar park and battery storage system. This park will provide 100% of the island’s energy needs for e-mobility transportation and 60% of its general energy needs. The Greece-first tender for this energy project has just recently closed.

By 2026, the island aims to have an energy system that covers around 80% of the total energy demand. Previously, Astypalea relied mainly on diesel generators to generate electricity that emitted up to 5,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Accompanying Scientific Study

An accompanying scientific study shows that people on the island overwhelmingly support the transformation – with 80% of the island residents having a positive view of e-mobility and mobility services. This signifies a significant improvement compared to the first survey taken at the beginning of the project in 2021, proving that providing relevant information about new technologies and services is crucial. Particularly impressive, the flexible and affordable ASTYBUS ride-sharing service is rated with a remarkable 97% approval. The study took place in two phases: in the winter of 2022-2023 and the summer of 2021, with a total of 211 and 221 people participating. Scientists from the University of the Aegean (Greece) and the University of Strathclyde (Scotland) will evaluate the project over several years.

Sustainability in the Volkswagen Group

Sustainability is among the 10 strategic fields of action that the Volkswagen Group is significantly prioritizing under the leadership of CEO Oliver Blume. This is evident in their emphasis on e-mobility and their ramp-up plans for all of the Group’s brands. In 2021, Volkswagen also strengthened their CO2 targets in production and intends to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 50% by 2030.

ToyotaUk

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s “The Shoot” Finale Impress With 300-HP Rally-Inspired Toyota GR Corolla

  • The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand and U.S Lineup were launched in a three-part series
  • TOYOTA GAZOO Racing North America team drivers bring the action movie inspired stunts to life
  • In this follow-up, “The Shoot,” stars the 300-HP Rally Inspired Toyota GR Corolla Hot Hatch
  • “The Pitch” had the GR Supra as the starring model in 2021

PLANO, Texas (June 13, 2023) – The final installment of the exciting “The Pitch” campaign, “The Shoot,” features Toyota’s GR Sports Car trio. The showstoppers in the episode include an adrenaline-pumping car chase in a snowy mountain road, a high-speed dash out of a roadside trap, and a dusty getaway in a one-horse Western town. 

The episode, a four-minute spot shot across different locations in California and Park City, Utah, sees professional drivers behind the wheel of GR sports cars, including TGR-NA drivers Frederic Aasbø and Ken Gushi, and Ryan Tuerck. They bring the creative team’s ideas to life while the executives continue to give them notes. The episode also pays tribute to an old Corolla commercial from Australia. It is the conclusion of a three-part series that launched the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand and the U.S. lineup.

In the debut episode, “The Pitch” (2021), GR Supra was the starring model, and the GR badged model was launched in the US. “The Focus Group” (2022) saw the newly added GR86 appeared. 

The episodes, created by Sweatpants Media in association with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, showcased the self-expression and fun-to-drive characteristics of Toyota’s stylish sports cars. They sought to establish the brand’s unique identity in the eyes of young Americans.

The GR Corolla, available in Core Grade, Circuit Edition, and ultra-limited MORIZO Edition, features the GR-Four All Wheel Drive, a 1.6L Turbo 3 Cylinder G16E-GTS engine, and 6-speed intelligent Manual Transmission. The car is Toyota’s hot-hatch entry in the GR sports car lineup.

Product Highlights Include:

The GR Corolla hot hatch’s final exciting campaign will target sports car enthusiasts and auto intenders alike, sharing across different digital and social media platforms.

The epic finale of “The Pitch” campaign, “The Shoot,” sees the 300-HP Rally Inspired Toyota GR Corolla Hot Hatch bring more GR to the streets for a final series of stunts. The episode brings Sweatpants Media and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s partnership to an eye-catching end, showcasing the self-expression and fun-to-drive attributes of Toyota’s lineup of stylish sports cars.