BMW

24H SPA EWC Motos: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team Claims Another Podium at Spa-Francorchamps

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team had a successful home race at Spa-Francorchamps, as they finished on the podium once again. After 24 hours of intense racing, Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, and Jérémy Guarnoni secured third place with their BMW M 1000 RR at the 24H SPA EWC Motos, the second round of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship. This follows their previous third-place finish at the opening race weekend in Le Mans. The team is currently ranked third in the Team world championship standings, 33 points behind the leaders.

In the qualifying sessions, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team showed strong performance, securing second place on the grid. However, they faced challenges during the race, with safety car phases causing them to lose time after pit stops. Despite this setback, the team consistently battled their way back through the field, eventually climbing to fourth place. They maintained this position throughout the night, delivering good lap times and efficient fuel consumption. With three and a half hours remaining, they inherited third place when the Suzuki team ahead of them encountered technical issues. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team successfully defended their position until the end, even in the face of rain in the closing stages of the race.

The Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, fresh from their victory in the Superstock class at the season-opener in Le Mans, also had a promising start at Spa-Francorchamps. However, they faced a setback when forced into the garage due to a technical issue. Despite efforts to repair the bike, they eventually had to retire from the race during the night.

The private BMW Team LRP Poland, racing with the BMW S 1000 RR, experienced various issues throughout the race but managed to push through and reach the finish line after 24 hours of racing.

The next race, the 8 Hours of Suzuka in Japan, will take place on August 6th.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, Marc Bongers, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s third-place finish, noting the unfortunate situations caused by safety car periods. He praised the team’s performance, emphasizing their ability to fight back and the reliability of the motorcycle. Bongers acknowledged the need to improve their speed to reach the top position and shared disappointment for the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team’s inability to finish the race due to technical problems.

Werner Daemen, Team Manager of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, described the race as hectic, highlighting their bad luck with safety car periods in the beginning. However, he commended the impressive performance of the riders and mechanics and expressed gratitude to BMW for providing a reliable bike for the 24 hours. Daemen emphasized the team’s focus on the upcoming race in Japan and their aim to achieve another strong result.

Markus Reiterberger, one of the riders, reflected on their second-place qualification and the challenges faced during the race. He mentioned struggling with grip in high temperatures but remained error-free throughout the race, eventually securing third place. Reiterberger expressed gratitude to the team and acknowledged the tough and long race they had completed on the podium.

Ilya Mikhalchik, another team member, expressed happiness with their overall speed during the race, despite losing time due to safety car pit lane exits. He praised the team for avoiding mistakes and looked forward to a good position in the upcoming race in Japan.

Jérémy Guarnoni, also a part of the team, celebrated the second consecutive podium finish but acknowledged their lack of luck with the safety car, causing them to lose contact with the front riders. Nonetheless, Guarnoni expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and the speed of his teammates.

Featured

Graham Rahal Performance Reveals Porsche Carrera GT Recommission Project #02

Introduced in 2004, the Porsche Carrera GT has left a lasting impact on the automotive industry and is considered one of the iconic supercars in its class. To preserve its legacy, Graham Rahal Performance offers a specialized recommissioning service called the GRP Porsche Carrera GT Recommission Project. This project allows owners to customize their Carrera GTs even after almost 20 years since they were first produced. Graham Rahal Performance is excited to announce GRP Project Recommission #02, which features a stunning Signal Orange Porsche Carrera GT.

Orange CGT-104

The Porsche Carrera GT in this project boasts a vibrant Signal Orange finish, which is inspired by a Porsche Singer and perfectly replicates the unique shade found on the handbuilt 911. As part of the customization process, GRP Project Recommission #02 includes upgraded HRE performance wheels with silver and black center locks. Additionally, the Porsche carbon ceramic brake calipers have been paint-matched to complement the new exterior color of the Carrera GT.

Signal_Orange_CGT_Interior_19

Inside the Carrera GT, the design pays tribute to early Porsche interiors with its jaw-dropping plaid-style cabin. The outer portion of the Porsche sports bucket seats features black leather with signal orange contrast stitching, while the center inserts showcase a stunning signal orange, grey, and black cross-woven plaid design. Subtle hints of vibrant orange stitching tastefully accentuate the driver-focused interior while maintaining a factory appearance for the majority.

Signal_Orange_CGT_Singer_02

Comparing the Carrera GT and the 911 Singer side by side, it is evident that Porsche is committed to pushing the boundaries of performance and paying tribute to the innovative models that paved the way. The GRP Porsche Carrera GT Recommission Project by Graham Rahal Performance breathes new life into this automotive icon and preserves one of Porsche’s greatest sports cars. To browse all Graham Rahal Performance inventory available for sale, click the link below.

View All Graham Rahal Performance Inventory


Orange CGT-095

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Featured

The Grand Tour Praises The New Praga Bohema Hypercar

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, known for their car expertise and strong opinions, have featured the new Praga Bohema hypercar on their show, The Grand Tour: Eurocrash. James May had the opportunity to test drive the Bohema and described its acceleration and power as “enormous,” its steering as “incredible,” and overall referred to it as a “wonderful” car. Clarkson also praised the Bohema, calling it a “very impressive piece of engineering.”

The production of roadgoing Bohema hypercars is about to begin, with a price tag of approximately $1.4 million and a limited production run of only 89 units. With its remarkable performance, design, and engineering, the Praga Bohema is expected to create a sensation in the automotive world.

If you’re interested in purchasing exotic cars, you can view all exotic cars for sale.

Grand Tour Praga Bohema
Featured

Why Bentley Mulliner Created The New de Havilland Collection

Bentley has a long history of producing luxurious performance cars. Recently, the brand celebrated the grand opening of its new showroom, Bentley Hatfield, in the United Kingdom. The showroom is operated by H.R. Owen and is located on the site of the former de Havilland factory, which manufactured British aircraft. This brings together two iconic names with a shared history.

Many de Havilland aircraft were powered by Merlin engines manufactured at Bentley’s Crewe facility. To commemorate the opening of the new facility at the former de Havilland factory, Bentley collaborated with its Mulliner bespoke division to create a special collection of cars called the de Havilland Collection. This collection includes the Continental GT S and GTC S, the Flying Spur S, and the Bentayga S. These cars draw inspiration from historic de Havilland aircraft, such as the Comet Racer.

The cars in the de Havilland Collection feature Tornado Red accents, reminiscent of the Comet Racer’s red paint, which it wore when it won the 1934 England-Australia air race. The interior of the cars also pays tribute to de Havilland, with a split configuration featuring Hotspur and Beluga leather, Mulliner White piping, a chrome pinstripe, and de Havilland commemorative details. This collection is not only a celebration of the new Bentley showroom, but also the reunion of two iconic British names in engineering and transportation.

For those interested in purchasing a Bentley, there are many options available. Visit the link below to view all the Bentleys for sale:

View All Bentleys For Sale


Bentley Hatfield - 1

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Gaming

Is It Safe to Leave Your Steam Deck Plugged In Overnight?

Valve, the company behind Steam Deck, has not provided any clear guidelines on whether it is safe to leave the device plugged in overnight. However, users on the Steam Deck forums generally advise against making it a habit.

Similar to other portable electronic devices, the Steam Deck’s battery charging process involves reaching 100% charge and then internally disconnecting the power cable. The connection remains disabled until the battery percentage drops to 90%, after which the charging process restarts. Keeping the Steam Deck plugged in like this for prolonged periods, such as overnight, leads to repeated charging and discharging cycles. This can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the battery, reducing its overall lifespan.

The battery usage will vary based on your activities with the Steam Deck. If you are actively using it while plugged in, the console will draw power from the outlet, and the battery will not be affected. However, if you plan to leave the console unused for several days, it is recommended to unplug it and completely power it down. If you intend to use your Steam Deck continuously for multiple days, it is advisable to leave it in sleep mode overnight. Although it may lose some charge, you can easily recharge it while using it.

Technology

CPU Purchasing Tips: 5 Key Considerations for Choosing the Right Processor

When buying a new processor, it’s important to select the right one based on your specific needs. While a mid-range processor can handle basic tasks, more demanding activities like gaming or video editing require high-performance processors with multiple cores and faster clock speeds.

Gamers should prioritize processors with high single-core performance to ensure smooth gameplay and avoid bottlenecks. The Intel Core i5-13600K or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X are good options that offer a balance between price and performance, delivering sufficient power for modern games.

Professionals working on tasks like video editing and 3D rendering need processors that excel in multi-threaded performance. For these purposes, processors with higher core counts and faster clock speeds, such as the Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, are more suitable. These processors provide the necessary processing power to handle complex computations and reduce rendering times significantly.

Aside from core counts and clock speeds, there are other important factors to consider, including integrated graphics, cache size, and platform compatibility.

Gaming

The Best Free Games Every Nintendo Switch Owner Should Have Installed

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2020, a group of developers from Nintendo EPD released a free-to-play game called “Jump Rope Challenge.” The game was created to help players stay active and have fun while at home. Originally, it was planned to be removed from the Nintendo store in September of that year, but for some reason, Nintendo decided to keep it available.

Jump Rope Challenge is a very simple game. All you need to do is hold a pair of Joy-Cons at your sides and jump! The game keeps track of how many jumps you do each day, with a goal of 100 jumps. However, you can also set your own goal and pace if you prefer. If you want more of a challenge, you can try doing double-under jumps or even jump in tandem with a friend by passing a Joy-Con. Since its release, the game has received small updates with cosmetic additions like different backgrounds and character costumes inspired by other well-known Nintendo games.

Technology

How To Connect A Canon Printer To WiFi

Photograph from Canon printer Bloomberg/Getty Images

It’s a little disheartening to think about just how many of our once-beloved devices have become largely obsolete. Good old CD and DVD players, for instance, have been left behind by millions with the advent of streaming services leaving a sizable dent in the very concept of physical media. A trusty printer, however, is still a precious commodity.

Industry behemoth Canon is one of the biggest manufacturers of these office staples. A crucial part of its success, naturally, would be adapting the product to the market and to customers’ requirements, ensuring convenience and ease of use. In the case of a printer specifically, the ability to connect to the device via WiFi is a huge boon for avoiding cable-wrangling or USB port juggling.

Luckily, many Canon models make this process easy. Here’s how to do it on some of the manufacturer’s most popular models, and how to adapt the process depending on whether you’re using Mac or PC.

Connecting the Canon Pixma TS702 and TS6220 to WiFi

A Canon TS6330 printer Bloomberg/Getty Images

Canon’s Pixma TS702 Wireless (the PIXMA line remaining a standout in its field) is, as the title implies, wireless. A WiFi connection, as such, is crucial for use, as are mobile devices for its scanner function. It’s fortunate, then, that the manufacturer ensured the process of connecting it is rather simple. Here’s how it’s done on a TS702:

  1. Open the Setup Menu by pressing Setup on the front of the unit.

  2. Scroll to Wi-Fi setup, confirm, and opt for Manual connect.

  3. Choose the router you wish to connect to from the Select router menu and confirm again.

  4. On the next screen, input the password for the chosen router. After briefly holding the button to confirm a third time, the display will read, Apply?

  5. Opt to apply the settings you’ve selected.

  6. If the TS702’s display now features those iconic bars displaying connectivity, you have been successful.

  7. Canon adds that, per the wireless model’s needs, the software to use the device must be installed on the device used with it.

Canon’s TS6220 model also offers a function the manufacturer deems Easy Wireless Connect. Here’s how to utilize it:

  1. Press the button marked by the icon of two looped paper clips, and select Yes when prompted that “Settings will be made on a computer, smartphone etc.”

  2. As before, run the associated software, depending on whether the printer will be controlled via a PC or Mac. The associated software is available on Canon’s Support page.

Cableless setup

Canon Selphy CP1200 WiFi printer Alex Wong/Getty Images

Canon’s PIXMA E484, 494, and 495 models can be connected using a feature that Canon calls Cableless setup. To do this, the process is similar to that of the Pixma TS702:

  1. Select setup from the front of the device, then scroll to Wireless LAN setup.

  2. Confirm your choice of Other setup, followed by Cableless setup from the following screen.

  3. As before, the relevant software for the device that will control the printer will be needed. Canon’s Consumer Product Support page provides the software for these three models for users on Windows.

As tends to be the case with manufacturers, the instructions to connect a Canon printer to WiFi don’t differ very much from model to model. The process has refined somewhat over time, though (the Product Support page for these models suggests CD-ROM installation for the software, a function that many computers won’t have access to), so it’s crucial to have access to appropriate troubleshooting help should things go awry. To this end, Canon support offers a “Select your product” search box that allows users to find documentation specific to the model in question. There are tips that can be helpful for all printers (should they be working slowly, for instance), too, though.

Cars

Ranking the Top 10 Italian Motorcycles Ever Made, from Worst to Best

For fans of the Triumph Bonneville, the Moto Guzzi V7 is a natural choice. It is considered one of the best motorcycles ever produced by Moto Guzzi. This motorcycle combines classic design, a 90-degree 850cc V-twin engine, and a comfortable two-tier saddle. Introduced in 1967 and still being produced today, the V7 remains one of the most popular bikes from the Italian brand. In 2021, the V7 received a major update to celebrate Moto Guzzi’s centenary.

The new version of the V7 is more than just a simple makeover. The engine has been borrowed from the Moto Guzzi V85 TT, resulting in the brand’s most advanced and efficient power unit to date. The bike has also received various enhancements, including a wider rear wheel, larger exhaust pipes, and sturdier shock absorbers. LED lighting has replaced the previous halogen bulbs, and steel accents have been added throughout to give the bike a premium feel.

While the V7 excels in terms of fit and finish, it is not loaded with the latest technology, which is in line with its classic design. Riders seeking advanced rider assists and a full TFT screen might prefer a Ducati Multistrada or the aforementioned V85 TT. However, the V7 does offer basic features such as traction control, ABS brakes, and an inset LCD that displays the time and odometer reading. Many motorcyclists appreciate the unassuming nature of the Moto Guzzi V7, as it focuses on delivering a stylish riding experience without trying too hard to be something it’s not. That’s why it ranks well on this list of great Italian motorcycles.

Featured

This Is How Long It Takes To Fully Charge Up The Tata Tiago EV

We plugged the Tiago EV into a DC fast charging station and recorded the charging time in real-world conditions

Tata Tiago EV Real World Charging Test

The Tata Tiago EV was launched last year in September and at the time, the electric hatchback was the most affordable electric car in the country, bested only by the MG Comet EV which came along in May. It comes with two battery options – 19.2kWh and 24kWh – with a claimed range of up to 250km and 315km respectively, and supports both AC and DC charging options. Recently, we had the bigger battery pack version of the Tiago EV with us and so we just had to check how much time it takes to be charged from 10 to 100 percent using a DC fast charger. 

Charging Time

Tata Tiago EV Charging At 10 Percent

The charging times in the real world can vary based upon factors such as vehicle condition, ambient temperatures and flow rate from the chargers. To see how fast it can be charged, we took the Tiago EV to a 120kW DC fast charging station. However, it is worth noting that during the entire charging process, the maximum rate of charge the Tiago EV could take was 18kW.

Also Read: Real World Charging Test Of The Citroen eC3 Electric Hatchback

Here are the detailed charging times from 10 to 100 percent.

Charging percent

Charging Rate

Time

10 – 15 percent

17kW

4 minutes

15 – 20 percent

18kW

4 minutes

20 – 25 percent

18kW

4 minutes

25 – 30 percent

17kW

4 minutes

30 – 35 percent

17kW

4 minutes

35 – 40 percent

17kW

4 minutes

40 – 45 percent

17kW

4 minutes

45 – 50 percent

18kW

4 minutes

50 – 55 percent

18kW

4 minutes

55 – 60 percent

18kW

4 minutes

60 – 65 percent

18kW

4 minutes

65 – 70 percent

17kW

4 minutes

70 – 75 percent

17kW

5 minutes

75 – 80 percent

17kW

4 minutes

80 – 85 percent

18kW

4 minutes

85 – 90 percent

13kW

5 minutes

90 – 95 percent

7kW

7 minutes

95 – 100 percent

2kW

26 minutes

Key Takeaways

Tata Tiago EV Charging At 50 Percent

  • Once the Tiago EV was plugged in, its battery was replenished by five percent every four minutes.

  • The Tiago EV kept charging at 18kW till its battery indicated 85 percent, and from there on it started to decline.

  • The charging rate fell to 13kW and it took an extra minute for the next 5 percent of charge.

  • At 90 percent, the charging rate dropped to 7kW and the car took seven minutes to reach 95 percent.

  • From 95 percent onwards, the charging rate started to drop quickly all the way down to 2kW. With this rate of charge, it took 26 minutes for the car to reach its full charging capacity.

  • In our tests, the charging time from 10 to 80 percent came out as 57 minutes, which is almost the same as the 58-minute claimed time from the carmaker. 

  • From 80 to 100 percent, the car took another 42 minutes.

Why This Drop In Charging Speed?

Tata Tiago EV Charging At 99 Percent

Every carmaker gives its customer just the 10 to 80 percent charging time as that is the optimal battery charging bracket. As per our tests, it is evident that the last 20 percent takes a lot of time because the rate of charging starts to drop after 80 percent. The reason for this is that while using a DC fast charger, the battery pack starts to heat up, which is bad for the battery’s health. Slowing the charging speed keeps it from overheating and prevents any damage.

Powertrain

Tata Tiago EV Electric Motor

The Tata Tiago EV gets two battery pack options: 19.2kW and 24kW. Both are paired with an electric motor that churns out 61PS/110Nm with the smaller battery and 75PS/114Nm with the bigger one.

Price & Rivals

Tata Tiago EV

Tata has priced the Tiago EV between Rs 8.69 lakh to Rs 12.04 lakh (ex-showroom). The entry-level EV goes head to head with the Citroen eC3 and MG Comet EV. Stay tuned to find out how much range the Tiago EV delivers in our extensive real world testing.

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