Tag Archives: another

Featured

duPont REGISTRY No. 458 – July 2023​

Are you OK? I just want to check after yet another American automotive icon has succumbed to the current trend (no pun intended) of electrification. First it was the Mustang spawning the all-electric Mach-E, and now the legendary Corvette has fallen prey to Edison’s creation. We’ve hardly had time to adjust to the Corvette moving its engine behind the seats, and here comes electrification to traumatize us all over again. Meet the new Corvette E-Ray. How are you taking it?

We jest, of course. Change is generally good, even though its approach and arrival can be jarring. The Corvette E-Ray, though, softens the blow by improving on just about everything a purely gas-powered Corvette can do. That’s why it’s our cover car this month.

⌊ Subscribe Now ⌉

⌊ Buy A Single Issue ⌉

To be clear, the Corvette E-Ray hasn’t added electrons for the sake of fuel efficiency. While it is a traditional hybrid like your parents’ Prius, the E-Ray still sports the standard Corvette’s 6.2-liter V8 making 495 horsepower. An electric motor, though, has been added to the front axle that produces 160 hp. Fed by a relatively small 1.9-kilowatt-hour battery, the hybrid powertrain generates a combined 665 horsepower. Did you notice this Corvette has power going to both its axles? That makes it the first Corvette with all-wheel drive ever produced. Take a breath. Mid-engine, hybrid, and all-wheel drive. The Corvette E-Ray violates just about every tenet we thought we knew about this car. At least it’s not an SUV.

There’s a lot more to learn about the new Corvette E-Ray, so skip ahead to page 12 where we take our time breaking down how groundbreaking it really is. Coincidentally, we’ve got the Corvette’s historic nemesis in this month’s issue, as well. The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS slots between the 911 S and 911 Turbo. Think of it as stronger than an S but not as over-the-top as the Turbo. Fortunately, both the PDK automatic and a seven-speed manual are still available. Jump to page 22 to find out which one we tested for you.

If the Corvette E-Ray and 911 Carrera GTS are too mainstream for you, check out our review of the 60th Anniversary Cunningham Corvette on page 34. It commemorates the three-car team of modified Corvettes that Briggs Cunningham brought to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960. Cunningham’s campaign back then was successful; car #3 finished first in its class and 8th overall.

Today’s 60th Anniversary Cunningham Corvette starts as a fully loaded 3LT model with Z51 suspension and brakes, 8-speed DCT transaxle, and GT2 sport seats. Then Lingenfelter, perhaps the most accomplished Corvette tuner of all time, lays its hands upon the LT2 V8 until it’s making over 600 naturally aspirated horsepower. Only 60 copies of the Cunningham Corvette will be made, which makes it rarer than any E-Ray or 911 GTS.

Specialty Vehicle Engineering makes similarly special versions of popular General Motors products. The company is probably best known for its modern-day Yenko Camaros and supercharger packages for GM trucks and SUVs. Did you know the company was born in 1970 from the founder’s background in drag racing? Learn more about this special tuner in our exclusive interview with its founder on page 42.

This month’s issue is packed with so much more, including our update on how America and F1 are getting along (spoiler: swimmingly) and some amazing watch coverage that includes Panerai’s Navy Seal line and a list of timepieces that inspire us. So welcome to summer and let’s get started.

⌊ Subscribe Now ⌉

⌊ Buy A Single Issue ⌉

Featured

BMW Recalls iX Vehicles Due to Unintended Cruise Control Activation

BMW has announced a safety recall for the iX, an all-electric utility vehicle. A total of 11,180 units are being called back to address the issue of unintended cruise control activation. To resolve this problem, a software update will be provided.
In late 2022, BMW started taking this issue seriously after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received reports of unintended cruise control activation in the iX vehicles. As a result, the German automaker is taking proactive measures by issuing this recall.
The iX is built on a unique platform called the Cluster Architecture, developed specifically for this electric model. However, despite the advanced technology, it appears that there is a flaw in the cruise control system that causes it to engage unintentionally.
Owners of the affected iX vehicles will be notified by BMW and instructed to take their cars to authorized service centers for the necessary software update. This update is designed to prevent the cruise control from activating unintentionally, enhancing the safety of the vehicle and its occupants.
The recall serves as a reminder that even with cutting-edge technology, automakers must ensure that all safety systems are thoroughly tested to avoid any potential hazards. BMW is committed to addressing this issue promptly and efficiently to maintain the trust and satisfaction of its customers.
To learn more about this recall, you can continue reading here.
Motorsport

Mercedes-Benz Teases New C 111 Concept As “Reimagined Icon”

Update: As we had been writing this text, Mercedes-Benz dropped one other teaser confirming a brand new C 111 idea is coming. A brief video reveals a digital grille that illuminates with the phrases one eleven spreading between spherical headlights.

 

Something is brewing at Mercedes-Benz, and it is associated to the household of C 111 idea vehicles from the automaker’s previous. Shared right this moment on Mercedes’ social media channels, we’re handled to a pair of photographs displaying some digital lights with spherical shapes and a curious shade of orange. And that is not all.

First, we direct your consideration to the Mercedes-Benz Instagram account. One photograph reveals a spherical digital headlight in an oval grille, with the opposite displaying a spherical taillight. Of explicit curiosity for the entrance photograph is what’s behind the grille. We’re used to seeing various levels of silver or grey from Mercedes however that is clearly an orange header with a hood line seen simply behind. The coloration is a clue, because it appears to be like very near the shade used on the early C 111 prototypes. As for the spherical lights in an oval body, there is a robust resemblance to the C 111/II, the second and arguably most well-known of the collection that debuted in 1970.

 

Without extra context, a C 111 reference to these teaser photographs can be tough to justify. However, Mercedes-Benz lately shared a number of photographs of the basic C 111/II on its social channels main as much as this teaser publish, and a few of these have very comparable angles to the teaser headlights and taillights. This cannot be a coincidence.

And then we now have the coup de grace for this teaser marketing campaign, coming not from the automaker immediately however slightly, from Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener. He additionally shared photographs of the outdated C 111 on social, then dropped a teaser of his personal whereas flat-out saying “The timeless C 111 is ready to inspire a new era of iconic luxury.”

 
 

Wagener’s publish provides a 3rd teaser picture to the combination, and it is one which leaves us with some questions. We see what seems to be H 243 lit up in a taillight housing. H243 is the generational code for the Mercedes-Benz EQA. Could this imply a brand new C 111 idea is coming that comes with points of the EQA into its design? Or does this designation imply one thing else?

For these nonetheless sussing out precisely what the C 111 is, Mercedes-Benz launched a cool orange sports activities automotive idea known as the C 111 in 1969. It was powered by a rotary engine, and in 1970 a follow-up known as the C 111/II debuted. It’s the idea most frequently seen in photographs, however the C 111 story does not finish there. A dozen C 111/II take a look at vehicles had been constructed, ending with a turbo diesel changing the Wankel engine. Things obtained loopy after that with the C 111/III getting a radical aerodynamic physique and a extra highly effective diesel engine for excessive speeds. The closing idea was the C 111/IV in 1979, packing a twin-turbo V8 and a 250-mph high velocity.

Are we on the cusp of seeing the C 111/V with an electrical powertrain? Based on these teasers, it is secure to say one thing is coming and we could have all the knowledge as quickly as Mercedes sees match to share it with the world. Stay tuned.

News

Watch: Onboard POV Footage Of Davey Todd in the Isle Of Man TT 2023

Just another day in the office for Davey Todd, but a frightful and heart-pounding one for others. Check out this British racer’s run on the Isle of Man TT, aboard his Honda. 

Hear that idle? That is the sound of Davey’s CBR1000RR-R with its 180-degree inline-four pumping out over 200 ponies of power, on some sticky rubber, and just about ready to go tackle the course. Hearing an inline-four engine spool up is still an amazing experience for many, and let’s grace your screens with a show of sights, sounds, and screams. 

Davey Todd races for the Padgett’s Motorcycles Honda team, and the conditions were great on the day of the race, enough for the onboard footage to look clear and for the bike to run at full tilt. 

Posted on the Isle of Man TT’s YouTube channel, in addition to special on-board footage, the channel also has more content for you to digest such as highlights, round-ups, and more. 

It’s interesting to see just how much the rider’s head shifts and moves during these high-speed Isle of Man TT races. TT riders are often touted as the most daring in the world, going in excess of 150 miles per hour and easily averaging over 120 miles per hour per run. 


Graphics



Graphics

The intensity going at that speed will be enough to make most riders slow down and let off the throttle, but these racers are truly a different breed, unleashing everything that their race bikes have to offer, and Davey Todd is no exception. 

The entire video goes on and on for 18 minutes of intense high-speed action, and it is a testament to the training and the planning that Isle of Man TT racers undergo for just about 20 minutes of some of the most intense riding in the world. Death is a common occurrence at these speeds, and many riders have unfortunately lost their lives to this grand spectacle of an event. 

So, that’s that. Check the video out, because it’s a rare glimpse for us, mere mortals, to see what goes on aboard these TT race bikes, or you can enter the TT in the virtual world courtesy of a video game. 

Motorsport

The Most And Least Advanced Motor Industries Around The World

The global automotive industry can change dramatically from one country to another. Between 80 and 90 million new cars are sold every year in the 195 countries of the world. More than half of these cars (54 percent) are located in Asia, as is the majority of the world’s population (59 percent). Other regions such as the United States and Canada account for only 5 percent of the world’s population, but 19 percent of vehicle sales.

The industry has many faces depending on where you are. Some are quite developed in terms of technology. Other countries are lagging behind in terms of regulations and the importance of the sector within the GDP.

Who Is Ahead?

The European Union and the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Korea, and China are very well positioned. They have a strong regulatory, trade, tax, manufacturing, and R&D structure. That’s why almost all the new cars that are presented come from these markets.

Both automakers and consumers can take advantage of the best conditions to sell, buy, and drive cars. The authorities are moving in harmony with the industry to improve development and innovation, although in Europe, the 2035 lawsuit is now holding court.

The Stellantis Factory In Tychy Poland

The Stellantis Factory In Tychy, Poland

Who Is Working Hard?

Behind these markets are countries working hard to become attractive for foreign investment. India, Southeast Asia, North Africa, South Africa, and some Latin American markets are improving their automotive landscape by introducing more efficient and flexible regulations and making it easier for automakers to invest.

However, there are still issues related to import taxation and population income that make it difficult for developed economies to keep pace. Brazil, for example, has a strong manufacturing hub, but is unable to adopt the latest technologies because most consumers cannot afford them. However, India is close when it comes to regulations.

The BMW Rosslyn Plant In South Africa

The BMW Rosslyn Plant In South Africa

The Worst Countries For The Automotive Industry

Countries with the poorest automotive industries are usually those isolated in terms of trade, or where local production is nearly impossible due to lack of infrastructure and support from local authorities.

This is the case of Iran, for example. Its economy is largely blocked by international sanctions which make it almost impossible to import new and competitive cars at competitive prices. It is also very difficult to produce locally due to a lack of components and access to international technology. All cars produced in Iran today are rebadged older-tech models no longer produced in Western economies.

A large part of the African continent is also experiencing great difficulties. The heavy presence of used car imports puts new cars in a very difficult position, considering the very low income of the population. Most Africans cannot afford a new vehicle. The result? The streets are filled with polluting cars and old technology.

The Russian Case

Russia is also heading towards a difficult situation. As Western automakers have abandoned this market after the invasion of Ukraine, local production is shrinking to a handful of small companies that lack the technology to compete in global markets.

AVTOVAZ Plant In Russia

AVTOVAZ Plant In Russia

Furthermore, it is slowly becoming a satellite market for Chinese manufacturers, which means that consumers will not have much choice in the foreseeable future.

The author of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.