Tag Archives: celebrate

Motorsport

2024 Volkswagen Passat: A Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Wagon-Only Model

The ninth-generation Volkswagen Passat is set to make its debut later this year, but with a significant change in its lineup. The popular midsize family car will only be available as a wagon. The German automaker has now offered a detailed preview of the redesigned model, which will be one of the first VW models to utilize the MQB Evo platform, alongside the 2024 Tiguan. These two vehicles will share many of the same components.

With a length of 4917 millimeters (193.5 inches), the new Passat Variant will be 144 mm (5.6 in) longer than its predecessor. This elongation mainly comes from a 50 mm (1.96 in) increase in the wheelbase, stretching it to 2841 mm (111.8 in). The width has also grown by 20 mm (0.7 in) to 1852 mm (72.9 in), while the height has seen a slight rise of 7 mm (0.2 in) to 1482 mm (58.3 in).


Motorsport

Aston Martin Valour Revealed: A V12-Powered Manual Throwback

Aston Martin has unveiled a new V12-powered supercar called the Valour to celebrate its 110th anniversary. Limited to just 110 units worldwide, the Valour features a retro design and a manual gearbox, making it “the last of an era.”

Taking inspiration from the iconic V8 Vantage of the 1970s and 1980s, the Valour incorporates retro design cues such as a clamshell hood with a “horseshoe” vent and rounded headlights. The front fascia has a distinctive look that blends old and new elements.

Aston Martin Valour

The rear of the Valour features horizontal “light blade” taillights and a large embedded spoiler, further emphasizing the retro design. The car comes with 21-inch lightweight forged alloy honeycomb wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires. Buyers have the option to choose from 21 standard exterior colors or explore the Q by Aston Martin color palette for more unique finishes, such as exposed carbon fiber.

The interior of the Valour is equally extravagant. Aston Martin designers have combined classic woolen tweed, reminiscent of the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1, with modern carbon fiber accents and lightweight seats. The rounded wooden shift knob adds to the retro charm.

Powering the Valour is a front-mounted, twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine that generates 705 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with a bespoke six-speed manual transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential, much like the Aston Martin Victor.

Aston Martin Valour
Aston Martin Valour

However, the Valour is not just about power and a manual gearbox. It features a unique suspension system, different from other Aston Martins, that includes adaptive dampers and anti-roll bars specifically tuned to match the V12’s power output. Additionally, the Valour is equipped with extra bracing in the front and rear, improving torsional and lateral stiffness, as well as carbon ceramic brakes. The front brakes are six-piston, 16.0-inch carbon ceramic rotors, while the rear brakes are four-piston, 14.0-inch rotors. Switching to carbon ceramics reduces the car’s weight by 50.7 pounds compared to standard steel brakes.

Aston Martin has not disclosed the pricing details for the Valour, but given its limited production run, it is likely that all 110 units have already been spoken for. Production of the Valour will begin in the third quarter of 2023 at Aston Martin’s Gaydon Headquarters, with the first deliveries expected later this year.

Featured

Audi Showcases Motorsport Legacy at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023

Audi is set to commemorate its esteemed motorsport history at the renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023. The highlight of the event will be the UK debut of the unique, all-electric Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron, driven by Le Mans legend, Tom Kristensen. As a tribute to the 100th year of Le Mans, Audi will also feature three iconic LMP cars: the R8, R10 TDI, and R18 e-tron quattro.

The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron is a modern reinterpretation of the 1980s Audi Sport quattro S1, paying homage to the late motorsport legend Ken Block. This electric race car boasts a carbon fiber chassis and two motor-generator units that deliver an impressive total torque of 4,425 lb-ft, enabling high-speed drifts filled with adrenaline.

The Audi RS Q e-tron marks Audi’s ambitious entry into the challenging Dakar Rally, featuring an electric drivetrain and a motor-generator unit for on-the-go energy recharging. Furthermore, Audi’s significant Le Mans milestones will be celebrated with the R8, which achieved a historic hat-trick from 2000 to 2002; the R10 TDI, the first diesel-powered car to clinch overall victories from 2006 to 2008; and the R18 e-tron quattro, the pioneering diesel-hybrid that led Audi to a momentous 1-2-3 finish in 2012.

Lastly, Audi’s rally roots will be showcased with the legendary Audi Quattro Gr. 4 Rally Portugal, a game-changer in international rally sport, and the 200 quattro Rally Safari, which marked Audi’s triumphant exit from the world of rallying. This extraordinary lineup underscores Audi’s rich and diverse motorsport legacy, bringing the excitement of the track to the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023. Don’t miss this historic and innovative tribute to speed and endurance. You can view all Audi models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.

View All Audi For Sale


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Motorsport

Audi Trainees Convert Classic NSU Prinz into an All-Electric Sports Car

This year, Audi’s Neckarsulm factory in Germany commemorates its 150th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the luxury automaker, based in Ingolstadt, decided to do something extraordinary—an electric car project that does not feature the well-known four rings logo on its hood.

Prior to becoming the modern luxury carmaker we know today, Audi was known as Auto Union. The Neckarsulm plant, which currently produces the A6 and A8 sedans, belonged to NSU. NSU was a company that manufactured bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. At one point, NSU was the largest motorcycle manufacturer globally and introduced the world’s first-ever passenger car powered by a Wankel engine. In short, NSU held significant importance in its time.

However, NSU remained a relatively small company compared to other German car brands. In 1969, Volkswagen acquired NSU and merged it with Auto Union, reviving the Audi brand and discontinuing NSU-branded cars, which continued to be sold only until 1973.

One of the final models produced was the NSU Prinz 4, a compact two-door sedan featuring a rear-mounted 598 cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine that generated approximately 30 horsepower when it was originally introduced.

For the 150th anniversary of the factory, Audi chose to revive and modernize the NSU Prinz 4L model from 1971. Interestingly, Audi entrusted this task to a team of 12 trainees, who were able to accomplish an incredible feat: electrifying this aging classic car.

During the transformation, only a portion of the original car was retained. The old two-cylinder engine was replaced with a 240 hp electric motor sourced from a 2020 Audi e-tron. Additionally, the front hood’s fuel tank was removed and replaced with a high-voltage battery pack from the plug-in hybrid Audi Q7 TFSI e quattro.


Motorsport

Witness Cars Plummeting Off a Cliff to Commemorate America’s Independence Day

While some people prefer to celebrate by having quiet dinners or small parties, others opt for lighting fireworks. In the United States, July 4th is a day known for grand fireworks displays, observed in almost every town across the country. However, in one particular place in Alaska, the usual pyrotechnics are not enough. Welcome to the Glacier View car launch. Wait, what?

Yes, you read it right – a car launch. As depicted in the video above, these cars aren’t simply launched off a ramp. Located near the Matanuska River, approximately 100 miles northeast of Anchorage, is the Glacier View River Retreat. On July 4th, they send cars hurtling off an enormous cliff overlooking the river. Crowds gather at the base of the cliff, and we’re not talking about spectators standing at a safe distance. Additionally, the vehicles aren’t launched using any fancy catapult system. The cars have their steering wheels secured, engines started, and transmissions engaged. They meet their ultimate fate at full power.

 

This year’s spectacle included more than a dozen vehicles, ranging from a Ford Taurus to a Dodge motorhome, as well as several unidentified vehicles. The exact number of cars launched and the size of the audience remains uncertain. This event takes place on private property and does not have official approval. In a recent Reddit post, someone mentioned potential attempts to shut down the event, describing the crowd as “chaotic.”

There are numerous videos showcasing this year’s launch on YouTube, and Glacier View River Retreat has shared a multitude of photos and videos on Facebook. To their credit, the organizers ensure that the crowd maintains a considerable distance from the impact zone. Furthermore, efforts are made to clean up the debris left behind. Two semi-trucks can be seen carrying the wrecked cars to be crushed, although there isn’t much left to crush. The measures taken to clean up any fluids in the area are unknown.

 

According to an event page on Facebook, admission to this year’s launch cost $20 for adults and $10 for children under 13. It was advertised as a “day of freedom, family, fun, faith, friends, and food.”

With cars containing flammable liquids catapulting off cliffs and engines roaring, smashing into pieces in front of a massive crowd… what could possibly go wrong?

Motorsport

Bentley Celebrating W12 Models At Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Bentley will be showcasing their W12 engine at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed before it is retired. Additionally, their Mulliner division will debut the Speed Six Continuation Series, a revival of the classic Le Mans winner. The festival will commence on July 13.

A parade of 12 W12 Bentleys will participate in the Goodwood hill climb, featuring the Batur, the new Continental GT Le Mans Collection, and a Mulliner-customized Continental GTC Speed.

Notably, seven of these vehicles will be from Bentley’s Heritage Collection of special models.

Gallery: Bentley At 2023 Goodwood Festival Of Speed


News

Vespa Mickey Mouse Scooter Collab Celebrates 100 Years Of Disney In 2023

Disney is going to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2023, and to mark the occasion, it has collaborated with Vespa on a limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Edition scooter line. This collaboration is not the first between Disney and Vespa, as Vespa scooters played a prominent role in the 2021 Disney Pixar film “Luca”. The collaboration is a combination of culture and business partnership.

The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa will be available in a limited-edition lineup of Vespa Primavera 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc scooters in 2023. Both Vespa and Mickey Mouse are iconic symbols of Italy and Disney respectively, so this collaboration brings the two icons together in a rideable form.


Disney x Vespa - Right Side

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The Vespa Primavera is already known for its round mirrors, which are informally called “Mickey Mouse mirrors”. The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa takes inspiration from Mickey’s design and clothes, with a yellow front fender resembling his shoes, black and red as the primary colors reflecting Mickey’s design, and white accents representing his gloves. The scooter also features white-on-black line drawings of Mickey and his signature debossed onto the black saddle.

Michele Colaninno, Piaggio Group’s chief executive of global strategy, product, marketing, and innovation, commented, “Today, as then, this collaboration between Vespa and Disney represents the celebration of two historic companies that have a common dream: to allow everyone to express their imagination freely.”

The pricing and availability of the Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa vary by region. The 50cc and 150cc versions will be available in the US in August 2023, with the 50cc version priced at $4,699 and the 150cc version priced at $6,049. In Canada, only the 50cc version will be available at an MSRP of $5,345. For accurate information, it is best to contact your local authorized Vespa dealer outside the US and Canada.

DSAutomobile

DS AUTOMOBILES READY TO CELEBRATE ITS CENTURY IN FORMULA E

  • DS Automobiles will celebrate its 100th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship next Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Participants in Formula E since 2015, DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in the all-electric competition as the only two-time double winning team, and has won a record number of titles and podiums
  • With PENSKE AUTOSPORT, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Automobiles is at the forefront of the action in Season 9 Formula E

This weekend marks a significant anniversary for DS Automobiles and the world of Formula E. On Sunday 4 June, at the second race of the Jakarta E-Prix, the French manufacturer will start a Formula E race for the 100th time since its involvement in the 100% electric championship began.

DS Automobiles joined Formula E in 2015 and has made its mark on the history of electric motorsport with three generations of Formula E. Heading into its 100th race, DS Automobiles has racked up four Team and Drivers’ championship titles, 16 race victories, 47 podiums and 22 pole positions to its name.

DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in Formula E with a podium from nearly every other race it has taken part in over almost eight years. DS Automobiles is also the only team to win a double title twice (in 2019 with Jean-Eric Vergne and 2020 with Antonio Félix Da Costa).

To celebrate this anniversary, reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne – the only two-time champion in the history of the sport – will drive a DS E-TENSE FE23 with a one-off livery to mark the occasion. Jean-Eric Vergne, who is also a DS Automobiles ambassador, will also celebrate 100 races with a bespoke design on his helmet.

The event will be celebrated with a video featuring testimonials from the personalities who have played key a role in the DS Automobiles Formula E adventure on the brand’s social channels. These include Béatrice Foucher, Yves Bonnefont, Alessandro Agag, Jean-Marc Finot, Thomas Chevaucher, Eugenio Franzetti, Jean-Eric Vergne, Stoffel Vandoorne, Antonio Félix Da Costa, Sam Bird and André Lotterer. The video will also include clips of some of the team’s greatest moments including winning the debut title in New York, their second title in Berlin, plus victories in Sanya, Bern, Marrakesh, Monaco, Rome, and Hyderabad.

The story of DS Automobiles continues to unfold, and the two races of the Jakarta E-Prix on 3 and 4 June promise more fine performances from the French team.

Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance director, said “We’ll be experiencing a historic and moving moment for all of us in Jakarta. First of all, I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed with such passion and talent to this extraordinary event. Celebrating 100 races in Formula E is truly a milestone, and to do so with the sort of track record that we have accumulated is a source of great pride. A few years ago, DS Automobiles decided to create its DS Performance competition arm, and entered the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This turned out to be a strategic and winning choice. Thanks to our many victories accumulated over the years, the reputation of DS Automobiles has grown considerably, and we’ve also acquired the technical experience that has helped us to support and accelerate the electrification of the entire brand. These days, the Gen3 single-seaters from DS Performance remain an excellent research laboratory to prepare our next generation of electric road cars. From 2024 in fact, all new cars from DS Automobiles will be 100% electric.”

Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:

–               98 races

–               4 championship titles

–               16 victories

–               47 podiums

–               22 pole positions