An irrepressible and likable character, Vasseur has made a robust begin to main Ferrari out of its newest period of underachievement. The mission stays a piece in progress – however the operational errors of earlier years have been fewer in quantity final 12 months. Vasseur has been a unifying presence.
But from Ferrari’s facet, why does it desire a 39-year-old over the spectacular 29-year-old Sainz? Because Hamilton proved in 2023 he nonetheless has the growling starvation to return to the highest – and he drove in addition to ever throughout the season. Give him the automobile and he’ll ship.
Combined with Leclerc, Ferrari will seemingly have the strongest line-up on the grid subsequent 12 months – and Hamilton’s presence will galvanise and additional inspire the workforce. He would possibly properly additionally help Vasseur’s much-needed recruitment drive for contemporary technical heads.
So what about this season? Hamilton signed a two-year deal extension with Mercedes simply final August, however it appears the second of these had some kind of break choice – which he has actioned a little bit greater than a month earlier than the beginning of the brand new marketing campaign. For now, he stays a Mercedes driver. That’s going to be awkward.
We’ve seen such a situation earlier than. Alonso was introduced as a McLaren driver forward of the 2006 season however noticed out his Renault deal earlier than switching camps the next 12 months. But how the dynamics can work this time round stays to be seen.
A Hamilton sabbatical, standing him down with fast impact, would keep away from an enormous distraction in what is an important rebuilding 12 months for the Mercedes F1 workforce. But at this late stage, who on earth might Toto Wolff signal to switch a seven-time champion?
The questions roll on. How will Leclerc react, on condition that he has simply recommitted himself to Ferrari for an undefined long-term? Surely Vasseur informed him this was attainable. They additionally return a great distance.
What if Mercedes blows Ferrari away in 2024? That would sow a seed of doubt. And what if the Ferrari gamble does backfire in 2025 and Hamilton is compelled once more to dig deep for motivation? Will he have the power and want?
Last 12 months, the Japanese tuner Liberty Walk confirmed off a widebody kit for the Ferrari F40 on the Tokyo Auto Salon. This 12 months, the corporate launched a pint-sized model of the enduring Italian supercar by making use of the look to a Mazda Autozam AZ-1. The result’s completely lovable.
The pictures under present Liberty Walk’s F40-inspired physique package and a inventory AZ-1 side-by-side, so you may see how in depth the modifications are.
The package overhauls the AZ-1’s nostril with a entrance fascia and hood that appears loads just like the F40. There are additionally canards on the corners and an prolonged splitter. Liberty Walk’s web page for the improve notes that the twin spherical headlights aren’t a part of the bundle.
Widened fenders at each ends broaden the AZ-1’s stance, and beefy facet sills run between them. Liberty Walk additionally has new door panels with the embossed form of a NACA duct to emulate the F40’s look.
The rear will get a tall, fastened wing with huge endplates. According to the corporate, the revised bumper consists of the reflectors however not the taillights. A diffuser with lengthy strakes can also be again there. Liberty Walk doesn’t point out the exhaust, however the pictures present a center-mounted three-pipe setup like on the F40.
There aren’t any particulars about inside modifications, however the sport seats seen within the pictures aren’t inventory. If you occur to personal an AZ-1 and need to make it appear to be an iconic Ferrari, Liberty Walk prices $22,600 for the physique package. Plus, a buyer wants to rearrange the portray and set up of the items.
Liberty Walk additionally matches a set of six-spoke solid wheels with a black end. They measure 16 inches in diameter on the entrance and 17 inches on the rear. The firm prices $14,300 for them.
The AZ-1 was one of the crucial thrilling vehicles in Japan’s kei class. Even in inventory type, it appears like a mini supercar. The gullwing doorways add to the sporty aesthetic. A mid-mounted turbocharged 657cc three-cylinder engine makes 63 horsepower, and a five-speed guide sends the ability to the rear wheels.
There are ranges of exclusivity in terms of Ferrari. One cannot merely stroll right into a dealership and drive house within the newest limited-run automobile, you must be accepted to purchase Ferrari’s high-price, low-volume particular editions. That’s the case with many of the supercar maker’s uncommon XX fashions.
Top Gear journal had the prospect to take a tour of essentially the most unique Ferraris of all of them. The program began in 2005 with the FXX as a track-only spinoff of the Enzo. The FXX Evoluzione got here alongside in 2008, whereas the front-engined 599X joined the lineup a few years later. In 2014, the FXX-Okay was launched as a hardcore LaFerrari and that one too went on to obtain the Evoluzione treatment in 2017.
Ferrari has solely constructed 116 of those automobiles, and now they’re about to make the XX program far much less unique. The SF90 XX Stradale will probably be inbuilt no fewer than 1,398 examples, with the manufacturing run cut up between 799 coupes and 599 spiders. Adding insult to damage, these won’t be restricted to the observe. As the “Stradale” identify implies, homeowners will have the ability to drive them on the streets. Even although the road-going automobile isn’t eligible to participate in particular occasions devoted to XX homeowners, all autos have already been offered.
The XX automobiles shared the room with the Le Mans-winning 499P, which Ferrari is popping into the expensive 499P Modificata. This is an uncorked model of the endurance racer that does not need to adjust to FIA laws. It has the smallest engine of all of the XX fashions, that are both powered by a naturally aspirated V12 or a twin-turbo V8.
The new observe automobile makes use of a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 shared with the 296 GT3 as a part of a hybrid powertrain that delivers 858 hp when the “push to pass” system is on. Without it, the common mixed output is 697 hp. That further enhance is barely obtainable for seven seconds and will be turned on at any speeds. On the precise race automobile, the electrical motor mounted on the entrance does not kick in beneath 118 mph.
The 499P Modificata is the most costly of the bunch as Ferrari is charging €5.1 million ($5.6M). The track-only flagship is a part of the Sport Prototipi Clienti program provided by the corporate’s Corse Clienti division tailor-made to homeowners of XX and Formula 1 automobiles. 499P Modificata homeowners will get the prospect to drive their automobiles in 2024 on the following venues: Mugello (Italy), Sonoma and Laguna Seca (United States), Balaton (Hungary), Suzuka (Japan), Le Castellet (France), and on the Nürburgring (Germany).
Ferrari solely constructed 349 examples of the F50 between 1995 and 1997, making it a uncommon Italian stallion. However, Ferrari additionally constructed a restricted run of 19 pre-production vehicles, with six of them heading to members of the Brunei royal household. This is one in every of them, however in contrast to a few of the others, this automotive retains its left-hand-drive structure.
DK Engineering has the uncommon gem up on the market and launched a walkaround video displaying all of the refined variations between this pre-production automotive and the “regular” F50. This one is lacking the entrance cargo compartment, for instance, whereas the twin followers have a gold heart as a substitute of being all black. The storage pocket and bag for the instruments have completely different shapes whereas the crimson label denoting the manufacturing quantity hooked up to the underside of the entrance hood is lacking.
Even the world across the windshield is completely different; the bottom panel has a satin end as a substitute of a shiny coat. At the highest of the glass, there are two mounting holes on either side versus only one. A better look reveals the aspect mirror caps (and the inside mirror) are lacking the producer’s plaques.
At the rear, the Perspex engine cowl has uncovered screws and louvers hooked up to the panel somewhat than being molded in. The engine compartment is lacking a lot of the labels you may discover on a typical F50. In addition, the calipers for the handbrake are gold somewhat than black, and lack the prancing horse brand.
Stepping inside, a typical F50 does not have these crimson aspect bolsters within the seats, nor does it have crimson stitching on the dashboard or the chassis quantity plaque on the passenger aspect. Interestingly, the flip sign stalk is totally clean whereas the tint of the door playing cards, dashboard, and aspect sill is just not shared with the shopper vehicles. Missing from the pre-production prototype are the velocity warning stickers and the bag to carry the gentle prime. This automotive even has a suspension raise system to raise the nostril of the automotive.
This Ferrari F50 is in immaculate situation, having racked up just one,180 miles (1,900 kilometers) since manufacturing in June 1995. It has modified fingers a number of instances since then, and now it is positioned within the UK the place it is up for grabs. It earned a certificates of authenticity from Ferrari in March 2018, so it is the true deal.
Alfa Romeo and Ferrari have a protracted historical past of working collectively, going again to Enzo Ferrari racing for the Alfa squad within the Nineteen Twenties. So, it solely is smart for somebody to drop a Ferrari 360 engine right into a traditional 2000 GT Veloce. It positive wasn’t a simple venture.
This builder, an Aussie named Jeff, began with a rusty 1973 Alfa Romeo that wanted new physique panels behind the B-pillar. Over the course of 4 years, he did all of the work to create this wild machine.
Getting the engine was really one of many simpler components of the construct. He discovered this one from an unique automobile wrecker in Adelaide, Australia, so no mint 360s had been sacrificed within the venture construct course of. Apparently, it is cheaper to purchase a Tipo F131 3.6-liter V8 than to make in depth modifications to the unique 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
Fitting the Ferrari V8 into the Alfa’s engine bay was a much more vital problem. The powerplant is not for much longer than the unique four-cylinder, but it surely’s wider and taller. Jeff says there’s solely a few centimeter of clearance in lots of areas. He has a customized metal hood with a clear part within the center to indicate all of it off.
Now, you would possibly assume that he’d use a Ferrari gearbox, however as a result of it is a front-engine utility of the usually mid-mounted V-8, Jeff needed to get artistic. The transmission is out of a Subaru BRZ, a gearbox that usually has to deal with lower than 250 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The Ferrari engine makes 395 horsepower and 275 pound-feet inventory, which is excess of Subaru put into the BRZ. That mentioned, modified BRZs aren’t making information for blowing gearboxes left and proper, so possibly it will be all proper. Jeff figures it is making round 300 hp on the wheels, a wholesome improve over the unique four-cylinder producing 130 hp on the crank.
The better part? Jeff plans to make use of this automobile as a day by day driver. It even has air con and cruise management, so it is prepped for the job. He dealt with all of the upholstery, together with stitching the seats and door panels in a striped sample impressed by the traditional Ferrari Daytona. This factor seems magnificent.
Unfortunately, we do not get to listen to the engine run on this video, but it surely ought to sound improbable. The powerplant includes a flat-plane crankshaft, 5 valves per cylinder, and a pair of camshafts for every financial institution of cylinders. Peak energy arrives at 8,500 rpm, so the mill can actually scream.
Last yr Japanese tuner Liberty Walk constructed a extremely customized widebody Ferrari F40, setting the web ablaze with blended opinions on whether or not it was proper to chop up such a fascinating piece of equipment. Now, the corporate is doing it once more on the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon with one other ’80s icon: The Lamborghini Countach.
Only a teaser video is obtainable now, but it surely exhibits off the widebody Countach’s exterior, one part at a time. Like the F40 final yr, Liberty Walk offers the automotive a daring white exterior, highlighting how the brand new elements radically alter the Lamborghini’s look.
The up to date entrance finish provides a distinguished entrance splitter and a decrease fascia with an oblong mesh protecting three openings, giving the nostril a boxy look. Canards on both nook combine into the widened fender flare. The result’s a steady line from the nostril to the wheel nicely, making a curvy component alongside this part.
The sides function broader decrease sills working between the widened fenders. Liberty Walk additionally provides a gap forward of the rear wheels. The body-color vertical strakes within the vents on the higher portion of the tail recommend this mannequin is a modified twenty fifth Anniversary Countach. The basic supercar rides on dark-colored, deep-dish Rohana Forged wheels with Y-shaped spokes and Toyo tires.
The Countach’s manufacturing unit wing wasn’t sufficiently big for Liberty Walk. The tuner has changed it with a fair bigger merchandise that attaches beneath the rear bumper. The tail additionally will get flush-mounted taillights reasonably than the inset lamps on the manufacturing model. A large diffuser beneath the quad exhaust provides to the motorsport-inspired aesthetic.
Liberty Walk’s F40 already brought on controversy amongst Motor1‘s readers final yr. Just from seeing this teaser video, we count on the corporate’s tackle the Countach to be simply as polarizing.
The automobile featured in these images appears to be like like a Ferrari 296 GT3 race automobile. It’s bought the winglets on the corners of the entrance fascia. It has the vented fenders. Side-view mirrors are correctly mounted on elegantly curved arms. It sits on a set of Pirelli race tires. But this is not a GT3. Heck, it is not even an actual automobile. That’s how good Amalgam is in terms of large-scale reproduction fashions.
This 1:8 scale Ferrari 296 GT3 is the corporate’s newest creation, and we reckon for those who may shrink all the way down to 1:8 dimension, you may drive it. Measuring 22 inches in size, it captures the proportions of the actual deal as a result of it was made utilizing Ferrari’s precise CAD knowledge for the automobile. With that as a place to begin, Amalgam artists and designers created varied casts and molds for producing the mannequin’s components. The total growth course of took 3,000 hours, and with all of the components manufactured, assembling every mannequin takes 300 hours.
Ducati is as Italian as Ferrari or Lamborghini, pasta or Roman historical past and, for the reason that early Nineteen Seventies, the bikes from Bologna have additionally been recognized for his or her velocity, because of the long-lasting 90° V-Twin engine. Ducati sports activities bikes have all the time had three issues in widespread: they’ve virtually all the time been purple, they’ve been quick they usually’ve been very horny.
Modern Ducati sports bikes are some of the best and most technological bikes on the planet, they usually’ve additionally been vastly profitable in racing, whether or not in World Superbikes or in MotoGP. On the eve of a second consecutive MotoGP World Championship, it’s time to look again on the quickest Ducati fashions.
Thinking of getting your self a Ducati? Here’s what it is wish to stay with one
In order to provide the newest and correct info attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Ducati and different authoritative sources. The fashions on this record had been organized chronologically, in accordance with their manufacturing years.
10Ducati 750 Super Sport
Production Years: 1974 – 1975
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Following the introduction of the 750GT mannequin, which was the primary to obtain the brand new 90° V-Twin Ducati engine, Ducati entered a modified racing model into the 1972 Imola 200 race and promptly gained, bringing large publicity to the small Italian producer. To construct on this success, the corporate launched the 750 Super Sport mannequin, full with a small ‘bikini’ fairing and a transparent, unpainted stripe on the glass fiber petrol tank, so the gasoline degree might be seen at a look.
This bike was one of many most important motorcycles Ducati has ever made. The engine produced 70 horsepower and 52 pounds-feet of torque and the mannequin introduced Ducati as a producer of sports activities superbikes. Only 400 had been inbuilt ’round-case’, desmodromic kind, making them vastly uncommon and collectible at the moment.
Ducati 750 Super Sport Specifications
Engine
748cc 90° V-Twin
Power
70 Horsepower
Torque
52 pounds-feet
Weight
397 kilos (dry)
9Ducati 900 Super Sport
Production Years: 1975 – 1981
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The original 750cc Super Sport model of 1974 set Ducati on the trail to constructing uncompromising sports activities bikes for the street. The engine was enlarged to 864cc for 1975 and the 900 SS was one of the vital single-minded sporting superbikes that ever took to the street.
Essentially a street-legal manufacturing racer, it was quick, uncooked, and uncompromising, with glorious dealing with and braking, a bellowing soundtrack from the Conti mufflers, and a prime velocity of 135mph. A comparatively lengthy wheelbase made it supremely steady, and it was merely one of the vital fascinating bikes of the Nineteen Seventies.
Ducati 900 Super Sport Specifications
Engine
864cc V-Twin
Power
80 Horsepower
Torque
N/A
Weight
414 kilos (dry)
8Ducati 851
Production Years: 1986 – 1989
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While there have been Ducati V-Twin sports activities bikes earlier than the 851, it was this bike that may be seen as the daddy of the fashionable Ducati sports activities bike idea. In the early Eighties, Ducati was struggling financially and the buy-out by Cagiva gave Ducati not solely renewed cash for R&D but additionally entry to four-valve expertise that had been developed for the Cagiva Desmoquattro.
When the cylinder heads from that engine had been grafted onto the Ducati Pantah engine, with its belt drive for the camshafts relatively than the bevel gear drive of earlier Ducati V-twins, the resulting 851 model made Ducati as soon as once more aggressive in racing, with Raymond Roche taking Ducati’s first World Superbike title in 1990, ending runner up in ’91 and ’92.
Ducati bikes are imbued with the Italian ardour for motorsports and design
7Ducati 888
Production Years: 1991 – 1994
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In 1991, Ducati increased the displacement of the 851 to create the 888 because of the fixed quest for a greater unfold of energy and torque and, subsequently, additional racing success. In this, they had been profitable as, whereas Roche was ending second in each 1991 and ’92 in World Superbikes, American rider Doug Polen took the championship title in each these years with the 888.
The racing was good and this was mirrored within the success of the 888 within the showrooms, the street model of the 888 being little or no totally different from the racing model. Losing the title to Kawasaki compelled Ducati again to the drafting board, creating one of many best motorbike designs of all time.
Ducati 888 Specifications
Engine
888cc V-Twin
Power
100 Horsepower
Torque
57.9 pounds-feet
Weight
445 kilos (dry)
6Ducati 916
Production Years: 1994 – 1998
ScuderiaAssindia
Frequently described as one of the most beautiful motorcycles of all time, the 916 was designed by Massimo Tamburini and was bodily smaller than the 888. While the engine produced much less energy than the four-cylinder Japanese rivals, it had a wider unfold of torque, serving to acceleration. However, it was the aesthetic design of the 916 that basically set it aside from the competitors.
The single-sided swing arm, under-seat exhausts, twin squared-off headlights, and placing fairing all mixed to create a particular however stunning motorbike. Even extra considerably, the 916 gained the World Superbike Championship 4 instances, in 1994, ’95, ’96, and ’98, three titles going to Carl Fogarty and one to Troy Corser.
Ducati 916 Specifications
Engine
916cc V-Twin
Power
114 Horsepower
Torque
66 pounds-feet
Weight
450 kilos (dry)
5Ducati 996
Production Years: 1999 – 2002
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A development of the 916, with a bigger displacement engine and a bunch of refinements to the 916 package deal, together with inner engine adjustments, modified chassis, lighter wheels, higher brakes, and absolutely adjustable suspension. From 1999, there have been three totally different fashions of the 996: a base, or Biposto; the 996S with Ohlins suspension; the 996SPS (Sports Production Special, Europe solely) which had a extra highly effective engine and fewer weight because of some titanium and carbon fiber elements. The 996 continued the World Superbike success, with a fourth title for Carl Fogarty in 1999 and Troy Bayliss in 2001.
These are hearts that beat inside one of the best Ducatis.
4Ducati 998
Production Years: 2002 – 2004
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The ultimate variation of the 916 idea. The 998 was powered by the Testastretta V-Twin engine, which was fully new from the crankshaft up however the principle change was to the cylinder heads: Testastretta means ‘narrow head’ and the valve angle was decreased from 40° to 25°. Both horsepower and torque elevated because of this.
The typical vary of fashions, from the ‘base’ Strada to the 998R and the 998S. Uniquely for a Ducati sports activities bike, it had no vital World Superbike success and, regardless that it was a 996 that was used within the movie The Matrix Reloaded, the next restricted version replicas, finished in dark green, were actually 998 models.
Ducati 998 Specifications
Engine
998cc V-Twin
Power
123 Horsepower
Torque
71.5 pounds-feet
Weight
436 kilos (dry)
3Ducati 999
Production Years: 2003 – 2006
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A complete re-design by Pierre Terblanche, which met with blended critiques, largely as a result of stacked entrance headlight design, which was necessitated by U.S laws that stated a motorbike headlight needed to be at a sure peak. The engine remained largely unchanged, aside from some tweaking to extend horsepower and torque. It was – and nonetheless is – acknowledged as one of many most interesting dealing with sports activities bikes of its time.
MCN journal of the U.Okay. known as it “simply the best V-Twin on the planet”, and “the most desirable, most exciting road bike on the planet.” Three extra World Superbike titles got here Ducati’s approach: one every for Neil Hodgson, James Toseland, and Troy Bayliss. Interestingly, the 999 had a double-sided swing arm which, in accordance with Terblanche, was a lot stiffer for a given weight than a single-sided swing arm.
Ducati 999 Specifications
Engine
998cc V-Twin
Power
140 Horsepower
Torque
80 pounds-feet
Weight
410 kilos (dry)
2Ducati 1098
Production Years: 2007 – 2009
Ducati Heritage
The 999 was getting a bit of breathless in comparison with rivals from Japan and Ducati argued that preserving the 999 aggressive can be too costly. With that in thoughts, Ducati lobbied the FIM, the world legislative physique for motorbike sport, for a change within the guidelines allowing twin-cylinder engines to have an higher displacement restrict of 1200cc, relatively than 1000cc that the inline fours had been restricted to, threatening to withdraw if this was not granted.
The 1098 shares extra design components with the 998 than the visually unloved 999, marking a return to twin side-by-side headlights and a single-sided swing arm, largely resulting from buyer calls for and never for any sensible motive. It truly made some of us search inspiration from older models in complete customizations. At the time of its launch, the 1098R, with a 1198cc engine, had the very best torque-to-weight ratio of any manufacturing sport bike ever made, with 99.1 pounds-feet pushing alongside 407 kilos of weight.
Ducati has loaded the Anniversario with top-shelf elements, all of which makes it the lightest Monster but
1Ducati 1199 Panigale
Production Years: 2012 – 2014
Ducati
The first Ducati sports activities bike to have a reputation in addition to a quantity. Borgo Panigale was the district of Bologna, Italy, the place the Ducati manufacturing facility is located and the Panigale title was adopted to have a good time this truth. At the time of its launch, Ducati claimed that the 1199 Panigale was the world’s most powerful production twin-cylinder engine motorcycle, with 195 horsepower at 10,750 rpm, and 98.1 pounds-feet of torque at 9000 rpm.
With a claimed curb weight of 414 kilos, Ducati stated the 1199 had the very best power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios of any manufacturing motorbike. The engine was used as a confused member of the body, which allowed the Panigale to be smaller and lighter than the outgoing 1198.
The Ferrari 812 Superfast will retain the V12, and our spies uncover the 2024 Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer and 2024 AMG GT 55 Coupe.
This is AM Drive, Motor1’s day by day take a look at the information you want earlier than you get in your automotive.
Ferrari Sticking To Naturally Aspirated V12 Engine
All of Ferrari’s fashions presently on sale have both a V6 or a V8 engine. However, the demise of the 812 Superfast didn’t mark the tip of the highway for the V12 because the powerhouse will proceed. Although the LaFerrari substitute is extensively believed to drop the twelve-cylinder monster when it debuts subsequent yr, the 812 substitute will retain the 6.5-liter unit.
That’s regardless of the very fact Ferrari head of design Flavio Manzoni informed Autocar “a V8 turbo could make it better in terms of performance.” He went on to confess a V12 is “not the most efficient” powertrain however the Prancing Horse should “fight for this engine” and maintain it round for so long as potential.
The 812 successor may have much more than the 830 horsepower discovered within the Competizione and Competizione A. Back in May 2021, Ferrari’s technical boss Michael Leiters promised a fair stronger V12: “We’re working on that.” The new supercar is anticipated to return out in 2024 contemplating prototypes have lately been noticed carrying the full production body. Hopefully, it will keep naturally aspirated slightly than happening the pressured induction route.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 Coupe and Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Spied With Minimal Camouflage
There’s one much less Ferrari 812 Superfast on the earth, for now a minimum of. The blue supercar proven above allegedly belongs to acclaimed actor Michael B. Jordan, and crashed right into a Kia in Los Angeles on late Saturday evening in Los Angeles, in line with KTLA.
There aren’t any stories of accidents ensuing from the crash, and there aren’t any indications that alcohol, medication, or any driver impairment contributed to the incident. TMZ stories Jordan was behind the wheel of the automobile when the collision occurred. No arrests have been made, and there isn’t any info on whether or not any citations have been issued. KTLA confirmed with police that officers have been known as to the scene at roughly 11:35 pm native time. An accident report was additionally filed.
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