I have not met anybody who prefers having no clutch lever by any means. But BMW clearly is aware of one thing I do not.
Tag Archives: haven’t
Volkswagen ID 7
Modern ‘streamliner’ EV saloons like this haven’t all the time confirmed fairly as roomy as standard government choices, however the ID 7 avoids that pitfall. Taller grownup occupants can sit very comfortably certainly within the automotive’s wonderful entrance seats – however may additionally journey within the again with out slouching a lot.
A Hyundai Ioniq 6 wows you with its leg room, however a excessive flooring and a low roof don’t make all of it that nice to spend time in. Not so within the ID 7. There’s marginally much less leg room, however you’ll be able to correctly chill out within the again, since you’re not compelled into an ungainly place.
The identical goes for the entrance. While you don’t sit fairly as little as you’d do in a combustion-engined saloon, you don’t get the feeling of being hemmed in, as within the Ioniq 6, or of sitting in a tub, as within the Mercedes EQE.
And in contrast to with the Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3, the boot (532 litres with an honest quantity of house beneath the ground) is accessed by way of an enormous hatch, fairly than a saloon bootlid.
The automotive’s dashboard structure has been outlined by the inclusion of two key bits of digital know-how: VW’s latest-gen, 15in touchscreen infotainment console, and a big color ‘augmented reality’ head-up show that places instrumentation and navigation prompts proper in your pure line of sight, and is superb.
The new touchscreen, in the meantime, is an all-dominating system integrating virtually the entire automotive’s local weather management and driver help features – one thing that, as a rule, we’re usually important of. Thanks to some pretty basic top-level navigability enhancements that Volkswagen has made on account of consulting with its prospects, although, the touchscreen is a lot simpler to make use of than VW’s earlier ‘MIB’-generation methods.
Permanently displayed, user-configurable menu bars offer you direct, one-touch entry to often accessed features. Disabling the now-mandatory velocity restrict help system is a one-second, two-touch course of freed from swiping or scrolling (and, even in the event you go away it on, it is surprisingly progressive and discreet). Pretty a lot any perform you need can both be displayed straight on the ‘home’ web page (an extended press allows you to swap out just about any ‘button’ for an additional you will discover extra helpful), or accessed inside one finger prod of it. We complained; VW listened – and acted. And this identical software program will go onto the lesser 13in screens of different VW fashions, too, reward be.
For premium materials attraction, thoughts you, the ID 7 doesn’t fairly really feel on the identical stage because the BMW i5. For that, there are too many prosaic supplies in distinguished locations, and the design drives out switchgear that would add tactile attraction in too many areas. The ID 7 feels very very like an enlarged high-end Golf, fairly than a dearer premium product in itself.
However, given Volkswagen’s positioning of the ID 7 as a long-distance EV, what is going to actually make the distinction is the seats. Those in my take a look at automotive had been the optionally available Ergoactive ones, they usually’re really very good. Soft however supportive, with a luxurious velour upholstery and heating and air flow (which may run on the identical time), they’re the alternative of the marginally knobbly seats within the Ioniq 6.
Not Even 1,000-HP Porsche And BMW Can Beat This Tesla In Drag Race
If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ll know the Tesla Model S Plaid is mighty quick. We’ve seen it beat all kinds of supercars in drag races and we know from a recent video it is also frighteningly fast around the Nurburgring. But can it compete against two very potent combustion-powered machines with heavy upgrades under the hoods? The short answer is yes.
But here’s the longer version. Carwow lines up a Model S Plaid against a heavily modified Porsche 911 Turbo and a tuned BMW M5. All three cars have around 1,000 horsepower and the Tesla is the heaviest at around 4,85 pounds (2,200 kilograms). As a reminder, it has a three-motor electric powertrain, which makes it one of the quickest production cars available on the market today with a claimed 0-60 miles per hour time of 1.99 seconds.
Against it, the Porsche relies on a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine with aftermarket intakes, a new titanium exhaust system, and a custom ECU remap. The result is a peak output of 1,011 hp. The 911 Turbo is the lightest of the trio tipping the scales at 3,637 lbs (1,650 kg). Last but not least, there’s an upgraded BMW M5. Its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 has been tuned and now delivers 1,000 hp. It is significantly heavier than the Porsche at 4,078 lbs (1,850 kg).
In the first three quarter-mile drag races, the Model S Plaid takes comfortable wins. The M5 driver then proposes that each car gets three passengers but the result isn’t much different. Actually, this puts the Bavarian sedan in an even worse situation losing to the Tesla and Porsche by a bigger gap. Things get even worse for the BMW during the rolling-start races.
Jaguar XJ220: A Fast Tour of Monaco at 5 MPH
The Jaguar XJ220 was a competitor to the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. However, unlike its rivals, this British supercar hasn’t seen a significant increase in value. According to Hagerty’s stats, it generally sells for less than $1 million. In this video, former Fifth Gear host Tiff Needel, who is also a racing driver, takes the XJ220, which is up for auction, on a ride through Monaco and the neighboring mountains.
Needel meets up with former Formula One driver Thierry Boutsen to examine the Jaguar supercar. The two share a friendly relationship and jokingly reminisce about their racing days. Boutsen, who deals in specialty automobiles as part of his business in Monaco, is the seller of the car.
SUV Winter Tire Test Shows Why AWD Doesn’t Help With Turns And Stops
If you haven’t looked at the calendar recently, snow will soon be falling for us in the northern hemisphere. Heck, it’s already on the ground in some areas, and that means it’s time for the annual tire-swapping ritual from summer to winter rubber. What’s that you say? You don’t need snow tires because you have an SUV? Oh, dear.
All-wheel drive traction and more ground clearance afforded by SUVs certainly help when accelerating through snow, but that’s only 33 percent of driving. Braking and cornering most certainly matter, too. And as we’ve seen in previous articles regarding snow tires, having all-wheel drive doesn’t matter if the tires can’t grip the surface. That leads us to the latest video from Jonathan Benson at Tyre Reviews, and this one is special. The focus here is on dedicated winter tires designed specifically for the weight and handling characteristics of SUVs.
The test obviously evaluates the tires on snow, factoring in lap times along with acceleration and braking. However, the test also looks at tire performance in wet and dry conditions as well as noise, comfort, and rolling resistance. Specific tires featured in this video include:
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
- Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
- Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus SUV
- Hankook Winter i cept evo 3 X
- Leao Winter Defender UHP
- Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 SUV
- Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV
- Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV
- Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2
If you’ve seen our features on Benson’s video before, you know just how insanely thorough he gets. That tenacity is needed for this test, which he says is one of the closest in terms of results that he’s ever conducted. Using a Volkswagen Tiguan R in all the scenarios and going strictly by the numbers, he determined that the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was the best tire. It scored well in all categories save for hydroplaning, where it had average performance. Rolling resistance was exceptional, making it a strong choice for EV owners seeking something with good efficiency.
However, Benson’s test goes far beyond the numbers to suss out more subjective aspects that might make a difference to tire shoppers. Among other things, he points out that the Michelin was the best in terms of snow handling and near the top everywhere else, save for rolling resistance where it performed quite badly, relegating it to the number two spot behind Continental. He also highlights characteristics such as understeer and oversteer throughout the brands. In that respect, the Nokian (which was fourth in points) was actually his personal favorite for its neutral, all-around performance.
As always, we recommend jumping into the video to catch all the details of this test. And as the snow starts to fly, stay safe out there.
VW Bus With Audi S3 Engine And Matching Camper Has Us Seeing Double
There is a unique custom build in the camper world that is turning heads. It features a 1963 Volkswagen Type 2 pulling another 1963 Volkswagen Type 2, fifth-wheel style. To handle the load, the tow rig is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder Audi S3 engine. This incredible combination is not only eye-catching but also available for sale.
The VW camper is currently being auctioned at Car & Classic in the UK. As of September 22, the bidding has reached £18,000 (approximately $22,000). This is a one-of-a-kind creation described as being in “impeccable condition.” The engine and automatic transmission are reported to be in good working order, and the interior maintains the classic Type 2 style with a few upgrades to accommodate the modern powertrain.
Porsche 911 GTS Facelift Spied Exercising Hybrid Powertrain In Germany
There is some uncertainty about whether this is an updated Porsche 911 GTS. While it features center-lock wheels and lacks the side intakes of the Turbo, it also does not have the hood and front fascia of the 911 GT3, which are unique to those models. Unless Porsche is introducing center-lock wheels to another vehicle, it is likely the GTS.
Another interesting aspect of these spy photos is the round yellow sticker on the back window, indicating that this 911 is a hybrid. This means it will have more power than the standard GTS, which already boasts 473 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine. The exact power output of the hybrid version remains a mystery, as Porsche has not provided any details yet. Sources suggest that it will not be a plug-in hybrid like the Panamera, which can produce over 700 horsepower and run on electric power alone. Instead, the hybrid system in the 911 GTS facelift will likely focus more on performance rather than efficiency.
Harley-Davidson X440 Reservations In India To Pause Temporarily On August 3
If you want to buy a Harley-Davidson X440 in India, you should hurry because online bookings for the bike will be closing soon. Harley-Davidson India has announced that the online bookings portal will temporarily close starting on August 3, 2023.
The closure is expected to be temporary, but the announcement from H-D India is clear about the upcoming pause in bookings. The official announcement states, “Introductory price booking to end on 3rd August. Book now and secure your X440 for a starting price of Rs. 229,000”
Harley-Davidson India’s two Twitter images, side by side.
Another image post by H-D India further confirms the closure, stating “The time is now. Bookings close on August 3rd.” The closure is attributed to the increasing inflow of enquiries and bookings for the Harley-Davidson X440. Hero MotoCorp CEO Niranjan Gupta expressed confidence in delivering an exceptional riding experience to customers with the X440.
The Harley-Davidson X440 is available in three models on the Harley-Davidson India website. The base model is the X440 Denim priced at Rs. 229,000. The X440 Vivid is available in Metallic Thick Red or Metallic Dark Silver for Rs. 249,000, and the top-tier X440 S comes in Matte Black for Rs. 269,000. It is unclear if the pricing will change after the initial bookings close on August 3, 2023.
While Hero Motocorp and Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz have mentioned the positive response to pre-bookings, no specific numbers have been provided. Whether the announcement aims to boost pre-orders or not, customers are always interested in getting the best deal when buying a new bike.
Spotted: Aprilia RS 440 Taking A Stroll With A Moto Guzzi Stelvio Buddy
In the motorcycle industry, summer 2023 is heating up. While Moto Guzzi and Aprilia haven’t made any major announcements yet, these two Piaggio Group brands are clearly ready to make waves in the coming months.
Rumors have been circulating about the return of the Moto Guzzi Stelvio by the end of June, with an expected release before the end of 2023. There have also been hints about the development plans for a 400-450cc Aprilia sportbike. Now, in July 2023, spy photos have emerged showing the Aprilia RS 440 in action, with a Moto Guzzi Stelvio (based on the V100 Mandello) following closely behind. It’s nice to see riding buddies, isn’t it?
4 Photos
The styling of the Aprilia RS 440 closely resembles that of the existing Aprilia RS 660. In fact, Aprilia has cleverly disguised the RS 440 as an RS 660 with a graphics decal on the side. However, a closer look at the front wheel reveals a single brake caliper and disc, indicating a potential cost-saving measure in the RS 440 model.
Recently, another test mule of the same model was spotted testing on public roads in India. The photos show similar features to the previously mentioned spy shots, including the single-disc brake setups, alloy wheels, frame design, mirrors, and windscreen. Although the dash is slightly obscured, it provides a small glimpse of what to expect.
If the estimated unveiling of the RS 440 in September during the Indian MotoGP round is accurate, it makes sense to see these near-production test mules in different locations. However, until official information is released, everything remains speculative.