Tag Archives: later

Motorsport

Mini Cooper EV Spy Photos Show Upgraded John Cooper Works Trim

The next-generation Mini Cooper is set to debut later this year, and the automaker is already generating excitement by teasing the new model. In fact, they have already released details and specifications about the upcoming Cooper Electric three-door hatchback. Notably, this EV will also have a sportier John Cooper Works variant, which can be seen in these new spy photos.

The electric Mini John Cooper Works showcases a distinct front fascia with a sporty front splitter and central support. The car’s pronounced side sills, aggressive rear diffuser, and sizable roof spoiler further emphasize its high-performance nature. In addition, the Mini boasts larger brakes that are discreetly hidden behind its wider wheels.


Motorsport

2024 BMW iX2 Spy Video Shows Electric Crossover Testing at Nurburgring

BMW is investing over $380 million in its Regensburg factory for the production of the iX2, a new electric model that is based on the upcoming next-generation X2. The iX2 is currently in development, and a recent video captures the camouflaged prototype being tested at the Nurburgring.

The video shows the test driver pushing the limits of the trial vehicle, as indicated by the sound of squealing tires. While it’s unclear how fast the iX2 actually is compared to similar vehicles, it certainly appears to have an impressive performance.


Motorsport

New Carlos Ghosn Documentary Covers Escape From Custody, Interviews Ex-Nissan CEO

A new documentary called “Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn” will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ this month. It will provide a detailed account of the Carlos Ghosn saga, including his rise at Nissan, his multiple arrests, and his daring escape to Lebanon. The documentary will feature interviews with key figures involved in the story, including Ghosn himself.

The saga began on November 19, 2018, when Ghosn was arrested by Japanese authorities for alleged under-reporting of his income. He was indicted on December 10, 2018, and re-arrested several times on additional allegations. Ghosn declared his innocence in a Tokyo courtroom on January 8, 2019, and was released on bail on March 6, 2019. However, he was arrested again on April 4, 2019, on accusations of attempting to enrich himself at Nissan’s expense. Ghosn was granted bail once more on April 25, 2019. In late December 2019, he managed to escape custody, capturing global attention with his evasion.

Ghosn ultimately arrived in Lebanon, where he holds citizenship, and has since been residing there. Although Interpol issued an arrest warrant for him on January 2, 2020, Lebanon does not extradite its citizens.

“Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn” will include never-before-seen footage and interviews. It will also feature Mike Taylor, a former Green Beret who aided Ghosn in his escape, telling his side of the story. Both Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, were sentenced to prison by Japanese authorities for their involvement in the escape.

Although Ghosn is now considered a fugitive, he has publicly criticized his former employer. In 2021, he commented that Nissan lacked vision in its electrification strategy. He has also recently filed a lawsuit against Nissan, seeking over $1 billion from the company. Ghosn accuses the automaker and others of defamation and fabricating evidence.

The four-part documentary series, “Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn,” will premiere on Apple TV+ on August 25. The series takes inspiration from the book “Boundless” written by reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain from The Wall Street Journal. It is executive produced by James Gay-Rees, Paul Martin, and The Wall Street Journal Studios, and directed by James Jones.

Motorsport

Watch BMW M1 Procar Lose Control, Hit The Hay At Goodwood FoS

The BMW M1, a road-legal performance car, made its debut in 1978. Just a year later, the BMW M1 Procar Championship began, featuring professional drivers from various racing series competing in a one-make racing competition. To participate in the championship, BMW created the M1 Procar race car, which holds significant historical importance for the BMW M division. These days, you can still witness M1 Procar examples racing in events worldwide.

At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, where numerous fast and fascinating cars took on the legendary 1.16-mile hill, one specific vehicle caught our attention – a black-and-red M1 Procar. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the best Sunday during the actual uphill race. It lost traction at a corner, resulting in it hitting the hay.

You can watch the attached video at the top of this page to see that it wasn’t a serious crash. So, what exactly happened? While attempting to brake before the corner, the car’s front left wheel was on the grass. As a result, the wheel lacked traction, and the subsequent section of tarmac wasn’t sufficient for the race car to slow down enough and avoid colliding with the safety barrier made of fodder at Goodwood FoS. Fortunately, the impact occurred at a low speed, and driver Steven Osborne was unharmed.

Motorsport

New Mazda CX-80 With Three Rows Spied In Full-Body Camouflage Wrap

Mazda is adding new models to its lineup, and one of them is the CX-80. This crossover will join the existing CX-60 later this year, offering three rows of seating. Recently, our spy photographers caught a glimpse of the CX-80 undergoing testing in public, covered in full-body camouflage.

Although the design details are hidden beneath the wrap, the similarities with the CX-60 are evident. Expect the CX-80 to feature a large and sleek grille, slender headlights, and a stylish rear end.


News

MG 4 XPower: Powerful Electric Hot Hatch with 429bhp and 239-mile Range

Learn about the specifications of the MG 4 XPower hot hatch, which will be officially unveiled later this summer.

The XPower features a high-performance electric powertrain that delivers an impressive 429bhp and 443lb ft of torque, more than double the power of the MG 4 Long Range.

With this power, the XPower can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, on par with top petrol-engined hot hatches such as the Mercedes-AMG A45 (3.9sec), and has a top speed of 124mph.

While the hot hatch uses the same 62kWh battery as the Long Range model, the range has been reduced from 281 miles to 239 miles due to the significant increase in performance.

Charging the XPower from 10% to 80% takes 35 minutes when using a 150kW charger.

Inside, the XPower is similar to the regular Trophy model, but with some changes including Alcantara bucket seats and metal pedals.

The XPower also comes equipped with a “dynamic driving management” system that provides data such as lap times and a g-force meter.

It is not yet known if the XPower will have any styling changes to reflect its sporty nature, such as a wide-arch body kit or rear spoiler. In China, where the car is called the Mulan Triumph edition, it features bright-green paint and a wider, lower stance.

MG Mulan Triumph Edition front

A major car dealer listing suggests that the XPower will come with 18-inch alloy wheels in a “cyclone” design and orange-painted brake calipers.

The starting price for the XPower is expected to be £36,495, excluding optional extras. Additional features include an exclusive British Racing Green paint finish priced at £800.

The XPower is anticipated to be showcased as the “sporting” model alongside the MG Cyberster electric roadster and the new EX4 concept car at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Little information is available about the EX4 at this time, but MG has described it as a “dramatic” prototype that has been designed and built in Britain.

Motorsport

2024 Skoda Kodiaq SUV Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

Skoda is set to unveil the next-generation Kodiaq SUV later this year. Despite already teasing the model, development work is still ongoing. Recently, a new set of spy photos captured the redesigned vehicle being put through its paces at the Nurburgring race track.

The Kodiaq is seen here still wrapped in tight-fitting, full-body camouflage. Although the coverings prevent us from seeing the finer design details, these will likely be revealed during the official debut. The three-row SUV appears to have similar proportions and grille to its predecessor. However, its headlights showcase a new design, while the front bumper features tall vertical intakes positioned towards the outer edges.


News

BYD Dolphin Offers 265 Miles of Range for £26,000 in Europe

Chinese car manufacturer BYD has released the pricing details for its new compact car, the BYD Dolphin, which will be available for purchase in the UK later this year.

The base model of the BYD Dolphin will start at €29,990 in mainland Europe, which roughly translates to £26,000 in the UK. The car will be offered in four different trim levels: Active, Boost, Comfort, and Design.

The Active and Boost trims come equipped with a 44.9kWh battery. The Active model offers 93bhp with a range of around 211 miles, while the Boost model provides a performance upgrade to 178bhp but sacrifices range, offering 188 miles.

The Comfort and range-topping Design models feature a larger 60.4kWh battery, providing a range of 265 miles. These models also come with a more powerful 201bhp electric motor and 228lb ft of torque. The car can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in approximately 7.0 seconds.

The BYD Dolphin can charge at speeds of up to 88kW in its highest specification, allowing the battery to reach 80% capacity in about 29 minutes. The car also offers four driving modes: Sport, Normal, Economy, and Snow.

Standard equipment includes a rotating 12.3-inch touchscreen, a heat pump, and a suite of safety features such as emergency braking, traffic alerts, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera. The Comfort model adds additional features such as a panoramic sunroof, a vehicle-to-load power strip, rear privacy glass, and wireless phone charging. The starting price for the Comfort model is €37,690 (£32,387).

The BYD Dolphin will be available in a variety of exterior finishes, including optional dual-tone paint and a panoramic glass roof. BYD aims to position itself as a semi-premium brand, competing with companies like Kia and Hyundai. The car has a length of 4290mm, placing it between the Peugeot e-208 and Volkswagen ID3 in terms of size. It is based on the same e-Platform 3.0 as the BYD Atto 3 family hatchback, which was launched in the UK earlier this year.