Tag Archives: mechanics

(Really) distant charging: Electric Skoda vs the Sahara

I believe its mechanics have by no means encountered an EV, so I’m cautious after I flip onto the desert observe that results in the camp. Still, the Enyaq has four-wheel drive and it could be a disgrace to not use it. And whereas it’s completely not a devoted off-roader, it copes with the free gravel and shifting sand with ease.

With the solar low within the sky and the temperature dropping sooner than the cost within the Enyaq Coupé, I attain camp. It’s not as primary because it sounds: my tent has a correct mattress, rest room and electrical energy. Although, provided that the facility cuts out sufficient to make charging a laptop computer difficult, you realise the infrastructure is a way from with the ability to address EVs.

Our berber hosts serve up a tajine, supplemented by bread baked within the embers of the campfire. It’s an historical custom, though they use their telephone flashlights to test if the bread is cooked. Modern tech benefiting an historical way of life? There’s an EV metaphor in there someplace. But it has been an extended day and I need to stand up early for the desert dawn.

No EV charging past this level

The early begin is value it, each for the spectacular dawn and the looks of a prepare of camels introduced by the berbers. Camels are famously environment friendly: they’ll eat tons of of litres of water in minutes, then go greater than every week with out ingesting. Fast charging and unimaginable effectivity? There’s one other aspirational EV metaphor in there someplace.

I reached the Sahara with slightly below 50% cost left, however this isn’t a spot to push it. And why do this after I can go to the Sbai Palace n M’Hamid? It has a pool, glorious Moroccan tea, free wi-fi – and a pair of 22kW EV chargers.

Full disclosure: the chargers are right here due to Skoda UK, which put in them on the desert lodge to make this journey simpler. But credit score to the lodge’s proprietor for agreeing, anticipating that they may increase his Tripadvisor rating in future.

It Takes 2.84 Seconds To Change An F1 Car’s Tires In Total Darkness

1.8 seconds – that is the official file time for a pit cease in Formula 1. McLaren’s mechanics achieved that file with Lando Norris’ automotive throughout the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix in October. Red Bull Racing has now determined to have a go on the quickest tire change however in barely completely different circumstances. They did it in pitch black.

Despite having to work in darkness, RBR’s mechanics have been solely about one second slower. Sure, a second might be the distinction between successful or dropping a race, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a formidable efficiency. Swapping out these center-lock wheels on Max Verstappen’s RB23 in a whopping 2.84 seconds with out seeing something is nothing wanting wonderful.

10 Fast 4 Door Sports Cars Under $30,000, Ranked By Top Speed

In the past, owning and driving a sports car meant sacrificing practicality and requiring a team of mechanics on standby. However, the Honda NSX paved the way for reliable supercars, and the Germans popularized the modern-day sports sedan on a global scale. The BMW M5 and W-124 Mercedes 500E set the stage for practical performance cars that combine luxury and driving characteristics of a proper sports car.

Since then, this formula has evolved and expanded into different categories, giving rise to models like the Mercedes CLS, four-door coupes, and super-fastbacks like the Porsche Panamera. Many of the four-door sports cars listed below are performance versions of economy or premium models, with some of them being among the most desired driver’s cars. They all have one thing in common: you can buy them for under $30,000 and enjoy sports car performance in a practical and stylish package.

We gathered data about the average used price of each car on the list from specialized platforms like CarEdge, CarGurus, TrueCar, and Classic.com. We took five ads for each car with various mileage (from low to high) and determined the average value. We also gathered performance data from reviews, official manufacturer websites, and databases like Auto-Data and Automobile Catalog. Models in the list are ranked from slowest to fastest.

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10 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Top Speed: 149 MPH

Stellantis Media

Alfa Romeo’s first rear-wheel-drive sedan in 30 years took the segment by storm and showed German or Japanese doesn’t always need to be the answer when it comes to sports sedans. The Giulia’s nimble, rear-wheel-drive platform (with optional all-wheel drive) is paired with punchy turbo-four engines and one of the best automatics currently in production. If you look hard enough, you could find the Ferrari-powered Giulia Quadrofoglio, but if you want to avoid potentially, wallet-draining repairs, you’d be wise to stick to the four-cylinder model.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Specifications

Engine

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4

Transmission

6-speed manual/ 8-speed automatic

Power

280 hp

Torque

295-306 lb-ft

Driveline

Front engine, AWD

0-60 MPH

4.9 seconds

Top Speed

149 MPH

(Sourced from Automobile Catalog)

Average Used Price: $23,343

The Giulia was also offered with a manual, but after 2017, you can only get it with the ZF8HP automatic, which frankly, isn’t a bad thing. The interior is driver-centric and spacious enough for four, albeit not as luxurious as some of the other offerings in the segment. Despite Alfa Romeo’s less-than-stellar reliability reputation, the Giulia is surprisingly trouble-free. It’s also the newest car on the list, and under $30,000 can get you a two-year-old example that’s still under warranty.

9 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

Top Speed: 149 MPH

ChromeGames923 via Wikimedia Commons

May 2016 saw the last Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ever produced. After ten generations, the rally legend that challenged Subaru’s Impreza was ceremoniously put to rest after an epic Final Edition Lancer EVO. Despite all the rally prowess and being the last-generation EVO, the Lancer Evolution X is still relatively affordable, at least compared to other JDM icons. Whether it’s the GSR or MR versions of the car, the EVO packs a potent turbo-four that’s capable of a lot more with the right parts.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Specifications

Engine

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4

Transmission

5-speed manual/ 6-speed DCT

Power

291 hp

Torque

270 lb-ft

Driveline

Front engine, AWD

0-60 MPH

45.1 seconds

Top Speed

149 MPH

(Sourced from Automobile Catalog)

Average Used Price: $23,741

Aftermarket support is vast, and many of these cars are highly modified. The Evolution X is the only one that doesn’t come with the legendary 4G63T; instead, it opts for the 4B11, which shares many of the same qualities as the old engine. Like the STI, the EVO