Tag Archives: shortage

News

Watch A Sur-Ron Motorcycle Waterski Across a Gator-Infested Pond

There’s no scarcity of lunatics on Earth. But there positively appears to be a plethora of them within the nice state of Florida, because it definitely appears to churn out extra of them than some other state round. Maybe it is one thing within the water?

Yet, the most recent on this lengthy line of madness from America’s, um, panhandle, is one thing that I’d most likely strive given the possibility. Everyone’s favourite wild-eyed mechanics from Grind Hard Plumbing Co. went on all the way down to the Sunshine State to have some enjoyable with a few kitted-up Sur-Ron e-bikes.

Now, these aren’t your common modified Sur-Rons. No, one’s in full drag-spec whereas the opposite is the topic of in the present day’s story: a Sur-Ron constructed to waterski. 

Here comes dinner, gators! 

Sur-Ron Ski Hero

The bikes had been constructed by GritShift, a small Florida-based store that focuses on constructing sick-ass customized e-bikes, Sur-Rons, and UTV elements. 

According to the video, the GritShift guys received the thought from a video that Robbie Maddison put out a number of years in the past the place he took his competitors dirtbike and modified it to experience some waves. The primary premise of the construct was to stay aluminum “skis” on the entrance and rear tires—which they comprised of steel purchased from Home Depot—and add a sand-type paddle tire to the rear for propulsion and that is about it. 

They did a number of extra modifications to extend the ability and torque, too. 

What’s wild, nevertheless, is how nicely the entire thing works. It simply dances throughout the water prefer it was nothing. Granted, the water in query is a small canal, and crossing it looks like a reasonably brief affair from the video. But nonetheless, the electrical bike simply handles it. 

That stated, they’re nonetheless some teething points with the Sur-Ron Ski, because the entrance tire is claimed to kick up manner an excessive amount of water towards the inner motors and, despite the fact that they’re IP67 waterproof, one thing’s getting in and inflicting some points. 

There’s additionally the store’s dope Sur-Ron drag bike, which they are saying will hit 60 mph in below 4 seconds after which they drag race a brand new Corvette Z06. The entire factor seems to be like these dope Indonesian single-cylinder drag bikes, which I nonetheless want to write down a narrative on. 

Either manner, each look hella enjoyable and make me wish to strive them out. 

Motorsport

Tesla Model Y Is The World’s Best-Selling Vehicle For 2023

An earthquake shook the auto trade in 2023. It wasn’t the post-pandemic results, nor the semiconductor scarcity. The large wave got here from an organization that turned 20 years previous final yr. Tesla, the California-based EV model and considered one of Elon Musk’s first firms, now builds the best-selling automobile on this planet.

Although many international markets haven’t but launched full-year gross sales knowledge, preliminary knowledge collected by JATO Dynamics and Car Industry Analysis signifies the Tesla Model Y has taken the lead. Final knowledge might be obtainable within the second quarter.

Best Selling Cars Globally 2023

Presently, we’ve figures for the United States and Canada, most of Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand, main Latin American markets, many Southeast Asian markets, Russia, Turkey, and Israel. Added to those are partial end-of-year estimates for the Middle East and North Africa, Japan, South Africa, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and some smaller areas.

Indicators for these markets present that the Tesla Model Y bought 1.23 million models in 2023. This is a 64 p.c enhance in comparison with 2022. Although decrease than the annual progress recorded in 2022 in comparison with 2021 (which was a 91-percent enhance), we’re a large uptick in quantity.

Queen Of Europe And China

The Model Y has excelled in these areas, the 2 largest EV markets on this planet. According to knowledge launched by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, over 456,000 models had been shipped in China, a progress of 45 p.c.

As anticipated, in Europe the Model Y surpassed the registrations of best-selling automobiles just like the Dacia Sandero, the Peugeot 208, and the Volkswagen T-Roc. Data from 30 markets reveals the model registered over 255,000 models, which is nineteen,000 greater than the second hottest automobile, the Sandero.

Based on Tesla’s official supply knowledge, the Model Y is predicted to account for 2 out of three automobiles delivered by the corporate in 2023.

Best Selling Cars Globally 2023

Toyota Steps Down From The Throne

The Model Y’s spectacular outcomes got here on the expense of Toyota, specifically the RAV4 and Corolla. These two automobiles have led the worldwide rankings in recent times. Toyota’s robust presence around the globe and the competitiveness of the RAV4 as an SUV and the Corolla as a compact automobile have saved these automobiles in prime spots.

However, neither mannequin performs within the pure electrical market, which remains to be rising around the globe. Toyota has as a substitute banked on hybrid powertrains to achieve floor round within the international electrified realm. And whereas it is labored nicely for the corporate when it comes to gross sales, it now lacks a serious progress driver in markets like China and Europe.

Best Selling Cars Globally 2023

Still, Toyota is not far behind. Preliminary knowledge reveals the Toyota RAV4 in second with 1.07 million models bought. The current-generation SUV will flip six years previous in March, which is one yr older than the Model Y. The Toyota Corolla can be shut behind in third, logging 1.01 million international gross sales with all its physique kinds factored in.

The writer of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.

Motorsport

You Literally Have To Win The Lottery To Buy This Subaru WRX S4 STI Sport

There’s no scarcity of special-edition WRX fashions in Japan, and Subaru has simply launched one other one. The WRX S4 STI Sport retains the questionable plastic cladding however incorporates a couple of new sporty enhancements. It’s not a full-fledged STI mannequin, so it does not include any energy upgrades. But the extra aggressive physique equipment is complemented by new 19-inch BBS solid wheels at each axles.

Painted in Offshore Blue Metallic, borrowed from the also-not-for-America Levorg STI Sport wagon, the sports activities sedan rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires measuring 245/35 R19. It stands out with numerous black accents for the grille, facet mirror caps, and trunk lid spoiler. Even many of the badges together with the roof antenna sport a darkish look.


News

New Benelli Tornado 400 Sportbike Coming To Europe In H1 Of 2024

It looks as if Benelli has no scarcity of recent fashions to launch onto the market. At EICMA 2023 alone, the Chinese-owned Italian model unveiled an awesome variety of bikes slated for launch within the world market. After all, Benelli is owned by Qianjiang Motors, one of many largest Chinese motorbike producers, and father or mother firm to the likes of Keeway, QJ Motor, and MBP.

Not lengthy after showcasing a lot of new fashions late final yr, Benelli has already introduced the supply of a few of them, extra particularly, the Tornado 400, which is anticipated to go on sale in Europe within the first half of 2024. The Tornado 400 is the center little one within the trio of sportbikes launched at EICMA 2023, all of that are powered by parallel-twin engines. It clearly desires to tackle the crop of established twin-cylinder sportbikes already in circulation – bikes just like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 (up to date to the Ninja 500), CFMoto 450 SR (450SS within the US), Honda CBR500R, and Yamaha YZF-R3.

New Benelli Tornado 400 Sportbike Coming To Europe In H1 Of 2024

For reference, the Benelli Tornado 400 was beforehand launched within the Chinese market beneath the Tornado 402 moniker. It’s been up to date barely to fulfill European rules, extra particularly, to cater to A2 license holders trying to step as much as a much bigger bike from their A1-restricted newbie machines. The Tornado 400 is rocking a Euro 5-approved 399cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine with a dual-overhead camshaft. This engine pumps out 47.6 horsepower – the restrict of the A2 class. Power is shipped to the rear wheel by way of a handbook six-speed gearbox.

This engine is housed in a tubular metal body full with a elaborate single-sided swingarm. As for the suspension, Benelli depends on an inverted entrance fork with 37 millimeter stanchions, and a linkage-equipped rear monoshock. Braking duties are dealt with by entry-level Nissin floating calipers mounted axially onto the entrance fork.

New Benelli Tornado 400 Sportbike Coming To Europe In H1 Of 2024
New Benelli Tornado 400 Sportbike Coming To Europe In H1 Of 2024

With a 14.8-liter gasoline capability, we’re a moist weight of about 172 kilograms, or round 380 kilos, which is pretty light-weight and accessible. On high of that, we get full-LED lighting, a full-color TFT show with 5 inches of actual property, Bluetooth smartphone pairing, USB charging, and even a swanky tire stress monitoring system.

As talked about earlier, Benelli is anticipated to roll out the brand new Tornado 400 in Europe inside the first half of 2024. As of this writing, nevertheless, no official pricing has but been introduced. For reference, the Honda CBR500R goes for round 7,000 euros ($7,650 USD) in Italy, and the Ninja 400 retails for across the identical quantity. As such, we should always count on Benelli to cost its bike considerably decrease, ought to it need to appeal to consideration away from its mainstream rivals.

Motorsport

This Electric Porsche 911 Misses The Point

There’s no scarcity of Porsche 911 restomods as of late. There’s a model for each style, whether or not you need one thing perfected by Singer, one thing a bit extra wild by Guntherwerks, or one thing that revs to 11,000 by Tuthill. Then there’s Everrati, the British firm that is achieved some fairly intelligent work in changing 911s to full electrical vehicles. Their newest, a tribute to the three.8 liter 964 RS, although, is a little bit of a conundrum.

Before we get into why, maybe a little bit of a proof of what Everrati does is warranted. The firm rips out the center of the 911, the flat-six, and replaces it with two electrical motors behind the rear axle. It then hundreds the automobile up with batteries, however so as to preserve weight distribution it splits the batteries between the entrance and rear. They’re happy with having the ability to preserve that the identical to hopefully proceed to offer the 911 the identical distinctive character its had because it debuted 60 years in the past.

By all accounts, they’re enjoyable to drive and price little to run, a zero-emission technique to proceed having a automobile that appears like an outdated 911 in a future when the combustion engine is not lifeless. This specific mannequin, although, is the place issues begin to make much less sense.

This flash of yellow is impressed by the three.8 liter 964 RSR, some of the uncooked 911s of that period, a real motorsport-inspired automobile with a widebody, huge wing, and 325 hp that ran by means of a five-speed guide. Think of it like a race automobile for the street. They fetch huge bucks now, too, with one promoting in 2022 for $1.2 million.

Everrati Electric Porsche 911 964 RSR Homage

Now, Everrati’s model is probably going higher constructed than the unique. It’s higher for the atmosphere, too. It even will get to 60 in 3.7 seconds, a couple of second faster than the unique. I discover it very laborious to care.

The factor with a automobile just like the RSR now could be that it does not matter how effectively it is constructed, how good it’s for the atmosphere, or how fast it’s. What issues is what it represents, a throwback to a time when vehicles had been all about deep mechanical involvement. It’s the factor that resonated with me after driving the brand new 911 S/T, and the way each little little bit of the mechanical expertise related with the driving force. The RSR was an equally uncooked expertise 30 years in the past, a automobile that demanded your consideration always and had an engine that spoke to each sense. Take away the engine and change it with batteries and motors, and whereas the 911 S/T would in all probability nonetheless be nice to drive, it’d now not be the 911 S/T. It’d be a enjoyable EV sports activities automobile.

Here, we have now a physique package on an outdated 911 and its coronary heart ripped out, gearbox and all. The engagement that got here from the drivetrain is lifeless, and also you’re left with a automobile that appears like the best 911 on the block and would possibly even be enjoyable to drive, however you are lacking some of the vital components of the unique.

That’s to not say EV conversions are dangerous issues. On the opposite, for sure vehicles they make all of the sense on this planet. There are luxurious vehicles from many years in the past that may be higher powered by electrical energy and a few small sports activities vehicles may harness an EV powertrain in an fascinating method. EV swaps have additionally definitely saved older vehicles that had blown engines and given them a second likelihood at life. 

And whereas the bottom for this automobile could have given a scrap 964 an opportunity to dwell once more, it is also gotten the physique of a real legend, a automobile well-known for a way uncooked and uncompromising it’s. Except its misplaced the part that not solely offers it a part of its title, however a lot of its character. I have a tendency to evaluate homeowners who put badges on their vehicles that they do not deserve – here is taking a look at you man with a 528i that claims M5 on the again – and this 964 Carrera RS with out an engine positive is one in every of them.

If you assume I’m stuffed with crap and that you just need to purchase one, be my visitor. But for those who purchase an EV transformed 911 with an RSR bodykit, put together to do numerous explaining, and be ready to not sound cool in any respect when you do it.

News

Report: 10,000 Jaguar Land Rover cars stuck waiting for parts

According to a report by Car Dealer Magazine, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) workshops are facing a crisis due to a global shortage of parts. The company has also exhausted its fleet of courtesy cars.

The trade publication reveals that approximately 10,000 customer cars in the UK are currently waiting for parts, with around 5,000 of them off the road at dealerships.

The news was disclosed by Andrew Woolliscroft, JLR’s UK client care director, during a network summit held at the British Motor Museum earlier this month.

Affected models are believed to include the Range Rover Velar and the Land Rover Discovery. The issues originated from JLR’s newest parts facility, Mercia Park.

Woolliscroft informed the summit that there is a backlog of orders at Mercia Park and revealed that they currently have 80 lorries waiting to unload. He expressed frustration at the situation, calling it “unacceptable” and stating that it has nearly paralyzed workshops from functioning properly.

In a statement to Autocar, JLR explained that their efforts to achieve carbon net-zero by 2039 have resulted in temporary delays in parts delivery. They assured that they are working closely with distribution partner Unipart to resolve the issue.

Woolliscroft further stated that JLR expects the situation to improve in about six weeks. However, he noted that they have already run out of cars for clients and space to park the cars awaiting parts.

Some franchise leaders and dealerships expressed their concerns at the network summit, pointing out that these issues have been ongoing for months and that customers are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the situation.

Woolliscroft assured the summit that JLR is taking comprehensive measures to rectify the problem, with the UK market being the highest priority. It remains unclear if the situation is affecting other international markets as well.

Motorsport

650-HP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Takes on Twin-Turbo BMW M2 in Drag Races

When it comes to modern performance cars, there is no shortage of options to choose from. Among the many two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupes available, a recent YouTube video showcases an unexpected matchup between a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and a 2023 BMW M2.

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, which produces an impressive 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the BMW falls short in terms of power. However, the Camaro’s extra power comes with a trade-off, as it has a higher curb weight of 3,886 pounds.


Motorsport

2024 Skoda Kodiaq: A Sneak Peek at the Refreshed Design

Skoda is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to generate buzz for the upcoming 2024 Kodiaq. As the flagship SUV of the Czech brand, the current model has been incredibly successful, selling 841,900 units since its launch in 2017. The second-generation Kodiaq is just around the corner, and to keep the anticipation high, Skoda has released some teaser sketches showcasing the exterior design.

Like its siblings in the Skoda SUV lineup, the 2024 Kodiaq will feature the distinctive double lights. At first glance, the design appears to be more of a facelift rather than a complete overhaul. It bears a strong resemblance to the previous model, which is instantly recognizable. On the other hand, the Volkswagen Tiguan, which shares its platform with the Kodiaq, has undergone more significant changes in its latest iteration. Notably, the Tiguan will only be available as a five-seater, making room for the three-row Tayron in Volkswagen’s lineup. In contrast, Skoda plans to offer the Kodiaq with a choice of either five or seven seats.


News

Watch: Fastest Lap On The 2023 Isle Of Man TT with Peter Hickman

This year’s Isle of Man TT witnessed incredible speed, with riders like Peter Hickman striving to achieve the fastest laps. Riding his BMW M 1000 RR for Monster Energy by FHW Racing, Hickman broke the lap record by completing the 37.73-mile TT Mountain Course in an astounding 16 minutes and 36.115 seconds. Additionally, he achieved the highest average speed for the course, clocking in at 136.358 miles per hour.

Hickman accomplished this feat during the second race of the RL360 Superstock class at the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races. Competing against veteran riders such as Michael Dunlop for MD Racing and Dean Harrison for DAO Racing Kawasaki, Hickman faced stiff competition. The starting line featured a variety of bikes, including Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblades, Kawasaki ZX-10RRs, Yamaha YZF-R1s, and even Suzuki GSX-R1000s.

Watching a video of the Isle of Man TT can be lengthy, as the 37-mile course often exceeds 15 minutes. It takes remarkable skill and endurance to maintain top speed for that amount of time while navigating challenging turns, twists, and jumps. Hickman’s dominance in the last three races of the season solidifies his exceptional performance this year.

In the second race of the RL360 Superstock TT class alone, the riders completed 4,037.110 miles, with a total of 107 laps throughout the day. This race was part of the six-day Tourist Trophy event, which included qualifying rounds. The 2024 season holds promise, as fans anticipate whether Hickman or any of his rivals will set new lap records. Only time will reveal the outcome.

Motorsport

Audi RS6 Avant Performance Drag Races Audi R8 Spyder In Potent Family Fight

In a new drag racing video, Audi pits its practical and potent Audi RS6 Avant Performance against the Audi R8 Spyder. However, soon the RS6 won’t have to worry about its stablemate as Audi plans to discontinue the supercar.

The RS6 Performance is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, generating an impressive 630 horsepower and 626 pound-feet (850 Newton-meters) of torque. Weighing in at 4,607 pounds (2,090 kilograms), it transfers power to the Quattro all-wheel-drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission.