Tag Archives: South

Motorsport

Watch Lincoln Town Car Jump Off Cliff At Dead-End Street In San Francisco

Dolores Park is a popular recreational area in San Francisco, California, offering various sports facilities such as tennis courts, basketball court, multi-purpose court, and soccer field. Normally, it is a peaceful place, but over the weekend, an unusual incident occurred when a stolen white Lincoln sedan jumped off the Sanchez Street stairs on Saturday night.

Security camera footage captured the moment a Lincoln Town Car approached the Sanchez Street stairs and soared off the cliff, creating a dramatic sight with the car facing the sun. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, including the passengers inside the vehicle. However, the car was stolen, and two individuals can be seen fleeing the scene after the crash.

 

According to Michael Perez, a nearby resident, there was a woman pulling out a bleeding man from the car. The man wore a full face mask and black clothing, and the woman, also dressed in black, was urgently instructing them to hurry up as they had only three minutes before the police would arrive.

 

The San Francisco Police Department has confirmed that the car was stolen from its owner, who was carjacked. An investigation is currently underway, but the culprits have not been apprehended yet. Witnesses revealed that the car owner arrived at the scene after the accident and claimed ownership of the vehicle. According to one witness, the car owner stated he was driving past the area when someone opened his door, pulled out another passenger, and hit him on the head with a gun.

 

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of this crash is that just a few minutes prior, people were casually walking down those stairs, completely unaware of what would happen. The timing of the incident could have had much more severe consequences. Fortunately, everyone involved in the accident emerged unharmed. Authorities are working diligently to apprehend the individuals responsible for the stolen car.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen brand invests €1 billion for growth in South America

The Volkswagen brand is planning a major product offensive in South America, aiming to grow by 40% in Brazil, the region’s largest market, by 2027. As part of this plan, the company will launch 15 new electric and flex-fuel vehicle models by 2025, with hybrid vehicles to follow in the medium term. The first fully electric models, the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID. Buzz, will be brought to Brazil by the end of 2023. The South American automotive market is expected to grow by 11% annually until 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally. This investment aligns with Volkswagen’s strategy to expand rapidly in growth markets and promote sustainable mobility. Volkswagen is also celebrating its 70th anniversary in Brazil.

The CEO of Volkswagen Brand, Thomas Schäfer, stated that South America is strategically important, and the local team has achieved a turnaround in recent years, improving profitability and competitiveness. He emphasized the need to work on cost positions and implement the product offensive, which includes a €1 billion investment in South America by 2026. The South America region returned to profitability in 2021 and made a significant contribution to earnings in 2022. Alexander Seitz, Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Group South America, highlighted the company’s commitment to bringing attractive vehicles to customers in Brazil and South America through the product offensive, which supports the transformation to zero-carbon and fully networked mobility.

In addition to investing in the development of ethanol-based combustion engines and new business models, Volkswagen aims to expand its car subscription service in Brazil, with over 3,000 subscriptions expected in 2023 – a 150% increase from the previous year. The company also plans to offer its first fully electric vehicles, the ID.4 and ID. Buzz, as subscriptions in Brazil in 2023 to facilitate the transformation to sustainable mobility. Volkswagen expects that the transition to pure electric drives in Brazil will be less dynamic than in Europe, with pure battery electric vehicles estimated to account for around 4% of the overall market in 2033. However, Volkswagen aims to outpace market growth in the electric vehicle segment.

Volkswagen will remain open to alternative drives and technology until the market is fully electrified. All new models produced in the South America region will continue to be able to run on 100% biofuel, making a significant contribution to the sustainability strategy and Volkswagen South America’s Way to Zero. The engines, developed in Europe, will be adapted and further developed in Volkswagen Brazil’s newly opened development center. The focus of Volkswagen’s product offensive includes the A0 and A segments, as well as CUVs/SUVs, which are the fastest-growing market segment worldwide. The A0 segment already accounts for nearly 40% of the South American market and is expected to continue growing disproportionately to the market.

Ethanol, derived from sugar cane, is a sustainable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to petrol. Ethanol production in Brazil uses less than 0.8% of the country’s land, with the majority of cane sugar harvested in south-central Brazil and a small portion in the North-East. The biofuel contributes to the significant reduction of CO2 in this region.

Volkswagen’s presence in Brazil spans 70 years, with the production plant in São Paulo being the company’s first plant outside Germany. Over the years, Volkswagen has become Brazil’s largest automobile manufacturer, producing a total of 25 million vehicles, four million of which were exported. The company operates four plants in Brazil and sells its models, including the Polo, Virtus, Nivus, Taos, and T-Cross, through approximately 500 dealerships.

BMW

Celebrating 50 years: BMW Group announces electrification of Plant Rosslyn, South Africa

  • South African plant will serve as a model for social, environmental, and economic sustainability
  • BMW Group invests 4.2 billion rand (over 200 million euros) in electrification of Plant Rosslyn
  • Nedeljković: “Starting from 2024, the next-generation BMW X3 will be produced in South Africa as a plug-in hybrid for global export.”
  • 1.5 million euros will be donated to UNICEF to support young people in South Africa

Rosslyn (South Africa). Fifty years ago, the BMW Group established its first foreign facility at Plant Rosslyn. Since then, it has become an integral part of the global production network. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board Member for Production, has announced that Plant Rosslyn will be electrified. During an event in South Africa, he stated, “Starting from 2024, we will manufacture the BMW X3 as a plug-in hybrid in South Africa for global export. An investment of 4.2 billion rand (over 200 million euros) will prepare Plant Rosslyn for electromobility.” This investment will also include specialized training for over 300 employees at the plant.

The investment announcement aligns with the BMW Group’s global iFACTORY master plan, which focuses on advancing the development of efficient, digitalized, and resource-friendly production. Plant Rosslyn has already produced over 1.6 million vehicles and exported them to more than 40 countries worldwide, including 14 African nations. Throughout its history, the plant has manufactured various BMW models such as the BMW 1800 SA, BMW 2000 SA, BMW 5 Series, and BMW 7 Series. It has been producing the popular BMW X3 since 2018, marking a significant milestone in BMW’s globalization efforts. Currently, the BMW Group sells vehicles in more than 140 countries and operates manufacturing facilities in 15 locations.

Nedeljković, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW South Africa, emphasized that the BMW Group’s impact in the country extends beyond car production: “In South Africa, we haven’t just established a plant that provides employment and contributes to the country’s industrialization; for the past 50 years, we have also demonstrated our commitment to social responsibility.” As part of this commitment, the BMW Group announced a donation of over 1.5 million euros to support a program run by UNICEF. Together with UNICEF, the BMW Group will promote the teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) to thousands of children and young people in South Africa.

The BMW Group also places great importance on resource conservation. Since 2015, Plant Rosslyn has been using energy from a nearby biogas plant (Bio2Watt), significantly reducing its CO2 emissions. The plant also collaborates with various organizations to ensure that its waste is recycled and not disposed of. For instance, in partnership with Envirolite, Plant Rosslyn repurposes scrap polystyrene as a building material, resulting in the construction of more than 650 low-cost houses since the project’s inception two years ago.

Furthermore, South Africa plays a pivotal role as a market for BMW Group’s innovations. In addition to the plant, the company has opened offices in South Africa for its global IT hub, employing around 2,000 staff who provide global IT services. Due to the market’s unique characteristics, South Africa serves as an ideal location for piloting innovations. In 2020, the BMW Group conducted a pilot project for direct sales with trading partners in South Africa, gaining valuable experience and striving to offer the best premium customer experience in the industry.

* UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.

Motorsport

2024 Kia Sorento Facelift Rendered After Recent Spy Video

Development work on the updated Kia Sorento is still ongoing. A recent spy video showed the South Korean SUV undergoing pre-production tests in Michigan, with full-body camouflage and Michigan registration plates. The automaker seems to be taking its time with the development, so we shouldn’t expect to see the official debut until the end of this year. However, you don’t have to wait for the premiere to get a glimpse of what the 2024 Sorento will look like.

Gotcha Cars has kindly shared an exclusive gallery with us, featuring renderings of the revamped Sorento. While the earlier spy photos didn’t reveal much, the renderings clearly show a completely redesigned front end. It features a new radiator grille, vertical headlights, and a new arrangement of LED daytime running lights (DRLs). There are also noticeable changes to the lower section of the bumper and the lower grille.