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Letti Holds off Billy Bolt for Red Bull Outliers Hard Enduro Win

Manuel Lettenbichler started strong and won his fourth straight FIM Hard Enduro event at the Canadian Outliers. ” I managed to get up most of the hills without any problem and that helped me to conserve as much energy as possible. I bent my handlebars pretty good on one of the last uphills so that was a bit of a worry. Being the first to reach some of the sections was a bit of a disadvantage, because it was so slippery. Four wins in a row now, I’m speechless.” Photo: Mason Mashon / Red Bull Content Pool

Manuel Lettenbichler, the reigning Hare Enduro World Champion and winner of the first three championship events of the year won his fourth straight, the Red Bull Outliers Hard Enduro held in Canada. Team Husqvarna’s Billy Bolt took home second place, followed by local hero Trystan Hart and his Factory FMF KTM.

Billy Bolt: “I had a good start with Mani, and we rode together early on. I had a few mistakes throughout, but generally I was happy with my riding. On the final lap I had one big mistake that allowed Mario to close the gap to me, but I managed to recover and get some breathing room coming into the final big section. I got onto Mani’s wheel there but had pushed a bit hard and just didn’t have an answer to him at the end.” Photo: Tyler Ravelle / Red Bull Content Pool

Letti started off with a big win in the prologue which gave him the pole position start. Bolt and Letti jumped out in front of a dusty, and tenacious course. Behind them chaos ruled. Sherco’s Mario Roman got caught in a crash zone, moving up to third with Wade Young and Trystan Hart in the hunt. Roman kept the leaders in sight in the two and half-hour race, but could never reel them in. Mario’s teammate Wade Young hit the wall on after charging hard losing touch with the lead pack on lap two.

Trystan Hart: “Not the result I wanted to get here at my home race, but I have to be happy with a podium. The prologue didn’t go my way – I made a few too many mistakes there, and today was the same. I got caught up in the mayhem early on and was chasing the whole way after that and it really took everything out of me. It’s great to get onto the podium in front of all my home fans, I just wish it was a couple of steps higher.” Photo: Tyler Ravelle / Red Bull Content Pool

Trystan Hart had to fight hard through dusty conditions and viscous terrain using valuable energy in an attempt to catch the Mani/Bolt duo. The final hill climbs were titanic and played a big role in the finish. Bolt had some drama and gave Mani some gap, and allowed Mario Roman to pull in closer. Billy charged hard to the finish, got within striking distance of Mani but didn’t have enough to challenge. Letti won by 41-seconds over Bolt, Trystan Hart finished third, edging past Roman, who had a good lead on his teammate Wade Young.

Billy Bolt and Manuel Lettenbitchler were this close in the closing stages battling on the epic hills at the Red Bull Outliers. Photo: Tyler Ravelle / Red Bull Content Pool
Breathing clear air off the start proved crucial. Photo: Tyler Ravelle / Red Bull Content Pool

Winners, Billy Bolt, Manuel Lettenbichler, and Trystan Hart at Red Bull Outliers Photo: Mason Mashon / Red Bull Content Pool

News

Ride And Chrome: FCR Original’s Custom Triumph Bonneville And Speed Twin

Triumph’s heritage range of motorcycles, such as the Bonneville and the Speed Twin 900, have inspired a wave of retro-modern bikes in the motorcycle industry. French custom workshop FCR Original recently took two Triumph Bonnevilles, the T120 and the Speed Twin 900, and gave them a custom makeover as part of their “Ride and Chrome” series.

Ride And Chrome: FCR Original’s Custom Triumph Speed Twin And Bonneville

The custom build added chrome and nickel-plated elements to both bikes. The rear section of the bikes now stands out with the addition of a nickel-plated subframe. Custom chrome fender arches adorn the wheels, both in the front and back. The fork legs and stanchions have been polished for a shiny finish, giving the bikes a retro vibe.

Ride And Chrome: FCR Original’s Custom Triumph Speed Twin And Bonneville

The cockpit features a wide chrome handlebar, Custom Tech switchgear and master cylinder, and chrome mirrors. The OEM speedometer has been replaced with a Motogadget speedometer for a more streamlined look. The bikes are finished off with brown retro-style handlebar grips.

Ride And Chrome: FCR Original’s Custom Triumph Speed Twin And Bonneville

Additional retro touches include a chrome-finished Bates headlight and custom bracket, a custom saddle with a tuck-and-roll pattern, and a custom radiator grill. The front turn signals and side covers have been polished, and the fuel tank has been repainted with chrome and accented with gunmetal gray paint and a vintage-style Triumph emblem. The exhaust has been modified to be shorter than the stock setup, featuring polished headers and silencers to match the overall theme of the bikes.

For more information and images, check out the Instagram post.

Mazda

Mazda Reports July Sales Results

June Marks the 10th Straight Month of Year-Over-Year Gains

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total July sales of 30,629 vehicles, an increase of 30.9 percent compared to July 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 214,412 vehicles; an increase of 29 percent compared to the same time last year. With 25 selling days in July, compared to 26 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 36.2 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 5,563 vehicles in July, an increase of 48 percent compared to July 2022.

Sales Highlights

  • 2nd best July sales since 1993 with 30,629 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever July sales of CX-50 with 4,234 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever July sales of CX-30 with 7,221 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever sales of CX-90 with 2,929 vehicles sold.

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported July sales of 4,598 vehicles, an increase of 13.5 percent compared to July last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 32,863 vehicles; an increase of 8.2 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported July sales of 6,286 vehicles, an increase of 47 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 40,811 vehicles; an increase of 96 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

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Car review

BMW M2

The BMW M2 is known for its fast and smooth performance. The 3.0-litre straight six engine produces a distinct BMW combustion note that sounds incredible. The manual gearlever has a slightly heavy feel but adds to the overall experience of driving the M2.

Unlike the automatic version, the manual M2 doesn’t come with electronic launch control. It has a 10-stage electronic traction control system that can be accessed when the DSC stability control is switched off. Finding the right balance on the traction control is crucial to get the maximum power from the M2 without losing grip. The car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds, almost matching the official acceleration claim of 4.3 seconds.

The M2’s straight six engine offers a broad operating range and linear power delivery, similar to the M3 and M4. The turbo response is quick, with minimal latency if the revs are kept above 3000rpm. The engine can rev up to 7000rpm without feeling strained.

In terms of gearing, the M2 feels long-geared, allowing you to reach high speeds in lower gears. Second gear can take you past 70mph, while third can go well beyond 100mph. Fourth gear is sufficient for normal driving, except on the motorway.

The M2’s chassis provides great mechanical grip, which is evident during stopping distance tests. It offers good lateral grip and remains stable even at high speeds. While the higher mechanical grip level makes it slightly less accessible for on-demand oversteer, the M2 can still be hooliganistic with the help of adjustable driver aids and linear torque delivery.

Track notes (Hill Route, Millbrook Proving Ground)

The M2 demonstrates strong tenacity during stopping distance tests, indicating improved mechanical grip compared to previous models. Although the chassis response is not as agile as the older M2, the car exhibits excellent grip during turn-in and avoids steady-state understeer even at high speeds.

The M2’s high mechanical grip encourages early power application and allows both axles to remain in control. While it may be slightly heavier when sliding, the adjustable driver aids and torque delivery make it a fun and spirited car to drive.

Mazda

Mazda Reports June Sales Results

June Marks the Ninth Straight Month of Year- Over-Year Gains

IRVINE, Calif., July 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total June sales of 29,786 vehicles, an increase of 96.9 percent compared to June 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 183,783 vehicles; an increase of 28.7 percent compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in June, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 96.9 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 5,219 vehicles in June, an increase of 27 percent compared to June 2022.

Sales Highlights

  • 2nd best June sales since 1995 with 29,786 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever June sales of CX-50 with 3,532 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever June sales of CX-30 with 6,612 vehicles sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported June sales of 5,539 vehicles, an increase of 123 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 34,525 vehicles; an increase of 109 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date
News

UK’s Hybrid and BEV Production Continues to Grow

In May, the UK saw its car production increase for the fourth consecutive month, as reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Despite the challenging economic conditions, factories rolled out a total of 79,046 cars.

This output indicates a significant rise of 26.9% compared to May of the previous year. The surge was primarily driven by a nearly twofold increase in the production of electrified vehicles, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles. The number of these vehicles produced reached 27,636, accounting for 35% of the total UK output.

The growth in production also led to a double-digit increase in the export of vehicles, which rose by 22.9%.

Mazda

Mazda Reports April Sales Results

 April Marks the Sixth Straight Month of Year- Over-Year Gains 

IRVINE, Calif. (May 2, 2023) – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total April sales of 32,351 vehicles, an increase of 7.5 percent compared to April 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 120,735 vehicles; an increase of 7.5 percent compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in April, compared to 27 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 11.6 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 4,765 vehicles in April, a decrease of 10 percent compared to April 2022.

Sales Highlights

  • Best April sales since 1994 with 32,351 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever April sales of CX-30 with 5,954 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever April sales of CX-9 with 3,311 vehicles sold.
  • Best-ever sales of CX-50 with 4,305 vehicles sold.

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported April sales of 4,459 vehicles, a decrease of 25.7 percent compared to April last year. Year-to-date sales total 15,785 vehicles; a decrease of 16.6 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported April sales of 3,777 vehicles, an increase of 609 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 23,040 vehicles; an increase of 94 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda Motor de Colombia (MCOL) reported April sales of 1,216 vehicles, a decrease of 34.6 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 5,103 vehicles; a decrease of 2.6 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

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Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. (PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations) (PRNewsfoto/MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS)

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

For further information: Tamara Mlynarczyk, Mazda North American Operations, media@mazdausa.com; Drew Cary, Mazda North American Operations, media@mazdausa.com