Tag Archives: Tourer

Motorsport

Aston Martin DB12 Volante Introduces Eight-Layer Fabric Roof

The Aston Martin DB12, known as the world’s first “super tourer,” is now available in a convertible version called the Volante. This new model retains the stunning design of its coupe counterpart but adds an open-top feature by replacing the solid metal roof with an intricate fabric roof. The fabric roof boasts an impressive eight layers of insulation, ensuring a quiet and comfortable cabin during long drives typical of a grand tourer.

With the DB12 Volante, it takes just 14 seconds for the roof to come down and 16 seconds to go back up, even while the car is in motion at speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h). Operating the roof is made convenient as well, as you can use the key to remotely lower and raise the top within a two-meter radius of the vehicle. Additionally, the roof can be operated even when facing headwinds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h).


VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL OPENS ORDERS FOR ASTRA SPORTS TOURER GSe

  • Pricing and specification confirmed for Astra Sports Tourer GSe
  • GSe is Vauxhall’s new electrified performance sub-brand
  • Astra Sports Tourer GSe comes with an uprated 225PS Plug-in Hybrid powertrain
  • Unique suspension and steering calibration provide improved handling
  • A 10mm lower profile and styling upgrades help GSe models stand out on the road
  • Prices for Astra Sports Tourer GSe start from £43,250

Vauxhall is now accepting orders for the Astra Sports Tourer GSe, which is the electrified performance version of the Astra Sports Tourer. The starting price for the Astra Sports Tourer GSe is £43,250.

The GSe stands for Grand Sport Electric, which is Vauxhall’s new sub-brand for performance vehicles that combine electric power with sharp handling and stylish design. At launch, there are three GSe variants available: Grandland GSe, Astra GSe, and Astra Sports Tourer GSe. All three models feature unique styling upgrades both inside and outside, as well as powerful electric drivetrains and improved handling due to suspension and steering enhancements.

Orders are already open for the Grandland GSe and Astra GSe models.

Astra Sports Tourer GSe – electrified performance

The Plug-in Hybrid powertrain in the regular Astra Sports Tourer has been upgraded for the GSe variants. The Astra Sports Tourer GSe is equipped with a 180PS 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine connected to an 81.2kW (110PS) electric motor, resulting in a total power output of 225PS and a maximum torque of 360Nm. This is an increase from the standard Plug-in Hybrid variants, which have 180PS and 250Nm. These upgrades enable the Astra Sports Tourer GSe to accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 146mph.

The Astra Sports Tourer GSe is equipped with a 12.4kWh battery, offering up to 39 miles of pure electric range. With emissions as low as 26g/km CO2, the Astra Sports Tourer GSe qualifies for a Benefit-in-Kind rate of 12%.

Enhanced driving experience

Vauxhall engineers have made adjustments to the suspension of the Astra Sports Tourer GSe to improve handling. The car now features 11% stiffer springs and Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology by KONI, which adjusts the damping characteristics to provide a smooth and balanced ride.

The steering of the Astra Sports Tourer GSe has also been recalibrated to deliver a sportier feel and better feedback. The steering response has been increased by 9% compared to standard models, improving the on-centre feel and feedback at speed. Additionally, the Sport mode on GSe models has been adjusted to engage the electronic stability control (ESC) slightly later.

Distinctive design and features

The Astra Sports Tourer GSe has several styling upgrades to make it stand out on the road. The revised suspension and damping profile contribute to a 10mm lower profile, while the 18-inch ‘Commodore’ wheels give the car a unique stance. The car also features a black roof and black Griffin logos.

All Astra Sports Tourer GSe models come with IntelliLux adaptive LED® Pixel headlights and dark tinted rear windows.

Inside the car, there are Alcantara®-trimmed performance front seats that are certified by Germany’s AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), as well as a GSe-specific leather steering wheel. The car is equipped with a Multimedia Pure Panel Pro Navigation system that includes a 10-inch digital instrument display and a 10-inch touchscreen with Natural Voice Recognition. Other features include wireless smartphone charging and Intelli-HUD head-up display technology for an enhanced driving experience.

For improved safety and convenience, Astra Sports Tourer GSe models come with Intelli-Drive technology that includes Forward Collision Alert, Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Drowsiness Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Assistant, Cross Traffic and Side Blind Spot alert, and Automatic Speed Assistant with Stop Function. These features contribute to a safer driving experience for both the driver and passengers.

Motorsport

Watch a Lamborghini Espada Barn Find Come Back to Life and Drive with its V12 Engine

In the 1970s, Lamborghini produced just over 1,200 units of the Espada, a two-door, four-seat grand tourer with a powerful V12 engine. One of such unique models has spent the last 15 years locked away in a barn in England. The precious Lamborghini, a 1971 Espada S2, was last driven in the mid-2000s before being hidden away in the same building where in 1605, conspirators had planned to assassinate King James I in the Gunpowder Plot.

The V12 engine was serviced before the car was stored, which makes starting it a breeze. The 3.9-liter engine has six twin-throat Webber 40 carburetors and is matched with a five-speed manual transmission. It was capable of producing 350 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque when it was brand new. The mechanicals have been largely preserved but some issues, like damage caused by rodents that chewed on the carpet and left droppings as well as fuel lines and connectors in rough shape, may pose some challenges during future restoration.

The car can be started with relatively little effort, and it settles into a comfortable idle. While the fuel leaks make it unsuitable for road use, it is driveable and can be cruisable on the property at low speeds.

The original dark blue paint of the car was replaced with Euro Mexico paint at some point, but the original red interior remains intact. The car’s door cards, instrument gauges, and headliner are in excellent condition, although it shows signs of animal damage. The Lamborghini Espada is just the latest fantastic barn find that showcases a slice of automotive history. Earlier this month, a fleet of Ferraris abandoned during Hurricane Charley, which hit Florida in 2004, was unearthed in Indiana.

Today, the carmaker’s preferred choice for those looking to have at least four seats is the Urus. Although it has four doors and a different engine, the Urus is just as impressive. In the new Performante trim, for example, the crossover makes almost double the Espada’s horsepower, producing 666 hp and accelerating to 62 miles per hour in just 3.3 seconds. Urus models are so popular that they have accounted for over 50% of the firm’s sales, with 5,367 sold in 2022 alone.

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL GSe: DELIVERING COMFORT AND CONTROL

  • Grandland GSe, Astra GSe and Astra Sports Tourer GSe benefit from upgraded suspension and steering calibration
  • GSe models utilise Frequency Selective Damping technology from specialists KONI for improved comfort and control
  • Handling upgrades added to complement the increase in performance from plug-in hybrid powertrain
  • Vauxhall Grandland GSe is the most powerful Vauxhall on sale today, with 300PS and all-wheel drive
  • Entire Vauxhall Grandland range now benefits from recalibrated steering and suspension

At the heart of every Vauxhall GSe model lies two defining characteristics – exciting driving dynamics and electric power.

Each GSe model comes with a dedicated chassis which is geared towards a more dynamic and responsive driving experience that complements the electric powertrain on board.

Ahead of the arrival of the Vauxhall Astra GSe, Astra Sports Tourer GSe and Grandland GSe, Dr. Christian Hartweg, Head of Vehicle Dynamics Specification & Requirement, Opel/Vauxhall, explains how the current GSe has been upgraded to provide an improved driving experience.

Precise, dynamic, and yet still comfortable: GSe chassis with FSD technology

“Our goal was totally clear,” says Hartweg: “The GSe models must offer the optimum balance between driving comfort and performance-oriented handling – together with responsibility for the future.”

The most important assets in this process are the electrified plug-in hybrid powertrains and the chassis, which are fully adapted to the higher performance.

In the case of the Grandland GSe, the combination of two electric motors and a 1.6-litre 200PS turbocharged petrol engine equates to a total power output of 300PS and acceleration of 0-62mph in just 6.1 seconds thanks to the electric all-wheel drive. This makes the Grandland GSe the most powerful Vauxhall on sale today.

For Astra GSe variants, the electrified powertrain produces 225PS and 360Nm of torque – up from 180PS on standard variants, with a 0-62mph acceleration taking just 7.5 seconds. The specifically tuned GSe engine sound enhances the experience further.

“The Astra GSe is immediately recognisable by its specially designed front end and sportier stance, which we lowered by 10millimetres,” says Hartweg. “And they are a lot of fun. In corners, the GSe models stick to the road and remain stable – and they can be driven very dynamically but also very comfortably.”

This is made possible by special springs and dampers with KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology, which are used in the GSe chassis. The FSD technology provides different damping characteristics at high frequencies (to control the suspension) and at low frequencies (focusing on the body), helping improve ride comfort regardless of the road surface condition and driving style. FSD technology is available across both Grandland and Astra GSe models.

The GSe models react directly to any command from the driver and, as is typical for Vauxhall, remain stable when braking, cornering and at high speeds. “The dampers have an additional valve and a second hydraulic circuit,” explains the Hartweg. “The car is then more comfortable or sportier to drive, depending on whether the valve is open or closed. GSe stands for ‘Grand Sport electric’ – sporty driving behaviour with the latest plug-in hybrid technology. Driving engagement has never been so smart.”

New set-up for all Grandland variants

The development of the chassis and steering has not just been limited to GSe models. All Vauxhall Grandland variants now benefit from improved damping and steering, with Vauxhall engineers having increased the damping force in the low piston speed range and reduced it in the medium-to-high-speed range to improve comfort when driving over poor road surfaces. The steering has also been recalibrated for a more direct and precise feel.

The new steering and suspension calibration is available on Grandland models on sale now.