Tag Archives: York

Motorsport

Lotus Emeya Electric Sedan Debuts: 905 Horsepower, Active Aerodynamics

Lotus has unveiled its new flagship electric sedan, the Emeya, at an event in New York City. The Emeya, previously known as the Type 133, is poised to rival the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycan Turbo. It boasts advanced technology and is Lotus’ first four-door sedan since the Opel Omega-based Carlton in the 1990s.

A key focus of the Emeya is its aerodynamics. The sedan features an active grille, which was first seen on the Eletre SUV, to improve efficiency when closed and cool the battery and brakes when open. It also includes an active front spoiler, an active diffuser inspired by motorsport, and an active rear spoiler for optimal downforce during canyon carving and track driving. The active rear spoiler is wider than the one on the Eletre, generating a net downforce of 474 pounds at an undisclosed speed.

Lotus Emeya (2024)
Lotus Emeya (2024)
Lotus Emeya (2024)

The Emeya prioritizes sustainable materials in its interior design. Lotus is the first carmaker to use a new type of yarn derived from cotton waste in the fashion and clothing industries. This choice not only creates a form of sustainable luxury but also reduces weight compared to traditional leather upholstery.

Lotus also employs processes like physical vapor deposition (PVD) for metallic finishes on certain cabin surfaces. Additionally, the interior features Alcantara, ultra-fabric polyurethane, and Nappa leather in various areas.

Furthermore, the Emeya’s interior offers more than just sustainable materials. It includes a KEF 3D surround sound system with noise cancellation technology. Vibration sensors on the exterior detect tire and suspension movement, and algorithms generate “anti-phasing acoustic signals” through the speakers to minimize interference. The driver benefits from a 55-inch augmented reality head-up display, which provides quick access to essential information. The vehicle also incorporates digital mirrors and LiDar modules, similar to the Eletre.


Motorsport

duPont Registry Announces Luxury Automotive Investment Platform, duPont Registry Invest

In a move to leverage its nearly 40 years in the high-end vehicle market, duPont Registry has unveiled its new investment platform, duPont Registry Invest. This platform allows enthusiasts and investors to partake in the thrill of luxury automobile collecting by purchasing fractional shares in investment vehicles that own rare and high-end collector cars. The investment activities will be facilitated through a joint venture with Rally, a pioneering investment platform for fractional ownership of blue-chip collectible assets. This venture is backed by notable figures such as Jimmy Kimmel’s Wheelhouse, Alexis Ohanian, and Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures.

Starting today, automotive enthusiasts can explore a curated selection of rare and investment-grade luxury cars on the invest.dupontregistry.com website. In the coming weeks, equity purchase and sale transactions for these curated vehicles will be facilitated by Rally, with execution provided by FINRA-registered broker-dealers through Rally’s industry-leading platform.

For many people worldwide, owning a luxury vehicle has always been a dream. With the introduction of duPont Registry Invest, this dream can now become a reality. The platform serves as an accessible entry point for individuals to learn about high-end car collecting and serves as a gateway to Rally’s platform, where they can become fractional owners of the investment vehicles that own each specific car.

Rob Petrozzo, Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Rally, expressed his inspiration for the collaboration with duPont Registry, stating, “Before Rally, my co-founders and I collected duPont Registry magazines, drawing inspiration from the state-of-the-art automobiles showcased on each page. Strong collector communities, like the one duPont Registry has cultivated over four decades, are the reason Rally exists today. With the global luxury car market valued at $617 billion in 2022, we are offering everyone the ability to fractionally collect luxury automobiles and invest in their passions.”

Rally has established itself as a leader in technology, product development, and legal expertise required for secure and regulated alternative asset investing. Since its inception in 2016, Rally’s platform has granted over 400,000 investors and collectible car enthusiasts access to the rarest investment-grade vehicles.

About duPont Registry

For nearly 40 years, duPont Registry has been the leading marketplace for exotic and luxury automotive transactions, connecting millions of buyers and sellers worldwide. As part of the Motorsport Network portfolio under the Driven Lifestyle division, duPont Registry will use the advanced technology capabilities and global reach of its parent company to further solidify its position as the most influential, innovative, and sophisticated ultra-luxury and exotic automotive online marketplace. With almost 7 million followers on social media, duPont Registry’s brand authority, publication, and digital properties continue to lead the luxury automotive marketplace.

About Rally

Rally is a platform that offers individuals ownership and liquidity in their passions. It is the pioneer platform for buying and selling fractional equity in unique assets with historical and cultural significance. The platform hosts Initial Offerings, allowing investors to purchase SEC qualified shares of assets similar to buying shares of stocks, with no minimums and no commissions. Rally also facilitates a secondary market for trading shares of these assets through registered broker-dealers within the app, providing daily liquidity during Market Hours. With 25+ investment categories, Rally covers a range of collectibles such as watches, rare books, fine art, wine, high-end sports memorabilia, blue-chip NFTs, and dinosaur fossils. Interested users can visit “The Rally Museum” in Soho, New York, to see select Rally assets on display.

BMW

URBAN-X supports urban tech startups in the second year of the global MINI Impact Program.

New York. The URBAN-X startup platform, supported by MINI, is expanding its MINI Impact Program in its second year to promote new ideas on sustainability. URBAN-X by MINI aims to support transformative climate technologies and find innovative solutions to tackle the toughest challenges faced by cities. Startups from Brazil, Mexico, India, South Africa, Portugal, France, and Germany are invited to participate in this year’s Call for Applications starting in August. The first startup to be confirmed comes from Spain: Gravity Wave, which collects and recycles plastic waste from the oceans to create street furniture.

In the next phase, URBAN-X and MINI will select startups to take part in the four-week program. During this time, teams will work remotely for three weeks and then spend one week in person collaborating with URBAN-X experts in New York. The entrepreneurs will receive customized support according to the stage and needs of their startup. For startups at the idea stage, the focus will be on customer discovery, developing a business roadmap, and perfecting the pitch for their solutions. For companies at the seed stage, the product and pitch will be reviewed, a strategy for entering the US market will be formulated, and the supply chain will be assessed.

Ideas for combating climate change.

URBAN-X has already supported over 100 startups in the past seven years by helping them develop innovative and scalable solutions. As the urgency to combat climate change increases, URBAN-X expanded its platform last year with the MINI Impact Program, leveraging MINI’s global distribution network to maximize impact in the face of growing climate challenges in cities worldwide.

To further engage and activate local networks, the MINI Impact Program 2023 is collaborating with local partners such as the architecture accelerator FAIRE Paris in France, the innovation lab Urban Innovation in Germany, and the global urban tech platform Utopia outside of Europe.

Applications for the program will open in the first week of August at https://142-urban-x.webflow.io/programs/mini-impact-program.

About URBAN-X

URBAN-X is a platform created by MINI in 2016 for founders who want to reimagine city life. It partners with startups to develop innovative technology solutions for a sustainable future. Unlike traditional startup programs, URBAN-X offers tailored support to early-stage entrepreneurs, accelerating their growth and helping them build successful businesses as the next generation of climate- and city-focused innovators. URBAN-X provides world-class engineering and design resources, investment capital from their venture partner JVP, access to a global network of investors, policymakers, corporate strategists, and customers, as well as premier educational content for founders worldwide. You can find URBAN-X on Twitter & Instagram at @urbanxtech or visit their website at https://urban-x.com/.

BMW

Internationally renowned artist Julie Mehretu to create 20th BMW Art Car

BMW has announced a collaboration with artist Julie Mehretu to create the 20th BMW Art Car. The announcement was made at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Mehretu, chosen by an international jury of museum directors and curators, will have total creative freedom to design the next addition to BMW’s collection of “rolling sculptures.” The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car, designed by Mehretu, will be entered into the 24 Hour race of Le Mans in June 2024. This tradition, which has been ongoing for almost 50 years, has brought together racing and art, appealing to fans of both and those interested in design, technology, and mobility. Previously, artists such as Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, Cao Fei, and John Baldessari have created BMW Art Cars since 1975.

Julie Mehretu expressed her excitement about the project, stating that she has had a love for cars throughout her life and is thrilled to be working on the next BMW Art Car. She sees the opportunity to invent and explore new realms of transportation and motorsports through hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, highlighted the importance of the BMW Art Car Collection as a central element of BMW’s cultural commitment. He expressed admiration for Julie Mehretu’s work and the cultural impact that the collaboration will have, particularly in Africa.

An artistic concept beyond the car: Translocal Media Workshop Series in 2025

The collaboration between BMW and Julie Mehretu extends beyond the Le Mans racetrack. Mehretu and Mehret Mandefro, co-founder of the Realness Institute, will host a series of workshops in eight African cities over nine months. The aim is to create a space for artists to meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate in translocal ways. The workshops will provide opportunities for artists to consider new pathways for civic futures in their local communities and harness the power of collective collaboration. The outcomes of the workshops will be presented alongside the 20th BMW Art Car at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in 2025.

The artist: Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu, an internationally renowned artist, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and currently runs a studio in New York. She has received numerous awards for her work and is known for her dynamic visual articulation of contemporary experience. Her paintings, prints, and drawings delve into the intersection of history, social behavior, and space. Mehretu’s work has been exhibited at prestigious museums around the world, including LACMA, the High Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Walker Museum of Art. In 2021, she became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Design.

Statements of the jury: Unanimous selection

The international jury responsible for selecting Julie Mehretu for the 20th BMW Art Car unanimously chose her based on her exceptional reputation and expertise in the art world. Members of the jury include prominent figures such as directors and curators from major museums and galleries. They praised Mehretu’s ability to capture movement, dynamism, and space in her work, making her the perfect artist to create a BMW Art Car that merges speed, technology, and artistic vision.

The BMW M Hybrid V8

The canvas for the 20th BMW Art Car is the BMW M Hybrid V8. This competition car features a hybrid drive system with approximately 640 horsepower, combining a 4.0-liter V8 engine with an electric motor. The car can reach a maximum speed of up to 345 kph (215 mph) depending on the track layout. Weighing only 1,030 kilograms, the BMW M Hybrid V8 represents the epitome of M performance and the fascination with electrified drives. It competes in the GTP class of the North American IMSA endurance racing series and will also participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The BMW Art Car Collection

The BMW Art Car Collection started in 1975 when French racing driver Hervé Poulain asked his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a BMW automobile. Since then, renowned artists from around the world, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jeff Koons, have added their own touch to BMW Art Cars. The collection has been exhibited globally and resides at the BMW Museum in Munich. The collaboration with Julie Mehretu continues the tradition of combining art and racing, showcasing unique and visually striking designs on BMW vehicles.

ToyotaUk

Toyota Recognizes Excellence Among North American Suppliers for 2022

YORK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 22, 2023) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced that it has given awards to suppliers who have performed exceptionally well in 2022. The awards program honors both direct and indirect suppliers who consistently exceed TMNA’s expectations in various areas.

During a recent ceremony, TMNA presented a total of 68 awards. Direct suppliers received Performance awards in Superior and Excellent categories for technology and development, supplier diversity, value improvement, VA achievement, quality, launch, and value chain promotion. Indirect suppliers were recognized for their exceptional performance in diversity improvement, quality, cost improvement, management, and customer service. Moreover, select indirect suppliers were given special recognition for their performance in their respective business category.

In addition, Gentex Corporation received the Regional Contribution Award, and the Total Exceptional Achievement for Manufacturing (TEAM) Award was given to Toyoda Gosei North America Corporation.

“We appreciate the contributions of all our suppliers, and we are proud to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in their performance,” said Robert Young, group vice president of Purchasing Supplier Development at TMNA. “We view each supplier as a partner in producing and delivering world-class vehicles and mobility solutions to Toyota customers.”

This recognition program highlights the importance of supplier relationships in promoting a commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, which are crucial to the success of TMNA.

Suppliers are evaluated each year in multiple performance areas through an internal scoring system that includes specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). While the award categories remain consistent, the number of awards given varies each year based on the number of organizations that meet TMNA’s goals.

Potential suppliers interested in doing business with Toyota can visit www.toyotasupplier.com for information on the company’s purchasing policies, principles, and supplier diversity efforts.