McLaren has revealed itll market a road-going version of its 570S GT4 race car which itself is a race version of its street cars called the 620R.Powered by the same 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the GT4, the 620R makes 610 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque, which helps it get up to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, then on to a top speed of 322 km/h.That power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed gearbox, which is not borrowed from the race car.What is borrowed from the race car is the aerodynamics, chief among which is the rear wing which helps develop 185 kilograms of down force at 250 km/h. That stickiness is only aided by real slick tires, which offer an eight-per-cent larger contact patch. The entire car has been lightened as well a total 1,282 kilograms dry means its 31 kilograms lighter than the standard 570S. Carbon-fibre racing seats with five-point harnesses helped with that weight loss, as did the lightweight brakes with carbon-ceramic discs.Only 350 examples of the special-edition vehicle will be built, in three exclusive colours: McLaren Orange, Silica White and Onyx Black with McLaren racing livery. A Senna GTR livery will also be available. If you want different colours, MSO will be happy to oblige to your wildest imaginations. Deliveries will start February 2020. The price?
Origin: McLaren releases road-going version of its GT4 race car, the 620R
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David Brown launches hot version of Mini Remastered
David Brown Automotive has unveiled a limited-run performance variant of its sympathetically modernised Mini Remastered to mark the motoring icon’s 60th birthday. The Oselli Edition has been modified by classic motorsport specialist Oselli. It features an uprated version of the original A-Series engine but with capacity increased from 1.0 litre to 1.4 litres for a power output of 109bhp – a 40% increase over the standard Mini Remastered unit. Alongside the addition of a fifth gear for lower revs at higher speeds, the Oselli Edition receives a revamped exhaust and air intake system to cope with the extra power. Underneath, there are Spax adjustable performance dampers, wider wheels and tyres and an upgraded braking system comprising four-piston calipers at the front and alloy drums at the back. Buyers can choose from two bespoke paint schemes inspired by historic motorsport liveries, with the option of grey or white for the main body and red, blue or green for the racing stripes. The engine cover will be painted to match the chosen stripe colour, while chrome trim is replaced with black pieces to mark out the special edition. Further visual differences from the regular model include build number markings to the front and rear and a pair of rally-style spotlights in the grille. The Oselli Edition can be specified as a two or four-seater, with the option of a hand-trimmed roll cage for track use. Seats will be trimmed to match the exterior stripes and can be fitted with conventional seatbelts or a race-spec four-point harness. David Brown will produce 60 examples of the Oselli Edition, priced from £98,000 for a four-seater and £108,000 for a two-seater with a roll
Origin: David Brown launches hot version of Mini Remastered
Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV
Audi has revealed the E-tron 50 as a cheaper and lighter version of its flagship electric SUV. Due to arrive in the UK in early 2020, the new variant weighs roughly 120kg less than the 2565kg E-tron 55, primarily as a result of its smaller battery pack. The E-tron 50’s 71kWh pack – likely to be the lowest-capacity battery Audi will offer in the E-tron – enables it to achieve a range of up to 186 miles on the WLTP test cycle. That’s 55 miles fewer than the 95kWh E-tron 55. By comparison, the E-tron’s main rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQC, has a WLTP-certified range of 259 miles in its standard 400 form. A future lower-spec variant could be expected to offer less than 200 miles. While the E-tron 55 is compatible with 150kW chargers, the E-tron 50 can only accept up to 120kW. It can still, however, be charged to 80% in approximately half an hour at a rapid-charging station. The E-tron 50 is also less potent than the E-tron 55. It employs the same twin-motor setup, but maximum power is down from 402bhp to 308bhp and maximum torque is down from 490lb ft to 398lb ft. The E-tron 50 has a 0-62mph time of 7.0sec and an electronically limited top speed of 118mph. Regenerative braking technology recuperates energy in more than 90% of brake applications, working alongside an electrohydraulic brake assistance system that activates when braking force exceeds 0.3g. Audi says this “results in short braking distances in all situations”. The E-tron 50 will be built alongside the more powerful version at Audi’s EV production facility in Forest, Belgium. Exact pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the E-tron 55 can be expected to cost around £10,000 less than the E-tron 55, which starts at £71,520 before government grants. Audi isn’t the only manufacturer to offer a range of battery sizes across its new family of electric vehicles. Tesla has long employed this strategy, while the new Volkswagen ID 3 hatchback will be offered with three different units when it launches later this year, with range rising from 205 miles in the entry-level model to 342 miles at the top of the
Origin: Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV
The 2020 Polestar 2 will get a performance version
The Polestar 2 features a 440-kilometre full-charge range and a price of $69,000 for a fully loaded model.Polestar Volvo spin-off Polestar is just getting started when it comes to super-performance EVs; with the Polestar 1 making big waves in the industry, many cant wait to see more models birthed from the new EV brand.Like the Polestar 2, a raised-up sedan more suited to everyday driving. Nonplussed by this Polestar sequel? Well, weve just found out the cars going to get a little more exciting thanks to the introduction of a performance package.Autoblog first learned of the performance package when Ohlins, the suspension parts supplier, announced it would be supplying adjustable shocks for the so-called Polestar 2 Performance Package.Upgraded shocks werent the only thing that would be in the package though; along with it will come Brembo brakes, sticky tires, forged wheels, and fancy trim pieces like yellow seatbelts and other goodies like youd find in the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered.We still dont know how big the brakes or the tires will be, or the make of the tires. We also dont know what the price of the performance pack will be, but a representative said it would be about US$5,000 more than the launch edition price, some $69,000 Canadian. After the launch edition, there will be a base model with less range, and were assuming down a few other options as well.The standard Polestar 2 already produces 408 horsepower and 660 lb.-ft. of torque from its electric powerplant; the power goes to all four wheels as well, which helps it get to 100 km/h in less than 5.0 seconds. The 79-kWh battery pack will take you 440 kilometres per charge.The Polestar 2 will arrive sometime in the summer of
Origin: The 2020 Polestar 2 will get a performance version
Dodge teases Widebody version of 2020 Charger
The next time some hackneyed old Boomer drones on about the good old days of cars and horsepower, please point them to this news article.Dodge, master of the tease, dropped a new video today that alludes to the impending introduction of a Charger Widebody variant. While this isn’t the first time such a machine has been speculated about on these digital pages, it is the first time we have official video from the manufacturer.The quick clips starts off in typical teaser fashion, with the thin veneer of a silk sheet covering the body of what is clearly a Dodge Charger. Its grille-mounted SRT badge is familiar, but those wheel arches portend something much more delicious.Alert readers will recall Dodge showed off a Charger Widebody Concept earlier this year at a SpringFest fan expo. Clad in all manner of camo, the brands head of performance said it was just a prototype. Yep, mmhmm. And the Raptors victory celebration was just a small party.Predictably, the video cuts off before we get a chance to see any of the good stuff, not unlike when someone picked up the phone during the days of dial-up just as the good pictures were about to load onto the screen. Theres every chance in the world well see multiple Widebody variations once production starts, ranging from Scat Pack to Redeye. What? Redeye? Yes, gossip is rife that its not only the body that will be puffed up like a kid on a field trip who got stung by a bee and forgot his EpiPen. Rumours are flying that this, or potentially another variant, will be packing Redeye power under its bulging bonnet. That means we are about to live in a world where one can waltz into a showroom and buy a 797-horsepower sedan with factory warranty.Trust us folks, these are the good old days. We should know more about this beast on
Origin: Dodge teases Widebody version of 2020 Charger
Upcoming electric Jag sedan will be followed by gas version: report
In the not-too-distant future, British supervillains will need to allow time for their getaway vehicle to fully charge. The good news? Theyll be able to accelerate away from Mr. Bond pretty quickly.The luxury EV race is heating up faster than a bank of un-cooled batteries. Companies like Audi, Mercedes, and, of course, Tesla, are hard at work either designing or churning out fast and sumptuous examples of electric vehicles.The latest to jump into the game? JLR, announcing a new XJ sedan and Range Rover SUV that will be powered by electrons.In fact, the next big sedan from Jaaag will launch solely as an electric car, taking aim at the Tesla Model S and upcoming Porsche Taycan. At a global investor meeting earlier in June, promises were made the companys new modular platform, one which is electric-capable, will first spawn a big SUV and premium sedan. Even without further specifics, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out what models they will be.This new platform will be adaptable to plug-in and mild-hybrid powertrains, so dont expect the new XJ and electric Rangey to be offered purely in EV form. Citing unnamed sources, Automotive News Europe says the XJ will be endowed with six-pot gasoline engines later in its development cycle. All-electrics on this new platform are said to pack a 90-kWh battery good for nearly 500 km of range. Plug-in hybrids using this architecture, meanwhile, will have a 13-kWh battery and be able to power themselves sans gasoline for about 50 km.Platform-sharing has become a key manner in which car companies can save a few dollars in the face of rising costs and competition. Look for these first two vehicles to appear in calendar year
Origin: Upcoming electric Jag sedan will be followed by gas version: report
Opel created a slick new version of the ‘A-Team’ van
In order to generate some buzz for its not-so-captivating fourth-gen multipurpose van, the Zafira Life, Opel has created a concept inspired by that 1980s TV series starring Mr. T and some white dudes that didn’t quite stick around pop culture the same way. Introducing the O-Team Zafira Life. Instead of the black, grey and red colour scheme of the original A-Team’s GMC cargo van, the O-Team Zafira Life wears white on dark blue, with vinyl over the rear windows to create the illusion of a panel van, and a neon yellow stripe and neon highlights on the grille, logo, wheels and throughout the interior. The front-wheel-drive van sits lowered on neon-accented 20-inch alloy wheels, with a front push bar, side sill extensions and, of course, that awesome-by-way-of-ridiculous rear roof spoiler. Speaking of awesomely ridiculous, the O-Team Zafira Life is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 177 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque but, thanks to a sound module “with the vocal chords of a V8 petrol engine” and a specially made tailpipe, sings like the original cargo van. The O-version is actually more powerful than the original A-make, too, as the OG GMC V8 made just 160 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. Ultimately, it’s not actually for sale, but does serve its purpose of demonstrating the mod-friendly nature of Opel’s cargo van. Pity the fool who doesn’t see that.
Origin: Opel created a slick new version of the ‘A-Team’ van
Ineos considering fuel-cell version of Projekt Grenadier 4×4
The Projekt Grenadier 4×4, the heavy-duty off-roader by Ineos, is being planned with a potential hydrogen fuel-cell version. An engineering study into the fuel cell 4×4 is scheduled to be started shortly to “assess the feasibility and production of a hydrogen fuel cell powered 4×4” according to documents seen by Autocar. The description is included in a list of £25m worth of government grants awarded yesterday, and announced at the FT’s “Future of the Car Summit 2019”. Transport minister Jesse Norman made the announcement “for the next round of low-carbon vehicle projects for vehicles that are not just clean, but connected too”. Details of the Grenadier fuel-cell are sketchy, but the feasibility study will also explore “vehicle requirements, system design and components supply” making it a comprehensive look at the design and manufacturing practicalities of the high-tech 4×4. Government figures show that the feasibility study will cost a relatively modest £249k and the government will provide £124k. “The support for these projects is key to the delivery of the government’s Road-to-Zero strategy which aims to put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emissions vehicles,” said the Department of Transport. The Grenadier Projekt is being funded by chemicals giant Ineos, created from part of the former ICI empire, and owned by Jim Ratcliffe, one of the UK’s richest men. The 4×4 is modelled on the last-generation Land Rover Defender with unbeatable off-road performance and easy repair as its key design criteria. Ineos describes it as an “uncompromising 4×4”. An engine supply deal has been signed with BMW and engineering is being handled in Germany by a consultancy. A missing link is a factory, although Ford’s Bridgend plant has been rumoured as a possible
Origin: Ineos considering fuel-cell version of Projekt Grenadier 4×4
Renault City K-ZE: production version of budget EV revealed
Renault has revealed its City K-ZE electric compact crossover at the Shanghai motor show ahead of sales starting in China later this year. The new model, which is understood to offer a 155-mile range on the NEDC test cycle, was first revealed in concept form at the Paris motor show last year and is a key part of the French’s firm’s plan to dramatically increase its sales in China. It becomes Renault’s smallest EV, sitting beneath the Zoe, being broadly similar in size to the conventionally powered Twingo, with a wheelbase of 2423mm and a boot capacity of 300 litres. Inside, the City K-ZE has an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone compatibility. It offers multiple charging modes, including a fast-charge function that can fill the battery from empty to 80% in 50 minutes. The City KZ-E will be built in China by eGT New Energy Automotive, a joint venture between the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng. It’s based on Renault and Nissan’s CMF-A platform, currently used on the Indian-market Renault Kwid and Datsun Redi-Go. Renault has previously said the platform will be modified heavily for the City K-ZE, both to accommodate the electirc powertrain and to fit the expectations of differing markets. While it will initially be launched in China, Renault says the City K-ZE has been designed to “European quality standards”. It’s due to be offered in a number of global markets, including Europe, if it proves a success in China. No decision has been made on where models for Europe would be built,
Origin: Renault City K-ZE: production version of budget EV revealed
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