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Tag: racing

  • Vietnam-dominant Mercedes challenged by cheaper BMWs

    Vietnam-dominant Mercedes challenged by cheaper BMWs

    Mercedes has been dominating Vietnam’s luxury car market in recent years, but that could start to change this year as BMW lowers prices.

    “We have always considered BMW a major competitor in most markets globally, but things are different in Vietnam,” said CEO Brad Kelly on the sidelines of the launch of the new Mercedes GLC models in Ho Chi Minh City recently.

    He added that in Vietnam, BWM does not yet seem to threaten Mercedes in terms of sales.

    Between 2019 and 2022, Mercedes secured and average of around 60% of Vietnam’s total luxury car market share, and the German brand last year sold over 7,900 units alone.

    Its competitor from the same country, BMW, only secured fourth place last year – behind Lexus and Volvo – with the sale of 973 units.

    However, Thaco, the Vietnamese company that distributes BMW cars, has been assembling several BMW models, such as the 3 Series, the 5 Series, and the X3 and X5.

    This implies that BMW wants to reduce its retail prices in Vietnam as assembling the vehicles locally will bring down costs.

    The strategy seems to have succeeded as the BMW X3s assembled last year are now selling from VND1.8 billion ($76,700), compared to the new Mercedes GLC price tag of VND2.3 billion.

    Thus, the cheapest luxury car in Vietnam now belongs to BMW, not Mercedes.

    The rising competition with BMW therefore will benefit Vietnamese customers and the local auto industry, and it will motivate Mercedes to come up with more new ideas, Kelly said.

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  • Ferrari And Qualcomm Team Up For Tech Projects For Road, Racing Cars

    Ferrari And Qualcomm Team Up For Tech Projects For Road, Racing Cars

    Ferrari said on Tuesday it would partner with Qualcomm Technologies to use the San-Diego based group’s premium product, the Snapdragon chipsets, to accelerate the sports carmaker digital transformation. The deal will involve both its road cars and its Formula One racing team and the first common projects, including the so-called digital cockpit, have been already identified, the Italian group said in a statement.

    Ferrari’s new CEO Benedetto Vigna – a technology industry veteran – said in November Ferrari would seek technology partnerships as it moves ahead with transition toward cleaner mobility and in order to pivot technologies that require high investments.

    The Snapdragon logo will make its debut on Ferrari’s F1-75 racing model, which will debut on Feb 17

    “Innovation requires market leaders working together. Thanks to this agreement … we expand our knowledge in digital technologies and web 3.0, areas with great potential for automotive and motorsport,” Vigna said in the statement.

    The Snapdragon logo will make its debut on the F1-75 racing model, the Ferrari single-seater which will be unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Maranello on Feb. 17.

  • Developing Original Based On F1 Featuring Robert De Niro & John Boyega

    Developing Original Based On F1 Featuring Robert De Niro & John Boyega

    Netflix has gone all-in on F1. Apart from it being the progeny behind the “drive to survive” F1 documentary series that has been airing for the last two years, it has also promised a biopic series on the legendary Ayrton Senna. More recently, it even had a documentary on the life of 5-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio. Now, it has roped in legendary actor Robert De Niro and John Boyega of Star Wars fame to develop a fictional thriller based on F1 called the Formula.

    The story of the Formula revolves around an American F1 driver who gets involved with the mafia and is forced to serve as a getaway driver to save his family. Interestingly, the original will be written, directed, and produced by Gerard McMurray who has also worked on Burning Sands which won the grand jury prize at the 2018 Sundance Festival.

    Netflix has roped in the legendary Robert De Niro for one of the lead roles

    McMurray recently also formed Buppie productions with the intent of “developing and producing stories featuring black characters for a mainstream film and television audience.”

    “Our company is constantly reinventing itself while charting a path to influence popular culture. We are the heroes and the villains, the good guys, bad guys, femme Fatales and girls next door,” he said.

    “Feels amazing to see this idea in my head finally come to life that I’m writing, directing, and producing,” he wrote. “My new production company Buppie Productions is teaming up with Tribeca Films and Netflix to bring to you a dope original film coming soon called THE FORMULA starring two of my favorite actors, John Boyega and Robert De Niro,” added McMurray.

    “It’s the story of a young man from Detroit who becomes an international racing star in the world of Formula 1 under the tutelage of his mentor with old mob ties,” he revealed.

    Netflix is home to the new Juan Manuel Fangio documentary apart from it developing a biopic on Senna.

    Of course, the CV of Robert De Niro is unprecedented who is best known for his work in the Godfather trilogy and also movies like Taxi Driver, Casino, Heat, and more recently the Netflix original the Irishman.

    John Boyega rose to fame only five years ago thanks to his central role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy with Disney.

    In the last decade with the advent of the Senna documentary, movies about motorsports have become popular with Rush based on the Nikki Lauda and James Hunt rivalry gaining popularity in the last decade alongside Ford vs Ferrari more recently from 2019.

  • Porsche Panamera Teased Ahead Of Global Debut

    Porsche Panamera Teased Ahead Of Global Debut

    The 2021 Porsche Panamera is already making quite a buzz after it was crowned the fastest ‘executive luxury car’ at the Nurburgring circuit. It went on beating the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S at the Nordschleife in both 20.6 km and 20.83 km stretch. In a new video, Porsche has shown that the new-generation Porsche Panamera has set a lap record of 7:29:81. The company has also teased the new Porsche Panamera ahead of its unveiling on August 26.

    We still don’t have all the details of this upcoming model but the lap record video confirms that the range-topping Panamera Turbo S variant is definitely on the cards. However, the sport bucket seats and roll cage that we have seen on the test mules won’t make it to the production model. The Porsche Panamera isn’t an outright sports car like the 911 range, hence focus will be inclined towards driver’s and passengers’ comfort, at the same time keeping the driving pleasure intact.

    The Porsche Panamera Turbo is also likely to get a hybrid powertrain belting out 535 bhp and 770 Nm of peak torque. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S gets a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 iteration is expected to deliver 616 bhp and 832 Nm of peak torque. Now as far as looks go, it’s very easy for you to mistake it with the Taycan electric unless you spot the air dam at the front and quad exhausts at the rear. Like modern Porsches, even the Panamera will have an even wider track and expect all new elements like the LED headlights and conjoined LED taillights, new Porsche communication management (PCM) and Porsche Active Management System (PASM) among others.

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  • Ducati Panigale V2 India Launch Date Revealed

    Ducati Panigale V2 India Launch Date Revealed

    Ducati India has revealed that the Ducati Panigale V2 will be launched in India on August 26, 2020. The Panigale V2 will be the first Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) compliant Ducati bike to be launched in India. It will replace the Panigale 959 and is designed in a way that it resembles its elder sibling, the Panigale V4. The fairing has been redesigned and the headlamp cluster has been slightly tweaked as well. The other substantial change is that the Panigale V2 now gets a single-sided swingarm like the Panigale V4 while the 959 Panigale had a conventional swingarm.

    The Ducati Panigale V2 gets a 955 cc super-Quadro L-twin motor that makes 155 bhp at 10,750 rpm and has a peak torque output of 104 Nm at 9,000 rpm. The peak power and torque go up by 5 bhp and 2 Nm. The USP is that the motorcycle has a dry weight of just 176 kg, which means the power to weight ratio will be incredible. The engine is Euro V or BS6 compliant and gets a few new components as well.

    The electronics package includes 6-axis inertial measurement-assisted traction control, called the Ducati Traction Control EVO 2, wheelie control, and cornering ABS and ABS. There is a bi-directional up/down quick-shifter as well along with engine braking control. There are three riding modes on offer, which are Race, Sport and Street. The settings for each riding mode can be adjusted via the new 4.3-inch TFT instrument console.

    The new Panigale V2 gets Showa Big Piston Forks upfront, a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock at the rear, with a steering damper. The electronic suspension is not offered on the Panigale V2. The travel for the front and rear suspension is 120 mm and 130 mm respectively. Braking is handled by Brembo M4.32 monobloc calipers and Brembo master cylinders with twin 320 mm discs on the front wheel. The front and the rear get a 5-spoke alloy 17-inch alloy wheel. The front wheel is wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II 120/70 ZR17 rubber while the rear wheel gets a fatter Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II 180/60 ZR17 unit.

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  • Ferrari To Close Plants In Italy For Two Weeks In Coronavirus Response

    Ferrari To Close Plants In Italy For Two Weeks In Coronavirus Response

    Luxury carmaker Ferrari said on Saturday it closed its two plants until March 27 in a response to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy and an emerging shortage of parts.

    Ferrari adds to a string of Italian manufacturers that have closed plants or slowed production rates in response to the virus emergency, threatening to disrupt Europe’s struggling automotive industry.

    Ferrari said in a statement it had so far ensured production continuity, as it already implemented all the health measures decided by the Italian government at the two sites, located in hometown Maranello and in Modena, in the northern Emilia Romagna region.

    France, Spain on lockdown over coronavirus

    France and Spain will close most shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities and are encouraging people to stay home as the countries combat the coronavirus epidemic in Europe. The sweeping changes come as U.S. President Trump on Saturday extended

    However, it added the company was “now experiencing the first serious supply chain issues, which no longer allow for continued production”.

    Premium brakes maker Brembo, whose clients include Ferrari, said on Friday it would temporarily close its four Italian plants next week.

    All non-manufacturing activity will continue regularly, through smart working, Ferrari said.

    A source close to the matter said the company will adopt further measures during the closures period, including sanitization of the sites’ areas and added that no contagion cases were recorded among Ferrari’s workers to date.

    Italy agreed a series of measures on Saturday to improve health controls in factories, offices and other workplaces that have been allowed to stay open during the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

    Ferrari’s workers will continue to receive their full salary and will not be requested to use their day-off allowance during the closure period, the source said.

    Chief Executive Louis Camilleri said Ferrari took the decision to close its plants out of respect for its workers, “for their peace of mind and those of their families”.

    Earlier this week carmaker Fiat Chrysler and industrial vehicle maker CNH Industrial said they were temporarily halting operations and slowing production rates at some of their Italian plants to comply with the government’s anti-coronavirus requirements.

    Tyremaker Pirelli said it was cutting production at its Settimo Torinese plant, near Turin, after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.

    Ferrari said its Formula One team Scuderia Ferrari had also suspended its operational activities.

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  • Lamborghini Sian Revealed Ahead Of The 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show

    Lamborghini Sian Revealed Ahead Of The 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show

    Lamborghini has already revealed the details of what will be there at the upcoming 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. It’s the all-new Lamborghini Sian which will be the first hybrid supercar that the brand has ever done. The SVJ sourced 6.5-litre, Naturally Aspirated, V12 engine is coupled with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system which adds 33 bhp more taking the total maximum output to a staggering 808 bhp at 8500 rpm, enough to clock triple digit speeds in under 2.8 seconds. It is the most powerful production Lamborghini ever built and can reach a top speed of 350 kmph.

    The Sian is anything but a fancy supercar. It’s been commissioned to perform and not just to impress with all that it packs in. The most interesting of all is the first ever supercapacitor system debuted in the Aventador and Sian has built on it immensely. It’s three times more powerful than a similarly sized battery which also weighs just 34 kg offering an impressive weight-to-power ratio of 1.0 kg / bhp. The braking system also works to completely charge the supercapacitor every time it brakes. The stored energy provides an instant boost up to 130 kmph making it 10 percent faster. The electric motor disconnects past 130 kmph and the powertrain completely takes over. Compared to the Aventador SVJ which currently sits on Lamborghini’s throne, the Sian is 0.2 seconds faster between 30 to 60 kmph and in higher gears, the traction force is increase by up to 20 percent making it 1.2 seconds faster between 70 to 120 kmph.

    Lamborghinis have always been head turners as far as looks are concerned and going by these sketches, the Sian takes inspiration from the Countach and has the bold and sharp design elements intact as well which is typical of a Lamborghini. The air inlets sport the iconic Lamborghini Y shaped curtains and the hood is sculpted with diagonal lines. The lower section of the front integrates a carbon fibre splitter flanked by Y shaped headlights which come together to give a very aggressive stance.

    Lamborghini is planning to make just 63 units of the Sian in honour of the foundation year of Lamborghini and it will be showcased at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

  • Mclaren Announces New Ultimate Series Supercar

    Mclaren Announces New Ultimate Series Supercar

    Mclaren announced an all-new ultimate series supercar during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The yet-named model is a two-seat, open cockpit roadster that will be the latest offering in McLaren’s range-topping Ultimate series lineage of supercars that includes the P1TM, Senna and Speedtail. The production of this car is limited to 399 units but the roadster will be different both the McLaren Senna; whose focus is on being the ultimate road-legal track car, and the Speedtail’s high-speed aerodynamic efficiency by offering the purest distillation of road-focused driving pleasure and an unrivaled sense of driver connection with the surrounding environment.

    The new car gets classical roadster proportions, elegant sweeping lines, and low-profile dihedral doors. While designed more for the road than the track, the new model will utilize McLaren’s carbon fiber construction making it the lightest car ever produced by McLaren Automotive and will be powered by a version of the twin-turbocharged V8 engine currently employed in the Senna.

    Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive said, “At McLaren Automotive we are consistently pushing the boundaries to deliver the purest and most engaging driving experience whether for the road or track. Our two current Ultimate Series cars, the Senna and Speedtail, offer unique and distinct driving experiences. Now this new addition to the Ultimate Series, an open-cockpit roadster, will take road-focused driving pleasure to new levels.”

    The ultimate series model will make its debut in late 2020 and will be priced between the Senna and the Speedtail.

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  • Ferrari Hybrid Supercar Teased

    Ferrari Hybrid Supercar Teased

    Ferrari always gets our adrenaline pumping with its new models and this time it’s a new hybrid supercar. Just a day ahead of its unveil the Italian supercar maker took to Twitter to tease its upcoming model. Ferrari supercars have undergone significant powertrain upgrades in the last decade. The Ferrari 488 GTB was its first turbocharged model and this one will be the first hybrid supercar after the gorgeous La Ferrari hypercar and is expected to break cover on May 29.

    The silhouette of the car looks very similar to the track-focused Ferrari 488 Pista and F8 Tributo. However, in the teaser video it looks even more angular with a razor-sharp profile which makes it distinctive and different from other Ferraris. The angular headlamps look sleek and at the rear it gets the quad taillight setup. There is a massive diffuser underneath the dual-exhaust pipes, similar to what we have seen in the Tributo. Then there is also the integrated spoiler for drag efficiency.

    The new supercar is expected to launch with a 3.9-litre bi-turbo V8 motor which will be coupled with three electric motors. Two of them will be mounted on the front axle while the third one will be integrated into the gearbox to optimize the shifts. It will be offered with an all-wheel-drive setup and the powertrain in combination is expected to put out a whopping maximum output of 972 bhp which will help it clocking triple-digit speed in less than 2.0 seconds.

  • MV Agusta Superveloce Will Be Launched Globally In 2020

    MV Agusta Superveloce Will Be Launched Globally In 2020

    Italian motorcycle manufacturer, MV Agusta, has announced that the very sexy Superveloce, which we saw at the 2018 EICMA Motorcycle show, will not only go into production but will also be launched internationally next year. The Superveloce is based on the F3 and is a tribute to the company’s glory years in the 1970s when they were big players in the Moto GP. The front end has been completely redesigned with new fairings and a retro circular headlamp. Moreover, the headlamp cover and the windscreen are tinted yellow, harking back to the ’70s. The concept model used a lot of carbon fiber and we believe that the final production model will have at least a few carbon fiber bits as well. There will be a full-color TFT screen on offer too. The lightweight and minimalistic tail fairing rest on a new sub-frame, which transforms the bike from a single seat to a dual seat version if need be.

    It will have the same 798 cc, 3-cylinder engine which will pump out close to 148 bhp and 88 Nm and will be paired to a 6-speed gearbox. However, folks at MV Agusta say that the engine will be completely re-mapped and will have a torquier mid-range with a lot more to play with at the top end. The bike will get a new airbox along with an asymmetrical 3-into-1-into-3 exhaust which means there will be two exhaust tips on the right and one on the left.

    This has been inspired the GP racing bikes of the 1970s. Expect these to pump up the power output as well. The company hasn’t released the exact specifications of the bike yet. We might see the production version of the Superveloce 800 at this year’s EICMA Motorcycle Show.

  • Pininfarina Battista Launched In The Middle East

    Pininfarina Battista Launched In The Middle East

    Automobili Pininfarina has announced the introduction of its fully-electric hypercar, Pininfarina Battista, in the Middle East market. Expected to be priced around $2 million ( ₹ 13.95 crore approx.), the Italian marque’s zero-emission electric hypercar was launched in Dubai, at specialist luxury car retailer Adamas Motors showroom. The new Battista electric hypercar is slated to enter production in the second half of 2020 at Pininfarina’s Cambiano facility in Italy. Initially, the carmaker will be producing a maximum of 150 units, out of which only 50 are anticipated to be available to cover the Middle East and Asia markets, so the company expects the demands to be exceptionally high.

    Talking about the Luca Borgogno, Design Director, Automobili Pininfarina, said, “We are proud to be in Dubai for the Battista’s Middle East debut. Just a few weeks after it was launched at the Geneva International Motor Show, where it received an amazing reception, we have arrived in one of the world’s most discerning countries for supercars and luxury cars. The Battista’s classic hypercar proportions combined with cutting-edge technology that delivers 1,900 hp and zero emissions will be a new experience for its owners in the UAE, and we believe will make them fall in love with ultra-high-performance electric vehicles.”

    In addition to Adamas Motors as the brand’s retail partner for the UAE, Pininfarina will soon announce a second retail partner for the Middle East, which will cover the important Saudi Arabia market. Meanwhile, potential customers are invited to apply to own a Battista using an online service within the company’s website.

    The Pininfarina Battista will be the first of the Italian marque’s pure-electric luxury cars, and it comes with a 120-kWh battery providing power to four electric motors – one for each wheel – offering a combined output close 1,900 horses while developing 2,300 Nm of peak torque. Pininfarina claims that the Battista electric hypercar is faster than a current Formula 1 race car. While 0-100 kmph is achieved in under two seconds, 0-300 kmph takes less than 12 seconds and it can reach a top speed of 350 kmph. As for the range, the company claims that the Battista has a potential zero-emissions range of up to 450 kilometres.

    The Battista comes with the classic Pininfarina design, using the same principle of form and function coming together, as seen in classic Pininfarina cars reaching back to the Cisitalia 202 of 1947 and through more than 100 Ferraris. The car also comes with a futuristic-looking cabin with a completely driver-oriented dashboard with two displays positioned behind the steering wheel offering a host of information. The hypercar features dual tone black and brown interior using high-quality leather. Plans are in place for the opportunity to fully personalise each car at Pininfarina SpA’s Cambiano headquarters.

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  • Mario Kart Tour beta registrations open for Android users

    Mario Kart Tour beta registrations open for Android users

    Nintendo plans to bring yet another game to Android and iOS device this summer – Mario Kart Tour. Officially revealed two months ago, the next Mario game for mobile won’t be released until at least June.

    However, Nintendo fans will have a chance to take a peek at what’s to come thanks to the closed beta program the Japanese company has just announced. Assuming you’re living in the United States or Japan, you can now register for the Mario Kart Tour closed beta on the game’s dedicated page.

    Unfortunately, it’s only Android users that are allowed to register for the closed beta, and there’s little chance the iPhone owners will be given the chance to test Mario Kart Tour before the official release.

    Obviously, the number of Android users who may participate in the closed beta is limited. According to Nintendo, if the number of applications exceeds the number of possible participants, the company will randomly select the participants.

    Android users can register for the closed beta between April 23 and May 7, while the beta test is scheduled for May 22-June 4, but these dates can be changed prior notice.

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  • Microsoft to bring its best car racing game to Phones

    Microsoft to bring its best car racing game to Phones

    Microsoft has just announced that its best car racing franchise will make its debut on mobile later this year. The game is called Forza Street and seems to be part of Microsoft’s best-selling racing franchise, and, more importantly, will be free-to-play.

    As a matter of fact, Microsoft confirmed Forza Street is now available as a free-to-play title for Windows 10 users, so if you don’t want to wait for the mobile version, you can start playing right away after you download it from the Microsoft Store.

    Forza Street takes players to the streets of Miami where they can enter the ultimate street racing scene to win the car collection of their dreams. Simply pick an event, choose your car, and race for fame.The game allows players to collect and upgrade iconic cars, from classic to modern sport and retro supercars. Microsoft promises “streamlined controls,” but the best thing about Forza Street is that you’ll be able to race anytime, anywhere, assuming you have an Internet connection. You can even squeeze in a quick one-minute race while waiting for your bus, or get immersed in an endless story with multiple ways of achieving victory.

    It’s quite interesting to see Microsoft giving a damn about mobile gaming, not to mention that the Forza series includes some of the best arcade racing games of all time. Hopefully, Forza Street will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors – Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, and provide an immersive car racing experience.

  • 2019 Porsche 911 India Launched

    2019 Porsche 911 India Launched

    The new-generation 2019 Porsche 911 went on sale in India today and we have all the highlights from the from the launch here. The eighth-generation Porsche 911 coming to India was internally codenamed 992 and retains the iconic silhouette that is distinctive to the Porsche 911 family. Furthermore, the car also comes with a heavily revised, more powerful range of six-cylinder turbo petrol engines. In India the new Porsche 911 comes in two variants as of now – Carrera S and Carrera S Cabriolet, priced at Rs. 1.82 crore and 1.99 crore respectively, very close to what we has expected.

    The eighth-generation Porsche 911 gets an extensively re-engineered platform that uses generous amounts of aluminium in its construction in its rear section, for improved weight distribution. Under the hood, the Porsche 911 Carrera S is powered by the extensively 3.0-litre flat-six, turbo petrol engine that makes an additional 30 horses. The total power output now stands at 444 bhp.

    The 0-100 kmph sprint time has been dropped under 4 seconds, with the new Porsche 911 Carrera S reaching 100 kmph from standstill in just 3.7 seconds. The 911 Carrera 4S does the same run in just 3.6 seconds and it also comes with all-wheel drive. The optional Sport Chrono Package further reduces the sprint by 0.2 seconds. The top speed on the Carrera S is rated at 308 kmph, while that on the heavier Carrera 4S is 306 kmph.

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  • Track-Only Aprilia RSV4 X Revealed

    Track-Only Aprilia RSV4 X Revealed

    Italian bike maker Aprilia makes some high-revving performance bikes that enthusiasts swoon over, and now it has added a new name to that list of performance offerings. The company has unveiled the new Aprilia RSV4 X, which is a track-only motorcycle and has been developed by Aprilia Racing with components derived from its WSBK and MotoGP race bikes. The RSV4 X is limited to a production run of just 10 units, which makes a rare motorcycle to get your hands on. The X marks the completion of 10 years of the RSV4 and comes with state-of-the-art equipment.

    The Aprilia RSV4 X borrows the 1077 cc V4 engine from the Factory bike, but gets more power

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