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Category: Automotive

Luxury Supercar Reviews and Motoring News

  • We are ready for the metaverse: Pininfarina is unveiling a stunning NFT Collection

    We are ready for the metaverse: Pininfarina is unveiling a stunning NFT Collection

    @Pininfarina Modulo NFT

    The iconic Modulo as you’ve never seen it before.

    Pininfarina Modulo is regarded as one of the most iconic concept cars in automotive history with truly futuristic lines. Since it was first seen, the design has won 22 international design awards and has been described as a “search for pure form in its deliberate geometricity”.

    Pininfarina, the legendary design house, for the first time in its 92 years of unparalleled history, is unveiling a NFT Collection focused on one of the most iconic and futuristic automotive designs of all time – the Pininfarina Modulo concept car.

    Pininfarina Modulo luxury car was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970 as a special Berlinetta characterized by two overlapping body shells. Originally unveiled in a pearl light blue color, the prototype was selected to represent the best of Italian coach building skill at the 1970 Osaka Expo and was displayed as an envoy of Italian design, in Mexico City in 1971.

    The Pininfarina Modulo NFTs, in collaboration with 1of, the luxury NFT specialists – powered by ARTM Technologies – in the development of solutions for the Metaverse, and with the iconic musician, Sasha Sirota, will be offered as a series of five pieces of art, which will then be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s within a dedicated online auction on 24-26 May, 2022.

    The NFT Collection is inspired by the original “one-off” sketches of the Pininfarina Modulo car, preserved till now in Pininfarina’s private archive, and developed with the active collaboration of the Pininfarina Design Team.

    @Pininfarina Modulo

    Each unique NFT comprises a package of artistic and experiential components that allow NFT owners to become part of the Pininfarina’s iconic legacy by having access to a range of benefits and extra-ordinary contents.

    Each NFT will be characterized by an artistic video-animation featuring original soundtracks and a unique period setting with each NFT presenting Modulo in a different context, respectively set within five distinct decades ranging from the 1970s through to 2020.

    Each NFT will furthermore showcase original content such as the sketches of the original and rare drawings and real-world exclusive experiences (including a reserved visit to the company museum accompanied by Pininfarina’s Chairman, Paolo Pininfarina) and private sessions with the design team. In addition, NFT owners will possess a unique digital replica of the Pininfarina Modulo – the very first Pininfarina car ready for life in the Metaverse. The owners will also be presented with framed, physical artworks of the Modulo relating to each of the NFT packages.

    @Pininfarina Modulo

    “We are proud that our first NFT Collection is dedicated to give a new life to the Modulo” said Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Group. “The concept car designed in 1970 is a manifesto of Pininfarina vision: beauty and innovation to design the future”.

    “We enter the NFT world with the intention of exploring its boundaries and opportunities,” says Silvio Angori, Pininfarina CEO. “The metaverse is an area we can make a significant contribution to by having been producers of cutting-edge creativity for 90 years. Our immense creative archive, the ability to imagine the future of design using the most advanced technologies open up new avenues for the further economic enhancement of our brand”.

    @Pininfarina Modulo
  • The ultimate desert dunes racer is a an uncompromising fun car for use far off paved roads

    The ultimate desert dunes racer is a an uncompromising fun car for use far off paved roads

    Brabus 900 Crawler is a high-performance, all-wheel-drive off-road vehicle with high-strength tubular frame and four-seater exposed-carbon body. Heavy-duty off-road chassis with 53 centimeters ground clearance and 40 x 13.50 off-road tires on Brabus Monoblock HD forged wheels with 20-inch diameter.

    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER

    For the 45th company anniversary, German high-end automotive manufacturer Brabus presents its first supercar with in-house developed chassis and four-seater, exposed-carbon buggy-style body– the Brabus 900 CRAWLER.

    BRABUS was founded in 1977 by Bodo Buschmann and celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2022. For the occasion, the engineers, technicians and designers of the German high-end company developed their first supercar with proprietary chassis and buggy-style, four-seater body made from high-strength exposed carbon. The development goal was to build the ultimate racer for having terrific fun driving in desert dunes. To achieve this goal without compromises, they designed the Brabus 900 CRAW`LER, an exclusive high-performance off-roader that is not street legal.

    The CRAWLER is designed as an uncompromising fun car for use far off paved roads and thus is not street legal. The new Brabus supercar will be built in a limited edition of just 15 vehicles, which will be delivered to customers over the next three years.

    The heart of the new supercar is the Brabus ROCKET 900 V8 twin-turbo engine with a peak output of 662 kW / 900 hp (888 bhp) and a peak torque of 1,250 Nm (922 lb-ft).

    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER
    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER

    In conjunction with permanent all-wheel drive and a nine-speed transmission, whose gears can be shifted either automatically or manually with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, the powerful vehicle weighing 2,065 kilograms (4,553 lbs.) catapults itself from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.4 seconds. Due to the heavy-duty off-road tires, the top speed is electronically limited to 160 km/h (100 mph).

    The chassis of the Brabus 900 CRAWLER consists of a tubular frame made from high-strength steel and painted the distinctive Brabus Red. Portal axles at the front and rear give the off-roading supercar a ground clearance of 53 centimeters (20.9 in). Brabus also developed the matching height-adjustable special struts with adjustable damping, which provide up to 160 millimeters (6.3 in) of spring travel and thus are also suited for use in extreme terrain.

    The tires of the Brabus 900 CRAWLER also fit its theater of operations: The Brabus Monoblock HD forged wheels are mounted with 40 x 13.50 R 20 off-road tires.

    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER
    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER

    The buggy-style body of the Brabus 900 CRAWLER and the roof primarily designed to provide shade are both produced from high-strength exposed carbon. The underbody panels are made of aluminum and a tough carbon/Kevlar composite material.

    The Brabus CRAWLER interior is crafted in the upholstery shop of Brabus in Bottrop. To provide contrast to the dominant carbon, the seat padding of the four racing seats was covered with bright red Silvertex fabric, which is extremely resistant to environmental influences such as sun, dust and water. It was adopted from the Brabus Marine high-performance boats. In addition, the exclusive cockpit features a modern intercom system for driver and passengers, as well as a GPS-based off-road navigation system as it is also used in desert rallies.

    The vehicle has an intercom system on board for communication among the individual crew members. It can be used with the four supplied #brabus carbon helmets or with any other headsets.

    The Brabus 900 CRAWLER sells for 749,000 euros (export price excluding statutory VAT in Germany).

    The Brabus 900 CRAWLER is built in a limited edition of just 15 vehicles. The first five of these supercars will be delivered this still year. Another five CRAWLERS will follow in 2023 and five more in 2024.

    Last week, Brabus announced BRABUS SHADOW 300 EDITION ONE boat. Like no other boat of its size and class, the BRABUS Shadow 300 Edition One combines a unique driving experience with outstanding maneuverability and easy drivability. She is powered by a Mercury 300R V8 racing engine for incredible performance. This allows her to effortlessly reach speeds of over 50 knots without compromising on stability, handling or maneuverability.

    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER
    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER
    @Brabus 900 CRAWLER
  • What are Ferrari’s Special Projects

    What are Ferrari’s Special Projects

    Ferrari SP48 Unica two-seater sports berlinetta is a unique new Ferrari designed to a client’s brief.

    @Ferrari SP48 Unica

    Ferrari SP48 Unica: a new one-off from Maranello seemingly sculpted from a single block of metal.

    The Special Projects programme creates unique Ferraris (so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive design crafted around the requirements of each individual client to ensure each one becomes the owner of a genuinely one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and then developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre.

    Having defined the car’s proportion and forms, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before the construction of the new One-Off begins. The entire process lasts more than a year on average, during which time the client is closely involved in assessing the design and verification phases. The result is a unique Ferrari sporting the Prancing Horse logo and engineered to the same standard of excellence as every car that rolls off the Maranello assembly lines.

    @Ferrari SP48 Unica

    Designed for a long-standing client who was deeply involved in every step of its creation, the one-off Ferrari SP48 Unica is a bold interpretation of a sports car and cleverly enhances its racing soul and vocation for speed. The SP48 Unica achieves its goal of transforming an existing model to masterful effect.

    The Ferrari SP48 Unica, the latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Off series, joins the most exclusive group in Maranello’s entire production: unique, absolutely bespoke cars crafted to the specifications of a single client and designed as a clear expression of their own individual requirements.

    The SP48 Unica, designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer, is a two-seater sports berlinetta developed on the Ferrari F8 Tributo platform. Its taut lines and aggressive stance make it instantly recognisable with respect to the original model, and it is unmistakable too, thanks to its arrow-shaped front profile. Central to achieving this effect was the redesign of the headlights and the subsequent relocation of the brake air intakes.

    @Ferrari SP48 Unica

    A pivotal aspect of the design of this unique new car is the extensive use of procedural-parametric modelling techniques and 3D prototyping which enabled the Ferrari Styling Centre designers and Maranello’s engineers to completely redesign the front grille and engine air intakes. This advanced production process resulted in perfect 3D grilles that seem carved from a solid volume creating a sense of seamless continuity and dynamic fluidity.
    The procedural graphic solutions adopted on the bodywork dialogue directly with the grilles and influence the SP48 Unica’s overall design:  the transition from black – which includes the windows, roof and engine cover – to the body colour is especially clear.

    The striking visor effect of the front is further heightened by the reduction in the size of the side windows and the elimination of the rear screen, highlighting the powerful muscularity of the SP48 Unica which seems sculpted from a single block of metal.

    The plan view emphasises the central section of the roof which includes a graphic representation of the air intakes set into the rear part of the carbon-fibre engine cover before the rear wing. This angle allows the viewer to appreciate the styling research that went into the SP48 Unica and reveals the sophisticated interplay of symmetries and intersecting lines created by its forms.

    @Ferrari SP48 Unica

    The SP48 Unica’s thermal-fluid-dynamic design has been honed and perfected to guarantee it satisfies all cooling requirements in addition to delivering a different aerodynamic balance. The biggest changes compared to the F8 Tributo’s styling include the air intakes for cooling flows for the engine on the front bumper and beneath the rear spoiler. Each has a deep procedural grille, every section of which is optimally angled to maximise the amount of air passing through. The car’s configuration also allowed the engineers to locate an intercooler intake immediately behind the side windows, which in turn enabled them to reduce the dimension of the intakes on the flanks. The longer rear overhang reduces suction from the roof area, boosting rear downforce.

    Although the cabin retains the F8 Tributo’s technical identity – excluding the rear screen – meticulous development work was lavished on achieving the perfect combination of colour and trim to reflect the SP48 Unica’s  sleek, sporty and aggressive personality.

    A good example is the specially developed black laser-perforated Alcantara used on the seats and most of the cabin trim, beneath which are glimpses of iridescent reddish-orange fabric that match the exterior colour. Its motif picks up the hexagonal motif of the grilles and the procedural livery on the roof, creating an appealing continuity between the car’s interior and exterior.  In the SP48 Unica cockpit, the eye is immediately drawn to the polished sill covers with the same laser-embossed hexagonal motif. Matte carbon-fibre imbues the cockpit with a sense of technicality and exclusivity, and is complemented by the Grigio Canna di Fucile accents.

    @Ferrari
  • Audi and Ducati welcomed international media to Sardinia for a double debut

    Audi and Ducati welcomed international media to Sardinia for a double debut

    Ducati DesertX, Audi RS Q e-tron; @Audi x @Ducati

    Double premiere: Audi and Ducati inspire at offroad event

    There has never been such an opportunity: Audi and Ducati welcomed international media to Sardinia for a double debut. For the first time, journalists were able to ride the new Desert X motorcycle and to drive the RS Q e-tron for the Dakar Rally. The designers of both brands have created an unmistakable, joint look for the motorcycle and the car. Expert instructions from Audi drivers Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz and Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci rounded off the formative experience.

    Two unusual vehicles, generous off-road terrain and the appeal of the new: the enthusiasm was overwhelming. Ducati is entering the offroad segment for the first time with the Desert X. At the first riding event, the Italian brand, which has so far set standards with its sporty road and touring motorcycles, conveyed its new off-road expertise. With its powerful Testastretta engine, generous ground clearance and long suspension travel, the new model is capable of mastering any slope with ease. At the same time, the Desert X also impresses on paved roads as a functional, competent and efficient two-wheeler.

    Ducati DesertX, Audi RS Q e-tron; @Audi x @Ducati

    When drifting together over the gravel tracks on a terrain southwest of Olbia, the motorcycle and the car presented themselves in identical design.

    With its black, gray and red livery, the Ducati Desert X motorcycle picked up the graphics that stylize the advanced technology of the Audi RS Q e-tron on its body. The desert rally prototype with the four rings embodies pure efficiency.

    The innovative electric drive of the RS Q e-tron with high-voltage batteries and energy converter pushes the limits of what is possible. It made its debut at the Dakar Rally in January and impressed with four stage victories. In March, the car achieved its first overall victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

    Danilo Petrucci, who rides for Ducati in the MotoAmerica Superbike Series, is a former MotoGP winner and competed in his first Dakar Rally in 2022. Riding in the car with Carlos Sainz fascinated the seasoned pro.

    Ducati DesertX, Audi RS Q e-tron; @Audi x @Ducati

    “It’s a dream come true for me, because already as a child I was a fan of Carlo Sainz,” said the Italian. “You can’t describe the feeling in the cockpit. I didn’t expect the RS Q e-tron to be so fast off-road. Its technology shows the way to the future of the automobile.”

    Audi factory driver Carlos Sainz underlined the importance of the model for the brand’s factory motorsport program.

    “What Audi has achieved with this concept is technically unique and a real benefit for us drivers,” said the Spaniard. “The event in Sardinia was great to communicate the benefits of the electric drive. All the media were impressed throughout.”

    Sainz has won the Dakar Rally three times and was the first stage winner in the RS Q e-tron. Like his Audi teammates, the two-time World Rally Champion was a sought-after contact at the joint appearance in Sardinia with which Audi and Ducati set a milestone.

    Ducati DesertX, Audi RS Q e-tron; @Audi x @Ducati
  • The world’s first net zero carbon race car in the world’s first net zero carbon sport is here

    The world’s first net zero carbon race car in the world’s first net zero carbon sport is here

    Performance upgrades installed via software updates into the Gen3 advanced operating system; @Formula E All-electric Gen3 race car

    Formula E and FIA reveal all-electric Gen3 race car in Monaco.

    All-electric Gen3 race car revealed to public for the first time at the Yacht Club de Monaco for the Monaco E-Prix, a highlight of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season

    This disruptive design was inspired by the aerodynamic form of a fighter jet. The race car was specifically designed for wheel-to-wheel racing on high-speed street circuits.

    The fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.

    The future of all-electric high-performance motorsport has been revealed by Formula E and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) at the Yacht Club de Monaco where the third-generation Formula E race car was officially unveiled to the public.

    The Gen3 is the world’s first race car designed and optimised specifically for street racing. It debuted in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, where some of the world’s greatest manufacturers race wheel-to-wheel on the streets of iconic global cities.

    Developed by engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E, the Gen3 is the pinnacle of high performance, efficiency and sustainability. Designed to show the world that high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without compromise, the Gen3 pioneers cutting-edge technologies that will make the transfer from race to road.

    While aerodynamic development programs have been central to driving incremental improvement in motorsport for decades, the launch of the Gen3 propels software engineering forwards as a new battleground for motorsport innovation and competition. Performance upgrades to the Gen3 will be delivered as software updates directly to the advanced operating system built into the car.

    Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have registered with the FIA to race the new Gen3 in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with pre-season testing this winter. They are: DS Automobiles (France); Jaguar (UK); Mahindra Racing (India); Maserati (Italy); NIO 333 (UK / China); Nissan (Japan); Porsche (Germany).

    @Formula E All-electric Gen3 race car

    Design, engineering and production innovations for the Gen3 race car include:

    Performance:

    • Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph / 200 mph.
    • Most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.
    • Around 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power (470BHP), compared to approximately 40% for an internal combustion engine.
    • First-ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains. A new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
    • Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race, almost double the power of the most advanced commercial chargers in the world.
    • The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.

     

    Sustainability:

    • Gen3 batteries are among the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made consisting of sustainably-sourced minerals while battery cells will be reused and recycled at end of life.
    • Linen and recycled carbon fibre will be used in bodywork construction for the first time in a formula car featuring recycled carbon fibre from retired Gen2 cars and reducing the overall amount of virgin carbon fibre used. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the production of the Gen3 bodywork more than 10%. All waste carbon fibre will be reused for new applications through adoption of an innovative process from the aviation industry.
    • Natural rubber and recycled fibres will make up 26% of new Gen3 tyres and all tyres will be fully recycled after racing.
    • The carbon footprint of the Gen3 has been measured from the design phase to inform all reduction measures taken to reduce environmental impact, while all unavoidable emissions will be offset as part of Formula E’s net zero carbon commitment.
    • All Gen3 suppliers will operate in line with top international standards to reduce environmental impacts of manufacturing (ISO 14001) and be FIA Environmental Accreditation 3-Star rated.

    “Monaco is the spiritual home of motorsport and there is nowhere more fitting to unveil our Gen3 race car. The Gen3 disrupts and challenges the conventions of motorsport, setting the benchmark for performance, efficiency and sustainability without compromise.”Together with the FIA, we are proud to reveal the Gen3 to Formula E fans and demonstrate to the wider sports industry how elite sport, high performance and sustainability can successfully co-exist in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. We cannot wait to see how our teams and drivers push the car to its limit in 2023.” – Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E.

    Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman, Formula E said: “The Gen3 represents the ambitious third age of Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With every generation of race car we push the boundaries of possibility in EV technology further and the Gen3 is our most ambitious project to date. The eyes of the world are on the Principality for the Monaco E-Prix and we are proud to reveal a car that been two years in the making in the historic home of motorsport. My thanks go to the great team behind it at Formula E and the FIA – the future of all electric racing is bright.”

    @Formula E All-electric Gen3 race car
  • Meet GWM TANK500, one of the hottest models on the Chinese Luxury SUV market

    Meet GWM TANK500, one of the hottest models on the Chinese Luxury SUV market

    @GWM TANK500

    A New Off-road Star Model – GWM Launches New Luxury Business SUV GWM TANK500.

    Recently, GWM TANK500, a new model of GWM’s TANK brand, was launched in China, becoming one of the hottest models on the local market.

    As a new member of GWM, GWM TANK500, the middle and large SUV model, belongs to the first luxury business series of the brand, which has both the business and off-road features.

    GWM TANK500 has a tough exterior look and a larger car body profile than models of its class.

    With a large horizontal grille and the original square headlights in its front, a more mature and steady visual effect is created. The lines of the car body, such as the side line in the middle of the car body that connects the headlight and taillight, are smooth and manifesting its fineness.

    In addition to its solemn appearance, the interior of the GWM TANK500 conveys a tender feeling, just like a gentleman. Soft materials and wood patterns are opulently applied in the interior space of the vehicle, delivering the delicate and warm atmosphere. Be it the steering wheel or car seats, they are all wrapped in genuine leather to bring the comfort of the luxury business model when users touch the steering wheel and lean back in the seat.

    The vehicle also has the settings of luxury car series such as Internet of vehicles, panoramic sunroof and privacy glass. Particularly, the design of the privacy glass has fully reflected the details of GWM TANK500’s luxury quality.

     

    @GWM TANK500

    For driving experience, GWM TANK500 inherits the TANK brand’s advantages in off-road driving in terms of exploration capability and chassis structure. More importantly, the vehicle is the first GWM model equipped with the 3.0T+9AT power combination. The strong power can not only help handle various complex road conditions but also bring a more adequate sense of security for users with its stability.

    This new model is friendly even towards new off-road drivers. The four-wheel-drive system can be switched into the two-wheel-drive system to fully guarantee its fuel efficiency. Users’ needs can be met no matter if it is occasional off-road driving or daily commuting.

    After the test drive of GWM TANK500, many users commented positively that the car comprehensively meet the expectations of consumers in the new era for a high-quality car life in the near future. It is more like an all-around assistant for the whole family, taking up the role of a comprehensive service provider for business purposes, daily commuting, and family travels.

    In the second half of 2022, GWM plans to launch GWM TANK300 and GWM TANK500 in the overseas markets. Both models will potentially bring lots of pleasant surprises to the global users.

    @GWM Global