Month: May 2023

Some say his blood sort is 110 octane and that his bed room wall is plastered with posters of scantly clad V12 engines. Others say that his voice matches the timbre of a contemporary Method One automotive. All we all know is he is Ben Collins, the person behind the Stig on High Gear. 

A part of the working gag on High Gear was that the Stig was a tame however silent racecar driver. He by no means spoke and by no means eliminated his helmet, though he appeared to point his contempt for individuals’s lack of driving abilities. He additionally had an eclectic style in music, listening to all the pieces from opera to progressive rock and nation whereas setting quick laps round a makeshift monitor at Dunsfold Aerodrome. 

As for Ben Collins, he isn’t silent however an enticing particular person with a formidable resume as a race automotive driver and stunt coordinator for the Daniel Craig-era James Bond movies. Collins additionally has his personal YouTube channel, “Ben Collins Drives,” the place he pilots quite a lot of supercars and race automobiles, together with Ferraris and Aston Martins, and Porsches. 

On this video, he drives certainly one of his all-time hero automobiles, a Group C Porsche 962. It is the automotive he had a poster of on his bed room wall as a child. As an evolution of the Porsche 956, a automotive that received Le Mans 4 instances, it was the top of 1980s engineering. The 962 proved a formidable race automotive properly into the 1990s and even spawned a road-legal model of the automotive. 

The Rothmans Porsche 962 is a very iconic automotive. Painted the unmistakable blue and white livery with crimson and gold stripes, it is certainly one of three Rothmans-backed works automobiles from the mid-1980s. This automotive was pushed by Jackie Ickx and Jochen Mass and set the pole at Le Mans in 1987. It seems to be large however barely weighs 900 kilograms, or about 2,000 kilos. The two.6-liter flat-six places out 600 horsepower and, like most turbocharged Porsches of that period, has a little bit of a lag earlier than the facility kicks in. 

The Porsche 962 was adopted by the WSC-95, which received Le Mans in 1996 and 1997. It shared the identical primary Kind-935 flat-six engine because the 962, bumped as much as 3.2 liters of displacement. The LMP1 briefly changed the WSC-95 till Porsche took a hiatus from endurance racing, returning in 2005 with the RS Spider. 

Hyundai teamed up with legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to recreate the unique Hyundai Pony Coupe Idea of 1974, an iconic present automotive designed by Giugiaro and which helped lay the groundwork for the arrival of the Pony sedan a 12 months later, South Korea’s first independently developed mass-produced automotive.

The idea was amongst 5 designs Giugiaro got here up with for Hyundai within the early 1970s as a part of a authorities problem to develop a South Korean automotive in time for launch by 1975 (beforehand Korean automakers had been constructing automobiles of international automakers).

Whereas a sedan physique model was chosen because the winner, a manufacturing model of the Pony Coupe Idea was on account of comply with however the mission got here to a cease in 1981 on account of an financial downturn. The automotive’s wedge-shape would dwell on in one other Giugiaro design, nevertheless: the DeLorean DMC 12 that debuted in 1983.

Regardless of its significance, the unique Pony Coupe Idea now not exists. Hyundai hasn’t mentioned what truly occurred to it, however the automaker has recreated it in preparation for subsequent 12 months’s 50th anniversary of the unique unveiling on the 1974 Turin auto present. The idea is powered by a 1.2-liter inline-Four rated at 82 hp. The engine options longitudinal mounting, with drive despatched to the rear wheels through a guide transmission.

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The recreation was unveiled on Thursday on the inaugural working of Hyundai Reunion, which occurred at Italy’s Lake Como. The occasion is described as a “heritage model platform” that serves as a technique to protect Hyundai’s spirit and values because the automaker transitions to a world of electrical mobility.

Additionally current was Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio. The 2 Giugiaros, who labored on the recreation, immediately run the design agency GFG Fashion, which they began after promoting their remaining shares of their earlier design agency, Italdesign Giugiaro, to Volkswagen Group in 2015.

The collaboration between Hyundai and GFG Fashion may lengthen past the recreation of the Pony Coupe Idea, in keeping with Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group’s chief inventive officer.

“Not solely does this mission maintain historic worth, but it surely additionally represents a cross-cultural alternate that might pave the way in which for extra collaborations down the street,” he mentioned when the mission was first introduced final fall.

The present Lexus GX is without doubt one of the model’s oldest automobiles nonetheless on sale in North America. It was initially launched for the 2010 mannequin yr and was given an intensive refresh a decade later. Now, Lexus is making ready a brand new era of the SUV and two renderings preview its remaining design months earlier than its official and full debut.

These digital drawings come from our associates and colleagues at Kolesa.ru. They present an SUV that appears extra mature than its predecessor that includes a extra rugged design language. Nonetheless, the fundamental physique proportions and shapes carry over nearly unchanged in comparison with the outgoing GX. 

These two renderings take after the primary teaser photos with the 2024 GX. Earlier this month, Lexus shared two photographs of the mannequin, displaying its headlights and a bit of the boot lid. The brand new headlight design with a vertical daytime operating gentle is integrated into these new renderings and the identical can be true for that LED strip connecting the taillights on the again.

Sadly, Lexus hasn’t revealed a lot in regards to the new GX leaving us solely with the early rumors and hypothesis in regards to the SUV. Nonetheless, it appears inevitable that the car will trip on the GA-F body-on-frame platform shared with the most recent Toyota Land Cruiser. In keeping with a report from August 2021, the GX will obtain a household of electrified engines making the luxurious household hauler much more environment friendly and refined.

As a remaining observe, it’s value mentioning that Lexus is within the technique of overhauling its SUV vary. Along with a brand new GX, the model additionally works on the brand new TX, which is a posher model of the Toyota Grand Highlander. The Japanese firm would reportedly construct each of them on the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana manufacturing facility.

BMW has a brand new testing facility positioned in a former components warehouse in Unterschleißheim close to Munich, Germany. The so-called Mild Channel Subsequent permits the Bavarian firm to work on new lighting applied sciences in a very managed surroundings, which might realistically simulate totally different situations and eventualities. It’s presently the longest growth instrument within the BMW Group.

The Mild Channel Subsequent, which sits very near the corporate’s Analysis and Innovation Heart within the north of Munich, measures round 433 ft (132 meters) lengthy and 72 ft (22 meters) large. The automaker will use the ability for the event of future generations of lighting programs, together with headlights, daytime working lights, flip indicators, and others. Will probably be used as a logical subsequent step within the R&D course of after computer-aided simulations.

“For the BMW Group, mild is a subject that’s continuously gaining in significance. With the brand new Mild Channel Subsequent, we stay up for a way forward for bringing revolutionary concepts to the automobile and the market which is able to make a long-lasting impression on prospects and improve highway security”, BMW mild knowledgeable Christian Jebas explains.

To be able to simulate totally different highway eventualities extra realistically, the take a look at tunnel options 4 totally different surfaces. The central space has an asphalt floor, which has undergone a particular floor grinding course of to artificially age it. The purpose was for the floor to have reflection traits that correspond to these of an precise highway. There’s additionally a piece with a footpath, in addition to one other part simulating widespread underground automobile park ground coating.

Within the mild tunnel, BMW may also simulate totally different lighting situations always of the day. That is useful throughout the growth of flip indicators and daytime driving lights, which should be evaluated in daylight. A particular daylight wall can generate totally different mild situations relying on the required luminosity and shade temperature.

The Mild Channel Subsequent will start operation with speedy impact. The main target of the builders would be the integration of extremely adaptive headlights. BMW’s designers can even be frequent company on the facility as “the automobile lights are additionally a query of aesthetics for all manufacturers within the BMW Group.”

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The police are contemplating submitting a proposal to the transport ministry and street transport division (JPJ) to advertise the usage of dashcams in personal automobiles, The Vibes experiences. In keeping with inspector-general of police (IGP) Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, dashcams can help in investigations regarding street crashes in addition to public complaints on visitors security and violations.

He added that video footage from dashcams may additionally assist the police scrutinise untoward occasions on the street and public areas. “It (dashcam utilization) needs to be undoubtedly inspired,” he advised the publication.

“This may be instructed (to JPJ and the ministry),” the IGP added when requested if the police would put forth a proposal to encourage the set up of dashcams. Acryl Sani famous that the police have been advocating the channelling of exact data and assist from the general public on visitors and crime incidents.

The concept of constructing dashcams obligatory has been mooted earlier than, with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) lecturer Muzaffar Syah Mallow suggesting this final 12 months. Given the number of incidents that motorists encounter on the street, having a dashcam to as a supply of proof to show a case – together with exposing potential scams – is smart.

Sure carmakers already supply dashcams as commonplace gear on their automobiles, however making them obligatory on all automobiles on the street could be a problem, particularly for these in lower-income teams. If not made obligatory, encouraging the usage of dashcams may also be achieved with monetary incentives, as seen in Thailand the place insurance coverage corporations supply reductions on premiums for dashcam-equipped automobiles.

Should you don’t have already got one, get a dashcam put in to guard your self

When Pontiac launched the GTO in 1964, the corporate additionally provided a trim bundle for the Catalina that featured a Ferrari-inspired identify: 2+2. It was a trim bundle not not like the Tremendous Sport for Chevrolet’s Impala however, in 1965, it was reconfigured to be a efficiency bundle. A type of huge brothers to the GTO is featured in Muscle Automobile Campy’s newest video.

The two+2 bundle for the 1964 Catalina two-door hardtop and convertible included entrance bucket seats with console, alternative of four-speed guide or Hydra-Matic computerized, and twin exhausts. Normal engine was the Trophy 389 two-barrel with 283 horsepower (four-speed) or 267 horses (computerized), with choices as much as the 370-horse 421 HO.

For 1965, the two+2 bundle included bucket seats, floor-shifted three-speed guide, twin exhausts, efficiency axle ratio, heavy-duty springs and shocks, customized pinstriping, entrance fender louvers and 338-horsepower 421ci V8. Prime engine once more was the 421 HO, although now it produced 376 horses.

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Considered one of these automobiles is the topic of Muscle Automobile Campy’s newest video. This Mayfair Maize 2+2 hardtop was initially ordered with the usual 421 and three-speed, AM radio, whitewall tires and nothing  else. As we speak, the Poncho additionally advantages from the addition of Pontiac’s well-known 8-lugs wheels wrapped in fashionable tires.

Should you get pleasure from this video, you’ll be able to try different superb automotive movies from Muscle Automobile Campy.

Toyota will probably be unveiling 10 battery electrical car (BEV) fashions throughout the posh, SUV, compact and sedan, business and MPV in addition to sports activities segments by 2026, the producer has introduced at its 2023 monetary outcomes press briefing presentation this week.

Amongst these will probably be compact fashions for rising markets – which might embody Malaysia – as denoted within the center row of the desk throughout the speech by CEO Koji Sato. That there aren’t any silhouettes within the compact/sedan phase as with the opposite product segments within the desk means that the product for rising markets remains to be very a lot in its early levels.

The 10-model rollout was initially revealed by its vp Hiroki Nakajima in April, when it additionally introduced that the producer will create a particular unit for the event of next-generation EVs.

These new fashions scheduled for launch from 2026 will collectively constructed on three new platforms, specifically for the physique and chassis, the electronics platform and the software program platform, in accordance with Sato’s deal with. These will go in the direction of Toyota’s goal of reaching a gross sales quantity of 1.6 million BEVs by 2026.

The Japanese manufacturing big additionally introduced earlier this week that it’s going to restructure its battery-electric car enterprise by way of abolishing its present zero-emissions car (ZEV) outfit for the establishing of BEV Manufacturing unit, a brand new, devoted organisation that may expedite EV improvement and enterprise progress.

Domestically, a number of models of the bZ4X totally electrical SUV has been deployed for testing on Malaysian roads previous to its official launch later this 12 months, with a number of having been registered for this goal.

Placed on show on the UMW Toyota Motor workplace in Shah Alam, Selangor, the 2 examples of the bZ4X are front-wheel-drive models powered by a single 204 PS/266 Nm electrical motor.

That is fed by a 71.four kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provides as much as 500 km of vary in accordance with the WLTP take a look at cycle. Charging is both AC through a Sort 2 connection as much as 6.6 kW, or DC through a CCS2 connection as much as 150 kW, the latter enabling a 0-80% cost in 30 minutes.

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After all, there are a ton of vehicle manufacturers that now not exist. In truth, there’s a well-known automobile present in Ypsilanti, Michigan devoted to automotive orphans. Whereas the present was a high-quality place for independents like Hupmobile and Nash to garner the highlight, at this time you’ll discover Large Three manufacturers like Mercury and Pontiac infiltrating the present area — they’re orphans too, proper?

Within the fifth episode of Drive the Bid Derek Shiekhi, “Jalopy Jeff” Sutton and I chosen a few of our favourite orphans and fashions for dialogue, together with Studebaker, Saab, Triumph, Panhard and extra. Is there an orphan model that you just discover attention-grabbing?

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We additionally contact on topical automotive information, corresponding to Mercedes-Benz discontinuing the CLS-Class later in 2023, although that doesn’t imply the four-door coupe is disappearing fully. Ram additionally has introduced two super-duper pickups earlier than the hammer drops for EV life. And Mazda’s CX-90 is now beginning to hit dealerships, although I went on a rant on Mazda’s sophisticated trim stage methodology.

All this plus our present AutoHunter picks will be seen within the above video from AutoHunter Cinema, created by the consultants behind ClassicCars.com, the world’s largest on-line collector automobile market. AutoHunter brings forth a devoted reside buyer help workforce, faster public sale listings and unique advantages for each patrons and sellers.

The all-new Perodua Alza has received the Malaysia Good Design Award (MGDA), which is the very best recognition from the federal government for the design business. Organised by the Malaysian Design Council (MRM), a strategic design company beneath the ministry of funding, commerce and business (MITI), Perodua is the one automotive model to obtain the award this yr.

The awards ceremony, which included the presentation of the MGDA 2022 and Licensed Industrial Designer (CIDe) certifications, was officiated by MITI secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak. “This recognition displays Perodua’s dedication to delivering modern and well-designed merchandise to our prospects,” the carmaker wrote in a publish on its official Fb web page.

Launched in July final yr, the second-generation Alza is underpinned by the Daihatsu New World Structure (DNGA) and is a bigger car than its predecessor. The seven-seater is powered by a 2NR-VE 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 106 PS (105 hp) and 138 Nm of torque, with drive going to the entrance wheels via a D-CVT.

Costs begin from RM62,500 on-the-road with out insurance coverage for the bottom X variant earlier than going as much as RM68,000 for the mid-spec H, adopted by the range-topping AV at RM75,500. You possibly can take a look at our ideas of the award-winning MPV in our written and video opinions.

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GALLERY: 2022 Perodua Alza AV with GearUp bodykit, equipment