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Drones provide a more exciting perspective of motorsports events like Extreme E

Until this century began, motorsports were viewed mostly at ground level, with spectators able to see cars zooming by on a rally stage or a closed circuit. Major events had aerial coverage which required using a helicopter which wasn’t cheap. In-car footage had been available earlier though but usually available only after the event.

Today, spectators and viewers around the world can watch an event from overhead as drones have made it easier and cheaper to capture imagery from above. Even ordinary drones can provide a view that is exciting and give a broader perspective.

As good as watching from a helicopter
One example of drones being used for motorsports is in the unique Extreme E series for all-electric off-road SUVs. The series has so far gone to the Saudi Arabian desert and the long beaches of Senegal, with the next venue to be Greenland. And at each of the first two rounds, viewers have been able to follow the vehicles as they raced over the rough terrain and able to watch exciting overtaking manoeuvres from overhead. It’s as good as having a helicopter of your own to watch!

The company that is covering the Extreme E rounds is Aerios Solutions which not only captures the footage but also broadcasts it live to a worldwide audience. The drones, which are ‘must-have’ for entertainment and audience wow factor, offer a degree of dynamic perspective that no helicopter or plane could possibly achieve. They are event environmentally friendly in that they don’t need fossil fuel to operate, unlike helicopters. Drones run on electricity and their batteries are recharged on-site using Extreme E’s hydrogen fuel cell generators.

Highly skilled drone pilots
Aerios Solutions, a leader in drone filming technology – has 3 champion stunt helicopter pilots on its team. “It’s safe to say we have a pretty experienced crew at Aerios Solutions!” said its Director Martin Taylor. “Two of our crew are actually world champion helicopter stunt pilots, and all of our pilots have extensive experience in the drone industry including working in major film productions.”

The skills of these pilots are required to control the drones that capture the ODYSSEY 21 SUVs in what is likened to ‘Star Wars meets Dakar Rally’ style racing. “As a race series, Extreme E represents so many world firsts. Live sports programming with this level of remote production has not been done in these parts of the world before. In Greenland, we’ll be in a valley with a glacier on the side; in Senegal, we were on a beach next to a lake; and in Saudi, we were literally in the middle of a vast desert canyons. Getting live pictures out of these places with the level of integration we’ve got, just hasn’t been done before,” Extreme E’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ali Russell, proudly explained.

Aerios Solutions came on board as it was well known to Extreme E’s film production company, Aurora Media, in the past. They were an ideal outfit to get the coverage and nobody else is doing anything close – in extreme environments, with augmented reality and really dynamic coverage.

*The drones can capture views like these, giving the audience a more exciting perspective of close duels – and the broadcasts are delivered live worldwide.*

Operating in remote locations
There is no doubt that it is insanely tricky flying and shooting in Extreme E’s remote locations. However, even before that starts, the logistics are among the main challenges. “Getting a whole live broadcast to such remote areas is a huge challenge. There is absolutely no infrastructure on site before Extreme E arrives there. Every piece of equipment has to be transported to the operating site. Thinking ahead and planning are essential to making the operation a success,” said Taylor.

“Transport around site is difficult, and we normally need 4-wheel drive vehicles just to get to the operating positions. The remote locations have given us some unique challenges, from the baking sun and steep canyons of Saudi Arabia, to even being chased by vultures in Senegal!” he revealed.

“In terms of equipment on-site, we have three main large drones for live broadcast, along with numerous small FPV (First Person View) drones. these are extremely small, extremely quick, lightweight and agile racing drones which we use for recording fast dynamic, close shots,” Taylor said.

The three actual broadcast drones, made by a company in the Netherlands, are highly modified versions of the Acecore Technologies Neo and Zoe drones. They are large, stable platforms able that carry not only the camera and gimbals, but also the complex broadcast equipment and they can fly in all weather conditions which is pretty important in this championship.

Working together from 3 countries
In total, there are 6 pilots on site, operating three drones simultaneously. There is an engineer on call in the UK, along with Taylor in the broadcast suite in London. To carry out live broadcasting to millions of screens around the world, the footage is transmitted from the drones to receivers on-site. From there, the signal is transmitted to the director and producer in the broadcast compound and then, via satellite, to the broadcast suite in London. Finally, the signal is transmitted to a technical team in the Netherlands. After all this, the signal travels back to the on-site broadcast team, before finally being transmitted worldwide via satellite.

Even if you consider yourself a fairly competent pilot of a DJI drone, the drones used by Aerios Solutions are extremely complicated to operate. A minimum of two pilots is needed to operate each drone – one pilot controls the drone itself, the other the camera/gimbal.

“The main skills required are a high level of piloting skill. The pilots need to be extremely skilled and experienced in actually flying the drone and, of course, technical skill meaning they need to be able to maintain the drones in the remote areas. Also, team working skills – the pilot and gimbal/camera operator work as a team to get the live broadcast shots. Normally, the gimbal/camera operator directs the pilot, but they work together ‘as one’,” said Taylor.

He added that communication skills are also important. Not just communicating with each other as they chase the vehicles around the course but also with the production team. They are directed from the on-site producer, the on-site director and the production team in London.

Click here for other Extreme E news and articles.

Huber delivers first unit of its Lamborghini Aventador facelift

Earlier this year, coachbuilder Huber announced a Lamborghini Aventador facelift, and the first unit has been delivered to a customer in the United Kingdom. The customer is the membership Secretary of the Lamborghini Club UK, Ciro Ciampi who also founded the car community known as ‘Petrolheadonism’.

Ciampi received his latest toy on the lawn of the former residence of David and Victoria Beckham. The property is currently home to one of Britain’s most private car collections, creating a spectacular setting for the handover. The scene was not only complemented by the car collection but also by the attendance of Italian supercar patron, Fabio Lamborghini. He was impressed by the Era and happy to give his approval by being the first to unveil the car to the world.

Designing for the aftermarket
Led by Sean-Peter Huber, the UAE-based brand is on a mission to build a new community of collectors and car enthusiasts who value going back to the drawing board. His passion for car design has put them in uncharted territory in the aftermarket, but the first steps are already telling of what an exciting future the brand holds.

Entitled ‘Era’ to mark 10 years of the Aventador and to pay homage to the end of its production, Huber’s Era has created a new take on one of the worlds most revered supercars. The team focused on creating new body panels that respect the familiar DNA, exchanging the front and rear bumpers with an entirely new design in carbonfibre and an optional carbonfibre boot. Huber said: “The Era should remind us of how much we all admired the Aventador when it was launched in 2011”.

Limited to 21 sets
The fully-funded project is independent of Lamborghini with the first batch of bumper units already taken up by selected collectors who have been supporting Huber’s vision from the start. The Era price starts at 30,000 euros (about RM150,000) and will be limited to 21 pieces in the current edition.

According to Raj Singh, founder of Supercar Service Ltd (Huber’s UK distributor), in their 11-year history, they have not found an aftermarket design that integrates so well with the LP-700-4 chassis. As an option to customers around the world and to assure quality control, Huber has designated Supercar Service as ‘flying service’ partner, sending personnel to customer locations to assemble the Era.

Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected and you can suffer for a long period after that. So do your best to avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others – and get vaccinated.

PLUS headquarters selected as Integrated Public Vaccination Centre

Getting as much of the population vaccinated to help reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection is a priority. The effort is being carried out by the government as well as the private sector, which is providing areas to set up vaccination centres. One such company is PLUS Malaysia Berhad which has established an Integrated Public Vaccination Centre (PPV).

The IPVC has been set up in partnership with its medical advisory partner, Primer Cherang, together with Protech Health, the implementer of private medical practitioner and healthcare NGO participation in the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK). The IPVC is at the PLUS HQ situated near the Subang exit off the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) in Selangor. The facility can inoculate up to 2,000 persons per day.

One of 14 public immunisation venues

The COVID-19 Immunization Task Force (CITF) has selected the PLUS HQ as one of the 14 public immunisation venues to accelerate the dispensing of vaccines through Operation Surge Capacity. This will ensure that all adults will receive at least one dose of the vaccine by August 1 and help flatten the infection curve.

“As of Sunday, July 25, PICK has reported that over 16 million doses comprising first and second doses have been administered, of which11.5 million of our population has received their first dose and over 5.4 million are fully vaccinated with two doses. Based on this data, PLUS is proud to be able to play its part in helping the country to ramp up its immunisation numbers. The sooner we are able to attain the target to allow us to enter Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan, the sooner the economy can improve, and businesses can revive,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“I urge you to regularly check your MySejahtera updates and who knows, you may be visiting our Persada PLUS HQ soon. In the meantime, continue to adhere to SOPS if you must be out and about; if not, it would be best to work from home where possible until you are fully inoculated. Hopefully by then, as the government has indicated, you may get to travel on our highways again,” he added.

The participation also provides the opportunity for the employees of PLUS to be part of something meaningful and historical. Warga PLUS will join as volunteers and assist the 150 health personnel from Primer Cherang and Protect Health.

The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.

SsangYong shows sketches of future X200 SUV with new design philosophy

Although SsangYong Motor is still in a difficult financial situation, product development and business activities are still ongoing. Work on new models continues and one of the models that will be in showrooms will be a next-generation SUV presently designated ‘X200’. The Korean carmaker, owned by India’s Mahindra Group, has a newly created design vision and philosophy and this is being adopted for the new model.

New design philosophy
“The design of the new X200 is based on SsangYong’s new design philosophy ‘Powered by Toughness’, and follows on from our recently announced J100 mid-sized electric car. With this new design, the company is showcasing its new product identity to communicate a powerful and modern SUV while drawing on the inherited values its authentic heritage,” a spokesperson for the company said.

‘Powered by Toughness’ is a design philosophy that emphasises the importance that SsangYong places on the value of design. Along with the themes of strength and modernity, it underpins its long standing ‘Korean Can Do’ message which has been central to the Korando product line over 4 generations, dating back to the original from 1983.

The design philosophy is based on four formative concepts: Robust Architecture, Unexpected Delight, Vibrant Contrast, and Communion with Nature. “Of these four elements of sculptural identity, ‘Robust Architecture’ pursues the beauty of tough structural shape and detailed sculptural beauty. ‘Unexpected Delight’ appeals to differing lifestyles, offering amusement and excitement by embodying a design that values more than mere transportation. ‘Vibrant Contrast’ expresses the original characteristics of a tough SUV through the contrast between aesthetic elements of colour, texture and modelling, while ‘Communion with Nature’ is intended to harmonise with the natural world, echoing the sensibilities of our customers,” explained Lee Kang, Head of the SsangYong Design Centre.

*Early generations of the SsangYong Korando (above and Musso (below)*

Korando and Musso heritage
Besides being guided by the design philosophy, SsangYong’s future models, such as the J100 midsize electric model and new X200, will be designed with the heritage of the original Korando and Musso. These two SUV models are of significance in the company’s and Korean automobile industry’s history.

It is expected that the design philosophy will allow consolidation of its position as an authentic SUV brand. Forward-looking elements will include the use of eco-friendly powertrains, responding to the biggest trend in the automotive industry which is now taking place.

J100 well received
Public response to the first design reveal of the J100 (shown below) last month on social media channels is said to be extremely positive and strong. The designers are also encouraged by feedback on the J100 and derivative pick-up model on which has indicated considerable positive interests.

“We have re-interpreted our future design vision and product philosophy by drawing heavily on our unique heritage. With the forthcoming J100 and X200 models, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of design, and everything from this point forward will follow this new brand design direction. It is a very exciting time for SsangYong and will build on the history and heritage of its unique and distinctively authentic SUV designs to impress its customers of the future,” Mr. Lee Kang promises.

22-inch carbonfibre wheel for Bentley Bentayga from late 2021

The wheels for the first cars were made of wood, carrying over from the wheels of horse carriages. Eventually, metal was used, which provided much durability and complemented the auto industry’s manufacturing processes. Steel wheels were commonplace for many decades but as the need to reduce weight became more important, lightening the wheels led the industry to use aluminium alloy.

As the 1970s began, Michelin introduced in innovation for wheels – carbonfibre construction. The initial application was for a rallycar but before long, they were more widely available but still rare as they cost a great deal of money. It was only in 2013 that Koenigsegg offered monolithic carbonfibre wheels on its cars, with a set said to cost around US$40,000.

Why use carbonfibre?
One of the main advantages of using a composite material like carbonfibre is that it is lighter than steel or aluminium. The nature of the material also means it generates less noise and vibrations, making for a nicer, quieter ride. This makes such wheels desirable for luxury cars but their cost remains high.

After years of development with one of the world’s leading composite suppliers, Bentley now has a new carbonfibre wheel developed specifically for the Bentayga. The 22-inch wheel, engineered with Bucci Composites of Italy, is to be the largest carbonfibre wheel in production in the world. It offers a vast range of benefits beyond the initial 6-kg improvement in unsprung mass per wheel.

Meeting tough TUV standards
The new wheel has been subjected to the exceptionally rigorous TUV standards and is the first carbonfibre wheel ever produced to pass all tests. The newly developed rim has undergone the most rigorous testing for non-metallic wheels according to the new TUV standards including biaxial stress testing, radial and lateral impact testing for simulating potholes and cobblestones, tyre overpressure, and excessive torque tests exceeding the permitted limits.

One of the most severe tests of the TUV requirements – the impact test – has shown how the carbonfibre rim is extremely safe in addition to the performance benefits. After a severe impact which would crack or shatter an aluminium wheel, the carbonfibre rim allows a slow tyre deflation, thanks to the intelligent layering of fibre weaves, allowing the vehicle to come to a controlled, safe stop. This would be of great value to a vehicle like the Bentayga which has off-road capabilities.

The new wheel has also been subjected to extremely high speeds. Engineers ran numerous tests around the Nurburgring Nordschleife before final sign-off to go into production.

The technological benefits
Carbonfibre not only provides a significant weight saving, but also offers the additional benefits of increased strength and stiffness. This leads to increased safety – when the rim receives a high impact, the weave pulls apart leaving openings to allow gradual air loss rather than instant deflation like an aluminium rim.

There’s also increased steering agility, thanks to the weight saving and the high stiffness afforded by the properties of carbonfibre which create a more stable and consistent steering platform. In comparison, a forged aluminium rim can lose up to a degree of camber due to wheel flex, reducing grip and agility.

The driver will also have improved and more responsive braking due to the decrease in unsprung mass. Reduced tyre wear is also a long-term benefit as the stiffer carbonfibre rim does not suffer from the same amount of bending. It therefore allows for greater tyre stability and a more consistent contact patch on a larger tyre support surface.

The production processes
One of the main innovations lies in the rim manufacturing process, which involves the application of innovative concepts (covered by patents) combined with the use of high-pressure RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding). The materials and production parameters have been carefully studied to ensure the repeatability of the product without affecting its quality.

The process involves the cutting of carbonfibre cloth into prescribed shapes. The weave segments are then stacked, heated and draped into a mould to create three-dimensional preforms. The preforms are collated and arranged into a larger mould before resin and hardener is injected throughout. After curing time at temperature, the component assembly is removed from the mould, and the final surfaces are machined to the correct finish, before polishing.

Joining Mulliner products in late 2021
The new carbonfibre wheel for the Bentayga will be join Bentley’s existing carbonfibre products, which include the highly sought-after Styling Specification that adds a carbonfibre front splitter, sill extensions and rear diffuser, and the option of high gloss carbonfibre veneer to the interior.

Click here for other news and articles about Bentley.

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and you may not show symptoms but spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

Formula E/ Round 13 – Mahindra Racing’s Alex Lynn wins on home ground

It’s always a thrill for the home crowd when the winner is from the same country and British driver Alex Lynn sparked celebrations in the Mahindra Racing garage as he won the Heineken London E-Prix Round 13. Behind him were Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries and Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) who joined him on the podium.

Lynn had navigated a frenetic encounter that had it all, and the decisive moment of the race took place with the pack released from a spell under the Safety Car (a MINI Electric Pacesetter) on Lap 13. Down at the double hairpin, Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams) made a move for the lead with a surprise lunge on Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) who had started from pole position.

A bump in the braking zone left the Nissan driver a passenger as he speared into the side of the Belgian’s Mercedes. The pair were left all tangled up, allowing de Vries to pick up the pieces and pinch second – and then first when Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) leapt for ATTACK MODE.

With the track cleared, the Mercedes’ seized the initiative. Vandoorne led Rowland and de Vries away, and the latter was able to jump by the Nissan in the middle of the Silver Arrow sandwich to take second – thanks to that extra lap of ATTACK MODE relative to Rowland.

Another appearance for the Safety Car followed on Lap 11, with da Costa in the wall at Turn 1 after contact with Porsche’s Andre Lotterer. The Mercedes duo at the head of the pack did manage to sneak in their second ATTACK MODE activations just prior, crucially before Rowland this time.

Heading into the final quarter hour, di Grassi had made the most of that 35kW boost to slip by de Vries into Turn 1. On the next circuit, Lynn followed with what would ultimately be the race-winning move – the Mahindra driver also in ATTACK MODE. De Vries’ early dart for his second activation had not paid dividends, and he’d have to settle for second spot, while Evans picked his way through from fifth on the grid to an eventual third at the chequered flag.

Di Grassi had led on track for more than half of the race, and crossed the line first. The Brazilian was ultimately shown the black flag for failing to serve a drive-through penalty – deemed to have illegally taken the race lead by audaciously driving through the pit-lane, and crucially failing to come to a stop in his pit-box, under Safety Car conditions on Lap 12.

De Vries followed Lynn home with Evans 5 seconds back. Frijns crossed the line fourth – having climbed the order from eighth – while Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein and BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Maximilian Guenther completed the top six.

The weekend’s results put de Vries at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship heading into the final race weekend of Season 7 in Berlin in 3 weeks, while Robin Frijns’ points haul with fourth – up from eighth on the grid – proved vital and sees him second in the table, just 6 points behind the Dutchman. Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing) holds third in the standings.

Among the teams, Envision Virgin Racing still heads the way in the Teams’ running by 7 points from Mercedes-EQ, with Jaguar Racing third.

Lamborghini sets sales record even with a global pandemic, with the Urus as its bestselling model

In spite of the pandemic that affected the whole world last year and this year, Lamborghini has not seen decreased sales. Quite the opposite in fact: for the first 6 months of 2021, the sportscar maker delivered 4,852 cars and SUVs globally, making it the best half-year ever, with a 37% increase over the same period of 2020. In fact, even when compared to 2019 before COVID-19 hit, the growth in the same period is 9.9% in 2021.

Sales continue to rise
And sales of all Lamborghini models are on the rise, with orders taken already covering production until April 2022. The most popular model in 2021 is the Urus SUV with 2.796 units delivered, followed by the Huracan (1,532 units) and Aventador (524 units).

The US market again took the most units (1,502), followed by 602 units exported to China (including Hong Kong and Macau (602). Other major markets included Germany, the UK, Japan, the Middle East and Italy. Globally. Lamborghini’s network consists of 168 dealers in 51 markets.

“This exceptional result is a double confirmation for us. It is proof of the solidity and strength of this brand, which is enjoying growing appeal despite a period of continuous challenges and uncertainty,” said Lamborghini’s President & CEO, Stephan Winkelmann.

“It also endorses the positive reception to our new industrial plan for future electrification of our product range, in which we will invest over 1.5 billion euros by 2024. Lamborghini’s course is set for a period of great transformation, where technological innovation and sustainability will go hand in hand with a focus on maximum product performance and loyalty to the brand’s DNA,” he said.

Urus also sets record
The Urus stands out not only as the most popular model but is also the highest produced model in the company’s history – in the shortest amount of time since its launch. Three years after it was introduced to international markets, the Super SUV has crossed the threshold of 15,000 vehicles produced.

15,000th unit for UK market
The 15,000^th unit is for the British market, configured with the latest Graphite Capsule set of colours and finishes. The exterior has the new shade of Grigio Keres Matt, with Verde Scandal details. The two-tone interior is dedicated to the new collection in Nero Ade/Verde Scandal.

The Urus has significantly contributed to the overall increase in Lamborghini sales since it entered the market in December 2017. The company’s total volumes doubled in 2019, the first year it was fully marketed.

Fastest car on ice
With a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing 650 ps/850 Nm, the Urus is one of the fastest Super SUVs currently on the market. It is certainly the fastest car on ice, having set a speed record on the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia in March this year. On that run, it hit a top speed of 298 km/h and an average speed from a standing start of 114 km/h over 1000 metres.

First bespoke Pininfarina Battista hypercar revealed

The Pininfarina Battista hypercar is already very exclusive to start with as only 150 units will be built. Each unit of the electric hyper GT has a starting price of US$2.5 million (about RM10.56 million) but customers are likely to pay much more as they will also want their Battista to be personalised. Naturally, Automobili Pininfarina is prepared for this and has an all-encompassing bespoke personalisation programme. It is something which the company would excel in, having its origins as a famous Italian automobile design house (it is now owned by India’s Mahindra Group).

All customers are invited to have discussions with the design team as part of an in-depth collaborative process. At the production facility is a perfect environment to inspire the creative process as it houses an extensive range of colour and material samples close to the car assembly area. Every element of the hypercar can have bespoke treatment, with clients offered a 360-degree consulting service resulting in a truly unique creation.

Creating a unique collector’s piece
“The Pininfarina name has a storied heritage of individual cars, and the Battista continues this legacy as every vehicle will be truly bespoke by design. Our clients have the unique opportunity to join the Automobili Pininfarina family, immersing themselves in the design process with our talented craftspeople to ensure their vehicle authentically reflects their personality and tastes, created with a truly personal touch,” said Sara Campagnolo, Head of Colour and Materials Design of Automobili Pininfarina. “Clients have the opportunity to drive forward the development of sustainable luxury, whilst creating a unique collector’s piece.”

New York City-inspired
The first bespoke commission is inspired by New York City and features a sophisticated red, white and blue colour theme, led by Exposed Signature Carbonfibre bodywork with Iconica Blu thread, the first application of its kind in the automotive industry.

The car also has Performance Stripes and Pinstripe finished in distinctive Bianco Sestriere metallic – meticulously applied by hand due to the complex shapes of the body panels – with a red Exterior Jewellery Pack elegantly completing the exterior design with a Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack finished in Black Exposed Signature Carbon.

Advanced materials, traditional coachbuilding
Mixing advanced composite materials with traditional coachbuilding techniques, the hand-painted finish for this one-off model will take hundreds of hours of expert attention. For this first unit, the Impulso wheels are finished in Dark Matt Grey with brushed aluminium centre-lock ring anodized in black, matching the black Goccia roof, rear diffuser, rear wing and brushed aluminium headlight engraving.

The luxurious interior provides further scope for personalisation, with everything from the choice of leather and Alcantara to the contrast stitching, Interior Jewellery Pack and fine aluminium interior detailing.

A total of 128 million combinations provides opportunities for clients to reflect their individual tastes, with all clients benefitting from Automobili Pininfarina’s commitment to sustainable luxury. This is evident in the methods used to craft the exquisite materials, such as leather interior elements tanned with olive leaves, a process that reduces the need for harmful chemicals in the creation of every Battista.

The Pilota seats are finished in black leather upholstery with Iconica Blu Alcantara that have navy colour inserts. The exterior theme is carried through to the interior with Iconica Blu stitching with unique red and white cross stitch, red headrest logo and unique white seatbelts, with Iconica Blu thread on the back of the carbon seats. Brushed aluminium detailing is finished in red, subtly referencing the red Exterior Jewellery Pack, with darker details provided by the Interior Jewellery Pack finished in brushed aluminium anodized in black.

56 exterior colour choices

In addition to the selection of 56 exterior paint finishes, Battista owners also have the opportunity to choose exposed carbonfibre bodywork, bespoke paint finishes for the ‘Goccia’ roof, exterior jewellery in the form of anodised finishes or bespoke paint, or a contrasting front end in the customer’s choice of colour. Even the engravings on the Battista chassis plate, located between the seats, can be personalised, along with a custom passenger-side door plate engraving.

The Carbon Accent Pack and Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack are available with a selection of bespoke paint colours or exposed carbonfibre finishes, complemented by the precise Furiosa pinstripe around the extremities of the bodywork. In addition, the mirror caps, rear wing, brake calipers, alloy wheels – both Prezioso and Impulso designs – and centre-lock rings can all be fully customised.

Can outrun a Formula 1 car
The Battista is claimed to be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy, with the promise of delivering a level of performance that is unachievable today in any road-legal sportscar using internal combustion engine technology. It will be quicker than a current Formula 1 car with a claimed 0 -100 km/h time of less than 2 seconds, and with 1,900 ps/2,300 Nm output from 4 electric motors. Operating with zero emissions, the Battista’s 120 kWh battery pack is expected to provide a range of over 500 kms when fully charged.

The Beetles that never made it to the showrooms

Over the years, the Volkswagen Beetle represented many different things to many different people. It was a classic example of German ingenuity, a symbol of the counterculture movement, and a reminder that the simplest of things can sometimes be the best. It was truly a car for the people, compact, economical, reliable and durable.

The Beetle was a boom car for affordable transportation in Europe and elsewhere and, by 1952, it was sold in 46 countries. Eventually, it would be built in 14 countries, including Malaysia, and more than 21.5 million were sold before the final, modern-generation Beetle left the line at the factory in Mexico in 2019.

*When the original Beetle was produced in the 1940s, who would have imagined that it would remain in the same form until 2003?*

The original Beetle retained its form for many decades, becoming a familiar shape on roads all over the world. Its attributes which kept it in demand were not easily replicated and so it continued n production even after the Golf arrived as a successor in 1974.

Although it may seem that Volkswagen did not consider redesigning the original car, starting in the early 1950s, it had design proposals from time to time. There were more than 70 potential replacements, but none seemed able to match what the Volkswagen represented. Here are some of the proposals that never made it to production.

**1955/56 EA47-12:** Number 12 of 15 prototypes produced between 1953 and the end of 1956, the EA-47-12 was the carmaker’s first attempt at creating a more modern successor. It was the first of many Beetle replacements designed by Italian automobile designer Ghia, which is probably why it looked like the Karmann Ghia. The car was powered by a 1192 cc 4-cylinder boxer air-cooled engine with a power output of 30 bhp. In addition, it boasted a transverse link front axle, torsion bar rear suspension, and fully synchronized gearbox—unique technology for the time. The top speed was said to be 80 km/h.

**1955 EA48:** In 1953, Volkswagen began toying with the idea of developing a car positioned below the Beetle in terms of size, performance, and price. The result was this boxy car. Some call it the first ‘City Car’, an accolade bestowed upon the British Mini because the EA48 never went into production. The EA48 was also the first prototype designed in-house without any input from Porsche. None of the components from the Beetle were carried over to the EA48; instead, engineers decided to start from scratch. The front-wheel drive car used unibody construction, a front-mounted 700 cc air-cooled, flat-twin 18 bhp engine, and a MacPherson-type front suspension.

**1960 EA97:** It is believed that the EA97 project was abandoned while workers were preparing its assembly line, and after 200 pilot cars had been assembled by hand. The development of this rear-engine 2-door model began in 1957. It featured a more pontoon-shaped body and a 1.1-litre engine. What was the problem? “It was positioned too close to the Beetle and the Type 3,” according to the AutoMuseum Volkswagen website.

**1961 Type 3 Cabriolet:** The Type 3 released in 1961 gave motorists a more upmarket alternative to the Beetle. This Cabriolet prototype featured a folding top and a glass rear window. Sadly, it was shelved out of fear the model would create internal competition with the Karmann Ghia convertible.

**1966 EA142:** While developing the Type 4, which made its debut in 1968, Volkswagen experimented with various bodystyles, including this elegant EA 142. The rear engine hatchback used the same 1.7-litre engine that would appear in the production version of the Type 4.

**1969 EA276:** This was the inspiration for the original Golf. The front-wheel drive hatchback was boxier than many of the other Beetle replacements. Though this car had the same air-cooled flat-4 engine as the Beetle, the powerplant was changed to a 4-cylinder, water-cooled inline engine before installed in the Golf 1974.

**1969 EA266:** One of the more innovative replacement candidates was the EA266. It was developed with assistance from Porsche and a team led by Ferdinand Piech, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who would later become Chairman of the Volkswagen group in 1993. The mid-engine hatchback had a water-cooled 4-cylinder 1.6-litre engine mounted under the rear seat in a longitudinal configuration with the transaxle directly behind it to save space. Despite the sporty design and Porsche DNA, the EA266 never made it to showrooms and can only be seen in the museum today.

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Everrati and Superformance team up to produce electric version of Le Mans-winning GT40

A couple of months back, we wrote about Everrati Automotive Limited and its new flagship 500-bhp Signature adapted from a Porsche 911. The British company, which specialises in converting iconic cars to run with electric powertrains, has now teamed up with Superformance to build an electrified version of the GT40.

Superformance is a specialist in 1960s-era continuation component sports cars and the GT40 will be the first new model from the partnership. The iconic endurance racing car will be ‘future-proofed’ with a high-performance electrified powertrain and join Everrati’s offerings. The range includes EV versions of the Porsche 911 (964), Land Rover Series IIA and Mercedes-Benz SL Pagoda.

*The 500-bhp Signature adapted from a Porsche 911 (left) and GT40.*

*The original Ford GT40 which was raced at Le Mans and Daytona.*

Furthering the legacies of iconic cars
Everrati was founded to further the legacies of some of the most desirable and iconic cars in the world, redefining and precision re-engineering them with state-of-the-art electric drivetrains, maintaining and enhancing the character of the original.

Each Everrati is fitted with a custom-designed electric power unit and battery system, leading to enhanced performance and a zero-emissions future. A prototype chassis has been built and is being comprehensively adapted from combustion engine powertrain to advanced electric propulsion at Everrati’s UK development centre located at a former US airbase in England.

Superformance already offers a full line of high-performance component cars based on some of the most iconic vehicles of all time. All vehicles are built under license from trademark holders including GM and SAFIR GT40, adding authenticity and value. Sold as a rolling chassis, a Superformance car can be configured with heritage or modern drivetrains.

As with all Everrati vehicles, meticulous attention to detail is being applied to key factors such as battery location and weight distribution to maintain and enhance the character and soul of the original.

Angle-American partnership
“So many legendary cars were created by Anglo-American partnerships during the 1960s. In fact, the very first GT40 was brought to life in the early Sixties by a UK-based team led by British engineer, Roy Lunn, at Ford Advanced Vehicles in the UK. Its body was even made by Abbey Panels in Coventry, before the finished car was shipped to the US for its unveiling the day before the New York Auto Show, in April 1964,” noted Justin Lunny, Founder & CEO of Everrati.

“So, it feels highly appropriate for Everrati to be partnering with Superformance, furthering not only the legacy of automotive icons but the partnership between the UK and US. Another cross-Atlantic connection is that our development HQ is located on a former US air base in the Oxfordshire countryside,” he added.

The Superformance factory in California is one of the world’s largest specialty car production facilities. It has produced and distributed more than 5,500 rolling chassis through 25 independent dealerships worldwide.

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