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Ron Dennis has left McLaren to pursue other interests

After 37 long years witnessing both the ups and downs at McLaren, Ron Dennis, the head honcho of the brand has decided to step down from his position. He also reached an agreement with other shareholders to sell his shareholding in both McLaren Automotive and McLaren Technology Group.

This news maybe confusing because most of us are used to knowing McLaren as a single entity, but its rather simple and Ron, orchestrated it. See, back in 1980s, Ron merged Team McLaren (the Motorsports one) with his own company called Project Four. They combined to form McLaren International which eventually became the McLaren Group.

Then, in 2004 he announced the launch of McLaren Applied Technologies, which would focus on applying motorsport-bred innovations and technologies so as to improve the performance and product innovation of blue-chip companies in a number of industries.

Later, in 2010 Ron supervised the formation of McLaren Automotive, which is the company that manufacturer’s McLaren road cars and has been churning out some absolute stunners as of late.

In the beginning, McLaren only had less than 100 employees and the company itself was only worth RM 15 million, however through growth and investments, today the company is worth RM 12 billion and employs more than 3,400 people. Ron Dennis, was key to the company’s overall success throughout its history.

During his 37 year reign as Executive Chairman, he lead McLaren to 158 Gran Prix wins and 17 Formula 1 World Championships as well as employed talented if not some of the greatest drivers in history, such as Niki Lauda, Alin Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton, to drive for the team.

Speaking of his resignation from the top job at McLaren, Ron Dennis, said, ” I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with my fellow McLaren shareholders. It represents a fitting end to my time at McLaren, and will enable me to focus on my other interests. I have always said that my 37 years at Woking should be considered as a chapter in the McLaren book, and I wish McLaren every success as it takes the story forward.”

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa will take over as Executive Chairman of McLaren Group. And despite the sale of Ron’s shares, The Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and TAG Group will remain as majority McLaren Group shareholders.

Though he will be leaving one of the most prestigious names in Motorsports, Ron Dennis isn’t done yet. He plans to to continue to consult for various other companies and work with the UK Government’s Ministry of Defense Innovation Advisory Panel in helping to improve the technology, the culture and the organisations that play vital roles in maintaining the UK’s national security.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS is a 700bhp track focused monster

Porsche has finally unveiled its 911 GT2 RS, a track-focused, rear-wheel drive sports car that features a race-bred chassis and rear axle steering. It’s a lightweight car, which is evident by the extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the exterior mirrors, air intakes on the rear quarter panels, front luggage compartment lid, certain other parts of the rear and many of the interior components.

Porsche has also fitted a titanium exhaust system that weighs 7kg less than that in the 911 Turbo and is said to deliver a distinct yet pleasing exhaust note. The roof panel is made from magnesium, which should help lower the overall centre of gravity.

And if that isn’t enough, more weight can be shed by opting for the optional Weissach package. This gets you magnesium wheels, other trim panels made from carbon fiber, which include the roof, anti-roll bars and end links on both axles.

https://youtu.be/XWpTjUk0nb4

What really separates the GT2 from other 911 cars are the large air intakes and outlets on the bumpers as well as a unique rear wing that improve the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency and increase downforce. Porsche says that the car has exceptional grip due to the race-bred chassis, rear axle steering capabilities and the ultra high performance tyres.

This GT2 RS has the same 3.8-litre engine as that found in the 911 Turbo S but power has been increased further by the use of larger turbocharger and a new additional cooling system for the intercoolers.

As such, the twin-turbo flat six engine produces 700bhp and 750Nm of torque which is about 80bhp and 50Nm more than its predecessor. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a customised GT 7-speed dual clutch (PDK) gearbox that offers maximum efficiency and uninterrupted torque transfer. It can go from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds and reach a speed of 340km/h.

Despite being a track ready car, the GT2 RS does come with the usual electronic driver safety aids that include stability control and traction control. They make up the Porsche stability management system or PSM, which can be switched off in two states using ESC off and then ESC + TC off.

Inside, the car has a red Alcantara black leather upholstery and several carbon fiber trim pieces throughout the cabin. There’s a GT2 RS Sports steering wheel that is fitted as standard and so are the full bucket seats with carbon fiber reinforced backrests and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, which functions as the central control unit for audio, navigation, and communication. Porsche Connect Plus and the Porsche Track Precision app are also included as standard.

Porsche has also released a chronograph watch to mark the launch of this very special car, which will only be available exclusively to 911 GT2 RS owners. It is the first clock movement that Porsche Design can call their own and is housed within an elegantly made lightweight titanium body. The movement is a caliber 01.200 one that includes a flyback function, a load-path-optimized movement bridge, and an official COSC certificate of authenticity.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is available to order now but customers should receive their cars towards the end of this year or in early 2018.

Michelle Rodriguez threatens to quit Fast & Furious franchise

Michelle Rodriguez, the actress who is a major part of the Fast & Furious movie franchise, has threatened to pull out of the next film. She took to instagram to voice her dissatisfaction about the show’s portrayal of women.

According to the news article posted on carthrottle.com, Rodriguez, who plays the role of Letty, one of leading characters in the movies since The Fast and The Furious, said, “show some love to the women of the franchise on the next one”. She then went on to say that if things don’t change, she might have to walk away from one of the most successful automotive-centric movie franchise in recent history.

Her exact post is as follows:

The article also cites an earlier one from Entertainment Weekly, where Rodriguez stated that, though she understood that from the very beginning of the franchise, the lead characters weren’t that sophisticated due to their socioeconomic background. But through the progression of several installments and as the characters began to evolve to take on bigger and more significant roles in the movie plots, she hoped that “you stop being so physical and start becoming more intelligent”.

Director of the Fast 8 movie, Gary Gray refuted this claim by stating that the latest installment featured very strong female roles with Charlize Theron as the antagonist and Helen Mirren who made a cameo towards the later part of the movie.

It’s no surprise that hollywood actors are difficult to please, but since the beginning, the plot has mostly been on Dominic Torreto, played by Vin Diesel, and his team taking on whatever “over the top scenarios” that life has to throw at them. That said, we hope that the cast stays together and we get another action packed thriller from the next installment which is due for release on 19 April 2019.

Source: carthrottle.com, Entertainment Weekly

Nissan BladeGlider to showcase its capabilities at Goodwood

Nissan’s rather bizzare zero emissions prototype, the BladeGlider will make an appearance at the on going Goodwood Festival of Speed both to showcase its driving capabilities as well as kept on display for the viewing of the general public. The car is meant to showcase what future performance cars might adopt in the not so distant future.

Speaking of the vehicle’s appearnce at Goodwood, Ponz Pandikuthira, vice president Product Planning, Nissan Europe, said, “The BladeGlider has been developed to bring fun, torque, efficiency and high-performance styling to the fore. Goodwood has been a world-famous showcase for many an iconic sports car over the years, so we could think of no better place to bring the BladeGlider out to play, demonstrating the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision in action.”

First introduced at the Tokyo Auto Show in 2013, the Nissan BladeGlider is said to combine an all-electric powertrain with an efficiently designed body to offer copious amounts of driving pleasure while being as environmentally friendly as possible.

Unlike most cars, the BladeGlider features a narrowed design (three seat configuration) with the front end width being much shorter than that of the rear. Nissan purposefully designed it this way to offer optimum aerodynamic efficiency and handling stability. Despite what the automaker might say, the rear-hinged dihedral doors, though impressive, exists solely for vanity purposes.

Since it doesn’t have a roof, the BladeGlider’s body is reinforced with an integrated roll-over protection structure, that will help protect its occupants in the event of a roll over during a crash.

Most of the controls and switchgear as well as the digital meters are mounted on the steering wheel, which ensure that the driver’s hands are always kept on the steering wheel. Information that is displayed on it include speed, state of battery charge, regeneration mode and torque map. There are two centrally mounted screens that take the place of conventional side mirrors, with the images being fed to them by rear-view cameras mounted just behind the front wheels.

The Powertrain of the car was designed by Williams Advanced Engineering which consists of two 120kW (268bhp) electric motors (juice is supplied by a 22kW battery), one on each wheel. The BladeGlider is able to reach speeds in excess of 190km/h, and accelerate from 0-100km/h in under 5 seconds, which isn’t record breaking, but is quite impressive for an unconventional car.

Power is distributed to each of the front wheels trhough a torque vectoring system, which shifts power to the wheel that needs it most. If the car begins to understeer, more power will be sent to the outer wheel to compensate for the forces, enabling the car to regain a proper balance.

The BladeGlider is an odd take on the performance car genre, and how wheel it pans out for Nissan remains to be seen. But it won’t be the only car that will be showcased by the Japanese automaker because it will be accompanied by the GT-R NISMO as well as the MY17 GT-R.

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 finally revealed

Jaguar has finally revealed extensive details regarding its outrageously powerful version of its baby sedan, the XE. Dubbed Project 8, the car is said to be the most sought after contemporary Jag after the venerable F-Type.

Basically, its a track-focused XE that features an immensely powerful engine, which is kept in check by a thoroughly engineered suspension and chassis setup aimed at increasing agility and to a broader extent, better driving dynamics. As such, Project 8 sits 15mm lower than the base car thanks to the manually adjustable suspension.

The car is fitted with a highly tuned version of the automaker’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces close to 600bhp, a titanium variable active exhaust and an all-wheel-drive system as well as aerodynamic body work that help it stick to the road. As such, Project 8 is said to be the fastest accelerating Jaguar ever thanks to an 8-speed Quickshift transmission, a 0-100km/h time of just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 322km/h.

When Track Mode is selected, the car’s system alters the driveline and stability systems as well as sharpens throttle and steering responses for track use, which should allow for more hooliganism within the confines of a controlled environment.

Unlike the standard XE, Project 8 features extensive bodywork upgrades that include front and rear carbon fibre bumper, enhanced cooling ducts, vented carbon fibre bonnet, flared bodywork over the 20-inch forged alloy wheels, adjustable front splitter, flat underbody trim pieces, rear diffuser and a massive rear wing that can be adjusted to alter air flow.

Underneath the skin are mechanicals that are more performance oriented compared to the more docile setup found on the base XE. Jag blessed the car with stiffer springs for the front and rear, manually adjustable continuously variable dampers, a new carbon ceramic braking system, Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings and a rear electronic active differential (EAD) with oil cooler.

The racecar inspired theme was incorporated in the cabin is well due to the use of carbon fibre and Alcantara for various trim panels/steering wheel. There are aluminium paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for drivers to initiate quick gear changes but this can also be done through the use of the centre mounted ‘Pistolshift’ lever – a first for Jaguar.

Designed by the company’s Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) team, Project 8 will only be available as a left-hand-drive model and will come in eight body colours which are Fuji White, Narvik Black and Caldera Red, Valencia Orange, Velocity Blue, Meribel White, Verbier Silver and Corris Grey (satin matte).

There are also two packages to choose from, which are the standard four-seat pack and a two seat track pack. The former features front performance seats with magnesium frames, and a more heavily contoured rear squab to maximize support. The latter gets you lightweight front carbon fibre racing seats with four-point harnesses fixed to a harness retention hoop in place of the rear seat.

Further customization for a more personal touch include opting for tri-coat paint finish, tinted clear coat and race-inspired decal packs.

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be one of the main featured vehicles at the on going Goodwood Festival of Speed after which, the car should be made available for purchase.

Lexus LFA, the forgotten masterpiece

The Lexus name is synonamous with highly engineered luxury cars that are engineered to perfection. That concept changed in 2011, when the automaker launched its first ever supercar, a major departure from what we were used to seeing from the brand, called the LFA.

Lexus’ parent company, Toyota, picked a small group of exremely experienced engineers and technicians to work on the project. The automaker even built a specialized factory dedicated to the production of the LFA alone. Its truly fascinating how this lightweight Japanese supercar came to be as well as the vast tooling and techniques required for its production.

The car was constructed from Carbon fibder-reinforced polymer (CFRP), which accounts for 65% of the car’s total body composition. And unlike most of its rivals, the LFA had a front mounted engine – and it was a work of art. This 560bhp 4.8-litre V10 had one of the most distinctive exhaust notes in automotive history.

Lexus, as a means to amplify the acoustic experience, enlisted the help of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturer, Yamaha, to help with perfectly resonating the effects throughout the cabin for a more enjoyable driving experience.

The automaker opted for a V10 instead of a V8 due to the former’s ability to rev much higher and to allow for a more rapid engine response. In fact, Lexus stated that the engine needed just 0.6 seconds to rev from idle to its redline. That is why Lexus opted for a digital tachometer instead of a traditional analogue one, because the latter one, wouldn’t have been able to respond as quickly as required.

That said, we think it was just an excuse for its engineers and designers to build one of the most impressive and futuristic digital instrument display system that wouldn’t have looked out of place it been offered on more recent supercars.

Check out the video below from National Geographic for the full documentary on Lexus’ megafactory that was purposed for the limited run of 500 LFA vehicles:

https://youtu.be/9MMWJ7p5SZY?list=PLOpPNCMWcSwgW1hhQeHUh6ElmWnyJYkhB

The interior of the LFA, unlike that of a number of its competitors, was fitted with a combination of elegant and expensive materials befitting of a Lexus sedan. It’s switchgear was neatly laid out throughout the cabin, within the reach of the driver safe for the button that operates the rear spoiler. This button is located behind the driver’s seat – a very odd place indeed.

Each of the 500 LFA supercars, were hand built by a team of specialists in Toyota’s Motomatchi plant in Japan. And by the end of 2012, production ground to a halt after the 500th car rolled off the line. Lexus, was proud of what it had accomplished but has since stated that it is in no hurry to plan for a replacement to its state-of-the-art supercar.

But we hope that Lexus chooses to build something similar in the near future. Till then, check out this video by famous automotive journalist Doug Demuro to find out his take on the first true Japanese supercar and whether it really is worth the hype: