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McLaren 570S Spider to be launched at Goodwood Festival of Speed

McLaren has unveiled the open top version of its venerable 570S, called the 570S Spider. According to the automaker, it offers the same high-performance dynamic attributes and refinement as the 570S Coupe but with an open-top experience.

The Spider will join the Coupe and GT variants of the 570S line-up in McLaren’s Sports Series product family after its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car will feature a retractable hardtop that incorporates the same technology used by the roofs of the 650S and 675LT Spiders. The car weighs 46kg more than the Coupe version, which is undoubtedly due to the extra structural reinforcement needed to compensate for the lack of a B and C pillar.

The roof takes just 15 seconds to open and close and will be able to do so at speeds of up to 40km/h. There’s also an electrically operated glazed rear window/wind deflector to ensure that occupants aren’t troubled by outside air flowing into the cabin. But, its extended rear spoiler is 12mm higher than that of the Coupe to compensate fro the change in body shape.

Like its Coupe brethren, the 570S Spider’s body is constructed from carbon fibre, has a mid-engine drivetrain layout and the typical McLaren dihedral doors.

Powering the car is the same 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 found in the Coupe and is mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox. The engine produces nearly 570bhp and 600Nm of torque, which allows the 570S Spider to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 328 km/h with the roof up (identical speed to Coupe) and 315km/h with the roof down.

The first 400 Spiders will be built as launch edition models, mimicking the same strategy used for the 720S when it was initially launched. The car is available to order now and is priced at £164,750 (RM893,769) and will also come in three new exterior colours which are Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow. In total, there will be 20 different body colours to choose from, which McLaren say will complement the car’s complex bodywork very well.

VW Camper worth RM490,671 to go under the hammer at Goodwood

One of the most valuable Type 2 VW camper vans in existence, which is worth £90,000 or RM490,671 will leave Windrush Car Storage (UK) for Goodwood where it will go under the hammer during the Goodwood Festive of Speed event.

Windrush is known for being a luxury spa for vehicles. There, automobiles are treated with the best care and detail service. Security is tight at the state-of-the-art Cotswold facility to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to these extremely valuable vehicles that are kept in a dehumidified and climate-controlled environment to maintain an optimum condition, which best suit their preservation despite the lengthy storage duration.

This Type 2 VW Camper was subjected to the very same treatment and has been kept in pristine condition at the facility for almost five years after its owner, Steve Quinn completed the vehicle’s meticulous restoration process.

Quinn acquired the rust-free, ex-California VW Camper in 2008. Back then, it didn’t have an engine and was in dire need of a makeover. Now, the vehicle has a new 100bhp 2.0-litre engine as well as a fully reworked interior that features wood paneling for the storage areas and chrome on the bumpers and rims and extensive white and blue paintwork.

There’s also modern tech features that include an Alpine surround sound system, DVD player and an internet connection. Since the completion of the restoration work, the vehicle has only traveled 2,897km, making it an extremely low mileage classic.

Regarding the storage of his beloved VW Camper, Quinn said, “The car was always kept in the very best condition and the team at Windrush even pointed out potential faults to ensure it continued running smoothly. I do love my Camper but it’s time to pass the torch. I’ll certainly be recommending Windrush to whoever is lucky enough to win at the auction!”

The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 29th June to 2nd July and will play host to a number of spectacular motoring events including a vehicle display that consists of a number of vintage and modern Formula One cars. Till then, take a look at this impressive collection of pictures of Quinn’s VW Camper.

Electric-powered trucks to serve in Deutsche Post delivery fleet

Delivery services in Germany are looking to alternative methods to power their trucks. Deutsche Post’s subsidiary StreetScooter GmbH and Ford-Werke GmbH have entered a partnership that will see the manufacture of electric-powered vehicles serve as delivery trucks.

Deutsche Post was part of a similar project involving a smaller sized van that they got to run electricity. For this project, a Ford Transit will serve as the base on which the new delivery truck will be built by utilizing an electric drive train and special body that will be constructed according to Deutsche Post and DHL Paket specifications.

Production of this type of vehicle will begin next month and by the time 2018 rolls to a close, atleast 2,500 of such vehicles would have been made to support the urban delivery traffic of Deutsche Post DHL Group. By that time, it will be the largest use of electric powered medium-duty delivery vehicles in Europe, which should pave the way for production of other such vehicles.

“I consider this partnership another important boost for electro-mobility in Germany”, says Jürgen Gerdes, member of the executive board of the Deutsche Post AG. “This step emphasises that Deutsche Post is an innovation leader. It will relieve the inner cities and increase the people’s quality of life. We will continue working on completely carbon neutral CO2-neutral logistics!”

Deutsche Post DHL Group and Ford share a common goal. That is, to guarantee a sustainable future by reducing emissions and creating new traffic solutions with their future vehicles. This partnership should help them achieve their goal and prove to the rest of the world, that electric power can serve as a viable alternative to that that utilise fossil fuels.

Bridgestone unveils the versatile ECOPIA EP300

Bridgestone Malaysia has unveiled their latest Passenger Radial ECOPIA EP300 tyre. The next generation tyre promises better fuel savings, high level grip even in the wet and long lasting which also means that the ECOPIA EP300 is eco friendly as well.

With the tagline “When You Want It All”, the latest generation in the ECOPIA tyre range delivers all-round performance which is perfect for consumers wanting that perfectly balanced tyre for the road.

The EP300 tyre is designed with low rolling resistance which in turn helps to improve your vehicle’s fuel consumption as well. Better fuel consumption also means that it can reduce the vehicle’s carbon footprint in the environment making it very eco-friendly. On average use, the EP300 promises an extra 11.2km distance travel per full tank of petrol when compared to the previous EP200.

“Most drivers desire a way to achieve better fuel efficiency that translates into fuel savings. However, despite how careful drivers can be on the accelerator, if a vehicle is not equipped with the optimum
eco-tyres, achieving good fuel efficiency and economy will be a challenge,” commented Tai Kawasaki, Managing Director of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Centre.

“With the new ECOPIA EP300, we aim to bring drivers the best possible return from their vehicles while allowing them to do their part for the environment, as lower rolling resistance brings reduced CO2 emissions.”

Another great feature of the EP300 tyre is its enhanced NanoPro-Tech with a new polymer designed for superior grip especially in the wet weather conditions. The new tread pattern offers higher contact area for better grip together with anti-hydroplaning performance for superior level of safety. While most tyres that offer superior grip sacrifices comfort, the EP300 offers the best of both worlds by providing better handling and reduced noise.

For those looking for that long-terms savings, you can rest easy with the ECOPIA EP300 which is design features like a new tread design to improve stiffness and increase the lifespan. New highlights like deeper lug length, round rib edge and chamfering sipe all promote longer lifespan with even wear and performance throughout the tyre’s lifespan.

There will be 13 different sizes available progressively in the Asia Pacific markets soon ranging from RM180 to RM450 (excluding GST). For more information, you may visit any of the authorised Bridgestone dealers near you.

Article by SEP IRRAN

Volkswagen gives us a sneak peak at the new Polo

Volkswagen has provided us with a sneak peak of what the new Polo will look like. It’s not much to go on but the picture does reveal some intricate details of the new car’s side profile. The rear lights are similar in shape to the current car but its innards are far more sophisticated and may feature LED type illumination system. The design appears somewhat familiar to those found on the current crop of Audi vehicles.

Dimensions wise, the changes are minimal at best, but based on what we can see with the side profile, the new car should feature a more angular silhouette and also incorporates more prominent contours than the vehicle it replaces.

Speaking of the new car, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design Volkswagen Brand, said “This Volkswagen can immediately be made out as the original of its class, but also as a completely new generation. A Polo with an expressive design which makes the compact sportier, cleaner and unique within the brand range. This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times – both visually and technologically.”

The brand new Volkswagen Polo will make its debut in Berlin this Friday, so stay tuned and we will bring you more as soon as we find out.

Geely tasks Polestar with churning out electric sports cars

Changes are a foot at Volvo, according to an article on Auto Express. Apparently, Volvo’s parent company, Geely, wants Polestar (Volvo’s performance arm), to build electric sports cars. It has plans to rival the might and appeal that Volkswagen has enjoyed these past few years.

The article states that Geely wants Polestar to take on a sportier role, sort of what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz. It also wants Polestar to be the face of its Motorsports arm, fielding championship winning vehicles that bear the Volvo name.

Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) and CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) will probably be the platfroms used as the base for the development of these upcoming performance vehicles. That said, we might not have to wait too long for these vehicles to be launch, because word has it that the first of them should hit showroom floors later this year.

The SPA platform underpins the current XC60, XC90, V90 and S90 vehicles with more to follow. And for a while now, the Swedish automaker has been very vocal about producing more and more vehicles with some form of electrification in its propulsion system with the use of the SPA and CMA platforms. And as such, the latest task that has been handed to Polestar, falls in line with Volvo’s current business plan, only Polestar’s creations will be more powerful versions.

Geely acquired Volvo from Ford Motor Company in 2010 for $1.8 billion (RM7.68 billion), a lot less than the latter paid for it in 1999. Since the acquisition, the Swedish marque seems to be flourishing especially in Asia, where the brand has seen in an increase in demand for Volvo branded vehicles.

Source: Auto Express