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Lamborghini's New V8, F1's Future Regulations, and Nissan's Cool Paint
Jordan Greer
August 08, 2024
Good morning, and welcome to the first issue of SpeedBites!
AUTO INDUSTRY NEWS
Lamborghini is set to break tradition with the successor to the Huracán, which will be the company's first turbocharged super-sports car and will feature a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The new car, which is expected to have an 800 horsepower, 4.0-liter engine and rev to over 10,000 rpm, will be unveiled during the upcoming Monterey Car Week and will join the Revuelto and the updated Urus SE in Lamborghini's hybrid-only range.
Ferrari's Q2 earnings report revealed strong sales of some of its vehicles, particularly the Purosangue SUV, while other models like the Roma and 812 Competizione have seen less interest. The Italian automaker plans to revise its lineup, retiring the SF90 Stradale and 812 GTS, while hinting at a continued focus on convertible models and a new hybrid V6 engine vehicle currently under development.
In response to a growing number of accidents caused by elderly drivers in Japan, the government is urging the automotive industry to develop new safety systems to prevent cars from driving in the wrong direction on major roads. The proposed technology could incorporate in-car satellite navigation, smartphones, roadside systems, and CCTV to identify and warn cars traveling in the wrong direction, as road fatalities involving drivers aged 65 or older now account for almost 55% of all traffic deaths.
Jaguar plans to discontinue its entire lineup except for the F-Pace SUV by the end of the year due to low profitability, shifting its focus to electric vehicles. Rawdon Glover, Jaguar's managing director, revealed that the brand will target affluent buyers with a high-end sales experience and edgier designs, starting with a four-door GT, and aims to enhance the buying and selling experience to justify higher prices and return to profitability.
VinFast's entry into the North American market has been fraught with challenges, from initial delays and changing business plans to the disappointing performance and quality issues of its first U.S. market car, the VF8 City Edition. Despite aggressive leasing incentives, the Vietnamese automaker has struggled to rebuild its reputation, with the VF8's high depreciation and quality problems making it a less attractive option than other EVs from established brands.
The Tata Curvv.ev, a new battery-electric SUV coupé from Tata, India's auto manufacturer, is priced around $20,000, significantly lower than the average price of an EV in America which is over $56,000. The Curvv.ev offers battery pack sizes of 45 and 55 kWh, providing a range of 205 to 264 miles, and comes with options for a 150 hp or 165 hp electric motor, as well as gasoline and diesel variants.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, despite its downsized 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, delivers an impressive performance with its hybrid system generating a total of 671 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque. The car offers a blend of luxury, aggressive styling, advanced technology, and versatile driving modes, including an electric mode for short distances, making it a top contender in the super sedan category.
Land Rover has introduced the Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, following the sold-out Edition One, with the same engine specs but minor tweaks including new paint options and premade combinations of colors and materials. The vehicle, which features a mild-hybrid version of the BMW twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, interlinked hydraulic suspension, and carbon fiber-backed power, climate-controlled and massaging seats, is available for purchase starting at $182,325.
Fiat's new Grande Panda EV, currently available in Europe and potentially coming to the U.S., features an integrated retractable coiling plug for charging, eliminating the need for a separate cable. The 7.4 kW charger, which is expected to be integrated into all future Fiat EVs, is suitable for L2 long-term charging and is designed to make charging more convenient for users at home or at work.
American EV manufacturer Rivian reported a net loss of $1.4 billion for Q1 2024, and $5.4 billion for the 2023 calendar year, despite a 9% increase in sales compared to the same period last year. In other news, Tesla is rolling out a software patch to address a fault in over 1.6 million cars sold in China, which failed to detect whether the car's hood was locked or not, posing a potential collision risk.
MOTORSPORT
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has indicated that the sport may see longer periods of stability between major rules changes after the next technical regulations change in 2026, with the need for technological advancement and ending dominance periods of cars being key reasons for changes. In other news, Red Bull has added two karting prospects, 14-year-old Scott Lindblom and 16-year-old Fionn McLaughlin, to its junior team, while former AlphaTauri F1 racer, Nyck de Vries, will compete in three upcoming rounds of the Japanese Super Formula championship.
Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch is set to race full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports in 2025 after a rapid rise in professional racing. Zilisch, who debuted in the Trans Am Series in 2021 and won five TA2 races in 2023, also has victories in the LMP2 class in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, three ARCA Menards Series wins, an ARCA East win, and a CARS Late Model Stock Tour victory to his name.
Adidas and Puma are vying for a major sponsorship deal with Audi's future F1 team, set to debut in 2026. While Adidas is reportedly in the lead for the $30 million-per-year deal, Puma, which already partners with Ferrari, remains a strong contender.
FUN STUFF
Nissan, in partnership with Chinese firm Radi-Cool, has developed a heat-reflecting paint that has been successfully tested on Nissan NV100 ground vehicles at Tokyo's Haneda airport, reducing the exterior temperature by 21.6 degrees Fahrenheit and the interior by up to 9 degrees. The paint, which uses metamaterials to reflect near-infrared rays and create electromagnetic waves that redirect heat, can be applied via a spray gun and includes a clear topcoat, but is currently six times thicker than regular automotive paint, posing a challenge for commercial use.
A 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with just one mile on the odometer is listed for sale at Vantage Auto in Moonachie, New Jersey, having been kept in climate-controlled storage by its previous three owners. Despite its showroom condition and a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine, the car's $79,990 price tag is nearly double its original cost of $42,640 in 2009.
Urban explorers from the YouTube channel Exploring the Unbeaten Path discovered a collection of vintage Volkswagen vehicles in an abandoned mine in Switzerland. The mine, believed to be associated with the Musée Volkswrecks, a VW museum in Switzerland, contained several models of VW Beetles, MK1 and MK2 Golfs, VW Polos, and a Passat, all showing signs of use and wear, with one vehicle registered for road use as recently as 2018.
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