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Uber Introduces Lotus Eletre in London
Jordan Greer
October 24, 2024
Good morning, SpeedBites readers! Today’s edition includes the news that you might get a ride in the Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV if you book an Uber in London, and can win a decade of free trips too. As always, if you enjoy our daily dose of automotive wonders, feel free to share SpeedBites with friends who might love it too!
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY NEWS
Uber has partnered with Lotus to introduce a fleet of all-electric Eletre Hyper SUVs for rides in London, available through the Uber Green option until the end of November. To incentivize emissions-free travel, Uber is offering a decade of free rides to the customer who saves the most emissions during this promotional period.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has been driving a Chinese-made Xiaomi SU7 for six months, expressing admiration for its advanced technology and strong market demand, which has resulted in a six-month waiting list for the vehicle. His comments highlight the significant technological gap between American automakers and their Chinese counterparts, as well as concerns about the competitive threat posed by Chinese manufacturers to the U.S. automotive industry.
Fisker inadvertently hired a North Korean spy as part of a broader cyber espionage scheme, where the employee - posing as a remote IT worker - was linked to a money laundering operation funding North Korea's ballistic missile program. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in cybersecurity within the automotive industry, as over 300 U.S. companies were affected by a network of operatives using stolen identities to access sensitive data and extort companies.
Brabus has partnered with the Aura Blockchain Consortium to implement Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology in its Masterpiece vehicles starting with the 2025 model year, aiming to combat counterfeiting and enhance vehicle authenticity verification. The DPP will use NFC chips linked to a private blockchain, allowing owners to access important vehicle information and ownership credentials through a dedicated smartphone app.
The YangWang U8 SUV features a capability of floating in water for a short period of time, and can even use its tank-turn ability to maneuver while floating, allowing a driver to steer it and return to dry land if needed. In a recent demonstration, the U8 was shown driving in a controlled pool, showcasing these unique abilities, although water did enter the cabin during the process.
BMW is marking 30 years in Mexico with a limited edition M2 Coupe, the 30 Years Edition, which features exclusive paint options and a six-speed manual transmission, with only 30 units available solely in Mexico. Priced at approximately $107,650, the model includes enhancements such as 473 horsepower from a twin-turbo inline-six engine, adjustable bucket seats, and updated interior technology, and will be produced at BMW's San Luis Potosi facility.
Tesla has announced a new Supercharger project named 'Oasis' on Interstate 5, featuring 168 Superchargers, an 11 MW solar farm, and a 39 MWh Megapack battery system, allowing for minimal reliance on the grid. Despite previous commitments to integrate solar and battery systems at Supercharger stations, the majority have not implemented these features extensively, though Tesla is now prepared to expand capacity at the Oasis site if needed.
Stellantis plans to test solid-state batteries from its partner Factorial in a fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs by 2026, marking a significant step in the public use of this technology in automobiles. Solid-state batteries, which utilize a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one, promise higher energy densities, with Factorial's cells achieving up to 390 watt-hours per kilogram, compared to GM's 280 Wh/kg for similar cells.
Ferrari's design chief Flavio Manzoni revealed that F80 was initially designed as a single-seater, with a small cabin for just the driver. Ultimately, the F80 includes a passenger seat positioned slightly back to maintain a narrow cabin feel in what Ferrari terms a “1+1”, with press shots showing the seat in black to minimize its visual influence.
MINI has introduced the gasoline-powered John Cooper Works variant of the Cooper 3-Door (F66), marking a potential last generation for combustion engines in this model line. The new JCW offers performance metrics of 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, while its design includes notable changes like a center-exit exhaust and enhanced aerodynamics - but it exclusively features a dual-clutch automatic transmission
The Tesla Cybercab, unveiled recently, will not feature a charging port and will rely solely on wireless inductive charging, which Tesla claims can achieve over 90% efficiency. This decision raises concerns about practicality, as it limits the Cybercab's compatibility with existing Supercharger networks and may necessitate the development of new charging infrastructure.
MOTORSPORT
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has indicated that discussions regarding Oscar Piastri potentially moving from McLaren to Red Bull are becoming more likely, with Mark Webber actively seeking talks about his driver's future. This speculation arises amid McLaren's focus on Lando Norris and Red Bull's need to solidify its driver lineup, particularly as Sergio Perez's performance has waned.
The 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, taking place at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo, will feature 26 categories, including new events like Single Make GT and an F4-specific Esports race, expanding from six categories in its inaugural edition. With a focus on accessibility and youth participation, the event will include mixed-gender teams and lower entry fees, encouraging representation from a diverse range of countries and competitors.
Williams F1 has secured a £100 million capital injection by selling 100 million shares at a nominal value of £1, a move made during the break between the Singapore and United States Grands Prix. This financial boost underscores Dorilton Capital's long-term commitment to the team, which has seen significant investment since its acquisition in 2020, despite reporting increased losses of £84.2 million in its recent accounts.
Super Formula has confirmed that the planned race at Inje Speedium in South Korea for 2025 has been canceled due to unsuccessful negotiations, but it remains open to future discussions regarding the venue. Despite this setback, the series will feature its largest season to date with 12 races in 2025, and the organization is exploring options for additional overseas events in Asia to enhance its international presence.
The Jaguar and Nissan Formula E teams have received penalties for exceeding the series' cost cap during the 2022-23 season, with both teams required to miss three hours of testing in Valencia next month as part of their sanctions. Nissan was fined €300,000 for a 2% breach, while Jaguar faced a €100,000 penalty for a 0.6% infringement, with both teams acknowledging their violations as unintentional and agreeing to an Accepted Breach Agreement with the FIA.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the importance of maintaining team balance over enforcing team orders to benefit Lando Norris in his championship pursuit, particularly in light of recent controversies surrounding driver management. He acknowledged the challenges of managing two talented drivers, Oscar Piastri and Norris, while aiming for long-term success rather than short-term gains, highlighting the team's focus on collaboration and integrity.
Following the United States Grand Prix, drivers like Oscar Piastri have suggested that the Circuit of the Americas should implement more gravel traps to address track limit penalties, although Max Verstappen expressed skepticism about the practicality of this solution due to the venue's dual use for MotoGP events.
CURIOSITIES
A rare Lanzante-converted P1 GT, a unique, road-legal hybrid hypercar based on the track-only McLaren P1 GTR, has come up for sale. The P1 GT features extensive modifications, some of which echo the design of the original McLaren F1 “long tail”, with Lanzante having built four such vehicles from the 58 P1 GTRs produced.
NASCAR legend Bobby Allison has officially been recognized for his 85th career Cup Series win, which occurred 53 years ago during a mixed-field race where he drove a Grand American Ford Mustang and led 138 of 200 laps. This acknowledgment comes as Bowman Gray, the site of the controversial race, prepares to return to the Cup schedule in 2025, marking the first Cup event at the historic track since that race in 1971.
LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together, with Bronny contributing three minutes of game time. To commemorate the occasion, Nike released a lighthearted ad featuring the two, which includes a playful scene of LeBron pouring cereal into Bronny's Lamborghini Urus, showcasing both their personalities and the luxury cars associated with them.
The Airstream Der Kleine Prinz, a 13-foot trailer believed to be a prototype for the Bambi line, showcases a unique blend of compact design and functional features, including a bathroom and kitchen amenities. Currently on display at the RV/MH Hall of Fame museum, this one-off trailer highlights Airstream's history of innovation in creating smaller, practical travel options for enthusiasts.
BMW Group Classic has presented its preservation of an early E34 M5 sedan, believed to have been one of the very first “Ringtaxi” cars. This model, a 1992 version featuring a unique upholstery scheme and vintage graphics, represents a key part of the program that has allowed over 90,000 passengers to experience high-speed laps since its inception in 1986.
A race-ready, road legal BMW CSL Group 2 FIA competition car is available, eligible for historic racing series around the world. Originally built as a 1972 CS for the USA, the car was converted to CSL specifications in the UK in 2000 and has raced in various historic events in Europe. It only has five hours’ running time since its last rebuild and is offered in excellent condition with a comprehensive spares package.
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