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Mercedes-AMG Vision AMG Ev Concept

Vision AMG show car offers glimpse of all-electric future of Mercedes-AMG

Dedicated AMG.EA architecture for all-electric AMG models forms basis for extraordinary study

Affalterbach/Nice.  Spectacular proportions defined by a long wheelbase and emphasised by short overhangs, powerful shoulders, large wheels, a distinctive rear spoiler and star-shaped headlamp signature – the Vision AMG makes an emotional statement from every perspective.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

This extraordinary show car from Mercedes-AMG offers a glimpse of the all-electric future of AMG Driving Performance. Beneath the breath‑taking exterior design of the four-door coupé is the equally extraordinary dedicated AMG.EA platform, which is currently under development in Affalterbach for all-electric performance models.

“AMG is reinventing itself. As was once the case with our founding fathers, there has been an amazing feeling of new beginnings here in Affalterbach for quite some time now. The course has been well and truly set for an electrified future, and we’ve set the bar high. That’s because our customers expect something very special from all-electric cars. We have already well and truly proven our expertise in this regard with the SLS AMG Electric Drive, our own E PERFORMANCE hybrid technology and the first Mercedes-EQ derivatives. With this study, we are now offering a first glimpse of how we are transferring the AMG DNA into the all‑electric future, starting in 2025. Gorden and his team are pointing the way from a visual perspective with this extraordinary design. At AMG, we have always stood for that extra shot of emotion, driving fun, handling, ingenious aerodynamic features and other innovative solutions. And that’s what we continue to stand for with our first BEV developed entirely in Affalterbach. We’re developing everything from scratch, from the dedicated AMG.EA platform to the revolutionary drivetrain technology with which we will take performance electric mobility to a whole new level,” says Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

“The Vision AMG shows in spectacular style what electrification could look like at Mercedes-AMG, while staying true to the brand aesthetic. The study’s extreme proportions create fascination and passion for performance – that’s what AMG is all about. The Vision AMG is an impressive embodiment of the brand’s dual polarity – the interplay of beauty and the extraordinary.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nizza: Vision AMG

At the same time, elements from the future, such as the light signatures with the illuminated high-tech grille, underscore the progressive evolution of our design language of Sensual Purity,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “With its contrasting modern surfacing and radical proportions, this car showcases the next design step, building on the VISION EQXX and moving further towards performance luxury. The seamless flow of beautifully formed surfaces and the monolithic sculpture complete the powerful aesthetic of the Vision AMG. The result is an electric supercar, a style icon that stimulates desire – and that’s exactly what sets a luxury sports car apart.”

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nizza: Vision AMG

Monolithic sculpture and radical proportions

The concept car is characterised by flowing, beautifully formed surfaces. Joints and shut lines are reduced to a minimum, and the rear and side windows are painted in the same Alubeam silver as the car itself. The result is an overall look that reinforces the impression of a monolithic sculpture.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

The sporty proportions are particularly evident from the side, and are defined by the technical layout – long wheelbase, sharply raked A-pillar positioned far forward, short front overhang and slightly longer, aerodynamically optimised rear overhang. It clearly expresses the design language of Sensual Purity with distinctive sports car cues such as the widely flared wheel arches and broad, muscular shoulders at the rear.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

The graceful greenhouse is integrated into the flowing overall form and blends seamlessly into the low-lying silhouette. The roof tapers as its line drops elegantly towards the rear, flowing directly into the rear spoiler. The overall effect is a visually fascinating and aerodynamically advantageous teardrop form, not unlike that of the VISION EQXX. The sensual surfacing and the powerfully defined sculpture are representative of the hallmark Mercedes design language. Similarly, the brand’s aspiration to the extraordinary is realised through the radical proportions and sharply chiselled shark nose. The Vision AMG is thus an impressive example of the dual polarity of the brand’s design approach embracing “Beauty & the Extraordinary”.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

The sharply angled tear-off edge at the rear incorporates an active spoiler, elongating the side view while at the same time improving the aerodynamics. It is framed by a precisely cut band of light that accommodates a variety of different light installations, providing an effective contrast with the large black AMG logo on the rear of the car.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nizza: Vision AMG
Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nice: Vision AMG

Breathtaking technology for hallmark performance

The technology of the Vision AMG tributes the spectacular design in many ways. All of its drivetrain components are developed entirely from scratch: not only the AMG.EA platform itself, but also the dedicated high-performance high-voltage battery and the revolutionary drive technology. The powerful heart of the Vision AMG is its innovative Axial Flux Motor developed by Mercedes-Benz’ wholly owned subsidiary YASA. With its compact and lightweight design it delivers substantially more power than conventional electric motors.

Closed-off AMG grille with illuminated bars

The AMG-specific grille with vertical bars is retained as a distinctive brand feature – despite the fact that an all-electric drivetrain does not require a classic radiator at the front. The high-tech development of the grille is therefore closed off, painted in body colour and fully integrated into the front end. As the visual focal point, the grille emphasises the futuristic look of the Vision AMG with its illuminated bars and three-dimensional exterior contour. The three-pointed star is positioned prominently on the bonnet – as on the Mercedes‑AMG Project ONE.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nizza: Vision AMG

Extraordinary star-shaped light signature

The headlamp light signature points directly into the future. Three LED elements form a stylised, three‑dimensional Mercedes star, ensuring the Mercedes and AMG branding is immediately apparent and unmistakable by night and day. The two headlamps are visually connected via the horizontal band of light above the grille. This light band can display a variety of animations – ranging from a welcome signature to constant light.

The round lights at the rear have a light design that is new yet familiar. On each side, three LED rings are positioned in cylindrical tubes. Here, too, small stars offer a nod to the Mercedes brand. By way of contrast, the expressive rear diffuser is painted deep black.

Design Essentials IV – The Art of Creating Desire, 2022, Nizza: Vision AMG

Connection to Formula 1 through form and colour cues

The direct connection to the successful Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team is evident in further visual details. These include the silver paintwork with a large-format star pattern across the shoulders and rear wings, functional elements in exposed carbon-fibre, the aerodynamic design of the 22-inch wheels with aero claddings, the AMG logo and elements on the sills and diffuser in the Petronas colours.

The sporty high-tech seamless design and the breath-taking proportions give the Vision AMG a futuristic character. The four-door configuration also makes clear that the show car offers a taste of a functional all‑electric sports car of the future. Despite the battery pack in the floor of the car between the axles, the study sits considerably lower than the EQS and, thanks to its intelligently designed interior floor, offers plenty of space for four.

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RM Sotheby’s | The Most Valuable Car in the World Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold

RM Sotheby’s | The Most Valuable Car in the World Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé soldfor an all-time record price of 135 million EUR to establish “Mercedes-Benz Fund”

  • All time record: One of two ultra-rare original 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection has been auctioned for 135 million EUR to a private collector, making it the most valuable car of all time.
  • Using this value to drive change: The proceeds will be used to establish a worldwide “Mercedes Benz Fund” that will provide educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation for young people.

Stuttgart.  A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé from 1955 has been sold at auction for a record price of 135 million EUR to a private collector. This icon of automotive history is an absolute rarity – one of just two prototypes built at the time. Named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design by automotive experts and enthusiasts worldwide.

“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning – to benefit a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship programme. With the “Mercedes-Benz Fund” we would like to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut’s innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonisation and resource preservation,” says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: A Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world.”

Historische Aufnahmen des legendären Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.

“As a global company and as a luxury brand we bear a great level of responsibility towards society,” says Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity and Legal Affairs, who is responsible for the governance of the “Mercedes-Benz Fund“. “The proceeds from the sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our commitment with a long-term flagship project: We will establish the global scholarship programme “Mercedes-Benz Fund” supporting young people in their studies, commitment and actions towards a more sustainable future. We are convinced that access to education in these areas will be crucial in encountering the great challenges of our time and contribute to greater stability, prosperity and social cohesion.”

Ola Källenius, Vorsitzender des Vorstands der Mercedes-Benz Group AG und Renata Jungo Brüngger, Mitglied des Vorstands der Mercedes-Benz Group AG für Integrität und Recht vor dem Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé bei „The Economics of Desire“ an der Côte d’Azur

Seed capital for scholarship programmes from proceeds

The proceeds from the auction of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé serve as seed capital for the global initiative. Mercedes-Benz is committed to investing additional resources in the coming years. The “Mercedes Benz Fund” will be divided into two sub-categories: University Scholarships in order to connect, educate and encourage students to realize/conduct research on environmental science projects and School Scholarships focussing on pupils to realize local environmental projects in their communities. The programme funds will be directed to individuals who otherwise do not have the financial means for their projects and career paths. The programme will go beyond financially supporting the young people and include extracurricular elements like Mercedes-Benz mentorships opening up new career prospects. The “Mercedes Benz Fund” will be jointly developed with and managed by an experienced partner which is currently being evaluated. The detailed set-up and roll-out planning as well as the partner organisation will be announced later this year.

Das Motiv zeigt eines der beiden 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés zusammen mit dem Erfinder Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Dieses Fahrzeug ist im Mercedes-Benz Museum ausgestellt.

History and auction of 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

The sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé took place on May 5th at an auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in cooperation with renowned auctioneer RM Sotheby’s. The invitees were among selected Mercedes-Benz customers and international collectors of cars and art, who share the corporate values of Mercedes-Benz. The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold at auction was part of the non-public vehicle collection belonging to Mercedes-Benz Classic, comprising more than 1100 automobiles from the invention of the automobile in 1886 until today.

“We are proud that we can contribute with our historical collection to this initiative connecting the past with the future of engineering and decarbonisation technology”, says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes Benz Heritage. “The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupé remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.“

Offert-Zeichnung zu dem wertvollsten Auto der Welt: Das Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.
Quotation drawing of the most valuable car in the world: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.

The special circumstances behind its creation, its unique design and its innovative technology have endowed the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé with a remarkable level of mystique that endures to this day. The design of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé set benchmarks that put it among the world’s most significant automotive icons – not least on account of its distinctive “gullwing” doors. Added to this is the outstanding performance delivered by its thoroughbred racing technology. Together, both have secured the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé its acclaimed position in sports car mythology and a very special place in the hearts of Mercedes fans around the world.

More information about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé is available in our web special.

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HEESEN 80m full-aluminium PROJECT COSMOS approaches completion – The Boat Show

HEESEN 80m full-aluminium PROJECT COSMOS approaches completion – The Boat Show

 An exclusive journey to Oss, in The Netherlands, to visit Heesen Shipyard and discover Project Cosmos (superyacht Galactica) in construction. At 80.07 metres, 1,700 Gross Tons and with a top speed of 29 knots, Heesen Project Cosmos will be the world’s largest and fastest full-aluminium motoryacht.

Interview with: Arjan Veldman, Project Coordinator, Heesen Yachts; Jan Kamstra, Chief Engineer – Galactica; Bob Van Zundert, Yard Captain – Heesen Yachts. Location: Oss, The Netherlands By Justin Ratcliffe The Boat Show 2022
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces a new expression for Phantom Series II

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM: A NEW EXPRESSION

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces a new expression for Phantom Series II. Adaptations to the eighth-generation Phantom include ‘light-touch’ visual and aesthetic enhancements in line with client requests and feedback.

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces a new expression for Phantom Series II
  • Adaptations to the eighth-generation Phantom include ‘light-touch’ visual and aesthetic enhancements in line with client requests and feedback
  • New ‘Rolls-Royce Connected’ feature seamlessly links Phantom with the marque’s private members’ Application, Whispers
  • Launch is commemorated with a new Bespoke masterpiece, Phantom Platino

“Phantom occupies an unrivalled position at the very apex of the luxury world. As our pinnacle product, it represents the very best of Rolls-Royce design, engineering and craftsmanship – a perfect blend of vision, creativity, the finest materials, skill, patience and precision.

With Phantom Series II, we have retained and carefully protected everything our clients love about this superlative and luxurious item; subtle, yet meaningful enhancements reflect their evolving tastes and requirements.

“Phantom has always been viewed as the ‘best car in the world’: our Bespoke capabilities mean that, for our clients, it can be the best car for their world, too.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce products enjoy an expansive lifetime, ultimately becoming timeless expressions of good taste, beauty and luxurious perfection. Phantom occupies a unique, pinnacle position in this regard, being revered for its timeless elegance.

The eighth-generation of Phantom was presented in 2017. In creating the new expression, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers have been guided by the requests of clients, who have implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motor car. In answer to these client demands, only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations have been incorporated. Indeed, it is not about what should be changed, but in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

A NEW EXPRESSION

The most obvious and important feature to be retained is Phantom’s commanding presence. This has been further enhanced by a new polished horizontal line between the daytime running lights above the Pantheon Grille. This gives Phantom a new and assertive modernity, reflecting its driver-focused character.

A subtle geometric change to the Pantheon Grille makes the ‘RR’ Badge of Honour and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot more prominent when viewed from the front. The grille itself is now illuminated, a feature debuted and popularised in Ghost. The headlights are graced with intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, creating a visual connection with the Starlight Headliner inside, and adding further surprise and delight to Phantom’s night-time presence.

Phantom’s side profile retains Rolls-Royce’s signature short front and long rear overhang, long wheelbase and broad c-pillar, the latter giving greater privacy for occupants. The silhouette preserves the elegant key lines running from the Spirit of Ecstasy to the tapering rear tail. The ‘split-belt’ line begins at the front fender and curves gently towards the rear door, emphasising the car’s long dash-to-axle proportions, before falling gently towards the lantern-like rear lamps. The heavily undercut ‘waft line’ creates a strong shadow, visually signalling the marque’s unequalled ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.

The side profile is further enhanced with a suite of new wheels. A 3D, milled, stainless steel wheel with triangular facets is available to commission in a fully or part-polished finish. Alternatively, Phantom may be graced with a truly elegant disc wheel, recalling the romance of 1920’s Rolls-Royce motor cars. This disc wheel is produced in both polished stainless steel and black lacquer, perfectly encapsulating the sense of flight on land.

Responding to Phantom clients who have previously requested a darkened chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers, these may now be commissioned. This aesthetic now enables Rolls-Royce to transform Phantom into the lightest of light or the darkest of dark appearances.

Phantom’s sumptuous interior remains almost unaltered: the steering wheel has been made slightly thicker, providing a more connected and immediate point of contact for the owner-driver.

Phantom and Phantom Extended have distinct characters of their own, representing two different seats of power. Phantom is now predominantly favoured by the ever-increasing number of clients wishing to be in the driving seat themselves. For those preferring to command the road from the rear seat, Phantom Extended offers the definitive super-luxurious chauffeur-driven experience.

ROLLS-ROYCE CONNECTED

Now, Phantom includes the debut of ‘Rolls-Royce Connected’. This enables the owner to send an address directly to the motor car from Whispers, the Rolls-Royce private-members’ Application, providing seamless navigation to an event, restaurant, dealership or even the Home of Rolls-Royce itself.

‘Rolls-Royce Connected’ also displays the motor car’s location, security status and current ‘health’ condition on Whispers; at the touch of a button, the owner can contact a preferred dealership for any servicing requirements or information about the car.

THE ‘POLES OF LUXURY’

As the marque’s pinnacle product, Phantom attracts an elite stratum of Rolls-Royce clients. Established and successful, at the top of their field and often in the public eye, these are determined and demanding people. It is no coincidence that Phantom attracts the most ambitious and challenging Bespoke commissions ever undertaken by Rolls-Royce.

The resulting creations − each an artistic masterpiece in its own right − illustrate a broader truth: since its inception, Phantom has always been whatever the client wants it to be; not only the ‘best car in the world’, but the best car for them and their world.

Self-evidently, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ Phantom client. Spanning the ‘poles of luxury’, they may be ever-younger or older, modern or traditional, self-made or from long-established wealth. Their commissions reflect a full spectrum of interests and influences. At one extreme, Phantom takes on a subversive, almost rebellious character – youthful, dynamic and daring. At the other, Phantom transforms into an ode to luxury grandeur and timelessness.

The challenge of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective is to accommodate this vast expanse of client characteristics and desires in one pinnacle product. The eighth-generation Phantom has thus been deliberately designed to offer a ‘blank canvas’ for Bespoke personalisation, capable of becoming whatever the client wishes it to be, and a true reflection of their individual style and character.

Phantom’s great strength and appeal is that it allows clients to position themselves anywhere between these ‘poles of luxury’, defining luxury on their own terms. And wherever that point happens to lie, they have the assurance that Phantom itself is − technically, materially, aesthetically and dynamically − still the ‘best car in the world’.

PHANTOM PLATINO: THE RETURN OF FINE TEXTILES

To mark the introduction of Phantom Series II and to illustrate Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke capability, the marque has created a new Bespoke masterpiece, Phantom Platino, named after the silver-white finish of the coveted and precious metal, platinum.

Phantom Platino continues Rolls-Royce’s exploration into fabric interiors, a story which began in 2015 with the launch of Serenity, a truly Bespoke Phantom with a hand-painted, hand-embroidered silk interior. Heralding the next step in this significant journey, Phantom Platino introduces materials other than leather, an area of exploration for Rolls-Royce and a move that demonstrates a greater acceptance of alternative interior upholsteries.

Echoing the marque’s formative days, the front seats of Phantom Platino are finished in fine Rolls-Royce leather, while those in the rear are upholstered in fabric.

The beautiful tone-on-tone of Platino’s interior is achieved by combining two differing fabrics; one created in an Italian mill for its durable yet luxurious appearance, the other derived from bamboo fibres, selected for its lustrous finish.

Both materials share an original repeating pattern based on an abstract interpretation of the Spirit of Ecstasy. In the silken textile, the design is smaller and woven into the fabric to create a more visually stimulating finish. It also appears in Phantom’s Gallery, right in the occupant’s line of sight, and on key touchpoints such as the armrest and centre console. The bamboo fabric is embroidered with larger icons, presenting a tufted appearance commonly found in interior design. This more resilient material is placed on the lower elements of the interior where they will need to withstand most contact.

The same design also appears on Phantom’s dashboard timepiece. The surround is made from a 3D printed ceramic, a truly contemporary execution of a traditional material. Set into an iced finish woodset, the tonal properties of the interior take Phantom to a beautiful and unsurpassed level of opulence.

The largest canvas in Phantom is the Starlight Headliner. In a unique design created especially for Rolls-Royce Platino, the ‘stars’ are placed to draw the eye rearwards, with whimsical shooting stars following the sweeping arc of the pattern.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, says, “We are acutely conscious of our clients’ esteem for and love of their Phantoms. They felt it could not be improved; but while naturally respecting that view, we believe it is always possible, indeed necessary, to gently go further in our pursuit of absolute perfection.

“The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing’.”

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

  • Phantom Series II: NEDC combined: CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg / 15.1 l/100km. WLTP combined: CO2 emissions: 351-362 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.7-18.2 mpg / 15.5-16.0 l/100km.
  • Phantom Extended Series II: NEDC combined: CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg / 15.1 l/100km. WLTP combined: CO2 emissions: 353-365 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.4-18.1 mpg / 15.6-16.2 l/100km.
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Lucid Announces New Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance Model with 1,050 Horsepower
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Lucid Air Grand Touring Has Arrived | Lucid Air | Lucid Motors

Lucid Announces New Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance Model with 1,050 Horsepower

  • Lucid Air Grand Touring customer deliveries already in progress; deliveries of new Grand Touring Performance model begin June 2022
  • New Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance delivers 1,050 horsepower, accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds
  • Lucid Air Grand Touring rated at 819 horsepower, surpassing an earlier estimate of 800, accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds
  • With an EPA-estimated range of up to 516 miles – or 4.6 miles of driving range per kilowatt hour – Lucid Air Grand Touring leads the entire EV industry in efficiency

NEWARK, CA — 2022 — Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), setting new standards with the longest-range, fastest-charging electric car on the market, announced today that it has begun customer deliveries of Lucid Air Grand Touring and that it will introduce a new version of Lucid Air, the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.

Introducing the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
The Lucid Air Grand Touring will soon be joined by an exciting new version of the Air: the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance. With 1,050 horsepower, the dual-motor Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance is the most powerful electric vehicle currently available in North America – and with an EPA-estimated driving range of 446 miles, still more than any other brands’ electric vehicles, it doesn’t compromise. Two of Lucid’s proprietary electric motors – one at each axle – propel the Air Grand Touring Performance from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.6 seconds. It will have an MSRP of $179,000 and customer deliveries in the U.S. are slated to begin in June 2022. In Canada, the Air Grand Touring Performance will be priced at $242,000 CAD (before taxes), with deliveries beginning in August 2022.

“Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance answers the strong demand we continue to see for higher-performance versions of the Lucid Air,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group. “The remarkable speed with which we are able to conceive and bring this model to market is possible only because of Lucid’s high degree of vertical integration and in-house production of our proprietary EV powertrain and battery pack technology.

Customer Deliveries Have Already Commenced for Grand Touring
The retail launch of the Lucid Air Grand Touring model range signifies a major milestone in Lucid’s growth, as it is the first production series to be introduced following the sold-out Lucid Air Dream Edition, limited to 520 units.

“Lucid Air Grand Touring epitomizes the promise of the Lucid brand – a triumvirate of industry-leading range and efficiency, stellar driving dynamics, and luxurious interior space,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group. “This unparalleled fusion of attributes is the product of Lucid’s groundbreaking in-house technology, exemplified by our miniaturized drive units with unrivaled power density and race-proven 900V+ battery and power architecture.”

Features
Both the Air Grand Touring and the Air Grand Touring Performance are fully equipped to deliver a world-class experience for drivers and passengers.

Standard equipment for both models includes:

  • Glass Canopy spanning windshield to roof
  • Elegant and intuitive Lucid UX with 34-inch floating Glass Cockpit and 5K resolution
  • Extensive over-the-air software update capability
  • DreamDrive Pro, Lucid’s advanced driver assistance system, with 30+ features and future-ready hardware including the first automotive LIDAR in North America
  • 21-speaker Surreal Sound immersive audio system with Dolby Atmos compatibility
  • Intelligent Micro Lens Array LED Headlights, a solid-state system developed in-house by Lucid
  • Heated and ventilated front seats with massage
  • Soft-close doors, power opening/closing trunk and frunk
  • Ultra-fast 900V+ charging system, enabling users to add up to 300 miles in 21 minutes at a 350 kW DC fast charger, as demonstrated in recent independent media tests

Exterior Colors and Wheels
The Air Grand Touring and Grand Touring Performance are offered in a palette of carefully curated exterior colors: Stellar White, Infinite Black, Cosmos Silver, Quantum Grey, and Zenith Red.

Both Grand Touring versions come standard with 21-inch wheels and Pirelli tires specially developed for Lucid. The Grand Touring Performance features a new wheel design for Lucid, a 21-inch Aero Sport wheel. The Air Grand Touring is also available with 19-inch Aero range wheels with all-season tires.

Interior Themes Inspired by California
The Air Grand Touring and Air Grand Touring Performance are available with four interior themes, each evoking a sense of place in Lucid’s design home in California:

Santa Cruz
Taking cues from the solar noon sunshine in Santa Cruz, this beautiful contrast of light and dark features Nappa Full-Grain Leather in Lucid Black and Ceramic with North American Walnut trim and Alcantara inserts.

Tahoe
Drawing on the dramatic hues of gold and orange as the sun sets behind the lake and mountains of Tahoe, this interior features Nappa Full-Grain and Premium Natural Grain Leather in Lucid Black and Saddle with Carbon Oak Trim.

Mojave
Inspired by the rich backdrop of the dark desert night, Mojave features Nappa full-grain and premium natural grain leather in Lucid Black and Graphite with Carbon Oak trim.

Mojave PurLuxe (Later availability)
PurLuxe leather alternative in Lucid Black and Graphite with Carbon Oak trim and Alcantara inserts.

About Lucid Group 
Lucid’s mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company’s first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that features luxurious full-size interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint. Underpinned by race-proven battery technology and proprietary powertrains developed entirely in-house, Lucid Air was named the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year®. Customer deliveries of Lucid Air, which is produced at Lucid’s new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, are underway.

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Garmin announces availability of TXi EIS for select Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft
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Garmin announces availability of TXi EIS for select Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft

Garmin announces availability of TXi EIS for select Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft

State-of-the-art TXi EIS upgrade can further modernize King Air 200 series cockpits

OLATHE, Kan./April 14, 2022 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced that expanded engine monitoring capability is now available for select Beechcraft King Air 2001 aircraft with the addition of the TXi™ Engine Indication System (EIS) display. King Air 200 owners and operators will benefit from TXi EIS with features like engine timers, exceedance recordings, dynamic engine indications, as well as wireless data logging, which combine to reduce pilot workload, improve engine efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. The King Air 200 certification builds on Garmin’s full portfolio of EIS solutions, which span from standalone options like the GI 275 EIS for piston single engines to the latest TXi EIS solution for twin turboprops.

Garmin announces availability of TXi EIS for select Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft

Garmin announces availability of TXi EIS for select Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft

Enhancements and capabilities with TXi EIS

King Air 200 series owners and operators can now replace aging and costly-to-replace EIS gauges with a modernized display and view EIS information on a dedicated 7-inch TXi flight display in portrait mode. This upgrade simplifies the cockpit and allows pilots to read and analyze critical engine and fuel parameters more clearly. When using multiple TXi displays, pilots can also benefit from display backup capability to help prevent the loss of PFD or EIS information during a single-display failure.

Clearer engine indications for easier operation

All TXi EIS gauge indications display real-time turbine engine information using distinct colors, bands and radials to clearly depict normal operating ranges as well as limitations so pilots can more easily interpret engine data at a glance. Additional standard gauges include oil pressure and temperature as well as fuel flow and electrical system status.

Limit timers and exceedance recordings

Utilizing gauge limit timers, TXi EIS helps pilots maintain the engine within its allowed limits to avoid engine exceedances and as a result, costly maintenance procedures. For example, once a preconfigured limit is exceeded, a countdown timer is displayed alongside the engine gauge. This timer is an indication to the pilot that they need to mitigate the exceedance. If the time-based limit is exceeded, the timer and gauge limits begin flashing and the pilot receives a notification that an exceedance has been recorded. Simultaneously, the TXi EIS system automatically logs a variety of information, including the parameter that was exceeded, duration, highest value that was recorded, time, date and more. The pilot can then review the logged data and share it with maintenance professionals for post-flight analysis.

Add precision to fuel planning

Pilots can more precisely monitor fuel calculations with TXi EIS, which includes an integrated fuel computer. After making a fuel stop, pilots can enter the fuel data within TXi EIS by selecting “full fuel” or by adding a specified amount in pounds, gallons, liters or kilograms. When airborne, the system monitors fuel flow and GPS information to estimate fuel range, endurance and how much fuel is expected to be available at the destination airport.

Wireless flight data logging

To assist with tracking maintenance activities, controlling operating costs and analyzing overall engine health, built-in engine data logging is included with TXi EIS. Aircraft performance, engine data and any exceedances that are recorded during a flight are automatically stored on an SD card (sold separately) in the display. When the TXi EIS display is paired with the Flight Stream 510 wireless gateway, information is wirelessly transferred and stored within the Garmin Pilot™ app and automatically uploaded to the flyGarmin® website. Engine and flight cycles are also recorded to help identify aircraft systems that depend on those limits, such as pressurization systems and other life-limited parts.

The Beechcraft King Air 200 is the latest addition to the growing list of approved turbine aircraft for    TXi EIS, which includes: the Cessna 208/208B, Cessna 425, Cheyenne I & II, Daher TBM 700/850, King Air 90, Pilatus PC-12/47, and the Piper PA-46-310SP/350P JetPROP single-engine turbo aircraft. For additional information, visit garmin.com/TXi or contact a local Garmin authorized dealer.

Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots, aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Garmin was the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, the world’s first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual Newsroom, email our press team, connect with @garminaviation on social media, or follow our adventures at garmin.com/blog.

1Models include PT6A-41 and -42 engines and retrofitted PT6A-42, -52 and -61 STCs; dedicated GDU 700P required

###

About Garmin International, Inc.

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and flyGarmin are registered trademarks and TXi and Garmin Pilot are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2021, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0001-411180). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Inspired by Light: Bugatti Reveals Two Bespoke Sur Mesure Creations
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Inspired by Light: Bugatti Reveals Two Bespoke Sur Mesure Creations

Inspired by Light: Bugatti Reveals Two Bespoke Sur Mesure Creations

Bugatti’s official Sur Mesure customization program, launched in 2021, offers an entirely new level of customer personalization. Today, two of the program’s latest bespoke commissions are uncovered.

The way the precisely designed body panels of the marque’s hyper sports cars reflect light continues to be a source of creative inspiration. Whether it be under a vibrant light tunnel within the Atelier as the automobiles undergo an extensive paint quality inspection, or under the dappled light of a setting sun between palm tree branches, the shapes and patterns that naturally emerge are striking. However, no paint finish is identical – each is individually applied and unique to every vehicle.

One of the very first Chiron Super Sport units to be handed over to its new owner draws from this unique source of inspiration. The “Vagues de Lumière” is hand-painted in a base California Blue finish, and is enveloped by light-sculpted lines in Arancia Mira applied over the course of many weeks. The hyper sports car’s horseshoe grill proudly features the number 38 at the owner’s request, and is completed with further fine details including Arancia Mira magnesium wheels and engine bay lettering. The Arancia Mira theme again flows into the luxurious, leather-filled cabin. The Chiron Super Sport is the ultimate luxury Grand Tourisme, designed for effortless cross-continental journeys in opulent luxury, while remaining perfectly composed at its top speed of 440 km/h thanks to its unique longtail silhouette.

Exiting the Atelier alongside the Chiron Super Sport is a Chiron Pur Sport, also featuring its own unique light-inspired hand-painted artwork. With exposed Blue Carbon bodywork, Nocturne stripes encircle the bodywork. The Tricolor – the national flag of France – adorns each of the rear wing end plates, as the number “9” is painted on the horseshoe grill in French Racing Blue at the front of the hyper sports car. Inside the opulent cabin, the theme continues with a leather color split of Beluga Black and French Racing Blue. The Chiron Pur Sport, with its high downforce bodywork and modified powertrain for optimum acceleration, is the most agile Bugatti ever created. In its element upon twisting, narrow mountain roads, the connection between driver and road is unbreakable.

The intricate process of creating these extraordinary paint schemes takes around five weeks, beginning with the creation of a number of 2D shapes, which must be applied to the car’s 3D surfaces with millimeter-perfection. Bugatti craftspeople then hand-paint layer upon layer of contrasting color to develop a deep color pattern to create the illusion of light reflection. Once complete, the paint is then secured with a number of layers of clearcoat.

In 2011, Bugatti revealed the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport L’Or Blanc in partnership with the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin. Recreating the way natural reflections on the bodyshell “flow” over the car, hand-painted lines were applied to the Veyron’s sweeping curves in a powerful Blue shade. Later in 2019, Bugatti produced the Chiron ‘Zebra 1 of 1’ in a unique Titanic Blue and Gunpowder Grey theme painted over three weeks and also inspired by natural light.

Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti, said: “The ‘Vague de Lumiére’ paintwork applied to these two examples of our hyper sports cars embodies Bugatti’s fundamental philosophies; craftsmanship, innovation and heritage. We are always striving to enhance the Bugatti customer experience, from point of enquiry through to final handover and aftersales services, to levels never before offered in the automotive world. I’m truly excited to witness what our customers, alongside the Sur Mesure team, create in the years to come”.

The Sur Mesure Experience

Translated as “tailored”, Bugatti Sur Mesure builds upon the marque’s distinguished history of coachbuilding, handcrafted interiors, paint finishes, embroidery and bodywork, gathering the collective expertise of its skilled designers and engineers to form a brand-new program to meet growing customer demand for ultra-customized designs, materials and finishes.

As part of the official program, with one-to-one support from the Bugatti Sur Mesure Team, customers will be guided through the world of possibilities open to them. When configuring a Bugatti, the sheer number of exterior colors and leather finishes is nearly unlimited, but for those who wish to take a further step and create a truly unique piece of personalized automotive art, Bugatti Sur Mesure is at their disposal. From initial design concept through to vehicle production and final handover, customers will receive the full Molsheim experience.

 

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Austin Healey
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HEALEY BY CATON – Iconic sports car evolved for the modern age by new luxury British brand

HEALEY BY CATON – Iconic sports car evolved for the modern age by new luxury British brand

  • Ultra-exclusive reincarnation of the iconic Austin-Healey 100 launched by
    all-new luxury British brand, Caton
  • Healey by Caton features a unique combination of state-of-the-art design and traditional craftsmanship techniques, bringing this revered sports car up to date
  • Precision visual and performance enhancements result in a true driver’s car: an immersive, intoxicating and highly emotional experience
  • 25 examples will be hand-built by Caton in Coventry, UK
  • Caton occupies a unique position in the luxury marketplace combining OEM-grade design and engineering with traditional handcrafting skills
  • Global public debut at Salon Privé London 21-23 April, before exhibiting at a range of events in the UK including upcoming Bicester Scramble! on 24 April
  • Website: uk

Coventry, 13 April 2022 – All-new luxury British brand Caton reveals its first creation: an ultra-exclusive reincarnation of the iconic Austin-Healey 100 sports car. Featuring a unique combination of OEM-grade design and engineering with traditional craftsmanship techniques, Healey by Caton brings the revered sports car up to date.

Featuring precision visual and performance enhancements, wholly in keeping with the ethos of the original car, Healey by Caton is a true driver’s car: an immersive, intoxicating and highly emotional experience. It will be extremely rare too, with a very limited run set of 25 cars to be hand-built in Coventry. The Healey by Caton will make its global public debut at the upcoming Salon Privé London event from 21-23 April, held at Royal Hospital Chelsea. The team and car will announce a full events plan, centred around the UK for 2022, including attending and presenting at the upcoming, sold-out Bicester Scramble! event on Sunday 24 April.

HEALEY-BY-CATON-Iconic-sports-car

HEALEY-BY-CATON-Iconic-sports-car

Caton occupies a unique position in the market, forging new products from an exceptional skillset and state-of-the-art technology. With unmatched resources that enable it to offer a completely new luxury proposition, its first offering is in bespoke vehicles. However, Caton’s team vows to create and manufacture products that align with luxury, British craftsmanship in the foreseeable future, and not just cars. The brand brings an exceptional harmony of experience, passion, OEM-level technology and craftsmanship to bare, focusing exclusively on the sympathetic enhancement and evolution of cherished products for the modern age, the first of which is a coachbuilt vehicle, the Healey by Caton.

Taking a forensic yet sympathetic approach, Caton’s designers have introduced a subtle smoothness to the Healey’s instantly recognisable lines, gently amplifying the visual dynamism while fully respecting the engineering and design principles of the original car’s creator, Donald Healey.

Inside, the cockpit is totally new with a focus on the very best in contemporary and period materials. Thanks to a redesign of the transmission tunnel and new five-speed manual gearbox, there has been a transformation in cabin space. As a result, Healey by Caton is a highly useable sports car, offering all drivers the feeling of a classic but with true comfort. The finishing touch is a high-performance engine and finely-honed suspension, all of which combines to elevate driving pleasure to another level.

An icon from the Midlands, modernised

Caton’s team are enormous advocates of the Healey. In 1952, Donald Healey built the first Healey 100 prototype at his company’s workshops in Warwick, located ten miles south of Caton’s Coventry HQ. Healey took his fledgling, four-cylinder-engine two-seater roadster to that year’s London Earls Court Motor Show. where he famously forged an alliance with Austin boss Leonard Lord to build it as the Austin-Healey 100.

Six iterations of the car were produced between 1953 and 1958, with the four-cylinder engine eventually replaced by a six-cylinder unit. Donald Healey was known to have favoured the four-cylinder engine, which is lighter and lends itself to performance upgrades more readily than the six-cylinder. With these reasons in mind, Caton chose the original four-cylinder 100 ‘BN1’ model as its foundation and inspiration.

Tim Strafford, CEO of Caton’s strategic vehicle building partner, Envisage Group, said: “Caton will stand for the best in British coachbuilding, and is the vision of our [Envisage Group’s] investors. We decided that the first product by Caton had to be creative, stand-out in the marketplace, appeal to a global audience, and it was a natural step that we chose to put our Caton mark on a Healey 100.”

For the project, Caton’s designers and engineers have been able to call on strategic partner Envisage Group’s formidable resource at every step. And they have also deployed traditional handcrafting skills and tools, which would have been used by those building the Healey 100 in the Fifties.

Strafford continued: “The Healey by Caton is a car for those who appreciate beautiful objects and exquisite works of art. It is also for those who love the smell of petrol and the sound of a high-performance engine running on carburettors. The Healey by Caton deliberately exposes its occupants to the elements and places them right at the heart of a unique, highly visceral, life-affirming driving experience – none more so than the sound of the side-exit exhaust below the driver’s ear.

“With all mechanical components reconfigured as new, the Healey by Caton frees owners from any reservations they might have over purchasing a classic car. It delivers peace of mind, alluring beauty and breath-taking performance.”

Exterior design and body

Caton’s ethos is to take loved and cherished cars and objects from the past and improve upon them using new materials and ultra-precise manufacturing processes. This approach, which goes beyond merely that of reimagining, is one of purification, modernisation, and ultimately reincarnation, and is enthrallingly embodied in the Healey by Caton.

The Healey by Caton design has been directed by Darryl Scriven, who explains: “Donald Healey got so much right when he designed the car originally. We wanted to pay homage to the original vehicle while making it more comfortable to live with, more fun to drive and even more dynamic and beautiful to look at.”

Scriven and his team sympathetically redesigned the front grille, enhancing the sense of depth and proportion with a meticulousness that only OEM-level design tools and systems can deliver to denote the additional performance the car is endowed with. The grille, which is a piece of jewellery on the front of the car, is a piece of art with each slat individually created, pieced together to create a floating look, behind the Caton hexagonal trim, a shape that flows delicately but deliberately throughout the vehicle.

The car’s original quarter-length bumpers have been removed and the front remodelled to create a smoother, cleaner look. The front valance has also been elongated to hide the front of the chassis’ legs, creating a more premium feel. Subtle remodelling of the headlights has achieved a similar effect and created superior illumination with the integration of LED and daylight running lamps.

The execution of a cleaner, smoother look has been applied across the entire body, with all seams and beading removed. This is evident in the new front aluminium fenders, which feature a more clamshell-like construction. Despite being built on an English Wheel, using traditional methods, they are entirely free of the beading that ran through the centre of the original items. A new air vent and a finisher have been integrated into the flanks, visually amplifying the diving line that runs along the side of the car.

Caton has also added additional detail to the car’s rear fender. Scriven reveals why: “We’ve brought in a little more substance, which gives a bit more volume and creates a greater sense of dynamism. I haven’t worked with any other company or coachbuilders that can create a car like this, from scratch. A key example is the volume on the bonnet. We subtly re-sculpted, by hand on an English Wheel, to create a smoother line that flows down the front of the car, to replace the flatter bonnet of the original, foundation car.”

For the most part, though, Caton has refined, rather than added to the Healey’s body. The rear bumpers are gone, as are the external boot hinges, replaced with new internal hinges running on modern gas struts. The boot handle is deleted too, and the lid is now opened by an internal release mechanism, run by a new, modern Caton key.

“To remain true to the car’s D.N.A., we asked ourselves ‘What would Healey have done when building a car in the Fifties if they had the tools and manufacturing techniques that we are in the unique position to have at our disposal today?’” continued Scriven.

The OEM-level technology he refers to allowed Caton to capture a complete 3D scan of the car. A Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine enabled the fabricators to work to tolerances of just .2mm, creating ultra-perfect panel gaps that add to the beautification of the bodyshell. Yet the team also deployed technology that would have been entirely familiar to those building the car in period, such as an English Wheel, which was used to hand roll the aluminium panels.

Following a dry build to ensure absolute accuracy in final assembly, the body spends two weeks in Caton’s paint shop. It is primed, equipped with an OEM-standard anti-corrosion protection layer, and then painted. No level of detail is spared, with paint also applied to the boot’s interior. The car retains its original badging, with the subtle addition of the Caton brand logo to the front fenders. Period-style, lightweight 72-spoke Borrani black aluminium alloy wheels with black spinners are fitted and shod with period-correct but modern manufactured, off-the-shelf Michelin tyres.

Interior

Caton’s redesign of the Healey’s cabin wholly maintains the essence of the original, while creating significantly more space. This has been achieved primarily through the redesign and narrowing of the transmission tunnel, made possible by introducing a new five-speed manual gearbox.

The standard car used a three-speed gearbox originally designed for column-shift actuation, with the gear lever positioned offset on the left-hand side of the transmission tunnel. Now, the gear lever sits in a central position on the top of the transmission tunnel, transforming both the aesthetic appeal of the cabin and driving pleasure. Original Healey 100s were designed and built for a shorter population meaning many of today’s drivers may struggle to comfortably enjoy the experience. Thanks to restyling the rear and a different pedal box fitted, it’s reported that in development testing a 6ft tall driver needed to move the seat forwards towards the cabin whereas they struggled to fit in an original Healey 100/4.

Healey by Caton Project Manager David Moore explains: “We chose to replace the existing Healey gearbox with its bulky transmission tunnel and offset gear-lever, with a new five-speed manual transmission for the aforementioned reasons of enhancing space and practicality within the cabin, but also, of course, to transform the driving experience.

“The new gearbox is provided by world-leading transmission experts. The highly proven unit is exceptionally durable, and its five-speed configuration endows the car with a much more comfortable long-distance touring ability. But it’s over a hairpin strewn mountain pass where drivers will really appreciate the difference. Combined with a custom hydraulic concentric clutch release bearing, the gearbox provides a rapid and immensely satisfying gearchange feel.”

The Healey by Caton has been modernised with the fitment of a racing car style pedal box to further increase the legroom available to the driver. The car’s roof and tonneau cover have also been removed, along with the heater. There is no infotainment system to detract from the driving experience, although two USB ports are provided to enable charging of electronic devices if required. The door cards and pockets have also been maximised to fit a water bottle and other items.

Further extolling the values upon which the Healey by Caton has been built, Scriven says: “We wanted to accentuate the visceral feel of the driving experience and let the driver and passenger truly relish the sound of the engine and the sensations of the open road. The side-exit exhaust has been meticulously positioned close to the driver’s ear, for instance.

Yet, we also wanted to ensure that the occupants could talk to each other and be comfortable on long journeys. The Healey by Caton is a car that you might drive to Goodwood for the day, but it’s also a car you could drive along a beautiful coastal road in Monaco. We’ve extended the height of the front windscreen slightly to reduce buffeting and added strengthening elements to the seat frames, giving the period-style seats more support and greater comfort.”

OEM-standard shrink-optimised leather was chosen for the dashboard and redesigned door panels for the superior tight fit and finish and greater durability it provides. However, the material was deliberately shunned for the car’s seats for the very simple but very important reason it does not produce any smell.

“Shrink-optimised leather doesn’t create that wonderful aroma you get from natural leather,” continues Scriven. “That’s why, after consultation with our in-house trim and fabrics studio, we elected to upholster the seats in premium Bridge of Weir hide, which enriches the cabin with the fragrance of leather, and will develop a beautiful patina over time. That’s part of the Healey by Caton’s authentic appeal, which will only get better and better the more the car is driven.”

Drivetrain

The car’s beating heart is a 185 bhp 195 ft/lbs of torque 2954cc four-cylinder engine, endowed with performance to take the car well beyond the 100mph top speed it was named for. Based on an original Austin-Healey block, the engine is completely stripped down, fully lightened, balanced, and then refurbished to zero miles. It is further enhanced with a full steel crank shaft, upgraded bearing shells, high compression pistons, a race camshaft with more aggressive lobes and roller rockers. Larger Twin H8 carburettors and gas flow inlets provide excellent throttle response. A race side-exit exhaust system adds further to the car’s considerable aural appeal.

The engine, and most of the car’s mechanical components, are the work of the world’s leading Healey specialists J.M.E. Healeys (J.M.E.), who has strong historical links with the original Healey company. Jonathan Everard, who founded J.M.E., and his father Harold, worked for the Donald Healey Motor Company in Warwick. Today, the company is run by Jonathan’s sons, Chris and Dan and is based in The Cape Works in Warwick, the original home of the Healey company.

Tim Strafford explains the rationale behind Caton’s creation of a collaborative partnership with J.M.E.: “Caton’s mission is to create products in automotive and beyond of the highest possible calibre of design, quality and appeal. Caton is entirely transparent on how it achieves this. When creating Caton’s brand values, we asked ourselves: ‘Where is Caton world-class? And where could it add value for its customers by forming strategic partnerships to bring additional skills on board?’ When it comes to the Austin-Healey brand, there is no one more experienced or knowledgeable than J.M.E.”

Thus, Caton elected to use J.M.E.’s ultimate Healey 100 BN1 Cape Works specification as the basis for the Healey by Caton project. The car benefits from a new chassis, strengthened and modified at known weak points – including the addition of new front and rear bulkheads – identified from J.M.E.’s decades of experience in restoring, servicing, and rallying Healeys. It provides an exceptional, robustly proven building block for the Healey by Caton. Nevertheless, Caton wanted to expand the car’s considerable performance parameters and bolster its unique driving appeal yet further.

Strengthened driveshafts transfer the formidable performance to the road. In keeping with the Healey by Caton’s pure, driver-focussed appeal, there are no electronic traction or stability controls to dilute the driving experience. Exemplary stopping power is provided by four-pot alloy callipers with vented front discs at the front, with discs and three-pot alloy callipers fitted at the rear. No ABS system is fitted in keeping with the purist driving feel.

Suspension and steering

Decades of international rally success testify to the inherent strength and durability of the Healey’s original suspension configuration. The system has been further honed by J.M.E. while retaining the original rear semi-elliptic leaf spring set-up. The Healey by Caton features a double-wishbone and adjustable coil spring configuration at the front, with a lever arm damper system and the car’s proven leaf spring system at the rear. Custom fabricated and fully rose-jointed roll bars are also fitted front and back. The unassisted steering system delivers exceptional levels of feel and feedback.

Customer-first values

With production of the Healey by Caton limited to 25 examples, the company will liaise with customers on a highly personal, one-to-one basis, as frequently as each requires. Each customer can be assured of the highest possible level of service. They will be welcome to visit Caton’s Coventry HQ on a regular basis, to tour the company’s design studios, trim and colour suite and paint facilities, and immerse themselves in every stage of their car’s development progress.

The customer has the ability to add completely bespoke and personal touches to any of Caton’s products, whether that be the car’s exterior paint finish through creating any colour imaginable or choosing from the extensive array of materials available in the on-site colour and trim suite for the car’s interior.

Tim Strafford vows: “It will be our privilege to collaborate with Caton’s customers to specify their car to their exact requirements, whether they choose to visit in person or liaise from anywhere across the globe. No two examples of the Healey by Caton will be the same, but each will be of exceptional beauty and built to the highest possible OEM levels of quality. Each will represent a true reincarnation of the iconic Austin-Healey 100 sports car utterly fitting for the modern age. Our aim is to deliver an unrivalled, immersive, intoxicating and highly emotional driving experience.”

Hand-built production of the Healey by Caton will commence in Q2 2022. It will make its global public debut at Salon Privé London from 21 April to 23 April inclusive and attend the upcoming Bicester Heritage Scramble! on 24 April. Customers are urged to sign up to Caton’s mailing list via www.caton.uk, where a range of events will be announced, and news will be distributed. Caton’s team plans to attend many events – from smaller breakfast clubs to larger, public events, in 2022 and beyond, starting from the UK and travelling further afield to global stages from 2023.

Website:  www.caton.uk

Social media:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bycaton/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bycaton

Twitter: twitter.com/bycaton

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bycaton

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCZs_Y56OMfgakAmZSbDb1dQ

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Sp80 unveils final boat design in pursuit of the world Sailing Speed Record

Sp80 unveils final boat design in pursuit of the world Sailing Speed Record

• SP80 is ready to show the world the final design, which is set to reach 80 knots (150km/h) powered by the wind.
• Under construction since the summer of 2021, this futuristic 10 by 7 meter boat will feature two pilots.
• The “sea rocket” will be launched at the end of the year, with the first record attempts planned for thesummer of 2023.
• Already sponsored by the Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, SP80 is launching a campaign to identify a final group of sponsors.

From concept to reality Established in 2018, SP80 has been coordinating the critical stage of the boat production over the last 6 months. This spaceship-like sailboat has been designed to reach 80 knots (150km/h), shattering the world sailing speed record. Limited by confidentiality requirements, the Swiss company has so far only shown a the concept that allows viewers to understand the boat’s operating principles, without revealing any definitive design elements.

Today, the construction has advanced to the stage where the team feels ready to reveal the final design. While the principles remain the same – an extraordinary sailboat towed by a kite – the boat will be bigger than the initial concept (i.e. 10m long and 7m wide). With a sleeker shape and stretched, aggressive lines, other elements have also been refined to increase the stability of the structure; a key point in the record-breaking strategy defended by SP80. The young Swiss company is on its way to redefine the architectural codes of the sailing world.

A cockpit with room for two Freshly finished by the renowned shipyard Persico Marine, the main hull will arrive in April to SP80’s premises in Renens (Switzerland). This first part reveals a crucial element of the cockpit: it can take two pilots on board. One will pilot the kite while the other will steer the boat. “Very early in our development phase, it was clear that being alone on board was not an option to accelerate safely up to 80 knots.” – says Benoît Gaudiot, co-founder and pilot. “At 150 km/h, it is essential to be focused on one task!We will thus have a pilot steering the kite, while a co-pilot will ensure the boat’s trajectory. However, at low speeds, that is around 30 knots, the boat can be sailed solo, which will allow us to welcome passengers onboard to experience something extraordinary !” At 80 knots, it is critical to ensure maximum safety for the pilots. The cockpit has been designed to withstand accelerations of up to 50G! It has also been reinforced with Kevlar® to protect its occupants from possible carbon shards in the event of a crash. As a boat sailing at 150km/h on water is equivalent to a Formula 1 on land, the drivers will be equipped accordingly: bucket seats, 6 point-harnesses and helmets. In case of emergency, they will also have oxygen masks at their disposal, something that has never been seen before in the sailing world!
Calendar and next steps While the shipyard continues the construction of the beam and floats, the SP80 team will take over the main hull and integrate all the mechanical systems. The final assembly of the boat is scheduled for next autumn with an official launch before the end of 2022. After a few months of optimisation and testing, the first record attempts will take place in summer 2023 in the south of France.

Guided by strong values, the company has already secured several notable partnerships. The team is currently beginning its final partnership search campaign. Investigations are focused on Swiss brands, with the goal to create collaborations that go beyond sponsorship agreements.

“Thanks to our current partners, we have been able to realise this revolutionary boat with a launch date later this autumn.” – says Mayeul van den Broek, co-founder and project manager.
“2023 will be a decisive year, with the final preparations to break the 80 knots record and make sailing history. We are currently looking for the last financial and technical partnerships to take the adventure to the finish line. The whole team is so proud to see this concept becoming a reality and we can’t wait to finally unveil and test our final design on the water! ”

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Lazzarini Sovrano – Luxury yacht concept

Lazzarini Sovrano – Luxury yacht concept

Lazzarini Sovrano – goes big for its next concept. Spanning 555 feet, the Sovrano teeters toward a private cruise ship with its 50-person capacity.

210421-N-FC670-1062 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 21, 2021) Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) participates in U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21, April 21. UxS IBP 21 integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe)

The five-story brute features a three-level atrium with a retractable roof that opens to a pool and garden.

It’s flanked by two platforms on the main deck that can act as dual helipads, swimming pools, or lounge areas, while four electric winches can lower the platform below to the waterline.

160421-N-YE579-005
ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 21, 2016) The future guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) transits the Atlantic Ocean during acceptance trials April 21, 2016 with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of DDG 1000, the future guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) May 20, 2016. Following a crew certification period and October commissioning ceremony in Baltimore, Zumwalt will transit to its homeport in San Diego for a Post Delivery Availability and Mission Systems Activation. DDG 1000 is the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class destroyers, next-generation, multi-mission surface combatants, tailored for land attack and littoral dominance. (U.S. Navy/Released)

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