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Morgan and Malle London introduce Super 3 Malle Rally Special

  • The Morgan Super 3 Malle Rally Special is a celebration of adventure, embodying Malle London’s ‘Prepared To Get Lost’ philosophy and the escapism of Morgan’s Super 3
  • Revealed today at the Malle Mile Festival at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, the special collection has been jointly curated by Morgan and Malle London
  • In addition to an extensive array of bespoke features, owners will be equipped with the full Driver’s Collection of Morgan x Malle apparel and accessories, as well as entry for them and a co-pilot to a host of Malle events including: a week-long Malle adventure rally, throughout Great Britain, across the Alps or up into the Arctic
  • The introduction of the ‘Malle Rally Special’ follows 12 months of adventure that has seen a Super 3 Support Vehicle take on a host of Malle’s adventure, rallies and races.
  • The Malle Rally Special edition features a fixed specification with a unique topographic livery, and is available in yellow, red, or black colour themes. These three distinctive colourways, which reflect Malle London’s brand colours, culminate to create a series of Malle Rally Special
  • The Super 3 Malle Rally Special capsule collection is available to purchase now, and – for the first time in Morgan’s history – is available to reserve online on the company’s website

Grimsthorpe Castle, 21 July
Morgan and Malle London are continuing their successful collaboration with the introduction of a co-designed Super 3 Malle Rally Special, delivered to customers complete with the full Driver’s Collection of Morgan x Malle apparel and accessories, and entry into one of the future Malle rally events, throughout Great Britain, across the Alps or up into the Arctic.

Launched today at The Malle Mile Festival in Lincolnshire, the Super 3 Malle Rally Special celebrates the adventurous spirit of Super 3 and embodies Malle London’s ‘Prepared To Get Lost’ philosophy. The introduction of the new special follows a year of adventure and exploration between the two companies, in which a specially commissioned Super 3 Malle Rally Support Vehicle has embarked on adventures around the UK and Europe.

The Great Malle Rallies
Ownership of the Super 3 Malle Rally Special includes an invitation to a future Malle Rally, where owners will be able to take part in an unforgettable week-long adventure in their own car. Those rallies include The Great Malle Rally in the UK, The Great Malle Mountain Rally in Europe and the forthcoming Great Malle Arctic Rally. The UK rally is the longest motorcycle rally in the UK, carving a 1,500 mile route from the most Southern tip to the most Northern tip. The European adventure is the longest motorcycle rally ever attempted across the entire Alps mountain range, carving a 1,500 mile route which takes in six countries in six days, from Austria to Monaco, taking in some of the highest drivable roads in Europe. 

The Vehicle
The Super 3 Malle Rally Special is available in a choice of three colours, yellow – which features prominently in the announcement photography and video –, red, and black, each of which reflect Malle’s brand colours. The distinctive design is characterised by the specially commissioned livery which adorns the vehicle and is only available as part of the unique specification. Co-designed by the two British companies, the livery incorporates a topographic map design that celebrates Malle’s favourite British mountain road, as well as a choice of numbered roundel, Union Flag branding and the ‘Prepared To Get Lost’ tagline on the rear boot lid. The exhaust, nose cone and roll hoops are all finished in white.

The special model features an extensive list of options and accessories as part of its standard specification. These have been curated to help distinguish the edition visually, as well as equipping owners for adventure. Highlight accessories include USB charging points, lockable storage, Beeline navigation system, interior bungee cords, rear luggage rack, LED headlights (for EU version only), heated seats, footwell lighting and cupholder.

The features on the Super 3 Malle Rally Special have been tried and tested during thousands of miles of driving by the Morgan and Malle teams, including a 4,000-mile intense road trip in just 12 days. Two Driver’s Collection sets, which include Malle x Morgan jackets, knee guards, step guards and panniers, are also equipped with the vehicle.

Morgan x Malle Driver’s Collection
The Morgan x Malle Driver’s Collection features a mix of apparel and vehicle accessories, each of which has been co-designed between Morgan and Malle London. Waterproof and windproof, the Malle x Morgan Jacket is handcrafted using a hardwearing 10oz British waxed canvas. It features a storm baffle around the neck, GPS headphone port, multiple pockets sized appropriately for keys and documents, a poacher’s pouch, storm flap opening and quilted interior for added insulation. Designed to be used with the jacket is the Morgan x Malle Knee Guard, a must have for Super 3 use in inclement weather. The snap points at the waist of the jacket double up to receive the knee guard, which is also handcrafted in hardwearing 10oz British waxed canvas. Both the jacket and knee guard are available in black or sand and complete the wearable element of the Morgan x Malle Driver’s Collection.The Driver’s Collection also features accessories that have been designed alongside the development of Super 3. Weatherproof waxed canvas panniers attach to Super 3’s sideblades, carrying luggage with assorted compartments to separate wet and dry clothing. Step guards, which are situated for pilot and co-pilot, ensure the seat remains protected during ingress and egress.

Availability
The Super 3 Malle Rally Special is priced at £54,995 (plus taxes and OTR). The price includes the full specification, all Malle x Morgan Driver’s Collection items for pilot and co-pilot, entrance to a choice of Malle Rally, and VIP entry to the Malle Mile and Malle Beach Race. Moreover, owners will be welcomed to Morgan’s historic home at Pickersleigh Road in Malvern Link, to join the individuals who handcraft each Morgan sports car, using rare skills passed down through generations.

Available to purchase from today, the special represents the first Morgan in the company’s 114-year history that can be reserved online. Interested customers are encouraged to visit Morgan’s website or contact a Morgan dealership to discover more.

Jonathan Wells, Chief Design Officer, Morgan Motor Company, commented: “From the outset of Super 3’s design process we had envisioned the vehicle embarking on incredible adventures all over the world. Through our collaboration with Malle London, we have been able to realise this vision and help equip owners to have their own adventures.

Throughout the last year, Malle has been able to prove the adventure credentials of Super 3, taking its Support Vehicle on numerous rallies and adventures in the UK and Europe. Following the success of those adventures, and the willingness to encourage more individuals to enjoy such journeys, the natural next step for our two companies was to collaborate on a dedicated Super 3 rally series.

This is the first special Super 3 that has been available to customers since the launch of the production model in February 2022. Complete with every accessory an owner could need, and with functional and striking design at its core, we have created the ideal special series.”  

Robert Nightingale, Founder of Malle London, commented: “In 2022 we had the envious role of taking one of the first Super 3 prototypes out for a spin, and in true Malle fashion we drove it 3,000 miles over nine days on The Great Malle Rally, supporting 100 custom and classic motorcycles.

“The reception to Super 3 is always incredible, met with smiles and waves! It’s not like driving a car, or a motorcycle. In the Super 3 our photography team were able to get closer to the rally riders than ever before, capturing amazing shots from an entirely new perspective. Super 3 continued to feature in all Malle events throughout the summer, then in late 2022 we collaborated with Morgan’s design team to build a custom ‘fit for purpose’ Support Vehicle for The Great Malle Mountain Rally, the longest motorcycle Alpine rally ever attempted.

“From Austria to Monaco, we travelled through six countries in six days, across all the highest mountain passes, up to 2,800m multiple times and back again! The Super 3 Support Vehicle covered 4,000 miles in 12 days. Including 728 miles in 24 hours, driven by myself.

“The Super 3 Malle Rally Special is born out of these wild adventures, inspired by our own experiences and the desire to make them available to more adventurers around the world. It is more than just a car or transportation it’s a real ‘money can’t buy’ experience. We can’t wait to welcome drivers of the Malle Rally Specials to future Malle rallies and as a VIP guest to future Malle races.”

ENDS

Images: https://media.morgan-motor.com

About Morgan Motor Company
Morgan Motor Company has been handcrafting sports cars since 1909 and is one of the world’s pre-eminent coachbuilders. Pioneering its unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology, every Morgan is handmade to order.

The historic home of Morgan is at Pickersleigh Road in Malvern Link, Worcestershire. This is the only place in the world where Morgan cars are built. Steeped in history, the hallowed red brick buildings are home to one of the most unique automotive production facilities in the world.

Morgan sports cars are hand crafted using three core elements: ash, aluminium, and leather. Every car is entirely unique, built to the highest standards by passionate craftsmen and women, whose skills are handed down through generations and perfected over a lifetime, bringing together heritage, innovation, and cutting-edge technology.

Morgan’s model line-up comprises Super 3, Plus Four and Plus Six. Characterised by its analogue driving experience, whichever model you choose, every journey in a Morgan is an adventure.

For further information please contact:
James Gilbert
Email: james.gilbert@morgan-motor.co.uk  
Phone: +44 (0) 1684 580151

About Malle London
Malle London is a family company that was started in 2014 by two ‘designers/cousins/motorcycle-disciples’ Robert Nightingale & Jonny Cazzola.

After a decade of working in the design, engineering, and innovation space and after many trans-continental motorcycle adventures; they decided to set out to create more robust and utilitarian adventure accessories – to enable motorcyclists and adventurers to go further and in-turn inspiring them to appreciate and travel the world more.

In 2015, Malle hosted ‘The Malle Mile’ in London, an intimate and inappropriate motorcycle race which has grown organically every year and has been a sold-out event for the last 9 years.

In 2017 Malle hosted ‘The Great Malle Rally‘, the longest motorcycle rally ever attempted in Great Britain. Exploring over 1,500 miles from the northern tip to the southern tip with 100 custom, classic and cafe motorcycles. In 2020 they hosted the first ever ‘Malle Mile Beach Race’ on Margate Sands.

Then in 2022, Malle hosted ‘The Great Malle Mountain Rally’, the longest motorcycle rally ever attempted across the entirety of the Alps. Six countries in six days from Austria to Monaco. Always pushing boundaries, expect to see new motorcycle adventures, rallies and celebrations happening in Britain, Europe and beyond.

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MERCEDES-AMG GT: “MUY AMG” Y FABRICADO EN AFFALTERBACH

  • Comportamiento altamente dinámico y gran confort gracias a su sistema semiactivo de estabilidad antivuelco
  • Nuevo concepto de asientos 2+2
  • Tracción total AMG Performance 4MATIC+ totalmente adaptativa, de serie
  • Gran facilidad de uso diario gracias a la buena visibilidad panorámica y al gran portón trasero EASY PACK

La segunda generación del Mercedes-AMG GT es un vehículo rediseñado desde cero. La arquitectura del deportivo AMG, con su estructura de carrocería de aluminio compuesto, segura y rígida contra la torsión, permite una nueva configuración de plazas tipo 2+2, lo que en un deportivo de esta clase significa mucho espacio para los ocupantes y para el equipaje. Por un lado, el nuevo AMG GT Coupé cumple a la perfección los requisitos de un Gran Turismo.

Por otro, combina las características de conducción más deportivas -disponibles actualmente en la gama de Mercedes-AMG- con una gran practicidad para el día a día. Se lanzará al mercado como AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé (consumo combinado –WLTP- de 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP- de 319 g/km). El motor biturbo AMG V8 de 4,0 litros y 430 kW (585 CV) se asocia por primera vez en un AMG GT de dos puertas con el sistema de tracción total AMG Performance 4MATIC+ totalmente variable. Componentes de alta tecnología como el tren de rodaje AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL con estabilización semiactiva del balanceo, la dirección activa del eje trasero y la aerodinámica active subrayan sus argumentos para ser el buque insignia en la gama de automóviles deportivos y de altas prestaciones de la marca.

Características técnicas

  • Carrocería: su estructura ligera, de aluminio compuesto y la máxima rigidez, proporciona la base para una conducción precisa, un elevado confort y un aspecto óptimo.

o   Combinación de un bastidor de aluminio dividido en secciones con estructura autoportante.

o   Inteligente mezcla de materiales: aluminio, acero, magnesio y compuestos de fibra.

o   Marco del parabrisas de tubo de acero de alta resistencia fabricado en caliente.

  • Aerodinámica activa para un mayor equilibrio y eficiencia. Todos los elementos que optimizan el flujo de aire están perfectamente integrados en el diseño exterior.

o   Sistema de control del aire AIRPANEL en la parte delantera.

o   Perfil aerodinámico activo bajo el frontal.

o   Alerón trasero activo con funcionamiento inteligente.

o   Llantas de aleación ligera que optimizan la aerodinámica.

o   Amplias zonas revestidas en los bajos.

o   Paquete aerodinámico con deflectores de aire adicionales en el faldón delantero, spoiler en la parte trasera, difusor posterior aún más eficaz y alerón trasero rígido.

  • Motor V8 biturbo AMG de 4,0 litros con dos turbocompresores Twin-Scroll.

o   La modelo se lanza al mercado como AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé (consumo combinado de combustible –WLTP- 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP- 319 g/km), 430 kW (585 CV) de potencia máxima y 800 Nm de par máximo.

o   En algunos mercados le seguirá el Mercedes-AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ (consumo combinado –WLTP- de 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP-, 319 g/km), con 350 kW (476 CV) de potencia máxima y 700 Nm de par máximo.

o   Producción tipo “Un hombre, un motor” en Affalterbach.

o   Con soportes de motor activos de serie.

  • Cambio AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (MCT = Multi-Clutch Transmission): combina una experiencia emocional con tiempos extremadamente cortos al pasar de una marcha a otra.

o   Un embrague de tipo húmedo para el arranque sustituye al convertidor de par. Reduce el peso y, gracias a su menor inercia, optimiza la respuesta al pisar el pedal derecho, especialmente durante los acelerones y los cambios fuertes de carga.

o   Función RACE START para una aceleración óptima desde parado.

  • AMG Performance 4MATIC+ tracción total totalmente variable: por primera vez, el AMG GT también está disponible con tracción integral.

o   Sistema de tracción optimizada para desafiar los límites de la física. Elevada estabilidad de marcha y seguridad de conducción en todas las condiciones: en seco, en mojado o sobre nieve.

o   Un embrague controlado electromecánicamente conecta de forma variable el eje trasero, de tracción permanente, con el eje delantero. El sistema calcula continuamente la mejor distribución posible del par motor dependiendo de la situación, para que la marcha seleccionada y la distribución de la fuerza motriz también sean las más adecuadas. El rango va desde el 100% de potencia en el eje trasero hasta un reparto 50%/50% entre los ejes delantero y trasero.

  • Los Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé y GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé equipan de serie el tren de rodaje AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL con estabilización hidráulica y semiactiva del balanceo. El sistema permite un comportamiento óptimo en curvas y ciclos de carga, con características de conducción típicas de AMG en cuanto a dinamismo, precisión y respuesta para el conductor. Al mismo tiempo, aumenta el confort de marcha al conducir en línea recta y sobre baches.

o   Los elementos hidráulicos semiactivos sustituyen a las barras de torsión mecánicas convencionales y compensan en fracciones de segundo los movimientos de balanceo.

o   Para ello, los amortiguadores adaptativos disponen también de dos conexiones hidráulicas. Una de ellas está en el lado de compresión del amortiguador y la otra, en el de rebote.

o   Las cámaras de amortiguación de las cuatro ruedas y los conductos están conectados directamente a través de las válvulas de control de los amortiguadores adaptativos.

o   En términos concretos: cualquier barra de torsion puede trabajar desde cero hasta ofrecer una rigidez extrema de forma automática. En el día a día, esto aumenta el confort, porque incluso los baches aislados se compensan de manera individualizada.

o   Durante las curvas, el sistema hidráulico también funciona activamente sobre la inclinación. Gracias a la elevada estabilidad de caída resultante, el nuevo AMG GT gira con extrema precisión.

o   Al circular en línea recta, se abre completamente y también se adapta así a esa circunstancia en función del programa de conducción seleccionado y de la marcha elegida. Además, compensa y neutraliza los movimientos de balanceo que cualquier obstáculo pudiera provocar. Así, el conductor y los pasajeros disfrutan de una experiencia mucho más confortable.

o   En curvas, la reducción del balanceo resulta igual de beneficiosa en términos de comodidad y dinámica de conducción.

o   La misma tecnología alimenta el sistema opcional de elevación del eje delantero. En caso necesario, este puede elevarse 30 milímetros, lo que facilita, por ejemplo, la entrada en aparcamientos subterráneos.

  • Diferencial trasero de deslizamiento limitado.

o   De serie, el AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé y el AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé incorporan un diferencial trasero de deslizamiento limitado controlado electrónicamente, que proporciona una tracción aún mejor a la salida de las curvas, con mayor estabilidad de marcha y distribución de la carga sin pérdida de potencia en todas las condiciones de conducción. 

  • Hochleistungs-Verbundbremsanlage Disco de freno de material compuesto: para unos excelentes valores de deceleración y una dosificación precisa.

o   El disco de freno (de acero fundido) y el calderín (de aluminio) están unidos con pasadores especiales y no con tornillos. Este diseño ahorra un espacio que se utiliza para mejorar aún más la refrigeración de los frenos. El eje delamtero está dotado de dos discos de 390 milímetros.

o   Dirección perforada: además del ahorro de peso y una mejor disipación del calor, esta solución gana puntos con una respuesta más rápida en condiciones de humedad y una mejor limpieza de las pastillas tras la frenada.

o   El sistema de frenos cerámicos AMG de alto rendimiento con discos de 420 milímetros en el eje delantero estará disponible como opción a partir de 2024.

  • La dirección activa del eje trasero (HAL) de serie combina estabilidad y agilidad.

o   En función de la velocidad, las ruedas traseras giran en sentido contrario a las delanteras (hasta 100 km/h) o en el mismo sentido que estas (a más de 100 km/h). El sistema, adaptado con precisión al nuevo AMG GT Coupé, permite así una conducción ágil y estable.

o   El cambio del ángulo de convergencia es de hasta 2,5 grados en la rueda trasera.

  • Los seis programas de conducción AMG DYNAMIC SELECT (“Smooth”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport +”, “Individual” y “RACE”) permiten dotar al vehículo de un comportamiento variado, desde muy confortable a extremadamente dinámico.

o   Se modifican todos los parámetros relevantes, como la respuesta del motor, la transmisión, el tren de rodaje, los sistemas de control dinámico, la dirección, así como el sonido del sistema de escape variable.

  • LUZ DIGITAL con proyecciones de símbolos de advertencia sobre la calzada.

o   El DIGITAL LIGHT, de serie, permite funciones innovadoras, como la proyección de marcas de orientación o símbolos de advertencia sobre la calzada.

o   El DIGITAL LIGHT dispone de un módulo luminoso en cada faro con tres potentes LED, cuya luz se refracta y dirige con la ayuda de 1,3 millones de microespejos que ocupan la superficie de la uña del dedo pulgar.

o   Una unidad de control con un potente procesador gráfico utiliza una conexión similar a una HDMI para generar un flujo de vídeo continuo hacia los espejos. El DIGITAL LIGHT utiliza, por tanto, la tecnología de los videoproyectores.

Aspectos claves de su diseño

  • Diseño exterior: el diseño deportivo y equilibrado ofrece más funcionalidad y espacio en el interior gracias a su configuración de asientos 2+2. La larga distancia entre ejes, los voladizos cortos y el parabrisas muy inclinado confieren al nuevo AMG GT Coupé un aspecto compacto y poderoso.

o   Las nuevas proporciones con una excitante superficie acristalada, voluminosos pasos de rueda y expresiva vista frontal advierten de la aparición de un potente deportivo que también es apto para el uso diario.

o   La parrilla, baja y específica de AMG, acentúa el frontal y confiere al AMG GT una presencia aún más deportiva y dominante.

o   Los característicos faros subrayan el inconfundible carácter del AMG GT.

o   Desde las superficies fluidas, sin rebordes ni aristas, hasta los tiradores escamoteables de las puertas caracterizan la vista lateral. Las llantas de aleación, casi enrasadas con la carrocería, acentúan la potencia y el dinamismo.

o   La zona trasera de los hombros, modelada de forma expresiva, confiere al vehículo extra de deportividad en su atractivo.

o   Precisamente, dispuestos en la poderosa zaga encontramos los pilotos traseros LED. Son planos y están conectados horizontalmente, con una iluminación clara y precisa. Esta disposición remarca la estructura del vehículo y acentúa la anchura total.

o   El spoiler trasero activo está perfectamente integrado en el gran portón trasero.

  • Diseño interior: los genes de coche deportivo de altas prestaciones de AMG se han trasladado al mundo digital y se han desarrollado aún más. Los materiales elegidos, el cuidado en su manufactura y la atención al detalle subrayan el gusto por el lujo.

o   El diseño del puesto de mando se centra en el conductor y consigue una impresión general muy armoniosa.

o   El concepto 2+2 de los asientos ofrece más funcionalidad y espacio en el interior.

o   Sistema multimedia MBUX con indicadores y contenidos específicos de AMG y las opciones de menú adicionales y exclusivas AMG Performance y AMG Track Pace.

o   Los asientos deportivos con diseño escultural AMG y reglajes eléctricos son de serie.

o   Los asientos AMG Performance –también con reglajes eléctricos- son opcionales.

o   Volante AMG Performance con botones AMG, de serie.

o   La pantalla LCD de 12,3 pulgadas del cuadro de instrumentos está integrada en una unidad visual de alta tecnología.

o   Todas las funciones multimedia pueden controlarse a través de la pantalla táctil de 12,8 pulgadas, en formato vertical.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé

Engine
Number of cylinders/arrangement 8/V
Displacementcc3982
Rated outputkW/hp430/585
at engine speedrpm5500-6500
Rated torqueNm800
at engine speedrpm2500-5000
Compression ratio 8.6
Mixture formation Microprocessor-controlled petrol injection, twin turbocharging
Power transmission
Drive system layout Fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
Transmission AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (automatic transmission with wet multi-disc start-off clutch)
Gear ratios
1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th/9th gear 5.35/3.24/2.25/1.64/1.21/1.00/0.87/0.72/0.60
Reverse 4.80
Suspension
Front axleAMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with semi-active anti-roll stabilisation, aluminium double wishbones, anti-dive control, coil springs and adaptive adjustable damping
Rear axleAMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with semi-active anti-roll stabilisation, aluminium double wishbones, anti-dive control, coil springs and adaptive adjustable damping
Brake systemDual-circuit hydraulic brake system; front: 390 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 6-piston aluminium fixed calliper; rear: 360 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 1-piston aluminium floating calliper; electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, 3-stage ESP®
SteeringElectromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with rack and pinion, variable steering ratio (14.4:1 at dead centre) and variable power assistance. Rear-axle steering with up to 2.5° wheel angle
Wheelsfront: 10.5Jx 20 ET42; rear: 11Jx 20 ET33
Tyresfront: 295/35 ZR 20; rear: 305/35 ZR 20
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbasemm2,700
Front/rear trackmm1,683/1,686
Length/height/widthmm4,728/1,354/1,984
Turning circlem12.5
Boot capacityl321-675
Kerb weight acc. to ECkg1,970
Payloadkg190-350
Tank capacity/of which reservel70/10
Performance, consumption, emissions
Acceleration 0-100 km/hsec.3.2
Maximum speedkm/h315
Combined fuel consumption, WLTP1l/100 km14,1
Combined CO2 emissions, WLTP1g/km319
    

1 The specified values are the determined WLTP CO2 values in accordance with Art. 2 No. 3 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption values were calculated based on these values.

Mercedes-AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé

Engine
Number of cylinders/arrangement 8/V
Displacementcc3982
Rated outputkW/hp350/476
at engine speedrpm5500-6500
Rated torqueNm700
at engine speedrpm2250-4500
Compression ratio 8.6
Mixture formation Microprocessor-controlled petrol injection, twin turbocharging
Power transmission
Drive system layout Fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
Transmission AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (automatic transmission with wet multi-disc start-off clutch)
Gear ratios
1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th/9th gear 5.35/3.24/2.25/1.64/1.21/1.00/0.87/0.72/0.60
Reverse 4.80
Suspension
Front axleAMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with aluminium double wishbones, anti-squat and anti-dive control, lightweight coil springs, stabiliser and adaptive adjustable damping
Rear axleAMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with aluminium double wishbones, anti-squat and anti-dive control, lightweight coil springs, stabiliser and adaptive adjustable damping
Brake systemDual-circuit hydraulic brake system; front: 390 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 6-piston aluminium fixed calliper; rear: 360 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 1-piston aluminium floating calliper; electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, 3-stage ESP®
SteeringElectromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with toothed rack, variable steering ratio (14.4:1 at dead centre) and variable power assistance. Rear-axle steering with up to 2.5° wheel angle
Wheelsfront: 10.5Jx 20 ET42; rear: 11Jx 20 ET33
Tyresfront: 295/35 ZR 20; rear: 305/35 ZR 20
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbasemm2,700
Front/rear trackmm1,683/1,686
Length/height/widthmm4,728/1,354/1,984
Turning circlem12.5
Boot capacityl321-675
Kerb weight acc. to ECkg1,970
Payloadkg190-350
Tank capacity/of which reservel70/10
Performance, consumption, emissions
Acceleration 0-100 km/hsec.3.9
Maximum speedkm/h295
Combined fuel consumption, WLTP1l/100 km14,1
Combined CO2 emissions, WLTP1g/km319
    

[1] The specified values are the determined WLTP CO2 values in accordance with Art. 2 No. 3 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption values were calculated based on these values.

Mercedes-Benz AG en resumen
La empresa Mercedes-Benz AG es responsable de las actividades globales de Mercedes-Benz Cars y Mercedes-Benz Vans, y cuenta con una plantilla de más de 170.000 empleados en todo el mundo. Ola Källenius es el presidente de la Junta Directiva de Mercedes-Benz AG. Los fines primarios de la empresa son el desarrollo, la producción y la distribución de turismos, furgonetas y monovolúmenes, así como la prestación de servicios relacionados. La empresa aspira asimismo a liderar otros sectores, como la movilidad eléctrica y el software para automóviles. La cartera de productos comprende la marca Mercedes-Benz con las submarcas Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-EQ y Clase G, así como la marca smart. La marca Mercedes me brinda a los clientes acceso a los servicios digitales de Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz AG es uno de los mayores fabricantes de turismos de lujo en todo el mundo. En el año 2020, la empresa vendió unos 2,1 millones de turismos y casi 375.000 furgonetas y monovolúmenes. Mercedes-Benz AG promueve continuamente el desarrollo de la red mundial de producción en estas dos áreas de negocio, con unos 35 centros de producción en cuatro continentes, y se orienta en especial por las expectativas del mercado de la movilidad eléctrica. En paralelo a estas plantas de vehículos se está creando y ampliando una red global de producción de baterías en tres continentes. La sostenibilidad es el principio rector de la estrategia de Mercedes-Benz. Para la empresa, este concepto supone aportar de forma permanente un valor añadido a todos los niveles, tanto para sus clientes como para sus empleados, inversores, socios comerciales y para la sociedad en su conjunto. La base de ello es la estrategia empresarial sostenible de Daimler. La empresa asume en todo momento su responsabilidad por las repercusiones económicas, ecológicas y sociales de su actividad comercial, teniendo en cuenta la totalidad de la cadena de valor.

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EL PRIMER MUSTANG GTD DE LA HISTORIA: TECNOLOGÍA DE VANGUARDIA PARA POTENCIAR ESTE NUEVO FORD DE ALTAS PRESTACIONES HOMOLOGADO PARA CARRETERA, Y LISTO PARA VENCER A LOS MEJORES

  • El Mustang® GTD es el Mustang más innovador y avanzado de la historia; un vehículo performance homologado para la carretera, de edición limitada, y diseñado en paralelo al Mustang GT3 de carreras, que está listo para enfrentarse a los mejores deportivos del mundo
  • Creado para llegar a velocidades endiabladas: abundante fibra de carbono en la carrocería; suspensión de primera clase que ajusta la dureza de los muelles y la altura de conducción para circular bien en circuito, bien por carretera; aerodinámica activa; motor V8 sobrealimentado con un sistema único de aceite de cárter seco; transmisión trasera de doble embrague y 8 velocidades y eje de transmisión de fibra de carbono, para un reparto y equilibrio de pesos casi ideal; llantas de magnesio; escape de titanio disponible como opción; y frenos cerámicos de carbono. Todo esto se combina para crear un Mustang ágil y de altísimas prestaciones  
  • Con más de 800 CV* y un tiempo en Nürburgring inferior a 7 minutos, la tecnología del Mustang GTD va más allá de lo permitido en las competiciones.

DEARBORN, Míchigan (EEUU), 18 de agosto de 2023 – En las profundidades de un garaje oculto detrás de las instalaciones de un túnel de viento en Allen Park (Míchigan, EEUU), un equipo se reunió a deshoras en 2021 para una nueva misión que, sobre el papel, parecía un sueño imposible: diseñar un Mustang que se enfrentara a los mejores deportivos europeos.  

El resultado es la edición limitada de un vehículo de altas prestaciones, homologado para la carretera, con el alma de un Mustang.      

Hoy presentamos el nuevo Ford Mustang® GTD 2025, un tour de force tecnológico inspirado en el Mustang GT3 que competirá en Le Mans el año que viene. Orgulloso de su herencia, y con unas prestaciones increíbles, su esculpida carrocería en fibra de carbono y su imponente alerón trasero lo dicen todo con tan solo verlo. Este Mustang no se parece a ningún otro.     

“El Mustang GTD acaba con cualquier idea preconcebida sobre un superdeportivo”, ha dicho Jim Farley, presidente y CEO de Ford. “El proyecto ha supuesto un nuevo enfoque para nosotros. No hemos diseñado un vehículo de carretera para el circuito; hemos creado un vehículo de competición para la carretera. El Mustang GTD toma la tecnología de competición del Mustang GT3 de carreras, la envuelve en una carrocería Mustang de fibra de carbono, y la desata en la carretera”.

Cada pieza de precisión del Mustang GTD está diseñada con pulcritud. Cada forma nace pensando en su función. Ha sido creado con un único objetivo: ir más rápido en pista, y con más tecnología que los vehículos de carreras en los que se basa. El Mustang GTD ha sido desarrollado por muchas de las personas que están detrás de los Ford Mustang de competición y del GT ganador de Le Mans. Está diseñado para ser el Mustang homologado para carretera más rápido de todos los tiempos.   

El Mustang GTD es firme sobre el asfalto gracias al downforce que genera sus elementos de aerodinámica activa disponibles como opción, y al agarre de sus inmensos neumáticos montados en una suspensión delantera de doble altura, y una suspensión trasera multibrazo. Se detiene con precisión gracias a los frenos cerámicos de carbono, cuenta con una transmisión de doble embrague de 8 velocidades instalada en la parte trasera y un árbol de transmisión de fibra de carbono para una distribución del peso casi equilibrada al 50/50. Todo esto es impulsado a una velocidad endiablada gracias a su motor V8 sobrealimentado de 5,2 litros que genera una potencia estimada de 800 CV.     

“Estamos obsesionados con la tecnología de competición que hay bajo su piel. Lo que lo hace andar es incluso más convincente que lo que puedes ver cuando estás cerca de él”, ha dicho Mark Rushbrook, director global de Ford Performance Motorsports. “Si piensas en su ingeniería, su aerodinámica, en cómo funciona el motor, ves que el Mustang GTD es un cohete espacial para la carretera”. 

  

Mantener el legado ganador de Le Mans   

El Mustang GTD nace del concepto del Mustang GT3 de competición que regresará a Le Mans el próximo año, y será el pináculo de la familia Mustang que ahora incluye tanto vehículos homologados para la carretera como de competición. Esta familia comprende el recientemente presentado Mustang GT4, el Mustang GT3 y el próximo Mustang Dark Horse R, entre otros. Todos continuarán con la reputación del Mustang como la marca más competitiva y de mayor éxito de Ford, y recorrerán calles y circuitos de todo el mundo. El nombre GTD de este nuevo Mustang hace referencia a la clase de competición IMSA “GTD” para automóviles fabricados según las normas técnicas FIA GT3.    

“Así somos en Ford; presentamos este reto y decimos: ‘Id a por él'”, afirma Farley. “Nos sentimos cómodos poniendo a todo el mundo sobre aviso. Competiré en circuito con un Mustang GTD contra el mejor modelo homologado para carretera de cualquier otro fabricante automovilístico”.    

Diseñado y fabricado en colaboración entre Ford y Multimatic**, que desarrolló el Mustang GT3, el Mustang GT4 y el Ford GT ganador de Le Mans, el Mustang GTD supone la culminación de décadas de avances en ingeniería, fruto del aprendizaje continuo a través de la competición. Diseñado con determinación y precisión, está destinado a convertirse en un icono de la historia de Mustang y Ford.   

“El Mustang GTD representa lo mejor de Ford Motor Company y lo que hacemos en nuestro día a día”, ha afirmado Farley. “Esto es lo que ocurre cuando cogemos aquello en lo que somos buenos y vamos más allá de los límites para ver hasta dónde podemos llegar. Representa la esencia de la transformación que estamos viviendo en Ford, que va desde el software hasta los vehículos de edición especial”. 

Cincelado para explotar el aire  

El diseño del Mustang GTD es totalmente intencional. Cada línea impulsa su rendimiento aerodinámico a la velocidad de pista; desde el splitter delantero, el capó ventilado y los pasos de rueda, hasta el alerón trasero activo con control hidráulico montado en el pilar C, disponible como opción.    

Gracias al abundante uso de paneles de fibra de carbono en su carrocería, el Mustang GTD reduce significativamente su peso, baja su centro de gravedad y mejora su capacidad de respuesta. Los pasos de rueda, el capó, la cubierta que sustituye a la tapa del maletero, los umbrales de las puertas, el splitter delantero, el difusor trasero y el techo son todos de fibra de carbono, con fascias delantera y trasera también en fibra de carbono como opción.      

El paquete aerodinámico disponible incluye una bandeja integral para los bajos de la carrocería también en fibra de carbono, e incluye elementos pioneros en el mundo del motorsport, así como algunas tecnologías que serían ilícitas en las carreras, como los alerones delanteros controlados hidráulicamente para gestionar el flujo de aire y así lograr un equilibrio aerodinámico en coordinación con el alerón trasero activo.    

Donde antes había un maletero, ahora está la suspensión semiactiva, un sistema de control hidráulico y un sistema de refrigeración del transeje que utiliza una cubierta inspirada en las carreras para sustituir la bandeja del maletero, e incluye dos tomas de aire para canalizar el aire del cristal trasero, así como a través de los intercambiadores de calor.    

“Nuestro equipo de diseño trabajó junto con el del diseño del Mustang GT3 y el equipo aerodinámico, compartiendo soluciones entre el vehículo de carreras y el de calle, y viceversa”, ha dicho Anthony Colard, director de diseño de Ford Performance. “Este es un diseño creado por y para la aerodinámica”.     La combinación de estas características aerodinámicas dará como resultado un enorme downforce equilibrado entre los ejes delantero y trasero y, a su vez, aumentará la velocidad en curva, generará un mayor control y unos tiempos por vuelta increíbles en algunos de los circuitos más infernales del mundo.

Prestaciones y tecnología extremas   

“El hardware ha sido cuidadosamente seleccionado y desarrollado para permitir unas prestaciones vertiginosas”, ha dicho Greg Goodall, ingeniero jefe de programa de Ford. “El objetivo de este proyecto era claro: ir mucho, mucho más rápido de lo que nunca habíamos ido antes, con un tiempo en Nürburgring por debajo de los 7 minutos. Esto lo convierte en el Mustang homologado para carretera más rápido de Ford”.    

El Mustang GTD utiliza un motor V8 de 5.2 litros sobrealimentado con doble entrada de aire, y el primer sistema de cárter seco instalado en un Mustang de calle para ayudar a mantener el motor lubricado durante las curvas más exigentes. El motor supera las 7.500 rpm y genera unas notas excepcionales a través del sistema de escape de válvulas activas de titanio. Es el Mustang homologado para la carretera con mayor potencia jamás desarrollado por Ford. 

Toda esa potencia se envía del motor a las ruedas traseras a través de un árbol de transmisión de 8 velocidades conectada a un transeje trasero de fibra de carbono para una distribución del peso cercana al 50/50 entre la parte delantera y trasera.     

El rendimiento excepcional del Mustang GTD se mejora aún más con su suspensión semiactiva de última generación, que puede variar tanto las dureza de los muelles como la altura de conducción. Su tecnología mejora el rendimiento en carretera y en pista. La configuración de la suspensión permite una altura de conducción casi 40 mm más baja en el Modo Pista, y en general tiene una vía casi cuatro pulgadas más ancha que el Mustang GT. La suspensión delantera proporciona una rigidez lateral y una cinemática mejoradas, especialmente en curvas de alta fuerza G.

“Estamos muy orgullosos de nuestro trabajo en el Mustang GTD”, ha dicho Larry Holt, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations. “Demuestra cómo es nuestra tecnología de suspensión de válvulas DSSV de última generación, con capacidades que ni siquiera están permitidas en competición. El Mustang GTD establece un nuevo punto de referencia para los vehículos performance homologados para la carretera; estamos deseando que los clientes experimenten la emoción de conducirlo.”      

El excelente agarre en carretera y la estabilidad en curva del Mustang GTD se deben a sus neumáticos delanteros de 325 milímetros de anchura -tan anchos como los traseros del Ford GT-, mientras que los traseros son de 345 milímetros, montados en llantas de aluminio forjado de 20 pulgadas o en llantas de magnesio forjado, también disponibles como opción. Las llantas de magnesio ofrecen la combinación ideal de peso y durabilidad y un diseño similar a las del Mustang GT3 de carreras.      

Detrás de esas llantas se encuentran los enormes frenos cerámicos de carbono BremboTM, optimizados para expulsar el calor, lo que se traduce en una parada más precisa y consistente. El calor de los frenos traseros se elimina con la ayuda de conductos de refrigeración instalados debajo de la suspensión trasera.       

El Mustang GTD incorpora la nueva tecnología de Ford con el Control de Tracción Variable en el modo pista. Esto permite al conductor llevar el vehículo al límite modulando la potencia del motor y el control de tracción. Los ajustes pueden hacerse sin quitar las manos del volante, permitiendo al conductor adaptar su conducción a las condiciones de la pista.    

Estandarte del futuro de la tecnología automovilística, el Mustang GTD utiliza una avanzada arquitectura eléctrica proveniente del nuevo Mustang de séptima generación, que ayuda a ofrecer una conectividad sin fisuras, muchos modos de conducción personalizados y actualizaciones de software de manera inalámbrica.     Estas tecnologías trabajan en perfecta armonía, diseñadas para una conducción y control sin igual.    

Espacio en el habitáculo   

En el habitáculo está acabado en materiales de primera calidad, incluyendo ante Miko en combinación con cuero y fibra de carbono, mientras que las pantallas digitales mantienen a los conductores atentos y en pleno control. Los asientos RECARO® optimizados para el circuito se complementan con las palancas de cambio de titanio impresas en 3D, el mando giratorio y la placa de serie, todos ello fabricado a partir de piezas de titanio del Lockheed Martin F-22. La parte de los asientos traseros se ha eliminado para reducir el peso y proporcionar espacio de carga.  

El Mustang GTD estará disponible en múltiples combinaciones de colores interiores y con varios paquetes de opciones especiales, que llevan el diseño exterior a otro nivel. El vehículo también se puede reservar en cualquier color, incluso en el de una muestra proporcionada por el cliente. Estas opciones personalizables permiten a los clientes adaptar el vehículo a su gusto para hacerlo totalmente único.      

El resultado final es una presencia inconfundible, lo más parecido posible a un Mustang GT3 de competición para la calle.       

La producción del Mustang GTD será limitada, y se espera que su PVP*** arranque a partir de los 300.000 $ (unos 276.042 euros al cambio actual). Comenzará su andadura en la planta de montaje de Ford en Flat Rock, y después será llevado a las instalaciones de Multimatic en Markham (Canadá) donde será fabricado a mano, con la precisión propia de la competición, por los equipos de Ford Performance y Multimatic. El Mustang GTD estará disponible entre finales de 2024 y principios de 2025. Los interesados en saber más sobre el Mustang GTD pueden visitar ford.com para obtener más información.

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*Valores de potencia basados en combustible premium según la norma SAE J1349®. Sus resultados pueden variar.

**Disponibilidad muy limitada. La solicitud de información no garantiza la posibilidad de compra.

***Precio de venta sugerido por el fabricante $300,000. Impuestos, título y tasas de licencia aparte. Brembo es una marca registrada de Brembo S.p.A. RECARO es una marca registrada de RECARO Beteiligungs-GmbH. Lockheed Martin es una marca registrada de Lockheed Martin Corporation

Acerca de Ford Motor Company    

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) es una empresa global con sede en Dearborn, Michigan, comprometida con ayudar a construir un mundo mejor, donde cada persona sea libre de moverse y perseguir sus sueños. El plan Ford+ de la compañía para el crecimiento y la creación de valor combina las fortalezas existentes, las nuevas capacidades y las relaciones permanentes con los clientes para enriquecer las experiencias de los clientes y profundizar su lealtad. Ford desarrolla y ofrece camionetas Ford, vehículos utilitarios deportivos, camionetas y automóviles comerciales y vehículos de lujo Lincoln, junto con servicios conectados. La compañía lo hace a través de tres segmentos comerciales centrados en el cliente: Ford Blue, que diseña vehículos icónicos híbridos y de gasolina; Ford Model e, inventando vehículos eléctricos innovadores junto con software integrado que define experiencias digitales excepcionales para todos los clientes; y Ford Pro, ayudando a los clientes comerciales a transformar y expandir sus negocios con vehículos y servicios adaptados a sus necesidades. Además, Ford busca soluciones de movilidad a través de Ford Next y brinda servicios financieros a través de Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford emplea a unas 173.000 personas en todo el mundo. Más información sobre la compañía y sus productos y servicios está disponible en corporate.ford.com.      

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BUGATTI IS SHOWCASING ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP AT THE QUAIL, A MOTORSPORTS GATHERING

CHIRON SUPER SPORT: FUEL CONSUMPTION COMBINED (WLTP): 21.47 L/100 KM; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED (WLTP): 486.72 G/KMW16 MISTRAL: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.

A truly exceptional Bugatti ‘one-off’ – the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ – takes center stage at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering for the 20th anniversary of the event. Being a masterpiece like no other, it is the creative result of the Bugatti Sur Mesure service, which offers ultimate automotive couture, taking customers on a collaborative journey to create their perfect Bugatti without limits. Now, Sur Mesure evolves once more to bring customers an even deeper and broader scope for personalization, blending the boundaries of automotive with pure artistry.

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS

  • 1 CHIRON SUPER SPORT: WLTP FUEL CONSUMPTION, L/100 KM: LOW PHASE 40.31 / MEDIUM PHASE 22.15 / HIGH PHASE 17.89 / EXTRA HIGH PHASE 17.12 / COMBINED 21.47; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED, G/KM: 486.72; EFFICIENCY CLASS: GDOWNLOAD PDF
  • 2 W16 MISTRAL: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.
  • 3 BOLIDE: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.

One of the most prestigious events of its kind, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering brings together extraordinary cars from around the world in a setting of unparalleled luxury with the Santa Lucia Mountain range forming the backdrop. At this year’s gathering Bugatti debuts the Chiron Super Sport1 ‘Golden Era’ and a W16 Mistral2 in a shimmering gold finish that radiates against the Californian sun.

Making its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ is the very embodiment of the elevated Bugatti Sur Mesure program. It was united with its owner for the first time a stage that is both iconic and fitting for such an illustrious work of art, having hosted many legendary Bugatti unveilings in previous years, like the ultimate roadster W16 Mistral last year or the track-only Bolide3 in 2021.

As with every Sur Mesure creation, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ brings a story to life that weaves through time, legend and distinction. Today, this hyper sports car represents the pinnacle of hand-crafted luxury performance, taking bespoke craftmanship into another dimension. It took two years to create the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ a journey that was as meticulous as it is personal. The commission has resulted in a unique piece of art that beautifully captures the incomparable legacy of Bugatti in the form of a composition of 45 sketches of the brand’s timeless icons, all hand-drawn directly onto the exterior body of the hyper sports car.

The sketching process alone took more than 400 hours to complete. In fact, such was the intricacy that entirely new techniques and processes had to be formed to guarantee the longevity and exquisite finish of the artwork. A bespoke color, a celebratory shade of gold named ‘Doré’, was specially designed for this occasion and applied with a gradient color split into a special metallic variant of ‘Nocturne Black’.

Achieving a level of craftsmanship unlike anything before witnessed in the automotive world, the Sur Mesure program is a tailored personalization experience that knows no limits, bringing to reality the creative visions and exacting wishes of customers, no matter how challenging and complex the nature of the commission and the creative craftmanship underpinning the work.

A bespoke piece of art is an intimate ownership experience; and it is one that can only truly be appreciated when the artist and customer combine values of creative freedom to ensure the masterpiece is perfect in every sense.

Working with Bugatti’s team of specialists, the customer will embark on a journey of co-creation and inspiration, ultimately crafting a hyper sports car that is incomparable and personal. In that sense, a Bugatti Sur Mesure car brings to life a story, expressing the inner personality of its owner while challenging the design and engineering teams on every level to achieve perfection. For many customers that also includes establishing connection to their deep appreciation of Bugatti’s rich history, paying homage to the brand’s iconic automobiles and legendary racing cars. Building a Sur Mesure project often requires processes which might not be the easiest or quickest of implementations for the team of Bugatti specialists, such undertakings always result in the best outcome, adhering to the brand’s uncompromisingly high standards that guarantee perfection is achieved every time.

“The Sur Mesure program is truly limitless in the creative possibilities it offers to customers, creating a car that is an intimate, personalized and bespoke artwork. The service is also testament to the incredibly gifted and talented Bugatti team of designers, engineers and specialists. These are individuals operating at the very top of their craft, setting trends and defining new chapters in luxury, artistry and technology” said Bugatti Managing Director, Hendrik Malinowski.

“Our teams of designers and engineers walk step-by-step on this incredible and thrilling journey with the customer. It is the ultimate example in a collaborative partnership that knows no boundaries. A Bugatti Sur Mesure car is much like a timeless magnus opus. A painter may imagine their art hanging in a renowned gallery some 100 years into the future; a Sur Mesure masterpiece must be imagined on a Concours d’Elegance lawn a century from now.”

Since the earliest days of Ettore and Jean Bugatti’s leadership, the ambition of the brand has been to push boundaries, not just in the physical sense from wholesale engineering and technology innovations through to individual components but also in artistic form, bringing ideas to life that redefine design boundaries, delivering bespoke craftmanship that is unparalleled.

“If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti,” said Ettore. This ethos has stood the test of time. It is as true today as it had been on the day when Bugatti was formed in 1909.

Establishing a golden synergy at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is a shimmering ‘Doré’ W16 Mistral, radiating its exquisite aesthetic form, a design immersed in pure elegance.

Bugatti’s ultimate roadster effortlessly evokes a sense of timelessness, making it truly incomparable; its status as a modern-day Bugatti icon already secured by being the roadgoing hyper sports car that draws to a close the era of the brand’s momentous W16 powertrain.

As part of the Sur Mesure program, the W16 Mistral can be customized to nearly any customer request. The first bespoke commissions are already underway with customers, artistic work that showcases an even broader array of creative possibilities. In the same sense in which Bugatti strives for nothing less than perfection in all the cars leaving the Molsheim Atelier, the unique masterpieces from the Sur Mesure offer follow the same principles, furthering the evolution of a unique couture service for customers.

Following The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Bugatti will welcome its close customers on Saturday and Sunday at Le Domaine Bugatti, where they will be able to have a closer look at the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ and the golden W16 Mistral, and discover a very unique golden Bolide.

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The first-ever BMW i7 Protection, the new BMW 7 Series Protection

BMW unveils a new generation of protection vehicles in the luxury saloon segment.
Utilising the design of the award-winning BMW 7 Series, the two new models blend an unrivalled protection concept with outstanding levels of ride comfort and spaciousness, advanced equipment features and the class-beating dynamic prowess for which the brand is renowned. As the world’s first ever protection saloon with an all-electric drive system, the BMW i7 Protection (electric power consumption combined in WLTP cycle: 30.0 kWh/100 km, provisional figure for the German market) is a genuine trailblazer. This model variant meets all the requirements of class VR9 protection without any limitations, as does the new combustion-engined BMW 7 Series Protection (fuel consumption combined in WLTP cycle: 18.1 mpg; CO2 emissions: 355 g/km, provisional figures for the German market).

The new protection models offer at-risk individuals customised protection from attacks with firearms and explosives. They have been classified as offering class VR9 protection based on the internationally recognised official test criteria of Germany’s Vereinigung der Prüfstellen für Angriffshemmende Materialien und Konstruktionen (Association of Test Laboratories for Attack-Resistant Materials and Constructions – VPAM, for short). The certification is based, among other things, on the third edition of the guidelines for Bullet Resistant Vehicles (BRV 2009) with regard to ballistic resistance and the guidelines for Explosive Resistant Vehicles (ERV 2010) and PAS 300 with regard to blast resistance. The glass for the two models even meets the criteria for VPAM 10 classification, representing the highest level of protection for civilian protection vehicles. The armoured body of the new BMW 7 Series Protection can also be upgraded to offer VPAM 10 protection as an option.

The new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection will be built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in an elaborate “craft manufacturing” process. They are set to make their public debut at the IAA Mobility 2023 international motor show in Munich, with deliveries commencing in December 2023.

Innovative protection concept featuring unique BMW Protection Core.
The standout integrated protection concept of the new BMW i7 Protection and BMW 7 Series Protection was factored into the development of the new 7 Series range. With the new BMW Protection Core, the entire supporting structure for the protection saloon’s body is constructed from armour steel for the first time. The BMW Protection Core forms a self-supporting protective cell, which is then combined with protection-spec doors, armouring for the underbody and roof, and safety glass.

The special armouring for the roof and underbody has been designed to offer maximum protection against explosives in particular. The occupants are also protected from drone attacks with explosive charges and from fragments dispersed by hand grenades on detonation. The new BMW 7 Series Protection also features a self-sealing fuel tank as a standard. The tank’s casing automatically closes breaches made by the impact of a bullet and thus prevents loss of fuel.

Greater spaciousness, lower weight and sharper agility combined with uncompromising occupant protection.
The structural protection concept with BMW Protection Core gives the new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection major advantages in other respects as opposed to armouring a finished vehicle at a later date. When seen from the outside, they have a similar look and feel to a regular BMW 7 Series Saloon M Sport, and their discreet appearance represents an additional safety factor for people requiring protection. Thanks to the fully integrated protection concept with BMW Protection Core, the levels of room and seating comfort on board hardly differ from those found inside a conventional BMW 7 Series Saloon.

The optimised weight combines with the increase in body rigidity (another benefit of the BMW Protection Core) to deliver well-resolved handling and the dynamic responses expected of a BMW in dangerous situations. The unrivalled levels of agility shown by the two protection saloons translates into high steering precision, excellent cornering dynamics and outstanding figures for acceleration and top speed.

BMW i7 Protection: outstanding security, zero tailpipe emissions and no compromises.
The BMW i7 Protection brings the all-electric mobility experience to the protection vehicle segment for the first time. Its two electric motors – one at the front axle and one at the rear – together create an electric all-wheel-drive set-up and produce system output of up to 400 kW/544 hp and maximum system torque of 745 Nm (549 lb-ft).

The instantaneous power delivery, distribution of power to all four wheels and intelligent networking of all the powertrain and chassis systems guarantees exceptional traction, directional stability and dynamic prowess. The new BMW i7 Protection sprints to 62 mph from rest in 9.0 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 99 mph.

BMW 7 Series Protection: unwavering protection, superior dynamics.
In the petrol-engined version of the new protection saloon, a latest-generation 4.4-litre V8 unit generates maximum output of 390 kW/530 hp and peak torque of 750 Nm (553 lb-ft). Its BMW TwinPower Turbo technology includes an upgraded turbocharging system with electrically operated blow-off valve and indirect charge air cooling, along with a cross-bank exhaust manifold. In addition, the presence of 48V mild hybrid technology helps to optimise power delivery and efficiency.

The BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system directs drive power to all four wheels as required. The new BMW 7 Series Protection accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds and goes on to reach a top speed of 130 mph.

Model-specific chassis technology for assured performance.
The new protection saloons come with chassis technology that has been modified and tuned specifically for these models and makes allowance for the additional weight resulting from their special protection features. This produces superbly assured performance in any situation. Thanks to a robust basic construction and the presence of sophisticated chassis systems, passengers in the rear compartment are also able to enjoy exceptional levels of ride comfort. The protection saloons also convince with precisely controllable handling, even when they are being driven hard, such as when escaping from an attack.

Unique in the segment: Integral Active Steering and 20-inch light-alloy wheels with exclusive PAX tyres.
The new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection are the first and only protection vehicles in their segments to be fitted with Integral Active Steering. This rear-wheel steering functionality not only reduces the cars’ turning circle when manoeuvring, it also increases precision and dynamic response through corners taken at speed. Another key attribute of Integral Active Steering – specified as standard here – is how it enhances driving comfort for rear-seat passengers.

Another standout offering in this segment are the 20-inch light-alloy wheels fitted as standard. As well as enhancing ride comfort, traction and directional stability, these also enable the use of a particularly powerful braking system. The specially developed PAX tyres supplied by Michelin in the dimensions 255-740 R510 are equipped with a runflat ring, which allows the car to continue its journey at up to 50 mph even in the event of a total loss of pressure.

Driver assistance systems with information and warning function.
The new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection are equipped with an extensive selection of driver assistance systems. The functionality of this tech is focused on supporting professional chauffeurs with information and warnings, but without actively intervening to control the vehicle. The highly advanced sensors developed for the new BMW 7 Series range and all of the cameras available for the luxury saloon are also fitted on the protection vehicles. These provide precise and detailed information on the area around the vehicle in all situations.

Extensive comfort-enhancing features with exclusive details.
In order to optimise visibility in low ambient temperatures, an electric heating function for both the windscreen and the front sections of the side windows comes as standard. Model-specific pre-heating is available as an option. An exclusive convenience feature also included as standard is motorised assistance for opening and closing the doors.

Another item available on the options list is a cool box integrated between the rear seats to ensure drinks are kept cold. The standard-fitted Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, meanwhile, lays on a high-end audio experience.

Varied range of options for individualising the exterior and interior.
The integrated protection concept of the protection saloons and production at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing maximise the scope for customers to put their personal touch on the exterior and interior. The BMW crystal headlights Iconic Glow are offered as an option alongside the standard illuminated BMW kidney Iconic Glow and almost all of the body colours offered for the new BMW 7 Series range are available. Inside, customers will find multifunction seats, BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery, with seat heating and ventilation as standard. A massage function can be specified for all seats as an option. The range of optional seat and interior surfaces is also carried over from the richly varied options list for the new BMW 7 Series.

BMW iDrive with BMW Curved Display and integrated operation of model-specific security functions.
The new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection are equipped with the latest generation of BMW iDrive based on BMW Operating System 8.5 complete with the BMW Curved Display. The system is intuitive to use and operates in a way that will be familiar to BMW drivers. The special functions relevant to occupant protection are also operated via BMW iDrive. They can be activated and controlled in full using the touchscreen capability of the control display.

A camera-based additional interior mirror can be specified as an option. At the touch of a button, this shows the image feed from the Reversing Assist Camera in the control display. A standard-fitted intercom system allows the car’s occupants to communicate effectively with people on the outside without having to open doors or windows.

Effective protection measures for a variety of attack scenarios.
A wide range of standard and optional equipment available for the new BMW protection saloons provides occupants with custom-spec protection in various attack scenarios. The new BMW i7 Protection and new BMW 7 Series Protection can be tailored precisely, with custom options including a fresh-air supply system, a fire extinguishing system, flashing lights, radio transceivers and flag poles for use when the car is on official duty, plus other special customer-specific options.

All figures relating to performance, fuel/electric power consumption and emissions are provisional.

All of the stated model variants, equipment features, technical data and fuel/electric power consumption and emissions figures relate to the offering in the German market. Dimensions and measurements refer to vehicles with basic configuration in Germany. These may vary depending on the items of optional equipment selected.

Official fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, electric power consumption and electric range figures were determined based on the prescribed measurement procedure in accordance with European Regulation (EC) 2007/715 in the version applicable. Where a range is shown, the WLTP figures take into account the impact of any optional extras.

Only official figures based on the WLTP procedure are available for new models that have been type tested since 01.01.2021. In addition, according to EU Regulation 2022/195, the NEDC values will no longer be included in the EC certificates of conformity as of 01.01.2023. Further information on the WLTP and NEDC measurement procedures can also be found at www.bmw.de/wltp.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: ‘Leitfaden über den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen’ (Guide to the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2.

The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

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Commanding lights-to-flag victory for the Porsche 963 at Road America

Porsche 963, Porsche Penske Motorsport (#7), Felipe Nasr (BR), Matt Campbell (AUS)

  • Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr celebrate maiden victory in the IMSA series
  • Porsche Penske Motorsport’s sister car in seventh
  • Solid results for the customer teams’ Porsche 963
  • Podium results out of reach for the partner squads in the GTD classes

Porsche Penske Motorsport celebrates its second win with the Porsche 963. In the race over two hours and 40 minutes at Road America, the No. 7 car brought home a commanding victory. In round eight of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the two works drivers Matt Campbell from Australia and Felipe Nasr from Brazil held the lead from start to finish. The sister car shared by Nick Tandy from Great Britain and Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet was hit by bad luck: After a puncture early in the race, the No. 6 car took the flag in seventh place. The customer teams JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition put in a strong drive to finish in positions five and eight. In the GT classes, the five Porsche 911 GT3 R again had no chance to claim a podium spot.Stuttgart. Round eight of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the US state of Wisconsin took off with a surprise for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team: Because the pole-sitting Cadillac failed to turn up on the grid in time after an accident during warm-up, Matt Campbell inherited the front spot. During his stint, the Australian proved unbeatable. After just three laps, he had increased his advantage at the front to more than four seconds. Campbell then continued to pull clear of his pursuers, stretching the gap to well over ten seconds before handing the car off to his teammate Felipe Nasr. The Brazilian then defended the top spot uncontested to take the flag in first place. In the end, the 515 kW+ (700 PS) hybrid prototype from Weissach crossed the finish line with a 4.635-second lead.

The No. 6 sister car only managed to tap the huge potential of the Porsche 963 in the first half hour. In the early stages, Nick Tandy worked his way through the field to fourth place, only to be struck by a major setback: a puncture in the right rear tyre. The UK driver carefully limped back to the pits for an unscheduled stop – which cost him around two minutes. With no full course yellows, it proved impossible to close the gap in the action-packed race. Ultimately, Tandy and his teammate Jaminet finished seventh

.

“Congratulations to the team and our drivers: That was a flawless team effort,” says a delighted Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. “After a difficult first day of practice, we consolidated our efforts to turn things around and tapped the huge potential of the Porsche 963 in qualifying and the race. This was possible thanks to the perfect synergy between the crew at the track and the team back in Weissach. Everyone put in a strong performance. The pace of our number 6 was great too. Unfortunately, a puncture destroyed all hopes – that’s how it goes in motor racing sometimes. I take my hat off to our customer teams in the GTP class, who put in a clean performance and fast lap times here.”

“Everyone did an excellent job,” states Jonathan Diuguid. The Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport adds: “We didn’t have the pace on Friday, but we saw today that the team worked together to perform well in the race. Both cars had great pace. Unfortunately, our number 6 entry lost positions due to a puncture early in the race, but at least it managed to get back into the same lap as the leader. Matt and Felipe did a perfect job in the No. 7 car – and that effort earned us our victory. Now we’ve won one race each with both cars. That’s fantastic. We also closed the gap in the manufacturers’ championship.”

In the manufacturers’ standings, Porsche has advanced to third place. With two more races remaining, the gap to the top is only 47 points. In the drivers’ championship, Tandy/Jaminet and Campbell/Nasr rank fourth and seventh respectively and still have an outside chance of winning the title.

The two Porsche 963 racing cars fielded by customer teams delivered strong and flawless drives. Germany’s Mike Rockenfeller and his Dutch teammate Tijmen van der Helm set an impressive pace at times in the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports car, even matching the pace of the factory squad. The car decked out in its bright yellow livery concluded the race in fifth place overall. The identical GTP model campaigned by Proton Competition finished its IMSA series debut in eighth with works driver Gianmaria Bruni from Italy and Englishman Harry Tincknell.

GTD Classes: Porsche customer teams finish towards the back of the field
The customer teams in the two GT classes had no chance to fight for the podium. In the GTD-Pro category, Pfaff Motorsport’s 911 GT3 R piloted by Austrian Klaus Bachler and Frenchman Patrick Pilet finished fourth. In the GTD class, the identical nine-elevens producing around 415kW (565 PS) from Wright Motorsports, AO Racing and Kellymoss with Riley finished ninth, eleventh, 13th and 14th.

The next GTP round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be contested on 17 September at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The American racing series will make its maiden guest outing on the so-called “Brickyard” – which is a combination of the oval outer track and an infield course. Formula 1 used this track layout between 2000 and 2007.

Drivers’ comments on the race
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #7): “For us, it was of course a big advantage that we were allowed to start from pole position after the Cadillac had an accident in the warm-up. On this track, it makes a huge difference which side of the grid you start on. There’s a lot of dirt off the racing line, but fortunately, we managed to avoid this and turned considerably faster opening laps than our pursuers. Our Porsche 963 was really great to drive in the race – that was somewhat of a surprise after our difficulties on Friday, which makes our performance all the better. I’m thrilled about our first victory with the number 7 car in the IMSA series.”

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “Thank you to the whole team! It was an outstanding effort from everyone. Matt put in a strong first stint and positioned our car solidly at the front of the field. I gave everything at the end to defend that position. It was anything but easy because the Acura in second place had fresher tyres. On top of that, the situations with passing slower cars were often extremely tricky. But it all worked out – finally!”

Mike Rockenfeller (Porsche 963 #5): “We started from ninth place and finished in fifth – we can live with that. Our race pace was really strong. I had some tough battles during my stint and didn’t always agree with the decisions of some of my colleagues, at some points, things got really tough. It was difficult to stay calm in the car at all times. On the other hand, of course, it was a joy to be able to fight at this level in the top class.”

Harry Tincknell (Porsche 963 #59): “After only being able to turn very few laps in the race at our WEC event in Monza, things finally went better here. I learned more about the car today than on all the previous days combined. The basis of the Porsche 963 is extremely good – we’re only a little behind in terms of the setup because the time for making adjustments and gaining experience was too short. Now, we’ll analyse all the data and draw our conclusions. If we were to do another race tomorrow, we would be considerably faster – without a doubt.”

Patrick Pilet (Porsche 911 GT3 R #9): “We always give everything, push to the absolute limit, but under these conditions, we had no chance. We’re lacking top speed and the power to accelerate out of the corners fast enough. That’s very frustrating. As a team, we delivered an absolutely flawless performance. So that wasn’t the reason. Now, I’m looking forward to a few days off. Hopefully, in Indianapolis, we’ll have found our rhythm.”

Race results
GTP class:
1. Campbell/Nasr (AUS/BR), Porsche 963 #7, 80 laps
2. Blomqvist/Braun (UK/USA), Acura #60, 80 laps
3. Taylor/Albuquerque (USA/P), Acura #10, 80 laps
5. Rockenfeller/van der Helm (D/NL), Porsche 963 #5, 80 laps
7. Tandy/Jaminet (UK/F), Porsche 963 #6, 80 laps
8. Bruni/Tincknell (I/UK), Porsche 963 #59, 80 laps

GTD-Pro class:
1. Gunn/Riberas (UK/E), Aston Martin #23, 73 laps
2. Hawksworth/Barnicoat (UK/UK), Lexus #14, 72 laps
3. Garcia/Taylor (E/USA), Corvette #3, 72 laps
4. Bachler/Pilet (A/F), Porsche 911 GT3 R #9, 72 laps

GTD class:
1. Sellers/Snow (USA/USA), BMW #1, 72 laps
2. Iribe/Schandorff (USA/DK), McLaren #70, 72 laps
3. Skeen/Grenier (USA/CDN), Mercedes-AMG #32, 72 laps
9. Metni/van Berlo (USA/NL), Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, 72 laps
11. Hyett/Priaulx (USA/UK), Porsche 911 GT3 R #80, 72 laps
12. Brule/Udell (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #92, 71 laps
14. Brynjolfsson/Hindman (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #77, 70 laps

All results: imsa.alkamelsystems.com.

The Twitter channel @PorscheRaces and Instagram @porsche.motorsport as well as @porschepenskemotorsport provide live updates from Porsche Penske Motorsport with the latest information from racetracks around the world.

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El escudo Porsche es uno de los diseños más famosos de la historia del automóvil y en él cada detalle tiene un gran significado

DIFERENTES PROPUESTAS DE DISEÑO: ASÍ PODRÍA HABER SIDO EL ESCUDO PORSCHE

Sin embargo, a principios de la década de 1960 fue objeto de algunas críticas. En el Archivo de Porsche se conservan algunas propuestas que no lograron superar el corte en su momento.

Algo simple. La palabra “Porsche”, sin más. En 1948 esto era todo lo necesario, según la visión de los pragmáticos creadores de la marca, para definir lo que ahora vemos como un auténtico icono. Cuenta la leyenda que las letras originales de aluminio fueron hechas por un aprendiz con una sierra de calar y se diseñaron para figurar en el Porsche 356 “Nº 1” Roadster que compitió y venció en la carrera de Hofgarten, en Innsbruck, Austria. Pero hoy no reconocemos un Porsche por aquellas letras, sino por su famoso escudo.

Ya en 1951, el Doctor Ottomar Domnick, uno de los primeros apasionados confesos de Porsche, tomó la iniciativa. Lanzó “The Porsche Prize”, un concurso para definir el logotipo que debería representar a la nueva marca. Sin embargo, ninguna de las propuestas presentadas cumplía con los requisitos. Tiempo después, en una cena de negocios en Nueva York a finales de 1951, Max Hoffman habló con Ferry Porsche y rescató aquella idea de diseñar un emblema. Tras esta conversación, en el cuaderno de Ferry aparecía la siguiente nota con fecha 27 de diciembre: “Volante decorado con la palabra ‘Porsche’ y el escudo de Stuttgart o similar”. En 1952, el diseñador Franz Xaver Reimspieß, un talentoso dibujante, creó el diseño decisivo: un caballo encabritado, tomado del escudo de la ciudad de Stuttgart y representado dentro de los contornos de un escudo dorado. Estos elementos, unidos al nombre de Stuttgart en la parte superior, denotaban un claro compromiso con la producción de automóviles en Zuffenhausen. Los colores estatales rojo y negro que lo rodean, así como las astas, son herencia del emblema tradicional de Württemberg-Hohenzollern, con el logotipo Porsche formando un arco protector sobre todo lo demás.

Un escudo que causó sensación

El escudo es una obra de arte compleja, que unifica gran parte de lo que distingue a Porsche. También es una prueba clara de que los proyectos que se llevan a cabo con convicción y salen directamente del corazón pueden tener un gran impacto. A partir de aquel momento, Porsche tenía un logotipo capaz de impresionar no solo en sus vehículos, sino también en membretes, anuncios y publicaciones. No obstante, no estaría exento de controversia.

Para entender lo que significaba un escudo detallado con muchos colores, hay que retroceder en el tiempo. En la década de 1950, la impresión en color todavía era muy costosa y bastante complicada. No todos los impresores tenían máquinas adecuadas ni era fácil crear planchas o establecer marcas de registro con precisión para que todas las formas se colocaran exactamente una encima de la otra. Por lo tanto, crear una imagen o un gráfico claro y nítido sin que la pantalla de impresión se deslizara era complicado. Además, el escudo Porsche no se veía tan elegante como una versión en blanco y negro. Los Gerentes de Ventas de Porsche y la organización de concesionarios también vieron otro problema, que se abordó escribiendo a Porsche y a su Jefe de Publicidad, Hermann Lapper, en 1961: “Los diferentes colores y muchos detalles en su conjunto no proporcionan un efecto visual compacto y coherente en el tráfico rodado”.

a estrella de Mercedes-Benz y el logo de Volkswagen (también obra de Reimspieß) se presentaron como ejemplos de buen diseño. Así que, tras esta apreciación, se crearon nuevos bocetos en colaboración con Hanns Lohrer. Lohrer, artista de gran talento, fue responsable de muchos carteles y anuncios influyentes de Porsche en los años cincuenta y sesenta. Fue un profesional que, como Erich Strenger, otro importante diseñador gráfico de la época, dejó su huella en esta era de Porsche.

Un nuevo diseño

A Hanns Lohrer se le encomendó una tarea muy relevante: crear un nuevo escudo. En principio, se lanzaría con el sucesor del Porsche 356, cuyo proyecto respondía a la denominación interna “Programa T8”. Pero de aquella propuesta no salió nada.¡Totalmente diferentes! Estos fueron algunos de los diseños que se barajaron al principio. La letra “P” siempre estaba presente, a veces en un círculo, otras veces con tipografías cambiantes y dentro de figuras distintas. Desde la perspectiva actual, puede parecer extraño e incluso desconcertante.

Si hoy tenemos conocimiento de estos planes es gracias a la correspondencia del secretario y cronista de Porsche, Ghislain Kaes. Aparte de estos papeles, no se encuentra en el Archivo de Porsche ninguna evidencia de los esfuerzos realizados en ese momento.

Presumiblemente, se tomó la decisión de que el logotipo en uso desde 1952 ya estaba demasiado establecido como para considerar buena idea un cambio repentino de dirección en el diseño. Pero esto es solo una conjetura. Ferry Porsche planteó este argumento una vez cuando Ottomar Domnick le sugirió que, con su caballo, el escudo Porsche se parecía demasiado al logotipo de la empresa de carrocerías Reutter. Hoy, se puede decir que es sobre todo una cosa: inequívocamente Porsche. Incluso en su sexta evolución.

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Jodie Kidd electrocuted with 1M volts for Kia EV9 launch

The model and car enthusiast shoots lightning from her hands as part of a death-defying electricity stunt, coinciding with Kia EV9 launch

  • Comes as new research reveals a quarter of parents (26 per cent) have been encouraged to buy an electric vehicle – by their kids
  • UK pre-orders now open for Kia EV9; priced from £64,995

Model and car enthusiast Jodie Kidd has been electrocuted with more than a million volts as part of a death-defying stunt.

Sitting on a raised platform and protected from a ‘lightning machine’ only by a chainmail Faraday suit to conduct electricity around her, Jodie was able to control the electricity with her fingertips and shoot streams of lightning from her hands.

The ‘lightning’ photography was then combined with shots of a futuristic-looking Jodie for the launch of Kia’s new six- or seven-seat EV9. A game-changing new electric family car, the EV9 features ultra-rapid charging, a range of up to more than 300 miles from a single charge, and ‘vehicle-to-load’ technology that allows it to power almost anything with a 3-pin plug.

It comes as new research, commissioned by Kia, reveals that more than 26 per cent of parents have been encouraged to buy an electric vehicle – by their kids. More than a third of these (36 per cent) put it down to learning about environmental issues at school, and 35 per cent said their kids want one because they are cool. A third (33 per cent) believe they have been influenced by their favourite TV shows and YouTubers.

The study of 2,000 adults found, of the parents polled, 87 per cent have gone on to explore the possibility of purchasing one because of these conversations.

And of the motorists polled, 40 per cent are considering getting a more sustainable vehicle. Environmental reasons (46 per cent) are the most common driving force behind this, and 29 per cent are contemplating because of the new law banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. On average, by 2026 is when most drivers think they’ll buy an electric car.

Kia’s new EV9 SUV boasts up to seven-seats in a three-row format with huge cabin and luggage space. Created with the environment in mind, the EV9 has a leather-free cabin with many elements created from recycled PET plastic, made from items such as fishing nets and plastic bottles. The car is also fully electric with zero tailpipe emissions.

Starting at £64,995, the ‘Air’ is the entry-point to the line-up. First UK deliveries of the car will start in January 2024, with pre-orders now open.

Jodie Kidd said: “Being electrocuted was one of the most petrifying things I’ve ever done – but also such an amazing experience. Not many people can say they have had a million volts through their body and been able to shoot lightning with their fingers!”

“As a parent, I know exactly how important the environment is to the next generation. I have had many conversations with my son Indio about what we can do to live more sustainably – including buying an electric car.”

“This stunt was all about celebrating electricity and how the future of motoring is electric, for the launch of Kia’s new fully electric car, the EV9. With a range of more than 300 miles, ultra-rapid charging, and the ability to power anything with a three-pin plug, its perfect for family adventures. You can even use it to boil a kettle and stop for a nice cup of tea!”

The EV9 is Kia’s new flagship electric vehicle, and is one of 15 fully electric models that the brand is launching globally by 2027.

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AN ERA ENDS: ACHIM ANSCHEIDT PASSES THE BATON AT BUGATTI

An era ends: Achim Anscheidt passes the baton at BugattiBugatti Director of Design, Achim Anscheidt has retired from his role, bringing an end to 19 years of his personal oversight of the stylistic evolution of the Bugatti brand. Anscheidt will remain a senior advisor to Bugatti Rimac CEO, Mate Rimac, as the brand prepares to unveil the new hybridized Chiron successor. Achim’s long-standing deputy, Frank Heyl, becomes the new Bugatti Director of Design.Anscheidt, the son of three-time motorbike racing world champion Hans-Georg Anscheidt, started his car design career after being a motorcycle stunt acrobat until his early twenties.

He grew up surrounded by the sounds and smells of motorsport, and had a natural talent for art and perspective drawing. Eventually he combined the two at ACCD in Pasadena, graduating in 1993 and moving into a junior designer role at Porsche Design Weissach. Three years later, he was chosen to lead the Volkswagen Group’s advanced design operations in Barcelona and Berlin at a time when Bugatti was also under VW Group ownership.In 2004 Anscheidt became Design Director at Bugatti, when the Veyron design was mostly finalized but a rapid stylistic development of the product portfolio needed to be undertaken. With Anscheidt’s guidance, models like the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and Veyron Super Sport became icons of performance. And with special edition models like the innovative Veyron L’Or Blanc with its porcelain applications, the Veyron Edition Hermès and the Legend Editions, Anscheidt and Bugatti pioneered new levels of bespoke craftsmanship. The brand grew in stature and in sales exponentially with Anscheidt’s collaborative influence.

Mate Rimac, Bugatti Rimac CEO said: “Since engaging in my role at Bugatti a couple of years ago, it was obvious that Achim was a crucial component in establishing the next generation of Bugatti hyper sports cars, so I sincerely encouraged him in 2021 to remain with Bugatti for a further three years before retiring. Not only has he very successfully led the stylistic development of a manufacturer renowned for some of the most beautiful cars in the world, but he has also evolved the brand into a true automotive luxury pioneer. His attention to detail and dedication to perfection extends to almost every part of Bugatti today; the visual quality perception, the consequent material philosophy, our communications with our customers and everything else in between. He has ensured that every interaction an individual has with our brand is incomparable by design.

“Achim’s understanding of the Bugatti identity, handed down from our founder Ettore and in the beautiful designs of his son Jean, is unrivalled, and his last commitment to Bugatti was to finalize the design of our next-generation hyper sports car. Without saying too much, it’s Achim’s masterpiece and the most beautiful and authentic evolution of Bugatti I could have imagined. It’s an honor to have Achim continue to develop the brand as our advisor, and with the stunning work that Frank Heyl has already undertaken, the future of Bugatti design is in the very best of hands.”

Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Designing a Bugatti is a skill that only the very best can achieve. Not only do you have the enormous weight of a century of iconic automotive masterpieces on your shoulders, but you also have the complexities of millimeter-perfect packaging and extreme aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements. To create a car around the W16 engine, and one capable of world record speeds requires a huge amount of balancing aerodynamic forces and active temperature handling. Achim has a very natural technical understanding all these demands, able to craft beauty from necessity.”

Achim Anscheidt said: “When I first arrived at Bugatti, I was inspired to make the famous Bugatti patrons of the past proud – especially Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean, but also Romano Artioli and especially Ferdinand Piëch. Jean was such a visionary of style design and for his life to have been cut so sadly short served as the catalyst for me to evolve the brand in his stylistic vision. I wanted to develop modern day Bugatti into a crowning jewel of brand perception and unique automotive excellence.

“The Veyron, the Chiron and the successor to the Chiron all share this one thing: they are not racecars for the road, they are the pinnacle of Grand Tourisme development, they are an intriguing mixture of a nimble Type 35, the luxury of the Type 41 Royale and the peerless elegance of the Type 57 SC Atlantic.

“I will be forever grateful for having been a part of this incredible developing Bugatti journey, the best is still to come, and I’m truly thankful to all who supported the brand and our design department to help us evolve the brand to a place where I know Ettore and Jean would be proud.”

THE BUGATTI DESIGN DNA
Under Achim’s careful guidance, modern day Bugatti design has evolved to spark a sense of wonder and joy into anyone that is lucky enough to discover one on a public road. Deliberately elegant, sovereign and free from overly aggressive lines, a Bugatti should evoke the same sensation as seeing a genuine and unique artwork. An automotive contrapost of beauty and beast and of utmost quality perception, visible in the refined reflections on the sculpted organic bodywork.

This is the overarching character upon spotting a Bugatti; something almost indescribable that creates a charming moment of automotive excellence with onlookers. But of course, it must also be recognizably Bugatti, and Achim has defined core elements that feature in some way in every model he has designed, including those still to be revealed.

A Bugatti has a distinct and unmistakable DNA. The horseshoe grille is the most precious brand identification symbol, as is the duotone split, used so effectively by Jean Bugatti on his Type 57 creations. The so-called ‘Bugatti Line’ creates a worldwide instantly recognizable sideview profile for every modern-day Bugatti, subtly developed over time to suit each individual Bugatti creation. And an expressive centre line, that traces from the arching crown of the horseshoe grille, across the top of the car flowing into the rear, is a subtle homage to the full-length fin, originating from the purpose-driven famous rivetline of the Type 57 SC Atlantic.

Perhaps most crucially of all, Bugatti design DNA should be ideally created in healthy correlation to its performance challenges. Achim’s philosophy has always been that a truly beautiful and authentic car design should not be engineered first then designed later. The technical requirements and the design must be developed at the same time, and that is especially the case with a Bugatti, complete with the enormously complex aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements. A car that can travel at more than 400km/h, and with 10 separate radiators and a revolutionary 8.0-liter engine must delicately balance downforce, lift and cooling. This is a design vision developed under Achim’s leadership and known as ‘Form Follows Performance.’

Bugatti designers must have a very solid understanding about state-of-the-art automotive engineering, in order to achieve authentic stylistic ‘win–win’ solutions with Bugatti’s ambitious and talented engineers.

Much like a high-end timepiece, every part of this technical design process must be holistically beautiful. Even with the bodyshell removed, a Bugatti should be a work of art, capable of being displayed and appreciated by anyone who beholds it. It is a passionate undertaking of 360-degree beauty in engineering, from the ground-up. Just as it was with Ettore Bugatti and Jean Bugatti, every single component can standalone as an example of design excellence – “Nothing is too beautiful,” as he famously said.

BESPOKE AND THE COACHBUILDING RENAISSANCE
It has always been a part of Bugatti history that cars can perfectly reflect their owner’s exact desires. And even from the early days of the Veyron, Achim worked to push the boundaries of quality perception, precious materials and excellence in craftsmanship to create extraordinary one-off or few-off masterpieces.

This era of individualization began with the Veyron Pur Sang – a favorite of Achim’s as the first of its kind, but also for its pure and authentic materiality. Essentially an unpainted Veyron – with a visible carbon fiber monocoque and pure polished aluminum – it was a visual representation of Bugatti’s dedication to authenticity in materials. If something looks like carbon fiber, or titanium, or leather or aluminum, then it always is. Achim calls this: ‘What you see is what you get.’

In collaboration with famous brands and organizations, Achim oversaw projects that would push the limits further still. The Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport L’Or Blanc featured porcelain highlights as part of a design that mimicked the light reflections over the exterior body. The Veyron FBG Par Hermès was created in partnership with one of the world’s most famous luxury houses, featuring bespoke exterior touches and numerous interior additions, designed from scratch in the Hermès workshops in Paris.

With the evolution from Veyron to Chiron1, Achim’s design team pioneered a resurgence of the coachbuilding tradition that produced some of the most beautiful Bugatti cars ever to have existed. The modern-day coachbuilding era of Bugatti, all using variants of the Chiron powertrain and chassis, has led to the creation of design icons like Divo2, Centodieci3, the unique La Voiture Noire4, the Bolide5, the Mistral6.

BUGATTI UNSEEN
Although much of Achim’s design work is available for the world to see, a huge amount remains hidden. But designs and ideas are constantly reassessed, able to be reinterpreted in a timeless way for the modern era.

At many points in his career, Achim explored a second model line for Bugatti. In 2009, the Galibier – a four-seat Grand Tourisme – was revealed as a potential future model to join the Veyron. And then in 2015, a design for a V8-powered coupé in the style of the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic was publicly featured. Neither made it to production, but it remains Achim’s wish that new model lines can still be created in the spirit of Jean Bugatti.

Famously, Jean Bugatti’s Type 57 generated many different coachbuilt body styles, including the four-seat Ventoux, the sweeping two-seater Atalante, the iconic Atlantic and convertible Tourer variants.

IN ORDER TO LOOK FORWARD, YOU MUST LOOK BACK
With an envious back-catalogue of revered automotive designs, Achim’s challenge for modern Bugatti design has been to capture the essence of what made those cars so timelessly elegant, without creating a retro pastiche.

It’s important to understand what the nucleus of the Type 35 is, or what the defining characteristics of the Type 57 SC Atlantic are. Only with a true understanding of these designs is it possible to design something that doesn’t mimic them, but recaptures their beauty for an entirely new era of cultural development and brand value.

A Bugatti would never directly copy, for example, the riveted body panels of the Type 57 SC Atlantic, but it would find inspiration in their purpose. The rivets were a functional performance decision for the Atlantic, beautiful because of their innate sense of purpose. In modern-day Bugatti, this ethos continues.

Much of this stems from the history of Bugatti as a brand born from a family of artists, and a brand with family values, with a passion for racing and a dedication to perfection. Today, these values continue to inspire Achim, instilled into every member of the design team and hard-wired into every Bugatti design. These are the foundations on which the next chapter in Bugatti design will be built.

PASSING THE TORCH
Achim now passes the torch of Bugatti design to Frank Heyl, having overseen the meticulous development of the Chiron successor and further products. His vision for the future of Bugatti – developed with Mate Rimac – is in place until around 2030. So passionate is Achim, that only with complete confidence in having secured a bright future for the brand, is he able to step back from his role. The successor to the Chiron has been undergoing its design process for over two years already and will be revealed only in 2024 before its launch in 2026.

With the imminent design future of Bugatti secured under his leadership, Achim can confidently hand over the reins to his long-time deputy Frank Heyl. The 44-year-old graduated in vehicle design from the Royal College of Art in London and worked at various manufacturers before kickstarting his career at Bugatti in 2008. At Bugatti he was involved in the design of vehicles including the Veyron Supersport, Vision Gran Turismo, Chiron and Divo. He was appointed Head of Exterior Design in 2014 and promoted to Deputy Design Director in 2019. Frank will lead the Bugatti design team, working hand-in-hand with the Bugatti Rimac design and engineering facility in Berlin, which is overseen by Jan Schmid and the Zagreb operation, headed by Ignacio Martinez.

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JEEP – “Cuatro letras y una sílaba para un nombre con tres teorías sobre su origen”

  • Jeep es una palabra universal, que designa a un tipo de vehículo todoterreno y polivalente en casi todos los idiomas del mundo.
  • Sin embargo, sus orígenes no están nada claros. Se han apuntado tres teorías muy diferentes para intentar explicarlo.
  •  Como marca nacida en el ámbito militar, dos versiones hablan de jerga de los soldados americanos y siglas del Departamento de Guerra estadounidense, mientras que la tercera evoca a un personaje de cómic y dibujos animados.

Madrid, 18 de julio de 2023 – Jeep tiene muy claro su nacimiento. Fue el 15 de julio de 1941, casi 5 meses antes de la entrada de Estados Unidos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el Gobierno americano firmaba con Willys Overland un contrato para proveer al Ejército con un novedoso vehículo multiusos de un cuarto de tonelada. Pero sobre lo que no tiene certezas es sobre el origen de su nombre, que ha acabado por superar los límites de la marca para dar nombre a todo un tipo de automóvil.

La teoría con más ribetes y sellos oficiales señala a la burocracia del entonces Departamento de Guerra de los Estados Unidos, concretamente al estricto pliego de condiciones por el que solicitaba propuestas para crear un “vehículo polivalente” para las necesidades de su Ejército. Según esta leyenda, del “General Purpose Vehicle” del documento original se pasaría en papeleos posteriores y conversaciones informales a un más escueto “GP” (que se pronuncia Dji Pi en inglés). De ahí, llamar “Jeep” al Willys Oveland MB, que era el nombre original del modelo, sólo había un paso.

Una segunda hipótesis también señala al entorno militar. Parece ser que en el argot de determinadas unidades se denominaba “Jeep” a cualquier tipo de vehículo, aunque no existen pruebas documentales que lo certifique. Sí que hay evidencias de que, en la década de 1920, se empezó a utilizar la palabra “jeepers” en inglés americano coloquial para expresar una sorpresa tan grande como la de los soldados que comprobaron las prestaciones de su Jeep.

Precisamente, el carácter todoterreno del Jeep Willys sería el origen de la tercera historia sobre su nombre. Por aquellos años, Popeye era una tira cómica que gozaba de una gran popularidad, con seriales de radio, películas, álbumes… Uno de sus personajes se llamaba Eugene… the Jeep (en España se tradujo como Eugenio el Genio). Se trataba de un extraño animal dotado de una gran nariz que era capaz de colarse en cualquier lugar y de resolver todo tipo de problemas. El paralelismo con el Jeep era evidente y, de hecho, la marca no dudó en utilizar a este héroe de las viñetas en distintas campañas publicitarias.

¿Qué versión es la verdadera? Lo único cierto es que Willys Overland registró el nombre de “Jeep” en 1950, dando lugar a una de las marcas más reconocidas y reconocibles del mundo del automóvil.

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