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2026 Honda Prelude

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At the end of 2023, there were rumors about the return of the Honda Prelude. In the meantime, the rumors have been confirmed, and now the Prelude Concept has been officially presented. The presentation was held at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which will take place from July 11 to 14, 2024.

It will be a continuation of the story that started in 1978 and ended in 2001, when the production of the fifth generation of Honda’s first two-door coupe ended. The new Prelude has a new design and, except for the name, almost no similarities with its predecessor. The front part is reminiscent of sports cars, thin headlights connected with an LED bar, black side mirrors, a roof line that descends towards the rear part is reminiscent of the design of the Porsche 911 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. The rear part has a black lip spoiler, a black bumper and an LED bar which extends along the entire length. The design of the interior is still unknown.

When it comes to the powertrain, it was said that the new Prelude will be fully electric, but the Japanese manufacturer has opted for a hybrid option, and the specifications are currently under wraps. The start of production is expected in the next year or two.

Source: Honda

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2026 Honda Prelude
Restomod

Evoluto 355 based on the Ferrari F355 Berlinetta

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In the world of increasingly popular restomod cars, where the majority are projects based on the Porsche 911, an example based on one of the Ferrari models also pops up. This time it’s the Evoluto 355 based on the Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, the work of British company Evoluto Automobili.

The Ferrari F355 Berlinetta was produced from 1994 until 1999, and over 11,000 cars left the production line, making it the most-produced Ferrari at the time. However, Evoluto Automobili did everything to modernize it but at the same time keep some of the main features of this car. All body panels are made of carbon fiber, which reduces the weight of the car by 200 kg compared to the standard model.

Under the bonnet is still a 3.5-L V8 engine with 426 hp (318 kW) @ 8,500 rpm. This means that the restomod now has 45 hp more than the standard car which has 381 hp (284 kW) at 8,250 rpm. Currently, there is no data on the performance of the Evoluto 355, and the standard F355 Berlinetta accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 295 km/h (183 mph), so we can expect better figures. Power is sent to the rear axle via a 6-speed manual gearbox with limited mechanical differential lock.

“The potential of Ferrari’s famous atmospheric engine, which in this case is responsible for only 1,250 kilograms, is more than enough for top-notch fun in a car with a refined suspension and a 23 percent stiffer body on adequate tires,” say the company in which today’s super sports hybrid cars with enormous power they consider it pointless and difficult to use even on closed circular paths.

Evoluto will build only 55 cars, and this one is painted blue, which is the total opposite of the standard Rosso Corsa. It sits on lightweight 19-inch wheels wrapped in 235/35 front and 305/30 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

The price is not known.

Source: Evoluto Automobili

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Evoluto 355 based on the Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
News

VW Polo will be manufactured in South Africa

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Four decades have passed since Volkswagen started production of its B-segment supermini car, the VW Polo, in Spain. However, from now on this model for the European market will be produced in South Africa.

The VW Polo was introduced in 1975 and over time became one of the German manufacturer’s best-selling cars, with over 8 million cars produced in the Spanish factory. The growing pressure to produce electric cars forced Volkswagen to transfer the production of this model to another contingent. Two new affordable electric cars that Volkswagen plans to launch by 2026 will be produced in Spain. It will be the Volkswagen ID.2 X and Škoda Epiq, based on the MEB Entry platform.

Thus, VW plans to invest more than one billion euros in order to adapt the production plant to new electric models. However, the workers employed in this factory are asking what will happen until the moment when the production of electric cars starts. We are talking about a period of less than two years. Forecasts say that the factory will produce 1/4 million vehicles this year and only 150,000 units in 2025.

The new VW ID.2 will be produced at the Martorello plant and will hit the market at the end of 2025, while its SUV version will be built in Navarre and will have to undergo a transformation to adapt to these new small electric cars.

Source: Volkswagen

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