All posts by Francis Mitterrand

EV

Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar

The new season of the Dakar Rally starts this weekend, and on that occasion, Audi prepared a special edition of its SUV, the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar. The car is based on Audi’s largest electric SUV, the Q8 55 e-tron quattro, and will be produced in 1,000 units.

The car will be available in black, white and gray, but regardless of the choice, the lower body parts and wheel arches will be in black. The SUV is additionally raised by 65 mm and has a 57 mm wider wheel track compared to the Q8 55 e-tron quattro. It is equipped with a roof rack that can carry 40 kg of cargo.

The interior is equipped with the S line package and special floor mats with markings. The backgrounds of the infotainment screen feature sandy themes, and an indicator of the current inclination of the SUV is also available. In the interior, there is no protective cage or special communication system typical for motorsport.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar will be powered by two electric motors with a total output of 402 hp (296 kW) and 490 lb-ft (664 Nm) of torque. It will reach 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, and thanks to the 106 kWh battery, it will have a range of 450 kilometers.

Each copy of the Edition Dakar will cost 120,000 euros, while the German manufacturer announced that it will also produce 99 copies in RS Q e-tron colors at a price of 130,000 euros.

Source: Audi

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News

Xiaomi SU7 is coming soon

In 2022, Xiaomi announced its intention to enter the automotive market with its first electric car, the Xiaomi SU7. In September, it was announced that the company will start production when it receives approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is expected early next year.

The technological giant is busy preparing for the start of production, and a certain number of people are already employed. The HR department is working full steam to hire 100 new workers in the production sector, and some sources claim that some of the applicants, who worked at Mercedes and Tesla, do not meet Xiaomi’s high criteria. Mass employment is expected at the beginning of 2024.

The first photos of the blue Xiaomi SU7 were published on the Weibo social network. It is 4,997 mm long, 1,963 mm wide with a height of 1,440/1,455 mm, and a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. When it comes to the powertrain, there is no information for now, but some information says that customers will choose between two batteries with a capacity of 73.6 and 101 kWh, and that it will have a range of 800 km. Also, it will support 800V architecture for fast chargers up to 350 kW.

The CEO of Xiaomi, Lei Jun, said a few days ago that the SU7 is in the trial production phase and that it will appear on the domestic market in a few months.

Source: Weibo

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Xiaomi SU7 is coming soon
Auctions

Michael Schumacher’s 2005 Ferrari F430 Spider for sale

Michael Schumacher is one of the most successful and, according to many, the best Formula 1 driver in history. But, since 2013 when he suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident, his life is now different. During his career he became the owner of some of the best sports cars and one of them, the 2005 Ferrari F430 Spider, which he gave to his father is for sale.

This Ferrari F430 Spider is finished red over Cuoio leather. It is powered by a 4.3L V8 engine with 490 hp (360 kW) and 343 lb-ft (465 Nm) of torque. The car was designed by Pininfarina with aerodynamic simulation programs used for Formula 1 cars. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. It reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). It has only 29,301 kilometers on the odometer.

Michael’s current condition is unknown to the public. Sometimes some information leaks out, but it is unverified. Former Ferrari Formula 1 team boss Jean Todt sometimes visits him at his family home in Switzerland, once saying: “Michael is here, so I don’t miss him. But he’s just not what he used to be. He’s different and he’s being looked after his wife and children. They protect him.”

This is not the first car to be sold that is related to Schumacher. The 1998 Ferrari F300, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the 2003 Formula 1 car (14 million euros) were sold before it.

Source: Gallery Aaldering

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Michael Schumacher's 2005 Ferrari F430 Spider for sale