All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Auctions

Rare 1990 Ford RS200 S up for auction

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Between 1984 and 1986 Ford produced the RS200 model which later became the basis for Ford’s Group B rally car. Regulations required manufacturers to produce 200 road-legal units, but only 147 RS200s were sold. One of the last to be sold is this 1990 Ford RS200 S version, which is now up for auction.

S verier was Murray DeWert’s idea, which was approved by Ford and the car went into production. Murray proposed a tuned and improved version of the road-legal car, and most of the 20 units were finished in white with two in blue, two in black and four in red.

This Chassis #138 is one of four finished in Ferrari Red, and one of only two still original. Since it was bought in 1990, it has never changed hands. It has less than 20,000 miles on the odometer which shows that the owner used the car but also regularly maintained the car at a well-known RS200 specialist.

The car is equipped with a plastic-fiberglass composite body, a chassis designed by Formula 1 designer Tony Southgate, but also a number of parts that were optional at the time, such as increased sound deadening, half-leather Recaro seats, electric windows and mirrors, quality carpet, and a Ford Stereo Radio/Cassette player, and a remote central locking and alarm system.

Under the hood is a mid-mounted 1,803cc Ford-Cosworth BDT engine fitted with a Garett T03/04 turbocharger with 250 hp (186 kW), paired with a front-mounted manual gearbox for ideal 50/50 weight distribution that sends power to all the wheels.

The estimated value of the car is £300,000 – £350,000.

Source: Iconic Auctioneers

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Rare 1990 Ford RS200 S up for auction
News

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot enables a speed of up to 95 km/h

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As announced in September, Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot officially enables autonomous driving at 95 km/h. It is the fastest certified SAE Level 3 autonomous driving system for production vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz cars have become the fastest cars in the world homologated with a level 3 autonomous driving system. “With the help of this system, our customers can use their time more efficiently. Mercedes-Benz is once again setting standards in the industry and is constantly paving the way for autonomous driving.” said Markus Schafer, member of the Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group.

Drive Pilot is available as an option for the S-Class and EQS and costs 5,950 euros including tax. Cars equipped with the system will receive the upgrade for free via Over-the-Air Update or during a service visit. No hardware changes are required.

Mercedes’ autonomous system has a redundant architecture that includes electronics, steering and brakes. All key functions are secured in case of failure. If the driver does not take control for any reason, Drive Pilot will automatically stop the vehicle and activate the warning lights.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

News

Renault favors more aerodynamic cars instead of SUVs

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The automotive industry is constantly evolving, and the rise of electric cars promises to transform not only the technology but also their design. Gilles Vidal, Renault’s head of design, is proposing new shapes adapted to the demands of today’s market.

In an interview with Autocar, Vidal said that some cities are against this type of vehicle, and have increased the cost of parking for SUVs because of their size and weight. He believes this is not justified, since no one has ever opposed other types of vehicles of similar size and weight, such as compact multi-purpose vehicles.

“There is still a big fight against SUVs. But would you say the same about MPVs? They have the same weight, the same engines, the same CO2 emissions, but no one has ever criticized MPVs – a respectable family product. Who are we to criticize aggressive-looking cars? It’s just a shape,” Vidal said.

Vidal also believes that more aerodynamic cars could soon push SUVs aside, and that smaller cars like the Fiat 500, with occasional refreshes, could be the best solution.

“In Europe, many people say it’s a shame that sedans and estate cars are disappearing one by one, but for electric cars it’s a very good idea to have a low, aerodynamic and practical product. That’s exactly what we should do as an electric car brand, for range and efficiency. So the question is how do we make desirable cars that are also smart choices in terms of size and proportions.”

Source: Autocar