All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Entertainment

Koenigsegg Agera RST, Tesla Model S Plaid and Suzuki Hayabusa in a drag race

Every car manufacturer will say that their car is one of the fastest and best, but how true is that? If we want to get an answer, one way is to compare them in a drag race. That’s what the guys from YouTube channel Carwow have done, putting two supercars and a motorcycle on the line. Koenigsegg Agera RST, Tesla Model S Plaid and Suzuki Hayabusa in a drag race.

Koenigsegg Agera RST is powered by a 5.0-L twin-turbo V8 engine with 1,360 hp (1,000 kW) and 1,158 lb-ft (1,570 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with launch control. This 1,395 kg supercar is capable of developing a top speed of 277 mph (446 km/h), and its estimated value is £3.5 million (UK).

The Suzuki Hayabusa is powered by a 1.3L 4-cylinder engine with 380 hp (279 kW) and 207 lb-ft (280 Nm) of torque. The owner has fitted this 257 kg bike with a supercharger, and its estimated value is £50,000.

Tesla Model S Plaid is powered by three electric motors with a total power of 1,020 hp (750 kW) and 1,047 lb-ft (1,420 Nm) of torque, with a range of 396 miles. This 2,190 kg heavy car reaches 60 mph in 1.99 seconds with a top speed of 200 mph (322 km / h).

They did three 1/4 mile races. In the first, the Suzuki Hayabusa was the fastest, the Tesla Model S Plaid was second, while the Koenigsegg Agera RST was third. In the second race, the Koenigsegg Agera RST was again the slowest while the winner this time was the Tesla Model S Plaid. In the third race, the Suzuki Hayabusa achieved a time of 9.7 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than the Tesla Model S Plaid (9.8 seconds), while the Koenigsegg Agera RST was last for the third time with a time of 10.4 seconds.

It should be noted that Koenigsegg was running on NE85 fuel so it only used 1,250 hp (919 kW), but that does not diminish the fact that traction was an issue.

In a rolling race at 50 mph in second gear, at 1/2 mile, the Koenigsegg Agera RST was fastest, the Tesla Model S Plaid was second, and the Suzuki Hayabusa was third. In the 100 mph braking test, the best was the Koenigsegg, the Tesla was very close while the Hayabasu needed the most stopping distance.

Source: Carwow via YouTube

EV

Aehra Sedan

The production of electric cars is on the rise, so more and more startup companies are coming to the market to present their cars. One of them is Aehra, which last year presented its first EV called an SUV, and now the Aehra Sedan is coming from their workshop.

The car is extremely spacious thanks to short overhangs, long wheelbase and completely flat floor. It has double-falcon doors, and shares the same design language as the SUV, and is built on the same platform. Also, what is common to both models is the battery, developed in partnership with Miba Battery Systems, which enables a range of 800 kilometers.

Inside, the unique full-dashboard-width HMI (Human Machine Interface) screen is the first thing you notice when you enter the luxurious cabin. It provides an exceptional atmosphere where passengers can relax and enjoy the ride. There is also an oblong-shaped steering wheel with an Aehra logo.

Definitely, Aehra brings something new that is quite simply unmatched by any other vehicle in the class. It will arrive on the market in 2026.

Gallery:

Aehra Sedan

Source: Aehra

News

VW Golf only with DSG gearbox

The stricter regulations of the European Union force car manufacturers to make difficult decisions. Thus, Volkswagen announced that in the future the Golf will only have a DSG gearbox, which means that it will stop offering a manual gearbox from 2024.

According to Autocar, Volkswagen intends to stop using the manual transmission in all Golf models, even the GTI. This was confirmed by the head of technical development at VW, Kai Grunitz, who cited the stricter Euro 7 emission regulations from 2025 as the reason for this move. However, the German manufacturer could change its decision if, in the meantime, the EU determines new regulations, which is hard to expect.

This will increase the price of cars with a DSG gearbox, but it could also have a big impact on the demand for the VW Golf, as many Golf GTI fans could switch to other cars. Many manufacturers oppose the proposals, arguing they are unnecessary and will make customers pay more for their cars.

Source: Autocar