All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Tuning

1983 VW Golf GTI with 400 HP

Among the many modified cars, YouTube channel AutoTopNL posted a video of a 1983 VW Golf GTI powered by a modified engine from a 2010 Golf R with 400 hp.

This old GTI has so much power and such short gears that first and second gears are almost useless. Only in the third gear does the power become useful, but even then the driver must keep a tight grip on the car and constantly make corrections on the steering wheel. Also, the hood cover is not strong enough to withstand high speeds, so during violent acceleration it partially separates, so the driver has to stop to close it. The side mirrors are not designed for high speed, so they “close”.

If you’re wondering what kind of engine is under the hood, well, this Golf GTI is powered by a modified 2.0L four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with 400 hp (294 kW), and it provides an impressive driving experience. The original GTI was powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder petrol engine, before it was removed.

The car was tested on the autobahn, and after several attempts to reach top speed, the Golf GTI’s speedometer stopped at what appears to be its maximum of 239 km/h (149 mph).

Gallery:

1983 VW Golf GTI with 400 HP

Source: AutoTopNL via YouTube

Tuning

P900 based on Mercedes-AMG G63

The Mercedes-AMG G63 is one of the best SUV cars from the German manufacturer, but also a car that many tuners are trying to make better. One of them is Mansory whose latest work P900 is based on this model.

Inspired by the desert, the car is finished in Sand Desert Gloss with contrasting forged carbon parts such as the hood, rear wing and other details. The interior is also decorated with a shade of sand, but it is slightly more orange compared to the exterior. The SUV is mounted on black 24-inch wheels.

The P900 is powered by a 4.0L biturbo V8 engine with 900 hp (661 kW) and 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) of torque. A significant increase in power compared to the standard SUV, which has 585 hp (430 kW) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that transmits power to all wheels. It reaches 62 mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Recently, Mercedes announced that it has produced 500,000 examples of the G-Class since 1979, and on this occasion it presented a retro-looking example. Mercedes will also refresh the current G63 model, and spy photos show the SUV under development, which will have a redesigned front and rear fascia, headlights with new graphics, and the interior could get the latest MBUX infotainment technology.

Gallery:

P900 based on Mercedes-AMG G63

Source: Mercedes

News

Sweden will be the first country with electrified roads

The European Union has officially banned the sale of new cars with an internal combustion engine by 2035, so companies and countries are working hard on the new era of electrification. Sweden will be the first country with electrified roads, and in the next two decades the country plans to build 3,000 kilometers of modern highways.

The first section of the electric highway will be built in the next two years. The electric highway will enable the vehicle’s battery to be charged while driving on it, but it is not clear how this will be done. There are three possibilities: catenary system, inductive system and conductive system. Experts believe that this will mean longer journeys for vehicles with smaller capacity batteries. This should prevent long waits at charging stations.

According to Euronews, Sweden is a pioneer in the electrification of roads through several projects, and among these projects is an electric highway that should connect the logistics hubs between the cities of Hallsberg and Orebro, which are located between three large cities – Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo.

The research found that the size of car batteries could be reduced by 70 percent with electric roads. In doing so, it was determined that not all roads in Sweden would have to be electrified. It is estimated that it would be necessary to electrify only 25 percent of roads.

Sweden is cooperating with Germany and France regarding the construction of electric roads that Italy, Great Britain and the United States of America also intend to build.

Source: Euronews