All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Skoda announces six new electric cars by 2027

Is the auto industry in Europe in trouble? This question can be heard lately, and it is based on the fact that many companies are moving production from Europe or thinking about it. However, companies are working hard on the electrification of existing models as well as the production of new ones. Such is the case with Skoda, which announced the arrival of six electric cars by the end of 2026, and total investments of 5.6 billion euros.

Officially, the European Union bans the sale of new cars with an internal combustion engine by 2035. Skoda announces the arrival of the Compact model next year, as a compact crossover called the Elroq. It is the electric successor of the Karoq model, which will be 4.5 meters long and will be “an ideal family car with a spacious and very practical interior”.

The refreshed Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe will be introduced in 2025, will experience significant changes that include the Modern Solid design. Skoda hasn’t said much about these models, but renderings suggest they have a more aggressive-looking front fascia without the traditional grille.

Other models are expected from 2025, and the first is Small. It is a sub-compact SUV-style car, 4.1 meters long, and the basic price will be 25,000 euros. It looks like it will be Skoda’s version of Volkswagen’s ID.2all, which will be built in Spain. The Combi is expected in 2026 as a spacious electric station wagon with a length of about 4.7 meters, and it will play a “key role” and will “bring the power of the particularly popular and successful Škoda body design into the electric age.” This model will be ideal for families and businesses.

The latest to hit the market is a seven-seat crossover inspired by last year’s Vision 7S concept, the Skoda Space. It will be Skoda’s largest electric car with a length of about 4.9 meters and a huge interior space. Also, it will be decorated with the new Modern Solid design language. This design reinterprets traditional features and boldly breaks new ground. The Czech manufacturer promises a “minimalist and functional” exterior design that “conveys a sense of security and strength.”

Škoda does not give up on internal combustion engines, so those models remain in the offer. The new internal combustion engines will play a key role, and Škoda intends to improve their efficiency. The Czech company is taking over the development of the EA211 engine from Volkswagen, and the internal combustion engines will enable individual mobility in all markets. The refreshed Superb and Kodiaq arrive in the fall, and will be offered with gasoline and diesel options, as well as a plug-in hybrid.

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Source: Skoda

Porsche 911 SVSR Hoonipigasus will drive Lia Block

Last year, Porsche introduced the 911 SVSR Hoonipigasus, the car driven by Ken Block at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race that year. The professional rally driver was not successful in the race, and at the beginning of this year he tragically died in an accident while driving a snowmobile.

This year, the Porsche 911 SVSR Hoonipigasus will once again participate in the Pikes Peak race, and this time Ken Block’s daughter, Lia Block, will be behind the wheel. She is a big fan of rally racing, but because of her age, she is currently too young to start a career.

It should also be noted that the car was not made in Zuffenhausen and is reminiscent of the 1971 Porsche 910/20 “Pink Pig”. It is equipped with an adjustable suspension that uses GPS coordinates based on Pikes Peak telemetry from 2021. The 1,000 kg car is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine with 1,400 hp (1,030 kW), just like the Ford Mustang RTR V2. Power is sent to all wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an extremely demanding 20-kilometer race consisting of 156 turns. The start of the race is at 1,440 and the finish at 4,300 meters above sea level.

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Source: Porsche

Lamborghini Centenario tractor

It’s been 107 years since the founder of Lamborghini, Ferruccio Lamborghini, was born. He was an Italian automobile designer, inventor, industrialist, and businessman who founded Lamborghini Trattori in 1948 and Lamborghini in 1963. Celebrating his 100th birthday, in 2016 Adler Capelli created a specially designed Lamborghini Centenario tractor.

All Lamborghini lovers know that Ferruccio produced tractors before he started producing high-end supercars. That was the inspiration for Capelli who, using car parts from the 1960s, created this unique vehicle.

There are few details about the tractor shown in the photos, but it is known that it is powered by a diesel 2.2-liter three-cylinder DLA 35 engine paired with a manual transmission, and that the odometer shows 500 kilometers.

The tractor is not painted and the reason for this is the artist’s intention that, over time, the tractor gets patina.

Capelli created five vehicles and the price of the Lamborghini Centenario tractor, shown in the picture, is 490,000 EUR. As a reminder, the Centenario from 2016 cost €1.75 million EUR.

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Source: Lamborghini