All posts by Francis Mitterrand

The world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, Honda, has unveiled a plan to become carbon neutral by mid-century. The first of the goals includes the production of 10 new electric motorcycles in the next 3 years intended for the European and Asian markets.

All future Honda motorcycles will use a new platform that Honda is developing under the name FUN, and for the Japanese, European and American markets, the development of three large electric models is underway, which will arrive on the market in the next two years. Honda will also continue to produce motorcycles with internal combustion engines, but has promised to be more environmentally friendly thanks to the use of ethanol-based E20 and E100 fuel.

Given that the current demand for electric motorcycles is not that great, we should not expect many high-performance models. This can be concluded from the slide published by Honda, where we can see 11 silhouettes of potential electric models, only four of which do not look like mopeds.

Source: Honda

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Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition

September 15, 2022 Francis Mitterrand

In 1948, Land Rover presented the compact off-road vehicle Series 1 at the Amsterdam Motor Show. Inspired by the World War II jeep, the Series 1 model became the first mass-produced civilian four-wheel drive car. Now, Land Rover is celebrating the 75th anniversary of this model with the Defender 75th Limited Edition.

The limited edition is painted in Grasmere Green and is available in two-door and four-door versions (models 90 and 110). It is equipped with the HSE pequipment kit that includes matrix LED lights, adaptive Terrain Response system, 360-view camera, HUD display, wireless charger for mobile phones, three-zone climate control, memory seats and 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system. A folding roof made of fabric is part of the standard equipment, while a panoramic sliding roof is also offered (optional). To distinguish it from the standard Defender, the special model carries a “75 Years” badge under the tailgate handle.

Inside, the seats are upholstered in what Land Rover calls Resist Ebony, while the dashboard is covered in Robustec, considered the most durable fabric available for a vehicle.

When it comes to the powertrain, Land Rover hasn’t changed anything. The Land Rover Defender is offered with a 5.0L V8 petrol engine (90 and 110), a 3.0L inline-6 MHEV (90 and 110) and a 2.0L inline-4 petrol engine.

Source: Land Rover

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Half a century since the first Porsche RS model

September 14, 2022 Francis Mitterrand

It all started back in 1972 when the Porsche Carrera RS 2.7 had its debut and was named after 356 Carreras while the RS was developed to meet the homologation requirements in motorsport. Now, half a century later, the RS model still attracts attention with its appearance, bringing smiles to faces.

Carrera RS 2.7 was designed with a larger body that allowed more space for a bigger engine compared to the previous 911 models, which now developed 210 hp (150 kW). It is equipped with new suspension, wider rear wheels and rear fenders for 185 / 70VR15 (front) and 215 / 60VR15 (rear) Pirelli Cinturato CN36 tires. For better aerodynamics and greater downforce, the designers have designed a duck tail. All this allowed the Carrera RS 2.7 to reach 62 mph in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 152 mph (245 km / h), which was remarkable for that time.

The intention was a sports car that is also suitable for the road. The model was produced from 1973 to 1974, and only 1580 units were produced.

To celebrate 50 years since the first RS model, Porsche recently presented the 911 GT3 RS, a road legal sports car that brings new aerodynamic and technological solutions. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine with 518 hp (386 kW). The engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch (PDK) transmission. It reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 184 mph (296 km/h).