All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Germany refuses to apply EU regulation on internal combustion engines

The EU is working to reduce CO2 emissions as much as possible, and a decision passed by the European Parliament in early June bans the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2035. The decision applies to new vehicles, and not all countries agree with it. Germany was the first country to refuse to implement it.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the ban on cars with internal combustion engines was bad and would not be implemented by the German government. The decision was made without consulting the member states.

The European Union plans to reduce CO2 emissions by half by the end of the decade, and by 2035 completely. This should not have a big impact on car manufacturers as most of them plan to fully electrify their models by the end of the decade. However, there are also those who have decided to continue producing vehicles with ICE, such as Porsche.

2020 Porsche 911

Many Porsche models are already in the process of partial or full electrification, but it seems that the legendary 911 could be saved from that. A Porsche 911 without a petrol engine would not be the same, and the company seems to be aware of that as well. According to recent reports, Porsche is investing an additional $ 75 million in increasing synthetic fuel production. The company believes that synthetic fuels will sustain internal combustion engines for years to come, at least when it comes to special cars.

Whether other countries will follow the decision of the German government remains to be seen.

Source: Reuters

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series with 1,051 hp

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is a beast on wheels. A super sports car powered by a 720 hp V8 engine is a wish of many. But there are always those who think the beast can do more, like RENNtech.

At first glance, it would be said to be a standard Black Series, which is not far from the truth. The American tuner company did not change the design, nor did it equip the car with additional aerodynamic components. Let’s face it, the aerodynamics of the standard Black Series are impressive.

RENNtech has done what it knows best. It has increased engine power, so now the 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine has 1,051 hp (773 kW) and 831 lb-ft (1,127 Nm) of torque. The upgraded Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series reaches 62 mph in less than 3 seconds with a top speed of 219 mph (352 km / h). All this has been achieved thanks to new and larger turbochargers, a stainless steel exhaust system, new air filters and improved transmission control unit (TCU) so that the seven-speed transmission can handle extra power.

As a reminder, the standard Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is powered by a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine with 720 hp (537 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. It reaches 62 mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph (325 km / h).

Source: RENNtech

2023 BMW M3 Touring has finally arrived

After a long wait and many tests, BMW has finally introduced the M3 Touring as a response to similar models offered by Audi and Mercedes. The car was recently set the fastest lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, in the station wagon category, proving to be a serious competitor.

BMW finally took off the camouflage and revealed the look of the production model. The new M3 in a more practical body edition will look for its future owners among the clientele that has so far considered station wagon versions of the Audi RS4 and Mercedes C63. Also, the car will not be offered to customers in the North American market.

Inside, the car is equipped with a large display with a 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 14.9-inch multimedia system. Also, the volume of the trunk is from 500 to 1,500 liters, which is more than enough for families.

When it comes to powertrain, the BMW M3 Touring is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 510 hp (375 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque, in its most powerful version. It will only be offered in the Competition version with xDrive and 8-speed automatic transmission. It will reach 62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph (280 km / h), with the M Driver option. Optionally, the driver can also choose the option of rear-wheel drive.

The first BMW M3 Touring is expected to reach customers in Europe at the end of the year, with a base price of € 97,800.

Source: BMW