All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News, Tuning

Porsche 993R

Among the many companies involved in the restoration and modification of the most famous cars, Paul Stephens Autoart is perhaps one of the best. Their latest work is the Porsche 993R based on the 911 Carrera (993).

The restoration of the car took five years. The weight of the car has been reduced and the number of horsepower has been increased, and the result is a great car. Now the 993R weighs 1,190 kilograms (1,220 kg wet), which is 180 kilograms less than the original Porsche 993 Carrera. This was achieved by installing lightweight aluminum parts, but also by removing the electric sunroof, installing lightweight manual electric mirrors, installing Porsche Motorsport glass for side and rear windows, bumpers were replaced with lightweight PS Autoart composite items. The original suspension was replaced with custom Porsche Motorsport parts.

Inside, most of the interior has been removed. Now the minimalist interior contains carbon fiber Recaro bucket seats trimmed in the finest materials, a sports steering wheel, a new dashboard without a glovebox, audio and center console.

The 993R is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six engine with 360 hp (265 kW). As a reminder, the Standard 911 Carrera is powered by a 3.6-liter engine with 270 hp (199 kW). Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a refined manual 6-speed gearbox with lightweight flywheel and clutch. Performance is not known but it will certainly be better than what the 911 Carrera offers, up to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h). It’s mounted on a set of 18-inch rims wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires.

Source: Paul Stephens Autoart

News

Flying Tiger is the first VW flying taxi

Just as the sky is not the limit for the South Korean company Hyundai, the same could be said for VW. The German car manufacturer has unveiled its first flying taxi, the Flying Tiger.

This flying taxi is 11.2 meters long and 10.6 meters wide, and is the work of Volkswagen Group China. The eVTOL-type aircraft has the ability to take off and land vertically, and is equipped with eight vertical rotors and two horizontal rotors, allowing it to move in all directions.

Flying Tiger is still in the prototype phase and according to information coming from Volkswagen, it should have a range of 200 km and enough space to accommodate four people. More information about this craft, VW should release soon.

VW expects that the Flying Tiger should go into production next year, when it should have its first official flight. It is an ambitious plan considering that Hyundai has announced its autonomous flying taxi Supernal by 2028. It is expected that, due to zero-emission, it will attract a certain number of interested parties and replace a large number of helicopters that are currently used in short-distance transport.

Source: Volkswagen

Auctions, News

Aston Martin DB5 from “No Time to Die” is for sale

Aston Martin DB5 became famous thanks to James Bond, and the greatest credit goes to Sean Connery and Goldfinger in which the DB5 plays a major role among cars. British auction house Christie’s has announced the sale of this unique car used in the latest sequel called “No Time to Die.”

The car looks flawless. Eight replicas were made for the film, and only this one was offered for sale. The carbon fiber body is painted in the classic Silver Birch color. Inside, the car is equipped with sports seats and belts, as well as a specially installed protective cage for stuntmen. There is also a hydraulic handbrake so that drivers can perform attractive maneuvers more easily. In front of the driver there is a 3D printed dashboard and the original steering wheel.

The DB5 is powered by a 3.2-liter inline-six petrol engine from the BMW M3 (E46), mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. To make it capable of incredible stunt performance, Aston Martin has equipped the car with a new braking system and new suspension.

The auction starts on September 15 and will last until October 5. It is estimated that the car will reach a price of between 1.5 million – 2 million pounds.

Source: Christie’s