All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

BMW diesels will use Neste HVO 100 fuel

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BMW has announced that from the beginning of 2025, its diesel engines will use HVO 100 hydrotreated vegetable oil. The fuel will be produced by the Finnish company Neste and will be used at BMW’s plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg and Leipzig.

Neste HVO 100 fuel is made from several different types of waste, including cooking oil, residues and other renewable raw materials. It is more environmentally friendly, has better cold start performance than typical diesel, and produces 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions over its life cycle compared to conventional fossil diesel.

“When it comes to climate protection, every ton of ‘saved’ CO2 counts. The more than 250 million existing vehicles in Europe are an important factor here. Their CO2 balance could be significantly improved if the regenerative share of the fuel were increased. We are moving forward. From January 2025, we will fill all diesel models produced in Germany with HVO 100 oil before we deliver them to dealers. It is a high-quality diesel substitute with up to 90 percent lower CO2 emissions in the overall balance,” said BMW President Oliver Zipse.

It should be noted that the cars do not get a full tank before leaving the plant, but only five to eight liters.

Source: BMW

Tuning

Ferrari Purosangue upgraded by Road Show International

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Since Ferrari unveiled its first SUV, the Purosangue, in mid-2022, several tuners have based their projects on the model. Now, one comes from American tuner Road Show International.

The exterior of the car will definitely attract attention but also cause mixed comments. It is painted in a dark burgundy color and features new tinted headlights and taillights, windows and windshield. The suspension has been lowered by 10 mm, and the car has also received a new set of chrome 24-inch multi-spoke Forgiato wheels and yellow brake calipers.

While the exterior can be said to have a passing grade, the interior is the epitome of luxury. Dark brown leather covers the seats, ceiling, center console and door panels, while red trim and metal trim create a contrast. There are also plenty of carbon details and black leather on the dashboard.

There have been no changes under the hood. Ferrari Purosangue is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine with 715 hp (526 kW) and 528 lb-ft (716 Nm) of torque. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 192 mph (310 kph). The engine is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox whose performance is 35 percent higher, transmitting up to 1,200 Nm in dynamic torque during gear shifts.

Source: Road Show International

Gallery:

Ferrari Purosangue upgraded by Road Show International
Restomod

Ford Escort Mk1 RS Limited Edition

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As announced at the beginning of December, the British company Boreham Motorworks revealed the Ford Escort Mk1 RS, a car crafted for driving enthusiasts. It is a limited edition car that pays homage to the racing and rally icon of the 1970s.

The Escort Mk1 RS is powered by a 2.1-L 4-cylinder engine with 300 hp (224 kW) at 10,000 rpm, paired with a manual five-speed dogleg gearbox that sends power to the rear axle. Customers can also choose a version with a 1.8-L 4-cylinder engine and 185 hp (138 kW), paired with a 4-speed manual transmission.

The British company decided to build the car from scratch using modern materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. The result is a combination of the timeless spirit of classic cars with modern engineering. Every line and angle is identical to the original Mk1, and the original blueprints were used during construction.

“From the first time we met with Boreham Motorworks and the DRVN team, it was clear that they had an exciting vision for bringing some of our most iconic historic nameplates to life for the modern age. It will be exciting to see this relationship blossom and see Boreham Motorworks bring the vision to life at a time when there is so much enthusiast passion for great experiences,” said Ford Performance General Manager Will Ford.

The car is equipped with a lightweight carbon hood, carbon fiber trunk lid, support brackets, rectangular LED headlights and Boreham reinforcements on the body core structure to improve torsional stiffness. Customers can optionally choose tinted glass with heated front and rear screens. It is mounted on steel/magnesium 15-inch rims.

The interior is focused on the driver, a combination of classic design and modern functionality. There are also seats covered in a combination of leather and Alcantara, a three-spoke steering wheel, a roll cage, heated screens and a sophisticated air conditioning system with four air vents with a special screen defog function. Buyers can optionally choose four-point harnesses, race helmet stowage in the visual carbon rear compartment, and a roll cage with removable door bars.

Boreham Motorworks will produce only 150 units of the Ford Escort Mk1 RS, and the price of the more powerful version is £295,000 (∼356,000 euros).

Source: Boreham Motorworks

Gallery:

Ford Escort Mk1 RS Limited Edition