All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Maserati Project24

A few days ago, Maserati announced the arrival of a new racing model, the Project24. It is a limited edition based on the MC20, and only 62 cars will be produced.

Although Maserati is keeping quiet about most of the details and specifications, some details have been revealed. The design of the car was done by Centro Stile Maserati. There is a large vent on the hood that helps direct air over the body, the front splitter and rear wing are adjustable to correct aerodynamics on the track. The exhaust pipes now have a higher position on the rear bumper to allow for a larger diffuser. It is equipped with adjustable shock absorbers and stabilizers, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, as well as 18-inch rims with central locking.

The interior of the car is stripped bare. A roll cage, six-point seat belt and fire extinguisher are installed, which is FIA regulation. There’s also a multi-functional carbon steering wheel, adaptive ABS and traction control. For those who want more equipment, Maserati also offers a front passenger seat, a reversing camera, telemetry recording, a cabin camera, a display to optimize driving performance and a pressure monitoring system.

When it comes to the powertrain, under the hood will be a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 engine with 740 (552 kilowatts), which is 119 hp more than the MC20. The gear box was also replaced, so the engine is now paired with a 6-speed sequential gearbox with a self-locking mechanical limited-slip differential.

Source: Maserati

Porsche’s CEO is the new head of VW

One of the largest car manufacturers in the world will soon have a new CEO. The current CEO of the VW Group, Herbert Diess, will resign at the end of next month, and from September, the former CEO of Porsche, Oliver Blume, will take over.

The German company did not say why Diess resigned. He came to Volkswagen from BMW in 2015, at a time when the company was rocked by the Dieselgate affair. Diess is credited with ushering the company into a new era, encouraging major investment in electric vehicle production, with the goal of selling one million electric cars a year by the middle of this decade.

With the new CEO, the VW group will certainly not lose, what so ever, they will get someone who knows the situation in the company very well. Blume will become CEO in early September, and should be a long-term solution for VW. One of the first big challenges for him will be to find a potential investor, given that VW has previously established the framework for a potential initial public offering.

After joining the VW Group in the mid-90s, this will be Blume’s biggest challenge yet. In a statement to the media, he did not hide his enthusiasm for the new position. He said his focus will be on customers and products.

Source: VW Group

Schumacher’s 1998 Ferrari F300 is up for auction

Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history, about whom very little is known since the accident that happened to him. Everything related to him attracts a lot of attention, including this 1998 Ferrari F300 car with which Schumacher achieved four out of six victories that season. The car is listed at RM Sotheby’s and the auction will take place on August 18 – 20.

The car is in excellent condition and was sold by Ferrari in 1999 to the owner who has now put it up for auction. It has chassis number 187, and driving this car in Canada, Schumacher achieved the fastest lap, but also the most important first victory of that season with an advantage of 19 seconds. He achieved his second victory in France, and his third in Great Britain. The fourth victory came in the Italian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari F300 is powered by a 3.0-liter V10 engine with 805 hp (592 kW). It is equipped with carbon-carbon composite discs, electro-hydraulic 7-speed transmission, independent push-rod, twin wishbones, torsion bar springs, Good Year tires, telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar.

When it comes to the price, the Ferrari F300 is expected to reach the price of 6 – 8 million dollars.

Source: RM Sotheby’s