All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

1990 BMW 750iL V16 Goldfisch

At the Techno-Classica Essen which is taking place these days (3-7 April 2024), one of the rare BMW Series 7 prototypes will be revealed. It is a car that few people knew about, the 1990 BMW 750iL V16 Goldfisch.

It all started in 1987 when BMW engineers worked on a new engine that was installed in the then new generation E32 7 Series. However, a few years later BMW secretly produced another version, this time based on the next generation that was produced between 1995 – 2001. It was long thought that this prototype was never produced, as the Bavarian manufacturer abandoned the V16 engine, but this was not the case.

This BMW 750iL V16 Goldfisch is an example of a luxury car from the end of the last century with an unusual design of headlights, mirrors and roof line that are more reminiscent of the E32 generation than the production model E38 that was often called the most beautiful BMW 7 Series ever. It is powered by a 6.6-liter V16 engine with 348 hp (259 kW) @ 5,000 rpm, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Top speed was 250 km/h.

BMW has never revealed why it hid this prototype from the public and why it never went into production.

Source: BMW

News

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Robotaxi passed the DMV test

Hyundai is one of the leaders in autonomous driving technology, which is becoming an indispensable part of new cars. The question is, how much do people trust self-driving cars? According to the survey, most Americans are afraid of autonomous vehicles and 1/4 of them are unsure about this technology. Therefore, Hyundai decided to put its Ioniq 5 Robotaxi through a driving test similar to the one that drivers go through. The car managed to meet the criteria of DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) examiner Kandice Jones.

Kandice Jones is a professional in this field with 25 years of experience and someone who is very strict. It should be noted that only 16 percent of its candidates pass the driving test. During the test drive, she paid attention to everything from stopping distance to changing lanes. “I’ve failed thousands and thousands of students in the interest of public safety. The criteria is the same as for humans. I monitored speed, realignments, maneuvers, stopping, driving in the lane, reaction time and more,” Jones said.

After the test drive, Jones noted that she was impressed with the vehicle’s capabilities, and that the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi met all the criteria. Of course, this was just a test and nothing more, but Hyundai hopes that this test will give people more confidence in autonomous vehicles.

Source: Hyundai

News

2024 Renault Captur with Esprit Alpine trim

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show Renault introduced a series of subcompact crossover SUVs, the Renault Captur, which went into production two years later. It is one of the best-selling B segment crossovers in Europe, which has now received a redesigned edition, the Esprit Alpine.

The appearance of the front and rear of the redesigned edition follows the current design of Renault models with a different graphic of the headlights, a redesigned logo, while the false ends of the exhaust system on the bumper have been removed. Buyers will be able to choose from 14 single- and two-tone body combinations. The basic version of the Captur is mounted on steel 17-inch rims, and part of the standard equipment in combination with the Esprit Alpine version are also special 19-inch aluminum rims.

The interior of the car is equipped with a larger display of the multimedia system and a larger display of the adaptive digital instrument panel. Synthetic leather has been replaced with recycled materials such as hemp, and chrome details have been removed.

When it comes to the powertrain, the new Captur comes with four options. The base version is powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) 1.0-L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Customers can also choose a 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline with 140 (104 kW), or 160 hp (119 kW) with an automatic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The economical version comes with a 1.5-L 3-cylinder turbo engine with 100 hp (75 kW), which can run on gasoline and autogas. Two tanks ensure the crossing of more than 1,600 kilometers.

The hybrid option is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine in combination with an electric motor with a total power of 145 hp (108 kW), and Renault claims that this version in city conditions is powered by the electric motor 80% of the time.

Source: Renault

Gallery:

2024 Renault Captur with Esprit Alpine trim