All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Musk’s support for the AfD caused a drop in sales of Tesla cars in Germany

Is Elon Musk intentionally destroying Tesla? According to recently published data, in January Tesla recorded a drop in sales worldwide. The biggest drop in demand was in Europe, and the biggest reason was Musk’s interference in the German elections and support for the AfD party.

Last month, Musk hosted Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, on his social media platform for a 75-minute debate in which she falsely claimed that Adolf Hitler was a socialist. The AfD is also a party that calls for mass deportations of migrants and uses Nazi slogans in its campaign, and has been classified as right-wing extremist by Germany’s intelligence agency. Musk’s choice of sides has been criticized by both Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz, but also by customers who clearly do not support this behavior.

According to the KBA (German Federal Motor Transport authority), Tesla sold 1,875 fewer cars in the German market than in January 2024, with a market share of just 4 percent, a huge drop compared to January 2024 when they had a share of 14 percent.

At the same time, Tesla’s main competitors in Germany are recording sales growth. Volkswagen sold 6,521 more EVs than in the same period last year. In second place, surprisingly for some, is the Spanish brand Cupra, which delivered 2,520 more EVs in January compared to January 2024.

Tesla’s sales decline in Europe may not seem so big to some, because the electric car market has been very shaken in recent years. However, we should not forget the fact that 54 percent more EVs were sold in Germany in January than in the same month in 2024. This shows that the situation is more difficult than it seems.

Some believe that the upgraded Model Y, which is scheduled for the first half of 2025, could turn the situation in Tesla’s favor. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.

Source: KBA

Auctions

Unique 2014 Pagani Huayra Oceano Pacifico is for sale

Between 2011 and 2018, Pagani produced 100 units of the Huayra sports car, and the fact that it was named Hypercar of the Year in 2012 speaks volumes about what kind of car it is. One example with US specifications, the 2014 Pagani Huayra Oceano Pacifico is for sale.

This car was specially built for a client in California, and is finished in a combination of Blu Francia Metallic and Bianco Fabriano. It features a carbon monocoque, gullwing doors, quad bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights, adjustable Öhlins coilover shock absorbers with a movable rod, and tan leather front and rear clamshell retaining straps. Exposed carbon fiber in Blu Tricolore is on the nose, roof and deck lid, while the leaf-shaped side mirrors have tricolor accents. Front and rear, a pair of control flaps combine with a hydropneumatic active front lift system and ECU and ABS data to optimize aerodynamic efficiency and stability. The car is also equipped with the Tempesta package, which includes a replacement front splitter and rear diffuser.

The interior is covered in Ocra leather with Blu Ossido Alcantara details. There are also carbon-fiber-backed bucket seats with height adjustment as well as a host of exposed carbon fiber details in Blu Tricolore. In front of the driver is a flat-bottomed carbon-fiber steering wheel trimmed in Ocra leather with paddle shifters as well as hub-mounted controls for the lighting and windshield wiper, while the digital odometer shows less than 2,000 miles. Additional equipment includes a black-finished shifter with exposed linkage, power windows, automatic climate control, a Sonus Faber sound system, a touchscreen infotainment system housed in a black-finished upper console panel, and quilted floor mats.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Huayra Oceano Pacifico is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0L Mercedes-AMG M158 V12 paired with an Xtrac transverse seven-speed automated manual transaxle with a single clutch that sends power to the rear wheels. The engine is equipped with a pair of twin-scroll turbochargers, air-to-liquid intercoolers, dry-sump lubrication, an oil/water heat exchanger, two spark plugs per cylinder, and a Bosch ECU. It also features a Tempesta-spec titanium exhaust system, finned intercooler covers, a two-stage fuel delivery system with dual pumps and an 85-liter tank, dual intercooler radiators flanking two canted engine radiators in the nose panel.

The car comes with a set of staggered-diameter gold-finished wheels, factory extras, and a clean Montana title. The auction ends on February 13th and the highest bid at the time of writing was USD $2,000,000.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Gallery:

Unique 2014 Pagani Huayra Oceano Pacifico is for sale
News

Bridgestone developed special tires for Porsche cars

Porsche has ordered special tires from the Japanese company Bridgestone for its Macan Electric and Panamera models. The Potenza Sport tires are available for both models, while the Blizzak LM005 winter tires are only available for the Porsche Panamera.

When developing the Potenza tires, which will be available in sizes 20, 21 and 22 inches, Bridgestone took into account the sporty characteristics of the Porsche, its mass associated with the traction battery and the high torque of the electric motor. The result is tires with outstanding handling on dry and wet roads, as well as at high speeds, but also high braking performance, comfort and optimized rolling resistance, for a range of around 600 kilometers.

For the Porsche Panamera, Bridgestone offers 21-inch Potenza Sport summer tires with outstanding sports performance for better driving comfort, while 20-inch Blizzak LM005 winter tires provide better grip on snow and ice.

Source: Bridgestone