All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Hyundai Ioniq 5 set a Guinness World Record

In March 2024, Hyundai launched the refreshed Ioniq 5, and a few days ago this car achieved a truly respectable result. According to Hyundai, the Ioniq 5 is the first EV to reach an altitude difference of 5,802 meters, which is a new Guinness World Record.

For this journey, long more than 4,900 km, the Ioniq 5 was equipped with a 72.6 kWh battery that was used in the previous Long Range version, while the refreshed Ioniq 5 has an 84 kWh battery.

This venture was organized by the Evo India team and Hyundai Motor India Limited and the start was at Umling La at an altitude of 5,799 meters while the finish was in Kuttanad in Kerala, which is three meters below sea level. During the journey, the car struggled with really difficult weather conditions, such as ice, steep roads to wet roads on the coast.

The refreshed Hyundai Ioniq is equipped with new front and rear bumpers, a wider front air intake, a 50 mm extended rear spoiler, and a special body kit decorated with several N Line badges, a new set of aerodynamic 20-inch wheels, a stiffer body, and better shock absorbers for greater comfort.

Source: Hyundai

News

De Tomaso P72 Limited Edition

At the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Italian car-manufacturing company, De Tomaso, has revealed a retro-styled sports car, the P72. It is a limited edition car and only 72 units will be produced with a starting price of around 1.6 million euros.

This P72 is not intended for customers but will be used for the final stages of dynamic validation to ensure that the driving experience lives up to the standards and the De Tomaso name. It is equipped with a carbon-fibre chassis (number 001), body components made of bare carbon, large openings in the rear wheel arches, round taillights, a rear grille with the name “De Tomaso” in the middle and the P72 badge on the right side.

“With its design and engineering I think the De Tomaso P72 will set a new standard. The exterior form is so well done it invites you to keep walking around, admiring every subtle detail,” said Peter Brock, original De Tomaso P70 designer.

The expensive cockpit, which creates an immersive driving environment, allowing occupants to fully experience their surroundings and feel at one with the road, is equipped with seats upholstered in beige leather, a copper-colored gearshift knob with exposed mechanism, and copper counters on the dashboard.

When it comes to the powertrain, the P72 is powered by a 5.0-L supercharged V8 engine, which develops 750 hp (559 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.

Source: De Tomaso

Gallery:

De Tomaso P72 Limited Edition
Auctions

1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti is up for auction

At the 1963 Paris Auto Show, Ferrari introduced the 250 LM as the successor to its premier GT-class racer, the 250 GTO. It was produced until 1965, and only 32 units left the factory. One of them, the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti is up for auction.

When Ferrari launched the 250 LM, FIA regulations required that manufacturers produce at least 100 road-legal cars of the model, which Ferrari failed to do, and the FIA ​​refused to homologate it. This meant that the 250 LM had to compete in the prototype class until 1996, when it was homologated as a Group 4 Sports Car.

This 250 LM, chassis number 5893, was the sixth production car to leave the factory. It was delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors, whose North American Racing (NART) team achieved Ferrari’s sixth consecutive victory at Le Mans. It was also the only privately owned Ferrari to ever win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Some interesting facts about this car include that it is the only Ferrari built during the Enzo Ferrari era to compete in six 24-hour races, including three times at Le Mans and three times at the 24 Hours of Daytona. It last raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970, after which it was kept in a museum. It is in excellent condition, with its matching-numbers engine and gearbox.

It is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.3-L V12 engine with 320 hp (238 kW) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.

The auction will take place on 4 – 5 February 2025, and the estimated value of the car is €25,000,000 EUR.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Gallery:

1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti is up for auction