All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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DS Automobiles started accepting orders for DS N°8

At the end of last year, DS Automobiles presented the first car from the new ‘N°’ series, the DS N°8, which marks the start of a new era for the French luxury-premium brand. Now, DS Automobiles has announced that the order book is open.

The DS N°8 comes with an expanded color palette that, in addition to CRYSTAL PEARL and PERLA NERA BLACK, also includes TOPAZ BLUE, PALLADIUM GRAY and ALABASTER WHITE. It is 4.82 meters long, 1.90 meters wide and 1.58 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.90 meters, which means that it is 12 cm shorter than the DS 9 model but also longer than the fastback crossovers Peugeot 408 and Citroen C5 X.

It is equipped with a full grille with illuminated backlighting, slim DS Pixel Vision headlights with sharp daytime running lights that extend towards the bumper, and steeply sloping C-pillars. Inside there are comfortable heated/cooled seats with a massage function and a neck warmer, floating center console with touch-sensitive panels, digital instrument cluster located behind the four-spoke steering wheel is accompanied by a wide infotainment system placed in the middle of the dashboard. Integrated ambient lighting is the final touch that takes travel comfort to a higher level.

When it comes to the powertrain, the basic version is powered by a single electric motor with 230 hp and 245 hp, while the most powerful version is powered by two electric motors with 350 hp, and reaches 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). The N°8 is equipped with two types of batteries, 74 and 97.2 kWh, which enable a range of 572 and 750 km. Thanks to fast charging up to 200 kW DC, the battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 27 minutes.

First deliveries of the DS N°8 are planned for the second half of 2025.

Source: DS Automobiles

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen sold for €51.15 million

This Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen was sold a few days ago for 51.15 million euros. It is one of only 14 units ever produced, and one of only four known complete examples mounted with the exquisite factory-built enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen coachwork at the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season.

The story of the W 196 R Stromlienwagen started in 1952 when the FIA ​​canceled the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to a lack of credible competition, and new regulations were introduced for 1954. These regulations specified that normally aspirated engines could not exceed 2.5 liters, while naturally aspirated engines were limited to 750 cubic centimeters. That’s why Mercedes-Benz created a truss-type narrow-diameter tubular space frame similar to the chassis of the W 194 300 SL, and equipped it with a front independent suspension via double wishbones, torsion springs and top-of-the-line hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, and massive Alfin drum brakes.

However, since it was specified with few limitations to coachwork, Mercedes-Benz chose an open body in the shape of a W 196 R torpedo. This body, also known as Streamliner or Stromlinienwagen, was made in limited quantity by the racing department out of Elektron magnesium alloy, providing a shell even lighter than aluminum for a total weight of just over 88 pounds.

This W 196 R Stromlienwagen made its debut at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, which was unusual in that it consisted of two separate heats of 30 laps each, with the winner determined by the fastest total aggregate time. This car was driven by Fangio, who finished 2nd in both races but won with an overall time of 2:23:18.9.

At the end of the 1955 season, Fangio was champion and Moss finished second. In two seasons, the model won three championships in two different racing series, demonstrating Mercedes-Benz’s dominance in Formula 1 racing. After retiring from racing, the car remained part of the collection until 1969, when it was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen sold for €51.15 million
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Volvo recorded a drop in sales in January

2024 was the most successful year ever for Volvo, but the beginning of 2025 does not show continued sales growth. According to the company, in 2024 the Swedish brand sold 8% more cars than in 2023.

The start of the year for Volvo was not expected, at least that is what the sales results for January show. Although the Swedish brand expected continued sales growth, the opposite happened, and in the first month Volvo managed to sell only 50,820 vehicles worldwide. However, the company hopes that hybrids and EVs will play a major role in the future, which can be inferred from the growth in demand for these cars.

In January, Volvo delivered 22,398 hybrids and EVs, which is 17 percent more than in the same month a year earlier. Customers mostly chose PHEV models (12,693 units), which accounted for 28 percent of total sales. On the other hand, EVs were less in demand, but still registered a growth of 5% (9,705 units).

The best-selling mmodel was the XC60 (18,972 units), followed by the XC40/EX40, while the least demanded was the XC90, which recorded a drop in demand compared to January 2024.

It should also be noted that the demand for cars with combustion engines and mild hybrids has fallen. They recorded a 17 percent drop in demand compared to 2024.

Volvo is one of those manufacturers that strongly believes in the future of EVs, and they showed that in October 2024 when they announced that the EU must not abandon the ban on the sale of ICE cars after 2035. They and 49 other car companies have signed a declaration with which they unreservedly support the EU decision, even though they announced that they will continue to produce cars with combustion engines after 2030, but they will have mild hybrid systems and will be produced in limited series.

Source: Volvo