All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Entertainment

Maserati MC20 Cielo and Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 in U-Drag race

Italian car manufacturers like to say that their cars are the best, especially if they are supercars, and one way to solve the dilemma is U-Drag races. This time the Maserati MC20 Cielo took to the line with the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06.

In U-Drags, cars race on a quarter-mile drag, before they hit the brakes, do a 180, and power back to start/finish. The video was released on the Edmunds Cars YouTube channel, and the drivers were Alistair Weaver and Jonathan Elfalan.

The Maserati MC20 Cielo is powered by a 3.0-L V6 twin-turbo engine with 621 hp (457 kW) and 538 lb-ft (728 Nm) of torque, mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. That’s enough power to push a 1,814 kg car to 62 mph (100 km/h) in about 3 seconds with a top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h).

Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 is powered by a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with 670 hp (499 kW) at 8,400 rpm and 459 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear axle. The mass of the car is 1,685 kg.

In the first race, the Corvette Z06 had a better start, crossing the 1/4 mile first, and even increased the distance to the start/finish. After that, the drivers switched cars. In the second race, we again saw a better start of the Corvette Z06, better braking and a faster return to the finish line.

More horsepower and faster acceleration proved crucial in this showdown.

Source: Edmunds Cars via Youtube

Auctions

2024 Porsche 911 S/T for sale

The Porsche 911 S/T is the lightest 911 of its generation, and only 1,963 units were produced. One of them is for sale, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross to help with the California wildfire relief efforts.

This car is owned by Porsche Cars North America, part of the PCNA in-house fleet, and is the only one in the U.S. that still has no buyer. It is the 1,919th example produced with only 956 miles (1,500 km) on the odometer at the time of cataloguing.

The Porsche 911 S/T is equipped with the optional Heritage Design Package and personal start number 60, commemorating 60 years of the Porsche 911. It is painted in stunning Shore Blue Metallic, an exclusive color for this package, and it is decorated with wheels in the color Ceramica, classic style Porsche crest on the front, on the central caps of the wheels, the steering wheel, the headrests, and the car key, underscoring the historic roots of the 911 S/T. There are also a number of options that further enhance its enthusiast appeal and touring capability, such as the front axle lift system, which provides greater ground clearance at the touch of a button to navigate speed bumps or driveways, and an extended range 23.7-gallon fuel tank, auto-dimming mirrors with integrated rain sensor, rear Park Assist, and the BOSE Surround Sound audio system.

Inside, the bucket seats are covered in Classic Cognac leather with black pinstripes, while two-tone semi-aniline leather trim in Black/Classic Cognac covers the rest of the interior. The roof lining is in perforated Dinamica, and other elements from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur round out the package.

The auction will be held on February 18-20, and the car comes with an owner’s manual pouch signed by Andreas Preuninger, Director of the GT model line at Porsche.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Gallery:

2024 Porsche 911 S/T for sale
News

The merger of Nissan and Honda failed

In late 2024, Nissan and Honda signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss a merger of the two companies, but the merger appears unlikely to happen. There are many reasons why the story of merging these two companies was started, and one of them is the protection of domestic manufacturers from foreign takeovers. Some believe Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) pushed the merger to stop rumors of a takeover of Nissan by Taiwanese technology company Foxconn. Now the Taiwanese company has said it is open to talks with Nissan.

Foxconn’s electric vehicle business is led by former Nissan CEO Jun Seki, who was once seen as a candidate to become the automaker’s CEO before the job went to current boss Uchida.

Nissan has said it is open to cooperation with Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer, although the Japanese manufacturer has previously ruled out talks with the Taiwanese company. Foxconn, which makes Apple products, was looking to expand its electric vehicle manufacturing business and saw Nissan as a partner.

Nissan had hoped to merge with Honda to become the world’s third-largest automaker, but talks have been complicated by growing differences and Honda’s push to turn Nissan into a subsidiary, Reuters reported.

Great pressure, primarily from Chinese companies that are rapidly taking control of the largest markets, calls into question the future of many manufacturers, including Nissan. They badly need a partner, and have already announced plans to lay off 9,000 workers and cut 20 percent of their global capacity.

Source: Reuters