All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

BMW has the best wind tunnel

A few days ago, BMW officially opened its new Aeroacoustics and Electric Drive Center (AEC). It is the largest and quietest vertical acoustic wind tunnel in the world, located in the Research and Innovation Center (FIZ).

The building has a three-meter-thick floor plate and is soundproofed from ambient noise. It consists of two separate sections, the first of which is a multi-purpose area with workshop, test and measurement equipment, while the second is a wind tunnel that is almost 100 meters long, 45 meters high and 25 meters wide.

The wind tunnel is designed as a semi-free field acoustic space. This means that, apart from the soundproofed floor, there are no sound reflections. This allows for a realistic simulation of the situation on the road. The frequency range for semi-free field conditions of 30 Hz is unique for this vehicle wind tunnel and covers the entire sound spectrum. Thanks to 216 microphones, it is possible to determine the precise localization of background noise with great precision.

It should also be noted that the facility is equipped with a 4.5 MW fan, which can deliver up to 100,000 m³ per minute at a speed of 250 km/h. In addition, the wind tunnel is equipped with a laser vibrometry system for non-contact measurement of mechanical vibrations of the entire surface of the vehicle.

Source: BMW

Tuning

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 with better aerodynamics

Last year, Mercedes introduced the second generation of the super-powerful Mercedes-AMG GT 63. It is an extraordinary high-performance car on which Brabus based its project, the Brabus 750.

The car has received a wide range of aerodynamic carbon components such as a front spoiler, side fender inserts, front grill inserts, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, and a flap sports exhaust system. There are also sports springs that lower the car by 25 mm and forged 22-inch Monoblock Platinum Edition wheels. The interior is equipped with illuminated carbon sills, aluminum or carbon pedals, velor floor mats, and a large number of seat upholstery and color options.

Under the hood is a 4.0-L twin-turbo V8 engine with 750 hp (559 kW) and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque, up from the standard 577 hp (430 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.9 seconds, which is 0.5 seconds faster than the factory model, with a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).

The price of the car is 318,000 euros.

Source: Brabus

Gallery:

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 with better aerodynamics
EV

2025 DS N°8 has arrived

In early December, DS Automobiles unveiled a new naming philosophy for future models, the ‘N°’ (numéro), and the first car to bear this designation is the DS N°8. It is an all-electric car built on the STLA Medium platform.

This model marks the start of a new era for the French luxury-premium brand, which will also be marked by a special design language. 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 are just some of the design solutions.

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 GREY and ALABASTER WHITE. The car in the photo has a black hood, pillars, mirrors and roof, and a plastic cladding that extends along the profile. 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.

Inside, the heated/cooled seats are designed to be comfortable and have massage functions and a neck warmer. Also, passengers in the rear seats have plenty of space. The digital instrument cluster is located behind the four-spoke steering wheel, and it is accompanied by a wide infotainment system placed in the middle of the dashboard. The floating center console with touch-sensitive panels seems to come straight from the concept.

Integrated ambient lighting is the final touch that takes travel comfort to a higher level. In addition, passengers will enjoy the top-notch Electra 3D sound system by Focal.

When it comes to the powertrain, the front-wheel drive versions will be powered by a single electric motor with 230 hp and 245 hp, while the most powerful version will be powered by two electric motors with 350 hp, which is enough to reach 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). The N°8 will also be equipped with two types of batteries, 74 and 97.2 kWh, which will allow 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.

Source: DS Automobiles

Gallery:

2025 DS N°8 has arrived