All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Tesla Model S hit several cars and fell off the ledge

In recent years, Tesla has had major safety issues with its cars that have even led to fatalities. It has happened that a car suddenly stops and causes an accident, and the uncontrolled behavior happened in early December in New South Wales (Australia) when a Model S crashed into several cars in a parking lot.

According to a report by 9 News Australia, the Tesla Model S smashed into several cars and then drove off the ledge on a loading dock. Customers managed to extract two people trapped inside the vehicle, a 59-year-old driver and a 68-year-old passenger who were fortunately not seriously injured.

Police took the vehicle to a garage for an electronic check. It is not yet known whether the driver had full control of the car or if there was a malfunction in the car.

In 2022, a Tesla Model 3 suddenly stopped on I-70 Highway east of Kansas City, causing a collision of several vehicles, which resulted in the death of one person. Some information says that a mechanical issue could be the reason for the loss of power and stopping, but this has not been confirmed. Also, the U.S. authorities launched an investigation following reports of a braking problem that occurred on a number of Tesla cars. According to some owners, their cars unexpectedly activated the brakes for no reason.

This summer, the company recalled over 120,000 cars due to problems with the seat belt warning system. The system is supposed to send visual and audible warnings to drivers when they are not buckled in, but NHTSA has determined that it may not work as intended in some vehicles.

Source: 9 News Australia

News

India wants to be a leader in EV production

After China proved itself as a leader in EV production, another Asian country is becoming a center for carbon-neutral vehicle manufacturers. According to the latest information, India could be one of the developing countries that wants to be a leading player in the production of electric cars.

The country has devised a strategy for the development and production of electric cars, although it initially focused specifically on Tesla, which it invited to invest in the construction of a gigafactory, but the American manufacturer has focused on Mexico. However, the announcement of the new President of the United States, Donald Trump, that he will introduce additional tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico gives India an opportunity to renew negotiations with Tesla. The American manufacturer has already suspended the construction of a factory in Mexico.

The suspension of Tesla Model 2 production in Mexico was the main motive for Musk to go to India, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled the meeting. The Indian government intends to launch its electric car production plan in March 2025, which Tesla and other major manufacturers see as a new opportunity. The plan is to expand aid to existing manufacturers rather than restricting benefits to new plant construction. India is ready to help any manufacturer that invests at least $500 million in electric vehicle production with 50 percent of components sourced locally. The government is also offering a 15 percent import tax cut for up to 8,000 electric cars a year.

Toyota and Hyundai have already shown interest, although it is not known whether they would use existing plants or build new ones. Hyundai already knows that the €500 million spent on research and development will not be included in the total investment, so the Korean company is waiting for the final guidelines for its electric car plan in India.

Volkswagen, which already has plants in India, wants to know if it could spend 75 percent of the total investment in the first three years, rather than the entire $500 million at once. Also, if VW decided to use its factories in Pune, they would have to install new lines separate from those for the production of combustion engine cars.

Source: Reuters

Tuning

HOF Sir Class – Lewis Hamilton

German tuning company HOF Manufaktur has unveiled a special car built for seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. The project is called the HOF Sir Class, and is based on the Mercedes G-Class.

“This is a perfect creation, coinciding with the final season at Mercedes of one of the greatest drivers of all time, Sir Lewis Hamilton. The Abu Dhabi race marks the end of his great journey with Mercedes, and this car pays tribute to his career, which has exceeded all expectations and secured his place among the greatest F1 drivers in history,” HOF said.

The car is adorned with sleek lines, Petronas green accents, and Tiffany Green 1063 logos. The aerodynamically bold body is equipped with a carbon body kit, a carbon hood, new springs and shock absorbers, tailpipe trims in an exclusive ceramic design, a carbon-ceramic sports brake system, and forged 23″ H1063 wheels with a carbon cover. Inside, high-performance sports seats with hand-stitched Tiffany Green patterns, an F1-style steering wheel, lots of high-end Alcantara and Nappa leather, as well as HOF F1 graphic stitching on the headliner, adorn the cabin.

When it comes to the powertrain, the HOF Sir Class is powered by an upgraded 4.0-L biturbo AMG V8 engine with 1,063 hp (782 kW) and 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) of torque. The engine has been given forged aluminum pistons and stiffer connecting rods, more advanced turbochargers with modified compressor geometry, an aluminum airbox, an advanced fuel pump, a reinforced transmission, and special software. Also, the top speed has been increased to over 240 km/h.

Source: HOF Manufaktur

Gallery:

HOF Sir Class - Lewis Hamilton