All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Porsche produced the last 911 Dakar

At the 2022 LA Auto Show Porsche revealed a limited edition version of its all-road car, the Porsche 911 Dakar. It is based on the Carrera 4 and Porsche planned to produce 2,500 examples of this model. A few days ago, a unique example was produced for an Italian customer, which is also the last 911 Dakar.

With this model, Porsche paid tribute to the Porsche 911 (953), which won the famous Paris-Dakar rally in 1984. The car has a slightly higher ground clearance than the Carrera, which in Off-Road mode can be increased by an additional 8 cm in height , and in Rallye mode the distance can be reduced from 8 to 5 cm.

This example is finished in a combination of yellow, dark blue and light blue. It is equipped with a new front bumper, revised air intakes, fixed rear wing, round exhaust pipes and a single-piece light bar under the rear wing.

911 Dakar is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged boxer 6 engine with 473 hp (348 kW) and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via an 8-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK). It reaches 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h). It’s mounted on a set of 19 and 20-inch wheels wrapped in 245/45 R19 (front) and 295/40 R20 (rear) all-terrain tires.

The car will be displayed in a museum before being delivered to the customer in Italy.

Source: Porsche

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Porsche produced the last 911 Dakar
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The 100,000th Xiaomi SU7 produced at the Beijing plant

Eight months ago, Xiaomi launched the SU7, and 100,000 examples have already rolled off the production lines of the factory in Beijing. This is not a surprise if we take into account that since the beginning the Chinese company has recorded an increase in demand, so for this model customers now have to wait 21 weeks.

Xiaomi SU7 comes in three versions: SU7, SU7 Pro and SU7 Max. The standard version is powered by an electric motor with 299 hp (220 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, and will have RWD. It will accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.28 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). It is equipped with a BYD Blade 73.6 kWh battery that provides a range of 700 kilometers.

The more powerful version of the SU7 Pro will be equipped with an 800V architecture, and a 94.3 kWh battery that provides a range of 830 km. However, the most powerful version, Xiaomi SU7 Max, is really impressive. It is powered by two electric motors with a total output of 673 hp (495 kW) and 618 lb-ft (838 Nm) of torque, and has AWD. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.78 seconds with a top speed of 265 km/h (165 mph). It is equipped with the Xiami Pilot Max ADAS system, 800V architecture, and a CATI Qilin 101 kWh battery that enables a range of 800 km, or 510 km after a 15-minute charge.

Recently, Xiaomi revealed the racing version of this model, the SU7 Ultra. It is powered by three electric motors with a total output of 1,548 hp (1,154 kW), which is enough to push the 1,900 kg car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.97 seconds, 200 km/h in 5.97 seconds and 300 km/h in 15 seconds, with a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

Initially, the company’s goal was to reach 100,000 SU7 deliveries by the end of 2024, but it was later announced that the goal will be met this month. The new goal is to deliver an additional 20,000 cars by the end of the year.

Xiaomi’s Beijing facility currently has a capacity of 12,000 units per month, which is 150,000 units per year. The second phase is currently under construction, which will increase production to 300,000 cars per year, and will be operational in mid-2025.

Source: Xiaomi

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Caterham Seven CSR Twenty Limited Edition

British manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars, Caterham, recently revealed the final version of its super-lightweight sports car, the Seven CSR Twenty. It is a limited edition and only 40 units will be produced, 20 each for the United States and Great Britain.

The front part is borrowed from the Seven 620 with the addition of a new front grille with a two-tone British flag, and LED front and rear lights. Buyers can choose between Kinetic Gray and Dynamic Silver body colors, combined with contrasting graphics.

The interior is special, and Caterham claims it is the most luxurious ever. The seats are upholstered in premium Muirhead leather with Alcantara inserts, decorated with red thread and CSR Twenty logos on the backrests. The dashboard is made of carbon fiber, the Momo steering wheel and central tunnel are covered in leather, and the gear lever and handbrake are covered in Alcantara, while there is a numbered plate between the seats.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Seven CSR Twenty is powered by a 2.0-L Ford Duratec four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Seven 420, with 213 hp (156 kW) and 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in about four seconds with a top speed of 219 km/h (136 mph). It is mounted on 15-inch Vulcan rims behind which are ventilated discs with four-piston brake calipers.

Source: Caterham

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Caterham Seven CSR Twenty Limited Edition