In 1906, the French coach building company Saoutchik was founded, which operated until 1955, when due to the decreasing number of customers who could afford expensive special bodies for their cars, it stopped operations. However, in 2016, a new Saoutchik company was established in the Netherlands, and now it has launched a modern interpretation of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL model, the 300 GTC Roadster.
The company has published several photos that show that it is a really beautifully designed car. The exterior is completely unique with front round lights, a grille with a large Saoutchik logo in the middle, two large air intakes with a black mesh, and accentuated front wheel arches, large openings behind the front wheels covered by chrome grills.
At the rear, there are also new wheel arches, a specially designed trunk lid, a new diffuser and LED taillights. Whether it’s a reinterpretation of the 300 SL or not, there’s no doubt it’ll turn heads when it hits the road.
When it comes to the powertrain, there is no official information. However, potential buyers would likely be disappointed if there was anything other than AMG’s powerful 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood.
Porsche is celebrating half a century since its first Turbo model arrived on the market, and on this occasion the German tuner Techart presented the Techart GT Street R Touring.
The Techart GT Street R is based on the Porsche 911 Turbo S, and the aerodynamic package includes carbon components that increase the car’s stability at higher speeds. These include widened fenders, aggressive fender flares and GT3 RS-style vents, which create four times more downforce than the standard model and reduce lift by 45 percent at 140 km/h. There’s also a Techart badge on the hood and 22-inch Formula VIII Forged high-performance wheels.
The interior is a combination of technology and luxury materials such as leather, Alcantara, fabric, carbon details, aluminum pedals, footrests and door sills, all of which enhance aesthetics and comfort.
The GT Street R Touring is powered by a 3.8-L 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine with 810 hp (596 kW) and 701 lb-ft (950 Nm) of torque, up 160 hp and 150 Nm over the base Turbo S. The engine produces enough juice for the GTstreet R to reach a top speed of 217 mph (350 km / h).
Techart will produce only 20 examples of this car. When it comes to price, the GT Street R Touring costs 98,250 euros plus a donor 911 Turbo S.
In the early 1980s, a new cargo van, the Fiat Ducato, arrived on the European market. It is a light commercial vehicle that was jointly developed by FCA Italy and PSA Group (currently Stellantis), and now a new generation of the brand’s most successful model and the leading delivery vehicle in Europe is coming to the market.
The new Ducato is available in two lengths: L1 (4.4 m) and L2 (4.75 m). It offers 8 cargo volume options, including up to 17 m³, load capacity up to 2.2 tons (depending on version and accessories), cargo length up to 4.07 m, steering with loading floor, connectivity on the road with the most modern infotainment systems , advanced safety systems to assist the driver and the possibility of additional conversions. The optimal performance-to-weight ratio ensures excellent dynamic driving and comfort. The version with a longer body CrewCab has a unique system of modularity between the seat and the cargo area, which is made possible by an innovatively designed sliding partition.
It is equipped with advanced level 2 ADAS systems that provide greater traffic safety and enable stress-free driving, intelligent cruise control system, driver fatigue detection system, automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian detection, improved electronic stability control system, trailer stability control system, lane departure warning system, rear camera.
The front part of the vehicle is slightly different compared to the previous model with a new radiator grill, and a redesigned engine housing and chassis protection. The headlights with Full LED technology are divided into three parts – the lower ones with positional LED lights, the central lights have a very sporty look and provide 30% more illumination than conventional halogen headlights, and the upper part is dedicated to the indicators, which have been refreshed with LED lights with sliders – an attractive effect that is increasingly common in passenger cars, but is now also available in delivery vehicles.
The interior of the vehicle offers more space and comfort, and seats with new upholstery. There is also an electric power steering, which is more precise and manageable in all driving conditions and under all loads. A smaller steering wheel with a smaller turning circle redefines the concept of comfort in the redesigned cabin, which improves ergonomics and reduces stress for the driver and passengers with increasingly demanding work duties. The fully digital 7-inch instrument panel provides a clear display of information and warnings – from satellite navigation to driver assistance systems – and offers customizable settings and connectivity to the Uconnect infotainment system. There are also new Uconnect system interfaces with a screen of up to 10 inches, a premium fully satellite navigation system that includes 3D TomTom maps and wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ systems.
When it comes to powertrains, the new Ducato comes with 88 kW (120 hp), 103 kW (140 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp) engines and a 6-speed manual transmission – available on all power variants – and an 8-speed automatic transmission, which is available in versions with 103 kW (140 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp). For heavy-duty work there are three engines with the highest power and manual and automatic transmissions, which have the same torque as the light models – 450 Nm for the most powerful engine, the largest in its class.
The electric version is equipped with a new 110 kWh battery that enables a range of up to 420 km in the WLTP cycle. The battery is charged from 0-80% in less than an hour, thanks to a fast charger of up to 150 kW, which makes it the most powerful E-Ducat in its category.
