All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Tuning

Porsche 930 Turbo with F1 engine

In order to compete with Renault, McLaren joined forces with TAG and Porsche in 1982 to jointly develop a turbocharged F1 engine. The creative behind it is Hans Mezger, the legendary Porsche engineer who designed some of the best high-performance engines. In the following years, this engine proved to be a complete hit and McLaren won three championship titles. Now the British automotive company specializing in service restoration and development of unique vehicles, Lanzante, has installed these three F1 engines in three examples of the Porsche 930 Turbo.

The first of the three cars, the Championship 85, was powered by the Formula 1-spec 1.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that Alain Prost used in his McLaren in ’84, ’85. and ’86. The engine was restored by Cosworth, who installed new pistons, valves, springs, camshafts, air box, new exhaust system, and improved cooling. On the sides of the V6 engine are two lightweight turbochargers made of titanium (8 kg lighter than the original ones), which help the engine deliver more than 630 hp. It is mounted on 18-inch Dymag magnesium and carbon rims, the design of which resembles the wheels of the original McLaren F1 car. Lanzante says that the car now weighs only 920 kilograms.

The car is finished in the colors of Prost’s helmet, and is equipped with larger carbon ceramic brakes, Cosworth ECU unit and electronics with Formula 1 specifications. Inside, there are Recaro seats, a suede-covered steering wheel, and new seat belts.

This Porsche 930 Turbo will be premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which will be held July 11, 2024 – July 14, 2024.

Source: Lanzante

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News

Volvo cars are getting digital passports

The Swedish car manufacturer Volvo is the first company in the world to introduce a digital passport for its cars. This type of digital document will be mandatory for all electric cars in the EU from 2027, and will record data on the origin of the material, recycled material, as well as data on the battery condition.

The first car to receive its digital passport is the all-electric EX90 SUV, which was developed in cooperation with the British company Circulor. The integration of this Volvo software will cost a symbolic 9 euros per car, and it will be important for customers that the data will be constantly updated.

This document will contain all information about the battery and the origin of the materials that the battery is made of. It will also contain data on the amount of recycled content in the battery as well as CO2 data.

This will help owners and future buyers of used electric cars to know important information about the vehicle, especially the battery condition. It will be possible to download the data by scanning the QR code that will be located on the driver’s door. However, detailed information about the battery and the vehicle will be available only to the competent authorities.

Source: Volvo

News

Ford has started production of the Explorer EV in Europe

Ford has officially started production of the electric Explorer EV at its factory in Germany. Ford invested almost two billion euros in this factory, as part of the transition to electric vehicles. The goal is to produce 250,000 electric cars a year, including the production of this compact SUV.

The car was originally supposed to be launched in September 2023, but due to the introduction of new battery standards, the production of this model was postponed. At the factory in Cologne, Ford produced the Fiesta model, but production was suspended last year in order to release full capacity for the production of the Ford Explorer EV.

This may not be the best time for Ford to start production of a new electric car considering that demand for EVs is on the decline. However, the American manufacturer expects good sales results.

Ford is considering selling gasoline and hybrid cars in Europe after 2030, which is the opposite of the original plan that only included electric vehicles. Also, demand for hybrids has increased in recent years, prompting automakers to reduce investment in EVs. The lack of charging infrastructure in Europe contributed to this, as well as the invasion of Chinese electric cars, which have been causing headaches for other manufacturers for a long time.

Source: Reuters