All posts by M.K.

News

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

It’s very busy these days in Aston Martin. After presenting the Vantage Roadster a few days ago, this time the new Valkyrie AMR Pro is coming.

Originally presented as a concept, Valkyrie has undergone a number of changes and improvements. The overall weight of the vehicle has been reduced by removing the hybrid parts, a new rear wing has been installed, the wheelbase has been reduced, and many carbon parts have been installed.

Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers said: “The entire Aston Martin Valkyrie program has been an extraordinary adventure in engineering.”

The cars will be built in just 40 units, with a delivery schedule in late 2021.

The Valkyrie AMR Pro is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine with 1,000 hp at 11,000 rpm, which is less than the previous version with 1,100 hp. The engine was made by the British company Crosworth. With twice the thrust, the AMR Pro achieves lateral acceleration of more than 3G.

Tobias Moers also said: “As an expression of the passion and expertise that can be found within Aston Martin and its closest technical partners, Valkyrie AMR Pro is a project beyond compare, a true‘ no rules ’track-only version. The Valkyrie AMR Pro is a testament to Aston Martin’s commitment to pure performance and this DNA performance will be evident in our future product portfolio. Nothing else looks like it, nothing else sounds like it, and I am absolutely certain nothing else will drive like it! ”

More information will be released later this year, and all cars will be left-hand drive.

Source: Aston Martin

EV, News

The end of Volkswagen internal combustion engines

Volkswagen has announced that it will stop selling cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. The first continent to which the decision will apply is Europe.

As previously announced by several other car manufacturers, Volkswagen has also decided to move to the production of fully electric vehicles. This decision applies only to Volkswagen vehicles, not to the Volkswagen Group. The information was confirmed by Volkswagen Sales Director Klaus Zellmer.

In an interview with Muenchner Mercury, Klaus Zellmer also stated that, somewhat later, the decision on full electrification of vehicles will begin to apply to North America and China. South America and Africa will be covered by this decision when the political and infrastructural conditions for its implementation are met.

Whether 2050 (as announced) will be the end for Volkswagen internal combustion engines and the beginning of the green era remains to be seen.

Source: Muenchner Mercury

News

The first video of the Chinese rover Zhurong

Since its launch in July 2020, Chinese rover Zhurong has sent several photos on May 14. This time, the Chinese Space Agency (CNSA) released a video recorded by a wireless camera.

The video shows the landing of the rover Zhurong on the surface of Mars. Zhurong is a six-wheeled robot designed to explore a part of Mars called Utopia Planitia, a 3,000-kilometer-wide basin area. It weighs 240 kg (530-lb). It is expected to map the landing area in 90 days.

Rover Zhurong - 0
Rover-Zhurong-1
Rover-Zhurong-2

Zhurong is similar to NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity rovers, made in the early 2000s. It is equipped with radar, high-resolution cameras, a weather monitor, magnetic research detectors, as well as other instruments necessary for research.

The video was sent using a Tianwen-1 orbiter that is supposed to collect data on the surface of Mars and the atmosphere. It is expected to do the job for the next 687 days (one Mars year).

The video release was used to celebrate 100 years of the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: BBC