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Audi TT is retired

In 1998, Audi introduced a 2-door sports car, which through three generations became one of Audi’s best-selling models, the Audi TT. In more than two decades of production, 662,762 copies of this car left the assembly line. Now it’s time to finally say goodbye to this popular two-seater. At least in the version we currently know.

Last month, Audi presented the last edition of the TT model, the Audi TT Tourist Trophy. The car is intended for the Spanish market, and only 25 examples will be produced. It is finished in Nogaro blue, but can also be obtained in Tango red and Glacier white. The windows are tinted, and it is equipped with the S Line Competition package. It sits on a set of black 20-inch Audi Sport 10-spoke “Y” wheels, behind which hide red brake calipers.

Tourist Trophy is powered by a 2.0L turbo gasoline engine with 245 hp (180 kW), paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.1 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The retirement of the TT began with the gradual withdrawal of the five-cylinder engine, which is still available in the RS3 and RS Q3 models. At one time, the TT was offered with an even bigger engine, as the first and second generations offered the option of a VR6 engine.

However, some rumors say that the TT model could still return in the future, but as a fully electric car.

Source: Audi

EV

Aston Martin DB6 as an EV

Between 1960 and 1971, Aston Martin produced 1,788 DB6 grand tourer cars. It succeeded the Aston Martin DB5 and featured improved aerodynamics and specifications over its predecessor. It is powered by a 4.0L DOHC in-line six engine with 282 hp (210 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. Now British company Lunaz Design has turned one into an electric car. The price is £650,000.

This is not the first Aston Martin DB6 that Lunaz has transformed into an EV. At the beginning of the year, the British company did the restoration and electrification of a DB6 car for a businessman from Miami. That example is finished in dark gray and equipped with better brakes, improved suspension and steering system.

This DB6 has been completely disassembled, restored and reassembled to the highest standards. “This is a legacy so beautiful that we are required to preserve it. There is no more alluring evocation of the British GT and we are proud that electrification means it can compel many more generations,” said Jo Slater, Head of Design.

Inside, environmentally friendly materials are used such as veneer made from shells, leather is replaced with organic apple products, plastic is replaced with corn and wood fibers, floor mats are made from recycled plastic bottles, door panels are made from a mixture of renewable plant materials such as corn-based fibers and wood fibers, while the dashboard, shift lever and three-quarter glass handle are made of biodegradable composite material made from eggshells and nuts. Some fabric blends are made from 66 percent post-industrial recycled cotton and 27 percent polyester.

The car is powered by an electric motor with 375 hp (276 kW) and 518 lb-ft (702 Nm) of torque. Other specifications have not been revealed. It is equipped with 80 and 120 kWh batteries, which enables a range of between 290 and 402 kilometers.

Source: Lunaz Design

News

2024 Renault 5 EV

Paying tribute to the legendary “5”, Renault has shown a willingness to bring electric cars closer to a wide range of European customers. This is exactly the role of the compact city car Renault 5 EV, which will be premiered in February 2024.

The car was first presented as a prototype at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, when it was announced that it would go into production in 2024. “I know from experience that reinventing a cult product lights a fire under the whole brand. This is a cult vehicle at a price many can afford. And this is only the beginning for the whole Renault brand,” said Renault CEO Luca de Meo.

It all started back in 1972 when Renault introduced the first Renault 5 model. The task of the engineers was to develop a car that would cover the space created between the 4 and the Citroen 2CV. The car was the best-selling model in France until 1980 when Renault expanded its offering in this class.

The car will be built on the CMF-BEV platform for small electric cars, making the Renault 5 a car at an affordable price (around 25,000 euros). It will be produced in Renault’s ElectriCity factory complex, and the company announces that production costs will be 30% lower compared to the Zoe model, given that 70% of the platform components are identical to those used by the Clio and Captur models.

Renault 5 EV will have a retro design, and will be equipped with a 40 kWh battery developed by Envision AESC in Douai, with the same charging system as the Mégane. It will have a range of 400 kilometers.

Source: Renault

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