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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
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Drivers like to charge EVs at home

Every year, the number of charging stations for electric vehicles around the world increases, and the most common place where owners decide to charge their EV is at home.

According to research conducted in Germany, 72 percent of electric vehicle owners most often use their own wall box. 97 percent of electric car drivers in Germany would like to use solar charging in the future or already do so, which is a large percentage. 74 percent of drivers who own their own home already have a PV system on their roof, and an additional eight percent plan to install one in the next three years. This makes sense as drivers save money and drive on 100 percent “green electricity” thanks to solar power.

This prompts the government to consider adding flexible tariffs and top-up tariffs to existing tariffs. According to the research conducted, a charging tariff in which the energy supplier controls the charging process at night in exchange for paying a fixed bonus would be used by at least half of EV owners who charge their cars at home. Billing could be scheduled for a time when electricity prices are low on the stock market. Electricity suppliers offer this option with different tariffs, and the client benefits from a bonus of up to 240 euros per year.

The survey was conducted on more than 1,000 respondents and more than 25% said that they often charge their EVs at work, while EV drivers in their thirties often use public charging stations in the city, supermarkets and shops.

Source: Reuters

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Volvo won’t give up on the XC90

Three years ago, Volvo took big steps towards the complete electrification of its fleet, but problems with production and a drop in demand, confronted the Swedish company with reality. Customers still remained loyal to ICE cars, so Volvo decided to keep its largest SUV powered by an internal combustion engine in the range.

In September, Volvo revealed a refreshed edition of the XC90 SUV, which retained the design of its predecessor with the addition of some details such as redesigned “Thor’s Hammer” lights and diagonal slats of the radiator grille. The interior is also slightly improved, with a new 11.2-inch touchscreen instead of the old 9.0-inch one, optimized operating system, the center console provides additional storage space, while the wireless smartphone charger has been relocated.

Under the hood is a 2.0-L four-cylinder turbo engine combined with a 48-volt electric motor with a total power from 247 hp to 295 hp, and customers will also be able to choose a hybrid version with 455 hp. All versions come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels. It should be noted that the refreshed edition has better handling thanks to the optional air suspension, which provides a comfortable and isolated ride, but also coped well with most road situations.

Volvo has announced that it will continue to produce cars with internal combustion engines after 2030, but they will have mild hybrid systems and will be produced in limited series. This does not mean that they have given up on full electrification, as Volvo is one of the few European manufacturers that are still strongly advocating EVs.

Source: Volvo

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Volvo won't give up on the XC90

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