Many companies like Volvo or Lamborghini have redesigned their logos in the past few years in order to fit into the new world, era of fully electric vehicles. The same path will be followed by Mazda, which opted for a new minimalist design of the new logo.
At first glance, it could be said that there is no big difference between the new and the old logo, which has adorned Mazda cars for years. The shape of the previous logo with the illustration of the wings of a flying bird forming the letter ‘M’ has been retained, but with slightly cleaner and brighter lines. Whether this logo will be on the new electric cars of the Japanese manufacturer is unknown.
The new logo was first seen on the Arata SUV concept, which debuted at this year’s Beijing Motor Show. Some will think that changing the logo is not important, but let’s not forget that in the age of digital technologies, the development of visual identity is an important step towards approaching new customers.
When Cupra became an independent brand in 2018, no one expected that a large increase in sales of their vehicles would follow. However, that’s exactly what happened, and Cupra increased sales from less than 20,000 vehicles to over 200,000 last year. Now the manufacturer has even bigger plans, which include an attractive shooting brake in the form of the Dark Rebel model.
The Dark Rebel is an all-electric car that will most likely share a platform and components with models from the Volkswagen Group. Many believe that the new SSP Sport electric platform used by Porsche cars (Boxster and Cayman) would be best suited for the Dark Rebel. This platform enables a low seating position because the batteries are located behind the driver and passenger.
Cupra plans to produce 20,000 cars of this model per year in order to be profitable. Also, the development and production of each new model requires a large investment, so Cupra hopes to secure funds for the development of the Dark Rebel car this year.
“We have to make a lot of money, continue to increase profits and sustainability, and after that this model can become one of our priorities. Right now we have many other priorities like the production of Tavascan and Terramar, but a car like this would definitely have a huge impact on Cupra as a brand. Unfortunately, it can’t be a priority for the company, because that would be pointless and egotistical. I’d love to make a car, it would be my own when I retire, I can be sent home in it as long as I can get in and out of it then,” said CEO of Seat & Cupra Wayne Griffiths.
The British motor race team, Simpson Motorsport, in the late 1990s/early 2000s, in cooperation with Ferrari, modified the legendary F40 model and equipped it with a V12 engine, which makes it unique. This car, a 1992 Simpson-Ferrari V12 GTR, was built for former driver Stefano Sebastiani and will be offered at auction.
The car has a very interesting story, and here are just some of the details told by Stefano Sebastiani that were mentioned in Keith Bluemel’s book ‘Ferrari F40: a comprehensive look at one of Ferrari’s greatest and most revered cars’. “Simpson Motorsport ran for Stefano Sebastiani his Ferrari 348 LM (chassis 95450) in endurance races between 1993 and 1995, including two Le Mans 24 Hours entries in 1993 and 1994. Through its racing with the 348 LM, Simpson and Sebastiani formed a strong relationship with Mr. Felisa of the Ferrari Factory and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that probably led to the production of the Michelotto-built 348 Competizione and 348 GTC/LM models during 1994.”
After the crash test, Stefan and his driving friend Robin Simpson Smith were given the opportunity to convert the original F40 chassis into the Simpson-Ferrari V12 GTR. It was an expensive project, but it paid off in the end, and the result was a unique Ferrari F40. The car participated in several races and after one of them, World Champion Mauro Baldi, who drove the car at the 6 Hours of Vallelunga with Richard Jones and Fabio Montani said, ‘What a nice and quick car to drive. Much better than the turbo original car!’
This Simpson-Ferrari V12 GTR is powered by a naturally aspirated F133 V12 engine mated to a Hewland 6-speed sequential manual transmission. Although engine output is not specified, it is believed that the engine delivers more than the factory 485 hp (362 kW) and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque.
It is equipped with lightweight F40 GTE-style bodywork, a full FIA roll-cage, 11in-width x 18in-diameter front wheels, 12.5in-width x 18in-diameter rear wheels, and custom-made suspension. Until 2023, the car was dry stored and well looked after, and that year it was subsequently being fully checked and gone through by Simpson Motorsport and shaken down at Turweston Airfield.
The estimated value of the car is £500,000 – £600,000, and along with this unique car, the buyer will also receive a history file containing drawings and specification details relating to its original build, a number of relevant invoices, and its UK V5C confirming that it’s road-registered as and ‘Simpson Ferrari GTR’ with the UK registration number J848 JUY. The car is road legal and has a chassis number – SEoGL1576AD45659.
The auction will take place on 23rd August 2024 at The Wing, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN.
