News

VW and XPeng are developing a new E&E platform

In 2023, VW invested 700 million dollars in the Chinese car manufacturer XPENG, becoming the owner of 4.99% of the company, with which it agreed a partnership on the production of two models of this German brand. Now it has been announced that these companies are developing a special E&E (electrical and electronic) platform that will be in use from 2026.

A few months ago, the companies announced that the new platform will reduce costs and implement advanced automated driving features faster, with support provided through over-the-air upgrades. The first cars that will receive new electrical systems will arrive in 2 years, and one of them will be an SUV.

“We will be launching a new, very powerful electronic vehicle system on the market from 2026,” said Ralf Brandstatter, a member of the board of management for VW in China.

The contract has already been signed and two project headquarters have been established in the cities of Guangzhou and Hefei. This will allow Volkswagen and Xpeng engineers to work together on new systems.

Source: Reuters

Auctions

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sb Coupe is for sale

At the 1951 Paris Salon, Mercedes-Benz revealed a hand-built two-door car, the Mercedes-Benz 300 which was produced until 1954 as the 300 S when it was replaced by the 300 Sc version. However, between 1954 and 1955, Mercedes-Benz launched an updated version of the 300 S, the 300 Sb. Only 216 cars were produced and one of them, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sb Coupe, will be offered at auction.

Mercedes-Benz 300 represented a strong return of the German manufacturer to the market after the Second World War. It was an elegant luxury car designed to give reliable service under prolonged hard use. However, Mercedes decided to update this model by installing upgraded brakes, a redesigned dashboard, and pivoting vent windows. Ultimately, this also resulted in a 50% price increase over the 300 S ($12,300).

This car is finished in Dark Gray over Light Gray leather, and is in excellent condition. It is equipped with Becker Le Mans radio, whitewall tires, Hirschmann automatic antenna and sealed-beam headlights. What makes this 300 Sb rare is the ultra-desirable and rarely seen floor-shift option, as opposed to the typical column-mounted transmission selector.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-L inline-6 ​​engine with 150 hp (110 kW).
and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission.

The auction will be held in Monterey from August 15 – 17, 2024, and the estimated value of the car is between $375,000 – $425,000 USD.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sb Coupe is for sale
News

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is an all-electric beast with 1.548 HP

Four months ago, Xiaomi revealed its first car, the SU7, with which the Chinese tech giant officially entered the world of car manufacturers. It is a fully electric car that comes in three versions: SU7, SU7 Pro and SU7 Max, and now the offer has been expanded with an extreme version, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.

This car looks like a racing version of the standard SU7 with touring-style bumpers, wide fenders, a large spoiler and a rear wing that creates huge downforce (up to 2,145 kilograms). It is equipped with a CATL Qilin 2.0 battery with a maximum discharge rate of 1,330 kWh and AP Racing high-performance brakes assisted by a regenerative braking system, which allows the car to stop from 300 km/h in just 15 seconds.

When it comes to the powertrain, the SU7 Ultra is powered by three electric motors with a total output of 1,548 hp (1,154 kW), which is enough to push the 1,900 kg car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.97 seconds, 200 km/h in 5.97 seconds and 300 km/h in 15 seconds, with a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

Xiaomi has announced that with the SU7 Ultra, it wants to set a new record lap time on one of the most famous race tracks in the world, the Nurburgring Nordschleife, held by the Tesla Model S Plaid (7:25.23). It wouldn’t be a surprise if that happened, as the SU7 Ultra has more horsepower than the Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which is the second-fastest production car on the track. Whether the SU7 Ultra will succeed in this remains to be seen.

Source: Xiaomi

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Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is an all-electric beast with 1.548 HP

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