Carlos Sainz, Ford Spain and Red Bull join forces to complete the first full lap of the MadRing
Carlos Sainz, Ford Spain and Red Bull join forces to complete the first full lap of the MadRing
Plug-in hybrid cars are here to stay. Not only do they enable you to drive in 100% electric mode, but thanks to the combination of their two engines, they are very versatile vehicles. However, some people believe, for example, that they are not suitable for long journeys, because if you do not find a charging point on the road you are stuck. We dispel this and other false claims with Neus Mesalles, a Complete Vehicle Engineer at SEAT, at the wheel of the brand’s first PHEV, the Leon e-HYBRID.
Carlos Sainz, Ford Spain and Red Bull join forces to complete the first full lap of the MadRing
Clear the stage for the new Toyota bZ4X: The Japanese brand's first stand-alone battery-electric vehicle has now celebrated its world premiere. Based on a specially developed platform designed exclusively for electric drive. Under the abbreviation “bZ” (“beyond zero”), Toyota will in future be bringing a whole range of battery-electric vehicles onto the market. The Toyota bZ4X now makes the start. The design and technology largely correspond to the concept vehicle presented in spring. The series model also has a clear and powerful look that only e-cars can offer. The front section does without a large radiator grille. A long wheelbase also meets short overhangs. The result is a spacious cabin with five seats and generous loading capacity. Responsible for design freedom and space is the new, modular platform e-TNGA, specially designed for battery electric vehicles, which Toyota developed together with Subaru. The battery is mounted under the vehicle floor as part of the chassis, which goes hand in hand with a low center of gravity, excellent weight distribution between the front and rear axles and high body rigidity. With the optional all-wheel drive, which includes electric motors on each axle, the SUV offers exceptional stability and agility without sacrificing off-road capabilities. Toyota is also making use of its almost 25 years of experience in the electrification of vehicles and is striving for a world-leading role in this area in terms of quality, durability and reliability.
In its creation, the team of Abarth engineers and designers drew inspiration from the 1964 model, the “Cinquino” tuned up as a 695 Esseesse with its displacement raised to 690 cc and 38 hp so it could achieve 140 km/h, designed for everyday use and as a sporty city car, but aimed at those who were seeking the best performance on everyday roads, and produced in only 1,000 units. In addition, the “mean little Scorpion” stood out for its distinctive badges with the monogram ""SS"" in capital letters on the bonnet and ""esseesse"", all in lower case on the dashboard. And it was immediately a success for fans of Italian sportiness. In the design of the new Abarth 695 Esseesse, the goal was to improve performance further in terms of acceleration and handling. The research therefore drove at a reduction in weight, a different balance and attention to the aerodynamics. As well as marking out the new 695 Esseesse from an aesthetic point of view, the new doubly hunched aluminum bonnet reduces the weight by 25% compared to a normal bonnet, and combined with the adoption of the Akrapovič exhaust and other targeted interventions, has reduced the car’s overall weight by 10 kg compared to an Abarth 595 Competizione. This distinctive feature is joined in the rear by the “Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile”. As well as marking out its style, all these elements have improved performance, for example: on the quarter-mile (400 m), the 695 Esseesse manages to reach the finish line 1/10th of a second faster than the Competizione version.
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