As we come to the end of another week we look at some of the motoring news which you may have missed starting with the World’s Fastest and Most Powerful Pickup Truck which begins Production
Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE), the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle builder, has started production of the world’s most powerful pickup truck, the Hennessey MAMMOTH 1000 TRX with its upgraded 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 boasting 1,012 hp.
Based on the 702 hp Dodge Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck, the high-performance-focused enhancements by Hennessey cut the 0-60 mph time to just 3.2 seconds – the quickest in the world – while torque grows to 969 lb-ft. With modifications including a high-flow 2.65L supercharger, fuel injectors and high-flow induction system alongside performance-boosting calibration, the 6.2-liter V8 truck can achieve an 11.4-second quarter mile at over 120 mph.
Measuring 228.9 inches (5.81 meters) long, 82.1 inches (2.09 meters) wide and 77.6 inches (1.97 meters) high, the imposing hypertruck makes an enormous statement on the road. Capable of carrying six adults in comfort, carrying a payload exceeding 2,300 lbs and towing more than 7,700 lbs, the MAMMOTH is the most comprehensive and capable performance truck on the market.
Including buying the stock TRX, owners opting for the MAMMOTH 1000 will typically pay in the region of $150,000 for their build. The majority of owners will take a highly specified stock model, and add the MAMMOTH 1000 package and the Stage 2 off-road enhancements. The popular Stage 2 package adds custom bumpers, LED lights, a front levelling kit, 37-inch off road tires and upgraded electronic fold-out steps. The MAMMOTH 1000 TRX complete turnkey package also comes with a 2 year / 24,000-mile warranty.
Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection: Recalling a forgotten hero
Rolls-Royce has been associated with world speed records on both land and water for more than a century. But while the exploits of Sir Malcolm Campbell are well documented and widely known, another British hero who set three land-speed records using Rolls-Royce engines has been largely overlooked by history.
Now, after more than 80 years, Rolls-Royce recalls this hero’s inspiring exploits. With the new Wraith and Dawn Black Badge Landspeed Collection, the marque uncovers and retells the remarkable story of the redoubtable Captain George Eyston, and his extraordinary car, Thunderbolt.
Born in 1897, George Eyston was fascinated with motorsport from childhood, racing both cars and (under an assumed name) motorcycles while still at school. His degree in engineering at Trinity College, Cambridge, was interrupted by the Great War, in which he served with distinction, rising to the rank of captain and winning the Military Cross. He spent the 1920s and 30s developing and driving racing cars; a talented inventor, he also held a number of patents, particularly in the field of supercharging.
In 1935, Eyston was among the first British racers to travel to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where he set new 24-hour and 48-hour endurance speed records. He subsequently received the Segrave Trophy, awarded to ‘the British national who demonstrates Outstanding Skill, Courage and Initiative on Land, Water and in the Air’.
In 1937, he returned to the Flats and went on to set three world land-speed records with Thunderbolt. This extraordinary machine had three axles, eight wheels and weighed seven tonnes, earning it monikers such as ‘behemoth’ and ‘leviathan’ in contemporary reports. The body was made from aluminium and, in its original form, had a blunt, heavyset profile topped with a large triangular tailfin.
The Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection draws inspiration from George Eyston’s remarkable life and record-breaking feats. It also has strong aesthetic links to the unique, otherworldly landscape of the Bonneville Salt Flats where Thunderbolt made him, albeit briefly, the fastest man on Earth. The Collection Car duo is presented in a specially created two-tone finish, which marries Black Diamond Metallic with a new Bespoke colour, Bonneville Blue. This specially developed hue bears particular significance to the Collection, with a colour that transitions under sunlight from light blue to silver, illustrating the reflections of both the vast sky over Bonneville and the crisp salt flats on Thunderbolt’s aluminium body.
Thunderbolt was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R supercharged 37-litre, V-12 aero engines, each producing well over 2,000 horsepower. Around only 19 of these engines were ever made: indeed, they were so rare that Thunderbolt’s engines had a previous career in the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6.B seaplane that would lay the foundations for the legendary Spitfire.
Today, Thunderbolt’s two R engines are preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon and the Science Museum in London. The car itself, however, has been lost. After being exhibited at the 1940 Centennial Exhibition in New Zealand, it was placed in storage, but was sadly destroyed in 1946 when 27,000 bales of wool, housed in the same building, caught fire.
Maserati meets Fragment
Maserati and Hiroshi Fujiwara, the Japanese godfather of street culture, come together for a partnership that crosses geographical and disciplinary borders into the unexplored territories of audacity, in a realm beyond which music is embodied in the form of a car and rule-breaking is allowed. Born from this collaboration and presented in an exclusive global première in Tokyo, an artwork in the form of a melodic duet, Operanera and Operabianca, two contrasting evocations of a Special Edition of the Maserati Ghibli.
The partnership is fruit of the capabilities of the Maserati Fuoriserie customisation program, which permits customers to create their own Maserati, tailored to their unique tastes. The car is more than a simple object, it becomes a tailor-made garment, to be proudly worn on the road and along the streets of the world as an extension of oneself, and a symbol of contemporary luxury. Hiroshi Fujiwara is a revered trendsetter, a maverick. Pioneer of the streetwear culture of Tokyo in the 1980s, he was one of the first DJs to import hip hop into the Land of the Rising Sun, and as a producer and musician he has worked with international recording stars. As a visual artist he specialises in expressing aspects of an urban atmosphere. Like Maserati, he has the ability to break down barriers and be audacious. In the spirit of ‘itanji’ which means ‘non-conformist’ two audacious brands have come together uniting Italian design and Japanese perfection to generate an unexpected limited edition car.
Maserati’s style and Hiroshi Fuijwara’s character share a universal recognisability. Today, the encounter between the visual codes of Maserati and the street style of Hiroshi’s brand, Fragment, gives birth to a creative partnership which is a duet in the truest sense of the term: Maserati meets Fragment.
A song on wheels, based on the Ghibli sports saloon in GranLusso trim and created in two exclusive looks. A total of 175 cars for global distribution: Ghibli Operanera and Ghibli Operabianca. They are a bitonal duo, one in a glossy/opaque black and the other in glossy white and opaque black.
The uniformity of colour applies not only to the exteriors but also to the body-colour wheels and door handles. The interiors, on the other hand, are in premium leather and Alcantara, with contrasting silver inserts for the vertical stitching and the Trident on the headrests. The seat belts are dark blue. The front grille is the iconic detail of this partnership: Fujiwara’s metropolitan style is reflected in a specific grille and in the logo, adapted uniquely for this edition. To complete the exteriors, Ghibli Operanera and Ghibli Operabianca are fitted with 20” Urano matte black wheels and a specific badge with the Fragment logo on the C pillar.
Last but not least, the code M157110519FRG appears underneath the three iconic side air ducts. This alphanumeric tag seals the partnership: the first four characters are the Ghibli ID code, the next six numbers record the date of the first meeting (5 November 2019) between Hiroshi and the Centro Stile Maserati, and the final three letters are the acronym of Fragment.
The launch of the car is accompanied by a capsule collection in limited quantities that will be available via the official Maserati channels. Iconic items designed in association with Hiroshi Fujiwara in the same unconventional spirit as the car itself.
Q by Aston Martin Vantage Roadster celebrates 100 years of ‘A3’ – the oldest surviving Aston Martin sports car
Aston Martin is celebrating the centenary of its oldest surviving car – ‘A3’ – by building a modern day tribute based on one of its most dynamic and exhilarating series production sports cars, the new Vantage Roadster.
It is 100 years since chassis No.3, now commonly known as ‘A3’, rolled gracefully out of the marque’s then production facility at Abingdon Road in Kensington, London. The third of five Aston Martin prototype cars constructed before series production started, the car was used extensively by co-founder of the business Lionel Martin.
Fitted with a 1.5 litre, 11 hp four cylinder side valve engine, ‘A3’ was often seen with a streamlined racing body and in its heyday took several light-car speed records including first place at the Essex Motor Club Kop Hill Climb in 1922, as well as lapping the famous Brooklands circuit at 84.5mph in 1923.
One hundred years on from its construction, ‘A3’ is the pride of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust’s (AMHT) collection, which acquired it courtesy of a generous donation at an auction in 2002. After its acquisition by the Trust, ‘A3’ was restored to be as close as possible to its original factory specification by Ecurie Bertelli, the pre-war Aston Martin specialist.
To commemorate the historic car’s major milestone, and in collaboration with their friends at the AMHT, Aston Martin HWM commissioned the bespoke division of the great British luxury car maker – Q by Aston Martin – to capture the spirit of ‘A3’ in the new Vantage Roadster.
This exceptional commission is being shown publicly for the first time later this month at an A3 centenary celebration event organised by the AMHT, with support from the Aston Martin Owners’ Club.
The AMHT’s ambitious celebration will take place on Saturday 26 June at the Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam, Warwickshire. A number of hugely rare and highly prized Aston Martin models will be on show in a carefully curated timeline leading visitors on a guided tour through the fascinating era-themed car parks.
PETRONAS SRT teases electric kick scooter
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team has announced a new Partnership with leading urban kick scooter manufacturer Velocifero with a concept limited edition Mad Air electric kick scooter showcased at the 2021 DutchGP.
The announcement is the latest from the team as it develops an expansion of its off-track activities into electric two wheel vehicles. Prototype scooters will be used and showcased by the team across the remaining races in 2021.
The concept PSRT Velocifero Mad Air electric kick scooter merges style, performance and practicality in one single package. It boasts a practical folding handlebar design for easy storage and transport, a punchy 350W electric motor and removable 36V 10.4Ah battery pack, novel digital display panel, as well as front motor and electric brakes and rear disk brakes.
Though rich in features, the Mad Air’s light 16kg weight makes it a perfect e-mobility solution for anyone to zip around and conquer the urban terrain. This limited edition special fashioned in the signature colours of the PETRONAS SRT racing livery.
Through the roll-out of the prototype scooters at races, the team will be evaluating a limited-edition production run for the future. Fans are encouraged to register their interest to own a special edition PETRONAS SRT Velocifero kick scooter, click here for the registration form. A first look at the kick scooter can be seen in this week’s edition of the team’s vlog.
Nissan JUKE Rally Tribute Concept: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic 240Z’s East African Rally victory
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s victory in the East Africa Rally in the iconic 240Z Nissan has released sketches which show what a contemporary Nissan rally car based on the JUKE would look like.
The images of Nissan’s JUKE Rally Tribute Concept are released to coincide with the first day of the legendary Safari Rally Kenya as part of the World Rally Championship calendar in 19 years.
The production JUKE is a natural starting point for the design of the JUKE Rally Tribute Concept thanks to its robust and raised stance on the road, with short front and rear overhangs which naturally endow it with exceptional agility and strong potential off-road performance.
With enlarged wheels arches to accommodate the tailor-made off-road tyres, the vehicle’s stance is now more imposing, while the additional lights mounted on the hood and roof underlines the JUKE Rally Tribute Concept’s credentials as a competitive off-roader.
The JUKE Rally Tribute Concept’s black hood and black wheels are a visual homage to the 1971 240Z that competed in the East African Rally. And those same cues also served as inspiration for the Gripz concept car which Nissan presented at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, which in turn influenced the design of the production JUKE which was introduced in 2019.
As part of Nissan’s commitment to the electrification of its range, the JUKE Rally Tribute Concept’s powertrain would be an electric hybrid powertrain, allowing greater efficiency as well as offering additional instant torque to enhance its performance in all conditions.
Kimi Räikkönen drives the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA
Following the testing session on the Giulia GTA and GTAm last year, Kimi Räikkönen went back to the Balocco Proving Ground to personally evaluate the work done on the highest-performing sports saloon that Alfa Romeo has ever produced. His words leave no doubts in the mind: “I really like it. We’re looking at a car that can be used on an everyday basis, but that can also be taken onto the track, one in which you can really enjoy yourself.”
The Finnish world champion analysed the changes made to the car, having provided invaluable advice and feedback on the aerodynamics in the first session, particularly the new adjustable splitter built into the new front bumper and the new manually adjustable rear wing. More general changes were also made to the overall balance guaranteed by the interaction of these new components with the diffuser and the underbody fairing. Kimi’s judgment? “It’s better at high speeds in terms of balance. It seems the front of the car is lower, making the steering faster. It’s fast, easy to drive, and responsive.” Once he takes off his racing suit and is away from the spotlight, Kimi Räikkönen is back playing the role of father, taking his children to school and believes that the Giulia GTA represents the ideal mix for everyday use and on the track.
The Alfa Romeo Racing F1 drivers lent their skills to the Alfa Romeo engineering team last October with a testing session focused on the aerodynamics and handling. With this final session the loop is now completed and the driver’s have been able to experience the results of their feedback in the development process.
Alfa Romeo entrusts Sauber Engineering with the production of most of the carbon fibre components for the GTA and GTAm, especially those that affect the aerodynamics. These include the new front bumper, the side skirts, the rear diffuser, the GTA spoiler and the GTAm aerowing. Courtesy of its manually adjustable front and rear wings, the Giulia GTAm can adapt its aerodynamic performance to any kind of track or road, or to the requests and preferences of its driver. Aerodynamic research was conducted in the wind tunnel on the wing appendages, but also on the fully faired underbody. The GTA and GTAm also benefit from a new rear diffuser capable of increasing the car’s downforce, guaranteeing excellent road holding at high speeds. The Giulia GTAm, in the most intense aerodynamic configuration, creates double the downforce of the Giulia GTA and three times the amount of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the previous benchmark in its segment. These statistics testify the great achievements resulting from the collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Sauber engineers.
ŠKODA AUTO is the official main partner of the Tour de France for the 18th time
ŠKODA AUTO is supporting the Tour de France for the 18th time this year (26 June – 18 July 2021). With 250 vehicles in total, the car manufacturer is providing mobility to the organisers of the cycling classic as well as to numerous teams. The fleet includes the ŠKODA Enyaq iV, ŠKODA Octavia and Octavia iV models as well as the ŠKODA Superb iV. The Czech car manufacturer’s all-electric SUV will again serve as the command vehicle and mobile control centre (‘Red Car’) for Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme this year. In addition, ŠKODA AUTO is sponsoring the Green Jersey for the leader in the points classification and, as a partner of the official Tour de France app, will be keeping fans up to date on the latest race developments.
Martin Jahn, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, emphasises: “Our company’s long history is inextricably linked with cycling. For this reason, ŠKODA AUTO is committed to being a strong long-term partner of international elite and amateur cycling. Supporting the Tour de France has been one of the cornerstones of our activities in sports sponsorship since 2004. It offers us the opportunity to visibly and sustainably position our brand and products in an appropriate setting, as well as to share our enthusiasm for this great sport with the international cycling community. I am particularly pleased that the Enyaq iV, our first all-electric SUV, will be used as the lead vehicle in the Tour de France.”
The 108th Tour de France begins on 26 June with the Grand Départ in Brest. The Tour de France covers 21 stages over a total distance of more than 3,300 kilometres, including six mountain stages. The peloton will reach the finish line on the Champs-Élysées, Paris, on 18 July.
Festival of Speed to go ahead as a pilot event
Goodwood is pleased to confirm that the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard will now form part of the Events Research Programme (ERP) as a pilot event and will take place as planned from Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 July.
The event is sold out across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The capacities agreed with the ERP will mean that all 2021 Festival of Speed ticket, hospitality and grandstand pass holders will be able to attend as planned, including those with tickets rolled over from 2020. A limited number of Thursday tickets are still available to purchase.
As a pilot, all people on site will need to agree to the conditions of entry set out by the Events Research Programme in order to enjoy the event safely. This will include either having had both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days before the event, or proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test, which can be taken at home or at a recognised centre free of charge, within 48 hours of the event.
We will announce further details around conditions of entry, consent required from all fans to opt into the Event Research Programme and NHS Test and Trace requirements shortly.
The event will be as exciting and entertaining as ever, as we honour ‘The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders’, celebrating the drivers, teams and manufacturers who have enjoyed success across a variety of motorsport disciplines.
Much-loved elements of the Festival of Speed will include appearances from current F1 teams and drivers, road car debuts, the awe-inspiring Future Lab presented by bp, a new interactive Central Feature celebrating Lotus, Goodwood Action Sports (GAS) and of course, the action-packed Shootout which will come to a climax on the Sunday.
Volvo starts online sales and subscriptions for extended XC40 Recharge pure electric SUV range
The expanded Volvo XC40 Recharge pure electric range is now available for UK customers to purchase online. Three new versions of the compact SUV have been introduced, with updated equipment specifications that enhance the customer appeal of this stylish addition to the Volvo range.
The new all-electric cars are available to purchase outright or can be accessed via two different Care by Volvo subscription packages, designed to suit different customer priorities.
The range comprises the XC40 Recharge Twin, XC40 Recharge Twin Plus and XC40 Recharge Twin Pro. Their respective on-the-road prices are £49,950, £52,950 and £56,700.
However, Volvo expects 95% of retail customers to take advantage of the Care by Volvo subscription packages, which provide a convenient and transparent alternative to traditional car ownership. With Care by Volvo Fixed, a new offering, the XC40 Recharge is available from £619 a month on a three-year term, with no deposit or sign-up fee required. Alternatively, customers can choose the Care by Volvo Flexible option, from £769 a month, with an open-ended, three-month rolling contract and an initial 30-day trial period with no notice requirement. After the 30 days, the customer can change their car or end their subscription with three months’ notice.
As well as access to the car, the monthly subscription also includes scheduled servicing, wear-and-tear maintenance, vehicle tax, replacement tyres and roadside assistance cover. Insurance can also be factored into the monthly fee. Terms and conditions apply. Full details are available at www.volvocars.com/uk/care-by-volvo
Volvo anticipates strong interest from business customers keen to enjoy the environmental and cost-of-ownership benefits of pure electric power, including a 1% benefit-in-kind rating for company car tax. This means that even a higher-rate taxpayer would pay just £16.63 a month in company car tax.
The standard XC40 Recharge specification includes Volvo’s new Android-based infotainment system, complete with four years of data. Operated using a nine-inch central touchscreen, it provides Google Maps with worldwide coverage, voice control via Google Assistant, access to apps enabled for automotive use via the Google Play Store, and wireless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay.
Other standard features include automatic LED headlights with Active High Beam, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, a 12.3-inch progressive driver’s information display, powered tailgate, rear parking sensors and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The XC40 Recharge Twin Plus makes safe manoeuvring even easier with the addition of front parking sensors and a rear parking camera. It focuses on extra cabin comfort with power-adjustable front seats, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. It also has a heat pump system that enhances cabin heating and cooling efficiency, which in turn helps optimise the car’s driving range, especially in hot or cold conditions.
The top of the line-up, the XC40 Twin Recharge Pro, comes with Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance technology, providing adaptive cruise control and steering assistance. It also introduces a panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker Harman Kardon 600W sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming door mirrors, leather/nubuck upholstery and a 360-degree parking camera system to give the driver a precise, real-time view of the area immediately around the car.
The powertrain features a 78kWh lithium-ion battery and twin electric motors, providing all-wheel drive as standard. The combined motor output is an impressive 408hp, enabling acceleration from zero to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds. Driving range (WLTP standards) on a single charge is up to 259 miles, depending on model specification.
The priority for easy and rapid battery recharging is addressed with charging from zero to 80% capacity taking as little as 40 minutes when using a 150kW (DC) fast charger. A full recharge using the 11kW (AC) onboard charger can be completed in eight hours, making it convenient for overnight charging. The clever battery design and packaging means there is no loss in cabin space and, in fact, an increase in the load volume available, with an additional 31 litres of storage space below the bonnet.
