The Aston Martin Valkyrie Officially Produces 1,160 Horsepower With A 11,100 RPM Redline

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March 1, 2019

Aston Martin Valkyrie - full performance figures revealed — Aston Martin Valkyrie. [Photo: Aston Martin]

It’s 6.5-liter V12 comes mated to a hybrid powertrain.

We’ve known Aston Martin well for their V12 engines, but now the company is dipping a toe into hybrid powertrains as well. Enter the Aston Martin Valkyrie, and it comes bearing the sort of mind-boggling numbers you’d expect from a hybrid hypercar. This car has been around for a little while, but Aston Martin just released full performance figures for the hybrid powertrain.

Here’s a bit of background: the Aston Martin Valkyrie is based around a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. Back in 2017, Aston Martin announced the engine would deliver around 1,000 horsepower, and they held firm on that claim. In today’s release, the company states the engine alone pushes out 1,000 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, as well as 546 lb-ft (900 N-m) of torque at 7,000 rpm. The engine makes its peak power just before its 11,100 rpm redline. That power is routed through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Hybrid power

On top of that, however, Rimac also supplies the battery-electric system. Now we know how much power that adds to the equation as well. The KERS-style boost system puts in an extra 160 horsepower and 207 lb-ft (280 N-m) of torque. Thanks to the hybrid system, Aston Martin claims the Valkyrie produces a total of 1,160 horsepower and 664 lb-ft (900 N-m) of torque. The engine produces most of the grunt, while the battery hybrid system kicks in on the weaker end of the torque curve for extra boost.

It’s not like the Aston Martin is a particularly heavy car either, weighing in at just over a ton. With that sort of power-to-weight ratio, 0-60 comes up in something of a blur. The track version of the car, dubbed AMR Pro, will hit 60 in a reported 2.5 seconds. Only 25 of those cars will be made, and they’re all sold. The Aston Martin Valkyrie’s road-going production run will total 150 units, each on sale for $3.2 million.

Tesla Announces Standard Range Model 3: Entry Level Model Starts From $35,000

By

Zach Butler

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February 28, 2019

The least expensive Model 3 comes in two levels.

Earlier today, Tesla suspended orders on the Model 3, Model S and Model X ahead of a major announcement. “Great things are launching,” the website stated at the time. Elon Musk even tweeted yesterday, “Thursday 2PM”. That had us wondering exactly what Tesla had up its sleeve. At last, Tesla announced the entry-level, $35,000 “standard range” Model 3.

According to the company’s website, a Standard Range Model 3 comes with a 220 mile range. That’s down from the “Mid Range” model’s 264 miles, and the “Long Range” version’s 310 mile range (the rear-wheel drive model is getting an update). Top speed of the Standard Range Model 3 is 130 mph, and Tesla claims a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds. Stepping up from the Standard Range is the “Standard Range Plus”. For $2,000 more, the model offers what Tesla calls a “Partial Premium Interior.” The Standard Range Plus model offers 240 miles of range, a 140 mph top speed and claimed 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds.

According to Tesla’s configurator site, the Standard Range Model 3 comes with 18-inch wheels and a black interior. The car comes with manually adjustable cloth seats and basic trim, rather than the more premium feel of the higher-end models. You still get a large, central screen, with what Tesla refers to as “basic audio” and “standard maps and navigation.” A premium interior is not available on the Standard Range model.

The Standard Range Plus model adds power-adjustable seats, a 14-speaker premium audio system, satellite-view maps and navigation, LED fog lamps, a tinted glass roof, and auto-dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors.

Tesla Autopilot is available for $3,000 (or $4,000 as an after-delivery option). The company also offers a “Full Self-Driving Capability” feature as a $5,000 option. Apart from Autopilot, the feature lets the car park itself and lets you summon it from a parking lot. Later this year, Tesla claims the Model 3’s self-driving feature will be upgraded with traffic light and stop sign recognition, as well as automated city driving.

Tesla says that deliveries will start in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the configuration. Other updates include bumping the Long Range rear-wheel drive up to Model 3 to a 325 miles.

This story is developing. We may update the post with more information as it becomes available.

Hyundai and Kia Recall Another 500,000 Cars For Fire Risks

By

Zach Butler

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February 28, 2019

Three new recalls were posted to the NHTSA website Thursday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted a new string of recalls for fire risks and engine failures in certain Hyundai and Kia models. The two companies have recalled vehicles over the past three years for these problems. Now, the latest recalls add more than half a million cars to the list. Over the past few years, hundreds of complaints about engine fires have rolled in from around the country, according to a recent Associated Press report.

The largest stint of recalls in Thursday’s round involve the Kia Soul. NHTSA documents show that high exhaust gas temperatures can damage the cars’ catalytic converters. That can result in abnormal combustion and damage to the pistons and connecting rods. If a connecting rod fails, it can pierce the engine block, causing oil leaks and potentially starting a fire. This recall affects 379,000 Souls with 1.6-liter engines built between July 8, 2011 and August 11, 2016.

Kia’s number for this recall is SC176.

Hyundai and Kia are also recalling their compact crossovers for engine oil pan leaks. The NHTSA identified the leaks as a fire concern in Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage models. 120,000 Tucsons built between 2011 and 2013 and 32,296 Sportages built between 2011 and 2012 are affected under this recall.

Kia’s number for the Sportage recall is SC174.

Hyundai’s number for the Tucson recall is 181.

Recall campaign details

The company will sent out letters to affected Kia Soul owners with 1.6-liter engines starting April 12. Hyundai spokesperson Jim Trainor said Hyundai’s version of the 1.6-liter engine, like what’s in the Hyundai Accent and Elantra use different control software to prevent the catalytic converter from overheating, according to the AP report. Kia said it would also look into other models fitted with the 1.6-liter engine.

As for the Tucson and Sportage recalls, the companies are still working on a fix. Hyundai owners will be notified starting March 29, while Kia owners will get letters from April 10, 2019.

The Center for Auto Safety sent a letter to legislators Wednesday. They urged Congress to take action that holds the two companies responsible for the fire risks. “The better-late-than-never recall of Kia Souls hopefully will remedy this fire-causing defect,” said Jason Levine, the center’s executive director. “Yet one has to wonder why Kia’s initial reaction was to deny the validity of our petition, particularly as there were dozens of reports of fires involving these vehicles all the way back to last summer.”

Last October, we reported that the center called for action on other engine fire recalls for Hyundai and Kia models. Owners can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-(888) 327-4236 for more information.

Hyundai also has a customer service line at 1-(855) 371-9460. Kia’s customer service line is 1-(800) 333-4542

Hispano Suiza Carmen Revives An Old Brand With A 1,000 Horsepower Electric Hypercar

By

Zach Butler

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February 28, 2019

The Hispano Suiza Carmen is the company’s latest attempt to revive its automotive arm. [Photo: Hispano Suiza]

A new electric car marks the possible resurgence of an old luxury brand.

If you haven’t heard of Hispano Suiza before, you’re certainly not alone. Unless you’re well versed in Spanish car marques, it may seem like this name came completely out of left field. Hispano Suiza is actually an old, pre-war car company, but has mainly existed as an aerospace firm since the Second World War. Now, though, they’re making a comeback with this electric car: the Carmen.

While the original company built gasoline-powered luxury cars, Hispano Suiza bills the Carmen as a “hyperlux” grand tourer. They revealed this teaser ahead of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, displaying wide rear haunches and a teardrop shape from the center of the car back. Hispano Suiza says the car was inspired mainly by the 1938 Dubonnet Xenia, a car commissioned by French flying ace André Dubonnet. Aerodynamically, that teardrop shape results in a low drag coefficient of 0.325. In other words, it’s more aerodynamic than a Porsche 918 Spyder or the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

Performance

Far from the gasoline engines of old, the Hispano Suiza Carmen powers itself using two permanent-magnet 375 kW motors. The torque from each motor is controlled using a torque vectoring system developed by Spanish electric mobility firm QEV Technologies. Together, the motors produce 750 kW, or just over 1,000 horsepower. Hispano Suiza claims a curb weight of 3,725 pounds and a 0-60 time under three seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

The Hispano Suiza Carmen packs an 80 kWh battery pack in this concept form. However, the company aims to use more energy-dense batteries within the next few years. If that happens, the production car may have a 105 kWh capacity. The company is targeting a 400 kilometer range (248 miles). The battery pack comprises 700 cells, and is compatible with 80 kW fast chargers.

Not only is Hispano Suiza promising 1,000 horsepower and 248 miles of range, but also responsive handling. The car sites on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, which drastically reduces weight and improves stiffness. The company fitted double wishbone suspension front and rear, as well as adaptive dampers and roll stiffness distribution technologies to improve handling while also delivering a comfortable ride.

Plans after Geneva

The Hispano Suiza Carmen will head to the Geneva Motor Show next week. Beyond that, the company plans to develop the car further in Spain, including track testing and shakedowns in the Pyrenees mountains and the roads in the south of Spain. They’re anticipating a six-month development period, but have not mentioned a potential on sale date.

If this car does come to fruition, don’t expect it to come cheaply. With the battery technology and all that carbon fiber, we’d expect it to ring in at several hundred thousand dollars, if not more.

For now, though, it’s an interesting modern interpretation on an old Spanish marque. We’ll provide updates as this car inches closer to production.

The Ferrari F8 Tributo Packs The Most Powerful V8 In The Company’s History

By

Zach Butler

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February 28, 2019

Ferrari’s 488 Pista-derived V8 now makes 710 horsepower.

Ferrari F8 Tributo — Meet the replacement for the Ferrari 488 GTB: the F8 Tributo. [Photo: Ferrari]

Ferrari revealed its replacement for the four-year-old 488 GTB, and it packs the company’s most powerful V8 ever. For this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari is retiring the 488 from its lineup, which in turn was a replacement for the 458 Italia. Now, the 710 horsepower Ferrari F8 Tributo enters the ring as the company’s mid-engined offering.

As you’d expect with a new Ferrari, the first thing to hit you about the F8 Tributo is the looks. It’s an evolution on its ancestors, with a more aggressive-looking front fascia and a striking rear end. Thanks to those LEDs in the front and the rear, the F8 Tributo looks a much more modern design than even the remarkable 488 GTB.

Inside, the F8 Tributo gets a revised dashboard layout and new air vents over the 488 GTB. In fact, the shape of the vents and the layout of the dash borrow some cues from the LaFerrari hypercar, rather than the F8 Tributo’s direct predecessor. All the switchgear you’d expect is still there, however. Same steering wheel controls, and a slightly different button layout through the center stack.

What about that power?

Then there’s cutting to the heart of the matter: That 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. With 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, the F8 Tributo matches the special edition 488 Pista number for number. However, that’s 49 horsepower and 7 lb-ft of torque more than you got in the Ferrari 488 GTB. With Pista-derived power, the F8 Tributo also makes similar 0-60 times. Ferrari claims the car hits 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, while taking 7.8 seconds to sprint to 124 mph. Top speed? That’s the same as the Pista as well, as 211 mph.

You can’t talk about power without weight, and the Ferrari F8 Tributo is lighter than the 488 GTB. At 2,932 pounds dry, it’s 88 pounds lighter than the 488 GTB. That said, it is 111 pounds heavier than the 488 Pista, which does slow it down in the 0-124 mph sprint by 0.2 seconds.

What’s more, Ferrari also updated its Side Slip Angle Control, making the car easier to control on the limit for a greater range of drivers. The Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), available in Race mode, offers a greater sense of control as well, according to Ferrari.

The F8 Tributo will be on display at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which starts on March 5. Stay tuned for more updates!

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Revealed: Coming Late 2019 With More Tech And More Power

By

Zach Butler

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February 27, 2019

Mercedes offers up more power and tech in the latest GLC.

We were expecting a new GLC to make its way down the pike after catching it in some spy shots last year. Now, Mercedes-Benz has revealed the 2020 GLC just prior to its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show. This new version of the GLC sees a host of exterior changes from the outgoing model, as well as a more powerful engine and more technology on board.

On the outside, Mercedes changed up the front fascia and headlights, as well as revised the rear taillights. There are also new exterior color and wheel options. Overall, though, this latest GLC is not a radical departure from the outgoing generation.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 will launch in late 2019, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. It has the same displacement as the outgoing GLC 300, but it’s not the same engine. The new GLC uses the M264 engine, introduced in 2017 and used in the newest E-Class and CLS-Class. It replaces the M274 engine in use in the GLC since 2015. but now it manages 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. That’s 14 more horsepower than before, while the torque figure remains the same. As before, both the rear-wheel drive base model and 4Matic all-wheel drive versions pair up to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Technology

From the A-Class to the CLS and now the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC, the brand’s new infotainment system is making its way across the range. MBUX — Short for “Mercedes-Benz User Experience” — is available in the new GLC. The system comes with a 10.25-inch centrally-mounted infotainment display. As with other new Mercedes models, you have the option to complement that screen with another, larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Drivers can control the infotainment system by touch control buttons on the steering wheel, using the touchpad, or with voice and gesture controls through MBUX.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC also gets an updated safety suite, with standard safety features like Blind Spot Assist. On top of that, though, Mercedes has an available Drive Assistance Package in the new GLC that expands the range of safety tech on board. The system uses Active Distance Assist adaptive cruise control, as well as Active Steering Assist and “Route-Based Speed Adaptation”. When it’s activated, the car uses radio-based live traffic information to recognize and respond to slow-moving traffic. If it detects a jam, it will reduce the car’s speed as a precaution.

Pricing is not available yet, and will emerge closer to the new GLC’s late 2019 launch. The current GLC 300 starts at $40,700 before destination and options, so we’d expect this new model to a little higher. While Mercedes claims the GLC is much more fuel efficient than the older model, we’ll also have to wait for official fuel economy figures.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Photo Gallery

A New Ferrari Is Coming Tomorrow: What Could It Be?

By

Zach Butler

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February 27, 2019

Could it be a replacement for the 488?

In a tweet sent out Wednesday, Ferrari confirmed it will reveal a new car tomorrow, February 28. We can’t see much – just a few quick shots, but that’s certainly enough to get our minds racing as to what it could be. It does look — and sound — like there’s a mid-mounted turbocharged V8 lurking within. More specifically, the carbon fiber engine cover looks similar to what’s in the 488 Pista.

Tomorrow, the Prancing Horse family welcomes a new member. Make room for new thrills. #Ferrari pic.twitter.com/v5Xa3gL061
— Ferrari (@Ferrari) February 27, 2019

Besides that, we see a short blast of the tachometer, a quick shot of the drive modes, and a few flicks through the dual-clutch gearbox through steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. That’s about it, but there’s one more remarkable clue.

The new Ferrari’s drive mode switch…
…and the one in the 488 Pista.

When the drive modes appear in the clip — only for a moment — the switch is certainly different from what’s in the current 488. It seems there’s another drive mode as well, instead of the five positions you have in the current car. You still have broadly the same options: Wet, Sport, Race, CT off and ESC off. However, that sixth option is a bit of a mystery.

ferrari-488-spider-rsf-td — Current-generation Ferrari 488 Spider. [Photo: TFLcar]

Some reports suggest Ferrari could introduce a new V8 hybrid car sometime this year. Could that switch option have something to do with it? The gauge cluster, including the tachometer shot, looks like pretty standard Ferrari. There’s no indication of a hybrid powertrain there, so that might not be it.

The current-generation Ferrari 488 has been in production since 2015, so it’s about time Ferrari reveals a replacement. All will be revealed tomorrow, so stick around for more details!

United Auto Workers Union Sues GM to Stop Three Plant Closures

By

Zach Butler

-

February 27, 2019

United Auto Workers Union Sues GM to Stop Three Plant Closures — Aerial view of GM’s Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant. [Photo: General Motors]

The union contends its contract forbids GM to idle the plants.

On Tuesday, The United Auto Workers union filed suit against General Motors, contending the company is forbidden from idling its plants under its current contract. Last November, GM announced its plans to end production at five North American plants by the end of this year. Under this lawsuit, the UAW aims to prevent GM from closing three plants in Ohio, Maryland and Michigan until the current contract ends in September.

GM announced last week that it would continue production as its Detroit-Hamtramck plant through January 2020.

One of the plants up for closure is the Lordstown, Ohio assembly, which currently builds the Chevy Cruze. [Photo: Chevrolet]

The Associated Press reports that the lawsuit includes a September 2015 letter from Catherine Clegg about the current contract. The UAW contends that letter “confirms” that GM won’t close, idle, sell off, or consolidate plans under the current union contract. However, GM said in a Tuesday statement that its decision to close the plants last year doesn’t violate the UAW agreement. “We continue to work with the UAW on solutions to our business challenges,” GM said in a statement.

Lordstown, Ohio, which produces the Chevy Cruze, has approximately 1,435 hourly workers affected by the closure. Its workers hope the union can negotiate for GM to keep the plant open past its current June closure date. The plant has been operating since 1966, producing more than 16.3 million vehicles.

Lordstown Assembly Plant. [Photo: General Motors]

Also up in this lawsuit are two more of the company’s plants in Warren, Michigan and White Marsh, Maryland. The Warren plant employs about 265 people to build transmissions, while the Maryland plant employs 250 manufacturing electric motors and drivetrains.

Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates on the ongoing negotiations between GM and the UAW.

It’s 6.5-liter V12 comes mated to a hybrid powertrain.

Hybrid power

The least expensive Model 3 comes in two levels.

Three new recalls were posted to the NHTSA website Thursday.

Recall campaign details

A new electric car marks the possible resurgence of an old luxury brand.

Performance

Plans after Geneva

Ferrari’s 488 Pista-derived V8 now makes 710 horsepower.

What about that power?

Mercedes offers up more power and tech in the latest GLC.

Technology

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Photo Gallery

Could it be a replacement for the 488?

The union contends its contract forbids GM to idle the plants.

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