Tag: News

  • MITSUBISHI EVO VI TME #001 GOES TO AUCTION

    Just a few weeks ago, Mitsubishi sold it’s own Evo VI TME from its heritage collection for over £100k, now this week, chassis number #001 of the official 250 UK TME cars goes to auction having covered just 11k miles.

    If you were hooked in by the 10km Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 that eventually sold for £359k recently, then this 11k mile Mitsubishi Evo TME #001 will certainly peak your interest as it heads to Silverstone Auctions for its sale at The Classic, Silverstone, this Saturday July 31st.

    With a guide price of £115,000-£125,000 plus 12.5% buyers premium, plus VAT, it could top the price paid for the example owned by Mitsubishi, which sold for £100k.

    Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001

    The Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001 being sent to auction is very special indeed. Not only is it a genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A / SNGF2) SCP car (i.e.1 of 212), but it is also an official UK-market example. This means it was officially imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated ‘Ralliart UK’, hence it would have been professionally SVA’d and is supplied with UK service books, a calibrated speedometer, an unleaded-spec fuel restrictor, cold-climate battery and an alternator, plus it is individually numbered with a plaque in the cabin – and not just any number in this case, here it reads #001, making this car the very first UK-market TME – always a special designation amongst enthusiasts and collectors, whatever the car.

    Remarkably, this very special car has covered a fully verifiable 11,000 miles from new, supported by MOT and service records. It has had just two owners, the last since 2003. The car was previously lightly modified cosmetically under the bonnet, which has now been put back to standard specification, with the only modification remaining being the stainless-steel exhaust (the original item will accompany the car). The underside has been sympathetically detailed, not restored, with ‘factory’ grey underseal still remaining (this was applied to all UK cars by Ralliart).

    Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001

    The car naturally comes with an accompanying large history file, with many receipts, plus its original and complete book-pack (including service schedule). The car has just had a full cam-belt service (and a full MOT) as part of its recommissioning.

    Silverstone Auctions are privileged to offer for sale such a rare and special car, considered by many as the ‘ultimate Mitsubishi’ for the road. Indeed, for modern-classic collectors in America, they can now, as of 2023, legally import and enjoy these cars – what an opportunity! ‘Type UK’ TMEs are hugely coveted and rightly so, and this is car #001 of that short production run; rarely do examples this exceptional appear for sale on the open market, not to be missed.

    You can check out more information about this Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001 via Silverstone Auctions’ website.

    Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001
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  • NEW BMW M240I: TOP 5 FACTS

    The new BMW M240i is finally here having been teased over the past few months. We break down the top 5 facts about the new 2er.

    Keep your grille on

    Good news for BMW fans who hated the German outfit’s new design language, the new BMW M240i doesn’t have hideous grilles, instead, has a much smaller, neater design. As for the rest of the front, its a much tighter affair, more angular and aggressive looking. We can’t wait to see what the new M2 will look like!

    New BMW M240i

    Internal combustion baby!

    Powering the new BMW M240i is the B58 turbocharged straight-six motor that we’ve come to love. In this M240i guise it muscles up 369bhp and will accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds thanks to a new xDrive drivetrain and an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Sadly, no option for manual here! Top speed is limited to 155mph.

    New BMW M240i

    Skidmarks

    Sadly you won’t be leaving 11s down the road with the new BMW M240i, as mentioned above, it comes exclusively with BMW’s xDrive drivetrain, which means all-wheel drive. If you do want RWD thrills, well you’ll need to step down to the more humble BMW 220i or 220d, featuring 180bhp and 184bhp respectively. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to swing the back out in the M240i as it features a mode to transfer more power towards the rear.

    New BMW M240i

    New platform

    For the new BMW M240i, BMW hasn’t used the 1-Series platform, which is now a far more sensible, front-wheel drive/AWD affair which shares most of its components with MINI. As a result, the bespoke 2-Series platform is a proper sports car chassis, offering a stiffer body that is 105mm longer and 64mm wider than the older 2er, as well as sitting a comfortable 25mm lower to the ground. BMW has even increased the negative camber for a sharper turn in, with lighter suspension components to shed weight. This isn’t just a coupé with a big engine, it’s a proper sports car.

    Prices

    The new BMW M240i starts at just under £46,000. If you fancy something with a smaller engine, you can opt for the 220i, which sits at the bottom of the ladder but starts at £35k, so Golf GTI Mk8 money.

    New BMW M240i
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  • NEW AUDI RS3 TECH SPEC REVEALED

    The new Audi RS3 is here! It sticks with 394bhp but gets substantial chassis changes for a more dynamic drive.

    For those that complained that the Audi RS3 didn’t have enough about it to elevate it to the top of the hyper hatch market, say hello to the new Audi RS3, a car that promises to deliver sharper dynamics and even a little fun with the inclusion of a RS Torque Rear mode, in other words, a drift mode.

    It’s new RS Torque Rear mode is possible thanks to a new torque-vectoring rear differential that allows it to mechanically split the power sent to either rear wheels depending on the drive mode selected. As you can imagine, “drift mode” sends 100% of the torque to the outside wheel in order to increase oversteer. OK, because the quattro system is front-wheel drive bias, the rear wheels will only ever see 50% of the total engine power.

    New Audi RS3

    At the front, wider track, bespoke pivot bearings and stiffer lower wishbones, subframes and stabilisers all help tighten up the front for a sharper turn in, only aided by an extra degree of negative camber compared to regular A3 models as well as sitting 25mm lower.

    New Audi RS3 figures

    Let’s get down to business. Producing 394bhp and 369lb ft (up 15 lb ft) from its 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, 0-62mph comes about in 3.8 seconds while top speed is limited to 155mph, with an optional 174mph limiter with the standard brakes or 180mph with carbon ceramics. Crucially, that 0-62mph is down 0.3 seconds on its predecessor, as well as being 0.1 seconds faster than its AMG A45 S rival.

    New Audi RS3

    Finally, the new Audi RS3 is available with a new variable sports exhaust system, allowing you to switch between a loud or quiet exhaust note.

    The full Audi RS3 reveal is right around the corner, we’ll bring you more when we find out.

    New Audi RS3
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