Tag: News

  • MINI ELECTRIC PACESETTER UNVEILED

    Based on the marque’s first electric car with a strong whiff of JCW, Mini has created the Electric Pacesetter, which will feature as Formula E’s upcoming safety car. Is this a preview for an all-new electric JCW from Mini in the future?

    The track-only Electric Pacesetter special has been created ahead of the 2021 Formula E season. It makes use of the brand’s motorsport expertise from the John Cooper Works division, hence why the car you see here looks familiar thanks to CFRP wheels spats, that rear wing and a bold diffuser.

    Underneath, though, is where things get a bit interesting. While it retains the 181bhp made from the road-going electric Mini, torque has been upped to 206lb ft to help with acceleration. That, combined with the accumulative loss of 130kg over the regular electric Mini means the Pacesetter accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, some 0.6 seconds quicker than the production car.

    Mini Electric Pacesetter

    In place of the standard suspension setup are competition-spec 3-way adjustable coilovers. The track has been increased by 10mm, four-piston brake calipers are nabbed straight from the JCW GP car and new 18-inch forged wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s measuring 245mm wide. Inside, bucket seats replace the regular loungers, complete with six-point harnesses and a roll cage.

    Mini Electric Pacesetter

    The 130kg diet has come about thanks to removing pretty much everything you don’t need for track-driving, think sound deadening, rear seats etc.

    At the moment, the Mini Electric Pacesetter remains a one-off special for safety car duties during the Formula E season, but, rumour has it, a fully-electric JCW is set to arrive before the end of 2021.

    Mini Electric Pacesetter
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  • ALPINA B8 GRAN COUPÉ UNVEILED WITH 621HP

    Thought the BMW M8 was a bit much? Say hello to the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé, a four door luxury car with a thumping 620hp, twin-turbo V8 engine. In other words, Alpinas bread and butter.

    Subtlety and luxury are two words that Alpina holds dear to its heart. Throughout countless BMW models, the memo has always been to produce not only a fast car, but one that embodies German luxury and comfort as well as having the driving dynamics down to a T.

    Alpina B8

    So say hello to its latest model, the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé. Featuring a similar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 as found in the BMW M8, its tuned to 620hp, which makes it just 5hp less than the M8 Competition, with an equal 590lb ft of torque. Alpina has tweaked the engine by “optimising turbocharging and cooling systems”, which includes a new intercooler.

    That power is transferred to the ground via a 8HP76 automatic gearbox, which has been co-developed alongside ZF, and down to all four wheels for a 0-60mph sprint time of just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 201mph! But it’s the chassis modifications that make all the difference.

    Alpina B8

    New front axle struts with hydro mounts help ride comfort, while Eibach springs, stiffer suspension strut support mounts, reinforced sway bars on the front axle and stiffer low wishbone mounts complete the overhaul that, which according to Alpina, results in “excellent lateral dynamic properties.” In other words, it should handle pretty bloody well!

    Interestingly, Alpina has also opted to use BMW’s Integral Active Steering (four-wheel steering), which is seen in the 850i but not on the BMW M8. Alongside ZF’s Active Kinematics Controls System, the rear wheels can move up to a maximum of 2.3 degrees left or right, which improves agility.

    Alpina B8

    Elsewhere, 21-inch classic wheels hide Brembo brakes, while the front end gets a bigger intake. At the back, a sports exhaust system sits alongside a new rear diffuser and small rear lip spoiler.

    The kicker? The Alpina B8 Gran Coupé costs an eye-watering £134,950, over £10,000 more than the BMW M8 Competition. Which would you pick?

    Alpina B8
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  • PAGANI HUAYRA R V12 SOUNDS INCREDIBLE

    Stop what you’re doing and listen to the new Pagani Huayra R, or more specifically, it’s naturally-aspirated, 6.0-litre V12 engine, which revs to an incredible 9,000rpm!

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    While we’ll have to wait to see the new Pagani Huayra actually driven hard on track, the video above is how its engine sounds. The 838bhp, nautrally-aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine was built from the ground up by none other than HWA AG, in other words, the same people that built the engine in the Mercedes CLK GTR and also reportedly had a hand in the engine seen in the Apollo IE hypercar. Other Pagani Huayra variations saw the marque use Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo V12 engines.

    Pagani Huayra R

    The car in which this engine was designed and built for is Pagani’s all-new track-only Huayra R, which follows in the footsteps of the predecessor, the Zonda R.

    Rather than develop the regular Huayra into a track-only special, Pagani has reportedly built the car from the ground up, debuting a new chassis, aero package and of course, that V12 engine.

    Pagani Huayra R

    Officially, that engine weighs just 198kg and produces 838bhp at 8250rpm and 553lb ft of troque between 5500 and 8300rpm. It also revs to a colossal 9000rpm.

    HWA also developed the bespoke six-speed sequential gearbox, transferring that power to the track.

    Where the magic happens is in the acoustics department, with a bespoke Inconel system that was designed to extract the most performance and sound as possible. It would be fair in saying it’s nothing short of an f1-esque sound.

    It’s worth noting now that the Pagani Huayra tips the scales at just 1050kg (dry weight), thanks to not having to comply with safety regulations of the road.

    That bonkers, motorsport-tailored aero package helps the Huayra R to develop 1000kg of force at 199mph.

    Prices start at £2.2m before taxes, with just 30 examples being built.

    Tech Spec: Pagani Huayra R

    Engine 6-litre naturally-aspirated V12, 9000rpm redline
    Max power 838bhp @ 8250rpm, 553lb ft @ 5500 – 8300rpm
    Transmission Six-speed sequential
    Suspension Independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled active shock absorbers
    Brakes Brembo CCM-R carbon ceramic discs; 410mm front, 390mm rear, six-piston calipers front and rear
    Weight (dry) 1050kg
    Power-to-weight 798bhp/ton

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