by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
Brand new, genuine Katana fuel tanks are now in stock and available on Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme, after the Japanese firm remanufactured a limited run.
With an RRP of £746.76 including VAT, the brand new fuel tanks fit GSX1100SD and GSX1000SZ Katanas and are finished in the glorious silver and adorned with the same red Suzuki lettering.
Suzuki GB aftersales co-ordinator Tim Davies, said,“We’re really excited to have these new Katana fuel tanks in stock, in the UK, and that the factory have been able to reproduce this limited run. No one needs me to point out how iconic the Katana is and how they’re still so sought after, and we see so many restorations or custom builds based on the bike. Of course, over time, bikes left to stand can suffer from all sorts of problems with stale fuel or water and moisture in the tank, so being able to replace it completely for a brand new, genuine item is a great thing to be able to do for a bike that is 40-years-old.”
Designed by Hans A. Muth and Target Design, the Katana was like nothing before it. It was a radical departure from current motorcycling fashion and was a sales success for Suzuki.
Other parts still available for the Katana include centre stands, brake and clutch levers, clock surrounds, sprocket covers, con-rods, pistons, and piston rings, an array of gaskets, valves, cotters, seals, and springs, and even the carburettor intakes pipe rubbers.
The new fuel tanks and other parts on the Vintage Parts Programme can be ordered through authorised Suzuki dealers.
Find your nearest Suzuki dealer here. Find out more about the Vintage Parts Programme here.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- Made at the ‘Centro Stile Alfa Romeo’, a new F1 car livery and race suit designed as a tribute to the unbreakable bond between Monza and Alfa Romeo
- Exclusive series of events at the Museum in Arese to bring to life the Italian Grand Prix for Alfisti taking place across the weekend
To celebrate the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, the Alfa Romeo ORLAN racing car will take to the track in a livery produced specifically for the event by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo.
The Monza circuit is not only the venue of the Italian GP, it is also the track where Alfa Romeo won the first title in Formula 1 history on 3 September, 1950, in the Alfetta 158 with Nino Farina at the wheel. An unbreakable bond ties Alfa Romeo and Monza, and has been forged once again this year.
The star of the livery is the logo, celebrating the brand’s 111-year history, with the colours reflecting those of the Italian flag, while the upper part of the engine cover has been turned ‘Quadrifoglio’ green, to complement the red and white of the official livery. This use of the colours provides a horizontal outline to the Italian flag, making it the dominant theme of the livery.
The creative contribution of the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo is not limited to the car, but also the design of the Alfa Romeo drivers’ race suits. On these, the Italian flag is also brought to life in the 111 year logo on the upper part of the suit, providing a vertical outline on the driver’s leg, metaphorically all the way down to the tarmac.
At the museum In Arese
Decked out in this special livery to celebrate the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Alfa Romeo F1 showcar will be the ‘special guest’ at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese throughout the weekend. The brand’s home will also be the place to experience the emotions of the GP, with a live stream of the qualifiers, practice sessions and of course the race itself being broadcast on the big screen in the Giulia Hall.
The showcar itself will offer the opportunity to explore ‘behind the scenes’ of Formula 1. Visitors can take part in a virtual experience, including a livestream with the drivers from the garage at Monza.
The weekend will be filled with Formula 1-themed events, from scale models to actual Alfa Romeo cars, plus two flashmobs from the Alfisti in attendance. The first – the Mini flashmob – will take place in the Giulia Hall at 4:30pm CEST on Saturday, 11 September, on a 1:43 scale reproduction of the track surrounding the museum, featuring Alfa Romeo model cars brought in and displayed by Alfisti. On Sunday, 12 September comes the turn of the ‘real’ Alfa Romeo cars, stepping out on the circuit surrounding the museum. A special tribute will be made to the Alfa Romeo AR51, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Models of the iconic car known as ‘Matta’ (‘crazy’) will star in the flashmob, to make up a huge, celebratory Italian flag. The tribute to the ‘Matta’ will continue on Sunday afternoon with a special parade and an in-depth lecture, part of the backstage series, after the checkered flag at the Grand Prix.
For the Alfisti of the future, the museum has organised an educational workshop where children and young people can try their hand at designing the livery of a single-seater.
For children of all ages, there will be the 1:23 Scale exhibition, featuring scale models by Togi. Since the late 1950s and with only a few very rare exceptions, this brand has exclusively produced models of Biscione-brand cars, in a non-standard format. On display will be the brand’s most iconic models, in different versions, colours and trim levels, with a special focus on the Giulia.
All the events at the museum are free, included in the entrance fee. Reservations are required, by email to info@museoalfaromeo.com. The Green Pass is required to enter the museum. For the full schedule please visit www.museoalfaromeo.com.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
John Player Special Lotus Type 62-2 coachbuilt by Radford: Global premiere
- Engineered using Lotus technologies to be a true driver’s car with the luxury appointments of a bespoke coachbuilder
- Ultra-exclusive – just 12 of the limited build of 62 cars will be JPS liveried cars
- Complete John Player Special liveried exterior design revealed, inspired by the Lotus Type 62’s design purity – a coachbuilt homage to a beautiful 1960s race car
- The JPS Type 62-2 will make its public debut at Goodwood Revival
- John Player Special livery and specification provides increased visual drama – every Type 62-2 will be unique and bespoke built to precise customer requirements
- An intoxicating 600bhp from the 5-litre supercharged V6 engine
Radford has today unveiled its Type 62-2 sportscar in an iconic and distinctive John Player Special (JPS) specification. The Lotus Type 62-2 coachbuilt by Radford (The Type 62-2), is limited to just 62 examples worldwide, with each model built precisely to its individual owner’s desired specification. Of those 62 cars, only 12 will be JPS liveried cars, and Radford is now taking build slot applications for this ultra-exclusive model.
The JPS car will make its first official public debut next week at Goodwood Revival. It is the most extreme version of the world’s first modern Radford – and the third and final version of the car to be announced. It sits alongside the ‘Classic’ version, providing subtle design cues to the original Type 62 Lotus car, and a ‘Gold Leaf’ version, which pays homage to the race car’s iconic Gold Leaf livery.
The JPS Type 62-2 wears a modern twist on the iconic John Player Special livery, which is one of the most famous and significant racing car liveries ever to grace a Formula 1 car. Its legendary black and gold colour scheme is most instantly recognisable from the bodywork of the Lotus Type 72D which Emerson Fittipaldi raced to five victories and championship victory during the 1972 Formula 1 season. The livery was present on Lotus Formula 1 cars until 1986 and the Lotus 98T driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna – it epitomised the glamour era of motor racing in the 1970s.
Mark Stubbs “The Radford Type 62-2 in John Player Special guise, is a very unique proposition. From a design perspective, the JPS car really stands out as being more extreme than its Classic and Gold Leaf siblings, with larger diffusers, air intakes and wheels. Sporting what is certainly the most iconic racing livery ever to grace a Formula 1 car, gives the car a real presence and sense of occasion. Only 12 of these very special cars will be made, making it a very rare car indeed.”
The JPS Type 62-2 offers owners several key enhancements over the Classic and Gold Leaf cars. The JPS is lighter, faster and more focussed than the Gold Leaf car – and is closer to a race car than a road car. It produces an intoxicating 600bhp from a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine. This is possible thanks to upgraded pistons, con-rods, camshafts, calibration and a larger, upgraded supercharger.
Jenson Button “The John Player special Type 62-2 is the most extreme Type 62-2 that money can buy. It is low, sleek and powerful and sports one of the most iconic racing liveries ever created – one of the liveries that the heroes of Formula 1 such as Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna used to race with, in the cars that made me want to be a driver
“The JPS Type 62-2 is even more dynamically focussed and extremely capable on both road and track – it’s very light, very fast and nimble – a proper assault on the senses that will hold its own among even the most accomplished track cars. Naturally, it is also embellished with all of the high-end touches of a bespoke coachbuilder such as Radford.”
Also upgraded from the Gold Leaf car are the brakes, the JPS car comes with AP Monobloc calipers and fully carbon ceramic brake rotors, which are 360mm in diameter. These are housed within larger 18-inch front and 19-inch Dymag carbon composite wheels – which lower the unsprung mass, and improve the nimble handling characteristics of the car, yet further. The composite wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
The design of the JPS is another area where the car differentiates itself from the rest of the range. In every area of the bodywork the car is more extreme than its Classic and Gold Leaf stablemates. At the front of the car, the splitter is more pronounced, providing a race car stance. At the side of the car, the air intakes are larger to cool the more powerful combustion engine, while at the rear, the diffuser is again more extreme than the Classic and Gold Leaf cars, extending further out for increased aerodynamic downforce.
The paintwork on the JPS cars is another area worthy of mention. An exquisitely conceptualised and constructed finish has resulted from many hours of formulation and research. The result on this show car is a beautiful layer of bespoke gold paint which playfully glints through the 10 layers of rich, dark Candy Black. In certain lights and at certain angles, the paint provides a subtle nod to the original JPS colour scheme, but with a modern and exciting twist. The show car wears a gold pinstripe meticulously hand-painted underneath the clearcoat on owner cars.
Radford is inspired by the legendary British coachbuilding company of the same name, which once built cars for a celebrity clientele that included all four of The Beatles. The global company with British heart and soul is co-owned by leading designer Mark Stubbs, broadcaster and motoring specialist Ant Anstead, former FIA Formula OneTM World Champion, Jenson Button and acclaimed business adviser and lawyer Roger Behle.
Radford’s first model of the modern era is built in a partnership with Lotus. While the mid-engine two-seater coupé takes inspiration from the revered 1960’s Lotus Type 62, it utilises the Hethel marque’s latest technologies to deliver the purest possible driving experience. The Radford Type 62-2 is engineered for unadulterated mechanical feel, exceptional engagement and uncompromising poise.
The is the first time the elegant lines of this ultra-exclusive JPS version of the Type 62-2 exterior have been shown; the luxurious interior will be revealed at a future date. The car’s design has been led by preeminent automotive designer Mark Stubbs who has taken the project from a sketch to the production-ready car revealed today. Stubbs’ design for the Type 62-2 evokes the spirit of Lotus and the original Type 62 as a homage to the marque’s illustrious motorsport history. With support from Radford’s engineers, former FIA Formula OneTM World Champion Jenson Button has fine-honed the dynamic response of the JPS Type 62-2 to ensure the most focussed Type 62-2 driving experience.
Production of the Radford Type 62-2 begins in late 2021, with first deliveries being made in 2022.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
Volvo Cars has introduced a new, improved Recharge plug-in hybrid powertrain on its 90 and 60 series models, significantly extending electric range while lowering CO2 emissions, increasing performance and improving driveability.
Volvo Cars’ new and improved hybrid powertrain brings the all-electric range up to a projected 56 miles (90 kilometres)* on a single charge. With the average premium car owner travelling fewer than 31 miles (50 kilometres) each weekday**, most Volvo drivers with home charging will be able to do their daily motoring on pure electric power in a new Volvo plug-in hybrid.
The main improvements include a new long-range battery, featuring a third layer of cells to increase nominal energy from 11.6kWh to 18.8kWh, and a more powerful rear electric motor now delivering 145hp. The additional electric power results in a total combined output of 350hp for Recharge T6 and 455hp for Recharge T8 models, making the latter the most powerful Volvo cars ever produced. Besides the new powertrain, new upgrades include one-pedal drive on specific models.
The increased battery capability means that more customers will be able to drive primarily in pure electric mode, and Volvo Cars estimates that the new powertrain has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to around 50 per cent under the WLTP drive cycle.
“It’s 2021, and people should no longer have to rely on petrol or diesel when commuting,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars. “Our latest plug-in hybrids deliver all the electric driving range needed in most people’s everyday life.”
The new and improved e-motor ups the power to the rear wheels by 65 per cent, enhancing performance and driveability in all scenarios. Together with the boosted battery, the upgraded e-motor also enables better all-wheel-drive capability, which can prove particularly useful at low speeds, when towing, or when driving on slippery roads that demand extra traction and stability.
The suite of upgrades includes the addition of one-pedal drive, which can help deliver an especially smooth and intuitive driving experience. The function, already seen on pure electric Volvo models, gives the driver the option of controlling both acceleration and deceleration with only the accelerator pedal. It will be rolled out initially on the Volvo XC60, S90 and V90 Recharge plug-in hybrids.
The extra battery capacity also comes in useful on cold winter days, as well as in scorching summer heat. Even when the car is not plugged in, drivers are able to pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin remotely via the Volvo Cars app while still maintaining a generous amount of electric range.
Volvo Cars is committed to becoming a leader in the fast-growing premium electric car market. By the middle of this decade it aims to sell 1.2 million cars globally, with at least half being fully electric cars. By 2030, it plans to become a fully electric car company.
Customer research shows that Volvo Cars’ plug-in hybrids are already now driven around half of the time in pure electric mode. This powertrain upgrade will increase that percentage, further cementing their position as ‘part-time electric cars’.
“Driving a plug-in hybrid is often a stepping-stone to going fully electric,” said Henrik Green. “We believe that this upgrade will show to many that driving electric is the future, and take us closer to our 2030 ambition of becoming fully electric.”
The new powertrain is introduced on all Volvo Recharge plug-in hybrid models based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which includes the Volvo S60, V60, XC60, S90, V90 and XC90 Recharge models***.
Along with the powertrain improvements, the turbocharged T8 petrol engine is upgraded for higher fuel efficiency and performance. This means higher engine power at low revs and take-off, while ensuring a more refined electrified drive with reduced CO2 tailpipe emissions.
by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog
- European premiere for the all-new plug-in hybrid Sportage
- Combines outstanding efficiency and zero-emissions electric-only driving with power, performance and refinement
- Kia’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle – the innovative EV6 – makes its European debut
- Visitors to IAA Mobility (7-12 September) can find Kia at Odeonsplatz, as the German show opens in Munich for the first time
Kia Europe has debuted not one, but two highly advanced electric vehicles at IAA Mobility, further strengthening the brand’s position as a leader and pioneer in sustainable zero-emissions transport.
Taking centre stage – and representing a global premiere – the all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Sportage reinvents the SUV as a highly efficient, dynamic and practical everyday car that is capable on and off road. Sitting next to the all-new Sportage PHEV at IAA Mobility, the EV6 – Kia’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) – makes its European debut illustrating Kia’s new design philosophy and commitment to sustainable mobility.
New European Sportage plugs-in
Developed on an advanced new architecture that encompasses breakthrough powertrain electrification innovations and technologies, the new European PHEV Sportage model delivers a no-compromise, eco-friendly and dynamic SUV package. It blends power and performance with the capability of emissions-free electric-only driving that can cover most daily trips from the home to work or for everyday shopping needs.
The Sportage PHEV features Kia’s 1.6-litre T-GDI engine, a 66.9kW permanent magnet traction electric motor and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The powertrain combination delivers a total system power output of 265PS, with 180PS originating from the IC engine. It also benefits from Kia’s latest high-efficiency and high-performance Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) module and Hybrid Power Control Unit (HPCU). The HSG helps to deliver high-efficiency and NVH optimisation thanks in part to its high-tech performance-focused permanent magnet arrangement with two-stage skew application. The HPCU realises enhanced performance, increased efficiency and a reduction in overall noise output despite the unit being smaller, in volume size, compared with the previous system.
The packaging for the Sportage PHEV model has been carefully arranged to avoid impact on passenger and luggage space. As a result, the high-voltage battery is placed centrally between the two axles under the body of the SUV, ensuring a balanced weight distribution and an interior space that is practical, comfortable and versatile.
The state-of-the-art battery pack in the Sportage PHEV features a high-tech battery management unit that constantly monitors the state of the battery, including factors such as current, voltage, isolation and fault diagnosis. The pack also has an advanced cell-monitoring unit that measures and monitors cell voltage and temperature.
The PHEV’s on-board charger (OBC) system is rated at 7.2kW, giving it a leading power density of 1.53kW/ℓ and efficiency of 95 per cent. The Sportage PHEV comes equipped with an advanced six-speed automatic transmission.
“The all-new plug-in hybrid Sportage model further highlights Kia’s mission to accelerate sustainable mobility across Europe,” said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe.
EV6 – Kia’s first dedicated BEV built on versatile E-GMP architecture
This pioneering crossover is the first dedicated BEV launched under the new Kia design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ and the first vehicle built on Kia’s new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
The EV6 is powered exclusively by electric energy, and offers a choice of multiple long-range, zero-emissions powertrain configurations. It is Kia’s first electric vehicle to be available with two-wheel (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) options.
The 2WD 77.4kWh EV6 can travel up to (328 miles) on a single charge on the WLTP* combined cycle. With a maximum 605Nm torque available on the AWD version, the EV6 can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds.
All versions of EV6 have both 800V and 400V charging capabilities, without the need for additional components or adapters. The car is capable of a high-speed charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Additionally, an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) enables a new vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, capable of supplying up to 3.6kW of power to operate other electronic devices or charge another EV, if needed.
For ultimate peace of mind, the new EV6 is equipped with a host of convenience features and the latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems including next generation Highway Driving Assist with lane change assist, Blind Spot View Monitor, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist including junction turning and crossing functionality, and the new Intelligent Front Lighting technology.
‘Relaxation’ seats, dual 12.3-inch curved displays, multimode controls, class-leading space and impressive storage combine to give EV6 a competitive edge that caters for all needs. The E-GMP architecture permits a flat floor design, helping to create a comfortable and first-class interior cabin that includes front legroom space of 1,078mm and a generous 990mm for rear legroom. Adding to the EV6’s practicality and functionality is a family-friendly trunk space of up to 520 litres (VDA). Keyless entry with automatic flush door handles, several drive modes that optimise ride and handling, Augmented Reality head-up display tech and a highly ergonomic design all further help to deliver an experience that always puts the driver first.
Kia at first IAA Mobility
Visitors to IAA Mobility can find Kia at the outdoor exhibition on Odeonsplatz 10:00-20:00 on 8-11 September, and 10:00-17:00 on 12 September. Visitors will be treated to an EV6 VR experience and the opportunity to sit in both the all-new Sportage PHEV and the new EV6.
UK information on product specification, pricing, line-up and on-sale date for the all-new Kia Sportage PHEV will be announced in due course. For the Kia EV6, you can find all UK information here
