Silverstone Auctions Celebrate a Phenomenal £9.2m worth of Sales at Their NEC Classic Motor Show Auction

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

Bespoke Rallies dodges the Cumbre Vieja Volcano to make history in the Canary Islands

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

Leading international classic rally organiser Bespoke Rallies has a string of firsts to its name, and has just added another with Grand Tour Canarias – a successful 19-day, seven-island expedition of the Canary archipelago, including La Palma while the Cumbre Vieja volcano was in full flow.

Never before has such an event taken in all seven of the region’s main islands, hopping between the familiar destinations of Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife before heading west to the lesser-known haunts of La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera. The highlight of an unforgettable rally was undoubtedly getting up close and personal with La Palma’s active volcano, that has now been erupting for some weeks, and the reactions of some of the doughty participants were encapsulated for posterity by BBC television news (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqbkO_s6yUA). Said Bespoke Rallies Director John Brigden: “Experiencing the full force of nature at such close quarters is something none of us will ever forget, though I have to admit we weren’t all that sorry to move on once we’d done so! We were close enough to be rained on by volcanic ash, but far enough away to be out of danger from the lava flow.”

Eighteen crews took part in this latest Bespoke Rallies adventure in an eclectic array of machinery, the oldest of which was a splendid 1923 Bentley. Among the drivers were Formula One engine supremo Mario Illien and former McLaren F1 team manager Alastair Caldwell. Added Brigden: “It was wonderful to see a group of classic car enthusiasts back doing what they enjoy most after the restrictions of COVID – ie revelling in each other’s company and enjoying their cars to the full.”

The next event on the packed Bespoke Rallies schedule is the Dakar Enduro (February 28 – March 20, 2022). Full information on this and all the company’s other innovative offerings is available at www.bespokerallies.com.

Many Exceptional Examples Confirmed for Classic Car Auctions Final Sale Of 2021

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

Hyundai Motor Pays Tribute to Original Grandeur Flagship Sedan with Heritage Series EV Resto-mod

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• To celebrate Grandeur’s 35^th anniversary, Hyundai designers gave the boxy original a retro-futuristic makeover to find new inspiration for the future
• First generation of Grandeur reborn with an all-electric powertrain, Parametric Pixel exterior and sound architecture interior while keeping the 1980s styling elements
• Hyundai will continue to rediscover the values of the brand through the Heritage Series

Hyundai Motor Company is celebrating the 35^th anniversary of its 1986 Grandeur flagship sedan with an electrifying retro-futuristic resto-mod.

Hyundai developed the Heritage Series Grandeur to shed light on the original sedan’s symbolic significance and find new inspiration for future designs.

Hyundai’s design team reinterpreted the first-generation Grandeur as an all-electric car with the Parametric Pixel exterior lighting that distinguishes its new IONIQ 5 production model and an ultra-modern interior wrapped in burgundy velvet and Napa leather.

From the outside, the Heritage Series Grandeur shows most of its retro charm, but with tasteful updates, such as new side mirrors, covered wheels, slide cladding and pixel-style LED headlights and taillights that hint at the concept’s use of Hyundai’s electric powertrain.

For the Heritage Series Grandeur’s interior, the designers applied a ‘Newtro (newness + retro)’ concept theme to stimulate passengers’ senses with bronze-coloured lighting that is reminiscent of period audio equipment and a modern audiophile sound system to match.

The front seats are fitted with burgundy velvet, inspired by the original Grandeur, with the unexpected twist of elegantly stitched and laced auburn Napa leather on the back. The center console armrest contains a hidden pop-out compartment for storing valuables like watches.

The designers seamlessly integrated the latest technologies alongside retro-cool hardware. They replaced dials and buttons on the dashboard with an ultra-wide, touch-enabled flat-screen display but maintained the ’80s vibe with a single-spoke steering wheel and jet airplane-style gear selector.

The designers incorporated the 4way4 sound system developed by South Korean sound designer Guk-il Yu that controls the 18-speakers. The audio system delivers rich sound with magnificent clarity and deep bass thanks in part to the composition of Grandeur’s center console and dashboard, which are designed based on concert hall acoustic theory. The soundbar’s piano function can be played through the audio system when the vehicle is in park. 

The bronze-coloured light beam that begins at the left and right ends of the dashboard extends around the cabin, penetrating the B-pillars, casting a flattering hue across the well-appointed interior. ‘Infinity mirrors’ reflect the light, giving the second row an even wider sense of space befitting a luxury saloon of the mid-80s zeitgeist.

Having reimagined its 1975 Pony and 1986 Grandeur as EV concepts, Hyundai designers will continue to rediscover the values of the brand through the Heritage Series.

“As our designers conceive the future, it’s important to look back on what we’ve created in the past and find inspiration in it,” said Hak-soo Ha, Head of Interior Group of the Hyundai Design Centre. “With the Heritage Series Grandeur, our designers have reinterpreted an important part of Hyundai’s history as a wonderfully unique blend of vintage and contemporary that reflects the boundless possibilities of our EV era.”

The Hyundai Heritage Series Grandeur is on display at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang through Nov. 14, and then moves to Seoul Motorstudio, from Nov. 16-21.

Streetfighter V2 and Streetfighter V4 SP: two new Ducati models derived from the successful “Fight Formula”

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Building on the success of the V4 model, the Ducati Streetfighter family expands thanks to the introduction of new Streetfighter V2 and Streetfighter V4 SP models
• The Streetfighter V2 truly represents the essence of the “Fighter” attitude: the new gateway to the Streetfighter family is the perfect synthesis between boldness and essentiality
• Manufactured in a numbered series, top-of-the-range Streetfighter V4 SP adds the class-leading technical specification of the “SP” models to the “Fight Formula”, further improving the power-to-weight ratio of the Streetfighter V4 S, already at the top of its category

Ducati expands the Streetfighter family with the introduction of two new models: the bold and essential Streetfighter V2 and the top-of-the-range Streetfighter V4 SP.

All the in-depth information on the two bikes have been revealed during the fourth episode of the Ducati World Première web series.

The new Streetfighter V2 is a sports naked with a one-of-a-kind character. It accommodates the needs of those riders who are looking for a bike capable of combining the sporting Panigale V2’s DNA with both the attitude and style of the admired Streetfighter. The result is an intuitive and easy-to-handle vehicle, with the right dose of power to ensure feisty performance and maximum riding fun.

It is noteworthy that this project is the precious fruit of the reinterpretation of Ducati’s successful “Fight Formula”, this time applied to the Panigale V2, stripped of the fairings and equipped with high and wide handlebars. The dry weight of this vehicle is 178 kg and the engine is the 955 cc and 153 hp Superquadro controlled by the latest-generation electronic package.

The new Streetfighter V2 is essential and characterized by a truly sharp design, which embraces the classic stylistic elements of the Streetfighter V4, starting with the distinctive headlight, which recalls the V-shaped DRL typical of Ducati sports bikes and is inspired by the famous grin of the Joker.
The design concept behind this new model is built around the mechanics inherited from the Panigale V2, with the Superquadro engine as a bearing element.

Ergonomics has major rider-centric features and is focused on road use with the added values of sportiness and comfort. The high and wide aluminum handlebars replace the handlebar risers of the Panigale V2. The saddle now is wider and has new padding that contributes to make this bike even more comfortable. In addition, the footpegs have been repositioned to increase the amount of room. All these improvements allow the biker great control in sporty riding and facilitate everyday use at the same time.

The engine of the Streetfighter V2 is the 955 cc Euro 5-compliant Superquadro, capable of delivering a maximum power of 153 hp at 10,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 101.4 Nm at 9,000 rpm. This engine results not only usable and enjoyable on the road but also effective and excellent on the track, where can be easily managed. Compared to the Panigale V2, the Streetfighter V2 project has a shorter final ratio (15/45 vs 15/43) which guarantees greater torque to the wheel at road speeds while giving better engine responsiveness when re-opening the throttle.

While developing this new model, Ducati engineers focused their attention on the chassis set-up. As a matter of fact, the Superquadro engine is used as a bearing element connecting the compact front structure, consisting of a monocoque frame in die-cast aluminum fixed to the engine head. The single-sided swingarm, which is also connected to the engine, is 16 mm longer compared to that of the Panigale V2, a winning point which contributes to ensure the stability of the whole bike.
To this platform are added the 43 mm Showa BPF front fork and the Sachs shock absorber, featuring dedicated calibration to make the bike more comfortable on the road as well as easily adjustable for a whole new dimension of fun on the racetrack.

The Streetfighter V2 is equipped with 5-spoke wheels and the new Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres: 120/70 ZR17 at the front and 180/60 ZR17 at the rear, which provide a super fast response to the rider’s needs together with an extra cornering feeling. Except for the adoption of brake pads characterised by a less aggressive bite, more suitable for road use, the whole braking system is faithfully taken from the Panigale V2 and features Brembo M4-32 monobloc radial calipers with 320 mm diameter discs.

Also the comprehensive and modern electronic compartment fitting the Streetfighter V2 is inherited from the Panigale V2. The 6-axis IMU inertial platform manages all the electronic controls of the bike and gives the position of the bike in space in real time, sending the information to the control units that manage the controls. The electronic package includes: ABS Cornering EVO with “slide by brake” functionality, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 2, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS) EVO 2, Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO.

The Streetfighter V2 features three different Riding Modes (Sport, Road, Wet) with dedicated control settings. The electronic equipment can be enhanced by the accessories contained in the Ducati Performance catalogue: Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA + GPS) and Ducati Multimedia System.

The bike is equipped with full-LED headlights with front DRL and a 4.3” full-TFT dashboard characterised by an intuitive interface that recalls the Streetfighter V4 family-feeling.

The Streetfighter V2 will be available at Ducati dealerships starting from December 2021 in the Ducati Red colour with black rims.

The Ducati Performance catalogue features numerous accessories designed to enhance look, performance and style of the new Streetfighter V2. Among these, the wings stand out, designed by Ducati to obtain even higher performance in track use.

For 2022 Ducati introduces also top-of-the-range Streetfighter V4 SP model, offered in a numbered version and marked with the well-known “SP” (which stands for Sport Production) abbreviation. The new Streetfighter V4 SP is the most adrenaline-pumping naked to ever roll its wheels off the production line in Borgo Panigale. This thanks to a special technical equipment that perfectly combines the “Fight Formula” with the “SP” specifications, further improving the power-to-weight ratio of the Streetfighter V4 S, which was already at the top of its category, and making the bike even more effective on the track.

The Streetfighter V4 SP comes with a dedicated livery, premium equipment derived from the Superleggera V4, as well as with a restrained weight: 196 kg in running order (3 kg less compared to the Streetfighter V4 S).

The essential and captivating “Winter Test” livery has been conceived by the Ducati Centro Stile taking inspiration from the Ducati Corse motorcycles ridden in MotoGP and SBK Championships pre-season tests. The Matt Black of the fairings combined with the Matt Carbon finish of rims and wings superbly contrasts with the bright Red accents and the sparkling brushed aluminum tank. The new born from Borgo Panigale is also enriched with some beautiful details, such as the progressive number printed on the handlebar and the Italian flag colour scheme on the carbon wings.

The Streetfighter V4 SP is equipped with 5 split-spoke carbon rims, 1.4 kg lighter than the forged aluminum ones fitted as standard on the Streetfighter V4 S and capable of reducing the inertia by 26% at the front and 46% at the rear, making the bike significantly more agile and lighter when changing direction. The exclusive Brembo Stylema R^® front brake calipers guarantee uncommon braking power, as well as stunning performance even during extended use on track*.

The new bike is equipped with the Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 with the event-based system that can vary the damping according to the rider’s riding style, and together with biplane wings they increase confidence and ensure the best performance in sporty use.

The beating heart is the 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale with 208 hp capable of delivering a torque of 123 Nm at 9,500 rpm (Euro 5-compliant). On the Streetfighter V4 SP the Desmosedici Stradale is fitted with the STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, which guarantees a better anti-hopping function, even in the most aggressive downshifts, and greater fluidity during all “off-throttle” stages, a crucial aspect to be truly effective on the track when pushing to the limit.

The equipment of this unique bike is enriched by the adjustable aluminum and CNC machined footpegs, the carbon front mudguard, the lithium-ion battery and a range of accessories suitable for the “track days”, such as the open carbon clutch cover** and the caps for removing the license plate holder**.

Thanks to its technical equipment, the Streetfighter V4 SP is the ideal companion for the amateur who wants to rule the track riding a naked bike and get an instant response. Braking capacity results in fact out of the ordinary, the bike is easier to lay into the corner and gets to the apex faster, not to mention the great stability at high speeds.

The Streetfighter V4 SP will be available in single-seat configuration in the “Winter Test” livery. The bike will be in Ducati dealerships starting at January 2022.

The dynamic videos of the new Ducati Streetfighter V2 and the Streetfighter V4 SP are available on the Ducati YouTube channel.

The complete press kit along with all the product information and the images of the new Ducati Streetfighter family are available for download on Ducati Media House.

#StreetfighterV2 #ANewFighterInTown #StreetfighterV4SP #TheTimeFighter

* Bike specifications and dealer availability may vary from market to market. Please refer to the tech specs contained in the press kit for further information
** This product is intended for vehicles used only in closed-course circuit. Operation on public roads is prohibited by law