The new Mercedes-AMG SL: The new edition of an icon

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

The new Mercedes-AMG SL, the new edition of an icon, returns to its roots with a classic soft top and sporty character.

At the same time, the luxurious roadster as a 2+2 seater is particularly suitable for everyday use and puts its power down on the road with all-wheel drive for the first time. High-tech components such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active anti-roll stabilisation, rear-axle steering, the optionally available AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system and the standard-fit DIGITAL LIGHT with projection function sharpen the sporty profile. In combination with the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, this results in a driving experience of the highest order. As a consistent Performance Luxury model, Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach has developed the SL completely independently. Two models with AMG V8 engines will kick off the market launch.

Almost 70 years ago, a sports car launched in Stuttgart immediately became a legend. The vision of expanding the potential of the Mercedes-Benz brand through motor racing successes produced the first SL as a result – a road-going racing sports car. Shortly after its début in 1952, the 300 SL (internal designation W 194) reaped success after success on the race tracks of the world. In its first year, it achieved, among other things, a spectacular one-two victory in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans and even took the first four places in the Nürburgring Grand Jubilee Prize for sports cars. Its successes quickly make the SL a legend.

The successful racing car was followed in 1954 by the 300 SL production sports car (W 198), which is called the “Gullwing” because of its unusual doors. In 1999, a jury of motoring journalists voted it the “Sports Car of the Century”. Other highlights of the model history include the “Pagoda” (W 113, 1963-1971), the evergreen R 107 (1971-1989), which was built for 18 years, and its successor, the R 129, which is considered an automotive sculpture because of its striking wedge shape. The abbreviation “SL” to this day thus stands for one of the few genuine automotive icons in the world.

In the decades-long development history from full-blooded racing car to open-top luxury sports car, the new Mercedes-AMG SL now sets another milestone. It combines the sportiness of the original SL with the unique luxury and technological excellence that characterise modern Mercedes models.

“The SL is an icon: For almost 70 years, the distinctive sports car has delighted Mercedes customers of every generation around the world. With the rebirth of the roadster from Mercedes-AMG, the new SL more than ever remains the symbol of this timeless fascination”, says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.

“The new SL combines the sporty genes of the original SL with the driving performance typical of AMG. At the same time, it offers luxury and comfort at the absolute top level. This combination is unique in the sports car segment and is also reflected in the interior – where the highest levels of comfort and quality meet the right helping of sportiness. The high-quality combination of analogue world and state-of-the-art digital equipment makes it clear that the new SL is the rebirth of an icon for the modern era”, says Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“With the new SL, we have created a repositioning of the iconic SL design. The expressively modelled exterior conveys a light and purist impression and brings sensual beauty and extravagant design into perfect harmony”, says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler Group.

“We at Mercedes-AMG consider it a great honour to have had the privilege to develop the new edition of this sports car icon. When we were tasked with the overall development of the new SL, we were able to start from scratch without building on an existing structure. We are proud of the result, which once again demonstrates the high level of engineering expertise in Affalterbach. The new 2+2 concept combines agile driving dynamics with a high level of comfort and unrestricted suitability for everyday use”, says Jochen Hermann, Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

With its exciting design, state-of-the-art technology and outstanding driving characteristics, the new Mercedes-AMG SL sets standards in the luxury sports car segment. The exterior design fascinates with a perfect triad: It combines the modern Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of sensual purity with the sportiness typical of AMG and characteristic details. The two power bulges on the bonnet are just one of numerous reminiscences of the first SL generation. The interplay of light and shadow makes the overall appearance visually light and low. So it is clear at first glance that the new SL has returned to its sporty roots.

Exterior design: balanced design with sporty genes
Characteristic features of the body design are the long wheelbase, the short overhangs, the long bonnet, the passenger compartment set back with a strongly raked windscreen and the powerful rear end. This results in the typical SL proportions. Together with the voluminously sculpted wheel arches and the large alloy wheels flush with the outer skin, they give the roadster its powerful, dynamic appearance. When closed, the seamlessly integrated soft top underscores the purist, sporty impression.

The AMG-specific radiator grille emphasises the effect of width of the front and, with its 14 vertical slats, cites the ancestor of all SL models, the legendary 300 SL racing sports car of 1952. Other distinctive design elements include the slim, sharply outlined DIGITAL LIGHT LED headlamps and the equally extremely slim LED rear lamps.

Interior design: Performance Luxury with “hyperanalogue” cockpit
The interior of the new Mercedes-AMG SL transforms the tradition of the first 300 SL Roadster into the modern era. The new edition perfectly combines sporting virtues and luxury. Fine materials and meticulous workmanship underline the standard of the highest level of comfort. The cockpit design, right down to the adjustable central display in the centre console, is focused on the driver. At the same time, the completely new interior space concept with 2+2 seats offers more room and functionality than before. The rear seats increase the daily practicality and offer space for people up to 1.50 metres tall.

The minimalist interior of the 300 SL Roadster, equipped with high-quality materials, inspired the designers in the interior design of the new model: The result is an exciting combination of analogue geometry and digital world – called “hyperanalogue”. This is exemplified by the fully digital instrument cluster, which is integrated into a three-dimensional visor. The standard MBUX infotainment system offers a choice of several specific display styles and different modes.

One of many highlights in the interior of the new SL is the sculptural seat design of the standard, electrically adjustable AMG sports seats. The head restraints are integrated into the backrest and emphasise the sporty character. The AIRSCARF is on board as standard: Warm air flows into the passenger compartment from air outlets in the head restraints and wraps around the head and neck area of the driver and front passenger like a scarf. Perfect ergonomics and various progressive seam and quilting patterns complete the symbiosis of high-tech, performance and luxury. AMG Performance seats are available as an option.

The latest generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) is intuitive to operate and capable of learning. It offers numerous functional contents and the operating structure of the second-generation MBUX system, which debuted in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In the SL, AMG-specific content is added extensively in five display styles. Exclusive menu items such as “AMG Performance” or “AMG TRACK PACE” also emphasise the sporty character.

Body shell: new roadster architecture with composite aluminium structure
The 2021 SL is based on a completely new 2+2-seater vehicle architecture developed by Mercedes-AMG. The chassis is designed as a lightweight composite aluminium structure and consists of an aluminium space frame with a self-supporting structure. The design guarantees maximum rigidity and is thus the perfect basis for precise driving dynamics, high comfort, optimal packaging and sporty body proportions. The new body shell was created – as with the first SL in 1952 – literally on a blank sheet of paper: Not a single component comes from the predecessor SL or any other model such as the AMG GT Roadster.

The aim of the body shell architecture is to realise the driving performance typical of AMG with a focus on lateral and longitudinal dynamics, while at the same time meeting the high standards on comfort and safety. In the new SL, the intelligent material mix enables the highest possible rigidity at a low weight. Optimised material cross-sections and sophisticated component shapes create space for the comprehensive comfort and safety features as well as the soft top. The materials used include aluminium, magnesium, fibre composites and steel, from which the windscreen frame, for example, is made. This serves as roll-over protection in conjunction with the roll bar system behind the rear seats, which can be extended at lightning speed when needed.

Compared to the previous model series, the torsional rigidity of the body shell structure increased by 18 percent. The transverse rigidity is 50 percent higher than the already outstanding value of the AMG GT Roadster. The longitudinal rigidity is 40 percent higher. The weight of the plain body shell is around 270 kilograms. Together with the low centre of gravity, the targeted lightweight construction ensures outstanding driving dynamics.

Active aerodynamics: for perfect balance and high efficiency
A key development focus of the new SL was high aerodynamic efficiency, specifically: a perfect balance between low drag and reduced lift. Here, the luxurious roadster benefits from Mercedes-AMG’s wide-ranging motorsport expertise and from extensive active aerodynamic elements at the front and rear. All streamlining elements are seamlessly integrated into the exterior design. Further detailed measures reduce the drag coefficient to C_d 0.31 – an excellent figure for open-top sports cars.

The SL’s aerodynamics meet the complex requirements of handling stability, drag, cooling and wind noise. Regardless of whether the top is down or up, the vehicle character and driving characteristics remain unchanged. The even aerobalance helps to defuse critical driving situations, such as a sudden evasive manoeuvre at high speed.

AIRPANEL air control system: two-piece for the first time
A technical highlight in the aero development: the two-piece, active air control system AIRPANEL. The first piece operates with vertical louvres hidden behind the lower air intake in the front apron. The second piece is located behind the upper air intake and has horizontal louvres. Normally all louvres are closed. This position reduces drag and allows the air to be directed specifically towards the underbody. This further reduces front lift. Only when certain temperatures on predefined components are reached and the demand for cooling air is particularly high do the louvres open (the second system only from 180 km/h) and allow maximum cooling air to flow to the heat exchangers.

Another active component is the retractable rear spoiler seamlessly integrated into the boot lid. It changes its position depending on the driving status. In doing so, the control software takes into account numerous parameters: It factors the driving speed, the longitudinal and lateral acceleration and the steering speed into the calculation. The spoiler assumes five different angular positions from 80 km/h to either optimise handling stability or reduce drag.

The optional active aerodynamic element, which is hidden in the underbody in front of the engine, also contributes to the improved handling. This carbon profile, which weighs around two kilograms, reacts to the setting of the AMG driving modes and automatically extends downwards by around 40 millimetres at a speed of 80 km/h. The AMG driving modes are then activated. This creates the so-called Venturi effect, which sucks the car additionally to the road surface and reduces front-axle lift. The driver feels this positively in the steering: The SL can be steered even more precisely into bends and tracks even more stably.

A range of aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels with diameters of 19, 20 or 21 inches is available for the SL, reducing drag through less turbulence. Particularly sophisticated are 20-inch wheels with plastic aero rings, which also save weight.

The soft top: less weight and low centre of gravity
The sportier positioning of the new SL also suggested the decision for an electric soft top instead of the previous metal vario roof. The 21-kilogram reduction in weight and the resulting lower centre of gravity have a positive effect on driving dynamics and handling. The space- and weight-saving Z-fold makes it possible to dispense with a conventional soft-top compartment cover. The front roof cap ensures that the open soft top is flush with the surface in its final position. At the same time, the developers were faced with the task of maintaining the high suitability for everyday use and the exemplary noise comfort. The three-layer design consists of a tightly stretched outer shell, precisely crafted roof liner and the acoustic mat made of high-quality 450 g/m² material inserted in between.

Opening and closing takes only about 15 seconds and is possible up to a speed of 60 km/h. The soft top is operated using the switch panel in the centre console or the multimedia touchscreen, on which an animation shows how the process is progressing.

Engine, transmission and all-wheel drive: great variety and more choice than ever before
At market launch, the new SL starts with two output levels of the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine. The engines are assembled purely by hand at the company’s site in Affalterbach according to the “One Man, One Engine” principle. In the top model SL 63 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 12.7-11.8 l/100 km, combined CO₂ emissions 288-268 g/km)^[1] the engine develops 430 kW (585 hp) and provides a maximum torque of 800 Nm over a wide rev range from 2500 to 4500 rpm. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 3.6 seconds, the top speed is 315 km/h. In the SL 55 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 12.7-11.8 l/100 km, combined CO₂ emissions 288-268 g/km), the V8 unit develops an output of 350 kW (476 hp) and a peak torque of 700 Nm. The sprint from standstill to 100 km/h takes 3.9 seconds, the top speed is 295 km/h.

For use in the SL, the engine received a new oil pan, repositioned intercoolers and active crankcase ventilation. The intake and exhaust ducts have been optimised for even more effective gas exchange, and the exhaust gas routing for the catalytic converter box and petrol particulate filter has been enlarged. The developers achieved the increased output of the SL 63 4MATIC+ primarily through higher boost pressure and greater air flow, as well as modified engine software. To sum up, the eight-cylinder engine thrills with its exceptional power delivery and powerful acceleration in all engine speed ranges combined with maximum efficiency for low consumption and emission values.

Performance hybrid in development
At a later date, we will also offer the SL as a powerful Performance hybrid drive. The AMG E PERFORMANCE drive strategy is based on the guiding principle of offering an electrified powertrain that further enhances driving dynamics while also being highly efficient.

Wet start-up clutch for the transmission
The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission combines an emotionally appealing gearshift experience with extremely short shift times and is specially adapted to the requirements of the new SL. A wet start-off clutch replaces the torque converter. It reduces weight and, thanks to its lower inertia, optimises response to accelerator pedal commands, especially during spurts and load changes.

More traction and handling stability: fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
For the first time in its almost 70-year history, the SL is available with a drive system acting on all four wheels. The two V8 models are equipped with AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive technology as standard. This intelligent system combines the advantages of different drive concepts: the fully variable torque distribution to the front and rear axles ensures optimal traction right up to the physical limit. The driver is also able to rely on high handling stability and a high level of safety under all conditions.

Suspension and brakes: Multi-link front axle, active anti-roll stabilisation and optimal deceleration
The SL 55 4MATIC+ is equipped as standard with a newly developed AMG RIDE CONTROL steel suspension with particularly capable aluminium shock absorbers and lightweight coil springs. For the first time, a series-production Mercedes-AMG vehicle is fitted with a multi-link front axle with five links arranged entirely within the rim. This significantly improves the kinematics. At the rear axle, a 5-link design likewise controls the wheels.

The innovative AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active, hydraulic anti-roll stabilisation makes its début in the SL 63 4MATIC+. Biggest innovation: Active hydraulic elements replace the conventional mechanical anti-roll bars and compensate for rolling movements of the new SL in fractions of a second. The system enables optimal steering and load-change behaviour with AMG-typical driving characteristics in terms of dynamics, precision and feedback for the driver. At the same time, it increases ride comfort when driving in a straight line and over bumps.

The newly developed AMG high-performance composite braking system guarantees excellent deceleration values and precise control. It impresses with short braking distances, sensitive response and high stability – even under extreme stress. The new composite brake discs are lighter than before and take up less space, which is used for even better brake cooling. The directional perforation is also new: In addition to the additional weight saving and better heat dissipation, this solution scores points with a faster response in wet conditions as well as better pad cleaning after braking manoeuvres.

Active rear-axle steering: combines agility and stability
For the first time in its long history, the SL is equipped with active rear-axle steering as standard. Depending on the speed, the rear wheels steer either in the opposite direction (up to 100 km/h) or in the same direction (faster than 100 km/h) as the front wheels. The system thus enables both agile and stable handling – characteristics that are in contrast to each other without rear-axle steering. Other advantages include easier vehicle control at the limits and less steering effort because the front-wheel steering ratio is more direct.

Six driving modes and AMG DYNAMICS: from comfortable to dynamic
The six AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes “Slippery”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport +”, “Individual” and “RACE” (standard for SL 63 4MATIC+, included in the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package for SL 55 4MATIC+) enable a wide spread of vehicle characteristics from comfortable to dynamic. The individual driving modes offer an individual driving experience, precisely tailored to different driving conditions. As a feature of the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes, the SL models also feature AMG DYNAMICS. This integrated vehicle dynamics control extends the stabilising functions of ESP® with agility-enhancing intervention in the all-wheel control, steering characteristics and additional ESP® functions. When cornering at speed, for example, brief braking intervention at the inner rear wheel generates a defined yawing motion around the vertical axis for responsive and precise entry into the bend. The spectrum ranges from extremely stable to highly dynamic.

SL range of equipment: great variety for an individual appearance
The equipment details and the numerous options offer a wide range of individualisation for the most diverse customer wishes – from sporty-dynamic to luxurious-elegant. Twelve paint colours including the two exclusive SL paints Hyper Blue metallic and MANUFAKTUR Monza Grey magno, three roof colour variants and numerous new wheel designs make the choice a pleasure. Three exterior design packages are available to further sharpen the look and make it either more elegant or more dynamic. The SL 55 4MATIC+ runs on 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels as standard, optionally in silver or matt black. The SL 63 4MATIC+ sits on 20-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels. The range of wheels includes a total of nine different variants. They include two aerodynamically optimised 20-inch options in 5-twin-spoke or multi-spoke design. The range is rounded off with 21-inch AMG alloy wheels in a 10-spoke design and 21-inch AMG forged wheels in a 5-twin-spoke design, both in two colour variants.

Driving assistance systems and MBUX: intelligent helpers in the background
With the help of numerous sensors, cameras and radar, the driving assistance systems observe the traffic and the surroundings of the new roadster. If necessary, the intelligent helpers can intervene at lightning speed. As in the current generations of the Mercedes C-Class and S-Class, the driver is supported by numerous new or enhanced systems – in everyday situations, for example, by assistance for speed adaptation, distance control, steering and lane changes. When danger threatens, the assistance systems are able to respond to impending collisions as the situation demands. The functioning of the systems is visualised by a new display concept in the instrument cluster.

The new assistance display in the instrument cluster shows comprehensibly and transparently how the driving assistance systems work in a full-screen view. The driver can see their car, lanes, lane markings and other road users such as cars, trucks and two-wheelers in an abstracted 3D way there. The system status and operation of the assistants are visualised in this depiction of the surroundings. The new animated assistance display is based on a 3-D scene generated in real time. This dynamic, high-quality representation makes the operation of the driving assistance systems transparent as a tangible augmented reality experience.

Numerous connectivity services available
The MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system enables extensive intuitive operating options and many digital services from Mercedes me connect. Its strengths include the intuitive operating concept via touchscreen or touch control buttons on the steering wheel, smartphone integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free system via Bluetooth connection, and digital radio (DAB and DAB+). In conjunction with MBUX, customers already have access to connectivity services such as Live Traffic Information. With Mercedes me connect, however, the new SL becomes even more intelligent overall: Additional functions can be used before and after the journey or while on the road. All that is required is to link the roadster to a Mercedes me account in the Mercedes me portal and accept the terms of use. Thanks to navigation with Live Traffic Information and Car-to-X communication, the customer drives with real-time traffic data. This way, traffic jams can be avoided efficiently and valuable time can be saved. Car-to-X communication enables connected vehicles to exchange information about traffic events.

Download Press Release for more information

Technical data¹

Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+

Technical data¹

Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+

^[1] Technical data on power, torque, mileage, fuel consumption and emissions in this publication are provisional and have been determined internally in accordance with the applicable certification method. Confirmed TÜV figures, EC type approval and certificate of conformity with official figures are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

Celebrating 20 years of V12 Vanquish – a modern classic

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Two decades on, the highly desirable V12 Vanquish remains a seminal car for the Aston Martin marque
• This cutting-edge Newport Pagnell-built model was, at the time, the most advanced yet to wear an Aston Martin badge
• Drive-by-wire throttle and F1^©-inspired paddle shift gearbox are among the technologies debuted on the now hugely collectable V12 Vanquish

Aston Martin Works – the heritage home of the great British automotive marque – is this month marking an important anniversary for one of the supercars created at its historic site, the original V12 Vanquish, which was revealed publicly 20 years ago.

When it was presented before an eager audience at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show the V12 Vanquish was nothing less than the most sophisticated and technologically advanced new model yet designed, developed and built by Aston Martin.

Incorporating what were, at the time, cutting edge technologies such as drive-by-wire throttle control and F1^©-style finger-tip controlled gearshift paddles, the Newport Pagnell-built V12 Vanquish instantly became Aston Martin’s flagship model.

Lauded for its sublime design, exceptional power and brutish performance, V12 Vanquish quickly secured positive reviews from the expert media of the day. Motortrend in the United States said: “Aston Martin’s new Vanquish is one of the most superbly designed front-engine GTs of all time.” British magazine evo were moved to say: “It devours the straight bits with relish, but it also has a ravenous appetite for corners,” while The Sunday Times later called it “an automotive masterpiece”.

Today, Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works said: “The original V12 Vanquish represented an important and timely development for our marque. It was, and is, a great super GT with all the character, style and power that is rightly expected of an Aston Martin sports car.

“20 years on from that debut, the V12 Vanquish remains a proud part of the marque’s heritage which we celebrate here at Newport Pagnell. It is an exceptional piece of our history, and a car that we can rightly look back on with considerable pride.”

Origin of the species
The V12 Vanquish story actually begins some years before its triumphant 2001 Geneva Motor Show debut, with a concept sports car named ‘Project Vantage’.

Developed by Aston Martin through the mid-90s, and exhibited for the first time at the 1998 Detroit Motor Show, Project Vantage was an apparently almost production-ready supercar designed by then styling chief Ian Callum.

The car featured a new 6.0-litre V12 engine with an output of 460 bhp, mated to an F1^©-inspired paddle shift gearbox. It used a cutting-edge aluminum tub and composite body panels, and at the time represented a major leap in both design and technology for the luxury marque.

Development work continued on the programme and, in the autumn of 2000, a selection of key media was given the opportunity to see a pre-production V12 Vanquish, which clearly owed much to the Project Vantage.

V12 Vanquish design and body engineering
Ian Callum’s elegant, classic body design for the two-door sports car – which was offered in 2+0 or 2+2 configurations – was shaped to reflect the pedigree, heritage and tradition of Aston Martin. It was seen as both bold and dynamic, with finely detailed features for the interior and the exterior.

Carefully considered design elements were incorporated to provide graphic evidence of the marque’s painstaking craftsmanship and quality.

Key features include a distinctive radiator grille and lower air intake, both hallmarks of the brand’s design language at the time, flanked by equally bold and distinctive auxiliary driving lamps and front direction turn indicators. The front wings and bonnet panels incorporate a series of finely detailed compound curves which sweep back to the steeply raked windscreen pillars and low curving roof line.

Deeply sculptured sill and door panels added visual appeal, while the prominent rear wheel arches with the short tail section and rear spoiler incorporated in the boot lid complement the classic overall proportions of the V12 Vanquish.

All the exterior body panels were constructed from aluminium, with each individual panel hand tailored to the central structure.

The car’s body structure, including the floor and the front and rear bulkheads, was formed from extruded aluminium sections bonded and riveted around the central transmission tunnel which was constructed entirely from carbon fibre. 

Single piece composite inner body side sections with carbon fibre windscreen pillars were also bonded to the central structure to create a high strength safety cell.

Precise, computer controlled, manufacturing processes were required to create the structures, a huge manufacturing leap for Aston Martin at the time, and these were developed in Cupertino, in California’s Silicon Valley, and at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.

Immediately ahead of the driver and passenger compartment a steel, aluminium and carbon fibre subframe carried the engine, transmission and front suspension and this was bolted directly to the front bulkhead. There’s a further deformable composite structure which employs the distinctive Aston Martin mesh air intake grille as a stressed member located ahead of the engine and front suspension to provide additional crash protection and accommodate the engine, transmission and air conditioning radiators and intercoolers. 

A completely flat surface was developed for the underbody enabling air to be channelled into a Venturi section at the rear to assist high speed aerodynamics.

At the rear the composite floor, parcel shelf and side rails of the luggage compartment were also carefully designed to provide additional deformable crash protection together with the extruded aluminium side impact beams located in the doors.

All of the exterior panels, including the roof, bonnet, boot lid, front and rear wings and doors were produced from “super-plastic-formed” and pressed aluminium, and each individual panel was then tailored and bonded to the central structure by hand at the marque’s then factory in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, to ensure a perfect fit and finish.

In all, it took eight full weeks to build each V12 Vanquish, and the business initially set out to create around 300 of the cars each year. As demand soared, however, and waiting lists ran into years, that build figure grew closer to 500 cars per year.

In total 2,589 V12 Vanquish, of all versions, were constructed during the six years that the car was in production.

V12 Vanquish engine and gearbox
An all-alloy twin overhead camshaft 48 valve 6.0-litre V12 engine capable of generating 460 bhp at 6,500 rpm, and 556 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm, sits at the heart of this 190 mph British brute. Engineering enhancements over the V12 seen in the DB7 of the same era included new design inlet manifolds, camshafts, valve gear, crankshaft and a new exhaust system which together bumped up power by a handy seven per cent.

To ensure that heat from the engine and exhaust system was insulated from the body structure the entire exhaust system and the front bulkhead is clad in a heat resistant material first developed for the aerospace industry.

A unique engine oil to water heat exchanger accelerated and assisted operating efficiency, together with an ionised gas misfire detection system which provided continuous monitoring of each of the engine’s 12 cylinders.

The six-speed close ratio manual transmission in the V12 Vanquish is linked to the car’s electronic drive-by-wire throttle and controlled through twin paddles mounted on the steering column.

Famously dubbed “flappy paddles” by leading writer and automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson, the cutting edge F1^©-inspired gearbox debuted in the V12 Vanquish incorporated electronics matched to hydraulics to facilitate faster gear changes. Sophisticated electronics also permitted the manual transmission to operate automatically with the additional facility of a programme for winter driving conditions.

More recently, a manual conversion package has been engineered by Aston Martin and offered to owners via the brand’s in-house heritage centre and new car dealership: Aston Martin Works.

So far, around 130 original Vanquish models have been converted to manual transmission, with an average of around ten cars per year making their way to Works for the process to be carried out.

Brakes, suspension and steering
Anti-lock ventilated and drilled 355 mm (front) and 330 mm (rear) diameter Brembo disc brakes were fitted to the aluminium alloy road wheels together with variable ratio power steering and independent front and rear suspension systems which incorporated forged aluminium wishbones and cast aluminium front suspension uprights. 

The rear axle was equipped with a limited slip differential in tandem with electronic traction control which sensed potential wheel slippage and automatically reduced engine power and, if necessary, applied the rear braking system. The Yokohama 255/40 ZR 19 front and 285/40 ZR 19 rear tyres, which were designed exclusively for the V12 Vanquish and carried the AML initials, were mounted on 19-inch diameter wheels with 9-inch width rims at the front and 10-inch width rims at the rear. Individual tyre pressures and temperatures were monitored through an automatic electronic sensing system.

V12 Vanquish S – Aston Martin’s fastest production sports car yet
At the time the fastest production model yet built by Aston Martin, the V12 Vanquish S made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, 2004.

With a maximum speed in excess of 200 mph (321 km/h) and a 6.0-litre V12 engine now developing 520 horsepower, the V12 Vanquish S was designed to deliver even greater performance, complemented by subtle suspension and steering changes and a number of interior and external style revisions.

At its launch the then Aston Martin Chairman and CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, said, simply, of the more muscular V12 Vanquish S: “It is the ultimate high-performance Aston Martin”.

The V12 Vanquish S received subtle but effective changes to complement its elegant muscular body. The famous Aston Martin grille gained a rounded and more open appearance for better cooling, with an aerodynamic splitter to improve high-speed stability. At the rear, the boot lid was redesigned to improve aerodynamics, reducing lift and improving balance and stability while also incorporating a high mounted stop lamp. These changes helped the V12 Vanquish S to achieve an impressive Cd figure of 0.32.

Dynamic enhancements included stiffer springs and dampers and shorter steering arms. Revised steering geometry provided a 20% quicker response versus the ‘standard’ Vanquish, allowing a reduced input for required steering response.

Upgraded brakes incorporated larger six piston calipers and larger grooved and ventilated front discs. The rear discs grew by 2mm for improved heat dissipation. The use of floating discs ensured the driver has consistent pedal feel under heavy braking whilst a revised brake pedal assembly reduced travel and enhanced pedal feel.

Further development of Aston Martin’s all alloy, quad-overhead camshaft, 48 valve, 6.0-litre V12 engine generated a healthy increase in power from 460 bhp to 520 bhp (388kW) @ 7000 rpm and torque was boosted to 425 lb ft (577 Nm) @ 5800rpm.

Engine enhancements included new cylinder heads with fully machined inlet ports and combustion chambers to improve airflow, revised engine mapping and new fuel injectors.

V12 Vanquish S Ultimate marked the end of an era
In February 2007, Aston Martin announced what was – until the development of the marque’s successful and much imitated Continuation programme in 2017 – the end of new car production at Newport Pagnell.

This emotional ‘moment in time’ was celebrated through the creation of a strictly limited number of V12 Vanquish S Ultimate Edition sports cars.

Each of the 40 cars was made available by special request to customers wishing to celebrate the last iteration of a clearly highly significant car in Aston Martin’s history.

A specific colour and trim combination marked out these hugely desirable cars. The coachwork was painted a unique metallic shade called ‘Ultimate Black’ while, inside, the cars were all trimmed in a semi-aniline leather with coarse stitching, leather headlining and black chrome finish interior fittings. Each car was also fitted with personalised sill plaques denoting its limited edition number.

Alongside the European market Ultimate, Aston Martin also produced a small number of white V12 Vanquish for the Middle East.

Paul Spires, added: “Here at Newport we rightly celebrate the heritage of this great British sports car marque, with particular emphasis on icons such as the DB5 which were almost all built in this seemingly sometimes sleepy corner of Buckinghamshire.

“However, to also be able to lay claim to a ‘modern classic’ such as the original V12 Vanquish is a great honour for us, and I’m sure that in time people will come to view these cars with the same reverence that is afforded to the early DB cars.”

Flying Spur Hybrid crosses Iceland on renewable energy

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Flying Spur Hybrid drives across Iceland in one stint using second generation biofuel and geothermally-sourced electricity
• 733 km (455 mile) journey covered in one stint on renewable energy
• Demonstration of environmental credentials of second generation biofuel in Bentley’s latest grand tourer
• ‘Best of both worlds’ represented by hybrid system – useable electric range combined with genuine grand touring reach
• 45 per cent reduction in CO₂ on Well-to-Wheels basis vs ordinary gasoline
• Fuel created from waste biomass combines with renewable electricity
• Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy continues to come to life

Using only energy from waste straw and the power of the planet, an engineering prototype Flying Spur Hybrid has completed a dramatic test as part of the car’s sign off and Bentley’s development of renewable fuels.

The Azure Purple Flying Spur Hybrid covered the 733 km (455 miles) required to drive across Iceland in a single stint and entirely on renewable power, through a combination of 100 per cent second generation biofuel and geothermally-sourced electricity available from the Icelandic power grid.

The journey is validation both of the grand touring range of Bentley’s new Hybrid – the second to be launched following the Bentayga Hybrid – and of Bentley’s research into biofuels that can be used without engine modification. The fuel used conforms to the same EN228 standard as ordinary pump gasoline, yet is created entirely from waste biomass (e.g. straw) at no cost to food production or the natural ecosystem. The combination of this fuel and the Flying Spur Hybrid’s intelligent electrified powertrain meant an overall reduction of 45 per cent in CO₂ emissions on a well-to-wheels basis over the course of the adventure. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation for Iceland, witnessed the Flying Spur Hybrid’s journey and comments:

“It was great to see the car make the 733 km journey across the country on renewable electricity and green renewable fuel. Driving through the countryside with waterfalls on your left, and volcanos to the right you can visually see where the energy is generated directly, from nature. I think this is the best definition of sustainable energy. Iceland wants to be part of the environmental solution and help others use the knowledge and renewable sources we have here.”

The Flying Spur Hybrid represents Bentley’s next step on a journey to becoming the world’s most sustainable luxury mobility company, as laid out by the brand’s Beyond100 strategy. Market introductions across the world begin in 2022. This will see all models in the range offered with a hybrid powertrain by 2024, ahead of the company’s first full BEV by 2025.

Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering, Matthias Rabe, comments:

“With the launch of the Flying Spur Hybrid we now have a hybrid range at Bentley, and with this challenge we’ve proved the real benefit of a hybrid – the ability to have an unimpeded grand touring reach of more than 450 miles, while still having usable electric-only range for urban environments. It’s truly the best of both worlds, especially when the use of innovative second generation biofuel means a huge drop in CO₂ emissions. We’ll continue working with such fuels in the coming months as part of our development process, with the end goal of a customer-facing solution.”

Renewably Energised
Renewable fuel defines a significant step towards reducing Bentley’s environmental impact and supporting the company’s sustainability targets. This Icelandic journey is the result of further development since the debut of renewable fuel for Bentley in the Continental GT3 race car at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June.

The 100 per cent renewable, second generation biofuel used is a wonder of modern chemistry, and was developed by Coryton, who is supporting Bentley in renewable fuel research. The production process sees waste biomass (e.g. straw) broken down using fermentation, leading to the creation of ethanol. Dehydration of the ethanol converts it to ethylene, which can then be transformed into gasoline through the process of oligomerisation – chaining short hydrocarbon molecules together to produce longer, more energy-dense ones.

The electricity used by the car’s hybrid system during the journey was sourced from Iceland’s 100 per cent renewable grid. Iceland is a global leader in renewable energy production; 75 per cent of the country’s electrical energy is produced via Hydroelectric and 25 per cent from geothermal power. During its time in Iceland, the Flying Spur Hybrid was charged with electricity from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant. 

The Driving Force Behind The Flying Spur Hybrid
The latest addition to Bentley’s new hybrid range demonstrates that hybridisation does not compromise luxury or performance. With an unperceivable blend between the internal combustion engine and electric motor, refined serenity is on offer regardless of driving mode or style.

The new powertrain combines a 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine with an advanced electric motor, delivering a total of 536 bhp (544 PS) and 750 Nm (553 lb.ft) of torque – an additional 95 bhp in comparison to the Bentayga Hybrid. The new Flying Spur becomes the most efficient Bentley ever having the capability to cover 700 km when fully fuelled.

With high power reserves, superior torque and quick throttle response, the latest hybrid model gives little away to the Flying Spur V8 in acceleration, passing 60 mph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.3 secs). The new powertrain achieves a significant reduction in fuel consumption, whilst still providing the authentic Bentley character of effortless, refined performance.

Customer-Focused Technology
The new Flying Spur incorporates a class-leading portfolio of intelligent and intuitive equipment tailored to the driver and passengers. For the Flying Spur Hybrid, connected car services will now also include My Battery Charge, My Car Statistics, and My Cabin Comfort.

To provide further feedback to the driver, the driver instruments include additional information showing when the car is operating solely in EV drive, regenerating whilst deaccelerating or using the combustion engine.

Inside the cabin, the automatic Start-Stop switch has been replaced with a control for the three E Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode, enabling the driver to manage the battery usage during a journey. EV Drive mode is engaged as soon as the car is switched on, and maximises the electric driving experience. This is ideal for city driving and for shorter journeys.

The flow of energy can also be displayed via the infotainment screen where statistics can be seen and the timers for charging of the vehicle can be set. Additional e-motion information is available to the driver via the instrument panel, heads up display and centre screen, including range, battery level and charging information..

Beyond100
Bentley Motors has outlined plans to become a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility with further details of its Beyond100 strategy. With the promise to offer truly sustainable luxury, Bentley will reinvent every aspect of its business to become an end-to-end carbon neutral organisation as it embarks on its second century. The target is driven by a transformation programme across Bentley’s entire operations and products. This includes switching its model range to offer exclusively plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles by 2026, and full electric vehicles only by 2030.

In 2018, Bentley’s production facility in Crewe became the first luxury automotive factory in the UK to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust, certification that has since been renewed twice. This followed two decades of implementing innovative solutions, including a water recycling system in the paint shop, local tree planting, installation of a 10,000 solar panel carport, taking the total number of on-site solar panels to 30,000, and a switch to renewable-only electricity sources.

The Crewe facility will continue to improve its environmental operations. All suppliers have passed a sustainability audit, verifying their sustainability credentials. In the future, by the end of 2025, the company intends to reduce its factory environmental impact by focusing on energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, waste water, use of solvents in the paint process and becoming plastic neutral. This will result in a ‘climate positive factory’ by 2030, actively reducing levels of carbon in the atmosphere, while in parallel the business invests in renewable energy and forestation projects.

Rolls-Royce announces Black Badge Ghost: The purest Black Badge yet

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Black Badge Ghost debuts dark side of Post Opulent design
• 6.75-litre V12 engine now delivers increased power (600PS) and torque (900NM)
• Drivetrain and chassis re-engineered for more urgent performance
• Curated collection debuts striking Turchese Leather and Technical Carbon veneer
• Bespoke alloy wheel introduced in Black Badge house style with carbon fibre barrel
• Infinity lemniscate symbol continues to codify noir expression of Rolls-Royce

“After considerable internal debate, Rolls-Royce announced that it would create an officially sanctioned response to a new kind of client: a permanent Bespoke treatment to its motor cars named Black Badge. These products, which were launched in 2016, would be darker in aesthetic, more urgent in personality and dramatic in material treatment.

“In the five years since Black Badge became publicly available, this bold family of motor cars has come to symbolise the pinnacle of a new type of super-luxury product, setting in motion a shift across the wider luxury industry. Subsequently, nearly all luxury makers create products that seek to capture the Black Badge spirit.

“Today, we announce a product that represents a new kind of Black Badge motor car, one that seizes on the minimalist, Post Opulent design treatment that has recast the legend of Ghost but amplifies and subverts it with the application of black. Our most advanced motor car yet has been reengineered to characterise the alter ego of Rolls-Royce: assertive, dynamic and potent. This is the purest Black Badge motor car in the marque’s history. This is Black Badge Ghost.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

INTRODUCTION
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has a unique fluency in its clients. Its close relationship with the women and men who patronise the marque affords the company’s decision-makers an unparalleled understanding of the super-luxury consumer: their aesthetic preferences, uncompromising lifestyle requirements and changing taste patterns. Only with this understanding, and briefings supplied by the brand’s Luxury Intelligence Unit, is the marque able to create an accurate product response. Black Badge is a vivid example of this.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has always attracted subversive clients – rebellious women and men who built their success by breaking rules, taking risks and challenging conventions. In the 2020s, these women and men engage with luxury products on their own terms. They reject suits for streetwear, use blockchain not banks and influence the analogue world through their digital endeavours. In doing so, they have created new codes of luxury that resonate with their sensibilities: darker in aesthetic, assertive in character and bold in design.

Their approach to Rolls-Royce products is no different. The marque has responded accordingly, developing new colour palettes, more technical surface treatments and even more powerful driving experiences without ever compromising the effortless sensibilities that have drawn this bold group of clients to the Rolls-Royce brand.

Black Badge, the highly successful alter ego of Rolls-Royce, now represents more than 27% of commissions worldwide and is codified by the mathematical symbol that represents a potential infinity, which is found within the motor car’s interior. This graphic, also known as the Lemniscate, was applied to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record-breaking Rolls-Royce-powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane and the marque’s designers nominated this hallmark for Black Badge motor cars to reflect their own unrelenting pursuit of power.

Rolls-Royce debuted Black Badge with Wraith and Ghost in 2016, followed by Dawn in 2017 then Cullinan in 2019. Today, a new, Post Opulent expression of Black Badge joins the family. The purest and most technologically advanced Black Badge motor car yet, Black Badge Ghost.

THE DARK SIDE OF POST OPULENCE
Conceived in response to a group of clients who requested a Rolls-Royce that was agile, discreet, highly connected and free of any superfluous design, the new Ghost is not just the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce yet, but also the most aesthetically pure. In the twelve months since this motor car has been available, it has become one of the fastest-selling products in the marque’s history, representing more than 3,500 commissions worldwide.

This motor car also started a new design conversation in its relentless pursuit of minimalism and purity. Named ‘Post Opulence’ by Rolls-Royce designers, this aesthetic movement is characterised by reduction and substance. In service to this, exceptional materials are selected and celebrated while overt design is limited, intelligent and unobtrusive.

However, within this group of clients – who celebrate minimalism and material substance – a rebellious subset sought to create a disruptive expression of Ghost by permanently cloaking it in a shade so pure that its very classification as a colour remains a subject of debate: black. Black Badge Ghost reflects these clients’ desires. It is the dark side of Post Opulence: minimalism in extremis.

EXTERIOR
Clients are free to select any of the marque’s 44,000 ‘ready-to-wear’ colours or create their own entirely unique Bespoke hue. However, the overwhelming majority of women and men who requested this darker expression of Ghost have selected the signature Black. To create what is the motor car industry’s darkest black, 100lbs (45kg) of paint is atomised and applied to an electrostatically charged body in white before being oven dried. The motor car then receives two layers of clear coat before being hand-polished by a team of four craftsman to produce the marque’s signature high-gloss piano finish.

At between three and five hours in duration, this operation is entirely unknown in mass production, creating an intensity simply unattainable elsewhere in the automotive industry. It is this depth of darkness that serves as the perfect canvas for clients to add a high-contrast, hand-painted Coachline, which has done much to create the Black Badge ‘black and neon’ aesthetic that has come to characterise this vivid family of Rolls-Royce motor cars.

To match this dramatic coachwork, the marque’s Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople collaborated to create an entirely customisable process that allows Rolls-Royce hallmarks such as the high-polished Spirit of Ecstasy and Pantheon Grille to be subverted. Instead of simply painting these components, a specific chrome electrolyte is introduced to the traditional chrome plating process that is co-deposited on the stainless-steel substrate, darkening the finish. Its final thickness is just one micrometre – around one hundredth of the width of a human hair. Each of these components is precision-polished by hand to achieve a mirror-black chrome finish before it is fitted to the motor car.

The exterior treatment resolves with a Bespoke 21-inch composite wheelset. Designed in the Black Badge house style and reserved for Black Badge Ghost, the barrel of each wheel is made up of 22 layers of carbon fibre laid on three axes, then folded back on themselves at the outer edges of the rim, forming a total of 44 layers of carbon fibre for greater strength. A 3D-forged aluminium hub is bonded to the rim using aerospace-grade titanium fasteners and finished with the marque’s hallmark Floating Hubcap, ensuring the Double R monogram remains upright at all times. To celebrate the material substance and remarkable surface effect, a lightly tinted lacquer is applied to protect the finish but still allow clients to observe the technical complexity of the wheels unique carbon fibre construction.

INTERIOR
Advanced luxury materials have been meticulously created and crafted for a unique ambience in the interior suite. While recalling the dramatic mechanical intent of Black Badge Ghost, the materials are true to Ghost’s Post Opulent design philosophy – one defined by authenticity and material substance rather than overt statement. In this spirit, a complex but subtle weave that incorporates a deep diamond pattern rendered in carbon and metallic fibres has been created by the marque’s craftspeople.

Multiple wood layers are pressed onto the interior component substrates, using black Bolivar veneer for the uppermost base layer. This forms a dark foundation for the Technical Fibre layers that follow. Leaves woven from resin-coated carbon and contrasting metal-coated thread laid in a diamond pattern are applied by hand to the components in perfect alignment, creating a three-dimensional effect. To secure this extraordinary veneer, each component is cured for one hour under pressure at 100°C. This is then sand-blasted to create a keyed surface for six layers of lacquer, which is hand-sanded and polished before being incorporated into the motor car.

If specified in the client’s commission, the Technical Fibre ‘Waterfall’ section of the individual rear seats receives the Black Badge family motif: the mathematical symbol that represents potential infinity known as a Lemniscate. Rendered in aerospace-grade aluminium on the lid of Black Badge Ghost’s Champagne cooler, it is applied between the third and fourth layer of a total of six layers of subtly tinted lacquer, creating the illusion that the symbol is floating above the Technical Fibre veneer.

Aesthetes from the marque’s design team elected to further enhance the noir ambience of Black Badge Ghost by subduing the brightwork. Air vent surrounds on the dashboard and in the rear cabin are darkened using physical vapour deposition, one of the few methods of colouring metal that ensures parts will not discolour or tarnish over time or through repeated use. The Post Opulent principles of simplicity have also been applied to dramatic effect in the Black Badge Ghost timepiece design: only the tips of the hands and the twelve, three, six and nine o’clock markers are picked out, in a subdued chrome finish, creating a remarkably minimal clock. Additional timepieces are available within Black Badge Ghost to suit the client’s aesthetic preference.

The timepiece is flanked by a world-first Bespoke innovation that debuted with Ghost: the Illuminated Fascia, which displays an ethereal glowing Lemniscate, surrounded by more than 850 stars. Located on the passenger side of the dashboard, the constellation and motif are completely invisible when the interior lights are not in operation. As in Ghost, the Lemniscate motif is illuminated via 152 LEDs mounted above and beneath the fascia, each meticulously colour-matched to the cabin’s clock and instrument dial lighting. To ensure the Lemniscate is lit evenly, a 2mm-thick light guide is used, featuring more than 90,000 laser-etched dots across the surface. This not only disperses the light evenly but creates a twinkling effect as the eye moves across the fascia, echoing the subtle sparkle of the Shooting Star Starlight Headliner.

ENGINEERING
Black Badge is not just an aesthetic – it is an experience. The clients who requested this motor car demanded that the Bespoke treatment of Black Badge Ghost extend from the design atelier into the marque’s engineering department. In doing so, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople collaborated to create a vivid driving personality that matched Black Badge Ghost’s visual intent without compromising the marque’s effortless ride proclivities and exhaustive acoustic tuning. 

Key to its potent character is the Architecture of Luxury, Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium spaceframe architecture that debuted with Phantom. This sub-structure not only delivers extraordinary body stiffness, but its flexibility and scalability allowed Ghost to be equipped with all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and the award-winning Planar Suspension system. For Black Badge, these peerless engineering qualities have been comprehensively re-engineered, including the fitting of more voluminous air springs to alleviate body roll under more assertive cornering.

The capacity of the Rolls-Royce twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine was deemed sufficient. However, the flexibility of this celebrated power plant has been exploited to generate an extra 29PS, creating a total output of 600PS. The sense of a single infinite gear has also been dramatised with the addition of a further 50NM of torque, for a total of 900NM. The powertrain has also received Bespoke transmission and throttle treatments to further enhance the engine’s increased power reserves. The ZF eight-speed gear box and both front- and rear-steered axles work collaboratively to adjust the levels of feedback to the driver, depending on throttle and steering inputs.

As with all products in the marque’s Black Badge portfolio, the ‘Low’ button situated on the gear selection stalk unlocks Black Badge Ghost’s full suite of technologies. This is asserted by the amplification of the motor car’s engine through an entirely new exhaust system, subtly announcing its potency. All 900NM of torque is available from just 1700rpm and, once underway in Low Mode, gearshift speeds are increased by 50% when the throttle is depressed to 90%, delivering Black Badge Ghost’s abundant power reserves with dramatic immediacy.

To bolster confidence when exploiting Black Badge Ghost, the braking bite point has been raised and pedal travel decreased. Non-Black Badge Ghost is provisioned with a robust braking hardware package that was deemed more than ample under extreme conditions, even accounting for the Black Badge alter ego’s increased power output. However, a new suite of bold high-temperature brake calliper paint colours has been developed in preparation for forthcoming Black Badge Ghost commissions.

Black Badge Ghost is available to commission now.

 BLACK BADGE GHOST TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Black Badge Wraith: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 367 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.5 mpg / 16.1 l/100km; WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 370-365 g/km;
Fuel consumption: 17.2-17.4 mpg / 16.4-16.2 l/100km.

Black Badge Dawn: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 371 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.3 mpg / 16.3 l/100km WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 382-380 g/km;
Fuel consumption: 16.7-16.9 mpg / 16.9-16.8 l/100km.

Black Badge Cullinan: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 341 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.8 mpg / 15.0 l/100km WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 377-355 g/km;
Fuel consumption: 17.0-18.1 mpg / 16.62-15.6 l/100km.

Black Badge Ghost: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 359 g/km; Fuel consumption: 15.8 mpg / 18.0 l/100km. WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 359 g/km;
Fuel consumption: 17.9 mpg / 15.8 l/100km.

An oasis in the desert as Zenvo Automotive heads to the Riyadh Car Show for the first time

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Zenvo Automotive will showcase two TSR-S models for the first time at the Riyadh Car Show in November in Saudi Arabia
• The Danish hypercar manufacturer will fly its Ishvid Perlemor TSR-S to showcase within the hypercar exhibitors’ area
• Zenvo Automotive will also have its Baltisk Blå TSR-S for pre-booked test drives for the duration of the event
• Representatives from the commercial, sales and management departments will be attending the event
• For the second time since its inception in 2019, Riyadh Car Show will open on from Thursday 18 November to Sunday 28 November 2021

Zenvo Automotive has confirmed it will be attending the upcoming Riyadh Car Show for the first time.

Held in the Saudi Arabia capital, it will showcase two TSR-S models for the event starting on 18 November to 28 November 2021.

Zenvo Automotive will be attending the Riyadh Car Show for the first time. With a display within the hypercar exhibitors’ area in the middle of the show, where it will showcase its TSR-S in the pearlescent Ishvid Perlemor (white) hue. Zenvo will also have its TSR-S in bright Baltisk Blå (blue) at the automotive event, for pre-arranged test drives. Equipped with an in-house developed 1,177 bhp, 5.8-litre twin-supercharged flat-plane V8 engine, coupled with a motorsport-derived gearbox, customers are invited to experience the power, performance and unique driving experience the TSR-S hypercar delivers.

Featuring a highly crafted full carbon body and patented active Centripetal wing, the TSR-S is capable of accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and can reach 200 km/h in less than 6.8 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 325 km/h. Just five Zenvo models are hand built annually by the brand’s skilled team at its headquarters in Præstø, Denmark.

Angela Hartman, CEO of Zenvo Automotive said: “It is an exceptional opportunity for the company to be able to showcase our work at one of the most talked about events this year. The Riyadh Car Show is already a highly anticipated automotive show that everyone has on their calendars, and thank the House of Saud for extending their invitation to Zenvo to participate. We are looking forward to welcoming both our customers and visitors of the show to our stand to see the TRS-S, as well as discuss future plans for the brand as we head into a new year.”

Representatives from the commercial, sales and management teams from the Danish hypercar manufacturer will be in attendance for the duration of the event. It will be the first time Zenvo has been in the Middle East this year since working on various European events, the team is delighted to be returning for such a prestigious event with a global presence.

The Riyadh Car Show will be held from Thursday 18 November to Sunday 28 November 2021. If you would like to pre-book a test drive in the TSR-S available, please send an enquiry to pg@zenvoautomotive.com.

All-Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Achieves a Perfect 5-stars for Both Safety and the Environment

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• Independent authorities Euro NCAP and Green NCAP deliver double honours for Ford Mustang Mach-E with maximum safety and green ratings

• All-electric SUV has now received more than 20 awards and recognitions for features from interior design to connectivity

• Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating now extends to six electrified Ford passenger vehicle nameplates

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has added a perfect 5-star double Euro NCAP and Green NCAP to its growing list of awards and recognitions.

Ford’s all-new, all-electric SUV has received maximum 5-star ratings in assessments by both the independent vehicle safety authority and the independent initiative that promotes the development of cars which are clean, energy efficient and not harmful to the environment.

Mustang Mach-E’s performance in stringent crash testing produced scores of 92 per cent for adult and 86 per cent for child occupant protection.

Standard advanced driver assistance technologies including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centring, ¹ Pre-Collision Assist with Auto Emergency Braking, ¹ and Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Assist ¹ also contributed to the maximum safety rating. The SUV scored full marks for its lane support technologies.

Powered by a zero-tailpipe-emission, battery-electric powertrain offering up to 379 miles WLTP pure-electric driving range, ² Mustang Mach-E also recorded full marks in clean air and greenhouse gas tests during assessments by Green NCAP.

A 94 per cent score for energy efficiency included full marks for operation in cold and warm condition laboratory tests.

“Mustang Mach-E was developed from the ground up as an all-electric vehicle, so we could develop safety and environmental performance into every corner of the all-new design,” said Stuart Southgate, director, Safety Engineering, Ford of Europe. “The result is that customers can be confident they’re driving a vehicle that can look after them just as much as it looks after the environment.”

The new recognitions from Euro NCAP and Green NCAP join a list of more than 20 Mustang Mach-E commendations from around the world, from an iF DESIGN AWARD for the integration of the premium B&O Sound System speakers, ³ to earning Ford a Connected Car Manufacturer Award at the Automobile Awards by MOTUL for its the next-generation SYNC technology.

Mustang Mach-E is one of six Ford nameplates offering electrified powertrains to now deliver a maximum 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, including the Ford Puma, Kuga – including Kuga Plug-In Hybrid and Kuga Hybrid, Explorer Plug‑In Hybrid, Focus and Fiesta.

# # #

¹ Driver-assist features are supplemental to and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgement and need to control the vehicle.

² Ford Mustang Mach-E delivers up to 610 km WLTP homologated pure-electric driving range in rear-wheel drive, extended-range battery configuration.

The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO₂-emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.

³ iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 in the product discipline.