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6-speed manual gearbox for Toyota GR Supra only for 3-litre model

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), the high-performance arm of the Japanese carmaker, has finally revealed details of the manual transmission for the GR Supra. It is part of a number of updates for the model which is now in its third year of production.

Available only for the 3-litre versions as well as a limited-run A91-MT Edition model, the manual transmission has been engineered and tuned specifically for use with the straight-six engine. The engineering team modified an existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gearset and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight.

At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. The larger friction area and a stronger spring are deemed necessary for the GR Supra’s high-torque engine which generates up to 500 Nm in standard form. The newly developed 6-speed manual gearbox is described as an ‘intelligent Manual Transmission’ (iMT) and has software that prioritizes sporty performance when required.

With an automatic, it’s possible to use second gear when pulling away uphill when opposite wheels are on surfaces with different grip levels – eg when the car is parked on partly icy road, progress is smooth with no rolling back or wheelslip.

With a manual gearbox, first gear must be used and releasing the clutch brings a greater risk of wheelspin. To address the issue, the TGR engineers tuned the car’s TRAction Control (TRAC) system for smoother operation like that experienced with an automatic. The system is also optimized for the GR Supra’s characteristic high engine torque, wide tyres and rear-wheel drive.

The car’s behaviour when accelerating out of a corner is a key element in the ‘Fun to Drive’ quality Toyota promises with the GR Supra. For the manual version, the traction control has again been the focus to ensure an ideal balance of agility and stability when exiting a corner on the throttle. TRAC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – so the car keeps faithfully to the driver’s intended line – while allowing the right amount of power for a sporty experience.

The ambition to make the GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios inspired the introduction of a new Hairpin+ function. This is designed to allow experienced drivers more freedom and reward when taking tight bends on an uphill gradient (more than 5%) with a high-friction road surface. More ‘freewheel’ spin can make such routes more enjoyable to drive, so the engineers optimized engine torque control to allow a greater difference in the degree of wheelspin on the left and right-side tires.

To counter the possibility of ‘snap-off’ oversteer – something that may be hard to control with the car’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) alone – an Anti-Roll Program has been included for both the manual and automatic versions. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to cover any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting it used.

In addition, the Track mode has been tuned to allow for easy drifting with freedom of throttle control. The vehicle remains agile, but there is less risk of spinning thanks to specific engine and torque control.

When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimize engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance with rev-matching. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Sport mode. To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT).

The lever ratio was specifically set to minimize the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear. The weight and shape of the 200 gm gear knob, along with the quality of shift engagement, have all been precisely defined. Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra.

Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra. Ergonomics were studied thoroughly and the console unit and position of the drive mode selector were adjusted to provide a 43 mm clearance between the shift knob and the control panel. The spherical shift knob has also been shaped to allow a firm grip.

In addition to the new manual transmission, TGR has also further refined the steering and suspension with modified stabiliser bushings and retuned adaptive variable suspension (AVS) and other chassis control systems to improve handling performance and ride comfort.

For certain versions, the 19-inch forged alloy wheels come with a new design of revised spoke and cross-sectional shapes and premium Titanium Dark Silver finish. They are said to have greater strength and are lighter, with a weight reduction of 1.2 kgs per wheel.

Customers also have three new exterior colours to choose from – Volcanic Ash Grey, Dawn Blue and Avalanche White – while the interior is now available with a tan trim option.

Toyota has not announced pricing for the additional manual version but exports from the factory in Japan will start later this year.

To know more about the GR Supra or to purchase on in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

Mitsubishi sales continue to grow in spite of market challenges

In spite of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) was able to achieve a higher sales volume during it its last financial year (FY21: April 2021 – March 2022). The total volume of 19,217 units was a 66% increase compared to the volume sold in the same period when the Total Industry Volume of the Malaysian market declined by 6.7%. This achievement put the company comfortably in the top 3 spots of the non-national automotive category.

The Triton pick-up truck was the bestseller for the brand with 9,420 units sold in FY21, which was a 24% increase compared to FY20. Its popularity among Malaysians was evident as it maintained a market share of around 21.4%.

The XPANDER was also a strong seller and the dominant model in the non-national MPV segment. 9,065 units of the locally-assembled 7-seater were sold, accounting for 47.2% to the company’s overall total sales.

*Volumes shown are for calendar year (January- December). Data for 2022 from January to March. Data source: MAA monthly reports.*

“In general, the past 2 years have been tough on the automotive industry, not only with the rising cases of Omicron COVID-19 but floods that affected the Klang Valley and East Coast region, as well as parts or chips shortage. There were many hurdles for the industry to overcome, thus for our sales performance to grow is a significant triumph for us. We take this chance to thank the Malaysian government for initiating and extending the SST exemption these last couple of years. With this, our customers could enjoy extra savings while it also gives us the time to fulfil all booking orders made,” said Shinya Ikeda, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

“The company will continue to charge forward with strong momentum for 2022. We are aware that a large number of our customers aim to purchase their cars before the SST exemption expires by end of June. We are continuing our best efforts to meet the booking numbers, and we have already increased our production capacity while maintaining a high level of product quality. Our customers are the ones that put us here, thus providing them with utmost convenience and confidence towards the brand is our utmost priority,” he added.

The Mitsubishi Motors network consists of 54 showrooms (out of which 49 are 3S Centres) and 55 service outlets throughout Malaysia. In East Malaysia, there are 14 showrooms (7 in Sarawak and 7 in Sabah). The present range consists of the Triton which is imported as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) model from Thailand, and the XPANDER MPV which is assembled locally.

To know more about Mitsubishi models in Malaysia and to locate a showroom, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.

Fuel Price Updates For April 28 – May 4, 2022

Datsun brand is retired again as production in India stops

Datsun, a name familiar to older Malaysians, disappeared from the market in the 1980s. It was replaced by Nissan as a brand name for products, and the name happened to also be the company’s name. Part of the reason could have been that Datsun was so well known all over the world and sometimes, senior executives had found that people did not know their company when they mentioned it was ‘Nissan’ but showed much familiarity when they said ‘Datsun’.

Older Malaysians will remember Datsuns as the earliest Japanese cars which were brought in by Tan Chong in the late 1950s. Though seemingly fragile, they proved to be lasting, economical and good value for money. The 120Y (below) was one one of the models that built up the brand’s strong reputation which was inherited by Nissan when it replaced Datsun in the mid-1980s.

Anyway, the brand name was brought back in 2014 as a sub-brand alongside Nissan and Infiniti to represent entry-level products for emerging markets. Nissan’s CEO then, Carlos Ghosn, had thought that there might be a market for lower-cost models in places like Indonesia, India and even Russia. These products would benefit from Nissan’s technology but be built with a lower cost base. The company expected the brand’s previous reputation for value and reliability would be beneficial – but perhaps forgot that the new generation of buyers it targeted would not have known that.

Nissan built Datsun models in three countries – Russia, China and India – and though there was favourable response initially, dealers found difficulty selling the cars because they also sold cheap Nissan models. To make the cars cheap, features were less and even the engineering was felt to be not as tough as Nissans, so consumers were not greatly persuaded to buy Datsuns when, for a little bit more, they could get better Nissans.

Nissan’s expectations and targets for the brand were thus too ambitious and it showed in the years that followed its launch. In some markets, the network was limited and as mentioned earlier, there was much dependence on Nissan dealers who would have found it more profitable to sell Nissans, rather than cheaper but low-margin Datsuns.

*Datsun display at a motorshow in Indonesia in 2015.*

*In many markets, Datsun models were sold in the same showrooms as Nissan models, which proved to be a bad move.*

In the emerging markets, there was certainly demand for cheap cars but even consumers in such markets did not want a car that was so cheap but was lacking in features and worse, safety. Crash tests of early Datsun models placed the brand in an unfavourable light, further diminishing its appeal. Perhaps in a different era 40 years earlier, the Datsuns might have done better but with competition from low-priced Korean cars and also brands like Maruti, customer expectations were higher.

By the end of 2019, Nissan came to the conclusion that the Datsun brand was not going to make it and there was little point in trying. Furthermore, as a legacy of the Ghosn era which had become controversial, it was probably one of the moves that was accepted as a way to ‘right past wrongs’. The operations in Russia and Indonesia were discontinued during the following year, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started.

*Datsun advertisement in Indian market.*

That left India as the only market which produced and sold Datsuns. The final phase of ending the brand was to take another two years as the lifecycle of the last model was run to the end.

Recently, Nissan announced that the final remaining redi-GO model was no longer produced at the plant in Chennai and dealers would sell off whatever stocks remained.

“As part of Nissan’s global transformation strategy, Nissan is focusing on core models and segments that bring the most benefit to customers, dealer partners and the business. In India, this includes the all-new, locally produced Nissan Magnite with over 100,000 customer orders to date,” Nissan India said.

Of course, like any responsible manufacturer, Nissan will provide the necessary aftersales support to Datsun owners in the years to come. This would run for a number of years and in as far as replacement parts are concerned, there should not be difficulty since many of the cars would be shared with Nissan models anyway.

So, for the second time in its history, the brand that first appeared in 1934 and helped to build a strong reputation for Nissan, is retired again. Perhaps it is best left in history books and museums where its glorious days are not blemished by the unsuccessful attempt to bring it back.

Updated Hyundai IONIQ 5 gets more powerful battery pack and digital mirrors

The 2022 World Car of the Year – the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – which is just starting to appear on Malaysian roads has received enhancements for better performance and new features. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV), which is just over a year old in the global market, is the first model to use the Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated BEV platform, Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

A major upgrade is the capacity of the lithium-ion polymer battery pack; when launched, it was available with a 58 kWh or 72.6 kWh battery pack but now, there is an additional battery pack with a greater 77.4 kWh capacity. Compared to the 58 kWh battery pack which has 24 modules/288 cells, and the 72.6 kWh battery pack with 30 modules/360 cells, the new one has 32 modules/384 cells. It also operates on the 800V system and is available for both RWD and AWD versions.

*Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP platform with the battery pack in the middle.*

Better performance and range
The new 77.4 kWh pack has an increased range of up to around 500 kms (with RWD) and a power increase of 11 ps compared to the 72.6 kWh battery pack. An 80% recharge should be possible in 18 minutes using ultra-fast chargers.

The operating temperature of the battery pack is extremely important to performance and its service life. The conditions cannot be too hot or too cold and to maintain an optimum environment, there is a new battery heater and conditioning feature. This will enable the system to adapt its battery temperature while on the move to achieve optimal charging conditions when reaching the charging point. Ultimately, the owner benefits with improve charging performance in hot or cold ambient conditions.

Three digital camera-based mirrors
Besides the more powerful battery pack, the latest IONIQ 5 will be available with video-based digital interior and exterior mirrors. Instead of using conventional reflective surfaces, the mirrors will display real-time imagery from small cameras. For the inside rearview mirror, the camera is mounted on the IONIQ 5’s rear spoiler.

The Digital Side Mirrors have already been available for Korean-market models and are now being offered outside the country in a Hyundai Motor Group vehicle for the first time.

Namsan Edition
In some markets, there will be a special Namsan Edition of the IONIQ 5. This has a very generous equipment level and top technical specifications. The Namsan Edition is named after Namsan Mountain in Seoul, from which where there are expansive views across the skyline of the capital city and a national park covering over 3.3 million square metres

The IONIQ 5 Namsan Edition honours the Korean landmark with its full-length vision roof presenting an unobstructed panoramic view, whilst there is leather upholstery, relaxation seats and spacious interior cossets occupants within.

*The first batch of IONIQ 5 owners in Malaysia recently received their BEVs.*

Toll charges waived/discounted for 4 days during Hari Raya period

For the 2 million motorists expected to be travelling along highways during this Hari Raya period, toll charges would have been expected to be part of the travelling cost. However, on four days during the festive period, they won’t have to pay any toll, or pay a discounted rate.

Announced by the Prime Minister this afternoon, the special concession will be on April 30/May 1 and May 7/May 8. It will be applicable to all classes of vehicles. The total amount of toll that will not be collected is estimated at RM77.11 million.

The full exemption of toll will be on the PLUS and LTP (East Coast) highways, Penang Bridge, and Second Link while other highways will have 30% or 50% discount.

*Opened in 2011, the LATAR highway from Templer’s Park in Selangor provides a quick connection to Kuala Selangor and the West Coast Expressway. It is also accessible from Shah Alam using the GCE.*

PLUS also says that facilities (including food and beverage outlets) and services at all its R&Rs and lay-bys along the highways will be operating 24-hours a day throughout the Hari Raya. In anticipation of more visitors to these areas, there will be additional mobile toilets and water tankers.

However, if over-crowding disrupts traffic flow along the highway, some of the rest areas will be temporarily closed to manage the congestion and will be immediately re-opened once the crowd has dispersed and traffic flow is back to normal. It should also be remembered that social distancing is still required for public safety. Let’s prevent the case numbers from going back up again.

Finally, whether you are using a Touch’nGo card, SmartTAG or RFID, be sure that your tollcard or e-wallet has enough balance to cover the toll charges if you are travelling on other days. There will be a lot of vehicles behind you so don’t cause others inconvenience by not being able to pass through because you didn’t have enough balance. The PLUS website has a toll charge calculator which can let you know exactly the amount you need to pay between two toll plazas.

Britain’s new law allows drivers to watch TV while on the move – with autonomous vehicles

Autonomous cars – vehicles which can operate on their own without a driver in control – are now already available, with Tesla’s cars best known for such an advanced feature (which costs an extra US$10,000) at this time. Other carmakers are also offering limited levels of autonomous motoring in their newer models as well, but use of such a feature requires approval by each country’s authorities. Malaysia, as with many countries, does not yet allow autonomous cars, as highlighted in a recent case where a Singapore-registered car was shown to be travelling on a Malaysian highway without the driver in control.

Even in countries where autonomous vehicles can operate, there are only certain sections of highways that their autonomous operation can be activated. This is because the road infrastructure has to be properly designed with standardized signage and clear road markings. The cameras on autonomous vehicles are the ‘eyes’ of the computer which assesses the surroundings and makes decision based on what it ‘sees’.

The systems in autonomous vehicles have to be able to recognise signs and road markings for the vehicle to proceed safely and not hit other objects. They also need to be able to recognise traffic lights so that the vehicle will be brought to a stop if the light is red.

Who is responsible for accidents?
The other more important issue is legal provisions since the vehicle is not under the control of the driver. If there is an accident when under autonomous operation, can the driver be held liable? Or should the manufacturer be responsible for damages? Different countries are examining this legal responsibility and in Britain, the legal changes necessary have been put forward which will allow the use of autonomous vehicles and how legal issues will be dealt with.

The new law considers the person in the driver’s seat as a ‘user-in-charge’ and will not be prosecuted for offences such as exceeding speed limits or not stopping at red lights if the vehicle is operating autonomously. However, the user-in-charge still has certain responsibilities such as ensuring that everyone has their seatbelts on and that the vehicle is not overloaded. Being drunk while using an autonomous vehicle will still be an offence.

The driver will be the ‘user-in-charge’ when the vehicle is operating autonomously, but will not be considered liable if there is an accident. This responsibility will be the manufacturer’s and/or software developer for the autonomous system, and insurance companies will pay compensation accordingly.

Responsibility for an accident will be directed to the Authorized Self-Driving Entity (ASDE), an entity that applied for authorization of the automated vehicle. This can be the manufacturer of the vehicle or the software developer of the automated driving systems (or both parties).

There already exists in British law an Act which makes reference to automated vehicles. Introduced in 2018 as the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act, it states that victims who suffer injury or damage from a vehicle operating independently will not need be charged and the insurance company will pay compensation as specified.

Can watch TV, cannot use mobilephone
The new law allowing the full benefits of autonomous vehicles to be used are expected to be introduced in the middle of 2022. Apart from the convenience of travelling long distances without actually driving the car, motorists can look forward to being able to watch movies or other broadcasts on their journey. Or they could read a book or have a meal without having to also pay attention to the road ahead (although it would still be a good idea to do so).

Strangely though, use of a mobilephone is still considered illegal. The thinking behind this is that the display on an infotainment screen can be interrupted to display a warning message in an emergency when the driver may have to take over control of the car. A mobilephone would not have such a capability since it is an entirely independent device.

*The new law in Britain would allow the driver to watch TV or read a book (or even eat) but using a mobilephone (below) would still be an offence.*

Self-driving and ADAS
The new rules are a first step in allowing use of autonomous vehicles on British roads and they also clarify the difference between cars that are ‘self-driving’ and those with advanced driver assistance features (ADAS). The latter can already be found in many cars today, common ones being automatic emergency braking, cruise control and lane-keeping. ADAS, also referred to as Level 2 autonomy, helps drivers avoid accidents or minimize their effects but the driver must have control as well.

*Autonomous vehicles have many sensors – cameras and radar – around the car to constantly scan the surroundings so that the car will avoid them.*

*What the computer ‘sees’ from images captured by cameras (pictured below) on the car.*

As with most other countries, an autonomous vehicle would have to be homologated by the authorities before it can be used on public roads. No doubt new testing will be formulated to assess autonomous systems, just as the authorities have had to regularly update their testing as technologies have advanced.

Laws have to be periodically updated to take into account new technologies and Britain is doing so not just to keep pace with the changes but also see it as beneficial to the country’s economy. With clear laws that permit usage of autonomous vehicles, there can be more activity in R&D to develop the technology and related products. By 2035, around 38,000 new, high-skilled jobs could be created within the industry that would be worth £41.7 billion.

*Some concept cars already suggest that, in future, autonomous vehicles will allow the driver to be completely uninvolved in operating the vehicle. But will it then be driving?*

F1/Round 4: Highlights and Provisional Results of 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Cloudy conditions with the 60% possibility of rain was the forecast as the race was about to start. The damp starting grid filled up with 19 cars as Zhou GuanYu’s crash in the Sprint Race meant that the Alfa Romeo ORLEN driver would have to start from the pit lane.

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was ready this time, unlike yesterday when he lost out to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc leaving the starting line. This time he got a great start and even his team mate Sergo Perez in third position slipped past Leclerc. However, it was not good for the other Ferrari driven by Carlos Sainz – a bump with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo had both cars in the gravel and Sainz could not get back out. To enable the marshals to recover the Ferrari, the Safety Car came out and took over the lead.

Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell did well to cut through from starting at 11th to place himself in 6th in the convoy behind the Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton managed to improve his 14th starting position to 12th in the running order.

Racing resumed from the fifth lap as the Safety Car left the track. Verstappen amd Perez shot forward and opened up the gap with McLaren’s Lando Norris who had managed to grab third place before the Safety Car came out. But right behind the McLaren driver was championship leader Leclerc who did not want to be delayed from getting to the front.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel had also done well to move up 5 places and got past Alpine’s Fernando Alonso who was struggling after sustaining damage that took off his sidepod. When he finally got back to the pits, the engineer gave him the bad news that the damage was severe and he might have to retire.

On lap 8 of the 63-lap race, Leclerc finally got past Norris, much to the delight of the home crowd. But his third position was still some 6 seconds from Verstappen who was protected by his team mate.

As the track was drying out, the radar showed that rain could start to fall by lap 22, so decisions were being made to hang on to the intermediates for the time being. The three frontrunners – Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc were well ahead of Norris who was 10 seconds behind the Ferrari and, for the time being, safe from Russell who was occupied with keeping Haas F1’s Kevin Magnussen from passing him.

By lap 15, Hamilton was in the mirrors of the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll and trying to get into 10th and start to think about points. Just ahead of the two was Scuderia Alphatauri’s Yuki Tsunoda who started to become involved in the tussle as well.

The first drive to come in was Ricciardo on lap 18 and his McLaren got medium tyres. He was followed by Pierre Gasly (Scuderia Alphatauri) and Alex Albon (Williams) who changed to the dry-weather tyres. By lap 21, all the cars had made their tyre changes. During his pit stop, Hamilton had contact with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who was departing after his tyre change and it was deemed an unsafe release, for which the Stewards gave him a 5-second penalty.

The forecast changed to less risk of rain which meant that the medium tyres would have to last for another 39 laps. Ricciardo decided to come in again on lap 27 for slicks but he still had a lot of work ahead as he was way down in 18th. He would come in again another 4 laps later and try another set of tyres.

Perez was doing a good job of keeping Leclerc in third but the Ferrari driver was pushing hard. When told of the increasing efforts, Verstappen widened the gap to 9 seconds but by about halfway through the race, he would start to encounter traffic.

It seemed that Ricciardo, being way back, was a ‘tyre tester’ and from his experiences with the hard tyres, it was better to stick to the mediums for the rest of the race, so Norris would have to think about tyre management for another 25 laps.

By lap 40, Verstappen appeared behind Hamilton, down in 14th, and it must have been hard for the 7-time world champion to let the man he lost to last year pass. Once the Red Bull got past, Hamilton got back to trying to displace Gasly from 13th place. It was obvious that the Mercedes-AMG just did not have the speed to overtake the Scuderia Alphatauri.

With 13 laps to go, Verstappen had built up a comfortable lead of almost 14 seconds. Leclerc was still battling with Perez, while Norris was also safe in 4th place and just had to make it to the end.

On lap 50, Leclerc came in and switched to soft tyres (which he was not 100% convinced was right) and on the very next lap, the two Red Bulls came in and did the same change. Verstappen had such a big gap that he easily returned to the lead as he rejoined the race.

Disaster struck for Leclerc on lap 54 and he spun and hit a barrier. He was fortunate to slide sideways into the barrier so the damage was less but still the front wing was damaged. He managed to get back to the pits but when he got back out, he was done in 8th. With 5 laps left, he had to try to improve his position but make sure he did finish as well.

As two laps remained, some teams started to alert their drivers of rain on some parts of the track, but for Verstappen, there were no worries of challenges before the end. Both Red Bulls were comfortably ahead as they crossed the finish line, with Norris joining them on the podium.

Behind Norris came Russell who had put in a strong effort in those closing laps to prevent Valtteri Bottas from taking fourth place. As for Leclerc, he could only reach up to 6th position, having managed to get past Yuki Tsunoda, by the time the race ended.

Lamborghini Huracan deliveries pass 20,000 mark after 8 years

Lamborghini began delivering cars to its first customers in 1968 and until 2002, annual sales volumes were in 3-digit numbers. Last year, it delivered a record-breaking 8,405 units of supercars and super SUVs and this year, with the first quarter of 2022 completed, it has already delivered 2,539 vehicles delivered globally. That’s slightly more than the same period in 2021 and a record number for quarterly sales.

Contributing to the rising numbers over the past 8 years has been the Huracan, with the 20,000^th unit recently delivered to a customer in Monaco. The model was a Huracan STO, one of 12 roadgoing models and 3 racing versions.

Since 2014, 71% of customers have chosen the coupe versions and 29% ordered the open-air derivatives. The biggest market for the model has been the USA, where more than 32% of all Huracans have been delivered. Other major markets have been the UK and Greater China.

LP-610-4 – the first coupe
The first Huracan coupe, the LP 610-4, debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motorshow. It has 4-wheel drive, 610 bhp, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 secs and a top speed of 325 km/h. As with other Lamborghinis, it had a host of innovations such as Lamborghini ANIMA drive mode selection, on-board gyroscope LPI system, and dual fuel injection. A Spyder variant followed a year later, also powered by the same 5.2-litre V10.

LP 580-2 with 2-wheel drive
For the purists who prefer just rear-wheel drive, Lamborghini came out with the LP-580-2. Thanks to the absence of 4-wheel drive, there was a weight saving of 33 kgs compared to the Huracan coupe, which meant that the same V10 engine could have a lower output of 580 bhp/533 Nm, with a top speed just 5 km/h less. A Spyder RWD variant was unveiled in Los Angeles in 2016, along with a limited edition (250 units) Avio model which celebrated the aviation and aeronautic inspiration in supercar’s styling.

2016 – the Nurburgring lap record
The 640 bhp Huracan Performante was launched in 2016 and, with Lamborghini’s patented ALA active aerodynamic innovations, it set a lap record for production cars at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. In 2018, Lamborghini added the Huracan Performante Spyder to the range as well.

*The Italian police also have Huracans for their highway patrol. Besides normal police operations, the car is used for urgent transport of blood and organs.*

Next generation V10 super sportscar
In 2019, the Huracan EVO ‘evolution’ arrived and with it came a distinctive design defined the aerodynamic superiority and enhanced driving dynamics. Its performance was enhanced from the Performante with advancements such as rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring and LDVI with predictive logic.

The EVO Spyder adopted the next-generation vehicle dynamic control and aerodynamics developed for the coupe, with the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine uprated for a higher power output and incorporating titanium intake valves.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business activities, Lamborghini was able to still unveil the Huracan EVO Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) which could go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. In the same year, Lamborghini was the first automotive brand to use Augmented Reality for a virtual launch. This was for the Huracan EVO RWD Spyder and it was at a time when direct interactions were not possible, so the company brought its new model directly to customers and fans worldwide.

The Huracan STO
The Huracan STO (Super Trofeo Omologata) was launched in 2021 and brought to customers Lamborghini’s motorsport experience and know-how in a fully legal roadcar. It was inspired by the Huracan EVO Super Trofeo developed by Squadra Corse for Lamborghini’s own race series, as well as the Huracan EVO GT3.

The Huracan Tecnica
The latest member in the Huracan family was unveiled earlier this month – the Huracan Tecnica. This has the next-generation rear-wheel drive V10, developed for both road and track. The new looks reflect improved aerodynamics for increased performance, stability and ease of use, particularly on a circuit.

The racing Huracans
The Huracan and its EVO successor have also had notable track records. Almost 500 racing versions have been produced in Super Trofeo and GT3 guise, including a limited Squadra Corse edition celebrating 10 years of Super Trofeo in 2019. Huracan GT3s have taken over than 40 championship titles and 117 victories in more than 12 series worldwide.

Connectivity and e-sports
In 2021, Lamborghini became the first automaker to incorporate complete vehicle system control by Amazon Alexa in the Huracan EVO, and also first to adopt the what:three:words function for accurate navigation anywhere in the world.

Lamborghini fans can also enjoy the Huracan virtually in many videogames and e-sports competitions including FORZA Horizon and Gran Turismo, Rocket League and Assetto Corsa Competizione.

“Every iteration of the Huracan has stayed true to that Lamborghini philosophy, while in motorsport the Huracán is not only the protagonist of the Lamborghini one-make Super Trofeo series but has proved its dominance in GT3 series throughout the world,” said Automobili Lamborghini Chairman & CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

“The Huracan has delivered an evolution of design, technological know-how, driving adventures, track records and sales records since its launch. It was designed as a car to provide super sports emotion in every environment, from daily driving to thrilling performance on track.”

F1/Round 4: Preview & Provisional Starting Grid For 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Race starts at 3 pm in Italy/9 pm in Malaysia

Round 4 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship returns to Europe to start in Italy at the Imola Circuit, also known as Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Initially named after Enzo Ferrari’s son Dino, when Enzo himself passed away in 1988, the decision was taken to add the father’s name to that of his son. The Ferrari founder was closely associated with the circuit and he recalled its birth in a book he wrote in 1980: “My first contact with Imola dates back to the spring of 1948. I assessed from the first moment that that hilly environment could one day become a small Nurburgring due to the natural difficulties that the construction of a road belt would summarize, thus offering a truly selective path for men and machines. From my opinion, the promoters of Imola felt comforted. In May 1950, construction began. I was present at the ceremony of the first stone, which was laid by the lawyer Onesti with the greeting of the CONI and a contribution of 40 million which I believe was the first gesture of the organization towards motor racing. A small Nurburgring – I repeated to myself that day as I looked around – a small Nurburgring, with the same technical resources, spectacular and an ideal route length.”

How the Mercedes-Benz team transported their Silver Arrows Formula 1 cars around Europe in the 1950s. The custom-built transporter was nicknamed the ‘Blue Miracle’ and ‘Blue Wonder’, and it had the same engine as the 300 SL Gullwing sportscar so it could travel at high speeds.

It’s one of the old circuits of F1 (opened in 1953) but is relatively new to the racers as this is the third year a F1 round is held there. Before the 2020 event, the last time the circuit had a F1 race was in 2006. In 2020, when F1 returned, there was no data available but now after two rounds, the teams and especially Pirelli have enough data to help in set-up and tyre selection.

The 4.9-metre long circuit is a highly technical one, with a wide range of corners. Its layout has changed over the years but it remains narrow and bumpy, as the older tracks tend to be. This makes overtaking more challenging and puts more emphasis on strategy to make up places.

*The cornering speeds and gears used by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS racing cars.*

“Imola is an old-school, challenging track, where overtaking can be tricky, also because the circuit is quite narrow in places. So the strategy is likely to centre around avoiding traffic, and effectively the teams start from scratch here in terms of tyre knowledge – as the compounds are completely different this year, and last year’s race also began on the wet-weather tyres, before being interrupted by a lengthy red flag period,” said Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, Mario Isola.

“Generally speaking, Imola is a medium severity track for the tyres, and it’s a venue that is used quite frequently. This means that we might see a little less track evolution than we’ve been accustomed to at other circuits as the track is well rubbered-in already. The first round of the Pirelli-equipped GT World Challenge took place at Imola last month, which gave us some useful data. These are just some of the factors that the teams will have to take into account when establishing the tyre strategy for the opening sprint session of the year: another first for the 2022 season,” he added.

The tyres are all-new but the track is just as it was at this time last year, and the asphalt dates from 2011, which makes the 11-year old surface reasonably abrasive. The more mature surface at Imola generates more grip and therefore more heat in the tyres, requiring a more robust softest compound.

Pirelli has therefore chosen C2, C3 and C4 tyres for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as P Zero White hard, P Zero Yellow medium and P Zero Red soft respectively. This is the same nomination as last year, although the compounds are different with the latest generation of 18-inch tyres.

With 19 turns and the reduced length of the final straight (358 metres), the circuit has fast direction changes and extremely difficult braking sections of every imaginable kind. It’s therefore a sort of mini Nurburgring, as Ferrari expected it to be.

Imola has one of the longest pit lanes of any F1 track on the 2022 calendar, measuring 549 metres. This means one of the longest pit lane times, too, with at least 24.7 seconds. This is an interesting strategic factor as you lose more time making a pit stop compared to other races.

At Imola today was the first of 3 planned Sprint events during the 2022 F1 season, the others being in Austria and Brazil. This moved Qualifying to Friday afternoon, after FP1, to determine the grid for the 100-km race today. The result of the Sprint race, when the drivers will go flat out, decides the grid for Sunday’s main race. There are also points for the top 8 finishers.

The Sprint Race
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen must have been delighted to get pole position for the Sprint race after the disappointments of the first 3 rounds which have resulted in him being 6th in the championship rankings. Rain had come down during the qualifying session which saw a number of incidents. Pushing hard even on the wet and slippery track, he beat championship leader Charles Leclerc, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was surprised to get third on the grid for today.

A slow start by the Red Bull driver allowed Leclerc to reach Turn 1 first but as the pack headed to Turn 9, GuanYu Zhou (Alfa Romeo ORLEN) collided with Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and headed into the wall. The crash was a bad one, bringing out the Safety Car.

The Safety Car left the track on lap 4 and although Verstappen was waiting to move, the new ruling did not allow him to be alongside Leclerc who was ready to rocket off the moment it was allowed. While Zhou would not get to complete his first Sprint race, Gasly was able to return to the pits and get a new wing and continue racing.

Both team mates of the leaders – Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz – had made good progress to move up a few positions. Norris meanwhile was slipping back as the two leaders pulled further ahead. As for the two Mercedes drivers, their positions were still out of the Top 10, George Russell doing better at 12^th and Lewis Hamilton at 15^th.

By the halfway point of the short 21-lap race, Perez was starting to challenge Norris. Within one lap, he was past into fourth with 9 laps to go. Just behind, Haas F1’s Kevin Magnussen was steadily dropping back as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz got past him and closed in on the McLaren to try to take fourth before the race ended. He did it by lap 15 and would keep the position till the end, collecting 5 extra points this weekend.

Verstappen was waiting as the plan was to wait for the Ferrari’s tyres to degrade and then he would make his push but the number of laps was running out. Leclerc remained in control even though the Red Bull was less than a second away.

Finally, on lap 20, Verstappen powered through the final corner and although he had to take a wide line, he got past the Ferrari into the lead. Once past, he went flat out for the finish line with Leclerc and Perez following.

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