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Mercedes-AMG’S new hybrid model is its most powerful volume-produced car

With the accelerating move towards electrification by the auto industry, it’s inevitable that high-performance brands will also follow the same trend. While purists will say that electric motors cannot replace powerful internal combustion engines where sheer performance and driving experience are concerned, the companies that are making such cars are going to prove otherwise.

High-performance hybrid
Mercedes-AMG is one of them and its new GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE is a high-performance hybrid that draws on technologies from Formula 1. As a preview of its electrified future, the E PERFORMANCE model uses a combination of 4-litre V8 biturbo combustion petrol engine and a 105 kW electric motor to generate a system output of 843 ps and maximum system torque of more than 1,400 Nm.

This is the most powerful series production model from Mercedes-AMG to date with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h claimed to take 2.9 seconds, and 0 to 200 km/h can be reached in less than 10 seconds. From there, acceleration continues strongly right up to 316 km/h.

The high-performance 400V battery pack has been developed in-house and, along with the electric motor, is installed on the rear axle. This not only enhances response which is immediate with rapid torque build-up but also improves weight distribution. As with all hybrid vehicles, it is also possible to run on just electricity for a limited range; in the case of the E PERFORMANCE, it is claimed to be 12 kms which would be useful when looking for a parking space or slowly cruising around residential areas with almost no noise.

Electric motor influences vehicle dynamics
The control of vehicle dynamics also benefits from the hybrid drive. Instead of braking intervention by ESP, the electric motor can also control traction as soon as a wheel signals too much slip. To do this, the intelligent control system reduces the drive torque of the electric motor that is transferred to the wheel via the limited-slip rear differential. The result is that ESP does not have to intervene at all, or only later.

This provides a useful advantage in that the combustion engine can be operated with higher torque, which both improves agility afterwards and increases efficiency. In addition, the power otherwise ‘destroyed’ during braking can be used to charge the battery in a regenerative process.

Because the battery pack is always maintained always within the optimum temperature window of around 45 degrees, thanks to direct cooling, regeneration can also be optimised. Regeneration starts when a driver takes his foot off the accelerator pedal, ie in overrun mode without touching the brake pedal. This charges the battery and creates a strong braking torque; the wheel brakes are subjected to less wear or, depending on the regeneration level and traffic situation, do not have to be applied at all.

4-door GT coupe styling
The hybrid model has a similar appearance at the 4-door coupe with the characteristic front apron which is based on the design of the 2-door AMG GT. The outer air intakes are wider and more pointed towards the centre of the car, and the airflow is channelled to the wheel arch coolers by three vertical fins.

Exclusive identification features at the rear are the rear apron with integrated plug-in charging flap and the model designation highlighted in red. With the hybrid, AMG is also introducing externally fluted trapezoidal twin exhaust tailpipes. Customers can personalise their car with the new AMG Night Package II or a combination of the Night Package and Carbon Package.

Flagship of the model series
As the new flagship of the model series, the E PERFORMANCE will be extensively equipped. It has all the upgrades of the latest model facelift, including the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension with a new damping system. Also standard are the adapted AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system and the latest MBUX multimedia system.

The standard Widescreen Cockpit features the latest MBUX multimedia system with AMG hybrid-specific displays and functions. In the instrument cluster, the driver can read the electric range, the power consumption, the output and torque of the electric motor and the temperatures of the battery and electric motor. High-quality graphics on the multimedia display visualise the power flow of the entire drive system, rpm, output, torque and temperature of the electric motor, as well as the temperature of the battery. The rear-seat passengers can also view information on the energy flow as well as the power and torque of the electric motor on their optional multimedia display.

The standard AMG Performance steering wheel with its distinctive twin-spoke design and integrated control buttons is fitted. The three rounded twin spokes combine strength with lightness, while the buttons have brilliant displays and an efficient turn-and-press operating logic. This allows important driving functions and all driving modes to be controlled without having to take one’s hands off the steering wheel. As a new feature, it is possible to select the regeneration levels of the hybrid drive via the steering wheel buttons.

AMG sound
When driving on all-electric power, the legally required Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System warns the surroundings that the car is approaching. A specially composed low-frequency, speed-dependent AMG sound is emitted to the outside via single loudspeakers at the front and rear. The sound can also be heard at a subdued level in the interior, as acoustic feedback for the passengers.

At higher speeds, the customer can select the sound experience between ‘balanced’ and ‘powerful’ using the sound buttons in the centre console or on the steering wheel. When the combustion engine starts, the selected setting influences the sound of the exhaust system. In every situation, one thing remains the same: under all conditions, the E PERFORMANCE will be immediately recognisable as an AMG by its sound.

“With the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE, we are transporting our brand DNA into an electrified future. In doing so, we are following our own technical path, which is what has always made AMG so special and desirable. Developed entirely in Affalterbach, the performance hybrid offers a fascinating level of driving dynamics and rightly bears our new technology label E PERFORMANCE. With this new concept, we are also opening up to new target groups who will experience Mercedes-AMG as the performance luxury brand of the 21st century,” said Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Brand ambassador is will.i.am
Mercedes-AMG is breaking new ground in communication on electrification together with brand ambassador will.i.am. The well-known musician and multiple Grammy Award winner from the Black Eyed Peas contributed to the marketing campaign concept and wrote an exclusive song for the release video.

Fuel Price Updates For September 2 – September 8, 2021

Fresh coffee wherever you want it with Suzuki Jimny Beans

In this age of increasing food trucks and mobile food services, here’s an idea from Suzuki’s British subsidiary which turns the Suzuki Jimny into a mobile coffee bar. The conversion of the compact SUV was carried out by Coffee Latino, which specializes in such projects.

The vehicle has a Chiffon Ivory Pearl metallic finish with Bluish Black roof and is nicknamed ‘Jimny Beans’. It will be used by the company for promotional activities in the UK, offering complimentary coffee at the venues.

The conversion makes maximum use of space within the compact dimensions of the vehicle. The front passenger’s seat was removed to accommodate all the services required which include a 57-litre water tank with 3M filtration system to ensure the water is clean. A compact 12V drawer fridge manufactured by Waeco is also fitted which cools milk to -2 degrees Centigrade.

At events, the vehicle can run on either gas or mains electricity with power inverter and has two additional large capacity 125A/H 12V batteries to assist with power if required. For gas, a LPG tank was installed in the limited space under the rear floor section which required a specially designed exhaust system with side exit pipe. And with its 4×4 drivetrain, the little Suzuki can also be taken off-road to camp sites or the beach for fresh coffee.

The high specification coffee machine, manufactured by Fracino, is fully integrated into the rear section of the vehicle with an aluminium-topped work area and milled aluminium effect panel surround. It has the facility to serve two speciality coffees at the same time via its twin milk frothing units as well as central hot water dispenser for tea.

The Jimny Beans project is typical of the services offered by 15-old family-run Coffee Latino. They offer bespoke and flexible solutions for customers who have different types of vehicles. Additionally, there is also free barista training along with training to operate the equipment safely and properly. For those who want to venture into this type of business, Coffee Latino has lease purchase on its coffee vans, coffee bikes, prosecco vans and other mobile catering solutions.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV to be used for fully autonomous robotaxi by Motional

While manufacturers are still developing autonomous vehicles for private use, it is likely that the first such vehicles that can operate entirely on their own will be commercial vehicles. These are already in use in closed sites but eventually, driverless vehicles could also be used on public roads to transport people around.

Motional, a US-based company founded as a US$4 billion joint venture between the Hyundai Motor Group and auto supplier Aptiv, has released details of its first commercial vehicle for fully driverless public ride-hailing services starting in 2023. Referred to as a ‘robotaxi’, it’s adapted from the latest Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric vehicle (EV).

The robotaxi is Motional’s fifth platform, its second one to go driverless on public roads. With ongoing evolution and advancement, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi benefits from the knowledge and data gained over 2.4 million kms in varied road environments, and hundreds of thousands of hours of testing and assessment.

*Motional has hundreds of thousand of hours of knowledge and data for use in developing autonomous vehicles, especially with regards to detecting other vehicles and road-users.*

The zero emissions robotaxi is being designed to have SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle capability, which means it will be able to safely operate without a driver. To be able to operate autonomously with safety, it has more than 30 sensors – a combination of cameras, radars, and Lidar – prominently displayed across the exterior, easily distinguishing the robotaxi from human piloted vehicles.

These sensors provide robust 360-degree perception, high-resolution images, and ultra long-range detection of in diverse driving environments. The robotaxi will be outfitted with Motional’s proven driverless technology, which includes advanced machine learning systems — trained on decades of real-world data — that enables the vehicle to safely navigate challenging and complex driving situations.

The technology-driven design rides on the Hyundai Motor Group’s electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) (shown above) which was developed specifically for battery electric vehicles. The platform offers passengers with a spacious interior that will be comfortable to work in, relax, or socialize during their driverless ride.

The interior will also feature a suite of rider-focused interfaces to allow passengers to intuitively interact with the vehicle during their ride, such as directing the robotaxi to make an extra stop. The resulting passenger experience is expected to set a new standard for driverless ride-hailing which will be managed by Lyft, the second-largest ride-sharing company in America after Uber. The robotaxi will be displayed at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich in September and services with the vehicle are expected to start in 2023.

Lynk & Co 03+ Cyan Edition celebrates young brand’s racing successes in WTCR

Lynk & Co unveiled a 03+ Cyan Edition during the 2021 Chengdu Motor Show this week to celebrate the brand’s racing’s success in the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), so far claiming three World Titles from 2019 to 2020. The team is currently heading the series at the mid-point of the 2021 season.

The 03+ Cyan Edition carries the iconic Cyan Racing colour, Cyan Racing emblems, unique Cyan Racing design rims, Akebono brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, adjustable Bilstein dampers, a carbonfibre front splitter and adjustable rear wing, increased power output to 265 bhp/380 Nm, and new front seats with embroidered Cyan logos.

“We are glad to see our World Touring success being celebrated and that the motorsport programme continues to boost the strong Lynk & Co road car sales numbers of the 03 model,” said Christian Dahl, owner and founder of Cyan Racing, adding that the car will be sold exclusively in China where the 03 model is the best-selling model of Lynk & Co.

Racing in WTCR since 2019
Lynk & Co Cyan Racing started a WTCR programme in 2019, aiming to challenge no less than 7 global brands – Audi, Alfa Romeo, Honda, Hyundai, Peugeot, SEAT and Volkswagen. The car, available to customer teams, was based on the 03 production model and developed by Geely Group Motorsports in early 2018.

The racing car uses a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine tuned to produce 350 bhp/420 Nm which goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed sequential gearbox. As per WTCR regulations, its total weight (including the driver) is 1,265 kgs and the cost of the car is 130,000 euros (about RM640,000), which was the cap set in 2017.

The Cyan Racing team in action at the second round of this year’s WTCR in Estoril.

4-time champions
Cyan Racing became world champions for the fourth consecutive year in 2020, claiming a first double for Lynk & Co by securing both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. The 2021 WTCR season has been expanded from 6 to 8 race weekends for a total of 16 races in Europe and Asia, which started in June at the Nurburgring Nordschleife and will end in November at the classic Macau street circuit.

The team was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. It was involved in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60, as well as the concept models of the Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype.

*The 03 model is the bestseller of the brand in China.*

Porsche confirms assembly plans in Malaysia, to start next year

As reported earlier, Porsche will be setting up assembly operations in Malaysia, the first time the sportscar maker has produced its cars outside Germany. The company has confirmed that small-scale local assembly operation in Malaysia will join the company’s two other production sites – the original one at Zuffenhausen and the 19-year old one in Leipzig.

It is believed that the plan to assemble in Malaysia has been under consideration for at least 5 years though it was only early this year that it became known outside the company. There is interest in the Southeast Asian region which is unified under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and member nations have agreed to allow intra-ASEAN exchange of goods and service without import duties. The agreement was signed in the early 1990s and was implemented in the early 2000s.

Carmakers have welcomed the AFTA agreement which allows them to set up a large factory with big volumes in one country to make vehicles for the region. This allows good economies of scale compared to the situation before where each country had low-volume assembly plants to cater only for the domestic market. The regional approach lowers production costs which benefits consumers who get lower prices or better features with the money saved.

Porsche would have likewise seen a similar opportunity, especially since Volkswagen began assembly in Malaysia. However, the initial plan is to assemble in Malaysia from 2022 for the local market only but it’s almost certain that there will be exports later on. This will enable pricing of some models to be more attractive and competitive as they will not be subject to the high import duties that the countries impose for vehicles originating from outside ASEAN.

Sime Darby to be local partner
Not surprisingly, Porsche will have Sime Darby Berhad as its partner in local assembly. Sime Darby Auto Performance, a subsidiary of Sime Darby, also handles the Porsche brand in Malaysia and another subsidiary, Inokom, has an assembly plant in Kedah. Some of the brands assembled at the plant, which began operations in the 1990s, are BMW, MINI, Mazda and Hyundai. BMW engine assembly is also carried out by a subsidiary adjacent to the plant.

*Mazda is among the brands that has assembly operations at the Inokom plant.*

*BMW also has engine assembly operations at a facility adjacent to the plant where some of its models are assembled.*

First Porsche production facility outside Germany
The local assembly operation will not only be something special for Malaysia but also for Porsche as it has never before had to have a CKD (completely knocked-down) process which is required for assembly overseas. It is not just a matter of picking a model and putting it into a box in disassembled form for assembly in another country. The model has also to be engineered for local assembly, taking into account the level of automation at the facility and capabilities of the workforce.

It is possible that the ‘SKD’ (semi knocked down) approach will be taken initially although this approach was stopped by the government in mid-2019. With SKD, bodyshells can be imported already welded together and in some cases, even painted. One thing that will prevent Porsche from exporting from Malaysia initially will be the requirement of 40% ASEAN content in each vehicle in order to qualify for the duty-free privilege. This usually takes while as suppliers have to be found or if they are new, then they will need time to also establish their operations.

Porsche Centre Ara Damansara 2020 — Porsche will have Sime Darby as its partner in the local assembly operations and the two companies are already familiar with each other as Sime Darby Auto Performance, a subsidiary, handles the German sportscar brand in Malaysia.

Willing to learn and adapt
“We’re fortunate that, due to careful planning, our existing factories are more than up to the task of meeting current and future global demand for our cars,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche. “However, the new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and, although a standalone project and modest in size and capacity, it signals our willingness to learn and adapt to specific local market conditions.”

“Malaysia and the whole ASEAN is a region of great potential, and we look forward to the first locally assembled models reaching our Malaysian customers next year,” added Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche. “As Porsche is moving into a new era of mobility, Malaysia and the ASEAN region are gaining an increasing importance. This step now is part of a long-standing initiative to keep pace with rapidly evolving customer and market demands.”

Extreme E Arctic X Prix: Like nothing the motorsport world has ever seen (w/VIDEO)

Being the very first season ever, every location of the Extreme E championship series is a first and for the third round, the location in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland certainly presented an entirely different environment for the Arctic X Prix.

After consecutive overall wins by the Rosberg X Racing team in Saudi Arabia (Desert X Prix) and Senegal (Ocean X Prix), this third round was won by Andretti United Extreme E drivers Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings.

In Extreme E’s first-ever 5-car final, British driver Munnings took the lead early on, until being passed by X44’s Sebastien Loeb, the Frenchman leading for the rest of the 8.6-km lap around a lake until the Switch Zone, while Munnings dropped behind Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor.

The top three ran close into the Switch Zone area, the Andretti United car – the same all-electric ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV as everyone else – having re-taken second position, but X44’s challenge would be thwarted by a right-rear puncture, the wheel needing to be changed in the Switch Zone while Cristina Gutierrez climbed aboard the car.

Andretti United’s Hansen was first to leave the Switch Zone for the second lap, closely chased by RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson, the pair running side-by-side and spectacularly jumping high together over sections of the course, until the RXR car was slowed by technical issues from a jump landing and the Andretti United team ran free to claim its first victory.

Having won the Crazy Race earlier in the day, the JBXE team flew in the final, Kevin Hansen completing the first lap before handing the controls to Swedish compatriot Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and, fighting back from difficulties during qualifying, the pair finished second.

A solid run for ACCIONA | Sainz XE duo Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz was rewarded with a podium finish in third, with X44 classified fourth and RXR fifth. The SEGI TV CHIP GANASSI RACING and Xite Energy Racing teams battled in the Crazy Race but didn’t make it through to the final.

“It feels awesome! It’s been a great afternoon and day! We’ve both had great races today and we had to work really hard for it. Catie did an amazing job both times. We both were involved in very close battles with the Rosberg X Racing car both times, it just feels incredible to be here,” said Timmy Hansen of Andretti United Extreme E.

“I loved the challenge of this course. I think it was really different to what we’ve seen before and a new challenge for the car as well. I think what was interesting was that it literally changed every time you saw it. Every car would chuck out massive rocks and so your line might not be there, so it was a very spontaneous style of driving and I also found it very hard to judge what the correct speed was, you have to think a lot more especially if you’re the first driver,” added Munnings.

The unforgiving Arctic X Prix course, combined with the series’ revised sporting format produced some of the most exciting racing yet with the 18 world-class drivers battling not only themselves, but the conditions and various track hazards en route to the finish line.

Adding an extra element of excitement to proceedings was the returning Super Sector, with the fastest driver over the course of the weekend earning themselves 5 extra points for the team.

Drawing attention to the mission of creating greater environmental awareness, JBXE’s Ahlin-Kottulinsky said: ”We are all living in this world and we all want to make a great future, so I think closing your eyes to what’s happening is not the right way. We all have to be open to see what is happening to the world and that is why Extreme E is trying new technologies and new ways to improve, we are all in this together and we all have to do this right. I think the fact that it is raining here in Greenland is as unusual as it would be in the desert and seeing how much rain we actually had this weekend is devastating so you can’t just close your eyes to it.”

From Greenland, the series will have its next round in Sardinia, Italy, on October 23/24. The move to Sardinia for the Island X Prix follows the decision to postpone its originally planned events in Brazil and Argentina due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in South America.

“Extreme E was built around the ethos of racing electric vehicles in remote environments in an effort to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance and benefits of low carbon vehicles. However, this crisis is not a problem which only affects remote locations. It is becoming increasingly noticeable closer to home, across North America, and here across Europe, with rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires, which currently rage in Sardinia itself, being some of the latest devastating examples,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.

Since the start of the series, the vehicles, participants and scientific facility for research work at each location have travelled on a specially refurbished cargo ship called the St. Helena. Efficiency is a major element of the ship with the engines running on low sulphur marine diesel and the propellers having reduced friction. 4,000 new low emission LED lights replace the old power intensive lighting, and there are new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected but you may not show symptoms and still spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

F1/Round 12: Highlights & Provisional Results For 2021 Belgian Grand Prix

Even before the race started, there was already drama as Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) aquaplaned and crashed in the wet and slippery conditions on the way to the starting grid. His right suspension was too severely damaged for repairs to be done in time, so he was out.

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-AMG) and Lando Norris (McLaren) both had 5-place penalties so they were further down the grid than where the qualifying time had put them. Bottas went to 13th and Norris to 15th, the latter getting a penalty for a gearbox change. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was relocated to last as he too had a 5-place grid penalty from the previous race.

As it continued to rain, the start was delayed by 15 minutes and then another 10 minutes more were added, and the 19 cars would do their formation lap behind the red Safety Car from Mercedes-AMG. The conditions were bad enough that the Red Bull boss, Christian Horner, remarked to Sky Sports: “I certainly wouldn’t want to be getting into a car in these conditions. They are very brave.”

28 minutes after the original scheduled start time, the Safety Car led the racing cars out. It was still raining heavily and messages from the drivers indicated that visibility was a problem with all the spray. The situation looked too hazardous and the start process was suspended with the Safety Car leading the convoy back to the pits. There was no official word on what would happen but virtually everyone was in agreement that the conditions were too dangerous for any racing.

The F1 Safety Car supplied by Mercedes-AMG (Aston Martin also supplies the F1 Safety Car for some races) is driven by Bernd Maylander (inset). He has been behind the wheel of F1 Safety Cars since 2000 and has led the field for a total of at least 700 laps in that time.

In the Red Bull pits, the crew was frantically working on the Perez’ damaged car in the hope that he could join the race. The team was trying to persuade the Race Director to allow Perez to ‘come back from retirement’ and be allowed to race. In the end, the Race Director allowed Perez to start but he would have to do so from the pit lane (so does Kimi Raikkonen for something else).

*With the race suspended before it could get started, the drivers could only wait for news of when the restart would be.*

*The Spa-Francorchamps circuit on a day without rain, which was not the case at this year’s Belgian Grand Prix.*

There was discussion about whether the race would be abandoned, or run on Monday. It was interesting that there seemed to be no clear position in rules regarding abandonment of a race due to rain, and how it would be handled. The last two races that had been abandoned due to heavy rain were the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang and before that, the 1991 Australian Grand Prix. Older readers will also remember the horrendous conditions of the 1976 Japan Grand Prix in which championship leader Niki Lauda decided to pull out of the race as he was certain the conditions were too dangerous. The race was not stopped in spite of the rain and was won by Mario Andretti in a Lotus.

*The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang was stopped after 31 laps due to rainy conditions making racing too dangerous. As less than 75% of the total of 42 laps were run, only half points were awarded.*

Finally, some 3 hours after the race had been scheduled to start came the news that racing would resume within 17 minutes. The teams hurriedly prepared the cars and the spectators who had been sitting and waiting in the rain cheered as the Safety Car led the field back onto the wet track.

The Safety Car remained in the lead as the first few laps were completed but did not come in, so actual racing was not taking place. The Race Director had declared that it would be a time run but the laps were not confirmed.

And then red flags appeared and the race was stopped, with the cars headed back to the pits. The remaining time in the 1-hour allocation counted down but the conditions remained too dangerous to run in. Anyway, the requisite 2 laps had been done, so half-points could thus be awarded even if the rest of the race did not take place. Some drivers would benefit and some would not, but for George Russell who was right up at the front row, even half-points would be a very good day for the British driver.

The race was not able to resume as the rain just kept falling and the Race Director made the decision to abandon it, with the order on the grid being the order for the results, and half-points allocated. It will be remembered as the shortest F1 race as only around 21 kms had been completed out of the 308 kms had a 44-lap race been run.

*A replacement circuit for Round 20 has not been announced yet.*

Renault’s Mobilize brand offers an all-electric sedan designed for ride-hailing industry

Mobilize, the young brand within Renault Group, was conceived with the aim of going ‘beyond automotive’ to offer services related to mobility, energy and data. Its business will be based on sustainable open ecosystems, in line with the group’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040 and its ambition to develop the value of the circular economy.

“Our goal is to maximize car usage with simplified, more sustainable and accessible mobility journeys for people and goods, while reducing the environmental impact,” said Clotilde Delbos, CEO of Mobilize.

One of the first results from this new brand is the Mobilize Limo, an all-electric sedan with associated services for the ride-hailing industry. It is the fruit of the joint venture between the Renault Group and China’s Jiangling Motors Group in 2018.

Only offered through subscription plan
The Limo, to be unveiled at the Munich IAA Mobility 2021 event next week, will be available solely on subscription. It is a response to the evolution of the ride-hailing market that has been growing in many parts of the world in the past few years. As the ride-hailing market will experience a fast and widespread increase in electrification in Europe, in particular, electric models will soon become essential for those wishing to access city centres facing traffic restrictions such as the low emissions zones that are popping up Europe-wide.

Mobilize Limo is therefore the solution for drivers looking for emission-free vehicles that are prestigious and cheap to run. It will be marketed as a joint offer combining both the car and services, with packages for everyone be they full-time, part-time, or one-off drivers.

Close to D-segment size
The Limo measures 4.67 metres in length and 1.83 metres in width, and a 2.75-metre wheelbase. This places it close to a D-segment model. It has a modern design that reflects the transition to electric vehicles and will be available in three popular body colours.

Advanced features include flush door handles that unfold when unlocked, and LED lamps with a sophisticated lighting signature and scrolling indicators. Inside, the Limo has satin-finish TEP (leather effect) upholstery that is soft to the touch and easy to clean. The interior door panels feature a light strip and faux-metal inserts for a premium ambience, while the interior lights come in 7 different colours to customise the lighting mood.

The dashboard, which has decorative carbonfibre inserts, incorporates a 2-screen digital interface that spreads across the upper section. The 10.25-inch screen is for the instrument panel and the 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard is for multimedia controls.

Designed for professional drivers
The driver’s seat in the Limo is designed to give professional drivers the most ergonomically and acoustically comfortable seat possible, taking into account the long periods they will be in the car. It has 8 electric settings (4 on the front passenger side), and the steering column can also be adjusted for both height and depth, so drivers have the ideal position no matter their body type. A refrigerated storage compartment is located between the two front seats.

The wide-opening rear doors give passengers easy access to the back seat. The rear bench seat can comfortably fit three adult passengers, especially given the flat floor. The removeable middle armrest also includes two cup holders, and passengers can plug in their smartphone or tablets into USB ports. They also have easy access to the volume control knobs located in the back, as well as the adjustable air-vents and booklights.

The Limo is powered by a high-performance electric motor that can generate 110 kW (150 hp) with immediately available torque of 220 Nm. If in a hurry, the car can go from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 9.6 seconds and cruise up to a top speed set to 140 km/h. The 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is said to be able to provide enough energy for a range of up to 450 kms. That is deemed enough to cover the average daily milage of most professionals (250 kms/day) for a whole day of intensive use, with plenty of remaining charge for those drivers used to covering more ground. With fast charging, the battery can gain 250 kms of range in 40 minutes.

F1/Round 12: Preview & Starting Grid For 2021 Belgian Grand Prix

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

Following the mid-season break, the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship resumes its second half of the season with the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Round 12 of the championship. It will be the first of three rounds to be over three consecutive weekends, the other two being the Dutch Grand Prix and then the Italian Grand Prix. As reported earlier, the rounds in Japan and Australia have been cancelled due to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine requirements will make it impractical for the teams to travel to those countries. The organizers are looking for alternative circuits to replace them.

The F1 Belgian Grand Prix has been run 65 times (the race was not held on 6 occasions), of which 54 of those times were held at Spa-Francorchamps. The original circuit was designed in 1920 and used public roads. It was a high-speed course with long straights, and drivers could achieve higher average speeds than on other tracks.

The original track was 15 kms long but was gradually shortened. It gained a reputation for being a dangerous track as it used public roads, and in 1969, the F1 drivers refused to take part in the Belgian Grand Prix for that reason. F1 would not return to the track until 1983, and then in the early 2000s, a new financial backer made investments that enabled redevelopment to improve the track, especially safety features.

After the tight, complicated Hungaroring layout, Spa-Francorchamps emphasizes the variety among F1’s permanent tracks. It is characterised by long straights and ultra high-speed corners. This means that the engineers have to do a ‘balancing act’: low drag to attack or defend on the straights but also sufficient downforce to be fast through the intricate Sector 2 where much of the lap times is gained or lost.

Besides having the biggest elevation change in F1 – around 100 metres difference between the highest point and the lowest point – it is also the longest track on the calendar and also has the least number of laps. The long lap distance presents a few unique challenges. For example, if a car suffers damage early in the lap, it’s a long way back to the pits. The weather is also very changeable, and conditions can vary from corner to corner. A longer lap also means teams can’t fit as many laps into their practice and qualifying run plans, therefore the drivers have fewer opportunities to practice each corner and find the limit.

Despite being the longest track in the xurrent World Championship, the brakes on the racing cars are used just 7 times per lap, an average of once per kilometre. On the other hand, in the Monaco GP, the brakes are applied on average every 300 metres of the street circuit. In fact, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, drivers apply their brakes for 13.3 seconds per lap or just 13% of the total race time.

“The challenges of this track, especially when it comes to the weather, are well-known, as are the loads placed on the tyres. Last year, the top three qualified on the medium tyre, while the soft offered a good step up in grip but required more management, and so was not considered to be an optimal race tyre. The majority of drivers went from medium to hard, with the pit stop dictated by the safety car at lap 11 for most of them. So we could see an interesting mix of strategies this year,” said Mario Isola, Head of F1 and Car Racing at Pirelli. He added that the same tyre selections as last year will be available again.

Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG on top again
The last two races before the break saw both the Drivers and Constructors championships changing complexion. Red Bull Racing and its driver, Max Verstappen, had been pulling away steadily from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team. However, the outcome in Hungary saw the German team overtake and lead by 12 points, while Lewis Hamilton is back at the top again and will certainly want to stay there to defend his title.

Incidentally, Aston Martin did not go ahead with their intention to appeal after Sebastian Vettel lost his second place in Hungary due to a ‘remaining fuel’ issue. The second place would have been the young team’s best result to date. Vettel is known to have said he does not know what happened to the trophy he was given (which should go to Hamilton) during the podium ceremony.

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