Audi Returns to Rally Racing

Competing in Dakar 2022 With Electric-Drive Platform

December 10, 2020 – For the first time ever, Audi will be competing in the famous Dakar Rally in 2022 with an innovative prototype vehicle. Utilizing an electric drivetrain powered by a high-voltage battery paired with an efficient energy converter, Audi plans to spearhead a future for the company in cross-country rallying motorsport.

Once a trailblazer in the rally world with their Quattro sub brand, Audi plans to make a triumphant return to the scene bringing a factory team back to the dirt stages. And what better way to start than with one of the most extreme and dangerous rally races out there. Audi plans to use their new electric drive system that charges the high voltage battery while driving. The Dakar Rally’s tough conditions and demand for endurance became the perfect test for the platform. Audi hopes to showcase the durability of their new electric-drive platform and once again become an icon in the rally world and lay the groundwork for developing the platform for production use.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Hits 60 In 3.5 Seconds

December 04, 2020 – Ford has been building high-performance Mustangs for quite some time, but they are taking their 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance model to the next level. Although they have moved the Mustang to an EV platform, they haven’t ditched their roots of building bad to the bone rides that will throw you into the back of your seat. 

The GT Performance may not deliver the same V8 roar we’ve come to love, but it does have something else up its sleeve. Pumping out 358 kilowatts of power, or 480 horsepower, and 634 pound-feet of torque, the GT Performance model can jet to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, making the already quick Mach-E GT even quicker. The Performance model not only delivers that extra power over the base Mach-E GT, but also features enhanced grip and better handling. 

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance also has more in store than just extra power, though. The Performance Edition features several sportier components, including 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli summer tires and red-painted Brembo brakes. Also featured is MagneRide damping that helps to improve handling performance. 

To make the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance even more driver focused, the front seats are Ford Performance-sculpted with Performance Gray ActiveX material, while a unique aluminum instrument panel sits right behind the wheel. 

2021 Audi R8 Panther Goes RWD

December 03, 2020 – A new 2021 Audi R8 RWD brings on an exclusive model limited to just 30 units, the 2021 R8 Panther edition. Announced at just the right time for the holiday season, this new Panther edition R8, seen before on the RS5, is chock full of some unique design cues. Both interior and exterior of the car are going to get some incredible new design elements.

A Tuned Chassis

To begin, Audi had to specially design the chassis of the 2021 R8 Panther to allow for a rear-wheel-drive application, as it will not be coming with their trademark Quattro system. The chassis has been specifically adapted for rear-wheel drive, including the use of a solid rear axle, stiffer front anti-roll bar, and an increase in negative camber on the rear wheels. The R8 also comes with electromechanical power steering, which frees the car of any torque steer, and also enables precise handling and driver feedback.

The Power

Featuring a 5.2-liter FSI V10, which produces a powerful 532 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the 2021 R8 Panther can sprint to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, an impressive feat considering the loss of power going to the front wheels. The limited edition model can also reach a max speed of 201 mph.

Other Special Content

All 50 units will come from the factory with an exclusive Panther Black crystal effect paint with carbon exterior mirror housings. As for wheels, the R8 Panther will come equipped with 20 inch milled cut wheels, finished in matte black with red trim, wrapped in summer performance tires. The colors of the interior are similar to those of the wheels, black with red stitching. A sport exhaust system also amplifies the full bodied sound of the V10 engine, and can be adjusted depending on the driving mode the car is in. Every inch of the 2021 R8 Panther has been customized, mostly in Black with red accents. If you’re looking for a powerful naturally aspirated V10 with rear-wheel drive, then the 2021 R8 Panther may be for you, that is, if you can afford the $183,300 price tag.

The Elation Freedom EV: A Megawatt of Power

November 25, 2020 – Hypercars are becoming more common these days, with automotive technology evolving and advancing. Bespoke car manufacturers are having to step up their game to compete with the big boys, which is exactly what the newest hypercar from the United States has done, the Elation Freedom EV.

EV Performance

The Elation Freedom is built around three liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous e-motors, together putting out 1 megawatt of energy, or around 1,427 horsepower. If for some reason that amount of power doesn’t tickle your fancy, an optional 4th motor can be included, bringing that horsepower figure up to around 1,903. With all that power, the Elation Freedom is capable of 0-60 times of 1.8 seconds, with an electronically limited 260 mph max speed. The fun doesn’t stop there however, as depending on battery option, the Elation’s range is either 300 or 400 miles, allowing you to put the pedal to the metal for even longer.

Other Specs

When it comes to getting that power to the ground, the engineers at Elation knew an all-wheel drive torque vectoring system would be ideal, especially to elevate that cornering prowess. The car also comes with elector-hydraulic active ride height and damping control, with Formula 1 inspired double wishbone suspension and Ohlins adjustable dampers. The chassis itself, like many of its future competitors, is a carbon fiber monocoque.

Elation Freedom Iconic Collection

Maybe the EV thing isn’t your style, and that’s ok, because Elation has another car just for you. Their Elation Freedom Iconic Collection, as Elation themselves say, is “Built to honor the legacy of Internal Combustion”. That’s right, you can get their Freedom Hypercar with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, putting out 750 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. It’s not even close to the power output of Elation’s 4 EV motor configuration, but could the sound of a V10 be worth it? Possibly!

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Prototype: Seven Motors and 1400 HP

July 21, 2020 – If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the new Mustang Mach-E, then you’re going to fall in love all over again with Ford’s new prototype, the All-Electric Mustang Mach-E 1400. Along with RTR Vehicles, Ford set out to show just how powerful electric cars can become, and of course, how much fun you can have with said power. The prototype Mach-E produces a whopping 1,400 peak horsepower, and at 160 mph, creates a staggering 2,300 pounds of downforce.

Just about every automotive enthusiast has a solid understanding of the performance an electric vehicle is capable of. Take for example the Tesla P100D, or the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The Tesla produces 600 hp and an incredible 713 lb-ft of torque, rocketing to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, while the Taycan Turbo S produces 750 hp and 774 lb-ft of torque, getting to 60 in just 2.6 seconds. You almost wonder just how much more power you could get out of an electric vehicle, or even if you’d need it.

But, Ford wanted to prove that there is way more juice left to squeeze from these electric motors, and that’s exactly what they set out to do.

The Ford Mach-E produces its power with seven motors, and when paired with an incredible amount of downforce, shows just how capable it is at the track, dragstrip and gymkhana course. With three motors attached to the front differential and four connected to the rear, Ford had to figure out how they’d even control that much power. A single driveshaft connects the motors to the differentials, and a huge amount of adjustability allows the Mach-E 1400 to be perfectly set-up to do everything from drifting to racing on the track.

The reason this should get any enthusiast excited is because Ford is learning more and more from these prototype vehicles, pushing the limits of EV power. Every technological advancement they make with these prototypes will soon be hitting their production vehicles. Are we saying Ford will soon be producing a 1400-hp Mach-E for the public, no, but could something be released that easily takes out a GT500, who knows, but we’d like to think so!