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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 23, 2016
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BMW i8 is an Unusual Car Stories by Bennett Oghifo
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our seats, carbon fiber construction, a mid-mounted three-cylinder engine, two transmissions and a pair of electric motors. The BMW i8 truly is an unusual car. Built as part of the company’s concept for sustainable mobility, the i8 is one of two models in BMW’s i sub-brand. Unlike the electric i3 city car, the i8 is a hybrid performance vehicle that’s out to prove a supercar can be fast and efficient at the same time. Using carbon fiber construction, the car features seating for four people in front of the mid-mounted engine. These extra accommodations makes the i8 almost a foot longer than the Audi R8, albeit with a similar profile. The roof at its highest point is four inches lower than that of a similarly sized Mercedes E-Class Coupe, though, making the i8 look like a true supercar. But the i8 doesn’t look like anything else on the road. Falling somewhere between a concept car that accidentally slipped into production and a product sent back in time from a futuristic society, the i8 is full of creases, curves and contours all shaped by the wind. Futuristic Interior… The futuristic theme continues with the stylish interior, which is more elegant than the outright mid-mounted engine is a six-speed automatic, while the front motor has a two-speed auto of its own. This all adds up to a zero to 60 mph acceleration run in four seconds or less, with top speed limited to 155 mph. in the front is always operated by the car. Despite being a conventional six-speed automatic, it responds quickly to inputs and downshifts without delay. My only real complaint with the drivetrain has to do with the engine’s sound. Although it is moderately loud on the outside and not all that bad sounding for a three-cylinder, inside audio is pumped through the speakers to create a more pleasing tone. It sounds like a six-cylinder and there are even hints of Porsche 911 flat-six in there. Not Your Everyday Supercar…
2016 BMW i8
But the i8 is more than just a fast car. It’s a true plug-in hybrid. When fully charged, the i8 can drive up to 15 miles on electric only power by — get this — using only the front wheels. Yup, this wedge-shaped supercar can transform into a front-wheel drive commuter. To keep the car in all electric-mode, simply press the eDrive button. Once engaged, the car has more than enough power to move around town – there’s enough torque to break the front tires loose when turning. When the battery runs out, a level-two charger can recharge the battery in just 1.5 hours, or you can just let the engine do it. With a full
charge, the i8 is rated at 76 MPGe, but even in full gasoline mode, it still achieves a combined average of 28 mpg – not bad for a car with this kind of performance. Best of all, the transition between electric and gasoline propulsion is completely seamless at all times. Not a Numb EV… The i8 is more than a straight-line rocket, unlike some other electric cars. It’s designed to handle corners just as well. Using extensive amounts of carbon fiber, the car tips the scales at 3,455 pounds and features a slightly rear-bias weight distribution.
To balance efficiency and cornering grip, the i8 wears skinny offset tires. Despite this, it grips very well in the corners – a testament to how well-designed the chassis is. It doesn’t require big meaty tires to compensate when making a turns, yet remains very stable at freeway speeds. The steering is just like a sports car of this caliber should be. It’s direct, quick and responsive. The car as a whole behaves and responds a fraction off of say an Audi R8 V8 or Porsche 911, but it comes with the added benefit of being a plug-in hybrid car as well.
Ford Fiesta ST200 Announced with 197 HP, 217 LB-FT of Torque
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t’s not quite a Ford Fiesta RS, but the Ford Fiesta ST200 will stir up trouble in the hot hatch segment. Rumors that the American automaker was working on a Fiesta RS variant were debunked by Ford itself, but at least now the ST200 model has been confirmed. There’s a modest increase in performance to 197 horsepower from the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine while torque has gone up 20 per cent to 214 pound-feet. That means with the car’s overboost function, the Ford Fiesta ST200 is capable of having 212 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque for short 15-second bursts. If these numbers sound familiar, it’s because it’s pretty much the same as the Ford Fiesta ST equipped with the factory-available Mountune kit. The Fiesta ST200 however does get a shortened final drive ratio that is intended to enhance “in-gear acceleration for improved drivability and an even more fun to drive experience.” According to Ford, zero-to-62 mph comes in 6.7 seconds, marking a 0.2-second improvement over the standard Fiesta ST. It will have a top speed of 143 mph. To help distinguish itself from a standard
Fiesta ST, the ST200 model will come in a unique Storm Grey finish with matte black 17-inch wheels and red brake calipers. Inside there are part-leather Recaro sport seats, illuminated door sills and seatbelts with silver detailing. Production of the Ford Fiesta ST200 will commence this June ahead of deliveries starting in the summer. After revealing the new Fiesta ST200, it now looks like the company is preparing a hotter version of the Focus ST. New spy photos have emerged showing Ford testing a modified Focus ST on roads close to the Nurburgring. The current Focus ST makes 250 horsepower, while the top-dog Focus RS model makes 350, leaving a large gap where a hotter ST model would fit in. Aerodynamics look improved on the car thanks to a new front spoiler and some added canards used on the front bumper. Some changes to the suspension are also a given, trying to refine the car further and help it to handle corners. Some new graphics and wheels would round out the package. The car will likely end up making around 270 or 280 hp, which may lead Ford to name it the Focus ST270 or ST280.
2017 Ford Fiesta
Mansory Gives Rolls-Royce Dawn 740 HP , Tasteful Body Kit
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ansory has introduced its version of the Rolls-Royce Dawn to the world. Known for tuning some of the world’s most luxurious models, Mansory has added its own twist to Rolls-Royce’s latest creation, the convertible four-seat Dawn. Up front is a newly designed spoiler that features larger air intakes and integrated LED daytime running
lights, while the visible use of carbon fiber gives the Dawn a sportier appearance. The side skirts have been sculptured to give the luxury convertible a lower and sleeker look while a lip spoiler has been added to the Dawn’s trunk to help reduce lift on the rear axle. On all four corners are massive 22-inch wheels paired to Vredestein rubber sized 265/35/22 in the front and 295/30/22 in
the rear. What’s more exciting is how much performance has been improved with the factory 6.6-liter V12 engine tweaked to provide 740 horsepower, a substantial increase from the factory’s output of 563 hp. Torque output has also jumped from 585 pound-feet of torque to 738 lb-ft. According to Mansory, that allows its version of the Rolls-Royce Dawn to go from zero to 62 mph in just
4.5 seconds, while its maximum speed is now 177 mph. Inside, quality materials can be found throughout with brushed aluminum, carbon fiber, burl wood or highly-polished piano lacquer surfaces gleaming in the cockpit. Like most bespoke tuning programs, the customer has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to personalizing the interior, and Mansory never disappoints.