Lamborghini has reached a new production milestone with the Urus SUV.
Since being launched in late 2017, an impressive 20,000 examples have been built at the Sant’Agata Bolognese facility. Less than two years have passed since the 10,000th Urus was made in July 2020.
In comparison, it took Lamborghini eight years to build the 20,000th Huracan sports car.
It means the Urus has now become Lamborghini’s best-selling model, in the shortest time ever.
The 20,00th Urus, painted in Viola Mithras with black brake calipers and panoramic roof, recently left the production line. It is now destined for an owner in Azerbaijan.
Bespoke paint options have become a trademark of the Urus, with Grigio Telesto, Blu Cepheus and Viola Pasifae three of the most popular choices. Nero Noctis Matt, and Arancio Borealis Pearlescent, complete the top five hues.
Lamborghini has kept the technical specification of the Urus unchanged since being introduced. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine produces 641hp, with the all-wheel drive SUV able to reach a top speed of 190mph.
Urus owners have accumulated more than 223 million miles in total since 2018.
Super SUV drives expansion
The success of the Urus has seen Lamborghini double the size of its Sant’Agata plant, growing from 80,000 to 160,000 square metres. This has included a new paint shop dedicated to the Urus, delivering the personalisation demanded by customers.
Lamborghini has also recruited an additional 500 employees between 2015 and 2018, dedicated to the Urus project.
Stephan Winkelmann, Automobili Lamborghini chairman and CEO, said: “From the first moment we presented the Urus concept at Beijing motor show in 2012, to its market debut in 2018 and each year since, the Urus has proved its instant and continued appeal as a true Lamborghini, born from our super sports heritage and the world’s first Super SUV, the LM 002.”
With fuel prices at unprecedented levels, van drivers are feeling the pinch and choosing to turn down work.
A new survey has found that almost one-quarter (24 percent) of van drivers opted not to take jobs, as fuel prices mean they are not cost-effective.
Data shows that van drivers are now having to pay an average of £2,427 more to fuel their vehicles for work purposes.
Drivers getting fuel ‘van-xiety’
MoneySuperMarket, who conducted the research, found that fuel costs had led over half (53 percent) of businesses to increase their prices.
Another 14 percent of those surveyed had begun to build fuel costs into the quotes they give for work. It demonstrates that fuel prices are having both a direct and indirect impact on the pockets of consumers.
Some drivers are also opting to not use their vans at all for work, due to the cost of running them.
Of those asked, 16 percent have taken to using their family car instead, as they find it cheaper to fill up with fuel.
Vehicle shortages affecting businesses
Vehicles shortages have also led to one-in-ten (10 percent) of businesses scaling back their work, due to a lack of suitable vehicles. Recent Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures showed that new van registrations fell by 25.1 percent last month.
More than one-third (34 percent) say buying a new van is just simply too expensive right now, with 16 percent unable to afford the price of a used van.
For those fortunate enough to find, or be able to afford a new van, having one with three front seats is now a leading priority.
Some 45 percent of van drivers need a triple bench seat, whilst 30 percent want built-in satellite navigation. A van with an automatic gearbox is now a must-have for nearly a quarter (23 percent) of drivers.
The long-awaited launch of the McLaren Artura is now less than a month away. A plug-in hybrid with a V6 engine, the car represents a step-change for McLaren that will define its next decade. “This is our largest project since the MP4-12C,” says chief engineer Geoff Grose. Given that car brought McLaren Automotive into being in 2011, the stakes are high.
You probably know about the Artura already. If you don’t, start by reading our hands-on preview, which explores its specification, styling and performance statistics. In a nutshell, it’s the replacement for the 570S and other Sports Series models, slotting above the GT and below the 720S in McLaren’s reworked range.
The headline numbers are 680hp, 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds, 205mph, 129g/km CO2 and £185,500.
Here, we’re taking a deeper dive into the technology that shapes this supercar. We speak to the experts who designed and engineered the Artura, as they share their geekiest secrets.
It has a similar V6 to Ferrari
The Artura is one of only two production cars to use a V6 engine with a 120-degree angle between the cylinders. Remarkably, the other is the Ferrari 296 GTB – Maranello’s new rival for the 720S. Ferrari also used the configuration for its 1961 ‘Sharknose’ racer, then later in turbocharged Formula One cars.
From the outside, Artura’s 3.0-litre ‘M630’ engine bears some resemblance to a flat-six – most obviously used by Porsche in the 911. “It’s unusual,” admits Richard Jackson, head of powertrain. “One advantage is it makes the engine very low: 40mm lower than our V8”.
The wide angle also allows for a so-called ‘hot vee’, with the twin turbochargers nestled between the cylinder banks. “It makes for a very dense package with no wasted space,” continues Jackson, “but presents challenges for cooling in a mid-engined car.” To combat these, air is channelled via the Artura’s hungry side scoops through radiators into the top of the engine. It then vents through the ‘chimney’ on the rear deck, which can reach 900 deg C. Watch your fingers.
“This engine is lighter and more compact than any other V6 out there,” I’m told. “And its specific output of 195hp per litre is beaten only by our Ultimate Series cars, the Senna and Elva”. Did we mention it revs to 8,500rpm? And that there’s an electric motor as well?
Reducing the hybrid weight was ‘an obsession’
“Minimising the weight penalty was a key focus, probably even an obsession,” says Jackson of the Artura’s hybrid system. The exact numbers haven’t been confirmed, but the V6 is about 50kg lighter than the ‘M838’ 3.8-litre V8 in the outgoing Sports Series, while its electric motor and batteries add around 100kg.
So, reckon on a modest 50kg gain for the Artura powertrain overall. And that’s offset by the extra 95hp and 225Nm of torque from the innovative axial flux motor.
Sunoj George, head of electric drive technology, explains: “A conventional radial flux motor is cylinder-shaped and much heavier. The radial flux machine is a hollow disc and weighs just 15.4kg. That’s half the weight of the electric motor in the P1 – and torque density has doubled.”
George promises a “seamless” driving experience, but one that varies hugely depending on the drive mode selected. Speaking of which…
There are four very different drive modes
Like McLarens of the past, there are separate settings for handling and powertrain modes. In the Artura, these are selected via rocker switches on either side of the instrument binnacle, within fingertip-reach of the steering wheel.
In Electric powertrain mode, the car offers “near-silent running” for up to 18.6 miles. “It’s perfect for urban environments, and for drivers who want to depart stealthily from their home or return quietly in the evening,” says Geoff Grose. Next up is Comfort mode, also using electric drive at lower speeds: “Typically, the V6 engine will be running above 37mph, then it switches off again below 25mph.”
Sport mode is where things start to get serious. Grose describes this as “the most engaging setting, with lots of driver feedback.” And finally there’s Track mode: “This offers ultimate performance and the best lap-time, with an inertia-push on gearshifts.”
It makes a ‘true supercar sound’
“One of the challenges of moving to a downsized V6 – with capacity reduced from 4.0 down to 3.0 litres – is that there’s less energy in the exhaust system,” explains Richard Jackson. “In addition, some of the after-treatment systems filter out the noises you want to hear from a supercar.”
To help the Artura deliver “a true supercar sound”, McLaren has used equal-length runners on the exhaust manifold, along with minimal pipework – helped by the ‘hot vee’ layout.
Thankfully, there’s no artificial sound pumped through the speakers, but the Artura does have a resonator device in the muffler. “This amplifies the sound at high revs for a real crescendo,” I’m assured. “The driver is rewarded for chasing the redline.”
It’s an all-round supercar
Rob Melville, director of design, does enjoy a metaphor: “If the Senna is our Olympic sprinter and the Speedtail is our Olympic swimmer, this is our Olympic decathlete. We were inspired by forms such as sand dunes, which are sculpted by nature. The superformed aluminium door is a great example of this; its shape shows how air streams expand around the car.”
Indeed, the Artura’s form is very much determined by function. “Everything is distilled down and there for a reason,” Melville continues. “We don’t decorate our cars. We take what you need, then make it beautiful.”
Dan Parry-Williams, director of engineering design, has led development of the Artura’s all-new carbon fibre chassis. “We pride ourselves on lightweight engineering, it seeps into every pore,” he says. “It reduces CO2 and increases the agility of the car – and therefore driving engagement.”
The monocoque is made up of 500 individual parts, which join together in 11 sub-assemblies. All these are then put into a mould, clamped together and resin-injected at high pressure, with the hybrid batteries forming part of the structure. Previously, 20 percent of this process was automated – now the figure is 70 percent. It all takes place at McLaren’s new MCTC factory in Sheffield.
Response is electric… but the brakes aren’t
Among hundreds of engineering targets, McLaren uses a metric called T90. This measures how long it takes from moving your foot to the throttle and requesting full torque, to feeling 90 percent of that in the car.
For the Artura, with its ready wallop of electric assistance, that period is just 0.6 seconds: quicker than any roadgoing McLaren so far. “It feels instantaneous,” confirms Geoff Grose.
However, while the throttle gets an electric boost, the brake pedal does not. Grose explains: “We recover energy through engine braking. But we haven’t gone for a ‘blended’ brake pedal, because it takes away from driver feel. We wanted absolute clarity in all of the controls.” No one-pedal driving for Artura owners, then.
The diff is electric… but the steering isn’t
Speaking of clarity, McLaren is one of only a handful of carmakers that hasn’t adopted CO2-saving electric power steering. Grose continues: “We decided to keep hydraulic steering, as it offers great feel and consistency. Those are qualities that McLaren drivers really appreciate.”
Driver feedback was also partly behind the introduction of an e-differential. McLarens to-date have used open rear differentials, which always transfer an equal amount of power to both wheels. The e-diff electronically limits slip if one wheel is losing traction. “It improves stability into corners and traction coming out,” says Grose. “It’s a bit more controllable and seamless than brake-steer, which we’ve used in the past.”
Bespoke Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres are another ingredient in the Artura’s dynamic armour. It’s the first car to use Pirelli’s ‘Cyber Tyre’ tech, with a Bluetooth chip inside the rubber to constantly monitor pressure and temperature.
The next step, of course, is driving it, which we’ll do in early June . If the experience feels as impressive as the engineering behind it, the Artura should be rather special.
UK registrations of new cars declined by more than a fifth (20.6 percent) in May 2022 compared to the same month in 2021.
It was the second-weakest May in three decades, with 124,394 new cars registered. Only the pandemic-hit May 2020 was worse, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The SMMT blames the poor month on continued problems with the supply of components, including semiconductor shortages. Issues caused by the war in Ukraine are also a factor.
Vauxhall Corsa still UK’s favourite
Of all new cars, the Vauxhall Corsa emerged as the UK’s favourite for May 2022. A total of 4,399 examples were registered, followed by the Ford Puma on 3,580.
It sees the Corsa remain the UK’s best-selling car overall for 2022, with a total of 17,198 new models registered so far.
Sales of private vehicles fell by 10.6 percent during May 2022 versus the same month in 2021. Fleet and business sales dropped by 29.9 percent and 27.1 percent respectively.
Battery-electric vehicles did demonstrate their growing importance to buyers. With 15,448 examples sold, full-electric cars accounted for 12.4 percent of all registrations in May.
Green van drivers on the up
New van registrations suffered an even worse month than cars. Compared to May 2021, SMMT figures show van numbers dropped by 25.1 percent.
The Ford Transit Custom was the most popular new model, with 3,244 examples registered. Ford’s regular Transit claimed second place, with 2,851 sales.
As with the car market, battery-electric vans demonstrated a substantial increase in numbers. The month saw 869 electric vans registered, up by 46.5 percent compared with a year ago.
Vauxhall’s e-Vivaro accounted for 212 of the new registrations, and leads the overall electric van market in 2022.
CarPlay allows users of Apple’s iPhone to control functions such as music and maps directly through their car’s multimedia system.
However, updates announced as part of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022 will expand even further on what CarPlay can currently do.
The new CarPlay functions will form part of the company’s latest iOS 16 operating system for its smart devices.
Customise your digital dashboard
Apple promises the next-generation of CarPlay will ‘deeply integrate’ with a car’s existing hardware.
This means systems such as climate control and radio will be able to be operated directly through the CarPlay app. At present, drivers would have to return to the normal multimedia screens to be able to change these.
More significantly, CarPlay will be capable of controlling more than just one single multimedia display. Instead, Apple wants drivers to have the ability to customise all screens, including even digital dashboards.
Drivers will be able to customise the layout of their dashboard, along with adding ‘widgets’ for weather and music. CarPlay will still render required information such as vehicle speed and fuel level.
Car buyers demand Apple CarPlay
Driving Apple’s upgrade of CarPlay software is demand from consumers. Almost 80 percent of new-car buyers in the United States will only consider models that offer CarPlay.
Some 98 percent of all new cars are compatible with CarPlay.
For manufacturers, this means a need to integrate with Apple’s technology, or risk losing sales to those who do. Apple has said it will offer more information on the updated CarPlay software later this year, along with confirmation as to which vehicles it will be available in.
Apple notes that Audi, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, and more are committed to integrating their vehicles with new CarPlay software.
One of the most recognisable bridges in the UK will undergo much-needed renovation work, after receiving new funding from the Department for Transport.
The Tyne Bridge, which carries the A167 between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead, has been awarded £35.3 million for maintenance. A further £6.1 million will come from local authority budgets.
It is one of four major infrastructure projects across England to be allocated funds, from a total pot of £160.8 million.
Set to shine again
Built by Middlesbrough-based Dorman Long, the Tyne Bridge’s design was based on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. Opened in 1928 by King George V, the Grade II listed bridge has become a feature of the annual Great North Run half-marathon.
It last underwent maintenance in 2001, with major efforts now required to ensure it can continue to carry more than 90,000 vehicles every day.
Work on the bridge is expected to start later this year. This will include the full structure being repainted, plus repairs to the steel and concrete. The funding will also see traffic management improvements made to the connecting Central Motorway.
Leader of Newcastle City Council, councillor Nick Kemp said: “This is fantastic news for the city and the North East. Our much-loved bridge, which is a symbol of home for Geordies all over the world, will soon be shining proudly in the Newcastle skyline once again.”
“Giving motorists the roads they deserve”
The Department for Transport funding will also see £78.5 million spent on a new 3.85-mile road, linking St Austell in Cornwall to the A30. This is expected to generate £112 million in wider economic benefits.
Enhancing walking and cycling, along with tackling congestion, will be the focus of the £33.6 million allocated to the A34 between Greater Manchester and Stockport.
Finally, £13.4 million is to be used for urgent maintenance to the A35 Redbridge Causeway. This provides a vital link between the New Forest, Southampton and its port.
Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “This £160.8 million investment will level up those opportunities from the North East to the South West, while giving motorists, cyclists and pedestrians the modern, safe and uncongested roads they deserve.”
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is gearing up to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Ford.
Produced across the globe, the ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ has become an icon of hot rodding culture.
Now, as its 90th birthday approaches, many of the most famous 1932 Fords will go on display at the Petersen.
Celebrating trendsetting Deuces
The “Ford Fever: The Deuce Turns 90” exhibit will open in the Ross and Beth Myers Gallery at the Petersen, on June 11 2022.
Cars on display will include the McGee Roadster, which featured on the Happy Days TV show.
Its trendsetting design saw it inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register, and showcased on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Doane Spencer’s historic Highboy, Ray Brown’s Roadster, and Doyle Gammell’s Coupe will also feature. Movie fans will also recognize the 1932 ‘Flathead’, which appeared in Iron Man and Iron Man 2.
Legends of the hot rod world
Opening the exhibition will be the Deuce Gala on Saturday, June 11. This will see ZZ Top frontman and auto enthusiast Billy F. Gibbons presented with the Hot Rod Icon Award.
Tickets for the gala, which includes dinner and a live music performance by Gibbons, are available for $250.
On Sunday, June 12, the Petersen’s parking deck will host the Deuce Day Cruise-In. Many of the museum’s own hot rods will be on show, in what should be one of the largest gatherings of 1932 Fords in Southern California.
“The 1932 Fords are marquee vehicles synonymous with the origins of hot rodding and worthy of an extended celebration,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges.
“The exhibit, gala and cruise-in will pay tribute to the Fords’ legacy and how they continue to captivate automotive and hot-rodding enthusiasts 90 years after debuting on the market.”
A safari-specification 1978 Porsche 911 SC, driven by rally superstar Ken Block, has been listed for auction on the Collecting Cars platform.
Finished in Block’s ‘It’s A Living’ livery, the road-legal sports car competed in the 2022 East African Safari Rally Classic.
Built by the famed Tuthill Porsche company, the 911 SC represents a formidable classic rally machine.
‘One careful owner’
The East African Safari Rally Classic was first held in 2003, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original Safari Rally. With a total distance of 1,133 miles, it clocks in at 100-miles longer than the entire U.S. Rally Championship.
Despite this Ken Block, and co-driver Alex Gelsomino, went all-in on the event. Collecting one stage victory, the duo finished in a respectable 19th position overall.
Since completing the event, the 911 SC has been returned to Tuthill Porsche in Oxfordshire. It still retains the dirt and dust collected on its African adventure.
Reinforcements incoming
Tuthill Porsche has developed a reputation for building impressive rally ready 911s. This particular 911 SC is no different, making use of a strengthened bodyshell.
Taken back to bare metal, the Tuthill team spent around 350 hours adding extra strengthening and double-skin reinforcements. Upgraded mounts for the suspension dampers were also installed.
Complete underbody protection was fitted, featuring sturdy ‘roo’ bars. The side windows are made from Perspex, whilst a safari roof vent is the finishing touch.
Inside, the 911 SC has a fully welded-in roll cage, a pair of Recaro bucket seats, and a dished Sparco steering wheel. Fire extinguishers and racing harnesses are present, too.
Powered-up Porsche
Powering the 911 SC is an air-cooled 3.0-l flat-six engine. A bespoke rally camshaft has been installed, said to push output to a considerable 280 hp. Tuthill fitted the Porsche with a competition-specification exhaust.
A bespoke safari five-speed gearbox is connected to a limited-slip differential. This uses a Tuthill gear lever, which features an extended shifter.
Custom Tuthill brakes are found behind the white 15-inch Braid alloy wheels. EXE-TC 5-way adjustable dampers, strengthened rear suspension arms, and a safari steering rack completed the build.
Ready to rally again
Tuthill notes that being in ‘as rallied’ condition means the 911 SC is wearing battle scars from its African competition. Minor damage can be seen on the lower body panels, with some repaired with tape.
Some dust and dirt can be found inside, but there are said to be no electrical mechanical faults with the car. It means it could be ready to rally again in next year’s Safari Rally Classic.
As a formidable rally machine in its own right, having been driven by Ken Block will only add to the appeal. Bidding had already been intense, ahead of the auction ending on Sunday, 5 June.
BMW has announced that millions of cars across the UK will receive a special animation to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
Vehicles equipped with BMW’s latest multimedia operating system will have the chance to view the limited-edition ‘Easter Egg’ during the four-day weekend.
The celebratory animation is made possible by BMW’s use of ‘over-the-air’ updates, allowing its in-car operating system to be remotely upgraded.
A right royal celebration
BMW will make the Platinum Jubilee animation available to drivers of cars equipped with Operating System 7 and 8 software.
Between Thursday 2 June and Sunday 5 June, drivers will be presented with a special banner in the Control Display screen. Selecting the banner will launch the full-screen Jubilee animation.
The animation begins with a rendering of the Giant’s Causeway, and moves through the UK from Tenby, to the Scottish Highlands. It ends in London, showing scenes of a Platinum Jubilee street party.
Complete software customisation
BMW describes the special animation as bringing the chosen ‘locations to life’, and hopes that it ‘embodies the atmosphere of the Platinum Jubilee’.
As one of the first manufacturers to launch ‘over-the-air’ updates with the X7 SUV, BMW has expanded the ability to modify and update its operating system.
Today, more than 3.3 million BMW vehicles around the world use the latest Operating System 7 or 8 software.
This allows BMW to modify every single line of programming code in compatible vehicles, creating the ability to add new features or upgrade existing ones. Customers can also pay to install extra functionality, or simply activate them for a limited period of time.
Fiat’s path to complete electrification began with the launch of the 500 Hybrid and Panda Hybrid.
Both models make use of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder ‘Firefly’ engine, which features a mild-hybrid system. Delivering 69hp, it replaces the previous 1.2-litre ‘Fire’ engine.
The New Fiat 500 was designed to be a full-electric vehicle from the start, with two battery options available. With the larger 42kWh battery chosen, it allows the New 500 to cover up to 199 miles between charges.
Finally, this year saw Fiat launch the Tipo Hybrid and 500X Hybrid. These models include 48-volt mild-hybrid capabilities, connected to a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
New 500 leading the charge
The motivation for Fiat’s move to a fully electrified model range can be found in the success of the New 500 EV. It has become the best-selling electric car in 11 countries, including both Italy and France.
Being the second best-selling electric car in any segment in Europe, behind only Tesla, is a considerable achievement, too.
Greg Taylor, Fiat and Abarth UK MD, commented: “This step in Fiat’s history marks a pivotal point in our commitment to providing affordable and sustainable mobility solutions for all of our customers.
“The move lends itself to our vehicles which are suited to urban areas, spearheaded by the popularity of the New 500.”
