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Max Verstappen gets charged up for the new season

Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has surprised young go-kart racers near Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes HQ.

The 26-year-old got behind the wheel of the all-electric Honda e:Ny1 ahead of 2024 FIA Formula 1 season, which marks 20 years of Red Bull Racing, and 60 years since Honda’s first participation in F1.

Silently whisking him from the Red Bull Technologies Campus to a local indoor go-kart circuit, Verstappen watched the young racers on track, before taking the time to offer his advice and share memories from the early days of his own motorsport career.

“To be here at the kart track to see the younger kids race, and trying to get into the racing world, is really great to see,” said Verstappen. “It was great to see their smiles and it’s always great to interact with race fans.”

“It was so surprising, and just such a good experience,” added Emeli Jordan. “I kind of thought it would be someone from Red Bull, not necessarily a driver, like an engineer or someone, but not Max Verstappen. I was completely speechless; I had no idea what to say!”

Sid Smith added: “It was such a surprise to come round the corner and see Max Verstappen. It’s always been a dream to meet him. It was absolutely awesome. And I got a signed hat as well, so it was definitely a day to remember.”

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One millionth electric vehicle registered in the UK

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Lotus Emeya completes intensive test programme

Home / Auto News / Lotus Emeya completes intensive test programme

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
Auto News

The all-new Lotus Emeya has completed an extensive three-year test and development programme across 15 countries and two continents.

Cold-weather validation programme in the Arctic Circle confirms the “hyper-GT” can perform in the harshest conditions, including temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius.

It’s claimed the rigorous tuning and testing process ensures the Emeya drives like a true Lotus, so it’s “engaging and desirable, with safe handling so customers can maximise dynamic performance”.

Most recently, the all-electric grand tourer has been in Ivalo, Finland, around 250km inside the Arctic Circle. The three-year test and development programme took place on a variety of terrain and conditions -from the UK’s challenging B-roads to the smooth and fast-flowing German autobahn, through the highest Alpine passes and the remoteness of Inner Mongolia.

Testing also took place at race tracks such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife and at proving grounds like the high-speed loop near the southern Italian town of Nardò.

Tags 100% electric car electric vehicle EV GT Lotus Lotus Emeya performance

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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Revealed: The world’s most popular new car of 2023

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One millionth electric vehicle registered in the UK

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Britain’s one millionth electric vehicle has hit the road – a key milestone on the journey to a carbon zero future.

A total of 20,935 fully electric cars were registered last month, up 21% compared to the same month last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This takes the overall total since 2002 to 1,001,677.

However, the recent growth is being driven by fleet sales, with sales to private buyers actually falling.

The UK new car market in general grew 8.2% for January with 142,876 new cars registered – an uplift of 10,882 units on January 2023, the best performance for the month since 2020, and the 18th consecutive month of growth.

“It’s taken just over 20 years to reach our million EV milestone – but with the right policies, we can double down on that success in just another two,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.

“Market growth is currently dependent on businesses and fleets. Government must therefore use the upcoming Budget to support private EV buyers, temporarily halving VAT to cut carbon, drive economic growth and help everyone make the switch.

“Manufacturers have been asked to supply the vehicles, we now ask government to help consumers buy the vehicles on which net zero depends.”

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Extreme weather testing for all-new MINI Aceman

Home / Auto News / Extreme weather testing for all-new MINI Aceman

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

The upcoming MINI Aceman electric crossover has been undergoing final testing in the desert in strong sunlight and temperatures of up to 50 Degrees C.

The Aceman, which has already successfully completed tests at the Arctic Circle, combines “the features of the two most successful MINI models, the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman, to create a new vehicle concept”.

In addition to driving dynamics and comfort, the test team is focusing on the demanding aspects of an electric vehicle, such as the air conditioning, charging and cooling of the battery in extreme conditions.

The MINI Aceman will bridge the gap between the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman and is expected to be unveiled at the Auto China show on 24 April.

Only available as an EV, it will have a modest battery size of 54.2kWh and power will come from a single electric motor at the front axle. Range is expected to be up to 248 miles.

Tags Crossover electric vehicle EV mini MiNI Aceman Mini Cooper MINI Countryman

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Revealed: The world’s most popular new car of 2023

Gareth Herincx

4 days ago
Auto News

The Tesla Model Y is on course to take the crown as the world’s best-selling vehicle of last year.

While a small number of countries are yet to release their sales figures for 2023, preliminary data collected by automotive analyst JATO Dynamics indicates that the Model Y is in an unassailable position with 1.23 million cars sold – a 64% increase year-on-year.

“The increase in global sales of the Model Y is unprecedented, particularly for a vehicle in the top ten best-sellers,” said Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics. “What Tesla has been able to achieve with the Model Y in such a short space of time is simply remarkable.”

Crucially, it topped sales in both Europe and China, the world’s two largest EV markets. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), more than 456,000 were registered in China alone – an increase of 45% from 2022.

All this means that 2023 will mark the end of Toyota’s recent dominance with the RAV4 and Corolla leading the way. However, both models lack pure electric options, with only hybrid alternatives on offer.

Despite this, the second best-selling vehicle in 2023 is set to be the Toyota RAV4, with 1.07 million registrations, pipping the Corolla in third place (1.01 million).

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