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McLaren is selling some of its vast collection of historical sports cars and Formula 1 cars to raise capital, as Bloomberg reported and Car and Driver confirmed with a McLaren spokesperson.The additional capital is needed to fund “certain technical upgrades” for the Artura supercar that have led to delivery delays, the automaker said.The Artura features a hybrid V-6 powertrain and is being produced on an all-new platform called MCLA. McLaren is taking a creative move to deal with a looming financial burden that appears to be closing in. As first reported by Bloomberg, the British sports-car manufacturer has sold cars from its own collection of heritage vehicles to help it fund the upcoming Artura hybrid supercar—but without losing custody of them.More on McLaren and the ArturaA McLaren spokesperson declined to provide Car and Driver with a list of which vehicles were sold but confirmed that the cars are not going away. In fact, they’re being licensed back to McLaren and are staying at the Woking headquarters. McLaren is hoping to buy the entire collection back as part of recapitalization plan involving shareholders, which it hopes to have finalized in Q1 next year according to the spokesperson.It’s no secret that McLaren has been strapped for cash for a few years now. In 2020, after pausing production and cutting 1200 employees from its workforce, the Woking, England, based outfit was bailed out by the National Bank of Bahrain. No surprise there, given that the Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund (Mumtalakat) is the primary shareholder of both the bank and McLaren. In that same year, the company was denied a line of credit with the British government worth roughly $160 million. One year later, McLaren agreed to a deal wherin the company would sell its Woking headquarters to a real estate investment trust for slightly over $200 million and stay on as a tenant on a 20-year lease. McLaren has been trying to sell from its collection for at least two years, but the company received pushback from holders of pre-existing debt. McLaren’s 2021 annual report states that there are about 54 vehicles in the collection and notes: “There is a market for these assets, and the Group may determine as appropriate to sell a specific and limited number of these cars to specialist collectors from around the world.” As of December 31, 2021, the heritage collection was worth the equivalent of about $42 million, according to the same annual report. That’s no surprise for a collection that includes Formula 1 cars driven by Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Mika Häkkinen plus the car that brought Lewis Hamilton his maiden World Championship. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

After a brief hiatus, the Mercedes-AMG S63 is back for 2023, now bearing the E Performance badge that signifies AMG’s sporty plug-in hybrids.The twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor combine for 791 horsepower, which can catapult the big sedan to 60 mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds.An air suspension and adaptive dampers should give the S63 the ability to switch between a cloud-like ride and athletic handling, and the cabin remains extremely luxurious.Mercedes controversially replaced the 2024 AMG C63’s V-8 with a plug-in-hybrid four-cylinder setup, sparking worry among AMG aficionados that other high-powered Mercedes could suffer a similar downsizing. But fear not, for the new 2023 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance retains its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, adding a permanently excited synchronous electric motor to produce a massive 791 hp and 1055 pound-feet of torque. All of that power shoots the gargantuan sedan to 60 mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds and on to an electronically limited 180-mph top speed. The V-8 engine yields 603 hp and 664 pound-feet on its own, fed through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The hot-V setup, with the turbochargers stuffed between the cylinder banks, claims to improve responsiveness. The V-8 also features a belt-driven starter-generator that is integrated into the 400-volt electrical system. The electric motor, meanwhile, is mounted on the rear axle and is paired with a two-speed transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. The second gear engages around 87 mph, when the e-motor reaches its maximum speed of 13,500 rpm, dropping the motor back to a low rpm where it makes its peak torque. The electric motor can make 188 hp for up to 10 seconds, or a continuous 94 hp. While the gas and electric powertrains use separate transmissions, the all-wheel-drive system allows the e-motor’s power to be sent to the front wheels as well so the S63 can run as an all-wheel-drive EV. The battery pack is situated above the rear axle and has a 13.1-kWh capacity, providing a driving range of around 20 miles. Mercedes says that the positioning of the motor and battery on the rear axle improves weight distribution and handling.The S63 offers four levels of regeneration—the lowest allows for coasting while the highest permits one-pedal driving and can return up to 90 kW back into the battery. Charging for the battery is handled by a 3.7-kW onboard AC charger, but Mercedes didn’t cite a recharging time estimate. The new S63 comes with seven drive modes. The car starts silently in Electric mode—although a start-up sound “characteristic of AMG” plays on the interior speakers—and the S63 exclusively uses electric power up to 87 mph. The AMG also plays a low-frequency sound on exterior loudspeakers up to 19 mph to alert pedestrians of the luxo-barge’s presence. As the battery’s charge gets low, the car will switch into Comfort, which balances the two propulsion systems for smooth driving. A Battery Hold setting maintains the remaining charge, while Sport and Sport+ prioritize the e-motor’s power for spirited driving. A Slippery setting flattens the torque curve and prevents electric-only driving, while Individual lets the driver customize the setup. With air springs and adaptive dampers, the AMG Ride Control+ suspension system allows the S63 to transform from a sedate cruiser to a sports sedan depending on the drive mode. The S63 also lowers by 0.4 inches when it exceeds 75 mph, and it features active roll stabilization thanks to electro-mechanically controlled anti-roll bars that can be divided in half to handle differing road imperfections on either side of the car. Standard rear-wheel steering makes the S63 more nimble in tight spaces and more stable during high-speed cornering. The S63 doesn’t look too distinct from a normal S-class, but features a new grille with vertical slats and a front bumper with larger air intakes. The S63 rides on 21-inch wheels, while the rear includes four trapezoidal tailpipes sandwiching a diffuser. The cabin is appropriately rich and luxuriant for an S-class, with special AMG upholstery, stitching, seats, and steering wheel. The infotainment system also gains specific AMG and hybrid displays. More from Mercedes-AMGMercedes has yet to divulge pricing information for the S63 E Performance. The previous generation S63 sedan cost $152,595, a nearly $60,000 increase over the base S-class at the time. With the current S500 starting at $115,550, we expect the S63 to crest the $170,000 mark. Pricing details and availability will come later, but the S63 should arrive at some point in 2023. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

This brand-new EV-only SUV from the U.K. startup Munro combines mechanical four-wheel drive with electric power.It’s being offered with a choice of 295-hp and 375-hp motors and 61.0-kWh and 81.0-kWh battery packs. The new SUV, just called the “Mk 1,” will be coming to the U.S. in a limited run during 2023.Neither the Tesla Cybertruck nor the INEOS Grenadier has come to market yet—but the Munro Mk 1 may beat them to it, and it could pass as their love child. It’s an all-new fully electric SUV from Scotland that promises to combine a zero-emissions drivetrain with go-anywhere utility. The Scottish company building it confirms it will be sold in the States, with the first examples set to arrive here as soon as next year.MunroNamed after the term for a Scottish mountain more than 3000 feet in height, the Munro will be sold as a work truck rather than a leisure vehicle, although it is not hard to see its appeal to green adventurers. According to Munro CEO Russ Peterson, it has been designed to meet Class 3 medium-duty classification in the U.S., with either a two- or a five-seat cabin and the ability to carry up to 2200 pounds of cargo. It can also tow up to 7700 pounds under European testing methodology.Beyond the electric powertrain, the Munro takes a very traditional approach. It sits on a ladder-frame steel chassis and uses solid axles at both ends, powered by a permanent four-wheel-drive system which incorporates a low-range transfer case intended for off-roading. A locking center differential will be standard, with locking front and rear diffs an option. MunroTerrifyingly Quick? While most electric SUVs use two or more motors, the Mk 1 takes a much simpler approach. It uses a single centrally mounted axial flux motor which then supplies drive to each corner mechanically. Munro says it is planning to offer both 295-hp and 375-hp motor options, plus the choice of 61.0-kWh and 81.0-kWh battery capacities. (The packs are actually split into three, with one between the chassis rails and two more just outside.) The more powerful motor will only come with the bigger battery. Munro says it’s targeting 190 miles of range under the European WLTP test; that would probably fall to less than 170 miles in the U.S. We don’t have a range prediction for the smaller pack. The Mk 1 will support both AC charging and DC fast-charging. It will be quick, too—possibly terrifyingly so, given a claimed 4.9-second zero-to-62-mph time for the most powerful version. Top speed will be limited to 80 mph.The Mk 1’s bodywork has been designed by Ross Compton, who formerly worked at Bollinger Motors. The quad light units at each side at the front are off-the-shelf units designed to be easily replaced; the charging ports sit just inside the left-hand unit. Bodywork is aluminum, although with wheel arches protected by bolt-on fiberglass cladding that is intended to be easily replaced in the event of damage. Similar logic has dictated all-flat glass, allowing users in remote areas to cut replacement windows if they are unable to find original parts. (Gordon Murray used the similar idea for his innovative OX concept.) No-nonsense interior of the Munro Mk 1.MunroThe Mk 1’s interior is similarly utilitarian. The concept shown at the launch event in Edinburgh didn’t have carpeting or a headliner, although we’re told the production version will gain some kind of noise insulation. Although short on toys, the cabin has plenty of room for five full-size adult occupants, and this is definitely one EV that won’t be criticized for a lack of luggage space: the huge plywood-lined load compartment has been sized to accommodate a 47.2-by-31.5-inch pallet. There are also two storage lockers within the front fenders that can be accessed by small flaps on top; this arrangement is intended to help keep dirty items out of the cabin.Plug-In TruckingIf Munro is able to deliver on its promises for the concept, the Mk 1’s off-road performance should be impressive. The company claims a very impressive 18.9-inches of ground clearance and a 31.5-inch wading depth. Despite sitting on a 130-inch wheelbase, the Mk 1’s minimal overhangs mean it is just 180.7 inches long, or 19.7-inches shorter than the new Land Rover Defender 130. The widely pushed axles also give the Mk 1 a claimed 84-degree approach angle, 51-degree departure angle, and 31.6-degree ramp-over angle. We don’t have a finalized curb weight yet, but Munro is hoping this will be around 5500 pounds, which would be very impressive if delivered for such a sizable EV.Having spent around £1m building the prototype, Munro is now raising funding that will allow it to started limited production of the Mk 1, with early vehicles then sent to commercial users for in-the-wild testing. Beyond that the ambition is to create a new manufacturing facility capable of producing up to 2500 cars a year in Scotland – which would be the country’s first car factory since the former Chrysler plant at Linwood was closed in 1981. But Peterson also told C/D that any volume production for the U.S. would almost certainly come from a plant in North American to help avoid import taxes. Pricing for the most basic two-seat version will be about $61,000 at current exchange rates and run to the equivalent of around $115,000 for the five-seater with the more powerful motor, bigger battery pack, and a full set of options including air suspension. We look forward to finding out how it deals with the more rugged and remote parts of its homeland. Also, ours. This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More