Month: January 2023

ABT Sportsline is receiving strong support for its comeback in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship: CUPRA is joining the championship for purely electric formula cars as partner alongside ABT Sportsline. In Extreme E, the two brands have been forming a successful duo for two years and just won the season finale in Uruguay. As early as next week, the ABTCUPRA Formula E team will make its first public appearance with the new look at the series’ official test in Valencia.

“We are happy and also proud to have CUPRA at our side for our Formula E comeback,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO of ABT SE. “Our two brands have enjoyed a close and successful partnership for years on the racetrack and on the road, which is now reaching a new level. We are looking forward to the new adventure and I am sure we will attract a lot of attention on and off the racetrack.”
The spectacular design of the race cars for Robin Frijns and Nico Müller is based on the allelectric CUPRA UrbanRebel concept car, of which there will also be a road version in 2025. “I can’t wait to see the ABT CUPRA Formula E team competing in the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities,” says Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA. “Formula E is a unique motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to create emotions and continue to prove that electric motorsport is not boring, but rather goes hand in hand with extreme performance.”
For CUPRA, entering Formula E with ABT is its third involvement in an all-electric
championship, following FIA ETCR and Extreme E. “We are excited to welcome CUPRA to
the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship”, says Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E. “CUPRA has gained rich experience in electric motorsport in recent years. Now in partnership with ABT Sportsline they are set to dial up what is an incredibly competitive Formula E grid in Season 9 and the new Gen3 era. We can’t wait to see them in action in Mexico City in January.”
The new Formula E season kicks off on 14 January 2023 in Mexico City and then travels to at least nine more major cities around the world until the end of July. New locations include Cape Town (South Africa), Hyderabad (India) and São Paulo (Brazil). The highlight from a German perspective will be Formula E’s appearance in Berlin on 22 and 23 April 2023. ABT was already part of the Formula E family from 2014 to 2021 and is still the most successful team with 47 podium finishes. In 2023, the brand will start as a customer team with vehicles from Mahindra Racing.

Vans with combustion engines emit considerable amounts of CO2. Although battery-based electric drives are locally emission-free, they are only an alternative within certain range limits and recharging takes a lot of time. After all, daily distances of 800 km are common in express logistics, for example, which would require battery sizes of 300 kWh without a charging stop. A comparison with the passenger car sector shows that this is not feasible in the van class. There, electric cars rarely have battery capacities of more than 100 kWh, even in the premium segment. “We therefore see a sensible area of application for the hydrogen fuel cell in long-distance logistics,” says Eric Plekkepoel, CEO of ABT e-Line GmbH, a subsidiary of the ABT Group that specialises in alternative drives. The company has gained a lot of experience in the integration of fuel cell drives in two large Tier 1 projects in the last three years. In the next step, two series-produced e-transporters were converted as demonstrator vehicles with this technology. These were presented for the first time at the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover at the end of September. The market demand is so great that ABT e-Line decided to start series development with partners.

When setting up the demonstrator vehicles, the Kempten-based company took over the vehicle integration of the fuel cell system, the safety concept of the entire vehicle, the complete manufacturing process and the road approval. Furthermore, a 700-bar hydrogen tank system was integrated. Two to seven storage tanks can be refuelled in a few minutes. Due to the vehicle architecture and the available installation space, the conversions were a challenge. However, the effort was more than worth it: by implementing the new drive concept, a range increase of several hundred kilometres was achieved. Refuelling is now even necessary later than with comparable diesel models.
Even if the future of mobility will be predominantly battery-electric for efficiency reasons, the fuel cell offers enormous potential for niche applications, especially in the van sector. The energy density typical of hydrogen, which is far from being possible with current battery technology, is a real USP here when range is important. In addition, refuelling is much quicker than recharging batteries. ABT e-Line takes on the role of a technology driver and expert for the conception and realisation of market-ready small series for fuel cell drives.

More and more classic car owners are turning to EFi for improved starting, economy, reliability and performance. In response to customer requests Webcon has just added a complete crank sensor/trigger kit for the ever-popular Ford Crossflow engine to its line up.The kit comes complete with trigger wheel, sensor and all the fitting hardware plus comprehensive instructions to make the installation a straight-forward DIY operation.

The kit is suitable for all Ford Crossflow engines including the Lotus Twin Cam.

Product code: 9990291400. Retail price £150.73 plus VAT

For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

Webcon is pleased to announce that it now offers a complete service kit for a pair of Weber
38/40/45 DCOE carburettors.

The kit contains gaskets, seals, ‘O’ rings and needle valves to overhaul a pair of DCOE carburettors and comes complete with a full part identification guide to ensure you correctly locate and service all of the numerous replaceable parts in your carburettors.

Product Code: 9300150502 Price is £67.50 plusVAT

Available directly from Webcon and from appointed Webcon dealers around the world.
For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

Webcon have just reintroduced the original Weber Marelli type BAE504F ignition coil.

This type of coil is best known for its use on the Ford Cosworth but it was also used on Maserati and Fiat/Lancia applications,

Unfortunately, over the years, many cheap and dubious copies have appeared on the market. However, now that the original type Weber Marelli coil is available again from Webcon, owners can be assured of the OE levels of performance from their ignition system that comes with fitting the genuine article.

Order as part number WIC044, priced at £62.12 plus VAT.

Available directly from Webcon and from appointed Webcon dealers around the world.
For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

The top tint, heated front windscreen with hidden element from Mini Spares will visually upgrade any Mini (or kit car using a Mini front screen) whilst rapidly resolving any misting or frost problem.

The screen is easy to fit – Mini Spares can also supply an illuminated switch, a relay and windscreen fitting tools.

Order the top tint, heated front windscreen as part number MS85A at £114.00 inc VAT.

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

It’s important to keep a Mini’s steering and suspension gaiters in good condition to prevent road grit and debris from damaging the joint within. That’s why they should be replaced at the first sign of a split or suggestion of perishing perishing.

Diligence is needed as, unfortunately, original rubber gaiters are prone to splitting and if subject to oil contamination can quickly perish.

Thankfully, Mini Spares has come up with polyurethane upgraded gaiters for all knuckle joints and many track rod ends. These greatly reduce the chances of splitting and eliminate the problem of perishing.

It should be noted that this gaiter may not fit every track rod end because over the past 55 years many ‘pattern’ track rod ends have been produced; however, it will fit every genuine Mini suspension knuckle ball joint (part no GSV1118) ever made.

Order as 21A425EVO at £2.52 inc VAT each.

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

Mini Spares has just released a brand new alloy rocker cover which has been manufactured to fit all classic Mini heads. It is a brilliant new design by Richard at Mini Spares (York) based on extensive experience of the Mini ‘A’ Series engine.

It includes arecess for the extra bolts that are required if it is being fitted to an eleven stud head (the cover works perfectly with both the 9 stud and 11 stud gasket).

It has also been designed to clear all Mini Spares 1.5 rockers and it features ribs at the ends and on the top for quietness and to ensure that the gasket seats properly.

Order as part number ROCKERCVR01 which comes with a tethered filler cap as shown.
Price: £60.76 inc VAT

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

M-Style is pleased to be able to offer this excellent carbon fibre complete body kit for M-Sport models of the BMW G30 Five-Series saloon.

The kit includes:
Front splitter
Rear diffuser
Side skirt under splitters
Rear boot spoiler

We all know that genuine carbon fibre is expensive, so it may come as a surprise that this M-Style kit is available at just £1306 including VAT.
M-Style can also provide a full fitting service at a reasonable price at its Romford based fitting centre.

To complete the ‘executive look’ M-Style also offers a gloss black grille, performance exhausts and a wide selection of alloy wheels.

­For further details e-mail info@mstyle.co.uk or call 0208 598 9115

Winter’s here and by now most classics will be tucked up in their garages undergoing a seasonal refurb.

So it’s the ideal time to remind everyone about GAZ adjustable GT dampers for the VW Beetle 1300 and 1500.

GAZ fully adjustable GT dampers enable the damping bump and rebound rate to be adjusted to suit the conditions, load and driving style. The damping rates can be altered by means of an easily accessible knob on the side of the units.

GAZ can set these dampers up for general road use or for serious classic racing if that’s your preference.

GAZ dampers feature a zinc plated body and protective plastic sleeve to keep them looking good and working well for long into the future.

All units are individually tested before leaving the factory and are covered by a two year warranty.

GAZ rear dampers for the 1300 & 1500 Beetle can be ordered as GT6-2303 at £63.70 each + VAT and front dampers are part number GT6-2302, also at £63.70 each + VAT.

These part numbers will fit 1300 & 1500 Beetles from 8/1965 to 1979 and all Karmann Ghia models with swing axle. (1302 and 1303 models use a different part number – also available from GAZ)

For further details visit the GAZ website: www.gazshocks.com