by Gabrielle DeSantis

The new FIA Le Mans Hypercar class is quite different from the previous LMP1 category. Besides significant cost reductions for race teams, the new rules allow the cars to be larger and provide more design freedom. Here are the three Hypercar types that will compete in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Glickenhaus’ SCG 007 Hypercar enters Le Mans for the first time

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is a maker of boutique sports cars and a competitor in the Nürburgring Endurance Series. For its first 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team will field two all-new SCG 007 Hypercars. Podium Advanced Technologies designed the chassis, while Pipo Moteurs engineered a proprietary 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 for the cars. The powertrain design is based on Pipo’s successful four-cylinder motors from the World Rally Championship.

“Pipo has made the most spectacular four-cylinder single-turbo WRC engine in the world,” Glickenhaus told Sportscar365. “It is a beautiful engine and their dream, like mine, is to go to Le Mans and win. Together, they proposed that they would build two of their WRC motors, put them in a common block with a flat-plane crank, and we would have a V8 that can make 870 hp.”

For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the boosted V8 will be restricted to the 600 hp range, per FIA Hypercar regulations. Per Last Lap, SCG 007’s gearbox is a seven-speed Xtrac sequential unit that sends power only to the rear wheels.

The Alpine A480 is all-motor

Originally designed for the now-defunct LMP1 class, the A480 marks Alpine’s first foray into the top prototype category at Le Mans. Per Racecar Engineering, the Rebellion R13-based chassis came from established racing constructor Oreca. Powering the carbon fiber shell is a naturally-aspirated Gibson 4.5-liter V8 with a Cosworth ECU and Xtrac six-speed gearbox.

According to the manufacturer, Gibson Technology, the aluminum-block motor only weighs 119 kg (262 lbs). For Le Mans, it will be set up to produce 625 horsepower with a redline of 8400 RPM. It’s worth mentioning that Gibson’s motor does not use direct fuel injection, opting instead for a conventional port injection setup.

“Motorsport is inseparable from Alpine,” said Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine. “After eight successful years [in LMP2], it is now time to join the top category as the brand makes a new start. The regulations’ evolution offers us the opportunity to express our passion, demonstrate our technical know-how, and our experience in a fair and cost-effective framework.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing has a new GR010 Hybrid

Toyota Gazoo Racing is the team to beat in 2021, having won the previous three 24 Hours of Le Mans events. Powering the rear wheels on each new GR010 is a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, while an Aisin/Denso electric motor drives the front axle as needed. According to Racecar Engineering, the new FIA Hypercar rules allow electric power on a single axle only.

“The biggest change for us here was to move to only a front motor-generator unit after five years with a hybrid on both the front and rear axles,” said GR Chassis Project Leader, John Litjens. “The packaging for the hybrid system was more challenging on this car because of updated safety standards. Additionally, the combustion engine is more powerful on the GR010 HYBRID compared to the TS050 HYBRID. So it is a very different car both in appearance and in how it sounds.”

With new contenders challenging Toyota, the Hypercar class at Le Mans 2021 will definitely be one to watch. Three different powertrain layouts will be on track, with a total of five cars in the top category.

RELATED: The Most Famous Race Tracks That Include Public Roads

The post Le Mans 2021 Hypercar Class Comparison appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It wasn’t all that long ago that you could get a decent vehicle for quite a bit less than buying the same car in the new version. You’d still have some of the same features and accessories, but you wouldn’t be dealing with paying higher car payments. However, used car sales are costing more as the effects of the pandemic are felt. 

What’s worse, the prices are getting so high that they’re almost as expensive as a new car, according to Cars. Some have even surpassed the cost of a new car. What’s going on with the used vehicle market?

What’s happening with used car sales?

Before the pandemic, financial experts would encourage you to bypass buying a new car due to its high prices and large depreciation once you drive it off the lot. Instead, you are told to consider going to the used car market to find your next vehicle purchase because you could ultimately save thousands of dollars. 

However, this year, the situation is pretty much reversed. Car buying on the pre-owned car lots is becoming more expensive than getting a new one. A lightly used vehicle for a 2020 model averages only $2,000 less than the median price of a brand-new vehicle. If you look at a 2018 used vehicles, it was a little over $8,000 less than the 2019 models that were new at the time. 

For some vehicles, it would cost more used than what you would buying new. Kia Telluride is around $3,000 more in the used car market. A brand new one would go for $44,166. The same goes for the GMC Sierra 1500. A pre-owned one is priced at $57,671, which is an increase of 6.4 percent. 

Why has buying become so expensive?

It all boils down to the chip shortage seen amongst many industries, including the automotive arena. Without enough supply, some parts needed for certain cars aren’t getting produced, which means vehicles have to go on a production pause until they can build them. 

With more cars absent from the lineup, the car dealerships are dealing with less inventory to sell. Car buying hasn’t slowed down, though. Consumers are still looking for vehicles, so they’ve turned to the pre-owned car market to find their next purchase. The more people buy used vehicles, the more they drive the prices up for pre-owned ones. 

However, not everyone is turning to used cehicles. Some people take advantage of the price wars by selling their own vehicles or trading them in for a nice profit. Then they go to the dealers and purchase something brand-new that’s on the lot. With less inventory of new vehicles, most dealers fill up their spots with used inventory instead. 

What is the outlook for buying going forward?

Since most of the problems we see in the automotive industry are caused by the shutting down of factories for coronavirus (COVID-19) safety, you can pretty much bet production of new car sales will continue to be slow. As these manufacturers have opened up, it’s now more of a catch-up phase. 

According to KIRO7 News, dealers are focusing on getting used vehicles on their lots that they know will sell quickly. But, in doing so, they end up taking a hit in profits to keep the business going. Getting those pre-owned vehicles is cutthroat because they end up in bidding wars against other dealers, and the auctioned cars go for way more than they used to. 

If production picks up and newer cars start rolling off the lines and onto dealership lots, we could see prices begin to drop.  It won’t likely happen quickly. In the meantime, try getting a good deal on the model that’s caught your eye. The dealer might be willing to offer more for your trade-in to get it on their lot. 

RELATED: Consumer Reports: How to Avoid High Used Car Prices Right Now

The post Used Cars Devastatingly Skyrocket to New Car Prices appeared first on MotorBiscuit.