May
The EV market in Austria and around the world is growing at an expedited rate, and statistics indicate that Tesla sold as many as 180,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021. According to Ofer Levin GTI, a leading expert in electric vehicles, 4% of all the sales were made to Austria, and Tesla Model 3 was the most in-demand. This makes up 33% of all vehicles in Austria’s market and is followed closely by Volkswagen AG at 12% of the market share.
In a recent press release published by Express Press Release, Ofer Levin GTI said: “With these statistics, we can conclude that Tesla is taking over the automobile market. We are foreseeing a scenario whereby shortly, the gas-powered vehicles will be outdated. This is because electric cars are being embraced worldwide and are quickly replacing traditional gas-powered cars”.
Nov
The Porsche 911 Turbo S can cost up to 4 times as much, depending on the country you buy it in. Good news for Canadians – Canada is the cheapest country to buy a 911 in the world
According to recent reports, Canada is the most affordable country in the world to purchase a supercar. The Global Supercar Index ranks the cost of supercars by stacking up the relative MSRP of a brand-new Porsche 911 Turbo S, in 50 different countries.
As stated in the index, Canada has the lowest entry price for the 911 coupe, $173,613 (US $), which is actually 81 percent cheaper than the World average price. For comparison, in the second most affordable country, Mexico, you will need to cuff up $177,711, and in the third most affordable country, the UK, you will need to pay almost $200,000.
Watch a Review of the Porsche 911 Turbo S:
In Argentina, the most expensive country according to the index, in order to buy a new 911 Turbo S you will need to pay $696,000, which is $522,387 more than in Canada – crazy difference!
At Ofer Levin GTI we follow the supercar market very closely, so if you want to stay updated, follow us on social media, and get notified when a new article is published on the website.
Nov
The new and improved Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is true work of art, with its impressive 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and electric motor combo, reaching 689 horsepower – 9 more horsepower than the 2020 model.
The electric motor battery has also been increased from 14.1 kWh to 17.9 kWh, not only for this model but all across the Panamera new hybrids. This means that the range of the new S E-Hybrid should be well over the 2020 model 14 miles range.
Watch a Review of the S E-Hybrid:
The new 2021 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid comes in two forms, the standard Executive model and the Wagon model (Sport Turismo). As for acceleration, the happy owners of the S E-Hybrid can expect to go from 0-60 in 3 seconds, and reach a top speed of 196 mph.
We at Ofer Levin GTI wholeheartedly believe that the 2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is an amazing vehicle, with extended range, slick design, and powerful engine. If you are interested in a vehicle that is a real eye-catcher and performs extremely well, you should check this model out.
Oct
Ofer Levin, of Ofer Levin GTI, was recently interviewed on a press release published by Prfire. During the interview, Levin explained why he belives that electric vehicles are going to take over the car market. Electric vehicles are becoming mainstream not only because of their elegance, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness but also due to government incentives on them”, Levin said.
He added: “For instance, government subsidies on electric cars can deduct more than $10,000 from the final purchase price. Also, in some countries like Germany, an electric car can be leased for about 139 euros a month. And undoubtedly, these government subsidies and incentives are making electric cars more accessible to the general populace”.
Oct
The all electric vehicle, the Porsche Taycan, is now Porsche’s best selling sports model in the United States, outselling the legendary 911
The first electric car to create a big buzz since Tesla, the Porsche Taycan has just become one of the best selling sports cars in the United States, outselling the iconic 911 model by about 200 units. Not only that, after the third-quarter sales in the US were revealed – it became clear how popular the model has become, being the third best-selling vehicle of the German automaker, behind the Macan and Cayenne SUVs.
Porsche sold about 15,500 vehicles in total, in the United States, during the third quarter of this year. 12% of the sales were of the Taycan model. It’s definitely been a great debut year for the Tayacan, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic which brought a lot of car sales to a halt, the model sold about 2900 units in the United States alone.
Watch a review of the Porsche Taycan:
We at Ofer Levin GTI definitely suggest taking a look at the EV, Porsche Taycan, which we believe is one of the most advanced and revolutionary vehicles to come out lately.
Sep
The new vantage roadster is a 503 horsepower beast, fun to ride and at an entry price for luxury cars, making it one of the best luxury models to come out this year
With a 503 horsepower engine, the new Vantage Roadster from Aston Martin can rocket from 0-60 in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 190 MPH – making it an entry price luxury car that feels and performs like a top tier one.
You might ask yourself what do we mean by entry price? Well, the base price of the Vantage roadster is just $147,000 – with many additional specs that can be added, such as metallic custom paint for an extra $5,300 or carbon-fiber front and rear splitters for an extra $10,600, and so much more, so that you could truly personalize the Vantage Roadster.
But don’t let the price fool you. Despite the new model being Aston Martin’s most affordable one, it might just also be one of their most enjoyable to ride, due to its amazing power, compact size, and top of the line attention to detail.
Watch a Review of the Vantage Roadster:
We at Ofer Levin GTI wholeheartedly recommend the new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster for a true luxury experience, at a somewhat affordable price – with loads of road fun to be had.
Oct
Exploring Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
If you’re ever lucky enough to explore the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet. It’s both absurdly otherworldly and exquisitely beautiful. It’s probably the brightest and strangest place I’ve encountered in my life and it’s also one of the most interesting environments to drive in. Did you know that the Bolivian salt flat not only looks like another planet, it’s also one of the few spaces on earth so vast that it is visible from space?
The Uyuni salt flat is the largest of its kind in the world. Imagine a thick slab of salt stretching across miles, covered by polygonal patterns jutting out of the ground. And if you think that makes for an interesting road trip, it gets better. For a few months of the year, a thin layer of rain on the salt flat causes a mirror effect. Yes, the surface of the earth becomes one ginormous mirror in every direction. Can you imagine what driving over this enormous expanse feels like? I could kind of imagine it but really wanted to experience it first-hand.
Off to a Rocky Start
Although I was tempted to rent a 4X4 and give Salar de Uyuni a go myself, I couldn’t find anybody adventurous (or crazy!?) enough to join me on this trip, so I decided to join an organized tour. This three-day tour turned out to be one of the bravest trips I’ve taken. The guide’s English was so broken I could hardly understand it. No hot showers, clean beds or ordinary bathrooms, and the high altitude makes everything so much more challenging – no matter how many cocoa leaves you chew, you still feel sick.
The Salt ‘hotel’ we were taken to on the first night was hardly a hotel. When the tour advert said rustic, I imagined a lack of the usual comforts like no air-conditioning and free shampoo samples – not 12 people crammed into a dorm-room under threadbare blankets. Not to mention that we were given rickety Jeeps to drive the following day, not my number one choice in 4X4 by far.
But Who Needs Comfort Anyway?
Thankfully, my annoyance was short-lived. Even after a night spent tossing and turning, my exhaustion went out of the window as soon as we started taking in the spectacular scenery. On the way to the salt flat, we stopped in an area where volcanic activity and erosion created a forest of rocks, including a 7m tall rock shaped like a tree aptly named ‘Tree Rock’. We saw alpacas and pink flamingos by the dozen, live volcanos, super-hot and super loud geysers and a series of stunning lakes, tinted in different colours by algae and minerals.
By the second day, I was even enjoying the Jeep. The highlight for me was to race across the mirror-like surface of the salt flat. Despite his broken English, our guide Juan made it very clear that it was okay to speed by nodding furiously saying, “fast, fast!” Whether this was wise or not, I have no idea. It was electrifying! On my final day, I joined the rest of the tour soaking up warmth and minerals in natural hot springs marveling at my crazy cool experience.
Sep
Introducing the Latest Aston Martin: The Valhalla
Aston Martin has yet again taken a dynamic step in a rigorous and highly demanding arena: the hypercar market. It’s called the Valhalla and it’s due to production lines in 2021. Only 500 of the hybrid supercars will be manufactured, each completely clad in carbon fiber and sporting the iconic name. Watch out, Batman! When James Bond gets hold of this machine, the Batmobile might no longer cut it as the coolest of supercool cars in Hollywood.
Is This the Valkyrie, all Grown Up?
It is exciting times for this brand indeed. For the first time since the turn of the millennium, Aston Martin will be making their own engines. Although the technical specs are not out yet (despite rumors of a 1,000 horsepower), the Valhalla is the next generation of the Valkyrie, after the Valkyrie AMR Pro. Considering the continuation of the Norse god naming theme, it makes sense. CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, spoke about this connection. Palmer stated that although the Valkyrie was always intended to be a once-off project, there was also an intention for it to create a new bloodline of exclusive, highly specialized hypercars.
Tech, Tech, and More Tech
Rumors aside, what’s certain is that the Valhalla will have a turbocharged V6 hybrid engine. I can’t wait to hear the juicy details like power output, displacement etc. It will also be oozing with the latest tech. Many of the Valhalla’s components are built using 3D printing and an innovative new oil system makes oil changes in less than 90 seconds possible. The mysterious engine will definitely be able to achieve ridiculous, and totally illegal speeds.
Is it a Car? Is it a Plane?
Its mind-blowing design and superlight body will most likely facilitate otherworldly road handling at those crazy speeds. The active, aerodynamic features are expected to deliver exceptional levels of downforce through a new-fangled technology known as FlexFoil. Endorsed by NASA, FlexFoil physically alters the Valhalla’s rear wing once it begins to pick up speed and drastically improves downforce. In a nutshell, this is aircraft morphing technology, used on a low-flying car on the ground.
Step Inside
Made with what Aston Martin calls ‘space-age’ materials, the interior has a lightweight center console with basic switches. A well-designed dash strip provides ambient lighting and, again, the basics like air vents and speakers. The storage space behind the seats is a nice, practical touch and the screen mounted on the steering column will make it even more pleasant to drive this car, like it can get any better!
Heaven Sent
As always, Aston Martin cars captivate and entertain by telling stories and invoking emotions. This time they’ve decided to name their hypercar Valhalla. According to Norse mythology, Vikings who wage their battles fiercely and die in honor will be carried by Valkyries to a large and majestic hall in Asgard named Valhalla. Naming this hypercar after Viking heaven is quite appropriate. Who can think of anything more heavenly than driving this spaceship on wheels?
Aug
You Haven’t Lived Till You’ve Gone Dune Surfing
Have you ever been in a desert? Whether you have or haven’t, I want you to take a moment to imagine sitting on top of a colossal sand dune over 30 stories high. You’re in a sturdy car – but that doesn’t matter because its nose is facing about 37 degrees down the dune! What do you do? Do you get out? Or do you push down on the accelerator and GO?
I Went!
And even though I thought my heart would bounce out of my chest, I took a Toyota Land Cruiser down that dune, and up and down another few dunes over the course of three days. I don’t think I’ve had this much adrenaline pumping through my veins since the first time I tore around a track in a Lamborghini. I also haven’t been this terrified, or had this much fun, in years. What made me choose to go on this outrageous adventure?
It All Started With Worms
A friend of mine was given authentic Mexican mescal as a gift. It’s kind of like tequila, you know the one with the worm in? We got chatting about eating the worm and he said that he once ate mopane worms in Namibia and that it was a stunning place. I remembered seeing a car trip through the Namib Desert advertised. Two months later, we’re on a plane heading for Africa!
What a Place
Armed with nothing but gears, gorilla-sized tires, some grit and a few jerrycans for extra fuel and water, I went on a heart-pumping, adrenaline-fueled African adventure. Our trip started in a convoy of 12 cars, mostly Toyotas, all fitted with radios so we can get some expert guidance on how to drive around safely in what felt like the world’s biggest sandpit.
Don’t Forget Your Deodorant!
Everybody had to let their tires down to 0.8 bar as our tour leader Willem gave us a thorough speech of dos and don’ts before taking off. The talk was good but nothing can prepare you for the slides and slips and ridiculous angles we got into on the dunes. One of the other guys on the tour took a sharp turn and hit a clump of vegetation which peeled his tire away from the rim. Willem fixed it with a lighter and a can of deodorant. How, I have no idea, I was too busy concentrating on doing the most technical driving I’ve ever done.
So Much Life (And Death) in One Place
Besides having an epic driving adventure, Namibia was well worth the visit. We were told it’s the oldest desert in the world, but the Namib is anything but boring or dead. Even with all the shipwrecks, ghost towns and fossil plants almost 2,000 years old (the Welwitschia Mirabilis), the Namib is teeming with life. We drove past majestic Oryx blending in beautifully with the sand, saw cute and curious lizards basking on the dunes and came across at least a thousand smelly Cape fur seals suspiciously eyeing a couple of jackals darting around them. We even got up close and personal with a playful herd of zebras.
And on the show stopping final night of the tour, before flying back early the next morning, I experienced eating mopane worms around a big bonfire. Thankfully, I had some amazing local beer to wash them down with! What a wild trip.
Jul
Dodge is Swapping Supercharged for Super Charged
True to muscle car tradition, Dodge has kept their brand offering pure horsepower instead of evolving into contemporary sports cars like Mustang and Camaro. Not that there’s anything wrong with sporty American muscle, it’s just awesome that Dodge is keeping the original muscle car purpose alive and revving. Since it was first released in the 1970s, the Dodge Challenger has been the embodiment of pure muscle. And it’s just getting ‘bigger and badder’ – they even say so in their ads! The latest Challenger SRT Hellcat is fierce. It’s a monster in design and performance. Although I am a die-hard Mustang fan, this Challenger is a supercharged mean machine that holds a special place in my heart – especially because it gives out that old-school vibe. But this may be about to change.
Evolution is Inevitable
Dodge has dodged some of the evolutionary steps like using technology to up their game. For example, Mustang improved their V8s efficiency by evolving their flat-plane crankshafts. They still have that intoxicating loud purr, but the Dodge is definitely a bit rougher around the edges, and that is one of the things making this brand attractive to its followers. But, despite their insistence on keeping cars quite traditional, Dodge is one of the first contemporary classics making the decision to take advantage of the many benefits of going electric.
The Absolute Future, But When?
According to Tim Kuniskis, the man in charge of passenger cars for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Dodge Challenger and Charger will definitely have some kind of electric future, but just how electric, is not yet known. At the unveiling of the Dodge SRT Hellcat and Scat Pack, Kuniskis said, “I think the absolute future is the electrification of these cars.” According to Kuniskis, customers will continue to focus on power and performance and the reason why FCA has not already released electric versions of the Dodge Challenger and Charger is because of affordability. Kuniskis reckons that as soon as the price points come down and it becomes a viable option for mainstream releases, they’ll get on board.
Dodge Fans May Jump Ship Though
There is something to be said of the die-hard Dodge fan. They seem to like their cars rough and ready, growling and rearing to go with max torque and traction. If Dodge decides to go all-out with a battery-electric version of the Challenger, Dodge-loving drivers will likely demand that performance is on par with what they’ve come to love and expect from their favorite brand. The Challenger SRT Hellcat rules the road with a top speed of 199mph and the Charger has even more impressive performance with its 717-horsepower option that can propel it from 0 to 60 in a mere 3.5 seconds.
Say Sayonara
Sadly, FCA boss Mike Manley is not too positive about keeping the dream alive. According to Manley, electric cars are definitely the future of the American muscle engine but it’s not going to be a “V8, supercharged, 700-horsepower engine.” I reckon most progressive petrol heads will likely be hoping for a little bit of both, maybe petrol engines supplemented with electric systems. What do you say FCA? Can we hope for a Hybrid Challenger?