MOTOR-CAR SPORT

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Like Facebook   With electric motorcycles seemingly popping up everywhere, it comes as a surprise to no one that the Italians would eventually want a piece of this pie. Originally the Energica Ego was scheduled to be released in 2014 but, as we have seen with many electric motorcycle companies that decide to venture into uncharted territory, innovation comes at a cost. According to the Energica, the Ego produces nearly 135 hp and 143 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 149 mph. Range is said to be 93 miles on a single-charge, and the starting price will be $25,000. This puts the Energica Ego out ahead of the competition but, numbers on paper are just that, numbers on paper. The story of the Energica Ego starts back in 2010, when the Modena based firm of CRP Racing, with has nearly 40 years of Formula One expertise, released the eCRP 1.0 race bike. One of the earliest motorcycles to be engineered and manufactured around an all elec...

Like Facebook The 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster finally broke cover today, if you haven’t already seen the bevy of photos we published earlier. We won’t belabor the fact that the Dragster borrows heavily from the established Brutale 800 platform, and differs primarily in aesthetic and purpose. So down to brass tacks it is, the key technical specifications of the 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster are the following: In-line three-cylinder engine, 798 cc Bore 79.0 mm, stroke 54.3 mm Maximum power 125 HP-EC (92 kW) at 11,600 rpm Maximum torque 81 Nm at 8,600 rpm Limiter at 13,000 rpm Dry weight 167 kg Power-weight ratio 1.34 kg/HP Tyres Pirelli DIABLO Rosso II 120/70 – ZR 17 front, 200/50 – ZR 17 rear Unsurprisingly, the MVICS 2.0 electronics system comes standard on the Dragster, as well as the Bosch 9+ anti-locking brakes system, which is mated to Brembo calipers (radial mounts at the front). MVICS 2.0 includes not only MV Agusta’s eight-level traction co...

Like Facebook Nissan Motor Company is better known for its four-wheeled vehicle pursuits, so it might surprise you to see its name mentioned here on  Asphalt & Rubber . To front load the answer to your most pressing question, no the Japanese marque is not getting into the two-wheeled universe. However, Nissan has been doing some interesting work, ever since it took over the  DeltaWing  project. In a nutshell, the Nissan DeltaWing was a failed IndyCar replacement race car project that aimed to push the boundaries of light, aerodynamical, and efficient vehicle design. It found new legs in the endurance racing arena though, and participated in the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans — however it didn’t finish the iconic race, when a competitor crashed into it 75 laps into the race. Nissan and the DeltaWing team have since parted ways collaboratively, but the Japanese car maker has clearly learned something from the process. Returning to Le Mans for the 2014 season, Nis...