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Nissan Z Proto, Ferrari Portofino M, modern Moke: Today’s Car News

Nissan is working on a redesign for its Z sports car, the long-awaited Z35 generation. It’s expected to arrive in 2022 as a 2023 model and Nissan has given us a preview with the Z Proto. The concept hints at a retro design for the new Z and points to the car riding on the same platform as the current 370Z.

Ferrari’s Portofino has been transformed into the Portofino M. The transformation includes the addition of an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and some extra horsepower. The new mechanicals have basically been lifted out of the Roma.

Remember the Mini Moke? Well, you can still buy new Mokes, and a British company is offering one with modern mechanicals, too. The modern Moke looks like the original but its powertrain and chassis are new.

You’ll find these stories and more in today’s car news, right here at Motor Authority.

Nissan Z Proto

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Car
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The Ferrari model that is behind Alpine’s F1 push – F1

Enzo Ferrari made no secret of the fact that he only ever set up his road car operation so it could help fund his Formula 1 team.

But whatever the original motivation, it proved to be a brilliant business plan as the road car business and Scuderia Ferrari helped fuel each other’s success.

Such a two-way stream is not too far away from the vision that new Renault CEO Luca de Meo now has for the Alpine brand, after giving the green light for a renaming of his French car manufacturer’s F1 team.

Since arriving at Renault in July, de Meo has had to make some swift decisions on how to plot a path out of the coronavirus-fuelled financial crisis for the whole Renault Group.

Part of that included an evaluation of the F1 project, and whether or not to commit to another five-year period.

But, just as happened at

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Automotive
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Leclerc ready to be patient through “years” of Ferrari F1 progress



a group of people riding skis on a snowy road: Leclerc ready to be patient with Ferrari F1 progress

© LAT Images
Leclerc ready to be patient with Ferrari F1 progress

Charles Leclerc says he is ready to be patient through the “years” Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has warned it may take the squad to win again in Formula 1.

Ferrari has struggled so far in 2020 after its controversial engine “settlement” with the FIA, with the SF1000 down on power and struggling with the extra drag its aerodynamic parts generate as a result.

Leclerc has picked up two surprise podiums in the opening seven races, but Ferrari still currently sits fifth in the constructors’ championship, which would be its worst position since 1981 (when it finished in that spot) if it remains there at the end of the season.

Binotto recently said “that if you look back at all the winning cycles it is always many years” before teams are in position to be victorious after dropping

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Automotive
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Ferrari set to use classic livery for 1,000th F1 race at Mugello

Ferrari is set to use a one-off Formula 1 livery to celebrate its 1,000th race at this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix.

Ferrari will become the first F1 team to have raced in 1,000 rounds of the world championship on Sunday, and is set to honour the landmark with a retro car livery.

Autosport understands that the Ferrari SF1000 cars raced by Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc will be painted in a darker shade of red for the Mugello weekend, matching the design used by Ferrari back in 1950.

It is a throwback intended to honour Ferrari’s F1 world championship debut at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, where it entered three Ferrari 125 cars to the second race of the season.

Alberto Ascari finished the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix in second place, marking Ferrari’s first F1 podium. Raymond Sommer crossed the line fourth, while Luigi Villoresi retired.

The move comes as

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Automotive
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No satisfaction for Haas fighting Ferrari at F1 Belgian GP



a truck that is sitting on a motorcycle: Steiner: No satisfaction for Haas fighting Ferrari

© LAT Images
Steiner: No satisfaction for Haas fighting Ferrari

Haas Formula 1 team boss Gunther Steiner says he gets “no satisfaction” from fighting the works Ferrari squad for minor places outside the points.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean finished 15th place and just 3.9 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel and 1.8 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, having ceded a place to the Monegasque driver in the closing stages of the race.

In the past being that close to the works Ferrari cars would be hugely encouraging for customer squad Haas but Steiner says the circumstances give him no pleasure.

“Obviously you get a little bit of satisfaction out of it, at least you race something,” he said when asked by Autosport. “But to be honest nobody is coming here to try to beat someone for 12th or 13th position. That’s not why you come here.

“When you’re out there

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Automotive
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Vettel: No fans at Monza a good thing after Ferrari double DNF in Italian GP – F1

Sebastian Vettel says he is glad that there were no fans at Monza this year after Ferrari endured another nightmare showing at the Italian Grand Prix.

Having struggled for pace in qualifying, both Vettel and Charles Leclerc failed to make it to the chequered flag after both were forced out in spectacular incidents.

Vettel suffered brake failure at the first chicane and smashed through the polystyrene blocks in the escape road, while Leclerc had an off at Parabolica and crashed heavily – bringing out a red flag.

Reflecting on another bruising encounter for the Maranello team, Vettel said that it was probably a blessing in disguise that the loyal tifosi were not there to witness what happened.

“I think this year is very different and I think probably in that regard it is good that there are no fans,” he said.

“Life is like this. It always depends where you

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Automotive
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Ferrari to drop appeal against Racing Point F1 brake ducts – F1

Ferrari has withdrawn its appeal against Racing Point’s Formula 1 brake duct copying case verdict, becoming the final team to drop its opposition to the penalty levied by the FIA.

Having originally submitted a notification to appeal the decision made against Racing Point’s brake ducts, Ferrari’s withdrawal from the appeals process means that the case will not go to the International Court of Appeal, and is effectively over.

The original verdict announced by the FIA stewards at Silverstone will stand.

Racing Point will retain the penalty of a €400,000 fine and 15 constructors’ World Championship points.

The team will also continue to be reprimanded by the stewards at every race where it uses the contentious brake ducts.

McLaren, Williams and Renault had already dropped the matter and, earlier on Sunday, Racing Point confirmed that it would also not continue with its appeal, which was intended to clear its name.

Ferrari

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Automotive
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Vettel: No need for Ferrari review of F1 strategy calls and communication – F1

Sebastian Vettel sees no need for Ferrari to review how it plans Formula 1 race strategies and communication, saying it is “very difficult” to judge the situation from the outside.

Vettel was heard exchanging messages with the Ferrari pitwall over the possibility of extending to a one-stop strategy in the closing stages of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Vettel initially vented his frustration after pushing on the soft tyre before being asked about going to the end of the race without pitting, but still managed to make the one-stop strategy work to finish the race in seventh place.

It was the second race in a row there had been some debate between Vettel and his race engineer over the strategy, having said the pit calls “didn’t make any sense” after the 70th Anniversary GP at Silverstone.

But Vettel said after the race that he did not think there needed to be

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Automotive
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Binotto admits he questioned if he was right person to lead Ferrari F1 team – F1

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has admitted he questioned whether he was the right person to lead the outfit in the wake of its early season Formula 1 struggles.

The Italian outfit has fallen away from the front of the field in 2020, and faced a bruising outing in Belgium last weekend which was one of its least competitive showings for years.

The difficulties the team has faced in 2020, with its engine having lost power and its car too draggy, have prompted some to suggest that Ferrari needs change at the top.

But while Binotto knows he has complete support from Ferrari’s senior management, so was never worried by such talk, he has revealed that he did ponder his own position.

Asked in an interview with Corriere della Sera if he ever felt his position was in danger, Binotto said: “Honestly never, because I know I have the support

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Automotive
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Ferrari will withdraw Racing Point appeal if F1 car copying rules change – F1

Ferrari has indicated that it will withdraw its appeal against the Racing Point copying case decision if the FIA produces definitive Formula 1 regulations against car copying for 2021.

Last month Racing Point was handed a 15-point penalty and a €200,000 fine for using a brake duct design copied from the 2019 Mercedes W11.

In addition race stewards have issued reprimands at all events where the Silverstone team uses the contentious ducts.

Ferrari was one of five teams to submit a notification of intention to appeal the original stewards’ decision.

McLaren, Williams and Renault all subsequently dropped out, leaving the Maranello outfit as the only rival to Racing Point still challenging the scale of the punishment.

On the other side of the case Racing Point also appealed in order to clear its name, and thus the matter is still scheduled to go to the Court of Appeal.

Subsequent to the

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Automotive