6 minute read
NEWS
Mission Motorsport Takes the Plasan SandCat Rallying
It started as an amusing conversation between Plasan's Design Director, Nir Kahn, and Mission Motorsport CEO, James Cameron. Wouldn't it be fun to turn a Plasan SandCat into a rally-style 'SandCategrale' and to let beneficiaries of the charity drive it on a rally course? Thanks to the generosity of Silverstone Rally School everything came together on a drizzly Monday afternoon, the 28th of June, when a group of Mission Motorsport beneficiaries were let loose to see what the SandCat could do on the tight technical course of the rally school.
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Mission Motorsport, The Forces’ Motorsport Charity, is a cause close to the heart of Plasan. By recognising and using the astonishing healing powers of motorsport, the charity aids in the recovery of those affected by military operations to recover and gain new skills that they can use to find a career in the automotive industry outside of the military. As Kahn puts it, "Some of these people weren't fortunate enough to have been in a Plasan protected vehicle when it mattered, and so it is appropriate for us to do something for them now”.
The highly protected armoured SandCat has been touring the UK as part of Plasan's collaboration with partner Ricardo Engineering, and has been undergoing trials and appraisals with various potential users. In between its work duties Plasan commissioned Mission Motorsport beneficiary, Matt Stringer of Matt's Wraps to apply Martini-style stripes, similar to those famously featured on the mighty Lancia Delta Integrale rally car, turning the SandCat into a “SandCategrale". All were surprised by how agile the 7t SandCat felt on a course more suitable for Subaru Imprezas, but the vehicle proved its capabilities by safely being thrown around by those who dared, while as many as nine others sat comfortably inside, enjoying the ride. As Matt put it, "driving the SandCat was really comfy and easy. You forget that it’s a big armoured vehicle, it's nothing like I used to drive in the army".
With over 1000Nm of torque and a Limited Slip Differential helping to put the power down, the SandCat made for a controllable rally special through Silverstone Rally School's challenging corners.
Plasan, together with Ricardo Engineering, are proud to support the great work of Mission Motorsport, and were happy to help make an enjoyable day for their beneficiaries.
more at » www.missionmotorsport.org
Kia Soul EV Boardmasters Edition revealed
The Kia Soul EV Boardmasters Edition is a ‘recycled’ preproduction car saved from the crusher to instead live out its days on the beach. Reimagined exclusively for surfers, the Soul EV Boardmasters Edition is a special one-off car created to mark the launch of Boardmasters 2021 in Cornwall (www. boardmasters.com). Boardmasters took place in early August and Kia exhibited the Soul EV Boardmasters Edition throughout the event for festival-goers to explore for themselves.
Its stock 17” aluminium wheels and 215/55 R17 tyres have been replaced with 16” bright white steel wheels and chunky 265/75 R16 Maxxis Bighorn sand tyres. With each tyre growing to 30” in diameter, this change alone necessitated significant reworking to the bulkhead and front foot wells.
The fully independent suspension also features new custom adaptors and modified struts, with a 3" lift to accommodate the new wheels and tyres. It also boasts a modest increase in track width, from 1,565 mm to 1,675 mm at the front, and 1,575 mm to 1,690 mm at the rear. The suspension’s geometry has been adjusted to suit. Thanks to the raised ground clearance (more than doubled, from 153 mm, to 310 mm at the front and 320 mm at the back), chunky tyres, and high 395 Nm torque output from its motor, the car is more able than the standard car to overcome rougher terrain and uneven ground on the way to the coast.
The significant changes to the Soul EV’s wheels, tyres and suspension are likely to affect the standard car’s official 280-mile electric range. However, thanks to its 64 kWh battery pack and efficient motor, the Boardmasters Edition car is still likely to offer greater driving range than certain other electric vehicles at a similar price point to the standard road-going Soul EV.
One of the more striking features is its custom-built steel roof rack. Constructed out of lightweight steel tubing – which can be easily recycled at the end of its life – the rack has been hand-crafted exclusively for the Soul EV Boardmasters Edition to accommodate a pair of 7ft9 Tahe Bic Malibu surfboards. The rack’s shape and relatively low profile allows the car to avoid overhead height restrictors while also enabling the tailgate to open fully to access the boot. That said, the total height of the car with boards fitted still comes to 1,950 mm – 255 mm taller than the Kia Sorento, the largest car Kia sells in the UK.
The modifications continue inside, with the removal of the Soul EV’s rear bench seats in favour of something more practical for tackling sea and sand.
The boot area has been totally remodelled, with the existing 315-litre boot expanded to make full use of the Soul EV’s cabin, up to the back of the two front seats. With the rear seats removed, the larger boot has been turned into an expansive wooden deck, constructed out of PEFC-certified spruce (from forests managed sustainably in line with strict international standards). Stained white to give a lighter seaside vibe to the cabin, the deck also protects the cabin from the wet. Its surface also traps grains of sand and prevents them from falling into hard-to-reach cracks between seats.
Opening the tailgate also gives access to a fold-out bench, an open-air seat made out of reclaimed wood providing somewhere to enjoy a drink with friends. This is accompanied by a swing-out arm, which extends out of the tailgate from the roof of the cabin and provides somewhere to hang and dry a pair of damp wetsuits. Users can also hang a towel off the arm, to create a slightly more private changing area.
The board rack is paired with a roof-mounted solar panel and a pair of Lazer ST4 Evolution LED spotlights. The spotlights provide a powerful source of light for early mornings and late evenings on the beach, and are in custom housings to protect them from the elements or potential damage when loading or unloading boards.
The solar charging system can also power a mini fridge or other auxiliary appliances with renewable energy while the driver is away from their car. The system operates independently of the car’s main battery pack so as to have zero impact on vehicle efficiency. Fitted with a 12V leisure battery and mains inverter, it can therefore power the LED lamp and other electrical devices without reducing vehicle range.
The front of the cabin is unchanged over the standard car, giving the Boardmasters Edition a comfortable space for a driver and passenger. It features the same 10.25” touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy for the driver to navigate to their favourite spots. The standard car’s 10-speaker Harman/Kardon Premium Sound System also remains, negating the need for drivers to bring their own portable speakers to the beach. The only negative aspect of the EV Soul is that it isn’t joining the press fleet so I can’t borrow it!