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Falken film marks 50 years of ’Ring race
New range from Pirelli gets to grips with SUV challenge FIRST TEST
Pirelli Scorpion range Price: Various Contact: pirelli.com
WHILE other tyre makers have produced variations of their existing designs for SUVs, Pirelli unveiled an entire range for the fastgrowing and increasingly important sector of the market earlier this year. And now we have had chance to try the three versions in the line-up – summer, all-season and winter – at Pirelli’s proving ground in northern Sweden. All have been designed to cope with the demands of SUVs, with their high load and mass centre, plus big chassis movement and weight transfer. Pirelli says the tyre is a bespoke design and not an upsized version of the Cinturato, which was updated recently. There are also Elect versions of the tyres designed for EVs with their extra weight, high torque and low noise requirement. We tried the All Season SF2 and summer Scorpion at the new wet handling track created at Pirelli’s snow testing facility at Flurheden. This is 900 kilometres north of Stockholm, and gives the site an all-yearround role. Driving a range of large ICE and hybrid SUVs, we didn’t expect pin-sharp handling, but the summer Scorpion dealt well with the tight track. The vehicles’ noses ran wide as the limit was reached rather than the rear end moving. The All Season SF2 didn’t have the same sharpness as the summer tyre, but again it felt safe and secure. It was able to keep the large SUV under control, with front grip the first to go as the limit was reached. On the dry handling track, the limitations of large SUVs were revealed, with lots of
58 13 July 2022
FALKEN Tyres has produced a new short film all about one of the most iconic motor races: the Nürburgring 24 Hours. This “declaration of love” to fans celebrates the full return of spectators to the sport after two years with limitations on crowd size. Around 230,000 people were present at the track to honour the 50th anniversary of the race. The video, along with previous films Falken has made about the race, is now available on the brand’s Youtube channel and social media platforms.
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All three versions of the tyre impressed, with the summer Scorpion (above) feeling sharp yet safe and secure at Pirelli’s track
body roll and plenty of work for the brakes to do. The Scorpion did all that was required, slowing the powerful cars from high speed and giving plenty of warning as the limit of grip was reached and allowing the front to push wide. To try the Winter 2 indoors on snow, we headed to Arctic Falls in nearby Pitea. The same safe approach was apparent, with a loss of front grip coming first. A rear slide could be provoked, but the tyre worked well with the electronic systems to snap the vehicle back into line. Our testing was limited, because we had no access to any rival products, but the initial conclusion is that Pirelli’s bespoke SUV approach works well. The Scorpion is available in 26 sizes for 18-21-inch rims. The All Season SF2 comes in 33 versions, which cover 17-21 inches, and the Winter 2 offers 47 options for 18-23-inch rims. The latter two have the winter 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) rating.
AUTOMOTIVE charity Ben has launched a new wellbeing app designed for the motor industry. BenWell is an app and web portal that allows companies to “take the emotional and physical temperature” of their teams, helping managers to better support their staff. Each month, employees are encouraged to spend less than 10 minutes answering questions across six personal wellbeing areas and five management areas. Individual results are anonymised, but employers will be able to view overall trends. For more information, visit ben.org.uk.
September date for Cambridge classics CAMBRIDGESHIRE car fans, head to Hemingford Pavilion, Hemingford Grey on Saturday 3 September for A Classic Affair. Entry is free and does not require pre-booking – unless you have a classic that you’d like to display. There’ll be various local stands and baked goods plus two Citroen H vans selling food. And if you want a break from the cars on show, you can visit the adjoining Manor and Gardens for just £5. For more information, visit aclassicaffair.co.uk.
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