Ferrari Claims 'The V6 Outperforms a V12': The Downshift

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      Happy Thanksgiving Eve and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

      At TDS, we bring you up to date with the morning headlines from the automotive industry, complete with links for further details. Even with the holiday week upon us, there’s still a lot of news to cover. We hope you enjoy a fun and, most importantly, relaxing turkey day, and we appreciate your readership. Here’s the update:

      🏆 Ferrari hosted an intriguing panel discussion via livestream from its Museo Enzo Ferrari on Tuesday regarding the F80's development. The conversation touched on various topics, but a notable moment occurred around the 11:15 mark when Matteo Turconi, the F80’s project manager, discussed why they opted for a turbocharged hybrid V6 instead of a V12. Turconi shared that the decision was influenced by its direct connection to Maranello’s endurance racing program. He concluded with a statement likely to surprise some fans: “Without a doubt, today, the V6 is superior to a V12.” Considering Ferrari’s success with that same configuration in winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three consecutive times, it seems justified.

      👋 We hope the BMW Z4 is not permanently retiring, but it will temporarily say goodbye with a “Final Edition” version, BMW announced on Tuesday. In the U.S., it will apparently be limited to the $78,675 M40i model, according to BMW Blog.

      ⛽ On the topic of BMW, the automaker is contemplating the production of gas range-extender versions of its largest EVs, including the iX5 and i7, as reported by Bloomberg, in an effort to attract Chinese consumers who reportedly prefer this technology.

      💲 General Motors plans to invest over half a billion dollars into factories in Michigan and Ohio for production set for 2027, according to the Detroit Free Press. The Romulus Propulsion Systems investment will focus on 10-speed transmissions for SUVs and trucks, while Cleveland’s Parma Metal Center will concentrate on sheet metal stamping and assemblies.

      🍁 Canada’s Industry Minister Melanie Joly informed Automotive News on Tuesday that discussions with GM regarding a new vehicle mandate for the Ontario plant, where production of BrightDrop electric commercial vans has halted, are ongoing. The Industry Minister previously anticipated providing a “full update within 15 days” of the production shutdown on October 21, a timeline that has long passed.

      🤡 Stellantis has criticized the influencers who climbed into a pre-production Jeep Recon at the LA Auto Show and proceeded to intentionally damage components while sarcastically noting the vehicle’s build quality.

      🏎️ Future IndyCar driver Mick Schumacher mentioned that he was “in contention” for a seat with the Cadillac F1 team before they opted for seasoned drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, according to Motorsport.com.

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