Latest news with #Bumblebee1000
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Bumblebee 1000 is gearing up for its latest charity supercar roadtrip
BUMBLEBEE 1000 is now gearing up for its second charity event of 2025 — The Talladega Nights Roadtrip — which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 13-15. This latest adventure will feature over 100 of Ireland's finest supercars. 6 RED DEVIL: This red SF90 features loads of carbon pieces, even the Ferrari badges and weheels are carbon Credit: Darren Liggett I can't list them all but here's a few to whet your appetite. In just over two weeks you will be able to see some of Italy's finest supercars like the stunning twin-turbo V8 Ferrari SF90 that produces 986bhp, or the twin-turbo V6, 819bhp Ferrari 296 GTB. Like your Lamborghinis? Well there will be a herd of raging bulls taking part including Huracáns and the track-inspired STOs, plus V12 Aventadors and the exclusive SVJ models. Other Lamborghinis taking part is a super rare Aventador SVJ 63, a limited edition model with only 63 of them in the world. And the last Gallardo Superleggera ever made, number 618 of 618, will be taking part, this incredible machine, once owned by Eric Clapton, has to be seen to be believed. 6 RARE BEAST: Limited edition Lamborghini Aventador 63 Credit: Bumblebee 1000 6 HEAVY METAL: Beautiful Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera was previously owned by Eric Clapton Credit: Darren Liggett There will be Bentley Continental GTs including Ireland's only 2025 Mulliner model and other luxury marques include Rolls Royce Cullinan. Other spectacular supercars will include many McLaren models including a 765LT that can blitz 0-100kph in just 2.8secs. Most read in Motors Plus German sportscars will be out in force and you can see plenty of Porsche models like the race-ready GT3 RS, and also add in a bevy of BMW M cars. And we cant forget Mercedes so make sure to check out the E53 and C63 AMG models and all the Audi V10 R8 supercars. There will also be Nissan R35 GT-Rs including a rare NISMO model. Ben Lambe will be bringing his Ford Ranger Raptor that's kitted out like an American SWAT Team truck. And I'll be joining the adventure as the Irish Sun's tamed motoring editor — The Ligg. ROUTE DETAILS: Talladega Nights Roadtrip June 13-15 DAY 1 - Friday June 13 STARTLINE : Barberstown Castle, Dublin, 9am PITSTOP : National School, Scoil Bhride, Sallins Rd, Naas, Kildare, 10am FUEL STOP : Barrack Obama Plaza, Junction 12, Moneygall, Tipperary, 12 noon LUNCH STOP : Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Limerick, 1.30pm FINISH LINE : Neil Armstrong Way, Tralee Town, Kerry, 4pm DAY 2 - Saturday June 14 FUEL STOP : Walsh's SuperValu Caherciveen, Kerry, 10.30am LUNCH STOP : Sneem Hotel, Sneem, Kerry, 12.30pm FINISH LINE : Lewis Road Car Park, Killarney Town, Kerry, 3pm DAY 3 - Sunday, June 15 START LINE : The Europe Hotel Killarney, Kerry, 9.30am FUEL STOP : Mallow N20 Plaza, Limerick Rd, Mallow, Cork, 11am LUNCH STOP : Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Cork, 12.30pm FINISH LINE : Portlaoise Plaza, Junction 17, Portloaise, Loais, 3pm 6 WINGING IT: Porsche GT3 RS Weissach edtion Credit: Jacob Liggett Day One of the big three-day adventure kicks off bright and early at 9am on Friday, June 13 starting from Barberstown Castle near Dublin. The first Pit Stop will take pace at the National School, Scoil Bhríde, Sallins Road, Naas, Kildare at 10am and then we'll make our way to our first Fuel Stop which will be at the Barrack Obama Plaza, Junction 12, Moneygall, Tipperary at noon. We will then journey to the Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Limerick for lunch at 1.30pm. And Day One will come to an end at the Neil Armstrong Way, Tralee, in Kerry as we cross the Finish Line at 4pm. Day Two , Saturday, June 14 , will see us meet up at 10.30am and fuel our machines at Walsh's SuperValu, Caherciveen, in Kerry. Then we will hit the road again and power our way to the Sneem Hotel, in Sneem in Kerry where we will stop for lunch at 12.30pm. It will be another dash to the Day Two Finish Line, arriving at 3pm at the Lewis Road Car Park, Killarney, in Kerry. Day Three , June 15, will be another early start as those having a lie-in at the Europe Hotel in Killarney will awaken to the sounds of over 100 supercars starting up and revving into life at 9.30am. The multi-million euro convoy will head south to Cork and make a much-needed Fuel Stop at the Mallow N20 Plaza, Limerick Road in Mallow, at 11am. Lunch will be held in the Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Cork, at 12.30pm. Then the roadtrip will be on its final stretch as it heads for the Finish Line at the Portlaoise Plaza, Junction 17, Portlaoise, Laois at 3pm. As always, all proceeds from this event will go to the fabulous Little Blue Heroes charity that's voluntarily led by Garda members and provides vital support to the families of sick kids. Read more on the Irish Sun To date, Bumblebee 1000 has raised over €608,649 for this incredible charity organisation. For more info head over to 6 HOW G-R8 THOU ART: Audi R8 V10+ are a popular Bumblebee choice Credit: Jerry McCarthy 6 FAST AND FURIOUS: Beautiful 820bhp Ferrari 296 GTB Credit: Jerry McCarthy
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
The new 727bhp BMW M5 is big, beautiful and bloody ballistic plus it's a PHEV for the first time ever
LAST week, I completed Bumblebee 1000's latest roadtrip in the ballistic new BMW M5. This incredible machine is the most powerful M5 ever, and also the first plug-in hybrid M5. Advertisement Combined, its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, 145kw electric motor and 18.6kWh battery produce a supercar-rivalling 727bhp and 1,000Nm of torque. It's astonishingly fast, able to blitz 0-100kph in just 3.5 seconds, and with the optional M Drivers Package it will keep charging all the way to 305kph. 7 BUMBLEBEE BEAST: The M5 made the perfect machine for Bumblebee 1000's latest charity roadtrip as it's supercar-fast and super comfy on long journeys Credit: Jacob Liggett But fitting the engine and hybrid system into a big five-door family saloon adds weight. And the fact the new M5 tips the scales at 2,510kg has been a huge topic of discussion. Advertisement But the majority of those complaining about the weight have not driven it, because if you did, then you would understand how incredible a job the BMW boffins have done to mask that weight. When cornering hard on uneven surfaces or under heavy braking, sure, you notice the weight, but you really have to be pushing the M5 to the max. 7 BELLY OF THE BEAST: The M5's 4.4-litre, twin-tubo V8 and hybrid system produces an incredible 727bhp Credit: Paddy McGrath Key facts: BMW M5 Cost: From €137,055 (From £111,405 in the UK) Engine: 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8, 145kW electric motor and 18.6kWh battery Power: 727bhp Torque: 1,000Nm 0-100kph: 3.5 seconds Top Speed: 305kph Economy: 148.7mpg Emissions: 43g/km Rivals: Mercedes-AMG E53, Audi RS7, Porsche Panamera It comes with Adaptive M Suspension with electronically controlled dampers and Integral Active Steering,. Advertisement This clever feature can steer the rear wheels by up to 1.5° and this improves directional stability at high speeds, as well as agility and comfort when manoeuvring. Most read in Motors Review Review When driven sensibly it's a very comfortable long-distance cruiser, and if you keep the battery charged it's economical too. BMW quote a 148.7mpg figure. I didn't see results as good as that but on my way to Bumblebee, I filled the M5 with petrol in Newry and drove to Barberstown Castle near Dublin and the gauge just dipped below full. 7 BRING THE NOISE: It comes fitted with an M Exhaust but it could be louder to really let that big V8 sound its best as that's the only area the M5 is lacking Credit: Paddy McGrath Advertisement And it does have a very useful 70km electric-only range too. But step on the gas and the M5 has the power to annihilate the Autobahn with ease. It will explode into life, pinning you back in your seat as it relentlessly slams through all of its eight gears at an alarming rate, making wonderful noises out of the twin-exit dual exhausts. But my one complaint is that it could be louder, even fitted with the M Exhaust — I'd love to hear more roar from that big V8. Behind the steering wheel are two discrete M1 and M2 buttons that allow you to quickly switch between different set-ups for engine, chassis, steering and brakes, so choose M2 for manic and M1 for the full maniac mode. Advertisement 7 MAGIC NUMBERS: Red buttons behind the wheel allow you to quickly switch between different set-ups for engine, chassis, steering and brakes so choose M2 for manic and M1 for the full maniac mode Credit: Paddy McGrath You can also switch the M5's all-wheel-drive M xDrive system from 4WD to 2WD. However this is best suited to track driving as you wouldn't be long burning through a set of rear tyres. My test car came fitted with the optional M Carbon-Ceramic Brakes that are incredible, doing a phenomenal job of bringing the big Beemer to a stop. Advertisement It also came with M Performance Parts that add carbon door mirror, boot spoiler and exhaust tips — even the roof is carbon fibre. 7 BOOT SIZE: The M5's boot offers 466 litres of luggage space Credit: Jacob Liggett 7 LAP OF LUXURY: BMW's curved dual screens take centre stage, there's heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats Credit: Paddy McGrath Inside, the cabin is superb as you'd imagine from a flagship BMW. Advertisement The curved dual screens dominate the dash, with carbon trim everywhere. The sports seats are superb, heated and air-cooled, the M badge lights up at night and there's heated seats in the back as well. The M5 saloon starts at €137,055 and the Touring model is a few grand more, starting at €139,515 and that's a lot of money. Read more on the Irish Sun Its little brother the M3 is actually more expensive as it starts from €154,395, but the M5 is more powerful, and as it's a PHEV, it's much cheaper to tax. Advertisement 7 THE KING OF CARBON: The M5 is available with carbon fibre mirrors, carbon boot spoiler, carbon ceramic brakes, even the roof's carbon Credit: Paddy McGrath
