Latest news with #VIR
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche Hints at 992.2-Generation 911 GT2 RS That Will 'Raise the Bar'
has hinted that the 992.2-generation is just around the corner. The automaker has announced a new 911 flagship model that will "raise the bar even further in the sports-car segment." With the last 700-hp GT2 RS launching from zero to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, its performance attributes should improve even more. In nearly 20 years of lapping every production performance car available at VIR's Grand Course, fewer than 10 have done it in less than two minutes and 40 seconds. At 2:37.8, the fourth car on that list is the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach. The only road-legal cars we've ever lapped with quicker times are the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, and the 2019 McLaren Senna. Now, Porsche is hinting that the 992.2-generation GT2 RS—the successor to that already heroic 2018 car—is nearly here. While Porsche's GT3 models have historically been powered by high-revving naturally aspirated engines, GT2 models add turbocharging to the equation. We don't yet really know anything about the new GT2 RS, heck, Porsche hasn't even outright confirmed it. However, the automaker did say the 911 family will "welcome an additional flagship model" in part of its recent annual report. That sounds like the new GT2 RS to us. Porsche also said the new flagship will "raise the bar even further in the sports-car segment." The last GT2 RS was a lightweight track star that spat out 700 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six, and it ripped to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Considering those figures, Porsche's theoretical bar for the sports-car segment is apparently rising from the stratosphere to the thermosphere. So, how will Porsche unlock more performance? The upcoming 992.2 generation of the 911 Turbo could donate its powertrain to the new GT2 RS. Last year, we got our hands on internal documents that suggested the Turbo models will ditch their twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter engines in favor of a new twin-turbo 3.6-liter unit. The latter could employ tech similar to the 3.6-liter T-hybrid setup that powers the new GTS. Despite only churning out a combined 532 hp, Porsche says the hybrid GTS can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Add another turbocharger for the Turbo model and things get even more ballistic. However the next Porsche 911 GT2 RS shakes out, its performance should be jaw-dropping. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vir Biotechnology Inc (VIR) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Advances Amid Financial ...
R&D Expenses: $507 million in 2024, down from $580 million in 2023. G&A Expenses: $119 million in 2024, down from $174 million in 2023. Net Loss: $522 million in 2024, compared to $615 million in 2023. Net Cash Consumption: Approximately $532 million in 2024. Cash Position: $1.1 billion in cash equivalents and investments at the start of 2025. Employee Count: 408 employees at the end of 2024, down from 587 at the end of 2023. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with VIR. Release Date: February 26, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Vir Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:VIR) has made significant progress in its oncology and infectious disease programs, positioning itself at the forefront of innovative therapies. The company is preparing to initiate its Eclipse Phase 3 program for hepatitis Delta in the first half of the year, supported by multiple regulatory designations. Vir Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:VIR) has secured worldwide rights to the Pro extend platform, providing a strong foundation for future growth in both oncology and infectious diseases. The company's financial position is strong, with a cash runway extending into mid-2027, allowing for continued investment in key programs. Vir Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:VIR) has successfully reduced operating expenses and cash burn, reflecting a disciplined approach to capital allocation. The company's forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, which could impact clinical development programs and future results. Current treatment options for hepatitis Delta are limited, especially in the US where there are no approved therapies. The company is reliant on partnerships for the commercialization and development of its hepatitis B program. Vir Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:VIR) has undergone restructurings and site closures, which could impact operational efficiency. The company reported a net loss of $522 million for 2024, highlighting ongoing financial challenges despite cost-saving measures. Q: Can you elaborate on the mechanism for the cleavage of the T-cell engager and its efficiency in the tumor microenvironment? A: Mika Derynck, Executive Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head Oncology, explained that the Pro extend masking technology used in their T-cell engagers is efficiently cleaved in the tumor microenvironment. This is evidenced by the activity observed in both the HER2 and PSMA programs, which show tumor-specific cleavage without significant peripheral toxicity. The technology is also used in an approved hemophilia drug, demonstrating its efficiency in a high protease environment. Q: What additional steps are needed to start the Eclipse trial for hepatitis Delta, and what is the estimated timing for enrollment completion? A: Mark Eisner, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, stated that they are on track to initiate the Eclipse program in the first half of the year. The team is working urgently to start the trials, and they expect efficient patient recruitment due to the high unmet need in hepatitis Delta and compelling phase 2 data. Q: What are the go/no-go criteria for the hepatitis B program, and what would be attractive to a potential development partner? A: Mark Eisner mentioned that they are looking for a 30% functional cure in the triplet therapy and 20% in the doublet, based on KOL interactions. These criteria are considered clinically meaningful, and they plan to partner the program after obtaining functional cure data. Q: Given the strong safety profile in phase one studies of other programs, do you see a read-through to 5,525, and will you escalate doses more aggressively? A: Marianne De Backer, CEO, indicated that learnings from previous programs will inform the 5,525 study. Mark Eisner added that EGFR is broadly expressed in normal tissue, making it a rigorous test for their dual masking technology. They expect to be efficient in conducting the study, leveraging insights from earlier programs. Q: What gives you confidence that higher doses of 5,500 will produce deeper, more durable PSA responses? A: Mark Eisner explained that the PSMA program is still in early dose escalation, showing compelling early signs of efficacy and safety. They anticipate deeper and more sustained efficacy as they escalate the dose, supported by the platform's validated ability to unmask molecules in the tumor while maintaining a high safety profile. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How We'd Spec It: Car and Driver's Lightning Lap Cars
The 18th edition of Car and Driver's annual Lightning Lap—an event designed to distill a car's performance at VIR's challenging 4.1-mile Grand Course—featured 13 production cars and a wide spectrum of price points. The Hyundai Elantra N, with an as-tested price of $35,320, was this year's least expensive car, while the $729,458 Lamborghini Revuelto cost over 20 times that much. As we compared lap times and prices, which dictate the LL1–LL5 classes, a handful of us decided to spec our ideal version from this year's roster of track cars. I'm no Lightning Lapper, but in the handful of times I've driven on a racetrack, one car has stood out: the ND Mazda Miata. Sure, with 181 hp, it's certainly not the fastest way around a track. But that's also what makes it one of, if not the best, ways to learn how to drive effectively on a track. Solid steering, a communicative and forgiving chassis, superb balance, and a sub-2500-pound curb weight certainly don't hurt, either. For maximum driving fun, I went with the Club trim and its asymmetric limited-slip differential. The $4900 Brembo BBS Recaro package was a no-brainer addition for eponymous reasons. As for the color, while I contend Mazda's Soul Red is the best color in the business, I miss my 10th Anniversary Edition NB Miata dearly. So, as an homage, I selected Deep Crystal Blue Mica (which also saved me $595). To keep that paint a bit more pristine, I added front and rear splash guards ($180 each). From experience with the NB, I know an overhead light isn't always enough to spot whatever you've dropped. The $380 footwell illumination kit should help with that—and add a bit more subtle style. And though a two-seater convertible won't ever be truly practical, the $60 cargo net and $225 Weather package's floor liners and cargo tray do make the Miata a bit more usable. All told, my Miata build comes in at just under $40,000. That's not exactly cheap, but it's still less than the average new car these days. And the grin I'll have as I zoom-zoom around VIR or my local roads will be worth every penny. –Matthew Skwarczek Read About the Miata Club's Lap Cadillac's supersedan is a living legend. And since the life expectancy of a V-8-powered new car with three pedals might not be much longer than the 2:47.9 lap it turned at this year's event, the CT5-V Blackwing is at the top of my wish list. The car that posted that impressive time was fitted with the $18,000 Precision package, which includes carbon-ceramic brakes, grippier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, and myriad suspension upgrades that helped make it 1.5 seconds faster around VIR than a version we previously lapped without the kit. I love that Cadillac went all-out to make the CT5 even more heroic on a racetrack, but I'd skip that expensive option and focus on making my Blackwing a delightful daily driver that can embarrass pricier sports cars during the occasional track day. I'm a green-paint guy, and the Caddy's available Typhoon Metallic is my kind of color. It's only a $625 upcharge, but I think it looks fantastic paired with the $1500 bronze 19-inch wheels (matching brake calipers cost an extra $595 but complete the look). While I think the CT5's face looked better before the recent refresh, the interior greatly benefits from the new 33-inch dashboard display. I don't prefer digital gauges over analog ones, but the pre-facelifted car already had a digitized instrument panel, and the overall dash layout didn't look great. It's better now, more cohesive. The only interior option I'd choose is the $8090 black-and-tan color scheme. Along with more supportive competition front seats, it includes nicer leather and puts it in more places. This is still a luxury sedan, after all. Since I'm sticking with the standard six-speed manual, I can't option the hands-free Super Cruise system, which would've also cost me $5875, so I'm not mad. Instead, I'd get the $1600 PDR to record and analyze my lap times. That's it. My ideal CT5-V Blackwing rings up at $109,900. Not bad for a 668-hp four-door with rear-wheel drive and a back seat that won't make my in-laws think I'm trying to punish them. Although they might get the hint after a few glorious full-throttle runs. –Eric Stafford Read About the CT5-V Blackwing's Lap Look, there's really only one correct answer here and it's the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS with the Manthey kit. I'm dealing with hypothetical money, so that means I get to turn my nose up at drivel like the Miata, both Subarus, and both Hyundais. All fine cars any other week, but what I'm after is the wail of Porsche's eardrum-rattling 4.0-liter flat-six as it crests 9000 rpm. Mine will be coated in the $14,750 Paint to Sample Ultraviolet purple, thank you very much. For $15,640, I'm tacking on a set of silver forged magnesium wheels. Wait, add another $13,250 to my tab because the mag wheels require selecting the Weissach package. A further $2170 is set aside for the Race-Tex and leather interior. Of course, I'll also be spending $540 for the heated seats. I want a track car, but what kind of monster do you take me for? The $3040 front-axle-lift system is practically a prerequisite for purchase. Seriously, who spends a quarter-million dollars and decides it's just too much to bear another $3000 for peace of mind? For maximum stopping power, I want the $8000 carbon-ceramic brakes. Certified Porsche dealers charge $53,946 for the Manthey kit, which puts my spec at a cool $279,131. You may think I'm out of my mind, but I think I've acted with quite a lot of restraint. However, I'll need to put money aside for medical bills after the constant abuse of the flat-six's 106-decibel song. Unfortunately, Porsche's configurator doesn't show the Manthey kit, so you'll have to use your imagination to see the bitchin' aero mods—or you can check out Dave Beard's flying lap. –Jack Fitzgerald Read About the 718 Cayman GT4 RS's Lap It is always a pleasure to use Porsche's online configurator. 'Here, pick from almost every color we've ever offered on our cars!' says Porsche. I understand why most manufacturers don't usually offer as many colors as possible (rest in peace Mk 7 Golf Spektrum paint colors), but I certainly wish they would. For my Taycan Turbo GT build, I went straight to the Paint to Sample colors. The Purple Sky Metallic is free and tempting, but I couldn't help myself. Speed Yellow ($13,150) is my choice, and I kept the 21-inch Turbo GT wheels but painted them Brilliant Silver for $1290. I painted the side mirrors Speed Yellow ($650) and the model designation on the rear the same hue ($270) then added the illuminated Porsche logo on the light strip for $460. I slapped on the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes for an even $900 and put a bow on my performance upgrades. I gave this car the GT interior with accents in GT Silver for $2020, which includes heated rear seats. Score! Those heating elements might add unnecessary weight, but, hey, it's either that or cold passengers. I'll take the former. The Porsche Design Subsecond Clock is an $1120 addition, the fixed panoramic roof adds $1540, and the head-up display is $1670. However, the most important option of all, the Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System, cost me $5810. That brings the total price of my Porsche Taycan Turbo GT to $260,885, so it looks like I'm gonna need to win the lottery. –Carter Fry Read About the Taycan Turbo GT's Lap I love playing around with car configurators. It's what got me through Communication Theory my junior year (sorry, Professor Bruni). McLaren's configurator has always been one of my favorites, and after seeing the Artura in person at Lightning Lap this year, I had to create one for myself. Paint was a tough choice between Belize Blue and Lantana Purple. Both go well with the Azores calipers I chose, but I picked the latter because I love how menacing Artura Spider's rear end looks with a darker color. It gives me General Grievous vibes. To continue the theme, I went with the 10-spoke Star Forged Alloy wheels in gloss black, which really helps those orange calipers pop. I left the wheels wrapped in the normal Pirelli P Zeros, though, as opposed to the P Zero Corsas because I'd like to survive getting caught in the rain. I had to option the titanium locking wheel bolts too because they reduce unsprung mass by a whopping 400 grams—serious race-car stuff. Finishing off the exterior, I checked the boxes for the sport exhaust with the stealth finish and a satin titanium engine cover. I also opted for body-colored everything. Say what you want, but I'm just not a carbon-fiber guy. For my Vision-spec interior, I continued with the orange accents instead of Flux Green (why only those two options?), which pairs nicely with the McLaren Orange seatbelt. I selected the simpler Clubsport seats, but because my back already feels like I'm 60, I opted for the lumbar support. Another checked box was the Thermal Insulated Windscreen, as it can get pretty toasty on those nine sunny days we get in every year in Michigan. Speaking of the Wolverine state, the final must-have for my ideal Artura is the front-axle-lift system. How much does it all cost? No idea. McLaren doesn't list prices on its configurator, but the car we lapped at VIR had an as-tested sticker of $388,793. –Mason Cordell Read About the Artura Spider's LapYou Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2024 Hyundai Elantra N at Lightning Lap 2025
From the March/April 2025 issue of Car and Driver. Class: LL1 | Base: $34,850 | As Tested: $35,320 Power and Weight: 276 hp • 3242 lb • 11.7 lb/hp Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S; 245/35ZR-19 (93Y) HN The Elantra N's appearance at VIR this year constitutes a Lightning Lap mulligan. When we had an Elantra N at the 2023 running of our track event, we rued that Hyundai hadn't sent a second set of tires, so we set its official time on well-worn rubber. We posited that a fresh set of running shoes would improve the N's lap time by more than a second. Hyundai took us up on our offer and sent another six-speed-manual version of its compact sports sedan, this time with the extra rubber needed to set the fastest possible lap. The 2024 N we drove is essentially the same as the 2022 model we ran last time but with a handful of minor updates aimed at making it more trackworthy, including urethane rear-suspension bushings, a revised front fascia claimed to improve engine and brake cooling, and new forged wheels that reduce unsprung mass by a claimed 33 pounds. As to that prediction, we were, um, close. The N's 3:06.4 lap time was 0.9 second quicker than before, with the added grip of the fresh rubber showing in Turn 1, where we recorded a peak of 0.97 g versus 0.95 for the older car. The N was quicker this year in all but the final sector and zipped 0.4 second quicker through Sectors 2 and 4, which zigzag through multiple lefts and rights. Its improved time came despite lower straight-line velocity—mysteriously, its 129.0-mph top speed was 4.9 mph down on the older N's. Oh, and to put its lap time into perspective, it's a half-second quicker than the 518-hp Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG we ran in 2011. Nothing about the Elantra's basic nature changed since we pushed its limits two years ago. It remains great fun to sling around VIR thanks to sharp steering, approachable handling limits, and strong brakes—as happy on the track as it is fun on the street. Back to Lightning Lap 2025 You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
View Photos of Lightning Lap 2025
read the full story Now in its 18th year, Car and Driver's Lightning Lap establishes benchmark lap times for the top performance cars across all price categories. VIR's grueling 4.1-mile Grand Course functions as America's Nürburging, and the lap times here provide the ultimate measure of a vehicle's overall performance. 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 2024 Hyundai Elantra N 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club 2025 McLaren Artura Spider 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT63 Coupe 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Manthey Racing 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT 2024 Subaru BRZ tS 2025 Subaru WRX tS You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
