Trump looks to reassert himself after impeachment acquittal
Donald Trump took in the win at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by friends and family. His lawyers celebrated with hugs and smiles. One joked, “We’re going to Disney World!”
Now acquitted in his second Senate impeachment trial, Trump is preparing for the next phase of his post-presidency life. Feeling emboldened by the trial’s outcome, he is expected to reemerge from a self-imposed hibernation at his club in Palm Beach, Florida, and is eyeing ways to reassert his power.
But after being barred from Twitter, the former president lacks the social media bullhorn that fueled his political rise. And he’s confronting a Republican Party deeply divided over the legacy of his jarring final days in office, culminating in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol. Searing video images of the day played on loop during his impeachment trial, which ended Saturday.
Trump remains popular among the GOP base, but many Republicans in Washington have cooled to him. Never before have so many members of a president’s party — seven GOP senators, in his case — voted for his removal in a Senate trial.
Some may work to counter efforts by Trump to support extreme candidates in next year’s congressional primaries.
Undeterred, friends and allies expect Trump to resume friendly media interviews after weeks of silence. He has met with political aides to discuss efforts to help Republicans try to take control of the House and Senate in the 2022 midterms elections. He remains fixated on exacting revenge on Republicans who supported his impeachment or resisted his efforts to overturn the results of the November election won by Democrat Joe Biden.
“I imagine you’ll probably be hearing a lot more from him in the coming days,” senior adviser Jason Miller said.
In a statement after the vote, Trump offered few clues, but was defiant as he told supporters their movement “has only just begun.”
“In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people,” he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spoke with Trump on Saturday night, acknowledged that Trump is “mad at some folks,” but also “ready to move on and rebuild the Republican Party” and “excited about 2022.”
In their conversations, Graham has stressed to Trump, who has threatened to start his own party to punish disloyal Republicans, that the GOP needs him to win.
“I said, ‘Mr. President, this MAGA movement needs to continue. We need to unite the party. Trump-plus is the way back in 2022,’” Graham, R-S.C., told “Fox News Sunday.”
“My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda I’ve seen coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden. We can’t do that without Donald Trump, so he’s ready to hit the trail and I’m ready to work with him,” Graham said.
Graham said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who voted to acquit but then delivered a scalding denunciation of Trump, “got a load off a chest, obviously.” Graham said later in the interview: “If you want to get something off your chest, fine, but I’m into winning.”
At his Palm Beach club on Saturday night, Trump was in a joyous mood as he enjoyed dinner on a patio packed with people. After a mellow last several weeks, one member described a party atmosphere not felt since before the election.
Still, Trump isn’t in the clear yet. No longer protected by a Justice Department opinion against the prosecution of sitting presidents, he now faces multiple, ongoing criminal investigations.
In Georgia, the Fulton County district attorney has opened a criminal investigation into “attempts to influence” the election, including Trump’s call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger demanding that the official find enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory.
In New York, Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether Trump and his company improperly inflated the value of his assets on annual financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain tax benefits. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. continues his own investigation, which has included grand jury testimony.
“He didn’t get away with anything — yet,” McConnell, R-Ky., after the vote. “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.”
McConnell voted to acquit Trump on the grounds the trial was unconstitutional because he is no longer in office, but insisted, “There’s no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.”
That sharp rebuke from his once-loyal defender underscores how dramatically Trump’s stock has fallen in Washington since his first impeachment trial just over a year ago. But the desire to be rid of Trump is not shared across the country, where Republicans who have dared to admonish him have faced swift rebuke.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was forced to defend her third-in-line leadership position after she voted in favor of impeachment. On Saturday, Louisiana’s Republican Party quickly censured Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the seven Republicans senators who voted for Trump’s conviction.
In an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Week,” Cassidy seemed at peace with his decision.
“I think his force wanes,” he said of Trump. “The Republican Party is more than just one person. The Republican Party is about ideas.”
But how long Trump retains his grip remains an open question, especially with a slew of likely 2024 candidates now trying to take the mantle.
Some, like Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, are advocating a clean break from Trump, who ended his presidency with a record low 34% approval rating according to Gallup polling. Others have stressed the need to keep his voters engaged, perhaps with candidates who trumpet the policies Trump championed, but with a less caustic style that might win back suburban voters.
In a sign of his enduring power, the Republican National Committee and other groups spent the trial sending fundraising appeals urging their followers to “Stand with Trump” and “SAVE President Trump’s Legacy,” in the words of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“Oh, time is going to take care of that some way or another,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters Saturday. “But remember, in order to be a leader you got to have followers. So we’re gonna find out, whoever leads. But everybody’s going to be involved. We’re a big tent.”
While the Senate failed to bar Trump from running again for office, many believe he has done too much damage to be a credible candidate himself in 2024.
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who is retiring, said Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the election had “very badly damaged his reputation,” eclipsing his accomplishments in office.
“Instead,” Toomey said, “he’ll be remembered throughout history as the president who resorted to nonlegal steps to try to hold on to power.”
Hyundai is using motorsport as a testing ground for new technologies
New Veloster N ETCR and i20 N Rally2 racing models are based on road-going Hyundai cars to illustrate technology transfer for the digital age
By building an all-electric race car like the Veloster N ETCR, Hyundai proves that high-performance EVs are possible
Hyundai Motorsport will soon participate in the inaugural allelectric touring car championship PURE ETCR, which will commence later this year. PURE ETCR will set the benchmark for electric racing around the world and accelerate the transition to emissions-free mobility. Hyundai’s involvement marks the latest step in the company’s quest to make motorsport greener.
Hyundai Motorsport will compete in PURE ETCR with its new all-electric high-performance touring car, the Veloster N ETCR. It heralds an exciting new era for Hyundai, which will see electric racing become one of the pillars of the company.
Alongside its electrification strategy, Hyundai has also used its leadership in fuel cell technology to develop its hydrogen generator. This generator will be able to charge electric cars through converting green hydrogen into charging power.
For Hyundai, motorsport is a field in which the company can do more than experiment with new technologies, which can then inform the development of its production cars. It reflects the company’s pioneering spirit that results in constant innovation and leadership in future mobility. Knowledge transfer between Hyundai Motorsport and the Hyundai N brand has proved fruitful so far, with success in both the WRC and TCR championships as well as well-received road cars like the all-new i20 N.
“Hyundai is undertaking huge efforts to develop sustainable mobility for a better world, and motorsport is not exempt from this goal. That’s why we are very excited to have the opportunity to build on our WRC and TCR success as part of the upcoming PURE ETCR,” says Andrea Adamo, Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal. “With our holistic approach, we are able to significantly reduce emissions in motorsport while ensuring the spectacular sport we know and love remains fun, for drivers and fans alike.”
WRC and TCR: Hyundai’s motorsport heritage
Motorsport is an extension of Hyundai’s “performance” pillar. Despite being a fresh player in this field, the company has already made a mark. The Hyundai
Motorsport team formed in 2012, overseeing the establishment of its Alzenau facility and the development of its first rally car, the i20 WRC. Hyundai Motorsport entered the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in 2014. After five successful seasons laying the foundations for success, the team won the World Rally Championship for the first time in 2019. This feat was successfully repeated last year, as Hyundai strengthened its reputation in global motorsport.
After a successful foray into WRC, Hyundai Motorsport entered the world of circuit racing in 2018 with the i30 N TCR. Gabriele Tarquini took the car to the top of the inaugural WTCR standings in 2018. A year later, Norbert Michelisz powered the i30 N TCR to its second consecutive championship.
Technology transfer between Hyundai Motorsport and Hyundai N
Hyundai Motorsport competes in the WRC with the i20 Coupe WRC, which is based on a highlymodified version of the Hyundai i20. In the WTCR, the team races with the i30 N TCR. This dedicated touring car is based on the company’s first high-performance production model, the i30 N. Both cars demonstrate how Hyundai’s road-going models serve as an optimal basis for Hyundai Motorsport’s competitive racing cars.
The i20 Coupe WRC is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with direct injection, which is connected to a sixspeed sequential transmission. It offers four-wheel drive and provides a maximum output of 380 PS, with
450 Nm of torque.
As a further sign of the company’s commitment to sustainability in its performance models, Hyundai Motorsport is currently developing a mild hybrid powertrain for the i20 WRC. This is scheduled to launch in 2022, and it is set to be the world’s first rally car with such technology.
The i30 N TCR is powered by a twolitre turbocharged
4-cylinder inline engine, which is connected to a sixspeed sequential gearbox. It features front-wheel drive and is fitted with a 100-litre fuel tank. It provides a maximum output of 350 PS with 450 Nm of torque.
As well as competing in WRC and TCR with models based on road-going cars, Hyundai uses motorsport as a testing ground for new technologies. This approach has a direct impact on the company’s future N production models through knowledge transfer. For example, the company’s latest racetrack-capable hot hatch, the all-new i20 N, is directly influenced by the i20 WRC car. The all-new i20 N carries the same weight as the minimum required in WRC and bears a rallying-inspired roof spoiler for enhanced aerodynamics.
Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing recently unveiled the i20 N Rally2, an all-new rally car intended for privateer teams and drivers. In another example of how Hyundai Motorsport and Hyundai N work together to enhance their performance offer
ings, the i20 N Rally2 car is based on the strong foundation of the all-new i20 N’s chassis. The i20 N Rally2 builds on the dynamic look of the road car – part of Hyundai’s new ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ identity – and includes several design elements inspired by the world of motorsport.
The Veloster N ETCR – Hyundai’s first all-electric high-performance vehicle
Ahead of the PURE ETCR championship, Hyundai Motorsport’s engineers designed and built the company’s first all-electric highperformance vehicle, the Veloster N ETCR, at its headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. Like the i30 N TCR and i20 N Rally2, it is based on a highly-modified version of another Hyundai N car, the North American Veloster N model.
Testing on the Veloster N ETCR began with a prototype design in September 2019, which the team continued to develop throughout 2020. It is a zero-emission, rearwheel drive touring car with mid-mounted motors and designed specifically for ETCR regulations. Equipped with a 798-volt battery pack from Williams Advanced Engineering located in the floor of the car and a doublewishbone rear suspension, the chassis is radically different from any previous Hyundai Motorsport project. It boasts a peak power output of 500 kW (equivalent to 680 PS) and a continuous power of 300 kW. The Veloster N ETCR’s engine consists of four motors – two per wheel – which are connected to a single gear ratio gearbox.
“ECTR is a testbed for Hyundai’s future mobility models. With the Veloster N ETCR, we are proving how cutting-edge technology can be combined with ecofriendly driving to make motorsport cleaner,” says Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand Management and Motorsport Sub-division at Hyundai Motor Company. “By building an electric race car, we will prove a high-performance EV is feasible. The gathered knowledge and data through our experiences on the track, are the basis to optimise and improve our BEV and FCEV models.”
The hydrogen-powered Hyundai Generator
PURE ETCR presents Hyundai with the opportunity to push its electrification systems to the limit under the most extreme conditions. However, while highperformance is a key tenet for the company, it is also committed to making the competition, as well as the future of motorsport and performance cars more generally, as environmentallyfriendly as possible. For Hyundai, this does not stop with the zeroemission drivetrain. Rather, the whole ecosystem has to be sustainable, from power generation to fuel transport.
Hyundai will be offering its new hydrogen generator as a recharging system for electric vehicles. The Hyundai Generator is the newest feature of emission-free electric charging and consists of two fuel cell stacks. First, the generator is filled up using tanks of compressed hydrogen. Inside the fuel cell stack, the hydrogen is exposed to oxygen. The ensuing chemical reaction generates energy. This energy is used to charge the batteries of the electric touring vehicles. This way, participants can be sure that the electricity used to charge the cars also comes from emissionsfree, sustainable sources.
The Hyundai Generator allows two EVs to charge simultaneously. As well as featuring a highspeed charging capability, it also offers significantly reduced noise levels compared to a diesel generator. Beyond e-racing, Hyundai is also confident its hydrogenpowered generator has a range of different potential use cases, such as festivals, construction sites and crisis situations.
“For Hyundai it is important to always have a holistic view on zero-emission mobility. With solutions like the Hydrogen Generator, we are able not only to run emission free vehicles but also guarantee that the electricity is produced emissions-free by using green hydrogen to power the generator,” says Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor Company. “In Hyundai’s move to become a Smart Mobility Solutions Provider, we will further develop zero-emission appliances for different aspects of our lives.”
How electric racing combines sustainability and performance
Electric racing represents the perfect opportunity for Hyundai to combine both environmental sustainability and motorsport, bringing together the brand’s “progress” and “performance” pillars. In the future, electric racing is set to become one of the core pillars of Hyundai Motorsport. ETCR showcases how future-oriented technologies and cleaner racing can be combined.
Electrified motorsport is also a way for Hyundai to reach out to new target groups. By developing an emissions-free touring car like the Veloster N ETCR, the company is demonstrating the feasibility of high-performance EVs. These models can be ecofriendly, while at the same time being fun to drive.