Month: June 2015

According to The Independent, Britain will soon be making almost four cars a minute as the UK’s motor industry booms with record high production figures. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) predicts the number of new vehicles being built in Britain will climb to almost  2 million by 2017, based on current trends. In a new report it reveals that turnover hit an all-time high of £69.5bn last year, while almost 1.6 million vehicles were built, the highest vehicle production figures since 2008. Last year, car production alone grew to 1.53 million units – the highest level since 2007 – with an increasing number of vehicles built for the domestic new car market, which itself grew 9.3 per cent to reach 2.48 million registrations last year. Meanwhile, the number of jobs in the industry climbed 3.5 per cent in […]

Aston Martin has teamed up with the Royal Air Force, to attract the next generation of women into engineering roles in both organisations. A pioneering STEM Women in Engineering event took place at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Wednesday 24 June and saw around 140 female students attend. The event, organised for young women from school Years 9 to 13 was designed to promote career opportunities at Aston Martin, and in the RAF, to young women from across the South East and the West Midlands, in support of National Women in Engineering Day. Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer attended the event to deliver the keynote speech, along with Air Vice-Marshal Sue Gray, the most senior female Engineer in the RAF, while six female graduates from the luxury British sport car brand’s Engineering and Commercial functions, as well as […]

British sportscar manufacturer, Caterham Cars, is partnering with dealership Westside Cars, expanding its European dealer network to Hamburg, Germany. The dealership launch further strengthens Caterham’s presence in one of its key markets, Germany. The showroom in Hamburg will display the full European range of Caterham’s iconic British sportscars, including the Seven 165, the brand-new Seven 275, and the Seven 485. The launch of the new 1,500 square metre showroom was marked with an opening event for invited guests on the 26th June, and the dealership opens its door to the public on Saturday the 27th of June. Independent dealer Westside Cars is the latest to open a Caterham dealership in Europe, and the British sportscar manufacturer now has a growing network of dealerships in Europe. In addition to attending to new customers, Caterham Westside will offer after sales service run […]

Heralding a new generation of Lotus high performance sports cars, Friday saw the unveiling of the company’s quickest and most expensive series production car ever, the 3-Eleven, at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Designed as an uncompromised manifestation of the Lotus spirit, the new car is focused on providing an undiluted driving experience, and underlines the company’s ability to deliver legendary handling and blistering speed. Working on the concept of less is more, and keeping close to Lotus’ track roots, the dramatic new vehicle features an all-new lightweight body, with an open cockpit design and a revised V6 supercharged engine developing 450 hp. Two variations of the Lotus 3-Eleven will be available: Road and Race; both delivering an impressive combination of high performance, agility and precision. Based on the Road version, the Race includes a more aggressive aero kit, […]

This weekend, Bentley Team Dyson Racing returns to the circuit that kicked off their successful 2014 debut season at the infamous Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The weekend will feature a triple-header schedule including a makeup race from last month’s Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix which was cancelled due to inclement weather and safety concerns. The team enters the weekend with optimism and reflection on their first successful first race year which has seen the inclusion of a second Continental GT3 and Bentley’s first victory in North America, as well as multiple podium finishes. Driver of the #20 car, Butch Leitzinger, drove the Continental GT3 in its North American debut at Road America a year ago which resulted in 6th and 4th place finishes. He comments: “Our Bentleys are well-suited to Road America. The Continental GT3 has very good […]

Months of anticipation for Aston Martin enthusiasts around the world are, today, brought to a close with the exciting global dynamic debut of the Aston Martin Vulcan – a track-only supercar and the British luxury brand’s most intense and exhilarating creation to date. Patrons attending today’s session of the 23rd Goodwood Festival of Speed in the grounds of historic Goodwood House, West Sussex, have been treated to a historic occasion of their own – with the first public running of the Aston Martin Vulcan following its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The 800-plus bhp, all-carbon fibre, Aston Martin Vulcan today delivered on its promise of truly extreme performance with a series of spine-tingling sprints up the famous hill climb with Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner at the wheel. Before its inaugural run, the new […]

A 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III, which has lain dormant in storage for over 35 years, is to be restored by leading classic car restoration company Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth (CMC). The DB2/4 was recently purchased from the Bonham’s Newport Pagnell Aston Martin works sale on behalf of a client. The car was sold for £104,540, going over its estimate of £30-50k. “The car was an attractive restoration project in 1977 when it entered storage, despite the fact that it had lead a hard life,” said Nick Goldthorp, Managing Director of CMC, “There were splits in the front suspension turrets which had been welded and crash damage to the offside body and rear chassis which were repaired at the time. But it would now appear that the chassis needs re-aligning.” Nick added: “The Aston needs a total restoration, […]

One in five UK adults (22%) admit to still playing with toy cars, even when the children aren’t around, according to new research out today. And while half of this group (11%) is quite happy to do so in the company of other adults, the same number prefers to do so only in private. The research goes on to further underline the nation’s passion for the ever-popular toy car, with almost a third of adults (29%) admitting to still holding on to the models they owned as a child. One in ten (10%) are so protective of their precious mini marques that they hide them away for safe keeping, while a similar number (6.6%) are conversely so proud of their collection that they keep it on display at home.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently celebrated the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces in the world at the 56th Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours and Rally. The spectacular setting of Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, provided the perfect backdrop for a record number of motor cars, with over 1000 heritage and contemporary Rolls-Royces attending for the first time in the Club’s history. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars honoured the occasion with a record display of seven Goodwood-built Phantoms, Ghosts and Wraiths, including several highly Bespoke models. The motor cars, hosted by a team of experts from the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, drew large crowds throughout the three day event, with the passion for the brand, particularly for the contemporary models, evident amongst fans, enthusiasts and owners alike. Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “The Rolls‑Royce Enthusiasts’ Club is a vital custodian […]

The first ever season of the FIA Formula E Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend in London. In the heart of Battersea Park, the double-header will see six drivers fight to become the first Champion of the category. Among the contenders, the two members of the e.dams-Renault team will be going all out not only to win the drivers’ championship but also to secure the Teams’ title for the French outfit. After two years of work and intense racing, the outcome of the very first FIA Formula E Championship is about to be decided. Throughout the last twelve months, the 40 Spark-Renault SRT01_E – the architecture of which is supervised by Renaultsport – have demonstrated their qualities. Reflecting the fairness with which all the competitors have been treated, no fewer than six drivers are still in with a chance of […]

This weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will see a collection of McLaren models, displayed statically at McLaren House, adjacent to the famous Goodwood House, and in the Supercar Paddock prepared by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The bespoke arm of McLaren Automotive has prepared models from the Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series, the three newly-announced model tiers. Each of these celebrate this year’s Festival of Speed ‘Flat-out and Fearless’ theme, highlighting a milestone or ‘moment’ from the history of McLaren, and honouring some of the legendary drivers who have driven for the team over the years. The Ultimate Series is represented by the McLaren P1™, prepared by MSO, with inspiration drawn from the patriotic French livery of the helmet worn by four-time Formula 1 world champion, Alain Prost. Colour-matched to the famous design, the carbon fibre bodywork of the […]

As the latest addition to the MINI family, the new Clubman, unveiled today, has grown up in both size and maturity compared to its predecessor launched in 2007. Completely redesigned and engineered from the ground up, the new MINI Clubman features premium quality and craftsmanship in every detail, creating a sleek and sophisticated interpretation of the brand’s iconic style. In fact, for the first time since the Clubman name was introduced in 1969, the new MINI Clubman has been developed as a separate model from the iconic MINI Cooper Hardtop, taking the legendary MINI sporting feel into a larger class of vehicle. The new MINI Clubman continues in the tradition of renowned British estate cars, offering a rare combination of passenger comfort and elegant styling while being fun to drive.

The introduction of the Lotus Evora 400, as a 2017 North American Model Year, marks the start of a fresh period in Lotus’ presence in this vital market. The previous model Evora already received positive acclaim from media, customers and dealers alike and reaffirmed Lotus as the maker of some of the finest, purest, most lightweight and most efficient sports cars sold today. Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer, Group Lotus plc, explains: “The Lotus Evora 400 combines high performance with the legendary Lotus benchmark handling. It is lighter, more efficient and dynamically better than ever. It is the perfect high performance machine for those discerning buyers seeking a hand built British-built sports car that possesses a purer driving experience, greater agility and a more involving drive.” To coincide with the introduction of the Lotus Evora 400 into the North American […]

Aston Martin is today revealing the DB9 GT – the luxury British sports car maker’s most compelling production ‘DB’ to date. Designed to offer the best of what DB9 can be, the new car delivers world-class grand touring and hand-built excellence. Claiming the title of the most potent DB9 yet devised, by virtue of its uprated 6.0-litre V12 engine which now boasts 547 PS – the DB9 GT makes its public debut as part of Aston Martin’s impressive presence at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The new sports car appears as Aston Martin also unveils a raft of colour, trim and equipment enhancements across its sporty Vantage and luxurious Rapide S model lines. Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “The arrival of 16 Model Year (16MY) cars, as well as the addition of the sophisticated DB9 GT, gives […]

World renowned, Beaulieu Autojumbles are a must visit for the motoring enthusiast in the UK. With over 2000 stands, groaning with all kinds of vintage and classic motoring ephemera – motoring parts, accessories, automobilia, literature, tools and clothing, there is something for everyone and lots of bargains to be had. This iconic event enjoys the reputation that; “if you can’t find it at Beaulieu, it doesn’t’ exist!” Our videos this week, yes we have two, are of the Beaulieu Autojumble The first is from this year’s Spring event. Whether you’re hunting for that elusive final part to complete your restoration or just want to soak up the atmosphere, join us for the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble. With thousands of stands bursting with automotive related bargains, those with a penchant for automotive eclectica and rummaging for rare parts will be in their element. From […]

British luxury brand, Jaguar, supported global fashion icon Ralph Lauren’s glamorous event in London, to celebrate The Official Wimbledon Outfitter’s tenth anniversary as an AELTC partner on Monday 22 June. Jaguar, celebrating its 80th anniversary and first year as The Official Car of The Championships, Wimbledon, provided a fleet of luxury chauffeur vehicles as the Official Car Supplier for The Ralph Lauren and Vogue Wimbledon Summer Cocktail party. Stars of tennis, film, music and fashion were chauffeured to the event by Jaguar. The fleet of luxury chauffeur vehicles included the new Jaguar XE, which is now on sale at Jaguar retailers. The new British sports saloon car is now being delivered to its first customers across the UK. Laura Schwab, UK Marketing Director at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Jaguar is excited to be able to celebrate these important landmarks before […]

A selection of iconic racing cars rarely seen on the open market will be available in the competition car-only Silverstone Auctions sale held ahead of the Silverstone Classic on 23 July 2015. For the first time since its conception in 2011, Silverstone Auctions has introduced a stand-alone Competition Car Sale. Due to the unprecedented demand and appeal of historic racing cars and the increased demand of Silverstone Classic, the auction house have introduced a dedicated racing car-only sale on 23 July. The event will complement the two main classic car sales over 24-26* July.

A 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost carrying ingenious painted ‘wood-effect’ shooting brake coachwork from a car once owned by the future Edward VIII – one of the earliest ‘woodies’ – burst through its £120,000 upper estimate to sell for £161,280 at H&H Classics’ 20 June auction. The sale was held in conjunction with the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours & Rally at Burghley House, Lincolnshire. The lady vendor had driven the 92-year-old car to the event, no doubt relying on Rolls’ reputation in the day for making the ‘best car in the world’ – although it’s no stranger to adventure, having enjoyed many Ghost Club tours through Europe, South Africa and Australasia. In recent weeks the car has been the subject of much Fleet Street speculation that the then Prince of Wales employed it to smuggle Mrs Simpson out of Balmoral, […]