Month: June 2015

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars returned in magnificent style to the Scottish roads that, in 1907 set the scene for one of the marque’s defining moments. Wraith, Ghost Series II, Phantom and Phantom Coupé all paid homage to the achievements of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which, by completing a 14,371 mile virtually non-stop run, forged the marque’s reputation as purveyor of the ‘Best Car in World’. The 1907 Scottish Reliability Trials The petrol-powered automobile was still in its infancy in 1907, and the greatest concerns for the motorist were a car’s ability to cope with gradients, the ease with which it could be steered, stopped and started again, but above all, its reliability. However, very few early manufacturers could truly meet these requirements. Indeed, Rudyard Kipling, an ardent motoring enthusiast, summed up the mood of the time by saying: “I like motoring […]

Aston Martin arrives at the 22nd Goodwood Festival of Speed next week with a superb line-up of exclusive and exciting sports cars and super saloons which, together, represent its biggest presence yet at the world-renowned celebration of motoring and motorsport. The luxury British sports car maker will treat the Goodwood patrons to a feast of ‘firsts’, including the UK debut of the motorsport-inspired, and now sold-out, Vantage GT12 and the global dynamic debut of the strictly-limited luxurious new Lagonda Taraf super saloon. Aside from the raw, track-derived appeal of the Vantage GT12, Aston Martin will also be running examples of its V12 Vantage S Roadster and luxurious Rapide S four-door, four-seat sports car. There will also be the rare opportunity to see the CC100 – Aston Martin’s centenary celebration concept car from 2013 – in action on the hill. Meanwhile […]

The iconic Range Rover celebrates its 45th birthday today. Reaching the important milestone is the latest in a series of 2015 highlights for the world’s most desirable luxury SUV. At the New York International Auto Show in March, Land Rover revealed a new Range Rover flagship in the form of the exclusive SVAutobiography and the landmark six millionth Land Rover was a Range Rover Vogue SE, which rolled off the Solihull production line in April. Over the last 45 years Range Rover has delivered a series of industry firsts as it has evolved into the peerless SUV we know today. As well as introducing a host of advanced technologies, many of which have since become industry standards, the original Classic model was cited as an ‘exemplary work of industrial design’ when it became the first vehicle to be displayed at […]

Coventry Transport Museum is offering a day of fun and discovery for visitors of all ages to see the newly refurbished iconic city-centre attraction officially re-opened, with a free public show, featuring stunts and supercars, beginning at 1300hrs. If you’re looking for a fantastic FREE day out for all the family, you can’t beat Coventry Transport Museum.  In the heart of Coventry city centre, this huge Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of British road transport, and a visit whisks you away into a world of stories of real people, real passions and real hope. Petrolhead presenter duo Amanda Stretton and Harry Metcalfe will be introducing a car show that will consist of the Trailblazing Cars of the World parade and two stunt shows from supercar stuntsman Terry Grant – famous for holding over 20 stunt related World […]

Video of the Week is for fans of old school seat-of-the-pants sports cars in the form of a TopGear challenge between an Austin Healey Sprite and Peugeot 306. At this time – We can call this challenge – Old School vs. New Generation car culture. Richard Hammond and James May argue about the state of modern-day driving, which sparked a time trial showdown at Prescott Hill Climb Course, pitting a Austin-Healey Sprite representing a mostly middle-aged classic car owners club, versus a modified Peugeot 306 backed by a more youthful group. The Stig takes the two around, with the Sprite, on a serious race-focussed diet, defeating the showy and stereo-laden 306 by one second.

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed some of the prototype technologies that its UK-based research team are developing to deliver autonomous driving in the future. A Remote Control Range Rover Sport research vehicle demonstrates how a driver could drive the vehicle from outside the car via their smartphone. The smartphone app includes control of steering, accelerator and brakes as well as changing from high and low range. This would allow the driver to walk alongside the car, at a maximum speed of 4mph, to manoeuvre their car out of challenging situations safely, or even to negotiate difficult off-road terrain. The driver could use the smartphone to reverse the car out of a parking space if someone has parked too close for them to open the door, or allow the driver to become their own off-road spotter, to guide the car over […]

The annual University Motors Summer party will be held this year on August 8 in Byron Center, Michigan. This year’s event will be celebrating the MGA 1500’s birthday. The MGA was introduced in 1955. By replacing the TF, it was a quantum leap into the future with it’s aerodynamic body styling – a world away from the “square rigger” MG models from before WWII. Over the next seven years about 110,000 MGAs were manufactured. They came as roadsters and coupes. They were powered first by a 1500 engine, then a 1600, and finally a 1622. A short run (2111) of Twin Cams were produced in 1959-1960. They came with drum/drum brakes, then disc/drums, while the Twin Cam had all round disc brakes. The last MGAs left the factory in 1962 before the introduction of the MGB. Come with us the […]

We am just going to leave this here without comment, although we guess that is comment enough. To drive a MINI is to make a statement. To wear MINI is now equally so. On the occasion of the 88th Pitti Uomo, MINI got together with six talented young Italians and the heads behind the Pitti Uomo gentleman’s fashion fair to design the first MINI Capsule Collection. The upshots are six premium accessories that combine Italian craftsmanship with creative and innovative details – inspired by the new MINI Clubman. Tradition meets cutting edge. They’re young, they love unconventionality and they are masters of their art: in a symbiotic partnership the creative personalities behind the brands SuperDuper, TYG Spectacles, Alberto Premi and Pijama, along with perfumer Paola Bottai and the Proraso team with illustrator Pietro Nicolaucich, joined forces with MINI to design […]

Jaguar today, 15 June, announced updates to the 2016 Jaguar XJ. Launched in the U.S. in 2011, the brand’s flagship full-size, all-aluminum luxury sedan becomes even more desirable in 2016 with an updated exterior design, enhanced information and entertainment systems, new available driver assistance features and greater differentiation in the model line-up.

Jaguar and the world land speed record holder RAF Wing Commander Andy Green performed vital high-speed parachute tests on Friday, June 12, as part of the company’s on-going Bloodhound SSC technical support for this unique engineering adventure: creating a car that can cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds. The jet and rocket powered car, which aims to surpass the current record of 763.035mph before targeting 1000mph, has multiple braking systems including air-brakes (‘doors’ mounted on the side of the car which open to increase aerodynamic drag) and disc brakes (used when slowing down from 200mph). In addition, the driver has two back-up parachutes to ensure that the 135,000thp (thrust horse power) vehicle will slow down before the end of its 12-mile track in Hakskeen Pan, South Africa. Stopping, quickly and controllably, is as important to setting a record as […]

A new, hybrid-powered State Review vehicle was used for the first time on Thursday, when Her Majesty The Queen presented New Colours to the Royal Welsh Regiment in Cardiff.  The Queen is Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment. Based on a long wheelbase Range Rover, the new vehicle features a diesel hybrid engine, which enables it to run at times purely on electric power.  The State Review was designed by Land Rover Design and engineered by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations department. This is the fourth State Review vehicle which Land Rover has provided, starting with a 1953 Land Rover Series 1.  The new hybrid replaces the previous Range Rover State Review vehicle, which dates from 2002. Jaguar Land Rover is the only automotive company to hold all three Royal Warrants, from HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and […]

Aston Martin Racing has qualified on pole in both GT classes of the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with its #99 and #98 V8 Vantage GTEs. It might have been his first time racing at the world-famous Circuit de la Sarthe, but Le Mans ‘rookie’ Richie Stanaway (NZ) was quick to impress, posting the fastest lap and putting the #99 on pole. “That was the start we were looking for, but there’s still a lot of work to do to win the race,” commented Stanaway. “The car feels great and we’re all on top form so we just need to bring it all together on Saturday.” But it wasn’t only Stanaway who took pole position for Saturday’s 24-hour endurance event. In the GTE Am class, Pedro Lamy (PT) set the fastest time in the #98 Vantage GTE and will […]

MG’s latest new dealer appointment fills one of the top ‘open points’ in an on-going major extension of the brand’s franchise network. Roadworthy Bristol is the 33rd new MG dealer to be appointed within the past 18-months and almost completes the brand’s dealer map in the south west of England. The new dealer, which is in one of MG’s top 15 open points, plans to go fully live within the next few weeks, but already has new MG6 and MG3 models in stock and available to view. MG has the fastest growing dealer network in the UK and it is planned to increase the current number of 64 dealers to around 80 by the end of the year. The expansion of the network is reflected in a huge increase in sales of MG cars. Last year MG saw the greatest […]

Jaguar Land Rover’s Invictus Games work placement legacy programme has seen the first five successful participants being offered a permanent position at the company. The bespoke training programme is designed to help rehabilitate wounded, injured and sick ex-personnel and aid transition into civilian careers. Staff Sergeant Wayne Walker, formerly of the Queen’s Royal Lancers has joined the Solihull manufacturing team as a Process Leader, following completion of the company’s inaugural twelve week programme. Wayne, 36, joined the training programme on 1st December 2014 after being medically discharged from a 19 year military career, which saw him serve in operational tours of Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. It was in Iraq that he sustained a serious knee injury following the detonation of a vehicle born IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Wayne has since undergone close to 20 operations to his left knee […]

Jaguar Land Rover is researching a new connected car technology that will allow a vehicle to identify the location and severity of potholes, broken drains and manhole covers, and then share this data in real-time via the cloud with other vehicles and with road authorities to help them prioritise repairs. If a car can receive a warning from another vehicle about severe potholes or broken manholes ahead, then drivers would be able to slow down and avoid the danger – or the car could adjust suspension settings to reduce the impact and smooth the ride. This could help reduce the potential for punctures, wheel and vehicle damage as well as road accidents. Dr Mike Bell, Global Connected Car Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Our MagneRide equipped Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport vehicles feature sophisticated sensors that allow the vehicle […]

Our Video of the Week this time around is a great classic from the Standard Triumph publicity archives entitled “Triumph at Le Mans”. A great video for it not only features the Triumph team with the TRS, but also shots of MG, Cooper, Sunbeam, Ferrari, and many more. The commentator’s sly asides are quite entertaining, especially as the apply to the “other interests” of the drivers and other such matters.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will present the first public showing of Isaac Julien’s new work Stones Against Diamonds during Art Basel in Basel, 2015. The work, commissioned as part of the Rolls‑Royce Art Programme, will be shown at the Kirche Elisabethen, Basel, from 16-17 June 2015. Following the preview during the Venice Biennale last month, the video installation will be shown on a larger scale than previously seen, as a unique site specific installation filling the magnificent interior of the imposing church across ten screens. Isaac Julien’s film draws inspiration from a letter written by Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi.Stones Against Diamonds examines themes within her letter, where she praises the beauty of natural elements over preferred precious stones. Filming the work in remote Vatnajökull region, in South East Iceland, using the breathtaking scenery of glistening ice caves as a set […]

Aston Martin Racing has unveiled a 24 Hours of Le Mans art car designed by artist Tobias Rehberger. The unique creation gives the Gulf #97 Vantage GTE the illusion of movement and speed, even when static. Rehberger is renowned for his abstract art and optical effects that distort perception and has received numerous international prizes and awards, including the Golden Lion for best artist at the 2009 Venice Biennale. Aston Martin Racing invited him to design a livery that would work with the Gulf Vantage GTE’s lines and colours in a way never attempted before. Thirty years since the first art car ran in the 24-hour race, Rehberger set out to create a design that uses geometric shapes and patterns to give the car, when static, the impression of movement and speed. The German artist, who will attend Saturday’s race […]