Articles by Staff

MG has announced it will open a prestigious multi-million pound flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly. The exclusive showroom, next to The Royal Academy of Arts and directly opposite Fortnum & Mason, is one of the most sought-after retail locations in the world. MG’s showroom will become a centre of excellence for the iconic 91-year-old brand which is Britain’s fastest growing marque. This is the latest and most significant move in a major expansion of new MG dealerships across the country. In the past 12 months MG has opened 26 new dealerships in Britain, and has declared its intention to continue growing by targeting a further 30 open points. London was a key goal in MG’s ambitious plans to substantially build its dealer network. It was considered vital for MG to have a flagship presence in the UK’s […]

Belated news … On September 7, 2014, Milwaukee Midget Racing established a new Bonneville course record of 122.539 mph for the I/GT class. This was the oldest standing record in the GT category—it stood unbeaten for more than 22 years.The 1971 MG Midget, running a 999cc, 5-port A-series engine, and driven by owner Chris Conrad, ran a best speed of 126.684, with an average record speed of 122.539, during the 2014 Utah Salt Flat Racing Association’s World of Speed event. Through continued work and racing development, it is Milwaukee Midget Racing’s intent to keep and maintain class dominance in the one liter stock bodied sports car category, and maintain MG’s presence as both a historic and relevant marque in Land Speed Racing.

This Is Money states that iconic British car maker MG Motor UK will this week announce astonishing results, confirming its recovery from near collapse and providing yet another sign of Britain’s resurgent motor industry. The group, now Chinese owned, will proudly reveal that sales surged to a record high in the first quarter of 2015. At the same time the company is set to launch its new MG6 model and it is preparing to open a £30 million flagship showroom in Piccadilly in the heart of the capital. The news is a far cry from events ten years ago when manufacturer MG Rover was forced to call in the receivers after it catastrophically ran out of money as hopes of a £100 million bridging loan from the Government evaporated. MG Rover’s 26,000 workers found themselves instantly unemployed and the ramifications […]

The Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance is a unique celebration of America’s passion for the automobile and honor for the brave men and women who protect and provide the very freedom we enjoy. Known as the birthplace of golf in the United States, Pinehurst has hosted more golf championships than any other site in America, including the 2014 U.S. Open and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup match, PGA Tour Championship and U.S. Amateurs. Events are planned for the third annual Pinehurst Concours Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2015, with some of the most historic and rare automobiles staged on the fairways of the iconic golf resort. Blending the history, heritage and grandeur from three of North Carolina’s proudest traditions – motorsports, golf and military the Pinehurst Concours is an up and coming event in the field […]

Carroll Shelby‘s son Patrick and grandson Aaron made the winning $539,000 bid at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in January to return Carroll’s first race car to the family home in Dallas, making the diminutive but singular 1949 MG TC the world’s most expensive MG for a long time to come. Per the description on the Barrett-Jackson website: The first car that Carroll Shelby drove in a road race. The car that started his racing career. In May of 1952, his good friend Ed Wilkins let Carroll Shelby drive this MG TC in a road race at Norman, Oklahoma. It was Shelby’s first sport car race. He won it, and the second race, too, easily outrunning the Jaguar XK120’s. That race and this car changed the course of his life as he went on to achieve immortality as creator of the Shelby […]

Jaguar comes to the 2015 New York International Auto Show to showcase its complete aluminum-intensive model year line up. Making their New York City debuts, the all-new Jaguar XF, XE, 2016 Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe and S Manual Transmission vehicles will be on display for press review April 1-2, 2015, and available during the public show days from April 3-12, 2015. With the addition of the new Jaguar XF the Jaguar lineup is entirely aluminum focused. New 2016 Jaguar XF to debut at NYIAS will offer exceptional levels of refinement, comfort and technology The 2016 model year Jaguar F-TYPE sports car receives new powertrain and driveline options. A six-speed manual transmission option will be available in rear-wheel drive V6 model Jaguar transforms the F-TYPE R Coupe with the addition of standard All-Wheel Drive The new Jaguar XE; the drivers’ car in the global […]

Land Rover will unveil the Range Rover SVAutobiography at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, adding even more luxury, design sophistication and performance to an enhanced line-up. Speaking ahead of the exclusive model’s world premiere in New York, Land Rover’s Design Director and Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern stated: “With the SVAutobiography we have taken the opportunity to optimise the Range Rover’s luxury execution and precision while delivering beautiful detailing that considerably enhances the customer’s experience of our flagship vehicle.” Exclusively crafted at Special Vehicle Operations’ (SVO) Technical Centre in the UK, SVAutobiography features unique exterior design enhancements, an exclusive premium leather interior with unique trim finishes and the option of a 550PS 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine for the first time. As a result, the SVAutobiography is the most luxurious and powerful series-production Range Rover in the model’s successful […]

McLaren unveiled the 570S coupe before its public debut party at the New York auto show this week. The newest British supercar will be part of the two-car McLaren Sports Series, which falls below the Super Series that includes the 650S and 675SLT. The all-new McLaren Sports Series brings McLaren race-derived technologies and supercar driving exhilaration to the sports car market for the first time. Launching with two power outputs, the Sports Series offers class-leading performance, lightweight construction including a carbon fibre chassis, recognisable McLaren design values and a comprehensive specification list. Pricing for the higher-powered 570S, shown for the first time at the New York International Auto Show, will retail from £143,250. McLaren also confirmed that the pricing for the 540C Coupe will start at £126,000. This model will be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show when further details […]

The all-new Jaguar XF will make its global motor show debut today in New York. Formed around Jaguar’s aluminium-intensive architecture, the all-new XF will bring an unrivalled blend of design, luxury, technology, dynamic capability and efficiency to the business car segment. Ian Callum,Director of Design, Jaguar, said: “I believe the all-new XF is the best looking car in its class. Elegant, handsome and with proportions that imbue a great sense of integrity – the all-new XF is true to the great tradition of sporting Jaguar saloons while being completely of its time.”  The all-new XF’s dynamic, coupé-like design combines the outstanding proportions, elegant surfaces and perfect lines which define all Jaguar cars, with a longer wheelbase, more interior space and exceptionally low aerodynamic drag. The all-new XF range will consist of: XF Pure/ SE, XF Prestige, XF R-Sport, XF Portfolio, […]

Our video this week takes a different turn, literally. And we are making that turn easily without a dragging or skipping wheel. This is achieved through the use of a differential. How does that work you ask? Well, that is the subject of our Video of the Week. “Around the Corner: How Differential Steering Works” is a short film from 1937 that explains the basics of how the differential in your rear, or perhaps even front, axle functions. By understanding the basic components that go into our cars we can become not only better drivers, but we can become better custodians of our treasures. If we know the principles of what is going on with the cars, we can feel problems before the get out of control and also understand what is necessary for repairs, even if we don’t do […]

The British Invasion is the largest all-British motorcar show and British lifestyle event in the Eastern United States. This annual event is held on the weekend of the 3rd Saturday in the month of September in Stowe, Vermont. 2015 marks the 25 anniversary of the British Invasion with this year’s event being held September 18 through 20. Over 700 British Motorcars invade the rustic town of Stowe, Vermont for the weekend. Friday evening is the Main Street Party with reserve parking for British Motorcars, and a live band. Saturday is the big day with the Concours d’Elegance (Judged Competition); the British Classic (People’s Choice 60+ classes of British Motorcars); the Car Corral(British Car for Sale); the British Market Place; The Queen’s Court (Ladies Hat Competition); British Attire Competition, British Invasion Music; and Food and Beverage. Sunday is more of the same […]

Autocar Professional is reporting that Britain’s car manufacturing industry has received yet another financial boost with three major manufacturers announcing UK investments worth more than £1 billion  in the past six days. Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and the London Taxi Company have each made announcements of funding to build new vehicle models, amounting to a total of £1.05 billion.   The latest announcements come on the back of a total of £7 billion committed in 2013 and 2014. The UK is seeing a renaissance in car production. In 2014, more than 1.5 million cars were produced – an increase of 50% since 2009, and the sector’s best performance since 2007. The latest announcements include: Jaguar Land Rover announces £600million new investment into its West Midlands operations, covering Castle Bromwich and Whitley sites.Coventry-based London Taxi Company reveals a £250 million investment […]

The 2015 Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy squad has been unveiled at the manufacturer’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire UK and includes stars of the future who will race in four of the world’s top national and international GT championships. The ten ‘up-and-coming’ drivers, selected by a panel of judges at Aston Martin Racing, have been named as: Matt Bell (GB); Jamie Chadwick (GB); Jade Edwards (GB); Jody Fannin (GB); Jake Giddings (GB); Ross Gunn (GB); Daniel Lloyd (GB); Devon Modell (GB); Dennis Strandberg (SE); and Jonathan Venter (AU). “We are extremely pleased with the line-up of the inaugural Evolution Academy,” commented Aston Martin Racing’s Team Principal John Gaw. “There’s no doubting we have ten very talented participants but the question is, who will prove to us that they have what it takes to be an Aston Martin Racing works […]

The British Car Club Midlands Centre out of Columbia, South Carolina, held their 9th annual Carolina British Classic show this past Saturday, April, and it was a pleasure to attend. The event was held at historic Columbia Speedway in coordination with Tartan Day South, an annual Scottish festival. Proceeds from the show went to Pawmetto Lifeline. The weather was cool and beautiful – a truly fantastic Spring day. As in years past, the background of the Scottish festival lent a music, food and an amazing array of traditional, and not so traditional, dress to the show. Having a car show in conjunction with an event such as this really makes the whole day more enjoyable for all those attending. The juxtaposition of activities also provides a lot of exposure to the cars that would not have been available in many other […]

Aston Martin has announced it will widen its product offering for markets outside of Europe. Based on a conditional offer of an exceptional regional growth fund from the UK Government, Aston Martin will commence work this year on new models intended to broaden its customer reach in export markets such as China and the Middle East. The UK Government has committed support up to the value of £6.9 million, conditional on investments in new products from Aston Martin. Commenting on this news, Aston Martin CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “Expanding our product range to enable a greater reach into export markets is an essential part of our Second Century business plan. Having this support from the Government to help execute the plan is a meaningful vote of confidence in the future of the company.” Press release courtesy Aston Martin, 29 March 2015, […]

Young British sportscar driver Jann Mardenborough has been involved in a crash in a race in Germany which has resulted in the death of a spectator. Mardenborough was competing in the VLN1 event at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe when his Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 flipped up in the air as it crested a rise in the circuit. With the nose of the car pointing up in the air, it soared for around 30 metres before landing on its tail and bouncing over the catch-fencing into a crowd of people. A VLN statement read: ‘The opening round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring was marred by an accident on Saturday which injured several spectators. ‘One of the spectators died, despite the immediate actions of the rescue crew in the medical centre at the circuit. The other injured spectators have been taken […]

According to This Day Livee, Coscharis Motors, the authorised dealer of Morris Garages (MG) in Nigeria, has said it is well positioned to make MG the preferred car for the younger generation and to take the dream further by making MG one of the most popular brand in the country. A statement by Coscharis officials said, “MG is now 90 years since 1924, and no matter how the times change or how technologies move forward, MG 550, has remained the dream car of every younger generation. And yes, it takes you to the new age when the desktop of driving operation can be customised, when the perfect fusion of digital technology and fashion interface.” According to the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Mr. Babarinde Abiona, “Coscharis Motors, offers to customers unmistakably British standard vehicle (MG) with a unique combination of […]

British Car Week is an annual awareness week for all things pertaining to British cars. All British car owners are encouraged to get their British classics out of the garage more than ever during this week, and show them off to your local communities to raise awareness about classic British cars. This, the 19th annual event, will be held May 30 through June 8, 2015. This in turn, will help strengthen the entire classic British car hobby. This includes the clubs that help keep us together, the magazines that help keep us informed, and the suppliers whom we hope will help us keep our cars safely on the road for many years to come. Need some ideas? Drive your car to work or for errands. Organize a British car get-together somewhere in your community that will allow the local public […]