MG INVESTS IN PEOPLE AND PREMISES - Header

MG Motor Invests in People and Premises

July 17, 2018 Staff 2

MG Motor UK is delighted to announce three new senior management appointments as part of its strategic drive to significantly increase sales volumes and develop its dealer network in the UK. Daniel Gregorious joins as the new Head of Sales and Marketing, bringing over 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry, having held senior sales, planning and marketing roles at Renault, Chevrolet, Kia Motors, and Peugeot. One of Daniel’s first appointments welcomes experienced automotive PR, Carly Escritt, in the role of PR and Events Manager. Carly brings with her over 15 years’ experience in the automotive industry, having worked with Kia Motors for 13 years. Her extensive knowledge of the industry, as well as organizing and overseeing national and international events, along with her ability to cultivate brand reputation amongst journalists, will help MG to continue its development and increase its market […]

Jim Clark Trust Launches Competition to Win 100,000th Lotus

July 16, 2018 Staff 2

In a fitting tribute to one of the most successful racing drivers of all time, the Jim Clark Trust has launched a competition to win the 100,000th Lotus sports car built – a one-off Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport. Commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1968 and unveiled at the world-famous motoring event in the presence of the Duke of Richmond, Group Lotus’ Chief Executive Officer Mr. Feng Qingfeng and Trustees of the charity, the unique vehicle will be offered as the ultimate prize for enthusiasts in a competition organised by the Jim Clark Trust – the official charity of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The charity competition, which can be entered at www.jimclarklotus.com, gives participants the chance to own a truly landmark Lotus while raising funds to help complete the new Jim Clark Museum.

Aston Martin Ulster – Remarkable History of CMC 614 : New Book Announcement

July 16, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin achieved its greatest pre-war racing successes with the 1.5-litre Ulster model and the example carrying registration plate CMC 614 is one of the finest of the 28 surviving today. Recently restored to its 1935 Le Mans specification after more than four decades of post-war track action, CMC 614 is also the most-raced Aston of all time. Aston Martin Ulster – The remarkable history of CMC 614, the fifth title in Porter Press’ Exceptional Cars Series, tells the story of this particular car and, more broadly, Aston Martin’s first 20 years. Early Aston Martins gained credibility and prestige by participating in tough long-distance races such as the Brooklands Double-Twelve, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the Tourist Trophy on the Ards circuit in Ulster where Aston’s 1-2-3 class success in 1934 gave this model its name. CMC 614 was built […]

Jaguar Land Rover Worldwide Sale for June 2018

Jaguar Land Rover Worldwide Sales for June 2018

July 16, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar Land Rover reported total retail sales of 52,049 vehicles in June 2018, up 0.9% year on year, primarily reflecting the introduction of the Range Rover Velar and the Jaguar E-PACE. Retail sales for June were up year-on-year in our Overseas markets (16.7%), in North America (7.4%) and in the UK (0.9%) China was down 9.5% as the reduction in import duties on passenger vehicles, starting 1 July, continued to result in deferred purchases as well as increased incentives in advance of the 1 July effective date. Europe was also down slightly (- 3.8%).

Fly the Aston Martin Skies with Volante Vision Concept

July 16, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin is today presenting the Volante Vision Concept, a luxury concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities. Produced in partnership with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, and Rolls-Royce, the concept aircraft aims to bring luxury personal transportation to the sky. The Volante Vision Concept is a demonstration of Aston Martin’s design ingenuity. With room for three adults, the concept is a near future study that previews a flying autonomous hybrid-electric vehicle for urban and inter-city air travel, providing fast, efficient and congestion free luxurious travel. The Volante Vision Concept will take full advantage of the latest advances in aerospace, electrification and autonomous technologies, coupled with Aston Martin’s signature design.

His Grace Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng, Director of Classic Team Lotus Clive Chapman

Lotus Proudly Celebrates 70th Birthday

July 15, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Proudly celebrating 70 years of innovation and a pure driving experience that’s second to none, Lotus has marked the anniversary of its inception with a birthday cake and Champagne reception with the Duke of Richmond and Gordon at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Joining His Grace was Group Lotus’ recently appointed chief executive officer, Mr. Feng Qingfeng, and Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Director of Classic Team Lotus. A number of VIPs were also part of the festivities, surrounded by the company’s latest line-up of cars as well its racing heritage, on the company’s stand at the Festival.

Strong Half-Year 2018 Sales for Rolls-Royce

July 15, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has enjoyed a strong start to 2018, with the marque seeing a significant boost to global sales.Worldwide sales were up 13 percent compared with the same period in 2017, with demand for all Rolls-Royce models holding firm in Europe, the US, and other key regions. There are encouraging signs of recovery in the Chinese market; like all luxury brands, however, the marque faces continued economic headwinds in the Middle East.

Fully-Electric MINI Design Sketches Released

July 14, 2018 Staff Comments Off

MINI has released a pair of detail design sketches as an early preview of the brand’s first fully-electric production model, which is set to make its debut in 2019. The first sketches of the production model coincide with the MINI Electric Concept making its UK debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018. Following on from the MINI E pilot project exactly ten years ago and the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid model on sale since 2017, the first fully-electric MINI represents the next stage in the electrification of the MINI brand and reflects the BMW Group’s NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy.

Robocar Racer Makes Landmark Run at Goodwood

July 14, 2018 Staff 1

Friday Roborace’s Robocar became the first ever driverless race car to complete the Hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The run is the first in the history of Goodwood to be completed by a race car that has no human driver in the car – a huge milestone moment for the Festival, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Visitors to Goodwood over the weekend will also get the chance to see the feat first-hand again, as Robocar will be attempting the Hillclimb once each day on Saturday and Sunday of the event.

Katherine Legge Joins RLL Racing as Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Driver

July 14, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that experienced sports car and open-wheel racing driver Katherine Legge will drive one of the team’s two Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY series electric racecars during the 2018/2019 ABB FIA Formula E season. An American-themed livery will be unveiled by RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal, Legge and team officials at the New York E-Prix 2017/2018 season-finale this weekend. I am very proud to be driving in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Formula E series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. I have followed Formula E since its inception and have been very impressed with the growth in the electric car market and electric racing as a whole. I have also wanted to drive for Bobby for the past 10 years or more so this for me is the realization of a dream. Driving for a British brand like […]

Lotus Exige Type 49 and 79 Mark Milestones

July 13, 2018 Staff Comments Off

With a pedigree and heritage like no other, Lotus has today unveiled two unique Celebration cars, the Exige Type 49 and 79, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 to pay homage to some of the most recognizable racers in the British brand’s history and its 70th birthday. The Exige Type 49 and 79 Celebration cars have been handcrafted by Lotus Exclusive in a salute to Lotus’ 70th birthday, and the victory anniversaries of two historic race cars that helped define the brand as one of the all-time great automotive marques. On display and in action over all four days of the Festival of Speed weekend, with the Exige Type 49 competing in the timed supercar runs on Saturday, they’re a fitting tribute to one of the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of Lotus’ founder.

McLaren Plans to Launch 18 New Cars by 2025

July 13, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Luxury British sportscar and supercar maker McLaren Automotive has announced plans at the Goodwood Festival of Speed its ambitious, wide-ranging business plan that will take the company to its fifteenth anniversary. Track25 is an evolution of the Track22 plan that was first launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016 and the updated plans now includes significant new milestones. Track25 sets out a clear roadmap for future vehicles, production, and technology that will allow the brand to continue to position itself as a major global player in the sports car and supercar market.

Bentley Mulsanne W.O. Edition Honors 100 Year History

July 13, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motors is demonstrating the beauty of bespoke with a new very special limited edition Mulsanne. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner pays homage to the founding father of the company and incorporates a genuine piece of Bentley history in every car. Inside each of the 100 limited edition Mulsannes, a slice of the original crankshaft taken from W.O. Bentley’s personal 8 Litre car decades ago – the last model he designed for Bentley Motors back in 1930 – is displayed.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018, Nick Dungan

Land Rover 70th Anniversary Celebration Record at Goodwood

July 13, 2018 Staff 1

A convoy of 70 rare and important Land Rovers stole the show at Goodwood Festival of Speed yesterday as part of a record parade up the famous Goodwood Hill, celebrating 70 years of Land Rover. The largest ever batch of vehicles to drive up the famous hill were led by a recreation of the very first Land Rover – a Centre Steer prototype – and ‘HUE 166’, the first Series I pre-production prototype from 1948. The Series I was such a success that it spawned the Series II and Series III, an example of which became the millionth Land Rover sold just 28 years after the very first prototype. That millionth car also appeared in the parade, as part of a group of 25 early Series I, II and III vehicles including fire engines, SAS vehicles, aircraft crash rescue and African expedition […]

Jaguar Releases Go I-PACE App for iPhone

July 11, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar has launched an intelligent app to help drivers experience life with its all-electric I-PACE before even getting behind the wheel. The Go I-PACE app captures journey data to calculate potential cost savings, show how much battery would be used per trip and tell users how many charges they would need in a week if they were driving the I-PACE. As it builds a unique picture of a vehicle’s use, the app will even show how many journeys, if any, would have needed a stop to charge the EV’s advanced Lithium-ion battery. Journeys over 50 miles represent only two percent of all UK trips. I-PACE, which has a maximum range of 298 miles (WLTP), could complete 98 percent of these using just a fraction of a single charge.

Rolls-Royce Hatches Plan For Racing Success With Local Primary School

Rolls-Royce Hatches Plan for Primary School Racing Success

July 11, 2018 Staff Comments Off

A team from March CE Primary School, supported by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, made their mark at this year’s Greenpower IET ‘Gathering of the Goblins’, Britain’s premier event for electric-powered racing cars designed, built and driven by schoolchildren aged 9-11. Children in Years 5 and 6 were asked to submit designs for the car, taking their inspiration from the school’s pet rooster, Reg. The final design, created by the Bespoke Design Team at Rolls‑Royce Motor Cars, was an amalgamation of the three winning entries.

MINI John Cooper Works International Orange Edition

July 10, 2018 Staff Comments Off

MINI USA announces the upcoming debut of the MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop International Orange Edition to occur during MINI TAKES THE STATES, the brand’s legendary biennial owners road rally. During the rally, which kicks off Saturday, July 14, in Portland, OR, and in Orlando, FL, MINI USA will showcase this special edition MINI John Cooper Works model on both the Eastern and Western routes. This boldly-colored, limited production special edition will also be on display in Keystone, Colorado, at the final gathering events July 20 – 22.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing Return To New York For Electric Finale

July 9, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Panasonic Jaguar Racing is set to make history for the team in New York as they hope to finish their second season of the ABB FIA Formula E championship within the top five team standings. The double-header races, held against the awe-inspiring backdrops of the Manhattan skyline takes place on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15 when Mitch Evans and Nelson Piquet Jr will tackle the 2.37km street circuit in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Following Evans and the team’s first ever pole position in Zurich, Panasonic Jaguar Racing is hoping to continue their success in New York and return season one champion Nelson Piquet Jr to point-scoring form at his second E-Prix in the Big Apple.

Aston Martin Issues Brexit Statement

July 9, 2018 Staff Comments Off

The following statement has been issued by Aston Martin in regards to the current climate of uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the British automotive industry. This comes only days after Ralf Speth of JLR issued a statement requesting clarity regarding the economic issues surrounding Brexit. The statement from Aston Martin reads: As an industry that makes long-term investment and employment decisions, the Automotive sector needs clarity and certainty across the planning landscape. Over the past few months this clarity has been lacking, but today we are greatly encouraged to see the Prime Minister and her Cabinet come to a consensus on the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU, which addresses both the concerns of industry, whilst respecting the result of the EU Referendum. As a global company, Aston Martin Lagonda naturally advocates a free trade environment and as such, we […]

Rolls-Royce Announces Melanie Evans as Head of Customer Relations

July 9, 2018 Staff Comments Off

Rolls-Royce has appointed Melanie Evans as Head of Sales Channel Development & Customer Relations from 1 August 2018. She will be based at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex. Evans joined Rolls-Royce in 2011, initially as Dealer Marketing & Digital Manager, progressing to Head of Commercial Development and then her current role as Head of Bespoke Sales and Marketing. Her new position incorporates a number of unique functions, including running the company’s Private Office.