Highlights

Aston Martin Racing’s presence at the pinnacle of US endurance motorsport is to be significantly increased, with the British sportscar manufacturer returning to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class in 2020. Two Aston Martin Vantage GT3s will contest the blue riband Rolex 24 at Daytona race next weekend (25-26 January), while new partner team Heart of Racing will run a full season program this year. Aston Martin Racing has entered a Vantage GT3 supported by NorthWest Healthcare in the Rolex 24, alongside Heart of Racing’s entry. This works-run #98 car will be driven by long-standing factory drivers Pedro Lamy (POR), Mathias Lauda (A) and Ross Gunn (GB) as well as new addition, the AMR Junior driver Andrew Watson (GB), who stands in for 2017 FIA WEC GTE Am world champion Paul Dalla Lana. The Canadian picked up a minor […]

The Morgan Motor Company is to celebrate 70 years of its most popular model, the Plus 4, with the creation of the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition. First built in 1950, the Plus 4 is one of the company’s best-selling models throughout seven decades of production, and is admired by fans of Morgan worldwide. Morgan recently announced that models built on its famous steel chassis will cease production in 2020, and the Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition commemorates this important moment, too. For the first time ever, the chassis will be painted in gold, highlighting its significance in Morgan’s 111-year history. Just 20 Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition cars are to be built. They feature an individually numbered plaque, marking them out for years to come as some of the last steel-chassis Plus 4 models. A specially embroidered headrest will […]

Aston Martin today confirms production of a strictly limited number of the stunning new V12 Speedster. The car will make its global debut later this year, with discerning drivers around the world offered the opportunity to acquire this visceral celebration of the British sports car brand’s proud past and exciting future. The V12 Speedster, created by in-house bespoke service Q by Aston Martin working with the brand’s talented team of designers and engineers, elegantly combines an authentic, driver-oriented sports car with the use of cutting-edge motorsport and aviation technology to deliver a stunning, two-seat, enthusiast driving machine.

In response to over 15,000 hand-raisers and growing, MINI USA has announced that consumers can now place their order for the all-new battery electric MINI Cooper SE at the MINI Electric page on MINIUSA.com or at ShopMINIUSA.com. The 2020 MINI Cooper SE will reach U.S. showrooms in early March of 2020 with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $29,900 plus an additional $850 Destination & Handling fee. On the emotional side, “fun to drive” is the number one reason why consumers purchase a MINI, and this new MINI Electric offers the same fun-to-drive, go-kart reflexes we’ve built into our MINI Cooper S hardtop. On the rational side, 80% of all MINI house-holds own two or more cars, and with an accessible price, the MINI Electric is a perfect complement in offering more customers attainable, emission-free driving. — Michael Peyton, […]

Jaguar Land Rover retail sales in November 2019 were 46,542 vehicles, down 3.4% compared to November 2018. Sales continued to improve in China (up 29.0% year-on-year) marking the fifth consecutive month of double-digit sales growth in the region. North America also grew (4.9%), achieving best ever November sales levels. Sales were down in the UK (-10.8% reflecting lower industry and lower incentives on selected models), Europe (-16.8%, largely reflecting higher sales a year ago ahead of tax changes in certain jurisdictions), and Overseas (-16.7%, largely Russia and MENA).

The Morgan Motor Company is to continue its technology drive with the launch of new models based on its recently introduced CX-Generation aluminium platform. The new car introductions will take place in 2020 and form a core range of models for the British manufacturer. It follows the success of the first car to use this platform, the Morgan Plus Six. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019, it has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from both the press and customers, in large part thanks to its CX-Generation platform. Designed in house by Morgan, the CX-Generation platform is twice as rigid as the previous aluminium chassis used by the company, which underpinned the Aero 8 and second-generation Plus 8 models. Thanks to a focus on reducing weight, it tips the scales at just 97kg, contributing to the Plus Six’s […]

The Great British Rally by Graham Robson is the complete history of British international rally events, starting with the very first RAC rally of 1932, which included 1000 miles of road motoring, when a mere three driving tests were needed to produce a result. By 1951 an international permit had been achieved, a speed element was included, and the ‘Rally of the Tests’ ran until 1960. From 1961, the event took on a number of high-speed, loose-surfaced Special Stages, the Scandinavian influence became clear, and the event took on a World Championship qualification in 1973. In that time, competing cars had progressed from having perhaps 50bhp to at least 300bhp, and even more high-tech machines with 500bhp and four-wheel-drive would follow.

MG Motor UK has maintained its position as the UK’s fastest-growing car manufacturer after posting its 25th consecutive month of year-on-year growth in November. MG recorded 1,186 sales over the course of the month, a 29% increase compared to last November. MG also achieved a record monthly market share since, securing 0.76% of the new car market. Year-to-date, MG has sold 11,373 cars, 35% more than in the same 11 months last year.

An ultra-rare 1960 Triumph TRS sports car with Le Mans provenance has been acquired for sale by Bicester Heritage-based specialists in post-war British sports cars, Pendine Historic Cars, offering an unmissable opportunity for collectors of the world’s most important historic race cars. As one of just four ever built, the ex-works 1960 Triumph TRS is famous for playing a significant role in British motoring history as one of three cars which competed in Triumph’s 1960 and 1961 assault in the 24 hours of Le Mans, with their performance resulting in the prestigious manufacturer’s team prize. Registered as ‘927 HP’, the car set the scene for the yet to be released TR4 featuring one of the very rare ‘Sabrina’ twin cam prototype engines, developed specifically for the demanding Le Mans race by the Triumph Competition department in 1959, of which only […]

The two-seat sports car offers a perfect balance of performance and driver reward with an even more muscular, assertive design and a cabin defined by rich, luxurious materials and beautiful details. The range of powerful, responsive engines includes four-, six- and eight-cylinder options, all matched to eight-speed Quickshift transmissions with full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The new F-TYPE also offers more driver-focused technology, including a reconfigurable, high-definition, 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, Touch Pro infotainment system, and Smartphone Pack with Apple CarPlay® as standard. Smartphone Pack also includes Android Auto and Baidu CarLife, depending on market applicability, as standard. Software-over-the-air functionality means future software updates can be made at the customer’s convenience without having to visit a Retailer. Two superb Meridian sound systems offer enhanced sound reproduction.

Aston Martin Lagonda’s second UK manufacturing plant has started to produce cars, as the latest pre-production models of the luxury British carmaker’s first SUV, the Aston Martin DBX, are built. The 90-acre, former Ministry of Defence site at St Athan in Wales was announced as the second UK plant for Aston Martin Lagonda in early 2016 and since then the whole site, including three ‘Super Hangars’, has been transformed into a modern manufacturing facility for our hand-crafted British cars. Forming part of Aston Martin’s continued investment in the UK, the opening of St Athan has so far created 200 jobs and is expected to create up to 550 more. Also, as a direct result of this investment a further 3,000 jobs will likely be created across the supply chain and local businesses.

An amazing Group B MG Metro 6R4 with just seven miles on the odometer is heading to Silverstone Auctions sale on the 26th to 28th July at the Silverstone Classic. The legend that is Group B rallying, which sadly came to a premature end on the 31st December 1986 due to a number of fatalities, the most notable being Henri Toivonen, generated some truly remarkable rally cars. One of which was the Metro 6R4, (6 cylinder Rally 4 wheel-drive).

MG Motor UK is celebrating its nineteenth consecutive record-breaking month for sales with the confirmation of May’s sales figures by the SMMT. With sales reaching 1,212 cars in May alone, MG has seen its second largest month ever, increasing its volume by almost 50% compared to the same month in 2018. Year-to-date MG’s sales volume is up by almost 53%, meaning that MG retains its crown as the fastest-growing car manufacturer in the UK.

Jaguar today announced that Ian Callum, Director of Design, is to leave his position at the company after two decades heading up Jaguar Design. Julian Thomson, currently Creative Design Director, has been appointed to the role of Director of Design, effective July 1, 2019. Since joining Jaguar in 1999, Ian has built a world-class creative design team, established a new design philosophy and revived the range with award-winning designs. These include F-TYPE – Jaguar’s first two-seater sports car since the iconic E-type – the XE, XF and XJ saloons, and the marque’s first SUVs – F-PACE, E-PACE and most recently the all-electric I-PACE, which in April was crowned 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car.

Lotus has confirmed that Type 130, the brand’s first all-new model in more than a decade, will be revealed to the world’s media at an exclusive event in Central London on July, 16th. Following first confirmation of the project in April at the Shanghai International Auto Show, several hundred potential owners have come forward to express their interest in the new car.  Today, the company announces that a maximum of just 130 examples will be available to own – representing the number of Lotus ‘Types’ introduced during the brand’s 71-year history. Lotus also confirms today that Type 130 will be built at Hethel in Norfolk, the brand’s headquarters since 1966. Type 130 will be the most dynamically accomplished road car in the company’s history, continuing a bloodline rich in firsts and technical game-changers in automotive and motorsport. A short film, […]

Jaguar Land Rover retail sales in February 2019 were 38,288 vehicles, down 4.1% compared to February last year. Strong sales of I-PACE, E-PACE, refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport were offset by overall weak customer demand in China as well as the run out of the old Range Rover Evoque, with sales of the all-new Evoque expected to ramp up over the coming months. February 2019 Change year-on-year Apr 2018 – Feb 2019 Change year-on-year Jaguar Land Rover 38,288 (4.1)% 502,020 (5.4)% Jaguar 12,235 5.8% 155,936 3.8% Land Rover 26,053 (8.1)% 346,084 (9.0)% Retail sales were up significantly in North America (25.4%), UK (11.3%) and modestly higher in Europe (1.1%) but weaker market conditions continued to weigh on sales in China (down 47.6%).

Jaguar’s women are celebrating International Women’s Day by showcasing automotive industry careers in a new video. The video, called #SheDidIt, stars some of the female employees who design, manufacture, test and sell our cars. Creating a workforce as diverse as our customers will help Jaguar deliver the cars women want. The women of #SheDidIt tell a full female story of Jaguar vehicles, from clay modeler Shamaila Khan’s design work right through to customer Jess Monks, who loves her Jaguar F-PACE performance SUV.

Aston Martin DBX – the British luxury marque’s first SUV – has continued its intensive development programme this week at Pirelli’s official test facility, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Pirelli’s R&D Sottozero Centre at the Flurheden Proving Ground provides a range of extreme environments, from snowy roads to ice handling courses, allowing Aston Martin’s vehicle dynamics specialists – led by Aston Martin Chief Engineer, Matt Becker – to put the DBX prototype to the test.