Highlights

A dizzying 99 turns and 999 daunting steps didn’t stop the new Range Rover Sport PHEV from completing a world-first at one of China’s most famous landmarks. The petrol-electric performance SUV has become the first vehicle to climb the stairs to the natural rock arch of Heaven’s Gate. The challenge began at the bottom of the legendary 11.3km Tianmen Mountain Road (known as the Dragon Road). The showroom standard Range Rover Sport P400e took on the demanding course, with Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel and the Terrain Response 2 system in Dynamic mode.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is proud to announce the 32 U.S. winning dealers of the 2017/18 Pride of Jaguar and Land Rover Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Awards. The Pride of Jaguar and Land Rover Pinnacle Awards are given annually to dealers who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. Last year, sixteen retailers were selected from each brand based upon their top performance in core business categories including customer advocacy, sales and aftersales.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the appointment of Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi as Director of Engineering from March 1, 2018. Ayoubi joins Rolls-Royce from the BMW Group with over 20 years’ experience in a broad range of engineering positions. He is currently Head of Concepts, Architectures and Integration and has previously headed departments in acoustics and vibration, dynamics development, chassis control systems, drivetrain development, all-wheel drive and driver assistance systems. He is also very familiar with Rolls-Royce, having been involved with the engineering concept for New Phantom.

Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman has been appointed to the prestigious DESIGNBEST Hall of Fame. Voted by automotive journalists from over 30 European countries, Reichman has been described as one of the best car designers in the world, designing some of the most iconic Aston Martin models including the DB10, built exclusively for James Bond, the DB11, the latest in the illustrious DB bloodline and the new Vantage.

McLaren Sports Series buyers now have even more opportunity to personalize their new car, as McLaren Special Operations (MSO) significantly extends the range of components available for the McLaren luxury sports car family. New additions to the MSO Defined portfolio include a Titanium SuperSports Exhaust; Black Pack body features; Extended Carbon Fibre Sill Covers with McLaren Branding and the choice of Black or McLaren Orange painted ignition keys. MSO Defined options are designed to further enhance both the appearance and technical credentials of McLaren cars, providing a greater choice of material finishes and in many instances delivering significant weight reduction compared to standard components.

Jaguar Classic is re-starting production of the iconic D-type race car in Coventry, 62 years after the last example was built in 1956. The first Jaguar D-type to be assembled by Jaguar Classic, an engineering prototype, will make its world debut at the Salon Retromobile show in Paris this week.  Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be meticulously hand-built at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Warwickshire. In 1955 Jaguar planned to build 100 D-types. With only 75 completed, Jaguar Classic is now fulfilling the company’s original ambition by creating 25 all-new, period-correct sports cars.

Our video this week is a five-decade-old series Land Rover that has been converted to run on steam. Yes. You read that correctly. Retiree Frank Rothwell from Oldham in England says he spent about £24,000 building the vehicle and about 400 hours of his time. He plans to drive Mildred to work this summer, and take it to shows. Best of all, he says, “It keeps me out of the pub.” This is a five-decade-old series Land Rover that has been converted to run on steam. That’s right, it swaps the regular engine for a steam-puffing, chimney-clad, coal-fired burner. At a cost of £24,000, the deep irony of the build isn’t lost on us. The car that became the Defender, itself a vehicle that EU law has deemed archaic and no longer fit to meet emissions rules, has been adapted […]

\Jaguar Land Rover has won two trophies at the GQ Car of the Year Awards. The capable new Range Rover Velar won the ‘Climb Every Mountain in Luxury Award’, while Jaguar’s zero-emissions E-type Zero was named as ‘Best Use of Electricity Since the Lightbulb.’ In March 2017, the Range Rover Velar became the first car to ever be launched and displayed at the London Design Museum. Created with balanced proportions and elegant lines, the Velar brings unprecedented glamour and modernity to the Range Rover family, but without losing the famous go-anywhere ability of every Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc today reported pre-tax profits of £192 million for the three months to 31 December 2017, as major investment in new models and challenging trading conditions in key markets offset a solid rise in unit sales. In the third quarter, retail sales grew 3.5% to 154,447 units, driven primarily by a 14.6% increase in unit sales in China and an 18.2% rise in overseas markets. Increased sales in such markets reflected underlying demand for the new Range Rover Velar, the Land Rover Discovery, the recently-launched Jaguar E-PACE compact SUV and, in China, the long-wheelbase Jaguar XF. This improvement was offset by flatter demand in the USA, UK and Europe, and the impact of model year change-overs for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

AMOC Racing has launched a fresh new approach to the GT Challenge race series for GT cars running on slick tires, and aimed at ‘gentlemen drivers’. The GT Challenge is open to all GT cars old and new, the simple new format incorporates three classes; Class 1 for Aston Martin GT4 and N24, Class 2 for other marques running to FIA GT4 rules and Class 3 for any sports or saloon car of a type first built between 1995 and 2007 – providing performance is deemed appropriate. All cars will run on a control Dunlop slick tire thanks to support from HP Tyres who will support all rounds. The GT Challenge will consist of five rounds throughout the 2018 AMOC Racing season calendar, the 50-minute endurance races will feature a rolling start and incorporate a pit-stop to enable competitors to […]

MG Motor UK has announced an exceptional month for sales, reporting a total of 475 vehicle registrations in January –  a staggering 130% increase compared to the same period in 2017. Despite a market downturn of 6.3%, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), MG has successfully bucked the trend becoming the UK’s best performing car brand in January. The Longbridge-based company, which concluded 2017 with a year-on-year registration increase of around 6%, looks on course for a successful 2018, despite challenging market conditions.

Morgan Motor Company has announced record profitability and growth as it continues to roll out a long-term strategic plan under the guidance of Chairman Dominic Riley, Managing Director Steve Morris, and family shareholders – keeping up the positive momentum in the family-owned business. Year-end financial reports released today announced record growth from the 109-year-old company with a 19 percent increase in revenue against 2016 to £36m, improved group margins with an increase of 12 percent, a 13 percent increase in group net assets and an increase in pre-tax profits to £2m. Last year saw strong performances from all sectors of the Morgan business, including a new technological partnership with Frazer Nash for EV development, futureproofing with long-lead new model planning and strategic in-house appointments within the management team coupled with increased marketing activity.

Bentley Motors has launched its 2018 trainee recruitment campaign with 86 new positions available for apprentices, Undergraduates and Graduates to start in the autumn of 2018. Apprentice applications open from 10 February at www.bentleycareers.com with Undergraduate and Graduate opportunities added throughout the month. Vacancies cover commercial areas such as Sales and Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Finance, and Purchasing, as well as the traditional Engineering and Manufacturing opportunities.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported January 2018 U.S. sales: Land Rover sales increased 5 percent to 6,446 units from 6,163 in January 2017; Jaguar sales were 2,604 units, an 11 percent decrease from 2,939 units in January 2017; Jaguar Land Rover January U.S. sales for both brands hit 9,050 units, a slight decrease from 9,102 units in January 2017. After coming off a record-setting year in 2017, we are starting 2018 with a successful January sales month for Jaguar Land Rover. — Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC For the full year 2017, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales reached 114,333 units, up 9 percent compared to 105,104 units in 2016, and establishing a new all-time U.S. sales record for the combined brands.

Following Lister Motor Company’s preview announcement just days ago of the fastest, most powerful and luxurious car it has ever built in 65-years – the 666 bhp Thunder supercar – the Cambridge-based marque has been inundated with interest, with £3.1million-worth of orders for the model received within the first 24 hours of model’s announcement. With 22 keen customer orders already placed for the Thunder, priced from £139,950, in less than 24 hours, and ahead of the its exclusive world public debut at Historic Motorsport International, staged at London’s ExCeL from 15th-18th of February, this bespoke model has already become the fastest-selling new Lister in the specialist sports car maker’s 65-year history.

How about something a bit more eclectic? For our Video of the Week this go-round we are going to feature some early footage with Bill Fink of Isis Imports describing his love of the Morgan car. This video also features footage of Bill in his Morgan SLR, one of 3 Morgan racing coupes built. The SLR name was actually short for Sprinzel LawrenceTune Racing, noting Lawrence’s collaboration with John Sprinzel, who is best known for creating and racing the Speedwell Sprites. The lightweight body’s rough lines were penned by Chris Spender. His design was further refined by Charlie Williams of coach-builder Williams and Pritchard. The final product looked nothing like any Morgan that came before. Isis Imports, now changing its name to Morgan Cars USA, is the work of Bill Fink.  Named for the river on which Bill rowed while at Oxford, Isis […]

It is with great sadness that we must report the passing of another great member of our hobby, Ken Smith. Ken was a founding member of the North American MGB Register (NAMGBR) and served as the first editor for the MGB Driver Magazine. Later he also served as editor for Classic MG Magazine.

Bentley Motors has been recognized as a Top Employer for the seventh consecutive year, reflecting the company’s investment and focus on personal development, future talent, and employee conditions. The award – presented by the Top Employers Institute – highlighted Bentley’s emphasis on continuous improvement, employee conditions and dedication to the company’s 4,000-strong workforce.