Highlights

For almost 70 years Land Rover has transported people across the world’s toughest terrain, but it is now making its first foray into the ocean with the ‘Waste to Wave’ surfboard, created using recycled plastic derived from early clay design models. With an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic dumped in oceans every year, taking hundreds of years to decompose, Jaguar Land Rover has strengthened its commitment to achieving its zero waste goal by creating a range of surfboards made wholly from recycled plastic.

From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified. The company made the announcement at its inaugural Tech Fest, a series of debates and a free public exhibition about the future of mobility.

The Jaguar FUTURE-TYPE is a premium compact on-demand vehicle concept, designed to meet the mobility needs of future generations. The Jaguar FUTURE-TYPE is a fully autonomous concept that imagines mobility in a world where Jaguar customers can summon a fully-charged FUTURE-TYPE on-demand. Offering a glimpse into the future, It is a car for a world of autonomous, connected, electric and shared mobility (ACES).

Aston Martin will be the presenting partner of this year’s world-famous Pret-à-Diner dining experience, taking place at the IAA Motor Show in September. Located in the heart of Frankfurt’s financial district, the prestigious former Deutsche Bank building will host the acclaimed dinner event as well as a unique exhibition of automotive art. Parts of the building will be transformed into the Aston Martin “House of Beautiful”, a unique ‘pop-up’ concept in the heart of Frankfurt, which will be opened to the public from 8 September until 13 October 2017.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic is presenting an electric-powered Jaguar E-type at the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest, which opens to the public on 8 September in London. The car, known as E-type Zero, has been restored and converted at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry, not far from where the E-type was born. Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: E-type Zero combines the renowned E-type dynamic experience with enhanced performance through electrification. This unique combination creates a breathtaking driving sensation. Our aim with E-type Zero is to future-proof classic car ownership. We’re looking forward to the reaction of our clients as we investigate bringing this concept to market. The Jaguar E-type Zero not only drives and looks like an E-type, it also offers outstanding performance. It’s quicker than an original E-type: 0-100km/h (62mph) takes only 5.5sec, about […]

McLaren Automotive will again participate in the ‘Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille‘, having been at every edition of the glamorous gathering that this year celebrates its fourth anniversary. Sunday, September 10, 2017, will see yet another stunning display of automotive excellence at Domaine Chantilly, including two new models recently introduced by McLaren, the McLaren 720S and the five-star awarded McLaren 570S Spider, the first convertible in the McLaren Sports Series. McLaren is particularly excited to be a part of the event this year as it provides an opportunity to celebrate McLaren’s new partnership with Richard Mille, the title sponsor. An ambition of Chantilly is to bring back the elegance of the 1920s when vehicle manufacturers and fashion houses often joined forces to showcase the future of the motor car and couture. This year McLaren Automotive is paired with Columbian […]

Following the stunning debut of the Lotus Evora GT430, Lotus has introduced an expanded Evora GT430 line-up designed to appeal to a wider range of customers who want the ultimate in high-performance sports cars. Adding to the acclaimed Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410 models, the new Evora GT430 range now includes two body options and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. Joining the recently announced Evora GT430 is the Evora GT430 Sport, a new member of the family that carries the same phenomenal firepower and sculptured body-style but without the additional downforce-creating aerodynamic elements. Both models are powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 supercharged and charge cooled engine, producing 430 hp and 440 Nm of torque (Automatic version: 450 Nm).

Our video this week comes in from Goodwood.  The annual Goodwood Revival is the coming weekend, and the new TVR is due to be unveiled there.  In celebration of that, Goodwood has released the “A History of TVR in 4 Cars”. While obviously using only 4 cars leaves out quite a few remarkable vehicles, this is still an excellent and entertaining history.  

Land Rover North America has today announced its newest marketing campaign to introduce the new 2018 Range Rover Velar in North America. The fourth member of the Range Rover family, the Range Rover Velar is a mid-size luxury SUV that delivers new levels of refinement, elegance, and technology to the segment.

The BMW Group has chosen the IAA Cars 2017 show in Frankfurt to present the modern racing essence of a MINI – in the shape of the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept. Inspired by the carmaker’s legendary triumphs in the Monte Carlo Rally exactly 50 years ago, this design study embodies undiluted dynamic flair and the ultimate in driving fun – on both the race track and the road. The concept car picks up the baton from the 2012 MINI John Cooper Works GP and 2006 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit. Produced in strictly limited numbers (2,000 examples each), these two models explored the outer limits of their performance capability at the time. The MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is all about the unfettered feeling of driving and levels of performance found in motor […]

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported August 2017 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 3,101 units, a 6 percent decrease from 3,298 units in August 2016; Land Rover sales increased 5 percent to 6,320 units from 6,031 in August 2016; Jaguar Land Rover August U.S. sales for both brands hit 9,421 units, a 1 percent increase from 9,329 units in August 2016. Year to date, Jaguar Land Rover is up 13 percent in the United States, ahead of 2016’s record sales year pace. We are pleased to notch a small increase in August in the face of a challenging marketplace. Despite the headwinds, record monthly sales for Range Rover, and the launch of the Range Rover Velar, helped the Land Rover brand set a new U.S. August sales record. — Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

Concours of Elegance and Bridge of Weir Leather Company partnered up once again this year to launch a brand new ‘Cars of our Years’ feature, celebrating the important connection between man and machine. Notable friends of the Concours and Bridge of Weir each chose a car from their lifetime that has made the strongest emotional impact. Visitors to the Concours of Elegance were invited to vote for their favorite of the ten Cars of Our Years nominated by stars of the world of automotive and motorsport.

Ben, the not-for-profit organization that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their family dependents, announces that the Jaguar Land Rover Channel Swim Challenge has raised an impressive £185,000 so far. The £160,000 target has been smashed, yet the total is likely to grow as donations and fundraising events continue. Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover UK, swam the English Channel, along with 13 of his colleagues in a two team relay on Thursday 24th August. The two teams set off at 10pm on Thursday and made it to French soil on Friday 25th August at around 2.30pm, resulting in a total time of around 16.5 hours. This was no mean feat as the English Channel is 21 miles wide and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Jaguar Land Rover is revealing Sayer, the intelligent and connected steering wheel of the future during the inaugural Tech Fest at Central St Martins, University of the Arts London. This steering wheel concept lives in your home and becomes your trusted companion. Sayer is the first voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) steering wheel that will be able to carry out hundreds of tasks. Sayer could signal your membership of our on-demand service club. A club which offers either sole ownership or the option of sharing the car with others in your community.

It is with a heavy heart that I must let you know of another passing in our ranks. Dick Knudson, MG evangelist and recent inductee into the British Sports Car Hall of Fame, has passed away last Friday, September 1st. Services will be held Friday, September 8th, in Schenevus, New York. The Reverend Dr. Richard L. Knudson was a co-founded the New England MG ‘T’ Register in 1964 and has been the register’s backbone ever since, guiding the register and its many events over the years. He was editor of the Register’s “Sacred Octagon” magazine for many years. He became an “MG Expert”, even traveling to England to do MG research. He authored a number of books on MGs, including “MG – The Sports Car America Loved First”. Although I had been a fan of the man and his work for […]

Aston Martin Racing is ready to kick off the second half of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship, as the premier racing series touches down in Mexico City. After taking a GTE Pro double podium in 2016 – scoring a victory and third place – Aston Martin Racing will be hoping to claim yet another strong points-haul 12 months on. While the intense heat and 2,250m altitude of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez challenged both the drivers and V8 Vantage GTE last year, it will be the severe weather and temperamental thunderstorms that will provide the team with a serious test this weekend.

British electric vehicle start-up Alcraft Motor Company has revealed details of its first car, the high-performance Alcraft GT. The business is targeting a start of production in 2019 and is launching a crowdfunding campaign offering the chance to play a part in the development of the car and a new British brand. Alcraft Motor Company has been founded by businessman David Alcraft. He has assembled a core team including Charles Morgan, previously of Morgan Motor Company, ex-Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders CEO Christopher Macgowan, designer Matt Humphries who also spent time at Morgan, and ex-Toyota, Daewoo and Michelin senior executive Mark Carbery.

Families in Cardiff, Wales, will soon be able to add a new car to their shopping list following the launch of MG’s second UK concept store. Based in St David’s Dewi Sant, which attracts more than 38 million visitors a year, MG’s first such store outside of London will offer a dynamic, immersive and modern retail experience for customers. The 1,610-square foot retail boutique has been designed to reinvent the car buying journey. The store features a video screen wall, interactive iPad stations and will also include a dedicated lifestyle space. A collection of vehicles will be on display, representing models in the MG3 and MG GS ranges, with the much-anticipated MG XS in store by early November.