First Production McLaren 720S with McLaren 12C at MPC

McLaren 720S Moves to Full Production Marking End of P11 Line

April 11, 2017 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Automotive is today celebrating the beginning of full production of the new 720S supercar, with the completion of the ‘Job#1’ car. Finished in Glacier White, the car is ready to leave the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, having been hand-assembled by McLaren’s craftsmen and craftswomen. The move to full production marks the beginning of a new chapter in the McLaren Automotive story, as the second generation of the Super Series – codenamed ‘P14’ – replaces the first generation, ‘P11’ model family that encompassed the original McLaren 12C and subsequent derivatives, as well as the McLaren 650S and 675LT.

Aston Martin partnership with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Aston Martin Partners with Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

April 10, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd are proud to announce an enduring partnership with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity. The strong links between the company and the Royal Air Force are clear, with Aston Martin’s two manufacturing facilities both having previously been RAF airfields. The RAF Benevolent Fund has been the Royal Air Forces’ leading welfare charity for almost 100 years, providing financial and practical assistance to anyone who is serving or has served in the RAF including their partners and dependents. They provide assistance with a range of issues from childcare and relationship difficulties to injury and disability, and from financial hardship and debt to illness and bereavement. In 2016 the charity spent over £20 million supporting over 60,000 members of the RAF family. Andy Palmer, President and CEO of Aston Martin, said: “We are extremely […]

McLaren’s Alvaro Parente Has Strong Start in 2017 Pirelli World Challenge

April 10, 2017 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Factory Driver Alvaro Parente continued his strong start to the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge season on the streets of Long Beach California, breaking the lap record to score pole position, before claiming a lights-to-flag victory. Close behind the reigning champion, K-PAX Racing’s Bryan Sellers teammate secured the final podium position in the #6 650S GT3. During qualifying, Parente set a time of 1m 18.883s in the #9 K-PAX Racing 650S GT3, to score pole position by exactly a tenth of a second. This lap broke his own lap record which was set during the same session last year. From the front of the grid, the Portuguese driver could control proceedings during the 50-minute sprint race around the tight and twisty 3.1-km street course, creating healthy margins at each of the three restarts.

Q by Aston Martin - Vanquish S Red Arrows Edition

Q by Aston Martin Creates Vanquish S Red Arrows Edition

April 10, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Spectacular British aviation skills are the inspiration for Aston Martin’s latest Q by Aston Martin creation; the Vanquish S Red Arrows edition. Just ten examples of the Red Arrows inspired cars are being commissioned by Aston Martin Cambridge, each with special design features, hand-crafted interiors and graphic elements that draw on the visual language of aviation, as well as the skill and agility of the RAF’s globally acclaimed official aerobatic unit, the Red Arrows.

British Sports Car Hal of Fame Induction Ceremony Poster Header

British Sports Car Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

April 7, 2017 Michael Carnell 3

There are lots of great British car shows throughout the season and lots of fine car museums. But, every so often people and events and places come together to create a not-to-be-missed opportunity. This is the case with the upcoming Induction Ceremony to the new British Sports Car Hall of Fame that will be held the evening before Moss Motorfest in Petersburg, Virginia. The event is filling up fast, and the ticket-required ceremony and party are going to sell out soon. Make your plans now, get your tickets, and you won’t regret it. Registration for the Friday activities officially closes on May 19, but will likely end earlier if they reach their maximum capacity. And I believe they will. The new Hall of Fame is being constructed to not only showcase the cars we all know and love, but to highlight and thank the folks […]

Burlen Ltd to Promote SU Carburetor Cup at Brands Hatch

April 7, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Burlen Ltd, the world’s only manufacturer of genuine SU (Skinner’s Union), AMAL and Zenith carburetors, is gearing up to promote the flagship race of the Brands Hatch Mini Festival at the iconic race track in Kent. The Salisbury-based company is promoting the Historic Mini Races at the event, which will be named ‘The SU Carburetters Cup for Pre-66 Minis’ in the eagerly anticipated 2017 edition.

Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition - Front 3-4

Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Salutes US Launch

April 6, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Continuing the runaway success of Lotus’ return to North America, the legendary British Sportscar maker has unveiled a unique Evora Sport 410 in one of the company’s most famous liveries, as order books open for the sensational sports car in the US and Canada. Available in the new GP Edition color scheme, as well as Lotus’ standard array of paint options, the new Lotus Evora Sport 410 for North America is the lightest and most focused iteration of the Evora and joins the benchmark Evora 400 in the company’s line-up as a fully type approved model. It is also the fastest road-going Lotus ever sold in the US, clocking 0-60 mph in 3.9 secs and a top speed of 190 mph. A literal translation of Lotus’ simplify then add lightness manifesto, this new 2017 MY Federal version has undergone considerable […]

Records tumble as MG Motor continues success

MG Motor UK Celebrates Continued Sales Success in March

April 6, 2017 Staff 1

MG Motor UK is celebrating continued success in 2017, after achieving record registrations for March. Figures released today by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a 30% rise compared to the same month in 2016. So far in 2017, MG has registered 1,065 vehicles, 8% higher than the same period in 2016, making it the best ever quarter for the Longbridge-based business. Alongside increasing brand awareness and excellent value for money, Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, believes this continued success is down to its ongoing focus on dealer engagement and positive customer reception to its latest model range. MG’s strategy is to work with its dealer network using straightforward campaigns and a focus on getting actual drivers into the cars that they are selling, encouraging dealers to concentrate on delighting their customers, […]

Aston Martin Begins St Athan’s Conversion for SUV Production

April 6, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Aston Martin today hosted a special ceremony that launched Phase II of the redevelopment of MOD St Athan. The site in South Wales will become the British luxury carmaker’s second UK manufacturing plant. The former military site was formally handed over from the Ministry of Defence to Aston Martin by Secretary of State Sir Michael Fallon at a ceremony including Aston Martin President and CEO Dr. Andy Palmer, and Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns and Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones. With the commencement of these works, Aston Martin St Athan is on target to commence production of the company’s new SUV, the Aston Martin DBX, in 2019.

One Jaguar Land Rover sold every 30 seconds in March

One Jaguar Land Rover Sold Every 30 Seconds in UK in March

April 5, 2017 Staff 1

A Jaguar Land Rover vehicle was registered every 30 seconds in March as Britain’s biggest car manufacturer continued a record-breaking start to 2017. Jaguar Land Rover celebrated its best March sales in its history with Jaguar sales up 68% to 9,484 and Land Rover achieving 22,283 sales, up by 14% percent, driven by a raft of new models.

VotW – The Wrenchmen – Working on a 1970 MGB

April 5, 2017 Michael Carnell Comments Off

Not to do two MG videos in a row, but this one is fun. And I like MGs, so there is that two. This week out Video of the Week is the second in a series called “The Wrenchmen” from Hagerty and features work on a 1970 MGB. Seems lots of good videos are coming out of Hagerty these days. Anyway, this series basically has a couple of professional mechanics going around to regular folks with classic cars and helping them over some rough spots to get them back on the road. The description of this video is… Three days, two Wrenchmen, one garaged MGB and a bunch of problems. Wrenchmen Davin and Matt roll through South Carolina to help David and Jocelyn get their 1970 MGB back on the road after being parked for far too long. The MGB’s […]

Panasonic Jaguar Racing Stays Cool to Take Maiden Points in Mexico City

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Panasonic Jaguar Racing earned its first championship points in style after a thrilling race where Mitch Evans and Adam Carroll finished in P4 and P8 respectively, in only the fourth FIA Formula E race for the British team. The Jaguar duo scored 16 points and leaped one position in the Team Standings to ninth place. The Jaguar I-TYPEs started alongside each other in P10 and P11 on the grid and quickly got to grips with the warm and dusty circuit in the heart of Mexico City.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER REPORTS 13% YEAR-ON-YEAR INCREASE IN THIRD QUARTER REVENUE

Jaguar Land Rover Reports March 2017 US Sales

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported March 2017 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 4,953 units, a 132 percent increase from 2,133 units in March 2016; Land Rover sales reached 7,965 units, down 9 percent from record March sales of 8,733 units in 2016; Jaguar Land Rover March U.S. sales for both brands hit 12,918 units, a 19 percent increase from 10,866 units in March 2016; making it the best ever Jaguar Land Rover sales month. Year to date, Jaguar Land Rover is up 21 percent in the United States. We are proud that both Jaguar and Land Rover finished our fiscal year on a high note in March, establishing record-breaking U.S. sales numbers for the company as a whole, as well as Range Rover Evoque, F-PACE and XE. Jaguar has maintained its 2016 sales momentum and Land Rover […]

The Range Rover Story – Solihull Interactive Exhibit

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Land Rover has opened a new visitor attraction at its thriving Solihull manufacturing plant. ‘The Range Rover Story’ is an interactive exhibit created to celebrate 50 years of the world’s most revered luxury SUV. Range Rover has been manufactured at Solihull since 1970, but its history with the site goes back to 1967 when the first secret prototype was conceived, codenamed Velar. The new exhibit will take visitors on a time-travelling voyage from its inception in the mid-1960s, through to the introduction of the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque. The exhibition culminates in an exciting unveil of the new Range Rover Velar, celebrating British design and engineering integrity.

The New MINI Black Pack Clubman

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

MINI UK is today launching the new MINI Cooper Black Pack Clubman and the new MINI Cooper D Black Pack Clubman. Designed exclusively for the UK, the first MINI Clubman edition offers 17-inch Black Net spoke wheels combined with Black bonnet stripes for a sleek and sporty finish to further enhance the characteristic MINI Clubman styling.

Mark Del Rosso to be President and CEO of Bentley Motors

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motors has today announced that Mark Del Rosso will become President and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors, Inc., the regional office for Bentley Motors in the Americas, on 1st June 2017. He succeeds Michael Winkler, who will be returning to Australia later this year. Winkler will remain in position through the two-month transition.

Paul Crosby and Ali Proctor Win Flying Scotsman in 1939 MG TB

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

The Endurance Rally Association’s ninth Flying Scotsman Rally ended in a nail-biting finish as the winning crew of Paul Crosby and Ali Proctor suffered two breakdowns in their 1939 MG TB Supercharged on the final run for the chequered flag at Gleneagles, Scotland. The event started at Slaley Hall in Hexham, Northumberland, with over 750miles of rally ahead of the 103 crews.

New McLaren 720S for the LEGO Generation

April 4, 2017 Staff Comments Off

The new McLaren 720S is already well on the way to achieving cult status, joining the legendary McLaren P1 in the LEGO Speed Champions range of model cars. The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren 720S, accompanied by a car designer minifigure and design studio desk, complete with coffee cup, original design sketch. and 3D-printed model car, will be available to buy from 1 June. Builders aged 7+ and supercar enthusiasts alike can show off their design skills and build this awesome model, then put on a racing helmet and switch from supercar designer to racing driver.

Flying Scotsman Rally Update - Robert Morey and John - IMG_5759

Flying Scotsman Rally Update – Robert Morey and John Scott

April 3, 2017 Staff 2

A sad update to the tale we told you last week of our contributor Robert Morey running in the Flying Scotsman Rally with John Scott. We heard from Robert this weekend, and unfortunately, the 1937 MG VA they were driving broke down after “an amazing dice at breakneck speed with a pre-war BMW sports car. He could pull away on the straights a bit but John was on him in the corners!”

Bentley Finishes in Second Place in Misano

April 3, 2017 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motorsport has finished in second place in the opening round of the Blancpain GT Series at Misano with the #7 Continental GT3 and drivers Steven Kane (GB) and Vince Abril (MO). Bentley Team M-Sport has once again entered two cars in the full GT Series and has its sights set on all three titles, including the Sprint Series Cup that started in Misano this weekend.