Marques

A JD Classics-restored Jaguar XK120 ‘Jabbeke’ – famous for its Flying Mile world record – has won Best of Show at the world-renowned Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance. The impeccable Jaguar also won in the Post-War Coachwork class. The Salon Privé Best of Show accolade is the latest in a string of successes for the XK120 ‘Jabbeke’, named for the Jabbeke Highway in Belgium where it set a Flying Mile world record, piloted by Norman Dewis OBE. Following a full JD Classics restoration in 2013, the car won at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2014 in the Post-War Sports Racing class. A world-class judging panel, consisting of 18 automotive experts headed by five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, carefully scrutinised a selection of the world’s finest cars in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace during the weekend’s Salon Privé. The […]

We are going a little more rare and esoteric this week, though when they were new they weren’t that odd.  Our Video of the Week returns again to the BBC series The Car’s the Star with an episode on the Hillman Imp. The Hillman Imp was also badged as the Sunbeam Imp, and there were other variations as well. The Hillman Imp is a small economy car made by the Rootes Group and its successor Chrysler Europe from 1963 until 1976. It was the first mass-produced car with the engine block and cylinder head cast in aluminium. Being a direct competitor to the BMC’s Mini, it used a space-saving rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout to allow as much luggage and passenger capacity as possible in both the rear and the front of the car. It used a unique opening rear hatch to […]

This just in from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars … “Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date, and begins a new age of open-top, super-luxury motoring. Dawn is a beautiful new motor car that offers the most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world. It will be the most social of super-luxury drophead motor cars for those who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s most exclusive social hotspots. Quite simply, it is the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built. The name ‘Dawn’ perfectly suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. In its tentative, inchoate, anticipatory state, dawn is the world coming to light from the ethereal dark of the night. The early-day chill of dawn provides an […]

The new Range Rover Sentinel is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be fully engineered by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, (SVO) hand built at its Oxford Road facility, providing the highest levels of protection an SUV can offer against a wide variety of attacks. The Sentinel is based on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography. It delivers the supreme comfort, command driving position and all-terrain capability of the Range Rover, while providing peace of mind thanks to outstanding occupant protection and, outwardly, looking identical to the standard model. This mobile fortress is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armour piercing incendiary bullets. This exceptional vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the […]

  This superb book tells the story of one of the most historically interesting of all Jaguar D-types – a car that has raced more than any other D-type. The long and varied life of XKD 504 is recounted in full, from its role as a works car used extensively for testing fuel injection, to two seasons of racing throughout Europe with Ecurie Ecosse, to four busy years of national competition in the hands of first Mike Salmon and then Peter Sutcliffe. This book provides fascinating insight into every aspect of this D-type’s history, supported by a fine collection of period photographs. Any Jaguar enthusiast will enjoy this addition to the ‘Great Cars’ series. Key content Life as a works car, including its important testing role and two races in 1956. Two seasons with Ecurie Ecosse, including sixth place in […]

Jaguar Land Rover has launched its Academy, the first of its kind in the UK automotive sector.  The new Academy will offer all Jaguar Land Rover workers the opportunity to take part in continuous development programmes to enhance their careers and provide the skills the company needs. With an annual learning and development outlay of £100 million, Jaguar Land Rover invests heavily in skills.  The creation of the Academy gives renewed focus to that investment and will deliver improved skills for the long-term by strengthening the links between training and business needs.  All training provided through the Jaguar Land Rover Academy will meet quality levels defined by a recognised and standardised accreditation process. Commenting on the launch, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ralf Speth said:  “We are investing significantly in the future of Jaguar Land Rover by creating […]

The all-new W12 TSI engine is the most technically advanced 12-cylinder in the world, delivering the best combination of power, torque and efficiency of any car in its class. With a top speed of 301km/h, the Bentayga will be the fastest, most powerful SUV in the world. This film provides a glimpse of what is to come: a unique combination of performance and luxury. Performance of this nature is rare in any car. It was unheard of in an SUV – until now. Note: Press release courtesy of Bentley Motors.

Jaguar will celebrate its exciting future and rich, 80-year heritage at the 2015 Frankfurt IAA, with a dramatic reveal of the all-new Jaguar F-PACE. The Jaguar F-PACE will be the first ever compact luxury SUV from the famous British luxury and sports car brand. The stunning new F-PACE, which will be available to view on the Jaguar stand throughout the show (September 17 – 27), is previewed today with the release of an exclusive image and film. Camouflaged prototypes have already been seen proving the everyday usability and exceptional ride and handling of the all-new F-PACE, by supporting Team Sky on the Tour de France, enduring more than a quarter of a million miles of extreme testing at JLR test centers Dubai and Northern Sweden, and tackling some of the most challenging roads in world. This is a compact luxury […]

McLaren Automotive will showcase the best of British luxury at this weekend’s Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille (6-7 September) taking place at Domaine Chantilly, north of Paris. The second edition of the glamorous event will see a stunning display of automotive extravagance including a one-off 570S Coupé by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and the legendary McLaren F1 GTR by César. The McLaren 570S Coupé by MSO has been designed to showcase different personalisation options available through the bespoke division of McLaren, and made its debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. This striking example of modern craftsmanship is finished in new Ceramic Grey paintwork and features a variety of carbon fibre exterior options emphasising the lightweight carbon fibre chassis at the heart of the car. The 570S Coupé is the first model launched in the McLaren Sports Series […]

The first Evora 400 sports cars destined for customers and dealers have driven off the assembly line and are soon to arrive at dealerships across the UK and mainland Europe. The significant occasion was marked by a small celebration with proud members of the engineering and manufacturing team at Lotus, who are responsible for hand-building Lotus’ fastest production car to date. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc states, “The Evora 400 has already received admiration and critical acclaim from media around the world, praising its performance, handling and design. In September and October, Lotus dealers throughout the UK and mainland Europe will be receiving their demonstrator and customers cars, so now is the opportunity for drivers to get behind the wheel and experience the Evora 400 for themselves.”

Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum has been named among the first inductees to the Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame at a prestigious ceremony held aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent. The Association of Scottish Motoring Writers’ Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame, presented by Bridge of Weir Leather Company, was inaugurated as part of the opening celebrations of the Concours of Elegance, which opens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh this weekend. Ian Callum joins motorsport legends Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark as the first inductees. Ian Callum said: “It’s a great honour, made even greater by the company I am in as an inaugural member of the Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame alongside Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark. I am absolutely thrilled, and so proud.”  Ian Callum, […]

The new MG 3SW debuted today on the 2015 Chengdu Auto Show in China, winning the price for the fattest front overhang. The MG 3SW is a variant of the MG3, and the spiritual successor of the long gone MG3 Streetwise. The MG 3SW is powered by the same dull engine as the standard car: a 1.5 liter petrol four with 109hp and 135nm, mated to a five-speed manual or automatic.

With the introduction of three new models – two of which are all-new to North American customers – realigned pricing and a new best-in-class1 coverage under Jaguar EliteCare, 2016 model year marks the beginning of The Next Generation of Jaguar. Already on sale in select markets around the world, the all-new Jaguar XE arrives in U.S. showrooms this spring. Launching with three powertrain options across four trim levels, the Jaguar XE enters the highly competitive sport sedan segment with standard rear-wheel drive and the option of all-wheel drive on certain powertrains. Fully redesigned for 2016, the second generation Jaguar XF continues to bring a unique blend of design, technology and refinement to the premium sedan segment. Positioned between the mid-size Jaguar XE and the full-size Jaguar XJ, the new bodywork on the XF mirrors the evolution of the Jaguar design […]

The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, has launched an appeal to raise funds to build a new gear box for Sir Malcolm Campbell’s historic 1920 Sunbeam 350hp Land Speed Record car. The museum’s manager and Chief Engineer, Doug Hill says: “During the Sunbeam’s long and chequered history, its Achilles heel has been a weak gearbox. At some time after WWll, the original gearbox was removed and subsequently lost. It was replaced with a gearbox that was originally used in an Albion 35hp van, designed to take only one tenth of the power this engine produces and the way in which the braking system has been modified means that this installation severely compromises the braking of the vehicle. “For the next stage of the Sunbeam’s restoration story, we need to build a new gearbox from scratch. As the original gearbox no longer exists […]

Bentley Motors today announces its new European Communications team line up. Caren Jochner, Senior Communications Manager Europe, will continue to lead the team, which consists of Mona El-Mahdi, Communications Manager Europe West; the newly appointed Sebastian Michel, Communications Manager Europe Central; and Maddalena Manfredi, Communications Coordinator. Sebastian Michel joined the team on September 1 from Daimler, where he was previously the press spokesperson within the Global Business Communications Department of Daimler Commercial Vehicles. Caren Jochner, who joined Bentley two years ago, is responsible for overall European Communications operation, with a specific focus on Germany as a key player in the European market. Andrew Roberts, Bentley’s Director of Communications, said: “With Sebastian Michel joining Caren Jochner’s talented team I have complete confidence that the media in all European markets will be well serviced. Europe is Bentley’s third largest market and with […]

For more than half a century Aston Martin has been the sports car of choice for the world’s most famous spy, James Bond. Now, the luxury British brand is celebrating the release of Spectre with the launch of the strictly limited DB9 GT Bond Edition. Limited to 150 examples worldwide, the highly desirable model is based on the recently launched DB9 GT. Designed to offer the best of what DB9 can be, the DB9 GT delivers world-class grand touring and hand-built excellence. Building on these exceptional foundations, the new Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition adds even greater levels of exclusivity by virtue of its limited edition build run along with a host of carefully considered trim, equipment and accessory additions that celebrate the brand’s more than 50-year association with the famous film franchise. Subtle styling additions The DB9 GT […]

We really appreciate the help from Take to the Road for our Video of the Week this go round. Titled “A Very British Wedge – The Triumph TR7”  this is the story of Triumph enthusiast Alan Gleaves who spent many years looking for a good TR7. In 2014 he found his dream car. To quote our friends at Take to the Road, Barn finds are very popular these days in the classic car classifieds world. The term itself is often applied to literally any car storage scenario which can raise a few eyebrows. Many are genuine “barn finds”, locked away and forgotten about for decades. Regardless of how the term is used, barn/garage finds always get classic car enthusiasts just a little bit excited. We all dream of one day of stumbling across an old classic parked up, covered in […]

Scotland’s historical seat of power, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is playing host to the 2015 Concours of Elegance from 4 to 6 September, with an impressive array of Bentley models taking centre stage. The prestigious, invitation-only event – which showcases 60 of the world’s rarest and most valuable cars – will feature six Bentley models ranging from a 1927 6 ½ Litre Vanden Plas tourer to a 1960 S2 Continental with H.J. Mulliner Fastback coachwork. Not only is the Mulliner name still closely associated with Bentley today, but it also has historical ties with the Scottish capital. In December 1909 John Croall & Sons Ltd of Edinburgh purchased a controlling shareholding in H. J. Mulliner & Co, which it held until 1959, where after the coachbuilding company officially became part of Bentley Motors Ltd. Other Bentley models on display at […]