Marques

Rolls-Royce has announced that Martin Fritsches has been appointed as President, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America from the first of September 2018. Fritsches joined Rolls-Royce earlier this year as Vice President of Sales for the Americas region, responsible for sales planning and operations, including the marque’s 44 dealers in the Americas.

Jaguar Land Rover today reported total worldwide retail sales of 36,629 vehicles in August 2018, down 4.9% year on year. August 2018 Change year-on-year Jan – Aug 2018 Change year-on-year Jaguar – Land Rover 36,629 (4.9)% 390,992 (2.6)% Jaguar 11,802 7.7% 116,849 (1.9)% Land Rover 24,827 (9.9)% 274,143 (2.9)% Retail sales were up in the UK (64.9%), Overseas markets (20.2%) and North America (2.5%), with Europe slightly below last year (3.1%), waiting for last WLTP certifications. The China market remains unsettled following tariff changes and trade tensions (down 38.1%), although the reduction in duty from 25% to 15% is expected to be beneficial over the full year. UK sales were boosted by a catch up in WLTP certification of vehicles with only 2 derivatives remaining to be certified in September.

Led by the release of the new MG3, MG Motor UK continues to go from strength-to-strength in 2018 by once again announcing record new car sales. The August sales results, taken from the latest SMMT market report, show that MG has achieved an impressive 5,685 new car registrations so far in 2018, over 1,000 units more than it achieved in the whole of 2017. This significant increase in new car registrations amounts to an increase of 129% compared with the same period in 2017.

Concours of Elegance and Bridge of Weir Leather Company partnered up once again this year to present a very special ‘British Legends’ feature, celebrating the very best of automotive design to come out of Britain over the last century. Notable friends of the Concours and Bridge of Weir each chose a British car they deemed deserving of the status of British Legend. Visitors to the Concours of Elegance were invited to vote for their favorite of the ‘British Legends’ nominated by stars of the automotive. Taking more votes than any of the other iconic models nominated, the Morgan 4/4 was named the public favorite from the British Legends feature yesterday. The Morgan 4/4, nominated by Morgan designer Jon Wells, took the public vote at the event and was presented as the Bridge of Weir ‘British Legend’ for 2018 in front of Hampton […]

Bentley Motorsport and American partner team K-PAX Racing have secured their first championship win together – the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge GT teams’ title – following a consistently strong season and dominant series finale. In what was Bentley’s first season with K-PAX Racing, the team scored a podium in each of the five sprint events that took place on the USA’s top race tracks. The team – which fielded two full-season entries – racked-up six pole positions, ten podium, and five race wins drivers Alvaro Parente (PT) and Rodrigo Baptista (BR).

McLaren Automotive is introducing a new service to authenticate the heritage of iconic McLaren F1 supercars. The launch of the new programme is coincident with the unveiling of the first F1 to be approved for certification, the renowned ‘25R’ 1997 F1 GTR Longtail. Pristine after a full restoration to ‘as new’ condition by McLaren Special Operations, the last F1 GTR to compete in period is one of the stars of the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance (31 August – 2 September 2018). Even among F1 GTRs, this car, designated ‘25R’, is unique – and now it is as near to being new as we can make it. The car is the exemplar of everything that the new certification programme stands for and we are proud to have ‘25R’ as the very first McLaren F1 Certified car. — Ansar Ali, Managing Director, […]

Owing to around half of its owners being dog owners, Land Rover has launched a range of premium Pet Packs to help their four-legged friends travel in the lap of luxury. The new accessories come as millions of owners look to pamper their canine companions in celebration of International Dog Appreciation Day on Sunday, 26 August. Each Pet Pack includes a selection of specially chosen accessories to suit a range of requirements. They include a premium quilted load space liner to protect against paw prints, a foldable pet carrier, access ramp, spill-resistant water bowl and a portable shower for those muddy walks.

Joining the celebrations for one of the world’s most iconic sports car manufacturers Hazel Chapman, widow of company founder Colin Chapman, has personally approved the 100,000th Lotus, as part of the marque’s 70th-anniversary celebration. Hand built on the same site that Hazel Chapman helped establish, the Jim Clark Trust special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport is the 100,000th Lotus built and a milestone in the iconic British company’s history. Reviewing the car for the first time with her son Clive Chapman, Hazel Chapman said: 70 years ago, I never dreamt that there would be a 100,000th Lotus. I’m immensely proud of the company and Colin’s legacy. Today Lotus still builds such fantastic sports cars and I’m touched to be able to see the 100,000th car.”

Following an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the original concept for ‘the most beautiful electric car in the world’, Jaguar Classic has confirmed it will offer all-electric E-type Zero for sale. The news follows the iconic EV sports car’s successful debut in concept form at Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest in September 2017. Combining its restoration expertise with cutting-edge technology from the Jaguar I-PACE, the award-winning zero-emissions performance SUV, Jaguar Classic will offer tailor-made E-types restored and converted to electric power at the same Classic Works facility as its outstanding E-type Reborn restorations in Coventry, UK. An EV conversion service for existing E-type owners will also be offered. To preserve the authenticity of the base vehicle, the EV conversion will be fully reversible.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan makes its American debut to the public at this year’s Monterey Car Week as the marque showcases a stunning array of Bespoke motor cars, each one a classic in the making. In addition to Cullinan, the Rolls-Royce of SUVs, the brand will present a splendid selection of individual creations at events throughout the week and deliver two very high profile commissions to their owners, live at events throughout the week. Monterey Car Week is one of the world’s premier luxury motor car events, so it is fitting that we showcase the finest Bespoke motor cars in the world here, and also debut Cullinan, the Rolls-Royce of SUVs, to the American public. From the primacy of Phantom to the power of Cullinan, the Rolls-Royce presence at 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has never been more compelling, and these Bespoke Rolls-Royces […]

Our roving auction guy and contributor Bob Seidler was recently over the border in Canada and submitted this report on one of his excursions. So what do you do when your wife has a speaking engagement in Toronto and you have the day free? Of course, you Uber over to Legendary Motorcar Company in scenic Halton Hills, just west of Toronto. For viewers of The Velocity Channel, you know Legendary Motorcar as a mainstay of their lineup, dating back to the early days of Velocity when owner Peter Klute hosted DreamCar Garage. This was a delightful series in which two good-natured Canadians guys were buying, restoring and selling cars out of their garage.

A historic and nostalgic look at the role of the Land Rover in the emergency services over the last 70 years. Land Rover products have been used by the emergency services almost from the moment the first model left the factory in 1948. The agility and size of these vehicles made them an immediate hit with fire services, where they initially became popular as factory fire tenders. Police forces were also attracted by the cross-country ability and versatility of Land Rovers, especially outside Britain, and, when long-wheelbase models provided extra space, they also became favorites for ambulance conversions. Some emergency-service conversions required very little adaptation and were carried out in the workshops of the end-users. Others – such as six-wheel Range Rover fire tenders – required major alterations from the factory-standard vehicle. Meanwhile, specialist companies developed dedicated ambulance and fire […]

Aston Martin Racing’s new Vantage GTE recorded its first top-four finish and made a significant step forward in pace and development during the 6 Hours of Silverstone this weekend. Both Vantage GTEs maintained their 100% finishing records during Round 3 of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with Alex Lynn (GB) and Maxime Martin (BEL) delivering the #97 car’s best finish yet with a trouble-free run to fourth on home soil. Their team-mates Nicki Thiim (DEN) and Marco Sørensen (DEN) were also heading for a strong result until encountering a gear selection issue that required some unscheduled stops to resolve. The ‘DaneTrain’ recovered to finish eighth, ensuring the team’s third double-points finish of the season in the GTE Pro category. We have definitely made big progress with the car. We showed that we have a strong car in qualifying and that […]

Aston Martin stunned the world when it first unveiled DB4 in 1958 and now, on its 60thanniversary, an exclusive display will take place at the Concours of Elegance, hosted at Hampton Court Palace, from the 31 August until 2 September 2018. Assembled by the Aston Martin Owners Club, the line-up will include a DB4 prototype, an example of DB4 Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 plus an original DB4 GT, DB4 GT Zagato and DB4 Bertone Jet. The newly launched DB4 GT Continuation will also form part of the display.

An amazing collection of British classics including a 1968 Triumph TR5, a 1975 Bristol 411 Series 4, a 1971 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster and a 1933 MG J2 Midget will head to auction at the CCA September Sale at the Warwickshire Event Centre on 15th September. An incredible 1968 Triumph TR5 on offer at the September Sale is undoubtedly one of the best in the country, following a painstakingly millimeter-perfect rebuild on a brand new factory spec chassis. The six-cylinder 2.5-litre engine has been fully rebuilt, including a new head suitable for use with unleaded fuel, and a full tune-up to give maximum performance. The bodywork has been completely rebuilt with new inner and outer sills along with a multi-coat repaint in a wonderful shade of Signal Red. Along with the repaint the TR5 comes with a brand new […]

Jaguar Land Rover reported total worldwide retail sales of 36,144 vehicles in July 2018, down 21.6% year on year, primarily reflecting transitional issues in certain markets. July2018 Changeyear-on-year Jan – July 2018 Changeyear-on-year JaguarLand Rover 36,144 (21.6)% 354,363 (2.4)% Jaguar 10,992 (15.2)% 105,047 (2.9)% Land Rover 25,152 (24.0)% 249,316 (2.2)% Retails for July were down in China (46.9%), reflecting continued market volatility in the first month of the duty change as well as trade tensions. Sales were also down in Europe (26.5%) and the UK (18.3%), impacted by the industry-wide issue of delays in WLTP certification of 2019 model year vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover has made good progress however and all its vehicles are certified or expected to be shortly. Retail sales were also down in North America (9.5%), resulting from softer industry volumes (down more than 3%) combined with […]

Aston Martin kicks off the 2018 Monterey Automotive Week by again opening the doors of ‘Aston Martin Club 1913’, inviting attendees to get to know the Aston Martin Lagonda Group and its leadership team. This year’s theme, “Boundless,” showcases the group’s world expanding beyond automotive, to include products on land, sea and in the air. President for Aston Martin The Americas, Laura Schwab said: “While people flock to Monterey Week for its history, this year at Aston Martin Club 1913, we’ll give guests a glimpse into what’s next. We’ll showcase everything from the present – the new DBS Superleggera, to the electric – with the new Lagonda Vision Concept, and the sky-bound – the Volante Vision Concept. The creative horsepower behind this brand is limitless, and that will be evident to all who join us at the Aston Martin Club […]

MG Motor UK, the UK’s fastest growing car manufacturer, is delighted to introduce New MG3; the latest addition to the iconic British brand’s rapidly evolving product range. Replacing the brand’s current MG3, which sold over 10,000 units in its four years on sale, the stylish supermini is a natural evolution, bringing it into MG’s new design family, first seen with the MG ZS compact SUV. Demonstrating its faith in the build quality and reliability of its products, MG has extended its 7 year/80,000-miles warranty to New MG3. The new warranty really adds to New MG3’s value-for-money offering, making it one of the most attractive packages on the market. Fully-transferrable to future owners, the comprehensive warranty gives great reassurance to MG buyers.