Marques

A new and updated edition of the great reference work Jaguar – All the Cars by Nigel Thorley has been published by Veloce Press and should be hitting the streets as you read this. This 4th edition covers the complete SS and Jaguar model story from 1931 to 2015 Jaguar – All the Cars meets the needs of not only the Jaguar aficionado, but also enthusiasts who don’t have a detailed knowledge of the wide range of Jaguar models produced over the years. Illustrated in colour throughout, this significantly updated and expanded Fourth Edition comprehensively covers every single Jaguar production vehicle up to the present day, including the XE. The development of Jaguar production cars is charted, with a brief history of each model range, along with a detailed guide to exterior and interior differences, with accompanying pictures, production numbers, and […]

This just in from Eric Gibeaut on the Columbia British Classics X show this past weekend and all the Sunbeams in attendance. Unfortunately, I fell ill and was unable to attend, but I have been told the weather turned out beautiful and it was a great show. As at previous events, Sunbeam owners from 5 different states – including Ohio and Florida- got together a few days before the show to drive their cars and socialize in the host hotel’s hospitality suite – which also had a swap meet area that had many rare and interesting parts for sale. The plan was for everyone to participate in the group drive around Lake Murray on Friday afternoon but then the rain started coming down pretty hard. A few brave souls did complete the trip around the lake but some came back […]

Bob Frampton, who lives in Abingdon, is fishing for memories from past workers at the town’s historic MG manufacturer. Frampton has dedicated his retirement to his town’s history is tracking down anecdotes about an iconic car plant. The Oxford Mail has published this story about Bob Frampton and the book he hopes to write. Peachcroft resident Mr Frampton, 69, said: “I wanted to capture the memories that are not recorded. What people recall.”

Land Rover Classic is underscoring its commitment to providing the very best cars, services, parts and experiences to passionate Land Rover customers with the launch of the ‘Reborn’ initiative for the iconic Series I at Techno-Classica in Essen, Germany. Reborn offers 25 prospective customers the unique opportunity to purchase an original and highly collectable Land Rover Series I directly from Land Rover Classic. Land Rover Classic’s expert team has drawn on decades of experience to hand-pick 25 Series I chassis from Land Rover’s global network. Each model will undergo a complete restoration according to the brand’s original 1948 factory specification and using Land Rover Classic Parts to preserve authenticity. This includes the choice of five period finishes including Light Green, Bronze Green, RAF Blue, Dove Grey and Poppy Red. Customers will be able to select their preferred base vehicle with […]

Underlining its commitment to building exceptional sports cars that appeal to the most discerning enthusiasts, Aston Martin has ushered in its 17MY range by offering the sensational V12 Vantage S with a manual transmission. True icons of pure performance blessed with exceptional agility, each V12 Vantage S transmission option delivers its own unique character and dynamic emphasis; the manual unashamedly championing classic tradition and total driver engagement, while the Sportshift™ III transmission offers a more contemporary driving experience. Both exude the unrivaled sporting qualities for which the V12 Vantage S is renowned.

Jaguar is proud to announce that the F-TYPE was awarded the 2016 Vincentric Best Value in America award for the Luxury Sports Car segment. This marks the third year the F-TYPE has received the honor. The Vincentric Best Value in America awards, now in its 12th year, are model specific honors that determine the best value in each segment. Value is determined using a statistical analysis that incorporates the total cost of ownership of all vehicles for the 2016 model year along with the current market price of those vehicles. Since its introduction in 2014, the Jaguar F-TYPE range has expanded from three models to six. The 2017 lineup will consist of the F-TYPE, F-TYPE S, and the recently announced range-topping F-TYPE SVR. A new entry model F-TYPE will feature a supercharged 340-hp 3.0L V6 mated to the 6-speed manual […]

Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h), now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family. Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental’s iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The GT Speed now produces 642 PS – up from 635 PS – and 20 Nm of extra torque, bringing its total to a forceful 840 Nm. This additional torque is applied through the entire rev range via careful reoptimisation of boost control, raising the Grand Tourer’s renowned “torque plateau” of continuous maximum torque delivery from 2,000-5,000 rpm, and bringing even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint […]

The Queen’s Bentley Mulsanne limousine has gone on sale for just under £200,000 on Auto Trader in the UK. This rolling piece of history was reserved for exclusive use by the Monarch during a two-year period from 2012 to 2014 when the Bentley was retired from Royal duties. The Mulsanne was pressed into service by the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and for a unique visit to 10 Downing Street where she attended her first-ever cabinet meeting with Prime Minister, David Cameron, who greeted her on her arrival. The limousine was first prepared and registered by Bentley in Crewe at its headquarters for exclusive use by the Queen. The Royal wheels features several upgrades including walnut burr veneered picnic tables, door panels and rear quarter vanity mirrors. There are embroidered Bentley emblems to all seats and the car runs […]

The McLaren 570S Coupé has received the highest accolade at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016, being named ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ for design quality and groundbreaking design. The internationally renowned awards were judged by a highly regarded independent jury of 41 members, and this latest award celebrates the aerodynamic focus of the 570S Coupé which introduces the McLaren design language to the sports car segment for the first time. The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016 saw around 5,200 items entered, and the Red Dot jury, consisting of independent designers, design professors and specialist journalists were unanimous in awarding the first model in the McLaren Sports Series with the coveted ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ title. Taut body lines mark the 570S Coupé out from the competition, and the final design is closely matched to […]

In a first for MG Motor UK, the manufacturer is making advances in technology by giving consumers the opportunity to see its highly anticipated SUV using augmented reality. For those who aren’t familiar with this term, augmented reality is a way of superimposing virtual content into our everyday surroundings. This can be achieved with any electronic device that has a screen and a camera. Through clever technology, the device takes a photo of whatever you’re looking at and superimposes a 3D image onto it. You could be looking at a box that turns into a house or a new pair of shoes. In this instance, and more simply put, you can interact with the MG GS. This weekend (Friday 1st April to Sunday 3rd April), at the Gadget Show in Birmingham and the first race in the Dunlop MSA British […]

A trio of British companies has produced the world’s first car chassis using butted tubing technology taken from bicycle production. Famous bicycle tube-makers Reynolds Technology, high-quality Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) consultancy Simpact and sportscar maker Caterham Cars shaved more than 10% off the weight of the already lightweight chassis of the iconic Caterham Seven. The research and development project unveiled a prototype Seven using the new technology and processes at the Niche Vehicle Network Symposium on Wednesday, March 16. Caterham believes that an ultra-lightweight Seven using the new technology would cost between £1,000 and £2,000 as an option on the standard vehicle but could be taken up by as much as a fifth of future Caterham customers. Reynolds, which first patented the process for making butted tubes in 1897, provided the tubing technology for the initiative and had to develop […]

An automotive legend comes to Kuwait, with the official opening of the brand new Lotus showroom in Kuwait City’s Shuwaikh district, marked with the unveiling of the exhilarating Lotus Evora 400 sports car. The exciting new Lotus Kuwait facility, close to the SIRBB race circuit, is the result of a partnership between Lotus Cars Middle East, the distributor for Lotus cars in the region, and Alghanim Motors, offering new and existing customers the opportunity to experience the famous brand first hand. Officially opened today by Aslam Farikullah, Chief Operating Officer of Group Lotus plc, Mr Samir Kasem, Chief Operating Officer – Alghanim Industries and His Excellency Mr Matthew Lodge – British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, the ceremony included esteemed guests, key media and senior management from both businesses. Joining the critically acclaimed Lotus Evora 400 at the new […]

Unfortunately, it looks like another magazine dedicated to our corner of the automotive hobby is biting the dust. In this case, it is Spitfire & GT6 Magazine which is/was a US based quarterly magazine of high quality devoted to the Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Herald, Vitesse and “small Triumph” crowd. In an open forum posting to the Triumph Experience message boards today, editor Shawn Frank said the following: I wish I had better news about Spitfire & GT6 Magazine but I regret to inform you that the magazine will no longer be in publication. I had sent Issue #49 to print September 2015 and have still not seen it in print. The Publisher (Magazinepublisher.com) has decided not to continue with the magazine and in fact has not communicated any future plans or lack thereof with me, the print house, advertisers, or […]

Abingdon Spares, L.L.C., the World’s Largest MG TC-TD-TF Parts Specialist has recently relocated to Deep River, Connecticut from its former Walpole, New Hampshire location. The new owners  purchased the entire inventory of new and used parts, tools, manuals, posters, assorted automobilia, even the shelving, basically recreating the former New Hampshire (MG) landmark in southern New England. “We moved all that was movable, quite a collection of rare and hard to find parts assembled by former owners”. Abingdon Spares carries everything that you would need to restore a  T-series MG, from engine parts, carburetor sets and parts, complete brake systems, suspension, wood framing, interiors and tops, and chrome parts. They also provide manuals, tools, specialty lubricants as well as the hundreds of small hard to find fittings, knobs, handles, etc. that go into one of these cars. They  source many of […]

The new Jaguar F-TYPE SVR, the fastest production Jaguar ever, has been put through its first high speed test drive with Fast and Furious star Michelle Rodriguez at the wheel. On a closed highway in the Nevada desert, home to the world’s fastest road race the Silver State Classic Challenge, the actress pushed the car to its top speed with the speedometer indicating 201mph – a personal top speed for Michelle. Michelle Rodriguez said: Driving this car was insane! I’ve now broken my personal speed record in the beautiful Jaguar F-TYPE SVR. Reaching 201mph felt amazing, the car drove really smoothly, all my corrections were minimal, I was super focused, and it really reacted in all the right ways. I don’t think I’d ever go this fast without a professional driver seated next to me, but oh man, it was an incredible […]

McLaren Automotive has been presented with the accolade of Manufacturer of Year in the 2016 BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards in recognition of the rapid growth and global success of the company, both achieved in so short a time. The announcement follows a ’vintage’ year for McLaren, its most successful to-date, with five new cars launched and another sales record achieved. McLaren also predicts 2015 will be its third consecutive year of profitability. Models across the three-tier McLaren range also received praise with the overall strength and breadth of the line-up highlighted as key to the award: ‘We’re not evaluating them as a product line-up, but assessing each in its own competitive environment. All of them are exceptional, arguably the very best in their class. That McLaren has got to this stage in such a short time frame speaks volumes […]

Aston Martin has launched its first recruitment campaign to find 1,000 employees, based across its two manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire and St Athan, Wales.  Aston Martin is investing £200M in new products and facilities, signifying its long-term future in the United Kingdom. The company will be holding an initial recruitment event at the International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) in South Wales between 11:00-15:00 on March 30. Held in conjunction with Cardiff & the Vale College and supported by the Welsh Government, the event will showcase the various roles currently available at Aston Martin as well as future training / apprenticeship opportunities. Michael Kerr, Aston Martin Group HR Director said: ‘Our new manufacturing facility is an important part of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan and it is crucial that we have a world-class team at the heart of our […]

The Rolls-Royce Dawn has earned BBC Top Gear Magazine’s coveted 2016 ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ award, just days after the international launch of the car began in the winelands around Cape Town, South Africa. The most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world, Dawn has won plaudits from some of the most highly respected international commentators, with many declaring that the new Rolls-Royce redefines the notion of a true super-luxury drophead. Dawn, the fourth distinctive model in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars family, is powered by an effortlessly smooth 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine and features a multi-layer foldaway fabric roof that, when in place, makes the Dawn the world’s quietest convertible car. Addressing the desires of a significantly younger customer base, Dawn delivers timeless refinement and is the most social car the marque has ever produced. Naming the Rolls-Royce Dawn […]