Marques

Vauxhall Motors and Edith Bowman have launched ‘Backseat Bedtime’, a series of narrated popular children’s stories by author Tracey Corderoy to help parents on long car journeys over the festive period.  With over 12 million cars on the road during peak times, more Brits embark on long drives over Christmas and the New Year than at any other time of the year (RAC 2014). Unsurprisingly, three-quarters (75%)* of parents say they find these long car journeys stressful, with the majority (80%) saying they find it hard to keep their little ones amused. To deal with this stress, half of parents (48%) time long journeys to coincide with bedtime and over half (56%) put their children in their pyjamas before setting off, hoping they will sleep straight through.

This January the Jaguar C-X75 from SPECTRE will make an appearance at Autosport International. SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, sees the Jaguar C-X75 driven by Hinx in one of the movie’s iconic high-speed car chases. Two cars used in filming will be present at the NEC from 14-17 January. A demonstration of one of the specially-prepared stunt cars will take place in the Live Action Arena. A must see for any movie or car enthusiast.

Londoners were delighted when they spotted a one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender ‘taxi’ driving through the streets of the capital. The Defender, one of the world’s best loved 4x4s, was starring in a commemorative film to celebrate the global automotive icon and to promote the forthcoming charity auction of the Defender 2,000,000 being held at Bonhams New Bond Street headquarters on 16 December. The film, released today, also stars a number of other more unusual, specially modified vehicles including a Series II Land Rover ice cream van, a specially tailored Paul Smith Defender and the first ever Series Land Rover show car, displayed at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948, all taking in London’s famous landmarks as they tell the story of the Defender’s rich history.

The Lotus Seven and its modern descendent, the Caterham Seven, are iconic motor cars on par with the Mini Cooper, Jaguar E-Type and MGB. Anyone who watched the short-lived 1960s show The Prisoner will no doubt remember the iconic opening sequence. What most people don’t know is that the Lotus is called the “Seven” for a good reason. Yes, there were actually a Lotus One through Six that led the way. The team at XCAR took one of those modern incarnations, a Seven 164 out for a drive, and then decided to tell the story of the Lotuses that came before the Seven. The video is  entertaining and well researched short film, full of interesting historical trivia. By the time its 12 minute run time is over you’ll be very well versed in the history of the Seven, and you’ll probably be […]

Luxury British car maker Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has been picked as “One to Watch” in the 2015 Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list, which heralds the best and fastest growing British businesses. BAC, which makes the highly acclaimed, luxury single-seater Mono, earned its place on the list due to its recent expansion and was lauded for “selling brand Britain overseas”. With a total staff of just 22, BAC is the smallest company on the list of 10 rising stars, yet still enjoyed sales of more than £2.4m in the last year.

Renowned antique and collectible appraisers and stars of PBS’s long running Antiques Roadshow, the Keno Brothers staged their inaugural collector car auction, Rolling Sculpture, in New Your City’s vibrant SoHo district on November 19. Leigh and Leslie Keno, also known for their judging of Pebble Beach’s annual Concours d’Elegance, have almost single-handedly raised preservation class automobiles to their current status. Passionate for provenance, originality and authenticity, the finely-curated auction featured cars with impeccable history and documentation.

One of the most exciting and interactive events dedicated to the most iconic small car in Britain is set to return to the calendar in 2016, with Mini World Live promising to be even bigger and better than the show’s debut earlier this year. Mini World Live to take place at Rockingham Motor Speedway on July 10, 2016 The initial event was deemed a great success, attracting hundreds of beautifully restored classics, modified performance cars and the UK’s leading Mini specialists and experts to Rockingham Motor Speedway. 

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles, today reported its best ever November sales of 46,547 vehicles, up 27% on November 2014. The company sold 437,512 vehicles in the first eleven months of 2015, 4% up on the same period in the prior year. Retail sales for the month of November were up 70% in the UK, 68% up in Europe, 52% up in North America and 8% up year-on-year in other overseas markets. Retail volumes in China were down 22% for the month, reflecting a slowdown in the economy.

Caterham Motorsport has announced the calendars for its five domestic race championships for the 2016 season. The calendar takes in the entry-level Caterham Academy, which enters its 22nd season next year, as well as the hugely competitive, single-make series for Roadsport, Tracksport, Supersport and Superlight R300-S models. The Academy again features two sprints – at Aintree and Curborough – and five circuit races, joining forces with the other Caterham categories for the final four meetings at Snetterton, Oulton Park, Croft and Donington Park. Meanwhile, the non-Academy classes get trips to Anglesey as well as the traditional race abroad, this year at Zolder in Belgium. The R300-S field kicks off its season at the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, supporting the prestigious British GT Championship. The schedules for all categories have been carefully planned to include circuits that lend themselves […]

The Carbon Edition combines the already powerful MINI Cooper S Hardtop 4 Door model with the new John Cooper Works Pro Tuning Kit, valve exhaust system and high-grade carbon fiber accessories. The result is 208 horsepower and an ultra-aggressive exhaust note with Sport and Track Mode. The exhaust flap is operated wirelessly via two clicks of the Bluetooth controller and unleashes devilish backfire pops and crackling sound on the overrun. Genuine carbon fiber mirror caps, air intake trim, and tailpipe finishers are offset against Midnight Black metallic paint and exclusive matte black sport and side stripes accented by a red pinstripe.

McLaren Automotive has revealed the latest chapter in the history of the iconic ‘Longtail’ name with confirmation of the 675LT Spider. Strictly limited to only 500 examples worldwide, it is only the second model to wear the LT badge. This latest model comes less than a year since the first model in nearly 20 years resurrected the name, and is in response to significant customer demand. The 675LT Coupé focused on light weight, enhanced aerodynamics, increased power and track-focused dynamics, and this limited-run model quickly sold out before the first deliveries commenced. Sharing these key characteristics, McLaren Automotive now presents the most focused, fastest and exhilarating open-top model to ever wear a McLaren badge. The 675LT Spider, priced at £285,450, is the fifth new model debuted by McLaren Automotive in 2015 in what has become a defining year for the […]

With the chequered flag set to fall on the 2015 motorsport season, Bentley is celebrating a remarkable run of results by bringing together two generations of racer – the Continental GT3 and legendary 4.5 Litre ‘Blower’. The current GT3 and its illustrious forebear from 1929 met at Silverstone in front of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), the motorsport organisation founded in 1928 by Bentley Boy and Le Mans winner, Dudley Benjafield. They may be separated by more than eight decades but the two racing cars share Bentley’s indefatigable passion for innovation, competition and, above all, speed. Bentley Continental GT3 in 2015 – A Season to Remember In just its second year of competition in GT racing, the Bentley motorsports programme has gone from strength to strength in 2015. With teams competing on four continents, the Continental GT3 scored multiple […]

MINI is launching a new limited edition Countryman in the UK, the MINI Countryman Special Edition. The MINI Countryman Special Edition has been developed by the manufacturer’s Special Order programme, set up to allow customers to place orders for special edition models direct through MINI Retailers. Instantly recognisable by its exclusive Space Grey Metallic roof and mirror caps, teamed with 18” 5-Star Double Spoke alloy wheels in black and Absolute Black Metallic body paint, up to 250 MINI Countryman Special Edition models will be available for customers in the UK.

The Jaguar XE and all-new Jaguar XF saloons have been awarded the maximum five star rating in Euro NCAP’s 2015 safety tests. XE and XF scored highly in every category – Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian and Safety Assist – and are among the most highly-rated models in their respective segments. As well as outstanding crash protection, the XE and XF also benefit from a range of active safety systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking (fitted as standard in Europe), which uses a forward-facing stereo camera to detect vehicles which could pose a threat of collision: the system can give the driver visual and audible warnings and automatically apply the brakes if a collision is deemed imminent. 

For our Video of the Week this go round we are going to turn to the folks at Hagerty Insurance. They recently produced a guide to the fairly rare, and often maligned, Daimler SP250 “Dart”. Now this car is not maligned due to its build quality, power, handling or other mechanical aspects. No, its main problem seems to be its catfish, only-a-mother-could-love-it looks. The Daimler SP250 Dart was built by the Daimler Company from 1959 to 1964. It was the last car to be launched by Daimler before its parent company, the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), sold it to Jaguar in 1960. The SP250 launched at the 1959 New York Motor Show as the “Daimler Dart”, but Dodge owned the trademark for the “Dart” model name, and Daimler was ordered to change the name under threat of legal action. With […]

Barons is set to become the first UK classic car auction house to feature a lady auctioneer when Helen Gascoigne brings the hammer down on a selection of lots, assisting Barons’ long-standing auctioneer Fabian Hine at the Yuletide Classic Sale at Sandown Park on December 15th. The daughter of Barons director Peter Gascoigne, 33 year-old Helen is a senior lawyer by profession but is adding another string to her bow by combining her love of classic cars and knowledge of the family business to embark on learning the classic car auction trade.  In a year of ‘firsts’ for Barons, which has included the company twice setting its highest-ever price for a car sold at auction, it is only fitting that the season ends with another first, not just for Barons, but for all specialist UK classic car houses; the introduction […]

British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, has launched a new approved finance scheme which offers customers the chance to fund a Seven in self-assembly form for the first time ever. Previously only available for new fully built and pre-owned Sevens, the new Caterham Finance scheme provides an accessible ownership proposition for Caterham fans wishing to build a Seven themselves. Extending the service to customers who purchase a Seven in component form means they will benefit from the same convenient finance facility as buyers of new factory built and pre-owned vehicles from Caterham’s approved used car service, Caterham Selected. Caterham Finance enables customers to fund the cost of a Seven over 48 months. For example, a self-assembly Seven 160 is available with a deposit of £3,099 and monthly payments of £279 at 19.5% APR Representative, equating to £65 per week, with a […]

A two-day Series Land Rover and Defender heritage exhibition will be on display at Bonhams London from 15-16 December ahead of the prestigious charity auction of the Defender 2,000,000. The exhibition will celebrate 67 years of UK production and chart the Defender’s journey to becoming a global automotive icon. Prospective bidders and the general public are invited to preview the Defender 2,000,000 throughout the specially curated exhibition, which celebrates almost seven decades of Land Rover production at the Solihull manufacturing facility in the UK. With a ‘hall of fame’ depicting the Land Rover playing a supporting role to Hollywood heroes such as Steve McQueen and Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond 007 and Sir Winston Churchill and British nobility including Her Majesty The Queen, the exhibition will illustrate the journey of an icon that has travelled the world, […]