New Cars

The covers are set to come off the all-new Ginetta G57 as the new prototype racecar will receive its full public debut at Europe’s premier pre-season motorsport show, Autosport International, this January. Visitors coming to Ginetta’s stand at Autosport International between 14-17 January, 2016*, will be amongst the first people outside of the manufacturer’s HQ to see the G57 in the metal. A full press conference will take place on Thursday 14 January at 10:30am on Ginetta’s stand (6430 in Hall 6), with photo opportunities, a presentation and the chance to meet Ginetta Chairman, Lawrence Tomlinson. The public launch also marks the start of Ginetta’s intention to increase exports of its model range – already at 50% of production – with the G57 spearheading its growth to all major markets around the globe.

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 […]

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 very first production Bentley Bentayga, the catalyst for one of the biggest investment programmes in the company’s history, Friday left the assembly line at Bentley’s iconic headquarters in Crewe, UK. Four years on from the initial concept stage, during which time over 1,500 UK jobs have been created, the car – part of an £840 million investment programme – will now enter full production, with deliveries to customers starting in January 2016. 

Jaguar North America has announced it will expand the price range of the F-TYPE lineup in the U.S. for the 2017 model year to include new entry-level coupe and convertible models which lower the introductory price of the F-TYPE Coupe & Convertible to $61,400 and $65,400 respectively. The 2017 line-up of Jaguar sports cars will continue to consist of the F-TYPE, F-TYPE S and the range topping F-TYPE R. The addition of a new entry price level for 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE builds upon the pricing realignment strategy announced as part of The Next Generation of Jaguar for the 2016 model year in which an improved competitive value position was brought to market through a combination of new entry priced models, increased standard equipment and lower MSRPs that all help the brand target the heart of the luxury market.

Land Rover continues to broaden the appeal of the Discovery with the launch of – the Landmark and the Graphite. New distinctive exterior design features to both enhance the design of the fourth generation Discovery, while unique interior touches to the Landmark bring more luxury and exclusivity. These models give the Discovery even greater on-road presence than ever before. Available to order now, they will be seen on the roads from January 2016 onwards. “The appeal of the Land Rover Discovery has just got even greater. We have launched two new models – the Landmark and Graphite, which offer the customer greater on-road presence and enhanced comfort to complement the Discovery’s existing versatility and capability attributes,” says Finbar McFall, Jaguar Land Rover Product Marketing Director.

A new film reveals the first details of forthcoming super-high-performance E10 model from Zenos Cars – billed as “Britain’s best affordable sports cars – combining lightweight performance with track day agility”. A short film released by Zenos Cars has confirmed the name of its forthcoming new E10 model, its fastest, most focused and most thrilling model yet developed. The video, available to view on the Zenos website and the Zenos YouTube channel, also provides viewers with glimpses of the new car’s exterior and details of its super-high-performance brief.

Another new chapter has opened in the regeneration of the MINI model family, with the launch of the new MINI Clubman. Following the success of the re-energised MINI 3-door Hatch and the successful launch of the MINI 5-door Hatch, the new model offers customers a premium vehicle featuring the highest level of ride refinement ever seen in a MINI. The car’s much-loved signature design feature – its split rear doors – are retained, while accessibility and everyday usability are further enhanced thanks to four full-sized side doors. The resulting car is a powerful fusion of sleek lines, innovative touches and first-rate materials with generous space for five occupants, excellent luggage capacity and classic MINI driving characteristics. With a more mature and sophisticated design, the new MINI Clubman’s dimensions are larger than those of the previous generation MINI Clubman. It’s also […]

The most powerful, most luxurious, most exclusive and fastest SUV in the world, the Bentley Bentayga, makes its ice-driving debut in 2016 at Bentley’s flagship customer event, Power on Ice. Power on Ice is an unforgettable four-day experience that provides the opportunity to push a full range of Bentley cars to their limits. Running throughout February next year, guests will be among the first to explore the Bentayga’s extraordinary capabilities in one of the most beautiful and challenging environments in the world. Two days of exhilarating ice driving training are provided by the vastly experienced Bentley Ice Driving Team. Leading the tuition will be four-time World Rally Champion and two-time ice-speed record holder, Juha Kankkunen – who personally designs each of the ten ice tracks. A range of Bentley models, including the brand’s performance flagship, the Continental GT3-R, will take […]

MINI USA introduced Thursday the newest addition to its iconic product line, the new MINI Convertible. As the first open top MINI powered by BMW Group engines and architecture, the new MINI Convertible is a premium four-seater soft-top convertible that is both practical and customizable for unlimited open-air motoring fun. Like all other MINI models in the product portfolio, the new MINI Convertible is made for individualization, setting the new standard in the premium convertible market. It offers a choice of 11 exterior color options, including the new Caribbean Aqua, which harkens back to the classic MINI color palette, ideal for the fun-loving enthusiast, and Melting Silver, recently introduced on the new MINI Clubman, a cool and modern finish perfect for the open air thrill seeker.

Aston Martin is today showcasing a fully electric concept of its Rapide S four-door sports saloon outside Lancaster House in London – the venue for a meeting between Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and President of The People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. The new RapidE concept has been developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering at its facility in Grove, Oxfordshire. It is on display today in support of a creative summit organised by the British government’s successful GREAT campaign to showcase the best of what the UK has to offer and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in this country. Aston Martin CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said: “We see luxury electric vehicles as an intrinsic part of our future product portfolio and welcome ChinaEquity into the next phase […]

Contrary to what some people may think or say – the British car manufacturing industry is in pretty good shape. Every 20 seconds, a brand new vehicle rolls off the production line somewhere in Britain. Last year, Britain built more cars than France, and one single plant, Nissan Sunderland, made more cars than the whole of the Italian car industry put together. Meanwhile, seven out of 10 Formula 1 teams are based in Britain, including Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus, Williams, Force India and Manor (Marussia). And the UK doesn’t just make cars, they also build engines – one in three Fords sold globally in 2014 had their engine built in either Bridgend or Dagenham. Building Cars Live is a new two-part documentary that takes viewers into the fascinating world of the car manufacturing industry, with presenters James May, Kate […]

Your “modern iron”, “rain car”, “grocery getter” or whatever you want to call it is turning you into a zombie! Yes it’s true, and a lazy one at that! Auto wipers, auto lights, seats that move at the touch of a button, navigation the responds to voice command! They even put controls right on the steering wheel so movement of your muscles is almost gone… Even the kids are not safe – the TV screens in your headrests are part of the evil plot. The kids won’t know what’s going on outside the car unless you feed the backup camera into the the TV headrests! And the list goes on. The start was the automatic transmission, and few took offense. But then they got the Zombie Plan up to speed – although electronically limited to prevent engine damage. Satellite navigation, […]

The new Lotus 3-Eleven completed a successful two-week test session at the fearsome and challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. The video documenting this comprehensive test and development programme can be found on the Group Lotus YouTube channel. Individual areas of expertise and vehicle set-up were a specific focus – aerodynamics, engine calibration, chassis tuning and suspension geometry – as the model continues its development towards start of production in early 2016. The Lotus 3-Eleven is the quickest and most powerful production Lotus road car ever produced, offering the ultimate pure driving experience. Heralding the next generation of Lotus high-performance sports cars, the 3-Eleven re-affirms Lotus core values as the perfect demonstration of “lighter, faster” and benchmark handling which comes from Lotus’ roots in competitive motorsport. Prices start at £82,000 for the Road version (including VAT and on the road costs) and […]

McLaren established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a world-beating force in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, Can-Am, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971. In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created the limited production 650S Can-Am which takes its inspiration from the race cars of this golden age of motorsport.  The 650S Can-Am can be commissioned now priced at £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada.  Just 50 examples will be produced globally, all based on the 650S Spider. The Can-Am series, or Canadian-American Challenge Cup, was a no-holds-barred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada.  It attracted the […]

Our video this week is courtesy of Aston Martin. Normally we don’t use purely promotional videos as our VotWs, but this one is simply too cool to pass up. As the last remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan prepares for its final flight later this month, the iconic 1950s British V bomber has been united with its modern namesake: the Aston Martin Vulcan. Vulcan XH558 – currently being operated by the charitable trust Vulcan To The Sky – is due to retire from ‘active service’ in October, going on to form the centrepiece of the educational Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre at her home base,  Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster. Ahead of that final flight, the famous Cold War-era long range bomber was paired with the Aston Martin Vulcan – the new track-only supercar – via a special fly-past at Elvington […]

British sportscar manufacturer, Caterham Cars, has expanded its growing European dealer network with the appointment of Borghi Automobili as a new distributor in Italy’s fashion capital, Milan. Borghi Automobili was established in 1919 and has almost a century’s experience in selling exotic sportscars from all over the world. The appointment re-establishes Caterham’s presence in Italy and the full European range of Caterham’s iconic British sportscars – including the Seven 165, the brand-new Seven 275, and Europe’s most powerful Seven; the 485 – will be available, as well as Caterham Academy and R300 race cars.  In addition to catering for new customers, Borghi Automobili also offers Italian customers a full after sales service. To celebrate its appointment as an official dealer, Borghi Automobili held a launch event on Friday 25th September at the showroom and showcased the recently released Seven 275 […]