Christmas

Christmas might typically be a time for long-held traditions but in 2020, engineers, designers and elves at CALLUM have looked to the future and created a tree decoration in zirconia ceramic with the latest 3D printing technology from Israeli firm XJet.

Jaguar Land Rover employees are helping feed thousands of families across the UK this Christmas through a major donation drive to support local food banks.

Our Video of the Week this go-round is a Christmas card from carburetor guys Burlen. Burlen Ltd, the world’s only manufacturer of genuine SU (Skinners Union), AMAL and Zenith carburetors – has produced a truly epic Christmas video to get in the mood for the festive period in style. Firing up his rat-look modded 40s Chevy, Burlen director Jamie Burnett goes out in search of the perfect Christmas tree, shattering the peace of the festive season and worrying the odd chicken. Sure the V8 Chevy isn’t British, but the company is and the spirit is right.

Santa’s chilly grotto could be consigned to Christmas past thanks to Land Rover’s engineers. They have created a cosy cabin that can be transported for a much-needed festive getaway – it fits inside a Land Rover Discovery Sport compact SUV. The cleverly designed cabin has space for two adults to sleep snugly in North Pole temperatures as low as -20°C. It folds down to fit in the rear of Land Rover’s top-selling Discovery Sport, so Santa could even fit it on his sleigh this Christmas.

It’s back! Yup, time again for our holiday gift giving guide. Honestly, I am not sure whether this is a list of items for you to give, items you might want to receive, or just my own personal wish list. (Hint, hint)  No matter what it is, it is simply a fun exercise in cool stuff for the British car fan.  This year we have broken the list of ten items down into five gift-giving categories: Toys, Tools, Trip, Library, and Clothing. I tried to make them all start with “t” but gave up on that. So, five categories with two items each. As always, let’s start with …. toys! Toys LEGO Caterham – a LEGO version of the Caterham seven 620R, a custom-built sports car with an unashamed old-school vibe. Power steering? no chance. Electric windows? forget it. The Caterham seven […]

As the Christmas displays disappear, shoppers in London’s Knightsbridge are to be treated to the sight of a very special Aston Martin window display in Harrods, the world’s most famous luxury department store. Three stunning Aston Martin sports cars will take over the iconic Harrods storefront in a month-long celebration of the British marques’ ‘DB’ nameplate. Since their debut in the early 1950s, the ‘DB’ models offered by Aston Martin – named after Sir David Brown who bought Aston Martin in 1947 – have been synonymous with sophisticated grand touring and thrilling sports car performance.

Twas the night before the car show, but I was out in the shed. My car wasn’t budging – the danged thing was dead. The battery and petrol had been checked twice with care, The tires kicked too, to make sure they held air. The plugs were all snugged up, tight on their leads, While shop towels betrayed how much knuckles can bleed. Once more I inspected the rotor and cap, But that car was intent on a long freakin’ nap. When out in the street there arose such a clatter, I sat up far too fast to see what was the matter. Into the sump my head slammed with a bash, Crunched back to the floor – I grew faint with the crash. The lump on my forehead and ringing in ears, Gave an aura of migraine, while nausea […]

Jaguar and Land Rover showcased their latest collection of branded goods alongside licensed partners in central London today, to mark the launch of the brands’ 2016 collections. A special ice-sculpture of a Christmas-inspired Jaguar design was exclusively revealed at the London Edition hotel to celebrate the merchandise and luxury goods launch.  Codenamed ‘F-SLEIGH’, the Jaguar Christmas sleigh takes inspiration from the Jaguar F-TYPE convertible, but with skates in place of wheels, a generous open luggage compartment for gifts and jet power to generate Jaguar’s renowned supercharged performance through the night sky.  A Growler-embossed red nose completes the F-SLEIGH’s Christmas theme.

Tis the season for gift giving, and what kind of magazine would we be if we didn’t follow suit of every other news source and provide our take on the gifts that every British car lover would enjoy? The key for many of us is that giving or receiving vehicle specific presents is hard. First of all, how does a spouse know what carburetor kit we really need? Or what year/make/model of Vanden Plas we have, so what oil filter element fits that? And what happens if we sell our car? Then all those heartfelt gifts that were for that specific car are now somehow less meaningful? No. That doesn’t work. So, our choice of gifts for British car lovers tend to the be things that transcend specific application, make, or model. They are gifts that keep on giving. They […]

Barely auto related, but we like it anyway. Visit Beaulieu this Festive Season, between 19th December and 3rd January 2016, to experience the magic of a traditional Victorian Christmas. See one of the largest outdoor Christmas trees in the New Forest, adorned with seasonal decorations and follow the fairy light path to Palace House, the home of the Montagu family since 1538, which is a place of enchantment at this special time of year.  Children can follow the Christmas Cracker quiz trail, hear how festive traditions have developed over the ages and play Victorian parlour games. All the family can wrap up in beautiful coats, hats and scarves and climb aboard the stunning full-size sleigh to pose for a photograph – perfect for the family Christmas card. Visitors can talk to characters from Victorian times to discover what life was […]

From all of us to all of you, we wish you the best in this holiday season. And throughout the year! The Work of Christmas When the song of angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to make music in the heart. — Howard Thurman