London

The organisers of the prestigious World Car of the Year Award (WCOTY), the number one car award on the planet, have announced that the 2016 WCOTY, to be named at the New York Show in April 2016, will be displayed at the London Motor Show to be staged in Battersea Park in May 2016. The World Car Awards (WCA) is a programme initiated by, and conducted by, automotive journalists across the globe. It is administered by a non-profit corporation, under the guidance of a steering committee of leading automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America. In that way, it draws on the experience and expertise already developed by various other award programmes throughout the world. Motoring journalist and WCA director, Mike Rutherford commented, “We are very happy to showcase the 2016 WCOTY at the new London Motor Show. We […]

Our Video of the Week is entitled The Big Drive and features the 1966 London Motor Show with its push for export of British cars to help the economy. In addition to the fabulous cut-away rotating BMC 1100 in the first few seconds, this video also features such innovative cars as the Triumph GT6, Singer-Rootes Chamois, and the Ford Executive. Competing cars from makers such as Ferrari and Honda are also briefly shown. These cars displayed as new nearly 50 years ago in 1966 is an amazing sight, and the film footage is very clear. But just as amazing is some of the commentary and the displays themselves. Take a look, and be wonder and maybe chuckle – hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Huge crowds expected as free-to-view motor show prepares to take over London’s “Mile of Style” The Regent Street Motor Show is the largest free-to-view motor show in the UK, showcasing an impressive 125 years of motoring history and taking place on London’s most iconic shopping street on Saturday 31 October; a date for the diary. 2015 promises to bring a family-friendly, highly interactive feel to the Regent Street Motor Show. Celebrating the earliest days of motoring with the pre-1905 veteran cars on display as part of the prestigious EFG International Concours d’Elegance, a stunning array of present day and yester-year cars is an exciting opportunity to get a glimpse of what the future of motoring might hold. On the day of the Show, Regent Street will be closed to through traffic from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus, providing a safe environment […]

Earlier this year MG Motor UK announced it would be opening its flagship showroom in the prestigious area of Piccadilly, London. Today, members of the public and invited guests are gathering to celebrate the official opening of this exciting new store. This new showroom, part of MG’s major expansion of dealerships, is a significant move for the marque. Having a flagship showroom in London places MG in the heart of the growing economy and shows that the brand is back and here to stay. Today, to mark the official opening of the flagship, people were given the opportunity to visit the showroom and join MG staff in celebrating this exciting move. Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “This is a really exciting day for us, as it marks the official opening of our flagship showroom.

Specialist insurance broker Footman James has announced the winner of a recent competition. John Thomas, from Llanelli in South Wales won free entry into the recent London to Brighton Run; the prize also included overnight accommodation, parking, dinner as well as a host of commemorative goodies. The event, which took place on Sunday 31 May, was the first year that Footman James had sponsored it; the company has also confirmed it will be sponsoring the 2016 event. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has been taking place every November since 1927, commemorating the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act – which raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4mph to a heady 14mph and abolished the requirement for these vehicles to be preceded by ‘a […]

The first ever season of the FIA Formula E Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend in London. In the heart of Battersea Park, the double-header will see six drivers fight to become the first Champion of the category. Among the contenders, the two members of the e.dams-Renault team will be going all out not only to win the drivers’ championship but also to secure the Teams’ title for the French outfit. After two years of work and intense racing, the outcome of the very first FIA Formula E Championship is about to be decided. Throughout the last twelve months, the 40 Spark-Renault SRT01_E – the architecture of which is supervised by Renaultsport – have demonstrated their qualities. Reflecting the fairness with which all the competitors have been treated, no fewer than six drivers are still in with a chance of […]

Following an eight-year absence, the British Motor Show is being resurrected and, according to its backers, is looking to challenge Geneva and Frankfurt. The reborn event, which promises to offer a host of activities besides simply getting up close to the latest production and concept cars from the world’s biggest automotive firms, is scheduled to open its doors to the public on May 5, 2016. However, unlike a host of other major auto shows, the London show, which will be held in Battersea Park, will only run for four days, rather than the more usual two weeks. “With the considerable changes happening in the motor industry, this is exactly the right time to bring to London a high-profile motoring event,” said a spokesperson for the London Motor Show. “The London Motor Show will bring global brands to the capital, to […]

And then … more Lotus news from London. The newly refitted Lotus Brand Centre in Piccadilly, London, introduces an opportunity to learn more about Lotus and get closer to the company’s pure and lightweight sports cars in central London. Two of the company’s best-selling models are currently central to the showroom presence. The Elise 220 Cup and the Exige S take centre-stage. The new Lotus Evora 400, the fastest production Lotus ever, will be displayed later in the summer. The main area of the new Lotus store is dedicated to a fully interactive Lotus sports car configurator where customers can chose the specifications of their new Lotus, take a look at examples of the latest range of Lotus cars, the iconic Elise and stunning Exige. Customers are then referred to their nearest dealer – of which there are 179 around […]

Lotus Cars is delighted to welcome Hexagon Lotus as its new brand representative in prestigious South Kensington, London. Hexagon is not new to Lotus having been a Lotus dealer from 1964 to 1976. Their reintroduction offers customers two Lotus dealerships in London, from their Headquarters in East Finchley as well as South Kensington. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc, stated: “We are pleased to welcome Hexagon back to Lotus. This is a perfect partnership for us and the opening of Hexagon Lotus brings to an end a six year period where we have not had a Lotus dealership in London.” Paul Michaels, Chairman of Hexagon Classics said, “We decided to rejoin Lotus after nearly 40 years as we can see a very exciting future for Lotus and we want to be part of it. Many of our customers already appreciate […]

MG has announced it will open a prestigious multi-million pound flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly. The exclusive showroom, next to The Royal Academy of Arts and directly opposite Fortnum & Mason, is one of the most sought-after retail locations in the world. MG’s showroom will become a centre of excellence for the iconic 91-year-old brand which is Britain’s fastest growing marque. This is the latest and most significant move in a major expansion of new MG dealerships across the country. In the past 12 months MG has opened 26 new dealerships in Britain, and has declared its intention to continue growing by targeting a further 30 open points. London was a key goal in MG’s ambitious plans to substantially build its dealer network. It was considered vital for MG to have a flagship presence in the UK’s […]

Thorough Events Ltd, organiser of last year’s inaugural UK Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle, has announced an extraordinary new location for the 2013 event. To take place from September 5-7, the 2013 Concours of Elegance will be held in St James’s in Central London in an area that encompasses the gardens of 300 year-old Royal Palace Marlborough House, adjacent to The Mall and St James’s Palace, official residence of the Sovereign. Special permission has been granted for the Concours of Elegance to use this rarely accessible space and it will follow a similar format to last year’s flagship event: 60 of the rarest and most historic cars from around the world on display on the lawns of Marlborough House’s vast walled garden. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has agreed to become Patron of the annual Concours of […]

Having opened a new facility in Goldhawk Road, West London this week, Nicholas Mee & Co says it is the first ever high-street, officially endorsed, Aston Martin Heritage showroom. The company was established 21 years ago and held a party to celebrate the opening, with guests including Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez and Director of Works Service and Parts Operations, Kingsley Riding-Felce. Riding-Felce said: “Aston Martin takes its heritage very seriously, and it is crucial that current and prospective owners of our Heritage models are able to receive the kind of levels of service and specialist knowledge that is expected of the Aston Martin brand. “Up until now our heritage network has not had such prominence in London and it is wonderful to see Nicholas and his team investing so heavily in the future of Aston Martin’s Heritage business.” […]

The first of McLaren’s 35 dealerships set to open in 2011 opens its doors tomorrow in London’s One Hyde Park. McLaren’s first dealership opens in one of London’s newest and most prestigious developments – fitting for the all-new supercar. Although the MP12-4C is not McLaren’s first foray into street legal super cars it will offer more than four times the sales and service support than it did with the F1 and its eight worldwide dealerships. This time instead of flying a technician to the owner of the car or service center McLaren claims it “is stocking its retail network with a spare of every serviceable part for the MP4-12C.” McLaren calls it “its ‘pit stop’ service concept that ensures fast and efficient repair.” Good thing too because the MP4-12C is the first in a full lineup of carbon-fiber based sports […]

The British International Motor Show planned for 2010 in London has been cancelled because of the global slump in demand for cars, according to the U.K. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “The economic downturn and the unprecedented challenges facing the industry, both in the U.K. and around the world, have made it impossible for exhibitors to commit to a 2010 event,” the trade group said today in a statement. The event has attracted an increasing number of visitors and the decision to cancel was “extremely difficult,” SMMT President Paul Everitt said in the statement. The move followed a thorough consultation with the industry, the group said. The SMMT is pressing the U.K. government to boost aid to automakers, including direct incentives to trade old cars for new ones. Carmakers across Britain have slowed production in response to declining demand. […]

London Taxis are as British as bowler hats and Big Ben. But the latest models coming off a new assembly line in China are unlikely to ever touch an English road. At a sprawling factory in the lush green suburbs of Shanghai, young Chinese workers are gearing up for full-scale production of one of Britain’s most iconic vehicles. It’s part of an alliance that awants to give the distinctive black cab a greater presence outside its namesake city. London Taxi International, which will continue to build nine out of 10 cabs used in Britain at a factory in Coventry, England, couldn’t increase production at its small-scale, high-cost plant. So it turned to a partner — and to China — as a way to drive overseas expansion. “To say the writing was on the wall would be pushing it a bit […]

The award-winning British International Motor Show returns to ExCeL London this summer, once again bringing glamour, excitement and innovation to the capital. Building on the runaway success of 2006, which saw the expo return to London for the first time in 30 years, the two week extravaganza expects to attract over half a million people, making it the biggest event in the UK. With over six hundred cars, 60 car marques, plenty of global premieres and interactive features, the Show promises something for everyone from car enthusiasts to families looking for an exciting day out. Better still, we can offer you the chance to purchase three tickets for the price of two* on General Day tickets when you book online at www.britishmotorshow.co.uk or call 0871 230 5588 and quote ‘Auto Express’

I was searching the web tonight and ended up on YouTube. Amazingly I found footage from the Earls Court motor show in 1962. Take a look at this and you will see some really amazing vintage metal. From the MG 1100 to the Ford Zephyr. Watching this is like a time machine. If only you could go back and grab a few of these to store away. But isn’t that always the dream? So tell me, which one of these would you drive off with? And most importantly, why?