ALPINE PRESENTS UK DEBUT OF NEW ALPINE A110S AT SALON PRIVÉ

ALPINE PRESENTS UK DEBUT OF NEW ALPINE A110S AT SALON PRIVÉ

New Alpine A110S

Alpine will unveil the most intense version of its lightweight 2-seater – the A110S at this year’s Salon Privé. Positioned at the top of the range and more driver-focused than the Pure and Legende models, its bespoke sport chassis features springs that are 50% stiffer along with anti-roll bars that are twice as firm. Road height is reduced by 4mm optimizing the car’s centre of gravity and with grip further improved by wider section tyres front and rear, the new car offers a truly dynamic driving experience. It’s important to note that all of these performance upgrades have had no detrimental effect on the car’s general driveability – it’s as much a high-performance sports car as it is a daily driver meaning the best of both worlds!

Power output from the familiar rear mid-engined 4cyl 16v turbocharged 1.8 Litre unit is increased by 40hp to produce nearly 300hp which in a car weighing just 1114 kg and mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox with wet clutch, provides scintillating performance. 0-62 mph arrives in just 4.4 seconds and the A110S will go on to more than 160 mph where permitted.

Distinguished externally by its signature paint colour of Gris Tonnerre in matt finish, orange and carbon fibre flag on the C-pillar and unique GT Race alloy wheels fitted with orange Brembo brake callipers, the A110S sits purposely and poised. Inside, orange stitching replaces the signature blue and sophisticated black Dinamica upholstery is used for the roof lining, door panels and Sabelt bucket seats. Neat touches such as the orange 12 o’clock marker on the leather steering wheel, lightweight aluminium pedals and footrest and use of carbon fibre create a luxurious yet sporty environment. Optional upgrades include a gloss carbon fibre roof panel which reduces weight by 1.6 kg, Fuchs forged alloy wheels, special seat belts with carbon fibre finish and also carbon-fibre backed versions of the Sabelt bucket seats.

David Bagley, Co-Founder & Sales Director of Salon Privé said, “Like the original Berlinette of the 60s, the new Alpine A110S is a compact 2-seater sportscar – a true exponent of lightweight but with all the creature comforts you need to make it a pleasurable as well as exhilarating drive. It’s an exceptionally capable as well as focused sports car that offers exhilarating driving experience, made all the more entertaining by the upgrades in this latest model. We’re looking forward to welcoming Alpine back to Salon Privé!”

AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA DEBUT ENHANCED BATTISTA AT SALON PRIVÉ

AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA DEBUT ENHANCED BATTISTA AT SALON PRIVÉ

Pininfarina Battista

Advanced EV and hybrid technology are certainly at the forefront of this year’s Salon Privé with a selection of international hypercar brands all debuting new cars to the UK market.

One such brand and currently returning from a fabulous series of unveilings during Monterey Car Week is Automobili Pininfarina, who are now preparing to launch their stunning and enhanced Battista at this year’s Salon Privé which takes place at Blenheim Palace from 5th – 8th September.

Having been launched to an eagerly-awaiting world at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and delivering on the Pininfarina family dream to see a range of luxury cars purely badged Pininfarina, Automobili Pininfarina then embarked on the next phase of simulation testing in the wind tunnel and on the track under the guidance of ex-Formula 1 and Formula E racer, Nick Heidfeld, their Development Driver. From a design perspective, the result of the development programme was a car with a redefined front which reinforced its hypercar look and feels and created a greater visual connection between front and back.

With 1,900 hp and 1,696 lb-ft torque available from its four electric motors, Automobili Pininfarina is aiming for a 0-62 mph sprint of fewer than 2 seconds for the Battista along with a single-charge range of 500 kilometres. Essentially, it’s a hypercar on one hand and an eminently driveable and beautiful luxury car on the other. With a maximum of just 150 examples being made, it will be ultra-exclusive. Just 50 Battistas are planned for Europe, 50 targeted at North America and 50 to the Middle East and Asia and the €2m hypercar will only be available to order through a small network of specialist luxury car and hypercar retailers.

Commenting on the forthcoming debut appearance of the new Battista, Salon Privé Co-Founder & Sales Director, David Bagley, said“I wholly concur with Pininfarina S.p.A Chairman, Paolo Pininfarina when he referred to the Battista as a work of art. It is just that - stunningly beautiful and elegant from every angle and yet its poise is true hypercar – low, wide and purposeful. With power and luxury to match, it is as they say a new reality for electric car desirability, and we are thrilled to be welcoming Automobili Pininfarina and Battista to this year’s Salon Privé.”

Michael Perschke, CEO Automobili Pininfarina said "Salon Privé is the perfect event at which to present the Battista in its most recent design form. The event is renowned for attracting true enthusiasts and car collectors who appreciate both automotive engineering and automotive beauty, and the Battista stands alone in presenting the perfect combination of both. With 89 years of Pininfarina heritage informing its design and a clear vision for the performance and drama that pure electrification can offer, Automobili Pininfarina looks forward to revealing the latest Battista for the first time in the UK”.

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS TO PRESENT EUROPEAN DEBUT OF GHOST ZENITH AT SALON PRIVÉ

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS TO PRESENT EUROPEAN DEBUT OF GHOST ZENITH AT SALON PRIVÉ

The Rolls-Royce Ghost Zenith

The Directors of Salon Privé are delighted to confirm the European debut of the stunning, limited edition Rolls-Royce Ghost Zenith which made its North American debut recently at Pebble Beach.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost Zenith will be a true collector’s item with just 50 of these extraordinary motor cars being made available by the marque. It comes to being as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars acknowledges the success and global adoration that has been lavished on one of the world’s most luxurious motor cars during its ten-year life cycle and with Ghost now truly at its apex, now is the time to celebrate the ultimate in craftsmanship and automotive perfection. 

It was the Silver Ghost of 1908 that established Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as manufacturers of ‘The Best Car in the World’ and just over 100 years later, an experimental, contemporary expression of the iconic nameplate, 200EX was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. Since its introduction in 2009, Ghost has gone on to become the most successful Rolls-Royce motor car ever built, attracting a new and much younger group of owners to the marque, resulting in the average age of owners now being just 43.

The original 200EX concept was intended to be both driver and passenger-focused, and no other car combines performance and dynamic driver experience with luxury in the way that Ghost does. The Ghost Zenith Collection retains the car’s dynamism but takes luxury to a new level, drawing many references from 200EX, the most significant being the inclusion of a commemorative ingot, made from the original concept’s Spirit of Ecstasy, melted down and set into the centre console. Engraved with the three key design lines of Ghost, the plaque details its significant origins and even the Collection’s own Spirit of Ecstasy and clock are engraved with the name of this highly anticipated motor car. In the centre console, a blueprint inspired artwork enlarged to a point of abstraction has been divided into 50 distinct pieces, allowing each Ghost Zenith customer their own individual work of art.

The interior of the car is a testimony to the incredible skill of the master craftsmen and women in the marque’s legendary Woodshop as well as the members of the Bespoke Collective from the Home of Rolls-Royce’s Leather shop. Three different finishes are offered; wood, Technical Fibre or Piano finished veneer, all of which perfectly compliment the exquisitely embroidered leather interior. Unique to the Ghost Zenith Standard Wheelbase, the famed Starlight Headliner is presented in a Shooting Star configuration, depicting shooting stars randomly firing across the cabin roof.

Externally, the Ghost Zenith Collection is presented in a stunning two-tone application with a high gloss contrast paint finish and Silver Satin bonnet, first seen on 200EX. Three different colour-ways are available; Iguazu Blue with Andalusian White, Premiere Silver with Arctic White or a daring Bohemian Red with Black Diamond, with multiple variants available highlighting the flexibility of the model.

Commenting on the Ghost Zenith Collection, Salon Privé Co-Founder & Sales Director, David Bagley commented,“It is a real honour for us to host the European debut of the Rolls-Royce Ghost Zenith at this year’s event straight after its reveal at Pebble Beach. Henry Royce had an instinctive desire for perfection and his fabled ethic of taking the best that exists and making it better is demonstrated here today as Rolls-Royce have taken the most successful car they have ever produced – and made it better. The workmanship and expertise that has gone into creating this limited-edition luxury collector’s item is simply extraordinary and we are thrilled to be presenting this sensational new luxury car on the lawns of Blenheim Palace during Salon Privé.”

SLOVENIAN SUPERCAR MANUFACTURER, TUSHEK TO DEBUT SPECTACULAR TS 900 H APEX AT SALON PRIVÉ

SLOVENIAN SUPERCAR MANUFACTURER, TUSHEK TO DEBUT SPECTACULAR TS 900 H APEX AT SALON PRIVÉ Team Tushek, founded by Slovenian racing driver, Aljosa Tushek proudly launches its sensational TS 900 H APEX at this year’s Salon Privé. Powering the stunning TS 900 H APEX are 2 electric motors, (1 on each front wheel) and a 4.2 Litre rear-mounted V-8 with added compressor, which combined, produce 950 hp and a massive 1,400 Nm torque. It might not be the most powerful hybrid hypercar on the road, but it is the lightest thanks to its chrome-moly spaceframe and pre-impregnated carbon-fibre body, resulting in an incredible curb weight of just 1,410 kg. With figures such as these, performance is sensational with 0 to 60 mph coming up in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 236 mph. For a car that offers this level of performance, tyre and brake partners are crucial hence the TS 900 H APEX wears Pirelli Trofeo Series R tyres with 235/35 section to the front and 305/30 to the rear and Brembo callipers are fitted to give the necessary levels of braking. The sleek two-seater, carbon-fibre body features scissor doors and removable structural hardtop allowing open-air driving and the opportunity to experience the full exhilarating symphony of its thunderous V-8. Utilising Alojsa Tushek’s experiences on the track and his knowledge of racecar set-up, the team have spent the last 4 years researching and testing different technologies and dynamics to create a car that connects with the driver via an innovative set of systems inside the cabin. Aljosa Tushek, Founder of Tushek Ltd., commented "The Tushek team is delighted to be back at Salon Privé. Over the past years, we have intensively developed and constructed advanced technological solutions for our new model, the TS 900 H APEX, in particular in the area of the electric drive train. Those developments are now incorporated in our latest model and have been successfully tested in race-track conditions over the past months. Our team is looking forward to presenting our supercar to Salon Privé’s elite clientele." David Bagley, Co-Founder & Sales Director, Salon Privé said “The new TS 900 H APEX demonstrates Aljosa and his team’s pursuit of perfection as well as their continued use of innovative technology to create a car that connects with the driver whether on the road or on the track. It inspires confidence in the driver which in turn enables them to fully experience the car’s incredible capabilities.”

RIMAC AUTOMOBILI TO DEBUT THRILLING  Rimac C_Two HYPERCAR at SALON PRIVÉ Fastest accelerating, most technologically-advanced hypercar ever built 0 to 60mph in 1.85 seconds 0 to 186mph in 11.8 seconds Top speed of 258 mph 4 electric motors and a 120 kWh battery generating 1,887 bhp and 2,300 Nm of torque Limited to 150 units First deliveries 2020 The Directors of Salon Privé are delighted to announce another spectacular launch at this year’s event with the return of Rimac Automobili who will present their sensational Rimac C_Two. In less than 10 years, Rimac Automobili, based in Croatia, has become a technological powerhouse not only creating its own spectacular hypercars but also developing full technology solutions for global automotive manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Automobili Pininfarina, Koenigsegg, Porsche and many more. Porsche AG and Hyundai Motor Group have also become minority shareholders in the last two years. The all-new Rimac C_Two is a testament to the company’s technological advancements. Engineered as a pure electric GT and using the expert knowledge gleaned from the brilliantly powerful Concept_One, first shown at Salon Privé back in 2012, the Rimac C_Two combines the very best materials and bespoke technology to create the most technologically-advanced as well as fastest accelerating hypercar ever built. David Bagley, Co-Founder & Sales Director commented, “What Mate and his team have achieved in such a relatively short period of time is simply extraordinary. Not content with designing, engineering and building their own amazing hypercars, they have become technological partners and OEM suppliers to some of the world's oldest and most prestigious automotive brands which is an incredible achievement in itself. Having first met Mate at Villa d'Este when the company and Concept_One were newly-launched, on a personal level, it's thrilling to see the company where it is now, leading the world in EV technology systems.“ Designed and produced in-house, it is made entirely from scratch with all-new, groundbreaking technologies such as a full carbon fibre monocoque with bonded carbon roof, integrated battery pack and powertrain. An innovative battery pack in technology and layout delivers 120 kWh energy and 1.4MW of power with exceptional thermal management. With a top speed of 258 mph (412 km/h), a zero to 60mph time of 1.85 seconds and a zero to 100 mph (161 km/h) time of 4.3, the Rimac C_Two makes devastating use of the instant-torque available to an electric vehicle and the traction made possible by the unique drivetrain and bespoke tyres. More than that, the Rimac C_Two maintains its sensational acceleration throughout the full-throttle cycle, achieving 186 mph (300 km/h) from rest in just 11.8 seconds. Next-generation R-AWTV (Rimac All-Wheel Torque Vectoring) controls four electric motors, one per each wheel and is available (and necessary!)  to harness 1,887 bhp (1,408 kW) of power and 2,300 Nm of torque - two and a half times the torque output of a contemporary hypercar. With prototypes now in production, the Rimac C_Two will soon take its final shape and the first customers cars will be delivered in 2020. Rimac Automobili Founder & CEO, Mate Rimac said, “We are very excited to be back at Salon Privé, celebrating the automotive history and bringing a taste of the future. 2012, when Rimac Concept_One - the world's first all-electric supercar made its debut at Salon Privé, seems light-years away. This time around, we will join with our new generation, the Rimac C_Two - the fastest accelerating, most exciting, and most technologically-advanced hypercar ever-built. We are looking forward to sharing the event with H.R. Owen, our Official Partner in the UK.“

SALON PRIVÉ ANNOUNCES 2ND UK DEBUT WITH LAUNCH OF THE AUSTRO DAIMLER ‘BERGMEISTER’ ADR 630 SHOOTING GRAND

SALON PRIVÉ ANNOUNCES 2ND UK DEBUT WITH LAUNCH OF THE AUSTRO DAIMLER ‘BERGMEISTER’ ADR 630 SHOOTING GRAND

 Established in 1899, Austro Daimler was a historically significant Austro-Hungarian automaker, who, at one stage in 1910, held the honour of making the world’s fastest car – the 85mph Prinz Heinrich. Outbreak of the First World War saw the company focus on contribution to the wartime effort and so it wasn’t until the 1930s that Austro Daimler reverted to the production of automobiles with some outstanding and innovative luxury vehicles leaving its production-line. One such vehicle and the last to come out of the factory in 1931 was the 6-cylinder ‘Bergmeister’ or ‘Mountain Master’ so-called because of its numerous successes in mountain races. Fast forward nearly 90 years as we present its spiritual heir, the new ADR 630 Shooting Grand.

With its long, sweeping bonnet, short rear overhang and gullwing doors, the new car’s styling is both innovative and striking. Thanks to an intelligent lightweight design, aluminium space frame and sophisticated, ground-breaking technology, Austro Daimler were able to achieve a curb weight of 1650kg which is impressive when considering the size of the car; 4,544mm long, 2,087mm wide and with a wheelbase of 2,636.95mm.

At its heart is the SERIPA Performance Hybrid powertrain which was specially developed for the new Bergmeister. Combining the Mercedes-AMG GT 3-Litre in-line 6 with three high-performance electric motors, it is a superbly efficient unit which generates a staggering 1,198 bhp and 1,180 lb. ft; enough to propel it from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 200 mph. The bulk of the power is derived from the electric motors, each producing 271 bhp and providing charge is a 55-kilowatt lithium-ion battery. The battery sits in the area normally reserved for the GT's trunk hence a shooting brake body was designed to provide the necessary storage space. Based on the principle of a plug-in hybrid, the battery for the 600 kW electric drive of the new Bergmeister can be loaded with up to 150 kW charging power, meaning that under purely electric propulsion, it has a range of up to 250km and a total range (according to WLTP cycle) of up to 1,000km.

When asked where the inspiration came from for the ADR 630 Shooting Grand, Project Manager, Roland Stagl commented, "When we were developing the vehicle, our overriding concern was to capture the spirit of the original Bergmeister and to translate this into the future, just as if the brand never ceased to exist. Considering the ethos and values of the brand and acknowledging its position as a true automotive innovator, led us to design the Shooting Grand with what we like to describe as innovation by tradition.” 

Both externally and internally, the ADR 630 Shooting Grand exudes ‘retro’ with its double-bubble roof and rising rear roof-line as was customary with cars of the 1930s and the headlights, wrap-around rear light panels as well as the lavish interior combining wood and leather all take inspiration from the art deco style of this period.

Co-founder and Sales Director of Salon Privé, David Bagley said, “We are delighted to welcome Roland and his team to Salon Privé and thrilled that they have chosen Salon Privé to launch their fabulous new PHEV to the UK market. Having first seen the ADR 630 Shooting Grand earlier this year at Villa d’este, I knew it was a car we had to have at Salon Privé. The history of the brand and passion of the team behind its design is compelling as are the sheer technological advancements that have been achieved – I am sure there will be a lot of interest and activity around the new car when it gets its UK public unveiling at the event on Thursday 5th September.”

EDITORS’ NOTES:

Now in its 14th year, Salon Privé is a must-attend event for any car enthusiast or aficionado. Having been invited into the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award, the Concours is now recognised by the experts as one of the top events in the world alongside Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este and Amelia Island to name a few. It is an automotive Garden Party held within the grounds of ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace’, Blenheim Palace and firmly established as the UK’s most exclusive automotive Garden Party. 

Salon Privé showcases a globally-recognised Concours and a one-marque ‘Masters’ celebration within the same four-day event; firstly, the ‘Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance by Chubb Insurance’ on Thursday 5th September comprising 50 eclectic historic cars and 20 motorbikes, followed by ‘Salon Privé Bentley Masters by Chubb Insurance, Pirelli & Lockton Private Clients’ celebrating Bentley’s 100th Anniversary on Saturday 7th September. ‘Salon Privé Ladies’ Day by Boodles’, a favourite on the British social calendar sits between the two on Friday 6th September as does the first of 2 new events, Salon Privé LIVE that evening located in nearby Woodstock. Finally, the newly-formed Salon Privé Classic & Supercar will become our finale day for the public on Sunday 8th September. For more information, please contact David Bagley – davidb@salonpriveconcours.com

Tickets can be purchased via the website www.salonpriveconcours.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline: 0808 100 2205.

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

Bentley Speed 8 to race at the 2019 Silverstone Classic

For the first time in history, one of Bentley’s stunning 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Speed 8 prototypes will race on home UK soil when it debuts on track at this month’s magical Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).

It is now more than 16 years since Bentley made a dramatic return to the scene of its ethos-defining early victories and scored an evocative sixth success at Le Mans in 2003 to add to its five original wins racked up between 1924 and 1930.

In the latest chapter in its history, Bentley was taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 and the new German guardians were understandably keen to re-establish the brand’s sporting credentials.

To recreate those glory days, the new owners invested in a prototype motor sport programme and in 2003 briefly switched its Le Mans attack from Audi to Bentley.

British racing green livered Speed 8 coupés were designed and produced at the team’s UK base in Crewe – albeit with some technical support plus 600bhp twin-turbo V8 engines from serial LM24 winners Audi – and the programme culminated in Bentley’s first Le Mans win in 73 years. With mission accomplished, the fastest cars ever to wear the hallowed Flying B badge were immediately mothballed and VW’s endurance racing efforts switched back to more mainstream Audi ‘Silver Arrows’.

One of those stunning 215mph speedsters from 2003, though, is now in the private hands of experienced sportscar racing enthusiast Shaun Lynn and he will be contesting both showdowns for the Aston Martin Trophy for Masters Endurance Legends at the 2019 Classic – incredibly it will be the first time one of these magnificent Speed 8s has ever raced in the UK.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Shaun is joining us at the Classic to race his Speed 8,” enthused a delighted Ron Maydon, President of Masters Historic Racing. “This will be another iconic addition to our already impressive grid and is sure to be a massive crowd-pleaser. The Speed 8’s debut in a Masters’ race is all the more pertinent, of course, as Bentley is celebrating its centenary at the Classic and its Le Mans victories are very much a highlight of the brand’s incredible heritage.”

Bentley turned 100 earlier this month (W.O. Bentley was founded his eponymous company on 10 July 1919) and that milestone will be honoured with special displays, parades and races at the Classic.

Indeed Saturday’s packed programme concludes late in the evening with an evocative ‘Twilight Tribute to Le Mans’. Three spectacular sportscar races set at dusk will cover almost a century of round-the-clock racing and feature 150 great cars ranging from the Bentleys of 1920s right up to the superfast sports prototypes such as the Speed 8, Lola Aston Martin and a pair of striking Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs – another Le Mans winner. It’s not to be missed!   

“We must thank Shaun massively for bringing the Speed 8 to Silverstone – it’s an incredible car and will be the icing on Bentley’s centenary birthday cake as we celebrate the company’s milestone 100th anniversary at the Classic,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of the Silverstone Classic. “Our special Saturday evening Twilight Tribute to Le Mans is now complete: it will kick off with a wonderful array of vintage Bentleys competing in the Pre-War Sportscar race and conclude at dusk with the Speed 8 racing into the sunset. Just perfect!”

This summer’s unrivalled roster of retro races also includes special anniversary celebrations for Capris, Minis and Abarths plus evocative showdowns for classic era Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 single-seaters, all together on the same Classic race-card for the very first time.

Providing great value, all tickets – which must be purchased in advance – also give access to a wealth of great family entertainment including period funfair rides, driving experiences, interactive games, massive car club displays plus live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening which this summer pay homage to the seminal Woodstock festival of 1969. Along with access to both racing paddocks and open trackside grandstands, all of those fun-fuelled attractions are included absolutely free in the ticket price!

Adult tickets cost from just £45 and a wide range of child, young adult and family tickets are also available along with camping and hospitality options. Full details of all ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website.

MG3 LOW-COST RACER HAS DYNAMIC DEBUT AHEAD OF SILVERSTONE SEASON START THIS SATURDAY

MG3 LOW-COST RACER HAS DYNAMIC DEBUT AHEAD OF SILVERSTONE SEASON START THIS SATURDAY

Last week, the MG3 low-cost racer built by MG Car Club and SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre made its dynamic debut at Castle Combe Circuit.

SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Interns were tasked with building the car; using an ex-engineering vehicle as a donor car as part of the Internship Project.

The car has been built with low-cost motorsport in mind; a minimal budget to convert the car into a racer for £5,000 to a specification that allows the car to compete in a Club championship, which shares a low-cost ethos.

MG3 will be able to race in Class A (standard – road-going cars) of the MG Cup during 2019, providing the first season of testing and development plus the opportunity to score points during its first season racing.

The MG Cup has been running for over 30 years, with a simple structure and regulations designed to keep costs to a minimum and provide a challenge for new and experienced drivers alike.

The regulations have been produced to allow any MG3 model to be converted and get on the grid; not just the All-New MG3, which went on sale last year.

This provides potential competitors a chance to race the most up-to-date MG models on track, which has not previously been possible within the Car Club’s championships.

As an additional strategy to encourage participation from young competitors, the MG Car Club also offers half price entries to any competitor 25 and under for the 2019 season, meaning entry fees for a weekend could be as little as £300. 

The MG3 makes its competitive debut this Saturday 30th March in the MG Cup, at the Club’s first race meeting at Silverstone’s National Circuit alongside the Club’s MG Trophy, BCV8, Cockshoot Cup, MG Metro Cup championships.

Adam Sloman, General Manager of The MG Car Club commented “We are delighted to be involved in bringing the latest iteration of MG cars to race circuits up and down the country. Motorsport is a huge part of MG and the Club’s heritage, and we are very much invested in bringing new cars, drivers and young competitors to our grids in the future.”

Joanna Burland, Intern at SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre commented, “The Intern Project has provided a great opportunity to work on something slightly different, and gain valuable experience of helping to develop a new low-cost race car and work with MG Motor and MG Car Club to make the project a success.”

EVOLUTION E-TYPES ROADSTER TO DEBUT AT LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHO

EVOLUTION E-TYPES ROADSTER TO DEBUT AT LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Evolution E-Types is all set to steal the show at this week’s London Classic Car Show, with the unveiling of a brand new all aluminium bodied E-Type Roadster. The new Roadster is the first of its kind to come out of the Evolution workshop and is due to be unveiled by its creator, engineer and E-Type guru Uryk Dmyterko and the Evolution team at the London Classic Car Show when it opens to the public this Thursday 14-17 February at London’s Excel.

Evolution are not just another Jaguar E-Type restorer, E-Type Fabs is already recognised as the World’s leading supplier of E-Type parts with their; High Strength Chassis Frames; Solid Billet Machined Aluminium Cam Covers; and the most recent development their Aluminium 5 Speed Gearbox, to name just a few. Now the world’s leading parts supplier has taken a major step forward to create a brand new range of Jaguar E-type models with modern day comforts, handling and engineering developments, offering customers all the sixties style, look and feel of an iconic classic, but with twenty-first-century handling, reliability and comfort.

Evolution Creator Uryk Dmyterko explains “This is a Jaguar E-Type like no other, we don’t cut corners on our builds, we don’t count the hours, if something isn’t absolutely perfect, we reject it and start again. I personally check everything and we take enormous pride in manufacturing as much as possible on site here at our workshops in Darlington.”

“Our aim is to create a car, which doesn’t just look great, it is engineered to be fun to drive offering excitement and speed but also to be reliable and comfortable enough to be your everyday drive.”

Evolution’s on-site manufacturing facility in Darlington builds just three Evolution E-Types a year and with a full order book for 2019, Evolution will be offering visitors to the London Classic Car show the opportunity to book build slots for 2020. Customers can choose from the Jaguar E-Spec Fixed Head Coupe (also on show in London) or opt for a Roadster or a Low Drag Coupe. All Evolution cars come with the option of a steel or aluminium body and a range of engine sizes, as well as a paint colour of your choice, prices start from £350,000.00.

If you are visiting the London Classic Car Show 14-17 February at London’s Excel. Make sure you swing by the Evolution E-Type stand and see their stunning Roadster. Jaguar will be very much in the spotlight at the show, where Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum opens his exhibit and receives the Icon Award for his career-defining design work at Jaguar and Aston Martin.

For more information on the Evolution E-Type visit: https://evolutionetypes.com/

For more information about visiting the show visit: https://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk/

BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB MAKES NEC CLASSIC DEBUT

BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB MAKES NEC CLASSIC DEBUT

This year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, marks the debut of The Bentley Drivers Club, and visitors are assured of a very special display that represents both the fine cars and the marque’s aviation history at Birmingham’s NEC from 9-11 November.

A star of the stand, and of television, will be the 1929 4½ Litre saloon that carries the name ‘The Grey Lady’. With styling that manages to be both elegant and imposing it perfectly embodies the Bentley ethos, and it will also be familiar to fans of hit shows such as Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders having made appearances in both.

Catering for enthusiasts of more recent models is the striking 2008 Bentley Continental GT Zagato. One of only nine made - and one of only two in the UK - it was the first collaboration between the legendary Italian coachbuilder and this most British of car makers, and the result is undoubtedly striking.  

For fans of aviation and wartime history, there is another great reason to visit the Club’s stand as it will be an opportunity to get a close look at an historic aircraft engine. In recognition of the centenary of the end of World War 1 visitors will be able to see a genuine BR2 aero engine. The BR stands for Bentley Rotary and the engine was fitted to the Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Snipe fighter aircraft. An incredible piece of engineering, it is a fascinating reminder of the skills of company founder, WO Bentley.

“We are extremely proud to welcome the Bentley Drivers Club to this year’s show,” says Event Director Lee Masters. “Displaying examples of the fine engineering that characterise this great British marque, we are sure that visitors will be thrilled to see this new addition.”

The Bentley Drivers Club, which takes pride of place in Hall 1, was founded more than 80 years ago and caters for all models from the earliest Cricklewood cars to those built at Crewe.

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, is the World’s largest gathering of classic motoring clubs with around 300 in attendance over the three-day show and 3,000 vehicles on display.

For more information as well as all the ticket prices and booking details, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com

DENDROBIUM WOWS THE CROWDS ON ITS BLENHEIM PALACE PUBLIC DEBUT AT THE 2018 SALON PRIVÉ

DENDROBIUM WOWS THE CROWDS ON ITS BLENHEIM PALACE PUBLIC DEBUT AT THE 2018 SALON PRIVÉ

The new British electric hypercar maker Dendrobium Automotive Limited recently made its UK public debut to huge acclaim within the stunning surroundings of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England.

The unique, all-electric Dendrobium D-1 wowed the guests at the ultra-exclusive 2018 Salon Privé garden party event, the model attracting enormous interest and many admiring glances, including the attention of His Grace The Duke of Marlborough of Blenheim Palace, who was very keen to discuss the unique and highly-advanced zero-emission D-1 hypercar.

Inspired by nature and rooted in technology, the Dendrobium D-1 fuses a respect for the environment with a design-driven approach to engineering, the car being developed in the UK with the support and expertise of the celebrated Formula 1 company Williams Advanced Engineering.

As Salon Privé garden party guests discovered first-hand, the Dendrobium D-1’s design challenges the visual sense of viewers, while drawing out intrigue among the more discerning admirers. The D-1’s delicate marriage of futuristic lines and curves casts dramatic shadows, reflecting the soothing texture of aluminium, carbon fibre and glass, to create a truly distinctive machine that looks like no other supercar or hypercar in the world.

Dendrobium’s focus on having technology embodied in sculpture is a testament to the British marque’s endless pursuit of quality in terms of thought, design and build. With a target weight of just 1,750kgs, the carbon fibre D-1, with its super light and super strong advance composites and alloys, will represent the true feel of a supercar, not too big and heavy, allied to impressive linear performance, and re-writing the rules for the hypercar ownership experience.

The lightweight construction of the D-1 is based on a unique Protocell carbon tub which has been skillfully engineered with future adaptability for further generations of Dendrobium e-performance cars. In addition to its advanced vehicle technology, the D-1 has enormous drama and presence thanks to its unique Bio-Aerial Locomotion door and roof opening system, which is inspired by the Dendrobium orchid plant which unfurls naturally in a similar manner, from which the new British hypercar company takes its name. 

The D-1’s interior is designed around the driver as the absolute centre of attention. Contrasting with the predominantly black carbon fibre interior, the red body-hugging drivers’ sports seat features stitching and motifs inspired by human muscle fibres.

The Dendrobium design team has had conceptual sketches of an electric hypercar on the drawing boards since the mid-1990s, a vision that was many years ahead of its time. As electric technology has advanced, Dendrobium has been able to revisit this vision and now, as the Company launches its revolutionary global e-mobility strategy, the timing is finally right to take the wraps off a halo working prototype model, as displayed to astonished admirers within the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace at Salon Privé.

Ahead of the first production examples of the all-electric 1,800bhp D-1, a number of significant and exciting developments at Dendrobium Automotive will be announced shortly, with full details to be confirmed over the coming months.

Commenting on the UK public debut of the D-1 hypercar, Chairman and CEO of Dendrobium Automotive, Nigel Gordon-Stewart said, “After an extensive career in the supercar industry, I can honestly say that Dendrobium Automotive is one of the most exciting and future-focused businesses I've ever been involved with. Using the very latest technology, we are developing what will be the most impressive all-electric hypercar. We are designing our own in-house all-electric powertrain and we plan to use our own power storage cells moving to solid state as and when the technology is reliable and financially viable.”

Gordon-Stewart continues, “We are developing unique cabling and connector systems as well as our own complete vehicle integration and ADAS hardware and software. From a technical perspective, the D-1 will be a British engineering tour-de-force.” You can be assured that the Dendrobium brand will become synonymous with the most exciting and technically sophisticated e-hypercars on the market and available globally."