Abarth to appear at London Classic Car Show

Abarth is turning back the racing clock 50 years for its display at this year’s London Classic Car Show.

The performance car brand’s exhibition stand will feature new and old – with plans to show the recently-launched Abarth biposto Record alongside the classic Monoposto Record Class G racing car from 1965.

The Abarth biposto Record celebrates the 50th anniversary of Karl Abarth’s legacy of 133 international records, and as such, production will be strictly limited to just 133 examples.

Abarth founder Karl Abarth drove an Abarth Monoposto Record, Class G at Monza, winning the acceleration record on 400 metres and 500 metres. Unable to find the right driver, he decided to lose 30 kilograms in weight to slip into the tight cockpit himself.

“It’s an important classic car show and we are delighted to be showing two classics of our own,” says Gerry Southerington, brand manager, Abarth UK. “The Monoposto was a highly successful car and is now steeped in history. As for the biposto Record, I’m sure that it will one day become a classic in its own right.”

The London Classic Car Show – to be held at London’s ExCel exhibition hall from 18-21 February – will also mark the UK launch of the Officine Abarth Classiche, the official Turin-based workshop where classic Abarth cars are repaired, restored and certified for customers.

Last year was Abarth’s best ever in the UK, with total sales of 2743 – a rise of 67 per cent against 2014 (1642) – and a top five finish in terms of fastest-growing car brands in the UK.

Abarth prices start at £14,610 OTR for the 1.4 TJet 140hp Manual rising to £33,055 OTR for the 1.4 TJet biposto 190hp Manual.

DeLorean DMC-12 back in to Production

Production of the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 is to start up again after a 33 years.

The move comes after the US federal government approved a low-volume manufacturing bill. DMC (DeLorean Motor Company) a company not affiliated with the car’s original manufacturer but one that repairs the 9,000-strong original DMC-12 out there, can now go one step further and build full DeLorean replicas.

The last DMC-12 rolled off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, in 1983 but has gained a cult following after starring in the Back to The Future films of the 80s.

For nearly five decades, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not distinguished between a company producing millions of cars and a small business making a few custom cars. NHTSA's one-size-fits-all approach meant that these small companies were subject to the same regulations and paperwork burdens as the large automakers that mass-produce vehicles.

In December 2015, a ‘Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act’ allowing small companies to produce a limited number of completed replica motor vehicles that resemble the appearance of cars produced 25 years ago or more was inserted to the federal highway bill and signed into law.

The vehicles must meet current Clean Air Act standards for the model year in which they are produced, with DMC yet to confirm who the new engine supplier would be. The new law allows the low volume vehicle manufacturer to meet the standards by installing an engine and emissions equipment produced by any modern day manufacturer.

In anticipation of this legislation, the DeLorean Motor Company says it has been working for some time to identify a supplier for engines and other parts that must be reproduced to facilitate the production for 2017. A number of hurdles exist before production can begin, with the Texas based business still in an early stage of determining the feasibility of moving forward.

It’s thought the company plans to produce a small production run of around 300 cars, with prices expected to be around the $100,000 mark (around £70k).

Vauxhall reveals GT Concept

Vauxhall has revealed its new GT Concept ahead of a Geneva Motorshow debut.

The brands vision of a future sports car is described as ’purebred, pared down, yet unashamedly avant-garde’. The GT Concept is even shorn of door handles and door mirrors, and features a front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive chassis that will ‘appeal to driving enthusiasts’.

The GT name mirrors that of the 1964 GT Concept, the first styling model to be produced by the Vauxhall Design and Engineering Centre in Luton which opened the same year. The 2016 concept pays homage to two significant motor show cars: the 1966 Vauxhall XVR  (Xperimental Vauxhall Research) and the 1965 Opel Experimental GT - particularly with the long bonnet and central dual exhausts. Fifty years later, the GT Concept has a red signature line that splits the vehicle body horizontally and distinctive red tyres – mounted on rims with a ‘roller-skate’ design – which are a reference to an Vauxhall/Opel motorbike from the 1920s – the Motoclub 500 – which sported red-coloured rubber.

The GT Concept’s front-mid engine configuration keeps the car’s centre of gravity low and central for ‘excellent dynamics’. Beneath its stretched bonnet is a turbocharged 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine, based on the all-aluminium unit used in the ADAM, Corsa and Astra. Developing 145PS and maximum torque of 205Nm, the engine delivers drive to the rear wheels, via a six-speed sequential transmission operated by steering-wheel mounted paddle shift. Weighing under 1000kgs, the GT Concept accelerates from 0-62mph in less than eight seconds and on to a maximum speed of 134mph.

The GT Concept uses ultra-modern projection technology, with a three-dimensional beam which allows glare-free high-beam driving. Based on Vauxhall’s IntelliLux LED matrix lighting, first seen in the recently launched Astra, the GT Concept sees the intelligent lighting system’s next stage of development. The design of the lights is completed by the three-dimensional design of the tail lamps.

A key innovation is the cars large doors with integrated side windows that show a seamless transition from glass to painted surfaces. Both driver and front passenger gain access to the spacious interior after pressing a touchpad for the electric doors that is integrated in the red signature line of the roof. The doors open into the front arches, using a space-saving and patented mounting that allows a large opening angle for tight parking spaces in urban areas. Two cameras mounted behind the wheel arches offer enhanced visibility, especially in city driving. They transmit their images to two monitors on the left- and right-hand side of the cabin, rendering external mirrors obsolete. The windscreen flows into a glass panorama roof, affording occupants a similar experience to that of a targa-topped car, according to Vauxhall.

The Geneva Motorshow runs from March 3-13.

Freelander 1 becomes Land Rover Heritage vehicle

Produced from 1997 to 2006, the Land Rover Freelander 1 is now officially a Land Rover Heritage vehicle. 

A Heritage model is defined as a product that has been out of production for longer than 10 years so Freelander 1 owners will now be supported by the brand’s Heritage experts to ensure they can continue to enjoy their vehicles for many years to come.

Land Rover Heritage specialises in cars, services, parts and experiences for classic Land Rover models and the Freelander 1 becomes the brand’s eighth Heritage model, joining the Series I, II and III, Range Rover Classic and P38 Range Rover plus Discovery 1 and 2.

Over 9,000 individual Land Rover Heritage Part numbers are available for the Freelander 1, adding to the brand’s parts catalogue, which already features over 33,000 items for both Jaguar and Land Rover Heritage vehicles.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Heritage, said: “With the addition of the Freelander 1 as a Heritage model, Land Rover is reaffirming its support and commitment to its loyal customers by providing exceptional cars, services, parts and experiences for models more than 10 years out of production. Genuine Land Rover Heritage Parts for Freelander 1 have been engineered and tested in extreme conditions. As such it gives our customers total peace-of-mind that their vehicles are maintained to the highest possible standards.”

The Freelander became Europe’s best-selling 4WD vehicle for five consecutive years after its launch in 1997 and at the time had 16 patented features including Hill Decent Control (HDC), Immediate Reduction Drive (IDR), a viscous-coupling (VCU) and an innovative ABS system designed specifically for off-road situations.

Jannarelly reveals retro-styled sportscar

New Jannarelly car brand is centred on automotive emotions

All-new car brand, Jannarelly, is set to launch early next year with its first model, the Design-1 - a track-ready sportscar with a distinctly retro look.

Designer, Anthony Jannarelly, and Frederic Juillot, owner of Equation Composite, a company specialised in carbon fibre parts, have combined their skills and experience to create the all-new high-performance, customisable lightweight sportscar.

The Dubai-based Frenchmen own a Caterham and a Donkervoort respectively, and describe themselves as great admirers of ‘classic car design with timeless lines as well as the essence of the 60’s motoring era’. 

They began with a straightforward concept: A really simple and mechanical car with state-of-the-art components that can be customised until it reflects its owner.

The Jannarelly Design-1 is a rear wheel drive 2-seater roadster with a steel tubular frame and structural aluminium panels for the chassis. It is fitted with a mid-rear V6 DOHC 24-valve engine. Most of the body is made out of fibreglass and carbon fibre.

The Jannarelly brand is said to centred on automotive emotions, self-expression and creativity. Its whole purpose is to allow a great freedom in self-customisation and pure performance. The first model draws inspiration from the universe of Petrolicious, Jay Leno's garage and Magnus Walker. 

Jannarelly says that both the Design-1’s lines and its simple and flexible mechanical approach pay tribute to the 1960s, ‘the golden age of the sports car, when design and technology were in perfect sync, generating organic, feminine lines, naturally modelled.’

The first prototype is set for completion in early February and deliveries of a first series of 30 cars are expected to begin in the summer of 2016.

Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Car up for auction

Bidding has opened for a piece of motoring history – the Vauxhall Astra used by Top Gear as their ‘Reasonably Priced Car’.

With proceeds of the sale going to automotive industry charity, BEN, the five-door Power Red 1.6-litre (115bhp) Vauxhall Astra Tech Line has been added to eBay. Currently at £10,301.00, bids can placed at www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/231786726259, with all proceeds being donated to BEN.

The mileage on the Astra stands at 2,908, and comes with front Corbeau Sprint Racing seats, 5 point safety belt harness and full roll-cage. Bidders should be aware that the airbags have all been disabled to make room for the roll-cage. To re-instate the airbags would involve removing the roll-cage and seating. So, in its current state, the car is not type-approved and should not be driven on the road. The Vauxhall Technical Team will work with the successful bidder at handover to fully explain how the vehicle has been adapted, advising that converting the vehicle back into use on the public highway would incur a ‘significant cost’.

Other features, aside from the car’s celebrity status include 17-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Sat-nav system with seven-inch colour monitor, and three-spoke leather-covered sports steering wheel.

With an estimated 350 million views in 170 different countries per week, the Vauxhall Astra was initiated with a star-studded barbeque, featuring celebrities including comedians Jimmy Carr and Warwick Davis, and singers Brian Johnson and Joss Stone. Celebrities such as Olly Murs, who topped the leader board, Margot Robbie, Ron Howard and James Blunt all thrashed it around the Top Gear Test Track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey.

“David Main, BEN Chief Executive commented on the auction, saying: “We are reliant on the generosity of our supporters to enable us to continue our work helping people who work within the UK automotive industry, so we are very grateful to Vauxhall Motors for this kind donation of a piece of history for a great cause.”

BEN’s goal is to make positive differences to people’s lives in the automotive industry, supporting them in times of difficulty through a wide range of free, confidential information, advice and support services.