Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR tested

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has successfully completed the official TCR comparison tests in Valencia.

Prior to this, the first five of 20 cars were delivered to two customers. The cars were then put through their paces during two days of testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Engstler Motorsport from Germany and the W-Racing Team from Belgium, who line up in the TCR International Series in 2016, took to the racetrack for the first time with the new 330-hp touring car.

As well as familiarising themselves with the new car, the test programme also included the obligatory Balance-of-Performance test (BOP). This meant performance tests on the test stand, car measurements to determine the car’s centre of gravity, acceleration and deceleration tests with varying amounts of ballast and an official TCR driver at the wheel. The data gathered in the BOP is analysed and used to achieve a similar level of performance between the cars of different manufacturers, thus ensuring everyone has the same chance of winning. However, this task proved far from easy as heavy rain repeatedly disrupted the two test days.

In total, eight customer sports teams will field the Golf GTI TCR in 2016: Engstler Motorsport, Kai Jordan, D&T Drive & Training (all Germany), W-Racing Team, Gtps Delahaye Racing Team (both Belgium), Milo Racing (Luxembourg), Gusto Technik Performance (Hong Kong) and Novaplus Gestao Desportiva (Portugal). The racing Golf will start in five TCR championships: in the international series, the Benelux and Asia series as well as in the German and Portuguese championships.

Eduard Weidl, Head of Customer Sports said: “The comparison tests with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR went well. We are happy, but we also know that we still have some work ahead of us – particularly when it comes to the cars’ traction. As such, the tests were very helpful and revealing. The Engstler team completed more than 50 laps with its three cars on both days, allowing it to make some valuable findings. The feedback received from the customer sports teams and drivers on the Golf GTI TCR was certainly very positive.”

Jordi Gene, test and development driver added: “The Golf GTI TCR is a real racer. Compared to last year’s concept car, we have made good progress in many areas. Thanks to the new six-speed sequential racing gearbox, an improved braking system, and modifications to the aerodynamics, the Golf is now even better to drive. We will obviously continue to work on the car throughout the season, where the regulations allow it, in order to ensure that we improve continuously. As far as performance is concerned, I am sure that the customer sports teams will be able to challenge for the championship in the various TCR series.”

Maserati supports the Royal Academy of Arts

Maserati has been confirmed as the official partner of the Royal Academy of Arts new exhibition - In the Age of Giorgione.

Celebrating art and style, which is at the heart of the luxury Italian car manufacturer, Maserati will be supporting the Italian-focussed exhibition, which runs until 5th June 2016.

This unique exhibition is a focused survey of the Venetian Renaissance during the first decade of the sixteenth century, a pivotal period, which laid the foundations for the Golden Age of Venetian painting. Works by Giorgione, Titian and Giovanni Bellini, among others are presented in the exhibition, offering visitors the opportunity to view these major works of art, first-hand.

Peter Denton, Region Manager for Maserati North Europe, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the Royal Academy of Arts. Art has always been at the heart of the Maserati brand; one of the founding Maserati brothers, Mario, was an artist by trade and it was he who chose the iconic Trident symbol as the Maserati emblem you see on our cars today. Over 100 years since then, it’s fantastic to be merging the worlds of Italian art and car design together.” 

Christopher Le Brun, President of the Royal Academy of Arts added, “This is a fantastic partnership for the Royal Academy of Arts. It is a rarity for the Royal Academy to work with automotive brands and to have the iconic manufacturer Maserati onboard working so closely with an exhibition is very exciting.”

In the Age of Giorgione brings together around 50 works from major public institutions and private collections from across Europe and the United States.

Tickets are available daily at the RA or online at www.royalacademy.org.uk.

Budget 2016 and the motorist

Now that George Osborne has delivered his eighth Budget speech, what does it mean for the motorist?

There are a few key items to note that will impact on the company car sector and the wider motor industry as a whole. Company car benefit in kind tax rates up to the end of 2019/20 were already known but the Chancellor did not announce rates for 2020/21 as had been expected. That means that company car drivers will be selecting cars today which they could still be driving in 2020/21 without any knowledge as to what their benefit-in-kind tax bills will be.

However, the small print of the Budget documents revealed that the already announced company car benefit-in-kind tax increases in 2019/20 will raise an additional £315 million for HM Treasury and that increases due in 2020/21 will raise a further £320 million. That suggests that HM Revenue and Customs knows what the rates will be in 2020/21, but has yet to announce them, although it has confirmed that the three percentage point differential between diesel cars and petrol cars will be retained until April 2021.

At Budget 2013, the government committed to review the company car tax incentives for ultra-low emission vehicles in light of market developments at Budget 2016. The Chancellor has now announced that the government has decided to continue to base company car tax on the CO2 emissions from 2020/21.

It will now consult on reform of the bands for ultra-low emission vehicles (below 75 g/km of CO2) to refocus incentives on the cleanest cars. That suggests that rather than a single rate of tax for cars with emissions of 0-50 g/km and for those with emissions of 51-75 g/km as currently there could be a series of graduated tax thresholds.

As announced in last year’s post-general election summer Budget, VED for cars first registered from April 1, 2017 is to change. First year rates of VED will vary according to the CO2 emissions of the vehicle. A flat standard rate of £140 will apply in all subsequent years, except for zero-emission cars for which the standard rate will be £0. Cars with a list price above £40,000 will attract a supplement of £310 on the standard rate for the first five years in which the standard rate is paid. All cars first registered before April 1, 2017 will remain in the current VED system, which will not change.

Fuel duty will be frozen again in 2016/17, saving the typical motorist £75 a year and £270 a year to a small business with a van. By the end of 2016/17 fuel duty will have been frozen for six years. Insurance Premium Tax was increased from 6 per cent to 9.5 per cent in November 2015 and it will rise from October 1, 2016 by a further 0.5 per cent to 10 per cent impacting on vehicle insurance and roadside assistance. The money raised is specifically earmarked to be spent on improving flood defences.

The government says it is making the biggest investment in transport infrastructure in generations and is increasing capital investment in the transport network by 50 per cent over this Parliament compared to the last, investing £61 billion. The government’s long-term approach to improving England’s motorways and major roads is marked in the Budget with the launch of its second Roads Investment Strategy, which will determine the investment plans for the period from 2020/21 to 2024/25.

The Budget also saw the allocation of the £50 million Pothole Action Fund for England in 2016/17, enabling local authorities to fill nearly a million potholes. The government will also provide a further £130 million to repair roads and bridges damaged by Storms Desmond and Eva.

Pushing forward with plans to establish the UK as a global centre for excellence in connected and autonomous vehicles, the government will conduct trials of driverless cars on the strategic road network by 2017, hold consultations this summer on sweeping away regulatory barriers within this Parliament to enable autonomous vehicles on England’s major roads and establish a £15 million ‘connected corridor’ from London to Dover to enable vehicles to communicate wirelessly with infrastructure and potentially other vehicles.

The government has also confirmed that the long-awaited trial of comparative fuel price signs on the M5 between Bristol and Exeter will start this spring to drive fuel price competition and help motorists save money.

Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing team up for new Hypercar

Aston Martin and F1 team Red Bull Racing have announced a partnership to develop a new Aston Martin hypercar.

Codenamed Project ‘AM-RB 001’, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey is key to the agreement following years of speculation as to when the widely regarded most successful Formula One designer of all time may help design a road car.

The new hypercar is described as ‘ground-breaking’ and will represent the ‘ultimate blend of cutting edge F1 technology with Aston Martin’s sports car design’. The new partnership unites some of the world’s best ‘aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturing masters’.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “Formula One offers the ultimate global stage to build wider awareness of the Aston Martin brand. However, this partnership will deliver even more than that when the hypercar that Aston Martin and Adrian Newey are in the process of developing hits the road. These are exciting times for Aston Martin and arriving hot on the heels of our DB11 launch earlier this month, this new partnership underlines that our brand really is racing again.”

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner said of the new partnership: “This is a very exciting project for everyone at Red Bull Racing. Through this Innovation Partnership the iconic Aston Martin logo will return to Grand Prix racing for the first time since 1960, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, led by Adrian, will be harnessing our Formula One DNA to produce the ultimate of all road cars. It’s an incredible project which also realises a dream and vision long held by Adrian to design a road car. We are very much looking forward to what I’m certain will be a successful partnership.”

Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman said: “We are in the process of developing a hypercar that combines the latest in aerodynamics from F1 and the stunning design language of an Aston Martin sports car. The opportunity to collaborate with Adrian and Red Bull Advanced Technologies will be a fascinating experience for everyone involved. Unconstrained by F1 regulations, we have a unique chance to create a car in its most efficient form that will represent the ultimate fusion of art and technology.”

Having an illustrious Formula One career spanning nearly 30 years, and as the designer of ten World Championship winning Formula One cars, the partnership represents a new challenge for Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey.

“From the age of six I have had two goals in life – to be involved in the design of racing cars, and to be involved in the design of a super car.” Newey commented. “Whilst the former ambition went on to form my career to date, the latter has always bubbled away, resulting in countless sketches and doodles over the years. The opportunity to now develop and realise those ideas whilst working with Marek and his colleagues from Aston Martin is tremendously exciting. It allows us to translate the technology we have developed in F1 into a new arena.”

To celebrate the partnership, the RB12s F1 race cars will carry the Aston Martin wings logo throughout the 2016 season, making their debut at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.

McLaren adds track-dedicated 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint

McLaren has announced two new track-dedicated models will join the Sports Series range - the 570S GT4 and the 570S Sprint.

Developed in conjunction with McLaren GT motorsport division, the 570S GT4 will now enter a season-long development programme in the British GT championship with customer team, Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse. 

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive explained: ‘As with road-going models wearing a McLaren badge, the 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint models are about being an engaging and exciting drive. The launch of the Sports Series has broadened McLaren to a new audience, introducing technologies to the sports car market and to a new group of customers. The 570S GT4 is doing the same in the motorsport world, and will bring the opportunity to own and race a McLaren – previously limited to a very small number of people – to a much wider group.’

The track-only 570S GT4 shares the carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis architecture with the other models in the Sports Series. The bodywork is formed over wider track both front and rear to accommodate centre-locking cast magnesium alloy wheels shod with slick Pirelli racing tyres. Two-way adjustable motorsport dampers with coil-over springs are fitted front and rear, and an on-board air jacking system is fitted as standard.

With a 'pure focus on laptimes', the 570S GT4 features a unique aerodynamic package which includes a GT4-specification high level rear wing, mounted on aluminium pylons, a larger front splitter and reprofiled floor assembly. An additional front centre high temperature radiator sits below a GT3-inspired bonnet with radiator exit ducts. These upgrades have been designed to optimise the aerodynamic performance and cooling of the 570S GT4 to ensure it is able to perform in the ‘harshest race conditions’.

The McLaren designed and developed 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine is carried over from the road-going Sports Series model. The seven-speed shift gearbox is also familiar to the other models in the range, transferring power to the track via the rear wheels.

Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse will run one example of the 570S GT4 alongside the confirmed entry of the 650S GT3 with Factory Driver Rob Bell alongside Alaisdair McCaig. Driver details for the season will be announced shortly.

The 570S GT4 will make its public development debut at the opening round of the British GT Championship at Brands Hatch, UK over the weekend 16-17 April. It will be eligible for all GT4 homologated championships globally from the 2017 season, and is priced from £159,900 (ex works).

Further details for the 570S Sprint, including pricing, will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Ford invests £2.1 million in free young driver training

Ford has announced it will invest a further £2.1m in 2016 to provide free driver training to 7,000 18- to 24-year-olds across Europe.

That brings Ford’s total invested on training to £7.1 million through its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme in Europe since 2013. This year, Ford will offer the free driver training for the first time in Finland and Poland, and continue to provide training in the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain and Turkey.

Ford says that car crashes are the leading cause of death for Europeans aged 18 to 24-year-olds. Having already trained 13,500 novice drivers in Europe, the programme also highlights the risks posed by social media distractions such as texting and taking selfies at the wheel, as well as the dangers of drinking and driving, or driving after taking drugs.

“Too many young adults are dying in car crashes caused by a combination of inexperience and poor decision making,” said Jim Graham, manager, Ford DSFL. “With this new £2.1 million investment in young driver training for 2016, we can provide a further 7,000 young people with the skills and knowledge that could help save their lives.”

Ford has teamed with leading safety organisations across Europe including partnering with the AA Driving School, Brake and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the UK.

“Newly qualified drivers still have so much to learn about safety on the road so we strongly urge young drivers to take advantage of Ford DSFL training,” Graham said. “It’s fun, free, informative, and because we constantly re-evaluate what we teach, it’s always relevant.”

For more information, go to www.forddsfl.co.uk

Check out this cool video Ford has produced.. 

Minder Terry’s Capri to go under the hammer

Two famous motors from the classic TV series Minder, are set to go under the hammer.

H&H Classics will offer Arthur Daley’s Daimler in a forthcoming sale at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford alongside Terry McCann’s Ford Capri – the very same one that featured in the opening titles.

The Daimler (often mistaken for a Jaguar) has recently been re-finished in its original livery as part of a recent bodywork restoration and benefited from £5,000 worth of mechanical fettling at the hands of a marque specialist. Its odometer displays just 43,990 miles. In the mid-1980s actor George Cole, who played Daley, wanted to buy the car himself, and came close to doing so before it was given away in a TV Times competition. It is estimated to sell for £35,000 to £45,000.

Alongside the Daimler will be its automotive partner, a two-litre white Ford Capri driven by Terry McCann played by Dennis Waterman. The famous Ford was not only driven by Terry in the opening sequence but also at various times during the series. The Capri is believed to have come close to being crushed, but escaped and now rejuvenated, shows 88,700 miles on the clock. 

Its estimate of £65,000 to £85,000 could set a new world record for a two-litre model, highlighting the power of celebrity and provenance.

The original Minder show ran for ten series between 29 October 1979 and 10 March 1994, and starred Dennis Waterman as Terry McCann, an honest and likeable bodyguard (or minder) and George Cole as Arthur Daley, a dodgy used-car salesman and trader of pretty much anything on which a pound was to be made. 

The H&H Classics sale at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford will take place on Wednesday 20 April.

James Bond’s Aston Martin sells for £2.4million

An incredibly rare Aston Martin DB10 made for the latest James Bond film Spectre, sold under the hammer for an amazing £2,434,500.

The auction at Christie’s will provide funds to the Medecins Sans Frontieres charity. The bidding was described as ‘tense and exciting’ before a final bid of an whopping £2,434,500.

The buyer now owns a true piece of automotive history; the only Aston Martin DB10 to be made available for public sale. Celebrating the British brand’s half century with Bond, which started with the iconic DB5, the DB10 gives a glimpse of the future design direction for the next generation of Aston Martins. Production of the DB10 was strictly limited to 10 models of the bespoke sports car which was developed and hand-built by the designers, engineers and artisan craftspeople at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters in the UK for the latest Bond film, Spectre.

Eight of the DB10’s were modified for filming, but two of those produced were kept back as show cars for display purposes only and the DB10 auctioned is one of them.

The money raised by the auction will benefit Medecins Sans Frontieres. MSF - or ‘Doctors without Borders’ – is a global humanitarian aid organisation that provides medical care and support to victims of armed conflict, epidemics and other disasters.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “The DB10 is one of the rarest cars ever created. Only 10 will ever be made and this is the only one that will be made available for sale. It’s great to see this DB10 raising vital funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres, it is a fantastic charity that we are delighted to support”.

‘James Bond Spectre – The Live Auction’, was a unique collection of 10 lots which raised a total of £2,785,500 on the night. A further 14 lots are available in the online sale, which continues until 23 February, celebrating the release of the 24th Bond film on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD.

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.

TyreSafe targets mums-to-be to get babies home safely

A study has revealed that more than a quarter of new-born babies are making their first journey home from hospital on illegal or dangerous tyres.

 The shocking statistic comes from a TyreSafe survey of more than 100,000 tyres at the point of replacement conducted in partnership with Highways England.

With this in mind, TyreSafe - the UK's tyre safety organisation - is launching a brand new awareness campaign, 'Home safely on safe tyres', aimed at pregnant women, encouraging them to add CHECK TYRES to their pre-birth checklist in anticipation of the trips to and from hospital, before and after the arrival of their new-born babies.

While heavily-pregnant mums may not be able to carry out the checks themselves, they should ask a partner or local TyreSafe retailer to ensure their tyres' air pressure, condition and tread depth are safe and legal.

25-year old mum-to-be Janine McCarthy, is a vocal supporter of the campaign, having had a miraculous escape after a defective tyre on her car rapidly deflated, causing her to spin out of control and crash into the central reservation on a busy motorway. The car flipped six times before coming to a standstill. 

She said: "I remember the back wheels of the car skidding so I applied the brake gently, but as I did this, the car skidded right round out of control. 

I could see on-coming traffic and I panicked, braking harder. It caused the car to tip and start to roll and smash into the central metal fencing. It was terrifying. Witnesses told me afterwards that the car smashed into the barrier, flew to the opposite barrier, and then rolled down into the middle of a field.

I recall my arms being crossed in front of my face and the airbag going off. I felt dizzy and remember thinking 'this is it, I'm going to die'. 

When the car came to a standstill I laughed out of shock that I was ok. I was petrified that something had happened to my baby; I was nearly three months pregnant at the time and had been waiting for my first scan. I started screaming 'help me' as I noticed blood. The emergency services told me they couldn't believe I had walked away from the crash alive." 

Janine was taken by ambulance to hospital for checks and an emergency scan. Thankfully she escaped the ordeal with just minor cuts and bruises - and her unborn baby was absolutely fine. Janine is now looking forward to the birth, expected in March.

She explained: "TyreSafe's campaign is so important and I want everyone to listen and act on the message 'Home safely on safe tyres'. I was lucky, but defective and illegal tyres can ruin lives. As new mums-to-be, we pack our hospital bags with everything we need and check our baby car seats - but we need to add CHECK TYRES to our pre-baby checklist. There is nothing more important than getting our new-born babies home safely."

For further information on the 'Home safely on safe tyres' campaign visit the TyreSafe website at www.tyresafe.org.

Fiat 500X strikes a pose in Zoolander 2

Fiat’s 500X has starred alongside supermodel Derek Zoolander in the eagerly-anticipated “Zoolander 2” sequel.

At a fan screening of the new film in Rome, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles was present as a main partner on the red carpet, with a Fiat 500X finished in its special Tri-Coat Yellow livery. Produced by Paramount Pictures and shot predominantly in Rome, the film brings the Fiat 500X together for the first time with one of the most famous film and fashion characters.

The collaboration between Fiat and Paramount has also produced a new Fiat 500X advertisement called "Selfie” in which Zoolander fools around with a rather special camera.. a safety camera. Driving his yellow Fiat 500X, he poses for photos by the safety camera as though he were on a fashion shoot, showing off his best expressions, especially his mythical ‘Blue Steel’ pose. It’s an unconventional fashion shoot which Zoolander thinks shows him at his dazzling best but which is ultimately interrupted by the police.

Zoolander 2 is set for a UK release on February 12, 2016. The Fiat 500X range starts at £14,595 OTR.

Kia scoops two iF Design Awards

Two of Kia's newest models have both won an iF Design Award.

The Kia Sportage and Optima were honoured in the ‘Automobiles/Vehicles/Bikes’ category, where the product as well as overall design quality, are considered by the independent jury, evaluating the cars on their finish, innovation, environmental impact and safety.

Since it was launched in 1953, the annual iF Design Award has become an important prize in design. The award has its origins in the ‘Formgerechte Industrieerzeugnisse’ (Good Industrial Design) product shows initiated by Germany’s Hannover Messe, and is now described as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious design competitions.

Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia Motors UK commented: “We are delighted to accept these awards for the all-new Kia Sportage and Optima as proof of our design teams’ consistent efforts to develop prize-winning designs. The new Sportage features a distinctive new face, and the elegant Optima saloon highlights other, different facets of Kia’s design. These are important flagship models for us, clearly demonstrating the design-led transformation of the Kia model range in recent years.”

With the latest generation of the Sportage, Kia has redesigned its compact SUV adding a ‘high quality interior’ combining ‘modern elegance with high-quality materials and practical features’. The all-new Kia Optima saloon features ‘modern surface details, sharp styling lines, and a long, lean silhouette’ giving the car an even bolder on-road presence than its predecessors.

The official presentation ceremony for the 2016 iF Design Awards will take place on 26 February 2016 at the Munich Creative Business Week.

Nissan develops X-Trail bobsleigh

Nissan has drawn on the design and technology of its X-Trail SUV to transform a bobsleigh into a sleek seven-seater.

The inaugural run of the world’s first seven-seater bobsleigh was held at the historic Olympic track in Innsbruck, Austria - piloted by British Olympic medallist Sean Olsson.

Nissan worked with bobsleigh experts to transform a traditional four-man sled into the seven-seater, capable of reaching speeds of over 60mph pulling a G-force of 4.5G. The bobsleigh mimics the Nissan X-Trail’s design, with a ‘distinctive front aspect, headlamps and seven-seater option’. It gives passengers a 360-degree, bird’s-eye view to capture all of the action - identical to the X-Trail’s Around View Monitor system.

Darryl Scriven, Design Manager Nissan Design Europe (NDE), teamed up with expert bobsled manufacturer Diego Menardi and sport expert Ian Richardson to morph car design with Olympic aerodynamics. Scriven said: “We wanted to give the opportunity to experience first-hand the adventurous nature of our crossover segment through the thrill and excitement of Olympic bobsleighing.

Nissan Design Europe took inspiration from the shape and character of our X-Trail to create the X-Trail Bobsleigh, which was handcrafted by Diego Menardi at his workshop in Cortina. The outcome mimics the fresh ideas and technologies from the brand's ground-breaking crossover models.”

The seven-seater was developed using sketches and computer-aided design (CAD). The detail on the bobsleigh nose was crafted to express the X-Trail’s V-motion grille and capture the sculpture of the hood character lines. This work was complemented by Diego Menardi’s structural lengthening of the cabin to accommodate seven passengers.

Last Land Rover Defender rolls off the line

The very last Land Rover Defender has rolled off the production line in Solihull.

To mark the occasion Land Rover invited more than 700 current and former Solihull employees involved in the production of Series Land Rover and Defender vehicles to celebrate the end of a remarkable run for the Defender.

Reg number H166 HUE, a nod to first Series 1 Defender from 1948 which featured the registration plate HUE 166, was celebrated as it came to the end of the line. Sixty-eight years young, the Defender was launched at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show, and was still going strong, however tighter regulations on vehicle emissions has finally caught up with the automotive icon.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand. The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender, among all our employees, but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful future to look forward to."

Exported all over the world, owners range from the Queen to James Bond, however the last model (H166 HUE) is destined for JLR’s Heritage Collection. The last of the current Defender vehicles includes an original part that has been used on Soft Top specifications since 1948 - the hood cleat. The vehicle will be housed in the Jaguar Land Rover Collection.

At the same time, Land Rover announced a new Heritage Restoration Programme, which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line. A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will oversee the restoration of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe. The first vehicles will go on sale in July 2016.

Mazda RX-VISION concept wins design award

Mazda’s new sports car concept has won ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year’ at the Festival Automobile International.

First revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the rotary-powered sports car concept features ’exquisitely proportioned dimensions and stunning lines’ says Mazda.

The concept award goes to the vehicle that best embodies pure design creativity and emerging trends. Representing a ‘vision’ of the future, the concept continue’s Mazda’s ‘KODO: Soul of Motion’ design philosophy, with smooth-flowing proportions hinting at the performance of the car while paying tribute to Mazda’s heritage of front engine, rear-wheel drive sports cars. The rotary powertrain’s compactness makes characteristics like the low bonnet possible.

Nominated alongside the Bentley Exp10 Speed 6, Peugeot Fractal and Porsche Mission E at this year’s Festival Automobile International, Mazda’s international design chief, Ikuo Maeda accepted the award Tuesday evening together with Kevin Rice, Mazda’s European design director, Julien Montousse, his counterpart at Mazda North America, and Mazda designer Norihito Iwao.

The RX-VISION will be on display at the Festival Automobile International’s concept car exhibition in Paris at the Hotel National des Invalides until 31 January.

One-off Infiniti Q30 sculpture at London Art Fair

Infiniti has unveiled a Q30 with a difference the opening of the 2016 London Art Fair at the Islington Business Centre.

 Located just outside the show's entrance is a special Q30, to which 48,000 copper tacks have been painstakingly adhered, covering half of the hatchback's entire bodywork.

Created with the help of contemporary artist Rachel Ducker, the sculpture is made more dynamic with the addition of one of the human like steel wire figures for which she is renowned, leaning out of the side window. The female figure is topped with long two-tone coloured hair, which is flowing outwards as if it were blowing in the wind.

From one side the Q30 appears untouched while the other side is completely covered in the copper tacks. From a distance the car seems to be covered in a layer of long copper coloured hair but to the touch the sharp heads of the tacks can be felt, just like a bed of nails. 

These tacks were specifically chosen due to the ability of the copper colour to radiate a variety of different shades depending on the light conditions and angle of viewing; similar to the Liquid Copper Q30 launch colour.

Each tack took approximately 10 seconds to adhere to the body of the Q30, which means that that aspect of the sculpture took around 8000 minutes (or 133 hours) to create.

Rachel Ducker, a self-confessed car nut, spends most of her time living either in Oxford or Marrakech these days, but made a special appearance at the show to not only reveal the Q30 but to also meet with the Infiniti Car designer Simon Cox to discuss the thinking behind the project. 

Rachel stated: "My work is all about energy and movement and to put my figures alongside such a well-designed car as the Q30, gave me the opportunity to combine both of my passions. Art is all about what people see as they look at the display, whatever it may be. I do not believe in giving a descriptive list of what it is supposed to mean or what it means to me. Everyone sees things differently depending on the mood of the individual or how the light portrays the image at that particular time." 

Simon Cox, Infiniti design director based in Paddington London, had a similar background to Rachel, studying sculpture and jewellery design, before moving onto cars. Simon was both excited and intrigued to see how the car looked. "It is amazing to see how the copper tacks provide a dramatic effect to how the light reflects across the bonnet and down the shoulder lines. It creates a striking flow as you move around the car. I really like Rachel's work and how she portrays movement to bring her models to life."

The one-off Q30 sculpture will be on display outside the entrance to the 2016 London Art Fair in Islington until Sunday 24 January.

Renault-Nissan to launch autonomous drive by 2020

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has confirmed it will launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous drive technology in the next four years.

The global car group confirmed the range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities will roll-out in the United States, Europe, Japan and China through 2020. The technology will be installed on mainstream, mass-market cars ‘at affordable prices’. The car group has hired new executive to oversee connectivity and connected car services globally.

Safety and efficiency of vehicles across the Renault-Nissan Alliance has ‘increased dramatically’, with fatal and serious injuries in Japanese Nissan vehicles decreasing 61 percent in 20 years. Fatal and serious injuries in Renault vehicles in France decreased 80 percent in 15 years. Autonomous drive is expected to help further reduce driver error, which is responsible for up to 90 percent of all fatalities.

2016 will mark the debut of vehicles with ‘single-lane control’ a feature that allows cars to drive autonomously on motorways, including in heavy, stop-and-go traffic. In 2018, Renault-Nissan will launch vehicles with ‘multiple-lane control’ which can autonomously negotiate hazards and change lanes during motorway driving. And 2020 will see the launch of ‘intersection autonomy’ which can navigate city intersections and heavy urban traffic without driver intervention.

Later this year the Alliance will launch a new automotive mobile app which allows remote interaction with your car. Next year, it will launch the first Alliance Multimedia System providing new multimedia and navigation features, as well as improved smartphone integration and wireless map updates.

“Renault-Nissan Alliance is deeply committed to the twin goals of ‘zero emissions and zero fatalities'” Renault-Nissan Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said at the Renault-Nissan Silicon Valley Research Center. “That’s why we are developing autonomous driving and connectivity for mass-market, mainstream vehicles on three continents.”

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a partnership between Paris-based Renault and Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and have been strategic partners since 1999.

Faraday Future unveils FFZERO1 Concept at CES

Automotive newcomer, Faraday Future (FF), has introduced its plan to rethink mobility, unveiling the FFZERO1 Concept, which is making its public debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The company’s first ever concept is a high performance electric vehicle built upon FF’s Variable Platform Architecture (VPA), a modular engineering system optimised for electric vehicles, on which all future FF production vehicles will be based. 

The VPA is designed to minimise production costs, deliver quality and safety, increase speed to market, and support a range of different vehicle types and sizes.  

The high performance FFZERO1 Concept was applied to the VPA in order to maximise the platform’s potential and showcase its flexibility. 

It features adaptive personalisation, seamless transfer of custom vehicle configurations, access to live images and real time data visualisation. The smartphone has been directly integrated into the steering column, enabling it to serve as the interface between the vehicle and the driver in – and outside – of the car. 

The FFZERO1 Concept could be fully autonomous, meeting its driver at the track and perhaps taking a few perfect laps on its own to compare with, and improve upon, its driver’s performance. 

The interior, primarily white with a carbon fibre finish, features a NASA-inspired single-seat configuration, offering a comfortable, weightless body position, says FF, holding the driver at a perfect 45-degree angle, thereby helping to promote circulation. 

The propeller-shaped, asymmetric instrument panel is a theme that will be incorporated into the future FF design DNA. It runs seamlessly into a Halo Safety System with integrated head and neck support, oxygen, and water supply fed to the driver through a prototype helmet. The system could also gather biometric data about its driver. 

Utilising lightweight materials and composites on the VPA platform, the FF design team experimented with new driver-focused proportions, pushing the canopy forward for a perfectly aerodynamic teardrop profile. 

“The FFZERO1 Concept is an amplified version of the design and engineering philosophies informing FF’s forthcoming production vehicles,” said Richard Kim, head of design, Faraday Future. “This project liberated our designers and inspired new approaches for vehicle forms, proportions and packaging that we can apply to our upcoming production models.” 

Powered by four motors, one at each wheel, the FFZERO1 is built for the track. If developed for limited production, it will have more than 1000 horsepower and will accelerate from zero to 60 in under three seconds, with a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour. 

FF has also announced a strategic cooperation with global technology brand, Letv. The two companies will build advanced electric vehicles by bringing together resources from four domains: technology, automotive, internet and cloud, and entertainment content. 

Headquartered in California, the FF team is composed of experts in automotive, aerospace and technology fields who believe the future mobility experience should integrate seamlessly to the connected age. 

The company plans to invest 1 billion US Dollars in the creation of a manufacturing facility in North Las Vegas. The company is set to break ground on this phase one investment in the next few weeks, and ultimately employ 4,500 people.

Ferrari floats on Italian Stock Exchange

Ferrari shares have begun trading on the Borsa Italiana (Italian Stock Exchange) in Milan.

“Ferrari: A new milestone, a new start”, these were the words Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne inscribed in the guest book of the Italian Stock Exchange during the Ferrari Listing Ceremony on the MTA. 

Raffaele Jerusalmi, CEO of Borsa Italiana presided over the ceremony, which took place a few months after Ferrari’s debut on the New York Stock Exchange last October 21, while Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy, was the guest of honour.

The stock began trading after Marchionne, FCA Chairman John Elkann, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa and Ferrari Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari rang the traditional opening bell.

Thereafter Marchionne made a brief speech, during which he underlined the fact that Ferrari’s listing on the MTA (Mercato Telematico Azionario) represents a new start, rather than a point of arrival and that its now complete spin-off from FCA reaffirms the independence Ferrari has always enjoyed within the group.

He highlighted the brand’s Italian heritage and thanked John Elkann and Piero Ferrari, heirs of Giovanni Agnelli and Enzo Ferrari, who in 1969 forged a historic alliance between their two car firms.

Marchionne also made reference to the forthcoming Formula 1 season, joking with Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene that he expects Ferrari to return to its rightful place at the top of the sport.

The ceremony concluded with remarks by Prime Minister Renzi, who was then presented with a 1:8 scale sized model of the most recent Formula 1 car, the SF15-T.

X-Men inspired Kia Sportage created ahead of Apocalypse

Kia is to unveil a special, one-off X-Men-inspired Sportage as part of its ongoing collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox and the X-Men movie franchise. 

The 2nd generation Kia X-Car has been created to promote the new X-Men: Apocalypse film and Kia’s sponsorship of the Australian Open 2016 tennis championship.

Inspired by X-Men character Mystique, the 2nd generation Kia X-Car mimics the appearance and powers of the famous shape-shifter. X-Men fans are invited to watch the X-Car shape-shift in a special on-line video starring Kia’s ‘superhuman’ global brand ambassador Rafael Nadal by visiting https://www.allaboutsportage.com/ from 4 January, 2016. 

The Sportage, driven by Nadal in his efforts to take on the X-Men’s arch-villain Apocalypse, transforms from its standard state into custom-designed bodywork with a special textured matte and gloss blue paint finish, racing wheels and tyres along with red and yellow bodywork highlights.

Ahead of the X-Men: Apocalypse’s global release in cinemas in May 2016, the brand will take the covers off the new car before the start of the Australian Open in January in Melbourne, where it will remain on public display throughout the tournament (18-31 January) before making appearances at various international motor shows and fan events in the run up to the film’s premiere.

The Sportage-based Kia X-Car is the company’s second show car project in collaboration with Fox, following the Wolverine-inspired Sorento that was shown at the Australian Open 2015 earlier this year. 

The all-new Kia Sportage was revealed earlier this year, featuring an all-new exterior design, a host of advanced new technologies and enhanced quality. It is set to go on sale in early 2016.