Motoring News

New lightweight E Type Jaguar revealed

One of the most iconic cars of all time has to be the E type Jaguar and as a classic car investment they are extremely popular. Now if you have a million dollars spare you can get hold of the new lightweight E type Jaguar that has just been released after years in production.

However you had better be quick because there are only 6 available.

The new examples complete the ‘Special GT E-type’ project that was started in 1963. Just 12 of the planned 18-car original run were built. The remaining six chassis numbers are set to appear on the newly created examples.

Designed for racing, the Lightweight E-types will be built to the exact specification of the original cars, allowing them to be used in historic racing events.

Power comes from an aluminium-block 3.8-litre straight six engine, which turns out 335bhp and 280lb ft of torque. It drives through a four-speed manual gearbox and is based on the engine that powered the D-type to Le Mans victory in 1957.

Crucial to the E-type’s design is its lightweight aluminium bodyshell, which saves 114kg over the standard E-type. Jaguar engineers have decided to eschew modern construction methods, as used on the aluminium-bodiedF-type and XJ, in favour of the original techniques.

Inner and outer surfaces of the car were digitally scanned, with most body panels then being reproduced at Jaguar’s Whitley engineering centre. With the bodywork complete, the cars will be mated to the engine’s subframe before being transferred to the company’s Browns Lane site to be completed.

The Lightweight E-type features twin-wishbone suspension at the front and an independent wide-based wishbone set-up at the rear, tuned to perform best under racing conditions. The E-type’s rack and pinion steering is fitted and the car sits on 15-inch wheels. An aluminium hard-top is also included.

Inside, aluminium bucket seats feature in a functional-looking cabin, which has a wood-trimmed steering wheel and push-button starter.

The project is being overseen by Jaguar Heritage, part of Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Operations division. The first of the new Lightweight E-types, dubbed Car Zero, will be shown at Pebble Beach before six other examples are built.

Jaguar design boss Ian Callum said: “With the Lightweight E-type, our focus as a design team has been to ensure justice was done to the original work of Sir William Lyons and Malcolm Sayer.

“I believe the result is a new Lightweight E-type that is as stunning now as the originals would have been when they were new.”

Source – http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/pebble-beach/jaguar-reveals-1m-lightweight-e-type-ahead-pebble-beach-debut

I think the word here is stunning and I am sure these will be snapped up pretty quick.

Jaguar is producing some fantastic cars at the moment and if you want to experience the pleasure of driving on of these  we offer some fantastic Jaguars for hire in many locations throughout Europe.

If you want to find out more about the rebirth of this car legend then watch this quick video.

Supercars in London Invasion

There is an invasion of Supercars in London this August. The cars have been brought over by wealthy guys and girls from the Middle East who make the trip to London every year to hang out and do some shopping.

They bring with them a variety of supercar models to parade up and down the high class streets of West London.

To join in the fun get a quote to hire a supercar in london or other European city by contacting out reservation team.

The most outrageous car to make the trip over this time around is the Mercedes G63 AMG, an enormous £370,000 off-roaderwith not four but SIX wheels.

A 220mph Pagani Huayra, worth more than £1million, has also attracted attention from tourists and passersby.

There is a gold Range Rover, various Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis and Ferraris, numerous Bugatti Veyrons and a 1970s Datsun.

The rich Arabs stay in the best hotels and empty their wallets in London’s most expensive shops, but they also cause problems with their unique supercars.

Residents in affluent Knightsbridge have complained they are behaving anti-socially, revving the cars and treating the exclusive area as their personal racetrack.

Panda Morgan-Thomas, a management consultant, said: ‘I am not angry. I am just exhausted.

‘After a relatively calm three years, the last few days have seen the return of supercars to Knightsbridge.

‘They are again racing down Sloane Street from late afternoons until 3 or 4 in the morning. (sounds like fun :))

‘We honestly thought we had made progress but it seems as though local residents are in for another sleepless August.’

The flash holidaymakers, predominantly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, arrived in London around a week ago, and a number of the supercars have already been spotted with parking tickets, while others have been driving around with incorrect registration plates.

 But despite residents dreading ‘The Season’, there is one group of people salivating at the supercars and leaping to the defence of the drivers – the Carparazzi.

When the wealthy Arabs arrive in London, car enthusiasts show up with their cameras to film and photographer the million-pound motors.

Paul Wallace, who runs the YouTube channel Supercars of London, played down their bad behaviour.

He said: ‘August always proves to be the best time of year for petrolheads to see their dream machines on the road.
Supercars swamp Knightsbridge

‘Having seen the change in driving styles and cars, I still can’t believe the police presence and residents kicking up a fuss.

‘For four weeks out of 52, these super-wealthy individuals come and pump millions of pounds into the UK economy.

‘Not only that, they fulfil many car fans’ dream by bringing super rare Bugatti Veyrons, or special edition Paganis.

‘I feel sorry for these guys coming here with their expensive toys as they get harassed by police.

‘I have been filming all summer and rarely see them drive more than 25 per cent throttle, or make any noise at all.

‘I don’t see why the residents of Knightsbridge don’t use this influx in foreign cars as an excuse to go on holiday and escape one of the busiest, loudest cities in the world for a couple of weeks of the year.’

Source – ://uk.news.yahoo.com/drive-angry–streets-of-knightsbridge-swamped-with-supercars-as-millionaires-descend-on-the-capital—leaving-locals-annoyed-133839531.html#AGTbDUq

Here is a quick vid showing some of the supercars in london that were seen last summer

 

Maserati Celebrates 100 years of Car Making

This year sees the 100 year anniversary of Maserati and they are celebrating with a special exhibition that they have claimed will be “the greatest exhibition of Maserati cars ever staged anywhere in the world”. This is to be held in Modena Italy.

Along with that the GranTurismo and GranCabrio have had Centennial editions launched this July

Headlining the package of anniversary modifications is a pair of special colours – namely Rosso Magma and Inchiostro Blue – intended to pay tribute to the colours in the Maserati logo, which in turn reference those associated with the company’s 1914 birthplace, Bologna. The vibrant hues will be joined by a choice of four new finishes to the various alloy wheel designs, each featuring the marque’s new medal-shaped centenary logo on the centre caps.

Although the 460HP output of the familiar 4.7-litre V8 from the standard MC models remains unchanged, further cosmetic tweaks have been made inside. Contrasting decorative inserts corresponding to the chosen exterior colour are applied to the seats, which also have the Trident motif embroided into the headrests. Additionally, there are carbonfibre inserts for the dashboard and seat surrounds, and the Centennial logo is repeated on the kickplates to evoke memories ofMaserati’s glorious racing history each time the driver enters the car.

Source – http://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/celebrating-100-years-together-maserati-granturismo-mc-stradale-and-grancabrio-mc

Maserati seem to go from strength to strength and will undoubtedly be producing high quality cars for the next 100 years.

Porsche Cayenne 2014 Gets New Look

When the Cayenne was launched I have to admit I wasn’t one of its biggest fans in terms of looks. However over the last few years I think Porsche have done a much better job in making this car look more attractive. This trend has continued with the new Porsche Cayenne 2014 makeover revealing a more sleeker image that is sure to appeal.

The changes are not just cosmetic because Porsche has also announced a whole host of tweaks designed to upgrade performance, comfort and economy.

Along with this a new hybrid model is due for release later in the year. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid is a bit more three-dimensional. It’s the world’s plug-in hybrid premium SUV, says Porsche. The plug-in Cayenne adopts a lithium-ion battery pack, and its 94bhp electric motor doubles the output of the outgoing hybrid Cayenne’s e-motor. Coupled with the supercharged 3.0-litre V6, the E-Hybrid’s total output is 410bhp and 435lb ft, which is good for 0-62mph in 5.9secs. So pretty rapid, but that’s not all.

Charge the E-Hybrid from the grid, and you can drive in electric mode for up to 22 miles, though not if you stick close to EV mode’s 77mph top speed. And because the E-Hybrid gets to complete a chunk of the fuel economy test cycle on zero emissions electric power, without any consideration of the carbon impact of its generation, the E-Hybrid emits just 79g/km of CO2, and supposedly returns 83mpg. Porsche GB is clearly pushing the E-Hybrid model, pricing it below the outgoing hybrid at £61,474 – the same as the S Diesel.

As for the £93,763 Cayenne Turbo, the 4.8-litre twin-turbo summons 513bhp, an extra 20 horses compared with the previous model. The vital statistics are 0-62mph in 4.5secs, 173mph v-max, 24.5mpg and 267g/km on the biggest tyres.

Enough stats already: talk me through the other tweaks!

The bonnet design and front wheelarches are revised, while bi-Xenon headlamps become standard with those distinctive, four-spot LED daytime running lights.

The new central grilles overlay active air flaps: when not needed for cooling, they close to reduce drag. The Cayenne now gets Porsche’s coasting function, which decouples the engine and transmission when you lift on the motorway, helping you maintain precious momentum without it being sapped by engine braking. Porsche claims the ride quality is more comfortable, without any negative impact on dynamic ability.

The rump looks wider and lower, thanks to new bumpers and a cleaner number plate surround. The S’s rectangular, single barrel exhausts have also bowed out, and the rear lamps are redesigned. Inside, a 918-inspired multi-functional sports wheel with paddles is standard equipment, as is a powered tailgate, front and rear park assist and cruise control.

What about the cars Europeans actually buy – the diesels?

Peak output of the base 3.0-litre V6 diesel climbs from 241 to 258bhp and fuel economy improves to up to 42.8mpg. Coming down are CO2 emissions – now 173-179g/km, down at least two UK company car tax brackets – while 0-62mph dips three-tenths to 7.3secs. Outputs of the 4.2-litre V8-powered diesel S look pretty much unchanged, though the 0-62mph sprint drops three-tenths to 5.4secs, C02 dips to 209g/km and fuel economy hits 35.3mpg.

The petrol-powered Cayenne S takes a big step forward, with the old 4.8-litre V8 downsized to a 3.6-litre bi-turbo V6. The V6, with 414bhp and 406lb ft, gives you two miles more to the gallon, powers to 62mph from standstill in 5.5secs, and emits up to 229g/km of CO2. A Cayenne S will set you back £60,21

Source – http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Porsche-Cayenne-facelift-2014-first-official-pictures/

With these new changes the Porsche Cayenne looks set to become a popular choice in the ever expanding SUV market.

 

The Range Rover Sport SVR Claims Record at Nuremburg

Here at HPI we are excited about the upcoming release of the Range Rover Sport SVR and being able to offer it to our customers.

That excitement has just been increased when we heard that the Range Rover Sport SVR had just created a new track record at the Nuremburg race track for a SUV.

Apparently the time of 8m 14 seconds was enough the take the title pipping the Porsche Turbo Maca that clocked 8m 15s earlier in the year.

If you want to see how it perfomed here is a video taken at the Nuremburg Track

 

The SVR will become Land Rover’s flagship performance model when it goes on sale next year. The car is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, the same unit as found in Jaguar’s R-S models, tuned to develop 542bhp.

That’s some 39bhp more than the existing top-spec supercharged V8 model, meaning performance figures for the SVR are likely to improve on the Range Rover Sport’s 0-62mph sprint time of 5.3 seconds. Sources have previously suggested the firm has targeted a sprint time of around 4.5 seconds.

Land Rover says the lap was completed using a production-spec car, with engineering chief Mike Cross saying: “The Nürburgring is a benchmark for vehicle development and testing, and cars become stronger, more durable and faster over its 13 miles and 70-plus corners. We wanted to see whether an SUV could behave like a performance car in this challenging environment.”

Created by Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Vehicle Operations division, the Range Rover Sport SVR is expected to feature tuned suspension, software changes and a more powerful braking system than the current Range Rover Sport.

Despite its on-road credentials, Land Rover has also said the model will come with a twin-speed transfer case for both high and low gear ratios, as well as a wading depth of 850mm.

Source – http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/range-rover-sport-svr-takes-nuerburgring-record-suvs

I don’t about you but that looks like a winner to me. If you can’t wait to next year we still have all the latest models of Ranger Rover Sport to hire in many locations across the Uk and the Europe.

Ferrari 250 GTO up for auction next month

If money was no object and you want to splash out on a classic luxury car, then bidding on the this Ferrari 250 GTO in August is a must!

An example of the most famous and sought-after classic cars in the world, the Ferrari 250 GTO, is being sold at auction on August 14. With the market buoyant, it might even beat last year’s record price when one was sold in the US for $52 million (£30.5 million).

The 1962 250 GTO is said to have been in one family’s care for 49 years, from 1965 until now. It is being sold at the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction, which is part of the Monterey Peninsula Car Week in California from August 11-17, which includes events such as the famed Pebble Beach concours d’élégance and events at the nearby Laguna Seca racing circuit. This year, in addition to collections of mouth watering cars and displays of car culture, there are special events for owners of significant cars from Porsche and Lamborghini.

Such is the lure of the event among classic car enthusiasts and collectors that major auction houses all hold huge, high-profile sales during Car Week.

The 250 GTO was designed to race and the O of its designation stands for “omologato” or homologation special. The competition rules stipulated that 100 examples had to be built, although Ferrari somehow got away with making only 39 of them.

The Maranello Rosso Collection car, chassis number 3851 GT, was the 19th 250 GTO Berlinetta in sequence and was completed on September 11, 1962. It was delivered to the French racer Jo Schlesser, to be co-driven by himself and French skiing champion Henri Oreiller in the 1962 Tour de France Automobile road race. The pair challenged for victory and finished second overall. The car was then crashed during a race at Montlhery and was returned to Maranello for repair, before being sold to Italian gentleman driver Paolo Colombo before the 1963 racing season.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/10983614/Ferrari-250-GTO-at-auction.html

Let’s take a closer look at the Bentley Continental GT Speed convertible

Bentley are known for their sleek design and luxurious style, but they are now showing us they can become real contenders in the speed stakes too.

What is it?

Subtle tweaks to the Bentley Continental GT Speed convertible mirror those made to its fixed-head sibling, with some mild styling changes and fractionally more power teased out of the mighty W12 engine under the bonnet.

Just as the previous revision to the Continental GT Speed convertible featured incremental increases in power, torque and top speed, this new variant nudges the performance game forward once more.

The 6.0-litre W12 powerplant, augmented via electronic management and turbo pressure fettling, now produces 626bhp and 607lb ft, increases of 10bhp and 17lb ft respectively over its predecessor.

Although the GT Speed convertible offers the hair-ruffling exhilaration and posing potential of luxury roof-down motoring, it does narrowly lose out to the hardtop version in terms of performance, even if the differences are miniscule.

Replacing the coupé’s steel roof with a seven-bow, three-layer fabric hood, and the accompanying operating mechanism and additional body reinforcement, has plumped the GT Speed convertible’s kerb weight by 175kg compared to its sibling, to 2495kg.

Yet it is just one-tenth of a second slower than the GT Speed to 60mph, at 4.1sec, and loses a scant 3mph at the uppermost echelons, with the maximum speed pegging at 203mph according to Bentley’s official figures.

It’s unlikely that any but the most inquisitive owners would seek to take their GT Speed Convertible past the double ton, but the top-end figures mean plenty when there’s bragging rights at stake in the private members’ bar or at the golf club.

What is it like?

It’d be easy to assume that a vehicle weighing close to 2.5 tonnes and lacking the structural rigidity provided by a fixed roof might struggle to keep its considerable mass under the kind of consummate control that Bentley likes its cars to display.

But the Continental GT Speed Convertible is remarkably composed over most road surfaces. Occasionally you feel imperfections that perhaps wouldn’t trouble the coupé, but for the most part the Bentley feels exceptionally well managed.

Body control is surprisingly composed, particularly through fast flowing corners. Ambitiously attacked slower, tighter bends offer an occasional reminder of this car’s size and weight.

Considerably slower than the car itself is its fabric roof, which can be lowered or raised in 25sec at speeds of up to 20mph, so you’d better hope the weather turns at the exact moment you’re stuck in slow-moving traffic or idling at a junction.

Roof down, it’s only natural that a good deal more of the W12’s gruff burble is noticeable than in the coupé. Engage Sport mode and the exhaust note is considerably more aggressive and, after a while, can be quite jarring.

Better to leave it in standard Drive mode. The control of wind noise intrusion into the cabin is very impressive, with occupants able to maintain a measured conversational tone at all time, enhancing the chilled-out grace with which the Continental GT Speed Convertible goes about its business

Should I buy one?

The price differential between the fixed-head Continental GT Speed and this drop-top is £15,700, and that’s before you’ve started piling on options; our test car weighed in with £30,380 of cost extras, taking the overall price to £202,780.

But it’s what the Bentley can do, rather than what it costs, that makes it stands out here. The price tag is unlikely to be the major consideration for those who can realistically consider buying a Continental GT Speed Convertible. Indeed, Bentley reckons the sales split between coupé and drop-top is roughly 50:50.

The Bentley’s sheer heft and blunt-force power delivery means those seeking a rapier-sharp driving experience should look elsewhere. It doesn’t prevent the convertible from offering enormous giggles when the mood occasionally takes you, although luxurious cruising remains its main asset.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible


Price £172,400; 0-60mph 4.1sec; Top speed 203mph; Economy 19.0mpg; CO2 347g/km; Kerb weight 2495kg; Engine type, cc W12, 5998cc, twin-turbo petrol; Installation front, longitudinal, 4WD; Power 626bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 607lb ft at 2000rpm; Gearbox 8-spd automatic

Source http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bentley/continental-gt-speed/first-drives/2014-bentley-continental-gt-speed-convertible-f

New Aston Martin V12 Roadster Launched

As one of our more popular brands we always get excited when we hear a new model is due for release and the V12 Roadster S is set to be as stunning as the rest of the Aston Martin range:

You have to hand it to Aston Martin. Its entry-level V8 Vantage may be nearly a decade old, but the British automaker never tires of rolling out ever more powerful versions. Where the original packed a 4.3-liter V8 derived from a Jaguar design and producing 380 horsepower, this latest version packs 565 hp to become the company’s quickest and fastest roadster to date, not to mention its most powerful.

Following the debut of the V12 Vantage S coupe, the new V12 Vantage S Roadster packs the most powerful iteration of Aston’s ubiquitous 6.0-liter V12 engine to date. Equipped with CNC-machined combustion chambers and hollow camshafts, unburdened of 44 pounds of excess weight and mated to Gaydon’s latest Graziano-developed Sportshift III seven-speed sequential gearbox, that engine is capable of propelling the open-top rocket to 60 in 3.9 seconds en route to a top speed of 201 miles per hour. That’s considerably quicker than the flagship Vanquish Volante, which runs to 60 in 4.1 seconds and tops out at 183 mph, painting the V12 Vantage S Roadster as Aston’s most performance-focused droptop to date.

It’s also got a flatter and fatter torque curve than the previous V12 Vantage Roadster, three-stage adaptive damping, three-stage stability control and two-stage ABS, carbon-ceramic disc brakes and a lightweight exhaust derived from the pipes on the One-77. Like what you see? There are more details to digest in the press release below, including a full range of customization options from the Q by Aston Martin catalog.

See the car in action in this aston martin video:

As always Hemingway are proud to be among the first to be able to offer stunning new models such as the V12 Roadster first in Europe. Contact us today to find out when you can hire an Aston Martin from us!

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/16/aston-martin-v12-vantage-s-roadster-official/

 

Are you part of the 40% of luxury car drivers that would own an EV?

Would you own an electric car or a hybrid? More people are making the change and turning to EV or hybrids, but interestingly, we are seeing a higher percentage of luxury car owners coming round to the idea.

Almost 40 per cent of luxury car owners in the UK say they would buy, or seriously consider buying, an electric vehicle capable of driving 300 miles (483km) on a single charge from their brand.

UK website WeLoveAnyCar asked 24,227 Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz owners if they would consider an electric car with a 300-mile range, all other factors (including price, style, options and performance) being equal, and found that four in 10 responded positively.

BMW owners reacted the most favourably, with 17 per cent saying they would buy an EV that met those criteria. BMW has been among the most active of the luxury brands in the electric segment, having launched its i3 city car as well as the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

Between 12 and 14 per cent of Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz owners said they would also buy an electric car with a 300-mile range from their brand. Additionally, approximately one quarter of owners from each brand said they would give serious thought to such a vehicle.

Electric technology still faces an uphill battle, however, with many owners hesitant to make the switch to EV or completely opposed to the idea.

Seventeen per cent of Jaguar owners said they would never buy an electric Jag even if it matched the price, style and performance of an internal combustion engined model. Between 12 and 13 per cent of owners from the German trio said they would never purchase such a vehicle, while between 28 and 30 per cent of those surveyed responded ‘No, I don’t think so’.

The Tesla Model S is the only production EV in the world with a single-charge range in excess of 483km. The 85kWh Model S, which is priced from $111,807 in Australia, claims a range of 502km.

Source http://www.caradvice.com.au/295301/almost-40-per-cent-of-luxury-car-owners-would-consider-an-ev-study/

BMW to invest $1 Billion in Mexico plant

A few weeks ago we told you about luxury car makers opening up show rooms in poorer countries. Rolls Royce have moved into Cambodia as the market for luxury cars grows. This week we are hearing that BMW have invested a vast amount of money in building a plant in Mexico.

BMW revealed a $1 billion Mexican plant investment on Thursday, becoming the latest major automaker to take advantage of the country’s growing industrial base and tariff-free access to the US market.

 
BMW outlined plans to build a factory in the central Mexican city of San Luis Potosi, reducing the German company’s dependence on higher-cost plants at home.
 
The plant will begin assembling models in 2019 with an initial workforce of 1,500 and annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, the company said.
 
“Mexico is an ideal location for the BMW Group,” production chief Harald Krueger said in a statement. “We are continuing our strategy of ‘production follows the market.'”
 
Germany’s luxury car makers – BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz – are expanding overseas as their domestic plants struggle to meet strong demand for new vehicle offerings in the United States and Asia.
 
“With this investment, Mexico is stepping up to premium-level production of global vehicles,” Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said as the plant was announced.
 
BMW did not reveal what type of vehicle it will build, and a spokeswoman for the company said no decision had been made. But several Mexican and European officials at the presentation said they believed the plant would produce 3 Series cars.
 
“At some point I heard that they were talking about the 3 Series,” Guajardo told reporters after the event. “But I don’t have the official confirmation.”
 
Guajardo added that at least one other big auto investment would be announced this summer but did not elaborate. Reuters reported last month that Kia Motors Corp. plans to break ground soon on a new plant in Mexico.
 
Mexico’s auto sector is gaining critical mass as more global brands open production lines, boosting the supplier network.
 
BMW’s move comes days after Daimler announced new Mercedes production in Mexico with partner Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., which already operates two plants in the country where it had recently increased capacity.
 
“The premium brands are finally realizing that Mexico has the capacity to build signature vehicles,” IHS Automotive analyst Guido Vildozo said.
 
“We are going to see all these plants starting with one or two products at the very beginning, but they will gradually become critical pillars of profitability for the premium manufacturers,” he added.
 
Mexico benefits from tariff-free exports to the United States as well as Europe, while its factories are beyond the reach of the United Auto Workers union, which has been struggling to boost its influence in the US South.
 
BMW’s investment comes amid a domestic industrial cost review that has some German unions worried about their longer-term outlook, as the company reduces reliance on sluggish European markets that still account for 44 percent of sales.
 
The plant also increases BMW’s bet on the United States, which is the world’s largest luxury-car market along with China.
 
In March, BMW announced a $1 billion investment to expand capacity by 50 percent at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it builds a range of sport utility vehicles.
Source http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/368671/economy/business/bmw-s-1-billion-plant-surfs-mexican-investment-wave