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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/

Luxury cars worth over £150,000 have been stolen from the same area

Living in a wealthy area has many perks, but one downside is that you could be targeted by thieves who want to take advantage of the whole area.

Luxury vehicles worth more than £150,000 have been stolen from properties in Lanarkshire.

Jaguar, Audi and BMW vehicles were among the ten stolen between Wednesday and Friday in the Lanarkshire area.

Many of the thefts were the result of thieves breaking into houses through back doors and windows and taking the car keys.

Vehicles included a Range Rover Sport, a Mini, an Audi Q7, a BMW Z4 and a Jaguar XF Sport.

The Range Rover was stolen from the car park of the Hilton Hotel, in Strathclyde Business Park, after thieves forced open a locker within the hotel and took the keys.

Police Scotland are appealing for information and witnesses and have launched an investigation into the thefts.

They say they are at the “early stages” of their inquiry but it is thought the thefts are linked.

Officers have urged people to take extra care not to leave their car keys on display and have also appealed for any car buyers or dealerships who may have been offered any of the vehicles for sale to contact them.

Properties targeted already have been in Dunellan Way and Dunellan Place in Moodiesburn, Lochearnhead Road in Stepps, Princess Gate in Bothwell, Oak Fern Drive in East Kilbride, Ettrick Street in Wishaw and Dunnock Place, Coatbridge.

Sergeant Ross Aitken said: “I would like to remind householders to be mindful as to where they keep both their house and car keys, particularly overnight.

“Please do not leave them near your front or back doors or windows where thieves can easily see them and reach them, please keep them hidden away – don’t give thieves a helping hand to steal your hard earned possessions.

“I’d also like to remind householders to ensure that they keep their home as secure as possible. If you have window locks, use them – particularly if you are leaving the property or retiring for the evening. The same goes for your car.”

Source http://news.stv.tv/west-central/281578-over-150000-worth-of-luxury-cars-stolen-by-thieves-in-lanarkshire/

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

“Batmobile” Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren bought by Tyga

When one celebrity buys themselves an outrageously expensive and customised luxury car, you can be sure that another will desperately want it!

In the world of the famous and rich, super expensive and stunningly fast cars have become more of the routine than the shocking moments. It’s the case of this murdered-out black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, also nicknamed the “Batmobile” SLR, that was owned for a couple of months by Scott Disick only to be now bought by Tyga.

While normal people save-up for the every-day rides, celebrities keep switching their hundreds of dollars rides between each other and they don’t even realize it.

Reality television celebrity and businessman Scott Disick, better known as Kourtney Kardashian’s spouse, posted a couple of pictures with the black Mercedes-Benz SLR quoting he owns it, a couple of months ago. Soon after it turned out he decided to sell it and now it was just bought by rapper Tyga. Los Angeles-based Calabasas Luxury Motorcars auto shop, the place he bought it from, recently posted an image of the rapper sitting next to it.

After all, this on and off/selling and buying super expensive and luxurious cars it’s not even that rare among famous people. In fact, when you say Scott Disick you think of flamboyant class and exclusive car-collection, about the same words that pop-up when you talk about Tyga’s rides.

Well, it seems Justin Bieber’s close friend decided to buy the “Batmobile” SLR just because it’s sitting pretty in his driveway, right next to his Rolls Royce Ghost, Lambroghini Aventador, Maybach and his other Mercedes, the SLS.

Source http://www.autoevolution.com/news/tyga-gets-scott-disicks-batmobile-slr-83345.html

Early morning race across London Bridge by Formula E Cars

The FIA are hoping that fast cars which are eco friendly will be the next big thing in car racing.

To work up a hype, eight Formula One-style cars with a top speed of 150mph have raced in front of the Houses of Parliament to launch the forthcoming all-electric championship.

One car also performed a doughnut on the empty road across London’s Westminster Bridge.

In order to pull off the photo opportunity, organisers started setting up from dawn and had the bridge to themselves until 6am.

The video has been released as part of the official Global Launch for the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship.

The well-funded racing series, backed by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), will host 10 zero-emission races in 10 cities around the world.

Formula E cars line up to start a trial on Westminster Bridge
The electric cars line up on Westminster bridge

As part of the launch, Battersea Park in South London was revealed as the London race venue.

The race around the park will be the season finale and is scheduled for June 27, 2015.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Fast, fun and no doubt furious, the FIA Formula E Championship race in London is set to provide an awesome addition to the capital’s sporting calendar.

“The atmosphere will quite literally be electric and Battersea, which is already booming with the buzz of regeneration, will be alive with the excitement that this new, world-class event will no doubt spark.”

Mahindra Racing's Karun Chandhok doing a donut
Mahindra Racing’s Karun Chandhok doing a donut

The sport was set up with the aim of sparking interest in electric cars and boosting innovation in the technology used to run them.

The idea for the championship has been criticised in the past and was dubbed “the milk float challenge”, but as the first race draws nearer, it has become a highly anticipated format for motorsport fans.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, businessman Sir Richard Branson and Formula One legend Alain Prost have all set up teams ahead of the inaugural racing series.

Source http://news.sky.com/story/1292549/formula-e-cars-race-across-london-bridge

Which luxury cars are best and worst for value for money?

Luxury cars typically cost a lot to buy, but they needn’t break the bank in running costs – provided you choose carefully. 

You wouldn’t expect a luxury car to be cheap, but you might expect a lot of car for your money. Our best-value luxury car truly lived up to its billing with nearly all owners raving about its superb comfort levels. And while it may be a luxury model, it still scored above average for value overall in the Which? Car Survey.

The worst value luxury car, however, is within striking distance of the bottom of the survey. Owners complained about its hearty appetite for fuel and oil. A number of drivers also described it as being both uncomfortable and difficult to get into – not good attributes for a luxury machine.

Highest rated luxury car for value for money

If there’s one thing owners of the Saab 9-5 (1997-2010) all agree about, it’s just how comfortable their car is. As a result, 9-5 drivers keep coming back for more; one owner is now on their third 9-5 and another is on their 11th Saab.

Thanks to Saab owners’ satisfaction with their cars, the 9-5 chalked up a strong value-for-money score of 84.5%. A large number of owners described the 9-5 as ‘very comfortable’, with one adding: ‘for the price, nothing else gives the same amount of space, comfort or performance’.

Another Saab owner said, ‘I love the fact that I have a reliable, solid, quality car, loaded with extras, without having had to pay the steep prices associated with German makes.’ The car makes an ‘excellent long-distance car with a massive boot’ and is ‘safe, reliable, easy to drive, with excellent in-car entertainment’.

Lowest rated luxury car for value for money

Way down at the other end of the luxury car table is the Audi A5 Sportback (2009-) with a score of 67.3%. Unlike the Saab, many Audi owners criticised their car for being uncomfortable due to its firm ride. The A5 Sportback is also hard to drive smoothly, according to several drivers.

Contributing to the poor value money score, the A5 ‘uses a great deal of oil – needing approximately one litre every other month’, the ‘petrol consumption is some 10mpg worse than advertised’ and the ‘highly expensive’ built-in satnav is ‘a disaster’ and ‘doesn’t take full postcodes’.

The A5 Sportback is ‘uncomfortable on motorways and A roads’ and ‘the 19-inch wheels give a hard ride’, jeopardising its billing as a luxury car. Other owners have criticised the S-Tronic automatic gearbox for being ‘jerky’ with the ‘random jerkiness of the accelerator’ meaning that ‘you cannot “creep” forward’. ‘The brakes are occasionally very sharp, causing me and any passenger to lurch forward’.

Beyond these failings, owners also complained that ‘access is difficult for large or older people’, ‘rain water enters the boot area when opened’ and ‘it feels like a large car, so parking can sometimes be a challenge’.

Source http://www.which.co.uk/news/2014/06/best-and-worst-luxury-cars-for-value-for-money-369668/

Ex-Lomond boss Hugh McMahon buys dealership in Edinburgh

Motor industry entrepreneur Hugh McMahon has bought Murray Motor Group’s Rolls Royce and Aston Martin business in Edinburgh.

Partnered by son Chris, the former Lomond Audi owner has taken over the luxury car dealership in a buy-out worth more than of £3 million. The deal was funded by Barclays’ Scottish corporate banking team.

Hugh McMahon has spent a lifetime in the motor trade starting out as a technician at the age of 16 before moving into sales – then management. He sold the Lomond Audi business in July 2012 and has been looking for a suitable enterprise since.

The Sighthill outlet is the sole authorised dealership for the luxury car brands in Scotland. The business currently turns over £20 million annually and the father-and-son team have plans to grow this to £30 million in the medium term.

Hugh McMahon said: ‘There is a strong opportunity to grow sales of both brands which are moving into an exciting stage of their development – Rolls Royce is celebrating 10 years under the ownership of the BMW Group and Aston Martin has been rejuvenated by new investment.’

Working with son Chris, who is operations director for the business and Brian Ritchie, finance director, Hugh also has plans to expand the dealership’s offering of luxury and performance used cars.

He added: ‘Our first priority, however, is to consolidate our existing position. We have taken over a good business but I want to make it a great business – for customers and employees.’

Source http://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/luxury-car-dealership-changes-hands-3m-buyout/82750

The most popular pre-owned luxury cars

We can’t all afford to drive a luxury car off the forecourt, but buying second hand luxury cars is becoming more popular than ever
Used luxury cars offer a fantastic driving experience at an unbeatable price. Cartrade.com’s Vinay Sanghi picks out the hottest pre-owned models in the market.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The German car brand has always ranked high in terms of premium car comfort. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers an efficient engine that delivers impressive performance.
Diesel engines from Mercedes are also known to be low on emissions and great on technology, thereby making them strong contenders among the German cars. On the other hand, the petrol trims illustrate great dynamics without being heavy on the pocket.
Many drivers also feel nostalgic about the brand since it was the first premium brand to enter India in a commercial way.
Audi A4
Audi’s entry-level sedan, the A4, has made a strong impact in the premium D segment of sedans being sold in the country. The ‘‘design meets performance” theme has been successful in luring many customers towards it. It is the strongest selling car in its segment.
The A4 wins hearts with its sharp German design that flows across the body and blends with mesmerizing interiors that are loaded with the latest in gadgetry. Audi offers a range of petrol and diesel options on the A4.
The company claims that these engines can withstand any sort of driving conditions and yet deliver efficient mileage—reasons that have worked greatly in favour of the A4.
BMW 3 Series
photo

The other two German car makers have always concentrated on making cars that feel nice, but it was BMW that managed to introduce real performance in the segment. BMW brought excitement in this class. It is often perceived a Beemer is the serious enthusiast’s car.

Shark-eyed looks with compact dimensions make the 3 Series a killer proposition. The 3 Series is bound to impress people of all ages with its performance. It is the quickest to ride and offers the most precise driving conditions. Apart from being high on performance, BMW also ensures that these cars are equally safe with amazing driver aid options available in the 3 Series.
Jaguar XF
The only British player in an otherwise all-German battle, Jaguar is all about the flamboyant individual. The gorgeous styling and uber-luxurious interiors make even casual drivers go weak in the knees.
More than a point A to point B commute, Jaguars are all about making a style statement. If the German cars exude performance, the Jaguars reflect an art and culture aesthetic.
Jaguars are not just meant to impress with their beauty though—the exhilarating performance is paired with a smooth, addictive power train that keeps drivers hooked.
Who is buying these cars?
The upwardly mobile Indian middle class is increasingly exploring the ‘‘affordable” pre-owned luxury four-wheeler.
These are typically business-class people who already own a new Rs.15-20 lakh car and are now looking to buy a luxury car for status. It has aspirational value.
The average price of a new entry-level luxury car ranges anywhere between Rs.30 lakh and Rs.50 lakh, while the same used cars command a price of around Rs.17-25 lakh. Which is quite affordable for this new set of emerging buyers who want to enjoy these cars but don’t want to spend as much.
Source http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tzniAgWR2mk5A4AcUsDRwL/The-hottest-preowned-luxury-cars.html

Rare Ferrari Enzo spins out of control and crashes

 

If anything will make you cringe and gasp in horror this morning, it will be these pictures of a rare Ferrari Enzo after it had a run in with the central reservation on Interstate 95!

 

The rare million-dollar vehicle was involved in a crash in Stamford, Connecticut on Monday when a mechanic took the sports car out for a ride and spun out of control.

 

The car’s owner, 71-year-old mattress company mogul Michael Fux, had placed the prized car in the care of Greenwich dealership Miller Motorcars.

 

Abused: A rare Ferrari Enzo was badly damaged in a Monday morning crash in Stamford, Connecticut. A technician was driving the vehicle at the time

 Abused: A rare Ferrari Enzo was badly damaged in a Monday morning crash in Stamford, Connecticut. A technician was driving the vehicle at the time

Crashed: Ferrari technician Leonardo Garcia, 40, was driving the rare car owned by 71-year-old mattress mogul Michael Fux. Aston Martin technician Daniel Palchik, 31, was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash

 Crashed: Ferrari technician Leonardo Garcia, 40, was driving the rare car owned by 71-year-old mattress mogul Michael Fux. Aston Martin technician Daniel Palchik, 31, was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash 

The man driving the Ferrari has been identified as technician Leonardo Garcia, 40, was was accompanied by Aston Martin technician Daniel Palchik, 31, for the ride.

Garcia lost control of the 650-horsepower car while traveling up the northbound entrance of Interstate 95 around 8:45am, causing the car to fishtail.

The car spun across three lanes before hitting a bridge wall and smashing into the center divider, heavily damaging the right side of the car.

Private investigator John Michael Hoda was driving southbound when he saw the accident, and told MailOnline he was the first to respond to the scene.

He says he pulled both Garcia and Palchik out of the ‘totalled’ vehicle to safety and that neither were wearing seat belts.

Private investigator John Hoda was driving on the other side of the road and was the first to respond to the crash. He took this image, which shows a man sitting on the side of the road and wearing a Miller Motorcars shirt

Prized: The Ferrari Enzo was named after the Italian motor company's founder and only 400 were made. They now range in price from $600,000 to more than a million. Above, an example of an undamaged Enzo

Prized: The Ferrari Enzo was named after the Italian motor company’s founder and only 400 were made. They now range in price from $600,000 to more than a million. Above, an example of an undamaged Enzo

Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2668655/Bungling-mechanic-wrecks-mattress-moguls-rare-1million-Ferrari-Enzo-spinning-control-freeway.html

Luxury car struggles for NBA Players

Two NBA players have been struggling with their man toys this week. Being at the top of your game is the best feeling in the world, but having to struggle and squeeze yourself into a luxury car is not a good look. Is forgetting to fuel your car even more embarrassing though?

We all know that NBA players can be well-compensated for the work they put it, and one of the more visible ways they tend to reward themselves for their hard work is by buying really nice cars. But with great vehicles come great responsibilities, as we saw through a few social media posts this week.

First, Bulls forward Carlos Boozer went to a dealership to check out a Lamborghini and posed for a photo inside the car. But as he discovered, it wasn’t the being inside the car that was a problem — it was getting out of the car…

Carlos Boozer

 

Meanwhile, somewhere along a highway yesterday, Evan Turner‘s Ferrari ran out of gas. Luckily, one of his former Ohio State teammates was there in another car to not only get him some more gas (in one of those little red plastic containers), but also to document the incident on Instagram…

Evan Turner

Source http://allball.blogs.nba.com/2014/06/24/nba-players-struggle-with-luxury-cars/