THE luxury car collection of Tunisian former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali went on pre-auction display this week in Tunis, more than three years after his ouster.
Sixteen of the 39 cars, seized by authorities after Ben Ali was ousted in January 2011 in the first of the Arab Spring revolutions, were shown off at a casino on Wednesday and Thursday in the suburb of Gammarth. Thirteen other vehicles were displayed in a barracks.
The collection, which has yet to be valued, includes a Porsche, a Cadillac and a top-of-the-range Mercedes.
“Every member of the Ben Ali family owned between four and six cars,” Mohamed Lassaad Hmaied, director of Cruise Tour, the company mandated by the government to sell the vehicles, told DPA.
One of the factors that drove Tunisians into the street in protest was the way Ben Ali’s family used his 23 years in power to amass fabulous wealth.
Among Ben Ali’s wheels was a 1962 super-luxury Maybach, Germany’s equivalent of a Rolls-Royce. That car is to be left off the auction catalogue. The culture ministry has asked it be parked in the Museum of National Memory for posterity.
Would-be buyers have until May 21 to register for the sale, the proceeds of which will be paid into a account used to settle the former regime’s debts.
Tunisia’s cash-strapped technocratic government is hoping to raise millions of euros.
With the internet being the first place we all look for everything and anything, it is no surprise that companies are moving forward and making sure they cater for all potential clientele.
Carmony is an innovative company, owned by the same corporation as Motors.co.uk. Manheim Europe turn out some unique ideas about selling cars, and it is set to pay off for them, as Carmony begins its move into a unique position which could bring about a major change in the way we buy cars.
The people behind Carmony have identified that there is a certain type of customer which has been frozen out of online car sales, but who are these elusive customers? The company was established in 2008, and while it has remained one of the major car sales sites in the UK, it has yet to play the card which will set it apart from other car selling websites.
Like Autotrader, Carmony also contains daily news updates, encompassing new releases, worldwide events and breaking news about the world of auto trading. Like Arnoldclark.com, Carmony allows buyers to search for a suitable dealer or franchise, but unlike any other site in the UK, Carmony plans to put an emphasis on the sale of premium cars on the site.
Premium cars such as the Lexus and Audi will feature on the rebranded Carmony siteBrands such as Audi and Lexus, and cars worth more than £25,000, will feature on the site – and as all the cars for sale on Carmony are approved by dealers, buyers can rest assured that the car they have bought is of forecourt standard.
There is no shortage of cars on the website which will help buyers to find the right car for them, and sellers to offload their old motor – however, most of the market is for low-cost cars which are in an acceptable condition. People who buy cars online usually don’t expect to come away with a luxury product, meaning that there is a large section of the market which is not covered by any of the websites that sell cars, specific or otherwise.
If Carmony can be the first to begin putting high end clients in touch with dealers, or using the site to buy luxury cars directly, then it will put the company in a very powerful position.
That’s not to say that people who want to buy a middle of the range, or even very cheap car, can’t use Carmony. Carmony shows the minimum price for each type of car on the home page, and the price of a hatchback usually starts at around £500 – what’s great about this is that young people and students, or those who want to downsize, can get a dealer approved car at very reasonable prices.
Vision Future Luxury is the latest saloon concept car coming from BMW. The German car manufacturer unveiled the car, which features augmented display technology, hoping it will wow fans of the BMW brand.
The Vision Future Luxury concept comprises the latest iteration of BMW’s Vision Head Up Display, which augments the driver’s view of the world by projecting real-time information including speed limits and road signs onto the windscreen directly in the line of sight.
Sensors located on the exterior of the car collect environmental data, which is deciphered and transferred to a light source located inside the instrument panel. Light shining through a translucent thin-film transistor (TFT) projects the relevant data on to the windscreen via specially shaped mirrors and allows the driver to view information without having to look away from the road.
“Innovative technology and modern luxury have always been an important part of BMW’s brand DNA,” explained Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design at a preview of Vision Future Luxury in Munich. “Connectivity in a luxury vehicle has to be seamless and so well integrated that it doesn’t deter from the driving that you want to do, it actually enhances it.”
The rear lighting is provided by organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for the first time on a BMW, an efficient light source consisting of wafer-thin semi-conductive layers of organic material that can be cut into any shape to allow for a variety of patterned lighting designs.
The luminescent layer is a film of carbon compound, which emits light in response to an electrical current. Each light-emitting polymer layer is roughly 400 nanometres thick, which is approximately 400 times thinner than a human hair.
Car designers have previously relied on reflectors to enable the light produced by LEDs to be seen from different angles, but OLEDs do not need reflectors, allowing designers to create less bulky and more unusual shapes. OLEDs also require less power to operate.
The roofline and sloping boot lid on the car have been designed to reduce drag, while carbon fibre openings positioned at the front and rear of the car help to channel airflow more efficiently.
“Aerodynamics and lightweight materials are key elements of this car’s design,” explained Karim Habib, head of BMW design. “Visible carbon fibre on the exterior of a luxury car is something we believe BMW needs to do.”
Carbon fibre, as a lightweight and strong composite, also allows for a minimised central B-pillar – the join between the front passenger and rear passenger doors. This allows the doors to use different hinge points to a standard car door.
The doors open to reveal a layered interior with wood, leather and aluminium finishings on top of a carbon fibre base.
“Lightweight construction is not going to go away,” says Adrian van Hooydonk. “All of our cars will have to get lighter and that means as a design team we are dealing with different types of materials, which can lead to different types of aesthetic.”
Front passengers are equipped with a personal information display, which is connected to the driver display via a touch-sensitive panel. Rear passengers also have access to two displays mounted in the headrests of the seats in front and a detachable tablet between the individual seats. All three can be used to exchange information with the front passengers using swiping movements.
Embedded user interface components from which internet-based video and music streaming can be accessed also feature.
Read on for BMW’s press release:
Heralding a new approach – the design.
“The design of the BMW Vision Future Luxury is the messenger of our philosophy of modern luxury, one in which innovative technologies play a key and vital role. These innovations deliver a new, multifaceted luxury experience that spans intelligent lightweight engineering, innovative interior design and a radically new user interface design,” says Karim Habib, Head of BMW Design, summing up the design approach to the BMW Vision Future Luxury.
This approach is particularly tangible in the interior. Throughout, the design expresses both form and function of the innovative technologies. For example, the intelligent lightweight engineering concept of the BMW Vision Future Luxury is expressed in the design principle of subtractive modelling. That is to say, the specific geometry and functions of an individual component are created from one and the same layered composite structure, comprising many different levels and materials. An initial base layer of fine carbon fabric is followed by a functional level featuring user interface components, control and display interfaces and lighting functions, which in turn is followed by a further structural, load-bearing layer of aluminium for additional strength.
Finally, the top layers comprise wood, then leather, to create a warm and comfortable ambience. In a given area of the interior, the multi-layer structure is “milled down” to the appropriate depth depending on what surface material and what function is required. Since the interior geometry is therefore always pared down to essentials, this cuts total weight substantially. This treatment also makes for virtually seamless transitions and very elegant, fluid surfaces.
The unrivalled characteristics of carbon as a material – both individually and in combination with its surrounding materials – are optimally utilised in this rigorous lightweight design concept. The carbon underlying layer is visible in the doors, under the seats and especially in the innovative, pared-down B-pillar. A full B- pillar as used in the past is dispensed with. The carbon construction allows the seat frames to be integrated into the load-bearing structure. There are also connections to the door sills and centre console, which means only a very small and unobtrusive B-pillar is required. The BMW Vision Future Luxury’s wide- opening coach doors would not have been possible without this new carbon B- pillar solution.
New-style user interface design and exclusive BMW ConnectedDrive services.
In the driver’s and front passenger’s area, precisely defined lines and surfaces create a sense of exclusive dynamism. The design of the instrument panel closely complements the design of the displays themselves. The driver is surrounded by a wrap-around cluster of three intermeshing displays, creating the typical BMW driver-centric cockpit. The three-dimensional display technology means that at the visual level the instrument panel styling appears to carry over into the displays themselves. In other words, to the eye the interior space seems to continue into the solid structures of the instrument panel, generating an impression of unprecedented depth and spaciousness.
The left-hand display mainly presents vehicle-related information, while in the centre a programmable cluster displays speedometer, rev counter and other information, as well as context-adaptive supplementary data, which is displayed as and when relevant. Meanwhile, the right-hand display – the Driver Information Display – provides additional infotainment information. The driver also has the option of controlling all these functions by voice command.
BMW Vision Head Up Display.
The primary driver display, however, is the “contact-analogue” BMW Vision Head Up Display. This display augments the driver’s view of the real world by projecting information directly in the driver’s line of sight onto the road. Buildings, traffic signs or hazards can be highlighted directly in the real-world environment, selectively directing the driver’s attention to specific information which is particularly important at any given time. This technology gives a new dimension to driver assistance functions such as Speed Limit Info, where road signs can be identified and highlighted in the driver’s field of view, or the Traffic Light Assistant, which provides real-time information about traffic light phasing.
In place of a central shared information display for driver and front passenger, the BMW Vision Future Luxury offers front passengers their own Passenger Information Display. This display is connected to the Driver Information Display via a touch-sensitive panel, where information can be exchanged between driver and front passenger using swiping movements. Applications like booking opera tickets online direct from the vehicle via the BMW ConnectedDrive Luxury Concierge service can be displayed in the Passenger Information Display, where they don’t risk distracting the driver. The relevant functions can be conveniently controlled by the front passenger using the iDrive Controller with touch-sensitive interface.
Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet.
In the back, two Rear Seat Displays set into carbon surrounds, and a detachable Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet, put the finishing touch to the integrated user interface concept of the BMW Vision Future Luxury. These displays can communicate with the front displays and also with the BMW ConnectedDrive services. Everything from trip-related information like speed and journey time to information relating to the Luxury Concierge Services can be displayed here in simple and customised form.
It is also possible to use online entertainment content like internet-based video and music streaming as well as gaming. All content and functions can be controlled from the rear seats using the detachable Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet in the centre console.
Personal space at the rear.
For the occupants of the rear seats, the BMW Vision Future Luxury offers a luxurious haven of personal space. Two large, deeply contoured single seats add to the appeal, inviting passengers to retire into their own personal “comfort zone”. A retractable table, the angled Rear Seat Displays and the rigid backs of the front seats create a very private ambience, sectioning this area off from the rest of the interior. The sense of privacy is accentuated by modern, flowing geometry and the use of select materials, with lavish wood surfaces extending from the rear parcel shelf to enfold the rear seat occupants in a cosseting three- dimensional space.
Strategically placed lighting slats integrated into the wood echo the surrounding styling and, with their warm glow, accentuate the modern and cosy ambience. Finest-quality aniline leather in Batavia brown and a lighter Silk shade, Silk nubuk leather and the warm brown, layered lime wood all have a natural aura which offers unique visual appeal and quality. The division between darker materials in the upper areas and light materials in the lower areas creates a feeling of warmth and a luxurious sense of space. A deep-pile pure silk carpet rounds off the exclusive array of materials in the interior of the BMW Vision Future Luxury.
Exclusiveness and elegance – the exterior design.
In side view, perfect proportions – precise, uncluttered and elegant – convey the exclusiveness of the BMW Vision Future Luxury. The long wheelbase, short overhangs and low, set-back greenhouse lend the stretched silhouette a refined dynamism. In hallmark BMW style, a finely sculpted contour line creates a taut arc along the side of the vehicle, and the opulent surfaces underneath this line have, as always on a BMW, been shaped by seasoned modellers. This hand- sculpted design gives the surfaces a special emotional appeal that would be beyond the capabilities of a computer.
The effect is further enhanced by the Liquid Platinum Bronze exterior paintwork, which generates a warm, shimmering effect. An exclusive flourish at the side of the vehicle is the side mirror, which appears to grow organically out of the chrome window trim. Designed as a visual continuation of the chrome trim, its slender stalk is attached to the mirror from below, giving it a graceful and effortless appearance, almost as if it were hovering in mid-air.
BMW EfficientDynamics: honed aerodynamics and intelligent lightweight engineering.
The exterior design perfectly showcases the advanced aerodynamics and innovative lightweight engineering of the BMW Vision Future Luxury. The coupé- style roofline and sloping boot lid, for example, significantly reduce drag. Underlying the tautly sculpted exterior surfaces, equally refined solutions provide optimal channelling of the airflow. They include the Air Breather system at the rear of the front wheel arch, a C-pillar with internal air channelling, and openings in the rear apron which vent air from the wheel arches. An elegant carbon strip in the door sill area alludes discreetly to the innovative lightweight engineering concept based on aluminium and carbon. Both these lightweight materials are used in the vehicle in exactly the right places to achieve maximum effect – both individually and in tandem.
BMW Laserlight at the front.
Clean and simple in design, the traditional iconic BMW front-end design cues – the twin kidney grille and twin headlights – instantly proclaim the brand identity of the BMW Vision Future Luxury. The lean contours of the headlights also hint at the innovative technology sheltering behind them: BMW Laserlight. This new technology not only paves the way for a very flat and dynamic interpretation of the typical BMW twin round headlamps, it also sets completely new standards in terms of brightness, range and intensity. The concentrated, parallel light beam is up to ten times more intense than that of an LED system. The reduced energy consumption and packaging requirements of laser lights make this technology a prime candidate for use in future vehicles.
Underneath the headlights, the assertive multi-material front apron accentuates the elegant front-end styling. At the outboard ends of the apron, graceful carbon air deflectors conceal a range of BMW EfficientDynamics aerodynamics features. The thin-walled air deflectors are made of carbon, a further reminder of the intelligent lightweight engineering concept of the BMW Vision Future Luxury. A slender chrome strip on the air deflectors highlights the airflow system.
OLED lighting at the rear.
The horizontal lines of the side profile glide gently away at the rear in a final expansive flourish. As at the front, the body styling in this area is deliberately understated, allowing the innovative, narrow and slender lights to make a powerful statement. For the first time on a BMW the rear lighting is provided by organic LEDs, paving the way for a completely new treatment of the typical BMW L-shaped lights. The BMW Vision Future Luxury’s L-shaped rear lights comprise a large number of small, likewise L-shaped OLEDs.
An organic LED consists of wafer-thin organic semiconductor layers positioned between two electrodes. The light-emitting polymer layer is only approx. 400 nanometres thick, making it roughly 400 times thinner than a human hair. Organic LEDs are not only extremely thin, as well as flexible, they also produce very uniform illumination over their entire surface. Due to their very thin dimensions, and since they do not require reflectors in order to produce the desired broad light dispersion, they open up completely new ways of using light in and around the vehicle.
A £250,000 supercar turned heads for the wrong reasons after it was involved in a three-car smash in Kensington.
The matt-black Lamborghini Aventador was left with damage to its front and had to be towed from the scene of the crash in Sloane Street.
Witnesses told how the rare supercar was in collision with a hatchback, causing the Lamborghini to veer off into a parked car.
After the crash, during which no one was hurt, shoppers in Sloane Street gathered around taking photos and videos.
Crash: The front right wing of the car was badly damaged Picture: Nigel HowardArt consultant Lila Afshar returned from a Mother’s Day lunch with her two daughters to discover their BMW had been the caught up in the collision.
Ms Afshar, from St John’s Wood, said: “We showed up about three hours after the incident and there was a letter on the windshield.
Witnesses said the rare supercar hit a hatchback and crashed into parked cars Picture: Nigel Howard“The Lamborghini was being towed away and the owner came up and explained what had happened. He was really apologetic about it.”
The smash caused a mass outpouring of schadenfreude among witnesses on Twitter.
One user, who gave her name as Kate Sloane, wrote: “Smashed lambo on Sloane Street. The heart bleeds.”
Another posted: “Gutted for whichever footballer crashed their lambourgni on Sloane Street. Already people taking selfies with it.”
But one user took a more sympathetic approach, posting a photo and adding: “Not a good way to start a Sunday for this guy :(”
Thank you to The Evening Standard Motor Authority for this trending news.
Jaguar F-Type: looks as glorious in the metal as it does in its photographs
Several years ago, as Jaguar launched its new XJ, we got a chance to chat with its then chief executive Mike O’Driscoll. Within minutes the talk turned to future plans and there was only one car on his mind: a Jaguar rival to the Porsche 911.
At dinner that night he and his executive team outlined a very rough plan they were working on to give Jaguar a real halo model, something they could really hang their new sports luxury image on. The F-Type is the end result.
Most of those executives have moved on, but they must be happy with what’s now on the road. One man who is still there is Ian Callum, the brand’s chief designer and the one credited with shaking off the stuffy image of old and giving Jaguar real appeal.
As with the earlier launched convertible, the F-Type coupe comes with three engine options: the coupe with 3-litre V6 340bhp; coupe S with the same V6 and 380bhp or the flagship F-Type R with a V8 5-litre 550bhp.
The 8-speed automatic transmission – controlled from either the paddle shift on the steering wheel or a short stubby gear lever – gets the most from the powertrains.
With its concept car creases the F-Type looks as glorious in the metal as it does in its photographs, though colour choice is vital, as the award-winning lines are at their best in black, silver or white. In those colours it looks a worthy rival to a Maserati or Aston Martin. In red strangely it looks like a sibling of the Toyota GT86.
The compact cabin interior can feel a little confined, but that’ s the way with two-seater sports cars. It also boasts a lot of button controls, but the key one is te starter. Hit that and the hairs on the back of your neck spring to life. Acoustically the F-Type’s raspy engine note is addictive. A lot of work has gone into getting the sound right and enthusiasts will be enthralled.
Both on the road and on the test track the F-Type demonstrates incredible poise, albeit slightly unnerved by some badly surfaced corners. Nonetheless with the optional Adaptive Dynamics System fitted to the Coupe S we tested, there’s little chance of getting into trouble. From the hydraulic assisted steering – which is weighty and direct – to the incredible grip and smooth acceleration throught the eight-speed transmission, it’s a car that makes even the most ordinary driver feel talented.
The top of the range, the R Coupe also features an electronic active differential for high speed cornering precision and a new torque vectoring system for lower speed corrections. Both are impressive but even after some incredible fun at the racetrack in the R, it’s hard to look further than the Coupe S, given the difference in price between the two is a whopping €52,170. A blast across the Spanish plains with the F-Type R showcased what a complete package the flagship version is, with incredible power on tap. This is no grand tourer; it’s an all-out performance car with 550bhp on tap at any time and incredible cornering poise. Behind the wheel it’s hard to argue against, but while the heart says R, all but the most bulging of bank accounts will live well with the 3-litre V6 S and spend some extra cash on the optional ceramic brakes, which defy physics with their stopping power.
Pricing is attractive when pitted against its rivals at Porsche – and also against the more niche F-Type convertible variant already on sale. Whereas the convertible F-Type starts at €108,250, the arguably better looking coupe comes in at €94,820.
Meanwhile, the 350bhp Porsche 911 Carrera starts at €130,319, a detail Jaguar includes on its own pricelist, eager to remind everyone of who it has in its sights.
While the focus for now is on chasing those select group of sports car buyers looking for an alternative to Porsche, this is only the taster for what is arguably the most important car to feature the Jaguar brand in over a decade: the upcoming XE.
As the firm’s new rival to the 3-Series and Audi A4, reports suggest that engineers have been burning the midnight oil on this project. We may be excited by the F-Type and its eye-catching looks, but all the talk at Jaguar is of the car that will hit Irish roads this time next year.
So we now know all about the new Lamborghini Huracan. Although we’re still waiting for official test drives, for all intents and purposes this thing is going to be spectacular, a more than worthy successor to the Gallardo. Hop across the border into Germany and you’ll find Audi at work on its next-gen R8, due in 2016. And like the Gallardo and current R8, the Huracan and new R8 will share a basic platform along with a 5.2-liter V10. The new R8 will keep its base 4.2-liter V8. –
So what we’re wondering is this: have Lamborghini and Audi done enough to distinguish their respective supercars from one another this time around? True, the R8 has been heralded as the first everyday supercar, but Lamborghini has very much refined itself away from outright bonkers. Just compare the Aventador to the Diablo and Murcielago. Both the Huracan and new R8 are AWD, have the same V10 (though tuned differently), and have gone on diets thanks to plenty of aluminum and carbon fiber. Already sounds too much like the Gallardo/R8 matchup. So which one will dominate? Is this even a fair comparison?
Hemingway Luxury Car Hire have always had a soft spot for the Bentley range and have many pristine examples of one of the most iconic cars. They remain popular with our clients and we plan to make more available due to the immense demand we have throughout Europe.
To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” (W.O. Bentley, Founder)
Bentley Motors was founded by W.O. Bentley. The first car to bear his name pulled out of New Street Mews, London in 1919.
From modest beginnings, the company moved from strength to strength – in a relentless pursuit of both luxury and performance. Were it not for the brand’s five victories at Le Mans in the 1920s, plus a sixth in 2003, this combination could be seen as a contradiction in terms. In which case, it could be said that Bentley continues to create the most acclaimed contradictions on the road today.
Almost a century later, W.O.’s vision continues to guide our beliefs, actions and ambitions. Located in Crewe, England and owned by Volkswagen AG since 1998, Bentley Motors remains the definitive British luxury car company, crafting the world’s most desirable high performance grand tourers.
Here is the overview film from Bentley of the Geneva Motor Show 2014.
http://youtu.be/X6VEoL9iS2Q
15 years ago it was a more interesting story, with the Bentley Hunaudieres concept shown.
More and more young Hollywood stars have made the transition from child actors/actress to more serious roles. So, this means that they opt for more mature things, this including vehicles too.
This is the case of 23 year-old American actress Emma Roberts and her good-looking SUV. She was recently spotted getting into an all-white Range Rover Sport after finishing up her shoppingsession in Beverly Hills, California.
The “We’re the millers” star sported a very casual,chic look that went nicely with the aforementioned car as from a design point of view, the Range Rover Sport has quite a bold look. We’re talking about a luxurious yet sporty vehicle that combines off-road performance with well-mannered on-road driving. Moreover, the interior is spacious as well as comfortable, offering an excellent degree of luxury.
Although we’re talking about quite a massive vehicle, it is still preferred by numerous celebs and having one has actually become a trend. We can’t say we don’t understand as it is indeed a very performant vehicle. Moreover, it is very drivable in heavy traffic, therefore it is still appropriate for the city despite being such a large car. What can we say, we’re talking about a reliable, luxurious SUV with a lavish interior, so we definitely understand Emma’s choice.
Four years after the first Ferrari theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, opened its doors to the public, the second has been announced, this time for the Spanish city of Barcelona. The new theme park, to be called Ferrari Land, will be located inside the existing PortAventura resort which already houses a theme park and attracts around four million visitors per year.
As with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari the automaker isn’t involved directly with the new theme park but simply provides a license for the use of its name and logo. Backing the project is PortAventura Entertainment, a subsidiary of Italian private equity group Investindustrial, which recently bought a stake in Aston Martin.
The Ferrari Land theme park will cover more than 800,000 square feet and feature a number of exciting rides and retail outlets. One of the highlights will be a new vertical accelerator destined to be the tallest and fastest in Europe. The resort will also contain the first Ferrari-themed hotel, which is said to be a five-star facility with 250 rooms, restaurants and a driving simulator.
The cost of building the theme park is estimated to be about $140 million and the organizers hope to have it ready for guests in 2016.
“After the success of Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, we received many, many requests to develop new amusement parks,” Andrea Perrone, head of Ferrari’s branding operations, said in a statement. “We carefully sifted through the various proposals and decided to accept Investindustrial’s because it is a very solid plan developed by competent people that will bring the magic of Ferrari to Spain, a nation where we have many supporters and enthusiasts, and to which large numbers of tourists flock each year, in part thanks to PortAventura.
After so many sightings and postings on the web, Lamborghini’s new Huracán LP610-4 doesn’t really need any special introductions, but some of you may want to get better acquainted with the Italian model’s more sonorous rear side that houses a 5.2-liter V10 twisting out no less than 602-horses (610PS).
This video of a Bianco Monocerus (we think) colored Huracán was filmed by the German crew over at Sport Auto magazine, who noted that the Italian exotic “made a Fiat Cinquecento cry”, a cheeky reference to the city car’s alarm going off due to the thundering sounds of the Lambo’s V10.
Thanks to http://www.carscoops.com for our morning smile.
Crash: The front right wing of the car was badly damaged Picture: Nigel HowardArt consultant Lila Afshar returned from a Mother’s Day lunch with her two daughters to discover their BMW had been the caught up in the collision.
Witnesses said the rare supercar hit a hatchback and crashed into parked cars Picture: Nigel Howard“The Lamborghini was being towed away and the owner came up and explained what had happened. He was really apologetic about it.”