GOODWOOD CONFIRMS OVER 20 WORLD CHAMPIONS AND 80 DRIVERS AND RIDERS APPEARING AT THE 2010 FESTIVAL OF SPEED

With just over six weeks still to go until the 2010 Festival of Speed blasts into life (2-4 July), Goodwood can already confirm more than 80 star drivers and riders will be present at the world’s largest celebration of motoring culture, including over 20 World Champions who between them have collected more than 70 championship titles.

Reigning Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will be in action up the famous Goodwood hillclimb, as will his McLaren team mate and 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Joining the McLaren drivers will be fellow 2010 season F1 competitors Mark Webber behind the wheel of his Red Bull, Nico Rosberg in action in his Mercedes, and Bruno Senna, driving his uncle Ayrton’s iconic McLaren MP4/8.

Past F1 champions and Grand Prix winners present at the Festival of Speed are set to include Emerson Fittipaldi, Sir Jackie Stewart, Mika Hakkinen, John Surtees, Sir Stirling Moss, Jochen Mass and Patrick Tambay. Joining these confirmed drivers at Goodwood will be a roll-call of other motor sport stars that reads like a who’s who of motor racing.


From the world of rallying, Festival first-timer Miki Biasion will be reunited with a Lancia Delta; American ‘Gymkhana’ video and current WRC star Ken Block will be going wild in his Ford: 2009 IRS Champion Kris Meeke will be going sideways in his Peugeot; as will IRC rival Guy Wilks in his Skoda. Many other rallying greats will be reacquainted with the cars that made them famous, including Messrs Rauno Aaltonen, Jimmy McRae, Russell Brookes, Björn Waldegård and Markko Martin.

Motorcycling heroes will include Giacomo Agostini, Kevin Schwantz, Chaz Davies, Neil Hodgson and Trevor Nation, plus many others, including 12-time Trials Champion and Goodwood legend Dougie Lampkin. Motor racing legends from across the Pond will include double Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR stalwart Michael Waltrip and three-time Indy 500 victor Bobby Unser.

Press release/image source: Goodwood Motor Circuit

ICONIC BATMOBILE TRIBUTE AT AUCTION

A tribute to one of the most iconic and distinctive film cars of all time, the Batmobile, will be a focus of attention at the inaugural Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on June 2, when a faithfully re-created car goes under the hammer alongside a prestige portfolio of more traditional, first-class classic motor cars.

For one of Historics’ investors, Mark Perkins, the Lot holds particular significance, as he has owned the car since 1988 and is reluctantly parting with it.

One of only three existing steel-bodied versions, Perkins’ Batmobile – complete with dashboard-mounted television, rear parachute pod and Batphone – is accompanied by an extensive clippings file, having made numerous promotional appearances, including the Batman stage show in the United Arab Emirates in 1993, and a number of showings alongside Adam West, star of the original Batman TV show.

Based on a Lincoln Continental chassis and built to a similar specification as the original car in the Sixties, the car was finally completed in 1988, following input from renowned custom coachbuilder, Bill Chaplin. The car is extremely reliable and frequently driven, and is offered with a full year’s MoT test certificate as well as a UK V5 registration document.

Mark Perkins explained his reluctance to let the car go; “Classic cars, and this one in particular, should be driven to be enjoyed, and I’ve loved taking it on the road over the years. However, my work with Historics at Brooklands will leave me little time to do so in the future, and so sadly it’s time someone else derived pleasure of ownership.”

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.

Press release & image source: Historics at Brooklands

If you like classic cars in TV & film you'll love Motor Movies – The Posters!

"Be warned: a peek and you could be hooked. ‘Motor Movies – The Posters!’ is a collector’s delight, any way you choose." – Overdrive

More info.

VAUXHALL STARTS THE ELECTRIC CHARGE

The Vauxhall Ampera passed an important milestone last Friday, when the first pre-production car rolled off the line at GM's Pre-Production Operations' assembly line in Warren, Michigan.
More validation Amperas will be built in coming months, and will be used by engineers in Europe and the United States for testing the production-intent design. The focus will be on developing the final vehicle software and controls, fine tuning the vehicles' driving characteristics, and performing safety and structural integrity testing.

"We're right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year," said Andrew Farah, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Ampera. "There's still work to be done, but being able to drive an Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe."

The Ampera extended-range electric vehicle delivers up to 40 miles of pure electric driving before an engine-generator kicks in to sustain the battery charge and seamlessly extends the range to more than 300 miles. The battery can be charged by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard household outlet. It is scheduled to be in UK showrooms by early 2012.

Coming soon! Electric Cars - The Future is Now! by Arvid Linde.
What if we all had to say goodbye to petrol cars tomorrow? Would you be ready?
There might be several reasons why you’re holding this book in your hand. Concern about the environment, determination to cut your fuel bill, or simply curiosity. Whatever the reason, the answer is within. This consumer guide is for housewives, petrol-heads, pedestrians, green activists, everyone – but most importantly, it’s for you. It will introduce the electric car to potential advocates and opponents, revealing all the pros and cons. Is such a vehicle really what it promises to be - the perfect answer to the fuel crisis and environmental issues? This book will help you find out. More info.

FERRIS BUELLER’S FERRARI UP FOR AUCTION AT BONHAMS

Ferrari 250GT Spyder California which featured in Hollywood film to be sold


A replica of the Ferrari 250GT Spyder California specially created for the 1986 Paramount hit film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is to be sold at Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia auction at 11am on 19th April at the RAF Museum, Hendon.

Only around one hundred genuine 250GT Spyder California’s were created by Ferrari between 1958 and 1963. Existing examples are very rare and expensive so Paramount chose to commission and build a replica for filming purposes. The film, voted by readers of Total Film magazine the 23rd greatest comedy of all time, follows Ferris and two of his friends skipping high school for a day and borrowing the Spyder California from one of their fathers. A young Matthew Broderick stars as Ferris who fakes illness to miss school, and convinces his girlfriend Sloane and his best friend Cameron to have a day of fun before they head off to their different colleges. The Dean of the school doesn’t believe Ferris’ deception and also becomes embroiled in their adventures. The film, starring this iconic car, was a huge hit (grossing over $70million in the US) and Broderick was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Styled by Pininfarina, the classic lines of the car combine elegance and aggression, and it ranks alongside the Lusso as the ultimate expression of the Ferrari 250GT family. It was also a highly capable competition machine, as was demonstrated by Ginther/Hively winning their class at the Sebring 12 Hours in March 1958 on their way to finishing 9th overall, and Grossman/Tavano finishing 5th overall at Le Mans in June.

The car, estimated in this auction at £30,000-40,000 is ready to drive, so why not snap it up and have your own “day off.”

Source: www.bonhams.com/cars

WHY THE CHINESE GET A SHORTER PHANTOM

Chinese customers are getting a little less than for their money when they buy a Rolls-Royce Phantom - around 4cms less.

The Roller hit something of road block in China in the middle of last year following the introduction of new laws prohibiting vehicles over 6 metres long driving in cities at night.

It was legislation aimed at reducing congestion by banning trucks - however it collected the Rolls-Royce Phantom as well, all 6m 4cms of it.

"It took three months to re-engineer the bumpers," said Ian Robertson, board member for sales and marketing for BMW, the German owner of Rolls-Royce.

"It held sales up for a while but we are now back on track," he added. Rolls-Royce sales in China have grown from zero five years ago although the company did not provide exact figures for last year.

Robertson said: "The growth in the vehicle market in China is phenomenal. Will it continue at that pace? I doubt it but it will remain strong for the next 10 years and the premium market will grow strongly there as well.

"BMW has added 20 dealers in the past year, we expect to appoint another 10-15 before the end of 2010. It's a case of finding the right partners. China is now our fourth largest market after Germany, USA and UK. BMW Group is currently selling around 100,000 vehicles a year there.

"For this year the market in China will remain explosive. In the US I expect the market to be up by 10-15 per cent, in Russia there are some signs of recovery but we are expecting Germany to be down considerably, maybe by a million cars."

Source: headlineauto.co.uk

CITROËN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE SM

Citroën’s high performance coupé, the SM, is celebrating its 40th birthday.

The luxury sports tourer, an alliance between Citroën and Maserati, was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 11th March 1970 - 40 years ago today.

Technically innovative, with a dynamic, yet supremely comfortable ride experience, the Citroën SM was highly regarded for its futuristic styling, prestigious quality, ‘magic-carpet’ suspension and outstanding performance - a unique combination of characteristics not available in any other car at the time.

Officially recognised as a truly exceptional vehicle in the early 1970’s, the SM placed third in the European Car of the Year Awards in 1971 - the winner was Citroën’s GS. The SM also received the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in the US in 1972.

Powered by a Maserati V6 engine, the SM was one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars of its day, with a top speed in excess of 220km/h (137mph). A competitive performer in motorsport, the SM won its first race at the Morocco Rally in 1971.

Pioneering innovative technology, the SM introduced a new type of variable assist power-steering, which made it easier to manoeuvre at lower speeds and provided greater resistance at higher speeds for improved control and handling.

The car also featured hydro-pneumatic suspension with automatic height correction and six headlamps with automatic levelling. Four power-assisted disc brakes, with independent front and rear circuits, automatically adjusted brake power according to vehicle load and weight distribution.

Renowned SM owners have included U.S. comedian Jay Leno, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, author Graham Greene and actor Lee Majors. French Presidents from Georges Pompidou to Jacques Chirac used two specially modified 4-door convertible ‘présidentielle’ models, created by coach builder Henri Chapron.
Source: Citroën
Photos: A. Martin

SM - Citroën’s Maserati-engined Supercar
By Brian Long & Philippe Claverol
This is the fascinating story of how the Citroën SM came into being, with company politics and Maserati’s involvement covered in detail. The text and pictures then follow the car’s progress from its world premier at the 1970 Geneva Show until the final production models were built in July 1975.
More info.

GET WELL SOON SIR STIRLING

Best wishes from all at Veloce to Sir Stirling Moss who is recovering in hospital after falling down a lift shaft at home and breaking both his ankles.
Full story here.

SMART FORTWO URBANSTYLE EDITION

The smart fortwo edition urbanstyle adds a whole new dimension to the iconic model’s reputation for being ‘big in the city’.

Based on the 2010 passion model, the aggressively-styled edition urbanstyle will be limited to a UK production run of 230 coupé models – 160 units featuring the 71bhp (mhd)engine and 70 with the turbocharged 84bhp unit. A cabriolet version is available as a special order only.

With exclusive dark grey matt finish paintwork, which also extends to the attractive 6-spoke, 15” alloy wheels, and a tridion safety cell in gleaming black, the edition urbanstyle cuts a dash in the most fashionable of places.

The contemporary and sporty feel of the edition urbanstyle is also reflected in its stylish interior. Heated, nappa leather black seats with yellow double stitching and striking reflective stripes set the scene, while the 3-spoke steering wheel and gear shift knob are also finished in supple nappa leather. Door trims, knee pad and the instrument panel benefit from a leather-look finish and eye-catching matt silver details and yellow accents complete the interior’s ambience.

Navigating the bright lights is guaranteed to be an entertaining experience for the edition urbanstyle’s occupants too. In addition to the smart sound system, which provides crisp sound reproduction thanks to its 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range speakers, subwoofer and smart

MP3 interface, the model also has an integrated audio and navigation system. This advanced system incorporates a 5.8” touch screen, iPod®/USB connectivity, Bluetooth and radio/CD.

“The edition urbanstyle offers a unique fusion of cutting-edge style and a level of equipment that features infotainment technology rarely seen in this sector,” said Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz Cars UK.

“smart has always been a trendsetter and the contemporary look and advanced specification of the edition urbanstyle reinforces the perception that the brand is very much a modern design statement.”
Source:smart

the little book of smart – New Edition!
By Paul Jackson.

In the little book of smart, now featuring a brand new extra chapter, author and smart fanatic Paul Jackson guides us through the history of the brand, its highs and lows, its successes and failures, up to the present day, with the very latest fortwo line-up promising major sales worldwide and, of course, helping to pave the way for a future for smart in the USA. It’s a fascinating tale, told succinctly and in an entertaining style, and complemented by full colour photography throughout. 144 pages packed with over 100 colour pictures and entertaining text make this a great little book. More info.

FERRARI 458 ITALIA RECEIVES GQ MAGAZINE’S “SUPERCAR OF THE YEAR”

The Ferrari 458 Italia has been declared “Supercar of the Year” by GQ Magazine, the UK’s most important and influential men’s style magazine. The magazine described the newest addition to the Ferrari range as “a motor that elicits the most primal response from all who see it, while moving engineering on to a whole new level”, with the engine in particular being described as a “masterpiece”.

The GQ Magazine award comes on the back of another recent award from BBC Top Gear Magazine which voted the Ferrari 458 Italia not only their “Supercar of the Year” but their overall “Car of the Year”.

The Ferrari 458 Italia was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September to immediate critical acclaim. Following an extensive international media test drive programme in Maranello, the home of the fabled Prancing Horse, the car has been the subject of enthusiastic reviews, with its handling, roadholding, ride comfort and performance all being subject to the kind of superlatives rarely seen from the world’s leading journalists.

Source: Ferrari

RENAULT REMAINS IN F1

Renault has decided to maintain its commitment to Formula One and welcomes the perspective of a strategic partnership with Genii Capital; a Luxemburg-based firm specialising in new technologies, brand management and motor sport.
Following the proposed sale of a large stake of Renault F1 Team to Genii, both partners will operate the team together. The letter of intent signed by the two companies should be concluded in early 2010.

In 2010, Renault F1 Team will retain its name, its identity and the core ingredients that led to the successes achieved in 2005 and 2006. The team will continue to be supplied with engines by its sister company in Viry-Châtillon, Paris, which is also pleased to have received a renewed commitment from Red Bull Racing for the 2010 season.

After 35 years in the sport, Renault today announces a new phase for its F1 programme, consistent with Formula One's drive for cost efficiencies. Formula One remains one of the biggest sporting spectacles in terms of annual television audiences and media exposure. Therefore, Renault believes that the impact of Formula One in terms of image, and brand awareness worldwide, particularly in new, emerging markets, will continue to play a key role in fulfilling the company's growth objectives in years ahead.

Bernard Rey, Renault F1 Team President, said: "I am delighted to welcome Genii Capital as our new strategic partner as I am sure that their enthusiasm and business expertise will create a new dynamic for the team, the staff, and our partners. Altogether, we look forward to competing again at the highest level in Formula One. Today's announcement also confirms Renault's commitment and trust in the sport's governing bodies to improve the green credentials of Formula One."

In making such a decision, Renault not only demonstrates its commitment to its fans across the world, its employees in the UK at Enstone and in France at Viry and the FIA, FOA and FOTA, but it also believes in the positive impact of promoting relevant technologies in synergy with its product plan. "With the ongoing evolutions of the Formula One regulations, Renault will be able to entertain its fans, while promoting a leaner and sounder Championship. We will show Renault's skill when it comes to developing high-performance, fuel-efficient cars" said Bernard Rey, Renault F1 Team President.

The important cost reduction measures, made possible by the collective work within FOTA, have already improved significantly the operating cost base. With the anticipated sale of a stake in its F1 operational base at Enstone to Genii Capital, Renault achieves today another step that will definitely bring F1 participation to an affordable level for the Group. In addition, the new partnership will contribute to procuring the team the resources to compete sustainably at the highest level, and creates a great opportunity to modernise its governance.
Source: Renault

Veloce's book Alpine & Renault – The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car: 1968 to 1979 by Roy Smith represents when Renault entered F1.


Alpine and Renault describes the history of each company involved, the thinking behind the creation of the first turbo-charged Grand Prix car, and the men concerned – from the first ideas to the final ultimate success of a Grand Prix victory. The book covers the development of an experimental car by Alpine in the 1960s, and the story of the men who worked with Gordini, the engine-tuning genius who went on to create a power unit that changed the world’s thinking on engine design. The early tests, first car designed at Alpine, and the Renault-designed and built Grand Prix car made to the specific Formula 1 regulations are described, as well as the full story of the Renault Turbo Grand Prix cars, including interviews with the men of the time, a transcript of the first public test, and race reports on every event. Contains over 400 photos (mainly colour) and special illustrations. Click here for more info about the book.

EUROPEAN SALES OF GT-R SpecV ANNOUNCED

Nissan in Europe will sell just 40 examples of the ultimate iteration of its GT-R supercar, the SpecV. Orders are now being taken at Nissan High Performance Centres (NHPCs) across Europe and will close on 22 January 2010.

The limited run of 40 examples in Europe reflects that 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first Nissan to wear the GT-R badge. Also reflecting its exclusivity, and in recognition of the car’s indelible link with the Nordschleife circuit in Germany, the SpecV is only being displayed in Europe at the new Nissan Sports showroom in the new Nürburgring complex which was opened in July.

Developed as the ultimate iteration of the GT-R, the SpecV model builds on the original GT-R’s product concept by changing and enhancing key components that help deliver the SpecV’s philosophy of being for skilled drivers who are ‘at one’ with their vehicle.

Incorporating all of the product enhancements recently announced for the standard MY10 GT-R, these changes are based around the SpecV’s ability (in the right conditions and environment) to brake later and harder, corner faster and accelerate sooner.

Although maximum horsepower output remains unchanged, engine performance is enhanced with a new high gear boost control device, which briefly increases boost of the twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide greater in-gear acceleration. Braking and cornering performance is improved by the fitting of a carbon ceramic brake system jointly developed by Nissan and Brembo, revised springs and fixed-rate dampers. Other performance modifications include a titanium exhaust system.
Press release/Image source: Nissan

Coming soon from Veloce ...
ESSENTIAL reading for GT-R enthusiasts!
Click covers for more info

AUTO HEADLINES: IN THE NEWS

Peer pressure putting unprepared young drivers at greater risk on UK roads

Peer pressure, not wearing seatbelts and poor training are all major factors in the numbers of young drivers killed on the nation’s roads, according to new research by insurance giant Aviva.

A third of 17-21-year-olds admitted to driving differently when they have more than one friend in the car.

The research took an in-depth look at young motorists’ behaviour and their attitudes to driving in a bid to better understand why they drive the way they do.

And the findings help to explain why young driver deaths and accidents are declining more slowly than all other driver groups’ year on year, according to The Department for Transport 2008 statistics, says Aviva.

The results reveal that young drivers are dangerously influenced by peer pressure when driving with friends in the car, with:

* One in five (21%) paying less attention to the road
* A quarter (24%) taking their hands off the wheel
* 15% performing illegal driving manoeuvres.

The report also highlights that some young drivers are unprepared for driving, with one in 10 (9%) admitting that they wouldn’t have awarded themselves a licence when they passed their test.

According to the young drivers questioned, one in four (27%) only had paid driving lessons with no practice time and even more worrying is that the results indicate that some driving schools may be priming students to merely pass their test, with one in five (19%) young drivers having only practiced on the driving test route with their instructor, it is claimed.

Nigel Bartram, Aviva motoring expert, said: “Young drivers remain the age group with the highest proportion of insurance claims, accidents and fatalities on our roads.”

The largest proportion of Aviva claims costs for young drivers are for injuries rather than vehicle damage with 58% of the cost of all young driver claims consisting of personal injury costs, mainly to friends of the young driver being carried as passengers.

“In order to reduce these statistics young drivers and passengers alike need to take personal responsibility for their own actions - this means wearing a seatbelt at all times regardless of who is in the car, driving with fewer passengers and not conforming to peer pressure whilst behind the wheel,” said Mr Bartram.

“If young drivers take this advice on board and drive more responsibly we have every reason to expect the number of claims will reduce and claims costs will fall. If we see reduction in our claims costs for young drivers we expect that our premiums for younger drivers should fall in line with this.” (Aviva: October 13).

PUTTING 'ART' IN A SMART

smart is adding a huge splash of colour and personalisation to the ownership of its fortwo models with the launch of an exciting new product design service in conjunction with performance and styling specialists BRABUS.

The smart BRABUS tailor made concept which is being officially launched at this week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, will enable owners to design their own smart car from an array of special colours and bespoke interiors that will create thousands of combinations to choose from.

As part of the service, customers will be able to specify their car’s body panels and tridion safety cell from a palette of 18 vivid colours – each with a supercar/heritage theme. These include the vibrant Campbell Blue, which pays homage to the iconic Bluebird land speed record cars built and tested at Brooklands, the home of Mercedes-Benz World.

Interior detailing on items such as the door handles, instrument cluster, dials and light/wiper lever will also reflect the exterior colour chosen. There will be six tri-top roof colours to select from too, as well as nine leather/Alcantara upholsteries, which will feature in the seats and other areas including door panels, upper dash and in the floor mat edging.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “smart has always been regarded as an iconic and unique product and the launch of smart BRABUS tailor made will enhance that reputation. We offered a sneak preview of the range by showcasing four demonstrators at last weekend’s 2009 smart festival and the concept generated a phenomenal reaction.”

He added: “Business users have enjoyed tremendous success by using vinyl wraps on their smart cars to promote their companies and we expect the opportunity for individual retail customers to personalise their vehicle will be a huge hit too.”

The smart BRABUS tailor made service will be available this winter and offered at the point of purchase by smart retailers nationwide.
Press release/image:smart

A smart read from Veloce! the little book of smart – New Edition! by Paul Jackson.
In the little book of smart, now featuring a brand new extra chapter, author and smart fanatic Paul Jackson guides us through the history of the brand, its highs and lows, its successes and failures, up to the present day, with the very latest fortwo line-up promising major sales worldwide and, of course, helping to pave the way for a future for smart in the USA. It’s a fascinating tale, told succinctly and in an entertaining style, and complemented by full colour photography throughout. 144 pages packed with over 100 colour pictures and entertaining text make this a great little book. Click here for more info.

GORDON MURRAY DESIGN REVEAL T.25 CITY CAR SEATING LAYOUT

Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 City Car is not only designed around a central driving position but an MPV package offering 6 internal layouts within the same vehicle, each layout being easily achieved within 30 seconds.

The T.25 City Car has been packaged to accept three 95th percentile occupants and the central driving position has been named ‘iCentre®’, although the actual concept dates back to 1966 when Gordon Murray first came up with the idea during his Mechanical Engineering studies at Durban Institute of Technology in South Africa. The three-seat configuration was put into production with the McLaren F1 and then resurrected in 1999 during the original study for Murray’s City Car - then known as Project 3.

The central driving position gives unparalleled control and visibility whilst supporting the ultra-flexible interior space. This gives the T.25 a potential market advantage over the Smart Fortwo which is purely a two-seater with a small luggage capacity. In maximum ‘shopping mode’ the T.25 can be driver only but offers 750 litres of stowage space which is equal to 6 shopping trolleys in volume!

The two pedal vehicle does not have a gear lever but instead relies on push buttons with the options of fully automatic or manual using Forward, Reverse & Neutral.

Gordon Murray Design are currently in discussions with several interested parties to move the car into production using the iStream® Manufacturing process. iStream® is a unique, innovative method of producing cars invented by Gordon Murray Design which, amongst other things, reduces the area and investment of a typical car factory by 80%.
(Source:Gordon Murray Design Limited)

AUTO HEADLINES

MINI Frankfurt show stars confirmed for production at Plant Oxford

Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG has announced that two new MINI models are to be built at MINI Plant Oxford.

Reithofer confirmed the production plan during his two-day visit to BMW Group UK operations earlier this week.

One of the models is based on the MINI Coupé Concept and a concept of the second vehicle will be unveiled for the first time to global media at Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September.

Images of the stunning MINI Coupé Concept were issued to press on 26 August 2009, exactly fifty years after the first classic Mini was presented to the public.

Likely to feature the impressive 1.6-litre turbocharged MINI John Cooper Works power train, the MINI Coupé Concept is designed to be the most dynamic and agile MINI ever built. Strictly a two-seater, the low roof line, compact dimensions, perfect axle load distribution and lightweight construction are all trademarks of a genuine sports car.

Details of the second model have not yet been announced.

The two new models will join the existing Hatch, Clubman and Convertibles on the production line at Plant Oxford, where all derivatives are produced seamlessly just-in-time and just-in-sequence.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “The production of the two new MINI models is very good news for Oxford, and for the UK car industry. It is a demonstration of BMW’s long term commitment to the UK as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

“British drivers have had a long love affair with the MINI and I’m sure that this will continue for many years to come.”

Dr. Juergen Hedrich, Managing Director of MINI Plant Oxford, said: “The fact that Plant Oxford will be building these exciting new models shows the high level of flexibility of the plant and its associates. The MINI family has a bright future.”

Start dates for these two new models to enter production will be confirmed in due course. (Source:www.press.bmwgroup.com)

BMW to build two new models in the UK

BMW plans to build two new models at its Oxford plant, in a vote of confidence in UK manufacturing and a significant boost for Britain’s hard-pressed motor industry.

The move will result in new jobs and investment at the factory, which is operating close to its capacity of 200,000-220,000 cars a year, according to BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer.

The carmaker will unveil concept versions of a Mini coupe and a second, as yet undisclosed car, at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.

Mr Reithofer said: “I am pleased to announce the Mini coupe concept car and another new Mini model will both be built at Oxford.”

The factory employs about 3,500 people. However, Mr Reithofer would not comment on potential job increases or a production timetable for the new Minis. Speculation that 1,000 jobs could be created has been described as premature by a BMW spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, Mr Reithofer has declared that BMW intends to continue as one of just two big independent luxury car producers now left in the world.

He ruled out a tie-up with a mass-market carmaker, and believes that the German manufacturer’s production volume of 1.5 million to two million cars a year will be enough to allow it to survive using limited ‘intelligent co-operations’ with other carmakers. (Financial Times: September 3).

Revised driving theory test set for introduction

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will start to introduce case studies into the driving theory test later this month.

From September 28, one case study will be included in the exam for car drivers, moped and motorcycle riders.

As part of the multiple choice section of the test, the case study will assess candidates’ understanding of driving theory, whilst the multiple choice questions will continue to assess their knowledge of the subject.

The introductory theory test case study will take the form of a scenario, or short story, on which five questions will be based. Candidates will answer the questions in the same way as they do now, using either the touch screen or mouse.

The DSA’s director of driver education and learning Jill Lewis said: “Case studies are widely used in education to put learning into context and test comprehension of a subject, so many candidates will have encountered this type of question before.

“Initially we are introducing one case study based on existing questions in the theory test question bank, to get candidates used to the concept. It will also allow us to monitor any impact on the theory test. Over time, we plan to introduce more case studies into the theory test to assess candidates’ understanding of what they have learned.”

Changes to the theory test are part of Learning to Drive, a long-term programme of major reforms that will progressively strengthen the way that people learn to drive and are tested.

DIGITISED: THE WORK OF PHOTOGRAPHER ZOLTÁN GLASS

The National Media Museum in Bradford, UK, is currently in the process of raising a photographic treasure. The project, which aims to scan a large proportion of the photographs housed in the Zoltán Glass archive, will systematically catalogue the work of the artist, whose main creative periods came in the 1930s and 1950s, and to make them accessible in digital format. The Bradford collection numbers around 6,000 images in total; the work is scheduled for completion in April 2010.

Zoltán Glass was one of the great photographers of the 20th century – and automobiles were one his favourite subjects. During the 1920s and 1930s he was also commissioned by Daimler-Benz AG to take many photographs of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Glass, for example, documented the period of the classic Silver Arrows, the cars that dominated international grand prix racing from 1934 onwards. But he also turned his masterful skills to photographing the brand’s production vehicles for publicity material. He could even turn ostensibly uninspiring subjects, such as Mercedes-Benz vehicle production, into aesthetically pleasing images. After the death of Zoltán Glass in 1981, his photographic legacy was acquired by the National Media Museum, which houses one of Europe’s most important photographic collections.


At the instigation of Daimler AG, his work is now being catalogued and digitised. The project also involves feeding the original photograph captions into the database and reproducing the images in their original sequence. The process makes use of state-of-the-art technology, which enables the negatives and their immense wealth of detail to be photographed in high resolution using a calibrated high-end medium-format camera in order to create a neutral copy of the original. The results are first saved as files of approximately 100 megabytes in TIFF format. Finally, special software is used to convert the negative images into positives.

Once the work is complete, the photographs will be available for further historical editorial work and other projects.



Source: Daimler/Mercedes-Benz

JAGUAR HERITAGE MUSEUM RE-LAUNCHED

The famous Jaguar museum in Coventry has been re-launched. This follows the renaming of the Trust that owns it and the reopening of the famous gates on Browns Lane to the public.

The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (“JDHT”), founded in 1983 as an independent educational charity, has been restructured and renamed Jaguar Heritage. The museum holds a small but unique and valuable display of cars from the Jaguar collection. This collection boasts more than 100 vehicles.

The display of famous cars from the Jaguar Heritage collection, together with improvements in the museum’s facilities, is the reason for the re-launch of the museum. It will now be open to the public five days a week, and the last Sunday of every month, so that many more people will be able to admire the collection.

The link between Jaguar Cars, the Trust and the activities that it carries out around the world are an important part of the future of the company.

Mike O’Driscoll, the Chairman of the Trust and the Managing Director of Jaguar Cars, who re-opened the Museum, said:

“The collection is an important part of Jaguar’s heritage and allows members of the public and Jaguar enthusiasts from around the world to view the famous cars. The structure of the museum has been re-designed so that visitors will gain a greater understanding of the fantastic racing history of our brand. There will be closer links with Jaguar Cars, which is important for the company’s future.

“It is important that we maintain the link to our heritage and the famous vehicles that have gone before like the C-type and D-type. They are not only part of the history but also part of the sporting pedigree that is Jaguar.”

He added:
“Jaguar is becoming a sports car company again and we have exciting plans for the future.”

The provenance of the famous museum is its unique collection of Jaguar cars, which tell the story of the company. These range from the Swallow sidecar, with which the founder of Jaguar, Sir William Lyons, began his career. Other cars include:

the first Jaguar badged car, a 1937 SS Saloon;
NUB 120, the famous Appleyard rally car, which was campaigned in the 1950s;
the penultimate D-type ‘Long Nose’ built in 1956, which won the Reims 12 hour race that year;
The 1966 XJ13 built to compete at Le Mans and one of the most beautiful racing cars ever designed, but which never took part in the famous race;
the last E-type S.3 V12 open two-seater; and
some of the company’s most important concept cars.
These are just a cross-section of the collection that attracts enthusiasts from around the world.

The museum’s gallery contains a bronze sculpture by Dame Elizabeth Frink, paintings by Peter Blake and Roy Nockolds, trophies from the 1950s and 1980s, and original posters.

The day to day running of the museum has been taken over by founding Trustee Peter Mitchell, OBE. Peter has carried out a review of the collection of vehicles as the first stage in the plan to improve and develop the public display facilities at Browns Lane.

Press release & image: Jaguar Heritage

RARE GLIMPSE INSIDE BENTLEY AND ROLLS-ROYCE TREASURE TROVE

One of the motor industry’s hidden treasure troves will be opened for the first time in September when Bentley Motors holds a one-off parts and accessories sales fair.

The famous Crewe-based manufacturer will be offering professional traders and owners of both Bentley and Crewe-built Rolls-Royce cars, as well as enthusiasts of these iconic British marques, the opportunity to purchase anything from a V8 engine block or replacement gearbox right through to an indicator bulb or pristine, beautifully illustrated 1950s handbook.


Bentley Motors holds over 55,000 part lines for all Bentley models (1955 onwards) as well as Rolls-Royce cars built in Crewe (1955-2002) at its state-of-the-art 143,000 square foot warehouse on the outskirts of the Cheshire town. This equates to an astonishing 7 million items - all stored and catalogued on the company’s database.

The September sales fair will enable Bentley to create additional space for parts and accessories for upcoming cars like the Continental Supersports and the much anticipated all-new Bentley which is due to make its debut in California this August.

Over the weekend a range of Bentley’s factory trained experts will be on-site to provide visitors with advice on identifying and sourcing the correct parts for their car. All the items will be clearly catalogued and displayed by model type with a range of systems available to source the perfect part.

Unlike a typical ‘autojumble’, all the parts available will be original and unused, backed with a manufacturer warranty and many provided in branded packaging. Bentley’s official logistics partner will also attend the weekend to support any customers needing parts to be shipped.

Anyone wishing to attend this unique Bentley parts and accessories can register their interest by contacting the team at heritage.event@bentley.co.uk by 21 August 2009.

Press release & images from:Bentley Motors

Coming soon from Veloce! Bentley Continental, Corniche & Azure 1951-2002 – Revised Edition by Martin Bennett.
Definitive history of the fastest and most elegant Bentleys: the Continentals. Includes Bentley Continental R and S-Types (1951-66), Bentley Corniche (1971-84), Continental Convertible (1984-95), Continental R/S/T (1991 to date), and Azure (1995 to date).
Click here for more info about the book.

BEWARE FLYING DOGS – CLUNK, CLICK EVERY (CANINE) TRIP!

Road Safety Champion, GEM Motoring Assist is warning motorists of the dangers of travelling with unrestrained animals in the car and is urging drivers to remember to Clunk Click every canine trip!

We often hear about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars on hot days, but not enough is said about what happens to dogs, regardless of their size, when a car is involved in an accident.

We’ve all seen that classic scene – the dog’s head sticking eagerly out of the car window, wind blowing back the ears, tongue lolling, nose eagerly sniffing the fast passing smells – doggy heaven! But the dog-loving owner would be horrified to find out what would happen to Fido in the event of an accident.

The scenarios are too awful to contemplate – a simple impact could see your dog dead or badly injured, let alone what might happen to you or your other human passengers who are literally in danger of being killed by your best friend. To put in context, travelling at just 30 miles an hour, if you were to have an impact, an unrestrained average sized dog weighing around 50lbs would be thrown forward with a force equivalent to almost nine 12 stone men.

David Williams MBE, GEM’s Chief Executive said: “Many people simply have no idea of the dangers to both the dog and others when travelling with an un-restrained animal. And with more people staying in the UK this summer, we expect to see even more animals being taken on long journeys so we are urging drivers to consider their pet as well as the rest of the family when it comes to car safety.”

We don’t always have the boot space or the money for a proper dog travelling cage or carriers in our car, but there is an excellent and cheaper solution which is perfect - dog car safety belts and harnesses.

There are several types of dog car safety belts and harnesses. If your dog already wears a harness type collar then there is a simple safety belt that attaches to your dog’s harness and the car seat belt and costs around £7.

Dog car seat harnesses cost around £12 - £20 depending on the size of your dog. These harnesses are completely padded and easily attach to your car seat belt and come in a variety of colours.

GEM is offering a chance to win your dog a harness, and is giving away 1 harness a week through its website until the end of September. To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.motoringassist.com/dogs. Enter your details and you will be included in a weekly draw plus there’s a link to download a safety leaflet produced by ROSPA with more information about travelling with your pet.

Source: GEM Motoring

A connection between motoring and dogs also exists at Veloce ...


For nearly eighteen years, the folk at Veloce have concentrated their publishing efforts on all-things automotive. Now, in a break with tradition, the company launches a new imprint for a new publishing genre!
The Hubble & Hattie imprint will be the home of a range of books that cover all-things animal; be these dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, elephants – all produced to the same high quality of content and presentation as our motoring books, and offering the same great value for money.

Forthcoming dog books from Hubble & Hattie (click covers for more info).

PORSCHE MAKES LEARNING FUN FOR YOUNG DRIVERS

A new Driving Skills Academy at the world-class Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, Northamptonshire aims to boost the confidence of young drivers by allowing them to take to the tracks in their own car and hone their skills behind the wheel.

Co-hosted by TV presenter and journalist Vicki Butler-Henderson and supported by Red Bull Racing F1 driver, Mark Webber, the course builds on the principles of driving safety and driving enjoyment by providing a formal, yet fun, environment for new road users to have the opportunity to understand how engine performance and chassis dynamics affects their car’s handling as well as the influence the driver’s actions have.

Priced at £165, the Driving Skills Academy courses take place on Saturdays, starting from August 22nd. The day is structured around four modules; Practical, which looks at understanding your car’s handling characteristics on the unique low friction surfaces; Theory, which studies the principles of advanced driving techniques with a leading driving expert; Human Performance, offering an opportunity to test your reaction speed and vision in the state-of the-art sports science laboratory; and Assessment, where you drive a Porsche 911 around the Handling Circuit alongside a Driving Consultant.

For a young driver taking their first tentative miles on the road, the variety of distractions and potential hazards can be bewildering. Having confidence in your own ability and that of your car is key to tackling modern traffic situations successfully. This is particularly true in bad weather, when road grip can be reduced significantly due to standing water, black ice or snow.

The Driving Academy course provides participants with a unique opportunity to gain a sound knowledge of the principles of car control around the specially designed test tracks, plus tips on how to avoid potential road hazards in advance and thus deal with them more efficiently – or better still, avoid them completely. And the fact that this experience culminates in an opportunity to drive a 911 Carrera around the Handling Circuit makes learning fun!

PR Source www.porsche.co.uk/experience.