Bentley launches new models, to build SUVs

According to a press release, Bentley Motors UK has confirmed that it will build the world’s fastest and most luxurious SUV - the first off-road vehicle in the marque’s history.

This was announced at the launch at its Crewe HQs, of three new Bentley models, namely, the Flying Spur sedan, the Continental 4.0 litre GT V8 S and the 6.0 litre Continental GT Speed Convertible. The later is considered the world’s fastest four-seat production convertible.

Bentley Flying Spur

Continental GT V8 S

Continental GT Speed Convertible

The production of the new model will create new 1,000 jobs at Bentley and its suppliers.

The company recorded strong sales increases through the first three quarters of 2013 (delivering a total of 6,516 cars against 5,969 in 2012) and opening of 23 international dealerships in locations from Bucharest, Lyon and Minsk through to Hanoi (Vietnam) and the famous Silk Road city of Urumqi.

Proton UK to release newer models

Looks like Proton, the Malaysian car manufacturer is set to release 3 new models in the UK after a long gap.

No information about the price or when they would be released but their homepage shows the Preve sedan and Exora compact MPV models, saying "New products coming soon".

Via Paul Tan.

Some great concepts from Mitsubishi: video

Mitsubishi showed off some great concept cars at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013.


MITSUBISHI Concept XR PHEV


MITSUBISHI Concept AR


MITSUBISHI Concept GC PHEV

Classic car fan gets a surprise

A classic car fan received a grand surprise. Kevin Matthews won their "if you had to pick one...." competition and Royal Mail literally delivered this Jaguar E-Type to his doorstep.

Selling your car with confidence

Most people thinking of selling their car are increasingly going on to the net to do so. The most popular online car selling site has got to be Auto trader here in the UK. I sold my last car on eBay - another site which is quite popular with a lot of private car sellers as well. However, if you live in the north of England, you may want to check out The car buying service. They are in nine locations, namely, Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheadle, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Sheffield and Doncaster.

The company buys all types of car models and makes and is the online car buyer approved by RAC. You can value your car online in just four steps. First of all out your car registration number and then hit the 'Value my car' button.

You then provide more information about the car and your contact details after which you get the value of the car. If you feel that the price is right, you can then book an appointment. The great thing about this company is that the price quoted is the price you have to pay. There are no hidden "admin charges" that gets added to your bill afterwards.

Just check out their new TV advert:

Jaguar unveils the F-TYPE Coupé at the LA Auto Show

The F-TYPE Coupé made its global debut on 19 November in Los Angeles.

The all-aluminium F-TYPE Coupé is available in three versions: F-TYPE R, F-TYPE S and the F-TYPE. All engines drive the rear wheels through an eight-speed 'Quickshift' transmission with full manual sequential control via steering wheel-mounted paddles or the central SportShift lever.

The F-TYPE R Coupé is powered by Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, delivering acceleration to 60 mph in 4 seconds, and a top speed of 186 mph (electronically limited). The F-TYPE R delivers enhanced agility and handling via Jaguar’s second-generation Electronic Active Differential, Jaguar’s new Torque Vectoring by braking system and a Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) braking system.

Toyota at the 2013 SEMA show

The Toyota Scion FR-S, a.k.a the GT86, has been named the Hottest Sport Compact at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas. This is the second year running that Toyota has won the title for the car.

Toyota showed off four specially kitted and tuned coupes at the show. This included the GREDDY x Scion Racing FR-S racing prototype and the FR-S Steve Aoki Art Car, a music-themed version of the FR-S originated by star DJ and producer Steve Aoki.

Bulletproof FR-S Concept

FR-S Steve Aoki Art Car

Urban GT Sports Coupe

GREDDY x Scion Racing FR-S.

Check out the Toyota blog for more details.

Audi's new all-wheel-drive quattro technology in ad

See the new Audi all-wheel-drive system in action in their "Land of quattro" TV advert set to air tomorrow. According to Audi, the new quattro technology allows their cars to adapt to all conditions, while giving complete control and dynamic driving performance.

See our revolutionary

VW Beetle Hot Rods

VW has had a bit of problem selling the Beetle to male customers and despite launching a New Beetle specifically targeted at guys, was not particularly successful.

This may change the perception of the Beetle as a "cute" car:

On closer inspection, they are not the newer versions of the Beetle but rather modified versions of the popular model.

The Citroën C Elysée

Sebastian Loeb and Team Citroën unveiled the new C Elysée car and preview WTCC season at the Frankfurt Motor show 2013.

The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC is the very first vehicle to be designed in accordance with the new FIA regulations for the category, will be driven in the the World Touring Car Championship in 2014 by Sébastien Loeb.

The model is a C-segment saloon aimed principally at high-growth, international markets such as those in Latin America, the Mediterranean region, China and Russia.

According to Citroën, it is 30% ahead of its initial sales target, with 30,000 orders placed.

The car features 18-inch wheels, an integrated aerodynamic splitter, and widened front and rear wings.

The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC is powered by the same 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged engine as the DS3 WRC. With a wider booster flange, power output is now close to 380bhp. The car comes with a front-wheel drive transmission, controlled by a six-speed sequential gearbox.

Win a classic car for a weekend

As part of the British Auto Legends campaign, they are running a competition where lucky winners will get the chance to win a classic car for a weekend with Royal Mail.

All you have to do is go to their Facebook page: www.ifyouhadtopickone.com and then choose your favourite classic car from the the Royal Mail collection to be in with a chance of winning.

Hurry the contest ends this coming Monday.

London Taxis back in production

Production of the iconic London Taxis - the new TX4 model, has resumed at the London Taxi Company factory at Hollyhead road in Coventry, six months after the firm was rescued by the Geely Group. Geely Group Chairman Li Shufu and Business Secretary Vince Cable were present to officially start production.

Pic from their Twitter page

The Chinese owners bought the company for £11.4 million in February this year. With a £150m five-year investment plan, and 65 new jobs in Coventry and new sales staff in London, the company is hoping for a brighter future. - The company has a total workforce of around 170 and aims to produce 10 cars a day.

The BMW i8

The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid is the perfect dream car for me - an eco friendly high-performance sports car. It features a passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and BMW eDrive technology that enables it to be driven on electric power alone.

Here are some pics from Frankfurt:

Jaguar Land Rover announces £1.5 billion investment

Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover today announced the major investment approaching £1.5 billion at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This will also include the creation of 1,700 new jobs at their Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Solihull, UK. This brings the total number of UK manufacturing jobs announced by Jaguar Land Rover over the last three years to almost 11,000. The car maker owned by Tata plans to deliver an enhanced range of models for both the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in new segments and markets.

The first new model to utilise the new technically-advanced aluminium vehicle architecture will be an all-new mid-sized sports sedan from Jaguar which is expected to be launched in 201. This vehicle will feature the first engine to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new £500m Engine Manufacturing Centre. The plant will build the new family of high-output, fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines for Jaguar Land Rover.

The C-X17 concept

Updated: 10 Sept, 2013

Jaguar's first ever sports crossover concept vehicle - the C-X17, has been revealed at Frankfurt 2013.

The C-X17 is a design study to introduce Jaguar's all-new advanced aluminium architecture. Jaguar hopes that this modular, scalable architecture will allow them to grow its product portfolio, and target high-growth areas of the premium market, beginning with a new mid-sized C/D segment sedan in 2015.

The C-X17 concept combines the character and driving experience of a sports car with increased presence and flexibility.

JLR live at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Here is the live stream of JLR at the Frankfurt Motor Show below:
Looking forward to the C-X17 Concept, interviews with Jaguar executives and guests.

Seat Belts and the New Volvo coupe concept

An interesting titbit about the new Volvo coupe concept was on the Volvo Facebook page:

"Volvo invented the 3-point belt back in 1959. In our mission to make all car travel safer we gave the idea away, license free, to all manufacturers. It set the standard for safety and the inclusion of this special buckle in the Concept Coupe pays homage to our legacy."

The new Peugeot 308

Peugeot's new model, the Peugeot 308 will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow next week.

Aston Martin V12 ZAGATO

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin unveiled the V12 Zagato at the 2011 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance. Due to overwhelming response to the concepts, they decided to put into production a limited run of the V12 Zagato road-cars.

About the car:

This rear wheel drive sports coupe has a front mid-mounted V12 engine mated with a 6 speed manual transmission. It takes the car from 0-100 KM/H (0-62 MPH) in just 4.2 secs.

Check out the V12 Zagato site here: http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/aston-martin-v12-zagato

New Volvo coupe concept

Volvo has released pictures and video of their new coupe concept.

It looks fabulous. A number of commentators noted that it looks like the classic Volvo P1800 sports car.

Volvo V40 makes Malaysian debut

The new Volvo V40 models made their Malaysian debut at Mid Valley, Megamall concourse today. The models were the new Volvo V40 T4, the Volvo V40 T5 and the Volvo V40 Cross Country. The Volvo V40 boasts a 5 star NCAP rating and a host of new innovations such as Knee Airbags for the driver and radar based Cross Traffic Alert.

At the launch was Keith Schäfer, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, who has taken over the reins from Goran Larson (retiring Volvo Car Asia President), a couple of weeks ago.

According to the press relese, the V40 T4 model will be available from RM173,888 for the V40 T4 model, RM188,888 for the T5 model and RM198,888 for the V40 Cross Country. In addition, they come with 5 years free servicing, inclusive of parts, 5 years free warranty and 5 years Volvo On-Call cover.

Keith Schäfer, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia together with Mr. Lee Ming Tiong, Sales Director of Volvo Car Malaysia

Volvo V40 Cross Country

(From left to right): Sales Director of Volvo Car Malaysia Lee Ming Tiong, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Mr. Keith Schäfer, and President of Volvo Car Asia,Goran Larsson

Thanks to David Lau for the info and pics

British Auto Legends stamp campaign

Check out what the postman dropped off yesterday: It's a bright red Royal Mail tool box, personally engraved with my name.

I am delighted to be invited to take part in the Royal Mail British Auto Legends stamp campaign - celebrating 10 of the most famous British classic marques:

Inside was a first day cover with letter, the new British Auto Legends stamp collection, a USB stick shaped like a key and containing all the information about the collection including the cars, a ticket for the Cheshire classic, vintage and sportscar show on thew 17-18 of August (which I was unable to attend) and finally, a small stainless steel forged spanner.



The Thoroughbreds

1. Jaguar E-Type
2. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
3. Aston Martin DB5
4. MG MGB
5. Morgan Plus 8
6. Lotus Esprit

The Workhorses

1. Morris Minor Van
2. Austin FX4
3. Fords Anglie 105E
4. Land Rover Defender T10

The workhorses received a bit of flak from the Top Gear team, especially the Ford Anglia 105E, which was the favourite of the British police in the 1960s.

My favourite has to be the Aston Martin DB5, which became famous after appearing in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. This car was launched in 1963 and had a 4-litre (3995cc) engine with 242bhp (5500rpm) and a top speed of 144mph (232kph).

Which one is your favourite classic car?

Visit their facebook page www.ifyouhadtopickone.com for a chance to win one of these great cars for a weekend.

2014 BMW M4 Concept

The BMW Concept M4 Coupe was unveiled at the “Concours d’Elegance” in Pebble Beach on the 16th of this month. A peek into their vision of the future sports car.

Commedian Tim Allen featured in new episode of GQ’s Car Collectors

In this episode of GQ’s Car Collectors, Tim Allen shows off his collection including a Volkswagen Beetle with a 200-hp engine and his Studebaker Sleeper Cab that doubles as a campground for his four-year-old daughter.

He starts off with a very long "ahhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Fasten your seat belt [Video]

Really beautiful video titled 'Embrace Life'. The message gets through without a single word being spoken and not a car in sight.

Meaning of the warning lights on your dashboard

I have had my car serviced and MOT done recently but the service reminder light still comes on. The workshop did not know how to solve the problem ( I did not go to TMS - the authorised dealers of Volvo in Coventry, this time) and so I turned to my trusted Guru - YouTube. I soon found a video showing how to reset the service light indicator on a Volvo S40. Watch below:



Anyway, according to Britannia Rescue, most drivers do not have a clue what all the lights on their dashboard stand for. I found a great guide on the VW Facebook page with explanations of the lights. They might differ from car to car.

Watercar Panther

The Watercar Panther is claimed to be the fastest amphibious car in the World. The car is powered by a Honda V6 V-Tec engine and can travel at speeds over 40 miles an hour on water.



For more information visit their website: http://watercar.com/

World Premiere of the BMW i3

The BMW i3 was launched today simultaneously in New York City, London and Beijing.

It is the first purpose-built plug-in electric production vehicle to be made primarily from carbon fiber.

Watch it here:




http://www.live.bmwgroup.com

Carports and canopies for protection from the elements

It has been a scorching hot summer here in the UK. Just the other day, it was around 30 degrees C (approx. 86 degrees Fahrenheit ) and when I got into the car, it felt like a sauna. According to the US National Weather Service site, on a sunny day, temperatures inside the car can easily reach the ranges of 180 to over 200°F. Even with the air conditioning blowing at full power, it still took several minutes before it was finally comfortable inside the car. AT times like this, I do envy people who have houses with garages.

I do not have a garage in the front of the house and the car is left exposed to the elements. It is the hot sun now and rain, frost or snow at other times. However, these are not the worst. If you have ever parked under tress, you will understand what I mean. I do not really mind dead tree leaves but I especially hate bird poop. The worst part is that they are not only disgusting, they can actually damage the car paint if not cleaned off as soon as possible, and I am talking from experience.

Anyway, I was thinking how wonderful it would be, to have a covered driveway in front of the house. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that it would be a fantastic idea. By chance I got to know about 123v Plc, a company which is specialised in Carports and Car Canopies. They offer three different types of styles, namely,
1) Cantilever, where the carport or canopy is attached to a wall or any other structure;
2) Traditional, where the carport is attached to a wall and has posts as well. It can have a much larger span than the former.
3) Freestanding, with it's own posts.

I think for our house, a cantilever style canopy would be the most suitable. One reason I prefer this style is that there won't be any obstacles on the driveway.

However, installing these kind of structures is not a DIY job and would require the services of specialised companies. One thing that watching Cowboy Builders on TV has taught me is that you need to hire a reputed and experienced company for these kind of jobs. 123v Plc has been designing, manufacturing and installing all kinds of open sided structures, since 1997. These includes custom-build carports and canopies for homes, schools and offices all over Scotland, Wales and England. What I really found amazing was the fact that they offer a free, no obligation site survey so that each job is tailored to the needs of each individual customer. And once the fitting is complete, the surveyors will return to photograph them.

Check their site for more information.

How are cars made - a look at the Tesla factory

Video gives us a glimpse into how the Tesla model S is manufactured in their factory using specialised robots.

BMW M5 Nighthawk

The limited edition BMW M5 Nighthawk. Limited to only 10 units for the Japanese market.

Where Can I Get a Quick Logbook Loan Against My Car?

Have you been rejected by the banks? People require fast loans for a variety of reasons: whether to ease financial constraints and make ends meet, pay for a holiday, or complete some on-going home improvements. Read on to discover straightforward and secure alternatives that could provide you with large sums of cash in your account today.

Logbook Loans

Have you considered a logbook loan to ease your financial pressures? V5 Loans is a company which offers simple alternatives to bank loans for people who have been refused by banks and other lenders. Similar to a payday loan, a logbook loan can provide even larger sums of cash to customers, much more quickly. Simply, it is finance secured against the value of your car or vehicle, whereas a payday loan is unsecured. The value of your car will be assessed promptly as the car is the loan’s security; fees are determined by each vehicle’s age, model type, and general condition.

Instant Fast Cash

With V5 Loans you may be eligible to up to £20,000, depending on the condition of your vehicle, and this figure could be transferred into your account within 24 hours! V5 Loans ensures that a cheque or cash can be handed over within a few hours, since there are no credit checks and your only obligation will be to make timely loan repayments. You might be eligible for same day cash, so long as you own a vehicle and are based in England or Wales.

Bad Credit Rating

V5 Loans can boost your future credit rating, making prospective bank loan applications more likely to be accepted. Keeping up with weekly or monthly repayment plans ensures this provides a boost to your credit file. APR rates are typically higher than most high street lenders, but this is offset by the loan’s flexibility; it represents a secure alternative to unregulated money lenders.

Typically, logbook loans companies will arrange a face-to-face meeting with each customer, following a successful online loan application. This is a standard procedure to discuss the lending scheme and appraise the value of your car, thus deciding on the size of the loan. What’s more, you are often allowed to keep driving your vehicle throughout the duration.

Remember, you may be eligible for an instant cash loan, even with a bad credit history. If you are looking for a quick loan and own a car that is free, or almost free, from finance and have a proven income – whether through wages or welfare benefits – a logbook loan is a quick, reliable, and handy solution.

Jaguar Project 7

Jaguar's Project 7 concept car will debut at at Goodwood Festival of Speed this Friday.
Not very practical but I am guessing - a lot of fun.

Would you buy one if you had the money?

Check out the video of this high performance, single-seater roadster. 

Jeff Dunham's car collection

Comedian Jeff Dunham gives a tour of his private garage and shows off some of the amazing cars in his collection, including one of the original hand-sculpted Batmobiles used in the movies.

Is car leasing the right option for me?

The wonderful world of brand new cars is incredible, but it can also be overwhelming. When you want a new car, you have so many different options for purchasing it. How can you tell if new car leasing is the right option for you?

Affording the down payment and monthly payments

Simply purchasing a car outright might be your end goal one day. However, with the amount of money that you currently have saved, you know that would not be a reasonable possibility. Therefore, in order to determine if leasing a vehicle is the right choice, you must assess whether you have enough money to cover the monthly payments. Working with the car dealership Click here can let you know what those payments would likely be.

You don't drive an excessive amount

When you buy or finance a car, you generally do not have a limit on the number of miles that you can drive. With a car lease, however, you do. The dealership will give you a certain number of miles that you can drive on an annual basis. If you exceed that amount, you will have to pay a certain price for each additional mileage. Negotiating with the car dealership is often possible when you feel that more distance is necessary.

No long term commitment

Some people like to keep their cars for years and years. When you do not fall into that category, a car lease can definitely be the best option for you. Leases can last for all different amounts of time, but it's very popular for one to last about 36 months. As a result, within a three-year time span, you will be able to trade that car in and get another new vehicle.

You love prestigious vehicles

Perhaps you are wondering who doesn't love the newest and most fashionable cars on the market. Well, all people have their own opinions, and some might not care about this quality. Leasing is the perfect arrangement for individuals who do. Without a leasing program, you might never have been able to afford this particular car. Now, since the payments are less, you actually can. Of course there are also more cost effective options such as Ford leasing Click here.

Saving money is a priority

Speaking about the lower payments, leasing is definitely a smart option for people who are looking to save money. In most cases, a finance deal is going to cost more on a monthly basis than a lease will, so these leasing plans help you to save money overall.

Deciding what to do when you want a new car can be a little tricky, but considering these factors will help you to determine if leasing a vehicle is the right option for you now.

Toyota Auris Hybrid ad

Early preview of the new Toyota Auris Hybrid TV ad.

3rd gen BMW X5

Check out the third generation of the BMW X5  This Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) combines performance and luxury. The new model has enhanced aerodynamics, a few new engine variants, adaptive chassis options and a range of customisable design packages.