Twisted Automotive, famed for its bespoke Land Rover Defender creations, has announced plans to add a new model to its roster.
Along with the classic Defender, the Thirsk-based outfit will offer conversions of the latest Suzuki Jimny.
It will be the first time in the company’s 21-year history that it has undertaken full conversions on vehicles other than the original Defender.
But, as Charles Fawcett, founder and MD of Twisted, explains: “The much-loved Suzuki Jimny is a pure, proper little offroader. It’s evocative, engaging, and endearing. It’s almost a miniature Defender with similar architecture, driveline and analogue feel.”
Creating the ‘Little Twisted’
Exact details of what the Twisted conversion will include are yet to be confirmed. However, Charles Fawcett notes that each Jimny “will have more engaging handling and power delivery, utilising our Twisted wheel and tyre package along with honed progressive suspension.
“It will benefit from extensive soundproofing, upgraded media interface, audio system and our signature custom interior.”
Twisted has indicated that pricing for the complete Jimny conversion will be less than £50,000 (plus VAT).
Initial models will be based upon the two-seater Jimny Light Commercial Vehicle version, but other variants have not been ruled out.
Along with selling complete conversions, Twisted will also tweak and tailor customers’ vehicles.
Miniature tuning marvels
The fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny has already attracted plenty of attention from aftermarket tuners since being launched in 2018.
Not long after the Jimny made its debut, the Chelsea Truck Company announced a luxury version of the diminutive 4×4.
A host of modified Jimnys also took centre stage at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon, including a neat pick-up truck version.
However, the Little D kit from Japanese tuning outfit DAMD may be the most relevant, given Twisted’s heritage. This bodykit allows a Jimny to be made into a miniature replica of the original Land Rover Defender.
Twisted will announce final technical details, and pricing, for its Jimny creation later in 2023. Customers are invited to register their interest now in one of the limited build slots.
Matchbox has revealed a new limited-edition die-cast model of the British royal family’s Gold State Coach.
Launched to coincide with the coronation of King Charles III, the 1:64-scale model pays tribute to the new monarch – and the original Gold State Coach model by Lesney.
This year sees Matchbox celebrate its 70th anniversary. Seventy years ago, the success of the original Lesney Gold State Coach paved the way for the Matchbox toy brand.
A golden age reborn
Lesney sold more than one million examples of its 11.8cm-long Coronation Coach, produced to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. This financial windfall allowed the company to invest in a new Matchbox brand. Three billion toy cars later, the rest is history.
Although other scale versions of the Gold State Coach model have been created, Matchbox aimed to make the best, most detailed example yet for 2023.
Hundreds of photos of the royal coach were taken, and hours of film footage studied. A four-month design process included making 3D scans of the sculpted horses and riders from the original Lesney model. Modern 3D printing was used to produce prototype parts.
The tritons on the front of the coach are now blowing horns, there are three cherubs –representing England, Scotland and Ireland – on the roof, and windows have been added. Metal figures of King Charles III and the Queen can be spotted inside the red interior.
An exclusive Matchbox model
The new model measures 23cm in length, and comes complete with a display box and textured plinth – the latter designed to look like The Mall, which leads up to Buckingham Palace.
“Not only is 2023 a pivotal moment in UK history, but it also marks an important one for Matchbox. Celebrating 70 years of rich design heritage, Matchbox is launching an exclusive coronation coach that evolves the brand’s signature craftsmanship while drawing on innovation and cutting-edge technology to write a new and exciting chapter in our history,” said Roberto Stanichi, head of vehicles at Mattel.
“Being built to order, we expect this coach to be one of the most exclusive models Matchbox has ever created.”
Priced at £60, the Matchbox Gold State Coach is available exclusively via the Mattel Creations website. You will need to place your order between 26 April and 18 May 2023.
Michael Leiters has been shaking things up at McLaren. The new CEO left his role as chief technology officer at Ferrari last summer, upping sticks from Maranello to Woking. One of his first decisions was to halt production of the just-launched Artura until its quality problems had been fixed.
Leiters is a details man, then, and the 750S – the first new McLaren developed under his watch – is all about the details. It might look similar to the 720S it evolved from, but 30 percent of the car is all-new, including upgrades for the engine, chassis, interior and infotainment.
The lightest and most powerful series-production McLaren ever, the 750S also promises a greater emphasis on ‘engagement and fun’. We’ll be driving it in September, and first deliveries start soon afterwards. In the meantime, we visited McLaren’s futuristic HQ to get the full lowdown. Read on for those all-important details…
Light speed
The headline stats are 750hp and a DIN kerb weight of 1,389kg – plus 30hp and minus 30kg versus the 720S, respectively. That gives the McLaren a better power-to-weight ratio than the car it was benchmarked against: the Ferrari 296 GTB.
As you’d expect, performance is ferocious. The 0-62mph sprint takes 2.8 seconds, 124mph passes in 7.2 seconds and – for any American readers – a standing quarter-mile is dispatched in 10.1 seconds. Top speed is 206mph.
There’s also a Spider version, with a retractable hard-top that opens in 11 seconds at speeds up to 31mph. Prices will rise around 10 percent, which means a starting figure of £240,000 – or £40,000 more than the Artura.
‘For the purist’
A key difference between the Artura and 750S is the latter car doesn’t have any plug-in hybrid tech. While the Artura combines a 3.0-litre V6 engine with an axial flux electric motor, the 750S relies solely on McLaren’s venerable ‘M840T’ V8. “This car is unashamedly for the internal combustion engine purist,” says head of PR, Piers Scott.
The twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 gains increased boost pressure and a higher-flow fuel pump, along with lightweight pistons from the 765LT. Alongside that 750hp output, torque is up 22lb ft to 590lb ft (800Nm) at 5,500rpm. There’s also a shorter final drive ratio for the seven-speed paddle-shift transmission
A new centre-exit sports exhaust inspired by the McLaren P1 is lighter and louder, delivering ‘a greater crescendo at high engine speeds’.
Like a Longtail
The 750S isn’t just faster – it should be more engaging to drive, too. Drawing comparisons with McLaren’s track-focused Longtail (LT) models, Jamie Corstorphine, director of product strategy, says it offers “a significant degree of ‘Longtail’ agility, feel and feedback, while ensuring that comfort and usability are not compromised”.
The car retains the carbon fibre Monocage II-S chassis and hydraulically linked suspension of the 720S, but spring rates are three percent softer at the front and four percent stiffer at the rear. Front track is 6mm wider, too.
A standard 750S can stop from 62mph in just 30 metres, helped by carbon-ceramic discs and a new brake booster. For trackday fans, there’s a new brake upgrade derived from the McLaren Senna, with meatier discs and monobloc callipers.
Crucially, the 750S still has hydraulic steering – a defining McLaren characteristic – now with a quicker ratio and an upgraded pump to better resist bump-steer. “We will resist electric power steering as long as we possibly can,” promises Ben Gulliver, head of vehicle development.
Socket to them
The 720S looked genuinely radical when launched in 2017, so perhaps it isn’t surprising that changes to its aluminium, carbon fibre and composite body are quite subtle. Also, as Piers Scott points out, the familiar styling of the 750S helps protect resale values for the outgoing car.
At the front, you’ll spot a longer splitter and narrower headlight ‘eye sockets’ – now optionally painted in body colour. Both bumpers have also been redesigned and there’s a larger pop-up rear spoiler. Further options include 765LT-style front wing vents and lots of external carbon fibre.
Chief engineer Sandy Holford says the car offers more downforce (“although this wasn’t our focus”) and better aerodynamic balance. And firmly back in the real world, a new nose-lift system takes four seconds, rather than the 10 seconds needed previously, saving time when you encounter speed humps.
Ready to launch
Lift the McLaren’s dihedral doors – which cut into the roof on the coupe – and the interior looks functional and driver-focused. The car we saw had the newly optional hard-shell ‘Senna seats’, but more padded, P1-style chairs are also available.
The ‘Active’ panel on the centre console has been replaced by rocker switches either side of the digital instrument binnacle. Positioned within fingertip-reach of the steering wheel, these allow the driver to toggle between Comfort, Sport and Track modes for the powertrain and chassis. Alternatively, the new McLaren Control Launcher (MCL) button provides quick, one-touch access to your preferred settings.
The portrait-style touchscreen has upgraded software and – praise be! – Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity for the first time. Android Auto is coming soon, we are told.
Raising the bar
With the sold-out 765LT now out of production, the 750S becomes the flagship of a three-tier range, sitting above the GT and Artura. In some regards, it’s still a McLaren of the old school, yet the 720S – a five-star supercar in our reviews – always offered huge bandwidth, even without the ability to drive on electric power.
“When you have a car recognised by so many drivers as a benchmark, to do something even better you have to examine every detail and really push hard for improvements that raise the bar again,” explains Michael Leiters.
Has the bar been raised high enough to beat the car from Leiters’ ex-employer? We can’t wait to find out.
Mercedes-Maybach has revealed its first fully electric car. The opulent EQS 680 SUV is designed to deliver maximum comfort – particularly for those being chauffeured in the back – and effortless electric performance.
With two motors and four-wheel drive, the EQS 680 develops a mighty 649hp and 701lb ft of torque. Accelerating from 0-62mph takes just 4.4 seconds, while fully-charged range is up to 373 miles.
The flagship SUV from Mercedes-Benz is arguably the world’s most luxurious electric SUV – at least until battery-powered versions of the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan arrive.
Big on bling
Starting with the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the Maybach ladles on plenty of extra chrome and an imposing front grille. Illuminated sideboards and alloy wheels up to 22 inches in diameter also provide extra bling.
The Mercedes-Maybach ‘double M’ logo is even incorporated into the front bumper intakes, with a look seemingly inspired by high-end luggage and handbags.
However, it is the 680’s interior that truly stands out from the regular Mercedes-EQ version. It features a Maybach-specific version of the full-width MBUX Hyperscreen for infotainment. The digital instrument panel is also customised with rose gold surrounds and pointers that are ‘designed like a silk scarf that moves elegantly in the wind’.
Rear of the year
The Maybach EQS features the first use of vegetable-tanned Nappa leather, while other elements of the interior are derived from recycled or sustainable materials.
Two individual seats are separated by a large ‘floating’ centre console. Passengers can enjoy watching 11.6-inch multimedia screens, along with active ambient lighting that adjusts automatically throughout the day.
A Burmester 4D sound system with 15 speakers is standard, and those in the back receive their own special headphones. Extensive sound deadening has been installed around the rear of the cabin, helping cocoon occupants from road noise.
Mercedes has yet to announce prices for the Maybach EQS 680 SUV, but expect a hefty premium over the £153,495 asked for the existing EQS 580 4Matic SUV.
Next week sees the return of Salon Privé London, which will take place on the groomed lawns of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.
The sister event to the established Salon Privé Concours d’Élégance at Blenheim Palace, the London show brings together the world’s finest hypercars, classics and restomods, and showcases new models from marques such as Ferrari, Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Taking place on 20-22 April 2023, Salon Privé London will boast a high-end shopping village, plus food options that range from snacks to a formal three-course meal.
UK debut for Venom F5 Roadster
Demonstrating the breadth of UK debuts taking place at Salon Privé London, the show includes a first look at the electric Abarth 500e Scorpionissima hot hatchback.
At the other end of the scale to the diminutive Abarth, the Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster will also appear for the first time. With a 1,187hp twin-turbocharged V8, the American-made roadster is the world’s fastest and most powerful convertible car.
Other highlights of the show include Theon Design‘s latest restomod Porsche 911, the off-road-ready Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato and the electric Wiesmann Project Thunderball.
Concours cars you can buy
One of the major attractions at Salon Privé London is the Concours de Vente. This will see premium dealers from the UK and beyond displaying their cars for sale.
Limited to 75 cars, the Concours de Vente is split into three classes. Class One is up to £250,000, Class Two is between £250,000 and £1 million, and Class Three is for cars costing more than £1 million. Best in class trophies, and an ultimate Prix d’Honneur for the top car overall, will be awarded.
Tickets for Salon Privé London are available to buy now, including hospitality packages for those who want the full VIP experience.
If you have a 617hp Cosworth V12 that screams to 11,100rpm, you’ll want to enjoy every last rev in glorious, unfettered surround-sound. In other words, you’ll want a T.33 Spider from Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA). Well, join the queue.
Based on the existing T.33 coupe, the Spider’s carbon composite bodywork is unique from the A-pillar backwards. Two lift-out roof panels can be stowed in the front luggage compartment – or you can leave the roof in place and simply retract the rear window.
The Spider will be hand-built at GMA’s new facility in Windlesham, Surrey, with first deliveries due in summer 2025. Production is limited to 100 cars, priced at £1.8 million apiece – some £500,000 more than its hard-top sibling.
Seeing the light
Incredibly, the open-air T.33 weighs just 18kg more than the equivalent coupe. A painstaking focus on weight reduction involved shaving ‘single grams from every component’.
Tipping the scales at 1,108kg, the Spider weighs approximately the same as an Alpine A110 – a car Murray himself owns and admires. It’s also nearly half a tonne lighter than a Porsche 911 Cabriolet.
Its pretty, slightly retro body panels are bonded to a carbon fibre monocoque chassis supported by extruded aluminium tubing. Designed as a convertible from the outset, GMA promises there are ‘no compromises to structural integrity’.
Simple pleasures
Inside, the T.33 Spider looks like a glowed-up Lotus Elise: minimalist, gorgeously tactile and totally driver-focused. A ‘defiantly analogue rev counter’ is flanked by a pair of small screens for climate control and infotainment – the latter with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
A stubby, ball-topped gearlever takes centre-stage, controlling the six-speed Xtrac manual ‘box. The T.33’s carbon fibre steering wheel houses buttons for the wipers and indicators, in place of traditional stalks. The switchgear and pedals are machined from aluminium alloy.
Two carbon fibre bucket seats are trimmed in leather and Alcantara, and positioned beneath a huge ram air scoop that feeds the hungry V12. A pair of 90-litre stowage compartments are hidden in the rear haunches, increasing combined luggage capacity to 295 litres – on par with a small hatchback.
Totally tropical
The heart of the T.33 Spider, is, of course, that almighty engine, with its 12 cylinders, four throttle bodies, 24 injectors and superbike-style redline. Maximum power of 617hp arrives at 10,250rpm, while 75 percent of the 333lb ft of torque is available from 2,500rpm. It wears yellow cam covers inspired by the Murray-designed 1972 Duckhams Ford LM race car, too.
No performance figures are quoted, but reckon on 0-62mph in around three seconds and a top speed north of 200mph. If you want to go even faster, you’ll need the full-house 663hp GMA T.50 with its rear fan and ground-effect aero.
Lastly – and best of all – we’re told the T.33 Spider will be available in some very eye-catching colours, ‘acknowledging Gordon’s love for a tropical shirt’. It seems even Murray, a famously obsessive and serious engineer, isn’t afraid to have a bit of fun.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has been named World Car of the Year 2023 in a glittering ceremony at the New York International Auto Show.
The ‘streamliner’ Hyundai, a rival for the Telsa Model 3, beat two other Top Three in the World finalists, the BMW X1 and Kia Niro, to claim the top prize.
It marks a second consecutive win for Hyundai, after the Ioniq 5 was named World Car of the Year in 2022.
This is also the second consecutive World Car Awards triple win for Hyundai, too – with the Ioniq 6 named 2023 World Electric vehicle and 2023 World Car Design of the Year.
The World Car Awards is the largest automotive awards initiative on the planet. Last year, its global reach topped the 300 million mark, cementing its position as the leading event for 10 years running.
World Car Awards 2023 winners revealed
Other critically-acclaimed cars were named World Car Awards winners at the 2023 NYIAS ceremony.
The dramatic Lucid Air (pictured above), a new luxury car from the startup American EV brand, was named World Luxury Car.
Meanwhile, Hyundai’s sister company Kia scooped the World Performance Car trophy with the rapid EV6 GT.
The Indian-market Citroen C3 crossover SUV was named 2023 World Urban Car.
A jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries selected the winners in a private ballot tabulated by KPMG.
Say buongiorno to the Lamborghini Revuelto: a radical new plug-in hybrid supercar to replace the long-serving Aventador. With a naturally aspirated V12, three electric motors and a dual-clutch gearbox, it brings Lamborghini’s flagship firmly into the modern era.
The Revuelto is built almost entirely from carbon fibre, with wedgy, angular styling and its exposed engine very much centre-stage. A total of 1,015hp goes to all four wheels, and 0-62mph takes a scant 2.5 seconds. Top speed is “more than 350km/h” (217mph).
Described by CEO Stephan Winkelmann as “a milestone in the history of Lamborghini”, the Revuelto debuts in the marque’s 60th anniversary year, the latest in a V12 bloodline that includes the Countach, Miura and original 350 GT. Read on for everything you need to know.
Redlined at 9,500rpm
Let’s start with that 6.5-litre V12: now supplemented by two electric motors at the front and one inside the transmission. The eight-speed ‘box is mounted transversely behind the engine, which has been rotated 180 degrees compared with the Aventador.
The V12 itself develops 128hp per litre – the highest specific output of any Lamborghini – with peak power of 825hp arriving just 250rpm before a dizzying 9,500rpm redline. Maximum torque is 535lb ft at 6,750rom
Factor in the electric motors, however, and the numbers accelerate into hypercar territory. Alongside that headline-grabbing 1,015hp, the Revuelto musters an incredible 1,162lb ft of torque. Compare those stats with 780hp and 531lb ft for the last-of-the-line Aventador Ultimae.
Charged with battery
With two 110kW axial flux front motors, the Revuelto is actually front-wheel drive when driven in electric mode. The same applies when driving in reverse. Lamborghini hasn’t quoted an EV range for the car yet, but don’t be surprised if the 3.8kWh battery only manages a single-figure mileage. For context, the plug-in hybrid McLaren Artura has a 7.4kWh battery and a range of 19 miles.
The lithium-ion battery is slotted inside what used to be the transmission tunnel. A full charge takes 30 minutes at up to 7kW – or just six minutes using the V12 engine.
The Achilles’ heel of the Aventador was always its clunky automated manual gearbox. This new eight-speed dual-clutcher should be a vast improvement. It incorporates a ‘continuous downshifting’ mode, which drops down multiple gears under braking if you hold the left paddle.
Engage Corsamode
Inside, the Revuelto has three digital displays – including a Ferrari-style screen in front of the passenger, so they can see exactly how fast you’re going. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is inspired by a Lamborghini Squadra Corse racing car.
In addition to the familiar Strada, Sport and Corsa modes, two rotors on the wheel offer access to Città (City), Recharge, Hybrid and Performance settings. In EV-focused Città, output is limited to just 180hp. Only combining Corsa and Performance modes will unleash the powertrain’s full potential.
There’s also a new navigation system with What3Words functionality, plus voice control via Amazon Alexa. Over-the-air software updates should make life easier for Revuelto owners, too.
Built from the black stuff
A new carbon fibre ‘Monofuselage’ chassis is 10 percent lighter and 25 percent stiffer than the Aventador’s structure. Every body panel, apart from the bumpers and aluminium doors, is also made from carbon fibre and composites.
The Revuelto’s aggressive profile is designed to combine ‘high downforce and minimised drag’. Its active rear wing changes position automatically depending on the drive mode, or can be elevated manually by the driver (perfect for city-centre posing). Even the Y-shaped door handles have an aerodynamic function: chaneling air towards the rear-mounted radiator.
It’s unlikely to steal sales from the Urus SUV, but Lamborghini promises improved practicality for its flagship supercar, too. The Revuelto’s front boot is roomy enough for two aircraft cabin cases, plus there is enough space behind the seats for a golf bag.
Grab the bull by the horns
Inevitably, Revuelto buyers can indulge in plenty of personalisation, including 400 paint shades and 70 colour options for the interior. Reflecting Lamborghini’s shift towards sustainability, the paints are water-based and waste materials are recycled.
There’s no word on prices yet, but don’t expect much change from £350,000, particularly after a few options are added. Production of the Revuelto will take place in Sant’Agata, Italy, the home of Lamborghini since 1963. We’ll bring you our first drive verdict later this year.
This weekend sees the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship head Down Under for the Australian Grand Prix.
Before the on-track action begins in Melbourne, Red Bull Racing has treated reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo to an epic homecoming.
In his first trip back to Australia following his return to the Red Bull team, Ricciardo took the championship-winning RB7 Formula 1 car on a road trip across some of Australia’s most challenging terrains.
Dusting the competition
The road trip began in the heart of the Australian Outback, with Ricciardo meeting enduro motorbike riders Toby Price and Daniel Sanders.
At a cattle station, Ricciardo used the RB7 F1 racer to drift on dirt, before heading deeper into the dusty terrain.
In a scene more reminiscent of the Forza Horizon 3 video game, Ricciardo took on aerobatic pilot Matt Hall, at the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge in New South Wales.
This saw the RB7 pitched against the Hall’s aerobatic plane, tackling the twists and turns of the landmark stretch of road.
To the top of the mountain
To complete the trip, the RB7 made an appearance at Australia’s most famous racetrack, Mount Panorama, home to the annual Bathurst 1000 race.
Here, Ricciardo went head-to-head with Australian Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen. The latest Gen3 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro was used by van Gisbergen to demonstrate the best lines to take around the challenging Mount Panorama Circuit.
Following his Australian adventure, Ricciardo said: “After my first Red Bull Racing Road Trip in San Francisco, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to do this in Australia.”
He added: “To be back home, taking the RB7 across the Aussie outback, and sharing the best Australia has to offer with the world; what better way to celebrate my first F1 event at home since returning to Oracle Red Bull Racing.”
Suzuki has introduced a new ‘Service Activated Warranty’ scheme that extends its three-year, 60,000-mile new car warranty up to seven years and 100,000 miles – for customers who service their car within the Suzuki retailer network.
The standard warranty is extended each time an owner has their car serviced by a Suzuki dealer. It remains in place until the next qualifying service, up to a maximum vehicle age of seven years or 100,000 miles.
The idea is to retain customers within Suzuki’s highly-rated retailer network beyond the standard three-year warranty period.
“At Suzuki, customer experience and retention are paramount,” said its aftersales director Denis Houston.
The new Service Activated Warranty will “ensure our customers get the best levels of service, fitment of genuine parts and the expertise of our dealer network, rather than going to a non-franchised repairer once their manufacturer warranty expires.”
It’s not just Suzuki car customers who can benefit, either – Suzuki motorcycle owners can also access the seven-year extended warranty package.
All major components are included, and customers who sell their vehicle between services, and within the seven-year qualifying period, can transfer the warranty to the next owner.
This is also free of charge, and may provide a boost to the retained values of used Suzukis.
Used Suzukis – and motorcycles
It’s not just new Suzukis that are included, either. Used vehicles that have been purchased privately, or have a gap in their dealer service history, can also benefit from Suzuki Activated Warranty – so long as they pass an official Suzuki Vehicle Health Check first.
The new Suzuki warranty package will officially launch to customers on 3 April 2023.
Suzuki Service Activated Warranty will rank among the most generous new car warranties, equalling Kia’s comprehensive seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Fast-growing value brand MG also offers a seven-year warranty, valid for 80,000 miles.
