Bentley celebrates Bathurst race win with bespoke Continental GT S

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January 24, 2023

Bentley has unveiled a pair of special edition Continental GT S models, created in-house by Mulliner.

Inspiration came from Bentley’s success at the Bathurst 12 Hours race in Australia, where the Continental GT3 claimed overall victory in 2020.

Mulliner, the company’s bespoke division, has been responsible for designing the two cars, each of which boasts an individual specification.

Green to be seen

The collaboration between Mulliner and Bentley Sydney is intended to celebrate the launch of the Continental GT S in Australia.

Painted in bright Apple Green, the first Continental GT S features Beluga black for the roof, door mirrors, lower bumper and rear boot outline. A number seven is painted onto the mesh front grille, as found on the winning Continental GT3 racer.

Blackline specification sees all chrome exterior trim replaced with gloss black, while the interior is finished in a combination of leather and Dinamica fabric.

Homage to an epic victory

Apple Green accents are found on the black upholstery, including the word ‘Bathurst’ stitched into the headrests.

A map of the famous track sits atop the carbon fibre dashboard trim, with the names of the winning drivers on the centre console.

The second Bentley Continental GT S is painted in Silver Tempest, a colour chosen to reflect the first-generation GT3 race car. Like the Apple Green example, Blackline specification is used for the exterior, with a similarly bespoke cabin finish.

Demand for custom Bentleys grows

Each Bentley Continental GT S will be supplied with a commemorative framed artefact and a 1:18 scale model of the winning car.

Mulliner has left the turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine untouched, meaning a not-insubstantial output of 550hp. A sports exhaust enhances the soundtrack, while standard all-wheel drive allows a 0-62mph time of just 4.0 seconds.

Bentley’s Mulliner division celebrated a major milestone in 2022, building 500 bespoke cars in 12 months. This included the reborn Bentley Blower, along with numerous custom cars for wealthy customers.

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New Lamborghini factory museum is officially open

By

John Redfern

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January 24, 2023

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Lamborghini has officially reopened its museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, following a redesign ahead of an important 12 months.

This year will see Lamborghini celebrate its 60th anniversary, with a host of commemorative events planned throughout 2023.

Although the Automobili Lamborghini Museum opened its doors again at the end of 2022, a special ceremony marked the official reopening this month.

Looking to the future

Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini chairman and CEO, said: “2023 will be a year full of original activities and developments, which opens with this new museum destination. We will celebrate our first 60 years through international events, initiatives and unexpected activities, which we will reveal during the year”.

Winkelmann added: “We started from a challenge that Ferruccio Lamborghini took up at the beginning of the 1960s, which the company developed through pioneering and revolutionary ideas in the years that followed to write the history of the time and deliver innovations that have shaped the path of luxury super sports cars. Lamborghini always has and always will be a brand that never stops looking to the future.”

The museum now plays host to the new ‘The future began in 1963’ exhibition. This details the company’s progress across six decades. Some 19 cars from Lamborghini’s past and present are displayed in the two-storey building.

A year to remember

First opened as the Museo Lamborghini in 2001, the collection underwent a major renovation in 2016. The latest update includes an updated interior design, with a new layout that showcases the Italian marque’s history.

Lamborghini has more reasons to celebrate at present, as 2022 was its most productive year to date. A total of 9,233 cars were delivered last year: a 10 percent increase on 2021’s performance.

As with previous years, the Urus accounted for the majority of sales. Lamborghini delivered 5,367 examples of its twin-turbo V8 SUV in 2022, alongside 3,113 Huracans and 753 Aventadors.

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Slowest EV charging could cost the most – and MORE than petrol

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2023

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The introduction of peak and off-peak rates by electric vehicle charging networks could make slow charging the costliest option for EV drivers.

That is the message from the AA, which has just published its latest EV Recharge report, examining the charging market in December 2022.

It finds that while slow charging costs fell by 17p per kWh since November 2022, the use of peak periods risks making it more expensive than ultra-rapid charging.

Peak hours at peak prices

Certain charging networks have introduced peak and off-peak hours for their 7kW chargers, in a bid to manage demand and usage. The aim is to allow power to be provided throughout the day, and prevent drivers charging for longer than necessary.

Not all operators have peak hours at the same times, meaning drivers need to pay particular attention when recharging.

The AA’s research found networks charged an average of 72p per kWh to use a 7kW slow charger during peak times. By contrast, using the fastest ultra-rapid charging devices (in excess of 101kWh) cost only 70p per kWh.

This means adding an 80 percent charge to a 50kW battery would cost £28.00 with an ultra-rapid charger at peak times, versus £28.80 with a 7kW device.

More price monitoring needed

These prices also mean using a slow 7kW charger at peak times costs 16.18p per mile driven. Yet with falling fuel prices, refilling a petrol car now costs only 14.45p per mile.

The AA does note that many EV drivers will charge at home, however, reserving more expensive on-the-go options for a quick top-up.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy and recharging for the AA, said: “The introduction of peak and off-peak charging mirrors many domestic energy providers’ offering to EV owners.

“We completely understand why this has been introduced as it allows the supply of electricity to remain constant throughout the day, while ensuring drivers don’t overstay their welcome.

“However the price gap between the two is staggering, so much like refilling a petrol or diesel car, drivers should check the rates they could be paying before plugging in.

“While pump prices are falling, electricity prices are going in the other direction, but we are hopeful prices could tail off later this year. The government must keep an eye on prices and act if necessary.

“Unlike fuel, EV charging already has a regulator in place to monitor public charging ratesand they shouldn’t be afraid to step in if prices escalate.”

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Sporty electric Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS arrives in the UK

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2023

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The flagship Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS has landed in UK showrooms, having initially gone on sale in 2022.

The new Enyaq is the first electric Skoda vRS model. The lineage of the vRS badge stretches back more than two decades.

Prices for the sporty Enyaq Coupe iV vRS start from £54,370 on the road, with introductory finance offers available from Skoda.

New electro star

The Enyaq Coupe iV vRS uses twin electric motors, delivering a combined output of 299hp. This makes it the most powerful Skoda vRS model to date. Helped by all-wheel drive, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and reach 111mph.

Upgraded sports suspension is fitted as standard, lowering the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS by up to 15mm. Dynamic steering is included, too.

A 77kWh battery pack supplies the power, along with an official range of 323 miles. The Enyaq can use 135kW rapid chargers, replenishing its battery to 80 percent in just 36 minutes.

Using a standard 7.2kWh home wallbox will recharge the battery in around 13 hours.

Bright colours encouraged

Compared to the regular Enyaq SUV, the Coupe version has a curvier roofline and improved aerodynamic efficiency. Performance vRS models benefit from bespoke front and rear bumpers, gloss black exterior trim and black 20-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, there are heated sports seats with integrated headrests, which are trimmed in perforated black leather. A leather vRS sports steering wheel, carbon-effect interior trim and a full-length glass sunroof also form part of the standard spec.

Paint choices include bold Phoenix Orange (seen here) and Hyper Green, both of which are exclusive to the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS.

Ready to drive

Before options, the Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS costs from £54,370, while the Solutions Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance option offers monthly payments from £580.60.

For this deal, customers require a deposit of £10,874. It’s based upon an agreement of 10,000 miles per annum for 48 months. The final ‘balloon’ payment stands at £26,991.

With the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS now in showrooms, test drives can now be booked through the Skoda website.

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Top Gear’s Chris Harris is selling his Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

By

John Redfern

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January 20, 2023

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A 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring owned by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris is currently up for auction.

Listed on the Harris-endorsed Collecting Cars website, the 992-generation GT3 Touring was purchased by the TV star and respected journalist last year.

The GT3 became part of Harris’ extensive car collection, taking its place alongside his beloved yellow 991.2-generation 911 GT3 Touring. Other fast cars Harris has owned include a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and classic Ferrari 512 TR.

The subtle supercar

The 911 GT3 Touring up for auction was built to Harris’ exact specification, featuring a bespoke paint-to-sample exterior colour. Compared to his yellow Touring, the Dark Sea Blue finish is very subtle.

On the inside, the car was originally delivered with carbon fibre bucket seats in red leather. Harris later had the inserts trimmed in blue tartan upholstery by Porsche specialist, Justin Placek.

A front axle lift system, climate control air-con and LED headlights are all included, too.

Pop-up spoiler alert

A less visually extroverted version of the 911 GT3, the Touring option sees the usual gigantic rear wing ditched for a pop-up spoiler.

However, the car still produces the same 510hp from a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine, sending its power to the rear wheels only. Buyers had a choice of transmissions for the GT3, but Chris Harris specified the six-speed manual.

This means a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, along with a 198mph top speed.

One careful owner

During his ownership, Harris has added 6,468 miles to the GT3 Touring, and made good use of its abilities.

However, in a recent Instagram video, he explained that he did not have the space “financially or emotionally” for two versions of the same car.

It means the bespoke blue 911 GT3 Touring is now up for sale. The auction on Collecting Cars is scheduled to run until Wednesday 25 January 2023. Bidding has already been intense, reflecting the desirability of this rare Porsche and its celebrity owner.

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Chinese EV giant BYD confirms UK launch plans

By

Richard Aucock

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January 18, 2023

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Chinese electric car brand BYD has confirmed its UK launch plans, with the first retailers opening in Q1 2023.

BYD is the world’s largest electric car brand: sales topped even Tesla in 2022, with 1.8 million new EVs finding homes around the world.

It is now stepping up its European rollout, with the UK following Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Initially, BYD will work with four UK auto retail groups: Arnold Clark, Lookers, LSH and Pendragon.

It has chosen these retailer partners, it says, for their experience, expertise and prime locations. “A vital principle of the BYD strategy is to work with the best partners,” said its EU MD Michael Shu.

BYD Atto 3

BYD will launch in the UK with the Atto 3 compact SUV. It is an EV alternative to the popular MG ZS EV and Kia Niro EV.

It will initially be offered with a generous 60.5kWh battery; BYD says it will announce prices and other product details in the coming weeks.

The BYD Atto 3 made its European debut at the Paris Motor Show last year, and has since gone on to scoop a five-star Europe NCAP crash safety score.

Further new models will roll out later in 2023.

BYD, which has been backed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, is the only electric car firm to design and build the complete electrical powertrain, including batteries, semiconductors, motors and motor controllers.

Bosses say the brand is all set for another year of growth in 2023, with sales possibly even topping the 2 million mark.

We’ll bring you more news of BYD’s UK launch plans in the coming weeks.

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Electro shock: E-Ray hybrid is the quickest Corvette, ever

By

John Redfern

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January 18, 2023

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As a 70th anniversary present to itself, Chevrolet has unveiled the first electrified and all-wheel drive version of the Corvette.

The new Corvette E-Ray also becomes the fastest street-legal version of the All-American sports car, mixing speed with efficiency.

Chevrolet opted to reveal the E-Ray exactly 70 years after the original Corvette debuted at the 1953 Motorama event in New York City. It makes for a neat way to commemorate seven decades of Corvette production.

The all-weather Corvette

Mounted in the middle of the Corvette E-Ray is the same 6.2-l LT2 V8 engine as found in the regular Stingray. Here it produces 495hp, with 470lb ft of torque, sending this all to the rear wheels.

At the front is an electric motor, generating a considerable 160hp and 125lb ft. This solely drives the front wheels, creating the E-Ray’s electric all-wheel drive (eAWD) capability.

Working together, the two propulsion systems make for a total output of 655hp. The result is the ability for the E-Ray to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds, and complete a quarter-mile sprint in 10.5 seconds.

Chevrolet has avoided making the E-Ray a plug-in hybrid. Instead, the small 1.9kWh battery lives between the seats, and restores its power from regenerative braking.

Engage Stealth Mode

Up to six driver modes are available for the E-Ray, including a ‘Stealth Mode’. This allows the electrified Corvette to travel in pure electric mode at speeds of up to 45mph. At other times, the eAWD will work with the engine to boost traction.

On the outside, the E-Ray uses the same widened bodywork of the high-performance Corvette Z06. Buyers can specify an exclusive ‘Electric Blue’ body stripe, ensuring everyone knows you picked the hybrid Corvette.

Production of the Corvette E-Ray is scheduled to begin later this year, with both coupe and convertible versions available. Prices in the United States will begin from $104,295 – equivalent to £85,000.

Chevrolet is yet to confirm whether the E-Ray will be offered in right-hand drive, like the regular Corvette Stingray. However, multiple RHD prototypes have been spotted undergoing recent testing.

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Grey is the UK’s most popular new car colour – again

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Grey is UK’s most popular new car colour – again

By

Richard Aucock

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January 18, 2023

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More than one in four new cars sold in 2022 was painted grey – but green posted the biggest volume growth, with a 74.2 percent uplift.

While grey was the most popular colour for the fifth year running, a total of 31,220 new green cars were sold in 2022: almost 13,300 more than the previous year.

Fittingly, almost a quarter of them were ‘green’ in another way: they could be plugged in.

However, the British new car market overall remains largely monochromatic.

Adding to the 25.7 percent of grey new cars (that’s a staggering 415,199 cars sold last year), black paint took 20.1 percent of sales, while white represented 16.7 percent.

This means more than six in 10 new cars sold in 2022 were either grey, black or white.

Silver on the slide

Silver was the top paint colour in Britain for 12 straight years, between 2000 and 2011. In 2022, though, it posted its lowest market share in more than two decades; just 6.1 percent of new cars were silver. Indeed, both blue and red are now more popular than silver.

Green, meanwhile, surged into seventh place in the new car colours chart, with a 1.9 percent market share. Some 1.2 percent of new cars sold last year were orange, with yellow on 0.7 percent and bronze rounding out the top 10 with a 0.5 percent share.

And the least popular colours? Maroon, pink and cream – combined, they account for less than one percent of new cars, with pink posting its lowest market share since 2009.

“Car colour choice theoretically proclaims something about who we are as drivers,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “Buying a new car today comes with many possibilities to customise your vehicle to match.

“While the most popular shade remain unchanged for 2022, for those looking to ensure their vehicle stands out from the crowd, there remains a huge variety of colour choices from across the rainbow available to suit every character.”

UK top 10 new car colours 2022

Grey
Black
White
Blue
Red
Silver
Green
Orange
Yellow
Bronze

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Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate is an epic V12 swansong

By

John Redfern

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January 18, 2023

0

Aston Martin has announced its most powerful production model yet, built as a final tribute to the flagship DBS super GT.

Branded as the ‘DBS 770 Ultimate’, the name hints at the huge amount of power on offer from the twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine. Maximum output is now a colossal 770hp.

Only 499 examples of the special finale model will be made, split between 300 Coupe and 199 Volante convertible versions.

‘Boundless performance and response‘

Extracting 770hp, and 664lb ft of torque, from the V12 engine has involved upgraded parts, along with a seven percent increase in maximum turbo boost pressure. The result is a potential 211mph top speed, along with what Aston describes as ‘outstanding in-gear acceleration’.

The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission has been calibrated specifically for the 770 Ultimate, and is connected to a mechanical limited-slip differential. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, whilst the steering has been tuned to deliver greater precision and feedback.

Other changes include a 25 percent improvement in front end lateral stiffness, thanks to reengineered parts beneath the DBS 770 Ultimate.

The standard Adaptive Damping System for the suspension has also been enhanced, with unique damper settings designed to deliver ride comfort and body control.

An ‘uncompromisingly unique aesthetic’

Exterior changes for the DBS 770 Ultimate include a new front splitter, a ‘horseshoe’ bonnet vent, and a larger rear diffuser. Carbon fibre trim is used for the windscreen surround, exterior mirrors, and side vents.

A set of 21-inch alloy wheels are inspired by the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Victor models, and come in a choice of three different finishes.

The interior features Sports Plus Seats, trimmed in full semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, as standard. Bespoke sill plaques are individually numbered to reflect the 499 examples.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, says: “DBS has always sat at the pinnacle of the Aston Martin production model line-up. And now we’re infusing DBS 770 Ultimate with even more… more power, more performance purity and all with more sophistication, more taste and in the most considered manner.

The ‘emphatic last word’

Aston Martin has already established a track record with using the ‘Ultimate’ name for final edition models. The badge has been used before on both generations of the Aston Martin Vanquish, and now two generations of the DBS V12.

However, you will be out of look should you want to grab a slice of Aston Martin history. All 499 examples are already reserved for customers, with the order book closed.

Production of the latest DBS 770 Ultimate is set to begin in the first quarter of 2023, with deliveries to customers in the third quarter of 2023.

EV chargers to replace Wolverhampton petrol station car wash

By

John Redfern

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January 17, 2023

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A West Midlands petrol station has gained planning permission to replace its car wash with electric vehicle chargers.

As reported by the Express & Star, approval was granted for the Shell Compton Service Station, which is located on Wolverhampton’s Bridgnorth Road.

The existing car wash facility will be demolished, with charging devices for up to seven electric cars taking its place.

Power in, wash out

In approving the planning permission, Wolverhampton City Council noted the ‘addition of the electric vehicle charging points will help contribute towards renewable sustainable energy and help the air quality of the area’.

The seven EV chargers will be housed beneath a separate canopy to the petrol station forecourt, and offer charging speeds of up to 150kWh.

Motor Fuels Group (MFG), one of the UK’s largest independent forecourt operators, was responsible for the planning permission request. It manages more than 900 filling stations across the country, and has made major plans to introduce EV charging.

MFG has committed to invest £400 million in ultra-rapid EV tech, aiming to install more than 3,000 individual charging devices by 2030.

More charging capacity needed

The company opened seven new EV charging locations at the end of 2022, and has a total of 280 ultra-rapid chargers now in operation. All of the most recent sites have been added to existing petrol station forecourts.

A need for greater EV charging has been highlighted by the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It notes that charging access ‘remains a barrier to EV uptake’ and that the ‘government’s EV Infrastructure Strategy forecast that the UK would require between 300,000 and 720,000 chargepoints by 2030’.

The SMMT says that even to meet the minimum requirement of 300,000 charging devices, ‘more than 100 new chargers to be installed every single day’. The current rate of installation is said to be around 23 chargers per day.

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