The 2021 Hot Wheels Legend Tour is searching for a new iconic car to turn into the latest die-cast miniature.
It marks the second time the event has come to the UK, hunting for the most outrageous or impressive builds.
Whoever claims the top spot in a virtual event will go on to compete against others from around the world. The global winner will then see their car made in 1:64 die-cast form.
Displaying true garage spirit
Entry into the Hot Wheels Legend Tour competition is simple. Enthusiasts need to film a short video of their real-world car, demonstrating why it meets the high standards set by past Hot Wheels winners.
Videos need to be uploaded to the dedicated Hot Wheels Tour website by 1 October. Judging will take place with a special virtual event on 14 October.
Picking the winner will be a special panel that includes legendary car designer Ian Callum CBE. It means enthusiasts will need to submit unique creations, with a healthy dose of hard work behind it.
Explaining what makes a Hot Wheels creation so special, Ian Callum commented: “From an imposing stance, full of presence, vivid colours and an impression of speed, Hot Wheels captures a creative freedom that inspires the rebel spirit in a car designer”.
‘A truly diverse car culture’
With more than seven billion die-cast replicas made since 1968, Hot Wheels has become the biggest toy car manufacturer in the world. Such a huge number of cars replicated means a winner of the Legends Tour will need to really stand out.
Ted Wu, Head of Hot Wheels Design, Mattel, has faith that UK enthusiasts can deliver.
“With so many passionate enthusiasts and talented car builders and restorers, the UK has a truly diverse car culture with a thriving modified and performance scene”.
He added: “We’ll be looking for the very best: whether that’s a pre-war British hot rod, a ‘70s or ‘80s ‘restomod’, an extreme custom hot hatch build from the ‘90s or one of today’s bespoke hypercars, we want to see the finest cars the UK has to offer.
“Who knows? Your pride and joy could well become a small-scale legend.”
With the latest James Bond film due for release in September, Aston Martin has started its PR push early.
No Time To Die is the 25th film in the long-running series, and British sports cars play a major role once again.
Four Aston Martins will star on-screen. They include a classic DB5, as first driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger, plus the latest Valhalla supercar.
Think inside the box
At a preview for the No Time To Die TV campaign, Aston Martin unveiled a giant replica of the original 1965 Corgi DB5 model.
Located outside Battersea Power Station, the life-size Corgi toy box contains a new DB5 Goldfinger. The £2.75 million Continuation car features classic 007 gadgets such as rotating number plates, a retractable bullet-proof shield and mock machine guns.
It is housed in a replica Corgi box, which measures 5.7 metres long and 2.8 metres tall.
The Corgi DB5 became a best-selling toy when released. Its instant success included UK ‘Toy of the Year’ and ‘Best Boy’s Toy’ titles at the National Association of Toy Retailers Awards in 1965.
Such popularity means the model is still in production today, now with some 20 million sold worldwide.
Aston Martin tapped into enthusiasm for the Corgi original with the run of DB5 Continuation cars. Limited to 25 examples, the 007-spec modifications mean they are not road-legal without IVA modifications.
‘Quintessential British brands‘
Unveiling the life-size Corgi replica was Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer.
He commented: “We are really honoured to be marking the start of the No Time To Die campaign today with this exciting unveil. Aston Martin’s relationship with James Bond spans decades and the DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association.
“Now, to work with Corgi – another quintessential British brand – and to see James Bond’s most cherished car sitting inside a to-scale toy box in central London is quite outstanding”.
The full-size Corgi DB5 toy will be on display outside Battersea Power Station until 1 October 2021.
Named ‘Prototype Giants’, it marks the second Luftgekühlt event in 2021 for the Los Angeles venue. It follows on from the ‘Pfaffenhausen Speed Shop –The RUF Gallery’ showcase, which opened in May.
Now open to the public, the Prototype Giants exhibit consists of iconic examples of the Porsche 956 and 962 sports car racers.
Pushing the motorsport boundaries
Launched for use in the 1982 FIA World Sportscar Championship, the Porsche 956 was built to comply with Group C regulations. It broke new ground with the use of an aluminum monocoque chassis, matched with ground effect aerodynamics.
The 956 would dominate the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans, leading every lap and taking first, second, and third place.
Driven by the late Stefan Bellof, a 956 would also set a lap record around the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. Bellof’s time would stand for 35 years.
Porsche released the 962 in 1985. Along with the Group C specification 962C, Porsche also designed the car for use in the IMSA GTP series.
Unstoppable on-track
The 962 would become one of the most dominant racing cars ever made.
With a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, the 962C would win the World Sports Car Championship in 1985 and 1986. At the same time, the 962 claimed the IMSA GT championship from 1985 to 1988.
Le Mans 24 Hours wins followed in 1986 and 1987, with a modified version also winning in 1994.
Celebrating a legend
The seven Porsches on display at the Petersen include the Copenhagen 962. This was campaigned by A.J. Foyt, the Miller High Life 962 to win the 1989 Rolex Daytona 24.
A three-time race-winning, factory Rothmans 962C driven by Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass, is also a star attraction.
Petersen Executive Director Terry L. Karges, commented: “We are delighted to share our second Luftgekühlt exhibit, which features some of the most iconic 956s and 962s ever produced”
He added: “This gallery will explore the rich history of these race cars and shed some more light on why they were so dominant on track.”
The exhibition will be open at the Petersen until November 19, 2021.
It comes before an official reveal later this week, and a public debut at the 2021 IAA Mobility show in Munich.
The new car will be a replacement for the existing Lodgy MPV. Launched in 2012, Dacia has only sold the Lodgy in left-hand drive specification.
Robustness and endurance
The Jogger will be offered in both five- and seven-seater options, with Dacia describing it as having “a pragmatic spirit’.
Explaining the name, Dacia describes Jogger as being a “simple, modern name that anyone can pronounce”.
The use of the ‘er’ suffix, as with the Duster SUV, is said to invoke ideas of “robustness and endurance”.
Dacia will launch the Jogger with a digital event on 3 September 2021. This will be followed by the chance for the public to see the new model at the IAA Mobility event on 6 September.
You do the maths
The launch of the new seven-seater Jogger marks the continuing success of the Dacia brand.
It coincides with the company’s move into a ‘new era’, including the creation of a redesigned visual identity.
Since entering the UK market in 2013, Dacia has gone on to sell 200,000 vehicles. This year has seen the launch of an updated Duster SUV, along with an all-new Sandero supermini.
Last month saw the Sandero claim the prize of being the best-selling car across Europe.
With more new products set to be launched before 2025, Dacia looks set to continue growing.
A one-off 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo, with an intriguing ownership story, is for sale on the Collecting Cars auction website.
Ordered by the Sultan of Brunei, the special Porsche now belongs to 2009 Formula One World Champion, Jenson Button.
The 964-generation 911 Turbo features an array of exclusive options, only adding to the desirability of it.
Original Bad Boy
Launched in 1990, the 964-generation 911 Turbo has become a cult classic thanks to its association with the 1995 Bad Boys movie.
A successor to the original 911 Turbo, the 964 model retained the rear-wheel drive layout. First sold with a 3.3-l engine, the 964 would later gain an upgraded 3.6-l unit.
Unlike the sinister black car driven on screen by Will Smith, this 911 Turbo was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei in Horizon Blue Metallic.
It is noted as being the only 964-generation Turbo ordered in this colour with the desirable X88 power upgrade.
X88 marks the spot
Ticking the X88 box meant that the air-cooled 3.6-l flat-six engine gained a boost in output. A stronger turbocharger, more aggressive camshafts, and larger fuel injectors delivered the increase.
Horsepower grew from 355 hp to 380 hp, with torque remaining at a considerable 384 lb-ft.
A five-speed manual transmission, along with a limited-slip differential, is responsible for feeding the power to the rear wheels.
Sprinting from 0-60 mph should take 4 seconds. Should you be feeling brave, a 175 mph top speed is on offer. Compared to some of his previous company cars, this might have felt a little slow for Jenson Button.
True, blue, supercar
The Sultan of Brunei, known for his automotive extravagances, ordered the 964 Turbo with a full Marine Blue leather interior. This included electrically adjustable comfort-specification seats, and a matching leather-trimmed steering wheel.
No expense was spared on the options list. Air conditioning, an electric sunroof, automatic headlight levelling, a trip computer, and a rear windscreen wiper were all added.
Imported into the UK in 2003, the Porsche has covered just over 19,000 miles. All the original handbooks and service manuals are included, along with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.
Pushing the Button
For Porsche enthusiasts, the 964-generation of the 911 Turbo has become a supremely desirable classic. Add in the ownership history behind this car, along with the impressive specification, and it is set to attract substantial bids.
It marks the second Jenson Button-owned Porsche advertised on the Collecting cars platform this year. Last month, a Carrera GT supercar first owned by the ex-F1 driver, sold for €820,500 (£703,000 or $970,000).
Button has also been busy driving the new Lotus Emira, and launching the retro-inspired Radford 62-2 sports car.
The Collecting Cars auction for 911 Turbo is set to run until Thursday, 26 November.
New figures reveal the Dacia Sandero supermini secured the top spot as the best-selling car across Europe in July.
It marks the first time the no-nonsense Dacia has taken first place on the list since its original launch in 2008.
A total of 20,446 Sanderos were registered last month. This saw the ever-popular Volkswagen Golf, with 19,425 examples sold, nudged into second place,
The latest Dacia topped the charts in France and Spain, and became the eighth best-selling car of 2021 to date.
Electrified sales still growing
Despite this, overall car sales figures across Europe declined after four months of growth, based on analysis by JATO.
Continuing challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and semiconductor chip shortage, meant only 970,000 new cars were sold. Compared to July 2019, this represents a 26 percent decline.
Battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids saw another strong month, however. They accounted for 17 percent of all registrations, making July the third-best month ever for electrified models.
At the top of the battery-electric chart was the Volkswagen ID.3, with 5,433 sales. The recently launched Ford Mustang Mach-E made an impressive showing in seventh place, with 3,314 cars.
Diesel decline continues
Ford also saw success by taking the top-selling hybrid spot. With 4,247 examples sold, the plug-in hybrid Kuga SUV was Europe’s favourite, followed by the Peugeot 3008.
Although electrified models continue to gain popularity in Europe, JATO notes their sales are still ‘not enough to offset the big drops posted by diesel cars’.
In July 2019, diesel models accounted for 32 percent of all new European sales, while in July 2021 this figure was just 22 percent. In total, 207,000 fewer diesel cars were registered, but only 125,000 new electrified models found homes during the same period.
It’s the end of 2001. The Millennium Bug has buzzed off and the Millennium Dome will soon be sold on. Meanwhile, the coolest super saloon on the block is the original Audi S8.
Despite starring in one of Hollywood’s most epic car chases (1998’s Ronin, where it served as a battering ram for a hapless Citroen XM), the subtle ‘D2’ S8flew under the radar.
Today, it’s a bit of a unicorn, garnering respectful nods from the sort of car geeks you’d avoid at parties. We absolutely loved it.
A slow-burner
Among the over-styled and over-sized new cars of of 2021, the S8 looks modest: perfectly proportioned and effortlessly tasteful. It’s a collector of double-takes, as onlookers realise this low-slung saloon isn’t a typical old Audi.
Seeing it rumble into the office car park was enough to eke a wistful ‘oooh’ out of several MR staffers.
The first S8 was launched in 1996, some 10 years before the R8 supercar arrived to drag Audi’s music-video appeal up by the scruff of the neck. Big alloys and those signature shiny mirror covers complement flashes of chrome on the grille and window trims.
Today, that sounds like a paint-by-numbers Audi S model. Back then, it was uber-cool.
Seeing red
Our S8 – on loan from Audi UK’s extensive heritage fleet – is no spring chicken. In our month-long stewardship, its mileage ticked over the 157,000 mark. As such, some of its paint is a bit faded, and the leather a touch tired.
No matter, we love a bit of patina. And this, after all, is a car designed for crossing continents.
Getting inside, it couldn’t be more ‘2001’ if Ricky Martin was blaring from the stereo. The leather chairs – yes, these are chairs, not seats – absorb you. The tiny infotainment screen is dim in daylight, and outdone in the dark by quintessential Audi red backlighting.
A sense of space
The electric rear blind is perfect for shielding back-seat passengers from the sun. Or hiding Justin Timberlake from prying paparazzi lenses, perhaps.
Plentiful wood also shows that even this most modern of premium marques was chasing old-school luxury tropes back then. And there’s no sign of the stylish sloping centre console of subsequent A8s just yet.
For its comparatively slight proportions – it’s not much larger than a current Audi A4 – the S8 is nicely spacious inside. The control weights are heavy, the buttons make a satisfying click and the shifter for the automatic gearbox has a hefty clunk that today’s drive buttons could never hope to replicate.
Once your seat and mirrors are adjusted, it’s one of those cars that feels so right – an effect that’s amplified when you hit the road.
Twist and go
No start button, no keyless go: the key goes in the column, kids. Turn it, and a nondescript hum fills the cabin as the 4.2-litre 40-valve V8 coughs into life. In time, this engine would inform the unit found in the middle of the R8.
Here, it’s no 420hp screamer, putting out 355hp. That goes to ground via a five-speed automatic transmission.
Engage drive, release the manual handbrake and the waft-tastic regression session begins. At the risk of outing myself for bad driving habits, the S8 is a car that inspires a spot of ‘palming’. That is, flat-handing the top of the wheel and guiding it round as you slither through urban streets.
Teutonic Transporter
Gear changes are a bit lurchy, exacerbated by the eager-to-rev engine. Make the V8 sing, however, and a reputation forged by Ronin is quickly justified. This is perfect early-2000s car chase fodder, as evidenced by the fact that Jason Statham swapped his BMW 7 Series for an A8 in sequels to The Transporter. WhatUltimate Driving Machine?
Beemer-beater, the S8 isn’t, though. The Quattro all-wheel drive is faithfully grippy and the chassis feels balanced if not pushed too hard. Its damping is compliant, but there’s just a bit more body-roll than you’d want.
If the driving gets any more exciting than a swift hustle, the fact that the engine sits almost completely beyond the front wheels becomes obvious. It’s a super saloon rather than a sports saloon, if we can make that distinction.
What the S8 has in spades (and which we sorely miss in modern cars), is a bit of tyre sidewall. It rides beautifully when pressing on, making light work of rutted British roads.
Big distances, big bills
What the S8 is best at is chewing miles. Sorry, chewing fuel. Sorry, both at once.
The beautifully refined cabin, with its double-glazed windows, is the perfect place to forget that you’re getting, at best, 24mpg. If you’re exercising that V8 at all, it’s more like 15mpg.
The S8 on a long run is absolutely delightful, as reported by all at team MR. Tim took a family trip to Norfolk in it, Richard did some commuting and I ran it for miles in-between. As soon as you fall in love with the delicious bubble the S8 provides for a long journey, so too you worry about its voracious thirst.
Past times, fast times
The Audi S8, like the Millenium Dome, is of its time. Both represent the era from which they originate giving itself a hearty pat on the back. And both live on in 2021, with equally strong arguments for and against their suitability.
You love it from afar, you enjoy it up close, but sooner or later, the novelty wears off. Almost.
You hand back the keys, quietly nursing your superleggera wallet, then you immediately have second thoughts. You’d take 10mpg if it meant you could go for one last blast. Boy, do we miss it now it’s gone.
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Government proposals to allow drivers to tow a trailer without taking an additional test could lead to more accidents. That’s the view of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which is alarmed by the possible changes.
The proposals form part of the DVSA’s current public consultation. This includes measures aimed at getting more heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers onto the roads – and speeding up the licensing process.
However, IAM RoadSmart says safety should not be compromised to alleviate the current HGV driver shortage.
Staycation situation
At present, those who passed their driving test after 1 January 1997 can drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM), towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM. Removing the additional test is seen by the DVSA as a way to free up time for examiners.
The boom in staycation holidays, and the demand for caravans, has seen the number of trailer tests swell significantly. DVSA figures show 30,000 tests are now conducted annually, a number that could increase further in the aftermath of the Covid crisis.
Trailer training would remain a DVSA recommendation, but the consultation suggests this would not be a mandatory requirement.
‘People need training‘
IAM RoadSmart believes that losing the licence test would reduce the likelihood of drivers taking additional training before towing. This could mean they lose vital instruction on safe towing, and how to handle emergency situations such as a trailer or caravan ‘snaking’.
Neil Greig of IAM RoadSmart said: “If a test is no longer a requirement, this raises some serious safety concerns, especially at this busy holiday time. We are very concerned the decision will exacerbate an existing safety situation as currently, as per DVSA’s own safety checks, up to one in six caravans they stopped had a serious safety issue, while four in 10 small trailers were also found with serious safety issues.
“Many of these could have been avoided by better training and awareness of towing safety best practice. The DSA had a clear safety reason for introducing the test in 1997, and these reasons are still valid. People need proper training to be able to drive an articulated vehicle, particularly when they are doing so for the first time.”
Earlier this week, the British Medical Association (BMA) expressed concern about rushing medical tests to speed-up HGV driver licencing.
If you’re the winning bidder on this very orange 1976 Lotus Esprit, you could become an impromptu TV star. Restored for Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars, the rare Series 1 Esprit will soon be up for sale.
Whoever wins the Car & Classic online auction has the option to take ownership on screen. The car will be handed over by presenters Paul Cowland and Drew Pritchard.
Foot loose, fancy free
The new owner will certainly enjoy a classic Lotus that stands out in a car park.
Colorado Orange paintwork, matched with a green and red tartan interior, sounds suspiciously like the inside of Rod Stewart’s wardrobe. Yet the Esprit was one of 15 cars to leave the factory in this bold colour.
As part of the restoration, SMS Autospray returned the Esprit’s lightweight fibreglass bodywork to its original hue.
Steve Fulcher, of Fulcher Coachtrimmers, was tasked with ensuring the Esprit’s retro cabin packs the maximum 1970s punch. From the photos, it looks like a mission accomplished.
Like a clockwork orange
Matthew Oxley, a Lotus enthusiast and skilled mechanic, was the Esprit’s previous owner and sold the car to the show.
After handing over the Lotus in boxes of bits, Matthew was then brought back to help complete the work he had started. With an engine rebuild and suspension overhaul already completed, restoring the five-speed manual transmission was his next big task.
The mid-mounted 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has covered less than 500 miles since the rebuild. However, Matthew has committed to helping the new owner resolve any issues that arise during the running-in period.
Tangerine dream
Finding an early Lotus Esprit is a difficult task at the best of times. The opportunity to buy one that has been expertly restored on TV is perhaps a unique proposition.
The auction for the Esprit will be held online, via the Car & Classic website. Bidding will open on 3 September, ending on 10 September at 5pm BST.
Now into its sixth series, Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars will return to the Quest TV channel early in 2022. The show will also be available through the Discovery+ on-demand service.
A pair of modern performance Toyotas will take centre stage at the Classic Car Auctions (CCA) sale next month.
Leading the pack is an example of the currently sold-out Toyota GR Yaris hot hatchback. Toyota has filled allocations for both this year and 2022 with its pint-sized rally replica.
It means the CCA event could mark one of the few opportunities to take home the homologation special, which was named UK Car of the Year 2021.
At the heart of the GR Yaris is a 261hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine, connected to an all-wheel-drive system. The Circuit Pack option brings 18-inch BBS alloy wheels and track-tuned suspension, plus front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials to the party.
The GR Yaris set to be auctioned is finished in Scarlet Flare Red, and features a black Ultrasuede interior.
Whoever ordered the GR Yaris has shown commendable restraint, with only 29 miles recorded on the odometer. A pre-sale estimate of £28,000 to £34,000 compares favourably to the £33,020 list price.
A Supra-sized bargain?
Joining the GR Yaris as part of the CCA sale is a low-mileage example of the latest Toyota GR Supra.
A joint venture with BMW, the 2020 GR Supra up for sale is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine. With 340hp sent to the rear wheels, the Supra can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds.
The Supra for sale is painted in Downshift Blue, and comes in Pro specification. This means 19-inch alloy wheels, and a JBL sound system.
With the odometer reading 2,384 miles, an auction estimate of £35,000 to £40,000 is well below the £54,365 list price.
As part of the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, the CCA auction takes place on 25 September.
