Lexus has commissioned the world’s first tattooed car, as ‘a celebration of fine craftsmanship and traditional Japanese artistry’.
The company has partnered with leading London tattoo artist, Claudia De Sabe, to ‘ink’ a UX crossover.
With this tattoo, however, no ink was used. Instead, the white UX was drawn upon by the artist using a dremel drill. This was then painted over with high quality car paint, producing the sprawling koi artwork.
While the dremel was used to cut the outline through the paint to the metal, De Sabe added highlights using paint by hand. Gold leaf was the finishing touch, with a 3D effect.
To preserve the design, the car has been lacquered, as any new car would be, locking the artwork away from the elements.
The process, from concept to completed car, took six months. The actual work on the car took five eight-hour days. The differences for De Sabe are obvious. A car is much larger than a person, and difficult to position comfortably.
The dremel, too, also produced more vibration than a tattoo gun would. And even though the subject is larger, because the dremel engraves, even more precision was required.
While this one-off piece of art isn’t priced, the work itself is estimated to be worth more than £120,000.
You can now order digital door mirrors for your Lexus
“When you tattoo a person, you have to think about the muscles and tissue beneath the skin. With the car it was about the way the bodywork changes shape over the framework,” De Sabe said of the project.
“The best thing about tattooing the Lexus UX, and the reason why this car was ideal for the project, is its streamlined shape. Everything from the lines on the side of the body to the shape of the windows, everything is just so dynamic and beautiful. It was a perfect fit for the design and the concept itself.”
The headline is that the 7 Series will get an all-electric version. But BMW also says this will be one of four types of drivetrain: diesel, petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric. This ‘genuine power of choice’ means more buyers are catered for.
The electric 7 is due to get BMW’s fifth-generation EV powertrain. We will see this first in the iNext and i4, with the latter recently previewed and claiming a 373-mile range.
The 7 Series will lock horns with Jaguar’s imminent all-electric XJ. Mercedes-Benz will likely be joining the fray, too, with a production version of its electric EQS Concept, seen at the Geneva Motor Show last year.
Electrification of the next 7 Series is part of BMW Group’s plan to have 25 electrified models by 2023. More than half, it says, will be fully-electric.
BMW expects demand for EVs to double in 2021, compared with 2019. On the way to 2025, BMW expects sales of electric vehicles to grow by 30 percent every year.
At present, BMW’s all-electric range consists only of the Mini Electric and BMW i3. The iX3 is due to join them shortly, scheduled for production in China this year. The i4 and iNext will follow in 2021.
Is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan too subtle for you? Fear not, some added attitude for the luxury SUV comes courtesy of Spofec, with its Overdose kit. It’s coming to a Premier League driveway near you.
The package includes a bodykit, engine upgrades, lowered ride height, larger wheels and more.
While also modifying the Cullinan’s styling, Spofec claims it also ‘boosts the driving dynamics’.
First, some numbers. The Cullinan was hardly diminutive when it left Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory. However, Spofec’s Widebody styling does what it says on the tin. It’s 10cm broader at the front, and 12cm at the back.
Those blistered wheelarches house new 24-inch wheels developed in collaboration with Vossen – offered in whatever finish or colour you desire.
We suspect the Cullinan’s special tyres featuring sound insulation haven’t been retained. The car sits 40mm lower, too.
Out front, an entirely new Spofec bumper is fitted to complement the arches. This apparently reduces front-end lift at high speeds.
A new diffuser replaces the centre section of the rear bumper, and accompanies a new spoiler. Spofec claims this gives its Cullinan a ‘touch of the racing look’.
We suspect it’s a little way off being liveried up in Gulf colours and shipped off to Le Mans.
All this makes for the most athletic cathedral you’ll ever see. The Spofec-fettled Cullinan will crack 62mph in 4.9 seconds.
It’ll sound better while doing it, too, thanks to a stainless steel sports exhaust. Not a very ‘Rolls-Royce’ upgrade, but it’s nice to have the option, right?
It sounds obvious to say that faulty brakes would be a leading case of accidents, but it bears repeating. Especially given they lead to 630 accidents in the UK each year, of which 15 were fatal in 2018.
Your car’s brakes rely on a number of things. The most important components are the pads, discs and brake fluid.
The latter you should top up yourself if needed. The discs can be assessed with a visual inspection, but you’re probably best off asking a professional.
If your brake fluid reservoir is depleting regularly, it’s worth having that same mechanic check your brake lines for leaks or corrosion, too.
Worn tyres
Tyres that aren’t in suitable condition are the second-most common part to factor in accidents. They cause around 550 a year, of which 17 were fatal in 2018. They’re also a part that motorists often neglect.
Your tyres can underperform for a number of reasons. Being over- or under-inflated will reduce their performance and increase wear on the rubber. The tread depth being too low will also reduce grip.
The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 mm across the full width of the tyre. You can check this yourself, using a 20p to see if the tread covers the outer rim of the coin. It’s good practice to think about replacing your tyres well in advance of this point, however.
Your local garage will usually have an air compressor to check your tyre pressures. The correct pressures can be found in your car’s handbook.
We’re getting a bit more technical now. However, with around 260 accidents a year attributed to faulty steering or suspension, it’s important to keep tabs on how your car handles the road.
Bumpy or uneven driving, as well as unevenly worn tyres, can be an indication of tired suspension. Strange noises and odd feel can indicate worn steering components. Check your power steering fluid is topped up and see a mechanic if problems persist.
Around 150 accidents every year can be linked with faulty lights or indicators. Happily, in a lot of cars, the process of replacing bulbs is easy. It’s certainly easy to check, although it’s not always the bulbs themselves that are the cause for a light being out.
If it is the bulb, access is either under the bonnet (for the front lights) or in the boot (for the rears). If the bulbs aren’t at fault, you may need to have the wiring checked.
Broken or missing mirrors
The fifth and final component is mirrors. Just 12 accidents come of someone having faulty mirrors every year, but they’re vital for keeping track of what’s going on around you.
Happily, they are the easiest item here to sort yourself. If it’s just the glass, you can buying a new mirror part and stick it over the top. If the whole unit is smashed, that could complicate things, but not too much.
“Keeping on top of basic maintenance can really help protect you and your vehicle against accidents on the road,” said Chris Barella of Euro Car Parts
“The tips we’ve provided will hopefully give people the confidence to take on some of the simpler checks themselves, but make sure to go to a garage if you’re unsure about anything.”
Supercars are mostly the preserve of bedroom poster and computer wallpaper dreams. Be savvy with your spending, though, and you can find exotica for the price of an executive saloon. These are the supercars, or pretenders to supercar status, that won’t break the bank. We’ll start with the more modern depreciators, then move on to older stuff that can be bought for less. Just remember to keep some cash in reserve for running costs…
McLaren 600LT
Crazy though it sounds, one of the best supercars of recent memory is already looking good value. We are, of course, referring to the McLaren 600LT of 2018. Mega though the track-prepped McLaren is, it hasn’t held its value well. You could easily spend more than £250,000 on one when new, but they’re now available for less than £150,000. The 600LT may have further to fall, too.
Honda NSX
The Honda NSX is a great car that simply doesn’t have the badge appeal of its Italian contemporaries. It’s also expensive to buy, at around £150,000 for a new one. However, this high-performance hybrid can be bought second-hand for as little as £90,000. Not bad for a car that can bait even the new Porsche 911 Turbo S.
Aston Martin Vanquish
The second coming of Aston’s flagship GT had a rough start. Sales were low, and it was always in the shadow of Ferrari’s fire-breathing F12. It was also very expensive, partly due to its carbon fibre bodywork, although that hardly seemed to make it lighter. Still, the fact it uses the great 6.0-litre Aston Martin V12 in its most ferocious and charismatic form is reason enough to buy one. And what was once a £180,000 car is now going for less than £65,000.
Jaguar F-Type R
Depreciators though they are, the above selections are still quite pricey. If your budget is a bit lower, here’s a legitimate modern performance marvel at a much more reasonable rate: the Jaguar F-Type R. With a roaring 542hp supercharged V8, it was a strong value proposition at £80,000 when first launched. Now, for less than £30,000, it’s almost a no-brainer.
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
Mercedes’ sports coupe might be a 911 rival, but it certainly seems more exotic. Borrowing bits from the SLS supercar it replaced, and packing a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, it feels like a bona fide supercar. Priced at around £100,000 when new, it wasn’t stratospherically expensive, but is now less than £50,000 second-hand.
BMW i8
The BMW i8 was, besides its 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, every inch a supercar. From its carbon fibre tub to its McLaren-style butterfly doors, BMW even dubbed it ‘the future of the supercar’ at launch in 2013. Once £100,000 from a dealer, this futuristic hybrid could be yours for less than £40,000.
Porsche 911 Turbo
Now we go older and cheaper. The venerable 911 Turbo has always been able to show many Ferraris and Lamborghinis its back tyres. The most affordable way to buy one is via the 996 generation, the least loved of 911s. The 1999-2005 996 Turbo is still a weapon, though, with well over 400hp and a top speed of 190mph. They’re available for less than £30,000.
Audi R8
It’s hard to believe, but the Audi R8 is now 14 years old. With sharp styling, mid-mounted V8 or V10 engines and Lamborghini DNA, it’s inarguably a supercar, if perhaps not a thoroughbred. That’s why you can now pick one up for less than £40,000.
Nissan GT-R
Thirteen years ago Godzilla returned, with the introduction of the R35 Nissan GT-R. No longer badged a Skyline, the GT-R shed its boxy saloon underpinnings in favour of a sleek coupe body. The performance from its 485hp V6 (600hp in the later Nismo) and advanced four-wheel-drive system proved problematic for many supercar owners, and still does today. You can buy one for less than £30,000, too.
Lamborghini Gallardo
Arguably Lamborghini’s first mass-produced car, the Gallardo boasts a V10 engine, more than 500hp, four-wheel drive, a near-200mph top speed and the howl of a wounded wolverine. Upwards of 14,000 were made, so it’s by no means rare, but that means it’s not too expensive. Prices were softer a few years ago, but you can still find one for less than £70,000. For reference, a bog-standard Porsche 911 now costs over £80,000.
Aston Martin DB9
Vanquish still a bit expensive? Fear not. With a rumbling 5.9-litre V12 engine, there’s very little about the DB9 that isn’t exotic. Nevertheless, you can buy one for less than £30,000: an absolute bargain in comparison to equivalent Ferraris. It’s something of a soft-focus supercar, but an absolute knockout to look at. Top speed is 186mph.
McLaren 12C
McLaren is relatively new to the supercar scene. The classy, clever and very fast 12C has struggled in the second-hand market. As a result, this most contemporary of used supercars can be yours for less than £80,000. A 600hp output (625hp in later models) and 207mph VMax sound tempting, but buy at your own risk. These haven’t got the best reputation for reliability.
Maserati Coupe
A Maserati for Micra money? Madness, surely? Nope, although the 177mph Coupe is perhaps a stretch for supercar status. For less than £15,000, though, we’d gladly take home this tuneful 390hp Italian V8. Just be ready for bills befitting a car that’s four times the price, plus a paddle-shift gearbox from the dark ages.
Ferrari 360 Modena
With a V8 engine not entirely unrelated to the Maserati’s, but mounted in the middle, here’s the 400hp, 183mph Ferrari 360 Modena. Its maker promised better reliability, easier availability and lower running costs. All told, it really isn’t a bad buy, although you want to find a good one. Best to avoid the £40,000 bottom-of-the-barrel, then, unless you feel brave.
Lotus Esprit
Lotus’ most exotic creation is long gone, but definitely not forgotten. It was also James Bond’s supercar of choice for an excursion under the waves. The Esprit’s wedge shape and delightful dynamics have aged superbly. The very cheapest can be bought for less than £20,000, although for that price you’ll get a facelifted four-cylinder, rather than a later V8. Or indeed a more iconic early example.
Dodge Viper
The ultimate American supercar? With a monstrous 8.0-litre V10 from a truck, ill-fitting fibreglass bodywork, a cabin that smelt like glue and driving dynamics tuned by the grim reaper, the 165mph Viper made 406hp feel scarier than some 1,000hp cars of today. What’s not to love, especially for less than £40,000? That is, if you can find one.
Alfa Romeo 4C
A selection of supercar ingredients don’t quite make a supercar, but the oddball Alfa 4C still appeals. With a carbon fibre tub, engine in the middle and a paddle-shift gearbox, it sounds like it should have a prancing horse on its flanks. Then you learn about its 240hp 1.75-litre four-cylinder engine. Still, how does £40,000 for a three-year-old example sound?
Aston Martin has started testing its incredible new Valkyrie on the road. The hypercar is now several months into dynamic testing, but this is its first outing on the public highway.
The Valkyrie is being set up by Chris Goodwin, Aston Martin’s high-performance test driver. It hasn’t strayed too far from the track, though. The chosen roads for this initial test are close to Silverstone, where the Valkyrie has been calibrated on-track.
On the road, however, the hypercar faces entirely different challenges. If the track is its comfort zone, the real challenge is to round off its rough edges and ensure refinement.
The Valkyrie needs to be able to idle comfortably in traffic, and set off smoothly from the traffic lights. That’s the kind of good behaviour Chris Goodwin and his team of Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies engineers are working on now.
To us, this first foray onto the road feels the Valkyrie’s final act of defiance, before actual deliveries begin, against those who claimed it would be impossible to see through to production.
And production isn’t far off, either; deliveries are due in the second half of this year.
A sold-out 150 customers are eagerly awaiting delivery of their 6.5-litre V12, 11,000rpm and 1,160hp hybrid hypercar. We can’t wait to see the finished article.
More than 60 companies have responded to the government’s request to help produce 20,000 ventilators to treat coronavirus patients. Vauxhall is the latest company to step up, with Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce also saying they will provide support.
Vauxhall has offered to help with 3D printing and the production of the crucial devices. The car company, which is now owned by the French automotive giant PSA, will work from technical drawings and blueprints provided by the government.
The Department of Health says that the NHS could require up to 20,000 additional ventilators. It currently has 5,000 adult ventilators and 900 for children.
Calling all manufacturers who can support our National Effort for #coronavirus ventilator production – to help, contact Government Business Support team: 0300 456 3565 / ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk
Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory is one of a number of PSA’s European plants that has closed due to the coronavirus. Ellesmere Port is likely to remain closed until 27 March at the earliest.
In a statement, the company said: “Due to the acceleration observed in recent days of serious COVID-19 cases close to certain production sites, supply disruptions from major suppliers, as well as the sudden decline in the automobile markets, the chairman of the executive board with the members of the crisis unit, decided the principle of the closure of the vehicle production sites, according to the following schedule and until March 27.”
Vauxhall’s Luton plant, which is home to the Vivaro van, is scheduled to close tomorrow (19 March).
The closure of the Ellesmere Port factory will free up capacity to make ventilators.
‘Experts at assembly’
Helen Foord, head of government relations at Vauxhall, told The Guardian: “We are experts at assembly and efficient mass production; we know how to process and we know how to make it lean.
“We’ve offered our services as an assembly plant and we have 3D-printing capability at Ellesmere Port, too.”
David Bailey, a professor of business economics at Birmingham University, warned that it could take time for car manufacturers to be in a position to build the ventilators. He said: “What’s most likely is that if there’s a manufacturer already making ventilators that wants to work 24/7, other manufacturers could help in terms of staff, components and supply chains, supporting them in that way.
“Technicians could be redeployed to operate machinery on different production lines where there are similar manufacturing processes in place.
“Longer-term it might be about production lines but it would take a while to tool up. The issues will be supply chains. Where are these components coming from and if there is disruption, can they be purchased locally instead?”
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day may be a little harder than usual this year, but this is one way to keep things verdant and green.
Currently listed for auction on Bring a Trailer, this 1978 Ford LTD Country Squire has the most amazing combination of green exterior and interior.
It may not necessarily bring you the luck of the Irish, but for fans of classic woodie station wagons this could certainly last longer than another pint of Guinness.
The biggest green machine around
The seventh-generation of Ford’s long-running Country Squire name was introduced in 1969. A comprehensive redesign saw full-size Fords become even bigger, with the wheelbase for the LTD range now stretched to 121-inches.
An update in 1973 saw the addition of 5 mph impact bumpers. This pushed the total length of the Country Squire to over 225 inches, whilst the curb weight tipped the scales in excess of 4,700 lb.
This would be the last of the giant full-size offerings, with Ford later moving to the shorter Panther platform in 1979. It makes this particular Country Squire one of the final wagons built on such a vast scale.
Clad with a forest of fake trees
The main reason why we are so excited for this Country Squire is the color. Ford’s Dark Jade Metallic is the particular hue used here, contrasting neatly with the vinyl wood grain cladding.
Only Country Squire models were fitted with the acres of imitation timber trim, unlike regular LTD-based wagons. Being the range-topping model also meant concealed headlights, a deluxe chrome roof rack, and a rear wind deflector.
Ford’s ‘Magic Doorgate’ was also fitted, allowing the tailgate to open in three different ways. This meant for multiple ways to access the cavernous cargo space at the rear.
Room for all the family
Inside, this Country Squire is just as green as it is outside. Optional Jade Duraweave trim – a vinyl said to imitate cloth – matches the exterior almost perfectly. The roof lining and carpets are, of course, green.
Naturally, there is even more wood grain trim on the inside, covering the dashboard, steering wheel, and door panels. The full experience of the late 1970s means the Country Squire comes fitted with equipment such as an AM/FM/8-track stereo, plus air conditioning and power brakes.
More importantly, the original owner plumped for the pair of third-row jump seats that fold into the trunk floor. It takes the potential for up to 10 people to cram hop onboard, and still leave some space for luggage.
Ready for relaxed road trips across the country
However, carrying so much weight is unlikely to aid the performance of this wagon. Made in the heart of the malaise era, this Country Squire comes with Ford’s 351-cubic inch V-8.
It makes for a total of 145 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque heading to the rear wheels, through a three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The first owner did specify a Traction Lok differential, though.
What makes this Country Squire staggering is that it has covered only 5,000 miles from new. It was first sold in old new by John Stenach Ford of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, with the owners later passing the car to their nephew.
It was then put into storage for 25 years, before being reacquired by John Stenach Ford. The current seller, based in California, bought the wagon five years ago.
Still want that new SUV?
In a world that feels somewhat chaotic right now, there is something reassuring and familiar about a station wagon clad in wood grain. It has all the practicality, if not the gas mileage, of a modern SUV but without the predictability.
Having had such little use, this Country Squire is seemingly ready for family road trips again. Or, gentle cruises to car meets and classic shows later in the year.
It has already attracted the interest of many commenters on Bring a Trailer, with other 130 comments posted on the listing so far.
The auction itself runs until Monday, March 23rd with this big wagon looking set to gain plenty of bids.
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has updated its position on charging infrastructure grants in 2020.
Orders for home EV charging points placed before March 12 will still benefit from the full £500 rebate, even if installed after March 31.
The grant was announced as reducing from £500 to £350 in the Budget of March 12. The original declaration says that the new rate applies to all installations on or after the first of April. However, there is an exemption if you ordered before March 12.
The electric vehicle home charge scheme allows those that install charge points at home to claim a rebate. This has been reduced, supposedly to allow people to take advantage of it.
Under the previous £500 rate, 30,000 people could use it. Now, with the £350 rebate, 57,000 are expected to take it on.
Eligibility is also extending to those who have larger electric motorbikes, as well as those with electric cars and vans.
To date, more than 120,000 home charge point installations have been partly subsidised by government grants. The decrease in the grant is considered to be in line with the reduction in the cost of installing a charge point.
In short, £350 is considered to be about the same percentage of the overall cost as £500 was when the scheme was launched.
Figures show that since the test changes implemented in May 2018, police have stopped more than 68,000 vehicles without a valid MOT.
The fine for being caught without an MOT increased, too. The typical charge is around £100, although this can increase to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
Drivers can face penalties of £2,500 if they’re caught driving with a ‘dangerous’ MOT classification.
Overall, the Treasury is thought to have made around £6 million in the 18 months since the changes to the test were made. The prosecution figures were obtained by Halfords, via a Freedom of Information request.
Halfords also conducted a survey of 2,000 motorists. It revealed that 22 percent had driven a car out of MOT, either because they’d forgotten, or didn’t know it was time for their test.
Seven percent said they didn’t know when their MOT was due at the time of the survey.
“More than 100 motorists per day are caught by police driving without a valid MOT and our research suggests this is just a fraction of the people who are on the road with an expired test,” said Aaron Edwards of Halfords.
“However, for many this isn’t intentional, with many simply unaware their car’s MOT was due. Around one in five motorists have driven a car without a valid MOT because they had forgotten or didn’t know it was due.”
However, some 15 percent said they knowingly drive around without an MOT. And 36 percent of these said this was because they couldn’t afford it, while 33 percent said they didn’t have time.
Also, 17 percent said it was because they couldn’t be bothered, while 23 percent simply thought they could get away with it.
