Bentley launches a ski-drive holiday – but it isn’t cheap

By

-

January 23, 2020

Bentley and Bomber Ski have joined forces to create a skiing and driving holiday experience.

Set in the Rocky Mountains, Bentley and Bomber will host a group of ski enthusiasts at a six-day, five-night experience. Eighteen places are available on this ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’.

Six-time Olympic medallist and five-time World Champion skier Bode Miller will be on hand to provide expert guidance and coaching to skiers of all abilities.

Skiers are promised access to areas only accessible by Snowcat, allowing them to ‘catch the first glimpse of the sunrise before skiing untouched, pristine powder’.

Additional activities include snow-shoeing, a helicopter ride over the Rocky Mountain range and fine dining in the best restaurants.

Guests can expect a morning visit from the in-house ski valet when they stay at the five-star Lumiere Hotel in Telluride. Later, a private aviation transfer will fly the 18 guests to the Montage Deer Valley in Utah, where the trip will conclude.

The Bomber for Bentley Ski & Drive Experience follows the debut of the Limited Edition Centenary Ski and the Black Diamond Edition Ski that were launched last month.

Each design features diamond motifs, textures and patterns, inspired by Bentley’s EXP 100 GT concept car launched in July 2019.

‘Curated global experiences’

Developed with Chris Cooke, head of product design at Bentley Motors, the ‘Bomber for Bentley’ skis are handcrafted in Bomber’s boutique factory in Italy, with each pair of skis taking roughly 32 hours to complete.

Predictably, the Bentley skiing and driving holiday isn’t cheap. The price of double occupancy is $28,950 (£22,257) or $17,950 (£13,800) for single occupancy.

Don’t worry if you can’t make the inaugural event which takes place from 4 to 9 March 2020. Bentley is promising additional ‘curated global experiences’ throughout the year.

Time to start saving…

Motorway money used to restore historic buildings

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

January 23, 2020

0

Money put aside for reducing the road network’s impact on the historic environment is being used to revitalise historic buildings.

Highways England has awarded £340,000 to Gunnersbury Park – a 75-hectare park near the M4 motorway in West London.

In 2009, eight of the listed buildings in the park were placed on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register. There are 22 listed buildings in the park, many of which have fallen into disrepair.

The Highways England cash is being put towards securing three of the threatened buildings. The plan is to transform them into cultural and artistic facilities for the local community.

Last year, Highways England awarded £90,000 towards the cost of specialist surveys of the small mansion and stable buildings. Now, a further £250,000 has been allocated to the cost of repair.

In the future, Gunnersbury Park will boast a multi-million-pound sports hub, offering tennis, football, cricket, gym facilities and angling to local people.

‘Derelict for decades’

Highways England principal cultural heritage advisor Jim Hunter said: “I am delighted that Highways England has been able to contribute to this scheme which will help ensure a sustainable future for this beautiful park and its important buildings for generations to come.

“We believe in operating and improving our roads in a way that protects and supports people and the things we value for our quality of life, and helping to enhance the historic environment on or close to our road network is what our Designated Fund for Cultural Heritage is all about.”

Emily Gee, Historic England’s regional director for London and the South East, added: “These special historic buildings within Gunnersbury Park have been derelict for decades and it’s wonderful that they are set to be transformed into cultural and arts facilities for the local community.

“We are delighted that Highways England’s funding has helped to secure the future of this precious landscape together with the commitment of Ealing and Hounslow councils.”

The fund is part of a £675 million fund allocated to Highways England over a five-year period from 2015. Its aim is to mitigate the road network’s impact, focusing on air quality, the environment, cycling, safety, integration and innovation.

Spot the difference: Lexus in London or Gran Turismo?

By

Ethan Jupp

-

January 22, 2020

0

Can you spot the difference between these images? The subject is a Sonic Red Lexus LC500, photographed at various London locations. One of the slides is shot in Gran Turismo Sport’s excellent photo mode, the other is a real shot.

To test the theory that modern game graphics are truly lifelike, Lexus enlisted the help of professional photographer Jayson Fong to help create some images in-game, and then retake them in real life. They picked Air Street, Cromwell Place and Wellington Street in London, as featured in the game’s ‘Scapes’ mode.

As for the car? It’s a good one to test both photographer and observer. With a nice mix of clean and harsh lines, we love the way the LC500 looks in certain environments, reflecting what’s around it.

Lexus landmark: luxury car company has now sold 10 million vehicles

Then, once the images were taken on the game, Jayson and his team noted down the exact geometry, time of day and light settings to replicate the pictures in real life. As Jayson follows, lighting was the biggest challenge.

“For some locations, we had to be on the street at 4am and it was difficult to get the timings right because the sky was always going to be one of the biggest giveaways.”

2020 Lexus RX 450h review: dependably different

Google Street View cars clock up 10 million miles

It proved a tall task practically when it came to shooting the car for real, then. Given the closeness of the results, we wouldn’t blame you for leaving it to the professionals and taking to the PlayStation for some artistic automotive photography.

The results really are spectacular, given that we’re never quite sure which is real. Especially in the case of the Cromwell Place daytime shot. We’re unsure what the giveaway is. The bin bag? The reflections on the car? The yellow lines? The scaffolding? They’ve done a great job of matching the shots.

Prices for new all-electric Smart range revealed

By

Ethan Jupp

-

January 22, 2020

0

Prices have been revealed for Smart’s updated range of electric cars. The line-up of Fortwo Coupe and Cabriolet, plus the larger Forfour, will cost between £20,350 and £26,565, before the government plug-in car grant is deducted. After the grant, that equates to between £16,850 and £23,065.

The Smart range opens up with Passion Advanced. This brings as standard a multi-function leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and a media system. The latter features a seven-inch touchscreen, navigation, charging station finder, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, DAB radio, Android Auto connectivity and Mirrorlink mobile phone mirroring.

These are the last ever petrol-powered Smart cars

Wild Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch will be cheaper than you think

All Smarts also come with the ‘acoustic presence indicator’ – to warn unwary pedestrians – and comfort package as standard. On the outside, 15-inch black four-spoke wheels add to the premium effect.

A 22kW on-board charger now comes with all Smarts. That allows for a 70 percent charge-up in 40 minutes from a rapid charger, or six hours if using a home wallbox.

The only issue? This base specification is not available on the Fortwo Cabriolet. Those wanting the wind in their hair will need to pay more.

The cheapest and most expensive countries to rent a car

Model	Road fund licence (£)	Rec. OTR price (£)	Rec. OTR price inc. PICG (£)	P11D value (£)	BIK (%)
Passion Advanced
Fortwo Coupe	0	20,350	16,850	20,295	0
Forfour	0	20,785	17,285	20,730	0
Pulse Premium
Fortwo Coupe	0	21,500	18,000	21,445	0
Fortwo Cabriolet	0	23,920	20,420	23,865	0
Forfour	0	21,935	18,435	21,880	0
Prime Exclusive
Fortwo Coupe	0	22,650	19,105	22,595	0
Fortwo Cabriolet	0	25,070	21,570	25,015	0
Forfour	0	23,085	19,585	23,030	0
Edition 1
Fortwo Coupe	0	24,145	20,645	24,090	0
Fortwo Cabriolet	0	26,565	23,065	26,510	0

Volkswagen launches three-year fixed price insurance plan

Pulse Premium adds £1,150 to the Coupe price. It brings 16-inch wheels, sports pedals, a rear-view camera and, on hard-top models, a panoramic roof with a blind.

Prime Exclusive spec will set you back £2,650 over the base price. It adds 16-inch Y-spoke alloys, ambient lighting, auto-dim mirrors and heated seats. For the first time ever on a Smart, there’s also full LED lighting.

Van theft epidemic: 30 are stolen every day

Edition 1 spec is available only on the two-door Smarts. It adds a healthy £4,145 to the start price, but comes with exclusive colours, black detailing, Brabus body features and sporty alloys.

All Smarts are rated for around 70 miles of range, and have an 82hp electric motor. A single-speed gearbox powers the rear wheels and top speed is limited to 81mph.

Roush F-150 5.11 Tactical Edition is a 650 hp truck ready for anything

By

John Redfern

-

January 22, 2020

0

Tuning company Roush Performance has collaborated with California-based 5.11 Tactical to produce a special limited-edition version of the Ford F-150.

Launched at the recent 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the 5.11 Tactical Edition combines a wealth of performance enhancements and bespoke design upgrades.

Roush currently plans to build 150 examples of the 5.11 Tactical Edition, with the truck aimed at those who need a dependable vehicle with a hefty dose of attitude.

Rapid tactical deployment

No self-respecting Roush produce would come without one of the company’s signature superchargers added beneath the hood. The 5.11 Tactical Edition does not disappoint, with a 2.65-liter ‘charger added to the 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

Peak power is upped to an impressive 650 horsepower, with a corresponding 610 lb-ft of torque. This is the same set of figures as found in the record-breaking Roush F-150 Nitemare, meaning performance should not be in doubt here.

Roush also fits a cat-back Active Performance Exhaust system, allowing the driver to change the sound from the tailpipes at the twist of a dial. Picking ‘Touring’ mode quietens the exhaust down, which could be handy for doing important tactical activities.

Suspension upgrades are also included, with a Roush/Fox 2.0 Performance Series setup installed to improve ride comfort. Tire clearance is also said to be enhanced, with the 5.11 Tactical Edition wearing 20-inch wheels fitted with 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain rubber.

Completing the exterior makeover is a wide array of parts from the Roush catalogue. This includes a new front grille with signature lighting, plus fender flares which also house accent lighting elements. Puddle lights also display the Roush logo when the truck is unlocked.

Roush will only offer the 5.11 Tactical Edition is two Ford colors – Agate Black or Abyss Gray. This is combined with digital camouflage graphics and 5.11 Tactical logos applied to the outside of the F-150.

Lock and load up on tactical gear

The Tactical theme continues inside, where Roush has installed a custom-branded vehicle safe in the center console. Fitted with a combination lock, and made from cold-rolled plate steel, it allows for secure storage of important equipment.

Roush-branded leather seats are fitted, along with a Roush instrument cluster and a set of bespoke floor liners made by WeatherTech.

In addition to the special Roush badging fitted on the exterior of the 5.11 Tactical Edition, each of the 150 models will also gain a serialized commemorative plaque on the dashboard.

A collaboration with a tactical clothing and equipment manufacturer would surely be wasted without an accompanying haul of branded goods.

Roush has not disappointed with this special edition. Buyers will receive a branded tactical duffle bag, a custom 5.11 Tactical hard case with a heavy-duty responder’s multi-tool inside, a custom tactical pen, a steel money clip, plus a range hat and USA flag patch.

Each of the 150 trucks will come with a unique serialized certificate of authenticity when leaving the Roush Performance factory in Michigan.

Time to make a tactical decision

The 5.11 Tactical Edition joins the growing number of special outdoor-focussed pickups, with Chevrolet having released the Silverado HD Carhartt Edition at SEMA last year.

Pricing for the 5.11 Tactical Edition is dependent on the base F-150 chosen as a starting point. However, the transformation itself will add $31,000 to the overall price, with Roush only using the 5.0-liter V-8 Lariat model.

All Roush trucks are supplied with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, and can be ordered now with delivery expected in Spring 2020.

Ferrari tops Disney as the world’s strongest brand

By

Ethan Jupp

-

January 22, 2020

0

Ferrari has been ranked the world’s strongest brand for the second year in a row. That’s according to the Brand Finance Global 500 report for 2020.

A brand strength index score of 94.1 out of 100 earns Ferrari the top spot on the list. It’s ahead of 11 other brands to have been awarded the highest AAA+ rating. It did, however, drop slightly from its 2019 score of 94.8.

Ferrari is also the only automotive brand to get an AAA+ rating. It defeated second-placed Disney (93.9), which spent more than seven-times the total brand value of Ferrari on film and TV assets owned by Fox.

Coca Cola, meanwhile, came sixth, with a score of 90.9 in the BSI index.

Revealed: The most trusted car brands in 2020

In the name of preserving exclusivity, Ferrari plans to cut licencing agreements by 50 percent, and eliminate 30 percent of its product categories. Could that mean cheap Ferrari aftershave is a thing of the past?

The brand value of Ferrari grew to nearly £7 billion last year: a year-on-year rise of nine percent. The result is that, overall, Ferrari is 206th in the top 500 most valuable brands. It climbs from 220th place in 2019.

‘Driving is in our DNA’: Lotus CEO on future sports cars

Revealed: the most-wanted ‘shopping list’ for car thieves

Its success partly due to a new model offensive. Last year saw the marque introduce five new cars, including the SF90, a new supercar designed to deliver hybrid-hypercar performance, and the Roma, a higher-volume GT.

In terms of other areas of its business, Ferrari also closed a deal with the Giorgio Armani Group for the manufacturing of its clothing.

Ford gets first Reader Recommendation from Good Housekeeping

“The embodiment of luxury, Ferrari continues to be admired and desired around the world, and its outstanding brand strength reflects this,” said David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance.

“It is no wonder that many consumers, who might never own a Ferrari car, want a bag or a watch emblazoned with the Prancing Horse, but it is also crucial that the company management remain at the steering wheel of the brand’s future and maintain its exclusive positioning by monitoring the licensing output closely.”

New bike rack camera is an ‘industry-first’

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

January 22, 2020

0

A Swedish company specialising in mobile living has launched what it claims is an industry-first bike rack camera.

If you’ve struggled to reverse a motorhome, campervan, estate car or van with a bike rack on the back, the Dometic CAM200 Bike Rack Camera could be the best product of 2020.

It’s a common problem for anyone travelling with a bike rack. With the bikes loaded, the rear-view camera is obscured. This restricts the view for the driver, making it harder to reverse when the bike rack is in use.

Two cameras

Dometic’s patent-protected bike rack camera is the solution. It fits on the lower section of the bike rack to provide a clear rear view for the driver. Dometic says that by mounting it low, the “risk of misjudging the length of the rack can be excluded”.

As a bonus, the camera can be fitted without drilling on most bike racks – it simply slides into the outer rail by tightening the in-built screws.

The CAM2000 features two individually adjustable camera models, allowing the driver to find the best possible viewing angle. It switches between the two cameras to provide a clear view, even when bikes are loaded.

Of interest to UK buyers is the fact that the bike rack camera is waterproof. It’s also dust-proof. The system cable is detachable, so that the bike rack can be removed from the vehicle when not in use.

On sale in February for £320

It goes on sale in February 2020, with prices starting from €379 (£320).

Dometic separated from Electrolux in 2001. The Swedish firm specialises in products designed for the mobile living sector, which includes RVs and boats. Its portfolio includes cameras, monitors, air conditioners, awnings, toilets, blinds, generators, vacuum cleaners and sanitation systems.

The company turned over 18.274m SEK (£14.725m) in 2018 and employs 8,000 people across the world.

ALSO READ

Custom capsules are the ultimate way to show off your supercar

FCA’s latest UConnect infotainment system promises even better usability

Official: 30-year old cars are classics

You can now design your perfect Morgan in 3D

By

Ethan Jupp

-

January 22, 2020

0

Morgan has introduced an online configurator tool to help you bring your own hand-made British sports car to life.

The difference between this and the recently-announced Caterham configurator is you can build your Morgan from the comfort of your own home.

The tool works in 3D, and makes use of the fact the new Plus Six is the first Morgan entirely designed using computer aided design (CAD). Users can move around the car and look closer at specific details. The system can run in high, medium or low quality, depending on the speed of your connection.

Grey named Britain’s favourite new car colour – again

Morgan claims there are more than a trillion possible specifications. That’s over 1,000 billion, or a million million… When they say you can make your car your own, you really can.

Two initial options are available – standard or Touring. The latter adds a roof and removable windows.

The interior is fully customisable, with different materials, leather stitches, colours and trims. On the outside, you can customise beyond the paint colour, with plenty of different wheel and accessory options.

Buckingham Palace is the most dangerous landmark to drive past

Revealed: the number of speed bumps in the UK

If you’re not sure where to start when speccing up your Morgan, fear not. Morgan has listed some ‘inspirations’ to serve as starting points.

Price is important, so you’ll be able to keep tabs on the climbing cost as you progress through the configurator. When you’re done, save the spec and a packet of images to show off. And if you want to order, send it to Morgan.

So what does our Plus Six look like? We went for Sport Green over tan leather, with the ‘Speedster’ pepperpot wheels in black. With various trim and colour selections, we got the price up to nearly £83,000.

“We’re immensely proud to bring you our most advanced configurator yet,” said Michael Smith, lead digital designer at Morgan Motor Company.

“It’s the culmination of months of development work, bringing together teams across the business and externally. A highlight for me was working with the CAD engineers and designers to repurpose their work on the Plus Six. What’s been created is an extremely modern tool anyone can use at home or in a Morgan dealership.

“Built using the latest digital rendering technology, users can accurately visualise their dream Morgan in full 3D, utilising realistic paint rendering in incredible quality. We hope our customers and enthusiasts enjoy using the configurator.”

Half a million cars have a late MOT test in January

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

January 22, 2020

0

Half a million cars had a late MOT in January 2019, as cash-strapped motorists deferred the test until payday. Of these, around 70,000 cars FAILED with a dangerous fault – that’s 14 percent.

January is a tough period for the household budget, with many families still paying the price for over-indulging at Christmas. The problems mount when the credit card bill arrives towards the end of the month.

Deferring an MOT is illegal and could be expensive. Anyone caught driving a vehicle without an MOT is likely to be fined up to a maximum of £1,000. It’s for this reason that Highways England is urging drivers to make sure their car has a valid MOT.

There’s no excuse for a late MOT. While some garages will contact a customer up to a month prior to the date of expiry, there are some things you can do from the comfort of your home. These include:

Putting a note on the calendar. Make sure you transfer the date when you get a new calendar at the start of the year. Alternatively, use the calendar on your smartphone and set a reminder for a month before the test is due.
Sign up for a free MOT reminder via the government website. You need the vehicle’s registration number and a mobile phone number or email address. If you own a car, van or motorcycle, you’ll receive a text message or email one month before the MOT is due.
Download an app to keep track of your car’s service and maintenance. The AA app includes special offers, a map and information about your car, including when the MOT is due, tyre pressures and the VED renewal date. You’ll receive a reminder before the MOT runs out.

If you’ve lost your MOT certificate, it’s worth remembering that you can check the MOT history of a vehicle at any time via the government website. You’ll need the vehicle’s registration number.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), around 50 percent of all faults found during the MOT test could be avoided by carrying out regular maintenance or by checking some basic items before the test.

Further MOT data reveals that around 40 percent of cars fail their MOT at the first attempt. Check out our guide to 10 easy pre-MOT checks to increase the chances of your car passing first time.

Simple regular checks for drivers

Highways England has issued further advice for drivers, regardless of when the MOT is due. These include:

Check tyres
- Prior to a long journey, check your tyre pressures are suitable for the load and the condition of your tyres. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm.
Check engine oil
- Use your dipstick to check oil regularly and before any long journey. Take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual.
Check water
- To ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screenwash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen.
Check lights
- If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT.
Check fuel
- Before setting out, check your fuel levels and make sure you have enough to reach your destination.

For more hints and tips, please visit our motoring advice section.

Caterham launches finance deal to go racing for £299 a month

By

Richard Aucock

-

January 22, 2020

0

Caterham is, for the first time, offering finance packages across its model range – and the packages extend to those who want to go racing in the Caterham Academy.

Developed in partnership with Santander Consumer Finance, the new package allows enthusiasts to now pay for a Caterham via affordable monthly payments (and it includes new and used models).

Build your own Caterham – virtually

The PCP-style conditional sale has a balloon payment at the end. Along with Caterham’s famously strong residual values, this helps keep monthly payments low.

The representative APR is 7.9 percent.

Including the Caterham Academy Package in the deal is unique. Priced from £29,995, this comprises a whole season of racing, at famous UK circuits such as Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Knockhill in Scotland.

Strictly for novices, the Caterham Academy turns people into fully-qualified racers – the deal includes an official Association of Racing Driver School (ARDS) test.

Caterham Academy cars are fully road-legal and, if racers pay off the balloon payment, they get to keep their racing car. Alternatively, they can choose to upgrade it onto the next ladder on the series, the Caterham Roadsport championship.

“Cost has always been the biggest hurdle for any racing driver, especially those looking to get started in the sport,” said Caterham CEO Graham Macdonald.

“By splitting the cost of racing a full season in the Caterham Academy across several monthly payments, we are making racing more affordable and open.”

More broadly, said Macdonald, most cars today are purchased on finance. “It was a logical next step for us to include finance offers for our road and race cars.

“By dividing the cost of ownership across low monthly payments, we are aiming to attract a new, wider customer base of driving enthusiasts and aspiring race car drivers.”

Full Caterham Finance example

Cash price of vehicle	£29,995
Customer Deposit	£6,623.60
Amount of credit	£23,371.40
Interest charges	£6,025.62

Fixed rate of interest	4.09% p.a
Representative APR	7.9% APR

48 monthly payments of	£299.99
1 final balloon payment of	£14.997.50
Total amount payable	£36,020.62
Duration of the agreement	49 months

ALSO READ

Acceptable in the 80s: classic cars head to auction

Bentley launches a ski-drive holiday – but it isn’t cheap

Martini magic: ultimate Lancia collection up for sale