All newly installed rapid and higher powered chargepoints should accept one-off contactless payments without the need for a subscription by 2020, the government has said.
And it is prepared to “intervene” if the electric car charging industry ignores this demand.
“It is crucial there are easy payment methods available to improve electric vehicle drivers’ experiences and give drivers choice,” said future of mobility minister Michael Ellis.
“This will help even more people enjoy the benefits electric vehicles bring and speed up our journey to a zero-emission future.”
The government is committed to allowing electric vehicle owners to use ANY public charge point through a SINGLE payment method, without requiring multiple subscriptions, smartphone apps or membership cards.
Last week, the government announced that it will invest £37 million in the electric vehicle charge point infrastructure, as it seeks to “revolutionise the experience” for the increasing number of EV drivers on UK roads.
Twelve projects will share the funding to support the creation of innovations including wireless charging. EVs of the future could charge without the need to use a cable.
Other projects include installing charge points in car parks to allow for mass charging overnight, using Virgin Media’s infrastructure to better share information on charging progress and parking spaces, and a “cutting edge’ storage project that will deliver semi-rapid charging without the need for costly substation upgrades.
‘A net zero economy’
Speaking about today’s announcement, business and industry minister Andrew Stephenson said: “Initiatives like this are essential as we move towards a net zero economy, making it easier than ever for people to own and use electric vehicles.
“Investing in batteries, technology and infrastructure through our modern Industrial Strategy and Faraday battery challenge will ensure the UK leads the world in the global transition away from fossil fuels while supporting the future of our automotive industry.
Formula E fans in New York City got a first glimpse at the all-electric Porsche Taycan as part of the dazzling season finale.
The countdown is on to the official launch of the battery-powered Taycan, set for September 2019.
More than 20,000 individuals have already registered their interest, and no doubt some were watching keenly from the stands in Brooklyn.
Fully charged for action
Keen to prove the potential of the Taycan, Porsche made use of top racer Neel Jani for driving duties in NYC. Jani has previously won the Le Mans 24 Hours race, and the World Endurance Championship with Porsche, so is no slouch when it comes to the track.
Capable of hitting 0-60 mph in under 3.5 seconds, the Taycan made a rapid demonstration run, with the prototype wearing a special stars-and-stripes design.
Swiss-born Jani was also getting some extra practice in. He will be competing for the Porsche team in the 2019-2020 Formula E Championship, which begins in November this year.
Globetrotting exhibition ends in New York
The New York event was the final stop on a whirlwind global tour by the Taycan prototype model.
Previously, the car has made an appearance at the Porsche Experience Centre in Shanghai, China. There it was driven by Li Chao, a Chinese racing driver who competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
Porsche brand ambassador, and ex-Formula 1 racing driver, Mark Webber also drove the Taycan at the recent 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
With demonstrations of the Taycan’s abilities now made on three continents, even the most ardent Porsche purists may be starting to accept the performance it can bring…
Motorists living in the Australian state of Victoria now have a whole new reason to keep an eye on their rear view mirror.
Victoria Police’s Highway Patrol department has now taken ownership of a BMW M5 Competition, powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged engine.
With a potential top speed of 305km/h (190mph), it becomes the fastest police vehicle on duty in Australia.
No hooning allowed
Back in 2018, Victoria Police entered into an agreement with BMW for the supply of 80 diesel 530d four-door saloons. However, the latest recruit brings a whole new level of performance.
Maximum output from the V8 engine peaks at 460kW (617hp), with an accompanying 750Nm (553lb-ft) of torque. All that power is sent to all four wheels by BMW’s xDrive system, whilst an eight-speed automatic gearbox handles the gear shifts.
Along with the heroic top speed, the M5 Competition can also sprint from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in just 3.3 seconds. Perfect for catching up with speeding drivers who make the foolish decision to run from the law…
A dramatic livery, plus a full set of lights and sirens, should mean there is no mistaking this M5 for just another rapid commuter.
Ultimate crimefighting machine
Vikram Pawah, BMW Group Australia CEO, said of the deployment of the German super saloon: “With the incredible BMW M5 Competition entering Victoria Police service, the performance level has jumped up the scale.
“When combined with the safety of the xDrive four-wheel drive system, the M5’s all-round ability aspects makes it a natural fit for dynamic police duties”.
The M5 becomes the latest performance vehicle recruited by Australian police forces, who are trying to find replacements for the defunct Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.
Forces in Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory have all picked the Kia Stinger for roads policing duties. Police in New South Wales, meanwhile, have recently started using a Honda Civic Type-R for community engagement work.
The RAC has conducted research into drivers’ knowledge of French rules of the road that differ to those in the UK.
Top of the great unknowns is a new type of ‘Mesta Fusion’ speed camera being deployed this summer. Just 14 percent are aware of it.
What can the new speed camera do?
This isn’t just a speed camera. These new cameras are multi-functional – dubbed the ‘Cameras of the future’. On top of speeding, they can catch you using your phone, without your seatbelt on, illegally overtaking and tailgating.
This, in addition to driving in lanes you shouldn’t be and running red lights, which some specific cameras do in the UK. Around 400 are being set up throughout France over the course of this year.
If you don’t like the sound of them, you’ve got nothing on the French. Amid some of the ‘yellow vest’ protests, cameras old and new have been vandalised by disgruntled locals.
Holes in our knowledge
Perhaps this wouldn’t be a problem if we knew the rules. But many of us don’t…
Six-in-10 aren’t aware that tailgating is illegal. Only 39 percent are aware that headphones are illegal to use while driving. Half aren’t aware that the only legal way of using a mobile phone as a driver is to park up and switch the engine off.
Breaking down in France – instant recovery fee
Half of drivers aren’t aware that there is a mandatory recovery fee in France, should you break down on a motorway. Of those that do know, just 15 percent realise the fee has risen this year, to around £113.
That’s a minimum too, given that the fee rises overnight and at weekends. Certain breakdown providers with certain levels of cover in the UK can, however, reimburse you, should you come a cropper on the continent.
“With thousands of UK drivers taking their own cars – and motorbikes – to France in the coming weeks, it can be easy to forget that certain driving conventions can be quite different to those this side of the Channel,” said RAC Europe spokesman Rod Dennis.
“Breaking down on a French motorway, for instance, results in a driver having to pay a mandatory fee to have their vehicle recovered before a breakdown assistance company can come to help – a very different experience to here in the UK. So it’s important UK drivers check their breakdown policy covers them before they leave home.
“Luckily, the vast majority of drivers say they have European breakdown cover in place before they leave – which is just as well, as a good policy is vital in helping drivers out of a sticky situation should they be unlucky enough to suffer a breakdown away from home.”
Overall, 10 million vehicles (nearly a third) failed the MOT test during the past 12 months. Also, nearly one in 10 failed with a ‘dangerous’ fault: the most serious grade in the new three-tier MOT system, with ‘major’ and ‘minor’ coming below.
Of the 30.5 million MOT tests taken, 10 million cars failed, with 2.8 million of those for ‘dangerous’ faults.
“Drivers should be aware of the risks of driving a faulty car,” said Mark Newbery of Green Flag.
“It not only endangers other motorists, but drivers and their passengers alike. Problems with vehicles will only worsen if not seen to, costing more money in the long run.
“We are urging drivers to thoroughly check their cars and repair any problems immediately, to give them the best chance of passing the new MOT tests.”
Where are the UK’s most dangerous cars?
The South West, Wales and Scotland all ranked worse than the average one-in-three failure rate, with 38, 35 and 35 percent respectively.
The East Midlands and the North East are bang on the average, with a 33 percent fail rate. Cars in London and the East of England are the safest. Greater London had a 29 percent fail-rate, while the East had a 31 percent fail-rate.
Drivers are being warned to prepare for ‘Frantic Friday’ as millions of motorists hit the roads for their summer getaway.
Around 5.3 million extra cars are expected to be on the road this Friday, with the M25 and M1 likely to see the longest delays. Overall, drivers are expected to take 13.4 million separate leisure trips between Friday and the end of the weekend.
That’s the highest number in five years and 4 million more than the same period last year, according to the RAC and transportation analytics firm INRIX.
Drivers on the M1 and M25 are likely to be delayed by 90 minutes and 60 minutes respectively, but congestion is also expected on the M40, M20, M6 and M5 motorways, along with the A30 heading through Devon and into Cornwall.
Although Friday and Saturday are likely to be the busiest days on the road, some drivers will attempt an early getaway, with Thursday afternoon seeing a spike in traffic from around lunchtime.
‘Frantic Friday’ and the weekend at a glance
Date
Leisure trips by car
Peak periods
Quieter periods
Longest delays
Thursday 18 July
3.7 million
1.45pm to 6.45pm
After 8pm
M40 south (J14 to J11)
M5 south (J4 to J8)
‘Frantic Friday’ 19 July
5.3 million
11am to 6.45pm
After 8pm
M1 south (J16 to J6)
M25 anticlockwise (J4 to J11)
Saturday 20 July
5 million
11am to 2pm
Before 9.30am or after 4.30pm
M20 west (J7 to J3)
A30 west (Pathfinder to Whiddon Down)
Sunday 21 July
3.1 million
1pm to 3pm
Before 11am or after 8pm
M1 north (J12 to J16)
M25 anticlockwise (J4 to J1)
Monday 22 July
2.8 million
11.30am to 6pm
After 7pm
M6 north (J5 to J10a)
M25 anticlockwise (J7 to J12)
‘Hours of frustration’
RAC patrol of the year Ben Aldous said: “The last thing any family wants is a breakdown spoiling the start of their summer holiday they’ve no doubt been looking forward to for a long time. Traffic jams are pretty much guaranteed from the end of this weekend and while it’s possible to predict where some of these will be, every summer we see extra delays caused by broken-down vehicles blocking lanes, leaving drivers faced with hours of frustration.
“We therefore urge holidaymakers to heed the advice and spend just a few minutes checking the basics like oil, coolant and tyre tread and pressure on their cars before they get packed up. Doing this could make the difference between a smooth and trouble-free journey, and one plagued by the stress and wasted time that comes from being broken-down at the roadside.”
Use the FORCES
Drivers are being advised to use the FORCES to keep moving over the ‘Frantic Friday’ weekend. FORCES is a six-point checklist drivers can use before setting off for a long journey.
Fuel: don’t risk running out of fuel – refill at the beginning of your journey
Oil: check it’s at the right level to reduce the chances of overheating in traffic
Rubber: tyres need to be properly inflated and in good condition
Coolant: this does a vital job in ensuring the engine runs at the right temperature. If it’s not between the ‘min’ and ‘max’ levels, this could be the sign of a problem
Electrics: your wipers will help keep your windscreen clear of bugs, and you’ll need your lights on during any heavy downpours. The electrics also control your indicators and windows, so check there are no problems
You’re looking at a tragic missed opportunity. This is the stillborn Caterham coupe codenamed ‘C120’ – the joint-venture with Alpine that became the A110. Sadly, Caterham was unable to match Renault’s investment and withdrew from the project in 2014. With hints of Jaguar F-Type and Ford Puma, this curvaceous full-size clay model shows what could have been.
Clay pride
Alpine and Caterham began working together in 2012. The French wanted to re-launch their defunct sports car brand and the Brits hoped for a more mainstream model to complement the back-to-basics Seven. The plan was to build 6,000 cars a year, split evenly between the two brands. These were the heady days when Caterham had its own Formula One team, remember. Anything seemed possible.
Gatwick express
A manual gearbox was mooted, something the production Alpine doesn’t have. And the C120 would likely have spawned a GT4 race car. Given the rapturous acclaim the A110 has received, the prospect of a Caterham version is a poignant one for petrolheads. This model is now displayed at Caterham Cars’ showroom near Gatwick – alongside other highlights from the marque’s history. Read on for a guided tour.
A British car to beat the world
Today, Caterham is back to being a one-model marque. Nonetheless, with a car as unique and iconic as the Seven, there’s still plenty to get excited about. Launched in 1957 as the Lotus Seven, Caterham has manufactured the retro-look roadster since 1973. A six-month waiting list suggests it has plenty of life in it yet.
Read our first drive of the Caterham Seven Sprint
Top Gear track star
This Seven Superlight R500 takes pride of place in the Caterham Cars’ foyer. It’s the very same Seven that blitzed the Top Gear test track in 1min 17.9sec in 2008 – earning the team’s Car of the Year accolade in the process.
Endorsed by Hammond – and the Stig
With a 267hp 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine, the R500 explodes to 60mph in just 2.88sec. Richard Hammond remarked: “The Caterham is faster than the £1m Veyron. What an amazing little car!” The Stig, meanwhile, declined to comment. But we suspect he approved…
The bare essentials
Inside, the Superlight lives up to its name, with nothing but the essentials for fast driving. Note the racing-style Stack instruments, gearshift indicator lights above the steering wheel and six-speed sequential manual gearbox. Serious stuff.
Caterham Seven Sprint
At the opposite end of the Seven spectrum is the limited-edition Sprint. Only 60 examples of this retro-look roadster were made, to celebrate 60 years of the Seven. Launched at the Goodwood Revival in 2016, it was sold-out within a week.
Old-school cool
The Sprint resembles the original Lotus Seven, with flared front wings, a powder-coated grey chassis, cream steel wheels, a polished exhaust and classic-style badges. Underneath, however, it has a modern three-cylinder Suzuki engine.
Into the red
Inside, the Sprint boasts sumptuous scarlet leather, retro Smiths gauges and a wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel. The only options are armrests, a tonneau cover, stainless steel rear wing guards and a lower floor for extra cabin space. Squint and you could be in a Jaguar E-Type – or any other 1960s British sports car.
Plaque in black
There’s also a numbered plaque in front of the passenger showing which of the 60 cars is yours. The Sprint is a surefire future classic, so little details like this matter. Note that Caterhams are now built in Dartford, Kent – rather than their original home of Caterham in Surrey.
Sprint and SuperSprint
The success of the Sprint led Caterham to launch the Seven Supersprint (left) a year later. Another evocative retro remake, it was again limited to 60 units, but this time the production run sold out in seven hours. Very apt.
Wet and wild
With tiny aero screens and no doors, weather protection on the SuperSprint is best described as ‘rudimentary’ (you could also opt for a conventional windscreen and roof). Delicious details include an aluminium cut-off switch, chrome mirrors and a Sebring-style fuel filler cap, plus a range of period paint colours and decals.
Chairman of the broad
One of the (many) unusual things about the Seven is that its wheels stand proud of the chassis. That makes the cabin surprisingly narrow – and a tight squeeze for tall drivers. The £2,500 wide chassis option seen here helps counter this, increasing the overall width of the car from 1,575mm to 1,685mm.
Caterham AeroSeven concept
Fast-forwarding into the future, here’s the fabulous AeroSeven concept car. It was unveiled at the Singapore Grand Prix and could have been the replacement for the ageing Seven. However, budgets were tight and customers weren’t convinced, so the Seven lives on.
Packed with F1 tech
The AeroSeven featured plenty of tech from Caterham’s F1 exploits, including inboard pushrod suspension, launch control and advanced aerodynamics. It’s powered by a 240hp Ford Duratec engine and reaches 60mph in ‘less than four seconds’.
Naked launch
We love all the naked carbonfibre inside the AeroSeven, although it doesn’t exactly look cosseting. Still, who cares about fripperies like a windscreen when you’re driving something this cool? We want one.
Caterham 21
The stillborn 21 is another Caterham that could have replaced the Seven: indeed, most used the same Rover K-Series engines. It was launched in 1994 and remained in production for five years, yet only 48 cars were made.
A softer Seven
The 21’s interior is certainly more accommodating than a Seven (not hard, admittedly) – and it’s more practical, too. However, the shape of the doors means the windows don’t wind down. If you want a side-draught, you need to remove them altogether.
It’s the Mondeo, man
An extra point if you spotted that the 21’s tail lights come from the Ford Mondeo. It also used front indicators from the Suzuki Cappuccino and wing mirrors from the Rover 200. Such parts were simply too expensive for Caterham to make in-house.
The Lotus position
The main reason for the 21’s failure was the launch of the Lotus Elise soon afterwards. The car from Norfolk was better resolved and more fun to drive: the Caterham didn’t stand a chance. Ironically, Caterham Cars had this lovely S1 Elise for sale in its showroom. A trade-in against a new Seven, perhaps?
Caterham SP/300.R
Hardcore, you know the score… This is the track-only Caterham SP/300.R, a joint project with British racing car constructor, Lola. With a supercharged 300hp engine (355hp on overboost), this four-wheeled weapon will reach 170mph. If you’re brave enough.
The ultimate track-day toy
Caterham says of the SP/300.R: “The feeling of the car beneath you, inspiring you to push boundaries. The aggression of the forces acting on your body. The satisfaction of placing the car with absolute precision. The way the car communicates with you, constantly feeding a stream of data to every sense, synapse and nerve ending. Only a true driver knows these feelings. This is driving.” Well, quite.
The wheel deal
The SP/300.R’s steering wheel is pure racing car, with gearshift indicator lights and a button for calling the pits. Spot the yellow ‘Pass’ button the right – used to give an extra power boost for overtaking. The sequential gearlever is also to the right of the wheel.
Prisoner of phwoar
A classic Seven in for a service. It’s painted green and yellow – the same colours as the Lotus Seven that famously featured in 1960s TV drama series, The Prisoner. Interestingly, the ‘KAR 120C’ registration plate of the Prisoner Seven is still owned by Caterham Cars.
Caterham Seven Classic
This lovely 2006 Classic would make a great starter Seven, with a 120hp 1.4-litre K-Series engine and just 7,441 miles on the clock. It’s advertised at £14,995 – further proof that Sevens simply don’t depreciate.
Kamui Kobayashi Edition
Just 10 examples of this lightweight, single-seat Seven were made. Designed by Caterham F1 Team’s Japanese driver, Kamui Kobayashi, it boasts a limited-slip differential, plenty of carbon fibre and a dashboard signed by Kamui himself. Yours for £34,995.
Mini Me Seven 620R
A first glance, this cut-down, single-seat Seven 620R looks terrifying. However, it’s powered by batteries rather than a 306hp supercharged Ford Duratec. Probably for the best.
Cutaway Caterham
Want to make your Seven even lighter? Why not remove the bodywork altogether? In truth, this stripped-down 160 is a show car – designed to reveal the inner workings of the Seven. A lot has changed since 1957…
Powered by Suzuki
That 660cc Suzuki engine might be small, but it still looks a snug fit beneath the Seven’s low-slung bonnet. No wonder all those louvres are needed to keep it cool. Imagine how hot the 306hp 620R parked next to it must get.
Sporty suspension
Here’s a closer look at the Seven’s double wishbone suspension, which delivers taut handling and keeps weight to a minimum. A variety of set-ups are available, for road or track use. The cheaper Seven 160 and Sprint models use a live rear axle.
Do it yourself
If you’re handy with a spanner, you can save around £3,400 by building a Seven yourself. Caterham supplies a painted chassis with wiring loom, dashboard, fuel tank, fuel lines, brake pipes and pedal box already fitted. Reckon on 80-100 hours to complete the job, after which your car will have to pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test.
Lotus Cosworth T127
Like the Seven itself, the short-lived Caterham F1 Team began life under the Lotus banner. This Lotus T127 has a Cosworth V8 engine and was raced by Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen in the 2010 season. Sadly, it never managed a podium finish.
The car that became a Caterham
Team Lotus was rebranded as Caterham F1 Team at the end of 2011, at the behest of Caterham’s charismatic owner, Tony Fernandes. The decision followed a legal battle between Team Lotus and the rival Group Lotus over the use of the name in F1.
Caterham CT01
Caterham F1 Team made its debut in 2012 with the CT01, powered by a 2.4-litre Renault V8 and piloted by Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov. Its best result was an 11th-place finish at the final grand prix of the year in Brazil.
Going with the flow
Just look at the design of the Caterham CT01’s carbonfibre front wing. It ain’t pretty, but it sure is effective. The car hits 100mph in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of 225mph. No Seven even comes close.
Caterham kart
If all that sounds a bit intense, we also discovered this rather cool Caterham-branded kart in the corner of the showroom. Cue cliché about ‘go-kart handling’, etc…
Grass-roots motorsport
Speaking of racing, Caterham runs no less than six Seven-based series, depending on your talent and budget. The Caterham Academy is the first rung on the ladder, with road-legal cars and seven points-scoring events throughout the year. This 2011 Academy racer was for sale at £17,995.
Caterham Tracksport racer
Tracksport is Caterham’s mid-range racing championship. The number of rounds increases to 14, with each race lasting 30 minutes. The cars are no longer road-legal, so you’ll need a trailer as well.
One careful owner
For serious Seven racers, there’s the Superlight R300-S Championship. A car alone will cost you £38,000 – and you’ll spend plenty more on consumables and travel. This particular R300-S was driven by Dan Prosser, a motoring journalist for EVO magazine.
Simplify, then add lightness
The ghost of Colin Chapman looms large at Caterham Cars. Indeed, his famous mantra: “Simplify, then add lightness” is writ large on the wall. Ironically, this is actually a heavier Seven SV: the wide-bodied version for drivers with, well, wider bodies.
Out of the blocks
This year, the Seven has been replicated in Lego as part of a new 770-piece kit. It includes fully-detailed engine, removable nosecose, opening boot and axle stands that allow the wheels to be removed. One for the Christmas list.
A simple formula for success
The Caterham Seven might look old-fashioned, but don’t be deceived. A process of continuous evolution has kept this much-loved icon at the top of its game – putting smiles on faces and embarrassing Bugatti Veyrons along the way. Let’s hope it’s still going strong in another 60 years.
Caterham in Crawley
Caterham Cars’ showroom in Crawley is open to the public if you’d like to see these cars, and many others. They can also arrange test-drives if you are looking to buy. Just don’t expect to drive a Seven and go home without wanting one…
The UK’s largest public charging network for electric vehicles will offer contactless card payment on all 50kW rapid and 150kW ultra-fast chargers it installs going forward. Existing rapid charge points will also get the upgrade, with retro-fitting happening over the course of the next year.
Polar, the charging network operated by BP Chargemaster, has 450 rapid chargers across its 7,000-point network, a number due to rapidly expand over the coming months and years.
Contactless payment adds on-the-go and occasional-use convenience to complement the Polar Plus subscription service debuted in 2015. In addition, contactless payment – a first for a UK-based rapid-charging device – joins pay-as-you-go smartphone access at BP Chargemaster Polar points.
This news comes shortly after BP Chargemaster’s announcement last week that up to 200 50kW rapid-charge points are to be installed at Mitchells and Butlers bars and restaurants.
By October 2019, 50 points will already have been installed. As of today’s announcement, it looks like they will feature contactless payment, too.
BP acquired Chargemaster last year in a move it described as an ‘important step to scaling up and deploying fast and ultra-fast charging on BP’s UK forecourts’.
“At BP we believe that fast and convenient charging is critical to support the successful adoption of electric vehicles,” said BP’s Tufan Erginbilgic.
“Combining BP’s and Chargemaster’s complementary expertise, experience and assets is an important step towards offering fast and ultra-fast charging at BP sites across the UK, and to BP becoming the leading provider of energy to low carbon vehicles, on the road or at home.”
Murray Walker OBE has opened the new Television Room at the RAC Club, which is named in his honour as ‘the voice of F1’.
The room was commissioned in recognition of Walker’s lengthy career as Formula 1 commentator, which spanned 23 years.
“This is, as you can imagine, an enormously emotional occasion for me,” said Murray Walker, after cutting the ribbon to open the room.
“The Royal Automobile Club is the finest club in Britain and one of the finest clubs in the world. It is a linchpin of motorsport and to be associated with it in the way I am being associated with it is beyond my wildest hopes and dreams.”
The room features awards and memorabilia collected by Murray over the years, which have been donated to the club. Displayed items include a brick from the Indianapolis motor speedway – the famous brickyard – and a Royal Television Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Needless to say, there are a fair few parts one might once have found bolted to a Formula 1 car, too.
Murray Walker is a beloved figure in the F1 motor racing scene, instantly recognisable and known for his infectious enthusiasm for the sport.
The retired commentator, who is now 95, first spoke over races on the BBC in 1976, continuing until 1996. From then until his retirement in 2001, he became a part of the ITV Formula 1 commentary team.
“The Club is all about celebrating motoring icons, and Murray has been exactly that for motorsport fans across the globe,” said Ben Cussons, chairman of the Royal Automobile Club.
“His passion, enthusiasm and commitment to motorsport has already earned him his place in history, and we’re delighted to play a part in this with our new themed Television Room. I’m looking forward to watching members and guests enjoying his room on their visits to the club.”
Those attending the British Grand Prix on Saturday got an extra slice of on-track excitement, as the Aston Martin Valkyrie made an appearance.
The 1,160 hp hypercar took to the Silverstone circuit for a special demonstration run, showing off how quick the 6.5-litre Cosworth V12-powered car could potentially be.
With all 150 examples of the Valkyrie already sold, for many this may be the only chance to see one used in anger before they disappear into the hands of eager collectors.
Using the British Grand Prix for the Valkyrie’s debut was no coincidence. Aston Martin has worked extensively with the Red Bull Racing F1 team, using their knowledge and skills to develop it.
Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, has been instrumental in the design of the Valkyrie. F1-influenced aerodynamics abound throughout, with Newey aiming to endow the Valkyrie with huge amounts of downforce.
On witnessing the debut, Newey commented: “To finally see Aston Martin Valkyrie running five years from when I first sat down and started sketching what this car could look like is quite an emotional day.
“With the change in vision angle as it comes past, and the noise, it is now doing what it is supposed to be doing, which is to move and be dynamic.”
Aston Martin test driver Chris Goodwin was responsible for driving the Valkyrie. Although not running at full speed, the debut was still important for Goodwin, who commented that driving it at Silverstone was “exceptionally special.”
The single lap demonstration has come after months of simulator work and digital modelling. Although the public debut marks a significant milestone, Aston Martin and Red Bull still have plenty of work to do.
Deliveries to customers are due to start in late 2019, giving only limited time to ensure the Valkyrie lives up to the expected price tag of more than £2 million.
Aston Martin has also committed the Valkyrie to competing at Le Mans in 2021, upping the workload even more.
Formula E fans in New York City got a first glimpse at the all-electric 
Keen to prove the potential of the Taycan, Porsche made use of top racer Neel Jani for driving duties in NYC. Jani has previously won the Le Mans 24 Hours race, and the World Endurance Championship with Porsche, so is no slouch when it comes to the track.
The New York event was the final stop on a whirlwind global tour by the Taycan prototype model.
Motorists living in the Australian state of Victoria now have a whole new reason to keep an eye on their rear view mirror. 
Back in 2018, Victoria Police entered into an agreement with BMW for the supply of 80 diesel 530d four-door saloons. However, the latest recruit brings a whole new level of performance.
Vikram Pawah, BMW Group Australia CEO, said of the deployment of the German super saloon: “With the incredible BMW M5 Competition entering Victoria Police service, the performance level has jumped up the scale.
Those attending the British Grand Prix on Saturday got an extra slice of on-track excitement, as the 
Using the British Grand Prix for the Valkyrie’s debut was no coincidence. Aston Martin has worked extensively with the 
Aston Martin test driver Chris Goodwin was responsible for driving the Valkyrie. Although not running at full speed, the debut was still important for Goodwin, who commented that driving it at Silverstone was “exceptionally special.”
