There are very few complaints that can be levied at Ferrari’s 812 Superfast. Barring a sky-high price, it’s pretty much perfect.
Right near the bottom of the list of things that needed addressing was a lack of power and visual aggression. Still, that hasn’t stopped tuner Novitec from having a go.
Meet the Novitec N-Largo. It has more sculpted front and rear bumpers, with a total of 14 centimetres added to the already-broad supercar’s width.
The bigger hips are obvious when you look at the rear of the car, including the enormous air vents that have been added.
Larger alloy wheels also lurk within wider arches, 21 inches at the front and 22s at the rear.
The N-Largo also has a distinctive rear spoiler and additional carbon trim. The modifications have been aerodynamically tested and apparently produce real downforce. It all works together in the production of some seriously impressive performance figures.
The 812’s already muscular V12 has been given larger lungs, with the addition of a high-performance exhaust and bespoke engine mapping.
The exhaust is available in stainless steel or inconel, the latter being an exotic material used in Formula One. All in, it’s good for a healthy 840hp at 8,750rpm.
That’s a hefty 40hp bump on the regular 812 super GT. The N-Largo will also crack 62mph in 2.8 seconds, on the way to a 214mph top speed.
Those figures are 0.1 seconds and 3mph up on the unmodified car.
As for other customisation, the sky is the limit. Novitec can trim the cabin of your N-Largo to your exact specification.
Then there’s the matter of price. As with the 812 itself, if you have to ask…
The electric car charging network has been given a massive boost with the opening of the UK’s first 350kW charging station.
The new Ionity site – located in Maidstone, Kent – is the first of 40 to open in the UK, with more to follow in Milton Keynes, Gretna Green and other locations. The company – a joint venture between Daimler, Ford, BMW and the Volkswagen Group – is planning up to 2,400 chargers across Europe by 2020.
Although no electric cars are currently capable of benefiting from the 350kW charge rate, next-generation EVs will take advantage of charging times as low as eight minutes.
In the meantime, current makes and models compatible with CCS chargers will be able to use the Maidstone charging point, which is located at junction eight on the M20.
Ionity’s network has been designed with pan-European travel in mind, hence the location close to the Channel Tunnel and cross-Channel ferry ports. Its UK stations are powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
‘Passionate about making e-mobility a reality’
Michael Hajesch, CEO of Ionity, said, “We are delighted to be launching our network in the UK with our first station in Maidstone. As car manufacturers continue to launch electric vehicles with bigger batteries to provide a longer range, high-power charging is an essential part of the e-mobility transition process, thus making the e-journey a smooth and seamless experience.
“We are passionate about making e-mobility a reality, with drivers already taking advantage of our convenient stations across Europe. We selected Octopus Energy to provide 100% renewable energy for our network of 40 High Power Charging stations in the UK.
“Coupled with the new charging times that 350kW makes possible, this represents an important step towards making the environmentally friendly long distance journey an everyday reality.”
In a separate development, IONITY recently announced the opening of its 100th high-power charging station. The site in Rygge, Norway, offers six charging points with the potential to expand to 18 if required.
The opening of the UK’s first 350kW charging station is likely to bring new customers to the electric car market, as well as future-proofing the network for new EVs, such as the Porsche Taycan.
Jaguar I-Pace at Birmingham Pride 2019: CLICK TO SEE MORE
A special edition Jaguar I-Pace joined the fun at Birmingham Pride this weekend – the UK’s biggest two-day LGBTQ festival.
The car wore a unique badge, with Jaguar’s big cat atop rainbow colours. ‘Jag You Are’ is emblazoned on the bonnet and there are more rainbow stripes on the car’s sides.
Local dealers have also been getting involved, with Stratstone and Guy Salmon both showing their support. Guy Salmon had its own black I-Pace on show with the same colour scheme.
In a statement on Twitter, Jaguar UK said ‘We’re proud to be supporting our diverse workforce at Birmingham Pride 2019 this weekend – the UK’s biggest two-day LGBTQ festival – where we joined the parade with a specially designed #JagYouAre #IPACE’.
Birmingham Pride, which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture, brought the town centre to a standstill. As many as 75,000 spectators lined the streets for the parade.
Andrea Rosati of Jaguar design said: “With ‘Jag You Are’ and its graphics we talk about individuality and inclusiveness. Going beyond stereotypes – even in the LGBT+ community – we want to celebrate the chance to ‘be your own animal.’
“The artworks – really geometric, not over designed – are a homage to Polaroid: an instantaneous, immediate image of ourselves, showing who we are without filters.”
Last year, Jaguar became a member of Stonewall, a charity that works with employers to improve LGBTQ inclusion and engagement.
Jaguar I-Pace at Birmingham Pride 2019 CLICK TO SEE MORE
The Ford Focus has been named as Britain’s most frequently stolen car, following a Freedom of Information request sent to police forces.
Data was collected from 17 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, with the Focus revealed as Britain’s most targeted motor. Last year, a total of 530 Ford Focus models went missing in the regions covered.
Britain’s most popular car, the Ford Fiesta, was next on the list, with 508 cars stolen in 2018. Thieves also targeted the Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Corsa, suggesting that the list of stolen motors, produced by online comparison site GoCompare, mirrors the list of the UK’s best-selling cars.
Earlier this month, we revealed that just seven police forces in England and Wales cut the number of cars stolen in 2018, with vehicle crime on the increase again following a downward trend in the number of thefts.
Keyless car theft – also known as ‘relay attacks’ – is at the centre of the problem, with 96 percent of motorists at risk of having their car stolen using this method.
Staffordshire hotspot
Once again, Staffordshire appears to be the country’s vehicle crime hotspot, with the GoCompare data showing that a high street in the county played host to 55 vehicles theft – more than any other road in England and Wales.
Three streets in Leicestershire, Humberside and Bedfordshire were named as other roads to avoid if you fancy seeing your car again in the morning.
Motorists are advised to invest in a signal blocker pouch (or Faraday bag) to avoid becoming a victim of keyless car theft, but more traditional methods, such as steering wheel locks, are another way to beat car thieves.
Ordering for the new BMW 1 Series will open this week with prices starting from £24,430. Deliveries of the bigger, bolder BMW 3 Series-inspired front-wheel drive hatchback start in September.
Sensibly, but controversially, BMW has switched to front-wheel drive for this generation of 1 Series, to meet customer demands. Buyers wanted more space, rather than the more engaging handling of rear-wheel drive. For the first time in 15 years, BMW has responded.
The A-Class was a top-10 best seller last year. BMW will want the new 1 Series to do the same.
Bigger new 1 Series
Size-wise, the new 1 Series is actually 5mm shorter than the old car, at 4,319mm. It is 34mm wider and 13mm taller. It has far more interior space; 33mm more rear kneeroom and 19mm more headroom should fix one of the biggest complaints of the current car – its tiny rear seats.
There’s 13mm more elbowroom in the rear, and 42mm more elbowroom in the front will make it feel far roomier.
The boot grows to 380 litres, on a par with a Volkswagen Golf, extending to 1,200 litres with the seats down. It’s 67mm wider and, for the first time, 1 Series buyers can have an electric tailgate.
More tech
A higher quality interior has features such as touchscreen functionality and wireless smartphone charging. High-end BMW Live Cockpit Professional, as seen in the new 3 Series, is available as an option: it comes with a HD 10.25-inch screen.
The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is also now fitted. Say ‘Hey BMW’ to operate various functions and controls. It works in a similar way to a home smart speaker.
Various trim materials can be chosen and ambient lighting adds theatre at night. For the first time, the 1 Series can be optioned with a panoramic glass roof – which opens.
A head-up display is also offered in a 1 Series for the first time.
Model variants
BMW is selling the new 1 Series in three core trim lines: SE, Sport and M Sport. There will also be a range-topping M135i xDrive.
SE 1 Series have basic matt black air guides in the front bumper. They get high-gloss black paint on Sport models, which also gain a chrome frame kidney grill with high-gloss struts.
M Sport models have additional aero bodystyling, satin aluminium kidney grill struts and, inside, Dakota leather as standard.
M135i xDrive versions, pictured above, have a mesh kidney grille with the frame finished in Cerium Grey; other details including the door mirrors are also painted Cerium Grey. A high-gloss black rear diffuser and Alcantara M Sport seats with integrated headrests are standard.
How much is the new BMW 1 Series?
The new BMW 1 Series will launch with three diesel and two petrol engines. The entry-level engine, from £24,430, is the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo 118i, producing 140hp. It does 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds and CO2 emissions are down a massive 29g/km, to between 114-123g/km.
The only other petrol engine at launch is the M135i xDrive. Sorry, performance fans, the six-cylinder engine has gone: this one is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, producing 306hp. It does 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and costs from £36,430.
A 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine powers the 116d, priced from £25,480. CO2 emissions are down 5 percent, to as low as 100g/km, and it will average up to 61.4mpg.
118d (from £26,640) and 120d xDrive (from £32,470) both have 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesels. The 118d produces 150hp and does 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds; the 120d xDrive puts out 190hp and does 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds.
To add slight confusion to the buying process, BMW offers three different types of gearbox with the new 1 Series. 116d, 118d and 118i models have a regular six-speed manual as standard. A seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch auto is optional on the 116d and 118i.
Standard on the 120d xDrive and M135i xDrive is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic; it is optional on the 118d.
A classic Lamborghini supercar has been restored to former glory, and given important certification by the company’s heritage department.
Following completion of the painstaking work, the car has been on show at the prestigious 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este event.
What makes this rare Miura P400 S even more special, is that it previously belonged to one of the most famous Italian singers of the 1950s and early 1960s.
Little Tony took his name, and musical inspiration, from American rock and roll trendsetter Little Richard.
Although born in Tivoli, Italy, Little Tony actually held San Marino citizenship. Whilst he lived most of his life in Italy, he is noted to have never applied to become an Italian citizen.
Regardless of his citizenship, Little Tony was a huge fan of Lamborghinis, and owned three Miuras. Finished in Azzuro Mexico blue, this particular 1971 car is one of just six painted in this hue by the factory.
Now owned by an Italian collector, the P400 S underwent a thorough restoration by an official Lamborghini dealership.
The work was carried out under the supervision of Lamborghini’s Polo Storico heritage department. This assistance included supplying original spare parts to ensure period correctness.
Polo Storico were also able to provide details of the original production specification. This meant the car could be rebuilt to exactly how it left the factory, even employing the same methods as used in the 1970s.
With the work completed, Polo Storico was able to certify the authenticity of the car. Doing so means the collectability of the car is now further enhanced, although the rare colour choice and famous first owner already make it desirable.
Held on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy, the Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este brings together a collection of the most beautiful classic cars and motorcycles.
The 2019 event focussed on “The Symphony of Engines”, with cars and bikes being judged not only on looks, but also on the sound they make. Little Tony’s Miura was displayed with a selection of other cars owned by musical celebrities.
The Extinction Rebellion environmental protests, the launch of the London ULEZ and the arrival of the Tesla Model 3 have all contributed to a peak in interest for electric cars in the UK.
In the 40-day period from the start of April, online traffic for EVs at car manufacturer and publisher websites was up 56 percent. This period included:
8 April: launch of London ULEZ
15 April: Extinction Rebellion protests
1 May: Tesla Model 3 arrives in the UK
Research by automotive analysis company Sophus3 shows three distinct ‘spikes’ in interest for electric vehicles around these dates. Encouragingly, since the beginning of May, this growth in electric car interest has been maintained.
“It was both reassuring and exciting to see this surge in online traffic to EV websites from April,” said Scott Gairns, MD of Sophus3.
“We believe the combination of environmental campaigning, low-emission legislation and news of the Tesla Model 3’s arrival stimulated a new level of consumer interest in EVs.”
He added that for EV sales to grow, confused consumers need both ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’ to help them make a decision.
“It is not enough for a car brand to launch a new EV alone, nor for new legislation to try and promote low-emission cars by penalising traditional petrol or diesel cars.”
The recent surge in EV interest should help turn around a decline in interest noted in the first quarter of 2019.
While visits to electric car pages grew 43 percent in Germany, 41 percent in Spain, 21 percent in Italy and three percent in France, they actually FELL six percent in the UK.
Early UK figures for April and May suggest that downward trend has now been reversed.
British drivers love to argue, according to new research by Privilege Car Insurance.
The study of 2,000 motorists found that drivers come to blows every 23 minutes. No they don’t. Yes they do. No they don’t. Repeat to fade…
Predictably, navigation is the number one cause of friction, with 26 percent of motorists falling out over the decision to turn left or head right.
You’d have thought that sat-nav would have all but eradicated this traditional source of tension. Maybe drivers enjoy arguing with electronic devices?
One in three respondents named the car as the most stress-filled spot outside of the home, while 10 percent of millennials and six percent of men have parted company with the person they were arguing with in the car.
Traffic, the temperature of the climate control, the choice of music and even passing wind were also named as common reasons for a quarrel. If in doubt, don’t let it out.
The research also appears to suggest that we’re a touchy bunch, with 54 percent of drivers getting annoyed by passengers touching the handbrake or gearstick, 53 percent by pressing the horn, and 37 percent by rummaging thought the glovebox.
‘Easy to get irritated’
Charlotte Fielding, head of Privilege Car Insurance, said: “The car can be a high-pressured place for many as tensions overflow during a journey, especially over what can seem to be the more trivial things.
“At Privilege, we want our drivers to have a stress-free journey so that they themselves, their passengers and others on the road are as safe as possible.
“It takes high levels of concentration to drive safely which can make it easy to get irritated, so please think twice before rummaging in the glove compartment or offering driving tips from the back seat of the car!”
Top reasons for arguments
Directions (26 percent)
Back seat drivers (22 percent)
Other people’s driving (21 percent)
Traffic (20 percent)
Forgetting something and needing to turn back (14 percent)
Nicholas Mee and Company has specialised in selling, maintaining and restoring Aston Martins for 25 years. We went along for a taste of Aston Martin heaven.
Video: The ultimate Aston Martin showroom
It might seem an exaggeration to call anywhere other than Gaydon ‘Aston Martin heaven’, but bear with us.
Inside the Nicholas Mee showroom in Hertfordshire are very finest, rarest and most curious machines from the marque’s history – from DB4 GT to One-77, and everything in-between.
It just so happened that the oldest and one of the newest cars both cost well into seven figures. At the more affordable end of the Aston Martin spectrum were machines such as the outgoing V8 Vantage, DB9, a rare manual DBS V12 and the original V12 Vanquish.
60 years of Astons under one roof
The company specialises in everything from classic Astons of the 1950s, all the way through to the V8- and V12-powered supercars of the last 20 years.
Officially, that’s from 1950 all the way up to the very last Rapide S – a car that’s still in production. New-generation Aston Martins like the DB11, new Vantage and DBS Superleggera have a few years under the official dealer umbrella yet.
A cathedral to Aston Martin
The cars are only half the story, though. Having moved from London around this time last year, everything here is absolutely pristine.
From the farmhouse aesthetic of the service shops, with old-school supercharged Vantages in for work, to the immaculate showroom – architecturally, this place is as beautiful as the cars.
Zagato Astons old and new
Yes, the cars – we already mentioned the DB4 and the One-77. Add to that a smattering of Zagato-bodied and styled cars, from an 80s Vantage to the very latest Vanquish Volante. They’ve just got a lovely DB7 GT Zagato in stock, too.
On the 80s Vantage Zagato, they actually had several. One was a race-prepared car with a road-friendly interior put back in. A Vantage Zagato ‘GT3 RS’, if you will.
An Aston Martin Vantage with a racing V12
Then there’s the really special stuff. Flying under the radar (until we were made aware), was the Vantage RS Concept of 2007 – a one-off designed to show the world how cool a V12-powered ‘new’ Vantage would be.
Needless to say, it went down a treat, given the V12 Vantage went into production two years later.
The RS is an altogether different beast to the production car, however. Hundreds of kilos lighter, thanks to a numerous carbon components, its V12 (based on the racing DBRS9 unit) packs 600hp. That’s 90hp more than the production version.
It wouldn’t be until 2015’s Vantage GT12 that power would near those numbers in a Vantage, or indeed any naturally-aspirated Aston.
One-77: the original Aston Martin hypercar
Well, that is if you don’t include the 750hp 7.3-litre V12 in the One-77. It’s one of the most fascinating, beautiful and stunningly engineered hypercars ever conceived, and it’s almost entirely forgotten about.
Want to know more about the One-77? Watch our video above as we take an in-depth look at some of the cars mentioned.
Anyway, that’s Nicholas Mee, proprietor of some of the finest Aston Martins ever made. Unlike many exotic car dealerships, they welcome people in to see and learn about their rarefied stock. As if you needed an excuse…
Aston Martin has been announced as the featured marque at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Cars from the British brand will be displayed on the event’s huge central feature for the first time.
A couple of notable Aston Martin anniversaries helped sway the decision. Firstly, it’s 60 years since Aston Martin’s celebrated win in the World Sports Car Championship (think WEC, but in 1959). It’s also 70 years since an Aston first raced at Goodwood circuit.
The WSCC feat is also being celebrated by Aston Martin itself, with the introduction of a special DBS ’59’ edition.
“2019 is a perfect time for us to celebrate Aston Martin’s past, present and future success,” said the Duke of Richmond.
“The central feature looks set to be one of the most dramatic yet, and a fitting landmark to the past century of Aston Martin success.”
Winning the RAC TT at Goodwood with the DBR1 clinched the championship for Aston Martin in 1959. It wasn’t all plain sailing, mind. After the lead car, driven by Stirling Moss, caught fire in the pits, Mr Motor Racing jumped in the sister car of Carroll Shelby and Jack Fairman to finish the race. The result, a win with a lap to spare, which secured the championship.
More recently, Aston’s DBR9 GT1 car of the early 2000s was very successful, and inspired subsequent GT race programmes with the Vantage as a basis. Aston even used its V12 in a Lola LMP1 car back in 2009, though that didn’t go quite so swimmingly.
Aston is a marque hardened in the racing arena. We look forward to celebrating its track endeavours – successful and otherwise – when we head to the Festival of Speed later this summer.
Ordering for the new 
The Extinction Rebellion environmental protests, the launch of the 
