A special one-off Selfridges Edition Land Rover Defender Works V8 is now on permanent display in the London store – after being disassembled, hoisted through a first-floor window 11 metres off the ground and rebuilt on the shop floor.

The new exhibit for the Oxford Street store’s Designer Street Room menswear department will be left unlocked for visitors to sit in. Selfridges’ Sebastian Manes says the Defender will “act as a platform for our art and fashion partners and is a key feature within this dynamic space”.

It’s going to be an “ongoing relationship that will celebrate creativity and design in an unexpected way,” he added. Sounds like there’s plenty more to come.

Which will be just reward for the team of Land Rover Classic technicians who worked flat-out to build the Defender from a rolling chassis in just four days. It took more than 930 man hours to create the vehicle, said Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic director, Tim Hannig, said: “This may be the most quickly-assembled one-off Defender in the world, but it will be on display at Selfridges in London long enough for customers to enjoy.”

Prior to the V8 conversion, it was a 2016 Defender 110 2.2 TDCi Pick up. Five months of craftsmanship at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works saw it turned into the one-off Selfridges Edition.

• Land Rover Defender: meet the ancestors

The 405hp V8 gives it a 237 percent power boost, and bespoke Selfridges features include Bronze Green metallic paint, branded hood in Selfridges yellow, retro seats and plenty of Selfridges badges. There are 25 bespoke parts over and above the 70th Edition Works.

It’s a prime bit of product placement for Land Rover: an estimated two million Selfridges customers will see it each year, and it’s likely to form a key part of the store’s 110th anniversary next year.

Land Rover Selfridges Edition Defender: in pictures

70 years of Jaguar sports cars is being marked with a new special edition, the F-Type Chequered Flag. It’s on sale now with prices starting from £62,335.

The car that celebrates 70 years since the launch of the Jaguar XK 120 is itself marked out by a number of chequered flag logos: on the rear, the steering wheel and seats. 

It’s all pretty subtle, but the Windsor leather interior is more standout (pick contrast stitching in either red or cirrus). Performance Seats are fitted, there’s an Ebony suedecloth rooflining and dark brushed aluminium centre console to complement them, plus a steering wheel with a red ‘top centre’ marker. 

Colours? Caldera Red, Fuji White or Carpanthian Grey. All are fitted with Chequered Flag-unique gloss black 20-inch wheels with diamond turned finish, and coupes get a gloss black contrast roof.

There’s a new treat for the Touch Pro infotainment system too: the 10-inch touchscreen comes as stadnard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (following its JLR introduction on the I-Pace earlier this year), plus a fancy Meridian sound system. 

Jaguar offers the Chequered Flag either with the 300hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, or the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 in 340hp or 380hp all-wheel drive guise. 

“In creating the Chequered Flag,” said Jaguar design director Ian Callum, “we’ve focused on details which enhance the F-Type’s presence and promise of performance – and in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70 years of beautiful, fast Jaguar sports cars.”

Jaguar F-Type: 20MY changes

Jaguar has announced other tweaks for the F-Type range, as part of a 20MY (2020 model year) upgrade. Standard fitment to all F-Type is a rear parking camera and front park aid. 

The F-Type R has been given the damping tune of the higher-performance SVR, improving ride quality at lower speeds. There’s up to 24 percent less damping force at slow speed, but up to 30 percent more stiffness at higher speed.

The SVR’s rear upper ball joint has also been fitted to the R, plus modified rear knuckle and upper control arm. 

The 20MY Jaguar F-Type range is priced from £51,925 and is open for ordering now.

Prices: 20MY Jaguar F-Type

P300

• F-Type auto: £51,925
• R-Dynamic auto: £55,625
• Chequered Flag auto: £62,335

P340

• F-Type: £54,925
• R-Dynamic: £58,625

P380

• R-Dynamic: £65,675
• Chequered Flag auto: £72,715

P380 AWD

• R-Dynamic: £72,325
• Chequered Flag: £78,095

550hp AWD

• R: £93,215

575hp AWD

• SVR: £113,395

Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag: in pictures

Caffeine and Machine is a new coffee house, bar, restaurant and B&B that celebrates cars and motorcycles in the most unashamedly passionate way – and proof that petrolheads are already embracing the concept has come from the crowds flocking to its opening weekend.

Located in Ettington, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Caffeine and Machine has seen a local B&B and restaurant , The Houndshill, transformed into a destination for enthusiasts of every persuasion. Everyone is welcome, nothing is frowned upon: “No judgement, no sneering, no worries.”

The main house has been fully redeveloped in an exhaustive (and high end) refurbishment, and the grounds remodelled to be car- and motorcycle-friendly. Supercar friendly at that, judging by the number of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches who were there for the opening day.

Outside, a huge marquee tent supplies the caffeine to complement the machines, fuelling what will surely be regular ‘cars and coffee’ meets at the site in months and years to come. Non-drivers could grab a beer from the main house, and the Caffeine and Machine Roadhouse cooked up food that the owners say will have “even die-hard foodies coming back”. I can vouch for how amazing the burgers looked.

Motoring journalist and TV star Tom Ford is one of the partners in the project led by successful businessman Phil McGovern. On the opening day, he was busy. “I don’t know where to put them all!” he said, as another Ferrari and another Lamborghini turned up on site. With a look of delight, he agreed it was a nice problem to have.

Caffeine and Machine is already on the map, judging by the crowds in attendance, the full car parks, the breathtaking variety of cars that turned up, the dozens of cars parked on the verge outside and in the lanes surrounding the site. The Ace Cafe of the Midlands? The Goodwood of the north? It will be fascinating to see how it develops.

Having visited it, I can say excitement that everything Caffeine & Machine speaks of on its website appears to be true. I can’t wait to go back. Be sure to visit when you can, and look out for an events calendar to come at some point. It’s everything an unashamed petrolhead like me loves, and I’m certain you’ll feel the same.

“Caffeine and Machine offers everything you expect from a modern member’s club – except you don’t have to be a member to enjoy it”, say the owners. Nailed it: bravo, guys.

Where is Caffeine & Machine?

For those who find the standard 840hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon just a little too tame, Wisconsin-based SpeedKore Performance Group has developed an epic solution.

Dispensing with the supercharger attached to the 6.2-litre Hemi V8, and replacing it with a twin-turbocharger setup, has unleashed gigantic power from the muscle car.

Despite making use of the standard Dodge engine block, the pair of Precision Engineering turbochargers create a total of 1,203hp at the rear wheels. As a reminder, that’s an output greater than a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

At present, the engine breathes through holes cut into the bumper, with the exhaust system also exiting just ahead of the front wheels. Sadly this setup, despite being impressive, is not street legal but a traditional rear exhaust version is under development.

Added lightness

SpeedKore specialises in carbon fibre bodywork, with the twin-turbo Demon being no exception.

The lightweight material is used for the front and rear bumpers, wheel arches, quarter panels, roof, and boot. In fact no panel is spared from the carbon fibre makeover, shaving some 113kg from the Challenger.

A neat touch is the Demon logos fitted to the side of the Challenger are now illuminated. A potential warning to anyone who comes across the twin-turbo machine at night…

Setting records

To test the performance of the twin-turbo Demon, SpeedKore asked professional drag racer Leah Pritchett to tackle the quarter-mile at the Great Lakes Dragway.

Despite a chilly October day making the surface less than perfect, Pritchett was able to set a new record for a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Covering the quarter-mile in just 8.77 seconds, with a terminal speed of 161.57mph, meant a considerable step up from the regular car.

In fact, Pritchett had set the previous record for a standard Demon at 9.65 seconds with a speed of 140mph.

Scariest of all is that this only marks the beginning of the SpeedKore twin-turbo Demon story. Upgraded internals for the engine will allow for more power, whilst warmer temperatures next Spring should produce even faster times at the drag strip.

The twin-turbo Demon will make its public debut at next week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. SpeedKore has previously produced a special Ford Mustang for Robert Downey Jr, and a modified Chevrolet Camaro for Captain America star Chris Evans.

A must-have option for Mini buyers since the new model was launched back in 2001 has been the Chili Pack option – but not any more, because the firm has fully overhauled the specification process for buying a new Mini.

The multitude of add-on options – including the Chili Pack and its sister Pepper Pack – has been eradicated, with Mini now basing options around three ‘styles’: Classic, Sport and Exclusive.

This, reckons Mini, will make it much easier to buy a car. Indeed, the process has been narrowed down to just five steps, it says: choose model, performance, style, packs, personalisation… and that’s it.

Here’s how it works:

1: Model

There are five: select from 3-door Hatch, 5-door Hatch, Convertible, Clubman or Countryman

2: Engine

One (1.5 petrol), Cooper (1.5 petrol), Cooper D (2.0 diesel) and Cooper S (2.0 petrol) now relate to engine, in the new world of buying a Mini

3: Style

This is the new bit: Classic, Sport or Exclusive

4: Packs

Don’t panic, there are just two here: Comfort or Comfort Plus

5: Personalise

This is where you pick exterior and interior colours and trims, plus other options and is likely to remain the most confusing bit of all. Mini will perhaps be hoping people don’t get too carried away here, and stick to the option packs it details: Comfort, Comfort Plus, Navigation and Navigation Plus.

Even the most basic Mini now gets more standard kit. All have automatic headlights and wipers, ambient interior lighting and the exterior Mini logo projection gadget that shines the badge onto the ground at night.

Mini UK director David George said: “We know that customers today want a simple purchase experience, and this thinking has been central to the development of our new line-up.

“We have reduced complexity in our product offering, and harmonised options across the whole range, ensuring an easy customer journey whether in one of our retailers or on mini.co.uk.”

Yes, online: Mini has launched a buy online sales system – the firm says prospective buyers can configure, arrange a test drive, agree finance and payment details and even get a trade-in value. The retailer steps in at the end to finalise the delivery date.

The new Mini styles

So what do you get with the three new Mini style packs? Here’s the key features for each.

Classic

A 6.5-inch infotainment screen, DAB radio with Bluetooth and intelligent emergency call

Sport

John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit, spoiler, alloy wheels and suspension, John Cooper Works bucket seats and steering wheel, anthracite headliner. Only offered on Cooper and Cooper S

Exclusive

Exclusive alloy wheels, chrome exterior detailing, Mini Yours Lounge upholstery and steering wheel, Mini Yours trim and chrome detail. Again, only on Cooper and Cooper S.

A sales surge following the government’s surprise decision to scale back the Plug-in Car Grant has resulted in changes being imposed early due to remaining funds running out.

Since the announcement was made on 12 October, car buyers have been rushing to the showrooms to take advantage of the soon-to-expire £2,500 saving on plug-in hybrids.

The revised scheme, which focuses only on fully electric and fuel cell cars (oh, and ultra-long range plug-in hybrids, of which there are precisely… none currently on the market) was due to go live on 10 November.

But so quickly have car buyers used up the remaining 3,000 full EV (£4,500) and 6,000 plug-in hybrid £2,500) grant cash, the scheme has already switched over to its new format. This awards full EVs a lesser £3,500 sum.

The cash actually ran out just 10 days after the revised scheme was announced, says the RAC Foundation. 900 claims a day were being made, more than six times above than the average for 2018.

“While ministers might have fallen out of love with hybrid technology,” said RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding, “this last-minute rush to showrooms suggests the reassurance of running in part on conventional fuel is attractive to buyers with range anxiety, especially when it comes at an attractive price.

“The big question is whether motorists’ enthusiasm for hybrids will hold up now that the plug has been pulled on the grant.”

Details of the new scheme are now live on the government website. The only ‘plug-in’ cars now eligible for the £3,500 grant are detailed in full:

• BMW i3 and i3s
• BYD e6
• Citroen CZero
• Hyundai IONIQ Electric
• Hyundai KONA Electric
• Jaguar I-PACE
• Kia Soul EV
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive
• Nissan e-NV200 (5-seater and 7-seater)
• Nissan LEAF
• Peugeot iON
• Renault ZOE
• Smart EQ fortwo
• Smart EQ forfour
• Tesla Model S
• Tesla Model X
• Toyota Mirai
• Volkswagen e-up!
• Volkswagen e-Golf

The grant will pay for 35 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £3,500. All must have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and travel at least 70 miles (which is why the Renault Twizy is not on the list).

Not all low-emission vehicles will get a grant, adds the government: only cars it has approved are eligible. This is why there’s sometimes a delay between a new model being launched and it appearing on the Plug-in Car Grant list.