Aston Martin has announced its future electric cars will be built at its brand-new facility in St Athan, Wales – and the site will also be the hub for its luxury range of Lagondas.
The first all-electric Aston Martin to launch will be the Rapide E, which is coming in 2019. The British carmaker is promising the EV will deliver Aston Martin-like levels of performance.
“The Rapide E will spearhead development of Aston Martin’s low- and zero-emissions strategy,” said president and CEO Dr Andy Palmer.
“With the reintroduction of the Lagonda brand, this is a demonstration of how electrification features prominently in our business plan moving forward.”
Lagonda will become, says Aston, the world’s first luxury car brand powered exclusively by zero emission powertrains. Previewed by the Lagonda Vision Concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, it will launch in 2021.
International trade secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said: “I am delighted that Aston Martin has chosen St Athan as its centre for electrification and the home of Lagonda production in a move that will created hundreds of high skilled jobs in the coming years.”
Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones said the news St Athan will become Aston’s ‘home of electrification’ was “another huge win for Wales.
“It is a genuine testament to the reputation, dedication and skills of our workforce, but also an excellent and very tangible example of how Welsh government support can act as the catalyst for further economic growth and job creation.”
Aston Martin St Athan will also make the firm’s first ever SUV, which is due to launch in late 2019.
Silverstone race circuit is to get its long-awaited on-site hotel at last, with Hilton planning to open a 197-room Hilton Garden Inn development in 2020. The news follows Aston Martin’s recent announcement it is opening a new test centre at the British Grand Prix circuit.
The new hotel, which will be located opposite the Silverstone Wing pit and paddock complex, will include balconies so guests can watch the racing from their hotel rooms.
It will also offer direct access to the Silverstone Wing via a footbridge over the circuit.
Hilton is building a rooftop terrace on top of the hotel and is already planning raceday hospitality packages for the hotel. The firm says it will make Silverstone a more alluring visitor attraction outside of the race calendar.
Bosses at Silverstone have long spoken of the importance of a hotel. The Silverstone Wing Conference Centre has space for 3,000 people and 12,500 square metres of events space, but its full appeal to exhibitors has been limited by the lack of hotel facilities within easy access of Silverstone.
With the opening of the new Silverstone Experience visitor attraction in 2019, demand will grow further for accommodation at the circuit.
Hilton is to build a restaurant and coffee shop within the hotel as well, which developers say will “enhance the circuit’s appeal, offering quality hospitality year-round… [it will] elevate Silverstone to more than just a racetrack”.
Developers are targeting a spring 2020 opening date for the new Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone development.
“Mustang-inspired utility.” That’s how Darren Paler of Ford’s future-looking EV division, Ford Team Edison, describes what most simply call a Mustang SUV.
To many, the idea of a Mustang becoming a 4×4 is sacrilege of the highest order; it’ll be trampling all over nearly 60 years of pony car glory. Add to that the fact it’ll be electric and you can imagine the internet’s reaction.
In short, the death of the enthusiast automobile is nigh and we, loyal enthusiasts, must watch as it’s slaughtered by the once-hallowed hands of the world’s mightiest motoring marques. Well, not quite…
Firstly, this Mustang-inspired utility business. Does the Mustang own its own design language? Not really. Did the 911 own every stroke of Porsche designers’ pens when they came up with the Cayenne? No, it didn’t.
Like the 911, the Mustang is but a (prominent) name in the history of its mother marque. It is the owned and Ford is the owner, just as 911 is the possessed and Porsche the possessor. What does all this mean? Simply that Ford and Porsche made them and short of inciting riots by replacing the sports car with an SUV in a sports car suit, they can and will build what they want. And these cars will sell. In truth, they probably could replace them, but they won’t.
Profits equal performance
Revisiting the penultimate point there – people want to buy SUVs. The formula is tried and tested by this point. Not only with the Cayenne, but also Bentayga, Levante, Urus, F-Pace and many more.
All trade on style tropes and badge kudos generated by what their parent marques are famed for. All put profits – or soon will – into making the brand-defining models better than they’ve ever been. A successful Cayenne makes for a healthy Porsche, which makes for some of the best 911s ever sold. Rinse and repeat for Aston Martin’s coming SUV, the Ford “Mustang-inspired utility” and beyond.
Also, electric SUV by purveyor of iconic sports cars – sound familiar? You’ll find an electric-only I-Pace parked up next to a 580hp supercharged F-Type in your local Jaguar dealer today. What’s wrong with a 300-mile capable Mustang-snouted SUV crossover next to a Mustang GT at Ford?
Make no mistake, the cars we’ve loved for over half a century are not the business-supporting totems they once were (if they ever were). The 911 that revs to 9,000rpm, some of the best Lamborghinis in the marque’s history, the best Bentley in a generation – all are gifts courtesy of their parent marque’s most generous best-sellers. So too will be future Mustangs. “Yours lovingly, Mustang-inspired utility”.
What’s the moral of the story? The SUVs are inevitable, the EVs are inevitable, so too are the cars we know and love. They’ll never be the same, what they were, whatever. But they are here, and they’re better than they would ever be without their SUV cousins to bolster their development budgets.
We should be encouraging their existence, even buying them, if we want our favourite cars to flourish. And that includes the electric Mustang SUV.
Jaguar Land Rover has announced a range of retro-styled infotainment systems for its classic models, following the lead of Porsche. It brings sat-nav and digital music to cars that were designed long before such technology existed.
Jump in an E-type or Land Rover with the new infotainment fitted and you’ll be hard pressed to spot it straight away. Unless, of course, you’ve just been in an identical car without it. Needless to say, it’s not a simple case of plonking a Tesla-style tablet where the beautiful dashboard of a classic Jag used to be.
What is it and what do you get?
Nestled cleverly in existing dead space on the dashboard, the 3.5-inch high-definition touchscreen is minimally invasive, with analogue – and vintage-style – control knobs either side. It features DAB, FM and AM radio, plus Bluetooth connectivity, sat-nav and smartphone integration.
The system costs £1,200 and is available now. As for fitment, the JLR Classic Works in Warwickshire is the obvious go-to. However, if that’s a bit too far, selected retailers will be trained to fit it.
Is it wrong to fit modern tech to classic cars?
Much like an old country cottage, the rustic heart-over-head appeal of classic cars is often too much to ignore. When you get inside, though, the lack of modern accoutrements can turn the rose-tinted dream into a bit of a nightmare.
That’s not to say that you’d slather your lovely rustic property in solar panels (so to speak).The integration of modernity should be subtle and tasteful, and there’s an inherent appeal in clever, sympathetic installations. This JLR system is just that.
Purity and true-to-period presentation are all well and good when bragging in the pub. When it comes to one’s own usage, though, most would be hard pressed to turn down a few modern luxuries. We wouldn’t say no.
Did you lust after a TVR Sagaris back in the day, but miss the (sinking) boat? Fear not: Blackpool’s last hero has now been resurrected as a kit car. Meet the Grex Sagaris GT.
Yes, TVR is back in business with a new Griffith, but it isn’t to all tastes, or indeed budgets. There’s an appeal to the old, mid-2000s TVRs that hasn’t quite translated for some. It’s those people that the new, sub-£50,000 Grex will appeal to.
First up, this isn’t a straight copy. The quirky and savage old 4.0-litre straight-six engine is gone. The car is designed to house a small-block V8 crate motor from General Motors, which you need to supply yourself. If you really want the old six-pot, you can ask them to build your kit around it.
The Grex does stay true to the Sagaris of old in that there are no electronic driving aids. If you want traction control, ABS or airbags, stick with a showroom-bought Porsche.
The joy of Grex
Much like the old car, it’s going to be very rare, although we doubt that was by TVR’s initial design. Just 10 are mooted for delivery in 2019.
What’s more, any number of those are available to US customers. Unlike the original, the Grex is perfectly legal for sale and use in America. And that also means it’s available in right- and left-hand drive.
When the Sagaris was new, it was £50,000 – around £70,000 in today’s money – and it hasn’t depreciated. You’ll pay as much or well beyond that for a second-hand example. This kit, complete with £10k’s worth of LS3 V8 and transmission to suit, comes in much cheaper.
Obviously, you build it yourself. And there’s a possibility kit car life will come with running complications beyond even the realms of a TVR. But it’s a tempting proposition.
Read more:
1 in 4 new car buyers will crash soon after delivery
A stolen car, obtained under stolen identities bought on the dark web, has been recovered following an extensive police investigation.
The fraudsters used the false names, originally reported after a car accident, to hire a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. They then disabled the car’s APU-branded tracker and made a beeline for the Channel Tunnel and Europe.
However, the APU system’s secondary technology remained – and automatically triggered an alert as the Mercedes approached the UK border. This allowed the firm to track the car to a Brussels address, where it was eventually found.
The drivers involved in the original accident – and supposedly in possession of the hire car – were contacted as suspects. However, it was soon established they’d been duped.
The prevention of car theft has rightly come a long way from ‘lock your doors and roll up your windows’. Ways of committing such crimes grow ever more sophisticated and difficult to detect as technology evolves.
The dark web is an entirely unregulated marketplace on the internet with no rules, safeguards or regulatory presence. Illegal assets such as identities, weapons, drugs and even people can be traded with little risk of discovery.
How do you keep your identity safe?
APU has established three steps to keeping your identity secure:
Report any theft of identification documents to the appropriate authorities
Don’t give away too much personal information on social media that could help fraudsters assume your identity and hack your passwords
Regularly check your credit reference files and bank statements and consider extra ID theft protection if you feel you are at high risk
Neil Thomas, Director of Investigative Services at APU Ltd, said: “The dark web is a gift to fraudsters; they can buy the personal details of innocent people, take out insurance policies and come up with scams like this. We must raise awareness of the threat among the public and industry.”
Your ‘green’ car may soon come with a green number plate, letting the world know you’re driving a clean vehicle – and giving you access to special low-emission vehicle lanes.
A forthcoming government consultation will discuss whether green plates could work in the UK. Similar schemes have been implemented in Norway, Canada and China in a bid to promote the uptake of cleaner vehicles.
It’s not just aesthetics, either. A road network crafted to reward low- and zero-emissions vehicles could use green number plates to identify cars that are allowed to use dedicated lanes and zones in cities. Plate scans could keep EV charging bays free of smog-makers looking for an easy parking spot, too.
“This new cleaner, greener transport has the potential to bring with it cleaner air, a better environment and stronger economies for countries around the world” said Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary.
“Adding a green badge of honour to these new clean vehicles is a brilliant way of helping increase awareness of their growing popularity in the UK, and might just encourage people to think about how one could fit into their own travel routine.”
The Motoring Research view
Would we drive a zero-emission vehicle if it came complete with a green ‘badge of honour’ number plate?
Although the visual aspect feels somewhat trivial, the integration of green plates into a system that rewards owners is appealing.
Anything that helps cement a comprehensive electric and hybrid car infrastructure, and offers benefits for those who go green, gets a thumbs-up from us.
The announcement of these plans comes ahead of a multi-nation summit begining tomorrow (September 11) in Birmingham. It’s to be the first of its type dedicated to the discussion of zero-emissions vehicles.
The aim is to get international agreement on the so-called zero-emissions journey, charting uptake and integration of EVs and other low-polluting vehicles across the globe.
Tesla has responded to news its Model S has come bottom of a major 2018 car reliability survey – by calling the results ‘statistically meaningless’. What Car?, which carried out the survey, has since countered Tesla’s claim (see below), arguing its survey was “more than representative of Tesla’s real-world presence”.
The What Car? reader reliability survey allows owners to contribute their experiences with their cars for a wider collation of consumer experience. This year, more than 18,000 motorists responded.
The long-serving Model S was by far the worst performer, with a reliability rating of just 50.9 percent. The next ‘worst’ car above the bottom-rung Tesla was the Range Rover, at 67.3 percent. That’s 16.4 percentage points above the Model S.
‘This survey is statistically meaningless’
“Only 28 Model S owners responded out of a total of 18,000 car owners surveyed by What Car?” said a Tesla spokesperson. “That’s less than 0.3 percent of UK Tesla owners, so this survey is statistically meaningless.”
“The results of this survey are also at odds not only with our internal figures showing customer satisfaction scores for Model S and X at well over 90 percent, but with statistically valid surveys like our Net Promotor Score and Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey, which we’ve topped every year since 2013.
“90% of Tesla owners saying they would buy the same car again – more than any other brand.
“We are committed to making the world’s best cars, and in order to ensure the highest quality, we review every vehicle for even the smallest refinement before it leaves the factory.
“To the extent repairs are needed, the majority of work carried out on cars up to 4 years old is done under warranty and free of charge to the customer while they are supplied with a courtesy car.
Unlike other manufacturers, Tesla repairs can also be carried out in a customer’s driveway or office by mobile service, or even via over-the-air updates, to minimise any disruption.”
The Motoring Research view
That such a small portion of the UK Tesla customer base took part in the survey is interesting. Technically, it’s not very telling of the experiences of all UK Tesla owners.
That said, what could have prompted such a poor score from this small cross section? Do they have a grudge to bear? Would the result have been echoed by other owners?
What we can note is that this isn’t Tesla’s first disappointing performance in the survey. The marque came 30th out of 32 in the reliability by marque survey last year, at 52.4 percent.
What constitutes “unreliable” is an interesting question too. Where a conventional-fuel car developing a misfire would be considered a problem, so too could a screen freeze and forced reboot on a Model S. Concerning results and burning questions – that’s what we take from all of this.
Update: What Car? responds
What Car? has responded to Tesla’s statement. “Tesla owners represented 0.19 percent of what was a very robust total sample of 18,000 UK car owners in the What Car? survey,” said the motoring magazine.
“Compared with Tesla’s actual UK market share of 0.11 percent (according to official figures obtained from the DVLA), this means that the What Car? Study was more than representative of Tesla’s real-world presence in the British car parc.
Goodwood Revival is the UK’s most glamorous race meeting, crammed with beautiful people and priceless classic cars. As ever, though, much of the most interesting metal is found outside – in the car park. This year, we spotted everything from a Ferrari F40 (above) to an original Mini Cooper. Keep clicking for a guided tour.
Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche’s seminal early-2000s Carrera GT sported a howling V10 – a leftover from Le Mans – suspended in a gorgeous carbon cradle, plus a manual gearbox and svelte styling. Today, it’s regarded as one of the all-time ‘analogue’ supercar greats.
Aston Martin DB3S and Lamborghini Huracan Performante
A Goodwood car park is never without its contrasts. Case in point: an Aston Martin DB3S replica parked next to a new Lamborghini Huracan Performante, the latter complete with screaming V10. Four-wheeled loveliness for all the family.
Ferrari F355
The car that saved Ferrari – the F355 is one of the best-regarded mid-engined berlinettas of all time. Jaw-dropping beauty, a yowling quad-cam V8 and super-sweet driving dynamics all cement its classic status.
Porsche 911R
The original hardcore 911. This was the first of the breed to mature into a pure and proper racing car, with lightweight bodywork and twin-overhead camshafts boosting its flat-six to more than 200hp. The ‘R’ is one of tne of the most sought-after classic 911s today.
Ford Mustang GT350H
The Shelby GT350H was special edition Mustang offered by Hertz in the US. Advertised as the “Rent-a-Racer”, most of the 1,000 cars were painted in this distinctive – and very cool – black and gold colour scheme. Some customers apparently took Hertz’s advice too literally and used the cars for drag racing.
Lotus 340R
For a company rarely possessed of two pennies to rub together, Lotus does have its occasional mad moments. The Ariel Atom-aping 340R was one of them. This roofless, doorless, track-focused roadster was one of the final cars powered by the venerable Rover K-series engine. Its sharper styling previewed the S2 Elise.
Caterham Seven Sprint
One of the most Goodwood Revival-appropriate cars must be the one that was launched here, right? The Caterham Seven Sprint offers vintage style, rewarding dynamics and limited-edition kudos. No wonder it sold out within minutes of being revealed.
Range Rover
The original SUV (discuss) is a bona fide classic in its own right. Resplendent in red, this early three-door, Belgian-registered Range Rover is considerably more basic than today’s offerings. What would the Kardashians make of it?
Lancia Delta Integrale 16v
Not quite the full HF Evo vindaloo, this Integrale 16v is a tikka-level dark horse delight. Its 200hp turbocharged engine offers plenty of punch, with power going to all four wheels. A legend, both on the road and rally stage.
Morris Mini Cooper
Few things are more fun than watching Minis beat seven shades out of monstrous Yank Tanks on Goodwood Motor Circuit – especially if you follow that by driving this lovely Morris Cooper home. The original hot hatch? Well, technically it’s a saloon, but you get the idea.
Porsche 924 Turbo
The Turbo version of the 924 was designed to bridge the gap between Porsche’s entry-level sports car and the 911s of the era. Turbocharging had proven effective in racing and Porsche was keen to use the technology for road cars. In the end, the 170hp 924 Turbo came perilously close to the performance of the 180hp 911 SC.
Jaguar XKR-S
Jaguar’s supercharged sports GT had to go out with a bang (and a plume of tyre smoke). The 560hp XKR-S, seen here in the glowing French Racing Blue, did the job. This, or a new F-Type SVR?
Efini RX-7
“What on Earth is an Efini RX-7?” you might well ask. It’s very simple, really: it’s an ‘FD’ RX-7 like any other, only sold under Mazda’s luxury sub-brand, Efini. Mazda ditched Efini after 1997, making this a curious (and rare) footnote in the RX-7’s history.
Mercedes-Benz 190 2.3-16
A homologation special and the original underdog sports saloon, the 190 2.3-16 is a roadgoing refugee from the DTM (German Touring Cars) series, and constant thorn in the E30 BMW M3’s side. We actually think it’s cooler in subtle 2.3 spec, rather than bewinged 2.5-litre Evo.
BMW 2000 Alpina
One of the earliest Alpinas, based on the ‘New Series Saloons’ from BMW. Both represented fresh beginnings for their respective companies and this Alpina was a rare thing when new. We’d love to know how many are left. German plates suggest this one has travelled a long way…
McLaren 720S
We described the 720S as “the definitive modern supercar” when we borrowed one earlier this year. Sensationally fast, yet remarkably easy to drive, it’s definitely on our lottery list. This blue car was one of several new McLarens in the Revival car park, including a 650S, 570GT and 570S Spider.
Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
The Dino, named after Enzo Ferrari’s son, was the legendary marque’s first foray into more attainable sports cars. In fact, it started a lineage of mid-engined models that has made been Ferrari’s backbone ever since. It’s one of Maranello’s most beautiful models, too.
Fiat 500
The Cinquecento was Italy’s answer to the Mini or Volkswagen Beetle – a true ‘people’s car’ that remained in production for nearly two decades. Nowadays, of course, the entire Fiat range is a bloated facsimile of this tiny, terrific original.
Ford Country Sedan
Patina – defined by the Cambridge dictionary as ‘a thin surface layer that develops on something because of use, age or chemical action’ – is an overused word in classic car circles, but this Ford Country Sedan has it in spades. Rarely has rust looked so right.
Research by dash cam manufacturer Nextbase has found that nearly a third (29 percent) of young drivers are either being wrongly found guilty in car-to-car motoring incidents, or are prematurely pleading guilty when they’re not.
Nextbase suggests the stress of a crash situation might be behind this – and that more experienced drivers are taking advantage of it.
Younger drivers can feel vulnerable, says the firm, and lead to panicked admissions of fault, even if they are not actually to blame. Those who have more experience can exploit this and secure an unfair admission of guilt from the younger motorist.
This is where dash cams can come in very handy for younger drivers. They offer conclusive proof, one way or the other, of who is at fault. If it is the younger driver, the experience is beneficial and justice is done. If it’s the more experienced driver, they can be held accountable and again teach both a valuable lesson.
Dash cam car insurance
Car insurance for younger drivers is notoriously expensive. The average fully comprehensive car insurance policy for an under-24 comes in at a heady £1,116.
In response, Nextbase has partnered with a car insurer to create a deal that could ease the blow. Called MyFirstUK insurance, the scheme is offering 30 percent off premiums when a Nextbase 312GW dash cam has been fitted in the vehicle.
“With research showing that a large proportion of young drivers are getting blamed for accidents that may have not been their fault, a dash cam can act as a witness to help prove innocence,” said Richard Browning, director of Nextbase.
“Research shows that the older you get, the worse your reactions are. However, younger drivers are still getting penalised with sky-high car insurance costs.
“By unveiling this offer with MyFirst, we hope to give the younger generation a solution to keep safe on the roads and save money at the same time.”
Aston Martin has announced its future electric cars will be built at its brand-new facility in St Athan, Wales – and the site will also be the hub for its luxury range of Lagondas.
Silverstone race circuit is to get its long-awaited on-site hotel at last, with Hilton planning to open a 197-room Hilton Garden Inn development in 2020. The news follows 
Did you lust after a TVR Sagaris back in the day, but miss the (sinking) boat? Fear not: Blackpool’s last hero has now been resurrected as a kit car. Meet the Grex Sagaris GT.
A stolen car, obtained under stolen identities bought on the dark web, has been recovered following an extensive police investigation. 
