Chargemaster is a key partner of TV star and electric vehicle evangelist Robert Llewellyn’s Fully Charged Livecar show at Silverstone this weekend – and it is now offering an added incentive to visit: a £1,000 discount code to install workplace charging at your office.
The discount is in addition to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ Workplace Charging Scheme grant of £300 per socket (valid up to a maximum of 20 sockets). Chargemaster does qualify it by stating it’s “up to £1,000 per workplace”, but a discount is a discount, one that, it is hoped, will get employees badgering their employers to install EV charging.
Particularly, says Chargemaster, as employees are not liable for any Benefit-in-Kind taxation if they charge at work – a handy incentive for cost-conscious company car drivers who might be considering a plug-in hybrid to replace their fleet-friendly diesel.
Chargemaster’s system uses the same RFID access card as its nationwide Polar public charging network, “creating seamless roaming for employees”. The workplace chargers also feed into a Chargemaster data platform, so users can see live analytics and download reports for accounting.
There’s even the potential to open up the workplace charger for out-of-hours public access, adds the firm – and it’s also a great incentive for visitors.
Chargemaster offers several workplace charging solutions, including a more affordable ‘Powercharge’ unit that costs £795 plus VAT. A Type 2 system (compatible with every EV currently on sale), it has two sockets and offers charge at 7kW.
Tech giant Harman has launched a 5G-ready car antenna that packages multiple units into one device and which can be mounted beneath car bodywork – solving the packaging headaches that have been worrying car designers.
Indeed, as many as 18 individual antenna services can be squeezed into Harman’s new device, thanks to multiband ‘conformal’ technology. Yet we won’t be aware of it, as the device will be packaged beneath the bodywork, hidden from view.
The new tech is going to replace the ‘shark fin’ antenna, which themselves replaced the traditional car aerial, reckons Harman. Up to now, says Harman’s vice president of telematics, Vishnu Sundaram, these have been used in conjunction with other antennas distributed around the vehicle.
“In the era of pervasively connected cars, this layout is no lover viable for designers.” Working with Harman owners Samsung plus several car manufacturers, “the Harman team has designed a solution that is compact, aesthetically pleasing and future-proof”.
Some of Samsung’s smartphone expertise has gone into the creation of the new 5G car antenna tech. Harman says the antennas will be located in the roof area or bootlid, and over the past six months, has “gained a serious share of interest from our automotive OEM customers”.
It seems the new 5G antenna answers telematics engineers’ growing list of demands while also provide a “fresh easel” for car designers. Sundaram revealed Harman’s currently working with several brands to validate the tech for upcoming cars, “and expect to see the conformal antennas available for model year 2021 vehicles”.
There’s more, too: it’s capable of turning into a ‘smart antenna’, supporting vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure solutions that will connect cars to their surroundings. “This 5G-ready technology will help automakers keep up with the pace of innovation.”
And to think we once thought an electric aerial was cutting edge…
What started out as the cover of a song from the 1960s to promote the new Skoda Karoq SUV has resulted in singer Paloma Faith having her best chart performance since 2014.
Launched in March during an advert break on ITV’s The Voice – a show Faith was formerly a coach on – the song has gone on to become her best-selling single in four years. It became the most ‘Shazamed’ song for four weeks-running, whilst also topping the charts on iTunes.
The popularity of the song led the Sony record label to release ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ as an actual single, whilst also adding it to Faith’s latest album.
Skoda picked Faith for the role as the brand’s first ambassador the ‘Driver’s Seat Initiative’, a project run in partnership with the Prince’s Trust. Intended to encourage young people to explore their creativity, Paloma was said to embody the “unique spirit and style” that Skoda wanted to channel.
The partnership between Skoda and the Hackney-born songstress was marked in February by an exclusive concert in her native London Borough. Fans had the chance to hear ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ for the first time, alongside other songs from the latest album.
Whether the musical linkup has brought more customers to the Skoda brand is yet to be seen, but at least Paloma should be able to purchase her own Karoq from the success of the single. Although we cannot ignore the fact that her individual “spirit and style” may have been better served by the funky Skoda Yeti, since replaced by the Karoq.
Taking place in the heart of the City, London Concours is fast becoming a highlight of the classic car calendar. And ‘fast’ is very much the theme this year, with concours cars classified as Fast, Faster, Very Fast, Superfast, Hyperfast and Era-Defining. We kick off with the Era-Defining cars, the “quickest and most iconic of their day”, then round up the best of the rest. Which one earns a place in your dream garage?
Where better to start than with the very first supercar? The Lamborghini Miura is arguably the most beautiful of the breed, too, with sensual Gandini styling wrapped around a mid-mounted V12. This 1969 Miura S makes 370hp and hits 170mph – although a notorious predilection for front-axle lift means you need big cojones to get there…
Jaguar E-Type
Another front-runner for the ‘most beautiful car in the world’ title, the Jaguar E-Type defines the swinging sixties. This 1965 FHC (Fixed-Head Coupe) is a desirable Series 1, powered by a 4.2-litre in-line six. At the time, it was the fastest car ever tested by Autocar magazine, reaching 153mph.
McLaren F1
The going rate for a McLaren F1 seems to be about £10 million, so this relatively compact and unassuming supercar may be the most valuable machine here. The 240mph F1 is famed for its central driving position (for ideal weight distribution) and engine bay lined with heat-reflecting golf leaf. However it was also the first road car with a chassis made entirely from carbon fibre composite.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
The 1954 300 SL was a genuine race car for the road. Indeed, it was more powerful than the W194 Le Mans legend that shared its 3.0-litre straight-six engine. The ‘Gullwing’ (nicknamed thus due to its vertically-opening doors) was also the first production car with fuel injection. A Roadster version followed in 1957.
AC Cobra
The AC Cobra is such an endlessly copied design, you’re rarely certain if one is real or a replica. This 1963 289 is, of course, real. The Cobra recipe was simple: stuff an oversized Ford V8 into the flyweight AC Ace roadster. The results, however, were spectacular. The mighty 7.0-litre Cobra 427 could hit 185mph in competition spec.
Ferrari F40
Hands up who had one of these on their bedroom wall? The F40 is one of Ferrari’s most celebrated sports cars: a mid-engined monster with 478hp and no creature comforts. A 201mph top speed was serious stuff in 1987, outgunning the more technologically-advanced Porsche 959. The F40 was also the last Ferrari to be signed off by il Commendatore, Enzo Ferrari himself.
Jaguar XK120
If the E-Type sums up the sixties, the XK120 defines the decade before. As Britain emerged from the shadow of World War II, Jaguar’s pretty straight-six roadster pointed to a brighter future. This 1950 XK120 OTS set 24-hour and seven-day speed records when new, averaging more than 100mph.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
‘Modern’ Aston Martin is known for its sleek sports cars (and, um, the Cygnet supermini), but it wasn’t always thus. Astons of the 70s and 80s were upright, big-engined brutes – and few more so than the original V8 Vantage. A 380hp carburettor-fed engine lurks behind its blanked-off front grille, giving 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and a 170mph top speed.
Porsche 911
Is the Porsche 911 really ‘era-defining’? It’s been in production for so long – 55 years – that it belongs to multiple eras, invariably being the benchmark against which other sports cars lare judged. This particular Neunelfer is a 1967 911S, the flagship of the range until the RS debuted in 1973. Its flat-six produces a punchy 160hp.
Lamborghini Countach
How do you follow up the Miura? Amazingly, Lamborghini managed it. The Countach was another Gandini masterpiece, its wedgy, low-slung lines setting the supercar template for decades to come. This 1987 Countach 5000 QV (Quattrovalvole, or four valves per cylinder) belongs to Harry Metcalfe, former editor of Evo magazine. It was displayed in the Hyperfast concours class.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
It wasn’t all supercars at London Concours – although this Delta Integrale could challenge many of them on a twisty road. The Integrale won the World Rally Championship six times for Lancia between 1997 and 1992, and this 1992 Evo I wears Martini rally livery. A 210hp four-cylinder engine drives all four wheels.
BMW 3.0 CSL
Giving the Integrale a run for its money in the (unofficial) category of coolest car at the show, this BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ is another homologation hero. Its advanced aero package includes fins alongside the bonnet, a spoiler on the trailing edge of the roof and a huge rear wing. The CSL took the European Touring Car title in four consecutive years, from 1975-1979.
Fiat 8V Supersonic
Looking every inch the Jet Age concept car, this 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic is one of 15 designed and constructed by Italian coachbuilder, Ghia. Powered by a 2.0-litre V8, it has independent suspension and a four-speed manual gearbox. The bodywork is unusually aerodynamic for the era, while the tail lights resemble jet afterburners.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
From the sublime to the faintly ridiculous, this 1968 Mustang has been tuned to 750hp. The work was carried out by the original owner after importing the car to the UK in 1970. Even in standard 420hp guise, the Shelby GT500 is the ultimate incarnation of the original ’Stang. Trust us, its V8 rumble registers on the Richter scale…
Aston Martin One-77
Forget the Vulcan and Valkyrie, this is our favourite Aston supercar. Only 77 examples of the £1.2 million One-77 were made from 2009-2012. Its chassis is carbon fibre with aluminium panels, while its 750hp 7.3-litre V12 was the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated production engine when new.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Fast-forwarding into the here-and-now, this is the latest ‘991’ GT2 RS: the most powerful Porsche 911 ever made. This fire-spitting 700hp flagship recently claimed the Nurburgring lap record, with a time of six minutes 47.3 seconds – 10 seconds quicker than Porsche’s 918 Spyder hypercar. It also blasts to 62mph in 2.7 seconds, despite being rear-wheel drive.
Alpine A110
The Alpine A110 is another current car deemed special enough for a place on the lawn at London Concours. And rightly so. This 252hp retro recreation costs from £46,905 and takes on the Porsche Cayman. It was displayed alongside an original A110 – one of France’s best-loved sports cars.
Ferrari 250GT SWB
We may have to eat our words about the McLaren being the most valuable car here. This Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘Sefac Hot Rod’ was driven six times by Stirling Moss, including at Goodwood, Silverstone and Daytona, and won five of those six events. It was the most successful sports car racer of 1961. It also happens to be utterly, almost incomparably, gorgeous.
Ford GT
Speaking of stunners, few cars hold a candle to the 1960s Ford GT40. However, the 2016 GT comes close, with dramatic lines that clearly evoke the original. Breaking from the supercar norm, the GT uses a V6 engine, albeit one boosted by twin turbochargers to 656hp. So it’s a bit quick, too (2.8sec, 216mph).
Click the images to see more supercars of London Concours
Kahn Design, the Bradford-based car modifying company, has announced a new version of its bespoke supercar.
First unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, this is the latest version of ‘The Vengeance by Kahn Design’ to be shown. It’s certainly the most eye-searing to date, with paintwork that seems guaranteed to grab attention on social media.
However, it’s the more traditional media of cinema that Kahn is targeting with the Vengeance Green Superhero. With Kahn products having appeared in the 2014 Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow, the company believes this Vengeance is perfect for the next Marvel blockbuster.
It certainly looks different, with a gaping front grille created from a single piece of billet aluminium. The doors, bonnet, roof, and wings all gain attention, with new parts also formed by hand from aluminium.
The alloy wheels are by Kahn, and designed to look like a roulette wheel. The fronts have 16-spokes, while the larger rears have 18 spokes. Inside, the interior is said to be covered in the ‘most supple leather’, with the seats handmade by Kahn’s craftsmen.
Kahn purchased five DB9 chassis from Aston Martin for transformation into a Vengeance, and it leaves most of the oily bits untouched. The fitment of a loud stainless steel exhaust is the only performance modification, with the 5.9-litre V12 producing the same 510hp and 457lb ft of torque as it did in the DB9.
Getting in the next Marvel film is no easy task, given that big brands have already wooed the cinema studios. The Iron Man and Avengers series of films included heavy product placement by Audi, while the Lexus LC 500 was the star of the recent Black Panther movie.
Maybe Kahn may find better opportunities with the actors from the world of Marvel films. Both Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. and Captain America actor Chris Evans have favoured modified muscle cars built by American company SpeedKore.
Company founder Afzal Kahn created the Vengeance as his own dream car, meaning potential buyers need to be on the same page when it comes to taste. They’ll also need in the region of around £300,000: more than twice the price of a low-mileage Aston Martin DB9 GT…
Living in Monaco cannot be easy at times. Surrounded by limitless wealth and excess, trying to stand out from the crowd is a challenge. With regular supercars almost commonplace, have some pity for the petrolhead who wants to impress in Monte Carlo.
For Monaco resident Claudio Roddaro, this isn’t something he has to worry about. In 2016, he bought an example of Porsche’s most successful racing car and, with some patience, was able to have it road registered.
As the car with which Porsche first tasted victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1970 and 1971, the 917 is special. Priced at around 10 times the value of a contemporary Porsche 911 when new, only 37 examples of the 917 were built, all with plans for motorsport use.
Powered by a naturally aspirated flat-12 engine mounted in the rear of a lightweight body, the 917 was a formidable proposition. Early tests found it to be lacking in downforce, making it scary to drive at speed. Changes to the bodywork made it more manageable, but still capable of a top speed in excess of 240mph.
Making its debut in 1969, the 917 managed only one win in sports car racing. However, better fortune would come the following year, when a 917K driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood be victorious at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Success at Le Mans would come again in 1971.
Not every car that left Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory made it to the track though. Chassis number 037 was never completed by Porsche, and remained in the care of German coachbuilder Baur. Eventually it was sold to an American collector, who fitted the missing parts to complete the car in 2004.
Roaddaro bought the now-completed 917 in 2016, then set about the arduous task of persuading the Monegasque authorities to allow him to register it for road use. Thankfully for Claudio, two other people had been crazy enough to make a 917 road legal before him.
Count Rossi, Italian nobleman and part of the family behind the Martini drinks company, persuaded American officials to register his 917 as road legal in 1974. By demonstrating that Rossi’s car – still road-registered to this day – was the same as his, Roddaro pulled off the same feat.
With a full period Martini Racing livery, the 600hp 917 looks like like a racetrack refugee. Whether anyone needs to drive a car with a power-to-weight ratio of 1000hp/tonne around the streets of Monaco is a moot point. Claudio Roddaro can, and does.
Read more:
Classic colours for Porsche racers at Le Mans 24 Hours
Every year, JD Power publishes its Customer Service Index Study, which asks drivers about their experiences with dealers during the first three years of car ownership. Each brand is given a rating out of 1,000 for overall satisfaction. Join us as we count down all 24 carmakers in the 2018 survey – from worst to best – and reveal their scores.
24. Citroen: 764
The study measures customer satisfaction with service experience at a franchised dealer facility for maintenance and repair work. JD Power uses five measures, listed in order of importance: service quality, service initiation, service advisor, vehicle pick-up and service facility. You won’t be surprised to find a French manufacturer propping up the table.
=22. Renault: 766
And, predictably, there’s another French brand in the number 23 slot. JD Power spoke to 7,899 motorists who registered their new vehicle between February 2015 and April 2017. Sorry, Renault, but this is one to file under ‘could do better’.
=22. Nissan: 766
Not that Nissan can rest on its (Datsun) laurels. The Qashqai might be Britain’s best-loved crossover, but Nissan owners have failed to connect with the dealers. Swipe left if you agree with the JD Power study.
21. Ford: 767
Josh Halliburton, vice president and head of European operations at JD Power, said: “These results illustrate the importance of developing passionate advocates, not only for the product but also for the dealership itself, when trying to attract younger people as new customers,” This is a reference to the fact that young customers are less likely than older customers to be loyal to a dealer.
20. Skoda: 771
This might come as a surprise, not least because Skoda prides itself on delivering good customer satisfaction. It will need to up its game if it wants to attract – and retain – new customers to its expanding range of crossovers and SUVs.
19. Peugeot: 774
If there’s one crumb of comfort for Peugeot, it’s the fact that it’s the highest ranked French manufacturer. According to JD Power, vehicle pick-up satisfaction is 15 points higher among customers who handled payments with their customer service advisor than among those who dealt with a cashier.
18. Seat: 777
Next up is Seat, which scores six points more than its Volkswagen Group sibling, Skoda. Czech, mate.
17. Volkswagen: 779
The industry average for volume manufacturers is 779, which must leave Volkswagen feeling decidedly average. Vanilla. Mediocre. Straight down the middle. Par for the course.
=15. Mazda: 780
Back in 2016, we were surprised to find Mazda at the foot of the table. While finishing 15th suggests there’s still work to be done, the Japanese company will be delighted to have escaped the relegation dogfight. It’s not time to call in Sam Allardyce just yet.
=15. Hyundai: 780
Tied with Mazda is Hyundai, which offers a range of great value cars and a comprehensive five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. The new i30 N hot hatch is proof that it’s not afraid to let its hair down once in a while.
14. Toyota: 784
The same can be said of Toyota, which has gone bonkers with the crazy Yaris GRMN. A 14th place finish is surprising, as the Japanese giant tends to finish closer to the top in satisfaction surveys.
13. Fiat: 785
Fiat is so pleased with its 13th place finish, it has issued a press release. Sebastiano Fedrigo, MOPAR service, parts and customer care director at FCA said: “We have made a considerable investment in training, genuine parts distribution and new aftersales programmes which has helped Fiat to improve customer satisfaction. We are supporting our network with more efficient parts delivery service to increase availability of Mopar genuine parts, which will not only reduce off-the-road time but also increase the longevity and value of our customer’s cars.”
=11. Vauxhall: 786
Vauxhall hasn’t issued a press release to celebrate finishing joint 11th, but the people of Luton will be glowing with pride once they discover the name of the other brand to score 786 points.
=11. BMW: 786
That’s right, Vauxhall dealers are on a par with BMW dealers when it comes to customer satisfaction. You’re unlikely to see a press release from Bavaria, not least because this puts BMW at the bottom of the premium brand table.
10. Suzuki: 791
Suzuki finishes 10th overall and fifth on the list of volume manufacturers. We rather like Suzuki’s range of value-driven cars, and it would appear that you are a fan of its dealers.
=7. Dacia: 792
In a victory for rational common sense and fit-for-purpose motoring, Dacia finishes seventh overall and fourth on the list of volume brands. The budget brand has just released the prices of the all-new Duster, which start at £9,995.
=7. Jaguar: 792
There’s a three-way tie for seventh, with Jaguar joining Dacia on 792 points. The big news this summer is the arrival of the I-Pace electric car. Our verdict: “Jaguar has delivered the car all the others now have to beat. And it’s set an impressively high bar to battle over. Such is the all-round ability of the Jaguar I-Pace; prepare to start seeing a lot of them out and about, and rightly so.”
=7. Audi: 792
Audi is the third manufacturer to finish with 792 points, placing it below the premium brand average of 798. A decent score, but there are three volume manufacturers further up the table.
6. Mercedes-Benz: 805
Mercedes-Benz finishes third on the list of premium brands and sixth overall. Stay tuned for our first drive review of the new A-Class (pictured).
=4. Kia: 808
There are two manufacturers tied on 808 points, with Kia maintaining its reputation as the automotive equivalent of a teacher’s pet. With such excellent dealers and a seven-year warranty, it’s not hard to see why Kia owners are so satisfied.
=4. Volvo: 808
Volvo is the brand that can do no wrong, scooping awards left, right and centre. A score of 808 points will put the Swedish brand in a state of happiness.
3. Honda: 815
Hoorah for Honda, which ranks second on the list of volume manufacturers and third overall. If one vehicle could sum up ‘car reliability’, it would be the Honda Jazz.
2. Mini: 822
Mini might take issue with JD Power’s decision to include it on the list of volume manufacturers, but it will be delighted with the overall result. Can you guess which manufacturer pipped it to the post?
1. Land Rover: 824
Blimey, it’s Land Rover, which ranks highest among premium brands for a second consecutive year. Take a bow, Land Rover dealers, and feel free to take the rest of the day off. Just check with your manager, first.
A JetPack certified by the Federal Aviation Administration will fly for the first time in Europe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 – bringing a touch of James Bond glamour to the annual motoring event.
Capable of flying at 200mph, the JB11 JetPack is also capable of reaching heights of more than 10,000 feet. It’s the only JetPack ever to be certified by the FAA.
Californian company JetPack Aviation has developed the 50kg device, which boasts a world-first VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) system. Company founder David Mayman will fly it – and plans to actually fly the famous Goodwood Hill Climb from bottom to top.
The JB11 JetPack will appear in the FOS Future Lap, which curator Lucy Johnston says will demonstrate “evermore innovative areas of technology and engineering.
“Personal flight is a really exciting theme to bring to this year’s edition. We’re delighted to be able to represent the most advanced system in the world, for the first time in Europe.”
JB11 JetPack: how does it work?
The JetPack has six turbojet engines: four of them are used to fly it, with two as backups in case of an emergency. It’s powered by kerosene jet fuel – or regular car diesel.
Lift-off is done vertically, as is landing: the latter is a matter of reducing thrust and descending slowly, says the company. No parachutes or special landing pads are required.
Pilots can fly for 12 minutes before returning to the ground.
The jet engines are controlled by a throttle on the right handle; once in the air, pilots can control speed, altitude and direction using both this and the control arms.
There’s an information display on each control arm, showing fuel level, engine rpm, exhaust gas temperature and battery level.
Mayman said: “We are the only makers of true personal VTOL JetPacks in the world. We can take off and land vertically unlike anything else out there.”
Matt Le Blanc has announced that he will be leaving Top Gear after the next series. As a result, speculation about his replacement is dialling itself to eleven. Every automotive YouTuber in the western hemisphere seems to have either been proposed on social media or volunteered themselves.
Presenting Top Gear must be like joining the Royal Family, only without the initial day of well-wishing and riding in cool cars and carriages. Whatever you do or say will be wrong in the eyes of someone with a mobile phone and an internet connection. You’re going to need a hide like a rhinoceros to suffer that for long.
Some people are questioning if three presenters are needed. We know from previous attempts that six presenters is too many. We also know that an odd number works for presenting, storytelling and challenges, as then you can have an overwhelming dissenting option. Three is the magic number, then. So yes, someone else is needed.
The chances are that BBC management will want a ‘name’ to front the show, someone recognisable on posters without needing an explanation. It’s also likely they’d prefer a lady to have a more prominent role than Sabine. I don’t think either of those attributes is vital, although a female presenter would help break comparisons with The Grand Tour.
Top Gear presenter tick-list
There are three things needed in any motoring television presenter, or we viewers will see right through them. Firstly, they need to like cars. This doesn’t mean simply owning a curated collection of fast cars, but liking cars from all eras and at all price points, to be able to enthuse equally over the merits of an MG Metro and a Koenigsegg Agera.
Secondly, a presenter needs to be believable. They need to have the ability to describe the workings of a vehicle without sounding like they’re merely repeating a script or technical press release. The need to have at least a basic understanding and appreciation of how stuff works.
Lastly, they need to be able to gel with the other presenters and be part of a team. If Top Gear doesn’t have that, it may as well return to being a “back to the studio” magazine programme on a Thursday evening.
It’s a shame that Matt is leaving, as the current iteration of Top Gear is settling down and finding its comfort zone, with the presenters gelling and joshing in a way that’s perfect for Sunday evening TV. I’m not going to propose who should replace him after the next series, but I’m pretty sure that whoever does won’t be anyone we’re expecting.
Alpine is broadening its A110 sports car line-up in Britain, following the five-day sell-out of the launch A110 Premiere Edition earlier this year.
With deliveries of the first Alpines set to begin this summer, the firm is launching two new variants, the A110 Pure and A110 Legende. And it’s the purist, focused A110 Pure that will be of interest to enthusiasts – because it takes the award-winning sports car’s entry price down to below £47k.
The A110 Pure is priced from £46,905, but it isn’t a stripped-out special. Standard equipment includes air con, sat nav, front and rear LED lights and Alpine’s smartphone-mirroring mySPIN system.
It also has a focus on reducing weight: it’s fitted with lighter 17-inch alloys, plus Sabelt monocoque seats that weigh just 13.1kg each. This takes the kerb weight down to a scant 1,098kg.
The A110 Legende, priced from £50,805, is more luxurious – it’s the Alpine tourer, says the firm. And it’s equipped to suit, with 18-inch alloys, six-way adjustable leather seats, Focal audio and park assist with rear camera. There’s more available on the options list, including Focal Premium audio, active sport exhaust and heated seats.
Alpine says the new A110 editions introduce new colours as well: Blanc Irise white, Blue Abysse and Gris Tonnerre grey. They join the car’s two launch colours, Alpine Blue and Noir Profond black.
And if forking out £47k is still a bit much for you, fear not. Alpine says it will be launching finance offers and maintenance packages from this summer as well.
Chargemaster is a key partner of TV star and electric vehicle evangelist Robert Llewellyn’s Fully Charged Live car show at Silverstone this weekend – and it is now offering an added incentive to visit: a £1,000 discount code to install workplace charging at your office.
Tech giant Harman has launched a 5G-ready car antenna that packages multiple units into one device and which can be mounted beneath car bodywork – solving the packaging headaches that have been worrying car designers.
A JetPack certified by the Federal Aviation Administration will fly for the first time in Europe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 – bringing a touch of James Bond glamour to the annual 
Matt Le Blanc has announced that he will be 
Alpine is broadening its A110 sports car line-up in Britain, following the five-day sell-out of the launch A110 Premiere Edition earlier this year.
