Owners of electric pickup trucks and SUVs made by Rivian can use a free software update to make their vehicles look spookier this Halloween.
The American EV manufacturer has become known for its seasonal software upgrades, but has pushed the idea even further for 2024.
A range of ‘Car Costumes’ can transform a Rivian into a movie-inspired vehicle. There are also a host of spooky surprises as drivers navigate through the various infotainment menus and functions.
At least your car’s costume is sorted
Using the Rivian mobile app, drivers can make their R1T or R1S replicate the legendary K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider.
This update sees the interior display replicate the diagnostics screens found inside K.I.T.T., while the exterior light bar shows a flowing red beam and makes the distinctive scanning sound effect.
Alternatively, Rivian owners can choose to mimic the DeLorean Time Machine from the Back to the Future movies. Sounds from the films and bespoke infotainment screens are included, along special exterior lighting effects.
Ready for camping on Halloween?
For those who want an even spookier interior, the ‘Haunted Rivian’ Car Costume creates ghostly effects inside the vehicle. A selection of colour themes can be chosen, with the digital screens showing static electricity and spectres.
On the driver’s display, pedestrians will resemble zombies, while motorcyclists look like headless horsemen. The Rivian can also make an owl chirp when locking or unlocking.
Rivian’s Camp Mode, used to ensure the R1T or R1S is level when fitted with a roof tent, comes with added crows, pumpkins and even green flames at night.
At present, Rivian’s electric pickup truck and SUV are only available in North America. However, the company plans to bring smaller models to Europe in the future.
As an emphatic statement of wealth, it’s hard to top a Rolls-Royce made from solid gold. But then Auric Goldfinger was never the modest or timid type.
It was 1964 when this evil mastermind scaled the Swiss Alps in his Phantom III Sedanca de Ville, pursued at a safe distance by Sean Connery as James Bond. Today, Rolls-Royce is marking Goldfinger‘s 60th anniversary with a unique Phantom inspired by its four-wheeled film star.
We arrive at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, where 007 meets his nemesis for the first time and challenges him to a game of golf.. Here we’ll see the new Phantom Goldfinger up close and meet its lead designer. Turns out all that glitters here really is gold after all…
Operation Grand Slam
Before we delve into the details, let’s briefly recap the movie plot. Auric Goldfinger has a cunning plan, codenamed Operation Grand Slam, to detonate a nuclear device inside Fort Knox. The explosion will make the $15 billion gold reserves of the United States radioactive for 58 years, increasing the value of his own gold ten-fold as a result.
The vintage Rolls-Royce, its body panels made of 18-carat gold, plays a key role in this nefarious scheme. It’s used to smuggle gold out of England to the Auric Enterprises smelting plant in Switzerland, where it will be melted down.
Driven by Goldfinger’s small-but-mighty henchman, Oddjob, the Phantom’s journey through the Swiss Alps concludes on the fabulous Furka Pass, where James Bond gives chase in his Aston Martin DB5.
When our hero and the villain come face-to-face, Goldfinger reveals his obsession: “This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life, I’ve been in love with its colour, its brilliance, its divine heaviness.”
And it was all yellow
The idea for a new Phantom Goldfinger came from within Rolls-Royce, rather than being a commission from one of its customers. As Nick Rhodes, lead designer in the Bespoke department, explains: “We approached EON Productions, which owns the Phantom III featured in the film, with a view to creating something special to mark the 60th anniversary.
“The original car was on display in Brussels, where we were able to examine it in detail. However, we didn’t want to simply create a copy. This Phantom is very much a modern interpretation.”
Somewhat disappointingly, the coachwork of this Phantom VIII isn’t moulded from solid gold. Nonetheless, Rhodes says getting the two-tone paintwork right was the most challenging part of the project. The yellow was carefully colour-matched to the 1937 Phantom, with a contrasting black to cover the car’s upper surfaces and 21-inch disc alloy wheels.
Rolls-Royce’s famous Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet mascot has also been treated to what Rhodes calls a “gold reveal” effect. “It isn’t possible to silver-plate gold, so we used solid silver and partially plated it with 18-carat gold”. Standing proud atop an illuminated ‘Parthenon’ grille, the result is truly a work of automotive art.
Always believe in your soul
Inside the Phantom Goldfinger, Rhodes and his team used the dashboard ‘gallery’ to reference the Furka Pass. A hand-drawn isoline map shows the contours and altitudes of the Swiss mountains. Made from stainless steel, its surface was darkened using a technique called physical vapour deposition. Lines were then engraved into the bright metal beneath.
Further surprise-and-delight features include sill tread plates that resemble gold bars, a gold finish on the air vents and ‘organ stops’, plus an analogue clock with a swirling design that evokes the classic ‘gun barrel’ sequence at the start of every Bond movie.
More riches await within a secret vault in the centre console, too: a stylised Phantom ‘Speedform’ sculpted from solid 18-carat gold. Even the Rolls-Royce’s chassis plate is made from the shiny stuff, with a specially obtained Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that ends in ‘007’.
Stand under my umbrella
Auric Goldfinger wouldn’t be sitting up front, though – that is Oddjob’s, er, job. And the Phantom feels even more opulent in the back, thanks to reclining ‘Serenity Seats’ with gold stitching and ‘RR’ monograms on the headrests.
The fold-out Royal Walnut picnic tables feature a map of Fort Knox, inlaid with 22-carat gold that has a thickness of just 0.1mm: ideal for planning Operation Grand Slam. Overhead, Rolls-Royce’s hand-made Starlight Headliner replicates the night sky above the Furka Pass on 11 July 1964 – the final day of Goldfinger filming in Switzerland – and bathes the cabin in the soft glow of 719 fibre optic gold stars.
Open the rear doors and you discover the hidden ‘harlequin’ umbrellas, finished in the same red, yellow, green and blue as those featured in the film. Inside the boot is a gold-plated golf putter, like that used by our favourite despot, along with a light that projects the ‘007’ logo onto the luggage floor – a nod to the tracking device that Bond hides on Goldfinger’s Phantom III.
Going for gold
The Phantom Goldfinger has already been sold (for an undisclosed price) and Nick Rhodes says its buyer was “over the moon” with their one-off Rolls-Royce. They did add a final touch, however: the ‘AU 1’ number plate worn by Auric Goldfinger’s car in the film. Keen chemists will note that ‘AU’ is the symbol for gold in the periodic table of elements.
As for making a getaway, the car is a mechanically standard Phantom VIII Series II, which means a 571hp 6.75-litre V12 beneath that stately bonnet, 0-62mph in around 5.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
Our review said: ‘Most owners will employ a driver, of course, but they’ll miss out on a beguiling experience’. Take note, Mr Goldfinger.
With a price tag of £124,950, the M5 is listed with specialist Surrey-based dealership, Romans International.
It represents one of the ultimate incarnations of BMW’s super saloon. Harris himself described the CS as “still the best road car I’ve driven”.
The ultimate driving machine
Revealed at the start of 2021, the CS model represented the peak of BMW’s efforts with the F90-generation M5.
It was the most powerful M-car ever made at the time, with a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 tuned to deliver 635hp. Extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) helped shave 70kg from the saloon’s weight versus the regular M5 Competition.
BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system was fitted as standard, along with an eight-speed ZF paddle-shift automatic transmission. The CS also had carbon-ceramic brakes and suspension lowered by 7mm.
A resulting kerb weight of 1,866kg allowed for a 0-62mph sprint in exactly 3.0 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 189mph.
A strictly four-seat saloon
Colour choices for the special-edition M5 CS were limited to Brands Hatch Grey (in both a metallic or ‘Frozen’ matt finish), along with the gorgeous Frozen Deep Green chosen by Chris Harris.
A set of 20-inch ‘Gold Bronze’ alloy wheels, along with exterior trim in a similar hue, marked the M5 CS out as the flagship of the BMW M range.
Its interior comes with four individual M Carbon bucket seats, all trimmed in a combination of black Merino leather and red Alcantara. An outline of the Nurburgring can be found on each of the four headrests.
All this led to a list price of more than £140,000. However, the M5 CS was sufficiently impressive to see Harris purchase one with his own money.
Star in a reasonably priced car
The Top Gear star and journalist owned the BMW for 15 months, adding 11,000 miles to its odometer during that period. Harris then sold the car through the Collecting Cars platform, even writing ‘I shouldn’t have sold it – part 2’ beneath the bonnet.
Given the extensive collection of cars owned and driven by Chris Harris over the years, this is quite an endorsement. Sold for £110,500 in August 2023, the M5 CS has since covered a further 3,000 miles.
It represents the chance to own one of the finest BMW M cars ever created – and with an interesting ownership story behind it, too.
British motorists have experienced a staggering rise in the cost of car ownership during the past 10 years, reveals new data from LeaseCar UK.
The research found that, compared to 2014, the first-year cost of owning a car in the UK has increased by 84 percent.
Despite the impact of the cost of living crisis, more than two thirds (69 percent) of Brits say vehicle ownership is vital to their lifestyle. However, the increasing costs can potentially put a strain on household finances.
Average price of a car increases
LeaseCar UK’s research considered the total cost of ownership following the first year of purchasing a new car outright.
The average total cost of the first year of vehicle ownership, when choosing one of the most popular cars on sale, now stands at £29,526.42. This is some £13,477.58 more than the average total figure of £16,048.42 paid a decade ago.
Average purchase prices for one of the most popular cars in the UK have risen by 88.9 percent between 2014 and 2024, too. It means the typical amount paid in cash for a car has nearly doubled, from £14,637 to £27,649.
Insurance and tax costs also up
Maintenance costs have also increased by 62.87 percent from £129 in 2014 to £210 this year. And car insurance premiums have jumped as well: now £622 instead of 2014’s average of £405.47.
Lastly, changes to VED (road tax) rates have resulted in drivers paying more. In 2014, the most popular car models had an average annual VED rate of £28. This has risen by an incredible 578.57 percent, now costing drivers a typical £190 per year.
Although fuel remains the second-largest component of the cost of car ownership, pump prices have risen by just 0.75 percent during the past 10 years. Filling up now adds £855.92, instead of £849.52, to the total cost of driving in the first year.
The choice of cars for those who prefer diesel power has declined at an alarming rate, according to new research.
A study undertaken by CarGurus has found the number of new diesel models available in the UK fell by 68 percent in less than a decade.
In 2015, UK buyers had the choice of 202 different diesel cars and SUVs from the top 30 manufacturers. In 2024, this has plummeted to only 65 vehicles.
This research also revealed that almost half (47 percent) of the 30 most popular car brands no longer offer a diesel in 2024.
The decline of diesel
The drop in new diesel sales stems partly from the push towards electrification, ahead of the anticipated ban on internal combustion cars from 2035.
An increase in low emission zones, such as the London ULEZ, along with the fallout from the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal, are likely to have hastened its decline.
This is highlighted by the fact that, in 2015, diesel engines accounted for 48.5 percent of the new car market. By comparison, the fuel took just 3.8 percent of market share during 2023.
As a result, sales of new diesel cars during 2023 came to just 71,501, compared to a total of 1,276,801 in 2015.
Demand is still there
In 2015, only Smart and Lexus did not include a diesel engine in their model range.
Today, there are 14 marques in the top 30 who have dropped diesels from their price lists, including major names such as Vauxhall, Nissan, Toyota and Fiat. Volkswagen, which offered 17 diesel-powered models in 2015, now has only five for sale.
Despite the scarcity of diesel cars on the new market, September 2024 demonstrated a surprising increase in the number of diesels sold to private buyers. Sales increased by 17.1 percent compared to the same month in 2023.
It seems that, even with the odds stacked against it, time may not be up for the diesel engine.
The latest project from Oxfordshire-based Theon Design has been revealed – and it promises to be the company’s ‘most exhilarating’ Porsche 911 restomod to date.
Based on the 964-generation 911, the Theon R features lightweight construction and a high-revving 4.0-litre flat-six engine.
Optimised for fast road use, with track day excursions also possible, the Theon R boasts a power-to-weight ratio even better than the latest Porsche 911 GT3.
Adam Hawley, co-founder of Theon Design, commented: “With the Theon R we’ve set out to create a car that honours Stuttgart’s most special, low-volume models – past and present.
“We looked to everything from the 911 S/T of the 1970s – the inspiration for the original Theon Design prototype – to the iconic 3.2 Carrera Clubsport, 964 RS Clubsport and 993 RS Clubsport, as well as the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 and modern-day GT3 and GT4 models.”
Extreme Porsche performance
Key to the Theon R’s sub-1,000kg kerb weight is the extensive use of Formula One-grade carbon fibre. All body panels are made from the lightweight material, which is also used to strengthen the chassis. Being based close to Silverstone, in the area known as ‘motorsport valley’, gives Theon Design ready access to carbon fibre expertise.
Behind the rear axle is a 4.0-litre flat-six that produces upwards of 500hp and revs to 9,000rpm. Air is inhaled through a Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 plenum, and exits via a lightweight Inconel exhaust system. The latter is said to sound like a 1970s Porsche 911 RSR racer.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, allowing the Theon R to accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.0 seconds, then reach 100mph just 3.5 seconds later.
Open up and say ‘R’
A new Motion Control suspension setup features race-proven adjustable dampers, with several settings to alter ride stiffness. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, tucked behind Minilite-style lightweight magnesium and carbon fibre wheels.
On the inside, single-piece racing seats emphasise the performance focus. Exposed carbon fibre is visible throughout, with leather trim to add a touch of luxury.
Production of the Theon R will be limited to 24 examples, with each car tailored to its owner and likely to take 18 months to complete. Prices start from £948,000, which includes VAT but not the cost of a donor Porsche 911.
A limited edition Morgan Plus Six will mark the end for the British marque’s classic roadster, ahead of an all-new flagship being launched next year.
The Plus Six Pinnacle is the last hurrah for a model that can trace its lineage back to 1968, when the original Morgan Plus 8 was introduced.
In 2019, Morgan replaced the Plus 8 with the Plus Six, which uses a BMW-sourced 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine.
When production finally ends in 2025, the Plus Six Pinnacle will be the final high-capacity Morgan sports car with a traditional wing silhouette.
The last of the line
Jonathan Wells, chief designer at Morgan Motor Company, said: “We spend a great deal of time gathering inspiration from countless sources and relish the opportunity to explore how these ideas can be applied to our cars. Being informed by our craftspeople, whilst experimenting with new materials and techniques, is what makes Morgan such a rewarding place to work.
“The Plus Six Pinnacle commemorates the end of the line for one of our most-beloved models. I believe it is a true reflection of the unique abilities and energy residing in the teams that have been responsible for it.”
The 30 Pinnacle editions will be offered with three special interior colourways: Fawn, Explore and Riviera, all developed with leather specialist Bridge of Weir. Morgan has a virtually unlimited exterior paint palette, too.
A unique, hand-finished style of leather stitching has been developed for the Pinnacle, which also has embroidered logos on its seat-backs.
Teak and sheepskin
The Plus Six Pinnacle uses teak wood interior trim, as seen on the Morgan Midsummer – a limited-run collaboration with Pininfarina launched earlier this year. The treatment includes a solid teak lower dashboard rail, plus a centre console with an aluminium Pinnacle logo.
Natural sheepskin carpets are used throughout, intended to complement the leather upholstery options and provide an enhanced sense of luxury.
A satin silver finish is used on the alloy wheels, exterior stone guard and dashboard. And the Pinnacle has a polished Le Mans-style fuel filler cap for good measure.
Morgan has left the BMW turbocharged straight-six engine unchanged, meaning 340hp and a brawny 369lb ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, mounted within Morgan’s CX-Generation bonded aluminium chassis.
Peak Morgan performance
As for the name, ‘Pinnacle’ is partially inspired by the rocky faces of the Malvern Hills, which overlook the Morgan factory and include a summit called Pinnacle Hill. Naturally, the Pinnacle represents a peak for the Plus Six as well.
Orders for the Plus Six Pinnacle can be placed with Morgan dealerships now, with the first deliveries planned for 2025.
UK prices start from £96,995, although you can expect to pay six figures after adding a few options from Morgan’s Bespoke personalisation department.
Cupra has revealed a new special offer, intended to encourage more drivers into electric car ownership.
Named ‘Love Me or Leave Me’, the scheme will allow drivers to return their new EV if they decide going electric doesn’t suit their lifestyle.
Buyers can make the decision after 80 to 100 days, handing back their electric Cupra whether it is on finance or purchased outright. The deposit will also be returned, subject to any damage or mileage excesses.
The scheme applies to qualifying vehicles ordered from current Cupra stock, including the sporty 326hp Born VZ.
Unplug and walk away
Marcus Gossen, director of Seat and Cupra UK, said: “It is safe to say that the new scheme is ground-breaking and will give many drivers who have considered an electric car the impetus to make the leap.”
Gossen added: “Cupra Born is already a compelling proposition, bringing performance, great range, sporty styling and an outstanding interior into one package that owners tell us they love. But if the experience doesn’t suit their lifestyle and a driver doesn’t gel with EV ownership, they can hand the keys back after three months.”
Cupra expects few cars will be returned, however. A survey by the company earlier this year found 94 percent of Cupra EV owners were pleased they had made the switch. And none said they would return to driving a petrol or diesel car.
Free chargers and cheap electricity
Cupra’s survey also found that only five percent of EV drivers were concerned about how charging would impact their day-to-day life.
To make the process easier, Cupra has entered a partnership with energy supplier OVO, which offers fixed-price home charging.
New Cupra owners can receive a free Ohme home charging device and 10,000 miles of free charging if they sign up to a ‘Charge Anytime’ tariff. After that, they will pay just 7p per kWh to plug in their EV at home.
Few things ruin your day quite like finding a yellow plastic envelope tucked under your car’s windscreen wiper. But don’t despair. There are many circumstances where you can appeal a parking ticket – and perhaps avoid paying the fine.
In the most recent set of statistics, the success rate for parking appeals across England and Wales was 64 percent. In London, which has its own separate tribunal, 51 percent of parking fines were overturned on appeal.
Read on for easy-to-follow tips to help you appeal if you think a parking ticket is unfair.
Reasons to appeal your parking ticket
If you have parked and not paid, or knowingly overstayed your welcome, then obviously the ticket issued is fair. Nonetheless, there are a number of situations where an appeal might be worthwhile. Details of where and how to appeal will be printed on the parking ticket, or on the letter you receive in the post.
Here are some of reasons you could legitimately appeal a parking fine:
Car broken down
If you’ve outstayed your parking period because your car has broken down, you should certainly appeal. Evidence will be needed, such as a recovery receipt, but the appeal should be successful.
Illness
If you pulled over spontaneously because you felt ill, it’s also worth appealing. Any evidence you can provide, such as emails from a doctor or receipts for purchase of medicine, will be helpful here.
Incorrect details
This is where reading the notice carefully can pay off. If the timings don’t match up, or the car number plate is incorrect, state your case. Again, evidence is always useful in an appeal, so keep your parking receipts in case a ticket arrives later via the post.
Unclear or incorrect signs
Signs that aren’t clearly worded or positioned somewhere obvious can be a cause for appeal. Photos will certainly help you here (you could always revisit the street or car park to gather evidence if needed).
Over-strictness
Council-run car parks operate a 10-minute grace period. If a parking warden has been over-eager, provided you can prove it, this is grounds for your fine to be cancelled.
Paid and not quite displayed
Finally, if you have paid, but haven’t displayed the ticket as well as you could have (perhaps it fell on the floor when you closed the car door), an appeal is also worth a shot. It may be declined, but nothing ventured…
In any case, it’s always worth establishing a dialogue with the authority that issued the parking ticket, by email or on the phone.
Appealing a private parking ticket
Private parking tickets, while they look official and often come with photo evidence, are not a fine. They are a breach of contract and can be challenged if you think you’re in the right. In our experience, private firms can also be more trigger-happy in sending out fines.
We’ve experienced fines for exceeding time limits when we haven’t, plus fines for being somewhere on an entirely different date. Always check the details on the ticket carefully.
There are also stories of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) systems penalising people for simply turning around in the entrance to a car park. In all cases, it is worth an appeal, following the process detailed on the ticket.
If the parking firm is part of a trade body, such as the British Parking Association, you can help yourself by going through its independent portal. If the company isn’t a part of an official body, write a letter detailing your claim for exemption.
Don’t worry if you don’t hear back: it’s a habit of private firms to go quiet if the case has been dropped. However, a cursory phone call or email a couple of weeks down the line just to confirm can’t hurt.
You could also appeal via the venue you visited. We successfully appealed a fine received at Morrisons via the supermarket itself, rather than the parking company. Time limits catch people out when they’re new or not clearly signposted.
Again, dialogue is key. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed. A call or email to explain the situation, and that you weren’t exploiting the parking provision, can go a long way.
Six new cars are in the running for the AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe award, which focuses on the top motors for real-world motorists.
The Citroen C3, Dacia Duster, Fiat Grande Panda, MG3, Renault Symbioz and Vauxhall Frontera are the contenders that 31 jurors from 31 countries – including the UK – will now be testing in detail.
Reviewing will culminate in a two-day Final Test event in Teesdorf, Austria, in late November.
The 2025 AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe will be announced in mid-December.
The aim of AUTOBEST, which was founded in 2021, is to discover Europe’s best buy new car.
Affordability for real-world motorists is a key criteria, with the entry-level versions of all contenders – including electric cars – required to cost less than £30,000.
A matrix of 13 criteria is used to decide the winner, looking at attributes including price, driving dynamics, versatility, design, new technologies and service network.
Last year’s winner was the BYD Dolphin, pipping the Fiat 600, Hyundai Kona and Jeep Avenger in an extraordinarily tight race.
Motoring journalist Richard Aucock represents the UK in AUTOBEST, with the total jury representing more than 90% of motorists across Europe.
Ahead of the AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe announcement, category winners will be announced for the ECOBEST, COMPANYBEST, MANBEST, DESIGNBEST, SAFETYBEST, SMARTBEST, SPORTBEST and TECHNOBEST awards.
