All Omoda vehicles come with one year of RAC cover as standard. However, servicing the car at an approved dealership can see this extended further.
The new agreement marks the first time a Chinese car manufacturer has entered into a partnership with the RAC motoring organisation.
Servicing unlocks roadside cover
The maximum roadside assistance period aligns with Omoda’s standard seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, offered on both the 5 and E5 SUV models.
To extend their RAC cover, owners need to ensure their vehicle is serviced by an Omoda or Jaecoo dealership, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. This will see cover automatically renewed for a further 12 months each time.
Should the Omoda be sold, the RAC breakdown cover can also be transferred to its new owner.
At present, there are 75 Omoda dealerships throughout the UK, with plans to increase this to 100 by the end of the year.
Earning the trust of consumers
Victor Zhang, executive vice president of Omoda UK said, “This partnership with the RAC is the latest pillar in our wider aftersales proposition. As a new entrant to the UK, we know we have to earn the trust of the UK consumer and the RAC’s reputation will help give customers peace of mind.
“We’re very confident in the quality and reliability of our cars, but partnering with the RAC means that if customers do find themselves in need, most will get help within an hour, and four out of five cars will be fixed on the spot.”
First founded in 2022, Omoda is a spin-off brand from the Chinese Chery marque. Initially focused on sales in Russia, Omoda entered the UK market earlier this year. The Omoda 5 makes use of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, while the E5 features a 150kW electric motor.
In addition to a seven-year warranty and seven years of breakdown cover, both Omoda models have received five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.
A road-legal version of the stunning Jaguar C-X75 concept has been completed by design and engineering consultancy, Callum.
Commissioned by an unnamed collector, the modified supercar hints at what might have been – had Jaguar put the C-X75 into production.
“C-X75 was ‘the one that got away’ – a car brimming with unfulfilled potential,” said Ian Callum, the British designer who shaped the original Jaguar show car.
“We’ve combined the customer’s wishes with carefully engineered solutions to bring C-X75 to the thoroughly satisfying conclusion it always deserved.”
High speed, low emissions
The Jaguar C-X75 was first unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, powered by two Bladon Jets diesel-powered micro gas turbines. These were connected to a hybrid powertrain, sending a total of 789hp to all four wheels.
After a rapturous reception, Jaguar quickly confirmed the concept would enter production. Some 250 examples were planned in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, albeit with the micro turbines swapped for a conventional petrol engine.
Despite this change, Jaguar aimed for CO2 emissions of less than 99g/km, plus a top speed in excess of 200mph.
Sadly, the effects of the global economic downturn saw Jaguar cancel plans for C-X75 production in 2012.
As seen on screen
However, the C-X75 did gain a starring role in 2015 James Bond film, Spectre, with a series of specially made stunt cars used on-screen.
Earlier this year, Callum transformed one of the four surviving C-X75 stunt cars into a road-legal vehicle. For this second customer C-X75, however, the revisions were even more in-depth.
Described as the ‘ultimate Jaguar C-X75 commission’, Car 001 has been comprehensively reworked to make it as close as possible to Ian Callum’s original vision.
This began with the fitment of a supercharged V8 engine, now combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Various driving modes can adjust the throttle response and gear shift speeds.
Acrive aero for more downforce
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Car 001’s transformation is the addition of a fully functioning active aerodynamics package. Above speeds of 37mph, the C-X75 will produce additional downforce to increase stability. There is even a pop-up airbrake to assist with high-speed stops.
Restoring the car’s bodywork took more than 1,000 hours. Its Willow Green paint contrasts with aluminium finishes for the window surrounds and filler cap. Carbon fibre is used for the rear diffuser.
Other new details include ‘C-X75’ emblems etched onto the exhaust tailpipes, along with tail lights that offer enhanced light diffusion.
Callum has kept the original 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels, but has wrapped them in modern Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. A hydraulic lift system for the front axle helps the low-slung Jaguar to clear speed humps.
From stunt car to sumptuous
On the inside, Callum’s work is even more evident. The raw, stunt car cabin has evolved into something far more practical and luxurious.
Dark green and cream are used throughout, intended to give a sophisticated ambience. “Sporting cars typically feature darker interiors, while comfort is often associated with lighter shades,” explains Callum’s head of design, Aleck Jones. “We wanted to fuse those elements in a dynamic way to reflect the dual nature of this car.”
The commissioning owner chose the seats for maximum comfort, then had them trimmed in Bridge of Weir leather. Callum milled the steering wheel from solid billet aluminium, also fitting three-point seat belts instead of racing harnesses.
Three rotary controllers protrude from the centre console, each with an integrated touchscreen. Air conditioning, keyless entry and a digital rear-view mirror have been installed by Callum, too.
A truly bespoke build
Other luxuries include a wireless charging pad for smartphones, along with Apple CarPlay connectivity for integrated infotainment. A bespoke sound system includes speakers behind Callum tartan-inspired covers.
The project demonstrates the incredible attention to detail required to create the second road-going C-X75. It also acts as a poignant reminder of what might have been, if only Jaguar had put its supercar into production.
“Through the re-engineering of this one-off supercar, along with the electrification and validation of a lightweight sports car, the limited production run of our own Callum Vanquish 25, as well as low volume interior design and manufacture programmes for cars such as the Prodrive P25, Callum is demonstrating its prowess at bringing a vision to an on-road reality,” said the company’s managing director, David Fairbairn.
The government’s Intellectual Property Office has launched a new campaign to warn drivers about the risks of buying counterfeit vehicle parts.
Using the slogan ‘Fake Always Breaks’, it aims to educate drivers about the dangers of cheaper imitation car parts, rather than replacing components with like-for-like original equipment.
The campaign is backed by the Independent Garage Association, Mercedes-Benz and the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit.
Ahead of the new campaign, a government survey found that one in six people (15 percent) admitted to purchasing a counterfeit item in the past 12 months.
OECD data suggests that fake vehicle parts imported to the UK are worth more than £1 billion a year. Car batteries accounted for a quarter of the fake car parts sold, followed by tyres and wheels (23 percent) and windscreen wipers (19 percent).
Equally concerning is the fact that 14 percent of motorists who purchased fake parts opted for a counterfeit airbag. And 12 percent admitted to buying knock-off brake components, too.
How to avoid counterfeit parts
The Fake Always Breaks campaign wants to educate motorists on how to identify counterfeit parts, giving the following advice:
Be wary of price – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is
Research the seller – if you are unfamiliar with the company selling the product, look at previous customer reviews and conduct some background research
Check the spec – fake parts are often ‘one size fits all’ and not made for your vehicle. This could be dangerous and cause irreversible damage
Look for proof – genuine parts will come with a certificate of Original Equipment. If there isn’t one, the component is likely to be a fake
Suspect it’s fake? Report it – it is illegal to sell counterfeits, and sellers should be reported to Crimestoppers.
Miles Rees, deputy director of enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, said: “Fake car parts are illegal to sell and are very dangerous for motorists and other road users.
“While they may look the same, they are often made from inferior materials and are not safety tested. This increases the risk of failure and can lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences – a risk not worth taking.”
A rare example of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, abandoned in a Los Angeles junkyard for decades, has sold for an staggering amount at auction.
With a final sale price of $9.355 million (£7.21 million), the 1956 ‘Gullwing’ far exceeded its already considerable pre-auction estimate of $4.5 to $6 million (£3.47 to £4.63 million).
The Mercedes was just one star of the RM Sotheby’s Rudi Klein Junkyard auction, which saw more than 200 special cars and rare parts go under the hammer.
One of just 29 produced
California-based Rudi Klein amassed a staggering collection of cars at his (deliberately misspelled) Porche Foreign Auto Wrecking yard in Los Angeles. After his death in 2001, Klein’s family left the junkyard untouched.
Designed as a semi-competition version of the glamorous Gullwing, just 29 examples of the lightweight alloy model were produced.
Acquired by Klein in 1976, this special Mercedes had been hidden away for many years before it was photographed for the RM Sotheby’s sale.
A record-breaking Iso Grifo
Throughout his life, Rudi Klein amassed an enormous number of unique cars, including the only convertible version of the Iso Grifo.
Displayed at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show, the open-top Grifo was later exported to the United States and registered for road use. Klein managed to purchase the car in 1980, and even drove it as his own personal vehicle before it disappeared behind the junkyard walls.
At the RM Sotheby’s sale, the Grifo Spider achieved a final auction price of $1.875 million (£1.45million) when the hammer fell: a record-breaking auction price for an Iso Grifo.
Time to get the T-Cut out…
Proving just how extensive the Rudi Klein collection was, the auction catalogue included no less than three Lamborghini Miuras.
All the cars managed to find new owners, but the aqua green 1968 Miura P400 pictured above achieved the highest price, selling for $1.325 million (£1.02million).
Although clearly in need of restoration, and wearing a non-original paint colour, being verified as the 159th of 275 examples made will have attracted collectors.
Other notable cars rescued from the junkyard included a 1935 Mercedes-Benz made for racing driver Rudolf Caracciola, plus a rare Porsche 356 coupe.
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.
