Away from the racing, this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix will also witness the public debut of a new Mercedes-AMG concept car.
Based on the Mercedes-AMG SL roadster, the PureSpeed reveals how the first model in the company’s new bespoke ‘Mythos’ range will look.
With obvious design inspiration from contemporary Formula 1 cars, plus a nod to Mercedes-Benz racing cars of the past, the PureSpeed certainly stands out.
A special floating pontoon in Monaco harbour was used to reveal the concept car, with help from Mercedes-AMG F1 drivers Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
A true Halo model
Instead of a traditional windscreen, the PureSpeed concept features a ‘Halo’ device like that found on a Formula one car. There are no side windows either, but the car’s two occupants can choose to wear aerodynamically optimised crash helmets.
This is not the first roadgoing Mercedes to use a Halo device, however. Dutch entrepreneur Ronald Bussink previously created the Mercedes-AMG GT R-based Speedlegend.
The PureSpeed also shares design features with the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, such as its gaping front air vents and other aerodynamic addenda.
Flying buttresses behind the cockpit are intended to pay homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, used by Sir Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson to win the Mille Miglia in 1955.
For the most important customers
The red and black livery is more than just an eye-catching colour scheme, too. It pays tribute to the Mercedes Tipo that was driven to victory in the 1924 Targa Florio by Christian Werner.
Although billed as a concept car, the PureSpeed will lead to a limited-edition supercar, which is set to enter production next year.
Exactly what engine is beneath the PureSpeed’s long bonnet has yet to be announced, although we know it has a V8. There is also no word on a price, even if that is unlikely to be a concern for the car’s 250 specially selected customers.
More bespoke vehicles are planned for the Mercedes Mythos programme, so it will be fascinating to see what comes next. A continuation 300SL ‘Gullwing’, perhaps? Here’s hoping…
Self-driving vehicles could be on UK roads from 2026 after new bill became law this week. According to the government, the Automated Vehicles Act enables ‘advanced technology’ to ‘safely drive on Britain’s roads’.
Autonomous cars and vans could be allowed onto roads if they ‘achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers’, said the Department for Transport.
Crucially the new legislation means that, when a vehicle is in a self-driving mode, the driver will not be held responsible for how it responds. For the first time, companies such as insurance providers, software developers and car manufacturers will bear the legal culpability, with the person behind the wheel deemed not a ‘driver’ but a ‘user-in-charge.’
‘A boost to safety and the economy’
The impact this will have on insurance premiums – which have recently grown year-on-year and can be prohibitively expensive for new and inexperienced drivers – has yet to be seen.
Additionally, the government said vehicle approvals will be supported by a ‘completely independent incident investigation function’. This will ‘promote the same culture of learning and continuous improvement that has made our aviation industry one of the safest in the world’. Companies will have ongoing obligations to keep their vehicles safe and ensure that they continue to drive in accordance with British laws.
Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper said: “While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026 in a real boost to both safety and our economy”.
Drivers ‘scared’ by autonomous cars
The government speculated that introducing self-driving vehicles could improve road safety. It says driver error accounts for 88 percent of car accidents, and that injuries and deaths caused by drink-driving, speeding, tiredness and inattention could be ‘drastically reduced’.
Motoring organisation the RAC welcomed the announcement, but cautioned there is plenty of work to be done to get drivers behind the plans.
“RAC research conducted last year showed 58 percent of drivers are scared by the idea of fully autonomous vehicles and just 15 percent think they’ll make the roads safer, so there needs to be a real culture change if we’re to see the public fully embrace them,” said RAC spokesperson on road safety, Simon Williams.
McLaren will pay tribute to Formula One legend Ayrton Senna with a unique racing livery for the Monaco Grand Prix – along with a one-off Senna supercar.
Ayrton Senna was the British team’s most successful driver, claiming 35 of his 41 Grand Prix victories in a McLaren. Tragically, he was killed 30 years ago in 1994, when his car struck a concrete barrier at the Imola circuit in Italy.
Finished in the vivid yellow, green and blue colours of Senna’s crash helmet – and his native Brazilian flag – the MCL38 F1 cars will race at Monaco this Sunday, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The matching McLaren Senna will also be on show in Monaco throughout the weekend.
McLaren in Monaco
One of the greatest drivers of all time, the memory of Ayrton Senna still looms large at McLaren. Several of his F1 cars, including the MP4/4 he raced at Monaco in 1988, have been lovingly restored at the team’s heritage workshop in Woking – where many of the trophies he won are also proudly on display.
The distinctive ‘Senna Sempre’ livery has no effect on the MCL38’s performance, and McLaren will doubtless hope for a repeat of its Miami Grand Prix success, where Lando Norris claimed his first F1 win.
The McLaren Racing team will wear a new kit in matching colours, too. You can watch the race at 14:00 (UK time) on Sunday 26 May.
An Ultimate Series supercar
This isn’t the first time McLaren has been inspired by Ayrton Senna, of course. In 2018, the company named a car after the late F1 driver: the McLaren Senna – part of the ‘Ultimate Series’ of supercars that also includes the P1, Speedtail, Elva and Solus GT.
Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the Senna memorably boasted 800hp, 800Nm of torque (590lb ft) and 800kg of downforce (at 155mph). With a kerb weight of just 1,198kg – making it the lightest McLaren since the original F1 – it could hit 62mph in 2.8 seconds and reach 211mph.
Pulling the covers off the car pictured here, Bruno Senna (racing driver, McLaren ambassador and Ayrton’s nephew) said: “I first saw it as a clay model. They told me this was supposed to be the most extreme road-legal McLaren ever built. Like Ayrton, it was totally dedicated and uncompromising. I said: ‘Why don’t we call it the Senna?'”.
Modified by MSO
The task of customising the Senna was taken on by Woking’s in-house McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division. Its carbon fibre bodywork was painted entirely by hand, including a newly developed ‘wash’ technique, particularly visible on the car’s nose, that allows paints to blend without creating additional colours.
Each of the flanks features a distinct image of Ayrton Senna in a dot matrix style, with his ‘double S’ logo on the front clamshell and a curvaceous ‘Senna’ script on the enormous rear wing.
Inside, the seats are trimmed in vibrant yellow Alcantara with green perforations. A quote from Ayrton – also found inside the cockpit of the F1 car – is stitched into the door panel: ‘I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence’.
‘Celebrating Ayrton Senna’
Nobody could call the Senna beautiful, but the MSO makeover is certain to turn heads – even in supercar-saturated Monaco. “We seen examples of the McLaren Senna in Brazilian colours before,” said Bruno Senna, “but this car is unique. It’s been a long time in the making.”
Speaking about the project, McLaren CEO Michael Leiters added: “Ayrton Senna was born to race, and his passion for performance and perfection lives on at McLaren. The McLaren Senna bears his name and embodies his spirit – it is the ultimate road-going McLaren for focused track performance, and this masterfully detailed inspiration captures Ayrton’s infectious energy.”
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, also commented: “The team is proud to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary life and racing legacy of Ayrton Senna through this McLaren livery. Senna remains revered and respected as Formula 1’s greatest icon, and McLaren’s most decorated driver.”
Memories of a McLaren
Only 500 examples of the Senna were made, plus a smaller number of track-only GTR and LM models. This particular car is a pre-production prototype and part of McLaren’s extensive heritage collection. It was also present at the media launch in Portugal.
Motoring Research’s Richard Aucock recalls that trip to Estoril well, describing the Senna at the time as ‘the best car I’ve ever driven’. Let’s conclude with a snippet from his 2018 review:
‘Remember Senna at Donington in 1993, when he tore through the field on the first lap, then ran rings around them for the rest of the race? I was there. I went to school the next day with a similar feeling. Senna’s dominance that day was like my experience of the Senna. Does it live up to the name? Without doubt. This McLaren is Senna.’
The Callum Skye, the first vehicle developed fully in-house by Ian Callum’s eponymous design consultancy, will make its public debut this week at Concours on Savile Row.
The electric Skye is intended to ‘offer a rewarding driving experience both off- and on-road’ and aimed at ‘discerning adventurers’. Its goal is to travel well beyond the genteel streets of Mayfair.
Revealed online last year, this is a first opportunity to see the Skye in the metal. The compact 4×4 is powered by a 42kWh battery with an anticipated range of 170 miles. An optional ultra-fast charging battery can offer a full top-up in less than 10 minutes.
Skye’s the limit
The Skye itself is rather rapid, too. Callum says it can hit 60mph from a standstill in less than 4.0 seconds, partly thanks to a kerb weight of just 1,150kg.
Order books for the ‘exclusive low-volume production run’ are open now, with prices starting from £80,000. Both on- and off-road variants will be offered, with further information on exact specifications due later this year.
Ian Callum is one of the most celebrated car designers of the modern era. He began his career at Ford before progressing to become Jaguar’s director of design in 1999 – a position he held for 20 years.
Highlights from his career thus far include the Aston Martin DB7, Ford Puma (the original Fiesta-based coupe), Jaguar XF and Jaguar C-X75 hypercar.
Building on Callum’s legacy
Callum the company turns five years old next month. Its first project was to remaster another of its founder’s classic designs – realised as the Aston Martin Vanquish 25 by Callum.
The Vanquish was a British alternative to a high-end restomod Porsche 911. Just 25 examples were made at a cost of £350,000, plus a donor car.
You can ee the Callum Skye at Concours on Savile Row, London, from 22-23 May 2024. The event is free to attend, with no tickets required.
McLaren has become the latest car manufacturer to hop onto two wheels, launching a pair of new mountain bikes.
The Extreme and Sport electric mountain bikes are said to ‘deliver McLaren design DNA and performance’, with input from the company’s Woking-based designers.
They see McLaren join the likes of Audi, Porsche and Lotus by offering an electrically assisted mountain bike.
McLaren carbon construction
The new Extreme and Sport mountain bikes are designed by the same team responsible for creating McLaren cars, including the latest plug-in hybrid Artura.
Both electric bikes use a lightweight carbon fibre frame, just like their supercar siblings. Naturally, this aids their power-to-weight ratio when the electric motor is engaged.
Customers have a choice of two powertrains, with outputs of 250W or 600W. The latter generates a substantial 119lb ft (161Nm) of torque.
Four levels of power assistance are available, with riders able to choose between Eco, Trail, Sport and Race modes, depending on the conditions (and how tired their legs are, presumably).
Engage Race mode
With the 600W bike, engaging Race mode results in a peak power output of 852W, plus the ability to reach a top speed of 20mph.
This makes the McLaren one of the most powerful street-legal mountain bikes in the world. Don’t tell the Deliveroo and Uber Eats riders…
The McLaren Sport comes with a hardtail frame, while the Extreme uses a full suspension setup. Pirelli tyres are fitted to both versions.
Big power, big prices
A full-colour LCD screen is fitted to both the Sport and Extreme mountain bikes. This can show speed, battery charge and the remaining range, along with the choice of power mode.
McLaren only intends to produce bicycles in limited numbers, with those interested able to purchase through a dedicated website. Prices for the Sport 250 model start at £7,200, while the Extreme 250 costs from £9,600.
Sadly, McLaren says the 600W version will only be available to purchase in the United States.
A special edition of the rugged Ineos Grenadier 4×4 has been announced, set to go on sale later this year. The Grenadier 1924 celebrates the 100th anniversary of British clothing brand, Belstaff.
Since the Grenadier was first launched, Ineos and Belstaff have collaborated on trim levels that are based on the latter company’s distinctive outdoor jackets.
The new 1924 edition will sit above the current range-topping Fieldmaster, and be limited to only 1,924 examples.
Mushrooms and ink
The 1924 edition comes in the contrasting colour combination of Magic Mushroom and Inky Black. It rides on 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, along with a stealthy de-chromed front grille and functional front and rear skid plates in dark grey.
On the inside, there is a dark green finish on the dashboard, overhead console and door cards. Black saddle leather is used for the steering wheel and passenger grab handle, with a dark grey headlining to complete the look.
Each Grenadier 1924 will wear a numbered exterior badge, along with bespoke Belstaff centenary branding.
See it in Stoke-on-Trent
The Grenadier 1924 edition makes its public debut at a special event in Stoke-on-Trent between 24 and 28 May 2024. Taking place where Belstaff was founded, the new vehicle will just be one attraction amongst a weekend of activities.
Ineos hasn’t yet confirmed prices for the 1924 edition, but expect a premium over the £76,000 charged for its current Grenadier Fieldmaster flagship.
Those interested can register their interest in securing the limited-run 4×4 now. Global orders will open from 26 June 2024.
The RAC has claimed petrol stations are profiteering from fuel sales in its latest clash with the fuel industry.
The breakdown organisation said margins made by sellers on diesel have been higher than 15 pence per litre since 22 April 2024, and increased last week to 18p. It added that the margin on petrol is now nearly 12p a litre – and has averaged 10p so far this year.
According to the RAC, the average price of petrol currently stands at 150p per litre, while diesel is at 157p. If margins were reduced, it said petrol and diesel prices at the pump could decrease by 10p per litre. Wholesale oil prices have dropped by $7 (around £5.50) per barrel in the last seven days.
The government has proposed introducing a mandatory Pump Watch tracking scheme and the roll-out of a price-monitoring body. However, in a letter sent to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho earlier this week, the RAC warned that such an organisation must ‘have teeth’ and ‘hold retailers to account’.
“It’s very concerning to see fuel margins at such high levels, particularly as this is happening under the close eye of the Competition and Markets Authority and while retailers are voluntarily sharing their forecourt prices with the intention of increasing competition,” said Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesperson.
“If the work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the CMA has had any effect to date on improving fuel price transparency, we ought to see prices at the pumps reduce significantly in the next week due to a sustained drop in the cost of oil. Sadly, we fear retailers are likely to need a little more encouragement before this happens.”
RAC versus the fuel industry
This is not the first time the RAC has hit out against the fuel industry. Earlier this month, it called on the government to intervene to help lower prices and accused retailers of having ‘unfair margins’.
Responding to that claim, the boss of the fuel retailer lobby group said fuel stations are “operating on razor-thin margins” and are doing “all they can to keep prices low for their customers”.
Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, also took a veiled swipe at the RAC: “It is disappointing that we are constantly having to devote time and resources to correcting the inaccurate narrative offered by some commentators about pump price increases. We are doing all we can through the appropriate policy channels to address this issue, while others would prefer to offer criticism without taking the time to understand how the industry works.”
At this rate, neither organisation will end up on the other’s Christmas card list.
“We’ve been clear that retailers must pass fuel savings to drivers – and that’s why we are making sure there is no place to hide for anyone found to be unfairly hiking up their pump prices,” a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told Motoring Research.
“Our new Pumpwatch scheme will help drivers find the best deal at the pump, by making real-time price sharing mandatory. We’re also taking action to bring competition back to the forecourts with new powers for the CMA to shine a light on any attempt to overcharge UK drivers.”
How to find the cheapest fuel
Tracking down the cheapest fuel locally can save a considerable amount of money. Although a discount of a few pence per litre doesn’t sound like much, every little helps – as one big retailer would say – especially in the long-run.
It is relatively easy to find and compare real-time prices, with a number of price comparison websites offering advice. Petrolprices.com reckons it can save the average motorist £240 over the course of a year. You can enter a postcode and the filling stations appear on a map within a radius around your chosen start point. There’s also a free mobile app.
Meanwhile, if you’re in a new car with internet connectivity via the infotainment system, your route to the cheapest fuel in your area could be very swift, with many cars now accessing online databases of the cheapest fuel stations.
Finally, as well as showing user-based contributions for speed camera positions and accidents, the Waze navigation app displays fuel stations and current prices.
First details of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT have been revealed, ahead of the new car making its debut next month.
With a mighty 782hp from an uprated 4.0-litre V8 engine and a single electric motor, the Continental GT will be the most powerful Bentley in the marque’s 105-year history – outgunning even the limited-run 750hp Batur Convertible.
Zero to 62mph will likely be even quicker than the 3.5 seconds posted by the outgoing Continental GT Speed, with a top speed beyond 200mph.
The plug-in hybrid tech also provides an electric-only range of 50 miles, plus an official CO2 figure of less than 50g/km.
The car that redefined Bentley
Bentley says the new Continental GT’s chassis includes active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, an electronic limited slip differential, 48V active anti-roll control and dual-valve dampers.
Although the car in these photos is disguised, its styling has clearly been influenced by the carbon-bodied Batur, with elongated headlights and very muscular haunches.
Launched 22 years ago, the original Continental GT ‘started the rebirth of Bentley’ and was said to ‘redefine’ the company for the modern era. Within four years of it reaching showrooms, the brand’s sales had increased to more than 10,000 units a year.
Today, one in three Bentleys sold is a Continental GT and it is the second most popular model overall – after the Bentayga SUV.
Come back to Motoring Research for a review of the new Bentley Continental GT later this summer.
The latest model in the Renault range to gain a sportier Alpine derivative has been revealed.
Following on from the updated Clio supermini, the new Renault Rafale E-Tech 4×4 has received the Alpine treatment, with styling enhancements and bespoke chassis tuning.
The family-sized SUV coupe promises 300hp, combined with the ability to cover up to 621 miles without filling up – thanks to its plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Plug-in performance
The Rafale E-Tech 4×4 makes use of the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine as a host of other Renault models. Delivering 150hp by itself, here it joins forces with three electric motors to produce a total output of 300hp.
Adding a motor to the rear axle also results in an electrified all-wheel-drive layout. This can see the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 sprint from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, and accelerate from 50-70mph in just 4.0 seconds.
The all-wheel-drive system can shift up to 100 percent of torque between the front and rear axles as required. A 22kWh lithium-ion battery allows the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 to cover up to 62 miles on electric power alone. Charging via a standard domestic wallbox takes just three hours.
Alpine-tuned handling
Alpine’s involvement in the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 has focused on enhancing suspension settings for the range-topping version of this SUV coupe.
‘Atelier Alpine’ models feature self-adjusting active suspension, along with bespoke springs and dampers. A windscreen-mounted camera is used to continuously adjust the suspension stiffness to suit the road ahead.
Drivers can also select a number of distinct driving modes using a special Chassis Control menu. This alters the damping levels, and how much the rear-wheel steering intervenes to aid agility.
Satin Summit Blue paintwork is available for the Atelier Alpine model, complemented by 21-inch alloy wheels and a Starry Black rear spoiler.
A new flagship Rafale
On the inside, the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 comes with sports seats finished in Alcantara, with the same material also covering the steering wheel.
A full-length panoramic sunroof is fitted as standard, as are a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch central touchscreen.
UK prices for the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 will be announced in June. However, the car will sit above the existing Austral SUV and Arkana SUV coupe in the Renault range. First deliveries of the 300hp Rafale are expected in the autumn.
A pair of special edition Alfa Romeo models have been announced, celebrating the Italian marque’s motorsport heritage.
Based on the high performance Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the Super Sport limited editions pay homage to Alfa Romeo’s victory at the 1928 Mille Miglia.
That year saw the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 cover the exhausting 1,007-mile course, with Giuseppe Campari and Giulio Ramponi taking a dominant win.
A number of design tweaks, both inside and out, will mark out Super Sport models from the regular Quadrifoglio.
Badge engineering
The most significant changes for the Super Sport duo come from Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stilo design department.
For the first time in 100 years, the famous Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) has been modified. Its traditional white background is replaced with black for the Super Sport, said to give ‘more boldness and solidity’ to the badge.
Super Sport buyers can choose from triple-coat Etna Red or metallic Vulcano Black paint, with the Giulia saloon also available in Alfa White. Carbon fibre trim is found on the door mirrors and front grille.
Black ‘Teledial’ wheels are fitted as standard, with 19-inch items on the Giulia and 21-inch rims on the Stelvio SUV.
Crimson and clover
Alfa Romeo has left the 2.9-litre V6 powering the Stelvio and Giulia Quadrifoglio unaltered. However, this still means a very respectable 520hp, combined with a mechanical limited-slip differential. An Akrapovic performance exhaust is fitted, too.
The interior benefits from generous helpings of red-tinted carbon fibre trim, which is applied to the dashboard, centre console and door cards.
Red Alfa Romeo and Super Sport logos are stitched into the front headrests, along with recognition of the cars’ limited-edition status. A combination of leather and Alcantara (synthetic suede) is used for the steering wheel.
Time is running out
Alfa Romeo plans to build just 275 examples of the Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport. Numbers for the Stelvio are limited to 175 units.
UK prices for the Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport will start from £82,815, while the Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport costs from £91,835.
As Alfa Romeo pivots increasingly towards electrification, the Super Sport models will likely be one of the final opportunities to own a V6-powered Quadrifoglio. Grab one while you can…
