Motoring Break

Acura’s Starring Role In Marvel’s The Avengers

Editorial — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:11:24 +0000

Honda’s luxury brand, Acura, has joined forces with Marvel Entertainment, LLC, for this summer's most anticipated film, Marvel’s The Avengers, which is premiered in the UK this Friday. Following, the use of Acura models in Marvel’s 2011 film Thor, Acura is building on its established role as the official vehicle of S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping agency of the Marvel Universe, has a leading role in this film portrayal of the iconic comic book series. Throughout Marvel's The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents drive various Acura vehicles, including the MDX, ZDX and TL models; the completely redesigned 2013 RDX will make a cameo appearance. In addition, an Acura convertible sports car was created specifically for the film.

"Acura is developing an impressive second chapter as the official vehicle of the cutting-edge S.H.I.E.L.D. organisation, enabling us to reinforce Acura's brand philosophy of innovation and advancement, and leverage excitement for the new ILX, RDX and NSX supercar concep... Read more..

Added Intensity For New 360PS Audi TT RS Plus

Editorial — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:50:37 +0000

New TT RS plus Coupe and Roadster models combine even more power and torque with an enhanced specification

TT RS plus Coupe and Roadster join UK range in addition to existing TT RS models Available with manual or S tronic twin-clutch transmissions priced from £48,945 OTR to £52,265 OTR (£3,085 premium over TT RS) Ordering possible from early May, first UK deliveries in the summer Power boosted by 20PS to 360PS, torque up by 15Nm to 465Nm Top speed increased from 155mph to 174mph, Coupe 0-62mph down to 4.1 seconds with S tronic transmission (from 4.3), combined MPG 33.2 Additional equipment, including sports exhaust system

Audi has just loosened the leash on the already extreme TT RS to create the new TT RS plus, an even more focused version of the high performance sports car with a new, autobahn-devouring 174mph top speed, increases in power and torque to 360PS and 465Nm and an equipment upgrade. The new RS plus duo joins the UK range... Read more..

Renault UK Aims High On Pirelli International Rally

Editorial — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:11:14 +0000

Northern Ireland’s Mark Donnelly and Welsh co-driver Dai Roberts lead Renault UK’s assault on the MSA British Manufacturers Rally Championship on this weekend’s Pirelli International Rally.

Undeterred after a high speed crash in Wales and after a huge effort by his team to repair the car, the youngster will pilot his 250HP Clio Renaultsport R3 in an attempt to emulate his stunning first round victory on February’s Rallye Sunseeker International. However, Renault’s second position in the manufacturers’ tables is not just down to one driver, as the top two cars from each of the registered marques score on every event.

It was Cumbria’s Peter Taylor, accompanied by Newcastle’s Andrew Roughead, who bagged top Renault UK points in Wales, having ably assisted Donnelly to put Renault atop the tables in Bournemouth. The affable 20 year-old should arguably arrive at the Carlisle start most refreshed, living just ten miles from the Carlisle Racecourse rally HQ.

Nick Allen could argue that he has travelled the furthest to contest the infamous Kielder Forest stages, although it has been several mon... Read more..

Off-Track Attractions Set To Wow The Crowds At Donington Historic Festival

Editorial — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:05:32 +0000

As well as housing over 300 iconic historic racing cars in between their periods of action out on the track, the paddock at the Donington Historic Festival, 5th and 6th May 2012, will be home to fascinating individual displays of special vehicles, including some outstanding cars from two forthcoming Bonhams sales.

There are three lots from Bonhams’ June 29th Goodwood sale, including one of the most famous pre-War British competition cars: the 1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Racing Single-Seater in which ‘Tim’ Birkin shattered the Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record in 1931. There is also the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C formerly owned by Le Patron Ettore Bugatti, and which may have been presented to him as a birthday present from the workers in his factory. And the 1956 Lotus-Climax Eleven Le Mans Sports-Racing Two-Seater is one of the Glasius Collection cars, an extremely rare and immensely desirable Team Lotus works Le Mans veteran.

Bonhams is also displaying a car from its May 19th Aston Martin sale. The 1991 DB4GT Zagato Sanction II Coupé on show in the Donington Historic Festival paddock is the last... Read more..

New Continental GT V8 Makes Debut In China

Editorial — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:41:39 +0000

The new Bentley Continental GT V8 coupe will make its official public debut at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

The new 4.0 litre, twin turbocharged Continental GT V8, and its convertible counterpart the Continental GTC V8, achieve exceptional standards for power-to-emissions in the high luxury sports car sector.

This remarkable, new Bentley V8 engine delivers maximum power of 500 bhp (507 PS / 373 Kw) at 6000 rev/min and an extraordinary peak torque of 660 Nm (487 lb ft) which is available across virtually the entire rev range from 1700 to 5000 rev/min, providing exhilarating performance and effortless power delivery in the Bentley t... Read more..

Ghost Six Senses Concept Elevates The Spirit Of Ecstasy To A New Level Of Sensory Indulgence

Editorial — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:07:56 +0000

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents the Ghost Six Senses concept, a highly-bespoke luxury model that encapsulates the richness of experience that comes as standard with any Rolls-Royce and takes it to a new level of sensory indulgence.

Approaching this luxurious Rolls-Royce and opening its coach doors immediately ignites the senses for sight, taste, touch, sound and aroma. And the sense of surprise and delight continues as guests encounter the lavish use of soft, sumptuous leathers, finest veneer detailing and special bespoke enhancements.

“The Ghost Six Senses concept is a luxurious environment designed for the most discerning of individuals,” commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO. “It delights the senses and draws you into somewhere that transcends the interior of a car. Relax for a few moments and you will experience something that is hard to define, but which our customers understand so well.

“It can be likened to an aura, a sense that the stunning hand-made interior embodies something of the heart and soul of each proud craftsperson involved in its creat... Read more..

Jaguar Land Rover Introduces Bespoke Engineering Division

Editorial — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:30:23 +0000

Yesterday at the Beijing Auto Show, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) showcased the Jaguar XJ Ultimate, a car developed by the company's specialist ETO division. The division is responsible for extending the Jaguar and Land Rover brands with a series of 'special edition' models as well as a range of personalisation options allowing owners to tailor their cars.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover explained: "The specialist ETO division is the next step in the evolution of JLR as a fully-integrated premium automotive business. It is an extension to JLR's world class engineering capability and further proof of JLR's passion to meet customers' demands."

Following the recent success of two earlier ETO-built cars – the limited edition Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate and the 300km/h (186mph) XKR-S, the fastest and most powerful production sports car Jaguar has ever built – the ETO division is now focussing on further expanding the company's product offering.

Initially, as well as handcrafting the... Read more..

BMW I8 Concept Spyder With BMW eDrive In Beijing

Editorial — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:38:16 +0000

The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is celebrating its world premiere at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing (23 April – 2 May 2012) and the rear-end of the car clearly bears the eDrive emblem for the new technology. In future, the designation eDrive will identify the drive technology for all electric and plug-in hybrid cars from BMW i.

BMW eDrive comprises the components of the electric drivetrain: the electric motor developed in-house by BMW, the lithium-ion battery, and finally the intelligent motor management system. This technology ensures that electromobility with BMW eDrive offers a unique experience. This is because the full torque of the electric motor is available from a standing start and the acceleration unfolds continuously in thoroughbred electric vehicles until the top speed is attained. Vehicles with BMW eDrive technology are therefore extremely agile and offer enormous driving pleasure. The lithium-ion battery cells and the intelligent motor management system also offer a substantial increase in range and power for the vehicle.

The future will see BMW eDrive technology empowering all electric drives – electric and plu... Read more..

Porsche Cayenne GTS To Celebrate Its World Premiere At Auto China In Beijing

Editorial — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:02:30 +0000

Porsche will celebrate the world premiere of the new Cayenne GTS and present the new generation of the Boxster for the first time in Asia during Auto China in Beijing, which holds its Press Day on April 23.

The GTS builds on the Cayenne model’s reputation as the most sporting SUV, offering a more powerful 420 hp engine, increased dynamic power development and a tauter chassis with 24mm lower ride height and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard. The Cayenne GTS goes on sale in the UK in July, priced from £67,147.

China represents the fastest growing export market for Porsche and is the second largest after the USA and ahead of the domestic German market. The sports car manufacturer sold more than 24,000 vehicles in China last year, an increase of 65 per cent compared with 2010 and a new record for the company. Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, said: “Porsche is therefore the market leader for sports cars in China. From the establishment of our subsidiary in 2008 up to today, we have sold 8,831 sports cars of the 911, Boxster and Cayman models in China. Last year w... Read more..

The New BMW M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition

Editorial — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:24:52 +0000

An award winning high performance car available to just 100 UK customers

The new BMW M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition features BMW’s class-leading 420hp V8 engine with power transferred to the road via the standard seven-speed M DCT transmission and variable M differential. The car comes with a 10mm lowered suspension featuring a three-stage Electronic Damper Control, 19-inch light alloy wheels and a revised DSC+ system.

But it is the bespoke combination of Frozen Silver metallic paint, not seen before on any BMW, matt black alloy wheels, Dark Chrome exhaust, side gills and kidney surrounds, and Jet Black bonnet intakes that set the car apart. A High-gloss S... Read more..