This year marked the 60th anniversary of the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel, California. To celebrate the occasion, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars developed a bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupé at the company’s Goodwood manufacturing plant, UK. The car was unveiled at the event by Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös and Chief Designer Ian Cameron, and was sold within minutes.

The car is painted in a one-off Bespoke exterior colour called Stillwater Blue as a tribute to Stillwater Cove on the Monterey Peninsula. It also features a navy blue soft top lined with cashmere and is upholstered in a Crème Light leather interior. Interior wood fittings are composed of a striking cross-banded Santos Pallisander veneer contrasted with a silver pinstripe inlay.

Hand-crafted oiled teak decking is used for the roof tonneau and also in the luggage compartment flooring. A fully fitted champagne service set with crystal flutes complements the teak covered picnic deck, while a refrigerated cabinet is concealed beneath the luggage compartment floor.

Further Bespoke cues include an enamelled plaque on the dash, Concours logos on the tread plates and embroidery on each seat.

Source: Rolls-Royce

aydon, August 20 2010. Jaguar Land Rover is today revealed as the official club sponsor of Coventry Rugby Football Club for the 2010/2011 season. The announcement came during a ceremony at the Butts Park Arena, home to the club since 2004.

This sponsorship agreement will see Jaguar Land Rover further extend strong community ties with the city where it employs some 2000 people and has a dedicated Education Partnership Centre which annually supports over 7,000 school children.

Speaking at the launch today, Les Ratcliffe, Jaguar Land Rover Community Relations Manager said: “Today, Jaguar Land Rover, two of the world’s most iconic automotive brands, work side by side in the development of strong and lasting community partnerships which positively impact upon the local communities in which we operate. Jaguar has a very rich and well documented link to Coventry and has produced some of its most beautiful sports cars in the City. This new and exciting partnership with Coventry Rugby Club will provide a platform for us to further extend the work we are doing with local schools, sports and community groups.”

Source: Jaguar

As part of this deal Jaguar Land Rover will be engaging with the rugby club in the development of a number of new and inspiring initiatives, including the Jaguar Land Rover Academy which, in conjunction with local education establishments, will allow talented local youngsters the opportunity to gain post rugby qualifications whilst playing rugby part time. In addition a new Education Partnership Centre will open at the clubs ground that will offer a significant local community resource for Coventry and Warwickshire.

The desire to develop the next generation of sporting talent is shared by both Jaguar and Land through their respective sporting alliances. From cycling to sailing and athletics to football this is a wide ranging commitment but Rugby is central to both brands interests.

Land Rover recently announced a new four year sponsorship deal with both Premier Rugby and the Rugby Football Union which includes a brand new, country-wide grass roots tournament called the Land Rover Premiership Cup which will reach around 40,000 children over the coming four years. It is also Official Vehicle of both England Rugby and Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisationof the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs.

Jaguar this year launched its Academy of Sport which counts both Gareth Edwards and Shane Williams, heroes of Welsh rugby amongst its patrons. The Academy aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success with a Bursary Fund, prestigious annual Awards Ceremony, a unique club of the best of British sport and a vibrant website celebrating British sporting talent and achievement.

Peter Rossborough, Chairman of Coventry Rugby Club commented: “I am absolutely thrilled with this sponsorship. Our intention is to return Coventry Rugby Club to the top flight in English Rugby where it truly belongs. One of the first decisions taken by the new board was for the club to be Community- lead and this partnership with Jaguar Land Rover and their commitment to community engagement, fits this perfectly.”

(Pebble Beach, CA) Bentley Motors is displaying the company’s new limited-edition Continental GTC and GTC Speed 80-11 models, designed exclusively for the North American market, on the Concept Lawn at the 60th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Both of these new cars combine the legendary performance, luxury and craftsmanship for which the 91-year old Bentley marque is renowned, as well as the added exclusivity of being commissioned for a single market. The 80-11 designation underlines just how limited these luxury British convertibles will be with Bentley building only 80 examples of each drophead in 2011.

Unique and Distinctive Exterior Styling

The GTC and GTC Speed 80-11 models deliver the same outstanding performance as their ‘standard’ Bentley counterparts but with their own strong and original styling stories.

The luxurious GTC 80-11 features new 20-inch, 14-spoke alloy diamond wheels, polished with unique black center caps featuring Bentley’s distinctive ‘B’ emblem. The more performance-oriented GTC Speed 80-11 offers the muscular Supersports’ 20-inch wheels, now finished with an eye-catching dark tint, and displaying sporty red brake calipers underneath.

Both cars give a nod to Bentley’s British heritage and incomparable craftsmanship, with Union Jack brightware badges featured on the front fenders.

Bentley’s extensive choice of colors is available for both GTC 80-11 models but for those seeking even more exclusivity, a new and unique color – Midnight – has been commissioned for these high-performance convertibles. The 80-11 GTC and GTC convertibles offer the Dark Grey Metallic soft top and the Mulliner fuel-filler cap as standard.

A Unique Interpretation of Bentley Craftsmanship and Refinement

Bentley’s styling team has created two unique interiors for these exclusive convertibles. The main leather hide choice for both vehicles is Beluga, and the contrast stitching, piping and Bentley emblems are white on the GTC and Pillar Box Red on the GTC Speed. The result is a strong, dark main hide color, accented by the contrasting hand-stitching and piping.

To complement the Piano Black veneers on both 80-11 Editions, the engine-turned aluminum dash has a bright finish in the GTC and a sportier dark finish for the GTC Speed. Race-inspired drilled alloy sport foot pedals are standard on both vehicles and to further differentiate the special editions, the vehicles’ treadplates and a badge on the console are branded with the “80-11 Edition” signature.

The 80-11 Edition GTCs and the 80-11 Edition GTC Speeds arrive at Bentley dealers in fall of 2010 as model-year 2011 vehicles.

Exhilarating Bentley Performance and FlexFuel Technology

Since its launch in 2006 the Continental GTC has enjoyed sales success in over 50 countries around the world and drawing younger buyers to the Bentley marque. Customers are attracted to its combination of sleek design, interior craftsmanship, dramatic performance and refined but agile handling. The GTC boasts a twin-turbo 6-liter W12 engine, producing 552hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The GTC’s top speed is 195mph (190mph with the top down) and its 0-60mph sprint time is just 4.8 seconds.

Responding to customer demand for an even more potent and driver-focused convertible, the GTC Speed debuted in summer of 2009. The Speed also uses the twin-turbo 6-liter W12 powertain but Bentley’s engineers have further optimized its performance to create 600hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. With a top speed of 200mph (195mph with top down) the Speed was the world’s fastest four-seat production convertible, before the recent arrival of its Bentley stablemate the Supersports Convertible, with a 0-60mph time of only 4.5 seconds.

For model-year 2011, the GTC and GTC Speed, along with all Bentley Continentals, features FlexFuel technology, which enables the vehicle to run on gasoline, E85 biofuel or any mix of the two without any compromise in performance. As part of its environmental strategy, Bentley has pledged to reduce CO2 by 15% by offering FlexFuel powertrains across its entire vehicle lineup by the end of 2012, and it has pledged to introduce a new powertrain that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 40%.

About Bentley Motors, Inc

Bentley Motors, Inc. is the Sales, Marketing, distribution and Aftersales channel for the Bentley brand in The Americas. Nearly one in every three Bentley products sold worldwide is delivered to a customer in the Americas, making the region the single largest for the company. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Bentley Motors, Inc. has approximately 35 employees and 48 retail locations throughout the region. The wide majority of the region’s sales and retailers are located in the United States, with the southern California, New York and southern Florida metro markets being the three largest.

Source: Bentley

* Largest event yet – Wednesday & Friday sold out with Thursday only 30 guests short of capacity
* More exhibitors than any other year
* VERTU joined a fabulous sponsorship line-up of Audemars Piguet, Boodles, Chubb Insurance and Pommery Champagne
* 30% overall increase in guest attendance over 2009 (itself 28% higher than 2008)
* Over £150,000 raised for charity across the event
* Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance won by Hugh Taylor’s 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza
* Salon Privé Boodles Ladies’ Day £6,000 Velocity Diamond Pavé Pendant awarded to Tania McNab

After the final count, the Organisers of Salon Privé have confirmed that this year’s event, the 5th in the series, was the largest, most spectacular and most popular to date.

Ticket sales this year were faster than ever before, with paying guests increasing by 50% over the previous year.

Increased visitor numbers brought increased revenues for the charities supported by Salon Privé with over £150,000 raised across the event, for The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, Prostate Cancer Research and The Prince’s Trust.

Said co-founder, David Bagley: “This year’s Salon Privé has been a tremendous success, by any measure, but especially satisfying to us has been the number of returning visitors and exhibitors. We’ve been determined to grow Salon Privé every year, but without losing the fundamental exclusivity and sense of occasion that makes it so popular, so to be sold out two weeks before the event was incredible. Salon Privé is now a firmly established event in both the motoring and London summer society calendars.”

Expanded supercar collection

This year, in excess of 40 carefully selected super and luxury cars were openly displayed on the lawns, with several on view for the first time at a London event. Regular attendees Aston Martin, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce were joined for the first time by Audi and Lexus with Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini returning following a year’s absence; cars on display ranged from the superlative luxury of the Rolls Royce Phantom to the ultra-exclusive Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and the outrageous Veritas RSIII.

The relaxed surroundings and garden party atmosphere provided brands with a unique environment in which to engage with customers and visitors. Bentley Motors offered a craftsmanship display, while Rolls-Royce launched its ‘Bespoke Personalisation Programme’ at Salon Privé, including the display of a specially-designed, four-person picnic set finished in polished aluminium, veneer and leather.

UK’s finest Concours d’Elégance

On the other side of the lawns and sponsored once again by CHUBB Insurance, a 58-vehicle, seven-category Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance attracted a range of exceptionally rare, beautiful and very valuable cars from around the world.

Entrants included Simon Kidston’s ultra-rare Panther 6, an exemplary collection of pre-war Bugattis including an ultra rare Type 46 Profilee and a special celebration of 75 years of Jaguar which included the company’s 1954 Le Mans shortnose D-Type.

The overall ‘Best of Show’ award went to Hugh Taylor’s exceptional 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza and the winner’s plate was presented by Simon Mobey of CHUBB Insurance.

Dressing to impress – The BOODLES Ladies’ Day

Thursday 22nd July saw the return of the fabulous BOODLES Ladies’ Day with the Best Dressed Lady being awarded a spectacular £6,000 Boodles Velocity diamond pavé pendant. It was a day of glamour, style, beautiful ladies and fabulous hats and after much deliberation, the prize was awarded to Tania McNab and presented by Boodles Managing Director, Michael Wainwright and current Miss Great Britain, Sophie Gradon.

Looking forward

Planning for next year’s event is already underway and the organisers have confirmed that due to the demand for tickets this year, tickets for Salon Privé 2011 will go on sale from the beginning of November 2010, via www.salonprivelondon.com

Source: Salon Privé

* Perfect as a summer holiday treat, birthday or Christmas present
* Suitable for adults and even children*
* New venue at Longcross, Surrey
* New cars including Porsche 911 Turbo & Radical race car
* New experiences – truck driving
* In-car filming of your supercar drive

With an array of aspirational supercars to drive – from an Aston Martin DBS to a Lamborghini LP640 and new this year, a Porsche 911 Turbo, 6th Gear Experience offers an amazing day to remember.

Only a very few people ever get to drive cars like these, let alone own them, but 6th Gear gives you the chance to drive your choice from over 20 stunning Italian, German and British supercars.

Whatever the age, male or female, boy or girl, (see note), you can get behind the wheel and experience the awesome power, astonishing acceleration, nerve tingling sound and sheer thrill of sitting in the driving seat and pressing the accelerator.

With three great tracks available – Yorkshire in the north, Warwickshire in the Midlands and now Surrey in southern England, there’s a venue conveniently close to where you live.

Teen Track Attack for young drivers*

For youngsters aspiring to become the next Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton, and for whom Sunday evening means being glued to TV’s Top Gear, the opportunity to stop dreaming and get driving has arrived.

6thGear Experience offers any young person – boy or girl – the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a legendary supercar. Providing they are at least 4ft 10ins tall and can reach the pedals, they can choose between a real Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8.

Ideal as a holiday treat, birthday and Christmas present, or even as an exam pass or other incentive, a TeenTrackAttack supercar drive is exactly that – a thrill-a-minute driving experience.

All cars feature an automatic gearbox and are very straightforward to drive, so no previous driving experience is necessary, although more confident drivers can opt to change gears using the ‘paddle shift’. Cars are also fitted with dual controls, and an experienced instructor sits alongside in the passenger seat to ensure each driver gets the maximum enjoyment in complete safety.

* Note – children can drive a selection of supercars regardless of age, providing they are over 4ft 10ins tall

Vehicles available to adults that you actually drive

There are 23 supercars and a truck to choose from, including:

In-car cameras plus track side photography
New this year, all cars are now equipped with in-car cameras to record your thrill-a-second experience. Your take-home value is enhanced with the optional video showing you driving, combined with a view from the driving seat and the speeds you attained. Track side photographs are also available to complete your experience and to ‘show your mates’!

Safety first
Every drive is supervised by a fully trained and experienced instructor, who is not only skilled at driving and controlling high performance cars, but has also been CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked for working with youngsters. The instructor ensures that vehicle speed is controlled to match the driver’s capability.

Family friendly
Suitable for all the family, there’s plenty of action, and as well as the driving experience, ‘Hot Laps’ are available for a high-speed passenger trip in a Lamborghini with a qualified driver/instructor. Every participant is given a certificate to mark their special drive.

Prices and availability
6th Gear driving experiences are available as gift vouchers and can be ordered on-line at: www.6thgearexperience.com or by calling 01675 470425. Also available from selected high street retailers including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Selfridges, Asda, Boots and WH Smith.

Prices start from £75 for a 10-15 minute drive in your chosen supercar, with various multi-driving packages also available.

Source: 6TH Gear Experience

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that the company will be the principal sponsor of the Arts & Business South East Awards 2010. The prestigious awards ceremony will be held at The Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, West Sussex on Wednesday 14 July 2010.

The awards provide a high profile opportunity to celebrate businesses which collaborate creatively in the South East of England. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars won an Arts & Business Sustainability Award in 2007 for the best long-term partnership, for the company’s sustained engagement with the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “Rolls-Royce has a successful track record of involvement with the creative arts in the South East and I am delighted that this will be further extended through our partnership with Arts & Business.”

For more details or to nominate your partnership for the awards please visit www.artsandbusiness.org.uk or email southeastawards@artsandbusiness.org.uk.

Source: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that its first app for iPhone and iPod touch is now available on the App Store. The app allows potential customers and enthusiasts to configure their own Ghost, the new model from Rolls-Royce.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost App allows users to choose from many thousands of design combinations available to Ghost customers at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealerships. Available exterior options include twelve standard paint finishes, three different wheel styles, visible exhausts as well as a Silver Satin bonnet, an option exclusive to Rolls-Royce Ghost. The car’s interior can be specified in eight different leather colours and five veneer designs, including contemporary woods such as Dark Wenge and Malabar. After designing their ideal Ghost, users can save their designs in a virtual garage.

The new Ghost App also provides a gallery of Ghost images and films as well as a function to search for the nearest Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealer. For users with an interest in the technical details of the car, the app features a specifications section.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost App is available now for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Source: Rolls-Royce

Maranello, 30 April. Tomorrow Ferrari.com will speak Chinese. In occasion of the opening of the Expo of Shanghai Ferrari for the first time in its history is launching a Chinese version of its official site. This will be the fourth language that visitors can choose from. It is further proof of the importance that the Chinese market represents for Ferrari and comes straight after the historic world premiere of the 599 GTO at the Beijing Auto Show and contemporaneously with the presentation of the Hybrid concept, the Hy-Kers, at the Expo’.

The website is dedicated specifically to its clients, enthusiasts and fans whose native language is Chinese, not only in China, in Asia but all over the world. It aims to foster an even closer relationship between the Prancing Horse and the Chinese public, and boost the number of Ferrari web users in China by eliminating any language barriers.

Enthusiasts, clients and fans can navigate the site content, enjoy live news updates from Maranello and experience Prancing Horse emotions, activities and products at close hand. They’ll discover interactive areas, exclusive images, complete information on all the cars, the F1 Scuderia, News, Community and the Ferrari Store. Thanks to the Maranello Experience, they can even enjoy a virtual tour of the entire company thanks to video clips and other images. The site also allows users to select and personalise the cars in the current range.

Ferrari sold its first car in China in 1993 but it has had a commercial presence since 2004 and last year over 200 cars were sold. Today, Ferrari has 10 dealerships in the country covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Dalian and Qingdao. In 2008 the Ferrari owners’ club was established and in 2005 Corso Pilota Ferrari driving courses started to enable Chinese clients to improve their knowledge of their cars and their own skills behind the wheel.

Source: Ferrari

Introducing the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle Concept

Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.

In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle’s debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus’s title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.

Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.

The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus’s LS 600h limousine. The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP-winning motorcycle.

There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.
Introducing the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle Concept

Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.

In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle’s debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus’s title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.

Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.

The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus’s LS 600h limousine. The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP-winning motorcycle.

There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.

Source: Toyota

Maserati GB was proud to support the Berkeley Dress Show, opening event of the London Season for over sixty years.

The Berkeley Dress Show, held this year at the Hurlingham Club on St. George’s Day, is the official opening of the London Season, chaired by Mrs David Hallam-Peel, which also features in its calendar the Queen Charlotte’s Ball. The Queen Charlotte’s Ball is a charity event founded over two hundred and fifty years ago by Queen Charlotte with the help of the debutantes of the time to raise funds for mothers and babies for the hospital later called Queen Charlotte’s Hospital; this year it will be held on Monday, September 13th, at the Treasury House of the Inner Temple.

The Berkeley Dress Show presented this year 34 debutantes. The young ladies, wearing head pieces by royal milliner John Boyd and dressed by eight of the best young, up and coming designers (all graduates from Central St. Martin’s and the London College of Fashion), were styled and choreographed by the London Season’s Creative Director Lukas Kroulik, who had enlisted the help of a team of 15 hair and make-up artists, led by Kenny Leung, who worked alongside fashion stylist Katie McDowall. All 34 debutantes appeared on a runway of which the new Maserati GranCabrio, in Bianco Eldorado (plain white) with Marrone Corniola (dark brown) interior, was the centrepiece.

The fashion show was preceded by a champagne reception that saw as guest of honour Her Highness Princess Olga Romanov. As the evening unfolded, guests were able to enjoy the performances of The Honourable Drummond Money-Coutts, founder of the Eton College Magic Society, and of The Jive Aces, Prince Philip’s favourite band. Over ten thousands pounds were raised during the evening, thanks to a charity auction for “Veterans-Aid”, an organisation which supports disabled soldiers.

As every year, the Berkeley Dress show ended with the traditional bride and groom procession. Groom Harry LLewellyn-Jones “arrived” on the catwalk in the Maserati GranCabrio to meet his bride Idina Moncreiffe of Moncreiffe, who looked stunning in her bridal gown by Elie Saab for Pronovias and jewels by Mikimoto.

Source: Maserati