McLaren 570S: The new baby of the family

McLaren 570S: The new baby of the family

McLaren’s new Sports Series launches with the release of the 570S, to be followed next year by the 540C.  The Sports Series has been introduced to fill the gap beneath the Super and Ultimate Series, creating a more accessible range of cars that McLaren hopes will more than double its total output to over 4000 units per year.

Priced at £143,250, the 570S is set to compete directly with the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the Audi R8 V10+.  Equipped with the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 used throughout the McLaren range, the 570S is rated at 562bhp, delivering 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 204mph.  The car is fitted with the familiar 7-speed twin clutch gearbox, giving it the usual McLaren torque and rear wheel control. 

Three different driving modes are available – Normal, Sport or Track – offering comfortable cruising to ramped-up, precision driving.  McLaren are pitching the 570S as more of an everyday sports car, with a host of cabin improvements, including entertainment screens, more storage and a plush interior finish.

These additional features haven’t compromised the driving experience however.  The 570S features lightweight carbon fibre construction, aerodynamic bodywork and a complex ProActive Chassis Control system, making the first of the Sports Series McLarens an alert and rewarding drive.

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New BMW 7 Series enters the Smart Race

New BMW 7 Series enters the Smart Race

BMW are pushing the technology boundaries with their new 7 Series, as they seek to take market share from Mercedes’ impressive S-Class. The 2015 7 Series will include the most up to date interactive technology and safety features in a smart, intuitive design that emphasises comfort and a thrilling driving experience.

The new car features twin screens, with the option of a tablet computer, and comes with a wirelessly chargeable key with a 2.2in screen, which allows remote driving from outside the car and keyless entry.  Other features mirror the S-Class’ technological advances.  The 7 Series will be able to react to and recognise changes in traffic and roadworks and will share traffic data with other BMW drivers.  The Drive Pro option will study the road and adjust the air suspension system and speed accordingly.

Powered by a 261bhp, 6 cylinder twin-turbo diesel, the 730Ld delivers 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 155mph.  The car features carbon fibre body parts and a host of interior improvements, including massaging seats and the option of a Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

The new 7 Series is available now, with prices start at £64,530.

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Unique Ferrari Thomassima II selling for £5.8m

Unique Ferrari Thomassima II selling for £5.8m

Designed and built by Tom Meade in the 1960s, this beautiful Ferrari Thomassima II has come up for sale on Ebay with a starting price of £5.8m.

Tom Meade worked with Ferrari and Maserati engineers in Italy, creating one-off specialist cars, and this example is the last available Thomassima (meaning ‘the maximum from Thomas’).  Thomassima I was lost in 1966 in a flood in Florence and Thomassima III is on display in Maranello.

Inspired by Ferrari’s Daytona-winning 330 P3/4, Thomassima II’s flambouyant curves were shaped using marine plywood buck.  The car has a rear-mounted 3.0-litre Ferrari V12 engine – the same as the 250 GT – coupled to a tubular spaceframe chassis.

Although the car was not officially manufactured by Ferrari, Tom Meade’s designs are highly sought after.  Born in California, the renowned designer made a name for himself in Italy in the 1960s after devoting his career to building one-off, artisan-crafted Ferraris.

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The intelligent new Mercedes E-Class

The intelligent new Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes is set to introduce its seventh generation E-Class, the car-maker’s most popular model, with over 13 million sales globally.  The new E-Class will undergo a sleek reinvention to fall in line aesthetically with the more fluid look of the S Class and C Class saloons.

The four models in the new E-Class range will be released consecutively, starting with the Saloon, followed by the Estate, Two-door Coupe and finally the Convertible.  It is expected that efficient hybrid options will be available, as well as the top of the range E63 AMG, with a new 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine.

The new E-Class will feature the very latest technology and safety systems, including remote parking and the ability to automatically increase or decrease speed by reading speed limit signs.  The autonomous driving mode will allow the car to guide itself round motorway bends, using an interactive and intelligent web of cameras, sensors, radars and Car-to-X Communication.

The car will be able to detect hazards automatically, and if the driver fails to react, will adjust the car’s position accordingly in emergency situations.  A Digital Car Key will also be available, allowing the driver’s smartphone to work as the main key to lock and unlock the car, even if the phone has no battery.

The new E-Class range will be introduced from 2016, with pricing information expected shortly.

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Creating a buzz: Aston Martin confirm all-electric Rapide

Creating a buzz: Aston Martin confirm all-electric Rapide

Aston Martin have confirmed plans to produce an all-electric version of their iconic Rapide luxury saloon.  The zero emissions Rapide will be available in the four door model, with four wheel drive, 1000bhp and all the luxurious benefits of an Aston Martin.

Aston Martin’s CEO, Andy Palmer, believes that producing their first battery-powered car is a necessity, stating that the new model will deliver the same performance as the V12, just without the noise.  The invertor will be fitted in the boot, with batteries running down the spine of the car into the bonnet.  The company is hoping to offset some of their overall CO2 emissions, allowing them to keep their V12s in their sports cars.

The silent luxury saloon is expected to have a range of well over 200 miles, and will be priced around £200K.  Aston Martin anticipate high demand, particularly in the US and Chinese markets, and plan to release the new car around 2017.

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Lighter, faster and more powerful: Ferrari’s new F12 TDF

Lighter, faster and more powerful: Ferrari’s new F12 TDF

 Ferrari has revealed the new F12 TDF – Tour de France.  Its name and concept are derived from the 1950s and 1960s Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta models, which achieved great success during the French road races.

The limited edition supercar boasts even better performance than the standard F12, despite being powered by the same 6.2-litre V12 engine.  Output increases by 39bhp to 769bhp, with torque reaching 520lb ft at 6,750rpm. The edgier, race-inspired F12 TDF delivers more power thanks to its race car mechanics, gearbox and engine, combined with improved aerodynamics and a lightweight carbon fibre design. 

Ferrari’s new supercar demonstrates its prowess both on and off the track, with a 0-62mph time of just 2.9 seconds and a reported top speed in excess of 211mph. The F12 TDF has almost a completely new body design, with elements taken from Ferrari’s F1 models and lightweight carbon fibre parts used throughout to make the car as aerodynamic and reactive as possible.

 The new model will be revealed to the public during Ferrari’s World Finals at Mugello on the 8th November.  Just 799 examples will be produced, with first deliveries expected in early 2016.  Ferrari is yet to confirm pricing. 

 

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McLaren reveal 650S Can-Am Special Edition

McLaren reveal 650S Can-Am Special Edition

Celebrating 50 years in the Canadian-American Championship, McLaren has revealed a special edition 650S Spider in homage to the original car.

McLaren’s racing history shines through in the limited edition model.  Visually, the 650S Spider resembles the 1960s racing original, but with a modern edge.  Carbon fibre parts make the special edition lightweight, including a carbon front spoiler, bonnet, airbrake and folding rooftop.  The 641bhp vintage-inspired supercar is capable of 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds, with a flat out speed of 204mph, delivered through a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine.   

Priced at £255,850, only 50 examples of the supercar will be sold globally.  The special edition will be available in 3 different race-themed colours – Mars Red , Onyx Black and Papaya Spark, and the interior will feature a dedicated numbered plaque on the driver’s door. 

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One in a million: Last ever Agera R on sale for £1.47m

One in a million: Last ever Agera R on sale for £1.47m

This sleek, black hypercar is the last ever Agera R produced by Koenigsegg.  Back on the market after just one year, one owner and with 1500 miles on the clock, this unique Agera R has a price tag of £1.47 million, that’s an astonishing appreciation of £390,000 in the year since its original purchase!

The impressive hypercar has a top speed of 273mph, sprints from 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and holds a Guinness world record for 0-200mph, quoted at 17.68 seconds. All this is delivered through a twin-turbo, 5-litre V8 engine with 1140bhp and 885lb ft. of torque, producing 1.5 lateral G via Koenigsegg’s fastest changing seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox .

The last ever Agera R is a particularly attractive example.  Inside and out, the car is beautifully finished, with a dark, edgy exterior of black-bronze paint, carbon fibre body panels and signature carbon fibre wheels, contrasting with the striking, bright orange leather interior. 

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Super Coupe: The new Mercedes-AMG C63

Super Coupe: The new Mercedes-AMG C63

Mercedes-AMG has released pricing and design spec details of the new C63 Coupe.  Both the C63 and C63 S trim models will feature twin-turbo V8 engines with AMG dynamic transmission.

Based on the elegant Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, the C63 will be pitted against the BMW M4, Audi RS5 and Lexus RC F, so boasts significanlty improved performance. Power output tops 469bhp, with 503bhp for the C63 S.  Torque is 479lb and 516lb for the S trim, which delivers 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.

The car’s design features several AMG enhancements, including the distinctive powerdomes, large air inlets and revised front and rear suspension, enhancing the turbo-charged car’s control and flare.  The Coupe’s interior and exterior design reflects the car’s high-power performance, with an A-wing front spoiler, AMG specific skirting, alloys and badging, all complimented by the Alcantara steering wheel trim and microfiber Dinamica man-made leather and cloth interior.

The prestige Coupe’s price has been confirmed at £61,160 for the C63 and £66,910 for the C63 S trim. The much sought after Edition 1 Coupe, which will be produced in a limited run and features even more unique interiors and exterior design details is priced at £76,900. 

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Packing a punch: The new BMW M4 GTS

Packing a punch: The new BMW M4 GTS

BMW has unveiled the latest addition to the powerful M4 series, the BMW M4 GTS. This stripped down carbon fibre version of the standard M4 coupe powers up with an extra 68bhp, taking total output to 493bhp, delivered through a twin-turbo, 6 cylinder petrol engine for speed and agility.

The M4 GTS is designed to perform on the track as well as the road, reaching 0-62 mph in an impressive 3.8 seconds, while still remaining fuel efficient and road legal.  Flat out, the GTS can reach an incredible 190mph. 

Its carbon fibre body and leather-carbon fibre mix interior make it lighter than ever, with new innovative systems to maximise the road car’s performance, including a titanium sport exhaust system and manually adjustable suspension.

The M4 GTS will feature the GTS signature orange badges and sleek interior design with bucket seats. The exterior will be available in three colours; black, white and matt grey. 

The special edition M4 GTS will be limited to a production run of 700 units worldwide, 30 of which will be assigned to the UK with a price tag of £121,770.  BMW are due start production of the car at the end of 2015, with first deliveries expected next spring.

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