Category: Car News

Singer’s Modified Porsche 911s Come to the UK. 

The US-based tuning house, Singer, is the creator of some of the finest modified Porsche 911s across the globe. Its latest work, a modified 911 Targa (shown here), cost around £351,000 and was revealed at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed after a personal invitation from Lord March.

Singer, which is synonymous with Porsche’s iconic sports car, started his operations in 2009 and since then has restored about 24 cars, each of which takes around 10 months to produce.  As Singer boss, Rob Dickinson, described, Singer is taking “an icon like the 911… polishing it up and re-presenting it to a new generation”.

Singer’s modified 911s are becoming legends, as the attention to detail is astonishing and nothing is left to chance. From the interior of each car, which is covered in leather, nickel, aluminium and high quality fabric, to the no less than 34 coats of primer, paint and lacquer that are applied during the restoration process. Each engine is rebuilt, the light units are custom made from scratch, and the body panel is made from carbon fibre to reduce the weight. Only the doors remain the same so they will still sound like a classic Porsche when they close.  

The main appeal for Singer’s customers is the hand-built quality and exclusivity of the product. There is already a 2 year waiting list for Singer’s restoration services, despite a basic asking price of around £256,000.

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

One of the Rarest Lamborghinis, Sesto Elemento, Is On Sale for £1.9m !

One of only 20 Sesto Elementos, with just 12 miles on the clock, is up for sale online for £1.9million.

It is thought to be the only one in the world currently on sale and it features one of the most extreme bodies Lamborghini has ever created, with an angular interior to match.

The Sesto Elemento was originally produced as a concept car, to represent Lamborghini’s expertise with carbon fibre. That’s where it got its name from, Sesto Elemento means “Sixth Element” in Italian and it refers to carbon.  

 The ultra-exclusive supercar features the Gallardo LP560-4’s 562bhp V10 engine, and due to the extensive use of carbon fibre it weighs just 999kg. The Sesto Elemento can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.5secs, that’s three-tenths faster than the 2015 Aventador SV. 

Just like the LaFerrari, the supercar features a fixed driving position so drivers have to move the pedals and steering wheel towards them. Inside, there is no dashboard and Lamborghini managed to disguise the absence of luxury by using flamboyant shapes and colours.

This unique Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is currently on sale on 6speedonline.com. 

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

Classic Car Prices Soar in 2015

Specialist insurer, Hagerty has reported an average 8.4% rise in classic car prices over the first 6 months of 2015.

The rise is being driven by investors, who are increasingly turning to classic cars as an alternative asset.  Hagerty’s report follows a study released in March by the property firm Knight Frank which estimated a 252% rise in art prices in the last decade, surpassed only by classic car values, which rose 487% in the same period.

Unlike other investment assets, such as bonds and shares, car value rises are free from capital gains tax.  Last year, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO set a new record when it sold for $38m (£24m) at an auction in California.

In the UK, Hagerty’s data highlights the Fiat Dino 2000 Spider as the biggest riser in 2015, up 45% from £45,000 to £65,050. The Lamborghini Countach LP400S Coupe also performed strongly, up 42% from £210,050 to £298,500.

Hagerty’s analysts said the market trend appeared to be shifting, with cheaper supercars from the seventies and eighties performing better than the top marques from earlier decades, such as Ferrari.  As an example, the report highlights the price of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe, which remains unchanged in 2015 at just over £1m.

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

Koenigsegg One:1; The World’s Most Powerful Production Car!

A Swedish ‘megacar’ has broken the world speed record for accelerating from standstill to 186mph, and braking back to zero in just 17.95 seconds.

The One:1, which was introduced in 2014 and was built in 6 examples, plus one prototype, is one of the most exclusive production car programmes ever envisaged.

It is named ‘one-to-one’ for its perfectly balanced power-to-weight ratio (hp to kg curb weight), which is an astonishing 1:1 and previously thought impossible.

The new hypercar gets a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, with large air vents for improved cooling, a roof air scoop to support the 1 Megawatt of power, and custom-made Michelin Cup Tyres.

Moreover, it gets an upgraded rear triplex suspension with carbon bevel springs and active shock absorbers, combined with the revolutionary Koenigsegg Aircore carbon fibre wheels.

Koenigsegg has already sold the seven One:1 it will produce; four to Asia, two to Europe, and one to the U.S, at a price of £1,790,000.

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

Come and see us at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, 12th – 14th June!

Oracle Finance are proud to announce they will be sponsoring and exhibiting at this year’s Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (CPOP) from the 12^th – 14^th June.

Oracle are sponsoring the Car & Bike arena, where our expert staff will be on hand to assist you with all aspects of financing prestige, sports and classic cars.

As an official Event Partner, we can offer all our clients and associates 20% off ticket prices!  To claim, simply visit http://www.cpop.co.uk/ and quote CPOPORCL when you book.  

Set in the stunning grounds of Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, CPOP is the UK’s most dynamic motorsport event, packed with excitement for all the family, including music concerts and air and water displays.  Track action will include Supercars, F1 and single seaters, Rally and Sports racing cars, all battling it out for a place on the podium, while the supermotos, sidecars and World Champion Trial’s Rider, Dougie Lampkin wow the crowds with their amazing stunts.

The Concours d’Elegance will celebrate Lotus cars, American muscle cars and 80’s poster supercars, with the fantastic RAF Typhoon display taking to the skies on Saturday, followed by the awe-inspiring Vulcan bomber on Sunday, supported by the Strikemaster and Red Bull Matadors. 

The event promises to be an amazing experience for all the family – we look forward to seeing you there!

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce- Is this Lambo’s best car yet?  

The awesome Aventador Superveloce is more powerful, lighter, and even more extreme-looking than the standard Aventador.

Featuring a new aerodynamic package and a series of wild body modifications, such as, new doors, and a massive, manually adjustable rear wing, the SV is 150% more aerodynamically efficient than the standard model.

Lamborghini described the Superveloce as “the most sports-oriented, fastest, and most emotional series-production Lamborghini ever.”

The crazy fast SV is powered by Lambo’s 6.5-litre V12 engine producing 740bhp in total. The supercar features a brand new exhaust system and a seven-speed automated manual gearbox, which has been tweaked electronically to make the shift times faster.  

Lamborghini claims that the SV can reach 0-62mph in 2.8secs and the top speed is electronically limited to 217mph.

The stunning Superveloce goes on sale in the UK this summer at a price tag of £321,743.

 

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

Lamborghini 4×4 On The Road in 2018!

Lamborghini has announced that it will build a production version of its Urus SUV concept, which was first revealed at the Beijing motor show in 2012. The Urus SUV will become the third model in Lamborghini’s line-up joining the Huracán and Aventador supercars.

The new 4×4 SUV will be made in Italy and is expected to feature a 600bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, with a possible hybrid powertrain offered.

Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s president and CEO stated that ‘…the introduction of a third model line endorses the stable and sustainable growth of the company and signifies for us the beginning of a new era.’

Lamborghini envisages sales for its new SUV will double its total output, which in 2014 was 2530 cars.  For that reason, the company plans to expand its plant from 80,000 to 150,000 square meters, investing hundreds of millions of euros and creating 350 new jobs.

The name of the new SUV is still a secret and no details have been announced about its price, but Lamborghini has confirmed that it will go on sale in 2018. 

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

New Jaguar F-type Will Feature All Wheel Drive Option

Jaguar’s first raft of updates to the F-type will include a four-wheel drive option for the 2016 Convertible and Coupe models.  The V6 versions will also have the option of a six-speed manual gearbox in place of the standard eight-speed automatic (though not available with four-wheel drive).

The new 550bhp coupe will deliver 0-60mph in 3.9sec, making the four-wheel drive car the fastest F-type yet.

The introduction of all-wheel drive is intended to open up the F-type to many more markets, particularly in North America and parts of Europe, where climactic conditions demand this capability.

The release of the update has been carefully timed by Jaguar – their market data indicates the original F-type customers will be looking to end their lease agreements early and upgrade to a new model in the coming months.

The F-type range starts at £51,250 for a rear-wheel drive, manual V6 Coupe. The convertible is an additional £5,485, while a V6 S Coupe begins at £60,250.

All-wheel drive F-types will start at £66,900 for the V6 S Coupe AWD, with the F-type R Convertible topping the range. The 2016 F-type will go on sale in March, with manual variants available from July.

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

10 Classic Cars to watch in 2015!

In a previous article we discussed how classic cars have become one of the best-performing investments of the past decade.  This time we present the top 10 classic cars to watch, as prepared by a group of the most knowledgeable experts in the world of classic cars.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage: Only 350 of them were built and they are considered to be a cost-effective option compared to other supercars. Their price tag in today’s market is expected to be from £125,000 to £300,000, depending on the condition and variant.  

Ferrari 365 GTB/4: It was Ferrari’s first mid-engined road car and it is the rarest variant of Ferrari’s Berlinetta Boxers. Only 390 were built and around 60 of them were destined for the UK market.

Porsche 959: The overall interest and demand for Porsche’s 1980s 4-wheel drive supercar is undeniable. Recent auction sales for this model indicate an increase in hammer prices and wider interest from a new generation of buyers.   

Lamborghini Espada: The 4-seater Espada could be the surprise in 2015 due to its distinctive shape and the current active Lamborghini market.  

Enzo Ferrari: Reports suggest that Enzo has the largest increase in appreciation and has gained lots of interest in recent months.  Prices for Enzo are expected to be around £900,000 to £1.5m in today’s market.

Porsche 911(964): An exceptional car which has been under-appreciated for a long time but, as Nick Whale of Silverstone Auctions said, buyers get really excited to discover cars that have not been previously available on the market.

 Maserati Sebring: A classic Gran Turismo which was built in a limited number of just 591. Even though it is relatively inexpensive, it’s very hard to find one for sale on the global market.

Jaguar E-Type V12: It was the last and the most advanced E-Type built, with improved brakes, cooling and electrics. Prices can vary between £75,000 to £200,000.

Porsche 930 Turbo: This is one to watch as it has been very cheap for a long time, but due to growing interest in the poster cars of the 1980s, it is expected that overall demand for the 930 will increase.

BMW M3: A growth in interest is expected in 2015 for less famous collectible cars, such as the BMW M3 and other, more humble icons of the 1980s.  

Oracle Finance, providing flexible finance for exceptional cars.

T: 08450 944 997

The Driving Licence Change – Are your details up to date?

With the government introducing big changes to the driving licence from the 8^th June, now is a good time to check your name and address details are correct and renew your licence at https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence.

What’s changing?

From the 8th June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will no longer be valid and the DVLA will stop issuing the counterpart with new licences.  The government is introducing the change to reduce costs and digitise driver’s records.

How does this affect you?

Drivers with existing paper counterparts

If you currently hold a paper counterpart, it will no longer have any legal status after 8^th June 2015.  Your photocard driving licence will remain valid and must be retained.

Drivers with paper driving licences

Paper driving licences issued before the introduction of the photocard in 1998 will remain valid and should be retained.

If the name or address details on your licence are out of date, you can renew it online at https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence.  Your new licence should arrive within 7 days.

Penalty points (endorsements)

Any new penalty points (endorsements) issued from the 8^th June 2015 will only be recorded electronically.  They will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences.  In future, drivers will be able to view their record online at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

For full details about the driving licence change, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence-changes