Bespoke Aston Martin Vanquish 25 is a retro supercar dream July 25, 2020 Die Another Day certainly isn’t the best Bond film – and frankly, Pierce Brosnan isn’t the best Bond. But the Aston Martin Vanquish might be the coolest car modified by Q Branch. Having shaped the Vanquish two decades ago, Ian Callum has now modified one, too. The famous car designer’s new company – simply called [...]
Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 review: The joy of six July 18, 2020 I was blissfully ignorant at the time, but this would be my final fling. A few days later, the UK entered lockdown, and the freedom to simply go for a drive was abruptly revoked. In the weeks and months that followed, I often thought about that afternoon. Confined to Croydon, sealed off from friends and [...]
Fast Ford icon: Rare Sierra RS Cosworth heads to auction July 18, 2020 “A working class hero is something to be,” declared John Lennon. Anyone who grew up idolising the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth would surely agree. With its wide wheelarches and whale tail wing, the ‘Cossie’ looked brilliant on a bedroom wall. And its 204hp turbocharged engine offered Porsche-baiting pace: 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top [...]
Batteries included: The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid offers zero-emissions city driving March 25, 2020 A few months ago, this page featured the Bentley Bentayga Speed, a 635 horsepower SUV with the thrust of a supercar and thirst of a supertanker. The Bentayga Hybrid is the yin to that yang, trading a 6.0-litre W12 for a 3.0 V6: the smallest engine ever fitted to a Bentley. It forgoes the title [...]
Jensen Interceptor review: A real brawn star motor that drives like nothing else March 2, 2020 Sharp-suited Italian styling. A brawny all-American V8. A sumptuous wood-and-leather British interior. Oh, and probably the coolest car name ever conceived. The Jensen Interceptor had it all. Sadly, this glamorous GT was also burdened with ‘traditional’ British build quality, but that’s nothing Cropredy Bridge can’t fix. Based in a quaint village near Banbury, the company [...]
The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster is a supercar turned up to 11 February 24, 2020 What is your lottery-win dream car? In my line of work, it’s a common question at social gatherings, usually somewhere between “Should I buy a Volkswagen Golf?” (yes, probably) and before “Have you met Jeremy Clarkson?” (yes, briefly). Anyway, I’ll spare you the suspense, it’s the McLaren F1. Sadly, I need a Euromillions rollover to [...]
London Black Cab maker targets export market as it moves beyond e-taxi sales February 19, 2020 The company behind the new generation of black cabs is planning to move beyond its core product. London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) will launch a new electric van later this year to diversity its product base. The company, owned by China’s Geely group, is best known for producing London’s electric black cabs. LEVC boss Joerg [...]
The Electrogenic Volkswagen Beetle converts the classic car to electric Tesla power February 17, 2020 On Thursday, the London Classic Car Show opens at Olympia in Kensington. Visitors can see more than 500 rare and exotic classics, plus special displays to mark 40 years of the Audi quattro and 50 years of the Range Rover. But while nostalgic car fans celebrate the past, the future is less certain. We recently [...]
How to finance overseas purchases February 17, 2020 | City Talk From a holiday home overseas to luxury goods and split asset investment, there are ways to make the most of your money overseas. From artwork and jewellery to a yacht or a horse, when it comes to finding a unique item, attention to detail and personal service matter. Whether you’re buying online or in-country overseas, [...]
Dieselgate: VW offers to pay €830m, but talks break down February 14, 2020 Volkswagen said talks to settle a huge collective lawsuit in Germany over the manufacturer’s dieselgate scandal collapsed today. VW had offered a settlement of €830m (£694.7m) with German drivers who purchased their emissions test-cheating diesel cars. But talks with the German consumer association VZBV to provide compensation broke down, with each party blaming the other. [...]