Month: April 2020

An American technology firm has announced plans to build an all-electric SUV with a massive range.

Triton Solar says the Model H will be able to travel up to 700 miles on a single charge, with space for eight adults and a luggage capacity of up to 5,663 litres – thought that latter figures is likely available when all seats are laid flat.

The Model H’s unique selling point is that it uses a 200kWh battery pack, which is a proprietary technology of Triton Solar. It’s this battery that provides that impressive range claim.

The New Jersey-based technology firm says the battery feeds four electric motors, with one in each wheel, for a total of about 1,500bhp. The 0-60mph is claimed to be 2.9 seconds, while it should be able to ‘carry and pull heavy loads without compromising the driving comfort’.

Other vital statistics listed on the company’s website include a kerb weight of 2.4 tonnes and a towing capacity of seven tonnes. It will also come with a 10-year or 150,000-mile warranty.

The company has never made an electric vehicle before, with its existing product range focusing on energy storage solutions, particularly from solar panels.

Order books are open now with the first 100 customers receiving a Founder’s Edition vehicle, which gets as-yet-unannounced ‘surprise features’. The initial deposit is $5,000 (circa £,4000) with the remaining $135,000 (circa £108,000) being transferred closer to production.

Ducati has teamed up with Lego to reveal the latest Technic model in the line-up – the Panigale V4 R.

The first-ever brick reproduction of a Ducati model, the Panigale V4 R is made up of 646 individual bricks and features scale representations of many of the full-sized bike’s inner workings.

The two-speed gearbox, for example, has been included in brick form, while realistic suspension gives the bike ‘life-like’ movement. It also gets front and rear disc brakes, kickstand and exhaust and even a realistic dashboard.

In total, it measures 32cm in length, 16cm in height and eight centimetres in width.

Alessandro Cicognani, Ducati licensing director, said: “We have all been children fond of Lego bricks and I think it is easy to understand that this new licensing agreement between Ducati and the Lego Group is like a dream come true. Two excellences that share the same values of dedication, passion and attention to detail come together to give life to a unique experience.

“Our hope is that the Ducati Panigale V4 R Lego Technic can bring together, excite and entertain children and parents, but also all the fans who ride their motorbikes every day.”

The Ducati Panigale V4 R has been designed for motorcycle fans aged ten and up, and will be available to order from June 1, priced at £54.99.

Prince Philip’s car crash caused a spike in the number of elderly drivers handing back their licence.

On January 17, 2019, the Duke of Edinburgh rolled his Land Rover after colliding with another car near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

Following a Freedom of Information request from retirement mortgage experts Responsible Life, DVLA figures revealed a 21 per cent increase in the number of drivers aged 90 and over voluntarily surrendering their licence last year. The Duke was 97 at the time of the crash.

The number rose from 6,612 to 8,014, and came after a rise of less than 10 per cent in 2018.

The data also shows that the number of drivers aged 100 and over that surrendered their licence increased 146 per cent to 32 in 2019.

Steve Wilkie, executive chairman of Responsible Life, said: “When to stop driving remains one of our most difficult decisions in later life. For many retired motorists it means letting go of a symbol of their independence, even if they only make the occasional trip to the local shops.

“Older age is also cruel and creeps up on you, making it impossible to judge the best time to hang up the steering wheel and get a taxi, rather than soldier on for another year.

“Prince Philip’s misfortunes, however, seem to have jogged a great number of people into confronting this difficult decision head on.”

Although there is no age limit for when people must stop driving, elderly drivers that are concerned about their ability to drive can ask for objective assessments from organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Volkswagen has given a glimpse of what its facelifted Tiguan will look like in a new official image.

The new SUV is expected to arrive this summer and is likely to hit the road with more efficient engines and upgraded interior technology.

Design-wise the sketch indicates a fresh new look for the Tiguan, with slimmer and more angular lights extending into the front wings. It’s a similar look to that seen on the recent eighth-generation Golf model.

Underneath the main grille appears to be a wider front splitter, which looks more dynamic in its style than that found on the current Tiguan. There’s a good chance that the new headlights will incorporate the very latest LED technology, too.

The interior of the Tiguan will likely feature the same overall look as that found on the new Golf, which will see a large central touchscreen bolstered by a digital display ahead of the driver.

As well as cleaner, more efficient petrol and diesel engines, the new Tiguan is due to arrive with a plug-in hybrid powertrain similar to the one expected with the upcoming Golf GTE.

The Tiguan has been a hugely popular model for the German firm. Now Volkswagen Group’s most successful model and the best-selling SUV in Europe, more than six million Tiguans have rolled off the production line since its debut back in 2007.

Last year, a new Tiguan rolled off the production line every 35 seconds at Volkswagen’s plants in Germany, Russia, China and Mexico.

Morgan is celebrating six decades of its partnership with a Netherlands retailer with the production of several limited-edition models.

The LE60 range of cars not only showcases the British firm’s attention to personalisation, but also its close relationship with Louwman Exclusive – Morgan’s sole Dutch retailer.

Just five cars have been created – four Plus Six modes and a single 3 Wheeler – having been designed at the company’s factory in Malvern, Worcestershire.

One of the Plus Six models is finished in ‘Ice Blue’ paint with 19-inch alloy wheels and a variety of yellow accents in areas such as the brake calipers and spot light casings. Special LE60 decals have also been applied to the bonnet side vents.

Marcus Blake, chief sales officer at Morgan Motor Company, said: “We are delighted to recognise this landmark anniversary with our Dutch dealership, Louwman Exclusive. We are proud of our entire dealership network, and it gives us immense pleasure to be able to celebrate these milestones in such a fitting way.

“When Louwman contacted us with their plans to celebrate 60 years as a Morgan dealer, we wanted to make sure they did so in style. All Morgan cars are special, but with consultation from our design team, these bespoke LE60 specials are especially beautiful and unique.”

The single 3 Wheeler version is finished in Almond Green, and also incorporates yellow highlights. The leather dashboard receives a laser-engraved design, too.

Grand Tour host and former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is heading up an online pub quiz this week.

Starting at 7pm on Friday, April 17 on the DriveTribe YouTube channel, Clarkson’s quiz is set to feature five rounds with subjects covering history, sport, general knowledge, and a ‘cunning’ visual round.

Tim Rodie, editorial director at DriveTribe, told the PA news agency: “We’re very grateful that Jeremy’s taken time out from his farming to bring some joy to a world in lockdown. His time on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire shows he’s got the chops to handle the quizmaster role.

“Last week’s live pub quiz with James May was a huge success for FoodTribe, so fingers crossed we’ll have a few people joining in from across the world.”

Clarkson’s online pub quiz follows on from the popularity of co-host James May’s version last week. Hosted on the FoodTribe channel – the sister site of DriveTribe – May’s quiz has since been viewed more than 150,000 times.

Speaking to the PA news agency beforehand, May said: “I love pubs, but I hate pub quizzes. Unfortunately, the pub isn’t open for some reason. So we’ll just have to do the quiz, online, at a safe distance. There will be no cheating, obviously. No-one’s going to look up the answers on Google. That’s not allowed.”

Ferrari has kicked off production of respirator valves and fittings for protective masks to aid in the fight against coronavirus.

The supercar manufacturer is building the components at its manufacturing plant in Maranello, Italy, in the department where car prototypes are usually created.

Some of the valves have been created by diving equipment manufacturer Mares, which are tailor-made to fit the masks to help patients who are suffering from respiratory failure.

Ferrari plans to manufacture several hundred items of equipment over the next few days, which will be distributed with the help of the Italian Civil Protection to a variety of Italian hospitals.

Other fittings are being supplied to Solid Energy, who will use them to re-engineer Decathlon snorkelling masks into aids which can help to protect healthcare workers who are being exposed to the virus.

Ferrari recently announced that it was extending its factory shutdown for production cars until May 3, as a result of government lockdown procedures.

Though we all love classics cars – and who wouldn’t – they do have their drawbacks. Reliability is one of the key ones. Who hasn’t been driving down the motorway, snug and warm in a new motor, only to see a conked-out classic smoking away at the side of the road, owner perplexed and ranting to the breakdown company on the phone.

It’s why so many companies like to modernise their classics. It keeps the style, charm and character that you want from an old-school car, but takes away the will it start-won’t it start headache you get with a troublesome classic. Let’s take a look at some of the best.

Jaguar Reborn E-Type

Sometimes if you want a Jaguar restored properly, it’s best to go to Jag themselves. It’s showcased this with the E-Type Reborn, a completely ground-up, nuts-and-bolts restoration of one of its most iconic models.

The first is a 1965 Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe 4.2, built back up to the original specification set by Jaguar when it was launched. Jag’s engineers had access to build records and original drawings to ensure that it was spot-on, while improved cooling, a full syncromesh gearbox and larger brakes were fitted too. It did come at a cost, mind you, with Jaguar asking £285,000 for each – ouch!

David Brown Automotive Mini Remastered

It’s a tough challenge to improve an icon, don’t you think? But David Brown Automotive, UK-based car restorer, believes it has done just that with its classic Mini. It’s been given a high-end overhaul, with LED illuminated dials, full leather upholstery and even an infotainment system.

And don’t worry, the engine has been given a looking over too. The standard 1330cc engine now pushes out over 83bhp and uses a five-speed manual gearbox. The brakes have been upgraded too, as has the exhaust system.

Singer Porsche

This is Singer’s Porsche 911, and to our eyes it’s one of the prettiest remastered cars ever made. Don’t you think it just looks fantastic?

But it’s not just looks, either. Underneath it gets a modern chassis, modern brakes and suspension and a modern engine too – so it goes just as well as it looks. It’s an impressive piece of machinery, this one.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation

Aston Martin knows a thing or two about making beautiful cars, and the DB4 will likely go down as one of the best-looking of all time. But by modern standards, they aren’t that quick – and not that reliable, either.

Enter the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation. It takes all of the beauty and drama you’d want from the DB4, but delves under the skin to make things just a little better. The six-cylinder engine from the regular DB4 has been enlarged to 4.7-litres, and now pushes out a healthy 390bhp. It should go like a rat up a drain pipe, then.

Lister Knobbly

The Lister Knobbly has a long and varied history, with a sparkling career in racing which began with the original car back in 1958. This modern version is built using original drawings and manufacturing jigs, but still produces 330bhp from its 3.8-litre engine. In fact, 0 to 60mph takes just 4.3 seconds in the Knobbly.

Though a true racing car, Lister make a road-going knobbly, which means that you can get out on the streets in a real classic – or at least a continued one, that is.

RUF CTR

We’ve got no qualms with included another Porsche-based car on this list, and the RUF CTR is certainly one of the brightest cars on this list. It pays homage to the classic CTR ‘Yellow Bird’ of the late 80s, and features a twin-turbo flat-six engine with an incredible 700bhp. It’s easily one of the most powerful cars on this list.

Forged alloy wheels, an carbon-fibre chassis and integrated roll cage all show how serious this CTR is. And yet, it’s still a 911 at heart!

DeLorean

The troubled DeLorean had a short and swift life. The brief glimmer of one of the most iconic gullwing cars of all time made a sizeable impact on the motoring world, as well as popular culture thanks to its inclusion in that time film.

But what people won’t tell you is that the DeLorean wasn’t all that good. It’s why the DeLorean Motor Company – a new enterprise based in America – is rebuilding the famed car with new parts and a more powerful engine. A Hollywood star with a bit more impact, you could say.

Bentley Blower Continuation

The huge Bentley Blower was a sizeable presence on the motoring scene back in 1929, mainly thanks to its colossal proportions and 4 ½-litre supercharged engine. It was a colossus of the time and continues to be today.

And Bentley, being Bentley, has decided to revisit the icon by creating several ‘continuation’ models. To do so, they’ve taken apart their own factory Blower and categorised each and every part to create a digital model of the car. From there, they create identical parts to create identical Blowers – it’s clever stuff, that’s for sure.

A car once used by the Queen Mother and another by Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson are set to be sold at auction this week.

Classic car devotee Alan Marshall from Hull is parting ways with a collection of 16 vintage Humber vehicles gathered over the past 60 years by both himself and his father. The decision to put them to sale comes as a result of rising maintenance and storage costs.

The variety of cars is expected to fetch between £200,000 and £250,000 when they go under the hammer via Hansons Auctioneers this week.

A 1952 Super-Snipe MKIII is one of the stars of the auction, having been owned by the Queen Mother. Used to take her to church during the reign of her husband King George VI, the car is said to bear marks she made on the grab handles.

Another draw is a 1930s 80bhp Sniper formerly used by Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson. It was discovered in a Northamptonshire scrapyard and was even requested to be used in the film W.E. by Madonna – though the offer was turned down by Marshall, who stated that the car couldn’t be used as its engine wasn’t in the vehicle at the time.

A Humber Imperial built for King George VI is another classic heading to the auction, though the king sadly died before it could be delivered. It goes alongside several other Humber models, as well as two bicycles made by the Midland-based car manufacturer.

One car which will only be sold if a single owner buys the entire collection is the first Humber Marshall’s father bought in 1960. He said: “I always remember the day I took the back seats out to deliver spuds to fish and chip shops in Hull.

“I don’t want to part with her but if we find someone willing to buy the whole collection for posterity it will be included. I hope my cars stay in the country. They’re like my family. I call them my girls and that first Humber bought by my dad is the boss. I always park her so she can see the others.”

He added: “But the time has come to let go. The costs of keeping them are too much for me now. My wife, Barbara, and I haven’t had a holiday for more than 40 years and if it’s a choice between my cars and my wife there’s no contest.”

The final 991-generation Porsche 911 to roll off the production line will be auctioned to raise money for a coronavirus relief fund.

The German car maker has teamed up with auctioneers RM Sotheby’s to host online bidding over the course of a week, with the only lot being a Porsche 911 Speedster. The money raised will go to the United Way Worldwide Covid-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund.

Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, said: “We are all profoundly affected by the current situation and the immediate impact it’s having on those most at risk in our communities.

“United Way continues to step up to the plate and their response to this crisis has been quite impressive. So we are proud to do our part. I also appreciate the swift support of RM Sotheby’s to make this possible and I am hopeful that the sale of a very special Porsche will help in a small way.”

The model going under the virtual hammer is a one-of-1,948 Porsche 911 Speedster, which is a convertible version of the sports car that features the 495bhp, 4.0-litre flat-six engine from the track-focused GT3 model.

The winning bidder will also receive a special 911 Speedster Heritage Design watch, which has a strap made from the same leather as the car’s interior and a silver winding motor that mimics the car’s wheels.