A 2003 Ferrari Enzo which is still wearing much of its original factory protective wrapping is heading to auction later this month.

The Enzo came about in 2002 to celebrate Ferrari’s dominance in Formula 1 in the early 2000s, and used a new 6.0-litre V12 engine alongside much of the same technology used in F1 at the time.

The ‘halo’ model for Ferrari in the first decade of the millennium, it’s also the only model in the Italian supercar brand’s history to ever use the name of its founder, Enzo Ferrari, who died in 1988.

Just 400 examples were produced, with the majority painted in Ferrari’s famous Rosso Corsa red colour. This example, however, is one of nine painted in Argento Nurburgring (silver) and is believed to have a unique ‘Cuoio’ brown leather interior.

Of more importance, however, is the fact this Enzo is believed to be one of the lowest mileage examples in existence, having covered just 141 miles in 20 years, with nearly all of these miles coming from factory testing before the car was handed over.

Described by RM Sotheby’s, who is selling the car, as a ‘time capsule’, and still features much of its original protective wrapping, and is said to have ‘remained largely out of sight for much of its life’.

Delivered new to a ‘significant’ Japanese collector, who has owned it ever since, this Enzo has never been registered and now resides in Ontario, Canada.

It is being sold with RM Sotheby’s ‘Sealed’ online bidding platform, with the auction opening on March 15 and closing two days later.

No estimate has been given, but given far higher mileage examples have sold for £2.5m in recent months, it’s expected to make well in excess of £3m when the auction closes.

Electric cars dominated the list of cars that depreciated the most last month.

Used car prices bucked the usual downward February trend by increasing one per cent in the month.

According to car valuation company Cap HPI, which revealed its data to automotive industry publication Car Dealer, the rise was for the benchmark of a three-year-old car with an average of 60,000 miles – only the third time that’s happened in February in 15 years.

But while petrol and diesel car prices went up by an average of 1.5 and 1.1 per cent respectively, comparable electric cars lost 7.7 per cent in the same period, with EVs accounting for all 10 of the biggest depreciating cars.

Here are the used cars that dropped the most in price in February.

1. Volkswagen e-Golf

The e-Golf was one of Volkswagen’s first electric cars and arrived before the firm started its ‘ID’ sub-brand for electric models.

Although it still offers a classy look and well-built interior, its claimed 144-mile range means the e-Golf is now showing its age, with used prices falling by a steep 15.1 per cent, or £2,300, in February.

2. Tesla Model S

Tesla prices have dropped sharply in recent months, not helped by the oversaturation of the market. It was the Model 3 that bore the brunt of the losses, but these seem to have plateaued now.

However, values of Tesla’s larger Model S saloon have continued to plummet, with this EV’s average price for a second-hand specimen dropping by 14.3 per cent in February – the equivalent of £5,617.

3. Tesla Model X

It’s another Tesla in third place, with the Model X SUV’s prices falling by 12.5 per cent, or a steep £6,178, in February. That latter figure is the biggest price loss of any car in the top 10, according to Cap HPI’s data.

Tesla is, however, making this large SUV an increasingly attractive proposition on the used market, with a Model X now available from £40,000. It also remains one of the only electric SUVs with seven seats.

4. Renault Zoe

Renault’s Zoe was an EV that helped to bring electric cars to the masses, and the new model is still an attractive option, particularly with its claimed 239-mile range.

It’s known for its steep depreciation, though, with used prices falling by 10.6 per cent (£1,192) in February. But while still an attractive proposition, it lacks the technology and excitement of many newer rivals.

5. Nissan Leaf

It’s a similar story with the Nissan Leaf, which while remaining perfectly credible, doesn’t have the emotive design and tech-laden interior of rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric.

And it meant that used Leaf prices also fell by 10.6 per cent in February, equating to a drop of £1,469.

6. Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai’s Ioniq remains one of very few cars sold as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and an EV, but after a successful few years, the firm discontinued it last year to make way for its new line-up of electric-only Ioniq models.

While prices remained firm for quite a while, they’re now starting to drop, with a used Ioniq of this age falling by 10.1 per cent (£1,475) in February.

7. Kia Soul EV

Kia has established itself as a major player in the electric car market, and so far its vehicles have mainly managed to avoid the massive price drops of competitor models. That said, the firm’s Soul EV is listed as one of the biggest-falling cars in February, dropping by 9.7 per cent (£1,400).

The Soul EV does, however, have plenty to offer, including a funky design plus a long 280-mile range, while many used models will still have the remainder of Kia’s seven-year warranty.

8. Peugeot e-2008

Peugeot has dramatically expanded its line-up of electric models in recent years, and one of the most stylish choices is the e-2008 crossover.

But despite the chic design, decent amount of space inside and high-quality interior, used models still dropped by an average of £1,615 in February, mirroring the Soul’s 9.7 per cent fall.

9. MG ZS EV

MG has really made a name for itself when it comes to affordable electric cars, and the ZS EV has proved particularly popular with money-savvy shoppers wanting to go electric.

That said, prices for the ZS EV did fall by more than the average for electric cars in February, tumbling by 8.9 per cent, or £1,275.

10. Audi e-tron Sportback

Audi recently refreshed its e-tron and sleeker Sportback model, addressing two of the weaknesses of the older car – its inefficiency and quite disappointing range.

It’s likely those were the factors that also brought the price of this electric coupe-SUV down by 8.9 per cent (£3,713) in February.

Ford has announced it is returning to the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado in 2023, and that it will be competing in a van.

But it won’t be a normal van, rather Ford’s wild electric Transit-based ‘SuperVan 4’. Revealed last year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it’s the latest execution of Ford’s ‘SuperVan’ concept, and the first EV.

Built by Ford Performance and rally specialists STARD, its four electric motors generate an enormous 1,973bhp, and means this heavily-modified Transit can accelerate from 0-60mph in just two seconds.

Ford has been competing at Pikes Peak for more than 100 years, and was present with its Model T at the first ever event, with the classic model taking 28 minutes and three seconds to reach the top of the 12.42-mile hill climb, which ends 14,115ft above sea level.

Ford hasn’t confirmed that it is hoping to break the overall record with the van, but has jokingly said it is ‘looking to shave more than a few minutes from the Model T’s time’.

At the wheel of the SuperVan will be Romain Dumas, who is the current record holder at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, getting to the top in a fraction under eight minutes at the 2018 event with the electric Volkswagen ID.R race car.

Dumas said: “Ford’s latest generation of electric vehicle technology is the perfect match for America’s Mountain. With high altitudes cutting power in traditional ICE-powered vehicles, the electric powertrain of SuperVan 4 has no loss at elevation and will be a healthy competitor in this year’s race.”

This year’s Pikes Peak Hillclimb takes place on June 25.

A Jaguar previously owned and driven by Queen Elizabeth II has been donated by Chris Evans’ CarFest as a prize for Red Nose Day.

The 2009 Jaguar X-Type Estate was first owned by the late monarch, with its original vehicle handbook confirming its registration as ‘PYN 1F’, belonging to the Queen. She was widely photographed using the car too, including at Windsor Castle.

Finished in Emerald Fire green paintwork with a ‘Barley’ leather interior, the car also comes with a Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate confirming its authenticity.

The Jaguar has now been donated by the X-Type’s current owner, radio DJ and presenter Chris Evans, and his CarFest motoring event as a competition prize for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

Evans said: “I’m so grateful CarFest is able to support Comic Relief and I’m thrilled that we are able to donate this very special historic car, and so pleased to be able to share it with another enthusiast, especially for such an important cause.”

The 2009 Jaguar, which has covered around 73,000 miles, was sold at auction in November 2022 by Historics, with the iconic estate car making £43,000, more than four times what an example without its provenance would go for.

Samir Patel, chief executive of Comic Relief, said: “We are enormously grateful to Chris Evans and CarFest for this generous donation for Red Nose Day – this truly is a prize like no other we have ever been able to offer our supporters. This is an extraordinary opportunity to own a real piece of history and will be such a special prize for the lucky winner.”

CarFest is a motoring event that is the brainchild of Chris Evans, a huge petrolhead. It takes place on the last weekend of August at Laverstoke Park Farm near Basingstoke, Hampshire.

The prize draw is now open, with entries set to close on March 31.

A main road in North Yorkshire frequently closed due to landslides is set to be replaced with a new route.

Announced today (February 23), the A59 at Kex Gill, which is the main route between towns Harrogate and Skipton, is set to benefit from a £68m project that will see a new road put in its place.

The area surrounding Kex Gill has a history of landslips that have caused a ‘number of costly unplanned road closures’. The new route’s location hasn’t been detailed, but the Department for Transport has said that the route has been designed to ‘minimise the impact on the environment and those residing in nearby towns and villages’.

The government is providing £56m of funding towards the project that will replace this section of the A59, with the remainder of the £68m project to be paid for by North Yorkshire County Council.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “It is welcome news that the Government has given us the final go-ahead to begin construction. The re-alignment of Kex Gill will undoubtedly be one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects.

“The A59 provides a very important east-west connection in North Yorkshire and is of national significance. We remain committed to completing the scheme as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective way.”

“Investing in projects like this to provide long-term improvements shows how the government is committed to levelling up transport links with long-term sustainable solutions.”

Work on the new section of road is set to start later this year, with the route set to open in 2025.

The green light for this section of road closely follows last week’s announcement from the Welsh government that it was scrapping all major road-building projects in the country over environmental concerns.

A Land Rover Defender first used by the Duke of Edinburgh is heading to auction this weekend.

The Defender was registered in 2010 and used by Prince Philip after being built to his individual specification. This included being painted in the rare colour of Keswick Green and finished with a black cloth interior. Heated seats and Land Rover seat covers were also fitted.

The Defender 110 County has covered just 15,623 miles and is being sold from a ‘significant private collection of special motor vehicles’, according to Silverstone Auctions, which is selling the Land Rover and describes it as being in a ‘gleaming’ condition.

Accompanying the sale is a history file containing letters between George Hassall, director of royal and diplomatic affairs at Jaguar Land Rover, to David Key, head chauffeur to the Duke of Edinburgh. While in royal possession, the Defender is believed to have been assigned the duke’s personal registration number of OXR 2.

It was sold by online auction site Collecting Cars in June 2022 for £44,000 and is now being sold by Silverstone Auctions on Saturday, February 25 at its Race Retro sale at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, with a guide price of £50,000 to £70,000.

Other royal-related cars are also being auctioned, including a 2013 Bentley Mulsanne that was used for royal household duties, as well as a 1942 Ford GPW Jeep that was used by King George VI on a wartime visit to RAF Chelveston that same year.

Philip, who died in April 2021, had a strong connection with Land Rover, using green Freelanders for several years. He also designed his own specially modified Defender to carry his coffin.

Even just a decade ago, Chinese cars were little to rave about. Often just copycat versions of popular cars sold at knock-down prices, it helped to tarnish their reputation.

But the rate of growth in the Chinese automotive industry has been immense in recent years. Already on-par with other established brands in China, these brands are now broadening their horizons and want to enter Europe – some already have.

It’s not just one brand coming to the UK, though. Oh no, there are a multitude of different brands from this corner of Asia looking to grow. Here we take a look at the Chinese car brands set to enter the UK in the coming years, and some which are already here.

BYD

You might expect the largest electric and hybrid car company in the world to be Tesla, right? But no, it’s actually BYD (standing for Build Your Dreams) – a Chinese brand that is a major deal; the firm selling 1.86 million cars in 2022, almost half of which were EVs.

Already available in other parts of Europe, BYD is shortly set to enter the UK market with its Atto 3 – an electric crossover boasting a 261-mile range. The Chinese firm has already partnered with several UK dealer groups ahead of it looking to launch its first showrooms by the end of March 2023.

Chery

Another Chinese car company setting its sights on the UK is Chery, which recently confirmed its hope to start selling cars in the UK from 2024. Chery is another major player, with the firm being China’s largest exporter of cars.

Arriving first in the UK is set to be the Omada 5, a model that will be sold with hybrid powertrains as well as electric, with the latter deemed to be the focus. Thanks to a 64kWh battery, this electric SUV is said to boast a range of up to 280 miles.

GWM Ora

Those with a good memory may remember Great Wall in the UK, as it sold budget pick-ups between 2012 and 2016, when tighter emissions regulations forced the firm to withdraw. But Great Wall Motors (GWM) is now back in the UK with its bold Ora brand.

It launched in the UK last year with its Mini-esque Funky Cat – a retro-styled hatchback offering impressive levels of technology and a range of up to 193 miles. Further models are also in the pipeline.

Xpeng

A very recent new Chinese brand that confirmed its intent to enter the UK is Xpeng, which originates from Shanghai. The brand has recently launched in various Scandinavian markets – including Norway and Sweden – which are well ahead when it comes to electrification, and it could enter the UK in 2025.

One of the key models for Xpeng is its G9 – a flagship SUV that offers something more upmarket than the other Chinese car brands we’ve mentioned so far. The G9 is set to be able to travel up to 354 miles thanks to its large 93kWh battery.

MG

If ever there was proof that the UK is ready for Chinese car brands, and is happy to embrace them, it’s MG. Admittedly, it helps that this company originally had its foundations as a British car firm, but is now run by SAIC Motor, which is owned by the state government in China.

MG is a major deal in the UK too, with the firm now selling more cars than the likes of Skoda and Mini. Renowned by buyers for offering great value and a long warranty, its electric models – such as the ZS EV and MG5 – are also proving very popular.

Nio

Nio is a Chinese car company that’s already operating in other parts of Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, but the UK is also set to join its portfolio later in 2023. This is an upmarket firm looking to rival Tesla, with models such as the ET7 saloon and EL7 SUV.

Nio has another trick up its sleeve, however, thanks to its battery swapping stations. So, rather than having to wait for a battery to be charged for half an hour or so, you can arrive at a station and have a new, fully-charged battery installed instead, helping to free up time. It’s not clear if this will be offered in the UK.

A Ferrari 360 Spider once owned by former professional footballer David Beckham has gone on sale online.

The Spider was owned by Beckham in the early 2000s, around the same time that the footballer’s then-club Manchester United won the 2002-03 Premier League title. It was also around the same time that Beckham was awarded an OBE.

Current prices for 360 Spiders stand at around £60,000, however, this particular example – which is currently on sale via automotive marketplace PistonHeads – is listed at £110,000 courtesy of its excellent condition and famous previous owner.

Though Beckham had kitted the 360 Spider out with a ‘D7 DVB’ private registration, the Ferrari is now back on its time-correct Y plate. It has also covered just 7,900 miles since 2001 while its owner says that it is accompanied by an ‘extensive’ service history, with major cambelt work completed routinely.

Matt Bird, deputy editor of PistonHeads, said: “The condition, the mileage, and an A-list history makes this one of the more special 360s out there.

“Even those not so interested in the football link, and simply after one of the best Modenas out there, would struggle to do much better. And for those that are, what a story you’ll have to tell when someone asks about your Ferrari.”

The 360 Spider also incorporates Challenge Stradale-style wheels – similar to some of Ferrari’s racing production cars – alongside a Tubi exhaust and lightweight carbon seats.

The Bugatti Chiron Profilée has become the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, with a price of €9.8m (£8.7m) including fees.

Sold yesterday evening (February 1) by RM Sotheby’s at an auction in Paris, the Profilée is also one of the most valuable Bugattis ever sold.

While Bugatti’s Chiron hypercar is rare in its own right, with only 500 models being produced, the Profilée is particularly special as it’s a bespoke one-off version. Originally intended to be sold in higher numbers, during the model’s development the Chiron completely sold out, deeming the Profilée to be a one-off example, classed as a ‘pre-series’ by Bugatti.

Unique details on this Chiron include its fixed tail spoiler, which is unique to modern Bugattis and striking alloy wheels that were created purely for the Profilée. A bespoke colour, called Argent Atlantique, was also created just for the car, with blue carbon fibre detailing complementing the look.

Powered by the Chiron’s renowned 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine, the Profilée sits between the Chiron Sport and Pur Sport models in the line-up, and is able to manage 0-60mph in just 2.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 236mph – 18mph higher than the Pur Sport model.

The €9.8m (£8.7m) sale price was more than double the pre-sale estimate of €4.2-5.5m (£3.74-4.89m).

This auction was the final chance to buy a ‘new’ Chiron, with production of the model ending shortly at the brand’s factory in Molsheim in northern France, with all versions already accounted for. The Chiron is the last Bugatti developed under Volkswagen Group ownership, with Croatian electric hypercar firm Rimac buying the legendary brand in 2021.

The 1978 Formula 1 World Championship-winning Lotus Type 79 famously driven by Mario Andretti is coming up for auction later this year.

Announced by auction house Bonhams yesterday at the Retromobile show in Paris, it’s one of the most important and iconic F1 cars from the period.

Full name John Player Special Lotus-Cosworth Type 79, it has the nickname ‘black beauty’ owing to its streamlined shape and black and gold John Player Special sponsor livery.

The Type 79 was introduced to Formula 1 in the 1978 season, with the cars winning six of the 11 Grand Prix races, and having five podium places.

This historic machine, chassis 79/4, was driven by Mario Andretti in the famous Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and would go on to claim the 1978 Formula 1 Driver’s world title. Andretti is only the second American to have ever won a championship title, after Phil Hill who won with Ferrari in 1961. However, with Hill’s victory, the car was scrapped, meaning this Lotus is the only remaining F1 championship-winning car to be driven by an American.

Not set to go under the hammer until November at Bonhams’ new sale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the model has an estimate of $6,5-9.5m (£5.27-7.71m).

Mark Osborne, global director of motorsport at Bonhams Collector Cars, said: “This car, 79/4 or JPS22 as the sponsors preferred ticks every conceivable box. From its ‘Superstar’ driver and crown-clinching Grand Prix success to its livery and pivotal trend-setting innovation, Mario’s Championship winner from 1978 stands not only as one of the most significant cars of the 3-litre F1 era, but of Formula 1 itself.”