Though practically a brand-new company, INEOS and its tactile Grenadier lineup continue to make strides. Today, it’s the sharing of a first product from their Arcane Works division, which in INEOS speak is the name of their in-house tailoring service.
What you see here is the Grenadier Detour. According to a post by INEOS on their social channels, the Detour is a limited-edition model created by Arcane Works. It features an 18-inch forged alloy wheel design we’ve not yet seen before on their existing model range. Inside, there’s a leather interior in a tan named Sahara Sand featuring unique V pattern embroidery.
On the outside is also-new Squall Green metallic paint. It’s unclear at this time whether all Grenadier Detours will be painted Squall Green or not.
Singer Vehicle Design has shared their latest reimagined Porsche 911, and it’s built to the firm’s now-sold-out and original Classic formula. Dubbed the “North Salem Commission”, this coupe features and understated specification for a more quintessentially classic appearance.
The paint color on the North Salem Commission is paint-to-sample Midnight Blue Metallic. It’s unclear if this is Porsche’s own Midnight Blue Metallic or not, so we’re not going to include our usual code designators simply because we don’t want to mislead. However, the color does look close to Porsche’s, and you can find more photos and information on that over on Porsche Club of America’s Rennbow website.
Inside, the orange/cognac hued leather is listed as Baseball Glove with perforated seat centers and square weave carpets.
For drivetrain, the car features Singer’s naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six with power sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
Details on the car, along with these photos in original format can be found on their Facebook Page.
Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure Riviera Collection turns heads at the Brussels Motor Show
A unique blend of craftsmanship, designed with bespoke exterior and interior elements inspired by the world of yachting
Alongside the new Continental GTC, powered by the ultra performance hybrid powertrain
[source: Bentley]
Brussels, Belgium – Bentley Motors proudly presents two exceptional models at the Brussels Motor Show, marking a new pinnacle of luxury and performance. The Bentayga EWB Azure Riviera Collection, with its captivating Aegean Blue exterior inspired by the depths of the sea, takes centre stage alongside the debut of the new Continental GTC in a dazzling Bronze finish at the heart of Belgium’s capital.
Designed to set a new standard for passenger comfort, the model features the innovative Airline Seat Specification, incorporating a postural adjustment system. This groundbreaking technology, developed in collaboration with chiropractors, uses algorithms to make 177 micro adjustments across six independent pressure zones over a three-hour period, ensuring optimal comfort and minimizing fatigue during long journeys. Reflecting the serenity and refinement of the yachting lifestyle, the Bentayga EWB Azure Riviera Collection is a testament to Bentley’s commitment to artistry and innovation.
The Bentayga EWB Azure Riviera Collection offers a unique bespoke environment with an interior that includes Linen as main hide and Brunel as secondary hide with Autumn accents. A special Riviera Collection ‘knot’ embroidery on the headrest and “Azure” embroidery on the seat backs in Autumn accents underpin the collection’s attention to detail and exclusivity.
Accompanying this extraordinary model is the new Continental GTC, finished in a stunning Bronze exterior complemented by granite-coloured brightware and striking 22” ten-spoke wheels in a grey-painted and bright-machined finish. With an interior in Cumbrian Green leather, Camel accents and detailed with contrast stitching. Redefining the ultimate blend of supercar performance, handcrafted luxury and everyday usability. The performance of the powertrain is matched by a new chassis system, with new two-chamber air springs paired with new dual-valve dampers, along with Bentley Dynamic Ride (48V active anti-roll control), eLSD and torque vectoring. The new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain delivers a revolutionary blend of extreme performance and effortless electric luxury, delivering an unforgettable driving experience.
The performance of the Continental GTC Speed is breath-taking for an open-air Grand Tourer. With 782 PS and 1000 Nm it takes 3.4 seconds from 0-100 km/h while delivering emissions of 29 g/km of CO2 and an electric range of 81 km on the WLTP drive cycle. The Convertible features Bentley’s seven-bow fabric roof system available in a range of seven exterior colours (including tweed) and deployable in 19 seconds at speeds up to 48 km/h.
The Bentley brand is represented by D’Ieteren Automotive in Belgium with three dedicated showrooms: Bentley Antwerp, Bentley Brussels and Bentley Knokke.
Rolls-Royce has announced an investment exceeding £300m to extend its manufacturing facility at Goodwood. This is the next step in the company’s commitment to creating value for clients by handcrafting the most complex, personal, and valuable luxury goods while providing an unparalleled client experience. The marque’s 2024 performance (a record year for Bespoke and the third-best sales result in the company’s history) confirms the success of this approach.
More than £300 million investment committed to Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood
Site extension to expand Bespoke and Coachbuild capabilities
10% increase in Bespoke content value per motor car year-on-year; a record result
Invite-only Private Office network expands to five with addition of two new locations
5,712 motor cars delivered in 2024: Third-highest annual sales figure on record
Global sales present a balanced picture, led by North America and Europe
Introduction of a record four new models in 2024: Cullinan Series II and Ghost Series II, together with the respective Black Badge models.
“In 2024, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reaffirmed its position as an authentic luxury house by crafting the most complex, personal, and valuable motor cars in its history. This momentum means it is necessary for us to invest more than £300 million in extending the Home of Rolls-Royce. This represents our most substantial financial commitment to Goodwood since its opening in 2003 and a significant vote of confidence in the Rolls-Royce marque, securing our future here in the UK. 2024’s record Bespoke results demonstrate our clients are increasingly drawn to the marque to create ever more ambitious and valuable motor cars, thereby enjoying the exceptional and highly personalised experience that Rolls-Royce ownership unlocks. This underscores our commitment to creating value for our clients and those with a stake in our business.” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced an investment exceeding £300 million to extend its manufacturing facility at Goodwood. This is the next step in the company’s commitment to creating value for clients by handcrafting the most complex, personal, and valuable luxury goods while providing an unparalleled client experience. The marque’s 2024 performance – a record year for Bespoke and the third-best sales result in the company’s history – confirms the success of this approach.
The extension will create additional space for the increasingly complex and high-value Bespoke and Coachbuild projects sought by clients who define luxury as something deeply personal to them. It will also ready the manufacturing facility for the marque’s transition to an all-battery electric vehicle (BEV) future.
This £300+ million investment is the single largest injection of capital since the plant opened on 1 January 2003. Then, it employed around 300 people and produced just one motor car a day. Although the Goodwood manufacturing plant has undergone significant internal changes over the past 20 years, the building itself has remained largely unchanged, while staff numbers have since increased more than eightfold, and the marque now produces up to 28 motor cars a day.
More than 2,500 individuals are now employed at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood – including many highly skilled manufacturing and craft specialists – as well as around 7,500 people in the company’s wider UK supply chain. In 2023, an independent study by the London School of Economics (LSE) demonstrated that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars contributes around half a billion pounds to the UK economy every year, as a leading representative of ‘UK PLC’.
Planning permission to extend the Home of Rolls-Royce was granted in 2024. Fittingly, this milestone was achieved during the year in which Rolls-Royce celebrated the 120th anniversary of the first meeting between its co-founders, The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry (later Sir Henry) Royce, on 4 May 1904. Site preparation and landscaping work is now underway.
During 2024, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of specialist designers, engineers, and craftspeople undertook some of their most creatively daring and technically challenging commissions to date. These projects incorporated innovative materials, features, and craft techniques never seen before on a Rolls-Royce motor car, resulting in unique, emotionally resonant masterpieces which truly reflect each commissioning client’s interests and personality.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Bespoke offering reached record levels in 2024. Bespoke content value increased 10% on average per motor car year-on-year, reaching the highest level in the company’s history.
This record achievement is a testament to Rolls-Royce’s long-term strategic focus on Bespoke, centred on creating value for clients through highly individualised products and experiences, and providing opportunities for meaningful personal expression. These commissions drew inspiration from diverse themes, ranging from spectacular natural phenomena and the marque’s heritage to cherished personal milestones and classic films. Artisans crafted exquisite details including solid 18-carat gold sculptures, intricate embroideries comprising more than 869,500 stitches, delicate marquetry composed of more than 500 individually shaped pieces of wood, captivating mother-of-pearl artworks, and holographic paint finishes, among other notable expressions of contemporary craft.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended received the most comprehensive Bespoke commissions throughout the year, as clients explored this generous and detailed canvas for personal expression. In its first full year of deliveries, clients immediately saw the Bespoke potential of Spectre, with this model containing the second highest level of Bespoke content per motor car in the marque’s 2024 portfolio.
The Middle East was the largest Bespoke region by average value per motor car, closely followed by North America and Europe.
Rolls-Royce Coachbuild, the pinnacle of Bespoke expression, unveiled Arcadia Droptail in 2024. It is one of four coachbuilt Droptail masterpieces, which followed the marque’s previous Coachbuild commissions ‘Sweptail’ and Boat Tail.
The marque’s commitment to Bespoke is reflected in its Private Offices, which take the highly personalised experience of commissioning a Rolls-Royce at Goodwood directly to clients around the world. In 2024, this global network of VIP spaces was expanded to New York and Seoul, which joined their counterparts in Dubai and Shanghai. Inspired by the original Private Office in Goodwood, these creative hubs are available by invitation, each designed to inspire creativity and close collaboration between clients and a dedicated designer and client experience manager based in the region. This unique experience is highly appreciated by clients, with Private Office commissions typically being 25% higher in value due to the opportunity to explore the full extent of Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke capabilities.
Rolls-Royce’s dealer partners around the world also continued to invest in the marque’s updated visual identity and showroom concept, which provides a social, creatively engaging environment in which clients can relax and find inspiration for their Bespoke commission.
The Rolls-Royce invitation-only members’ app, Whispers, continued to grow in 2024, with a 55% uplift in membership. In this exclusive digital members’ club, clients can network with each other and gain access to exclusive Rolls-Royce insights about the marque and the wider luxury world. Whispers also enables direct client contact with senior Rolls-Royce Motor Cars executives and those who own a Goodwood-era Rolls-Royce, fostering a particularly close bond between the marque and its clients.
GLOBALLY BALANCED SALES PICTURE
Rolls-Royce introduced a record four new models in 2024: Cullinan Series II and Ghost Series II, together with the respective Black Badge models. These highly successful launches, together with sustained demand for all Rolls-Royce products, contributed to global sales of 5,712 in 2024 – the third-highest annual total ever achieved and in line with the marque’s forecasts and expectations, given the changeover to the new models.
2024 was also the first full year of sales for Rolls-Royce Spectre, which proved even more popular than expected. Spectre was the most requested Rolls-Royce model in Europe last year and the second most demanded globally, with clients around the world confirming it amplifies the attributes for which the marque is most renowned: silence, ‘waftability’ and the unique ‘magic-carpet ride’ experience.
Taking all regions into consideration, the most requested Rolls-Royce models in 2024 were Cullinan, Spectre, then Ghost. Phantom, the marque’s flagship, retained its status as the ultimate and rarest Rolls-Royce. Phantom will celebrate its centenary in 2025.
In 2024, North America was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ largest sales region, measured by the number of motor cars handed over to clients. Several regions, including the Middle East & Africa, Europe, and Asia Pacific, achieved record sales. In China, the marque responded to sustained demand for Bespoke from its dealer partners, reflecting a continuous increase in younger clientele engaging with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and its unique and highly personalised experience. This is most clearly evidenced at the Private Office in Shanghai, which opened in 2023, demonstrating the marque’s ongoing commitment to the region.
In 2024, Rolls-Royce also benefited from smaller but fast-growing markets, including Malaysia, Thailand, and the Netherlands. The UAE, Germany and Japan, all large and well-established markets for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, were among a number of countries which achieved record sales in 2024. They also experienced a significant uplift in demand for Bespoke features, with some of the most ambitious Bespoke commissions originating from these markets.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars looks forward with confidence to 2025, when the marque will be unveiling its next electric motor car.
INEOS Automotive presents first special project build: ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’
Custom build leverages partnerships with class-leading accessory suppliers
Demonstrates the infinite customisation possibilities available with the INEOS Grenadier and Quartermaster
Visually arresting all-black off-roader features Norweld tray and canopy, JMACX suspension enhancements, Brown Davis long range fuel tank, and REDARC battery and battery management systems
Kaiju Quartermaster will be seen at events cross Australia over the next few months
[source: INEOS Automotive]
Australia – INEOS Automotive’s Australian operation has built a one-off special Grenadier Quartermaster Cab Chassis: the ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’. The name, meaning a mythical ‘giant creature’ or ‘monster’ in Japanese, was chosen to convey the powerful capabilities of the Grenadier, and acknowledges Australia’s love affair with modified Japanese 4×4 vehicles.
The striking all-black Kaiju Quartermaster is based on the strong foundation of the Quartermaster Cab Chassis ute, which is engineered to deliver a class-leading combination of off-road capability and load-carrying versatility for work and adventure. The one-off ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ has been built in partnership with some of Australia’s most innovative and reputable third-party accessory suppliers, including Norweld, Rhino-Rack, Brown Davis, REDARC, JMACX, GME, BF Goodrich, MAXTRAX, and STEDI*.
With a fully blacked-out exterior and commanding presence, the Kaiju project has resulted in a unique off-roader that epitomises an iconic heavily modified Aussie 4×4 overlander, while showcasing the infinite customisation possibilities available to Grenadier and Quartermaster customers.
Justin Hocevar, Regional Director, APAC at INEOS Automotive commented: “We wantedto create a truly unique Quartermaster together with some incredibly innovative local engineering & accessory partners. The Quartermaster Cab Chassis is a ‘blank canvas’ that allows for great versatility when it comes to customisation, so together with these project partners, we let our imagination run wild.Ultimately, the ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ expresses our Australian vision of Built For More.”
Equipment on the special build includes premium fitment options such as the Norweld Elite Tray and Compact Deluxe Lite Canopy, engineered to handle extreme conditions while being lightweight and designed with a gutter system and rubber seals to ensure dust and water resistance on the most extreme overlanding adventures.
The ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ is also fitted with the Brown Davis long range fuel tank #IG23A2 – tucked neatly behind the rear bumper, giving explorers the ultimate option for remote travel with a total of 168 litres on top of the factory 90-litre tank.
To provide unparalleled performance and enhanced protection, REDARC’s range of RS3 Pure Sine Wave Inverters, Alpha150 150A lithium battery and Manager Alpha50 have also been fitted, giving the ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ a complete battery management system for the most demanding recreational and off-grid energy needs.
Unusually, INEOS Automotive extends the vehicle’s warranty to cover select aftermarket components from official accessories partners when ordered through retailers. This provides customers with cast-iron peace-of-mind even when customizing their Grenadier or Quartermaster to suit their own particular needs.
The ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ will be seen utilised across events and for promotional purposes in Australia over the next few months.
To find out more about Grenadier range pricing, technical specifications and options, visit www.ineosgrenadier.com.
Landmark Bespoke commissions completed in 2024 reflect the record level of Bespoke demand
Commissions illustrate clients’ increasingly bold, diverse and personal inspirations
Each features unique details never previously seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car, including paint inspired by celestial phenomena and a Bespoke gold golf putter
Testament to the exceptional creativity, skill and unparalleled artistry of the Bespoke Collective
Highlights include all motor cars in the current Rolls-Royce product portfolio
[source: Rolls-Royce]
“Every Rolls-Royce motor car serves as a blank canvas for an owner’s Bespoke commission. This year, we have once again been delighted and challenged by the breadth of our clients’ imagination, creativity and ambition, which presented the perfect opportunity to showcase the ingenuity and vision of our Bespoke Collective. As these commission highlights demonstrate, inspiration can come from anywhere, and increasingly we see clients requesting even more personal touches in their motor car, creating expressive works in their own right and as part of a broader legacy. It is a testimony to the skills of our Bespoke teams, and our brand’s standing in the luxury world, that clients share with us their dreams, confident in our ability to realise them in line with their ambitious creative vision.” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
In 2024, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople brought to life some of the most creative and ambitious examples of artistry ever seen.
Client commissions comprised highly complex, hand-painted and embroidered artworks, stainless steel and gold inlays, exquisite iridescent paint finishes and much more. Driven by their pursuit of perfection and the dreams of the marque’s clients, Rolls-Royce artisans created singular graphics, such as a 869,500-stitch embroidery inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy, and captured cultural symbols using the canvas of leather, wood and fabric. From finely executed coachline motifs to full-scale artworks within the interior, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective once again stretched the breadth of luxury possibility.
The extraordinary complexity behind this year’s commissions reflects the ever-growing number of clients that trust the marque’s artisans with their boldest visions. While these inspirations are as diverse as the personalities of the clients themselves, clear themes have emerged over the year. Bespoke commissions are becoming increasingly personal, with many clients curating individual masterpieces to mark major life events and commemorate transformative moments, places and people that are meaningful to them.
As 2024 comes to an end, Rolls-Royce reflects on just some of the finest examples of Bespoke possibility. The motor cars selected are owned by clients who have generously given permission for their details to be shared with the public.
PHANTOM SCINTILLA Limited to just 10 examples worldwide, this magnificent Private Collection celebrates the ethereal beauty, grace and legacy of the Spirit of Ecstasy.
The interior is embroidered with 869,500 stitches forming a continuous graphic inspired by her expressive form. The figurine itself has a unique ceramic finish, evoking the Parian marble of The Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Greek statue that inspired Claude Johnson to commission the original mascot in 1910.
The centrepiece is the Celestial Pulse Gallery, capturing the fleeting presence of the Spirit of Ecstasy. This artwork comprises seven individually milled ribbons, cloaked in the same ceramic finish as the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Above, the Bespoke Starlight Headliner features an animation with 1,500 fibre-optic ‘stars’, inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy’s flowing gown.
BLACK BADGE GHOST CITY LIGHTS In this commission, created exclusively for the UK, the Illuminated Fascia features a Bespoke design recreating a bird’s-eye panorama of London. The graphic is inspired by the thrilling view of the city seen from an aeroplane as it makes its final approach to landing at night. The pattern is composed of 8,372 laser-etched lights, each individually placed by hand in the Piano Black veneer surface.
CULLINAN SERIES II – INSPIRED BY ROSE This delicate, highly artistic commission was inspired by the Phantom Rose, specially bred for Rolls-Royce, which grows in the courtyard of the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and nowhere else in the world.
Bespoke designers created a stylised rose motif, which was then translated into the delicate embroidery on the front and rear headrests and incorporated into the meticulously hand-painted Coachline.
PHANTOM GOLDFINGER To mark the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film Goldfinger, Rolls-Royce created this intricately detailed homage to the eponymous villain’s 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville.
Bespoke specialists faithfully recreated the original motor car’s famous black and yellow exterior finish, with ingenious features referencing the film’s pivotal scenes – from a gold golf putter, inspired by one used by Auric Goldfinger in his infamous match with 007, to a solid 18-carat gold speedform displayed in the centre console.
Other gold-inspired features include gold-plated treadplates embossed with the same font developed for the film in 1964, a 24-carat gold-plated VIN plaque engraved with a number ending in 007, as well as organ stops, seat bullets and speaker frets with a lustrous gold finish.
The Gallery houses a stainless-steel artwork featuring an isoline map of the Furka Pass, where 007 is seen in the film following Goldfinger to his smelting plant. As another subtle reference, the Starlight Headliner reflects the constellations as they appeared over the Furka Pass in Switzerland on the final day of filming the scene. As a finishing touch, a hidden projector was developed to display the legendary ‘007’ logo when the boot is opened.
SPECTRE LUNAFLAIR Commissioned by a discerning client from the United States, Spectre Lunaflair draws inspiration from the optical phenomenon of a lunar halo, where moonlight refracted through high-altitude ice crystals creates a bright ring around the moon.
To capture this spectacle, the marque’s specialists spent a year developing a unique holographic paint finish, reserved exclusively for the commissioning client. The captivating ‘rainbow’ effect is achieved by applying seven layers of lacquer, including a pearlescent layer infused with fine flakes of magnesium fluoride and aluminium. This creates a deep metallic effect in low light that bursts into rainbow technicolour under bright sunshine.
The Spectre Lunaflair concept was partially inspired by another Bespoke masterpiece, the one-of-one Phantom Syntopia. Captivated by Phantom Syntopia’s iridescent Liquid Noir finish, the commissioning client asked the Bespoke Collective to create a light and luminous expression of this concept that reflected their fascination with the lunar halo phenomenon. This cross-pollination of ideas exemplifies the power of Bespoke at Rolls-Royce.
GHOST EXTENDED SERIES II – THE ENCOUNTER This exquisite Ghost Extended Series II is designed to mark the 120th anniversary of the meeting of its founders on 4 May 1904. The celebratory commission contains numerous references to The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce, including their initials embroidered on the headrests, their signatures on the C-pillar, and the historic date of their introduction as the coachline motif.
The interior is finished in Duality Twill, a new rayon fabric made from bamboo, embroidered with a ‘Duality’ graphic – an abstract interpretation of the interlinked R initials of the marque’s founders’ names.
PHANTOM YEAR OF THE DRAGON Commissioned via the Shanghai Private Office, this extraordinary Phantom Extended was created to mark the Lunar New Year, beginning on 10 February 2024. In a beautiful example of the growing trend towards blending international heritage and Chinese cultural traditions, known as guochao, the interior features meticulously crafted details inspired by a traditional dragon symbol.
These include a unique hand-painted artwork on the front passenger panel, dragon embroidery on the headrests, coachline motif and the first-ever depiction of a dragon in a Bespoke Starlight Headliner, crafted from 677 ‘stars’.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Cullinan Series II: WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 380-363 g/km; Fuel consumption: 16.8-17.7 mpg / 16.8-16.0 l/100km.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Black Badge Ghost: WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 359 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.9 mpg / 15.8 l/100km.
Ghost Extended Series II: WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 358-348 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.9–18.5mpg / 15.8–15.3 l/100km.
Spectre: WLTP: Power consumption: 2.6-2.8 mi/kWh / 23.6-22.2 kWh/100km. Electric range 329 mi / 530 km. NEDC: CO2 emissions 0 g/km.
Phantom Series II: NEDC combined: CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg / 15.1 l/100km. WLTP combined: CO2 emissions: 351-362 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.7-18.2 mpg / 15.5-16.0 l/100km.
Phantom Extended Series II: NEDC combined: CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg / 15.1 l/100km. WLTP combined: CO2 emissions: 353-365 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.4-18.1 mpg / 15.6-16.2 l/100km.
About Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a true luxury house, creating the world’s most recognised, revered and desirable handcrafted Bespoke products for its international clientele.
There are over 2,500 people working at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex. This comprises both its global headquarters and Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence – the only place in the world where Rolls-Royce motor cars are designed, engineered and meticulously built by hand. An independent study by the London School of Economics & Political Science confirms that since the company first launched at Goodwood in 2003, it has contributed more than £4 billion to the UK economy and adds more than £500 million in economic value every year.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BMW Group and is a completely separate, unrelated company from Rolls-Royce plc, the manufacturer of aircraft engines and propulsion systems.
Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy – The year 2024 comes to a close following important work by Lamborghini Polo Storico: it was a year full of activities and awards won in the most prestigious international concours d’elegance that further cemented its role as the point of reference for Lamborghini collectors globally. In 2025 Polo Storico will celebrate its tenth anniversary, a significant milestone that attests to this department’s continuous evolution.
“2024 has been a year both challenging and richly gratifying for our entire team,” said Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director of Automobili Lamborghini. “Not only have we achieved excellent results commercially in terms of certifications and restorations, but we have also shared and enhanced the history of the brand and our cars with customers and enthusiasts all over the world.”
In February, Polo Storico participated in The ICE event held in Saint Moritz, where it showcased two iconic models from the Lamborghini Museum on the frozen lake: a 1973 Jarama S and a 1968 400 GT 2+2, both equipped with the legendary Lamborghini V12 engine.
In March, on the 60th anniversary of the 350 GT, Lamborghini’s first production car was taken to Geneva to commemorate the model’s debut at the 1964 Motor Show.
In May, the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza hosted four classic Lamborghinis. These included a 1967 Miura P400 and a 1976 Countach LP 400, which was awarded by the jury with the Il Canto del Motore prize for the best sound. Also on display were a 1990 Countach 25th Anniversary, certified by Polo Storico, and a 1999 Diablo GT, currently undergoing analysis to obtain certification, which won the BMW Group Ragazzi trophy at Villa Erba, an award that confirms the growing attention of collectors to the youngtimer models. Also in May, Polo Storico participated in the Lamborghini Day UK event, where it showcased a Diablo SV and a Countach LP400, the first version of the iconic Lamborghini that in 2024 celebrated its 50th anniversary since going into production.
September marked some special moments linked to the Countach’s 50th anniversary. At the Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille, held in September in France, the Countach was the star of a dedicated class, with the presence of the very first production car built (chassis number 001). This historical example also returned to the original production line, the same place where the Lamborghini Revuelto is currently being produced, for a photo shoot that established a dialog between the past and present of the Lamborghini V12.
In October, at the Auto e Moto d’Epoca show in Bologna, Polo Storico displayed the body of a 1968 Miura S currently undergoing restoration and a 1994 Diablo SE in the process of certification. Finally, during the month of November, Polo Storico supported Lamborghini Day Germany with the presence of three classic Lamborghinis on display, all certified by Polo Storico: this was followed by Lamborghini Day Japan, an event enlivened by a parade of 131 cars, including 30 classic models supported by Polo Storico, representing the brand’s heritage through the streets of Tokyo. Being involved so extensively in these prestigious events during 2024, further strengthened the international ambassadorial role of Polo Storico on behalf of Lamborghini.
Continuing its steady growth, Lamborghini Polo Storico will mark its tenth anniversary in 2025. This important milestone is an opportunity for the Polo to celebrate its evolution and activities by participating in international and company events, along with concours d’elegance around the world, consolidating its central role in the preservation and enhancement of the brand’s history.
It was just a simple social media post, but it was also an excellent way for Bentley to show where their tailoring process begins. When considering a Mulliner specification of your own choosing, clients start by choosing the colors and materials.
Will this wood trim look good with that leather, or blue metallic paint? Considering bold or subdued combinations and considering it all is done with sample materials such as these at your local Bentley dealer.
5 exclusive Emira Limited liveries, limited to just 12 units each
Emira Limited visualizes Lotus’ Formula one-inspired DNA
Prelude to European launch of Lotus ‘Chapman Bespoke’ personalization program in 2025
[source: Lotus]
Amsterdam, Netherlands – Lotus unveils an exclusive Emira Limited series, based on its renowned four-cylinder Emira sports car, embodying a vivid homage to the brand’s legendary racing heritage. This collection features five distinctive liveries, each inspired by the iconic Lotus racing DNA, limited to just 12 units per design. Set to be available across 12 selected European markets, the Emira Limited series honours Lotus’s storied past with the symbolic “12” paying tribute to Formula One driver Ayrton Senna’s famous starting number during his Lotus years.
The Emira Limited series also signals the beginning of a new era in customization, offering a preview of what’s to come with the ‘Chapman Bespoke’ personalization program, launching in 2025. With this vibrant introduction, the British marque hints at a future where each Lotus can be tailored to the personality and preferences of its driver, making each model truly unique.
Lotus Formula One inspired designs Beginning of this year, the ‘First Edition’ heralded the market launch of the Emira sports car equipped with the powerful mid-engined four-cylinder from technology partner AMG. Now Lotus extends the range with the Emira Limited. The distinctive bespoke exterior details of the 5 Emira Limited liveries are all factory supported and are actually part of the overall paintjob of the cars, applied in the Hethel factory in the UK. Apart from its special looks and exclusive black Lotus logos, the Emira Limited can be recognized by the stylish ‘Emira Limited 1/12’ badges on the B pillars and dashboard. The chosen color schemes are a clear reference to the historic Lotus Formula One cars. Some of the Emira Limited liveries also provide a direct, visible link to Ayrton Senna’s iconic starting number 12. To conclude, each Emira Limited comes with a certificate of authenticity, further enhancing the car’s uniqueness and ensuring its value to collectors.
From 2025 onwards the new ‘Chapman Bespoke’ personalization program will provide European customers the opportunity to further add personal notes to their new Emira and all other models from the Lotus product portfolio in detail – both externally and in the interior.
Five Emira Limited liveries Lotus will release the Emira Limited in five recognizable liveries, each inspired by different Lotus Formula one liveries from the past.
Emira inspired by the Lotus Type 99T: this vibrant yellow with blue accents recalls the Lotus Type 99T Formula 1 car with which Ayrton Senna competed successfully in the 1987 season. With Senna at the wheel, the Type 99T was the first F1 car with the Lotus innovation of active suspension to win a Grand Prix – Monaco – a feat that he repeated at Detroit; The Lotus Type 99T achieved eight podiums and helped Lotus and Senna to third places in the Constructors and Drivers championships. The iconic Lotus race number 12 is present on each side of the car in blue colour and tie in with the black brake calipers, front and side air intakes and the ‘LOTUS’ brand name on the rear.
Emira inspired by Type 97T: This is an elegant interpretation of the 1985 Formula 1 car, in which Ayrton Senna famously secured his first Grand Prix win, in the wet. Senna’s teammate, Elio de Angelis then won the following race at San Marino, with Senna gaining his second Grand Prix win later in the season at Spa-Francorchamps. Overall, the Type 97T achieved nine podiums that year and helped Lotus and Senna to third places in the Constructors and Drivers championships. It is a dark Shadow Grey with gold livery. The race number 12 is present on each side of the car also in the iconic gold and match the gold wheels.
Emira inspired by Type 86: In 1980 Lotus revolutionised the F1 world with the twin chassis Type 86. A one-off prototype for the following year’s groundbreaking Type 88, one chassis of the Type 86 fulfilled the aerodynamics supported the radiators, and the other chassis was for the driver and suspension, and to which the engine and gearbox were mounted. This Emira shows in a blue livery with red and silver stripes, the colours of the Team Lotus sponsor at the time. The ‘LOTUS’ brand name on the rear, and it features the number 11, both in matching silver.
Emira inspired by Type 78: The Type 78 pioneering 1977 Lotus Formula 1 car introduced the concept of an underfloor wing shape to create a low pressure, forcing the car into the ground through aerodynamics. This also had the potential of reducing drag and maximising downforce to achieve race-winning performance. The Type 78 was a very successful design, taking seven Grand Prix wins and eleven podiums through 1977 and into the early 1978 season. The Emira is in a dark Shadow grey and gold livery. Number 5 (Mario Andretti’s Type 78 race number in 1977 and 1978) with a half “Union Jack” is painted on the side and the gold and red details are carried over to the calipers and front splitter.
Emira inspired by Type 25: The Lotus Type 25 is one of the most important Formula One cars of all time. Famously driven by Jim Clark to the 1963 F1 Constructors and Drivers World Championships and winning 14 Grand Prix and achieving 18 podiums from 1962 to 1965 as it introduced the aircraft-style monocoque instead of the more conventional tubular spaceframe chassis. This gave benefits of strength, rigidity and safety and smaller cross-sectional area so that the Type 25 was the slimmest Formula 1 car the sport had ever seen. A significant safety feature of the Lotus Type 25 was the aircraft-style bag fuel tanks, mounted either side within the frame. They were lightweight, flexible and strong, reducing the chance of fuel leaks in the event of an accident. This Emira in a Dark Verdant Green body colour with painted Hethel Yellow striping and black brake calipers is reminiscent of the Type 25’s winning 1963 season. Its interior in Black Alcantara and Yellow stitching complete the racing-oriented design.
The five x twelve Emira Limited units are now available to order from Lotus dealerships in the 12 European countries (Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, Luxembourg, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark) in which they are exclusively offered.
Prices of the Lotus Emira Limited in Europe starting from €98.107
More information on the Lotus Emira Limited and the legacy behind its historic liveries is available at lotuscars.com/emira/limited.
Emira: an exciting ride The Emira marks the entrance to Lotus’ current production range, and together with the even more powerful Emira V6, pays tribute to a finite era of legendary Lotus models that solely rely on internal combustion engine power. With its smooth surfaces and sharp lines, the Emira overtly takes inspiration from the design of the Lotus Evija hypercar. Beneath its skin, and ahead of the rear axle, lies a 360 hp and 430 Nm strong 2.0-litre turbo engine from technology partner AMG, tuned by Lotus’ specialists in Hethel. The engine is combined with a lightning-fast 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In the Emira, that combination provides a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 283 km/h. With which, as the basis for the exclusive Emira Limited, the Lotus Emira guarantees an agile and exciting driving experience, in full Lotus tradition.
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About Lotus Lotus is a global performance car brand with a solid foundation and a rich heritage. Lotus has pioneered automotive innovation since its founding in 1948, applying cutting-edge technologies and designs based on its uncompromising vision of how a car should look, perform and feel. Lotus Group consists of Lotus Cars, a high-performance sports car brand, and Lotus Technology, a provider of all-electric and luxury mobility. Together, we set a new standard for excellence in automotive.
Radical design concept to kick off the Mythos series
Commemorates the design language of legendary racing cars
Intensive driving experience for two people
Strictly limited, extensive equipment
[source: Mercedes-Benz]
Affalterbach/Abu Dhabi — As the first model in the strictly limited Mercedes-Benz Mythos series, the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed (combined energy consumption: 13.7 l/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 312 g/km | CO₂ class: G)1 is celebrating its world premiere at the Formula 1™ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The uncompromising realisation of a fully open, two-seater performance car with no roof or windscreen is a tribute to racing and offers an unforgettable driving experience.
“The Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed is the most direct way to experience performance and fun at the wheel. Thanks to the car’s radically open design with no roof or windscreen, nothing separates the driver and passenger from the elements, allowing them to fully appreciate the vehicle, the road and the landscape with all their senses. The striking design reinterprets elements of legendary racing cars and makes for a fascinating, timeless silhouette. In this way, the PureSpeed bundles the traditional strengths of AMG: highly emotional and very high performance vehicles that inspire – at a glance and behind the wheel.” Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Head of Business Units Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Mercedes-Maybach
The Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed celebrates Mercedes-Benz’s tradition in motorsport with its thrilling racing car design, innovative materials and modern technology. The exclusive small series is strictly limited to 250 models.
Sports car design inspired by Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar The design of the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed is characterised by a combination of a low silhouette, a long bonnet and a very low front end with a distinctive shark nose. With its wide air intake, AMG lettering and a dark, chrome-plated Mercedes star on the soft nose, the front resembles the Mercedes-AMG ONE. In addition, the car features an aerodynamically optimised bonnet. The aerodynamics team’s extensive precision work is also evident in the small, partially transparent deflectors on the car’s front and sides, which keep turbulence from bothering the driver and passenger. Aerodynamic, sharply defined visible carbon fibre elements in the lower part of the car make for a strong contrast to the sensual, round shapes of its upper part. The boot lid and rear diffuser are also aerodynamically optimised. Their design takes the lack of a roof into account.
The design of the 21-inch forged aluminium wheels is characterised by carbon fibre covers on the front and rear axles. The rear covers are fully closed for less air resistance. The front covers are open to optimise front end airflow and brake cooling. The front features 275/35 R 21 tyres on 9.5 J x 21-inch rims; the rear uses 305/30 R 21 tyres on 11.0 J x 21-inch rims.
The design team’s precision work can also be seen in the side sill trim with aero flics. The muscular shoulders above the wide-track rear wheels merge into the elegant boot lid and the wide rear apron.
HALO system in place of A-pillar Another highlight is the HALO system, which the car uses instead of the conventional A-pillar. This element was inspired by the premier class of motorsport and has been part of every Formula 1™ vehicle since 2018. It protects the driver’s head in the event of an accident. The safety system in the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed consists of a robust tubular steel bracket. The bifurcated safety feature is firmly attached to the car’s shell structure. The aerodynamically optimised component protects both passengers; as such, it bifurcates behind the car’s occupants. The roll-over protection system also features two rigid roll bars that are concealed beneath the aerodynamic scoops. These components are also part of the shell structure. As one interesting detail, HALO is indirectly lit at the bottom by narrow LED strips, taking ambient lighting to a new level.
There are also two aerodynamically optimised helmets designed and manufactured specifically for the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed. They come in the colour of the car and have an intercom communication system. The helmets allow the driver and passenger to communicate clearly, even at high speeds. As an additional feature, smartphones can be paired with the intercom system, allowing the driver and passenger to talk on the phone and listen to music through the helmets’ speakers.
A tribute to legendary Mercedes models Many other features are also a tribute to motorsport. The two scoops behind the seats bear the AMG emblem and are reminiscent of legendary racing cars such as the 300 SLR, the car that Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson drove to victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia (a 1,000-mile race) in Italy. Fittingly, the PureSpeed comes in an exclusive Silver Arrow finish in mystic silver magno.
The optional motorsport styling package offers finishes that range from Le Mans red to graphite grey with a black AMG pattern. The latter is a tribute to the colour of the Mercedes that won the Targa Florio race in Sicily exactly 100 years ago. The car was finished in red, a colour only used by Italian manufacturers at the time.
German racing cars, on the other hand, were traditionally white. The red finish was intended to prevent Italian motorsport tifosi from trying to obstruct the German car. The plan worked: With Christian Werner at the wheel, the Mercedes 2-litre racing car with the number 10 was the first to cross the finish line. To commemorate this victory 100 years ago, the motorsport styling package features a ‘10’ on the front wing.
Two-tone colour and equipment concept With its classic two-tone colour and equipment concept in crystal white/black, the interior adds additional highlights. AMG Performance seats with special leather covers and unique decorative stitching offer optimal lateral support in addition to exclusive optics. Their design with flowing lines is inspired by the air that flows around the car. The heated multicontour seats increase the comfort level. The area behind the seats features carbon fibre. Integrated leather pads on the back continue the seats’ flowing lines, while the deep-pile AMG floor mats echo the seats’ colour, design and decorative stitching. The door sill trim also comes upholstered in leather. The AMG Performance steering wheel systematically continues the two-tone interior concept.
Another interior highlight is the custom-made analogue clock designed by IWC Schaffhausen. It is prominently placed in the middle of the dashboard in a drop-shaped housing in glossy black on a base made of visible carbon fibre. The base of the clock features a sophisticated design that makes the clock appear to float. The premium chronometer has a PureSpeed specific dial with AMG rhombi. For optimum visibility, the dial is illuminated at dusk and in the dark. The characteristic bezel underscores the visual affinity with the legendary IWC Ingenieur Collection. The Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System with 15 speakers and 1,170 watts of system power make for an authentic sound experience similar to a summer open air festival. A badge in the centre console reads ‘1 out of 250’ to indicate the model is part of the strictly limited Mythos series.
To protect the car from inclement weather such as rain or storms when parked, a protective weather cover is available as standard. It is stretched over the interior, including the HALO, and fastened to the wheel arches in the traditional way. Each customer also receives a custom-made, PureSpeed specific AMG indoor car cover. With a breathable outer skin of tear-resistant synthetic fibres and an anti-static inner fabric of flannel, it protects the car from dust and scratches in the garage.
Body shell: AMG sports car architecture with composite aluminium structure The PureSpeed is based on Mercedes-AMG’s sports car architecture. The chassis consists of an aluminium space frame with a self-supporting structure. This design ensures maximum rigidity, providing the perfect foundation for precise driving dynamics and sporty body proportions. The intelligent material mix reduces its weight. Materials used include aluminium, magnesium, fibre composites and steel. There are also carbon fibre parts for the aero elements at the front and rear aprons as well as the side sill and the trim behind the seats.
Sophisticated aerodynamics for unadulterated fun at the wheel The car features a host of active aerodynamic elements, such as the extendible rear spoiler, which is seamlessly integrated into the boot lid. It changes its position depending on driving conditions. The control software takes numerous parameters into account, including driving speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration and steering speed. The spoiler adopts five different angles at speeds above 80 km/h, allowing it to optimise driving stability or reduce drag, depending on its position.
The active aerodynamic element concealed in the underbody in front of the engine also contributes to safe and dynamic handling. Weighing around two kilograms, this carbon fibre profile reacts to the AMG driving modes, automatically lowering it by approximately 40 millimetres at speeds above 80 km/h. This creates what is known as the Venturi effect, which additionally sucks the car to the road surface and reduces the lift on the front axle. The driver feels this effect directly in the steering, as it allows the PureSpeed to be steered even more precisely around corners and lends the car even more lane stability.
Similar to the AMG GT 63 PRO, the underbody also features aerodynamic add-on elements that compensate for the lack of a roof and improve downforce. The lift system on the front axle is used to raise the PureSpeed before going over bumps or kerbs.
Powerful and sonorous: AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with 430 kW (585 PS) of maximum power and 800 Nm of maximum torque provides dynamic propulsion and excellent driving performance. Combined with the special design concept of the PureSpeed, this creates a uniquely exciting driving experience, because the radically open design makes even lower speeds feel subjectively much faster. But the objective figures are impressive as well: the car goes from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 315 km/h. Then there is the legendary AMG V8 engine sound, which can be felt even more directly in the PureSpeed.
Transmission with wet starting clutch The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission combines an emotional shifting experience with extremely short shifting times. A wet starting clutch replaces the torque converter. It reduces the car’s weight and, thanks to its lower mass inertia, optimises the response to accelerator commands, particularly during sprinting and load changes.
Greater traction and driving stability: Fully variable all-wheel drive AMG Performance 4MATIC+ The PureSpeed comes with the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. The intelligent system combines the advantages of different drive concepts: Fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles ensures optimal traction at the physical limit, as well as high driving stability and safety in all conditions.
Suspension and brakes: Semi-active roll stabilisation and optimal deceleration The innovative AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with semi-active hydraulic roll stabilisation makes for optimum road contact. Instead of conventional mechanical lateral stabilisers, the system uses active hydraulic elements that compensate for rolling movements in fractions of a second. The system enables optimum steering and load-changing behaviour with AMG-typical handling including dynamics, precision and driver feedback. At the same time, it increases driving comfort when driving straight ahead and when driving over bumps. The wide-track rear axle increases agility, which is particularly noticeable on winding country roads.
The standard AMG high-performance ceramic composite braking system ensures excellent deceleration values and precise control. It impresses with short braking distances, sensitive response and high stability – even under extreme loads. The 6-piston fixed brake callipers at the front and 1-piston floating callipers at the rear come in black with white AMG logos.
Active rear-axle steering: Combining agility and stability The PureSpeed is equipped with active rear-axle steering. Depending on the speed, the rear wheels either turn in the opposite direction (below 100 km/h) or in the same direction (above 100 km/h) as the front wheels. The system provides both agile and stable handling – characteristics that would be at odds without rear-axle steering. Other benefits include easier vehicle control at the limit and less steering effort due to the more direct steering ratio at the front.
Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance Mercedes-Benz AG is part of the Mercedes-Benz Group AG with a total of around 166,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes-Benz brand with Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and G-Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of luxury passenger cars. In 2023 it sold around two million passenger cars and 447,800 vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes-Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes-Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes-Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
