Wanderlust

Category: News

  • Three Unique Bentaygas to Celebrate International Women’s Day

    Three Unique Bentaygas to Celebrate International Women’s Day

    • Three bespoke Bentaygas inspired by the ‘Bentley Girls’ of the 1920s
    • Mary Petre Bruce, Dorothy Paget and Diana Barnato Walker each played an extraordinary part in building the Bentley story
    • Details taken from Mary Bruce’s 4½ Litre, Dorothy Paget’s supercharged Blower and Diana Barnato Walker’s Spitfire aircraft 
    • Designs incorporated into one-of-one Bentayga S, Azure and EWB specifications 
    • Unique materials and details honour the stories of these powerful women
    • Bentley celebrates project with female ideation, designers and implementation throughout pushing ‘Extraordinary Women’ program further 

    [source: Bentley]

    Crewe, England – In honour of International Women’s Day and the wider Women’s History Month, Bentley Motors is excited to announce three special Bentayga specifications to celebrate the famous ‘Bentley Girls’: Mary Petre Bruce, Dorothy Paget and Diana Barnato Walker.

    Two bespoke designers – Emma Carruthers and Georgia Gough – commissioned three unique interpretations inspired by the amazing women that held defining roles in the brand’s 105-year history. While the Bentley Boys may have set the pace, the Bentley Girls refused to take a back seat, making their mark in inimitable Bentley style. Now, their lives and achievements are celebrated in three one-off Bentayga specifications, with the Bentayga’s go-anywhere luxury a perfect match for the incredible lifestyles they led. 

    Each unique specification incorporates special design cues from the storied past of each Bentley Girl defining a modern interpretation of their vehicle of choice today.  

    Karen Lange, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Human Resources, comments:

    “The Bentley Girls each played a crucial role in Bentley’s history and it is important to bring their involvement to light. We are always striving to expand the ‘Bentley Family’ and sometimes that means looking back and honoring important people who brought so much meaning to the Bentley brand we know today. These three cars are an homage to the lives of the Bentley Girls, and the contributions they made to the Bentley we know and love today.”  

    Mary Petre Bruce: Born For Speed

    The Bentayga Azure celebrating Mary Petre Bruce is inspired by the 4½ Litre Bentley she drove at Montlhéry, France for 24 hours on 6 June 1929, to capture the world record for single-handed driving, averaging more than 89 miles per hour. Mary had never driven a Bentley until the day of the record attempt and had to borrow cushions from the official timekeepers so she could reach the pedals. Despite fog, cold and treacherous track conditions she covered 2,164 miles in 24 hours. 

    In the same year she set a powerboat record for the fastest double-crossing of the Channel before buying herself an aircraft and learning to fly in just six weeks. Then she set off on a solo round the world flight, breaking record after record on her way – becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the world alone.

    The Mary Petre Bruce Bentayga Azure features Parson Green Pearlescent Paint over matching heritage hide, both a direct connection to her 4½ Litre. The interior features 24-karat gold organ stops, aligning with her winning mentality and lavish lifestyle. Mother of pearl crossbanded veneer is also included – a nod to a celebrated quote from Mary: “I was never keen on overalls or slacks, but always drove in a blouse, tailored skirt and a string of pearls”. Further inspiration from her 4½ Litre includes vertical fluted quilting seat uppers and doorcards as well as Mother of Pearl Marquetry reading ‘YV 7263’ – the number plate of the car she drove. A finishing touch is a chequered flag D pillar badge alongside Blackline Specification, reflecting the sporting minimalism of the 4½ Litre’s design and as a tribute to Mary’s racing past.

    Dorothy Paget and the Blower Bentley

    Dorothy Paget played a vital role in the creation of one of the most iconic Bentleys; the 4½ Litre Supercharged, commonly known as the Blower Bentley. While other young ladies prioritised finding a suitor, Paget focused her passion for speed and power. Her interest in motor racing first developed on a visit to Brooklands, where she took driving lessons from Bentley Boy and racing driver Sir Tim Birkin. He described her as one of the finest women drivers he had ever come across, ‘capable of handling any make of racing car produced in this country or abroad.’

    By 1929, Birkin had become obsessed with driving more performance from the Bentley 4½ Litre. He was convinced that Amherst Villiers’ supercharger was the way to do it, and despite the opposition of W.O. Bentley himself, Dorothy Paget sponsored a racing team of supercharged Blowers. Four 4½ Litre Supercharged Blowers were built, and Birkin’s team competed alongside Bentley’s Works team at Brooklands and Le Mans. The #2 Team Car, raced by Birkin himself at Le Mans in 1930, has since become the most famous, most iconic and most valuable Bentley in the world – a car of legend, despite never winning a race.

    The Dorothy Paget Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) Mulliner features solid Blower Green Exterior paint over minimal color split interior hide of Cumbrian and Blower Green – colour-matched to Team Car #2 itself. The EWB Mulliner – the pinnacle of the Bentayga range – was chosen to express and showcase Dorothy’s extraordinary lifestyle. There are further inspirations from the Bentley Blower which she helped create, including Nickel Painted Self Levelling Wheel Accent Bezels and Painted Nickel Veneer Carriers to the interior – both a reference to the Blower’s radiator. To the inside, engine spin aluminum fascias echo the dashboard of the Blower. 

    Diana Barnato: Bentley’s Flying Lady

    Daughter of three-time Le Mans winner Woolf Barnato, Diana Barnato Walker inherited her father’s flair and courageous spirit. She was an accomplished horsewoman and keen motorist, driving a Dove Grey Bentley 4¼ Litre Park Ward saloon.

    Like Mary Petre Bruce, flying became Diana’s lifelong passion. She flew solo at the Brooklands Flying Club in 1938 after only six hours of instruction and joined the Air Transport Auxiliary in 1941, delivering aircraft from the factories to front-line squadrons. It was a dangerous job – she had to navigate herself without any ground contact, as the radio frequencies were reserved for the frontline squadrons. Famous for her glamorous appearance and exceptional flying skills, by the end of the war she had delivered 260 Spitfires and numerous other aircraft to their squadrons.

    The Diana Barnato Bentayga S is inspired by her favorite aircraft – the Spitfire – and so features a Smoke Green exterior and the interior hide split of green and saddle, referencing the Spitfire Mk9’s cockpit. Additionally, the car features a bespoke D Pillar badge with the Spitfire emblem and Signal Yellow accents replicating the colour of the wing’s leading edge.

    Extraordinary Women 

    Bentley Motors’ Extraordinary Women initiative is a global mentoring programme that is committed to inspiring and developing the next generation of young female leaders, specifically female students in the fields of engineering, design, technology and business. The project supports Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy, including the aim for Bentley to become the most diverse luxury car company with colleagues as individual as its cars.

  • First Bespoke Limited “Opulence Edition” in India Curated by Bentley Mulliner

    First Bespoke Limited “Opulence Edition” in India Curated by Bentley Mulliner

    • First ever Mulliner Bespoke Edition created for Indian market
    • Collection includes Continental GT Speed, Flying Spur Speed and Bentayga EWB Azure
    • A harmonious fusion of power, grace and natural beauty, with colours and materials featuring the Indian national colours of green and orange
    • First use of Scarab green paint from Mulliner coachbuild programme
    • Unique fascia design depicts wild horses and mountain peaks, traditional symbols of good luck and prosperity as per Indian feng shui

    [source: Bentley]

    Crewe, England – Five individually curated Bentley models, commissioned by a Bentley retailer, comprise the first Mulliner Bespoke Edition created exclusively for the Indian Market. All feature an extensive specification, with unique exterior and interior finishes inspired by the colours of the Indian flag. Each example is handcrafted in Crewe, England, by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house personalisation and bespoke department.

    The Opulence Edition for India is limited to just five vehicles: a Continental GT Speed, a Flying Spur Speed and three Bentayga EWB Azure models. All five are presented in Scarab Green exterior finish, an exclusive Mulliner development inspired by the iridescent green exo-skeleton of the Scarab beetle. Complemented by bespoke interior colourways of Mandarin and Cumbrian Green hide, each car is a tribute to India’s national colours. 

    Bespoke elements of the Opulence Edition

    Although different in character, all five models in the Opulence Edition have key bespoke elements in common. All feature the lustrous Scarab Green exterior finish that was first developed for Bentley’s first coachbuilt barchetta, the Bacalar. Inside, the orange and green of India’s national colours are represented by upholstery of Mandarin main hide and Cumbrian Green secondary hide. The mirror-like Piano veneer of the fascia and trim is also finished in Cumbrian Green, with an inset chrome motif on the fascia of wild horses and mountain peaks. From the initial brief, designers and artisans painstakingly produced multiple depictions until the perfect composition was achieved. The design was ultimately hand-drawn, and carefully applied to the fascia using a chrome overlay technique. This unique colour and trim specification is the outcome of close collaboration between Bentley Mumbai and the Mulliner team, and celebrates the first-ever Mulliner bespoke edition created for the Indian market. 

    Performance delivered by the Opulence Edition Continental GT Speed 

    The 659 PS Continental GT Speed is the ultimate performance-focused iteration of the world’s benchmark luxury Grand Tourer, and the Opulence Edition complements its character perfectly. The Scarab Green exterior and 22” Speed wheels in dark tint finish focus one’s attention on its poised and muscular lines, while the LED welcome lamps, and self-levelling wheel centre badges are typical of Mulliner’s perfectionist attention to detail. 

    Open the driver’s door, and the full drama of the two-colour interior is revealed, with knurled switchgear and instrument bezels set on a fascia of Cumbrian Green in a piano finish. Contrast stitching in Mandarin picks out the lines of the upholstery and the diamonds of the quilted sections. The Opulence Edition Continental GT Speed was limited to one example, and this has already been delivered to its delighted owner. 

    Opulence Edition Flying Spur Speed’s bespoke craftsmanship

    The Opulence Edition Flying Spur Speed’s lavish specification includes diamond knurling on bezels and switchgear, Naim for Bentley audio and the unique Bentley rotating display. Throughout the cabin, the perforated, quilted seat upholstery is bordered by side bolsters with Mandarin contrast stitching and Speed-embroidered headrests.

    This Bentley’s performance focus finds the perfect expression in the Opulence Edition’s Scarab Green exterior finish, complemented by 22” dark tint Speed wheels with self-levelling wheel centre badges. The illuminated Flying B radiator mascot is finished in polished stainless steel, providing a contrast to the dark tint brightwork of the Speed specification. 

    The pinnacle performance model of the Flying Spur line up is powered by a 626 bhp 6.0-litre twin turbocharged W12 engine, with Electronic All Wheel Steering, Torque Vectoring by Brake technology and Bentley Dynamic Ride as standard. Just one Opulence Edition Flying Spur Speed will be produced.

    The Opulence Edition Bentayga EWB Azure

    While the Bentayga EWB is more than capable of soul-stirring performance, the emphasis with the Opulence Edition is on space, wellbeing and abundant luxury. The Opulence Edition Bentayga, of which three examples will be made, comes in four-seat configuration with the Mulliner console bottle cooler separating the two rear seats. Contrast stitching in Mandarin runs around the lip of the fascia top roll, and around the edge of the Cumbrian Green seat bolsters, while contrast stitching in Cumbrian Green can be seen in the outer diamonds of the quilted seat inner areas and the Azure-embroidered headrests. 

    With the Bentley Dynamic Ride 48V active anti-roll control system providing the optimum balance between ride comfort, handling and body control, the Opulence Edition Bentayga EWB Azure provides a haven of calm and comfort.

  • Jörg Bergmeister Pays Homage to Racing History with Sonderwunsch Porsche 911 GT3 RS

    Jörg Bergmeister Pays Homage to Racing History with Sonderwunsch Porsche 911 GT3 RS

    Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister turns to Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and the Sonderwunsch team to create a 911 GT3 RS worthy of a 24-hour winner.

    [source: Porsche AG]

    The afternoon of 2 February, 2003, was a historic day for Porsche. When a privately entered 911 GT3 RS crossed the line at the Daytona International Speedway, it had not only won its class at one of the toughest and most prestigious endurance events on the international sports car calendar, but in so doing had beaten all-comers to take an unprecedented overall victory.

    One of the drivers that day was Jörg Bergmeister, a graduate of Carrera Cup competing in only his second 24-hour race at Daytona. Alongside him were Michael Schrom, Timo Bernhard and team owner Kevin Buckler, whose 996-generation customer racer was entered by TRG or ‘The Racer Group’ and finished in the team’s now familiar blue and yellow livery.

    Fast forward two decades and the teammates are now old friends in regular contact. And when the new 911 GT3 RS was announced in August 2022, a seed was sown by Schrom that would lead Bergmeister on an 18-month journey to a unique and a deeply personal car of his own design.

    “The idea came from Michael Schrom”

    “The idea actually came from Michael in the summer of 2022,” Bergmeister says. “When he heard about the new GT3 RS he pointed out that the following year was the 20th anniversary of our win at Daytona in a GT3 RS. It was perfect timing.”

    Bergmeister was able to secure an allocation for a GT3 RS with the provision for all-important Paint to Sample. His Daytona winner was painted in Rivierablue, a colour that had been with the driver since his earliest days racing Formula cars in his native Germany. Working closely with Porsche’s Sonderwunsch team, a design was gradually created that would closely replicate the original livery while introducing a number of unique elements to commemorate the anniversary of that special win.

    Panels in Rivierablue

    Bergmeister specified a car without the bare carbon Weissach Package in order to paint all the panels in the correct Rivierablue. Exterior elements in contrasting Racing Yellow were applied to match those on the TRG race winner and the rear wing was painted in white with side plates in Racing Yellow. On the underside of the rear wing, a Porsche crest was also applied, while further exterior touches included the model name on the rear deck and foil decals on the car’s flanks in matching Racing Yellow.

    Inside, Bergmeister specified extended black leather with stitching in contrasting GT Silver and additional Race-Tex covering the dash. The car was also ordered with the Club Sports package that includes a one-kilogram road-legal fire extinguisher, another nod to its thoroughbred predecessor. But the most striking feature of the interior would be the unique carbon fibre door sill panel, the lettering on which emulates the engraving on the Rolex watches awarded to winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona.

    After a year-long wait, Bergmeister was finally presented with his bespoke GT3 RS in Zuffenhausen in mid-February, by happy coincidence on his 48th birthday. He credits Sandy-Marc Bauer from International VIP & Special Sales and Boris Apenbrink, Director Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Vehicles and Options, and his dedicated team with the successful realisation of his dream.

    “A lot of people were involved with this project,” Bergmeister says, “helping to get all the little details on there. And everyone who has seen the car since and knows the story behind it really likes it.”

    The car is now receiving full paint protection before its maiden outing, with Bergmeister eager for the drier conditions of spring to arrive. “I can’t wait to drive it but first the weather needs to get better. I’m definitely not going to take it out on salty winter roads. It’s a little too precious to me to be a daily driver!”

    When the right day arrives, it is certain to be a poignant moment for everyone involved. “I’m still proud of what we achieved back then at Daytona, and this car has brought back those memories already. I’m not usually that emotional, but when I first saw it I got goose bumps. I feel so fortunate that it’s finally done and I’m super-stoked with how it’s turned out.”

  • Aston Martin Racing Green Takes Pole Position as Brand’s Most Popular Color Choice Following F1 Success

    Aston Martin Racing Green Takes Pole Position as Brand’s Most Popular Color Choice Following F1 Success

    • Racing Green becomes the most popular Aston Martin colour choice 
    • 24% of new car buyers choosing one of the company’s nine shades of green
    • New data shows spike in new car orders in Aston Martin Racing Green following the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® team’s first podium of the 2023 season 
    • Aston Martin has an iconic association with the colour green, from its early heritage in motorsport to today’s AMR24 challenger

    [source: Aston Martin]

    Gaydon, UK – Aston Martin’s iconic Racing Green (racinggreenmetallic; metallic UNI; AST1140; Aston Martin) has officially become the most popular colour choice amongst new car buyers, for the very first time.

    As the eyes of the motorsport world turn to Bahrain for the first Grand Prix of the 2024 Formula 1® season, new retail data shows that nearly a quarter (24%) of Aston Martin customers are selecting one of the marque’s nine exclusive shades of green for their dream car, with the official Aston Martin Racing Green colour now the number one choice, ahead of traditionally popular paint colours such as Xenon Grey and Magnetic Silver.

    Aston Martin Racing Green was introduced by the marque to celebrate its return to the pinnacle of motorsport in 2021 and proved an immediate hit with customers. Representing around 7% of new car orders in the immediate 12 months following Aston Martin’s return to the grid, the trend has consistently increased year-on-year, with 12% of new Aston Martins now adorned in the official Aston Martin Racing Green colour – almost twice as many as the second most popular exterior option, Xenon Grey (6.8%).

    Fernando Alonso’s historic first podium for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team at last year’s season-opener in Bahrain delivered a 29% increase in website traffic, while the team’s strong start to the 2023 season supported a spike in customer orders for Aston Martin Racing Green sports cars in April 2023.

    Marco Mattiacci, Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of Aston Martin said: “Aston Martin was born out of racing, so 111 years on, it is fitting that this iconic brand sits at the pinnacle of motorsport, supercharging our ultra-luxury and high-performance credentials while engaging a passionate community.

    “Our presence on the grid has propelled the brand onto the global stage, but also captured the imagination of loyal and new customers who are specifying more cars in green than ever before. Just as James Bond made the Silver Birch paint tone synonymous with DB5 and the brand more broadly, 60-years on, Aston Martin’s on-track success is putting Aston Martin Racing Green at the forefront of customers’ minds when purchasing their Aston Martin.”

    Helped by Aston Martin’s main F1® livery colour and the company’s refreshed brand identity, demand for different shades of green has soared across its high-performance product portfolio. Aston Martin now extends its core colour palette to nine green variants, up from four offered at the beginning of 2021, prior to Aston Martin’s return to F1®. For discerning customers looking for a more exclusive palette of colours, the Q by Aston Martin bespoke division has helped customers specify cars in 30 unique shades of green, as well as providing match-to-samples capability for those wanting something entirely exclusive.

    Boosted by the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® team’s success in 2023, claiming eight podiums and 280 Championship points, the global platform of F1® is attracting a new breed of customers to Aston Martin. 72% of buyers of the racing-inspired Vantage F1® Edition model launched in 2021 were new to the Aston Martin brand, while market research indicates that 88% of luxury car buyers interested in Formula 1® are more likely to buy an Aston Martin because of the brand’s involvement in the sport. In Aston Martin’s largest commercial market, the United States, 98% of customers also said that the brand’s F1®association makes their cars more exciting to drive.

    In the 2023 season Aston Martin experienced a 20% increase in online configurations sent to dealers on race weekends, compared to non-race weekends. This was supported by becoming the first manufacturer to allow customers to digitally specify their dream car in the surroundings of a Formula 1® pit garage in Silverstone as well as on the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit.

    Aston Martin’s iconic association with the colour green began many decades ago, following a tradition established in the early days of motorsport that teams would race in national colours, or in the case of British manufacturers, a colour that became known as British Racing Green. Since then, Aston Martin race cars have competed in various shades of green before resting on the now familiar green which adorns its Formula 1® cars on the grid.

    Further building on the synergies between road and track, earlier this month, Aston Martin boldly launched its new Vantage sports car and Vantage GT3 racer on the same day as the marque’s new AMR24 Formula 1® challenger was unveiled ahead of its competitive debut at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

    -ENDS-

    Note to editors:

    • 2023 data is based on Aston Martin retail sales for 2023 model year core products (March 2023 – October 2023) including those specified in exterior colours of Aston Martin Racing Green and Satin Aston Martin Racing Green.
    • Comparisons since Aston Martin’s return to Formula 1® are based on retail sales of Aston Martin core products in Aston Martin Racing Green and Satin Aston Martin Racing Green from March 2021 – October 2023.
  • New Porsche Panamera: Personalization

    New Porsche Panamera: Personalization

    Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur

    [source: Porsche AG]

    Individuality is at the core of the Porsche brand. There is therefore a large number of options already available for the new Panamera in the configurator to meet the customisation requirements of customers in this segment. In addition, Porsche’s overlapping customisation programmes Paint to Sample, Paint to Sample Plus and Sonderwunsch further broaden the already extensive standard range. Paint to Sample includes more than 50 predefined, technically approved colours for the Panamera. With the Paint to Sample Plus option, the paintwork can be chosen almost without restriction. This includes an extensive feasibility study.

    Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur has developed a number of directly configurable options for the new Panamera. These include the SportDesign package including sill trims in Black or Turbonite as well as the SportDesign package in Carbon Fibre + Aerokit and special 21-inch wheels. Six shades are available for each of the Exclusive Design and Sport Design wheels. In addition, there are tinted HD matrix LED headlights and tail lights with both departure and welcome-home animation. A special Sports exhaust system with tailpipes in dark bronze rounds off the exterior options for the new Panamera from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

    Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will also upgrade the interior on request. Interior packages in matt carbon with contrasts in Neodyme, Carmine Red or Ceramica can be configured directly. In addition, there are extended leather options, for example on the handles, the luggage compartment lid or the seat consoles. The leather-free finishes include the option of colour-coded decorative stitching and matching seat belts. The dial of the SportChrono cockpit watch can be configured in a matching Night Green on a Kalahari grey background. The GT sports steering wheel can be specified with a carbon trim on request. Even for vehicle keys and floor mats, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offers particularly high-quality options.

    Panamera joins the Sonderwunsch programme

    Beyond the directly configurable options, Porsche pursues a systematic approach to customisation. The Sonderwunsch programme from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur combines the maximum individuality of a custom workshop with the uncompromising perfection of a large car manufacturer. Porsche has now brought the eponymous 1970s programme to the present day. It enables customer-created, personalised one-offs professionally implemented by Porsche.

    The Sonderwunsch programme, which was restarted at the beginning of 2022, is comprised of three strands. First, customer-specific colour and material requirements in the interior and exterior can be integrated directly into the production run. The second strand is Factory Re-Commissioning. Here, it is possible to retrofit previously manufactured vehicles with new colour and material options according to special requirements. This is also possible after several years and in collaboration with Porsche Classic for classic Porsche vehicles. The third strand is the Factory One-Off option. At Porsche, this term describes cars that are not only customised or revised in terms of appearance, but also in terms of technology, at the customer’s request. The options range from a complete restoration to new technical developments. Depending on the vehicle’s age, the technical experts at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur or Porsche Classic take care of implementation.

    The implementation of special requests for the Porsche Panamera is carried out via Factory Re-Commissioning. The customer can become a co-project manager and work out their special wishes in close cooperation with Porsche designers and developers. They check the customer’s ideas for feasibility and work out the details with them, including technical certification. This ensures that the result meets all Porsche quality standards in every detail. The implementation takes place either directly after the production of the car or at a later stage – as desired.

    Panamera Turbo ‘Sonderwunsch’ demonstrates the potential of the Sonderwunsch programme

    Porsche demonstrated the almost unlimited options of the Sonderwunsch programme during the world premiere of the new Panamera. The Panamera Turbo ‘Sonderwunsch’ show car illustrates a number of possibilities. Specially created colour tones, individual accents and planning down to the last detail demonstrate the all-encompassing nature of the Sonderwunsch programme from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

    The demonstration model, customised by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, was given a two-tone colour scheme in the specially mixed shade of Leblon Violet Metallic. This is a chestnut shade with a violet note. In an elaborate painting technique, the colour fades into a solid black in the lower third of the car. The door sills and front and rear spoiler lips are in solid black. The darkened headlights, tail lights and windows are perfectly matched, and the tailpipes were designed by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur designers in Black. They also mixed real gold flakes into the car’s clear lacquer coating, creating a spectacular glitter effect.

    The exterior of the Panamera Turbo ‘Sonderwunsch’ also features pinstripes in Avium Metallic with an integrated ‘Sonderwunsch’ logo. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur also lacquered the face of the 21-inch centre-lock wheel rims and the frames of the side windows in this colour. In contrast, the rim base features the main shade of Leblon Violet Metallic.

  • INEOS Automotive Introduces Smaller Fusilier – One Vehicle, Two Powertrains

    INEOS Automotive Introduces Smaller Fusilier – One Vehicle, Two Powertrains

    • INEOS Automotive has unveiled its third model line – the INEOS Fusilier.
    • The new 4X4 will offer two powertrain options to meet global consumer needs: An all-electric and a range-extender electric.
    • The vehicle will be slightly smaller than the INEOS Grenadier, offering world class performance on- and off-road, developed in conjunction with industry-leading automotive supplier, Magna.
    • Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS says, “The Fusilier is a great looking vehicle, and the two powertrain options provide a real-world reduction in carbon emissions without compromise to the off-road capability or the on-road performance. We’re excited to bring our electric 4X4 to market but we are beginning to understand the clear limitations of battery electric in certain situations.  We believe the addition of a range extender electric to our line-up will offer our customers a very low emission drive without the range anxiety drivers of electric vehicles experience today.”

    [source: INEOS Automotive]

    London, UK – INEOS Automotive has unveiled its brand new 4X4 vehicle, the INEOS Fusilier, following the confirmation of a zero-emission model line in May 2022. The new vehicle will deliver world-class off-road capability, with zero compromise to on-road performance, and offers both zero and low emission options.

    Unveiled in London by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, it was confirmed that alongside the previously announced all-electric powertrain (BEV), a low emission range-extender electric is in development to ensure the INEOS Fusilier meets the broadest range of global consumer needs whilst pushing towards decarbonisation. The range-extender option consists of a small petrol engine that powers a generator to maintain the charge level of the battery for when external charging isn’t available. Confirmation of the alternative powertrain details and launch timings are expected by autumn 2024.

    Developed in conjunction with industry-leading automotive supplier, Magna, which will also manufacture the vehicle in its facility in Graz, Austria, the INEOS Fusilier will represent a unique proposition for customers. Building on the Grenadier’s DNA with a modern direction and distinctive identity, the new 4X4 will be slightly shorter in length and slightly lower in height. It will be built on a bespoke skateboard platform with a steel top hat and underbody, and aluminium doors and closures.

    INEOS partnered with Magna on the development of the Grenadier station wagon and Quartermaster pick-up. As one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and independent contract manufacturers, Magna produces a number of conventional ICE, hybrid and electric vehicles for various automakers. Part of the development process for the INEOS Fusilier will include a rigorous testing programme on Austria’s Schöckl mountain, close to Magna’s complete vehicle assembly facility in Graz.

    Demonstrating its wider commitment to future decarbonisation, INEOS Automotive also unveiled a Grenadier Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Demonstrator at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2023. The Demonstrator proves that the technology for a hydrogen powered 4X4 is capable and ready for production, but the refuelling infrastructure needs to be in place before it is commercially viable.

    About INEOS Grenadier
    In 2017, INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for an uncompromising 4X4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability. INEOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4X4 development and manufacturing.

    In 2022 the INEOS Grenadier was launched: a truly global 4X4 built from the ground up that combines rugged British spirit and design with German engineering rigour. The Grenadier provides best-in-class off-road capability, durability, and reliability with the modern comfort and refinement customers expect wherever they are in the world. In 2023 a double-cab pick-up variant of the Grenadier was launched called the Quartermaster, and in February 2024 a third vehicle line called the INEOS Fusilier was unveiled which will offer two powertrain options to meet global consumer needs: an all-electric and a range-extender electric.

    INEOS Automotive is a subsidiary of INEOS, a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. It employs 26,000 people across 36 businesses, with a production network spanning 194 sites in 29 countries. From paints to plastics, textiles to technology, medicines to mobile phones, materials manufactured by INEOS enhance almost every aspect of modern life. In 2021, INEOS had sales of $65bn.

  • Kimera EVO38, the Latest Evolution of the Myth with All-Wheel Drive

    Kimera EVO38, the Latest Evolution of the Myth with All-Wheel Drive

    Cuneo, 22 February 2024 – Universal heir. It defines the person who receives and takes upon himself the entire patrimony of a family, becoming the last and most contemporary representative of the dynasty. 

    If the lineage of the most iconic sports and racing cars built in Turin from 1978 to 1992 – which dominated roads, racetracks around the world – had not been interrupted, and its natural progeny had evolved to the present day, today that lineage would have an heir, the latest evolution of its species. This is the spirit in which Kimera Automobili has created the EVO38, a car created to celebrate and collect the cultural witness of a time when Italy was great in the world, and to remind everyone where some of the most important masterpieces that have made automotive history were born: in Italy, in Piedmont, in Turin. 

    Following the success of the EVO37, the car with which the brand made its debut on the automotive scene, Kimera presents the EVO38, the further and ultimate evolution of a concept of cars conceived for racing and then transferred to the roads: pure, analogical, physical and mechanical cars, forged by creative flair, craftsmanship, practical manual skills and irreplaceably human sensibilities. 

    The Kimera EVO38 cannot really be defined as a restomod car. Rather, it is a further extreme of this philosophy, a ‘few-off’ (it will be produced in a limited edition of 38 units) that was born ultra-sporty and which, from its noble progenitors, acquires the strong inspiration that permeates its DNA, shaping itself in their image and likeness, both stylistically and technically. 

    Unlike the EVO37, the EVO38 is integrale (the Italian term for all-wheel drive). Differently from some of the noble progenitors mentioned above, the four-wheel-drive is realized through a modern and sophisticated system of repartition control and electro-hydraulic differential lock. This system – just like the more sophisticated World Rally Cars of the early 2000s – allows the differentials to be calibrated directly from the cockpit, offering the driver the possibility of managing the percentage of traction split between the front and rear wheels, as well as the possibility of managing the differential lock. This solution also allows the front differential to be completely excluded to have, in effect, a rear-wheel drive car. 

    And also from inside the cockpit, and in particular via controls on the steering wheel, there will be the possibility of adjusting the suspension settings via motorized shock absorbers and a lifting system to adapt the car’s ground clearance to conditions other than normal road driving: track, rough tracks, ‘white roads’. 

    The rear chassis layout retains the central shock absorber with the double side spring, typical of the B-groups of the 1980s, while at the front there will be a modern push-road shock absorber layout. 

    The gearbox is still a 6-speed manual, but with an even shorter gear ratio than on the EVO37, confirming the car’s connotation that it finds its ideal territory of use on driven mixed roads rather than fast circuits. On the EVO38, Kimera is also working to offer an electro-actuated sequential gearbox version with front shifts, a solution that will make the car a true ‘race’ weapon, but one that can be unleashed on everyday roads. 

    Despite the presence of all-wheel drive, Kimera Automobili aims to maintain the same low weight as the EVO37, stopping the needle of the weighing scale at around 1,100 kg for the EVO38 as well. Despite the presence of all-wheel drive, Kimera Automobili aims to maintain the same low weight as the EVO37, stopping the needle of the weighing scale at around 1,100 kg for the EVO38 as well. To achieve this, the additional mass due to the transmission also on the front wheels will be compensated for through the massive use of carbon fiber and titanium, which will ensure significant lightening on the chassis, mechanics, systems and bodywork. 

    On the other hand, the engine’s power has increased, touching the 600 horsepower threshold thanks to the re-engineering of numerous components: the turbocharger will be larger and will always work in combination with the volumetric compressor with a further evolved and improved management; the electro-actuated clutch, also thanks to the aid of an electric pop- off valve, will guarantee a performance that is always prompt and full, realizing a true anti-lag. The ignition timing will vary considerably with new cams, valves and springs that have evolved to allow an increase in maximum engine speed. Variable valve timing will guarantee not only more power, but also a substantial increase in torque (around 580 Nm) available already from low revs. A further detail is the possibility of equipping the turbo with a direct exhaust, which is also an extremely scenic solution. 

    The styling of the EVO38 becomes definitely more contemporary and provides a characterful presence, with more decisive and defined lines and a technical package of extraordinary excellence, well representing the cultural continuity and know-how of which Kimera Automobili is an ambassador, further consolidating a beautiful Italian entrepreneurial fairytale, which seems to recall adventures of bygone times, but which in reality our country is still capable of stimulating. 

    In an automotive scenario increasingly oriented towards a paradigm shift, Kimera Automobili affirms and consecrates the true and pure passion for a way of conceiving cars as works of art and expressions of style and technique aimed at driving pleasure, stimulating emotions, fun and gratification. 

    The brand has quickly acquired a distinctive identity and, thanks to the production and delivery of iconic cars, continues to attract international customers with refined and sophisticated preferences, while at the same time being very aware of the values that the brand interprets and declines through each of its unique creations. 

    The EVO38 will be shown to the public for the first time at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show, where Kimera Automobili will set up a truly unique stand. The new car will be welcomed in the center of a setting that will host the legendary cars that inspired it and to which the EVO38 pays homage, making its debut even more special. 

  • Bentley Bentayga EWB – Infinite Choice, Curated by Mulliner

    Bentley Bentayga EWB – Infinite Choice, Curated by Mulliner

    • Unique customer commission for first-ever two-tone Bentayga EWB – then adopted as factory option 12 months early
    • Personal commission co-curated between customer and Mulliner
    • Stunning combination of Kingfisher, Mandarin and Imperial Blue
    • Mulliner represents the ultimate in Bentley personalisation – from unique finishes and colour combinations to limited edition coachbuilt vehicles 
    • 2023 saw a 43 per cent year-on-year increase in Mulliner customer commissions compared with 2022 – itself a record year
    • 75 per cent of all new Bentleys now feature Mulliner content

    Crewe, England –  A striking, highly personalised duo-tone Bentayga EWB Azure V8 – the first of its kind – has been delivered to its expectant customers, having been crafted by hand by Bentley’s bespoke and personalisation division, Mulliner.

    An example of the growing trend among Bentley customers for personal commissions, the car is a stunning example of a truly individual Bentley – the result of the free rein that a Mulliner commission provides. Among the unique features requested by the owners was a bespoke two-tone exterior finish, prompting Bentley Motors to bring forward its introduction of two-tone finishes for Bentayga EWB by 12 months. 

    Going beyond the tens of billions of specifications possible from the Bentley options list, Bentley customers are encouraged to participate in the design of unique vehicles, as part of a process that Mulliner terms ‘co-curation’. Vibrant colour schemes, bespoke materials and customised features are welcomed as a challenge in the Mulliner workshops by their team of designers and skilled artisans. 

    The ‘Kingfisher’ Bentayga EWB

    A commission by a couple in Irvine, California for a Bentayga EWB is typical of the way a Bentley handcrafted by Mulliner can evolve. The customers originally visited Bentley Newport Beach to order a Bentayga EWB Azure V8 First Edition, intending to select exterior colours and interior finishes from the 46 billion different configurations available with the standard options range. 

    But with the help of Mulliner’s Design Manager, Phill Dean, the couple were soon inspired to let their imaginations roam free. They were instantly attracted to Kingfisher, a brilliant metallic electric blue finish, but felt it needed a contrast exterior colour to complement the Blackline styling specification. Conversations with Bentley’s Paint Shop established that a duo-tone would be possible, initiating a process to bring the launch of this option on Bentayga EWB forwards by a year.

    “With a Mulliner commission, anything is possible,” explains Dean. “We started to discuss the specification in the showroom at Newport Beach, but it soon became clear that we needed more time to go over every tiny detail. We resumed the commissioning at the customers’ home – we finished at around 1.00 am” he recalls.

    The ‘One of One’ edition Bentayga

    The Bentayga EWB commissioned by the customers is a striking and individual creation, with a duo-tone exterior of Onyx (onyxblack; metallic UNI; 2T2T / 6935 / 9560161; Bentley) over Kingfisher Blue (kingfisher; metallic UNI; 6549 / 9560205; Bentley) conceived to dazzle in the California sunshine. Having established a base specification of the Azure wellness-focused package, complete with Blackline and Touring specifications, the couple also requested rear privacy glass and the deletion of Bentley lettering on the tailgate, being content to let the winged B badge speak for itself. 

    The Onyx finish chosen for the bonnet, roof and upper body is seamlessly integrated with the gloss black grille, front air intakes, wing vents, side coachlines and rear diffuser of the Blackline specification. It makes a dramatic contrast with the Kingfisher blue finish, while the dark roof and cabin creates a lower, sportier visual impression. The colour split is repeated in the 22” ten-spoke wheels with a painted finish in Kingfisher and Beluga. Self-levelling Bentley wheel badges add the finishing touch to the exterior.

    A personal vision of luxury

    The interior of this unique Bentayga EWB is as stunning as it is meticulously crafted, and the customers spent many hours exploring the palette of choice with Phill Dean. Their choices included the four-seat configuration with Bentley’s airline seat specification for the two rear seats, Naim for Bentley audio system and mood lighting. More vibrant however is the customers’ own vision of luxury, with a cabin in the dramatic combination of Mandarin and Imperial Blue leather. Light, contemporary and sustainable Open Pore Koa Veneer was chosen for the fascia, rear centre console, door inners and picnic tables. But it’s the flashes of Kingfisher accent hide that make the most dramatic impact, appearing on the seat bolsters, lower fascia, six o-clock tab on the steering wheel, gear lever and door trim. Kingfisher hide is also revealed on the upper surface of the picnic tables when extended. 

    A Mulliner key box provides security for jewellery and valuables and is delivered in a combination of Imperial Blue hide and Mandarin, with Imperial Blue Alcantara for the inner surfaces. Bentley seat emblems are embroidered in Kingfisher, with the same colour being used for contrast stitching throughout the cabin. Even the Imperial Blue overmats feature Kingfisher micro piping with Mandarin stitching and outer binding. Fittingly, the door treadplates are engraved with a “One of One” message bespoke to the customer.

    A growing trend for personal commissions

    The two-tone exterior finish chosen for this Bentayga EWB is now offered as a factory option, one of many examples where customers have helped to shape the company’s product options in colour and trim. Meanwhile, the trend for Mulliner bespoke commissions continues to grow, with around 75 per cent of the vehicles that left Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England in 2023 featuring Mulliner content. This represents a 43 per cent rise in Mulliner content over 2022 (itself a record year), proof of the growing demand for luxury personalisation across the Bentley line-up. 

  • Museo Enzo Ferrari Opens “Ferrari one of a Kind” Exhibition

    Museo Enzo Ferrari Opens “Ferrari one of a Kind” Exhibition

    A glorious celebration of the exclusive world of personalization.

    [source: Ferrari]

    Maranello, Italy – On 18 February 2024, the new “Ferrari One of a Kind” exhibition at the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena was officially inaugurated. The display celebrates the craftsmanship behind each unique masterpiece that emerges from the Ferrari factory gates thanks to the exclusive personalisation programme offered by the company’s three Tailor Made centres in Maranello, New York and Shanghai. Now open to the public, the exhibition reveals the exclusivity of these one-of-a-kind cars, each expressing the personality, taste and desires of individual Ferrari owners.

    Such uniqueness has been intrinsic to Ferrari’s production from the very beginning. The earliest GT racing cars were examples of bespoke manufacture, when gentleman racers would select the coachbuilder of their choice to shape their cars’ bodies. With the first production road cars, Ferrari’s pioneering approach enabled clients to specify colours, materials, fit and finish to create cars custom made to their tastes. That remains true to this day, with the company offering a wide range of personalisation programmes. These start with the Atelier service, which gives clients the opportunity to choose from a wide range of options, while the Tailor Made programme gives the client even greater choice, with innovative materials and highly individual solutions. Finally, there are the bespoke special builds, which elevate the concept of personalisation to new heights, creating true one-offs in every detail.

    “Ferrari One Of a Kind” takes visitors on a unique journey. Not only does it showcase some extraordinary cars, many of which have never been seen by the public before, but it also offers an immersive introduction to the personalisation programmes enjoyed exclusively by Ferrari clients. At the very heart of the exhibition is an interactive wall that allows visitors physical contact with the materials, fabrics, colours and vast array of options provided by the Ferrari Styling Centre, enabling clients to effortlessly create their dream car.

    Many private one-off cars are on display, such as:

    • Ferrari 812 Competizione Tailor Made. This unique vehicle (which features on the exhibition poster) is an embodiment of the clean-slate approach taken by Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer, Flavio Manzoni. The car on display was the first in a limited edition special series of just 999 examples, and was auctioned at a Ferrari benefit gala in New York on 17 October 2023.  
    • Ferrari 166 MM. This extraordinarily elegant car is one of the forerunners of Ferrari’s personalised road cars. Built in 1948 and bodied by Carrozzeria Touring, every last detail has been beautifully crafted to reflect the taste of its owner, Gianni Agnelli. The unusual dual-tone blue and green paintwork recalls the family’s connections with the Italian royal house, Casa Savoia.
    • Ferrari Monza SP1. Built in 2018, this is the first example of the Icona limited-edition special series inspired by the great Ferraris of the past. Icona reinterprets classic timeless style with a modern aesthetic, adding contemporary high performance, high-tech elements in perfect harmony. Shown here in an original gold livery, with the same colour featuring on the wheels and interior trim, it also features a transverse stripe typical of some 1950s and ’60s racing cars.
    • Ferrari Daytona SP3 Carbon Look. This, the second model in the Icona limited-series line, pays homage to the sports-prototypes that made motorsport history. This example is finished in an extraordinary, natural-finish ruby red transitional carbon-fibre which gives exceptional chromatic reflections depending on the light.

    Visitors can also enjoy an interactive area with a special car configurator that they can use to envision and then design the Ferrari car of their dreams.

    The exhibits will be updated regularly throughout 2024 to ensure that visitors get to experience the largest number of one-of-a-kind cars possible.

    The Ferrari Museums’ popularity with Prancing Horse fans and tifosi continues to grow exponentially. 2023 was an all-time record year for the Modena and Maranello Museums, with over 740,000 annual visitors. 

    In line with tradition, the “One of a Kind” exhibition at the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena opened its doors to the public on 18 February in celebration of Enzo Ferrari’s birthday, and will run until 17 February 2025.  

  • Singer Celebrates 300th Restoration in California

    Singer Celebrates 300th Restoration in California

    Los Angeles, CA – The 300th Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Classic Study has been completed in California.

    The 1990 Porsche 911 was restored in collaboration with its owner who has named their car the ‘Sotto’ commission. This car is an example of Singer’s personalization services and love affair with the 911. Its specification represents requests made by its owner. 

    1990 Porsche 911 Targa (Type 964)

    • Presented with carbon fiber bodywork in Resistance Blue with ghosted side stripes
    • Bespoke interior trimmed in Orange leather with black stitching
    • Lightweight carbon fiber track seats with woven leather centers and nickel grommets
    • 4.0L, naturally aspirated, air-cooled flat six, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission sending power to the rear wheels
    • Carbon ceramic brakes
    • Titanium sports exhaust 

    The milestone represents Singer’s careful but steady growth since its founding in 2009. Singer now employs over 600 people across world-class teams in California and the UK. On behalf of its global clientele, Singer brings together beauty, craftsmanship and innovation.

    Overview
    Founded in California in 2009, Singer has become famous for its celebration of the Porsche 911. The company undertakes bespoke restorations for owners of the air-cooled cars.

    Singer is guided by a philosophy that encompasses:

    • A passionate focus on iconic design and a homage to the world’s most iconic sportscars.
    • Highly personalized restorations with superlative attention to detail, guided by the mantra Everything is Important.
    • Modern engineering and material science combined with beautifully executed interiors and jewel-like details.
    • A deep connection with California and its automotive zeitgeist.

    Singer is now synonymous with the concept of Reimagining – bringing together heritage with twenty-first century engineering and material science.

    About Singer Group, Inc.
    Singer Group, Inc. (Singer) restores and reimagines 1989 to 1994 Porsche 911s, based on the 964 chassis at the direction of its clients.  Singer does not manufacture or sell automobiles. 

    Singer is not sponsored, associated, approved, endorsed nor, in any way, affiliated with Porsche Cars North America, Inc., or Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche, AG. The Porsche® name and crest, 911® and TARGA® are trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, and any other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Any mention of trademarked names or other marks is for purpose of reference only. 

    The product of Singer’s painstaking effort is a Porsche 911 restored and reimagined by Singer.  Out of respect for Porsche, and to respect Porsche’s trademark rights, this incredible machine should never under any circumstances be referred to or described as a “Singer,” “Singer 911,” “Singer Porsche 911” or a “Porsche Singer 911,” or in any other manner that suggests that it is anything but a Porsche 911 that has been restored and reimagined by Singer.