Tag Archives: cars

Richard Mille Celebrates 10th Edition of Le Mans Classic

Image: DPPI

Since the founding of his eponymous brand in 2001, Richard Mille has been synonymous with high-tech watchmaking. The sublime pieces that come out of this luxury manufacture are overall a testament to the brand’s extreme devotion to research and innovation, where the timepiece pieces are a pleasure to look at as it is a technical marvel.

The watch brand has captured the hearts of many over the years and is a favourite among celebrities and sportsmen. The appeal is simple, Richard Mille’s timepieces are distinctive: skeletonised with a tonneau-shaped case that sits snuggly on the wrist; on average a watch only weighs 40 grams.

Image: DPPI

Aside from performing its function as a timekeeper on the wrist, watchmakers often take its job to a greater proportion. Just like Rolex has been the official timekeeper for the F1 and Omega for the Olympics, Richard Mille has been a long-time partner of Le Mans Classic since its creation in 2002. The eponymous founder is a notable car enthusiast, especially classic racing cars and it made total sense that he was one half of the duo that established the Le Mans Classic. At the annual event, drivers from all over the world would gather and the site features over 700 racing cars on track and 8,500 classic cars on display.

To champion the values of motorsport, Richard Mille has even developed seven watches dedicated to the event. The latest model is called “RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic” limited to only 150 pieces. The limited series celebrates excellence in performance, sturdiness and reliability, and is a befitting tribute to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Sporty Attributes

Image: Richard Mille

The 49mm x 40mm case comprises a white Quartz TPT (Thin Ply Technology) mid-case with green Quartz TPT bezels on the front and back. Richard Mille’s signature TPT uses ultra-thin unidirectional sheets of carbon fibres fused with quartz fibres. The significance of carbon fibres used in motorsports is telegraph on the RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic, where it exemplifies the sporty side of the brand.

The front bezel features a white inlay, double stripes in a classic Le Mans style at the top and bottom. These clean lines perfectly match with the white rubber straps and the material makes a comfortable wear on the wrist as drivers speed their 1960s Ferrari or Ford around the North-Western circuit of Le Mans.

Image: Richard Mille

The Richard Mille 029 Le Mans Classic watch has sapphire crystals both on the front and back. The front tells the time and the back showcases the mesmerising calibre RMSA7 movement. The movement’s automatic winding system supplies two energy barrels, providing a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Meanwhile, the rotor can be calibrated to the wearer’s level of activity providing ultimate accuracy like a race car ought to have.

10th Edition of Le Mans Classic & Centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, 2000 during the Le Mans Classic 2022 from 30 June to 3 July, 2022 on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, in Le Mans, France. Image: DPPI

The 10th edition of Le Mans Classic took place from 30 June to 3 July 2022 after a four-year suspense and the motorsports event once again breathed life into the Sarthe region of France. Basked under the balmy summer days, 750 race cars having previously distinguished themselves at Le Mans between the 1920s and 1980s were divided into six grids and conquered the renowned routes.

Seen at the events are some of the iconic cars of the past such as the Bugatti T35, Jaguar Type D, Lotus 15, Ford GT 40, Lola T70 or Chevron B31. These are the mechanical beasts that won in their respective age-group classes.

Image: DPPI

Also seen during the event are other supporting races like the Group C category, where a field comprising some 50 cars that raced between 1982 and 1993 demonstrated its prowess in a demonstration grid. Also, the Endurance Racing Legends brought Le Mans Classics into a new era with a spectacular qualifying event featuring cars that appeal to young spectators. Including these two grids, the event now covers the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1923 to 2010.

Apart from celebrating the 10th edition of the Le Mans Classic, come summer 2023, it will be the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and no doubt. The success of this year’s Le Mans Classic once again confirms its status as the world’s largest gathering of classic cars and a classic motorsport event that just cannot be missed

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7 of the Best 007 Cars in the Bond Franchise

Image: MGM

As the 25th James Bond movie arrives in cinemas this week, we say goodbye to Daniel Craig as he retires from the 007 role. However, there is some good news for James Bond fans as “No Time To Die” features an extremely exciting car chase scene.

One of the most iconic aspects of James Bond movies is the various cars that make their way onto the silver screen. While fans everywhere would like to debate who the best Bond is, we’re wondering which Bond had the coolest car?

1. Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger (1964)

Image: MGM

Arguably the most famous Bond car of all, Aston Martin’s DB5 made its first appearance with Sean Connery in “Goldfinger” — a movie that would catapult the James Bond franchise into its legendary status.

It introduced audiences to the famous suite of gadgets: machine guns, tyre slashers, hydraulic rams, and the ejector seat. The DB5 was also launched only three months prior to filming the movie.

2. Lotus Esprit S1 – The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Image: MGM

Another car also made iconic by the film franchise, the Lotus Esprit first appeared in 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me” starring the late Sir Roger Moore. This car was especially unique as it was a fully functioning working submarine with anti-aircraft missiles.

The actual vehicle right now is owned by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.

3. Aston Martin V8 Vantage – The Living Daylights (1987)

james bond v8 vantage

Image: MGM

Another Aston Martin, this time for Timothy Dalton in 1987. Gadgets included a control panel under the armrest for wheel lasers, missiles, pop-out spiked tyres, a rocket booster, and a police radio receiver.

The car was also bulletproof. If all the gear were real, the car would weigh in at an estimated 800 million kilograms.

4. Tuk-tuk – Octopussy (1983)

james bond tuktuk

Image: MGM

Technically not really an actual “car”, this Bajaj RE, or tuktuk or autorickshaw was driven by Roger Moore for the 13th 007 film, “Octopussy”.

The scene involved Bond winning a high-stakes backgammon game against an Afghan prince, and then hooking up with MI6 agent Vijay for a sharp exit. The duo is then pursued by said prince’s goon, wielding a shotgun in a similar-looking vehicle.

5. Renault 11 TXE – A View To A Kill (1985)

renault james bond

Image: MGM

The car became famous for its ability to soldier on after suffering a mortifying injury: the roof being removed as Bond drives under a lorry, and the rear half of the car being cut off after being hit by another vehicle. Funnily enough, both halves of the car went on sale just a couple of years ago. Watch the iconic scene below:

6. Mercury Cougar XR7 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

james bond mercury cougar

Image: MGM

This one isn’t technically a Bond car. It belonged to Tracy di Vicenzo (played by Diana Rigg), Bond’s (played by George Lazenby) wife. The Mercury Cougar was the brand’s take on the Ford Mustang, fitted with a ram air hood scoop, rally wheels, high-backed bucket seats, and a full gauge kit.

7. Citroen 2CV – For Your Eyes Only (1981)

james bond citroen

Image: MGM

While it was lacking in gadgets, this car more than made up for it in boldness. While Roger Moore’s Bond escapes from villains in more powerful Peugeot 504s, the little yellow car manages to escape bullets and drive down the side of mountains without breaking. It also survives being inverted and then thrown back onto its wheels by helpful bystanders.

By Sarah Ridzwan

 

Salon Privé 2021: Rolls-Royce celebrates bespoke commissions

Salon Privé: Rolls Royce Celebrates Bespoke Commissions

Rolls-Royce has displayed two of its bespoke commissions at Salon Privé 2021, an exclusive Concours d’Elégance held at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The two cars on display are the Black Badge Wraith and the Black Badge Cullinan.

Black Badge Cullinan

The Black Badge Cullinan features a plethora of bespoke appointments, the most notable of which is a highly contemporary Bespoke Verde Ermes green for the coachwork. It also has a dark chrome Spirit of Ecstasy, blackened stainless steel exterior treatment and exclusive 22-inch part-polished Black Badge wheels to give the Cullinan a very bold feel. The interior features Havana trims on the seats, contrasted by Tan panels and Cashmere Grey accents on the seat piping.

Salon Privé: Rolls Royce Celebrates Bespoke Commissions

Black Badge Wraith

The Black Badge Wraith also features a dark chrome Spirit of Ecstasy, however, it opts for 21-inch part-carbon fibre Black Badge wheels instead. Its coachwork is finished in a bold Iced Premiere Silver, which provides a delicious monochromatic contrast against its dark wheels and Spirit of Ecstacy. To give this Wraith a bit more depth, the interior incorporates a vivid Mugello Red.

Salon Privé: Rolls Royce Celebrates Bespoke Commissions

Salon Privé 2021

As in the previous iterations of the event, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will lead the Tour Privé. This year’s rolling concourse will include a 120-mile (193km) tour of the Cotswolds, led by the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Deemed the latest iteration of the marquee’s most successful product, the Rolls-Royce Ghost leading the tour is presented in Salamanca Blue.

Apart from the Tour, visitors will be able to enjoy a host of other events over five days. This includes a display of some of the finest automotive brands today, including Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche and many more. Salon Privé 2021 will also play host to numerous classic car specialists such as DK Engineering, Everrati, Jensen International Automotive and more. While the main focus of the event is automotive excellence, Salon Privé 2021 will also have various other luxury displays. Salon Privé TIME will showcase a selection of luxury watches from IWC, Montblanc, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin. The Luxury Retail Village is another highlight visitors should check out if they need a break from cars. Check out the brands on display here.

Learn more about Salon Privé 2021 here.

By Terence Ruis

 

Hybrid and electric luxury car sales are an the rise

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid; Credit: Bentley

2020 was an unprecedented year for many industries and the automotive industry, in particular, saw a 20% drop year-on-year but registration for electric and hybrid vehicles grew more than 137% as compared to 2019. In the realm of luxury cars, there is a trend that buyers are switching to hybrid or electric cars (EVs).

For example, in the first quarter of 2021, Porsche’s fully electric Taycan outperformed the Boxter, Cayman, and Panamera in terms of sales. It only lost out to the Macan and the Cayenne. Realising that the future of the automotive industry lies in the electrification of vehicles, more luxury car makers are seizing the opportunity to introduce new models or a modified version of their existing versions.

Porsche Taycan is the luxury car maker’s first full-electric vehicle; Image: Porsche

Sustainability is now paramount

More than just a buzzword, sustainability is a topic that is continuously talked about across different industries including food, fashion, and cars. In the motoring world, Tesla is known for being a trailblazer where sustainability is concerned. The company entered the market less than a decade ago with their first model, the Model S electric sedan, then in 2015 launched its Model X electric crossover SUV — the rest is history.

Its celebrity founder, Elon Musk has always been at the forefront of innovation, and the growing penchant for EVs has prompted other luxury car brands to seriously consider switching to manufacturing either hybrids or fully electric vehicles. The foresight of Musk has enabled his brand to conquer a significant market share.

Even if luxury car brands are reluctant to make this transition towards electrified vehicles, these companies have to abide by the new regulations set out by their governments. In Europe and China, car manufacturers have to meet strict emission standards or risk paying fines that could run in the millions or billions of dollars. With Beijing and Brussels breathing down the necks of these companies, they have little choice but to pour more money into the research and development of EVs.

In California, the state government has stated its intention of banning internal combustion engines (ICE) come 2035 and similar legislation is seen throughout the world. As a result, the market for ICE cars will likely see a drastic plunge within the next few years.

Credit: CNN

The race to outperform

According to an article by CNN, Volkswagen Group, which owns a number of uber-luxurious brands like Porsche, Bugatti, and Bentley, has planned to invest “€30 billion ($34 billion) over the next five years to make an electric or hybrid version of every vehicle in its lineup, and it plans to launch 70 new electric models by 2028.” And by 2030, two-fifth of its cars sold will be EVs. This is an audacious plan but the Group is on its way. Under the Bentley100 strategy, the British marque’s Flying Spur and Bentayga models already offer hybrid versions and by 2025, it plans to release its first fully electric car.

Another heritage British carmaker that’s onboard is Jaguar, in a statement released by Alistair Scott, Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director, he said, “The future of mobility is electric and with significant shifts in emphasis on the environmental agenda, it is clear that Jaguar Land Rover needs to be extremely dynamic and agile in its approach to meet customer and legislative expectations.” To that end, the brand has “ambitious plans to transform Jaguar into a fully electric brand by 2025,” and the Jaguar I-PACE model is the first all-electric vehicle from the marque.

Last month, Ferrari showcased its first plug-in hybrid sports car, the 296 GTB. Mercedes-Benz also presented its first mainstream electric car, the EQC 400 4Matic, to Singapore despite already being on the roads in parts of Europe. The company has set out to become carbon neutral by 2030 and is likely to increase its fleet of EVs in the coming years. Similarly, Rolls-Royce has confirmed that an electric model is in development and sees electric as a natural fit for the brand. The launch will happen within this decade but the details have yet to be confirmed. It may be an entirely new model, branching from its popular ones such as the Cullinan, Ghost, Phantom and Dawn.

 

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With more players in the field, the EV market stands to benefit from the boom in emerging technologies. These span across production techniques, vehicle performance and more. The Bentley Flying Spur hybrid, for example, is reportedly able to traverse a total of 434 miles, a huge step up from its contemporaries launched a decade or so ago. Tesla’s first completely electric Roadster launched in 2008 with a range of 245 miles. Version 3.0 of the car, released in 2014, touted a range exceeding 400 miles.

These advances in technology, combined with shifting consumer preferences and a global push for sustainability, signal an exciting time for the EV market. Whether hybrids and EVs will edge out diesel and petrol vehicles completely within the next decade remains to be seen, but the signs are certainly positive.

By Joseph Low

 

Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection celebrates the forgotten record holder

Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge Landspeed Collection

The year was 1937 when Captain George Eyston’s Thunderbolt reached a record land speed of 312 mph, powered by two Rolls-Royce R V12 aero engines. The British racer was not new to the world of racing as two years prior, he had already set new 24-hour and 48-hour endurance speed records held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. For his outstanding achievements, he was presented with the Segrave Trophy — an award to “British national who demonstrates Outstanding Skill, Courage and Initiative on Land, Water and in the Air”.

While the world is acquainted with Sir Malcolm Campbell and his car, Blue Bird, he was bettered by Eyston and the new record timing would stay in place till 1939. More than eight decades later, Eyston’s accomplishments still hold a special place in the chronicles of Rolls-Royce. Determined to proclaim to the world Eyston’s inspiring feat, the British marque has unveiled two special versions of the Wraith and Dawn in a Black Badge finish, which collectively is called the Landspeed collection.

“With this Collection, we have revived Eyston’s memory and retold his remarkable story. Throughout Wraith and Dawn Landspeed, clients will find numerous subtle design elements and narrative details that recall and commemorate his amazing achievements, grand vision and exceptional courage.” — Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The Landspeed collection, unfortunately, is not equipped with the V12 engines seen in the Thunderbolt. Only about 19 of these engines were ever made and the ones in the Eyston’s are now preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon and the Science Museum in London. Motor enthusiasts be sure to mark down these places and make a quick pit stop when visiting the UK. In replacement, Rolls-Royce has fitted the well-known 6.6-litre twin turbo engine, which also provides the same horsepower as the V12.

In designing the marque’s Landspeed collection, the allure of the Bonneville Salt Flats has been irresistible to dismiss. Aside from being the prime location for famous motor events, stunning views at night also warrants attention. The star-filled sky is meticulously captured in the Wraith Landspeed’s Starlight Headliner, which calls to mind the heavens of 16 September 1938, the date that Eyston and Thunderbolt sealed their last land-speed record. Using exactly 2,117 fibre-optic ‘stars’, they are fastidiously placed to resemble the constellations of that date and the largest number of stars ever fitted in a Roll-Royce Wraith Starlight Headliner.

Elsewhere on the car, identical Grosgrain weave silk and colours as with Eyston’s accolades he had received during his lifetime can be found on the driver’s door — Military Cross for serving in the Great War, a Chevalier Légion d’honneur and the Order of the British Empire. Reminiscence of the Thunderbolt could be seen with the occasional splashes of yellow and black, a combination pertinent in allowing the day’s timing equipment to accurately record the results. The colours are translated subtly onto the clock, which also resembles closely to the instrument dials of the Thunderbolt.

The Landspeed collection will no doubt be rare as the marque has planned to only manufacture 25 Dawn Black Badge and 35 Wraith Black Badge.

By Joseph Low

 

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 is happening this November

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) is back again and this year will mark its ninth edition.

KLIMS 2018 will be a brand new experience with its change of location to Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) this year.

Boasting an expansive area to showcase up to 2,200 booths and ample parking spaces, the new venue with a futuristic interior will definitely be a draw for the visitors.

The theme for this year is “Beyond Mobility”. Therefore, expect to have your eye on the groundbreaking technologies presented by marques including Daihatsu, Honda, Proton, Toyota and others.

Some showcases that you can expect are the latest breakthrough in the diesel engine, the 1.9L Bluepower Diesel Engine by Isuzu; the Tata Super Ace small pick-up, ultra trucks and Prima prime mover by Tata Motors; the “Tanker”, 20-foot high robot made of metal and automotive parts by MSM Metal Industries; and more.

You will also get to see the showcase of passenger vehicles, concept cars, exotic cars and bikes along with one of the main attractions of this year – the commercial vehicles. Also, don’t forget to check out the autocade of commercial vehicles as well when you are there.

 

The Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 will be happening from 23 November to 2 December 2018.

For more information, visit www.klims.com.my.

The New BMW X3 Unveils Revolutionary Upgrades

The X3, unveiled at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, where it will be produced, is a compact crossover which has been around now since 2003 and a fierce rival of the Audi Q5. The current second-generation has been in production since late 2010, and its replacement uses much of the same design language.

On the whole, the cosmetic changes represent much more of an evolution than anything close to a revolution. The whole vehicle is a little more rounded as BMW continues to tone down the angles that were so prevalent in its design philosophy a few years ago. There are new hexagonal lights and a bigger, more muscular “three-dimensional” kidney grille, but the exterior changes could pass for a mid-cycle rather refresh than a full-blown new generation.

It’s a different story underneath though, as the 2018 is built on a completely new platform this time around. The platform is a lightweight, rear-wheel drive affair to deliver improvements in fuel-efficiency, handling and performance over the current model. It is the same platform that underpins the new 5 Series sedan, and it’s also expected to be the starting point for a new 3 Series in 2018.

The new X3 range will include three petrol and two diesel engine variants, and models listed for the US include the flagship BMW X3 M40i and the xDrive30i.

The interior has also been enhanced for an ergonomic feel while drivers will also be able to benefit from a refined system connecting them to their car and their smartphone, with gesture and voice control for BMW’s ConnectedDrive. Three lines will be available: xLine, Luxury Line and M Sport.

Set to roll out this November, the prices of the 2018 BMW X3 range will be announced closer to that date.