Power comes from the only naturally aspirated V12 available, derived from the block seen in the 812. However, in the 12 Cilindri this represents a 600rpm higher redline and a gain of 30bhp. The 6.5 litre V12 puts out 818bhp at 9500rpm. I mean, come on now.
The name Lexus is supposedly derived from a combination of the Latin word “Luxus” meaning excess or luxury, and the French word for luxury “luxe”. While this holds true – Lexus is synonymous with many of the brand’s defining factors, luxury, reliability and sensibility – some claim that Lexus is an acronym that Toyota created for “Luxury exports to the US” after Toyota decided to brand their luxury vehicles as Lexus in 1989. The 90s saw hip hop giants Snoop Dogg and the Notorious B.I.G. spitting bars about their Lexuses, which gave the luxury Japanese brand unprecedented street cred. By 1999 Lexus had sold 1,000,000 units in the US, solidifying…
If you’re like me – scrolling through various car-filled feeds every day – you will know that the Bentley Continental GT is not only an outstanding grand tourer but an award-winning one. The Continental GT is akin to Beyoncé at the Grammys or Meryl Streep at the Oscars, cosseting trophies in its simultaneously heated and cooled leather seats on return to Crewe. Bentley has recently revealed their new Continental GT which features a new face, and more notably, an all-new High-Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain. Since I won’t be behind the wheel of the new hybrid Continental GT for some time, Bentley asked if I wanted to say a final…
A few key events are akin to film festivals and fashion weeks in the automotive world. The British have the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival. The French have Retromobile and the Chantilly Concours of Elegance. The Swedes have the newly launched Auroura Concours, Italy brings us the legendary Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este and Fuori Concorso, and then there’s North America…
The French are known for many things: fine dining, haute couture and an unmistakable flair when it comes to automotive design.
DS, a nameplate synonymous with some of the prettiest cars in history, promises to bring a French luxury savoir-faire to a German-dominated automotive sector.
As someone born and raised in Essex, I’m no stranger to the Range Rover moniker. In my childhood years, before Instagram and reality TV, I was glued to car magazines in which you could browse the latest modified Range Rovers from the likes of Kahn and Overfinch in the classifieds.
Driving a car you love is so much more than the ‘a’ to ‘b’. It’s the feel of the steering wheel moving from under your palm, the resistance of the accelerator beneath your sole or the slick movement of the gearbox. Sometimes it’s the thrill you get when the mechanic tells you that against all odds, your pernickety classic car flew through its MOT. It’s the bond you feel and the memories you create together over the miles.
BRABUS is evolving, and their approach to unveiling cars is far from conventional with the introduction of the ‘BRABUS Signature Night’ – an annual showcase which started in 2022 and sees both motor and model take the catwalk in a night of performance and fashion.
What makes the perfect Grand Tourer? Over the years, many manufacturers have been answering this age-old question. For me, the perfect GT car should incorporate three essentials: a fatigue-eliminating interior, usable luggage space and dynamic performance which can adapt to whatever roads lay ahead.
A Sage Green exterior with Blackline specification shouldn’t work as well as this, but by god it does. Bentley’s dedication to preserving its brand heritage is evident in the Mulliner and extended paint palette
A carbon-bodied 765LT perhaps? Or XP1, the first Le Mans F1 car, factory converted for road use and sat next to XP5, takes pride of place.
Down a Paris side street sits an ex-industrial unit housing an open vaulted studio space. First walk-in unveils the concept car in all her glory, and most notably, her size. This is no shrinking violet, but rather an instantaneously captivating creation.
I slip my slightly clammy hand gingerly into the slot, ease some pressure and pull gently skyward. That scissor-door entry is nothing less than muted pornography. So effortless in its execution, it’s part of the recipe that makes the Aventador just that little bit more special.
A one-off Bentley Continental Azure styled around the heritage R-Type Continental Fastback, celebrating its 70th anniversary and adorned with the plate, JAS 949. Bentley is a formidable force nowadays, breaking into 2023 with perhaps what is their strongest-ever lineup.
Much like many who frequent the Louvre, I came to view some art. Automotive art, to be specific. This year’s RM Sotheby’s Paris auction was held at the Les Salles de Carrousel, just mere feet below the glass pyramids of the iconic Parisian gallery. RM Sotheby’s had plenty of classic and contemporary pieces for me to drool over, but I had my eye on something one of a kind: The one-of-one Bugatti Chiron Profilée.
The first Range Rover prototype broke cover in 1969, code-named: Velar. Its appeal was instant, combining permanent 4-wheel drive, a split tailgate and elegant modern design. Whilst I would have preferred to have owned the original three-door Range, the four-door iteration released in 1981 boasted all the nostalgia I craved.
“Look at that subtle colouring. The tasteful thickness.” The inspiration for the Rolls-Royce ateliers? That of haute couture from the likes of John Varvatos, Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester. Ultimately, the darker aesthetic establishes a strong presence without detracting from the car’s silhouette.
Launched in May, the Range Rover Sport enters its third iteration. With it comes a sense that it has always been there. It fits. I mean, for many of the younger generation, it actually has always been there.
Finished in a hue not dissimilar to Audi’s Nardo Grey, the Ferox-T cuts a mean silhouette. Inside, one is introduced to the Italian side of this curious combo, but an interior that is certainly one that could be classed as luxury. Through the use of high-grade materials and the liberal application of them; the cabin feels as special inside as the outside does rugged.
I will always remember the first glimpse I had of Lake Como. I was coming from Milan and just remember seeing a glint of sunshine bounce off the Lake as I approached. I was fixated on this mammoth lake that consisted of some of the clearest water I had ever seen, cosseted in between the Italian hills.