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The Grand Tour Season 2 to air on 8th December 2017

The second season of the ever popular entertainment show involving cars, the Grand Tour will premier on December 8th 2017. This puts to rest rumors that suggested that due to several health related setbacks involving two of the show’s presenters, the show would have to be postponed.

According to an announcement on the Grand Tour’s Youtube page, the premiere date has been set in stone. And we can expect to see Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May take centre stage in their make-shift tent to provide us with all the foolhardy automotive related adventures before Christmas.

This is welcoming news considering that not too long ago, Jeremy Clarkson had to battle a severe bout of pneumonia, one that his doctor said almost killed him. He was admitted at a hospital in Spain where he was supposedly enjoying his vacation.

When this news broke, it cast further doubt on the 2017 release date of the second season, which already seemed shaky after Richard Hammond’s shunt. Clarkson’s co-host, lost control of a Rimac Concept car while filming, causing it to slide off the elevated track and barrel roll further down hill where it eventually caught on fire.

Hammond was immediately taken to hospital where he has had extensive surgery done correct the injury to his left leg. his recovery took awhile, but the youngest member of the trio managed to bounce back from his injury but thankfully, it occurred sooner rather than later.

We hope that the second season is just as enjoyable as the first. But judging from the trailer video however, it could be more action packed and enjoyable compared to the first. That said, we won’t know for sure until the 8th of December, so stay tuned.

Largest Aston Martin centre opens for business in Japan

A new Aston Martin dealership has opened for business in Tokyo, Japan. The 1,000 square meter facility is said to be the largest Aston Martin dealership in the world and is part of the British luxury marque’s £500m (RM 2.8 billion) trade and investment programme in Japan.

Referred to as ‘The House of Aston Martin Aoyama’, this new dealership also serves as the company’s first global brand centre and a place to bring together the art and entertainment of Aston Martin. Located on the Aoyama Dori, this centre covers three floors and includes vehicle displays, a shop and space for relaxing and entertaining visitors.

Regarding the launch of the new facility, Dr. Andy Palmer, President & CEO Aston Martin said, “As the second largest luxury car market worldwide, Japan is key to Aston Martin’s future success. As we map out our global retail presence, we are confident that Aston Martin Tokyo will quickly become our largest dealer by volume in the world.”

Aston Martin hopes that this place not only functions as a place where customers can purchase cars, rather a hub for art, culture, shopping, luxury and ‘elegance’. It will be the go-to place for inspiration and to learn about Aston Martin’s design philosophies.

Sky Group, which already manages 26 other dealer facilities in Japan, is in-charge of operating Aston Martin’s dealership as well. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as the main source of attraction for those who appreciate fine art, cars and incredibly well designed architecture.

Roush’s supercharger boosts Mustang power to 700bhp

Roush Performance, the world renowned tuning house that specializes in building supped up performance vehicles, has teamed up with Ford to produce something interesting. The duo have co-developed a new supercharger kit for the Blue Oval’s Mustang and F-150 truck.

When bolted on to the Mustang GT that has a 5.0-litre V8, this new supercharger helps to provide a total output of 700bhp and 827Nm of torque. A 2018 F-150 pick-up truck that has the same V8 and bolt-on supercharger kit, will produce 640bhp and 813Nm of torque.

It takes advantage of the new V8’s port and direction injection fuel system technology to maximize boost for better power delivery. The kit comes with all installation hardware and an exclusive performance calibration.

Though considered an aftermarket upgrade, Ford says that this new supercharger kit will be offered with a limited warranty and the vast support network of Ford Motor Company and Roush. Adding to that, bolting it to a Mustang or F-150 will not void the vehicle’s warranty.

“Ford and Roush have teamed up on performance for years on and off the track,” said Doug White, Global Ford Performance Parts Manager. “This new supercharger is another great example of our innovation in performance, greatly improving horsepower and torque so people can enjoy two of our most iconic vehicles even more.”

The partnership between Roush and Ford dates back more than two decades and since that time, both companies have enjoyed a successful partnership on track and the road. Roush is considered a leading expert in Ford powertrains and how best to improve power and enjoyment.

Steve Jobs’ BMW Z8 is up for sale

A BMW Z8 formerly belonging to Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs is up for sale. Jobs purchased the car in 2000 and then sold it on to the current owner in 2003. It was then resold to a third party but bought back three years later.

The vehicle is said to have extremely low mileage and complete service history was well as a full set of accessories and items that came with the car. These items also include a BMW branded Motorola flip phone, which Jobs despised.

There were only 6000 BMW Z8 cars that were ever produced, which makes it a bit of a rarity. It was offered with either a 4.8 or 4.9-litre V8 that was mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Weighing about 1,585kg, the car had an all-aluminium chassis and body, which helped increase agility and stability.

It’s 400bhp engine, which was shared with the E39 M5 allowed the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and eventually reach a limited top speed of 250km/h. As a means to lure more enthusiasts to the Z8, BMW promised that it would retain the car’s spare parts for 50-years.

Meant to be a modern interpretation of a retro sports car, the Z8 never managed to garner the success it was meant to achieve. Despite factory-backed support and other unique customization options, the car didn’t quite live up to the hype.

That said, due to the relative significance of this particular one, speculators suggest that the car might fetch somewhere between $300,000 (RM 1,270,050) to $400,000 (RM 1,693,400) when it is eventually sold at the RM Sotherby’s New York auction.

Source: Car Throttle

Hamilton crowned 2017 F1 world champion

After an eventful race at the recent Mexico grand prix, Lewis Hamilton has won the 2017 Formula 1 world championship. The race was anything but ordinary for Mercedes-Benz after the British driver was involved with an accident with Sebastian Vettel early in the race.

This shunt forced both drivers to scramble to the pits for repairs and to change tyres, which effectively left them in second last and last place. They were well behind the charging pack once they rejoined the race. What matters worse was that Hamilton was eventually lapped, which placed him in an unfamiliar situation.

Though many wrote off Hamilton’s chances of sealing the championship title in Mexico, the Briton proved his tenacity and unwillingness to accept defeat by clawing back up the order. He eventually finished in 9th place while closest title rival, Vettel, managed a more successful 4th place.

Despite finishing well ahead of Hamilton, it wasn’t enough to stave off his pursuit of a fourth world title. The race was eventually won by Max Vestappen with Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen completing the top 3.

Hamilton, who is now part of an elite club of five drivers who have won four or more world titles, was unhappy with how he won the title. Based on an article published by F1.com, he stated that felt it was a horrible way to win the title considering the drama that unfolded shortly after the race began.

There are only four other F1 drivers in history that have won four or more world titles, which are Juan Manuel Fanio, Alain Prost, Micheal Schumacher and Sebatian Vettel. It’s a proud moment for the Briton, but we are sure he will be gunning for a fifth title next year.

Source: F1.com

Halloween concept that should give you chills

Hallowen is upon us and though many consider the celebration as an event reserved for kids, MotorEasy doesn’t seem to think so. The car ownership and maintenance start-up has unveiled the scariest thing imaginable for an enthusiast – owning a vehicle that will bleed them dry.

Called the Hallowe’en horror show concept, MotorEasy has put together a theoretical Frankenstein car with the worst bits of certain vehicles and the costs involved to have each of these parts fixed.

Should such a vehicle give up the ghost, the total repair cost of bringing it back to life will amount to £24,606.74 (RM 137,527). That is partly due to it having an engine from a 2011 Range Rover, brakes from a BMW Z4 and an electrical system from a 2009 Audi A3.

The following is a breakdown of the components and the costs involved for individual repairs:

Speaking of the concept, Duncan McClure Fisher, MotorEasy founder, said, “This car is every motorists’ nightmare, with a stratospheric repair bill. While the concept is just a bit of fun, it does nonetheless highlight the financial hit when things do go wrong with cars.”

“Our creation is an extreme example but the fact is that very few people have money lying around if the worst happens. It pays to be protected,” he added.

In the UK, MotorEasy offers a full suite of car warranty, maintenance and repair services as well as a network of 10,000 of garages. It allows for easier access to such services via telephone or by communicating online.

Ferrari FXX-K Evo is the Prancing Horse’s pride and joy

Ferrari has just introduced the new FXX-K Evo, a track-only supercar that is based on the wealth of technology and performance that the automaker has amassed over the years. The car incorporates the lessons learnt in several Motorsports categories that the Italian automaker competes in actively, which are Formula 1, GT3, GTE and Challenge.

The new racer joins the FXX and 599 XX as part of the XX programme that was launched in 2005. Its objective is to allow a small group of enthusiasts to enjoy the very latest in automotive technology on and contribute to the research and development needed to improve on the formula.

Like its predecessor the FXX, this new car is aimed at a small, highly-select group of Ferrari clients who want something exclusive and is considered the pinnacle of hypercar performance. And as the name suggest its an evolution of its predecessor.

The car features significantly redesigned aerodynamics and overall better weight reduction. Ferrari engineers utilized lessons learnt in Formula 1 to built the car with innovative carbon-fibre component crafting processes.

Aerodynamic efficiency has been increased resulting in figures that closely shadow that of race cars that compete in the GT3 and GTE championships. This also mean that it gets the same advantages achieved in lateral acceleration in cornering and stability .

Downforce has increased by 23% over the previous car, offering 640kg when it is travelling at 200km/h and more than 830kg when pushed to its limits. Much of this is achieved through the car’s twin-profile fixed rear wing. It works seamlessly with the integrated active spoiler to generate the perfect balance of downforce and drag.

The car’s vortex generators clean the flow field striking the wing of the effects of the wake of the hot air flow from the radiators, which vents onto the bonnet. As for the other side, they create a downwash component in the flow which boosts the twin-profile’s downforce capacity.

Apart from this, the front and rear bumpers have also been changed to improve air flow management along the car’s body. Adding to that, the ground effects is improved by vortex generators on the under tray. Working together with the rest of the aero kit the car is said to offer 30% improved downforce.

Other modifications include new front brake air intakes, improved steering wheel with shift paddles from F1, a larger 6.5″ rear video camera that displayes telemetry data of performance and car status readouts as well as the KERS status.

Ferrari’s new FXX-K Evo has already gone through significant testing and will play a major part in the automaker’s XX Programme in the 2018/2019 season, which will take place from March to October next year at nine different race tracks.

Fiat 500 silver coin introduced in Italy

The legendary Fiat 500, the same vehicle that helped mobilise Italy, has been honored by the Italian State Mint with the introduction of a limited edition silver coin. It has been introduced to commemorate the car’s 60th anniversary and the impact it has left on the lives of many Italians.

Unveiled by the Italian Ministry of Economics and Finance, the Fiat 500 coin has a monetary value of €5 or RM 24.62 and was designed by master engraver Claudia Momoni. Only 4,000 of these coins will ever be minted, which should make it a collector’s item very soon.

One side of the coin depicts the 1957 Fiat 500 and the current model, with the words ‘Repubblica Italiana’. The other side shows the profile of the classic 500 with the dates 1957 and 2017. The former symbolizes the year that the 500 was first produced. The later signifies the year of which the coin will be produced, which is this year.

Apart from this, the coin also bears the initial ‘R’ which stands for Rome, the place where it was minted, and the name of the engraver alongside a Fiat 500 logo in the original style. Collectors can buy it from Istituto del Poligrafico e della Zecca for €40 or RM197.

Besides the coin, the Fiat 500’s 60th birthday was also celebrated by the launching of a commemorative stamp that was launched by the Italian Post Office earlier this year. Adding to that, the car will become a a permanent addition to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

During the its history, the 500 has touched many lives and not only served as a mode of transportation but a fashion icon as well. It mobilized post-war Italy and become a popular car all over the world.

Porsche cars sold at record pace at Silverstone

At the recent Silverstone Auctions that was organised in association with Porsche Club GB, over £2.5 million (RM 14 million) changed hands in about 3 hours during the sale of several Porsche cars. The bidders comprised of enthusiast from all over the world including Denmark, Poland and Indonesia.

It was a successful day because 64% of all cars at the auction were sold, some for significantly more than their estimate prices suggested. Bids were placed from the auction floor, online and by phone for the converted 1992 Porsche 911 (964) RS Touring.

The car, one of only 6 in the UK, sold for £219,375 (RM1,221,719), which is about £34,375 (RM 191,437) more than the original estimate. But the most expensive Porsche sold during that day was a 1998 Porsche 911 (993) Turbo S, which went for a whopping £253,125 (RM 1,409,675).

Other notable mentions include a 1962 Porsche 356B ‘Super 90’ Cabriolet that fetched £163,125 (RM 908,457), 1968 Porsche 911 SWB for £92,250 (RM 513,748) and a 1988 Porsche 911 Supersport (SSE) 3.2 Carrera Targa, which sold for £103,500 (RM 576,400).

“It was a remarkably successful auction, helped enormously by the quality of the cars on offer and the tremendous support of Porsche Club GB,” says Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. “I’m grateful to all our vendors and bidders, and very proud of my team for putting together such a fantastic catalog of stunning Porsches.”

Apart from this, many more Porsche cars were sold during the day and if you would like to know morea bout them, CLICK HERE.

We covered the history behind several of the priciest Porsche cars that were sold at auction and a few others that weren’t that special. The Silverstone Auctions is an annual event held in the UK that brings together avid enthusiasts and collectors to bid on some of the most expensive and coveted cars ever made.

Honda Jazz claims title of most reliable car

Based on a reliability survey that was conducted in What Car? magazine, a UK based automotive publication, the Honda Jazz is the most reliable car in the UK. The survey asked its readers whether their cars had suffered any faults within the last 12 months.

According to the 14,208 readers who responded, not a single Honda Jazz owner who completed the survey, reported any faults with his or her car. The different types of faults of the car were classified into 14 categories.

Readers were allowed to select parts of the car based on the following categories : battery, bodywork, brakes, engine electrics, exhaust, exterior lights, fuel system, gearbox/clutch, interior trim, non-engine electrics, steering, suspension and other.

Despite this, not a single person reported anything wrong in any of the 14 categories, which is a testament to Honda’s reputation for building reliable and robust vehicles. The Jazz’s bigger brother, the Civic, did well too, scoring a 94.5% reliability rating.

“This is a fantastic result for the Jazz and only goes to further demonstrate the build quality that Honda is famed for,” said Phil Webb, head of cars at Honda UK. “To then also further score highly with the Civic hatchback and Tourer simply reaffirms Honda as one of the most trusted and reliable brands.”

Though it seem like this bit of news irrelevant to Malaysian car owners, the contrary is true. This data offer an insight into the robustness of the mechanicals that power the current Jazz.

And since cars made in different parts of the world utilize similar drivetrains and trim fixtures, it’s safe to say that Honda Jazz owners here in Malaysia should be able to enjoy the same reliability as those in the UK.