To help celebrate its 100th anniversary, Aston Martin is set to reveal a concept car that looks as though it will take its inspiration from the DBR1 race car. 

As of now, the British brand has only released a video teasing the concept, which will be fully unveiled on Sunday, May 19, at an event taking place at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race.

SEE ALSO: Aston Martin Fielding Three Cars at 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Based on the teaser, the concept will be a small roadster, though it is expected to be built on the same platform as the V12 Vantage. Two of the cars are said to be in production; one to celebrate the centenary and one to celebrate Sir Stirling Moss’ victory at the 1959 Nürburgring endurance race.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Discuss this story at astonmartinforum.com

Aston Martin is taking three cars to this year’s 24 Hour of Nurburgring endurance race, including a hydrogen-powered Rapide S. 

Aside from its innovative hydrogen race car, Aston is bringing a V12 Vantage GT3 along with a close-to-production specification V12 Vantage. The last time the brand won the race was all the way back in 1959.

This year’s race will mark the first time that a hybrid-hydrogen powered car will compete in an international racing event. It will have a team of four drivers, one of which will be the CEO of Aston Martin himself, Dr Ulrich Bez.

GALLERY: Aston Martin at 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Discuss this story at AstonMartinForum.com

Honda will return to the world of Formula One racing for the 2015 season in partnership with McLaren, which will source its engines from the Japanese company. 

Long time Formula One fans will remember the McLaren and Honda team that existed from 1988 to 1992, with motorsport legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost both piloting the teams cars. Honda made a brief return to F1 in 2000 to provide engines for BAR. The company was last seen in F1 in 2008.

“Honda has been a company which grows by taking on challenges in racing. Honda has a long history of advancing our technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world’s most prestigious automobile racing series,” says Honda president Takanobu Ito, “The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1.”

Formula One will be switching to 1.6-liter turbochaged V6 engines in the upcoming season, thanks to new engine regulations that are designed to emphasize fuel efficiency.

“I am very happy to hear about Honda’s important decision to return to Formula One with McLaren from 2015,” says FIA President John Todt. “The introduction of the new power train next year, in the form of a 1.6 litre, 6 cylinder engine with direct injection and energy recovery, is a very exciting challenge and demonstrates a vision for the future of the sport.”

Formula One CEO as well as Todt believe that Honda will certainly be a contender from the get-go.

The Jaguar F-Type is hitting dealerships in America this month with a starting price of $69,000, so the British automaker is launching an advertising and marketing campaign to promote its convertible sports car.

The campaign, titled “Your Turn” will shine the spotlight on Jaguar’s newest sports car. The campaign will be seen on television, movies, print, digital, mobile and tablet, in addition to a social media campaign.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Jaguar F-Type Priced From $69,000

Stars featured in the advertising campaign for the F-Type include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, ESPN commentator Stuart Scott, and Playboy playmate of the year Raquel Pomplun. The F-Type will also be incorporated into a Jimmy Kimmel Live commercial, integrated with the USA Network’s Covert Affairs, and highlighted on Speed TV.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

GALLERY: Jaguar F-Type Ad Campaign

Discuss this story at F-TypeForum.com

Since the McLaren P1′s official debut at the Geneva Auto Show, American supercar fans have been clamoring to get a taste of the F1-bred plug-in hybrid, which will make its US debut at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance. 

A company spokesman confirmed as much to AutoGuide at a private event today. While McLaren made headlines at last year’s Pebble Beach with the outrageous one-off X1 model, the British company will once again try to steal the show with it’s LaFerrari-fighting P1 supercar.

The numbers still amaze: the combination of a twin-turbo V8 motor and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and electric engine make a stunning 903-hp, which help blast the P1 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, and up to 120 mph in 7 seconds. The sprint to 190 mph comes quickly as well, taking just 17 seconds.

SEE ALSO: McLaren P1 Selling Quick, 100 Units Left

Top speed is limited to 217 mph, and the car is also capable of running about 12 miles solely on electric power. McLaren is limiting production of the P1 to just 375 examples, each one costing about $1.15 million.

There’s no doubt that the P1 will look right at home at Pebble Beach, which runs in August this year.

Discuss this story at luxury4play.com

A patent filing in China has revealed a stretched Jaguar XJ model, though it’s unknown who filed it.

After rumors surfaced that the next-generation Jaguar XJ would get a different body style specifically for the Chinese market, the British automaker debunked that rumor. Perhaps someone else is taking matters into their own hands, building a stretched Jaguar XJ limo for the Chinese.

SEE ALSO: Next-Gen Jaguar XJ Not Getting Two Different Body Styles: Design Boss

Unfortunately with no confirmation on who filed the patent, it’s not known if this is an aftermarket, third-party conversion, which is most likely. Based on the patent filings, the XJ has been redesigned from the B-pillar back, and the vehicle itself has been extended almost 3.3 feet.

Perhaps Jaguar will chime in on these patent filings, since the automaker has been making a reputation out of debunking rumors such as the F-Type coupe patent filings that were leaked earlier.

GALLERY: Stretched Jaguar XJ

[Source: Car News China and Auto Sohu]

Discuss this story at Luxury4Play.com

British luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is placing heavier emphasis on hot weather testing by opening a new facility in Dubai. 

More than a sponge for high-priced automobiles, the region often sees temperatures above 120 degrees, which is why the brand is replacing its smaller facility with the  11,120 square-foot testing center. It will offer a range of hot weather and humidity tests along with off-road and sand driving tests. The facility will also put the maker’s powertrains, chassis and heat venting systems through rigorous testing.

“Our new facility in Dubai is four times the size of the previous test centre and will enable us to enhance our testing of future products and technologies,” said JLR director of engineering technical services Martyn Hollingsworth.”

Currently, the brand has five testing facilities worldwide: the new center in Dubai, one at the Nurburgring in Germany, another in Sweden and two in the U.S.

The BMW Group, which consists of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, has posted its best April global sales yet with a total of 155,419 vehicles sold last month.

The strong April, which was an increase of 6.8 percent in sales, gave the BMW Group a new all-time high of 603,619 vehicles sold during the first four months of the year. BMW brand vehicles rose 7.5 percent to 130,598 last month compared to April 2012 while worldwide MINI sales increased 3.3 percent. The BMW Group is enjoying success thanks to strong gains in the Asian and American markets.

Deliveries of the BMW X1 increased 14.8 percent compared to last year, with 11,837 units delivered in April. The 3 Series climbed 16 percent compared to last year to 38,491 units while the 3 Series Touring more than doubled with 104.6 percent growth. A total of 512,000 BMW vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide in 2013, an increase of 7.1 percent.

Last month, MINI delivered 24,581 vehicles and its worldwide sales increased 3.3 percent.

China accounted for 30,311 deliveries last month while the Americas sold 36,547 vehicles for an increase of 11.7 percent. Europe contributed to the total with 69,957 vehicles.

Discuss this story at BimmerWerkz.com

There’s a lot to love about the 2014 Range Rover Sport and the British automaker is banking on its popularity by expanding the lineup by offering even more powertrain options.

Land Rover will be adding to its Range Rover Sport lineup with a diesel-electric hybrid model and a conventional model powered by the automaker’s V8. Further down the line, the Range Rover Sport will also be offered with a four-cylinder “EcoBoost” engine, which is now possible thanks to its weight loss.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Range Rover Sport is 15% Lighter, 100% Sexier

According to Stuart Firth, Land Rover’s Chief Program Engineer for the Range Rover Sport, by shedding over 925 pounds, the Range Rover Sport is now able to be powered by a smaller four-cylinder without compromising the performance and off-road capability that the SUV is known for.

The V8 model will bring 516 lb-ft of torque to the Range Rover Sport and will join the lineup later this year along with the diesel-hybrid model. The diesel-hybrid Range Rover Sport will be a diesel V6 engine and will have its hybrid goods located under the floor of the SUV, allowing it to retain its seven-seater configuration and cargo space will be left as is. The hybrid technology will also be introduced to the standard, larger Range Rover model at the same time.

GALLERY: 2014 Range Rover Sport Mega Gallery

[Source: Carsales.com.au]

Discuss this story at RangeRovers.net

As Aston Martin celebrates its 100th-year anniversary, the British automaker is hard at work finding ways to growing its luxury brand and even just survive.

One priority for Aston Martin is to reduce spending on developing models, which means partnering up with an existing automaker to share supply and technical technologies. Currently, the British automaker is in talks with Daimler, the German manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

SEE ALSO: Aston Martin Investindustrial Tie-Up Confirmed

Now that Aston Martin and Investindustrial have a confirmed agreement, Daimler is Investindustrial’s preferred partner for a supply deal. No decision has been made, and discussions are in their early stages, but a partnership between both brands could prove positive for both sides.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Discuss this story at AstonMartinForum.com

If you were worried that the Jaguar F-Type coupe wasn’t coming now that the British automaker confirmed recent patent filings were that of an old concept car, here are some spy photos to prove that it’s on its way.

Despite plenty of security surrounding the area where the vehicle was being tested, our spy photographers were able to get a glimpse of the luxury sports coupe. This essentially proves that Jaguar is well on its way to producing the F-Type coupe, since the test vehicle looks very much like a production car.

SEE ALSO: Jaguar F-Type Coupe Patent Filing Debunked

Similar to the F-Type convertible, the coupe model is expected to share its powertrain with a pair of V6 offerings and a V8 powerplant. But don’t be surprised if high-performance R and R-S variants are in the works. Jaguar also recently stated that it’ll be producing more R-S GT models for exclusivity.

GALLERY: Jaguar F-Type Coupe Spy Photos

Discuss this story at F-TypeForum.com

Bentley has unveiled six different ‘Le Mans Limited Edition’ models with each package inspired by a driver from the automaker’s six victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours between 1924 and 1930.

The British automaker plans to build only 48 units of each of the six packages, which can ordered on the Continental GT coupe and convertible, and the Mulsanne. Each package consists of a unique configuration on the vehicle’s exterior color, interior color, stitching, and veneer. Le Mans Edition door sills, clock face, embroidery in the headrest, Le Mans edition wheels, and a numbered badge will also be included in every special edition car.

For the Mulsanne-based vehicles, they’ll get a little more extreme in the luxury department with diamond-quilted hide-seat upholstery, diamond-quilted hide door panels, illuminated door sills, drilled-alloy pedals, tuned suspension and steering, “Quad” Effect exhaust tips, and two-piece, five-spoke dark wheels.

The John Duff Le Mans edition features a Moonbeam exterior paint while the interior has two-tone Linen and Beluga upholstery with contrast stitching. The highlight veneers are presented in Piano Black and Bright Aluminum. As for the Dudley Benjafield edition, it’ll feature a Verdant exterior, which is the same color of the victorious Bentley Speed 8 in 2003. Inside, it’ll have two-tone Linen and Cumbrian Green with contrast stitching, Dark Stain Burr Walnut and Bright Aluminum veneer.

The package dedicated to Woolf Barnato, considered “the best driver” Bentley ever had will have a Granite exterior with a Hotspur interior and Beluga stitching. The veneer will be carbon fiber in the Continental models, while the Mulsanne gets Dark Stain Burr Walnut with Dark Aluminum. Moving onto the Tim Birkin package is a Glacier White exterior with a Beluga interior sporting white stitching. Veneer finish in that special edition model is Piano Black and Bright Aluminum.

Glen Kidston, who claimed first place at Le Mans in 1930, will have a special edition model dedicated to him with a Dark Sapphire exterior, two-tone Newmarket Tan and Imperial Blue interior with contrast stitching. Veneer finish will be Dark Stain Burr Walnut and Dark Aluminum. The Continental GT convertible models with the Glen Kidston package will have a blue-hued exterior roof.

Lastly is the Guy Smith Le Mans Limited Edition model, which has a Beluga exterior and interior with Hotspur stitching. Veneer finish in that particular model is Piano Black and Dark Aluminum.

The Continental GT Le mans Edition models will go on sale in the second quarter of 2013 while the Mulsanne Le Mans Edition will be offered beginning in the third quarter of this year.

Discuss this story at Luxury4Play.com