Supercars

Walter Röhrl, Frank Biela, Laurent Aiello, Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk, Miguel Molina, Edoardo Mortara, René Rast, Jamie Green: The list of Audi drivers who have won a DTM race at the Nürburgring reads like a small “Who’s who” of touring car racing. Over the next two weekends (September 12–13 and September 19–20), there will be four more opportunities to be added to the list of winners.

Since these words were spoken by the marque's co-founder, Sir Henry Royce, Rolls-Royce has experienced evolutionary change, from the creator of the ‘Best Car in the World’, to the world’s leading House of Luxury. The company’s products are today revered as exemplary examples of hand-craftsmanship, born from the finest materials and honed with masterful skill, while the brand and its illustrious figurine, the Spirit of Ecstasy, have become icons for the very best and truest examples of their kind. Indeed, Rolls-Royce, is, a synonym for luxury.

Mike Flewitt, CEO of luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive, today confirmed the introduction of the brand’s all-new, flexible, lightweight vehicle architecture which will underpin its next generation of electrified supercars.

The new architecture, designed specifically to accommodate new hybrid powertrains, has been entirely engineered, developed and produced in-house in the UK at McLaren’s £50m state-of-the-art McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in the Sheffield region.

Assembly of the first new Bentley Blower in more than nine decades has officially started in a bespoke Bentley Mulliner workshop. ‘Car Zero’ is the engineering prototype for the Blower Continuation Series, a run of 12 meticulously engineered, hand-crafted, supercharged 4½–litre Bentleys built to the unique design of Bentley’s own 1929 Team Car developed and raced by Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin. The 12 cars together form the world’s first continuation series for a pre-war car, and all have been pre-sold.

I've done a fair few miles this year on a range of motorcycles, and as you would expect in England, in a range of different conditions. From a glorious heatwave to torrential rain, and everything in between. 

To this end, I thought I'd do a quick mid-year review of the riding gear I've been using and a brief overview of it. 

I took the Ferrari on a long, leisurely tour of vineyards with International Excellence Luxury Magazine colleague Darren Lynsdale. We took in the Surrey Hills, the valleys of Hampshire and the Sussex coast. Of particular note were the fine white wines at the Rathfinny Estate, which is a stunning new vineyard near Seaford.

So, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso V12 statistics. It has a 6.3 L V12 engine, with four-wheel steering and drive, 681 bhp, does 0-62 mph in 3.5 secs and has a top speed of  208 mph.

If you want the best all-weather touring jacket money can but, look no further than the Dainese Gran Turismo GORE-TEX® Jacket.

Dainese is probably the most iconic and evocative motorcycle clothing brand in history.

Electric motorcycles; The future or the devil’s work? An inevitability or a passing phase?

Ever since I visited one of Europe’s largest electric motorcycle dealers, English Electric Motor Co, I have been hooked. They graciously facilitated my inauguration to electric motorcycles.

Subaru's Lavorg was released on to the UK market in 2015, as a replacement for the outgoing Legacy tourer.

Subaru has kept things very simple with the Levorg. There is one body style, one engine option, one trim level and one gearbox.