Supercars

 I remember my first visit to the Loire Valley like it was yesterday. Understandably given my left hand still carries the scars of a weekend that didn’t go quite as planned.

Few could deny the countryside outside Phuket is the exotic paradise idyll incarnate. White sands, blue waters to die for, tropical fauna and flora, and a pace of life that defines laid back. Save for the flights from Heathrow- even in business class- everything about a holiday in this corner of the Andaman Sea coast should be relaxing and luxurious.
 

Perhaps it’s the proximity to Britain, and the longitudinal position it occupies on the globe. Maybe it’s simply because the southern shores of France tend to shout so much louder when it comes to elegance, luxury and ideal destinations for beach holidays. Either way, there’s a good chance that Brittany is low on the list when it comes to finding a luxury place to stay. Look a little closer, though, and quite how much you’ve been missing quickly becomes clear. 

I recently attended the launch of a revolutionary hypercar built for the 21st century by a new company called Czinger.
In their own words: 'Czinger represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering, innovation, automotive art and technology-based design.'
In 1916 Cadillac produced the type 53. This is considered to be the first car to use the same control layout as modern cars, with the gear lever and hand brake in the middle of the front two seats, a key started ignition, and three pedals for the clutch, brake and throttle in the familiar order.

We’ve had the new Toyota Supra for a week of fun and misbehaving. Toyota has created quite a dramatic car in the new Supra in more ways than one.

This is the entry-level Cayenne coupe which means that it has the all aluminium 3L V6 turbocharged engine with Variocam. It produces 335hp and 450Nm of torque, very nice.
The brochure states a top speed of 150 mph and 0-62 takes 6 seconds, so it’s certainly not slow.
Cayenne coupe starts at around £62,000 and this particular car has a few choice extras so comes out at just over £80,000.

Kia describes the Stinger as: a halo performance model. They say It is a GT car and not a hard edged sports car.
I read a very cool quote from chief designer Gregory Guillaume (Gee-ome) which said: "the Stinger has nothing to do with being first to arrive. This car is all about the journey. it's about passion."
Stinger is a new direction for Kia, taking them into a new market sector. A 5 door, 5 seater fastback style grand Tourer.
It is also their first Rear Wheel Drive car in the UK.

Michael is a very cool customer. At the tender age of just 24 he is training to become a commercial pilot, smoking around in this oh so cool 1979 Mercedes 450 SLC. This guy has his head screwed on.
A classic 450 SLC Mercedes is certainly not the kind of car you would expect a young guy to be driving. You’d probably expect to see your average 24 year old in some kind of hot hatch, right?
There’s a good reason Michael owns this car but we'll get to that.

Lighter, more powerful and with even higher levels of performance on both road and track, the McLaren 765LT is today revealed as the latest in a line of ‘Longtail’ McLarens and the most dynamically advanced and engaging LT model ever from McLaren Automotive.

“Why wouldst thou leave calm Hartwell’s green abode...Apician table and Horatian Ode?”
Lord Byron referring to Louis XVIII’s departure from Hartwell House.
Owned by the National Trust, Hartwell House is an exceptional opportunity to stay in a magnificent and eccentrically decorated English stately home in Buckinghamshire. Set in 90 acres of verdantly landscaped garden, just 40 miles from London, it personifies a style and character unique to Jacobean (and Georgian) country houses.