Ford and it's Mustang GT, leads the 250PS Sports Car segment, by some margin in the January-July time frame.

The Ford Mustang is UK’s most popular high-performance sports coupe, ahead of competitors from Porsche, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes. Figures for sports cars with 250PS or more put the Mustang at the front of the pack from January to July 2016.

Since Ford started taking orders in January 2015, the Ford Mustang has topped 4,000 sales to date, with total 2016 registrations at 2,317, so far. This puts the Mustang comfortably at the top of the table against rivals, the closest being the Jaguar F-Type with 1,446.

Top 10 250PS+ Performance Vehicles (YTD July 2016) –

1. Ford Mustang (2,317)
2. Jaguar F-Type (1,446)
3. BMW 6 Series (1,367)
4. Porsche 911 (1,315)
5. Porsche Cayman (787)
6. Audi TT (778)
7. Porsche Boxster (526)
8. Mercedes SL (489)
9. Porsche 718 (482)
10. BMW i8 (382)

The current split in sales across models shows that 70 per cent of customers specified the 5.0-litre V8 engine, with the remaining 30 per cent favouring the 2.3-litre EcoBoost. Total customer orders for the Ford Mustang in Europe now stand at more than 19,500 since the car was launched in the third quarter of 2015.

Since June this year, all Mustang models have been fitted sophisticated SYNC 3 infotainment system as standard, offering a redesigned eight-inch touchscreen and faster performance, and the ability for drivers to control their connected smartphones, audio, navigation, and climate functions with more conversational voice commands.

In addition, the new Ford Mustang is available to order with three new colour options – Grabber Blue, Lightning Blue and White Platinum.

The Mustang’s popular European introduction is another page in the exciting Ford Performance story, which continues with the success of ST, Fiesta ST200, Focus RS and GT. More than 6,500 enthusiasts applied to buy the all-new Ford GT in just one month – with over 500 from the UK alone.

The Ford Mustang is available from the 75 FordStore locations across the UK, and via the fully customisable online configurator - http://www.ford.co.uk/

USA - Lighter, more powerful performance models put pricier competition in the rearview, that will be the new Camaro.

Lighter, more powerful performance models put pricier competition in the rearview

The 2017 ZL1, the most powerful production Camaro ever, and the track-bred 1LE are designed to deliver exhilarating performance on both the open road and the road course, at prices that leave the competition behind.

  

When they go on sale later this year, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 will be priced at $62,135 for coupe models and $69,135 for convertibles. Prices include destination charge, but not tax, title and other dealer fees. The 1LE package is a $4,500 MSRP option on Camaro V-6 LT coupe models and $6,500 on the V-8 1SS coupe model.

For LT coupes, the 1LE package features the Camaro SS’s FE3 suspension, while the 1SS benefits from the ZL1’s electronic limited-slip differential and FE4 suspension with Magnetic Ride dampers.

“The Camaro ZL1 offers supercar performance with daily-driver refinement, a combination that stacks up against any other sports coupe – at any price – around the world,” said Steve Majoros, director, Chevrolet marketing.

“Building on Chevrolet’s well-established recipe for track-focused performance, the new 1LE packages expand the performance envelope of the Camaro SS and, for the first time, the Camaro LT,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find more track-capable cars in their respective classes for the money.”

ZL1

• 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds
• Quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds at 127 mph
• 1.02 g max cornering
• 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (32 meters)
• 220-pound (100 kg) weight reduction
• 650-horsepower (485 kW) supercharged LT4 6.2L V-8 engine

*ZL1 performance numbers achieved with a coupe equipped with the available 10-speed automatic transmission and using original-equipment tires on a non-prepped surface.

1LE

• 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds with Camaro LT 1LE
• 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds with Camaro SS 1LE
• 0.97 g max cornering with Camaro LT 1LE
• 1.02 g max cornering with Camaro SS 1LE
• 60-0 mph braking in 112 feet (34 meters) with Camaro LT 1LE
• 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (32 meters) with Camaro SS 1LE
• 230-pound (104 kg) weight reduction (SS 1LE to previous model)

Mew data shows that Black has become the colour of choice for the majority of the car segments.

Black is the new white for car colour according to latest data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi.

Across a range of different motoring sectors, statistics from the industry’s cap Black Book reveal that drivers are currently favouring black over any other colours or shades with consumers decidedly going ‘white off’ white cars.

The market analysis paints the following picture when it comes to most popular colours across the different motoring sectors:

• Black is the most popular colour in the convertibles market with 21.5% of overall market sales
• A third (29%) of coupe cabriolets sold are black
• Executive car sector gives black the vote (28%)
• Black also tops the sales chart in the large executive (28%) and luxury executive (24%) sectors
• 22% of the mid-range car market favours black
• 23% of the sports market is geared up for black
• A quarter (25%) of SUV sales leads are for black paintwork

Exceptions to the rule include the city car market sector with the most popular colours being red (18%) followed by white (17%) and black (16%). The MPV market favours silver (27%) as does the supermini sector (19%).

Philip Nothard , retail specialist at cap hpi commented: “Black is without doubt the new white. White had become the colour of choice over the past few years but black seems to be back with a vengeance. Black represents a safe choice for motorists as, along with silver and grey, these so called safe colours consistently maintain their value when sold as used.

“The subject of much discussion, many in the trade believe that the popularity of white was down to manufacturer marketing campaigns, whilst others thought it was a trend that started with other desirable products such as white laptops, smartphones and tablets.  Whatever the reason, white seems to have fallen out of favour and black is staging a bit of a fightback –black appears to be appealing to buyers’ financial sensitivities as it represents more of a safe bet in terms of returns later on down the line.”

For consumers buying a petrol or diesel car, the bottom line is that middle of the road colours make the safest investment and it would appear that this has never been truer than at present.  

Added Philip Nothard: “Black, grey and silver have always been in the top five most popular colours, so it’s no huge shock to see that white seems to have lost its crown. Our data shows that middle of the road cars in black are better at holding value than any other colour. Customers are always likely to settle for the safest option and it would appear that they are thinking about what they can get at trade-in time rather than taking any risks with brighter or whiter paintwork.”

Germany's Federal Court of Justice has banned Mercedes-Benz from selling its Airscarf headrest heating system.

Germany's Federal Court of Justice has banned Mercedes-Benz from selling its Airscarf headrest heating system in cars sold in Germany because of a dispute over patents.

The court said that the verdict banned the sale of the system, which is an option in models such as the Mercedes SLK/SLC, SL, S-class, E-class, C-class and AMG GT Roadster convertibles.

The Airscarf system blows hot air through the seat headrest onto the necks of drivers and passengers. It is used in about two thirds of the convertible models sold in Germany, according to Automotive News Europe’s sister publication Automobilwoche.

A spokeswoman for Mercedes-Benz said she was "astonished" by the verdict, given that parent company Daimler had won legal disputes over Airscarf in lower courts.

Automotive News Europe.

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WORLDWIDE SALES JUNE - PORSCHE - The SUV and sports car company continues to grow sales.

More than 7,200 Porsche Macan delivered to customers

Porsche delivered 20,831 new vehicles globally to customers in June 2015 – an increase of 28 percent compared with the same month last year. In the first half of 2015, the Stuttgart-based company had approximately 114,000 vehicles sold worldwide, which boosted its deliveries to customers by 30 percent compared to the same period in the prior year.

“In the first half of the year, Porsche was carrying forward its successful growth trajectory”, says Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. “We continue watching the development of the global markets very attentively. The general conditions in North America are remarkably positive at the moment. Looking at the European markets, we are cautiously optimistic yet remain vigilant so we can react flexibly to demand, if need be. In China, Porsche has performed well so far in a difficult market environment.”

The Porsche 911 sports cars made a major contribution in June with more than 2,900 delivered to customers. The growth in sales of the Cayenne SUV (+19.7 percent) and the mid-engine Cayman (+28.5 percent) were particularly pleasing. With 7,281 vehicles delivered, sales of the Macan more than doubled in June; the compact SUV had not yet been launched on all markets worldwide in June 2014.

PORSCHE AG Deliveries	June			January - June
	2015	2014	Variance (%)	2015	2014	Variance (%)
World	20,831	16,325	27.6	113,984	87,803	29.8
Europe	6,880	6,136	12.1	38,689	29,839	29.7
Germany	2,499	2,481	0.7	15,061	12,283	22.6
America	5,300	4,934	7.4	30,119	26,736	12.7
USA	4,223	4,102	2.9	25,138	22,919	9.7
Asia Pacific, Africa and Mideast	8,651	5,255	64.6	45,176	31,228	44.7
China	5,682	3,320	71.1	29,355	19,785	48.4

Mike Brewer to attend this years 65th meeting of MGLive at SIlverstone, a great event for MG Fans.

Mike will be heading to the world’s biggest MG event on Saturday, 20^th June, opening the Car Club’s 65^thmeeting at the home of British Motorsport. He’ll be joined by the MGA that he and his sidekick mechanic Edd China restored on the current season of Wheeler Dealers.

Mike said: “There aren’t many marques that are as well-loved as MG. It’ll be my first time at MGLive! and I’m really looking forward to getting down to Silverstone for the day.”

He will be opening the event from the show’s Live Arena before taking time to meet fans and host the world’s first Human Gymkhana! 

The Human Gymkhana will see contestants undertake a variety challenges in the fastest time possible – it will test you both physically and mentally!

As well as his hosting duties in the arena, Mike will be on hand to meet the fans for pictures and to sign autographs.

Mike will be joined in the live arena by Russ Swift – the legendary precision and stunt driver, who’ll be showing his skills demonstrating two-wheeled driving, extreme parallel parking and more.

MGLive! will also feature two days of racing on the historic Grand Prix circuit, the biggest and best traders in the MG world, autojumble, and, on the Sunday, Pride of Ownership and Concours D’Elegance. 

Saturday night boasts a packed programme of live entertainment, including live music, a hog roast, disco and fully-licenced bar and there’s no need to worry about driving, since MGLive! also offers pitches for camping and caravans.