The 2015 Beaujolais Run® was set off on its jouney by John Surtees OBE, who joined in the fun, in a Ferrari FF.

Over 30 crews participated in this year’s Beaujolais Run® which was flagged off by John Surtees from the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom on Monday 16^th November.

The Beaujolais Run® was initially a race to get the first bottle of the new season’s Beaujolais wine back to England; it has taken place 45 times since its inception in 1970.  Following the death of his son in 2009, John Surtees OBE became patron, and sponsorship funds raised by participants is donated to the Henry Surtees Foundation.

The Beaujolais Run® is a navigational trail through a cryptic checkpoint course that begins in the UK and ends in Burgundy, France. 

It is designed to give a level playing field for all types of vehicles, be they classic cars, supercars, Classic Cars, off-roaders, daily drivers and/or touring motorcycles of any age. With navigation classes for ‘maps only’ and ‘any assistance’ (satellite navigation, etc.).

The four day rally prides itself on its unique, unprecedented access to chateaux, historic battle fields, famous vineyards and encounters at world renowned motor racing circuits, plus fantastic driving through Belgium and France and this year was no exception. 

The 1200 mile rally also visited the diamond city of Antwerp (a location favoured by Napoleon), visiting the Battle of Waterloo site. They were guest of the Mayor of Beaujolais for the celebrations of the release of the 2015 Nouveau vintage. 

All the participants were then driven to the chateau and home of the Taittinger Champagne family in Reims, where they were able to enjoy a superb dinner accompanied by a champagne from the Taittinger cellars chosen for each course.

Two and four-wheeled World Champion, and Patron of the Beaujolais Run® - John Surtees OBE joined the run participants in Reims on Thursday 19^th November driving the Ferrari FF after having seen them off at the start at RAC Woodcote Park. 

He was pictured loading a case of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau in a very wet pit lane at Reims (Gueux Circuit) in amongst meeting local fans.

John Surtees said “it was a delight to join the participants on the Beaujolais Run, and we are grateful to the Taittinger family for their hospitality, we all swapped the wheel for a coach  that night, as the champagne was flowing generously!”

Guest speaker Malcolm Barber, of Bonhams joined the dinner and shared stories of his involvement in some fantastic sales that he was involved with, including that of a Ferrari 250GTO that John was very conversant with, having raced one on numerous occasions.

John Surtees continued “I enjoyed visiting the start line of the old Reims Circuit; it holds many memories to me of racing both in sports cars and F1 cars. 

I met with French motor racing enthusiasts and got to hear about the terrific restoration work that they are carrying out to preserve the historic track and pit buildings. Back on the open road, I really had to resist temptation driving the FF, it’s so responsive, and with those wonderful French roads, no traffic, and a 12 cylinder engine – the temptation was difficult.”

The Run’s participants had plenty of fun and frustration on route as they tried to cover the course in the shortest distance to win the coveted ‘P2’ position on the following year’s start line. P1 is reserved for the highest fundraising team. 

All crews headed for deepest Burgundy and return, aiming to be the first that brings back the Beaujolais after its midnight release.

The Beaujolais Run® 2015 was generously supported by a number of key partners, including Partridge and Co., Champagne Taittinger, Ssangyong, Louise Latour, Rose and White Tailoring, The Review and Screaming Eagles, as well as Bentley Motors, Ferrari North Europe, Jaguar Cars and Artemis.

33 Years, from scratch, Hyndai has just sold it's One Millionth car in the UK, Well deserved congrats to you.

• Hyundai Motor UK has sold one million cars since 1982 and is celebrating by giving away the one millionth car - an all-new Tucson - as part of the #M1LLION campaign
• Running for a million seconds (11.6 days) from 26 November, #M1LLION allows Hyundai fans to nominate their ‘one in a million’ – a person they feel deserves to win a new Tucson
• New campaign announced in the year that Hyundai Motor UK marks another milestone: 10-years as a global subsidiary, celebrated by www.astreetcarnamedhyundai.com
• All-new Tucson is Hyundai UK’s latest model; a stylish compact SUV packed full of technology and starting from £18,695

Hyundai Motor has today announced a significant milestone in its UK history - it has sold exactly one million vehicles since 1982 when it imported its first car, the Pony.

The landmark one millionth car is the all-new Tucson compact SUV which is Hyundai Motor’s latest and fastest-selling model in the UK.  To celebrate reaching this milestone, the Company will give this top-of-the-range vehicle away through its #M1LLION campaign.

The competition launches today and will ask users to nominate their ‘one in a million’ – a person they believe deserves to win the brand new car.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai UK said: “To have reached a million cars sold in the UK is an amazing achievement for our business and this #M1LLION competition is a way to share this milestone with our loyal customers and social media fans.

“We have been selling cars in the UK for a lot longer than many people think - since 1982 in fact. The last ten years, though, have been the most seminal in our history with more than 600,000 of the one million vehicles sold since 2005 and our market share has more than doubled to 3.5 percent.  This has made us the fastest growing car brand in the UK.

“They say the best advertisement for a car company is to see cars on the road and with that many out there, the future looks good for Hyundai.”

Entries for #M1LLION can be made on Hyundai UK’s Facebook wall (www.facebook.com/hyundaiuk) or on Twitter (@Hyundai_UK) and Instagram (@hyundaiuk) using the hashtag #M1LLION. The promotion runs for a million seconds from 26 November, the equivalent of 11.6 days. During that time there will be an unannounced ‘winning moment’, where all entries submitted during that moment will be eligible to win.

Entries can be submitted as a text, image or video, with the winning entry awarded a Hyundai Tucson 2.0-litre diesel Premium SE in Ara Blue worth £28,345 for their nominated ‘one in a million’. Full terms and conditions can be viewed here:http://www.hyundai.co.uk/content/downloads/hyundai_million_terms.pdf

Packed full of technology and with an eye-catching design, the all-new Tucson is the perfect representation of the Hyundai brand. It is available with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning System with Lane Keep Assist, Smart Park Assist, as well as Keyless Smart Entry with engine start-stop and TomTom navigation with LIVE traffic updates.

This landmark comes as Hyundai UK marks another milestone: 10 years as a global subsidiary. This was celebrated with “A Streetcar Named Hyundai” (www.astreetcarnamedhyundai.com) – a world-first zero-emissions driving challenge in London, which with the use of cutting-edge technology has created the first ever mosaic image made up of 503,919 photographs of every street in London.  The final image was also revealed today at a special event held at the Sunbeam Studios in London.

The first production Bentley Bentayga Sports Utility Vehicle leaves the Crewe production lines.

• Sector-defining SUV designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe
• Car marks significant UK manufacturing investment
• First Bentayga to join Bentley’s famous Heritage Collection

The very first production Bentley Bentayga, the catalyst for one of the biggest investment programmes in the company’s history, today left the assembly line at Bentley’s iconic headquarters in Crewe, UK.

Four years on from the initial concept stage, during which time over 1,500 UK jobs have been created, the car - part of an £840 million investment programme - will now enter full production, with deliveries to customers starting in January 2016. 

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley Bentayga will be the benchmark against which all other SUVs are measured, defining a new segment – the luxury SUV.

“This car is a celebration of UK manufacturing at its very best, not only reinforcing our commitment to industry in this country, job creation and significant investment, but to our home in Crewe. This is an important moment in our history, where we reflect and celebrate, but also look ahead to delivering this extraordinary car to our customers.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from all parts of the business for their dedication and professionalism in delivering the Bentley Bentayga. It would not have been possible to deliver this car without the support and belief from the UK Government, our parent company and other business partners. We can all take pride in this achievement.”

The first production Bentayga, finished in paint colour – Anthracite – was handcrafted across 130 hours. During the assembly process, the car passed through a new bodystore, a new paint shop and a new assembly line, all part of this substantial investment.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, commented: “I am delighted that the first Bentley Bentayga has rolled off the production line in Crewe. It marks the culmination of a period of exceptional hard work by Bentley and its dedicated workforce as they brought this remarkable new vehicle to market.

“The Bentayga represents an ambitious £800 million investment into the Crewe factory backed by £9.5 million from the Regional Growth Fund. It has created hundreds of valuable skilled jobs for the area and secured the future of production onsite.

“Well done to all at Bentley. This is a moment of great pride for everyone who lives and works in Crewe.” 

Michael Straughan, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, addressed the company’s 4,000-strong workforce as the car was driven from the final production stage. He said: “This is a proud moment for the entire company. It’s been four years in the making and is a celebration of a sector-defining British handcrafted car.

“Bentayga is the Bentley of SUVs, with a level of attention to detail only achievable thanks to the outstanding skill of a British workforce that blends exceptional craft and skill with modern production techniques and materials."

Classic Car Auctions finishes the year with a raft of special cars and a rare, last made for UK SAAB 96L Souvenir V4.

A very special and rare 1978 Saab 96L Souvenir V4, the very last made for the UK market, will be going under the hammer next weekend in Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) Christmas Sale, taking place on Saturday 5^thDecember at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa.

This important 1978 Saab is number 150 of 150 right-hand drive model 96 V4s produced for the UK, with a certificate present from Saab themselves to confirm this. It has covered a mere 3,010 miles from new in total, with the present vendor enjoying a pleasurable 1,000 miles of these.

This Saab 96L is in amazing, factory original condition throughout with the Cardinal Red paint, unique to this last UK batch of cars, gleaming. Said to drive perfectly with everything working, including its free-wheel, the vendor enthusiastically informs us it has also won Club show awards on its rare outings.

The individual looking and innovative Saab 96 was in production for 13 years and was renowned for its strength and design attributes, all well highlighted by International Rally successes in the hands of the recently late, great Eric Carlsson.

Other low-mileage classics joining the Saab at the auction include a barn find 1980 MGB, with just one registered keeper and showing just 181 miles from new, and a brightly coloured, highly original 1975 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle showing just 8,762 miles.

Also offered is a fantastically original 1977 Mini Clubman that has covered just 8,703 miles. Originally sold on 14th October 1977, the car was resold on 28th April 1978 to a friend of the original owner. Garaged in 1985 when she stopped driving, the car was put away and never used again.

Commenting on the sale next weekend, CCA general manager, Guy Lees-Milne said: “We have a fantastic selection of single ownership, low mileage classics on offer in our final sale of the year. Cars with history like this always prove in high demand at auction and therefore we expect a lot of interest.”

Outlander from Mitsubishi takes another awards this time from the Scotsman National newspaper.

Mitsubishi’s best-selling game-changer the Outlander PHEV has been named Plug-In Vehicle of the Year by Scotland’s national newspaper.

The Scotsman, which has been testing one of the vehicles over the long term, said the world’s first 4x4 plug-in hybrid SUV had ‘lived up to its ecocredentials and impressed as a genuinely practical motor’.

The title’s Steven Chisholm called the Outlander PHEV ‘an exciting prospect for anyone looking for an SUV that’s easy on the wallet as well as the environment’.

He praised the vehicle’s material and build quality as well as the cabin’s planning and space plus ‘huge boot’. In addition, he highlighted how – thanks to the Outlander PHEV’s all-electric range of 32½ miles – staff would ‘relish the challenge of hyper-miling the battery’ on their 30-mile round trips from home to the office and back again without using any petrol at all.

And it was the Outlander PHEV’s great fuel consumption as well as its SUV practicality that combined to make it the newspaper’s winner.

The Outlander PHEV currently accounts for around half of all Plug-in Car Grant applications and is the UK’s favourite choice of plug-in vehicle, with Mitsubishi having sold more than 15,000 of them since it was launched last year.

The new Outlander PHEV, which was unveiled in Tokyo in October 2015, has seen the fuel economy improved – up from 148mpg to 156mpg – while the CO₂ emissions are down from 44g/km to 42g/km.

Those ultra-low emissions mean that no vehicle tax is payable, and its electric power combined with the efficient 2.0-litre petrol engine deliver an anxiety-free driving range of 541 miles.

What’s more, because the Benefit In Kind is just five per cent, it means a virtual pay rise of several thousand pounds a year for company car drivers, while for business owners there are savings on National Insurance contributions to be had, plus the Outlander PHEV qualifies for 100 per cent First Year Allowance against business profits.

This is the latest in a long line of awards for the Outlander PHEV. Last year, for example, it won Diesel Car’s Best Alternative Fuel Vehicle award as well as Business Car’s Best Green Development trophy in its Techie Awards, while in May this year it was named Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle at the Fleet World Honours.

mazda takes a trio of awards at this years Scottish car Of The Years Awards 2015.

• All-new Mazda CX-3 named ‘Best Crossover’ at the 2015 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.
• Scottish Car of the Year ‘Best Supermini’ title awarded to the all-new Mazda2.
• Adding to its growing awards tally, the all-new Mazda MX-5 takes ‘Best Drop Top’ title.
• Winning cars selected by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW).

Mazda has grabbed three titles at the annual Scottish Car of the Year (SCOTY) Awards, taking top honours in two of the most fiercely contested categories, and claiming the glamorous ‘Best Drop Top’ title. In a year that has seen Mazda deliver an unprecedented range of new cars, judges from the ASMW recognised all three of Mazda’s 2015 introductions, with awards for the all-new Mazda2, all-new Mazda CX-3 and all-new Mazda MX-5.

Commenting on the all-new Mazda2’s ‘Best Supermini’ Award, ASMW President Alisdair Suttie said, “putting the super into supermini is no easy task, yet our winning car manages it with ease. Great to look at, a joy to drive and good value, the Mazda2 has an appeal that’s beyond expectations for this class.”  ASMW Secretary Stephen Park added, “Mazda is on a roll with the way its cars are styled and the way they drive. Never has a supermini had to beat so many talented rivals to come out on top, but the Mazda2 is a clear favourite of the judges. They love its sharp looks, classy cabin and most of all the way it drives.”

Sharing its platform and award-winning SKYACTIV engine line up with the all-new Mazda2, Mazda’s first small SUV also collected silverware by taking the ‘Best Crossover’ title. “Crossovers are big business and 2015 has witnessed the debut of more talent in this segment than ever before, but the Mazda CX-3 is without doubt the best-looking compact crossover on the road today,” commented ASMW Secretary Stephen Park. Adding, “And beneath the style there’s real substance. Comparing the CX-3 against its peers, the judges were particularly impressed by the driving dynamics and the efficiency of the SKYACTIV petrol and diesel engines.”

Adding to its growing collection of awards, Mazda’s all-new MX-5 sports car took the SCOTY ‘Best Drop Top’ title, ASMW President Alisdair Suttie commented, “for more than a quarter of a century the Mazda MX-5 has reigned supreme as the world’s best-selling roadster and the new fourth-generation model is the best yet. With better looks, sharper handling and a very affordable price tag, the outlook for the latest version is very good indeed.”

Collecting all three awards at the 2015 SCOTY Awards evening held at the Dalmahoy Country Club on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director Jeremy Thomson commented, “2015 has been an astonishing year for Mazda that has seen us deliver one of the youngest model line ups in the industry. It’s fantastic that Scotland’s motoring media has recognised both the all-new Mazda2 and the all-new Mazda CX-3 as best in class in such competitive sectors of the market. I’m also delighted that the all-new MX-5 has taken another prestigious award.” 

Mazda’s latest crop of Scottish motoring awards mean that every current model in the Mazda range has achieved a SCOTY accolade - recognition that contributes to the success of Mazda’s Scottish dealers and a 2.7 per cent market share in Scotland.

Vauxhall cleans up at the Scottish Car of the Year awards with four wins, including Car Of The Year 2015.

• Landmark award part of four-trophy evening for Vauxhall
• Astra and VIVA also win Compact, Eco and Family categories between them


Vauxhall’s all-new Astra family hatchback was named 2015 Scottish Car of the Year this evening at the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers’ annual awards held in Edinburgh. The British-built Astra also took the Eco and Family car awards, while the company’s new VIVA drove away with the Compact car gong.








“We’re extremely proud that the Astra is the 2015 Scottish Car of the Year,” said Mark Adams, Vauxhall/Opel’s Vice President, Design, who accepted the award on behalf of Vauxhall. 
“The Scots have made Vauxhall their most popular car manufacturer over the last seven years, so we’re glad that we’ve been able to repay their loyalty by delivering a car that will appeal in so many ways.
The Astra also took a brace of class awards during the evening, with the 1.6 CDTi model triumphing in the Eco category, which included rivals with a range of alternative power sources. 
Its new-generation of engine – the Whisper Diesel - combined with Astra’s drop in kerb-weight of up to 200kgs means the 136PS 1.6 CDTi can achieve 76.3mpg combined and CO₂ emissions of just 99g/km.
The Astra also won SCOTY’s Family Car Award, with the judges recognising its family-friendly technology and clever use of cabin space.
"The judging panel faced arguably the toughest decision in the history of the SCOTY awards but the Astra's sheer breadth of talent put it ahead of the rest,” said Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers. 
“It's a hugely relevant vehicle for both private buyers and company car drivers. We believe it's not just Vauxhall's best car yet but the new leader in an ultra-competitive segment."
Completing Vauxhall’s award-trawl was the VIVA’s win in the Compact car category. With a familiar name, cheeky looks, generous equipment and a level of quality that confounds its sub-£8k entry price, VIVA is the latest edition to Vauxhall’s growing small-car family, which already includes ADAM and Corsa.
“The Vauxhall VIVA has the lot as a compact car,” said Suttie. “It can fit four adults plus luggage while delivering a smooth and refined drive. It’s also superb value and has low running costs to make it the perfect choice in its class. 
The VIVA bowled us over with the way it drives, taking every type of road in its confident stride. We also admire the way the VIVA offers more space inside than seems possible from the outside. What really sealed the deal, though, is the amazing value for money this quality small car provides.”
The Scottish market is of great importance to Vauxhall. It has been the biggest-selling manufacturer in Scotland for the last seven years with the popular Corsa being Scotland’s best-selling car for six out of the last seven years. Vauxhall also sponsors the Scotland national football team.
"We are very pleased Astra and VIVA have been recognised by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers. 
The all-new Astra has raised the bar in terms of quality, design and connectivity and the VIVA is the newest and best city car on the market," said Leon Caruso, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director. 
“Winning the overall SCOTY gives us a huge boost and our retailers in the region will be delighted with the additional success I am sure this will bring to these cars.”
Vauxhall’s Corsa and Corsa VXR narrowly missed top-spot in SCOTY’s Supermini and Hot-Hatch categories respectively, being named runner-up in each class.

The Honda Civic Type R takes the Hot Hatch award at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

Honda’s new Civic Type R has scooped the hot hatch at the 2015 Scottish Car of the Year (SCOTY) Awards. The Civic Type R’s high revving all-new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, advanced new suspension systems and eye-catching looks have not gone unnoticed by the SCOTY judges who were all impressed with its performance, handling, looks and quality.

Double British Touring Car champion and fellow Scot Gordon Shedden, who drove the Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R to victory this year, was present to collect the trophy at the glittering awards ceremony held in Edinburgh on 27 November.  

The awards are judged by members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, who represent publications and websites from across the country.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: "The Civic Type R won because it shows what's possible with a hot hatch, pushing the boundaries with more than 300bhp through the front wheels yet it remains easy and civilised to drive in daily use. However, it comes alive in an instant when the driver wants more, bringing a bit of touring car brilliance to everyday driving."

Philip Crossman, Managing Director, Honda (UK) added; “We are very proud of what we have achieved with the Civic Type R, particularly as it’s built here in the UK.  Seeing the car being recognised by industry experts is very rewarding, and I’m confident that we’ll need a bigger awards cabinet pretty soon!”

Billed as a ‘race car for the road’, the all-new British built Honda Civic Type R is powered by the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built. The direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 310 PS at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm – both higher than for any previous Honda Civic Type R model.

Available for £299 a month on a 5.9 per cent APR representative PCP, customers can also benefit from a 5 year servicing package for £555 (a saving of £780).