Enhancements to Jeep Grand Cherokee ‘the world’s most awarded SUV’ make this the best Jeep ever produced.

• Enhancements to Jeep Grand Cherokee ‘the world’s most awarded SUV’
• New 75^th Anniversary limited edition details announced
• SRT Night limited edition revealed

Plans to continue the success of the popular and successful Jeep Grand Cherokee range of SUV vehicles have been announced, with details of a raft of enhancements to the current model for 2016/17.

In addition, and to celebrate the iconic 4x4 brand’s 75^th birthday, Jeep has also revealed details of a 75^thAnniversary limited edition Grand Cherokee for the UK. The car was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Meanwhile, an addition to the SRT range of Grand Cherokees, the SRT Night limited edition – which features exclusive styling – has also been announced for sale in this country.

New Grand Cherokee (MY16)

The premium, large SUV of the Jeep line-up, Grand Cherokee represents the standard in terms of power, comfort, innovation and craftsmanship. After nearly five million sales worldwide, the most awarded SUV ever continues to evolve, with stylish exterior and interior designs, advanced technological features and enhanced on- and off-road capability, courtesy of its eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Cherokee was recently named among the Top 10 best cars to own in the UK*.

The latest, model year Grand Cherokee now has a new Start/Stop function and electric steering which helps to achieve a 14 gram reduction in CO2 (to 184g/km), compared with the previous model year. Fuel economy has also been improved to 40.4 mpg on diesel versions.

Unlike conventional power steering, the new electric power steering system, with selectable driving modes, does not draw power from the engine and, with a resultant reduction in fluid weight, fuel savings are made, in conjunction with the new Start/Stop function.

Designed to enhance Grand Cherokee’s striking design, the new model’s bold styling includes a range of new exterior colours: Velvet Red, Redline and Ivory Tri-Coat, while acoustic glass improves the cabin experience.

Inside, a new, more substantial premium gear lever replaces the current aircraft-style e-shift, and a new, revised centre stack includes Sport and Start/Stop buttons. New electric power steering with selectable drive modes (Sport, Comfort or Normal) is introduced and safety features such as a ‘Stop’ function up to 7mph on the Rear Park Assist, and full speed forward collision warning are included for the first time.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee MY16 starts at £45,050 OTR for the 3.0 CRD Limited+, rising to £52,550 OTR for the 3.0 CRD Summit.

Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary

It is a Jeep tradition to celebrate key anniversaries, or the conquering of inaccessible places, with special editions. And to celebrate its 75 years of history, the legendary brand is introducing a 75th Anniversary special edition offered on all models of the line-up. One of these is the Grand Cherokee 75^th Anniversary version, of which just 125 retailed examples will be available in the UK, with the vehicle available in Jeep showrooms later this month.

Based on the MY16 platform and powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 MultiJet 250 hp engine, it is paired with the eight-speed automatic transmission and the Quadra-Trac II 4x4 system.

Equipment is comprehensive and includes external bronze detailing and 75^th Anniversary badging, 20-inch bronze coloured alloy wheels, a bold new front design, new LED fog lamps, a Safety Technology Pack (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with crash mitigation, cross path detection, and bind spot monitoring), Quadra-Lift air suspension, dual pane panoramic sunroof, 75^th Anniversary seat design with 1941 logo, and black leather with tangerine stitching.

Four colours will be available for the new 75^th Anniversary car in the UK: exclusive Recon Green, Bright White, Brilliant Black and Granite.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 75^th Anniversary costs £50,550 OTR.

Grand Cherokee SRT Night

The new, high performance SRT Night version is even more limited in number - just 30 will be available for sale in the UK, with first units ready this month (July).

This limited edition SRT Night version of the fastest and most powerful Jeep ever, the Grand Cherokee SRT, has a stealth-like appearance with its upper and lower grille mounts, B and C pillars and side window surrounds all coloured Matte Black. The front applique is also Matte Black, as is the ‘Jeep’ and ‘SRT’ badging on the bonnet and tailgate. The rear door features a Matte Black ‘Grand Cherokee’ badge.

Stylish ‘Black Vapor’ 20-inch wheels are finished in an exclusive Satin Black and are designed to showcase the Grand Cherokee SRT Night’s standard Brembo brakes, which give the car enviable stopping power.

Unique interior appointments include the luxurious Black Laguna leather seats with black accent stitching, leather covered door armrests and centre console including light black chrome surround. A steering wheel bezel in anodized silver, a lit ‘SRT’ on the steering wheel DAB cover and ‘SRT’ on the door sill plates are also key features. Available colours for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night are Brilliant Black and Brilliant White.

The SRT Night is powered by a 6.4-litre V-8 petrol engine delivering 468 hp and 624 Nm of torque. Awesome performance figures include 0-62 mph acceleration in less than five seconds, and a top speed of 160 mph.

The 2016 Grand Cherokee SRT Night comes as standard with exclusive ‘Performance Pages’ in the 8.4-inch UConnect Touchscreen (activated by an SRT button next to the Selec-Trac controls). These have been revised with an expanded array of performance timers and gauge readouts, while all-new drive modes allow owners to personalize their driving experience both on-road and on-track.

In addition, standard launch control mimics a professional driver's inputs to optimise the Grand Cherokee SRT Night's performance by bringing engine, transmission, driveline, stability control, and suspension in line for a textbook launch.

The updated Selec-Trac system on the Grand Cherokee SRT Night uses performance-tuned software to distinguish the five dynamic modes: Auto, Sport, Tow, Track, and Snow, enabling drivers to choose a vehicle setting that ideally meets both their requirements and ambient conditions.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night costs £69,865 OTR.

BMW M celebrates the 30th anniversary of its benchmark-setting high-performance sports car.

• BMW M celebrates the 30th anniversary of its benchmark-setting high-performance sports car
• Limited to the UK with only 30 cars available
• On sale from Summer 2016 and priced £82,675 OTR

With the launch of the first generation of the BMW M3 in 1986, the BMW M GmbH revolutionised the sporty mid-range segment and since then BMW M has continuously refined its automotive icon across five model generations. To mark the 30th anniversary of this automotive icon this summer, BMW M is launching the exclusive special BMW M3 30 Jahre Special Edition, which is limited in the UK to only 30 cars.

The BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition builds on the Competition Package which is available for the BMW M3. 

The Competition Package comprises an increase in engine output by 19hp to 450hp and a combined fuel consumption of 34mpg with 194 g/km CO2 emissions. Also included on this model is the Adaptive M suspension, which has been comprehensively aligned to the increased performance. 

Optimised features also include new springs, dampers and stabilisers, modified characteristic curves of the three modes COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ as well as a correspondingly modified standard Active M differential on the rear axle and Dynamic Stability Control feature (DSC).

Model	Power Hp	Torque Nm	0 – 62mph Seconds	Top Speed Mph	Combined Mpg	CO2 Emissions g/km
M3 30 Jahre Edition	450	550	4.0	155*	34.0	194

* Electronically limited

Moreover, the edition model includes forged 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with 666 M star spoke design and mixed tyres (front: 265/30 R20, rear: 285/30 R20).

All of these measures lead to a noticeable increase in dynamic performance, which is not least also reflected in enhanced acceleration. The BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition with the 7-speed M DCT gearbox sprints from 0 to 62mph in just 4 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than the series production model.

However, the changes on this car are not just technical, the special-edition M3 has been given the BMW Individual treatment. As a result, it cuts a more dynamic, head-turning figure than its standard siblings.

The striking BMW Individual Frozen Silver metallic paint accentuates the elegantly muscular forms of the BMW M3 and in terms of exterior design, it also includes the BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with enhanced features, including a black chrome tailpipe trim for the M sports exhaust system as well as a variety of carbon fibre additions. These include a carbon fibre front splitter and trims, mirror caps, rear diffuser and a carbon fibre rear spoiler.

The edition model also features exclusively designed M gills in the front wings bearing the logo “M3 30 Jahre”.

Sporty, functional interior with an exceptionally high-class ambience.

Both the driver and front passenger in the M3 30 Jahre Edition can settle into the specific BMW M sports seats with a skeletal design that combine perfect support with distinct travel comfort over long-distances. 

Seatbelts with woven-in BMW M strips also enhance the sporty interior ambience. Other additions include the BMW M Performance Alcantara Steering wheel and the BMW M Performance Alcantara Gear Selector trim and surround.

The logo “M3 30 Jahre” on the front doorsills reminds owners of the BMW M icon’s unique history. The wording “30 Jahre M3 1/30” on the carbon fibre interior trim of the instrument panel and stitching on the front headrests gives indication of the exclusiveness of the BMW 30 Jahre M3.

The BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition features an exclusive full leather Merino trim in bicolour Black/Fjord Blue with colour-matching contrast seams that effectively underscore the anniversary model’s sporty and sophisticated character.

This special edition model features a high standard specification including harman/kardon surround-sound system with a total of 16 speakers. 

In addition to the exclusive content this car it also features as standard such equipment as Adaptive LED Headlights, BMW M Carbon Ceramic braking system, BMW M Head-up display, BMW M Double-Clutch Transmission, Comfort Access, Surround View, Comfort Access, Advanced Parking Pack, Extended Storage and a Speed Limit Display.

Priced at £82,675 OTR, the BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition goes on sale in Summer 2016, this being exactly 30 years after the signing of the first contract for the purchase of a BMW M3 – the original version of the car having made its debut at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show.

SEAT continues to supply cars to NURSE PLUS, a business to deliver care duties to those in the community.

• Four new SEAT Leon SE Technology models join Nurse Plus’s fleet
• Existing 30-strong fleet of Mii city cars impress with strong fuel economy
• SEATs score highly for quality and reliability

The reliability of the latest SEAT models has impressed national care provider Nurse Plus, which has increased its SEAT fleet with four new Leon SE Technology models.

The new Leons will support 30 Mii city cars on a broad range of care delivery duties, from visits to residential care homes and hospitals as well as domiciliary homecare services.

SEAT has supplied cars to Nurse Plus for the past three years. The firm currently runs 30 Mii S A/C city cars, capable of achieving 62.8 MPG on the combined cycle, which continue to win fans across the business. The Miis have attracted praise for their reliability, fuel economy and high standard of build.

Nurse Plus operates on a pool car basis which ensures that cars are always available for client visits which for domiciliary services in particular can be around the clock.

Pamela Bruce, Managing Director at Nurse Plus commented: “The service we have received from SEAT has been absolutely spot on from selecting the cars to aftersales. SEAT delivered everything on time.

“Reliability is crucial, as clients are dependent on our care services and staff will often travel alone to remote parts of the country.

 “The feeling of solidity to the cars is very reassuring, and the fact we’ve had no complaints from the team so far really demonstrates the quality of the product.

“Fuel economy has been consistently excellent, which translates into important savings.

“Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend SEAT.”

SEAT Head of Fleet and Business Sales, Peter McDonald, said: “Satisfying business objectives and providing enjoyment on the roads takes a car with a certain blend of talents. Our continued relationship with Nurse Plus is a testimony to the capability of the current SEAT range as vehicles for business.

“Our smallest car, the Mii, has made a lasting impression because it embodies the qualities which our customers expect from SEAT, notably outstanding quality, reliability and economy as well as brilliant driving dynamics.

“I have no doubt the outstanding SEAT Leon will continue to build on this as it joins the Nurse Plus fleet.”

Hotel entrepreneur makes largest ever single Rolls Royce order, 30 LWB Phantoms.

Luxury entrepreneur Stephen Hung has purchased the largest Rolls-Royce Phantom fleet in the world, placing an order for 30 Bespoke Extended Wheelbase Phantoms for his Louis XIII hotel in Macau. This transaction represents the world’s single largest order of Rolls-Royces ever. Two of the fleet will be the most expensive Rolls-Royce Phantoms ever commissioned.

The deal was formalised on 16^th September 2014 at a signing ceremony at the Home of Rolls‑Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex, England. The signing ceremony was attended by Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Louis XIII Chairman, Stephen Hung, the Board of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Louis XIII executives and a representative from Graff Diamonds.

“Macau is rapidly evolving into the luxury capital of the world and we are honoured to have the opportunity to add to Macau’s many distinctions, the world’s largest fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms, including the two most luxurious vehicles Rolls-Royce has ever built. Louis XIII and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars share the same philosophy: to deliver the perfect experience to the world’s most discerning customers,” said Louis XIII Chairman, Stephen Hung.

“We at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are delighted and honoured that Mr Hung has commissioned Rolls-Royce to provide the largest single order of Phantoms in history. The Louis XIII fleet of Phantoms promises to be one of most impressive sights ever seen in Macau when they arrive at the Louis XIII hotel in 2016. Mr Hung’s commission reaffirms Phantom’s pinnacle position as the motor car of choice for those seeking to experience the finest luxury the world has to offer,” commented Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Each of the 30 Rolls-Royces has been extensively customised by Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke design team at Goodwood working hand-in-hand with Mr Hung and Louis XIII to create truly distinctive vehicles. Newly created bespoke elements have been applied extensively both to the interior and exterior of the cars including bespoke clocks designed and created by Graff Luxury Watches. The two most expensive Phantoms will additionally feature external and internal gold-plated accents.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has also helped to design the parking and driveways to house the fleet at Louis XIII and will train Louis XIII’s chauffeurs from Macau in the appropriate driving and handling of the unique vehicles.

The Phantom fleet will chauffeur the guests of Louis XIII, located on the Cotai Strip in Macau, when it is opened in the first half of 2016.