Both Renaults managed to finish the very first European Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Renault Sport Formula One Team pushed all the way in the first-ever European Grand Prix on the Baku City Circuit. Different tyre strategies yielded similar results with Kevin Magnussen starting from the pit lane and stopping once to finish fourteenth whilst Jolyon Palmer finished one place behind after making two pit stops.

Kevin started the race from the pit lane following a set-up and gearbox change to his car. He started on a new set of Pirelli’s red supersoft tyres. 

He changed to the yellow soft compound on lap six, and remained on that set until the end of the 51 lap race. Jolyon started the race in P21 on new supersoft tyres. He changed to new softs on lap 11 then new supersofts on lap 31.

Kevin Magnussen, #20, R.S.16-01: Started P22, finished P14

“I think this was a good race in terms of what we got out of it. We qualified second to last, started from the pit lane and finished fourteenth; that’s not too bad. We learnt about the car in some extreme areas of the set-up, which is good. 

The main thing to take away from this weekend is how the team kept their cool and stayed positive. They are winners; they have been world champions many times, so for them to qualify on the last row is very tough. And yet, you can see, their reaction has been strong.”

Jolyon Palmer, #30, R.S.16-02: Started P21, finished P15

“We showed once again that our race pace is a lot better than our qualifying pace, which I am thankful for. I had a big flat spot on the soft tyres which meant I had to change; up until then the pace was quite strong. 

The supersofts did well as well but it was tough to make up the time it takes to pit. That and making a mistake at the start pretty much decided my race. It’s a fun track to drive, it’s just a shame that we didn’t have the car for it today.”

Fred Vasseur, Racing Director

“Given where we started it was a good result today. Both drivers stayed focused and kept their heads down to achieve the best they could. After Saturday we changed Kevin’s set-up and gearbox which meant he started from the pit lane. We put him on a one-stop strategy and he drove intelligently with this. 

Jolyon also started with a one-stop strategy in mind but we switched him to a two-stop as a result of a flat spot and to try to make progress later in the race. Today’s result shows the never-give-up spirit of the team; no matter what the odds we will keep pushing all the way.”

Detroit Electric extends its global distributor network to four new countries.

• Detroit Electric extends its global distributor network to four new countries
• Fastest pure electric two-seat sports car will soon be retailed in Azerbaijan, Iceland, Norway and South Africa
• Signing of new distributor contracts coincides with visit of SP:01 sports car to inaugural European Games events in Baku

Detroit Electric is continuing to establish its global dealer network with the announcement this week of four new distributors for the EMEA region, as the company prepares for the launch of the exciting SP:01 electric sportscar.

The new distributor relationships will pave the way for the sale of Detroit Electric vehicles in Azerbaijan, Iceland, Norway and South Africa. The news follows the recent signing of dealers for China and South Korea.

The latest of these new distributor contracts was announced during the staging of the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the games, the Detroit Electric SP:01 pure electric sports car was seen around the city at a number of high-profile events. The SP:01 was showcased at the Elektra Events Hall and at the iconic Heydar Aliyev Centre, where a number of Azerbaijan government ministers and VIPs were attending the launch of a new fast-charging network in Azerbaijan.

The new Detroit Electric distributor for Azerbaijan is GreenCar LLC, an established electric vehicle sales company. Since it was founded GreenCar LLC has focused on bringing to market innovative technologies that support the reduction of vehicle emissions across Azerbaijan.

The new distributor for both Iceland and Norway is Carpoint, a company that has specialised in retailing electric vehicles since 2008. With offices in Trondheim and Oslo, Carpoint is planning to expand to all the major cities in Norway and is dedicated to providing efficient, reliable and environmentally-friendly vehicles to its customers.

Trond Michael Andersen, Chairman of Carpoint, said: “Partnering with Detroit Electric is a key part of an exciting new chapter for Carpoint, and it means that electric vehicles can reach an even wider audience. It’s important that electric cars are increasingly accessible to the masses looking for day-to-day transport, and it’s great for the sector that the SP:01 now brings added diversity – an aspirational model able to rival iconic sportscars from established brands.”

GridCars, the new South African distributor, was co-founded in 2009. In addition to selling electric cars, the company has designed a commuter car scheme using exclusively electric vehicles. Responding to a gap in the market, GridCars is creating an open charge-point operating system that can be used across South Africa. The company has also created software systems that manage vehicle telemetry data and communicate with relevant electric vehicles. GridCars has diversified into developing AC charge points, which are already used by Nissan and BMW.

Winstone Jordaan, MD of GridCars commented: “The partnership with Detroit Electric is an important milestone for GridCars, allowing us to leverage the top end of the EV market as well as the bottom end through our Commuter Car scheme. With our experience in electric vehicles we are well positioned to support the vehicles technically and provide high standards of aftercare to Detroit Electric customers.”

Albert Lam, Chairman and Group CEO of Detroit Electric, added: “Developing the EMEA distributor network is a vital part of our rollout plan, and GreenCar, Carpoint and GridCars all have exceptional track records in the electric vehicle markets in their respective countries. The enthusiasm and support we have received from these three new distributors says much about our vehicles, our brand and the progress we are making.”

Rolls Royce opens first dealership in Azerbaijan.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to announce the official opening of its first showroom in Azerbaijan – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Baku. Located in the Azerbaijani capital, the new facility will be under the management of Improtex Motors, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ appointed dealer and representative in Azerbaijan.

The new 300 square metre showroom was unveiled by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Torsten was accompanied by Hasan Ismayilov, General Manager, Improtex Motors and Aziz Alizade, Brand Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Baku, as well as a host of distinguished public figures and VIP guests.

On the significance of the landmark opening for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös said, “I am thrilled to announce the opening of our first showroom in the Caucasus Region, and particularly in the vibrant city of Baku. The region has seen impressive economic growth, with an increasing demand from discerning customers for the pinnacle in luxury products. Azerbaijan, one of its key markets, boasts an already well-established luxury market and is widely considered to be the next global market opportunity.”

He continued, “Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to expand its business in a number of fast-growing emerging markets and so it is appropriate that we have a strong presence in Baku, a city in which we see a lot of potential. In Improtex Motors, we have a dealer partner with an excellent track record of success and high customer loyalty and I look forward to a long and successful partnership with them.”

Hasan Ismayilov said, “We are delighted and honoured to represent such a revered and pinnacle brand as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Azerbaijan is rapidly evolving into a luxury destination and so we are excited to have the opportunity to add to its many distinctions.We look forward to delivering the uncompromised ownership experience that comes as standard with every Rolls‑Royce motor car and setting the benchmark for super-luxury in Azerbaijan.”

Located in the luxury district of Downtown Baku, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Baku showroom accommodates three vehicles and has been designed to provide its discerning clientele with a relaxing atmosphere in which to commission their Rolls-Royce motor car. This state-of-the-art space will offer the Rolls-Royce hallmark Bespoke service, through a dedicated lounge. The Bespoke programme allows customers to configure their new Rolls-Royce to their individual taste with over 44,000 colour palettes and an unrivalled range of wood and leather finishes. The lounge enjoys a direct line to the Bespoke Studios at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England.

British built Toyota's help to give Toyota an 8.6% lift in first half of the year.

• European* sales of the Auris range rise 18.4 per cent in first half of 2014 to 73,718 units, achieving a share of more than five per cent in the C-segment
• June was best month yet for Auris Hybrid Touring Sports, with 18,739 sales in Europe, one in four of all Auris range sales
• All Auris models built at Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, Auris Hybrid engines manufactured in North Wales
• Toyota hybrid sales up 17 per cent on January – June 2013
• Total Toyota sales up 8.6 per cent, compared to European market growth of three per cent

The British-built Auris has helped propel Toyota to an 8.6 per cent year-on-year increase in European sales in the first half of 2014, more than double the growth rate for the new car market as a whole. Total Toyota sales for the period were 427,216 vehicles.

Built exclusively at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire and with hybrid engines produced at Deeside in North Wales, the Auris hatchback and Touring Sports wagon amassed 73,718 sales – 18.4 per cent more than in the same period last year. Within that figure, hybrid proved by far the most popular powertrain option, notably for Touring Sports with best-yet monthly figures of 18,379 units in June – one in four of all Auris sales.

Taking all hybrid Toyota models in to account – Auris, Yaris and Prius versions – the first six months saw a 17 per cent rise in sales to 75,623; Yaris Hybrid similarly posted a 17 per cent increase in sales volume, maintaining its unique position as the only hybrid in the supermini segment. Its performance is set to be strengthened with the launch of the new 2014 Yaris in August, with CO₂ emissions brought down to a new low of just 75g/km.

Tony Walker, TMUK Deputy Managing Director, said: “The growing success of Auris, and in particular Auris Hybrid, demonstrates how TMUK’s commitment to quality is helping deliver excellent results for Toyota. Cars and engines built here in Britain are proving a success right across Europe, which is great for Toyota and for British manufacturing.”

Toyota European* sales figures, January to June 2014

TOYOTA	427,216
Aygo	34,381
Yaris (including hybrid)	97,427
Yaris Hybrid	29,945
Auris (including hybrid)	43,733
Auris Hybrid	17,766
Auris Touring Sports (including hybrid)	29,985
Auris Hybrid Touring Sports	18,739
Corolla	42,260
Verso	20,021
Avensis	16,304
iQ	2,454
Urban Cruiser	259
Verso-S	3,851
Prius – all models	9,086
Prius	4,235
Prius+	4,047
Prius Plug-in	804
Camry	18,172
GT86	1,638
RAV4	51,518
Venza	3,253
Highlander	5,241
Land Cruiser	25,230
Hilux	17,856
Proace	3,049
Hiace	326
Other models	1,172

* Toyota Motor Europe is responsible for all western, central and eastern European countries including Turkey and Russia. The territory also includes Israel and a number of central Asian markets (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). Models listed in italics are produced locally at Toyota’s European manufacturing facilities.