The ultra famous Rolls Royce Phantom V owned by John Lennon, to come back to the UK for the 8 great Phantoms Exhibition.

• ROLLS-ROYCE ANNOUNCES ‘THE JOHN LENNON PHANTOM V’ TO RETURN TO LONDON DURING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
• #GreatPhantoms

Rolls-Royce has announced that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary year of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in its own way by bringing the colourful Rolls-Royce Phantom V, famous for being owned by John Lennon, back home to London for the British public to see.

Currently owned by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Canada, ‘The John Lennon Phantom V’ will travel from Canada to London to join ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ – A Rolls-Royce Exhibition, at Bonhams on New Bond Street, an area visited regularly by Lennon in the late 1960s in this very car. 

Members of the public will be able to see ‘The John Lennon Phantom V’ at Bonhams from 29 July to the 2 August.

‘The John Lennon Phantom V’

On 3 June 1965 – the same day that Edward H White left the capsule of his Gemini 4 to become the first American to walk in space – John Lennon took delivery of something rather special. 

  

It was a Rolls-Royce Phantom V in Valentine Black. He would later say that he always wanted to be an eccentric millionaire, and the Phantom would become an important step towards that dream. 

Lennon had the Phantom V customised in true rock-star style. The rear seat was converted to a double bed, a television, telephone and refrigerator were installed, along with a 'floating' record player and a custom sound system (which included an external loud hailer). 

Then, in April 1967, just as the recording of the game-changing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was finishing, Lennon asked Surrey coachbuilders, JP Fallon, to give the Phantom a new paint job. The freshly-painted Phantom was unveiled days before the worldwide release of Sgt. Pepper’s on 1 June and it seemed part of the overall concept of the album.

The new colour scheme is often described as 'psychedelic' and certainly the colours, particularly the dominant yellow, reflected the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. But look carefully and you will see it is no random swirl, but a floral Romany scroll design, as used on gypsy caravans and canal barges, with a zodiac symbol on the roof.

The Phantom V was used regularly by Lennon until 1969 (Lennon also owned a slightly less conspicuous all-white Phantom V). Having used it, pre-paint change, to collect his MBE with his bandmates in 1965, he then used it again in 1969 to return his MBE to the Palace, in protest against, among other things, the Vietnam War. 

The car was shipped to the USA in 1970 when Lennon moved there and was loaned out to ferry other rock stars around such as The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Moody Blues. In 1977, after a period in storage, it was donated by billionaire Jim Pattison to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 

‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ – a Rolls-Royce Exhibition, will take place at Bonhams international flagship saleroom and galleries in New Bond Street, London, from 29 July to the 2 August. 

USA - The Limited Edition Focus RS is limited to 1500 units for the USA and Canada only.

• Ford followed Focus RS enthusiast conversations on blogs, forums and Facebook groups, which helped inspire the new 2018 limited-edition Focus RS
• Limited-edition Focus RS to deliver enhanced driving experience with new standard mechanical limited-slip differential to improve performance, unique interior and exterior styling, and new color combinations
• 1,500 Focus RS vehicles for United States and Canada offer customers last chance to get their hands on this generation of Ford’s critically acclaimed performance hatchback

Ford Performance fans talking to each other and posting comments online about the Ford Focus RS hot hatch performance car have led to a special 1,500 unit limited-edition celebrating the end of run of this generation hot hatch. 

Passion from the enthusiast community led Ford to introduce an exclusive new version of its critically acclaimed Focus RS for North America. Ford was listening.The new 2018 Focus RS limited-edition hot hatch adds a few commonly requested features that unique interior and exterior styling, and a new mechanical limited-slip differential.

Available in new Race Red or signature Nitrous Blue body color – both featuring striking new gloss black roof and mirror caps. The rear roof spoiler also features gloss black finish, with blue RS logos on the side wings. Now standard are 19-inch premium painted forged alloy wheels with blue RS center caps.

From the cockpit, the door handles, handbrake lever and turbo boost gauge surround are wrapped in carbon fiber skin, while equipment from the RS2 Package is standard, offering black leather-trimmed RECARO® seats with Miko-Dinamica eco-friendly suede microfiber inserts and RS logo, heated front seats with eight-way power driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, heated exterior mirrors and voice-activated navigation system.

To really excite driving enthusiasts, the global Ford Performance team developed a standard mechanical Quaife® limited-slip differential for the front axle that further improves Focus RS performance. This limited-edition Focus RS will more easily carry speed through a corner on the track, and allow for maximum acceleration on the way out.

“To satisfy strong demand for the ever-popular Focus RS, I’m very excited that we’re bringing this limited-edition vehicle to North America,” said Henry Ford, Ford Performance marketing manager. “We have spent a great deal of time listening to our customers, speaking to owners’ club members, reading comments and suggestions on enthusiast websites, and even studying various forum Photoshop renderings.”

A tight grip on performance

By controlling the torque delivered to each front wheel, the Quaife limited-slip differential enables 2018 Focus RS drivers to fully tap the 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine’s 350 horsepower. The limited-slip differential limits engine torque delivered to a particular front wheel that has reduced traction on the road surface, redistributing torque to the wheel with more traction to reduce differences in wheel spin that can hamper acceleration and stability.

“Our new limited-edition Focus RS represents accessible performance at its finest,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford Performance chief engineer. “Improving on the thrilling driving dynamics of the Focus RS is no small task – but our Ford Performance engineers have delivered a drivetrain capable of wringing every drop of performance from the engine.”

The new system seamlessly integrates with standard Focus RS driving technologies, including:

• Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive, which varies front-to-rear torque distribution to suit a given driving situation – monitoring inputs from vehicle sensors 100 times per second and sending an average of 70 percent of drive torque to the rear axle
• Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which uses electronically controlled clutch packs on the rear axle to send 100 percent of an average 70 percent available torque to either rear wheel, and can switch drive from one side to the other in as little as 0.06 second – or about the time it takes a humming bird to flap its wings 4 times.
• Torque Vectoring Control, which automatically applies small amounts of brake force to limit wheel spin at the front axle, further enhancing the tractive force available
• Focus RS Drive Modes, which include Ford-first drift mode for controlled oversteer drifts under circuit conditions, and launch control for ultimate performance off the start line and 4.7-second 0‑62 mph acceleration

Coming to a track near you

Only one thousand limited-edition 2018 Focus RS performance cars will be available in the United States and 500 in Canada, with deliveries beginning in late 2017, marking the last opportunity to order the current generation Focus RS in North America.

The limited-edition Focus RS joins Ford’s iconic Ford Performance vehicle range in North America, alongside the recently launched Ford GT supercar, F-150 Raptor, and much-loved Shelby GT350 Mustang, Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

Note: Vehicle horsepower ratings achieved with 93-octane fuel.

The BAC MONO Supercar is ow available in Canada via limited run contract.

• Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) continues to break new ground across the globe by teaming up with Canadian group Pfaff Automotive Partners
• Pfaff is one of North America’s leading dealer groups, and it will now sell BAC’s One-of-a-Kind Mono supercar to its track-loving market
• Pfaff signed a limited-run deal with BAC, with Monos going up for grabs from the company’s Ontario base
• BAC has exported the highly acclaimed Mono to over 30 territories worldwide since its launch

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is continuing to take the world by storm, as the maker of the One-of-a-Kind Mono supercar has joined forces with leading Canadian dealer group Pfaff Automotive Partners – famed for its dealings in motorsport and high-performance vehicles.

Pfaff deals with some of the biggest marques in the world from its Vaughan, Ontario, base – just north of Toronto – including McLaren, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Pagani and Singer Vehicle Design. And it’s now added BAC to its armoury on a limited-run deal, with intense interest from automobile and racetrack enthusiasts expected.

The bespoke Mono has been something of a revelation since its launch in 2011 and become a true British success story. BAC has exported the car to over 30 territories around the globe and is continuing to break new ground.

Signing on the dotted line with such a high-profile partner further demonstrates BAC’s supercar domination and opens the Mono world to a new and enthusiastic market.

BAC’s venerable creation has earned plaudits all over the globe for its unique vehicle aesthetics and impeccable driving characteristics. It’s forever demonstrated its track prowess around the world, and the Canadian market can exploit its credentials to the full around the likes of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Area 27.

The supercar already has a big presence in North America after the launch of BAC USA earlier in 2017, and its venture north into Canada represents breaking even more ground.

Pfaff Automotive Partners prides itself on providing the very best customer service, which makes it the perfect partner for BAC. The Liverpool-based manufacturer tailors every aspect of the Mono to the driver, including a made-to-measure seat and steering wheel.

Neill Briggs, BAC Co-Founder and Director of Product Development, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to join forces with Pfaff Automotive Partners and continue our rapid expansion around the world. Having a specialist dealer group in Canada is testament to just how impressive a machine it is and just how competitive it is as a track car. Canadians love their cars and, clearly, they’re big fans of pure driving characteristics of the Mono.”

WORLDWIDE SALES APRIL - CADILLAC - The US luxury brand had a massive 40.9% growth.

• Growth in U.S. sales, market share and average transaction price
• Continued record growth in China

Substantial gains in both the U.S. and China drove Cadillac global sales to 28,163 units in April, an increase of 40.9 percent over the same period in 2016. April marked the 11th consecutive month of double-digit growth for Cadillac, and continued execution of the brand’s globalization strategy.

Cadillac sales have increased 31.6 percent globally year to date. In the midsize luxury crossover category – the industry’s strongest segment – Cadillac grew 92 percent in April, and 63.1 percent so far in 2017 due to the success of the XT5.  

The new luxury crossover was the brand’s best seller worldwide in April, totaling 11,530 units. In addition, sales of Cadillac’s ATS sport sedan and coupe models grew 46.7 percent for the month while the XTS luxury sedan rose 13.4 percent.

Cadillac achieved strong growth in the U.S. in April, with sales increasing 9.5 percent. According to Power Information Network, Cadillac gained 0.9 percentage points of luxury market share in the U.S. in April and 0.7 percentage points of retail share year-to-date. The average transaction price for a new Cadillac in the U.S. in April rose $1,000 to $55,174, approximately $5,000 above the luxury market average and second highest amongst major luxury brands.    

Sales in China grew 98.4 percent in April, following the all-time record set in 2016 in the world’s largest market. For the year-to-date, Cadillac sales in China are up 92.5 percent, and 32 percent globally.

“When we launched our strategy for the transformation of Cadillac almost three years ago, we announced that our focus would be on product substance, expansion of the portfolio, strengthening the quality of business, and an enhanced delivery experience,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen.  “We knew it would take time, but that robust sales would eventually follow.  Our operational results are a vindication of the strategy, and new products like XT5 and CT6 provide a strong statement about our commitment to excellence in execution.” 

Cadillac sales in key regions appear in the table below.

SALES BY REGION
	April-17	April-16	% Change	YTD-17	YTD-16	% Change
United States	12,300	11,236	9.5	46,282	46,869	(1.3)
China*	13,903	7,007	98.4	53,317	27,698	92.5
Canada	1,247	980	27.2	3,870	3,423	13.1
Middle East	298	305	(2.3)	1,255	1,232	1.9
ROW	415	458	(9.4)	2,081	1,940	7.3
Total	28,163	19,986	40.9	106,805	81,162	31.6

*China retail sales

WORLDWIDE SALES MARCH - Cadillac - 10 months of growth is continued by a 22% March increase.

Cadillac sold 27,406 vehicles in March 2017 globally, an increase of 22.1 percent. March was the 10th consecutive month of double-digit percentage growth.

Cadillac sales in the rapidly expanding midsize luxury crossover segment grew 65 percent in March and 54.4 percent so far in 2017. Cadillac’s new XT5 luxury crossover continues to be one of the U.S. market’s best-selling luxury vehicles.

Cadillac’s growth in China, the world’s largest market, was a robust 63 percent in March. Cadillac remains the fastest-growing luxury automotive brand in China.

The brand continues its sustained trajectory of increasing transaction prices. According to Power Information Network, the average U.S. transaction price for a new Cadillac in March rose to $54,268, thousands more than luxury competitors such as BMW, Audi and Lexus.

“For ten consecutive months now, Cadillac’s disciplined strategy and strong product substance have produced double-digit gains of global sales growth,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “Average transaction prices in the U.S market continue to increase, and the XT5 luxury crossover continues to grow the business in one of the most competitive segments.”

Cadillac sales in key regions appear in the table below.a

SALES BY REGION
	Mar-17	Mar-16	% Change	YTD-17	YTD-16	% Change
United States	12,861	13,053	(1.5)	33,982	35,633	(4.6)
China*	12,369	7,588	63	39,414	20,691	90.5
Canada	1,212	947	28	2,623	2,443	7.4
Middle East	325	309	5.2	957	927	3.2
ROW	639	547	16.8	1,673	1,482	12.9
Total	27,406	22,444	22.1	78,649	61,176	28.6

*China retail sales

**Europe sales do not include Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro (which are offered in some European Cadillac dealerships.)