Autoglym returns to the Concours of Elegance at Holyroodhouse Palace as this years car care supplier.

This September the world’s leading car care experts, Autoglym, will partner with the Concours of Elegance for the fourth successive year, ensuring the unique gathering of rare and exotic cars is presented to the absolute highest standard on the lawns of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Only 60 cars of the highest calibre are invited to take part in the Concours (60 being a reference to Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which saw the event established at Windsor Castle in 2012), with the rarest cars from all over the world painstakingly selected by the Concours Steering Committee – among the most highly regarded and authoritative car experts. 

Supporting the 60 Concours cars will be many more from the show’s partner manufacturers Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren; and collectors and clubs from across Europe.

With two Royal Warrants, Autoglym will be in familiar regal surroundings in Edinburgh, with 20 highly qualified technicians on hand throughout the event to prepare and care for the vehicles during the all important Concours of Elegance judging.

The team will also be on hand to give technical know-how and practical car care advice to the thousands of visitors expected at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Paul Caller, chief executive of Autoglym, said: “The Concours of Elegance is one of the most prestigious classic car events in the UK and is now a fixture in the motoring world calendar, unique in that it is held in a sublime Royal Palace each year, and we are delighted to work with the organisers once more after the success of the previous three at Windsor, St. James and Hampton Court.

“Many of our products were formulated years after these cars were even built, so ensuring they suit the needs of an older vehicle is essential.

“Having close links with motor manufacturers, museums and access to historic car collections enables us to keep a catalogue of paint plates, rubbers and leathers to test on when carrying out development work.  This makes our products a very reassuring choice for car owners, no matter what the vintage.”

The three day spectacular motoring festival runs from the 4^th to 6^th September 2015.

Latest MG Dealership opens in Scotland, just a few days after the last Scottish MG dealer launched.

MG’s newest dealership, in the heart of the Scottish Borders, has already taken orders, just days after going live.

Central Garages in Galashiels is less than an hour’s drive from the centre of Edinburgh. The new dealership has just gone live, but has already taken a firm order for an MG3. 

Galashiels is expected to be a growth commuter town when the famous Waverley railway line to the Scottish capital is reinstated in September. Stuart Ormsby, Dealer Principal of Central Garages, says the dealership is perfectly positioned for future growth. He explained: “We are just five minutes from the railway station and our showroom looks out on the A72 main road to Edinburgh.

“All the major new retail shops in the town are around us, so we are in a textbook location for a car dealership, with a huge Halfords and B&Q store on our doorstep.

“As soon as people became aware that we had the MG franchise we started to get a lot of interest and we took our first order for an MG3 even before our signage and point-of-sale material were in place.”  

Central Garages has been trading since 1984 and has represented both Renault and Daihatsu. But winning the MG franchise has put a smile on Stuart’s face. He said: “There’s something special about MG and the brand is really going places now with the new MG6 and the MG3.

“People here look for value-for-money and the modern MGs certainly offer that. But they offer so much more – they look really good, have loads of space inside and are comfortable and fun to drive. I think MG has got the formula just right.”

Central Garages, in Island Street, Galashiels, has a tight-knit team of six people, although Stuart says additional staff may need to be hired if the MG franchise takes off in the way he thinks it will.

Stuart added: “I’ve got two new MG6 models, which really are great cars, alongside several MG3s. Although we’re selling cars now we’re planning an open weekend towards the end of next month so that we can really launch MG to the Borders.

“I know the reaction will be fantastic and I get the feeling that for many people, the new MG6 and the MG3, could be just the cars they’ve been waiting for.”      

As well as Galashiels, Central garages will serve many other key Borders towns including Kelso and Newtown St Boswells. 

Concours of Elegance 2015 will celebrate Sir Jackie Stewart, with a display of his F1 championship-winning cars.

• Concours of Elegance 2015 will pay tribute to Sir Jackie Stewart, with a display of his Formula One championship-winning cars
• Sir Jackie’s 1969 Matra MS80, 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006 will all be on display – a world-first
• Alongside Sir Jackie’s cars, the helmets he wore when he drove them will also be displayed
• Concours of Elegance 2015 is raising money for various charities, including Sir Jackie’s Springfield Motor Racing’s Club for Young People.

The Concours of Elegance 2015, held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, will pay tribute to one of Scotland’s finest racing drivers, Sir Jackie Stewart. On display will be all three of the cars that Sir Jackie drove to his three Formula One Driver’s Championships, along with the helmets he wore when he won them.

Sir Jackie raced in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning the Driver’s World Championship in 1969, 1971 and 1973. On display in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse from September 4-6 will be his 1969 Matra MS80, 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006.

Throughout his career, Sir Jackie’s famous tartan-striped helmet became just as recognisable as the car’s he was racing, so each of the three helmets from his Driver’s Championship-winning years will be on display. It’s the first time this collection of cars and helmets has ever been shown in Scotland.

Sir Jackie Stewart, Vice Patron of the Concours of Elegance said: “I can’t think of a better place to showcase some of my championship-winning Formula One cars – the Concours of Elegance celebrates the best of the motoring world, and this year’s event does that at one of Scotland’s most picturesque venues – Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse.”

A main focus of the Concours of Elegance is to raise money for charity, with this year’s money raised going to Walking with the Wounded, Action on Addiction and Sir Jackie Stewart’s charity, Springfield Motor Racing’s Club for Young People. Over the course of its three past events, Concours of Elegance has raised more than £600,000 for charity.

Concours of Elegance celebrates Scotland’s historic racing heroes at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

• Concours of Elegance celebrates Scotland’s historic racing heroes at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Jim Clark’s 1963 F1 Championship-winning Lotus 25 will be on show, alongside his Lotus-Cortina and Lotus 43-BRM H16
• Andrew Cowan’s 1968 London-to-Sydney-winning Hillman Hunter and the Jaguar XJR-9 piloted by Johnny Dumfries to victory at Le Mans will also be displayed

The Concours of Elegance 2015 will be held at Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the organisers are planning a special tribute feature to some of Scotland’s most famous racing drivers and their cars.

As well as the main Concours event, featuring sixty of the world’s rarest and most elegant cars, the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse will host iconic cars driven by Scottish legends like Jim Clark, Johnny Dumfries and Andrew Cowan.

Representing Jim Clark will be a Lotus-Cortina he drove to victory in the 1964 British Touring Car Championship, the Lotus 43-BRM H16 that he won the 1966 US Grand Prix with and his 1963 Formula One Driver’s Championship-winning Lotus 25.

Also on display will be a Hillman Hunter driven to victory by Andrew Cowan in the gruelling 1968 London-Sydney Marathon, and a Jaguar XJR-9 piloted by Johnny Dumfries and his co-drivers to a win at the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Sir Jackie Stewart said: “Scotland has a very successful history of producing excellent racing drivers. When you consider that Jim Clark, Johnny Dumfries, David Coulthard and Allan McNish are all from Scotland – a country of just 5 million people – you quickly realise that there’s plenty of reason to celebrate Scotland’s racing heroes.”

The Concours of Elegance takes place between 4-6 September, showcasing 60 of the world’s finest cars alongside special Scottish motor racing features, including an Ecurie Ecosse display and a tribute to Sir Jackie Stewart.

Exclusive world first, features and unique cars, confirmed for the Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015 event.

Concours of Elegance 2015, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, 4-6 September

• Sir Jackie Stewart named Concours of Elegance Vice Patron, alongside Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent
• Jackie Stewart to showcase three of his Formula One world championship cars on the lawns of the Palace
• Tribute to Scottish motor racing heroes and a world-first gathering to celebrate the Ecurie Ecosse racing team to be displayed in September
• World’s first Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame inaugurated at 2015 Concours of Elegance
• Main Concours event to be held alongside the Club Trophy, celebrating the best of the UK’s car club national winners
• History of motoring celebrated alongside modern day automotive legends from partners such as Bentley and Jaguar
• 2015 charitable beneficiaries confirmed, including a number of projects in Scotland

Concours of Elegance has announced further details of its 2015 event at a special preview held in Edinburgh, giving an early glimpse of one of the highlights: a priceless Jaguar D-type ‘Long Nose’ Ecurie Ecosse racer, which finished second at Le Mans in 1957, just behind the winning Ecurie car.

Running alongside the main Concours event, made up of 60 of the world’s finest cars, will be the largest ever collection of Ecurie Ecosse racers, ranging from the ‘50s to the modern day. Sir Jackie Stewart, recently named Vice Patron of the Concours of Elegance, will also display his three Formula One Driver’s Championship-winning cars to Holyroodhouse, in another world first.

There will be a separate homage to some of Scotland’s motor racing heroes, including two Formula One cars driven by Jim Clark and Johnny Dumfries’ Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9. Concours of Elegance will also see the first members of the Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame inducted at the event.

In the main Concours display, the organisers have confirmed a number of the stars of the show, which will include a 1933 Hispano-Suiza J12 Cabriolet and the 1911 London-to-Edinburgh Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

The Club Trophy will also be held at the Palace in September, featuring hundreds of classic cars from across the UK and the best-of-the-best from the nation’s car clubs. Each club submits their individual Concours winner, which is then judged by a panel of Concours of Elegance experts, chaired by HRH Prince Michael of Kent and guest judges which in recent years have included David Gandy, Mark Knopfler, Jodie Kidd and others.  2015’s judging panel will be confirmed in the summer.  The Club Trophy winner car is then entered in to the Concours of Elegance in 2016.

Sir Jackie Stewart, Vice Patron of the Concours of Elegance, said: “This event already has an incredible history, beginning with the Windsor event in 2012, and it’s brilliant to see it heading to Scotland this year. The history, the roads and the scenery mean that Scotland is the perfect place to host our automotive festival of cars old and new here in Edinburgh.”

One of the primary aims of Concours of Elegance is to raise money for charity, and this year’s event will be generating funds for Walking With the Wounded – who will be establishing facilities for ex-military personnel all over Scotland – Action on Addiction and Springfield Motor Racing’s Club for Young People. So far, Concours of Elegance has raised more than £600,000 for its charities.

Concours of Elegance, supported by AIG, takes place between 4-6 September and has partnered with a series of exclusive brands for the event, including Autoglym, Bentley, Johnnie Walker, Hamilton & Inches, Jaguar, Pol Roger, RM Sotheby’s and Rolex. Tickets are available now from www.concoursofelegance.co.uk; an adult ticket costs £35, with a variety of discounts and concessions available (under 5s go free and under 17s £10). A variety of hospitality packages are also available.  

TESLA continues charger expansion in UK with new location in Edinburgh.

New Supercharger at Edinburgh Airport  

Tesla today opened a new Supercharger location at Edinburgh Airport, firmly establishing the company’s presence in Scotland. This location is part of a network expansion that will soon allow Model S owners to drive anywhere in the UK relying only on Superchargers. Supercharging is free for Supercharger-enabled vehicles.

The new Supercharging site is accessible from the M8, M9, and A720. The Supercharger is in the car park off Almond Road, near the terminal. Model S drivers gain access to the car park 24 hours a day by pressing the button on the barrier and requesting Supercharger access. One hour free parking is complimentary whilst Supercharging.

“We’re really pleased to open our first Scottish Supercharger. The location makes travel in and around Edinburgh easy and also enables a route from Edinburgh to both Glasgow and Stirling and beyond,” said Georg Ell, Tesla’s UK Country Director. “It’s an exciting time for Tesla in Scotland. There are plans for an Edinburgh store and service centre next year, so watch this space for more activity.”

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “It’s great that Edinburgh Airport is now home to Scotland’s first Tesla Supercharger, which will provide convenient service for Tesla owners when they arrive and depart. We’re committed to giving our passengers the best experience possible and today’s launch is a direct result of customer feedback. We look forward to a new partnership with Tesla and wish them luck in their Scottish ventures.” 

World’s Largest Fast-Charging Network

A Supercharger replenishes half a charge in about 20 minutes. Supercharger sites are strategically placed along well-travelled routes to allow Model S owners to drive long distances with minimal stops. They are located near amenities like motorway services, restaurants, cafes and shopping centres so drivers can stop for a quick meal and have their Model S charged by the time they’re done.

Tesla has energised 221 Superchargers worldwide with eight in the UK, making it both the largest and the fastest-growing fast-charging network in the world.

New Supercharger Locations:

http://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/supercharger/edinburgh

Tesla continues push into UK with another dealership, and more to come.

West Drayton-based store and service centre continues Tesla’s UK expansion

Tesla today opened a new store and service centre in the UK. Accessible from the M4 and M40 in West London, the new location features a Model S design studio, a seven-bay service area, and the UK’s first purpose-built two-bay delivery centre. It will also offer Model S owners a free shuttle service to the nearby Heathrow airport.

The retail centre – located at Park House, Horton Road, West Drayton, UB7 8JD – is Tesla’s second UK store, adding to the company’s presence in Westfield White City. By the end of 2014, customers will be able to visit Tesla stores and service centres across the country. Tesla is currently recruiting for upcoming sales and service facilities in Crawley, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. The company will continue to hold test-drive events around the UK.

Model S Heathrow Shuttle

Tesla is also announcing plans for an exclusive Model S customer airport shuttle to Heathrow from the new store and service centre. The pre-bookable offering will allow customers the opportunity to have their car serviced whilst away on holiday or business. Tesla will drop off drivers, passengers, and luggage at the airport in time for their flights and meet them in arrivals on their return.

“By taking any hassle out of servicing and flying, I believe that we can delight our customers,” said Georg Ell, Tesla’s UK country director. “The location of our new West London store and service centre makes a perfect base for this service.”

Model S in the UK

Launched in right hand drive in June, Model S is an uncompromised electric car that delivers 312 miles of NEDC range on a single charge. With a 17-inch touchscreen, an outstanding safety record, and an acceleration of 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, the fully electric Model S breaks the mould. The car and the company have received numerous accolades, includingAutocar magazine’s Sturmey Award for Automotive Excellence and Telegraph Motoring’s Best Eco Car, voted for by readers. Top Gear Magazine called the Model S “the most important car Top Gear has tested.”

Model S has an iPhone app, available in the UK iTunes store. The app puts Model S owners in direct communication with their cars anytime, anywhere. Owners can use the app to check on charging progress, start or stop charging, and heat up or cool down Model S before driving.

In the UK, prices for the Model S start at £50,280 on the road, including the £5,000 government plug-in grant. UK Model S customers can also benefit from other government incentives, including zero road tax, zero showroom tax, and exemption from London Congestion Charge. The car is also eligible for the 100 percent First Year Allowance for company purchase and 0 percent Benefit in Kind, both of which last until April 2015.

Rolls Royce owner to raise £200k for children charity through the Gumball 3000.

A Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé stopped off in Edinburgh on Sunday 8 June as part of an epic 3,000 mile journey from Miami to Ibiza that promises to raise a six-figure sum for charity.

Rolls-Royce owner, Garreth Wood, founder of the Edinburgh-based Speratus Group, his wife Nicola and school friend William Rhind are taking part in the Gumball 3000 Rally, a star-studded event that sees an array of the world’s most exotic, luxurious and often outlandishly decorated cars cover remarkable distances in just seven days.

Mr and Mrs Wood have taken the opportunity to raise vital funds and awareness for ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’, a charity that has granted the wishes of over 14,500 children suffering from life threatening illnesses since it was founded in 1990.

Throughout their journey they will perform 50 Random Acts of Kindness with Garreth’s company promising to donate £2,000 for every act, the Gumball Foundation will then match the money raised. Every penny of the £200,000 is committed to sending a group of children and their helpers on a journey to Lapland to meet Father Christmas.

In preparation for the rally, the couple have commissioned a specialist wrapping company to decorate the car in a red chrome and black velvet finish complete with a Scottish flag motif on the boot.

“It’s a great honour to support ‘When you wish upon a Star’. This trip to Lapland promises to create magical memories for children and families dealing with life threatening illnesses,” said Garreth Wood, owner of the ‘Velvet Phantom’. “This journey presents an incredible opportunity to raise vital funds for such a worthy cause. It’s also important to raise awareness; this is why we chose a temporary wrap for the car that is sure to wow the crowds wherever we go! We are incredibly grateful to the Gumball Foundation for agreeing to match our donation allowing us to double the number of children we can take to Lapland at the end of the year.”