BMW Will have a host of premieres at Goodwood as well as icons driving up the hill.

• UK premiere of the BMW Concept 8 Series.
• The new BMW M4 CS to storm up Goodwood’s famous hill.
• Icons, including Riccardo Patrese and Roberto Ravaglia, to drive an array of BMW classic cars and bikes.
• The BMW HP4 RACE superbike to debut at Goodwood.

The UK premiere of the BMW Concept 8 Series will be at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the concept serves as a taster for the new BMW 8 Series Coupé which launches in 2018. Also seen in the UK for the first time will be new BMW M4 CS, which will take to the hill for the supercar hillclimb, whilst the Gordon Murray-designed Brabham-BMW BT52 and the Le Mans-winning BMW V12 LMR will steer their way up Goodwood’s famous 1.16-mile course. 

The BMW Concept 8 Series will be shown alongside the 19th vehicle of BMW’s Art Car Collection - the BMW M6 GTLM race car - as designed by the American master of conceptual art, John Baldessari. 

Visitors to the festival will be able to see both cars in the Stable Yard, a unique area at Goodwood (once again dedicated to BMW), which will also showcase the new and exclusive BMW i8 MemphisStyle and range-topping M760Li xDrive V12. 

Seen in action for the first time in the UK will be a very special model from BMW M - the new high-performance BMW M4 CS. The BMW M4 CS continues a decades-long tradition of successful M special editions which began in 1988 with the E30 BMW M3 Evolution. With a host of innovative M technologies and efficient, lightweight carbon fibre components, the new BMW M4 CS can complete the legendary “Nordschleife” in just 7:38 minutes. At the wheel will be the double British Touring Car champion driver Colin Turkington, along with BMW WSR teammates Rob Collard and Andrew Jordan, and one of the UK’s best known television presenters and ex-racing driver, Tiff Needell. 

The theme for the 2017 Festival of Speed will be 'Peaks of Performance - Motorsport's Game-Changers'. Leading the charge for BMW will be the Brabham BT52 - the first car to win the Formula 1 title with a turbocharged engine. Designed by legendary BMW engineer Paul Rosche, the BT52’s turbocharged 1.5 litre inline four-cylinder BMW powerplant was capable of producing 1,500bhp in Gordon Murray’s stunning car. At the helm will be legendary F1 driver, Ricardo Patrese. Alongside the BT52 will be the BMW V12 LMR, with a 580hp 12-cylinder engine, that celebrated overall victory in the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours – one of the world’s toughest and most exhausting car races, while touring car hero Roberto Ravaglia will drive up Goodwood’s famous hill in a BMW M3 Group A DTM race car. 

Motorbike enthusiasts will be treated too, with one of the most exciting bikes ever from BMW Mottorad – the HP4 RACE. The 750 limited-edition handmade racing machine will make its first ever appearance at Goodwood and is the first motorcycle in the world to offer a fully carbon frame and fully carbon wheels. But it’s not just a star bike that can be seen and heard: star riders will be present too, including former World Superbike Champion Troy Corser who will be riding the BMW S1000 RR Seniro TT 2104 up the hill. 

Troy, along with drivers and guest stars, will make appearances on the BMW Pavilion throughout the festival, with live interviews broadcast to assembled visitors. On Saturday, legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker will be on stand and will be joined by numerous friends of the brand, including Jodie Kidd - when she’s not driving a BMW i8 up Goodwood’s hill. 

Visitors to the BMW Pavilion, the home of the marque during the festival, will also be able to see an unparalleled array of BMW Motorsport GmbH product, including the new BMW M3 and M4 Competition Package models, along with the latest BMW iPerformance models such as the BMW i8, and a rather special BMW i3. They will also be able win prizes and BMW experiences and view an amazing display of 100 scale models. Once again this year, BMW owners will be able to access the exclusive Owners’ Lounge on the top floor terrace of the Pavilion to enjoy refreshments and view of the festival’s famous Hillclimb. 

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held from 29 June – 2 July 2017, beginning with Press Preview Day and the Moving Motor Show on Thursday 29 June. a

Ford uses this years Goodwood to debut the new Fiesta to the UK as well as racing cars GT and Mustang.

• Ford GT road car to make its Hillclimb debut in the hands of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Ford Mustang GT4 race car will be piloted by Ford Chip Ganassi Racing driver Billy Johnson; Vaughn Gittin Jr returns with Mustang RTR to compete in a new drift category
• All-new Ford Fiesta makes UK debut at Goodwood alongside sporty new Ford S-MAX ST‑Line model shown for the first time

The road-going version of the Ford GT will make its first dynamic appearance in the UK later this month, in the hands of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell, at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

Priaulx and Tincknell will be joined on the Hill by their team mate, Billy Johnson, swapping his usual seat in the Ford GT race car for the fearsome Ford Mustang GT4, a track-ready race car unveiled at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, to tackle the challenging 1.16-mile Hillclimb course. 

Drift star Vaughn Gittin Jr also returns to Goodwood this year in his Mustang RTR to compete in the Festival’s first-ever Hillclimb Drift Championship. 

In addition to the track action, visitors to the Ford stand at Goodwood will discover models including the all-new Ford Fiesta making its UK debut. Also on show will be the Ford ST-Line range of Ford Performance-inspired models, including the Fiesta ST-Line.

Activities at Goodwood House, West Sussex, begin on Thursday, June 29 with the Moving Motor Show, followed by the Festival of Speed from Friday, June 30, to Sunday, July 2.

Jaguar makes the most powerful car in its history with the XE SV Project 8 - 5.0 litre V8.

• New Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is next Collector’s Edition sports car designed, engineered and assembled by SVO
• Production strictly limited to 300 units worldwide
• Project 8 will offer supercar performance and dynamics in a sedan
• 600PS 5.0-litre V8 will make Project 8 the most powerful road legal Jaguar in history
• Project 8 prototype featuring unique camouflage by SVO Design now on test at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. 

Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) today announces the most powerful, agile and extreme performance Jaguar: the new XE SV Project 8. A prototype version of the 600PS Jaguar sports sedan offering supercar performance has now undertaken its debut test at the gruelling Nürburgring Nordschleife, adorned with an exclusive camouflage created by SVO Design. 

With the most highly tuned version of Jaguar Land Rover’s five-litre supercharged V8, Project 8 will become the second Collectors’ Edition vehicle from SVO, following the successful launch of Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 in 2014. No more than 300 cars, all hand-assembled at SVO’s Technical Centre in Coventry, will be created for sale worldwide.

John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations said: “The time is right for SVO to produce the most extreme performance road car in the history of Jaguar. The SVO team is possessed by the spirit of performance and committed to creating the most thrilling driving experience imaginable.

“Our clients worldwide were thrilled by the F-TYPE Project 7. The new XE SV Project 8 takes aerodynamics and performance engineering to another level – it is conceived for enthusiasts and the most discerning collectors. The price for such an extreme performance sports car available in strictly limited numbers will reflect that.”

Full specification details for Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be revealed at www.Jaguar.com on 28 June 2017, ahead of its world dynamic debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex in the UK on 30 June.

The One Millionth Mazda MX-5 Miata will be making one last stop in the USA before heading off to the next port of call.

Fans of World’s Best-Selling Roadster Have One Last Opportunity to Sign the Milestone MX-5 Before It Heads Overseas

The one-millionth Mazda MX-5 Miata has traveled throughout much of the world this year, already reaching fans all over the U.S. and Canada. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is proud to announce that it will be making one last tour stop at the Los Angeles Auto Show from November 18-27.

“We have been fortunate to have the one-millionth MX-5 on our shores since August, giving enthusiasts from the U.S. and around the world the opportunity to be a part of both Mazda history and a milestone for the automotive industry,” said Robert Davis, senior VP, U.S. Operations, MNAO. 

“This MX-5 shows just how far we’ve come—from a little company with big ideas to a torchbearer for defying convention and keeping the thrill of driving alive for everyone.”

Following MX-5 being awarded as the only vehicle ever named World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year concurrently, excitement further swelled when Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the one-millionth MX-5 had been produced on April 22, 2016. That car traveled throughout Japan and Europe during the spring and summer and reached the U.S. in August, where it embarked on the “Millionth Miata Celebration Tour.”

Its first North American stop was in Monterey, California, at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. It was then shipped to the East Coast, starting in Boston, and headed to the Midwest and through the South and through the Gulf region to end its U.S. tour at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Miatas at Mazda Raceway.

Following Miatas at Mazda Raceway, the MX-5 traveled to Mazda Canada’s headquarters in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where it gathered another 350 signatures from owners, enthusiasts and employees.

In all, more than 4,000 people in North America have autographed the one-millionth MX-5. Mazda executives, engineers and employees have signed in its trunk and underneath its hood. Many engineers have signed parts they helped develop on the fourth-generation roadster, such as suspension arms and on the engine.

For its last hurrah in the U.S., the one-millionth MX-5—a 1.5-liter, right-hand-drive, Japanese-spec model—will be placed in the Ride & Drive area outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, where those who register to test-drive Mazda vehicles on public days will have the opportunity to sign the car. Signing will take place during normal auto show hours until all signature spots are filled but the 1,920 spots allocated for its final tour stops in Australia and New Zealand.

Following its visit to New Zealand next February, the one-millionth MX-5 will stay on permanent exhibit in the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, Japan.

By the Numbers:

North American tour stops (total)	20
Farthest distance driven by a fan to sign car	1,400 miles (Calgary, AB, to Monterey, CA)
Number of spaces on car	13,050
Number of spaces filled in North America	Approximately 4,000 to date
State with most tour stops	California (4)
Largest MX-5 markets in the U.S.	1.     Greater Los Angeles 2.     Greater San Francisco 3.     Greater New York City 4.     Dallas-Fort Worth 5.     Orlando-Daytona Beach
Farthest countries traveled from to attend Miatas at Mazda Raceway	·       Netherlands ·       Japan ·       Thailand
Total North American tour distance traveled (including to L.A. Auto Show)	14,607 miles
Earliest known VIN in existence	No. 14 (white racecar in MNAO Heritage Collection)
Number of smiles produced as a result of driving an MX-5	Too many to count

mazda announces that the first MX-% RF models will be the Launch Edition, limited to just 1000 units worldwide.

Revolutionary and breathtaking to look at, yet simple and elegant in concept, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF made its debut at this year’s New York International Auto Show with rousing acclaim. 

MX-5 RF was introduced with a color combination that will be exclusive to MX-5 RF versus the MX-5 soft top: Machine Gray Metallic paint color, Auburn Nappa leather interior trim with a hand-painted black roof panel, based on the Grand Touring trim level.

Now, the show car is set to become the MX-5 RF Launch Edition, limited to 1,000 vehicles in the U.S. and destined for Mazda’s most loyal customers.

Initially, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will open up the preorders to a select group of customers who will be notified via email and will have a specific window of time to preorder the MX-5 RF Launch Edition before ordering opens to the general public*. 

Customers who opt to purchase an MX-5 RF Launch Edition will have but one option available—SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission—with each vehicle being made to order.

“MX-5 has enjoyed 27 years of being the world’s best-selling roadster, being named 2016 World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year and receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of other accolades,” said Robert Davis, senior VP, U.S. Operations, MNAO. 

“Rarely does any automaker have a vehicle that garners the sort of loyalty and enthusiasm MX-5 generates—something we don’t take lightly. 

MX-5 RF is the next chapter of this storied model line, and we can’t think of a better way to give back than to first offer this bespoke Launch Edition to those who have stuck with us, believing in our mission to deliver the best-driving vehicles on the road.”

Outside of the exclusive color combination, MX-5 RF Launch Edition customers will receive a custom-designed, numbered 42mm Tourneau watch to complement their cars.

For those who may miss out on purchasing an MX-5 RF Launch Edition, other retractable fastback models will be available with many of the same colors and interior combinations—just not the Machine Gray Metallic exterior color on the Grand Touring trim level with the black roof, Auburn Nappa leather interior and badging. 

While the 2017 MX-5 RF Launch Edition is based on the Grand Touring trim level, other MX-5 RF models are expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the first quarter of 2017 in either Grand Touring or Club trim levels.

Specific timing for MX-5 RF Launch Edition ordering, as well as pricing, will be announced in the coming weeks.

BAC enjoyed a glorious 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed with success on and off the famous hill climb

• BAC enjoyed a glorious 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed with success on and off the famous hill climb
• Official BAC test driver Oliver Webb thrilled the crowds with some stunning runs up the hill, in a competitive class that was new for this year
• With a sub-50 second final run, the BAC Mono was fast enough to take an unofficial podium position in the last-day shootout for all comers
• The weekend proved a phenomenal success for BAC, with a record number of cars for a Goodwood weekend being sold, with new customers hailing from all around the world
• BAC showed a new carbon hybrid wheel at the Festival, demonstrating the company’s innovative and industry leading approach to new technology
• The stand played host to a record number of visitors on all four days, with fans, customers and celebrities all enjoying the atmosphere and the BAC Mono

The BAC team has enjoyed a phenomenally successful Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2016, thrilling fans on the hill climb and at its popular stand.

Official BAC test driver Oliver Webb braved all weathers to storm up the hill in a fantastically competitive time in the Mono’s newly formed class – Race Cars for the Road. Despite tricky, wet and changeable conditions throughout the weekend, Oliver kept the Mono consistently at the top of its class.

The weather finally cleared up for the last run of the weekend, even if it was still slightly greasy on the track, which allowed Oliver a chance to really attack the course. The result was a time under 50 seconds, which would have been good for a place on the podium in the final shootout, behind the 46.29sec of the hill-climb special 806bhp Subaru Impreza ‘Gobstopper II’ and the 47.07sec of the McLaren P1 LM. The time was particularly impressive given the Mono was set up for road use and was wearing standard road-legal tyres.

BAC also enjoyed a busy and entertaining time on the stand, with fans, famous faces, media and owners all soaking up the atmosphere, getting up close to the car and meeting the team behind it. The Red Arrows team, Gumball founder Maximillion Cooper, World Rallycross driver Andreas Bakkerud, and Monster athletes ‘Buttsy’ Butler and mountain bike star Sam Reynolds all spent time with the team.

The weekend proved fantastically successful for BAC, with customers coming from all around the world to look at the car, meet the team and place orders. This resulted in a record number of sales over the weekend, while a significant number of UK demonstration days were booked, which will allow more people to experience the thrill of driving a Mono. The cars ordered over the weekend will be heading to a diverse range of countries, including the Lebanon, Belgium and the UK, showing BAC’s global appeal and international growth. Stand visitors were able to take a close look at the customer cars on display, which were on show before heading off to their new owners in Japan, the UK and Hong Kong.

The stand was the largest in BAC’s history at the Festival of Speed, with three cars on display, and a large outdoor area where guests were able to soak up the sun. A Mountune engine also proved a great hit with guests, allowing people to study the bespoke Alunox titanium exhaust. BAC’s new hybrid carbon wheels were also on show on the stand’s main car. BAC revealed the new wheels for the first time on the first day of the show, and the lightweight rims proved popular with onlookers.

At the end of each long and entertaining day, BAC kept the atmosphere going, with a VIP party and DJ Ninja keeping the stand buzzing into the evenings.

Ian Briggs, BAC’s co-founder and Design Director, said: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the greatest events in the international automotive calendar, and this year was the best yet as far as BAC was concerned. The stand was buzzing throughout the weekend and it was great to meet so many Mono fans, owners and customers.

“Lots of people came to us knowing about the car, but the show allowed them to really get up close and learn more about it and what truly makes it one of a kind. That so many of them went away having ordered a car, and with more orders hopefully following in the coming weeks, it has proved a wonderful few days.

“At the heart, Goodwood is still a motor sport event, and it is all about how the car performed up the hill. As you can see from our on-board footage, our sub 50-second final run was a thrilling ride, and one that was a real achievement given the conditions, the competition and the road-legal tyres the car was wearing. We can’t wait to come back in 2017.”

Rolls ROyce enjoys a hugely successful event with Goodwood's famous hillclimb showcasing teh Wraiths Speed.

Rolls-Royce celebrated a successful Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend, with a stunning ascent of the famous Goodwood Hillclimb, defying challenging weather conditions.

The highlights:

Wraith Black Badge. The most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith Black Badge effortlessly ascended the Hillclimb during the Supercar Shootout, placing it ahead of entrants from McLaren, Aston Martin and Ferrari, amongst others. Wraith completed the 1.16-mile course in 65.05 seconds and recorded a speed of 94.8mph as the car crossed the finish line, proving that it is not necessary to sacrifice luxury for speed. Wraith was driven by Festival of Speed favourite, Justin Law.

Ghost Black Badge. The Course Car this year was a Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge, resplendent with LED race lights and Goodwood decals. The car was seen at speed between each Hillclimb Run throughout the weekend.

In addition to Wraith Black Badge and Ghost Black Badge, invited VIP guests were conveyed in luxury from the Home of Rolls-Royce on the south-eastern corner of the Goodwood Estate in a beautiful fleet of Bespoke Rolls-Royce motor cars.

Anyone wishing to filter relevant Rolls-Royce information from the event is encouraged to use the hashtag #BlackBadge.

GOODWOOD - Volkswagen looks back to a great weekend, even though it was soggy, the GTi themed stand was a hge hit.

• Rain fails to dampen celebrations marking 40 years of iconic Golf GTI
• Thousands of Volkswagen fans flock to brand’s GTI-themed stand
• Successful hillclimb runs for variety of Volkswagen models

Typically British ‘summer’ weather failed to dampen the spirits of the Goodwood Festival of Speed faithful who once again turned out in their tens of thousands to celebrate all things automotive and, in the case of Volkswagen, 40 years of the iconic Golf GTI.

The German brand’s celebrated sporting Golf was centre stage on the South Downs as Volkswagen showed, and ran, original and modern iterations of the world’s favourite hot hatch. 

Newest GTI to tackle the 1.1-mile hill climb sprint was the Golf GTI Clubsport S, the brand’s limited edition celebration model created to both mark four decades of GTI excellence and conquer the ‘green hell’ of the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife where it was recently crowned front-wheel drive lap record holder with driver Benny Leuchter at the wheel.

At Goodwood this weekend Volkswagen Board of Management member for Sales and Marketing Jürgen Stackmann was in the driving seat, proudly showing off the car’s performance potential in its first dynamic appearance in the UK.

Delivering 310 PS, the most powerful GTI to date is a finely balanced cross between road and racing car with a limited production run of just 400.  The UK is set to be the car’s biggest market globally, with no fewer than 150 of the individually numbered Clubsport S models coming to this country in right-hand drive form before the year’s end.

In terms of power the Golf GTI Clubsport S is almost on a par with the 315 PS Polo R WRC, with which Volkswagen won the World Rally Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is on course for the title again in 2016.  Driver Jari-Matti Latvala (31) powered the Polo R WRC up the famous West Sussex hill, while also taking part in the legendary hill climb was Hans-Joachim Stuck (65) – the well-known former Formula 1, DTM and Le Mans star – who was at the wheel of an historic 222 PS Golf Mkl GTI racing car over the weekend.

Volkswagen’s extensive stand at this year’s Festival was dominated by the GTI theme, with examples of MkI, Mk3 and Mk7 cars including a Clubsport S.  The brand’s dynamic future was represented by the Golf GTE Sport hybrid concept car, making its first appearance in the UK, while the most recent addition to Volkswagen showrooms in the UK – the stunning new Tiguan compact SUV – was also on show in sporty R-Line trim.

Commenting on the brand’s highly successful appearance at this year’s event, Volkswagen UK Head of Marketing Rod McLeod said: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed has rightly acquired global status as a unique celebration of all things automotive and, as we mark our own celebration with 40 years of the Golf GTI, it is only right and proper that Volkswagen once again supports this exceptional event.”