Harrods of Knightsbridge and Aston Martin, the best of both in one window display.

Shoppers in London’s Knightsbridge are to be treated to the sight of a very special Aston Martin window display consisting of a DB11, V12 Vantage S and Vanquish S in iconic British store, Harrods.

The three stunning Aston Martin sports cars will take over the storefront of the world’s most famous luxury department store in a month-long celebration of the British Heritage of Aston Martin.

The DB11, the first product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, is the bold new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition.

Also on display, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, the aggressively styled V12 Vantage is an unprecedented engineering achievement. Combining a V12 engine with the luxury marques lightest sports-car in a package of pure aggression, creating Aston Martins most visceral driving experience.

The brand new Vanquish S, the ultimate Super GT completes the display. With sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism defining this latest evolution of the renowned Vanquish model line.

Finished in red, white and blue paint finishes from the exquisite Aston Martin paint pallet, celebrates the British theme with the sports cars incorporating the colours of the renowned Union Jack.

Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said: “Harrods is one of the world’s most trusted luxury brands and we are delighted to join forces with them to create this unique display.”

Specialists from Aston Martin headquarters will be available throughout the exhibition, providing visitors with an opportunity to discover more about the Aston Martin product range. Both the window display and exhibition area will remain in place until 25^th March 2017.

Morgan, the classic car brand expects 2016 to be the best year for a number of years.

Morgan Technologies Limited is predicting continued strengthening of its financial position for the financial year ending December 2016.  

This stems from a number of Board initiatives which are improving performance and the company expects to post its best financial performance in both sales and profits for four years.  

The launch of the new Aero 8 and Plus 8 models has generated strong demand and significant exports while the development of the electric 3 wheeler EV3 and the brand partnership with Selfridges drew renewed global attention to the Morgan brand. 

Plans for the future include the setting up of a Family Council.  The recent settlement of Morgan's long-running employment dispute with Charles Morgan opens the way to the successful establishment of the Family Council and he will be invited to be a member, as well as retaining his shareholding.   

While there will be no change in the family shareholders, the Family Council will ensure that the wider Morgan family, including children of the current shareholders, have a voice in the future strategy of the Morgan group.

Non-Exec Chairman Dominic Riley said, "This is a year of strong progress at Morgan Motor Company. 

We have delivered growth in the sales of motor cars and the best financial performance for four years. 

We are also pleased to have settled the long running employment dispute with Charles Morgan and I wish to place on the record the Company's thanks to Charles for the contribution he made as an employee and director of the business over many years.  

Our plans to set up a Family Council will enable all members of the Morgan family to have a voice in the future direction of the Morgan group and to move forward together."

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Rolls Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase takes the Super Luxury Car, Best Buy.

The judges at the What Car? Awards, one of the most important measures of success in the automotive calendar have once again declared Ghost the best super luxury car in the world, competing a hat-trick of victories for Ghost family motor cars in its most prestigious category, luxury cars over £100,000.

In awarding Ghost Extended Wheelbase with ‘Best Buy’ status in the What Car? judges praised the car for its perfect marriage of driving dynamics and supremacy as the consummate entrepreneurs limousine:

“Designed as the Rolls-Royce for the owner who’d prefer to spend some time in the driver’s seat, the Ghost offers the class and attention to detail the brand is famous for.

Under its bonnet is a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that’s as discreet as it is potent. The ride is very forgiving, and the light but precise steering makes this massive car surprisingly easy to place and manoeuvre. 

If you’d rather employ someone else to do the driving, the Ghost will perform well as a chauffeur-driven limousine – this Extended Wheelbase model gets reclining rear seats and an extra 17cm of leg room over the already spacious standard Ghost.”

Since its launch in 2011 Ghost Extended Wheelbase has perfectly combined Ghost’s hallmark effortless simplicity, cutting-edge technology and contemporary interpretation of Rolls-Royce design language with the more indulgent proportions of an Extended Wheelbase chauffeur-driven motor car. 

This unique blend, married to a peerless scope for Bespoke personalisation has endeared a new generation of successful entrepreneurs to the marque – taking its place as the ultimate symbol of attainment for the influential men and women that drive our economies and create wealth. 

Indeed, in 2016 Ghost was presented in a new guise with the introduction of the Black Badge series. 

This authentic design and engineering statement serves as a truly Bespoke response, befitting the world’s most celebrated luxury house, to the desires of a highly creative, dynamic new breed of entrepreneur.

“Accolades like this reaffirm Ghost’s standing as the ultimate statement of attainment for the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. 

“Since its introduction in 2009, Ghost has stood alone in conveying patrons of true luxury in a highly contemporary interpretation of true luxury. 

This continuing success and critical acclaim from one of the industry’s landmark Awards is highly gratifying for everyone concerned with crafting the ‘Best Cars in the World.”

This critical acclaim is echoed in sustained customer demand.  Indeed Ghost also played a major role in contributing to the second highest sales results in the marque’s history in 2016 – emphatically affirming its status as the business limousine of choice for the world’s most discerning patrons of luxury. Indeed, Ghost totally dominates the super-luxury class (€200,000+)

This honour follows success in the UK Car of the Year Awards for Dawn and adds to the numerous global accolades Ghost has enjoyed since its first introduction in 2009 followed by a sensitive evolution in 2014 with the launch of Ghost Series II.

Bentley is looking to take on 60 intakes for the coming year, more than last year, and the recruitment starts now.

• 60 opportunities for 2017 intake
• Vacancies at apprentice, undergraduate and graduate level
• Applications now open at www.bentleycareers.com 

Bentley Motors has launched the company’s 2017 trainee recruitment campaign with 60 positions available for apprentices, undergraduates and graduates to start in autumn 2017

Applications are now open at www.bentleycareers.com until November 27^th, with vacancies covering commercial areas including Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Finance and Purchasing, as well as the traditional Engineering and Manufacturing opportunities.  

Commenting on the latest recruitment drive, Marlies Rogait, Member of the Board for Human Resources, said:

“Each of our schemes offer a solid foundation upon which to build the skills and knowledge required to become experts and professionals in their chosen field.

“We continue to demonstrate our commitment to future talent by recruiting in significant numbers and 2017 is no exception. We are looking to attract extraordinary candidates – Bentley experts of tomorrow – who can add to our already highly-skilled and passionate workforce.”  

Bentley has recently received national recognition for its future talent and skills development programmes after being named as a Top Employer for the fifth consecutive year.

Bentley’s apprenticeship programme, with 22 positions available, offers an invaluable way of gaining recognised qualifications while undertaking key training at Bentley, for three or four years, dependent on which area the apprentice is working in.  

The majority of apprentices will be undertaking the manufacturing programme, learning skills within areas such as wood, paint and mechatronics. The first year of their programme will include theoretical learning at South Cheshire College, before working in practical areas of manufacturing at Bentley.  

The graduate scheme, offering 13 vacancies, is a two-year development programme where recruits are given the opportunity to work on business projects, working in a specific department, or across a number of functions.

The undergraduate scheme, of which there are 25 places, is a 12-month development programme focused on undergraduate degree students looking to complete a year out in industry as part of their studies.

In a further sign of commitment to future talent, Bentley is playing a pivotal role in the recently opened University Technical College in Crewe. Focused on Engineering and Design, the school offers an inspiring education for 14-18 year olds seeking a pathway to future employment.

To celebrate the end of the seventh generation Phantom, Rolls-Royce has designed and built a bespoke picnic Hamper.

Rarity is an attribute awarded to items of true luxury. In this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has created a Picnic Hamper for the Phantom Zenith Collection; a rare and collectable addition to Rolls‑Royce’s remarkable new Bespoke end-of-the-line Phantom models.

As preparations for the eighth-generation Phantom limousine commence, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars earlier this year announced it will build 50 sumptuously specified Bespoke creations named the Phantom Zenith Collection, featuring the much-loved Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé models, both of which have been announced to leave the stage at the end of the year.

Recognising the unique nature of this Phantom celebration, collectors and patrons of the Phantom Zenith Collection have asked the marque to enrich these extraordinary pieces by offering exclusive access to the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design Team, who have responded by creating a Bespoke Picnic Hamper to complement each new motor car.

The picnic hamper completes the trinity of objects created under the Phantom Zenith Collection, joining the motor car and a unique metal ingot (a single piece of the Phantom assembly line from the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England), which will be presented in the motor car itself, hinting at the historical significance of this rare and precious collection.

The hamper will serve as a true collectors’ piece, marrying Rolls-Royce’s remarkable craftsmanship with its customary eye for detail. Every hamper will be sequentially numbered to perfectly match each owner’s Phantom Zenith Collection motor car.

Embodying the concept of the picnic as an occasion to be savoured and appreciated, the hamper itself is crafted from American Walnut wood and natural grain leather. Each is finished in a choice of three colour combinations matching the interior of the cars themselves. These include a subtly contrasting Ardent Red leather and black leather piping inspired by a 1929 Phantom II; a contemporary combination of Navy Blue and Arctic White leather piping evoking the genteel ambiance of a the original 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom II; or a timeless black Anthracite leather with Seashell piping, reminiscent of the 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

The hamper’s leather stitching – and a dart of contrast colour on the lid – echoes the interior of the Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé’s split tailgate, a private hosting area complete with a cool box, illuminated glass shelf, Champagne holder and a leather seat for two.

Upon opening the hamper owners will find inside a unique plaque corresponding to the identification number given to their vehicle – one of just 50.

Piano Black picnic tables housed within the hamper fold out on milled-aluminium hinges. Like the armrest cappings inside the car, the hinges reference the history of these remarkable motor cars, engraved with the locations of the global debut of the experimental versions of each car – Villa D’Este on the shores of Lake Como for 100EX, the progenitor of the Phantom Drophead Coupé; and Lake Geneva for the 101EX, the car that would ultimately become the Phantom Coupé.

The leather and wood interior shelving of the hamper contains lead crystal wine glasses, handmade stainless steel cutlery, napkins embroidered with the Rolls-Royce monogram in Arctic White, and a handcrafted American Walnut chopping board. A final flourish, the Zenith Collection Picnic Hamper comprises unique crockery, with painted black and platinum detail around the edges.

The Phantom Zenith Collection Picnic Hamper will be on display at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, California from 17-21 August.

Luxury British Menswear company, Hackett has collaborated with Aston Martin to produce a great range of items.

Luxury British carmaker Aston Martin and menswear retailer Hackett today announced a new, long-term global partnership. In line with the reveal of Aston Martin’s highly anticipated DB11, the first fruits of the new partnership will be revealed when Hackett launches an exclusive capsule collection for Autumn/Winter 2016 entitled ‘Aston Martin by Hackett’.

Hackett’s relationship with Aston Martin stretches back many years through a successful partnership with Aston Martin Racing, the company’s global sportscar racing operation. Building on the foundations of that strong relationship, the Aston Martin by Hackett collection offers an all-new range of luxurious clothing that reflects the coming together of two stylish brands.

Aston Martin’s EVP & Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman said: “Starting with the enduringly successful relationship with Hackett via Aston Martin Racing, we were delighted to take the partnership to a whole new level of style with the creation of the Aston Martin by Hackett collection. By bringing together our creative teams from the outset of the project we have created a look that captures the essence of this great partnership.”

Jeremy Hackett, Chairman and founder of Hackett commented: ”I am very proud of the successful relationship that Hackett has forged with Aston Martin.  We are both forward-looking brands with a strong focus on delivering a refined product to a discerning market. Taking the step from uniforms for the race team into a beautiful capsule collection of luxurious clothing has been a pleasure for Hackett and we believe we have created a collection that drives us to the next level in elegance and refinement.”

The luxurious 14-piece Aston Martin by Hackett collection includes outerwear, knitwear, shirts, trousers and accessorises. Reflecting on the quintessentially British brand values of both Hackett London and Aston Martin, the new collection is innovative, luxurious and the epitome of style.

Bentley Motors launches its 2016 apprentice recruitment campaign with 42 positions available.

• 42 apprenticeship opportunities for 2016 intake
• 100 apprentice positions created in past two years
• Applications open on 12^th March at www.bentleycareers.com
• Apprentice open day on 12^th March at Bentley Motors

Bentley Motors today launches its 2016 apprentice recruitment campaign with 42 positions available on the latest intake, starting with the company in September this year. 

Applications open from 12^th March at www.bentleycareers.com for six weeks, with an open day to be held on the same day at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, where prospective apprentices can find out more.

Bentley has created over 100 apprentice opportunities in the past two years, maintaining the company’s future talent focus. Commenting on the latest recruitment drive, Marlies Rogait, Member of the Board for Human Resources, said:

“Bentley’s apprenticeship scheme offers a solid foundation upon which to build the skills and knowledge required to become skilled experts and professionals in their chosen field. 

“As our business continues to grow, we continue to invest - in our people, our products, and our network. We want to attract extraordinary candidates - the Bentley experts of tomorrow - who aren’t afraid to challenge and can add to our highly-skilled and passionate workforce.” 

Bentley’s apprentice scheme has been running for more than 40 years and offers an invaluable way of gaining nationally recognised academic and vocational qualifications, while undertaking tailored development at Bentley.         

Nearly half of the new apprentices (20) will be starting the recently developed manufacturing apprenticeship programme. The curriculum is designed and delivered by Bentley Master Trainers, during which apprentices will develop skills in areas such as leather, wood, paint, mechatronics and production maintenance.     

A further 22 apprentices will be based in business areas at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, including Engineering, Sales and Marketing, Purchasing and Human Resources.

Bentley’s Apprentice of Year in 2015 was Matthew Farrell, a former Production Apprentice, and now Production Engineer at Bentley Motors. Matthew summed up why he found the Bentley apprenticeship scheme so valuable:

“The Apprenticeship was a great opportunity to really pursue my technical, academic and personal development goals in a structured way. From learning about manual engineering operations to developing the next generation of designs for body and trim, each part of the programme helped me to enhance my professional and personal skills. I have been able to own my development goals and benefit from structured input and feedback from peers and managers along the way.”

Bentley Motors was recently named one of Britain’s top employers by the Top Employers Institute for the fifth consecutive year. Bentley – awarded for its commitment and dedication to the 4,000 colleagues working at the Crewe headquarters - was particularly praised for its focus on the talent and personal development of its workforce.     

Bentley is also playing a pivotal role in bringing a University Technical College to Crewe later this year. Focused on Engineering and Design, the college will offer an inspiring education for 14-18 year olds seeking a pathway to future employment.

The Super-Luxury Rolls Royce Dawn has it's order books now open in Japan, this is one RR that will sell and sell.

After a highly successful online global launch and unveil of the new Rolls-Royce Dawn at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the start of formal order-taking of the world’s most uncompromised super-luxury drophead motor car in Japan.

Japan is expected to be the largest market for Dawn in the Asia Pacific region, following an overwhelming response at exclusive closed-door customer previews of the car in Tokyo in summer 2015.

“It is always darkest just before the dawn”

Rolls-Royce’s new Dawn delivers a cool, contemporary interpretation of what a super-luxury four-seater convertible motor car should be – rare, refined and the most social super-luxury car there is. It takes inspiration from the Silver Dawn, a famous and rare Rolls-Royce name that was only ever applied to 28 very special dropheads between 1950 and 1954. 

In the most challenging times, the phrase “It is always darkest just before the dawn” resonates as a beacon of hope. This early morning darkness, where apparitions such as phantoms, ghosts or wraiths have been imagined, and where one’s apprehensions lurk, is brushed aside by an energising burst of early morning sunlight as one awakens to a new dawn and the endless possibilities of a new day.

No compromise engineering for true four-seater space

Rolls-Royce’s design ethos has created a car that conveys all the hallmarks of the brand’s peerless craftsmanship combined with a philosophy of effortless, yet invigorating driving experience.

“At Rolls-Royce, we pride ourselves as creators of fine motor cars that also serve as social spaces,” comments Rolls-Royce’s Design Director, Giles Taylor. “The idea of creating a car like Dawn that can be used in comfort by only two adults on a day to day basis is anathema. In creating Dawn we have accepted no compromise to the comfort and luxury of four adults who want to travel together in the pinnacle of style.”

Rolls-Royce’s engineers have paid great attention to Dawn’s roof, which delivers the silence of a Wraith when up and operates in just over 20 seconds at a cruising speed of up to 50km/h. Working with a fabric roof configuration, the goal was to make the quietest convertible car in the world today. This quest for silence applied to all aspects of the roof’s engineering and by extension the new motor car. The engineering team even went so far as to invent a phrase for what they wished to achieve with the roof mechanism: The Silent Ballet.

The roof tops a graceful, beautiful and sensuous design, whilst remaining one of the largest canopies to grace a convertible car – second only to that of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé.

Moving automotive sculpture

The new Rolls-Royce Dawn stands apart from its stable mates, featuring 80% unique body panels.Dawn’s highly contemporary, four-seat super-luxury Drophead is an evolution of Rolls-Royce’s design language, with one clear objective: to make a car that looks as beautiful with its roof up as with it down.

Roof down, the sensuous lines of Dawn are evident. From the side, the steep rake of the windscreen, the swage line that flows over the rear haunches and the high beltline that rises along the profile give the impression of effortless dynamism. The very same rising beltline wraps around the rear passenger cabin to create a cosseting effect.

The deck continues Rolls-Royce’s excellence in modern craftsmanship. Open-pore Canadel panelling traces the horse-shoe shape of the rear cabin, whilst the wood on the deck, which can be chosen to suit individual taste, flows down the ‘Waterfall’ between the rear seats, and around the cabin clothing the interior door panels – enticing an owner or passenger to enter.

Discreet technology for an effortless drive

In addition to the undisputed leaps forward made in the engineering of soft-top cars by the Rolls-Royce team, the new Rolls-Royce Dawn introduces several other tailor-made engineering innovations.

The challenge in designing any convertible lies in retaining a high degree of torsional rigidity throughout the body while keeping weight down. Torsional rigidity is vital to minimise the scuttle shake associated with most convertible cars and to help maintain the car’s dynamic composure.

A newly designed suspension configuration takes care of the specific behaviour of this open top motor car in the areas of body stiffness and mass distribution, guaranteeing ultimate cruising comfort and the expected Rolls-Royce ‘magic carpet’ ride.

Information from the significantly updated Multimedia Interface and Navigation system is displayed beautifully on a new 10.25” high-definition screen, controlled by the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller presents a touch pad, with the ability to write Japanese characters by finger.

New software for the radar and camera – located in the front bumper valance and centre upper windscreen respectively – provides faster system response times, including faster pre-conditioning of the brakes to expect emergency pressure. Should the worst of circumstances arise, Dawn will deploy a concealed roll-over protection system from behind the rear head restraints in just a fraction of a second.

The most recent developments in LED lighting technology have also been applied to the Rolls-Royce Dawn. The way this light is managed is significantly enhanced by adaptive technology.

In addition, automatic dipping of full-beam headlights has been replaced with revolutionary new glare-free technology. Night-time driving safety is boosted by the head-up display and heat detection system.

It goes without saying that the beating heart and soul of Dawn, like any Rolls-Royce motor car, is the beloved twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 powertrain. Paired with an 8-speed, Satellite-aided automatic transmission, which utilises GPS data to allow the car to see beyond what the driver sees, Dawn’s driving experience is exceptional.