The new fully updated Subaru BRZ gets it's UK debut at the motorsport show at the NEC.

Europe’s largest motorsport show opens its doors 12th - 15th January 2017 at the NEC and BMR Racing and Subaru can be found at stand 6000 in Hall 6.

The 2017 BRZ has been updated from top to bottom; exterior, interior, powertrain, suspension and safety, refining the driving experience whilst enhancing sports car appeal.

The Coupe shape remains, but is enhanced with a wider, lower stance at the front end. The BRZ’s face is finished off with full-LED headlights, a Subaru first. 

New design rear lamps and aerodynamic pedestal spoiler top off the rear of the car, and the wheels are now a 10 spoke aluminium design.

Inside, a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display has been added into the instrument panel. The steering wheel has also been redesigned into a smaller package with different leather to increase the driver’s grip for a more engaging experience, whilst higher quality materials have been used throughout the cabin.

BRZ was built to deliver a linear driving feel, ensuring that the car responds exactly as the driver intended. Keeping this concept in mind, the BRZ’s suspension, engine and drivetrain have been further refined to enhance its poised handling and driving experience.

For sporty drivers, the new TRACK mode enhances the stability of the car and allows for more refined accelerator inputs when driving on race circuits. For urban drivers, there is a new type of Hill Start Assist (HSA) to help with uphill starts or downhill reversing.

The 2017 BRZ will be available in SE Lux trim only with either a manual or automatic transmission from Spring.

Vauxhall to showcase a Ground Up two year restoration of the Viva GT HB, it looks stunning, a job well done !!!!

• Newly-restored rare Viva GT takes bow at this year’s Classic Motor Show
• Two-year, ground-up resto undertaken by Vauxhall Heritage’s skilled team
• Set to be highlight in ’50 Years of Viva HB’ section of Vauxhall’s ten-car stand

The restoration of a rare model, which turned in to a labour of love for Vauxhall’s Heritage team, will see the light of day for the first time at next week’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, held at the NEC.

A centre-piece of Vauxhall’s multi-themed stand this year, the gleaming Monza Red Viva GT will take pride of place in the area, celebrating 50 years since the Viva HB model was launched. 

The ten car stand also features displays based around Vauxhall’s vast export history, and 85 years since the birth of Bedford, its commercial vehicle division.

Restored on and off over a two-year period by Andy Boddy and Terry Forder (with assistance from their apprentice, Chris Smith) the 1970 Mark 1 ½ GT is believed to have been registered by Vauxhall as one of its company cars back in the day (its ‘YXD’ suffix makes this likely) and was purchased by Vauxhall from the partner of its late owner, Steve Walton, in June 2014.

Remarkably, the GT had just one other owner before Steve bought the car, making its history relatively easy to plot. Originally painted Sebring Silver, the team opted for a more vibrant hue and settled on Monza Red, which would have been available when the car was new. But before painting, the surprisingly sound body was stripped and acid-dipped at Enviro Strip in Tamworth, after which it was returned to Luton for some sheet metal work.

Since many HB panels, especially around the chassis, inner wing areas and in the boot floor, are difficult to source, specialist Keith May was brought in to painstakingly craft new metalwork from scratch, helped by the Heritage Centre’s apprentice, Chris Smith.

After a final visit to Enviro Strip for a further acid dip and etch priming, the body was prepared for paint, including long-blocking the shell. Automotive Refinish in Milton Keynes – part of the BASF group, Vauxhall Heritage’s regular paint supplier – undertook the priming and final colour coats. Such was the VH team’s attention to detail, that they tasked AR with applying the Viva GT’s Tasman Orange stripes – but these weren’t mere graphics, they were actually painted on.

In the meantime, back at the Heritage Centre, the GT’s 2.0-litre engine was being overhauled by Andy and the team, ready to be reunited with the rest of the car. The race was then on to have the GT ready in time for the show.

‘We’re now on the finishing straight with this restoration,’ said Andy. ‘It’s been a real labour of love for the team over the last couple of years, and sometimes quite a challenge when we have 70 other vehicles in the collection to maintain, too. But we’re confident that on Friday, November 11^th – the first day of the show – the car will be ready to take pride of place on our stand.’

New UK Built Avatar Lightweight Sports car to be debuted at The Performance car Show at the NEC.

• Deliveries from spring 2016 for 360bhp/tonne road and track lightweight sportscar debuting at The Performance Car Show 2016

Enthusiasts seeking a balance of pure performance and affordability from every driving experience now have a fresh alternative from British manufacturer Avatar. 

The Devon-based track and race division of long-standing specialist car producer Marlin Sports Cars has developed the 250bhp 2.0 Ecoboost-engined Roadster to offer road and track day fans a responsive, involving, lightweight car that offers plenty of scope to adjust and upgrade during ownership. 

The first car will make its public debut at The Performance Car Show on 14-17 January 2016 (Hall 19, Stand 19215), held at the Birmingham NEC alongside sister show Autosport International.

Eschewing the handling and styling compromises of transversally mounting the Ford 2.0 engine behind the driver, Avatar’s engineers mandated the race-substantiated longitudinal installation, driving the rear wheels through a proven Porsche Boxster five-speed gearbox. 

Underlining an emphasis on performance and commitment to offer the most effective features at this price point, engineers specified in-board adjustable suspension at the rear with Nitron dampers, Quaife LSD, Tilton pedal box and Hi-Spec brakes on the 700kg car. 

The Avatar Roadster will also be available in a 350bhp version that uses the 2.3l Ecoboost engine from the forthcoming Ford Focus RS and Mustang. Starting with a clean sheet of paper, Avatar’s design team was able to create a custom laser-cut, tubular spaceframe chassis that sits the driver closer to the centreline of the car. 

“This arrangement not only offers better weight distribution and, we think, purer driving experience but also provides storage space alongside the driver for the optional ‘get me home’ roof,” says Dylan Popovic, Avatar designer and company racing driver.

The chassis, manufactured in-house by Marlin Sports Cars, a producer of chassis for its own cars as well as other niche manufacturers for over 35 years, is clothed in a sleek composite four-piece bodyshell; front and back sections can be removed in less than 30 seconds. 

The pleasing aesthetics of the Avatar Roadster have been honed by aero specialist Simon McBeath and confirmed by a string of class wins for the development mule running in the Castle Combe Sports & GT Championship. 

“We have completed over 1,200 laps at the demanding Castle Combe circuit to finesse and prove the quality of the Avatar,” adds Dylan. “Consumers expect to drive to a track day, thrash around all day and come home again without wielding the spanners. The Avatar was conceived with high quality components to do just that.”

Avatar’s back up and technical support is as just as comprehensive as the Avatar Roadster’s specification. A pre-delivery ‘Tailored’ session means each car leaves the factory corner-weighted and setup specific to the buyer’s weight, driving preferences and planned use. “We want to know each of our customers and their cars personally,” adds Terry Matthews, Avatar founder. 

“Owners can pick up the phone to us any time and get one-to-one support that is often lacking from larger car makers. We also want that ‘community’ element that might see Avatar owners plan a trip together through The Lakes, a coffee and doughnut meet every three months or perhaps a track day on the Continent.”

An unlimited mileage, three-year warranty, provides further peace of mind whilst the engine can be serviced at any Ford garage.

Aware that track day drivers are always keen to find a little more performance, customers can choose from a range of options to tailor the car for more serious track work or even competition. 

The Avatar’s modular design means it is possible to specify at time of build or simply upgrade later to the 350bhp 2.3l Ecoboost engine, a six-speed gearbox, three-way dampers and stiffer springs, six pot brakes, race pads, semi slick/slick tyre options. 

For racers or hard core track day drivers, a full roll cage, six-point harnesses, extinguisher, uprated cooling pack, DL1 data logger and camera, HANS custom seat and race-only aero package are offered from the factory.

“We want Avatar owners to enjoy a spirited drive on a crisp Sunday morning or turn up to a track day, surprise a few owners of more exotic machines and drive home with a big smile on their face, confident they have a reliable, safe and enjoyable car,” adds Terry.

With four orders already placed, Avatar will deliver the first customer cars in May 2016 and hopes to build a run of up to 25 by 2017. “Ultimately we could produce four to six Avatars a month,” concludes Terry Matthews. “We plan to have a demonstrator available within two months.”

Avatar Roadster overview

Weight: 700kg

Engine: 2.0 Ford Ecoboost

Power: 252bhp

Torque: 400NM

Max speed: 150mph

0-60mph: 3.9s

Overall length: 3,660mm

Overall width: 1,800mm

Wheel base: 2,286mm

Rolls Royce will be in force at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Car show at the NEC from the old to the new.

A Bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith will be the star of the UK’s largest classic motor show, held this weekend at the NEC, Birmingham. The ultimate ‘future classic’, the spectacular Grand Tourer will take centre stage on the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) stand, supported by a team of experts from the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex.

The Bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith, hand-built at the company’s Head Office and Manufacturing Plant – the only place in the world where Rolls-Royces are built – is finished in sparkling two tone Midnight Sapphire and Silver. 

The interior is in Navy Blue and contrasting Arctic leather and Macassar Ebony veneer. The car features a range of Bespoke items, including a Starlight Headliner and an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy, bathed in light. It is also adorned with a suite of highly-advanced technological features including night-vision, parking cameras and Satellite Aided Transmission.

The RREC stand will feature several classic models from the marque. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Silver Cloud, an early Silver Cloud I will be displayed alongside a unique Silver Cloud III rolling chassis. 

Two Silver Shadows will mark the model’s 50th anniversary, one owned by the Spencer family of Althorp and the second recently featured in James May's ‘Cars of the People’. An exact replica of John Lennon's psychedelic Phantom V is also sure to attract attention.

The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) caters for anyone with an interest in the motor car products of Rolls-Royce. From just 11 people at the inaugural meeting in 1957, membership now stands at around 10,000. Membership is open to owners and non-owners alike and members are drawn from all walks of life and from countries across the world.  For more details see: www.rrec.org.uk.

Rare right hand drive 1973 Range Rover convertible to be the star attraction at the Silverstone Auctions NEC sale.

• Rare early right-hand drive 62,500-mile Range Rover convertible conversion due to be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions’ NEC Classic Motor Show Sale
• Bespoke Special Vehicle Conversions build based on UK right-hand drive 1973 Range Rover ‘Suffix B’ will be sold with an estimate of £35,000 - £40,000 after a full restoration
• Silverstone Auctions’ two-day NEC Classic Motor Show Sale will be held at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham on 14-15 November - consignments are still invited

A rare early Range Rover convertible conversion is due to be sold at Silverstone Auctions’ last auction of the year, The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale, on 14-15 November 2015.

Starting life as a 1973 Range Rover ‘Suffix B’, the car was converted in the late Eighties by Special Vehicle Conversions, who specialise in bespoke convertible conversions for Range Rovers of the period.

The rare right-hand drive convertible has covered just 62,500 miles from new and having recently been restored to its original Special Vehicle Conversions specification, it will be sold at The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show auction with an estimate of £35,000 - £40,000.

The car was apparently won by the previous owner in a card game in the Nineties, who then stored it in a lock-up as he didn’t have space in his garages. The vendor heard of the story and sought to try and find the car again in 2014. After trying to locate the car and with the help of Land Registry records, it was uncovered in superb condition – with its undersealed chassis still in fine fettle.

Later that year, the car was treated to an eight-month nut and bolt restoration costing £20,000, which included the recommission of its 3.5-litre V8 engine. The convertible conversion heads to The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale in superb condition, ready to be enjoyed by its next owner. 

Arwel Richards, Classic Car Consignor at Silverstone Auctions spoke about the Range Rover and said, “This classic Range Rover convertible conversion is a car worthy of the modern-day James Bond, but has a story akin to that of ‘007’ too. Not only does this convertible conversion have unique provenance, but it’s based on a truly superb early right-hand drive Range Rover ‘Suffix B’ and has covered a mere 62,500 miles – I doubt you’ll find one like this in the near future.

“With the recently launched Range Rover Evoque Convertible, it has become in vogue even more. It’s a real privilege to be entrusted with re-homing this very important car at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale and I’m sure its new owner will love and cherish it, especially after its superb restoration.”

Silverstone Auctions will also be exhibiting at Classic & Sports Car - The London Show, held at Alexandra Palace from 30 October – 1 November as auctioneers for the silent auction. The auction house will be exhibiting two cars on their stand, as well as offering on-site valuations to show visitors.

CV SHOW 2015 - Isuzu wins again with the D-Max, from the Trade Van Driver Awards.

Isuzu UK continues to upset the status quo with its award winning feats when the D-Max was recently awarded the accolade of Best Trade Pick-Up in the 2015 Trade Van Driver Awards for the second year running.

Already proving to be a great success with British pick-up users, the magazine’s judging panel praised the D-Max for its value, build quality and well known off-road capabilities.

Matt Eisenegger, editor of Trade Van Driver said of the achievement: “Many trade users need a solid, no-nonsense pick-up that is prepared for an extremely hard life and isn't afraid to get its feet muddy. 

With its low front-end price, superb off-road capability and rugged build quality, the D-Max fits the bill admirably and wins this title for the second year running.”

The Trade Van Driver accolade follows on from Isuzu UK’s best first quarter sales since imports began in the UK in 1987 with 1841 D-Max pick-ups registered. In 2014, Isuzu UK recorded its best ever year with sales growing at double the rate of the overall pick-up market - 33.7% versus 15% - ensuring the brand number one for retail sales.

This week also saw the announcement of the new D-Max Blade as the flagship model of the range and the launch of a network of new fleet centre across the UK as the D-Max continues to attract increasing interest from the fleet sector of the market.

The widest range of body styles available on the market – single, extended and double cab – as well as the largest choice of automatic transmissions, has provided the platform for the Isuzu D-Max to establish itself as a leader in the pick-up sector since its launch in the summer of 2012. 

Every new D-Max sold in the UK is backed by the company’s pioneering, five-year / 125,000-mile warranty.

CV SHOW 2015 - Vauxhall's best ever CV range debuts at Birmingham.

• New Corsavan makes its debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2015
• Full Vivaro range on display: Combi, Double Cab, Platform Cab, LWB, High Roof
• In-house signwriting and conversions available to all Brit-built Vivaro customers
• One-Invoice sees single invoicing for Movano conversion customers
• Vauxhall van sales up 32 per cent; number one retail brand
• Football legends Peter Shilton, Bryan Robson and Trevor Francis on stand

Vauxhall, the UK’s only volume van manufacturer, is debuting the new Corsavan at the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC (14^th – 16^th April) alongside its full line-up of British-built Vivaro vans.

The Luton-based manufacturer will also announce plans to offer Vivaro customers an in-house sign writing and wrap service as well as bespoke racking and conversions.

Available now to fleets and in the summer for small businesses, Vauxhall is the only UK manufacturer to offer this service which will save customers time and money as the work is done in-house, as the vans roll off the production line. Pricing will be extremely competitive and all work will be covered by a three-year warranty.

Vauxhall will also launch Movano One-Invoice approved conversions, providing even more simplicity and transparency for customers.

Vauxhall Vans Sales

Year-to-date, Vauxhall van sales are up nearly 32 per cent with over 11,000 vehicles registered in 2015. Market share was up to 11.3 per cent.

The Luton firm is also number one at retail and Vivaro is the number one van for small businesses with over 7,000 registrations this year. Vauxhall fleet sales also grew by 40 per cent.

Rounding off a cracking start to the year, Corsavan sales doubled and Movano fleet sales increased by 80 per cent in the first quarter.  

Corsavan

With an increased payload of up to 571kg and priced from £11,175 to £13,875, new Corsavan in Sportive trim will take pride of place on the Vauxhall CV stand.

New Corsavan features an enhanced and improved chassis, with fuel economy of up to 85.6mpg and emissions as low as 87g/km CO₂. As well as an impressive flat-loading capacity of up to 920 litres, the new small van is big on safety, featuring six airbags and active safety systems as standard, as well as Tyre Pressure Monitoring and ESP plus including Hill Start Assist.

Vivaro Range

The full Vivaro range will also feature on Vauxhall’s prominent stand in Hall 4 of the NEC, including L1H1, L2H1 (long wheelbase) and L2H2 (high-roof and long-wheelbase) panel vans, as well as Double Cab, nine-seater Combi and Platform Cab variants.

The Vivaro is built at Vauxhall’s Luton plant, the UK’s most productive van plant, where approaching a million current Vivaros have been made since production began in 2001. The latest model secured 1,200 jobs in the Luton area and contains 40 per cent British-sourced components, which will mean an extra £600 million spent with British suppliers. The plant is also a major exporter with 52 per cent of vans destined for European markets.

Also on the stand will be Vauxhall’s Combo with its class-leading payload of up to 1,000kg, as well as a Trucksmith Movano ‘KneeHi’ One-Invoice conversion, demonstrating the adaptability of Vauxhall’s commercial vehicle range.

Vauxhall is also the sponsor of Home Nations football, and visitors will have the chance to meet a football legend on its CV Show stand, including Peter Shilton on Tuesday 14^th April, Bryan Robson on Wednesday 15^th April and Trevor Francis on Thursday 16^th April.

Vauxhall’s full van range including new Corsavan, Combo, Vivaro and Movano will be on display at the show. Here’s the full run down:

• New Corsavan 1.3 CDTi 95PS Start/Stop Sportive
• Combo 2300 1.6 CDTi 105PS Sportive L2H1 Panel Van
• Movano 3500 L3H1 FWD 2.3 CDTi BiTurbo 125PS (Trucksmith ‘KneeHi’ Platform Cab conversion)
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 120PS L2H1 Sportive Panel Van
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 140PS L2H1 Sportive Double Cab     
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 120PS L2H1 Combi
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 120PS L2H2 Panel Van
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 120PS L2H1 Platform Cab (Jiffy Catering Truck Conversion)
• Vivaro 2900 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo 120PS L1H1 Panel Van (British Gas livery and conversion)
• Vivaro (90PS) L1H1 Panel Van (BT livery and conversion)

CV SHOW 2015 - Citroen premiers the new Berlingo at Birmingham CV show.

Citroën’s New Berlingo made its UK debut at the CV Show earlier today (NEC, Hall 5, Stand D40, 14-16 April 2015). New Berlingo is on display alongside models from the just-expanded Relay Ready to Runrange and a selection of the latest Nemo, Dispatch and New Relay vans.

The New Berlingo is now available to order, with UK deliveries starting on 1 July 2015. Competitively priced from just £12,515 plus VAT and delivery, the New Berlingo range offers running cost reductions and environmental benefits, combined with driver comfort, safety and convenience gains.

New Berlingo offers a choice of Euro 6 VTi 95 petrol or Euro 5 HDi 75 and HDi 90 diesel engines, complemented by the latest generation Euro 6 BlueHDi 100 and BlueHDi 120 diesel powerplants. Depending on the model selected, New Berlingo is available with Stop & Start technology, manual 5 or 6-speed gearboxes and Citroën’s ETG6 automated manual transmission. 

The New Berlingo continues to offer the widest range of factory built variants in its class, including two panel van lengths, three trim levels, an electric van, an XTR+ enhanced traction van, a Crew Van and a platform cab for special bodywork.

The New Berlingo is the first Citroën LCV to be offered with Euro 6 compliant BlueHDi diesel engines, which use advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. Citroën will be extending the application of these low-emission, fuel-efficient BlueHDi engines across its entire LCV line-up as part of a rolling programme starting in July 2015 and running through to September 2016. 

New Berlingo’s CO₂ emissions are now reduced to an exceptional 109g/km for the BlueHDi 100 S&S ETG6 L1 625 LX model. The range has combined cycle fuel economy figures of up to 68.9mpg.

In addition to the introduction of the new BlueHDi engines, New Berlingo models also have specification upgrades to benefit both the operator and the driver. Externally, New Berlingo vans have a redesigned grille and front bumper, and are available with an optional Look Pack, featuring LED daytime-running lights. 

Internally, both New Berlingo LX and Enterprise trim levels now have cruise control and a programmable speed limiter as standard. The top-of-the-range New Berlingo Enterprise specification has been enhanced with the inclusion of a 7-inch touchscreen with Mirror Screen technology and an upgraded DAB audio system. In addition, the New Berlingo Enterprise trim level now includes an alarm for increased security and peace-of-mind. New Berlingo offers an extended choice of options, including front parking sensors, a reversing camera and a colour touchscreen with audio streaming.

All New Berlingo panel vans are fitted, as standard, with Teletrac Smartnav satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking. This advanced telematics platform, which provides operators with cost-saving efficiency, safety, security and productivity benefits, can be optionally upgraded – at low cost – to include Fleet Director real-time fleet management capability.

Alongside New Berlingo, Citroën is displaying models from its newly extended Relay Ready to Run range. Relay Ready to Run is one of Citroën’s major LCV success stories, with sales increasing 10 fold in just two years. The original four-strong Relay Ready to Run range has just gained two new models – the Relay 35 L3 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Crew Cab Dropside and the Relay 35 Heavy L4 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Dropside.

The newly expanded Relay Ready to Run range consists of:

• Relay 35 L2 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Tipper, £26,030 + VAT + delivery
• Relay 35 L2 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Dropside, £24,735 + VAT + delivery
• NEW Relay 35 L3 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Crew Cab Dropside, £25,985 + VAT + delivery
• NEW Relay 35 Heavy L4 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Dropside, £25,835 + VAT + delivery
• Relay 35 L3 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise Luton, £27,765 + VAT + delivery
• Relay 35 Heavy L4 HDi 150 6-speed manual Enterprise Luton, £29,450 + VAT + delivery

All of these models are based on new, high specification Relay Enterprise chassis cabs, which have been developed specifically for Ready to Run applications. The Relay Enterprise chassis cabs, which are only available for the Relay Ready to Run programme, will be available from late April onwards.

The new Relay Enterprise chassis cabs’ enhanced specification adds:

• Teletrac Smartnav & Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking telematics package
• Air conditioning
• Cruise control with variable speed limiter
• Perimetric alarm
• 5-inch colour touch screen/DAB digital radio
• Bluetooth®, audio streaming & SMS  
• MP3 compatible CD player                

Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, commented; “This year’s CV Show provides Citroën with the ideal platform to demonstrate to existing and prospective customers the financial and operational benefits of the company’s innovative thinking. The Nemo, New Berlingo, Dispatch and New Relay ranges – including Relay Ready to Run – demonstrate Citroen’s ability to deliver even greater business transport efficiencies.”