One of the most outragious Mitsubishi Pick Ups has been developed for some outrageous challenges ahead.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK will showcase the one-off Mitsubishi L200 that has been built in conjunction with Top Gear magazine at the 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC, Birmingham from April 25 - 27.

Developed in secret by the world’s biggest-selling enthusiast magazine and codenamed ‘Project Swarm’, the totally unique Mitsubishi L200 will take centre stage on the brand’s eye-catching stand (Hall 4, stand 4G90).

Fully exploring the potential of the Mitsubishi L200, ‘Project Swarm’ is built in the style of a ‘Pre-Runner’ off-road vehicle – specially modified production vehicles that are beefed-up to ‘pre-run’ stages of off-road desert racers.

Tom Ford, Associate Editor for Top Gear magazine, recently named as one of Top Gear America’s hosts, joined forces with renowned engineer Ralph Hosier of RH Engineering, best known for his work on National Geographic Channel show Supercar Megabuild, to transform his standard Mitsubishi L200 long-term test vehicle into one of the wildest Mitsubishi vehicles on the road.

While it still has the interior comfort of a production L200, enhanced by a set of bespoke Cobra racing seats, the Desert Warrior has been made even more capable thanks to a range of additions, including an external roll cage, heavily modified suspension, oversized wheels with self-inflating tyres, long range LED lights and some extra kit that will be needed to negotiate some of the world’s harshest terrain.

Top Gear is planning to use the Mitsubishi L200 Desert Warrior for a very special upcoming challenge which will feature in the magazine, and online, and detail many of the trucks additional features.

Commenting on his radical Mitsubishi L200, Tom Ford, said: “I’ve always had an obsession with ‘Pre-runners’ and this is my idea of the perfect desert truck. It’s a very serious truck but it’s got that little bit of theatre that makes me think it’s got something extra to it. It’s still an L200, but it has been made to be max-attack and it will not break. It’s exactly what I wanted – something that has the appearance of a Hot Wheels toy and is every bit as tough as it looks!”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “The Mitsubishi L200 is one of the most durable pick-up trucks available, but the Desert Warrior takes its toughness to a whole new level. In fact, its purposefulness and ruggedness has provided the inspiration for the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP, the first limited edition model to be created by our new SVP (Special Vehicle Projects) programme.”

Lotus celebrates the First Esprit by emulating the Bond Esprit onto an Evora Supercar.

• Unique, one-off Evora Sport 410 created by Lotus Exclusive
• Tribute to one of Lotus’ most famous liveries
• Lotus Sport 410 sales success continues

Representing the state of the supercar art, a one-off Evora Sport 410 has been commissioned through Lotus Exclusive as a tribute to one of its most famous ancestors, the Lotus Esprit S1.

Launched in October 2016, the Evora Sport 410 has wowed motoring press and customers with its combination of effortless pace and intuitive handling. With production limited to just 150 examples a year worldwide, the build schedule is filling up fast.

The benchmark was set by the original Lotus Esprit S1 as seen in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, and Lotus’ in-house personalisation department has crafted a special, one-off Evora Sport 410 in commemoration.

Combining the latest in Lotus engineering with period details, the new pure-bred supercar takes design cues from the iconic Esprit and integrates them into a car with class-leading performance. Packing 410 hp into a car that weighs just 1,280 kg, it sprints from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 secs.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “So many of us recall the impact of the Lotus Esprit when it hit the big screen in The Spy Who Loved Me, and we wanted to honour that with a special Evora Sport 410. It’s the perfect tribute to such an influential Lotus, but a world away in terms of its abilities and performance. 

Supremely fast and agile, rivals’ cars look overweight and underpowered in comparison. Lotus was founded on the principle of lightweight engineering and, even today, nobody does it better.”

Lotus Exclusive

The work of the in-house personalisation department, Lotus Exclusive, this one-off Evora Sport 410 features many unique design touches. A special, colour-coded bumper modifies the car’s front end, while the one-piece carbon-fibre tailgate is part keyed white to give the illusion of a traditional liftback. In addition to a black coach line, delineating the car’s waist, it sports a bespoke badge script on the B pillar - in the style of the original Esprit’s graphics.

Nods to the Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me continue inside, with the insert panels of the carbon-fibre sports seats and door cards trimmed in the popular heritage Tartan, while red contrast stitching complements the Alcantara® dashboard and console finish.

Beneath the personalisation, this unique car retains all the engineering elements that make the Evora Sport 410 so formidable. From the supercharged, 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine, producing 410 hp at 7000 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm, to the highly advanced aerodynamics, which deliver up to 64 kg of downforce, it’s designed to deliver both on road and track.

The Evora Sport 410 remains refined on B-roads, but blisteringly fast when needed. The use of hand-made carbon-fibre components has been key in keeping mass to a minimum, with each specifically designed to enhance the car’s performance. Covering the car from nose to tail, they include front splitter, revised front access panel, roof section, tailgate, rear quarter panels, as well as the rear diffuser.

These lightweight carbon components not only reduce the kerb weight of the Evora Sport 410 but also help lower the centre of gravity, allowing for the recalibration of the suspension which, along with re-valved dampers and a reduced ride height, provide better body and roll control - but not at the expense of comfort and composure.

This one-off Evora underlines the work of the increasingly popular Lotus Exclusive service. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, it inspires buyers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc continued, “Our customers have really embraced the Lotus Exclusive service, with 25% of new cars undergoing some form of personalisation. It is well established that Lotus cars come with benchmark performance as standard.  Now, thanks to the skilled team at Hethel, responsible for hand building all Lotus cars since 1966, you can specify a Lotus that perfectly reflects your personal tastes.”

The Lotus Evora Sport 410 is limited to a global production run of one-hundred and fifty vehicles per year, and is on sale in Europe and rest of world markets now. A Federal version of the Evora Sport 410 for the North American market will arrive this spring.

Ferrari has unveiled its latest One-Off creation during the car’s first shakedown on the Fiorano circuit.

Ferrari has unveiled its latest One-Off creation during the car’s first shakedown on the Fiorano circuit in the hands of Ferrari’s chief test driver Dario Benuzzi and the car’s enthusiastic British owner.

Designed in-house by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the 458 MM Speciale was built on the chassis and running gear of the 458 Speciale. 

Stylistically, the client was looking for extremely sporty lines and specified a ‘visor’ effect for the glasshouse: a black-painted A-pillar, very much in the style of the 1984 Ferrari GTO, helps provide a wraparound solution between the windscreen and side windows which thus meld into a single, seamless glass surface. 

This solution simultaneously lowers the roofline and lends an aerodynamic sleekness to the full volume of the swept-back C-pillar.

Finished in Bianco Italia and complete with a livery that pays homage to the Italian flag, this unique coupé features all-new bodywork, handcrafted in aluminium with composite carbon-fibre bumpers front and rear. The 458 MM Speciale also boasts a new side air scoop, one of the most distinctive elements in an extensive revision of the aerodynamic package.

The radically modified aerodynamic solutions are already evident on the front of the car, where the bodywork hugs the coolant radiators which are more steeply inclined and mounted closer together than on the 458 Speciale. 

The side intakes were devised to allow direct additional cooling of the engine bay to compensate for the different rake of the rear. The tail features a spoiler which balances the downforce evenly and also completes the theoretical beltline that sweeps back along the side from the front wheelarch, giving the car a powerful and athletic stance.

The 458 MM Speciale sits on specific wheels exclusive to this very unique car, and an additional touch is the adoption of modified front and rear light clusters. Inside the cockpit upgrades include to an enhanced audio system and trim definition to match the owner’s specific wishes. 

The Cioccolato leather upholstery with white stitching is elegantly accented by a slew of neat touches such as the satin white rings around the tunnel controls.

USA - Ford launches new Apollo edition Mustang to celebrate innovation and technology of the Apollo missions.

•  U.S. Apollo spaceflight program inspires one-of-a-kind 2015 Ford Mustang to be donated and sold at charity auction July 23 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Donation and sale will benefit EAA youth aviation education programs, including Young Eagles
• Unique Ford vehicles have raised nearly $3 million for EAA youth aviation programs, including Young Eagles

As far as special edition Mustangs go, this one is out of this world.

For the eighth straight year, Ford Motor Company has created a unique, aviation-inspired Ford Mustang to benefit Experimental Aircraft Association youth education programs, including the Young Eagles. The Apollo Edition Mustang will be donated and sold via auction at the Gathering of Eagles charity event, July 23, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 – the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

All proceeds from the sale of the car will benefit EAA youth education programs, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.9 million young people since 1992, helping grow the next generation of aviators.

Ford serves as exclusive automotive sponsor of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, held July 20-26 this year at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“The Apollo program delivered astonishing innovations in technology and achieved a national goal of landing the first human on the moon,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. “The entire program was extraordinary – one of our nation’s greatest technological achievements. With this year’s stunning Apollo Edition Mustang, we salute that spirit of American ingenuity with the quintessential American automobile – Ford Mustang.”

Based on a 2015 fastback Ford Mustang GT, Ford design and engineering teams transformed the 5.0-liter pony car into the Apollo Edition Mustang – a truly unique and highly valued vehicle that will excite enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Led by Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt, the exterior features a one-of-a-kind glossy pure white and pure black non-production paint scheme that delivers a creative connection with the NASA Apollo program. The Apollo Edition Mustang features a carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, rocker moldings and accent treatments, along with unique LED underbody lighting to symbolize atmospheric re-entry.

Performance enhancements include a performance package, Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, X-pipe with side and rear exhaust, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and custom Forgiato 21-inch performance wheels. This Mustang will deliver a heart-pounding 627 horsepower and 540 lb.-ft. of torque to provide an exhilarating, controlled launch for its new owner.

The theme carries into the cabin with exclusive interior details, including performance gauges, modified instrument cluster, unique sill plates and embroidered elements in seats, trim panels and floor mats.

The auction of the Apollo Edition Mustang will be the pinnacle of the EAA Gathering of Eagles gala. The event annually draws more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts in support of EAA youth education programs, which inspire young people to become engineers, aviators, astronauts, scientists and innovators – the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.

“Ford has been a committed sponsor of EAA and AirVenture for more than 15 years – bringing incredible value to those who make Oshkosh the highlight of their aviation year,” said Jack Pelton, EAA chairman of the board. “With its eighth Mustang donation, Ford continues to excite with its specialty vehicles, which reflect the depth of the company’s commitment and which allow EAA to provide support to its valuable programs and dedicated members in helping us grow the next generation of aviators.”

The Apollo Edition Mustang joins seven other one-of-a-kind Mustangs created by the Ford design and engineering teams for the auction in support of EAA youth education. Ford vehicles donated at EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised nearly $3 million.

The unique vehicles that support EAA youth education programs including Young Eagles, are:

• 2008 – Mustang AV8R, with cues from F-22 Raptor, which helped introduce the glass-roof canopy and delivered an auction contribution of $500,000
• 2009 – AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll” Mustang, crafted in honor of the World War II aircraft
• 2010 – Two automotive icons – the late Carroll Shelby, former U.S. Air Force flight instructor, and Jack Roush, longtime P-51 pilot – collaborated for the first time to create the SR-71 Blackbird Mustang inspired by legendary reconnaissance jet
• 2011 – Blue Angels Mustang, created to celebrate 100 years of U.S. naval aviation
• 2012 – Red Tails Mustang, to pay homage to Tuskegee Airmen – courageous squadron of P-51 Mustang pilots who were the United States’ first African American military airmen
•  2013 – U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team
• 2014 – F-35 Lightning Edition II Mustang, which featured design cues from the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jet – the F-35 Lightning

The Apollo Edition Mustang will proudly be on display all week in the Ford hangar at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. To participate in the auction, interested parties must prequalify by contacting the EAA development office, (800) 236-1025 or donor@eaa.org.

The Apollo Edition Mustang was modified by MAD Industries, led by Chris Mangum. Interior enhancements were designed by Ford’s Betancourt and Nicole Rush, and created in-house by Ford’s design fabrication team. Additional contributors to the project include Ford Performance, Eibach Springs, Carbon 2 Carbon, BASF automotive refinish, Gibson performance exhaust, Pirelli tires, Forgiato wheels, Rigid Industries LED lighting, SourceSE by sPod, 3M window film, PIAA Corporation, Brembo, APR performance, FOCAL/The Source AV and Odyssey battery.

The Webb Ellis Cup has arrived at its ultimate destination via a bespoke Land Rover Defender.

• Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2015
• As part of the 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland managed by England Rugby 2015, Land Rover delivered the Webb Ellis Cup to a customer event at the Land Rover Experience Centre in Honiton, Devon
• The Webb Ellis Cup is being transported around the country during its 100 day tour in Land Rover’s custom build Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a product of Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department
• Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, attended the activity to meet with customers and to preview the Tournament  

In the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015, Land Rover helped to bring a taste of the highly anticipated global Tournament to Devon on Thursday 9 July.

As part of a 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland, organised by England Rugby 2015, local Land Rover customers and media were invited to Land Rover Experience West Country in Honiton to get a closer look at the sought-after Webb Ellis Cup and the unique Trophy Tour Defender. 

Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, was also in attendance as he looks forward to seeing his home nation in action at Twickenham when the Tournament kicks-off in September. Speaking about England’s chances, Moody said; “England definitely have a chance to win the World Cup, but it will be a big ask. Having Australia and Wales in your pool isn't ideal so it's important to play well and win the warm-up games so that they go into the tournament with confidence. The opportunity that these guys have is huge and I hope they take it because the nation will get behind them with every ounce of their being.”

The visit to the West Country marks the quarter stage of the 100 day tour, which has already seen the Webb Ellis Cup being transported through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Wales, in the custom-built Land Rover Defender. The Defender took nearly 6,000 hours to design and was built at Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations base in the West Midlands.  So far on its Tour, the vehicle and the famous Trophy have already visited Scotland, Ireland and Wales, travelling over 2,500 miles to give thousands of people of all ages the chance to see the most coveted prize in Rugby.

The Tour will continue to excite fans in the run-up to the Tournament, incorporating visits to over 300 events including rugby clubs, schools, community festivals and iconic landmarks. Travelling approximately 9,000 miles during the Tour, the Defender and Webb Ellis Cup will endeavour to inspire the nation and leave a lasting legacy of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Moody has also been involved with Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign, which celebrates grassroots rugby in the UK and around the world. As part of Land Rover’s activity the Rugby World Cup 2003 winner has been helping to give youngsters aged between seven and 13-years-old the once in a lifetime opportunity of being one of 96 Rugby World Cup 2015 mascots. 

“We launched the mascot competition a while ago now and it has been absolutely brilliant. We’ve even had some of the current England players getting involved to congratulate the winners, it’s been awesome.

“The best thing about the Trophy Tour is, that it’s engaging the next generation. Sometimes the World Cup can seem a bit inaccessible but the fact that the Trophy is going around to as many grassroots clubs as possible and that the mascot competition is getting so many youngsters involved in the Tournament is fantastic. It's like the World Cup is coming to you and I love that.”

One Off, Defender designed to securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland

• Bespoke Defender created by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team
• Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender will carry the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour around the UK and Ireland
• Vehicle features an illuminated trophy cabinet, with state-of-the-art technology to control temperature and lighting to ensure Webb Ellis Cup is visible at all times
• Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and Official Vehicle Partner for the tournament

Land Rover has today revealed the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a modified 110 Station Wagon created to transport the Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour across the UK and Ireland, delivered by England Rugby 2015.

Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of this year’s international Rugby World Cup and has created a very special Defender worthy of custodianship of rugby’s most instantly recognisable icon – the Webb Ellis Cup.

The specially-modified 110 Defender Station Wagon was developed and built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division at its headquarters at Oxford Road HQ in Ryton, UK. 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender has been designed to safely and securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender made waves today as Land Rover unveiled the vehicle in spectacular fashion at Tower Bridge in London where it emerged, from a giant rugby ball, driven by Land Rover Ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody. 

The 8.2m high ball floated 25 miles up the River Thames from Tilbury Dock on Thursday, passing iconic London landmarks such as the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf along the way.

The focal point of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the bespoke Trophy cabinet to the rear of the vehicle. A one-of-a-kind Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender App has been developed specifically for the purpose of controlling the high-specification technology within the Trophy cabinet – making sure that conditions are just right. 

Lighting, temperature, the locking mechanism that secures the Webb Ellis Cup and the 40-inch flat-screen Toshiba television are all controlled through the App on a 10” Toshiba Windows Tablet which acts as the interface. The Trophy cabinet is also protected with toughened security glazing.

The climate control system is crucial to ensuring the Trophy is always the star and visible to fans throughout the tour. It maintains a constant temperature within the cabinet to eliminate fogging and is aided by anti-glare security glass. 

To add a touch of theatre, three different lighting modes have been incorporated whilst the flat-screen TV will play a host of memorable moments from Rugby’s illustrious history.

The passenger interior is based on the Defender Autobiography edition and offers a high level of personalised design touches. 

Black Windsor Leather seats have been embellished with gold contrast stitching and Rugby World Cup 2015 blue piping whilst the contrast stitch extends to the dashboard and doors. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour logo takes prominent position being embroidered onto the front headrests.

Powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission, this iconic all-terrain vehicle also features a front winch, aluminium sump guard, side and rear steps, modified raised air intake and expedition rack. These are complemented by striking Rugby World Cup 2015 graphics to the exterior. 

Vehicle spotlights illuminate the immediate surroundings like a floodlit pitch while the broader 16” off-road tyres give the Defender a purposeful and self-assured stance.

John Edwards, Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division, said: “It’s been a privilege to work on this one-off Land Rover. 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the perfect showcase for the ability of our Special Vehicle Operations division to make bespoke vehicles. From the illuminated Trophy cabinet at the back to its luxury interior, every aspect of this unique and special vehicle has been carefully engineered to provide the ultimate platform for the Webb Ellis Cup as it travels around the UK.”

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, around the UK and Ireland, reflects the Defender’s legendary go anywhere, do anything character as it traverses countrywide to bring the Webb Ellis Cup to over 300 events in 100 days and engage with fans and players at all levels.

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland kicks off on 10 June and will culminate on 18 September at the Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium. 

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour Defender will continue to transport the Webb Ellis Cup throughout the Tournament, which takes place across 13 stadiums in the UK until the final on 31 October.

One off Paul Smith designed Land Rover Defender, 27 exterior colours and lots of quirks, I like !

• Defender fan and owner, Sir Paul Smith, collaborates with Land Rover on a ‘one off’ creation of the global automotive icon
• Bespoke Defender features hand-finished artwork, specially crafted by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations
• Sir Paul Smith’s Defender features colours inspired by the British countryside and Defenders used by the Armed Forces, as well as playful design details chosen specifically by the designer

British designer, Sir Paul Smith has collaborated with Land Rover to create a bespoke Defender, which was revealed today at the designer’s shop at No. 9 Albemarle Street in Mayfair.

A longstanding fan of the Land Rover Defender, Sir Paul Smith has owned several of the vehicles over the years. “The Defender is a British icon, which is something I’m exceptionally proud of,” says Paul. “I keep a Defender at my home in Italy which is in the middle of the countryside, so it’s the perfect vehicle to cope with the rugged terrain.”

Paul Smith worked closely with Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) design team – which is able to fulfil individual customer commissions and personalisation. Together they created a unique vehicle, built entirely to Paul Smith’s own specification. With guidance from Land Rover’s Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern, he was able to realise his uniquely personal version of a global automotive icon.

The vehicle features 27 different colours used on the exterior panels, all of which were chosen by Sir Paul Smith. Taking inspiration from the British countryside, as well as colours historically seen on Defenders used by the Armed Forces, he says, “I wanted deep rich colours, but at the same time, I wanted them to work together yet be surprising.” In order to achieve the look he wanted, Paul gave the SVO team a set of Pantone colour references, which were then mixed specially for this vehicle.

Further adding to the vehicle’s bespoke design, Paul worked with Land Rover to ensure that the interior stayed true to his vision. “This is a complete one-off; I wanted to give this Defender a feeling of luxury, so I used a mix of leather and fabric for the seats. I actually used the fabric that I design for Maharam, the American upholstery company. The vehicle features lots of special Paul Smith touches.

“Inside, black leather contrasts against blue stitching and there are lots of little hidden details throughout. For example, there is an image of a set of keys printed inside the glove compartment. Then there is a hand-painted bee on the roof, which is another little tongue-in-cheek reference to the countryside and the heritage of the car. Also, the traditional Defender clock has been replaced with a Paul Smith fascia. My designs are known for their attention to detail, so I didn't want this Defender to be any different.”

While Paul has added many playful and personal touches, the Defender retains traditional elements, such as the wing mirrors, door handles and wheels - something that was of paramount importance to the designer. These were then given a satin finish, to create a contemporary feel.

Gerry McGovern, Design Director and Chief Creative Officer of Land Rover, adds: “I felt it would be a fitting tribute to the iconic Defender, that one of Britain's most distinguished designers worked with the Land Rover team to recognise his creative vision.”

This exclusive Defender joins together two icons from the British automotive and design industries and forms part of a year-long celebration of the famous Defender as it enters its final phase of production at the Solihull manufacturing plant.