A unique Jaguar F-PACE, personally specified by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, has raised £102,500 at the annual charitable Ben Ball

• A unique Jaguar F-PACE, personally specified by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, has raised £102,500 at the annual charitable Ben Ball
• The one of a kind car is finished in Storm Grey paint, fitted with the Black Pack and 22-inch Double Helix wheels – not available as a standard option on the F-PACE
• The winner of the F-PACE ‘Designer Edition’ lot also receives a special Owner’s Portfolio, featuring words from Ian Callum and a one-off design sketch
• Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, Jeremy Hicks, also announced his ‘Channel Swim Challenge’ at the event, hoping to raise more than £150,000 swimming the Channel with 11 colleagues

A one-of-a-kind Jaguar F-PACE ‘Designer Edition’, described by Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, as his ‘Director’s Cut’, has raised £102,500 at the annual charitable Ben Ball. The F-PACE 3.0 V6 S also comes with a unique Owner’s Portfolio, featuring an introduction by Ian Callum and a bespoke sketch.

Each element of the F-PACE ‘Designer Edition’ has been personally specified by Callum to create his ideal example of the F-PACE, Jaguar’s first-ever SUV. 

Finished in Storm Grey paint, paired with the Black Pack, Callum also picked out Ebony Taurus leather with Light Oyster stitching and 22-inch Double Helix alloy wheels – not available as a standard F-PACE option.

The one-off Owner’s Portfolio delivered with the car certifies the uniqueness of the ‘Designer Edition’ and provides insight into Ian Callum’s choices in specifying the car. It also includes a bespoke sketch drawn and signed by the man himself.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, said: “The F-PACE was a real pleasure to design, and the result is something we are incredibly proud of, but this ‘Designer Edition’ is in essence my ultimate F-PACE. You’ve got this wonderful positioning of the Storm Grey paint against the details of the Black Pack, complete with those wonderful 22-inch wheels that look like they’re taking the car forwards, even at a standstill.”

The Ben Ball also marked the announcement of Jaguar Land Rover UK MD Jeremy Hicks’ Channel Swim Challenge. In August 2017 Jeremy will be swimming the English Channel as part of a two-team relay with 11 of his Jaguar Land Rover colleagues, hoping to raise more than £150,000 for Ben, the automotive industry’s dedicated charity.

“Ben is a vital lifeline, with its sole purpose to help improve the health and wellbeing of those in the automotive industry and their families. I really wanted to challenge myself, my team and also the industry to get behind Ben, as our own dedicated industry charity. I’m pushing myself physically because it’s all too easy for us to take our good health for granted, and with our help Ben can come to the aid of those in our industry that need it most.”

The Who's Roger Daltrey and Rolls Royce collaborate on a series of Wraith models.

• British rock and vocal legends create the ultimate collectors’ editions by commissioning Bespoke design enhancements to nine Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ motor cars to express their own musical legacies
• Two Bespoke commissions by Roger Daltrey are the first in a series of nine one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces to be announced
• Proportion of the value of the nine Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music’ motor cars will be donated to charities including The Teenage Cancer Trust
• Remarkable one-of-a-kind motor cars celebrate the marque’s long held allure among the most revered names in the contemporary music world

Rolls-Royce is delighted to announce a series of remarkable collaborations with some of British music’s most revered names that serve to celebrate the marque’s long-standing relationship with the world of Rock & Roll. The first collaborations to be announced in this remarkable series are with The Who’s legendary frontman, Roger Daltrey.

In total, nine Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music’ motor cars will be commissioned and crafted with perfectly executed design touches, commissioned by icons of the British music scene – creating the ultimate collectors’ items for the marque’s patrons. Rolls-Royce will donate a proportion of the value of each motor car to charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The unique designs will then be deftly crafted within the existing canvas of Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, a collection of Bespoke motor cars, created in 2015 to celebrate Rolls-Royce’s long-held standing in music folklore. Further names drawn from the pantheon of British music royalty are set to be announced in the coming months.

Echoing the creation of some of the most striking examples of Bespoke design in the marque’s history, the project was conceived by a highly creative individual, inspired during a visit to the marque’s global centre of excellence in Goodwood, England. In this instance, acclaimed portrait photographer Alistair Morrison, on first viewing Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, was moved to propose a bold idea, inspired by his work photographing some of British music’s most celebrated icons.

“I am currently working on a series of photographs commissioned by The Who’s, Roger Daltrey, entitled ‘Rock Stars Legacy’ – in essence it brings together the crème of the British music scene in one truly iconic image,” said Alistair Morrison. “On seeing Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ and in learning about the way Rolls-Royce patrons collaborate with the marque’s Bespoke Designers, I saw an opportunity to express the spirit of this project, in revealing the personalities and musical legacies of these music icons through the medium of these extraordinary motor cars.”

The Who’s Roger Daltrey was so inspired by the project, he committed to commissioning two cars. The first inspired by his own personal music legacy, featuring elegantly expressed pieces of iconography from the Who’s history, including the band’s famous ‘bullseye’ logo and a laser-etched depiction of Daltrey’s famous microphone swing to the car’s door-flights.

For his second car Daltrey worked with artist Mike McInnerney, creator of the famous album artwork for The Who’s seminal album, ‘Tommy’. For this stunning tribute to one of the 1960s’ most highly regarded LPs, McInnerney will work in close collaboration with the artisans in the marque’s surface finish centre to create an extraordinary expression of the album’s iconic sleeve design – a piece that promises to stand alone as a notable collectors’ item. This, the last of the nine cars to be built, will be auctioned for the Teenage Cancer Trust in April 2017.

“I am enormously excited at the prospect of raising vital funds and awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, a true British icon,” said Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who. “The themes, so perfectly expressed by the Rolls-Royce designers in both cars, are as relevant today as they were when we first performed them. I worked hard with the designers to capture the spirit of our songs and what their lyrics mean to fans of all generations. I’m certain both cars will serve as the ultimate collectors’ pieces for any Who aficionado.”

“It says much about our marque’s enduring allure that so many of music’s greatest icons have held Rolls-Royce as the ultimate symbol of their success. We are delighted to collaborate with some of Britain’s most celebrated rock and vocal musicians on a project that promises to add to this legacy, by creating truly collectable masterpieces whilst supporting worthy charities,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Our patrons work in concert with our Bespoke designers and craftspeople to express deeply-held personal passions. These unique motor cars perfectly express the intimate relationship between artist, patron and artisan that defines Rolls-Royce’s standing as the most celebrated luxury house in the world.” 

Rolls-Royce’s reputation as a true luxury house is borne of a fundamental understanding that its patrons seek authenticity in the goods they commission. The resulting collaborations therefore echo the manner in which these patrons work in close collaboration with its Bespoke designers. The artists were invited to the Home of Rolls-Royce to further their understanding of the canvas on which they could celebrate their legacy. Bespoke Designer, Matthew Danton, under the leadership of Design Director Giles Taylor worked in collaboration with each artist to capture the most iconic and personal elements from of their body of work. The result delivers true, one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces.

“There has always been this fascinating synergy between Rolls-Royce and those artists who create music that not only defines their genre but equally transcends time and age. The Wraith ‘Inspired by British Music’ cars express unique design collaborations with rock icons such as Roger Daltrey and celebrate music’s love affair with some of our finest motor cars " said Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “In joining our Bespoke design team and envisioning authentic, perfectly executed tributes to their art, these stars will have helped create the ultimate bond between our Marque and their remarkable musical legacies." 

Each of these very special collaborations will represent a one-of-a-kind commission. Collectors will be invited to acquire these extraordinary representations of automotive and rock history through the marque’s European dealer network. A proportion of the value price of each car will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and other charities.

The two Roger Daltrey cars are the first of nine collaborations with British music icons set to be announced. Further details will emerge as the cars near completion at the marque’s global centre of excellence in Goodwood.

USA - After a further $44 Million investment at Bowling Green Assembly plant, you can now build your engine.

36 new jobs to support capacity increase

General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $44 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support increased capacity in its Performance Build Center, adding 36 new jobs. Construction and tool re-arrangement is planned to start in January 2016. 

The expansion of the Performance Build Center is fueled by the success of the Corvette Z06, which currently accounts for nearly a third of all Corvettes produced at Bowling Green Assembly.

The Performance Build Center also offers a one-of-a-kind experience for customers – the Build Your Own Engine program. This program allows customers to assemble the 650-hp supercharged LT4 engine for their cars. The $5,000 option package includes a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who instructs and oversees the build, a personalized engine plaque identifying the customer and professional photography.

“Coupled with the investment, for $439 million for a new paint shop and facility upgrades announced in May, GM has committed $483 million to Bowling Green this year alone,” said plant manager Kai Spande. “These significant investments indicate the company’s confidence in Bowling Green, the Performance Build Center and our skilled workforce.”

Construction took place in 2013 and early 2014, with engine production beginning in the second quarter of 2014. The Performance Build Center produces the 2016 LT4 6.2L V-8 for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

GM has added 316 new jobs and invested a total of $617.5 million over the last four years at Bowling Green. 

• May 4, 2011: $131 Million; 250 new jobs to support the new Corvette Stingray
• January 30, 2013: $3.5 million; 30 new jobs to support the Performance Build Center move from Wixom, Mich., to Bowling Green
• May 21, 2015: $439 million; 150 jobs retained to support a new paint shop and other facility upgrades
• November 12, 2015: $44 million; 36 new jobs to support capacity increase at the Performance Build Center

The 2,000,000th Land Rover Defender was sold at Auction for £400,000, all proceeds going to Charity.

• One-of-a-kind Land Rover ‘Defender 2,000,000’ sold for £400,000 at prestigious charity auction at Bonhams
• Thought to be most valuable production Land Rover ever to be sold at auction
• VIPs including Joanna Lumley join collectors and fans of the iconic vehicle as milestone Defender goes under the hammer
• ‘Defender 2,000,000’ – the two millionth Series Land Rover and Defender produced at Land Rover’s Solihull, UK plant – assembled by all-star cast including adventurer Bear Grylls and actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna
• Vehicle created as tribute to almost seven decades of Land Rover production in the Solihull plant, ending in January 2016
• All proceeds from auction donated in their entirety to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation

A one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender sold for a record £400,000 at a prestigious charity auction at Bonhams tonight, from which all proceeds are being donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners. This is the thought to be the most valuable production Land Rover ever to be sold at auction.

The unique vehicle, the two-millionth of the iconic Series Land Rover and Defender models manufactured at Land Rover’s Solihull plant since 1948, was sold to a bidder from Qatar. The vehicle was built in May 2015 by an all-star cast of brand ambassadors and people from Land Rover’s history including Bear Grylls, Virginia McKenna OBE and Stephen and Nick Wilks, sons of the founders of Land Rover. 

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who will use the donation to help communities in South-East Nepal to improve how they tackle natural disasters, and the Born Free Foundation who plan to use the funds to support the ‘Project Lion Rover’ wildlife conservation initiative in Meru National Park, Kenya. 

The project provides critical equipment to help protect lions and other wildlife and establishes education and community involvement to tackle issues such as snaring and poaching.

Attendee Joanna Lumley, Founder Patron of international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation, expressed the importance of donations in the work they do worldwide to save lives, stop suffering and protect species in the wild: “To raise such a substantial amount with the sale of one vehicle is phenomenal. 

Without the support of the public and partners such as Land Rover, we would not be able to effectively make a positive change to the world as we know it.”

Born Free Foundation Founder and Trustee Virginia McKenna OBE said: “Despite seriously lacking mechanical skills, I was given the great privilege of attaching the number plates to this very special Defender. Land Rover has been in our lives since 1964, when my husband Bill and I went to Kenya to film ‘Born Free’. 

Each day we went out in our vehicle with George Adamson and a lion; out on to the plains for our early morning walk. We are delighted that the money raised from today’s auction will help Born Free’s work with wildlife in the Meru area of Kenya.”

Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of The British Red Cross said: “We are extremely grateful to Land Rover for so generously donating half the proceeds of the sale of this one-off vehicle towards our work in Nepal.  

The Red Cross has used Defenders in humanitarian work and relief efforts in the UK and around the world since the early 1950s and has benefited from Land Rover’s support on many occasions through vehicle donations and loans. 

This vitally important project in Nepal – the 18th supported by Land Rover – will improve the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people and communities.”

John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations, who oversaw the build of the car, said: “Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to turn a milestone Land Rover into a true collector’s car. With the expert help of my SVO team and a handful of willing Land Rover ambassadors, we created something unique and very special. 

Tonight’s sale will go down as part of our history. 

Of course, Defender has a future and will live on in its own right. But the original Series Land Rovers and Defenders will also continue to thrive through our Jaguar Land Rover Heritage division.”

Robert Brooks, Bonhams Chairman, said: “It’s a great privilege for Bonhams to have been selected by Land Rover to offer this historically significant, one-of-a-kind Defender at auction. Following spirited bidding, the gavel finally fell to a delighted bidder on the telephone, achieving an excellent six-figure sum for two wonderful charitable causes.”

The vehicle, built as part of a year of celebrations for the much loved 4x4 which will cease manufacturing in Solihull in January 2016, boasts a host of distinctive and bespoke finishing features including an engraved map of Red Wharf Bay – where the design for the original Land Rover was first drawn in the sand, and a unique 'no 2,000,000' badge. Inside, the leather seats also feature the 'Red Wharf Bay' graphic and 'no 2,000,000' logos have been stitched on the headrests. 

A bespoke aluminium plaque, signed by everyone who helped to assemble the vehicle is fitted to the driver's seat. Special S90 HUE registration plates provide a fitting tribute to the first ever pre-production Land Rover, registration 'HUE 166'.