The stunning David Brown GT s showcased in patriotic Red, White and Blue as the company keeps growing.

British-based, bespoke, luxury sports car maker, David Brown Automotive, has released ‘Best of British’ images of three of its latest production-specification Speedback GTs in patriotic red, white and blue exterior paint finishes. 

David Brown Automotive has come a long way since revealing the Speedback GT prototype in 2014. The latest images show production-specification cars numbered 003, 004 and 005, in colours that resemble those of the Union Flag, and which celebrate the company’s growth and continued development as a proud, British automotive manufacturer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 At present, five cars have been sold, built and delivered to their new owners, with further cars in build. The company currently has the capacity to produce six to ten cars each year with plans to increase this in the very near future.

David Brown Automotive uses a combination of engineering, state-of-the-art technology and traditional coachbuilding manufacturing techniques to build each car, which comprises 142 panels and highly sophisticated systems and electronics. 

Through these specialist, low-volume manufacturing processes, the Coventry-based sports car manufacturer is redefining modern coachbuilding, to build fully engineered, limited-edition, bespoke automobiles made from handformed aluminium with entirely handcrafted interiors, each specially commissioned by the customer.

Each and every Speedback GT has a completely unique colour, which is developed by the company for each owner and specially created for each individual car. The cars pictured, painted in Ruby Tuesday, Blue Moon and White Knight, are painstakingly prepared, painted and lacquered over a period of eight weeks each, finished to achieve a rich, deep and flawless finish. The unique colour and depth of car number 004 benefits from an incredible 14 different layers of paint to achieve its dazzling finish.

“I’m so proud of the team who have achieved so much in such a short space of time,” said company founder David Brown. “It’s an amazing feeling to be delivering production-specification vehicles to their delighted new owners. It was a fantastic coincidence to have three cars finished in red, white and blue finished and together at the same time for the photoshoot and just epitomises that David Brown Automotive really does represent the best of British automotive craftsmanship too.”

The end of 2016 and beginning of 2017 holds some exciting announcements for the company in terms of a new, state-of-the-art build facility as well as announcements for future models.

Priced at £495,000 exclusive of taxes, Speedback GT promises exceptional performance and handling, hosting a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine with 510bhp and 461ft lb of torque, hitting 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 155mph (limited).

Mew data shows that Black has become the colour of choice for the majority of the car segments.

Black is the new white for car colour according to latest data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi.

Across a range of different motoring sectors, statistics from the industry’s cap Black Book reveal that drivers are currently favouring black over any other colours or shades with consumers decidedly going ‘white off’ white cars.

The market analysis paints the following picture when it comes to most popular colours across the different motoring sectors:

• Black is the most popular colour in the convertibles market with 21.5% of overall market sales
• A third (29%) of coupe cabriolets sold are black
• Executive car sector gives black the vote (28%)
• Black also tops the sales chart in the large executive (28%) and luxury executive (24%) sectors
• 22% of the mid-range car market favours black
• 23% of the sports market is geared up for black
• A quarter (25%) of SUV sales leads are for black paintwork

Exceptions to the rule include the city car market sector with the most popular colours being red (18%) followed by white (17%) and black (16%). The MPV market favours silver (27%) as does the supermini sector (19%).

Philip Nothard , retail specialist at cap hpi commented: “Black is without doubt the new white. White had become the colour of choice over the past few years but black seems to be back with a vengeance. Black represents a safe choice for motorists as, along with silver and grey, these so called safe colours consistently maintain their value when sold as used.

“The subject of much discussion, many in the trade believe that the popularity of white was down to manufacturer marketing campaigns, whilst others thought it was a trend that started with other desirable products such as white laptops, smartphones and tablets.  Whatever the reason, white seems to have fallen out of favour and black is staging a bit of a fightback –black appears to be appealing to buyers’ financial sensitivities as it represents more of a safe bet in terms of returns later on down the line.”

For consumers buying a petrol or diesel car, the bottom line is that middle of the road colours make the safest investment and it would appear that this has never been truer than at present.  

Added Philip Nothard: “Black, grey and silver have always been in the top five most popular colours, so it’s no huge shock to see that white seems to have lost its crown. Our data shows that middle of the road cars in black are better at holding value than any other colour. Customers are always likely to settle for the safest option and it would appear that they are thinking about what they can get at trade-in time rather than taking any risks with brighter or whiter paintwork.”

Motorsport at the Palace is bringing The Italian Job back to Crystal Palace, with the three Mini's making there return.

Motorsport at the Palace is bringing The Italian Job back to Crystal Palace as the red, white and blue trio of Minis used in the film will be in action at this year’s event on Sunday 29^th and Monday 30^th May.

The Minis return as in 1969, the venue was used to film scenes in the iconic motoring movie The Italian Job. The circuit’s inner field was used to film the van being blown up so the film’s star Michael Caine could say that immortal line; “You’re only suppose to blow the bloody doors off.”

The actual circuit was used by stunt drivers to practice the jumping sequence with the Mini Cooper cars as well as being used for part of the car chase itself.

In honour of the UK’s favourite motoring movie, the three actual Mini Coopers, in red, white and blue, from the film will be at Motorsport at the Palace. They will be on static display so fans can have pictures with these three famous cars as well as taking to the circuit for a parade lap at lunchtime each day.

Around 150 cars from racing and rallying spanning over 100 years of motoring at this year’s show with Classes ranging from pre-war vintage to modern day, delivering high octane competition with around 75 cars running each day. Expect to see the most diverse line-up of racing with a pre-1931 Austin 7 Ulster in one race and a 2000 Honda Civic R-Type in the next!

From Alfas to Westfields, this is a bank holiday of racing not to be missed and a must for any petrol head – be it a classic car nut, a supercar savant, former racing driver or someone who just loves cars!

Motorsport at the Palace, held on Sunday 29^th and Monday 30^th May 2016, is open from 9am until 5.30pm. Car Parking is free. Tickets are now on sale, with adults passes from £12 and children from £5 when booked in advance.

With over 2000 orders already taken for the new Mustang, How to the British spec their cars up !

Almost 2,000 Ford Mustang orders have been taken in the UK since January as the first right-hand drive cars begin to roll off the production line at Flatrock Assembly Plant in Michigan, North America.

The Ford Mustang – introduced in the U.S. more than 50 years ago – has excited fans across the globe, but has never been available to order with right-hand drive, until now. The first UK customer deliveries are expected from November, with extra supply secured to meet the greater than expected demand.

So far, 80 per cent of UK customers have opted for the fastback body style over the convertible and 70 per cent have specified the 416PS 5.0-litre V8 engine over the more fuel-efficient 317PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. 

Mustang’s six-speed manual transmission is the slightly more popular choice (55 per cent) over the six-speed automatic, which comes with sporty SelectShift paddle control.

Over half of UK Mustangs have been specified with the Custom Pack which includes satellite navigation, a Shaker Pro 12-speaker audio system, heated and cooled front seats, a rear view camera, Luster Nickel silver alloy wheels and extra chrome detailing on fastback models.

Race Red is the most-popular exterior colour among UK buyers, with 23 per cent of Mustang orders. Magnetic Silver and Shadow Black are joint second choice with 16.1 per cent each and Deep Impact Blue (10.7 per cent) and Triple Yellow (8.6 per cent) complete the top five. Ebony Black is the top pick for interior colour, selected by more than 75 per cent of customers.

The right-hand drive Mustang is available to order in the UK from £29,995 (EcoBoost) and £33,995 (V8) and features a Thatcham Category One alarm as standard.

Ford to debut the Mustang at the Moving Motor Show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015.

Ford will be out in force at Goodwood’s Moving Motor Show, with a host of new models including the much-anticipated new Mustang and Focus RS set to make an appearance on Thursday 25, June.

The all-new new Mustang is latest car to wear the legendary galloping horse badge and a convertible 2.3-litre EcoBoost-engined Mustang, with 317PS power output and 432Nm of torque, will make its Moving Motor Show debut, alongside the UK debut of the new Focus RS.

Over 1,300 UK orders have already been taken for the first Mustang available with right-hand drive, arriving in dealerships this autumn.  With the first year’s allocation sold out, new FordStore dealerships are now supplying Mustangs for delivery from April 2016.

While rally and stunt star Ken Block will drive the RS during the main Goodwood Festival of Speed days from Friday – Sunday, visitors to Thursday’s Moving Motor Show will be the first in the UK to get a look at the Blue Oval’s latest and lairiest hot hatch on the main Ford stand.

As well as the head-turning Ford Mustang, Moving Motor Show drivers will also experience the Focus ST TDCi estate, the Ford Fiesta Red Black Edition and gold Transit SportVan to celebrate its 50^th birthday later this year.

Ford’s new derivatives major on combining performance with outstanding fuel economy; the Focus ST TDCi will transport its occupants from 0-62mph in just 8.3 seconds but is still capable of 67 mpg on the combined cycle.

Also joining its stablemates is an eye-catching new version of the top-selling Fiesta. Under the bonnet, Fiesta Red Black features Ford’s multi-award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with 140PS, bestowing it with more power-per-litre than a Bugatti Veyron.

Fiesta Red Black’s sporting credentials are underlined by the car’s striking exterior, which can be specified in black with a contrasting red roof and red detailing including the grille surround, or vice versa.

There will also be cause for celebration as Ford prepares to mark half a century of the Transit, and no expense has been spared with the creation of the Transit Custom SportVan. This one-off edition is finished in gold and sports a 2.2-litre 155PS diesel engine with an impressive 385Nm of torque; capable of shifting the heaviest of loads but still returns over 42mpg.

The Transit Custom SportVan will take to Goodwood Hill as part of a convoy of gold transits touring the country in a run up to the anniversary of its launch date on August 9.

ŠKODA launches special Tour De France editions to celebrate being title sponsor of event.

• Unique versions of Yeti, Octavia and Superb for cycling fans
• Launched to celebrate Tour de France starting in the UK
• ŠKODA’s cycling sponsorship also headlining Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Win VIP hospitality tickets to the race

ŠKODA’s association with cycling dates back 119 years, when the Czech brand started out making pedal-powered two-wheelers. Today it’s respected as a global partner of the sport, and is celebrating the UK stages of the Tour de France with three stunning limited edition models.

ŠKODA Tour de France (TdF) limited editions

To mark the first three race stages taking place in the UK, ŠKODA is launching unique limited edition versions of the Yeti, Octavia and Superb.

Each has been designed with the keen cyclist in mind, and comes with ‘le Tour de France’ badging, waterproof seat covers and bike wheel bags – all of which feature the Tour de France logo. In addition, customers will receive a centenary edition of the Rouleur Tour de France book and a competition entry to win a VIP Tour de France experience.

Available in either Red, White or Blue^* – the national colours of both the UK and France – only 198 examples of each car are available to customers. That’s the exact number of cyclists entered into this year's race.

Priced at £23,490, the Yeti TdF is based on the Outdoor SE 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4x4 model. Additional specification includes an Amundsen satellite navigation system with DAB digital radio, Keyless Entry and Start System, floor mats and an internal bike rack.

The Superb TdF is priced at £28,490 and is based on the Estate Outdoor 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4x4 and has the same enhancements as the Yeti, along with a space saver spare wheel and boot net programme.

Priced at £24,290, the Octavia TdF is based on the Estate SE 2.0-litre TDI 150PS 4x4 model. It has the same enhancements as the Yeti and Superb, with the addition of roof bars and a roof-mounted bike carrier instead of an internal one.

ŠKODA at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed

With the famous race starting on 5 July, this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – just a week before, on 26–29 June – was the obvious place for ŠKODA’s cycling credentials to take centre stage. Visitors will even get the chance to win VIP hospitality tickets to see the cycling action.

Visitors to the ŠKODA pavilion at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will be invited to ‘Ride the Summit’ with the chance to stand on top of the podium against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House. The ŠKODA pavilion will also house a cycling simulator challenge and merchandise store, plus there will be the chance to win a VIP Tour de France experience. Younger visitors can get creative and design the actual ‘King of the Mountains’ jersey which will be used on the 2014 Tour of Britain, staged in September.

The multi-award-winning range of ŠKODA cars will be on show, and as in previous years, ŠKODA will be the main attraction at the Goodwood Forest Rally stage, situated at the top of the hill climb course. The challenging woodland course will play host to our multi-championship-winning ŠKODA Fabia S2000, and drivers will include ex-Works star Neil Simpson with co-driver Clare Mole.

*ŠKODA Yeti TdF– Corrida Red, Moon White or Petrol Blue

*ŠKODA Octavia TdF – Rio Red, Moon White or Race Blue

*ŠKODA Superb TdF in Moon White or Petrol Blue only

Mazda launches two new "2" limited editions.

• New Mazda2 Colour Edition and Sport Colour Edition models on sale now
• Priced from £11,745 (OTR) enhanced cars have ‘stand-out’ looks and premium equipment
• Three exterior colours and body colour-coded interior design cues
• Enhanced Mazda2 line-up starts with new 1.3-litre SE Air Con model from £11,195 (OTR)

Mazda is adding two new ‘Colour Edition’ models to its popular Mazda2 line-up which is enhanced for 2014 with greater visual appeal and increased standard equipment. The Colour Edition models feature three exterior colours, unique coloration alloy wheels, interior colour-coded design cues and generous levels of equipment – priced from £11,745 on-the-road (OTR).

On sale now, the new five-door hatchback models, which are titled the ‘Colour Edition’ and ‘Sport Colour Edition’, will be limited to a production run of 1,000 units each. Inside, they will feature a numbered sticker on the dashboard colour-coded to match the exterior paint, plus exterior badges on the front wings and tailgate.

“Our latest limited edition models offer even greater value to Mazda customers for 2014. The Colour Edition and Sport Colour Edition hatchbacks present buyers with the opportunity to acquire the agile, fun-to-drive Mazda2 with ‘stand-out’ looks, a generously enhanced specification and premium ambience,” comments Peter Allibon, Sales Director Mazda UK.

Powered by Mazda’s 1.3-litre 75ps petrol engine, the Colour Edition has 11 items of additional equipment (over the SE Air Con model), including: 15-inch dark grey alloy wheels, privacy glass and Jet Black door mirror housings and rear spoiler. Inside there is black seat trim with red piping, a leather steering wheel with remote audio controls, gloss dark grey inserts to the steering wheel and audio panel, Parrot Bluetooth® handsfree and body-colour door trim and outer air vents louvres.

The ‘Sport Colour Edition’ is fitted with the more powerful 1.3-litre 85ps engine and is equipped with 11 extra equipment items above the Colour Edition model. The enhanced specification adds 16-inch dark grey alloy wheels, Sports styling kit, Sports headlamps and front fog lights. The cabin boasts a new state-of-the-art 6.1-inch Mazda Navigation System with integrated Bluetooth®, a trip computer, leather gear knob, electric rear windows, two additional audio speakers and an adjustable speed alarm, plus side and curtain airbags.

“With production of these new models limited to 1,000 units and each car carrying its own unique number, I’m sure our latest Mazda2 derivatives will prove immensely popular. The Mazda2 offers a unique combination of advanced technology, sports styling and a premium interior, together with superior ride comfort and build quality, plus the rewarding driving experience for which Mazda is renowned,” adds Allibon.

Both of the new models are available in a choice of three finishes – True Red (solid), Crystal White (Pearlescent, £500) and Aluminium Silver (Metallic, £500). The Colour Edition costs from £11,745 and the Sport Colour Edition from £12,845 on-the-road.

The enhanced four-strong line-up of regular Mazda2 models for 2014 now comprises the 1.3-litre SE Air Con (£11,195), Tamura (£12,295), Tamura Nav Auto (£13,395) and new range-topping Sport Venture (£13,395). The SE Air Con comes with 15-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler, while the Tamura Nav Auto boasts 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, privacy glass, a gloss dark grey audio panel and Mazda’s new 6.1-inch Mazda Navigation System with Integrated Bluetooth®.

Until 31 March 2014, every Mazda2 is available with zero deposit, 0% APR finance when purchased on a Mazda PCP (over 42 months), a £500 deposit contribution and monthly payments from as low as £173 per month.