Bentley opens another dealership in Switzerland, this time, north west of Lausanne.

• New Bentley retail partner in Lausanne
• Showroom features Bentley corporate identity
• Created with the same luxurious materials and hand-crafted with the same attention to detail as Bentley cars

Bentley Motors today announces the opening of a brand new showroom in Switzerland.

Located in the north-west of Lausanne, the Bentley showroom measures 400 m² and reflects Bentley’s global corporate identity, taking inspiration from the company’s rich history and combining it with modern-day luxury retailing. Bentley Lausanne is the sixth retailer for Bentley Motors in Switzerland.

Robert Engstler, Regional Director at Bentley Motors Europe, said: “Switzerland is our biggest market in the central European region. We have found a strong partner in Bentley Lausanne and the opening of the brand-new showroom will help us to generate more growth and enlarge our customer base in Switzerland even further.”

Marcel Hauselmann, Bentley Lausanne General Manager, commented: “We are very proud to represent the most successful automotive luxury brand in the world. In our showroom, customers will receive an exclusive Bentley experience and personalised service while surrounded by unparalleled design, automotive passion and unmatched attention to detail.”   

The new showroom in Lausanne offers customers the complete Bentley model range, including Bentley’s latest model, the Bentayga Diesel, the fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive diesel SUV in the world. In addition to the Bentayga range, customers can also choose between the Continental GT, the Flying Spur and Bentley’s flagship model, the Mulsanne.

The new retail partner also offers pre-owned vehicles, aftersales service and the company’s branded luxury goods.

Swiss Caterham dealer, Kumschick Sports Cars, has reached a major milestone by selling its 500th Caterham Seven.

Swiss Caterham dealer, Kumschick Sports Cars, has reached a major milestone by selling its 500^th Caterham Seven.

After completing flying laps in the dealer’s Seven 485, race driver and European NASCAR Whelen Euro Series winner, Joaquin Gabarron, signed on the dotted line to buy the car.

The range-topping 485 variant of the iconic British sportscar is the latest and most powerful model available in mainland Europe.

Gabarron’s blue 485S is the 500^th Seven to be imported in Kumschick’s 38-year history, which is now one of the largest European Caterham dealers.

Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “The 500^th milestone for our Swiss dealer is the perfect way to celebrate 38 years of dedication to the Caterham brand and is also another demonstration of Caterham’s continuing international expansion.

“The fact that the buyer has held a race licence since the age of 18 and won the European NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Championship at Le Mans also goes to prove that the performance of the Caterham Seven can still pack a thrilling punch, whether you are a novice driver or a seasoned professional.”

Ex Stig, Ben Collins takes the toughest drive of his life with a 9.25 mile downhill Alpine Ski Course drive.

• Ultimate luxury performance SUV tackles the legendary Inferno downhill ski course in Mürren, Switzerland
• “Toughest ever route” for British racing driver and ex-‘Stig’, Ben Collins
• Fearsome 9.25 mile test completed in 21min 36sec at up to 96mph
• 510hp 5.0-liter V8 supercharged Range Rover Sport the king of the hill
• Watch the challenge here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNOXjpr_i4

Speeds of 96mph, 75 percent gradients and a 7,119 ft. descent, the Range Rover Sport has conquered it all on an Alpine ski course that has been the downfall of many skiers (1).

The Range Rover Sport is the first-ever production vehicle to attempt the fearsome ski run. Piloted by renowned race and stunt driver Ben Collins, the all-terrain super-SUV tackled the treacherous terrain on the 9.25 mile downhill route at Mürren in Switzerland, completing it in 21min 36sec.

During the 7,119 ft descent, the Range Rover Sport followed the route used by skiers on the tough Inferno Mürren, one of the oldest and most challenging downhill races. It tackled snow, ice, loose rock, mud, broken asphalt, grass and gravel, helped by Land Rover Terrain Response ® technology (2).

Introduced in 2013, Range Rover Sport is a genuine Land Rover success story; delivering all the refinement and capability expected from a large SUV, with the performance normally associated with a sports car. In August, Land Rover introduced its latest infotainment system -- InControl Touch Pro -- and Advanced Tow Assist technology to the nameplate.

British racer Collins, famous for his role as ‘The Stig’ on Top Gear was pushed to the limit by hairpin bends and the danger of sheer drops.

Collins said: “This was genuinely one of the hardest tests I’ve faced in my driving career. The route was insane and certainly the toughest course I’ve ever completed. It challenged you with every kind of obstacle this side of molten lava and as conditions go, it was about as bad as it gets – torrential weather mixed with cliffs, trees, all kinds of stuff you don't really want to crash into.

“There could only be one winner in the challenge - the mountain or the car. The key to the run was precision: being able to maintain speed and carry that speed down the hill in the way the skiers can do, carving through the turns.

“The Range Rover Sport gave me so much help. I had to use the Terrain Response because the grass was like an ice rink and it really got me out of trouble. I believed in the car and it meant we could shed a lot of time over the runs. To be honest I abused it and it just kept on going - I couldn’t have asked for a better machine to do the job.”

The treacherous, yet beautiful, mountain course tested the capability of the Range Rover Sport with ice and sleet at the top, where Collins reached 75mph, and fog and wet grass at the bottom, where he hit 96mph.

The Terrain Response technology features six modes that will adapt the vehicle’s settings to the appropriate surface. For example, in Dynamic mode the Anti-Roll Bar is stiffened to reduce body roll; the Grass/Gravel/Snow mode reduces under and over steer by engine braking; while in Mud and Ruts, the rear differential is locked to allow controlled wheel slip for better traction.

On its way down the Range Rover Sport tackled perilous gradients of up to 75 percent - steeper than many black diamond runs at famous ski resorts such as Chamonix - in freezing temperatures.

The feat was achieved in a Range Rover Sport with a 510hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 gas engine (3).

A film documenting the epic challenge is available to view here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNOXjpr_i4

The challenge follows Range Rover Sport feats including its record-setting hill-climb for a production SUV at Pikes Peak in 2013 and its record crossing of the ‘Empty Quarter’ desert in the Arabian Peninsula in the same year. These global driving challenges, in which the Range Rover Sport is pushed to new limits, can be seen on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNOXjpr_i4

(1) Vehicle was driven by a professional driver on a closed course. Please do not attempt.

(2) These systems are not a substitute for driving safely with due care and attention and will not function under all circumstances, speeds, weather and road conditions, etc. Driver should not assume that these systems will correct errors of judgment in driving.  Please consult the owner’s manual or your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for more details.

(3) The vehicle was modified to deactivate safety features and add a roll cage, a driver's seat safety harness and reinforced tires.

Riley gets exported back to the UK to take it's place at in the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

A remarkable 1948 Riley RMB has been shipped across the world from New Zealand to Hampshire by its long-term owner, who has donated it to the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu.

Mr James Welch, who had known the car for much of its life and had painstakingly restored it, generously donated the Riley to the museum and paid to have it transported to the New Forest.

This Riley RMB 2 ½ litre has a remarkable story to tell. Built in 1948 in Coventry, it was exported to a dealer in Bern, Switzerland, before being sent to the coachworks of Reinboldt & Christé AG of Basle. 

This specialist coachbuilding firm had carried out a number of body modifications to Riley drophead models, but this was to be the only saloon to receive the same treatment. Two German coins dating from 1949 that were found inside the car still accompany it, souvenirs of its time in Europe.

James Welch’s father, Pat Welch, acquired the Riley in 1955 as part payment on his farm, after the car’s owner had brought it with him when emigrating to New Zealand. Joining a car club, Pat then started to compete in hill climbs and speed events, accompanied by his son. “In January 1957, at age 15, I passed my driving test in the car,” recalled James Welch. “My father gave me permission to compete along with him in hill-climbs, before graduating to beach races and club circuit races.”

After a series of successes, including first place in saloon car races at International Grand Prix meetings at Ardmore, near Auckland, the Riley was finally retired from competitions in 1960.

“My father sold the car in 1970,” said James. “Soon afterwards the new owner’s son fell asleep at the wheel, when on his way to Wellington. The right side of the Riley was damaged and it was then abandoned outside for some years, hence the major deterioration.” After languishing outside in all weathers, the stricken Riley was then stored for several more years in a shed.

The car’s spell of bad luck ended in 1985 when it was bought back by James, who started a total restoration, with help from the Riley RM Club. “I have been a Riley nut since 1955, so when I rebuilt my car I had to get it as near to perfection as I could.” Having worked in the luxury car building trade in his youth, including a spell making body panels for Mulliner Park Ward on the Rolls-Royce assembly line, James carried out most of the work himself, including the bodywork, paint and the interior trim, leaving only the engine, transmission and seats to be rebuilt by professionals.

“After I sold my business in 1999, I could work full-time on the restoration of the Riley, spending up too twelve hours a day on it, sometimes seven days a week,” said James. “When I think of all the work that I did on it, my guess would be that I have spent between 2,500 and 3,000 hours on the project. I spent approximately 150 hours on the interior fascia wood, while the hub caps alone took up 100 hours.”

The Riley finally returned to the road in 2007, still with just 55,000 miles on the odometer. James covered another 5,000 miles before deciding to pass the car on. “I am 74 and with no beneficiaries,” he said. “I had dreamed that this car, because of its rarity, should go to a place where it can be exhibited for all to see. The time was right to send it off.

“I decided on Beaulieu as I had visited there and to me it was a very prestigious place, where the staff treated me as if I was royalty. Now I know I was correct and as the saying goes, ‘some things are meant to be.’ After having this car in my life for 61 years, I am so very pleased that it has gone to such a prestigious home.”

Once it had arrived in the New Forest, the National Motor Museum engineers could carefully extract the Riley from the shipping container that had protected it during its ocean voyage, before putting it on display.

The Riley joins the National Motor Museum collection of over 250 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, which spans the history of motoring in Britain.

The Riley RM series of cars, which includes saloons, a convertible and a drophead coupe, is well known in the classic car world for its attractive styling and lively engines. The Riley RMA and RMB saloons were both unveiled in 1946, and while the RMA was fitted with a 1.5-litre engine, the RMB boasted a more powerful 2.5-litre engine.

While a standard RMB originally produced 100bhp, this example's 2443cc four-cylinder engine has been tuned to give 120bhp.

The Riley RMB can now be seen in the National Motor Museum as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which includes On Screen Cars, the World of Top Gear, the 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey and grounds and Palace House, which has been home to the Montagu family since 1538.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has launched its new Exotic Car Collection in the heart of Switzerland.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, part of the world’s largest car hire company, Enterprise Holdings, has launched its new Exotic Car Collection in Switzerland,  giving locals and visitors the opportunity to rent high-end, luxury vehicles in the heart of Zurich.

Whether it’s a Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche, or Ferrari, customers can now rent a supercar from the specialist Enterprise Exotic Car Collection branch perfectly situated to serve Zurich’s financial district, and just a short distance away from high-end shops, restaurants and hotels.

One such hotel is the renowned, five-star Park-Hyatt, where a selection of the luxury cars will be located to provide guests with the opportunity to rent prestige vehicles directly through the hotel’s concierge.

The Enterprise Exotic Car Collection offers the excellent customer service known to the Enterprise brand while delivering a “white-glove” experience to discerning customers looking for the thrill and excitement of driving through the city in a luxurious, high-end vehicle.

The opening of the Zurich branch is the latest in what has been a period of rapid expansion for the Enterprise Exotic Car Collection, which has seen a branch open at London’s Heathrow airport and seven in North America in the last six months.

The Exotic Car Collection will be operated by AIL Autovermietung AG (AIL), the Enterprise-branded franchisee for Switzerland. AIL is part of a family-owned business dating back over 80 years and is one of Switzerland’s largest fleet management and dealership companies.

AIL began operating the Enterprise brand in 2014 with just 20 cars. It now has a fleet of more than 800 vehicles and 10 branches with airport locations in Zurich, Geneva and Basel. The company continues to grow its operations throughout Switzerland, with a branch in Bern set to open mid-January and plans to expand further in the coming year.

Stefan Baumann, managing director of AIL/Enterprise Rent-A-Car Switzerland said: “The launch of the Enterprise Exotic Car Collection in Switzerland is a testament to our strong partnership with Enterprise. This high-end rental service cannot be found anywhere else in the city. It’s not only available to Swiss customers who enjoy high value vehicles, but to any customer looking for a luxurious experience in the center of Zurich.”

Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise, said:  “Switzerland is home to a large number of multinational corporations and banks, while its scenic natural environment and cosmopolitan cities make it an important leisure destination as well.  The expansion of Enterprise Exotic Car Collection in Zurich demonstrates the success of our efforts to grow the Enterprise brand, provide opportunity and support to our franchisee partners, and continue to deliver high level service to customers.”

“There is significant market demand within this segment of the business. Our Exotic Car Collection has been hugely successful in the United States, with similar demand in London as well. We are thrilled to bring this unique offering of prestige vehicles and supercars in Zurich.”

GENEVA - The new Ferrari GTC4Lusso is Maranello’s latest interpretation of the four-seater concept.

THE FERRARI GTC4LUSSO DEBUTS AT THE GENEVA SHOW: CLASS-LEADING PERFORMANCE, VERSATILITY IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, SUBLIME ELEGANCE

The new Ferrari GTC4Lusso is Maranello’s latest interpretation of the four-seater concept, which combines extraordinary performance in all driving conditions with sporty elegance and luxurious comfort for both driver and passengers alike. 

The GTC4Lusso’s name references several illustrious predecessors, not least the 330 GTC or its 2+2 sister model, the 330 GT, as well as the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, which married extreme performance with stylish design and sophisticated materials and craftsmanship.

The GTC4Lusso sports the latest evolution of the naturally-aspirated Ferrari GT V12 that melds incredible power with efficiency and provides a soundtrack which is thrilling in performance driving, yet discreet and harmonious in normal touring conditions.

As is the case with all Ferraris, the GTC4Lusso introduces a slew of technological innovations, notably the new Ferrari-patented 4RM-S which guarantees exceptional handling even on low-grip surfaces and superb stability and responsiveness in all conditions.

The GTC4Lusso’s aerodynamic development introduced new solutions, too, including a slotted diffuser and a rear spoiler integrated with the hatch, all focused on reducing drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency. 

As a result, the GTC4Lusso exudes elegance and exclusivity, its unprecedented forms underscoring its most dynamic traits in an effortless marriage of sportiness and signature Grand Tourer traits.

The sophisticated and refined cabin is designed wholly around its occupants. Its Dual Cockpit concept, in fact, was crafted to enhance the shared driving experience for all passengers. Maximum attention was paid to improving in-car comfor

Geneva Motor Show 2016: Curtains up for the European premiere of the Rinspeed “Ʃtos”

• Geneva Motor Show 2016: Curtains up for the European premiere of the Rinspeed “Ʃtos”
• Disruptive technologies, sustainability and desirability: Automated driving with a great fun and whoa factor.

Disruptive innovations and new digital technologies are changing the world of mobility at an unprecedented speed. The “old world” of the traditional automaker meets the “new world” of software, algorithms, bits and bytes – “East meets West,” Palo Alto salutes Stuttgart – and vice versa.

Heavens only knows who will come out the “winner” in the still novel battle for data and user experience. Or is it peaceful coexistence that is called for? One thing is certain: It is precisely these changes and tomorrow’s possibilities that Swiss powerhouse of ideas Rinspeed now makes tangible and real with the self-driving “Ʃtos” concept car.

As always, the Swiss mastermind approaches the mega topic of “self-driving cars” primarily from the perspective of the driver and the occupants, the human component. And as always, he garnishes his concept with a host of inspiring and emotionally appealing highlights. In so doing, the automotive thinker together with consulting firm EY expressly puts one question on the agenda that is bound to occupy us for quite some time: How much human component should, must or may there be in a machine? 

Everyone involved realizes that answering this question requires merging expectations, tolerances and acceptance. There are countless unsettled issues, for example the morals and ethics of a machine, that need to be resolved. In addition, the means for the technical realization also must be developed. Rinderknecht ventures a prediction: “This process will likely lead to an adaptive, learning and intuitive control software. But it will be a long rocky road.”

The technical highlight in the interior of the “Ʃtos” is no doubt the folding and retracting steering wheel from ZF TRW. As if by magic, it disappears in the dashboard in a few seconds. This creates lots of space in front the driver who can grab and read a book in comfort the old-fashioned way or can work in a relaxed atmosphere. The position of the two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors is individually adjustable to provide an even better view of the displayed contents.

A matching fit is provided by the unrivalled infotainment experience that the innovative Harman Connected Car technologies conjure up in the vehicle. Just like a personal assistant, the system thinks along, is courteous, anticipates needs and on top of that provides perfect entertainment, connectivity and maximum safety. Destinations, route selection, tourist attractions, refueling, parking, making phone calls, music, videos or personal preferences - with every mile the “Ʃtos” gets to know the appointments, wishes and needs of the occupants better and in a flash proactively offers up the particular fitting selection options. 

This drastically reduces the number of distracting manual entries - despite significantly expanded functions. Should it nonetheless be necessary to enter a command, the “Ʃtos” responds promptly to voice commands, gestures, touch input, controller or the push of a button.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle surroundings completely. This makes impressive 180-degree panoramic views in front of the vehicle and behind possible and provides virtual “exterior mirrors” with an expanded field of vision that has no blind spots. People and objects in the entire vehicle surroundings are detected and tracked automatically. If they represent an accident hazard, the driver receives an appropriate warning. 

In tricky situations such as in parking garages, the so-called “Curb View” is activated automatically. It offers a “direct” view of the front wheels and thus helps prevent unwanted contact with curbs or other obstacles. The vehicle navigation also offers entirely new detail views. In parking garages, it directs drivers directly to a previously reserved parking space. Along the route, it displays realistic 3D images of buildings, trees, bus stops, subway stations and other distinctive waypoints. 

The roads and lanes have been scanned with pinpoint precision - an essential prerequisite for autonomous driving. Linking information about the route and the cell phone reception results in the passengers in future not only knowing where and how long they can expect to make phone or video calls without interruption, the technology also allows smooth media streaming as well as efficient and targeted vehicle updates. The seamless link to the traffic infrastructure such as traffic lights or traffic management systems and to other cars, especially emergency response vehicles, lets drivers and the vehicle look far beyond their own horizon and even through obstacles. 

The so-called ‘E-Horizon’ provides innovative safety and convenience features such as precise warnings of wrong-way drivers or simply gliding along smoothly in sync with the phased traffic lights. Speaking of seeing: The gaze-tracking system of the “Ʃtos” permanently monitors the driver’s eye movements and as a result, the vehicle not only knows what the driver has seen, but also what he has failed to see. This allows custom tailoring the displayed warnings and notifications. For precisely this reason, the electronic exterior mirrors only display an image when the driver consciously checks them. The HMI was designed and programmed by Luxoft. Georg Fischer Automotive supplied the aluminum lightweight-construction frame for the three displays.

As always, the Helvetian think tank, which following an old tradition once again commissioned the Swiss colleagues of 4erC to design the twenty-second concept car and Esoro to handle the technical realization, explores the existing digital possibilities - and demonstrates new ones. The “Ʃtos” is fitted with an on-board DJI drone complete with landing platform in the rear. An armada of 12,000 individually controlled LEDs can transform this platform into an electronic message board or a visual dancefloor. 

This technical marvel was designed by Swiss specialist Weidplas, which is also behind the rear window that has been converted into a third brake light and the brilliant seat inlays. The drone itself is capable of providing some very useful services. For example, it can quickly pick up a bouquet of flowers for the significant other ordered on the way home. And the little flyer is a lot of fun when it acts like a UFO, shooting a selfie of the ride in the “Ʃtos” on your local favorite route and streaming it live to friends. Heads up: that little thing has an extremely high addiction and envy factor!

The elegantly and futuristically styled “Ʃtos” - on the technical basis of the BMW i8 - is a sustainable but also a fast racer. The deep black and shiny 20-inch Borbet GTX aluminum rims leave no doubt about that. They give the body an imposing visual width and provide perfect handling on the track. To make the athlete as light as possible, Corning manufactures the glass roof and the “drone pad” in the rear from especially strong, lightweight and thin Gorilla glass, the same kind used in smartphones. The aluminum front structure and the carbon fiber passenger cell are joined together with ultra-high-modulus adhesive from Sika.

No question, Rinderknecht not only plays the role of the visionary, but also that of the magician in Las Vegas. And since a great show also goes hand in hand with unusual eye-catching packaging, the Swiss national uses ceramics and metal alloys in the “Ʃtos.” They are applied at temperatures above 20,000 degrees Celsius and at supersonic speed. The result is a unique appearance, a new touch and feel and a novel functionality that are all unprecedented in automotive construction. Apart from delicately designed trim strips, the vehicle sports rims with a titanium protective edge and non-slip titanium pedals. These magic moments come courtesy of the specialists from the German company Putzier Oberflächentechnik. Touch it, feel it - it really is magic!

The inviting interior, designed jointly by innovative textiles supplier Strähle+Hess and Stahl Company, the surface specialist for leather and synthetic substrates, forms an unusual and striking compound of natural leather with a variety of characteristics, patterns, functions and surfaces with the equally versatile textiles and piping. This creates a sporty and yet relaxed feel-good atmosphere, adorned with the embroidered skyline of San Francisco. As in past years, Schoeller Spinning Group supplied the high-tech threads for the interior.

The 3D effect finish of the paintwork on the front panel from Barlog plastics creates an exciting and striking visual bridge between the headlamps.

And then tradition merges with innovation: Above it all rises the mechanical Patravi Traveltec clock from Swiss Manufacture Carl F. Bucherer. It sits in a highly prominent position on the dashboard inside a rotating housing that moves automatically to wind the mechanical movement. The delicate housing resembles an airy arch. The camera integrated into the clock support pans directly to the driver or front passenger during video calls. Communication could hardly be more beautiful!

Polymer specialist Rehau developed the innovative lightweight-construction dashboard support and the clever bracket for the luggage shelf with detachable umbrella holder. A particularly efficient electrical heating system from Eberspächer provides cozy warmth in the interior. It also preheats the battery and offers a convenient auxiliary heating function. In keeping with the times, operation is by smartwatch or smartphone. The batteries of the “Ʃtos” are equally state of the art. Thanks to sophisticated technology from EVA Fahrzeugtechnik, they can also have a secondary purpose as a stationary energy storage unit when needed and consequently account for the requirements of the environment.

Connected cars are de rigueur nowadays. In the “Ʃtos,” Rinspeed partners demonstrate what is possible in the area of connectivity today and tomorrow: When it comes to data, perfect transmission and reception quality is essential not only for autonomous driving. The highly advanced octagonal flat antennas from Vites integrated into the glass roof play a crucial role to this end.

Inrix Company shows how a parking space in the city center can be located quickly by analyzing real-time data. The intelligent “Mica” industrial minicomputer from industrial connectivity specialist Harting illustrates how powertrain and engine data can be recorded continuously and transferred to an independent and neutral body such as Dekra, where they can be analyzed and presented depending on the contract previously negotiated between customer and contractual partner. This also makes it possible to lend credibility to odometer readings.

NXP ensures the secure connection of the car and its passengers to the outside world with its intelligent connectivity technologies – an important aspect for the connected self-driving car of tomorrow that must reliably capture its surroundings. This includes radar and car-to-x solutions as well as automatic payment for parking via NFC, wireless cell phone charging, smart access solutions and keyless remotes for unlocking, starting and customizing the vehicle.

SIX, the Swiss stock exchange and backbone of the Swiss financial market, shows an “on the go” payment system for secure transactions in the “Ʃtos.” Even smaller amounts such as tips can be paid by a small swiping gesture on the exterior mirror.

The tireless Swiss national and his international partners show a first step towards tomorrow’s individual mobility with the “Ʃtos,” staged by Saarbrücken-based Vollmond advertising agency.

The Rinspeed “Ʃtos” celebrates its European premiere at Rinspeed booth 6240 at the Geneva Motor Show, March 3 to 13, 2016.