Incredibly rare Aston Martin Vulcan is now on display at leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury in Berkshire

• Incredibly rare Aston Martin Vulcan is now on display at leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury in Berkshire
• Just 24 examples of the track-only supercar were built by Aston, and the brand claims the Vulcan is the most intense and extreme model it’s ever created
• Born out of Aston Martin’s motorsport endeavours, the all-carbon-fibre Vulcan packs a 7.0-litre V12 engine that produces over 800bhp
• Vulcan at Knowl Hill is one of the only examples in the world on display and joins a stunning line-up alongside the likes of its Vantage GT12 sibling and the BMW M4 GTS

Leading luxury car dealership Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury has welcomed one of the rarest cars in the world to its Berkshire showroom, the Aston Martin Vulcan.

Penned by Aston’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann, the Vulcan is the most exclusive car ever made by the British brand, with just 24 examples being crafted upon its 2015 release.

And Knowl Hill is one of the only locations around where you can come and sample the scintillating supercar in all its glory by taking a look in and around the display model.

The track-only, rear-wheel-drive Vulcan is made purely from carbon fibre and is said to be Aston Martin’s most exhilarating and intense creation to date, and the figures are there to back that up.

With a 7.0-litre V12 engine producing 820bhp and 575lb ft of torque, this is one Aston Martin that certainly doesn’t need a second introduction.

It cuts quite the figure inside the Knowl Hill showroom, too. The Vulcan is remarkably low to the ground, measuring just 1,186mm tall, while dual vents on the bonnet and striking body lines hint at its blistering ability.

It’s a truly unique supercar and one that ties in perfectly with the Knowl Hill ethos. More than just a showroom, Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury offers customers a one-of-a-kind buying experience that puts the fun back into getting a new set of wheels.

The Vulcan isn’t the only ultra-rare car on display at Knowl Hill, either, as the independent dealership is also home to the BMW M4 GTS and the Aston Martin Vantage GT12, both of which are for sale.

One of only 30 UK models, Knowl Hill’s M4 GTS is proudly displayed in stunning Mineral White paint and is one of the most handsome limited-edition track-focused BMW M cars ever produced.

Sitting proudly next to the M4 GTS at Knowl Hill is the Vantage GT12 – one of just 100 examples built by Aston worldwide. This super-exclusive model is finished in pearlescent white paint with orange and black inserts to give it a racy edge.

Knowl Hill Performance & Luxury Founder Joseph Crowe said: “The Aston Martin Vulcan is a truly remarkable car and the rarest Aston Martin you’ll ever have the chance of laying your eyes on. It’s a particularly stunning model to observe both inside and out and a real limelight stealer. Knowl Hill is famous for selling the world’s finest cars, but the Vulcan is truly one of a kind and to be one of the only dealers in the world with one is a real honour and testament to our brand. We invite all supercar enthusiasts to come down to the showroom and sample the Vulcan and our relaxed atmosphere.”

McLaren to showcase over 50 years of experience and race winning know how to this years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

• Track-only McLaren 570S Sprint to make global dynamic debut
• Examples of the three tier McLaren model Series to take to the famous Goodwood Hill run
• McLaren to honour key motorsport milestones in Indy 500, Formula 1™ and Can-Am

McLaren Automotive will return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer celebrating race wins and titles spanning more than five decades. McLaren will honour the drivers and championships where the team has claimed the top step of the podium, in the ultimate expression of ‘Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power’. 

McLaren House will once again return to the lawns of the Goodwood Estate, with iconic racers displayed alongside the full range of modern-day McLaren models in the Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series. 

The broad selection of models, spanning more than 50 years of the McLaren name, will be the most extensive display of McLaren models ever showcased, including the new 570GT.

As in previous years, McLaren will also be present in the Supercar Paddock with models from each of the three tier range. 

The recently announced track-only 570S Sprint will make its global dynamic debut on the famous Goodwood Hill alongside the 570S Coupé from the Sports Series, while the 50th anniversary of the Can Am championship will be celebrated by the 650S Can Am by MSO, joined by the sold-out 675LT Spider representing the Super Series. 

The McLaren P1™ GTR completes the line-up. As the most powerful McLaren ever built, the Ultimate Series model is the true reflection of an endless pursuit of power.

The 2016 season is a key anniversary for motorsport, and McLaren in particular. milestones of note include the 50th anniversary of the Can-Am series, the 100th running of the Indy 500, 40 years since British racing legend James Hunt’s dramatic Formula 1™ title and 30 years since Alain Prost claimed his second world title. 

The results – each a major achievement in its own right – have contributed to the rich tapestry of racing history, and forms part of the heritage of the most successful team in global motorsport.

The brutal McLaren M8D from the 1970 season, finished in iconic McLaren Orange heritage livery, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the no-holds-barred Can Am series of the 1960s-70s. 

Revered as the ultimate test of engineering and bravery, the series established McLaren as the team to beat, claiming five back-to-back championships led by New Zealand-born racer and team-founder Bruce McLaren.

2016 marks the 100th running of the Indy 500, a race which McLaren has been victorious at on three separate occasions. The debut for McLaren at the famous ‘Brickyard’ was with the Gordon Coppuck-designed M15 in 1970. 

The design used the single seater Can-Am sports car experience in chassis layout and conception, winning the prestigious designer’s award for engineering excellence.

Representing 50 years since McLaren entered the Formula 1™ championship is the MP4-2C from the championship-winning 1986 season. Driven by Alain Prost and Keke Rosberg, the MP4-2C is the final iteration of the most successful chassis ever raced in Formula 1™. During 1986, Prost claimed four race victories on his way to his second Drivers’ Championship title.

First customers experience the exhilaration of their own Aston Martin Vulcan after receiving world-class driving tuition

• First customers experience the exhilaration of their own Aston Martin Vulcan after receiving world-class driving tuition
• Three year driver experience programme starts at Abu Dhabi Formula 1 circuit

The first owners of the Aston Martin Vulcan travelled to Abu Dhabi last week to receive world-class tuition from an elite team of racing drivers, led by Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner.

The Aston Martin Vulcan is the product of the luxury British carmaker’s extensive motorsport experience. There is no question that the track-only supercar demonstrates Aston Martin’s flair for design and now a select group of owners have had the opportunity to use the Aston Martin Vulcan for its intended purpose – as an exhilarating 820 bhp supercar, engineered exclusively for extreme performance on-track.

The customers in Abu Dhabi received tuition in the V12 Vantage S road car and the Vantage GT4 race car, before heading out onto the iconic Formula 1 circuit in their own Aston Martin Vulcan, powered by a potent 7.0-litre V12 engine. Passenger-side tuition was given on every lap and the customer’s skills were tested throughout the day and into the night so they could fully experience the car in different atmospheric conditions.

Aston Martin Director of Special Projects and Motorsport David King commented: “Aston Martin Vulcan is a very special car and that is why we have developed a unique ownership programme. This includes specialist training so customers can drive it in the way it was intended. It has been great to see the first customer’s reactions after unleashing their very own Aston Martin Vulcan on the Grand Prix circuit here in Abu Dhabi.”

Just 24 Aston Martin Vulcans will be built in total and all 24 customers will receive world-class tuition so they are able to make the most of their new supercar.

Aston Martin Racing works’ driver and high performance development driver Darren Turner said: “The priority for all of us on the team was to produce a car that provides immense enjoyment for the customers. Judging by the reactions we have seen this week that goal has been achieved and surpassed. 

The guys here this week have all been in the car as my passenger at recent events, but this was the first time they got to see and drive their very own Aston Martin Vulcan. It has been a pleasure to see how quickly they have all got up to speed and to hear their first impressions of the car. I predict many fun track days ahead for these guys!”

Aston Martin continues expansion into Asia with its fifth Japanese dealership.

Aston Martin is continuing its programme of expansion in Japan with the imminent opening of its fifth dealership in the country – Aston Martin Fukuoka. The company’s commitment to the Japanese market was reinforced in January with the launch of a new limited company – Aston Martin Japan Limited.

When it opens in a temporary showroom next month, before moving to luxurious permanent premises later this year, the new Fukuoka facility will join existing dealers in Tokyo – which boasts two dealerships – Osaka, and Nagoya.

Welcoming the launch, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer – a former long-time resident of Japan – said: “Our recent establishment of the limited company in Japan, along with our investment in people and facilities across the APAC region such as this new showroom in Fukuoka, signals very clearly our determination to make Aston Martin a key player in the high luxury sports car sector in this part of the world.”

The new business, officially announced at a brand launch at the Fukuoka International Congress Center on April 9, will be based initially at Shimokawabata, Hakata-Ku, Fukuoka-Pref, before moving to a new permanent facility at Harada, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka-Pref, in October this year. 

It is being created with established dealer partner Yunsan Motors Co. Ltd, which already operates successful Aston Martin businesses in Taipei and Taichung in Taiwan.

Yunsan Motors Co. Ltd Chairman, Timothy Chang, said: “It is our great honour for Yunsan Motors to be appointed as the Aston Martin dealer in Fukuoka.

“Fukuoka is a dynamic business city, while tourism has placed it at the heart of the Asia region as a ‘must visit’ city for Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese guests to Japan.

“With such vibrancy and dynamism in Fukuoka, we are confident that the launch of this new Aston Martin business will be a success and that fans of this great brand will now be able to enjoy ownership of these superb sports cars via a dealer in their city.

“We will, of course, aspire to deliver to our customers the unparalleled service that the brand rightly demands.”

When complete in October, the latest Aston Martin showroom in Japan will be fully-equipped for new and pre-owned sales with the ability to display up to 7 of the British brand’s sports cars.

Aston Martin servicing and repair facilities will also be available at the Fukuoka site, and owners can rest assured that their sports cars will be cared for appropriately by Aston Martin-certified technicians using the appropriate diagnostic equipment and tools.

Aston Martin is a modern, exclusive sports car company with a unique heritage instantly recognised around the world. In 2013 the marque celebrated its first 100 years in business and today it has 155 dealers in 45 countries worldwide.

As part of its ongoing programme of product development, expansion and renewal, Aston Martin recently launched two exclusive new models in the shape of the Vantage GT12 and the extreme Aston Martin Vulcan track-only super car. 

Meanwhile, at the recent Geneva International motor show, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer unveiled the DBX Concept – a new concept car created to defy conventional thinking about the luxury GT segment and widen the appeal of the iconic British luxury brand as it reaches out to a more diverse global audience than ever before.

The stormingly beautiful McLaren P1™GTR to debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2015.

• Production-intent model to premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show
• In excess of 700 PS per tonne power-to-weight ratio achieved through motorsport-derived weight-saving and powertrain optimisation
• Testing continues at global circuits in Europe and the Middle East
• High definition video shows the latest stages in the McLaren P1™GTR development programme at:http://youtu.be/4pDwmMruOtA

The development programme for the most powerful and most exclusive McLaren model to-date has been stepped up over the winter months, with the limited edition McLaren P1™ GTR being put through its paces across Europe and the Middle East. Ahead of the start of production later this year, and the launch of the bespoke Driver Programme, the track-only model will make its global debut in production form at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March.

As testing continues, the McLaren P1™ GTR looks set to be one of the fastest to ever wear the famous McLaren ‘speed mark’. Through significant weight-saving measures and track-optimisation of the petrol-electric powertrain, McLaren P1™ GTR will boast a power-to-weight ratio increase in excess of 10 percent over the road-going model, to more than 700 PS per tonne. 

This has been achieved using motorsport-derived technology and expertise, with the track-only model completing thousands of kilometres of extreme testing at several UK and European locations, as well as a demanding testing schedule in the extreme heats of Bahrain and Qatar, with Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin at the wheel. 

These tests have pushed the performance of the car to its limits, and have been designed to further enhance cooling and aerodynamics over the design concept previewed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the summer of 2014.

The dedicated development programme will continue at the relentless pace over the coming months to further tune the performance, aerodynamics, driving dynamics and handling balance to ensure the McLaren P1™ GTR lives up to the iconic ‘GTR’ title, made famous by the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winner 20 years ago. 

In the coming weeks, the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme will get underway, with drivers invited to the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK to start the journey which will see them experience some of the world’s most iconic racing circuits behind the wheel of one of the most extreme limited-run track cars ever built.

The production-intent McLaren P1™ GTR will make its global debut on Stand 1240, Hall 1 at the 85th International Geneva Motor Show.

McLaren launches latests track only 650S Sprint at Pebble Beach.

McLaren GT has today confirmed that it will premiere its latest model at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with the wraps set to come off the track-only 650S Sprint. The stripped-out racer will make its global debut alongside a number of other models from McLaren Automotive, and completes the brand’s display with four global debuts planned for the Californian event, including the McLaren P1™ GTR.

Based on the recently launched McLaren 650S Coupe, the track-focused 650S Sprint is fitted with developments to the Brake Steer system, even more refined active aerodynamics and a race set-up for the ProActive Chassis Control (PCC). These upgrades deliver a more engaging GT racing experience, without losing any of the refinement and balance found in the road car.

As with the 650S, the aerodynamically optimised design of the 650S Sprint offers increased levels of downforce, and the revised air intakes carried across from the road car allow for optimised cooling of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo M838T engine. In the 650S Sprint, the proven powerplant is retained from the 650S roadcar, with a unique engine and transmission calibration to further enhance on-track drivability and driver engagement.

The cabin is fully track-focused and stripped out to minimise weight, but with no compromise to driver safety or comfort. Built around the lightweight and inherently strong carbon fibre MonoCell chassis, the interior also features an FIA-approved rollcage to further cocoon the driver. A lightweight carbon fibre HANS-approved racing seat, with full six-point harness, offers an optimised driving position, while an air-conditioning system is retained adding comfort. An integrated fire extinguisher system is also installed.

McLaren GT recently announced the 650S GT3 race car, which will be seen on the grid from next season, and the 650S Sprint shares a number of design features with its bigger brother.  A larger motorsport fuel ‘bag’ tank with quick-fill connectors is added, as is optimised cooling through the larger GT3-developed front radiator with a GT3-inspired bonnet integrating radiator exit ducts, and the addition of front wings louvres to further optimise airflow over, and around, the bodywork.

The first example of the 650S Sprint is shown with a new striking livery, in an inverted colour scheme of the 650S GT3 car shown at Goodwood Festival of Speed. Finished primarily in white, the design also features the new Tarocco Orange finish seen on the GT3, with subtle black and white detailing throughout.

The 650S Sprint  has a lower ride height with recalibrated adaptive damping for revised spring rates, and sits on 19-inch centre-locking racing wheels, fitted with Pirelli slick or wet tyres, while an onboard air jacking system enables quick tyre changes. Stopping power is also enhanced and provided by a race-prepared braking system developed for the 650S Sprint. This system combines with the road car’s highly effective Brake Steer system and enhanced active aerodynamics to offer superior braking performance. This allows for later braking into corners, but also improved brake feel and greater cornering speeds.

A range of further options and upgrades are available including a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) developed aerodynamic package including carbon fibre rear wing and front splitter, a passenger seat with six-point harness, and further lightweight components including a polycarbonate windscreen.

The 650S Sprint will be priced at £198,000*, and available from all official McLaren retailers worldwide or direct from McLaren GT.  Visit retailers.mclaren.com to locate your nearest retailer.