SCOTTISH COTY - Jaguar takes two awards at this years ceremony with the F-Pace and XF both winners.

• The F-PACE, Jaguar’s fastest-ever selling car, named ‘SUV of the Year’ at Scottish Car of the Year Awards
• The Jaguar XF completes the double beating rivals to be crowned ‘Luxury Car of the Year’
• 2016 awards mark a decade of success for Jaguar, with the brand collecting 15 Scottish Car of the Year awards since 2006
• Jaguar sales in Scotland are up 41% on the same period in 2015, supporting a record-breaking year for the brand in the UK

Jaguar has picked up two Scottish Car of the Year Awards, with the F-PACE named ‘SUV of the Year’ and the XF crowned ‘Luxury Car of the Year’. The accolades mark a decade of success for Jaguar at the annual awards, with the brand collecting 15 wins since 2006, and every new Jaguar winning an award since 1999.

These awards are the latest in a line of major UK industry honours for the XF and F-PACE, with the British-built saloon having won seven accolades since its launch just over a year ago, and the F-PACE named Auto Express ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Premium SUV’ by Telegraph Cars since its April introduction.

Commenting on the success, Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director said:

“The past ten years have been a momentous success for the Jaguar business, as our stylish and luxurious model line-up continues to compete with, and surpass, the industry’s biggest players. Our Scottish retailers have been vital to this, with Jaguar sales in Scotland up 41% on the same period in 2015. It’s a real honour when your cars are recognised independently by motoring experts, and to have them recognised so consistently by the Scottish Car of the Year Awards is incredible.”

“With the All-New XF, we’ve built on a winning formula to really disrupt one of the market’s most competitive segments, offering style, low running costs and luxury across the range. The F-PACE marks Jaguar’s first foray into the SUV market, and so far it’s been a great success. With its combination of sports car looks and versatile package, it’s a vehicle that appeals to the heart and the head.”

Jaguar’s successful decade at the Scottish Car of the Year awards began in 2006, with the Jaguar XK collecting both the ‘Sporting Car of the Year’ and ‘Overall Car of the Year’ awards. Recent highlights include the Jaguar E-Type being named as the ‘Most iconic car of the last 50 years’ in 2011, and the XE taking home the ‘Executive Car of the Year’ award at last year’s ceremony.

Stephen Park, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “Once again, Jaguar is a worthy winner at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards; the F-PACE is not only a stunner but it’s also a hugely practical car with handling and steering that are hard to fault. The XF, meanwhile, stands at the top of its class thanks to sharp styling, a superb chassis and broad range of frugal or performance engines.”

The Jaguar XF, priced from £32,300 on-the road, and F-PACE, priced from £35,020, are available to order now at Jaguar UK retailers.

One of the smallest actors in the world, the Late Kenny Baker, owed one of the biggest cars, and the Rolls Royce is up for auction.

• The 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche was formerly owned by the late Kenny Baker who starred as R2-D2 in the Star Wars films
• The car will be offered at auction by CCA on 24th September at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre
• The car is estimated at £33,000 to £36,000

A luxury Rolls-Royce formerly owned by the late Kenny Baker will be offered for sale at Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) September Sale on 24^th September at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.

As one of the most recognisable and popular actors of the Star Wars franchise for his role as robot side-kick R2-D2, Kenny Baker appeared in six of the blockbuster films.

Kenny purchased his 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche FHC on 6^th June 2002 and used it at his daily driver for four years. Standing at 3ft 8in tall, one of the smallest actors in showbiz, the luxury coupé was specially adapted to allow Kenny to drive it, with two foot long blocks of wood fixed to the pedals, as well as a sturdy pile of cushions placed on the driver’s seat.

The car, one of the most expensive Rolls-Royce models available when produced, featured the powerful Rolls-Royce V8 engine, a blue leather interior, walnut and chrome detailing, wooden steering wheel and lambswool over rugs.

Kenny was a self-declared fan of Rolls-Royce luxury cars.In fact, such was his love of Rolls-Royce that he took his final journey to Lytham Crematorium in a gleaming black Rolls-Royce limousine.

“Kenny wanted the best car in the world which just happened to be one of the biggest,” comments Guy Lees-Milne, auction manager at CCA. “Today the only indication of the special adaptation are some small holes drilled in the pedals, evidence of the car’s special story and unique provenance, which is sure to attract the interest of Rolls-Royce and Star Wars fans alike on auction day.”

Offered at auction with a sale estimate of £32,000 to £36,000, the car has had four previous owners, including Baker, and has covered 76,500 miles. Presented in good condition, although in need of a little bit of love, the Rolls comes with a comprehensive history file, original handbook, the V5 clearing showing Kenny Baker as a previous owner, and every tax disc since new.

USA - Mercedes-Benz C-Class takes the Luxury honours at the Kelley Blue Book Best buy Awards.

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class was chosen as one of Kelley Blue Book's Best Buys in the Luxury Car category for the second year running. Only 12 vehicles are recipients of the 2016 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, honoring the top new model-year vehicle choices available in the U.S. market.

A pioneer of the entry-level luxury category, the 2016 C-Class raises the bar yet again with new levels of cutting edge technology, safety, expressive design and sophistication.

"We are excited about the continued success of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class as it consistently establishes new benchmarks in its class," said Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. "Recognition as a 'Best Buy' from Kelley Blue Book for the second year in a row reinforces the value our C-Class brings to the Mercedes-Benz brand."

"After carefully analyzing a wealth of data and conducting extensive vehicle testing and evaluation from the hundreds of models available for the 2016 model-year, we chose this year's elite group of 12 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winners because they proved to be the top values in their class," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.

Data analyzed by Kelly Blue Book's expert editors to determine the Best Buys included vehicle pricing and transaction prices, 5-Year Cost-to-Own data, consumer reviews and ratings, vehicle sales and retail sales information. Last year's redesign elevated the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to Luxury Car Best Buy status, where it remains in 2016. The distinctive design gets even more appealing with time, while the polished interior and dynamic driving experience feel equally timeless.

WORLDWIDE - Biggest shock of the day, Hyundai to deliver a brand new brand, GENESIS, starting in December.

• New ‘Genesis’ brand will compete with the world’s leading luxury car brands
• Six-model line-up begins roll-out from December catering for ‘new luxury’ customers, delivering personalized and human-centered experiences
• Refined performance, athletic elegance in design and human-focused innovation will elevate the Genesis brand

Hyundai Motor has announced an all-new global luxury brand – Genesis –that will deliver ‘human-centered’ luxury through a range of new models that feature the highest standards of performance, design and innovation.

Created for a new generation of discerning consumers, Genesis will be a stand-alone brand that operates alongside the company’s popular Hyundai marque. Capitalizing on its success in the fast-growing global car market, Hyundai Motor will launch six new Genesis models by 2020 and will compete with the world’s most renowned luxury car brands.

The Genesis brand seeks to create a new definition of luxury, one that will provide a new platform for future mobility centered on people. By anticipating human needs at every touch point, Genesis models will embody four key aspects: Human-focused innovation, refined and balanced performance, athletic elegance in design and hassle-free customer experience.

“We have created this new Genesis brand with a complete focus on our customers who want smart ownership experiences that save time and effort, with practical innovations that enhance satisfaction. The Genesis brand will fulfill these expectations, becoming a market leader through our human-centered brand strategy,” said Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman.

Genesis models will boast outstanding driving dynamics and design, with innovations tailored to closely-meet the needs of customers. The new model line-up will distance itself from the traditional technological overload of brand-focused competitors, concentrating instead on a personalized, hassle-free customer experience. Continuing the customer-oriented approach that flows through every Genesis model, sales and service staff will provide rapid and attentive service to customer’s requests.

To elevate and differentiate the Genesis brand from Hyundai, a distinct design identity, emblem, naming structure and customer service offering is being established.

Genesis models will be badged with a new wing-type emblem, redesigned from the version used on the current Genesis model to create an even more luxurious look. This emblem firmly cements the Genesis models as a collective family of luxury models under the Genesis nameplate.

The Genesis brand will also adopt a new alphanumeric naming structure. Future models will be named by combining the letter ‘G’ for Genesis with a number, 90, 80 or 70 etc., representing the segment.

Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor said, “The Genesis models will provide technological innovation, excellent driving performance and luxury to customers. Every Genesis model will be created with the needs of our customers in mind, so the resulting car will perfectly meet their needs without any unnecessary burden or excess.”

Fitted with the latest proactive safety technologies, intuitive convenience features and IT connectivity, Genesis models are engineered to provide excellent ride comfort while retaining confident sportiness.

To develop a distinctive and differentiated design for the new Genesis brand vehicles, Hyundai Motor has created a Prestige Design Division. From mid-2016 Luc Donckerwolke, who was previously responsible for the design of Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, SEAT and Skoda models at the Volkswagen Group, will lead this new division alongside his role as Head of the Hyundai Motor Design Center. The work of the new Prestige Design Division will be overseen by Peter Schreyer, as part of his group-wide design responsibilities as President and Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Hyundai Motor Group.

Peter Schreyer commented, “In creating the design signature of Genesis brand cars, we set out to display confidence and originality, creating highly desirable products that present new charm through innovative styling and proportions.”

The name ‘Genesis’, which also means new beginnings, hints at the new values and standards that the brand will bring to the global luxury car market. Initially on sale in the Korean, Chinese, North American and Middle Eastern luxury car markets, the Genesis brand will expand its reach to Europe and other parts of Asia as the model range grows to full strength.

Setting the brand’s cars apart from competitors, innovation will begin with the consumer, with customer requirements directing development. This philosophy echoes the vision of Hyundai Motor to be a ‘lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond’, with the ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction of Hyundai reinterpreted for the new Genesis marque.

Since the launch of its first cars in 1967, Hyundai Motor has grown quickly to become one of the world’s leading automakers. The strategic decision to create an all-new luxury car brand is recognition of the company’s strengths and its global ambitions. By introducing new customers to Hyundai Motor and elevating its competitiveness, the new Genesis brand will enable more people to experience the premium value of Hyundai Motor.

Tesla gets through $359 Million in the last quarter, but with two new cars coming it's only to be expected.

It's crunch time for Tesla Motors.

The Silicon Valley automaker is losing more than $4,000 on every Model S electric sedan it sells, using its reckoning of operating losses, and it burned $359 million in cash last quarter in a bull market for luxury vehicles. The company on Wednesday cut its production targets for this year and next.

CEO Elon Musk said he's considering options to raise more capital, and didn't rule out selling more stock.

Musk has taken investors on a thrill ride since taking Tesla public in 2010. Now he's given himself a deadline, promising that by the first quarter of 2016 Tesla will be making enough money to fund a jump from making one expensive, low volume car to mass producing multiple models, and expanding a venture to manufacture electric power storage systems.

Tesla's shares fell almost 9 percent on Thursday and slipped another 2 percent on Friday as investors and analysts weighed the risks of Musk's ambitious plans for expanding Tesla's auto and energy storage businesses. Tesla had just $1.15 billion on hand as of June 30, down from $2.67 billion a year earlier.

Automakers consume cash to pay for assembly line equipment, including metal dies and plastic molds, as well as testing to meet safety and emissions standards. A typical new car can cost $1 billion or more to engineer and bring to market.

Established automakers such as General Motors and Ford Motor Co. have amassed far larger cash cushions as they've rebuilt balance sheets battered by the 2008-2009 recession. GM, restructured six years ago in a government funded bankruptcy, has targeted cash reserves of $20 billion and had more than $28 billion in cash equivalents as of June 30.

To be sure, GM sells more than 9 million vehicles a year, while Tesla plans to build between 50,000 and 55,000 cars this year. Tesla, most of whose cars are built to order directly, delivered 11,532 cars in the second period and said it had an operating loss of about $47 million, for an operating loss per car of about $4,000.

Tesla's narrower margin for error is just one more way in which it is different from its century-old rivals.

Capital spending

The company said it plans $1.5 billion in capital spending this year, mainly to launch its Model X, battery powered SUV with eye-catching, vertical-opening "falcon wing" doors. Tesla reported $831 million in capital spending during the first half of the year, indicating it will spend roughly another $700 million.

During the second quarter, Tesla said operating costs and r&d spending rose, while average selling prices for the Model S lineup, which starts at $70,000 before federal and state electric vehicle tax breaks, fell 1 percent as the mix of sales shifted to less expensive models and a strong dollar hit revenue generated overseas. The Model S comes in several different versions, ranging in price up to $106,000 or more, depending on options.

Tesla has signaled capital spending will drop next year because the company won't be spending on a major vehicle launch. In 2017, Tesla plans to launch its Model 3 line, which the company says will start at about $35,000 and push total sales toward the goal of 500,000 vehicles a year by 2020.

Barclays analyst Brian Johnson disagreed with the company's estimates, and said he expects Tesla's capital spending will go up in 2016 and 2017 as the company ramps up its battery factory and Model 3 development. "Their small scale means the cash generation is not as great as they might have hoped for," he said.

Worth more than FCA

Musk said this week Tesla expects to have $1 billion in cash over the next year, and told analysts "there may be some value" in raising capital "as a risk reduction measure."

Tesla's stock is still about 70 percent higher than it was two years ago, and 8 percent ahead of its level on Jan 1. With a market capitalization of $31 billion, Tesla is worth more than Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, the much larger maker of Ram pickups and Jeep Grand Cherokees.

"A capital raise, given the way they're burning cash today, given the fact that they have future investment needs, seems very likely at some point," said UBS Securities analyst Colin Langan, who has a sell rating on the stock.

Musk has steered Tesla out of tight corners before. In September 2012, the company faced a cash crunch, but raised money by selling shares and renegotiating the terms of a federal loan. The Model S started production in mid-2012.

Tesla has made moves to expand sales volume, and lure people to pay more for its vehicles. In addition to adding a lower priced version of the Model S, Tesla last month said it would offer performance upgrades for its Model S 85 and 85D for $5,000 and launched the Model S 90D and P90D high performance cars at a $10,000 price premium.

GAAP numbers

Tesla reports its finances in a different way from the Detroit automakers. Using the generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, used by GM or Ford, Tesla's operating losses per vehicle have steadily widened to $14,758 from $3,794 in the second quarter of 2014.

But Tesla points out in its statements to investors that its GAAP accounting excludes certain revenue and profits from Model S sedans that customers lease.

In the second quarter, the deferred gross profits from Model S leases amounted to $61.9 million, Tesla said. Analysts say they add back the deferred revenue to make Tesla's figures more comparable to the reporting used by other automakers.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Land Rover cleans up with five, yes FIVE awards.

• New Discovery Sport honoured with prestigious Safety Award
• Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE named best large SUV for a second consecutive year and a “best buy” Price Point winner in £40,000-plus category
• Range Rover Evoque sustains its award-winning pedigree as a Price Point winner among small SUVs
• Range Rover 3.0 TDV6 Vogue SE claims a further Price Point commendation for Land Rover in the Luxury Car category

The New Discovery Sport leads a supreme performance by Land Rover in the What Car? Car of the Year Awards, honoured with the Safety Award for its unmatched provision of advanced systems to protect both those on board and pedestrians.

The award establishes Discovery Sport’s entry into the compact SUV segment with its ground-breaking packaging, advanced engineering and its ingenious 5+2 interior configuration within a compact vehicle footprint.

The enduring strength of the Land Rover range is reflected in the Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE being named the best large SUV for the second year running and earning a What Car? Price Point “best buy” win in its price bracket.

A strong combination of quality and value secured a further Price Point win for the Range Rover Evoque SD4 Pure Tech in the small SUV class. The Range Rover 3.0 TDV6 Vogue SE cemented its superiority among luxury vehicles priced over £70,000.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: “Winning this award provides Discovery Sport with valuable, independent validation of its exceptional quality and ability. It reflects the extreme lengths we go to, to ensure safety provisions go beyond what is required, and what customers expect.

“Safety was a fundamental priority in the development of Discovery Sport as a true family vehicle. This award rewards the no-compromise, pioneering work we have invested in the model.”

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, commented: “These awards further strengthen the prospects for Discovery Sport ahead of its market introduction while at the same time reinforcing the class-leading qualities presented across the Land Rover range.

“Range Rover Sport remains pre-eminent in its class and our continuous improvement of Range Rover Evoque is sustaining its award-winning quality three years on from its launch. At the top of the market, Range Rover remains a formidable performer in delivering bespoke luxury and exceptional performance capabilities.” 

Discovery Sport – Safety Award

Discovery Sport’s Safety Award rewards the significant achievement Land Rover has made in delivering effective, advanced safety systems as standard. Raising the benchmark in its class, new Discovery Sport affords vehicle occupants and pedestrians exceptional protection, qualities that have already been independently recognised with a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash testing.

In its appraisal of Discovery Sport, What Car? declared: “Most impressive is how far Land Rover has gone beyond the required standards for a five-star NCAP rating. Adult protection is rated as the second highest score of the year, child and pedestrian protection are highly credible and the safety assist rating dwarfs that of rivals.”

Discovery Sport benefits from intelligent use of advanced technologies for safer driving, including the adoption of Autonomous Emergency Braking as a standard feature across the range. Using a digital stereo camera, this recognises and alerts the driver to potential collision hazards ahead, engaging emergency braking if needed to avoid or reduce the consequences of an impact. As a first-in-class feature for a small SUV, Discovery Sport is also available with a pedestrian airbag as standard, deploying automatically from the rear upper section of the bonnet.

The suite of active and passive safety systems is comprehensive, including Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control, Roll Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking Systems, Reverse Traffic Detection, Emergency Brake Lights, Lane Departure Warning and Seatbelt Reminders.

Range Rover Sport – Best Large SUV and Price Point winner

Range Rover Sport, specifically the SDV6 HSE, has taken the title of Best Large SUV for the second year running, reaffirming its class-leading quality and performance. In making the award, What Car? said: “The Range Rover Sport may look pricey next to alternatives such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML, but you know the minute you get in that it utterly warrants its price. If you've got the money, the Rangie is really in a class of its own.”

It also highlighted the “sprightly acceleration” of the engine, the comprehensive specification of the HSE model and the all-round driving rewards it delivers.

For 2015, Range Rover Sport has adopted further innovations and improvements, including the introduction of All-Terrain Progress Control, a system that allows automatic vehicle speed control when negotiating steep gradients and rough or low-grip surfaces. Useful technology also extends to a new Head-Up Display which projects principal vehicle performance information on to the lower windscreen in the driver’s eyeline.

Range Rover Sport’s strong appeal is reflected in over half a million global sales since its introduction in 2005.

Range Rover Evoque – Small SUV Price Point winner

Evoque marked a watershed for Land Rover and for the SUV market when it made its market debut three years ago. Its arrival was greeted with global acclaim and awards – more than 160 to date, and counting. It has quickly progressed to become Land Rover’s biggest-selling model, its appeal strengthened with the addition of new technical features.

What Car? selected the new Pure Tech grade as the “best buy” model at a price point above £22,000, highlighting its “impressive” and “attractive” features such as such as navigation, automatic headlights, headlight power-washers, a heated windscreen, rain-sensing wipers and front parking sensors.

Key developments that have helped keep Evoque one of the most cutting-edge cars in its class – include Land Rover’s InControl Apps, providing enhanced and easy access to journey planning and information services; rear-seat entertainment systems; a world-first laser-based Head-Up Display; and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Range Rover – Luxury Car Price Point winner

What Car? singled out the Range Rover 3.0 TDV6 Vogue SE as a “best buy” in the marketplace for luxury cars in the £70,000 to £100,000 price range. Its success is indicative of how Land Rover has kept pace with global customers’ increasingly sophisticated and diverse tastes, providing a wealth of personalisation opportunities that combine individuality with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship.  All this is achieved without compromising its exceptional all-terrain performance.

What Car? considers the Range Rover to be a unique proposition, describing it as “the only luxury car with real go-anywhere potential” and a status symbol that is “at home parked up in a South Kensington side street as it is on a gravel drive of a country estate”.

While the Vogue SE provides an impressive specification, Land Rover’s attention to detail extends to even more exclusive options in the Range Rover Autobiography and Autobiography Black.

NEED READERS TO OFFER OPINIONS PLEASE

I know that this is just a blog, and not a massive multi million selling magazine or world wide massive website, but i am really happy with teh way things are progressing, there has been well in excess of one million Google page views, with nearly 300,000 direct page reads, and I thank you all for that, without you guys reading these posts, I would not continue.

In nearly two years of blogging about car, bikes, truck and commercial vehicles, we have never really pushed our favourites, so i was wondering if a "The Motoring World" should do our own car of the year, let me know your thoughts and what catagories to have.

Currently my choices are

• Small Car.
• Family Car.
• Executive.
• Sports Car.
• Cabriolet.
• SUV.
• Luxury Car.
• Car of the Year.
• Most interesting new car 2015.

So, please let me know...

Scottish COTY - Jaguar Land Rover wins three awards

• Jaguar F-TYPE receives Sporting category honours
• Range Rover receives Scottish Luxury Car of the Year award
• Range Rover Sport named SUV of the Year

Jaguar Land Rover achieved a remarkable triple success at the 2013 Scottish Car of the Year Awards, with honours going to the new Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Jaguar F-TYPE sports car.

The Jaguar F-TYPE beat stiff competition to win the Sporting category award, impressing the judges – some of Scotland’s most important motoring journalists – with its elegant design, formidable performance and impressive customer appeal.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: "We have waited a very long time for the Jaguar F-TYPE, more than four decades in fact, but this year’s Sporting winner does it with panache. It also does it with elegance, superb performance and complete desirability."

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, accepted the award at a ceremony in Glasgow and commented: “This award is a wonderful recognition of the efforts invested in creating the new F-TYPE. It is a sports car that reaffirms the brand’s sporting bloodline in both its performance and design.”

Range Rover received the Best Luxury Car Award, an acknowledgement of how Land Rover has continued to develop the quality, comfort and refinement of the fourth generation vehicle.

Alisdair Suttie said: “Luxury comes in many forms, but the Range Rover brings together such a broad range of talents, it stands head and shoulders above the competition. It also brings innovative design, supreme comfort and world-beating style.”

The accolade adds to a growing list of industry awards for the new Range Rover, including luxury car of the year titles from What Car? and Top Gear Magazine.

The all-new Range Rover Sport was also named Scottish SUV of the Year. Sharing the same lightweight construction principles with its larger sibling, and built on the same highly efficient production line at Land Rover’s Solihull plant, the new Range Rover Sport has made significant advances in handling, performance and customer appeal.

“A good SUV has to be many things: good looking, roomy, comfortable and ideally great both on road and off,” said Alisdair Suttie. “Thanks to an all-aluminium lightweight body that has helped it lose 400kg, the latest Range Rover Sport is all those things, as well as being much faster and surprisingly economical.

“Factor in the availability of a seven-seat option and we think this is the best SUV available on the roads of Scotland today.”

The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport awards were accepted by Fiona Pargeter, Head of Global PR Communications, Jaguar Land Rover, who commented: “Scotland is a key market for Land Rover, so we are extremely proud to receive these awards, and value the recognition they make of Land Rover raising the bar for quality and performance in the premium SUV market.”