Latest Aston Martin dealership opens up in Bristol as the brand expands its sales, models and dealers.

• New Aston Martin dealership open in Bristol
• Prime site offers new and ‘Timeless’ pre-owned sales, aftersales and parts
• State-of-the-art 2,500m² facility

Aston Martin has opened its latest new dealership in the UK in Bristol, with the first Aston Martin dealership for partner Dick Lovett.

The purpose-built state-of-the-art facility features a 25-car luxurious showroom for new and pre-owned Aston Martin sports cars and a separate lounge where customers can tailor their new car to the exact specification of their choosing using “Q by Aston Martin” elements. 

The dealership also has a dedicated aftersales team and a 10 bay workshop staffed by world-class Gaydon-trained technicians. Aston Martin Bristol offer a convenient “Collection & Delivery” service using their covered vehicle transporter and a “Roaming Technician” service to assist with minor repairs and original diagnostic work.

Speaking at the VIP customer reception yesterday evening, Aston Martin President and CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “I am delighted to open this outstanding new facility here in Bristol, which sets the benchmark for all dealership showrooms worldwide.”   

“We are confident the passionate and dedicated Aston Martin Bristol team will draw upon their extensive experience and knowledge of the Aston Martin brand to provide our valued customers an exceptional service in the South West and Wales.  We are excited to be working with new partner Dick Lovett who share our passion for Aston Martin.”

Lynn Campbell, Managing Director, Dick Lovett commented: “It was great to see over 400 Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts this evening. The opening of our new state-of-the-art facility, in our 50^th year, has made 2016 a fantastic year. 

The facility has been uniquely designed and reflects Aston Martin’s core design philosophy and craftsmanship. We are dedicated to providing new and existing Aston Martin owners with a service which surpasses their expectations.”

Located in a prime position at Cribbs Causeway, close to Junction 17 of the M5, the showroom opening was attended by invited guests and key members of the Aston Martin senior executive team.

On display at the opening event was the new DB11. The first product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, the DB11 is the bold new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition.  

Also included in the display was the new Vanquish Zagato, a DB4 Convertible, the Aston Martin Racing #99 V8 Vantage GTE plus a host of other Aston Martin special project vehicles. In addition to this were examples from the company’s current line-up, and a selection of heritage models, including the Aston Martin A3, the oldest surviving Aston Martin in the world.

New Aston Martin dealership opens in Newcastle, the brand expansion continues with full force.

• New Aston Martin dealership open in Newcastle
• Prime site offers new and ‘Timeless’ Pre-owned sales, aftersales and Parts
• State-of-the-art 1,950m² facility

Aston Martin has opened its latest new dealership in the UK in Newcastle, with the first Aston Martin dealership for partner Stoneacre.

The purpose-built state-of-the-art facility features a 14-car luxurious showroom for new and pre-owned Aston Martin sports cars, a separate “Q by Aston Martin” lounge where customers can tailor their new car to the exact specification of their choosing, a dedicated aftersales team and a workshop staffed by world-class Gaydon-trained technicians. 

Speaking at the VIP customer reception last week, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “I am delighted to open this outstanding new facility here in Newcastle, which sets the benchmark for all dealership showrooms worldwide.  We have found the right partner in Stoneacre who share our passion for Aston Martin.   

“We are confident the passionate and dedicated Aston Martin Newcastle team will draw upon their extensive experience and knowledge of the Aston Martin brand to provide our valued customers in Newcastle an exceptional service.”

Shaun Foweather, Managing Director of Stoneacre commented: “It was great to see over 200 Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts this evening, which shows the extensive level of interest in this fantastic iconic 103 year old marque. It was an honor to also be able to unveil the new DB11 for the first time in the UK on such a special night.”

Located in a prime position at Silverlink, which is easily accessible from the A19 and A1, the showroom opening was attended by invited guests and key members of the Aston Martin senior executive team.

Attendees were treated to the first public unveiling in the UK of the new DB11. The first product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, DB11 is the bold new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition. 

Also included in the display was Aston Martin Racing endurance veteran, the #99 V8 Vantage GTE, an Aston Martin Vulcan, a Lagonda Taraf alongside examples from the company’s current line-up, and a selection of heritage models.

The Great vauxhall Art fair is back, bigger, better and more flamboyant than ever.

- Dog in Boots, Art Car Bonnets, Daylight Cabaret and a day trip to Margate -

- London 14^th June and Margate 30^th August -

The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair is the day the art-world lets its hair down and it’ll be parking up in Brick Lane Yard on Sunday 14th June with a fantastic, (genuinely best ever) line-up of established and up-and-coming artists who will be personally pitching up to sell their original and limited edition works of art out of the back of new and vintage Vauxhall cars.

Artists including Tracey Emin, Sir Peter Blake, Polly Morgan, Matt Collishaw, Rachel Howard & True Rocks, Gavin Turk, Ben Eine, Pam Hogg, Bob and Roberta Smith, Jessica Albarn, Turps Banana with Marcus Harvey, Pure Evil, James Unsworth, Ben Eine and Kristijana Williams will return to sell pieces created just for the day. 

Amongst those making their Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair debut will be Rachel Howard, Marc Quinns, Lisa Milroy, Dolores de Sade, Elli Popp, Ray Richardson, Holly Allan, Print Battles, Smithson Gallery and the Soho Art Society selling their work at authentically bargain prices.

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair founder and curator, Karen Ashton, comments, “This year the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair is bringing a slew of new talent into the car park, incredible performances, unbelievable art bargains and an ecstatic never-seen-before dog show to boot.”

Dog in a Boot Show

After a dozen wildly successful years we're finally going to the dogs....inviting our artists to present a myriad of canine influenced artworks amidst the art fair. All good natured dogs are welcome on leads with responsible owners and will have a one-off chance to be photographed with their owners in a car boot by artist Maria Teresa Gavazzi in a car boot and a chance to win the Best in Boot prize! Plus! Black dogs, Nodding Dogs, Sleeping Dogs, Toy Dogs, Felt Dogs, Cool dogs, Hotdogs and many more besides.

Art on a Vauxhall Car Bonnet – Live Charity Auction

Artists Jake & Dinos Chapman, Bob & Roberta Smith, Rachel Howard, Ben Eine, Matt Small and Oisin Byrne will be creating artworks on car bonnets provided by Vauxhall Motors. Bidders will have the unique opportunity to buy a completely original piece during a live auction at the end of the day, with each artist donating proceeds from the sale of their bonnet to either Just for Kids Law or The Hepatitis C Trust.

Daylight Cabaret

As usual the car park will be full of English eccentricity, incredible bargains, eclectic wares and madcap performances. Richard Strange's Cabaret Futura will be hosting a Daylight Cabaret with staggering singers, hilarious stand ups and unforgettable performance acts including Sarah Jane Morris, Tim Etchells, The Band of Holy Joy, Oh Standfast, Kria and Silvia Ziranek and a more surprises along the way. Not forgetting the inimitable host and raconteur Richard Strange.

A Daytrip to Margate

On 30th August the Fair takes a trip to the seaside, joining forces with Margate’s Turner Contemporary. Tracey Emin will be bringing brand new limited editions to the Fair in her hometown plus some other homegrown Kentish talent including Vic Reeves plus almost everyone we can fit in from our London event! We’ll be announcing this line-up in July.

The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair is an art-buying frenzy from the moment the doors open to the thousand plus queue, waiting for the chance to grab the special just-for-the-day artworks. There’s something for every pocket with works typically on sale for between £10 to £1,000.

“The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair has a special place in our event calendar, showcasing the best of British art and for one-day only, making it accessible to anyone and everyone.  It also gives us a chance to ‘fire up’ our fabulous Vauxhall heritage fleet,” said, Denis Chick, Director of Communications at Vauxhall Motors. 

“Whether it’s the Victor Estate, ‘droop snoot’ Firenza inspired by Concorde, or Viva HA which sold over 100,000 in only 10 months after its introduction, the cars on display take people down memory lane. People keep coming back for more and this year is set to be another rip-roaring art success.” 

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair - London

Date: Sunday 14^th June 2015

Time: 12 – 6pm

Address: Brick Lane Yard, Corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street, London E1

Tickets: £5 - available on the door

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair - Margate

Date: Sunday 30^th August 2014

Time: 12 – 4pm

Address: Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent CT9 1HG

Tickets: £3 - available on the door

Nissan announces first quarter results.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced financial results for the first quarter (April-June) of fiscal year 2013, which ends on March 31, 2014.

During the first quarter, Nissan's improved market share in Japan and North America could not completely offset the repercussions in China of the islands dispute and sluggish economic conditions in Europe. Positive signs of improving sales volume in China, as well as expected contributions from the full ramp-up of US operations, should enhance Nissan's performance in the coming quarters of fiscal year 2013 - in line with the company's previously announced guidance.

Today, Nissan announced the following management pro forma results based on foreign exchange rates of JPY 98.8/USD and JPY 129.0/EUR, the average rates for fiscal year 2013 to date:

• Net revenues of JPY 2.51 trillion (USD 25.43 billion, EUR 19.47 billion)
• Operating profit of JPY 117.8 billion (USD 1.19 billion, EUR 913 million)
• Ordinary profit of JPY 101.6 billion (USD 1.03 billion, EUR 788 million)
• Net income of JPY 82.0 billion (USD 830 million, EUR 636 million)

Globally, Nissan sold 1.17 million units in the first quarter, a year-on-year decline of 3.3%. "Market conditions were challenging in the first quarter, but our results were in line with our prior expectations. We anticipate robust contributions from our new product launches in the second quarter and beyond. Nissan is on track to deliver its full-year guidance," said Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan is maintaining its accelerated pace of new product launches, with plans for the introduction of the Nissan Rogue crossover and Infiniti Q50 in the US from the second quarter onward. The company remains on track with its new model offensive under the Nissan Power 88 mid-term business plan, with one new vehicle to be launched every six weeks, on average, for all six years of the plan through fiscal 2016.

In accordance with changes to financial reporting standards, from fiscal 2013 onwards Nissan hasadopted the equity method to account for the joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng in China. Therefore, Nissan's statutory reported income statements no longer reflect the joint venture's results in revenue and operating profit.

Under the equity accounting method, Nissan today filed the following results with the Tokyo Stock Exchange, based on foreign exchange rates of JPY 98.8/USD and 129.0/EUR, the average rates for fiscal year 2013 to date:

• Net revenues of JPY 2.23 trillion (USD 22.60 billion, EUR 17.31 billion)
• Operating profit of JPY 108.1 billion (USD 1.09 billion, EUR 838 million)
• Ordinary profit of JPY 114.8 billion (USD 1.16 billion, EUR 890 million)
• Net income of JPY 82.0 billion (USD 830 million, EUR 636 million)