More details on the presidential DS 7 Crossback, the all new SUV to move teh brand forward.

• New picture images show the attention-to-detail of the DS7CROSSBACK driven at the ceremony of the inauguration of new French PresidentEmmanuel Macron
• The Ink Blue DS 7 CROSSBACK was specially-personalised with many handcrafted bespoke features
• A fully-retracting roof allowed the new President was able to greet the assembled crowds on the Champs-Elysées
• DS has strong provenance having been the vehicle of choice on many previous inauguration occasions
• French president’s inauguration DS 7 CROSSBACK SUV is now on display at DS World Paris

The specially-commissioned DS 7 CROSSBACK produced for the first journey of the new President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron has many notable handcrafted and fine attention-to-detail features. The ‘Presidential’ DS 7 CROSSBACK had been specially-personalised with a fully-retractable opening roof - so the President was able to greet the French crowd along the Champs-Elysées.

The DS brand was proud that DS 7 CROSSBACK was chosen as the inauguration’s car of the new French President and that it followed the recent launch of the SUV by DS. 

This historical moment provided the opportunity for the DS brand, whose ambition is to embody both French know-how and innovation in the automotive industry, to further pursue the tradition of being the official car manufacturer of the French presidency. DS models are emblematic and have historical provenance, having been used many times on similar symbolic occasions with the Fifth Republic (FR).

The ‘Presidential ‘ DS 7 CROSSBACK is currently being proudly-displayed at DS WORLD Paris, located at 33 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris and is open daily between 8.30am and 7pm.

‘Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK‘ - details in brief

• The very first DS 7 CROSSBACK on the public roads : DS engineers and craftsmen worked on this unique Presidential car, 7 months before its public launch (first deliveries start in January 2018)
• Distinguished in a sumptuous Ink Blue paint finish, it features a custom- made opening roof, French Republic signature badging and a Tricolour flag holder
• The ‘Black Art’ Leather interior (named ‘Opera Inspiration’ after a district of Paris) is revised by a French creation (‘Toile de Laque’ is tailored and created by a craftsman recognised for their expertise and know-how in the specialism of decorative gilding: Atelier Maury)
• The 20 inch wheels are personalised with finely-created golden attention-to-detail features
• Most of highly-technical features of the DS 7 CROSSBACK feature some of the new items that will become available with this vehicle: DS CONNECTED PILOT, paving the way for autonomous driving, DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, the 21st century DS suspension system, which uses a camera to anticipate any bumps and undulations in the road surface to ensure the President and future occupants of this vehicle can enjoy a serene ride experience.

USA - New accessories package marks Acura’s racing heritage TLX GT Package vehicle on display at SEMA

• New accessories package marks Acura’s racing heritage TLX GT Package vehicle on display at SEMA

Marking Acura's racing heritage, the TLX luxury sports sedan can now be customized to deliver an even more aggressive and sporty appearance with the new TLX GT Package, available on all 2016 and 2017 TLX models at Acura dealers nationwide. 

The TLX GT package vehicle will be on display at Acura's booth at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 1-4.

Reflecting Acura's rich legacy in sports car racing, including its just completed campaign of the TLX GT car in the Pirelli World Challenge, the TLX GT Package includes a rear decklid spoiler, front spoiler, side sill garnishes and rear underbody spoiler, along with an optional 19-inch Diamond Cut wheel and tire kit.

The spacious five-passenger TLX delivers a blend of sports-sedan athleticism and premium luxury refinement. TLX models deliver the latest iterations of Acura precision-handling technologies – Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS™), next-generation Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®), and Agile Handling Assist (AHA).

The TLX is available with a range of powertrain and drivetrain options and  three distinct model offerings:

• The TLX with 2.4-liter, 206-horsepower i-VTEC inline-4 with 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (8DCT) with torque converter, and P-AWS;
• the TLX with 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower i-VTEC V-6 with 9-speed automatic transmission and P-AWS;
• and the TLX SH-AWD with next-generation SH-AWD, powered by a 3.5-liter, 290 horsepower3 V-6 and 9-speed automatic.

All three TLX models offer a long list of standard luxury comfort, convenience and safety features. TLX models with the 2.4-liter engine can be upgraded to the Technology Package and models with the 3.5-liter engine are available with the Technology or the line-topping Advance Package.

Acura's rich heritage in sports car racing includes the 2009 American LeMans manufacturer, driver and team championships in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. Acura Motorsports just completed its campaign of the TLX GT in Pirelli World Challenge competition with its longtime racing partner RealTime Racing, having achieved 10 Manufacturers' Championships, 14 Drivers' Championships and 78 race victories. 

In addition, fresh off a near production NSX winning its North American racing debut at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the Time Attack 2 class, Acura has begun homologation testing of the NSX GT3 car with plans to campaign the newest addition to Acura Motorsports in North America beginning in 2017.  

To view, build and price a 2017 Acura TLX with GT Package visit www.acura.com/TLX and see your local, authorized dealer for special lease pricing and current offers.

The official Champagne partner to this years Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle has been named as Taittinger.

• One of the world’s most famous Champagne producers, Taittinger, has been announced as Official Champagne Partner to the Concours of Elegance 2016
• Founded in 1734, and run to this day by the Taittinger family, the history and dedication of Taittinger is the ideal match for Concours of Elegance
• Taittinger Champagne will join sixty of the world’s rarest and most incredible cars at Windsor Castle from 2-4 September in celebrating the history of the motor car
• Tickets to the Concours of Elegance 2016 are available now from www.concoursofelegance.co.uk       

The Concours of Elegance 2016 has announced Taittinger, one of the world’s most famous Champagne producers, as Official Champagne Partner. With a rich history and dedication to perfection, Taittinger is the ideal match for the Concours of Elegance.

Dating back to 1743, Taittinger Champagne was established even before the oldest 19^th Century horse-drawn Royal Carriages on display in the Concours of Elegance. But, both Taittinger and the stories behind each of the incredible cars on display at Windsor Castle showcase a passion for quality and craftsmanship.

From the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder – winner of Le Mans four times in a row and the Mille Miglia three times –  to the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione driven to victory three times by Sir Stirling Moss, each of the cars represents the absolute best-of-the-best. And so it is with Taittinger who – as the second largest vineyard owner in the region – has complete control over the quality of its product from vine to bottle.

Taittinger remains one of the few top Champagne Houses to be owned, and actively run, by the family named on the label, with its high percentage Chardonnay Champagnes matured in UNESCO status 4^th Century Roman cellars.  

James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance Director, said: “From the magnificent Windsor Castle venue to the stellar line-up of cars on display, the Concours of Elegance always represents the very best on offer. With well over 250 years of experience in producing Champagne, we know that Taittinger will be able to live up to the high expectations of all of our guests at Concours of Elegance 2016.”

Lynn Murray, Marketing Director, Hatch Mansfield, Champagne Taittinger Sole UK agent, said: “Champagne Taittinger is delighted to partner with this year’s Concours of Elegance. The Champagne’s elegant style and historic roots, combined with the family’s passion for quality and the arts, and their attention to the finer details from vineyard to glass make this a fitting match.” 

Concours of Elegance takes place between 2-4 September and has partnered with a series of other exclusive brands for the event, including AIG, Autoglym, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar Land Rover, Octane, RM Sotheby’s and the Royal Automobile Club. Tickets are available now from concoursofelegance.co.uk, with an adult ticket costing £40, and discounts for children. A variety of hospitality packages are also available. 

One of the primary aims of Concours of Elegance is to raise money for charity, and this year’s event will be generating funds for The Queen’s Choral Foundation, The Household Cavalry Foundation and Springfield Youth Club Hackney. So far Concours of Elegance has raised more than £800,000 for its charities

Nissan launches it's Concept for the latest Gran Turismo Console game.

The Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo was on display at the Copper Box in Olympic Park, London, during the launch of a new game, Grand Turismo Sport.

Displayed alongside seven other full-size concept cars, the largest ever gathering of GT concept vision cars in one place, the vehicle provides a visualization of what a high performance Nissan could look like in the future.

The Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo began life as dream project for young Nissan designers who were given free rein to create the perfect supercar for their own Gran Turismo fantasy garage.

But the design from a team at Nissan Design Europe – based in London, England – was seen to have so much potential that it has benefited from input from an engineering team based in Japan.

Adapting design cues from current Nissan performance models, it was created from scratch using the latest digital design tools: The first – and to date only – physical representation of the car is the actual concept model

In 1997, Gran Turismo (GT) introduced to the world the ability to realistically recreate automobiles in 3DCG and allow gamers to virtually experience them on their home consoles. Since then, the GT series has recorded a total of 76.74 million copies (*), breaking records and winning awards on the way. 

On November 15, the makers of GT will take the title to the next level with the release of Gran Turismo Sport for the PlayStation®4 console, where it will promote the rebirth of motorsports with its partnership with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

DS Automobiles and Givenchy collaborate to bring a limited edition DS3 to discerning female buyers.

DS Automobiles and Givenchy Le MakeUp have today announced a limited edition New DS 3, which will be available to order in the UK from 1 June 2016.

New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp will be on display at DS World Paris from 10 May to 7 June as part of an exclusive Givenchy Le MakeUp exhibition showcasing the brand’s iconic products and sources of inspiration.

Following the launch of New DS 3 earlier this year, DS Automobiles has revealed the New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp Limited Edition, which has been created with Givenchy Le MakeUp to redefine French luxury and elegance in automotive design.

The latest limited edition to join the New DS 3 range, New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp will be available as a hatchback and a Cabrio, either with a manual gearbox or the very latest EAT6 automatic transmission. All versions are powered by the DS brand’s award-winning PureTech 110 S&S 3-cylinder petrol engine.

Designed to appeal to customers looking for the ultimate in personal expression, only 500 examples will be available in the UK. Just over half of all DS 3 drivers are women, so this limited edition has been designed to meet the expectations of many modern day women, who are always on the go.

A bespoke Givenchy Le MakeUp kit is stored in a special compartment in the driver’s armrest inside the car and the spacious interior provides the perfect place where both the driver and the front passenger can apply and check their make-up before driving. Further enhanced by experiential technology – a signature of the DS brand – both courtesy mirrors feature special LED lighting developed exclusively for this limited edition to ensure the best possible illumination, day and night.

The unique styling of the car includes a textured white body colour called Opaline White. The exterior look is completed with stylish Givenchy Le MakeUp badges positioned on the doors, just in front of the ‘shark fin’ B-pillars.

The beautifully finished exterior perfectly complements the luxurious feel of the interior, which boasts a striking Rose Pink dashboard and premium black leather upholstery. Emphasising the overall harmony of the design, the rose pink colour of the dashboard can also be seen inside the driver’s arm rest.

The creation of two iconic French brands, New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp will be on display at DS World Paris between 10 May and 7 June, alongside a range of stylish products from Givenchy Le MakeUp.

"New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp expresses the finest expertise of two leading brands in one creation. Givenchy is a recognised name, embodying a distinctive, modern, creative approach to luxury and placing considerable emphasis on materials, textures and colours, just as we do. In short, it’s a brand with similar values, with which we have a great deal in common." Thierry Metroz, Design Director of DS Automobiles.

An iconic vehicle for unique customers

All the cars in the DS range are designed with personal expression in mind. From the exterior colours to the materials used in the cabin, the design team always put considerable thought into every detail to create unique and individual vehicles.

Reinventing the matt finish on this car’s bodywork, DS has used a new paint process for the very first time. The body features a new shade called Opaline White. The textured paint, which is not used by any other carmaker in the world, has a granular feel and a striking new finish that highlights the lines of the car. The DS signature Whisper Purple colour of the roof creates a striking contrast, and the car features the same purple colour on the door mirrors and for the wheel centre caps. The Cabrio features a black fabric soft-top and Whisper Purple for the roof surround.

The interior is home to a host of personalised touches. The protective floor mats even feature the limited edition Givenchy Le MakeUp logo. The central armrest has a Givenchy Le MakeUp emblem as part of the leather trim and contains a compartment that holds a special Givenchy Le MakeUp cosmetics collection.      The cosmetics kit comes with the car and includes Noir Couture mascara, Prisme Visage compact face powder and Le Rouge lipstick, together with a Whisper Purple nail polish developed specifically for this partnership.

New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp specification;

• Based on Elegance trim
• Basalt Back leather upholstery
• Matching black leather on the steering wheel, handbrake, gear knob and instrument binnacle
• 17-inch Aphrodite diamond-cut black alloy wheels with Whisper Purple centre caps
• DS LED Vision Xenon headlights
• 7-inch touchscreen
• DS Connect Box with emergency and assistance system
• Rear parking sensors
• Hill-start assist
• Auto Pack, including automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights, heated/folding door mirrors
• Hatchback: Opaline White body / Whisper Purple roof
• Cabrio: Opaline White body / black soft-top and Whisper Purple roof surround

Givenchy Le MakeUp cosmetics kit;

• Le Rouge lipstick, shade No. 315 Framboise Velours
• Noir Couture mascara, shade No. 1 Black Satin
• Prisme Visage face powder, shades No. 2 Satin Ivoire, No. 3 Popeline Rose, No. 4 Dentelle Beige or No. 5 Soie Abricot
• Nail polish, Le Vernis, shade No. 32 Whisper Purple exclusive limited edition

The products offered in the New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp kit are available to buy at DS World Paris during the exhibition.

Prices for the New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp Limited Edition will start from £19,395 for the hatchback and £21,695 for the Cabrio version.

New DS 3 Givenchy Le MakeUp

• PureTech 110 S&S manual Givenchy Le MakeUp: £19,395 MRRP OTR
• PureTech 110 S&S EAT6 Givenchy Le MakeUp: £20,895 MRRP OTR

New DS 3 Cabrio Givenchy Le MakeUp

• PureTech 110 S&S manual Givenchy Le MakeUp: £21,695 MRRP OTR
• PureTech 110 S&S EAT6 Givenchy Le MakeUp: £23,195 MRRP OTR

The latest model in the McLaren Sports Series, the 570GT, to make UK debut at the London Motor Show 2016.

• The latest model in the McLaren Sports Series, the 570GT, to make UK debut at the London Motor Show 2016
• McLaren 675LT Spider and 650S Spider also on display on the McLaren London stand #L63 at Battersea Evolution, 5-8 May 2016

The new McLaren 570GT will make its UK debut at the revived London Motor Show, following the global reveal at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The latest model in the Sports Series will be joining the 650S Spider and the sold-out 675LT Spider as part of the McLaren London stand #L63 at Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park.  

The 570GT is the most refined and luxurious McLaren to date sitting alongside the 570S Coupé and 540C Coupé as the third model in the recently announced Sports Series. Practical enough for everyday use and long-distance journeys, the 570GT features a unique side-opening rear glass hatch offering additional storage on the leather-upholstered Touring Deck. 

The light and airy cabin is specified with the highest quality materials throughout and includes a standard fixed glass Panoramic Roof creating an open and relaxing driving environment.

Under the skin, the 570GT has been developed with a road-biased dynamic setup, while retaining the supercar levels of engagement experienced on other McLaren models. 

The 570GT is fitted with the McLaren-developed 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine which generates 570PS (562 bhp) and 600 Nm (443 lb ft) of torque. 

The power is delivered through the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment to the handling and powertrain settings available through Normal, Sport and Track. The UK pricing of the McLaren 570GT starts from £154,000 with first customer deliveries scheduled for July 2016.

The car will be displayed alongside two groundbreaking models from the McLaren Super Series, the 650S Spider and the 675LT Spider, the latter of which is also making its UK show debut. 

The 675LT Spider is the second model to wear the iconic Longtail badge and the most focused, fastest and exhilarating open top McLaren model ever built. The car was unveiled in December 2015 as a limited edition of 500 examples, all of which sold out within two weeks.

The revived London Motor Show will be taking place at the Battersea Evolution from 5-8 of May and showcase more than 40 car brands and 130 models to visitors from around the world. 

The Show provides an important platform for the motoring industry in the UK, which is enjoying considerable success in terms of vehicle manufacturing, technical innovation and new car registration.