Lister Motor Company’s Knobbly Stirling Moss edition has made its US debut at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®

• Lister Motor Company’s Knobbly Stirling Moss edition has made its US debut at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®
• Limited edition car wowed crowds with star appearances at The Lodge Concept Lawn and the Pebble Beach RetroAuto
• Official launch took place at the Inn at Spanish Bay™ in the Pebble Beach® Classic Car Forum with guest of honour, Sir Stirling Moss
• Each of the ten production cars will feature the same lightweight spec as the Lister ‘works’ car in which Moss won at Silverstone in 1958
• With none of the original ‘works’ Lister Knobblys surviving today, this is a unique opportunity to buy a continuation ‘works’ Lister Knobbly
• Stirling Moss edition will also be the only car in the world to feature a body made entirely from lightweight magnesium 
• Each will be painted classic racing green and yellow and feature a plaque signed by Sir Stirling Moss
• These 10 cars will be available priced from $1 million plus taxes
• Lister Motor Company has already taken several deposits   

Lister Motor Company’s Knobbly Stirling Moss edition has made its US debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®.  

The limited run car wowed crowds over the course of the prestigious event making several stellar appearances including on the famous Lodge Concept Lawn and at the Pebble Beach RetroAuto.

The car was officially launched to the public and media at the Inn at Spanish Bay™ in the Pebble Beach® Classic Car Forum pavilion, at an event hosted by Alain de Cadenet with Sir Stirling Moss as the guest of honour. 

Just 10 special edition cars will be produced, each featuring a magnesium body and special lightweight specification – just like the original ‘works’ racing Knobblys of the 1950s. 

These cars follow on from an initial run of 10 aluminium-bodied continuations – now all sold out – production of which began in 2014 at George Lister Engineering. Each is built using the same techniques as the original 1950s Knobbly, following the acquisition of Lister Motor Company by Andrew and Lawrence Whittaker in 2013.

The 10 Stirling Moss editions will celebrate Moss’s races for Brian Lister in the ‘works’ racing cars in the 1950s. While some original Lister Knobblys are still campaigned in historic racing, none of the original ‘works’ cars survive, making this limited run an incredible opportunity for collectors and Lister enthusiasts.

To keep ahead of customer cars and other rivals in the 1950s, Brian Lister reserved a special lightweight specification for his ‘works’ Knobbly racing cars – with one of the main features being a magnesium body.

Magnesium is an exceptional material, lightweight but difficult to source and expensive. It is also time-consuming to work with as it is very hard to form, requiring incredible skill and craftsmanship. As a result, Lister has invested hugely in research and development into how to work with magnesium and produce perfect, hand-turned bodywork.

All 10 Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss editions will faithfully feature the same specification as the ‘works’ car with which Moss won at Silverstone in 1958. Key features of the Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss edition are:

• Bodyshell manufactured from lightweight magnesium with aerodynamic low-drag Long Wing Design front wings  
• Engine sump manufactured from magnesium  
• Clutch and differential casing manufactured from magnesium
• Lightweight tubular steel chassis
• Solid sterling silver number plaque 1 to 10 with Sir Stirling Moss’s signature engraved
• Classic Lister green & yellow paint, matching the original 1950s design

Each one of the 10 owners will receive a factory handover from Sir Stirling Moss and a personal welcome letter from the legendary racing driver. 

Every Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss will be built at exactly the same factory as the standard lightweight Knobbly: George Lister Engineering in Cambridge. 

The chassis will be made using exactly the same jig as was used for the first Knobbly back in 1958, while the bodies will be formed around the same styling buck too. Each car will be priced from $1 million plus taxes.

Lawrence Whittaker, CEO Lister Motor Company, said: “The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®is without doubt the most important concours event in the world and a must-attend week on the historic motoring calendar. 

It has been a great honour to show our Knobbly Stirling Moss edition at the Pebble Beach RetroAuto, the Inn at Spanish Bay™ at the Pebble Beach® Classic Car Forum and on The Lodge Concept Lawn. 

Everywhere we have taken the car it’s been met with huge enthusiasm. I’m absolutely delighted to have launched the car to such a discerning and receptive audience.  

“These Stirling Moss editions represent a truly unique opportunity. None of the original ‘works’ Lister Knobblys survived from the 1950s, so the fortunate few who get to own a Stirling Moss edition will be getting a period-correct continuation ‘works’ Lister made using the same techniques as the original.

“Secondly, as magnesium is such a difficult-to-source material and requires incredible skill and craftsmanship to form, the Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss edition will be the only magnesium-bodied car you can buy – either as a road or racing car – anywhere in the world.

“Thirdly, this is only the second time in history that Sir Stirling Moss has put his name to a car. And this is truly limited run – we are only making 10. Ever. 

There will be no more. Factor in a personal factory hand-over from Sir Stirling Moss himself – a true British hero and a man who played a huge role in putting Lister on podiums in the 1950s – and you have an unrivalled, very personal experience. And an instant classic.” 

Sir Stirling Moss said: “The Knobbly remains one of my favourite racing cars. I remember getting into it in 1958 and thinking ‘who is going to beat me in this?’ At the time I knew they were quick but I never realised, until now, that they were so different to the customer cars.  

“These magnesium-bodied continuations redefine the word ‘special’: they are hugely collectible and they will be very fast indeed. They will be winners on the track – just as they were in their day. I’m looking forward to meeting the new owners and seeing some of these amazing cars on the historic racing circuit being driven flat out as there were designed to be.”

Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss edition – In detail

Brian Lister met Sir Stirling Moss in the summer of 1954 and the two became great friends, their mutual respect immediately binding them. Moss raced for Lister on three occasions: Goodwood on 25^th September 1954, Silverstone on 19^th July 1958 and Sebring, USA, on 21^st March 1959.

In 1958, the Lister works team was locked in an intense battle with works cars from Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lotus and customer Listers run by Scottish racing team Ecurie Ecosse. 

Tragedy struck in May that year when Brian Lister’s much-loved star driver, Archie Scott Brown, crashed at Spa and died later from his injuries. Overcome with grief, Brian Lister initially wanted to leave the sport, but realising he had customer commitments, continued and kept Lister racing.

Keen for a victory at the sports car race of the British Grand Prix round at Silverstone on 19th July, Brian Lister employed the services of Stirling Moss, who was racing for Vanwall in the F1 world championship. Moss took pole in the magnesium-bodied Lister, which wore the famous number plate ‘MVE 303’ and, against a field which included Roy Salvadori and Graham Hill, took victory at an average speed of 97.92mph.

As well as a magnesium body, the car that Moss drove had a lighter chassis and other modifications. With the works cars, Brian Lister’s aim was to reduce weight and improve performance. So it goes with the Knobbly Stirling Moss.

Whereas the standard continuation Knobblys run a three-inch outer diameter tubular steel chassis with a 14 gauge, the Stirling Moss editions run an even thinner wall: a 16 gauge. This tubing is not readily available so George Lister Engineering hollows out existing tubing to gain the required thickness. Every chassis is built using exactly the same jig used on the original 1950s cars.

The body of the Stirling Moss edition car is also different to the standard Knobbly. It features lower, more aerodynamic front wings, known as the Long Wing Design, which help the car slip through the air more easily while also improving stability, by reducing front-end lift at high speed.

This modification is the sole aesthetic difference between the Stirling Moss editions and the standard cars. The other main difference is the material out of which the body is made: magnesium.

Lighter than aluminum by around 30 per cent, magnesium is much harder to manipulate into different shapes. And whereas aluminum can be re-formed, magnesium cannot. It is also more expensive and harder to come by.

The skill of the body former is therefore crucial: he must make sure there is no waste material, yet also turn perfect panels again-and-again. As a result, the process is more painstaking and requires even more expert craftsmanship.

It takes around 4-6 weeks to form an entire aluminum-bodied Knobbly – the magnesium-bodied Stirling Moss editions require 12-18 weeks, three times as long. The panels are formed using the same styling buck as was used on the original works cars. This bodyshell is then painted the same classic green and yellow as the original car that Moss raced back in 1958 at Silverstone.

Magnesium is also used for the clutch and differential casings and the sump of the Crosthwaite and Gardiner-made 3.8-litre Racing Engine.

Produced by Crosthwaite and Gardiner, the wide-angle straight-six produces 337bhp at 6,750rpm and 295 lbs ft of torque at 4,250rpm. Drive goes to the rear wheels via an original specification four-speed gearbox, again produced by Crosthwaite and Gardener.

Overall, the Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss edition weighs just 841kg. Zero to 60mph takes less than four seconds, 0-100mph comes up in under 10 seconds and top speed is up to 188mph from the 350bhp 3.8-litre engine.

The Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss edition features a black leather interior with the final touch being a solid sterling silver individually numbered plaque – ranging from 1 to 10 – with Sir Stirling Moss’s signature engraved and located on the dashboard. 

Every Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss is truly hand-built. Like the Knobbly continuation, George Lister Engineering in Cambridge uses original production techniques while some of the original mechanics from the 1950s are still employed as consultants. It takes 4-5 months to build a Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss from scratch, some 1-2 months longer than an aluminum-bodied continuation car.

Lawrence Whittaker, CEO Lister Motor Company, continued: “With this limited run of 10 Stirling Moss editions, we are continuing the tradition of hand-building cars at George Lister Engineering in Cambridge, using many of the traditional methods that were used in 1954, as well as some of the original engineers. We are keeping Brian Lister’s legacy alive – and that is so important to us all.”

Sir Stirling Moss added: “Brian Lister’s cars were always engineered to an incredible degree. His passion for technical excellence and dedication to staying ahead of the pack was without equal, yet he was always such a complete gentleman. 

I thrived on that – it was always a real pleasure to drive for him. I wouldn’t put my name to anything that wasn’t the real deal and having been to the factory in Cambridge, I’ve seen first-hand how George Lister Engineering is continuing to use the same skills and techniques that were employed in the 1950s.” 

USA - BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the birth of the turbocharged car at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach.

BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the birth of the turbocharged car. Design study pays tribute to legendary motor racing glories at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach.

At the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, the BMW Group is presenting the BMW 2002 Hommage to shine the spotlight back over its successful history with turbocharged engines. 

In 1973 the BMW 2002 turbo became the first series-produced vehicle in Europe to feature turbo technology. In so doing, it turned the BMW 02 into a full-blooded sports car. 

Looking back, the advent of BMW turbo engine technology pointed the way for both the development of the sportiest BMW sedans and milestones such as the first Formula One World Championship title for a turbocharged car – won by Nelson Piquet in 1983.

“The BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the extraordinary feats of engineering on which BMW turbo technology is based and re-interprets them in the form of a design study,” says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles. 

“With its iconic orange/black paintwork, the car has a colour scheme and livery synonymous in the minds of many motor sport fans with the triumphs of the 1970s.”

The model unveiled in Pebble Beach writes the next chapter in a story begun by the BMW 2002 Hommage, which the company presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May.

A confident statement of unadulterated driving joy.

The sporting silhouette of the BMW 2002 Hommage lies low against the road. Its compact proportions; complete with long wheelbase, short overhangs and prominent “shark nose”, promise a driving experience that thrills with irresistible dynamics and agility. 

Aerodynamic details like the large spoilers at the front and rear team up with the profusion of air intakes and exits to optimise airflow around the car and maximise downforce in every driving situation.

Historic details with a modern twist.

A particularly striking feature of the car’s flanks are the pronounced wheel arches, which frame the body like four brackets and add stature. In the process, they recall the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, which needed broad extensions bolted onto its body to accommodate a significantly wider track. 

The Hommage car integrates this detail neatly. Sleek surfacing and precisely chiselled lines envelop the powerful wheel arches and hand them a starring role.

In perhaps the most literal reference of the original 2002, the 2002 Hommage features a unifying “waterline” to connect many of the car’s formal elements. 

This unbroken carbon fiber line physically wraps around the car from front to rear, while also creating a horizontal distinction between upper and lower body surfaces. 20-inch light-alloy wheels in bi-colour design round off the styling as the car meets the road. 

The modern looks of these lavishly milled, multi-spoke items recall the racing rims of bygone eras, while gold-coloured brake callipers bearing the M logo add an extra stamp of class.

Fronted by 50 years of BMW history.

The front end of the BMW 2002 Hommage is a confident and extravagantly dynamic affair; its styling bridges a gap of 50 years in combining the characteristic, horizontal grill graphic of the 02 series with modern elements of BMW design. 

In its lines and form, the bonnet references the “spear” contour stretching down the centre of the 02 models that swells slightly into a surround for the BMW logo as it approaches the kidney grille. Further precise lines lend structure and definition to the matt surface.

Occupying centre stage at the front end is the familiar BMW kidney grille. Here, it takes the form of a low-standing, connected unit, offering a flesh slant on the kidneys’ historical rendering as a cohesive design element. Sculpted, black double-bars add finesse to the details of the broad-set grille. 

Like the BMW 2002, the BMW 2002 Hommage also has two single round headlights that provide the striking front end with its outer limits. The headlights’ reflective gold colouring is a pointer to the “golden” 50th anniversary of the BMW 2002’s launch. 

The headlights also reprise the yellow hue commonly found in the headlamps of racing cars back in the day. An unbroken horizontal black band unites the design elements of the front end and in so doing, underlines the car’s wide and athletic stance. 

Those with a keen eye will also pick out the turn signal repeaters, which – like those of the car’s forebear – are located separately from the headlights and embedded in the wrap-around carbon fiber waterline element.

The large front apron, a stylistic and functional aerodynamic nod to those models of the 1970s, shortens the visual distance between the BMW 2002 Hommage and the road. 

Together with the car’s wide, sporting stance, this technically innovative, forward-thinking design sends out a message of top-class roadholding and handling flair through fast corners. Now, as in the heyday of the BMW 2002, design excellence and turbo technology bring unsurpassed levels of fun to twisty race tracks, country roads and mountain passes alike. 

The “turbo” lettering in mirror writing on the front apron casts the mind back to the original decals of the 2002 turbo. Accent surfaces in exposed carbon mark the point where the front apron and side skirts hand over to the road, and also provide a technically alluring contrast to the body-coloured surfaces.

Bringing matters to a sporting conclusion.

The rear-end design of the BMW 2002 Hommage also calls on elements of the 2002 turbo. For example, the horizontal sub-division of the car’s generous surfaces and its clear lines make a width-emphasising and thus suitably dynamic statement, laced with modern feel. 

The almost rectangular lights provide a stylistic border for the rear end. The glass covers have a contemporary black-panel look and only offer a view of the inner workings when the lights illuminate. All you can see when they are dormant is an unbroken black surface. 

As at the front of the car, this strengthens the impression of a strip wrapped around the car. The asymmetric BMW logo placement to the right of the license plate between the two rear lights is likewise a characteristic element of 02 rear styling. 

The muscular wheel arches bookend the rear section and accentuate the wide track, while a precise spoiler lip brings a modern edge to the car’s detailing. A carbon diffuser integrates the now familiar two sets of twin exhaust tailpipes and wraps up the rear styling with a sporting flourish.

BMW’s fresh interpretation of the BMW 2002 adopts the form of a compact sports coupe in the classical tradition of BMW Hommage cars. But more than that, the BMW 2002 Hommage represents a clear statement of how pure driving pleasure is defined in 2016.

Cadillac launches it's future concept at Peeble Beach at the weekend, with a whole host if technical advances.

• Concept showcases future design and technical systems in development
• Flagship Sedan is a concept for a more expressive, expansive companion to the recently launched CT6
• Dual-Theme interior includes Curved OLED displays, next-gen connectivity designs, ingenious details

The Escala Concept debuted in California at the weekend, introducing the next evolution of Cadillac design and previewing the craftsmanship and technology being developed for many future models. Following a series of private previews, Escala will be displayed this weekend at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The Escala Concept previews the design and technical ideas driving the next phase of Cadillac’s ongoing expansion.

“Escala is a concept with two clear objectives,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Global Cadillac. “First, Escala is a statement of intent for the next iteration of the Cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future Cadillac models. Secondly, Escala builds Cadillac’s aspirational character, signaling the brand’s return to the pinnacle of premium."

Cadillac has released a new slate of models bristling with expressive design and exhilarating performance, driver’s cars taking Cadillac into a new chapter of its storied 114-year history.

“Escala is a concept car, but one based upon the unrelenting rise of our product substance,” de Nysschen said. “Depending on the development of market segment for large luxury sedans, Escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.”   

Escala — Spanish for “scale”— is a concept for a larger, more elite and expressive companion to the recently launched 2016 Cadillac CT6, the brand’s remarkable new range-topping prestige sedan. Escala is also the third in a series of concepts Cadillac has debuted at Pebble Beach in recent years, following the Ciel convertible (2011) and Elmiraj coupe (2013).

Escala is designed to be both a driver’s car and an indulgent flagship sedan. The large 4-door sedan features an expansive liftback design emphasizing the car’s considerable scale and versatility. At 210.5 inches in overall length, Escala is roughly 6 inches longer than today’s CT6.

Escala features a new and evolved face of Cadillac design that will begin appearing on production models soon. This includes a new expression of Cadillac’s vertical lighting, a brand signature since 1948. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting elements are thinner and set deep within the fascia, creating a sinister look, day and night. 

The concept’s details invite closer inspection, including a three-dimensional precision pattern in the grille design and 22-inch wheels with two layers of spokes.

“This concept shares how Cadillac will bring forward a new experience that is uniquely American, and unmistakably Cadillac,” says Andrew Smith, executive director of Cadillac Global Design. “Escala is an expressive symbol of reward and an exhilarating driving experience. On the interior, we pushed further. It’s about precision and ingenuity in craftsmanship, and the artistic integration of technology.”

Escala features a “dual personality” interior crafted with distinctly different zones: The front is about intensely focused modern technology, while the rear delivers relaxation.

“My brief to the designers was to create a car you desperately want to drive, and also one in which you want to be driven,” Smith said. “So rather than a single design, this interior consists of two themes. It was an opportunity for our designers to break the rules a little bit, exactly what Cadillac should do from time to time.”

An array of three curved OLED screens is a prominent feature in the front of the cabin. The very thin, curved displays are layered in front of the driver, with the back sides wrapped in hand-stitched leather embossed with the Cadillac script. The array of screens consolidate the traditional “cluster” of driving gauges with the “center stack” into one integrated unit. 

Escala includes new designs for connectivity and control, providing a prototype for the user experience in development for future production models. The system features a central control module that enables the driver to execute tactile commands across the spectrum of connectivity functions, in addition to voice and gesture control technology. Inside the controller sits a new edition of Cadillac’s “flying Goddess” icon, a nod to the brand’s illustrious heritage.

Like all Cadillac models today, the interior is assembled using hand cut-and-sewn techniques. However, Escala presents several new and unique touches, blending overt luxury with covert technology. Escala makes broad use of hand-tailored fabric on the door trim and seating areas. Inspired by suiting material used by Cadillac’s partners in the fashion industry, the fabric provides a new level of hand-applied craftsmanship and color, unique in today’s auto interior landscape.

The Escala Concept utilizes Cadillac’s new RWD-centric large luxury car architecture, featuring one of the world’s most advanced body structures, which debuted on the new CT6. The mixed-material construction enables unprecedented agility and efficiency.

Escala uses a new 4.2-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, a prototype of a new system in development for future Cadillac models. The advanced engine utilizes Active Fuel Management technology, enabling fuel-saving 4-cylinder operation.

Cadillac Escala Concept Basic Specifications

Model	Escala Concept
Body Style	4-door expressive flagship sedan, with lift-back rear opening
Height	57.3 in / 1455 mm
Width	76.7 in / 1948 mm
Length	210.5 in / 5347 mm
Wheelbase	127.1 in / 3228
Engine	4.2-liter Twin Turbo V8