A real British Auto legend returns, we welcome back BRISTOL CARS

• First new Bristol car in more than a decade announced today
• 70^th anniversary Project Pinnacle car set for launch in 2015
• Exclusive new Bristol merchandise range launched
• Several million pounds of investment in landmark Kensington High Street showroom and new Parts, Service and Restoration centre in West London
• Future Range-Extended Electric vehicle plans confirmed

Iconic British carmaker, Bristol Cars, announces significant new investments today at the Concours of Elegance held at Hampton Court Palace, London.

The first new Bristol car since 2003 will be launched at the Kensington High Street showroom in 2015 in the shape of an all-new 70^th anniversary model, codenamed Project Pinnacle.  An anniversary celebration, Project Pinnacle is a reference to Bristol Cars’ rich and exciting heritage, executed as a modern take on the best of British craftsmanship and engineered to excite as a high performance Bristol car.

Since the company was bought in 2011, millions of pounds have been invested in the business to re-establish its place as an iconic British carmaker for the connoisseur motorist, with craftsmanship, design, performance and unique character at its heart.  A specialist new Parts, Service and Restoration facility in Brentford, West London was opened this year and has quickly established itself as the leading Bristol centre in the world with hundreds of cherished examples of the marque already passing through the workshop.

Plans are also underway to refurbish the landmark Bristol showroom at 368 Kensington High Street with further investment made across the street at number 375 for an additional showroom.  From summer 2015, Bristol Cars will occupy both sides of Kensington High Street with a selection of meticulously restored cars for sale on the north side and new vehicles and a modern company ethos displayed on the other side of the street.

The company also confirms today that development work is underway on an all-new flagship Bristol Range-Extended Electric grand tourer.  Frazer-Nash Research’s technology will underpin the Range-Extended Electric powertrain of this new design from Bristol Cars.  More information will be released on this product as development progresses.

A new Bristol Luxury merchandise range including clothing, model cars, bureau items, accessories by Paul Smith and much more was also launched at the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance.   

Speaking on behalf of Bristol Cars at the Concours of Elegance, Sir George White said: “2015 will mark Bristol Cars’ 70^th year, and these announcements underline today’s very exciting times at the company. Project Pinnacle signifies the re-birth of the brand with a design and character respectful of the company’s rich heritage in Great Britain – in aviation, commercial and luxury automotive – delivered with a modern approach to performance and comfort.  This car, along with the investments in Kensington and Brentford, not to mention the advanced development of an all-new super-luxury grand tourer, all make for a very bright and promising future for this company that I hold so dear.” 

Bristol Cars’ General Manager, Julian Ramshaw, added: “Today’s announcements signify that we are nearing the completion of ‘Bristol is Reborn’ – phase 1.  Investments in our new products and facilities spearhead our modern philosophy for the Bristol marque.  We believe that the automotive landscape is changing, particularly in the premium and luxury sector.  The definitions of luxury are changing.  People’s expectations are changing.  And Bristol Cars is changing too. This is just the start, and there is a lot more to come from us.”

The 2014 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace is the third such automotive gathering in London, which, since the first event in 2012, has set a new global benchmark for classic car concours events; winning a number of prestigious awards and accolades.  It is unique in the fact that the setting changes from year to year but with the consistent theme of always being held on the lawns of a Royal palace. Only the highest calibre of cars are invited to the Concours of Elegance, with the rarest cars in the world, from all over the world, painstakingly selected by the Concours’ team of respected and authoritative experts.

All-new Range Extended Electric Metrocab taxi for London.

• All-new Range Extended Electric Metrocab taxi for London – trials launched this week
• >75mpg and over three times more fuel efficient than comparable current London taxi
• >75% less CO2 than comparable current London taxi, <50g/km CO2
• >560km combined range
• Significantly lower running costs, typically saving a London cabbie £30 – £40 per day
• Zero-emissions mode and home charging via standard mains outlet
• Evolutionary design, sympathetic to iconic London taxi silhouette
• >10 years in development and over a million engineering test kilometres
• Six passenger seats (plus optional seventh passenger seat in the front)
• Fully compliant with London Public Carriage Office (PCO) regulations

FRAZER-NASH CONFIRMS SPECIFICATION DETAILS AND LAUNCHES IN-MARKET TRIALS FOR ALL-NEW BRITISH DESIGNED, ENGINEERED AND BUILT METROCAB

Frazer-Nash and Ecotive, the companies behind the all-new, purpose-built Range Extended Electric (REE) Metrocab taxi confirm the vehicle’s full specification.

The British designed, engineered and built Metrocab, from Mytchett Surrey-based Ecotive and Frazer-Nash, is a new generation zero-emissions electric-powered taxi for London, and represents the cutting edge of green transport technology with a design both evolutionary and sympathetic to the iconic black cab silhouette.

Metrocab Chairman Sir Charles Masefield said:

“The all-new Range Extended Electric Metrocab has been in development since the mid-2000s with several prototypes built and over a million kilometres of engineering tests completed.  Instantly recognisable as an iconic London Hackney Cab, with a panoramic glass roof for views of the city, our new all-British London cab offers, for no price premium, completely new levels of economy, emissions and passenger comfort and is ready to enter service this year, benefitting the passenger, driver, city and environment alike.”

Ready now, Metrocab launches a campaign this week inviting London taxi drivers to register with the company for real-world trials in the new zero emissions capable taxi, demonstrating significant cost savings, environmental benefits, easy ownership and maintenance and enhanced passenger experience.

The Metrocab from Ecotive and Frazer-Nash is the latest in a long line of electric powered transport solutions they have marketed and developed over the last 25 years with world-class highly efficient, optimised and fully-integrated digital-electric and hybrid-electric powertrains.  Priced competitively to enter the taxi market, the Metrocab is powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery pack with an electric motor to each of the rear wheels.

Following the in-market trials this year, the Metrocab will be rolled out in London and other key cities in the UK and internationally.

The new BMW i3, launched in the UK at under £29k (batteries are included)

Today heralds a new era of premium car ownership with the launch of the all-new BMW i3.  This revolutionary car offers zero emissions in a premium car package, yet at an affordable price.

The BMW i3 is the world’s first premium car designed from the ground up to be powered by an electric drive system. The result is a vehicle that embodies BMW’s commitment to driving pleasure without compromise.

The use of lightweight CFRP for the passenger cell compensates for the extra weight of the battery, while the low, central location of the battery pack enhances the car’s agility thanks to perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity.

**With £5,000 OLEV Government grant.

The electric motor generates an output of 170hp, with peak torque of 250Nm on demand instantly. This allows the BMW i3 to sprint from zero to 37mph in a mere 3.7 seconds and zero to 62mph in just 7.2 seconds, while the lithium-ion battery gives a range of 80 –100 miles in everyday driving. This rises by approximately 15 per cent in ECO PRO mode and by the same again in ECO PRO+ mode.

As a point of reference, since 2009 BMW has conducted research on a global scale with the MINI E and BMW Active E programmes.  A UK government report found that the average commute was found to be 13.1 miles each way, and the average daily mileage 25 miles.

For customers particularly conscious of ‘range anxiety’, the BMW i3 is available with a range extender engine, powering a generator to maintain the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level while on the move. This is performed by a 650cc two-cylinder four-stroke petrol engine developing 34hp and mounted immediately next to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car’s maximum range in day-to-day driving to around 180 miles on one tank of fuel. The BMW i3 Range Extender costs £28,830** OTR.

Both BMW i3 models include a three-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 100,000 mile battery warranty. The battery is also included in the price of the car negating a separate lease charge for battery, as is the case for other electric vehicles.

The i3 is available with four different interior worlds: Standard, Loft, Lodge and Suite.  These allow customers to change the look and feel of the interior.  All worlds feature sustainable materials such as sustainably sourced wood, natural fibres and naturally tanned leather.

The price for the BMW i3 starts at £25,680** and £28,830** for the Range Extender. However, leasing is expected to be favoured by customers and the monthly rates are highly competitive. Starting at £369p/m for a 36 month contract and rising to £480p/m for an i3 Range Extender in Suite, the BMW i3 is a compelling package.

BMW announces pricing for the new i3 Electric car, not the cheapest

BMW UK today announced the pricing of one of the most anticipated cars in its history. The all-new BMW i3 will be delivered to customers in the UK in November, 2013 with a leasing price starting from just £369* a month.

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing BMW, said: “The BMW i3 heralds the dawn of a new era for individual mobility and for the BMW Group. True to a genuine BMW, the BMW i3 has strong emotional appeal, outstanding product substance and a guarantee of sheer driving pleasure. With this leading-edge vehicle and compelling price, we will provide customers with an attractive offer for electromobility.”

Customers entering into an agreement for an all-electrically powered BMW i3 can embark on a world of electric motoring by signing up to a 36 month contract and paying an initial £2,995 (incl. VAT)  followed by monthly payments of £369 (incl. VAT) and contract mileage of 24,000miles.

Those customers who wish to buy the BMW i3 outright can do so from £25,680 OTR** for the all electric car, while the price for the range extender version, that features an additional 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine to maintain the battery charge and extend the range to an approximate 180 miles on one tank of fuel, will be announced at a later date.

BMW i3 products and services will be sold via a multi-channel sales model, comprised of authorized BMW i partners, a Customer Interaction Center (CIC) as well as an online platform. All sales channels will be fully networked and customers will be able to personalise their entire purchasing process to suit their needs.

Charging and maintenance
The BMW i3 comes as standard in the UK with AC Fast Charging which sees a 7.4Kw charge power up the BMW i3 from zero to 80 per cent within three hours. This can be performed by the optional BMW i Wallbox. The exclusive Wallbox has been created to give customers a comprehensive and premium sustainable mobility experience. Installation will be provided at the customer’s home and “green” power options will be offered via selected BMW i partners, for emission-free home charging. AC Fast Charging is also the most widespread public charging option in the UK.

Occasional charging can also be performed using a pre-supplied cable, fitting a standard household socket at 3.7Kw, when a 32 Amp AC Fast Charging port is not available. Charging this way takes eight to 10 hours. DC Fast Charging is the third and final option available to owners and allows a BMW i3 to get an 80 per cent charge in just 30 minutes to one hour. It uses a 50Kw connection to do this and is the best option for public locations where quick short charges are required.

The BMW i3 will have its international world premiere on 29 July at parallel events in the megacities of London, New York and Beijing where full details on the BMW i3 range will be revealed.