Caterham enlists a new regional distributor in Latin America to push sales further ahead.

• Caterham appoints respected automotive distributor, Global X-Sports

Caterham has increased its global sales network by appointing respected automotive provider, Global X-Sports, as the Latin American regional distributor.

It’s the first time in Caterham’s history there has been a distributor for the whole Latin America region.

With over 19 years of automotive distribution experience, Global X-Sports will be offering the full Caterham EU range of lightweight sports cars including the Seven 165, 275, 355 and the range-topping 485 to Latin American customers.

It’s another exciting development for Caterham following a record-breaking year in 2016 which saw the car manufacturer toast its best sales in 20 years.

Caterham Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “To increase our presence in Latin America is an exciting step. Following a record 600 sales in 2016, we want to carry the momentum into 2017.”

“As we celebrate 60 years of the Seven this year, we want people across the world to experience the pure, driving thrill the Seven provides.”

Fabrice Odeide, Managing Director, Global X-Sports Group said “The opportunity to bring Caterham to Latin America is one that is very exciting to us. We believe that there is a real demand for this desirable product that represents British automotive heritage and offers boundless joy behind the wheel.

“We look forward to bringing Caterham to a growing a network of dealers throughout the whole region, highlighting the unique, driving experience that comes with owning a Seven.”

Ducati celebrates the full year with sales climbing over and above 2015 in there 90th year.

• 55,451 Ducati motorcycles delivered to customers
• Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “The pattern of constant company growth seen these last seven years continues”
• Andrea Buzzoni, Global Sales and Marketing Director Ducati: “Results on the Italian market were outstanding, with 20% growth”

Ducati Motor Holding enjoyed further growth in 2016, delivering 55,451 motorcycles to customers all over the world: that's an increase of 1.2% compared to 2015 (54,809 bikes).

“Ending the year of our 90th anniversary with yet another record is a source of immense pride and satisfaction”, commented Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “2016 was the seventh consecutive growth year for Ducati, clearly confirming the soundness of the Bologna-based group's strategy and skills.”

This highly encouraging result also stemmed from the addition of new motorcycles to the 2016 Ducati  range: for example, sales of bikes in the Multistrada family were up by 16% compared to 2015.

The renewed Hypermotard family enjoyed double-digit growth (+15%), while the new Ducati XDiavel received an equally warm welcome on the market, with sales topping 5,200.

Moreover, during its second year on international markets, the Ducati Scrambler brand extended its worldwide success: over 15,500 bikes were delivered, a result achieved thanks also to the introduction of the new Scrambler Sixty2.

“In addition to a new sales record, 2016 saw consolidation of the considerable increase in volumes achieved in 2015, thanks also to the introduction of the Scrambler brand. This growth demonstrates the strength of both range and brand and, above all, the solid performance of the global sales network”, comments Andrea Buzzoni, Global Sales and Marketing Director of Ducati Motor Holding. “Results on the Italian market have been significant. Thanks to 20% growth in 2016 - and an excellent 84% over the two-year period 2015/2016 - Italy is again the second most important market, after the USA and ahead of Germany.”

The USA retained its position as Ducati's biggest market, with customers receiving a total of 8,787 new bikes. On European markets, Ducati repeated the excellent progress of the previous year, with Italy (+20%) , Spain (+38%) and Germany (+8%) doing especially well.

Beyond Europe, outstanding brand performance was also achieved in China, where Ducati more than doubled its year-on-year sales (+120%). In Brazil, bike deliveries increased by 36%, and in Argentina by a staggering 219%.

And, as 2016 comes to such a satisfying end, the seven new models presented for 2017 allow Ducati to look to the future with even greater confidence and optimism.

With the motto “More than Red – Evolution never stops”, the 2017 range is packed with all-new developments. “Red” for passion, performance and racing. "More" for an ever-expanding product range that includes more accessible, differentiated motorcycles and an unprecedented range of services.

For 2017 the Monster family is being refreshed and extended with the arrival of the 1200 and the all-new 797. What's more, already-presented bikes include the new Multistrada 950, Ducati SuperSport and the exclusive 1299 Superleggera.

Ducati Scrambler has launched two new bikes to extend the range of the new Ducati brand: the Café Racer and the Desert Sled.

At this time, Ducati has 1,594 employees, a network of 783 sales and assistance centres and is present in 90 countries.

Bugatti celebrated in style at this years Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach.

• The most successful racing car ever built, the Type 35, and the fastest production car in the world, the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, are two of the record holders featured in the Bugatti line-up
• Other highlights include a Type 57SC Roadster and Type 55 Super Sport Roadster
• Super sports cars past and present form the basis of the brand’s future and the next Bugatti super sports car
• Bugatti complements the sold-out Veyron fleet with the “Bugatti Certified” program

Bugatti staged a parade of special vehicles from its history as part of this year’s Monterey Car Week (10 to 16 August). The French luxury brand presents two record holders at the prestigious automotive events “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering” on Friday and “Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance” on Sunday. 

The first is the Type 35, which is the most successful racing car of all time with nearly 2,000 victories and podiums. The second is the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, which drove 431.072 km/h (268 mph), making it the fastest production car in the world. 

Another two exceptional examples of Bugatti’s super sports car heritage will also be included: a Type 57SC Roadster and a Type 55 Super Sport Roadster. 

The French car maker’s attendance at this event underlines its commitment to the ideals of company founder Ettore Bugatti, which finds a modern interpretation in the brand values of “Art, Forme, Technique”. 

In keeping with tradition, all vehicles will be exhibited in blue, the historic racing colour of France. Bugatti has also shown its commitment to preserving the Veyron’s status as a coveted collector’s item and investment through the “Bugatti Certified” program.

“Monterey Car Week is an event that Bugatti will not miss under any circumstances,” according to Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. 

“Bugatti is one of the acclaimed highlights of the annual event, which features the most exclusive and valuable classic automobiles in the world. We meet a huge number of customers and admirers of our brand. North America is one of our key markets.”

Bugatti successfully completed the first chapter of its recent history with the sale of the 450th and final Veyron earlier this year. 

When Bugatti introduced this vehicle full of superlatives a decade ago, it created a new vehicle segment. Never before had there been a production sports car with more than 1,000 horsepower under the hood and a top speed in excess of 400 km/h (248 mph). 

Bugatti currently holds two world speed records, one for the fastest production car at 431.072 km/h, set in 2010, and another for the fastest production roadster, which reached 408.84 km/h (254 mph) with its roof down in 2013. 

The market segment that Bugatti created was also new, because the starting price of €1 million was a real sensation at the time. The average price of the vehicles sold to date was €2.3 million.

“The Veyron is an amazing success story in the automotive world”, said Dürheimer. “Now, having sold all 450 vehicles, a new chapter has begun for the Veyron fleet, which we will actively support with the “Bugatti Certified” program.

It will enable us to achieve our commitment to maintaining the high standards of Bugatti for the complete lifecycle of a Veyron, both for the brand and for our customers.”

Bugatti launched the “Bugatti Certified” program in 2014 as a way to provide a full service for owners of a new or used Veyron. This includes the technical inspection and preparation of vehicles, technical updates and an extended warranty of at least one year. 

With the “Bugatti Certified” seal, the vehicle owner is not only guaranteed visibly and technically flawless condition of the vehicle, but also the certainty of having contributed to the long-term value of the car.

In addition, the French luxury brand is using its appearance in Pebble Beach to look to the future. Dürheimer continues, “Bugatti will showcase amazing vehicles to represent its impressive super sports car tradition. We intend to continue this tradition as a matter of course.”

“The next Bugatti will once again be the epitome of a super sports car and will redefine the segment”, Dürheimer announced. “The vehicle will be in a class of its own, with impressive power statistics, performance and design. We plan to stay at the top.”

The Bugatti line-up in Pebble Beach – a parade of superlatives 

Type 57SC Corsica Roadster – one of the fastest roadsters of its era 

Bugatti has undoubtedly brought a highlight of its history to Monterey in the shape of the Type 57SC Corsica Roadster (chassis 57531). 

The two-seater roadster, whose body was engineered by renowned French company Corsica, belonged to Sir Malcolm Campbell, who played a key role in co-designing the body and took ownership of the car on 22 April 1937. 

The model is the sporty version of the standard Type 57 touring car and was launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1935. The chassis was 32 cm shorter and sat lower, the “S” in the model name stands for “Surbaissé”, which is French for “lowered”. The “C” stands for “Compressor”.

As a successor to the Type 55, the last of which was delivered in July 1935, only 43 Type 57S vehicles were manufactured until production ceased in 1938. The most interesting detail of this car was undoubtedly the rear axle, which passed through the chassis rather than riding under the longitudinal frame members, as in the standard Type 57. 

The front axle was also new. It was split down the middle and can be considered a precursor of front single-wheel suspension.

In terms of powertrain technology, the S-versions differ from the standard versions as the 57S engines have dry sump lubrication. Instead of a standard coil ignition with a vertical distributor, a Scintilla magneto driven by the left camshaft was housed in the bulkhead. 

The Type 57S engine also had a higher compression ratio of 8:5:1 rather than 6:7:1, resulting in greater power. With a displacement of 3,257 cm³ at 5,500 rpm, the engine delivered an impressive 170 PS. 

The top speed was 200 km/h, which was extremely impressive for a roadster at the time. The car nicknamed “Bluebird” has been in the possession of a Californian car collector since October 2002.

Type 55 Super Sport Roadster – the acceleration marvel

Bugatti will also be showcasing a Type 55 Super Sport Roadster (chassis 55208) at the Pebble Beach weekend. The Type 55 succeeded the Type 43 in 1931 as a touring car with a Grand Prix engine. Ettore Bugatti used the relatively lightweight Type 51 engine and the extremely rigid chassis from the Type 47, which was capable of holding a heavy engine. 

In the process, he combined the ingredients to create one of the most finely honed Bugatti chassis. The brakes and wheels on the 55 were identical to those of the Type 51. The transmission was carried over from the Type 49, but the Type 55 had a newly developed housing featuring long cantilevers mounted on the side members to further increase the rigidity of the chassis.

The acceleration of the Type 55 was impressive, taking less than ten seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. At 5,500 rpm its 10-cylinder engine achieved a solid 135 PS. 

This vehicle is still considered to be an unbeatable combination of Grand Prix racing car performance with the luxurious and comfortable driving characteristics of a touring car. A total of 38 Type 55s were built between 1932 and 1935, of which 28 are still in existence.

The displayed chassis 55208 was ordered by Parisian Bugatti agent Dominique Lamberjack in February 1932 and delivered in April of the same year. 

The buyer was the amateur racing driver Charles Brunet, who commissioned a “Roadster Luxe” body by coachbuilder Georges Gangloff and actively competed in races with it. The vehicle has been in the possession of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California since 2012.

Type 35 – the most successful racing car in automotive history 

The third vehicle in the Bugatti parade is a Grand Prix racing car in its purest form: a Type 35 from 1926. With over 2,000 victories and podium positions, the Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars in automobile history. 

Between the mid-1920s and 1930s, it won all the major races, including five consecutive victories in the Targa Florio, which was the toughest road race in the world at the time. 

In keeping with the philosophy of “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday”, company founder Ettore Bugatti sold countless Type 35s directly to wealthy customers following successful race weekends. 

This business idea brought commercial success for the Molsheim car maker. In its time, the Type 35 was the only car that could be driven both on the race track and on the roads.

The Type 35 is powered by a 120 PS 2.3l in-line eight-cylinder engine. Its 750 kilogrammes are distributed perfectly across the axles (50 to 50 per cent), giving the car incredible dynamics. The vehicle on display in Monterey comes from the car manufacturer’s own archive.

Veyron 16.4 Super Sport – the fastest production car in the world 

Bugatti will also showcase the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, the youngest member of the super sports car range. The car was manufactured at the company’s historic Molsheim headquarters in 2011. In 2010, the 1,200 PS Super Sport set a world record for the fastest production car with a top speed of 431.072 km/h, and remains unbeaten to this day.

The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is the 1,200 PS derivative of the 1,001 PS Veyron 16.4, which marked the beginning of Bugatti’s most recent success story in 2005. Only 450 Veyrons were built, of which 300 were coupés and 150 were roadsters. 

As of the start of this year, all vehicles have been sold. No other automotive manufacturer has previously managed to sell an exceptional vehicle of this kind in a comparable price/volume range.

The development of the Veyron was one of the most significant technical challenges ever undertaken by the automobile industry. 

It was the first production car with over 1,000 PS, the first to exceed 400 km/h and accelerate from nought to one hundred km/h in less than three seconds – while remaining suitable to drive to the opera in comfort and style in the same configuration. 

Even ten years after it was launched, the Veyron is a superlative in every respect. When developing the Veyron, the designers also strove to continue the aesthetic tradition of Ettore Bugatti. And they certainly succeeded. 

The exterior has a modern style which incorporates Bugatti’s classic design features. The Veyron is an example of timeless automotive design and at the same time an automotive work of art. The vehicle shown here is on loan from a customer in the USA.

Five Unique cars to go under the hammer at the Silverstone Auctions Salon Prive Sale on 4th September.

• Five unique cars – all from one meticulous collector – set to feature at this exclusive auction on 4 September offered with No Reserve
• Each classic is ultra-low mileage with huge specification and has arrived fresh from storage in Germany
• Collection includes a beautifully maintained 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280SE with 5,700km plus a 1975 Mercedes-Benz 280SLC with just 16,500km
• But star of the collection is a 1986 Porsche 911 Supersport which has travelled 743km since new

Silverstone Auctions’ most prestigious sale of the year at Salon Privé on 4 September features a dream line-up of rare cars – and a host of incredible low-mileage models from one unique collection have now bolstered it.

The star of the show is an as-new Porsche 911 Supersport, with just 743km on the clock – just one of five stunning cars to come from one very meticulous collector.

The owner has had all five since new in Germany and the vehicles - Lots 201 to 205 – have just arrived on UK shores. They will open proceedings at Salon Privé, presenting buyers with a unique opportunity to bid on these ultra-low mileage, left-hand-drive models from Mercedes-Benz, Daimler and Porsche.

First under the hammer is one of the most immaculate examples of the Mercedes-Benz 280SE ever seen. Given the model’s popularity during the 1980s, it is rare to find one with such little use; however, this particular model registered in 1985 has covered just 5,700km during its lifetime. 

All registration, service and maintenance work is documented, along with the original order form, and presents an ideal opportunity to own a unique ‘nearly-new’, 30-year-old car.

Like its saloon brethren, this Mercedes-Benz 560SEC was also an ‘80s icon and majored on luxury and style. 

This particular car was first registered in 1986 and supplied new to Germany where it covered a mere 38,000km. All original factory paperwork and service history verify the car’s excellent condition.

Supplied new in Germany in 1975, this rare manual Mercedes-Benz 280SLC has just 16,500km on the clock. 

As a result, this car boasts an immaculate red leather interior and unmarked white paintwork. A large history file containing all documentation for its entire 40-year history is included and offered without reserve.

An altogether different prospect is a 1988 Daimler Double Six Series III. Three standout highlights are central to the car’s appeal, including an individual specification Nardi steering wheel, a full respray in Metallic Blue and magnificent chrome wire wheels. 

This Daimler has travelled just 3,297km since new and the overall condition is impeccable. It’s surely one of the finest examples of the marque ever seen.

The star of this five-car collection is a near factory fresh 1986 Porsche 911 SuperSport with an astonishing 743km on the odometer. Silverstone Auctions is presenting a rare opportunity to own an impeccably well-maintained and practically brand new classic Porsche. A genuine collectors’ item offered without reserve.

These five examples form part of an exclusive 60-plus consignment of cars to be auctioned at the Salon Privé Sale on 4^th September. 

Caterham expands its race series into Malaysia, with the first race at the Iconic Sepang Circuit.

• Mixed grid of Supersport and 420R models lap Sepang International Circuit
• First ever standalone Caterham race series in Malaysia

British sportscar manufacturer, Caterham Cars, expanded its Caterham Racing series to Malaysia on Saturday, with a new championship starting at the iconic Sepang International Circuit. The inaugural event was won by 420R driver Adrian D’Silva and was the first race in a new 10-round series.

Caterham’s brand-new, standalone championship will feature up to 12 racers competing over five weekends at the twisty Sepang International Circuit and further strengthens Caterham’s position as a leading motorsport and performance engineering car manufacturer.

The racers, driving six Supersport and six 420R models, completed 10 laps of the track with Pye Tan Sen and Azman Yahya completing the podium places in second and third respectively.  

The Supersport class was won by Halim Mu’Azzam, ahead of Asian drift phenomenon Leona Chin, with rookie Sidqi Ahmad rounding out the top three.

The top three in both classes were all Malaysian drivers, though the grid includes drivers from Singapore and as far afield as Sri Lanka.

Caterham’s new series will use the full GP circuit, which is also used for the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix, is the first combined Supersport and 420R race series for Caterham.

The brand-new 420R model, launched in April 2015, is making its first appearance in a Caterham race championship in the Malaysian series.

While the Supersport is powered by Ford's 1.6-litre Sigma engine tuned to deliver 135bhp, the 420R uses a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec unit producing 210bhp.

Simon Lambert, Caterham’s Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer, said: “The Malaysian race series is a hugely exciting expansion for us, as it offers the opportunity for ASEAN race drivers to really experience the essence of Caterham Cars; an exhilarating racing experience ensuring the best value and fun for participants.”