USA - Lincoln Motor Company launches the new flagship with a trip to Iceland for its TV Spots.

• The Lincoln Motor Company traveled to Iceland to shoot new television spots for its flagship vehicle, the 2017 Lincoln Continental
• The pieces – directed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister – vary in tone
• Timeless, elegant, luxuriously quiet Lincoln Continental offers first-class travel

The Lincoln Motor Company traveled to the edge of the Earth to find a backdrop dazzling enough to introduce its timeless, elegant flagship vehicle – the all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental.

“Entrance,” a new TV spot for the “That’s Continental” campaign featuring Matthew McConaughey, was shot on a shimmering glacial plain about 160 miles from Reykjavík, Iceland, with black sand and shallow water offset by a stunning, stark horizon.

This new ad campaign is incredibly important to Lincoln. “It’s fresh, contemporary and very visual,” says John Emmert, group marketing manager, The Lincoln Motor Company.

“While many are familiar with the Continental nameplate, we wanted them to see our all-new flagship in a whole new way,” he continues. “A car as iconic as Continental could only be shot in a unique locale – one not familiar to viewers.”

The ads were directed by acclaimed cinematographer Wally Pfister, known for “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” Pfister’s work on “Inception” landed him an Academy Award in 2011.

The Icelandic terrain provides an unforgettable framework for such an impressive car, says Jon Pearce, global chief creative officer for Hudson Rouge.

The conditions were extreme, he recalls, with the crew conducting shoots in raw, unpredictable temperatures and driving rain. But then rainbows would light up the sky. “The clouds would break, the winds would die down, and it would become absolutely beautiful,” says Pearce.

“Entrance” is one of several unconventional spots featuring McConaughey, each of which highlights a distinct quality of the Lincoln Continental. This piece showcases a dramatic, sweeping view of the front of the flagship vehicle.

Some segments of “That’s Continental” were shot in Los Angeles.

“Crafted,” another piece in the campaign, offers a wry take on nontraditional storytelling. And for the first time in a Lincoln ad, McConaughey is featured in the back seat to showcase some of the rear seat amenities available for Continental, including a chauffeur switch. The feature allows a passenger in the rear to move the front passenger seat forward for extra legroom.

Leading London classic car retailer Hexagon is proud to offer for sale an ultra-rare Porsche 911 ‘993’ RS Clubsport

• Leading London classic car retailer Hexagon is proud to offer for sale an ultra-rare Porsche 911 ‘993’ RS Clubsport
• The RS Clubsport is perhaps the purest version of the 993-generation Porsche 911, and with just 227 built it’s extremely rare, too
• This pristine 1995 model year example is finished in Speed Yellow, with 18-inch ‘Speedline’ alloy wheels and black interior
• For more information, please visit http://hexagonclassics.com/

Christmas has come early at leading London classic car retailer, Hexagon Classics, with the arrival of a very rare Porsche ‘993’ RS Clubsport. The immaculately presented 1995 model year car represents one of the most focused versions of perhaps the most desirable 911 of the last 20 years.

Not only does it feature an engine bored out to 3.8 litres – producing 300hp – but comforts such as rear seats, carpets, radio and power windows were removed to save weight. 

In their place were large aerodynamic wings, a welded roll cage and special racing seats, creating a roadgoing 911 bearing a striking resemblance to those normally found on a race track.

Finished in Speed Yellow with three-piece 18-inch ‘Speedline’ aluminium wheels this 1995 34,700-mile left-hand drive Clubsport features completely unblemished bodywork and a pristine black leather interior. The Speed Yellow theme continues into the interior, with the painted roll cage and matching seatbacks. For added comfort, air-conditioning and a radio were fitted, despite being deleted as standard.

Only 227 993 RS Clubsports were produced globally – Porsche made 1,014 examples of the 993 RS in total – and the Hexagon Classics example stands out as one of the finest. A much sought-after model produced for the German market, Hexagon Classics’ Clubsport has a full service history and will be sold with a fresh MoT and a 12-month warranty. 

Hexagon Classics Chairman Paul Michaels said: “The 911 RS models are the pinnacle of performance, and extremely sought-after by those in the know. This 993 Clubsport is an evolution of everything that RS stands for; more focused, more thrilling and more of the very essence of the Porsche 911. We’re privileged to have such a low-mileage example in stock, and there’s no doubting it could make quite the Christmas present for Porsche 911 collectors.”

Priced at £399,995, the Porsche 911 ‘993’ RS Clubsport is available to view now at Hexagon Classics’ flagship showroom in north London.

Volkswagen grows in November to turn he corner and post an YTD increase.

• 7.5 percent rise in November compared with previous year
• China continues to drive positive trend
• Brand Board Member for Sales Jürgen Stackmann: “Good performance in November, Volkswagen will end 2016 on a high note”

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand recorded a clear improvement in worldwide deliveries in November compared with the previous year. 

533,500 vehicles were handed over to customers worldwide, representing an increase of 7.5 percent. 

A total of 5.4 million vehicles were delivered from January to November, 1.6 percent up on the previous year. Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales, commented: “China continued to drive the positive trend in November. 

There was also positive momentum on some markets in Western Europe, the USA, and India. Given the current challenging market environment, a 7.5 percent increase is a respectable result. 

The Volkswagen brand is on the right track and will end 2016 on a high note.”

Overview of deliveries by Volkswagen Passenger Cars:

Deliveries to customers by markets	November 2016	November 2015	Change (%)	Jan. - Nov. 2016	Jan. - Nov. 2015	Change (%)
Europe	137,100	139,100	-1.4	1,557,900	1,580,200	-1.4
Western Europe	116,100	119,600	-3.0	1,353,900	1,389,500	-2.6
Germany	44,300	52,700	-16.0*	519,100	555,800	-6.6
Central and Eastern Europe	21,100	19,500	+8.2	204,000	190,700	+7.0
Russia	7,000	7,600	-7.7	66,600	70,500	-5.4
North America	51,400	44,600	+15.3	521,700	539,300	-3.3
USA	29,700	23,900	+24.2	285,700	318,500	-10.3
South America	28,900	32,500	-10.9	305,400	431,100	-29.2
Brazil	19,700	23,500	-16.3	196,700	314,800	-37.5
Asia-Pacific	297,600	262,600	+13.3	2,854,400	2,584,300	+10.5
China	285,000	247,000	+15.4	2,696,300	2,394,500	+12.6
Worldwide	533,500	496,100	+7.5	5,419,900	5,335,700	+1.6

*Systemic decline attributable to an extension in the leasing term

The main trends in November were as follows:

• At 44,300 units, deliveries on the home market of Germany in November were down 16.0 percent, a significant decrease compared with the previous year. This was primarily attributable to a systemic decline due to an extension in the leasing term for employees. In the first eleven months of the year, the German market decreased by 6.6 percent.
• Some of the major markets in Western Europe put up a good performance compared with the previous year;
  France: +13.6 percent, Spain:+13.1 percent, Italy: +12.6 percent. This was mainly due to strong demand forthe Tiguan and Touran models.
• 29,700 vehicles were delivered in the USA, a substantial increase of 24.2 percent compared with the previous year. Among other things, there has been a statistical effect as a result of the withdrawal of diesel engines in the USA from October 2015.
• Deliveries in Brazil ran at 19,700 units, a decrease of 16.3 percent compared with the previous year. The downward trend was slower than the overall downturn for January-November (-37.5 percent). This was attributable to full resumption of production along with successful marketing measures.
• China, Volkswagen’s largest sales market,was once again the key driver of the positive trend in November, with 285,000 vehicles (+15.4 percent) handed over to customers. This represents an increase of 38,000 vehicles compared with 2015. The Middle Kingdom set a new record for deliveries in November as well as for the period from January – November.
• 3,400 vehicles were handed over to customers in India, a substantial increase of 37.8 percent compared with the previous year. The rise is attributable to the successful launch of the Ameo designed specifically for the Indian market.