Evocative machines that have conquered World Rally Championship, Pikes Peak and Paris-Dakar events will line up alongside grids of equally illustrious Le Mans and performance cars on public display at the inaugural Chelsea AutoLegends to be held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Sunday 5 September.
Heading a very special gathering of rally stars is a pair of mighty Peugeot 405 T16s (pictured). One is the car in which rally legend Ari Vatanen set a new record when scaling the renowned Pikes Peak International Hillclimb course in 1988.
Other rally car highlights at Chelsea AutoLegends include the most successful Audi quattro S1 ever built – the car on show is another Pikes Peak 'Race to the Clouds' winner when driven by Michele Mouton in 1985 – plus a Ford RS 200, Lancia 037, Opel Manta 400 and one of the Williams F1 designed MG Metro 6R4s.
Although never a winner in the globe-trotting World Rally Championship, the glorious-sounding, mid-engined V6 powered 6R4 has amassed countless wins at national level right around the globe and remains a firm favourite with all rally fans in this country.
"It's very rare that Londoners are given the chance to see some of the world's most celebrated rally cars in metal – that's why we are delighted to be adding them to the displays on show at Chelsea AutoLegends.
Along with the Le Mans 24 Hours, epic events such as the Paris-Dakar and Pikes Peak are all part of motor sport folklore and these machines have such rich pedigrees and such great stories to tell. I know they will be yet another major drawcard both for hardcore enthusiasts and interested visitors to the show," said Chelsea AutoLegends founder Michael Scott.
The event will be opened by loyal London resident Sir Stirling Moss OBE and will feature many of the world's finest road and competition cars as well as many other displays.
Tickets: Adults £12 in advance, £15 on the gate; 15 and under FREE available from:
www.chelseaautolegends.com
Rally cars on show at Chelsea AutoLegends
Due to Goodwood's determination aim to keep the Revival as a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all visitors, with great viewing of all of the action on and off the track, the Earl of March – the event's founder – has taken the exceptional step of marginally reducing the number of advance entry tickets to be sold for the meeting in just over three week's time. This means that tickets are expected to sell out some time before the event itself
As in previous years, Revival tickets will be available to advance order only on a first-come, first served basis. The number of spectators will be restricted each day to avoid congestion and cramped conditions, maintaining the event's relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.
To order advance Goodwood Revival tickets, please contact the Ticket Hotline:
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755055
Email: ticket.office@goodwood.com
On-line via the Online Ticket section of the website: www.goodwood.com
While continuing to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the world's best-selling roadster, the Mazda MX-5, Mazda UK is saying 'goodbye' this autumn to a very different, although equally iconic sportscar in its model line-up – the rotary-engined, four-seater Mazda RX-8.
"British motorists love sportscars and engineering excellence, so it is no wonder that over the last seven years the RX-8 has been close to their hearts. More than 26,000 enthusiastic drivers have purchased an RX-8 in the UK, won over by its truly exhilarating drive, fascinating super-smooth rotary engine and many unique features, combined with everyday reliability and practicality," comments Mark Cameron, Sales Director, Mazda UK.
"Production of Mazda RX-8 for the UK market has ended and here we have fewer than 100 examples remaining in stock. Over the next couple of months drivers will be presented with a rare opportunity to acquire one of the very last RX-8s available in the UK.
"Its immense driver appeal, the world's only rotary-powered production car is still a head-turner, with tremendous road presence and styling that still looks fresh. A few lucky customers are going to play a part in the grand finale of this motoring legend," adds Cameron.
Powered by an improved version of the unique 231ps twin-rotor engine, the latest car delivers a heightened experience with faster steering, chassis and engine responses, more refinement, more equipment and even greater value. It continues to feature the front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive configuration of the original, delivering an ideal 50/50 weight distribution for fantastic handling characteristics.
The Mazda RX-8 R3 is priced at £25,540 (on-the-road) and represents good value for a 231ps sportscar with the ability to reach 62mph in just 6.4 seconds.
The uniquely high-revving (up to 9,000rpm) RENESIS engine of the Mazda RX-8 R3 is evolved to deliver sharper responses. Maximum power is 231ps at 8200rpm and the six-speed manual gearbox has a lower final drive ratio for a sharper getaway from standstill and improved performance feel.
Mazda dealers are currently offering RX-8 buyers a finance package available for retail sales only, until 30 September 2010, with no deposit required and typical 5.9% APR* finance on Mazda Conditional Sale and Mazda Personal Contract Purchase up to 36 months.
September 2010 will see more MoTs than any other month in history -
1.4 million motorists at risk of missing deadline -
This September will see more cars needing a new MoT than any other month in history, according to Kwik-Fit analysis released today, with an expected 2.5 million cars undergoing their annual inspection.
The number of vehicles licensed on British roads has risen every year for the last 20 years and with 29 million cars across the country, there are more cars over three years old than ever before*.
With more MoT centres across the country than any other company, Kwik-Fit is urging motorists to book early to avoid both disappointment and the risk of a fine of up to £1000 for driving without an MoT. In addition, having no MoT may invalidate a driver's insurance.
With MoT appointments across the country in greater demand this month than ever before, Kwik-Fit's research reveals that many motorists could be at risk of driving illegally.
The company's research shows that less than half of all motorists know when their certificate expires and book early. This means that a staggering 1.4 million are in danger of missing their September MoT deadline, as they may not be able to find an available appointment at short notice.
Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is pleased to announce that it has reduced the i-MiEV's launch pricing to £28,990 for orders placed for delivery from January 1st 2011. This coincides with the UK Government's recently confirmed consumer incentive of £5,000 – which means customers will only have to pay £23,990.
This price realignment signals Mitsubishi Motors' global intentions to remain first in the promotion and establishment of the early electric vehicle market, Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK's Managing Director asserted that:
"The i-MiEV will remain first in all respects. We have been first in almost every aspect of the UK's EV market for the last 2 to 3 years and we're not going to give up that position easily. The electric vehicle is now a reality, with all our cars being European Whole Type Vehicle Approved. With a Mitsubishi Motors electric vehicle, customers need not compromise in any area.
"What is more, our car is perfect for urban driving. It has been designed deliberately as a small, compact, true city car with the ability to nip in and out of traffic and park in the tightest of spaces."
Proven in Real-World UK Trials
Over 2,300 i-MiEVs have been operating on Japanese roads since full production started in July 2009 – making Mitsubishi Motors the first manufacturer to mass-produce an electric vehicle in the world.
The i-MiEV has been proving its reliability and usefulness on the UK's roads since 2007, and has been involved in official government end-user trials since mid-December 2009 with customers in the Coventry and Birmingham area. Some of the key findings of the trial are highly relevant to prospective purchasers of the i-MiEV.
The i-MiEVs have been used like a typical UK driver in a petrol or diesel engine car with the majority of journeys are less than five miles. Interestingly, this is when conventional car engines are just warming up and are at their most polluting, and catalytic converters are at their least effective. The average daily mileage has been just 23 miles, which is well within the i-MiEV's 90 mile range, and drivers use the entire speed range of the car, showing they are happy to drive at motorway speeds when required.
Price and Incentives
In addition to this price reduction, the ultra-low running costs of the i-MiEV are a key advantage over other cars, with additional incentives including:
Only £144 fuel costs for 12,000 miles driving (£0.96 pence for a full charge – 16kW at an average of 6p per kW)
Low servicing costs and downtime – only approximately 4 working parts compared to over 300 in a typical internal combustion engine
Exempt from road tax
F irst year capital allowances for fleet vehicles
Zero benefit-in-kind company car tax
Exempt from London Congestion Charge
Free parking in some London boroughs and cities such as Milton Keynes
Expected high residual values due to high demand outstripping supply for several years to come
On sale in the UK in September; the all-new Suzuki Swift has been rated as one of Europe's safest cars, achieving a maximum 5 star rating in the 2010 test by Euro NCAP.
Euro NCAP's (New Car Assessment Programme) rating scheme focuses on the vehicle's overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy to understand single score. The system considers occupant protection in frontal, side, pole and rear impacts as well as child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids.
The rating scheme uses a weighted score, combining many aspects of a car's safety performance: adult (50%), child (20%) and pedestrian (20%) protection assessment results with the availability of safety assistance devices (10%).
The new Swift attained a score of 94 per cent for adult occupant protection, 82 per cent for child; 62 per cent for pedestrian and 71 per cent for the provision of safety assistance devices with an overall total of 83 per cent. This total exceeded the score of 75 per cent required to achieve the 5 star rating set by Euro NCAP.
Helping Suzuki gain this high total safety performance score across all four criteria, new Swift has been developed with a new, stronger and lighter impact absorbing bodyshell designed to improve occupant protection as well as minimising injuries to pedestrians.
Also, to ensure optimum occupant protection, new Swift includes seven airbags as standard across the range which includes driver's knee airbag as well as whiplash mitigating front seats. Active safety equipment includes ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) which is also fitted as standard equipment across the new Swift range.
Fewer tickets means more space to mooch at the Goodwood Revival
Last chance to buy a motoring icon - the Mazda RX-8
September is MOT test month
Top marks for Suzuki's all-new Swift
September headlines
September 5th
Only 100 left
12,000 miles costs £144
Maximum five star rating
