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Aston Takes 6 Hours of Shanghai

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Aston Martin Racing has secured a third consecutive GTE Am victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as the team’s #98 V8 Vantage GTE stormed to the chequered flag at the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

After securing pole position in yesterday’s qualifying session, the trio of Paul Dalla Lana (C), Pedro Lamy (P) and Mathias Lauda (A) performed yet another faultless display to take their fifth victory of the season.

Following a first corner incident, Lamy found himself pushed back to second after avoiding the melee. Despite the setback, the Portuguesa re-claimed his position, allowing him to focus on creating a convincing lead. From that point onwards, the crew never looked back as they stormed to victory with a final advantage of over one lap.


Lamy said, “The first corner was very difficult. I was focused on getting into the best position for turn one and an LMP2 turned into my path. I didn’t know where to go, so I just tried to turn inside and I avoided him with a little luck.

After the craziness of the first lap, my first stint was good and I felt that I had a strong pace. The Porsche that overtook me at turn one received a drive through, so I was able to take the lead back quickly and build a nice gap to hand over to Paul”.

Lauda added, “Today we had a really perfect day. From beginning to the end we had the better overall pace compared to our competitors and we’re enjoying a really deserved win tonight. It feels great to win five races in one year and even though we’re second in the championship, we don’t give up”.


Dalla Lana, “That’s another fantastic result for us out here in Shanghai. They were tough conditions as the track and tyre degradation made it challenging to find the right rhythm, but I think we set the car up well to suit the longer runs. We wanted to take the fight to Bahrain and while there’s a big gap to the championship leaders, we still live to fight another day”.


The #95 V8 Vantage GTE of Nicki Thiim (DN) and Marco Sørensen (DN) continued to score vital points towards their championship campaign. With Sørensen also narrowly avoiding the first corner incident, the pair fought hard to claim fourth place. The result ensures that the pair extend their lead in the GTE Drivers championship and maintain their GTE Pro title lead, with all 2016 GT competitions to be decided at the final round in Bahrain.


Thiim said, “That really went as planned. We mainly wanted to beat the #71 Ferrari and that’s what we did. It’s perfect for us in the GT Drivers Championship going into the final round. It’s been an intense weekend and you definitely feel like the end is getting closer. This championship is just something special right now, but I am glad that it’s only two weeks to go until the next race as I just want to get back to it and fight hard for the title”.

Despite both the #95 and #98 entries making it through the start of the race safely, the incident at turn one proved to be costly for the #97 entry of Darren Turner (GB) and Richie Stanaway (NZ). After striking a spinning LMP2 in an unavoidable incident, the damage proved too extensive to return the car to the track in time to complete the required 70% race distance.


Paul Howarth, Team Principal Aston Martin Racing said following today’s result, “That was an absolutely outstanding result for the 98 car and for all the drivers. Now we’ve completed a hat trick of pole positions and wins, which to do so in the top level of GT racing is a superb achievement. We were very unfortunate at the start of the race for Richie to be caught in an incident but unfortunately that’s motorsport. We remain in contention for all of the GT titles going into Bahrain and the whole team is now looking forward to delivering the results we’ve working towards all year”.


Aston Martin Racing returns for the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which takes place in Bahrain on Saturday 19 November.

Jaguar Ready for Marrakesh

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From sweltering Hong Kong to the labyrinthine souks of Marrakesh – Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s second race in the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship will offer a striking contrast thanks to the heady flavours of Morocco, as both the all-electric Jaguar I-TYPE and the series make their first appearances on the African continent on November 12.

The British manufacturer made a solid start to its motorsport return in October, but is hoping to use the lessons learned on the Hong Kong harbour-front street circuit for its second race. Britain’s Adam Carroll finished 12th in a hectic, safety-car interrupted race, while New Zealander Mitch Evans was forced into retirement by a technical issue.

The ‘Race to Innovate’, as Jaguar maintains the ethos created in the 1950s to bring major developments from the race track to the road, continues as the electric single-seater series reaches the final race of this calendar year. Carroll, 33, and Evans, 22, are hungry for a second taste of the 12-round Formula E championship, which concludes in Montreal in July 2017.

What have you and the team been up to since Hong Kong?

James Barclay, Team Director, Panasonic Jaguar Racing “Our first race left us with a lot of data to analyse which has been incredibly helpful for our engineers who have been requesting more information to accelerate our learning as a new team. Running the cars under race conditions was extremely valuable from a development point of view as all the information we can gather is key at this stage. Adam went over to Fuji for a round of the World Endurance Championship while the rest of us flew back to the UK.  Since then we have been undertaking simulation work in preparation for Marrakesh and both drivers have been in fitness training to prepare themselves for the warm conditions we expect the Marrakesh ePrix to serve up.”

The Marrakesh ePrix and Formula E is joining forces with the 22nd session of the Conference of Parties United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (COP22).  What do you think about this collaboration?

James Barclay “Panasonic Jaguar Racing is fully supportive of Formula E’s official partnership with COP22 for the inaugural Marrakesh ePrix.  We are Racing to Innovate through our involvement in the series and we are proud to showcase the all-electric I-TYPE racecar.  Jaguar Land Rover is committed to a future electrification strategy and we have some exciting plans to share very shortly.  It is great to be involved as the first premium manufacturer in the series.”

What impressed you most from your first Formula E race?

Adam Carroll, #47 “For me it was how busy the race was. It was elbows out from the first turn and everyone was fighting every second from start to finish. It was amazing racing and I literally can’t wait to do it all again in Marrakesh.”

How much did you have to adjust your driving style?

Mitch Evans, #20 “As always when you’re in a new car, you have to adjust your style a bit to figure out how to get the most out of the car. I’ve been working hard with the team to adapt my driving style to do that, particularly in regard to being efficient with energy management.”

What’s your take on the performance and energy consumption of the I-TYPE?

ME: “The I-TYPE is great to drive; it has incredible torque and is nothing like I’ve ever driven before. Our energy management was very positive in Hong Kong which is very impressive for a new team. There is still some speed to find as the season progresses but that’s part of finding our feet in the championship as a new team and with a new car.  We have a really exciting time ahead of us to see how much we can get out of the car before the season ends.”

How well have you got to know the team so far?

AC: “We had a good chance to bond as a team in Hong Kong so I now know everyone’s favourite Dim-Sum orders! Joking aside, all time spent together as a new team is extremely valuable as the better we know each other the better we will perform in stressful situations, which as a race team we will inevitably have.”

via Jaguar

412 Spider Vignale

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RM Sotheby's upcoming Milan Auction is jam packed with amazing Alfa Romeos, including this replica of a 1946 Alfa Romeo 412 Spider Vignale. Being a replica it is only expected to fetch around $35,000, but as far as fun to dollar ratio at the auction I don't think you would find a better value. Grab some goggles and hit the open road.

For more on this car visit the official auction site HERE.






Valerian & Lexus

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Today, Lexus announced the formation of a creative partnership with film studio EuropaCorp. One of the early highlights of this collaboration will be the highly anticipated 2017 science fiction film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, starring Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan.  Lexus collaborated with the Valerian creative team, as they imagined and brought to life the vision for the SKYJET, a single-seat pursuit craft featured in the film.

An epic teaser trailer unveiled online today (http://valerianmovie.com) gives fans a long-awaited first look at footage from the film. Viewers will also get a first glimpse of the SKYJET maneuvering through the intergalactic citadel of Alpha.


The Valerian team created the SKYJET with the ambition of featuring a vehicle grounded in reality but befitting of the Valerian world, set 700 years in the future. The creative team met with Lexus’ Chief Engineer, Takeaki Kato and the Lexus design team, to discuss incorporating believable, imaginative technologies and contemporary design cues into the final iteration of the SKYJET.

The SKYJET design also incorporates an adapted interpretation of Lexus’ signature “spindle” grille, and a similar headlight design to that of the hotly anticipated 2018 Lexus LC coupe, defined by an athletic and aerodynamic shape.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets features an all-star cast including Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke, Rihanna, and Kris Wu.  The project marks Luc Besson’s most ambitious film to date and the largest-budget European motion picture ever produced. The feature film is an adaptation of the French comic series ‘Valérian,’ written by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières. The film is produced by Virginie Besson-Silla.

Commenting on the partnership, director Luc Besson said, “For this partnership we were looking for a brand that’s pioneering in innovation and technology, who is focused on the future more than the past.”

The brand is set to provide unique fan experiences over the next nine months, designed to bring enthusiasts from around the world closer to the action leading up to the film’s release in July 2017.

Commenting on the development of the SKYJET, David Nordstrom, Global Branding Department General Manager at Lexus, added: “As fans of films and Luc’s previous work, Lexus is privileged to help bring Luc’s dream to life. We enjoyed the challenge of bringing Lexus' design philosophy and technology innovations to this project. We look forward to developing our partnership with EuropaCorp as we strive to give audiences the most amazing experiences imaginable in the coming years.”

Learn more about VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerianMovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerianMovie
Instagram: https://instagram.com/valerianmovie/

 #Valerian

IMSA 2017 AMG Team

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and Mercedes-AMG announced today that it will compete in North America's premier endurance racing series for the first time. The Mercedes-AMG Customer Sports Program will enter the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with several top teams. For the upcoming 2017 IMSA season, Mercedes-AMG is partnering with the successful Riley Motorsports team, which will campaign two Mercedes- AMG GT3 race cars. One of the team's cars will run as "AMG-Team Riley Motorsports," and one car will run as WeatherTech Racing, with sponsorship from the series' title sponsor. The AMG Customer Sports team SunEnergy1 Racing will also campaign an AMG GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.


Additional teams are scheduled to announce their intent to race as AMG Customer Sports teams in advance of the 2017 season. Mercedes-AMG will be on-site at each race throughout the 2017 race calendar to provide comprehensive technical assistance for all Mercedes-AMG GT3 Customer Sports Teams.

With the entry in the popular series, Mercedes-AMG enhances its motorsport presence within the US market. Previously, the Mercedes-AMG brand was successfully represented in the US by private race teams with the SLS AMG GT3 in the Pirelli World Challenge.
All AMG Customer Sports teams in the US will race the latest version of the naturally-aspirated, 6.3-liter V8 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in  2017.


Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT S road car, Mercedes-AMG GT3 race cars are competing in the IMSA GT Daytona (GTD) class, which features vehicles built in accordance with international GT3 regulations. The 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship consists of 12 events that take place between January and October. Among the highlights of the race season are the popular Rolex 24 at Daytona (January 26–29), the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (March 15-18) and "Petit Le Mans," which takes place at Road Atlanta (October 5-7).

The debut of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car for the US market is accompanied by further development of the AMG Customer Sports Program. The focal point of this program is a specifically established technology and logistics center in Mooresville, North Carolina, which ensures a fast and reliable supply of parts and service for all teams in racing in North America. For direct assistance on-site, Mercedes-AMG will send its own service and parts transporter to all IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge Series races.


Dietmar Exler, President and CEO, MBUSA: "We are thrilled to see the three- pointed star compete in North America's premier endurance racing series in 2017. Our Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car has already proven itself in worldwide competition and should quickly become a fan favorite. We are very excited about our prospects for the 2017 racing season."

Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes-AMG: "North America is traditionally a very important market for Mercedes-AMG and the enthusiasm for our performance vehicles is tremendous. The high demand for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, particularly after the legendary 1-2-3-4 finish at this year's 24- hour race at the Nürburgring, has inspired us to establish a Customer Sports Program in the US. I'm very much looking forward to cooperating with all of the teams and wish them success in the upcoming season."

Jochen Bitzer, Director of AMG Customer Sports Program: "Our aspiration for expanding the AMG Customer Sports Program in the US is to provide the same level of comprehensive support that we have provided to teams in Europe for several years. This requires a close collaboration with the teams in terms of know- how and race track expertise, which we are now ideally positioned for. We are very excited for a thrilling and hopefully successful season."





Land Rover Vince Beach Pop Up

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Land Rover today announced the North American debut of the all-new 2017 Discovery SUV at an interactive consumer popup activation in the iconic Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

The Discovery Venice popup opened to the public today with big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and wife Gabby Reece, champion volleyball player and fitness leader, on hand to help open the activation. The space is now open to the public through Monday, Nov. 14.

Attendees will be able to explore the new Land Rover Discovery and view a curated selection of the latest in premium activity gear, with opportunities to try out interactive training experiences and state-of-the-art fitness technologies with virtual reality. Curated gear will include surfing, cycling, sports and fitness innovations from ROKA, Cerevo, Hobie, Eddyline Kayaks, Parsons Xtreme Golf, Atlas Snowshoe Company, YERKA Bikes, FEND, Hiplok, PTX Performance Products USA, Blind Dog Surfboards among other top active lifestyle brands.

“We are thrilled to join Land Rover in the debut of the Discovery here in our hometown where outdoor activities and an active lifestyle are encouraged,” said Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. “The Discovery’s smart technology helps families on-the-go like ours; not only stay connected but also provides incredible room and storage, offering the perfect mix of versatility, innovation and luxury. We are so excited to introduce the car to the Venice community and join our fans for the exciting activities at Discovery Venice.” 

The Land Rover Discovery is the perfect choice for today’s active consumers who need vehicles that make their lives easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s an exciting vacation or just a quick trip to the beach, the seven seat option provides versatility for any adventure, big or small,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “The new Discovery will make its US debut  on Abbot Kinney in Venice with a fun and innovative pop up activation featuring the latest road bikes, fitness equipment, kayaks and surfboards. We really look forward to meeting local customers who share our same passion for innovation and design.”

The Land Rover Discovery is the brand’s most versatile SUV offering premium design and interiors, all-terrain capability and unique cutting-edge technology. With seating to accommodate up to seven full size adults comfortably(1), the Discovery features a distinctive stepped roof design for enhanced passenger headroom and comfort. Intelligent Seat Fold technology(5) allows owners to instantly configure seating remotely via their smartphone app.

The 2017 Discovery SUV is also available with Activity Key technology, which allows customers to enjoy sports and active hobbies without having to carry the standard key fob. The waterproof Activity Key simultaneously locks the vehicle and disables the standard key, which can be left safely inside. This leaves Discovery owners free to pursue their passions without worrying about the security of their vehicle.

The Discovery features advanced aluminum construction for enhanced capability and efficiency. Lightweight aluminum construction cuts approximately 1,000 lbs(2) from the weight of the outgoing LR4 and when equipped with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine, the new Discovery delivers up to 14 percent greater City fuel economy compared to the outgoing Land Rover LR4 SUV(3).

Events at the Discovery Venice activation will include guest appearances from Southern California athletes, chefs and designers including Chef Stuart O’Keeffe, Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Conor Dwyer, vegan cookbook author Kristy Turner and interior designer Nathan Turner. Local food trucks including The Butcher’s Daughter, Cousins Main Lobster, Mandoline Grill, The JUICEBOX Truck, Urban Espresso and Peaches' Smokehouse & Southern Kitchen will be onsite throughout the activation with food available at discount rates. Consumers are also encouraged to visit nearby Venice businesses that have partnered with Land Rover for further discounts and special offers.

The Discovery Venice activation will be held at 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, California, 90291 and will be open to the public on the following days:

–          Friday, Nov. 11 from 12 – 8 p.m.
–          Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
–          Sunday, Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
–          Monday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.



For full details on Discovery Venice and the new 2017 Land Rover Discovery visit http://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/discover-venice.html. Follow the discussion at #DiscoveryVenice #Discovery

Liberty Walk at SEMA

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One brand that was out in force at the 2016 SEMA show was Japanese tuner Liberty Walk, dozens of cars from Nissan to Lamborghinis featured the  company's signature widebody kits. One of the most interesting cars was the Datsun 240Z owned by Liberty Walk founder Wataru Kato see that story HERE and enjoy the gallery below.













Omologato Watches

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Omologato founder Shami Kalra has got in front of the camera to tell the remarkable and passionate story of how he gave up 25 years of corporate experience to follow his watch-making passion.
Founded just 14 months ago, Omologato creates motorsport-inspired timepieces that perfectly capture the essence of a legend – whether an iconic car, figure or location – and make a powerful, fashionable statement.

From watches that pay tribute to the Mille Miglia and Sir Stirling Moss to a quite stunning timepiece honoring Richard Attwood’s 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours victory behind the wheel of the Porsche Salzburg 917, every one of Omologato’s watches tells its own story.

Shami is a lover of all things motorsport, and after life in the corporate world kept him from flexing his creative muscles fully, he decided to pursue a dream that encapsulated two of his lifelong passions: fashion and motor racing.


His ambition to make a fundamental change in his existence is truly inspiring, and the new online video assesses how one small idea turned into a global brand that’s capturing the imaginations of thousands of motorsport enthusiasts.


Directed by former Petrolicious videographer Jeremy Heslup of Praemio, the video also depicts Shami’s overwhelming desire to create products people will love and inspire others to follow their passion no matter the obstacles.


Shami said: “It’s an honour to be the subject of this quite incredible video that Jeremy Heslup has beautifully directed. I’m a firm believer in being creative and connecting with people who share your passion, and when I founded Omologato in 2015, I was instantly able to do this. Bringing people together through my work is a real privilege and I hope this video encourages others to work hard and pursue their dreams.”


Aston Martin Wings

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Aston Martin has unveiled the ultimate collectible to set your heart racing, as the iconic wings that have adorned its V8 Vantage GTEs for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) are now available for sale as a limited-edition set.


Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, each collection is framed and includes all nine iconic ‘WEC’ wings badges mounted on a clean white mount. To ensure their authenticity, each case is individually numbered.


Incorporating the national colours of the countries Aston Martin Racing has competed in throughout the 2016 season, each piece has been handcrafted in Birmingham’s world-renowned Jewellery Quarter by established manufacturer Vaughtons.


Each enamelled wing takes a total of 20 hours to produce and is created using a combination of state-of-the-art CAD equipment and age-old Jewellery making machinery; some of which dates back over 120 years.


With this year’s WEC season finishing at next week’s title showdown in Bahrain on Saturday 19 November, Aston Martin Racing remains in the hunt for all GT competitions.

The Danish duo of Marco Sørensen and Nicki Thiim currently lead the GT Drivers and GTE Pro titles in their #95 V8 Vantage GTE, while Aston Martin Racing is also locked in an intense battle for overall GT Manufacturer honours.


Priced at £3,750 RRP (About $4,700 USD), these exclusive collectibles are available to order via the Aston Martin Online Store, Aston Martin dealers or the marque’s London Mayfair boutique at No. 8 Dover St.


Prestone Peace of Mind

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We saw the Triple Seal™ Protection products by Prestone at the SEMA show earlier this month. Prestone has long been a brand we trust for our own project cars. Getting out on the open road in a classic or older car can be a little stressful. Even if you are handy with tool kit finding the right parts out on the road can be difficult, and some repairs like a blown head gasket require major work. Prestone says they have a solution to MOST engine leak issues, including the engine block leaks, blown head gasket, and radiator leaks.

We spent a lot of time talking with Prestone at SEMA about this new product, if it works half as well as they say it does, it would be worth its weight in gold. If you are going on a cross-country trip these would make a great addition to any emergency toolkit. It's one of the products you would love to try out, but hope you never need to.

According to Prestone each product is designed for the unique heat and pressure of the specific leak location (engine block, head gasket or radiator). The product is delivered through three proprietary technologies that work together to repair the source of the leak. Effervescent beads transfer straight to the source of the leak while a DuPont™ Kevlar® resin forms a web that binds to the surrounding metal. Finally, the seal is secured by an acrylic polymer that hardens over the patch.

This new line of stop leak products is a must have for any road trip. According to Prestone leaks are sealed from the inside of the affected area without blocking or corroding the cooling system.  All three Triple Seal Protection products are safe to use with all colors of antifreeze and do not require a cooling system flush.

The Triple Seal Protection line includes three products:
• Prestone® Triple Seal™ Protection Engine Block Stop Leak
• Prestone® Triple Seal™ Protection Head Gasket Stop Leak
• Prestone® Triple Seal™ Protection Radiator Stop Leak

For more information on Triple Seal Protection products, please visit www.prestone.com. For a demonstration of any Prestone product, visit the Prestone YouTube channel.


This was not a sponsored post.

Photo Credit: Prestone

Jaguar I-PACE

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Jaguar, tonight offered a first look at the Jaguar I-PACE Concept, an all-electric performance SUV(1), ahead of its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show with an exclusive VIP reception at MILK Studios in Los Angeles. Actress Michelle Rodriguez, late night-talk show host James Corden,  supermodel Miranda Kerr, musician Gavin Rossdale, model David Gandy and Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, took part in a world-first, live cross-continent virtual reality reveal experience that transported the audience into a unique virtual world to explore the I-PACE Concept vehicle.

The Jaguar I-PACE Concept(1) Vehicle is the start of a new era for Jaguar.  This is a production preview of the Jaguar I-PACE, which will be revealed next year and on the road in 2018.  Customers can register now at jaguarusa.com to be one of the first I-PACE owners.

Jaguar’s engineering and design teams have torn up the rule book to create a bespoke electric architecture, matched with dramatic design. The result is a no-compromise smart, five seat sports car and a performance SUV in one.

Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: “The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design. It’s a dramatic, future-facing cab-forward design with a beautiful interior – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA, electric technology and contemporary craftsmanship.”

“Our virtual reality reveal today has pushed technology boundaries as well, and captures the hi-tech essence of the concept car. We only have one concept car and it is in LA for the reveal. For the first time, VR has allowed us share it across the globe in the most immersive way possible.”

This unique and world-first ‘social VR’ reveal is believed to be the largest live and connected VR event of its type to date. Throughout the day more than 300 guests were transported into a specially created life-like virtual space, into which, two of the car’s creators, Ian Callum and Ian Hoban were projected.

From VR hubs in Los Angeles and London, groups of 66 guests including A-list stars Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr and James Corden, used HTC VIVE Business Edition headsets, powered by Dell Precision workstations, to put themselves inside the concept car and interact live with other participants. Guests ‘sat’ on the concept’s virtual seats, had a 3600 view of Venice Beach as the concept was built piece by piece around them, and saw the I-PACE Concept race towards them across a virtual desert.

Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Technical Design Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "This is an uncompromised electric vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available. The I-PACE Concept fully exploits the potential EVs can offer in space utilization, driving pleasure and performance."

The electric motors and 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack were designed in-house by Jaguar Land Rover to give the best possible performance and range for most daily commutes.

For rapid charging, using a public 50kW DC charging network, a full charge will take just over two hours.  Enough to deliver an estimated 220 miles range (measured on the US EPA test cycle)(1).

The I-PACE Concept(1) transforms the electric driving experience and offers the driver-focused performance and response Jaguar is renowned for. To help deliver this, the I-PACE has electric motors on the front and rear axles. Their combined output is 400hp and 516-lb ft. of torque(1) – the same torque rating as the F-TYPE SVR.

Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, described the set up to VR guests who were able to use virtual reality to get under the skin of this ground-breaking technology. He said: "Electric motors provide immediate response with no lag, no gearshifts and no interruptions. Their superior torque delivery compared to internal combustion engines transforms the driving experience. With 516-lb of torque and the traction benefits of all-wheel drive, the I-PACE Concept accelerates from 0-60mph in around four seconds(1)."

The virtual reality experience also allowed participants to sit in the front and rear of the Jaguar I-PACE Concept and explore the beautiful interior, discovering hidden details and features.

Ian Callum said: “The interior of the I-PACE Concept is finished with beautiful, premium materials and an unwavering attention to detail. Throughout the interior you will discover a host of beautiful details to surprise and delight. From the expansive panoramic glass roof to the sporting, beautifully finished seats, every feature bears the hallmark of British craftsmanship.

“And there is digital craftsmanship too, with two touch screens serving up information when and where you need it, limiting distraction and improving the driving experience”

Renowned VR Director, Alexander Horton, led the creative direction. Participants experienced the car being built around them, speeding towards them and appearing to fall to Earth from another planet – clearly signalling the future-forward nature of the revolutionary Jaguar.

The new and exciting VR platform pushed the boundaries further than ever before, with the inclusion of social interaction and a live presenter broadcast into a single VR world.

Groups in both LA and London were able to communicate and interact with one another, all while watching Ian Callum and Ian Hoban explain through high-end real-time 3D graphics both the design process and technology behind this forward-thinking concept car.

The VR content from the reveal will now be available on Vive Port through a dedicated Jaguar app allowing consumers to experience the I-PACE Concept at home.

Jaguar joined forces with VR leaders HTC VIVE, Computer experts Dell and Creative agencies REWIND and Imagination to create the world’s largest, global, connected VR experience.

Dan O’ Brien, VP, Virtual Reality at HTC VIVE said, “Jaguar Land Rover is renowned for its innovative spirit, and with Vive Business Edition we’re thrilled to be the virtual reality partner to help bring to life their latest launch. With the blend of cinematics and VIVE’s room-scale VR technology, the I-PACE Concept VR experience offers an incredible level of immersion, and showcases an exciting reimagining of the traditional car launch as we know it.”

Dell Precision workstations powered the design and development of the Jaguar I-PACE Concept and the VR reveal experience. Dell Precision Tower Workstations are configured specifically with the increased performance, graphics and memory for VR content creation and advanced commercial visualization, making these types of applications possible in new areas of business, such as automotive.

Rahul Tikoo, Vice President and General Manager for Dell Precision, said: “Dell has long been involved in VR. We’ve been evolving our business model to introduce solutions that are optimized for the future of VR, from our VR-ready XPS and Alienware devices for the best VR experience to VR-ready Dell Precision solutions for professionals to create it.  The Jaguar I-PACE Concept(1), designed and introduced with VR, reinforces the incredible innovation that’s possible with VR technologies and the potential to ultimately transform industries.”  

Ross Wheeler, Head of Automotive at Imagination, said: “For the first time in history, a global automotive brand has used fully immersive VR to launch their latest car. This launch takes the individual far beyond any new car experience they would have witnessed before, allowing people across the world to connect in real time, be fully immersed within the vehicle and share live together their experience of Jaguar’s first ever electric vehicle.”

“Jaguar, by embracing cutting-edge technology in this way, has created an experience rich and rewarding for its consumers. It has undoubtedly redefined the future of how automotive brands introduce their new vehicles to customers.”

Momo Heritage

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In the 1960's race car driver, Gianpiero Moretti commissioned a local craftsman to make him a custom steering wheel to his own design. Soon other drivers took notice and Momo wheels began showing up on everything from local club racers to the Ferrari Formula 1 team cars. Soon Momo would be the OEM supplier for brands like Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Opel, Nissan, and many others.

To celebrate the brand's rich motorsport heritage, Momo has released a collection of vintage inspired steering wheels, shift knobs, and wheels, which were unveiled at a launch party in Los Angeles on Monday. The event was filled with amazing cars, great drinks at the Red Bull Bar, and lots of cool people from the LA automotive scene.

The stars of the party were, of course, the new products, of which the new satin finish Grand Prix wheel is by far my favorite. Momo also had a display showcasing the process of how each wheel is made, complete with a man named Massimo hand stitching and finishing wheels. The quality and finish on all the new steering wheels and shift knobs was impressive, and I think a Momo wheel will find it's way into our project 131.

The new collection will be available shortly, for now visit MomoUSA.com for more info.













Vanquish S

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Aston Martin has turned up the heat on it’s ultimate Super GT to create the new Vanquish S. Sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism define this latest evolution of an illustrious model line. One that originated from Aston Martin’s legendary Works in Newport Pagnell and has proudly served as standard bearer for the marque’s sporting and stylistic values since 2001.


In this, the second generation Vanquish’s evolution to S specification, careful attention has been paid to the engine, chassis and aerodynamics to create a machine honed to deliver more intense thrills and even more scintillating performance.

Central to this is the naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine, which now produces up to 600PS (up from 573PS) and enjoys sensational throttle response, thanks to a revised, freer-breathing intake system. These larger volume inlet manifolds allow a greater volume of air to flow into the engine at high revs, creating a relentless power delivery and a stronger feel all the way to the redline.

Building on this increased intensity, the calibration of the 8-speed Touchtronic III transmission has been revised to deliver faster gearshifts and greater refinement at low speeds for a greater sense of precision and immediacy.

Likewise, the suspension, damper internals, spring rates and anti-roll bar bushes have also been re-tuned to give the Vanquish S a keener edge in the more sporting suspension modes, without compromising its ability to deliver supple ride quality on demand.

Visually the Vanquish S can be readily distinguished by a new aerodynamic package. Fashioned from exposed carbon fibre, this revised front splitter and rear diffuser combine to deliver a meaningful reduction in frontal lift with a minimal penalty in additional drag. Combined with visually striking new quad exhaust outlets the Vanquish S has more aggressive appearance, entirely fitting for Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting GT production model.

This look can be further enhanced with a range of new options. These include carbon fibre bonnet louvres, new forged 5-spoke diamond turned wheels and a choice of striking painted graphics packs. A new Vanquish S badge sits proudly on the tailgate as the perfect piece of jewellery.
Inside, the Vanquish S can be further personalised with a choice of spectacular new ‘Filograph’ quilted leather and the use of new materials and finishes, such as the Satin Chopped Carbon Fibre fascia panel. Sumptuous Bridge of Weir Caithness leather offers an added touch of luxury and tactility, while Vanquish S embroidery on the headrests provides a crafted finishing detail.

Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President & CEO said: “From the moment the original Vanquish was launched it became a modern icon. It propelled Aston Martin from an era of hand-built cars to one where craftsmanship and technology combined to create a new kind of great British GT.

“In its second generation the Vanquish maintained that momentum with huge engineering advances such as its all-carbon fibre bodywork and compelling, contemporary styling. Now, the Vanquish S takes things a step further, confidently asserting itself within the Aston Martin range and distinguishing itself from the new DB11. A spectacular machine in every sense, the Vanquish S is a magnificent addition to our range.”   

Vanquish S is available in both Coupe and Volante and recommended retail price starts from £199,950 in the UK, €262,950 in Germany and $294,950 in the US. Deliveries will commence in December 2016.

Jaguar XKSS

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 The first genuine Jaguar XKSS to be built in almost 60 years was today given its world debut presentation at the Petersen Museum, Los Angeles by Jaguar Classic.  The stunning XKSS, finished in Sherwood Green paint, has been created by the Jaguar Classic engineering team ahead of the production of nine cars for delivery to customers across the globe in 2017.


Often referred to as the world’s first supercar, the XKSS was originally made by Jaguar as a road-going conversion of the Le Mans-winning D-type, which was built from 1954-1956.  In 1957, nine cars earmarked for export to North America were lost in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in the British Midlands; meaning just 16 examples of XKSS were built.


Earlier this year Jaguar announced that its Classic division would build the nine ‘lost’ XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers. The new one-off XKSS presented in Los Angeles is the summation of 18 months of research and will be used as a blueprint from which the nine continuation cars are built.

The nine cars will be completely new, with period chassis numbers from the XKSS chassis log. All cars are now sold at a price in excess of £1million each.

The XKSS is the second continuation car to be created by Jaguar, following on from the six Lightweight E-types that were built in 2014. This project helped the team learn to engineer cars that are faithful to the specifications to which they were built in period, and this knowledge has been enhanced in creating the ‘new original’ XKSS.

The XKSS unveiled in Los Angeles is a period correct continuation, built using a combination of original drawings from Jaguar’s archive and modern technology.  The Jaguar Classic engineering team scanned several versions of the 1957 XKSS to help build a complete digital image of the car, from the body to chassis, and including all parts required.


The body of the XKSS is made from magnesium alloy, as it was in 1957, and because the original styling bucks do not exist, Jaguar Classic produced a new, bespoke styling buck based on the original bodies from the 1950s. The bodies of the nine new cars will be formed on this buck, using a traditional process called hand-wheeling.

Jaguar Classic’s expert engineers worked with the original frames and from there produced CAD to support build of the chassis. In partnership with the Classic team, frame maker Reynolds – famous for their 531 tubing – was briefed to craft bespoke new parts using imperial measurements, rather than metric. The frames are bronze welded in the same way as the period XKSS chassis tubing.

The continuation cars feature period specification four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes with a Plessey pump, and Dunlop tyres with riveted two-piece magnesium alloy wheels.

Under the bonnet, the XKSS is supplied with a 262hp 3.4-litre straight six-cylinder Jaguar D-type engine. The engine features completely new cast iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburetors.


Inside, the ‘new original’ XKSS features perfect recreations of the original Smiths gauges.  Everything from the wood of the steering wheel, to the grain of the leather seats, through to the brass knobs on the XKSS dashboard, is precisely as it would have been in 1957.

Minor specification changes have been made only to improve driver and passenger safety. The fuel cell, for example, uses robust, modern materials to support throughput of modern fuels.


Customer vehicles will be hand-built beginning this year, and it is estimated that 10,000 man hours will go into building each of the new XKSS cars.

Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager, said: “The XKSS is one of the most important cars in Jaguar’s history, and we are committed to making the ‘new original’ version absolutely faithful to the period car in every way.

“From the number, type and position of all the rivets used – there are more than 2,000 in total – to the Smiths gauges on the dashboard, everything is the same as the original cars, because that is the way it should be.”


Tim Hannig, Director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “The XKSS continuation programme underlines the world-class expertise we have at Jaguar Land Rover Classic.  We are committed to nurturing the passion and enthusiasm for Jaguar’s illustrious past by offering exceptional cars, services, parts and experiences.

“Jaguar Land Rover Classic is perfectly positioned to cater for this growing love for classics, with a new £7.5m global headquarters set to open in Coventry in 2017. We are looking forward to growing this business, supporting our existing customers and engaging with a whole new generation of global enthusiasts.”

via Jaguar

Vanderhall Venice

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Vanderhall Motor Works is ready to unleash the Venice Roadster, an open-wheel, composite body autocycle that out-handles most sports cars and stops quicker than many superbikes. This hand-built vehicle has side-by-side seating and is motivated by a turbocharged, 1.4-liter VVTI powertrain.


Vanderhall’s patented, mono-aluminum chassis is wrapped in a composite body. Creature comforts include power steering, heated seats, and a premium sound system with Bluetooth connectivity, with other dealer-installed options on the product roadmap.
The Venice is engineered, tested, and manufactured in Provo, Utah, with the company’s proprietary tooling and processes. Its throaty four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing is tuned for weight reduction and power. That power is delivered through a 6-speed auto-manual transmission.
Each of the ponies pull just 6.875 pounds. This puts the 1375-pound Venice’s power-to-weight ratio firmly into muscle car territory as it vaults from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds.
Stopping chores are handled with ABS, brake assist, and performance rotors and calipers. This system efficiently slows the Venice from 60 to 0 mph in sub-100 feet. Stable and agile by design, the Venice hugs the road at just 4.5 inches off the ground. Its low center of gravity, ideal weight distribution, and wide, sticky tires allow it to generate a high level of lateral cornering stability, perfect for winding canyon drives.

Vanderhall Motor Works seeks to fill the growing autocycle segment’s lack of exclusive, high-performance options. “The process of bringing Vanderhall vehicles to market has been exciting and rewarding,” says company founder Steve Hall. “We worked on 11 different iterations, building over 40 proof-of-concept prototypes.” This process resulted in Vanderhall’s first model, the Laguna. After the release of the Laguna, Hall recognized the demand for yet another model to add to the Vanderhall lineup, thus inspiring the design and price-point for the Venice.
After releasing the Laguna just over one year ago, Vanderhall is ready again to bring something new and innovative to the market with the Venice. With its vintage, caféracer flare, as well as its lower price point, at just $29,950, Vanderhall anticipates an explosion of interest and orders for the new roadster.
The Venice will be released in one trim level and three color options – charcoal, black, and pearl white with dealer-installed options to be released in the months following the debut. Pre-orders are already being taken, so go to vanderhallusa.com/venice to claim your spot in line and be one of the first to experience your own Vanderhall Venice.
The debut of the Venice will be at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, CA from November 18th-20th. All are invited to participate and see the new roadster in person.

Complete Venice Roadster specifications can be found below
About Vanderhall Motor Works, Inc.
Founded in 2010 and based in Provo, Utah, Vanderhall Motor Works, Inc. is headed by Steve Hall. For more information about Vanderhall and their roadsters, email Sales@VanderhallUSA.com or call 949-420-9007.
Vanderhall Motor Works | 1955 Ironton Boulevard | Provo, Utah 84606
VANDERHALL VENICE ROADSTER SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL
• Make: Vanderhall
• Model: Venice
• Seats: 2
• Body Construction: ABS Composite
• Model Year: 2017
• Place of Manufacture: Provo, Utah
STANDARD AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
• Convenience: heated seats, heat control module
• Safety: ABS, brake assist
• Interior: Premium, hand-stitched V-Tex synthetic seats
• Audio Options: Bluetooth-connectable sound system
• Lighting: LED headlights, turn signals and brake light
• Exterior Colors: Frost White/Abyss Black/Charcoal Grey
ENGINE
• Location: Front
• Alignment: Transverse
• Manufacturer: General Motors
• Cylinders: 4
• Configuration: Inline
• Displacement: 1.4 liters
• Valves: 16
• Bore x Stroke: 72.0mm x 82.6mm
• Bore Center: 78mm
• Compression: 9.5:1
• Cam Design: Hollow, cast iron
• Redline: 6500 rpm
• Aspiration: Turbocharging
• Compressor: Axial
• Horsepower: N/A
• Torque: N/A
• Block: Cast iron
• Sump Design: Wet
• Fuel Supply: Multi-port injectors
• Fuel: Premium unleaded
• Catalytic converter: Yes
TRANSMISSION
• Type: Auto-manual
• Gears: 6
• Wheel Drive: Front
• Top Gear Ratio: .75
• Clutch: Automatic torque converter
• Final Gear Ratio: 3.87
• Actuation: N/A
PERFORMANCE
• 0-60 mph: <5 br="" sec.="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">• Top Speed: 130+/- mph
• Lateral Cornering Stability: 1 G
• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.145455>
CHASSIS
• Suspension, Front: Adjustable pushrod, coil-over Vanderhall by Ride Tech hydraulic shocks
• Suspension, Rear: Single-sided swingarm, coil-over Vanderhall by Ride Tech hydraulic shock
• Rear Swingarm: Single-sided, aluminum
• Wheels, Front: Standard: Vanderhall 18 in. x 8 in.; Optional:19 in. x 8.5 in.
• Wheel, Rear: Standard: Vanderhall 18 in. x 10.5 in.; Optional:20 in. x 12 in.
• Tires, Front: Standard: Continental 225/40 R18 Optional: Toyo 235/35Z R19
• Tire, Rear: Standard: Continental 295/35 R18 Optional: Toyo 315/30Z R20
• Brake Calipers, Front: Standard: N/A Optional: Brembo, 4-piston
• Brake Rotor, Front: Standard: N/A, Optional: 130mm, cross-drilled
• Brake Rotor, Rear: Standard: N/A, Optional: 130mm, cross-drilled
• Steering: Rack & pinion with electronic assist
BODYWORK
• Base Platform: Vanderhall
• Number of Doors: 0
• Bodywork Material: ABS Composite
• Cargo Capacity: 4600 cu. in. rear trunk space
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT & CAPACITIES
• Length: 145.2 in.
• Overall Width: 68.9 in.
• Track, Front: 58.8 in.
• Height: 48 in.
• Wheelbase: 100.4 in.
• Weight Distribution: 70/30
• Ground Clearance: 4.5 in.
• Dry Weight: 1375 lbs.
• Curb Weight: 1520 lbs.
• Load capacity: 500 lbs.
• Gross Weight: 2100 lbs.
• Fuel Capacity: 10 gal.

Car Girl: Linda Reyes

Nissan GT Academy Drivers take on UAE

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Nissan will field an all-GT Academy alumni driver line-up in next year's Hankook Dubai 24 Hours with recent race camp victor Mexican Johnny Guindi making his international race debut.

Guindi will be joined by fellow GT Academy winners Jann Mardenborough (UK), Romain Sarazin (France) and fellow Mexican winner, Ricardo Sanchez in a four-driver line-up in the United Arab Emirates endurance classic.

The quartet will drive a Nissan 370 GT4 in the first major international endurance event of 2017, the entry run by Nissan GT Academy Team RJN.

Mardenborough has spent 2016 racing in Japan where he was a race winner in the GT300 class in Super GT and finished second in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. The 2011 GT Academy winner also competed for the first time last weekend in the prestigious Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix.



Sanchez won the GT Academy International competition in 2014 and actually made his international debut at the Dubai 24 Hour in 2015. Both he and 2015 GT Academy European winner Romain Sarazin did battle for Nissan last year in the Blancpain GT Championship across Europe.



Guindi has been put through an intensive driver development program since being announced as the 2016 GT Academy International winner last month.

"I did a couple of 'All Comers' races in the Nissan 370Z Group N car at Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Silverstone," said Guindi. "After seven of those races I graduated into the much faster Nissan 370Z GT4 car for the Britcar 'Into the Night' 50 minute night race at Brands Hatch. I also did my first two overseas races in a Radical SR3 at Dubai Autodrome for the Radical Middle East Cup series. It has been great preparation. Apart from the race program, I'll keep working very hard to prepare myself physically during the short winter break before the race in Dubai. We're certainly keen to try to win. We have the car to do so, and we definitely have the drivers to do so."

The race will be held on January 13-14, 2017.

McLaren 570S Design Editions

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Five exclusive Design Editions of the multi-award winning McLaren 570S are announced today, taking the popular ‘By McLaren’ personalisation themes a stage further with combinations of colour, trim and finish that are guaranteed to showcase the Sports Series coupe at its stunning best.

The Design Editions have been painstakingly created by the people who know McLaren’s array of personalisation options the best – McLaren’s own designers.


Every design element has been selected to be in perfect harmony, with McLaren’s signature colors coordinated with different finishes and materials of the highest quality Alcantara and Nappa leather. Each Design Edition comprises the designers’ choice on exterior paint, wheel style and finish, exhaust style, and caliper color – along with “By McLaren” interior package that best complements the exterior.

Design Edition 1, for example, combines a Vermillion Red body with five-spoke wheels and diamond-cut finish, Stealth exhaust and red brake callipers. Inside, this 570S receives a By McLaren package of Carbon Black Alcantara and Apex Red Nappa leather seats, Jet Black Nappa leather upper facia, Apex Red Nappa leather lower facia, Slate Grey contrasting stitching, a dual color coordinated steering wheel and a McLaren branded leather sill finisher.


As well as offering McLaren’s most harmonious looks inside and out, ordering a McLaren 570S Design Edition also makes financial sense. Previously these options could only be specified separately, meaning the Design Edition “all-in” option price of $10,320USD represents a significantly lower price than sum of the individual option pricing.


Clients are still free to make further trim and equipment choices and add their own array of exterior options such as carbon fiber. As well as Onyx Black, the other body colors of the five Design Editions are Vermillion Red, Storm Grey, Ventura Orange, and Silica White.

The McLaren Design Editions are available exclusively for the McLaren 570S with orders now being taken for deliveries in 2017.


American Lowrider

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Southern California is known for its car culture and in the 1950's young Mexican Americans started building cars that expressed their own sense of style and the "lowrider" was born. Like many other custom cultures, the lowrider evolved and by the 1970's brightly-painted custom cars on hydraulics were a common sight on streets like Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles.


The 1970's lowrider style came to define the movement in popular culture, Journalist Ted West in 1976 said, "Lowriders express the refusal of a young Chicano American to be Anglicized. There has never been a clearer case of the automobile being used as an ethnic statement." But long before the lifestyle was associated with chain steering wheels, hydraulics, and outlandish paint jobs, there was a different kind of lowrider, the first lowriders.


American men returning from World War II came home looking for distractions other for thrills. As a result, the automotive hobby exploded in the 1950s, some hopped up old jalopies and headed up to El Mirage to set speed records and others raced sports cars, another group was building cars for another purpose "bajito y suavecito" (low and slow). Unlike the stripped down built-for-speed hot rods, lowriders were built for comfort, cruising, and to make a statement. Streamlined classics, with chopped tops, fender skirts, visors, chrome trim, and pinstripes.


While the flashy 70's style cars have become commonplace at California car events. At least one shop is trying to save this traditional lowrider, Slick's Customs in Montclair, California. Builds cars the way those early builders did, capturing a culture and motoring experience that was nearly lost. Spending the day at the shop you get a sense that this is more than a business, it is a part of a tightly knit community, a family, these cars are a part of Southern California culture and a special connection to the past.


Slick's doesn't have a website, doesn't even have a sign, but the shop is currently so busy from word of mouth that they are having to expand. Follow Slicks on Instagram and Facebook. Enjoy more photos below:








Rolls-Royce | Animal Ball

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A collection of Rolls-Royce motor cars will join the great and the good in support of the Animal Ball, hosted by the Elephant Family charity.  A troop of ‘White Glove chauffeurs’, a term coined by the marque to describe exemplary performance in the art of chauffeuring, will adopt animal personae as they spirit guests to London’s premier masked Ball. The event will raise valuable funds to help solve human-animal conflict and the issues facing wildlife.

The evening is set to be attended by the crème of the London social scene who will be conveyed in a collection of Rolls-Royces. Phantom, Ghost, Wraith and Dawn motor cars which will spirit guests from a series of dinners hosted by London’s luminaries at some of the city’s most exclusive venues.


The evening will culminate in a sparkling masked Ball at London’s Victoria House, with guests sporting beautifully made couture masks designed by leading fashion houses, including Chloé, Jimmy Choo, Alice Temperley and Burberry. The evening promises to be a landmark opener to the festive party season.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “As the world’s most celebrated luxury house, we are delighted to support a cause that does such vital work in protecting elephants and their habitat. I can think of no better enhancement to a wonderful and charitable evening than to be conveyed to a masked Ball in the sanctuary of a Rolls-Royce motor car.”




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