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At 79-years-old, Smith drives Formula One car

Most people, when approaching their senior years, tend to choose a more mellow lifestyle. Rosemary Smith, the 79 year old former rally driver, chose to do the exact opposite. She has always had the dream of driving a Formula One car sometime on her lifetime.

And as part of Renault Sport Formula One Team’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, the team at Renault UK obliged and wanted to help make Smith’s dream come true. She would pilot the team’s contemporary F1 car around the Circuit Paul Ricard in France and compare notes with Renault’s driver, Jolyon Palmer.

A seamstress by trade, earlier on, Smith had her own dress shop business. And only stumbled upon the world of rallying by accident when a client invited her to navigate one of the rallies. Having tasted the adrenaline-packed action that the sport offered, the Dublin-born Smith was hooked, which lead her to participate a lot more in the sport.

Smith did exceptionally well, winning trophies for various rallies despite a number of disqualifications and people sabotaging her success along the way, due to the fact that she was a woman in a male dominated sport. However, that didn’t deter her as she racked up, win after win.

One notable victory was the one at the Tulip Rally in 1965, where her achievement was not only noticed by the Motorsport world but Hollywood as well with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton sending her a huge bouquet and congratulatory letter.

After years of competing and winning at the highest level in the world rallying, Smith set up her own driving school using Renault Clios and for the past two decades has campaigned for young driver education to be introduced in schools across the country.

She only decided to have a go at F1, which is the pinnacle of motor racing, after being encouraged and persuaded by long-term friend and navigator, Pauline Gullick. But after this experience, we doubt that the world of rallying will be able to match this visceral level of raw action.

Speaking of the experience Rosemary said, “Driving an 800bhp car is something I, like many other racers, have always dreamed of but I didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity to do it, so when the team at Renault UK contacted me I jumped at the chance. It was definitely very different to the rally cars I’m used to but was an amazing experience.”

Check out this video below to understand her side of the story:

John Lennon’s Phantom V heads for London exhibit

This rather eccentric looking Rolls-Royce Phantom V once owned by the greatest musicians of his area, John Lennon, will be travelling from Canada to London for an exhibition. Dubbed The Great Eight Phantoms, the event will take place at Bonhams international flagship saleroom and galleries in New Bond Street, London from 29th July to 2nd August.

On June 3rd 1965, The leader of the Beatles took ownership of the Phantom V, that was originally painted Valentine Black. According to the singer, he had aspirations of becoming an eccentric millionaire and believed that the car would take him a step closer to making that dream a reality. Later, he had the Rolls-Royce customized in true rockstar style.

The rear seat was converted to a double bed, a television, telephone and refrigerator were installed, along with a ‘floating’ record player and a custom sound system (which included an external loud hailer).

As for its ‘psychedelic’ yellow paint job, the car received it upon request by Lennon to Surrey coach-builders as a means to commemorate the release of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. The freshly-painted Phantom was unveiled days before the worldwide release of Sgt. Pepper’s on 1 June and it seemed part of the overall concept of the album.

The paint scheme, reflected the cover of the well-known album but with closer inspection, you will notice that the random swirl decal, isn’t that random after all. It’s a floral Romany scroll design, as used on gypsy caravans and canal barges, with a zodiac symbol on the roof.

The car was used regularly by Lennon till 1969, this is including the time when he picked up his MBE with the rest of the band in 1965. He had it shipped to the US in 1970 when he moved it there but loaned the car out to ferry other rock stars around.

These entertainers included The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Moody Blues. In 1977, after a period in storage, it was donated by billionaire Jim Pattison to the current owner, Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Extensive Ferrari exhibit to be shown in London

For all the Ferrari fans around the world, this article will be of interest to you. The Design Museum in London has announced that will be showcasing a major exhibition called Ferrari:Under the Skin. It’s purpose is to portray the legacy and history of one of the most respected names in motoring.

The show is a collaboration with Ferrari as the automaker celebrates its 70 year anniversary. According to the organisers, it will provide unique insights into the world of Ferrari and on it’s rarely seen material.
There will also be early design models, drawings, letters, memorabilia as well as some of the most famous racing and road-going Ferraris ever made. The exhibition will also present Ferrari’s racing heritage, the ongoing quest for innovation as well as the glamour of its well-known clientele.

There will also be some rarely seen personal memorabilia and other material of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Italian automaker. Also on display will be his early cars, wind tunnel models as well as those hand-sculpted from both clay and wood.

Andrew Nahum, curator of Ferrari: Under the Skin, said, “Ferrari’s story has been one of the great adventures of the industrial age. Ferrari uses the subtle and often unseen techniques of automobile design but with the utmost care and precision and the exhibition provides an insight into the history and practice of the whole private world of automotive design.”

A forerunner to the exhibition is currently on show at the Museo Ferrari in Maranello. But if you are only interested in the real thing, then you will be happy to know that the Ferrari: Under the Skin exhibition will run from 15 November 2017 to 15 April 2018.

Till then, check out this extensive image collection to know what exactly will be on display.

New Audi A8 features artificial intelligence

Audi’s new A8 has been revealed and though it retains the signature design elements of its predessor, with every incremental upgrade, the German automaker makes certain adjustments to rejuvenate the design to a certain degree. And this time, the front end features a wide, upright single-frame grille that is complemented by fludic and muscular bodywork giving the car a sporty yet elegant look.

From the side, the steep curvature of the front end blends well with the gently inclined rear quarter for a sleek silhouette. The sophisticated HD LED headlights with Audi laser lighting are impressive additions that are complemented by the DRL LED light-strips and OLED lighting tech for the rear.

Available as either the A8 or A8L, with the later being the long wheelbase version and 13 centimeters longer than the former. Overall, both feature lightweight construction and quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system. That is complemented by the all-wheel-drive steering system that allow for better control and turning radius.

Inside, the vehicle features the usual luxurious upholstery as well as electric seats that warm the soles of your feet (A8L). The extensive use of high quality materials is evident throughout the cabin, including the centre stack where the 10.1-inch touchscreen (MMI) infotainment system resides. Auxiliary functions can be controlled through another touch interface located on the centre tunnel console, including accessing air-conditioning and other comfort related options.

Audi touts that the glass display system, is very responsive and behaves in a very elegant manor. The combination of acoustic and tactile feedback that it offers as well as common touch gestures makes for a pleasant and user-friendly experience.

As advanced as these systems are, the new A8’s crowing achievement is its reliance on artifical intelligence both for autonomous driving and the manipulation of its active suspension setup. Thanks to a slew of radar sensors, image cameras as well as other sensors that include the ultrasound ones, the A8 is able to drive and navigate through traffic jams and slow moving traffic of up 60km/h.

It’s able to do so on roads and highways where a physical barrier separates the carriageways. The system can be activated by pressing the AI button on the centre console. When activated, the driver can take his/her hands off the steering wheel and relax while watching content on the TV.

Audi’s AI remote parking and remote garage pilot systems give the car the ability to steer in and out of parking spaces or a garage. The best part of this, the driver doesn’t have to be in the car while this is being done. He/she only needs to tell the car to do so by using he myAudi app on their smartphone.

Then there’s the active suspension, that depending on driving conditions, is able to raise ad lower each individual wheel via electric actuators. by doing so, it will be able to alter the suspension setup from a firmer sporty one, all the way to a soft and supple configuration. The reaction time of this particular AI system is said to be lightning quick should it sense an impending lateral collision, which will help reduce the severity of the accident and injuries to the occupants.

The system requires a great deal of energy to function, which is why the A8 uses a 48-Volt electrical system. Depending on region, there will be a number of engines on offer, which include 3.0 TDI, 3.0 TFSI, 4.0 TDI and 4.0 TFSI as well as the top of the line 6.0-litre W12 powerplant. When equipped with a mild-hybrid platform the A8 is able to switch off its engine at certain times to save fuel as well as recover energy of up to 12kW when the conditions suit it.

The new Audi A8 and A8L are being built at Audi’s Neckarsulm site and will appear in the German market in late 2017. We will let you know when it eventually reaches our shores in the not so distant future.

Princess Diana’s Audi to be sold at auction

Princess Diana ‘s 1994 Audi Cabriolet will go under the hammer at Coys auction at Blenheim Palace on the 15th of July. This is only fitting considering that the location was also the birthplace of Winston Churchill and is also considered a World Heritage site.

This particular Audi is expected to sell between RM 193,288 to RM 220,900 due to the fact that the car was previously driven by, arguably, one of the most influential female figures of the 1990s. It was loaned to Princess Diana for personal use by Dovercourt Audi of St Johns Wood and is now up for sale just a few days after another Audi, also used by her, went under the hammer.

The car is still registered as L541 GJD and has been storage for many years. In 2004, the car was purchased by the current owner and used as a daily driver to ferry the family around until 2009. Once he discovered the importance and significance of the Audi, the car was promptly kept away in storage, to preserve it until it was put up for sale.

It was been featured in several media images showing the Princess stepping in and out of the car with the number plate clearly visible. Despite the Audi’s relative importance, it will probably be overshadowed by the likes of the 1926 Bugatti Type 37 that will also go under the hammer during the auction. It is said that the car might fetch RM 2,209,000 to RM 3,313,500 because it is considered as one of three Type 37s supplied in 1926 to Bugatti agent and world speed record holder Malcolm Campbell.

How well both cars do remains to be seen. So, stay tuned and we will let you know later on, how much these cherished vehicles are sold for at the auction.

London Taxi Company gets name change and new car

The famous London Taxi Company, the very same one that used the iconic Austin black cabs to shuttle passengers in and around the city, has been renamed to LEVC. The move is said to be part of the company’s transformation under parent company, Geely.

The name change was done to help position the company as more of an international entity, that is poised to serve the needs and wants of customers all over the world. The Chinese automotive giant has pumped in RM1.8 billion worth of investments with a goal of turning LEVC into the urban commercial vehicle provider of choice around the world. And to bolster this claim, the company also unveiled a new fully-electric London taxi, called the TX.

The car features styling that is a mix-and-match of the old and contemporary styling that has resulted in a rather bizarre looking black cab. It seems as though certain design elements and trim pieces were taken from that of contemporary generation Volvos, is is especially evident when it comes to the interior.

The TX is powered by eCity technology that comprises of advanced battery electric powertrain that is aided by a small petrol powered generator. Working in tandem, the system provides the TX with a range of 644km including more than 113km on pure electric power.

Speaking of the latest addition and changes to the company, Chris Gubbey, CEO, LEVC said, “The launch of LEVC marks Britain’s leadership as a first mover in creating the world’s only dedicated electric vehicle company for the urban commercial market. Drawing on the best of British design and engineering as well as technical expertise from our sister company Volvo, our products will help transform city living.”

The company says that the TX will be launched in London later this year because LEVC is still finalizing the quality and testing methods to evaluate the car’s readiness to function around the world. So far, the car has been taken to the Arizona desert to endure torturous heat under the desert sun as well as freezing temperatures in the Arctic Circle, the other extreme to the scorching Arizona weather.

All of this is being done to prove that no matter where the TX is driven, irrespective of weather conditions, it will function as it should. LEVC’s first international order of 225 vehicles has come from RMC in the Netherlands, which is one of the country’s largest taxi operators.

London is one of the pioneers in setting out tough emission standards to reduce taxi and van emissions. This has spurred the adoption of electric vehicles by commercial transportation operators in the city.

Eventually, this will be common practice around the world as governments take steps to reduce the impact they have on the environment.

Ford to introduce retro design for 2018 Mustang

Ford has seen it fit to update the 2018 Mustang EcoBoost with a special option pack. Called the Pony Package, it offers a slew of updates for the new car, most notable of which is the iconic grille-mounted pony-in-corral badge design. This particular look was first introduced more than 50 years ago when the original car bust onto the scene.

This nostalgic front fascia design had even made its way onto pre-production cars such as the concept version back in the mid-1960s. Throughout the years, the design has morphed into different styles to fit in with the times but now however, Ford has decided that the only forward, is to go retro.

Besides the new Pony badge design, the package also includes other additions which include:

19-inch polished aluminum wheels
Bright beltline and window trim for fastback model
Premium carpeted floor mats with Ebony embroidered pony logo
Side stripes on lower body sides
Tri-bar pony badge on rear decklid appliqué

The EcoBoost Mustang is a major departure from what we are used to seeing from the nameplate. It introduced forced induction as a powertrain option, allowing the car with a smaller engine to produce power that is able to rival that of much higher displacement variants. Many enthusiasts lament its introduction, because it detracts from the core fundamentals of a true Mustang.

Expect the new Mustang to hit US showrooms this October, but it won’t be long before it is offered over here, provided that there is enough interest in it. We think it does add a certain classic element to the car, which should make it appealing to a wider demographic.Let us know what you think of it in the comments section below.

XC60 optimised with Polestar powertrain

Polestar, Volvo cars’ performance arm has fitted an optimized powertrain to the XC60, which moves it inline with the XC90 T8 as the most powerful models the Swedish automaker produces at the moment. It’s engine now offers 421bhp, putting it in the big leagues of powerful 4×4 vehicles that you can buy today.

The work that Polestar did has resulted in improved engine performance and gearbox functionality specifically in the mid-range. The gear-hold function maintains the same gear when cornering with high lateral g-force in order to avoid unsettling the balance of the vehicle.

“Our goal is to create usable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience,” said Henrik Fries, Vice President, Research and Development at Polestar. “The new XC60 has provided us with an excellent base to work on with a dynamic chassis and a state of the art powertrain. With the Polestar optimization, it makes the new Volvo XC60 a true drivers’ car.”

Polestar’s expertise in making super Volvos, is a culmination of more than two decades’ worth of motorsport derived R&D with Cyan Racing, its on track partner. As such, the XC60 now has better engine performance, throttle response, off-throttle response, gearshift speed and hold.

In total, there are five variants of the XC60 that have been made available with the Polestar optimization option, which are the T8, T6, T5, D5, and D4. We don’t know if the option will be made available over here, but we are sure it will be welcomed with open arms.

Ferrari wins prestigious Red Dot award for J50

Ferrari has picked up the Red Dot award for the J50 supercar. Based on the 488 Spider, the car, manufactured in very low numbers, was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ferrari in Japan. It won the Red Dot’s ‘Best of the Best Design’ award because it displayed ground-breaking design language and conveyed a sense of quality that was unmatched in the competition.

The J50 is a two-seater supercar with the engine placed in the mid-rear section of the body that features a radically futuristic design language that won over the Red Dot jurors. Penned by Ferrari’s own design team under the leadership of Flavio Manzoni, the contours are a major departure from the car it is based on.

Just 10 of these cars will be built, which makes it an extemely rare Ferrari. It wasn’t the only Ferrari that received recognition though, the GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and 458 MM Speciale also received Red Dot distinctions for high quality designs.

The GTC4Lusso is Ferrari’s flagship GT car that is able to seat four occupants and offer amazing performance while being relatively practical.

Ferrari’s LaFerrari Aperta on the other hand, is the pinnacle of performance supercars. Basically the roadster version of the fixed roof LaFerrari supercar. Built in limited numbers, the car is said to represent the finest expression of the marque’s technical capabilities in both GT and Formula 1 engineering.

Considered a one-off programme from the Italian automaker, the 458 MM Speciale is a sports car built around a bespoke service for customers who wants a car tailored to their individual tastes. It’s basically for those who want a car that is very different to anything else including Ferraris that you can buy off the showroom floor.

This year’s award marks the third consecutive time that Ferrari has bagged a Red Dot award, which says a lot about the Italian automaker’s latest crop of cars.

Dodge Durango SRT given a HEMI V8 and impressive performance characteristics

Dodge’s Durango SRT is set to be one of the most powerful 3-row SUV in existence. Based on the standard Durango, this SRT version gets a whole host of upgrades most notable of which is the 6.2-litre (392 cubic-inch) HEMI V8. It produces 475bhp and is able to launched the car from 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds, mind-blowing numbers considering what is supposed to be a people carrier.

New exterior tweaks include a widebody design that include aggressive new bumpers, fenders and skirting that give the entire vehicle a sporty appearance. The SRT hood scoop on the bonnet, is fully functional with an air inlet duct flanked by head extractors.

Inside, there’s (in Dodge’s words) Demonic Red Laguna Leahter upholstery a new carbon fibre trim with Durango SRT branding, paddle shifters, as well as heated and ventilated front and heated second-row captain’s chairs with embroidered SRT logos .

As icing on the cake, owners of this vehicle will be given a one full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, to help them hone their skills of taming this beast of an SUV.

“The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, 8,700-pound-toy hauling, three-row muscle car.”

Changes that were made that set it apart from the base vehicle include the following:

New performance-tuned AWD system
Standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission specifically calibrated for the Dodge Durango SRT
New Brembo high-performance six-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers and vented rotors
New SRT seven-mode drive system
New Track Mode delivers maximum performance track driving with 160-millisecond shifts and up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels
Sophisticated Active Damping System opens and closes the Durango SRT’s suspension’s damper valves
Stiffer front springs (3 percent), stiffer rear springs (16 percent) and stiffer rear sway bar (18 percent)

Dodge is offering the vehicle with seven different exterior colours, which include B5 Blue, Billet Clear Coat, Bruiser Grey Clear Coat, DB Black Clear Coat, Granite Clear Coat, Octane Red Pearl Coat and White Knuckle Clear Coat.

Customers of the Dodge Durango SRT can expect to see this vehicle in showrooms by the end of 2017 with prices near to that of the automaker’s high performance muscle cars.