As we come to the end of another week we look at some of the motoring news which you may have missed starting with Land Rover who have launched the powerful Defender V8
Land Rover has launched the powerful Defender V8 as part of a range of enhancements to its unstoppable and award-winning 4×4 family. The new 525HP Defender V8 and flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition provide a unique combination of performance and capability, with bespoke chassis settings delivering new levels of driver engagement and agility both on and off-road.
The powerful new models build on decades of Land Rover V8 heritage – spanning the original Stage I V8 of the Seventies, North American Specification models of the Nineties and powerful Defender Works V8 – as the characterful engine joins the latest range of efficient Ingenium petrol, diesel and advanced Plug-in Hybrid Land Rover powertrains.
The V8 petrol engine isn’t the only introduction. There’s also a new XS Edition, fresh exterior design packs that provide greater personalisation potential and an optional larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment touchscreen.
Defender V8 builds on the rugged 4×4’s class-leading capability, delivering new levels of performance and driver engagement by combining a powerful 525HP 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine with expertly developed suspension and transmission tuning to create the fastest and most dynamically rewarding Defender yet.
The exclusive new Carpathian Edition is based on the Defender V8 and represents the ultimate expression of Defender design, performance and capability, while a new XS Edition replaces the hugely successful First Edition and combines bespoke design and specification enhancements inside and out.
Defender’s personalisation potential has also been expanded with the introduction of new exterior packs. The Bright Pack, Extended Bright Pack and Extended Black Pack feature bespoke exterior trim to enhance Defender’s unmistakable silhouette.
Powerful CUPRA Leon 2.0 TSI opens for order
CUPRA has opened the order books for the latest variant of its iconic Leon hatchback with the launch of the 300PS 2.0 TSI powertrain.
The brand’s flagship performance hatch is now available to order with prices starting from £35,660 RRP for the CUPRA Leon Hatch VZ2 TSI DSG-auto 300 and rising to £37,390 for VZ3 trim.
Available exclusively with the DSG-auto transmission, the latest iteration of the renowned 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder engine develops 300PS and 400Nm of torque.
The turbocharged, direct injection petrol engine propels CUPRA Leon from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds and is limited to a top speed of 155mph.
As well as an increase in power output over its predecessor, the new CUPRA Leon is also more efficient, returning up to 37.2mpg on the combined WLTP cycle and CO2 emissions from 171g/km.
An exhilarating driving experience is guaranteed as standard, with CUPRA Leon featuring four driver selectable modes (with changes to throttle response and gear shifts), speed sensitive power steering and Dynamic Chassis Control.
The range kicks off with the VZ2 trim, featuring a host of performance upgrades as standard, including 19” machined black and silver alloy wheels, sports bumpers, black brake calipers, black headlining, CUPRA’s unique chrome and copper interior detailing, a CUPRA flat bottomed perforated leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, sports bucket seats and a rear diffuser with oval quad exhaust pipes.
Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN unveils the new C41
A spectacular ceremony in the impressive setting of the Grand Theatre, in Poland’s capital city, saw the attendance of a limited number of senior team personnel – with media, fans and employees being invited to watch virtually in respect of the local Covid regulations. Team drivers, Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, and reserve driver, Robert Kubica, entered the stage with the C41, in a striking new livery.
Designed by the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile, it now features the now traditional red and white colours of the team. The car, designed under the coordination of Technical Director, Jan Monchaux, represents an evolution of the C39 that competed in the 2020 season. Owing to the restrictions imposed by the regulations, the car carries over many of the components of its predecessor, while still striking with its renewed appearance, in particular in regard to the nose cone, an area on which the team chose to focus its development. Under the bodywork, a new Ferrari engine lies in wait, ready to roar in less than a week, when the team embarks on a new season with the shakedown of the C41 in Barcelona on Friday.
The Alfa Romeo logo is flanked by the Quadrifoglio – four-leaf clover – traditionally associated with Alfa Romeo racing, and the logo of Autodelta, the brand’s legendary racing team. These logos adorn the bodywork, contributing to the creation of one of the standout cars on the grid – a classic design that embodies the passion and tradition of the marques it represents.
All-New Isuzu D-Max is Smarter, Stronger and Safer
Alfa Romeo is once again working alongside Sauber Motorsport for the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The partnership between two of the most recognised brands in motorsport started in 2018, when Alfa Romeo joined the team as title sponsor. In the three years of operative collaboration, the team has achieved important results and with its long-lasting spirit of competitiveness, Alfa Romeo will rise to the challenge once more.
The All-New Isuzu D-Max combines smart new styling and improved off-road performance with impressive safety technology. Not only does it deliver the capability and durability you’d expect from an Isuzu pick-up truck, this tough workhorse now adds superior levels of comfort and refinement.
The D-Max appeals to a wide variety of drivers, from fleet operators to families, and the model range is structured into three segments: Business, All-Purpose and Adventure. A new line-up of trucks sit within each range to suit every customer’s requirements.
The Business range features the Utility trim and this base specification workhorse is offered in a choice of 4×2 or 4×4 and in three different cab types: single, extended and double cab. Developed with work in mind, the Utility features a wide range of practical and safety features to ensure drivers are as productive, safe and comfortable as possible.
The DL20 features heated front seats, rear parking sensors, front fog lights and a front centre armrest for increased comfort and practicality, while body-coloured front and rear bumpers, silver door handles, a medium grey radiator grille and 18” alloy wheels provide a more premium appearance.
Priced from £20,999
Kia showcases new defence vehicle technologies at IDEX 2021 Defence Exhibition
Kia Corporation has showcased two light tactical defence vehicle concepts at the 2021 International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in the UAE, the largest international defence exhibition in the Middle East and Africa.
Kia has been supplying its light tactical vehicles to the South Korean army since 2016, becoming the standard-bearer for vehicle quality in the country’s military operation system. The new four-seater Light Tactical Cargo Truck concept displayed at IDEX adopts a bold, commanding design and has been equipped with a cargo container for transporting troops alongside diverse armoury. Kia expects the added visual appeal and usability to stimulate further demand for its military vehicles.
Together with the Light Tactical Cargo Truck concept at IDEX, Kia is displaying the vehicle’s Bare Chassis. With the body removed, the bare chassis showcases the truck’s powertrain and basic frame, providing a glimpse of the platform’s scalability as a basis for a range of armoured vehicles. Kia is actively developing vehicles based on the Bare Chassis for clients’ eclectic taste around the world.
Ik-tae Kim, Vice President for Kia’s Special Vehicle Division said: “Our participation at IDEX 2021 is an opportunity to promote Kia’s latest developments in the design of future defence vehicles. Both concepts on display have been developed to be highly flexible and durable, with the capability to be used in some of the world’s harshest environments.”
Girard-Perregaux is revealed as Official Watch Partner for Aston Martin
Girard-Perregaux has been announced as Official Watch Partner of luxury British automotive manufacturer Aston Martin. The Swiss Manufacture is one of the oldest names in watchmaking, known for making peerless exemplars of Haute Horlogerie. The two brands will collaborate on upcoming limited-edition timepieces.
In the relentless pursuit of speed, time is the overriding concern. The race against the clock has captivated fans of motorsport for more than 100 years while the measurement of time has challenged watchmakers throughout history. The similarities between both domains are clear to see.
Both Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux were founded by visionaries with an innate passion. Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford while Girard-Perregaux can trace its origins to 1791, when Jean-François Bautte, aged just 19, produced his first watch. But most notably, it was a love story which led to the birth of one of the greatest names in watchmaking when Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux in 1854.
The now-legendary Aston Martin DBR1 (1956), a car made for competitive racing, was a precursor for some of the marque’s most well-known heritage ‘DB’ road cars. It was styled in-house by a highly talented designer, Frank Feeley, and represents what is unquestionably his ‘finest hour’ – indeed the shape of the DBR1 remains one of the most beautiful and graceful of all time. Moreover, the design incorporates a key functional attribute – the side air vent – which debuted on this car and remains a key functional and visual characteristic of Aston Martin’s road-going sports cars to this day. This functional element has become a key aesthetic detail that imbues the marque’s models with their distinctive personality. In fact, one glance at an Aston Martin car immediately reveals the identity of its maker.
Similarly, when Girard-Perregaux released its now-famous Tourbillon ‘With Three Gold Bridges’ in 1867, it transformed three functional components, often hidden from view, into attractive aesthetic features. Indeed, with the advent of this watch, the once invisible was deliberately made visible. Throughout its 230-year history, the Swiss Manufacture has demonstrated its creativity, often playing with different shapes. Indeed, it is this mindset that inspired the brand’s slogan ‘Shaping the now for those in the know.’
While both organisations have amassed a wealth of skills and traditions, they continue to look ahead. Indeed, it is this progressive mindset which sees both firms embrace continuous improvement and pursue superior performance.
Tobias Moers, Chief Executive of Aston Martin Lagonda remarks: “The real beauty of partnerships such as this one is that, although we share very similar core values, the two brands can learn a great deal from one another. Girard-Perregaux is a prolific innovator in the use of materials and new technology. We both create highly desirable luxury products that are beautifully designed, deliver a powerful performance and exhibit flawless execution.”
Otmar Szafnauer, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula OneTM Team Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal, says: “We at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™️ Team are thrilled to be announcing a partnership with Girard-Perregaux today. Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux share so many brand touchpoints – a rich history, a glorious heritage, and a relentless devotion to the pursuit of premium quality combined with high technology. On the racetrack, time, too, is of the essence. Formula One™️ and Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™️ Team in particular will prove themselves to be respectively a fantastic promotional platform and a brilliant marketing partner for Girard-Perregaux, whose timepieces lead the way in terms of quality and desirability.”
Patrick Pruniaux, Girard-Perregaux’s Chief Executive Officer, adds: “2021 is an important year for both Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin. We are celebrating an astonishing 230 years of watchmaking, whilst Aston Martin celebrates its return to Formula 1 as a works team for the first time in over 60 years. We have much to celebrate so uniting our worlds to create something special is the perfect way to acknowledge and appreciate these milestones.”
Girard-Perregaux branding will feature on the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula OneTM Team cars at the start of the 2021 F1 season in Bahrain while the first timepiece to be borne from the collaboration between Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux will be revealed later this year.
The Outlierman launches all-new Monza Collection – handmade luxury leather helmet and weekender bags
The Outlierman, makers of handcrafted luxury classic car inspired accessories, today introduces the all-new full-grain calfskin and sport suede leather helmet and weekender bags to its new collection – the Monza Collection.
Full-grain calfskin leather helmet and weekender bags
Intricately handcrafted in Italy, the luxurious full-grain calfskin leather helmet and weekender bags create the perfect marriage of masculinity and sport. Designed in Bologna’s renowned Motor Valley and crafted by skilled artisans in Monza, near the Autodromo Nazionale Monza Formula One track, each item is inspired by breath-taking beauty, supreme quality and timeliness appeal of the world’s most iconic cars. Complete with a sport collection colour scheme, each product features a sophisticated combination of lava grey with black and red detailing.
Both the helmet and weekender bags are lined with the highest-quality microfiber fabric to accompany the luxury full-grain calfskin and sport suede leather, helping to protect goods from damage and illustrating quintessential Italian craftsmanship. The elegant details adhering these all-new bags are a testament to the finest of luxury. Both feature The Outlierman’s metal logo carefully placed on the leather exterior and include a leather ID tag, which can be personalised with the customer’s initials. A large top zip on each bag allows for effortless insertion and removal of items, whilst the helmet bag contains a spacious lower compartment to hold what you need on the track and in the pits, whether it be driving gloves, helmet accessories, driver shoes, wallets, protective scarves or masks. Alongside this, protective metal feet and adjustable and detachable straps ensure both bags are designed to be durable and functional – the ultimate accomplice for all driving enthusiasts.
Tailor-made Racing Bag Set
Designed with track days and motoring competitions in mind, the two all-new luxury products can be tailored and matched to the bespoke colours of the customer’s team or personal car, when bought together in the Tailor-made Racing Bag Set, creating a stylish statement of allegiance, perfect for transcending an individual’s distinctive and unique personality. An image is all that is required by the highly skilled craftspeople at The Outlierman’s Tailor-made Lab to create stunning bags that represents each customer. From the image, a draft render is created and shared with the customer before the team of elite artisans showcase the finest exhibition of Italian craftsmanship, creating the final masterpiece 60 days after approval.
The perfect kit accessory
“The idea behind the luxurious leather helmet and weekender bags came from a desire to create the perfect kit for a track day or weekend,” says Andrea Mazzuca, Founder of The Outlierman. “These all-new accessories encompass the gentleman driver lifestyle, particularly those who attend track events and motorsport competitions, such as the Ferrari Challenge, GT3 Cup and Goodwood Revival.”
“Motoring enthusiasts are passionate about the cars and team that represent them and want to express that affiliation in their style. We share that passion, and in our customisable offering, have created the perfect accessory to accommodate those customer demands.”
The Outlierman company was formed with a mission to handcraft a range of accessories inspired by the breath-taking beauty, supreme quality and timeless appeal of the world’s most iconic cars.
