Tuesday 30 December 2014

BMW i8 2014



After another 3 weeks without a post, this one is definitely worth it. First one I've ever seen, the new BMW i8 spotted a couple of weeks ago in Manchester. It is one of the first hybrid sports car I see on the streets. Powered by a 1.5 turbocharged 3-cylinder engine as well as a 129bhp electric engine, the i8 boasts a 0-62 in just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph or 250km/h but the most impressive is that the BMW could achieve an average fuel consumption of around 135mpg with 49g/km for CO2 emissions! Not bad hey? Well it still comes at a price: around £100,000 for a new one but up to £140,000 for a second hand one! (yes the second hand models are more expensive than the new ones because dealers have currently run out of stock and the waiting list for a new one is over 2 years!)

Saturday 6 December 2014

Maybach 57S





After yet another few quiet weeks, here is a car worth waiting for, and the first Maybach on the blog! The 57S spotted last weekend in Paris on one of the side streets off the Champs Elysées. Maybach is not a very well-know make. It appeared in the first half of the 20th century before disappearing after the second World War. It was brought back to life in 1997 by Daimler / Mercedes-Benz. The Maybach are big, opulent, ultra-luxurious saloons, out to compete with Bentleys and Rolls-Royce. This particular model, the 57S, has a 6.0 V12 engine which produces 612bhp. 0-62 takes the 57S only 5.2 seconds and its top speed is 171mph or 275km/h.

30,000!

Thanks to those of you who still check the blog regularly. I have slowed down in terms of publishing posts but still continue snapping dream cars on the street.

Friday 14 November 2014

Insider 20 - Audi RS4 Avant 2014


After a few weeks with no sign of life, here is a new post. It is a new insider, today in the new Audi RS4 Avant. The picture was taken in Audi Warrington.

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Ferrari California



Coming straight from Monaco and spotted in Sale, we have a Ferrari California in white. As with the previous Californias we've had on the blog, it has 4.3l V8 engine with 490bhp, 0-62 is covered in 3.8 seconds and the top speed is 193mph (310km/h)

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Volkswagen Beetle 1300



After over 2 weeks in the dark, well busy, I'm back with a classic, the Volkswagen Beetle 1300. This one was spotted in France during the summer and looks like it has been painstakingly well restored. Not much to say in terms of performance -around 50bhp for a top speed of about 74mph or 119km/h- but the Beetle is a true icon. 

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Audi RS5 2013



Time flies and I have just realised it is over a week since I last posted anything, so let's get back into it with this Audi RS5 spotted in Hale a few weeks ago. As mentioned in previous posts, the RS badge on Audis tells us we have a supersport version of the original model, here the A5. The RS5 has a 4.2 V8 which produces 450bhp and takes the car to 62mph from 0 in just 4.5 seconds, up to the usual limited top-speed of 155mph or 250km/h.

Tuesday 19 August 2014

Insider 19 - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder




Today we are inside a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder at the HR Owen Lamborghini dealership in Stockport. I'm not really keen on the steering wheel, looks plastic to me...

Monday 11 August 2014

TVR Cerbera Speed Eight 2000





TVR today with this Cerbera spotted in Altrincham a few weeks ago. This particaular Cerbera has the 4.5 V8 engine which produces 420bhp. As far as performance is concerned, 0-62 takes 3.9 seconds and the top speed is 195mph (314km/h) Another icon from my Gran Turismo years!

Saturday 2 August 2014

Ferrari 458 Speciale 2014




Caught on camera last week at Stratstone Ferrari in Wilmslow, the brand new ultimate 458, the Speciale. 0-62 in 3 seconds and a top speed of 202mph or 325km/h for this 4.5 V8 597bhp version of the 458. Ferrari claim that this is the "fastest, most advanced but also most fun to drive mid-engined V8 sports cars" they've ever built. And by the look of it and of its performance, I can believe them!

Saturday 26 July 2014

Alfa Romeo 156 GTA 2002

 


According to Jeremy Clarkson, you are not a true petrol-head until you have owned an Alfa Romeo (preferably with a 3.2 V6 under the bonnet!). I do like Alfas and today I came across one I used to really like over 10 years ago but completely forgot about since as you don't come across them very often: the 156 GTA. The GTA was the 'super-sporty' version of regular Alfa Romeos, mainly the 147 and the 156. I have always wanted a 147 GTA but like with the 156, they are not easy to find. So what was particular about the GTA version? Well it had a specific body kit as well as a beautiful sporty interior. Under the bonnet you would find the 3.2 V6 with 250bhp which allowed the 156 to reach 62mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The GTAs might be over 10 years old but they still really appeal to me!

Monday 21 July 2014

Insider 18 - Peugeot RCZ-R 2014




Today, we are inside the R-version of the Peugeot RCZ. The pictures were taken at the Sale dealership where I must say, staff were very helpful. The RCZ-R is powered by an impressive 270bhp 1.6 turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It gives the little French coupe astonishing performances: 0-62 in only 5.9 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph or 250km/h. There are also a few changes to the standard versions such as a fixed rear spoiler, specific alloys, dual exhaust and specific R interior with these beautiful sport seats.

Saturday 19 July 2014

Land Rover Defender Kahn 2014





After nearly 2 weeks without any new post, here I am again, with a car taken from James Martin's supercar Sunday, the Land Rover Defender Wide Track prepared by Kahn in satin black. Once again we are mainly talking cosmetic modification here, with bumpers, optics, wheels... but the most impressive part to me is the interior and the seats in particular!

Saturday 5 July 2014

Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing 2014





First Citroën on the blog and a bit of a rarity as it is the new DS3 Cabrio Racing, spotted at the Citroën dealer in Sale. Citroën limited the production of this tuned-up cabrio to 100 of which only 10 will find their way onto British roads, and this one is one of them, number 32 out of 100! So what is so particular about the Racing badge? Well, the 1.6 THP engine has been pushed to 204bhp which gives the little Cabrio very decent performance (0-62 in just 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 146mph or 235km/h), the car has also been lowered and the suspension hardened, without forgetting to mention the wheels, the new brake calipers and the sporty interior! 
Costing nearly £30,000 it is far from being cheap but at least, you shouldn't see one round every corner!

Saturday 28 June 2014

Bentley Azure T 2010



Not the best pictures in the world today. They were taken through the windows of a coach, waiting for the Eurostar on the way back from France. The car we have here is a Bentley Azure T. The Azure was produced between 1995 and 2003 for the first generation (based on the Continental R at the time) and between 2006 and 2009 for the second generation. The Azure T, based like the second generation on the Arnage platform, was produced in 2009 and 2010 and has increased performance compared to the standard Azure. The 6.75 twin-turbo V8 engine produces 500bhp allowing the Azure T to reach 62mph in just 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 179mph or 288km/h. With a fuel consumption of 14.5mpg on a combined cycle, the Azure T is far from being a cheap coupe to run!

Monday 23 June 2014

Insider 17 - Mercedes SLS


Quite a straightforward post today, we are inside a Mercedes SLS, with not much happening. It is pretty much the driver, the steering wheel and the car! Love the gull-wing doors though!

Sunday 22 June 2014

Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale 2012



 



Still at James Martin's Supercar Sunday, a Maserati Gran Turismo in its super-sporty outfit, the MC Stradale. This model has a 4.7 V8 engine with 460bhp, which allows the Gran Turismo to reach a top speed of 188mph or 302km/h and cover 0-62 in just 4.5 seconds. As you can see with the different pictures, the Stradale benefits from specific aerodynamic additions such as a front splitter and a rear air dam, as well as carbon ceramic brakes. I am not 100% convinced by the black carbon fiber bonnet but it is still a very nice-looking car!

Saturday 14 June 2014

A day on British motorways...

On my way down to Northern France for a long weekend, I thought I would make a list of cars I could spot on the motorway. And here it is: Ferrari F40, Porsche Gt2, Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Continental Gtc, Rolls Royce convertible, Mercedes Sls convertible, Maserati Gran Turismo, Mercedes C63 AMG coupe, Vauxhall Vxr, Jaguar F-type, Ford Focus RS, Aston Martin DB9 volante, Ferrari F430 spider, Ford Mustang, Ferrari 458 Spider, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Porsche Panamera, Mercedes S65amg, BMW M3, and I probably forgot a couple! Not a bad day spotting even though I didn't get time for any pictures!

Wednesday 11 June 2014

20,000!

Just reached 20,000 views! 
Once again, thank you all for your interest!

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Ferrari Testarossa 1991




Another iconic Ferrari out of James Martin's collection, the 1991 Testarossa, still spotted on Sunday during his Supercar Sunday on the Great Northern Square in Manchester. The Testarossa ("red head" in Italian) was produced between 1984 and 1991, a 7-year period during which over 7,000 of them rolled out of the Maranello production line. It is powered by a 4.9 flat-12 engine which develops 390bhp. 0-62 takes the Testarossa 5.3 seconds and the top speed is 180mph or 290km/h.

Sunday 8 June 2014

James Martin Supercar Sunday Manchester 08-06-14


 




As I mentioned in my previous post, today was James Martin's Supercar Sunday on the Great Northern Square in Manchester. James Martin had several of his cars on show, 4 Ferraris, a classic Ford Prefect which he races with Jason Plato and his Ford Mustang GT. Several other cars were on display: a Mclaren MP4-12C, an Aston Martin Vanquish (1st generation), a Maserati Gran Turismo Challenge Stradale, a classic racing Alfa Romeo, a brand-new Rolls Royce Wraith, several Bentleys from the dealership as well as 2 Kahn models (Range Rover and Defender). James Martin was present through most of the day, very friendly and approachable, shaking hands, having his picture taken, showing people the cars, opening bonnets... A great day with great cars and a great guy!
I just need to try his restaurant now, located round the corner inside the 235 Casino!

Ferrari 275 GTB/C 1965









I spent the late morning/early afternoon in Manchester today, particularly around the Great Northern Square as it was James Martin's Supercar Sunday event. As you can see from the 3rd picture, James Martin was present most of the time, meeting the public around supercars, both classics and more recent, most of which from his personal collection. I will present several of them in successive posts, but let's start with the best of them, his Ferrari 275 GTB/C. This is a Race model of the standard 275 GTB, which was produced in 1965. It has a 275bhp 3.3 V12 engine. Only 12 275 GTB/C were ever produced, but James Martin's is unique as it is the only one to have been produced right-hand drive. 
This is a stunning looking car, thank you very much to James Martin for sharing it with us!