It is just two weeks to go the next edition of Yorkshire Elegance with a move into the Aero industry with the Aerolite Spitfire.

In my view this is the most prestigious car event in Yorkshire, the North and it gives those posh events down South a run for their money. A few tickets remain so if you want to see some of the rarest cars, in the most fabulous condition then hit the buy tickets button for more information.

Who doesn’t love a Spitfire?

Great British Supermarine has unveiled the concept model of the Aerolite Spitfire, a modern two-seat aircraft designed for the modern recreational pilot.

This full scale model composite is inspired by an abandoned 1940s wartime concept. Back then, designers experimented with Gordon Aerolite—a resin-impregnated flax fiber—to circumvent anticipated aluminium shortages. Today, this advanced composite construction perfectly captures the iconic shape and geometry of the original Supermarine fighter delivering its legendary flying characteristics.

The certified 400hp engine spins a large-scale propeller to deliver authentic warbird performance. The wonderful sounding original Merlin engine won’t be used fundamentally due to cost, maintainence consideration and availability of parts. I am told though, new engine configuration will seek to capture the unique immediately recognisable sound of that wonderful Merlin Engine.

The concept model made its public debut at Bodmin Airfield last month, sparking intense excitement.

The full size prototype will be on display at Yorkshire Elegance.

1959 Jaguar Mk1 ex John Coombes

The 1959 Jaguar Mk1 “BUY 1” is one of the most famous and active historic saloon cars in the world.

At the end of 1958, Jaguar brass Sir William Lyons and William Heynes decided to build three highly modified, lightweight Mk1 saloons for the 1959 racing season. BUY 1 was the second of these cars.

The car was delivered to legendary team owner John Coombs of Coombs of Guildford, who fitted it with his famous personalized plate, “BUY 1”. Formula One driver Roy Salvadori campaigned the car extensively in the 1959 British Saloon Car Championship. 
BUY 1 has been in the Williams family for three generations since 1962 and is a regular at Goodwood Revival. Grant Williams, who currently races the car has kindly agreed to bring BUY 1 up north to Yorkshire Elegance. 

Since 1999, Grant has achieved 17 Goodwood Revival podiums; 3x St. Mary’s Trophy Aggregate Wins. I met Grant out at the 1000 Miglia recently – we will be dragging him on stage to hear about his wonderful racing career with the famous Jag. He’s a top lad!

CONCOURS ENTRY LIST

The 2026 Concours entry list is the strongest we have seen, in total there are 62 entries.

VINTAGE CLASS – Pre WWII: Delahaye Wagonette 10/12 1912, Alvis Racing No.1 1923, Frazer Nash Vitesse 1927, BUGATTI Type 49 Gangloff Roadster1930, ROLLS ROYCE Phantom 2 Continental Saloon 1931, ALVIS SPEED 20 1932, Maserati 4CM Vetturetta 1932.

CLASSIC Post WWII: 1970 Jensen Interceptor (Cabriolet), 1952 Jaguar XK 120 OTS, 1954 Austin Healey 100M, 1954 Bentley R-Type, 1955 OSCA MT4, 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 MKIII, 1958 Porsche 356B, 1960 Jaguar E-Type Series 1, 1961Porsche 356C ,1964 Excalibur SS, 1965 Aston Martin DB5, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C2, 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 2, 1968 Jensen Interceptor Mk1 1969.

MODERN CLASSIC: 2005 De Tomaso Pantera Pre-L,1972 Porsche 911, 1972 Maserati Frua QP Prototype, 1974 Pontiac Firebird, 1979 Aston Martin V8 Volante, 1980 Lancia Detla S4 Stradale, 1985 PORSCHE 930 TURBO LE, 1989 Ferrari F40, 1989, De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S, 1990, Jaguar XJ220, 1993, Porsche 993 C2S 1994, TVR Chimarea 4.0 1998, Maserati 90th anniversary spyder 2005.

FUTURE CLASSIC SUPERCARS BUILT: 2006 McLaren-Mercedes SLR, 2007, Ferrari 458 Speciale 2015, PORSCHE 991 Turbo S Exclusive Series, 2018 McLaren Senna, 2018 Aston Martin Vantage Guld Edition 2019, Aston Martin Valiant 2024, Maserati MC20 Cielo 2024, Maserati MC20 2024, Aston Martin Valhalla 2026.

RESTORED & MODIFIED: JAGUAR E-TYPE Series I, 4.2 CHEVROLET BELAIR, JAGUAR E-TYPE, Porsche GT3, RS “RT”Ford RS200, Evo, MG B GT V8, Porsche 911, Rennsport Porsche 914.

MERCEDES-BENZ 100 YEARS:-Type SS – 1928, 300 SL Gullwing 1955,190 SL 1956, 220S 1957,190 SL 1959, 190 SL 1960,190 SL 1961 – ex Shirley Bassey Car, 280SL Pagoda 1969, 280SL Pagoda 1971, 300SL 1987, SLS Black Series 2014, SL63 AMG 2016.

BUY TICKETS

Goodwood Revival will take place Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September.

Goodwood Revival has announced the drivers and riders set to attend in September, as the 2026 event assembles a remarkable line‑up of competitors from across the global motorsport community.

Among the Formula 1 names joining this year’s Revival are Sir Jackie Stewart, Jacques Villeneuve, Jean Alesi, Jenson Button, John Watson, Karun Chandhok and Max Chilton.

From the world of IndyCar and American open‑wheel racing, the Revival welcomes an exceptional group of champions and race winners. Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan bring an impressive breadth of international success and experience to the weekend’s competition.

Touring‑car enthusiasts will be treated to a formidable assembly of BTCC and touring‑car greats. Anthony Reid, Colin Turkington, Gordon Shedden, Rob Huff, Matt Neal, Tom Ingram and Steve Soper are all confirmed, joined by V8 Supercars icon Greg Murphy and four‑time Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards, representing the very best of saloon‑car racing from both sides of the globe.

The Revival’s long‑standing connection to endurance racing will be represented by an extraordinary roster of Le Mans winners and sports‑car specialists. Tom Kristensen, the most successful driver in Le Mans history, returns alongside fellow winners André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer, David Brabham, Emanuele Pirro, Frank Stippler, Guy Smith, Justin Bell, Marcel Fässler and Romain Dumas. They are joined by Alex and Chris Buncombe, Darren Turner, Marino Franchitti, Nicolas Minassian, while Aaron Shelby honours the enduring legacy of his grandfather, Carroll Shelby. This year’s celebrations also build on the earlier announcement that the iconic Ford GT Mk II trio which secured the historic 1‑2‑3 finish at Le Mans in 1966 will be reunited at Goodwood, adding further resonance to the Revival’s tribute to endurance‑racing heritage.

Completing the four‑wheeled line‑up, seven‑time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson brings American stock‑car star power to Goodwood, with Simona De Silvestro adding further depth to an already world‑class field.

Joining us on two wheels is an equally distinguished line‑up of motorcycle legends. The Isle of Man TT and road‑racing contingent includes 23‑time TT winner John McGuinness, 16‑time winner Ian Hutchinson, Conor Cummins, James Hillier, Iain Duffus and multiple champion Ian Simpson, with Maria Costello adding her own record‑breaking achievements to the grid.

From the world of World Superbikes and international competition, the Revival welcomes double World Superbike Champion James Toseland, former champion Tom Sykes, Superstock 1000 title‑holder Sylvain Barrier, and MotoGP and WSBK race winners Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty.

Rounding out the motorcycle roster, Grand Prix and road‑racing favourites – Jeremy McWilliams and Steve Parrish are joined by Freddie Sheene, whose participation follows Goodwood’s earlier announcement of its headline celebration honouring the extraordinary life and career of his late father, Barry Sheene. Freddie’s presence will provide a deeply personal connection to the two‑time 500cc World Champion as the Revival pays tribute to one of Britain’s most charismatic and beloved racing icons.

Tickets can be purchased at goodwood.com or by calling the Ticket Office on +44 (0)1243 755055.

The Concours of Elegance have confirmed that a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, a car used personally by Ettore Bugatti himself, will take its place on the lawns of Hampton Court Palace this September.

The Type 57 was the last great touring Bugatti of the pre-war era, developed under the direction of Jean Bugatti from 1933 and unveiled at the 1934 Paris Motor Show. Its 3.3-litre twin-cam straight-eight produced around 135 horsepower, and the factory offered four coachbuilt body styles, each named after a famous mountain pass. The exception was the Atalante – named instead for the Greek mythological figure who outran all men. Capable of nearly 200 km/h, draped in two-tone coachwork of elegant proportions, and the most expensive body in the range, only 33 Atalantes were ever built.

Chassis 57428 is rarer still. It is one of only ten originally delivered with a roll-top roof. Completed in June 1936, it made its public debut that same month at the Concours d’Elegance at the Bois de Boulogne, presented by French actress Dolly Davis, where it won the Grand Prix des Voitures Transformables. Ettore Bugatti was evidently impressed: for a period afterwards, he used the car himself in Paris.

The first recorded private owner, Jules Bloch of Paris, took possession on 9 September 1937. By the early 1950s the car had travelled to Spain, where its original roll-top roof was converted to a full cabriolet. It remained in that form until 2020, when its current custodian acquired it and commissioned a full restoration to the original factory specification.

Concours of Elegance 2026 takes place at Hampton Court Palace from 4-6 September.

By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

If you think of some of the key design features in cars – old and new – a front grille like a bonnet, boot and headlights – is an important part of its styling.

The arrival of EVs, led by the likes of Tesla, has certainly made manufacturers re-evaluate the design value of the grille.

But, it’s not just a modern day thing that sees makers move away from the aesthetics of the front grille, going back rear-engined cars made manufacturers look with fresh eyes at the nose end.

Over decades, designers of ‘front-engine’ vehicles have also seen the value of the grille-less look and moving engine air intake underneath the front fascia.

Looking back there are many classic cars and retro 80s and 90s models without noticeable grilles that have been commercial successes.

Here are five models that spring to mind. You might have your own favourites!

The iconic front-engined Citroen DS was an aerodynamic classic, featuring a low-drag nose feeding cooling air to the radiator from underneath the front bumper. It might be 70 years old but this French classic still looks futuristic today.

There are many examples of rear-engined models and when it comes to ‘striking a pose’ for me the VW  Karmann Ghia (produced between 1955 and 1974) is a beautifully designed model – picture those small slatted openings next to its headlights. The Porsche 356, also from the 50s had a similarly impressive design with its lightweight four cylinder engine mounted at the rear.

Between 1988 and 1993, the mass produced VW Passat famously removed its radiator grille. Like the DS this ‘bottom breather’ took airflow from beneath the bumper to cool the engine as well as a hidden intake behind the VW badge. This third-generation Passat was a fleet and family favourite selling 1.5 million units in five years.

The Italians love for sleek styling brought us the front-engined Alfa Romeo Spider which debuted in 1966. This classic 60s Pininfarina design featured a grille-less nose and a ‘boat tail’ rear. Sadly, these were rarely seen sports cars on our shores and few were sold in right-hand drive.

As we see more and more electric cars it seems inevitable that we’re likely to see less big front grilles It all adds up to a big challenge for car designers and you wonder – do they ‘save face’ or go grille-less?

Broad Arrow Private Sales, is offering for sale one of motorsport’s decidedly greatest racecars, a 1965 Ford GT40, chassis number P1006. Offered from more than three decades of careful custodianship by a noted collector and GT40 expert in France, the GT40 is primed to assume a place at the pinnacle of any serious collection of endurance racing veterans, while remaining highly eligible for continued participation at the highest level of vintage racing.

Following Ford’s problematic yet promising debut of the GT40 at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the clear goal of all-out Ferrari defeat, Shelby American was brought aboard to tune the GT40’s motor and iron out reliability issues. What was born of this effort was the GT40 MK.1. The troublesome and weak Colotti five-speed transmission was jettisoned in favor of a ZF unit that could handle the power of the Shelby-enhanced 4.7-liter (289 cu-in) engine that now produced 380 horsepower. The aerodynamics were also polished, ensuring far more confidence at blistering speed on the Mulsanne Straight. These refinements culminated in bodywork and styling cues that have remained apparent on the GT40 and its derivatives to today; a look first introduced on the GT40 chassis number P1006.

Chassis P1006 was one of 56 GT40 MK. 1 racing cars produced for the 1965 World Sportscar Championship. It was delivered new in June 1965 to Ford Advanced Vehicles finished in Linden Green with white stripes and as the first car to sport the MK. 1 front panel, the distinct “Le Mans” nose featured in some way on all subsequent GT models. One of six GT40s in Ford’s lineup at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, P1006 was piloted by 1961 U.S Formula One Grand Prix winner Innes Ireland and 1961 British Touring Car Championship winner Sir John Whitmore, who managed the tenth fastest time in practice.

Unfortunately for both Ford and Ferrari, the 1965 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a brutal brawl of pure endurance racing attrition; a mere 14 cars finished out of the 51 on the starting line. After starting dramatically well, none of the GT40s finished. Ferrari would win their fifth consecutive Le Mans. After Le Mans, P1006 continued to serve as a development car for Ford, retiring from the GT40 test program after suffering minimal damage in a test at Monza in September 1965.

The GT40 passed through a handful of private British owners before landing with a caretaker in 1978 who commissioned a restoration from GT40 specialist John Etheridge. The photo-documented revitalization consisted of a rebuild to its 1965 Le Mans specifications, including a repaint in its original Linden Green. P1006 was acquired by its current owner in 1993, an esteemed French collector. The GT40 largely disappeared from the public eye for the next three decades, though residing a stone’s throw from the racetrack it was bred to conquer.

In 2013, the GT40 received an in-house restoration at local Shelby and GT40 expert Auto Techno Sports (ATS) Le Mans Workshop in preparation for that year’s Goodwood Revival. It went on to participate in the Revival’s Whitsun Trophy with the illustrious pilot Henri Pescarolo and ATS’ manager at the wheel, racing in a thrilling all-GT40 field with many of its MK. 1 siblings. It went on to participate in the Concours Le Mans Heritage Club at Le Mans Classic 2016 and was also displayed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum just last year.

Remaining in excellent overall condition, the GT40 was issued an FIA Historical Technical Passport for Circuit, Hill Climb, and Rally Racing in September 2025 that is valid until 2035. It is furnished with an ample history file thoroughly tracing its records from new. The innovations, efforts, and hard-won lessons of the Ford GT40 MK. I in 1965, headlined by this chassis and the Ford Advanced Vehicles program, proved instrumental to Ford’s silver screen-worthy victory in 1966 and further dominance at Le Mans through the close of the decade. P1006 is a significant piece of that lore, keen to return to the very stage it was created to conquer more than sixty years ago.

A full description of the GT40, along with a history file, is available at broadarrowprivatesales.com. Interested buyers are invited to reach out to the Broad Arrow Private Sales team at info@broadarrowprivatesales.com.

At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco, Audi unveiled the Nuvolari — the fastest and most powerful supercar in the brand’s history. The drivers for the Audi Revolut F1 Team, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, also attended the presentation of the near-production prototype on the Côte d’Azur.

With the Audi Nuvolari, the brand is unveiling its first supercar with a high-performance hybrid powertrain. Limited to 499 units, offering 1,001 PS and a top speed of over 350 km/h, the Nuvolari is Audi’s fastest and most powerful production vehicle. This shows how the brand with the four rings is blending Formula 1 spirit, technical innovation, a new design, and efficient processes.

Following the entry into Formula 1, the Nuvolari* — as a technological flagship — is the next tangible evidence of Audi’s renewal. Its name is derived from Tazio Nuvolari, one of the most prominent figures in the history of motorsports. To this day, the Italian is remembered for his fearlessness, ingenuity, dedication, and single-minded will to succeed.

The Nuvolari will be the first production vehicle to fully express Audi’s new design philosophy. Its form is shaped by taut surfaces, precise lines, and a powerful, monolithic presence. Every design element serves a clear purpose and contributes to the overall logic of the car. The interior is consistently focused on the driving experience, with a refined and sophisticated environment. “The Audi Nuvolari* embodies ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in its most visceral form: progress through technology,

The new supercar is crafted for customers who seek the extraordinary. The Audi Nuvolari stands for exclusivity, performance, and the ultimate in desirability. With this model, they are making a deliberate move into the high-performance segment and staking Audi’s claim to be the most desirable premium automotive brand.

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By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

A pristine 1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Series I with just 604 miles on the clock has sold for £82,125 at auction.

After initially using the car for the first few months of its life, its only owner had kept it in climate controlled storage for the last 27 years. The Rolls was last used for a family wedding in 1998.

It went under the hammer with H&H Classics in Newark earlier this month and became the most expensive non-celebrity owned ‘Shadow’ to sell at auction.

The Silver Shadow model was produced between 1965 and 1980 and has the highest production volume of any Rolls-Royce model with 30,057 made.

It was launched with a 6,230cc V8 engine – upgraded to a 6,750cc engine in 1970.

This example was finished in Walnut brown with Beige leather interior and retained its original service log, sales invoice from its purchase and MOT certificates.

It was originally sold new for £16,898 by Leyland distributor, PJ Evans of Birmingham.

Today, these are rare cars with only 21 Silver Shadow models registered for UK roads.

In a tribute to the legendary Ferrari Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, a limited-edition collection of replicas of his iconic Ferrari 312 T4 race car has been unveiled by the Amalgam Collection. Limited to just 12 pieces, these models are exact replicas of the car raced by Villeneuve in the United States East Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International Raceway on the 7^th October 1979.

Each replica in this exclusive collection has been meticulously crafted by the Amalgam Collection to capture every detail of Villeneuve’s race car, ensuring the utmost precision and authenticity. Following 450 hours to complete each model, the Amalgam artisans in Bristol used archival imagery of the original race car to meticulously hand-paint the dirt, and grit the car collected during one of the most memorable wet-weather performances in Formula One history. The process known as weathering, faithfully recreates the exact condition of the car as it crossed the finish line at Watkins Glen, with unmatched accuracy.

Limited to only 12 pieces worldwide, this exclusive special edition goes beyond the model itself. Each set is accompanied by four large-format A2 archive-quality prints by renowned Formula One photographer Richard Kelley, capturing Gilles Villeneuve in some of the most powerful and emotional moments of his Ferrari career.

The edition has been personally endorsed by Melanie Villeneuve, Gilles’ daughter, who has curated the photographic selection and signed a certificate of authenticity accompanying each set.

The Richard Kelley photographs, many unseen publicly until now, offer an intimate glimpse into Villeneuve’s Ferrari years, capturing moments of focus, determination and raw emotion that defined one of motorsport’s most beloved drivers.

Richard Kelley says this of one of the most memorable days in his photographic career:

“I will always remember Gilles Villeneuve, alone in his 312 T4, as rain approached and he prepared to win the 1979 United States Grand Prix.

“The weather was deteriorating, and as drivers milled about, chewing their fingernails and speaking softly to their engineers, they all had their eyes on the darkening skies. While they waited until the last instant to buckle in, Gilles already sat calmly in his cockpit, belts pulled to near race-tightness; the huge one-piece Ferrari cowling lying next to him on the tarmac.

“As was common with Formula One cars then, the aluminium “tub” forming the cockpit of his #041 left his feet extending beyond the front wheels and barely extended above his hips. The remainder of his slender body would be ‘protected’ by that fiberglass cowling and one riveted metal panel attached to the front of the forward triangular tube structure that held the steering wheel and gauges.

“It seemed that every Ferrarista in New York State was pushing aggressively to see him, yet there was a ‘bubble’ around Gilles as he sat alone; no small cadre of engineers leaning on the chassis, discussing tactics – no Mauro Forghieri urging him to nail his start.

“There simply was no need.

“Gilles had devastated the entire field during that weekend’s torrential rain-soaked Friday practice; setting times 22 seconds faster than any Goodyear-shod car, and a staggering 12 seconds faster than teammate and new World Champion, Jody Scheckter. With Scheckter now champion, Gilles was free to race for himself; doing lap after lap on the limit for the sheer joy of it.

“He was preparing to do it again.

“As he sat in perfect silence, wearing his “race face” as he delicately put on his gloves, the air began to smell of rain. If he was conscious of the worsening conditions, his face never betrayed his emotions. On that day, it was clear he would drive the only way he knew: pedal flat to the stops. You never had to fear Gilles wasn’t up to the challenge, you feared he might go too fast.

“The rain arrived 20 minutes before the start, and despite low oil pressure that had him nursing his car to the finish, he would win by 48 seconds.”

Gilles Villeneuve’s daring, flamboyant style and extraordinary ability in extreme conditions earned him legendary status in motorsport, with his rain-soaked Watkins Glen victory widely regarded as one of the finest drives of his career.

Each of the twelve editions is priced at £14,295.00 GBP / $18,995.00 USD and includes:

• A hand-built 1:8 scale Ferrari 312 T4 Watkins Glen 1979 replica
• Four exclusive A2 archive-quality Richard Kelley photographic prints
• A personally signed certificate of authenticity from Melanie Villeneuve
• Premium presentation packaging

For more information, and to place an order, click here: https://www.amalgamcollection.com/products/ferrari-312-t4-1979-us-east-grand-prix-villeneuve-weathered#&gid=1&pid=3

Lotus has launched the Emira 420 Sport – the most powerful, lightest and most aerodynamically capable Emira ever built.

The Emira 420 Sport sits at the apex of the Emira line-up and has been designed specifically to deliver even more performance both on road, and on track. It reinforces Lotus commitment to preserving its DNA by delivering greater agility, response and driver engagement.

Emira 420 Sport produces 420PS from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, accelerates from 0–62mph in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 186mph.

With the optional Lightweight Handling Pack, the Emira 420 Sport is 25kg lighter than the Emira Turbo and generates 25kg of additional downforce. A series of aerodynamic revisions improve cooling and track performance without increasing drag.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 420PS and 500Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission for faster acceleration and more immediate in-gear response.

The Lightweight Handling Pack delivers improved agility and responsiveness, and includes two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers, a titanium exhaust, a lithium-ion battery, carbon fibre components and a dedicated Lotus Track Performance app to measure and record your lap times.

Exterior updates include a new front splitter, revised front vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler and a louvred tailgate. These changes result in airflow to the outboard radiators increasing by 15 percent, to the central radiator by 14 percent, and brake cooling improves by 10 percent, as well as exhaust valve airflow increasing by 30%. With these upgrades, drivers are able to experience more consistent performance in demanding conditions, particularly on track.

The bonded aluminium chassis and double wishbone suspension deliver the blend of ride comfort and handling precision that defines the Emira, while electro-hydraulic power steering provides detailed feedback to the driver.

Inside, the cabin is designed to support both road and track driving, with 12-way adjustable seats, a driver-focused layout and intuitive controls. New carbon fibre gearshift paddles combine with updated haptics for added responsiveness and engagement.

The Emira 420 Sport is now available with an optional exterior carbon fibre pack. This includes the front splitter, side sills, wheel arch vents, side pods, rear spoiler and diffuser surround.

Drivers have a choice of nine-wheel designs and finishes including a new 20-inch 15-spoke forged alloy wheels finished in satin dark grey.

The colour palette is vibrant and extensive, with 16 choices to select from. Unique to the Emira 420 Sport is Tangelo Orange, a vivid and expressive colour that continues a long tradition of Lotus Orange paints.

Two new optional packs for the Emira 420 Sport cabin are available:

• The Carbon Fibre Pack changes the driver display surround with unique geometry; the centre spoke on the steering wheel and the logo surround in the seat back.
• A Hand Painted Pack uses the Tangelo Orange launch colour to add highlights throughout the cabin, including the centre console, steering wheel spoke, gear lever inner and air vent surrounds.

A removable tinted glass roof panel is available for the first time on the Emira. Inspired by the Esprit, the panel is designed for quick removal and stores behind the seats in a protective bag, allowing drivers to switch easily between coupé and open-top configurations. Lotus’ underlying architecture ensures dynamic performance remains unchanged.

Pricing and availability
Emira 420 Sport is available to order now, with customer deliveries expected from August 2026. UK price is £105 900.

Rock stars and their cars
By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

Famous musicians are renowned for expressing themselves and their wealth in the cars that they own. Here’s a selection of some of these personal indulgences down the years.

The ‘Fab Four’ enjoyed luxury and the best of British with an eclectic taste, from Paul McCartney owning a rare 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 to John Lennon giving a 1965 Rolls Royce Phantom V a psychedelic paint job! But did you know all four Beatles were gifted custom-made Mini Coopers by their then manager Brian Epstein in the mid-sixties?

In the seventies, Elvis Presley bought a De Tomaso Pantera.  It looked stunning but this Italian supercar was a mechanical ‘dud’. On one occasion, when it wouldn’t start Elvis fired his revolver at the steering wheel, before shooting a hole in the driver’s door. He sold the car in 1976.

Whilst Elvis was taking a gun to his car, Rolling Stones bass guitarist, Bill Wyman took delivery of a brand new Citroen SM in 1971. The stylish SM was famously a joint venture between Citroen and Maserati. It came with a Maserati V6 engine,  hydropneumatic suspension and various tech accessories. Wyman kept his SM for 40 years before selling it at a Bonhams auction for £61,980.

Rock and blues guitarist, Eric Clapton is a massive fan of another Italian car maker, Ferrari and in 2012 he commissioned the company to build a unique Ferrari – the SP12 EC – based on the Ferrari 458 Italia. The SP12 EC was powered by a 4.5 litre V8 engine. A point to note  – the ‘EC’ stands for Eric Clayton and ‘12’ represents Eric’s lucky number.

Noel Gallagher (from Oasis) likes his classic cars despite not holding a driving licence. Among his collection there’s been a 1967 Jaguar MK2 which he had converted into a two-door convertible. He sold the Jag in 2022 for £125,000. He has also previously owned a 1997 Bentley Turbo R in Cherry Red.

Smiths frontman, Morrissey turned to Italy for his motoring indulgence, but wasn’t a Ferrari for ‘This Charming Man’ but a Fiat 500 Giardiniera. This estate version of the famous 500 model was produced between 1960 and 1975.

It does seem rock stars and rare cars go well together and you do wonder what the stars of tomorrow might be tempted by?

AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has revealed the brutal new AC Cobra GT Coupe. Unifying the AC Cobra’s aesthetic with a fixed roofline and curvilinear rear.

Sharing roughly 75% of its engineering with the GT Roadster, the new model benefits from comprehensive enhancements developed during testing and development.

Available in both left and right-hand drive and powered by a sonorous 5.0-litre V8, delivering up to 730 PS, the car features AC’s own extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis and unique carbon fibre bodywork.

Extremely limited in production, with each example built specifically for its client, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will start at approximately £234,300 + taxes for the naturally aspirated model, while the supercharged model starts from £256,300 + taxes. The first examples will be delivered in 2028 – after initial GT Roadster deliveries are completed.

The AC Cobra GT Coupe employs the latest carbon fibre production techniques to create the bodywork and unique fixed head design. This includes a ‘double bubble’ roofline, which accentuates the drama of the rear three quarter view. Lowering the roofline without impacting head room, it smooths airflow and helps lower the drag coefficient, and amplifies the car’s lightweight credentials.

In line with the GT Roadster, the new GT Coupe is notably larger than the original AC Cobra, with a wheelbase of 2570mm, an overall length of 4225mm and a width of 1980mm. It features a near perfect 50:50 weight balance front to rear, with a low centre of gravity and a kerb weight of approximately 1600kg. Although slightly heavier, the coupe’s lower drag coefficient means overall performance is expected to be on a par with that of the GT Roadster.

The AC Cobra GT Coupe continues the company’s use of a modern V8 powertrain to devastating effect. Available either supercharged or naturally aspirated, the modular engine delivers 730 PS (720bhp) and 820Nm (605lb ft), or 456 PS (450bhp) and 555Nm (410lb ft) respectively. The supercharged GT Coupe is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in under 3.5sec. The choice of gearboxes includes a 6-speed manual gearbox for traditionalists or an advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles.

Designed as grand tourer the new coupe doesn’t compromise on cabin space, ensuring that driver and passenger relish every mile. Contemporary ergonomics means the cabin accommodates drivers over six-feet tall, while the car utilises modern control technologies.

From the Driver Information Centre screen mounted behind the steering wheel, past the machined toggle switchgear down to the signature AC pedals – every inch has been considered to present a curated environment. Highly equipped as standard, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe includes electric windows and climate control

Prices start from £234,300 + taxes, with reservations now open at ac.cars

With news that sales of the convertible are declining we are now hearing that the manual gearbox and diesel engine is heading for extinction.

Vehicle Data Global (VDG) – which powers systems across the automotive sector with technical and market data – says that although diesel market share has fallen most, the decline of manual transmission is accelerating faster.

Analysis also reveals that the decline of manual transmission is underpinned by consumer preference as much as Britain’s changing model mix.

The company analysed millions of existing market data points to identify that it is not only replacement by hybrid and EV models driving the decline of the manual, but that share has halved since 2016 even for petrol and diesel cars.

Both trends suggest near-simultaneous extinction as soon as 2030, with research, development and production costs increasingly seen as unviable by manufacturers.

It means the end of the traditional ‘motorway mile-muncher’ that dominated fleets and private sales just a decade ago, with diesel’s 92% collapse since 2016 and manuals standing at just 13.7% of the market so far this year.

VDG says that the moment is approaching when declining demand is overtaken by hard economics for manufacturers reluctant to maintain the overheads and tooling to produce both systems.

While diesel’s decline is widely recognised, trend data suggests that the prospect of survival for manual gearboxes is even slimmer and VDG predicts that both may end simultaneously in the car market by the end of the decade.

The picture remains very different for light commercial vehicles, where diesel continues to dominate and manual gearboxes still commanded a 63% share last year, compared with fewer than one in five cars.

Although the steep decline in manual car transmission was first sparked by growing market share for hybrids and EVs, with automatic transmission almost by default, consumer choice is accelerating the trend.

Even among ICE (internal Combustion Engines) car buyers – where consumers still actively have a transmission choice – manual share has fallen from 55% in 2019 to 34% in 2025.

Ben Hermer, Operations Director of VDG, said: “The moment is fast approaching when the economics of maintaining a manual transmission option don’t add up, given the R&D, certification and other overheads of developing and refining gearboxes, even if there remains some demand in the market.

“Based on current trend data, between 5% and 10% of cars will theoretically still be manual by 2030.

“But manufacturers will be looking hard at whether maintaining manual gearbox programmes for a shrinking share of the market makes economic sense, while they manage the overall pressures of conversion from ICE and competing with international market entrants in the EV sector.”