A successful PR stunt can boost a vehicle’s commercial appeal ten-fold. And what better way to promote the yet-to-be-released 1956 Land Rover Series 1 than to send two of them on a six-month, 18,000-mile overland expedition from London to Singapore; an expedition that was previously deemed impossible.
The ultra-rare Isdera Imperator 108i (only 30-odd were ever produced - the exact number is disputed) came into existence in the mid-1980s, thanks to a great deal of help from Mercedes. Eberhard Schulz, the founder of Isdera and the man behind the Imperator, was formerly in the service of Porsche's development department and he also worked as a design engineer at Mercedes. Little wonder, then, that the Imperator crouches flat as a pancake on the road, much in the style of the Mercedes C111 - plus it also boasts gullwing doors.
Cooked to a similar recipe as the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16, the E30 M3 arrived on the scene at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show. While the early versions of the Mercedes homologation special appeared rather staid, their opposite number from Bavaria visually signalled its intent right from the off: the two-door shape was enhanced with – alongside numerous mechanical changes over the standard 3 Series – box-flared arches, a prominent rear wing, and motorsport wheels. On track, it was put to use not only by the Works team, but also by private teams such as Prodrive and AC Schnitzer.
The first 911 Turbo (or 930) was originally conceived to homologate a race car, but when the rules were changed rendering the competition car obsolete, development of the production version continued.
Production of Porsche’s first turbocharged road car spanned a whopping 15 years, testament to its reception, typically German build quality, and out-of-this-world performance. During the Eighties, it rapidly became the car for the young up-and-comer; and as fashionable as shoulder pads and big hair.
It’s no wonder cars are so frequently cursed in city centres around the world. While crawling through the congestion, stifled by exhaust fumes and the pungent smell of overheating engines, electric drive seems to make a lot of sense. At the push of a button, Porsche’s second-generation Panamera S E-Hybrid will creep around in electric mode, completely emission-free and in utter silence.
Californian eco-elite – or prophets of a new world of electric mobility?
Newcomers such as the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta are always going to be in demand, but small-series specials – such as the 911 GT3 RS and Aventador LP720-4 50° Anniversario – also have significant lead times, if any are available at all. For many, these coveted machines appeal even more when you own one of the first in the country: Scuderia Motors caters for international buyers from markets whose supply often fails to meet demand.
This is the third generation of what BMW calls its Sports Activity Vehicle (or SAV), and what everyone else calls a big SUV or 4x4. The first version arrived in 1999 and the ethos hasn’t changed since then: the X5 prides itself on offering decent off-road ability, generous interior space, and – what perhaps sets it apart from most competitors – genuine driving pleasure, despite its height and weight.