Cars

The ‘lifestyle SUV’ market is bustling with competition nowadays, but it’s more than three decades since the G-Wagon first created the sector by adopting a simple fabric roof. Mercedes will commemorate this with 200 ‘Final Edition’ models of the Cabriolet, all featuring metallic black exterior paintwork with a contrasting beige roof. The interior mirrors this scheme, with quilted beige doorcards and a classic walnut trim being our personal highlights.

'The 16-cylinder BRM was seen by many as their least favourite'

Video: Goodwood

Promotional feature

After almost a decade as a committed partner of the world's leading classic car events and the organiser of its own rallies, Credit Suisse is proud to support the restoration of Goodwood Motor Circuit's Race Control building.

During World War II, a large area of farmland on the south-western edge of the Goodwood Estate was developed as the Royal Air Force Westhampnett fighter base, which became a centre of historic action during the 1940 Battle of Britain.

The lure of Goodwood is always enough to entice some of the world’s rarest and most tantalising vehicles, and 2013’s event was certainly no different.

What makes the video exceptional for real historic racing enthusiasts is Tony Dron’s post-race voiceover that talks you through the excitement – and the cool, logical strategy from the driver’s perspective – of the full, 20-minute race. “This is not intended to be entertainment,” he says, claiming it is simply “the race from the driver’s point of view, from start to finish…” But if this isn’t entertaining, Mr Dron, then we don’t know what is.

This year’s show was as much about the technology of presentation as it was to do with the vehicles themselves. Jaguar ushered in its new C-X17 SUV concept by seemingly making a solid wall disappear. The VW Group night was a Tron-esque spectacular which blurred the boundaries between actual and virtual reality. BMW transported guests to a utopian cityscape using clever lighting and sound effects. As always, there were 'grey suits' aplenty, company men reeling off well-rehearsed speeches to sober up proceedings – but, of course, the cars were always the stars…

Video: Porsche

If those of you who remember Geneva 2013’s Giugiaro Parcour concept are experiencing a sense of déjà vu, there’s a good reason for that. Audi’s shocking new Nanuk concept not only has its DNA rooted in that car, but was even penned by the Italdesign studio – now operating under the VW Group umbrella.

Headline features include a four-wheel “integral” steering system (presumably similar to that of the 991-gen 911 GT3), a new take on the R8’s sideblade, and a centrally mounted 544bhp 5.0-litre diesel V10 churning out a colossal 738lb ft.