Cars

I have just returned from what journalists call an 'assignment', which involved driving the latest Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 from Nice airport to Monaco, around and about the principality for a couple of days and back to the airport again. That first bit represents a journey of approximately 25km - but, thanks to the Rolex Masters tennis, the Easter holiday and preparations for the Grand Prix all happening at the same time, it took more than 90 minutes to complete.

A trip to Monaco

The history of the Iso Grifo / A3C / Bizzarrini is complicated indeed, especially when it comes to what, exactly, each individual car should be called. The condensed version is this: hugely talented engineer Giotto Bizzarrini was one of the workers who walked out on Ferrari in the ‘palace revolt’ of 1961 and who, together, formed ATS. However, Bizzarrini soon left ATS to work on his own. Among the commissions he accepted was one from Renzo Rivolta, a wealthy Milanese industrialist who wanted to build a GT car under his own Iso brand.

Tucked away in a discreet location in the 15th arrondissement of Paris is a second location, a Bond villain-style secret lair of sorts

The sleek four-door saloon inherits its sporty silhouette from the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, revealed at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2013. Exploring (another) new model niche will no doubt allow BMW to pique the interest of the vital Chinese market, while also showcasing the company’s latest technology.

Limited to 100 examples, the Plus 8 Speedster recalls the days when racing cars were little more than stripped-down road cars with a number painted on the door. This is augmented by way of 'eccentric' styling features (Morgan’s words, not ours), of which our favourites are the steelie-style alloy wheels. Beneath the bonnet – fastened with a leather strap in another reference to bygone racing cars – is a 4.8-litre V8 produced by BMW. Placed at the front of Morgan’s latest aluminium chassis, it’ll be good for 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds before topping out at 148mph.

Perhaps more impressive was that, for most of the race, Rodríguez had to tussle the outdated and cumbersome Cooper with just two gears due to earlier gearbox trouble. So, does the Maserati Kyalami live up to its namesake? 

“As a trained mechanic, I set out independently. My budget amounted to around €1000 and I was often told that I'd be better off forgetting it.”

1. If selling a star, shoot it too!

You significantly increase your sales opportunities by using professional photos of your cars, watches, yachts and other luxury goods – if you require further proof, just look to the larger auction houses. Choose a simple, attractive backdrop that places focus on your product. Photograph all sides, and don’t forget the relevant details. If you’re not confident doing this yourself, book a professional photographer – the investment is sure to pay off.