Archive for the ‘New Cars’ Category

New Left Hand Drive Porsche 911 (991) GT3 For Sale

Posted: April 15, 2015 by The Car Spy in For Sale, Left Hand Drive, New Cars, Porsche
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There are some cars which will always command a lot of attention whenever a new version is announced and the Porsche 911 GT3 is one of them. Since the first GT3 version was launched way back in 1999 just over 14000 have been produced and of those that still survive each one has appreciated in value. In other words, they have been a solid-gold automotive investment.

A few years ago we sold a well cared-for 2005 996 GT3 which would be worth around £70k today…..

2005_Porsche_911_GT3_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_(19)

And also this drop-dead gorgeous 2010 997 GT3 RS which would set you back in excess of £135k in today’s money – possibly even more than that soon as values continue to rise northwards.

2010_Porsche_911_GT3_RS_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_(29)

We cant tell you what the owners paid for these cars when they bought them from us but they will be comforted by the fact that their GT3’s are akin to having a barrel full of diamonds in the garage. Nice.

The latest (991) GT3 had barely been announced when the right hand drive allocation was sold out – it seems the desire for a GT3 burns bright here in the UK

The only other option it seemed was to purchase a left-hooker since the factory would make a few more of those to satisfy (most of) the rest of the world.

Fortunately we have access to a brand new, unregistered, left hand drive GT3 which has just arrived in the UK from Germany and is vat qualifying.

The specification is as follows:-

Carrera White (Solid)
Leather and Alcantara Interior
GT3 Wheels in Anthracite
Front Axle Lifting System
Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
Sport Seat 6 Point [heated] (Including Harness)
Tracking system (VTS)
Floor mats
Phone Prep
PCM with Navigation
Sound package
Aluminium Interior Trim
Alcantara Steering Wheel
Alcantara Armrest Lid
Red Harness Belts

Just for the record the latest incarnation of the GT3 features a 3.8 litre, flat-six engine mated to a PDK transmission which together produce 475 hp. The car is capable of providing a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 195 mph according to the manufacturer.

For further details and pricing please get in touch in the first instance on 01892 506970 because we are not expecting this sought-after GT3 to be available for very long or drop The Car Spy an email at sales@thecarspy.net.

2015 Geneva Motor Show

Posted: March 10, 2015 by The Car Spy in Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Ford, General, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lotus, McLaren, Motor Shows, New Cars, New Models, Porsche, Quantino, RenaultSport, Shows
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12 months is not a long time. Only yesterday, it seems, we were waltzing through the airport terminal in Geneva and turning left into the Palexpo to ogle the latest automotive eye-candy. And now it is 2015.

Last year was okay and kind of worth the trip but this year we were gagging to get there. Over 70  new models on display plus the inevitable bunch of interesting concept cars that never see the light of day. So on with the show.

With so much to see we’ll just focus on the cars that were of particular interest to us which means you can exclude most of the mass market offerings.

Cutting to the chase our show hero was the Koenigsegg Regera – ‘robotic’ body panels, 1500 hp, 0-60 mph in minus 2 seconds, brain-mashing top speed, everything about the car is mental. The car is from Sweden and is the antithesis of ABBA. It is Black Sabbath on acid. Everybody now go back to the drawing board.

Koenigsegg Regera

Next up is the Ford GT. Only 250 cars will be made and the launch date is some time in 2016. For a car that looks this good and performance will be up there with the best it is hard to believe that it will cost around £200k. Speculators and investors form an orderly queue now.

Ford GT

Aston Martin. They really are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The brand is bullet-proof, up there with Apple in terms of global recognition and Bond’s perennial favourite weapon of choice. The cars are drop-dead gorgeous and yet they struggle to persuade die-hard Porsche buyers to consider AM as a viable alternative. The GT3 (Aston Martin) is all sold-out – yep 100 cars gone in the blink of an eye without a single car being built so there are some real fans out there. The Vulcan, to be honest, does not look like an Aston Martin. It looks like it came from the planet Vulcan and driven by Mr Spock (RIP). Designed for those who have enough money to have a spare car for track days (at Paul Ricard not Donington) the detail of the car is truly impressive. The rear light assemblies are a work of art and deserve a place in the Louvre. Bravo Aston Martin for surprising all of us!

Aston Martin Vulcan

Yes the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 is a concept but the car is real and very likely to be gunning for 911 customers in the very near future. The car on display was rotating gracefully while the crowds gawped and wiped the dribble from their mouths. The EXP is a truly lovely design and there is a little bit of Aston Martin in the profile. The interior is lovely too and you know they will sell zillions of them if they actually start making the car which we think they (VW) will. It is a no-brainer so all they have to do is come up with a sensible name for the car.

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6

If we all accept that the internal combustion engine will one day no longer exist but at the same time pray that we will not be driven around by a car made by Google there is a ray of hope in the form of fuel cell technology from nanoFlowcell AG. The Quantino F is a concept right now and maybe a little too avant-garde for mass market tastes but it bodes well for the future of green motoring. With a range of 1000 kms and a top speed of 200 kph we can all put away the razor blades – cars can survive without petrol.

Quantino F

Other highlights for us were the Alfa Romeo 4c Spider (prettier than the Coupe), Ferrari 488 (even more desirable than a 458), McLaren 675LT (they seem to going from strength to strength), Lamborghini Aventador SV (how can you make an Aventador even more terrifying?), Sergio by Pininfarina (not a game-changer but such a perfect design and future classic), Audi R8 (looks the same but then again doesn’t – if that makes any sense), Lotus (shouldn’t they be dead by now? The Evora and Exige still look damn good), Porsche 911 GT3 RS in orange (they couldn’t have picked a better colour), Porsche Cayman GT4 in yellow (they couldn’t have picked a better colour) and Renault Sport RS 01 (the bastard child of the Caterham/Renault love affair? At the right price this car will sell well).

There are even more exhibits that are probably worth a mention and we did manage to take a few shots of nice cars during our visit to the show so please take a look at our slideshow when you have time.

For now then we have stocked up on Toblerone, Swiss cheese and cuckoo clocks albeit with less Swiss Francs left than last year but roll on 2016 – not sure if it will be as interesting as this year though!

New Bentley GT3-R For Sale

Posted: January 6, 2015 by The Car Spy in Bentley, For Sale, New Cars
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Bentley GT3-R

Hard to believe that the shape of the Continental has been with us for nearly 12 years now and with the odd cosmetic tweak and engine upgrade it has managed to establish itself as the best selling Bentley by far. In fact, it is the main reason the company is now considered to be an instantly recognisable global brand which is no mean feat for a single model. Who knows, the Conti might do for Bentley what the 911 has done for Porsche over the decades.

In these times, it is the marketing man who sits at the top table with the company bosses and they look to him to mix his magic potions to eke out every drop of dream-inspiring imagery to help maintain market share of their brand and individual models. The Continental is a good example.

Think of a jolly jaunt down to Monaco in the blink of an eye, wafting along in a near-silent W12 to arrive refreshed at the Casino in time for a game or two of Black Jack.

How about a raucous blast in the Scottish Glens with a glorious V8 under the bonnet while the sports suspension lets you attack corners like Lewis Hamilton?

Fancy a cruise along the Pacific Highway from LA to San Diego? You can just picture yourself in a GT Speed Convertible with the roof down soaking up the sun and the miles listening to Pink Floyd on the Naim audio system.

Get the point? Along with breaking ice speed records it seems there is a Continental for every occasion. However until recently one part of Bentley’s history had been relatively unexploited – the legendary Bentley Blowers that won at Le Mans in 1930. Enter the GT3 and GT3-R.

The GT3 was developed to establish Bentley as a properly competitive racing team again and to bring the marque firmly back on to the stage of worldwide motorsport – the marketing men were at it again.

Such was the positive reception to the arrival of Bentley to compete with the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche that it was not long before the company wheeled out a ‘normal’ road-going version for those petrol-heads with deep pockets. Hence we have the GT3-R.

Limited to a production run of only 300 the low-down is as follows:-

Engine power 580 PS 6000rpm and 700 N·m 1700rpm, torque vectoring for each of the rear wheels, shorter gearing, recalibrated control software, all-new titanium exhaust with 7 kg weight saving and retuned acoustics, forged 21-inch alloy wheels in gloss black, Pirelli tyres, sport-focused Electronic Stability Control programme, Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) braking system (420 mm front and 356 mm rear brake discs, 8-piston front calipers in green), two-seat cabin with carbon fibre, Alcantara and leather interior upholstery; bespoke sporting seats with additional side support through deeper bolsters upholstered in Beluga black leather and diamond-quilted Alcantara, upholstered steering wheel and gear shifter, centre console and fascia panels in carbon fibre, carbon fibre door casings with diamond-quilted Alcantara inner panels, rear cabin with a carbon fibre surround and upholstered in leather and Alcantara, green hide colour on the seats, instrument panel, door panels, contrast stitching throughout the seats and diamond-quilted areas; GT3-R badging at centre console, passenger-side fascia panel, sill tread-plates; GT3-R stitching at seat headrests in with contrast-green stitching, carbon fibre fixed rear wing and boot lid, bonnet with two vents, Glacier White body colour with gloss carbon fibre contrasts, two-tone green graphics tracing two power lines to the side profile of the car (one leading backwards from the front wheel, the other tracing the shape of the Continental GT’s rear haunch), headlamp bezels, matrix grille, window surrounds and bumper strips in gloss black. Phew!

Want to buy one? Well, too late because they are all sold out. Top marks for the marketing bods again!

However, we know of a cancelled order GT3-R that is physical and can be purchased today so to find out more give The Car Spy a call on 01892 506970 or email sales@thecarspy.net

Lamborghini Huracán For Sale

Posted: October 8, 2014 by The Car Spy in For Sale, Lamborghini, New Cars
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Has Lamborghini ever made an ugly-looking car? The definition of ‘ugly’ is a very subjective one, of course, and some people might describe the London Shard as an ‘ugly’ piece of architecture whereas you the reader might think it to be quite beautiful.

However, trawling back through images of Lamborghinis from the past it was truly difficult to find a model in their range to be indifferent about. From the Diablo, Miura, Countach to the Sesto Elemento they all set the heart a-fluttering. That was until the LM002 blotted the landscape.

Born in 1986 and executed in 1993, the LM002 was essentially a mental SUV designed for people who had more money than sense and access to huge resources of gasoline – the car was fitted with a 7.2 litre V12 marine engine for pity’s sake! The LM002 made a Hummer look limp-wristed and was even dubbed the ‘Rambo Lambo’.

So apart from the LM002 Lamborghini has yet to come up with a car that doesn’t fulfil the necessary criteria for giving petrol-heads wet dreams.

The Gallardo was always going to be a tricky car to replace because everybody liked it. Some preferred it over the equivalent model from arch-rival Ferrari and best of all it possessed Audi build-quality to help keep the gremlins away.

The Gallardo stayed in production for 10 years with only the odd very minor tweak to its design occurring along the way since it was a formula that could not be tampered with while generating decent sales for the company.

However, the car was starting to look a little dated next to the new 458 and latest models from McLaren so some lucky (or unlucky) designer in the company had the task of coming up with a better-looking car. A few sleepless nights were on the cards.

Enter the Huracán this year (for deliveries at least) and rather than come out with a complete re-hash of the pretty Gallardo a more sensitive approach has been taken by adding a few design cues from the magnificent Aventador which is no bad thing whilst keeping in touch with the out-going car’s pleasing aesthetics.

Underneath, various subtle engineering changes have taken to place to make sure the car stays competitive at every level and also to continue to satisfy the ever-stringent EU automotive rules and regulations.

Deliveries of the Huracán have already started in the UK and those customers who placed an early deposit are amongst the first to get their hands on one today.

If you are looking to place a factory order for one at the moment you will be looking at your car arriving around the middle of next year, if you are lucky, since demand has been very healthy for the new model.

On the other hand we have access to a brand new Huracán that will be arriving within the next week or so and comes with the following specification:-

Nero Serapis Metallic, Alcantara Sportivo Nero Ade Interior, Branding Pack, Front and Rear Parking Sensors plus Rear View Camera, Full Electric Adjustable and Heated Seats, Navigation System, Bluetooth Preparation – Hands Free, DAB, Alcantara Roof Lining and Pillars, Coloured Stitching for Unicolour Interior, LDS (Dynamic Steering), Lifting System and Magnetic Suspension, NavTrak PRO ADR.

Interested? Please get in touch in the first instance on 01892 506970 because we are not expecting the car to be available for very long or drop The Car Spy an email at sales@thecarspy.net.

Sorry – This car is now SOLD!

 

Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale

Posted: October 2, 2014 by The Car Spy in For Sale, New Cars, Porsche
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Porsche 918 SpyderPorsche 918 Spyder

Zero to 60 mph times (or 62 KPH in kilo-world) are pretty much the accepted benchmark when it comes to measuring a car’s performance and probably the easiest measure of speed to relate to for most car drivers.

At some time in their period of car ownership most car-nuts have mashed the gas pedal to the floor from a standing start to see how quickly their pride and joy gathers momentum anticipating the crushing force of acceleration that will push them back into their seat. For the majority of us it is just a dream and a bit of an anti-climax.

Unless you are driving something very special, of course, such as the Porsche 918 Spyder.

In around 2.6 seconds this car will have punched you so hard in the chest your ribcage would have left an impression on the inside of your back. Add another 2 seconds and you have reached 100 mph-  as long as you managed to keep a hold of the steering wheel with your newly elongated arms.

In less than 10 seconds you have covered a quarter of a mile.

Which incidentally raises another question – how far has the 918 actually travelled by the time it has reached 60 mph? You might think that would an easy question to answer but you need to be very good at arithmetic to work it out and there are several ways of calculating it out depending on how precise you want to be.

The ‘simplest’ formula I managed to find (courtesy of Wolfram Alpha) is as follows:

0 mph × 2.6 seconds + 1/2 ((60 mph)/(2.6 seconds) (2.6 seconds)^2) or

wolframalpha60

Life is too short so put away the calculator – the answer is 0.0217 miles or 35 metres.  The average family car would need to cover around 160 metres to reach the same speed.

Interesting? Maybe not, but just an alternative way of expressing how fast a car is off the line.

Back to the 918 which is therefore very fast indeed. Whether it is quicker than a Mac P1 or LaFerrari is quite frankly academic and you will need a spectrometer to measure the differences between them. No doubt there will soon be the inevitable shoot-out on Top Gear and other car magazines that will draw some conclusion or other.

If you are lucky enough to be in a position to buy one of these cars then your choice will be very limited. The LaFerrari, 499 manufactured and now all sold out. Pre-owned cars are being bought for up to double the original list price we are told!

The P1 is also sold out (a tiny 375 produced) and presently there are very few pre-owned examples on offer but nonetheless there will be a premium to pay to acquire one today.

Porsche, however, are building 918 examples of their supercar (hence the ‘918’ moniker) so there is still a chance to grab this particular new example we have on sale before production comes to an end:

Finished in White with Onyx Black/Acid Green Leather Interior the extras include:

Front axle lift system, Anti-glare interior package, Bodywork film protection, Electric height adjustment on front passenger seat, Cup holder, Porsche vehicle tracking system including Porsche Car Connect, Lightweight bucket seats with lateral support.

This brand new, unregistered 918 is physical and available to buy today.

To find out more please contact The Car Spy on 01892 506970 or email sales@thecarspy.net

 

 

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