NISSAN UNVEILS REVOLUTIONARY PETROL ENGINE TO COMPLEMENT ELECTRIC ZEOD RC POWERPLANT

february 2014

Motoring News£2 Issue 3

Nissan will not only break new ground with the unique

electric power plant aboard the Nissan ZEOD RC at Le

Mans this year, but the accompanying internal combus‐

tion engine is set to revolutionise standards of perfor‐

mance and efficiency.

e Nissan ZEOD RC will become the $rst entry at Le

Mans to complete a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe under

nothing but electric power in June. A single lap of each

stint (a fuel “stint” lasts approximately one hour) will be

electric powered, then the new Nissan DIG-T R 1.5 litre

three-cylinder turbo engine will take over.

e incredibly small engine weighs only 40 kilograms

(88 pounds) but produces an astonishing 400hp. e

base engine is only 500mm tall x 400mm long x

200mm wide (19.68” x 15.74” x 7.78”). While the en‐

gine is technically too heavy to take as carry-on luggage

on a plane – it would easily $t inside the luggage guides

seen at major airports around the world.

Revving to 7,500rpm, the Nissan DIG-T R produces

380Nm of torque. At a ratio of 10 horsepower per kilo‐

gram the new engine actually has a better power-to-

weight ratio than the new engines to be used in the FIA

Formula 1 World Championship this year.

2 Motoring News

A SMARTPHONE ON WHEELS

With the entire concept of the Nissan ZEOD RC fo‐

cussing heavily on downsizing and efficiency, Nissan

turned to new lubricants partner Total to help develop

the engine. e French lubricants manufacturer has

worked closely with Nissan engineers to develop fuel

and lubricants to maximise the potential of the engine.

e Nissan ZEOD RC will occupy “Garage 56” at this

year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, an additional entry reserved

by the Automobile Club de l‘Ouest for new and ground-

breaking technologies never previously seen at the clas‐

sic French endurance event.

Lessons learned from the development of the revolu‐

tionary racecar will also be used in the development of

Nissan’s planned entry into the LM P1 class of the FIA

World Endurance Championship in 2015.

“Our engine team has done a truly remarkable job with

the internal combustion engine,” said Darren Cox, Nis‐

san’s Global Motorsport Director.

“We knew the electric component of the Nissan ZEOD

RC was certainly going to turn heads at Le Mans but

our combined zero emission on-demand electric/petrol

power plant is quite a stunning piece of engineering.

“Nissan will become the $rst major manufacturer to use

a three-cylinder engine in major international motor‐

sport. We’re aiming to maintain our position as indus‐

try leaders in focussing on downsizing. Lessons learned

from the development of the engine will be seen in Nis‐

san road cars of the future.

“Our aim is to set new standards in efficiency in regards

to every aspect of the car – powertrain, aerodynamics

and handling. For the powertrain we have worked

closely with the team at Total to not only reduce friction

inside the engine, but within all components of the

powertrain.

“Friction is the enemy of horsepower and tackling that

has been one of the efficiency targets we have concen‐

trated on heavily.”

Aer extensive dyno testing, the Nissan ZEOD RC hit

the track for the $rst time last week with both the elec‐

tric and internal combustion engines in place.

Both the petrol and electric powerplants run through

the same $ve-speed gearbox that transfers power to the

ground via Michelin tyres.

“Being chosen by a car manufacturer as a technological

partner to achieve a demonstration of innovation, is al‐

ways a source of pride, especially on this legendary race

- 24 Hours of Le Mans. It drives our researchers to $nd

solutions and get the most out of the technical speci$‐

cations as well as the fuel economy properties that our

TOTAL QUARTZ lubricants range provides to all pas‐

senger cars,” said Philippe Girard, Scienti$c Delegate

for Total.

e Nissan ZEOD RC will undergo an extensive test

program over the next four months prior to it making

its race debut at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours on June

14-15.

Vauxhall Motors has launched a limited edition of 250

ADAMs creating even more levels of personalisation

for the urban chic city car. e ADAM Black Edition

and ADAM White Edition take their design cues from

a smartphone, encompassing optimal connectivity and

a sleek and stylish feel.

e Vauxhall ADAM is the best connected small car in

its segment and the new ADAM Black Edition and

ADAM White Edition come with Vauxhall’s IntelliLink

infotainment system and Siri Eyes Free voice control $t‐

ted as standard. ey re&ect typical smartphone looks

in black or white, with accents in brushed aluminium

effect.

“e ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition

models resemble sophisticated smartphones on wheels,”

says Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing

Director, Vauxhall Motors. “e ADAM combines in‐

novative technologies with countless personalisation

possibilities which are not available in its segment. With

these new models, our urban chic city car once again

shows that it is the best connected small car and a true

individualisation champion all wrapped up in one.”

ADAM drivers who have an iOS 6 – or later – compati‐

ble iPhone can comfortably and safely activate the Siri

Eyes Free function via steering wheel controls and op‐

erate it with voice commands while keeping their hands

on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

A DA M B l a c k E d it i on an d Wh ite E d it i on

Performance, Emissions and CO2

Performance Figures Fuel Economy mpg (litres /

100km) Engine Max Speed

(sec) Acceleration

0-62mph (sec) Urban

Driving Extra Urban

Driving Combined

Figure CO2 Emissions

g/km 1.4i 16v VVT (87PS) 109 12.5 38.2 (7.4) 62.8

(4.4) 51.4 (5.5) 130

Ultra-modern technology and design is mirrored in the

3Motoring News

A BIG VICTORY FOR THE SMALL CAR: 50 YEARS AGO THE CLASSIC MINI WON THE MONTE CARLO RALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME

A big victory for the small car: 50 years ago the classic

Mini won the Monte Carlo Rally for the !rst time.

Paddy Hopkirk made the one-off British small car a

motor sport legend in January 1964 – Timo Mäkinen

and Rauno Aaltonen repeated the triumph in 1965

and 1967.

Small car, huge win: it is now 50 years since one of the

most spectacular victories in the history of internation‐

al motor sport. On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S

won the Monte Carlo Rally for the $rst time. It was the

pairing of Northern Ireland’s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hop‐

kirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the

big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of sig‐

ni$cantly more powerful rivals in their small British

car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain

passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients

laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giant-

slayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public

and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the clas‐

sic Mini’s dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally contin‐

ued over the years that followed, Hopkirk’s Finnish

team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen

adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967

– to the British manufacturer’s collection.

Now 80 years old, Paddy Hopkirk’s eyes still light up

when he recalls the driving qualities of his winning car:

“Although the Mini was only a little family saloon, tech‐

nically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive

and front-mounted transverse engine were a great ad‐

vantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads

were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose

that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was

right, everything happened at the right time and came

together at the right moment.”

It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the

penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the Mini

Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous li‐

cence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of

1964. Hopkirk crossed the $nish line just 17 seconds off

the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the

far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. e hand‐

icap formula at the time – designed to even out the

weight and power differences between the various cars

– meant the classic Mini actually led the way in the

overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage

in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that

rounded off the rally. At the winner’s ceremony he

shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates.

Timo Mäkinen’s fourth-place $nish and Rauno Aalto‐

nen’s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the

Mini Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “ree

Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally.

e classic Mini’s victory was celebrated with particular

excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a con‐

gratulatory telegram from the British government and

the Beatles were also among those leading the applause.

“I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers

Hopkirk. “at was followed by a photograph of the

four of them autographed to me saying: ‘You’re one of

us now, Paddy.’ And it’s very nice to have that

nowadays.”

e triumph of the classic Mini in the Monte was laud‐

ed as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world.

But this wasn’t a success that came entirely out of the

blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then

Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corpo‐

ration, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth.

e $rst person to spot this potential was John Cooper.

e sports car designer was the driving force behind

construction of a more powerful version of the car. e

Mini produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel

drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long

wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and

paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally

courses.

As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham

Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing

the cornering &air of the John Cooper-tuned small car

on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the

classic Mini was most at home in rally racing. Patt

Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it

to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in

looks of the special ADAM Black Edition and ADAM

White Edition models. e ADAM comes in ‘I’ll be

Black’ metallic paint or ‘Saturday White Fever’ brilliant

paint exterior colours. e rest of the exterior carries a

brushed, aluminum-look including the side mirror

housings, and grille bar carrying the Vauxhall logo. In

addition, there are tinted rear windows and 18-inch

wheels in a Twister design with matching brushed alu‐

minium $nish wheel clips. e black or white lacquered

standard roof spoiler, as well as the characteristically

shaped headlamps with LED daytime running lights

and LED rear lights ensure the car stand-outs amongst

its rivals. e sport chassis provides plenty of driving

fun with its direct response and sports pedals.

Inside the cabin, the seats, instruments and applications

continue the exterior colour scheme. In the ADAM

Black Edition, all occupants enjoy the comfort of Ocio

Black Morrocana seat trim cushions. While the centre

console and instrument panel are piano black, the door

trims, glove box, leather gear knob and handbrake han‐

dle are in contrasting bright white. e counterpart to

this is the ADAM White Edition version, with its own

colour scheme: the seats are Ocio White Morrocana

also mirrored in the instrument panel and centre con‐

sole.

e ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition is

priced at £14,995 (1.4 87PS), available across the UK.

For further information please visit http://www.vaux‐

hall.co.uk/vehicles/vauxhall-range/cars/adam/black-

and-white/adam-white-black-edition.html

4 Motoring News

1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British

car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at

the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a

tough learning experience for the works team, but now

they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno

Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp Mini

Cooper to a 1-2 $nish in their class, which was good

enough for third and sixth places overall.

It was clear that the classic Mini was better equipped

than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Go‐

liath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car

had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Sal‐

vadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in

Monza. e journey itself turned into a race between

Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the

wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. e result con$rmed

what Cooper had foreseen in his mind’s eye: the

Cooper-prepared classic Mini arrived around an hour

earlier than the much more powerful Aston.

Identi$able from a distance with their tartan red body‐

work and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by

the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964

were – at least on paper – $ghting against the tide once

more. e Mini Cooper S lined up at the start for the

$rst time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an in‐

creased 1071cc capacity and output had also been

boosted to around 90 hp. is was a lot more than in

previous years but still modest in the face of competi‐

tion from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and

Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three

or four times more power at their disposal.

e 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as

was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of

the event, the cars starting from nine European cities

before converging on the French city of Reims. e

Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the

Mini Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno

Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure

started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson

set off from Paris. e classic Mini successfully negoti‐

ated all these journeys and all six works cars were able

to take their place in the 277-strong $eld in Reims. e

$rst stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together

the two cars which were to de$ne the 1964 Monte from

start to $nish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the

time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk re‐

mained hot on his heels in his Mini Cooper S.

e next leg of the rally was made up largely of mile-

long &at-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his

big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. e

“Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of

reckoning; this was the classic Mini’s chance to demon‐

strate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that

year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,”

explains Hopkirk. “e Mini was particularly good

downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so

what we lost going up, I think we made up for going

downhill.”

Irresistible handling, correct tyre choice, Hopkirk’s gis

at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger

cars down – all came together and ensured that Hop‐

kirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre

(5,270 ) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight

contest all the way to the $nish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as

expected, again posting the fastest time on the $nal

stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also

squeezing everything from his Mini Cooper S once

again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win.

“It’s not like rallying today when you know where you

are. I had to do the $nal circuit, then the journalists

told me I had won and I couldn’t believe it. It surprised

the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk.

e following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul

Easter ensured the classic Mini would retain its title.

ey were helped by a new engine with capacity in‐

creased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian’s driving

skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the

only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the

rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Car‐

lo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in

the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice

made the going seriously tough, but that didn’t stop the

organisers including a second night stage through the

Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his

Mini Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorat‐

ing conditions. e Finn won $ve of the six special

stages on the $nal leg of the rally and $nished the event

with a handsome margin over the second-placed car.

e most impressive and also most dramatic Monte

Carlo Rally for the “ree Musketeers” was to follow in

1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the

event from the start, and it was in this order that they

completed a clean sweep of the top three positions over‐

all at the $nish. Public enthusiasm for the quicksilver

classic Minis appeared to be boundless – as was the dis‐

appointment when the French race commissioners re‐

vealed their decision to disqualify the trio on account of

lights that allegedly did not conform with official regu‐

lations. is was also the reason given for removing the

fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classi$cation,

which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli

Toivonen was crowned the winner.

e dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the

“ree Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest op‐

portunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and

Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works

teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither

the rules nor the other cars could stand between the

Mini Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined

by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk’s co-driver from the

successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the ral‐

ly. e Finnish-British team clicked straight into gear.

Aaltonen guided the classic Mini to what was this time

an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And

nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk:

“Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But

the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. ey

did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were

the office manager of the car.”

Hopkirk $nished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth

place and also drove the classic Mini to $h overall the

following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However,

the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of

rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals

had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of

the classic Mini was now behind it. Memories of that fa‐

mous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn

bright and the “ree Musketeers” have written an in‐

delible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for

distinctive headlight solutions, such as incurred the

wrath of the powers-that-be back in 1966, they also live

on as some of the most popular Original MINI Acces‐

sories – from black headlight housing and the evocative

spotlights fronting the radiator grille to retro$t xenon

headlights.

5Motoring News

TOYOTA RAV4: EVEN BETTER FOR 2014

It’s 20 years since Toyota RAV4 created a whole new

motoring market with the launch of RAV4, the original

compact recreational SUV. While other manufacturers

have been keen to follow Toyota’s lead, RAV4 continues

to develop and deliver performance, speci$cation and

choice that keep pace with changing customer demand.

at’s the inspiration for the 2014 RAV4 which hits the

road this week, building on the model’s inherent

strengths with a new powertrain and even higher

equipment speci$cations.

New 2.0 D-4D with all-wheel drive

Customers choosing Toyota’s efficient 2.0-litre D-4D

diesel engine for their RAV4 have, until now, only had

the option of two-wheel drive. For 2014 this popular

unit has been made available with all-wheel drive, in‐

creasing access to 4×4 motoring with the kind of low

emissions and strong fuel economy that help keep run‐

ning costs down.

e new RAV4 2.0 D-4D AWD is available in Icon and

Invincible grades. e 122bhp (91kW) engine generates

310Nm for the kind of &exible driving performance

that makes the car as easy to manage around town or

out on the open road. Coupled to a six-speed manual

transmission it returns official combined cycle $gures of

137g/km (Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty) and

53.3mpg.

Toyota Touch 2

All versions of RAV4 bar the entry level Active model

are equipped as standard with the Toyota Touch 2, the

latest evolution of Toyota’s touchscreen-operated multi‐

media system.

It comes with a new high-resolution screen that uses

four times as many pixels as the original system, for

bright, sharp images.

e package includes Bluetooth for hands-free phone

calls and sending and receipt of text messages; a rear-

view camera; vehicle information, including trip data,

climate control pro$le; and management of settings for

door locking and lighting.

It also enables simple connection of iPods and MP3

players via USB or Bluetooth, and, where available, will

display album, artist and track information. Audio sys‐

tem options, such as the radio and CD player, can also

be controlled using the screen.

Toyota Touch 2 with Go

Toyota Touch 2 with Go, an option on Icon and Invin‐

cible models, adds a wealth of extra functions and ad‐

vanced connectivity, all controlled simply and clearly

using the same touchscreen system.

e leading feature is the full map navigation, with a

new screen design that provides clear display of sign‐

posts, junctions and lane guidance. A new intuitive de‐

tour function uses real-time traffic information to warn

of congestion ahead, calculate the likely delay and sug‐

gest a suitable alternative route.

e system also provides speed limit indications and

safety camera warnings, and in the event of an emer‐

gency will give direct access to the emergency services

or AA breakdown assistance, automatically providing

exact vehicle location details on the display screen.

e improved package further provides connection to a

range of features, including Toyota real-time HD traffic

data from TomTom.

Toyota’s system is the $rst and currently the only one of

its kind to feature Google Street View™ and

Panoramio™, providing on-screen imagery of the vehi‐

cle’s location or a chosen location to help pinpoint and

recognise destinations; and a range of other multimedia

applications such as social media channels, parking in‐

formation and $lling station locations.

A range of applications are available free for 12 months

with Toyota Touch 2 with Go, easily obtained following

a quick registration process via Toyota’s customer web

portal.

New equipment features

Both Icon and Invincible versions of the 2014 RAV4

bene$t from a few extra equipment and styling features.

Icon models adopt keyless entry and easy push-button

start as standard, together with new two-tone 18-inch

alloy wheels – $tted to the two-wheel as well as all-

wheel drive cars. is builds on an equipment list that

also includes dual-zone climate control automatic head‐

lights and wipers, cruise control, DAB digital tuner,

heated retractable door mirrors and an auto-dimming

rear-view mirror.

Where Invincible grade models are concerned, cus‐

tomers can now choose between black or a new beige

leather seat upholstery. All round protection has been

made standard, thanks to front parking sensors being

provided in addition to those at the rear.

Toyota has also made the 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheel

design standard for the 2WD model.

Established features of the Invincible grade include

heated front seats, power slide and lumbar adjustment

for the driver’s seat and roof rails.

As a result of the new, larger wheels, the CO2 $gure for

the 2.0-litre D-4D two-wheel drive models increases

fractionally, but with no impact on the VED rating.

All RAV4 models are equipped as standard with a space

saver spare wheel. e palette of nine exterior paint $n‐

ishes includes a new metallic $nish for 2014,

Mahogany.

Options

A wealth of options is available for RAV4 owners who

want to add something extra to their vehicle. New fea‐

tures for 2014 include a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear

Cross Traffic Alert. is uses a radar system to detect

vehicles moving alongside in the driver’s blind spot, or

approaching from either side when reversing, for exam‐

ple out of a car parking space. When the system detects

such a hazard, a warning light &ashes in the appropriate

door mirror.

Icon and Invincible models can be upgraded with a

Style Pack (front guard and underguard, side and rear

chrome trim and scuff plates); a Protection Pack (front

and rear parking sensors, rear bumper protection plate)

is additionally available for Icon grade. Extra in-car en‐

tertainment choices include powered docks for holding

tablets and DVD players and a sunroof can also be

speci$ed (Icon and Invincible).

RAV4 prices, VED and insurance

e 2014 RAV4 is on sale now, with $rst customer de‐

liveries this week. Toyota has made the range even more

accessible by reducing the entry price point by £400, of‐

fering the 2.0-litre D-4D 2WD Active model for

£22,195 on-the-road.

Full details of prices, VED bands and insurance are pro‐

vided below.

Grade Powertrain VED Insurance OTR price Active

2.0 D-4D 2WD 6MT D 26E £22,195 Icon 2.0 D-4D

2WD 6MT D 26E £24,695 Icon 2.0 D-4D AWD 6MT E

26E £25,695 Icon 2.0 Valvematic AWD MultidriveS H

29E £25,695 Icon 2.2 D-4D AWD 6MT F 29E £26,495

Icon 2.2 D-CAT AWD 6AT I 29E £27,595 Invincible

2.0 D-4D 2WD 6MT D 27E £26,395 Invincible 2.0

D-4D AWD 6MT E 26E £27,395 Invincible 2.0 Valve‐

matic AWD Multidrive S H 28E £27,395 Invincible 2.2

D-4D AWD 6MT F 29E £28,195 Invincible 2.2 D-CAT

AWD 6AT I 29E £29,295

6 Motoring News

BOURNEMOUTH REVS UP FOR AN ADRENALINE FUELLED WHEELS FESTIVAL

CATERHAM SEVEN 160: THE UK’S MOST ECONOMICAL TWO-SEATER SPORTSCAR PREPARES TO START PRODUCTION

As Caterham Cars prepares to kick off production of

the Seven 160, the British sportscar maker has an‐

nounced ultra-frugal performance $gures for the entry

level version of the iconic Seven; making it not only the

most economical Seven in the company’s history but

also the most cost-effective two-seater sportscar on the

market*.

e newest model to join the ever-expanding Seven

range is powered by a super-compact, turbocharged

three-cylinder Suzuki engine, which enables it to

achieve an impressive 57.6mpg** and emit just 114g/

km CO2.

e combination of the car’s live-axle rear suspension,

efficient engine and ultra-low weight offer drivers the

unforgettable Caterham experience in the most afford‐

able package yet. Priced from £14,995 in component

form and £17,995 fully built, the Seven 160 can be

taxed for just £30 per year.

e Caterham Seven 160 focuses on unique charm and

handling ahead of pure power, bringing unrivalled lev‐

els of efficiency, fun and value for money to the budget

sportscar segment.

Producing 80hp from its 660cc engine and generating a

top speed of 100mph, the 160 will reach 0 – 62mph in a

swi 6.5 seconds.

Caterham Cars’ Chief Commercial Officer, David Rid‐

ley, said: “e 160 adds something truly different to the

existing Seven range, whilst staying true to our core val‐

ues of simplicity and purity.

“To achieve our performance criteria, we called on the

expertise of our engineering division, Caterham Tech‐

nology & Innovation (CTI). Our engineers carried out

signi$cant development work to $ne-tune the Suzuki

engine from its standard output of 64hp to 80hp and

ensure the engine, suspension and overall dynamics all

worked in harmony, whilst boosting fuel economy and

reducing emissions.”

In Europe and the rest of the world an altered, EU5-

compliant version called 165 is available. e number

$ve at the end of the EU spec car’s moniker signi$es

that the vehicle complies with the EU5 emissions stan‐

dards, allowing it to be sold across mainland Europe

and beyond.

Please visit http://www.caterhamcars.com or call 01883

333 700 for more information.

2014 sees Bournemouth welcome the inaugural Wheels

Festival to town from Saturday 24 May to Monday 26

May. Billed as the UK’s biggest free family Wheels

themed festival, it’s set to combine motion, power and

7Motoring News

FAMOUS LE MANS WINNER TAKES CENTRE STAGE WITH BENTLEY AT RÉTROMOBILE

Bentley Motors is delighted to announce that one of the

most famous cars in the marque’s history – the 3 Litre

that won Le Mans in 1924 with John Duff and Frank

Clement at the wheel – headlines the company’s pres‐

ence at the prestigious Rétromobile exhibition next

month (Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, Paris,

Hall1, Stand P48).

Now celebrating the 90th anniversary of its Le Mans

victory, this unique car was the $rst overseas winner of

the world’s greatest endurance race and started a period

of domination for Bentley in the 1920s as well as help‐

ing to establish the company’s reputation for creating

cars combining high-performance with outstanding

levels of durability.

Richard Charlesworth, Head of the Bentley Heritage

Collection, comments:

“is is a wonderful car to lead our presence at Rétro‐

mobile in Paris and we are particularly grateful to the

Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and Musée Auto‐

mobile de la Sarthe for their kind support. e car is

truly one of the great racing Bentleys and is part of this

marque’s unique association with France and motor

racing.”

Some nine decades later, Bentley’s connection with mo‐

torsport remains as strong and passionate as ever with

the new Continental GT3 race programme underway

and the company set to compete at Silverstone, Monza

and Paul Ricard later this year.

elegance into three days of high energy action across

Britain’s premier seaside town and seafront.

From beautiful historic classic cars and world-class

BMX stunts to Monster Truck shows and supercars

there will be something for everyone. e packed line-

up so far is planned to include show stopping arenas on

the beach, a cliff top demonstration course featuring

racing cars and bikes, pier jumps, displays, live enter‐

tainment, $reworks and much more.

rilling highlights in each arena include:

On the Cliff top

e East Cliff, overlooking the beach, will host a live ac‐

tion closed road demonstration course where visitors

can get close to the sights and sounds of racing cars,

sleek supercars and bikes in action. Plus, there will be

two parades each day as well as sideshows, trade stalls

and places to eat.

Town Centre and Meyrick Park

e town centre will be home to wheel themed displays,

the demonstration cars paddock area and a pre-war

vintage car display in the Pavilion car park.

Monday night sees the Wheels Night Ride! At the be‐

ginning and end of the evening the town centre be‐

comes a cycle circuit, where families have the chance to

join in with a fantastic celebration of cycling. ere will

be everything from a community ‘Bears on Bikes’ chari‐

ty ride, cycling races featuring top riders from around

the UK competing at speeds of over 40mph, and a

Nightglow ride, where families can dress their bikes

with glowing accessories and ride around the circuit

with hundreds of others at night.

Saturday and Sunday evenings will also see exciting pa‐

rades taking place around the town centre with a stun‐

ning selection of cars, bikes and much more.

And don’t miss the Classic Vehicle Pageant planned for

Meyrick Park, where hundreds of classic cars, bikes and

other vehicles will gather each day as part of the Wheels

Festival.

Beach

On the beach will be a chance to see incredible car

crushing shows and stunts in the Monster Truck arena.

Head to the Action Sports arena, situated near the pier,

and see Freestyle Motocross FMX experts performing

crazy stunts and jumps, and don’t miss Bournemouth’s

$rst ever pier jump attempts on Saturday and Sunday

evenings from 7pm to 8pm.

In the Military arena visitors can see Army and Navy

vehicles in spectacular shows and demonstrations, plus

there’s a funfair, shopping and food throughout the fes‐

tival.

Pier Approach and seafront

e excitement will continue on the beach and at Pier

Approach with freewheel stunts taking place featuring

expert BMX, skateboard, scooter and in-line skate per‐

formers. Here, visitors can get involved and learn how

to do the stunts themselves, see the cycle village, watch

sideshows, and enjoy the funfair. ere will also be car

and bike display park ups on the promenade through‐

out the weekend and $reworks at 10pm on Saturday

evening.

Family Wheels Zone

Bournemouth Gardens is set to become a Family

Wheels Zone - perfect for kids and adults alike. e

stunning Grade II Listed Victorian Gardens will pro‐

vide the perfect backdrop for toy cars, cycling displays,

have a go wheels activities and art displays.

Set to be an unmissable family event, stay tuned to hear

all the latest announcements by following us on Twitter

#wheelsfest, ‘liking’ Bournemouth Wheels Festival

F a c e b o o k p a g e o r v i s i t

bournemouthwheelsfestival.co.uk.

8 Motoring News

RADICAL VAUXHALL CONCEPT HERALDS FASTEST PRODUCTION ASTRA

NEW SPECIAL-EDITION VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK CANYON BOASTS RUGGED APPEAL

Volkswagen’s multi award-winning Amarok has always

challenged traditional pick-up conventions. And now

the new special-edition Amarok Canyon has powered

to the pinnacle of the range to offer new heights of per‐

formance, design and equipment. A limited number of

350 vehicles will be available to UK customers when the

Canyon goes on sale on 1 April.

From its specially developed high-shine styling bar to

the robust, colour-keyed under-ride guard, the Amarok

Canyon exceeds expectations in terms of technology,

engineering and style. Based on the popular Trendline

trim but boasting hi tech features as well as distinctive

rugged styling, the Amarok Canyon is packed with over

£8,500 worth of extra equipment including: satellite

navigation with a six-inch colour touchscreen,Blue‐

tooth, unique styling bars, 19” Cantera alloy wheels and

heated leather seats. Drivers also bene$t from front and

rear parking sensors, privacy glass, a protective coating

for the load area, a matt black roll cover, interior &oor

mats and high-gloss black side styling bars and rear

bumper.

e individual style of the Amarok Canyon continues

inside where the impressive interior features a combina‐

tion of Nappa and Vienna leather upholstery in two-

tone Moonrock (light grey) and Anthracite (dark grey).

A leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob with

sporty orange stitching adds to the Canyon’s unique ap‐

peal. When ordered in Copper Orange the air vent sur‐

rounds are matched to the vehicle’s exterior colour,

while on the Deep Black and Re&ex Silver models the

air vent surrounds feature Matt Chrome.

ose wishing to enhance further the look of this spe‐

cial-edition Amarok can add the optional roof light bar

for only £945 (ex. VAT).

e Amarok Canyon’s muscular appearance is matched

by the power that drives it. e Canyon comes with

Volkswagen’s top of the range 2.0-litre BiTDI 180 PS

engine, offering up to 420 Nm of torque and a maxi‐

mum towing capacity of up to 3,200 kg.

Customers can choose between a six-speed manual

with selectable 4MOTION® (50 vehicles available) or an

eight-speed auto with permanent 4MOTION® (300 ve‐

hicles available).

e automatic version boasts BlueMotion Technology

modi$cations, which include low rolling-resistance

tyres, and Start/Stop and regenerative braking systems

to provide greater economy and lower emissions.

e Amarok Canyon is available in three colours: Cop‐

per Orange, Re&ex Silver or Deep Black – with Indium

Grey foil lettering and Silver under ride guard.

Retail prices start from £28,990 (excluding VAT) for the

manual transmission and rise to £30,720 (excluding

VAT) for the automatic transmission. e Amarok

Canyon will go on sale on 1 April.

For full details of the Amarok Canyon, or to $nd your

nearest Volkswagen Van Centre, please visit www.volk‐

swagen-vans.co.uk, or call0800 717131. For the latest

updates follow Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles on

Twitter @Volkswagen_CV or Facebook: facebook.com/

VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK.

Amarok Canyon, technical speci!cation

Manual Automatic Engine 2.0 BiTDI

(bi-turbo with intercooler) 2.0 BiTDI

BlueMotion Technology

(bi-turbo with intercooler) Power (PS/rpm) 180 PS at

4,000 rpm Torque (Nm/rpm) 400 at 1,500-2,000 420 at

1,750 Number of gears 6 8 Top speed (mph) 111 108

0-62mph (seconds) 11.0 11.3 CO2 emissions (g/km)

216 215 Gross vehicle weight (kg) 3170 Unladen

weight (kg) 2,085 2,070 Payload (kg) 1,085 1,100 Axle

load limit front/rear (kg) 1,385/1,860 1,415/1,860

Towing limit (braked, kg) 3,000/750 3,200/750 Gross

train weight (kg) 5,550 5,950 Fuel economy (mpg):

Urban 29.1 31.0 Extra-urban 38.7 37.2 Combined 34.4

34.4

Vauxhall released the $rst official image of one of its

new Geneva show stars, the Astra VXR EXTREME,

which will be the basis for a future low-volume produc‐

tion run.

Derived from the last year’s Astra Cup race car that

competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Champi‐

onship, the EXTREME is the street-legal race sibling to

the current Astra VXR, which in standard form already

produces 280PS and 400Nm of torque.

But shorn of weight, thanks to liberal use of high-quali‐

ty carbon components, the EXTREME’s natural envi‐

ronment will be the race track. An integrated safety

structure, racing seats and six-point safety belts drives

home the point still further.

9Motoring News

UNIQUE MASERATI RACE FOR DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maserati, Motor

Racing Legends (MRL) and the Maserati Club UK are

staging a historic Maserati race at this year’s Donington

Historic Festival (May 3rd, 4th, 5th).

Running as a double header over two of the Festival’s

three days, the Maserati Centenary Trophy is for all

types of Maseratis and OSCAs built before 1966. is

means that the race will be open to all pre-’66 single-

seaters and sports cars, including all pre-War cars and

cars powered by Maserati or OSCA engines.

e Italian marque’s history in motorsport goes back to

1926 - 12 years aer its foundation in 1914 - when Al‐

$eri Maserati took his Tipo 26 to class victory in that

year's Targa Florio. is would be followed in 1927 by

Maserati winning the Italian constructors' title and Al‐

$eri’s brother Ernesto taking the Italian drivers' title. In

the subsequent decades, Maserati would drive into the

motorsport history books with a series of iconic models

and success in Grand Prix and sportscar racing, two

Indy 500 wins and victory in the 1957 Formula One

World Drivers’ Championship for Fangio in the 250F.

e EXTREME’s timing couldn’t be better, either, since

2014 marks ten years since the VXR brand was

launched in 2004. e Astra VXR is now the best-sell‐

ing VXR and the UK remains the largest market in Eu‐

rope for Vauxhall and Opel’s highest powered models.

More information about the Astra VXR EXTREME will

follow next month.

10 Motoring News

LINCOLN CONTINUES SUPPORT OF ARTS AS SIGNATURE SPONSOR OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

e Lincoln Motor Company announces today signa‐

ture sponsorship of the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival® in

New York City, April 16-27.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig

Hatkoff, the festival helps emerging and established

$lmmakers reach a broad, diverse and international au‐

dience.

“e creative and visionary participants of the Tribeca

Film Festival mirror Lincoln,” said Matt VanDyke, di‐

rector, global Lincoln. “Just as they are driving $lm in

new and exciting ways, Lincoln offers a fresh alternative

with its vehicles and client experience.

“We continue to support and encourage innovative

ideas and projects that echo the Lincoln brand’s passion

for the arts, design and thought leadership,” VanDyke

added. “With signature sponsorship of the Tribeca Film

Festival, Lincoln celebrates achievements in

$lmmaking.”

New for 2014 is Tribeca Interactive & Interlude: A Mu‐

sic Film Challenge, in collaboration with e Lincoln

Motor Company, a call for $lmmakers to create an in‐

teractive music $lm. is new initiative celebrates the

growing trends in $lmmaking and further extends the

festival experience online.

e Lincoln Motor Company will co-sponsor Tribeca

Film Festival’s popular Spotlight $lm section, which

showcases a mix of big names, bold talents on the rise,

highly anticipated new releases and festival favorites.

“We are proud to be partnering with an iconic global

brand like Lincoln,” said Jon Patricof, president, Tribeca

Enterprises. “Its involvement will help us further our

mission of supporting $lmmakers and bringing audi‐

ences the best in new independent storytelling.”

Lincoln’s support of Tribeca Film Festival builds upon

its leadership in recent initiatives involving the $lm in‐

dustry; in September, Lincoln worked with Vanity Fair

and Film Independent to create a series of original

short $lms reimagining classic Hollywood themes with

emerging $lmmakers.

Lincoln’s history in !lm

Lincoln has a longstanding relationship with $lms and

stars. In 1939, the $rst 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabri‐

olet, the top of the line for the Lincoln Zephyr range,

was presented by Edsel Ford to Mickey Rooney. Rooney

had played the title role in “Young Tom Edison,” which

was $lmed at Green$eld Village.

e 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II – widely ac‐

claimed as a milestone in American automotive design

– was the choice of such stars as Frank Sinatra and Elvis

Presley.

A notable example of the marque’s ties to Hollywood

could be seen at Lincoln’s stand at the 2012 Los Angeles

International Auto Show. A Lincoln built especially for

Elizabeth Taylor included bespoke paint and interior

that matched the color of the movie star’s eyes.

Lincoln Futura served as the basis for the Batmobile for

the 1960s movie and TV show, while a 1964 Lincoln

Continental played a key role at the end of the iconic

fraternity movie “Animal House.”\

Michael O'Shea, Racing Co-Ordinator for the Maserati

Club UK, said: “e Maserati Centenary Trophy is the

realisation of the Maserati Club UK’s ambition to hold

such a special race in Britain to celebrate 100 years of

Maserati. e challenge of marking this important oc‐

casion was taken up by Motor Racing Legends and the

venue will be the magni$cent Donington Park circuit

during the Donington Historic Festival.

“It is entirely appropriate that this celebration is held at

Donington Park because Maseratis have been racing

there since the circuit opened in the 1930s. Later the

track became the host to the annual Shell Ferrari

Maserati Challenge and now the cars will return from

all over Europe for the Donington Historic Festival. As

more and more of these valuable cars are consigned to

private collections and museums, this will be a rare op‐

portunity to see a grid of cars from the 1930s to the

1960s all powered by engines built by Maserati or

OSCA.”

Donington Historic Festival founder Duncan Wiltshire

said, “is will be a fantastic race for spectators and

drivers alike. To see a dedicated grid of historic models

such as the 8CM, 250F, A6GCS and 300S out on track

is something Festival visitors will never forget. It is par‐

ticularly pleasing that Motor Racing Legends is working

with the oldest Maserati club in the world to commem‐

orate the marque’s anniversary in this way. e Maserati

Club UK’s knowledge is an invaluable resource in or‐

ganising such an event.”

Advance tickets on sale

e Donington Historic Festival offers world-class his‐

toric motorsport at family-friendly prices, with advance

ticket discounts making the price of entry even more

friendly. Advance tickets cost £20 for a Saturday, Sun‐

day or Monday single day ticket, £32 for a Saturday +

Sunday or Sunday + Monday 2-day ticket and just £45

for a 3-day weekend ticket. On-the-gate prices will be

£25 for Saturday, Sunday or

Monday single day tickets, £40 for Saturday + Sunday

or Sunday + Monday 2-day tickets and £60 for the 3-

day weekend tickets. Kids aged 13 and under are admit‐

ted for free.

Advance discounted tickets can be bought via

www.doningtonhistoric.com and through the 24-hour

ticket hotline 0844 873 7355. Advance ticket sales close

at 5pm on Wednesday, April 30th 2014.

ere are also special discounts for members of car

clubs that have registered with the Festival, and car club

organisers are invited to register their club via the car

club section on the event’s website to allow their mem‐

bers to enjoy these bene$ts.

With close-fought racing every day, over 400 historic

racing cars spanning seven decades, historic rally car

and karting action and a ‘living motoring museum’ cre‐

ated by dozens of car clubs displays, plus a host of other

entertainment and attractions, exhilaration and enter‐

tainment is guaranteed on every day of the Festival.

To learn more about the Donington Historic Festival, or

t o p l a n y o u r v i s i t , p l e a s e s e e

www.doningtonhistoric.com.

11Motoring News

ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD FIRST ACCOLADE FOR KIA’S FORTHCOMING SOUL EV

RENAULT TO CELEBRATE THREE ANNIVERSARIES AT THE RETROMOBILE SHOW IN PARIS

As official vehicle of the 12-day Tribeca Film Festival,

$lmmakers, VIPs and special guests from around the

world will get to know the new Lincoln brand – fueled

by a focus on design, quality and personal service – as

they are transported in style and comfort to $lm pre‐

mieres and events throughout Manhattan.

RENAULT TO CELEBRATE THREE ANNIVER‐

SARIES AT THE RETROMOBILE SHOW, IN PARIS,

INCLUDING THE 50TH BIRTHDAY OF THE RE‐

NAULT 8 GORDINI

is year’s Rétromobile Show (February 5-9, Porte de

Versailles, Paris, France) will see Renault celebrate

three notable anniversaries:

• 100 years since Parisian taxis – in large part Re‐

nault Type AG1 models – were requisitioned by the

French Army to transport wartime troops from the

capital to the front of the First Battle of the Marne;

• e 50th anniversary of the Renault 8 Gordini,

the iconic car which made the joy of sporty motoring

an affordable reality for a whole generation;

• e 30th anniversary of the ground-breaking

Renault Espace.

Visitors to the 2014 Rétromobile Show (Salon Rétro‐

mobile) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in

Paris, France (February 5-9) will be able to admire the

following exhibits on Renault’s 700 sq. metre stand in

Hall 1 (1G64 stand):

• A recently-restored Renault Type AG1 taxi.

Kia Motors Corporation has announced that the com‐

pany’s new Soul EV (electric vehicle), which will have

its world premiere at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show

starting later this week, has achieved UL Environment

validation for bio-based organic carbon content for 10

per cent of its interior materials.

Various bio-based materials have been applied to the

Soul EV, such as bio degradable plastic, bio-foam and

bio-fabric. Unlike previous plastic materials that are

based from oils, bio-based materials are derived from

biomass, which is a photosynthate. Such modern bio‐

chemical technologies have replaced the majority of the

existing chemistry industry by offering an alternative

through development of new bio-materials.

e interior of Kia’s Soul EV includes various new ma‐

terials such as 10 per cent of bio-based plastic and anti-

bacterial substances. Moreover, Kia has used $ve newly

developed eco-friendly materials, including cellulose-

based plastic and thermoplastic elastomer fabric.

In order to receive the UL Environment claim valida‐

tion, Kia went through a meticulous document review

of the applied internal materials and onsite inspections

of Kia’s manufacturing sites. UL Environment granted

the validation to the Kia Soul EV for containing bio-

based plastic of 23.942kg and bio-based organic carbon

content of 10 per cent.

UL Environment presented Kia with validation badges

for:

1) Weight of bio-based plastic

2) Content ratio of bio-based organic carbon materials,

and

3) List of bio-based material application in the Kia Soul

EV.

is achievement for the Kia Soul EV re&ects the trend

of the electric car transitioning from its original criteria

of fuel efficiency and carbon emission to consideration

of its entire product life cycle, which covers manufac‐

turing, distribution and end-of-life recycling.

“We are proud that our Kia Soul EV has achieved both

the auto industry’s and the world’s $rst UL Environ‐

mental claim validation for its bio-based organic carbon

content for 10 per cent of its interior materials,” said

Jong-Dae Lim, Vice President of Material Development

Center of Hyundai-Kia R&D Center, Namyang, South

Korea.

“We will continue our efforts to develop cutting-edge

products that satisfy not only the evolving market, but

also customer needs” he added.

Stephen Hwang, President of UL Korea said: “Receiving

UL Environment’s claim validation for the Kia Soul EV

shows the company’s strenuous efforts in developing

cars with the environment in mind. UL Korea will con‐

tinue to support Kia as it builds its environmental lead‐

ership in the marketplace.”

UL Environment is the environmental business unit of

UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global independent

safety science company. Further details about their

work can be found at www.ul.com/environment

12 Motoring News

Published by Media Syrup Ltd

advertise@automotivepress.co.uk

• Five legendary Renault 8 Gordinis, including a

Type 1134, prepared by Renault’s competition depart‐

ment.

• e Espace saga, told through eight display vehi‐

cles from the original concept right up to the current-

day model, with a special space reserved for the ex‐

traordinary Espace F1.

e vehicles on display on the Renault stand in detail:

Marne Taxi: Renault Type AG1 (1909)

e $rst Parisian taxi, the Type AG found itself elevated

to fame during the First World War. In 1914, the Ger‐

man army marched upon Paris. In order to hold the en‐

emy back, it was necessary to despatch French troops to

the front – a task that fell to Paris’ plethora of taxis. Six

hundred of them were consequently called into service

to transport 3,000 men, which resulted in France win‐

ning the First Battle of the Marne and earned the vehi‐

cles their ‘Marne Taxi’ sobriquet.

e vehicle on display at the show has been restored es‐

pecially to mark this centenary.

Renault 8 Gordini:

Renault 8 Gordini (1970)

One of the most popular sporting models ever pro‐

duced by Renault is indisputably the Renault 8 Gordini,

which boasted a top speed of 175kph for an unrivalled

low price. Launched in 1964, this automotive icon

brought the joy of sporty driving to an entire

generation.

Renault 8 Gordini 1500 Twin Cam (1967) (private col‐

lection)

is Renault 8 Gordini is powered by a 1.5-litre engine

with a double overhead camsha, the same powerplant

that was used by a number of Alpine prototypes com‐

peting in the Le Mans 24 Hours. is particular model

is unique and once belonged to Amédée Gordini.

Renault 8 Gordini (1969)

Renault 8 Gordini shone in rallying from 1964, with an

extraordinary performance in the legendary ‘Tour de

Corse’ culminating in four cars placed inside the overall

top $ve, headed by winner Jean Vinatier. at impres‐

sive record of success continued all the way up until

1970. e model on show at the Rétromobile Show re‐

cently returned from the 2014 Rallye Monte-Carlo His‐

torique, where it competed as part of the Team Renault

Classic line-up.

Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134 (1965)

is Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134, prepared by

Renault’s competition department, has been restored to

contribute to the Renault 8 Gordini’s 50th anniversary

celebrations.

Ex-Michel Leclère Renault 8 Gordini (1969)

e original livery of this white car with an orange front

end was chosen by its $rst owner, Michel Leclère, who

piloted it to victory in the Pas Dunlop and second place

in the 1969 Coupe Gordini. Despite the passing of the

years and changes of ownership, this outstanding Gor‐

dini is totally original.

Renault Espace: Four generations on display to tell the

story of this model:

1984 – Espace I: Espace was $rst presented to the me‐

dia in April, before going on sale in July. e model’s

versatility took observers by surprise, with the $ve rear

seats all being removable and the front two revolving

when the vehicle was stationary to create an impromptu

living room. Renault introduced its slogan ‘Voitures à

Vivre’.

1991 – Espace II: e second-generation Espace of‐

fered more re$ned dynamics and soer lines. is time,

the modularity was even more versatile, with the rear

seats now mounted on fore/a rails. Mated to automatic

transmission, the V6 engine con$rmed Espace’s status

as a truly high-end model.

1996 – Espace III: e third generation saw Espace

grow in size, with a version that was 27cm longer still –

christened Grand Espace –added to the range in Jan‐

uary, 1998.

2002 – Espace IV: e current-generation Espace was

produced entirely by Renault at its Sandouville plant. Its

most signi$cant innovation was its bodywork, no

longer made from composite materials but from steel.

Other Espaces at the Rétromobile Show:

Renault Project 900 (1959)

Providing spacious interiors has always been at the very

forefront of Renault’s thinking. Responding to the re‐

quirement for better management of a vehicle’s cabin

space, Project 900 was too avant-garde to meet with any

great success – but Espace was not far around the cor‐

ner...

Matra Project P18 (1981) (Matra Museum collection)

Presented by Matra, this prototype would act as the ba‐

sis for the model given to Bernard Hanon by Philippe

Guédon in 1982. It led to the partnership between Re‐

nault and Matra for the design and production of Re‐

nault Espace.

Renault Espace I (1984) (private collection)

A pre-production vehicle built in October 1983, this car

carries the number 4, making it the oldest Espace

known to exist! Its owner, a former Matra employee,

states: “I am extremely proud to have played a part in

this adventure and to see, 30 years later, just how much

of a revolutionary vehicle Espace went on to be!”

Renault Espace F1 (1994)

is Espace F1 was designed to celebrate the Williams-

Renault team’s third consecutive Constructors’ crown in

the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship and the sixth

title for Renault’s V10. It went on display at the Paris

Motor Show in October 1994 and even acted as the

Safety Car at certain circuits.