Motoring: Land Rover Classic; Porsche; Mazda MX-5 RF

THE classic Land Rover Defender may be dead but its spirit lives on and the manufacturer has recognised this.

So to keep its legion of fans happy, Land Rover Classic has opened the doors to its new Reborn Tour, which gives visitors the chance to experience the restoration of an early Land Rover live at a bespoke workshop and facility at the vehicle’s former production base in Solihull.

The Reborn Tour and Driving Experience begins with a welcome from an experienced and knowledgeable Land Rover tour guide. With the scene set, visitors are granted exclusive access to the newly updated Jaguar Land Rover Classic workshop at Solihull where the Series I Reborn restoration project continues.

Visitors have access into the newly upgraded facility so they can admire the full capability of the Classic Workshop where skilled technicians carefully restore cherished Land Rovers to their former glory.

Those attending the Reborn Tour will gain a unique and fascinating insight into Jaguar Land Rover’s history at the Lode Lane plant, plus the 1940s production techniques used to build the first generation vehicles, together with a wealth of fascinating stories surrounding the 67-year history of Land Rover from the 1948 Series I to the Defender, which ceased production earlier this year.

Last year more than 10,000 visitors saw the final year of Defender production as part of the Defender Celebration Tour and now this new exhibit has been relocated alongside the Classic Workshop at Solihull to add a new dimension to the Land Rover heritage.

Following the workshop tour, guests have the opportunity to experience a piece of history for themselves by getting behind the wheel of a Defender with a trained and experienced instructor. This allows participants to put the British automotive icon through its paces on the famous off-road tracks and swamps used to test the vehicles down the years.

Despite axing the Defender in January – its death brought about because of tougher emissions regulations – the company has been keen to keep its memory alive so the Reborn programme was introduced.

This has seen specialists from the Land Rover Classic team draw on decades-worth of experience to hand-pick Series I chassis from the brand’s global network. Each model undergoes a complete restoration according to original 1948 factory specification and using Land Rover Classic Parts to preserve full authenticity. This includes the choice of five period finishes including Light Green, Bronze Green, RAF Blue, Dove Grey and Poppy Red.

Customers are able to select their preferred base vehicle with the help and guidance of Land Rover Classic’s experienced restoration team, and they will be able to follow the restoration of the Series I vehicle from start to finish at Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic forms part of the business’s Special Operations division. The division’s aim is to nurture the passion for the brand through its owners and to preserve the bloodline only the best cars and original parts are used in the restroration projects.

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Porsche enthusiasts will be making a beeline to the home of the British Grand Prix tomorrow (Saturday) where more than 60 of the brand’s classics will be going under the hammer at a special auction.

The event marks the second Porsche Sale conducted by Silverstone Auctions in conjunction with Porsche Club GB.

Headlining the sale is an example of what is possibly the best supercar of the 2000s, a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, estimated at between £440,000 and £480,000. Delivered new by main dealer Champion Porsche of Pompano Beach, Florida, the car was imported to the UK in 2009.

Those after an early 911 might be tempted by a very rare 1968 Porsche 911 ‘T’ SWB (pictured), estimated at between £85,000 and £100,000. The right-hand drive car has been expertly restored and has had just one owner since 1988.

Previously owned by Porsche enthusiasts and Porsche Club GB members, a 1975 Porsche 911 2.7 MFi Carrera Targa, one of just six UK supplied cars, is estimated at between £130,000 and £160,000.

The Carrera comes complete with its 1975 driver’s manual and service directory booklet in the original documents folder. A complete tool kit with jack and period-correct air compressor is included in the sale.

Some of the newest cars in the sale include a 2010 Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS – Gen II, finished in the distinctive colour combination of Carrera White with Red wheels and decals, which is estimated at between £135,000 and £155,000.

A 2008 Porsche 911 (997) GT2 with low mileage has a sale estimate of between £130,000 and £150,000.

This year marks 40 years of transaxle Porsches and the sale features an example of every front engined Porsche ever made. Possibly the best available, a show-winning 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S, is estimated at £35,000 to £40,000.

A 1981 Porsche 924, hidden away for the last 20 years, is estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000, while a rare manual 1991 Porsche 928 GT is estimated at between £22,000 and £27,000 and an original UK supplied 1993 Porsche 968 Clubsport is estimated at between £25,000 and £30,000.

Those looking for their next project could take home a 1971 Porsche 911 S 2.2 Coupé, offered at auction with a sale estimate of £55,000 to £65,000. Slumbering in the West Country for decades, the car has been recently re-discovered in a dry lock-up garage.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “We’re huge fans of Porsche so we were honoured back in early 2015 when Porsche Club GB approached us to host a very special auction, our first ever marque specific sale, and it’s a delight to be back again this year.”

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Mazda has announced that its all-new MX-5 RF Retractable Fastback will go on sale in the UK from next March.

With a limited run of just 500 cars, the six model range will be heralded by the flagship Launch Edition. Powered by a 160ps 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G engine, the Launch Edition is marked out by its unique twin-tone roof, BBS wheels, black door mirrors and black rear spoiler.

Available with a choice of free-of-charge Soul Red or Machine Grey metallic paint, it also comes with a Safety Pack as standard, while the exclusive feel continues inside with Alcantara trim and Recaro seats.

Designed to offer a new dimension of open-top driving while at the same time staying true to the spirit of the best-selling MX5, the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF’s ‘fastback’ styling is intended to give drivers the best of both worlds by giving them the option of having an open roof or not.

As with the established Mazda MX-5 convertible, all models powered by the 2.0-litre 160ps engine feature a limited slip differential and 17-inch wheels; while Sport Nav models (and the Launch Edition) feature Bilstein dampers and strut brace to further enhance their dynamic set up.

Plus, with the introduction of the £27,095 Sport Nav Auto, the current generation of MX-5 is offered with an automatic gearbox for the first time in the UK. Offered in both SE-L Nav and Sport Nav trim, RF’s powered by the 1.5-litre 131ps engine will arrive in dealerships in May.

“With the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF we freed ourselves from traditional ways of thinking and took on fresh challenges in order to create something new. Our aim was a convertible sports car with gorgeous fastback lines when the roof is closed and an exhilarating open-air feeling when open,” said Nobuhiro Yamamoto, programme manager of the Mazda MX-5.

The MX-5 RF’s retractable hardtop consists of front, middle and rear roof sections, and a rear screen. When the top is lowered the front and middle portions are stowed together, while the rear glass sits behind the seats, leaving the rear roof section in place to create a unique open-topped look, and a cabin feeling that combines a sense of open air freedom with the impression of being securely ensconced within the car.

On the Launch Edition the front and middle roof sections feature a piano black finish that contrasts with the Soul Red or Machine Grey metallic paint, which both use Mazda’s unique Takuminuri paint process to deliver glossy depth and nuanced shading.

“If we consider the convertible model to represent the purist of lightweight sports car appeal, the new Retractable Fastback epitomises a new type of MX-5 that aims to be a compact sports car with a natural charm that everyone will find beautiful,” added MX-5 chief designer Masashi Nakayama.
 
The all-new Mazda MX-5 RF will arrive in UK dealerships on March 4, 2017.

Mazda MX-5 RF pricing

Mazda MX-5 RF 1.5 131ps SE-L Nav    £22,195              
Mazda MX-5 RF 1.5 131ps Sport Nav    £24,795             
Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 160ps SE-L Nav    £23,095              
Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 160ps Sport Nav    £25,695              
Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 160ps Sport Nav Auto    £27,095              
Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 160ps Launch Edition    £28,995