The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed boasted plenty of supercar action from brands like Rimac, Automobili Pagani and Aston Martin but Los Angeles-based performance automaker Czinger ended up stealing the headlines. Czinger’s 1350hp V8 hybrid 21C hypercar broke the Hillclimb record to procure the title of the fastest road-legal production car up the Hillclimb for itself. The Czinger 21C sprinted up the historic hill in a 48.82-second run, besting the previous 49.32-second record set in 2023. Veteran driver Chris Ward piloted the 21C hypercar which boasts the world’s most power-dense production engine, an in-house developed 950 bhp V8 twin-turbo, with three electric motors to deliver 1,350 horsepower. This allows the Czinger 21C to pull the 0-60mph sprint in 1.9 seconds.

Apart from the record-breaking hillclimb run, Czinger also showcased its 21C V Max in its stunning Iceman Blue specification at its stand within the Supercar Paddock. The Los-Angeles-based firm also exhibited its Bio-Logic alloy 3d Printed and carbon fibre 21C chassis for the first time with Founder and CEO Kevin Czinger, Chief Designer David O’Connell, and Chief Engineer Ewan Baldry in attendance to share insights on the same. Kevin Czinger, Founder and CEO said: “Our team had a wonderful experience at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, and breaking this record ends our fantastic week with an exclamation point. The 21C exists as proof of what is realised when the handcuffs of traditional manufacturing are removed and traded for the freedom to create, optimise, and perfect. Be on the lookout for more record shattering to come.”

British carmaker Bentley recently teased its plans of ditching the W12 engine and embedding its 771hp Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain in the new Flying Spur. And now, as the final W12-powered Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur cars roll off the production line at the company’s Dream Factory, Bentley held a celebratory event to commemorate its iconic W12 engine whose two-decade journey now comes to an end. Bentley hosted a special lunch for the W12’s assembly line and R&D teams at Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe where attendees were presented with a W12 engine piston commemorative gift to cherish the legacy. Additionally, as a final swansong, Bentley announced a limited run of 120 ‘Speed Edition 12’ models for Bentayga, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur. All Speed Edition 12 cars will feature Edition 12 badging, treadplates, seat embroidery, fascia inlays, and numbered engine plaques.

Over 100,000 W12 engines were produced by Bentley with the 2003 Continental GT being the first model to get equipped with it. The decision to axe the W12 boils down to Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy, which is aimed towards ensuring the company becomes a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility. Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, said: 
“The W12 has played such an important role in the history of Bentley that it was only right for us to celebrate the engine’s retirement with those linked to this powerplant. The engine’s introduction helped change the face of the company almost overnight and so will go down in history as a true game changer and we should feel very proud to have designed, developed and manufactured such an icon in Britain for such a long period of time.” 

High-performance super SUVs appear to be a norm being followed by almost every legacy carmaker in the 21st century. BMW joined the bandwagon with the launch of the XM SUV in 2022 with a 644hp power plant. Soon after, BMW followed it up with the launch of the 738hp XM Red Label, the most powerful BMW production car. For Swiss tuning firm dAHLer, even the sub 800 hp doesn’t reflect the best output out of the XM, which influenced the tuner to come with its own 848 hp BMW XM with Competition Line upgrades. Modifications made by dAHLer boost the power figures by 100 hp and 100 Nm torques over the Red Label trim to now produce 848 hp and 1,100 Nm torques. The modifications, comprising the optional sports exhaust system with bi-flap control, a lowered sports suspension setup, and ground clearance reduced by 25mm, are fully legal, comply with WLTP and Euro 6d standards, and come with EU/CH homologation approval. Cosmetically, the XM Red Label with dAHLer Competition Line upgrades is said to boast red contrast and accent elements along the wheel wells which now house the in-house developed ultra-lightweight CDC2 Forged 23-inch rims.

Autonomous mobility in the UAE shall witness a rise in the coming months as Bayanat, a leading provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions, declares its intention to enter into a joint venture partnership with South Korean autonomous technology firm, Autonomous a2z. This joint venture will focus on the development and deployment of autonomous solutions and systems across the UAE and the wider MENA region. For the layman, the benefits of this partnership could result in the emergence of a network of autonomous vehicles that can seamlessly carry passengers between inner-city hubs such as Abu Dhabi airport, the capital’s major tourist attractions and other expansive areas. The inaugural DRIFTx event in Abu Dhabi earlier this year already saw both brands officially confirm the commencement of the partnership by displaying a live demonstration of their autonomous capabilities comprising a vehicle 7,000 kilometres away in South Korea being safely teleoperated from the Bayanat Pavilion in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The announcement of this partnership comes at an opportune time as Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, recently issued a resolution to establish the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) that’s aimed to drive the development and integration of autonomous systems across various sectors beyond vehicles in the UAE.

Two legacy British brands join hands as Arsenal Football Club appoints MG Motor as its “official automotive partner”. MG Middle East announced the regional commencement of the three-year partnership with Arsenal Football Club starting July 2024 in the Middle East to boost the brand’s visibility on a global scale. As the Official automotive partner of Arsenal Football Club, MG Motor will support both men’s and women’s football teams with a proud and prominent showcase of the brand at Emirates Stadium and Meadow Park. The partnership will see both brands collaborate in promotion activities, content creation and marketing strategies to boost both brand’s visibility and create a stronger connection with fans globally. Tom Lee, Managing Director of MG Motor Middle East, commented: “ At MG, we take a strategic and thorough approach to partnerships both regionally and globally. Partnering with Arsenal Football Club, with its rich history, success, and growing popularity, especially in the Middle East, is a natural fit. Our shared vision for innovation, quality, and exceptional customer experience aligns seamlessly with Arsenal’s values. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this collaboration presents and look forward to a prosperous future together.”

British carmaker Bentley is all set to launch the most powerful, most dynamic and most efficient four-door car in its 105-year history – the Bentley Flying Spur with the Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. Already doing duty in the recently unveiled Continental GT Speed, the new performance-focussed 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain will put out 771 hp and 1000 Nm torques. The engine is accompanied by a compact electric motor which allows this luxury performance sedan to be driven without any emissions or exhaust note for at least 72 kms or 45 miles and boosts the overall range of the car to an excess of 800 kms or 500 miles. ‘Electrocharging’ is what Bentley calls this combination of electric power with the twin-turbocharger setup with the power output receiving a bump of 150hp and 100Nm torques over the W12 engine in the Flying Spur Speed being sold currently.

June 2024 witnessed the official launch of the all-new Morgan Plus Four in the Middle East with Adamas Motor Group, the exclusive Retail Partner of Morgan Motor Company in the UAE and Bahrain. The launch also hosted a Best of British Charity Auction with five bespoke prints slated to go under the hammer, each inspired by Morgan’s rich history. Now, Adamas Motor Group announced the successful conclusion of its Best of British Charity Auction with all five prints crafted by British artist Jim Wheat collectively raising AED 126,500. The entire amount has been donated to Emirates Red Crescent to support orphans in need across the region. The handover ceremony, held at Adamas Motor Group’s Dubai showroom, was attended by key representatives from Emirates Red Crescent, along with Edward Hobart, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. “The Best of British Charity Auction has been a wonderful showcase of the enduring spirit of British generosity and the exquisite craftsmanship that defines many successful British businesses. I am delighted to see Adamas Motor Group supporting such a noble cause and commend their efforts in celebrating British motoring heritage while aiding those most in need”, commented Edward Hobart, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.