McLaren Elva Gulf Theme by MSO debuts at this years Goodwood SpeedWeek as a celebration of the brands partnership with Gulf Oil.
McLaren Elva Gulf Theme by MSO. Credit: McLaren Automotive
This year luxury supercar maker McLaren debuted the Elva Gulf Theme by MSO roadster for the first time at the Goodwood Speedweek, held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in the UK.
Commissioned by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), McLaren’s in-house bespoke division, the iconic blue and orange livery represents a celebration of the renewed relationship between McLaren and the Gulf Oil brand.
The two-seater roadster in the iconic blue and orange livery. Credit: McLaren Automotive
The new partnership confirmed earlier this year renews a historic union between the two brands that originated in the 1960’s and saw the Gulf branding appear on McLaren’s Can-Am, Formula 1, and Indy cars from 1968 through to 1973 and later again on the McLaren F1 GTR’s run by customer team GTC at races like Le Mans.
Inspired by the Gulf Oil partnership from the 1960’s. Credit: McLaren Automotive
Under the new partnership, McLaren Automotive customers will have the opportunity to commission Gulf-liveried cars directly from MSO (following on from a few special editions inspired by the famous facing livery including the McLaren Senna GTR LM paying homage to the #24 McLaren F1 GTR that finished fourth in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans).
Designed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). Credit: McLaren Automotive
“The McLaren Elva Gulf Theme by MSO is a striking celebration of both McLaren’s history in sports car racing and our new partnership with Gulf Oil,” explained Ansar Ali, McLaren Special Operations Managing Director. “McLaren Special Operations is committed to pushing the boundaries of the ‘art of the possible’ and projects like this showcase the increasingly extensive range of personalisation options we can offer customers – in this case, enhancing the authenticity of the livery by incorporating Gulf brand logos into the design.”
The Gulf Oil livery will be available to customers upon request. Credit: McLaren Automotive
The Elva, which follows the McLaren P1TM, McLaren Senna, and Speedtail in McLaren’s Ultimate Series, links McLaren’s heritage to its present and future with a name and style that recalls the McLaren-Elva sports racers of the 1960s. These were among the first sports cars designed and raced by Bruce McLaren and the company he founded.
One of the last Bugatti Divo’s to be delivered has been dubbed “Lady Bug” and features a geometric fading pattern across the bodywork.
The new Bugatti Divo Lady Bug. Credit: Bugatti
When it was first introduced in 2018, the Bugatti Divo was already one of the world’s most in-demand hypercars, with only 40 vehicles available worldwide.
1600 diamond-shapes across the bodywork outlined in “Graphite”. Credit: Bugatti
Not long after its launch, a USA-based collector known as @officialbugattihellbee placed an order for a special Divo “Lady Bug” that would feature an eye-catching geometric fading design across the “Customer Special Red” bodywork.
Took almost two years to perfect the diamond design. Credit: Bugatti
At the beginning of the project, no one could have envisioned the project’s complexity and just how difficult it would prove to paint the diamonds onto the vehicle without distorting the design.
What now appears as a flawlessly designed Bugatti Divo ended up taking almost two years to create as the CAD modelers, and production team worked to perfect the design of the 1,600 diamond shapes across the contours, curves, and ribs of the Divo “Lady Bug.”
“The ‘Lady Bug’ was an exceptional challenge and at the same time an unforgettable experience. Due to the nature of the project, where a 2D graphic was applied to a 3D sculpture, and after numerous failed ideas and attempts to apply the diamonds, we were close to giving up and saying: ‘We cannot meet the customer’s request’,” explains Jörg Grumer, Head of Color & Trim at Bugatti Design. “However, it is our profound conviction that we should never give up and that our foremost motivation should always be to make the impossible possible for the customer. We are proud of the expertise we applied in creating this Divo: a high quality and complex product based on pure craftsmanship and outstanding teamwork between design and development.”
Once the CAD team had completed the exterior graphic design of the Lady Bug, the application onto the bodywork was relatively smooth, with employees completing the process over a few days.
“The thought of this project becoming a reality was not only exciting but a dream of mine,” shared the owner.” I was absolutely floored upon delivery. Working with the Bugatti design team on the Lady Bug’s production was an exceptional experience, not only in the true dedication to the flawless execution of the one of a kind design but also in the dedication at all levels involved in the final presentation of the vehicle. Not only is the vehicle a true masterpiece and work of art, but it is the true height of my collection to date and the most intricate and well developed vehicle I have owned. This is true because the team at Bugatti are truly masters of their craft and only work at the highest level of detail in each masterpiece they produce.”
The new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is the electric shooting-brake model designed to be taken off-road.
The new 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Credit: Porsche
Porsche has revealed the new electric off-road model of the Taycan range known as the “Taycan Cross Turismo” – further strengthening Porche’s commitment to an electric future.
“We see ourselves as pioneers of sustainable mobility: by 2025, half of all the new vehicles we will deliver will have an electrified drive – either fully electric or plug-in hybrid,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG at the world premiere. “In 2020, one in three of all vehicles we delivered in Europe had an electric powertrain. The future belongs to electric mobility. With the Taycan Cross Turismo, we’re taking another major step in this direction.”
Porsche predicts 50% of all their vehicles will have an electric drive. Credit: Porsche
Featuring a new high-tech chassis with an all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, and a greater load capacity, the Taycan Cross Turismo has been tweaked for an all-around improved off-road experience. Other modifications include a redesigned interior with more headroom for rear-seat passengers, higher ground clearance, and a new bike carrier design that allows the tailgate to be opened even when the bike rack is loaded.
New high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension and greater load capacity. Credit: Porsche
The new Cross Turismo also comes with “Gravel Mode” for better handling on rough roads, and owners can choose to upgrade to the optional “Off-Road package,” which increases the ground clearance by up to 30mm for more extreme terrain.
The new Taycan Cross Turismo will come in 4 variants:
The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo
With 280 kW (380 PS; CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km, Electricity consumption combined 28.1 kwh/100 km)
Overboost power for Launch Control 350 kW (476 PS)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 5.1 seconds
Top speed 220 km/h (136mph)
Range (WLTP) 389 – 456 km
The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
With 360 kW (490 PS; CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km, Electricity consumption combined 28.1 kwh/100 km)
Overboost power with Launch Control 420 kW (571 PS)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 4.1 seconds
Top speed 240 km/h (149mph)
Range (WLTP) 388 – 452 km
The Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo
With 460 kW (625 PS; CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km, Electricity consumption combined 28.7 kwh/100 km)
Overboost power with Launch Control 500 kW (680 PS)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 3.3 seconds
Top speed 250 km/h (155mph)
Range (WLTP) 395 – 452 km
The Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
With 460 kW (625 PS; CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km, Electricity consumption combined 29.4 kwh/100 km)
Overboost power with Launch Control 560 kW (761 PS)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 2.9 seconds
Top speed 250 km/h (155mph)
Range (WLTP) 388 – 419 km.
The Performance Battery Plus, which has a total capacity of 93.4 kWh, is always fitted as standard.
Prices for the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo start at US$90,000 and will be available from dealerships this summer.
American artist Richard Phillips and Porsche have collaborated on the new Porsche Taycan 4S “Artcar” that will be auctioned for charity.
Porsche Taycan 4S “Artcar” designed by artist Richard Phillips. Credit: RM Sothebys
A new artistic Porsche Taycan 4S created in collaboration with American artist Richard Phillips will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s to raise funds for Swiss non-profit Suisseculter Sociale, helping to support artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s to raise funds for Suisseculter Sociale. Credit: RM Sothebys
Based on Phillips’s 2010 large-scale painting “Queen of the Night” inspired by Swiss landscape artist Adolf Dietrich’s work, the art wrap features large three-dimensional elements of the floral blooms, blue skies, and butterflies across the body of the Taycan 4S.
Based on Richard Phillips “Queen of the Night” artwork. Credit: RM Sothebys
“The Queen of the Night livery culminates at the rear of the car with its namesake blossom wrapping completely around the bumper while being dramatically lit up by the Taycan’s signature horizontal light bar,” explains Phillips. “Conceptually, my Queen of the Night livery takes into consideration that the design of the Taycan is an instant icon of electric mobility and speed.
Bold florals form the artwork wrap around the electric Taycan 4S. Credit: RM Sothebys
“Its lines and form are that of the artists and designers at Porsche who strove to communicate this feeling at first sight. I greatly respect this objective. The choice to work with my Dietrich-inspired painting was to reference the natural environment with its beauty and composition reimagined in concert with the sweeping gestures of the Taycan. Dietrich’s intimate relationship to the landscape was more than mere representation of the environment around him. It was to communicate the soul of Switzerland and Lake Constance. His art is universally recognized for this, and is something that I have been deeply moved by.”
Painted at a live event at Porsche partner pop-up restaurant. Credit: RM Sothebys
Created at a live event at Porsche partner pop-up restaurant “Leuehof” in Zurich, the electric Porsche Taycan 4S Artcar was initially displayed in the culinary art space of the restaurant until COVID-19 regulations forced the closure of the restaurant in December 2020.
With the restaurant remaining closed due to the pandemic, the Porsche Taycan 4S Artcar will now make a series of appearances at various Porsche Centers in Switzerland before the online auction at www.rmsothebys.com that will run from April 6 – 13, 2021.
To ensure the full amount of the auction proceeds will go to charity, artist Richard Phillips, auction house RM Sotheby’s, and Porsche Schweiz AG have all agreed to forgo fees and commissions so that Suisseculture Sociale can distribute funds to hardship cases who would not be otherwise eligible for assistance.