The hotly anticipated Geneva Motor Show, which was to be held last week, was in the end cancelled due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. “But that didn’t stop many manufacturers from showing their exciting new vehicles online, [with] several companies livestreaming launches,” says Motor1.com. The list of new launches included electric superminis and 1,700bhp hypercars from Koenigsegg, “and everything in-between”.
One of the stars of the show that never happened was Aston Martin’s new V12 Speedster. “Paying more for less is a well-established mantra in the car business” and this car is no exception, says Jason Barlow in GQ. Ferrari reworked the no-roof/almost-no-windscreen concept with its limited-run SP1 and 2 cars, and McLaren did something similar with the Elva. Now we can add Aston Martin’s Speedster “to billionaire’s row”. Look under the bonnet and you will discover the “full-fat 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 used in the DB11 and DBS Superleggera”, says Ollie Kew in Top Gear magazine. That’s a little “like putting a cruise-ship engine in a pedalo”. Nevertheless, you can expect 691bhp from this set-up, “which is a mighty total for a car that’s about as well-protected from the elements as a Himalayan goat herder”. Just 88 will be made, each costing £765,000.
That makes the Speedster a bargain compared with the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar, which is twice as expensive. Not that that put off any of its buyers: all of the 12 cars made have been snapped up. Built for Bentley under the auspices of its coachbuilding division, Mulliner, the Bacalar boasts personal touches such as bespoke doors and dashboards. “I love the bold haunches, an exaggerated treatment of the rear wheel arch that has been a Bentley design trope since the gorgeous R-type Continental of the early 50s,” says Paul Hudson in The Daily Telegraph. The Bacalar packs a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Expect more bespoke Bentleys in the near future.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
Why you should not sell in MaySell in May is a strategy commonly applied to avoid poor returns - but does the theory still stand strong in 2024 or is it simply a fool's game, says Kalpana Fitzpatrick
-
Which region will see biggest house prices growth by 2028? What the latest Savills forecast saysNews House prices could see a turnaround over the next five years, according to Savills, as mortgage rates and cost of living pressures ease
-
A South African adventureReviews From buzzy Johannesburg to big game drives, South Africa has it all, says Katie Monk
-
Villa Gaia Rock: perfect harmony in CorfuReviews Blend in with your surroundings at the new Villa Gaia Rock in Corfu.
-
Indulge your wild side with a safari in deepest KentReviews Get up close to the animals at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, says Matthew Partridge
-
Two stunning Sicilian villasReviews There is so much to see in Sicily, says Chris Carter. Villa stays allow you to take it all in.
-
Wine of the week: New Zealand’s finest “white” pinot noirReviews Act without delay to secure this enchanting Kiwi white – there is nothing like it on earth
-
Wine of the week: A work of art from ProvenceReviews This wine soars above all others with its grace, refinement and impressively long finish
-
Ellenborough Park: a winning country house hotelReviews Come to Ellenborough Park for the horse racing, stay for the fine dining, says Matthew Partridge
-
The Lygon Arms: a Cotswolds hotel full of historyReviews The Lygon Arms in Broadway is such an impressive hotel that some people never want to leave, says Matthew Partridge.
