Tag Archives: Rolls-Royce

Upgrade To These Top 10 Cars In 2019

If you are thinking about changing your car this year then you will be pleased to read that you have a great deal of choice as vehicle manufacturers are frequently introducing new models. Whether you are looking for an electric family saloon, a high performance two-seater sports car or a luxury vehicle you should not have any difficulty in finding one that suits you. Below we highlight what may be 10 of the top cars that you may wish to consider upgrading to in 2019.

 

Aston Martin Rapide S

This is a four door sports car that meets the exacting standards that you would expect from Aston Martin Rapide SAston Martin that has been manufacturing luxury vehicles for many years here in the UK. Both the exterior and interior are beautifully styled with top of the range materials being used.

It has an eight speed automatic gear box. The V12 5,935 cc engine produces 560 bhp and the car is capable of getting from 0 to 62 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds as it heads for a top speed of 203 mph. Of course, it comes with the unmistakable roar of an Aston Martin.

Prices from £152,749.

If you are thinking about buying an Aston Martin Rapide S or perhaps another model from the range available such as the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera insurance can be arranged through us here at AIB Insurance.

 

Audi A8

The Audi A8 is the German manufacturer’s top of the range family salon car for the discerning executive. As one would expect from this quality car builder it has been beautifully designed and comes with many features including comfortable Valcona leather seats, LED headlights and a fantastic audio and communication system The adaptive air suspension system makes for a particularly comfortable ride.

This is a nippy vehicle with its 335 bhp 3 litre V6 petrol engine propelling you from 0 to 62mph in a mere 5.6 seconds. There is also a diesel option.

Prices start from £69.995

 

Bentley Mulsanne

This is the flagship model of the luxury UK car manufacturer Bentley Motors. This handmade Bentleyvehicle has a choice of three combinations – Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed that provides a more dynamic drive and the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase that provides greater legroom.

The V8 6.75 litre twin turbo engine provides an incredible amount of power and the vehicle has wonderful road holding. 0 to 60 mph can be reached in 5.1 seconds and it has a top speed of 184 mph.

The interior personifies luxury in every way with comfortable leather seating and the infotainment system is top quality. You can even have the wood veneer created from a tree in your own garden.

Prices start from £229,360.

If you are considering purchasing a Bentley Mulsanne or buy Bentley Continental GT insurance can be arranged through ourselves.

 

BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 Series is a luxury family saloon car that is manufactured to exacting standards using the finest materials. It is also available as a long wheel based version providing extra room. There is also a hybrid version.

The interior provides a warm and inviting feel with delightful leather seating that is so comfortable to relax in.

The BMW 730d xDrive has a 6 cylinder twin turbo engine that produces 265bhp and powers the vehicle form 0 to 62 mph in just 6.1 seconds.

Prices from £69,445.

You can arrange insurance cover for the BMW 7 Series or get a competitive BMW M850i xDrive insurance price through us.

 

Jaguar I-Pace S

This is a stunning looking all electric SUV and, as all Jaguar cars are, is fitted out to a luxury Jaguarstandard. It comes with semi-powered sports front seats, LED headlights and a fantastic connectivity and sound system. There are a number of other models in the range.

You may be surprised to read that this electric vehicle is capable of powering you from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Prices start at £64,495

 

Maserati GranTurismo Sport

This Italian luxury sports coupe is beautifully crafted with elegant, sleek bodywork that can also be purchased as a soft top enabling you to enjoy the thrill of open-air motoring. Its interior is equally impressive with comfortable sports seats making long journeys a pleasure. Needless to say, the level of equipment is first class.

The exhilarating, powerful 460 bhp V8 4.7 litre engine will take you from 0 to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds producing the roar that discerning motorists have come to expect.

Prices start from £92,230

 

McLaren 600 LT

The name McLaren is associated with FI racing but the company also build road-specification McLarensports cars to an extremely high standard.

The McLaren 600 LT has a twin turbo 3.8 litre V8 engine producing 592 bhp that is capable of rocketing this vehicle from 0 to 62mph in a staggering 2.9 seconds so it is certainly not for the faint hearted.

It is of course beautifully designed both outside and inside but this really is a driver’s car with wonderful road holding.

Prices from £187,625

 

Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650

The Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650 is an exclusive saloon car built to exacting standards both in terms of coachwork and mechanically. The company is renowned for producing executive vehicles but this model goes to another level.

It has wonderfully comfy leather seats that make every journey a pleasure and a delightful wood finish. It features Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive and Dynamic Handling resulting in a relaxing trip.

It has a 5,980cc 12 cylinder engine producing 630 bhp. This vehicle powers from 0 to 62 mph in only 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph

Prices start at £175,875.

 

Range Rover Evoque

Range Rover is renowned for producing quality 4-wheel drive vehicles that perform as well onRange Rover the motorway as they do off-road. With its distinctive styling incorporating a falling roof to the rear it has become unmistakable on the road. It comes with all the refinements you would expect from this British car manufacturer.

It has a 1,999cc engine in either petrol or diesel capable of getting from 0 to 60mph in 9.9 seconds and has a top speed of 125mph.

Prices from £31,600.

 

Rolls-Royce Phantom

This luxury saloon car is a dream to drive and you and your passengers will do so in style and Rolls Roycecomfort. It is described as the quietest Rolls-Royce ever built and every one is unique to the owner.

Inside, it will not come as a surprise to read that the fixtures and fittings are of the highest standard with original wood paneling and delightful leather seating. It is one of the most luxurious cars in the world.

It has a powerful V12 6.7 litre engine that will accelerate smoothly from 0 to 100mph in around 12 seconds.

Prices from £362,000.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many makes and models of cars through our extensive panel of insurers. So, if you would like to obtain the likes of Aston Martin DBS Superleggera insurance, buy Bentley Continental GT insurance or obtain a BMW M850i xDrive insurance price feel free to call us on 02380 268 351 and speak with a friendly member of our team who will discuss your requirements in detail and arrange a no-obligation insurance quotation.

Variety Of Classic Cars Sold At Auction

Classic car enthusiasts may be interested to read about the auction of a number of classic vehicles that took place on the 17th October 2018 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. The event was run by H &H Classic Cars. Below we mention some of the cars that were sold but full details can be found on the H & H website.

AustinA 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 MK 11 that had an estimated price of £18,000 to £22,000 was actually sold for much more than that – it went for £30,375. This open soft top Colorado red sports car had been in the same ownership since 1969 and has only 38,457 miles on the clock making it a very low mileage vehicle. It has a 132 bhp engine and comes with 60-spoke wire wheels. It certainly looks fantastic.

A 1947 Lea-Francis 14hp Drophead Coupe had an estimated price of £9,000 to £11,000 Lea Francisbuactually sold for £14,625. This vintage vehicle only has 23,000 miles on the clock. It has a red leather hood and interior trim. It was once owned by the father of a well known pop star – Mike Maxfield.

Mercedes 300 SLA 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL had an estimated price of £14,000 to £18,000 but was sold for a figure of £20,250. It had been in the possession of the same owner for 16 years and had 86,295 miles on the clock. It has cream bodywork. It has a factory hard top with a rear seat option. It has a 2,962cc engine producing 187bhp and a top speed of around 130mph.

A 1960 BMW Isetta 300 had an estimated price of £14,000 to £16,000 but actually sold for Isetta£19,406. This is a four-wheeled bubble car with only 11,888 miles on the clock. It has had 4 owners. It only has a 298cc engine. It has a pale green bodywork. It looks delightful.

AlpineA 1953 Sunbeam Alpine had an estimated price of £10,000 to £12,000 but achieved a sale price of £15,468. The bodywork is a stunning red. This is a rare classic car with only 1,582 being built. It has 80,928 miles on the clock.

A 1935 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sedanca de Ville had an estimated sale price of £18,000 to £22,000 butRolls Royce was sold for £23,625. The bodywork is in black and the car is in need of some restoration work to bring it back to the standard you would expect to see such a vehicle in.

HillmanA 1929 Hillman 14 Tourer had an estimated sale price of £14,000 to £16,000 but achieved a sale price of £19,125. Its previous owner before being sold at the above auction had had the vehicle since 2000. It has a 1953cc engine. It has 4 seats and a soft top.

Rolls-Royce Planning To Manufacture Flying Taxi

Rolls-RoyceHere in the UK and in many other countries around the world, some of the roads are becoming so congested that it can prove difficult to get from A to B on time in a normal vehicle such as a car. This is a particular inconvenience if you are the owner of a business and need to get to an important meeting by a specific time that could have a negative financial impact if you do not arrive as scheduled.

Unfortunately, not many companies are able to afford to buy a helicopter to transport their senior executives a couple of hundred miles from one city to another or to get them from one side of London to the other for an important meeting with a potential new client.  Whilst taxi drivers do the best that they can to get people to their destinations and know many alternative routes, they sometimes cannot avoid the many traffic jams we encounter here in the UK almost on a daily basis.

Well, it sounds like Rolls-Royce that is renowned for building luxury cars and aircraft engines amongst other things is hoping to change all that. This is because the company is looking to build an aircraft that could, amongst other things, be used as a flying taxi.

It is an EVTOL that stands for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft and it is hoped that such a vehicle will be available for commercial use in the early to mid 2020s. The concept has been unveiled at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.

An M250 gas turbine is utilised to produce electricity that provides the power for six propulsion/lift motors. The wings will be able to rotate 90 degrees to allow for vertical landing and take off as well as forward propulsion. It is estimated that the vehicle could transport up to 5 people a distance of around 500 miles at a speed of up to 250 mph. So, with that sort of range, it could be used for trips in the UK and for getting to other European countries.

Potentially, the EVTOL could have many different uses in addition to providing a taxi service. For instance, it could be used by the military, on a personal basis, and for moving cargo.

We wish Rolls-Royce every success with this project and hope to see the EVTOL take to the skies in the not too distant future. We will keep you updated.

British Motorbike Sells For World Record At Auction

If you are a classic motorcycle enthusiast then you may well be aware that the Brough Superior  motorbike is known as the Rolls-Royce of such modes of transport. It is an extremely desirable, sought after motorcycle with only ten of the Brough Superior 750cc BS4 models being built of which only seven remain.Brough Superior 750cc BS4

Well, last year, eight Brough Superior motorcycles were discovered in a Cornish village. Apart from the BS4 model the collection also included the SS100, SS80 and the 11-50HP models. They were manufactured back in the 1920’s and 1930’s but these were in need of restoration having been found in barns either whole or in pieces and covered in dust.

The last owner of these classic bikes had owned them since the 1960s but he sadly passed away last year. It is believed that they have not been on the road for around 50 years.
The unrestored motorbikes recently came up for sale at a Bonhams auction of collectors’ motorbikes being described as “ The Broughs of Bodmin Moor”.

Brough Superior 750cc BS4 The 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 model was expected to fetch in the region of £80,000 to £120,000. Well, there was obviously so much interest in this bike that it eventually was sold to a bidder from Germany for £331,900. This is a world auction record not only for a motorbike manufactured in Britain but also for the Brough Superior model.

There were a number of other classic motorcycles sold at the auction some of which also broke world records.

If you are the proud owner of a vintage motorbike and the insurance for the vehicle is shortly coming up for renewal then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our experienced team who will gladly arrange to provide you with a classic motorcycle insurance quotation without any obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Will This Ever Become The World’s Largest Private Jet?

It is the time of year when a lot of families are travelling abroad on holiday to enjoy a week or two on a sun-drenched beach. The most popular mode of transport to take you their is, of course, a flight on a commercial airline such as with the likes of British Airways or easyJet.

AirbusThis is probably not the case if you are His Royal Highness Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia. He has a number of private jets to choose from. However, back in 2007 he ordered an Airbus A380 that had been used in test flights that would have made him the owner of the largest private jet in the world at that time. Double deck Airbus A380s are normally capable of transporting several hundred passengers many thousands of miles.

The 60-year-old businessman is reportedly worth in the region of £20 billion making him one of the richest people in the world. He also owns such things as a super yacht that is the 58th largest in the world at a length of 282 feet, many top of the range cars and a home in Saudi Arabia that has several hundred rooms. He has not done too badly for someone that reputedly started out in business with a loan of £191,000 and a gift from his father of £19,000.

Apparently, HRH Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal had intended to have the interior of the Airbus A380 designed and fitted out to his own exacting requirements. For instance, some had said that it might have been going to have a gold-rimmed dining table  that could seat 14 people who would possibly have enjoyed fine dining. There may have been an opulent lounge decked out in luxurious carpets. He may have relaxed in a Turkish bath finished in marble. There may have been an area set aside on the plane for when he wished to pray equipped with mats that would automatically move to face Mecca. There was even rumoured to be going to be space to accommodate a Rolls-Royce.Airbus

However, for some reason, it is reported that HRH some years later re-sold the plane without any of the fittings mentioned above being installed. Interestingly, earlier this year, the plane was reportedly in Toulouse not having been delivered to anyone and with no equipment installed for the use of passengers with Airbus owning the aircraft once again having decided to cancel the original order.

It will be interesting to hear if anyone else purchases this plane and turns it into the largest private jet in the world?