What Men and Women look for in Luxury Car Hire

We all know that men and women don’t generally agree on most things and it seems it is no different when it comes to the perfect luxury car hire.

Surprise surprise when it comes to hiring a car, men want to be in the driver’s seat more than women do, and they want a luxury sports car that can ferry them to their destination in style.

A survey has found that 80 per cent of men prefer to drive when they hire a car while on holiday, compared to just over a fifth of women (22 per cent).

Not only that but when it comes down to choosing the car to hire ideas of the ‘perfect’ car hire differ greatly.

In the survey conducted by travel search website Skyscanner, almost a fifth of men said they would prefer to drive a sporty Aston Martin or Jaguar, compared to just 12 per cent of women.

The top choice for women (40 per cent) was larger sport utility vehicles – Range Rovers or Jeeps – in contrast to just 28 per cent of men.

Luxury Range Rovers proved to be popular as they were voted the top car brand with one in four of those surveyed, while the Mini Cooper was one of the least popular with just two per cent of the vote, said Skyscanner.

The survey found out what British holidaymakers are looking for in their ‘perfect’ car hire.

As for the most important features, air conditioning was a clear winner with 39 per cent of the vote, although cost-savvy Brits ranked fuel efficiency highly with almost a quarter of respondents considering it their ‘must have’ option.

Four times as many men than women rated a convertible roof as the most important feature, while twice as many women want a coffee maker.

But when it comes to ‘dream’ features, laid-back Brits appear to want to take it easy, as 27 per cent say they want the option of a hands-free auto pilot.

Three options – in-car wifi, a seat massager and an amphibious car – were in a three-way tie with 13 per cent of the vote.

Rounding out the top five was the option of a fridge (12 per cent) to store drinks and snacks.

Even though long road trips can be stressful for couples and lead to rows, an ejector seat was the least popular option (one per cent).

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2854829/Men-want-sports-car-women-want-large-SUV-Infographic-reveals-British-holidaymakers-looking-perfect-car-hire.html#ixzz3KkQuqIGh
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Take a Look at The New Bentley Mulsanne Speed

This is the new Bentley Mulsanne Speed and has it has been confirmed as the the fastest luxury saloon in the world.

This is the sportier version of the Mulsanne model has been tweaked in all sort of different directions to be a good 15 per cent more responsive for whoever is lucky enough to climb behind the wheel.

Of the 1100 or so Mulsannes that Bentley will make and sell over the next 12 months, approximately 300 will be the more expensive, more sporting, £252,000 Speed model.

Interestingly, Bentley also expects the vast majority of Speed sales to occur in Europe and the USA, not in China. This is despite that fact that the Far East has been the biggest single market for the Mulsanne for the past few years.

So what do your get for your additional £25,000 beyond the price of the regular Mulsanne? The biggest changes occur beneath the bonnet, where the twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine lies.

This leviathan of a motor has been thoroughly revised at the top end to produce and extra 25bhp, making 530bhp in total. Which doesn’t sound all that significant until you realise what’s happened to the torque peak, and to the way the torque is delivered.

Maximum pulling power has risen from 752lb ft to a vaguely terrifying 811lb ft – but of arguably more significance is the fact that this peak figure now registers at just 1750rpm, and it stays pretty much flat between there and 4200rpm. The previous engine’s peak figure wasn’t attained until 2250rpm, and in that case it really was a peak.

In reality, then, the Speed should feel much torquier and, therefore, be much faster than the Mulsanne, hence the reason why Bentley now quotes some fairly hair-raising acceleration figures for the car. Zero to 60mph takes a mere 4.8sec, zero to 100mph 11.1sec, and the top speed is a deliciously irrelevant 190mph. This has enabled Bentley to claim that the Mulsanne Speed is ‘The fastest luxury saloon in the world.’

Quite what owners of a Mercedes S63 AMG would make of such a claim isn’t clear but, either way, the Speed is an indecently rapid machine considering it mauls the scales at a fulsome 2685kg.

Not only is the engine more potent but, as is the requirement nowadays from all cars, from all creeds, it’s also cleaner and more efficient than before. Emissions and economy have both been improved by around 13 per cent. In the real world Bentley claims the Speed is 2-3mpg less thirsty than a regular Mulsanne.

Elsewhere, the air suspension has been recalibrated to deliver more sporting responses when Sport mode is selected within the new Drive program. The same goes for the steering, the eight-speed ZF gearbox and the throttle mapping: each of these can be set to whatever individual mode a driver might want by selecting the Custom function.

So you can have the dampers set to Comfort, the Steering set to Sport and the powertrain set to standard, or any other combination. Which is nice.

Then there’s the most vital area of all in a Bentley; the cabin. For the Speed there are various new sporting touches that have been unleashed inside. The door caps now feature small amounts of tastefully applied carbonfibre trim. The seats feature colour-coded stitching in their leather and diamond quilted hide on their backrests. The door handles have been ‘coin’ finished and, whisper this, the foot pedals are now made from drilled aluminium alloy.

What is it like?
On the road the Speed is a pretty lovely thing to drive. You notice the extra torque and low down response from the engine from the moment the car starts to move. It feels like there is an infinite well of energy beneath your right foot.

In Sport mode it now feels magnificently potent, surging forwards with a serene, refined but gigantic hit of energy that appears to get stronger, if anything, as you go up through the gears into third, fourth, fifth and beyond. This is because in the lower gears the torque flow is managed to avoid great gobs of unwanted traction control intervention, which wouldn’t do at all in a Bentley.

What’s also obvious immediately is the extra precision and response from the steering and suspension, again particularly when the Sport button is pressed. Yet in Comfort it is as soothing and luxuriant as ever.

Should I buy one?
The Mulsanne Speed may well be regarded as an anomaly among luxury cars, chiefly because it’s a luxury car at heart that’s trying to be something it isn’t designed to be: sporting. But the amazing thing is, it pretty much pulls it off.

So the best seat in the house is not the one in the rear, as it is in the Mulsanne; instead it’s the one up front, just as Bentley claims. And that makes the Mulsanne Speed unique in its appeal, and in its ability. Bottom line; there really is nothing quite like it. So if you can afford to, the answer is great big fat-cat yes.

Price £252,000; 0-62mph 4.8sec; Top speed 190mph; Economy 19.3mpg; CO2 342g/km; Kerb weight 2685kg; Engine V8, 6752cc, twin turbo, petrol; Power 530bhp at 4200rpm; Torque 811lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox Eight-speed auto

Source – http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bentley/mulsanne/first-drives/2015-bentley-mulsanne-speed-review

The Most Expensive Range Rover Of All Time

If you thought that a normal Range Rover was a little on the expensive side then wait till you see the price of this special edition version.

The Range Rover Holland and Holland costs over $100,000 more than the top-of-the-line long-wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography Black upon which it’s based and comes is at eye watering $285,000 (£180,000).

As you can imagine the Range Rover Holland & Holland which is a collaboration between the company’s Special Vehicle Operation (SVO) is the most expensive SUV ever produced in the brand’s 44-year history.

So what makes this Range worth so much more than any other luxurious SUV?

The Holland & Holland edition is completely decked out in the finest soft-touch leather, and its interior woodwork is cut from a single massive piece of walnut to make sure all of the trim match up perfectly. The walnut is also finished with oil to resemble the stocks of Holland & Holland’s signature rifles.

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The inside of the Range also features embroidered Holland & Holland logos and engraved metallic accents — an homage to the handcrafted shotguns and hunting rifles synonymous with the brand since 1835.

range-rover-holland-and-holland-interior

“The whole SVO team is very proud of this car, a bespoke design, which perfectly meets the very particular needs of Holland & Holland’s customers,” said Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations managing director John Edwards. “This shows the huge potential of SVO, which encapsulates both off- and on-road performance as well as luxury and craftsmanship.”

The backseats are particularly impressive. Rear-seat passengers are treated to a pair of executive jet-style reclining seats, retractable walnut tray tables, and a pair of massive infotainment screens.

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The Holland & Holland edition will be available with a variety of engine options — ranging from a humble diesel engine to Jaguar Land Rover’s 500 horsepower supercharged V8 shared with Jaguar’s XJR supersedan and the F-Type sports car.

Another reason why this Range Rover costs so much is the fact that Holland & Holland guns are expensive — ridiculously expensive. With price tags ranging from $43,000 to $277,000 for the “Royal” double barrel shotgun, the company’s guns make the high priced-Range Rover feel like a bit of a bargain.

To store these guns, Range Rover has installed a carbon fiber and aluminum gun case that can slide out through the tailgate. As with the rest of the car, it’s finished in fine leather and polished walnut.

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Obviously this these extra features this is not a Range Rover you want to be using on the school run.

The Holland & Holland Range Rover will be very rare. Jaguar Land Rover plan to build roughly 40 examples a year over the next three years.

source: http://uk.businessinsider.com/range-rover-holland-and-holland-most-expensive-suv-2014-11#ixzz3K4NiFLpV

Do you want to hire a Ranger Rover for your next trip? Click here Contact us now for our latest deals

Bugatti Launches New Shop Business

Not sure if this is good new or not for Bugatti lovers.

Because one of the worlds most exclusive car makers has just announced it is to launch a chain of shops.

Well I say shops but they are actually high end boutiques devoted to the Bugatti brand. The first one is now open in London opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge, is the first of a planned 30, all of which are operated on a franchise basis.

Luxury super sports cars will always be our core business,” CEO Dr Wolfgang Durheimer said at the opening, “but Bugatti also represents a very special luxury lifestyle. The stores will help grow Bugatti’s worldwide visibility.”

Outlets in Tokyo, Doha and Dubai will follow next year, which gives you some idea of the brand’s centre of gravity, although more Veyrons have been sold in London than anywhere else.

“You can be absolutely sure that we will be sticking to our basic principles,” Durheimer added, when TG.com pushed him on the sometimes murky world of the ‘brand extension’, “which is building the world’s finest super sports cars.”

Exactly what form the next Bugatti road car will take, following the aborted Galibier super limo, Durheimer wouldn’t say. But something’s definitely coming, and it isn’t just a pair of blue shoes with a central seam like the one on a Type 57 Atlantic.

In the meantime, fill your – very expensive – boots in the Bugatti store. It’s split into sections: the marble-floored, Tron-lite area that houses the Performance Luxury Collection, and the more aromatic and woody luxury bit that contains the Ettore Bugatti Collection.

There are clothes, bags, accessories, and Lalique crystal objets d’art. There will also be furniture. (Ettore’s dad was a cabinet maker, apparently, so it’s authentic.)

Source – http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/Inside-Bugattis-glitzy-London-shop-2014-11-17

Just make sure your credit card is ready for the hammering it will receive should you look to purchase.

Aston Martin Vantage V8 N340 Review

The Aston Martin Vantage has always been a great looking car and with the N340 certainly doesn’t disappoint with head turning looks and increased performance and power.

The N430 has been fitted with sharper suspension compared to the standard V8 as well as a little more horsepower; 430bhp to be precise.

It also comes in a broader selection of colours, including shades apeing its racing siblings, has unique dark-finished alloy wheels and lightweight buckets seats all as standard.

The N430 sits a little lower to the ground and the dark alloy wheels are a pleasing touch. The contrasting yellow nose and roof details might not be to all tastes but they are optional

Where some of its rivals might seem like obvious choices, it’s hard to knock the Aston Martin image as it mixes Britishness, Bond and motorsport to great effect.

Space and practicality

It’s clearly a sports car at heart so you’ll only be sharing the pleasure of the N430 with one other lucky person. Space for you and your passenger is reasonable but not exceptional; the roof is low and the transmission tunnel is relatively wide. However the standard carbonfibre bucket seats are very supportive.

The boot is big enough for a fun weekend away or a reasonable shopping trip – and there’s an Aston Martin umbrella in there too of course – but don’t waste your time shopping when you could be out driving it.

Behind the wheel

Some of the N430’s key rivals are significantly younger, but rather than leaving the Aston feeling dated it instead makes you realise that progress isn’t always a good thing. For starters it has a very mechanical feel; the steering is relatively heavy, the gearbox needs a firm hand and the pedal actions are all weighty. That means precision is required, making the experience all the more rewarding.

That lusty 4.7-litre V8 sings a glorious tune and although there is plenty of torque it thrives on revs, building to a crescendo as you reach the red line. The suspension is unquestionable firm, but the way it tracks the undulations of the road and is balanced through the bends makes it worthwhile. It’s a car to make you travel hundreds of miles just to try it on the right kind of road.

Value for money

At a fraction under £90,000 the N430 is far from cheap, but the standard specification is generous and you’ll want for very little indeed. Also comparable cars from Germany are more expensive right from the off, even before you delve into the realms of long option lists.

Source – https://uk.cars.yahoo.com/news/drive-aston-martin-v8-vantage-n430-190500221.html

A Ferrari for the Super Rich

If you think that Ferrari could not be more exclusive then think again because they have just launched a new car that is aimed at only the super rich.

Only 6 have been made and to get one you have to be personally invited by Ferrari. Not surprisingly Ferrari have already spoken to their chosen few and all six have been snapped up.

The super car known as the Ferrari Sergio,is a concept car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

It was designed in collaboration with Italian firm Pininfarina, and each model is expected to sell for millions, though Ferrari would not disclose an exact price.

Ferrari, which is owned by Fiat (FIADF), has built a world-class name for itself based on its reputation for exclusivity.

It capped production at 7,000 cars per year to ensure demand consistently outstrips supply, making its cars all the more desirable.

However, after a recent management shake-up, the company said it will ramp up production by 5% this year to ensure its waiting list doesn’t get out of control.

While vehicle output may be increasing, limited production cars like the Sergio help Ferrari keep its exclusive edge.

The automaker also offers a “one-off” program where rich car collectors can buy a completely original car that they help design themselves. Each car costs millions.

It’s as far removed from mass production as you can get,” said a Ferrari spokesperson.

Ferrari has only created about a dozen of these bespoke cars since the “one-off” program launched a few years ago, but it said the program is gaining traction, which could be helping the company’s bottom line.

Ferrari reported record revenue in the first six months of this year, up nearly 15% compared to the same period in the previous year, even as it sold fewer cars. Profits for the period also rose by 10%.

Source – http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/27/luxury/ferrari-car-sergio/index.html

The new owners of the Sergio can expect delivery in early 2015

How a Billionaire Parks his Super Car

There are just some Super Cars that you can’t take your eyes off and this is why some of the super rich are deciding to install a glass garage in their homes where you can stare longingly at your baby from the comfort of your sofa.

In Knightsbridge a house has gone on sale for £16.5m which, alongside the swimming pool, spa, bespoke wine cellar and media room that are now a given at the top of the property market, features a glass wall in the study offering a view of the garage.

James Forbes, partner at Strutt & Parker in Knightsbridge, the estate agent selling the four-bedroom Park Lodge, says he has seen a number of properties refurbished to include high-end garages. “People who are buying these properties often like cars and want to look after those cars and keep them off the street,” he says. As a result, developers have been fitting “leather dado-rails, heating and lights to guide you in”.

Clearly the developers didn’t picture this particular garage as somewhere to store a clapped-out chest freezer and some old wellies; they were probably imagining a Bugatti Veyron or a vintage E-type. However, Forbes says they have thought of everything: “What they’ve cleverly done here, something I’ve not seen before, is make it so the glass can be opaque if you need it to be. If you’ve got your grubbly old mountain bike in there after a trip round the park you don’t have to look at it.”

If, however, your Porsche is parked in there, a flick of a switch makes it visible beneath the bookshelf.

Tracy Kellett, a buying agent for wealthy clients in London, says fancy garages “are certainly a selling point for the high-net worths … if you’ve spent millions (not uncommon) on cars, you want to be able to show them off to friends in a suitable showcase”.

Park-Lodge-garage-Knights-

She adds that she’s seen heated and white-floored garages designed for those who want to display their collection. Meanwhile, Joe Burns, of super-prime property developer Oliver Burns, says one home he developed included a glass showcase for a car, another a display for motorbikes.

Forbes says that in these prime London properties “parking doesn’t necessarily add a lot of money but it is a very desirable feature”. And, strangely, it seems that it can be more desirable the closer it is to the living room.

Source – http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/oct/24/park-supercar-luxury-home-livingroom

Well it’s better that watching most of the rubbish on the TV these days.

The New Porsche 911 Carrera – Best One Ever?

Finally Porsche has revealed its latest version of the classic 911 with the new Carrera GTS.

The GTS version of the 911 follows on from the GTS versions of the Boxer, Cayman and Panamara. The GTS versions of all of these cars offer better performance, looks and handling.

Check out the promo video here. Looks great to me!

Available in coupé or convertible form, and with a choice of two or four-wheel drive, the 911 Carrera GTS will feature a 3.8-litre flat-six engine delivering 424bhp – 30bhp more than the 911 Carrera S power unit on which it’s based.

The new model will also feature special centre-locking alloy wheels

Equipped with Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the GTS will be able to hit 62mph from a standstill in four seconds dead, or 4.2 seconds for the convertible version. Meanwhile, the two-wheel-drive GTS with the seven-speed manual transmission will give a top speed of 198mph.

Porsche adds that improved efficiency means the GTS will return the same fuel consumption figures as the S version, despite the improved acceleration and higher top speeds.

The GTS will feature a number of features that are optional on lesser 911s as standard. The Sport Chrono package, for example, gives the GTS dynamic engine mounts, while active dampers will adjust the firmness of the suspension automatically, as well as lowering the ride height by 10mm.

A sports exhaust will also come as standard, as will an Alcantara-trimmed interior with leather sports seats.
On the outside, the GTS will feature the same wider body as the 911 Carrera 4, which will allow for a wider track. Twenty-inch centre-locking alloy wheels, smoked Xenon headlamps, and a smattering of gloss black trim complete the picture.

The 911 Carrera GTS is on sale now, with the first deliveries expected in November. Prices start at £91,098 for the two-wheel-drive coupe.

Source – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/11148230/Porsche-911-Carrera-GTS-revealed.html

Of course we hope to be offering this new version for hire in the near future.

Until then we have a wide variety of porsche’s to hire in various cities across Europe

5 New Supercars you must see

This month has seen the annual Paris motor show were all the major car brands showcase their latest offerings. There are many different categories to look at but here at HPI Luxury Car Hire we are only interested in the best luxury and Supercars models.

Here are 5 new ones that are getting us excited

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Ferrari 458 Speciale A
Ferrari chose to premiere this new supercar in Paris. Powered by a 605hp V8, the Ferrari 485 Speciale A will be produced in a limited series of 499 units. The most powerful convertible ever produced by the Italian manufacturer, the model rockets from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds.

lambo asterion

Lamborghini Asterion
For its part, Lamborghini revealed the Asterion LPI 910-4 concept, a sports car with a total output of 910hp from its 5.2-liter V10 engine teamed with three electric motors. The combination enables a top speed of 320km/h and 0 to 100km/h acceleration in 3 seconds.

maserati-alfieri-concept

Maserati Alfieri
The third Italian car in this selection, the Maserati Alfieri concept is a tribute to the founder of the brand, which is celebrating its centenary in 2014. Designed as a study for a future coupe, the Alfieri is more aggressive and compact than the current GranTurismo and packs a 4.7-liter V8 engine with 460hp.

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Bentley Mulsanne Speed
The latest model from the British car maker is presented as the world’s most powerful luxury car, boasting a 6.75-liter V8 with 537hp. Slated to go on sale in early 2015, the car boasts a top speed of 305km/h and goes from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

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Mercedes-AMG GT
Presented in person by Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche in Paris, the new Mercedes-AMG GT is due to go on sale in spring 2015. Under the hood, the sports car has a new 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 engine with 462hp, enabling 0 to 100km/h acceleration in 4 seconds and a top speed of 304km/h

Source http://www.ctvnews.ca/autos/paris-motor-show-5-must-see-sports-cars-1.2044731#ixzz3FeqOIklR

All of them look fantastic and I am sure will be sold out as soon as they become available.

New Bentley Fragrance For Men. Only £3500 !!!!!

This post is a little off topic but when I read this I actually laughed out loud. Bentley in all their wisdom have just in time for Christmas I presume launched a new fragrance for men.

If your thinking this may just be a perfect gift for the Bentley enthusiast in your family just be aware it comes with a price tag of  just £3,500.

For that, not only do you get some pretty special perfume (“selected natural vetiver extract” says Bentley) – you also get an impressive crystal Lalique in the shape of the legendary “Flying B”.

Part of the Bentley Crystal Edition, the fragrance is limited to just 499 bottles.

Bentley says its Lalique for Bentley Blue Crystal Edition is “made from the finest, primarily pure natural essences.

The top note is stimulating, with pink peppercorns and juniper berries, accompanied by a hint of fresh pear. In the heart note, Haitian and Javanese vetiver unfold their concentrated power, woody and invigorating.

Chuck in some “harmonious ambergris and musk, partnered with precious cedar wood and frankincense” and you have the ultimate sensual experience. Apparently.

Source – http://www.motoringresearch.com/blog/bentley-releases-mens-fragrance-priced-3500-0930950409

Well good luck with that venture Bentley.

For a much better present and lot less money you can hire a Bentley from us and have a great weekend away this autumn