Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 – full A-Z new model preview
The Goodwood Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show have both taken the mantle as the unofficial British motor show, since the demise of the traditional bi-annual fare in 2008. More and more manufacturers — both mainstream and niche — are using the event to launch their new models to the public.
Here is a flavour of the key new models set to make debuts over the next few days at Goodwood. Of course, Autocar will be live from West Sussex throughout the weekend to bring you the best live coverage of Britain’s most important motoring event.
First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the £89,000 comeback model for classic British brand AC has been styled by Zagato and is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 with 434bhp.
After much hype and build-up, the little known British supercar firm brings its first model – the £320,000, 220mph, 550bhp, 7.0-litre V8-powered AF-10 – to Goodwood.
Carbonfibre bodied and capable of 0-62mph in 4.1secs, the new Vanquish will go on sale next year as the flagship model to spearhead a soon-to-be-overhauled Aston Martin range.
With a top speed of 205mph, this is the fastest production Bentley ever. Juha Kankkunen, Derek Bell and Guy Smith will all be pedalling the extreme new coupé up Goodwood’s hill-climb.
Chevrolet Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition
Chevrolet is celebrating 45 years of the Camaro and 60 years of the Corvette with special edition models at Goodwood. Both are offered for sale in the UK through official imports.
The UK’s newest car brand is being officialy launched at Goodwood. Renault’s budget offshoot will initially offer two models through 127 Renault dealerships: the Sandero supermini for less than £7,000 and Duster SUV for under £8995.
De Macross Epique GT1
South Korea may seem an unlikely birthplace of a new supercar, but this offering will nonetheless top 215mph. Utilising F1 technologies, De Macross claims it will rival any car in its class.
This new Spanish supercar will cost a cool half-a-million pounds. That price gets you 780bhp from an 8.3-litre V10, 0-62mph performance of 2.9sec and a top speed of 217mph. GTA will only make 99, at a rate of 20 cars a year.
Goodwood sees the world dynamic debut of this UK-designed and built electric sports car, which is based on the Lotus Evora platform. Its two electric motors produce 402bhp, and it will be piloted by Mark Webber on the Saturday run.
Infiniti’s most powerful and expensive car, this limited edition “supercar SUV” starts at £100,800 and hosts a 414bhp 5.0-litre V8 that will take it to 186mph. Sebastian Vettel was involved in the design and will drive it at Goodwood.
A development prototype of Jaguar’s new sports car will meet the public for the first time, with the Goodwood version on display sporting a 3.0-litre V6 producing 375bhp.
Taking on the Audi A6 Avant and Mercedes E-Class, the estate version of the XF saloon now receives further exposure after its release at Geneva, taking a starring role in the Moving Motor Show.
This 205bhp, road-legal concept receives its debut at Goodwood. Mazda hopes to gauge customer interest in a go-faster MX-5 ahead of a potential showroom launch.
Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake
After leaked photos and revealed patents, the estate version of the CLS coupé finally emerges into the limelight at Goodwood. Expect a mighty AMG version to follow with a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8.
On sale in October, the revised MP4-12C features a 25bhp power increase, recalibrated gearbox and improved aural feedback from the exhaust that will take the cost of the Ferrari 458 Italia fighter to £176,000.
This commercial offering from Mini receives its world debut in production form at Goodwood. The two-seater, adapted Clubman estate is aimed at boutique businesses and inspired by the 1960s Morris Mini van.
After a ten-year hiatus, the Morgan Plus 8 is back. With a 390bhp 4.8-litre V8, the classic Moggie will reach 62mph in 4.8 seconds. An electric prototype was also shown at its world debut in Geneva.
Goodwood sees the first examples of the Juke-bodied, GT-R-powered extreme crossover that will go into limited production.
With a 750bhp, 6.0-litre V12 engine, top speed of 218mph and 0-62mph time of 2.7 seconds, the Zonda range reaches its ultimate race-bred form in this go-faster version the Zonda R. Bernd Schneider is tipped to take it up the hill.
Although still a concept, the 200bhp 1.6-powered 208 GTI should achieve 140mph, a 0-60mph time of less than seven seconds and be on sale before the end of the year.
The latest Clio is rumoured to be making an appearance in prototype Renaultsport guise at the festival. The new model will feature forced induction for the first time when it goes on sale in 2014.
Savage Rivale GTR
The Dutch supercar maker is bringing its new four-seat, folding hard-top supercar to Goodwood. Just 69 examples are set to be made, each powered by a 700bhp 6.2-litre V8.
This range-extended electric vehicle from Tata Motors can return a remarkable 282mpg and emit as little as 22g/km of C02. An electric update of the Pixel, it was unveiled at Geneva and makes its UK debut at Goodwood.
Toyota has confirmed the launch of a more focused version of the GT86 at Goodwood. Just 86 will be made, with improvements from Toyota Racing Development including a new exhaust, a bodkyit and new wheels and tyres.
The other modified GT86 that is on display comes courtesy of GAZOO racing; a 315bhp supercharged and turbocharged version of the original. This GRMN Sports FR concept has revised suspension and a new bodykit, but remains road legal.
James McKean
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Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 – full A-Z new model preview