We’ve published these leaked photos of the saloon which is set to stir some discussion amongst Jaguar enthusiasts. The new tail which abandons the classic design boasts an all new angle and is likely to cause the most controversy. Another striking design feature of the new XJ are the 2 glazed black C-pillars that hug the back of the car, helping the XJ look like nothing else on the road and highlight the chrome side window detailing (DLO) Once inside the car, passengers are greeted in a spectacular fasion with leather and wood alongside touch screen telematics and a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo system.

So how does the vehicle drive? Well until the vehicle is road tested later this year speculations will continue, however tonights unveiling will no doubt focus on the XJ’s looks, especially that tail. So what do you think about design of the new XJ, love it or loathe it?

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What is a “young classic,” you might ask? Mercedes defines it as a car built between 1970 and about 1990. They’re cars that might not be considered classics the way a 1955 300SL might be, but may have the potential to be the classics from their era as they get older. Whilst cars built in the ’50s and ’60s tend to have a strong aftermarket following, newer cars from the ’70s and 80’s don’t get quite the same love, and Mercedes would like to change that, or at least get to the front of the pack before the rest of the aftermarket catches on.

To that end, Mercedes has opened the first Young Classics store at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart. The store will buy, sell, rent, finance and insure young classic Benzes for European enthusiasts. The store only deals in top condition cars and Mercedes hopes to expand the availability of quality replacement parts available to these cars..

According to Mercedes’ research, there are roughly 6.6 million young classics in Germany alone and roughly 15% of them are Mercedes-Benzes. Research also shows that a majority of owners are between 21- and 50- years old and only 20% use them as primary vehicles, suggesting that many may be kept because of their uniqueness or potential future status. When these cars do mature into full classics, Mercedes-Benz hopes to be on the leading edge of businesses supporting the preservation and restoration of these cars the way their predecessors have been.

For a fantastic classic car insurance quote, give the team at Sureterm Direct a call on
0800 999 2030.  They won’t charge you for the phone call but they will save you money on your classic car insurance policy

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The World Car of the Year Awards began in 2005 when the Audi A6 triumphed, followed by the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the Lexus LS460 last year.

This year the top three contenders for 2008 World Car of the Year title were the Ford Mondeo, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Mazda2/Mazda Demio, which became the first compact car to win the award.

The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was chosen from an initial entry list of thirty-nine entries nominated by forty-seven World Car jurors from twenty-four countries throughout the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.

The jurors stated that, “The new Mazda version is exactly that – completely new – particularly on the outside. The two-door sportier look was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and reviews around the world have been primarily one big ‘thumbs up’. Consumers will be drawn to the new Mazda compact because of its very appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price.”

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award recognizing the Mazda2/Mazda Demio as the 2008 World Car of the Year,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. “This is wonderful recognition which Mazda2 car owners and Mazda employees alike can celebrate worldwide.

The 2008 World Performance Car award went to the Audi R8. Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt Sports/Performance orientation. They must also satisfy the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car award and may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles.

“Last year, the Audi RS 4 won the World Performance Car award and we are thrilled to have retained the title with the Audi R8,” said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. “This award is recognition for the superb work done by the engineers and designers who worked on the R8. It has immediately taken up a leadership position in the super sports car segment. We are also delighted that the World Car of the Year jurors voted the Audi S5 into the top three.”

2008 World Green Car of the Year was won by the BMW 118d – “BMW is very excited that the BMW 118d with EfficientDynamics won the World Green Car title,” said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America. “The measures that we’ve implemented within our EfficientDynamics strategy into every BMW mean that we’re able to provide customers with the driving pleasure they expect from a BMW, while still meeting the stringent requirements for fuel-efficiency and low emissions.”

Jurors felt that BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology, as applied to the 118d, comprises a range of features and improvements with the specific purpose of reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. Its 143-hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, with third-generation common-rail fuel injection, piezo-injectors, and up to 2,000 bar injection pressure is said to reduce fuel consumption by up to eight percent.

The top three contenders for the third annual World Green Car in addition to the BMW 118d were the Mercedes-Benz Smart fortwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.

Previous World Car winners were the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in 2007 and the Honda Civic Hybrid in 2006.

If you would like award winning performance car insurance – then just call Sureterm Direct on 0800 999 2030 for a quote.

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The man who said the magic line is Gene Hunt, a fictional detective in ‘Ashes To Ashes’ – a TV series set in 1980’s Britain – and he drives a bright red Audi UR quattro. And while Hunt’s completely un-PC view of the world makes compelling viewing, it’s undoubtedly the quattro that’s become the star of the show.

They’re fetching £8,000 on ebay, the internet forums are alive with people trying to track down a model for themselves, and for the 30-somethings who were teenagers living in the 80’s, it’s made them realise that the cars they loved then could be classic cars of tomorrow.

Inquiries for classic car insurance at Sureterm Direct – the UK’s biggest specialist classic car insurer – have gone through the roof since Ashes to Ashes aired in early Feb. Some people think, with some justification, that the car they’ve had for 20 years might now qualify for a great classic car insurance deal. Others have found some spare cash, gone out and bought a Mk1 Golf GTi Campaign and are now firmly in the mindset of the classic car fan.

Except this time, the talk isn’t of Morris Minors and Triumph Heralds (although we love them, of course) it’s about what will make the classic cars of the future? So here’s the Sureterm Direct guide to the Top 20 Future Classic Cars. 

Sportscars
Mazda MX5: A brilliant two-seater soft-top which has a huge fanbase for the original Mk1s with the popup headlamps. Started life with a 1600cc engine and then enlarged to 1800cc. Offering ‘old’ styling with cracking reliability and an excellent spares backup.

Fiat Barchetta: Weird, but strangely appealing. Left-hand drive and only sold in limited numbers in the UK, it has distinctive looks and this makes it a future classic certainty.

Lotus Elan (1990s models): The guys at Lotus went a bit crazy and plumped for front wheel drive and an Isuzu engine. But with sharp handing and the Lotus badge, it has an appeal. But be aware of the fact that the front wheels are responsible for both steering and laying down power.

TVR S: Based heavily on the curvaceous sports cars of the 1970’s like the 3000M and introduced at the 1986 Motor Show at Earls Court in London. A retro-styled low priced model to give punters an introduction to TVR ownership. S1 had a 2.8i Ford engine but the V8s delivered 4-litre V8 madness. Of course it will break down, it’s a TVR!

Vauxhall VX220: Yes – a Vauxhall. The VX220 was built by Lotus, is very similar to the Lotus Elise, and is interestingly, rare and different. Not available in huge numbers, handles fantastically, and is every inch the future classic car.

Aston Martin DBS: Probably your best chance of a ‘bargain Aston’ and if you can, hunt down one of the original 6 cylinder DBS’s of the early 1970’s, launched as a stopgap until the V8 came out. Later models like the DB7, Virage and Vanquish already have classic kudos.
 

Hot Hatchbacks
While they may have been the staple diet of boy racers in the 1980’s, there’s no doubting that ‘hot hatches’ now have their place in classic car folklore.

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus: Classic 1970’s chintz. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1979, but deliveries did not start until summer of that year. By this time, Chrysler UK had been sold to the French Peugeot concern who changed the name to the Talbot Motor Company. Originally the cars were only available in Embassy Black with broad silver side stripes and grey interior, and the very early cars also boasted twin exit exhaust pipes. Great if you can get one.

Peugeot 205 GTi: Not content with the German’s from Wolfsburg having it all their own way, the French decided to take them on with the 1980’s best rival to the Golf GTi. Available in hatch and convertible models, initially with a 1.6 then later a much meaner 1.9 engine driving the front wheels. Now a bargain buy and well suited to modification.

Ford Escort XR3i: Beloved of boy racers everywhere – so it’s very difficult to find one in one piece, which makes it a bit of a rarity. The Escort RS Turbo is a find too – even less of them on the road, but plenty embedded in trees in Essex! Great shape, iconic, fast, and endorsed by Jackie Stewart. It makes the list.
 
Ford Sierra Cosworth: 3-door mentalism. The original ‘Cozzie’ is starting get a big following and could soon be held in the same regards as the old Lotus Cortina. Passion for hot hatches saw the later introduction of the XR4i with its V6 2.8 engine. Still a Sierra though!

Audi UR quattro: High-tech, flying wedge with a roaring engine. Sprang into life in 1980 and with 4WD and a whole host of amazing other German car-making technology packed into it. Brilliant on the road, brilliant on the rally scene. And now in much demand thanks to Gene Hunt. The most talked-about ‘modern classic’ of the year.
 

MPVs / SUVs and 4×4 off roaders
Will there ever be such a thing as a classic people carrier or 4×4? Probably. The market has exploded in the last 10 -15 years, so who’s to say that they won’t attract fans for years?

Renault Espace: Conceived by a British engineer in the 1970’s, the first Espaces were produced by French company Matra, until Renault took on the mass production. Fast forward to 1995 and Renault displayed a show car called the Espace F1 to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Espace and Renault’s involvement in Formula One racing. It was based on a V10-powered Williams Formula 1 racing car with an Espace J63 body reinforced with lightweight carbon-fibre. The Renault-Williams engine powered it from 0-200 km/h in 6 seconds. The MkII Espace (from 1991-1997) has the best chance of acquiring VW caper van allure.

Range Rover Sport: Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, they gave Range Rover a huge boost. The top-level Sport is powered by a supercharged 390 PS (287 kW/410 hp) 4.2 L AJ-V8, making it the second most powerful vehicle in the company’s history. Pick a model. Any model. Guaranteed classic.

Mitubishi Shogun: The first generation made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1981, and was launched in May 1982. Initially, it was a three-door, short-wheelbase model available with a metal or canvas top and three different engines options – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol (2000/2.0); 2.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol (Astron 2.6); 2.3-litre naturally aspirated diesel (2300 D); 2.3 liter turbocharged diesel (2300 TD/2.3 TD).
 

Luxury and Sports Cars
In many ways, luxury motors have the best chance of attaining classic car status – they’re well made, high value, and generally well-kept by their original owners. So what would make a good investment?

Jaguar X300: Essentially a cosmetic advance on the XJ40, but the X300 developed a faithful following. The first time Jaguar had fitted a supercharger, this put the XJ up against the BMW M5 and Mercedes E500. 14 years old now and a classic certainty.

BMW M3: The 1977 E23 is already a classic, so well-preserved later models like the E30 M3 (which ended in 1992) might well follow suit. With a stiffer and more aerodynamic bodyshell than the straight E30, it ripped up the road race circuit.

Mercedes 500SL:  The 500SL is recorded as being the fastest production Mercedes R107 design ever produced – having 0-60 times of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 140 mph (230 km/h). A late 1980’s classic and well worth the investment.

For any type of specialist car insurance - give Sureterm Direct a call for FREE on         0800 999 2030

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