The first day of Salon Privé opened in the traditional stye with some exciting new car reveals, the press team at Salon Privé excel in attracting some big name manufacturers, perhaps due to their ultra slick press reveal and tour. An event which is both exciting, interesting and hard to miss given it is in the stunning setting of grounds of Blenheim Palace.
First up on our morning walk of the grounds was the global debut of the Engler Desat, now we have seen these Superquads before, and this year the Slovakian company didn’t disappoint in adding yet more horse power for you to grip with your thighs as you ride the Engler much like a motorbike or personal watercraft. It has such ridiculous stats one has to wonder how on earth you hang on – (for dear life perhaps) when the 5.2 litre V10 engine unleashes 650hp. Propelling you to a top speed of 300mph. Just stop for a moment, imagine stringing together 650 horses, (you know the ones with four legs) then attaching a cart which weighs just 1100 kilos – Would you get in it? And go ‘ Yah’? – No, you would have to be certified as mental to. And so, whilst I applaud Viktor Englers outside the box thinking – its a no for me.
Next up was the unveiling of the the world’s first hydrogen hypercar, the Apricale, -now this IS both unique and interesting as the hydrogen technology, (FCEV hydrogen powertrain) delivers 1,000 bhp in a hypercar weighing under 1,000kg and production is starts in 2024, with a limited run of only 25 cars. (Didn’t dare ask the price on this one..given the league times) It’s been styled by Pininfarina but developed by Viritech. Their ambition is to overcome all the compromises of zero-emission vehicles which required Viritech’s engineers to completely reconsider how fuel cells and batteries function together. The car itself represents a revolution, as the only hypercar with a zero- emissions powertrain whose weight is the same as a petrol-powered equivalent. This means it’s half of the weight of some battery electric vehicle equivalents.
Next-up was the Nardone Automotive Porsche 928 – a resto-mod of the 45-year-old design, building something fit for the 21st century, which combines comfort, performance and contemporary luxury. Frenchman Nardone has taken the 1978 grand tourer as its starting point, and carried out a series of changes to the car to transform it into a special and tailor-made GT. Modifications inside and out include decluttered lines and bodywork made almost entirely of composite materials, while the V8 gets a performance boost to an anticipated 400 bhp, and a six-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential are introduced. Whilst there are details which sit slightly uncomfortably with me, like the headlights – I can see this being quite a hit with some die-hard Porsche enthusiasts of a certain age. The 928 has quite a following, and inside the car is a real luxury treat – Just imagine a 928 where all the gadgets work – I know, it messes with your head!
Back to the crazy horsepower hypercars, this is the Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster, fresh from its reveal, just days ago in California. The car is based on the Venom F5 Coupe, (all sold out) Texan base Hennessey are engine tuning specialists – so power is the key here. The Venom F5 offers unparalleled performance – Mid-mounted in the carbon fibre monocoque chassis is Hennessey’s twin-turbocharged, 6.6-litre ‘Fury’ Ford engine, rated at an astonishing 1,817 bhp. It weights a little over 1300 kilos and top speed is apparently over 300 mph. If you can find a road long enough. The texan builders plan to build just 30 roadsters in total, 15 are already sold – so the $3m price tag reflects the exclusivity or that’s what they told me. Do you get a free Cowboy hat? ‘Yes – mam!’ If you a feeling like you have $3million burning a hole in your pocket Clive Sutton is your man.
Another offering from Clive Sutton retailer – was this rather cool looking Cobra. It was unveiled as a highly specified 560hp Roush-engined Superformance MkIII finished in Ferrari Grigio Silver. (In honour of Carroll Shelby’s 100th birthday,) Clive Sutton specified the powerful, custom-built Roush motor for the MkIII. Priced at £185k, the ready-to-roll model will top the MkIII range with customers able to specify other MkIII variants for import starting from £135k. Aside from the rather bling wheels and there was an element of way too much shiny chrome on this for me – and in the engine department – its a bit ‘Hot-Wheels’. But, the trim is lush and a toned down version would be a total beast on the road and well worth considering as a fun purchase!
My final highlight of the reveals was the Prodrive Legends feature on the South Lawn at Blenheim Palace paying tribute to almost 40 years of competition success for the Oxfordshire-based company. At the centre to the Prodrive Legends display is the revolutionary Hunter – the world’s first all-terrain hypercar, developed from the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition, driven by Sébastien Loeb on the world’s toughest motorsport event: the Dakar. It is well worth a closer look! That is a fully extreme Dakar ready rally car, which is road legal, clearly aimed at Dubai marketing space, but if that is where you live – this is going to be THE car to buy!
Pro-Drive also had their brand-new Prodrive Racing Simulator developed with design house CALLUM to blend cutting-edge computer technology with clean, elegant styling. A luxury garage accompaniment of birch canopy surrounds a carbon fibre monocoque, with the intention to create a simulator that would have the aesthetic appeal of a piece of fine furniture rather than something hidden away in a corner. Price £39,000
There were other reveals we haven’t highlighted: Aston Martin were showing the Aston Martin DBX707, the world’s most powerful luxury SUV. a unique combination of blistering speed, supreme dynamics, unmistakable style and absolute luxury.
Sadly stuck in customs so we didn’t see it, was the DEUS Automobiles, Vayanne – combining hypercar-level performance but with luxury sensibilities, such as comfort, practical storage, and daily usability – a first in the competitive hypercar class – the 2,200 bhp, pure electric Vayanne developed in conjunction with Williams Advanced Engineering – apparently will be on display on the South Lawn. Once her Majesty has had ragged it around Tilbury docs.
Radical were celebrating their long and established success in building racing cars. The British company is showing the SR10 and SR3 XX models and discussing the brand-new Cockpit Safety Structure – available as an option for the first time. The newly developed halo-inspired safety structure improves the safety of occupants, maximises strength without a major weight gain, and minimises aerodynamic drag to boost fuel efficiency and overall performance.
The 8th generation of the Roll Royce Phantom Series II was also uncovered, a monster of a car – but well at home in the luxury surrounds of Blenheim Palace. The designers have made the lightest of design touches, embellishments and adaptations as part of an intense process focussing on what should be preserved and protected.
The company is also showcasing a Bespoke Black Badge Ghost, a testament to Rolls-Royce’s peerless fluency in perfectly tailored cars, indicative of the extensive scope of the marque’s craft, design and engineering competencies.
Finally, to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th Jubilee this year, Salon Privé has curated a display of spectacular, as well as rare, platinum and silver-coloured motor cars of all ages. The Platinum Collection features 16 iconic models from marques including: Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren, Morgan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Wiesmann, it’s a must see at this year’s Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace.
Highlights include not one, but two outstanding McLaren F1s – chassis 063 and 064 – demonstrating meticulous work carried out by MSO, the first official production Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Chassis #01 ordered new by the Sultan of Brunei, and the only official Ferrari Testarossa Spider produced, a custom order in 1986 for the then-Fiat Chairman, Gianni Agnelli.
The five-day event is now open at Blenheim Palace with tickets available online. This includes the public Salon Privé Classic & Supercar event on Sunday 4 September with its ‘Live on the Drive’ Hill Sprint action.
