Where parts

At some point in your life you would have wished for the ground to open up and swallow you whole, but for one unfortunate driver this actually happened while driving along a motorway in China. The Daily Mail website has reported that a motorist had a “lucky escape after being swallowed by a sinkhole as he travelled along a busy motorway in Nanchang City, China”.

Shocking images of the scene show a 13ft-wide hole, which appeared when the vehicle’s front wheels sunk into a chasm on the busy road. This isn’t however the first glorified pothole story to emerge in China recently, there have been another seven sinkholes discovered in the past two weeks alone.

There are some holes you just can’t dig yourself out of, and I think this might have been one of them. The motorist had no choice but to wait in his car until he was rescued and his vehicle was lifted to safety. Can you imagine waiting for that perfect summer day to get your classic pride and joy out and take it for a spin along the motorway, and then from out of no-where a huge pothole opens up and swallows up your pride and joy! That’s when you sit then waiting to be rescued praying you remembered to take out breakdown cover with your classic car insurance.

A spokesperson for the freeway management office said “experts on site suspected that the sudden collapse of an underground cave created by eroded limestone caused the sinkhole”, which doesn’t really help the poor motorist who was performing a balancing act with his car.  Read more...

From a modest two-seater, 1.1 litre engine classic car to an “ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car”, Porsche have certainly demonstrated one of the biggest and most impressive transformations in motoring history. Featuring the latest eco-friendly fuelling system, the Porsche Spyder 918 “claims 78mpg” and runs on “hybrid and electric drive technology”, reports PistonHeads.com.

The legend of the Porsche was born in 1931, and saw the creation of an “automobile that was dependable, simple, fast and technologically ahead of its time”, reports PorscheHistory.com. Ferdinand Porsche, a genius of engineering and a unique automotive designer, is also responsible for creating the first plans for the Volkswagen Beetle, which proceeded to become the “largest selling car in history”, as well as designing cars for other auto manufacturers such as Austo Daimler and Mercedes Benz.

With such a successful portfolio, it’s no surprise that Ferdinand Porsche’s designs have developed into a modern “concept that combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities”, according to PistonHeads.com. If this all sounds too good to be true, with Porsche claiming that the performance of the new hybrid is “fascinating”, the proof really is in the pudding. So get your teeth around a hybrid model that reaches a top speed of 198mph and a lap time on the Nordschleife of less than 7 ½  minutes – this super modern car really revs the excitement levels and its performance speaks for itself.  Read more...

‘Do not try this at home’ is the warning that should be stated after each stunt performed on the hit BBC show, Top Gear. This comes after a pensioner’s Reliant Robin was targeted twice in one day, where it is believed that yobs were “recreating a stunt from the motoring show”, according to the Daily Mail website.

The classic Reliant Robin was found by the distressed owner on Sunday night – just two and a half hours after the Top Gear show was broadcast, reports the Telegraph website. The vintage motor suffered a smashed wing mirror, scratched paintwork and damaged one door beyond repair, with a an estimated repair bill of £1,000.

The retired owner of the classic car, who has owned Reliant Robins for 40 years, says he believes the vandals were inspired by the episode of Top Gear where Clarkson repeatedly flips a Reliant Robin on its side and speeds round corners.

“Ridiculous, irresponsible and dangerous”, are the words used to describe the antics of the hit TV show host, who is no stranger to controversy and who describes himself as an “equal opportunities loudmouth”.

The BBC show, which combines extensive fanatic car news with (at times) childish yet amusing stunts, seems to have lost one viewer, but due to the constant entertainment value and high profile guests, I doubt this unfortunate copycat behaviour will hamper the ratings for the Sunday night show.  Read more...

The legend of the Lotus can be traced back to 1948 with the creation of the Mark 1 model, “which was based on an old Austin Seven”, reports LotusCars.com, and was the vehicle that sparked the innovation of many classic cars to follow. Lotus can boast vehicles that are “powerful, light in weight, and endowed with exceptional road holding and handling”, describes ClassicCarsForSale.co.uk. The Lotus Elan proved to be an immense commercial success, despite only around 9,000 being produced back in 1973 – meaning if you want to get your hands on one of these vintage cars you will have to search long and hard.

Modern day Lotus cars have come a long way since the Elan, with 2010 seeing the introduction of the first ever hybrid Lotus. The Lotus Evora hybrid concept has been described on PistonHeads.com as a “high performance technology demonstrator”, which provides 408bhp and 590lbs of torque via a combination of twin electric motors.

The green generation is here and Lotus is contributing with its environmentally friendly concept car, and making sure it doesn’t leave a carbon footprint behind. Lotus is determined, however to leave some (tread) marks behind, as the Evora has an engine with 47bhp at 3500 rpm, which can convert “mechanical energy to electrical energy via the integrated electrical generator to replenish the battery pack charge and provide additional vehicle range”, reports PistonHeads.com – meaning there will be more than enough force to power this vehicle.  Read more...

One brand that commands respect and royal stature is Rolls-Royce, with even the Queen of England acknowledging to its magnificence. Rolls-Royce150m.com has reported that “whenever Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II or other members of the Royal family travel on official engagements, the journey will include the use of a Rolls-Royce motor car”. The Rolls-Royce is so important that it even went aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, tucked away in its own specially constructed garage.

When the state cars used to transport members of the Royal family are not in use they are housed in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. Royal.Gov.uk reports that “there are eight State limousines, consisting of two Bentleys, three Rolls-Royces and three Daimlers”. More surprisingly there are also a number of Volkswagen people carriers that accompany the Royal fleet vehicles.

For many people, catching a glimpse of a member of the Royal family can only be achieved at slow speeds and from a short distance, which is why the Bentleys are fitted with a “removable exterior roof covering which exposes a clear inner lining, giving an all-round view of their Royal passengers”, reports Royal.Gov.uk.

A Rolls-Royce Phantom VI was added to the Royal collection, having been presented to The Queen in 1978 for her Silver Jubilee by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The oldest existing member of the fleet is the Phantom IV, built in 1950 and has been used by the likes of Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh. Just like a fine wine, the Phantom gets better with time and despite its age is still in excellent condition, being used for occasions such as Ascot. This prestigious event requires high status, so it’s no surprise the transport of choice is the Rolls-Royce.  Read more...