August is nearly here and for us that means the focus is now firmly on the Monterey car week with its host of events and auctions. Especially the latter have created the most headlines during the last few years and browsing through the massive catalogs, it is obvious that this year will be no exception. Today we take a first look at what RM Auctions have on offer and our attention was immediately drawn to the one-owner Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, which has an astronomical estimate of $14 - 17 million. This particular example is one of just ten built and was picked up new at the Ferrari factory by the late Eddie 'George' Smith, and it is his family that have now consigned the car for auction. All proceeds of what could be the biggest sale of the week will go to charity. In addition to the car on offer at RM, our 35-shot gallery also features pictures of two other examples, including the first one built, which was both raced at Sebring and used by Steve McQueen in the original 'Thomas Crown Affair'. When this car was last offered, it changed hands for just under $4 million. Among the many other noteworthy machines due to cross the block in downtown Monterey are the Mercedes-Benz 680 S Saoutchik Torpedo Roadster, which won Best of Show at Pebble Beach last year and the 1974 Indy 500 winning McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser.
Ford announced their attention to enter the 2014 Dakar Rally with a purpose-built Ranger. The program is spearheaded by Ford of South Africa and will feature two of the V8-engined machines. These will be driven by South African Chris Visser and South American Lucio Alvarez. The five-litre, eight-cylinder engine used produces a relatively modest 348 bhp, which transferred to all four wheel through a sequential, six-speed gearbox.

During the company's first foray into Formula 1, BMW used a stock block to create one of the most powerful Formula 1 engines ever produced. This M12/13 was used most effectively in the radical Brabham BT52 designed by Gordon Murray for the 1983 season. Developed to suit the new flat-bottom regulations, the BT52 had a very unusual arrow-shape with all the weight focused over the rear wheels for maximum traction. Other novelties used by Brabham that year were tyre-ovens and high-pressure refuelling rigs for pit-stops, which were very unusual at the time. In the hands of Brazilian Nelson Piquet, the BMW-engined Brabham was particularly successful. He scored four wins on his way to the first World Championship won by a turbocharged F1 car. At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, Piquet was reunited with a freshly restored Brabham BT52 BMW and we used this rare opportunity to grab every angle of this unique machine. The result is a detailed article, illustrated by a 26-shot gallery.
A BMW of a completely different order, the i3, was launched at three different places at the same time; New York, London and Beijing. It is the first production car in BMW's new 'i' range of electric vehicles. It uses a 170 hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. A small petrol range extender is available as an option, which increases the car's range from 160 km to 300 km. The i3 tips the scales at just 1,195 kg courtesy of a lightweight chassis that consists of carbon-fibre and alloy components. Breaking more new ground, the BMW i3 can be ordered through various channels including direct from BMW over the internet. The car will enter production later this year and will retail in Germany for EUR 34,950.

Last month French manufacturer Citroen confirmed their intention to compete in the World Touring Car Championship from 2014 onwards and today they revealed the first renders and full specification of the C-Elysee WTCC. Based on the sedan that is particularly popular in parts of South America, Russia and Asia, Citroen's first world touring car boasts the same engine as the all-conquering DS3 WRC. For this particular purpose, the 1.6 litre four cylinder engine does sport a wider air-restrictor, raising the power to 380 bhp. One of the drivers tasked to drive the C-Elysee WTCC will be rally-legend Sebastien Loeb. Testing has already commenced and the car will be first shown to the public in Frankfurt.
To mark Aston Martin's 100th anniversary, Zagato, in conjunction with two collectors, has created a pair of one-off machines. Sharing the same retro-lines, the machines were first shown at the recent Kensington Palace concours d'elegance. Based on the DBS is the Zagato Centennial Coupe. This car was created for a Japanese client, while noted American collector Peter Read commissioned the DB9-based Zagato Spyder Centennial.
At this weekend's Concours of America, RM Auctions will host their annual Michigan sale. Among our favourite cars in the sale are a Duesenberg and a Marmon. The former is a very rare Model A Fleetwood Doctor's Coupe, which was, appropriately, originally ordered by a physician. One of several cars offered from the Richard and Linda Kughn collection, this example was once also part of the Harrah's Automobile Collection and owned for over four decades by Duesenberg collector Fred McGarvey. The sole surviving Model A Doctor's Coupe is estimated to sell for $250,000 - $325,000. The Marmon in the sale is a Sixteen LeBaron Five-Passenger Sedan. Only recently restored, it spent most of its life in Kansas. The pre-sale estimate for this brightly finished, V16-powered Marmon is $350,000 - $500,000.

At last week's Goodwood Festival of Speed, McLaren celebrated the company's 50th anniversary in great style with fabulous displays both on the the hill and in the paddock. Today, we take a closer look at two of the most spectacular and important examples in action. The earliest of the two is the M8D Chevrolet, which for all racing enthusiasts produces mixed emotions as it was in one of the four built that Bruce McLaren lost his life, yet it also continued McLaren's dominance in the Can-Am Challenge Cup, winning all but one round during the 1970 season. The example owned by McLaren today powered Denny Hulme, who raced with badly burned hands, to three wins. It was restored to full running order earlier this year for the anniversary celebrations. We captured the rare Can-Am racer with the likes of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez behind the wheel and also every detail, resulting in this 24-shot gallery.
Also out on the hill was the Honda-engined McLaren MP4/4, which has gone into history as the most successful Grand Prix car of all time, scoring 15 wins in 16 attempts. This was achieved in the first season of the original McLaren-Honda partnership and the two companies will surely look for a repeat of that performance when they reunite in 2015. The MP4/4 piloted up the hill this year was a different example as we captured back in 2009 although we understand both used the same engine. The newly rebuilt chassis 1 was used by the late Ayrton Senna to score two wins early in the season. McLaren kindly permitted us a very close look and we have added the new shots to our existing gallery, which now features 37 shots of this fabulous machine.

While celebrating the tenth anniversary of the manufacturer's one-two victory at Le Mans with the Speed 8, Bentley launched the all-new Continental GT3 at last weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Built in conjunction with M-Sport, the new V8-engined racer will be fielded from 2014 in a variety of national and international GT Championships. The racing car is based on the recently introduced V8 model and boasts a Cosworth-tuned, 600 bhp engine and rear wheel drive. Ahead of its first full season, the Continental GT3 is expected to make its debut in the final races of 2013.
In the Festival of Speed's annual supercar run, there are always a few machines that we have not heard of, let alone seen before. Among these this year was the Tauro V8 Spider, which hails from Valladolid, Spain. It is based on a Pontiac Solstice platform and boasts a 440 bhp LS3 V8 and a bespoke roadster body. Higher performance 480 bhp and 530 bhp versions are also available. Production of the Tauro V8 Spider is strictly limited to just 30 examples, while a coupe version is also planned.
Ahead of the official launch at the Frankfurt Motorshow (IAA) in September, Mercedes-Benz have released the first pictures and details of the range-topping S 63 AMG. An impressive 100 kg lighter than its predecessor, it is powered by a 576 bhp version of the highly acclaimed 'M157' twin-turbo V8. This helps the S 63 AMG accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited at 250 km/h. The high performance model will also be available in long wheelbase and/or all-wheel drive versions.

This weekend, the 20th anniversary of the Goodwood Festival of Speed was celebrated. To mark the occasion, Lord March invited back some of the most spectacular cars, drivers and riders that starred during the first 20 years. These ranged from a choice of fabulous historic racers to show cars like the legendary Hurst Hemi Under Glass wheelstand car. Among the other anniversaries celebrated were the 50th birthday of both the Porsche 911 and McLaren Racing. In addition to the machinery from years past, the latest competition and super cars were also out in force. Among them was the Pikes Peak winning Peugeot 208 T16, the Le Mans winning Audi R18 e-tron Quattro but also the all-new McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder. Grabbing most headlines, however, will have been the annual Bonhams sale, which became the highest grossing automotive auction ever in Europe. Responsible for this result was the Mercedes-Benz W196 we featured last week and changed hands for a record smashing GBP 19.6 million (close to $30 million).
Our reporters enjoyed the perfect blue skies over Goodwood for all four days, which has resulted in this concise report, illustrated by an action-packed 350-shot gallery. In the coming days and weeks, you can expect more detailed features about the cars that starred at this year's 20th anniversary Goodwood Festival of Speed.

On the eve of this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed we tonight present one final look ahead to the event by featuring two past stars and a pair of brand new machines that will debut on the hill in 2013.
Among the highlights last year were two Group 44 Jaguars. The earliest of these was the E-Type V12 prepared by Group 44 on the behest of Jaguar in 1974. Competing the SCCA standard production championship, Bob Tullius used it to win a startling 12 races out of 17 attempts in 1974 and 1975. Now owned by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, the unique E-Type V12 Group 44 has survived in highly original condition.
Built a few years later for the 1978 Trans-Am championship was this Jaguar XJ-S Group 44. Bob Tullius raced the car just a single season but he made it the winningest Jaguar chassis in a single season by grabbing seven victories. Like the E-Type, the Group 44 XJ-S is still in highly original condition and was bought by the current owner directly from Tullius.
McLaren celebrate the company's 50th anniversary at Goodwood with a fabulous display of classic (competition) cars but will also showcase a brand new model; the MP4-12C GT Sprint. Based on the MP4-12C road car, this is a track-day oriented machine complete with revised suspension, a more aggressive body kit and a full safety system. Production of the GT Sprint will be limited to just 20 examples.
French manufacturer Citroen will use the Goodwood Festival of Speed to provide a preview of the DS3 Cabrio Racing Concept, which will make its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. As the name suggests, it combines the open roof of the DS3 Cabrio with the high performance engine of the DS3 Racing. Although currently labelled a Concept, we would be surprised if a production version will not follow suit.

When first held exactly 20 years ago, the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed was an instant success but few could have imagined it would grow out to the biggest automotive garden party in the world. Today, it effectively also doubles as the British Motor Show, and many manufacturers use it to launch their high performance production and show cars. Among the latest added to the list of world debuts is the very wild Jaguar Project 7. Based on the highly acclaimed F-Type, it features a lightened chassis with the roof structure removed, a revised bodykit complete with a rear wing and the most powerful, 550 hp engine Jaguar has available. Visually inspired by the D-Type, the name Project 7 is a reference to the company's 7 Le Mans wins.
French manufacturer Peugeot will use the Festival of Speed to preview the 270 bhp RCZ R, which will be officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Another high performance machine shown for the first time at Goodwood will be the Caterham Seven 620R. Celebrating 40 years of Caterham production, this is the most extreme Seven to date.
In addition to the modern machinery, many of the (classic) competition cars due to take on the hill have also already been announced. McLaren will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary with a line that includes the Le Mans winning F1 GTR, the all-conquering MP4/4 Honda and the M23 Cosworth, which scored McLaren's first world championship. Among the many other stars expected at the Festival of Speed are the unique Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Le Mans Berlinetta, a freshly restored Brabham BT52, a choice of Honda F1 cars, Sebastien Loeb's Pikes Peak winning Peugeot 208 T16 and the world record holding Lola-Drayson B12/69EV.
We will be at Goodwood the entire weekend to capture every detail and will publish a detailed report with a mouth-watering gallery immediately after. If you want to come and visit Festival of Speed as well you have to hurry as the tickets have all but sold out. For more information, Goodwood can be reached at +44 1243 755055 (telephone), +44 1243 755058 (fax), [email protected] or www.goodwood.com.

One of the most highly anticipated events at this coming weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed will undoubtedly be the sale of the Mercedes-Benz W196 at the Bonhams auction on Friday, July 12th, which is expected to set new world records. The W196 is generally considered one of the all-time great Grand Prix cars and the chassis offered is currently the only one in private hands. It was first raced by the great Juan-Manuel Fangio, scoring back-to-back victories in the 1954 German and Swiss Grands Prix. Compared to the W196 Streamliners used earlier that season, this one stood out for its open-wheel bodywork as requested by Fangio himself. The 'Old Master' would go on to win the Formula World Championship in 1954 and 1955, using W196s. In our heavily revised article four different examples are currently featured in great detail including the one on offer this weekend, illustrated by a 40-shot gallery.
One of the previous stars of Goodwood is the not quite so successful McLaren M6B 'McLeagle' Ford. Based on a customer M6B chassis, this particular example earned its 'McLeagle' nickname because it was modified and raced by Dan Gurney and his All American Racers, who also built the legendary Eagle single seaters. Due to Gurney's close ties with Ford, he was never able to play on a level playing field with the works McLarens, which used the much more powerful Chevrolet big blocks. After two fruitless seasons, the project was abandoned and Gurney actually joined the McLaren works effort. The unique McLeagle has been restored in full running order and is regularly used at historic events like last year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. This year many more McLaren's will be at Goodwood as the company's 50th anniversary is celebrated.
Opel released these teaser images of the upcoming Monza Concept, which will be shown at the IAA in Frankfurt in September. Also due to be launched in September will be this limited production Bluebird DC50. Powered by an all-electric drivetrain producing 360 bhp, this sports car commemorates the 50th anniversary of Donald Campbell's land and sea speed records. Just 50 will be built and the car is set to debut at the 2013 Sustainable MotoExpo at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

Our American readers celebrated their independence from the British yesterday. A lot has changed since 1776 and the two countries have been allies for many years. In motor racing, collaborations between engineers from America and Great Britain have also regularly born fruit. One of the most successful of these is the Ford GT40 Mk II, which combined a British built chassis with an American V8, and scored Ford's first Le Mans victory in 1966. As the name suggests, it was the second incarnation of the GT40 with a big block engine in place if the small block V8 previously used. Through satellite teams Holman & Moody, Shelby American and Alan Mann Racing, Ford fielded no fewer than eight Mk IIs on the way to a historic one-two-three victory. Over the years, we have captured six of the eleven chassis built at historic events. Among them are the three cars that crossed the line side-by-side in 1966 and again completed a lap together at the 2006 Le Mans Classic. The six cars can be seen in our exclusive 77-shot gallery.
Other notable Anglo-American collaborations that have proven very successful include the Eagle Mark 1 Weslake and the Jaguar XJR-5. Combining an American chassis and a British engine, the Eagle has gone into history as one of the best looking racing cars and was also driven to victory by its legendary creator Dan Gurney to victory in the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Created by Bob Tullius in the United States, the XJR-5 was raced successfully in the IMSA GTP Championship during the 1980s and also brought Jaguar back to Le Mans.

Czech specialist manufacturer Innotech have released the brand-new Aspiron track-day machine. It is built around a bespoke tubular steel spaceframe chassis and can be ordered with a choice of GM-sourced V8 engines. These range in power from 500 bhp of the base unit to 1000 bhp of the heavily tweaked supercharged LS9 V8. This power is fed to the rear wheels through a Ricardo 6-speed manual gearbox. The Aspiron will be built to custom order with prices starting at EUR 114,000 or $ 149,000. The new Innotech will make its first public appearance at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
One of the main rivals of Sebastien Loeb and his record-breaking Peugeot 208 T16 at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was Rhys Millen with this spectacular Hyundai PM580-T. Like the Peugeot, the purpose-built Hyundai featured a steel spaceframe chassis with a mid-mounted V6 engine, which was good for a startling 900 bhp. Millen set a time of 9:02.192 in the Genesis PM580-T, which was an improvement of nearly 44 seconds compared to his 2012 time but not enough to match Loeb's record smashing 8:13.878.
Especially for the Japanese market, Subaru have developed the limited edition Impreza WRX STI tS Type A. Only 300 examples will be available of the Type A, which combines a revised body-kit complete with a unique orange paint-scheme and a more poised suspension setup. Optional on the Impreza WRX STI tS Type A is the NBR Challange package, which celebrates Subaru's recent outings in the Nurburgring 24 Hours races.

In less than a fortnight, the Goodwood Festival of Speed will celebrate the event's 20th anniversary in style by inviting back the most exciting cars of the first 20 editions. One of the most iconic of these is the unique Milliken MX-1 'Camber Car'. Originally built in the 1960s by brilliant American engineer Bill Milliken to experiment with extreme camber angles, it was not seen in public until the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The late Milliken drove the car himself, and in 2007 he was back behind the wheel despite being 96 years old at the time. As a warm up for the coming Festival of Speed, we have taken a closer look at this remarkable machine, illustrated by a 14-shot gallery.
Another celebration at the Festival of Speed will be the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, which will be honoured on the traditional structure in front of Goodwood House. Among the many 911s that will take to the hill will be the Porsche museum's 911 GT1 '98. This purpose-built racing car scored the German manufacturer's last Le Mans victory back in 1998 when Porsche celebrated its 50th anniversary. Our 26-shot gallery includes three of the five examples built, including the Le Mans winner.
With a startling driver and car line-up expected, tickets are high in demand with Saturday already sold out. If you want to secure tickets for the remaining days, Goodwood can be reached at +44 1243 755055 (telephone), +44 1243 755058 (fax), [email protected] or www.goodwood.com.