Last night, Lotus revealed the Eletre, which represents an all-new avenue for the British manufacturer. It is the company's first SUV and also the first that will not be built in the United Kingdom. It is all-electric and features a 600 hp drivetrain that allows for a 0-100 km/h sprint in just three seconds. The first Eletres should arrive with customers early in 2023.
Another sports car manufacturer that will enter the SUV market for the first time is Ferrari with the Purosangue that is due later this year. Although no further details were revealed, Ferrari did release the first teaser image.
British luxury manufacturer Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, is busy testing the all-electric Spectre in the harsh Arctic conditions. From these test, the first images of the new coupe have been published.
Later this week, Toyota will reveal a new Gazoo Racing model. Most likely to be a GR Corolla, it should be quite a machine judging from the high performance Yaris produced by the company's racing arm.
Newly established DEUS Automotive will showcase the Vayanne at the upcoming New York International Auto Show. It is an all-electric high performance machine, designed by Italdesign, so it will definitely warrant a closer look.

This weekend, we will be in Tuscany, Italy for the Mugello Classic. Situated in one of the world's most beautiful areas of the world, the undulating Mugello Circuit will host over 280 classic cars, split over nine different fields. To make sure you are looking forward to this as much as we do, we have taken a look at two historic racing cars that raced at the first and to date only Mugello Classic and one that will take to the track this weekend.
First up is this fabulous Ferrari 250 GT SWB, which is the very last built to the high-performance 'Comp/61' or 'SEFAC Hot Rod' specification. Fielded by the North American Racing Team (NART), it was raced to an outright victory at Montlhéry by Pedro and Riccardo Rodriguez. Now in Swiss ownership, 3005GT has only appeared at select events over the last few years.
Competing in the CER1 field back in 2014 was this Lola T70 Mk2 Spyder. Finished in a very distinct white and blue colour scheme, it was campaigned with considerable success in period by Jerry Crawford. Stored for many years, SL71/20 has more recently been raced at a variety of events by its German owner.
Due to compete in the two-hour Sixties' Endurance race is this lovely Lotus Elan 26R, which was originally rallied by the works-backed Ian Walker Racing Team with considerable success. Unusual for a 26R, chassis 26-S2-33 has survived with its original chassis and bodywork.

Gifted to Juan Manuel Fangio for his retirement by Mercedes-Benz, this 300 SL Roadster is currently available with RM Sotheby's in a concealed bid auction that runs through March 25. 'Il Maestro' retained and cherished the car for the rest of his life. From 1986, it was displayed in the Juan Manuel Fangio Museum. Still in highly original condition, chassis 198.042.8500083 is now offered for sale for the first time. Unfortunately, the final sale price will not be revealed.
The latest high-performance Mercedes is this Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series. Built to celebrate the 55th anniversary of AMG, it is a track-day only machine that is limited to just 55 examples. It is powered by a further developed version of the twin-turbo V8, which is good for 777 bhp. This is mated to a paddle-operated six-speed sequential gearbox. The GT Track Series can run with support from AMG engineers.
The latest new Maserati is the compact Grecale sports utility vehicle. The range-topping model is this 523 bhp Trofeo, which is fitted with a version of the V6 engine that also powers the MC20. It is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in less than four seconds and has a 285 km/h top speed.

This weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix heralded the dawn of an era thanks to the introduction of a new generation of Formula 1 cars. These have come about thanks to extensive rule changes, intended to allow for the cars to run together more closely and in doing so make overtaking a little easier. While Red Bull Racing and Mercedes-AMG F1 both produced very interesting designs, it was the Scuderia Ferrari that ultimately did the best job. In the hands of Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari F1-75 qualified on pole position and went on to win the race, beating team-mate Carlos Sainz. In doing so, the particularly lovely looking F1-75 ended Ferrari's 45-race victory drought.
At an online launch, Alpine introduced the A4810 Project by IED late last week. As the name suggests, it was created at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Turin, by a group of 28 Masters students. Underneath the particularly wild styling, the A4810 boasts a hydrogen-powered drivetrain. Sadly, there are no plans to actually put the futuristic supercar into production.
Offering a more concrete look at what the future has in store is Audi with the A6 Avant e-tron Concept. Again, the name says it all; the show car is a preview of the upcoming, all-electric version of A6 Avant production road car.
Also due in the near future is the Ferrari 296 GT3. Due to replace the 488 GTB-based GT racers, this newly developed machine will be eligible to compete in all the major sports car championships including the FIA WEC and IMSA. Ending a long-standing relationship with Padova-based specialists Michelotto, the 296 GT3 will actually be developed and built in France, by Oreca.

Headlining this weekend's Artcurial Retromobile sale are a pair of fabulous Porsches that have been part of the Ernst Schuster collection for nearly 40 years. The most valuable is this ex-works 907 K, which has an extensive period racing history. The penultimate 907 built, chassis 907-031 has also been used in historic events by Schuster and now has a pre-sale estimate of €4 - 6 million. Sold new to Georg Loos, the 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 on offer was also successfully raced in period, scoring several class and outright victories. It was acquired by Schuster in 1985 and was subsequently restored by Sigi Brunn. Not raced since, 911 460 9077 has been fastidiously maintained and should sell for around €2 million.
Aston Martin have revealed the full details of the new V12 Vantage. Limited to just 333 examples and already sold out, it is slated to be the final Vantage to be powered by a V12 engine. The twin-turbo unit is good for 690 bhp and is mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. The V12 Vantage also features an aggressive body that generates additional downforce to keep the Aston Martin planted to the road.
With the Prodrive Hunter, the British specialist manufacturer has created a road-legal version of the company's Dakar racer. The mighty machine is powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine that drives all four wheels. The 'all-terrain adventure vehicle' is now available to discerning customers for a startling GBP 1.25 million.

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing Vic Elford yesterday. The British driver was one of the great all-rounders, winning the Rally Monte Carlo, Daytona 24 Hours, Targa Florio and finishing fourth at his Formula 1 debut within a matter of months at the start of the 1968 season. Not only was he superb racing driver, the original 'Speed Merchant' also was a great man, always keen to talk about his many adventures.
To celebrate his remarkable career, we have taken a closer look at three Porsche prototypes that he drove to victory in period. The first is the long-tail Porsche 907 that he used to win the Daytona 24 Hours in 1968. The car finished with three Porsches abreast, scoring the very first 24-hour sports car win. Restored to its 1968 Daytona winning configuration, 907-005 sold for a startling $3.6 million at auction in 2014.
In 1970 and 1971, Elford scored back-to-back victories in the Nürburgring 1000 km race with this 908/03. Now part of the fabulous Jerry Seinfeld collection, 908/03-008 also won the 1970 Targa Florio with Jo Siffert and Brian Redman behind the wheel. It today sports the Gulf colours of the Targa Florio victory.
In 1971, Elford was also victorious in the Sebring 12 Hours with this 917 K. Liveried in a silver Martini scheme that year, it was previously raced in blue and white Porsche Salzburg colours. Chassis 917-020 has been in the same ownership since 2005.

There is no less than one month to go before the new historic racing season will kick off with the Mugello Classic. To already get you in the mood, we have taken a closer look at three relatively modern historic racing cars that we saw in action in 2021. First up is this TVR Tuscan T400R, which made its historic racing debut during the 2021 season finale at Estoril. The fourth of seven examples built, this particular example is a veteran of two 24 Hours of Le Mans races. It was acquired by the current owner in bits but he is fortunately the proprietor of marque specialist Str8Six, so chassis '1104' has been beautifully restored to its 2003 configuration.
Competing in the Endurance Racing Legends race at Le Mans was this Lamborghini Murciélago LP670 R-SV. Completed in 2010, it was the 16th and final Murciélago converted to race in the GT1 category. It was sold new to the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club and raced at Le Mans in 2010. It was subsequently converted to road use while still in Japan but chassis LA01066 is now back to its full racing configuration.
A winner at the Le Mans race last year was this Riley & Scott Mk III C. One of five built, it was originally powered by an Elan-prepared V8 and raced at Daytona and Le Mans in period. Now in British hands, chassis 01-004 has already proven to be very fast.

It was a successful weekend for all three international auctioneers that held a sale during the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. With a 92% sell through rate and a gross total of $66.7 million, Gooding had the best day of all. The 99-lot sale was topped by the exquisite Talbot Lago T150C SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Coupe. Exceeding its $10 million estimate, it found a new owner for a record-breaking $13.4 million.
The most coveted machine in the $14.2 million Bonhams auction was the Porsche 550 RS Spyder. Owned by the same family during the last 50 years, it literally was a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire this particular 550 RS Spyder. For this privilege someone was ready to pay nearly $4.2 million.
Although the finalised results are not in at the time of writing, it looks like RM Sotheby's had a $46.6 million day on Saturday. Leading the way was the very rare Packard Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria that had been owned by some of America's most prominent collectors. Meeting the estimate, one of three known survivors crossed the block for $4.1 million.

Consigned to the upcoming Artcurial Retromobile sale is a complete collection of Ferrari supercars offered from the estate of Monegasque lawyer Étienne Léandri. Close to the Ferrari factory since the 1980s, he had bought each new supercar at the launch, retaining them until his passing in 2020. As a result, the collection on offer includes a single-owner, low mileage version of the F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari. Maitre Léandri was very consistent in his preferences, so each of the Ferrari supercars was finished in Rosso Corsa with matching red bucket seats. With a €2.7 - €3.5 million estimate, the F50 is the most highly valued 'prancing horse' due to cross the block in Paris in two weeks time.
Volvo Cars' all-electric off-shoot Polestar have created this particularly striking O2 Concept. Intended as the the vision of the open-top 'hero car' of the brand, it is equipped with a foldaway roof and an aerofoil designed to eliminate the drone usually associated with open-top driving. Not only is the O2 Concept equipped with an electric drivetrain, it is also constructed using recycled materials wherever possible.