Browsing Category

Car Reviews

Ed Sheeran Has First Driving Lesson with Top Gear’s The Stig

Ed Sheeran has successfully made looking scruffy and being ginger cool over the years, being viewed as a God by much of the UK’s youngsters. Not only does he work the unconventional pop star look but also he has now made not having a driving license fashionable. How does he do it?

Where many women love a man with a nice car Ed Sheeran seems to do just well without one, having been rumoured to have spent personal time with both Taylor Swift as well as Ellie Goulding.

On the first episode of the new series of Top Gear the Lego House singer was placed in Top Gear’s reasonably priced car. On the show he revealed that this was the first time he has not only driven a car but even sat in a driving seat! With a stunned studio audience the red head explained that he thought it would be funny for his first driving lesson to be delivered by the Stig.

His lap was more than impressive with Sheeran providing the illusion that he knew exactly what he was doing.

Take a look at some pictures from the day!

 

Ed_Sheeran_takes_to_the_Top_Gear_track188_80436738_bbc_sheeran_topgear

 

 

 

 

 

 

limo GS

Kim Kardashian, David Essex and the cast of Georgie Shore: Just a few Celebs that love to ride in limos

RR-KKLimousines are undoubtedly the most luxurious vehicle types, embodying both elegance and flamboyancy. With stretched limos proving to be the UK’s favourite vehicle to travel in such cars inevitably attract the rich and famous, with our fleet having seated the likes of Kim Kardashian and David Haye in the past.

For one limo driver from Cheltenham it is this celebrity clientele that has maintained his passion for limo driving, with each and every day bringing surprise passengers his way.

Chris has been driving limos for fifteen year, resulting in him being on television and meeting some of the countries most famous celebrity figures.

Chris said: “I was the first in Gloucestershire, and I called the company 21st Century Limousines. For the first few weeks I parked on all the major roads in Cheltenham with a big sign on the side with the phone number; I was by the Racecourse, I was on the A40. And once I was in yellow pages it went crazy, I was working all the time.”

And the job brought Chris into some surprising circumstances. Chris said: “I was booked by a woman called Cook for her wedding at Eastnor Castle, I was to take her to Heathrow. Judith and I drove down and I got there and said to this bloke ‘this is some pile here’ and he said ‘yeah, it’s nice, innit’. I went back and said to Judith, that he looked awfully like David Essex – and it was.

“His real name was Cook, he was the father of the bride who had booked me but I had no idea. limo fun

With many dreaming to meet David Essex it seems as a limo driver you simply stumble across such experiences.

“I was also briefly on TV with Trinny and Susannah, they did a makeover with a woman from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and sent her to a ball, so I was on screen just for a second. And for Celebrity Wedding Planners I had two youngsters from Geordie Shore.”

Although contemplating retirement it seems that life as a limo driver is what has kept him going, with the fun such cars can bring ensuring Chris has always got a spring in is step.

Chris said: “It’s a lot of fun because your customers are having fun, you wouldn’t hire a stretch limo for something serious, it’s all about having fun.”

What do you think, could you make it as a limo driver? Leave you comments below.

rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-1

Review: The Rolls Royce Maharaja Drophead Coupe

rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-1Rolls Royce are infamous for their outlandish automotive creations, with each and every edition boasting a unique quality. It is safe to say that Dubai homes some of the most incredible Rolls Royce marques ever made with wealthy Arabs renowned for their love of extravagant vehicles.

The British carmakers have such a strong client base in Dubai that many of their creations are exclusive to the country, with the rest of the world desperate to get their hands of these limited editions.

The latest Rolls Royce Phantom to get the world talking is the Rolls Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupe, a vehicle that enthuses in beauty and panache. The flamboyant car was recently celebrated in Fashion magazine Femina Middle East, being the focus of their Indian-style photo shoot.

Their choice of car was impeccable with the Maharaja defining Indian culture in a flamboyant yet classy fashion.

What does ‘Maharaja’ mean?

Maharaja is a Sanskrit title for a ‘great ruler’, ‘great king’ or ‘high king’, with the Maharaja Phantom undeniably showcases these connotations. The word has been adopted by many when trying to reflect an element of royalty, with catering businesses, restaurants and successful brands making use of what the word stands for.

rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-3The stunning white Phantom features an emerald green coachline as well as peacock emblems, with the peacock being India’s national bird. These little intricacies are what brings the car to life, setting it apart from your average automobile.

Discussing the car, General Manager at the local AGMC Rolls-Royce showroom in Dubai said, “Dubai is the only market in the world to receive this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind Bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupé, which has been two years in the making – not only an incredible coup for us, but also a strong reflection of the importance that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars places on this market.”

Let us know what you think of the Maharaja by leaving your comments below.

hak

BMW & Range Rover ‘connected cars’ targeted by Cyber Hackers

hakNew luxury cars are often celebrated for their integration of new technology, with modern features giving way to improved control systems, having huge effects on braking, acceleration and security.

Although these ‘connected cars’ are undeniably more streamlined with fingerprint technology and keyless ignition systems making more of an extremely personal driving experience are they too good to be true?

Of late they have caused an international panic, proving to pose larger theft risks than your average hatchback. According to reliable sources criminal organisations have been using sophisticated technology to steal information as well as extort money from car owners.

Edmund King, president of the AA, told:

“You are now getting the connected car. You’re getting cars that are connected to the internet 24 hours a day. If cyber criminals targeted automobiles like they’re targeting other things we’d be in for a hard and fast ride.”

“The more cars rely on technology, particularly remote technology, the more there is to get at.”

The most dangerous possibility is criminals hacking into a car’s safety systems, including cruise control and braking.

“Ultimately there could be a terrorist-type threat to transport systems,” King said. “I don’t think we’re there yet but it’s something that needs to be addressed.”

Not only is this giving hackers a new route to devise theft plans with but it can also encourage unsafe roads, with hackers being able to influence crashes as a result of their control.

Research has found that recent thefts of BMW and Range Rover marques has been a result of criminals gaining access to internal computer systems known as Controller Area Network (CAN). This can be achieved through a wireless network, Bluetooth or a car radio.

With such scepticism surrounding the modern vehicle we can take solace in the thought that future technology will hone in on car safety.

mercedes_s600_pullmann_003

Colossal Mercedes S600 Limo Spotted

mercedes_s600_pullmann_003As you know at Cars for Stars we love vehicles that are out of the ordinary, especially limousines that pose a bit of personality.

Well, we can safely say that we were in our element when spotting the Mercedes S600 Limo, an incredible creation that has enlivened the limousine industry.

The limo is a lot of things but it is no way understated, standing out dramatically when marauding around the city. The Pullman was spotted during testing this week and is said to sit below the ultra-lavish S600 Maybach that we saw a few months back.

This vehicle is over a meter longer than the flagship Mercedes and is said to be pretty spectacular in the inside also, especially under the bonnet.

The engine in question is a 6.0-liter V12 with 530 horsepower and 830 Nm of torque, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Puallman is 6.4 metres long and weighting in at around three tonnes, therefore it will definitely face trouble parking in the local Tesco car park, being used for the world’s dictators and oligarchs for corporate trips.

Auto Express says:

‘Price details are sketchy for the standard Pullman, as they are for the Maybach, but we expect both will be significantly more expensive than any current S-Class, with the Maybach approaching £200,000, and the Pullman around £160,000. Both should be unveiled fully at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November.’

What do you think of the Pullman? Could it reach the same level of popularity as its predecessor?

STEPHANIE WOODS AUDITION

X Factor Steph Woods Shines Bright Like a Diamond

We were very proud to chauffeur Steph Woods last week and are even happier to introduce her newest addition to her musical repertoire. She is defiantly one to look out for in the coming weeks and we for one are very excited to see what the future holds for a genuinely talented young British female. The charts are bursting with songs that compromise musical for ability, the industry is desperate for a star like Steph! Keep a look put for her new songs on her Youtube, Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

photo (1)

Steph Woods from X Factor hitched a ride with Cars for Stars

Twice X Factor evictee, Steph Woods, is definitely one to look out for! Last week she posted a picture on Twitter sprawled inside one of our Rolls Royce Phantoms! Things are definitely looking up for Steph and Cars for Stars was thrilled to be a part of her journey.

photo (1)

The young liverpudlian has had an epic musical adventure, especially when thinking back to her X Factor experiences. She first auditioned

for the ITV show at the very young of 14, back in 2007. Progressing all the way to judges houses, mentored by Sharon Osborne, her dream was then crushed. Claiming she was too young to handle the pressure, Sharon

regrettably decided to take her off the show.

Steph Woods returned to the show this year on learning of Sharon’s return to the judging panel. Having all her memories resurfaced she told that this would be her last shot at the X Factor, pulling on Sharon’s heartstrings throughout the series.

STEPHANIE WOODS AUDITION

When her 2013 X Factor

voyage ended at boot camp the country was devastated to see the back of her, especially Mrs O.

The rock stars wife spilled out her emotions towards Steph on the show and continues to talk about her in the press. In an interview entitled ‘My X Factor Special Moment’ featured in Women & Home Magazine Sharon presented her emotions on the page.

“Every so often an act wanders in that reminds me why I love doing it”

Sharon talks of Steph’s return to the show after 6 years from seeing her.

‘Fast-forward six years and she turned up to audition again this year, it was such an incredible moment, really humbling.”

We can safely say that Cars for Stars was greatly honoured to work with an up and coming British star like Steph!

aston_martin

Aston Martin prepares to celebrate 100 years of excellence

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary with a racing event unlike any other! The luxury automobile maker has announced that the largest collection of its prestigious racing cars will gather for a race of a lifetime as they compete against each other on a single track at the Brands Hatch in July 2013.

In creating this one-off racing event, Aston Martin has managed to create excitement amongst fans and the media alike who are keen to be part of the carmaker’s centenary celebrations. Boasting 100 years of automobile excellence, Aston Martin’s racing event will recognise and pay tribute to the company’s achievements in sports car racing over the past century. The race car collection will boast the many Aston Martin sports cars over the century from those manufactured in 1922 to the latest models in its luxury sports car range.

The race series in Kent will be held on the 6th and 7th July and will bring together Aston Martin race cars from nearly every decade. The cars will race on the Brands Hatch Indy and Grand Prix circuits and the two day event will also host two special centenary races – one covering the pre-war era to the mid 1960s and the other open to all Astons from the mid-sixties. The latter will include the latest Aston Martin GT1, GTE, GT3 and GT4 cars, all of which will compete in a single race on the Grand Prix circuit.

There will also be additional races that will include pre-war Astons and it is rumoured that Lagondas and Bentleys will take part in these as well.

Other events scheduled for the brand’s centenary celebrations include two rounds of the 2013 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, examples of nearly every Aston Martin racing car ever produced, display of its finest road machinery, and on-track demonstrations that will host everything from pre-war Ulsters to Nimrods and the Aston Martin AMR1.

The event will also boast a James Bond showcase celebrating the history of the partnership between the carmaker and the 007 agent with Aston Martin cars on display from the DB5 featured in the 1964 Goldfinger to the most recent appearance in Skyfall.

mansfield640

Mansfield manager Paul Cox wins Aston Martin in bet

In what is seen to be one of the most expensive sporting bets this year, Mansfield owner John Radford has bought team manager Paul Cox an Aston Martin after Mansfield won 8-1 against Barrow.

After the non-league team won 5-0 against Dartford last weekend, Mr Radford decided to raise the stakes promising the manager one of the world’s most expensive cars in return for Mansfield scoring five in the first half of the Blue Square Premier game against Barrow. Even though the Stags had won in the game against Dartford, Mr Radford’s bet looked the promising winner as this was the team’s first time hitting five in a match all season.

However, the game against Barrow seemed to swing in Mr Cox’s favour, as goals from Lee Stevenson, two from Matt Green and one from Colin Daniel meant Mansfield was 4-1 after half an hour into the game. This was quickly followed by Adam Murray scoring a goal before the break to win the bet for Mr Cox as Mansfield led the game 5-1.

Mr Radford, who was returning from a trip to Ireland and missed the first half of the game, rushed to meet with Mr Cox and reiterate his promise to buy the manager an Aston Martin DB9. The impact of winning the bet was visible not just for the lucky manager but for the entire team as Mansfield went on to win 8-1.

Mr Cox, still apprehensive about receiving one of the world’s finest sports cars, said: “As for the car, I’m not sure if it is wind-up. Maybe I’ll get into the car park and it will be a bicycle with some stabilisers on it.”

However, Mr Radford delivered on his promise when an Aston Martin DB9 arrived at the One Stadium on Saturday night – complete with the personalised number plate MT51 COX.

bugatti-grand-sport1-280113-jpg_154416

New one-of-a-kind Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse supercar revealed

A new supercar will soon cruise the roads as luxury car firm Buggati announced their plans to launch an exclusive one-off edition of the world’s fastest convertible – the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Inspired by the Grand Prix winning sports car from the 1920s, the Type 37A, the one-of-a-kind Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse will cost a staggering £2 million and has already been sold to its only customer.

From the house of Buggati Automobiles S.A.S., the French subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse has already created waves for committing to beat the T37A’s supercharged 90bhp speed by being at least 13 times more powerful. That’s an astonishing 1200bhp giving this four-wheel exclusive supercar top speeds of 255mph – more than three times the UK speed limit!

This luxury supercar, which recently made its global debut at the Doha Motor Show in Qatar, has already been sold to an anonymous customer. The owner of the original Type 37A race car, however, is US chat show host and comedian Jay Leno who prides on displaying this top car in his multi-million pound automobile collection.

The Grand Sport Vitesse is an upgraded version of the Veyron Grand Sport and while its top of performance has been increased by 199bhp so has its design. Bugatti has revamped the vehicle’s exterior with bodywork modifications in order to aid the car’s handling and aerodynamics. This is a truly spectacular automobile jewel and one lucky individual can claim ownership of this one-of-a-kind Buggati exclusive.