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British sports car maker Aston Martin expects to sell fewer cars this year compared to last year due to the economic crisis, the company’s chief executive told German newspaper Die Welt in an interview.

Aston Martin sold 5,800 sports cars last year, which was the second-best year in the company’s 95-year history, Ulrich Bez told the paper in an article published on Saturday.

“In light of the current weakening in consumer spending we expect 4,500 to 5,000 unit sales this year,” Bez said.

Islamic investment firm Investment Dar (TIDK.KW) owns a controlling stake in Aston Martin. The fund was part of a consortium that bought the automaker for about $950 million from Ford Motor Co (F.N) in March 2007.

The British International Motor Show planned for 2010 in London has been cancelled because of the global slump in demand for cars, according to the U.K. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

“The economic downturn and the unprecedented challenges facing the industry, both in the U.K. and around the world, have made it impossible for exhibitors to commit to a 2010 event,” the trade group said today in a statement.

The event has attracted an increasing number of visitors and the decision to cancel was “extremely difficult,” SMMT President Paul Everitt said in the statement. The move followed a thorough consultation with the industry, the group said. The SMMT is pressing the U.K. government to boost aid to automakers, including direct incentives to trade old cars for new ones.

Carmakers across Britain have slowed production in response to declining demand. Volkswagen AG’s Bentley luxury division said Jan. 21 it will suspend production at its factory in Crewe, England, for seven weeks. Nissan Motor Co. will eliminate 1,200 jobs at a plant in Sunderland, while Honda Motor Co. temporarily halted operations in Swindon.

The motor show, first held in London in 1903, returned to the capital in 2006 after more than two decades in Birmingham. The biennial event was last held in the summer of 2008 at the ExCeL arena in the U.K. capital.

Group Lotus Plc and VW’s Bentley were among manufacturers that introduced new premium models at last year’s gathering. The show included a champagne bar, a “live action arena” and performances by Deep Purple and Meat Loaf.

Since the event, U.K. car sales have fallen, with a plunge of 22 percent last month outpacing an 18 percent decline in Europe. The continent’s manufacturers are likely to make 25 percent fewer vehicles this year, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said on March 5.

Tata Motors Ltd.’s Jaguar Land Rover has cut temporary staff and reached an agreement with workers to reduce production to avoid job losses. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest luxury-car maker, is reducing shifts and eliminating 850 jobs at its Mini car factory in Oxford.

Originally from Bloomberg Media.

The 2010 Jaguar XKR would be considered, by most accounts, a mild revision of the outgoing model. Its state-of-the-art aluminum monocoque chassis carries over unchanged. The design, save for a few minor updates, is the same as the outgoing model’s. But few would count that against the silken Jag, whose curvaceous lines are almost universally admired in the industry. No, what separates the new XKR from its predecessor is the heart transplant it has undergone: in the place of the 420-horsepower AJ34S supercharged V8, the beating heart of the new XKR, is the next-generation 5-liter version, its supercharger supplemented by direct injection to twist out an astonishing 510 horsepower. That figure alone puts the Jag well ahead of Aston’s V8 Vantage, ahead of the V12-powered DB9 as a matter of fact, and on par with the flagship DBS supercar that has appeared in the last two James Bond films.

To give you an approximate idea of how powerful an engine lies beneath the bonnet of the 2010 XKR, consider the following. The previous fastest road car in Jaguar history was the XJ220, a svelte supercar with a high-strung, twin-turbo V6 that produced 549-hp and propelled it to a terminal velocity of 217.1 miles per hour at the Nardo high-speed test track in Italy back in 1992. That record, astonishing as it stood, was broken this year at the Bonneville Salt Flats by a barely modified XFR sedan with the same engine that powers the XKR, only with its engine management unit derestricted and its supercharger increased slightly in boost, hitting a top speed of 225.7 miles per hour. In a sedan. Jaguar pegs the XKR’s 0-60 mph run in 4.6 seconds, which we reckon may actually be a conservative estimate. Top speed is artificially limited to 155 mph, but change the firmware – which is not something we would advocate, we’re just speculating – and there’s no telling what the lighter, more slippery super-coupe might achieve.

The epic amount of power generated by the spooled eight is channeled through the latest version of Jaguar’s six-speed automatic transmission, complete with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel to afford its driver an extra degree of control without having to, heaven forbid, actuate a clutch. The steering wheel itself is a new three-spoke design, the offset centerpiece of a subtly revised cabin. The previous XKR’s interior space was one of the more suitable environments from which to discover the world’s roads, and Jaguar has wisely chosen not to mess with it too much. To supplement the paddle shifters, Jaguar has fitted its proprietary JaguarDrive Selector, a stubby metal cylinder which emerges from the center console to control the transmission settings. Above it is a concave start/stop button for ignition, and a new color touch-screen dominates the dashboard to control the vehicle’s extensive multimedia system which integrates the considerable sound system, climate control and satellite navigation. In true Jaguar style, a variety of leather and trim options are available to the discerning buyer.
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Safety Fast!, the MG Car Club’s iconic monthly magazine, is celebrating its Golden Anniversary in 2009. First published in April 1959 it has enjoyed 50 glorious years and continues to provide the MG Car Club’s worldwide membership with a comprehensive overview of all things MG.

As a fitting tribute to the longevity of the publication, the cover image from the April 1959 edition will once again feature on the front of the April 2009 issue.

To further celebrate the magazine’s Golden Anniversary, the April edition of Safety Fast! will be available to view online free of charge via the MG Car Club’s website for a four week period. Commenting on the anniversary, editor Andy Knott, said, “This is a great time to be involved with the magazine which has evolved and developed over the past 50 years into the ultimate source of information for MG enthusiasts around the world.”

Established in 1930, The MG Car Club is the original club for all MG owners and enthusiasts. It has the experience and know-how to help everyone enjoy owning and running their MG. The club, which is professionally run, is based at Kimber House adjacent to the original Morris Garages workshop and factory. It organizes more than 80 events every month with activities for all ages, tastes and models of MG. Social; touring; concours; trials; autotests; sprints; hillclimbs and race meetings, something for absolutely every MG fan.

While the Club is the ultimate knowledge base for all MGs it also offers practical advantages for membership, including an exclusive insurance package providing great rates for MGCC members. Coupled with this is a comprehensive Trade Partners scheme which means you are never far away from competitively priced MG parts and service from trusted suppliers.

Entries Invited for Le Mans Celebration Race to commemorate 1959 MG Car Club Entry

he MG Car Club is inviting entries for a Le Mans Celebration race at Oulton Park on May 9th 2009. Entries are for cars of a type and in a form that were raced up to 1965 – including prewar. All cars should be to FIA spec and on road tyres or “L” sections. The Le Mans Celebration Race is by invitation but if you wish to receive an application call Steve Carr at the MG Car Club Office on 01235 555552.

The race coincides with the publication of a book which records the MGCC North West Centres entries at Le Mans in 1959, 1960 1961. These were disguised Works entries after the MG Car company withdrew from Le Mans following the 1955 accident.

The occasion will be an opportunity for the personnel involved to gather at Oulton along with the actual MGA used at Le Sarthe. The first 25 entries for the race will receive copies of the book fully autographed at the presentation. Entries are sought from all makes including of course MG’s but they have to be of a type that raced at the classic long distance race in the period.

Under 21 racers will benefit from a half-price race entry scheme designed to make racing more affordable for the cash strapped youth. Anyone under 21 on January 1 2009 will benefit from half price race entry fees at all MG Car Club race meetings in 2009.

The first MG Car Club race will be full price and the entrant/driver will receive a half price voucher against their next entry. Each subsequent entry will receive a similar half price voucher with the last race of the year being free, provided of course they have the voucher from their previous race.

Ron Gammons , Clerk of Course for MG Car Club said, “In 2008 we had a 17-year old winner of our MG Trophy Championship which has encouraged to provide this financial incentive to bring more youngsters into the sport. To race in our championships the minimum age is 16 years old provided they have passed their ARDS test.”

For further information call the MG Car Club on: 01235 555552