This year’s edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place between 23 and 26 June inclusive. BMW is the latest car maker to announce details of a model making its global debut, this being the M3 Touring. This and other world premieres are listed below:
Continuing its strategy of launching relatively frequent special editions of the Alpine A110, Renault is bringing a Tour de Corse 75 limited edition to the four-day event. This is mostly special yellow and black paint plus stickers and glossy white wheels, the intention being to link these 75 cars to the Alpine A110 which competed in the 1975 Tour de Corse rally.
Although it was announced back in February, Aston Martin claims the public premiere of its DBX707 takes place at Goodwood. The three digits refer to power in PS (520 kW) with torque being a stated 900 Nm. The engine is AMG-Mercedes’ 4.0-litre biturbo V8. There is also a nine-speed wet clutch gearbox plus 420 mm carbon brakes at the front and 390 mm at the back end. The 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time is 3.3 seconds.
Bentley is bringing the just-announced Flying Spur S to the Festival. The marque’s S models are sports-focussed with the Spur joining the recently launched Continental GT S and GT S Convertible. This is also the first time that a plug-in hybrid has been offered as an S, there being both V8 biturbo and V6 PHEV options.
The Crewe-based firm has another debut, this being the Continental GT Mulliner. This has the same engine as the Speed: i.e. the W12 produces 485 kW (659 PS) and 900 Nm (664 lb ft).
BMW is another brand to have stated that it will stage a global debut at the Fos. The M3 Competition Touring xDrive will be the first estate in the long history of the M3 series. Production is due to commence in November, the new wagon joining the Sedan, Coupé and Convertible M3/M4 line-up. As there is no M3 Touring (i.e. with the Sedan’s lower power engine and RWD), power and torque are 375 kW (510 PS) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft).
The Pro Electric SuperVan is another world premiere, in this case from Ford. Based on the new E-Transit Custom, this concept continues a long line of modified vans. Official details will follow.
Land Rover announced the 5,358 mm long Defender 130 in May. The extended length eight-seater will now make its public debut at Goodwood. The brand will also display the third generation Range Rover Sport, also revealed to the media last month. The big changes over the previous model are major price rises version-for-version and in spite of a 2,997 mm wheelbase and overall 4,946 mm length, only two rows of seating: there is no 5+2 layout any more.
The Artura GT4, a racing version of the McLaren supercar, is also making its global debut at the Festival. Stated as being more than 100 kg lighter than the outgoing 570S GT4, the new racer, unlike the Artura road car, isn’t a plug-in hybrid.
Mercedes-AMG will also have a single premiere, this being the One. The engine and four motors of this hypercar produce a combined 782 kW (1,063 PS) and top speed is claimed to be 352 km/h. The division says 275 cars will be made. Each is claimed to have been sold.
The 1,599 cc V6, which has an 11,000 rpm limit, puts out 422 kW (574 PS). One of the motors is mounted on the crankshaft and this adds 120 kW (163 PS) while another is integrated into the turbocharger and contributes 90 kW (122 PS). The remaining pair are positioned on the front axle and these put out 240 kW (326 PS). The transmission is a seven-speed automated manual while the battery’s capacity is 8.4 kWh. Range in EV mode is 18 kilometres.
Just five examples of the Pagani Huayra Codalunga will be built, the car being exhibited for the first time at the Festival. The most distinctive thing about the new seven million euro hypercar is a body which has been redesigned at the rear, overall length being increased by 360 mm.
Polestar will have a pair of debutantes, the first of which is the 2 BST Edition 270, a limited edition of 270 cars available in Europe, North America and China. As per the existing 2 Performance Pack, outputs are 350 kW (476 PS) and 680 Nm (502 lb-ft) and the battery’s capacity is 78 kWh. Among other features, the suspension is lowered by 25 mm.
The brand’s other global premiere will be a preview of the 5 in prototype form. This large model, expected to be aimed at the Audi e-tron GT, isn’t due to be in production until 2024. A team in Coventry is leading development of the 5.
Announced in April, the Porsche 911 Sport Classic now makes its public debut, deliveries being due to commence in July. The company will build 1,250 examples of this Turbo S-based edition, each one distinguished by a ‘duck tail’ rear spoiler. Drive is to the back axle only, the 3.7-litre flat six produces 450 kW (550 PS) and there is a seven-speed manual transmission.
Prodrive has come up with the P25, the number signifying both many years it has been since the Subaru Impreza 22B was launched and the number of cars it will produce. The new restomod is claimed to weigh less than 1,200 kg thanks to an extensive use of carbon fibre. The price is GBP460,000 + VAT.
Along with the special edition Alpine, Renault Group will be premiering the Mégane E-Tech Electric. Build commenced in early 2022 at Douai, the vehicle’s world premiere taking place in pre-production form at the Munich IAA in September 2021. There are two motor options: 96 kW (130 hp) and 250 Nm or 160 kW (218 hp) and 300 Nm. As for the battery pack, Renault says it weighs 395 kg and is only 110 mm thick (1,960 mm long and 1,450 mm wide). The chemistry is lithium-ion NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) and LG is the supplier.
This list will continue to be updated.
