AUSTRALIAN CAR WASH ASSOCIATION RESISTS WATER RESTRICTIONS

Members Encouraged To Support Organization’s Water Restrictions Fighting Fund…

In light of ongoing water restrictions impacting its members, the Australian Car Wash Association (ACWA) established the Water Restrictions Fighting Fund. The purpose of the fund is to assist the association in its efforts to lobby the government on behalf of car wash owners across Australia.

According to the association’s website, the commercial car wash industry is a comparatively small user of water supplies, yet it provides a community service, allowing customers to clean their vehicles in an eco-friendly environment specifically designed for the purpose.  But because car wash businesses are highly visible, the industry is often singled out. As a result, the car wash industry is facing the financial impact of water restrictions. Thus, the ACWA is encouraging industry operators and suppliers to contribute to the fund and band together to ensure excessive plans to restrict car wash businesses are abandoned. www.acwa.net.au.

ASTON MARTIN DEBUTS VALKYRIE

Limited-Edition Sports Car Makes Public Debut…

The stunning Aston Martin Valkyrie supercar made its dramatic debut at the 2019 Silverstone Classic, an annual three-day car and race event at the U.K.’s Silverstone track, home of the British Grand Prix. Built collaboratively by Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing and several other manufacturers, the limited-production hybrid sports car is said to be more than a track-oriented car—one that’s also entirely usable and enjoyable as a road car.

Before the start of the Formula One British Grand Prix, Aston Martin High Performance Test Driver Chris Goodwin, took the 1,160 bhp (brake horsepower) Valkyrie on its first public lap around the track, offering a glimpse of the hypercar’s extraordinary capabilities. “I’ve driven this car around Silverstone for countless hours on the simulator at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s HQ and in many other sportscars throughout my career, but to drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie here today feels exceptionally special,” said Goodwin. “I hope that the crowds watching from the stands enjoyed it as much as I did.”  www.silverstoneclassic.com.

The predatory-looking Aston Martin Valkyrie, which made its public debut at the 2019 Silverstone Classic, boasts 1,160 brake horsepower (bhp).

CULLINAN HAS ROLLS-ROYCE ON A ROLL

Iconic British Brand Finds Success With First SUV…

In the exalted air of supreme luxury vehicles, where sales volumes are counted in the tens and hundreds of units unlike their more pedestrian counterparts, the successful launch of a new model can do wonders for the bottom line. Such is the case with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the iconic brand’s first SUV and first all-wheel-drive vehicle, capable, according to the company, of attracting younger buyers and taking the marque, quite literally, down new roads.

The Cullinan is assembled at the Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood, U.K., including welding, painting, and hand-crafting the interior. Each vehicle takes more than four months to complete, and like all Rolls-Royces, the Cullinan is powered by a V-12 engine.

As recently reported, the Cullinan went on sale late last year. Within five months, 400 vehicles had been sold in the U.S. (the company’s biggest market) at a whopping price tag of $410,000, $75,000 over the base price—and setting a global sales record of 4,107 units in 2018. Through the first half of 2019, Rolls-Royce sold 2,534 Cullinans, an increase of 42.3 percent from the first half of 2018, putting the brand on pace for a banner year.

“It should be the best year ever for Rolls-Royce,” said Martin Fritsches, president of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America. “We have an order bank of over six months. We would love to have more units.”

Sales of the Cullinan, the all-new V-12 SUV from Rolls-Royce, are setting global sales records. The U.S. is the company’s largest market.

SALON PRIVE ANNOUNCES 2020 DATES

Fifteenth Annual Event Again Slated For Blenheim Palace…

The fourteenth edition of the Salon Privé is in the books and organizers are gearing up for the 2020 weeklong event, scheduled for September 1 -6 on the lawn of Blenheim Palace. Beginning with a classic car tour through the Cotswolds and ending with a two-day supercar tour, Salon Privé Week is known for attracting rare classic vehicles and motorcycles from throughout motoring history, along with a chance to hobnob with well-heeled car collectors, enthusiasts and other visitors.

Against the backdrop of Blenheim Palace, rare classic vehicles of every vintage and marque are on display during the annual Salon Privé.