Month: January 2020
What a month it’s been! From Megxit to Chinese New Year, January has been nothing short of eventful. Every week, we’ve been bringing you a news roundup of our favourite automotive stories from the week. Today, we’re drawing the month to a close with our final news roundup of January.
Audi | Let it go
Earlier this year, we reported that Audi had begun “targeting millennials” with their social content. And what better way than getting Game of Thrones star, Maisie Williams to sing along to Frozen’s Let It Go in an Audi e tron Sportback. In the ad, Audi is driving towards a “more sustainable tomorrow” by asking you to “embrace the future by letting go of the past”. Watch the video at your own leisure, but fair warning, the song will be stuck in your head for the foreseeable.
“Italy’s Fast Cars and Slow Food Celebrated At 92nd Street Y”
If you love your food just as much as you love your car, you’re in luck. This year, Food historian and author Francine Segan will present two talks and tastings that take a closer look at the car and food culture of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy known as “Motor Valley”. Attendees can spend the day with like-minded people eating Italian gourmet specialities whilst learning about the area’s 15 car museums and 19 private vintage car collections.
“Demand to drive Bond’s Aston Martin leaps ahead of movie release”
Always dreamed of driving an Aston Martin? Join the queue! With the release of the new 007 film fast approaching, everyone is desperate to drive an Aston Martin. According to supercar experience company Trackdays, their Aston Martin experiences skyrocketed by 25% in 2019. “Brits get to experience the same behind-the-wheel thrills as the world’s most famous fictional secret agent,” said Dan Jones, operations manager at Trackdays. The company offers experiences in a variety of Bond staples including a 1960s DB5 and a V8 Vantage.
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It’s that time of year again! Super Bowl Sunday (heading into Super Bowl Monday morning for UK watchers) is back for 2020. You could argue that it’s the biggest American sporting event of the year. It had a TV audience of around 98.2 million in 2019! And, with a viewership like that, some of the world’s biggest companies will “shell out the big bucks” for an advert in the big game. Automakers like Audi, Nissan & Mercedes-Benz are among the brands to have showcased ads at the Super Bowl, some were big hits, some a little more controversial. To raise the anticipation for Sunday, we’ve looked back on some the most famous Super Bowl car adverts of all-time.
Nissan: With Dad
A potential tear-jerker! The 2015 advert follows an up-and-coming racing driver on his journey to the “highest levels of motorsport” whilst balancing work and family life. We’d tell you how it ends, but you need to see for yourself! After the ad debuted, Nissan took to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to encourage viewers to share their #WithDad stories. What’s yours?
Mercedes-AMG GT: Fable
Slow and steady wins the race, right? The Mercedes-AMG advert tells the well-known tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, with an extremely clever plot twist. The automaker puts a “modern spin” on the classic fable to flaunt the “hair-raising power and performance” of the Mercedes- AMG GT.
Audi: Daughter
In 2017, Audi America announced that they are “committed to equal pay for equal work” in an advert that “divided viewers”. Daughter follows a young girl racing against boys in a soapbox derby. But the controversy was within the script, where the girl’s father, voiced by Peter Jessop asks:
“What do I tell my daughter? Do I tell her grandpa is worth more than her grandma? That her dad is worth more than her mom? Do I tell her that despite her education, her drive, her skills, her intelligence, she will automatically be valued as less than every man she meets?”
Spoiler, the girl wins the race and the father concludes: “Or maybe I’ll be able to tell her something different”.
Audi: The Chase
No other car will do the job! The Chase showcased at the Super Bowl in 2009. It follows action film star Jason Statham as he jumps forward through time in a car chase “that takes him from one decade’s getaway vehicle to another”. The cars get better and faster over time, and of course, Statham ends his car chase in an Audi before the strapline “Progress is Beautiful” concludes the advert.
What famous Super Bowl car adverts do you remember? Get in touch on our LinkedIn page or Facebook and let us know!
And for some bonus content, check out our article on our favourite car adverts of all-time!
It’s important to us that we stay up to the date with the latest news updates, so you don’t have to. Here at Oracle, we try our best to provide expert knowledge to our customers. So, this week, these three industry news updates caught our eye…
“How to build a hypercar (company)”
This week, PistonHeads shared a 15-minute video of Mate Rimac talking about the trials and tribulations of building a hypercar. The PistonHeads team described the young entrepreneur as “one of the industry’s most exciting figureheads” in an article to support the video about “a bright idea into a real world-success”.
“Aston Martin Jet 2+2 spotted”
The Aston Martin Jet 2+2 is the one-off concept car commissioned by Aston Martin aficionado, Barry Weir. The car is also the last ever car to be built by the “legendary Italian firm”, Bertone. When the car was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show it received an incredibly warm reception, and rumours sparked that Aston Martin and Bertone were in talks about a limited production run of the Jet 2+2. But that idea never came to be. Fast forward to 2020, the renowned Aston Martin collector, Barry Weir, is selling the custom Aston Martin, and the tools to build another.
“Someone’s paid millions for the first C8 Corvette”
TopGear reported the first mid-engined Corvette was sold for $3 million at auction last weekend. The lucky new owner of the C8 corvette is NASCAR team-owner Rick Hendrick, who is a “proper collector who also owns the first Heritage Edition Ford GT, the first new-model Acura NSX and first C7 Corvette ZR1 among others”. How much would you pay for a car like this?
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Have you ever wondered what the best racing drivers in the world drive? Both on and off the track, they don’t disappoint! We’ve been researching our favourite F1 racers to find out more about their pride and joy when they’re off duty.
Lewis Hamilton
As you’d expect, the 6 time Formula 1 World Champion has a vast collection of cars. From a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 to the Ferrari LaFerrari. Hamilton is most famous for flying through the streets of Monaco in his Pagani Zonda 760. The car is estimated to be worth a cool $1.4 million.
Carlos Sainz
The 24 year old celebrated his first Formula 1 podium by taking delivery of his custom Mclaren 600LT Spider. The car looks sleek in dark sliver with bright orange brake calipers. The inside features carbon fibre seats and bright orange seat belts to match.
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Jenson Button
2009 was a big year for the former racer. It’s the year he won his first and only World Championship. As well as buying one of only 200 Bugatti Veyron’s that were available at the time. Even back in 2009 the Veyron came with an eye-water price tag of £1,000,000.
Sebastian Vettel
Unsurprisingly, Ferrari’s number 1 driver has an incredible collection of Ferrari road cars. The standout is his classic F40. Previously owned by world famous Italian Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti (we can just imagine him singing ‘Nessun Dormer’ flying round the streets of Modena). Vettel’s F40 is estimated to be worth up to £2,000,000.
Max Verstappen
The Dutch youngster was racing his 200+mph Formula 1 car a year before he had a driving license. Verstappen passed his driving test on his 18th Birthday. His first car was….a Renault Clio, as his father insisted he should get experience in something sensible! However, less than a year later, Verstappen took his first Formula 1 race victory and celebrated by upgrading to a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Not a bad upgrade for the then 18 year old! Bet the insurance on that was a shocker!
Fernando Alonso
Currently competing in the Dakar Rally. The former two times World Champion is well known for his car collection. The rarest in his collection is the Ferrari 599 GTB Alonso Edition. Named after the racer, only 40 of these cars were ever produced.
Here at Oracle Finance, we speak to customers every day who tell us fascinating stories about previous owners of their cars! This is one of the best parts of the job – there’s so much emotion associated with your car biography. If you’d like to chat cars (or previous owners), feel free to give us a call on 0800 0126666
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There’s plenty to consider when looking for your next car. How does it look? What spec does it have? And obviously, what about performance? But putting all those immediate questions to one side, you’ve also got to know how comfortable it is. Whether you drive for an adrenaline rush or just the daily commute, comfort is a key factor.
In this article, we’ve considered everything from heated steering wheels to touch screens. So get comfy and check out our top cars for creature comforts.
Audi A6
It may not be the most fun drive you’ll ever have, but it’ll definitely be comfortable. Top Gear rated the A6 an impressive 8 out of 10 for its “superb interior”. The interior hosts a version of the MMI Touch interface that debuted on the A8 and has since been fitted to the A7 and the Lamborghini Urus. It goes without saying that the A6 has heated seats, which in 2020, is surely a necessity?! But our favourite thing about this car is that reviewers describe it as a “smooth drive” with a tuned suspension so “the car doesn’t feel stiff at low speeds” – rush hour traffic during the commute just got a little less painful!
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The E-Class has a smart yet comfortable interior which makes it the perfect option if you want the best of both worlds. Leather seats and heated steering wheels give it a great balance between luxury and comfort. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has some special little luxuries such as the seats, steering column and exterior mirrors being power adjustable. If your spec includes the memory package, your E-class will even remember your preferences. So, if more than one driver uses the car, you’ll spend less time adjusting everything before you can have fun driving.
Genesis G70
The G70 “redefines” driver needs and expectations and is the best choice if you want to make a statement. The car is integrated with “athletic styling, performance and smart technology” and was ranked #1 in its class, in its first year off the production line. Gear Patrol described the G70 as “a four-door car with a comfortable ride, a luxurious interior and a whole bunch of high-tech driver assistance and convenience features”. What more could you want?
Lamborghini Huracan
You may be surprised to see the Huracan on this list. The Huracan may not be the most comfortable car you’ve ever driven, but it does offer features for your convenience. Lamborghini recently announced that they’ll soon be the first car manufacturer to integrate Amazon Alexa in their vehicles. The virtual assistant will allow drivers to adjust functions such as navigation and heating and will even open your garage door. The Italian automaker claims that by integrating Alexa in the 630bhp V10-powered Huracán Evo, they will be breaking new ground by being the first company to incorporate a connected infotainment system with digital services in a supercar.
Tesla Model S
If you’re in the market for something greener, the Model S should be at the top of your list. WhatCar rated the interior four out of five stars, for its forward-thinking technology throughout the vehicle. The publication said that “finding a comfortable driving position in the Model S is easy” and driving in it is even easier. “But it’s the effortless delivery of that pace when you’re in the flow of traffic that makes the 75D so relaxing to drive”.
What’s the most comfortable car you’ve ever driven? Get in touch on our LinkedIn page or Facebook and let us know!
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In 2019, we brought to you weekly updates of the most exciting news in the car industry. From flying taxis to exciting movie trailers! We like to stay up to date with the latest car news in order to provide our customers with expert knowledge. To round up the year, we thought we’d look back on our top three news stories from 2019.
NO TIME TO DIE OFFICIAL TRAILER
If there’s one thing to look forward to this year, it’s the newest sequel to the Bond franchise. In 2019, the first-ever trailer for No Time to Die was released, and the countdown began. No Time to Die follows Bond on a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist, but it turns out to be “far more treacherous”. The film stars Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux and of course Daniel Craig. But if that’s not enough to excite you, you can also expect to see these four Aston Martins taking a starring role…
“THE PORSCHE-DESIGNED 135-FOOT JUST HIT THE MARKET.”
2019 was a busy year for Porsche, from designing a Star Wars spaceship to unveiling their all-electric Taycan. Last year, they also debuted a luxury catamaran, named Royal Falcon One. Business Insider gives us a peek into what took Porsche designers a whole decade to make. It can accommodate up to ten guests with five guest rooms and a master suite with a private deck!
“FERRARI WANTS TO TAP INTO A NEW CUSTOMER BASE WITH ROMA”
This November, Ferrari unveiled ‘The Roma’ in a bid to “tap into a new customer base”. The new supercar has been branded the ‘less intimidating car’ for the luxury SUV generation and has been described as “a Formula One car in evening dress” with its simplistic shape.
What are your favourite news stories from 2019? Get in touch on our Facebook and LinkedIn to let us know!
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Last year, we published various guides to buying a car, from fun cars to vehicles perfect for your dog. Now that we’re completely settled into the new year and the kids start going back to school, it’s probably time to start thinking about what you’re travelling in. There is a lot to think about when choosing a car, however – whether you’re looking for boot space, aesthetics or how many car seats can fit in the back. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top five cars that we’d recommend for the school run.
Audi S4 Avant
Described by TopGear as “the only car you’ll ever need”, the S4 Avant is not only great for the family, but it’s a fast and fun drive.
Mercedes-AMG G63
The luxury 4×4 to end all 4x4s. If you’re someone who likes the advantage of space and style in your car, the G63 is perfect. It’s not only huge, but the Telegraph described it as “the king of bling” in the SUV world. All hail! If you’re looking for something a bit mean, but equally as spacious, then we’d recommend this one.
Tesla Model X
The greenest way to travel on the school-run, besides walking or cycling. The Tesla Model X has seven seats and was described by Top Gear as “a thoroughly capable family wagon”. The Model X is a perfectly practical car, with a hidden surprise. The falcon doors could be seen as a gimmick, but we think it’ll just make it easy to get the car seats in and out!
Porsche Cayenne
The Cayenne is a main player in the sports utility world and if you’re in the market for an SUV, you probably don’t need much convincing when it comes to buying one. If you’re a Porsche fan waving goodbye to your sports car for the school run (or for the winter), the Cayenne is the perfect alternative. It’s still fast (top speed: 152mph) and is a luxury car with room for the whole family.
Bentley Bentayga Speed
The British manufacturer claims that their Bentayga Speed is the “the world’s fastest SUV delivering an unmatched balance of phenomenal power and exquisite levels of craftsmanship”. That’s quite a statement! And you’ll never be late on the school-run again! The Bentayga Speed flaunts 626 bhp and a maximum speed of 190mph. Not to mention the intelligent tech design “specifically designed to elevate the stirring driving experience”.
Have we convinced you yet? If you’re looking to finance a new car just before the 2020 school run, we’re open until 8pm Monday – Thursday, until 6pm on Fridays and 4pm on Saturdays!
We are a credit broker, not a lender. Oracle Asset Finance Ltd is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register No. 662576) for the sale of consumer credit. For more information, please visit www.oraclefinance.co.uk
Clearing out your social media? It’s the time of the year where everyone’s doing a bit of housekeeping. Whether that’s deleting Facebook ‘friends’, or purging your Instagram following list. So, we thought it would be a good idea to help filter your timeline by giving you five of our favourite automotive Instagram accounts.
@makegreengreatagain
What’s your favourite colour? The account is dedicated to only posting photos of green cars. The page has been running since January 2018 and features cars in every shade, from lime to sage. The colour coordinated grid also makes a very satisfying scroll…
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@alexpenfold
Wouldn’t it be nice to travel the world in a Lamborghini Diabolo or a Porsche 993 from the comfort of your own home? Thanks to Alex, you can. Penfold is a travelling photographer capturing the rarities of the car world. Follow for Koenigsegg Narayas, Aston Martin Vanquish Zagatos and more.
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@supercarsofharrogate
Who knew Yorkshire had so many jaw-dropping supercars? The account is predominantly based in and around the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate (nice and local to Oracle HQ!). The account is filled with photos of supercars spotted out in the wild.
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@arvinfinger
For your daily dose of Porsches! Arvin Finger is founder of “one of the largest adventures pages on Instagram & Facebook”. But he dedicates his personal page to stunning images of Porsches. If the photos don’t make you want to buy a Porsche, we don’t know what will!
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@capturingthemachine
The page “captures the machine” beautifully as well as by playfully experimenting with light and colour. If you prefer a more abstract look into cars, this is the account for you!
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@OracleCarFinance
Is it against the rules to include your own page? It’d be rude not to! As a bonus contender, @OracleCarFinance is dedicated to sharing luxe images of prestige cars, as well as a few inspirational car-related quotes here and there too!
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