Sports carriage mustering at Øvrevoll gallop

Posted 11/05/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

I visited the Norwegian Sports Car Club's spring mustering last Sunday at Øvrevoll gallop. Here you can find Norway's most beautiful sports cars with the opportunity to study extremely rare and exclusive cars up close. Here are some of them.

In total only around 900 Jowett Jupiters were produced. It took several victories in motor racing at the time. Jowett was a very well-known car brand in England with a production site in West Yorkshire, England. The most popular model after the war was Jowett Javelin. A car like this appeared in the TV series Aidensfield (Heartbeat) as the city's representative car.

The Porsche 356 Speedster has had a renaissance as a replica car. Most Speedsters you see on the road are replicas. The car in the picture, however, is an original Speedster. The prices of these cars have really skyrocketed in recent years.

TVR is an English sports car manufacturer that builds cars in small series. They are built from fiberglass material on tubular steel frames. The car in the picture is one of the first built in the early 1960s, a Grantura probably series II or IIa. In total, about 400 cars were built in this series.

I must admit that I have never seen or heard of this model. At first I thought it was a Indy, but it is a Khamsin – a model that was produced during very turbulent times for Maserati. Despite sales being poor after the oil crisis and despite the owners, Citroen, struggling financially – Maserati built very beautiful cars.

The Mitsubishi 3000 GT is not something you see every day. According to AI, there are about 90 cars in Norway. This is a type of car that I believe was made for the American market.

I have no problem naming this the most beautiful car of today. It is a hand-built, German grand tourer with a V8 engine taken from the BMW 550i and a 6-speed manual transmission. Ready to drive, it weighs under 1300 kg. This one is for sale for just under 2 million kroner Advertisement.

This is a model that appears when exclusive sports cars are shown. According to the vehicle register, there are 6 cars of this model in Norway registered between 2005 and 2007.

Trans am — 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

You could say this was every boy's dream in the 1970s. A beautiful 2-door hardtop coupe and the top model in the Firebird series. Later years of the Trans Am played an important role along with Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields og Jerry reed i Smokey and the bandit the movies.

2025 GT40 – previously exhibited at the Oslo Motor Show along with other GT40 cars. The car is built by Kristian Lord Flaem. I'm not sure what kind of drivetrain is hiding under the tough shell, but I wonder if the car could be built with an Audi 4.2 V8 transaxle solution? If so, there should be several projects that have used the same solution.

Wiesmann GT — Porsche 982 GT4 RS Intake Zone with message to keep Dogs, Children and Compact Cars away 🙂

See

Volkswagen 1200 Jeans

Posted 09/05/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

Volkswagen Jeans — 1974 Volkswagen 1200 Jeans. Photo: FilippoPH / Shutterstock.com

Promotional models appear when car manufacturers' marketing people want to boost sales of outgoing car models. Most are forgotten, but not Volkswagen Jeans. It was quite special.

A trio of campaign models

We go all the way back to the autumn of 1973. Volkswagen was then in the process of making the move to water-cooled engines. The new Passat was a very popular family car, but the compact class was still dominated by the water-cooled Beetle. A successor was in the cards, but the new model (the Golf) would not be ready for production until May of the following year. I imagine a voice in the boardroom declaring: “We need a campaign model!”

There were not just one, but three campaign models. Two were based on the 1303 S – “Big” and “City”. The third was called “Jeans” and was based on the budget 1200. Campaign models are not really about actual models, just equipment packages.

-Riding around in denim

I remember Volkswagen well. 1303 big og 1200 Jeans, but not 1303 City. After browsing and searching Norwegian newspapers from this era, I only find advertisements where the dealers advertise “Big” and “Jeans”. The marketers chose to focus on the textiles in the seat covers with slogans like “Riding around in denim” – or – “Cordless or denim?” Big had corduroy seat covers while Jeans used denim. Both were popular fabrics used in jackets and trousers of the time.

What was actually hidden under the equipment packages was the following:

Big

Corduroy seat cover
High seat backs
Wide wheels with radial tires
Padded leather-covered steering wheel
GT gear lever
Instrument panel covered with wood foil
Wall-to-wall carpet
Heating wires in the rear window
Engine with 60 hp (SAE)

Jeans

Denim seat covers with pockets and shiny rivets on the back of the seatbacks (like jeans pockets)
High seat backs
Radio
GT gear lever
Backlight
Sports rims
Jeans decals
Matte black decor
Engine with 41 hp (SAE)

For the 1974 model year, the only color available was Tunis Yellow. From 1975, the following 3 colors were available: Marino Yellow, Phoenix Red and Brilliant Yellow. From the 1975 model year, the front turn signals were recessed into the bumpers.

Of the two campaign models, it was Jeans that caught my interest. Not because it was the better of the two, but I think the yellow color with the matte black trim was great. Remember that in 1973 the fashion colors consisted of a brown-yellow color palette. Modern furniture, wallpaper and floor coverings carried such colors. Also, denim jackets and pants were in fashion with the young people. Let me also highlight the matte black decorative elements on the car. The matte black engine hood and decorative strips were cheap effects that pimped up an old youth car.

In 1973, the pressure The Demands of the Time a post criticizing Volkswagen's new campaign models. The journalist began by praising the new line of cars for their improved suspension, larger trunk space, and larger windows. He then continued:

"When Volkswagen chooses to focus on textiles and fashion, they are targeting teenagers. What do jeans have to do in a car? And which teenagers can buy cars for over 30.000 kroner (Big)?"

In several places, Volkswagen dealers collaborated with trouser sellers to sell their products. In one place in Romerike, jeans from Domus and Volkswagen could be found in the same place. It is also reported that several dealers in Europe lured car buyers with the offer of a pair of jeans with the purchase.

The Volkswagen 1200 was the company's entry-level model. Even in the Jeans version, it cost only 21.950 kroner at the end of 1973 and 22.950 kroner at the end of 1974. Seen through my teenage eyes, the Volkswagen Jeans appeared to be a lot of car for the money compared to, for example, the Skoda of the time – not in size but in status. It became a car you could dream of buying with your own money. But when I was finally able to buy my first car a couple of years later, the money wasn't even enough for a used Volkswagen Jeans.

Volkswagen was not a youth car. Quite the opposite. A lot of car for the money, proven technology and modern colors meant that the cars were a hit among adults and price-conscious people.

In 1974, Norwegian newspapers reported on a sociological study in Austria that had investigated how Volkswagen's campaign models attracted different groups of people. Neither workers nor salaried employees were enticed by the campaign packages. On the other hand, self-employed people were attracted to the Volkswagen Big, while people connected to agriculture liked the Volkswagen Jeans.

Useful science?

The first time I saw a Volkswagen Jeans up close was in 1974 at my uncle and aunt's house, who always drove Volkswagens. They lived far east in the forest where they ran a farm with animals, forests, hunting and fishing. I remember how great the yellow Jeans station wagon was, and how well it matched my father's sienna-brown Saab 96. Good memories from the 1970s.

A faded pair of jeans?

There are few models that are as well preserved as the Volkswagen Beetle. So why don't we see any Volkswagen Jeans? There are many Volkswagen 1200s in the vehicle register, and a good proportion of these probably started their existence as Jeans. I think many cars lost their yellow color at the first or second repaint. Eventually, perhaps door handles, bumpers, headlight rings, etc. were replaced? It is a well-known fact that everything that is hypermodern can suddenly become completely out of date. The yellow-brown color palette has disappeared from our homes. Few young, dynamic gentlemen strut around in corduroy suits, and according to the “fashion police,” “double denim” (denim both on top and bottom) is completely out.

But as you know, fashions can change. Today, Volkswagen Jeans are pretty cool cars, but you may have trouble getting one. If the Jeans character has been removed, it can be recreated with new paint in the original color. New Jeans decals can be purchased in several places. But a denim interior is unlikely to have survived the test of time. Corduroy has probably suffered the same fate. The cotton-based textiles are well suited for clothing, but not as seat covers in cars. The fabric fades, stretches and wears to pieces just like the pants.

Who has taken care of their denim pants from the 1970s?

About the pictures

The main picture is of a 1974 Volkswagen Jeans in Tunis Yellow color with Lemmerz Champions rims. The car was photographed during a Volkswagen car show in Rimini, Italy 2017. Copyright belongs to FilippoPH/Shutterstock. One detail that reveals the car's Italian origin is the design of the turn signals with an additional glass opening on the sides to throw the light sideways.

The second car was pictured during Veteran Car Day in Skien 2026. The car is a 1975 model in Marino Gelb color with Lemmerz GT rims. From the 1975 model year, the turn signals were moved from the front fenders to the bumpers.

The image of the three campaign models together probably comes from brochure material. The French page is a clipping from an advertising page. The message is: "When you're an idol, you don't dress like everyone else."

Source: jeansbeetles.com

Mercedes muster in Lillestrøm

Posted 05/05/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

Mercedes-Benz Car Club Norway held its spring meeting in Lillestrøm. Several great cars were in attendance, and on my Sunday walk through the city, I saw several along the road. When you see these great cars, it is not difficult to understand that there is a lot of enthusiasm for this car brand.

My impression is that most of the members' cars are relatively modern, although several can be classified as vintage cars – that is, older than 30 years. But a 30-year-old Mercedes-Benz does not shine as a vintage car. These are cars that members like to take on joint trips at home and abroad. According to club websites Members can also count on benefits through partners.

Mercedes Benz Car Club Norway — 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SL V12.

Brand clubs help to keep the enthusiasm alive. When it comes to Mercedes-Benz, it's not hard to find enthusiasm. It's about cars that several generations dream of acquiring, and which are often treated with love. Last year I stopped by Andresen's Car in Ski. Then they showed off a beautiful 1968 "Strich-Acht" 230 in the showroom. It was sold new to a truck owner in Askim who only used it for holidays and stately occasions. After his death, the car was bought back by the dealer with a total mileage of less than 40.000. Many Mercedes-Benz owners treat their cars well so that they can last for many years.

Can Mercedes-Benz maintain its enthusiasm in the years to come? Or to put it another way: Can Mercedes-Benz's electric cars create the same enthusiasm as previous models? They are on the market with a fully electric model range, but have not yet gone all in for electricity. They are maintaining production of hybrid drives with petrol or diesel, as well as cars in the SL class.

Several of the cars in the pictures at the Mercedes-Benz show belong to the SL class. They are great eye-catchers in the traffic scene. Today's SL – R232 – is the seventh in the series and was developed by AMG, Affalterbach.

The Mercedes-Benz E500 may at first glance look like one of the immortal E300 diesel taxis. But the E500 is no ordinary W124. It was developed in collaboration with Porsche and produced in Zuffenhausen. The cars are equipped with a 5.0 V8 and have a widened body and reinforced chassis. This is a car that can be compared to an extreme Swiss watch. Only connoisseurs (enthusiasts and nerds) will understand and appreciate what this is.

See

Vintage cars in Skien

Posted 28/04/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

Last Saturday, the center of Skien was filled with beautiful vintage cars. The event was held by the City of Skien, Grenland Veteran Car Club and Amcar Grenland. The classic cars brought out the beauty of several of the old apartment buildings.

The organizer, Skien By, is an association for business owners and farm owners in the city center. They work to promote Skien city center as an exciting place for business, culture and settlement. Like several other cities, Skien has a challenge in preventing the retail trade in the city center from disappearing into shopping centers outside the city center. When I went through Saturday's photos, I noticed that it was not only the cars that came to light. The nice cars gave life to the buildings behind. It is a paradox that many cities want to remove cars from the city center at the same time as they try to create a vibrant city center.

Local car clubs

The cars that came by as vintage cars in Skien this Saturday belong to members of Grenland Veteran Car Club og Amcar Grenland. After a couple of hours, some cars left, while others joined in. As not all the cars were gathered at the same time, there are no exact figures for the number of cars, but I would imagine that there were about 200 cars.

Grenland Veteranvognklubb was founded in 1968 and is today one of Norway's largest and most active veteran car clubs. The club wants to promote interest in tracking down, restoring and preserving vehicles of classic vintages and of technical or historical interest. Several cars are not only preserved – technically speaking – but also have their history preserved.

Amcar Grenland is an enthusiast-run club for everyone with a passion for American cars and car culture – not only for those who own an American car, but also those who dream of one, or just love the sound of V8 engines.

Car history is in the walls

My wife's grandfather was one of two men who founded Car route Skien – Porsgrund in 1924. The company later became part of BO-Bussene in Skien. At least two of the buses had their bodies built in Skien. My wife has many car-related memories from her childhood – about the buses, about the trips on the gravel road across Lake Siljan, where they drove and where they parked in the city. Skien is still a pleasant city for those of us who like cars. Much of the car joy was on display last Saturday.

Pictures from the vintage car day

My father-in-law, who was born and raised in Skien, told me about an acquaintance who drove an Austin 7 on the narrow country roads. The Austin owner didn't like it when other drivers made room at his expense. He thought that even though his car was small, he had every right to use half the width of the road!

This red Mercedes-Benz was parked in the pedestrian street next to O'Leary's at Arkaden.

The Volkswagen 1200 Jeans was a budget car with a youthful feel. Modern color, black paint details and seats upholstered in denim made this car attractive in the 70s.

This car was brought to Norway in 1983 by former speedway driver Sverre Harrfeldt. Only 224 GT5 cars were made. The model pictured is number 61.

Skien city — 1984 Opel Rekord 2.2 Luxury.

More pictures. Click on the picture to see them full size.

Grenland Veteran Car Club — 1959 Austin-Healey Sprint

See

car route Skien - Porsgrund — Car route Skien – Porsgrund

Grenland Veteran Car Club
Amcar Grenland

Renault R5 E-Tech

Posted 24/04/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

It's striking how many electric cars look exactly the same. Considerations such as battery capacity, wind tunnels and artificial intelligence help shape new cars in the same vein. Over time, brand identity can disappear, and with it customer loyalty.

When Renault launched an electric car with similarities to one of its biggest successes ever, the motive may have been to entice previous customers to choose Renault again when they switch to electric driving. If the company had chosen to make a completely ordinary electric car, the risk of losing customers to Chinese automakers increases.

What kind of car is the new Renault R5?

No one needs to fear Renault's electric cars. Renault, together with Nissan, has had success with its previous models. Moreover, the Renault R5 is not much more special than its competitors. It looks like a passenger car in the B-segment, but is built as a small Crossover/SUV on the Ampr/Small platform also used by Nissan and Mitsubishi. You sit so high that you can look down on many other cars. The battery pack is large for its class and is located under the passenger compartment. “Our” car has 55 kWh gross and 52 kWh net. This gives a WLTP range of 410 km, which is on par with similar cars from other manufacturers.

Before Easter I noticed that Motor Forum Oslo drove and prepared cars for the car sharing service RentNow all the colorful cars are placed out in the city so that those who wish can unlock one of them and drive away via an app.

I've already studied the R5 up close several times before. One of the visual impressions that lingers is how poorly the two screens on the dashboard work together and how cluttered the information is presented. This surprises me because the software was developed in collaboration with Google.

When I previously drove the larger Renault Scenic E-Tech, I was annoyed that the volume knob for the radio was hidden, while a huge button for multisense – driving mode selection – was centrally located on the steering wheel. It is in the same place on the R5 as well. You can press sequentially through all the driving programs, with associated light changes and mood lighting in the car. But how often do you really need to change driving modes?

Encourages active driving

Inconsistent information is typically French. What is fortunately not typically French is how the Renault R5 behaves on the road. It is very stable in the corners. The steering is sharp, and can bring more driving pleasure than I expected. I would like a little more steering feel in the steering wheel – especially around the middle position. Nevertheless, you can feel the power from the wheels through the steering wheel when you let off the gas out of the corners. The chassis is well suited to active driving on winding country roads – and in my opinion this is the car's greatest strength. In return, you have to accept that it feels a little blunt over vertical bumps in the road – which is typical of small cars.

Small car feeling?

The high seating position and quiet interior give the feeling of driving a larger car. However, I often got the feeling of a French small car in the way the car moved from a standstill and at parking speed – even when the Comfort driving mode was selected.

In a car with a total length of 3.92 meters, compromises are required to make use of the space. The luggage compartment is 326 liters including a small compartment for charging cables. There was plenty of room in the driver's seat, but there was no room for me to sit behind myself. In this case, I couldn't get my shoes properly under the seat. Men's shoes in size 46 are considered very unusual in France.

“Our” Renault R5 has equipment level Techno w/ Pack Parking, Driving and Safety Assistant. This equipment package is required to get blind spot warnings in the mirrors. An important safety feature, especially if several people in the household drive the car. The same package also offers automatic parking. We were also followed by voice-controlled “Reno” on the road. He could find radio stations and destinations for us. Ask him about Terje's cars, he happily tells it with support in ChatGPT.

We took the car for a ride, among other things Oslo Fashion Outlet in Vestby to renew the summer wardrobe. In summer temperatures, consumption and range should not give any surprises. Nor did they. Even with a few miles on the highway, consumption did not exceed 13,28 kWh/100km. That would have given a total range of 390 km. Renault does not support single-pedal driving, but driving with regenerative braking provides an approximate function where you only need the brake pedal to a full stop.

The batteries can be preheated when you select a charging station in the navigation system that is registered by Google Maps. The maximum charging speed is 100 kW. According to Renault, you should then be able to charge from 15% to 80% in 30 minutes. With the on-board charger, the charging speed is 11 kW. When I plugged in the charger right after a trip in lovely summer weather, it quickly went up to 11 kW.

Ampr/Small — One of the car's nice features.

Standard or optional equipment?

I mentioned the competition from China earlier. Several car manufacturers are now focusing on retaining customers through retro design and brand loyalty. But at one point they may run into a wall in relation to their Chinese competitors. Much of what is standard in Chinese cars is optional equipment in European cars.

Renault Ampr — Stylish lines around the tailgate.

Below the VAT limit

The Renault R5 is a good candidate for cars that can be purchased under the VAT threshold of 300.000 kroner. There is a variant with a smaller battery and a range of 310 km, but I am sure that most people will prefer the large battery. A car in the “Evolution” equipment level barely crawls under the limit with the large 52 kW battery. Equipment such as a heat pump, non-adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and climate control are still standard. What you not What you get, and can't order as an option, are Google Maps and battery preheating. Most of the relevant safety equipment is also in place. Unfortunately, the blind spot warning package can't be ordered either, as the Evolution has simpler exterior mirrors.

What will cause the price to tip over 300.000 is the following:

Any color other than “Pop Green” costs 12.375 kr (!)
Winter wheels.
Many people will probably buy alloy wheels for their summer tires and put their winter tires on the included steel wheels.
Baguette holder (price unknown) 🙂

Facts Renault R5 E-Tech

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 392 x 177 x 150 cm
Wheelbase: 254 cm
Net weight: 1457 kg (without driver)
Payload: 388 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 500 kg
– without brakes: 500 kg
Roof load: –

Drivetrain
Engine: Electric located at the front
Power: 150 HP
Torque: 245 Nm
Gearbox: 1-speed automatic
Front wheel drive

Performances
Top speed: 150 km/h
0-100: 8.0 seconds

Battery pack
Manufacturer: AESC (cells only, packaged by Renault/Ampr themselves).
Type: Lithium-ion
Gross capacity: 55 kWh
Total capacity for use: 52 kWh
Heat pump

Range and consumption
WLTP: 410 km (combined)
Stated consumption WLTP: 15,0 kWh/100km
Real consumption test: 13,3 kWh/100km

Cargo
Contacts: Type2 and CSS
On-board charger: 11kW
Charging time Type2, 11kW, 15-80%: 3h 15 min.
Charging time CSS, 150kW, 15-80%: 30 min.
Preheating the batteries: Yes cars with Google Maps.

Luggage compartment
As 5-seater: 326 litres
As 2-seater: 1106 litres

Tires
Dimension: 195/55R18 H XL
Type: Winter tires without studs
Brand: Continental VikingContact 7

Prices
Price: NOK 339.900 (52 kWh, Techno)
Package parking, driving & safety assist: NOK 12.375
Varnish supplement: 0

About the car
Place of production: Douai, France
Color: Pop Green
Equipment level: Techno
Owner: Volkswagen Møller Bilfinans
Model: 2026
Mileage: New
Source: Renault.no, Vegvesen.no

See

Renault.no

BMW Z4 (E85)

BMW's Z series consists of sports cars in the roadster type. Of all the models, the Z4 is the one that has been in production for the longest time, with 3 different generations. It's all about BMW technology wrapped in a classic roadster concept.

When the BMW Z4 hit dealerships in the fall of 2002, it wasn't all praise. Although the model was designed like a roadster – low, sleek, with a long front and short overhangs – not everyone was thrilled with the lines. BMW called the dramatic lines along the sides "flame surfacing."

All good things are four

4 different Z models have been produced. The first of them, the BMW Z1, had folding doors and a plastic body. An experimental, special and rare car. The successor, the Z3, is a simpler model that appealed to many. A success with almost 300.000 cars produced. Also worth mentioning is the Z8, which is an exclusive, expensive and rare roadster in retro style. The fourth model, the Z4, is larger than the successful model Z3. With a stiffer chassis, better rear suspension and BMW's inline six, it has also become a success. Today, the 3rd generation of the Z4 is being produced. Let's take a closer look at the first generation of the Z4 - E85.

BMW E85

The BMW E85 is a roadster with a soft top or removable hardtop (Webasto). All cars were produced by BMW USA in two series. Series 1 from 2002 (as a 2003 model year) through 2005. From 2006 the model received a facelift until it was replaced by the Z4 generation 2 (E89) in 2009.

Model history

The Z4 was developed on the same platform as the BMW 3 Series Compact (E46). In the US, all cars got 6-cylinder engines, while Europe also got a 4-cylinder option with 2.0i. In 2005, BMW launched its new 3 Series E90. Among the innovations were new 6-cylinder engines. The BMW Z4 – which was based on the previous 3 Series – also got new engines. Compared to the outgoing engine series (M54), the new engines (N52) provided more power. Increased use of magnesium and aluminum also made them lighter – and even better suited for a roadster like the Z4.

Facelift

In addition to new engines, the 2006 facelift included the following visual changes: New front, new taillights and interior improvements. BMW also addressed issues with its electro-mechanical power steering, which some have found to be unstable. New 6-speed gearboxes and chassis improvements were also included. Overall, the 2006 cars are considered better choices than their predecessors.

BMW E86

The fixed-roof coupe version – the E86 – is far rarer than the roadster and very successful in terms of aesthetics. It was launched as a 2006 model year – together with the facelifted E85.

Prices

There are too few cars sold to make any real price statistics for the BMW Z4. Of the cars for sale in Norway, it seems that the asking price for pre-facelift cars is under 200.000 kroner with a normal, high mileage of around 200.000 km. The prices for cars with low mileage can creep higher. Early Z4s are now over 20 years old, and are at the bottom of the price trend. This is where you can distinguish "survivors" from project cars. The asking price for cars that require greater costs is around 100.000 kroner.

The 2006 cars cost more, and will probably be a better buy. It is difficult to compare two BMWs as new car prices can vary enormously with regard to equipment and engine choice. Cars with "M" and "si" (sport) are more sought after – and will probably hold their prices better. The price range is 200.000 to 300.000 kroner depending on mileage, engine and level of equipment. Currently, two E86 Coupes with a fixed roof are for sale for around 350.000 kroner. They are rare.

About the pictures

The pictures of the silver-gray Z4 Roadster with white indicators were taken while it was parked at Fornebu in 2020. The silver-gray car with yellow indicators was parked at Fornebu, 2026. The red Coupe with a fixed roof attended a gathering in Sawbridgeworth, UK, 2026. The interior picture is a press/catalog picture provided by CarsWP.com. The picture of the Z4 coupe from the rear is a cut out of an advertising image.

Click on an image to view in a larger format.
Copyright notice

See

BMW Car Club Norway

Sawbridgeworth Coffees and Cars

Posted 13/04/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

Every 2nd Sunday of the month, car enthusiasts gather in the centre of the small village in Hertfordshire.

The gatherings began in the summer of 2021. When the owner of a local pizza restaurant could no longer take his car out on the road, local car enthusiasts brought their cars to his restaurant as an encouragement. After this first meeting, the car owners have continued to come by with their cars every 2nd Sunday of the month between 8:30 and 12:00. Today, there are probably too many cars to park on the picturesque main street. Instead, 2 of the nearby parking lots are used.

At events like this, people take their fancy cars out on the road. It could be anything from a fancy MG, McLaren or Aston Martin – or the car you drive every day.

1990 TVR 400E. This car has undergone a full restoration and appears as new.

2002 Maserati Coupe – the successor to the Maserati 3200.

See

Coffees & Cars — Brooklands Summer Classic Gathering

Coffees and Cars — Enfield Pageant of Motoring.

Sawbridgeworth on Wikipedia

Rolls-Royce changes its plans for 2030

Posted 05/04/2026 by Terje Bjørnstad

Rolls-Royce Specter — The electric Rolls-Royce Spectre in Chelsea, London.

Like several other car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce has reversed its plans to make all models zero-emission by 2030. A company that makes its living by building custom cars for the world's richest people has to listen to its customers.

The electric Rolls-Royce Spectre went into production in the fall of 2023. So far, it has been a success as the best-selling model in 2024, and the second best-selling in 2025. However, despite good experiences, the time is not ripe to decide when to phase out the V12 engines. Rolls-Royce has stated that it plans to produce V12 engines well into the next decade.

We build what is ordered.

The statement came recently from Chris Brownridge, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Brownridge explained that for every customer who is unsure if the Spectre is right for them, there will be one who says “I love it.” In other words, customers are not ready for electric cars. Not yet. In addition, the automaker is facing threats of increased US tariffs and unrest in the Middle East.

With BMW in the back

With BMW as its owner, Rolls-Royce has access to top-notch technology. Their electric model is equipped with BMW's 5th generation eDrive technology, the same 102 kWh battery as in the BMW i7, and 4-wheel drive with two EESM electric motors from the BMW iX M60 – one above each axle.

BMW, for its part, has recently announced that its Munich plant will only produce electric cars from 2027. By 2030, its goal is for the share of electric cars sold to be at least 50%. It is also worth mentioning that BMW is developing fuel cell technology in collaboration with Toyota. They plan to put a hydrogen-powered car into production in 2028.

Latest model of Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge (left) and Rolls-Royce Spectre (right)

Focus on driving experience

The Cullinan and Ghost petrol cars are equipped with 6.75 litre V12 twin turbo engines developed by BMW. The transmission is based on an 8-speed ZF automatic solution with satellite-assisted shifts. This means that the shifts are adapted to the road and terrain where the car is driven. The drivetrain is programmed to exploit the torque at low revs to provide a pleasantly low and low-frequency sound image. You should therefore be able to get the feeling of driving on a flying carpet. This feeling is reinforced by an air suspension system that uses input from cameras to keep the car at a stable height over the irregularities.

The driving experience is not impaired by the Spectre's electric drivetrain. All electric drives are – as is well known – silent, powerful and torquey, which is of course also the Spectre. It is built on a shortened chassis from the Ghost model with the same type of active air suspension system. In addition, it has a function that can enhance the feeling of flying on a magic carpet. The ceiling and parts of the interior can be filled with an artificial star spectrum (hence the model name "Spectre"). Perhaps this is an attempt to highlight that Rolls-Royce is not "just another electric vehicle?"

The point is that Electric cars – even unsophisticated cars – have silent and torquey powertrains, something that has for many years been reserved for prestige brands with large engines – such as Rolls-Royce. There is a risk that customers in the luxury car market will not find Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin exclusive and special enough without V12 engines.

We can draw parallels with manufacturers of expensive Swiss wristwatches. They continue to produce exclusive watches with self-winding, conventional movements – not quartz – despite the fact that they are cheaper and more precise. If you buy an expensive wristwatch with a quartz-based movement, the value lies in the watch’s jewelry value – not the movement. That is, diamonds, precious metals and exclusive design.

Do exclusive electric cars need "bling" to compensate for the demise of V12 engines?

And what would that be?

Dress your car in Swarovski diamonds like this Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge spotted outside Harrods in London? The car belongs – according to the registration number – to Daria Radionova – a well-known blogger and fashion expert. Her car is covered in Swarovski crystals. I have no idea how much the crystals cost, but the price tag on the car was from £350.000 ++.

Rolls Royce Wraith — Swarkovski Crystals – car belonging to fashion celebrity Darioa Radionova.

Facts about the Rolls-Royce Spectre

Length: 545 cm
Net weight without driver: 2890 kg
Battery capacity: 102 kWh
Range WLTP: 517 km
Drivetrain: Dual engine (BMW) with AWD.
585 hp (Standard)
659 hp (Black Badge)
Production: Goodwood, West Sussex in England.
Dealer in the Nordics: Rolls-Royce Copenhagen

See

Rolls-Royce Specter

Like several other car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce has reversed its plans to make all models zero-emission by 2030. A company that makes its living by building custom cars for the world's richest people has to listen to its clients.

We build what is ordered.

With BMW in the back

Focus on driving experience

The Cullinan and Ghost petrol cars are equipped with 6.75 litre V12 twin turbo engines developed by BMW. The transmission is based on an 8-speed ZF automatic solution with satellite-assisted shifts. This means that the shifts are adapted to the road and terrain where the car is driving. The drivetrain is programmed to exploit the torque at low revs to provide a pleasantly low and low-frequency sound. In other words, you should be able to get the feeling of driving on a flying carpet. This feeling is reinforced by an air suspension system that uses input from cameras to keep the car at a stable height over unevenness.

The driving experience is not impaired by the Spectre's electric drivetrain. All electric drives are – as is well known – silent, powerful and torquey, which is of course also the Spectre. It is built on a shortened chassis from the Ghost model with the same type of active air suspension system. In addition, it has a function that can enhance the feeling of flying on a magic carpet. The ceiling and parts of the interior can be filled with an artificial star spectrum (hence the model name "Spectre"). Perhaps this is an attempt to highlight that this is not "just another electric vehicle?"

The point is that Electric cars – even unsophisticated cars – have silent and torquey powertrains, which have been well-known attributes associated with prestige brands such as Rolls-Royce for many years. There is a risk that customers in the luxury car market will not find Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin exclusive and special enough as electric cars.

We can draw parallels with manufacturers of expensive Swiss wristwatches. They continue to produce exclusive watches with self-winding, conventional movements – not quartz – despite the fact that they are cheaper and more precise. If you buy an expensive wristwatch with a quartz-based movement, the value lies in the watch’s jewelry value – not the movement. That is, diamonds, precious metals and exclusive design.

Do exclusive electric cars need to compensate for the demise of V12 engines?

And what would that be?

Dress the car in Swarovski diamonds like this Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge spotted outside Harrods in London? The car belongs – according to the registration number – to Daria Radionova – a well-known blogger and fashion expert. Her car is covered in Swarovski crystals. I have no idea how much the crystals cost, but the price tag on the car was from £350.000. The cost of the Swarovski crystals is unknown.