Ever owned something that looked so good you want other things in your possession to look like it too?

Well, one Bentley Continental V8 owner liked the interior of his new two-door GT car so much, he commissioned the British marque to deck out his yacht to match.

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The automaker and its Bentley Design Services department teamed up with Dutch luxury yacht builder, Contest Yachts, to create a bespoke nautical vessel like no other.

The yacht in question, donned the ‘Pearly Bell 2’ (yep, there’s a Pearly Bell 1), is Contest’s 18-metre long 59 CS model, which can set buyers back anywhere from $3 million to a lot, lot more.

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Bentley has replicated the V8’s Hotspur red leather with contrasting Linen beige hide interior to an exacting standard throughout the yacht’s cabin, with the carmaker’s signature diamond-in-diamond stitching present and accounted for.

The deep blue hull of the yacht also looks undeniably similar to the Light Sapphire paintwork found on the Conti GT.

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Bentley’s Design Services team is already well known in the automotive world for its custom craftsmanship, but for an endeavour of this size, it’s a mightily impressive effort, considering every diamond-in-diamond motif found on the leather hide requires 712 stitches.

“This project was an opportunity for Bentley Design Services to showcase some of its many skills in a truly unique collaboration,” Brett Boydell, head of design collaborations at Bentley Motors, said.

“Bentley cars embrace qualities of craftsmanship and styling that are only achieved at the highest level of nautical design.”

Genesis has issued a recall for 11 of its 2021 G80 and GV80 models fitted with the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine due to a potential fuel pipe leak.

A total of four G80 and seven GV80 models are affected with the fault stemming from defective fuel pipes, having the potential to leak in the engine bay and start a fire.

With only 18 G80 models sold so far in 2021, the recall affects just over 20 per cent of all owners while the seven GV80s under recall represents just five per cent of the 120 units delivered this year.

Owners of the G80 and GV80 with the 3.3T GDI engine are unaffected by the recall.

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Genesis has contacted owners of the G80 and GV80 and is arranging valet services for the affected vehicles to be repaired, free of charge.

Consumers wanting more information can contact Genesis on 1800 908 070 or find a list of affected VINs here.

Bugatti has announced a new addition to its hypercar line-up in the form of the Chiron Super Sport, a slightly-tamed version of the record-smashing 300+.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann officially unveiled the Super Sport in a YouTube premiere this week.

“There’s a wide range of performance,” states Winkelmann in the video. “So we decided to develop the Chiron into the two extremes of the spectrum.”

He points out 2020’s Chiron Pur Sport was developed for “maximum lateral acceleration,” placing focus on cornering manners. Conversely, the Chiron SS has been designed for “maximum longitudinal acceleration” – in other words, straight-line speed above all else.

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The new car is essentially a more luxurious version of the Chiron SS 300+, a stripped-down speed machine limited to just 30 units. The 300+ hit 490.484km/h at Volkswagen’s Ehra Lessien test facility after being revealed in 2019. However, this run was only made in one direction, meaning the ‘fastest production car’ title is not official under Guinness World Records’ rules.

The SS moniker continues Bugatti’s 80-year naming tradition for its highest-performance models, including the EB 110 SS of the 1990s. The Veyron SS hit 431km/h in 2010, breaking contemporary production car speed records.

“We couldn’t leave the Chiron family without a Super Sport, so we set ourselves the task to develop a car next to the limited edition world record car,” says Winkelmann.

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The same 8-litre W16 from the 300+ will power the ‘standard’ SS. This engine has a redline raised to 7100rpm, a 300rpm gain over the regular Chiron. Output is the same as the 300+ at 1177kW/1600Nm, though top speed is now electronically limited to 439km/h.

Top gear in the 7-speed DCT has also been made 3.6 per cent longer for more comfortable high-speed cruising, with stiffer rear dampers to enhance stability. Bugatti says a 200km/h sprint will take 5.8 seconds in the new car, or 12.1 to 300km/h.

Much of the 300+’s visual design has also been carried over to the SS. Perhaps most notable is the aerodynamic ‘longtail’ rear end, which adds 25cm of length over the regular Chiron. This treatment also features a twin-stacked exhaust layout to maximise space for the rear diffuser.

Other additions to the SS include a redesigned front bar with large ‘air curtains’ for over-wheel airflow, and circular guard vents that both control downforce and pay homage to the iconic EB 110.

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The SS has not been listed as a ‘Special Edition’ on Bugatti’s site, meaning production numbers may be somewhat higher than the 30 300+ cars built. Ultimately, only 500 Chirons are scheduled to ever see the light of day, the majority of which have already been built.

Prices are expected to begin at around €3.5million (AU$5.4m), with the first cars to be delivered in early 2022.

Audi Australia has issued a recall notice for 57 of its 2020 A6 and A7 models due to an airbag issue.

Audi states a manufacturing issue with the dash could cause the front passenger airbag to not fully inflate when triggered.

As well as the airbag not inflating, the parts of the dash covering it could break apart, causing plastic fragments to come loose and potentially lead to serious injury or death.

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Audi is currently contacting all known owners of the vehicles affected, though no sale dates have been specified.

If you believe your car is affected, contact Audi on 1800 50 AUDI (2834) or locate your nearest dealer.

A list of affected VINs can be found here.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatch has been teased in two official images released by the Japanese automaker ahead of the car’s hotly-anticipated release.

Due to break covers globally on Wednesday, June 24, the Civic hatchback will join its sedan sibling in the model line-up, which was unveiled back in April.

Judging from the side-profile images, the Hatch will have quite a sleek and smooth silhouette compared to the sedan, with a swooping roofline complimented by a truncated rear end with an integrated bonnet lip spoiler.

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Powertrains for the new hatchback are yet to be confirmed. However, in sedan guise, the 11th generation Civic can be had with the familiar K20 naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and the L15 turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol motor.

Power is rated at 118kW and 187Nm for the N/A unit, while the blown four-pot pumps out 134kW and 240Nm.

Regardless of engine, drive will be sent exclusively to the front wheels through a constantly variable transmission (CVT).

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The Civic Hatch will, for the first time, be manufactured at Honda’s Indiana factory in the US, taking over from Britain’s Swindon plant, which will permanently close later this year.

Aussie-bound Hatch variants are likely to be built at Honda’s Thailand facility. However, the upcoming Civic Type R will probably be built exclusively in Indiana.

WhichCar has confirmed with a representative from Honda Australia that more details will be unveiled closer to the car’s local launch.

A seismic shift is on the horizon for Ferrari after it announced technology expert Benedetto Vigna will be taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Prancing Horse.

Filling the position which was vacant for six months after the departure of Louis Camilleri, Vigna comes from an experienced background in the technology industry, having founded STMicroelectronics (STM) in 1995, the largest semi-conductor manufacturer in Europe.

As well as being one of the first companies to develop sensors which allow mobile phone screens to rotate, Vigna’s STM has recently branched out to make automotive sensors, tying in to the move to Ferrari.

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Though Ferrari already sells hybrid vehicles, like the SF90 plug-in hybrid, it has not yet created a fully electric car, with Camilleri’s tenure at the company being highlighted by his belief of Ferrari not achieving 50 per cent electrification in his life time.

Before Vigna’s appointment, Ferrari had made the promise to introduce an EV model by 2025, now being aided by the tech giant as the company looks to embrace electrification into the future.

A statement from Ferrari said Vigna’s appointment to the role will accelerate its move towards EV as it starts to play catch-up with other supercar companies which have moved to the technology.

“His unique knowledge gained over 26 years working at the heart of the semi-conductor industry rapidly transforming the automotive sector, will accelerate Ferrari’s ability to pioneer the application of next generation technologies,” Ferrari said.

The global semi-conductor shortage has claimed its latest victim, with General Motors announcing several of its pick-up and SUV models will be built without start/stop technology because of the microchip shortage.

According to GM Authority, the list of affected vehicles includes certain Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models, as well as the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and GMC Yukon and Sierra 1500.

All models equipped with the L84 5.3-litre V8 or L87 6.2-litre V8 and General Motors’s 10-speed automatic transmission, which account for a large proportion of the aforementioned cars, will be impacted by the start/stop function removal.

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The fuel-efficient technology will be absent from all examples built after June 7, 2021.

Given Australian-delivered Chevrolet Silverado 1500s, including the LTZ Premium and LT Trail Boss, are fitted with the L87 6.2-litre V8 and 10-speed auto, locally delivered stock may be affected.

WhichCar has reached out to General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) for comment, and we’ll update this story with more information when it becomes available.

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Speaking about the semi-conductor shortage, Kevin M. Kelly, senior manager of product and brand communications for Chevrolet, said the decision to scrap start/stop was temporary.

“We intend to add stop-start back to these vehicles as soon as possible,” Kelly told Automotive News.

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And in a statement made by Kelly, he explained the eco technology removal was necessary to continue making cars.

“By taking this measure, it will enable us to continue production of our high-demand full-size SUV and pick-ups as the industry continues to rebound and strengthen,” Kelly said.

“Our supply chain organisation continues to make strides working with our supply base to mitigate the near-term impacts of the semi-conductor situation.

“GM continues to leverage every available semi-conductor to build and ship our most popular and in-demand products, including our highly profitable full-size trucks and SUVs for our customers. However, the semi-conductor situation continues to remain fluid globally.”

Ford’s old manufacturing plant in Geelong is now being utilised as a new mass vaccination hub.

Ford closed the Norlane factory when it ceased local vehicle production at the end of 2016, followed a year later by Toyota and Holden.

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Ford then sold large sections of both its Broadmeadows and Norlane (Geelong) sites to development group Pelligra, which now owns the section used for the vaccination hub as well as Holden’s old assembly plant in Elizabeth, SA.

The vaccination hub at the old factory was first used to immunise frontline workers, but is now taking bookings from members of the general public who are deemed eligible for either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines.

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To date, around 41,000 people have been vaccinated at the hub, with around 1200-1600 people being jabbed per day. The venue has a maximum capacity of 2000 vaccines being given each day.

A spokeswoman for Barwon Health added: “The former Ford site in Norlane was selected by the Department of Health in partnership with Barwon Health due to its size and easy access for consumers by private car and public transport. It was also a well-known site in the community.

“We worked closely with the site developers Pelligra and local contractors to fit out the site for Geelong’s vaccination program.”

Former Ford employees now employed with Barwon Health were also invited to the launch of the hub earlier this year.

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From our point of view, it’s great to see one of Australian motoring’s most iconic sites still making history.

Ford first began manufacturing cars in Geelong with the Model T in 1925, kicking off 90 years of vehicle production for the company in Australia.

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That included a big expansion of its factories in the 1960s to accommodate production of the Ford Falcon, which would go toe-to-toe with Holden’s Commodore for the best selling car in Australia for decades in a glory period for Australian manufacturers.

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Ford continued to build Falcons and the Ford Territory here locally until it rolled the shutters down for the final time in 2016.

Ford Australia still continues to develop top-selling cars which are sold worldwide, including the hugely popular Ford Ranger.

A spokesman for Ford told WhichCar it has no direct involvement with the vaccination centre, but it is helping to provide parking for the site.

Honda Australia is recalling 89 of its Accord hybrid models over an electrical fault.

The affected vehicles were sold nationally on October 16, 2019, and also between June 17, 2020 and August 11, 2020.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), in cold temperatures, the DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, resulting in a loss of drive power.

If the vehicle is being driven at the time, the ACCC warns it could slow or stop, increasing the risk of an accident which could result in serious injury or death.

Owners of affected vehicles should contact their preferred Honda dealership to arrange for repair, free of charge.

For further information, consumers can contact Honda on 1800 804 945 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 6pm AEST).

A list of VINs for the vehicles involved can be found here.

Forget about grilles and polarising design for just a moment and let’s talk about pure performance credentials.

The new BMW M3 has it in spades, promising to elevate the sports sedan segment to new highs. But can it eclipse the very car that elevated the bar to its current mark, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Q?

To find out, we headed to the Victorian high country to put both contenders through their paces. Beauty and The Beast? There’s so much more to these two than aesthetics. In many regards, the BMW has (and let’s be diplomatic here) been influenced by the way the Giulia tackles a road, so has it eclipsed the Italian?

Want to know more? Make sure to pick up the latest issue of MOTOR, which goes on sale today!

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To honour the occasion, we commissioned acclaimed British artist Guy Allen to help design our striking front cover. Perhaps we are a little bit biased, but in our books it’s a stunner!

If you want to see more of Guy’s work, you can check it out here.

We’d love to hear your feedback on the cover as well, so make sure to sling us a message at [email protected]

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That’s not all for this issue though, we’ve rammed the magazine full of stories to give you an analogue reprieve from a digital world.

Lose yourself in the rolling hills of Gippsland as Deputy Editor Kirby explores the region in Lamborghini’s brutish Urus.

If that shade of green isn’t quite your favourite, we also sent Alex Inwood to Tasmania to tackle one of the world’s wildest tarmac rallies in Porsche’s newly PDK-equipped Cayman GT4.

It’s a tale where escapism and driving joy meets the harsh reality of modern motorsport.

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Elsewhere in the issue we’ve brought back an old favourite. It’s been missing from the pages for a little while now, but Sweet Dreams is back! Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, the reborn section will allow us to explore the cars that don’t exist, but really should.

For the return of Sweet Dreams, we manifested the car that Ford was too scared to build – a Ford Fiesta RS to rival the cult hero Toyota Yaris GR. Bring on the homologation heroes.

It’s not just the team at MOTOR HQ that get to have all the fun though. We want to hear your ideas. So get your fantasy product planner hat on, and tell us what you’d build if you were the head of a car company for the day.

The wilder the idea, the better!

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How does a 1000kW BMW coupe sound? No, we aren’t still talking about Sweet Dreams, we’ve got the scoop on the BMW iM2, which is set to become a high-powered reality in the near future.

We also got our hands on some box-fresh metal, including the Hyundai i20 N before it lands in Australia, while Stephan Winkelmann sat down with MOTOR for a chat about what the future holds for Lamborghini. Think Sant’Agata is losing its spirit? Think again.

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Plus, all of the regular musings from our columnists, extensive long-term tests, independent reviews and more.

You can find the June edition of MOTOR Magazine in stores today! Or take advantage of the ripper deals we’re having on subscriptions right now. You can save up to 49% at motor.subscription.com.au.

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