Porsche Performance

Paired Perfection

Building on decades of success, every new 911 to come to market has seriously hefty shoes to fill and time and again, Porsche manage to fill them...and some. The latest GTS variant of this iconic machine is no different. Bringing some added sporting style to the standard car alongside the obvious performance improvements, the GTS model is not for the faint of heart, it is a statement piece that wants to sit front and centre.

Continuing the rich history of the undeniably iconic flat-six engine, the latest all-wheel drive 911 Carrera 4 GTS boasts the turbocharged 3.0-litre unit with 480 PS - over 30 PS more than the predecessor and current Carrera S - and maximum torque of 570 Nm - an increase of 20 Nm over the outgoing model. What this means for the sprightly sportscar is a zero-to-sixty-two time of just 3.3 seconds when paired with the lightning fast and silky smooth eight-speed Porsche dual clutch transmission (PDK), shaving three tenths off its predecessors sprint. A top speed just shy of the heralded 200mph mark makes for a suitably swift roadgoing machine.

A seven-speed manual gearbox option is available on all GTS variants with a particularly short-shifting action should you wish to be a little more engaging with your driving experience, just don't expect those shifts at full acceleration to provide quite the same level of comfort.

The chassis for the 911 GTS has been derived from the 911 Turbo - so it's in pretty good company already - which has been specifically modified to accommodate the performance demands that those three letters entail.

Standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) allows the cars shock absorbers to respond to dynamic changes on the road at lightning speed. In this coupé guise, it is combined as standard with the sports chassis, which is also lowered by 10 millimetres. The addition of helper springs at the rear is a concept also derived from the Turbo models, with the main springs being under tension in all driving conditions.

In the real world, this provides a refined, composed feel at any speed in both a straight line and through cornering with impressive

stiffness in the chassis and rapidly responding suspension adapting to every situation you put it in...within reason.

With increased power comes increased responsibility and as you would expect, the engineers at Porsche are fully aware or the consequences should they fit standard brakes to a vehicle of this calibre. As a result, the big sister steps in once again to provide the high-performance braking system found on the Turbo to match its increased performance.

Housing such an impressive brake array requires some equally substantial wheels, so Porsche opted to take the 20-inch (front) and 21-inch (rear) centre-lock alloy wheels from the 911 Turbo S and deliver them in a striking black finish. Thanks to some clever GTSspecific tuning, the standard sports exhaust system, together with the omission of part of the interior noise insulation, ensures an even more emotive sound experience than your 'run-of-the-mill' 911.

For those not impressed enough with the regular engineering witchery, you can further improve the driving dynamics of your 911 GTS by adding (or more accurately, taking away) the lightweight package which is available for the first time on the GTS. You can achieve weight savings of up to 25kg thanks to lightweight full

bucket seats made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass on the front, door and rear windows, and a lightweight battery. The rear seats are also omitted to complete the sporty style inside and out.

Other performance optimisations available include rear-axle steering as standard when you opt for the lightweight package, along with additional aerodynamic finishing touches. New air guide elements in the front section of the underbody reduce lift at the front and the programming of the adaptive rear spoiler has been adjusted accordingly.

From the outside, the typical features of a 911 GTS remain with multiple black or darkened exterior details highlighting the cars provenance including the very apparent flairs highlighting the rear wheel arches. Elements painted in satin black also include the lip of the front spoiler, the centre-lock alloy wheels, the GTS lettering on the doors and rear, and the slats of the rear lid grille. The two tailpipes of the sports exhaust system are also black chrome-plated while an optional exterior package is available that completes the look with highgloss black body details and other features.

Some of the standard features you'll find as part of the GTS model includes the Sport Design package which will provide you with the distinctive aesthetic at both the front and rear of the car as well as darkened headlight surrounds and daytime running light edging supporting the LED lights featuring the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus which are also standard. You can also enjoy a distinctive light show from the rear with a variation on other models.

These subtly aggressive hints give variation from the regular Carrera line up, while maintaining a level of sophistication you come to expect from the Carrera models.

Inside the theme continues, possibly with a little more vigour. The sporty details of the GTS models are evident both with regard to functions as well as visually once inside. The gear lever of that optional seven-speed manual transmission has been shortened by 10mm, enabling fast gear shifts with just a flick of the wrist. While a GT sports steering wheel, as well as the Sport Chrono package with mode switch, Porsche Track Precision App and a tyre temperature display are all standard features allowing you to take to the track at any given moment to see what your new GTS can really do.

The standard four-way electrically adjusted Sports Seats Plus provide lateral support without compromising comfort and convenience like some race buckets can, and the interior insulation has been reduced to enhance the driving experience and that invigorating engine sound.

Numerous black Race-Tex features underscore the elegant dynamic ambience with the seat centres, steering wheel rim, doorhandles and armrests, storage compartment lid and gear lever all covered in the microfibre material. With the GTS interior package, the decorative stitching can be either Carmine Red or Crayon giving the seatbelts, embroidered GTS lettering on the headrests, and the dials of the rev counter and Sport Chrono clock the respective contrasting colour.

It features the new generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with additional functions and a significantly simplified operation. The touch areas in the media menu have been enlarged, and the tiles on the home screen can now be rearranged to suit you. An improved voice assistant recognises everyday speech and can be activated by saying “Hey Porsche” to make things even easier.

The 911 Carrera 4 GTS Coupé manages to perfectly bridge the two persona’s of 911, the sleek, smooth and comfortable Carrera and aggressive, poised sporting nature of the Turbo and GT3 models giving you an all-in-one option should you be questioning what it is you want your 911 for. The ideal everyday car with that little extra under the bonnet to enjoy equally as much as a weekend toy.

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 GTS

Engine 3.0-litre Twin-Turbo Boxer Power (hp) 480 Torque (Nm) 570 0-62mph (secs) 3.3 Max Speed (mph) 192 Transmission 8-Speed PDK Fuel Consumption (mpg) 20.6 CO² Emissions (g/km) 259 Price (from) £114,500 Price (as driven) £134,124

1982 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 'Wizard' £POA

BEWILDERING BUG

Packing style and character by the bucket-load, this VW Beetle Convertible ‘Wizard’ boasts a 1600cc engine paired with a stainless steel exhaust which sounds as good as the car looks. It also has a fantastic gearbox with new Scat Shifter.

This stunning right-hand drive Beetle was first imported in 1982 and registered as such, however it was originally manufactured in 1965. The build includes considerable strengthening to the underside and has a fully sealed interior creating a very solid car. Further upgrades include the stunning Nardo grey coachwork and black interior bucket seats.

It is running dropped spindles and has been adjusted for the great stance at the rear. It sports a new steering wheel and new huge rear tyres - 225's. The car has the full wide body kit and not the half body seen on most Wizards, while stylish retro LED lights to both the front and rear complete the look.

This is a car to be seen in during these warmer months and one that would make a statement at any show. Thanks to the 'vintage' nature of the car, it is also both tax and MOT exempt while insurance remains relatively cheap through classic car insurers. This is a car not to be missed.

BATUR

Bentley Motors begin to say goodbye to the iconic W12 unit that has brought so much success with a stunning limited run coachbuilt powerhouse.

The Bentley Mulliner Batur is a two-door grand touring coupé limited to just 18 series pieces that embody the start of a design revolution at Bentley.

Created by Director of Design Andreas Mindt and his team, the Batur is a showcase of a new design DNA that will ultimately guide the design of Bentley’s future range of Battery Electric Vehicles.

The collection of 18 examples is the latest project by Bentley’s in-house bespoke and coachbuilding division, Mulliner, and succeeds the Bacalar - a run of 12 individually specified, designed and handcrafted Barchettas that relaunched coachbuilding at Bentley. Like its predecessor, the Batur is named after a beautiful natural body of water. Lake Batur is an 88m deep, 16 km2 crater lake in Kintamani on the island of Bali, Indonesia, and provides nutrient-rich water to both local hot springs and agriculture.

The Batur will also be the most powerful Bentley yet, with a 740+ PS version of the iconic, hand-assembled 6.0-litre twinturbocharged W12 engine that has metaphorically and literally powered Bentley’s success for the last two decades. As the engine enters its twilight years as part of Bentley’s Beyond100 transformation journey to being fully electrified, the Batur forms the first part of a celebration of the W12’s extraordinary power, torque and refinement. Engine performance will be matched to the most advanced Bentley chassis ever, with Speed-tuned air suspension, electric active anti-roll control, eLSD, four-wheel steering and torque vectoring.

Each of the 18 examples of the Batur have already been reserved. Each one will be designed collaboratively with each customer, guided by Mulliner’s in-house design team. Customers will be able to specify the colour and finish of practically every surface of the Batur, to create a car as individual as they are. Each one will then be handcrafted over the course of several months in Mulliner’s workshop at Bentley’s carbon neutral factory in Crewe, England, with first deliveries expected in mid-2023.

Mulliner’s in-house design team will co-create every Batur with its customer, working together for several hours through a speciallycreated Mulliner visualiser that allows any part of the car to be customised in colour and surface finish. Endless samples of unique materials bring texture to the process, and the resulting designs will be truly individual and created by the customer - limited only by their imagination. The cabin will be one of sustainable bespoke beauty, with every element tailored to the customer’s specifications choosing from a variety of sustainable interior materials.

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A Very AppEaling Area

Savills explore why the West London suburb of Ealing is so appealing to those working in the capital as a place to call home. The move to greener pastures continues across London, and this borough is making the most of it.

THE APPEAL OF EALING

with Kieran Rigley, Head of Lettings, Savills Ealing

London’s Borough of Ealing, known as the ‘Queen of the suburbs’, has long been an area favoured by professionals and families as a place to call home. Serviced historically by the Central and District line, Ealing’s position on the map has be reaffirmed with its new connectivity to the city via the Elizabeth Line, which has generated a new wave of tenants to the area.

Taking just 23 minutes to London’s West End, the borough of Ealing has never felt closer to the city centre, despite it’s westerly location.

Having undergone a residential renaissance in recent years, Ealing offers relative value for money, in comparison to the likes of the south west and is now experiencing increased demand from tenants across all levels of the market. Providing residents with a wealth of green space, particularly on its northern and western edges, independent cafés and restaurants and well established schools, it’s easy to see why Ealing is a perennially popular area to live in.

Long favoured by domestic tenants working within the finance,

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tech and pharmaceutical sectors and young families in pursuit of more space, the suburb’s desirability and new found accessibility has been recognised by international tenants in more recent years, with tenants choosing to settle in the suburb from the likes of Hong Kong, Singapore and the US. Corporate relocation in the area is also very high, with Ealing being a desired location for many professional families being relocated by their companies, particularly the likes of Sky in nearby Isleworth and GKS in Brentford.

In the first six months of the year we saw 60% more applicants registering to move to the locality, versus the same time period in 2021, which has induced a market whereby demand far outweighs supply. This has fuelled a frenzy of competitive bids, lets being agreed in 24 - 48 hours and record rental values being achieved. In fact, we recently let a lovely four bedroom, family home just minutes from Walpole park for 12% more than the previous rental value, which was a record at the time and a sure sign that families are keen to pay upwards of previous rents to get the property they want.

New developments are also attracting demand from increasingly affluent occupiers. In fact, we recently let a best in class three bedroom flat in a popular development in the upmarket Montpelier area which achieved 20% more than its previous guide price with another agent. This is reflective of the market as a whole, as tenants seek best in class properties that are light and airy, come with outside space and finished with modern kitchens.

Properties in Ealing can be characterised by mostly Edwardian and Victorian terraced, detached and semi-detached homes, from one bedroom flats; either conversions or luxury new developments, to quaint Victorian terraced cottages and large double fronted detached mansions. Rents are generally guided from £1,500 per month for a one bedroom flat, while best in class family homes can command upwards of £5,000 per month.

Following the rental recovery in the capital, as tenants favour the city once more as it bounces back to life, and as employees return to the office, we can expect rental values to increase in London and the commuter belt. With values predicted to rise by 12.0% in 2022, and by a total 18.3% over five years, I’d expect that tenants will continue to opt for areas like Ealing for its relative value.