The Merry Month of May - JBR Capital

Written by: Darren Selig

“You’re here for a good time, not a long time”, Colin McRae famously said. We all know that during 2020 and the early part of 2021, there wasn't a great deal to celebrate. Happily, now that things at long last seem to be heading back to normal, people are seizing life by the horns, going out there and buying that supercar, sports car, elite SUV or luxury vehicle they have always promised themselves. Over the last year, UK households have accumulated a total of £200 billion, with savings coming from reduced commuting costs and restrictions on leisure activities. For automotive enthusiasts, now is the time to access some of that capital and invest in their dream car ready for the summer months.

The rollercoaster rush to acquire some premium metal gains momentum with every passing month. Here at JBR Capital, we’ve been busy helping customers get behind the wheel of the car they have always wanted, experiencing alltime company records in March and April for the number of vehicles we arranged finance for, then May came along and eclipsed those months. Looking further ahead to the height of summer, we are confident that this trend will accelerate even faster.

It’s always fascinating to look at what people are buying and see how the models change from month to month. Here, we celebrate the top ten most in-demand cars we have helped finance in May. If you are still trying to decide what you would like to drive this summer, perhaps you will find something here to inspire you, and if you are still prevaricating about making your move, remember Colin's McRae's other mantra, the one that made him the champion of the world — ”If in doubt, flat-out”.

MCLAREN 570S Woking's 'entry-level' supercar has all the right ingredients for our customers with its organic flowing lines, carbon fibre construction and potent twin-turbo V8 engine that sings superbly all the way to 8,500rpm. It accounted for more than 80 per cent of the McLaren models we financed in May, followed by the 720S and 650S. We were also very excited to finance the purchase of a Senna — even in this business, that doesn't happen every day!

MERCEDES-AMG GT Our clients love AMG’s models, from the urbane C-Class Saloon and Estate to the rugged G-Class SUV, but in May, it was the two-seater Porsche 911-rivalling GT supercar that was making all the play. With its achingly beautiful looks, ability to cross continents with consummate ease and potential to entertain on any tracks you stop at on your grand tour, an AMG GT enhances any collection.

ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE Stealing the lead over the V12-powered Vanquish, which has been our clients’ most popular Aston Martin up until now, the V8 Vantage has been a huge hit. With its predatorlike styling, exceptionally agile, responsive and engaging handling, plus its explosive 503bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of catapulting the car to 62mph in 3.6 seconds, it certainly isn’t difficult to see the Vantage’s appeal.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT Fast, luxurious and relaxing, the Continental continues to be our clients’ top Bentley, but whereas the 4.0-litre V8 was the first choice a few months ago, the W12 is now proving equally popular. Built in Crewe with a combination of the very latest robotic technologies and elite handcrafting skills handed down from generation to generation, the Continental range represents a high watermark of modern luxury performance. FERRARI 458 ITALIA Last month it was the 488 GTB, but now the hottest Ferrari on the market is that car’s predecessor, the jaw-droppingly handsome 458 Italia. With its classic mid-engined V8 Berlinetta layout, the lineage of the 458 Italia can be traced back to the 1973 Dino 308 GT4. It made up half of all the Maranello models we financed in May, including the legendary Testarossa and 250 SWB models. PORSCHE 911 (991) Our customers absolutely adore the Porsche 911, and in May, it was the 991 generation that flew out of dealerships. The sixth generation of Porsche’s core model was designed by Michael Mauer and rolled out of Stuttgart from 2011 to 2019, with a mid-term facelift in 2016. Last month at JBR Capital, we arranged proposals on everything from Carrera 2s and 4s to Turbos and GT3s.

LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN Taking over the top spot from the Aventador, the Huracán comprised more than 50 per cent of all Lamborghinis financed. With its ferocioussounding V10 engine, the Huracán remains gloriously and defiantly old-school in a world of electric and hybrid supercars. Mind you, the vehicle that accounted for a third of Lamborghini proposals, the Urus luxury SUV, shows how even the raging bull is changing with the times.

LAND ROVER DEFENDER Many people thought Land Rover simply couldn't replace a model as iconic as the Defender, but judging by the immense popularity of the new Defender, the changing of the guard has proved highly successful. Drivers love the newcomer’s combination of contemporary yet rugged styling, advanced technology and unmatched off-road capability, and while it’s the P300 that’s proving most popular, the Overfinch version isn’t far behind. RANGE ROVER SPORT Like the Porsche 911, the award-winning, allaluminium Range Rover Sport is another model that continually hits the sweet spot with our customers. Buyers clearly appreciate the SUV’s combination of sleek styling, family-friendly cabin-space, luxury features and all-round, allseason, all-terrain ability. We have seen demand split evenly across all models, from the V6 diesel to the potent, supercharged V8 SVR.

ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN The Cullinan might be one of the most controversial models ever made by the Goodwood-based luxury brand, however, like the Lamborghini Urus, high-performance luxury SUVs are proving an extremely hot ticket right now. While purists might pale at the very thought of a mud-splattered Rolls Royce, there are plenty of people who love the Spirit of Ecstasy’s new elevated perch on the bonnet of the peerless Cullinan. @jbrcapital