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This month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will see the UK debut of a host of new cars including the McLaren 570S, Honda Civic Type-R, Ford Mustang and the most luxurious Range Rover yet. While Citroen will formally launch its DS sub brand.
The annual event will once again host the Goodwood Moving Motor Show on 25 June, which is widely seen as the UK’s only major motor show since the demise of the London event last held in 2008.
The Moving Motor Show, held the day before the Festival of Speed opens, not only allows members of the public to see new models from major manufacturers but to test drive them on the hillclimb course. The main festival, which runs from 26-28 June, also hosts an exhibition area for the static display of new models.
Among the 2015 debuts Ford will be showing its long awaited Mustang muscle-car (pictured) as well as the RS performance hatch, both making their UK debuts. The Mustang, unlike its predecessors going on sale in right-hand drive form, has already sold out its 2015 UK allocation and the earliest delivery dates for new orders are April 2016.
The Mustang offers 310bhp from its 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine of 412bhp from a more traditional 5-litre V8. Ford Performance stablemate, the Focus RS, produces at least 316bhp but will only be on display on Moving Motor Show day before taking part in the Festival of Speed itself, driven by stunt star Ken Block.
The show also sees the launch of a new brand – Citroen spin-off DS Automobiles makes its public debut at the event, with the lead role being taken by the new DS 5 (pictured) – the first model to be fully branded as a DS with no Citroen badging. The revamp to the DS 5 is most noticeable at the front end, which boasts the ‘DS Wings’ design signature on the grille, while inside the ‘watch strap’ upholstery is in semi-aniline leather, said to be the most exclusive in the industry.
Peugeot promises a global debut on show day – for a new performance version of the 308, while the 500bhp 308 R HYbrid will be seen for the first time in Europe. While these two will not be available for test drives, the recently launched 308 GT 205 THP Hatchback, 308 GT Line PureTech 1.2-litre and the 208 ‘GTi by Peugeot Sport’ will be available to drive on the hill.
Land Rover’s Moving Motor Show display will be dominated by the Range Rover SVAutobiography, making its UK debut and described as the most luxurious Range Rover to date. Finished in a duo-tone paint scheme, it is built by the company’s bespoke department and widely seen as a rival to Bentley’s forthcoming Bentayga. SVAutobiography prices start at £156,000 while a long-wheelbase model is available from around £164,000.
Ahead of its showroom debut in the Autumn, the new Seat Ibiza will be seen for the first time by potential UK buyers having been unveiled at the Barcelona Motor Show in May. Heavily facelifted, the car is now fitted with a new range of three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines promising improvements in both performance and efficiency. The interior has also been comprehensively reworked.
Honda’s newly revamped Civic and CR-V will be driven by Moving Motor Show visitors, but while it will be making its UK debut at Goodwood, the new and much-awaited 305bhp Civic Type-R (pictured) performance hatch will not be available for test drives – except for the winners of a competition being run by Honda during the event.
Some debutant cars not taking part in the Moving Motor Show will be tested on the Goodwood hill by professional drivers during the three days of the Festival of Speed, notable among them the McLaren 570S coupe (pictured), making its global debut in action after being unveiled at the New York Auto Show earlier in the year as the Surrey manufacturer’s third model line. It will be part of the Supercar runs up the hillclimb course with its P1 and 670S sisters.
The Ducati-engined Volkswagen XL Sport Concept, and the 5-litre V8-powered 470bhp Lexus GS F will be among other newcomers to run during Festival weekend.
