Hello and welcome to the latest instalment of Fast News Friday – Foxtrot Papa’s weekly round up of auto news and associated branded content. In our top five stories this week, we’ve discovered a fantastic short film from Skoda celebrating the brand’s 125th anniversary, Aston Martin has revealed information about its first in-house engine in over 50 years and we get creative thanks to artist Tim Layzell. Enjoy and stay safe everyone.
Skoda: 125 Years of Challenges
Skoda Auto celebrates its 125th birthday this year, and to celebrate, the Czechoslovakian brand has published this slick, part-animated two-minute film. Featuring a well-written script and some delightful transitions the viewer is taken on a journey from where it all began right up to the modern era of electrification. If you ask us, the film successfully demonstrates the brand’s ‘spirit of inventiveness’ mantra with aplomb.
Details of Aston Martin’s new V6 engine have surfaced this week, a powerplant that will feature amidships in the new Valhalla and later in the new Vanquish – Aston Martin’s first mid-engined series production car. The new 6-pot electrified unit is the first engine designed in-house by the famous British brand since 1968 and is reported to weigh less than 200kg. It will also no doubt produce considerably more power than the six-cylinder Aston engines of yesteryear.
DriveNation sums up the new Land Rover Defender
This week the internet was awash with reviews of the new Land Rover Defender, a car that Jaguar Land Rover has spent many, many hours developing and perfecting. Having read as many as we could, it seems the hard work and considerable investment has been worth it. In fact, even the most hardened motoring journalists have been singing its praises. In true Fast New Friday style, we’ve chosen to share DriveNation’s potted review by Andrew Frankel to sum it all up, which takes just a few minutes to enjoy via your smartphone. Go!
Get creative with the help of artist Tim Layzell
Celebrated motorsport artist Tim Layzell, well known for his depictions of iconic sports car races from the 50s and 60s, has teamed up with Goodwood to produce a series of colourless artworks that you can colour in at home during the lockdown. Perfect for entertaining kids big and small, simply download the artwork via the link above and away you go.
Can I use my car during lockdown?
If there’s one thing fans of driving (or riding) are thinking about most during the recent Coronavirus lockdown, it’s getting out and enjoying the stunning weather, empty roads and the need to isolate… in (or on) their most prized possession. The advice from Auto Express here is loud and clear; stay at home, the roads can wait.