More Chery brands could come to Australia
It has just launched the Omoda Jaecoo brand in Australia, while depending on the market it also offers SUV brand Jetour, premium brand Exeed and commercial vehicle brand Karry.
Then there's electric vehicle (EV) brand iCar – also known as Aiqar or iCaur – as well as its new European brand Lepas. The Rely marque is being dusted off, while Soueast also sits under the Chery umbrella.
It's enough to confuse even automotive journalists. But depending on how well Omoda Jaecoo performs in Australia, there's a chance Chery could bring more brands here.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Exeed Sterra ES Credit: CarExpert
While Chery Australia's communications boss Tim Krieger said the local arm isn't expecting any other brands 'in the short term', he left the door open for others to arrive.
'The clear message for us is: 'You guys have got a big job on your hands certainly with Chery, certainly with Omoda Jaecoo. You guys do a good job with that, let's see what else potentially could come.'' he told CarExpert.
'But everyone's 100 per cent focused on those two brands at the moment, making the best of those opportunities.'
When asked about Exeed and Jetour, which already sell vehicles in markets like the Middle East, Omoda Jaecoo chief commercial officer Roy Muñoz said there were no immediate plans for these locally. Jetour Traveller Credit: CarExpert
'At this stage, there's no plans or any communications to us about those brands coming,' he told CarExpert.
Jetour, established in 2018, specialises in SUVs. It recently launched the Traveller, a boxy SUV that bears a resemblance to the Land Rover Defender, and it recently revealed a new Zongheng sub-brand that will offer more rugged ute and SUV models.
Exeed, established in 2017, has traditionally offered SUVs with a more premium focus, but it recently launched the sleek Sterra ES full-size electric sedan.
Then there's iCar, established in 2023, which offers boxy SUVs like Jetour. However, all of its vehicles feature electric power, at least for now with extended-range electric vehicle (EREVs) also expected from the brand. iCar 03 Credit: CarExpert
'There was certainly speculation in Shanghai around iCar, but there's nothing official that's been announced by the organisation about that vehicle,' said Mr Krieger, referring to comments made by Chery International president Zhang Guibling at last month's Shanghai motor show.
'There's a lot of exciting brands coming out of the Chery Group, and obviously we'd love to be in the position to consider bringing these vehicles in, but at the moment there's nothing confirmed.'
Notably, the iCar 03 is sold as an Omoda Jaecoo vehicle in some markets, though the company says this model – badged as the Jaecoo J6 – isn't slated for our market.
Chery also has Karry, though this is a China-only commercial vehicle brand. Chery opted not to launch its new Himla ute under this brand, when the vehicle was revealed at this year's Shanghai motor show with prominent Chery branding. Lepas L8 Credit: CarExpert
That said, reports out of China have indicated this vehicle will be badged under the revived Rely brand name in China.
This new ute has been ruled out for our market, though Chery Australia is keen to sell a ute here as soon as it has a product it deems suitable.
Chery also announced at Shanghai the Lepas brand, a confounding new development that will offer sleeker, mass-market SUVs in Europe, where Tiggo will be sold as a separate brand and Omoda Jaecoo already exists.
Chery executives said it was too early to comment on the Lepas brand for our market. Omoda C9 Credit: CarExpert
For now, it's just Chery and Omoda Jaecoo for Australia, and the Chinese automaker says there's little overlap.
'Each brand has its own unique styling and speaks to a different part of the market,' said Mr Muñoz.
'There's not much crossover at the moment. People who are after Omoda Jaecoo are just after Omoda Jaecoo.
'I don't believe we're diluting. In fact, we're adding more options out there that people can choose from, from different price points, at different specification levels.'
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After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from:
