Matthew Steeples takes a look at what will be on offer at Salon Privé 2022 at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea from 21st to 23rd April – a showcase that will include the world’s first commercial flying car
Running from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April and featuring both the latest supercars as well as classic cars and motorbikes, amongst the more exotic offerings will be a PAL-V Liberty – lauded as “the world’s first commercial flying car” – and a Prodrive Hunter – which is marketed as “the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.”
A highlight of the show will be the global, European and UK debuts of eight new cars and also the showcasing of Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ new Range Rover SV. Said to “provide customers a new level of craftmanship as well as greater functionality,” these opulent creations can be equipped even with electrically deployable tables, fridges and Dartington Crystal glassware even.
Open each day from 11am, what is dubbed as “London’s most exclusive automotive party” remains open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday and until 5pm on Saturday.
Pictured top – The ever-cheerful Chelsea Pensioners, pictured here with a trio of Minis in a promotional shot for the event, will no doubt be on parade during the three-day showcase.
As well as enjoying a spectacular selection of things automotive, the event has dining options as well as a shopping village.Aside from many new cars from manufacturers including Automobili Pininfarina, Bugatti, Genesis, Jensen, Lamborghini, McLaren, Morgan, Overfinch and Porsche, classic cars displayed will also be on offer for sale.The ultimate in 4x4s will be presented by amongst others Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce.
Land Rover claim that their Range Rover SV will “provide customers a new level of craftsmanship as well as greater functionality” and of it, show director David Bagley remarks: “It’s fitting that the new Range Rover SV should make its UK event debut alongside us in the capital for Salon Privé London, and we’re delighted it’ll be the first time our guests can receive a guided tour of the personalisation options available when crafting their perfect Range Rover. Its very name has epitomised luxury and capability for half a century and, while it remains true to the marque’s roots, this new car creates a distinct identity for the future.”The car to be presented at the show is a a new Range Rover SV P530 LWB. Of it, the firm remark: “As shown at its world debut in October 2021, it is finished in a special Icy White Gloss paint,contrasted by SV Serenity exterior accents and contrast roof in Corinthian Bronze, its interior featuring SV Serenity Caraway Near-Aniline and Perlino Semi-Aniline leather with Gloss White Ceramic controls and a Natural Light Wenge veneer with Mosaic Marquetry. It also includes the SV Signature Suite – a fixed full-length centre console with electrically deployable table and cup holders, fridge, Dartington Crystal glassware and 8-inch rear seat touchscreen controller.”Dutch firm PAL-V will be showing what they call “the world’s first flying car.” Of it, they remark: “Inspired by nature, engineered by man and evolved over time, the PAL-V Liberty is a groundbreaking product that inaugurates the age of the flying car. The PAL-V Liberty is a marriage between safety and fun, designed to satisfy the most demanding customers.”Oxfordshire based Prodrive, which makes amongst other things racing simulators and folding bikes, will be presenting what they call “the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.” Of this 600 bhp and four-wheel drive vehicle, they share: “It has an unrivalled ability and performance across any landscape. Born out of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by nine-time World Champion, Sebastien Loeb, to compete on the toughest motorsport race in the world the Dakar, it thrives in desert sand, dunes and rough mountain tracks. Indeed, this Hunter is even more extreme than that driven by Loeb, with a 50% increase in power from the 3.5 litre V6 twin turbo engine and more suspension travel to absorb the harshest of terrain. But while the car is even faster and more capable than the race car, it is also more refined. Ian Callum, who styled the exterior of the original competition car, has returned to the project to create a new interior more in keeping with every day use than racing. A digital display gives the driver all the important information they need, while the centre console houses the more traditional controls found on a road car.”Guests will be able to experience the most opulent vehicles on the market in a most convivial setting.
