Salon Privé has arrived in London, and it's an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the rarer niche cars in the motoring sphere. Featuring classics, bespoke EV conversions and high-end hyper-cars. It's not exactly the Frankfurt or Geneva motor show — if you’re looking for some affordable metal, we'd look elsewhere. The show is taking place in the Royal Chelsea Hospital's grounds for the next days — and Getrentacar.com wandered over earlier in the week to see what it was all about. With that in mind, here are some things worth checking out at the Salon Privé 2022 London show.
Caton Healey by Caton
Think of retro-modern conversions, and you're probably thinking of Singer Porsches, electric Mustangs — and other iconic models from the 1970s onward. Caton aims to fill in the gaps with this, an all-new take on the classic Austin Healey. Featuring a revvy four-pot engine, LED lights and leaf springs, the Caton Healey is a curious tidy-up more than a total overhaul, and keeps most of the styling elements of the original car.
Charge Mustang
Forget the Mach-E, think of an electric Mustang, and it's something closer to the Charge — not a quick SUV — that comes to mind. Although an out-and-out classic on the surface, the Charge Mustang has everything you'd expect from a performance EV in 2022: underneath the '67 Fastback body shell (officially licensed from the Blue Oval), the Charge has all the specs you'd want. It uses a 63kWh battery and has a claimed 200-mile range, 400kW of power and an extraordinary 1121lb ft of torque — though that's spread across both axles here. Expect advanced driver aids, such as AEB, and adaptive cruise control, too. But our favorite bit? It looks like a real Mustang, just electrified.
Ferrari Daytona SP3
There's no such thing as a run-of-the-mill Ferrari, but it’s fair to say the SP3 sits among the Pantheon of Maranello's most exclusive cars. A tribute to mid-rear-engined supercars, the SP3 is the latest of the brand's Icona series. Just 599 of them will be made, each with a performance to destroy most other things on the road: 0-62mph in 2.85sec, 0-124mph in 7.4sec and a top speed over 211mph.
Aston Martin DBX 707
Fast SUVs aren't exactly uncommon now, but that doesn't mean there's still not stunning pieces of machinery among the fast 4x4s. The 707 doesn't deliver the pure performance you'd expect from an Aston Martin — but it handles impressively for its size, with a generous side dish of practicality and comfort. Not sure about the looks? Judge for yourself in person at the 2022 Salon Privé show.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
Unless you've caught it testing around Gaydon or visited the odd Formula One Grand Prix, you’ve probably not seen the Aston Martin Valkyrie in the metal. Thankfully, they've got one here at Salon Privé. The jewel in the crown for Aston Martin, the Adrian Newey-designed hypercar, is just as stunning when stationary. Our tip? Get behind it and look at those huge diffuser tunnels — they're a big reason the Valkyrie handles more like a single-seater than a normal road car.
Prodrive Hunter
If it's good enough for Sebastian Loeb, it's probably worth looking at. That's the thinking behind the Prodrive Hunter, the latest project from Dave Richard's hugely successful motor sport company in the Midlands. This is a road-going version of the Bahrai Raid Xtreme car driven by Loeb at the Dakar, and uses a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that develops more than 600bhp.
Genesis GV60
You've probably seen the Hyundai Ioniq 5 on the road, and possibly even a Kia EV6. Both cars run on the Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP platform, and so does this. The GV60 is a little different and more bulbous than its peers, but promises a level of refinement above the Kia and well above the Hyundai. Judging how both the Kia and Hyundai have done in our extensive comparison tests and reviews — there's every chance the Genesis will be equally impressive.
LEVC Sutton VIP Class
When is a London taxi not a London taxi? When it's this: a Clive Sutton prepared LEVC taxi. Designed to look like every other modern cab from the outside, the VIP Class features a bespoke interior with leather stitching, a range of tech (including a flat-screen TV) and a dimmable sunroof. The equipment list and customizable extras go on forever, but almost every part of the VIP Class has been sourced from other flagship cars, such as the Mercedes Maybach. And who's it for? CAR was told most customers can afford more ostentatious luxury cars, but want the anonymity of a cab — as well as the bespoke service Clive Sutton can offer.If you need, you can rent a car on our website. Do not forget to use the BLGLVSK5 promo code to get an extra discount. You can also leave an application to get the best deals from car owners. Read the article about why this option is more convenient and profitable to choose a car.
