The British Motor Museum is to launch a brand-new sound-based exhibition ‘Beep-Beep, Yeah!’ which will open on 18 July and run until spring 2026 in the new Rubery Owen Gallery. The centrepiece of this exciting exhibition is a Rolls-Royce once owned by music legend, John Lennon!  

From the favourite tunes we play when we’re driving, to the songs that were inspired by motoring cities; push button radios to streaming podcasts; the sensation of our favourite engine noises to the quietness of modern cars; sound, music and the motor car have always had an emotional connection. Beep-Beep, Yeah!: The Sounds and Songs of the Motor Car explores this connection from the engine rumble to the rhythm of our favourite tune and examines why the sounds we listen to in our cars can influence the way we drive. 

Visitors can immerse themselves in the sound experience through a range of interactive elements such as tuning a 1970s radio, feeling the noise of a BRM V16 P15 race car engine, or sitting inside a 2022 Bentley Bentayga to experience its incredibly powerful audio systems!

The exhibition also features a 2019 Wells Vertige Prototype demonstrating how music shaped an entire design while, on the other end of the scale, is the 2018 Nissan Leaf whose electric motor is so quiet it generates a pedestrian warning sound as a safety feature.

Throughout the exhibition is the connection between cars and music and this link is demonstrated by the star car of the exhibition, a  white 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, once owned by John Lennon! The Rolls-Royce appeared in the Beatles film, Let It Be and was sold in 1969 to Allen Klein, founder of ABKCO Records and the Beatles’ manager at the time. It has remained with the family ever since and has been kindly loaned by Jody Klein.

As a result of the generous support of Rubery Owen, Beep‑Beep, Yeah! will be housed in a brand-new exhibition space which gives visitors the chance to explore more than ever before. 

Richard Jenkins, Group CEO, Rubery Owen Holdings, commented “As one of Britain's leading engineering companies and one of the earliest to be involved in the motor industry, Rubery Owen shares the Museum's commitment to preserving the history of Britain's automotive industry — both now and into the future. Rubery Owen is proud to support the creation of a new gallery space at the Museum.”

Cat Boxall, Curator at the British Motor Museum, said “We’re really excited to open an exhibition with a different focus by bringing sound to the forefront in an immersive and interactive way. This has given us a fantastic opportunity to explore our collection from a fresh perspective. When you visit, be sure to think about your favourite driving tunes. Leave your suggestions and scan to take away the playlist which we will be updating throughout the course of the exhibition!”.

www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk

Automotive industry charity, Ben, is proudly celebrating 120 years of support for automotive people and their families, as well as marking a new chapter in its future strategic direction.

For over a century, Ben has been a lifeline to thousands of people across the industry, offering support for life. In line with this significant milestone, the charity is entering the next phase of its strategic transformation, unveiling a new vision and senior leadership team to meet the growing health and wellbeing needs of automotive people.

The charity’s three main goals over the next five years are:

• To treble charitable impact – helping even more people
• To increase awareness about Ben from 1:6 to 1:3 for those working in the industry
• To double income through fundraising.

At the heart of Ben’s evolution is its new vision statement of the world the charity wishes to influence: An automotive family that thinks well, feels well, lives well, and works well.

As part of Ben’s renewed direction is a mission to:

1. Provide health & wellbeing support for life for automotive people and their family dependents
2. Partner with automotive employers to build a resilient and motivated workforce
3. Champion and influence positive changes for the automotive industry and its people.

Back in 2023, Ben announced its decision to transfer its care and retirement village to suitable alternative operators and become a single-focused charity, supporting the growing health and wellbeing needs of automotive people. Since the launch of Ben’s previous strategic plan in 2018, demand for Ben’s health and wellbeing services has grown significantly. Ben’s insights suggest that the health and wellbeing needs of automotive industry people are vast and unmet; a key driver for Ben’s Board of Trustees to move in this strategic direction.

Rachel Clift, CEO at Ben, said: “Our 120th birthday has been a time to reflect on the incredible impact Ben has had over the years, as well as taking time to look ahead. We’re embracing the road ahead with ambition and purpose, launching a future vision that will empower our automotive family to live their best lives. This is about driving a new era of health and wellbeing across our industry, focusing on the growing health and wellbeing needs of those who work (or have worked) in the automotive industry and their families.

“We have committed to significantly scaling our health and wellbeing services over the next 5-10 years, enhancing our preventative support and continuing to provide responsive support. Our care and village services were an integral and valued part of Ben for over 70 years; however, our future now focuses on the health and wellbeing needs of our automotive family.

“As we look ahead, we will continue to work closely with employers, partners, and industry leaders to ensure the health and wellbeing of automotive workers remains a shared priority. We all have a responsibility to look after each other, our automotive family, so that we can create a strong, resilient industry ready for the future.”

Ben recently announced a new senior leadership team to support Ben’s new strategic direction, further strengthening the charity’s ability to deliver on its mission and support everyone in the automotive family, from the workshop floor to the boardroom. Find out more about Ben’s senior leadership team: www.ben.org.uk/SLT.

• Subaru announce partnership with World Superbike Championship
• All-electric Subaru Solterra selected as Official Safety Car
• Solterra embodies innovation, performance, and reliability - an ideal match for the championship
• Round 7 of the championship to be held July 11-13 at Donington Park, UK

8th July 2025 - Subaru’s first all-electric SUV, the Subaru Solterra, will take the spotlight as the Official Safety Car of the popular motorsport series. This marks Subaru Europe's debut in an official motorsport programme and the first time WorldSBK has selected an all-electric vehicle as its Official Safety Car.

As the Official Safety Car, the Solterra underscores Subaru’s commitment to crafting vehicles that offer a unique blend of enjoyment and peace of mind. From pre-session track assessments to rapid incident responses, Subaru’s all-electric SUV is built to perform where and when it matters most.

Having performed expertly at all rounds of the season so far, the Subaru Solterra will be on-hand at round seven of the World SBK Championship, held in the UK at the infamous Donington Park, near Castle Donington in Leicestershire. There are three WorldSBK contests to look forward to, with two on the main Sunday race day, plus an international support race package featuring World SuperSport and the return of the Women’s World Championship. Further racing will come from a roster of leading national categories.

"Subaru’s rich racing heritage makes the WorldSBK championship a perfect match for our brand," said David Dello Stritto, General Manager at Subaru Europe. "Partnering with this distinctive motorsport series aligns Subaru with performance and cutting-edge innovation. It reinforces our core values of driving fun, go-anywhere capability, durability and safety—values that resonate deeply with Subaru and WorldSBK fans alike.”

He continued “This collaboration brings our 'Power On. Ready. Charge.' motto to life, showcasing the mindset behind our European efforts to introduce new electric models in the region. It reaffirms Subaru's dedication to shaping a sustainable and electrified future for the brand in Europe.”

Francesco Valentino, Head of WorldSBK Commercial & Marketing Department expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to welcome Subaru as the Official Safety Car provider for WorldSBK. The Solterra embodies a perfect blend of innovation, performance, and reliability, making it an ideal match for our championship. Subaru’s focus on delivering high-quality vehicles aligns perfectly with WorldSBK’s pursuit of excellence. We’re excited to see the Solterra leading the pack and providing fans with unforgettable experiences in our paddock."

On two wheels, everywhere can be an adventure. For those riders who love combining on-road and off-road riding and venture wherever their imagination takes them, here are two highlights from the Nolan line-up that they may want to consider: 

• Four UK premieres: the first public display of the BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, BMW Concept Speedtop and the all-new BMW M2 CS.
• The BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW M2 CS and BMW M3 CS Touring will storm up the hill throughout the weekend.
• To honour 50 years of the BMW 3 Series, a seven-generation parade will take place Thursday 10 July.
• BMW Group Classic joins the festival to celebrate three anniversaries on track: 50 years of the BMW 3 series, 75 years of Formula 1 and 40 years of the “Paris-Dakar” victory in 1985.
• Explore immersive experiences across BMW’s Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine stand - from sim racing to the BMW Motorrad rolling road.
• Join renowned racing drivers and leading podcasters in the BMW Sounds and Stories studio for exclusive live conversations.

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed sets the stage for BMW to bring The Ultimate Driving Machine philosophy to life, with four exciting UK premieres spanning the brand’s innovation, performance, heritage and luxury.

Returning to the Goodwood Estate from 10 - 13 July, the motoring extravaganza will host the UK debut of the BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, BMW Concept Speedtop and the highly anticipated second-generation BMW M2 CS. The event will also pay tribute to one of the brand’s most iconic nameplates with a celebration of 50 years of the BMW 3 Series.

The Ultimate Innovation.
Designed to push driving dynamics to the physical limits, the BMW Vision Driving Experience will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. First revealed at Auto Shanghai - where it successfully scaled a 55-degree ramp – this high-performance test vehicle is now poised to unleash up to 18,000 Nm of torque on the famed Goodwood hill climb.

Festivalgoers can get a closer look at the BMW Vision Driving Experience in the Future Lab. While not destined for series production, the vehicle serves as a rolling test rig, engineered to stress test the drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology developed for the Neue Klasse. Known as the Heart of Joy, this technology will debut in the first Neue Klasse series production model from autumn 2025.

Also making its UK premiere is the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, offering a first look at the Neue Klasse in SAV form. It combines the familiar two-box silhouette of a BMW X model with a paired-back, modern design language, and it sets the stage for forthcoming BMW iX3.

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse, showcasing the design form of BMW’s future saloon models, will also take its place at BMW’s Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine stand.

The Ultimate Performance.
Closely following its global debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the highly anticipated all-new BMW M2 CS will make its first UK appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Combining thrilling performance, superior driving dynamics and a distinctive design, the latest special edition from BMW M GmbH will be seen thundering up the hill and taking pride of place on the BMW stand. Also joining it on the hill will be the first-ever BMW M3 CS Touring. The fast touring will feature on prominent display on the top floor of the stand, offering guests panoramic views of the festival from the driver’s seat – The Ultimate Seat in the House.

Alongside these CS models, a formidable line-up of BMW M cars will feature on the stand, including the recently updated BMW XM Label, BMW M5 Touring and BMW M135 xDrive. Festivalgoers can also look forward to thrills on two wheels as they take to the BMW Motorrad rolling road with the BMW G 310 R. A range of BMW M motorcycles will additionally feature on display. Previewing the next generation of BMW RR superbikes, the recently unveiled BMW Motorrad Concept RR will be driven up the hill by the CEO of BMW Motorrad, Markus Flasch.

Guests who wish to demonstrate their racing prowess can do so with The Ultimate Racing Machine – a sim racing garage where fans can go head-to-head around Spa-Francorchamps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype race car.

The Ultimate Heritage.
BMW Group Classic will join the Goodwood Festival of Speed with a spectacular line-up of race cars and drivers to celebrate two special anniversaries: 50 years of the BMW 3 series and 75 years of Formula 1.

The most famous race car generations of the BMW 3 series, including the “BMW 320 Group 5 Junior Team, E21”, the “BMW 318i touring car, E36” and the “BMW M3 GTR, E46” will take on the hill climb. Guiding them up the 1.16-mile course will be Swiss Formula One driver, Marc Surer, German touring car professional, Dirk Adorf and local-hero and touring car legend Andy Priaulx. Marc Surer will additionally drive the fabled “Brabham BMW BT 52 Turbo” – the 1983 Formula 1 World Championship-winning car – as part of a major celebration of F1.

Meanwhile on two wheels, the “BMW R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar” will highlight the success at the famous Paris-Dakar-Rallye in 1985 performing several hill climbs.

The Ultimate Luxury.
The fourth and final UK premiere at Goodwood will be the unveiling of the BMW Concept Speedtop. With its elegant proportions and exquisite craftsmanship, this striking shooting brake paves the way for a limited series production of just 70 units globally. Visitors can view this exclusive model in the BMW Individual Lounge, which also houses the range-topping BMW i7 M70 xDrive. The lounge offers guests the chance to explore bespoke personalisation options using the BMW Individual Configurator.

Elsewhere on the stand, festivalgoers can enjoy a series of live conversations at the Sounds and Stories studio, powered Bowers & Wilkins. Expect appearances from racing driver Charlie Martin and motoring journalist, presenter and former racing driver, Vicki Butler-Henderson, alongside a line-up of well-known podcasters.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held over four days from 10 - 13 July 2025.