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: