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Follow Idris Elba and the new Jaguar XE across Europe — episode three live now

26 February, 2015

British actor and DJ Idris Elba, best known for his roles as Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and Baltimore drug lord Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell in the HBO TV series The Wire — has been appointed by Jaguar to drive a diesel-powered Jaguar XE.

It’s not just any old drive, though. Idris has been tasked with the 1000km drive from London to Berlin, where he has been booked to DJ at the XE’s European launch. The trip will see Idris travel across four countries over the course of three days, and Jaguar will be releasing a series of short films documenting the journey.

The first instalment has Idris introduced to the XE, where he is wowed by the car’s connectivity and cutting-edge technological features.

“I’m looking forward to it ‘cause it’s got a lot of gadgets in it, and I’ve got a playlist to get together. I can just connect it to the internet and do my playlist while I’m driving, without taking my eyes off the road,” he says.

Find episodes one and two below. We’ll keep you informed when the next ones are available. They promise a refreshing, modern take on the iconic trans-Europe road trip.  

Episode one:

Episode two:

Episode three:

The actual Formula One

18 September, 2026

Seeing, in a shed in Hamilton, New Zealand, the Darracq 120 racer that Louis Wagner, also a pioneer aviator, drove to victory in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race felt a little like finding a Rembrandt at a garage sale.
For historical significance, I’d say this car ranks with Ray Harroun’s Marmon Wasp, the first Indianapolis 500 winner. Unlike Harroun’s Wasp, which has been lovingly cared for at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum over the years, this historically pivotal machine wound up half a world away from its home in France and, to most of the motoring world, largely forgotten. Sadly, so is the story of how the car got to Aotearoa in the first place.
More often than not, a racing car that is a few years old is regarded as obsolete and relegated to a shed somewhere. As far as racing drivers and team owners at the cutting edge of the sport are concerned, the cars are virtually worthless at that point. They can’t be driven on the street; at best they can be reconfigured for lower levels of the sport, so few people care about them until their historical significance becomes more apparent.

Dad will love this!

29 August, 2026

Subscribe or gift a subscription to NZ Classic Car magazine for one year this Father’s Day, and go into the draw to win one of two luxury car care packages worth $570 from Lovecars.
The prize: Adam’s Foam Cannon Kit includes a complete pressure-washer foam cannon setup; Michelle’s Car Wash Kit takes care of everything after the foam. It includes Autostolz Premium Auto Wash, Enhanced Ceramic Spray Wax, and loads more.
Together, you’ve got the setup to foam, wash, protect and dry your car properly – using some of NZ’s top-selling car detailing products.
A seriously good prize for anyone who loves keeping their car looking its best.