This year we saw a celebration of motoring, the automotive industry, and pure driving bliss at the Lord March's Goodwood Estate. With hundreds of thousands of attendees, Lord March's Estate hosted a mandatory hill climb event, rally-stage event, several motoring venues, and other exhibition events. However, 39.9 seconds of the show will remain the most important part of the whole game. That was the time electric ID R racecar needed to cover 1.16 miles of the Goodwood estate Hillclimb, thus dethroning a 20-year-old record set by Nick Heidfeld and a Formula 1 car. Apart from that, the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed hosted so many incredible vehicles that it would just be impossible to note them all. I give you here 16 coolest cars that appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year.
Volkswagen ID R Racecar
On the wings of success from the Pikes and Nurburgring, the unstoppable electric and razor-sharp Volkswagen ID R formulated a plan to conquer the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb.
The Volkswagen ID R went on to take the Goodwood Hillclimb title. It did it even on its first run when it drove a couple of tenths quicker compared to the record set in 1999 by the McLaren F1 car with Nick Heidfeld behind the wheel. However, Romain Dumas, who was behind the wheel of the Volkswagen ID R, later managed to complete the Hillclimb in 39.9 seconds which is, by far, the fastest that Goodwood has ever seen. What is more, after the drive, Dumas said: "if we stay one more week, it’s possible we could find a few more tenths."
Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen ID R Racecar
Porsche 911 RSR 4.2-liter flat-six
I find that this Porsche 911 RSR is one of the most important entries at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Porsche engineers worked on an all-new 911 RSR since May 2017, and now it is finally ready. As commentators at GFOS 2019 noted, this car is 95 percent all-new with only a couple of parts remaining the same as on the previous car (the brakes, seat, and some suspension components).
Apart from the re-engineered transmission setup, lightweight exhaust system, and a completely new aerodynamic setup, the biggest surprise of the new Porsche 911 RSR is the 4.2-liter, naturally aspirated, flat-six. This is the biggest boxer engine ever mated with the Porsche 911 chassis.
Check out more details on the 2019 Porsche 911 RSR 4.2-liter flat-six
Audi R8 LMS GT2
As one of the most stunning appearances at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Audi R8 LMS GT2 showcased Audis' complete dedication to enter the GT2 racing series. Driven by nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, the gorgeous Audi R8 LMS GT2 with neon green details is a 631-horsepower racecar that tips the scales just under 3,000 pounds.
Read our full review on the 2020 Audi R8 LMS GT2
Extreme E
The Extreme E off-road racing series, the one I wrote about before, debuted its first race electric truck/SUV/car/something at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Yes, it was slow up that hill, but for a good reason. It is not complete yet. Extreme E simply had to showcase the car here and start with the early marketing efforts for the eco-friendly racing series.
Apart from the not-very-fast-SUV-that-should-have-been-fast, Extreme E team major sponsor, Continental tires, revealed two Continental tire types (winter and summer tires) for the racing series.
Check out more derails on the 2019 Extreme E
De Tomaso P72
In an absolute breeze of automotive bliss, the De Tomaso come to be again. Now in shape inspired by the 1960's Le Mans racers, the De Tomaso P72 combines the absolute uncompromised performance with the modern interpretation of some older De Tomaso cars - such as the P70.
The car did stir some emotion as James Glickenhaus actually accused the P72 designers that they basically carbon-copied design of his own Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina one-off. I will leave it to you to be the judge of that.
Check out more details on the 2019 De Tomaso P72
Aston Martin DBX
Although some called it the biggest no-go of this years GFOS, the Aston Martin DBX debuted at this years event in prototype form. Honestly, we did not learn much about it except the fact that Aston Martin has a bit more to work on its exterior design. The sounds of its propulsion system and much of the front-end design seems to be complete and ready for the production.
"We have a number of important people in the financial community coming, including bankers and investors," Andy Palmer, Aston Martin CEO said before the event. Palmer added that the company looks to unveil seven new models over seven years and double its production to 14,000 cars yearly.
"The narrative of the plan, the DBX, de-risking and the luxury market is not a story you can tell through newspaper headlines, so we will take every opportunity, every touchpoint with investors," said Palmer at the event.
As far as the DBX goes, Aston Martin actually made extensive tests with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and the BMW X5M. The company wants to make the new DBX handle and cope with high speed better than any of them.
Read our full review on the 2020 Aston Martin DBX.
Bac Mono R
For the first time in the history of the company, BAC offers two product - Mono and the new Mono R. Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, BAC revealed the new, heavily redesigned Mono R.
"Today marks a monumental step in the history of Briggs Automotive Company. Not only have we become a multi-product brand for the first time, but we’ve done so with a truly remarkable feat of engineering, design, and innovation in the Mono R," said Ian Briggs, Design Director at BAC.
The car itself is a testament to precision engineering and an absolute uncompromised attitude toward speed. By that, I mean that BAC worked basically on every part of the vehicle to make it even faster and fiercer around any track imaginable. Their work with the graphene integration into the overall structure, 3D printing of some parts, and the addition of the Ramair intake (that thing on the left side of the cockpit) launched the Mono R in a whole another level of performance. Thanks to 612horsepower per ton, the BAC Mono R can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and achieve about 170 mph. With new Pirelli Trofeo R tires, lower center of gravity, and somewhat different aerodynamics, the new BAC Mono R should be capable of far quicker lap times compared with the Mono.
BAC plans to produce only 30 units. They have already sold all of them.
Check out more details on the Bac Mono R
Ford GT Mk II
As an ultimate representation of the GTs racing proves, the Ford GT Mk II debut at Goodwood marked a pivotal moment for the American company. Ford created the new car based on the Ford GT Le Mans racer, but instead of homologating it for some racing series, the company actually decided to throw all the rulebooks out of the window and craft the most extreme car possible. That is why the new Ford GT Mk II features that massive rear wing and a fat front splitter.
Interestingly enough, the conservative estimate for the maximum power sits at 700 horsepower, but some already suggested that its EcoBoost actually develops 735 horsepower. Plus, thanks to race-bred suspension without any height adjustment stuff, it is lower compared to any roadgoing GT.
I can safely say that this is the most extreme GT Ford ever produced.
Check out more details on the Ford GT Mk II
Radical Rapture
Called the Rapture, the new Radical is the first all-new Radical in quite some time. The Rupture is basically a multitasker in the world of Radical as it can be used as a road car and a competent track car. Not that we have seen this for the first time, but the Radical always knew to make well-balanced track cars that can easily compete with far more powerful things on the track.
0-62 mph? In less than three seconds!
I feel that Radical, with a price of $140,000, represent a bit cheaper alternative to the BAC Mono. Nevertheless, it did not actually tear through the Goodwood Hillclimb course, but it did show its potential under the tent where Radical actually unveiled it.
Samsung remote-controlled 5G car
Vaughn Gittin Jr had one of the most unexpected shows at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He put on the Samsung Gear VR headset, sat behind the Designated Driver steering wheel drivers rig in a so-called Future Lab tent, and remotely controlled a car that was more than a mile away.
Vaughn Gittin Jr, who drove the car remotely and managed to make it drift a bit thanks to some special tires, said that the technology should allow remote seated operators to take control of cars with autonomous driving tech. Of course, only if and when needed (when the autonomous car sensors go bad for example).
Samsung, Vodaphone, and Designated Driver actually tried to control this car from 5,000 miles away, and it apparently worked great. While I could write about this for ages, I think you should watch this video and get to know this innovation better. For me, the most fantastic thing about this is the fact that Vaughn used Samsung S10 phone in his VR headset, and he watched the video feed from the Samsung S10 phones that were attached to the roof of the modified Lincoln sedan. You can have that tech in your pocket.
Mercedes-AMG A45 S
Revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the most powerful, the fastest and the most bizarre hatchback that ever was. With 415 horsepower from a 2.0-liter engine and a 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive, the A45 S honestly become a bit too fast. This is a hatchback that can accelerate to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and probably shame a lot of older supercars on the track. It is strange time we live in to have a car like this.
All in all, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is a pure and simple creation that fruition from a powerplay Mercedes plays with its competitors. While it is impressive, I can't wait to see what Audi is cooking for the new RS3?!
Check out more details on the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S
Lexus LC Convertible
In a move, that surprised no one Lexus confirmed the production of the new Lexus LC Convertible.
However, apart from the fact that the LC Convertible will come, rumors suggest that it will feature a whole new propulsion method - a V-8 with at least 600 horsepower. Of course, in an LC F guise!
While nothing is confirmed, some rumors suggest we may see a new 4.0-liter, turbocharged V-8, or a supercharged 5.0-liter, V-8 under its bonnet. We will just have to wait and see what Lexus has in store for us.
Read our full review on the Lexus LC Convertible
Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender kicked off this year Goodwood Festival of Speed. With Lord March, the founder of the GFOS, behind its wheel, camouflaged Land Rover Defender made the first official Hillclimb at this years venue. The new Defender does celebrate the Land Rover heritage with its basic shape and purpose, but it does evoke certain modernity to the whole off-road segment. It won't look like the old Defender. After all, it seems to be a bit chubbier, but with a clear boxy look of the rear end.
The development process took the Land Rover and the new Defender to the most remote places in the world. The company tested it in Kenia, in the Arctic circle, and, of course, at the most remote areas of Great Britain. I can't wait to see it.
Read our full review on the 2020 Land Rover Defender
Honda E
Honda E made the global, dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. A gorgeous city electric car even attracted Lord March who drove it at the hill.
During the main event, Toro Rosso driver Alex Albon took it up that 1.16-mile hill climb. The speed was not crucial, of course, but Albon did say that the Honda E felt nimble and agile. That's more important for the small city car, I guess.
Read our full speculative review on the Honda E
McLaren GT
The McLaren GT is unlike any other long-distance Grand Tourer. It is a mid-engine beast based around the same underpinnings as the hardcore McLaren supercars. To make it, at least, appealing to the people who usually buy Aston Martin DB11s or Continental GTs, McLaren GT become the biggest McLaren ever produced. After all, designers managed to create a large luggage compartment, integrated far more leather than ever before, and ever detuned the engine.
After all, it is a car that can reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and top speed 203 miles per hour despite 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, and 5.3 cubic feet in the frunk. It was not the most significant star at the Goodwood, but it surely left a mark there.
Read our full review on the 2020 McLaren GT
Porsche Bergspyder homage
The Porsche Bergspyder Homage car did not compete at the Goodwood Hillclimb event. Heck, it did not even drove up that hill. I think it should. Hidden somewhere in the Porsche tent at the Goodwood Estate, the Porsche Bergspyder is a one-off prototype that was built as an homage for the lightest Porsche ever - 847 pounds heavy 909 Bergspyder from1968.
Nevertheless, the Porsche Bergspyder is a fantastic vehicle, powered by a Cayman 3.8-liter, 388 horsepower engine, and with the most hardcore suspension setup. Apparently, it lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 30 seconds. I wonder how fast it could be at the Goodwood hill!
While I have not seen the new Bergspyder tear up the hill, I give you a remarkable hill climb by the original Porsche 909 Bergspyder.