Latest news with #BMWM8
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside £11.5m Brit winner's jewel-dripping marriage proposal on luxury yacht
Arron Freeman popped the question to his girlfriend Kelly Dighton just days after bagging the record-breaking £11.5m jackpot with a £1.50 stake on an online slot game A lucky scaffolder who won a record £11.5million on an online slot game has popped the question to his girlfriend during a luxury trip to Turkey. Dad-of-two Arron Freeman, 44, popped the question to Kelly Dighton, 41, on a yacht near a bridge which displayed her name in lights. She said on Facebook: "Finally I am going to get my fairytale with my absolute world Arron Paul Freeman, we are getting married. Never knew he could be so romantic, how he got down on one knee was the most amazing thing anyone's ever done for me. Thank you Arron, you are the most amazing man in the world. I love you endlessly." Life changed for Arron and Kelly on June 5 when he won £11.5m on Betfred's online slot game Mega Moolah with a £1.50 stake. Since then, the biggest winners in the betting firm's 58-year history have splashed the cash. Arron has apparently bought a BMW M8, which costs £150,000 new. Kelly, who has shared on TikTok her progress recovering from a drug addiction, showed off a mammoth diamond ring, said to be from Tiffany & Co. In her videos she wears a £315 Gucci brooch and a diamond-encrusted Rolex, while talking about having face fillers, a Brazilian butt lift and liposuction in Turkey. In one post last week she said: "Hi guys, how are we? Oh my God, life, how much my life has changed. Yeah, everything's really good. I'm in Turkey at the moment. Loving life, guys, loving life. It's awesome out here, absolutely brilliant, loving life. Crazy stuff really happening to me at the moment. I will talk more about it in a few weeks, once it's all settled, really. I've come to Turkey, I've had a few face fillers and stuff done, so I'm just waiting for the swelling to go down. And I'm also having an operation tomorrow. I'm having a 360 lipo and a BBL. I'm looking forward to seeing the results guys." Arron, who runs ASL Scaffolding in Lowestoft, Suffolk, is said to have celebrated the win with Champagne at the pub run by Kelly's parent Betfred founder Fred Done called him to offer his congratulations and invited him to Old Trafford as his guest. After the win, Arron said: 'It's still sinking in, but it was class of Fred to phone me. He told me to look after my cash and that is my plan. I'm looking forward to meeting Fred at a manchester -united-fc> Manchester United home game. Hopefully, we will both celebrate if the reds win." He added: 'I've been a horse racing punter my whole life and hit the crossbar a few times with some of my accas but obviously never hit the jackpot like this. It was the missus' idea that we gave the casino a go and we certainly got lucky. I love racing so I will still have a bet on the horses, but it will still be my normal small stakes.' Prior to the win, Kelly told her TikTok followers that she was more than 100 days clean. Mr Freeman shared a post on Facebook in April expressing support for his partner. He shared one of her posts, commenting: "What can I say apart from I'm so proud of you, my beautiful woman! You're getting stronger by the day, which is making me stronger by the day! Please share this and make people aware." Speaking to the EDP after the win, Mr Freeman said: "I am in shock, but I am not gonna say too much at the minute. Basically, I am going to sell my story to the highest bidder. The money the highest bidder gives me is going to be put towards building a homeless shelter, so it's going to go to a good cause." Ms Dighton's parents run the Lake Lothing Public House on Rotterdam Road in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Man United fan Mr Freeman is understood to have been living between there and his father's house in Mulbarton, Norfolk. A friend, who wished to remain anonymous, reportedly said: 'Aaron is still in shock, and it hasn't really set in. Of course, it is a life-changing amount of money, so it's something I think he is coming to terms with. He is a father, and I think he's still trying to get his head around it. I think he and his partner are off on holiday and are going to take some time to decide their options." 'He's a sensible chap and is planning to invest some of his winnings into property for his family,' said Betfred founder Mr Done. 'But not before enjoying a holiday of a lifetime." Mr Done also advised the jackpot winner to never gamble again. The record-breaking payout is more than double of the previous biggest win at Betfred, when in 2023 Michael Clark from Newcastle scooped £5.4m. Mega Moolah is a safari-themed jackpot slot that has five reels and 25 paylines. The minimum bet is 25p per spin. With doubling wild wins and a Free Spins feature with a trebling multiplier, it's all about the Progressive Jackpot Bonus Game where you spin to wheel to guarantee 1 of 4 progressive jackpots.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
BMW Concept Speedtop unveiled for the first time, limited to 70 units globally. Here's what it gets
Debuting at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, the new BMW Concept Speedtop is a reinterpretation of the brand's shooting-brake legacy Check Offers BMW Concept Speedtop, a limited production shooting brake based on the now discontinued BMW M8, has been unveiled by the German carmaker. Debuting at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, the new BMW Speedtop coupe is a reinterpretation of the brand's shooting-brake legacy. Building on the BMW Skytop convertible, which was unveiled last year, BMW has now confirmed that the Speedtop will make the leap from concept to reality—with just 70 units slated for production. This limited edition is aimed at collectors and purists looking for exclusivity and muscular performance in a stunning, retro-inspired package. Also Read : BMW Motorrad Concept RR revealed at Villa d'Este. Is this the future of BMW superbikes? BMW Concept Speedtop: Design With a silhouette that harks back to the legendary Z3 M Coupe—affectionately dubbed the "clown shoe"—and elements from the Z4 coupe concept, the Speedtop blends modern aggression with nostalgic charm. Its three-door shooting-brake design gives it a distinctive stance, exuding elegance and athleticism in equal measure. The body is finished in a custom 'Floating Sunstone' gradient, a mix of silver and maroon that changes color with the light. The custom coating is highlighted by the two-tone, 14-spoke alloy wheels made for this concept. While last year's Skytop had a warm brown interior, the Speedtop goes with a white leather colour scheme for a touch of class and contrast throughout the cabin and luggage sections. BMW Concept Speedtop: Features The Speedtop's interior represents artisanal luxury. For the interior of the Speedtop, BMW has collaborated with highly regarded Italian leather artisans Schedoni, to develop custom, hand stitched travel cases that are consistent with the car's design aesthetics. These custom travel cases fit conveniently into leather strapped compartments located behind the front seats, making the Speedtop functional—as well as fantastic— for extended journeys. Also Read : BMW Concept Skytop teased in India once again. To release soon in limited numbers The rear cargo space is divided into two parts, giving ample room for larger travel luggage. To further improve the cabin atmosphere, an ambient light strip has been incorporated into the cargo space—combining practicality and a touch of occasion. BMW Concept Speedtop: Specifications Beneath its sculpted hood, the Speedtop has some serious power to offer. Sharing its mechanical DNA with the BMW M8 Competition, it is powered by a 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine as stated with an imposing 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque. It's the most powerful non-electrified V8 in BMW's extensive lineup, with which we imagine will guarantee performance to match its exotic looks. While prices remain confidential, it is believed the Speedtop's price will well exceed the Skytop convertible's price of more than $570,000. Due to its rarity and ultra-custom, the Speedtop will likely become a collector's jewel in private collections internationally. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 27 May 2025, 09:04 AM IST
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
BMW Will Turn Its Concept Speedtop Into 50 Road Cars
Based on the BMW M8, the Concept Speedtop will make production next year, but they will only make 50 ... More cars, expected to sell for around $500,000 each. Photo: BMW BMW has taken the covers off its Concept Speedtop shooting brake at the Concorso d'Eleganza in Cernobbio tonight. The Concept Speedtop, which will end up in a 70-unit production run at close to half a million dollars each, is a hard-topped follow up to the Concept Skytop. Both cars are based on the BMW M8 production car, powered by a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8, and the Concept Speedtop is expected to reach 62mph in around 3.3 seconds. The most powerful production BMW engine, the 625hp V8 will drive all four wheels through an eight-speed ZF transmission, but the real innovation is the way BMW is leveraging limited-volume 'art' cars to ratchet up brand value. Powered by a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8, the Concept Speedtop made its debut at the Hotel Villa d'Este ... More Concorso d'Eleganza tonight. Photo: BMW. The Concept Speedtop will be a brand-building exercise for BMW, and its executives hope it follows in the footsteps of the Skytop, which has ended its 50-unit limited production run and sold for $500,000 each. BMW design boss Adrian van Hooydonk insisted the Concept Speedtop would bring back the style of the Concept Touring special. 'A true BMW exudes dynamism and elegance, even when it's standing still, and that's the case with our new concept car,' van Hooydonk said. 'The Concept Speedtop is characterised first of all by its profile. 'It is very unique in the automotive industry. In this way, we have created and exclamation mark for our entire lineup of vehicles,' he said. The BMW Concept Speedtop is an evolution of the Concept Touring. Photo: BMW In reality, the Concept Speedtop is a design evolution of the Calvin Luk-designed Concept Touring, which BMW revealed at the Concorso d'Eleganza at the Hotel Villa d'Este in Cernobbio in 2023. BMW has a long history of unveiling concept cars (and motorbikes) at the Concorso d'Eleganza, which it has long supported as its major sponsor. Riding on custom-designed, two-tone, 14-spoke alloy wheels, the Concept Speedtop's design is marked by a central spline running the length of the body. BMW turned to Ferrari's favorite leather artisans Schedoni to create custom luggage for the Concept ... More Speedtop. Photo: Birgit Bitterman. BMW has taken the ultra-luxury positioning of the Concept Speedtop to heart, signing up with Modena-based luxury leather artisans Schedoni to create custom luggage to perfectly fit the Concept Speedtop's leather-lined space behind the seats. There's also a matching weekend bag designed to fit the trunk space. Usually associated with Ferrari, Schedoni also created brogue-style perforations in the leather to allow it to breath, gave it a two-tone leather roof lining,
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW M8 Outperforms Dodge Hellcats in Unexpected Drag Race Showdown
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In a surprising turn at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's The Strip, a blue BMW M8 grand tourer coupe outpaced its more muscular American competitors, the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models, in a series of quarter-mile drag races. The event, captured by the Wheels channel on YouTube, showcased the unlikely triumph of German engineering over American brute force in a head-to-head showdown. The BMW M8, a high-performance variant of the 8 Series, is equipped with a 4.4-liter S63 twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering power through BMW's advanced M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Despite being up against the Hellcats, known for their sheer horsepower advantage—with the Challenger and Charger boasting at least 707 horsepower—the M8's sophisticated drivetrain and lighter frame gave it an unexpected edge. The race took place at one of America's few four-lane drag racing venues, a site well-known for its high-octane competitions and a favorite among automotive enthusiasts. The venue, part of a larger complex that includes a 1.5-mile tri-oval speedway, was bustling with spectators eager to witness the import versus domestic showdown. Despite the Dodge models' horsepower advantage, the results were not as anticipated. The BMW M8 consistently outperformed both Hellcats, not just in speed but in the efficiency of power delivery and traction. The M8's victory was a clear demonstration of how modern engineering and design could influence performance outcomes, even when facing vehicles with more raw power. However, the event also highlighted some performance quirks. None of the cars managed to break into the eleven-second bracket, typically expected from such high-powered machines. The Charger Hellcat notably underperformed, clocking in a disappointing thirteen seconds due to a delayed start. This race has sparked discussions among car enthusiasts about the importance of all-wheel drive systems, vehicle weight, and driver skill in drag racing. It also raises questions about the evolving dynamics of car performance in competitive racing scenarios.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW M8 vs. Dodge Hellcat Siblings: Unexpected Outcomes on the Dragstrip
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A drag race showdown between German engineering and American muscle? That's exactly what happened at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's iconic dragstrip, "The Strip." A BMW M8 Coupe went head-to-head with Dodge's Challenger and Charger Hellcat models in a series of quarter-mile runs that delivered unexpected results. The BMW M8, a luxury grand tourer equipped with a 4.4-liter S63 twin-turbo V8 producing up to 617 horsepower in its Competition variant, brings German precision and an all-wheel-drive M xDrive system to the table. While it offers a refined ride and high-tech features, its raw power and speed make it a competitor on the dragstrip. On the American side were Dodge's muscle-bound Hellcat duo: a Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe and a Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody sedan. These Mopar legends are well-known for their supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engines, which produce at least 707 horsepower, with Redeye and Super Stock versions pushing that number even higher. On paper, it seemed like the Dodge siblings had the edge in sheer power, but the results told a different story. Despite their muscle car pedigree, the Hellcats fell short against the BMW M8. The AWD traction and precise power delivery of the German coupe proved decisive, with the M8 crossing the line ahead of both Dodge challengers in their respective races. Surprisingly, none of the cars dipped below 11 seconds, with the Dodge Charger posting a disappointing 13-second pass due to a sluggish start. The Challenger and M8 hovered in the 12-second range, which is slower than expected for high-performance models of this caliber. So, what happened? The slower times may be attributed to less-than-optimal track conditions, driver error, or simply the cars being pushed less aggressively than they could be. Regardless, the results showcased how the BMW M8's sophisticated engineering can outmaneuver raw power when put to the test. In the end, while the Hellcats have the grunt, the BMW M8 proved that finesse and technology can sometimes trump brute strength—even in the world of drag racing. Sign in to access your portfolio
