Ten things we learned this week: 11 November 2016 edition

Finally, a vehicle upon which Lexus’s quirky design language naturally fits. We jest, obviously, but there’s no denying this is a more cohesive piece of design than the aesthetically odd CT200h hatchback.

It’s the Skyjet, and it’s been designed with the help of Lexus for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, an upcoming sci-fi film with Rihanna in it. Obviously.

Lexophiles will note the Skyjet’s lights and grille are shared with the new Lexus LC coupe, a car we’re actually pretty excited for a go in. Perhaps not as excited as we would be if a Skyjet test was up for grabs, mind…

Ten Things doesn’t fear much, but the things it is wary of are naturally terrifying: angry geese, cold cups of tea and sinkholes.

Yep, roads opening up and swallowing us registers as a very real fear nowadays, and ginormous gaps are threatening cars the world over. The latest has hit Japan, taking a significant chunk of a five-lane highway with it.

It struck Fukuoka city in Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, a bunch of small holes eventually swelling to a 30-metre gap in the road. Miraculously, no people or cars were harmed, though reports suggest there was disruption to transport links in the area. Um, duh.

Picture: @czarinamaye

While other brick-based activities are available, Lego is increasingly becoming TG’s favourite thanks to its commitment to motor vehicles. This year it’s given us a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Caterham 620R, and now this, for those of a more two-wheeled persuasion.

It is a Lego BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, and we think it looks excellent. An official BMW tie-up has brought the 603-piece kit about, and the details are fantastic, right down to the asymmetric lighting and storage boxes.

And given Lego and BMW are clearly mates now, it leaves us with just one question: which of the Bavarian company’s cars would you like to build in plastic brick form? Glorious old M1? Oddball Z3 M Coupe? Today’s petrol-electric i8?

Let us know below…

A year ago, we were yet to drive Alfa’s big comeback car, and were still in a state of worry about whether it could ever live up to its looks.

Happily, as Chris Harris’s smiling face confirms here, it lived up to them. And perhaps a bit more. Now it’s got some actual trophies to put on its mantelpiece, too, for the Giulia has been crowned ‘Most Beautiful Car’ at the Golden Steering Wheel awards. Don’t go pretending you’ve not heard of them.

Some big names were among the panel, mind, including rally legend Walter Rohrl, current WRC champ Sebsatien Ogier and Andrea Zagato, a designer whose surname is intrinsically linked to Alfas old.

The Bugatti Chiron is a car we've yet to drive, but it's already one that's had many column inches and online galleries dedicated to it.

That's only been boosted this week when Bugatti's world tour landed in Japan, and this rather bold Chiron was put on display at a dealer. It's a Chiron with all of the blue selected on the options list. Seats, wheels, paint: the lot. We reckon the windows would be blue if such a thing were deemed legal.

We're not sure if Japan has a taste police force or not. If it does, reckon they should be heading for Bugatti Tokyo ASAP? Or do you love this colour scheme?

If you’ve driven a Jaguar built within the last decade, then chances are you’ve experienced the pulsing starter button. Introduced with the original XF, it pulses red in a slightly gimmicky manner before you push it to kick the engine into life.

We’ve learned this week that the frequency of its pulses aren’t random, either; the light flashes at a gloriously precise 72 beats-per-minute.

Wondering why we’re referring to it in bpm? Because it perfectly matches at the resting heart rate of a jaguar (the scary cat one). We’d say keep remember that for your next pub quiz, but the pub quiz with questions like this probably isn’t held in an establishment you wish to visit often…

Each and every stat surrounding the Bugatti Veyron seems to involve an improbably large number, and the latest is this: £10,000.

That’s how much you’ll have to pay for the ‘Platinum Plus’, 12-month cover offered by Warrantywise to buyers of second-hand Veyrons. It covers “any repairs up to the retail value of the car, including wear and tear, plus roadside assistance and car hire,” and includes “mechanical and electrical parts, including oil seals, labour rates, air-conditioning, gaskets, drive belts, wiring looms and radiators.”

Given the Veyron has ten radiators – significantly more than you’ll find in Ten Things’ house – that’s probably for the best. Even for £10k.

And not because they might morph into the airborne transport of the future. Nope, the carmakers are wary of how easy drones are making the life of the spy photographer, traditionally the scourge of their prototype-testing programmes.

A German telecoms company is working on software that can keep drones from entering particular spaces (they’ve got sports stadia and political venues in mind), which will be music to the ears of carmakers sick of their latest models being leaked online, years ahead of actual release.

Ever the cynics, however, we’re sure that quite a lot of carmakers secretly like the attention…

Earlier this year, Jaguar Land Rover was reportedly in talks with Silverstone regarding plans to lease – or even buy – the circuit for its own use, plans potentially including a heritage centre to show off its enviable collection of classic vehicles.

Reuters reports this week, though, that no such thing will happen. It published the following quote from an unnamed spokesperson for JLR: “Jaguar Land Rover has ended discussions with the British Racing Drivers' Club for the foreseeable future and is not proceeding with any plans to either lease or purchase Silverstone at this time."

It seems the talks have been dragging on for a long time; whether impatience is the reason for the talks coming to an end is unclear, but it’s previously been reported that Porsche (who currently runs a successful experience centre at Silverstone) wasn’t too delighted about Jag’s plans…