Posted in Automotive
2nd May 2024
It’s clear that the allure of supercars and collectable classics remains high as the Salon Privé London 2024 car show was again a celebrated success at the Royal Hospital Chelsea last month, with over 18,000 visitors welcomed over three days.
Despite mixed fortunes for the modern, classic and vintage strands of the UK super-car market due to economic influences and a perceived ‘market price reset’, and new supercar sales plateauing from 2021 – 2023, the global outlook is positive. Supercar sales are predicted to be the fastest growing sector in automobile and transportation by 2030.
Plus, whilst the overall UK classic car market has been volatile, there’s an emerging trend of increased values for cars with a strong or unique historical narrative. Vehicles with a rich history or limited production runs are fetching premium prices, as collectors seek to own a piece of automotive history.
Allied to these signs of an improving market, we are also seeing a rise in demand for ever-more elaborate garages for coveted and collectable cars. As we regularly explore the project portfolios of designers, architects and developers, it’s clear that the provision of polished parking facilities is becoming a priority. Beyond private owners, experts in sourcing and retailing rare automobiles are also investing in beautiful facilities to showcase their collections, such as our friends at Girardo & Co and DK Engineering.
Creating special places to store and safeguard luxury and collectable cars is nothing particularly new, but we’re excited to see bespoke garage specialists, the wider construction sector and installation professionals getting into the design and fit-out of increasingly ambitious display rooms and workshops.
This progressively active and innovative area of architecture and interior design spans from simple or specialist garage conversions, through to the creation of impressive ‘domestic car showrooms’ and subterranean ‘supercar caves’.
Some of the specialist equipment, building materials and componentry that’s being incorporated into the most adventurous and avant-garde design schemes include technically advanced, high security glazing and doors, futuristic lifts and turntables and bespoke lighting, furniture and fittings.
In our view, however, the most important consideration may be the choice of floor and wall covering, and high-performance porcelain tiles are the ideal solution.
Technological advancements in the production of the latest porcelain tiles have seen the emergence of new 20 mm thick ranges that are ideal for external use and vehicular traffic. These products can bear greater loads, are more resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures, deliver excellent colour stability over time and have grippy textured surfaces that yield improved anti-slip properties.
Many of the ranges in the Minoli collection are available with complementary indoor and outdoor versions to match. Through garage doors, on walls and floors, and through to non-vehicle areas, near seamless transitions can be achieved. The 20 mm product with textured surface is particularly suitable for driveways, garage and workshop floors, wash-down areas and ramps.
What’s more, porcelain tiles are easy to clean and maintain, almost impervious to liquid, oil and dirt and they come in an array of sizes, colours, and designs including minimalist concrete, organic stone, natural wood, metallics and even marble effect. With such variety in style and finish, luxury contemporary tiles can be paired with more robust and rugged partners, whatever the desired effect.
Here at Minoli, we have both a personal and professional passion for all things automotive, with a long-standing heritage in providing tiles to motor manufacturers and their networks, plus a range of motorcycle, collector and tuning specialists, as well as garaging solutions for private individuals.
Our clients not only include well-known premium and performance brands such as Lotus, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lexus, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Alpine, Ducati and the Yamaha World Superbike Team, but also collectors and independent specialists such as Girardo & Co and DK Engineering.
In addition to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (with over 15 OEM motor brands in the Minoli portfolio), we also supply many leading housebuilders and property developers, architects and designers, across London, the South-East and Home Counties, and they too are seeing increased demand for more extensive and individual garaging solutions.
Whether specifying for a domestic garage or the international deployment of a car manufacturer’s new corporate scheme, we tailor our products and services to our clients’ particular needs.
The automotive team is managed Jonathon Minoli and Sophie Doran who would be delighted to receive your enquiry at jonathon@minoli.co.uk or sophie@minoli.co.uk