WORDS: DAVID LILLYWHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: OCTANE
Hothouse Media, publisher of Magneto, has acquired the market-leading monthly classic car magazine Octane and the prestigious Historic Motoring Awards event.
Octane and the Historic Motoring Awards join Hothouse Media’s quarterly Magneto magazine, its annual The Concours Year book, the mould-breaking Concours on Savile Row event and its contract publishing division to form one of the most influential media and events businesses in the global classic and collector car market. The acquisition by Hothouse Media also reunites the original founders of Octane – Robert Coucher, Sanjay Seetanah, Geoff Love and David Lillywhite.
The four were already highly experienced in the classic car market when they started Octane in 2003. Octane soon became known for the high quality of its writing, photography and design, along with its household-name columnists, which have included Jay Leno, Sir Stirling Moss, Rowan Atkinson, Nick Mason, Derek Bell and Stephen Bayley. In time it became one of the most authoritative and entertaining publications at the top end of the classic car market, and 248 issues later it remains a highly influential publication, with licensed editions in The Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan, and a circulation in excess of 30,000 copies per issue.
The Historic Motoring Awards were launched a few years later, and have become a popular and prestigious end to the international motoring year. The 2023 Awards ceremony was attended by guests and nominees from around the world, with Prince Michael of Kent as guest of honour.
Commenting on the acquisition of Octane and the Historic Motoring Awards, Geoff Love, managing director of Hothouse Media, said: “David and I are delighted to add Octane and the Historic Motoring Awards to the portfolio of Hothouse Media. They strengthen our position within the classic and collector car market, and will allow us to offer commercial partners multiple ways to reach the most active and influential participants and enthusiasts in the hobby.
“Octane is a fantastic brand that has been delighting audiences for over 20 years. As we take stewardship of the publication once again, we’re looking forward to working with James Elliott and the Octane team to ensure that the magazine has the investment and support it needs to thrive in the coming years.”
Commenting on the sale, Julian Lloyd-Evans, executive director at Autovia, said: “We are really pleased to be able to find a fitting home for Octane and the Historic Motoring Awards. Hothouse Media has proved with its portfolio that it understands the classic car media business, and we know that the brands are in safe hands and will flourish under their new ownership.”
Magneto will, of course, continue to be published quarterly, perfectly complementing Octane’s monthly schedule. You can subscribe to Octane here, and click here for more about Hothouse Media. More details on the Historic Motoring Awards here.
