Innholdsfortegnelse for November 11, 2015 i Autocar

FORMALLY, WE REFER to it as Britain’s Best Driver’s Car; informally, we bandy around the name ‘Handling Day’. Whatever you call it, our annual quest to find the most rewarding car on road and track is a high point of our year. At Handling Day, unlike our weekly road tests, scientific measurement of every facet of a car’s performance and physical attributes takes a back seat to assessing the less tangible aspects that set merely good driver’s cars apart from the great ones. This year’s contest was as compelling as ever, with the new Ferrari 488 GTB (standing in for our reigning champion, the 458 Speciale) facing competition from Ariel, Audi, Lamborghini, Lotus, Mazda and two cars each from Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. I was secretly rooting for the Nomad to…

JAGUAR LAND ROVER bosses are actively considering a limited-run, £200,000-plus Range Rover model as part of a concerted effort to drive the brand further upmarket. The new model would put Range Rover in direct competition with the Bentley Bentayga while offering greater exclusivity thanks to production being limited to as few as 1000 units. Speaking at the launch of the new Range Rover SVAutobiography model, Paul Newsome, director of JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, said he “could envisage” a flagship Range Rover with a base price of £200,000. “I can see something that would sit above the existing Range Rover,” he said. “It would have to have a unique style and different looks.” Newsome said he was thinking along the lines of a car that would be partially handmade.…

BMW IS SET to extend the range of its electric-powered i3 with the introduction of what sources close to the German car maker describe as an “optimised driveline” that draws on battery efficiency gains developed since its launch in 2013. The i3 will receive a new lithium ion battery with the same 22kWh (18.7kWh usable) capacity as that used today but a higher power density for a longer range. The move is claimed to extend its range to well over 124 miles in real-world use, compared with just under 200 miles now. The i3 will also get an upgraded electronics package that features new software mapping for the battery cooling system and the electric motor. The revised battery pack will be fitted to not only the all-electric i3 but also…

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP design boss Walter de Silva is set to retire at the end of the month. The 64-year-old designer will leave after 17 years at the VW Group, a period that has included stints as design chief of Audi, Lamborghini and Seat. He has led the group’s overall design since 2007. A replacement for de Silva, who is also well known from a 12-year stint at Alfa Romeo in the 1980s and 1990s, has not yet been announced. However, de Silva — a close confidant of former VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn — may not be replaced full time as VW looks to trim costs in the aftermath of the ‘dieselgate’ emissions scandal. De Silva will retain an advisory role at the VW Group after he leaves. Highlights of…

The Volkswagen Group has been plunged into further crisis after admitting that up to 800,000 petrol and diesel-engined cars have had their CO2 and fuel economy ratings wrongly certified. In a statement, VW said: “Under the ongoing review of all processes and workflows in connection with diesel engines, it was established that the CO2 levels and thus the fuel consumption figures for some models were set too low during the CO2 certification process. The majority of the vehicles concerned have diesel engines.” VW pledged to “immediately start a dialogue with the responsible type approval agencies regarding the consequences of these findings”. The statement also described the situation as a “not yet fully explained issue”. A spokesman has confirmed that the latest scandal affects Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW cars with…

A DEVELOPMENT MULE for the next Bentley Continental GT has been spied testing before the finished car arrives in showrooms in early 2017. The new Conti GT marks a big step for Bentley, as it takes the car off a relatively elderly platform and onto an all-new architecture. Called MSB, the new set of chassis components has been developed under the guidance of Porsche and will be used, in a lengthened form, on the next Panamera. That explains the curious test mule in our image: it’s clearly a shortened version of an existing Panamera bodyshell, albeit with altered ride height and a front end designed to test the Bentley’s engine cooling configuration. MSB development has also included new V6 and V8 turbocharged petrol engines, so the Continental is likely to…

The 2016 Porsche 911 is a big break from tradition. For the first time, the mainstay of Porsche’s line-up adopts a turbocharged engine that endows the volume-selling Carrera and Carrera S with greater reserves than ever before, along with better fuel economy. For 911 aficionados, it symbolises a seismic shift in priorities. The new engine adheres to the horizontally opposed six-cylinder layout, but the new induction process and the associated changes to the cooling system are a significant departure from what has gone before. The new engine has a considerably smaller swept volume than the naturally aspirated one it replaces. However, the inclusion of two turbochargers, which spool up incredibly quickly, means it delivers greater levels of power and torque than any naturally breathing powerplant used by the 911 Carrera…

Here we are again: it’s ‘Handling Day’ time – or our grand annual Britain’s Best Driver’s Car shootout, to give the occasion the build-up it unquestionably deserves. The protagonists change, but the format stays the same and has done for more than two decades. A field of the very best new sports cars, supercars, super-saloons, hot hatchbacks and lightweights of the year face off against last year’s winner to decide which is the best driver’s car on British roads in 2015. As ever, money is no object – and value for money is no advantage. Neither is practicality, usability or dealer availability. Brand power, material lavishness and kerbside kudos get you nowhere, and bald grip and performance are only worth their weight on the senses. This year, we are awarding…

MAZDA MX-5 2.0 SPORT Price £22,695 0-62mph 7.3sec Top speed 133mph Kerb weight 1122kg Engine 4 cyls, 1998cc, petrol Power 158bhp at 6000rpm Torque 148lb ft at 4600rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual MERCEDES-AMG C63 S SALOON Price £66,810 0-62mph 4.0sec Top speed 155mph (limited) Kerb weight 1730kg Engine V8, 3982cc, twin-turbo, petrol Power 503bhp at 5500-6250rpm Torque 516lb ft at 1750-4500rpm Gearbox 7-spd automatic LOTUS EVORA 400 Price £72,000 0-62mph 4.2sec Top speed 186mph Kerb weight 1415kg Engine V6, 3456cc, supercharged, petrol Power 395bhp at 7000rpm Torque 302lb ft at 3500rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Two sports cars and a saloon, engines ahead and behind, cylinder counts from four past six to eight, induction by turbocharger, supercharger and good old atmospheric pressure and fair to not so middling positioning for them all.…

MODEL TESTED 730Ld • Price £67,700 • Power 261bhp • Torque 457lb ft • 0-60mph 6.4sec • 30-70mph in fourth 6.8sec • Fuel economy 39.6mpg • CO2 emissions 132g/km • 70-0mph 46.1m Four decades is a long time for any car to linger in the shadow of its nearest rival, let alone a car so closely linked with its maker’s latest technologies and engineering efforts as the BMW 7 Series. But that, we’d argue, is what has happened. Originally launched in 1977, five years after the first limo that rival Mercedes-Benz officially called an S-Class, the 7 Series has been through five full model generations and yet has never quite managed to move out of the wake of its Stuttgart rival and leave its mark in the way of its…

Angus MacEachran is entitled to refuse to buy VW Group models (Your Views, 28 October), even if that means accepting cars that are not his first choice. But I would not cross the car I want off my list because of the behaviour of some of the employees of the company that makes it. As Jeff Loomes (Your Views, 28 October) pointed out, no one bought these cars because of their nitrogen oxide emissions, so anyone ignoring VW is cutting off his own nose to spite his face. Urged on by the press, Joe Public is quick to join the outcry, but the cars aren’t doing anything they weren’t before; the only difference is knowing the results of some emissions tests. I shall continue to buy Audis as long as…

The TT has been in for some remedial work. Quite a lot of remedial work, in fact, although none serious. To recap: the sliding lid on the stowage tray/coin tidy in the centre console had stopped sliding, the driver’s door speaker grille kept popping out of the door card (a problem on my previous TT, too) and there was a continual creak from somewhere behind the occupants’ heads. So I booked the car in at West London Audi so that they could take a look at it. Gaining access to the dealership is an experience in itself. A door opens and you drive into a warm and dry docking bay, where you’re greeted by a host of people ready to take the car off your hands and welcome you in.…

1 Honda S2000 (1999-2009) Cars such as the Honda S2000 are few and far between. Its formidable combination of looking, feeling and, most important, actually being fast meant the S2000 garnered its fair share of fans throughout its 10-year production run. Honda’s ‘will they, won’t they?’ approach to replacing it means the used market for S2000s is currently on fire. Prospective buyers will need to get in quick to grab a decent one, as prices are already on the rise. Avoid souped-up S2000s no matter what, as unmolested examples are where the real value lies. Early models can be found for between £7000 and £9000, but aim for the higher figure and go for a car with service history. 2 Smart Roadster Coupé (2003›2007) Unlike the Honda S2000, Smart’s dinky…

TESLA MODEL X (2016) Tesla has already started deliveries of its Model X SUV in the US. It’s due to go on sale in right-hand-drive form next year, priced at around £65k. It sits on the same platform as the Model S, and early models will share a powertrain with the high-performance P90D version of that car. The Model X’s standout feature is its spectacular gullwing rear doors, designed to make it easier to get in and out of the rear cabin. AUDI Q6 E-TRON QUATTRO (2018) The Jaguar’s biggest mainstream rival will come from Audi, which has already promised to launch a production version of its e-tron quattro concept by 2018. The electric Q6 should be right in the middle of the Jaguar’s price range, since Audi sources have…

Mazda has unveiled two MX-5 concepts at the SEMA show in Las Vegas: the Speedster and the Spyder. Both concepts feature a comprehensive list of “conceptual and aftermarket” parts, in keeping with the theme of the SEMA show. The MX-5 Speedster takes its inspiration from speedster-style cars from the 1950s, and the Spyder is a modern reworking of the classic look from the same era. The MX-5 Spyder’s cabin features handmade leather interior trim, and its silver paint, passenger seat cover and rear deck are bespoke. It sits on 17in alloy wheels and has carbonfibre exterior trim. The Speedster is designed to showcase weight-saving techniques. The biggest change is the absence of a windscreen; a lighter wind deflector features in its place. The concept has also been lowered by 30mm,…

AN EARLY TEST mule for the Volvo XC40 small SUV has been spotted. Based on the current V40, the jacked-up engineering mule features larger wheels and extended wheel arches, suggesting it is testing running gear for the smallest member of Volvo’s SUV family, which is due to arrive before 2019. Speaking to Autocar earlier this year, Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson confirmed that development of the XC40 would take around four years and that it will be part of a Volvo line-up that, spearheaded by the XC90, will be all new within four and a half years. Plans for the XC40 were unearthed late last year, when Samuelsson said the new small SUV was a top priority for Volvo once it had finished renewing its existing ranges, although the model is…

The new Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé represents a big challenge to the likes of the BMW M4, Audi RS5 and Lexus RC F. Following on from the recently introduced C63 saloon and estate, it eschews its predecessor’s naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 for a smaller and more efficient twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. In standard C63 Coupé guise, its engine produces 469bhp and 479lb ft. For the headlining C63 S model driven here, though, the 90deg V8 receives additional boost pressure and other detail changes to generate 503bhp and 516lb ft. The reserves are fed through a seven-speed Speedshift MCT automatic gearbox, which operates in combination with a mechanical locking differential in the C63 or an even faster-reacting electronic locking diff in the C63 S. The styling of the new C63 Coupé is significantly…

LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR SV Price £315,078 0-62mph 2.8sec Top speed 218mph Kerb weight 1525kg Engine V12, 6498cc, petrol Power 740bhp at 8400rpm Torque 509lb ft at 5500rpm Gearbox 7-spd semi-automatic PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 Price £64,451 0-62mph 4.4sec Top speed 183mph Kerb weight 1415kg Engine 6 cyls, 3800cc, petrol Power 380bhp at 7400rpm Torque 310lb ft at 4750rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual We’ve only got ourselves to blame here. The decision to whisk away the top three contenders and have them face off on the road meant that almost certainly some very senior stuff would be left behind in the paddock at Snetterton – and so it proved. Even so, the exact identity of the nearly-but-not-quite brigade came as something of a surprise. For a start, in fifth, it included the Lamborghini Aventador…

The new 7 Series is a car defined by both BMW’s acknowledged strengths and its weaknesses; that it feels much like a facsimile of a BMW sports saloon blown up by 150% says everything that most will need to know. There’s much better material quality, luxury and refinement here than that simplification would suggest, of course, not to mention impressive in-car technology and outstanding performance, handling and efficiency. But most of those are traditional BMW virtues. Where the firm has tended to fall down of late is when zeroing in on dynamic qualities specific to vehicle class and in failing to venture forth with genuinely imaginative design. Predictably, then, the 7 Series is a surprisingly good driver’s car but could be a better luxury conveyance. Although it’s immutably built, the…

Mileage 19,566 You might remember that in my previous update, I mentioned that the Defender had shut down of its own volition a couple of times. Well, the cause of the problem has now been found. I was stationary in traffic on the way back from holiday in Spain when it first happened. Idling in the queue for an autoroute toll booth in 30deg C-plus heat with the air conditioning blowing and the radio belting out terrible Europop, the whole caboodle just died: engine off, radio silenced, no power steering, nothing. It was as if I’d switched off the ignition. Except I hadn’t. I was on a downhill stretch, so I rolled onto the hard shoulder and tried a variation on the standard IT method: got out, locked the car,…

The other day it was brought to my attention that it’s the Lotus Elise’s birthday. It’s no longer a teenager, apparently — and neither am I. Twenty years ago, before they went on sale, I drove one back to Lotus headquarters — one of the occasional perks of the job. It left something of an impression, because not only was there no radio, but the driver’s window was also stuck in the down position. In winter. The Elise was pretty much a rebooted Seven and an example of Lotus getting back to its basic driver’s car roots. In used car terms, it has been something of an object lesson in the trajectory of the appreciating modern classic. It bumped around the £6000 mark for a while, and that included some…

Compact crossovers 1 Skoda Yeti From £16,000 Almost a blueprint for crossover appeal: chunky looks, hatchback handling and compact MPV practicality. 2 Renault Captur From £14,000 The best of the B-segment crossovers, the Captur combines style, freshness and value in a versatile package. 3 Nissan Juke From £14,000 The Qashqai taught Nissan the value of being different; the Juke is its equally bold (if not quite as brilliant) follow-up. 4 Suzuki SX4 S-Cross From £14,000 Capable in most respects — being decent to look at, drive and sit in — with exceptional fuel economy as the kicker. 5 Dacia Duster From £10,000 Outstanding capability for the money. Better with all-wheel drive. Basic, yes — but in a very good way. Visit autocar.co.uk for all of our Top Fives…

Large SUVs 1 Range Rover Sport From £60,000 Now bigger and better. A cut-price Range Rover rather than a jumped-up Discovery — and the best here by a mile. 2 Porsche Cayenne From £50,000 The current Cayenne is more agile, more stylish and more sporty-feeling than before. A great interior, too. 3 BMW X5 From £43,000 Remains an accomplished and luxurious product. Trumped by others in the driving department now, though. 4 Land Rover Discovery From £40,000 Looks like an outmoded hulk in this list, but it can still do everything you’d ever want it to. Seven seats, too. 5 Volkswagen Touareg From £42,000 VW’s biggest SUV is a well-balanced blend of solid dynamics, good price and usable, comfortable interior. Visit autocar.co.uk for all of our Top Fives…

An all-electric Jaguar SUV will be revealed next year before going on sale in 2017 — and Autocar has learned that some of the most flamboyant styling touches of the C-X75 hypercar concept will be used on the new model as the firm seeks to ensure that it stands apart from rivals. The car’s mooted launch date puts Jaguar in direct competition with Audi, which is planning to launch the production version of its all-electric Q6 e-tron quattro concept, first revealed at this year’s Frankfurt show, early in 2018. Both vehicles are set to offer a range of around 300 miles and cost about £60,000. However, the Tesla Model X will beat both to market, going on sale in the UK next year. Beyond the bodystyle, price and target range,…

Land Rover has unveiled a convertible version of its biggest-selling Range Rover model, the Evoque, with the new model expected to add 10% to a production volume that currently runs at 130,000 units a year. The Evoque Convertible will go on sale from next spring, with prices starting at £47,500. The new model fulfils a promise made at the 2012 Geneva show, where a convertible concept was first unveiled. “We showed the Geneva concept to test the reaction of buyers and critics,” said design boss Gerry McGovern. “We viewed the model as an obvious progression, although not everyone saw it that way. But the overall reaction of the market has been very good.” The Evoque Convertible will be offered only in higher Dynamic and Dynamic HSE trim levels, powered by…

Mercedes-Benz is on track to launch its first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell model within the next two years. Thomas Weber, Mercedes’ head of research and development, told Autocar the company had finalised the engineering parameters for the new model, which is rumoured to be based around the recently introduced GLC. “We are targeting a combined range for the fuel cell and battery of up to 600km [373 miles], along with a refuelling time for the hydrogen tanks of three minutes,” Weber said. The new model is set to be called the GLC F-Cell. It is scheduled to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in 2017 and reach showrooms the following year. It’s expected to be offered to customers in selected markets on either a monthly lease or outright…

Hyundai has announced it will split the Genesis name away from the rest of its range to create a new luxury brand. The new Genesis luxury division will have six models on sale by 2020: a crossover, an SUV, a coupé and three saloons, one of which will be a replacement for the Genesis currently on sale in the UK. The saloons comprise a range-topping G90, which is bigger than the current Genesis, a G80 (likely to be the Genesis saloon replacement) and a smaller G70. No names have been announced for the other three models, but a hint at the coupé and the design flavour for the new marque was recently provided by the handsome Vision G concept, which made its debut at Pebble Beach in August this year.…

KIA HAS SHOWCASED a four-door open-top Optima as one of its four concepts at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The A1A Optima has been inspired by the state of Florida and is named after the 300-mile highway that runs alongside the ocean. It has a sliced top and a shortened windscreen, with steel reinforcements added into the body so as not to compromise structural rigidity too much. The concept’s most striking feature is its rear-hinged ‘suicide’ rear doors. A turquoise paint finish and 20in alloy wheels complete the exterior look of the A1A Optima, which is powered by a 245bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The A1A Optima rides lower than the standard Optima saloon on which it is based, thanks to its Ksport-supplied coil-over sports suspension. Inside, there are cream…

Land Rover’s determination to push the Range Rover further upmarket has culminated in this new flagship model, the SVAutobiography. With an estimated production run of just 1000 units in the next year – 120 for the UK – and a list price of £165,000, the SVAutobiography is the most expensive, most luxurious version of the firm’s iconic luxury 4x4 so far. “Exclusively handcrafted” at Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) technical centre near Coventry, the SVAutobiography is available in either standard or long-wheelbase forms, the latter with a choice of three engines: an SDV6 Hybrid diesel, an SDV8 diesel and the 543bhp supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8 from the Range Rover Sport SVR. The most obvious change compared with a standard Range Rover is the SVA’s dual rear seats and…

MERCEDES-AMG GT S Price £110,500 0-62mph 3.8sec Top speed 193mph Kerb weight 1645kg Engine V8, 3982cc, twin-turbo, petrol Power 503bhp at 6000-6500rpm Torque 479lb ft at 1750-5000rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch auto AUDI RS3 SPORTBACK Price £40,795 0-62mph 4.3sec Top speed 155mph (limited) Kerb weight 1520kg Engine 5 cyls, 2480cc, turbo, petrol Power 362bhp at 5550rpm Torque 343lb ft at 1625rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch auto A damp circuit would have been exactly what Audi might have ordered for the start of our track judging process at Snetterton. Intermittent rain kept the surface from drying out for much of the morning, making grip levels inconsistent and confidence at the wheel hard to come by. Predictable four-wheel-drivers like the Audi RS3 should have been at a natural advantage, while life was made more…

PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS Price £131,296 0-62mph 3.3sec Top speed 193mph Kerb weight 1495kg Engine 6 cyls, 3996cc, petrol Power 493bhp at 8250rpm Torque 339lb ft at 6250rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch auto FERRARI 488 GTB Price £183,964 0-62mph 3.0sec Top speed 205mph Kerb weight 1475kg Engine V8, 3902cc, twin-turbo, petrol Power 661bhp at 8000rpm Torque 561lb ft at 3000rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch auto ARIEL NOMAD Price £36,000 0-62mph 3.1sec Top speed 125mph Kerb weight 690kg Engine 4 cyls, 2345cc, supercharged, petrol Power 290bhp at 6500rpm Torque 251lb ft at 3000rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Which leaves just three. A shame, perhaps, because, as Cackett has just said, it feels pretty tragic to leave the Cayman GT4 behind, in any company. And where we’re going – to the sometimes thin and bumpy,…

A week away from the office meant a chance to spend some quality time with the XE. It’s amazing how quickly you can bond with a car like this, despite the disapproving looks I’ve been receiving from two XF owners who live along my street. They look down on the smaller, cheaper XE, as if it shouldn’t be carrying the Jaguar badge. I disagree. In fact, I think the look of this baby Jaguar is more than a match for BMW’s 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and at least on a par with that of Audi’s new A4. By chance, one of my first appointments in the XE was to go and drive the new A4 in the Cotswolds. I felt slightly sheepish, turning up in one of the…

READER’S CAR: MERCEDES-BENZ CLC Peter Jenks is taking the long-term approach with his 59,000-mile, 58-plate Mercedes CLC 180 SE. The logbook showed three previous owners and it has a full main dealer history. “Compared with the new A-Class, it’s a ‘proper’ Mercedes,” he says. “It cost £9750 from a main dealer and I’m funding it on a two-year PCP at £380 per month, with £2370 at the end to buy it out. There was no deposit to a £500 ‘dealer support’ contribution. I’ll keep it at the end of the PCP for at least 10 years, so depreciation will be trivial.” SEND YOUR BANGERNOMICS TALES TO JAMES Twitter: @Bangernomics Email: james@bangernomics.com WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE THIS WEEK: BOTTOM FEEDERS A trader buys a Ford Mondeo with one month’s…

Mini Convertible Spring 2016 The third generation of Mini’s open-top hatchback is set to arrive in UK showrooms next March. It receives fresh exterior styling and is significantly larger than the model it replaces. Its soft-top folding roof can open or close in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 19mph. A choice of three engines will be available at launch. Price £18,475 AUTUMN/WINTER 2015 Alpina D3 Biturbo, Audi A4, RS6/RS7 Performance, Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW X1, DS 4 facelift, Ford Ecosport, Hyundai Santa Fe facelift, Tucson, Jaguar XF, F-Type SVR, Jeep Grand Cherokee facelift, Kahn Vengeance, Flying Huntsman Pick-Up, Kia Optima, Cee’d facelift, Koenigsegg Regera, Agera RS, Lexus GS F, RX, Mercedes-Benz A-Class facelift, C-Class Coupé, G500 4x4, GLC, Mini Clubman, Nissan Murano, Pulsar Nismo, Peugeot 308 GTi, Porsche…

City cars 1 Volkswagen Up From £8000 VW’s city car is no revolution — just a trademarked effort to beat its rivals on finish, refinement and economy. 2 Hyundai i10 From £8000 The latest i10 prioritises maturity over its former liveliness, but the refined result is still a first-rate city car. 3 Suzuki Celerio From £9000 Pleasing to drive, cheap to buy and decent to sit in, the Celerio is a no-nonsense option — and very likeable for it 4 Fiat Panda From £9000 may quite kept pace , still sells robust, practical charm better than any. 5 Vauxhall Viva A derivative and charisma-free take on the modern city car, but not devoid of usability or space. Cabin decent, too. Visit autocar.co.uk for all of our Top Fives From £8000…