Innholdsfortegnelse for 30/07/2014 i Autocar

THE SEVEN-SEAT version of the BMW 2-series Active Tourer has been spied testing in preparation for its arrival in car showrooms next year. BMW’s new seven-seat model will have the same wheelbase as the five-seat 2-series Active Tourer, which goes on sale in the UK in late September. However, it will have slightly longer bodywork than the five-seater, which measures 4342mm in length. Occupant accommodation will be arranged in a two-three-two formation, with two small seats in the rear. It seems the model could feature some clever packaging of the two rearmost seats, which could fold out from the side of the car rather than up from the floor. It’s not yet clear how much boot space the seven-seater will offer compared with the 468-1510 litres (with rear seats folded…

THE DESIGN OF the Bentley SUV has been signed off, but it will have no relation to the controversial EXP 9 F concept car, company design chief Luc Donckerwolke has revealed. Donckerwolke said he started designing the SUV in the spring and summer of 2012, in the days after the concept’s reveal at the Geneva motor show, while working at the Volkswagen Group’s main design centre in Potsdam. He was then appointed Bentley design chief that summer, tasked with bringing his design to production. “The design is now signed off for production,” he said. “The concept is completely set apart and was done separately. After Geneva 2012, I was instructed to begin work on a new one. It’s completely different from the concept car. “The concept was only intended to…

SKODA IS SET to embark on a new model blitz in order to reach its target of selling 1.5 million cars a year by 2018. Inside sources have confirmed that a host of new models is in the pipeline, including an all-new seven-seat SUV that is on the brink of being given the green light by senior management. When that happens, the new SUV will go on sale at the end of 2016 and be priced to compete with the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s understood that the new SUV will be built using Volkswagen Group MQB architecture. It will be available in front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive forms, with “lots of off-road capability”, according to an insider. A five-seat configuration will be standard and a third row of seats…

THIS IS HOW we think strategists would have proposed merging Fiat-Chrysler into the existing VW Group. The business case for the expensively engineered NSF (Up) platform would have been boosted by using it to underpin the big-selling Fiat 500 family. Alfa Romeo and Fiat 500 versions of the Taigun SUV would have also made sense. VW’s budget PQ26 family of platforms would have been the perfect home for the next-generation Fiat Panda and a revived Punto (a model that still sells in good numbers). Audi’s upgraded version of PQ26 is used for the A1 and could have underpinned an A1-based Mini rival for Alfa Romeo. The MQB platform would have absorbed the core of Chrysler-Jeep production — growing considerably in scale in the process — and Audi’s upcoming MLB-Evo platform…

FIRST VERDICT This Fiesta on stilts is appealing, although it is less interesting to drive than it is to look at SO GOOD • Impressively stable on twisty roads for a compact SUV • Shades rivals for space • Good forward visibility NO GOOD • Light and uninvolving steering • Rear-mounted spare tyre detracts from urban appeal TESTER’S NOTE Only gearbox option is a five-speed manual, but a six-speed Powershift dual-clutch auto is due early next year for some variants. MB A STARTLED BLOWFISH. A cartoon character. A cheerful balloon. The look of Ford’s new EcoSport has been likened to many things, but it is certainly distinctive. The EcoSport augments Ford’s SUV range and will sit below the existing Kuga, with the larger Edge arriving next year. Based on a…

FIRST VERDICT An intriguing and multi-talented proposition, but at a price THE REGULAR FIAT Panda 4x4 offers the unusual mix of pint-pot supermini charm and field-crossing competence. This range-topping Cross promises more of the same. You’re more likely to get noticed thanks to its redesigned front and rear ends. It sits 9mm higher than the already elevated 4x4, enabling further improved approach and departure angles. The all-wheel-drive running gear – electro-hydraulic centre clutch and electronic differential lock (EDL) – is carried over. A new Terrain Control function has three modes. In Auto mode the Cross is effectively front-wheel drive unless slip is detected, while Off Road pre-primes the differential to split torque and the EDL is active. The third mode, Hill Descent, is a new feature. The Cross also gains…

The latest Porsche 911 Turbo S is one of the fastest road cars that money can buy. It has 552bhp and 516lb ft of torque, puts its power all over the road courtesy of a complex four-wheel drive system and can, as a result, cover ground more efficiently than almost any other road car on earth. And it costs £140,852. For less than a third of that, however, you could arm yourself with a device that could lap any circuit in Britain much faster than a 911 Turbo S. And for half of that again, you could pay to enter said device into a bona fide racing championship and find out if you have what it takes to become the next Lewis Hamilton. Or, more realistically, find out if your…

McLaren insists that the 650S is the product of lessons it learnt while building not only the 12C but also the much quicker and more sophisticated P1. Between them they make up the car’s immediate family tree, but more distantly there are the road cars built before the firm dedicated itself to purely automotive pursuits — namely, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the F1, the latter proving influential enough to provide a hypercar touchstone almost 20 years after production ended.…

SAME BUT DIFFERENT The M383T-designated twin-turbocharged V8 engine in the 650S is ostensibly the same one we know well from all of McLaren’s cars. The Woking firm takes great pride in the fact that, depending on where you find it, the engine will make anything from around 500bhp (or thereabouts, in the forthcoming P13) all the way to 737bhp in the P1. Here in the 650S it makes 641bhp. The hardware differs from that used in the 616bhp 12C thanks to new pistons and a redesigned cylinder head. There are also new exhaust valves and the cooling circuits have been redesigned to better deal with the inevitable extra heat that comes with such a power increase. Camshaft timings are different, too. These are said to improve both economy and throttle…

In recent blogs on autocar.co.uk , James Ruppert has said young drivers should get more support after passing their test. I agree. I took eight months, and two attempts, to pass my test, and I’ve now been been driving solo for six months. Us ‘busy teenagers’ haven’t learned how to control the car while we’re learning to drive; in driving lessons we’re almost protected from danger because of the dual controls and we don’t really have to think for ourselves — we’re even told the small things like which direction to go. I think more young drivers would be more willing to take part in post-test schemes if it was more affordable or if it had more of an effect on insurance. Either way, there needs to…

Mileage 1273 A recent drive in Peugeot’s new 108 made for an interesting impromptu comparison with MG 3. These two are battling in different segments, the Peugeot a city car, the MG 3 a budget-priced supermini, but they certainly overlap pricewise, the 108 starting at £8245, the MG at £8399. The Peugeot is the more modern looking, and its triple-cylinder engines are far more advanced and economical than the MG’s 1.5-litre four. But this is no whitewash for the French car, its almost ludicrously cramped rear seats underlining just how much usable space you get in the MG, whose rear bench will comfortably seat a pair of adults. And compared to the 1.2-litre 108, which has driveline shunt redolent of the MG’s ancient Metro ancestor, the 3 is much easier…

introduce greater economies of scale across its two top-selling brands, the new X1 and its upcoming X2 sibling are being developed in a joint engineering programme alongside the second-generation Mini Countryman and Clubman, with which they share their platform, drivelines, electrical systems and chassis. The adoption of BMW’s latest platform brings about a significant change in the X1’s mechanical layout in a move insiders suggest will instil greater profitability in the BMW’s second-generation X1 is less than 14 months from showrooms — and it is set to spawn an even more sporting X2 model, Autocar can reveal. The new entry-level BMW SUV, due to be unveiled in June next year prior to the start of UK sales, forms part of an extended range of future models based on the company’s…

Aston Martin has resurrected its Lagonda nameplate for a small production run of limited-edition super-saloons. The new Aston Martin Lagonda, which is set to arrive next year, will be made available to customers in the Middle East and on an invitation-only basis. Styling cues come from the original Lagonda saloon, which was designed by William Towns and launched in 1976. Underpinning the new car is the company’s VH architecture, which is used throughout its current line-up. The bodywork is made from carbonfibre. Official technical details have yet to be released, but the car is understood to use the 550bhp, 457lb ft, 5.9-litre V12 from the Rapide S. That should be sufficient to give the Lagonda a sub-5.0sec 0-62mph time and a top speed of 190mph. Official pricing has not been…

The facelifted Porsche Cayenne has been revealed ahead of a planned public debut at the Paris motor show in October. The updated range includes a new 410bhp petrol-electric S E-Hybrid that’s claimed to offer a 0-62mph time of 5.9sec and combined economy of 83.1mpg. It also has a 151mph top speed and an electric range of 22 miles at up to 78mph. The reworked Cayenne will be in UK showrooms from October. It features changes to the exterior, interior, engine line-up, fuel-saving technology and chassis. The styling updates at the front include a larger grille, a new bumper, redesigned front wings and a larger bonnet. More angular headlights, with standard xenon main beams (LED with Porsche Dynamic Light System on the top-of-the-line Turbo), are fitted. The tail-lights adopt a more…

FIRST VERDICT Unequivocally the most engaging hot hatchback on sale, but only enthusiasts need apply SO GOOD • Powerful and willing engine • Impressive, surefooted cornering ability • Appealing cosmetic tweaks NO GOOD • Now a little dated in places • Some minor interior ergonomic annoyances TESTER’S NOTE Those after a more hardcore drive can opt for adjustable dampers and track-focused tyres. A lighter Trophy R variant is also offered. LK THE MEGANE RS 265 has long been lauded as one of the best hot hatchbacks available, and rightly so. It is a remarkably capable and rewarding car. However, new rivals such as the Seat Leon Cupra 280 are infringing on its territory. So Renault has countered the threat with an upgraded flagship version of the Mégane RS called the…

FIRST VERDICT Combines low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with good drivability AUDI IS LAUNCHING a new range of more economical cars equipped with further optimised versions of its TDI engines. The first to go on sale is the A4 Ultra tested here and it combines CO2 emissions of 109g/km with 140mph performance. The A4 Ultra also meets the tough new Euro 6 emissions standards and qualifies for ‘clean diesel’ status thanks to the addition of Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR). The revised TDI engine develops 161bhp and 295lb ft torque and is coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox and stop-start. Lowered sports suspension with 17-inch wheels reduces ride height and aerodynamic drag and also helps cut roll during cornering to a minimum. Eco warrior it may be but the engine…

The surprise came early. The creamy thrust of our Volvo V40’s engine was so impressive and unexpected as we exited our first roundabout that it seemed more akin to a big capacity V6 than the 2.0-litre turbodiesel four I knew was nestling in the car’s short nose. I’d only been at the wheel five minutes but already knew from a scan of the technical bumf that this new D4 was an economy-minded car, a Euro 6-compliant model that emitted just 99g/km of CO2 and returned a deeply impressive 74.3mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle, while putting 178bhp under the driver’s right foot. However, nobody had told me about the 295lb ft torque peak, available from 1750rpm. For a second the whole thing didn’t compute: this car should not be…

Can Vauxhall really make a super-desirable little city car to rival the likes of the Mini and Fiat 500? That’s the question we set out to answer a year ago when we took delivery of our very own Adam. An initial road test had revealed it to be merely average to drive, but perhaps 12 months and 12,000 miles living with one would reveal the true character of this little car. After all, it’s the character of the Mini and 500 that make them so special. I was genuinely looking forward to the Adam’s arrival at Autocar HQ. Earlier in 2013, I’d visited the Adam’s brand manager, Ian Mitchell, at Vauxhall’s Luton base to seek advice on how to spec one up to ensure I saw the car in its…

The first test for the long-term GT86 was just three days after it arrived: Junior Handling Day (Autocar, 9 July). No problem. Well, one problem. The test, obviously, would involve quite a lot of hard driving, and the GT86 had arrived with just 61 miles on the clock. If I wanted to run the car in — avoiding hard loads and high revs, while not sitting at a constant speed — I’d have to get a lot of driving in. This, as it turns out, is no great hardship. An Autocar reader has written in to share his experience of GT86 ownership. He wasn’t a fan of the ride, but I have to say I don’t mind it. It’s firm, no question, but so impeccably controlled that I can easily…

In 2003 Volvo’s staid S60 saloon found itself thrown into an entirely new light. Thanks to a hike in firepower plus the addition of a four-wheel drive system and electronically controlled dampers, the dependable Swede morphed into a potential BMW M3 rival. A series of tweaks to its turbocharged five-cylinder engine, including a hike in displacement from 2318cc to 2521cc, netted it 300bhp and 295lb ft. Those numbers resulted in a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.3sec and a 157mph top speed. Despite all this, the S60 R wasn’t well received. It had plenty of kit, but with a hard ride, poor automatic transmission and a lack of outright performance, it fell behind its Audi and BMW rivals. Today, however, depreciation has taken its toll and you can pick up a…

Research has suggested that more than a quarter of all the cars in the UK have “defective” brake fluid. Now you, like us, might raise an eyebrow at that statement. The research, carried out for Cosan Lubricants’ Mobil Car Care range, however, bears some consideration. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs water from the atmosphere. Over time, this reduces its effectiveness by lowering its boiling point. Cosan says the fluid, which has a boiling point of 230-260deg C, becomes all but useless once it boils below 180deg. Brake fluid expert Alba Diagnostic concurs, suggesting that brake fluid should be changed when its boiling point is down to 200deg C — and it’s below this figure that the research suggests more than a quarter of all cars will boil…

The new Jaguar XE will return as much as 75mpg on the EU combined cycle and have a CO2 rating of below 100g/km, according to the British car maker. Powered by the all-new 2.0-litre tubodiesel Ingenium engine and built around an aluminium body structure, the XE should better the frugality of today’s most economical BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class models, the new baby Jaguar’s main competition. Jaguar has also revealed that aluminium will make up 75 per cent of the XE’s body structure. The company says the XE’s body engineering is born out of “Jaguar’s fifth-generation bonded and riveted aluminium technology”. Jaguar also says it has developed a new high-strength aluminium alloy called RC5754, which contains a very high proportion of recycled aluminium. Jaguar aims to use 75 per cent…

McLAREN WILL PREVIEW its new P1 GTR at next month’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with a design concept. The final car will enter production next June. The new model will cost £1.98 million and offer more power, performance, grip and downforce than the standard car. The output of the hybrid drivetrain has been pushed to 986bhp (1000PS). The P1 GTR will have circuit-focused slick tyres and widened tracks. It’s thought that the P1 GTR will have a fixed rear wing rather than the automatically deploying one on the standard car. If this latest image is any guide, the car will look distinctly more aggressive than the standard P1. Exact production numbers have yet to be set, but only existing P1 owners are eligible to buy the GTR version. The first…

FIRST VERDICT The X4 gets more handling verve than the X3 — but too little else if the looks still aren’t for you SO GOOD • The xDrive flexibility • Abundant poke • Very brisk across country NO GOOD • Practicality limited by design • Rigid attitude to ride • Divisive image TESTER’S NOTE Pity a third back-seat passenger; the rear bench humps perceptibly and there’s a bulge of light fitting almost directly overhead. NC BMW CONSIDERS THE X4 a tried and tested formula. And a profitable one. It’s primed to snare one in four buyers of the X3, a proportion based on the success of the X6, its progenitor. For a car whose fitness for purpose was fundamentally questioned in these pages five years ago – and viciously lampooned…

FIRST VERDICT A classy and well rounded (if rather anonymous) package that remains close to the top of its class SO GOOD • Impressive fuel economy • Premium feel to controls • Decent mid-range torque • Slick gearbox NO GOOD • Bland styling • Ride initially good, but noisy and occasionally crashy TESTER’S NOTE Polo’s automatic stop-start system is unobtrusive and contributes to superb fuel economy. SC ON HOARDINGS AROUND London they’re calling it “the new Polo”, which seems a bit of a stretch when you consider that the latest revisions to VW’s supermini include neither alterations to the exterior sheet metal nor to the lights and bumpers, which are the usual ‘nose job’ territory. Instead, VW has concentrated on reorganising the engines and upgrading the gadgetry, and has made…

So the last of the German premium brands has yielded to the allure of greater volume and the promise of even bigger profits. After an unbroken line of rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive offerings over eight decades, BMW has finally introduced its first series-production front-wheel-drive model. The 2-series Active Tourer, a boldly styled hatchback-cum-MPV, is arguably this year’s most significant car. And its relevance is enormous. Proceeding an extended range of similarly engineered models due out in the not too distant future, it puts BMW directly into competition against some of Europe’s best-selling models, taking its premium appeal into the mainstream. Just how history will judge the new BMW is anyone’s guess. Many are already calling the tall five-seater a defining car for the company. But it’s still early days. Before it…

PASSAT IS BELOW PAR If Volkswagen believes that the new Passat, with its badge, drivetrain, mass market underpinnings and tame styling can cut it against the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class, then it is mistaken (News, 9 July). Even with an improved interior, it’s just not in the same league. Donald MacKay Inverness ASTON IS A BREED APART To quote Matt Prior in his review of the Aston Martin Vantage N430, “the competition has moved on” (First drives, 25 June). However, when someone buys an Aston, surely they do so knowing that they are not buying a robot-built car that could be one of several in any car park. They buy an Aston for the wonderful shape, great engineering, hand-built quality and the fact that it’s not a Porsche or…

The Ampera is one of those cars with the ability to subtly change your driving style without you necessarily realising. Fortunately, in this case, it lulls you into a calm and complacent manner, rather than an aggressive and frustrated one. I don’t profess to drive in an overtly economical fashion, though I do try to minimise heavy pedal inputs. Sit in the Ampera, however, and its readouts and powertrain make you much more conscious of the benefits of smooth and pre-emptive driving. For example, the instrument cluster has a display that shows how much power is being supplied to the Ampera’s electric motor. It also indicates whether that power is coming from the battery or the range extender. Stand on the throttle and the electric Graphics show energy use, efficiency…

TRANSMISSION Options are a six-speed manual or a five-speed Geartronic auto. The manual is the one to have as the autos often don’t feel as powerful as they should. WARNING LIGHTS The S60 R is a complex car with a lot of electronic systems. Make sure all the warning lights come on and go off as they should. Proper diagnostic tools can help identify issues. SERVICE HISTORY Cars that haven’t been maintained to the right standards can be problematic. “If they go out of the service network, they can get the wrong plugs and don’t like it,” says Thompson. EXHAUST Inspect the exhaust for corrosion and listen for any leaks. A replacement exhaust will set you back upwards of £500, excluding the catalytic converters. SUSPENSION UPGRADES Don’t be concerned if…