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Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news AFTER years of coming close, Mazda has won the 2016 World Car of the Year Award for the new MX-5, presented at the New York Motor Show last week. Myself and columnist Mike Rutherford joined 70 other jurors in this increasingly influential awards ceremony – one that’s usually dominated by big German brands. With BMW’s 7 Series winning Luxury Car of the Year and Audi’s R8 winning Performance Car of the Year, there was still something for the usual suspects to celebrate – and deservedly so with those models. But little Mazda stole the show – as it did at the New York show itself. The stunning MX-5 RF with its Targa-esque folding roof wowed the crowds – and provided more…

■ Boxy looks axed as Skoda crafts more traditional crossover shape ■ Platform shared with Tiguan and Ateca ■ Hybrid model planned Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE SKODA is preparing a replacement for its Yeti with more space, a new engine range and a more traditional crossover look, as seen in our exclusive images. It will share much of its DNA with the new SEAT Ateca and Volkswagen Tiguan, with all three SUVs riding on variations of VW’s MQB platform – and a hybrid is on the way, too. Skoda boss Bernhard Maier told Auto Express: “It is not a surprise that there will be a successor for the Yeti. This is already in development; it looks beautiful and perfectly fits to the brand.” While the current car’s ‘Tonka toy’ looks are a…

“The performance figures are staggering; this is now an F-Type that can hit 200mph” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy JAGUAR Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division has focused on the SUV brand so far, with high-performance Range Rovers. Now it’s time for Jaguar to get the treatment – and we’ve had a short blast through a specially closed stretch of road in New York to experience how the F-Type SVR sounds. Available as a Coupé or a Convertible, the F-Type SVR gets an updated version of the regular F-Type R’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine. There’s an extra 25bhp on tap, taking overall power output to 567bhp, along with 700Nm of torque. The SVR is available only with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox – just like the set-up you’ll find in…

Q The new F-Type SVR has 567bhp from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Is this the limit for this engine? A “There are always ways and means, but yes, I think we’re getting close to the limit, the way things stand.” Q Why is it 4WD? Shouldn’t SVR be about extreme performance and driving pleasure, favouring rear-drive? A “I think we decided, quite early on, that we wanted four-wheel drive across the SVR sub-brand. I think it’s about driveability, so using the car every day. Global sales potential is a key factor in the decision, too.” Q SVR seems to be growing in a steady but measured fashion. Is it limited by marketing reach, how far the brand can stretch, or engineering resource? A “At the moment, demand is outstripping our…

202mpg Prius is world’s greenest plug-in ■ Bigger battery pack, better aero boost Toyota’s EV range to 30 miles “Claimed 202mpg economy makes it the most efficient plugin hybrid on sale” Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan JUST weeks after the latest Toyota Prius hybrid arrived in the UK, the Plug-In version of Toyota’s eco car has broken cover at the New York Motor Show. Known as the Prius Prime in the US, it features different styling to the standard car, more tech and claimed 202mpg economy. That will make it the most efficient plug-in hybrid on sale when it arrives later this year. It’s the second generation of the Plug-In Prius, and it will sit alongside the regular model in the range. It uses the same 1.8-litre petrol as the hybrid, yet the…

ON the Audi stand, the new R8 Spyder was rolled out to a stunned New York crowd. The V10 drop-top’s debut follows our undisguised spy shots in Issue 1,413, and the car on display is indistinguishable from the one we scooped just two weeks ago. It’s due to go on sale later this year. As you’d expect, the Spyder shares much of its exterior design with the fixed-roof Coupé, save for a few tweaks. It gets the same gaping grille and sharp headlights, as well as identical gills in the bumper and bodywork. Despite chopping the roof off, Audi designers have managed to neatly hide the rag-top under the R8’s raised haunches. The glass panel above the engine from the Coupé is replaced by extra cooling vents, while the roof…