Auto Express 1428

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news IT may not have been the outcome the car industry or 48.1 per cent of voters wanted, but over the next couple of years the UK will be extricating itself from the European Union. Once the initial hysteria over the result of the referendum dies down and the markets settle, it’s clear that much work lies ahead to protect what is a thriving UK car market and UK car industry. As Mike Hawes, boss of car industry trade body the SMMT, says: “Government must now maintain economic stability and secure a deal with the EU which safeguards UK automotive interests. This includes securing tariff-free access to European and other global markets, ensuring we can recruit talent from the EU and the…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy VOLKSWAGEN is aiming to trump rivals on interior quality, infotainment and connectivity with its next-generation Polo, revealed in our exclusive images and set to arrive by the end of 2017. The new Polo is likely to go on sale in the second half of next year, around six months after a heavily revised Ford Fiesta arrives in the UK. As with the Ford, VW engineers have been focusing on improving rear cabin space and the quality of interior materials. But while Ford’s offering can move upmarket to allow room for the valueorientated Ka+ (Issue 1,425), the Polo still has to serve budget-conscious customers and cater for the ever-increasing demands of buyers who want upmarket, premium features in a small supermini. To help reduce costs yet boost sophistication, the…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE “New car is 35mm longer, 5mm wider and 5mm taller than before, with a 30mm longer wheelbase” THE Porsche Panamera has been around since 2009, with the four-door coupé benefiting from a facelift just over three years ago. Now it’s time for an all-new model, and the second-generation Panamera has been revealed at Porsche HQ in Stuttgart. The new model gets the familiar long bonnet, pronounced shoulderline and large alloy wheels, with subtle tweaks to the bodywork. It’s 35mm longer, 5mm wider and 5mm taller than before, with a 30mm longer wheelbase. New air intakes and a redesigned grille give the front end a more aggressive look, while at the rear there are new LED lights that stretch right across the back. It’s here where Porsche has most…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan THE Ford Focus RS hasn’t been around for long, but work on an even hotter version is already under way. Spied on test for the first time, the four-wheel-drive megahatch could resurrect the RS500 name, with a tweaked chassis and even more power. Our spies caught the RS test mule doing the rounds at Germany’s Nürburgring race track. There are subtle yet important changes to the bodywork, including altered front air intakes and vents on the bonnet to dissipate heat from the turbocharged engine. An insider told Auto Express that all body panels on the standard RS have a function and are there “for a specific reason”, meaning changes to this prototype are unlikely to be purely cosmetic. The vents and intakes will aid cooling and boost performance,…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAlla “GT R’s body design is inspired by the Mercedes-AMG GT3 racer, with a vertical slatted grille and chunky air intakes” A faster, lighter and racier version of the Mercedes-AMG GT has landed, called the GT R. Officially revealed at last weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, it will go on sale in November as a limited-run model. Power from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 rises from 503bhp to 577bhp, while torque is up by 50Nm to 700Nm. The dual-clutch gearbox software has been tweaked for faster shifts, too, helping the AMG GT R cover 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and hit 198mph – that’s two tenths and 4mph faster than the GT S it’s based on. To scrub off all that speed, the standard brakes have been uprated, while optional carbon…

Sizzling new Giulia QF names its price ALFA Romeo announced prices for its range-topping Giulia Quadrifoglio (above) at Goodwood. It’ll go on sale in October and cost from £59,000 – pitching it slightly higher than the less powerful £56,000 BMW M3, but below the £60,000 Mercedes-AMG C 63. The Giulia gets a 503bhp 2.9-litre V6 turbo engine and can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. It holds the class lap record for the Nürburgring race track and can hit 190mph flat out. X2 concept set to star at Paris show AS headline sponsor, much of this year’s Festival of Speed focused around German giant BMW. But with the brand celebrating its 100th birthday this year, the excitement doesn’t stop there. A BMW insider exclusively told Auto Express that the company…