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’TIS the season of goodwill and only the most hard-hearted among you will fail to raise a flicker of interest at the news Saab’s 9-3 (above) has been reborn as an all-electric model being built in Tianjin, China under the NEVS brand. There are plenty of Saab aficionados still around, and any story that conjures up even the faintest of hopes that their much missed favourite company is on its way back is generally lapped up. You can read our coverage on autoexpress.co.uk. Let’s be clear, though: this is not the return of Saab, as was trumpeted by some media outlets. It’s NEVS using familiar tech to create new models for emerging markets. Turkey could follow China. In many ways, though, the story summed up an alarming trend we’ve seen…

▪ New V40 due in 2019 aims to follow success of XC90 and XC60 ▪ Drivetrain options will include pure-electric and hybrid power John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy VOLVO will follow up its successful XC SUV range with an all-new V40 to rival the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series – and it’ll challenge its German rivals by offering not only a plug-in hybrid version but also a pure-electric edition. The XC40 is the first of the Swedish brand’s cars to be launched on its all-new platform architecture, called Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). But Volvo plans to quickly expand its line-up on the new chassis, with the next model expected to be a replacement for the ageing V40 hatchback. The new V40 will look a little wider than the XC40 because,…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan McLAREN has taken the wraps off its most extreme production car to date and given it one of the most iconic names in motorsport: the Senna. It sits at the top of the company’s model range as part of the flagship Ultimate Series and has been developed to give “the most intense circuit experience of any road McLaren”. Only 500 examples will be produced, which have all been sold already, with a price tag of £750,000 each. Vehicle Line Director Andy Palmer said the engineers’ brief for the car was to “make it as fast as we possibly can going around a track, but also make it roadlegal”. Palmer describes it as the “lightest, fastest, most engaging McLaren yet”. Under the skin is the most powerful version ever…

LAND ROVER bosses have revealed that a luxury two-door version of the Range Rover is in the pipeline, with a likely reveal of the model in the first half of next year. Jaguar Land Rover teased the idea of a two-door SUV in 2004 with the Range Stormer concept (right) and Land Rover’s design boss Gerry McGovern has let slip that the idea is back on the table. Speaking about a potential replacement for the two-door Evoque at this year’s Los Angeles Motor Show, McGovern explained: “There’s probably less market for a two-door [Evoque] and given that we have a cabriolet there’s no need. “But as we get bigger you can think about going two-door because it becomes more exclusive, which might give you a hint,” the Land Rover design…

AHEAD of Mercedes pulling the wraps off an all-new version of the G-Class at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the firm has given us a glimpse of the retro SUV’s cabin. Mercedes says the model has taken a major step forward in quality and comfort compared with the old G-Class, which had its roots in the seventies. The cabin takes inspiration from the latest E-Class, with the same dual-screen display for the instruments and infotainment. Despite the inclusion of high-end leather and carbon fibre trim, there are retro details carried over from the old model. The new G-Class has more passenger and storage space, and goes on sale next summer.…

VW gives a sneak peak of new Jetta VOLKSWAGEN has teased its new Jetta saloon ahead of the car’s full reveal in January. The image (above) shows a Passat-like design, and it is expected to move on to the latest MQB platform, along with the Golf. The interior should be overhauled, too, while VW’s latest TSI EVO petrol engines will feature. Diesels might not, though. Declining saloon sales in Europe mean it’s unlikely that the seventh-generation Jetta will be coming to the UK in 2018. Disco commercial has loads to offer LAND ROVER has launched a commercial version of its Discovery SUV. Priced from £40,333 excluding VAT, the passenger car’s two rows of rear seats are replaced by a flexible load bay of up to 1,856 litres, accessed by an…