Auto Express 1578

IT was my love of cars that got me into this business the best part of three decades ago – and the same is true for most of my colleagues. The thrill of the drive, the beauty of the design and the cleverness of the engineering are what thrilled me most. And they still do. It wasn’t long before my fascination with and interest in the great characters that exist in the car business became a real draw, too. To be in the company of so many extraordinarily talented people remains something that I have to pinch myself for. There are three people I’ve met recently who have all been heroes of mine and have left (or are about to leave) roles that have had a huge influence on us…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Next generation of best-selling compact crossover is on its way ● Hybrid technology on the cards – and maybe even a pure EV AFTER nearly 10 years on sale, Nissan’s ageing Juke is finally set to be replaced, with a new car that embraces hybrid tech. The next-generation model (previewed in our exclusive images) will arrive early next year. The Juke is widely considered to be the car that kick-started the compact crossover frenzy back in 2010. Since then, the model’s popularity has prompted every rival manufacturer to develop practical, affordable and stylish alternatives. The SEAT Arona, Citroen C3 Aircross and Volkswagen T-Cross are its main competition. While all of those cars are relatively new to the market, the Juke will be entering its second generation. Nissan’s…

“Brand new V8 turbo and three electric motors combine to develop 986bhp and give four-wheel drive” ● Plug-in hybrid system will allow 15.5 miles on electric power ● Expected to cost somewhere between £350,000 and £400,000 James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods AN all-new flagship Ferrari has arrived and it’s the first of the brand’s products to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Say hello to the 986bhp SF90 Stradale. Unlike the LaFerrari, the SF90 is a proper series model and won’t be produced in limited numbers, so this is new territory for Ferrari. While the company hasn’t set a price yet, it’s likely to set buyers back somewhere between £350,000 and £400,000. The SF90 Stradale name refers to Ferrari’s 90th anniversary in F1, which the brand celebrates this year, and is taken from the…

FERRARI will trickle down the new plug-in hybrid technology that’s used in the SF90 Stradale into smaller, less expensive vehicles and models in all-new segments as the brand goes in search of new customers. Speaking to Auto Express, Ferrari Chief Technology Officer Michael Leiters said that it would be “very easy” to adapt the SF90’s hybrid technology for use in other new cars. “There will be other [hybrid] models, but with specific powertrain characteristics,” Leiters explained. On stage at the reveal of the SF90, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri reiterated plans to launch five new models in 2019, with the SF90 being the second of these. Late last year, Camilleri revealed that the marque would release 15 new models by 2022, 60 per cent of which will feature an electrified powertrain.…

● Concept previews forthcoming new pure-electric Skoda ● Will be available as both coupé-SUV and boxier model “Concept iV is rather special to look at and to sit in. Aspirational, even” Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk @VickyParrott SKODA’S pure-electric future has been overshadowed by the fanfare around VW’s imminent ID. range of EVs. But, as we potter tentatively around a sunny Czech car park in the striking Vision iV concept, it seems like the understated, ‘sensible’ brand is inching closer to its German counterpart when it come to appeal. It doesn’t feel like it’s just about the 301bhp electric powertrain in this car, although the twin motors – one on each axle, delivering four-wheel drive and a range of 310 miles courtesy of the 83kWh battery pack – are, of course, critical to the…

MINI’s first pure-electric production car, the Cooper SE, has been inadvertently revealed in all its glory months ahead of its official debut in the summer. It was spotted on the streets of Los Angeles during a secret promotional shoot for the new model, and our spies managed to snap the Peugeot e208 rival before it was whisked away. Based on the three-door hatchback, the new model sports various unique design cues that mark it out from the rest of the MINI range. The aerodynamic wheel design, yellow detailing and blanked-off grille clearly indicate this as the Cooper SE. This is a different tactic to those of other firms, like Vauxhall and Peugeot, who have chosen not to highlight their cars’ EV credentials from the outside. “Pure-electric Cooper SE sports various…