Auto Express 1622

IT might not seem it, but this week’s Top Story verdict on the latest Mercedes GLA (Page 8) is quite significant. Frankly, we didn’t rate the first GLA that highly at all, with its pseudo-SUV styling, cramped cabin, iffy plastics and average driving dynamics. And yet it sold in spades, not least because Mercedes UK ‘worked the numbers’ to make it very affordable on finance. “A real Merc for £250 a month, you say? Where do I sign?” As you’ll discover overleaf, the latest generation of GLA deals with at least a few of its predecessor’s issues. It’s not necessarily much more spacious, but if you’re buying this car as an alternative to, say, an Audi TT (as a surprisingly large number of people are) then it is now a…

• First drive of all-new model in diesel 4WD guise • Plus we take a look at the rivals it has to beat IT’S difficult to keep track of Mercedes’ SUV range. It’s been modernised and refreshed over the course of many years, but a new version of one of the brand’s most important vehicles, the GLA, has so far been missing. The outgoing version was a popular allrounder, but it was a little dull to look at and to drive. Following the launch of the slightly larger GLB, which can be ordered with seven seats, Mercedes has seen fit to give the new GLA a bolder look and a new lease of life. It’s certainly a more handsome car than its predecessor, but perhaps Mercedes could have been a…

BMWX2 Price from: £30,415 BMW’s baby ‘lifestyle’ crossover is one of the more handsome in the segment, but it is pricey. The X2 is based on the German firm’s front-wheel-drive platform, which is shared with the 1 Series hatch, X1 and MINI, but four-wheel-drive versions are available, so it does have a degree of off-road ability. Another big plus point is that it’s the most engaging car to drive in its class, with a sharp chassis, a real sense of agility and accurate steering. AUDI Q2 Price from: £22,725 THE entry-point to Audi’s SUV range packs a lot of the brand’s big-car features into a small, affordable package. As you’d expect from an Audi, build quality is first rate and there’s a lot of standard equipment. The Q2 has generous…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Swedish company’s third model will be an electric SUV • Will share its all-new platform with next Volvo XC90 ELECTRIC SUVs are in vogue at the moment, and at Volvo offshoot Polestar, a rival for the likes of the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace is firmly in the Swedish marque’s sights. The third model in the line-up will follow company convention and be called the Polestar 3. It will be a zero-emissions SUV tasked with carving out a unique identity for the company when it arrives in 2022. To that end, it’ll be among the first cars from Polestar and Volvo to use the new SPA2 platform for large cars. But more importantly, the Polestar 3 will continue the brand’s move away from Volvo…

POLESTAR’S design head also gave Auto Express the clearest indication yet that the Precept might be more than just a design study. It could become a production model itself, a rival for the likes of the Tesla Model S and forthcoming Mercedes EQS. “In terms of its proportions and features, it’s quite a realistic proposition,” explained Max Missoni. “We see this extreme trend towards SUVs, and we are of course respecting that. But I think there is still room for cars in this specific bodystyle, so we will see.” Missoni said that Polestar was monitoring reception to the Precept, adding that it could usher in a new “premium aesthetic” in luxury cars, moving to more sustainable materials by showcasing their qualities over traditional wood and leather trims.…

“Precept is the next bigger step that will lead us to Polestar 3” A GRADUATE of London’s Royal College of Art, Max Missoni has been working at Volvo and Polestar since 2012, having begun his career in car design at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. Q Can you explain the Polestar design process from the Polestar 1 through to the Polestar 3? A “If you look at Polestar 1, it’s based on the Volvo Concept Coupé, which is no surprise. But Polestar 2 is already the first step into a unique Polestar design language. And then there’s the Precept. It’s the next bigger step, and that will lead us to Polestar 3.” Q What’s it like creating and establishing a design language for a new car brand? A “It’s a big challenge…