Innholdsfortegnelse for 07/09/2016 i Autocar

“If VW falsified information on registration documents, legal action may be taken” THE ENVIRONMENTAL Audit Committee (EAC) has criticised the government for failing British Volkswagen owners by “letting slide the opportunity to investigate VW’s behaviour and, potentially, take legal action”. In a recent transport sustainability report, the EAC, which audits the performance of government departments and non-departmental bodies in regards to environmental protection targets, called to task the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and secretary of state for transport Chris Grayling for failing to determine whether there were grounds to prosecute the car maker. Volkswagen maintains that the presence of cheat software in its vehicles does not break any European laws. Mary Creagh MP, chair of the EAC, said: “There’s been a worrying inertia from ministers…

The world’s first flat-pack truck — designed by Gordon Murray to be made in the UK and built up quickly and easily in emerging markets — has been revealed in driving prototype form by its charitable backer, Global Vehicle Trust (GVT). Called the Ox, the truck is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sir Torquil Norman, GVT’s main backer. Four years ago, Norman formed a partnership with Murray to use the British designer’s revolutionary iStream design principles to create an extremely durable, all-terrain light truck specifically for remote parts of Africa. About £3 million has been spent on three Ox prototypes so far and the project has attracted interest from major vehicle makers. By revealing its prototypes now, GVT aims to attract more backers. A further £3m is needed to put the…

Audi has announced that it will enter the 2017/18 Formula E season, with the intention of using the experience to benefit its future electric road cars. For the upcoming 2016/17 season, support will be given to the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team, before the outfit is incorporated into the Audi Motorsport programme the following year. Audi Motorsport chief Wolfgang Ullrich said: “Audi consistently uses motorsport to develop new technologies for use in production. Now we intend to repeat this in fully electric racing.” Technical development boss Stefan Knirsch said every fourth Audi should be an EV by 2025.…

FORD WILL CONTINUE to build driver’s cars despite the onslaught of autonomous driving technology, according to the company’s futurologist, Sheryl Connelly. “Autonomous is a spectrum of technologies with assisted driving, like adaptive cruise control, at one end and full hands-off driving at the other,” said Connelly. “We remain committed in future to building enthusiast’s cars. There are some models where autonomous makes sense and others where it does not.” Ford’s research shows a wide geographical variation in enthusiasm for self-driving technology. India and China lead the way, with 84% of respondents in India and 78% in China answering positively about it in a survey. Congestion and the difficulty of learning to drive are cited as reasons. The US is less positive, with 40%. The UK is lower still, at 30%,…

PEUGEOT HAS UNVEILED its new 5008, which intends to ditch its MPV image and instead take on the more fashionable look of an SUV. The car maker claims the 2017 model mixes the practicality of an MPV with some off-road ability. It comes exclusively as a seven-seater and has been produced to rival the likes of the Nissan X-Trail and Renault Koleos. Peugeot’s designers have given the car a more muscular-looking exterior by using an upright front grille and harder-edged rear and strong door lines to create very different styling from the outgoing model’s van-like silhouette. There’s also a significantly updated cabin, complete with Peugeot’s wraparound i-Cockpit, which adds a 12.3in TFT instrument display and 8.0in centre console touchscreen. Peugeot has ditched the base Access trim level from the UK…

The Huracán LP610-4 Spyder completes Lamborghini’s range of more affordable mid-engined supercars. ‘Affordable’ is, of course, a term to take with a generous pinch of truffle-infused sea salt whenever it follows ‘Lamborghini’. But compared with some of the ultra-rare-groove, seven-figure V12 models that Sant’Agata has introduced of late, a £200,000 V10 really is relatively affordable. You might only need to sell one four-bed detached property from your portfolio, or perhaps your least-favourite thoroughbred racing mare, to fund it. The car’s mechanical specification closely matches that of the LP610-4 coupé, with a 602bhp V10, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a clutch-based four-wheel drive system, double wishbone suspension and carbon-ceramic brakes as standard. Adaptive damping and active variable-ratio ‘dynamic’ steering systems are optional, both of which were fitted to our test car.…

The Passat GTE is a highly accomplished car and also an appealing one in a much broader sense than the traditional big-performing, high kit-level, volume-brand range-topping saloon. By combining big-car practicality with an intuitive, refined and highly polished plug-in hybrid powertrain, presenting it at a competitive price level and throwing in the Passat’s familiar quality, desirability and in-car technology, Wolfsburg has created one of the best reasons yet to consider switching from a conventional diesel business saloon to an electrified one. The GTE’s laid-back pace and its lack of handling bite make it a slightly pallid sports saloon, but as a multi-talented all-rounder, it is very good. But the market for similar plug-in hybrids has blossomed into a busy niche of cars that look at least as talented as the…

“No one ever made a mistake buying a new Golf” Volkswagen Golf WHEN TO BUY New, approved used, GAP, banger, ironic classic No one ever made a mistake buying a new Golf, even a diesel one. The only potential blot on the purchasing landscape is the possibility of a punitive tax on the oil-burning cheaters, but if the troubles mean a discount, then all well and good. Otherwise it remains a no-brainer buy. Take a look at the brokers, who are currently offering around £5000 or so off the RRP, meaning you won’t have to face the dealer down. Golfs take far longer to become bangers these days as the premium finish and packaging slows depreciation. It’s always advisable to stick with the performance models if you want fun, and…

Toyota Prius WHEN TO BUY Approved used, GAP, banger However wrong-headed it may have been to brand the pious Prius as the saviour of planet earth, it was one of the first half-electric half-petrol cars we could buy – and it’s clearly the most successful. Although the future should have belonged to the seriously cool rocketship-shaped original Honda Insight, the Prius won out through sheer force of numbers. Despite looking like a designer chicken coup on wheels, it was bought in droves by progressives, but since then, being congestion charge free has helped the capital’s Uber slaves. Replacing the battery pack costs less than a grand and being a Toyota is always a big help when it comes to not breaking down. In the brave new post-diesel world, the Prius…

“If the driver’s getaway is clean, he’ll be north of 100mph in 0.8sec” A Top Fuel drag race is over in the time it takes to read the first half of this sentence, but plenty happens in that short space of time. Britain’s Liam Jones, who will compete in this weekend’s FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in his RF Motorsport-prepared car, takes us through the process. LET’S BURN RUBBER Once the car has been warmed up – itself a process that needs to be carried out carefully due to the stresses soon to be exacted on the supercharged 8.1-litre V8 engine – the driver starts the burnout procedure. This involves accelerating part of the way up the strip to generate heat in the slick tyres, scrub off impurities…

Hyundai must focus the i30N With Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos long gone, there could be an appetite for something different – and a super-hot Hyundai might fit the bill (News, 10 August). It would go well with the brand’s World Rally Championship success, and if there’s a three-door body, as depicted in Autocar’s sketch, that would be a definite plus. Three-door hot hatchbacks just look so right, never mind the added body stiffness and lower weight. I’d say go for it, Hyundai. It has talked the talk, now it needs to produce the goods. LP in Brighton Via autocar.co.uk WIN Letter of the week wins this ValetPRO exterior protection and maintenance kit worth £58.95…

Picking the ideal long-term test car to plunge through eight countries in 10 days (the there-and-back total for the annual in-law-seeing slog to Slovakia) is an uncannily accurate way of zeroing in on our car park’s consummate all-rounder. Broadly speaking, comfort, fuel economy, pace, practicality, dependability and ease of use are the main criteria. Specifically, the car must have dual-zone climate control, a diesel engine, cruise control, supple seats, legible sat-nav, workable infotainment, space in the back for an emergency air mattress and – underneath it somewhere – a spare wheel. Our Superb, in SE L Executive trim, supplied all of the above apart from the spare wheel – a low-cost option that we failed to choose. But happily, Skoda solved the issue, delivering the kind of fattened steel wheel…

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X estate This is how you make full use of a Ford Mondeo. John Woodhead bought his at five and half years old and has clocked up over 272,000 miles. “Other than the usual wear and tear items, plus a new pair of trailing arm bushes, everything is original, including the clutch,” he say. “Its toys all function, it’s serviced every 12,500 miles by a main dealer and it has never let me down. I amassed the miles visiting customers throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. Buy a car fit for purpose, look after it and it will look after you.” SEND YOUR USED CAR TALES TO james@bangernomics.com…

An expert’s view HASSAN FAZEL, AWESOME “Despite its known transmission and engine problems, the Mk5 is robust. It’s more popular than ever, too, because prices are now lower, yet the quality and the performance are still there. The 230bhp Edition 30 is the collector’s choice, but if you can’t afford a tidy one, standard engines can be boosted to 250bhp for just £1500.” Buyer beware… • RUST Look for rust at the front wheel arches. • ALLOY WHEEL CORROSION Uprated 18in Monza alloys can corrode and are expensive to repair. • GEARBOX DSG’s mechatronic unit can fail if routine oil changes have been ignored. Feel for lurching when pulling away. • FUEL PUMP Cam follower between the pump and camshaft can fail, causing fuel to be sprayed onto the shaft…

“The Environmental Protection Agency only regards the US deal as a partial settlement” Volkswagen’s Dieselgate pain looks unlikely to be coming to an end, despite the imminent rubber-stamping of a multi-billion-dollar compensation deal in the US. The emissions cheating scandal broke on 18 September last year, when Volkswagen was found to be using a ‘defeat device’ on some of its diesel engines that could detect when they were undergoing a laboratory test and switch to an engine management program that minimised NOx emissions. The US’s powerful Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which discovered the deception, explained at the time: “VW manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module (ECM) of these vehicles that sensed when the vehicle was being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards.” Within a week of…

“The Kodiaq is set to substantially undercut its rivals on price” The Skoda Kodiaq is expected to be priced from just £22,500 when it goes on sale this winter and could eventually spearhead a five-strong SUV line-up that could take the Czech brand into the US market. The Kodiaq will hit UK roads early next year. Within three years a coupé version will be launched (initially in China but with global potential), the Yeti will have been renewed and a smaller Skoda crossover to rival the Nissan Juke will be on sale. A budget SUV for China is also being developed. At the Kodiaq’s launch, Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier described the new model as being “at the forefront of Skoda’s SUV campaign”. With global SUV sales rising by 23% in…

“Unlike in current Audi models, there is no rotary control knob to operate the screens’ functions” Audi has revealed more details of the next evolution of its digital cockpit technology, elements of which are highly likely to reach production in the new A8 next year. First seen in the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro concept, the new virtual dashboard builds upon the virtual cockpit technology already available in many of Audi’s road cars. The concept shows what Audi calls a “starkly reduced dashboard” in which three digital screens are responsible for the display and control of all functions and information. The first display is a very thin, curved OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen and serves as the instrument panel. Controlled via the multifunction steering wheel, it displays information such as speed,…

AC Cars is planning a ‘legacy’ series of nine new aluminium-bodied Cobras, priced at £500,000 before taxes and built to the exact specification of the very first 1962 Cobra, which was sold at auction in Monterey a few weeks ago. That sale raised £10.2 million and made the original Cobra, powered by a 260-cubic-inch (4.25-litre) Ford V8, the most valuable road-going British car to have been sold at auction. The nine new cars will be known as the AC Cobra Mk1 260 Legacy Edition. They will be handbuilt at AC Heritage, whose factory is based in the converted former Brooklands Members’ Hill restaurant and operated by car dealer and AC historian Steve Gray. Gray, an expert in repairing and servicing ACs of all kinds, has collected many of the company’s…

A new Performance Package for the Porsche Macan Turbo ramps up its power by 40bhp to 434bhp. The twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 also gains 37lb ft, bringing it to 443lb ft and enabling a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec. That’s 0.4sec quicker than a regular Macan Turbo and 0.2sec faster than a 911 Carrera. Top speed rises by 4mph to 169mph. The Performance Package also adds a new sports exhaust and reduces the ride height by 15mm. Other tweaks include larger front brakes and red six-piston calipers. On sale now, the Macan Turbo Performance Package is priced from £68,073, which is £5533 more than a regular Turbo.…

Underneath the light disguise of the car you see here lies the seventh-generation 5 Series saloon, which is said to be new from the ground up and is crucial to BMW’s ongoing profits and success. The new 5 Series, codenamed G30, isn’t due to be unveiled until next month. However, we’ve now driven a trio of prototypes in Wales on the very same roads that the head of BMW’s chassis development, Jos van As, and his team have used to fine-tune the handling of the new executive saloon, which will rival the likes of the Audi A6, Jaguar XF and Mercedes-Benz E-Class when it goes on sale early next year. BMW is holding back on many of the details until closer to the car’s launch, but it has given us…

Tesla has had a busy year, what with ramping up production of its Model X SUV and unveiling the smaller Model 3 saloon. But it has still found time to revise the other prong in its plug-in trident, the Model S. All versions of the saloon now get a slimmer grille and new headlights to create a look that’s more closely aligned with that of the Model X, while inside there’s a more sophisticated air filtration system and two new wood trim choices. However, the biggest news is this new entry-level 60kWh powertrain. Priced from £53,400 if you go for the rear-wheel-drive 60 model and rising to £57,800 for the twin-motor, four-wheel-drive 60D we’re driving here, it can blast these latest versions of the Model S from 0-60mph in 5.5sec…

We all know that cars come in many different flavours, sizes and specs, but that’s only part of the story – or journey – of our cars. They start out showroom fresh and then gradually spiral down in desirability and up in affordability. All we have to do is pick our moment to pounce. Some motors make more sense at different times in their existence and the fun part is predicting the most opportune time to buy. It all depends on how much of a risk you want to take. But just about everything seems to become desirable at some point in its life – given enough time. In theory, with unlimited funds and storage facilities, you might eventually win the car ownership long game. But because few of us…

Imagine that most people who read this have done 126mph in a car, maybe driving, maybe as a passenger, maybe legally, maybe not. If you have, you’ll know it’s not that big a deal. If you’re on a long, straight autobahn or on a race track and your car is one with a top speed beyond 150mph, 126mph can be an entirely unremarkable, uninteresting speed. But it wasn’t to Victor Hémery, the first of many heroes about to appear on these pages. Hémery was the first man to drive a car at 126mph anywhere in the world and he chose to do it right here in Britain in 1909 at the recently opened Brooklands race track. His weapon was a brand-new 200hp Benz boasting not only a 21.5-litre engine under…

COMPARISON Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Mercedes-AMG C63 S Hot Quadrifoglio version of Alfa’s crucial new rear-drive saloon takes on its Mercedes rival MOTORSPORT Jaguar in Formula E Why the Big Cat has gone electric for its motorsport comeback BUYING USED Mini Cooper S for £1750 How to buy a spirited supercharged hatchback for less than two grand ROAD TEST Ssangyong Tivoli XLV They call it an ‘SUV-estate’. Our road test experts find out if it fulfils its brief SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p44…

I’VE BECOME A real fan of our Ibiza Cupra and I look forward to driving it after stints in other cars. But even I can’t sit here and tell you that it’s more fun to drive than a Ford Fiesta ST. I recently sampled the best Fiesta on sale, the ST200, and was quickly reminded how high the bar has been set in the world of hot hatchery. Sure, the ST200 is nearly £4000 dearer than the Cupra, but it’s in another league as a driver’s car. The nicely weighted steering, the revvier engine, the fact that you can switch off the stability control system completely, the way the ST200 loves to oversteer and its wonderful agility on the limit… it’s what hot hatches are all about. So there you…

A Vauxhall with real verve Here’s a private seller with a 2001 Vauxhall VX220 to move on after a decade of careful ownership. It’s just the sort of car we should be looking at: starting to firm up in value and in its teens. Some recent service history is outside the Vauxhall network, but that’s not an issue, and at £7195 it’s something of a bargain — especially as the owner is open to a near offer. Enjoy a laid-back Maybach Maybach is back in the news with an impossibly huge coupé concept. Well, the Maybach 57 — an S-Class with super-luxury pretensions — is now sort of a bargain. The car may date from 2004, but it has everything you could possibly want, including silver champagne flutes and tumblers…

1 Presentation “To help get the best price for your car, it needs to stand out from the crowd,” says Ian Crowder of AA Cars. “Getting a professional valet can really make the difference.” If you’re a smoker, Crowder says you shouldn’t smoke in the car for three months before you sell it, and then give it a deep clean before placing the ad. “The smell of smoke can reduce a car’s value by 20%,” he says. 2 Maintenance “Any defects will be seen by a buyer and used to beat you down on price, so get those dents, chips and alloys fixed before you sell, as it may cost you double if you don’t,” says Crowder. “And if your MOT expires in the next three months, then renew it;…

Mercedes-AMG is developing a mid-engined hypercar with F1 hardware and a Lotus-influenced chassis setup, a source has revealed. The existence of such a car was first reported by Autocar in April this year, but our insider said the new model is now moving into the stages of physical development. He also said the car will feature a Mercedes F1 hybrid powertrain redeveloped for the road and engineered at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, where F1 racing engines are made. It is not yet known if the F1 engine’s 1.6-litre capacity will be retained or if the road engine’s block will be bored out. Using a 2.0-litre version of the F1 engine might ensure its power output (of around 850bhp) can be retained or even boosted while bringing improved reliability.…

LAND ROVER HAS unveiled the front end of its fifth-generation Discovery ahead of its official debut later this month. The new Discovery, which will go on sale next year, is set to use Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel powertplant, confirmed by the sighting of prototypes using the engine. Petrol and diesel 3.0-litre V6s are also mooted. The seven-seater includes the ability to adjust the seat formation remotely via an app. The Intelligent Seat Fold system, which is a world first, means the two rear rows can be reconfigured in as little as 14 seconds using a smartphone from anywhere in the world. The new Discovery will also use the Range Rover’s aluminium monocoque, making it considerably lighter than its 2622kg predecessor. The new Discovery is being positioned as a…

THE NEW KIA Rio hatchback has been revealed ahead of its official debut later this month. The 2017 car ditches a three-door option for a five-door-only bodystyle and is 5mm wider and 15mm longer than the old car. The wheelbase has also grown by 10mm and the car is 5mm lower than before. Inside, the new Rio has a more luxurious-looking dashboard layout than its predecessor. The outgoing model’s rectangular buttons have been replaced by a high-resolution touchscreen that controls the audio, navigation and connectivity systems. Entry-level cars will get cloth seats, but higher-spec models will be available with faux leather. Kia hasn’t confirmed which engines will power the new Rio, but updated versions of the current car’s 1.25-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines, as well as the 1.1-litre diesel engine,…

Volvo estates have always been popular thanks to their reputation as safe, practical and reliable family holdalls, but the company itself has never been in the same prestige league as Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz – something that Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson hopes to put right with a new range of vehicles based on its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). Following the XC90, the V90 estate (along with the S90 saloon) is the second model from Gothenburg to use this innovative modular platform. Key highlights are a steel and aluminium monocoque, double wishbone front suspension and an integral link set-up at the rear. Engines are the same as in the S90: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder D4 diesel with 188bhp and a 2.0-litre D5 with 237bhp and all-wheel drive. We had the opportunity to…

MODEL TESTED GTE Price £34,025 (after £2500 gov’t grant) Power 215bhp Torque 295lb ft 0-60mph 7.6sec 30-70mph in fourth 9.0sec Fuel economy 37.9mpg CO2 emissions 39g/km 70-0mph 56.5m Having established its sub-brand hybrid ‘GTE’ nameplate in the Golf, Volkswagen has subsequently transplanted it onto the Passat – adding a plug-in petrol-electric option to a line-up that has been staunchly diesel-only for the best part of a decade. This makes sense. VW’s family saloon has always given its segment a polished and likeable bedrock, and the fact that it has never been the cheapest option means its buyers are unlikely to be automatically dissuaded by the premium associated with electrification. The migration of the GTE badge is a thornier prospect from a marketing sense. Even in the Golf, the concept barely…

Mini WHEN TO BUY New, approved used, GAP BMW got its boutique offering dead right from the off. Buying new and choosing the specification is all part of the fun. Indeed, Mini showrooms have a sense of cheekiness that is carried over into the approved used scheme, which packs a 12-month warranty, rescue and MOT protection in with a 360deg check. Desirability continues in private and independent dealer sales and all models have depreciated at an improbably slow rate. The really cheap ones have all sorts of issues that would cost the thick end of a grand to sort. Likely to follow its granddad as an upward appreciator, provided the spec is rarefied and the model just right. Which means you’ll need to find a decent Cooper S if you…

“Decades down the line, the S-Max could be VW Transporter cool” Ford S-Max WHEN TO BUY Nearly new, approved used, GAP Admitting that you need a box on wheels in your life, especially if you’re not a plumber, can be depressing. At least the S-Max adds a welcome dash of entertainment. You’d be a bit bonkers to buy a new one, but nearly new or approved used is all good. The other upside of an S-Max is that it has a certain style, and decades down the line it could even be Volkswagen Transporter cool (possibly). It’s always better to let someone else pay for the highest-possible Titanium spec and right now diesel is the only way to go, unless you were thinking way ahead and can pay the modest…

Maserati Quattroporte WHEN TO BUY Approved used You’d be mad to buy a Maserati when there are so many Mercedes, Bentley and Lexus-shaped alternatives – which is precisely why you should go down the four-door Ferrari route. Maseratis these days are far better built than they ever were during the darkest 1970s and 1980s era, plus this model has bedded in nicely over the past decade. It isn’t really a limo as such. Instead, the Quattroporte is something you’d want to drive yourself around in while never looking like you’re operating a luxury minicab. It’s a big car and you’ll feel great about owning it. By all means, buy from new, but a dealer’s used car or buying from an independent with a cast-iron warranty is the best way forward.…

“The rate of progress has almost nothing to do with relative enjoyment” It’s lunchtime when snapper Stan Papior and I arrive at Morgan’s factory in Malvern. You can tell it’s lunchtime because half the workforce is sitting outside, in the sunshine, eating their sandwiches. The fact that they sit outside and eat their sandwiches, and that I knew they would be doing so beforehand, is one of the many reasons why I love coming here. There’s no gate or security man to drive past at Morgan; as soon as you turn in to the place, you’re in the middle of it, ambling down the hill like it was 1913 and you were here to trade in a horse for a shiny new Runabout Deluxe. Try visiting McLaren and ditching your…

I’ve just finished redecorating my flat, which on the surface wouldn’t have much to do with our Mazda 3 Fastback. Until, that is, you consider how much rubbish redecorating generates. There’s old furniture, carpet offcuts, paint tins and assorted other related detritus that all need to be taken to the recycling centre. In a regular family hatchback, you get a large opening because the entire rear of the car forms the bootlid, but in a saloon like the 3 Fastback, the opening is a lot smaller. Thankfully, though, the boot is relatively versatile. You can drop the rear seats by pulling handy toggles from inside the boot, rather than fiddling with levers on the seats themselves – useful when you’re struggling with the remnants of a skirting board. The amount…

MILEAGE 126,987 LAND ROVER SERIES 3 When things go wrong with modern cars, the repair usually has a big pound sign in front of it. But with a lorry like this, brute force is both acceptable and free. Recently there were some biblical floods in Bangernomicshire and the Landie was required to do some hardcore wading. It was bonnet-brimming stuff but we survived, even without a snorkel. Trouble was, it rusted the clutch. Gears seemed okay when the ignition was off, but once started they were impossible to engage. So it was a case of engage the red lever, depress the clutch and ‘bang’. Simple, brutal, effective and, above all, free.…

“Place a premium on condition and service history rather than age and mileage” Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk5 (2004-2008) the hot hatch bargain of the moment? Around £3000 is all you need to pocket the keys to an early car with service history. True, it’ll be showing north of 100,000 miles, but if you keep a cool head and do your checks (see opposite), your money will buy a precision motor with the ability to paint a large smile across your face. New, it cost £20,000 (the DSG dual-clutch automatic version was almost £21,500). Today, that looks like a steal, but even 12 years ago, the Mk5 appeared to be something of a bargain, especially in the wake of its underwhelming predecessors. Slow, heavy and dull to drive, the…

1 Porsche 911 Carrera From £73,500 Delivered on the eve of its sixth decade, the 991 is as brilliant and distinctive as any before it. GTS is the best. 2 Jaguar F-Type From £51,300 A full-blooded assault on Porsche’s back yard, with noise, power and beauty. As characterful as any Jag, ever. 3 Aston Martin Vantage From £85,000 What the Vantage lacks in agility it makes up for with presence and grunty V8 power. V12 S is something special, too. 4 Lotus Evora From £64,000 The ride and handling put nearly everything else in its shade. Shame the interior doesn’t match the price tag. 5 Nissan GT-R From £78,000 Monstrously fast Nissan is now a blunt instrument among sharper and more charismatic rivals.…