Innholdsfortegnelse for September 9, 2015 i Autocar

ON THE COVER we’ve called it the most controversial Bentley ever – but the temptation was to call it the most controversial car ever. If they can sell as many Bentaygas as they have started pub debates, Bentley will be in great shape. And yet… what is everyone really so steamed up about? The original concept looked rushed, for sure, and the name is a mouthful. But the former is now forgotten and the latter is starting to trip off the tongue. Is the idea of a Bentley SUV really that hard to stomach? On the eve of Jaguar launching its first SUV and with Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce poised to follow, I’d argue that Bentley and the rest are only doing what they should be doing: reacting to market trends…

Honda is previewing an astonishing track-day car with its motorcycle-influenced and MotoGPpowered Project 2&4, a stunning single-seat Frankfurt show concept that promises to out-Atom the Ariel Atom. The winner of a global contest between Honda’s design studios, Project 2&4 is a joint project between the firm’s motorcycle and car designers in Osaka and Wako respectively. It’s some 40cm shorter than an Atom, at just 3040mm long, and a little wider, at 1820mm. Honda says the car’s layout and livery are inspired by the RA272 Formula 1 machine that became the first Japanese car to win at the top level of motorsport by claiming the Mexican Grand Prix 40 years ago this October. Project 2&4 features a novel layout, with the RC213V MotoGP bike’s 999cc V4 engine mounted at one side…

The Fiat 124 Spider and its Abarth offshoot will be much farther apart than first thought, senior company sources have revealed. The new Mazda MX-5-based sports cars, due next year, were among 30 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles products shown at a global dealer conference in Las Vegas last week. Although it was known that the 124 Spider would spawn an Abarth version, as with other Fiats in the range, what has become clear is just how different the pair are. Rather than the Abarth version getting the usual performance makeover of more aggressive-looking front and rear ends, the sports car will actually get different sheet metal from the donor car for a completely fresh look. Previous artist’s impressions of the 124 Spider are also understood to have been very wide of…

PRODUCTION OF THE all-electric Tesla Model 3 will begin in 2017, company boss Elon Musk has revealed, with pre-orders opening after the BMW 3 Series-rivalling saloon is unveiled next March. Few details about the Model 3 have been revealed, but sources have indicated that performance up to 62mph could eclipse that of the BMW M3, which records a 0-62mph time of 4.1sec in M DCT form. Sources suggest the Model 3 will have a range of up to 300 miles on one charge. The Model 3 is expected to sit on bespoke underpinnings rather than a cut-down version of the Model S platform, because it is tipped be around three-quarters of the size of the Model S and significantly lower in price. Prices will start at $35,000 (about £25,000) in…

Unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, the latest high-riding, four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Passat Alltrack will go on sale in the UK in November. It’s based on the sharply styled eighth-generation Passat Estate but is set apart from its sibling by a series of subtle exterior styling changes that are similar to those adopted by its predecessor. The most apparent design differences are the unique front and rear bumpers, which have silver plastic scuff plates and black plastic valance panels, and the integrated front foglights on higher-end versions. Further changes include Alltrack badges on the grille and front wings, silver and black door mirror housings, integrated roof rails and black cladding around the wheel arches and along the sills. The Passat Alltrack is also fitted with superior underbody protection and,…

QUICK FACTS PRICE £26,150 ON SALE NOW You’ve got to feel a little sorry for the Skoda Octavia vRS. It’s consummately loveable for its excellent practicality allied to cut-price thrills, but despite sharing hardware with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, it has always had a whiff of ‘know your place’ about it compared with its illustrious VW stablemate. Yes, it has the same MQB platform and engine, but with a Golf GTI you’re allowed a Haldex electronic differential and adaptive dampers. You can’t get either on the vRS. And the Skoda is heavier than the VW, so it’ll be left behind in a drag race. Perhaps, then, this vRS 230 special edition is the Octavia’s moment to shine. The 2.0 TSI engine gets an extra 10bhp (hence the ‘230’ badging) thanks…

If it wasn’t for BMH, the Oxfordshire-based maker of replacement bodies for British cars of a certain age, it’s probable that thousands of otherwise healthy classics would by now have returned to the earth as red oxide. Either that, or they’d have been consigned to the crusher as a result of structural incapacity, to begin a new life as soup cans or fencing wire. When British Motor Heritage was born as part of British Leyland back in 1975, rustproofing in cars was regarded as an unnecessary luxury. Only expensive cars were built to last. British car owners expected their cars’ sills to bubble extravagantly after five years, and after 15 many an owner would be treated to views of the road through the footwells. Although it was the nation’s largest…

LETTER OF THE WEEK Mind the gap Have Porsche and Lexus have made a gaping error? Every time I see an image of a 911 GT3 or GT2 or a Lexus LFA, my mind tells me that the bonnet is not closed, with the air intake vent on the very front. If I were a lucky owner of one of these incredible cars, I would always be pushing down on the bonnet, every trip, to satisfy my OCD. It’s Porsche’s fault, because Lexus borrowed this ‘gap’ in the market. J Record via email TAXING MATTERS I have noted a number of references of late to the “surprisingly” rapid rise in hybrid and electric vehicle sales often accredited to “the public” finally becoming “educated” to the environmental benefits. Is…

It’s a big car, the Fiat 500X — in many ways. For starters, this is the car that gives the iconic 500 extra height as well as the additional width and length that we’ve already seen with the 500L. But it’s a huge car tactically, too; right now, you’d have to say Fiat is relying more than ever on its 500 sub-brand. Having a successful small crossover as part of that is of paramount importance. This explains why there’s now a 500X in the Autocar car park — even though, as with all of this new breed of baby crossover, we’re pretty convinced it’s more about wanting to look like you have the lifestyle that merits an offroader, instead of actually needing one. We’re not about to go easy on…

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had it about right when the cover of that mythical publication featured two words: ‘Don’t panic’. I reckon your MOT test certificate should have something similar at the top of the page, and any mention of the MOT test should be routinely prefaced by those reassuring words. As usual, the MOT test is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Just recently, I have been coming over all very Alan Partridge by appearing on local radio and sort of telling it like it is. Apparently, if you believed some news reports, some from the motoring media, the MOT system is in total meltdown. That has meant that cars are not being tested and motorists are being turned away, driving off into the wilderness…

Citroën has hinted at a possible convertible version of its popular C4 Cactus hatchback with its new Cactus M concept. The open-top concept is based on the underpinnings used by the production C4 Cactus and takes its inspiration from the French firm’s Mehari lightweight off-roader, which was sold from 1968 to 1988. Despite its Cactus platform, the concept is a permanent open-top car, like the Mehari. However, Frédéric Duvernier, Citroën’s external designer for concept cars, said the Cactus M is designed to pay homage to the Mehari rather than copy it. “There is some pressure,” he said. “If you respect the spirit of the car, it is all right; if you just try to redo the car the same way, it is wrong. The spirit remains. It is true to…

The expansion of the Rolls-Royce range has continued with the addition of the Dawn, a soft-top convertible to sit alongside the Wraith coupé in the line-up. The Dawn’s bodywork is 80% new compared with the Wraith on which it is based. Rolls says the cabin has room for four adults to sit in comfort. The only carryover exterior parts from the Wraith are the doors and the grille surround. Rolls says it has worked hard to ensure that the Dawn is as smooth and quiet as other Rolls-Royce models despite the absence of a fixed roof, delivering on the firm’s famed ‘magic carpet’ ride. The firm says the Dawn is as quiet as the Wraith with the roof up, and as such is the quietest convertible on the market. The…

Jaguar has released the first image of its new F-Pace SUV ahead of its reveal on the eve of next week’s Frankfurt motor show. The side profile of the new car reveals that the overall look and proportions have, as promised by insiders, stayed true to the well-received C-X17 concept of 2013, the first time Jaguar went public with its intentions to launch an SUV. Jaguar has confirmed limited information alongside the image ahead of the car’s full reveal on 14 September, saying only that it will follow the XE and XF in being based on the same modular aluminium platform and be manufactured alongside the saloons at its Solihull plant. Described by Jaguar as a “performance crossover”, the F-Pace will sit between the XE and XF in length and…

JAGUAR LAND ROVER has revealed three technology demonstrators that give a look at its zero-emissions and electric future. The cars have been in development for the past two years and explore different battery-based options. JLR claims the batteries in question are twice as powerful and capable of producing twice as much torque as any electric motor in production today. It also says they are designed to be integrated with any engine and transmission combination to create a mild hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, or used on their own for a battery-powered electric vehicle. The first of the cars is called the Concept e MHEV. It is a mild hybrid based on a Range Rover Evoque and pairs a prototype 89bhp diesel engine and a 48V lithium ion battery pack. The…

We all know what it’s like to feel under pressure. But imagine the pressure you’d feel if you were a BMW engineer and your boss told you: “Okay, next job on your list: improve the 3 Series.” Yikes. Not only is it a massive seller for the Munich marque – the 3 Series accounts for 25% of all BMWs sold – but it’s also the benchmark compact executive saloon and has been for the past 40 years. That’s probably why BMW didn’t radically alter the car’s looks for this facelifted version. The front air intakes have been enlarged and the headlights, which now include an LED option, have been changed. At the back, BMW’s signature L-shaped light design has been crystallised by new all-LED taillights. Modifications to the cabin have…

Not so deep into Bentley’s website, just a few clicks through virtual pages where glossy people drive opulent cars in gilded vistas, there is a description of the new Mulsanne Speed. “This,” Bentley says, “is a car for independent thinkers. For those with the unquenchable desire to take the wheel and change the world, there is no more accomplished combination of performance, luxury and style.” Independent thinkers, eh? Changing the world, in fact? Oh, really? Pan that mental film reel in your head to the innocuous-looking white car here. The Tesla Model S is the vehicular equivalent of man’s footprint on the moon: a luxury saloon that makes electric propulsion desirable and feasible to a huge audience, thanks to a claimed range of 305 miles, a reasonable price and all…

The Mazda’s August arrival date led me to think that I’d be enjoying open-top motoring as soon as I got the keys. Unfortunately, the recent spate of autumnal weather has mostly put a stop to that. But not to worry. It means that I’ve been able to test out the MX-5’s wet-weather ability and I’m pleased to report that, no matter what the conditions, the Mazda puts a smile on my face. On its first weekend, I drove it to Dorset. The 240-mile round trip took in city streets, a long stretch of motorway and finally some twisty country roads, all of which the Mazda took in its stride. The MX-5’s small dimensions make it a doddle to drive around town, and the car has plenty of power to keep…

READER’S CAR: FIAT COUPE Tony Blow bought this 1988 Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo from a garage that swapped its shot engine for a serviced one from a written-off car. “I took a train to Birmingham, paid £1495 for the Coupé and drove it straight back home to Glasgow,” says Tony. “An old friend designs and manufactures custom ECU chips for the Fiat Coupé. It now puts out about 250bhp. I fitted a solid strut brace to tighten up the turn-in and a full leather interior. The Coupé is fun to drive, has a lot of charisma and always turns heads. It’s a cracking wee thing.” SEND YOUR BANGERNOMICS TALES TO JAMES Twitter: @Bangernomics Email: james@bangernomics.com WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE THIS WEEK: SALVAGE YARD PARTS Meanwhile I asked a…

Bentley has finally laid down the specification for its new, market-topping Bentayga SUV, due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show next week. Launching a host of new Bentayga details today, the company describes its £130,000-plus model as “the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world”. It also has “the world’s finest automotive cabin” that offers “unparalleled luxury” in its sector, according to Bentley. It’s all part of Crewe’s strategy to maximise the short lead it is about to open up over other budding premium SUV makers, notably Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini, when the Bentayga goes on sale next year. But up to half a dozen expensive car brands are rushing to create new SUVs for the niche they believe is opening above the most…

Porsche is taking the fight back to rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG GT with its facelifted 911. It will go on sale in December but has its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show later this month. The most notable updates to the long-running sports car are a new turbocharged flat six engine and changes to the specification. The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system is now standard, while inside there’s a new generation of Porsche’s multimedia setup. Its 7.0in touchscreen interface supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and satellite navigation is standard. The 911’s exterior has also been upgraded, with new front and rear lights and active air ducts that open and close to channel airflow. Also new at the rear is a redesigned air vent that…

Toyota is adopting styling cues from the Mirai fuel-cell vehicle for the latest generation of its Prius hybrid, revealed here in official images ahead of a public debut at next week’s Frankfurt show. The fourth generation of the Prius marks a significant step for Toyota. It is the first model to be developed on the firm’s Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, a modular set of components designed to offer quicker development of new models as well as cost savings and improved margins across the product line-up. The new platform brings a more sophisticated chassis than that of the outgoing Prius. Double wishbone rear suspension replaces the current torsion beam layout, accompanying a revised MacPherson set-up at the front. Toyota says the new platform helps to lower the centre of…

QUICK FACTS PRICE £24,000 (EST) ON SALE NOW Few manufacturers have been as fascinating to watch in their development as Kia. The first generations of its products in the UK – including the Cee’d in 2006 – were praised for their low prices, but there was little else of real merit. With each passing generation, though, most of its models have become better to drive, cheaper to run and nicer to sit in. The Cee’d is the very definition of that progress. This year marks the current Cee’d’s mid-life facelift, but there’s more to it than simple styling revisions. Kia has also been busy experimenting with ball joints and stabiliser bars to ensure not only keener handling but also better comfort and refinement. The firm has also introduced a new…

In 1907 Autocar magazine was only 12 years old and the car industry in the UK hardly any older. In July of that year the magazine was a first-hand witness to an event that helped to shape Rolls-Royce’s early reputation for engineering excellence. Rolls-Royce entered the Scottish Reliability Trials to prove, over four inclement days, that the level of detail that went into its cars made them superior to rivals’ designs, by providing quiet and reliable motoring even in the most challenging of conditions. The event took place on some of Scotland’s most demanding roads. Today, 108 years on, we’ve come back to drive surviving parts of the route, albeit on far better roads and in an unimaginably more advanced car in the shape of the latest Rolls-Royce Ghost. The…

TESTERS’ NOTES MATT SAUNDERS The Superb now comes with two umbrellas, one concealed in each front door. Better still, the recesses for them are waterproof and drain to the exterior. Now that’s clever. NIC CACKETT We’ve tried the adaptive suspension, too. The comfort deepens, but so does the occasional lackadaisical attitude to body control. There’s Sport mode, of course, but never much of an impulse to select it. SPEC ADVICE SE Business trim is a no-brainer for company car drivers. Add metallic paint (£535), bi-xenon headlights (£1295), a reversing camera (£300), a partition net screen (£150), a folding front passenger seat (£100) and remote backrest releases (£90). JOBS FOR THE FACELIFT • Include some of the practicality-bolstering options as standard on mid-spec estates. • Flip the split folding rear seatbacks…

Mileage 3150 Two things make the Twingo stand out from its city car rivals: its styling and its rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout. The Twingo’s looks still turn heads after a few months on the road. It’s more Renault 5 than previous Twingo in appearance, and that’s no bad thing. Our car’s yellow paintwork may be garish, but it suits the nature of the car and gets it noticed. The only other two cars on our long-term test fleet that grab so much attention are the Ferrari FF and Citroën C4 Cactus. On the styling front, then, the Twingo is quite successful. But when it comes to the powertrain, it’s more of a mixed bag. Our car has a 69bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine and five-speed manual gearbox. The Twingo is never going…

1 Bristol Fighter (20042 011) The trouble with the V8 Bristols is that there are simply too many of them. Better by far to invest in the Fighter, a 525bhp 8.0-litre V10-engined, two-seat, gullwing-doored supercar, of which there are only 13. Bristol tweaked both the humble Chrysler V10 and its six-speed gearbox, so what you get is a rare and fast car: 0-60mph in 4.0sec and a top speed of 210mph. As with all Bristols, it’s quirky, quixotic and intelligent, with an aluminium body, a low centre of gravity and steering and handling you can set up to your own tastes. Alas, a proposed 1012bhp twin-turbo version, with a 275mph top speed, was never built. You won’t find many of these low-drag, lightweight, thoughtfully designed cars for sale, but £160,000…

KiaSportage Spring2016 The fourth-generation Sportage will make its global debut at next week’s Frankfurt motor show and receives significant styling upgrades both inside and out. It’s set to be offered with a new turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, while other engine options will be carried over from its sister car, the Hyundai Tucson. Price From £18,000 (est) SUMMER Aston Martin Vantage GT12, Audi A8 Sport, Q7, BMW 3 Series facelift, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Volt, Citroën Berlingo Multispace, Ferrari 488 GTB, Honda Civic Type R, HR-V, Jazz, Lamborghini Huracán Spider, Aventador SV, Land Rover Range Rover SVAutobiography, Lotus Evora 400, Mazda MX-5, McLaren 675 LT, P1 GTR, Mercedes-Benz GLE, GLE Coupé, Mercedes-Maybach S600, Mitsubishi L200, Peugeot 2008 facelift, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Boxster facelift, Boxster Spyder, Renault Kadjar, Toyota Mirai, Avensis facelift,…