Innholdsfortegnelse for September 28, 2016 i Autocar

Volkswagen is aiming for the same build costs as internal combustion-engined cars for its new EV model range by shaving 1.5 hours from the factory assembly time to make its EVs competitive on price and profitable. To be successful, VW will have to cut nearly 20% from the final assembly time compared with its current range of EVs. The first model in its new EV family will be previewed at the Paris show (see left) and enter production in late 2019, as VW responds to the Dieselgate crisis with a promise to build one million EVs by 2025. VW is chasing sales among a cost-conscious ‘global middle class’ who will have to be persuaded to buy an EV in place of an internal combustion-engined car as their main transport. That…

VAUXHALL’S NEXT INSIGNIA VXR will feature the same agility-improving torque vectoring technology as the Ford Focus RS when it arrives late next year. The technical specifications of the 2017 sports saloon won’t be revealed for several more months, but GKN, the company that made the Focus RS’s all-wheel drive system, has been developing a current-generation VXR with its so-called Twinster module on the back axle. That suggests this drive technology is headed to Vauxhall’s upcoming all-wheel-drive car. If rumours are right and GKN’s Twinster makes it onto the production VXR, it would enable full torque vectoring at the rear. Drive to the front wheels will be controlled using a more conventional electronic differential lock, which imitates a mechanical diff by braking wheels experiencing slip. Autocar sampled GKN’s prototype at the…

A ROTARY ENGINE that is said to be more efficient and reliable than existing versions has been created by British firm Advanced Innovative Engineering (AIE). The Lichfield-based company demonstrated its 120bhp engine in a custom-built sports car at the recent Low Carbon Vehicle event at Millbrook proving ground. While only a couple of laps of the circuit were planned, the car eventually completed more than 20 without issue, confirming its potential. The 650S single-rotor engine is said to be half the size and weight of an equivalent four-cylinder piston engine and benefits from patented technology that includes a so-called Self-Pressurising-Air Rotor Cooling System. According to AIE boss Saleel Panthakkalakath, this solution addresses the major drawbacks of rotary engines, namely high wear, high oil consumption and poor fuel economy. “Our system…

The turbocharged V8 engine of the Ferrari California T has been fitted to the GTC4 Lusso to create a new entry-level four-seater called the GTC4 Lusso T. Although it’s fundamentally the same unit, the 3.8-litre V8 engine has been reworked for the Lusso T to produce 602bhp at 7500rpm and 560lb ft of torque between 3000rpm and 5250rpm. Maximum power is 72bhp down on the regular, naturally aspirated V12 Lusso, but peak torque is actually up by 47lb ft and it arrives 2750rpm earlier. As well as being the first time that Ferrari has offered a choice of two engines in a model, the GTC4 Lusso will also mark the first time that rear-wheel drive is offered alongside four-wheel drive, as found in the current V12-engined GTC4 Lusso. A Ferrari…

“There’s good news inside, where the new infotainment system is a real improvement” Maserati is a manufacturer on the move. Back in 2012 it was selling around 6000 cars globally, but it wants to be shifting 70,000 by 2018. That’s a believable target, given that the car maker moved around 33,000 units last year – and that’s before the arrival of the new Levante SUV later this year. For now, its best-selling model is the Ghibli and more than 90% of those sold are the Diesel. The range still consists of three models: the entry-level 271bhp 3.0-litre V6 Ghibli Diesel, the standard 345bhp 3.0-litre V6 Ghibli, which uses a Ferrari-sourced petrol engine, and the most powerful, 404bhp Ghibli S, fitted with an uprated version of the same petrol motor. The…

“Push harder and it will emit a distinctive growl, backed by impressive performance” First launched in 2013, the S-Cross was Suzuki’s answer to the Nissan Qashqai. However, it never sold in high numbers, even though the market for such vehicles was growing rapidly. Why was that? According to Suzuki, a great deal came down to aesthetics. Put simply, it didn’t look like an SUV – a conclusion that clearly influenced the decision to give the S-Cross a major mid-life facelift. The design team have treated the S-Cross to a whole new front end. A clamshell bonnet, steep nose, aggressive air intake and new headlights endow it with a compact pseudo-SUV look. Ground clearance is also slightly higher (by 15mm) to give an air of off-road capability. Suzuki has jumped on…

MODEL TESTED LUSSO PLUS Price £23,295 Power 138bhp Torque 177lb ft 0-60mph 7.3 sec 30-70mph in fourth 8.8sec Fuel economy 33.5mpg CO2 emissions 148g/km 70-0mph 47.2m No matter what you think of how it came about or how it looks, the 124 Spider is a good idea. Fiat’s line-up has been devoid of desirable froth for too long, and – at least from an enthusiast point of view – it’s a shortfall that can’t be made up with yet another 500 derivative or the return of the Tipo badge. Italy’s flag carrier has been crying out for the marketing splash of something overtly sporty, and there are few more pleasing thoughts than the prospect of a small, affordable, two-seat, rear-drive roadster arriving on a manufacturer’s forecourt. That is particularly so…

“As you get towards the NSX’s 7500rpm redline, it’s eye-poppingly fast” Animals. That’s what’s missing from this test. There are three badges on display here and there is not a horse or a bull among them. A decade ago, it would have been all but unthinkable to have what is, let’s be clear, one of the most exciting supercar tests of the year without the presence of a Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini. I’ll grant you that the entry price to this test is lower than many supercar group tests, but know one thing before the reckoning starts: it is none the worse, and no less exciting, for the absence of the traditional establishment. The Honda NSX, then, is back. And everyone, apparently, knows it. I wouldn’t normally mention shizzle like…

SKODA IS GEARING up for an absolutely crucial new product launch, and Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award winner Morven Fraser has been working at the heart of the PR team. The Kodiaq is a new SUV that has only recently been revealed by Skoda, but Morven became one of the very few people in the world to see the car in the metal in Prague ahead of its world debut. “PR is one of the most exciting departments to work in during the run-up to a launch,” Morven says. “Everyone at Skoda is really excited about the Kodiaq.” During a frenetic day in Prague, the University of Glasgow student helped out on an exclusive photo shoot with the Kodiaq in a studio, working closely with the photography team. “It was fascinating…

“Plato has 95 BTCC wins to Neal’s 59, but Neal has the upper hand when it comes to championships” Between them, British Touring Car Championship benchmarks Matt Neal and Jason Plato have started more than 1100 races in the series – a mighty landmark. Plato celebrated his 500th start with a victory at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland in August, driving the Subaru Levorg GT, while Neal, driving the Honda Civic Type R, reached 600 in race two at Silverstone two weeks ago. And both men – the grandees of the series in terms of races contested and championship victories – are in the hunt for this year’s crown as they head into the final three rounds at Brands Hatch this weekend. Of course, all statistics can be skewed. For…

Adore, don’t restore Steve Cropley’s comment about restoring a 1951 Land Rover Series One (My Week in Cars, 14 September) struck a chord. The photo seems to show a straight, unmolested car that carries its age really well and stands as testament to just how tough they were. Of course, the chassis may be rotten (“They all do that, sir”) but, that aside, what needs restoring? A mechanical makeover would be a sensible precaution, but restoring the car would destroy that fabulous patina, which marks it out as something a little special, and leave just another overdone show pony. A tragedy in the making. Mac Henderson via email WIN Letter of the week wins this ValetPRO exterior protection and maintenance kit worth £58.95…

I finally managed to borrow the Discovery Sport for a five-day trip to France. I say ‘finally’ because on the Autocar test fleet, it seems to be the equivalent of a star quarterback that the rest of the team turn to when they want a long-distance play. With this kind of reputation, I was intrigued to see if the Sport delivered as an all-round player – and it did, for the most part. Where it excelled was, predictably, the motorway. The smooth high-speed ride combined with virtually no wi nd or road roar made for a very relaxing journey. The nine-speed auto ’box also did a good job, with mainly seamless shifts, although I did experience some hesitancy when pulling out at roundabouts. While winding my way through the Pas…

“The Discovery 3 still looks the business 12 years after it was launched” They say good things come in threes, and in the Land Rover Discovery’s case, it’s true. The third-generation model, the Discovery 3, drew a line under previous versions with a combination of great looks, advanced tech and better reliability. It was launched in 2004 with a choice of 3.0-litre V6 diesel – badged TDV6 – and 4.4-litre V8 petrol engines. With its superior economy and pulling power at lower revs, the diesel was the obvious choice – and it dominates the classifieds today. Land Rover gave the Discovery a steel body, so it’s no lightweight, but the 189bhp, 324lb ft TDV6 makes relatively light work of it, with 0-62mph taking 11.2sec in manual form (there’s an optional…

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta From £240,000 Thrilling in a way that only a front-engined V12 Ferrari could be. Crushing performance and unparalleled drama. Rolls-Royce Wraith From £230,000 An intimate and involving Rolls-Royce; less grand, perhaps, but only in the measures that serve to make it great. Aston Martin Vanquish From £190,000 If your money is only intended to buy dazzling exterior beauty, it is best invested in Aston Martin’s ›lagship. Bentley Continental GT From £140,000 It may have lost four cylinders, but the new Audi-sourced V8 is so good that it completely reinvigorates the Conti. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé From £125,000 So long in the legs that continents ›lash by mid-stride. Has a business-like opulence. The 63 AMG is the best.…

Apple sees the acquisition of McLaren as key to its Project Titan plan to enter the car industry and use F1 to promote its tablets and smartphones to younger buyers, Autocar has learned. The impetus is to acquire McLaren’s vast technical know-how and R&D expertise, including the main automotive engineering disciplines of body structures, powertrains, chassis, electrics, battery technology and aerodynamics in both road cars and F1. Apple’s board is understood to have decided that acquiring McLaren in a single transaction is a much faster route to becoming a car manufacturer than building a business from scratch. “McLaren is one of the only businesses like this that might be available and isn’t tied up with anyone,” sources have told Autocar. “It’s a golden opportunity.” While Apple remains tight-lipped, McLaren is…

Volkswagen’s long-mooted new electric car, seen here in a series of sketches, will make its debut at the Paris motor show this week, marking the firm’s fightback after 12 months of Dieselgate fallout. Described by VW EV boss Christian Senger as a “car of the future” and a “mobility device in a connected eco system”, the Golf-sized five-seater will be online and connected 24 hours a day and offer a range of 250 miles. VW also claims it will give best-in-class interior space thanks to a new ‘skateboard’ chassis, known as MEB, with batteries slotted between the front and rear axles inside a flat, sandwich floor. The EV, as yet unnamed, will signal a new era for VW as the company unveils a new brand strategy at the show. A…

Seat has revealed an off-road-orientated version of its Ateca SUV called the Ateca X-perience. Making its debut at Paris motor show, the model features 18in alloy wheels with high-profile knobbly tyres, scratch-resistant matt green paint and metallic and orange highlights. A 190bhp, 295lb ft 2.0-litre diesel engine is hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox with paddle shifters. The car also has Haldex four-wheel drive and hill descent control. Although not officially confirmed for production, the model is expected to reach showrooms next year, priced from around £1000 more than the existing £23,905 Ateca range-topper.…

MG has ended UK production of its cars at its Longbridge plant, near Birmingham, five years after resuming car assembly there. The brand’s UK-based design and development operations will continue, but the final assembly of cars will now take place in China and elsewhere in the world. MG’s head of sales and marketing, Matthew Cheyne, said the main reason for the decision was MG’s intention to streamline its production process, and the small-scale production in Longbridge could no longer compete with its larger, more modern facilities in China. “Small volumes aren’t economically viable at a site of Longbridge’s size,” he said. “Elsewhere in the world, we have state-of-the-art facilities, so it’s more cost-effective to build them elsewhere and import them. There was no efficient way to carry on doing it…

Zenos is currently working on a hybrid powertrain that could find its way into the E10 sports car. The firm has received £250,000 from the Niche Vehicle Network, which gives grants to the low-volume vehicle industry, to build a prototype E10 hybrid as part of a research and development project. Zenos will work with battery specialist Hyperdrive Innovation, transmission specialist Vocis Driveline Control and Cosworth to develop ways of adapting Ford’s 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine, which currently powers the E10 range, into a hybrid system.…

The new Toyota Supra is on course for a 2018 launch, with development cars now being spotted on the road, and is expected to arrive shortly after its BMW Z5 sister car. Both models are set to use a hybrid four-wheel drive set-up incorporating a BMW petrol engine and electric motors with energy stored in supercapacitors. The Supra is also expected to benefit from BMW’s carbonfibre architecture, as used on the i3, i8 and 7 Series. The new Supra takes inspiration from the FT-1 concept first shown in 2014 and will sit above the GT86 in Toyota’s line-up, making it the brand’s flagship sports car.…

SMART HAS INTRODUCED electric versions of its Fortwo, Fortwo Cabriolet and Forfour. The new Electric Drive models are claimed to have better range and performance and significantly faster recharging times than their predecessors. The improvements are thanks to a new powertrain largely shared with the Renault Zoe and developments to the charging system. The Electric Drive models use a rear-mounted three-phase synchronous electric motor delivering 80bhp and 118lb ft to the rear wheels. These are increases of 5bhp and 22lb ft on the electric motor used by the earlier Fortwo and Fortwo Cabriolet Electric Drive. It’s also 7bhp and 44lb ft down on the electric motor used by the front-wheel-drive Zoe. Drive is channelled through a fixed-ratio gearbox. Smart claims 0-62mph times of 11.5sec for the Fortwo, 11.8sec for the…

“The Ka+ is a credible small car turned out with an encouraging dash of dynamic polish” The Ford Ka+ is the full stop at the end of an experiment in city car making that began – quite promisingly – 20 years ago with the original Ka. But having sold almost half a million examples of the Fiesta-based trend-setter over its 12-year lifespan, Ford turned to a joint venture with Fiat for the Ka’s 2008 replacement – a follow-up that had much less of the quirky appeal of its forebear and proved only a fraction as popular. Now, with its attention on more lucrative growth areas of the global market than Europe, Ford has decided that it’s not worth investing in the technology needed to stay in the niche where the…

The V90 marks the return of the classic big Volvo estate, albeit remodelled for modern tastes. Together with the S90 saloon, the V90 follows the XC90 in continuing the Chinese-owned car maker’s reinvention. Volvo UK’s policy is to keep its model range simple. A 2.0-litre diesel powerplant mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox is available in two forms: with front-wheel drive and 188bhp in the D4, or all-wheel drive and 232bhp in the D5, tested here for the first time in the UK. The T8 Twin Engine, due later, is the sole petrol derivative and mates its 2.0-litre engine with an electric motor. The Swedish firm may have embarked on a new chapter, but the V90 feels as unmistakably Volvo as ever, which is to say it’s comfortable, cosseting and…

Looking back, ‘authentic’ was the key adjective wielded during last year’s test of the MX-5. The new model proved itself true to its roots even as it went about exceeding them. The Spider’s lack of source material is conspicuous, not least because the gap in expectation is inevitably filled by measuring it against the Mazda. While that is unavoidable, it is also unfair. Had Fiat launched its version first, we might have been kinder to its interpretation and better able to enjoy the 124 for what it is rather than what it isn’t. Because what it is, by current standards, is still a country mile better than practically everything else you can remove the roof from for similar money. Turbocharging and Turin’s chassis tinkering have not corrupted it; there is…

“We’re doing the heavy lifting, not the car makers” If you lose a coin inside your car, recycling company EMR will find it. However, be prepared to have the vehicle scrapped, stripped of its saleable parts and what’s left crushed into a cube – called a bale – before being shredded into pieces no larger than a tennis ball. Then watch as these balls are broken into still smaller bits and passed along a conveyor under a vacuum to have any lightweight materials sucked away, before magnets draw out heavier steels and ferrous materials. Finally, gaze in astonishment as what’s left is passed through a so-called ‘heavy media separator’ containing a fluid where non-ferrous metals (for example copper, aluminium and brass) can be separated out by flotation. Et voilà: glinting…

“The track becomes tight and uphill, with authentically old-looking stones on the ground” By now, there’s every chance you’ll have seen the fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery, revealed today (28 September). It’s lighter, lither, swoopier and 36% more Range Rovery than the Discovery 4, which is about to bow out… how? ‘Gracefully’ is the preferred way we’d all like to go, isn’t it? With dignity intact. Some sportspeople, at the top of their game, prefer to have people ask why they’re retiring already, rather than waiting until they’re into their decline and having people ask when they’re going, or why they haven’t gone. I’m not sure the analogy translates to cars, but I’m also uncertain that there’s a suitable analogy for the drive we’ve got planned. To see what the Discovery…

NEWS New Land Rover Discovery Land Rover is set to unveil its fifth-generation Discovery — and we’ve had exclusive access NEWS Paris show special Bumper news section starring all the key new car reveals from Paris ROAD TEST Honda NSX It fared well in this week’s group test; now for the definitive verdict TWIN TEST Aston Martin DB11 vs Bentley Continental GT Britain’s finest sporting GTs go head to head. Can Aston scoop class honours? SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p32…

In this car journalism lark, we get to drive a lot of exciting cars. But ask any writer about the number of cars that have actually had them giddy with excitement ahead of a first drive and they’ll probably be able to count them on the fingers of one hand. The reborn Morgan 3 Wheeler had held a position on my pinky since its launch in 2012, so when the keys became available ahead of a sunny bank holiday weekend, I spent the whole Friday clock watching and vibrating with excitement. Vibrating, it turns out, would be a key feature of my weekend, because the Morgan is probably the rawest motoring experience you can have on four… erm, three wheels. With its twin-cylinder engine burbling away up front and bolted…

Ford Ka Here’s a car we’ve mentioned before: Iain Gregory’s 2008/58-plate Ford Ka Studio, which is unusual in that it has covered a mere 7500 miles so far. “We bought it as a starter car for our two children to learn to drive in,” he says. “But the eldest has grown to 6ft 4in and can’t get behind the wheel. So we use it as runabout to take our youngest to school. “I’ve just had it serviced, it’s got 11 months’ MOT and there’s a free one-year AA breakdown service for anyone who drives it.” The Ka is up for sale at around £2000. Contact us and we will pass your enquiry on. SEND YOUR USED CAR TALES TO james@bangernomics.com…

An expert’s view JAMES LAUCHLAN, HEREFORD 4X4 “I’m on my seventh Discovery 3. They’re terrific. I’ve just sold an ’06 TDV6 SE with 113k miles and all new bits for £9895. The TDV6 is best: huge torque and more economical than the V8, which we don’t see many of. You need to keep on top of maintenance. People turn up to buy one with Ford Focus money and I tell them it’ll cost £1500 a year to keep it sweet. Buy one for £5000 and it’s £2500 to put right.” Buyer beware • CHASSIS AND BODY Early cars now show surface corrosion that could jeopardise an MOT, but bodies are rust-free. Tailgate lock is temperamental. • TOWING STRAIN The 3.5-tonne towing limit is sometimes exceeded. Check for chassis and mechanical…

“Insiders suggest the four-wheel-drive M8’s 0-62mph time will be well under 4.0sec” A rapid 600bhp-plus M8 performance flagship is set to crown a resurrected BMW 8 Series model line-up by the end of the decade. The upmarket coupé is tentatively scheduled to make its world debut during the second half of 2019 and will rival the Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupé in a move aimed at projecting BMW back into the upper echelons of the performance car arena. The M8 will be propelled by a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine and offer buyers the choice of rear-wheel drive or an optional xDrive four-wheel drive set-up. All-wheel drive is expected to provide the aluminium and carbonfibre-intensive coupé with off-the-line traction to match the keenest of…

AUDI, BMW AND Mercedes-Benz have agreed to supply Here, a connected technology company they jointly own, with real-time sensor data collected by their cars to enable the use of advanced online services. The deal marks the first time a trio of leading brands has agreed to share data and it could spell the beginning of a fully connected car industry. “We’re showing for the first time how you can take the value of rich sensor data coming from a vehicle and use it to do things that positively impact safety and efficiency,” said Alex Mangan, Here’s product marketing manager for connected driving. “To make the most of connected systems, we all as an industry need each other. The cars need sensor data, and with this kind of agreement a Toyota…

Advanced drivetrain technology is being developed by automotive engineering firm GKN to enable future electric cars to mix extreme performance with agility and excellent traction. The British company, which has contributed to the drive systems of models such as the BMW i8, Porsche 918 Spyder and Ford Focus RS, expects its future technology to include inner-wheel electric motors, allowing for continuous control of torque to each wheel. “Right now, the technology is not there for us to produce these compact electric drivetrains in sports cars, where big power is needed,” said Theo Gassman, GKN’s director of advanced engineering and eDrive systems. “But for city cars, where the power output of each motor only has to be 20kW or 30kW [27-40bhp], maybe it’s not so far away.” Gassman said this individual…

VOLVO IS ON track to sell significantly more SUVs and crossovers than any other type of vehicle by the end of the decade, according to Peter Mertens, the brand’s research and development boss. Speaking at the unveiling of the new V90 Cross Country, Mertens said the arrival of the XC40 compact crossover in early 2018 would be a landmark for Volvo. The XC40 is one of three all-new 40-series models and will go on sale before the hatchback and estate versions. Mertens said the customer shift to crossovers and SUVs was driving sales in its largest markets, especially Sweden, the US and China. Volvo won’t say how many XC40s it expects to sell in a full year, but it’s likely to be close to six figures. Last year Volvo sold…

HYUNDAI WILL REVEAL a concept version of its upcoming i30 hot hatch at the Paris show this week. In the run-up to the event, the concept, called RN30, has been previewed in a single official image that shows off the car’s bulging arches and large-diameter wheels. The production version of the RN30 will use a 2.0-litre turbo engine with an expected 260bhp on offer. Its rivals will include the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault Mégane RS and Ford Focus ST. Like the rest of the new i30 range, the front-wheel-drive performance model will be available in five-door guise only. The regular car will start at about £15,500, but the range-topping N model is likely to add around £10,000 to that figure. As well as its influence on the production model, the…

Fiat’s new Tipo is a rather interesting proposition when you consider the tumultuous marketplace that it’s trying to break into. With consumers increasingly shunning conventional hatchbacks and MPVs for SUVs, manufacturers have responded in one of two ways: investing in new mid-sized platforms, like Seat with its Ateca, or creating more luxurious trim levels, like Ford with its new Vignale range. So it came as quite a surprise to see Fiat break ranks when it revealed its bargain-priced Tipo earlier this year. Instead of a bewildering array of options, Fiat decided to offer an impressive amount of kit across three affordable trim packages: Easy, Easy Plus and Lounge. As a result, a base-spec five-door Tipo can be had for just £12,995, and even a diesel Station Wagon with a dual-clutch…

“It’ll happily sing to 6000rpm when you need to put on a spurt” The Spanish town of Ateca has only 2000 residents, so it’s on the small side. It also suggests that some thought has gone into the naming of the Seat Ateca, but don’t let that fool you into believing that this isn’t a roomy family car, because it is. The Ateca is a small SUV in the same mould as rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. For many, diesel would be the default engine choice in a car like this, but the 1.4-litre petrol version looks like an interesting alternative. Firstly, it develops a worthy 148bhp. Secondly, with cylinder-on-demand technology that lets it run on two cylinders on a light throttle, it’s pleasingly efficient. So…

Once upon a time, driving for a day out in the city could be a stressful experience. It’s different now. Admittedly, finding a parking space can still be a pain, but you can make any urban adventure hassle-free and enjoyable by bookending it with the right choice of transport. And what is that right choice? Well, let’s start by making a list of the qualities an ideal city car should have. It should be able to get you into the heart of the action with the minimum of fuss, and then out of it again in the same relaxed fashion when you’ve had your fill of the hustle and bustle. It should handle as well in cramped city streets and multistorey car parks as it does on the open road.…

“The i8 has stretched our expectations of what an electrified car can be and do” Sharing is caring, they say. The sharer in this tale is Andrew Frankel, the custodian of the BMW i8 long-term test car who sent it off for a summer holiday at Autocar’s Twickenham headquarters. And we all had a jolly good time caring for it. Renault Zoe owner and therefore resident electric car expert Jim Holder is up first for some scene setting: “I’m not so dumb that I thought the i8 would be just another electric car, or indeed just another supercar, but I was surprised by just how far it redefines what can be done with electric power. From pure-EV mode to giving it everything it’s got, it is utterly beguiling – helped,…

WHEN OUR KADJAR first arrived, I said I was at odds with the EDC dual-clutch automatic gearbox’s idea of economical driving and that I’d go into more detail at a later date. That time has come. What irks me is that the EDC ’box holds on to its revs for too long in each gear, at least for my liking. And what I like is to drive, on the whole, in a fuel-efficient and money-saving way. It’s so ingrained that if you get stuck behind me away from a set of lights, I can only apologise, because a key part of my eco-driving arsenal includes not accelerating away very quickly at all, using minimal throttle inputs and changing up very early. Trouble is, if you’re pressing only lightly on the…

MILEAGE 71,841 BMW X5 Beyond exciting: I checked the tyre pressures the other day. For the sake of research, I decided not to look in the manual but instead turned to the interweb, like everyone else. All cars built in the 21st century could be found on various sites such as Kwik Fit’s, which was pretty good with pressures for all the different tyre sizes, but the older rubbish I own doesn’t show up, so I’ll have to look in a book for those. In the meantime, it turned out that the X5 needed some front offside air. I’ll keep an eye on it and keep you posted — if you can stand the suspense.…

1 Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI SE (2005-2011) The M-Class is less of a try-hard than the BMW X5 and it’s more capable off road but less sharp on it. It’s comfortable and the cabin is spacious and hard-wearing. When new, it was silly money, but depreciation sorts the men from the boys so that today you can pick up a 2008 320 CDI (the best engine) in mid-range SE spec and with 100k miles for just £10,500. That’s the facelifted model, too. 2 Volvo XC90 2.4 D5 SE Lux Geartronic (2002-2014) The XC90 looks its best caked in mud, at a point-to-point. It goes without saying that it’s safe and that a car this big will have seven seats. The 185bhp D5 diesel is a lumpy old thing but a worker…

Porsche 911 Carrera From £73,500 Delivered on the eve of its sixth decade, the 991 is as brilliant and distinctive as any before. GTS is the best. 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. Aston Martin Vantage From £85,000 What the Vantage lacks in agility it makes up with presence and grunty V8 power. V12 S is something special, too. 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. Nissan GT-R From £78,000 Monstrously fast Nissan is a blunt instrument among sharper and more charismatic rivals.…

Volkswagen Golf From £17,600 Expensive it may be, but there’s enough class here to make the price look reassuringly precise. A cut above. Ford Focus From £14,000 Has a blend of ride and handling that rivals can’t match. One of the UK’s most popular cars for all the right reasons. Seat Leon From £16,200 As always, a Golf in cheaper Spanish drag. Margins are cleverly engineered to show, but this is the best Leon yet. Mazda 3 From £17,000 As ever, it seems, the Mazda aces driveability and ef›iciency but fails to totally convince in an all-star class. Peugeot 308 From £15,000 Classy all-round appeal of the latest 308 is all new. A bit tight on space but a serious contender nonetheless.…