Innholdsfortegnelse for 26/07/2017 i Autocar

“The 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 is said to have been worked on to produce close to 790bhp” McLaren will launch the most extreme road car in its history later this year — and it is poised to eclipse all but the McLaren P1 GTR for on-track performance. Officials at McLaren refuse to confirm the existence of the car, which will be the second model in the firm’s Ultimate Series after the P1 , which spawned the extreme P1 GTR track derivative. However, Autocar understands the new car is being developed under the project name ‘P15’, and the engineering team has been given a brief to create “the most extreme, track-focused road car”. In line with McLaren’s publicly stated goal of giving all of its Ultimate Series cars a distinct focus, engineers…

McLaren could produce carbonfibre tubs for other car manufacturers when its new factory near Sheffield is operational. The new facility will have the capacity to make up to 10,000 carbonfibre tubs each year when it comes on stream, but McLaren has stated a desire to build only around 5000 cars a year. That means there is scope for the firm to ramp up production in the future, but it is possible that McLaren will make carbonfibre structures for others. Chief executive Mike Flewitt said: “We won’t do it until we’re up and running ourselves, but it is something we’re considering as an obvious expansion.” McLaren’s next-generation architecture will be far more adaptable than today’s, allowing for differently sized models and the possibility of alternative powertrains, all of which would help…

DAIMLER, PARENT FIRM of Mercedes-Benz, is recalling more than three million cars in Europe to add software that will reduce emissions. The company, which has recently denied allegations in Germany that it has been cheating emission tests, said the voluntary service action provides customers with the option to have new software for cars running the OM 607 turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine to lower the output of nitrogen oxides. This engine is used in Mercedes A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA models. Also affected are engines codenamed OM 651 (2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesel four-cylinder units) and OM 642 (3.0-litre diesel V6). OM 651 is found in models such as the B-Class, C-Class and E-Class, and OM 642 is used in larger cars, including the E-Class, S-Class and GLE. The OM 607…

Honda has patented the design of a mid-engined convertible sports car, suggesting the manufacturer is working on a baby NSX model to rival the Mazda MX-5. Images posted on the European Union Intellectual Property Office website reignite rumours of a new Honda sports car, but quell earlier suggestions that it would be a spiritual successor to the front-engined S2000. NSX project boss Ted Klaus told Autocar last year that the NSX’s structure could be adapted to create to a convertible, lightweight m o del and an electric variant.…

Porsche’s triple Le Mans-winning success with the 919 Hybrid has given the firm’s plans to electrify future road cars an authenticity that is already resonating with customers, according to the company’s chief executive, Oliver Blume. “We are a brand with a long history of cars that derive authenticity from motorsport and already we can see that we are writing the next stage of history with the 919 Hybrid,” said Blume. “Customers understand the power of the electric powertrain and they have shown a willingness to invest in the technology with the Panamera Hybrid. “There will be more to come, of course, and customers are already asking for more hybrid models that deliver huge power when they want it but which can also allow them to drive for 30 miles on…

DS WILL REVEAL its second SUV, an Audi Q2 rival, next year and offer an electric variant from the start of sales in 2019. Stéphane Le Guével, the UK boss of the PSA Group — parent company of DS, Citroën and Peugeot — confirmed the B-segment SUV as the next model from DS following the launch of the 7 Crossback SUV earlier this year. Ultimately, there will be four SUVs within DS’s six-model line-up, said Le Guével. The company has previously stated it will launch one model per year for the next four years. That includes the 7 Crossback in 2017 and this Q2 rival in 2018. Of the remaining two models, one will be offered solely as a hybrid, with no diesel or petrol variants, according to Arnaud Leclerc,…

Jaguar has unveiled the XJR575, the most powerful version yet of its flagship saloon, in a bid to keep pace with rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG S63 and Audi S8. First seen in camouflaged guise going up the hill at last month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the XJR575 uses the F-Type SVR’s 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine with 567bhp, 25bhp more than the outgoing XJR, and 516lb ft. That enables a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec, 0.2sec faster than its predecessor but 0.2sec slower than the S63. Its top speed is 186mph. The hot saloon is part of the updates across the XJ range that come as a mid-life refresh, ahead of a new XJ in 2019. That model is widely rumoured to be pure electric. If true, Jaguar would beat its…

Audi is readying its first electric model, the E-tron SUV, for its 2018 arrival, having begun testing it on public roads. Spotted on the Continent wearing full-body camouflage, the SUV signals its zero-emission drivetrain by its lack of tailpipes. The car’s design has been toned down from the E-tron quattro concept on which it is based, with a slightly less rugged front end and less raked rear window. But the concept’s lighting designs, which include a strip to connect the taillights, have been retained. Audi is racing to get the E-tron to market ahead of Jaguar’s electric I-Pace SUV, also due next year — something, a senior executive previously told Autocar, that would make it the “first real premium manufacturer doing a premium electric SUV”. Audi sales and marketing boss…

McLaren likes to call the 570S Spider its most attainable open-top – a statement not wholly unlike the Duke of Westminster telling you that the land in and around Battersea is very affordable. Well, yes: compared with an acre of Belgravia, it probably is. But attainable in a broader, inclusive sense? Not on your nelly. The Spider starts at £164,750, which means most examples will be £200k. It’s as exclusive as shale mining rights. Nevertheless, with the outgoing 675 LT Spider originally priced from £285k, you can see where McLaren is coming from. And in marked contrast to most lesser car makers, ‘attainable’ doesn’t mean ‘cynically second-rate’ for Woking. Far from it: the coupé version of the 570S – a car available at a 911 Turbo S price tag –…

MODEL TESTED COOPER S E ALL4 Price £29,075 (inc £2500 gov’t discount) Power 221bhp Torque 284lb ft 0-60mph 6.7sec 30-70mph in fourth 7.5sec Fuel economy 42.1mpg CO2 emissions 49g/km 70-0mph 61.2m Mini’s famously youthful, urban-dwelling customer base would lap up the chance to buy an electric car, you’d imagine – and before too long, they’ll be able to do just that. The firm has been experimenting with an electric-only model since it introduced a fleet of 600 prototype Mini E superminis onto European roads in 2009. We drove one from Brighton to Glasgow in 2010, just to prove it could be done (although it took fully 96 hours, in the days before motorway fast chargers existed). In 2019, Mini will launch its first all-electric series-production model – a car the…

Born in Coventry, car-mad Gerry McGovern was so addicted to sketching in school that his maths teacher uttered the immortal words: “How do you expect to get a job if you draw cars all day?” As a teenager, he met Chrysler design boss Roy Axe, who was first to spot his talent. He studied design in Coventry and London, and then began work at Chrysler Whitley, now Jaguar’s design stronghold. Here are some of his early successes. MG EXE After time with Chrysler in the US, McGovern rejoined Roy Axe, who had become design chief at Austin Rover, and worked on this mid-engined MG, surely one of the most beautiful British concepts ever. The car, never built, was a big hit at the Frankfurt motor show in 1985 and lives…

There have been a few positive words in recent issues about the new four-cylinder Porsche 718 engine. Such words are rare, given that the word ‘ruined’ has been used a lot about a car considered by me and those who know to be close to perfect. I have owned a variety of Boxsters over 20 years; also a 911 C4S, a Carrera 2 and, for good measure, a Macan GTS. I had read Matt Prior’s views on the new engine with concern, however, and suddenly found myself with a 718 S as a loan car for a 200- Shropshire. : one week later, I was the owner of a 718 S Boxster. In daily ownership, the flat-six was a thing of joy, but torque was only available at the top…

Where the Kia Niro really found its footing was during my weekday commute On paper, the Kia Niro is a tempting proposition. Here’s a crossover with space for the family and their luggage, but with the attractive running costs of a hybrid and low tax bills to match. It even squares up well on looks and Kia’s seven-year warranty further sweetens the deal. But on-paper appeal is different from real life, and over eight months and more than 6800 miles, we’ve found Kia’s first dedicated hybrid to be something of a mixed bag. And, as Frank Sinatra sang, I’ve learned some things that only time can teach. Where the Kia really found its footing was during my weekday commute, seven gnarly miles along a mix of tight urban streets and…

Fancy a supermini on a 14-plate with 20,000 miles on the clock for just £4600? Or maybe a family car on a 13-plate with 22,000 miles to its name for £5000? Now, what if I told you that each of these cars has a sterling reputation for reliability and, best of all, will cost you very little to fill up? Yes, as you’ve probably guessed, both of these prices – real, live examples based on actual classified adverts we found – are for electric cars. The first is for a Renault Zoe, the second a Nissan Leaf. And with prices like these, electric cars are starting to look like very savvy used buys. However, both of these cars will incur a battery lease charge, paid monthly to their respective manufacturers.…

What is that nagging feeling? That little suspicion that not everything is quite as clear cut as it should be? I don’t know. Because, on the face of it, everything up here in this imperious cabin is very straightforward. There was a gap in the Range Rover line-up, see, and it is now filled. The Range, er, range started with the Evoque and then, via a large leap, went to the Range Rover Sport before naturally culminating with the Range Rover. This new Velar sits in that large space between the Evoque and the Sport. Mechanically, then, this 4.8m-long car is more ‘Sport-minus’ than ‘Evoque-plus’. It’s not as full of fat as the Sport, sure, but it does sit on a longitudinal-engined, aluminium platform – the same one as Jaguars…

Speculators inflating the prices of collectable cars “We watch it, but it’s inevitable. All we can do is encourage buyers to go through our dealers so that we can follow the cars. A lot of owners like the fact that the value of their cars can double or more. It’s an appealing part of ownership, but the fear is that we create a boom and bust culture, which isn’t good for anyone.” How big McLaren Automotive can get “We’re pretty much there in terms of our product portfolio, but we can do more in terms of distribution. Last year, we sold 3286 cars, so the goal is 5000 units a year. We’re not rushing [to that goal] because we are profitable, we have full order books and because it takes…

HYUNDAI COULD FOLLOW the launch of its fastest model yet, the i30N hot hatch, by introducing a design pack that will allow its customers to upgrade their standard models with motorsportinspired parts. These will include trim, bodywork and cabin features inspired by the design of components fitted to Hyundai’s full-blooded N performance models. In an exclusive interview with Autocar, Hyundai chief designer Thomas Bürkle said the success of packs offered by rival brands, such as Ford’s ST-Line, has shown there is potential in this area. However, the South Korean firm is using the launch of its first performance model to gauge demand from its customers before committing to producing its own sports design pack. “A lot of people might not be able to afford the N model, but if we…

The development of TVR’s new sports car is on course despite the problems being experienced by the Circuit of Wales project close to the revived car maker’s planned new factory. TVR chairman Les Edgar told Autocar that his company’s plan to open a factory near the site at the start of 2018 hadn’t been affected by the Welsh government’s decision not to underwrite funding for the circuit project. The proximity of the proposed Welsh motorsport hub was one of the key reasons behind TVR’s decision to establish a production base in Ebbw Vale back in 2015. The car – which has been teased in a new image, above – is still slated for a 2018 launch after an official reveal at the Goodwood Revival on 8 September.…

THE DIESEL SCANDAL surrounding Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen has taken a further twist after the EU opened an investigation into claims that the five German car makers worked together in secret meetings to set standards and collaborate on software manipulation methods for diesel engine development. Acting on evidence from a former VW employee, the EU has opened the cartel investigation after claims that up to 200 employees from the five German makers were involved in the meetings. During these meetings, the car makers are alleged to have swapped vital information on methods to circumnavigate test procedures for CO2 and particulate emissions as well as SCR (selective catalytic reduction) thermo switching. The talks are said to have taken place since the 1990s. They’re also claimed to have involved a…

Lotus has revealed its most powerful road-going car yet, the Evora GT430. Just 60 examples will be made at a price of £112,500 each. With 430bhp, it has a top speed of 190mph and covers 0-60mph in 3.7sec — 0.6sec quicker than a Porsche Cayman GT4. The GT430 is 26kg lighter than the standard Evora and, thanks to upgraded aerodynamics, produces 250kg of downforce at its top speed. Lotus claims the GT430 equalled the lap time at its Hethel test track of the Lotus 3-Eleven, which is lighter and does 0-60mph in 3.3sec.…

Given Volvo’s brilliantly executed (and duly over-hyped) statement about the (yes, inevitable) electrification of its future product line-up, the arrival in the UK of the XC60 T8 seems perfectly timed. With its petrol-electric plug-in powertrain, this range-topper exemplifies the brand’s compass heading over the coming decade. Up front, there’s a 314bhp combustion engine driving the front wheels. At the back is an 86bhp electric motor for powering the rear axle. The 2.0-litre petrol four-pot is both supercharged and turbocharged. The electric motor’s energy comes courtesy of a mains-chargeable 10.4kWh battery pack. Although new to the XC60, this combination made its debut in the larger XC90. The system’s output and functionality are much the same here but the XC60 weighs about 200kg less than its seven-seat sibling, so gains are made…

The Mini Countryman Cooper S E ALL4 will instantly appeal to those looking for a plug-in hybrid that offers more than just the potential to save them money at the petrol pump or on their P11D. It follows through on the promise of that well enough to satisfy some, but the car’s shortage of true handling dynamism and its conditional brand of sporting pace make it unlikely to maintain the interest of real enthusiasts (and perhaps the Mini-brand faithful) for very long. The petrol-electric powertrain is polished and well rounded. You may well judge Mini’s decision to use it to make a disproportionate improvement to pace and drivability at real-world speeds entirely reasonable and intelligent. Compared with its rivals, the car certainly feels different and interesting to drive and it…

“At less than 10ft, the 500 may have been small, but its pedigree oozed out of its every aperture” Heretical though it might seem, I have never really understood why the Mini is seen as the chief architect of the late 1950s city car revolution. Not only did the Fiat 500 get there first, it did it better. Put both cars in a town and Fiat will not only out-turn and out-park a Mini, it will also get through gaps a Mini would scarcely look at. Most importantly for some, for every stare a Mini can drag off the pavement, the 500 will draw a hundred. That said, the Fiat 500 was not the first true city car any more than the Land Rover was the first SUV or the…

Acceleration is comparable with only the most exotic of supercars It’s a baking hot day in the south of France and there isn’t any air ventilation to cool the cabin of the Renault Zoe e-sport. In fact, there’s not much inside this electric car at all: two pedals, a steering wheel, a digital readout, plus a trio of rotary switches that can be configured to unleash its full 456bhp and 472lb ft performance – sufficient, I later discover, to provoke wheelspin at 70mph. You might recognise this Zoe e-sport from its debut at the Geneva motor show or its more recent appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The one-off prototype has got more in common with Renault’s e.dams Formula E racer than with the standard version of the zero-emissions…

REVEALED New Rolls-Royce Phantom The eighth-generation Phantom breaks cover, promising to redefine luxury all over again USED Bargain luxury cars Can’t stretch to a Phantom? Meet our more wallet-friendly choices DRIVEN The sports car has shed some Jaguar F-Type four-pot cylinders. Matt Prior assesses it EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST New VW Golf Eight-page assessment of facelifted hatchback with new 1.5 petrol engine USED BUYING GUIDE Seat Leon Cupra R The Spanish take on the hot-hatch concept drives into our inspection bay LONG-TERM TEST Dacia Sandero LPG Is LPG a viable fuel in this country? We’ve six months to find out SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p30…

Our little Nissan is fitted with a Bose Personal audio pack. It piqued my interest from the moment I perused the Micra’s brochure, and although it is a standard fitment on the range-topping Tekna models, it is a £500 extra on our N-Connecta variant, which is the next trim level down in the line-up. The Bose system, apparently designed specifically for small cars, comprises six speakers, including two built into the headrest on the driver’s seat, and an amplifier that lives under the front seats. The system offers three audio settings, which can be selected via a menu on the infotainment screen. The first setting is designed for those driving on their lonesome. It simply pushes the audio from the front speakers directly at you. The middle set-up is designed…

Well, the good news is that the X5 has passed the MOT test. It was not a cheap pass: combined with a major service, it all added up to £476.84, including VAT and labour. That also included, if you remember last week’s words, not two new tyres. On top of that was a set of new front brake pads and a bit of rewiring to make a warning light go out. The only downside is that the CD player continues to play up and I can’t eject the six discs I have in the multi-changer. To be continued……

“From its launch, everyone agreed the DB7 was a genuine Aston Martin” 7000 The total number of DB7s built The DB7 is such a bargain that it’s cheaper even than an Aston Martin Cygnet, the company’s gentrified Toyota iQ. An example of Aston’s city car, a 2011/61-plate with 52,000 miles, is being pedalled for £24,890, but right now, you can slide into a 1996/N-reg DB7 3.2 coupé with 69,000 miles for as little as £19,995. That’s cheaper than a new Ford Focus, never mind a posh iQ. Of course, the trouble with a lazy comparison like that is that strings – usually expensive ones – are attached. The DB7 is no exception. The earliest ones are now 23 years old (the model ran from 1994 to 2004) and body and…

Winning the Autocar Courland Next Generation Award has propelled many young people on to successful careers in the automotive industry. We caught up with 2014 winner Nicole Agba, who is now a colour and materials designer at McLaren, to find out how she ended up back at the supercar manufacturer and how her experience of entering and winning the award helped get her there. What did you do when you finished your Autocar Courland Next Generation Award placements? My final placement was with Skoda in August 2015. When I finished that, I explored other creative opportunities as a freelancer and started a trend-forecasting blog called The Trend Tome. This experience eventually helped me get a role at the Advanced Propulsion Centre [which researches low carbon propulsion development and production] as…

A gentleman is never exact — or so I’ve heard it said. Perhaps that means his car needn’t be, either. This speedo certainly isn’t. Having accelerated away from the car park of an English country pub and up through its four manually selected gears, the ‘classic’ Range Rover Velar prototype I’m driving can’t decide if I’m doing 49mph, 55mph or something in between. Before the introduction of the latest addition to the Range Rover family, I’d doubt if more than a handful of people in the world remembered there ever was a Velar. The model identity was a ruse; an invention of Rover’s 1960s development engineers, who wanted to disguise the origins of their prototypes for the very first Range Rover and hit upon the direct Latin translation of ‘I…

The UK’s first multi-brand electric vehicle showroom has opened in central Milton Keynes, with the ambitious aim of trebling the national take-up of EVs and plug-in hybrids in the local area over the next five years. The showroom, operated by Chargemaster as part of the Milton Keynes’ £9 million Go Ultra Low City programme, won’t sell cars directly, and its 11 EV ‘gurus’ are not salesman. They concentrate instead on educating people about the capabilities and advantages of EVs and on showing them a selection of the latest electric offerings from Volkswagen, BMW, Kia, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, Chargemaster’s partners in the venture. Up to 10 test cars are parked at charging points nearby and are available to visitors for short test drives. Serious prospects are offered seven-day tests and…

THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ X-Class pick-up is designed to be more dynamic and comfortable than the Nissan Navarra and Renault Alaskan with which it shares a platform, according to its maker. In contrast to Mercedes’ van range, the X-Class will be sold to large numbers of private buyers looking for a versatile workhorse that can also double as a comfortable family car. Mercedes wants to differentiate the model as a premium, lifestyle offering. The challenge for the engineers, said product manager Dominik Amann, was to make alterations that didn’t undermine the advantages of the economies of scale that arise from extensive component sharing. The most significant change is to the X-Class’s track, which is 70mm wider than its siblings’, improving stability and grip and providing a roomier interior. It’s a clever…

Jaguar is busy testing an XE test car fitted with a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, sparking rumours that the brand will launch an XE R model. The marque has recently launched the SV Project 8 with the same unit, but that car is a hand-built XE limited in production, meaning there is currently no V8-engined series-production XE. Jaguar sources have repeatedly said the company will not produce an XE SVR model. However, even if it does in future, the previous trends in other model ranges, such as the F-Type and XJ, are to introduce an R model before any SVR variant. The V8 engine produces 592bhp in the SV Project 8, but an XE R will likely offer 567bhp, as it does in the F-Type SVR and new XJR575. Jaguar…

Porsche is introducing a plug-in hybrid derivative as the range-topping model in its Panamera, Cayenne and Macan lines. This new Panamera is the first and what it effectively does is to combine the 14kWh lithium-ion drive battery, 134bhp electric motor and high-voltage power electronics of the existing Panamera 4S E-Hybrid PHEV with the 542bhp twin-turbo petrol engine of the Turbo. The mechanical layout of the car (electric motor upstream of the gearbox) means the car’s eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox limits peak torque potential. And yet you can’t fail to nod in approval at 671bhp and 627lb ft from just 1400rpm. Truth is, the expectations created by those numbers are like wellies filled with quick-drying cement around the ankles of this car, because the plug-in hybrid powertrain adds more than 300kg compared…

“John Lennon became an early casualty of the North Coast 500, binning his Austin Maxi in 1969” Corks are popping in Turin. Prosecco is being skilfully spilled down throats in celebration of the Fiat 500’s 60th birthday. And with good reason: the Nuova 500s that left the city’s Mirafiori plant on 4 July 1957 became the first of four million, and two million more have been shifted since the 500 badge was revived a decade ago. The little Fiat has come a long way. As has our particular example, a sportily trimmed petrol 1.2 S. Born at the Tychy plant in Poland, it has been brought by us to the still, hushed gloaming of Glen Torridon in the Scottish Highlands. We’re 1400 miles by road from Turin, but it might…

It is as quiet as a coupé when cruising and feels comfortably rigid over bumps I’ve never had an Audi before. Nothing sinister about that; just that other people here got up earlier, which says something about the fundamental desirability of the marque in all its guises. However, when the idea of being the de facto owner of the Audi S5 Cabriolet came up, I have to confess I was excited. Of course, I already knew drop-top S5s were handsome, sporty and powerful, but this recently revised, slightly larger model’s combination of an all-new 349bhp 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6, a nice, controllable eight-speed ZF paddle shift auto, and Audi’s latest infotainment system was enticing, to say the least. The arrival of decent summer weather at about the same time as…

Colin Stickland provides us with an update on his £300 Ford Focus, which we last saw a while back. “It needed a new coil pack (£25) and a bumper (also £25),” he tells us. “The former made the car a full runner and the latter hid a rear dent nicely. Since then, it has needed a new speedo drive and a rear drop link, but it passed its first MOT in my ownership. “This year’s MOT test was pricier, with a front link, track rod end and rear brake rebuild costing £275, on top of the MOT. It has also had two new tyres (£100) and another rear drop link (£10, fitted by me). So far, car plus work has been about £700, or £35 per month.” SEND YOUR USED…

An expert’s view MATT FRANKLIN, MCGURK PERFORMANCE CARS “It’s not a question of ‘shall I have an Aston Martin DB9 or DB7?’ The two cars are very different and anyone who asks that will, after they’ve driven both, probably go for the more modern DB9, which is a better car all round. Instead, most people who want a DB7 deliberately set out to buy one, whether for its looks, or for what it means to Aston Martin as the car that made the next chapter in the company’s history possible, or because you can buy a good one for less than £30,000. Prices of the rarer manual cars are rising. The best buys for future collectability are the special editions such as the GTA and Keswick. Be wary of anything…

1 Ferrari 488 GTB  From £184,000 Possibly Ferrari’s greatest achievement. Scintillating natural ability intertwined with interactive technology. 2 McLaren 650S  From £195,200 McLaren’s mainstay goes from convincing to compelling. Better day to day than a Ferrari 488 GTB, but not as special. 3 Lamborghini Aventador  From £260,000 Big, hairy V12-engined Lambo has astonishing visuals and performance. Handling could be sweeter. 4 Lamborghini Huracán  From £180,700 Junior Lamborghini mixes all-wheel-drive usability and drama skilfully. Chassis and steering need work to worry the best in class. 5 Noble M600  From £247,000 Has aged and crept up in price, but it remains deliciously natural and involving, if a bit ergonomically lawed.…

1 McLaren P1  From £866,000 McLaren set out to build the best driver’s car in the world and it came ridiculously close. A 903bhp go-kart. 2 Porsche 918 Spyder  From £674,000 Only in the hypercar category do ive stars not guarantee the class lead. The hybrid 918 feels built to rule, too. A mind-boggler. 3 LaFerrari  From £950,000 A more than worthy successor to the Enzo. Indeed, it makes the old-timer feel gruesomely under-achieving and is far sweeter to drive. 4 Bugatti Veyron  From £1.15 million A waning obsession with petrol power taken to its extreme limit. There are better cars, but few are quicker. 5 Pagani Huayra  From £1.4 million Last century’s idea of a hypercar. Staggering in almost every way, not least its looks. As exclusive as it…

MERCEDES-BENZ SL | SUMMER 2018 Described by Mercedes as “vastly different” to today’s roadster, the new SL is built upon a new platform. Mercedes-AMG has had engineering input and the SL gains two seats for a 2+2 layout. Engine choices include a 365bhp 3.0-litre inline six and a 455bhp 4.0-litre V8. Price from £80,000 (est) J U LY Alfa Romeo Stelvio, BMW M4 update, Bristol Bullet, Kia Soul EV, Land Rover RangeRoverVelar,Lexus NXupdate,Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain,SLC180,Mercedes-AMGE63Estate,GTR,NissanQashqai update, Porsche PanameraTurboSE-Hybrid, Renault Capturupdate, SeatIbiza, Skoda OctaviavRS245, Vauxhall Crossland X AUGUST Audi RS3Saloon,RS3Sportback, Hyundai i30Tourer(right), Kia Niro plug-in hybrid, Lexus LC, Volvo S90 T8, V90 T8 SEPTEMBER Alpina B5andD5Touring,BMW M4CS,Citroën E-BerlingoMultispace, Fiat 500Lupdate,Ford Ecosportupdate,Fiesta,FiestaActive,Honda Civic Type R, Jaguar E-Pace, Maserati Levante S, Mercedes-BenzE-ClassCabriolet, X-Class (left), Peugeot 308, 308 GTi, 308 SW update, Renault Trafic Spaceclass,…