Innholdsfortegnelse for 25/10/2017 i Autocar

NOT ONLY DOES Audi now lag behind its great rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the sales chart, the former by almost 350,000 cars this year, it’s also struggling to get out the kinds of models the market desires quickly enough. Mercedes’ surge past Audi in the sales charts has been astonishing. It has responded to the global demand of SUVs with flexible production of distinct-but-related models, and has the capacity to build them. Not selling enough C-Classes? Have a long-wheelbase version, or the GLC or GLC Coupé SUV derivatives, all ready at the same time. The cars Audi has chosen to kick off its new era? The big A8 saloon and the A7 saloon-cum-coupé, which has always had a bit of an identity crisis. That the new A7, which is…

Mazda has offered its clearest hint yet that it is planning to launch an Aston Martin-rivalling grand tourer with the Vision Coupé concept that it has revealed at the Tokyo motor show this week. The striking four-door coupé features what Mazda called the next generation of its ‘Kodo’ design language, with “less is more” styling. Mazda says it draws inspiration from the R360 from 1960 and Luce from 1969, although the concept can also be regarded as a spiritual successor to the RX-7. No performance details about the concept have been revealed. The firm is understood to have been considering a new sports car since it unveiled an RX Vision concept at Tokyo in 2015. Mazda was believed initially to be looking at a new rotary-engined machine but could use…

BMW has revealed the definitive production version of its new X2 compact crossover-style SUV ahead of the planned start of UK deliveries in March 2018. The X2, which is scheduled to make its debut at the Los Angeles motor show at the end of November, will take BMW’s line-up of dedicated SUVs to six models. A seventh, the range-topping X7 previewed by the Concept X7 at September’s Frankfurt motor show, is due this time next year. As with the second-generation X1, the new X2 is based on BMW’s UKL platform – the same structure used beneath the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, as well as the current range of Minis. It will also underpin next year’s all-new third-generation 1 Series hatchback. Conceived to appeal to a younger audience…

“It has a knack for finding grip when all logic tells you there should be none” Usually, it doesn’t take long with a car’s direct replacement to figure out where its manufacturer is going with it. Sometimes the brief is clearly ‘the same, just better’ but often you’ll come across cars that try to be more sporting than those they replace, more spacious, more luxurious, more… Well, you can insert your own adjective. The list is long. What’s rarer by far is a car that actually sheds light on how the entire brand it represents wishes to be perceived. But the new Porsche Cayenne is one of those cars, and none more so than this essentially £100k range-topping Turbo. This is the third all-new Cayenne since the model first…

t’s been a while coming, but if you’ve been waiting for Hyundai to offer a compact crossover, then now is the moment. The Kona – a rival to the Stonic of sister brand Kia (see right) – is not only Hyundai’s first example of this hot-selling species, but also the first car from the company on this particular new platform. Evidence of its modernity is to be found beneath the boot floor, and in an electrical architecture that includes an extensive suite of electronic safety features, a head-up display and three infotainment grades. The rear end’s modernity lies in its ability to accommodate the battery pack for next year’s electric-powered Kona, as well as the multi-link axle offered with the all-wheel-drive version; lesser models are fitted with a simpler torsion…

MODEL TESTED TYPE R GT Price £32,995 Power 316bhp Torque 295lb ft 0-60mph 5.7sec 30-70mph in fourth 7.1sec Fuel economy 28.7mpg CO2 emissions 176g/km 70-0mph 46.7m Honda says there has never been a Type R quite like the subject of this week’s road test: the fifth-generation Civic Type R, which might be a little more helpfully classified as the performance version of the 10th-generation Civic hatchback, itself introduced earlier this year. In this, the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the original Japanese-market NSX Type R, Honda has introduced a customary red-badged go-faster hatchback that has turned up only a couple of years after the previous one. It has a broadly similar front-wheel-drive mechanical makeup to the previous version and a closely related engine – all of which might suggest,…

Has hydrogen missed out? The advance of the EV has had me wondering which will prevail: battery or fuel cell. The former appears to have stolen a march on the latter and it looks like it will be some time before we get a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure. After reading in your excellent supplement ‘The Innovation Industry’ that Delta Motorsport’s micro gas turbine range extender can run on gas, presumably hydrogen, the installation of an infrastructure becomes all the more urgent. A range extender’s emissions would then be only water – just like a fuel cell’s. Indeed, I recall that BMW once built a 7 Series-based prototype whose engine was easily converted to burn hydrogen. So we need a CO2-free hydrogen infrastructure, but to fuel range extenders and indeed the good…

MILEAGE 9191 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT Is there a better bargain driver’s car? We don’t think so but need to be sure Entering the twilight phase of BRZ ownership has felt a bit like realising you’ve only got two days of your holiday left and you’re yet to leave the hotel complex. Sure, I’ve had a great time with SU13 ARU, but the car’s fast approaching return date has made me realise that going for a country drive only two or three times a month over the summer was a sacrilegious lack of commitment. I have now righted my wrongs. Over the past two weeks, almost every journey in the BRZ has been made using the sat-nav’s ‘avoid motorways’ setting (and not only because it’s so difficult to find the…

MILEAGE 127,796 LAND ROVER Just in case you wondered, the lorry is not back yet, but it is in bits – rusty ones. It is stripped down and actually the news isn’t all terrible. The bulkhead, front panel and gearbox tunnel parts have been shot blasted and are awaiting repair before being repainted. The bulkhead is surprisingly good. The workshop tell me they hope to have it built up to a rolling chassis by the end of the week. After that, they are just waiting on the bulkhead and will then refit the rest of the body. Home before Christmas, then. Fingers, and everything else, crossed.…

“The Black Series smacks you round the chops with its looks and presence” Things to look out for • Mileages are low, so reliability should be high. There’s very little to be worried about. • Nevertheless, the Black Series’ immense power means that it goes through perishables — brakes, tyres and the like — at a fair old rate. • Those beefy skirts and spoilers are prone to chipping and scraping. • Prices are high. As good as this car is, you have to question whether it’s better than some of its cheaper rivals. Autocar is not a magazine in which swear words are, generally, allowed to make it past the sub-editor’s desk. Therefore, I’ll have to leave to your imagination the words that fly through my head (not to…

An expert’s view DAVID SMITHERAM, BMW CAR CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN “I own a 2006 Roadster that’s done 55,000 miles. I work in motor racing and for many years saw how fast and reliable the old M3 E46s were and how easily they doubled as road and track cars. It got me thinking about the Z4 M, the last BMW sports car with a manual gearbox and a naturally aspirated straight-six. Mine’s a Roadster, so I’m bound to say it’s the one to buy, but since the car was designed as an open-top, it feels almost as stiff as the Coupé. Prices are softer too, and it’s more fun in the sun.” Buyer beware… • ENGINE Oil and filter change every 7500 miles would be nice to see. Initial running-in…

PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN GTS | FEB 2018 The range-topping Cayman and its Boxster sibling have an uprated version of the turbocharged 2.5-litre flat-four used in the S models, here making 361bhp. The cars also have electronically controlled torque vectoring and Porsche’s electronic active damping system (PASM). Price from £65,000 (est) NOVEMBER BMW X3, Citroën C3 Aircross, Hyundai i30N, Jaguar E-Pace, XJ update, XJR 575, Nissan X-Trail, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace DECEMBER Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi A8, Dallara Stradale, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass, Kia Sorento update, Lotus Evora 400 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz X-Class (left), Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Seat Arona, Arona and Ateca X-Perience, Skoda Karoq, Toyota Yaris GRMN, Volkswagen T-Roc, Touareg, Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2018 Alpina D5 S, BMW M5, DS 7 Crossback, Ford Ecosport and Mustang (right)…

“Audi is talking up the dynamic qualities of the A7, which features four-wheel steering” The second-generation Audi A7 has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Los Angeles motor show next month. Sporting a sharp new exterior design, the luxury liftback is due to reach the UK during the first quarter of 2018. It comes with a 48-volt electric system, new engines with mild-hybrid properties for added fuel savings, as well as a steel and aluminium body structure. As part of a complete engineering overhaul, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo and Mercedes-Benz CLS rival also gets a reworked chassis featuring four-wheel steering and a raft of digital interior functions. Along with the latest A8, the 2018-model-year A7 represents a significant step forward for Audi. As with its…

NISSAN HAS REVEALED the IMx concept in Tokyo – an SUV with full-electric powertrain and autonomous capabilities that resembles its Leaf EV. The car is powered by a pair of electric motors that give four-wheel drive and combine for 423bhp and 516lb ft. The battery pack has been fettled for increased energy density, adding to the EV’s packaging benefits. Like the new Leaf, the IMx is based on Nissan’s evolved EV architecture. The model also showcases a next-generation version of Nissan’s semi-autonomous Propilot system, adapted to offer full autonomy. When Propilot is driving, the steering wheel retracts into the dashboard, similar to Volkswagen’s range of full-electric, autonomous ID concepts. The seats also recline for passenger comfort when the car is fully in control. The IMx’s infotainment displays are controlled by…

MITSUBISHI HAS REVIVED the Evolution moniker at the Tokyo motor show with the reveal of the e-Evolution concept. The pure-electric, four-wheel drive SUV coupé can achieve Level 4 autonomy. It has the dramatic angular styling of recent Mitsubishi concepts but is less rugged in its execution. The concept is at the sportier end of the Mitsubishi range and will be the brand’s flagship model if it reaches production. Three motors power the mid-sized SUV – one at the front and two at the rear – with the two rear ones enabling active yaw control. Traction control akin to that seen on current SUVs confirms that the concept is also geared towards off-road driving, and has separate settings for snowy and sandy conditions. Inside, the technology-laden e-Evolution uses both augmented reality,…

BMW plans to launch an M version of its X3 later this year, according to the firm’s vice president Dirk Hacker. The model will rival the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 and Porsche Macan Turbo. Autocar understands the X3 M uses a 425bhp turbocharged straight-six engine that is related to the one used in the M3 and M4. An X7 M is not expected to make production. The majority of customers choosing the luxury-oriented X7 are unlikely to also want performance, according to Hacker. He said: “It could be an idea to do an X7 M. There will be a niche of customers who want that kind of car, but probably not enough to justify it.” Instead, Hacker hinted that an M Performance variant of the X7 is likely, to satisfy demand without…

The Volkswagen ID Crozz 2 concept has been designed to offer fully autonomous driving, and the company has vowed to “go as far as we can” with the technology on the production version. The electrical systems of the MEB platform that the ID family sits on features a revamped architecture to cope with the extra processing required for fully autonomous driving systems. For example, the Crozz 2 concept features four laser sensors on the roof, although it is unlikely that the first ID production cars will feature the full set. “The ID cars will be prepared to offer autonomous driving functions,” said ID Crozz product manager Jerome Kueppers. “We’ll make it ready for the future and, because electric cars have energy on board the whole time [through the battery], we…

LOTUS HAS CALLED the new Elise Cup 260 the “ultimate” version of the sports car. Just 30 examples will be built. With 250bhp and a kerb weight of 902kg, the Elise Cup 260 can cover 0-62mph in 4.2sec and hit a top speed of 151mph. It’s derived from the Elise Race 250 – the most hardcore, non-road-legal version of the Elise – and builds on the Elise Cup 250. Where it differs from the 250, though, is the increase in power and downforce. A 10bhp hike may sound trivial given its extra 42kg over the 250, but the Cup 260 produces an additional 44% of downforce – 180kg of it at full chat. The car can be identified by a laurel wreath decal on the rear buttress, as well as…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) global strategy director Adrian Hallmark has been named the new chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, where he replaces Wolfgang Dürheimer. Dürheimer, 59, is retiring after his second stint in charge of the British firm, one of three roles he has held within the Volkswagen Group. Dürheimer, who oversaw major growth for Bentley and the launch of the Bentayga, will retain a role advising the VW Group on motorsport projects. Hallmark, 55, was previously Bentley’s board member for sales, marketing and PR before moving to JLR. He has previously worked for Porsche, VW and Saab, and is understood to have left JLR in early October.…

I almost wonder if the most important thing to know about the Jaguar XJ is that there’ll definitely be another generation after this one. “A flagship car company needs a flagship car,” says Ian Callum, Jaguar’s design director. But that it even came up for discussion – as it wouldn’t with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series, you suspect – shows you where the XJ is. Celebs phone Jaguar and say they’d like to arrive at events in the back of an XJ because not many other people will. It’s starting to become a hero of its own lack of success. Anyway, this one has been around for seven years, now. Doesn’t quite seem possible, does it? So here it is. Surely, we’ll see the new one in the…

“In 1932, I’d have been braced for adventure. Here, I’m prepped for traffic queues” The 11 March 1932 issue of Autocar – perhaps you remember it, in which case, well done you – allowed itself more than a little self-congratulation. “We, of The Autocar,” it began, grandly, “can look back on the Torquay Rally with justifiable satisfaction.” Can you, indeed? “From the moment we suggested to the Royal Automobile Club” (oh, I see where this is going) “that it should organise the event” (I getcha) “we felt certain that the Rally would be not only a great and successful competition in itself” (righto) “but also a far-flung advertisement for British motoring and English resorts.” I suppose one should admire the chutzpah: suggest something, let somebody else do the work and…

“We’re going to turn into the Boeing or Airbus of the automotive world” Out of a weather-worn industrial unit somewhere in the West Midlands, Westfield Sportscars ticks along quite nicely building kit cars that look a lot like Caterhams. But its customer base is getting older, demand for small lightweight sports cars is on the wane and, before too long, such cars are likely to be legislated out of existence anyway. It’s a bleak assessment but, for lots of people, it probably sounds about right. Managing director Julian Turner isn’t one of them. To him, Westfield is not some ill-fated, old-fashioned kit car maker but a booming technology company. If his vision for the family owned business comes to pass, you and I won’t think of Westfield as having both…

“Technology must adapt itself to the requirements of the market” Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO this past five months, is in town to lead a revolution. In a nice way. This is his first official visit to the UK: he’s here to open Ford’s new European Smart Mobility office, artfully located in the middle of a collection of technology start-ups and university satellites that have grown up in a collection of ex-Olympics buildings called Here East, near Stratford in distinctly non-leafy north-east London. Here, Ford’s brightest and best technical talents will co-operate with others in similar cells around the globe to build what Hackett likes to call “smart cars for smart cities”. Electrification and autonomy are most certainly on the agenda because change is Hackett’s preoccupation. “The future is…

SPECIAL The greatest Porsche GT cars An epic road trip, a historical lookback and how to buy one of Porsche’s icons. Andrew Frankel shares it all INTERVIEW Gordon Murray We meet one of Britain’s greatest designers and engineers FEATURE New taxi driven London has a new black cab. We drive it and visit where it’s made EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST Peugeot 5008 Big seven-seater has gone from MPV to SUV. We assess the results FIRST DRIVE Nissan Leaf Second-gen electric car tested in final production form. Is this the future? NEWS Tokyo motor show The weird and wonderful from the world’s wackiest motor show SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p62…

MILEAGE 4984 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To understand, over as big a mileage as possible, the practical consequences of the low-carbon age that’s coming fast There are only two things I honestly dislike about our Toyota Prius plug-in, and both are located on the carbonfibre tailgate. They’re the badges that prominently read PRIUS PHV (on the left) and PLUG-IN HYBRID (on the right). I guess they’re there because Toyota is determined to stress its increasingly famous environmental credentials. Trouble is, other drivers take these things the wrong way. There’s a growing body who know exactly how the plug-in hybrid functions, and associate it – and the person behind the wheel – with an economy-chasing driving style that casts the driver as someone who will impede the progress of the driver…

Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi Hugh Hatrick wanted to trade in his Hyundai i10 1.0 S. He says: “At Arnold Clark Vauxhall in Glasgow, we stumbled upon a 15-plate, slightly younger Vauxhall Astra Design 1.6 CDTi 110 with 39,000 miles for £6988. The garage gave us £4700 for our i10, so it cost us just £300 to get out of our 48-month PCP and the new deal is only £125 per month for four years. “The Astra has reasonable service history and drives really well. I reckon I’ll run it for two years and try to sell it privately for £5500 or thereabouts.”…

Renault Twingo Renaultsport Zero to 60mph in 8.7sec may not sound impressive, but this Twingo has more than its share of Renaultsport magic to compensate. It’s a hoot to drive on twisty roads and the 131bhp 1.6-litre motor has plenty of pep. Even so, many overlook it for its mild performance figures and that makes it a great used deal. Reckon on spending from as little as £2750 for a cared-for Twingo RS. Another £500 bags the even more tautly controlled Cup model with 75,000 miles on the clock. Check for work to the front ball joints and that the electrics work, because water can get into them. Tick those off and you have a brilliant bundle of fun. Audi Q7 A dealer tells us that Audi’s Q7 is good…

The Mazda Kai Concept, unveiled at the Tokyo motor show, hints at the design of the next-generation 3 hatchback, which is due in 2019. The hatchback design features Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X compression ignition petrol engine, which the firm claims offers the fuel efficiency of a diesel powerplant. Mazda says the Kai – which translates as ‘the pioneer’ – showcases the next generation of its ‘Kodo’ design language and features its ‘ideal’ hatchback proportions.…

Mercedes-Benz is putting the finishing touches to the first truly new G-Class since the distinctive square-jawed offroader first arrived in 1979. The new 4x4 will be unveiled to the public at the Detroit motor show in January and go on sale in the UK in the spring. The new G-Class has adopted a completely fresh design and a contemporary aluminium construction. The move, Mercedes officials say, helps contribute to a 160kg reduction in kerb weight over today’s mostly steel-bodied model while providing a 30% increase in torsional rigidity. The military-grade off-roader also receives a widened chassis with new front suspension as well as adjustable damping. A new electric architecture supports a widened range of driver assistance systems and there’s also a roomier interior with infotainment and communication features that, insiders…

The BMW X8 SUV is likely to be the brand’s highest-priced model when it is launched around 2020. It will be pitched as a coupé-styled rival to the Range Rover and upcoming Audi Q8 and could compete in fully loaded guise against low-end versions of the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. BMW’s head of development, Klaus Fröhlich, wouldn’t confirm plans to push BMW into an even higher price segment with the X8, but he did say such a car was under evaluation and the idea of it held strong appeal. “The sector is growing fast, so there will be opportunity,” said Fröhlich. “It is early to talk about X8, but one of the first decisions I made when I worked on product strategy was to take the X5…

A NEW, BACK-TO-BASICS Porsche 911 Carrera T has been conceived to offer a ‘purist’ model that delivers a more visceral driving experience. The new Carrera T is inspired by early minimalist 911 models and features performance enhancements not previously available on a Carrera. The 911 Carrera T – which is available to order now, with UK deliveries starting in January – features exterior styling tweaks. These include a front bumper with a more prominent splitter, grey metallic exterior mirror housings, 20in alloy wheels, reworked slats within the engine lid and centrally mounted tailpipes. Inside, there is a leather-bound GT sports steering wheel, decorative trims on the dashboard, lightweight four-way electronically adjustable seats and, with the standard-fit manual gearbox, a shortened gearlever. To save weight, the car has door trims with…

Is the introduction of a luxury SUV still a risk to the reputation of a European sports car maker? When it’s a risk so many are taking, I’m not so sure. The Maserati Levante has already become the biggest-selling car the firm makes, reaching 25,000 owners worldwide in its 15-month existence – and that for a company which sold only 32,000 cars in total in 2015. As ex-CEO Harald Wester used to say: “The bigger risk would have been not to make it.” Keeping the Levante competitive with its rivals is clearly paramount, then, and that’s not achieved by sitting on your hands. Which is why Maserati is already ushering in a model-year update on the car. The revision mostly adds safety and convenience features, although there are changes to…

Taking a near-two-tonne pick-up truck racing is like asking a lumberjack to ballet dance, don’t you think? Like lumberjacks, pick-up trucks are big and strong and excellent with logs, but all that muscle means they tend not to be particularly agile. Odd then, that this juxtaposition (the pickup racing, not woodsmen in tutus) seems to work so well Down Under, where championships like the V8 Ute Racing Series are very much part of the motorsport mainstream. In Britain, pick-up racing is a niche, but now that sales of roadgoing pick-ups are increasing – as a nation, we’ve bought 30% more of them this year than in 2016 – is it time we sent more to do battle on track? Ssangyong, the Korean brand that’s yet to make a real mark…

FINAL REPORT MILEAGE 8542 WHY WE RAN IT To see if a hard top makes the MX-5 more practical and just as much fun How shall we play this, then? Shall we talk about the Mazda MX-5 RF’s roof now or later? It feels wrong to start a final long-term report talking about a roof because, well, it’s a roof. The MX-5 RF is a two-seat sports car, so surely we should start by focusing on performance, driving dynamics and so on. You know, the stuff people interested in two-seat sports cars want to know about. But, frankly, we’re going to have to talk about the roof at some point. Why? Well, here’s the thing: in soft-top form, the MX-5 is a brilliant, fun, proven performer. The MX-5 RF takes…

QUESTION I am 21 and looking for my first car. It needs to have an automatic, five doors and a decent boot. Any ideas? Mishah Ali ANSWER Think seriously about what’s called a ‘nearly new car’. These sorts of vehicles give you a fairly new-car smell and experience but without the high depreciation. A 2017 Hyundai i10 1.2 SE with just five miles on the clock at £9980 seems like the answer to your dreams. QUESTION I have a car that was owned by a smoker. What is the best way to get rid of the smell? Ally Peters ANSWER It is a bit of a challenge, short of a full-scale valet. Fresh grass clippings in a cardboard box on the back seat is one answer. Apparently, so is baking…

“The Z4 M remains a thoroughbred, with the running costs to suit” DID YOU KNOW? M Division did away with the standard Z4’s run-flats when creating the M version. They also junked the electronic power steering system and replaced it with a hydraulic version to increase steering feedback. As this is written, there are 35 BMW Z4 M Coupés and Roadsters for sale on leading classified websites. They range in price from £12,500 for a 90,000-mile 2006 Roadster to £28,995 for a 24,000-mile 06-plate with the same body. The most expensive Coupé is a 2007 car with 16,000 miles, for £28,390. The two versions may, at first glance, have the same specification, but the Coupé has slightly firmer dampers, a thicker rear anti-roll bar and slightly quicker steering. If that…

1 Seat Ateca From £17,990 Fine-handling Seat looks great, has strong engines and stands out for its impressive dynamic execution. Typically great value, too. 2 Nissan Qashqai From £18,795 The de ining modern crossover. Second-gen version better in all areas, most notably fuel ef iciency, space and re inement. 3 Skoda Yeti From £17,610 Almost a blueprint for crossover appeal: chunky looks, hatchback handling and compact MPV practicality. 4 Renault Kadjar From £19,145 Renault’s Qashqai-based crossover is a good one. As practical as the Nissan but falls a little short on re inement. 5 Toyota C-HR From £20,995 An interesting, refreshing and genuinely good addition to the crossover class. Shame the engine isn’t better.…